If you think politics is nuts in this country, consider these recent covers in Britian.

Many people in the US picture the Brits as stuffy and dull. I've never lived there, so I can't really address that. But I can say that their politics are wacky by even our standards.

If you don't believe me, watch the House of Commons on C-SPAN some night when you can't sleep. If you are lucky, you might even see the shoes come off (you'll know it when you see it). It's much more interesting than our own House of Representatives for many reasons, including the fact that their equivalent to our President, the Prime Minister, is a member of the House of Commons and has to debate just like anyone else.

Oh... and this all happens in a room that can't be much bigger than my livingroom.

Could it be?

As a kid, when I'd stay with my grandparents they'd always be watching C-SPAN during the day. In particular, they watched a lot of the interviews and call-in shows.

I haven't gotten as bad as watching Congress all day, but I do like to watch some shows in the early morning. Yes, even the call-in shows sometimes. It's really nice for a change of pace because it's a source of news that has no agenda for the most part. Instead, most of the shows just happen or are broadcasts of live evens with none of the commentary we're used to.

Maybe I am turning into my grandparents. Perhaps it's starting early because I have two C-SPANs and they only had one.

Although I'm not Catholic, this new Pope's homily message before the conclave really speaks to me. This guy's life is going to be no doubt torn apart in the next few days, but I already like the guy. Here's why.

At this hour of great responsibility, we hear with special consideration what the Lord says to us in his own words. From the three readings I would like to examine just a few passages which concern us directly at this time.

The first reading gives us a prophetic depiction of the person of the Messiah - a depiction which takes all its meaning from the moment Jesus reads the text in the synagogue in Nazareth, when he says: "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21). At the core of the prophetic text we find a word which seems contradictory, at least at first sight. The Messiah, speaking of himself, says that he was sent "to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God" (Isaiah 61:2). We hear with joy the news of a year of favor: divine mercy puts a limit on evil - the Holy Father told us. Jesus Christ is divine mercy in person: encountering Christ means encountering the mercy of God. Christ's mandate has become our mandate through priestly anointing. We are called to proclaim - not only with our words, but with our lives, and through the valuable signs of the sacraments, the "year of favor from the Lord." But what does the prophet Isaiah mean when he announces the "day of vindication by our God"? In Nazareth, Jesus did not pronounce these words in his reading of the prophet's text - Jesus concluded by announcing the year of favor. Was this, perhaps, the reason for the scandal which took place after his sermon? We do not know. In any case, the Lord gave a genuine commentary on these words by being put to death on the cross. St. Peter says: "He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross" (1 Peter 2:24). And St. Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians: "Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,' that the blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:13-14).

The mercy of Christ is not a cheap grace; it does not presume a trivialization of evil. Christ carries in his body and on his soul all the weight of evil, and all its destructive force. He burns and transforms evil through suffering, in the fire of his suffering love. The day of vindication and the year of favor meet in the paschal mystery, in Christ died and risen. This is the vindication of God: he himself, in the person of the Son, suffers for us. The more we are touched by the mercy of the Lord, the more we draw closer in solidarity with his suffering - and become willing to bear in our flesh "what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ" (Colossians 1:24).

In the second reading, the letter to the Ephesians, we see basically three aspects: first, the ministries and charisms in the Church, as gifts of the Lord risen and ascended into heaven. Then there is the maturing of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, as a condition and essence of unity in the body of Christ. Finally, there is the common participation in the growth of the body of Christ - of the transformation of the world into communion with the Lord.

Let us dwell on only two points. The first is the journey towards "the maturity of Christ" as it is said in the Italian text, simplifying it a bit. More precisely, according to the Greek text, we should speak of the "measure of the fullness of Christ," to which we are called to reach in order to be true adults in the faith. We should not remain infants in faith, in a state of minority. And what does it mean to be an infant in faith? St. Paul answers: It means "tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery" (Ephesians 4:14). This description is very relevant today!

How many winds of doctrine we have known in recent decades, how many ideological currents, how many ways of thinking... The small boat of thought of many Christians has often been tossed about by these waves - thrown from one extreme to the other: from Marxism to liberalism, even to libertinism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism, and so forth. Every day new sects are created and what St. Paul says about human trickery comes true, with cunning which tries to draw those into error (cf Ephesians 4:14). Having a clear faith, based on the Creed of the Church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. Whereas, relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and "swept along by every wind of teaching," looks like the only attitude (acceptable) to today's standards. We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires.

