It was said that one man, Richard "Rick" Pollitt, was going to save the lowly people of County Wicomico, Maryland from their rude and shameful lives.

It was said he was an "able man", had "thighs of thunderous proportion", and "enjoyed pulled pork": gossip which the local rabble repeated amongst themselves and gained confidence by — until a lone man stamping his feet on the roof of McDonald's screamed down:

I say to you once again that a mountainous man of lard, as Rick Pollitt appears to be, is not qualified as Wicomico County Executive or any leadership position — for he spends his time more affectionately with donuts instead of at the budget and proper planning.

But the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, and the meat and potatoes of Rick Pollitt's campaign are disgorged in readable format on Pollitt's campaign website ricksfriends.com in a 10 Course Dinner political stand.

Let us taste briefly of the next Dinner Course that this man Pollitt has put on the table for us:

Course 2. “Growth” …

May ye gods strike me dead, or super size my next heart stopping fast food order, if Pollitt does not have a glut of information on the topic of growth — especially as one who was “intimately involved in Fruitland’s planning and zoning effort for 22 years” should have.

Pollitt begins with poetic license, “Whatever your perspective, we cannot escape the inevitability of change. It is the one constant of our lives,” to which the listener swoons from this bit of wit.

(Readeth more…)

So Francis went on his way, deeply inhaling the odors of spring, singing at the top of his voice one of those songs of French chivalry which he had learned in days gone by.

The forest in which he was walking was the usual retreat of such people of Assisi and its environs as had any reason for hiding. Some ruffians, aroused by his voice, suddenly fell upon him. “Who are you?” they asked. “I am the herald of the great King,” he answered “but what is that to you?”

His only garment was an old mantle which the bishop’s gardener had lent him at his master’s request. They stripped it from him, and throwing him into a ditch full of snow, “There is your place, poor herald of God,” they said.

The robbers gone, he shook off the snow which covered him, and after may efforts succeeded in extricating himself from the ditch. Stiff with cold, with no other covering than a worn-out shirt, he none the less resumed his singing, happy to suffer and thus to accustom himself the better to understand the words of the Crucified One.

Not far away was a monastery. He entered and offered his services. In those solitudes, peopled often by such undesirable neighbors, people were suspicious. The monks permitted him to make himself useful in the kitchen, but they gave him nothing to cover himself with and hardly anything to eat. There was nothing for it but to go away; he directed his steps toward Gubbio, where he knew that he should find a friend. Perhaps this was he who had been his confidant on his return from Spoleto. However this may be, he received from him a tunic, and a few days after set out to return to his dear St. Damian.

He did not, however, go directly thither; before beginning to restore the little sanctuary, he desired to see again his friends, the lepers, to promise them that he would love them even better than in the past.

Since his first visit to the leper-house the brilliant cavalier had become a poor beggar; he came with empty hands but with heart overflowing with tenderness and compassion. Taking up his abode in the midst of these afflicted ones he lavished upon them the most touching care, washing and wiping their sores, all the more gentle and radiant as their sores were more repulsive. The neglected sufferer is as much blinded by love of him who comes to visit him as the child by its love for its mother. He believes him to be all powerful; at his approach the most painful sufferings are eased or disappear.

This love inspired by the sympathy of an affectionate heart may become so deep as to appear at times supernatural; the dying have been known to recover consciousness in order to look for the last time into the face, not of some member of the family, but of the friend who has tried to be the sunshine of their last days. The ties of pure love are stronger than the bonds of flesh and blood. Francis had many a time sweet experience of this; from the time of his arrival at the leper-house he felt that if he had lost his life he was about to find it again.

Encouraged by his sojourn among the lepers, he returned to St. Damian and went to work, filled with joy and ardor, his heart as much in the sunshine as the Umbrian plain in this beautiful month of May. After having fashioned for himself a hermit’s dress, he began to go into the squares and open places of the city. There having sung a few hymns, he would announce to those who gathered around him his project of restoring the chapel. “Those who will give me one stone,” he would add with a smile, “shall have a reward; those who give me two shall have two rewards, and those who give me three shall have three.” …(Life of St. Francis of Assisi)

The Interpretation of John 17: Christ’s Prayer (Verses 1 and 2)

…6. However, my concern is that I am unable to emphasize what power,
resource, and virtue there are in prayer. For though it sounds
plain and simple, it is so deep, rich, and far-reaching that no
one is able to fathom it.

7. In the first place, when the evangelist says: “These words
spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven”, etc., Jesus
has extolled prayer so highly that it also affects his outward
behavior, when he confronts those wildly religious in his effort
to shut the mouths of those who assert that such externals so
not carry weight. For you see here that he is not merely praying
aloud, so that his disciples hear what he is saying, but also is
using such mannerisms as people are wont to use. Such as: Some
kneel, some fall on their face, some stand and look toward heaven…

8. Thus it is of no great consequence whether a person stands,
kneels, or prostrates himself, for there are customs neither
commanded nor forbidden. Just as there are still others who
lift head and eyes to heaven, fold their hands, smite their
breast. Nevertheless, we are not to look down on these customs
since Scripture and Christ himself have commanded them…

9. It is, however, true when it is purely external conduct, muttering
or babbling, as has been the case in the church up till now,
counting beads on the rosary, turning pages, wailing and howling
in the choir, that this, of course, is not praying. Heart and
soul are totally absent in such prayer. And it is not the
prayer of a person who is seriously thinking of requesting
something from God. But wherever such behavior, singing,
speaking, or reading occurs firm in purpose, where the heart is
set aglow, where desire and devotion to prayer are aroused, this
is very good and beneficial…

