While I am not a person that really enjoys the Fine Arts, I had the privilege of seeing Phantom of the Opera on Broadway several years ago with my wife (she was my fiance at the time). I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the show. The music, the acting, the atmosphere were all great.
I must say that I never thought about a sequel. However, Andrew Lloyd Weber has been working on a sequel to the original. He expects it to be ready for production toward the end of 2009, with debut productions possibly on 3 continents. I look forward to seeing this at some point. Hopefully, he can make it just as good as the original. Only time will tell.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Defending Israel
Why is it that the world will rush to condemn Israel for fighting back against Hamas, but they will not condemn Hamas for attacking Israel in the first place? I agree with Israel that they will stop fighting when, and only when, Hamas stops or once Hamas is destroyed. Anything less than this should be unacceptable.
Also, it is about time that our illustrious President-elect comes out and takes a position on this. Instead, he plays golf and vacations in Hawaii. I guess the media will be going after him just as they did when President Bush would go on vacation. I don't think I will hold my breath on that one.
Also, it is about time that our illustrious President-elect comes out and takes a position on this. Instead, he plays golf and vacations in Hawaii. I guess the media will be going after him just as they did when President Bush would go on vacation. I don't think I will hold my breath on that one.
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Cowboys lose...and miss the playoffs
As a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, I was greatly disappointed to see them lose yesterday. It hurts that they lost to the arch-nemesis Philadelphia Eagles. What hurt more was the score: 44-6. What hurt even more than the score was the way that they lost. It was like they did not even want to be there.
The Cowboys had no passion. They were not able to to play consistently enough to systematically move the ball and score. At times, they were not able to tackle.
So what went wrong? This team has more talent than just about any other team in the NFL. Why would a team that started the season so strong and the season so weak? How could a team with so much talent play the last few games as though they were the Detroit Lions?
The Dallas Cowboys are broken. They need to be fixed. They cannot win anything until they get back on the right track, and I have a few suggestions.
The Cowboys had no passion. They were not able to to play consistently enough to systematically move the ball and score. At times, they were not able to tackle.
So what went wrong? This team has more talent than just about any other team in the NFL. Why would a team that started the season so strong and the season so weak? How could a team with so much talent play the last few games as though they were the Detroit Lions?
The Dallas Cowboys are broken. They need to be fixed. They cannot win anything until they get back on the right track, and I have a few suggestions.
- Fire Wade Phillips. I am sure he is a nice guy, but the man appears to be a statue. He shows no emotion. He shows no passion. The coach needs to be more than a cheerleader, but he needs to show passion so that his team can feed off of that. He needs to have control of his players. He cannot let people like T.O. to grab the spotlight and create problems in the public arena. These issues can be, and should be, dealt with privately.
- Get rid of Terrell Owens. He is a cancer. You would not open up your own body and allow a cancer to come in and infest your body. Likewise, why would you do that with your football team?
- Get rid of Adam 'Pacman' Jones. Too much trouble. Not a good player.
- Rebuild the offensive line. They do not provide enough protection for Romo. They are getting old and terribly overweight.
- Get a run-stopper on the defensive line. Running backs found too many holes in that line over the last couple of games.
- Get a legitimate General Manager. I realize Jerry Jones owns the team, so he is able to do whatever he wants. But he needs a football guy to focus on player/personnel decisions. I liken it to the Yankees under George Steinbrenner. It was not until the mid-nineties when he made Gene Michael the G.M. that the Yankees started to win World Series. He realized he needed someone other than himself making player decisions. That is the same thing that Jerry Jones needs to do.
They need to do something. The status quo is not working for them. As the Obama-ites would say: It's time for change. I have hope in the future.
Friday, December 26, 2008
The UAW: Why is there no anger at them in this whole crisis?
According to a report by Fox News (and other media outlets), the UAW owns and operates a $33 million lakeside retreat in the backwoods of Onaway, Michigan, including a $6.4 million golf course. First, let me say that I do enjoy the game of golf. I may not be very good at it, but I do find it to be a way to relax and take out some frustrations, all at the same time. So I do not begrudge the union for having a golf course.
Here is the problem: In the past 5 years, this resort has lost $23 million. As the union is having problems with a pension fund that is losing money, they continue to throw away money with this resort. The UAW covers costs for this 'Walter and May Reuther Education Center' (sounds impressive, doesn't it?) from interest earned on the strike fund. Due to losses over the past 5 years, the UAW was forced to take out loans to keep things going.
First of all, the market did well over the last 5 years (notwithstanding the last 6-9 months). Why couldn't the UAW make money on any investments over that time? Are their investment people that bad? Maybe they should have been fired, too. They should have been able to make enough money for this place to be solvent.
