Wednesday, September 28, 2011
When Prisons Are Nicer Than Nursing Homes
Why not place America's elderly in prisons. There they'll get a shower a day, video surveillance in case of problems, three meals a day, access to a library, big screen computers and televisions, a gym, ongoing social and educational opportunities and comprehensive health care. All for free. And then place criminals in our some of America's nursing homes. Put them in the nursing homes (and there's plenty of them) that serve up cold, tasteless meals in a gloomy atmosphere. Places where the lights go off at 8, where residents get one bath a week, where they share a small room with another resident or two. And where they pay $3500, $4500 and up for the "privileges." It's pretty sad that in America we often treat imprisoned criminals better than we treat our elderly and infirm.
Every "When Swing Was King" Is A Special One
And they love the memories that "When Swing Was King" recalls for them. Even the bittersweet ones.
It didn't look like we were going to have much of a crowd yesterday afternoon at the assisted living center we were visiting. It was only our third time at this place. At 5 minutes before the program was scheduled to start, there were only 2 ladies sitting in the theater. The activities director was apologizing and explaining how difficult it was for her to get residents to come to an afternoon program. She suggested the possibility of us coming in the evening. "We can sometimes get 40 people at an evening function," she said. "And even if we could have you here once, then the residents would see how wonderful the program is. Then they'd be fans and we could get him here even in the afternoon!"
Not a bad idea. But one that might not be necessary, after all. Because by the time we were into the second song the two ladies had been joined by nearly 30 more people! And the laughter and excited recognitions during the program; the people sprightly singing along; the smiles, thank-yous and sharing of stories afterward were every bit as sweet as the places to which we've become old friends.
So yes, indeed. Yesterday's presentation of "When Swing Was King" was a wonderful one.
(By the way, yesterday's presentation was our 98th! Pretty impressive for a program that started out just a year ago July...a program that was initially conceived as a one time show for my Mom's nursing home!)
The Epiphany of St. Mugg
It was while I was in the Holy Land for the purpose of making three B.B.C. television programmes on the New Testament that a curious, almost magical, certainty seized me about Jesus' birth, ministry and Crucifixion...I became aware that there really had been a man, Jesus, who was also God - I was conscious of his presence. He really had spoken those sublime words - I heard them. He really had died on a cross and risen from the dead. Otherwise, how was it possible for me to meet him, as I did?...
The words Jesus spoke are living words, as relevant today as when they were first spoken; the light he shone continues to shine as brightly as ever. Thus he is alive, as for instance Socrates - who also chose to lay down his life for truth's sake - isn't...
The Cross is where history and life, legend and reality, time and eternity, intersect...
The Horror of Sudan: Why Doesn't the Media Tell This Story?
Why the orchestrated silence from the press?
Virgina Congressman Frank Wolf, long a champion of human rights (including the sanctiry of life itself), is asking that question in an effective way; namely, by convening public hearings in Washington.
But he needs our involvement too.
...The high level of frustration among members of Congress was evident even as Congressman Wolf, the co-chair of the commission and a long-time advocate for the beleaguered Sudanese people, described the hearing as one of the best ones he has ever been to on Sudan (and he has been to many). Wolf admitted that he was still pessimistic about conditions in Sudan “until Bashir is taken to The Hague and tried.” He declared, as he had done at a previous hearing in August, that “until there is regime change, and Bashir is no longer in power, we will not see change in Sudan.”
U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA), co-founder and co-chair of the Sudan Caucus, also contrasted the situation in Sudan with the “Arab Spring.” “We are perfectly happy to shoot missiles at Gadhafi for threatening to hurt his people, but we are doing nothing about a government that has been killing its people for years!” he exclaimed. “None of us really understands why we are not doing more,” Capuano added.
As the hearing came to a close, Congressman Wolf searched the packed hearing room, demanding of the crowd, “How many of you are from the media?” He counted as five hands went up around the room in the Cannon House Office Building. “Of you five, are any of you from Fox News, CNN, ABC, CBS, or NBC?” he questioned further. Silence.
Wolf lamented that no one in the media had asked any of the Republican presidential hopefuls about Sudan in any of the debates, and since only answers to questions and no opening statements were permitted, it was hard to gauge whether or not there was any interest on the part of the GOP candidates. The congressman said he intended to send the testimonies from the hearing to the five major networks and urge them to air the views of the candidates on this important issue. Perhaps he should send copies to each of the candidates’ campaigns, as well, and seek a direct response.
Increased media coverage from all quarters would help build pressure for change in Sudan as it did for the “Arab Spring.” But the mainstream media that reported breathlessly each protest in Tahrir Square and each NATO air strike to aid Libyan “rebels” has been mostly silent about Sudan’s fight for freedom. It’s up to the rest of us to keep up the pressure.
Let's get on the ball here. E-mails and calls are very much in order to our own Congressmen and Senators, the G.O.P. candidates and the President, and members of the media? The message is a simple one -- Why the immoral silence on the Sudanese suffering?
Green Goofiness: EPA Needs $21 Billion for 230,00 New Bureaucrats
The EPA aims to regulate greenhouse gas emissions through the Clean Air Act, even though the law doesn’t give the EPA explicit power to do so...
The proposed regulations would set greenhouse gas emission thresholds above which businesses must file for an EPA permit and complete extra paperwork in order to continue operating. If the EPA wins its court battle and fully rolls out the greenhouse gas regulations, the number of businesses forced into this regulatory regime would grow tremendously — from approximately 14,000 now to as many as 6.1 million.
These new regulatory efforts are not likely to succeed, the EPA admits, but it has decided to move forward regardless. ..
Web Stalking: Facebook Gets Caught...Yet Again
Most would assume that Facebook stops monitoring them after they leave its site, but technology bloggers discovered this was not the case. In fact, data has been regularly sent back to the social network’s servers – data that could be worth billions when creating 'targeted' advertising based on the sites users visit...
