I just wanted to let everyone know that our young Navy man got home safe. Not in the way he had originally planned, but safe none the less.
I may have more to say on that later, but for now I just want to thatnk everyone that took a few moments out of their day to say a pryer for our son's safe arrival,
MERRY CHRISTMAS all.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Prayer Request
My wife Susan and I would like to ask everyone to take a moment here and there throughout your day to say a small prayer for our son. He will be driving home, on leave from the Navy, to spend Christmas here with his family. His plan is to leave out early this afternoon, with the intent of arriving home around noon tomorrow. With the snow and all, conditions are less than ideal.
Please keep our young Navy man in your prayers, so that he can arrive safely.
Thank you all, and MERRY CHRISTMAS
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Please keep our young Navy man in your prayers, so that he can arrive safely.
Thank you all, and MERRY CHRISTMAS
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Friday, December 18, 2009
Even Robots Love Christmas
Back when I was a young boy I saw a movie titled "Tobor the Great". It is not the greatest robot movie ever made, but it is the one that caused me to fall in love with robots. I had seen other movie robots, but I had never seen a robot that looked as cool as Tobor. Typically movie robots tended to look like waterheaters with arms and legs. I am sure that someone is going to want to ask me "What about Robbie from "The Forbidden Planet". Well I did not see Robbie until a couple of years later. HI ad seen Robbie first, he might well have had the same effect on me that Tobor did.
Anyway, because of Tobor, I did fall in love with robots and have been fascinated by then ever since. I have designed and built several small robots and robot related circuits, and written a few articles and how-to's as well over the years. I have also collected a few toy robots, and a large number of the DVDs that I own have robots in them.
The reason I have bored you with all of this is so that you might have at least a small idea of why on Earth I would want to share the following video with you.
chronic.robotosis
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Anyway, because of Tobor, I did fall in love with robots and have been fascinated by then ever since. I have designed and built several small robots and robot related circuits, and written a few articles and how-to's as well over the years. I have also collected a few toy robots, and a large number of the DVDs that I own have robots in them.
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The reason I have bored you with all of this is so that you might have at least a small idea of why on Earth I would want to share the following video with you.
chronic.robotosis
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Ray Stevens' Response to Obamacare
I found the video below on Bungalow Bill’s Blog this morning. Apparently he found it on The Right Stuff.
All I can say is that I am very grateful to both of them for two reasons.
1) I really enjoy Rat Stevens’ amusing way of getting to the point.
2) Ray hits the nail squarely on the head with this one. Especially when he says the we are “being royally defecated upon”.
Ray Stevens - We The People
If you get a kick out of Ray Stevens like I do, then be sure to check out his website, and THIS LINK.
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All I can say is that I am very grateful to both of them for two reasons.
1) I really enjoy Rat Stevens’ amusing way of getting to the point.
2) Ray hits the nail squarely on the head with this one. Especially when he says the we are “being royally defecated upon”.
Ray Stevens - We The People
If you get a kick out of Ray Stevens like I do, then be sure to check out his website, and THIS LINK.
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Thursday, December 17, 2009
The Tolerance and Peaceful Left?
Aaaahhh yes, the wonderful left, with its claim of tolerance of those who are different, and its claim of wanting peace, not war, demonstrating once again that in fact they are willing to violently cave you head in to shut you up if you disagree with them.
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Hugo Chávez’ Complete Speech
After hearing the portion of Hugo Chavez speech at COP15, the U.N. Conference on Climate Change, I felt compelled to track down the rest of the speech. The following three videos present the entirety of that speech.
After listening to the rest of the speech, I am even more convinced that he and all those who gave him ovation after ovation are intent on using the trumped up threat of global warming as a weapon against capitalism. The intent is to use this weapon to force The United States of America to kowtow to a Marxist controlled, world regulatory body.
Hugo Chávez’ COP15 speech - Part 1
Hugo Chávez’ COP15 speech - Part 2
Hugo Chávez’ COP15 speech - Part 3
Related Links:
* The Only One - Climate Justice
* American Thinker:
** Drink Coca Cola -- Save the Planet
** The 'ghost in the room' at Copenhagen
* Bungalow Bill:
** The Global Warming Agenda: More Controls of Your Freedom
** Redistibution of Wealth in Copenhagen: $100 Billion Donation
** 100 Reasons Why Climate Change is Natural and NOT MAN-MADE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After listening to the rest of the speech, I am even more convinced that he and all those who gave him ovation after ovation are intent on using the trumped up threat of global warming as a weapon against capitalism. The intent is to use this weapon to force The United States of America to kowtow to a Marxist controlled, world regulatory body.
Hugo Chávez’ COP15 speech - Part 1
Hugo Chávez’ COP15 speech - Part 2
Hugo Chávez’ COP15 speech - Part 3
Related Links:
* The Only One - Climate Justice
* American Thinker:
** Drink Coca Cola -- Save the Planet
** The 'ghost in the room' at Copenhagen
* Bungalow Bill:
** The Global Warming Agenda: More Controls of Your Freedom
** Redistibution of Wealth in Copenhagen: $100 Billion Donation
** 100 Reasons Why Climate Change is Natural and NOT MAN-MADE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chavev Proclaims the Communist's Goal for COP15
If you still think that COP15, the U.N. Conference on Climate Change, is about saving the planet from human caused global warming, then watch the video at the bottom of this post. Note the applause that communist dictator Hugo Chavez gets as he invokes Karl Marx, and describes capitalism as a terrible ghost.
“We could say that there’s a ghost lurking. And Karl Marx said, a ghost running through the streets of Copenhagen, and I think that ghost is silent, somewhere in this room, amongst us, coming through the corridors underneath… and that ghost is a terrible ghost, nobody wants to name him or her. Capitalism... capitalism is that ghost. Nobody I don’t thinks wants to name it. Capitalism” (Hugo Cavez)
The simple truth is that Anthropogenic (human caused) climate change has been exposed (to anyone with a mind) as a complete and utter fraud. So why would anyone want to foist such a fraud upon the people of the world? The answer is to enable and ease the creation of a communist world government.
The communist were unable conquer the world militarily, due in no small measure to the courage and determination of those Americans whose love of freedom was greater than their fear of nuclear annihilation. It was these people who insisted, and made sure, that the military strength of the United States of America was second to none.
The communist could not conquer the world economically, due again in large part to those Americans who love Freedom, and in who's hearts and minds the wealth producing spirit of free enterprise (the free trade of good and services) and capitalism lives and thrive.
(Yes, yes, I know. Our free enterprise traditions have been whittled away over the last many years. Even more so in the short time that B.O. has been in office. It is thus far less free than it once was. But our system has generally been far freer than any communist system.)
So the communist, along with their socialist coconspirators (see note) had to take a different approach to taking over the world. They realized that their future was in, and thus they joined the environmentalist movement. Once firmly entrenched in that movement, they needed a weapon to use; hence the threat of global warming was born. That is why COP15 is not what it is portrayed as being.
It is in fact a blind, created out of whole cloth, by socialist leaning scientist, to hide the efforts of those who intend to rob Freedom loving people, of their GOD given Right to invest their time, creativity, efforts and money, to earn a living, obtain wealth, improve their standard of living, secure their financial future, and leave something to their posterity.
The global warming threat is in fact a weapon that was invented and manufactured to be wielded by communist wolves, disguised in the fleece of environmental concern. It is being used to bludgeon the Free nations of the world, especially the United States of America, into submission. The intent is to force all sovereignty to be surrendered to a global regulatory body (I.E. One World Government) under Marxist control.
Like every other effort the communist have made, this one too must be defeated. And it appears that once again, it will have be in no small part up those Americans, whose love of freedom is greater than their fear, to save the world from communist domination.
I would like to thank blogger Bungalow Bill for posting the video clip below to his blog this morning, or I might not have seen it, and thus would not have been able to share it here as well.
