This was reported on Instapundit.com. The blogger is Glenn Reynolds, a PJ media blogger and law professor in Tennessee.

Someone sent it to me this morning. As one wag said, "What's this Resurrection thingie?"

Leave it to the NYT to parody itself on the subject of Easter. 

From the Times:

Thanks to those of you who chimed in on the subject of mass transit re: the post "Vision of the Anointed."

Thanks to varangianguard and Tom Greenacres for serving as editors and trying to help me find the right word to describe the tone of the lawyer who addressed St. Thomas Aquinas parish members during a recent 10:30 a.m. Mass on the subject of mass transit. 

I incorrectly used the word "exonerate," which is neither here nor there -- "to relieve of responsibility" was not what I meant. Excoriate is closer to what I was going for, but in truth it's too strong: "to tear or wear the flesh off. To abrade."

Let's say we were exhorted -- "urged, advised" and in fact "admonished" to support mass transit, or risk the label of being socially unjust.

In keeping with this theme, please read Paul Ogden (Ogden on Politics) today; he attended last night's meeting of IndyCAN with state Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, at Pilgrim Lutheran Church of Carmel, 3650 W. 106th St.

Here is the link to Ogden's blog:

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/

Ogden reports that Delph, who has been "a skeptic of mass transit," nevertheless attended in good faith; as a Christian, he is open to "IndyCAN's message that religious faith is a reason to support the mass transit expansion. 

"(But) What Senator Delph may have learned tonight is that there are people out there who are more than willing to misuse their religious faith and their leadership positions in churches to advance their pet political causes by falsely claiming those causes have to do with 'social justice.'"

More from Ogden:

"Senator Delph was led to believe that the meeting with IndyCAN would be an informational meeting, an opportunity to learn each other's positions.  IndyCAN clearly had no intention of being involved in that type of meeting.  It packed the hall with its supporters and invited the media.  Then it proceeded with a tightly scripted agenda to make sure only one side of the issue was presented."

And:

"Pastor Ronald Covington of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church said the Delph meeting was about having a 'conversation' on mass transit. What would soon become clear was that the last thing IndyCAN wanted at the meeting was a conversation in which both sides would be heard. 

"Pastor Covington's prayer prominently featured a plea that God support mass transit.  I actually expected he would pray that God convince Senator Delph to support the mass transit bill."

Delph, in effect, was given 5 minutes to speak and then subjected to canned questions from the audience. Here's Ogden's conclusion:

Does anyone else identify with what happened to Thomas B. Tefft, 67,and his wife Laura at 7822 Harcourt Springs Place on Friday, March 15?

The retired couple, who lived in a comfortable little brick home in a Northwestside development, near 79th and Harcourt Road, were enjoying their early morning rituals -- he was drinking coffee and watching TV, she was counting out her pills -- when a masked man came in through their patio-style door that opened to their screened-in porch.

Mrs. Tefft fled to the bathroom with her cell phone while her husband, a glazier from New York by trade, repeatedly pleaded with the bad guy: "Don't hurt my wife."

Mrs. Tefft quickly dialed 911. A dispatcher told her to stay put and not risk being hurt herself. She heard "something, a muffled sound," according to Detective Delbert Shelton, the Indianapolis Metropolitian Police Department homicide investigator on the case. 

Then she heard her husband moaning. And she heard the gunman run into the bedroom, where he grabbed the keys to their car and took off. Meanwhile the dispatcher stayed with her, urging her to remain in the bathroom until police arrived.

Mrs. Tefft said, "In five minutes, my life changed forever," according to City-County Councilwoman Angela Mansfield, who has lived in the development 23 years and now leads the neighborhood association. The Teffts, who moved to Indianapolis in 1996 from New York to be closer to family, formerly served on the association's board.

According to Indianapolis Star reporter Bill McCleery, the Teffts were, said Ms. Manfield, "super, super nice people...quiet...and willing to volunteer their time."