Mr Cubrilovic wrote: "Even if you are logged out, Facebook still knows and can track every page you visit. The only solution is to delete every Facebook cookie in your browser, or to use a separate (web) browser for Facebook interactions. This is not what "logout" is supposed to mean."
The admission is the latest in a series of privacy blunders from Facebook, which has a record of only correcting such matters when they are brought to light by other people...
On technology blog CNET, however, users were outraged at what was going on.
One wrote: ‘Who the hell do these people think they are? ‘Trust us?’ Why? Why should we trust a company that spies on us without our knowledge and consent?’
Another added: ‘Holy wow.... they've just lept way past Google on the creepy meter’.
According to U.S. reports Facebook has recently set up its own Political Action Committee, an American term for a lobbying outfit to get its views heard on Capitol Hill...
(Daniel Bates, Daily Mail, September 28)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Big Pro-Life Weekend in Omaha
1) A prayer vigil outside the northwest Planned Parenthood, two blocks north of Maple on 93rd Street. The prayer vigil is from 9:15-10:00. You can park in the lot of Hope Church which is just off the northwest corner of 93rd and Maple. Joining us for prayers there will be Rita Diller of Stop Planned Parenthood.
2) Immediately after the prayer meeting, Rita Diller will address pro-lifers at Hope Church. Here are details from an earlier Vital Signs post:
Rita Diller is the National Director of American Life League's Stop Planned Parenthood project.
As National Director, Rita is responsible for leading American Life League's effort against Planned Parenthood in the United States. She is the managing editor of the STOPP Report and is responsible for overseeing research on Planned Parenthood and supplying detailed information about PP to pro-lifers all across the country.
Rita serves as a consultant to many groups and shares with those fighting Planned Parenthood the successful techniques that have been developed across the country.
Rita has more than 26 years experience across the spectrum of pro-life work, including 12 years as Respect Life Director for the Diocese of Amarillo, working closely with Bishop John Yanta. While in Amarillo, she trained volunteers and established weekly prayer vigils at PP centers; challenged PP at every turn -- in the media, on the streets, at their meetings, fundraisers, educational events, in community organizations, before the city council; and educated their supporters and the community at large about the PP agenda.
At the end of the 12 year campaign to expose Planned Parenthood in the Amarillo area, 19 PP facilities had shut down and the remaining two disaffiliated from the Planned Parenthood Federation...
Rita will be with us as we conduct a prayer vigil at the Planned Parenthood abortion mill in northwest Omaha (2 blocks north of Maple on 93rd Street) on Saturday, October 1st from 9:15 to 10 AM. After the prayer vigil, Rita will join us at Hope Church (93 and Maple -- where we suggest you park for the prayer vigil as well) for a presentation about ways the Omaha Christian community can best oppose the nefarious and deadly doings of Planned Parenthood.
Please plan on joining us at the abortion facility for prayer that morning and then for coffee, donuts and an engaging, practical presentation on pro-life activism from Rita Diller. It would be great to have an idea of how many are planning to attend, so please zip us an e-mail at vitalsigns@vitalsignsministries.org.
And then 3) Sunday is Life Chain. And while it is a sad fact that most churches in the Omaha area have fumbled away this splendid opportunity to create a winsome pro-life witness to our city, not everyone has given up on the ministry of Life Chain. So, if you do not have a church presence at the Life Chain, come join Claire and I and our friends from Faith Bible Church and many others in standing on the corners of 72nd and Dodge. 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock is the time.
We hope to see you at all three events!
Wake Me When the Obama Nightmare Is Over
1) 20,000 Portable Missiles Have Gone, Uh...Missing
U.S. officials had once thought there was little chance that terrorists could get their hands on many of the portable surface-to-air missiles that can bring down a commercial jet liner.
But now that calculation is out the window, with officials at a recent secret White House meeting reporting that thousands of them have gone missing in Libya...
The nightmare has been made real with the discovery in Libya that an estimated 20,000 portable, heat-seeking missiles have gone missing from unguarded Army weapons warehouses...
(ABC News, this morning.)
2) Coca-Cola Prefers China, Brazil Business Atmosphere to America's Hostility
Coca-Cola now sees the US becoming a less friendly business environment than China, its chief executive has revealed, citing political gridlock and an antiquated tax structure as reasons its home market has become less competitive.
Muhtar Kent, Coke’s chief executive, said “in many respects” it was easier doing business in China, which he likened to a well-managed company. “You have a one-stop shop in terms of the Chinese foreign investment agency and local governments are fighting for investment with each other,” he told the Financial Times.
Mr Kent also pointed to Brazil as an example of an emerging economy that is making itself attractive to investment in ways that the US once did.
“They’re learning very fast, these countries,” he said. “In the west, we’re forgetting what really worked 20 years ago. In China and other markets around the world, you see the kind of attention to detail about how business works and how business creates employment.”
(Alan Rappeport in the Financial Times this morning. Here's the whole story.)
3) Who Really Cares for the Poor? Obama's Jobs Bill Would Strangle Charities
A little-noticed provision in President Obama’s new $447 billion jobs bill seeks to limit tax deduction for charitable giving at 28 cents for every dollar donated, causing big waves along the front lines of those serving in rescue missions and crisis shelters across the country.
The provision in the bill will not only limit the generosity of private donors who give to rescue missions, but it will also hamper the ability of rescue missions to raise private dollars that pay for badly needed services for the hungry, homeless, abused, and addicted, these mission groups fear.
“This is a time to increase incentives for all Americans to give; it’s not a time to experiment with disincentives,” John Ashmen, president of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM), told The Christian Post Friday...
(Christian Post, this morning.)
How You Doing With Those Facebook Changes?
Here at Vital Signs Blog we've seen that. Our posts that we upload onto Facebook simply aren't showing up for many people. So, be sure to "like" the posts of the friends you want to continue seeing. If not, it's probably bye bye.
