Merry Christmas

Birth and re-birth,

Now and then and forever too.

Born and re-born,

For me and for you.

Gather together, clasp the hand

Or hands

Of those close and those

Who should be closer.

Hold forth the past, pass it along

To the future in words, deeds, and

Glances of love.

Gather together and talk, think,

Live His coming, His presence, His Love.

Celebrate the new, and the old, and the ancient,

With the songs and prayers and smiles

Taught and learned;

Remembered and discovered.

This is a timeless time,

Revel in that all encompassing Love

That is, too,

Timeless.

Juxtaposition

Interestingly enough, these two stories showed up on the Grassroots PA website at the same time. I was going to try to save this for tomorrow, as today is Christmas and both of these stories are not happy, then, I realized, today is the day to post this, to maybe let one or two people see that what we celebrate today is one of the best ways to combat these two haters. In my opinion, both of these people should be charged with crimes, but only one is...that in itself is nuts. The first is a racist hater, a young kid from Dover PA. He's following in the steps of racists, and arresting him for his actions might teach him a thing or two...but, not if he reads that this guy isn't going to be charged with anything.

The second guy hates Jews and Scandinavians, or, as is the case with these extremists, anyone who is not Muslim. He won't be charged because none of the groups he hates are 'protected', while he seems to be due to his conversion.

Now, I tend to try hard to see the good in people, but these two? Not really. If they were to read a little bit of the Gospels, just read them, I'm not asking them to convert, but to think. Love is easier than hate, and it sure works better.

For instance, the racist nut job would find that all people are equal in the eyes of God and the Jihadist would learn that the passages in the Koran that call for the killing of non-believers don't exist in the New Testament, he can still worship Allah if he wants, but should try the peaceful version.

Sorry for the sad intrusion, I'll top this with the Christmas Poem!

They read my blog

It looks as if the Turnpike Commission read my little blog...or it was the thousands of people like me that hated the idea of not knowing how much the toll was going to be!

Even the Sate Auditor General hated the idea! This is why we have open government, so we can change the stuff that makes no sense.

He just doesn't get it

People can't seem to understand that no matter how much they try, they can't force their own morals, thoughts, ideas, on others. A private organization is permitted to set rules, and the Boy Scouts of America does just that. I do not agree with the anti-atheism clause, for the record, but do agree with the no-gay-leaders clause. Notice, it does not say no gay scouts, it says no gay leaders...there is a difference.

Now, in Philly, the city wasted millions to try to kick the scouts out, they lost, and the settlement is to sell the land on which the scouts built a headquarters to them. In steps a well meaning (oh, bull-crap, he's not well meaning, he's hateful to a group he disagrees with) philanthropist to try to buy the building and land out from underneath the organization.

I have no problem with discussing this issue with people, and will debate the points readily, what I can not stand is assuming the Scouts 'discriminate' against gay leaders due to some moral code only. Sure, some of it is morally based, nothing wrong with that, either, but the rest is simple reality.

Now, disagree with me, disagree with the scouts, but you can't honestly disagree with the number of incredible well adjusted citizens that come out of the organization. In a world where the First Lady is pushing anti-obesity, this guy is trying to hurt an organization that teaches how to be 'physically fit'.

Let the scouts be scouts, don't enroll your kids if you disagree with their message, but don't shut them down if you disagree...

Exit question: What would be the discussion if this guy went to New York City and tried to buy the location where the Cordoba House Muslim Community center is going to be built? Homosexuality is a crime punishable by death in most Muslim countries...

They'll just write themselves

In the coming months and years, blog posts will be simple. Just Link to an article from, oh, 2000 or so, and then link to the current weather report. (I know, when a realist mentions weather, it isn't climate, but when an AGW religionists mentions weather, it's proof). So, for today, how about a breathless article warning the kids of 2000 that there will most likely never, ever, be snow in England again. 2010 was the date when the oceans were going to flood Philly too (I kid). Has anyone noticed the weather in England? Last year too? The earth is huge, massive, bigger than a human can comprehend, and we silly humans think we can affect it? We can't, we don't, and even if we did, the earth DOES NOT FREAKING CARE. Humans will survive, animals will survive and the planet will survive.

Get over yourselves people, please.

And before...oh, never mind, no one is going to comment on this...

Arrogance

It amazes me; whenever I think that humans have reached the peak of arrogance, another one pops up and proves me wrong. Take Joe Brimmeier of the PA Turnpike Commission who recently opined: "Why go to the expense of printing these things when most people don't even look at them?"

He was referring to the little cards we get when we use the PA TPKE, or, those of us that don't use it often enough to justify the easy pass contraption. I look at it as soon as I safely can, or, much preferably, and if possible, I have a passenger look at the ticket so we can have the money ready at the other end of the journey. This was standard, and still is for more than 1/3 of the drivers on the road (according to the linked article).

Just because those of you with easy pass have know idea what you are paying does not mean that the rest of us don't want to know. I want the option of getting off at Morgantown instead of Downingtown if I don't have enough money for the toll, I want to jump off at Harrisburg West instead of Carlisle if the difference is big enough, and don't even talk to me about the funky pricing between KOP and the NJ TPKE.

If the commission is printing such an overabundance of cards, maybe that should be looked at, not inconveniencing the travelers.

A very worthy cause

Mr Khaled is visiting Yemen on an ambitious mission to, as he puts it, take the battle against al-Qaeda to its heartland.

President Saleh: 'Yemen is not a haven for terrorists'

"My big aim is to uproot extremism in Yemen by encouraging people to be positive, face down the extremists and say 'We don't want you in our country'," Mr Khaled said.

So I promised some time ago to talk about the moderate Muslims that want to rid the world of terrorism, here is one.

I wish him luck!

Location, Location, Location

Much ado about nothing, really. It seems that one of the Downingtown Council members is upset that the Christmas Party is going to be held at the D'town Country Club instead of St. Anthony's due to 'scheduling' conflicts. I read that to be 'money', but I am cynical. The comments tell the real story though, it seems as if the complaining council member connected the golf club to the attempt to build on Kardon Park (not real up on that one, I admit) and she is also active in/leader of? Friends of Kardon Park. Hmmm...it was nice to see 38 comments on the story, active members of Downingtown!

