Ranting about the American value system

Our trip to Jamaica

2009-10-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

We went to Jamaica to go scuba diving a couple of weeks ago. Had a really great time, and met some really friendly Jamaican people. They are really proud of their heritage and are very willing to talk about their culture to foreigners. I came away with a deeper appreciation for life, and for living. My husband and I had a lot of fun together, something that's hard for us to do unless we really get away from it all for a week. The diving, while not extremely challenging, was enjoyable and exhilarating. I am not a person who can stay put on a resort for very long, I must get out and see what the country has to offer. So we opted for a Nine Mile Bob Marley birthplace tour, and the drive there took about two hours, was in curvy countryside, and we really saw a lot of poverty. Browns Town Jamaica is one such place, where many of the residents still do not have running water or electricity. Our guide also pointed out the "Caveman," a local homeless man that lives in a cave nearby and walks every day into town to buy what he needs. How he gets the money to live we really didn't want to know. We did get offered the ubiquitous herb of Jamaica several times but politely declined. It is sad, a fact that many Americans report, that Jamaica is in such poverty and yet we dine on fancy food, sleep in what they consider a 5 star hotel even if it is only a 2 to us, and do not have a care in the world when we are on the beach, except to complain about some sand flies or that there is not enough variety in the buffet line. How selfish we are as tourists sometimes. The travel experience is not about being catered to 100% of the time (although I admit it is nice for a special occasion) but travel should always be looked at as, "what can I take away from this that I didn't have previously" or "what can I learn about these people that aren't in my own culture."

For example, saying "ma'am" is foreign to Jamaicans. They prefer to use "pretty lady" or "milady" which made me feel so special. A smile goes a long way. We made it a habit to talk to everyone at the resort, the landscapers, the busboys, everyone.
The Jamaican government makes it very difficult for the average citizen to get a visa to travel out of their own country, because if they did, they probably wouldn't want to come back because of the poverty and no jobs, so whatever job a Jamaican can get is a good job. This is pretty indicative of how corrupt their politicians must be, to have so much control over their population like that. I said to my husband, "all we need is a passport, even after 9/11. How lucky we really are."

Federal appeals court upholds Texas law requiring a minute of silence in schools

2009-07-23T23:34:00.000-07:00

I still keep up with the case on David Croft in Texas and his attempts to remove the moment of silence from the local public schools. Apparently the latest news from March 2009 is that the courts are upholding the moment of silence. I imagine it has cost the Crofts a lot in terms of personal freedoms and monetary expenses. That is very sad. I do not wish such a thing on people.

However, and I will say this until there's a point where Christians will have to leave the USA, that if opening up legislative sessions in our own government begin with a prayer and reciting the pledge of allegiance, then the atheists need to just give it a rest. Seriously. There aren't any doctors or courts in this country (at this time anyway) that will officially be able to declare Christianity a mental disorder for the purposes of dismantling our Constitution and rights to practice Christianity, and that's really what their ultimate goal is. They aren't there to remove anything else or any other religious practices, because for them, nothing conflicts with their agenda more.

Without knowledge of ths Croft case, I might not have reexamined my own faith more closely. I'm sure this is not what a diehard atheist would ever want to hear though.

Why Americans will stop traveling around the US

2009-07-22T19:09:00.001-07:00

Gee, summer's here. Time to take the kids to Disney, or somewhere nice and warm for a vacation. But wait. Before you take that plunge to fly to a U.S. city for your next getaway, better read and understand, for example, what a car rental will really cost you. In these days of shrinking wallets, here's what I found on thrifty.com's website for a one week rental of an economy car in Oct 2009:

Rental Time Charge $363.75
Customer Facility Charge ($4.00 per day) $28.00
Energy Recovery Fee ($0.45 per day) $3.15
Privilege Fee (9.89%) $36.61
STATE TRANSACT TAX ($2.03 per day) $14.21
STATE TAX (7%) $31.43
Vehicle Licensee Fee ($0.47 per day) $3.29
Total Estimated Mandatory Charges (USD) $480.44
Estimated Grand Total (USD) $480.44

I've never been a big fan of renting cars anyway unless I HAVE to. But you used to be able to get some wheels for a few days without it costing you a whole month's car payment! So I guess the days of the $29.99 per day rate are gone. And what exactly is a PRIVILEGE FEE? Does this mean that I now have the PRIVILEGE of driving a rental car that I have paid for? I'm supposed to feel GOOD about this?????

It's all about reducing our "carbon footprint." Well I have an opinion about where I'd like to stick my foot now after reading all this...

The car rental companies will go the way of the dodo just like the carmakers. Makes those all inclusive getaways to Mexico seem a lot more attractive now doesn't it?

Guess Al Gore is sitting back in his easy vinyl chair, laughing while thumbing through his millions in endorsement checks for "saving Mother Earth."

It's all pretty suspicious to me. But if you are so soaked in the ideology as to continue to buy into this facade, then by all means, go plop down $500 to rent some roller skates in Miami. I'll wave from the plane as I'm flying to the Mayan Riviera, forced to spend my travel dollars there instead of my own country.

New "rant"

2009-07-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

I haven't ranted since March! Maybe it's just trying to settle into Ohio and missing my Oklahoma roots. Looking forward to fall and Sooner football! Of course there aren't many Sooner fans around the Tri State area, but we try to hold our own. Next year when OU plays Cincinnati here, we're going to open our home up for any Sooner fans that want a place to hang their head and have a backyeard tailgate party.

On politics...maybe I shouldn't go there. But I'm just not surprised that the Obama administration is doing what they are doing to our money system. I tried to warn friends and family but they didn't listen. Chicago thug politics is here to stay at least for 4-8 more years. I'm not seeing any "change" that Obama promised, except more trillions in spending. He will have spent more than Bush ever spent in Iraq. When will we pay our "fair share?" liberals ask. As if we aren't paying enough. Ask any liberal to willingly hand over their hard earned dollars to an out of control government for the "betterment of society" and see what their answer is. Ask them to pay a higher tax on anything.

And this thing in Honduras? I'm not surprised either that Obama sides with Zelaya, a left wing extrement that is the Honduran equivalent to Hugo Chavez. Screw the Honduran constitution, let's elect a dictator that will use their state run media to stay in power. Gee, any similarities there?

Enough of Michael Jackson already! Make his family pay for the extravagant services in L.A. California is bankrupt! They need to get rid of Ahnold.

The biggest joke though, has to be Al Franken as the newest Senator to take an oath of office. How much money did he pay for that? We'll never know. But gosh darnit...

"PEOPLE LIKE ME."

My visit to St. George's

2009-03-23T14:09:00.001-07:00

I visited the small Russian parish in Cincinnati yesterday for Liturgy. I had been wanting to go for awhile but just hadn't made it yet. It's set in an older neighborhood near Blue Ash.

It took a little while to find it but then I saw the little cupola at the end of the road and parked my car. It definitely reminds me of the small parishes dotted all over Russia. Before I left my house I wondered if I should bring a headscarf, since that is the traditional wear in Europe. Well, my instincts were right as I saw a couple of women hurriedly draping their heads before making the sign of the cross and entering the building.

I tried to slip in unnoticed but it was impossible. Two women turned around and saw me. Trying to avoid a faux pas, I circled my head with a finger and shook my head. No problem...they had a box of scarves right there. A lady handed it to me and said, "Ah, you are American peoples?"
Gee, no give away there right?

When I entered the tiny room I crossed myself and tried to find a place to stand. In most Orthodox churches, people stand for the majority of the Liturgy which can last over 2 hours. It's a bonus if you can find chairs or benches. So I stood there amidst mostly Russian women on the left side while the men stayed on the right. I kept fiddling with my scarf; it wouldn't stay on my head and I was getting very hot standing next to all these women wearing wool clothing.

The choir mostly sang in Russian then some English. It was beautiful. But I couldn't really tell when communion began and ended. I stayed back while most of the others jockeyed for a position. There was no organization to the chaos whatsoever.

After the service I went forth and took the blessed bread. As I went back into the front room for coffee hour, a woman stopped me, pointing to my sweater. I had something on it. I almost flicked it off then realized it was a crumb of the bread. She grabbed it fast and put it in my mouth. Anything that is blessed or sacred is never to fall to the ground or tossed away...like our flag I suppose.

I met some nice people during coffee hour, many who didn't speak good English. But I don't know any Russian save for a few words so I commended them.

Most people assumed I wasn't Orthodox but when I told them they wanted to know all about why I had chosen to do so. Most cradle Orthodox cannot really grasp why Americans want to join their church. I tried to explain about the televangelists, the making a commodity out of God, and reducing the church to an entertainment venue as reasons. I think they understood but I also think many of them have not been exposed to it so could not make a comparison for themselves.

These people truly have faith and don't question it. They don't let the trappings of our society dictate their lives. Maybe that's the bliss of coming to America as an outsider.

Kathleen Sebelius

2009-03-04T00:04:00.000-08:00

This woman is the worst choice for an HHS secretary I have ever seen. My main beef with her is the fact that she supports late term abortions and abortions without parental consent. Late term abortions are an abomination of human life.

George Tiller, the famous doctor in Wichita KS, known as "Tiller the baby killer" has performed many of these in his office. I've seen the interviews with the young women he has performed these horrible abortions on, and they are heartwrenching.

His website makes my stomach turn. http://www.drtiller.com/

Abortionist Tiller Admits to Performing Abortions the Day Before DeliveryHis Speech at National Education Association

By John-Henry Westen

ARLINGTON, VA, March 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Notorious partial-birth abortion specialist Dr. George Tiller of Wichita, KS, was caught on hidden video admitting to aborting babies a day before the mother's due date. Students for Life of America (SFLA) today released the video which was made at the Feminist Majority Foundation's annual Women's Leadership Conference held at the National Education Association (NEA) on March 9.

The video reveals Dr. Tiller showcasing massive and graphic pictures of children with fetal abnormalities that he had aborted, so as to make the case for late-term abortions as necessary medical procedure. SFLA's Executive Director Kristan Hawkins, who videotaped the conference and interviewed Tiller clandestinely, commented on the gruesome pictures of aborted children Tiller showed, saying, "One had an extra arm: could not that child had survived and received corrective surgery? Was violently killing the child the only way to go?"

"Pro-lifers are regularly condemned for displaying pictures of aborted babies, but here the pro-abortion crowd and the NEA are more than happy to showcase these graphic images, and even gave Dr. Tiller's presentation a standing ovation," added Hawkins.

Tiller, who currently faces 19 criminal charges for illegal late-term abortions in the state of Kansas, at first feigned ignorance of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, a federal bill signed into law in 2002 that protects born children from murder and illegalizes infanticide. However when questioned further about the measure he spoke of his ideological objection to the legislation, saying, "Let's say you have 15 or 16, you had 1 slip out with a heartbeat; that is not a viable fetus, but that is born alive or has a heartbeat. Then you have to take that non-viable fetus and rush it directly to the hospital against the woman's wishes."

Given that the conference featuring Tiller was held at the National Education Association, it is probable that a good number of the more than three million members of the NEA would be voicing opposition if they were made aware of the situation.

"As a pro-life teacher, I can say this illustrates why I am no longer a member of the NEA," said Marla Mercer, a West Virginia teacher and former member of the National Education Association. "The NEA should not be involved in this issue; here they are hosting this controversial abortionist and his slideshow of babies he has aborted. There is no way any of my money will ever be used to advance the radical pro-abortion agenda of Planned Parenthood and the NEA."

Kathleen Sebelius, as governor of Kansas, received campaign donations from this man, and had no interest in prosecuting him.

Rush and bigotry

2009-03-03T16:40:00.000-08:00

I watched the Rush Limbaugh speech during the CPAC conference. Wow, he really brought the house down! His speech was far more inspiring than any I have heard from Nobama. People tell me all the time that he is a bigot, a fat liar, etc etc. when they have not bothered to LISTEN to the man (because they make assumptions based on what they see on CNN or what their other liberal friends tell them) yet they hang onto Nobama's every word as if it was gold and don't bother to critically examine him.

If you're going to criticize something at least take the TIME to examine both sides before you rush to judgment.

I remember Joe Biden making a comment something along the lines of "when you go into a 7 eleven at 11pm all you see are Indian people."

Who's the bigot here???

There is hope

2009-02-27T11:31:00.000-08:00

In watching the CPAC conference on CSPAN today, I was immediately impressed by a 13 year old kid named Jonathan Krohn give a speech about conservatism. Wow, was I impressed!

Here's an article from the Guinnett Daily Post about this outstanding young man:

10/16/2008 12:01:00 AM

Jonathan Krohn, a 13-year-old Duluth resident, has written book on conservatism titled “Define Conservatism.”

Politics passion
13-year-old pens book on conservatism

By Deanna Allen
Staff Writer

LAWRENCEVILLE - Jonathan Krohn has been told he is a 35-year-old living in a 13-year-old's body.

Ask him about conservatism, a topic about which he is particularly passionate, and he may seem even older than 35.

The Duluth resident's belief in the conservative political viewpoint has led him to pen a primer on conservatism. Based on research and interviews with politicians he conducted himself, Krohn has outlined four principles on which he believes conservatism is based: respect for the U.S. Constitution, respect for life, less government and personal responsibility.

"Shucking it down to the cob, I noticed that almost every conservative without an exception pretty much said that those four basic principles were important and key to being a conservative," Krohn said.

The home-schooled student interviewed state legislators Tom Rice, Barry Laudermilk, Tom Graves and Clint Day. He also interviewed conservative talk show host Michael Medved during his research.

Krohn said he wrote his book for current and potential conservatives.

"If you believe in something, it's best to understand it better and to learn more about it," Krohn said, "and I believe that conservatives need to continue to do that and new conservatives need to understand the viewpoints they're getting into."

Krohn developed an interest in political processes about age 8 after hearing about a Democratic filibuster on talk radio while riding in the car with his father, and Krohn became a fan of Bill Bennett's "Morning in America" radio show.

"Because of (Bennett) I really started getting involved in politics and started looking at things and analyzing it on my own," Krohn said.

The teen speaks eloquently about his passion for politics and the values that have directed him toward conservatism.

"The reason I'm passionate about politics is because I know by promoting conservative values I can promote conservative alternatives to the liberal ideas that are out there," Krohn said.

"Define Conservatism for Past, Present and Future Generations" was published this year. Krohn spent five months writing his book, giving up his summer, said his mother, Marla Krohn, who is helping her son to promote his book. The two have embarked on a mini book tour around northeast Georgia, which they hope to turn into a broader tour.

"It is humbling and exciting at the same time to see Jonathan have such confidence in himself, more than most adults do, and to watch him interact with adults on adult issues and hold his own," said Krohn's father, Doug Krohn. "(Jonathan) has a passion for something he goes for it without fear, which is a God-given gift."

"I really want the American people to better understand conservatism," Jonathan Krohn said. "That's the main point of this book."

And this is coming in the cynical, apathetic mood our country has seem to have fallen into. To see a young kid take this one on, way to go!!!

I'm going to buy this book.

HE IS HOMESCHOOLED BY THE WAY!

More cynicism from me

2009-02-19T12:01:00.000-08:00

I feel like griping. (What day do I not feel like doing this?)

I'm numb from watching my country go down the tubes, what can I say. Maybe I'm crazy, or criminally insane, or both. Or maybe I'm just one of the few people left with any sense of intelligence to see through what this new administration is doing to our country.

To all those Obama fans out there: You wanted change, and you're definitely getting it! To that all I can say is, "Not my fault. I voted for the other guy."

Found this on a blog. I didn't write the following:

Man puts "Abort Obama, not the unborn" sign in his car window and gets pulled over by OKC policeman named Steve McCool.
It gets more interesting.

After talking to his attorney, Harrison went home where he met the Secret Service. ''When I was on my way there, the Secret Service called me and said they weren't going to ransack my house or anything ... they just wanted to (walk through the house) and make sure I wasn't a part of any hate groups."

I don't countenance any threats to the CinC. But this comment sums up my feelings exactly:

So let me get this straight, the police/government are now telling us that abort/abortion only means "killing or murder" when used in context with Obama in a casual statement or conversation and that is not okay but when actually performed on an unborn child it simply means a "woman's choice" and this is okay! Got it!!

But I really love this one!

This is from

http://jammiewearingfool.blogspot.com/2009/02/classy-obama-blows-off-brothers-of-911.html

Classy: Obama Blows Off Brothers of 9/11 Victim, Invites Anti-Gitmo Aunt Instead

Talk about giving them the finger.
President Obama is caught smack in the middle of a family feud among 9/11 relatives of a financier killed at Ground Zero, The Post has learned.

The brothers of Adam Arias went ballistic when they learned that their aunt, Valerie Lucznikowska, was among the 9/11 relatives invited to last week's White House meeting with Obama. The brothers were not invited.

Arias, 37, a vice president of operations at Euro Brokers who worked on the 84th floor of the World Trade Center South Tower, was the eighth victim identified following the terrorist attacks.

His brothers, Andy and Donald Arias, attended the hearings of five suspected plotters of the 9/11 attacks at Guantanamo Bay last month and support keeping the facility open and prosecuting the detainees immediately.

By comparison, Lucznikowska has complained about alleged torture of Gitmo detainees and favors closing Gitmo.

The Arias brothers both sent letters to Obama protesting her presence in the Oval Office because she does not speak for or represent the Arias family.

They complained that Lucznikowska is exploiting their brother's name to promote her own agenda.
Naturally, Obama sides with the one who has an agenda.

So your brother was murdered by these monsters? Obama tells them to screw themselves.

Classy.

If George Bush had done this to a family to promote his side, you KNOW it would have been front page news and he would have been demonized.

Change YOU can believe in, but not me.

Orthodox Christmas

2008-12-14T06:08:00.001-08:00

As we approach Christmas, we're all reminded that heavy consumerism can lead to despair, not to mention large amounts of unnecessary debt. And in this particular time, it must be stressed all the more.
My inner struggle today however doesn't deal with those issues.

This is first Christmas I have spent with my family since being baptized Orthodox.
Therefore, the traditions I have grown up with are in conflict with those I am embracing now, and it is hard to explain to others who are not Orthodox. (I.e. Christmas Eve feasts vs fasting, blessing of the waters, long liturgical services on Christmas Eve, etc. etc.)

Here's some information I pulled off a BBC website in regards to the Orthodox calendar:

Christmas is celebrated by Orthodox Christians in Central and Eastern Europe and throughout the world on the 7th of January in the Gregorian Calendar - 13 days after other Christians.

In the East, Christmas is preceded by a 40 day fast beginning on November 15th. This is a time of reflection, self-restraint and inner healing in the sacrament of confession.

Usually, on Christmas Eve, observant Orthodox Christians fast till late evening, until the first star appears. When the star is seen, people lay the table ready for the Christmas supper.

On Christmas Day people takes part in divine liturgy after which many walk in procession to seas, rivers and lakes. Everyone gathers around in the snow for outdoor ceremonies to bless the water. Sometimes rivers are frozen, so people make holes in the ice to bless the water. Some take water home to bless their houses. Then a great feast is held indoors where everyone joins in to eat, drink and enjoy themselves.

A Orthodox Russian custom is to serve Christmas cakes and to sing songs. The tradition is mixed with other pagan traditions of ancient Russia such that people may visit their neighbours in disguises, dance, sing and ask for presents, similar to trick-or-treating.

There are similarities, as well as differences, between the Eastern and Western celebration of Christmas. The Eastern Christmas has a very strong family and social appeal just as it does in the West. It brings people of all generations together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Unlike the West, where Christmas ranks supreme, in the East it is Easter, centred on the cross and the resurrection of Christ, which is the supreme festival of the year. Also, Eastern Orthodox Christmas lacks the commercial side that is so typical to the West.

A legend in your own mind

2008-12-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated to Wayne Coon Sr., my highschool band director. I got most of my values from my mother, but I got a lot from Mr. Coon. During my formative years he provided a stern leadership I really needed, to help me set goals for the future. After my mother passed away when I was 15, I did get a lot of strength from being in band and having him as a mentor. Many other kids my age that weren't interested in band hated him because of his discipline. He was hard on us. But when he gave praise it was because you knew you had done something extraordinary.

Reminds me of the uncle of William Wallace in Braveheart when he explains to the young warrior, "I will teach you to use this..." (tapping his finger against his skull) "before this..."(tapping the sword hanging on his waist)

Mr. Coon was a phenomenal teacher and also fought in the Korean War. He had the ability to take a kid that was lost and straying, to being a disciplined and fantastic musician.

I remember my senior year, he moved me from 2nd chair trombone to bass in the jazz band. I looked at that thing and I said, "You expect me to play that?"

(The whole idea of being a bass bone player was very intimidating. It was huge and I weighed 100 lbs wet back then)

With a stern look, and without batting an eye he said, "Yes I do. And you will. You have the ability, you just don't know it."

I took it home and started toying with it, thinking, "This man is totally crazy," because I knew what challenges it would bring and what he would expect from me.

After a few weeks, I started kind of getting the hang of it, but balancing the rest of the section was really tough. When the word got out what I was doing, more than just a few eyebrows went up.

I spent countless hours learning more scales, etudes, ballads, and more practice combinations than I care to remember. It was like picking up the horn and learning to play it all over again.

But somehow, after a few months, I began to see a development in myself and a newfound confidence I hadn't had with my playing up to that point. The work paid off because when we started going to contest I just did my thing, and many educators came up to Mr. Coon and asked him where he got his bass bone player.

I made the All State jazz band 5A the following summer just before I packed up to go to college.

Basically, the point of my post is that I was forced to draw upon something within myself that I hadn't before, either because I was too scared or just didn't think I could do it. And that is what's wrong with society today. We don't have enough Mr. Coon's anymore to help us overcome our closet skeletons.

He had a lot of profound sayings too full of life lessons. Some of my favorites were:

1) Never say "I heard." (Meaning don't listen to idle gossip and give in to it.)
2) "You are a legend in your own mind." (Referring to people that had such big heads and egos that they couldn't fit through the door. Gee, how many of those have we all run across in our lives?)
3) If someone walks up to you and insults your clothing, appearance or values, simply walk away.

We as a society, because we're so obsessed with American Idol, Hollywood, pop culture, our possessions, and the haves and the have nots, we've forgotten the fundamentals that define our characters and identity as Americans. We've forgotten what freedom is and how hard it is to keep it. We've forgotten what personal responsibility and integrity are.

We are throwing in the towel, giving in to the criticisms, and not walking away to stand up for this world. We say "I heard" more than "no."

We're becoming legends in our own minds, with no respect for those that would guide us to be something better than ourselves. And we're teaching our youth to do the same.

What will our country be like in 20 years? I don't know if I want to hear the answer to that.

Migraines

2008-12-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

I have to write something today about migraines. I suffer from them on a pretty frequent basis, almost twice as much since I moved to Ohio. Today I felt like a mannequin spread out on a bad B movie scientist's table. He began by wiring blood vessels onto my body like rusty Christmas ornament hangers.

One by one, bending them painfully around my plastic lifeless body.

Then came the super glue to hold everything in along with my eyes and extremeties. The smell sent me into a tilt-a-whirl state of nauseadom.

Other times, I'm like the guy in the movie "Poltergeist" standing in front of the mirror tearing his whole face apart. Then out of the corner of his eye he spots the steak crawling across the kitchen cabinet and it explodes into maggots.

Instead of steak though, for me, I see my brains. And they're full of foetid squid-like creatures just like the maggots.

You ever see close up microscopic images of jellyfish????

These are just a few of the delightful experiences I have when I experience these mind altering headaches. At least they seem mind altering. When the dizziness comes and I can't feel my fingers and mouth, life gets pretty interesting.

Well at least I'm actually up and typing this today instead of lying in a pool of drool in a mental house.

Ahhh, the joys of PTSD.

George Mitchell

2008-11-28T13:17:00.001-08:00

I heard George Mitchell, a Democrat, speak today (yes on CSPAN) and I was really impressed with his insights on America's economic, political, and moral issues. He's more centrist than left, and when he talks he makes complete sense, answers questions thoroughly and thoughtfully, and is a very eloquent speaker. If Barack Obama had half the abilities of this man and not been so caught up in his own euphoria, I would have been more receptive to his message.

I picked up some stuff off wikipedia to post here about Mitchell:

In 1974 he won the Democratic nomination for governor of Maine, defeating Joseph Brennan. Mitchell lost in the general election to independent candidate James B. Longley, but was appointed United States Attorney for Maine by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Mitchell served in that capacity from 1977 to 1979 when he was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Maine. Mitchell served as a federal judge until he was appointed to the United States Senate in May 1980 by the governor of Maine, Joseph Brennan, when Edmund Muskie resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State.

Since 1995, he has been active in the Northern Ireland peace process as U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland. Mitchell first led a commission that established the principles on non-violence to which all parties in Northern Ireland had to adhere and subsequently chaired the all-party peace negotiations, which led to the Belfast Peace Agreement signed on Good Friday 1998 (known since as the Good Friday Agreement). Mitchell's personal intervention with the parties was crucial to the success of the talks. He was succeeded as special envoy by Richard Haass. For his involvement in the Northern Ireland peace negotiations, Mitchell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom[4] (on March 17, 1999) and the Liberty Medal (on July 4, 1998).

This is a man that should be in Obama's cabinet, but because he has prostate cancer might be the reason he wasn't offered a position.

On March 29, 2006, ESPN learned that Mitchell would head an investigation into past steroid use by Major League Baseball players. Mitchell was asked by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to investigate steroids charges, mainly against Barry Bonds, brought by recent revelations in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) trials of Victor Conte and Greg Anderson. Selig has said that revelations brought forth in the 2005 book "Game of Shadows" were, by way of calling attention to the issue, in part responsible for the league's decision to commission an independent investigation. To this day he is known to have held meetings with only two active players, Jason Giambi, who was ordered to meet Mitchell by Commissioner Selig in light of his public admissions on the issue, and one additional player whose name was initially not made public but was later revealed to be Frank Thomas. Mitchell did however hold extensive meetings with several known steroid dealers, club attendants, personal trainers, and others who had ties to all players named in the report. Even though the union that protects the players had pressured all but Giambi and Thomas into maintaining the culture of silence that had helped the drug problem remain a secret, there was plenty of other evidence aginst those named in his report.

Mitchell released a 409-page report of his findings on December 13, 2007. The report includes the names of 89 former and current players for whom it claims evidence of use of steroids or other prohibited substances exists. This list includes names of Most Valuable Players and All-Stars, such as Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada, Denny Neagle, Paul Lo Duca, David Justice, Barry Bonds, Eric Gagné, Todd Hundley, Randy Velarde, and Benito Santiago.

Mitchell has, in a way, taken on a role similar to that of John M. Dowd, who investigated Pete Rose's gambling in 1989.

Books
Great American Lighthouses (August 1989)
World on Fire: Saving an Endangered Earth (January 1991)
Not For America Alone: The Triumph of Democracy and The Fall of Communism (May 1997)
Making Peace (April 1999 — 1st Edition, July 2000 — Updated)

"Good morning, Vietnam!"

2008-11-26T15:14:00.000-08:00

I watched a show this morning on CSPAN about Adrian Cronauer, the famous DJ portrayed by Robin Williams in "Good morning, Vietnam."

He described his experience, which was very different than the Hollywood version. No surprise there.

While in Crete, he volunteered for Vietnam service just before the attacks on Saigon. Just before he was to leave the reports came in and there was nothing he could do at that point to avoid it.

He explained that there was no censorship regarding what music they could play, all that polka stuff was apparently made up. And they did post news and weather reports for the troops, but once the Vietcong caught onto when they were moving their locations due to rain, they had to stop.

In all the interviews he did out in the field, he said that he didn't encounter baby killers, rapists or any such thing as our media and the left would have us believe, just scared young men who'd been plucked from their homes and thrown into a jungle in a foreign country. They were dedicated to what they did.

He did say there was a restaurant that was bombed out on a boat, much like the "Jimmy Wong's" in the movie. And when he tried to report it they hadn't confirmed the casualty count so that's why he couldn't do it.

The "Gooooood morning, Vietnam!" was actually something he threw in as he was readying his tapes and material at the last minute before he started the show.

I remember at All Star band camp I helped out with in the 80's we rigged up a PA system in the dorms and blasted that down the hallways to get the kids out of bed at 5am.

Goooood times!

The death of everything

2008-11-21T11:39:00.000-08:00

I should play a dirge celebrating the dawn of a new era, of change and hope. I'm going to go down a bottle of champagne in the name of progress. I have so many reasons to do so!!!

1. Death of capitalism and the free market (Michael Moore's idiotic statement)
2. Death of IRA's and the profitable stock market
3. Death of health care as we know it (socialized medicine)
4. Death of decent public education
5. Death of Guantanamo Bay (We have to let those terrorists go because it's just too mean to keep them there. You think I'm against torture if it will save American lives?? HELL NO! Have we forgotten 9/11? Have we forgotten the beheading of our own citizens on TV??? Do we honestly think that Al-Qaeda is going to show Americans any mercy??? Should we keep Gitmo open? YES, WE CAN!!!)
6. Death of journalism (actually that died a long time ago so I'm a little late celebrating that one)
7. Death of American jobs
8. Death of Christianity as we know it in the United States of America
9. Death of our Constitution
10. Death of the U.S. dollar

I asked my husband if he wanted to host his team at our home for Christmas.
His reply:
"No, because we've laid off too many people. Nobody is in the mood to celebrate this year and it wouldn't be fair to ask them to come when they can't."

I can't WAIT for the change to come to this country!!!

Soviet regime returning to Eastern Europe

2008-11-09T14:42:00.000-08:00

They say we are not headed toward another Cold War and that the KGB is dead. Think again.

September 18, 2008

By Geraldine Fagan
Forum 18 News Service (Excerpts)

Fr Ioann Grudnitsky – who has already been fined for conducting services without state registration – faced further intimidation when he conducted the funeral of a parishioner in the village of Ruzhany, he told Forum 18 News Service. Village Council leader Leonid Moskalevich showed him an order from the KGB secret police banning him from leading the funeral as his parish – he is under the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad Provisional Supreme Church Authority – is not registered. However, he went ahead while Moskalevich and a police officer observed. "After working our whole lives in factories and on collective farms, sacrificing our health and receiving a tiny pension, we've reached a point where we have to ask permission from the local KGB secret police to organise a funeral!" the parishioners complained in an open letter to the President. "The local KGB has no right whatsoever to interfere in the life of the church." Moskalevich denied to Forum 18 that the document had come from the KGB or that it was a ban. Meanwhile, Grodno-based Baptist pastor Yuri Kravchuk is the latest pastor to be fined for leading unregistered worship.

The KGB secret police in Pruzhany District, close to the border with Poland, has tried to stop an Orthodox priest from leading a funeral in the local village of Ruzhany, the priest, Fr Ioann Grudnitsky, told Forum 18 News Service on 16 September. "They're starting to meddle in believers' affairs again." Yet Leonid Moskalevich, who heads Ruzhany Village Council (Brest Region), denied to Forum 18 that this was the case on 17 September: "It wasn't like that at all."

In Belarus, religious activity not sanctioned by the state is subject to prosecution under Soviet-era provisions of the Administrative Violations Code. Yuri Kravchuk, a Baptist pastor in the north-western regional centre of Grodno, is the latest to be fined.

After displaying a document from Pruzhany District KGB prohibiting Fr Ioann from conducting the funeral of Ruzhany parishioner Nina Levizarovich on 23 July, Moskalevich and a local police officer remained for the service's duration at the village cemetery, Fr Ioann told Forum 18. While the state representatives did not stop the funeral from going ahead, said the priest, they refused to give him a copy of the KGB instruction.

Ruzhany parishioners are "indignant" that Moskalevich, the village council chairman, threatened Fr Ioann with the KGB secret police instruction forbidding him to conduct the funeral. Before her death, Levizarovich had specifically requested that Fr Ioann lead her funeral, they point out in an open letter to President Aleksandr Lukashenko published on the Russian religious affairs website Portal-Credo on 10 September.