Also, what do they need a resort for? According to the UAW, they send workers there to "learn, experience unionism (and) commit to labor's cause." This sounds a lot like socialism to me. Basically, it is a place that they send people to in order to get them to forget free market economics and indoctrinate them with the socialist tendencies of the union.
I am in the front of the line when it comes to griping about the government bailouts. They should not happen (and there will only be more once President-elect Obama is in office and pays off his union friends). In my opinion, these businesses that did not practice good policies should be left alone to go under, including the auto industry. My problem is that the UAW did not have to give up a thing in this whole auto bailout deal. They are the main reason that the auto industry is hurting. We do not need the unions. The auto assembly folks are compensated well. Their benefits are incomparable (except with Congress).
If the auto executives are castigated for flying to D.C. on the company planes for Congressional hearings, then why are we not castigating the UAW for throwing away money (and a lot more than what the execs spent on flying to D.C.) on this golf course and resort? Can we say double-standard? Can we say vote-buying?
Here is the problem: In the past 5 years, this resort has lost $23 million. As the union is having problems with a pension fund that is losing money, they continue to throw away money with this resort. The UAW covers costs for this 'Walter and May Reuther Education Center' (sounds impressive, doesn't it?) from interest earned on the strike fund. Due to losses over the past 5 years, the UAW was forced to take out loans to keep things going.
First of all, the market did well over the last 5 years (notwithstanding the last 6-9 months). Why couldn't the UAW make money on any investments over that time? Are their investment people that bad? Maybe they should have been fired, too. They should have been able to make enough money for this place to be solvent.
Also, what do they need a resort for? According to the UAW, they send workers there to "learn, experience unionism (and) commit to labor's cause." This sounds a lot like socialism to me. Basically, it is a place that they send people to in order to get them to forget free market economics and indoctrinate them with the socialist tendencies of the union.
I am in the front of the line when it comes to griping about the government bailouts. They should not happen (and there will only be more once President-elect Obama is in office and pays off his union friends). In my opinion, these businesses that did not practice good policies should be left alone to go under, including the auto industry. My problem is that the UAW did not have to give up a thing in this whole auto bailout deal. They are the main reason that the auto industry is hurting. We do not need the unions. The auto assembly folks are compensated well. Their benefits are incomparable (except with Congress).
If the auto executives are castigated for flying to D.C. on the company planes for Congressional hearings, then why are we not castigating the UAW for throwing away money (and a lot more than what the execs spent on flying to D.C.) on this golf course and resort? Can we say double-standard? Can we say vote-buying?
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
President Bush's Legacy
We all know that the effectiveness of a President cannot be judged at the time he leaves office. It takes time to see how the man's policies, the appointments he made to the courts, and the bills that he signed have affected the world in which we live.
The liberals and the media have been whacking the President for 8 years now. He is stupid. He lets the VP do the governing. He does not have a clue. He is just a bad President, possibly the worst of all time. His approval ratings are the lowest ever. He has made us the laughingstock of the world. No one likes us anymore (even though they know who to go to to bail them out of trouble).
And with them repeating this refrain every day for 8 years, many people find themselves believing this line of thinking. I was eating lunch with my department today, and several people chimed in with this same line of thinking. Apparently, we have forgotten how to think critically. We hear someone else's opinion, and we just adopt it as our own without stopping to think about it and validate its premise.
Well, I came across this article today, stating that the President's legacy could turn out better than we think (or we have been told that it would). This will do mainly to his proactive stance on protecting the United States after the 9/11 attacks. The author talks about economic issues that will help him out (although I fail to see his point on that).
Anyway, let the man leave office and let some time go by before we judge him in comparison to past Presidents. I think we will see how his tax cuts for one and all were beneficial for helping us in the shadow of 9/11 come back stronger than before. We will see how his leadership of the country against despots, tyrants, and terrorists helped make the U.S. a stronger country. We will see how his appointments of 2 fine men to the Supreme Court will help shape the court for years to come.
The liberals and the media have been whacking the President for 8 years now. He is stupid. He lets the VP do the governing. He does not have a clue. He is just a bad President, possibly the worst of all time. His approval ratings are the lowest ever. He has made us the laughingstock of the world. No one likes us anymore (even though they know who to go to to bail them out of trouble).
And with them repeating this refrain every day for 8 years, many people find themselves believing this line of thinking. I was eating lunch with my department today, and several people chimed in with this same line of thinking. Apparently, we have forgotten how to think critically. We hear someone else's opinion, and we just adopt it as our own without stopping to think about it and validate its premise.
