Score One for Civilization!
The brutal tyrant Saddam Hussein has been captured alive in Iraq by the 4th Infantry Division. Time for prayers of thanksgiving.

Lord of the Rings
Along with the excitement over the hundredth anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight and the buzz over what President Bush may say regarding the future, this Wednesday is also being anticipated for the opening of the final film of the trilogy, Return of the King.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy not only contains an exciting story and spectacular effects, but also a definite spiritual world view. Tolkien's incorporation of Christian and some specifically Catholic themes into his works is described in this article.

Our Lady's Feasts
Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. I know, I don't get to blog everyday, and Monday was the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Whither freedom of speech?
The Washington Post reported yesterday on reaction by advocacy groups across the spectrum to the Supreme Court's upholding of most of the McCain-Feingold Incumbent Protection Act.

While I'm by no means a legal expert, I'm puzzled how the Supreme Court can overextend its reach to find supposed 'rights', but seemingly doesn't give the benefit of the doubt to the freedom of speech explicitly stated in the First Amendment. Of course, responsibility for this outcome must also be shared by the Congress for passing this law and President Bush for signing it, even with doubts about its constitutional validity.

While the extent of McCain-Feingold's impact on free speech will be determined by further events, it is unlikely to achieve its stated goal of driving the excessive influence of money out of politics. Cumbersome legal micro-management usually does not effect its intended change in human behavior.

Air & Space Dedication
As part of the build-up to the centennial of the Wright Brothers' first flight, the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air & Space Museum was dedicated today, presided over by Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist and Vice President Cheney. Participating remotely in the event was the crew currently on-board the International Space Station. The new center opens to the public on Monday, Dec. 15.

The Real St. Nick
Today is the feast day of Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS)
Virginia and Maryland have agreed to establish a regional commercial spaceflight center at Wallops Island, Virginia.

Personal Media Hit
I have a letter-to-the-editor today in the Washington Times on the ongoing White House space policy development.

My letter references the Monday Op-Ed piece by House Space subcommittee Chairman Dana Rohrabacher.

My letter, published today, is linked here. Scroll down to the last letter titled Blasting off the space policy. (The Times chose that title, not me!) A few words were slightly edited, but my points were made intact.

Non-cooperation with the Culture of Death
I've been overdue on reporting on the exciting news of the Austin, Texas area contractors' boycott of Planned Parenthood's planned clinic construction. This is a significant development. Just because the Supreme Court imposed a 'right' to abortion-on-demand doesn't mean the people have to cooperate.

Today is Terri Schindler-Schiavo's 40th Birthday
David Andrusko of National Right to Life provides insight into the report of her guardian ad litem. For more information on the status of Terri's case, go to terrisfight.org.

Probably the most familiar Advent scripture reading:

On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land's afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.

On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.

Isaiah 11:1-10

Advent
Sunday marked the start of the Advent preparation season for Christmas. (I know. Some radio stations have been playing non-stop Christmas music for weeks. Sigh!) Amy Welborn found a good informational link on Advent.

Happy Thanksgiving!

And now, bless the God of all,
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people's growth from their mother's womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days.

Sirach 50:22-24

For all of the readings for the Thanksgiving Day Mass, click here.

Forty Years Ago
In the Fall of 1963, I was in third grade. On that Friday afternoon, my class first heard the principal's announcement that President Kennedy had been shot. Being in Catholic school, we immediately began saying Hail Marys. Shortly after, the announcement that the President had died, more prayers and my teacher''s statement that we would see this event in our history books.

President John F. Kennedy's Administration made history with the Cuban Missile Crisis, the partial nuclear test ban treaty, the Peace Corps, civil rights and, of course, the reach for the Moon.

Like any historical figure, Kennedy was a complex person in turbulent times. We later learned of the extent of his medical problems and of his moral weakness in terms of extramarital affairs. And of course there is the ongoing controversy surrounding the government's handling of the investigation of his assassination.

Kennedy's call for the lunar landing inspired a generation. It is also seen in hindsight to have created habits in the government's implementation of a centralized space program that sparked innovation in the early years but hindered entrepreneurship in later decades. The current reassessment of our purpose and policy in space will hopefully renew the inspiration while encouraging more innovation and entrepreneurship.

President Kennedy followed his 1961 address to Congress calling for the Moon goal with what might be considered his 'philosophical keynote' speech on space in Houston in September 1962. The text and streaming audio file are available at this link.

SETI Observation Campaign
The SETI Institute is conducting its Fall observing campaign at the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico. Check out the observers' diaries and the SETICam live webcasts of observatory operations.

If anyone still believed that social issues wouldn't play in the '04 campaign,...
... that illusion was blown away by this week's Massachusetts Supreme Court decision and the firestorm of reaction.

For more information, checkout MarriageDebate.com, which contains various links and a blog with posts from those with viewpoints on both sides of the issue, and a Q&A on Marriage from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

White House Space Policy Process
Keith Cowing posted an interesting SpaceRef article containing analysis and speculation on how the Bush space policy is being formulated and what may be the outcome.

Sleepless in the Senate
The Senate debate on the obstruction of President Bush's judicial nominees will extend into Friday morning. The Democrats are now whining that the Republicans are taking valuable time away from urgent national needs to debate what they imply is an unimportant issue of judicial nominees.

Two questions should be raised in the face of this hot air. First, if this debate were not taking place, would the Democrats really be staying up all night working diligently to solve unemployment, poverty, health care, etc., all in two days? And more to the point, if the judicial nominations have suddenly become so unimportant, why continue to spend the time and energy to block them?

UPDATE: On Friday morning, the motions to invoke cloture on three highly qualified nominees: Priscilla Owen, Carolyn Kuhl and Janice Brown did not pass.

The motions to invoke cloture vote averaged 53-42. Sixty votes are necessary to force a vote on the Senate floor. This outcome was not unexpected. Unfortunately, this obstruction will continue, but the issue is not yet settled. Just one more battle in the continuing fight over the fate of our civilization.

Senate Hearing on Lunar Exploration
Attended Thursday's informative session, featuring Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt and three other knowledgeable witnesses. For the full list and links to prepared remarks, click here.

Senator Brownback chaired the entire session, while Senator Bill Nelson participated for part of it and joined in asking questions of the panel. No other Senators were present. Kudos to Senator Brownback and his staff for bringing these forward-looking topics to the attention of Capitol Hill.

UPDATE: The following Space.com article summarizes the key points made in the hearing.

Meanwhile, the House space subcommittee held a hearing on Wednesday on the Commercial Space Act of 2003. (I wasn't present for this hearing.) For more info, click here and for links to prepared remarks, click here

What a difference 'regime change' makes!
While his predecessor used his bloody veto pen to twice veto earlier versions of the bill, President Bush today signed the bill banning partial birth abortion. Yes, elections do matter.

Of course, the pro-abortion forces are howling and shrieking and suing in court. The bill just signed into law was modified from earlier versions to clearly document the medical opinion that there are no 'health reasons' justifying this procedure. How this case will be decided when it reaches the Supreme Court is difficult to predict, since it is an inscrutable mystery how Justice Sandra O'Connor will split her hairs on any given day.

Nevertheless, the cause of life is advancing and today's signing is a cause for celebration.