New Word – "Frauder"

Politics sets the tone for lots of things; take for instance the moniker placed on folks trying to prove 9/11 was staged by our own government; wahla…Truthers; a bunch of whackos. Mention the name, Truthers, and automatically folks start shaking their heads, feeling uncomfortable for being near anyone who might be that far fetched.


How about those who say Obama shouldn’t be president because his birth document either wasn’t available or didn’t fit the requirements. They became; a drum roll please…Birthers. Not too many take Birthers seriously; who could with such a silly name? Being labeled a Birther might damage standing in the community; many have remained quiet rather than admit the Emperor has no clothes.


Obama finally came out the other day; no, I’m not saying Obama “came out of the closet”, there are plenty enough rumors to deal with. Yesterday Obama presented the world with a birth certificate. You’ll notice that reads, “a birth certificate” rather than “his birth certificate”; and only two years after it should have been done. He staged, and that is the correct term, staged his presentation as a guest on Oprah.


Stop me if I appear out of line; but is Oprah’s daytime talk show the proper venue to address the nation or would it have been more presidential from the Oval Office? Think about it, Oprah has a fine show and lots of folks watch it; but could we honestly consider her show to be a national news outlet?


Interesting questions have come up; minor discrepancies which may or may not hold water. One issue found in an article by Jerome R. Corsi on World Net Daily had to do with the long-form birth certificate the White House released April 27, 2011. Barack Obama was given a higher certificate number than a set of twins born the following day. Of itself such a seemingly insignificant issue for which there might be a reasonable explanation; but then there’s the authentication of the actual document. (As hard as I tried, there is no such word as “authentification”; there should be, it sounds great.)


“A close examination of the birth certificates issued by Kapi'olani to the Nordyke twins shows the registration number precedes the number given Obama, even though the future president was born a day earlier.


Susan Nordyke was born at 2:12 p.m. Hawaii time and was given No. 151 – 61 – 10637, which was filed with the Hawaii registrar Aug. 11, 1961.


Gretchen Nordyke followed at 2:17 p.m. and was given No. 151 – 61 – 10638, which was also filed with the Hawaii registrar Aug. 11, 1961.


… Obama was given a higher registration number than the Nordyke twins. The online image indicates the number is No. 151 – 1961 – 10641, even though he was born Aug. 4, 1961, the day before the twins, and his birth was registered with the Hawaii registrar three days earlier, Aug. 8, 1961.”


Remember CBS and “Rathergate” ; the always reliable liberal news anchor? Good ole’ Dan tried desperately to destroy George W. Bush with a phony document, so poorly manufactured typography experts pegged it the moment it hit. Dan Rather had to drop out of the game when that blew up in his face.


Getting back to the birth certificate Obama presented; I watched Karl Denninger, many may know him better as “The TickerGuy”, as he explained definitively the document shared was fraudulent. Denniger pointed out the assembly processes leaving little doubt it was manufactured or assembled on a computer rather than an authentic document.





Rather (Freudian use of Rather), rather than putting the birth certificate issue away for good, it appears Obama has placed himself in an awkward position; attempting to use the presidency to perpetrate fraud, obstruct justice and further embarrass the nation. Had this happened during the Nixon administration he’d have stepped down after shaking his jowls in front of the camera, “I’m not a crook”. If I knew how to do it there would be music playing in the background, something to remind us of Bill Clinton, Devil with a Blue Dress.


Let the name calling begin in earnest; my personal choice would be "Frauders". We wouldn’t have to do away with Birthers, just add a sub-cult. Frauders would include all the Birthers who know how to use Photoshop and wish to further Obama’s demise by unraveling yet another of his lies.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

We Started Out a Christian Nation

My goodness; but my last article, Mother Earth Rights - A Rose by Any Other Name , set off a firestorm of controversy. My Facebook account went off like a Roman Candle trying to “set me straight” for having expressed my summation of historical facts. Here’s what got some folks upset, enough to waggle a finger in my direction:


“America was founded upon Christian values. Our sacred documents include the Scriptures, Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Individual rights are gifts from our Creator, not something Congress came up with. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights were put in place to protect individual God given rights FROM Congress and the natural expansion of government powers. America only works if a majority of its inhabitants voluntarily uphold the principles of self governance as set forth in these sacred documents.”


The first comment pointed me toward a treaty signed long ago. It read in part, “…treaty of tripoli submitted to the Senate by President John Adams, receiving ratification unanimously from the U.S. Senate on June 7, 1797 and signed by Adams, taking effect as the law of the land on June 10, 1797 states "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion....”