However, we have a different goal: the Son of God, true man. He is the measure of true humanism. Being an "Adult" means having a faith which does not follow the waves of today's fashions or the latest novelties. A faith which is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ is adult and mature. It is this friendship which opens us up to all that is good and gives us the knowledge to judge true from false, and deceit from truth. We must become mature in this adult faith; we must guide the flock of Christ to this faith. And it is this faith - only faith - which creates unity and takes form in love. On this theme, St. Paul offers us some beautiful words - in contrast to the continual ups and downs of those were are like infants, tossed about by the waves: (he says) make truth in love, as the basic formula of Christian existence. In Christ, truth and love coincide. To the extent that we draw near to Christ, in our own life, truth and love merge. Love without truth would be blind; truth without love would be like "a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Looking now at the richness of the Gospel reading, I would like to make only two small observations. The Lord addresses to us these wonderful words: "I no longer call you slaves... I have called you friends" (John 15:15). So many times we feel like, and it is true, that we are only useless servants. (cf Luke 17:10). And despite this, the Lord calls us friends, he makes us his friends, he gives us his friendship. The Lord defines friendship in a dual way. There are no secrets among friends: Christ tells us all everything he hears from the Father; he gives us his full trust, and with that, also knowledge. He reveals his face and his heart to us. He shows us his tenderness for us, his passionate love that goes to the madness of the cross. He entrusts us, he gives us power to speak in his name: "this is my body... ," "I forgive you...." He entrusts us with his body, the Church. He entrusts our weak minds and our weak hands with his truth - the mystery of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the mystery of God who "so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16). He made us his friends - and how do we respond?

The second element with which Jesus defines friendship is the communion of wills. For the Romans "Idem velle - idem nolle," (same desires, same dislikes) was also the definition of friendship. "You are my friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:14). Friendship with Christ coincides with what is said in the third request of the Our Father: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." At the hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus transformed our rebellious human will in a will shaped and united to the divine will. He suffered the whole experience of our autonomy - and precisely bringing our will into the hands of God, he have us true freedom: "Not my will, but your will be done." In this communion of wills our redemption takes place: being friends of Jesus to become friends of God. How much more we love Jesus, how much more we know him, how much more our true freedom grows as well as our joy in being redeemed. Thank you, Jesus, for your friendship!

The other element of the Gospel to which I would like to refer is the teaching of Jesus on bearing fruit: "I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain" (John 15:16). It is here that is expressed the dynamic existence of the Christian, the apostle: "I chose you to go and bear fruit.... " We must be inspired by a holy restlessness: restlessness to bring to everyone the gift of faith, of friendship with Christ. In truth, the love and friendship of God was given to us so that it would also be shared with others. We have received the faith to give it to others - we are priests meant to serve others. And we must bring a fruit that will remain. All people want to leave a mark which lasts. But what remains? Money does not. Buildings do not, nor books. After a certain amount of time, whether long or short, all these things disappear. The only thing which remains forever is the human soul, the human person created by God for eternity. The fruit which remains then is that which we have sowed in human souls - love, knowledge, a gesture capable of touching the heart, words which open the soul to joy in the Lord. Let us then go to the Lord and pray to him, so that he may help us bear fruit which remains. Only in this way will the earth be changed from a valley of tears to a garden of God.

In conclusion, returning again to the letter to the Ephesians, which says with words from Psalm 68 that Christ, ascending into heaven, "gave gifts to men" (Ephesians 4:8). The victor offers gifts. And these gifts are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Our ministry is a gift of Christ to humankind, to build up his body - the new world. We live out our ministry in this way, as a gift of Christ to humanity! But at this time, above all, we pray with insistence to the Lord, so that after the great gift of Pope John Paul II, he again gives us a pastor according to his own heart, a pastor who guides us to knowledge in Christ, to his love and to true joy. Amen.

As much as it would surprise many people, Eminem is a huge inspiration of mine. I can't say I agree with all or even most of what he says, but many of his songs inspire me nonetheless.

Whenever I am frustrated by my job or career (pretty much every day now that I am self-employed), I listen to this one. If you haven't heard it before, it's the other song from the 8 Mile soundtrack (the one that didn't win a Grammy).