Of course, Facebook is to blame for these frustrations but they don't really care. As long as their revenue continues to soar, they're happy. And make no mistake, Facebook is making a lot of money off of you. This is true even for those Facebook loyalists who are okay with whatever confusing, infuriating changes the company makes -- because they believe it's a free service.
It ain't.
"The more FB pushes the sharing and following and being followed, the more the paid ads and information about each user gets distributed. So that gives the advertisers more 'hits' for their dollar. It's about money. It's not free for users -- - we pay by giving up privacy to advertisers and others who are buying, and keeping, info about us."
An exaggeration, you think? AP's USA Today story thinks not. "The company is expected to bring in $3.8 billion in worldwide advertising revenue this year and $5.8 billion in 2012, according to research firm eMarketer. The more time people spend on its site or share and the more information they share about themselves, the better companies can target their ads."
Yipes.
Reading through Facebook forums, I've seen that the overwhelming (and I do mean, overwhelming!) response to the new changes is angry confusion and the increased conviction that FB seems to be competing with Netflix in ticking people off. And since arrogance drives people away as much as does unwanted interference, people are dropping out in droves.
I'm pretty close to doing so too. But I'll stick a bit longer by trying to squeeze what effectiveness I can out of the snarly thing.
For instance, in addition to doing what I suggested in the first paragraph (liking everything I see from friends that I want to keep contact with), I've created a list labeled "All List" and then gone through and checked every single one of my FB friends that I consider important reading. It takes a little time but then, instead of being satisfied with what FB tells you are your "top stories," you just hit your "All List" and, like the old days, you're able to read all of your friends' posts as they come in. I think it works anyhow. Try it.
Is the Christian Obligated to Promote the Welfare State?
Thus: accusations that people who think the federal government has no authority to help the poor (and it doesn't--read the Constitution) cannot be real Christians because Jesus commanded "us" to help the poor. Since when is the federal government "the nation" or "us"? It is nothing of the kind. It is one particular institution, established by the American People for particular purposes. The American People existed prior to the federal government, as did the States, as did the Christian religion, as did Jesus.
The "General Welfare" clause is most often cited as though it were a warrant for Congress to do "whatever seems like a good idea." It is the opposite. It is a reiteration of one of the limits on the power of Congress. I.e., the "General Welfare" clause means that Congress's powers are limited to enacting laws and appropriations that benefit everyone. "General Welfare" OUTLAWS -- rather than authorizes -- Individual Welfare and Corporate Welfare.
"Nothing above the State, nothing against the State, nothing outside the State" is sentiment not to be found in the Constitution or in the heart of any true American. But it is found in the hearts of those who seek to destroy private charity, private education, and private enterprise, and make the central government omnipotent.
(Excellent insights from Fr. Vince Fitzpatrick, a pro-life colleague and old friend)
Odyssey Marine Finds Biggest Undersea Treasure in History
Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration on Monday confirmed the identity and location of the Gairsoppa, and cited official documents indicating the British ship was carrying some 219 tons of silver when it sank in 1941 in the North Atlantic some 300 miles off the Irish coast.
Valued then at 600,000 pounds, the silver today is worth about $210 million, which would make it history's largest recovery of precious metals lost at sea, Odyssey said...
The Gairsoppa came to rest nearly 15,400 feet (4,700 meters) below the surface, where for decades it was lost to the world. A previous effort to locate the shipwreck failed.
Odyssey found it relatively quickly, and insists the depth of the site won't prevent a full cargo recovery.
"We were fortunate to find the shipwreck sitting upright, with the holds open and easily accessible," Odyssey chief executive Greg Stemm said...
The find highlights the influential role that modern technology has come to play in the business of finding shipwrecks, with vastly improved sonar equipment, global positioning systems and advanced deepwater robots that scour the world's oceans for booty...
"The majority of the world's ocean floor has not yet been explored," said Odyssey president Mark Gordon. "We know more about the surface of the moon than we know about the deepest parts of the oceans. It's exciting to be working at depths like these and to be among the pioneers of deep ocean exploration in this unexplored frontier."
Monday, September 26, 2011
Genuine Science vs "Prejudiced Guesses"
And This is Modern Mexico
Barack Obama: The Great Divider
A Sad and Sordid Partnership: Planned Parenthood & The Girl Scouts
Consumer Choices Do Make a Difference
How Much Would You Trust Phil Mickelson?
Barack Obama Creating a "National Conflict Between Church & State"
And This is Modern Mexico
Barack Obama: The Great Divider
A Sad and Sordid Partnership: Planned Parenthood & The Girl Scouts
Consumer Choices Do Make a Difference
How Much Would You Trust Phil Mickelson?
Barack Obama Creating a "National Conflict Between Church & State"
Genuine Science vs "Prejudiced Guesses"
The hugely popular author of techno-thrillers, the late Michael Crichton sold well over a hundred million books all over the world including The Andromeda Strain, Coma, Jurassic Park, The Great Train Robbery, Congo, Looker, State of Fear, Airframe and Rising Sun. Not bad for a Harvard-educated physician.
In this particular speech given in 2003, Dr. Crichton presents a bold and persuasive case against political beliefs being packaged as science. Here is just one passage to give you a feel for his argument.
I want to pause here and talk about this notion of consensus, and the rise of what has been called consensus science. I regard consensus science as an extremely pernicious development that ought to be stopped cold in its tracks. Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled. Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you're being had.
Let's be clear: the work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable by reference to the real world. In science consensus is irrelevant. What is relevant is reproducible results. The greatest scientists in history are great precisely because they broke with the consensus. There is no such thing as consensus science. If it's consensus, it isn't science. If it's science, it isn't consensus. Period.
Take note of Crichton's description of "poli-scientists" Carl Sagan and Paul Erlich promoting the "nuclear winter" scare. Both of these fellows were also strong advocates (despite overwhelming empirical evidence) of anti-natal programs across the globe they described as "population control."
