Day: April 20, 2005

Via AP: The House has voted to allow oil drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge. Don’t expect any immediate relief at the gas pump though.

Via AP: President Bush signs the biggest rewrite of U.S. bankruptcy law in a quarter century, making it harder for debt-ridden Americans to wipe out their obligations.

She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

Switching gears to the incense decanter of pithy…Benedict the Sixteenth? Come now, that’s hardly original. In Pope-dom that’s like naming your newborn Jennifer or Michael. Only John has been used more (23 times) with Gregory a close third (15 times.)Little is known of the first Benedict, who served from 575-579. In fact, before John Paul I in 1978, the last original (never used) name in the papacy occurred back in 913, when Pope Lando (possibly of the Calrissian line) served for a little less than a year. One of my two favorite original pope names is Pope Eugene (now a saint) who I believe is the patron saint of Ducks. I also must give a nod and hand clasp to Pope Marinus. Marinus was both responsible for blessing meat overnight in a flavorful rue of herbs and spices as well as having a vision that a visitor from the Far East would break the single season hits record. Personally, I would have been elated to hear the Vatican announce that Cardinal Ratzinger chose the name, Pope Kevin I.(crossposted at unoriginalchristian.com)

Via AP – Vermont Sen. James Jeffords will not seek re-election next year. Jeffords cites health reasons for his decision.