"After working our whole lives in factories and on collective farms, sacrificing our health and receiving a tiny pension, we've reached a point where we have to ask permission from the local KGB secret police to organise a funeral!" the parishioners exclaim in disbelief. "The local KGB has no right whatsoever to interfere in the life of the church – first and foremost they should shed tears of repentance on behalf of their Chekist predecessors who swam in human blood."

The Belarusian KGB – which has not changed its name since Soviet times - has made no attempt to distance itself from its Soviet past. It proudly traces its history back to the first Soviet secret police, the Cheka, which was founded by Felix Dzerzhinsky.

Thanks Ohio

2008-11-06T00:20:00.001-08:00

Ohio is a blue state thanks to ACORN. Well, I can't personally prove that LOL. But I can say that I was hounded by their workers at a summer festival I attended in July. At least 3 different people from their organization approached me with forms to fill out wanting me to register and said it would be more convenient than voting on election day. All they needed was my signature and last four of my SSN.
When I told them no they repeatedly hounded me until I walked away. When I finally did register at the county election office, they didn't ask for my ID, didn't confirm my address with a utility bill, nothing. I suspect this happened all over the state. Apparently a park bench can be given as an address if a voter wants.

So that means if a person said "this bench is my house" or "that bench is my house" and he can go to any county election office and give his name, "address" and some 4 digits of an SSN, he could theoretically vote multiple times. Nobody checked my information when I went to register. All those people that filled out multiple forms with ACORN probably did get registered multiple times. So probably thanks to ACORN we bought Obama's election for him.

And it didn't just happen in Ohio. It happened in numerous states, so to compare this with the FL recount in 2000 aint gonna cut it as a legitimate argument. Dead people can be resurrected through this kind of vote. Illegal aliens can be allowed to vote...yet our military has to go through so much bs and red tape to vote.

I don't think the Obama supporters out there have really given this a lot of thought. They bought into the cult...I keep wondering if he asked people to jump off a cliff, would they?

And also, look for your electricity bills to skyrocket. If the coal industry gets bankrupted like he says he will do...don't come crying to us.

"Let me sort of describe my overall policy. What I've said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else's out there.

I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year. So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted."

Hmm sounds like the press was in the back mixing more koolaid when this story broke.

Sure sounds good doesn't it? Punish the evil coal industry. Just remember this when you get your bills. And when you need a can of soda pop, look for that to go up too. Soda plants emit CO2.

DON'T BLAME BUSH. ALL YOU WILL HAVE TO DO IS LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

What I've wanted to say all along

2008-11-05T23:46:00.001-08:00

I think this bumper sticker expresses my feelings on the matter pretty well.

Today's news

2008-11-05T15:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm not giving up my fight against the Marxist left. This is my blog and until my free speech rights are taken away, I'm going to fire away at Obama every chance I get. We had to endure all the Bush bashing for eight years. So now it's MY TIME!

So as often as I can, I will add snippets on here to illustrate just what we are in for.

A Romanian architect I met not long ago informed me that he and his family left his country and came to America because of Communism, and that if we don't pull our heads out of the sand, America is headed down that same path.
A Bulgarian woman in her late 80's came to America for the same reasons. She doesn't even want to hear the words "Barack Obama" muttered in her presence.
A Russian hairdresser I knew in Kansas City echoes those sentiments.
An Italian-Greek couple I know saw generations of their families come to America because of freedom. Now they are wondering where that freedom is.

"You have to pinch yourself - a Marxist radical who all his life has been mentored by, sat at the feet of, worshiped with, befriended, endorsed the philosophy of, funded and been in turn funded, politically promoted and supported by a nexus comprising black power anti-white racists, Jew-haters, revolutionary Marxists, unrepentant former terrorists and Chicago mobsters, is on the verge of becoming President of the United States. And apparently it's considered impolite to say so."

- Melanie Philips, The Spectator ( UK ) 10/14/08

Obituary London Times

2008-11-04T18:15:00.000-08:00

It's a little long, but I think we should pay our respects....

An Obituary printed in the London Times........ Interesting and sadly,
rather true.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who
Has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was,
since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn't always fair;
and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend
more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children,
are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place.
Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing
a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after
lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only
worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the
job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly
children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental
Consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could
not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an
abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses;
And criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a
burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in
her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust,
by his wife, Discretion
his daughter, Responsibility,
and his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights.
I Want It Now.
Someone Else Is To Blame.
I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If
You still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do
nothing.

My friend Bill Ayers

2008-10-23T00:22:00.000-07:00

I have this friend Bill Ayers, you see, and he, well, he did some things that were kind of bad.

From wikipedia:

In 1969, Ayers participated in planting a bomb at a statue dedicated to riot police casualties in the 1886 Haymarket Riot confrontation between labor supporters and the police.[10] The blast broke almost 100 windows and blew pieces of the statue onto the nearby Kennedy Expressway.[11] (The statue was rebuilt and unveiled on May 4, 1970, and blown up again by other Weathermen on October 6, 1970.

Ayers participated in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, the United States Capitol building in 1971, and The Pentagon in 1972, as he noted in his 2001 book, Fugitive Days. Because of a water leak caused by the Pentagon bombing, aerial bombardments during the Vietnam War had to be halted for several days. Ayers writes:

Although the bomb that rocked the Pentagon was itsy-bitsy - weighing close to two pounds - it caused 'tens of thousands of dollars' of damage. The operation cost under $500, and no one was killed or even hurt.[14]

Ayers was asked in a January 2004 interview, "How do you feel about what you did? Would you do it again under similar circumstances?" He replied:[27] "I've thought about this a lot. Being almost 60, it's impossible to not have lots and lots of regrets about lots and lots of things, but the question of did we do something that was horrendous, awful? ... I don't think so. I think what we did was to respond to a situation that was unconscionable."

Did my friend Bill Ayers serve a day in jail for those atrocities? Absolutely not.

Ayers is currently a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Education. His interests include teaching for social justice, urban educational reform, narrative and interpretive research, children in trouble with the law, and related issues.[2]

He began his career in primary education while an undergraduate, teaching at the Children’s Community School (CCS), a project founded by a group of students and based on the Summerhill method of education. After leaving the underground, he earned an M.Ed from Bank Street College in Early Childhood Education (1984), an M.Ed from Teachers College, Columbia University in Early Childhood Education (1987) and an Ed.D from Teachers College, Columbia University in Curriculum and Instruction (1987). He has edited and written many books and articles on education theory, policy and practice, and has appeared on many panels and symposia.

People make excuses for Obama all the time, saying, "Well we've all had associations we're not proud of." Would they use this same logic if McCain had been an association of Timothy McVeigh's? I think the answer would be very different then.

Here's something to think about: Let's say you have a 16 year old daughter that gets pregnant by the punk that threatened his teachers, had a gun in his backpack and used a pipe bomb at the school? Would you say, "Oh he's just a young kid going through a phase...he'll grow out of it." How would you feel about your daughter having a child by this young man, hence an "association?" Would you be okay with that association? Well, wait a minute. I know what some of you might do. You'd make that girl have an abortion and then you'd run that kid out of your life, never to speak to him again.

Funny how people turn off their radars and red flags for one but not the other. We're electing a President, not a Hollywood celebrity. But America is so caught up with Obamamania, it won't matter. There will be a movie about him at some point. Heck, at all the Halloween stores I've been to, kids go crazy over the Obama masks and the others sit in a pile. It's very sad when we elevate a King to run our country. The "Obama Temple" is but a small part of things to come.

Now you know

2008-10-20T14:04:00.001-07:00

Question: What is America's first line of missile interceptor defense that protects the entire United States?

Answer: 49th Missile Defense Battalion of Alaska National Guard.

Question: What is the ONLY National Guard unit on permanent active duty?

Answer: 49th Missile Defense Battalion of Alaska National Guard

Question: Who is the Commander in Chief of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion of Alaska National Guard?

Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska

Question: What U.S. governor is routinely briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counter terrorism?

Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska

Question: What U.S. governor has a higher classified security rating than either candidate of the
Democrat Party?

Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska

According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets. She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is.

Now you know!

Where's Michelle?

2008-10-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

In almost every video I've watched of Obama lately, I see a lot of closeups of him with the American flags right behind. Fair enough. McCain does the same thing, as well as every candidate we've seen in the past. But what I can't understand is, why is Michelle not standing right behind her husband urging support for him? You see Cindy McCain with John McCain everywhere he goes, right behind him. You see Todd Palin and all their kids at times with Sarah Palin.
Only after the big speech do you see Barack's wife nowadays. I don't know if it's tension at home, but Michelle is tight lipped and looks nervous all the time. She definitely isn't introducing Barak as "my honey, my baby's daddy" anymore. I guess that big plane of Barack's is only big enough for his ego.

Channel One Suite

2008-10-12T20:55:00.000-07:00

I've had some requests for the full version of "Channel One Suite" I posted on youtube. Since it's limited to 10 minutes I couldn't get the whole thing there. I'm happy to announce that I have it available on yousendit.com. Copy and paste the URL into your browser and you should be able to download it.

https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&send_id=614549849&email=1815c3859b06f563bedd47da5be97cc4

Delusional Christians

2008-10-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

It's fascinating to watch atheists denounce Christians as delusional, say the Bible is mythology and that all God believers should be locked away, and imply that if we just "dispel" our faith we will be intelligent like them.

Well got a news flash for ya, liberals. Obama has said he is a Christian, goes to church and reads his Bible. Yet many of you are going to vote for him because you can't fathom voting for the McCain/Palin ticket. So I don't see how you can argue this and be okay with it. I see a very big hole in this logic.

Either way, looks like we will have another Christian president on our hands. Unless you guys really think deep down Obama isn't "really" a Christian and you can make an exception?? That it's okay to bash the Republican ticket over religion, but not Obama's?

Also, the American Psychiatric Association literature, as well as the DSM-IV reference book, do not promote religious beliefs as delusional.
And the Bible has not been officially endorsed by ANY secular organization worth any salt as mythology.

Bob Beckel is a liar

2008-10-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on Fox News, Bob Beckel went on record to say that the voting process in Ohio being classified as dubious is an outright lie. That you can't walk into a booth with no ID and just get a ballot and they don't check it.

Well I am an Ohio voter, and here is exactly what happened to me:

I walked into the County Election office, had my ID and a utility bill ready to give the lady, and she said she did not need it. WHAT? No ID or proof of address???
No, just fill out the form and be sure to put the last digits of your SSN. So I did.
Then she asked me if I wanted to vote today as an absentee. I asked, well don't you have to give a reason to be absentee?

Nope.

It took me about 15 minutes to fill out everything and vote right there on the spot. They entered my name and address in the database but did not check my SSN to ensure I was who I said I was. I watched them do it right in front of me.

It was convenient I will say that, but it's really spooky that we can be so cavalier about our Presidential elections. You have to practically give your firstborn when you apply for a mortgage but to vote in Ohio apparently all you need to be able to do is read a form and sign it.

Cuba Gooding Jr. was in Dayton OH this week at a local University to encourage kids to vote. He walked about 100 of them over to the election office (can you say publicity stunt?) where, just outside of the 100 feet marker by the entrance, is a big sign that reads: Obama 08: Change we need. Vote today!!!

Shame on you Bob Beckel for being a liar. How much did Obama pay you to say those things on Fox News???

I think these videos say it all

2008-10-03T13:05:00.001-07:00

These video may not last too long on youtube. Watch them NOW.

1) This one shows the "family" of Fannie Mae and the Democrats.

2) This one shows the coverup by Democrats to regulate Fannie and Freddie despite the Republican's demands. Note 4:51 and 6:05.

3) Here's Bill OReilly really ramming it to Barney Frank:

Criticism of Sarah Palin

2008-10-01T12:32:00.000-07:00

I find it really funny how people keep saying that Sarah Palin doesn't have enough "experience" to be a VP of our country. What exactly is this "experience" that the people want?

1) Being able to artfully spin your way out of an argument, thus avoiding any tough questions
2) Going on partisan friendly news shows so that you don't have to get grilled on anything you disagree with
3) Taking advantage of the recent mortgage crisis and doing nothing to stop it (Can you say Nancy Pukosi, Dingy Harry, Chris Dood and Barney Fife?)
4) Asking for $700 billion with no strings attached to bail out our markets?
5) Saying that FDR made a TV announcement after the 1929 market crash?
6) Getting "serviced" in the Oval Office
7) Being able to have an anti-American mentor/pastor for over 20 years and be immune from criticism?
8) Being friends with anti-American loons that just want to bomb the White House?
9) Spending our way into this debt to begin with (i.e. Iraq War)
10) Being unfaithful to spouses, having extramarital affairs with staff and bringing hookers across state lines? (Maybe even fathering a baby while your wife is dying from cancer?)

I could list so many more things. If this is the "experience" that people want, maybe it's time to let America keep having it so they can be duped into believing our lawmakers are true leaders. And then they can keep getting more of the same.

Wall Street, Main Street and golden parachutes

2008-09-30T15:46:00.000-07:00

I've gotten pretty sick of the above overused phrases. Both parties are quoting them as political "power words" to drum up negative emotion and panic among the public. The banks aren't lending because they know they're going to get a fat bailout check within a few weeks, so why risk any more of their money when they don't have to? I just hope Barney Frank and his kind can continue to sleep at night.

Scary

2008-09-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

Prime example of our failing economy

2008-09-24T21:38:00.000-07:00

This is what goes wrong when you play with people's money, and is a prime example of why we are where we are regarding the economy. This company operated with Abercrombie and Kent, a high end travel company based out of England. A&K has since terminated their agreement with Tanner and Haley. Former members have filed a lawsuit that is reported to be in the millions.

Financial News
Tanner & Haley Bankruptcy Incenses Timeshare Industry
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Glenn Haussman

WESTPORT, CT – When Tanner & Haley Resorts filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this summer, it put into question the business model in which the emerging destination club industry is based. Now the company is struggling to continue serving its 874 members even as it recently disclosed it suffered an operating loss of $64 million in 2005.

Just last week its founder and CEO Rob McGrath resigned and casting further down on the viability of Tanner & Haley, which enticed prospective members to join one of its three clubs with luxury vacations in such places such as Aspen and Cabo San Lucas.

To join destination clubs such as Tanner & Haley, new members provide the club with a deposit ranging from anywhere between $80,000 to more than $800,000 depending on the club. While consumers are promised they’ll receive the money back (less an administration fee that could be as high as 20 percent), this bankruptcy puts those deposits in peril for Tanner & Haley members. However, most clubs don’t actively market that members wanting to leave the club must wait for three new members to join. Additionally, members pay annual maintenance fees and daily use fees for access to each company’s luxury homes.

Many destination clubs base financial models on maintaining their homes with annual dues while member deposits are invested in real estate, which is then owned by the club rather than individual members. The club banks on the appreciation of real estate to make money.

Though the media and consumer market has lumped the destination club industry in with timeshare, it’s not an accurate assessment. Whereas timeshare has a real estate ownership component, destination clubs do not. So while timeshare or fractional owners actually own a portion of a deeded property, destination club member own nothing but the right to stay in their respective club’s homes.

And because destination clubs have been so closely linked with timeshare, the timeshare industry has been rallying for years to put into place consumer protections. At the American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA), President Howard C. Nusbaum has always feared that if and when one of these clubs went broke, the headline would read “Timeshare For Rich Fails,” casting a negative light on an industry that has worked diligently to foster a positive image. According to Nusbaum, when a destination club fails, the timeshare industry suffers.

“We believe this business model is fundamentally flawed,” Nusbaum told Hotel Interactive. “It is based on speculation [of real estate]. That scares us.”

Tanner & Haley got into financial hot water because of its guarantee to allow members to stay anytime, anyplace in one of its homes. If that home wasn’t available, the company would have to rent a suitable alternative, costing Tanner & Haley dearly as it scrambled to satisfy member demand by entering into costly short term leases.

Nusbaum is calling for the industry to be regulated like timeshare and have appropriate consumer protections. For example, he believes non-equity destination clubs should be required to have a third party insurance vehicle for membership reimbursements in case a club goes bust and also to be more transparent with their record keeping.

“We love entrepreneurship and we love new ideas, but we need to make sure promises that are made are promises kept. This model has no failsafe,” said Nusbaum.

Dr. Wayne Thorburn, CEO of the Texas Real Estate Commission and Commissioner of the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board agreed with Nusbaum’s assessment. His organization oversees and licenses all real estate transactions in the state, including any timeshare products that are to be sold or promoted directly to people in Texas.

He believes the destination club model does have its compelling side since it provides access to multi-million dollar homes and luxury hotel amenities, but insists regulation is necessary. He is calling for new rules to be put into place either under existing timeshare acts or separate legislation specifically written for non-equity clubs.

“It’s a little dangerous to be playing the real estate market and think appreciation of real estate is the way to make money,” said Thorburn “I am not surprised something like this happened.”

On its website, Tanner & Haley the company said it intends “to continue to meet substantially all travel commitments previously made to Members and to continue to provide Members with a wide range of destinations and services.”

The notice added they will use the Chapter 11 process to “stabilize the company’s finances, put the company on a sound financial footing and develop a more viable business model.”

In a press release issued in conjunction with the bankruptcy filing announcement, Holly Felder Etlin, a Principal at XRoads Solutions Group LLC, was named Chief Restructuring Officer, a new position. She said: "As part of the Chapter 11 process, we will be reviewing and, where appropriate, revising Tanner & Haley's business model so that, upon completion of the financial reorganization, the company will be better positioned to achieve long-term strength, stability, profitability and growth. We are also committed to having the company emerge from the process with greatly enhanced corporate governance and financial transparency."

Lawsuit claims luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent duped timeshare investors
Associated Press
2:47 p.m., Sunday, July 29, 2007

LOS ANGELES -- Luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent has been sued for allegedly duping investors into spending millions of dollars to join high-end vacation clubs that were not run by the tour group as they had believed.

The plaintiffs claim they lost their investments -- $100,000 to $1.3 million -- after the operator of the clubs went bankrupt. They said they would not have invested in the clubs had they known they were not run and operated by Abercrombie & Kent, the lawsuit said.

"The reason most of my clients bought into this club was because A&K has an excellent reputation, they assumed A&K was managing it," said plaintiffs attorney Brian Kabateck. "These people were misled and they've lost their money."

An after-hours call to Oak Brook, Illinois-based Abercrombie & Kent was not immediately returned.

The lawsuit said Abercrombie & Kent allowed other travel companies, Complete Retreats and Preferred Retreats, to use its brand names in connection with the marketing of destination clubs.

The use of the Abercrombie & Kent name in promotional materials misled investors, the lawsuit says, into believing the clubs were operated by the luxury travel company.

Abercrombie & Kent declined to comment on the litigation, but said it ended its relationship with Preferred Retreats and a Complete Retreats subsidiary in June 2005. The company maintained the licensing agreements required that all prospective members be informed that Abercrombie & Kent was not involved in the management or the operation of the clubs.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims intentional misrepresentation, negligence and violation of the California unfair competition law and seeks an unspecified amount in damages.

Membership in the travel clubs would have allowed participants access to luxury resort residences, yachts, private jets, luxury cars and other amenities, the lawsuit says.

"Call me if you need me"

2008-09-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

The reason Barack Obama does not want to postpone the Presidential debate on Friday is because he wants to ride the wave he's on and use it to his advantage. If he was down, I'm not so sure he would have the same cocky attitude that he showed today. I believe he said he had been out on the golf course this morning. he's in Florida I guess just "hanging out" until he has to do the debate.

But he says the Senate can "call him if they need him" to make a decision on only the worst financial crisis since 1929. He dodged the reporters' questions, looked down a lot, and was just too cagey. Oh but he and McCain have big planes with "their logos" painted down the sides that can get them anywhere really fast. What does the logos comment have to do with anything? I detected more of his ego coming through in that statement than anything else. Does this sound like a Presidential candidate or a spoiled fraternity kid?

What McCain did today took guts. Political stunt? He's going to lose money in cancelled ads, appearances, etc. He has more balls than Obama. Only age, world experience, combined with his time in Vietnam could propel him to do such a thing.

Obama says "a President needs to be able to do more than one thing at a time." I suppose so if that involves playing golf while talking to Harry Reid on the phone.
But we don't need a "political photo op" do we...

On the economy, the proposed bailout is the worst thing I've seen. It's coming from a President that has lost all touch with reality. It's an act of desperation that's only going to turn our country into a Socialist regime. I have lost pretty much all faith in Bush.

If this bailout doesn't work, we may just see the unveiling of the new currency (Amero) and the North American Union become reality.

Fifth grader suspended

2008-09-23T13:32:00.000-07:00

A fifth grader in Colorado was suspended after wearing an anti-Obama t shirt.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/23/fifth-grader-suspended-for-wearing-anti-obama-shirt/

No surprise there. It's Colorado, liberal friendly, and they don't care about trampling on your rights if you're conservative. But I just bet if that kid had worn an anti-McCain t shirt he would have gotten high fives from his friends and the teacher would have overlooked it. Oh, and the cloak they used for suspending him was his "behavior."

If it had been the other way around, they would have spun his behavior as a separate "ADD" episode and set him up for psychological counseling for that, separate from wearing an anti-McCain shirt.

The father is suing the district. Good for him. If the liberals can sue someone, then so can a conservative. Works both ways.

In watching C-SPAN lately, I've noticed that they open every session with a Christian prayer and pledge of allegiance. Yes "under God" too! So, if this is good enough for the DNC and our lawmakers to do without acknowledgement to any other religions and they don't pull the Newdow or Croft crap, then it's good enough for the classroom. Stop walking out on America and trampling on our patriotism. It just makes you look foolish and immature.

Free market economy a thing of the past?

2008-09-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

I have to rewrite this because blogger failed to save/publish a really good article that I wrote a few minutes ago and I don't have the patience to recreate it. Basically America is in trouble if we don't get our heads out of the sand and wake up to the reality around us. Big Brother will be in charge which is what the elitists want, and the people really responsible for this mortgage crisis won't really have to pay. I can hear then salivating around the trough now, as they think up ways to bilk us for that $700 billion. Yeah right. Double or triple that.

We all will pay. The investor, instead of having investment banking choices on Wall Street, will now be forced to do business in a commercial bank or take his money overseas. That's ok for good ol Ted Kennedy but not for anyone else.

When we have another Depression on our hands, because we've been too stupid to make better decisions, we can line up for the Ritalin and Viagra to take the edge off.

Free market economy a thing of the past?

2008-09-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

This is a followup to my posting earlier this week.

I've been watching the latest on the financial crisis unfold this week, as major investment bankers change their status to commercial banking, as oil prices continue to skyrocket, and our dollar has seen its worst record yet against the Euro. $700 billion price tag to bail us out? I highly doubt that. You can probably double or triple that. And this doesn't even touch the billions in our deficit.

Fans of big government are no doubt gathering to salivate at the trough this very moment, savoring what they'll probably call the "biggest victory yet" over the evils of capitalism and the free market economy. Screw the small business owners, the entrepeneurs, the go-getters who have made our country so great. "Big brother is going to bail you out."

Our country is falling apart. After two major hurricanes this year, cleanup still continuing after Katrina, this mortgage crisis, the war, immigration, our deficit, a new generation of retirees and not enough Social Security and Medicare to cover their costs, and a plethera of other things I could mention, we are in dire straits.

I know it sounds very negative. But these sobering facts are just what America needs to wake up and get her head out of the sand. We are losing our competitive edge in the global markets. Job loss is at an all time high. Medical bills are skyrocketing and the drug companies could care less if they keep us all high on ritalin and viagra.

Because we haven't paid attention and let the media and government do the thinking for us, Americans will not have the tools to fight back once our economy does collapse. Our government is going to step in and once again, preach their mantra about how they know what's best for us after all, and if we'd just trust Uncle Sam, we don't need to do anything.

The individuals responsible for the mortgage crisis are, in my opinion, scumbags, the lowest of the low, and don't deserve a penny for running their companies into the ground, ruining the lives of their employees, families and countrymen in the process. It's almost a reflection of Darwinism in itself, "The survival of the fittest." But I don't know how they can be punished without making innocent Americans pay for their greed. And that's what this bailout will wind up doing. Make us all pay. But isn't that what the elite establishment wants anyway? To redistribute all the wealth in this country and give us all a piece? I'll be looking for that piece next year when I file my taxes. I'm sure it will be there.

Unfortunately, those with fatter wallets among us will just take their investments elsewhere and stop fooling with the American markets, if commercial banking is all they can get on Wall Street after this is said and done. It won't be like Burger King anymore.

"You get it our way, Mr. Investor, or you don't get the son of a bitch."

That's ok, he will say, and take his money to Bermuda or Switzerland. Funny how that works.

But wait...don't the Kennedys have a lot of money overseas? What about that? Oh never mind...Ted Kennedy is a "man of the people," so that's perfectly okay. We can overlook that.

Get out the German Shepherds

2008-09-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

That's right. A Denver University professsor assigned, to his class, a paper to be written specifically targeting Palin. He had 2 classes and apparently one class didn't speak up about it so when a student in his other class did he used the old, "Well they didn't say anything so you shouldn't either," intimidation tactic.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_10502315

One of Hallam's students, Jana Barber, took her concerns about the assignment to KCNC4, which broadcast a story Wednesday night.

Barber spoke with the TV station and on the Mike Rosen radio show this morning, before filing a complaint against Hallam with the school later in the day, said Cathy Lucas, a spokeswoman for Metro State.

Lucas said Hallam made the assignment last Thursday. After consideration, he broadened it at the next class on Tuesday to allow students to write about Barack Obama, Joe Biden and John McCain, she said.

Yeah, of course he did. If the students hadn't taken action would he have changed his tune? Very very doubtful. And even then he won't pick apart the ones that write about Obama, I betcha.

I don't recall in any of my political science classes in my undergrad years being assigned anything of this nature. It was always about ISSUES and not CANDIDATES. One could always tie them in as part of the assignment I suppose, but these new directions our Universities are taking is really scary, considering that liberals want even more public education money. Public education money endorsed by liberal Democrats=professors that will say and do anything to keep their jobs=teaching a one sided view of society to students=becoming a puppet for our increasingly liberal society=donations for public education to keep the circle going. And this is teaching non partisanship and thinking objectively in our school systems exactly how???

Why do they not want vouchers and discourage and ridicule homeschooled kids? Why do they not want parents to have a choice in how to educate their children? Because the liberal mantra is what they want imposed on society and this is how they plan to do it.

When I was in grad school I was assigned a paper on human relations. Completely open to interpretation. Open ended questions. When I handed in my assignment, which was a paper on the brutality of the North Korean Gulag, the Holocaust, stem cell research and abortion, I received a written reprimand from the committee that handled my paper. First they implied I had not interpreted the questions "correctly" and that abortion and stem cell research were not human relations issues. No, I did interpret the questions correctly because they were open ended and no answer was considered "wrong." They made it "wrong" because I questioned the establishment. And um, yeah, last I checked, abortion and stem cell research are human relations issues. Hell, they're political issues too. Can't have your cake and eat it too!

Had it not been pass or fail on that particular paper, I doubt I would have passed the class. That is how biased it is. If you agree with the liberal doctrine and question everything else, you will go far in this life. If you do the opposite, you will be ousted and persecuted. You will lose job opportunities, promotions, you won't be able to "save face" with those around you because you don't "go with" the crowd.

Why Sarah Palin should not be VP

2008-09-11T15:26:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd add some thoughts on why Sarah Palin should not be the next VP of the United States.

1) She's a former small town mayor
2) She's a right-wing fundamentalist wacko
3) She shoots moose
4) She's a hockey mom pit bull lipstick-wearing "barracuda"
5) She's never had an abortion
6) She has 5 kids, one with Down's Syndrome, and no woman should ever consider having lofty goals in that kind of situation (unless she is Nancy Pelosi or another liberal woman of course)
7) She gave money back to the taxpayers of AK
8) Her daughter is 17 and pregnant
9) She has absolutely no experience to be VP
10) She doesn't take any crap from anybody
11) One magazine prints "Why Obama loves Michelle" while another prints "Babies, lies and scandal" when it comes to Sarah Palin without checking their facts

If you sincerely believe that she is inexperienced due to what I have put in the above list, you have been led down the path by the looney left that only considers women to be true pioneers if they lean their way. Truth is, she's shaking up Washington like never before, and there's even rumours that Joe Biden might be thinking he was not the best pick for Democratic VP. Wouldn't that be interesting?
But Biden will never drop the ticket. It will be interesting to see how much the Clintons really help the Obama campaign, or if they are just putting on a facade.

Speaking of facade, I love how Obama and McCain were at ground zero today. Good photo ops and PC behavior. Tomorrow they'll drag out the attack dogs again. America has learned absolutely NOTHING from 9/11. Good luck on reaching across the aisle there.

Shooting your mouth off

2008-08-31T13:07:00.001-07:00

From a recent press conference by Mayor Nagin of New Orleans on the upcoming Gustav festivities:

"Looters will not be tolerated. You will be sent directly to jail. You will not be given a pass like last time."

A pass like last time. Amazing isn't it? Wow he managed to get all that out in 3 sentences. The local schmuck who did nothing to help his city in 2005, yet managed to get re-elected. Of course the Democrats won't slam him despite the thousands that were left homeless, vulnerable to crime and disease, what have you. It's all Bush's fault that happened, right?
By the way, Nagin managed to work in a vacation to Jamaica to avoid the press scrutiny right after Katrina. How's that for having no balls?

From Michael Moore:
"I was just thinking, this Gustav is proof that there is a God in heaven," Moore said, laughing. "To have it planned at the same time - that it would actually be on its way to New Orleans for day one of the Republican Convention, up in the Twin Cities - at the top of the Mississippi River."

Moore did manage to work in that he hoped nobody got hurt and he hoped everybody is taking cover. However, he failed to make note of the $43.625 billion in damage the last hurricane to strike New Orleans caused - Hurricane Katrina in 2005 - and the billions of dollars the storm cost taxpayers.

Let's not forget too that Gustav hit his favorite country, Cuba, pretty damn hard. Where's the sympathy for those people?
I have a hard time saying this, but maybe, just maybe, Michael Moore's mother should have considered an abortion? And I am a pro lifer. I doubt Michael Moore even believes in God. So there it is. Not proud of it, but that's me shooting my mouth off for today.

The highest "Bidenator"

2008-08-27T15:27:00.000-07:00

Rush Limbaugh called it last week when he said that Hillary would use her speech last night to convince the American people that she should have been the VP nominee. And, as predicted, this is exactly what all the commentators have said. I don't know enough about Joe Biden to decide whether or not he is a good VP candidate or not, but it seems to me that Barack Obama made the "safest" choice with what he had in front of him. I call it the "Biden condom" for lack of better words.

The Clintons have dominated the landscape for a very long period of time, but what about the Kennedys? How long has Ted Kennedy been in office? Come on. The Bushes have been around for a long time too. So to suddenly imply that this is because the DNC needs to rid themselves of the Clintons all of a sudden sounds awfully suspicious to me.

Another thing that srikes me as odd, and that is this thing with Ohio congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who was scheduled to speak at the DNC convention. At least that's what I understood from the news reports. She was a staunch Hillary supporter and suddenly suffered a brain aneurism while driving and subsequently died. It might just be coincidence, but she was a black woman that supported Hillary. Hardly anything has been said about her death. Barack and Biden are going to attend her funeral after the convention. This woman was alone in her car driving on the road after meeting some friends when this all happened. I just find it very very suspicious that this occurs just days before the convention. What did she know? Did she know anything? Was she a threat to the Obama campaign? Maybe, maybe not. But it's one of those things that makes me go "hmmmm..."