Well, I came across this article today, stating that the President's legacy could turn out better than we think (or we have been told that it would). This will do mainly to his proactive stance on protecting the United States after the 9/11 attacks. The author talks about economic issues that will help him out (although I fail to see his point on that).
Anyway, let the man leave office and let some time go by before we judge him in comparison to past Presidents. I think we will see how his tax cuts for one and all were beneficial for helping us in the shadow of 9/11 come back stronger than before. We will see how his leadership of the country against despots, tyrants, and terrorists helped make the U.S. a stronger country. We will see how his appointments of 2 fine men to the Supreme Court will help shape the court for years to come.
New Cabinet Appointees
Much is being said in the media now about President-elect Obama's selections for Cabinet-level positions. The media is telling us that he is picking people who are seemingly quasi-moderates, middle-of-the-road people who we, as Americans, can relate to. They are not the partisans that we have had to put up with for years.
Well, let us not forget that these Cabinet positions report to the President. They carry out the President's will and agenda in their respective offices. They are not there to work independently of the President. And while he is appointing people who appear moderate, they will carry out his leftist policies because that will be there job to do so.
As cliche as it sounds, looks can be, and are, deceiving. Do not judge this book by its cover. President-elect Obama can make it look like he wants to rule from the political center. The media can try to paint his soon-to-be presidency as being non-partisan and centrist.
However, they cannot change the reality of the fact that he wants to make government bigger than it is now. They cannot change the fact that he wants to give more federal funds to one and all, in order to make people more reliant on the government. They cannot change the fact that he wants the government to control every facet of our lives.
Well, let us not forget that these Cabinet positions report to the President. They carry out the President's will and agenda in their respective offices. They are not there to work independently of the President. And while he is appointing people who appear moderate, they will carry out his leftist policies because that will be there job to do so.
As cliche as it sounds, looks can be, and are, deceiving. Do not judge this book by its cover. President-elect Obama can make it look like he wants to rule from the political center. The media can try to paint his soon-to-be presidency as being non-partisan and centrist.
However, they cannot change the reality of the fact that he wants to make government bigger than it is now. They cannot change the fact that he wants to give more federal funds to one and all, in order to make people more reliant on the government. They cannot change the fact that he wants the government to control every facet of our lives.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Book Review: Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA by Tim Weiner
Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA by Tim Weiner is an exhaustive tome concerning the history of the CIA. He wrote the book after an extensive reading of some 50,000 documents and many, many interviews with past CIA people. The footnotes in this book are incomparable to any other book I have read.
There is much to learn about the CIA in this book. Given the number of footnotes in this book, there is no doubt that the history that he writes about is real. The events are real. The people are real. Many of the accounts are recorded directly from the sources.
He outlines the leaders over the years and how they often kept the government (including the President, at times) in the dark on many of their operations. He talks about their ineptitude when it comes to leadership and gaining intelligence on America’s enemies. While some of this is probably true, I am sure that the job was much more difficult than writing.
He discusses the roles that the Presidents have played with the CIA. Surprisingly, he was rough on both Kennedy and Clinton when it comes to their relationship with the Agency. Predictably, he was tough on Nixon, Reagan, and George W. Bush. The only President he praised for a good relationship with the CIA was George H.W. Bush.
The problem I have with the book is that the author really has nothing positive to say about the Agency. Everything is negative. He says that this is due to the fact that they have had very few successes over the years. I believe that he has purposefully left out some of the positive things the CIA has done so as to create a negative image of the Agency (and given the fact that the author works for the New York Times, I feel I am right about this).
After spending the whole book railing against the CIA, he suddenly feels sorry for them after the events of 9/11. At that point, all of a sudden the national leaders started to ignore the CIA and its intelligence. I found it highly ironic that the CIA could do nothing right, and that they missed the events leading up to 9/11. However, all of a sudden, they became credible. President Bush started to ignore the intelligence reports and the intelligence was being ‘cherry picked’.
The author, in my opinion, is very self-serving and will do what he can to make the CIA (as well as the U.S.) look bad. I do not believe it was his goal to provide a balanced look at the Agency. If you have a lot of free time on hand, go ahead and read the book. If you do not have the available time, you are not missing anything by skipping over this tome. I read this book so you did not have to.
There is much to learn about the CIA in this book. Given the number of footnotes in this book, there is no doubt that the history that he writes about is real. The events are real. The people are real. Many of the accounts are recorded directly from the sources.
He outlines the leaders over the years and how they often kept the government (including the President, at times) in the dark on many of their operations. He talks about their ineptitude when it comes to leadership and gaining intelligence on America’s enemies. While some of this is probably true, I am sure that the job was much more difficult than writing.
