Down on the Farm…..
How did things get so out of whack in DC????????????? Continue reading Down on the Farm…..
Month: July 2013
Starry Eyed…
I know many think of me as one of those starry eyed liberals who doesn’t have any sense of reality. With this post I will probably cement that vision with many of my more conservative friends. But what would happen if we just refused to be enemies with those our leaders dictated us to hate. What would happen? Let’s look at maybe the worst leader … Continue reading Starry Eyed…
Where Is God???
“as we returned from work, we saw three gallows… The SS [guards] seemed more preoccupied, more worried, than usual. To hang a child in front of thousands of onlookers was not a small matter. The head of the camp read the verdict. All eyes were on the child. He was pale, almost calm, but he was biting his lips as he stood in the shadow … Continue reading Where Is God???
Purpose in Life…..
Two long years, in which all I did was stare at the endless abyss, not sure if I was meant to jump or not, scared that the jump wouldn’t fix anything. All I needed was an escape, and the abyss wasn’t willing to offer me one. It took me two years to realize that life isn’t really worth living unless you want something. Until you … Continue reading Purpose in Life…..
Beijing’s heavy pollution concerns parents
Beijing’s heavy pollution concerns parents Smog can cut off sunlight to Beijing for days. At the International School of Beijing, parents want routine air quality measurements, and the school has built a $5 million dome to enclose a playground and filter the air. Seth Doane reports. Source: Beijing’s heavy pollution concerns parents – CBS News Video. One of the major prices China is having to pay … Continue reading Beijing’s heavy pollution concerns parents
Taking It Back….
Prince William and Kate Middleton have named the royal heir George Alexander Louis, Kensington Palace announced in a statement today. SOURCE: Kate Middleton and Prince William Name Baby George Alexander Louis – ABC News. So another big royalty event is past. The future king’s name is George. Being a big U.S. history buff, not so much the royalty stuff, King George has some significance to me. … Continue reading Taking It Back….
A Quick Quote from Stephen Jarnick
One of the biggest stumbling blocks in following the teachings of Jesus is our tendency to do whatever we want, and to then convince ourselves that Jesus supports our agenda. This is especially true when it comes to His peace teachings. I’ve talked to church leaders who really want to speak the truth about peace but are afraid of repercussions from people in their congregations … Continue reading A Quick Quote from Stephen Jarnick
U.S. Expansion Poised for Longevity…
While the cyclical outlook looks bright, the U.S. will be hampered in the longer term by such structural headwinds as an aging population, a plateauing of educational achievement and increased inequality, Gordon said. Source: U.S. Expansion Poised for Longevity – Bloomberg. I have always found it strange that my more conservative friends seem to want to see all Democratic administrations fail in one regard to another. … Continue reading U.S. Expansion Poised for Longevity…
My Version….
If you have read this blog much you will know that I have pretty much given up on denominational Christianity and even the word “Christian”. Instead I have been calling myself a “follower of Jesus Christ”. Over the last few months I have been seriously contemplating my spiritual life and where I go from here. In the recent months this blog has pretty much been … Continue reading My Version….
I Must Be Getting Old…..
Emmy Awards 2013: Nominations Announced Source: Emmy Awards 2013: Nominations Announced – ABC News. I won’t bore you folks who swear you never watch television with the long list of Emmy nominations here. If you want to see them click on the source above. The point of this post is that excluding “Dowton Abbey” there were no other shows on this long list that my … Continue reading I Must Be Getting Old…..
The Money We Spend On Government…
“Lord, the money we spend on government. And, it’s not a bit better government than we got for one-third the money twenty years ago.” – Will Rogers, 27 March 1932 Lord knows we spend hundreds of time more for our government than we even did in Will’s day so his words above are even more appropriate today. I am proudly a social liberal but at … Continue reading The Money We Spend On Government…
Too Many Conditions….