Конференция климата Hugo Chavez Climate change save 2010 (24/30)
Note: Socialist are really nothing more than communist who hide their guns until they can get yours away from you.
Related Links:
* The Only One - Climate Justice
* American Thinker:
** Drink Coca Cola -- Save the Planet
** The 'ghost in the room' at Copenhagen
* Bungalow Bill:
** The Global Warming Agenda: More Controls of Your Freedom
** Redistibution of Wealth in Copenhagen: $100 Billion Donation
** 100 Reasons Why Climate Change is Natural and NOT MAN-MADE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“We could say that there’s a ghost lurking. And Karl Marx said, a ghost running through the streets of Copenhagen, and I think that ghost is silent, somewhere in this room, amongst us, coming through the corridors underneath… and that ghost is a terrible ghost, nobody wants to name him or her. Capitalism... capitalism is that ghost. Nobody I don’t thinks wants to name it. Capitalism” (Hugo Cavez)
The simple truth is that Anthropogenic (human caused) climate change has been exposed (to anyone with a mind) as a complete and utter fraud. So why would anyone want to foist such a fraud upon the people of the world? The answer is to enable and ease the creation of a communist world government.
The communist were unable conquer the world militarily, due in no small measure to the courage and determination of those Americans whose love of freedom was greater than their fear of nuclear annihilation. It was these people who insisted, and made sure, that the military strength of the United States of America was second to none.
The communist could not conquer the world economically, due again in large part to those Americans who love Freedom, and in who's hearts and minds the wealth producing spirit of free enterprise (the free trade of good and services) and capitalism lives and thrive.
(Yes, yes, I know. Our free enterprise traditions have been whittled away over the last many years. Even more so in the short time that B.O. has been in office. It is thus far less free than it once was. But our system has generally been far freer than any communist system.)
So the communist, along with their socialist coconspirators (see note) had to take a different approach to taking over the world. They realized that their future was in, and thus they joined the environmentalist movement. Once firmly entrenched in that movement, they needed a weapon to use; hence the threat of global warming was born. That is why COP15 is not what it is portrayed as being.
It is in fact a blind, created out of whole cloth, by socialist leaning scientist, to hide the efforts of those who intend to rob Freedom loving people, of their GOD given Right to invest their time, creativity, efforts and money, to earn a living, obtain wealth, improve their standard of living, secure their financial future, and leave something to their posterity.
The global warming threat is in fact a weapon that was invented and manufactured to be wielded by communist wolves, disguised in the fleece of environmental concern. It is being used to bludgeon the Free nations of the world, especially the United States of America, into submission. The intent is to force all sovereignty to be surrendered to a global regulatory body (I.E. One World Government) under Marxist control.
Like every other effort the communist have made, this one too must be defeated. And it appears that once again, it will have be in no small part up those Americans, whose love of freedom is greater than their fear, to save the world from communist domination.
I would like to thank blogger Bungalow Bill for posting the video clip below to his blog this morning, or I might not have seen it, and thus would not have been able to share it here as well.
Конференция климата Hugo Chavez Climate change save 2010 (24/30)
Note: Socialist are really nothing more than communist who hide their guns until they can get yours away from you.
Related Links:
* The Only One - Climate Justice
* American Thinker:
** Drink Coca Cola -- Save the Planet
** The 'ghost in the room' at Copenhagen
* Bungalow Bill:
** The Global Warming Agenda: More Controls of Your Freedom
** Redistibution of Wealth in Copenhagen: $100 Billion Donation
** 100 Reasons Why Climate Change is Natural and NOT MAN-MADE
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Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Senator DeMint Joins Effort
Press Relaese from Senator Jim DeMint's Office
DeMint Joins Effort to Make Senators Read the Bill
December 16, 2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) announced his support for the procedural effort initiated by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) to require senators to read the health care bill.
"Democrats are playing a bait and switch trick -- wasting our time debating a bill they've rejected while writing a new one in secret. Right now, behind closed doors, Democrats are writing a brand new bill, thousands of pages long, and want to rush it through before Christmas.”
“Americans are tired of watching their leaders in Washington pass bills they haven’t even bothered to read,” said Senator DeMint. “If Senator Reid won’t slow down this debate, we will do it for him. This bill allows the federal government to take over our health care system, and it must be stopped. We will use whatever procedural tools are necessary to defeat this bill.”
Earlier today, U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) admitted that senators will not have time to fully read and understand the Democrat health care takeover bill. VIDEO HERE
Under Senate rules, the clerk is required to read aloud all bills and amendments offered on the Senate floor. Senators routinely waive this requirement by unanimous consent. Objecting to such requests forces the clerk to read them aloud.
Health Bill Author: No Senator Can Understand Health Care Bill
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DeMint Joins Effort to Make Senators Read the Bill
December 16, 2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) announced his support for the procedural effort initiated by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) to require senators to read the health care bill.
"Democrats are playing a bait and switch trick -- wasting our time debating a bill they've rejected while writing a new one in secret. Right now, behind closed doors, Democrats are writing a brand new bill, thousands of pages long, and want to rush it through before Christmas.”
“Americans are tired of watching their leaders in Washington pass bills they haven’t even bothered to read,” said Senator DeMint. “If Senator Reid won’t slow down this debate, we will do it for him. This bill allows the federal government to take over our health care system, and it must be stopped. We will use whatever procedural tools are necessary to defeat this bill.”
Earlier today, U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) admitted that senators will not have time to fully read and understand the Democrat health care takeover bill. VIDEO HERE
Under Senate rules, the clerk is required to read aloud all bills and amendments offered on the Senate floor. Senators routinely waive this requirement by unanimous consent. Objecting to such requests forces the clerk to read them aloud.
Health Bill Author: No Senator Can Understand Health Care Bill
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Republicans Stall Healthcare Takeover
The attempt by B.O and his socialist henchmen in the House and Senate to take over, and thus destroy, the best healthcare system in the world has been stalled by Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn.
Senator Coburn has forced the reading of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders amendment to the Democrat’s healthcare takeover bill. Senator Sander's amendment would create a single-payer, Medicare-for-all health care system.
All I can say is that it is about time the Republicans started doing something to slow down and (Dear GOD please) stop this attempt to take healthcare decisons and choices away from the citizens of this country, and from their doctors, and put those decisions into the hands of unelected, government appointed bureaucrats. Especially since any individual capable of coherent thought knows that those bureaucrats will be more concerned with cost cutting and population control than they will be with the actual health of the citizens.
Press Release from Senator Coburn’s office
Republican Senator Tom Coburn M.D. of Oklahoma released the following statement today after forcing the Clerk of the Senate to read the 767 page Sanders amendment which would establish a single payer, government-run health care system in the United States.
“I admire Senator Sanders for his willingness to fight for publically what many advocate only privately – a single payer health care system funded and controlled by bureaucrats and politicians in Washington. Every American should listen to the reading of this amendment and pay careful attention to its vote tally,” Dr. Coburn said.
Dr. Coburn, a practicing physician with 25 years of experience, has introduced a health care reform bill, the Patients’ Choice Act, which, unlike the Sanders amendment and the Reid bill, puts patients, not politicians, at the center of our health care system. Dr. Coburn, along with Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Representatives Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA), introduced the Patients’ Choice Act in May of this year, six months before the Reid bill was introduced.
“The American people deserve to understand the competing approaches to reform in the U.S. Senate. It’s unfortunate that Senator Reid waited until the last minute to introduce his bill and now wants to rush it through the Senate. This reading will provide a dose of transparency that has been lacking in this debate,” Dr. Coburn said.
The office of Senator Sanders provided this summary of their amendment:
Senator Coburn has forced the reading of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders amendment to the Democrat’s healthcare takeover bill. Senator Sander's amendment would create a single-payer, Medicare-for-all health care system.