He discusses the roles that the Presidents have played with the CIA. Surprisingly, he was rough on both Kennedy and Clinton when it comes to their relationship with the Agency. Predictably, he was tough on Nixon, Reagan, and George W. Bush. The only President he praised for a good relationship with the CIA was George H.W. Bush.
The problem I have with the book is that the author really has nothing positive to say about the Agency. Everything is negative. He says that this is due to the fact that they have had very few successes over the years. I believe that he has purposefully left out some of the positive things the CIA has done so as to create a negative image of the Agency (and given the fact that the author works for the New York Times, I feel I am right about this).
After spending the whole book railing against the CIA, he suddenly feels sorry for them after the events of 9/11. At that point, all of a sudden the national leaders started to ignore the CIA and its intelligence. I found it highly ironic that the CIA could do nothing right, and that they missed the events leading up to 9/11. However, all of a sudden, they became credible. President Bush started to ignore the intelligence reports and the intelligence was being ‘cherry picked’.
The author, in my opinion, is very self-serving and will do what he can to make the CIA (as well as the U.S.) look bad. I do not believe it was his goal to provide a balanced look at the Agency. If you have a lot of free time on hand, go ahead and read the book. If you do not have the available time, you are not missing anything by skipping over this tome. I read this book so you did not have to.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Remembering Ken Culver
Ken Culver was your average guy from Kansas. Other than his boisterous nature, he really did not stand out. He was not famous. He was not an extraordinary athlete. He may not have even been the most attractive guy. However, he was a great human being and a tremendous friend.
Ken Culver was supposed to be married on December 16, 2000 to Melissa Delaney. However, an unfortunate accident on December 9, one week before his wedding was to take place, took the life of one of the greatest friends I have ever had.
I first met Ken while I was in college. It was the Spring, 1993 semester at Bob Jones University. I sat out the Fall semester to earn some money. When I returned, there was a freshman there who thought he knew everything. He was loud. He was somewhat obnoxious (or so I thought). It was Ken, at his finest.
As I worked with him at the Dining Common, we started to become friends. Over the course of the next couple of years, we became best friends. After he graduated, he stayed at Bob Jones University as Dining Common staff in the bakery. It was through his work at the Dining Common that he earned his CDL.
Pam and I were going to get married in July, 1996. I asked Ken if he would be my best man. We were best friends, and he was on staff with my soon-to-be wife. He accepted the invitation. It was almost like old times again when he arrived in North Carolina for the wedding. In fact, there is still a picture out there, somewhere, of Ken and I lighting the unity candle. Don't ask me why. It just seemed like something hilarious to do at the time (it was during picture time, not during the ceremony).
Anyway, after a couple of years of work at the Dining Common, he started to work as a cross country tractor trailer driver. He travelled all over the place. He would stop by our house at times on his way through town. I enjoyed his e-mails from all over the place. He started to publish his 'Trucker's Newsletter.' It was a humorous look at his life on the road.
One time, he called us to let us know he was coming through town and would like to stop by. I informed him that, unfortunately, we had committed to helping some friends move that weekend. Instead of blowing through town, he offered to help. He had a few days yet to reach his destination, and would rather help out than get to his destination early and sit, waiting to unload his trailer. He did not know these friends of ours from the man in the moon, but he was more than willing to help. He drove the moving truck. He moved a lot of furniture. That was Ken, just wanting to help other people.
However, this life on the road did take its toll on him. He took a job in South Carolina, working for a friend who was in the tree removal business. He liked this work. One day, he called me, and I could tell he was more excited than normal. He told me that he got engaged. He was so happy. He asked me to be in his wedding. Of course, I accepted.
We stayed in contact over the next several months. After all, I needed the details of where we were getting the tuxedos, when the wedding would be, when we would be there.
As we were making final preparations, I received a call from a mutual friend. It was Sunday, December 10, which was 6 days before the wedding. This friend called to let me know that Ken was killed in a work-related accident. At the time, I did not know how to take it. I thought this might be a joke. But who would joke about this?
I got on the internet to look this up. I needed to be sure about this. When I checked my e-mail, my old college roommate left me a message about this. He was familiar with the situation, and he wanted to let me know. I found the article in the Greenville, SC newspaper.
I then realized that Ken was gone. I had lost my grandparents before this, but this was different. My grandparents had lived a full life. There deaths were somewhat expected. Ken was young. He had a new life to look forward to as he was going to be married. All of that was gone in an instant. It was a lethal blow from a falling tree. He did not suffer. It was instantaneous.