The DNC convention

2008-08-26T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hypocritical. Last night they had the opening prayer for the DNC led by Reverend Leah D. Daughtry. She acknowledged the "Amighty God" and offered a prayer to only the Christian God. I didn't see any other prayers offered to any other gods. Okay Democrats, where's your diversity now? Nobody challenged the DNC on this. Because it's okay for Democrats to do that. They also had the GI Forum out to present the colors and said the pledge of allegiance, "one nation, under God." Okay, everybody's making this big stink about Hillary, so why no stink about the patriotic and religious factors that so many skeptics and freethinkers (albeit many Democrats and liberals) want to spew in our faces the other 51 weeks of an election year?

That's because it's ALWAYS ok for the Democrats to put on a facade. There will never be an outcry when Democrats show their support publicly for their country. But behind closed doors lurks a litigious hateful percentage of the human population that wants to forever remove God from everything in our society, yet when the camera is on them they can't be happier to do what the status quo wants them to do. Hey whatever it takes I guess, right?

Let's see what the RNC criticisms are next week in the liberal media.

Writer's block

2008-08-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

I feel that urge to start writing beginning to resurface again, but it has no direction, which is the story of my creative writing life. Bits and pieces materialize but then go nowhere. I have so many unfinished manuscripts it's scary. I'm my own worst enemy, putting walls and blocks up to keep myself from finishing a project. Is it a fear of success or a fear that all of my vulnerabilities as a human being will be exposed? Sure I can mask them within characters but someone will pick them out surely and then I would forever hate myself.

Starting to settle in

2008-07-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

In the last few weeks, we've been trying to get our new household set up (i.e. yard maintenance, unpacking, etc.) Some days I get a lot done, others I don't want to do anything. I haven't decided what to do with my back yard yet. I'd like to make it look like a New Orleans patio style area, or just leave the hammock and grill out there and wait to see what inspires me next.

I really want to have a Halloween party and invite my new neighbors. But I'm not sure if that is not too overwhelming a task (not to mention expensive) venture to engage in right now. I might have to put that off until next year.

We're so far away from our families now, and I'm not sure if they'll ever come to visit, which makes me sad. I still mish my old Parish quite a bit, and every time I visit my prayer corner I think of them and wish I was still there. But hopefully over time I can get past that and move forward. The older I get and the more changes in my life, it seems the less capable I am of dealing with them. But I think that applies to many of us.

We were talking about taking a vacation this year, maybe Vegas or Mexico or even up to Maine but it looks like we may be putting that off too, which is actually ok because with the high fuel prices, I don't feel exactly compelled to hand over our hard earned money to the airlines or at the pump so that the oil companies can get even richer.

People used to say, oh there will be an outcry if gas ever gets above $3 a gallon. Well it's been here, my friends, and what have we done? Nothing. What will we do when it hits $7 a gallon? Will we do nothing then and just swallow it up? We buy smaller cars to save on fuel, which is great and all, but when the fatality rates on American roads start to go up because all the so called "smart cars" aren't so smart, that will change too. And where will GM be to make all those mid sized cars we used to love?

Another of God's Blessings

2008-06-30T23:27:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse with the move, I found a wonderful doctor in my new town that is going to take good care of me. It's a breath of fresh air and now seems like a huge weight off my shoulders. As the weeks go on and I adjust to my new city, I'm sure I will see God's blessings that were always there but I was too caught up in my own worries to notice. I was afraid this move would bring about calamaties I could not change or have any control over, that I would go literally crazy from the whole mess. But maybe I can get up tomorrow and start a new day of unpacking more boxes and trying to rebuild. And the day after that, who knows? Maybe I'll even do some gardening or start swimming at the community pool.

New home

2008-06-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

We arrived at our new home in Ohio this week. Unpacking 170 boxes and dealing with a sick cat has not been my idea of a fun time. Many tears have been shed these last few days trying to get used to this transition. I'm missing my parish dearly and my previous home and neighbors as well.

But this weekend I'm going to start at another parish, and this one has opportunities for missionary work in Guatemala. Maybe this is part of God's plan for me. They say everything you go through just makes you stronger. With everything that has happened to me over the course of my life, I should be like 10 inch steel, but I feel no more strength in me than a piece of paper right now.

Every day I pray though, and I feel a hand helping me up the cliff. It's like the poem "Footprints"

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed of walking along the shores of different lands.
I could tell that You were with me by the footprints in the sand.
As I gazed upon the heavens, I saw pages of my life.
It was then I realized that You remained there by my side.

When the clouds began to gather and the rains came falling down,
I looked to only find one set of footprints on the ground.
I said, "Lord, why did You leave me in the troubled times of life?
I believed that You would always walk beside me day and night."

(Then I heard:)
"My precious child, I'd never leave you.
I have carved you on the hollow of My hand.
It's then I carried you in My arms,
When you see one set of footprints in the sand"

Dear Lord, will You be with me as I travel through the years?
Will You be there in the struggles? Will You wipe away the tears?
As my eyes turn toward the ocean and the shores of distant lands,
I'm still thinking of the single set of footprints in the sand.

(I heard Him say:)
"My precious child, I'd never leave you.
I have carved you on the hollow of My hand.
It's then I carried you in My arms,
When you see one set of footprints in the sand."

Will I hear the angels singing, as my life comes to an end.
Oh Lord, I long to see You. Will You be there once again?
My eyes turn toward the heavens, along the path of foreign lands,
Once more, I'm thinking of the set of footprints in the sand.

(Jesus said:)
"My precious child, I'd never leave you.
See your name carved on the hollow of My hand.
I'm here to carry you to your home.
You will see one set of footprints in the sand.

Saying goodbye

2008-06-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

This week I leave Kansas City to take on new adventures. Today I said goodbye to my parish as I celebrated my last communion with them. It's been one of the hardest days I've ever had, and I've seen some pretty dark days. This week has been spent in prayer and reflection and thanking God for the wonderful blessings that I do have, and had I not moved to Kansas five years ago I would have never become Orthodox.

As I hugged my godparents, I couldn't be brave anymore. I started to cry and they said, "He loves you more than we do." I think that says it all right there.

The plot thickens

2008-06-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

From the latest at the Wall Street Journal:

Concession Expected Saturday;
Obama Camp Discounts VP Talk

By JACKIE CALMES
June 5, 2008; Page A1

WASHINGTON -- Supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton suggested she would like to be Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, but close advisers to Sen. Obama are signaling that an Obama-Clinton ticket is highly unlikely.

Some in the Clinton camp also noted a possible deal-breaker for a party-unity ticket: Bill Clinton may balk at releasing records of his business dealings and big donors to his presidential library.

Sen. Clinton scheduled a gathering for her staff at her house Saturday, where she will end her campaign and concede the nomination, three advisers said.

A day after his history-making declaration that he had enough delegates for the nomination, Sen. Obama on Wednesday named a search team for a vice-presidential running mate. The first African-American nominee for a major party tapped two high-profile supporters—Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President Kennedy, and Eric Holder, President Clinton's former deputy attorney general. They join Jim Johnson, a former Fannie Mae chairman, who had already been enlisted to lead the search and vet potential choices.

Sens. Obama and Clinton briefly exchanged greetings Wednesday at a convention of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, where they both spoke. (Please see article.) They also held brief phone conversations Sunday and Tuesday nights that advisers described as the first steps in a dance of rapprochement.
RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE

Mr. Clinton refused during his wife's 17-month presidential campaign to release records of his financial dealings and details of his presidential library's major donors. Even if Mr. Clinton did open his records as part of the traditional vice-presidential vetting process, the unprecedented complications he would pose for an Obama White House as the vice president's spouse go deeper and broader than his personal records, Democrats on both sides say.

A former president's global travels for his humanitarian foundation, speeches here and abroad for which he has received up to a quarter-million dollars, financial deals and everyday utterances could pose "a whole host" of conflicts with the policies of an Obama administration, Democrats say.

Referring to a potential vice-presidential slot for Sen. Clinton, a senior Obama adviser says: "The more this gets vetted the less likely it becomes."

Sen. Clinton would present problems of her own for Sen. Obama, advisers in both camps say: As half of the couple that has dominated in the Democratic Party and Washington for 16 years, she would "completely undermine the Obama message'' of change and new direction in politics, as one Clinton confidant put it.

That could well override the political advantages that some other supporters have been promoting, notably her fellow New York Democrats in Congress: That Sen. Clinton could help Sen. Obama win the support of women, blue-collar workers, seniors and white men -- all groups that the Illinois senator had trouble with during their nomination race.

Several advisers said Sen. Clinton decided Wednesday to end her campaign after consulting supporters in Congress including the fellow New Yorkers, along with Reps. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts and Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio.

The campaign later put out the statement saying that she will host an event in Washington Saturday "to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity." The date changed from Friday to Saturday "to accommodate more of Senator Clinton's supporters who want to attend."

Obama advisers say Sen. Clinton should have as much time as she needs to decide how and when to quit the race. But some of his supporters are irritated at what they interpret as pressure on Sen. Obama from her side to offer her the No.2 spot.

Robert Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, said Wednesday he is starting a "dream ticket" effort for party unity. Mr. Johnson said publicly that Sen. Clinton had blessed his effort. Lanny Davis, another prominent Clinton advocate, said he is starting a petition drive seeking a place for her on the ticket.

Several Obama aides said the two supporters aren't the best ambassadors for a Clinton vice-presidential candidacy. Robert Johnson referred during the race to Sen. Obama's acknowledged drug use as a young man, while Mr. Davis has frequently lambasted Sen. Obama on cable television talk-shows.

Sen. Obama, in an interview on NBC, counseled both sides to relax. "We just completed a very hard-fought contest," he said. "She needs to catch her breath. I need to catch mine. I think all our supporters need to just sit back and let things sink in. We're gonna go through a process in the vice-presidential search where I look at a whole range of options."

In her remarks to members of AIPAC, a leading Jewish lobby, Sen. Clinton assured the audience that Sen. Obama "will be a good friend to Israel." That assurance was significant given many American Jews' opposition to Sen. Obama for seeming to them to be too sympathetic to Palestinians and Iran. The Jewish population, while small, is concentrated in states crucial to the election, in particular Florida.

Sen. Obama's own speech was well-received, and he was accompanied by one of the country's best known Jewish political leaders, Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

Mr. Emanuel later was among several members of Congress who endorsed Sen. Obama, as the Democratic Party establishment embraced the first-term Illinois senator as the nominee. Mr. Emanuel made his name as a top Clinton White House official, but he is a friend and ally of his fellow Chicagoan, Sen. Obama.

By mid-day Wednesday, Sen. Obama's campaign said he had 2,159.5 delegates -- more than the 2,118 needed for the nomination -- to Sen. Clinton's 1,927, a difference of 232.5 delegates.

The candidates split Tuesday's final primaries, with Sen. Obama winning Montana and Sen. Clinton South Dakota. He won 15 pledged delegates to her 16. What put him over the top Tuesday was a rush of endorsements from 55.5 superdelegates, elected officials and other party leaders who can vote for whomever they choose at the Democratic convention. Many superdelegates had waited for the end of the primaries and caucuses to announce their choice.

Democrats in both camps Wednesday criticized Sen. Clinton's speech Tuesday night, at a valedictory rally in New York City. Some complained because she didn't concede the race. Others grumbled that beyond a brief tribute to Sen. Obama's "extraordinary race," she dwelled on her own successes in the race's final stretch and continued to suggest she'd be the more electable nominee.

A defender of Sen. Clinton's stance, longtime Democratic strategist Michael Berman, said, "I have little patience for those who criticize Hillary Clinton for not endorsing Senator Obama last night."

Recalling his own late-night encounter with Hubert Humphrey hours after the 1968 Democratic nominee had conceded to Republican Richard Nixon, Mr. Berman added, "Major candidates for president are by definition great dreamers. When their dreams are quashed they should be given the courtesy of a little time to internalize their loss."

Many Clinton supporters seemed united in believing Sen. Clinton would accept the vice presidency. They argued it has become an important post in the modern era, most recently with Democrat Al Gore and Republican Dick Cheney -- "from funerals to fundamentals," as Mr. Emanuel put it.

But some supporters criticized the efforts to push Sen. Obama's hand. They said it could backfire, or make him look weak if he acceded unwillingly. Sen. Clinton told fellow New Yorkers in Congress on Tuesday that she would be open to the second spot.

"She is not campaigning and there's no deal-breaker because there's no deal," Clinton campaign strategist Geoff Garin said. "She is not encouraging any campaigning. But as she told the New York delegation, she would entertain anything that would help secure a Democratic victory in November."

Some Democrats say Bill Clinton is privately pressing her case to be on an Obama ticket, even as he is encouraging her to hang tough and not concede the presidential race, to increase her leverage. But one insider countered, "His importance in this is completely exaggerated. She's going to figure it out for herself."

For Sen. Clinton to be considered, she would have to undergo an invasive vetting of both Clintons' private and public affairs, just like other recent vice-presidential aspirants, say veterans of the process. They said it would likely require Mr. Clinton to reveal donors to his library in Little Rock, Ark., which have included the governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar and Middle Eastern businessmen, as well as details of his confidential business dealings.

In April, he did end a relationship with Yucaipa Cos., an investment firm run by billionaire friend Ron Burkle that has had a partnership with the ruler of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The Obama vetters "are going to say, 'You have to give us the list of library donors, and that's a deal-breaker if you don't,'" said one longtime Clinton confidant. "I don't think the former president will agree to it."

Sen. Obama probably won't announce a running mate for a while, perhaps waiting as long as August, a supporter said. The Democratic convention is Aug. 25-28 in Denver. His campaign and the three-person search team will draw up a list of possible choices and test Sen. Obama's support in different regions and demographic groups, to decide which potential running mates could best help him, this person said.

Well here's what I think:
1) Who cares how much money Bill Clinton made while lecturing on the private circuit? Seriously. It's okay for everyone else to make money, isn't it? (How much did Al Gore make for that stupid movie? And he got the damn Nobel for it.)
2) Obama is arrogant and condescending. He has been from the very beginning. "We'll just give Hillary a little time to absorb her loss."
3) Why does he need Caroline Kennedy on a team to help him pick a VP? Do I even need to explain this???
4) Here's the problem: The Clinton's didn't work out a contingency plan for what might happen should that request for Bill's library donor records become an issue. The fact that he is refusing will probably cost Hillary the VP slot. So, I ask, why in the heck did she even run? Did they think they were going to be immune and above the law AGAIN and just ASSUME she would have the nomination in the bag? Apparently so. Shame on you, Bill. You and the Obama camp both have assisted in kicking your wife in the teeth.

No big surprise

2008-06-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

Well Obama has pretty much won the nomination. Now all he needs to do is get Clinton to run as his VP, something I've suspected might happen all along. But I could be wrong on that. Only time will tell.

These 2 could have saved the Democratic party a whole lot of heartache and suffering (not to mention money) if they would have just formed an alliance and been done with it. It's shameful, really, that they had to take it this far.

My hunch is that Obama will be the next President, and it's not that he's qualified, in my opinion. I don't believe he is. And it's got NOTHING to do with his being black. I have nothing against a black President. As a President, I think he will head our country into a socialist, communist type society that will become even more dependent on government subsidies, health care, and with Hillary on his side, how can they go wrong in achieving their goals??? The liberal elite will just get richer and richer and laugh at all the "little people." It's ok to be wealthy if you are a liberal with a Harvard education, but if you are a conservative and have any money or success, you are evil. And make that more evil if you're a Christian.

No matter what kind of dirt is dug up on Obama, no matter what happens, he will be immune to it, and in my opinion, will become the next President, no matter what. He is the "chosen one" and George Soros and co. have a lot of money banking on this guy, and they're not going to lose, as they are liberal elites.

I don't think McCain stands a chance. If Obama can win the nomination despite the Clinton machine, McCain will be a piece of cake.

Officially Orthodox

2008-05-31T23:14:00.000-07:00

I am now offically Orthodox! I was baptized on May 31, 2008. It was an absolutely wonderful experience. Once I was immersed, I left behind the old things weighing me down spiritually and experienced a new rebirth into Christ. Not only do I have a new family here on Earth, but in the Heavens as well, with the communion of all the saints. This is what I talk about when I say to those that are thinking of giving up God, "Don't do it yet."

I offer prayers for those who have not yet been introduced to this rich, full and complete expression of the Christian faith, and that Orthodoxy will continue to grow in numbers in the United States. She has overcome many obstacles over the last 2,000 years, so the track record has withstood the test.

In the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Persecution of Christians

2008-05-26T21:29:00.000-07:00

I'm sure that opponents will say the following videos are completely unfounded and incorrect, full of propaganda, biased, whatever. I say they are not, and anyone who cannot see the atrocities suffered by innocent followers of Jesus is likely blinded by the anti-Christian movement, otherwise disguised as "anti-religion."
I've also included some about persecution of Christians by sects of violent Islam and one from a Hindu organization. (Notice I did NOT say "all Muslims" or "all Hindus.")
This is an alarming trend and people need to wake up and see it for what it is and stop twisting and spinning the issues. Believe it or not, there are people out there claiming to be full of logic and reason yet deny the fact that Christians are still being persecuted and killed for their beliefs. They say "Oh that hasn't happened since Roman times." Wrong again.

First up, North Korea I and II:

Russia

China:

Pakistan:

Iraq:

Egypt:

Vietnam:

And here's a video of radical Hindus attacking a Christian. Most Hindus are peaceful for the most part. But I've never been to India so I can't make the claim 100%. Unfortunately in India there is a caste system and if you aren't high enough you're not even worthy in God's eyes, according to the radicals. So why do they care about a few converting? Those in radical dominant power do not want these Indians to feel empowered by anything. They want to keep them under their boots:

I found a whole series on youtube dedicated to persecution of Chinese Christians by their atheist government. Should I go on?

Religion and intelligence

2008-05-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

11 year old Akshay Rajagopal of Nebraska won the NatGeo top prize in the geography bee today.

From Cbsnews.com:

Cochabamba is the third-largest conurbation in what country?

Your answer might be, "Huh?" But 11-year-old Akshay Rajagopal answered "Bolivia" to clinch the 20th annual National Geographic Bee on Wednesday.

A conurbation is a large, densely populated urban area - and Cochabamba is the third-largest one in the South American country.

Akshay's correct answer capped a two-day event in which he got every question right. A sixth-grader at Lux Middle School in Lincoln, Neb., he won a $25,000 scholarship.

Along the way, Akshay answered questions that included the westernmost Asian national capital (Ankara in Turkey), the country where Makossa is a popular type of music (Cameroon), and the location of Tillya Tepe (it's in Afghanistan).

"Some of them were hard but others were OK," Akshay said as he held an oversized check. "I think I was just lucky."

As he blitzed the competition, his family looked on from the front of the auditorium at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington. He boned up for several months by studying geography DVDs and textbooks.

"He's been interested in geography since he was 5," said his mother, Suchitra Srinivas.

"It was just sheer elation," Vijay Rajagopal, told CBS New correspondent Thalia Assuras about how he was feeling after his son's triumph. "Pure joy, I guess... being very proud."

One student from every U.S. state and territory, along with a student from a military family, took part in the competition run by National Geographic. Akshay was the youngest of the 10 finalists, all boys.

"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek, who has moderated the bee for all 20 years, called it the "national annual humiliation," exposing that a group of middle schoolers has vastly more knowledge of geography than most of the nation.

Okay, so I'm going to make an assumption that this kid might be Hindu. That means he would be a religious person. Now I could be wrong about this. He might be from an atheist family. But let's just say for argument's sake that he is religious. That would make him one very smart Hindu boy.

The establishment today wants the world to embrace this idea that people with religious backgrounds are somehow less intelligent than "freethinkers" or basically those that have "woken up and let go of all of their religious crutches."

Many of the great atheist thinkers quoted and promoted today are white Americans or Europeans. I know there are many that are not, but the big ones promoted today are. Just look at this video on youtube to see my point. It won an award from Harvard and received praise from their scholars:

(If you go to the youtube website and look in the description box for this video, the creator has admitted that some of the individuals he featured he later found out are not atheists. He has not corrected the video and reloaded it, and it doesn't appear that anyone from Harvard will be challenging him to do so.)

When I did work study for the University way back when as an undergrad, I had the opportunity to fit caps and gowns for the PhD and JD candidates during a spring semester. Now the majority of those graduates were of Indian and Middle Eastern descent. Let's also just say for argument's sake that many of these people were Muslim or Hindu as well. I'm not basing any of this blog entry on any actual data, it's all just speculation, so please keep this in mind.

When asked directly, I've been told by some atheists that all humans evolved equally despite many comments to the contrary. It seems to me then, based on what I've been told, that they would accept most other humans, even religious ones, no matter what deity (s) they worship, as highly intelligent and capable of reason, logic and advanced critical thinking.

But I'm not a smart atheist, so I could be completely wrong on this.

However, I'm still left with a dilemma. Even after they admit that we have evolved equally, many still say that religion is a crutch, that we're hurting society and holding everyone back with our intellectual stupidity. Just look within society to see the proof. So which viewpoint is the correct one? I guess some clarification is necessary to distinguish which category those of us that are religious fall into, the plain delusional and stupid category or the intelligent and respectful category. (I think it ultimately depends on which religion you follow and the one they are most comfortable with you belonging to.)

I'm very, very confused on this. Maybe someone can explain it to me.

On the surface, it appears that in their blind glee to rid the world of Christianity, atheists are "forgetting" about the intelligent Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists out there that are also devoutly religious. I also make another observation. They quote a lot of elitist white Americans and Europeans for their cause without giving any credit to multi-national thinkers, according to the above video that has won an award from Harvard University.

It just seems flawed on all sides to me.

The Club of Rome

2008-05-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

Recently I found some interesting information about an organization called "The Club of Rome." They are made up of an Anglo and European elitist "think tank" that basically decide what the crisis du jour will be for the world. I find this disturbing.

http://www.clubofrome.org/about/index.php

And then I came across a youtube video about them. Now keep in mind that some of the information in the video "could be" taken out of context from their publications so please keep an open mind about that. But you can connect the dots.

The ugliest fashion statement ever

2008-05-20T15:18:00.001-07:00

Okay, this post is just poking fun at a rival school. No harm or slander intended. I've always had respect for the UT band. Seriously. We used to have little "playoffs" with them on the sidelines before the OU/Texas games. We were never mean spirited or low class to each other, so it was all cool.
But come on, watch this video and then honestly say tell me it isn't just the ugliest thing you've ever seen. ROFL

RIC RAC FTW!!!

Here's a dandy clip from 1986 when I was in the Pride. Ahhh...the good old days.

Professors denied tenure

2008-05-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

ISU professor Guillermo Gonzalez was denied tenure last year, amid serious speculations about his publications regarding ID. The following article is pretty interesting. I found it on WCFCourier.com

Tuesday, May 15, 2007 4:05 AM CDT
Intelligent design advocate denied tenure at ISU
By NAFEESA SYEED, Associated Press Writer
DES MOINES (AP) --- Iowa State University has denied tenure to an assistant professor who has been outspoken in his views on intelligent design, prompting one group to claim he's being punished because of his views.

Guillermo Gonzalez, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy, filed an appeal of the tenure denial last week. Iowa State President Gregory Geoffroy had rejected Gonzalez's request in April.
Neither university officials nor Gonzalez would say Monday whether the tenure denial was due to his views on intelligent design. The theory holds that the universe and living things are so finely tuned and complex, they must have been designed by a supreme, intelligent force.

Gonzalez noted, however, that he has frequently been criticized by people who don't consider intelligent design as a legitimate science.

He is known for his support of the theory because he co-authored a book, "The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos is Designed for Discovery." The book has been embraced by many religious conservatives and was the source for a namesake documentary about intelligent design.

Two years ago, he was the unnamed target of a petition signed by more than 120 ISU faculty renouncing intelligent design as legitimate science.

"I knew it would be controversial, but I didn't expect this level of opposition," Gonzalez said. "I recognize it's a minority position, but that doesn't mean it's wrong."

Although Gonzalez won't discuss the reasons for the tenure denial, a Seattle-based think tank has blamed his belief in intelligent design. The group, the Discovery Institute, includes Gonzalez as a senior fellow.

"We've seen in the past couple years, a ratcheting up (in the) targeting of scientists and students who express skepticism toward neo-Darwinism or support for intelligent design," said John West, associate director of the Institute's Center for Science and Culture.

West said the climate is more reminiscent of Cuba, where Gonzalez fled as a child in the late 1960s.

"You get the same sort of doctrinal litmus test you'd expect in some place like Cuba, not Iowa," West said. "If the situation is so intolerant at American universities that a top-notched scholar cannot get tenure because he believes there is empirical evidence for design in the universe, Americans need to be questioning, 'Is this America?"'

ISU spokesman John McCarroll said Geoffroy has until June 6 to decide on Gonzalez's appeal.

Tenure-track professors are on a probation until their seventh year, when they're eligible to apply for a permanent position.

"Tenure is taken very, very seriously," McCarroll said. "You're basically granting a lifetime appointment. You're making a commitment to the individual on behalf of the university and the state of Iowa."

He said tenure requests go through multiple steps in the review process -- faculty in an individual's department, the department chair, the college dean, the executive vice president, the provost and finally the president. They consider candidates' research, publishing and teaching record as well as their ability to generate funding.

"Dr. Gonzalez was denied at every step," McCarroll said. "The process does allow for Dr. Gonzalez to appeal that right back to the president."

Gonzalez said he's "very openly a Christian," but his theory isn't contingent on believing in a higher being or the supernatural.

"It doesn't prove God and it doesn't start with God, either," he said. "But some of the intelligent design research can have positive religious confirmation -- that's why it angers atheists."

Gonzalez maintains he's never taught intelligent design in the classroom. He said his work on the subject is limited to his book and some lectures he's given on the topic away from the university.

Gonzalez co-authored a college-level astronomy textbook published by Cambridge University Press last year and has had articles on subjects unrelated to intelligent design appear in publications such as Science, Nature and Scientific American.

"None of my (68) published papers are about intelligent design," he said.

Gonzalez said he'd like to remain at Iowa State.

"It's kind of stressful," he said. "All I can do is wait."

Then I came across a pdf file under evolutionnews.org detailing evidence that his suspicions were correct and that the actions of the University were indeed deplorable.

http://www.evolutionnews.org/ID_was_the_Issue_Gonzalez_Tenure.pdf

Now I'm just speculating here, but I just bet that opponents will read this and probably say, "Nope, it's not true. They fabricated the whole thing, and you're an idiot for believing it. There's no way a University would do that. They have integrity."

Try telling that to Dr. Gonzalez and the many more educators that lose their jobs over this thing.
The reason so many people are angry about "Expelled" is because it exposes the truth about what is happening to these people, and "the establishment" will do and say everything they have to in order to trash it and Ben Stein, and throw it all into the garbage. (I'm sure that's where they think it belongs.) Another reason to question their motives. If it wasn't true, there'd be no need to expose it, and if creationism wasn't such a huge "threat" to academia and science they'd just blow it off and go on about their business.

My Survivor's Story

2008-05-11T00:22:00.000-07:00

This is the original unedited version of my version of the Oklahoma City Bombing (as it happened to me) posted at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Archives. I just came across it and want to preserve it on my blog. I wrote this in 2000, so please excuse the grammatical errors.

