Death of the ocean bottom and thereby death of the life and lifestyle - of rig workers, of fisher folk, and of homes: for fish, shrimp, birds, and coastal dwellers. All because of what? Cain and Abel? Could it really be?

Seems it was due in large part to those following the example of Cain and Abel. You know, those Biblical boys, the firstborns of Adam and Eve, the ones who broke their parents hearts and ruined both their lives over jealousy, resentment, and "personal differences."

Apparently, the BP representative on that fateful rig KNEW from gauge readings that there had to be natural gas in that pipe, but failed to ask for advice before going ahead. WHY? Because of "personal differences" with his superior in Texas.

Banning Silly Bandz is an example of how teachers and parents opt for an easy solution instead of using teachable moments. As a sexuality educator in faith communities and Christian ethicist who thinks a great deal about childrens' developing sense of moral agency and integrity, I'm always looking for opportunities to teach my children, out of my tradition of Christianity, how to treat others fairly, to recognize diversity as part of God's intention for creation, and how to communicate with others to build positive relationships.

It might seem laughable, but Silly Bandz provide us with that opportunity. Unfortunately, most schools have banned the bracelets (including my son's pre-school which prides itself on teaching social skills and how to be part of a community). Teachers and parents should take a step back and use this as a teachable moment.

The Justice Department concluded in a report released Friday, Feb. 19, that the lawyers who gave legal justification to the Bush administration’s brutal interrogation tactics for terrorism suspects used flawed legal reasoning but were not guilty of professional misconduct. In other words, the end justifies the means. If it is legal, you have no moral or ethical reason not to proceed. If it is illegal, you still have no moral or ethical reason not to proceed, if you are willing to risk getting caught or consider the law based on your group’s opinion. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, be damned the moral and ethical consequences to society. That leaves nobody, from the local county jails, to the Federal maximum security prisons, and even to the battle field prison compounds, accountable for abuse and misconduct.

I last talked with Terri Hodge the day after my post, reacting to her assertion that eminent domain was a greater issue in District 100 than education. She objected to the inference insisted that she understood the importance of and the need for a college education. Her comments came during an interview with the editorial board of the Dallas Morning News. She admitted that she should have phrased her thoughts better and went on to defend her legislative record on education. You can read about all of that here.

Throughout our conversation Terri sounded defeated and defensive.

"The deal that will likely pass [is one] the insurance companies like, because it will save their industry from the scrap heap, even as it satisfies the 'popular clamor for government supervision.' ...The private insurance industry, as currently constituted, would collapse if the government allowed real competition." - Luke Mitchell, Harper's Magazine. Dec. 2009

I once watched a "mentalist" invite a woman on stage, and instruct her to flip several times through a book he provided. She stopped at his command and "mentally" projected what she saw. From 20 feet away the mentalist dramatically recited to her the page number and word for word the first paragraph on the left. The common understanding of "book" became a misdirection. How so?

Here's more about Chad McGowan, running against Jim DeMint for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina. This time, it's about earmark reform.

Today's announcement that Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd plans to retire is welcome news to this former Connecticut resident. Of course I have mixed feelings about the decision as Sen. Dodd was one of the first political campaigns I volunteered with at the tender age of 17.

I don't recall if I ever got the chance to meet the candidate back then as I was just an envelope stuffer in my hometown of Bloomfield (a suburb of Hartford) party's office. As is typical of poorly funded Democrats, the "office" was a leased space in a decaying strip mall that was only rented for about 2 months every 4 years but it was exciting to be amongst the hustle of various state and local campaigns (I still love the unique, plasticky smell of bumper stickers).

That the hearing occurred at all was a surprise to the elected executive board of the union. No one had heard from the member since the day notice of the charges had been mailed to him; no one expected him to show up in person to face the executive board, which was acting as a trial committee hearing the charges that had been brought.

But he did show up – a big man, calm but unsure of what was in store for him. The union’s representatives were, to tell the truth, equally unsure.

The union’s vice-president invited the accused to sit down at one of only two vacant seats at the conference table, which he did. The VP then formally opened the hearing. “Brother M., will you please present the charges?”

We heard that S.C. Gov. Sanford is not going to be impeached. It’s “quite disappointing.” I was expecting something “Grand Finale,” maybe like “Crime and Punishment­.”

The irony in this story is, as everybody knows, ex-President Clinton’s “Maybe or Maybe Not with Cigar or etc.?” case created such a “National Saga” along with huge national spending of “Tax Payers’ Money” on the investigation and impeachment debate (by the way, did we really want to spend our tax payment on that kind of investigation, and, now, where is the guy who did the whole spending thing on the lunatic national investigation?).

But this old-enough-but-extremely immature guy’s neglect of his public duty for five days, disappearing, and actually doing “the ACTUAL THING” under the disguise of crawling around Appalachian trail (or where was it?) can be easily dismissed from impeachment?

It’s great to see Ms. Jenny Sanford to have her own strong standing when her spouse turned out to be not worthy enough to deserve her devotion.

Look, I know as much as any liberal how nice it would feel to liberate this state from Governor Mark Sanford. I just hope people realize that there's another Republican next in line, one who wants to be the next governor, if that happens.