I struggled with my feelings. Did this really happen? Why? He was young. He was a great guy. He was always willing to help others. How could this happen to him?
I was informed that there would be a memorial service in South Carolina for Ken on December 17. At first, I was not going to go. However, since we had already made plans to be in South Carolina, we decided to go. And I am glad we did.
We had a chance to connect with friends from college. We were a huge group of people coming together to remember the life of a young man who we were all friends with. Several people spoke of how great a friend he was, always willing to help out in times of need.
As I look back at the life of Ken, I realize that he is not here on earth. I cannot call him and talk to him. We will never get to spend time together again on the golf course (and was that ever an experience!). I do know, however, that I will be seeing him again. He may not be here on earth, but he is in heaven, where I will have a chance to see him once again.
You see, his time on earth was done. God had another reason for taking him, one that I will not understand until I see Him. That does not mean that I cannot miss Ken. He was like another brother to me (but I go along much better with Ken). He was my friend, something I will cherish for all time.
Ken - We miss you.
Ken Culver was supposed to be married on December 16, 2000 to Melissa Delaney. However, an unfortunate accident on December 9, one week before his wedding was to take place, took the life of one of the greatest friends I have ever had.
I first met Ken while I was in college. It was the Spring, 1993 semester at Bob Jones University. I sat out the Fall semester to earn some money. When I returned, there was a freshman there who thought he knew everything. He was loud. He was somewhat obnoxious (or so I thought). It was Ken, at his finest.
As I worked with him at the Dining Common, we started to become friends. Over the course of the next couple of years, we became best friends. After he graduated, he stayed at Bob Jones University as Dining Common staff in the bakery. It was through his work at the Dining Common that he earned his CDL.
Pam and I were going to get married in July, 1996. I asked Ken if he would be my best man. We were best friends, and he was on staff with my soon-to-be wife. He accepted the invitation. It was almost like old times again when he arrived in North Carolina for the wedding. In fact, there is still a picture out there, somewhere, of Ken and I lighting the unity candle. Don't ask me why. It just seemed like something hilarious to do at the time (it was during picture time, not during the ceremony).
Anyway, after a couple of years of work at the Dining Common, he started to work as a cross country tractor trailer driver. He travelled all over the place. He would stop by our house at times on his way through town. I enjoyed his e-mails from all over the place. He started to publish his 'Trucker's Newsletter.' It was a humorous look at his life on the road.
One time, he called us to let us know he was coming through town and would like to stop by. I informed him that, unfortunately, we had committed to helping some friends move that weekend. Instead of blowing through town, he offered to help. He had a few days yet to reach his destination, and would rather help out than get to his destination early and sit, waiting to unload his trailer. He did not know these friends of ours from the man in the moon, but he was more than willing to help. He drove the moving truck. He moved a lot of furniture. That was Ken, just wanting to help other people.
However, this life on the road did take its toll on him. He took a job in South Carolina, working for a friend who was in the tree removal business. He liked this work. One day, he called me, and I could tell he was more excited than normal. He told me that he got engaged. He was so happy. He asked me to be in his wedding. Of course, I accepted.
We stayed in contact over the next several months. After all, I needed the details of where we were getting the tuxedos, when the wedding would be, when we would be there.
As we were making final preparations, I received a call from a mutual friend. It was Sunday, December 10, which was 6 days before the wedding. This friend called to let me know that Ken was killed in a work-related accident. At the time, I did not know how to take it. I thought this might be a joke. But who would joke about this?
I got on the internet to look this up. I needed to be sure about this. When I checked my e-mail, my old college roommate left me a message about this. He was familiar with the situation, and he wanted to let me know. I found the article in the Greenville, SC newspaper.
I then realized that Ken was gone. I had lost my grandparents before this, but this was different. My grandparents had lived a full life. There deaths were somewhat expected. Ken was young. He had a new life to look forward to as he was going to be married. All of that was gone in an instant. It was a lethal blow from a falling tree. He did not suffer. It was instantaneous.
I struggled with my feelings. Did this really happen? Why? He was young. He was a great guy. He was always willing to help others. How could this happen to him?
I was informed that there would be a memorial service in South Carolina for Ken on December 17. At first, I was not going to go. However, since we had already made plans to be in South Carolina, we decided to go. And I am glad we did.
We had a chance to connect with friends from college. We were a huge group of people coming together to remember the life of a young man who we were all friends with. Several people spoke of how great a friend he was, always willing to help out in times of need.
As I look back at the life of Ken, I realize that he is not here on earth. I cannot call him and talk to him. We will never get to spend time together again on the golf course (and was that ever an experience!). I do know, however, that I will be seeing him again. He may not be here on earth, but he is in heaven, where I will have a chance to see him once again.