A Survivor's Story

by SThomas
Bilingual Service Representative, Social Security Administration
Originally written Spring 2000

Wednesday, April 19, 1995 started out like any other workday. I drove my usual route from Norman to the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City via Interstate 35. I arrived at the entrance to the building's parking garage at about 8am, and saw one of my co-workers there, Rex Irwin, taking a smoke break. I waved at him and drove into the garage. I then drove down about 2 levels to the parking spot C38. I still remember it.
When I got out of my car, another co-worker's car pulled up beside mine. His name was Raymond Johnson, volunteer from Indian Services. I said good morning to him and walked to the elevator. I rode it to street level. When I got out, another Social Security employee, Chris Torres, was leaving the building. She was headed towards the elevator. She said she did not feel well and was going home. I told her I hoped she felt better, and then I went into the back door to my office. My supervisor Carol Bowers greeted me. She smiled and said good morning. I signed in on the timesheet and went to my desk. I remember asking her some questions about an item I needed help with, and her phone interrupted us. She asked me if I could come back in the afternoon and we could go over it. I said yes and went back to my desk. On my computer was a note from the assistant manager Dennis Purifoy stating that he wanted to meet with all of the bilingual employees at 8:30am to clean out some outdated Spanish forms we no longer needed. We were installing new employee bathrooms at the time in one corner of the stockroom and needed more space.
I remember seeing Sharon Littlejohn, another service rep, come and place her jacket over her chair and walk away. We passed each other and she said good morning to me as I sat down.
Since I knew I had limited time before I had to meet with Dennis, I decided to finish up some Social Security card applications from the previous day. My desk was right up front by the large glass windows facing 5th street. I could see outside, but I do not remember seeing a Yellow Ryder truck pull up to the building.
I looked up at the clock. It was 8:30.
When I got to the stockroom, which was not far from the front of the building, I met with Dennis, Gina Hernandez, Tillie Lerma, and Julie Welch. We were the only bilingual employees in the office, except for Chris Torres, who had left early. Dennis showed us a cabinet full of forms that he thought we should all go through and throw out. He brought us a big garbage can and left us to our work. We started sifting through old forms, leaflets that were outdated, and some other miscellaneous items. We cleaned out as much as we could. At this time we were standing directly underneath a skylight. It was getting close to 9am. I remembered some forms in the back part of the stockroom and told them we should go through those too. We walked to the back where there was no skylight. As we started to go through those forms, Julie said she had to leave to get her 9:00am appointment. It was her first Spanish disability interview. That left Gina, Tillie and me. Gina at the time was a teleservice representative, and worked in the back of the office. So did Tillie. I was assigned to work reception, which was up front. At 9:01 am I said, "I need to go up front." Tillie said, "We don't know when we will get a chance to do this again, so let's get it done. We're almost there."I said, "Okay."
I had in my hands a stack of forms that I started to place on the shelf above me, and suddenly everything went black. A very, very strong force knocked the three of us to the floor. Boxes fell. Shelving crushed around us. I felt a vacuum of air that was very unfamiliar and frightening. I remember holding onto the white wooden cabinet in front of me as it wobbled and shook. Things were falling all around us, hitting our heads, legs...
Then it got really quiet. I think the three of us were so stunned we couldn?t speak. We reached around in desperation for each other's hands, shouting in scared and alarmed voices. Once we knew we were all okay, one of us asked where Julie was. I don't remember which one it was. We were quite disoriented about this time. Nobody was coming. I thought, "Well certainly somebody knows we're back here and will dig us out." We just kept gripping hands. I could not see a damn thing in front of me, let alone my friends' faces.
I thought it was just us that were buried. I tried, as my adrenaline started to flow, to be rational about this. "Okay, we're stuck back here and nobody's coming," I told myself. I thought about the other service representatives and why they and Carol Bowers weren't coming to find us. I tried so hard to keep everything in perspective and not to panic. But when about ten minutes or so passed with no response I started getting really worried. Tillie was sandwiched in between two metal file cabinets and said she was getting sore. Gina didn't say much, she just gripped my hand. I could tell she was very scared by the way she was shaking. At this point I was not even thinking about my own injuries or myself. I was worried about Gina and Tillie. I was crunched in a strange position also, but I could feel no pain.
I heard the voice of a man above us yelling something to somebody about the electrical wires and not to touch any. Then I heard something about the second floor caving in, then something about it being a gas explosion. Tillie whispered in a halfway joking tone, "No it's probably those bathrooms they installed. They probably didn't put them in right." We had a little laugh. I remember squeezing Gina's hand again in humor. She was not talking much.
Then we started to yell for help. We couldn't just sit there and breathe in this insulation and be crunched in these uncomfortable positions any longer. We had work to do. There were claimants waiting to be serviced.
We were about to find out that this was not the case.
We saw a flashlight in the dark. We yelled to whoever it was. Then we heard familiar voices. It was Dennis Purifoy and Dan Demoss, a Title XVI claims representative. They said all the power was out and that the office was destroyed. They and Richard Dean, a Title II claims representative, were digging through the rubble looking for everybody. Dan helped us crawl up and out of the hole we were buried in. We ended up sitting on top of a pile about 15 feet or so high of debris, right where the skylight had been. I just stared in shock and tried to get a perspective on my surroundings and stay calm. There was no office, just rubble. Why were there no more than just the few of us sitting here? I wondered.
Dan was bleeding. He said he had glass in his ear. His glasses were gone. Dennis left us with Dan and went to look for more employees. We could see up through the skylight but it was so high we knew we couldn't climb out on our own. I don't remember all that was said, but when I tried to stand up Dan moved me back real quick. A computer monitor landed right in front of me. It had fallen from an upper floor. Had it hit me it probably would have killed me. I looked up. I could see through all the floors. We were at the back of the building right by the plaza. I saw a woman lying nearby. I couldn't recognize her. I asked Dan who it was. He told me it was Carol Bowers. My heart sank. It didn't register how serious her injuries were. She was covered in blood and looked as if something had hit her in the head. She was trying to breathe and reach to Dan. Tillie had lost her glasses and couldn't see. She was feeling around for anything to hold on to. Finally somebody tried to lower a ladder from the children's playground down to us. It wasn't long enough. I immediately thought, "There is no way in hell we are getting out of here."
After about 15-20 minutes or so a fireman lowered another ladder down. This one was long enough. Dan helped the three of us onto the ladder to climb out. He said he'd be along as soon as they got somebody for Carol. When we reached the top the fireman carried us out one at a time. When we were out of the building we were very emotional, because at this time we could see helicopters flying around and yellow police tape going up around all the perimeters of the plaza. An Asian woman came up to us and asked us if we had seen her baby. We hadn't. I will never forget the look of horror on her face.
I knew I would need to contact my family. I looked around to see where we might go to use a phone. There was a bank on the east side of the building so we headed there. I was shivering.
The bank's plate glass window was gone, and I yelled through the opening and asked if there was a phone we could use. The lady said yes but she didn't know how long it would work. The lines were jamming up. We walked through the bank's empty window and I picked up the phone. It was busy. I waited and tried again. First I called my brother. I knew he would be close to downtown and could somehow get to me even if it wouldn't be until the afternoon. There was no answer. I left a message. Then I called my dad. I knew he would be home and would have the TV on. I didn't want him to worry. When he picked up the phone and knew it was my voice I thought he was going to collapse. I told him the lines were jamming up and to keep trying to get in touch with my brother so he could come to get me. My fiancé was in Norman and I knew there was no way he would get to me since I figured the highways and streets would be blocked off soon, so I called him last. He worked nights and was not up yet so I left him a message. Somehow I just knew that by the time he got up he would know I was ok and would not panic. Little did I know that his sister had been to the house and told him what happened and he didn't check my message until noon that day. So he went two hours or so when he didn't know if I was alive or dead.
When I let my dad go Tillie and Gina made phone calls. Then we went to sit on the curb by the building where other survivors were gathering and I was shocked by what I saw. So many of them were bleeding, disoriented and in shock. One of the supervisors in my office, Laquita Cowan, took our names down so they could alert our Regional Office.
We were cold. Some people from the Red Cross gave us blankets and water and asked us if we were okay. They checked all of our vital signs and then moved on to the next group. We sat there drinking our water and waited. And waited...
I remember walking back towards the building where they were putting another SSA employee in a stretcher. I saw Janet Beck, Title II claims representative standing there. She had this white look on her face. When I asked her what was wrong she told me Carol Bowers had just died. That hit me really hard. Just a little while ago I was at her desk. How could she be dead? I couldn't absorb this just yet. I wandered around in a daze for a little while longer then went back to Tillie and Gina and I told them.
We sat huddled together and cried until a police officer came to us and said they were clearing the area. We started to walk north on Harvey when Gina disappeared. She went to look for her husband. She was worried about Julie Welch. We hadn't seen her since 9:00. Tillie and I continued moving north until we got clear of the building. Then we turned around. Our mouths dropped to the ground and the blood ran out of our bodies. There was the skeleton of the Murrah building, surrounded by smoke, fire trucks, and debris floating in the air. We couldn't move.
Tillie said, "Oh my God those poor children."
I couldn't speak.
Crowds were forming in large numbers and we kept moving north. We stopped to use a man's cell phone to call my dad again. I gave him my new position. He said my brother and sister were on their way. I tried to stay there but we got moved again. I thought there would be no way they would ever find me. This was like a needle in a damn haystack. Great...
Then a wave of panic swept over the crowds. Supposedly another bomb had been found. People started running east of the building. Tillie and I began to run too. It was all so surreal?and it was then that I saw the back of my brother's head. He and my sister were frantically scanning the crowd for me. I yelled out to them and they turned around. I will never forget the relief I saw on their faces when they finally realized I was safe. It was a very emotional moment.
We headed toward a bridge and I remember my brother saying we should be careful should another explosion occur. We were talking about how this looked like Beirut in Oklahoma City. Tillie was still with us. When we reached the area near where my brother's van was parked, he left us to go get it so we wouldn't have to walk so far. I was shivering and it was then that I told my sister that my supervisor was dead. We prayed together that more people would be okay and then my brother drove up. We went to get something to eat but I couldn't eat anything. I would talk a little while, then stare into space. I don't think I took two bites out of my sandwich. I had no purse, no keys and no car to drive home. Even though I was thankful I had walked away from it, I was still irritated by this.
My brother said that new keys could be made, I could get new ID's and hopefully my car would be okay. We weren't sure though. We went to a medical clinic to get checked for any injuries. I was given a tetanus shot and was advised to go get an X-ray of my lungs to see if I had breathed in much insulation. On the drive back to Norman I asked to stop to see my dad. He lives in Moore and I wanted to see him so he could be really sure I was okay. Then we went to Norman.
My fiancé was very happy to see me, to say the least.
Then I went to take a shower.
A storm had brewed up and a loud clap of thunder came unexpectedly. It triggered a response in me I wasn't prepared for. To this day, if I am not prepared for it, thunder will trigger the same response. And it's worse if the lights happen to go out at the same time.
In the days that followed, we learned of who had survived and who had not. Julie was killed, and that was devastating to me. The man she was to interview, Emilio Tapia, was the Spanish disability interview I had scheduled for her on that date. As soon as I saw his picture in the paper I knew it was the same man I had helped just weeks before. I remembered that he had come in again just that Monday, April 17th wanting to see her early. I had told him she was unavailable and he needed to keep his appointment for the nineteenth. I remember standing in my kitchen crying with the newspaper in my hand. As it fell from my hands to the floor, I apologized and prayed that Julie and this man's family would forgive me for what I had done to them. Raymond Johnson, our volunteer, had also died.
It took four months for me to sleep in a regular bedroom instead of the couch with all the lights on. It was almost that long before I was comfortable being left alone at home at night. I had a dream a few days after the explosion. Carol Bowers came to use my phone to call her husband to tell him she was okay. She had a big smile on her face and told me my mother had been asking about me, and did I have a picture I could give her to take to my mother. I remember in my dream rummaging around in my drawers for one, and I gave it to her. She patted me on the shoulder and said that my mother was really good and missed me. She also told me to continue working hard, that I would be an excellent bilingual employee for Social Security. Then she said she had to go. When she left, she opened the door to my house, went outside and a huge bright light filled my living room. Then she was gone. I felt very comforted by that even though it still gives me chills when I think about it...
Being close to other survivors was very important to me at that time. We bonded very closely when we had to say goodbye to the ones we lost, while at the same time try to deal with the fears, survivors' guilt, and trauma we each had experienced. Sharon Littlejohn was the most severely injured employee from our office. When the blast occurred, she was blown back several feet from where she was standing and was found buried in the aisle by Richard Dean. She nearly lost an eye, had to undergo extensive hand surgeries to regain limited use of her fingers, many bits of glass had to be removed from her arms, legs, etc. She is lucky to be alive. Former President Clinton recognized Richard Dean at the State of the Union address for his bravery and heroism during this tragedy.
Many of us have found ourselves in the reluctant limelight so to speak since this...our lives completely changed overnight.
With time, it has gotten easier. After almost five years now I still have to deal with some fears that I didn't have before April 19, 1995. But I thank God every day for my life and that I walked away from this horrible event. I thank Him for my loving family, friends, and the opportunity He gave me to tell my story and to make every day a special one, and to always embrace new experiences in my life. Every once in a while I sit and I look at the Bachelor of Arts degree I earned in Spanish from the University of Oklahoma. Being bilingual saved my life. That piece of paper is what separated me from death...
This story is dedicated to those Social Security friends and co-workers I lost, that will forever be remembered:
Carol L. Bowers, Operations Supervisor
Sandra Avery, Development Clerk
Raymond Johnson, Indian Services Volunteer
Julie Welch, Title II Claims Representative
Steve Williams, Operations Supervisor
Derwin Miller, Title II Claims Representative
Sharon Wood-Chesnut, Title II Claims Representative
Margaret Goodson, Title XVI Claims Representative
Mike Thompson, Title XVI Claims Representative
Kathy Cregan, Service Representative
Ethel Griffin, Service Representative
Oleta Biddy, Service Representative
Ron Harding, Service Representative
Charlotte Thomas, appointment clerk
Bob Walker, Title II Claims Representative
Richard Allen, Title II Claims Representative

And Lorri McNiven, a survivor and a Title II Claims Representative, who passed away in September 2000 from unrelated circumstances.

"I am the resurrection and the life."

May they all rest in peace.

Go here to read the SSA archives on Richard Dean, the CR that was commended at Clinton's State of the Union Address.
http://www.ssaonline.us/history/okc5.html

The Blasphemy Challenge

2008-05-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

A while back, a group called "The Rational Response Squad" promoted the "Blasphemy Challenge" on youtube. Basically they targeted young people to make a video denying the Holy Spirit and God. Not Allah, or Buddhism, or Satanism, or Witchcraft, just the Holy Spirit, which is linked to Christianity. The reason? Well, watch the clip and read a few snippets from the FAQ on their webpage.

How will The Blasphemy Challenge help?

Religious dogma has one chief means of support: Our unwillingness to criticize it in public. If we talked about religion the same way we talk about science, history or other fields involving truth claims, dogma would wither in the light. The Blasphemy Challenge, by addressing a truth claim of Christianity, is intended to provoke this sort of conversation.

Notice there is no mention of other religions.

"Is it true that you are targeting young people with this campaign?

Yes. As young people are the most vulnerable to religious indoctrination, we feel it is important to reach them with the concept of challenging the doctrine they are told to unquestioningly believe.

Okay, what about the doctrine of Hinduism? Are you going to go out and tell those people that they are wrong? Oh that's right. Being Hindu is okay. Being a Buddhist, Taoist or Confucionist is okay. Worshipping Satan or the Earth is okay, but don't you dare believe in the God of Christianity, or we will come after you.

The reward for posting a video? A free DVD entitled "The God that wasn't there."

Now I looked at many of these challenge videos, and so far I haven't seen anyone denouncing their belief in Allah or any other religions, just the Holy Spirit and the God of Christianity. (That's because they weren't asked to, because the RRS is OK with everything else. Christianity was specifically targeted.)

How can a person take this organization so seriously??? I mean come on. They don't even ask people of other faiths to denounce their gods.

My main problems with atheism are the following:

1) Using the violence of Islam as an excuse to denounce religion, mainly Christianity, and that's what it is. Example: All the terrorism in the Middle East they claim is completely based on Islam and don't take in other factors like racism, nationalism>therefore all religion is bad>Christians are ignorant>Creationists should be removed from teaching science or being in education in general>religion should be totally removed from our society>then we all live happily ever and serve each other>golden rule is the status quo>and we end up really worshipping the planet as environmentalists and feel guilty just for being an American while the elitists gobble it all up because they've just managed to control everyone into thinking this way.
As I said, some rational thinking atheists are actually standing up to radical Islamo-fascism and I applaud them, like John Gibson of Fox News. But they seem to be in the minority. Thus many use the former as an excuse to denounce the latter.
2) Many do not take a stand against ALL religions, as the general definition of atheism would lead most people to believe. As one youtuber put it:
"Um...f*** christianity and islam-i really don't have a problem with the others though."
"That's because they don't force their religion on you." Is the response.

Well I don't care, seriously. What kind of response is that? Has that person examined everything before making that decision? There should be books and critical analysis of Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. etc. vs. atheism but we don't see that. It should be shouted from the rooftops at the Ivy League schools. But all we see are Richard Dawkins, David Mills, PZ Myers, etc etc. denouncing GOD and that's enough to get you the prestige, awards, and recognition.

Therefore, I must conclude that these people have a serious problem with God and don't want to be accountable to anyone but themselves, and do not want to acknowledge a higher power. It's narcissism to the extreme. We are increasingly becoming more about "self" than ever before. However, environmentalism and "saving the planet" seem to be a worthy causes so that's ok.
4) Ruining the reputations of educators and scientists. All you have to do is read current events to see where academia and science are headed. No respect for people that explore ID. You have to be a Darwinian evolutionist or else you lose everything. People should not lose promotions or tenure because of religious beliefs. That is a violation of the Constitution, and promotes anarchy and Communism. The following is about a kid that filed a lawsuit against a teacher for bashing Christianity in the classroom. THIS IS BEING TAUGHT TO OUR KIDS!!!!! And it's ok, not a violation. Where is the ACLU???

(By the way, the school district dismissed the case. U.S. District Judge James Selna has ordered it to go forward however because he believes it has merit. Let's hope our judicial system doesn't let Chad Farnan down.)

5)Ridiculing young people and encouraging dissent in the traditional family value system. (RRS) Hey, you're not gonna knock on people's doors to promote atheism or ask some parents to talk to their kids about it freely are you? Why not? Could it be because the parents might have an objection to it? (And don't throw the door to door evangelism out there. I'm fully aware of the consequences of that, and it's the wrong approach.) No, you'll just stealth target them online, ridicule them at University by giving them bad grades when they challenge the professor and hit the other things they read. This is where parents need to WAKE UP and pay more attention to what their kids see online and read today. Many of the blasphemy videos and responses I see are full of profane, vulgar language specifically targeted at Christianity. When was the last time a Christian approached you and truly wanted to share the gospel with you and then said "F you because you don't want to hear the message?"

Atheism can be categorized into 2 sections, according to atheist.about.com. There's strong atheism and weak atheism.

"There is, unfortunately, some disagreement about the definition of atheism. It is interesting to note that most of that disagreement comes from theists — atheists themselves tend to agree on what atheism means. Christians in particular dispute the definition used by atheists and insist that atheism means something very different. (Not me, I go with the below statement.)
The broader, and more common, understanding of atheism among atheists is quite simply "not believing in any gods." No claims or denials are made — an atheist is just a person who does not happen to be a theist. Sometimes this broader understanding is called "weak" or "implicit" atheism. Most good, complete dictionaries readily support this.

There also exists a narrower sort of atheism, sometimes called "strong" or "explicit" atheism. With this type, the atheist explicitly denies the existence of any gods — making a strong claim which will deserve support at some point. Some atheists do this and others may do this with regards to certain specific gods but not with others. Thus, a person may lack belief in one god, but deny the existence of another god."

This really is an expansion of the first definition and not that different. But there are atheists that respect others and those that do not. That's the difference.

So why the attack on Christianity alone? Well, I've got a few opinions on this. One could be the oppression suffered during the Dark Ages and the Crusades, and then the rise of extreme fundamentalism in many parts of the world. Think Jim Jones, David Koresh, the FLDS, I could go on and on. These are valid reasons that I can understand why a person might turn away from God when they see these things in the media. But many people use these examples merely as excuses for denying God and not actively ensuring that they have explored every option before just denouncing Him. For example, being just Catholic all your life and then suddenly deciding you're an atheist doesn't cut it.

The mother in this video is wrong, and it's an example of extremely bad parenting, to use the foul language that she uses and "Christmas presents" to justify why her kid should believe and some mere words he said to the Bishop. This is her fault and not the kid's. It is her obligation to make sure he has a well rounded spiritual foundation in which to grow, a loving home. It doesn't appear that he has that. It's based on materialism and control. It's no wonder then that he has been seduced by the growing message that being a Christian is bad and makes you "stupid."

Moving on to 9/11 and the torture of innocent people worldwide by fundamental Muslims. I'm not talking about the garden variety Muslims that worship peacefully in their mosques and bother no one. I've met some very nice Muslim people and I would never categorize them in this fashion. I'm talking about the wave of dangerous sects of Islam that behead our soldiers and our journalists, that proclaim "Death to America" and all these things we see in the news, the same people that have killed innocent Iraqis. I have seen some atheists speak out against that, but there are very few. I believe the reason for this is the media bias against the Iraq War and the laws that are being written as we speak to protect terrorists. Our borders are porous. This is very bad news for America, and there's no denying it. If many atheists are humanists then why aren't they standing up for other innocent HUMANS?

My concern is that as time goes on, the rise of fundamental Islam could very well infiltrate this country and overwhelm it. As the next few generations get older, and their belief in God is gone completely, they will have no spiritual path on which to lean and be able to recognize the extreme dangers this poses for our freedoms. (Of course I'll get some backlash for not using secular documents such as the Constitution and the Treaty of Tripoli for this statement instead of religion.)

Sharia law has already affected some areas. Look at the Minneapolis airport, for example. The taxi drivers there have declared it. This was reported by John Gibson at Fox News. He says he is an atheist and he took the challenge but was professional about it. So I applaud this man for speaking out. Here's the link.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255939,00.html

Now I'm not trying to say that my above statments would be the case with ALL atheists. But the fact that the RRS is going after young people who have not had a lot of life experiences (i.e. death of close relative, loss of job, marriage, family, threat against their own lives, divorce, terminal illness, etc. etc.) and who have maybe had some bad experiences with religion aren't even giving them a chance because they've had some bad experiences so it's "payback time."

Trying to turn kids against God is really hurting them in the long run and destroying our value system. There's been so much time spent on denouncing God, Christ, the Holy Spirit. Millions of books are sold promoting it. There are so many videos about this subject on youtube, that frankly, it scares me. There's not much respectful dialogue, it's mostly hate speech directed at one another.

Here are some responses from atheists to Christians who have responded to this blasphemy with statements that they DO believe:

"I believe you are delusional and your delusions are hurting us as a species. Preachers are false prophets, prayer is a superstition, heaven is a fairy tale, and god does not exist. I'm a proud member of the RATIONAL RESPONSE SQUAD and I DENY THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, JESUS, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT."

"Religion should never be followed. You may study it but only for its horrible impact that it has plagued on valuable human life. Religion is humankind's greatest downfall."

(The above statement alone makes me cringe. It makes me think of what our country might be like in a few decades, on college campuses and in academia in general, and that rules might be placed on our society saying we will not be allowed to even study religion, except for "its horrible impact that it has plagued on valuable human life. "Does this even sound like the United States of America anymore???)

"Science is about FACTS they're smart, they're athiests, they're right."

"When the Virgin Mary found out she was pregnant she should have had an abortion."

"You believe such stupid things idiot, f*** jesus"

"I am more important than all mythical beings because I actually exist."

"It's unconstitutional to support religion."

"F*** theism, f*** the concept of god."

"Little girl please understand that there are some big bad people who created the idea of God and that you fell into their little trap. GOD IS BULLSHIT."

Intimidation tactics meant to scare, to manipulate, to induce fear and hatred. Not something that opens the situation to respectful dialogue.

I have seen Christian responses that say "you will burn in hell" and "you better repent" and all that. Not kind.

There are many Christians that have twisted the Scriptures to fit their own purpose and this behavior is deplorable and despicable. These individuals will have to answer for their actions at some point in time. But this is the unfortunate nature of mankind. We are not infallible, and we cannot correct our behavior simply by following the Golden Rule and hope it just "works out for the best."

But then again we just die and poof...there's nothing right?

There are atheists that don't want religion in public schools. Notice I said religion. As in all religions. Nothing wrong with that. I'm actually a Christian that supports separation of Church and State. I do support the moment of silence however because I do not believe it is an attempt to bring the God of the Bible into the classroom. It is meant to be a reflective time and should be used for whatever the individual wants. It's not to promote prayer, and it's NOT to promote atheism.

I do support creationism and evolution being taught in the schools. Yes, you will call me an idiot and "intellectually dishonest" and that I am not truly scientifically educated, stupid, unable to see reality, whatever intimidation tactic you choose. You might say my arguments contradict one another. Again, that's ok too.
But the atheists also don't want you to vote on whether you want that in your school or not. This is the beginning of the eroding of values in our society. Yes, an atheist will say no, it's the beginning of the TRUTH and rational thinking.
An atheist will say that a person's decision to give up God is letting go of a crutch that keeps you from thinking clearly about the world and of just accepting that we die and that's it. Well they don't KNOW that is true. So to encourage young people to dissent from their religions and post a video to get a free DVD is irresponsible. These people don't care about these kids as people. All they care about is their publicity and the shock value that their stunt is bringing them.

I would just like to encourage the young people out there that before you just decide there is no God and take up with the crowd du jour, think seriously about what you are doing and the eternal consequences. You will go through many more trials in your life before you reach your 40's and 50's and you will be tested. It is not easy. It's easier to throw in the towel and say "there is no God" than to say there is. Is this world now becoming about the easy way out???

If you have been raised in an oppressive church, if you have gotten to the point where you just hated the idea of just getting up on Sunday morning and being dragged to one more Bible study or mass, and had people throw God in your face, please re-examine your options. Check out different denominations and see if there is another place where you might fit in and not be made to feel this way. I am saying this from personal experience. I have been in that situation. From age 13 to age 39. I hated going to church.

If you are over the age of 21, you are an adult. You have the power to make your own decisions. If you decide after fully examining everything to be an atheist, that is your right. But please, please, make absolutely certain that it is your conscience and not your professor, your friends, or some internet organization telling you to deny God. That is the wrong reason and will only get you accepted in certain circles for a little while.

My fear is that many that have renounced God will be the first to say they'll "believe in Allah" if Islam ever takes over this country to keep from being killed if they are ever faced with that. They won't think of it as "embracing a religion" but simply saying whatever they have to say. They'll tell themselves it's "no big deal." Yet they denied the God of Christianity.

I just want to pose a question to atheists: What would you do if you were to find yourself at the other end of a scimitar that is about to saw your head off for Allah? Or your children's if you do not accept Islam? If they say to you, "Say you believe in Allah or you and your family die right now."

What would you do?

Now let me ask: Has a Christian ever done that to you? I'm not talking about the Middle Ages, so please don't use that as an excuse. I'm talking RIGHT NOW in the modern age.

Just put yourself in that situation for a moment and ponder it. You don't have to answer right away.

I'm bound to get some hateful responses for this blog entry. But it's been on my mind, and as an American with rights to free speech, I'm going to post it. Fire away.

The Real Story behind the Oklahoma City Bombing

2008-05-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

I've been chastised for expressing my views on this matter over and over again, but I tend to become even more entrenched and dig my heels in further when presented with opposing views on any topic. This is no exception when it comes to the OKC bombing. It's been 13 years since that horrible event, and yet people still do not get the connection between Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols and Al Qaeda. Does this mean that I believe those 2 to be innocent? Absolutely not. I was at McVeigh's trial. Looked him dead in the eye. When he looked back at me, I saw a man with no soul, no conviction, and no conscience. Terry Nichols was just along for the ride IMHO, but still just as guilty. We in America have short attention spans and allow our politicians, government and media to control the information that we get about the most crucial events that affect our society. Either that, or we allow them to "rewrite" it to save their own butts or to protect someone else's. We don't investigate anything; we take everything at face value. We let our politicians make false promises they don't intend to keep. We listen to academia and the science community make whatever claims they want to on any topic they want to, because, well, they're academia, they must be right and we do not question their motives or challenge them at all. Cases in point: Ward Churchill and Bill Ayers. How these two hateful, anti-American men were allowed to be put into a position to teach our young kids is just a reflection of where our nation is going. It's no wonder nobody "gets it" anymore.

I could continue on into a lengthy diatribe as to why I believe what I believe, but I'll just let the following video speak for itself. And, at the risk of sounding condescending, let me just say this: For those of you that want to take the time to investigate and actually learn something, buy Jayna Davis' book, The Third Terrorist.
When the Jihadists in this country attack again, maybe Americans will finally wake up. But I'm kind of doubting that will happen. They will listen to the mainstream media and blame George Bush, once again, for everything.

Living in Tornado Alley

2008-05-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

Well last night we got the usual dose of spring thunderstorms that hit the OK/TX/KS area every year, otherwise known as "tornado alley."
Fortunately all I wound up with was a minor roof leak in my kitchen but my next door neighbors lost the roof on their hot tub gazebo and it damaged their flowerbeds and gutters.
Every spring when severe storms approach from the southwest, it takes me back to 2 significant events that happened in my life while still living in Oklahoma; the May 3, 1999 tornado and the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred Murrah building in Oklahoma City. I was involved in both.
The latter I survived by the grace of God Almighty. Had I been at my desk at the time of the blast I would not be sitting here writing this right now. The reason I include this is because the blast itself was very much like a violent flash of lightning followed within a split second by thunder so loud and vicious it shakes the foundation you are standing on and rattles everything in your cabinets. Like a bomb and earthquake combined. Only the blast was much worse. It destroyed everything around me. Nothing else does that except a tornado or hurricane.
I continue to have severe problems when faced with a situation similar to that event, and that situation is a very bad storm. The sizzle that accompanies a close lightning strike mimics the sizzle I heard of lights popping and a skylight crashing above my head, followed by the strong clap of thunder that reverberates for miles. If the lights go out at the same time, it is like I am reliving the event over and over, classic symptoms of PTSD. It's very difficult to explain this to someone who has never been through it, but I always get the obligatory nod and the usual, "I can understand."
May 3, 1999. I was working in the little town of Chickasha OK, the first stop on the F5 grand tour. Once the warnings were issued for Caddo County, I left early and was driving home and could see the storm several miles behind me in my rearview mirror forming into the behemoth that ultimately chewed up Oklahoma City. I made it to my home in Norman about the time it hit that town. It did a lot of damage to the little airport there just north of the city. Thank God it didn't hit my office because I still had co-workers there at the time.
Of course by this time every local TV channel had their copters in the air, spotters on the ground, and the usual overkill that accompanies every little fart windstorm that hits the metro area every spring. But this was no little fart. I watched in horror on the television as the monster gained strength, almost like a snowball going down a hill. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. When the core looked like it could turn east towards Norman, I grabbed my pets, got back in the car, and tried to make it to a nearby shelter (we had no basement)
Sirens went off, the whole thing. Once the all clear was given (I didn't make it to the shelter in time) I started to go back to the house but just couldn't make myself do it. The idea of being confined in my space scared the shit out of me, excuse my french. When I look back on it, that logic made no sense at all and still doesn't. I knew better!
So I drove around, doo dee doo, listening to the radio. Dumbass me right? I guess I just figured at the time I'd rather be out in the open than confined because of what happened in 95.
After about an hour or so I did go back home and turn on the TV. By this time the storm was going up the turnpike, almost a straight path, and had hit the poor town of Bridgecreek. Then it went east and crossed I35. I was so scared for my elderly father and stepmother. They had no basement either and huddled in the coat closet until it passed. They described the wind as the "worst sound in the world."
My stepbrother lost his home. They had no basement and hid in the closet under the staircase. It ripped the home right off the foundation. So lucky to be alive.
I'll never understand why Oklahoma builders can't put basements in. They claim it's the hard soil, but I think people would be willing to pay the extra money, especially custom buyers, to have that done. Now of course we have the safe rooms above ground, which is so much better than the alternative. I have decided that no house I live in from now on will have less than a safe room.
When morning came on May 4, it was like April 19 all over again. People were shell shocked and at their limits emotionally. I couldn't do anything. No sleep for days. At that point I didn't want to leave my house. I went from not wanting to be there to not wanting to leave. I cried. I paced. I tried to sleep, but couldn't. Tried to eat, but couldn't. I was numb.
Had I not already been through the bombing, I have no doubt that I would have just picked right back up and kept going. But it took me days, weeks, to wrap my mind around what had just happened to our community, 6 years after such a horrible tragic event had already wracked it.
When I heard the stories of the people that perished, it was like reliving the deaths of co-workers all over again.
I guess much of the reason I write this today is to give pause and reflect, and also to praise the meteorologist teams in Oklahoma. Oklahoma catches a lot of crap in the media and allover as "redneck country" and "what do they know, they're just dumb Okies." Well, I can assure you, jokes aside and stereotypes forgotten, Oklahoma is a great state, and her citizens are nothing short of heroes. Many more lives would have been lost on May 3 had it not been for the tireless efforts of these scientists who make it their passion and life's work to understand these storms and to make sure people stay safe.

Our Holy Pascha Service

2008-05-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here is what an Eastern Orthodox Pascha service looks like if anyone is interested:

http://www.patchchord.com/blog/2008/05/02/orthodox-easter-in-kansas-city/

The "Baptist Manifesto" and why there is so much atheism

2008-05-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

I came upon a series of videos by His Eminence Archbishop Vladika Lazar of Canada discussing a "Baptist Manifesto" that was written and circulated in 2001 through the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The author is Dr. Matt Spann, and this document was part of his doctoral project. I can't link the document here but I found it under namb.net.

I read this document a few months ago. It targets the evangelization of Orthodox Christians in Russia and proceeds to explain how we have it all wrong about having a relationship with God. I found it interesting in some places but before I even saw His Eminence's video analysis of it, I was very skeptical of some of the case studies being used. It read like typical Protestant propaganda and just shows me that it's more of the same, "we know more than everyone else does about salvation of the human race and it's our duty to put out our multi level marketing scheme to everyone we meet."

Here is an example of a case study from the document:

"Ivan was frustrated. The more he tried to know God, the farther
away God seemed. He wanted to read and learn more about him, but
where should he turn? Should he look in his daily prayer book, talk to
his priest, buy a Bible and read it? Which one would
be the best source for showing him the way? He
decided the best option would be to talk to the priest,
Father Dmitri. At least you could trust the Church. It
had been in his country for over a thousand years.
The priest frustrated him even more. Dmitri told him
not to worry about knowing God—he was a mystery and could not be
known. But the missionaries who led a Bible Study where Ivan went
to college seemed to personally know him. They think they do, Dmitri
said, but what they really know is merely a system they have created
to explain him who is without explanation."

I've never known an Orthodox who has ever experienced this. When I went to Russia in 1991, the people there were EAGER to talk about God and the Bible, and to share their faith. In many ways, I think Russians are more spiritual than many Americans are. We here take our religious freedoms for granted, whereas they have had theirs trampled on for decades by just about every form of opposition imaginable. I think it's appalling and ridiculous to make these kinds of statements about Orthodoxy.

But you have to understand the evangelical Protestant mind. You see, the way it works is this: You go to a Baptist church and you might be new. Some deacons get ahold of you or some of the laypeople in the congregation. They ask you if you've been saved and if you were to die RIGHT NOW do you know in your heart whether or not you would go to heaven? The pressure is enormous to please these people and not turn them away because, they're looking out for your salvation. You fill out comment cards with your address and phone number and they might call you out in the service to recognize you as a "special guest." I've been in this situation many MANY times. After a day or so, they start calling to "invite you back because they really enjoyed meeting you." You might go or you might not. Then you might get a knock on your door from them, asking if they could just have "a minute of your time" to explain the plan of salvation. They leave bible tracts and all kinds of literature. But instead of feeling like you've made a new friend, you feel a sort of obligation. Why? Well the truth is this: They've been sent out by their pastor to "win souls for God" and they have to tell him how many they won.

