WGN-TV’s chief meteorologist is called upon to answer the tough weather questions.

Headline Chicago Tribune: What will it take to break Illinois’ 2005 drought?

Q.42. What is the essence of the ten commandments?

A. The essence of the ten commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and to love everyone else as we love ourselves.

This summary of the moral law comes right from Jesus Himself, when he was questioned by the Pharisees on what was the greatest law.

Matthew 22:37-40

³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Headline AP: U.S., Iraqi Forces Shoot at Syria Guards

DAMASCUS, Syria -
Syria has complained that U.S. and Iraqi troops have mistakenly fired on its border guards even as they’ve tried to stop militants from infiltrating into
Iraq.

Usually U.S. and Iraqi troops only shoot at them when they are helping militants to inflitrate into Iraq.

A little over a year ago, I commented on the Kerry campaign didn’t understand religious people. Kerry was trying to sway Evangelical Christian voters by hiring a far left, Unitarian, anti-globalist, socialist, and then ignoring her because having a religious consultant offended some of his core voters.

In the aftermath of the 2004 elections, there has been much talk about how the Democrats need to find a way to connect with Evangelical Christian voters if they want to again win national elections.

But many Democrats still are obviously uncomfortable with any acknowledgement of God.

In an IT Conversations podcast, Dr. Moira Gunn interviews Joe Trippi who managed Howard Dean’s 2004 Presidential campaign. Joe Trippi makes an interesting little side comment that demonstrates this phenomena:

I was with Mondale in 1984, Vice President Mondale, and I thank [slight pause as he considers carefully what he was about to say and decides to change it] whatever [laugh, possibly realizing how silly what he just said sounds] that Gary Hart didn’t have the Internet.

To hear the eight second audio clip, click here.

Isn’t it odd that he feels awkward saying “I thank God” in an interview?

It took many late nights and lots of saké, but these Japanese researchers were willing to make some sacrifices to advance science.

Headline AFP: Japanese researchers unlock mysteries of drunkenness

Their initial discovery is that drunkenness has something to do with how much alcohol you drink, but they recommend further research to find the effects of alcohol when combined with loud music, food, and social interaction in small and large groups. All for science.

Most sports fans aren’t terribly impressed by Pittsburgh’s baseball team these days. Their offense is particularly suspect these days.

ESPN writes today after the Pittsburgh lost to Houston at PNC Park:

The Pirates dropped to a season’s-worst 15 games under .500 after three losses in 22 hours, rapid even by their standards….

The Pirates … were at .500 only five weeks ago…. They’ve been outscored 64-16 while dropping eight of nine, scoring one or fewer in five of the losses, and are 1-7 since the All-Star break.

But according to the Telegraph, this has only been a minor offensive lull since Boxing Day, and it is now ending.

Headline Telegraph: Pirates resume their attacks after post-tsunami lull

Being local to the action, I have to disagree. Pittsburgh’s offense is not coming out of a slump. I don’t think the English understand baseball at all, and I suspect their analysis is flawed.

36 years ago today Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first people to land on the moon. To celebrate this event, Google has created Google Moon. Check it out. And make sure you zoom in to settle the age old argument about what the moon is made of.

Oh, and by the way, happy first birthday to the emergency backup dog.

Headline Washington Times: Ex-FBI agent Smith on probation, fined

Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is apparently a Roman Catholic sympathizer.

Headline Telegraph: Mass protest in desert foiled by Sharon security

You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Headline Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Yough cuts after-school busing