[I Was Naked]

Laugh of the Day

2007-05-29

Something tells me this kid won't end up as Valedictorian.

Don't show it off if you can't wear it correctly.

Spray-painting the side of your house does not increase its perceived value.

Ever heard of a leash?

Signs that you might stay on Shoutpost too long.

Hello, is there an Editor in the House?

Carly never quite figured out why she never really fit in with the Goth crowd.

The smiley face softens the blow.

and finally

The Newsroom falls silent.

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Taps

2007-05-29

Thought this was a fitting closure to Memorial Day. I knew the story, and first verse of Taps from Scouting, but didn't know the other two. This came forwarded to me from a friend who are still close friends and fellow veterans of RVN.
  

AN INTERESTING HISTORY

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which Taps were played; this brings out a new meaning of it.

We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, "Taps." It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes.

But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.

When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier , but the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.

The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.

The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.

But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.

The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.

This wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals was born.

The words are:
Day is done.
Gone the sun.
From the lakes
From the hills.
From the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest.
God is nigh.

Fading light.
Dims the sight.
And a star.
Gems the sky.
Gleaming bright.
From afar
Drawing nigh.
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise.
For our days.
Neath the sun
Neath the stars.
Neath the sky.
As we go.
This we know.
God is nigh

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Some Will Like

2007-05-29

Though this has been purported to be written by an angry New Jersey housewife, I know it reflects a lot of beliefs. Again, I'm more impressed with Tony Blairs comment at the end then the diatribe that precedes it. I think that parts of me, want to agree, after all War is War right? But, since we have the Geneva Convention and its four succesive protocols, the rant is just what it is. I always try to see all sides of an issue, and how upset the American public responds to our flag being burned, our beliefs stomped on when the media shows news clips of attacks on America. I'm just posting this maybe have one person who might read it realize that other people are entitled to the same beliefs we have, especially since we are fighting to give them their freedoms. Part of that liberating fight isn't telling them, and oh by the way, ditch your God, you can only worship ours now. Religious tolerance on all sides of the issue has to be negotiated. Except with terrorist. But we have to remember that terrorist attacked us, not and entire race of people, and that is what we are fighting. The extremist do want every last one of us annihilated. That is the jihad that is called on us by Bin Laden. The following just shows that we still lump all Islams into one big group, and that is where we err.

Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania? Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they? And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.
 

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
 

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.
 

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:I don't care.
 

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat,and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is
complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.
 

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and -you guessed it -I don't care ! ! ! ! !

And may I add:  "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem."
        Ronald Reagan
 

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America, he said:

"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in, and how many want out."

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Blonde and Dangerous

2007-05-27

Leaving well enough alone now, that I let Ms Loreal fix what Miss Clairol did..whew...seriously, note to self, stop coloring your hair before work!!

I had to laugh yesterday at one of the parties, when my girlfriend commented she likes my hair color. I assured her, you wouldn't have yesterday! Thank god I did have my hairdressing license for 25 years, or I wouldn't even attempt to do the things I do with chemicals. I just couldn't show up at my sisters house less then the best I could be. We aren't close. We should be, but since I'm the youngest and have lived my life the way I have seen fit, while she has been with her husband since she was a teen. I begrudge her nothing, proud of her accomplishments, has her doctorate in something or another, and has a very nice life for herself. I didn't remember what time the party started so I gave a call to her to find out, and offered to stop if they needed anything. She assured me they were fine everything was under control. Since it is a half hour drive to her house, I had to get on the road. She called me back less than a minute later asking if I could do her a favor and get her six cans of sterno, and I hesitated a moment, trying to think which store in my rural area might have it. Hearing my hesitation she asked me..." Do you know what sterno is?" I just had to sigh, and explain yes..just trying to think who has it. So I wasn't expecting much from this party, I would do my meet and greet and move on to the next one.

I got through my sisters party unscathed and actually stayed three hours. No mean feat there. Of course, she had to question me if I had been going yearly for mammograms, which guilty as charged, no I haven't. She then proceeds to show me where she had two biopsy's and this is her problem, and her doctor told her this, and by the way the doctor is sending me her results because I should go because I could have breast cancer. Huh? As if I didn't have enough to deal with right now, you had to lay this on me at a party? The closet hypochondriac..great.....I know her intentions were good, but seriously, I do self exams. Not good enough replied sister dear, and expert on all things, my large breasts are too dense for that. Sigh.

You know, timing is everything. I tried to explain to her other friend, that though something is going to get us all, the way my life is, it isn't going to be something like cancer, that does me in. Well at least not breast cancer, ass cancer maybe, something horrible and snickered at. Like poor Farrah Fawcet, can't just leave well enough alone, Ryan O'Neal has to tell the world she has anal cancer.

But my near death experiences so far have been choking on a chicken bone, staying in the ER for 5 hours while they take everyone else because I was breathing ok, never mind the pain and blood I kept spitting out. The gentleman beside me, complained he had been there for four hours. I asked him what was wrong? Heart attack? I couldn't help but laugh when he said yes. They sent me away that night after an xray and told me I was imaging it, and here's some Tylenol with codeine, get some sleep, and call and ENT guy in the morning. I didn't take the painkiller, knowing that it wasn't going to help. I called the ENT the next morning who had me come to his office on a Saturday, and I had a half hour drive to get there. On the way I made a few phone calls and as I am driving down a particularly pothole filled road, my left tire hit one just so and as I was speaking the bone fragment came up out of my mouth. I'm still driving and talking as I started to choke as it had come back out, and reassure my girlfriend I was ok. Fast forward to the doctors office, and he was not happy the hospital had missed this 2 inch , v shaped curved shard, from the chicken wing I had taken one bite out of. It was laying in my pinoidal sinus (or popcorn pocket to those of you who are medically trained) hence why I could breathe. So I wasn't in danger of dying that time, but a horrible thing to go through, and since I never was impressed by Chester County Hospital, that clinched it.

Or the time I was vacuuming the bathroom, and I had taken off the attachments from the vacuum to suck up kitty litter and as the vacuum was still running I turned to catch the falling vacuum and the handle I was holding fell into the open toilet almost sucking up the bowl water. I twirled and grabbed the hose out, in a blink that even Jet Li would have been proud of.