10. I do not know how strong others are in spirit; but so holy I
cannot ever become were I as learned and full of spirit as some
think themselves to be. But my experience always is that when
I am without the Word, when I do not think about it or am not
engrossed in it, then no Christian is at ease, yes, has no joy
and spirit. But as soon as I turn to a psalm or a passage from
Scripture, my heart is so illuminated and set aglow that mind
and spirit are completely transformed. I feel also that this
is something every person should daily experience for himself…. (ctsfw.edu)

—Martin Luther (1483-1546)

As weakling males froze with fear; as females hairsprayed and preened; as car owners washed and gleamed their prize; as sedentary old men stooled themselves, the Men of Lund, Sweden took righteous action against the perverse:

Museum Director: “They were originals and they are now damaged. We’ll have a discussion with the artist and see if it’s possible to make new photos.”

The Men of Lund: “The Nationalists have a message for her, and everyone who defends these kinds of perversities: In that case we will be ready to act again, for what is sound and right, against perversities and obscenities.”

The Outraged One and his Men shall rally alongside you, brothers!

*Note: This organization, the Swedish National Socialists, severely flaws their cause with their belief in statements like “We must never allow any non-White individuals, Jews or others, to wield any power over us…” written on their website. It is unfortunate that good acts as depicted above lose their justification and sway over the common man alongside statements such as this. We call on our Nationalist brothers in Sweden to rally for the common good for every man.

Salisbury University President Dr. Janet Dudley-Eshbach, Ph.D. called an emergency press forum on the steps of Holloway Hall yesterday to respond to allegations of racist and lewd pictures and remarks she had posted on her profile at Facebook.com.

The small gathering of dignitaries, press, and local peasants grew steadily restless as a half hour passed beyond the appointed forum time, but then the rumbling of the President’s double wheeled Ford 350 SuperCab was heard and they pressed forward to have a closer stare.

The exiting of the President from the vehicle, as witnessed by SU freshman and physics major Jimmy Renshaw, was, as he put it, “most interesting”.

Mr. Renshaw commented further, after a brief stuttering bout: “She refused help from her driver and proceeded to lurch forwards and backwards in the car seat, getting the reinforced shocks and springs of the truck to enhance her bouncing motion.”

“Then with one great jump up and a swinging of her arms outwards and to the side, she shifted and threw her body mass out the truck door and landed firmly on the curb.”

Mr. Renshaw added after a thoughtful ponder, “I have never seen such inventiveness of movement or state of grace.”

Dr. Janet Dudley-Eshbach, Ph.D. succeeded in ascending the steps in several minutes time by determination on her brow and bowleggedness in her stride, and with sweated sheen and gasping breath grabbed a bullhorn with her meaty hand and blasted out her speech:

(Readeth more…)

It was said that one man, Richard "Rick" Pollitt, was going to save the peasants of County Wicomico, Maryland from their dark lives of ignorance and barbarity.

It was said he was a "noble man", "competent", and "big boned": statements which the peasants awed and cooed over — until a lone man astride the roof of Rapa Scrapple Factory shouted down:

I say to you once again that an obese man, as Rick Pollitt appears to be, is not qualified as Wicomico County Executive or any leadership position — for he spends his time more affectionately with donuts instead of at the budget and proper planning.

But the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, and the meat and potatoes of Pollitt's campaign are disgorged in readable format on Pollitt's campaign website ricksfriends.com in a 10 Course Dinner political stand for the Wicomico peasants to digest.

Let us taste briefly of each Dinner Course that this man Pollit has put on the table for us:

Course 1. "Public Confidence":

"The first objective…immediately begin the process of restoring public confidence in the elected leadership of Wicomico County."

"I will build a bridge from the executive office to the county departments and…if they adopt my standards of professional efficiency and responsiveness to public concerns, they will continue to enjoy their county employment. Finally, I will build bridges to all of the members of our society to motivate them to a higher sense of ownership of the county’s future progress."

Pollitt then goes on to say absolutely nothing about what these "standards of professional efficiency" are or any other specifics on Course 1, except for building a certain "bridge," of which, again, no particulars are listed — not even its weight bearing safety load.

(Readeth more…)

…From irritating habits to weighty issues that seem impossible to resolve, loving one's spouse through the tough times isn't easy. But the same struggles that drive us apart also shed light on what we value in marriage.

"If happiness is our primary goal, we'll get a divorce as soon as happiness seems to wane," Thomas says. "If receiving love is our primary goal, we'll dump our spouse as soon as they seem to be less attentive. But if we marry for the glory of God, to model His love and commitment to our children, and to reveal His witness to the world, divorce makes no sense."

Couples who've survived a potentially marriage-ending situation, such as infidelity or a life-threatening disease, may continue to battle years of built-up resentment, anger or bitterness. So, what are some ways to strengthen a floundering relationship — or even encourage a healthy one? Thomas offers these practical tips:

• Focus on your spouse's strengths rather than their weaknesses.
• Encourage rather than criticize.
• Pray for your spouse instead of gossiping about them.
• Learn and live what Christ teaches about relating to and loving others.

Young couples in particular can benefit from this advice. After all, many newlyweds aren't adequately prepared to make the transition from seeing one another several times a week to suddenly sharing everything. Odds are, annoying habits and less-than-appealing behaviors will surface. Yet as Christians, we are called to respect everyone — including our spouse….(family.org)