Oh, as an aside, y'all need to kick Bob Smith out when his term is up, he feels that as elected official he should attend for free...get over yourself Bob.

Not Local, again

I know, I promised more local stuff, and I will do one later tonight, but first, two things I need to get off my chest.

On the ride in to work I was listening to NPR (no commercials), and heard something to this effect from a re-broadcast of one of the afternoon shows: Americans want both lower taxes and those healthy benefits too...I paraphrased.

Yup, this is true, but to most who only listen to the surface, this is describing the same human being, someone who wants stuff and does not want to pay for it making the heads of liberals explode. Think for a minute though that there are really two sides to this statement. The side that pays taxes and does not get welfare and the side that gets benefits and pays nothing (for three generations now, going on four). The ones screaming for higher taxes don't pay taxes, the ones screaming for lower taxes...you get the picture. A person working hard, paying taxes, isn't taking welfare to live, a person taking welfare to live isn't paying taxes...do I need to repeat it?

Democrats and liberals can keep pushing this class warfare, they are going to lose because as soon as someone gets a job and grows up, they vote to lower taxes.

The second thing is a continuation of the climate fraud. At work I listen to the BBC on Sirius, good world news, left slanted, hard left. They have been breathlessly following the insanity in Cancun and doing little clips about how horrible it is to be alive right now as the climate is beginning to kill us all...reallly, Google 'climate connection'. Anyway, tonight they talked to people from a town in Mali, and blamed climate change for the sand dune that is about to swallow the town. Did the BBC explain that Mali is located in the Sahara Desert? Of course not, that would be too many words for the story, right, not necessary information.

The real chuckle came midway through though, I think this was possibly a live report because they were interviewing a man who complained, "Every time we plant a tree to stop the dune, 5 more are cut down for firewood." So it's not the climate that is allowing the dune to advance, it is the normal shifting of sands, something that has happened for millions of years, something people have dealt with by simply moving away.

I hate to say it, but there are too many people being propped up by misguided altruism. Both issues in this post point that out, but to say it out loud...I am in for it...

Shut up and play

Nils Lofgren, admittedly a talented musician, has decided that Michael Vick shouldn't be allowed to play professional football because he killed a dog or three.

I know I am not going to be the only one to take Nils to task for this, but I wanted to add to the chorus. I googled his name plus ray lewis, no speech. I googled his name plus donte stallworth, no speech. There are other NFL player who are involved in the deaths of humans as well, but I am not going to bother, I know Nils didn't speechify over them. (Lewis was found not-guilty, Stallworth was drunk when he killed a guy).

Back to google, this time Nils Lofgren and Roman Polanski...nope, nothing about the rapist continuing to make movies.

How about Nils talking about drug abuse...nope, I guess that is cool with him too, along with alcohol...much bigger killers of humans that Michael Vick was of dogs.

The man did his time, he is out, he is now working, do I think he should be allowed to own a fire arm? Nope...play football? Yup.

Alarmists

So back in the mid 1970's I was taught in school that all the horrible things that we humans had done to the planet were causing a new ice age. Then, miraculously, when that didn't pan out, we were told that we were causing the planet to heat up. Now that that is not panning out for the alarmist, they are simply calling it 'climate change'.

I told my kids when the Mr. Gore went nuts to remember this, to relax, to be sensible about energy use, to never litter, to care for the environment, but not to buy into any alarmist bunk. I told them that by 2020 the next ice age would be upon us, everyone was going to freeze, 'billions would die!!!!!111!!!!!" (to steal a phrase from a bigot).

What does disturb me though is the number of people who fell for the hoax this time...I know that scientists can be persuasive, but the one screaming the loudest (Hansen) was the one who started the ice age crap in the '70's...that should have awakened people.

Okay, the reason? To belong to a group, a group that knows the 'right thing', that has the solution, and that can change the world. Sound familiar? We Christians have belonged to a similar group for over 2000 years, Jews much longer than that, and Muslims about 400 years less. Other religions exist as well, older and younger, all of them promising to explain life and to help change the world.

God is pretty interesting, huh? To allow the secularists to create (pun intended) a religion all their own, one with all the trappings of a 'real' religion, and one that if followed correctly would help many people and change the world. But, as with all organized groups, sometimes money and power take over...it surely did with the religion of AGW. Just read the stuff coming out of the Cancun summit about destroying economies and (check page 6) "relocating human settlements."

It was never about saving people, it was about power.

This might be fun...in a poetic sort of way. I noticed it is on a weekend when the Eagles are not playing, that will help with attendance for sure!

Now, I read the Daily Local Article, and the most of the 7 poets have been featured in a journal published by the woman who puts on this show...this is not really a problem, but it does remove it from the once local nature of the event, according to the Daily Local. Why is this? I then went to the website of Think Journal to find out.

"Think Journal publishes emerging and established writers with an editorial focus on words that have meaning, that are presented in a clear way, and that exhibit the skills demanded by craft."

(Why does this change my font when I copy and paste?)

This didn't help me a whole lot, just more of the normal Mumbo Jumbo editors seem to offer to kill the hopes and dreams of poets everywhere. If we thought our poems were everything above, we wouldn't hide them in closets...

Anyway...see ya there?

Why? For the exact result they got

So a couple of short sighted idiots over at West Chester University decided to stir the racial pot. Knowing full well that advertising for a "White Student Union" would bring out all the nuts, they printed up a bunch of flyers and hung them up. Sure enough, the usual suspects came to the fore to first denounce, and then, when it was learned that these were idiot 'leftists' rather than idiot 'rightists', to gently applaud the idea but not the manner. Really.

The comments at the Daily Local on the article are interesting as well, running more towards eliminating all race-based organizations than I had expected to see. Are we past the color coded groups? One would hope, but one also must wonder why a white organization is automatically racist but any other organization is not....