Biased guesses are like lies. And whether they are dressed up in statistics, twisted logic, or scientific jargon, they only remain what they are -- lies driven by ideological purposes.
And This is Modern Mexico
* Police found a woman's decapitated body in a Mexican border city on Saturday, alongside a handwritten sign saying she was killed in retaliation for her postings on a social networking site. The gruesome killing may be the third so far this month in which people in Nuevo Laredo were killed by a drug cartel for what they said on the internet...
* The scene was shocking. Masked gunmen blocked a busy road in the once-quiet port city of Veracruz, abandoning two trucks with 35 bodies inside, near a big shopping center. It was Tuesday at 5 p.m., broad daylight. People on the streets watched the corpses being left at an underpass. Some of the victims had their hands tied and showed signs of having been tortured. The picture could have been extracted from a horror movie.
According to Veracruz state Attorney General, Reynaldo Escobar, 23 of the victims were men and 12 were women. “We have never seen a situation like this before,” said Escobar. His words resounded across the country: Mexico is becoming the country of “never befores.”
* Mexican authorities discovered 11 more bodies in the coastal state of Veracruz on Thursday, days after 35 bodies were found on a busy road in the same area, the state-run Notimex news agency reported...On Thursday, Mexico´s attorney general said the killing of the 35 people stemmed from a drug-dealing dispute...
* The message is delivered by a phone call to the office of one school, a sheaf of photocopied papers dropped off at another, a banner hung outside a third. The demand is the same: teachers have until Oct. 1 to start handing over half of their pay. If they do not, they risk their lives.
Extortion is a booming industry in Mexico, with reported cases having almost tripled since 2004. To some analysts, it is an unintended consequence of the government’s strategy in the drug war: as the large cartels splinter, armies of street-level thugs schooled in threats and violence have brought their skills to new enterprises...
Barack Obama: The Great Divider
I responded, "Spot on, Bob. And I fear that the divisions are deliberate. Jimmy Carter divided our nation too but I believe it was due to his general incompetence. But though he is also quite incompetent in the office, Barack Obama's efforts to divide us show a sinister purpose.
For when it comes to abortion, marriage, rights of conscience and religion, American exceptionalism, economics, central planning and control, even the rule of law, Obama is not a public servant, he is a thoroughly committed secular socialist, one who is willing to use propaganda, dirty tricks and various forms of coercion to remake America in his image."
Lord, help us. Qickly.
A Sad and Sordid Partnership: Planned Parenthood & The Girl Scouts
And one of the reasons is that Planned Parenthood produces "educational materials" targeted to girls 8-16 years of age that contain this:
“Sex can feel great and can be really fun! Many people think sex is just about vaginal or anal intercourse… But, there are lots of different ways to have sex and lots of different types of sex. Sex can include kissing, touching, licking, tickling, sucking, and cuddling. Some people like to have aggressive sex, while others like to have soft and slow sex with their partners. There is no right or wrong way to have sex. Just have fun, explore and be yourself!”
“Improve your sex life by getting to know your own body. Play with yourself! Masturbation is a great way to find out more about your body and what you find sexually stimulating. Don’t stop there: find out how your partner’s body works, what makes them feel good and what gives them pleasure. Talking with your partner about what you each like and what feels good is the best way to have great sex.”
Would you like your young girls to get that message? Would you like any young girls to get that message?
If not, then you'd better beware Planned Parenthood's long-standing partnership with the Girl Scouts.
Abby Johnson writes,
I am a parent of a small child. I would never want her to see such filth. But the Girl Scouts promotes this agenda. Any money that is given to the Girl Scouts goes to their national office…this includes money for uniforms, badges, cookies, annual dues, etc. That money is then, in part, used to associate with Planned Parenthood. No one can say that “their troupe” does not give money to Planned Parenthood.
If you are a member of the Girl Scouts organization and you pay dues and you sell cookies and you have uniforms with badges, then you are in association with Planned Parenthood. Period. How could anyone who says they are pro-life cooperate with such evil? How could anyone who is against abortion contribute in ANY part to the killing of children…especially if they KNOW that their money is going toward such activity.
Scripture is clear. We must NOT cooperate with evil in any way. We MUST cleanse our churches and our Christian faith of such evil. We CAN work to educate others about Girl Scouts without being active participants…just like we do with Planned Parenthood. I no longer work at Planned Parenthood, but I feel like God is using me to inform people about the dangers of the organization. People who have been involved with Girl Scouts can do the same…and live with a clean conscience.
For more details on the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood, check out this Vital Signs post, "Why I Don't Buy Girl Scout Cookies. (And Why You Shouldn't Either."). It has additional links which will fill you in on the whole story.
Consumer Choices Do Make a Difference
Claire and I heartily believe in the power of consumer integrity; that is, in making Jesus Christ Lord over our economics as well as other areas of our lives. Therefore, we avoid goods made in China because of their use of slave labor and their brutal one-child-only policies. We boycott goods and services provided by companies that give to Planned Parenthood and other viallanous causes. Indeed, we write letters and engage in other types of protest to try and persuade companies to do the right thing.
And so we think the message in the piece below deserves careful consideration by everyone. Thanks, Ann.
This probably sounds crazy, but just yesterday I was in Wal Mart looking for a wastebasket. I found some made in China for $6.99. I didn't want to pay that much so I asked the lady if they had any others. She took me to another department and they had some at $2.50 made in USA. They are just as good.
Same as a kitchen rug I needed. I had to look, but I found some made in the USA and they were $3.00 cheaper. We are being brain washed that everything that comes from China and Mexico is cheaper. Not so. That is also why I don't buy cards at Hallmark anymore. They are made in China and are expensive. I buy them at Dollar Tree....50 cents each and made in USA.
A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American . . .
Good idea . . .. One light bulb at a time . . ..