Or the time I had stopped at a car wash, and a half an hour earlier, having run out of my prescription allergy medicine, bought Benadryl, and took a rather large dose for myself. Then, not watching what I was doing picked up the grape soda can in my car I had bought and took a swallow. With a bee inside who promptly stung the roof of my mouth. Did I mention I'm allergic? I was half an hour from home and called my doctor who told me to go to the ER. I would have gone, but since I was loaded up on Benadryl it saved me.

That in my mind is how I am going to go..something stupid that they don't have a cure for. My luck runneth over so far. Unless of course, after all this time, I develop an allergy to hair dye.

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TKO Miss Clairol

2007-05-25

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Memorial Day

2007-05-25

"Kneel where our loved are sleeping, Dear ones days gone by, Here we bow in holy reverence; Our bosoms heave the heartfelt sigh.
They fell like brave men, true as steel, And pour'd their blood like rain,We feel we owe them all we have, And can but weep and kneel again."

-Civil War hymn "Kneel Where Our Loved Lay Sleeping"

General Order No.11 issued by John Logan was written as such:

1. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

   We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

   If other eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.

   Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from hishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

2. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

3. Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.

   By order of

   JOHN A. LOGAN,
   Commander-in-Chief

The day has since lost is somber meaning over the last century, though in light of this never ending struggle in the Mideast, maybe its relevance should weigh more on our conscience. Bill Clinton in May of 2000 issued a National Memo to promote a National Moment of Remembrance:

Accordingly, I hereby direct all executive departments and agencies, in consultation with the White House Program for the National Moment

of Remembrance (Program), to promote a ``National Moment of Remembrance'' to occur at 3 p.m. (local time) on each Memorial Day.

Recognizing that Memorial Day is a Federal holiday, all executive departments and agencies, in coordination with the Program and to the extent possible and permitted by law, shall promote and provide
resources to support a National Moment of Remembrance, including:

• Encouraging individual department and agency personnel, and Americans everywhere, to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m. (local time) on Memorial Day, to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to provide freedom for all.
  

• Recognizing, in conjunction with Memorial Day, department and agency personnel whose family members have made the ultimate sacrifice for this Nation.
  

• Providing such information and assistance as may be necessary for the Program to carry out its functions. I have asked the Director of the White House Millennium Council to issue additional guidance, pursuant to this Memorandum, to the heads of executive departments and agencies regarding specific activities and events to commemorate the National Moment of Remembrance.

Since we already have 11-11-11 to remember, it isn't that much harder to throw 5-30-3 out there and take a moment. Lord knows the man didn't too much much else in office, and this one proclamation should at least be given some credence.

I stopped at the Wawa the other night, and as I parked my car I saw a group of older folk, card table set up, not looking like they expected much from the crowd going in and out to even glance their way. I myself was limited on cash, but made a mental note to check them out on my way out of the store. One thing I can say about Wawa, its easy to burn $20.00 in ten minutes. I kept my self in check though, and as I exited the store, the woman with her navy blue hat looked up at me, as I interrupted her conversation.

"Whatever it is, I hope its only a dollar, since it's all I have left" I said to her and handed over the last bill in my hand.

She actually beamed, looked oddly at my bluetooth earpiece that glowed eerily from my right ear, and handed over a simple red poppy and said thank you.

I walked to my car, and looked at the wire stem, wrapped in floral tape, a flower that more resembled a red four leaf clover, and a yellow pin on top. The paper tag, proclaimed it was made by veterans in the home, and I gave them credit for still having the strength left in arthritic hands, to wrap wire and tape to do what little they still could for their fallen brethren.

I couldn't do what these people have done. I'm a survivor in life sure, but battling the everyday things to keep one in this lifetime, is a hell of a lot different than giving yourself over to your Country. I took offense the other day at work, because I was told I wasn't paid to think. I won't say where that conversation went, however I reminded them I'm not a tool, and quite frankly I am paid to think.

But when you live a military life, they own you. You're told what to wear, when to get up, when to eat and sleep, all to create a force to defend this country. They aren't told to die, though in the back of every soldier's mind they know it is a possibility. They do this for love of our country, and we need to do more than just celebrate Memorial Day by tanning our legs, and grilling hot dogs. See if you have enough guts on Memorial Day to take a moment and raise your glass, or beer can, and give a toast to our men and women out there who have gone before us.

I ran across this memorial, and found it fitting with the recent controversy with illegal immigrants and felt it worth posting here.

Engracia Sirina Gutierrez, center, sister of of Lance Cpl. Jose Antonio Gutierrez, fights back tears following his funeral in Lomita, California

One of the first U.S. soldiers to die in Iraq was not an American citizen. He'd come here illegally as a teenager. His name was José Antonio Gutierrez. He was killed on March 21, 2003 by enemy fire while trying to secure Umm Qasr, a port vital for humanitarian aid. He was a 22-year-old lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps.

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Men Take Heed ;-)

2007-05-23

Jack was about to marry Jill and his father took him to one side, and said,

"When I married your mother, the first thing I did when we got home was take off my pants," 

I gave them to your mother and told her to put them on. When she did, they were enormous on her and she said to me that
she couldn't possibly wear them, as they were too large.

"I told her, "of course they're too big. I wear the pants in this family and I always will."

Ever since that day, we have never had a single problem."


Jack took his father's advice and as soon as he got Jill alone after the wedding, he did the same thing; took off his pants, gave
them to Jill and told her to put them on. Jill said that the pants were too big and she couldn't possibly wear them.

"Exactly," replied Jack. "I wear the pants in this relationship and I always will. I don't want you to forget that."


Jill paused and removed her panties and gave them to Jack.

"Try these on," she said, so he tried them on but they were too small.

"I can't possibly get into your panties" said Jack.

"Exactly," replied Jill.

"And if you don't change your fucking attitude, you never will."

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Our Friend and Wyeth Labs

2007-05-22

First I love the irony of the old colloquioism for our period. We all have are own pet ways of discussing the Curse, Monthly Visitor, Cousin Dot, Mother's Little Helper..uh no wait, that's not right...