Detective Shelton confirmed what Ms. Mansfield told me: the couple had a cat, and they had let it out on the screened porch and left their patio door ajar. Police said the gunman cut a screen on the porch and entered the house through the open door. It was about 6:30 a.m.

What can we learn from this tragedy? First, Mr. Tefft was a heroic man; he saved his wife, who is a cancer patient. 

Ms. Mansfield said the neighbors recently had a meeting with police. They were advised that, if possible, to flee your premises if someone invades it. But Detective Shelton said, "There are so many scenarios... You may not be able to leave (or resist). At least Mrs. Tefft had a plan -- she did something. She called 911." And her husband, too, had a plan -- protect his wife.

On Monday, Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana ran a notice on Page A2 of the Star, seeking tips. This was after the couple's car, a black 2009 Hyundai, was recovered at 42nd and Rookwood in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood, several days after the crime. 

Police won't say if they are getting tips, but they suspect the gunman -- a black man in his 20s, wearing a gray hoodie, a black stocking cap and something over his face -- was likely alone. They also know the weapon was a small-calibre gun, and someone spotted the Hyundai being driven on the Eastside the day of the murder.

One practical lesson to take away is that we can never assume we are safe, even in our own homes. Keep your doors locked, always. Steve DuBois, an IMPD former homicide detective  on loan to Crime Stoppers as the coordinator of the program, also cautions people, including his wife and kids, "If you feel anything is wrong, don't enter your home. Exit and drive away and call 911."

But there are no magic answers. You also can't ever assume that the average person can confront a criminal and survive. "Even when policemen confront a bad guy, they can lose. Unless you are trained and have a mindset (that you are going to prevail,) you may be better off to back off," said DuBois. Obviously, though, Mr. Tefft's goal was to save his wife from harm.

Police are looking at the amount of foot traffic in the area, especially along 79th Street, and at other robberies or incidents in the neighborhood, which has had its share of low-level crime lately. 

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of $1,000. A friend suggested that upping that amount would bring results, but DuBois says "enhanced rewards do not do anything, because a problem with that is that the reward is tied to conviction. Our reward is tied to an arrest....once the detective says, 'Hey, this tip is what led us to the arrest,' the tipster gets the reward."

No answers, many questions, and much sorrow and identification. Many of us share the lifestyle of the Teffts: we are quiet, we think we are safe, we let the cat in and out, all that.

All that is left is gratitude to a husband and father for saving his wife, and sorrow at the senseless loss of a good man's life. And, I hope and pray, the community will to find the person responsible.

God knows, everyone who read the sendoff by Indianapolis Star former page designer Tony Griffo was moved, amused and impressed. I say it's the gene pool: guy has talent.

Plus Tony, who had several incarnations at the Star, starting as a copy messenger, is a keen observer of life,open to new ideas and by nature, jolly. Otherwise, how could he have stayed so long at the Indianapolis Star?

For those who suggested his writing is good enough to warrant a lateral move to another newspaper, forget about it. He's going to take his severance and study to become a CNA -- certified nurse assistant. He's actually already providing aid to former Star TV assistant editor Dennis Hanshew, so he's got a good start in his career.

Again, good luck to Tony and to Dennis as well. And good health.

Those two reporters, covering the Legislature, (where so many intriguing stories of weasoldom are born), did a swell job reporting that House Speaker Brian Bosma, king of the Republicans at the Statehouse, is backing Mayor Greg Ballard's political power grab. If the Rs have their way, the Indy/Marion City-County Council will lose four at-large seats. No surprise, but they are all occupied by Ds.

The reporters got some great reaction quotes from sources. My favorite is Ruth Hayes, a R, but always a contrarian and independent thinker, whose reaction was "Obscene, obscene, obscene!"

"Anytime the public's representation is diminished," she said, "good government is diminished....It's nothing more than a very, very counterproductive move by our elected leaders, because it will come back to haunt them. As a former GOP precinct committeeman, I am chagrined that this type of activity is being suggested."

Another important story for all of us, told with verve and I believe, fairness and accuracy.