The Morning Blog

After earlier proclaiming that only abstinence and fidelity can prevent the flow of AIDS, during a trip to Africa of all places, the most AIDS-ravaged region of the planet, the pope has made some teeny tiny concessions on the use of condoms.

In the book, Benedict said condoms were not “a real or moral solution” to the AIDS epidemic, adding, “that can really lie only in a humanization of sexuality.” But he also said that “there may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility.”

This is laughable. Calling it "too little, too late" is such a vast, vast understatement.

How can I resist an article that practically insists on a Pogues video as commentary?



I think it's a bit silly to compare it to the Potato Famine, I mean clearly nobody's starving to death. In fact the government recently proposed handing out free cheese of all things. Also, Ireland is not Greece. They'll recover. This mass emigration is a shame though. However, as noted in the article:

The Irish have emigrated so often that almost everyone has relatives in several countries. “Emigrating is a cultural norm, even if it is not a cultural preference,” said Brian Lucey, an economics professor at Trinity College in Dublin. “The Irish know how to do it. They build networks and take care of each other.”

The CIA has yet to solve the puzzle in its backyard. Sigh...the creator has gotten frustrated with the whole thing and has started giving hints.

Just like the popes acquiescence on condoms for rent boys, this is too little, too late. Why on Earth were pilots ever subjected to security scans in the first place? To begin with, quite a few of them are ex-military aviators. These are men and women that have pretty high security clearances. Second of all, pilots receive more radiation while doing their jobs then people working in nuclear power plants. Understandably, they have hesitations about receiving extra x-rays. And finally...A pilot would need to smuggle a box cutter to bring down a plane why precisely? Couldn't he just point the thing at the ground?

I noted previously that House Majority Leader John Boehner, as a perk of his position, does not have to be subjected to the pat downs or nude scans. Anyone want to make bets on how long these processes would continue if congressmen were subjected to them?

Football! Football! Football! And that's almost all I have to say on the subject. Except for this: I have a soft spot for Raiders quarterback, Jason Campbell, and wish him the best...somewhere else. Not here. Sorry bud.

Yet another coal mine disaster. Not to be flip but why do these keep happening? It's almost like there's a contest to see what country can have the crappiest time underground.

Oh my. I'm just gonna throw out the first sentence from this article. Feel free to take it from there...

A pastor who said Facebook was a "portal to infidelity" and told married church leaders to delete their accounts or resign once testified that he had a three-way sexual relationship with his wife and a male church assistant.

Intriguingly, while he blames Facebook for his peccadilloes, bible study gets a pass. Just sayin' here but substitute "handmaid" for "church assistant" and you've got yourselves a lovely Old Testament story.

Aw....! Babies!!!

Screw babies! Beer!!!

On a personal note, I should mention that we recently got a TON of very interesting beers in the store. I'm excited but...we almost never sell them. Ever. I can't help but think that my own purchases of microbrews have somewhat skewed the market, maybe given the owner an incorrect view of what we can and can't sell.

Pirates! And mercenaries to boot! Hey...Those mercs make a pretty good living it looks like. Wonder what their benefits plan is? Do they get dental?

I'm splitting my attention between the Steelers game and the blog at this point so this is gonna be the final thing...

Slash loves cooking shows. Who doesn't?