Maybe because I was denied even applying for an NAACP scholarship based on the color of my skin this bothers me. Not that the organization would have been banned, attacked, and derided before it even started, but that so many people assume that anyone thinking about starting such an organization must be a racist.

That word, too, is tossed about entirely too much as well. It is lessening the definition so that when a real racist shows up we have to wonder if the accusation fits.

Troofers need to get a grip

Geraldo and the Judge both need to be gone, removed from any position other than chuckles on Fox. I know, some people like the other stuff they do, but pushing 911 troofer crap hurts what is obviously a conservative television station. Let the nut jobs that call Alex whats-his-face have the troffer stuff, let the left own it.

No, I am not linking any of it, goodsearch it if you need to find the actual insanity. Two planes hit Tower 1 and 2, all the resulting damage was caused by those initial INTENTIONAL terrorist acts. There was no 'controlled demolition' of any of the buildings, none. The deaths were caused by Islamic Terrorists, not the United States or any other government.

What Government causes

An article in the Daily Local today points out exactly what reliance on government causes. Lower income folk who rely on government may have lost touch with the true help that is available in most communities. The title of the article proves my point, or, led me to my point: "I didn't know that people like that existed." Had this woman belonged to a church (or any house of worship) she would have known that people like us exist, those of us that give freely because it is right, not because the government takes.

The people she refers to are the members of an organization I am proud to be a very small part of, Good Works. I was asked to help out through my church and accepted, not much thought, I have some semblance of mechanical/structural ability (no finish work though!) and was able to assist in making a home safe for a new-born.

Back to the point. The government isn't going to seal your windows with the love that Good Works will, the government will give you the money to pay some company that was created to take the money, no connection to the community, no connection to people. Good Works remains connected because the labor is free; the workers work for the love of humanity and the realization that coming to know a higher power, any higher power, through the observation of works AND faith creates a better life for those who are helped.

Name that Party

I love it when we get the chance to play 'name that party'. When the political party of the criminal in question is not mentioned in the first paragraph, one must wonder why...Now, this wasn't a serious offense, or was it? It seems to me that the best way to avoid a DUI is to run into a bar and grab a beer, that way, any smell of beer on your breath is simply ignored...it pays to be a politician I guess.

Paragraph 12 of the story finally gets around to telling us that the driver is a Democrat, and, that he was in his 'state' car. The last paragraph mentions that this is the second crash of this type (rear ending another vehicle) for this guy...

Addendum to Airport Security

So I have taken some abuse for my stance on the new manner in which passengers are screened at American Airports. It has been interesting, to say the least. So, with out further ado, point number one is a comparison to an old post of mine regarding seat-belts. Yup, I was against the government forcing me to wear a seat-belt...but...I now wear one. From a libertarian point of view, mandating that I keep myself safe seems over the top, however, I now realize that if I am injured due to not wearing my seat-belt it affects more than just me. Those injuries can affect my immediate family, my extended family, and even my co-workers. If I become unable to work due to the injuries (that might have been avoided with the use of the seat-belt) tax-payers are affected as well. There, I made the jump, and I admit, I was wrong to assume that I was the only one affected by my choice regarding the seat-belt (I will also fight hard to put helmets back on those that ride motor-cycles when I am an elected official).

Now that we have determined that there are rights of others involved in the seat-belt arena can we please also admit that there are others involved in the airline safety issue?

Really, this is a simple yes or no question: Do people have the right to carry explosives on to commercial airplanes? If your answer is no, then you have to help solve the problem of ensuring it never happens. This can be accomplished in many ways, and maybe the 'naked' screening is not the way, the pat downs might be too much? Maybe?

Nope, not too much, not until we profile in the manner of El Al, with incredibly well trained screeners. This is going to slow things down even more though...which is going to create the hue and cry for faster service, which is what the full body scanner is all about.

Remember folks, if we took our time in the first place, we could do it the way El Al does, but we want to be there yesterday, hence the need for speed in travel.

So, until we all learn to slow down, until we accept the well trained but slow process that is profiling (and not based on race, so chill), either accept the speedy scanner or the pat-down.

Or walk.

Airport Security

I think I may have touched on this in the past, but it is time to do it again. There is a famous Ben Frankilin idea that those who give up liberty for security deserve neither. I agree with this, if we allow the police to stop us on the street for no reason, we have given up liberty for security (stop and frisk). That only pertains to walking along the street though, once we enter a car, a bus, a train, or a plane, we have surrendered some of our liberties for the convenience those conveyances provide. This is fine with me and should be fine with the rest of us as well.

We have no right, either express or implied in any of our founding documents to travel from one place to another in any way other than our own two feet. I do, however, have the right to feel safe as I walk from here to there; I have the right to expect the people on planes are not carrying on any item that could be used to kill me on the ground with that plane. I have the right to expect that the other guy in the other car is not drunk (implied consent).

I wish those who travel by plane would either stop whining or flying.

Review

Went to Amada for lunch, nice place, good food. We had 1:30 reservations and they were ready for us in the main dining room but that was way too loud, we asked to sit in the bar area and were accommodated, albeit grudgingly. Slow service to start, then, wonderful throughout. We went with La Mesa De Jose which is a selection of menu items picked by the chef. I was expecting some 'special' items but was extremely happy with the menu items. The quantity matched the quality and we all left full.

I'd go back...

Apolo Anton Ohno

I don't usually (okay, never have) recommended a public appearance by a celebrity on my silly little attempt at a blog, but Ohno is pretty cool and I am looking for local post worthy stuff. So, head on over to the Chester County Book Company and check it out...

Me, I will be at Amada for lunch and most likely won't make it back in time to get a book signed.

I just don't get it

But really I do, it's about being part of a group, then, needing to build that group to be the biggest and the best. Human nature, a religion you could say.