All I can say is that it is about time the Republicans started doing something to slow down and (Dear GOD please) stop this attempt to take healthcare decisons and choices away from the citizens of this country, and from their doctors, and put those decisions into the hands of unelected, government appointed bureaucrats. Especially since any individual capable of coherent thought knows that those bureaucrats will be more concerned with cost cutting and population control than they will be with the actual health of the citizens.
Press Release from Senator Coburn’s office
Republican Senator Tom Coburn M.D. of Oklahoma released the following statement today after forcing the Clerk of the Senate to read the 767 page Sanders amendment which would establish a single payer, government-run health care system in the United States.
“I admire Senator Sanders for his willingness to fight for publically what many advocate only privately – a single payer health care system funded and controlled by bureaucrats and politicians in Washington. Every American should listen to the reading of this amendment and pay careful attention to its vote tally,” Dr. Coburn said.
Dr. Coburn, a practicing physician with 25 years of experience, has introduced a health care reform bill, the Patients’ Choice Act, which, unlike the Sanders amendment and the Reid bill, puts patients, not politicians, at the center of our health care system. Dr. Coburn, along with Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Representatives Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA), introduced the Patients’ Choice Act in May of this year, six months before the Reid bill was introduced.
“The American people deserve to understand the competing approaches to reform in the U.S. Senate. It’s unfortunate that Senator Reid waited until the last minute to introduce his bill and now wants to rush it through the Senate. This reading will provide a dose of transparency that has been lacking in this debate,” Dr. Coburn said.
The office of Senator Sanders provided this summary of their amendment:
Summary: This amendment would establish a single payer health insurance system that would cover every person legally residing in the United States. The single payer system would be regulated and funded by the federal government through a payroll tax and an income tax, but it would be administered by the states. It would replace the coverage and revenue titles of the current bill, but it would leave in place most of the provisions in the quality, prevention, and workforce titles of the bill. This amendment starts from the premise that health care is a human right, and that every citizen, rich or poor, should have access to health care, just as every citizen has access to the fire department, the police, or public schools.
Related Links:
* Coburn Forces Reading of 767-Page Single Payer Amendment
* Health care overhaul bill slowed by read-a-thon
* Senate debate on healthcare reform stalled
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The Harmonious Crew of the Starship Enterprise
I stumbled across these and being a Huge Star Trek fan, I just had to share them.
Star Trek Quartet Part 1
Star Trek Quartet Part 2
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Star Trek Quartet Part 1
Star Trek Quartet Part 2
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PJTV Interviews EPA Researcher Alan Carlin
NOTE: I originally intended to post this back on 12/10/09, but it got lost in the shuffle of things. While organizing my files, I came across it again, and decided that considering what is happening at COP15, I would go ahead and post it here today.
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As part of their coverage of the global warming/climate change skam, PJTV’s Allen Barton has done an interview with EPA researcher Alan Carlin (CarlinEconomics.com).
Alan Carlin wrote a report warning that the science behind climate change was questionable. That report was subsequently suppressed by the B.O. administration.
Mr. Carlin is a slow speaking (some might say boring) individual and thus the interview is not what one would call entertaining. But it is definitely informative.
Video:
Climate-Change Whistleblower an
Inconvenient Voice in Obama's EPA
Related Link:
* The Heritage Foundation:
** An Inconvenient Voice: Dr. Alan Carlin
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As part of their coverage of the global warming/climate change skam, PJTV’s Allen Barton has done an interview with EPA researcher Alan Carlin (CarlinEconomics.com).
Alan Carlin wrote a report warning that the science behind climate change was questionable. That report was subsequently suppressed by the B.O. administration.
Mr. Carlin is a slow speaking (some might say boring) individual and thus the interview is not what one would call entertaining. But it is definitely informative.
Video:
Climate-Change Whistleblower an
Inconvenient Voice in Obama's EPA
Related Link:
* The Heritage Foundation:
** An Inconvenient Voice: Dr. Alan Carlin
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009
It must be a liberal trait
It was less than a month ago that I posted a short piece regarding Jesse Jackson saying that:
“You can’t vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man.”
Now Lee Siegel of The Daily Beast has said in response to Joe Lieberman saying that he would vote against any health-care bill that included the Medicare buy-in:
“Some people—for example, the sick and the crippled—might say that it is really not Jewish at all”.
I don't know... it must be a liberal trait to attack anyone with whom you share ethnic or racial ties; any time they demonstrate a little independent political thought.
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“You can’t vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man.”
Now Lee Siegel of The Daily Beast has said in response to Joe Lieberman saying that he would vote against any health-care bill that included the Medicare buy-in:
“Some people—for example, the sick and the crippled—might say that it is really not Jewish at all”.
I don't know... it must be a liberal trait to attack anyone with whom you share ethnic or racial ties; any time they demonstrate a little independent political thought.
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The Kudzu Government
The link below will take you to a video of PJTV’s Bill Whittle giving the keynote speech at the Lincoln Club of San Diego, Annual Banquet on December 10th, 2009.
In the speech Bill talks about the wealth creating engine that is free enterprise, I.E. the free trade of good and services. He compares the unbridled growth of government, and how it strangle wealth creation, to Kudzu , a plant that was originally imported from Japan that has completely taken over large portions of the landscape in the southeastern United States.
As I have come to expect from Mr. Whittle the speech is excellent.
Video:
The Kudzu Curse:
A Fight for Free Enterprise
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In the speech Bill talks about the wealth creating engine that is free enterprise, I.E. the free trade of good and services. He compares the unbridled growth of government, and how it strangle wealth creation, to Kudzu , a plant that was originally imported from Japan that has completely taken over large portions of the landscape in the southeastern United States.
As I have come to expect from Mr. Whittle the speech is excellent.
Video:
The Kudzu Curse:
A Fight for Free Enterprise
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Monday, December 14, 2009
Irresponsibility, The Way of the Future
Blogger Bungalow Bill posted an excellent piece this morning about school administrators in Bloomfield Missouri's Middle School eliminating homework. It seems that the administrators, the parents and the students have all abandoned the concepts of being responsible and have decided to do the easy thing, rather than doing the right thing.
See: Missouri's Bloomfield Middle School Goes to No Homework Policy
After reading his post, I felt a strong need to write about another example of irresponsible behavior that our government is going to be rewarding.
It seems that the Federal Reserve is issuing new rules. And that certain congressmen are trying to pass new legislation that will establish greater government control over and limits upon the number, and dollar amounts, of fees that banks can apply to accounts of account holders who choose to spend more than they actually have in those accounts.
Now please do not get me wrong. I am not defending every practice of the banking systen in this country. But this is a not a matter of unfair bank policy. It is a matter the government protecting and thus rewarding the irresponsible behavior of some account holders, which is going to result in responible account holders paying more and higher fees.
So I have to ask... How is it going to make our banks any more stable, or our economy any healthier, if the government takes away, or at least severely limiting, the just and due penalty that banks can apply to the accounts of account holders who knowingly and willfully do not keep their spending to within the limits of their income?
I was taught, by my parent that spending more than I made would lead to financial ruin. The pastor of a church I attended, in a town I used to lived in, put it this way:
“If your out-go is greater than your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall”.
So to me it makes no sense to reward irresponsible behavior by protecting it. Common sense dictates that doing so can only, and will only, lead to more irresponsible behavior. Unfortunately, that appear to be the trend under the messiah of the irresponsible currently taking up space in the White House. And it does coincide with the kind of example that some in the government seem to want to set for everyone.
The “problem” that the congress and the Fed say they are trying to “correct” stems from the fact that there are people who do not want to abide by the terms and conditions, that they agreed to, when they opened their accounts. For some unfathomable reason these people have decided that they should not be expected to monitor their own spending habits. They do not understand why they should be held accountable for their irresponsible behavior.