I was in Lowe's the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments... They were all made in China. The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA. Start looking ...
In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track.. Let's get behind her!
My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more. My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico... Now I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything....
This past weekend I was at Kroger . .. . I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off-brand labeled, " Everyday Value ." I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio.
So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here...
So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets. Yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!
My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!
If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!
How Much Would You Trust Phil Mickelson?
But would even I trust Phil in this situation?
Barack Obama Creating a "National Conflict Between Church & State"
Dear Mr. President:
I write with a growing sense of urgency about recent actions taken by your Administration that both escalate the threat to marriage and imperil the religious freedom of those who promote and defend marriage. This past spring the Justice Department announced that it would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court, a decision strongly opposed by the Catholic Bishops of the United States and many others. Now the Justice Department has shifted from not defending DOMA—which is problem enough, given the duty of the executive branch to enforce even laws it disfavors—to actively attacking DOMA's constitutionality...
The Catholic Bishops stand ready to affirm every positive measure taken by you and your Administration to strengthen marriage and the family. We cannot be silent, however, when federal steps harmful to marriage, the laws defending it, and religious freedom continue apace. Attached you will find an analysis prepared by my staff detailing the various executive activities of late that warrant our increasing apprehension.
[I]t is particularly upsetting, Mr. President, when your Administration, through the various court documents, pronouncements and policies identified in the attached analysis, attributes to those who support DOMA a motivation rooted in prejudice and bias. It is especially wrong and unfair to equate opposition to redefining marriage with either intentional or willfully ignorant racial discrimination, as your Administration insists on doing.
We as Bishops of the Catholic Church recognize the immeasurable personal dignity and equal worth of all individuals, including those with same-sex attraction, and we reject all hatred and unjust treatment against any person. Our profound regard for marriage as the complementary and fruitful union of a man and a woman does not negate our concern for the well-being of all people but reinforces it. While all persons merit our full respect, no other relationships provide for the common good what marriage between husband and wife provides. The law should reflect this reality.
Mr. President, I respectfully urge you to push the reset button on your Administration's approach to DOMA. Our federal government should not be presuming ill intent or moral blindness on the part of the overwhelming majority of its citizens, millions of whom have gone to the polls to directly support DOMAs in their states and have thereby endorsed marriage as the union of man and woman. Nor should a policy disagreement over the meaning of marriage be treated by federal officials as a federal offense—but this will happen if the Justice Department's latest constitutional theory prevails in court. The Administration's failure to change course on this matter will, as the attached analysis indicates, precipitate a national conflict between Church and State of enormous proportions and to the detriment of both institutions...
Friday, September 23, 2011
Today's Posts
The Secret War Against Hitler
The President in a Playpen
Woman Who Strangled Her Newborn Baby Gets Off; Judge Refers to Acceptance of Abortion
City Government Desperate to Shut Down Home Bible Study
Face the Facts: Government Schools Are At War With Parent Values
"Pro-Life Christians Are Welcome"
The President in a Playpen
Woman Who Strangled Her Newborn Baby Gets Off; Judge Refers to Acceptance of Abortion
City Government Desperate to Shut Down Home Bible Study
Face the Facts: Government Schools Are At War With Parent Values
"Pro-Life Christians Are Welcome"
The Secret War Against Hitler
Claire and I had been watching re-runs on PBS of the popular British TV reality show "Spy" and we got a big kick out of it. Indeed, it was a kick forceful enough to land me in the Northwest branch of the Omaha Public library where I checked out several non-fiction titles dealing with modern espionage. Those included Denis Collins' Spying: The Secret History of History written with the resources of Washington, D.C.’s new International Spy Museum and Espionage: The Greatest Spy Operations of the 20th Century by Ernest Volkman. But, by far, the most engaging and satisfying work I picked up was Bill Casey’s intriguing history, The Secret War Against Hitler, a detailed description of the Allied espionage efforts directed against Germany during World War II.
The Secret War Against Hitler made for riveting, inspiring and sometimes maddening reading – maddening because it showed what dire effects upon military strategy can be wreaked by politicians (and sometimes by misled, egoistic and headstrong military leaders themselves).
Indeed, Casey points out several instances of how the success of Allied military efforts against the Nazi war machine was dramatically mitigated because of poor intelligence at the beginning of the war due to governments being so ill-prepared, and then later by grossly selfish motives by such men as Stalin and de Gaulle, and devastating mistakes made by blundering bureaucrats, political leaders, and even the military elite. Therefore, what could have been achieved by the inspiring bravery and skill of our fighting men was severely limited by tragic decisions at the top, making World War II longer and more terrible than was necessary. In addition, the post-war political and cultural scene could have been tremendously more just and safe and connected to the motivations that compelled our soldiers and sailors in the first place.
So, as captivating as Casey’s information is, The Secret War Against Hitler will not always be easy, enjoyable reading.
But infuriating as some of the events in the book can make you, be assured that The Secret War Against Hitler is throughout an excellent and important read. Within its pages you’ll learn about the critical roles played by code-breakers, double agents, an indispensably powerful "paper army," and many superbly deceptive strategies developed by the Allied intelligence corps.
You’ll also see how close the contest was at several junctures, how FDR’s insistence on Germany’s “unconditional surrender” was such a disaster, how Hitler catastrophically misread Allied intentions, how small party and even individual heroism (as in the sabotage success against the Nazi’s atomic bomb hopes) helped save Europe, and much more.
Bill Casey, as many of you will remember, was the director of the CIA under President Ronald Reagan. But Casey’s introduction to intelligence service was in the OSS back in 1943 when he started as a senior clerk in Washington. He ended the war, however, as one of the key leaders in American military intelligence. His work brought this treasured note from the OSS' famous founder, "Wild Bill" Donovan:
It has been the policy of the OSS never to hesitate to assign major responsibility to young men who have what it takes. This policy has been, in my opinion, one of our primary sources of strength. I have been vindicated by the outstanding performances of many, but by none more than your own. You took up one of the heaviest loads which any of us had to carry at a time when the going was roughest, and you delivered brilliantly, forcefully and in good time.