It seems that atheists are gearing up for the Christmas season, they just can't seem to understand why religious folk celebrate things. The whole article I link is chock full of low hanging fruit for those of us who argue that atheism is a religion, and one that is becoming more militant (atheist extremists?) each year. For instance:

"The godless groups say they are mounting this surge because they are aware that they have a large, untapped army of potential troops"

They need to grow that army too, they are losing ground, or, well, maybe not. It seems that atheism is a growing trend...but people who choose to leave an organized religion might not want to join your organized anti-religion either, did these people ever think of that? My favorite is the 'free-thinkers'...free to think the same things we do, and don't tell us how to think, we all think your religion sucks, we all think...oh, the hypocrisy...it burns. Now, I am going to try again to add a quote and I hope that this insane formatting allows me to continue to type.

That is one reason for the multiple campaigns: the groups are competing with one another to gain market share, said Mark Silk, founding director of the Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life, which is also at Trinity College.

“There’s a competitive environment for ‘no religion,’ and they’re grabbing for all the constituents they can get,” Mr. Silk said.

There, that worked...one must go past where one wants the quote if one is to ever type in normal mode again. Of course I am in compose mode, maybe if I was in Edit HTML it would...oh, sorry, back to the issue at hand.

They are spending gobs of money to attract people to their cause, using cherry picked quotes from the Bible and Koran to show how horrible religion is...hmm, what would one say if I picked a few quotes from avowed atheists...let's try:

Joey Stalin, that fun loving Atheist..."One death is a shame, a million deaths is a statistic." "Death solves all problems, no man, no problem."

There are more out there, we all know there are. Atheists are just as nutty as religious people, admit it and move on. Mocking the beliefs of one's fellow man is just freaking wrong on so many levels, and the worst part of it all is that most of the militant atheists think of themselves as 'inclusive' or 'progressive'. Listen to them, read what they write, and understand that they are tying to save your soul just as much as that nutty preacher on the street corner, they are just selling a different form of paradise, one that has an ending.

Just a note

So now a personal link to the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame. Way back when I spent some time swimming at the West Chester University pool, getting pointers from a man named John Hay. I didn't know of his accomplishments at that time, nor did I really understand his deep connections to the community when I again received swimming pointers from him during the inaugural season of the West Chester Water Rats (now the WCAY Marlins). This article in the Daily Local is full of those facts that follow a life such as his, much better than I ever could. I can't go to the induction ceremony as he enters the Hall this weekend, I didn't even know till last night he was to be honored, and to be honest, I have not been in touch with Mr. Hay for many, many years. That is my point.

While chatting with my son's swim coach, Mr. Hay came up and I learned that he was coaching at WCU. I thought to myself that it would be nice to drop in to say hello, he was kind enough to email notes regarding my editorial offerings in the DLN...but life intervened and less than a month after learning where he was, he passed.

Life does that, punches you in the gut when you don't do those things you should do.

Open Space

What a great catch phrase, huh? We all love open space right? and we all will pay more in taxes to preserve...oh, what? No more taxes? Hmmm, then what is a township to do? East Bradford is going to spend money on lawyers to write up easements for the land that East Bradford owns so that the land is 'never' developed. This seems to be, at least in the article in the Daily Local to be in response to Westtown Township realizing that open space costs money to maintain and has put some on the auction block.

I have an idea...dedicate the open space to the local youth athletic organizations. I read in previous Daily Local articles how soccer clubs in Westtown balked at paying fees to the township...This ultimately led to kids not playing as much soccer as they could have. How about doing it like West Bradford does with most of the youth athletic fields?

In West Bradford, fields are either 'dedicated' to the local youth athletic organization (WBYA, linked to the side), or, actually leased for a nominal fee. WBYA is then responsible for all maintenance costs and scheduling on those fields. The residents of the township are able to utilize the space when there are no games or practices, which is the preponderance of the time. This keeps plenty of green space that will not be developed and keeps the costs down to the residents of the township!

Back to the original article, you'll notice I placed quotes around the word never...this is because no lawyer has ever met a contract drawn up by another lawyer that couldn't be broken. Easements are great, sure, for a while. Dedicating the land to local organizations (and yes, I am partial to the youth, but how about birders? hunters? Historical Societies?) seems to me to be a better way to do it.

A change

So I don't know really where to go with this...if I am going to be active, I need a theme, something to keep me interested. I could stay national and international but I am seriously considering bringing this blog all the way down to the local level. Discussing door to door politics in my very community and the surrounding area. It wouldn't be that hard, really, and as far as I know there are no blogs that do this for our area.

Issues of a grand scale will always be of interest too, as they affect how we live and vote.

If I were to wait for an answer in my comments section I would never make the change, so I am making an executive decision. I am going to start wide and bring it in slowly so as not to freak out friends and neighbors.

Wow, so I headed over to the Daily Local News to look for something to write about and found a little blog area. I wonder if I should do that instead.

Then, I think to myself that maybe I am a little ADD 'cause I can't figure out how exactly to go about this; I also won't fail if I don't start, right? Back to the lackofnews.

The Avon Grove Charter School has been saddled with a burden of many thousand dollars following Gov. Ed Rendell's veto of House Bill 101.

The bill, which according to school chief Kevin Brady was unanimously approved by the state Senate and by all but 14 members of the state House, would have exempted charter schools and their foundations from real estate taxes.

There we go, and my font changed, sorry about that, still learning the new blog-spot stuff, I'll soon go back to writing in MS Word. I wonder why Mr. Rendell vetoed that bill, on his way out. The people wanted it, the politicians wanted it, and still he vetoed it. Let's look a little deeper, shall we?

And here it is: Charters that own their own buildings already are property tax-exempt

It is the 'foundations' that lobbied for the change, for the tax break, and maybe, just maybe, some of those foundations could use that break, but the law did not require the tax break to be passed along to a charter school that rented a building that the charter foundation owned. It seems that "fast" Eddie Rendell noticed a scam when he saw it! Good for him, and good for us.

Interesting look at the world

For fun, and because I needed something to point to when I get the crap from a lib-prog-demo-soc-com What are they? The following are the top 10 countries by GDP per capita. (GDP divided by population, using the PPP method, which takes into account the Purchasing Power Parity).