The Bible nowhere qualifies the command to help the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, and the poor. The Bible never says “help the Christian poor” or “help the poor only if they listen to a 30-minute sermon.” God told the Israelites that they are God’s people if they help the poor and bring justice to the oppressed. No qualifiers. No agenda. No strings attached. Just … Continue reading Too Many Conditions….
With The Exception of Stupidity….
“American people are a very generous people and will forgive almost any weakness, with the possible exception of stupidity.” – Will Rogers, 24 February 1924 I don’t know Will I think you might be a little off track here at least in terms of today’s America. We don’t seem to be able to forgive our neighbors of anything. We are constantly bickering with each other … Continue reading With The Exception of Stupidity….
Words From the Heart….
President Obama: “There are very few African-American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me,” Obama said. “And there are very few African-American men who haven’t had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me, at least … Continue reading Words From the Heart….
Small Town Life…
A rain free night full of vehicle demolishing and car smashing fun was featured at the 4-H Fairgrounds Saturday for a capacity crowd inside the main arena as 38 drivers competed in four categories for trophies, prize money and bragging rights. Welcome to small town America. I have lived in it for much of my six plus decades on this earth. I want to thank … Continue reading Small Town Life…
Group Pictures…
For some unknown reason I have always been fascinated by group pictures such as shown in my revised header above and a larger copy here. I love looking at each individual face and trying to imagine their life story. In studying local history such as from the picture above I have come to understand just how hard previous generations have it compared to ours. It … Continue reading Group Pictures…
Monarchy……
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima appear on the balcony of the Royal Palace with their children, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April 30, 2013. Willem-Alexander is not only the monarch of the Netherlands but also the Dutch Caribbean territories of Curacao, Aruba and Saint Maarten. He holds several military titles but requested an honorable discharge. Source: Dutch Abdication: Willem-Alexander Becomes Europe’s Youngest Monarch | The Netherlands … Continue reading Monarchy……
Make home energy improvements….
Make your home more energy efficient. It could help reduce not only your utility bills, but also what you owe the IRS. You can make relatively easy and inexpensive upgrades, such as adding insulation or replacing leaky windows, and possibly receive a $500 tax credit on your 2013 tax return. More extensive — and expensive — alternative energy improvements will get you bigger tax breaks. … Continue reading Make home energy improvements….
A Little Rebellion….
I hold it that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. . . . It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. – Thomas Jefferson –Letter, 30 Jan. 1787, to statesman James Madison, speaking of Shays’ Rebellion They say that Shay’s Rebellion was one of the primary … Continue reading A Little Rebellion….
“Moral Leadership”…
When some nation wants us to help ’em out they use the same old “gag”, that we should exert our “Moral Leadership” and, like a yap, we believe it, when as a matter of truth, no nation wants any other nation exerting a “Moral leadership” over ’em even if they had one. — Will Rogers Will it amazes me how eighty plus years ago you … Continue reading “Moral Leadership”…
A Century Ago…
A century ago, people were dreaming of flying, trying and failing, falling on the ground. But why do people fall? Why do they continue to fight when all hope seems to be lost? I believe it is because it is in our nature to fight, to try to find something in the darkness of the things we do not understand, in the chaos that surrounds … Continue reading A Century Ago…
Neither Party Deserves It….
I was just out in the yard mowing my two and a half acres and started thinking about how I am more relaxed now that I have greatly reduced my diet of politics. There is little that goes on in that world now that would spur anything other than frustrations. I have admitted that in 2008 I actively supported the candidacy of Barak Obama. His … Continue reading Neither Party Deserves It….
Stop Comparing my Christianity to Your Christianity!
My translation of the Bible is better than your translation. Hymns are better than choruses. The Contemporary service is better than the Traditional one. My version of baptism is better than yours…… Source: Stephen Mattson: Stop Comparing my Christianity to Your Christianity! – Red Letter Christians. Another brilliant post by Stephen Mattson over at Red Letter Christians and it came just at the right time for … Continue reading Stop Comparing my Christianity to Your Christianity!