So Wyeth has finally developed Lybrel which quite frankly I thought of 20 years ago. I always thought it would be a great idea if you took a pill to start your period when you wanted to conceive. Prior to the 1960's and the advent of "the Pill" women didn't have their period every month. Ya know why? Because they were pregnant. I was born the during last years of the baby boomer generation 1963, and in the case of my family, my parents certainly did their part. Sure I'm the youngest of only three kids, but she spit us out quick. My brother was born November 17th, a year and a week later to the day, my sister was born the Nov 24th, then a short break and a year and 5 months later, me.

Like most women of my generation, we had several choices for birth control and when I was nineteen I started on the pill, and its tough on your body, but the trade off is the ability to control your cycle. As I got older and blessedly single, I discussed with my OB GYN extending my cycle.

This was over 12 years ago, and I did what Seasonale has done in the last three years. The funny part is, I would have my doctor write the script to dispense 84 pills with 4 refills that would last me all year. Total cost for my co-pay for this script was $10.00. If I had gone every month to pick up the same script written separately it would have been 10.00 per month.

So I happily went along for years, until fricken Seasonal came on the market. Why it was decided that I switch over to that was no big deal first, until I went to pick up my script. Here's where the insurance companies made their money. Same amount of pills I paid for for 10 years, 84, but since now conveniently packaged in one container, my co-pay shot to $65.00. My doctor had told me years before that the insurance companies didn't like long term scripts written, and that was obvious in what they were charging. This happens for a lot of drugs. Diflucan for example, was originally prescribed as an antibiotic and a normal script would be 7-10 pills. That is until the secondary use was found that it was much better used as a cure for yeast infections in woman with just one dose. Again, the co-pay increases for less number of pills dispensed.

So take away all the other arguments for why woman may or may not go for stopping their monthly cycle. I have to wonder if there will be a sudden influx of Cotton lobbyist in Washington, though many men might be smiling with glee, thinking the old phrase.."Not tonight dear"...could fall by the wayside. This would also present a new marketing challenge for personal care products, forcing Tambrands et al, to come up with even more ridiculous ways to buy their products. "Now even more fluff in our mouse mattresses" isn't quite a selling point. By the way, has anyone ever met anyone who worked at at tampon factory?

So along comes Lybrel and just listening to the reaction on the news, it seems most woman will stick to what they are comfortable with, and its only single women like me, who missed this pill by 10 years, are losing out. Only 1/3 of the women surveyed thought it was a great idea.

We could look at the benefits of doling out the pills and lowering the number of unplanned pregnancies, getting younger woman to stop working the system by spitting out kids and being on welfare. Until the pill proves itself, woman who are responsible will always use back up contreception, so any risk of increased STD's isn't an issue. If you don't protect yourself now, you aren't going to until you learn the hard way.

The way I see it, as convenient as it will be, the only ones who are really going to benefit are the insurance companies, since this pill must be taken daily. I can hear the registers ringing now, and though I always hesitate in investing in pharmaceutical companies, (too many people out there that can react badly to drugs)the smart bet now would be to sink my money into insurance companies. Might as well make some money back on all they take from us.

Interestingly enough, insurance companies came into being to police our doctors. Now the same companies that were brought into being to protect us, are controlling us, from the almighty dollar stand of what they will cover, what they won't, and what kind of medical care we receive.Another example of absolute power corrupting absolutely.

I used to work for a very good set of doctors, who refused to bend to the will of these HMO's and other insurance companies. The only claims we would submit would be on our Medicare Monday's since that is required by law. No double and triple booking appointments on top of one another, if they needed to see their patients for 5 minutes, or for an hour, that is the time and care they gave to their patients. We were the first line of defense against the pharmaceutical reps that came in with case after case of their samples. Only if something really new came onto the market, did they get 10 minutes of their time, otherwise everything they do is for their patients. However, they are few and far between in this day of get them in and out.

My OBGYN practice has fallen under the management of a male office manager who has directed the front desk that if a woman calls and is late for her appointment, she is only given 15 minutes time or she loses her appointment, and must rebook which can take up to another three weeks to two months to get back in. I informed them, that if that were the case, they are setting themselves up for a malpractice suit. Can you imagine, being told, you should have come in sooner, we could have caught this cancer? Yeah? Talk to your office manger. Truly I was late once, and gave them an earful. We are left to our own defenses when it comes to our healthcare, but since we are the ones that live in our bodies, we have no one else to blame if we don't stand up for ourselves.

Well I gotta get off my pillbox now, I think I hear the doorbell and its Aunt Flo taking a slow train to the Redlands.

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Penn State Graduation 2007

2007-05-20

You continue a family tradition, started with your Great Grandfather who taught there

for 25 years, to your grandfather and family who graduated from PSU.

Love, Aunt Pam 

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Islam For Dummies- Repost for those who missed it

2007-05-19

Ok, as I read another new story today about another suicide bomber taking out 102 Shiites, I wanted to review in my own mind what I understood about this conflict.What I started reading about the difference in Shiites and Sunnis quickly boggled the mind.

If one was going to compare it to Christianity it would go something like this: We have the Bible – main players God and the Christ family. Joseph Christ, Mary Christ and Jesus Christ and his band of merry men (disciples then Apostles after his death) If you follow the general beliefs, died for our sins, yada yada, rose from the dead, sits on the right hand of god the father almighty. Live a good life, try not to sin, ask forgiveness and accept him as your savior, you have your golden ticket to the angel factory.

For fun, ascribe to the musings of one said Dan Brown and you have Jesus and the Magdalene (hmm, now that would be a name for a Christian rock band) got it on, had a kid, and made for a very interesting movie Dogma and The DaVinci Code. We then break it down amongst Catholics and Protestants, but overall we don't have people driving their Volvos' into Superfresh on a Saturday and killing a hundred people in the canned ham aisle, because they don't believe the same as we do. That's one basic fundamental difference. But since this is a primer for Muslim, I don't need to expand on this further.

