The 140 character limit was killing us, so here’s an extension of a discussion between me and tweeter extraordinaire, @NateWatkins.

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

~ Adrian Rogers, 1931 – 2005

What moves me so much about this are the ordinary heroes. The determination to act is what sets heroes apart from the rest of us; we all have the capacity to to help others, and to make a difference.  They are the ones who choose to do it.

“No training. This was just people doing what they had to do that day.”

“You forget all about what you’re supposed to do, what they teach you in school, and you say, ‘You know what? Morally, this is the right way to go, and deep down, this is what I’m going to do.’”

“Average people. They stepped up when they needed to. They showed me, when American people need to come together and pull together, they will do it.”

“I have one theory in life. I never want to say “I should have.” If I do it, and I fail, then I tried. If I do it and I succeed, better for me. And I tell my children the same thing: never go through life saying you should have. If you want to do something, do it.”

The largest sea evacuation in history, with no planning, no preparation, conducted by ordinary people in record time.

This photo is obviously another staged Pallywood production, but I loved the caption.  Just a little d20 humor.  I’m currently playing two RPGs, and both of my characters are elf bards. [Update: Not only is this not a Pallywood production, it's not even photoshopped! This is a real photo, taken by an AFP photojournalist.]

Cool free service  o’ the day: Take Them A Meal.  Our church is big on saying “I love you,” with food when someone is sick or has died.  This service coordinates those “food chain” events beautifully.  Automatic email reminders, and everyone can see what everyone else is bringing so there are no duplicate meals.

Hey, remember the case of the N.M. Christian photographer who was fined nearly $6,700 for “sexual orientation discrimination” when she refused to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony?  It’s being appealed.

Did you know a bunch of people are still without power, a full four days after that storm?  Instapundit reader Wayne Fiebick wonders “Where is the outrage at President Obama at the lack of Federal response that there was over Bush/Katrina?”

The GOP is already beginning the process of weaselling out of an Obamacare repeal. Mitch McConnell says it will be Really Hard and gosh, he’ll give it the old college try, but maybe we ought not to get our hopes up. Mitt Romney’s advisor  agrees with Democrats that the Supreme Court is wrong about the mandate being a tax, and hey, maybe we should just drop the whole issue during this election season.  Sometimes it’s just too much trouble to fight a massive government encroachment into our lives and freedom, isn’t it?  Calm yourselves, citizens. Have a nice cup of tea, and let Nanny State take care of you.

I needed an mp3 of the Indian national anthem for a project I’m working on, and it is surprisingly cool.  I wonder if performers botch the lyrics as often as people botch them for our national anthem.