The Fox In Charge of the Hen House…
Less than a week after the Supreme Court watered down the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a handful of states seemed poised to roll back the protections afforded to minorities by the 48-year-old law. Two hours after the decision, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced that a 2011 voter-ID law that federal courts found disproportionately burdened poor and minority voters would go into effect “immediately.” New … Continue reading The Fox In Charge of the Hen House…
Broke Republicans???
“You keep a Republican broke and out of office and pretty near anybody can get along with them.” – Will Rogers, 11 November 1923 I don’t know Will, maybe some things were different during your days. But I just don’t see too many broke Republicans around now days. They all seem to have a fair amount of money and will do almost anything to keep … Continue reading Broke Republicans???
Training Your Workers…..
ST. PAUL, Minn. – We previously reported that one thing holding back the economic recovery is there just aren’t enough skilled workers. But some companies have decided if they can’t find qualified employees, they’ll just create them — as we found out in St. Paul, Minnesota…. Tuition is $4,000, but the coalition provides scholarships. Later this month, the first class will graduate 18 students. How … Continue reading Training Your Workers…..
A 1950s View Of the World In 2000…
Whatever shape your world may take in the year 2000 A.D., we can all be fairly sure that it will be one world. Whether through war or through peace, the nations fifty years from now will have learned to enmesh their sovereignties into a single supreme authority. They will have learned to do so because, difficult as it may seem now, no other alternative exists. … Continue reading A 1950s View Of the World In 2000…
Self Made…..
“A real self-made man would have to be one who had received no learning or knowledge, or assistance from any person or source.” – Will Rogers, 28 October 1923 I really appreciate your words here Will. There is really no such thing as a self made man. I have run across so many people who proudly claim to be self made. There is a definite … Continue reading Self Made…..
Why Our Health Care Lets Prices Run Wild…
A central reason U.S. health care spending is so high is because hospitals and doctors charge more for their services and there’s little transparency about why. There is no uniformity to the system, in which public and private insurers have separate, unrelated contracts with hospitals and doctors. The result is a tangled, confusing and largely secretive collection of forces driving health care prices higher and higher. … Continue reading Why Our Health Care Lets Prices Run Wild…
Being Down On Yourself….
Excessive self-criticism tends to backfire, because it leads us to focus on our so-called failures instead of the “small ways that we could have improved,” says psychologist Tamar E. Chansky, PhD, author of Freeing Yourself From Anxiety. And over the long term, studies show, self trash-talk is associated with higher stress levels and even depression. Source: 9 Ways to Silence Your Inner Critic – ABC … Continue reading Being Down On Yourself….
Happy July 4th…
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Continue reading Happy July 4th…
The Knowledge Economy….
In a Washington Post Op-Ed piece Wednesday, co-founder Mr. Zuckerberg wrote that today’s “economy is based primarily on knowledge and ideas – resources that are renewable…. In a knowledge economy, the most important resources are talented people.” Beyond helping to nudge the current debate, according to a statement released on Wednesday, the group’s goal is to “organize and engage the tech community in the issues where … Continue reading The Knowledge Economy….
Hitting the Nail on the Head….
But, virtually every night, I would also feel from those who came, along with that hunger, a very deep cynicism about social change even being possible. And when it came to Washington or Wall Street, the cynicism was overwhelming. Virtually no one trusts either our political system or marketplace to be fair, honest, moral, or even open to doing the right thing. Most Americans seem to believe that the … Continue reading Hitting the Nail on the Head….
Its All About Marketing….
Like other Republicans who have advocated a ‘bigger-tent’ philosophy for their party, US Senator Rand Paul says this doesn’t mean leaving behind strongly held principles Source: Rand Paul: ‘When Republican Party looks like the rest of America, we’ll win’ (+video) – CSMonitor.com. As any Madison Avenue type and he will tell you it is all about marketing. In other words you must show the masses what they … Continue reading Its All About Marketing….
RJ's Corner 