Signed: William J. Donovan, Major-General
Signed: William J. Donovan, Major-General
The Secret War Against Hitler is truly an outstanding book and written by one of the 20th Century's most interesting and accomplished American patriots. I recommend it (even to eclectic readers of my ilk) without reserve.
(Note too that The Secret War Against Hitler is available in audio form as well.)
The President in a Playpen
It is a very perceptive, persuasive piece which I recommend you pass on to others. Here's a couple of teasers:
Obama's presidency lurches from fad to fad -- from gays in the military to "green jobs" to the "Buffett rule." Hyped as a profound presidency, it has turned out to be an embarrassingly frivolous one. Sober historians of the future, not cowed by political correctness, will no doubt look back and say that Obama fiddled while America burned, indulging his sophomoric socialism, environmentalism, and social engineering at a time of terrorism and economic crisis...
Obama's half-baked Marxist musings with Joe the Plumber remain his deepest thoughts on the purpose of taxation. He still feels entitled to seize wealth and "spread" it around. When he says that the rich aren't paying their "fair share," all he is saying is that their money belongs to the government automatically for redistribution. But that's just theft masquerading as taxation. The true principle of taxation is not the redistribution of wealth but the financing of legitimate government activity, and under that principle the rich are paying more than their fair share, as they carry a disproportionate amount of those costs. Republicans should resist the Buffett rule not just because it will inhibit job creation and consumption but because it is a bald act of theft...
Woman Who Strangled Her Newborn Baby Gets Off; Judge Refers to Acceptance of Abortion
And then I'd urge you to read this gruesome story of a young Canadian woman who strangled her newborn child and tossed his body over the fence into a neighbor's yard. The woman was initially given a life sentence in prison for the despicable crime. But that trial (like a previous one in which she was also convicted) was overturned on appeal. And now, in the third trial, a judge is letting her go without ever serving a day in jail.
Pay close attention to the fact that the judge's rationale for giving the woman a pass for killing her newborn son included the legality of and social acceptance of abortion.
But part of the ruling that also has pro-life advocates troubled is Judge Veit’s decision that Canada’s acceptance of legalized abortion entitled Effert to kill her child. Judge Veit ruled, according to multiple media reports, that because Canada allows abortions it reflects how “while many Canadians undoubtedly view abortion as a less than ideal solution to unprotected sex and unwanted pregnancy, they generally understand, accept and sympathize with the onerous demands pregnancy and childbirth exact from mothers, especially mothers without support.”
“Naturally, Canadians are grieved by an infant’s death, especially at the hands of the infant’s mother, but Canadians also grieve for the mother...I am of the view that those actions, along with the action of throwing her baby’s body over her back fence, are painful evidence of Ms. Effert’s irrational behavior as a result of her disturbed mind...In summary, this is a classic infanticide case – the killing of a newborn or a justborn after a hidden pregnancy by a mother who was alone and unsupported.”
City Government Desperate to Shut Down Home Bible Study
Here's the story from the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles but be sure to watch the TV news video that's placed there as well.
Face the Facts: Government Schools Are At War With Parent Values
Of course, this isn't really news at all. Everyone knows this trend is going way over the top -- the trend of government schools demanding more money from taxpayers while, at the same time, doing everything they can to keep taxpayers from having any oversight of what educators then do with those funds.
Whether it involves curriculum decisions ("No, Mrs. Gilhooly, we don't care what you believe. Your daughter is going to be taught evolution, sex education according to progressive ideals, pantheism, socialism, and the illusion of American exceptionalism here.") or other issues (peer pressure, school lunch choices, immodest attire, even physical safety), educators are convinced that they know what's best.
And they'll use whatever means at their disposal, including lawsuits, fines and police interference to get their way.
Here's two examples from this morning's Drudge Report. The first concerns a mother who rightfully acted to protect her 10-year old from bullies and the indifferent bus driver who was letting it her kid get beat up. Her actions drew a police call, a banning from school property and even a prohibition from going to the bus stop to pick up her child!
And the second? Here's an excerpt from the Fox News Story, "Texas School Punishes Boy for Opposing Homosexuality."
Holly Pope said she was “absolutely stunned” when she received a telephone call from an assistant principal at Western Hills High School informing her that her son, Dakota Ary, had been sent to in-school suspension.
“Dakota is a very well-grounded 14-year-old,” she told Fox News Radio noting that her son is an honors student, plays on the football team and is active in his church youth group. “He’s been in church his whole life and he’s been taught to stand up for what he believes.”
And that’s what got him in trouble.
Dakota was in a German class at the high school when the conversation shifted to religion and homosexuality in Germany. At some point during the conversation, he turned to a friend and said that he was a Christian and “being a homosexual is wrong.”
“It wasn’t directed to anyone except my friend who was sitting behind me,” Dakota told Fox. “I guess [the teacher] heard me. He started yelling. He told me he was going to write me an infraction and send me to the office.”
Dakota was sentenced to one day in-school suspension – and two days of full suspension. His mother was flabbergasted, noting that her son had a spotless record, was an honor student, volunteered at his church and played on the school football team...
Krause called the incident “mind blowing” and said the teacher had frequently brought homosexuality into ninth grade classroom discussions.
“There has been a history with this teacher in the class regarding homosexual topics,” Krause said. “The teacher had posted a picture of two men kissing on a wall that offended some of the students.”
Krause said the picture was posted on the teacher’s “world wall.”
“He told the students this is happening all over the world and you need to accept the fact that homosexuality is just part of our culture now,” Krause said.
The school district would not comment on why a teacher was discussing homosexuality in a ninth grade German class.