Muslims have the Qur'an or Koran and the main players: Allah and the Prophet Mohammed who died 632 AD. Everyone got along in the Islamic world and all was quiet on the Mid Eastern front. Mohammed's father in law became Caliph and united the entire Arabian Peninsula under Islam for all of two years. Then along came Umar and Uthman the next two Caliphs, who started the whole mess by wanting to expand the empire and get some White Castle Burgers.

They succeeded in kicking ass through western Asia, the Mediterranean coast and eastern Iran. Uthman was assassinated and enter our new caliph Ali. This is the guy who really was a 'radical' and the start of a new fundamentalist sect. He continued the spread of Islam through North Africa, Egypt, and then Spain til someone knocked his block off. Those that followed him became known as Shiites which goes something like this: Imamah (not to be confused with Yo Momma or Yoyo Mah the violinist) believes that there's only One Prophet and no others, and Imams are appointed by God (kinda makes me wonder about the Pope and the Catholic belief system, I think they copied). In any event Shiites mean "supporters of Ali." Since they lost political power, then went for religious power and buddied up to anyone who got the cold shoulder from the Sunnis.

When Ali was killed Caliph Mu'awiya and the Sunnis (not a good name for an Islamic Band) came to power. They stayed in power until 750 AD when the Shiites regained control until 950 AD. And you thought Term Limits was a good idea.

From 950 AD on the Sunni's have been in control. Now during this tenure of converting people to Islam the people who were not Arab were known as Mawali. According to the Koran everyone was equal and no one was supposed to pay taxes. The Umayyad's however (mentally I'm singing this to the tune of Kum By Ya) were racist and only Arabs were good people. Shmucks.

So the Mawalis said 'screw that' and went along with the Abbasids who killed all the Umayyads but one male in 750 AD.

From a tactical standpoint, they concentrated their force into Iran and Iraq and moved the capital from Damascus to Baghdad. Coincidentally this is also the same time that Jeanie got placed in her bottle and eventually wound up on the beach with Major Nelson, who I always wondered how major his Nelson was.

Baghdad became the happening place and everyone got along, Arab's, Persians, Jews, Greeks and worshipped many things including Christianity. At one point, there were over a million people living there and it was the second largest city in the world, only surpassed by China. The one surviving Umayyad (remember him?) hightailed it to Spain and became a Caliph for several years.

The Abbasids managed to hold it all together until about 1000 AD as their hold weakened. The Turks left then North Africa broke away in 908AD and formed the Fatimids after Mohammed's daughter Fatima. Now if you have followed along in the think train, these were Shiites as a direct descendent of Mohammed. They took over the Egyptian territories as well as Israel, Lebanon and Syria to name a few.

Then in 1096 AD along came the First Crusade. I'm not pointing fingers here, but essentially there was 'world peace' until the Holy Roman Empire stuck its big fat Popes Nose in it. They wanted to take Jerusalem and the Mediterranean back as any world power likes to do when going for global domination. So Pope Urban gives a great motivational speech at Clermont, and everyone drops what they are doing and rushes off without weapons or money, because…dumbroll please. God would just knock down the walls of Jerusalem as soon as they got there.

That was one hell of a speech.

Proving that people are stupid when things get difficult, some of the Crusaders found that it was just easier to stop in Germany to rob and kill the Jews because they weren't Christians. That's tolerance for ya…Go Pope!

Now the Fatimids weren't really concerned with the band of Crusaders because they were busy with the Seljuks, another band of roaming Sunnis and thought the Crusaders just wanted a scramble with the Syrians (Sharks..Jets..Sharks…Jets). By 1098 the First Crusaders arrived and my, my, weren't they surprised at the civilization around them. Advances in medicine, hot baths and beautiful mosques, as they say in real estate, ,,.

Imagine everyone living in harmony.

Well score one for the First Crusade as they took Jerusalem while the Fatimids weren't looking. This of course set the stage for the Second Crusade and as far as I'm concerned today's situation in Iraq is 69th Crusade cause it just sucks dick and eventually we are going to get it up the ass (that's 69 with two fingers).

We're still fighting Holy Wars and just where is the Vatican in all of this? Oh that's right, the geniuses who elected a Nazi Pope, are calling for World Peace.

Well here's an idea, get that yap flapping to all the Catholics out there, recognize that if you truly believe in God and Jesus, you don't need the real estate. Give it back, and the US needs to pull out of the conflict. Israel isn't blameless in this fight either,and needs to stop playing the victim.We need to clean up our own problems and fix our democracy and lead by example, not just principle.

Now I have one more idea but it would take another generation or two to make it work. Unite the Sunni's and Shiites with an arranged marriage, the male from the Sunni's and a female Shiite and they have two children, a boy and a girl. That unites the Arabs again. Now, find the lost descendent of Mary and Jesus and have Dan Brown turn over his notes. Depending on the sex of the child, we marry that child off to the new Shinunite. Now we have united the Muslims and Christians. They have a child or two and marry them off to the other global powers that are still around in thirty years. Hey, I'm a lover not a fighter ( well, I am when need be) and since killing isn't working lets try sex. I think an orgasm is the answer, and it is universal.

Problem solved. Vote for me.

For further reading and see how Saddam figured in the whole mess, and suckered the US into his problems, check out this article. Saddam Hussein

He started out ok, but absolute power corrupts absolutely. He got what he deserved in the end.


Muslim World dominance

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Preakness 2007

2007-05-19

Post time is in 25 minutes.

The field for the 2007 Preakness Stakes (G1), in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, trainer, and morning-line odds:

As of this posting Streetsense is now 6-5

1. Mint Slewlep (Slew City Slew), Alan Garcia, 126, Robert W. Bailes, 30-to-1;

2. Xchanger (Exchange Rate), Ramon A. Dominguez, 126, Mark Shuman, 15-to-1;

3. Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch), John R. Velazquez, 126, Todd A. Pletcher, 8-to-1;

4. Curlin (Smart Strike), Robby Albarado, 126, Steve Asmussen, 7-to-2;

5. King of the Roxy (Littleexpectations), Garrett K. Gomez, 126, Todd A. Pletcher, 12-to-1;

6. Flying First Class (Perfect Mandate), Mark Guidry, 126, D. Wayne Lukas, 20-to-1;

7. Hard Spun (Danzig), Mario G. Pino, 126, J. Larry Jones, 5-to-2;

8. Street Sense (Street Cry [Ire]), Calvin H. Borel, 126, Carl A. Nafzger, 7-to-5; and

9. C P West (Came Home), Edgar S. Prado, 126, Nicholas P. Zito, 20-to-1.

I couldn't log onto my account at easybet.com since I only use it once a year to bet on the ponies. But if I had to bet, it would be

WIN Hardspun

PLACE Street Sense

SHOW Flying First Class

It would make more sense to go with Streetsense to win, but hey, stranger things have happened. And I always like to throw in a longshot just because of the payoff. THe track is still fast, but its raining. Well, gotta get this posted so I can watch.