You see, his time on earth was done. God had another reason for taking him, one that I will not understand until I see Him. That does not mean that I cannot miss Ken. He was like another brother to me (but I go along much better with Ken). He was my friend, something I will cherish for all time.
Ken - We miss you.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Gun-toting momma
For the last month or so, a Lebanon, PA woman has been in the news. She was asked to not carry her pistol on her belt (think of the sheriff in the Old West) during her daughter's youth soccer games. Her gun was confiscated for a short time, but was given back to her. She is now suing the Lebanon County sheriff for $1,000,000.
Apparently, business is down at her day care center after this brouhaha hit the news. People are extremely hesitant to have their children stay with this woman who suffers from a tremendous lack of judgment. This negative publicity has brought economic hardship on her.
Well, let me express my opinions. I have no problem with the fact that she has a gun and a concealed weapons permit. Good for her. My problem is with how she carries the thing around with her.
In the times that we live, it does make sense that she would carry it with her when she is out and about. However, she carries the thing in a holster on her belt. It is hard to look at this without looking at the context of today's society. We live in a society where people are being shot in public, on the street, at the mall, in the stores. I can understand the reason behind the complaints of parents who saw her carrying this gun.
For those who see her carrying this gun and do not know her, this could cause tremendous trepidation. Is she one of those crazed, maniacal people that is looking to shoot someone? Is she looking to get revenge on someone that might be at the game? Why does she need to carry this to a youth soccer game?
She was carrying the gun at her daughter's soccer game. Why? Keep it in your purse. Keep it in the car. But to where it on your belt? Tremendous lack of judgment. And she does not understand why people have a problem with this. No wonder people do not want to leave their kids at her day care center.
Is this legal for her to carry her gun like this? Yes, it is. Is it always wise to carry your gun like this? No. Just because you can does not mean that you should.
Apparently, business is down at her day care center after this brouhaha hit the news. People are extremely hesitant to have their children stay with this woman who suffers from a tremendous lack of judgment. This negative publicity has brought economic hardship on her.
Well, let me express my opinions. I have no problem with the fact that she has a gun and a concealed weapons permit. Good for her. My problem is with how she carries the thing around with her.
In the times that we live, it does make sense that she would carry it with her when she is out and about. However, she carries the thing in a holster on her belt. It is hard to look at this without looking at the context of today's society. We live in a society where people are being shot in public, on the street, at the mall, in the stores. I can understand the reason behind the complaints of parents who saw her carrying this gun.
For those who see her carrying this gun and do not know her, this could cause tremendous trepidation. Is she one of those crazed, maniacal people that is looking to shoot someone? Is she looking to get revenge on someone that might be at the game? Why does she need to carry this to a youth soccer game?
She was carrying the gun at her daughter's soccer game. Why? Keep it in your purse. Keep it in the car. But to where it on your belt? Tremendous lack of judgment. And she does not understand why people have a problem with this. No wonder people do not want to leave their kids at her day care center.
Is this legal for her to carry her gun like this? Yes, it is. Is it always wise to carry your gun like this? No. Just because you can does not mean that you should.
Born to Die
As I was reading the Harrisburg Patriot News today (Friday, 12/5/08), I started to read an article by Lou Carlozo of the Chicago Tribune about the 10 worst holiday albums. I will give his countdown later on, but my attention was drawn to #10 on his list. It is a song titled Born to Die by Christian artists Shane & Shane.
I have never heard Shane & Shane's music. Actually, until today, I had never heard of them. In my curiosity, I looked up the lyrics to this song, and here they are:
When the babe was born.
In a manger on the hay.
God saw a veil torn.
He saw Good Friday.
He was born to die.
Gold laid before the Christ.
Incense, His presence is sweet.
Myrrh to signify victory over death's sting.
He was born to die.
It came in a dream.
To Joseph late one night.
That Herod sought the King.
But could not take His life.
He was born to die.
He said, "You won't take my life.
You won't take my life.
You won't take my life...
I lay it down."
We came here today to celebrate His birth.
But let us not forget why Jesus came to earth.
He was born to die.
It is very accurate in what it says. We get so focused on the hustle and bustle of the season. We get caught up in the materialistic acpect of Christmas. We get caught up in the giving to others. We get caught up in the decorating. Yet, we fail, many times, to understand the true reason we celebrate Christmas.
It is not here for us to give presents or get presents. Without the birth of Christ, we would not have Christmas (which is probably how we came up with the name Christmas). Without the birth of Christ, we would not have the death, burail, and resurrection of Christ, which is necessary for our salvation.
