The NY times asks if Jon Stewart is the most trusted man in America. He's good. He's very good. I'm a bit surprised one of the major networks hasn't tried to buy out The Daily Show.

McCain and Obama both fail the `rich' question. Obama gave a sensible, but wrong , answer. McCain gave a ludicrous answer, that it takes an income of five million USD per year to be rich. But to be fair, even the economists they interviewed for the article failed the question. To be rich is to have the ability to separate your income from your labor and still live a comfortable lifestyle. It isn't a question of income, or even of net worth, but a question of control over financial resources.

The Washington Post put together an excellent time line of the Georgian/Russian dust up. It had several bits that I'd not been aware of before such as the South Ossetians actively shelling Georgia before Georgian troops moved in and Georgia having called a cease fire while they were moving their troops into position to invade. It's a bad scene all around with no white hats.

It helps to get Israeli citizenship if you're both Jewish and white. I'm always amazed at how much of most public perception of modern Judaism is colored by Europeanized Jews. Asia and Africa also had (and continue to have) significant Jewish populations. I haven't seen much press on Asiatic Jews, but I don't think for a minute that the manufactured controversies over whether the Ethiopian Jews are really Jewish or not would be taking place if they were white.

Lowest morning weight on the scale last week was 185; 187 was the largest. Best time for running a mile was 11 and a half minutes; worst time was thirteen and a quarter.

Friday was my last day full time at work. I'm done with that. But now I'm working my butt off fixing up the house to sell. Home owners that undertake repair jobs for which they are not competent should be shot.

Sunday was the last time our family will be attending our parish as regular members. It was nice. The nave seemed to hang heavy with the presence of people who weren't there. Reflecting on it, I think it was mostly in my mind. After almost ten years there, I've got some very good friends. I associate the interior of the Church with those friends and with all the ups and downs of a particular emotional crisis that I'm headed onto year three over. With regards to the latter, I suspect that a change of place will be good for my soul, no matter how much it saddens me. With regards to the former, as a Christian, I believe that when we all come together for communion, regardless of where we are in the world, we are made into one. My diaspora of friends, so long as they remain in the faith, will continue to be made part of that which I am a part.

The more I read Jane Eyre, the more I understand why its a classic. It touches on some very interesting religious, philosophical and psychological issues. As an adolescent, one of Jane's mentors moves away. Bronte describes her feelings at her mentor having left as depriving her of the will to remain.

I was left in my natural element, and beginning to feel the stirring of old emotions. It did not seem as if a prop were withdrawn, but rather as if a motive were gone; it was not the power to be tranquil which had failed me, but the reason for tranquility was no more.

It isn't as if Jane lacks the ability to be at peace so much as she has lost the desire to be at peace, at least in her old surroundings. In many ways I have facing this dilemma for quite some time. It isn't as if I lack the ability to calm my soul over some things so much as I have no desire to calm my soul. My angst and my tears hold an attraction for me that perhaps they should not.