Though a nod to Curlin and King of the Roxy cause you're a pretty horse.

AFTER THE RACE RESULTS

Congrats to Curlin.., Streetsense and Hardspun Showed..you were first for a few lengths, he just let you have your head too soon. So interesting the same three from the Derby just mixed it up. Gotta love the run for the roses next. Note it was also good to to Edgar Prado back after last years tragedy with Barbaro. 

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Why We Fight

2007-05-19

17 Year old girl stoned to death for religious reasons. Caution graphic content.

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Shoutpost TOS Part II

2007-05-19

So in all fairness I've sent a message to Rocky, asking him to prohibit religious posts on here as well. Quite frankly I'm offended by all that crap that is posted, but generally I ignore it. But in all fairness if a site is going to censor things that they find offensive, then all things must go that is offensive. I'm sure the Muslims on here would agree, as well as the Jews, Agnostics and Atheist.

Can't wait to see what kind of an answer ole Rocky and company come up with. 

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Shoutpost TOS

2007-05-19

So it was brought to my attention by someone that they missed my cleavage shot. Knowing I hadn't changed a damn thing I saw that it was locked as was the Coppertone ad and the woman on the beach that accompanied my post.

So I checked the terms of service and see that Shoutpost doesn't allow blogs re: pornagraphy ( according to whose standards?) Gambling, escort services (damn I needed a ride) or  Erectile Dysfunction (have my own toys thank you). The TOS goes on to say that they aren't ressponsible for content etc, you're here at your own risk.

Great - glad to hear it. So leave my pics and posts alone thank you. I'll determine what is pornographic not you, if someone doesn't like my blog don't read it, and go pray somewhere else. Its called Free Will people, so don't go away mad, just go away, and while your at it, grab a coping skill already, you need it to get through this thing called life.

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TLC & Clean Sweep

2007-05-19

I have to admit, I watch the show with fascination.

Not because I live in the same conditions, I keep my house well tended, and face it, when you move every two to three years one has a tendency to get rid of crap. But I will explain later, what I have experienced in life.

I know how easy it is to accumulate a household full of items if you have been living in your home for years, raised children, and your house becomes the dumping ground.

But more often than not on this show, these are people in newer homes, that just keep moving their crap from place to place. Peter does a great job trying to get through to the perpertrators how to let go of the "things" that don't hold the meaning. Seriously, if you love someone you hold that in your heart, you don't need Great Aunt Sara's frying pan to remember her.

I love the reveals at the end, but what this show is missing is the crew going back in a year and seeing what the houses look like. I want that added, just as a surprise visit, camera crew shows up, knocks on the door and they bust in and update us. I'm watching the show right now, and seriously, the kitchen is disgusting. The oven doesn't open, been that way for years. No big deal, but they have a daughter, so you know they are living on take out, and no one is teaching the daughter how to cook or tend home. Adding to this debacle, the living room/dining room combo is filled with his crap to the point where they can't open the front door. "If they have a party, they don't let people indoors." Man would I hate to be a party guest there..where do you go to the bathroom?

Behavior modification takes more training than the two or so days the crew and producers are there. I know this. Back in the day, when I lived in "the compound" I was the only person from the age of 14-19 who cleaned the home. There was always an excuse why my friend whose house it was, couldn't clean. The oldest had asthma and allergies (like I don't?) and my girlfriend just didn't have to. (read spoiled)

When I eventually gained my escape and moved away I was summoned back years later, knowing the oldest was having a baby. In my heart and conscience I couldn't let anyone bring a new baby into a house that in my absence had degraded even further down. I know anyone reading this can't grasp how bad a house left unattended could be, with three people still living there. Lets just say, the one day I went there a long dead decaying cat was on the porch. It wasn't as if it was hidden, it was right by the front door. I got a shovel and buried it. My friend who had spent the last year of senior high barricaded in her room, never even leaving it for school, left at some point took what she wanted and left a disgusting mess in her room, including used feminine products tossed aside on the floor. This was to be the nursery. My other best friend joined me, as it wasn't a task for one person. I think we spent about 8 hours cleaning her room and the attached bath and went back the next day to paint and apply a border, and make it livable and presentable for a newborn. I went out two more times over the years to clean out another room for them, before I threw in the towel.

What always shocked me though, was that they could present themselves to the world in clean clothes and tidy appearance at work and church. Fricken Kreskin had nothing on that act. But the house? Beyond clutter. Floor to ceiling crap, shopping bags still full of purchases thrown into a room with other bags. Magazines, papers, everything they ever touched was kept. I checked out the mothers bedroom, where I had to room with the last two years I was there. King size bed, and there was a spot at the foot that wasn't covered where she must sleep. I did a quick sort and saw cancelled checks from 1955 on the bed. Seriously, even the IRS wants you to get rid of stuff after seven years.

I guess I sit here and watch this show, knowing if the truck pulled up to that house today, they'd have to level it. When I lived there I took care of the three dogs and twenty outdoor cats. I understand later the son in law shot the cats that didn't run off and become wild. The dogs had died. The had bought a keeshound that went everywhere with the son in law. Once the baby came the dog was negleted to the point of emaciation. I contacted a rescue society for them and saved the dog. I haven't been back since. Not even when I bought my last townhome, and I was less than a half a mile away. If I drove down the road to get to my house and I passed the driveway, I kept my head straight. Trust me it isn't easy driving past five acres of overgrown land, but emotionally I was done with that part of my life.