These whiners generally do not want to have to take even the simple step of recording their spending in the registry provided to them with their checks. Nor do they want to use any other kind of personal record keeping technique. In their view, the task of keeping track of their spending and thus preventing any overdrafts should fall entirely onto the bank, instead of onto the account holder. They feel that they should be able to call the bank, or look at their account online, and see exactly how much money they actually have available to spend at any given moment in time. And for some, even doing this is more than they feel they should be expected to do.
Now I know that we live in a near paperless era. And I understand that most financial transactions are accomplished electronically now-a-days. But that does not mean that any bank can instantaneously track all of an account holders spending. The fact is that many transactions are not transmitted to the bank at the time that they occur. Retailers and service providers often do not send the days receipts to their own bank until the end of the day. Others only do so only once a week. It is also possible for a particular transaction to get lost in the shuffle for a time. When this happens, the provider may not present that transaction to the bank for months. This delay does not and should negate the legitimacy of the transaction.
And let’s not forget that when checks are used, especially when they are sent through the mail, the bank has no way of knowing the amount of the check, let alone that the check has been written. At least not until the recipient of that check submits it. Any delay between the writing of a check, and time that it arives at the bank that it is drawn on, is not the banks fault, nor does it negate the legitimacy of the check.
So the simple fact is that it is impossible for any bank to be able to precisely know, at any given moment in time, the exact number of transactions an account holder has initiated, or the dollar amounts of transactions that it has not yet received. And since it is impossible for a bank know, with certainty, how much money an account holder has spent, in one form or another, it is also impossible for that bank to tell that account holder exactly how much money they actually have available to cover further spending.
There also seems to be some anger about the how banks organize the day’s transactions and calculate the new balance for a customers account. Generally the bank will begin by adding in any deposits or other credits due to that account, And that is as it should be. They then subtract any withdraws or other debits from the account. Most banks do not subtract the transactions in the order in which they occurred on that day. Instead, banks generally start by subtracting the largest debits first and continue down the list of debits, entering the smallest of them last.
The complaint is that this procedure insures that the largest number of overdraft fees, if any, will be applicable to the account. And sometimes it does. But it also means that the largest debits, which are typically the most important ones (I.E. mortgage, and/or car payments), are less likely to overdraw the account, and more likely to be paid out, thus not causing the account holder additional difficulties with, or fees from, a mortgage holder, loan provider, etc..
So here is the crux of the matter. Those people who are whining about getting too many overdraft fees need to stop being so irresponsible. They need to stop expecting someone else to monitor their spending habits for them. They need to grow up and learn to do what a responsible adult would do. They need to keep their own records and get their spending habits under control. They need to stop relying upon electronic resources, like online banking and customer service phone lines, to tell them how much money they have available to spend.
These resources are not going to protect the irresponsible account holder from his or her own foolishness. They are simply an aid, a reference tool if you will, to help confirm that a transaction has, or has not arrived to, and been recorded by, the bank. When one of these electronic resource says that there is such and such an amount of money in an account, that amount excludes any and all transactions that have not yet arrived at the account holders bank. The account holder alone is responsible to realize this fact and take it into account when deciding what they can and should spend. The account holder must realize and accept the fact, that once a transaction has been initiated, once a check has been written and submitted as payment, the funds represented by that transaction or check are no longer available to cover additional spending. This is true regardless of whether or not the bank has received and recorded that transaction or check.
I have to wonder why is it that the government always seem to want to protect the most foolish and irresponsible people amonst us? Do our elected office holders and appointed bureaucrats not realize that by doing so, they only guarantee that there will be even more foolish and irresponsible people, doing even more foolish and irresponsible thing? Do they not understand that as a consequence, there will be more need for more regulations to protect those people And that those people will become even more dependent upon the government to watch over them, and take care of them, and make decisions for them, and...
Wait a minute. I think I may have just answered my own question?
In closing, it must pointed out that banks will need to replace the moneys that they can no longer collect, as a result of these new laws and regulations, from irresponsible account holders. This will probably be done by charging new or increased fees on other bank services. And these new and increased fees will, of course, be paid by those of us who have chosen to be responsible account holders, and who actually do abide by the terms and conditions that we agreed to when we opened our accounts.
Related Links:
* Democrats to lift debt ceiling by $1.8 trillion, fear 2010 backlash
* Fed takes aim at overdraft penalties
* Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,
** Press Release: November 12, 2009
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
See: Missouri's Bloomfield Middle School Goes to No Homework Policy
After reading his post, I felt a strong need to write about another example of irresponsible behavior that our government is going to be rewarding.
It seems that the Federal Reserve is issuing new rules. And that certain congressmen are trying to pass new legislation that will establish greater government control over and limits upon the number, and dollar amounts, of fees that banks can apply to accounts of account holders who choose to spend more than they actually have in those accounts.
Now please do not get me wrong. I am not defending every practice of the banking systen in this country. But this is a not a matter of unfair bank policy. It is a matter the government protecting and thus rewarding the irresponsible behavior of some account holders, which is going to result in responible account holders paying more and higher fees.
So I have to ask... How is it going to make our banks any more stable, or our economy any healthier, if the government takes away, or at least severely limiting, the just and due penalty that banks can apply to the accounts of account holders who knowingly and willfully do not keep their spending to within the limits of their income?
I was taught, by my parent that spending more than I made would lead to financial ruin. The pastor of a church I attended, in a town I used to lived in, put it this way:
“If your out-go is greater than your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall”.
So to me it makes no sense to reward irresponsible behavior by protecting it. Common sense dictates that doing so can only, and will only, lead to more irresponsible behavior. Unfortunately, that appear to be the trend under the messiah of the irresponsible currently taking up space in the White House. And it does coincide with the kind of example that some in the government seem to want to set for everyone.
The “problem” that the congress and the Fed say they are trying to “correct” stems from the fact that there are people who do not want to abide by the terms and conditions, that they agreed to, when they opened their accounts. For some unfathomable reason these people have decided that they should not be expected to monitor their own spending habits. They do not understand why they should be held accountable for their irresponsible behavior.
These whiners generally do not want to have to take even the simple step of recording their spending in the registry provided to them with their checks. Nor do they want to use any other kind of personal record keeping technique. In their view, the task of keeping track of their spending and thus preventing any overdrafts should fall entirely onto the bank, instead of onto the account holder. They feel that they should be able to call the bank, or look at their account online, and see exactly how much money they actually have available to spend at any given moment in time. And for some, even doing this is more than they feel they should be expected to do.
Now I know that we live in a near paperless era. And I understand that most financial transactions are accomplished electronically now-a-days. But that does not mean that any bank can instantaneously track all of an account holders spending. The fact is that many transactions are not transmitted to the bank at the time that they occur. Retailers and service providers often do not send the days receipts to their own bank until the end of the day. Others only do so only once a week. It is also possible for a particular transaction to get lost in the shuffle for a time. When this happens, the provider may not present that transaction to the bank for months. This delay does not and should negate the legitimacy of the transaction.
And let’s not forget that when checks are used, especially when they are sent through the mail, the bank has no way of knowing the amount of the check, let alone that the check has been written. At least not until the recipient of that check submits it. Any delay between the writing of a check, and time that it arives at the bank that it is drawn on, is not the banks fault, nor does it negate the legitimacy of the check.
So the simple fact is that it is impossible for any bank to be able to precisely know, at any given moment in time, the exact number of transactions an account holder has initiated, or the dollar amounts of transactions that it has not yet received. And since it is impossible for a bank know, with certainty, how much money an account holder has spent, in one form or another, it is also impossible for that bank to tell that account holder exactly how much money they actually have available to cover further spending.