Guys, stories like this break into even the liberal mainstream media every week with hundreds of other educator outrages occurring behind the scenes. So tell me, why are your kids still in government schools? Why are their minds still being shaped by officials who care next to nothing about your values?
"Pro-Life Christians Are Welcome"
Good friends sent along the following letter which came from Fr. Rocco Porter, the new pastor of Blessed John XXIII Catholic campus parish in Ft. Collins, Colorado. It was written to to welcome and pledge assistance to those praying and sidewalk counseling outside a Planned Parenthood abortion mill during the 40 Days for Life.
Here are excerpts of the letter which you can send along as an encouragement to your pastor to do likewise.
Dear Pro-Life Friends,
Three months ago I was sent to Fort Collins by Archbishop Charles Chaput with a challenge to make a great campus ministry program for Colorado State University. I knew that I would not only be a stone's throw from the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic but also that the lives of college age kids are tormented by that abortion clinic. I told everyone here that I would make this community not only welcoming to the pro-life message but also focused on putting Planned Parenthood out of business.
Last year I came from Greeley to Fort Collins each Saturday during the 40 Days for Life Spring campaign and so I am familiar with the 40 Days for Life team that works to inspire the constant presence of Christians on the sidewalk outside that awful clinic. I am committed to giving the 40 Days for Life every bit of support I can.
I want pro-life Christians across the region to know that they are welcome at Blessed John always. I want you to know that I feel a special calling to support all of you, Catholic or not. I want to show you my love and unity with you not only during these 40 Days but beyond them as well.
Not only will we host a Catholic Mass next Tuesday evening as a part of the kickoff, but we will also host the rally afterwards at 7pm. I have approved a budget for food and beverages as well and I hope this will literally leave a good taste in your mouths about our hospitality.
And we will be continuing to show that hospitality each and every day of the 40 Days with a hospitality area in the vestibule of our church. There will be hot coffee and iced down sodas and juice or milk for the kids. We will try to keep fresh donuts on hand in the mornings and small sandwiches in the afternoons. While I welcome any donations to support this, we are doing it in any case. I hope that you will always stop by after a time of prayer and rest your legs and talk with your neighbors while sharing a small snack and a drink. We will do our best to make sure that there are sufficient chairs and tables and refreshments for everyone praying at Planned Parenthood.
Hopefully this hospitality area will become a place where stories are shared and lasting bonds are made.
I hope you will see in this effort that I deeply support your efforts and that my support will not diminish so long as I am Pastor here at Blessed John XXIII Church.
The closure of Planned Parenthood both here in Fort Collins and everywhere is a great hope for all of us who fight for the lives of the unborn and it is one of the most important goals I have in my ministry here in Fort Collins. Thank you for all you are doing by your prayerful witness through the 40 Days campaign and thank you for the way your efforts help me in achieving that goal.
Peace,
Father Rocco Porter
Pastor
Blessed John XXIII University Center
1324 University Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Today's Posts
Stopping Planned Parenthood in Omaha
The Need for a Winsome Witness
Rich Union Officials Getting Richer...Off Tax Dollars
Catholic Priest Removed for Preaching Against Sin
Uh, We Weren't Expecting This Kind of Change, Mr. President.
For Better or For Worse? Not According to Pat Robertson.
Barack Obama & Planned Parenthood: A Lethal Loyalty
The Need for a Winsome Witness
Rich Union Officials Getting Richer...Off Tax Dollars
Catholic Priest Removed for Preaching Against Sin
Uh, We Weren't Expecting This Kind of Change, Mr. President.
For Better or For Worse? Not According to Pat Robertson.
Barack Obama & Planned Parenthood: A Lethal Loyalty
Stopping Planned Parenthood in Omaha
Rita Diller is the National Director of American Life League's Stop Planned Parenthood project.
As National Director, Rita is responsible for leading American Life League's effort against Planned Parenthood in the United States. She is the managing editor of the STOPP Report and is responsible for overseeing research on Planned Parenthood and supplying detailed information about PP to pro-lifers all across the country.
Rita serves as a consultant to many groups and shares with those fighting Planned Parenthood the successful techniques that have been developed across the country.
Rita has more than 26 years experience across the spectrum of pro-life work, including 12 years as Respect Life Director for the Diocese of Amarillo, working closely with Bishop John Yanta. While in Amarillo, she trained volunteers and established weekly prayer vigils at PP centers; challenged PP at every turn -- in the media, on the streets, at their meetings, fundraisers, educational events, in community organizations, before the city council; and educated their supporters and the community at large about the PP agenda.
At the end of the 12 year campaign to expose Planned Parenthood in the Amarillo area, 19 PP facilities had shut down and the remaining two disaffiliated from the Planned Parenthood Federation...
And did I mention that Rita Diller is coming to Omaha? Good.
Rita will be with us as we conduct a prayer vigil at the Planned Parenthood abortion mill in northwest Omaha (2 blocks north of Maple on 93rd Street) on Saturday, October 1st from 9:15 to 10 AM. After the prayer vigil, Rita will join us at Hope Church (93 and Maple -- where we suggest you park for the prayer vigil as well) for a presentation about ways the Omaha Christian community can best oppose the nefarious and deadly doings of Planned Parenthood.
Please plan on joining us at the abortion facility for prayer that morning and then for coffee, donuts and an engaging, practical presentation on pro-life activism from Rita Diller. It would be great to have an idea of how many are planning to attend, so please zip us an e-mail at vitalsigns@vitalsignsministries.org or give us a call at 341-8886.
The Need for a Winsome Witness
Dear L....
In our sidewalk counseling, we use signs that are upbeat and winsome because our immediate goal is to attract abortion clients to us for conversation. We want them to see us as friendly, positive and on their side. The abortionists (with the help of the media, educators, public officials, etc.) are doing everything they can to portray pro-lifers as mean-spirited, angry, indifferent to the concerns of others, even antagonistic. So we believe presenting ourselves as "contrary to stereotype" is extremely important in effectively promoting sanctity of life ethics to a desperately decadent world.