Sometimes I just feel like, quittin I still might
Why do I put up this fight, why do I still write
Sometimes it's hard enough just dealin with real life
Sometimes I wanna jump on stage and just kill mics
And show these people what my level of skill's like
But I'm still white, sometimes I just hate life
Somethin ain't right, hit the brake lights
Case of the stage fright, drawin a blank like
Da-duh-duh-da-da, it ain't my fault
Great big eye balls, my insides crawl
and I clam up I just slam shut
I just can't do it, my whole manhood's
just been stripped, I've just been ripped
So I must then get, hope the bus didn't split
Man f**k this s**t yo, I'm goin the f**k home
World on my shoulders as I run back to this 8 Mile Road

[Chorus]
I'm a man, I'ma make a new plan
Time for me to just stand up, and travel new land
Time for me to just take matters into my own hands
Once I'm over these tracks man I'ma never look back
(8 Mile Road) And I'm gone, I know right where I'm goin
Sorry momma I'm grown, I must travel the alone
Ain't gonna follow no footsteps, I'm makin my own
Only way that I know how to escape from this 8 Mile Road

I'm walkin these train tracks, tryin to regain back
the spirit I had 'fore I go back to the same crap
To the same plant, in the same pants
Tryin to chase rap, gotta move ASAP
And get a new plan, momma's got a new man
Poor little baby sister, she don't understand
Sits in front of the TV, buries her nose in the pad
And just colors until the crayon gets dull in her hand
While she colors her big brother, her mother and dad
Ain't no tellin what really goes on in her little head
Wish I could be the daddy that neither one of us had
But I keep runnin from somethin I never wanted so bad!
Sometimes I get upset, cause I ain't blew up yet
It's like I grew up, but I ain't grow me two nuts yet
Don't gotta rep my step, don't got enough pep
The pressure's too much man, I'm just tryin to do what's best
And I try, sit alone and I cry
Yo I won't tell no lie, not a moment goes by
That I don't pray to the sky, please I'm beggin you God
Please don't let me be pigeon holed in no regular job
Yo I hope you can hear me homey wherever you are
Yo I'm tellin you dawg I'm bailin this trailer tomorrow
Tell my mother I love her, kiss baby sister goodbye
Say whenever you need me baby, I'm never too far
But yo I gotta get out there, the only way I know
And I'ma be back for you, the second that I blow
On everything I own, I'll make it on my own
Off to work I go, back to this 8 Mile Road

[Chorus]

You gotta live it to feel it, you didn't you wouldn't get it
Or see what the big deal is, why it was and it still is
To be walkin this borderline of Detroit city limits
It's different, it's a certain significance, a certificate
of authenticity, you'd never even see
But it's everything to me, it's my credibility
You never seen heard smelled or met a real MC
who's incredible, up on the same pedestal as me
the check is still unsigned, havin a rough time
Sit on the porch with all my friends and kick dumb rhymes
Go to work and serve MC's in the lunchline
But when it comes crunch time, where do my punchlines go
Who must I show, to bust my flow
Where must I go, who must I know
Or am I just another crab in the bucket
Cause I ain't havin no luck with this little Rabbit so f**k it
Maybe I need a new outlet, I'm startin to doubt s**t
I'm feelin a little skeptical who I hang out with
I look like a bum, yo my clothes ain't about s**t
at Salvation Army tryin to salvage an outfit
And it's cold, tryin to travel this road
Plus I feel like I'm old, stuck in this battlin mode
My defenses are so up, and one thing I don't want
is pity from no one, the city is no fun
There is no sun, and it's so dark
Sometimes I feel like I'm just bein pulled apart
from each one of my limbs, by each one of my friends
It's enough to make me just wanna jump out of my skin
Sometimes I feel like a robot, sometimes I just know not
what I'm doin I just blow, my head is a stove top
I just explode, the kettle gets so hot
Sometimes my mouth just overloads the ass that I don't got
But I've learned, it's time for me to U-turn
Yo it only takes one time for me to get burned
Ain't no fallin on next time I meet a new girl
I can no longer play stupid or be immature
I got every ingredient, all I need is the courage
Like I already got the beat, all I need is the words
Got the urge, suddenly it's a surge
Suddenly a new burst of energy is occured
Time to show these free world leaders the three and a third
I am no longer scared now, I'm free as a bird
Then I turn and cross over the median curb
Hit the burbs and all you see is a blur from 8 Mile Road

[Chorus X2]

As a result of some recent kidnappings and murders of very young girls, there have been many arguments about how best to register sex offenders nationally. According to Megan's Law, states are supposed to maintain their own databases of sex offenders and sexual predators (the worst of the worst), but there is obviously some lag time. If you've never looked at one before, you'll be surprised how many there are in your town and likely down your street.

