Honeysuckle Blossoms and a Bumblebee

My neighbor and I were mowing our lawns at the same time this afternoon.

The honeysuckle is still blooming in my back yard: just a few blossoms, true, but definitely a few. And a bumblebee came a-calling, too.

And those are very fine things to be able to say about a Pennsylvania town on a late October day.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 10/22/02 02:39:13 PM
Categorized as Other.

"Zigging and zagging on the sniper's trail"

A must-read article by the world's finest columnist.

Mark Steyn in the National Post yesterday:

.... But let's try and put together a more detailed psychological profile: It's clear we're dealing with someone who craves publicity, who derives some kind of sick thrill out of what he's doing, whose sense of superiority is fed by the kick he gets being one step ahead of the cops, whose need to express his fantasies leads him to repeat the act again and again, until eventually his arrogance causes him to slip up, he gets careless and sloppy and Larry King's producers say, "Screw him. Let's book some other expert for tonight's show."

But enough about the psychological profilers, what about the killer?...

(Thanks Charles.)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 10/22/02 12:43:33 PM
Categorized as Social/Cultural.

"Definitions, Questions, and Efforts at Answers"

More from Susanna Cornett on the Beltway Sniper.

I do get fed up, sometimes, with TV coverage in hyperdrive; but, that doesn't mean I'm not interested in what people are saying. Especially at cut on the bias: Susanna Cornett has done a lot of research into murderous criminal activity: her master's thesis was on mass murderers. And she has always impressed me as being one smart cookie. And she was, I gather, watching FOX News this morning about the time I did:

.... This morning, in the television media coverage, someone commented that if the man shot this morning had been shot the same way a few years ago, or in another place, he may be dead rather than injured – not because the bullet would have hit him differently, but because medical assistance was close by. If this sniper had not killed people – only injured them – would we consider him to be of a different sort than a killer? We shouldn’t – the intent and effort would be the same, the only differences would be skill, luck and location.

When I listen to discussions of this killer, I continually hear him described as a serial killer. My question is – on what basis? Well, the sole criteria appears to be that he is continuing to shoot people in a series, obviously enough. But it appears to me that this is not a sufficiently nuanced evaluation. Specifically, the sniper began his killings with a cluster of attacks, as I mentioned yesterday; if he had stopped there, he would be defined most likely as a mass murderer, possibly a spree killer. Why does this matter? Because this definition of “serial killer” is being used as the basis for the assessment of the killer’s activities and motive, at least by the media and their “experts” (one trusts that is not the case with the investigative task force).

In case studies and research done on serial killers, it’s been learned that typically the point of the killings is the process, again as I pointed out yesterday. Integral to the process in the case of most serial killers is sexual arousal – or, more narrowly, a deep feeling of power and control experienced sexually. However, that’s not the case with mass murderers. The killings for them are the means to an end - escape from a situation, sometimes, but more typically revenge, sending a message to someone, even if the someone is an amorphous society, that by God, I will not be tampered with or ignored! ....

(See "Who the Sniper is, Why He Isn't al Qaeda" yesterday.)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 10/22/02 12:15:33 PM
Categorized as Social/Cultural.

More on the Vatican Response

To the American bishops' proposed Charter and Norms.

Domenico Bettinelli sticks up for CWN today contra Bill Cork. One may have already gathered that I think Bill's take on this is somewhat strained.

Domenico takes it a step further, opining that the principals involved (especially Bishop Wilton Gregory) have put a far better face on this than the real circumstances warrant:

.... The suggestion -- from him [that is, from Bill Cork, I think] and from the USCCB -- is that the Dallas policy, with a few minor amendments, will soon be approved. That is a prediction -- just as it was a prediction that the policy would be approved last week. Let's see if that prediction holds true. If it doesn't (as I say it won't), we can come back to the question of who has better sources in Rome.

The problem with the Dallas policy is not that it needs fine-tuning; it's that crucial parts of the policy violate the universal law of the Church. Those violations can't be amended or fine-tuned away; this policy is not going to be approved in anything like its current form....

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 10/22/02 10:26:41 AM
Categorized as Religious.

Why Can't Everybody Just Shut Up?

About the Beltway Sniper, I mean.

About a half-hour ago, I sat down for a few minutes in front of the TV, while I ate a bowl of cereal. I was watching FOX News, and all the news, of course, was the latest attack by the Beltway Sniper about 6:00 this morning. (God have mercy on the victim and bless those caring for him now.)

Apparently, nothing else is happening anywhere in the Solar System that's newsworthy.

I gather that the authorities received what may be some kind of note from the perpetrator(s). FOX News presented the obligatory commentary from experts. Two experts, one after the other. The first thought the attack this morning was some kind of "message" from the sniper indicating that he was serious about the demands he supposedly made in the alleged note. The second thought the attack this morning was some kind of "message" from the sniper indicating that he had nothing to do with the alleged note supposedly from him.

Within the space of five minutes, two "experts" gave opinions diametrically opposed to each other. I suppose one could call that "fair and balanced". One could also call it "useless".

And there's something I have been wondering about: would the media be so obsessed with these shootings if they had happened in the vicinity of, say, Lower Groundhog Burrow, Montana? Or is this news more "important" because the shootings are happening in the 'Burbs?

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 10/22/02 10:03:41 AM
Categorized as Media.

Another Happy Anniversary to Pope John Paul II

Who inaugurated his papal ministry 24 years ago today, October 22, 1978.

PetersNet has Pope John Paul II's Homily at the Mass Beginning His Pastoral Ministry:

.... Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ's power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows "what is in man". He alone knows it.

So often today man does not know what is within him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns into despair. We ask you therefore, we beg you with humility and trust, let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of eternal life....

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 10/22/02 07:12:07 AM
Categorized as Pope John Paul the Great & Religious.