Anyway, the author's criticism is summed up in this statement: "True, some theologians believe baby Jesus came into this world knowing that he'd suffer a horrible death. That said, 'Born to Die' sounds awfully inappropriate for the season and would likely halt your Christmas bash." Apparently, he just does not get it.
Anyway, here is his Top 10 bad Christmas albums:
# 10 - 'Born to Die' - Shane & Shane
# 9 - 'A Winter Symphony' - Sarah Brightman
# 8 - 'Natty and Nice: A Reggae Christmas' - various
# 7 - 'Merry Christmas' - Mariah Carey
# 6 - 'A Twistmas Story with Twitty Bird and Their Little Friends' - Conway Twitty
# 5 - 'This is the Time: The Christmas Album' - Michael Bolton
# 4 - 'Christmas on Death Row' - various
# 3 - 'Christmas Song' - Mannheim Steamroller
# 2 - 'A Twisted Christmas' - Twisted Sister
# 1 - 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer' - Elmo and Patsy
I have never heard Shane & Shane's music. Actually, until today, I had never heard of them. In my curiosity, I looked up the lyrics to this song, and here they are:
When the babe was born.
In a manger on the hay.
God saw a veil torn.
He saw Good Friday.
He was born to die.
Gold laid before the Christ.
Incense, His presence is sweet.
Myrrh to signify victory over death's sting.
He was born to die.
It came in a dream.
To Joseph late one night.
That Herod sought the King.
But could not take His life.
He was born to die.
He said, "You won't take my life.
You won't take my life.
You won't take my life...
I lay it down."
We came here today to celebrate His birth.
But let us not forget why Jesus came to earth.
He was born to die.
It is very accurate in what it says. We get so focused on the hustle and bustle of the season. We get caught up in the materialistic acpect of Christmas. We get caught up in the giving to others. We get caught up in the decorating. Yet, we fail, many times, to understand the true reason we celebrate Christmas.
It is not here for us to give presents or get presents. Without the birth of Christ, we would not have Christmas (which is probably how we came up with the name Christmas). Without the birth of Christ, we would not have the death, burail, and resurrection of Christ, which is necessary for our salvation.
Anyway, the author's criticism is summed up in this statement: "True, some theologians believe baby Jesus came into this world knowing that he'd suffer a horrible death. That said, 'Born to Die' sounds awfully inappropriate for the season and would likely halt your Christmas bash." Apparently, he just does not get it.
Anyway, here is his Top 10 bad Christmas albums:
# 10 - 'Born to Die' - Shane & Shane
# 9 - 'A Winter Symphony' - Sarah Brightman
# 8 - 'Natty and Nice: A Reggae Christmas' - various
# 7 - 'Merry Christmas' - Mariah Carey
# 6 - 'A Twistmas Story with Twitty Bird and Their Little Friends' - Conway Twitty
# 5 - 'This is the Time: The Christmas Album' - Michael Bolton
# 4 - 'Christmas on Death Row' - various
# 3 - 'Christmas Song' - Mannheim Steamroller
# 2 - 'A Twisted Christmas' - Twisted Sister
# 1 - 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer' - Elmo and Patsy
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Government bailout hypocrisy
Is it just me, or is there a lot of hypocrisy concerning this bailout thing? The folks in Washington want the automakers to come to them with business plans in hand that says how they plan to use the money that they want from the government. Yet, the banking industry is getting their money without having to do anything, other than ask for the money. Henry Paulson cannot seem to hand out enough money right now.
Isn't it funny how the automobile CEOs are being excoriated for flying to DC on the company jets, spending so much company money (it is not from the taxes that we pay). Yet these same congressional leaders look the other way when the banking guys are doing the same thing and using the bailout money for bonuses and trips.
I saw a representative from California grilling the CEOs of the auto companies about using their corporate jets to fly to DC and acting as if he was horrified. In my humble opinion, these CEOs should have come back at him and ask him why he flies home every weekend at taxpayer expense (and then flying back to Washington at the beginning of the week), all the way across the country, increasing his carbon footprint.
There is so much hypocrisy in this, it is ludicrous. Yet, no one in the media seems to notice.
Isn't it funny how the automobile CEOs are being excoriated for flying to DC on the company jets, spending so much company money (it is not from the taxes that we pay). Yet these same congressional leaders look the other way when the banking guys are doing the same thing and using the bailout money for bonuses and trips.
I saw a representative from California grilling the CEOs of the auto companies about using their corporate jets to fly to DC and acting as if he was horrified. In my humble opinion, these CEOs should have come back at him and ask him why he flies home every weekend at taxpayer expense (and then flying back to Washington at the beginning of the week), all the way across the country, increasing his carbon footprint.