Saturday is my cleaning day again, once I got rid of my maids that I had twice a month. I was procrastinating starting my day until I watched this show and wrote this. Time to get my rear in gear, make the bed, do the wash, and tidy up the downstairs.

See, all television isn't bad as long as we remember to turn it off every once in a while. Oh yeah, and remember from whence we came.

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Brick Theory of Management

2007-05-18

How to place new employees in the right jobs for them:

• Put 400 bricks in a closed room.
• Put your new hires in the room and close the door.
• Leave them alone and come back after 6 hours.
• Then analyze the situation:

• If they are counting the bricks, put them in the Accounting Department.
• If they are recounting them, put them in Auditing.
• If they have messed up the whole place with the bricks, put them in Engineering.
• If they are arranging the bricks in some strange order, put them in Planning.
• If they are throwing the bricks at each other, put them in Operations.
• If they are sleeping, put them in Security.
• If they have broken the bricks into pieces, put them in Information Technology.
• If they are sitting idle, put them in Human Resources.
• If they say they have tried different combinations, they are looking for more, yet not a brick has been moved, put them in Sales.
• If they have already left for the day, put them in Marketing.
• If they are staring out of the window, put them in Strategic Planning.
• If they are talking to each other, and not a single brick has been moved, congratulate them and put them in Top Management.
• If they have surrounded themselves with bricks in such a way that they can neither be seen nor heard from, put them in Congress.

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Friday Shits & Giggles Late Night-Rated R

2007-05-18

A couple go on their honeymoon, but the lady is a little shy. After much dancing around the subject she finally admits that she thinks her hole is too big for her man.

He tells her she's being silly and after much coaxing she agrees to show him. And it's enormous!

The guy is so shocked he advises her to go to the doctor, and she gets in the next day.

When she gets to the doc's she explains the problem and he's very understanding, saying a lot of women feel this way but it's mostly their imagination.

So she gets on the examination table and puts her feet in the stirrups. The doc takes a look and then lets out one long whistle.

"I'm afraid to say that is the largest female sexual part I have ever seen," says the medical man. "So big I can not imagine how it got that way, and I've been a gynecologist for 22 years. There must be a medical reason, but I can't think of it," he admits.

The women blushes slightly and tells the doctor she knows.

"When I was younger, I went on a holiday in India. And while I was there, I, ...well... I had sex with an elephant."

The doctor was obviously shocked but he said "I know that an elephant has a big penis, but it's still not big enough to stretch you that large."

"I know..." said the woman sheepishly. "But I let him finger me first."

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Friday Shits & Giggles-For the Ladies

2007-05-18

One for the ladies

One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his sweatshirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me,

'What setting do I use on the washing machine?'

'It depends,' I replied. 'What does it say on your shirt?'

He yelled back,' University of Oklahoma '

And they say blondes are dumb...

----------------------------------------------------------

A couple is lying in bed. The man says,

'I am going to make you the happiest woman in the world.'

The woman replies,

'I'll miss you...'

--------------------------------------------------

'It's just too hot to wear clothes today,' Jack says as he stepped out of the shower, 'honey, what do you think the neighbors would think if I mowed the lawn like this?'

'Probably that I married you for your money,' she replied.

-------------------------------------------------

Q: What do you call an intelligent, good looking, sensitive man?

A: A rumor

-------------------------------------------------

A man and his wife, now in their 60's, were celebrating their 40th wedding Anniversary.

On their special day a good fairy came to them and said that because they had been so good that each one of them could have one wish.

The wife wished for a trip around the world with her husband.

Whoosh! Immediately she had airline/cruise tickets in her hands.

The man wished for a female companion 30 years younger...

Whoosh...immediately he turned ninety!!!

Gotta love that fairy!

-----------------------------------------------------------

Dear Lord,

I pray for Wisdom to understand my man; Love to forgive him; And Patience for his moods.

Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength, I'll beat him to death.

AMEN

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q: Why do little boys whine?

A: They are practicing to be men.

-------------------------------------------------

Q: What do you call a handcuffed man?

A: Trustworthy.

-------------------------------------------------

Q: What does it mean when a man is in your bed gasping for breath and calling your name?

A: You did not hold the pillow down long enough.

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Q: Why do men whistle when they are sitting on the toilet?

A: It helps them remember which end they need to wipe.

-------------------------------------------------

Q: How do you keep your husband from reading your e-mail?

A: Rename the mail folder 'Instruction Manuals'

--------------------------------------------------

Two women friends had gone for a girl's night out.

Both were very faithful and loving wives, however they had gotten over-enthusiastic on the Bacardi Breezers. Incredibly drunk and walking home they needed to pee, so they stopped in the cemetery.

One of them had nothing to wipe with so she thought she would take off  her panties and use them. Her friend however was wearing a rather expensive pair of panties and did not want to ruin them. She was lucky enough to squat down next to a grave that had a wreath with a ribbon on it, so she proceeded to wipe with that.

After the girls did their business they proceeded to go home. The next day one of the women's husbands was concerned that his normally sweet and innocent wife was still in bed hung over, so he phoned  the other husband and said: "These girl nights have got to
stop! I'm starting to suspect the worst.. my wife came home with no panties!!"

"That's nothing" said the other husband, "Mine came back with a card stuck to her ass that said.....

"'From all of us at the Fire Station. We'll never forget you.'"

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Act 1 Defeated in PA

2007-05-17

And thank god for that.

Pennsylvania has been trying to find alternate and new ways to bleed its citizens out of more taxes. I'll hand it to them, they're creative. With the advent of gambling casino's opening in the state, a portion of the revenue generated was supposed to be divvied up between school districts that were in need. However, that led to a great debate of which districts were more in need of funding and to offset it the PTB came up with Act 1 and placed it on the ballot. In essence it asked the voters would they be interested in maybe offsetting their Real Estate taxes for an increase on our earned income tax? Big resounding no. Why are they surprised?

I for one am a single person who owns her home. It has always been my belief that single people without children should not pay school taxes, and the elderly need to be exempt too. Put the burden on the people with kids. Once your youngest graduates high school, apply for relief. How do you enforce it? Simple, you apply the tax base on the number of deductions on their tax returns.

