To nurture your own global warming opinions, first watch this: John Coleman | KUSI – News, Weather and Sports – San Diego, CA | Latest Headlines
Then riddle me this Weather Man: Continue reading
Category Archives: politics
Where’s a Ronny when you need one?
Sometimes (not often enough) my cynical outlook on the way today’s politics is being played makes me reflect on a time-gone-by (yes Virginia, I am getting way to old). We taxpayers have to put up with the incessant bombardment of partisan positioning, extreme, over-the-edge left and right commentary, a sour economy lead by ghost or buffoon leadership, and an impotent political population in Washington D.C. – for how many years? All the while, very little seems to get done and what does…well that moves at a glacier’s pace (oh wait, maybe I should say “at a snail’s pace” since global warming seems to be melting the glaciers faster than our political processes moves)…can I ‘ughhhhhhhhhhhh’ through clenched teeth now?
Thanks goes to gal-pal Jayne for her email this week…it saved me a scolding about the ill effects of teeth grinding from my dentist. Oddly (but not surprisingly) these few Ronald Reagan-ism quotes, probably some 30-years old now, are still worthy and applicable to today’s government and politicians: Continue reading
What he’s done – naada
Just in case you missed it, see the YouTube below of President Obama’s address to the Nation as to what he has thus far accomplished while in office. Ya just sometimes gotta love good SNL skits. It seems they (good skits) can get so far and so few in between these days.
One refreshing thing about Saturday Night Live, they usually will not pull punches on their satirical renditions (or meanness) of any one political party’s lunacy, or a celebrity’s stupidity.
Regardless of your political persuasion, this is funny. If not…lighten up would ya. Continue reading
ERR: “You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”
I get, on nearly a daily basis, emails proclaiming the sky is falling and life is seemingly not worth living with the current political forces in play. Some exclamations are quite humorous, some are shameful, some will make you sick that civil people would actually forward such nonsense, some are good, some are worthy of my commentary. This one came today:
This is probably the 5 best sentences you’ll ever read. This is one paragraph that should be in every book in every school room in every city in every state in our great Union . Our educators should make a lesson plan on this one statement and beat these words into every head in every class in every state in these United States of America .
Profound short paragraph: ”You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.” Adrian Rogers, 1931-2005
Passions, Preserving, Places to Play
Oh how I love these kind of discussions. Late last week, OFSIL, OFNi, and I exchanged commentary on sports venue histories, traditions, and personal perspectives. Realize that OFNi is still relatively young amongst the professional ranks but she has an obvious passion and definite opinion towards this subject(s). Now getting it out of her can be another story, sometimes. With this exchange she opened up a bit and showed me why I become more proud of her every day, and honored to call her OFNi. It goes without saying OFSIL (aka Mom) is more-so more-proud as she develops into a marvelous young lady, displaying her talent professionally, showcasing her passion, and exercising the expensive out-of-pocket education to the rest of our family, and perhaps to her very own colleagues (if she and Mom so chose to do so).
Below is the exchange. This all started with an OFSIL email to her circle of “others” regarding a CNN report on “great basketball towns”. I will stop short of an animated opinion of CNN so as not to diminish the value of content presented here, but know similar sports websites have published a very similar ranking in the past and I have yet to dispute their subject matter claims. What started out as a “yeah Allen Field House and KU” shared e-story evolved into a philosophical, psychological, and sociological discussion. Now that’s what I want this blog to really talk about – not KU, but “what’s up with that” type topics! (how ’bout a blog discussion on why our idiot politicians think it their responsibility to decide/mandate a college football playoff. Don’t even get me started with that one…yet, here, now).
I’m sharing the exchange knowing OFSIL will love it, but unsure of OFNi’s reaction. Why OFB (aka Dad) wasn’t included in last week’s exchange, don’t know. I’m sure he has been told of it by now however. I know he is equally proud of his daughter, and has never been one to shy away from an opinionated statement or two…or three. Maybe we just didn’t want to interrupt his personal quest to get the U.S. out of this recession. The family knows with this posting his “catch up” can be done during his leisure time. And we still expect the ”slow-day-at-work” rhetorical question of all of us following his real topic-related response…not even Little Big Bro!
I look forward to your comments. Please tolerate the removal of personal names in the exchange in order to protect the opinionated. If you want to be known, or claim the opinion, you will have to do so through the “comments” process of blogging. This is lengthy I know (go get a fresh cup of coffee before diving in), but I hope you enjoy, or at the very least appreciate the spirited exchange. Continue reading
Patriot Guard Riders escorting Veterans through Sanger
Yesterday was one of those unique opportunity days to experience and photograph – not a “One of those days” day like I posted Monday, but one to remember (in more ways than one) for sure. Co-worker Adam received and shared the following email:
FYI: If you live or can get anywhere near this, it will be an awesome sight to see! They will be coming down 114 from DFW to 35W, then north on 35 to Gainesville. Estimated time to leave DFW is 5:00 – all highways will be shut down to allow them to pass. By the way, these are MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS coming to Gainesville for our annual event. There will be 8-9 gentlemen being escorted 
in. Channel 8 helicopter supposed to fly with them, at least part of the way. There is indeed a Pearl Harbor veteran – John Finn, the oldest living survivor and MOH recipient. He will turn 100 in July. Find a safe spot to watch, and help us welcome them to our area!
This announcement is for those who wish to honor Veterans. The Patriot Guard Riders and several area police and fire departments will be escorting an unknown number of military war veterans from DFW Airport to Gainesville, Texas for a gathering to honor these veterans. It is rumored that a Pearl Harbor veteran will be among these veterans. It is estimated that 200 or more Patriot Guard Rider motorcycles will be part of the escort. This will be the largest escort of it kind to move through our area.
Continue reading
Knowing good and evil
Every month or so I venture to my long-time, golfing buddy, dear pastor friend’s church for what I call my dose of “Dr. Bill”. He speaks to the common parishioner with a simple elegance and understanding for even those that typically absorb Bible-based preaching on a Sunday morning rather slowly…like me.
Last Sunday, the “Dr. Bill dose” spoke of knowing evil. His sermon was based on Mark 1:21-28. Many times Bill’s sermons hit home with me for reasons I might share in another post, but this sermon struck the house, rattled the windows, and flickered the lights causing a re-reading of the passage multiple times. Here’s my take (not Bill’s words mind you, and maybe not even his point) on the message given by Bill to his congregation last Sunday.
Religiously speaking
I, for one, am not well versed in the Bible’s scriptures. However, a good scripture discussion and interpretation is welcomed as long as I have my study Bible to reference. Perhaps that explains why I’ve had a Bible study class or two through my church over the last few years. As my old pastor told me many times – while sitting in a church pew, one-on-one over breakfast, and even in the passenger seat of a golf cart – religion and the Bible can really mess with your head. Perhaps Brother Bill’s point is the Bible is for all of us to take what we need from it, depending on the circumstance. I know many times I reference the Book for consolation, assurance, and inspiration. It has helped me countless times when in need, but it is used solely for my personal journey of faith and not to spread fear and condemnation. I know the Bible tells us to seek discipleship and congregate as a family in the house of the Lord. I try to do that through encouragement, patience, and as a living example – I think I am still ok in the Eyes from above. Continue reading