There is so much hypocrisy in this, it is ludicrous. Yet, no one in the media seems to notice.
Overlooking our religious heritage
The new Capitol Visitors Center opened today. After many years of construction and budget overruns, it is now open for the general public to go see. I am sure that this place is very nice, and I hope to have the opportunity to visit at some point in the future.
However, one Senator who is none to happy with this is SC Republican Senator Jim DeMint. He points out that this visitors center does not make mention of the religious heritage of this country. In my opinion, this is sad.
Our country was built on religion and religious freedom. After a casual reading of the documents written by many of our founding fathers, it does not take long to realize this. What I find interesting are the comments posted below the column. Many are praising Sen. DeMint for his comments.
However, several very uninformed people are stating that we have a Constitutional separation of church and state. This could not be further from the truth. That never appears in our Constitution. Our founding fathers never intended this to be. However, we have allowed the liberal progressives to promote this idea, and now many people are buying into this.
To exclude the religious heritage of our country is a tremendous oversight. The reason people came here from Europe in the first place is so that they could worship freely. As the Constitutional Convention was occurring, the men took time to pray so that they could get this country started properly. Schools were started in this country so that people could learn to read, mainly from the Bible. Read the writings of the founding fathers. Read the state constitutions. The worship of God was meant to be an integral part of our lives. Yet, the designers of this facility saw fit to leave God (and religion) out of this.
I am not saying this new center should be a shrine to God, a place of worship. However, to ignore the fact that our founding fathers relied on God and prayed to him for wisdom is a terrible mistake and omission, and it should be corrected as soon as possible.
However, one Senator who is none to happy with this is SC Republican Senator Jim DeMint. He points out that this visitors center does not make mention of the religious heritage of this country. In my opinion, this is sad.
Our country was built on religion and religious freedom. After a casual reading of the documents written by many of our founding fathers, it does not take long to realize this. What I find interesting are the comments posted below the column. Many are praising Sen. DeMint for his comments.
However, several very uninformed people are stating that we have a Constitutional separation of church and state. This could not be further from the truth. That never appears in our Constitution. Our founding fathers never intended this to be. However, we have allowed the liberal progressives to promote this idea, and now many people are buying into this.
To exclude the religious heritage of our country is a tremendous oversight. The reason people came here from Europe in the first place is so that they could worship freely. As the Constitutional Convention was occurring, the men took time to pray so that they could get this country started properly. Schools were started in this country so that people could learn to read, mainly from the Bible. Read the writings of the founding fathers. Read the state constitutions. The worship of God was meant to be an integral part of our lives. Yet, the designers of this facility saw fit to leave God (and religion) out of this.
I am not saying this new center should be a shrine to God, a place of worship. However, to ignore the fact that our founding fathers relied on God and prayed to him for wisdom is a terrible mistake and omission, and it should be corrected as soon as possible.
Contempt for the electorate
Well, the new Capitol Visitors Center opened today in DC. It is long overdue and way over its original budget. I am sure it is a nice place to go. It will definitely beat waiting outdoors in line to get into the Capital, which is a magnificent structure to visit and take a tour of.
Anyway, at the opening of this visitors center, Harry Reid, Senate Democrat Majority Leader, said "My staff tells me not to say this, but I'm going to say it anyway.In the summer because of the heat and high humidity, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol. It may be descriptive but it's true."
Having been to the Capitol in the summertime, I had to wait in a line in the heat in order to be allowed to enter. However, it is not that bad.
However, to say that the tourists stink, in my opinion, is very elitist of him. He thinks he is too good for the people to come visit the place where their elected representatives work. In his opinion, they should not be there. He should not have to be bothered with them.
Well, in my opinion, everyone who goes to visit should not eat baked beans and tacos before they visit. Then he can really smell the tourists. What an idiot.
Anyway, at the opening of this visitors center, Harry Reid, Senate Democrat Majority Leader, said "My staff tells me not to say this, but I'm going to say it anyway.In the summer because of the heat and high humidity, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol. It may be descriptive but it's true."
Having been to the Capitol in the summertime, I had to wait in a line in the heat in order to be allowed to enter. However, it is not that bad.
However, to say that the tourists stink, in my opinion, is very elitist of him. He thinks he is too good for the people to come visit the place where their elected representatives work. In his opinion, they should not be there. He should not have to be bothered with them.
Well, in my opinion, everyone who goes to visit should not eat baked beans and tacos before they visit. Then he can really smell the tourists. What an idiot.
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