There also seems to be some anger about the how banks organize the day’s transactions and calculate the new balance for a customers account. Generally the bank will begin by adding in any deposits or other credits due to that account, And that is as it should be. They then subtract any withdraws or other debits from the account. Most banks do not subtract the transactions in the order in which they occurred on that day. Instead, banks generally start by subtracting the largest debits first and continue down the list of debits, entering the smallest of them last.
The complaint is that this procedure insures that the largest number of overdraft fees, if any, will be applicable to the account. And sometimes it does. But it also means that the largest debits, which are typically the most important ones (I.E. mortgage, and/or car payments), are less likely to overdraw the account, and more likely to be paid out, thus not causing the account holder additional difficulties with, or fees from, a mortgage holder, loan provider, etc..
So here is the crux of the matter. Those people who are whining about getting too many overdraft fees need to stop being so irresponsible. They need to stop expecting someone else to monitor their spending habits for them. They need to grow up and learn to do what a responsible adult would do. They need to keep their own records and get their spending habits under control. They need to stop relying upon electronic resources, like online banking and customer service phone lines, to tell them how much money they have available to spend.
These resources are not going to protect the irresponsible account holder from his or her own foolishness. They are simply an aid, a reference tool if you will, to help confirm that a transaction has, or has not arrived to, and been recorded by, the bank. When one of these electronic resource says that there is such and such an amount of money in an account, that amount excludes any and all transactions that have not yet arrived at the account holders bank. The account holder alone is responsible to realize this fact and take it into account when deciding what they can and should spend. The account holder must realize and accept the fact, that once a transaction has been initiated, once a check has been written and submitted as payment, the funds represented by that transaction or check are no longer available to cover additional spending. This is true regardless of whether or not the bank has received and recorded that transaction or check.
I have to wonder why is it that the government always seem to want to protect the most foolish and irresponsible people amonst us? Do our elected office holders and appointed bureaucrats not realize that by doing so, they only guarantee that there will be even more foolish and irresponsible people, doing even more foolish and irresponsible thing? Do they not understand that as a consequence, there will be more need for more regulations to protect those people And that those people will become even more dependent upon the government to watch over them, and take care of them, and make decisions for them, and...
Wait a minute. I think I may have just answered my own question?
In closing, it must pointed out that banks will need to replace the moneys that they can no longer collect, as a result of these new laws and regulations, from irresponsible account holders. This will probably be done by charging new or increased fees on other bank services. And these new and increased fees will, of course, be paid by those of us who have chosen to be responsible account holders, and who actually do abide by the terms and conditions that we agreed to when we opened our accounts.
Related Links:
* Democrats to lift debt ceiling by $1.8 trillion, fear 2010 backlash
* Fed takes aim at overdraft penalties
* Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,
** Press Release: November 12, 2009
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Friday, December 11, 2009
Off Target
I wanted to share the video below with you. It is another of the typically amusing creations of PJTV 's Steven Crowder. I must however warn you that the impersonation of Horacio Caine is adequate at best. Although Steven's exagerated mimicking of some of the more idiosyncratic mannerisms of the character are amusing, his voice is just not right.
The video is appears to have been inspired by the Scrooge like policy of the Target chain of stores. This is a long time policy that Target says was implemented to “…provide a distraction-free shopping environment…”. So as I read that, Target wants to be sure that we have as much money in our pockets as possible to spend inside the store. Therefore they took steps to deny us the option of giving some of our money to a Salvation Army bell ringer in front of the store.
The video is appears to have been inspired by the Scrooge like policy of the Target chain of stores. This is a long time policy that Target says was implemented to “…provide a distraction-free shopping environment…”. So as I read that, Target wants to be sure that we have as much money in our pockets as possible to spend inside the store. Therefore they took steps to deny us the option of giving some of our money to a Salvation Army bell ringer in front of the store.
Target states that “This policy does not diminish our support of The Salvation Army”. Well maybe not, but it certainly deprives Target customers of at least one opportunity to show Christian charity to those in need.
I stopped shopping a Target a long time ago for many reasons, not the least being this policy. Now Target has every right to set its own policy on how to deal with this kind of thing. But as far as I am concerned any company that maintains and enforces this kind of policy does not deserve my money.
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Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A response to democraticparty@democrats.org
I recieve the following email on tuesday:
From: President Barack Obama democraticparty@democrats.org
Tue, December 8, 2009 2:46:52 PM
Subject: We will not back down
As we head into the final stretch on health reform, big insurance company lobbyists and their partisan allies hope that their relentless attacks and millions of dollars can intimidate us into accepting the status quo.
So I have a message for them, from all of us: Not this time. We have come too far. We will not turn back. We will not back down.
But do not doubt -- the opponents of reform will not rest. So I need you to fight alongside me.
We must continue to build out our campaign -- to spread the facts on the air and on the ground, and to bring in more volunteers and train them to join the fight. I urgently need your help to keep this 50-state movement for reform going strong.
Please donate $5 or whatever you can afford today:
>Link Removed<
Let's win this together,
President Barack Obama
I sent the following reply in response:
In an email sent by: President Barack Obama
on Tue, December 8, 2009 2:46:52 PM, you wrote:
> "We will not turn back. We will not back down."
For the sake of you political career, for the sake of how you will be remembered by history, I would advise that you turn back now, and that you back down immediately. That is, unless you actually want to be remembered as the one who tried and failed to destroyed the very icon of Freedom, The United States of America, and the one who tried and failed to enslaved the citizens of this nation to its government.
"We the People" have made it abundantly clear that we do not want you, the socialist liberal elitists, to stick your noses into our personal medical decisions. Nor do we want you putting your corrupt fingers on the best medical system in the world. “We the People” will not sit back and let you get away with this takeover of our lives this way.
You incompetent fools cannot even protect a top secret security manual for our nation's airports. In fact you actually are foolish enough to post it online.
It takes you months to decide whether or not to give our troops the increase in number that everyone with a brain knew that they needed.
Meanwhile you tie the hands of our brave young fighting men so that they cannot do the job they need to do because some so called "innocent civilians" might be hurt or killed. Guess what? Most of those so called "innocent civilians" are willingly giving aid and cover to the very islamo-fascist bastards that are torturing and killing our troops and the truly innocent.
You have demonstrated that you cannot handle producing and distributing a vaccine for a "killer flu" that you knew was needed over a year ago.
And you actually think that I and my fellow GOD fearing, Freedom loving Americans are going to be stupid enough to sit back and allow you to take over and make decisions about our medical care. OH HELL NO!!
It is “We the People” who will not back down. “We the People” will fight you at every turn, until you and all your socialist henchmen are forced to turn back!
Oh… And while I have your attention, I want to say to hell with your political correctness. The proper greeting this time of year is NOT happy holidays, it is NOT happy winter whatever.
The proper greeting in this overwhelmingly Christian nation is…
MERRY CHRISTMASIn addition to my reply, I also sent a copy of this response to the White House using the website contact page.
I seriously dout that anyone, let aolne B.O. himself, will ever read my comments. But hey, I feel better. 8^)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From: President Barack Obama democraticparty@democrats.org
Tue, December 8, 2009 2:46:52 PM
Subject: We will not back down
As we head into the final stretch on health reform, big insurance company lobbyists and their partisan allies hope that their relentless attacks and millions of dollars can intimidate us into accepting the status quo.
So I have a message for them, from all of us: Not this time. We have come too far. We will not turn back. We will not back down.
But do not doubt -- the opponents of reform will not rest. So I need you to fight alongside me.
We must continue to build out our campaign -- to spread the facts on the air and on the ground, and to bring in more volunteers and train them to join the fight. I urgently need your help to keep this 50-state movement for reform going strong.
Please donate $5 or whatever you can afford today:
>Link Removed<
Let's win this together,
President Barack Obama
I sent the following reply in response:
In an email sent by: President Barack Obama
on Tue, December 8, 2009 2:46:52 PM, you wrote:
> "We will not turn back. We will not back down."