If you're not one of them they will continue to call you and show up at your house until you either 1) agree to become a member of their church, 2) get baptized at their church, or 3) just get nasty and say horrible things to them so they won't want to come back. I've never done that because it's not in my nature to be mean and nasty who are trying to have good intentions with their behavior.

So maybe after a while you join. Then you are called out to do the same, which means over time, you get a larger congregation=more money for the church=more money for crazy things like the Big Butter Jesus in Cincinnati or skyscraper size crosses outside on the freeway. This also means more recognition for your pastor in the pulpit, nicer suits for him, and a nicer car for him to drive. Maybe even a fancier toupee. Now I'm probably being cliche here. But I've seen it in a lot of churches. More than I care to list. Once you are a member, and even though you're saved, you have to continue going to your pastor for "counseling" and additional spiritual guidance outside of the services. It's just part of being a Baptist, or maybe just a Protestant altogether. But that's not the bad part. You then have to endure messages of condemnation, guilt, finger pointing, being told how to vote, how to raise your kids, who to be friends with, what music to listen to, who to date, who to marry, what schools to go to, the list is endless. And your walk with God is always questioned no matter what, even though you are "saved" according to the doctrine. You might even have your life planned out for you because some "divine revelation" was given to someone close to you in your congregation that's been praying for you and it's time to "step up and be who God called you to be." If that isn't the definition of a controlling church I don't know what is!!

It's not enough to say that you "pray quietly at home." Telling that to a Baptist is like telling a cop to stick a ticket you know where. You just don't DO that because it removes you from their public scrutiny and places you in the sanctuary of your home, which is supposed to be a "mini church."

But I digress. The whole series of youtube videos is out now, and it's at least 10 sessions. I'm going to link #10 because he says something very interesting about atheism in this country, but I'm not going to cheat and put in the timestamp. You have to watch the whole thing.

Father Tryphon Vs Starbucks

2008-04-29T21:46:00.000-07:00

I'll let the following video speak for itself.

Christ is Risen!!

2008-04-28T19:52:00.000-07:00

Truly He is Risen!!

Those are the words that have echoed throughout the parish since midnight Saturday. In the services leading up to Pascha, there is so much humbleness given to our Lord, which is the way it should be. Warts and all, we give ourselves to the redeemer on the Cross. During the midnight vigil I spent a long time praying and reading Psalms. When one prays in front of Christ's tomb and really sees the solemnity surrounding his crucifixion, do you even begin to get a glimpse of what He has done for us.

Up until now, I've only lived and understood Christianity/the Bible as a 2 dimensional thing. Easter has been just this one day I celebrated with fake grass in a basket, white patent leather shoes, a purple frilly dress and egg hunts. Sure I knew what it was but I never really LIVED it. Until you fast, really reflect on your blessings, your trials, and take that inward critical look at yourself, you'll never understand the true meaning of Easter/Pascha. Orthodoxy truly makes it 3 dimensional, gives it depth and has breathed new life into me, something I probably would not have had, had I not rediscovered it.

I can't tear myself away from the monastic chants and Divine Liturgy celebrated in different languages.

Ben Stein's New Movie

2008-04-23T12:08:00.000-07:00

Well I went to see "Expelled" last night after Bridegroom Matins. Since I'm not a pro I will do my best to provide an analysis of the film. I'm sure that if any atheists read my blog, it won't be educated according to their standards and I'm just another idiot creationist buying into the hype. That's fine. But at least I saw the movie.

First, the film is saturated with images and pictures surrounding the holocaust and Jewish persecution. As I have read on youtube and other blogs, many people either hated that aspect or thought it was brilliant. Since Ben Stein is Jewish this makes sense to me that this would be the backbone of the film. The opening scenes of Nazi soldiers patrolling the walls on one side and the prisoners on the other would prove to be a pivotal point later on.
Going in I knew what this would be about so I expected it to be maybe just a little bit biased. But as the movie went on and more and more scientists were interviewed, not just the ones who lost their jobs, it became apparent that the research done was more complex and thorough than I imagined.
Of course I have read the criticisms of Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers of the 2nd rate quality of the film and that they were interviewed under "false pretenses." I also heard their stories about how they got in to see the previews. Funny how none of the other scientists interviewed claim this. Maybe because these fellows were finally shown in their true light stacked up to some of these other guys and they can't stand it? Have to resort to the atheist handbook for dealing with dissenters??

I didn't think Ben Stein would actually be allowed to interview Richard Dawkins. But he was. That's what helped solidify the film for me. Instead of using a bunch of hyberbole and Michael Moore techniques, he actually did his homework and didn't try to portray something in a different light. If Michael Moore had made this movie with his stylish slant, the Darwinist crowd would have been ready to send him to the Oscars. But I digress.

To quote PZ Myers: "Religion needs to be treated as a fun thing that people do on the weekends and it doesn't affect them their lives as it has up to this point. Greater science literacy>erosion of religion>positive feedback mechanism>religion fades away>more and more science to replace it>displaces religion>more science>religion will then become an appropriate side dish instead of main course."

Sorry, PZ Myers, I don't want your type of utopia imposed on me. I'll keep my God and my Bible and my religion that I practice DAILY. And you can enjoy that as a side dish or main course, however you prefer. Ok?

Along with PZ Myers and Richard Dawkins, Ben Stein interviewed such notables as:
Paul Nelson, PhD, Biola Univ
Steven C Meyer PhD
Steve Fuller PhD, Sociology Prof Univ of Warwick
Dr. Michael Egner, Neurosurgeon Stony Brook Univ Hosp
Jeffrey Schwartz, MD Research Psychiatrist UCLA School of Medicine
Maclaj Giertych, Phd Population Geneticist European Parliament Poland Rep (This guy was amazing. He says that academic freedoms are more open there than in the U.S!)
David Berlinski, PhD
Philosopher and Mathematician (If you see the movie for no other reason, see it to hear this man. He is absolutely incredible. Of course I haven't heard a peep out of Richard Dawkins or PZ Myers for the comments made by Dr. Berlinski. And we probably won't, that's why you need to see the movie.)

The parallels drawn between atheism and Darwinism are pretty spot on. If you're going to be a true Darwinist, you pretty much have to abandon all your religious beliefs and join up in the Church of Darwin. This will get you the jobs, the promotions, the prestige, the honors, the awards, the tenure....and the respect of your peers.

If I have taken away anything from this film it is that Darwinism and atheism are powerful peer pressure tools in the academic world, and this bleeds down into the rest of the culture. When PZ Myers said religion should become a side dish, he didn't just mean that as some idle thought, he means it as something that should actually be done with society, otherwise we all just remain stupid and they (the Darwinists) sit on their humanistic pedestals. As long as we let religion poison our minds, we don't get to sit on the pedestal. We don't get to enjoy the fruits of humanistic utopia. Well for me, since science still doesn't have all the answers, I have to ask myself this question: Do I abandon my faith and embrace the Church of Darwin, all so that my self esteem can be redeemed and my peers will accept me? Is that really what this boils down to? If so, that is a very very small box to put everything into, isn't it?

And I thought science, exploration, the thirst for knowledge were all about making the box bigger. Boy am I wrong!

Recently I saw a youtube video marking fetuses as "parasites." Some are good, some are bad. Some turn out to be hideous siamese twins and with insufficient organs. Since they are basically parasites, we can rid ourselves of the bad ones and promote the good ones. (Take out the humanity of it and it makes it a lot easier to do that.) I scratched my head. Darwinism>humanism>atheism>no God>eugenics>social engineering>eugenics>euthanasia>abortion>cremation.....no respect for life. I believe that what the film portrays about the killing of humanity in the name of Darwinism and social engineering is dead on.

I don't think that is a Church I want to belong to.

"Science is a gift from God so we can better understand His Creation." ME

Chrismation and Pascha

2008-04-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

April 27 (Pascha) is upon us, and this begs for some reflection. My own life is so insignificant compared to people like Jesus, Moses, King David, the Apostle Paul, Mary, Lazarus, the list goes on and on.
I am trying to attend every Liturgical service this week that I can, and my priest told me yesterday that I may get chrismated before I move in June. That would be so awesome. We are setting up a "tomb" of Christ in front of the icon and will keep vigil from Good Friday into Saturday.
A big feast is planned on Sunday, not to be missed!!!
I've been able to give up a lot during Lent season. Not everything, but I have certainly had my cross to bear over the last few weeks.
As far as choosing my "patron saint" goes, I think the Apostle Paul would be a good fit. Haven't decided 100% though.

Another old friend

2008-04-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

Well I finally caught up with another friend from the old days, this one a tenor sax player named Geoff Torres that's featured in the Brad Bietry jazz group out of Colorado. The guy is so talented, writing his own solos since he was about 14 or 15.
I had the pleasure of playing trombone/bass trombone with him back in our Oklahoma highschool when we used to take state all the time. :)
And who says Okies are dumb????
http://www.gigmasters.com/swing/BradBietryJazzGroup/

Another guy, Brian Gorrell and Jazz Company, is a regular feature now in Oklahoma City's jazz scene. An alto sax and piano player, he's also a tremendous success.
http://www.briangorrell.com/

And David Gibson, trombonist extraordinaire, went on to become an Eastman School of Music graduate and is now living in New York promoting his CD's and playing with famous greats such as Slide Hampton and teaching at Columbia University.

Wow, what 20 years can do. I never took my musical talents past college, unless you count castanet playing in a flamenco group actual music. LOL

The Cult of Obama

2008-04-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

I posted something several months ago about Barack Obama's views on religion. It had to do with a 7/23/07 article in Time Magazine about the various Democrat's views on their faith.
Barack Obama said at that time that, "If we scrub language of all religious content, we forfeit the imagery and terminology through which millions of Americans understand both their personal morality and social justice. Secularists are wrong when they tell believers to leave their religion at the door before entering the public square."

Look at how carefully that statement is crafted. Not really endorsing God but certainly not avoiding the issue altogether.

I didn't see the ACLU going after him on that. Didn't see the leftist media doing anything about it. So it gave me pause that they would just let it slide. I mean, how could this man be ostracized for his "faith" if he is to be their favorite in the upcoming campaign???

Let's take Mike Huckabee for example and put him in front of the press saying this:
"If we scrub language of all religious content, we forfeit the imagery and terminology through which millions of Americans understand both their personal morality and social justice. Secularists are wrong when they tell believers to leave their religion at the door before entering the public square."

The media would be all over it wouldn't they? Ostracizing him for his radical religious views and they would saturate the headlines with "Mike Huckabee pushes God on the American public." He'd be demonized. Unfit to be president and compared to George Bush.

Yet when Obama says it, nothing happens. Poof. People scratch their heads...."what did he say?" Oh well....he says he's a Christian so what...well hey would you look at that! "Change we can believe in..." then the message switches. It's gone from their minds, a mere blip on the rearview mirror. Another thing I would like to add is Obama's views on taking the pledge of allegiance in front of the American flag. He has been quoted as saying along the lines that "taking the pledge and saying the words under God did not make him feel uncomfortable." Hmm...

I find it very interesting then when I look on youtube and watch videos of atheists claiming support for Obama. This when they know he has said things in support of Christianity and reading his Bible and taking an oath of faith. What are their reasons for supporting him? Is it his speeches? His charisma? I think that's very flawed and not the best reason to vote someone in. They should be supporting and actively trying to get a president that can't stand the thought of any religion in America and fights for the secularist win, no religion, no Bibles, no nothing.

But wait...I don't hear much about the banishing of Wicca, or of Buddhism, or even that much of Islam. Not near as much as Christianity. This tells me a lot. They don't care that much about the other religions. And IMHO I think they're afraid of Islam. So they won't speak out too much about that. Some have here and there, but not much. When you look at an atheist's website or read one of their books it is all about bashing the God of Christianity. Come on, let's not be discriminatory.

Do I believe Obama to be a true Christian? Absolutely not. Not when you say "there are many paths to God," and to imply that flyover country clings to their religious beliefs because they are bitter about what is happening in our country. It was the clinging to their faith that brought the founding fathers here to flee oppressed Europe and the fact that they were not allowed to practice their religion there. And the Treaty of Tripoli as a basis for argument is absolute nonsense.

Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

It's a treaty between the US and Tripoli, not a founding document of our system of government. Just like the peace treaties we sign now, nothing more than a convenient statement to throw in there in support of atheism and to try to make themselves feel superior along with their pushing of evolution onto everyone. I'm not buying it.

No, I think atheists sense the truth about Obama, are ok with him riding the fence on his beliefs and will give the man a complete pass. Of course they will!!!!!!

They don't care who he associates with or the fact that he won't support America by wearing a simple flag lapel pin. What about all our soldiers that die every day? Can't honor them? Forget Iraq! What about all those that have died before Iraq and Desert Storm and Desert Shield? We so quickly forget those that pay the price for our freedom of speech and every other freedom we have.

If John McCain were to associate himself with Jerry Falwell or Oral Roberts or some fanatical right wing group like Obama has with Jeremiah Wright, yeah I'd have a problem with it. A BIG problem. So I don't want to hear that I'm just biased towards a liberal or a Democrat. Jeremiah Wright and his 10,000 square foot mansion are no different than Benny Hinn or Peter Popoff IMHO. Oh yeah, and I don't see him getting slapped with a fine or any discipline for continuing to use the pulpit to push his political agenda. Think Mike Huckabee would have gotten away with that when he was a Baptist minister?

I think Barack Obama stands for the erosion of America as we know it, and I think he is a dangerous man. Period.

I hate moving

2008-04-08T10:34:00.001-07:00

I really do hate moving. We're in the middle of a corporate relo to the upper Midwest so that's why I haven't posted in a while. Hopefully we will be done with this by the first week in June. Until then my posts may be scarce.

On the political front, haven't kept up with much over the last week except with the Clinton story coming out of Ohio with the woman she claimed was uninsured and died. Not surprised by that fabrication, and not even with her embellishments over the Bosnian trip. Mrs. Clinton has a history of saying and doing whatever it takes to get votes, even if it means lying to the American people to put us in a depressed state and to make us dependent on our government for our very existence. That is what she is basing her entire campaign on, and I believe it is part of what will be her demise. She is appearing more delusional every day. I could be wrong though.

But I really think that Obama is the media's "Golden Boy" and the spin will be so great even after this Wright controversy that he will get the nomination no matter how anti-American his circle of friends are. I have some ideas as to where our country may be headed if he becomes our president, but I will save them for a later post. Let's just say it has to do with an infiltration of a particular belief system that is slowly going to gnaw away at our identity and contribute to the dissolution of our American value system as we know it now. Folks, history is in the making and I'm just not sure it's in our best interests.

Not to say that I am that fond of John McCain. Personally, I think we need another Ronald Reagan but unfortunately we do not have that, and the future for anyone like that is looking very grim. Nobody is willing to take a true stand for our country anymore, not the Democrats or the Republicans. So I am at a true loss.

Obama needs to get out

2008-03-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not surprised at all about this latest development. Apparently Senator Obama WAS present last July 22 in his church when Jeremiah Wright preached a sermon and used inflammatory language against our country and against white Americans in general.

His "denial" of any knowledge of Dr. Wright's radical views is flimsy at best. I've watched the youtube video and it is amazing how many people are talking against it. But I think in some ways the tide will turn. The left wing biased corrupt media will do everything in their power to minimize it and turn on the attack machine because "this just cannot be true, and we have to make it so."

And maybe there will be just enough people out there that will buy the lie and keep on drinking the kool-aid, because, simply, they've put their faith in this candidate and "this just cannot be true!"

They will spin it in their minds to make it make sense, to correct it, and to attack those that spoke out and broke the story, because "this just cannot be true!"

Well it is true, I'm afraid, and for Senator Obama to follow this man's teaching and influence for 20 years + and say he didn't "know anything" about his radical views is basically lying to the American people about his patriotism, and it makes sense to question his ability to be the leader of the freest nation in the world.

If my priest were to get up in front of my congregation and talk against our country like that, people would walk out and there would be a reckoning. Orthodox Christians, both black AND white, came to America to flee persecution and elimination from atheistic communist and other oppressive societies. I know black Orthodox priests and they would NEVER preach in the manner that Dr. Wright did.

The message of Christ is a positive one, not one based on "social theology." When you emphasize that, you are replacing the message of Christ with a message of social theology, and therefore it opens everything up to self-interpretation and the downfall of man. Man cannot be mightier than Christ.

Newsmax.com:

Obama Attended Hate America Sermon

Sunday, March 16, 2008 7:14 PM

By: Ronald Kessler

Contrary to Senator Barack Obama’s claim that he never heard his pastor Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preach hatred of America, Obama was in the pews last July 22 when the minister blamed the “white arrogance” of America’s Caucasian majority for the world’s suffering, especially the oppression of blacks.

Senator Obama has sought to separate himself from his pastor’s incendiary remarks, issuing a statement Friday rejecting them as “inflammatory and appalling” but failing to renounce Wright himself for his venomous and paranoid denunciations of America.

In his press release, Obama claimed, “The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity [United Church of Christ] or heard him utter in private conversation.”

Appearing on cable news shows this past weekend, Obama claimed when he saw recent videos that have Wright making such comments as “God damn America,” he was “shocked.” Obama implied that the reverend had not used such derogatory language in any of the church services Obama attended over the past two decades.

If Obama’s claims are true that he was completely unaware that Wright’s trademark preaching style at the Trinity United Church of Christ has targeted “white” America and Israel, he would have been one of the few people in Chicago to be so uninformed. Wright’s reputation for spewing hate is well known.

In fact, Obama was present in the South Side Chicago church on July 22 last year when Jim Davis, a freelance correspondent for Newsmax, attended services along with Obama. [See: ”Obama’s Church: Cauldron of Division.”]

In his sermon that day, Wright tore into America, referring to the “United States of White America” and lacing his sermon with expletives as Obama listened. Hearing Wright’s attacks on his own country, Obama had the opportunity to walk out, but Davis said the senator sat in his pew and nodded in agreement.

Addressing the Iraq war, Wright thundered, “Young African-American men” were “dying for nothing.” The “illegal war,” he shouted, was “based on Bush’s lies” and is being “fought for oil money.”

Obama’s most famous celebrity backer, Oprah Winfrey began attending Wright’s church in 1984. Last year, Newsmax magazine reported that Winfrey abruptly stopped attending years ago, and suggested that she did so to distance herself from Wright’s inflammatory rhetoric. She soon found herself a target of Wright, who excoriated her for having broken with “traditional faith.”

The Reverend Wright’s anti-white theology that Senator Obama expressed surprise over is evident on the church’s website. The site says the congregation subscribes to what it calls the Black Value System, which is described as a disavowal of “our racist competitive society” and the pursuit of “middle-classness.” That is defined as a way for American society to “snare” blacks rather than “killing them off directly” or “placing them in concentration camps,” just as the country structures “an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.”

“In the 21st century, white America got a wake-up call after 9/11/01,” Wright wrote in the church-affiliated magazine Trumpet four years after the attacks. “White America and the western world came to realize that people of color had not gone away, faded into the woodwork or just ‘disappeared’ as the Great White West kept on its merry way of ignoring black concerns.”

The Relationship Unravels

Senator Obama now is attempting to minimize his long and close relationship with the controversial minister.

On Friday, John McCain’s campaign distributed a Wall Street Journal op-ed “Obama and the Minister” written under my byline based on my reporting for Newsmax going back to early January of this year.

The op-ed included details of a sermon Wright gave at Howard University blaming America for starting the AIDS virus, training professional killers, importing drugs, shamelessly supporting Israel, and creating a racist society that would never elect a black man as president. [See: “Obama’s Minister’s Hatred of America.”]

Obama’s campaign quickly responded to the Wall Street Journal op-ed, posting a statement on the Huffington Post. In his statement, Obama acknowledged that some of Wright’s statements have been “inflammatory and appalling.”

Saying he strongly condemns Wright’s comments, Obama continued, “I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it’s on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.” [emphasis added]

Again, Obama moved to narrowly distance himself from specific comments Wright had made, while still praising his minister in recent interviews for leading him to Jesus and preaching a “social gospel.”

Obama went on to claim that he first learned about Wright’s controversial statements when he began his presidential campaign. But this assertion conflicts with the fact that just before Obama’s nationally televised campaign kickoff rally on Feb. 10, 2007, the candidate disinvited Wright from giving the public invocation.

At the time, Wright explained: “When [Obama’s] enemies find out that in 1984 I went to Tripoli” to visit Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, “a lot of his Jewish support will dry up quicker than a snowball in hell.”

According to Wright, Obama then told him, “'You can get kind of rough in the sermons, so what we’ve decided is that it’s best for you not to be out there in public.'” Still, Obama and his family prayed privately with Wright just before the presidential announcement.

Apparently Obama never foresaw Wright’s sermons making national television or becoming a sensation on YouTube. But lending graphic detail to the saga, ABC News and other networks began running a 2003 sermon in which Wright said, “The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God Bless America.’ No, no, no, God damn America, that’s in the Bible, for killing innocent people ... God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme.”

Obama has described Wright as a sounding board and mentor. Wright is one of the first people Obama thanked after his election to the Senate in 2004. Obama consulted Wright before deciding to run for president. The title of Obama’s bestseller “The Audacity of Hope” comes from one of Wright’s sermons. Obama’s “Yes We Can!” slogan is one of Wright’s exhortations.

Apologists for Wright have said that what he says is normal in black churches, and many blacks claim such preaching cannot be understood by whites.

“If you’re black, it’s hard to say what you truly think and not upset white people,” the New York Times quoted James Cone as saying. Cone is a professor at Union Theological Seminary and the father of what is known as black liberation theology.

But Juan Williams, a Fox News commentator and author of “Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America,” tells Newsmax that Wright’s sermons reflect “the victim mindset that is so self-defeating in the black community and one that is played on by weak black leadership that chooses to have black people identified as victims rather than inspiring them as people who have overcome. In posing as victims, they say the most prejudiced and vicious things, not only about whites but about America. They call it theology. In fact, it’s nothing but bigotry.”

In failing to condemn Wright himself and claiming that he was unaware of the preacher’s hate-filled speech, Obama is continuing a longstanding pattern.

Obama often refers to Wright as being "like an old uncle, who sometimes says things I don't agree with." Wright is not Obama’s “uncle” — a person born into a blood relationship — but a man he has cultivated for decades as a close friend, mentor and adviser.

After Newsmax broke the story on Jan. 14 that Wright’s church gave an award to Louis Farrakhan in December for lifetime achievement, Obama again sought to denounce his minister’s action without criticizing Wright himself.

Like Wright, Farrakhan has repeatedly made hate-filled statements targeting Jews (calling Judaism a “gutter religion”), whites, America, and homosexuals. He has called whites “blue-eyed devils” and the “anti-Christ.” He has described Jews as “bloodsuckers” who control the government, the media, and some black organizations.

After the Newsmax story, Obama issued a statement purportedly addressing the issue.

"I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan," Obama said.

Again, Obama was careful not to condemn Farrakhan himself or Wright who had spoken adoringly of Farrakhan and put their church behind the award to the controversial Nation of Islam leader.

“When Minister Farrakhan speaks, black America listens,” Trumpet quoted Wright as saying. “His depth on analysis [sic] when it comes to the racial ills of this nation is astounding and eye-opening. He brings a perspective that is helpful and honest.”

Obama adroitly said, “I assume that Trumpet magazine made its own decision to honor Farrakhan based on his efforts to rehabilitate ex-offenders, but it is not a decision with which I agree.”

In fact, Trumpet is published by Wright’s church using the church’s offices. Wright’s daughters serve as publisher and executive editor.

Having gotten away with sidestepping Wright’s adoring comments about Farrakhan, Obama told Jewish leaders flatly in Cleveland on Jan. 24 that the award was because of Farrakhan’s work with ex-offenders. To date, no news outlet has pointed out that Obama’s claim is false.

Obama went on to explain away Wright’s anti-Zionist statements as being rooted in his anger over the Jewish state’s support for South Africa under its previous policy of apartheid. As with his claim that the award to Farrakhan was made because of his work with ex-offenders, Obama made that up. Wright’s statements denouncing Israel have not been qualified in any way.

On Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes on Saturday, Obama said he would have quit the church if he had “repeatedly” been present when Wright made inflammatory statements. He was not asked why he did not quit the church when it gave an award to Farrakhan.

Having considered Wright a friend and mentor for two decades, Obama now often mentions that his pastor recently retired. Wright suggested to the New York Times last year that he and Obama might have to do something of a distancing act in the run up to the election.

"If Barack gets past the primary, he might have to publicly distance himself from me," Wright was quoted by The New York Times. "I said it to Barack personally, and he said, ‘Yeah, that might have to happen.'"

Ronald Kessler is chief Washington correspondent of Newsmax.com.

The "New" Barack Obama

2008-03-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I see it. Do you???

As I have posted before, up until now, Barack Obama has been given a complete pass about his religion and his pastor's behavior. For the most part anyway, compared to that of Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. The fact that Mitt Romney was a Mormon was a big issue to many people. Does this hinder his ability to lead the country?

Mike Huckabee was labeled immediately as soon as he promoted "sanctity of life." And this is wrong exactly how?

Obama has led his charismatic speeches, impressing people along the way with his easy way of "playing the game." He's promised to change America. But when I hear local radio talk show hosts asking callers who believe his message exactly how he's going to change the country and on what specific issues there is complete silence. They can't do it. Because they've been mesmerized by this whole "idea" of Barack Obama. It's like "let's all drink the Obama kool aid and get on board."

Barack Obama has not really outlined any plans on how he plans to change America. He wrote "The Audacity of Hope." So what.

This bothers me tremendously as an American voter. Exactly what am I voting on? An idea? A dream of something? Dreams don't keep terrorists out of our country. Ideas not put into action do nothing to increase our security and economy. Only firm plans and decisions do. Barack Obama to me is just the "pie in the sky" candidate with no plans but to assimilate into power. There's no telling what he could do with that power when he has no plans, and nothing except his speeches to bail him out. There's only so far that will go.

And now with his religious leader's comments all over the news, it's very chilling to see who he associates with in his spiritual life. I don't want a president that has dabbled in a bunch of other religions before deciding on Christianity, a form of Christianity that pushes racism, bigotry, and American hating ideology. I remember when he first started his campaign, when he met with those that would construct his rise to power, in secret, away from the media. I'm beginning to put the pieces together as to what might have happened and why the media wasn't allowed in there. It's a very scary thing and we should really all wake up.

There's a clear violation in the tax code that a preacher is not supposed to use the pulpit to promote politics. I've seen it violated in conservative churches, and the government gavel slammed down upon them to shut them up. Will the same happen to Jeremiah Wright? My bet is that his actions will be brushed under the carpet and he will merely get a slap on the wrist, while the media jumps in to do damage control to keep him out of public scrutiny. This story will then fade, and Barack will rise again, clean as ever. Then more kool aid will be passed out as his speechwriter polishes his or her pen, poised to bring his "audacity of hope" message back into focus.

Seven Deadly Sins of Debt

2008-03-05T11:36:00.000-08:00

Here's what I would like to see taught in highschools, homes and colleges around our country instead of pushing political agendas like the moment of silence issue, global warming and the need for immediate amnesty.

The Seven Deadly Sins That Lead to Debt
by Sheyna Steiner
Wednesday, February 27, 2008provided byBankrate

Financial sinners won't have to wait for the afterlife to be punished for their various misdeeds. Plenty of consequences await in the here and now.

Presented with choices daily, human beings can lead chaste and charitable fiscal lives. Or they can succumb to fleeting temptations and fatal traps.

So choose to commit these deadly sins -- or work to bring a little temperance into your spending.

7 deadly debt sins:

Envy
The rich and famous luxury items are accessible now more than ever -- and without the wealth they once implied. With more and more people sporting expensive goods, it's easy to feel left out and far behind.

"The income disparity has gone up considerably, and what has happened is that it has changed our consumption patterns," says Ronald Wilcox, professor of business administration at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia and author of the upcoming book, "Whatever Happened to Thrift? Why Americans Don't Save and What to Do about It."

Envy colors our perceptions. "What we decide is reasonable to consume is what we view being consumed around us," he says. "But because income disparities are so incredibly unequal, what we view around us really is beyond our ability to afford."

Consumers can get caught up trying to keep up with the Joneses or the upper-middle-class families they see on TV, believing they should own the same things others own.

"The problem with this scenario is that living like the rich doesn't last that long. And if you consider appearing in bankruptcy court as being famous, then you have achieved half your goal," says Terry Rigg, editor of Budget Stretcher, a Web site for the frugally minded.

Forget that pride goes before a fall
Pride can get in the way of preparing for worst-case scenarios.

People tend to feel overly optimistic about their ability to pay back debt, stay out of harm's way and maintain perfect vehicular performance indefinitely.

All human beings suffer from overconfidence -- but Americans more than anyone, says Ronald Wilcox, author of the upcoming book, "Whatever Happened to Thrift? Why Americans Don't Save and What to Do about It," and a professor of business administration at the University of Virginia.

"Our nation has seen great benefits from the confidence to take risks. Risk-taking built Manhattan. But there is a dark underbelly," he warns. "There are some winners and they do great things, but there are a lot of losers. And one of the risks that people take is spending all their money now and not saving for a rainy day."

Incredible though it may be, cars do sometimes need repairs, cavities need to be filled and surgeries may be required that insurance doesn't completely cover.

"We hear it all the time, but everyone has got to have an emergency fund. It's not if it happens, but when," says Gail Cunningham, senior director of public relations for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Be slothful with finances
Finances tend to be complicated and require some mental manipulation of the most dreaded of all things: numbers. Failure to pay attention to loan terms and due dates can have severe consequences.

A survey for Bankrate.com's Financial Literacy series last year revealed that 34 percent of homeowners had no idea what type of mortgage they had -- whether it had a fixed or adjustable rate.

"I like to use the term 'financial complacency' to describe people that never really take the time to get the big picture of their finances," says Terry Rigg, editor of Budget Stretcher Web site and newsletter.

We prefer the term "sloth."

Avoidance is easy; paying attention is hard, especially when confronted with unpleasant facts like a hefty credit card bill or struggling to learn something new like investing basics just to enroll in a company-sponsored retirement plan.

"Americans don't really understand parts of those plans," says Wilcox. "This is probably due in part to Americans' reduced interest in mathematics relative to the rest of the world. Americans don't study it as intensely and they don't really understand the benefits of compound interest."

Get greedy when borrowing
Why buy an economy car when you can get a loan for twice as much and ride around in style?
Over-buying (read: greed) is a trap into which consumers can easily stumble.

A dollar is not always a dollar in our minds, says Ronald Wilcox, professor of business administration at the University of Virginia and author of the upcoming book, "Whatever Happened to Thrift? Why Americans Don't Save and What to Do about It." Some days a dollar will be more valuable to you than others.

Often when making big purchases, the price seems so overwhelmingly high that smaller add-ons or upgrades start looking like great deals in comparison.

"What you're doing is pairing the smaller purchase with the bigger number and all of a sudden it looks reasonable in comparison when on any other day you would recognize this as a really bad deal," says Wilcox.

"Marketers are aware of that, so they will add on lots of small items -- like warranties for instance -- things that have huge margins that they can make a lot of money on," he says.

Rationalizations could include, "Well I'm already borrowing $10,000, so what's another $3,000?"

"Learn not to buy on impulse and plan every purchase carefully. If you don't have the money now -- save until you do," says Terry Rigg, editor of Budget Stretcher, a Web site and newsletter.

Feel wrathful at everyone but yourself
Blame others for your own financial missteps. That way you never have to learn anything new.

To the peril of individuals, lenders won't cut you off when you've had enough. Criminal nondisclosure of loan details aside, lenders aren't in the business of making sure you save money and don't overspend.