The year is 2003.

Luxembourg---Constitutional Monarchy

Bermuda---Parliamentary

United States---Constitution based Federal Republic-Democracy

Norway---Constitutional Monarchy

Liechtenstein---Constitutional Monarchy

Channel Islands---Parliamentary

Switzerland---Federal Republic

Denmark---Constitutional Monarchy

Ireland---Republic-Parliamentary Democracy

Iceland---Constitutional Monarchy

The Bottom ten are as follows, from worst up:

Sierra Leone---Constitutional Democracy

Malawi---Multi-party Democracy

Tanzania---Republic

Burundi---Republic

Congo Dem. Rep.---Republic

Guinea-Bissau---Republic

Ethiopia---Federal Republic

Congo-Rep.---Republic

Madagascar---Republic

Yemen---Republic

Okay, I got the GDP numbers here and the types of government here, where one can also check that I did not make up the definitions I am about to discuss.

First and foremost, the one glaring omission between the two lists is the word CONSTITUTION! A document that holds governments accountable to the people. Governments do indeed lead to economic wealth, the more free the government, the more wealth...Look at the top ten, see France? Venezuela? Spain? Greece? Nope, those are progressive countries, with governments that tax and tax and tax to support a welfare state. Yup, there are some of those in the top ten as well, but most of the top are freedom loving places....

So that was fun, we inferred that not having a constitution allows a government to over regulate, or to become so corrupt as to kill any economic growth.

Big jump really, I should have picked a few countries and compared, like the two Communist countries that fall at 118 for China but Cuba is not on the list...hmmm, no reported numbers perhaps?

My point is that progressive policies that lead to socialism or communism has been tried, it fails, every time.

Oh, France sits at 22, Greece at 41, and the socialist paradise that is Venezuela comes in at 124, lower than China!

Ahhhhh

I have to come back, too much going on. Had a conversation with a young Democrat today who claimed that the parents of Marco Rubio were illegal aliens in order to justify giving amnesty to the 12 million here right now. Fact is, his parents were asylum seekers allowed to enter the country under an order from President Eisenhower. The Nikki Haley slur regarding her parentage was ignored...why is it that when in a debate, Democrats go after race, lineage, and perceived intelligence, all while calling those they disagree with racist?

The tea party nut in Delaware lost, maybe now a right/moderate can run rather than a left-leaning republican. Sure, it will be 6 years, but it is only 6 years.

Here in PA we did the normal swap for Governor, and we have an actual Republican Senator again, it's been quite some time, well, since Santorum was run out of town by a right leaning Democrat...at least on some social issues.

The Fed is killing the economy, why did President Bush appoint a left leaning chair? oh, that's right, President Bush was a spender, trying to be loved by everyone, and it has hurt us all.

Politics suck

I am getting tired, tired of reading about politics, tired of seeing relatively intelligent people reduced to talking points and knee-jerk reactions to situations. Do people not realize that two people marrying in California is not going to affect your marriage in Pennsylvania? Or, all the police officers in Arizona are not racists that will immediately ignore the prohibition against profiling and go right to profiling.

Perhaps not everyone that attends a tea-party rally is racist, and not everyone that attends an anti-war rally is not an America hating communist.

The labels are insane too, liberal, progressive, conservative, neo this and soc that; it is tiresome

Then you find yourself on a blog, reading, commenting, and not realizing that the whole place is an echo chamber where dissenting views are frowned upon. They are out there, and the topics covered run the gamut from science to politics to religion to child rearing.

It sometimes is a good idea to back away, to read contrary opinions, and to determine what is important in life.

Commenting on blogs, not so important, really. Staying true to who you are, living your life as best as you can, now that is important.

So I am working on this...not easy, but it has to get out:

Chairs, never empty

A team,

A group,

A family;

Not complete

Without those

Who led,

Who left,

And those

Who exist

In heart.

These chairs may

Not be

Full,

And yet,

We fill them

With our love,

Our faith.

Or this:

A line was added

To include Him,

Not really needed

He’s always within.

Then, a single chair

Left empty to show

He would be there

To help us grow.

Not needed, that empty space;

His presence was felt in that place

Where we gathered to share His grace,

His love, His touch on every face.

Now two have gone,

And in His house reside;

And with each new dawn,

Less pain for those who tried

To bridge that gap between

Life and death and Him;

Those on whom we lean

For whom now the light is dim.

To the rest of us it now falls

To be the strength we would use

When it was our stubborn walls

We needed help to lose.

To be those to start

The healing, the acceptance

That with God in the heart

We overcome our reluctance.

We follow those we see

As forever strong,

Yet the truth may be

Just like that song.

And on our backs, now lean

Please, all those who feel

The world has become mean

And it’s too hard to deal.

Just remember this fact

Before we call it a day

A team is always intact

Regardless of the way

The members take their

Leave. The important thing

Is that they were in the Chair,

Part of the eternal ring.

Life is hard, harder when one has faith sometimes, 'cause that faith can seem shattered by random things.

Google Maps

View Larger Map

Might work...might not...

a poem

Sometimes one comes across a poem that makes sense right away becuase it is written to be read, to be understood, not to make the reader feel stupid or out of touch with whatever group the poet is trying to impress. Once upon a time by the Nigerian poet Gabriel Okara is just such a poem:

And of course it will not paste here...sometimes Blogger sucks. So, if interested, go read it, it really is worth the click.

There is hope

Read this, posted at the Arab News, and take hope. Other than a couple of backwards comments, the sentiment is wonderful, it is a Muslim writer questioning the murder of Muslims by Muslims in the name of God. If we can teach the commentors that it is indeed Muslims, not Jews or westerners, we will be on the path to that elusive peace we all want.

Oil Spill Gulf of Mexico 2010 - al.com

Oil Spill Gulf of Mexico 2010 - al.com

So I have been looking for a good place to figure out what is going on down in the Gulf and this site seems to be fair. Some sites were anti-oil, others anti-Obama, and still others anti-BP. At least the site above covers the whole mess, linking to other stories.

