It is a good feeling to finally have moved beyond this year's Christmas, though it's sprit lingers. As an online journal this "blog" is working out rather well, but as a "bully pulpit" it is lacking in substance. I'm starting to think this might be a good time to "clone." (I've just finished watching "Attack of the Clones" (the video was a Christmas present from Mom and Dad), and there is news today of a human clone--the first, alledgedly--so maybe the timing is appropriate.

I would prefer to have an online discussion, but no one I know has any interest in doing that sort of thing, and there's little likelihood of anyone outside my circle of friends ever stumbling across this site. I want to talk politics, and I want to talk religion. I would very much like to explore the potential of Christian philosophy as it relates to what I believe it can achieve, in spite of my cynicism.

I admire Tony Snow, Brit Hume and Cal Thomas for their unabashed proclamation of The Faith. I find their stance more courageous and inspiring than all the preaching of all evangelists, including (God bless him) Billy Graham. For Brother Billy it has never been a threat to his credibility. He does what preachers do...as my dad does. Carrying the faith forward, unashamed, into the secular professional world implies a risk taking that I have not appreciated until recently.

9/11 has had something to do with this refocusing on my part, I suppose. I've read the Koran to better relate to my Muslim friends (Iranians I met in the cab business who wanted nothing more than to be Americans and felt totally embarrassed by the hostage crisis). The translation I read (R.J. Arberry) left me with what I felt was an understanding of a religion that was not anti-Christian or anti-Jew. In that version Mohammed said he didn't think God would choose to have a son...but if he did, he could do it because he was God. That text also said that if a Muslim were to meet with someone that was not of their faith, if that someone were worshiping God, "say 'peace,' and be on your way." Perhaps that translation is the result of what current Iranians are tending to call "Protestant Islam." I don't know, but it is an interesting concept. It's the sort of thing others have hoped to see. I have read many columnists who decried that Islam had no Reformation, no Martin Luther. I pray that happens, if it has not already. It may have happened and just hasn't hit CNN. "But who that man might be I just don't know." (Quote from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.")

I had a great getaway to Arkansas and it was wonderful to spend time with my family. The time alone on the road, and in my very comfortable hotel room, gave me a great opportunity for reflection. "Gee but it's great to be back home," as Paul Simon once sang. This "Weblog" has been incubating for a long time now. I don't know about the pregnancy period for an idea such as this but, hopefully, a healthy birthing will ensue.

OK, I'm becoming reacquainted with the access features regarding this project, and it is getting easier--for me. How to "make it so" for others who want to contribute...well, I've got a ways to go there. I don't want to pay for a blog domain (with all that is meant to imply), but at some point I would like to develop and integrate this format into an expansive Web experience. Alas, I am still intimidated by the learning curve of the Web design tools I have and, right now, I don't have the luxury of spending a lot of time in pursuit of the lofty goal I invision.

With no Rush this week and one day's worth of reading on NRO till the 27th, I guess this would be as good a time as any to try my hand at punditry, except for the fact that I'm going to be without a computer for a few days as I head to Arkansas for Christmas. Darnit, it looks like I'm being forced to take a real holiday from the world as I know it.

I don't know if I see any purpose to this forum either; yet. However, I am revisiting it. I see how others have successfully used this device as a way to springboard into punditry. That's what I'd like to do, but I'm still searching for the proper voice. Anyone can "publish" on their home PC printer, but distributing copies and getting them read is a different proposal altogether. Hell, it has been so long since I approached this that I had completely forgotten how to access this site. Way back when...last summer...when I started down this path, I thought "netblogger" was a "cool" "handle." Now I'm not so sure. I never revisited this site, I just placed a marble stand in front of it--woops... My interest is being rekindled, somewhat.