We actually have census volunteers come around, knocking on our doors, asking who lives in our homes, where do we work, and sign on the line. I decline to answer, none of their business. They claim to use it to know how to hire for the school etc. Here's an idea, you take attendence daily, and people have to fill out paperwork when they enroll their kids in school. Start there.

The problem in Pennsylvania is that the funds don't go to the kids benefit, not when School Superintendents earn way over six figures in an Administrative position. They continue to cut programs and lately the high school I graduated from did a huge expansion. What did they add? Classrooms? Nope, a larger gymnasium, and playing fields for sports. There's a crack administrative decision for you. What they don't mention is a little known fact that unless you have the added ability to coach a sport, you aren't hired as a teacher in our school districts.

On finding out how heavily defeated the bill was, the local newspapers report the following statements:

"I guess renters voted fairly heavily," said West Chester school board President Rodgers Vaughn. "Renters were a no vote because they didn't stand to benefit."

Other voters who work in places such as Delaware voted against Act 1 because they didn't stand to benefit, and Vaughn pointed to the Kennett Consolidated School District as a potential example because many in that district work in Delaware.

"Act 72 and Act 1 operated under the premise that school districts are responsible for all of the costs," he said.

Vaughn cited increasing labor costs and benefits as a prime reason why school costs keep increasing."Costs will keep escalating as long as teachers have the right to strike," Vaughn said.

This puts the school district under the awkward position of being placed under the still extant Act 1 tax index restrictions, which require all school tax hikes in excess of the index to be put out for voter approval. At the same time, this puts school districts in a bind when it comes to negotiating teachers' contracts.

Boo fickety hoo. So take away the Unions, that every year wait until the day before school starts to go on strike. So lets take away the three months off, and go to the year round schooling. It definately solves parents child care issues during the summer, since the way yearly schooling works, only three weeks vacation occurs in summer. It alleviates the ability for teachers and bus drivers to file and collect unemployment benefits over the summer, if they don't elect to spread their pay over the months they don't work.

Legislatures need to get over the idea that throwing more tax payer dollars is going to resolve the issues. Money doesn't solve anything, except creating the false need for more. Everyone should know by now, that as your wallet expands so does your own cost of living. How else do we live the American Dream if we don't live beyond our means? Jeez...yep this from the woman who has learned the hard way from trying to maintain a 160 year old house. Less than three years ago I had stellar credit and helped everyone I could. All I wanted was a single family home with a garage, and with my love of decorating and working in the building industry thought I could easily afford this home. Fast forward and as I have stated in my other blogs, going through bankruptcy. But even with that happening, I still will have to sell this house as the real estate taxes keep increasing, the local tax keeps rising, and my school taxes alone are about 3200 on an assessment of 134,000 for my house and land. I was smart enough not to buy a house in the CASD school district where the school taxes run $9000.00 on a $300,000.00 assessment.

So, yes. Stop burdening people without children and the elderly with school taxes. Get over this idea of children being the future and they are a blessing to us all, so everyone needs to contribute. Well if you are going to take my money for their education than I want a say in how they live. If it's taking a village to pay for your kids, than don't get bent out of shape when the same village who is subsidizing their education get involved and vote down these ridiculous tax benefits to people who spit out kids that can't afford them.

I'd love for their to be a worksheet updated yearly maybe handed out at the courthouse when couples apply for a marriage license or hell, maybe still in high school. Here's what it cost to raise a child, now subtract that from your net income, minus, housing and living expenses. Is the bottom line enough to bring a child into the world and pay for their schooling out of your pocket for the next 12 years? No? Then wait til your income increases.

Just some ideas of thinking outside the box.

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Rest in Hell Fat Head

2007-05-15

This is probably as bad a day as the court has had on social issues since "Roe v Wade."
- reacting to the Supreme Court's ruling in the Texas sodomy case, "Lawrence v. Texas," wherein the high court upheld an individual's (or a couple's) right to privacy; "It is a promise of the Constitution that there is a realm of personal liberty which the government may not enter," said Justice Anthony M Kennedy, for the majority in an opinion "as broad in its constitutional vision as any ever issued by the court," wrote Charles Lane for The Washington Post; in his dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia, an extremist Evangelical Christian, complained that the justices voting to uphold the right to privacy were creating a new constitutional right, that they were not upholding the Constitution, quoted from "Planned Parenthood Federal Action Report" (July, 2003) ††

I had a student ask me, "Could the savior you believe in save Osama bin Laden?" Of course, we know the blood of Jesus Christ can save him, and then he must be executed.
cited in Cary McMullen, "Falwell: Now Is the Time for Gospel," in the Lakeland (Florida) Ledger (November 12, 2001), quoted from Randy Cassingham, This is True (18 November 2001). Falwell added: "We visit prisoners on death row, and some of them are saved, but we believe their sentences should be carried out because they have a debt to society."

God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve.
blaming civil libertarians, feminists, homosexuals, and abortion rights supporters for the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, to which Rev Pat Robertson agreed, quoted from John F Harris, "God Gave US 'What We Deserve,' Falwell Says," The Washington Post (September 14, 2001)

The ACLU's got to take a lot of blame for this.
, blaming civil libertarians for the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, to which Rev Pat Robertson again agreed, quoted from AANEWS #958 by American Atheists (September 14, 2001)

And, I know that I'll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say, "You helped this happen."
, blaming civil libertarians, feminists, homosexuals, and abortion rights supporters for the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, quoted from John F Harris, "God Gave US 'What We Deserve,' Falwell Says," The Washington Post (September 14, 2001)

I sincerely believe that the collective efforts of many secularists during the past generation, resulting in the expulsion from our schools and from the public square, has left us vulnerable.
, after the 700 Club broadcast wherein he had blamed civil libertarians, feminists, homosexuals, and abortion rights supporters for the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, speaking to The New York Times, quoted from Dick Meyer, "Holy Smoke," CBS News (September 15, 2001)