It drives me nuts that this happened, that BP simply ignored advice from the rig (allegedly), and that 11 people have lost their lives. Add to that the environmental destruction and the economic destruction (made worse by a knee-jerk moratorium), and this is going to hurt not only the Gulf states but the entire country.

The image was borrowed from here:

2 Teens Missing, Dozens Rescued After "Duck Boat" Crash In Delaware River - cbs3.com

2 Teens Missing, Dozens Rescued After "Duck Boat" Crash In Delaware River - cbs3.com

Please, for those of you that pray, pray for the two missing, pray for our youth and leaders who were on that boat. We need one of those miracles right now, a blessing, a happy ending to a tragic day, if at all possible. The tenuous nature of our lives, of everything that surrounds us hits too close to home sometimes. Some very good people, youth and adults, are going to need our support, your support.
For those of my readers that do not pray, simply send a thought towards Marshallton and Hungary, then hug your kids, your spouses, and your friends; tell them you love them.

The Obama Tax Trap - WSJ.com

The Obama Tax Trap - WSJ.com

Back to politics I guess, here is an article (commentary, sure, but based in fact) that will boil the blood. What ticked me off the mot is the notion that the republicans will buy into raising taxes on the 'rich'. When did poor people ever hire anyone?
This country lives and breathes on middle sized businesses, those are the ones that employ many of us. If the taxes on these businesses are raised, employees will be cut, or, prices will go up to keep the business profitable. Think about it for a minute, who really pays taxes? The end user, always and forever. maybe with that in mind a VAT is a good idea, then people would finally realize who pays taxes. Of course the VAT would be added, not as a substitute, so we would all (poor even more so) pay higher taxes.

This is simple stuff people, over thinking it is what is causing the prblems.

Home

That was one awesome trip. New friends, new experiences and new thoughts. Or, really, old thoughts re-worked. We built the roof on one of the wings of th church and were able to help start the finish coat on another. Amazing building processes, no wood due to the climate I guess, but 6 inch block for a 3 story building? Odd, but, that is what it is.

Happy to be home, happy to live where I do, and happy to know who I know.

Cross posts...in a way

I can not post pictures, the darn card will not work on the only computer we brought, so, if you want pictures go here:
http://mumcmexicoteam.blogspot.com/. Today was another incredible day, so much work accomplished and an unexpected trip to the beach for 5 minutes. The water is beautiful, blue and bluer, the sand is bright white, but, full of those things that cut feet and toes. Interestingly enough, bottle caps and cigarrette butts everywhere. We ate once again at the Portales de Cancun, 4th night, and D. and I shared an appetizer (Nachos with Pastor), and a large plate of tacos with every meat the place makes...Chicken, Pork, Steak, and tenderloin. The pico is almost as good as mine, the green salsa is wicked hot and the ground habenaro salsa is deadly, mix the three together and heaven on earth has been located!
LAst night we walked to the 'flea market', what an interesting experience. No price is real, the shop keepers start at 50 bucks, or maybe 500 pesos, and you walk out the door with the item for 25 American dollars.
Back to the states on Thursday, might get a chance to post again before then,

What follows is our team in words. You'll notice 20 lines, each line representing a team member. Please, do not spend too much time figuring out who is who, and don't ask 'cause the 'key' is gone. Many of the descriptions could fit anyone of us, or, all of us. The last line is our link to MUMC, God, who has blessed us in so many ways over the last 6 days and will continue to bless us.

A Team
Quietly persevering,
Steady and true;
Wildly engaging,
Devoted and new;
Fresh, yet accepting,
Sharing the thrill;
Depth not surprising,
Finding the will.
Working to please,
All heart and bright smiles;
Changing with ease,
Collected, in colorful style.
Much more than one sees,
Honestly reaching;
Worldly by degrees,
Chortling and teaching.
Pensive and true,
From out of the blue,
Always answers the call,
Embracing us All.
I will leave you today with just one of the amazing ideas presented yesterday when we heard the Gospel in Spanish:
"Cuando Dios Invite, Dios Paga." Please excuse the spelling if I made a mistake, I think even those who have never heard Spanish can get that one:
"When God Invites, God pays."
I know I have been paid, more times that I can count over the last week.

Day 4....

Day 2 was better than day 1, with tons of sand and gravel pulled up and all the block set in between the beams. I was able to make the end cuts, felt like I was useful for the day. Saturday was our Xcaret day and we caught the remnants of tropical storm ALex, rained most of the day. It is a beautiful place just the same. Hung out with the dolphins and the manatees and the bats and the fish and the tortugas. GOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL...sorry, Mexico just scored the first goal. Okay, we left Xcaret early and hung out, two of the youth and I had an experience buying jerseys for the game today, trusted a shopkeeper and it paid off! Today was great, the service was 2 hours but very uplifitng, the Gospel in Spanish is the Gospel in english. If the visiting Pastor had had a pad of paper I would have thought I was listening to Uncle Reg! Recuerdo: Cuando Dios invita, Dios paga.

Day one...success

Day one was hugely successful. 600 block up two flights along with 20 beams. Countless buckets made the rope and pully trip and I think the Pastor was happy. Lunch was taquito's, chicken or Potato, or, both! I am so glad I have developed a liking for Avacado! All are well, no bad dehydration, just a few cramps and some slight dizziness among the group, of course with some of us, the dizziness in normal. The sun left us this afternoon, which cooled the air that is being moved by some awesome ocean breezes, thunderstorms are around, but so far only one short shower.
All for now...

We are here

We arrived on time, made it through 'migration' and customs in good time to find that Pastor had indeed found another vehicle to cart us around in, there would be no waiting at the airport for a ride. This was a good thing, the heat is oppressive, the humdity being about, oh, 245%. Anyway, thinking we were headed to the hotel and a trip to the store to buy lunch stuff, we piled into a van and an explorer, the bags were in a little box truck, a size the turned out to be ubiquitous on the streets of Bonfil and Cancun. Bonfil is...well, it's Darby to Philly. But, Cancun isn't nearly as big, so maybe Bonfil is Downingtown's Thorndale, attached but seperate.

