7 Quick Takes Friday (set #74)

7 Quick Takes Friday

This week: A look at 2016: Obama’s America. Father Barron on Catholic Social Teaching. Andrew Klavan’s Economic Smackdown: Paul Ryan vs. Barack Obama. Pillars of Catholicism now available (free!). Inexpensively converting existing cars into hybrids. Unintentionally tearing down the highway at 115 mph, police in chase. A random thought.

— 1 —

When we vote, we presumably choose a person whose intentions for the country most closely match our own. I think all sides can agree on that. Therefore, knowing those intentions are key. For our incumbent president, much remains veiled – particularly by the highly partisan media. Yet, President Obama has been forthright on who has influenced him, where he wants to take America and why. Dinesh D’Souze, President of The King’s College, wrote a best selling book exploring the “hope and change” of Obama’s America.

I do not like movies which are nothing more than 90 minute political hit pieces, chock-full of partisan propaganda. The new movie 2016: Obama’s America is different. It brings D’Souze’s book to life in the president’s own words. Author D’Souze is no political hack and producer Gerald Molen (who also produced Schindler’s List) no video propagandist.

2016 is in theaters now. See it, understand how we got to where we are and where the current path leads over the next 4 years under President Obama. If this reflects your intention, vote for him.

— 2 —

Father Barron takes a few minutes to discuss Catholic Social Teaching. The topic is very important and hot at the moment since Catholic Paul Ryan’s selection. He speaks often and quite eloquently of how it guides his prudential decisions.

— 3 —

Andrew Klavan’s piece contrasting economic plans is over a year old now, but it seems like an appropriate time to dust it off:

— 4 —

Pillars Of Catholicism

John Paul the Great Catholic University‘s free, 13 session, online class entitled Pillars of Catholicism (I first mentioned it here) has now begun. The class is open to everyone and you can start any time. Mary Lane has more on it at Catholic Exchange. This could be a good refresher for some or of interest to those wishing to explore the faith.

— 5 —

Middle Tennessee Statue University has developed a simple way to make any car into a hybrid. For (a projected) $3,000, gas mileage can be at least doubled. Dr. Charles Perry explains:

Spotted by my friend Tom C.

— 6 —

Lauri Ulvestad was traveling along a mid-west highway in her 2011 Kia Sorento SUV. Somehow, her accelerator became stuck and took her on a 59 mile high speed (up to 115 mph) 35 minute nightmare. This could have been any of us.

ABC’s Good Morning America also reported the story.

— 7 —

Random thought: vanity license tags are tombstones for the living.


Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!


Comments

  1. #6: I’ve actually witnessed high speed chases. It’s kind of strange that watching them on TV is actually soothing for me.

    #7: Huh. Interesting.

  2. If the gas jams, should you pull out to the grass immediately, spin until you run out of gas, and call for help simultaneously, or call first and await instructions?

    • I think by the time you realize what is happening, you would be going too fast. Pulling into the grass would probably roll the car many times and that would be very bad. This lady was lucky to be able to pass cars for such a long stretch that gave her time to find a solution. My guess is that normally, you should try braking, pulling up on the accelerator with the edge of your shoe, putting the car in neutral, slowly engaging the emergency brake and if all else fails, turning off the car if possible. No really great options…

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