For the sake of you political career, for the sake of how you will be remembered by history, I would advise that you turn back now, and that you back down immediately. That is, unless you actually want to be remembered as the one who tried and failed to destroyed the very icon of Freedom, The United States of America, and the one who tried and failed to enslaved the citizens of this nation to its government.
"We the People" have made it abundantly clear that we do not want you, the socialist liberal elitists, to stick your noses into our personal medical decisions. Nor do we want you putting your corrupt fingers on the best medical system in the world. “We the People” will not sit back and let you get away with this takeover of our lives this way.
You incompetent fools cannot even protect a top secret security manual for our nation's airports. In fact you actually are foolish enough to post it online.
It takes you months to decide whether or not to give our troops the increase in number that everyone with a brain knew that they needed.
Meanwhile you tie the hands of our brave young fighting men so that they cannot do the job they need to do because some so called "innocent civilians" might be hurt or killed. Guess what? Most of those so called "innocent civilians" are willingly giving aid and cover to the very islamo-fascist bastards that are torturing and killing our troops and the truly innocent.
You have demonstrated that you cannot handle producing and distributing a vaccine for a "killer flu" that you knew was needed over a year ago.
And you actually think that I and my fellow GOD fearing, Freedom loving Americans are going to be stupid enough to sit back and allow you to take over and make decisions about our medical care. OH HELL NO!!
It is “We the People” who will not back down. “We the People” will fight you at every turn, until you and all your socialist henchmen are forced to turn back!
Oh… And while I have your attention, I want to say to hell with your political correctness. The proper greeting this time of year is NOT happy holidays, it is NOT happy winter whatever.
The proper greeting in this overwhelmingly Christian nation is…
MERRY CHRISTMAS
I seriously dout that anyone, let aolne B.O. himself, will ever read my comments. But hey, I feel better. 8^)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Walk The Streets In Anger-Anne Marie Harpen
A friend shared this with me.
Although the style is not to my taste, the message is one that I can sure relate too.
Walk The Streets In Anger-Anne Marie Harpen
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Although the style is not to my taste, the message is one that I can sure relate too.
Walk The Streets In Anger-Anne Marie Harpen
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New Yorkers Rip Barack Obama
NOTE: The following was originally posted to the Conservative New Media channel on YouTube.
(12.6.09) -- New Yorkers are upset about the 9/11 trials being moved to NYC and the pain, circus and danger that they will bring with them.
Anthony Tolda, an American patriot who is running for the US House of Representatives seat of the 2nd District of New York (currently held by Steve Israel [D]), interviews individuals involved in a protest of Barack Obama's and Eric Holder's decision to have the case tried in a civilian court in New York City.
By: John D. Villarreal (174 IQ), founder of Conservative New Media, a real-life super genius and former host of GameSpot TV & KSFO (political talk radio)!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
(12.6.09) -- New Yorkers are upset about the 9/11 trials being moved to NYC and the pain, circus and danger that they will bring with them.
Anthony Tolda, an American patriot who is running for the US House of Representatives seat of the 2nd District of New York (currently held by Steve Israel [D]), interviews individuals involved in a protest of Barack Obama's and Eric Holder's decision to have the case tried in a civilian court in New York City.
By: John D. Villarreal (174 IQ), founder of Conservative New Media, a real-life super genius and former host of GameSpot TV & KSFO (political talk radio)!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Holocaust - Never Again
I am not particularly fond of Rap music. But this is one piece that I can listen to over and over. As a God Fearing Bible believeing Christian, I stand with Israel and support them in whatever they believe they must do to insure that they will NEVER AGAIN face the likes of the holocaust.
GOD bless the children of Israel, to whom were committed the oracles of GOD, and through whom GOD has given us his only begotten Son.
THE HOLOCAUST - NEVER AGAIN
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GOD bless the children of Israel, to whom were committed the oracles of GOD, and through whom GOD has given us his only begotten Son.
THE HOLOCAUST - NEVER AGAIN
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Publius & Friends
Guns & Patriots, a Human Events, publication, typically contains some good articles and commentary. And now on top of that they will be reprinting the Federalist Papers, beginning this week with Federalist #1.
For those who do not know, the Federalist Papers are a series of eighty-five articles, or essays if you will, advocating the ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America. As such, they are the primary aid in rightly interpreting our Constitution. Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, the Federalist Papers outlined the reasoning behind, and purpose of, replacing the Articles of Confederation with the new Constitution.
Guns & Patriots, intends to run a different one of the Federalist Papers each week, and I recommend that if you have not already read them, you take advantage of this and do so now. Or better yet, go out and buy or download a copy to keep for your own personal reference. If you have already read the Federalist Papers, then do yourself, and those who’s Freedom you care about a huge favor. Read them again. Doing so can only provide you with a greater understanding of the Constitution of the United States of America, and of the republic it was intended to produce.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For those who do not know, the Federalist Papers are a series of eighty-five articles, or essays if you will, advocating the ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America. As such, they are the primary aid in rightly interpreting our Constitution. Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, the Federalist Papers outlined the reasoning behind, and purpose of, replacing the Articles of Confederation with the new Constitution.
Guns & Patriots, intends to run a different one of the Federalist Papers each week, and I recommend that if you have not already read them, you take advantage of this and do so now. Or better yet, go out and buy or download a copy to keep for your own personal reference. If you have already read the Federalist Papers, then do yourself, and those who’s Freedom you care about a huge favor. Read them again. Doing so can only provide you with a greater understanding of the Constitution of the United States of America, and of the republic it was intended to produce.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Monday, December 7, 2009
A Must Share Poem
I want to thank the Anti-Mullah blog for posting the following link:
It will take you to a poem which was posted at the Terror News blog.
Please read it and pass it on to everyone you can.
GOD bless Amreica's best and brightest, the brave men and women, who have freely chosen to set their own desires and way of life aside for a time, to serve in our military, and to lay their lives on the line to protect our GOD given Constitutionally reconized Rights, Freedom and seurity.
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It will take you to a poem which was posted at the Terror News blog.
Please read it and pass it on to everyone you can.
GOD bless Amreica's best and brightest, the brave men and women, who have freely chosen to set their own desires and way of life aside for a time, to serve in our military, and to lay their lives on the line to protect our GOD given Constitutionally reconized Rights, Freedom and seurity.
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Remember December 7, 1941
The attack upon Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, like the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 should remind us that we must be ever vigilant and ready to immediately respond, defend and bring devastating retaliation.
Pearl Harbor Day - Attack
Be sure to check out the related post:
Pearl Harbor 68 Years Ago Today
at the Freedom's Lighthouse blog.
* * * * * *
* The History Place:
** Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Sunday, December 7, 1941
* Library of Congress:
** Today in history: December 7
* Naval History & Heritage:
** Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941. Overview and Special Image Selection
* NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC:
** Remembering Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
* Pearl Harbor Day Commemorative Committee
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pearl Harbor Day - Attack
Be sure to check out the related post:
Pearl Harbor 68 Years Ago Today
at the Freedom's Lighthouse blog.
* * * * * *
* The History Place:
** Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Sunday, December 7, 1941
* Library of Congress:
** Today in history: December 7
* Naval History & Heritage:
** Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941. Overview and Special Image Selection
* NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC:
** Remembering Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
* Pearl Harbor Day Commemorative Committee
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bungalow Bill Makes a Great Point
Blogger, Bungalow Bill makes an excellent point in his post titled: "Another Reason Why Nationalized Healthcare is Unconstitutional".
Remember folks, the Constitution of the United States of American is relatively easy to read and understand. It was written in plain English rather than the kind of legalese that our laws are written in today. Knowing and understanding what the Constitution says is the best weapon that GOD fearing, Freedom loving Americans can have and use in the defense of our GOD given Rights. Especially when they are under the kind of criminal assault currently being waged against them by the messiah of the irresponsible, currently taking up space in the White House.