That's why we use the big, beautiful baby signs and the colorful banners with messages like "Every heartbeat is a gift from God," "Jesus loves you," and "Mom, we care about you and your baby." The truth of Christianity is thus connected with the beauty of Christianity. It's why I gently wave in acknowledgement of cars going by, why I seek to create positive contacts with pedestrians, workers in nearby businesses, even the security guards. The uneven playing field we've been given is terribly unfair but that's all we've got. There's no good in whining about it -- we must simply go the extra distance in being as calm and confident, as kindhearted and patient, and as charismatic as we can possibly be.
This doesn't mean compromise. Remember that our 30 years of pro-life activism have included peaceful protest, sidewalk counseling, public events and campaigns, radio, preaching, writing, conferences, starting a CPC and taking the pro-life message overseas in some 25 missions. We have been a part of shutting down abortion clinics, convincing hospitals to stop performing abortions, been arrested for peaceful pro-life protest more times than we can count, and successfully bringing suit against the city of Omaha in order to secure the means to prayerfully stand on city sidewalks to protest abortion businesses.
So, no. Being pleasant and positive doesn't mean compromise. Indeed, it means being the most effective in confronting the enemies of life, exposing them and overcoming them. (For a couple of examples, note these Vital Signs Blog posts describing, respectively, a conversation with a security guard -- an interview with a TV reporter -- and an encounter in which twin children were saved from abortion.)
Also to be considered is the effect of positive attitudes, messages and images on everybody else. This includes passersby and neighbors. We know that the Lord has used our signs and our approach to change many minds and bring those who were indifferent, even hostile, to our side. Even other pro-lifers feel the inherent power of a baby photo, an unfurled banner and a friendly spirit displayed intelligently, calmly to the watching world.
That's not to say that graphic abortion signs cannot convince people of the horror of abortion. They can. And that is why I do not go out of my way to denounce their use.
However, I believe that at this point in history, the wrongness of the abortion procedure is much better known to Americans (including those driving into an abortion mill) than is the love, grace and practical helpfulness of the pro-life community. This must be the foundation of our effort to save lives, save people from the awful choice of abortion and save our nation from the pit it has jumped into. That's why we will continue the way we have been going for three decades, presenting as winsome and affable a presence as we can.
Rich Union Officials Getting Richer...Off Tax Dollars
And, by the way, given what's been outed about Omaha union pensions, the citizens of my fair city may be seeing in this news story signs of things to come.
All it took to give nearly two dozen labor leaders from Chicago a windfall worth millions was a few tweaks to a handful of sentences in the state's lengthy pension code.
The changes became law with no public debate among state legislators and, more importantly, no cost analysis.
Twenty years later, 23 retired union officials from Chicago stand to collect about $56 million from two ailing city pension funds thanks to the changes, a Tribune/WGN-TV investigation found.
Because the law bases the city pensions on the labor leaders' union salaries, they are reaping retirement benefits that far outstrip the modest salaries they made as city employees. On average, their pensions are nearly three times higher than what the typical retired city worker receives.
No one from either the state Legislature or city government will take credit for the law, which passed in 1991, and the process of drafting pension legislation in Springfield is so shrouded in secrecy that there's no way of knowing exactly whom to hold responsible...
Pension experts from around the country say they've never heard of such a perk for union leaders. They warn that it not only creates opportunities to scam the system but also robs the city of its ability to control pension costs. The city doesn't set union salaries, the most important ingredient in determining the size of the leaders' pensions.
What's more, none of the labor officials retired in the traditional sense. Even as they collected their inflated city pensions, they held on to their high-paying union jobs. A decade ago, those public pension funds were flush, but they're now in such deep financial trouble that they threaten to burden taxpayers and dues-paying union workers alike...
Here's more on this ugly story.
Catholic Priest Removed for Preaching Against Sin
A Roman Catholic priest preaches (from the pulpit during a mass) and in his sermon he denounces some of the sins that the Bible clearly denounces: homosexual activity, cohabitation and abortion. That's as it should be, right? Indeed, the preacher has a divine obligation to teach plainly, unequivocally and forcefully exactly what the Lord reveals in His Word. To fail to do so would be an egregious act of disobedience and faithlessness.
But in this case, a local mayor (an apostate who claims to be Catholic, but who nevertheless engages in homosexual behavior and serves as an activist in the promotion of homosexuality) agitates against the priest. He even demands that the Eudist Fathers censure the priest and get him removed from his duties.
And the Catholic order, more afraid of being politically-incorrect than offending God, does just that!
And you don't think we've reached the twilight of civilization?
Uh, We Weren't Expecting This Kind of Change, Mr. President.
* More Americans than forecast filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance payments last week as the labor market struggled to improve... (Bloomberg, this morning.)
* Call it the recession's lost generation. In record-setting numbers, young adults struggling to find work are shunning long-distance moves to live with Mom and Dad, delaying marriage and buying fewer homes, often raising kids out of wedlock. They suffer from the highest unemployment since World War II and risk living in poverty more than others -- nearly 1 in 5... (AP story, this morning.)
* 1740s Tavern Becomes Victim of Recession (NBC Connecticut, this morning.)
* That was no ordinary bling on the wrist of First Lady Michelle Obama at the DNC fundraiser in New York Tuesday night. Those fancy diamond cuffs were the creation of 23-year-old Katie Decker, whose namesake jewelry line has been making a serious splash..
The First Lady wore Katie's Lotus cuff priced at $15,000 with 2.9 carats of diamonds, her Gothic cuff at $15,350 with 2.17 carats in diamonds and the Quatrefoil bracelet at $11,800 with 1.73 carats in diamonds. (Culture Map Houston, this morning.)
For Better or For Worse? Not According to Pat Robertson.
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