We were suprised by lunch at the orphanage, a quick meal shared with some of the children, those too young to be in school, then we stopped at the church. What a beautiful place, stucco and tile, as yet unfiinished, but the sanctuary...wow...big, open (and I mean open, there are no windows in the windows), and yet, I iamgine when it is filled, it will become the size it needs to be.

We were introduced to the beams and block we will be carrying, lighter than expected. Then to the Hotel, the pool (about 90 degree water), and after that a trip to the store for supplies. Nothing is where it should be, and it seems that peanut butter is not a staple here.

Dinner was incredible, really, it was great (and cheap!)

Off to bed, early call in the morning.

The Reasons

So below the Israel post is one regarding where I am headed in a day or so, and for the 3 people who still read this blog, the whole thing might be tough to understand. There are those that knew me when anything with the word 'mission' in it had better be an old TV show, and there are those that may be wondering why Mexico, of all places, what's wrong with Coatesville…hey there Stone-dude, didn't we once see a post about charity starting at home?

First things first, I have grown up, and in the growing there have been a few changes. I hope that the inner core is still me, the me that loves people for who they are, the me my grade school classmates would remember with a book, or a helping hand for, well, whoever needed it. I would hope that the high school classmates would still see that guy that was too smart to be hanging around with that group, but sure didn't seem to get into as much trouble as they did, the guy that would, again, lend a hand. See a trend here? I like to help, if I have a skill and I can share it, I want to (this is the reason I can't own my own masonry business, I share too much and charge too little!) I firmly believe that charity begins at home, in our own communities, our own back-yards, therefore I have…nope, when I started to list I realized it read more like self promotion than what it is; it is my life (in the words of a pretty perceptive teenager). So I do give here at home and I see this as an extension of that. The youth who travel with us are the ones who will benefit from this trip, almost as much as the children in the orphanage and the church we will be working on. These are great kids; talented, creative, friendly, outgoing, and willing to work, they've proven themselves locally as well. What they are seeing are some parents that fully support them and are willing to spend a hard earned vacation to allow them to experience helping those in need.

I know, platitudes get me nowhere, need is so overused. I guess what I am saying is that what passes for need in Chester County PA isn't even close to what will pass as need in Bonfil, Mexico. We've been warned that it is different, that it will shock us, that we won't believe it, and still, when we get there and start working, I know that first night is going to be a chorus of "I didn't think it would be like this." And then we will persevere and learn, get to know some kids from another culture, give them a hand for a week (more importantly, supply the materials), and come home with a new perspective on what it means to need.

Why Mexico? That's easy, because it is the church our congregation helped start 15 or so years ago. Is that a cop out? No, that's the truth. Is it selfish to head to Mexico during what is being called drug cartel wars? In a way it is, but it is more selfish to not go, to allow this group to go without me, because they would. Self promotion again? No, one of the mysterious workings of this life we lead. The possibility was discussed between my son and I, bandied about, and then, and adult dropped out. I asked if they needed me and they said yes. The leaders headed down to set it all up and came back with a description of our job. "We will be laying these big block, mixing cement, and finishing the stucco roof," they told us. Did you read that? Laying block…I can do that, I have done that, and no one else on the team has, not one of them. Sure my son has mixed mud, you don't get to be a stonemason's 16 year old son and not mix a couple hundred batches, but he hasn't carried and laid block all day for a week, heck, even I haven't done that for a number of years.!

Oaky, I'll stop now, many may have skipped the middle anyway, we are going because Pedro, Genaro, Lorena, and several other young children might learn from Mike, David, Allie, Gel, and several other young adults. I expect the reverse will be more true, and I plan on watching both groups, so I can learn as well…and lend a hand.

and then it gets bad again

So this will by my final political post before the trip to Bonfil, but I had to touch on this (and if I get news, and if this situation boils, I might take a moment. So now there are American Naval Vessels in the Red Sea to back up Israel in the coming week when the Iranian 'aid' ships come in.
This scares me, I wonder why these people want war? Why are Iran and Lebanon attempting to provoke Israel (and the US) into a war they will lose? Keep in mind that Israel is undefeated in its wars against the Arab states that would like to see the Jews returned to Germany and Poland.
If this boils over, it might get very ugly, very quickly, our President is very much in the market for a distraction from the debacle in the Gulf of Mexico.

Trip to Mexico

Heading to Bonfil, Mexico next week to finish a church that was started by the congregation of our church here in PA. The church also supports an orphanage so we will be spending time with the children, hopefully imparting a small sense of our lives while we grow and learn from them. The blessings we take for granted (just the ability to post political screeds on a blog) are things these children may never have and at the same time, the blessings we will be introduced to may open our eyes to a more enlightened life.

I will do my best to post at least every other day, if not every day, what I have seen, felt, and learned. Stop in and check it out.

Whew

Dodged a big one...

Nouraee said that the ships would sail without protective security because the Iranians “do not want to fight", however he emphasized that "we are willing to become martyred in this way.”

According to IRNA, a senior official of the the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, Deputy Commander Hossein Salami, has said that escorting the two cargo ships "was not on the guards agenda."

Some sense in the world. Of course, the martyr talk in the article might mean that the crew of the vessels will be armed, making boarding harder. These ships might have to be sunk from afar...what will that do to the region?

Okay, Iran is worse

Below I wrote that Iran scares me almost as much as North Korea...I should have stayed away from DebkaFile. This article, if it plays out, could mean very bad things.
For instance:

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad assured Turkish leaders whom he met in Istanbul Tuesday, Jan. 8 that the vessels due to enter the disputed waters within days will not shrink from a head-on clash with Israel's Navy and Air Force exclusion forces. "We'll breach the Gaza blockade," the Iranian president vowed. The Iranian Red Crescent vessels will carry "volunteer marines" of the Revolutionary Guards "who will teach the Israelis a lesson."