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Remember folks, the Constitution of the United States of American is relatively easy to read and understand. It was written in plain English rather than the kind of legalese that our laws are written in today. Knowing and understanding what the Constitution says is the best weapon that GOD fearing, Freedom loving Americans can have and use in the defense of our GOD given Rights. Especially when they are under the kind of criminal assault currently being waged against them by the messiah of the irresponsible, currently taking up space in the White House.
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Saturday, December 5, 2009
A Call of Christian Conscience
I just read and signed the Manhattan Declaration.
If you are a GOD Fearing, Freedom Loving, Life Affirming Christian, and you haven’t already done so, let me ask you to take the time to read the declaration for yourself, and consider adding your signature as well.
The following is from the home page of the The Manhattan Declaration website.
* * * * * *
Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.
We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:
1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.
Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
* * * * * *
Related Video:
Cardinal Justin Regali on Manhattan Declaration
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If you are a GOD Fearing, Freedom Loving, Life Affirming Christian, and you haven’t already done so, let me ask you to take the time to read the declaration for yourself, and consider adding your signature as well.
The following is from the home page of the The Manhattan Declaration website.
* * * * * *
Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.
We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:
1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.
Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
* * * * * *
Related Video:
Cardinal Justin Regali on Manhattan Declaration
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Friday, December 4, 2009
Mary Had A Little Lamb - Updated
I got this from a friend, who got it in one of those continually forwarded emails.
I thought it should be shared.
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I thought it should be shared.
Mary had a little lamb,
His fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school each day,
He followed her to school each day,
T’wasn’t even in the rule.
It made the children laugh and play,
It made the children laugh and play,
To have a Lamb at school.
And then the rules all changed one day,
And then the rules all changed one day,
Illegal it became;
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak His Name.
Instead of hearing children laugh,
Instead of hearing children laugh,
We heard gun shots and tears.
What must we do to stop the crime,
What must we do to stop the crime,
That’s in our schools today?
Let’s let the Lamb come back to school,
Let’s let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray!
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Deconstructing Global Warming Hysteria
Lee Doren, an attorney and political commentator, recently posted a couple of interesting videos to his “HowTheWorldWorks” channel on YouTube.
The first of these videos is a lecture by Richard Lindzen (Professor of Meteorology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT) in which he deconstructs the global warming hysteria. The second is of the Q&A that took place after the lecture.
Now unless you are like me, and actually enjoy scientific lectures and discussions, these videos are probably going to seem very long and dry. And the audio is not all that great. But in light of the Climategate email scandal, it would be worth your time to view them at least once. If you find that you cannot do that, at least read Richard Lindzen’s Wall Street Journal opinion piece:
Videos:
Related Links:
* Richard Lindzen Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
* The Economics of Climate Change
The stakes are too high to treat Climategate as just another academic spat.
* Rigging a Climate 'Consensus'
About those emails and 'peer review.'
* Global Warming With the Lid Off
The emails that reveal an effort to hide the truth about climate science.
* Climate Science and Candor
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The first of these videos is a lecture by Richard Lindzen (Professor of Meteorology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT) in which he deconstructs the global warming hysteria. The second is of the Q&A that took place after the lecture.
Now unless you are like me, and actually enjoy scientific lectures and discussions, these videos are probably going to seem very long and dry. And the audio is not all that great. But in light of the Climategate email scandal, it would be worth your time to view them at least once. If you find that you cannot do that, at least read Richard Lindzen’s Wall Street Journal opinion piece:
Videos:
Related Links:
* Richard Lindzen Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
* The Economics of Climate Change
The stakes are too high to treat Climategate as just another academic spat.
* Rigging a Climate 'Consensus'
About those emails and 'peer review.'
* Global Warming With the Lid Off
The emails that reveal an effort to hide the truth about climate science.
* Climate Science and Candor
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thursday, December 3, 2009
What Song Would You Choose?
Today in a post to the geeeeeZ! blog, titled "Name that Tune!", an interesting question was asked.
” So, if you weren't American, listening to what song would make you wish that you were? A song that makes you think of America right away. Not necessarily overtly patriotic, but something you'd consider part of the American heritage.
What song is immediately identifies with America for YOU? Any suggestions?”
The obvious traditional patriotic songs like “The Star Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful” immediately came to mind. But I really didn't think that songs like that were exactly what was being looked for. So I considered other less traditional songs and the choice seemed to be a fairly simple one. I posted my answer to the comments section, and while doing so decided that I would share my choice with my readers as well.
So if I were not already blessed to have been born an American what song would make me wish that you were? I decided that it would probably be...
” So, if you weren't American, listening to what song would make you wish that you were? A song that makes you think of America right away. Not necessarily overtly patriotic, but something you'd consider part of the American heritage.
What song is immediately identifies with America for YOU? Any suggestions?”
The obvious traditional patriotic songs like “The Star Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful” immediately came to mind. But I really didn't think that songs like that were exactly what was being looked for. So I considered other less traditional songs and the choice seemed to be a fairly simple one. I posted my answer to the comments section, and while doing so decided that I would share my choice with my readers as well.
So if I were not already blessed to have been born an American what song would make me wish that you were? I decided that it would probably be...
Enjoy!
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Wednesday, December 2, 2009
A few comments about last night's speech
As I expected, B.O’s teleprompter reading last night was nothing new.
It was filled with the usual double talk that he has been spoon feeding, to those foolish enough to swallow it, from the beginning.
He tried to give an air of legitimacy to the speech, and turn it into another photo-op by giving it from a podium at West Point rather than from the White House, which would be the normal place from which to make an announcement regarding a change in, or execution of war policy.
Instead filling the American people with confidence and enthusiasm, it seems that all he managed to do was put a number of the cadets to sleep.
He demonstrated that he quite simply does not understand that war is not, and cannot, be fought according to a rigidly timed schedule.
He told our enemies that they only need to hold on for eighteen more months, and then he will allow them a free hand to do whatever they want to the rest of the world.
He told our enemies that they should continue to hide and base their operations amongst the so called innocent civilians. And that they can be sure that the brave young men and women who serve in our military will not be allowed to take any steps to defeat or eliminate anyone who is or might trying to kill our troops, if those steps would present any danger to people in areas where the residents are allowing the islamo-fascist to hide amongst them.
Lastly, and perhaps most sadly, he confirmed what most of us already knew. That he is incapable of understanding that the only exit strategy that will work in any war; is one that insures the every last enemy leader, provocateur, combatant, sympathizer, etc. is either dead, permanently imprisoned, or otherwise rendered impotent.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was filled with the usual double talk that he has been spoon feeding, to those foolish enough to swallow it, from the beginning.
He tried to give an air of legitimacy to the speech, and turn it into another photo-op by giving it from a podium at West Point rather than from the White House, which would be the normal place from which to make an announcement regarding a change in, or execution of war policy.
Instead filling the American people with confidence and enthusiasm, it seems that all he managed to do was put a number of the cadets to sleep.
He demonstrated that he quite simply does not understand that war is not, and cannot, be fought according to a rigidly timed schedule.
He told our enemies that they only need to hold on for eighteen more months, and then he will allow them a free hand to do whatever they want to the rest of the world.
He told our enemies that they should continue to hide and base their operations amongst the so called innocent civilians. And that they can be sure that the brave young men and women who serve in our military will not be allowed to take any steps to defeat or eliminate anyone who is or might trying to kill our troops, if those steps would present any danger to people in areas where the residents are allowing the islamo-fascist to hide amongst them.
Lastly, and perhaps most sadly, he confirmed what most of us already knew. That he is incapable of understanding that the only exit strategy that will work in any war; is one that insures the every last enemy leader, provocateur, combatant, sympathizer, etc. is either dead, permanently imprisoned, or otherwise rendered impotent.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Liberal Interpretations #3
I haven’t heard it yet, but I’m waiting for it because I know that I will. Sometime between now and shortly after Christmas, some liberal is going to try to use the Christmas narrative as an example of why the government must do something to help the poor. The details of the events surrounding the birth of our LORD Jesus Christ will be twisted into something that not only completely ignores the spiritual and joy filled aspect of the Christmas narrative, but that will also deliberately distort the root cause of the situation that Mary and Joseph found themselves in some two thousand plus years ago.
For political reasons alone, someone is going to claim that Mary and Joseph were homeless people, and that their impoverished state caused them to resort to seeking shelter in a stable when Mary went into labor. This is not simply an error in interpretation. It is a deliberate and willful lie. And anyone who has ever read the scripture passages that describe the actual events knows better.
As best as I have been able to ascertain, this unfounded and ridiculous claim was first made back in late 1991 by the so called “Reverend” Jesse Jackson. It has been regularly repeated by him and others since then, and will all but inevitably be repeated by him and/or others this Christmas as well.
The simple truth is that there is absolutely no good reason, Biblical or otherwise, to believe that Joseph and Mary were homeless or impoverished. In fact it is likely that they had a good sturdy, though probably modest, home. After all, Joseph was a carpenter, and apparently quite a good one. I can say this because the scriptures make it clear that Joseph, his skills and his family were well known in their community. (Matthew 13:55-56)
No, Mary and Joseph were not homeless. Nor were they poor. But they were ordered, by a government edict, to leave their home in Nazareth, travel many rugged miles down to Joseph’s ancestral home town of Bethlehem. And why was this necessary? So that Joseph and his family could be registered for tax purposes. (Luke 2:1-5)
And as I have already made clear, there is no good reason, biblical or otherwise, to believe that the young couple was unable to afford to pay for a room at one of the local inns. The problem was that when they arrived in Bethlehem, they found that all of the inns were already filled with people. Most likely with people who, like themselves, were forced to leave their homes, so that they too could be added to the tax roles. As a result, when Mary found herself going into labor, the young couple was forced to utilize the only available shelter and privacy they could find, a stable. (Luke 2:6-7) And it was there that Mary gave birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So from a pure worldly viewpoint, the seemingly sad conditions that this young family had to endure were not a result of poverty and/or homelessness. They were in fact a direct result of government tax policy.
Of course those who read and study the scriptures are quite aware and understand that nothing happens without GOD’s foreknowledge. And in this particular case, GOD preordained all of the circumstances so as to fulfill the prophecy that the messiah would, according to HIS plan, be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
As a side note, and as another example of GOD’s perfect planning, Jesus is “the bread of life” (John 6:35) and the name Bethlehem means “the house of bread”.
* * * * * *
Another misinterpretation that we have all heard before, and are likely to hear liberals espouse time and again is that Mary was an unwed mother. This too is completely false.
Mary was espoused to Joseph. This is not like being engaged in today’s world. In the Jewish culture of that day, an espoused couple was considered married in ever sense of the word except that couple was not living together, and had not yet consummated their relationship. An espoused couple could only be separated by divorce.
The fact that Mary was not an unwed mother is confirmed by the scriptures which refer to Joseph as Mary’s husband (Matthew:1:19), and to Mary as Joseph’s wife (Matthew:1:20) even before the birth of our Lord and Savior. In fact when Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, knowing all too well that he could not be the baby’s father, he was ready to quietly divorce her. At least he was until he received a visit and message from the angel of the LORD. (Matthew:1:20-25)
* * * * * *
So we have now debunked two more of the deliberate distortions of scripture that liberals have made. Sadly, there are many other such false claims, and in all likelihood the socialist liberals will come up with even more of these kinds of twisted interpretations, misapplications and out right lies about what the scriptures teach. For that reason, you can be sure that, GOD willing, there will be a Liberal Interpretations #4, #5, #6 and however many more it takes.
Meanwhile, let me wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Christmas season. May GOD keep and protect you and yours.
* * * * * *
Related Scriptures:
Matthew 13:
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Luke 2:
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Micah 5:
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
John 6:
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
* * * * * *
Matthew:1:
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For political reasons alone, someone is going to claim that Mary and Joseph were homeless people, and that their impoverished state caused them to resort to seeking shelter in a stable when Mary went into labor. This is not simply an error in interpretation. It is a deliberate and willful lie. And anyone who has ever read the scripture passages that describe the actual events knows better.
As best as I have been able to ascertain, this unfounded and ridiculous claim was first made back in late 1991 by the so called “Reverend” Jesse Jackson. It has been regularly repeated by him and others since then, and will all but inevitably be repeated by him and/or others this Christmas as well.
The simple truth is that there is absolutely no good reason, Biblical or otherwise, to believe that Joseph and Mary were homeless or impoverished. In fact it is likely that they had a good sturdy, though probably modest, home. After all, Joseph was a carpenter, and apparently quite a good one. I can say this because the scriptures make it clear that Joseph, his skills and his family were well known in their community. (Matthew 13:55-56)
No, Mary and Joseph were not homeless. Nor were they poor. But they were ordered, by a government edict, to leave their home in Nazareth, travel many rugged miles down to Joseph’s ancestral home town of Bethlehem. And why was this necessary? So that Joseph and his family could be registered for tax purposes. (Luke 2:1-5)
And as I have already made clear, there is no good reason, biblical or otherwise, to believe that the young couple was unable to afford to pay for a room at one of the local inns. The problem was that when they arrived in Bethlehem, they found that all of the inns were already filled with people. Most likely with people who, like themselves, were forced to leave their homes, so that they too could be added to the tax roles. As a result, when Mary found herself going into labor, the young couple was forced to utilize the only available shelter and privacy they could find, a stable. (Luke 2:6-7) And it was there that Mary gave birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So from a pure worldly viewpoint, the seemingly sad conditions that this young family had to endure were not a result of poverty and/or homelessness. They were in fact a direct result of government tax policy.
Of course those who read and study the scriptures are quite aware and understand that nothing happens without GOD’s foreknowledge. And in this particular case, GOD preordained all of the circumstances so as to fulfill the prophecy that the messiah would, according to HIS plan, be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
As a side note, and as another example of GOD’s perfect planning, Jesus is “the bread of life” (John 6:35) and the name Bethlehem means “the house of bread”.
* * * * * *
Another misinterpretation that we have all heard before, and are likely to hear liberals espouse time and again is that Mary was an unwed mother. This too is completely false.
Mary was espoused to Joseph. This is not like being engaged in today’s world. In the Jewish culture of that day, an espoused couple was considered married in ever sense of the word except that couple was not living together, and had not yet consummated their relationship. An espoused couple could only be separated by divorce.
The fact that Mary was not an unwed mother is confirmed by the scriptures which refer to Joseph as Mary’s husband (Matthew:1:19), and to Mary as Joseph’s wife (Matthew:1:20) even before the birth of our Lord and Savior. In fact when Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, knowing all too well that he could not be the baby’s father, he was ready to quietly divorce her. At least he was until he received a visit and message from the angel of the LORD. (Matthew:1:20-25)
* * * * * *
So we have now debunked two more of the deliberate distortions of scripture that liberals have made. Sadly, there are many other such false claims, and in all likelihood the socialist liberals will come up with even more of these kinds of twisted interpretations, misapplications and out right lies about what the scriptures teach. For that reason, you can be sure that, GOD willing, there will be a Liberal Interpretations #4, #5, #6 and however many more it takes.
Meanwhile, let me wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Christmas season. May GOD keep and protect you and yours.
* * * * * *
Related Scriptures:
Matthew 13:
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Luke 2:
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Micah 5:
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
John 6:
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
* * * * * *
Matthew:1:
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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