In addition to the lag time, you only have to register as an offender if it is part of your court order. Since this law was passed in 1993 and wasn't retroactive (don't ask me why), anyone prior to it does not have to register. Some more recent offenders are not ordered to do this, too (again, don't ask me why).

Even if all such filth registered, the lag time and expectation of the offender to maintain the registration makes the whole thing less than fool-proof. Some people are suggesting some sort of transmitter be used, like someone on house arrest might wear.

The problem is that sex offenders don't as a general rule, if ever, get better. If given the chance, they will do it again if they know they can get away with it.

So I suggest a more stringent solution. Execute every last damned one of them.

Sometimes, the easiest thing to do is be like everyone else and just let things slide. It's usually easier to be a so-called "team player" than to rock the proverbial boat. But as is so often the case in life, the easy thing isn't the right thing and the players are fighting for the wrong team.

I would much prefer to not do what I am about to do, as I fear it will cost me more than it will gain me in terms of dollars. But if I want to maintain my professional integrity, I cannot afford to stand by and watch this sort of thing happen. In other words, I would rather be the kind of person my wife and daughter can be proud of than just another half-hearted sellout enslaved by the desire to be loved by most.

Even if that means being the only one on the team.

There are times in life when trying to do things right doesn't work out as quickly as we would hope. Especially in our professional lives, we sometimes feel held back by something we can't readily identify. We do everything we know to do, and yet it somehow isn't enough.

Or so we think...

Sometimes all one needs to take a business venture from breaking even to profit is a single, original idea. If you've seen A Beautiful Mind, you saw John Nash's decades long struggle for an idea of his own.

There will always be those out there smarter and better known, but nobody can come up with your ideas. As it is often said, we are all born with our own special gift for the universe that nobody else can give.

You know how they say necessity is the mother of invention? Maybe that's why we all go through times like these once in a while.

I wouldn't really characterize myself as an Irish American, even though I have more of an Irish heritage in me than anything else. I just consider myself a plain old American, partly because I am an example of the proverbial melting pot at work and partly because I hate the way we hyphenate ourselves so much.

On a day of cultural pride, such as St. Patrick's Day, it's interesting to see what aspects of a culture get displayed the most. For the Irish on this day (and the rest of the week no doubt), their culture seems to be defined by heavy drinking, barroom brawling, and dressing like mythical creatures. Not that this is really what the Irish are all about, of course. Still, it's incredibly refreshing to see a culture lampoon itself so mercilessly.

And everyone get's to take part. As so many proudly exclaim, everyone is Irish today. I even heard newscasters on the radio adding "Mc"s and "O'"s to their last names. Nobody seems to be overly sensitive about it and sees it all in good, healthy fun.

It's too bad all cultures can't have these sorts of days in this and other countries, but I understand why they don't. Welcoming the wannabes with open arms while not taking stereotypes too seriously seems to be unique to the Irish.

Some people simply are not designed for the 9-to-5 world. Without a doubt, I can say I am one of them.

People tend to react to that statement with responses like, "Do you think you are better than the rest of us?" No, as a matter of fact, I don't. To be honest, I am more than willing to accept that in my case this is arguably the result of flaws in my character.

That being said, I at least have the courage to accept that and deal with it. Rather than spending a life in misery, in a fight against my nature that I cannot repair, I accept this and willingly accept equal measures of comfort and discomfort for the chance at a life that I can live with.

This is a song I heard today that I hadn't heard in years. The song itself is rather vague on details, but it's actually autobiographical account of the singers girlfriend deciding to get an abortion the day after Christmas. He didn't want to give up the baby, but he didn't want to give her up either. In the end, he lost them both.

I don't have any experience with this myself, but this song has always hit me. I'm sure there are a lot of men who have lived the very same tale this song tells.

6 am day after Christmas
I throw some clothes on in the dark
The smell of cold
Car seat is freezing
The world is sleeping
I am numb
Up the stairs to her apartment
She is balled up on the couch
Her mom and dad went down to Charlotte
they're not home to find us out
And we drive
Now that I have found someone
I'm feeling more alone
Than I ever have before

She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly

They call her name at 7:30
I pace around the parking lot
then I walk down to buy her flowers
And sell some gifts that I got

Can't you see?
It's not me you're dying for
Now she's feeling more alone
Then she ever has before

She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly

As weeks went by
It showed that she was not fine
They told me son it's time to tell the truth
She broke down and I broke down
Cause I was tired of lying

Driving home to her apartment
For the moment we're alone
She's alone
I'm alone
Now I know it

She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly