Black, Green or Orange Pekoe
Long before there was any talk of a "Tea Party" and even before "Glenn Beck" got his daily hour in the spotlight there had already been dozens of letters and e-mails sent to Senators, Representatives, newspapers and other newspersons in what has, so far, turned out to be an exercise in futility. Shortly after the 2006 election a letter was written to one of the larger newspapers in this area, then updated after the 2008 election when it was posted in this blog on June 13, 2010 and titled "The Ditch." Part of that letter and subsequent posting is as follows.
"Even after the loss, by the Republicans, in 2006 of both Houses of Congress and the debacle of 2008, there are many who seem to have no idea what the problem was or how to right it which brings to mind a verse in the Bible where the Disciples came to Jesus and said, "Know Thou that the Parisees were offended by this saying" and Jesus answered and said, "Let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall in the ditch".
Can anyone disagree with the premise that, at least, the National Republican Party has fallen into a very deep ditch? Too long in power, so it seems, has transformed very large egos into bright and shiny objects which appears to have blinded some to reality. Lest anyone should foolishly believe that the Democrat Party has been immune to the allure of this malady, there is more than enough evidence to convict many of them of that same egotistical mind-set."
More than twenty years ago we wrote and had published in a Memphis newspaper, a letter laying out our beliefs as to how abortion is murder and our standing by, saying and doing nothing, and allowing our tax money to pay for abortions on demand was making us a party to that murder. More than twenty years later we are still protesting the use of that money. Times haven't changed much.
On December 20, 2007 an article titled "Will History Repeat Itself" was published as a Guest Column in one of our larger daily newspapers. It is, in part, copied below.
"I don't believe that this war on terrorism (Al Qaeda) will ever be over, at least not in most of our lifetimes. It may become dormant and remain that way for years but just like a cancer in remission, it is still there and can erupt at any time. We must recognize it for what it is, an attempt to destroy our way of living and to rule the world, or we will be leaving ourselves open to that possibility." That column was posted on this blog on May 15, 2010 with followups on August 4, and August 8, 2010 and mentioned in others.
In a letter to one of our weekly newspapers in October of 2008 (before the election) we wrote; "Alex de Toqueville was born in France and came to America in 1831 when he was 25 years old. In 1835 he wrote Volume One of "Democracy in America" and Volume Two in 1840. The two Volumes were a study of the American people and their Political Institutions. The following is a direct quote from one of those books. "America will be a great country until the people learn that they can vote themselves money from the public Treasury, after that it will be a war of all against all with each person striving to get the greatest amount of free money possible." Have we passed the [point of no return] and fast approaching melt down?
Over the years there have been many other letters and e-mails sent out, some published, others not, most with no apparent signs of success but we tried. Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned. - William
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Knights Templar
Of the Temple
Templars, the military religious "Order of the Poor Knights of Christ", founded in 1119, at the time of the crusades by Hugues de Payen and Godfrey de Saint Adhemar, with seven other Knights, taking on themselves the solomn vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and undertaking the defense of pilgrims to the Holy Places from the attacks of the Saracins. [Saracens was a term used by ancient Romans to refer to the Aramaic speaking people who inhabited the deserts near the Roman Province of Syria. Thus by the beginning of the crusades, a Saracen had become synonymous with "Muslim".]
Baldwin the Second, King of Jerusalem granted them quarters in his palace, built on the site of the Temple; hence the name of the order - "Knights Templar".
The active history of the Templars is the history of the crusades. At first none but Nobles or Knights were admitted but subordinate members were allowed for the menial work as the order grew great and wealthy. To them rather than to the miscellaneous hordes that periodically swarmed from Europe was due the long stay given to the infidel. [Note; From "The American Peoples Encyclopedia"] Twenty thousand Templars perished in the attempt to hold the Holy Place of the Christian Religion for Christendom and most of their Grand Masters died on the field of honor or from wounds recieved in battle. They helped Richard Coeur de Lion (King Richard 1 the Lionhearted of England) to win the great victory at Arsuf (and probably Acre) in 1191, and from him they bought the island of Cyprus.
Then in 1307 Philip, King of France, being in an impoverished condition, cast greedy eyes on the treasures possessed by the Templars and directed Pope Clement V to summon the Grand Master to appear before him. The Grand Master, Jaques De Molay, answered the summons and on October 16, 1307, he and 140 Templars were seized and thrown into prison. Torture was freely used to establish evidence. Many Templars were burned to death and their property was conficated. By 1314, after the execution of Molay, the order came to an end. It has been said that some of the bloodiest wars in history were fought in the name of religion. [Note; I have, for many years, believed that history, if ignored, would tend to repeat itself which leads me to think it is in the process of doing just that at this time.]
In the book "Generations, A Thousand Year Family History" written by Ralph Sanders with his sisters, Carole Sanders and Peggy Sanders Van Der Heide, there is a chapter championing the life and times of Sir Leonard de Sanderstead. These lines are taken from that book; "Who then was Sir Leonard de Sanderstead? Although our knowledge of him stems from a single record, the record itself is particularly fertile. We find reference to Sir Leonard in a seventeenth-century document called "Advenie de Carmathenshire" [They came to Carmarthenshire], indicating that Sir Leonard once held land in that County of South Wales. The record further indicates that he had at some point acquired knighthood and bore a Coat of Arms ---." These records also stated that Sir Leonard had, at least one son, Richard who sold land at Sanderstead in 1234. Thus the time line Ralph Sanders used to set Sir Leonard's birth date at about 1175 but I believe it probably was closer to 1150 and he was a contemporary of King Richard the Lionheart who led the Third Crusade. He probably was either a knight in King Richard's army or a member of the Knights Templar. Was he one of my ancestors? I don't know for sure but according to Ralph Sanders' book he probably was. About 25 or 26 generations ago.
I won't go any farther into geneology today but I guess it is natural for some people to dig into their past looking for a famous ancestor or two. Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned. - William
Templars, the military religious "Order of the Poor Knights of Christ", founded in 1119, at the time of the crusades by Hugues de Payen and Godfrey de Saint Adhemar, with seven other Knights, taking on themselves the solomn vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and undertaking the defense of pilgrims to the Holy Places from the attacks of the Saracins. [Saracens was a term used by ancient Romans to refer to the Aramaic speaking people who inhabited the deserts near the Roman Province of Syria. Thus by the beginning of the crusades, a Saracen had become synonymous with "Muslim".]
Baldwin the Second, King of Jerusalem granted them quarters in his palace, built on the site of the Temple; hence the name of the order - "Knights Templar".
The active history of the Templars is the history of the crusades. At first none but Nobles or Knights were admitted but subordinate members were allowed for the menial work as the order grew great and wealthy. To them rather than to the miscellaneous hordes that periodically swarmed from Europe was due the long stay given to the infidel. [Note; From "The American Peoples Encyclopedia"] Twenty thousand Templars perished in the attempt to hold the Holy Place of the Christian Religion for Christendom and most of their Grand Masters died on the field of honor or from wounds recieved in battle. They helped Richard Coeur de Lion (King Richard 1 the Lionhearted of England) to win the great victory at Arsuf (and probably Acre) in 1191, and from him they bought the island of Cyprus.
Then in 1307 Philip, King of France, being in an impoverished condition, cast greedy eyes on the treasures possessed by the Templars and directed Pope Clement V to summon the Grand Master to appear before him. The Grand Master, Jaques De Molay, answered the summons and on October 16, 1307, he and 140 Templars were seized and thrown into prison. Torture was freely used to establish evidence. Many Templars were burned to death and their property was conficated. By 1314, after the execution of Molay, the order came to an end. It has been said that some of the bloodiest wars in history were fought in the name of religion. [Note; I have, for many years, believed that history, if ignored, would tend to repeat itself which leads me to think it is in the process of doing just that at this time.]
In the book "Generations, A Thousand Year Family History" written by Ralph Sanders with his sisters, Carole Sanders and Peggy Sanders Van Der Heide, there is a chapter championing the life and times of Sir Leonard de Sanderstead. These lines are taken from that book; "Who then was Sir Leonard de Sanderstead? Although our knowledge of him stems from a single record, the record itself is particularly fertile. We find reference to Sir Leonard in a seventeenth-century document called "Advenie de Carmathenshire" [They came to Carmarthenshire], indicating that Sir Leonard once held land in that County of South Wales. The record further indicates that he had at some point acquired knighthood and bore a Coat of Arms ---." These records also stated that Sir Leonard had, at least one son, Richard who sold land at Sanderstead in 1234. Thus the time line Ralph Sanders used to set Sir Leonard's birth date at about 1175 but I believe it probably was closer to 1150 and he was a contemporary of King Richard the Lionheart who led the Third Crusade. He probably was either a knight in King Richard's army or a member of the Knights Templar. Was he one of my ancestors? I don't know for sure but according to Ralph Sanders' book he probably was. About 25 or 26 generations ago.
I won't go any farther into geneology today but I guess it is natural for some people to dig into their past looking for a famous ancestor or two. Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned. - William
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Wars and Rumors of Wars
But the time is not yet?
It is really disheartening, except for the war in Afganistan,riots and protests in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Lybia and Iran, the insurrection in Wisconsin, the fighting over cuts (including "Planned Parenthood")in the budgets for the rest of this year and the one for 2012 and other sundry happenings that most people tend to ignore there just isn't very much to write about. Is that what some writers call "Writer's Block?" Not being a writer, I wouldn't know.
On page 108 of volume 1, "Outline of History" from the "Pocket Library of the World's Essential Knowledge" written by Albert Sheppard and John Seybold Morris, published and copyrighted in 1929 by Funk and Wagnalls Company, is the following passage concerning King Alexander of Macedonia (Greece) and his intention of uniting the East and the West for the first time since the Tower of Babel.
"While these projects were going forward, they were nevertheless but minor parts of a larger plan. Arabia must be added as a Jewel to Alexander's Crown; and distant, thriving Phenician Carthage, on the North African shore of the Mediterranean, must perforce give up its isolation and take its place within this Empire. [Man proposes, but oftentime another power over which he has no control disposes.] Alexander's life at thirty-three had had more packed into it than ordinarily falls to the lot of the most adventurous life privileged to live its normal span of three-score years and ten". (On the eleventh of June, 323 B.C., while not yet thirty-three years of age he passed away.)
[Note] [That is probably where the phrase, used in conjunction with the budget (The President proposes and Congress disposes) comes from.]
Skipping ahead and beginning on page 219 we find these words: "Yet again in our story of civilization do we see West and East come into armed conflict. The Moslems had gained possession of the sacred places in and around Jerusalem. In its effort to rescue these places from the infidel, Europe almost tore itself from its foundations. Christendom hurled its power against the moslems.
By the close of the tenth century the Seljuk Turks were in possession of Palestine and Syria, and the holy places were in their hands. Pilgrims returned with stories of harrowing experiences at the hands of the Turks; some were robbed, others were brutally ill-treated, others were killed. Europe had cause to fear the brutal force of these Turks; Christians everywhere looked upon them as emissaries of Satan himself." [Note] Then came the crusades.
"For two hundred years -- with ebb and flo -- the tramp of Crusaders marching to the East resounded through Europe. The suffering and torture they endured no pen could describe. Motives were mixed and varied as they naturally would be. --- Prince, Noble and Knight thrilled to the great adventure; while many dreamed of large kingdoms carved out of fair Eastern Lands. But all in vain; the main objectives were never permenently realized; the Near East still lies under the rule of Islam." [Note] With some changes those fair Eastern Lands are still under the control of those Moslems (Islam).
Another chapter of this story belongs to the Knights Templar but that is for another time. Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned. --William
It is really disheartening, except for the war in Afganistan,riots and protests in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Lybia and Iran, the insurrection in Wisconsin, the fighting over cuts (including "Planned Parenthood")in the budgets for the rest of this year and the one for 2012 and other sundry happenings that most people tend to ignore there just isn't very much to write about. Is that what some writers call "Writer's Block?" Not being a writer, I wouldn't know.
On page 108 of volume 1, "Outline of History" from the "Pocket Library of the World's Essential Knowledge" written by Albert Sheppard and John Seybold Morris, published and copyrighted in 1929 by Funk and Wagnalls Company, is the following passage concerning King Alexander of Macedonia (Greece) and his intention of uniting the East and the West for the first time since the Tower of Babel.
"While these projects were going forward, they were nevertheless but minor parts of a larger plan. Arabia must be added as a Jewel to Alexander's Crown; and distant, thriving Phenician Carthage, on the North African shore of the Mediterranean, must perforce give up its isolation and take its place within this Empire. [Man proposes, but oftentime another power over which he has no control disposes.] Alexander's life at thirty-three had had more packed into it than ordinarily falls to the lot of the most adventurous life privileged to live its normal span of three-score years and ten". (On the eleventh of June, 323 B.C., while not yet thirty-three years of age he passed away.)
[Note] [That is probably where the phrase, used in conjunction with the budget (The President proposes and Congress disposes) comes from.]
Skipping ahead and beginning on page 219 we find these words: "Yet again in our story of civilization do we see West and East come into armed conflict. The Moslems had gained possession of the sacred places in and around Jerusalem. In its effort to rescue these places from the infidel, Europe almost tore itself from its foundations. Christendom hurled its power against the moslems.
By the close of the tenth century the Seljuk Turks were in possession of Palestine and Syria, and the holy places were in their hands. Pilgrims returned with stories of harrowing experiences at the hands of the Turks; some were robbed, others were brutally ill-treated, others were killed. Europe had cause to fear the brutal force of these Turks; Christians everywhere looked upon them as emissaries of Satan himself." [Note] Then came the crusades.
"For two hundred years -- with ebb and flo -- the tramp of Crusaders marching to the East resounded through Europe. The suffering and torture they endured no pen could describe. Motives were mixed and varied as they naturally would be. --- Prince, Noble and Knight thrilled to the great adventure; while many dreamed of large kingdoms carved out of fair Eastern Lands. But all in vain; the main objectives were never permenently realized; the Near East still lies under the rule of Islam." [Note] With some changes those fair Eastern Lands are still under the control of those Moslems (Islam).
Another chapter of this story belongs to the Knights Templar but that is for another time. Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned. --William
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Too Many Lies
And other misdemeanors.
Monday - February 14, 2011
A few weeks ago I heard a Democrat Representative from Tennessee say that if you tell a lie often enough many people will believe it. That surely must be what is going on in Washington by both Democrats and Republicans with the news people throwing in their two cents worth. I thought I had already included the law passed by a bi-partisan congress in 1990 which outlined how surplus money in the Social Security Trust Fund (FICA tax) is to be used but a quick scan of earlier postings failed to turn it up. I am including it here.
The Social Security Trust Fund is the means by which the Federal Government accounts for excess paid in contributions from workers and employers to the Social Securitry System that are not required to fund current benefit payments to retirees, survivors and the disabled or to pay Administrative expenses. These surpluses are invested in "Special United States Government Securities". The Trust Fund is "Off Budget" and treated seperately from other Federal spending. From the United States Code; Exclusion of Social Security from all budgets, Pub.L 101-508, Title X111, Sec. 13301 (a), Nov 5, 1990, 104 Stat: 1388-623, provided that notwithstanding any other provision of law, the receipts and disbursement of the Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund shall not be counted as new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficit or surpluses for purposes of (1) the budget of the United States as submitted by the President, (2) the congressional budget or (3) The Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
There it is. You decide who is telling the truth.
Tuesday - February 15, 2011
A few days ago I sent the following e-mail to one of my United States Senators. "In the last few weeks I have contacted both [one of my Senators] and [my Representative] to no avail. I would very much like to know why Social Security and Medicare gets all the blame for the budget deficits. From everyone on television I hear statements like - We can't balance the budget without cutting Social Security and Medicare or - The entitlement programs make up 40 percent of the budget. By all means, reform Social Security and Medicare to ensure that it will be there for future generations but you know, as well as I do, that except for Treasury borrowing money to buy back some of the IOUs in the "Social Security Trust Fund" to pay future benefits it has nothing what-so-ever to do with the budget or deficits. Anyone who says that we have to cut Social Security and Medicare to balance the budget or even lower the deficit is just blowing smoke and you, being from Tennessee, know[what] I am talking about". (Brackets [ ] are where edited to exclude names)
Yesterday I got this response from that Senator but I don't think it addressed my concerns. " Thank you for getting in touch with me and letting me know what's on your mind regarding Social Security.
I will not support any proposal that reduces the guaranteed Social Security benefits on which our nation's seniors depend. Seniors rely on their monthly Social Security check. Long-term projections warning that Social Security expenses will eventually exceed the program's income have prompted Congress to discuss ways in which the system can be reformed so that it will continue to provide the benefits guaranteed to present beneficiaries while remaining strong enough to provide benefits to the next generation of retirees. As long as we do not undermine these guaranteed benefits, I'm open to considering pilot programs that allow workers to manage their own retirement funds, create individual security accounts, and fund individual retirement accounts that individuals control themselves."
Wednesday - February 16, 2011
It is my belief that the above e-mail is a form letter sent to anyone who happens to inquire about Social Security. Maybe all that talk about cutting Social Security and Medicare really is a smoke screen designed to get the general public numbed down to the point that we won't realize what is happening so when they let America go bankrupt they can say; But we didn't cut Social Security or Medicare, and get away with it. Is it working?
A final word to the powers that be. At this time there is two and a half trillion dollars worth of IOUs sitting quietly in the Social Security Trust Fund that over the next several years will need to be redeemed to pay Social Security and Medicare benefits. When that becomes necessary it will raise the National debt even higher than it is now. Is that what you are afraid to admit?
Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned - William
Monday - February 14, 2011
A few weeks ago I heard a Democrat Representative from Tennessee say that if you tell a lie often enough many people will believe it. That surely must be what is going on in Washington by both Democrats and Republicans with the news people throwing in their two cents worth. I thought I had already included the law passed by a bi-partisan congress in 1990 which outlined how surplus money in the Social Security Trust Fund (FICA tax) is to be used but a quick scan of earlier postings failed to turn it up. I am including it here.
The Social Security Trust Fund is the means by which the Federal Government accounts for excess paid in contributions from workers and employers to the Social Securitry System that are not required to fund current benefit payments to retirees, survivors and the disabled or to pay Administrative expenses. These surpluses are invested in "Special United States Government Securities". The Trust Fund is "Off Budget" and treated seperately from other Federal spending. From the United States Code; Exclusion of Social Security from all budgets, Pub.L 101-508, Title X111, Sec. 13301 (a), Nov 5, 1990, 104 Stat: 1388-623, provided that notwithstanding any other provision of law, the receipts and disbursement of the Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund shall not be counted as new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficit or surpluses for purposes of (1) the budget of the United States as submitted by the President, (2) the congressional budget or (3) The Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
There it is. You decide who is telling the truth.
Tuesday - February 15, 2011
A few days ago I sent the following e-mail to one of my United States Senators. "In the last few weeks I have contacted both [one of my Senators] and [my Representative] to no avail. I would very much like to know why Social Security and Medicare gets all the blame for the budget deficits. From everyone on television I hear statements like - We can't balance the budget without cutting Social Security and Medicare or - The entitlement programs make up 40 percent of the budget. By all means, reform Social Security and Medicare to ensure that it will be there for future generations but you know, as well as I do, that except for Treasury borrowing money to buy back some of the IOUs in the "Social Security Trust Fund" to pay future benefits it has nothing what-so-ever to do with the budget or deficits. Anyone who says that we have to cut Social Security and Medicare to balance the budget or even lower the deficit is just blowing smoke and you, being from Tennessee, know[what] I am talking about". (Brackets [ ] are where edited to exclude names)
Yesterday I got this response from that Senator but I don't think it addressed my concerns. " Thank you for getting in touch with me and letting me know what's on your mind regarding Social Security.
I will not support any proposal that reduces the guaranteed Social Security benefits on which our nation's seniors depend. Seniors rely on their monthly Social Security check. Long-term projections warning that Social Security expenses will eventually exceed the program's income have prompted Congress to discuss ways in which the system can be reformed so that it will continue to provide the benefits guaranteed to present beneficiaries while remaining strong enough to provide benefits to the next generation of retirees. As long as we do not undermine these guaranteed benefits, I'm open to considering pilot programs that allow workers to manage their own retirement funds, create individual security accounts, and fund individual retirement accounts that individuals control themselves."
Wednesday - February 16, 2011
It is my belief that the above e-mail is a form letter sent to anyone who happens to inquire about Social Security. Maybe all that talk about cutting Social Security and Medicare really is a smoke screen designed to get the general public numbed down to the point that we won't realize what is happening so when they let America go bankrupt they can say; But we didn't cut Social Security or Medicare, and get away with it. Is it working?
A final word to the powers that be. At this time there is two and a half trillion dollars worth of IOUs sitting quietly in the Social Security Trust Fund that over the next several years will need to be redeemed to pay Social Security and Medicare benefits. When that becomes necessary it will raise the National debt even higher than it is now. Is that what you are afraid to admit?
Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned - William
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Mubarak and Snow
When will they go?
Thursday - February 10, 2011
First a note about my last post (yesterday). I accidentally clicked publish when I finished Tuesday and it dated it at that time. I had to go in and save it as a draft so I could add Wednesday's to it but I couldn't change the day and date. I'll try not to do that again.
About 2:00 yesterday afternoon it began to snow, lightly at first but by 2:30 it was really coming down.Since the ground was already frozen I'm sure none of it melted. By 6:00 it was all over, with about 2 inches on the ground. Today is the day we usually go to Corinth to shop and visit family but we decided to pospone the trip until next week (Monday maybe). Most of the snow will be gone by night, just leaving slush. It is warming up some here and for a while we thought it was cooling off in Egypt but as the day wears on we're not so sure. About 3:00 this afternoon President Mubarak of Egypt announced that he would not be stepping down, citing outside pressure from foreign governments. Like me, he doesn't appreciate someone else telling him he has to go and go NOW. Here, at 4:00 on this Thursday afternoon,in my opinion, the best solution to the problem in Egypt might be for the Egyptian Army to arrest President Mubarak and hold him somewhere out of sight until after elections are held. That way no one could accuse him of caving in to another country.
Friday - February 11, 2011
I was really hoping that when I turned the television on this morning the news would be that the Egyptian Army had already arrested President Mubarak and was holding him in an undisclosed location but, alas, that was not to be. (At least most of the snow is gone).
At about 10:00 I was sitting in the doctor's office when someone turned the television on to breaking news out of Egypt. Sure enough, President Mubarak had just announced that he was stepping down and turning the country over to the Army and the Vice-president. It isn't exactly what I was hoping for but if the Army exerts enough control so as to keep the Muslim Brotherhood in check things may have a chance to work themselves out to the good. Let's hope and pray that they will.
Saturday - February 12, 2011
Still warming up here and now appears to be cooling off in Egypt. Maybe things will turn out like they expected them to but for some reason I have my doubts. I guess we'll find out soon enough but I still just can't trust that Moslim Brotherhood.
They have been holding a big (pep) rally in Washington with all the prospective "Republican Presidential Candidates" making speeches, each one trying to outdo the others. I don't believe there is much difference in any of them.
I hadn't made any plans as to planting a garden this year but the way prices on everything keeps going up and with the price of gasoline predicted to be near four dollars a gallon I might better rethink the situation out here on the hill. Maybe I can grow a few tomatoes, some peppers and a few beans or peas. Anything would be a help, I guess.
Sunday - February 13, 2011
Several weeks ago our electricity went off during the night and we didn't, at that time, have a flashlight (but we do now) so I found our matches, I knew where I could find a candle but while stumbling around in the dark I caught a toenail on a table leg and almost lost it. That's about how I am with a computer, stumbling around in the dark. I had been thinking I was seeing a little daylight but now I don't really know. Thank you all for your time and input. Stay tuned. - William
Thursday - February 10, 2011
First a note about my last post (yesterday). I accidentally clicked publish when I finished Tuesday and it dated it at that time. I had to go in and save it as a draft so I could add Wednesday's to it but I couldn't change the day and date. I'll try not to do that again.
About 2:00 yesterday afternoon it began to snow, lightly at first but by 2:30 it was really coming down.Since the ground was already frozen I'm sure none of it melted. By 6:00 it was all over, with about 2 inches on the ground. Today is the day we usually go to Corinth to shop and visit family but we decided to pospone the trip until next week (Monday maybe). Most of the snow will be gone by night, just leaving slush. It is warming up some here and for a while we thought it was cooling off in Egypt but as the day wears on we're not so sure. About 3:00 this afternoon President Mubarak of Egypt announced that he would not be stepping down, citing outside pressure from foreign governments. Like me, he doesn't appreciate someone else telling him he has to go and go NOW. Here, at 4:00 on this Thursday afternoon,in my opinion, the best solution to the problem in Egypt might be for the Egyptian Army to arrest President Mubarak and hold him somewhere out of sight until after elections are held. That way no one could accuse him of caving in to another country.
Friday - February 11, 2011
I was really hoping that when I turned the television on this morning the news would be that the Egyptian Army had already arrested President Mubarak and was holding him in an undisclosed location but, alas, that was not to be. (At least most of the snow is gone).
At about 10:00 I was sitting in the doctor's office when someone turned the television on to breaking news out of Egypt. Sure enough, President Mubarak had just announced that he was stepping down and turning the country over to the Army and the Vice-president. It isn't exactly what I was hoping for but if the Army exerts enough control so as to keep the Muslim Brotherhood in check things may have a chance to work themselves out to the good. Let's hope and pray that they will.
Saturday - February 12, 2011
Still warming up here and now appears to be cooling off in Egypt. Maybe things will turn out like they expected them to but for some reason I have my doubts. I guess we'll find out soon enough but I still just can't trust that Moslim Brotherhood.
They have been holding a big (pep) rally in Washington with all the prospective "Republican Presidential Candidates" making speeches, each one trying to outdo the others. I don't believe there is much difference in any of them.
I hadn't made any plans as to planting a garden this year but the way prices on everything keeps going up and with the price of gasoline predicted to be near four dollars a gallon I might better rethink the situation out here on the hill. Maybe I can grow a few tomatoes, some peppers and a few beans or peas. Anything would be a help, I guess.
Sunday - February 13, 2011
Several weeks ago our electricity went off during the night and we didn't, at that time, have a flashlight (but we do now) so I found our matches, I knew where I could find a candle but while stumbling around in the dark I caught a toenail on a table leg and almost lost it. That's about how I am with a computer, stumbling around in the dark. I had been thinking I was seeing a little daylight but now I don't really know. Thank you all for your time and input. Stay tuned. - William
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Winter Blues
And other news.
Monday - February 7, 2011
A new beginning. For the next few days I intend to write brief articles on some subject which is pertinent at the time. For us, here on the hill, it has already been a long, hard winter with several more weeks to go regardless of what that "Groundhog", who didn't see his shadow, said. The most of the news over the weekend either had to do with Egypt, O'Reilley's interview with the President or the Super Bowl. I don't know which one was most exciting, I didn't watch much of either one. I did read an article in the newspaper about how gasoline mixed with ethanol was really bad for lawn mowers and weed trimmers. It appears that ethanol and gasoline will "seperate in moist enough conditions -- leaving fuel tanks and carburetor bodies on mowers and weed trimmers susceptible to corrosion due to typical, sparing usage. Most people don't leave a car sitting a month or two months before they run it. That's why they are getting away with it in automobiles." (Daily Corinthian, January 6, 2011) I guess you could say that we have had a fairly damp winter so far. It snowed again this morning but it was too damp for any accumulation. Maybe Wednesday.
Tuesday - February 8, 2011
On Wednesday November 24, 2010, in my blog posting titled "Wake up America (and smell the manure)" I wrote about the "Social Security Trust Fund" and the way it is being maligned by both politicians and news people alike which, to me, was beginning to cause a bad smell to waft out of Washington and New York. Today that stench is growing even stronger. Bill O'Reilly, in his much bally-hooed interview of President Obama during the Super Bowl game kept silent and let Obama get away with telling the world that our Federal Budget deficit could not be reduced without cutting Social Security and Medicare. Never mind that those programs are paid out of the "Social Security Trust Fund" which, in turn, is funded by the FICA (payroll) tax and by a law passed, by a government completely controlled by democrats, in 1990 are, emphatically, not to be counted as part of the United States Budget, neither surplus nor deficit. Up until this time the payroll tax had fully funded, with money left over to go into IOUs to go into the Social Security Trust Fund. After President Obama asked for and received a two percentage points cut in the payroll tax for this year, there probably won't be enough to pay all benefits therefore the Treasury will have to borrow more money to buy back some of those IOUs. Isn't that really what Washington is worried about? Like the saying goes, "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Come on America, WAKE UP.
Wednesday - February 9, 2011
I guess you could say that the latest fad in Washington, i.e., the Federal Government, is the bailing out of states for one reason or another. It doesn't seem to make much difference what it is. Today it just happens to be for money already owed to the Federal Government by some states to cover their share of the unemployment checks already sent out or soon will be. It appears that those states will have to raise taxes on businesses to cover their shortfall if the Feds don't act quickly. I have heard two different stories as to how this bailout would work and everyone knows that we need, at least, three or more versions before we can make an informed decision on the merits of the case. I heard that the President wanted money included in the budget to bail out certain states but another story claims he is only asking that payment on money owed be deferred until a more convenient time. My opinion is, why not give the states an extension on the deadline for repayment? Maybe we'll know more in a few days.
I'll try this format for a while and see how it works out. This way I don't have to work on the computer so long at one time. Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned.- William
Monday - February 7, 2011
A new beginning. For the next few days I intend to write brief articles on some subject which is pertinent at the time. For us, here on the hill, it has already been a long, hard winter with several more weeks to go regardless of what that "Groundhog", who didn't see his shadow, said. The most of the news over the weekend either had to do with Egypt, O'Reilley's interview with the President or the Super Bowl. I don't know which one was most exciting, I didn't watch much of either one. I did read an article in the newspaper about how gasoline mixed with ethanol was really bad for lawn mowers and weed trimmers. It appears that ethanol and gasoline will "seperate in moist enough conditions -- leaving fuel tanks and carburetor bodies on mowers and weed trimmers susceptible to corrosion due to typical, sparing usage. Most people don't leave a car sitting a month or two months before they run it. That's why they are getting away with it in automobiles." (Daily Corinthian, January 6, 2011) I guess you could say that we have had a fairly damp winter so far. It snowed again this morning but it was too damp for any accumulation. Maybe Wednesday.
Tuesday - February 8, 2011
On Wednesday November 24, 2010, in my blog posting titled "Wake up America (and smell the manure)" I wrote about the "Social Security Trust Fund" and the way it is being maligned by both politicians and news people alike which, to me, was beginning to cause a bad smell to waft out of Washington and New York. Today that stench is growing even stronger. Bill O'Reilly, in his much bally-hooed interview of President Obama during the Super Bowl game kept silent and let Obama get away with telling the world that our Federal Budget deficit could not be reduced without cutting Social Security and Medicare. Never mind that those programs are paid out of the "Social Security Trust Fund" which, in turn, is funded by the FICA (payroll) tax and by a law passed, by a government completely controlled by democrats, in 1990 are, emphatically, not to be counted as part of the United States Budget, neither surplus nor deficit. Up until this time the payroll tax had fully funded, with money left over to go into IOUs to go into the Social Security Trust Fund. After President Obama asked for and received a two percentage points cut in the payroll tax for this year, there probably won't be enough to pay all benefits therefore the Treasury will have to borrow more money to buy back some of those IOUs. Isn't that really what Washington is worried about? Like the saying goes, "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Come on America, WAKE UP.
Wednesday - February 9, 2011
I guess you could say that the latest fad in Washington, i.e., the Federal Government, is the bailing out of states for one reason or another. It doesn't seem to make much difference what it is. Today it just happens to be for money already owed to the Federal Government by some states to cover their share of the unemployment checks already sent out or soon will be. It appears that those states will have to raise taxes on businesses to cover their shortfall if the Feds don't act quickly. I have heard two different stories as to how this bailout would work and everyone knows that we need, at least, three or more versions before we can make an informed decision on the merits of the case. I heard that the President wanted money included in the budget to bail out certain states but another story claims he is only asking that payment on money owed be deferred until a more convenient time. My opinion is, why not give the states an extension on the deadline for repayment? Maybe we'll know more in a few days.
I'll try this format for a while and see how it works out. This way I don't have to work on the computer so long at one time. Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned.- William
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Egypt Today
But gone tomorrow?
The news for the past two weeks has been dominated by the bad news out of Egypt. I have opinions about how some of the situations have been handled but I'm not a diplomat and I'm not applying for a job. I know from my own experience that when someone tells me I can't - I usually do and when they say I've got to - I usually don't. Needless to say, I would not have gone on television and condemned President Mubarak of Egypt, a man who some call a dictator but one who had been a friend to the United States for over thirty years and was a stabilizing force in the Middle East. He is also (or was) a friend to Israel but it is unclear what the outcome of all those protest will be. Does anyone remember what happened when we misplayed the situation in Iran while Jimmy Carter was President in 1979? If the "Muslim Brotherhood" gains control over Egypt it could spread throughout the entire area. Another Iran perhaps?
Have you read or, more importantly, do you remember the history of "Mohammedanism" (Islam), when Mohammed burst upon the scene in 611 A.D.? This passage was taken from The "Pocket Library of the World's Essential Knowledge" published in 1929. "In Medina a vision came from God to Mohammad, at a convenient hour, informing him that if his countrymen will not be persuaded by fair words then the sword must be the instrument of their salvation. Then began the era of bloody evangelism ---. Soon after Mohammad's death the Muslims began their Holy war against the pagens and more particularly against the infidels, meaning the Hebrews and Christians." By 750 A.D.they controlled everything from Spain to Persia including what was then called Palestine (Israel).
In 691 A.D. the Caliph ABD El-Malik built the "Dome of the Rock" Mosque on the Holiest of the Jewish Holy Sites where Solomon built the first Temple and Ezra and Nehemiah later rebuilt. The Crusades (Knights Templar) dominated the years from 1099 A.D. until 1291 A.D.. These were especially bloody wars but if not for them the Muslims would have probably owned the world by now. We may need to call the Templar out of retirement.
We will be watching and listening to the news for the next few days or weeks to see how things work out. Until then, thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned, - William
The news for the past two weeks has been dominated by the bad news out of Egypt. I have opinions about how some of the situations have been handled but I'm not a diplomat and I'm not applying for a job. I know from my own experience that when someone tells me I can't - I usually do and when they say I've got to - I usually don't. Needless to say, I would not have gone on television and condemned President Mubarak of Egypt, a man who some call a dictator but one who had been a friend to the United States for over thirty years and was a stabilizing force in the Middle East. He is also (or was) a friend to Israel but it is unclear what the outcome of all those protest will be. Does anyone remember what happened when we misplayed the situation in Iran while Jimmy Carter was President in 1979? If the "Muslim Brotherhood" gains control over Egypt it could spread throughout the entire area. Another Iran perhaps?
Have you read or, more importantly, do you remember the history of "Mohammedanism" (Islam), when Mohammed burst upon the scene in 611 A.D.? This passage was taken from The "Pocket Library of the World's Essential Knowledge" published in 1929. "In Medina a vision came from God to Mohammad, at a convenient hour, informing him that if his countrymen will not be persuaded by fair words then the sword must be the instrument of their salvation. Then began the era of bloody evangelism ---. Soon after Mohammad's death the Muslims began their Holy war against the pagens and more particularly against the infidels, meaning the Hebrews and Christians." By 750 A.D.they controlled everything from Spain to Persia including what was then called Palestine (Israel).
In 691 A.D. the Caliph ABD El-Malik built the "Dome of the Rock" Mosque on the Holiest of the Jewish Holy Sites where Solomon built the first Temple and Ezra and Nehemiah later rebuilt. The Crusades (Knights Templar) dominated the years from 1099 A.D. until 1291 A.D.. These were especially bloody wars but if not for them the Muslims would have probably owned the world by now. We may need to call the Templar out of retirement.
We will be watching and listening to the news for the next few days or weeks to see how things work out. Until then, thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned, - William
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Extra, Extra
Read some more
"Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread." That may be my fate today but I believe I should expand on the part of yesterday's posting which had to do with abortion. I said and I quote; "absolutely no tax money going for abortion except in certain cases." On the surface the issue of abortion appears to be divided into at least three parts and maybe a fourth which would be, "don't care one way or the other."
The three main divisions are pro-abortion, pro-choice and pro-life with the easiest of these for me to defend would naturally be pro-life. My belief is that no abortion should be performed except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. Because I believe that life begins at conception then, to me, an abortion would be murder. The United States Supreme Court ruled in the case of "Roe Versus Wade" that an abortion was constitutional and whether we agree with them or not that is still the law of the land.
Pro-choicers believe that regardless of constitution or law they have the right to an abortion if they so choose and they are right as long as "Roe V. Wade" remains the law of the land. The only way this law can be changed is by the Supreme Court and I can't see that happening in the near future or even in the mid-distant future. That case is probably closed.
As for pro-abortioners, I don't believe that takes a lot of explaining so I won't try very hard. A person who has been labeled as pro-abortion is not that much different from other divisions. The pro-abortion person tends to lean one way, the pro-lifer leans the other way and pro-choicer can lean in any direction with the don't care group just going on their own way. Of course the pro-abortion and pro-life groups have the law on their side.
The citizens of the United States are very widely split on the matter of abortion and even if you don't agree with the Supreme Court decision it is still, at this time, the law. There is nothing we can do to change this law except protest. The Constitution of the United States guarantees us the right of "Redress" (the right to express our grievances) but all those protest and the expressing of grievances should and must be done peacefully and with full regard to the rights of others.That is all that is expected of us.
The opinions expressed all all mine and I do so realizing that everyone else has the right to their own opinions. Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned. - William
"Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread." That may be my fate today but I believe I should expand on the part of yesterday's posting which had to do with abortion. I said and I quote; "absolutely no tax money going for abortion except in certain cases." On the surface the issue of abortion appears to be divided into at least three parts and maybe a fourth which would be, "don't care one way or the other."
The three main divisions are pro-abortion, pro-choice and pro-life with the easiest of these for me to defend would naturally be pro-life. My belief is that no abortion should be performed except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. Because I believe that life begins at conception then, to me, an abortion would be murder. The United States Supreme Court ruled in the case of "Roe Versus Wade" that an abortion was constitutional and whether we agree with them or not that is still the law of the land.
Pro-choicers believe that regardless of constitution or law they have the right to an abortion if they so choose and they are right as long as "Roe V. Wade" remains the law of the land. The only way this law can be changed is by the Supreme Court and I can't see that happening in the near future or even in the mid-distant future. That case is probably closed.
As for pro-abortioners, I don't believe that takes a lot of explaining so I won't try very hard. A person who has been labeled as pro-abortion is not that much different from other divisions. The pro-abortion person tends to lean one way, the pro-lifer leans the other way and pro-choicer can lean in any direction with the don't care group just going on their own way. Of course the pro-abortion and pro-life groups have the law on their side.
The citizens of the United States are very widely split on the matter of abortion and even if you don't agree with the Supreme Court decision it is still, at this time, the law. There is nothing we can do to change this law except protest. The Constitution of the United States guarantees us the right of "Redress" (the right to express our grievances) but all those protest and the expressing of grievances should and must be done peacefully and with full regard to the rights of others.That is all that is expected of us.
The opinions expressed all all mine and I do so realizing that everyone else has the right to their own opinions. Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned. - William
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Extra, Extra, Extra
Read all about it
About 2:00 pm Central Standard time on Monday January 31, 2011, a United States District Judge, Roger Vinson, in Florida ruled that the "Individual Mandate" (the forcing of individuals to buy insurance) was unconstitutional and could not be severed from the rest of "Obamacare" which resulted in the entire Health Care Law being struck down. While, in my opinion, that was good news the fight is far from over. The Administration, within hours of the Judge's decision, announced that it had been appealed and whatever decision the Appeal Court makes will be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The final decision is probaly a long way off. The only likely way it can be kept out of the Supreme Court is if this decision coupled with the earlier decision in Virginia gives the Administration the incentive to seek a compromise in order to save some of the most popular parts of the health care law which is now in limbo. I am in favor of some kind of law dealing with pre-existing conditions and could agree with children staying on parents insurance until age 26. That would have helped us when ours were that age. Of course you already know that I favor tort reform (medical liability), insurance sold over state lines, absolutely no tax money going for abortions except in certain cases and since the states don't seem to be doing their job we may need some kind of Federal oversight to keep insurance companies in line.
On the same day it was announced that former representative Newt Gingrich came out in favor of a law mandating that all cars be capable of running on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol. Even though I already buy that mixture I'm not really happy with it because I get at least 1 mile less per gallon of gas on it and ethanol being subsidized is not helping with our debt. Also the using of grain to make ethanol is causing a shortage of corn and wheat which drives up the prices of many of our necessities. If we are to mandate the use of ethanol in our gasoline then we should go one step farther and think about lifting the embargo on the importation of it from South America. I'm sure we can work out some kind of deal with our southern neighbors. It's something to think about.
This, being an Extra and as it should be, turned out to be shorter but if you have nothing else to say then you should just shut up. Right? Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned. -William
About 2:00 pm Central Standard time on Monday January 31, 2011, a United States District Judge, Roger Vinson, in Florida ruled that the "Individual Mandate" (the forcing of individuals to buy insurance) was unconstitutional and could not be severed from the rest of "Obamacare" which resulted in the entire Health Care Law being struck down. While, in my opinion, that was good news the fight is far from over. The Administration, within hours of the Judge's decision, announced that it had been appealed and whatever decision the Appeal Court makes will be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The final decision is probaly a long way off. The only likely way it can be kept out of the Supreme Court is if this decision coupled with the earlier decision in Virginia gives the Administration the incentive to seek a compromise in order to save some of the most popular parts of the health care law which is now in limbo. I am in favor of some kind of law dealing with pre-existing conditions and could agree with children staying on parents insurance until age 26. That would have helped us when ours were that age. Of course you already know that I favor tort reform (medical liability), insurance sold over state lines, absolutely no tax money going for abortions except in certain cases and since the states don't seem to be doing their job we may need some kind of Federal oversight to keep insurance companies in line.
On the same day it was announced that former representative Newt Gingrich came out in favor of a law mandating that all cars be capable of running on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol. Even though I already buy that mixture I'm not really happy with it because I get at least 1 mile less per gallon of gas on it and ethanol being subsidized is not helping with our debt. Also the using of grain to make ethanol is causing a shortage of corn and wheat which drives up the prices of many of our necessities. If we are to mandate the use of ethanol in our gasoline then we should go one step farther and think about lifting the embargo on the importation of it from South America. I'm sure we can work out some kind of deal with our southern neighbors. It's something to think about.
This, being an Extra and as it should be, turned out to be shorter but if you have nothing else to say then you should just shut up. Right? Thanks for your time and input. Stay tuned. -William
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)