"The savings crisis and the household debt crisis are directly related to each other," says Ronald Wilcox, author of the upcoming book, "Whatever Happened to Thrift? Why Americans Don't Save and What to Do about It," and professor of business administration at the University of Virginia.

"We wouldn't see foreclosures go up as quickly if people had a cushion of savings."

So wrath, when targeting others, is often misdirected. Developing a strategy for your finances is a personal responsibility, says Wilcox.

"On the corporate side of things, companies can do things that can make it easier for people to figure out how to save and save in an effective way," says Wilcox. "And the same goes for the government. They can make it easier for people, but can't force anyone to do anything."

For instance, companies can automatically enroll their employees in their retirement plans, but participation in a savings plan can't be a condition of employment. Similarly, the government provides tax incentives for saving in retirement accounts such as IRAs, but you can't be thrown in jail for not taking advantage of it.

To avoid messy situations, develop a budget with both savings and debt pay-down strategies -- and stick to it.

"It's much easier to tell yourself and your kids 'no' if you know what the spending limits are. Everyone in the family should know that they can't get everything they want because the money is just not there," says Terry Rigg, editor of Budget Stretcher, a Web site and newsletter.

Be gluttonous
You deserve that cookie so go ahead and eat it and maybe a couple more for good measure. While you're at it, buy the bedroom set you can't afford but deeply desire.

As a nation, the United States is both plainly fat from eating too much and overstuffed in the materialistic sense. The message from society in general can sometimes be: You work hard, so splurge.

It's very possible to have a house full of stuff and no money. It's also possible to be extremely overweight and ingest no healthy nutrients.

Just like eating food for no good reason other than the fact that it is set in front of you, people buy stuff just to buy it.

"It's so easy when you're in a mall to start buying things on impulse. They're very attractive and all shiny and new -- especially when they're on sale," says Dave Jones, president of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies.

"People will react to a sale item -- 60 percent off -- and buy it when they don't need it or want it."

Big-box stores are vast dens of temptation, offering lots of everything at sale prices.

"People buy huge amounts of stuff and think they're saving money. But what happens is that it just takes up space, takes years to use up or it just spoils," Jones says.

Let lust lead you into spending
What can a little coveting hurt if no action is taken?

Lust can take many forms. Stereotypical but true, it would be hard to find more than a handful of women who hadn't longed for a particularly fetching pair of shoes or other frippery on occasion.

As for men, one need look no further than the swimsuit edition of a popular sports magazine or the covers of various lad mags and other even more risqué publications that grace the newsstands.

That particular facet of lust was so vexing in centuries past that it was widely believed the afflicted would suffer greatly in the afterlife.

That facet of lust often does contribute to debt -- a contemporary hell -- in the modern day.

"Pornography is a very large industry, but it is hidden," says Stuart Vyse, author of "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold on to Their Money."

"The fact that it is hidden makes it hugely popular because you can engage in it without anybody knowing."

And the Internet has made it very easy for people to indulge with little immediate consequence.

According to Vyse, it's estimated that Americans spend between $10 billion and $13 billion on adult entertainment.

That's a lot of money that might be put to better use in retirement accounts across the country.
Copyrighted, Bankrate.com. All rights reserved.

What I find even more funny about this article is that if religious people that are thrifty tell you to save and if they made up some story about how you'd "pay" in an afterlife for your sins of greed or whatever, most people would debunk it. However, on the other hand, if it was some Hollywood actor or rich designer touting it, I bet people would be like, "Ahhh...words of wisdom to live by."

Americans are so fickle aren't we?

The Canon of St Andrew

2008-03-03T00:36:00.000-08:00

I'm going to write today about the importance of Lent. This is basically one of the the cornerstones of the Orthodox faith. I'll start with a definition of Lent from wikipedia:

"Lent, in most Christian denominations, is the forty-day liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter.[1] The forty days represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, where, according to the Bible, he endured temptation by Satan.[2] Different churches calculate the forty days differently.

The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer—through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial—for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ."

There are differences between how East and West observe Lent, which are as follows:

"In Western Christianity, but with the exception of the Archdiocese of Milan which follows the Ambrosian Rite, Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday.[3] [1] The six Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter", a celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death.[2]

In those churches which follow the Byzantine tradition (e.g. Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics), the forty days of Lent are calculated differently: the fast begins on Clean Monday, Sundays are included in the count, and it ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday. The days of Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and Holy Week are considered a distinct period of fasting."

Most pre-Lenten festivals are pagan in origin and are used today as a celebration of excess before Lent officially begins. My opinion on this is that it's really just an excuse to be slovenly and party til you drop instead of focusing on what is the most important issue: Christ's suffering on the Cross for our salvation. Also, things like Carnivale and Mardi Gras are, again, fueled by money and the tourism trade and it becomes more of an acceptable "pilgrimage" to participate in one of these events rather than to be a part of something much bigger, and far more important. But I digress.

The Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is the main supplemental teaching text during the Sundays of Great Lent. I found this from monachos.net:

"The Great Canon of St Andrew is read each year as part of the ascetic labour of the Great Fast (Lent). Divided into four portions, these are read during the services of Great Compline on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings of the First Week ('Pure/Clean Week') of the Fast. The whole Canon is then read in its entirety on Thursday of the Fifth Week (actually read 'in anticipation' on Wednesday evening).

The Great Canon is one of the great works, if not the great work, of the Church's hymnography of repentance. It is steeped in biblical imagery, yet it is not simply a condensation of biblical themes. In the Canon, all the human events of scripture—creation, fall, exile, return, longing, redemption—all are made personal. They become my events: my creation, my fall, my redemption. Their story is my story, and I am made intensely aware of all its depth. The Canon begins:

'Where shall I begin to weep over the cursed deeds of my life?
What foundation shall I lay, O Christ, for this lamentation?'

The Canon thus brings each of us into the story of scripture; stirs us with moving imagery to realize the depths of our sin. We begin to see our exile, our distance from Christ; and from that distance, we begin to repent."

I wish this could be taught to all Christians.

7 Must Have Electronics (according to Yahoo shopping)

2008-02-29T13:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, as if our economy isn't in the dumps enough and we should all be exercising caution in the "need vs want" spending category, here comes another shove it down my throat (a la "gimme gimme") "But I can fab up my home with these!" the ads say from Glam.com. This will no doubt appeal to those that possess poor buying skills and are so caught up in this buying binge that has so many of us in a stranglehold, up to our teeth in debt and can't pay the mortgage. Okay, here we go!

Essential Home Electronics
from Glam.com

We've got a weakness for glam gadgets, especially those that offer a simplified, sleek approach to everyday tasks and simultaneously up your home's fab factor. Give in to your techie temptations-and keep up with the home-electronics current-with these seven super -cool essentials.

(Keep up with those Jonesies!!!!!!!)

Bose SoundDock Digital Music System

Enjoy your tunes inside or alfresco with this mega-powered system that bellows enough rich, clear sound waves to fill even your biggest room. (The bass booms.) Simply pop your iPod into the cradle, press Play, and rock out.

(Bose is overrated. Try Klipsch instead for a lot less money! Their ipod systems range from $150-$300. Bose runs about $400.)

Canon Powershot A560 Digital Camera

From life's most well-planned occasions to last-minute memories in the making, this digital camera captures any moment with incredible clarity, thanks to its whopping 7.1 megapixel resolution. Keep it handy for spontaneous snaps around the house, or take it wherever you roam.

(Canon ain't the only guy out there. Comparison shop with other makers like Olympus, Panasonic and even Fuji.)

Canon PIXMA MP970 Photo All-in-One Printer

When it's time to transfer your digital pictures from the pixel to the page, this all-in-one system is the choice of home-printing champions. It produces the crispest 4"x6" pictures directly from your camera's memory card in seconds and has copy and scanning capabilities to boot.

(Need I repeat myself? HP makes some good stuff too.)

Curves Digital Glass Scale

Step on up-and on-to this high-tech scale, which measures weight down to the last 10th of a pound. The large LCD screen instantly and accurately displays the results-whether you like them or not. Best of all, the sleek, modern design won't weigh down your bathroom decor.

(Okay this gets my "most ridiculous" vote. Why not just buy a regular scale instead and save all that money?)

Alessi Stainless-Steel Cordless Electric Kettle

Skip the stove and fire up this Michael Graves-designed electric kettle. When its contents come to full boil, the little birdie perched atop the pour spout sings-and the system automatically turns itself off. (Aww isn't that cute...well let's see how much that little birdie is gonna cost us!)

(Okay this might have to share the vote with the scale. The price range on this baby is about $200-$235. Are you kidding me??? That's about as ridiculous as spending $300 on a Dualite toaster. If you want a good electric kettle, buy a Breville, Krups or something similar for less than $80. I would say just buy the good ol stovetop kind but even those are going up in price in favor of the more modern looks. The main advantages to having an electric kettle are that they have the auto shutoff feature and can boil water quicker. That's it! Do you need to spend $235 to have that? Come on.)

Sephora Professional Cordless Straightener

In addition to creating super-straight, glossy locks, this cordless hair straightener rocks innovative features rarely found on other flatirons, like automatic safety shutoff, three temperature levels, infrared heat drying, a car charger, and a heat-protection bag for safe stashing.

(A car charger????? Is this just in case you need to do your hair while driving and talking on your cell phone? This item goes for a cool $225. Buy one at Target or Best Buy for about $30 instead. Sure it won't have the car charger, but then again you don't need a ticket. Or worse.)

Illuminations Electric Aroma Diffuser

Plug this discreet scent diffuser into any electrical out outlet to fill a room with soothing fragrance-without overpowering it with perfume. The small pots of essential oils, which last for up to 30 days, create a calming environment with their aromatherapy qualities.

(Just like Glade plug ins on steroids. $17 not including the oils. Now march yourself into Pier 1 instead and get some reed diffusers. They look a lot nicer out on your countertop anyway, and one bottle of the stuff can go a lot farther than having to shell out $100 to outfit your home with these.)

STOP!!!!! Decide what you NEED, and ignore the rest. Sounds pretty easy doesn't it? And look, you might even have some money left over to pay down that credit card or mortgage!!!! Glam.com really needs to be more responsible. Hey, if we gotta be "green" hows about promoting "save the green" as well???

I'm a little late on this, but...

2008-02-25T01:47:00.001-08:00

The Texas Courts ruled in favor of freedom in January when David and Shannon Croft lost their case trying to ban the moment of silence in Texas Schools. Here's the complete article from Dallasnews.com:

Texas schools' moment of silence upheld after Carrollton couple's challenge

Judge says law doesn't mandate prayer

8:46 AM CST on Saturday, January 5, 2008

By STEPHANIE SANDOVAL / The Dallas Morning News
ssandoval@dallasnews.com

A Carrollton couple's court challenge to Texas' requirement that schoolchildren observe a minute of silence has failed.

David and Shannon Croft had sued Gov. Rick Perry and the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school district, alleging that the law was unconstitutional and amounted to required prayer.

But U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn in Dallas upheld the statute this week.

She said the law – amended in 2003 to add the word "pray" to "reflect" and "meditate" as options for students' use of the minute – does not promote an "excessive entanglement between government and religion."

"The Legislature amended the statute to provide a period of time for the full panoply of thoughtful contemplation," Judge Lynn said. "The primary effect of the amendment is not to advance or inhibit religion."

Dean Cook, attorney for the plaintiffs, said he was disappointed in the opinion but respects the judge.

"Whether we're going to appeal at this point, we're going to have to discuss that and see what we want to do," he said.

Meanwhile, he has another case pending in state district court, in which the Crofts have sued the governor over the addition of "one state, under God" to the pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag.

Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists, said she wasn't surprised by the ruling. But she expects more challenges to similar statutes around the country.

"Secular students, atheist students, are not happy with this, and they're going to challenge it in every way possible," she said.

She said students who want to pray can do so by their locker or at their desk at any time, and there's no reason to stop the school day.

"Basically, what it is is a way to silence everyone else while those who want to pray can pray," she said. "Everyone knows what this is all about, and we pretend that it's not what it really is. It's really about starting the school day off with prayer."

Judge Lynn said in her ruling that there is no doubt that some legislators, including the bill's sponsor, Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, had expressed a desire with the bill to put prayer back in schools.

But she said it was also clear that the Legislature intended to draft a constitutional law and that the addition of the word "pray" was not an endorsement of religion or prayer in the classroom. That finding is further supported by a catch-all provision that allows students to engage in any kind of silent activity or thought during that minute, she said.

Lisa Graybill, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said her organization was not involved in the case but had watched it closely.

"I think we might disagree with the outcome of the analysis had we been part of the case, but we were not," she said. But she said that the judge did a thorough job of reviewing the legislative history and the intent of the law.

"I think it's a really thorough opinion," she said.

Because the judge acknowledged that her decision was a "close" call, Ms. Graybill said, she is interested in seeing whether the plaintiffs will appeal.

And though the judge ruled that the law itself is constitutional, that won't prevent someone from filing a lawsuit alleging that a school's implementation of it is unconstitutional. An example of that might be if teachers or school administrators said the moment of silence was specifically for prayer.

The governor said in a written statement that justice was served in the ruling.

"I am proud that Texas' children will continue to be able to have a moment dedicated daily to their innermost thoughts and contemplations," Mr. Perry said.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott also praised the decision.

"Particularly in an age where children are so frequently confronted with violence and disorder, 60 seconds of quiet contemplation at the beginning of each day is not too much to ask," he said in a statement.

The Crofts have repeatedly failed to return phone calls from reporters. But over the years, Mr. Croft has fought several signs of religion at Rosemeade Elementary, which his children attended.

The family successfully asked that "Silent Night" be dropped from a holiday program and objected to an "In God We Trust" poster on the wall.

On his blog, Mr. Croft wrote that the minute of silence is a waste of educational time and has no secular purpose.

Liberty Legal Institute, a Plano-based legal organization that protects religious freedoms and First Amendment rights, called the court ruling a "great victory."

"The ultimate intolerance is someone attacking a moment of silence because they are worried others will decide to pray in their free time," chief counsel Kelly Shackelford said in a written statement. "This is a victory for everyone who believes in freedom."

The school district was dismissed from the lawsuit in August because the plaintiffs were challenging the constitutionality of the state statute, not the district's policy.

But Carrollton-Farmers Branch school officials expressed relief at the news Friday.

"Our perspective was this is primarily a state law," school board President John Tepper said. "As a district, we and our employees, teachers in particular, were just doing our best to comply with the state's requirements there. We're pleased they didn't find any problems on our part in that regard."

Schools superintendent Annette Griffin said that every morning, after the pledges of allegiance to the U.S. and state flags, each campus calls for a minute of silence. She said students are free to do what they want during that minute, as long as they are quiet and don't interfere with others' thoughts, contemplation or prayers.

"During that time, you can pray, you can not pray, you can pray to whoever you want to, or you can just be silent," Dr. Griffin said. "They can use that moment to think about whatever they want."

I think anyone could have predicted the outcome of this. But even though the Crofts lost, it must serve as a warning to those that want to protect basic religious freedoms in this country, and illustrate that we must WAKE UP to what is happening to the world around us.
There are those that want NO religion, NO borders, just an international body and activist judges to run our country. Heck, even Berkley CA is running off the Marines. Same Marines that die for their freedoms every day. Sound like a return to Franco and/or Lenin? Talk to some people that went through that era and ask them if they think it's best for the USA to go for that. My theory is that the people that are pushing for this aren't old enough to remember or haven't studied enough history to understand what's really at stake here.
Students have the right to use that contemplative minute in school however they want. That's FREEDOM. It's NOT, "get out your bibles everybody, and read John 3:16." There is a DIFFERENCE!
To try and overturn this law IMHO amounts to FASCISM. Everyone in that school district needs to have some cojones and stand up for what is RIGHT and not bend to these attempts to erase basic freedoms in our schools.

And that's my post for today.

Preparing for Lent and Pascha

2008-02-18T20:50:00.000-08:00

Let's see, where to begin? I have so many things I need to give up for Lent. This is my very first time to observe it officially as an Orthodox, so I'm sure to have a lot of curveballs. Here goes...

1) Sodas (Wow, I think I might have dangerous withdrawal symptoms there LOL. Look out!)
2) My cynical attitude towards the world (That's a tough one! I need a lot of prayer there, but I do call it as I see it, so maybe that's actually a good thing!)
3) World of Warcraft (Okay, so maybe I can do without that for 40 days)
4) Spending more time in prayer and the Scriptures. I don't care who you are, we could all use more of that IMHO
5) Re-examine my walk with Christ (I do this every year at Christmas, I just need to do it at Lent in addition.)
6) Of course, follow all the dietary restrictions
7) Give more of myself to the community
8) Attend my Catechumen classes and be attentive

I'm sure I will think of more.

This year I'm preparing a Pascha basket. In the Russian Orthodox tradition, which is what I observe, you make your Easter basket with all the good things representing that which Christ has given us. A sausage, cheese, bread, horseradish, butter, and just whatever else you would like to have blessed. A beautiful tradition is the red eggs. You give another parishioner an egg to symbolize Christ's resurrection. The egg represents new life, and as a "forbidden food" it celebrates the end of Lent in a special way. Red of course represents blood.
There are many theories about how the red Easter egg originated, including pagan traditions and a story about Mary Magdalene supposedly going to the Emporer of Rome and he said, "Christ has no more risen than the egg on that table is red." Funny how that parallels with so much of society's thinking today.

I'm going to decorate mine with some Russian folk fairytale and Orthodox cathedral wraps, so they'll look really awesome. (I hope!) Coveting is considered a great sin, and I am guilty as much as the next person. I love beautiful Faberge eggs and wish I had a whole cabinet filled with them. When I visited the Armory Museum in Moscow years ago, I fell in love with Imperialist art, Faberge eggs and the treasures of the Czarist empire. I don't agree with the political climate it carried, but nonetheless, there is no way the British monarchy would have anything on these guys when it comes to pomp, pageantry and displaying your wealth.

But the real reason we celebrate Pascha is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's not about the pretty eggs, or blessing of baskets, fancy foods, etc. Those are traditions handed down and are great to observe, but we must not forget what Easter really is. Forget all the Wal Mart grass, chocolate bunnies, and egg hunts...those are mainly fueled by corporate greed and an unleashed assault on the American buyer's psyche.

All over the world, Christians are accused of being stupid for their belief in Christ. All over the world, Christians die every day because of belief in a simple carpenter that was sent to the Earth to die for our sins. I would like for someone to tell me how this is such a horrible and terrible thing that is going to destroy mankind??? We, as humans, have made it a bad thing by starting wars in His name and forcing Him upon others, when His gift is free to receive. All that is required of us as Christians is merely to plant the seed. Around me I see professionals: doctors, lawyers, CPAs in my parish that will emphatically proclaim their belief in Christ. According to "the world," are these people stupid and ignorant? To those that have not accepted Christ: Would you not take your kid to a pediatrician that believed in Jesus? Use an accountant that had a cross displayed on his desk? Disregard a scientist's opinion because he says he believes in a Creator? Those that hold that Christ is just a "fairytale" in a book are sentencing themselves to something far worse than we can imagine here on Earth. No amount of science or what man has discovered will be enough to keep you separated from the eternal kingdom and rewards that we can each receive. All you have to do is believe and receive.

"Science is merely God's gift to humanity to understand His creation."
--Me

There I go again with my cynicism.

SPP Facts vs Myths

2008-02-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

The Bush Administration’s Efforts to Cover Up the North American Union Myths, Facts -- Truth

September 20, 2006

By Tom DeWeese

"Conspiracy theories." "Fringe nuts." "Lies." "Myths." These are the words being used by officials of the Bush Administration and others to brand those who have reported on the activities of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), currently operating out of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Opponents have charged the SPP will result in the establishment of a North American Union, much on the same lines as the European Union.

In response to its critics, the SPP has added a "SPP Myths Vs Facts" section to its website at www.SPP.gov. According to the "Myths Vs Facts" document the SPP is simply a "dialog" among the three countries to "enhance prosperity." It goes on to say the SPP is not an agreement, nor is it a treaty. It says "no agreement was ever signed."

The truth is, on March 23, 2005, President Bush met at his ranch in Crawford, Texas with Vicente Fox and Paul Martin (then PM of Canada) in what they called a Summit. The three heads of state then drove to Baylor University in Waco, where they issued a press release announcing their signing of an agreement to form the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP).

This year, on March 31, 2006, Bush. Fox and new Canadian PM, Stephen Harper met in Cancun, Mexico. This time their press release celebrated what they called the first anniversary of the SPP.

The use of the word "dialog" is a carefully selected euphemism designed to make the SPP sound like an innocent discussion among friends. To admit that it is anything more would force the government to provide Constitutional justification for its actions.

Moreover, the SPP says it won’t change our court system or legislative process and that it respects the sovereignty of each nation. And, says the SPP Myths and Facts document, it strongly rejects the idea that it is creating a European Union-like structure.

That defense is almost laughable in light of the massive activity taking place in the SPP office located in the Commerce Department.

First one must know that the European Union was also originally sold to the nations on the European continent as simply a trade and security framework. The idea, said proponents, was to create an economic structure to allow a combined European economy to compete with the United States and other economic powerhouses. Only a few years later nations were told they needed a common currency to provide seamless trade. At the same time, the working groups organizing the EU policy began to morph into what today has become a European Union parliament, which now is working to create a means of taxation, regulation of commerce and a court system.

Now, in offices buried in the bureaucratic structures of the United States, Canada and Mexico, twenty "working groups" are hard at work writing policy initiatives for the SPP, covering a wide range of issues including, the manufacture and movement of goods across the borders of the three North American nations: creating a common energy policy and common environmental regulations over the three nations; regulating E-commerce and information communications and technologies; establishing financial services, including loan policy and foreign aid policy; overseeing business facilitation, creating the rules under which businesses will operate in the three nations; establishing food and agriculture policy; and overseeing transportation and health policy.

These policy directives will infringe on every aspect of our lives. Can anyone seriously accept the Administration’s explanation that nothing really important is going on here? That this is only a friendly discussion taking place? That nothing will change in the way our government operates? If that were so, then why are we doing it? Why are so much time, money and energy being taken up in an effort that means nothing? The answer, of course, is that lots is going on.

It’s no accident that the SPP is working out of the NAFTA office of the Department of Commerce. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was the precursor to the Security and Prosperity Partnership. According to investigative journalist, Jerome Corsi, a key part of the SPP plan is to expand the NAFTA tribunals into a North American Union court system.

Under Chapter 11 of the NAFTA Agreement, a tribunal conducts a behind closed-doors "trial" to decide the cases dealing with how state and federal laws may damage NAFTA business. If NAFTA investors believe state or federal laws damage their NAFTA businesses, under the tribunal the investor may sue the government and taxpayers will foot the bill. The NAFTA tribunal decision trumps the U.S. courts, all the way to the Supreme Court. Yet, the Bush Administration insists the SPP will have no effect on our court system.

The SPP says it is a myth that Congress is not involved or supportive of its actions. The truth is, to date, there has been no legislation passed by Congress to permit its actions. No taxpayer funds have been appropriated. One "hearing" was held in Senator Richard Lugar’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It was a friendly affair with friendly "dialog." No tough questions were asked. No one was held accountable for their actions.

Meanwhile, members of Congress are beginning to become aware of the SPP activities at the Commerce Department. Representative Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) is demanding the Bush Administration fully disclose the activities of the SPP, which he says, has no authorization from Congress.

Specifically, Tancredo wants to know the membership of the SPP working groups. To date, no one knows who is involved, or is performing the work to create the policies of the SPP. Geri Word, who heads the SPP office told World Net Daily that the work has not been disclosed because "We did not want to get the contact people of the working groups distracted by calls from the public." Yet the SPP denies it is working in secret.

Additional congressional reaction has come from Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). He had introduced a bill, "The North American Investment Act" (S.3622). Incredibly the bill contains near exact language from the book by Robert Pastor entitled "Toward a North American Community." Pastor’s book is largely considered to be the blue print for the creation of the North American Union. Much of the contents of the book later appeared in a report from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) entitled "Building a North American Community." That report was issued just a week before the Summit in Waco.

However, once these facts were demonstrated to Senator Cornyn, he immediately took efforts to assure S.3622 would not be voted on in the Senate. His spokesman stated that Senator Cornyn "is adamantly opposed to any ‘North American Union’ being formed like the EU had been formed in Europe." Regardless of how the Administration spins it, there is no congressional authorization for SPP actions or spending.

The SPP denies that it is planning to create a unique currency some have called the "Amero." However, on April 6, 2006, the SPP announced the formation of the Financial Services Working Group. According to its own news release, the Financial Group will focus on "enhancing processes for addressing banking, securities, and insurance issues." It goes on to say, "U.S. financial regulatory agencies will play a critical role in the SPP."

In truth, the SPP is being put into place incrementally. It will take years before everything is in place. It took the European Union several years to create the Euro. However, the guiding documents from Dr. Pastor’s book and the CFR report both call for the creation of a North American currency. It is obvious, if one dissects the double speak of the bureaucratic language of the SPP, in order for it to reach its goal to "reduce the cost of trade," "combat counterfeiting," and "facilitate trade" among three nations trying to act as one, the drive for a single currency will not be questioned.

And finally, there is the issue of the NAFTA super highway. NAFTA was the first step in creating a North American Union. It was sold as a means to enhance trade among the North American nations. All were promised greater exports, better jobs and better wages. In truth, NAFTA is an unmitigated failure for all but a very few. The U.S. trade deficit has soared to almost $1 trillion per year; The U.S. has lost some 1.5 million jobs and real wages in both the U.S. and Mexico have fallen significantly. Yet, the agenda is set and so our government presses on.

The latest objective is the NAFTA super highway on which construction is planned to begin next year. It would bisect Texas from its border with Mexico to Oklahoma. It will travel on to Kansas City where an "inland port" is now in the final planning stages.

Plans call for a ten lane, limited access highway to parallel I-35 It would have three lanes each way for passenger cars, two express lanes each way for trucks, rail lines both ways for people and freight, plus a utility corridor for oil and natural gas pipelines, electric towers, cables for communications and telephone lines. The highway will require the taking of more than 500,000 acres of private land and is estimated to displace a million Americans from their property. Eminent Domain will be the tool of choice for the massive land grab – now made easier by last year’s Supreme Court ruling in the Kelo case.

The Kansas City Smart Port will be literally the first checkpoint on a highway that will run all the way from Columbia through the Hartland of the United States. Mexico will have a facility on the KC Smart Port site that it now insists will be Mexican sovereign land.

To make the NAFTA super highway reality, the borders of the three nations must disappear. Immigration will simply become "migration." Border laws cannot exist. "Harmonizing" of our societies is becoming the catch phrase.

The SPP says its purpose is to guarantee security and prosperity for the three nations. The NAFTA model has already proven there will be no prosperity. The NAFTA super highway is proof there can be no security as we pave the way for more illegals to flood the nation, as truckloads of illegal drugs fly up the highway and terrorists just hitch a ride.

The United States is the most unique nation on earth. We were created out of a radical idea that free people, with their freedoms protected by the government would be happy and prosper beyond imagination. The idea worked. Now, the Bush Administration is ignoring this historic fact to "harmonize" us with Canada and especially Mexico, which is not a free country; has no property and has just proved its unworthiness of conducting free and fair elections. At risk are our culture, our wealth, and the once proud American way of life.

Americans must now understand that the battle to stop the North American Union is the last stand for a free and independent United States. That’s not a "Myth" it’s the truth.

The Mexican Customs facility in Kansas City

2008-02-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

Well here I go again on a tirade about the Mexican customs port planned for Kansas City. I located the text of the Committee Substitute for Ordinance No. 071068, which regards finance for the facility.

The link I tried to provide is broken but you can google it under CityClerk.kcmo.org.

This is all PAID FOR by the City of Kansas City. Let's see, $600,000 just to pave the thing, and $2.5 million for construction of it. I've heard rumours that an old building in the West Bottoms area will be utilized, so if this is true, why do they need $2.5 million dollars???? There's also a stipulation in there for $20,000 additional reimbursement from the City for scouting for "other sites." I think this could possibly be money for officials' travel expenses back and forth between here and Mexico. I could be wrong though, but it's a sneaky suspicion.

I don't remember voting for this. Do you? Of course there is a "disclaimer" that Smartport will have to pay the City back, at a rate of 4 percent over 15 years. Gee...do you know of any business loans right now that are offering those kind of rates? Meanwhile, Kansas City residents are fighting to keep their mortgages paid at rates of 6.5% or higher in this volatile market and economy. Who does this benefit? Why, Mexico, of course! And when the North American Union is formed, and the Amero is forced upon us, who will we have to thank for it? Kansas City will have blood on their hands.

Now are we so stupid to think that we will actually get this money back? Having lived in Oklahoma City as well, I know just how quickly funds can get "paid back" to the city for services. There was a "MAPS" project in the works many years ago to help revitalize the downtown area of Bricktown. People naively voted for the additional sales tax. Then came the bombing and MILLIONS of dollars poured into the city. All of a sudden we see a river ride, new restaurants, new entertainment venues, all things that were not to be laid to ground for some time because of the collection of this MAPS tax. I even saw elected officials proudly proclaiming in the Gaylord empire's mouthpiece, The Daily Oklahoman, that funds from the bombing should be combined with MAPS taxes to "help rebuild" Oklahoma City. I bet they were giddy with excitement when they saw the envelopes of donations! Just like the televangelists. Meanwhile, MAPS taxes were collected in their entirety from the folks. Uh, did we get reimbursed for that? You decide.

That money was supposed to help the victims and small businesses get back on their feet, not to build a glitzy river ride. But it was all handled in the usual political way, behind closed doors and under the table shady deals. In the end, many bombing victims did not receive the fair compensation they were entitled to.

Don't get me wrong. I love Bricktown, but it should not have been paid for because of an act of domestic terrorism and the sincere outpouring of support from everyday Americans. And Kansas City could very well be headed down that same road, but instead of revitalizing it as they claim to be doing, the money we are paying for this will instead destroy American jobs and our economy in this beautiful city.

Meanwhile, we buy our hybrid cars to save on gas and pollution. Wait...I see some Mexican trucks coming up that superhighway without EPA regulations....

Buzz words, phrases and mispellings I'm sick of

2008-02-13T00:47:00.000-08:00

As I watch these political debates, caucuses and primaries, I'm getting tired of certain phrases used by the candidates and media. Maybe it's the result of the writer's strike or something, I don't know. But something's got to give with this terrible use of the English language, and its deterioration in our everyday lives. A few examples:

"At the end of the day..." followed by whatever tag line du jour, used with the intention to prop up either side's candidate. All networks and print media seem to be guilty of this. (This means what exactly?) Taking the "moral high ground" and assuming something about American voters that they want or don't want, which may or may not be true? Frankly, it's overused and they need to get more creative with their coverage (or attempt thereof) GET RID OF IT! It sucks.

Okay. Home remodeling shows that keep using the phrase, "Make your room POP with color," "Just make that room you know, POP" and, "I wanna get that to just POP out." Almost every designer I watch is guilty of using this statement, and again, it's overused. The producers of these shows need to get with it.

"Absolutely." This word seems to be used as a put down rather than an agreeable statement. "Oh, absoloootely," with emphasis is particularly annoying when stressing a point that contradicts with another, combined with a condescending smile. This is particularly popular with guests on talk shows that want to duke it out regarding their ideology.

News reports. "Why this incident happened or why Mr. X did not return our phone calls was immediately unclear."
Unclear, inconclusive.....this means that they probably know but have been instructed not to say because it is immediately UNCLEAR just who might lose their jobs if they spill the beans. It's a nice little idiotic disclaimer that I hear or read every day, and it's really wearing me out.

"Couple minutes," "Couple times," "Couple pieces of..."
What's missing here? The word OF, of course! Come on...it's a simple one syllable word that won't take but a second to type or say.

"Your a moron."
"Your a great person, don't ever change!"
"Your so great!"
Sigh....must I keep going? "You are" means "You're!"