Not a good thing, then the nut goes on to say that this will be the beginning of the end of Israel. This is scheduled to go down next week, I can only hope that it is more posturing by an idiot.

I have seen this before

A few years ago, I think 4, I read "Countdown to Terror", an expose by then Congressman Curt Weldon. In it, Mr. Weldon (full disclosure, I have met and cooked for Curt, while discussing this book)insinuates that Osama Bin Laden is in Iran, has been for years. Now, DebkaFile says so too. I have no idea how valid the source is, however, it seems to be decent.

Iran scares me almost as much as the North Koreans.

This is pretty good...

Helen Thomas....

Look, we all know she's a left wing shill, she has been for years...the left was proud to own her all those years too, now, well, they are scrambling. Back to Germany and Poland? The left like to point out the racism at the tea party rallies, and so do I, that stuff sucks, but the left never admits that most pro-Palestinians are left wingers, and most of those are rabidly anti-Semitic. Now, before y'all freak out, I did not call most left wingers anti-Semitic (I'm not like a leftist that paints all republicans as racist), I said the majority of pro-Palestinian activists are anti-Semitic. The truth of the matter is that the is plenty of food in Gaza and the blockade would be lifted if the terrorists stopped lobbing missile and sending suicide bombers to kill civilians.

I have posted before about intellectual honesty, and I guess as long as left wingers continue to excuse this type of behavior I will have to keep pointing it out.

Home Again

Home now, long drive today, lost in Christianburg looking for a CiCi's pizza. We still need to try a double-down, not enough room in the bellies after the real breakfast and the pizza for late lunch.
No post last night, the whole day was not about me, and I left it that way. It was about My wife and her past...my mother-in-law and her mother, and the rest of that side of the family (who are wonderful, by the way).
Kingston Tennessee is a nice little burg, compete with its own lake! The views are incredible, the pace is slow, and the people are very nice. A place one could move to, if one could find work!

Tomorrow the politics comes back, I promise...

Great Day

I will return to the politics soon, I promise, I just want this weekend to be abut family (and to return to posting slowly). Great day in the mountains, we did some driving in the morning, then to Ober Gatlinburg to ride the alpine slides, wow, what fun! Then it was back down the mountain to grab some Colonel Sanders for lunch which we enjoyed by a stream up in the Smokies, a Mayfield thing from the past. After pictures we hopped in the car and drove up, up, up till we could see forever. This is such a beautiful place, sure, too many people, but beautiful just the same. Back to the motel after many pictures for a cat nap and a couple games of scrabble and we were off again to walk the streets looking for dinner. Calhouns, a good spot, and then back to the streets to buy candy, it seems that one can not leave Gatlinburg without buying taffy and fudge, no problems with me!

Tomorrow we head to Kingston for visiting and the reason for being here, a pleasant send off for Grandmother and Dinner with Peggy B.

In the Smokies

So, this is what I am doing today with loved ones. Hiking and sight-seeing, I have enjoyed Tennessee more than once, this is a state as beautiful as Pennsylvania! Today's trek has a smidgin of sadness, but mostly one of memories for my most wonderful wife and in-laws. We will celebrate a life gone today and tomorrow as we also enjoy ach other's company in this wonderful corner of the planet.

Most transparant ever...till they'e caught

I won't bother with all the links to President Obama promising a differnt way to run things, a transparant administration. We have seen them all, laughed at them, and moved on. But they, meaning the administration (or as he calls it, when at a press conference "the current administration"), are only transparant when they want to be, if they are pulling the same old politics, the hide and obfuscate. Take the Sestak job offer for instance. Those of us in PA knew that Arlen was done this year, Toomey was going to clean his clock in the pimary, then, the greedy bastard switched parties...gauranteeing he would not be a US senator next January, something that made the majority of Pennsylvanians happy. It didn't make the administration happy though, so they tried to bribe Sestak to leave the race, and then, when called on it, denied, lied, and pointed fingers.
Now that the truth is out, will Rahm leave? Will he be fired? Will President Obama know either way?

Korea...and the coming war

First of all, if you "...depend on South Korea and China for up to 80% of its trade and 35% of its GDP." why would you sink one of it's warships?

Becuase Communism fails every time it is tried and the only way to keep the people down is to lie about the rest of the world, and, to create enemies for those same subjugated people to hate. Now the North can point to the trade embargo as the reason it's people are starving, not the failed policies of left wing politics.

Rather than en embargo, South Korea should begin to airlft food to the North. Free food would hurt the government of the North more than taking food away. Along with the food could come pictures of free people.

Just a thought, attack the North with love, butter not guns, and in this case it might work.

Time to come back

I need to start up again, to write here. I could add this to my word counts for the day...

The world is headed for an interesting time, that is for sure, there is going to be plenty to write about.

I'll start with the Koreas tonight, if they still exist!

Drudge uses misleading headline

NYT: THE BLIZZARDS ARE FROM THE WARMING...

that is the headline on Drudge that links to this article:

Climate-Change Debate Is Heating Up in Deep Freeze

I read the article it seems to be almost down the middle, for the NYT. They give lip-service to skeptics, sure, more ink to those who use weather to 'prove' AGW, but there is a little nod towards the rising tide of doubt.

Just Wow

I have tried for several years now to understand just what is going on in the Middle East. This article, and these two quotes sum it up quite nicely.

Until these attitudes go away, nothing will change, it really is as simple as that.

“The aim is to expose the crimes the Zionists have committed. Debating with logic and evidence and using their media and appearing on their television channels will be effective and allow us to reach a wider audience. At the same time it will show the Zionists that we are willing to talk to them on their own ground,” he said.


and

Al-Nujaimi said there could be no normalization of relations with Israel which, he said, has for many years broken all international agreements and sabotaged every peace initiative. He said that nothing will work with it except jihad, including boycotting all of its media networks and cultural activities.

Those agreements were broken by those in the Arab/Muslim/Palestinian world.