I put all the blame legally and morally on the actions of the terrorist, [but America's] secular and anti-Christian environment left us open to our Lord's [decision] not to protect. When a nation deserts God and expels God from the culture ... the result is not good.
- backpedaling amidst criticism of his statement blaming civil libertarians, feminists, homosexuals, and abortion rights supporters for the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, quoted from John F Harris, "God Gave US 'What We Deserve,' Falwell Says," The Washington Post (September 14, 2001)

Pat, did you notice yesterday the ACLU, and all the Christ-haters, People For the American Way, NOW, etc. were totally disregarded by the Democrats and the Republicans in both houses of Congress as they went out on the steps and called out on to God in prayer and sang "God Bless America" and said "let the ACLU be hanged"? In other words, when the nation is on its knees, the only normal and natural and spiritual thing to do is what we ought to be doing all the time -- calling upon God.
justifying the breech of Constitutional Separation of Religion from Government while blaming civil libertarians for the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, to which Rev Pat Robertson again agreed, quoted from AANEWS #958 by American Atheists (September 14, 2001)

I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be!
America Can Be Saved, 1979 pp. 52-53, from Albert J Menendez and Edd Doerr, The Great Quotations on Religious Freedom

AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals.

Maybe your buddy Pat there will say a few kind words for you, before the start of your dirt nap, but I for one, am glad that your level of Christianity is silenced Mr. Falwell. Since this was just a smattering of your quotes, its a wonder you didn't choke on your arrogance before this.

*******************************************************
I've got nothing against God, it's his fanclub I can't stand.

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We Are The Borg- You Have Been Assimilated

2007-05-15

I've done some thinking about my last post that was credited to Mr. Lamm and while he did present some good points on paper, it reminded me that even Communism looked good on paper.

The problem with this kind of thinking is, it doesn't end. As any good Trekker knows, the Borg or Cyborgs assimilated every culture into theirs, completely wiping out the existance of their supposed enemies. Resistance was futile. They had a good idea,(on paper or whatever it is that Borgs write with) they claimed to only seek to "improve the quality of life for all species" by integrating organic and synthetic components in their quest for perfection. They even went so far to assimilate good ole Jean Luc Picard and turned him into Locutus at one season cliff hanger. Finally in the next season, our clever crew managed to destroy the Borg before they headed to earth and assimilated mankind. That's our job thank you, we don't need any help from aliens.

But history does stand, and while Rome fell it wasn't because of diversity. I've pretty much done my homework before in previous blogs that showed how civilizations did live in harmony, until sorry to say, the Catholics started the domino effect of violence.

I'm not going to reiterate here, what I have written before, but Mr. Lamm wants to live in absolutes. The problem again with that is that absolutes don't change. Math is an absolute. 1+1=2 will remain the same no matter where you are in history or time. The ancient Greeks loved absolutes, math, geometry, and it is symbolized in buildings and the advent of geometry. But mankind is meant to change. Evolve. But if you want to go back in time, even the Lord saw fit to make us different, or have we all forgotten Babel? It all goes back to Genesis 11:9:

Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of the earth.

But if you back up a verse or two and read the Table of Nations (as it is also described in the Torah) we see that Noah's three sons being blameless in generations (none of those pesky Nephilim) that scholars believe maybe another reason why God flooded the earth, well that and man's wickedness, but back to the Tower at Babel, which is after the "great flood."

The peoples of the earth decide to build "a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens" in the land of Shinar, "lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." God fears the ambition of mankind: "This is only the beginning of what they will do; and nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." And so mankind was scattered over the face of the earth, and the city "was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth.

So fast forward to our time on this earth, and my humble opinion, who fortunately still gets a vote on Primary day because I'm not a convicted felon, so my voice gets heard.

True, there may be an immigration problem, but again I've addressed this in another blog as well. Maybe I just think about us as a whole, as Mankind, and growing up watching Star Trek did affect me. Do I drive a Japanese car? Absolutely. Are some of the computer components on this laptop Made in Mexico. Yup.

You can't blame the people for the dream. However, I can hear all of you saying, This is America - Speak English. But, it wasn't like we didn't come in, and please read my other blog about how we Americans did to the Indians, before everyone claims that this is what this country was founded on. No, we didn't assimilate to the Indians culture because the last time I looked, I wasn't living in a teepee, wigwam, or longhouse.

You can't subscribe to Mr. Lamm's beliefs that diversity will destroy this country. What are we so afraid of? If you want to be mad at something, be mad at the idealogy of Democrats who want to give a hand out to everyone, or Republicans who hold their own. It's impossible to to point the finger of blame just at "bleeding heart liberals" because their intentions are good. But for you Bible people out there; The Lord helps those who help themselves. We need government reform, not more tax and spend, not more government handouts. We aren't going to win, if we repress different cultures in our country. Really, beside McDonalds, most people enjoy takeout from the Mexicans, Chinese, Japanese etc.

Again, if we take this absolute stand that all illegal immigrants are a detriment to this land, and fail in schools, and don't go on to be tax paying citizens, then that is our fault. Change the rules so it isn't so difficult to come to this country. Find out if you yourself could pass the US Citizenship Test http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13442226/.

Maybe you have the European Dream. Go cross the ocean and take your kids, because life is better there. Going to worry about being understood? Nope, because most people overseas are bi-lingual. We have the same opportunities as they do, but we don't follow through on our own education when it comes to speaking a second language. We offer English as a Second Language courses that are full of foreigners, but quite frankly, I know a few Americans who could stand a brush up themselves.

We can't live in fear, we do that enough with the current state of affairs. Politicians play on our fears, to get elected..and not change a damn thing, except the tax base.

We need to learn from our history, and as we repeat it, we have to change the outcome, and band together, use the strength of our diverse nations to solve our problems. So sorry, Mr. Lamm, I'm rising above your fear and prejudice and brushing up on my Spanish.

Obrigado.

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American Suicide- Worth the Read

2007-05-14

Just passing this one along, I'm still mulling it over since it was forwarded to me in an email, and not dated. I'll do some research on it myself. Thoughtful, well written points made.

P.

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Amazingly Simple Home Remedies

2007-05-14

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Funniest Email Fwd of the Week

2007-05-13

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Mother of the Year Award

2007-05-13

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