"Like you know, he was like, OMG! And like, I go, like yeah!"
"Hey like how ya doin? Like dude....OMG..."
(Do I REALLY need to explain this one?)

"Well you know I would of gone if I'd of known."
Sigh, I guess people just don't understand plain English anymore and can actually type or say, "I would have gone if I would have known," or I would've gone if I'd have known." RIDICULOUS!

Just another ramble from me on the downfall of our society as Americans.

The "Act of God" clause

2008-02-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

I think it's time for the atheists and non believers to start suing everybody out there that includes an "Act of God" clause in their warranties, etc.

Here's an example:

Customers who purchase WHITESPA product for personal, family, and commercial use can rely upon our guarantee which covers all manufacture imperfection. However, we do not take responsibility for damages, defects or failures caused by delivery accident, misuse, fire and act of God. Also, we cannot give guarantee when customers deliberately change or modify the products for their own and when they do not follow the instructions. We provide warranty exclusively for the customers with registered cards.

Come on guys, where's your spirit? I see this everywhere on just about everything I purchase. So do you. Now I want to start seeing "act of evolutionary involvement" or "act of nature" or "act of Mother Earth" or something else politically correct on my warranties from now on!!!! Get out there and add this to your "to do" list along with removing "under God" from our pledges, "In God we trust" from our money, and "so help me God" when taking any oaths. I also don't want to see any swearing on Bibles anymore. I think we should start swearing on Darwin's "Origin of Species" from now on, or some socialistic/humanistic ideology. It just makes more sense, doesn't it?

This brings me to even more issues. I think we should give in to the UN, turn our power over to the international authorities, surrender our national identity, currency, and entire culture to those who want to infiltrate us and make us more "diverse." Come on! We can't be American patriots anymore. That's SO Reagan era. Big businesses run this country, we no longer do, so let's just give in!! No matter who gets elected president in 2008, it won't matter. America's gonna get sold out.

The economy and Frances Semler

2008-01-22T10:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, today I'm going to start on the economy. I'm not surprised that the Fed has taken drastic steps to avoid a recession. I'm not surprised that the media is trying to put everyone into a panic. I'm not surprised that the stocks are plummeting and the dollar is growing weaker. Why? Because we are headed toward a global economy, the loss of the American dollar as we know it, and a new North American Union. along with the new currency, the Amero. This is all being set up to present us, within a few years, no choice but to accept the Amero once the market and US dollar completely crashes.

I read the book "The Late Great USA" by Jerome Corsi, and he lays out a really compelling argument for an integration of American, Canadian and Mexican borderless trade and commerce, starting with the Security, Prosperity and Partnership Act signed by Vicente Fox, George Bush, and the Canadian PM just a few years ago. Jobs for the California Longshoremen Union railworkers will be lost to Mexicans in order to import goods from China all the way up the Trans Texas Corridor, with a Mexican customs office right here in Kansas City. Please visit the website for KC SmartPort for a complete layout of their plans to integrate this new trade system.

Many people think this is all BS. But this is why Bush won't close the borders, why the MinuteMen are being demonized, and why this issue isn't really being covered in the Presidential debates. No clear cut answer. Glossed over.

Frances Semler, a member of the KC Parks Board, just resigned her position today. Why? From increased pressure by minority groups. She uncovered the real info. behind the Mexican customs office and WHO is really paying the taxes on that facility. US citizens. Not Mexico. Yet they will have a sovereign port here. Does anyone else see something seriously wrong with this?

The "official" reason for her resignation, I believe, is because a big Latino group threatened to pull their huge convention from KC if she didn't resign. One little person, and her membership in Minute Man, and millions lost in KC revenue. That's very odd, isn't it?

But off the record? The real reason, IMHO, combined with her MM membership, is because of what she uncovered and everyone is pissed about it because then the people will actually KNOW the truth. And we can't have that.

This is what happens to you when you go against the grain, don't believe everything that everyone tells you, and start to investigate for yourself. You get demonized, threatened, and lose your job, all because you stand for what is right. When the dollar crashes and the Amero hits the scene it will be the result of Americans having put their heads in the sand and taking everything at face value, not questioning anything for any reason.

Most everyone is jumping for joy at Ms. Semler's resignation from what I'm reading in the media. But it's not enough. Not by a longshot. Now they are angry because the mayor didn't fire her like they wanted. Well, she's out of there, so be gleeful. Be happy. Go party and celebrate the end of someone's career. Go enjoy the fruits of your labors. Yay!!! WOOT!

Go pick up a copy of Mr. Corsi's book. It's hard to get in the bookstores. Not surprising there. The truth hurts.

Frustrating fundamentals

2008-01-06T23:06:00.000-08:00

I found an Independent Baptist preacher on youtube whose video sermons I tried to watch with an open mind. Now I was raised with this so much of his preaching was like an old hat in a way, taking me back to my childhood. I smiled at some of his words but then got really angry at others.
One of the things he was talking about was where "saved" Christians must be now if they aren't in his congregation. He alluded to the fact that they might be in some "wacky liberal" church if they had left his church after having been saved by his "soul winners."

Well, jiminy Christmas, if they decided not to stay in his church, they must have just "fallen" and got sucked into something less austere. That made me so mad, I cannot tell you. No mention that they might just be exploring something else, going deeper into Christian history or anything, just that they must be "wacky liberals" now. To his credit, he did say that maybe they might be going to "mom and dad's" church instead. But that could mean anything, really, according to his interpretation. Mom and dad's church could mean "the wacky liberal Methodists or Anglicans" or "the Mary-worshipping Catholics" or "the singing Orthodox." Take your pick.

Or they might not be going at all, he said. "Not everyone is on fire for the Lord, and many people are just too afraid to get that close to God." WHAT?????

So fine, if I don't go to his church, that's okay, but it must just mean I'm in some "namby pamby" church or just "not on fire for God," are the basic conclusions.

What I think it really means is a way to explain away the people that probably leave his congregation and he doesn't want to own up to it.

This all ties into the cult mindset of feeling like you are anointed and being chosen to be something "special" i.e. this man's ministry.

He preaches against having a television in your home, not watching DVD's, not allowing a woman to have a male gynecologist, and uses the word "faggot" to describe the sodomites (I think faggot is a vile, disgusting word and should not ever be used around children, and yeah, if I want a male OB gyn I'll have one, thank you very much.)

All you have to do is study these types of sermons to see what is really at play here:
1) Guilt trips
2) Mind/thought control
3) Abuse of scripture and reinterpretation for their own purposes
4) Attempts to take you out of the "world box" and put you into the "little box"
5) Make you question your independent thinking skills so you'll be right in line with their thinking and abandon anything you might question. Like this: the King James version of the Bible of 1611 is not the only version in existence, unlike what many people will shout from the mountaintops. And the hymns that Christians sing now (i.e. Amazing Grace) are not the same ones they sung when Christianity was first formed, although many people will want you to think that.

So I posted a little note that said "Well I was a Baptist and now I'm Orthodox and I feel closer to God than I ever have before." Well darnit if the guy didn't go and censor me! Can't have anyone of a different path posting on his little yoootoober there.

Not even open for discussion. That's what gets me. People that don't want their views or opinions challenged are everywhere, on every side of the fence. Just look and you'll find them.

You're not going to go to hell for watching TV. Last time I checked, the Bible was silent on that issue.

The Iowa Caucus

2008-01-03T19:21:00.000-08:00

Well it looks like my theory on Oprah Winfrey, so far, is proving correct. Her endorsement of Barack Obama has indeed paid off. As I stated in an earlier post about Oprah's "Favorite Things" and its effect on the psyche of Christmas retail shoppers, I applied this theory to the psyche of American voters. Now I'm not saying that her endorsement is the SOLE reason Obama is leading in the polls, but I suspect it is a big reason.

So get ready, America. If Barack wins the nomination for the Democratic candidate and goes on to successfully win the US Presidency in Nov 2008, we'll have a new progressive leader on our hands. Is this good news?

I wonder: Are the more SP Democratic voters going to hold Obama accountable for endorsing religion in the public arena? Have they considered that, or will he get a complete pass? Will they still vote for him?
Since the ACLU has been silent on this issue, I think all will be forgiven and not much will be said. It will be glossed over.

Now if Mike Huckabee wins the Republican nomination, I believe that the SP's and the media, etc. will turn on him and go after him the likes we have not seen. He WILL be held accountable and WILL be held to the fire for his religious beliefs. If he even mentions like a fart in a windstorm the least BIT about religion in the public arena, you can bet it will be an all-out war. How's THAT for a fair and balanced voting America?

Teflon pans

2007-12-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

Here's an excerpt from an article from the San Francisco Chronicle on the use of teflon pans. This is absolutely hilarious. I gleaned the important information that I could from the piece, but I also highly criticize it. Imagine that.

The Sticking Point
Nonstick pans are a boon to cooks, but are there dangers lurking beneath the surface?
David Rubien, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Cooks who appreciate the almost-magical properties of nonstick frying pans will be happy to know that the products have gotten a lot more durable. Unfortunately, so has the controversy surrounding the chemical behind the nonstick magic. (Do I smell an anti-corporate bias coming?)

Pots and pans coated with Teflon -- or any of the surfaces analogous to Teflon -- are immensely popular. U.S. consumers spent roughly $1.2 billion on 159 million pots and pans last year, 60 percent of which were nonstick, according to figures from the Cookware Manufacturers Association.

"Nonstick has revolutionized America's cooking habits over the past generation by letting consumers cook with much less oil and grease and by easing the cleanup chores associated with cooking," says Hugh Rushing, vice president of the association. "Nonstick cookware is now mainstream for the majority of U.S. consumers. It's found on high-end cookware as well as medium- and low-priced product."

Decent nonstick frying pans made by companies like T-Fal, Faberware and Revere are widely available in models ranging from $10 to $30. Yet scientific studies, not to mention lawsuits (see story, F4), suggest that there's another kind of price associated with nonstick: The pans may be bad for you. They can give off potentially harmful fumes at medium to high temperatures, and a chemical crucial to the manufacture of nonstick surfaces -- but not found in the finished surfaces -- is prevalent in the environment, including most Americans' blood. (BINGO!)

"We recommend that people phase out the use of Teflon cookware in their home," says Lauren Sucher of the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D. C., organization that compiles data on toxicology. (Okay, so we use the teflon to avoid the grease and oil on traditional pans which is unhealthy, so if we go back to them, we go back to the harmful oils. Then your organization will say we're using too many oils again. Do you see this trickery?)

Teflon is a registered trademark of the DuPont Co., which has been making Teflon cookware and other products for more than 40 years. The company says nonstick pans are completely safe if used according to manufacturers' instructions, and that emissions from DuPont factories have virtually ceased. (I've never gotten sick from using teflon, and I have my blood tested regularly at a holistic health center.)

"Believe me, you get more toxic fumes from the food you're cooking than from the pans themselves," says Dave Boothe, strategic planning manager for fluoropolymer solutions at DuPont. (Yeah, especially when you think about all those pesticides in our food. Agreed!)

The dominance of nonstick is not surprising, particularly now that the pans don't flake and divot like earlier generations of pans, many of which can still be found cluttering the cabinets of America's kitchens. If the average nonstick frying pan from 20 years ago is like a whitewashed shack, today's pans are akin to modern condos with deluxe paint jobs. Paint is often the simile used to discuss the making of nonstick pans, because the nonstick material is essentially painted onto the surface of the pan.

Although the technology has improved dramatically, the essential nonstick ingredient is the same as it was when a DuPont Co. chemist discovered it in 1938. The waxy substance he scraped out of a freon cylinder turned out to be the most slippery substance in the world. Called polytetrafluorethylene, or PTFE, it consists of a chain of carbon atoms that are surrounded by fluorine atoms. Dupont began manufacturing PTFE, trademarking it Teflon.

In 1954, a French inventor figured out a way to bond Teflon to frying pans, and formed a company called Tefal, which evolved into T-Fal, a giant manufacturer of pans and other household appliances. The early nonstick pans didn't hold up very well, however; they began flaking within months. So Dupont and the few other companies that also make PTFE coatings began experimenting with additives to make PTFE stronger.

About 15 years ago, PTFE compounds improved dramatically. Nonstick coatings now are enhanced with powders made out of ceramic, stainless steel or titanium, and the coatings are applied much more thickly, as well. The pans to which the surfaces are attached also are much better, basically a function of bonding different materials to aluminum, which is the best surface for nonstick, though soft in its natural state.

"Reinforced nonsticks are resistant to scratching, many invite the use of metal tools, and their useful life has increased to years of daily use," Rushing says. "Nonstick's ability to remain slippery over time has increased enormously in recent years."

One of the reasons those old Teflon pans would flake and chip is that utensils would dent the aluminum, thus undermining what the Teflon was trying to hold onto. (Yes, I have had older pans that did this.)

Nowadays, aluminum gets anodized, an electro-chemical beefing-up process that makes the metal nonporous, nonreactive and harder than stainless steel. The anodized metal retains the natural superior heat conductivity of aluminum. Today's pans can also be varying combinations of materials like aluminum, stainless steel and copper to try to get the best of heat conductivity, weight, look and cooking effectiveness. (Forgive me if I'm wrong, but didn't space exploration help contribute to this advancement?)
As for how food turns out when cooked in nonstick pans versus conventional pans, that's a subjective matter. The Chronicle's own test of some nonstick pans provides some illumination, as do the opinions of some professional chefs (see accompanying stories).

Experienced chefs who use nonstick pans know that they are good for certain things, like making crepes, but not for other things, like searing meat. But the same could be said for other pans -- for example, cast iron isn't good for cooking anything acidic, nor would you want to grill a kielbasa in a wok. For some cooks, using nonstick -- or not -- boils down to picking the right tool for the job.

Still other cooks may avoid Teflon altogether because of safety concerns. A letter to Dear Abby that ran in The Chronicle on May 7 from a distraught "Bob in Atlanta," was a cautionary tale about a beloved 26-year-old Amazon parrot who died from exposure to fumes emitted by a burned Teflon pan. (Notice the word "burned.")

Bob's parrot perished from a syndrome known as Teflon toxicosis, which results from overheated PTFE-coated pans and has been recognized for decades. That's why instructions packaged with nonstick cookware say that pans should never be left empty over a flame. Birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems. (Okay, so why was the pan overheated? Did the bird whip it out and do it? No, it must have been Bob, or someone Bob knows. So where is the personal responsibility being placed on Bob? Hmm..I don't see any. Looks like the SF Chronicle is implying that it's all Teflon's fault. That's right. Take out any personal responsibility for anything. Now, let's say that Bob had purchased tainted pet food from his vet that came from China and the pet died, just like the recent events in the news. He'd have every right to sue the manufacturer of that pet food for not regulating what goes into their food processes, but this appears to be a case of pure negligence and not the fault of Teflon. Ridiculous, I say.)

DuPont says that off-gassing from nonstick pans does not occur until the pans are heated to over 400 degrees, in which case, at worst, fumes can lead to brief flulike symptoms in humans, called polymer fume fever. DuPont scientists point out that birds can die from many different types of fumes, including those produced by burning onions or butter. (Good point. Another reason that people should carefully consider the choice of a parrot as a pet/companion. But that's not the point of this article.)

"Anything that's degraded thermally, whether it's food, wood or plastic, will give off toxic gases," says DuPont's Boothe.

(So....don't let your parrot close to the teflon and don't heat your pan over 400 degrees! Sheesh!)

The Environmental Working Group has collected data from several industry, government and academic studies that have been done on off-gassing of PTFE- coated pans heated to various temperatures. The tests revealed that more than a dozen types of potentially toxic particulates -- including hexafluoropropene, hydrogen fluoride and difluoroacetic acid -- are released. But whether the fumes occur in enough quantity to harm humans has not been determined.

NICE.

(Okay, so what was the message at the beginning of this article again? Hmm..let's see....

"We recommend that people phase out the use of Teflon cookware in their home," says Lauren Sucher of the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D. C., organization that compiles data on toxicology.)
The same group that says it has not been determined how much of the fumes are harmful to humans? It seems a little premature to go out and recommend that people stop using teflon pans then, doesn't it?

"DuPont says that gasses aren't released in normal use, but academic and peer-reviewed studies show that pans get hot enough to release toxic gases at normal cooking temperatures," Sucher says. But pan fumes are nothing compared to the heat DuPont has gotten over environmental contamination (see story, above). (Uh, see no responsibility placed on Bob, above.) It's not clear whether health and safety considerations have any effect on sales of nonstick cookware.

Well all you have to do is go into the major stores, look at what's on the shelves and see what's selling. That should give one, I would think, a somewhat clear view of the effect of safety considerations on sales of nonstick cookware. Also, there are product reviews everywhere on amazon.com and other sites. This sounds like another drummed up wishful thinking statement from the left to steer consumers away from something that doesn't agree with their set of idealogues.
"(PFOA) has been used to manufacture millions -- probably billions -- of pans, and we don't see evidence that anyone is injured by their use," says Boothe. "That's a pretty good safety record."

I'll let that last paragraph speak for itself.

The power of suggestion

2007-12-21T21:28:00.000-08:00

Ahhh...Christmas 2007. It's here!!! This means more lines, crowded stores, parking lots, not to mention savvy one finger waves and four letter words. Yay! Every year, it never ceases to amaze me just how much more petty and moronic we can make this gift giving season, with its endless array of snowmen this, santa that, hurry-and-break-out-your wallet for that "last minute" item that will only set your family back on average $500-$1000 or more in debt this year. When, at the end of the week, you won't give 2 you know what's about what you just bought today.

Just "Gotta have" because everyone else has, or some store told me in their slick ads I had to have:

1. Iphone
2. Nintendo Wii
3. Slingbox
4. Halo 3
5. Guitar Hero 3
6. Hannah Montana

Before you indulge that "inner spoiled child" whether it be your own kids or yourself, just think about that January credit card bill, and that should sober your spending habits back a bit, especially when we think about the interest rate hikes and oil prices. Hey, I'm writing this as much for myself as anyone else. I'd like an iphone, a PS3 and a new Xbox 360, but I don't have the discretionary funds for any of those things, so I refuse to stretch myself for something that can wait a few years. So what if it's Christmas? I will find something else to ask Santa for. And I will be happier and in less debt because of it. Sorry, retailers.

But wait? What about the power of suggestion? I bet my last few sentences depressed the hell out of you.

"Why, you grinch! You have absolutely no Christmas spirit!"

They (the media) are speculating/wondering if Oprah Winfrey's endorsement of Barack Obama is going to have any effect on voters. Well, let's think about that for a moment. She's just come out with a list of her "favorite things" for 2007. Among them are a Breville panini press, KitchenAid mixer and mixing bowls from a well known kitchen supply chain. Last I checked, those tems were sold out everywhere, or at least very hard to get, not just the chain store from whom she recommended you buy.

So does this mean what she says will mean something to voters? I don't know if my flimsy theory will hold up, but it's an interesting observation nonetheless.

Also, let's not forget the weathermen. Nope, I'm not leaving you guys out either.

"Major ice/snow event headed for ____. Officials brace for possible massive power outages. Headaches expected at airports"

I love that. "Braces for" is a nice term for "you better haul your butts to the mall and grocery store TODAY and buy buy buy!!!!" And where do I get my tickets to this "event?" Oh wait, they're free. I never get anything for free.

Well, I guess I'll stay home and drink hot chocolate out of the santa mug I paid too much for yesterday, play my PS3 until the power goes out, and when that happens I'll try to cash in that free night at the Residence Inn, if I can make it there on the 2 inch thick iced over roads.

Wait...they're full. I just called them on my iphone. Damn.

(What was that? Did someone just flip me off in the parking lot?)

"We're only trying to help you..."

2007-12-20T12:52:00.000-08:00

I came across some interesting information today about evolutionists trying to silence the creationists. This is very serious. Many people that may read this blog that don't agree with my views or think I'm crazy will just think more of the same, so that's okay, WHATEVER. But for those of you that would actually like a little more insight into my philosophy of, "If you're a Christian we're going to come after you in every sense of the word..."

Then read this article. Then go see the movie "Expelled" next spring with Ben Stein. You might just see a few similarities.

http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFArchives/science/SC2W1299.pdf

Michael Nider's suspension and Dr. Corbett

2007-12-19T12:14:00.000-08:00

A Bismarck, ND public school teacher was suspended without pay after showing a video entitled "Letter From Hell" to his health class. This video shows a car wreck and a teen writing a letter to another teen blaming him for his punishment in hell after not sharing Jesus with him.

The video is plain propaganda and is not the way to promote Christianity to students. It's similar to what I experienced as a young kid and it's not healthy.

However, I do find it very interesting that the superintendant and school board jumped on this guy quicker than a rat on a cheeto to suspend him and make him write apology letters to all the parents. Along with the unpaid leave, Mr. Nider also has to take sensitivity training classes. This guy has been with the district for only four years.

Uh...where's the same punishment for Dr. Corbett for all of his law-breaking activities in the more than 15 years he's taught in the Capistrano CA area? A lawsuit has now had to be filed against this man for his atrocities. I think Michael Nider will get swift and severe punishment and may lose his job over this. I think Dr. Corbett will be able to stave off anything like that for awhile and use the court system to delay and postpone his hearings and trial (if there ever is one) PLUS keep his job. Where's the justice in that???

Here's a quote from the LA Times article about Corbett:
Capistrano Valley High School Principal Tom Ressler described Corbett as a "solid" teacher who has been with the Capistrano Unified School District for more than 15 years. Ressler said Corbett's class was popular among Advanced Placement students and has a high pass rate.

"It's really premature to say anything about this," he said of the allegations. "People can make allegations all they want; we have to see the reality and context of what was said."

(Oh so now we have to put the CONTEXT spin on this and not really hold the guy accountable????)

Here's a quote from the Bismarck Tribune:
In addition to the unpaid leave, Nider also must take a sensitivity training class by May 30. A letter of reprimand is part of his personnel file, and if he violates the school policy again, he will be fired. A new teacher will be assigned to the fourth period eighth-grade health class.

"The results of his actions have caused unnecessary divisions among students and staff."
The district started responding to the Balabans' concerns about the video Thursday after board member Dan Kuntz contacted Johnson, who in turn contacted Simle Principal Russ Riehl. Nider was put on administrative leave that afternoon.
The Balabans have received apologies from the superintendent and the principal, and Nider will be writing letters of apology to parents, their daughter and the class.

(Wow, quick and effective action must be taken against this man! He is BAD!)

Where's the apology letter for Chad Farnan? I guess he doesn't get one.

Another example of anti-Christian hatred

2007-12-18T13:44:00.000-08:00

Dr. James Corbett in California has just had a lawsuit filed against him for insulting Christianity by "Advocates for Faith and Freedom." He uses the first few minutes of his History class to attack faith. Chad Farnan, a 16 year old, taped him in class saying outrageous things against Christianity, things that clearly do not belong in class, and things that are clearly against the law and violate his rights. No government official is supposed to be allowed to attack faith in any form, and this guy has apparently been doing so for several years. It's about time someone stood up to these atrocities and did the right thing and fought back. Funny how he doesn't seem to attack Islam. That's usually the case isn't it? Get back at the Christians. But they're too afraid to attack Muslims in the public arena. Par for the course a la Richard Dawkins.

Here's a link to the pages of the suit.

http://www.ocregister.com/newsimages/news/2007/12/capistranovalleysuitcomplaint.pdf

And I found a very good in-depth blog about this issue. Read more here:

http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/more-on-the-teacher-accused-of-insulting-religion-in-his-class/

This is just more proof that if you continue to be a Christian, "We're gonna pursue you personally, professionally, and academically and use the media or whatever vehicles we have to to make this happen. If that doesn't work, we'll start going after your kids."

Either way, they are hell bent (pardon the pun) on forcing God out of our heads completely no matter what the cost and no matter who it hurts. Make no mistake about it. They hate God and they hate Christians.

But they are way too afraid to attack Islamic terrorists in the public arena. Nope, those folks get a complete pass.

It will be an interesting day when these people are finally forced to see the world through glasses that are not narcissistic, hateful and spiteful.

Hotel of the week - Le Taha'a

2007-12-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

This can't really be classified as a hotel. More like an "island fantasy made into reality." This is the place your psychiatrist tells you to conjure up in your head as your "special safe spot" LOL

It is one of the dream vacations on my wish list. Sigh...to scuba dive here would be seventh heaven. (Further proof, for me anyway, that we were created and not here by random chance.)

http://www.letahaa.com/main.php

From their website:

"Opened since July 2002, this resort is designed to be the most exclusive resort in French Polynesia .

Superbly located on Motu Tautau on the coral reef, the resort faces the island of Taha'a on the lagoon side and offers an unsurpassed view on Bora Bora island on the ocean side.

This traditional Polynesian style hotel is 5 minutes by boat from main island of Taha'a and 35 min by boat from Raiatea Island . The resort offers 48 Over Water Suites & 12 Beach Suites more than a hundred square meters in size.

The public areas are built in the trees, providing an exquisite view on the lagoon and Taha'a Island."

I looked at the regular tourist photos of this place on tripadvisor.com and they are magnificent. Don't ever buy what a hotel or resort sells you on their website window dressing. They hire people to make them look good. Read what real travelers say and look at their pictures. This is the advice I always gave to clients when I was a travel agent. Sure you're gonna get biased reviews here and there, but generally it's a good testament to the overall consistent quality of a destination.

An examination of Philosophy as taught in American Colleges and Universities

2007-12-15T00:15:00.000-08:00

I conducted an experiment. I looked at a course description list for Philosophy at a major secular University. No surprise. There's hardly any attention given to the Christian philosophers in their list, like Hippo, Athanasius, Basil, Chrysostom, Cyril, but there are PLENTY on Buddhist, Japanese, Hindu thought, Marxist, Nietzche, ethics of war (anti-war you can bet) the world food shortage, sexual morality, philosophies of India, Brazilian and Latin American thought, etc. etc. The time given to Christian philosophies is minimal. Just examining their writings, nothing more. No in depth study as to their lives and what they learned from their practices from what I can see and to show how they might have a positive influence on the students. Not like these others. Nope, because that goes against their anti-God pro-socialism agenda they want to teach the kids.

So then I examined a philosophy syllabus from a well known Christian school and guess what? Whole semesters devoted to Nietzsche, Marx, all the Socratic writing, plus philosophy of art,law and of other religions. I didn't see the huge pro Bible and "ignorant" teachings that I have been led to believe are occuring on Christian college campuses. I didn't see this "proof" that Christian Univ grads must be intellectually deprived of something. There are biblical teachings given there, though, not trying to deny that. But how do you think that the majority of them would only push the pro right wing movement, that only Christian philosophers are the ones worth studying and matter? That's what the anti-God crowd wants you to think is happening. But it's not, America.

My point is that society wants people to think that Christians are stupid, with no common sense and logic. If they would just abandon their faith and use their logic, they would come to the "right conclusion," that there is no God. These Christians are taught logic and reason every day, yet they still believe. That must REALLY anger you anti God crowd.

Well let me reply to that. Do those Zen philosophy meditations you do on a retreat for college credit prove there isn't a God? Or do they just make you feel better for a couple of hours?

Our Fearless Earth

2007-12-09T22:56:00.000-08:00

Okay, I just got done watching an episode of "Fearless Earth" on the Discovery Channel which showed the elaborate Great Barrier Reef system in Australia and how it has strengthened and repaired itself over the last several millions of years, despite ice ages, volcanic eruptions, and the like. It was a brilliantly done show and very interesting, especially the part where they showed how coral reefs that can only survive in shallow water survive in 150 foot waters off the walls of the reef.

When Earth's axis was knocked off course long ago, this caused a shifting in the plates and the continent of Australia moved northward from the Southern pole area. It is estimated that Australia moves 5 inches north per year, making it the fastest moving continent, according to the scientists on this show. Man had nothing to do with this.

They interviewed a geologist who demonstrated that there are freshwater lakes just off the northern coast floating above the sea water, and he explained that this was due to the ice age and the stream flowing back and forth over the continent. Man had nothing to do with this.

There's even a place off the reef where the current is so strong and fast that it can kill a diver if he isn't prepared to go with it. This current is responsible for the maintenance of the reef system. That's pretty amazing stuff, and humans have absolutely nothing to do with this. This is natural phenomenon.

They spent nearly the whole hour discussing how well the reef has repaired and maintained itself over millions of years despite all of these changes...and then...BINGO...here comes the global warming mantra in the last 5 minutes and how humans are going to just destroy it if we don't take caution to keep the water from raising 2 lousy degrees. This will destroy the reef system and kill off absolutely everything. Uh...okay...so what are they saying then after all this? That the reef is not really self-repairing? Are we to believe that humans can do more damage than an ice age or volcano THAT WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO? This is based on complete speculation and is really quite irresponsible of the Discovery Channel to promote this.

I guess the reef didn't really survive those things then. (In fact, they say it is getting bigger all the time.) So what gives? What's their real message? If it's to promote global warming, they've just wasted millions of dollars on production costs for this film. This message goes against the very title of the show, "Fearless Earth." Methinks the producers must have demanded that be edited in there post-production to make it more PC.

But I digress.

Orthodox Christianity

2007-12-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

I am going to post some websites and information here that may be of help to anyone who wants to learn more about the Orthodox faith and the true teachings of the Church. The first is http://www.oca.org which is the website for the Orthodox Church of America. This is the best place to go for anyone that is not familiar with Orthodoxy.
You can also visit http://www.goarch.org which is the website for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
There's also http://www.orthodoxinfo.com and Ancient Faith Radio. http://www.ancientfaithradio.com

Some writers that have been particularly helpful to me, other than the Bible, have been Bishop Kallistos Ware, Clark Carlton, the writings of St Chrysostom, Owen Chadwick, Fr. Joseph Huneycutt, Fr. George Grube, and the Orthodox Study Bible. Conciliar Press http://www.conciliarpress.com has a treasure trove of books and information about Orthodoxy as well as a new Study Bible with Old Testament due in Spring 2008.

I have downloaded dozens of Orthodox chants in several languages on itunes, as well as purchased several liturgy CD's in English and one or two in Russian. My next venture is to obtain copies of the Divine Liturgy in Spanish and Romanian.

I make use of my prayer corner and meditation area as often as possible, although I could be more disciplined about it.

Coming from a Protestant background, it has been a very new journey for me with a new step to take each day. Sometimes they are small and sometimes they are huge. Many days I feel like I'm in a totally different country. I am learning about fasting and saints, and that is a huge part of Orthodoxy. That is why it is all the more important to take care with who is out there teaching about this ancient faith and who is merely using it as a vehicle to introduce things that our Lord does not want in our lives.

Contemplative Christianity

2007-12-08T09:23:00.000-08:00

I've been reading about a New Age movement within Christianity to introduce some Eastern practices into it, such as Sufism, Gnosticism, contemplative prayer, etc. Anything to do with reaching that "higher state of consciousness" and harnessing that power which God intended all of us to have, such as the teachings of Karlfried Graf Durckheim, Gurdjeff, the Fourth Way, etc. and I've watched youtube videos of this.

Well, I think this is all very dangerous. These are attempts at taking away the biblical aspect of Christianity and replacing it with many forms of Eastern Mysticism. They hone in on this belief that we all would like to be possessors of some "secret power" or have intimate knowledge that nobody else does. I've tried to leave my thoughts in the comments section of the youtube videos I've watched, but guess what??? I'm being censored.

From what I can see, it appears that these individuals have studied some aspects of Orthodoxy, not all, have interviewed priests, and so called "mystics," without really referring to any of the teachings of Chrysostom, St Basil or modern teachings of Bishop Ware, and molded it to fit into their own Eastern philosophical value system and then repackaged it as a "new" approach to God.

That sends a HUGE red flag that something is very wrong with this picture, and for me, is a slap in the face of Orthodoxy. Why do these people not want to be questioned about their practices? Is it wrong to ask them to point to biblical references for their teachings? Apparently so. These individuals have very trancelike voices, ones that pull you in and are very adept at getting you to lay down all of your objections to anything. This is where the danger comes in. If you have ever listened to any of Warren Jeffs videos or transcripts from his "Light of Life" series for the FLDS, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Now FLDS is not the same as what I'm discussing today, but the intent of Warren Jeffs is the same as these new esoteric teachers: to break you down and reprogram your thinking.

Let me give an example. One of the anonymous comments I found online was this:

"On watching the video, I became aware that I was seeing nothing, I went into an altered state of consciousness as only your voice I could hear. entranced. The spirit of love and wisdon certainly use you as channel of love and hope.
You are blessed."

Many of these Eastern teachings also use the origins of Christianity, with the Eastern/Western split as the cause for why we should embrace this "new view" of God, and as an Orthodox catechumen, I have to be very careful and dissect what these messages have truly hidden under them.

The following is an article I found on The Conservative Voice about these issues.

Gnosticism, Contemplative Prayer and Other "Christian Traditions"
March 31, 2007 03:23 PM EST
by Marsha West

Christians are being exhorted to put their minds on hold through meditation and take a step into the supernatural realm. Is it biblical to connect with the supernatural realm? In an interview with Emergent leader Rob Bell, founding pastor of Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, MI, he made the following comment: “Central to the Christian tradition, for thousands of years, have been disciplines of meditation, reflection, silence, and breathing. It was understood that to be a healthy person, to be fully connected with God, and fully centered you would spend significant parts of your day in silence–breathing, meditating–praying allowing the Spirit of God to transform you and touch you.” So ordinary people spent significant parts of their day in silence, meditating?

Even if it were true, nowhere in the Bible are God’s people encouraged to stop using their minds and to connect with the supernatural world. Believers are to worship God with their heart, strength, mind and soul. In an altered state of consciousness the mind is not engaged, it’s blank!

For over two thousand years (not “thousands of years”) Christians have followed a whole host of unbiblical practices that God regards evil. But that hasn’t stopped untold numbers from participating. Example: Even though God forbids fortune telling (divination) countless people, including Christians, have visited mediums to “look into the future.”

For more than five thousand years meditation has been practiced by Eastern religions and has become mainstream in Western culture. It is true, as Bell says, that Christian’s have been practicing meditation for centuries. Christian meditation came about when monks began reading the Bible slowly. As they read, they would ponder the deeper meaning of each verse. This is called "divine reading" or lectio divina. As a result of their Scripture meditation the monks found themselves spontaneously praying. Their prayer would move them to a wordless focus on God. They called this “wordless love for God” contemplation. More on contemplative prayer in a moment.

Lacking a biblical worldview and an understanding of Scripture is the main reason Christians are dipping into the forbidden waters of Eastern meditation to “know the unknowable.”

Contemporary Christianity is following “every wind of doctrine.” Believers are listening to what their “itching ears want to hear.” Regrettably, their itching ears are tuned to neo-gnostic heresy. One of the obstacles the Apostles faced were false teachers, the Gnostics being the most prevalent of the bunch. Gnosticism was condemned as a heresy in the first century church. Here’s the crux of Gnosticism:

“Christian Gnosticism is the belief that one must have a "gnosis" (from Greek "Gnosko," to know) or inner knowledge which is mystical knowledge obtained only after one has been properly initiated. Only a few can possess this mystical knowledge, limiting the number of those "in the know". … Gnosticism today seems to provide a lot of the form and color for the New Age portrait of Jesus where Jesus is seen as the illumined Illuminator: one who serves as a cosmic catalyst for others' awakening. As such it is as false and heretical as the Gnosticism of the first century and needs to be roundly condemned for the heresy that it is.” [1]

Most of us think it’s cool to have inside information. Makes one feel important. Even special. Who wouldn’t want to cultivate a special experience with God that no one else has? Sadly, Christians involve themselves in New Age practices like yoga meditation so they’ll “be in the know.” You say, “My church isn’t into any of that New Age stuff.” No, but you’ll read about the New Age stuff in books purchased in your local or online Christian bookstore. You’ll also see an abundance of false teaching on Christian blogs all over the Internet. Or you’ll hear name it and claim it prosperity preachers on TV acting as if the Almighty is actually whispering into their ear as they impart their false teaching to millions of viewers.
You can’t even escape Gnostic heresy in modern Christian music. You could be singing it in church! Listen to the lyrics of so-called worship songs and be amazed! And be sickened.

Last, but not least, the Oprah Winfrey Show is rife with Gnosticism. Those who tune into Oprah’s program (a number of gullible Christians do) will hear her guest’s share their esoteric mystical experiences.

It’s all about experience. “The Gnostics thought that one must directly experience the spirit to learn the truth, this being apart from the word. Stepping over into the supernatural, experience becomes the teacher and gives them real knowledge. What was and is now being taught is spirit to spirit communication that is completely outside the Biblical revelation given by the apostles.” [2]

This fits liberal “Christianity” to a tee. The Word of God is out of date so experience becomes the teacher. In his essay “What are we talking about?” DA Carson points out that some leaders in the Emergent Church movement claim “changing times demand that fresh questions be asked of Scripture, and then fresh answers will be heard. What was an appropriate use of Scripture under modernism is no longer an appropriate use of Scripture under postmodernism.” This is a classic case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater! But I digress.

The “knower” believes that the masses are not in possession of spiritual knowledge, and only the truly “enlightened” can experience God. Thus the reintroduction of contemplative, aka centering, prayer into the Church. How is centering prayer different from biblical prayer? Centering prayer is a meditative practice where the focus is on having a mystical experience with God. Individuals choose a sacred word or symbol (such as God, Jesus, Father) and repeat it over and over during the twenty-minute exercise. Sitting comfortably in a meditative posture, with back straight and eyes closed, the sacred word is introduced as the symbol of consent to God's presence within. Should outside thoughts emerge in your mind, you must return “ever-so-gently” to your sacred word. At the end of your prayer time you’re to remain in silence with eyes closed for a few minutes. Sounds like a good way to relax, doesn’t it? Trouble is, contemplative prayer has no Scriptural support whatsoever. Moreover, it’s the exact opposite of how the Bible instructs believers to pray. Read the prayer of Jesus in Luke 11:1-4 below. [3]

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything,” said Jesus to the apostles. “I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:23-24).

Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6, NLT).; “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured” (Col. 4:12).

Biblical prayer advocates engaging your mind, even wrestling in your mind, as did Epaphras, not emptying your mind! Yet Pastor Rob Bell encourages Zachary Lind to do just that. Following is a snippet of an interview Lind did with Bell. (For clarity I edited out phrases like “like,” “you know” and “I mean.”):

Interviewer Lind: … the book you recommended to me a few weeks ago [by] Richard Rohr…talked about contemplative prayer … [I read] half of the book and still don’t really know what his definition of that is. But he starts getting into it. And he says … you have to at least sit … past 20 minutes.

Bell: Yeah, yes.

Lind: It takes a certain amount of time before you’re sort of selfish things get aired out. Like you might be all about you for 20 minutes, but then after that it’s like, you’re kind of a blank slate. You know…

Bell: Uh-huh.

Lind: You’re kind of ready to intake anything. He talks a lot in that book about a beginners mind and … being kind of like a child and coming up to Jesus, and really just ready to be written on. And … maybe I’m wrong but I kind of feel like from what I hear … there’s a lot of that going on …

Bell: Yeah, well you have to essentially discipline your life around forming the depths, and that takes just phenomenal discipline that I don’t even pretend to have. [4]

At this point the conversation drifts away from contemplative prayer. Note that Bell gave no warning with regard to the dangers of meditation even though Lind admits that he’s ready to take anything, “Ready to be written on.” Written on by whom? The Bible warns of deceiving spirits! “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thess. 2:9-10).

After listening to the interview what you will come away with is that Rob Bell is leading Christians into dangerous Eastern religious beliefs and rituals. Convinced they’re having an esoteric experience with “God,” many Christians are actually embracing Hinduism.

(Let me just put that quote in again from before from the anonymous poster so you can see again what this is all about:

"On watching the video, I became aware that I was seeing nothing, I went into an altered state of consciousness as only your voice I could hear. entranced. The spirit of love and wisdon certainly use you as channel of love and hope.
You are blessed.")

Puts it all into perspective, yes?

Biblical prayer is comprehendible communication with God. Prayer is not an esoteric, yoga meditation. Granted, many contemplatives are ignorant of the true nature of meditation—but such ignorance is inexcusable and indefensible! The truth about the dangers of meditation is readily available in books and on the Internet.

Contemplative spirituality, like Gnosticism, promotes pursuing a magical mystical experience with “God.” Overlooked are passages such as Joshua 1:8: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." This command is from God! He wants His people to meditate on Scripture; He doesn’t want them emptying their minds.

Leaders in the Emergent movement have succeeded in persuading those who practice centering prayer to put aside God’s Word and focus on a blank wall! Will practicing Eastern mysticism really help to open you up to a greater spiritual experience with God, or just the opposite? Since God opposes mysticism in any form, perhaps contemplatives are really experiencing visits from demonic spirits. Meditate on that! In 1 Cor. 2:15-18 Paul informs us that we have “the mind of Christ.” In Romans 12:2 he reminds us that God’s people are not to kowtow to this world, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In the words of William Hendrickson, "Even if we or a holy angel must be the object of God's righteous curse, were any of us to preach a gospel contrary to the one we humans previously preached to you, then all the more divine wrath must be poured out on those self-appointed nobodies who are now making themselves guilty of this crime."

Here are some things I found in this particular research:

- Rejection or alteration of the doctrine of Biblical Inspiration 2 Tim. 3:16
- Special in-depth Knowledge - False cultist often claim they have the truth which has been
suppressed by apostate Christianity. (It is important for cultists to “set themselves apart” from
other religions.) 2 Peter 1:20
- False understanding of Redemption - The Blood atonement is either rejected or nullified.
Heb. 9:14
- False understanding of Retribution - False cultists often reject hell, eternal punishment,
and the conscious state of the dead. Luke. 16:23,24
- An Allegorical System of Interpretation, Sometimes cultists do this while claiming they are
literal interpreters of the Bible. Mat. 5:18, John 10:35, Luke. 21:32
- Messianic Leadership - Many false cultists have their own messiahs or divinely chosen
leaders. Luke. 21:8
- A Re-definition of generally accepted Christian Terms. Cultists do this in order to hide the
true nature of their teaching. 1 Tim 6:3, Rom 16:18, 2 Tim. 2:14

This last one was the big one for me, especially when I tried to post comments.

So beware, all you Orthodox and other Christians. This New Age movement is probably spreading into your parish and ministry areas and you may not even realize what is happening because they are so adept at hypnotizing you and making it all sound good.
Remember these questions:

1) What does this teacher say about Jesus?
2) Does this teacher preach the gospel?
3) Does this teacher exhibit character qualities that glorify the Lord?

A believer who has read the activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:16-17 will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity. Therefore, “step one” is to study the Bible and judge all teaching by what the scripture says.

Poor Hugo Chavez

2007-12-06T15:41:00.000-08:00

From Yahoo News:

CARACAS (AFP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Thursday he will govern until 2013 when his mandate ends, now that voters rejected constitutional reforms that would have allowed him to seek endless reelection.

"The shouting is one thing, the reality another ... The reform was not approved, so I have to leave the government in the year 2013. I will work tirelessly until the last day I have left here," Chavez said at an event in the capital.
He also told his supporters: "You have a debt with me, you will tell me if you will repay it or if you won't repay it. You have a debt with me, the nation and the future."

"It doesn't matter if at the end I am left with four or five revolutionaries, welcome, but not two-bit revolutionaries," he told followers at a ceremony where Bolivian and African militants graduated from the state-funded "Che Guevara" education program. He said the "no" triumphed in Sunday's referendum on the constitutional reforms (with 50.7 percent of the votes) because of "blackmail" suggesting there would be violence if the "yes" option won.

"It is blackmail, blackmail of the imperialism and its lackeys ... there was fear that violence would be unleashed and that even if we won by 80 percent against 20 percent they would not recognize the victory," he said.

The crowd chanted "Nooo" when Chavez evoked the possibility that "those who won the 'No' would return to govern the country, which is what they want."

"We are not confronting the 'petit-Yankees from here, but the empire of the United States, the most powerful empire on Earth," he said. "Didn't you see the president of the United States celebrating the victory of the 'No'?" he asked in reference to a statement by Bush who said Venezuelans voted for democracy.

"However much you shout, it is the truth," he told the crowd.

"We lost in Caracas, we lost in the neighborhoods, millions did not go to vote. They can say what they want, there is no excuse."

In the words of el Rey Juan Carlos de Espana, "Por que no te callas?"

Poor Hugo Chavez. It seems he just can't get a break! Just read what his ex wife says about him. This is very telling.

BARQUISIMETO, Venezuela - Hugo Chavez's ex-wife said Thursday she is proposing a constitutional amendment to shorten presidential terms, saying the president has been in office long enough.

Marisabel Rodriguez said she believes terms should be reduced from six to four years, and allow presidents only one opportunity for re-election.

"Four years and re-election ... it gives you enough time," said Rodriguez. "This can be done through an amendment."

Her comments came four days after voters narrowly rejected the president's 69 proposed changes to Venezuela's Constitution, including reforms that would have let him run for re-election indefinitely.

Chavez and Rodriguez divorced in 2004 and have one daughter, 10-year-old Rosines. Chavez, a former paratroop commander who first took office in 1999, also has three children from a previous marriage. Chavez — a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro — dismissed his opponents' win as insignificant on Wednesday, using a derogatory term for feces.

"He's been using that language for some time. I think it's a lack of respect for Venezuelans," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez drew attention ahead of Sunday's referendum by breaking years of silence and strongly criticizing her ex-husband, accusing him of becoming obsessed with power, putting politics above the population's well-being and failing to fight corruption.

What this man fails to understand is that this is NOT the U.S.'s fault. This vote was put to his own countrymen and they voted, it is that simple. I can't wait to see the spin that the leftist media will put on this story.

Hotel of the week

2007-12-05T14:09:00.001-08:00

This is my pick for the week....Hotel El Convento de San Juan.

http://www.elconvento.com/

I stumbled upon this place purely by accident two years ago after touring El Morro. I was on a cruise ship stop. I took a taxi on my own from the pier to the fort and then met up with some other cruisers and we hit the bar at this place. It was in a word...FANTASTIC.
Truly reminiscent of Old World Spain, it is a member of the Historic Hotels of America, and Small Luxury Hotels of the World. It is a former Carmelite convent built 3 and a half centuries ago. In the lobby, ornate chairs with the crest of Old Spain adorn either side of a beautiful hand carved armoire complete with soft lighting, perfect for catching up on your reading.
As we entered the Patio del Nispero, a lone guitarist sat in a corner strumming away soft tunes, echoing the romantic sounds of Andalucia. On the other side of the Patio sits one of the best bars in the world, El Picoteo. I tasted crisp and refreshing sangrias there and marveled at the fabulous kitchen set up for those most Spanish of foods, the culinary tapas.
I tried the Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp) and Aceitunas Calamatta (Calamata Olives) and just kept drinking Sangrias, enjoying the guitarist in the corner. I didn't want to leave, but alas, the cruise ship was about to leave port for St Maarten, and another adventure awaited me there, the chance to sail aboard a World's Cup racing yacht.

Why do...

2007-12-01T00:11:00.001-08:00

other people who practice pagan religions and worship Earthly things in this modern day and age receive more respect than Christians do? I see evidence of this every day. Those that want to elevate themselves to a "higher consciousness" and believe that you can be your own God, and believe that human accomplishments trump our Lord and Savior receive more admiration and respect than someone who simply goes to a church, reads their bible and prays daily. That costs less money and is far simpler than trying to figure out numerology, runes, witchcraft, or trying to prove that Darwinism and humanism are superior to God. That's just messed up and gets you nowhere. Worshipping nature and ourselves is contrary to what God intended. God created us, nature and all the animals around us, so to worship those creatures and ourselves in place of God defeats His entire purpose.
Those that do not believe we were created to serve, IMHO, are the ones in the box and they always will be.

Portland Maine is breeding wackos

2007-11-09T19:48:00.000-08:00

If your daughter is eleven and she has a secret eighteen year old boyfriend, and she tells you she's spending the weekend with her best friend, you better beware. Get out your posse because she might already have the stash of condoms and pills at the ready.
In Portland, the ACLU is making this crazy thing happen. They're backing it up, folks, with their political clout, money and power. They're going the sly, sneaky back road and making your parenting decisions FOR you. This is all about the clinic issue and access to birth control pills for MINORS. What parent is going to deny their child access to the school's health care center if they get a sprained ankle? Aha! This is where they get you. Once your child is inside that clinic, and they want the pill, they can go to any nurse and give them some sob story about how their communication is broken down in the home. About how if you found out they were having sexual relations, you might beat them. Or you might get mad. Then the nurse can say, "It's ok, your conversation with me is protected. They never have to know. If you want the pill, let's get you some counseling." Then the next thing you know, your kid is sexually active, without your knowledge, consent, or without any feedback/interaction. THIS IS INSANE.

The ACLU is not your friend. They want to put up a barrier between you and your child and make it even harder for you to have any say in their moral value system. To these parents that actually support this, I say: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND????

Or is it more worthwhile to spend your time and energy forcing the Al Gore version of global warming down everyone's throats?

Some more famous Oklahomans

2007-11-07T23:31:00.000-08:00

This is a list of 168 Oklahomans that deserve our respect and honor every day. Maybe those of you that have piggybacked off of us might want to think twice before you go "dissing" us in the future.

Lucio Aleman Jr.
Teresa Alexander
Richard Arthur Allen
Ted Leon Allen
Baylee Almon
Diane Althouse
Rebecca Anderson
Pamela Argo
Saundra Avery
Peter Robert Avillanoza
Calvin Coolidge Battle
Peola Battle
Danielle Nicole Bell
Oleta Christine Biddy
Shelley DeAnn Bland
Andrea Yvette Blanton
Olen Burl Bloomer
Lola Rene Boldon
James Everett Boles
Mark Allen Bolte
Cassandra Kay Booker
Carol Louise Bowers
Peach Lyn Bradley
Woodrow Brady
Paul Gregory Broxterman
Gabreon Bruce
Kimberly R. Burgess
David Neil Burkett
Donald Earl Burns
Cynthia Campbell
Michael J. Carrillo
Karen Gist Carr
Rona Chafey
Zachary Chavez
Sharon Louise Wood Chestnut
Robert Chipman
Terry Smith Rees
Kimberly Kay Clark
Margaret Louise Clark
Anthony Cristopher Cooper
Antonio Ansara Cooper, Jr.
Dana Leanne Cooper
Harley R. Cottingham
Aaron Coverdale
Elijah Coverdale
Jaci Rae Coyne
Kathy Cregan
Richard Leroy Cummins
Steven Douglas Curry
Brenda Daniels
Sgt. Benjamin Davis
Diana Lynne Day
Peter L. DeMaster
Castine Brooks Deveroux
Kim Robin Cousins
Sheila Driver
Taylor Eaves
Ashley Eckles
Susan Jane Ferrell
Carol June "Chip" Fields
Katherine Ann Finley
Judy JoAnn Froh Fisher
Linda Louise Florence
Donald Lee Fritzler
Mary Anne Harper Fritzler
Tevin Garrett
Laura W. Garrison
Jamie Lee Lialkowski Genzer
Margaret Goodson
Kevin Lee Gottshall II
Ethel Louise Griffin
Colleen Juretta Guiles
Randolph Guzman
Kayla Marie Haddock
Cheryl Hammon
Ronald Vernon Harding
Thomas L. Hawthorne, Sr.
Doris Adele Higginbottom
Anita Hightower
Thompson Eugene Hodges
Peggy Louise Jenkins Holland
Linda Coleen Housley
George Michael Howard
Wanda Howell
Robin Huff
Anna Jean Hurlburt
Charles Hurlburt
Paul Douglas Ice
Christi Jenkins
Norma Jean Johnson
Raymond Lee Johnson
Larry James Jones
Alvin Justes
Blake Ryan Kennedy
Carole Sue Khalil
Valerie Koelsch
Carolyn Ann Kreymborg
Teresa Lea Lauderdale
Catherine Mary Leinen
Carrie Ann Lenz
Donald Ray Leonard
Lakesha Levy
Dominique London
Rheta Ione Bender Long
Michael Lee Loudenslager
Aurelia Donna Luster
Robert Luster Jr.
Mickey Bryant Maroney
James Kenneth Martin
Gilberto X. Martinez
James Anthony McCarthy
Kenneth Glenn McCullough
Betsy Janice McGonnell
Linda Gail Griffin McKinney
Cartney Jean McCraven
Claude Arthur Medearis
Claudette Duke Meek
Frankie Ann Merrell
Derwin Wade Miller
Eula Leigh Mitchell
John Clayton Moss III
Patricia Trish Nix
Jerry Lee Parker
Jill Diane Randolph
Michelle Ann Reeder
Mary L. Rentie
Antonio Castillo Reyes
Kathryn Elizabeth Ridley
Trudy Rigney
Claudine Ritter
Christine Nicole Rosas
Sonja Lynn Stroud Sanders
Lanny L. Scroggins
Kathy Lynn Seidl
Leora Lee Sells
Karan Denise Shepherd
Chase Smith
Colton Smith
Sgt. Victoria Lee Sohn
John Thomas Stewart
Delores M. Stratton
Emilio Rangel Tapia
Victoria Jeanette Texter
Charlotte A. Thomas
Michael George Thompson
Virginia Thompson
Kayla Marie Titsworth
Rick L. Tomlin
Larue Ann Treanor
Luther Heartman Treanor
Larry Turner
Jules Valdez
John Karl VanEss III
Johnnie Allen Wade
David Jack Walker
Robert Nolan Walker
Wanda Lee Watkins
Michael Don Weaver
Julie Marie Welch
Robert G. Westberry
Alan G. Whicher
Jo Ann Whittenberg
Frances Williams
Scott Dwain Williams
William Stephen Williams
Clarence Wilson
Ronota Woodbridge
Tresia Worten
John Youngblood

I'm getting really tired...

2007-11-07T16:51:00.000-08:00

of people that seem to be ashamed to admit where they are from. Two professionals, who I know very well that got their undergraduate degrees in Oklahoma, have gone on to pursue advanced academic degrees in other places. One on the West coast, and one on the East. Neither one of them now will admit in public that they got their undergraduate degrees in Oklahoma. Why? I'll tell you why. Because it's considered bad form for your careers to do that, if you venture outside the Red River boundary.
It's bad to admit you went to school in OKLAHOMA. It's bad to say that you were ever physically inside that rat infested, tornado bait white trash hellhole of a place, where only bible thumpers and stupid people breed and live. It's just such a horrible, horrible place. There's no life there. No class. It's not Harvard. Not Ivy League. Not Berkeley. Not like San Francisco or Boston. They're not like us.
"Your career will fail if you tell them you went to school in Oklahoma. Just better to leave that off your resume altogether." It has actually been suggested to me, now that I'm in KC, and not by just one person, to leave my Master's degree off my resume completely (which I got from OU I will add) and pretend I don't even have one. To that, I say go back to whatever it was you were smoking and shut the hell up. Seriously. I won't lie and that's what that would be, wouldn't it? I could say I went to Harvard. But that would be lying and I won't stoop to such atrocities. I'm very proud of my Sooner Heritage and anyone who wants to challenge that can pucker up and kiss my very proud Sooner ass.
Here is a list of some famous Oklahomans:

Johnny Bench, baseball player, Oklahoma City
John Berryman, poet, MacAlester
Garth Brooks, singer, Tulsa
Jeremy Castle, singer, Blanchard
Iron Eyes Cody, Cherokee actor
Gordon Cooper, astronaut, Shawnee
Ralph Ellison, writer, Oklahoma City
James Garner, actor, Norman
Owen K. Garriott, astronaut, Enid
Vince Gill, singer, Norman
Chester Gould, cartoonist, Pawnee
Woodrow Wilson Woody Guthrie, singer, composer, Okemah
Ike,Taylor, Zac Hanson music, Tulsa
Roy Harris, composer, Lincoln Cty
Paul Harvey, broadcaster, Tulsa
Van Heflin, actor, Walters
Tony Hillerman, author, Sacred Heart
Ron Howard actor, director, Duncan
Karl Guthe Jansky, engineer, Norman
Ben Johnson, actor, Pawhuska
Jennifer Jones, actress, Tulsa
Jeane Kirkpatrick, diplomat, Duncan
Shannon Lucid, astronaut, Bethany
Mickey Charles Mantle, baseball player, Spavinaw
Reba McEntire, singer, McAlester
Shannon Miller, Olympic gymnast, Edmond
Bill Moyers, journalist, Hugo
Daniel Patrick Moynihan, N.Y. senator, Tulsa
Patti Page, singer, Clarence
Brad Pitt, actor Shawnee
Tony Randall, actor, Tulsa
Oral Roberts, evangelist, Ada
Dale Robertson, actor, Oklahoma City
Will Rogers, humorist, Oologah
Dan Rowan, comedian, Beggs
Robert Stemmons, whistler, Tulsa
Maria Tallchief, ballerina, Fairfax
James Francis Jim Thorpe, athlete, Prague
Jeanne Tripplehorn, actress, Tulsa
Ted Shackleford, actor, Tulsa
Wilma Mankiller, Cherokee chief, Tahlequah

To those of you that are dissing your Okie background, one day you will wish you didn't. Karma has a funny way of coming full circle.

I guess Will Rogers never met you.

Un post en espanol

2007-11-04T23:40:00.000-08:00

Aqui es un post en espanol. En 1991 recibi mi certificado Bachelor's en espanol de OU (Universidad de Oklahoma). Despues, trabaje en muchas carreras, como agente de viajes, traductora para el gobierno, un guia tour en Mexico, traductora general, pero no he hecho mucho importante con mi espanol. No realmente. No como profesora, o traductora FBI, escritura importante, yo no soy un pensante grande, y mi espanol ha sufrido mucho sobre todo los anos.
Algun dia, si Dios quiere, seria una ministeria en una manera con la iglesia ortodoxia o algo, yo no se. Quiza escrito revistas del libros para la iglesia en espanol, o de la liturgia divina, o visito lugares spirituales muy importantes de la iglesia, como un peregrinaje.
A veces yo siento como ese pato estupido que siempre se siente, siempre esperando para la oportunidad que nunca venga. Cuando voy a oir ese ruido en mi puerto?

Who's your daddy, Fred Phelps

2007-11-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

Fred Phelps is a dichotomy of sorts. His "church," Westboro Baptist out of Topeka, KS, was just ordered to pay 11 million dollars to a family who lost a son in Iraq. At his funeral, Phelps and company were there doing their usual hateful picketing.
The father filed a lawsuit and was able to get a jury to award money based on "intent to inflict emotional distress." IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!

We've got some great things in Kansas, but some things are going very bad for us right now. This Phelps guy, Tiller the Baby Killer, the lawsuits against Planned Parenthood, and the Tiller coverup by Sebelius.

But I'll just concentrate on Phelps for today. He's the lowest of the low. I just watched an interview with CNN's Rick Sanchez where Phelps claims his protests are respectful preaching of the word of God about the real reason soldiers die (homosexuality) and he is the real victim here. He cut Sanchez off and accused him of being brainwashed and believing a bunch of "hooey."

The man sounded like he'd been drinking, IMHO. He's also got an unhealthy obsession with homosexuality. First of all, there are no biblical references on his protest material that I've seen, as he claims to be preaching at these protests. They're just posters portraying hateful messages with the INTENT TO DO HARM AND INFLICT EMOTIONAL DISTRESS. There is no loving message of God.
If one looks at Phelp's history, you can deduce that he's a freakshow. He lives in a compound, he's a control freak, he beat his own kids, at one time he had a pool in his backyard but had to have the hole covered up because of the mysterious drowning of a child in that pool several years ago.
I also have to wonder if this guy really is who he claims to be. It's just a fishy deal. Is he really the right winger preacher that he wants everybody to think he is? Well, he's a registered Democrat. Democrats are supposed to be supporters of homosexuality by and large aren't they? At least that's what the media wants us to believe. Phelps preaches hatred against homosexuals, it appears, to incite the gay community. I haven't seen any Republican out there incite as much hatred against gays like this guy. Then he's out there protesting at military funerals because of homosexuality to piss off the military crowd. So he's playing both sides. What's he gaining? Publicity? Money? Both? A cult following? Probably everything a narcissistic personality craves. Narcissistic supply and then some. (Wow, Fred, you're really getting some big payoffs here, aren't you?)
Look at the "see, gotcha" knee jerk reaction of the atheists and nonbelievers out there. "See, look at how Christians behave. Isn't this deplorable?" Then Phelps' message is used to help prop up their stance against God and religion in mainstream America.
STOP IT, PHELPS. You're giving Christians a bad rap here.

Looks like now he's got a lawsuit on his hands. I'm sure it's not the first, and it surely won't be the last. What sickens me is that he proudly wears his KU jacket everywhere he goes. If I was a KU fan I'd be wanting to send the JayHawk mascot out there in public to kick his butt and put it on national TV. Have some picketers in the background standing by too and get it all on camera. I would pay to see that.

"The media loves Fred Phelps"
"Repent, Fred Phelps"
"Say Uncle, Fred Phelps"
"Who's your daddy, Fred Phelps"

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T21:43:00.000-07:00

Well I've only got about 20 minutes left before Halloween officially ends here.
Here's my final post for the month:

On the new birth control pills being distributed in the Portland, Maine public school system, it should come as no surprise that I would disagree with this approach. The arguments for it say that it's for those kids that don't have a "close" enough relationship with their parents and don't feel comfortable going to them out of fear of being abused, etc. etc. Or is it really that these kids just don't want to admit they are being sexually active. On paper, to school officials, this makes complete sense. "Absoluuutelly..." they say. "We are providing a good service." This is complete garbage.

Um, ok, so in my mind, what this really is, is the message that "ok, if you're not comfortable going to your parents about it," then "psst, here we are over here, come get your pills and a hug. It's okay. We won't tell your parents you got them here." Then bingo, Jack and Diane go do it, behind their parents back. With the blessing of the school system. And how is this not a dismantling of the family values system?

What about the monthly prescription fees for these pills? They ain't cheap. I guess that comes out of taxpayer money. (This is what's called forcing NEW values on society with YOUR tax dollars.) Do we see a pattern here? What about yeast infections that can occur from using pills? Or weight gain? Am I expected to be so stupid as to think that I won't notice if my teenage daughter isn't sexually active and using pills?

Ok...so let me paint a scenario. It's Monday afternoon football practice and 15 year old Joe has just bragged to his buddies in the locker room how he and 14 year old Sheila "hooked up" Friday night after the football game, and that she'd gotten her pills from the school counselor. Joe's buddies are gonna text their buddies, then their buddies....
Sheila doesn't want her mom to know how she got the pills, and she hopes she never finds out. Well it's all over the school now!!!
But let's suppose that Joe used a condom as a backup and it slipped off or maybe had a hole in it. Yes these things DO happen!!!
And Joe might have had some fun with some other girls beforehand. Think about the long term consequences of this.

So think about this you lefties before you just casually hand out pills to SOMEONE ELSE's kid as a theoretical answer to an epidemic problem in this country. If you found out YOUR kid was getting pills behind YOUR back, I really doubt you would like that very much because it takes the control away from YOU and puts it in SOMEONE ELSE's hands.

But that's okay as long as it's not your kid right?

"Absoluutelly."

This is just another product of the Boulder baby-boomer crowd that wants to appear "hip" and "cool" for today's youth, and to relive their own days of glory and to get back at their parents for having forced their "repressed" values on them.

(Let's call me Dad, not dude, okay?)