All I could remember about that time period and geography had to do with pirates taking advantage  ships at sea and how America took care of the problem by creating the U.S. Navy to protect vessels traveling in those waters.

I looked up the Treaty of Tripoli to get a better understanding of it. Sure enough, there is a statement expressing one of America’s first “Politically Correct” positions; should we be surprised, it was written by a career diplomat, Joel Barlow.


“Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.” (spelling and grammar unchanged)


I thought it odd, at least momentarily, an obscure document of limited historical value would surface with precisely the perfect line required to counter my statement, “America was founded upon Christian values”, much less, within minutes of the article being posted. I don’t believe in “coincidence”; but this particular line appeared to give credence to the gauntlet thrown down; had I been mistaken and was this the golden bullet to shoot me down?


My guess, based on having dealt with several highly educated “non-believers” on other topics; this was the “go to” answer; one which had been researched and saved by like minded non-believers over the years, a means to defeat anyone claiming the United States was founded on Christian principles. The fact that such a thought passed my consciousness led me to conclude my suspicions were spot on.


Students are routinely challenged to defend certain positions, theories and opinions; especially in public schools or places of higher education when the topic of religion comes up. If confronted with this “go to” answer an unsteadied person might throw in the towel and quietly admit defeat; such is not the case as will be unfolded below.


There were several articles under the heading “Treaty of Tripoli” which shed light on the dangers involved with ships on the high seas and negotiations with Muslim nations involved openly in piracy. The most informative piece by David Barton included a considerable number of historical facts excluded in other reports which discounted the importance of Article 11.


“It would also be absurd to suggest that President Adams (under whom the treaty was ratified in 1797) would have endorsed or assented to any provision which repudiated Christianity. In fact, while discussing the Barbary conflict with Jefferson, Adams declared:


The policy of Christendom has made cowards of all their sailors before the standard of Mahomet. It would be heroical and glorious in us to restore courage to ours.


Furthermore, it was Adams who declared:


The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were. . . . the general principles of Christianity. . . . I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature.


Adams’ own words confirm he rejected any notion that America was less than a Christian nation.”


President Adams was not bashful in proclaiming America to be a Christian nation; but since Adams signed* the “politically correct” document, a document intended to mollify several hundred years of hatred between European nations of dubious Christian adherence with Muslim nation states harboring blood thirsty pirates; well, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to read between the lines and figure out the purpose for Article 11.


Another comment pointed the way to the Avalon Project which contradicted the authenticity of Barlow’s translation of the Treaty of Tripoli, the version used by non-believers to discount American links to Christianity. According to the document on file in the National Archives there is no reference to an Article 11.


“As even a casual examination of the annotated translation of 1930 shows, the Barlow translation is at best a poor attempt at a paraphrase or summary of the sense of the Arabic; and even as such its defects throughout are obvious and glaring. Most extraordinary (and wholly unexplained) is the fact that Article 11 of the Barlow translation, with its famous phrase, "the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion," *does not exist at all. There is no Article 11. The Arabic text which is between Articles 10 and 12 is in form a letter, crude and flamboyant and withal quite unimportant, from the Dey of Algiers to the Pasha of Tripoli. How that script came to be written and to be regarded, as in the Barlow translation, as Article 11 of the treaty as there written, is a mystery and seemingly must remain so. Nothing in the diplomatic correspondence of the time throws any light whatever on the point.”


It would seem history has been “toyed with”; a generous way of saying somebody wished to create a slippery slope of doubt regarding America having been established on Christian principles.


While looking for enlightenment, either for or against the idea that “America was founded upon Christian values” it was remarkable how many negative articles Google had listed. A goodly portion of articles espoused excessive loathing for anything religious or conservative in nature; but having used Google for other searches, the top listed results didn’t surprise me, a telling statement on priorities.


The idea occurred; much as in the movie, Miracle on 34th Street, each side could parade an endless supply of factoids to defend or attack the statement. Were there any historically undeniable facts which could be counted on to settle once and for all my claim, “America was founded upon Christian values”? The answer came out, probably not.


Those who refuse to believe the Scriptures have the same reaction to historically recorded facts if recorded by one with an opposing mindset. It wouldn’t matter if I had John Adams on digital recording, boldly proclaiming America as the Lord’s chosen nation. No, it wouldn’t sway my detractors one iota. Fat chance of finding such a recording since it had not been invented at the time. No employee of the U.S. Postal Service was going to haul sacks filled with date stamped testimonies from each of our founders.


One of the books in my personal library came to mind as I read the various challenges to America having been founded on Christian principles, The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States, by Benjamin F. Morris. It had been a while so I dusted it off and speed read a few chapters from the beginning. (Below is a scanned image of page 46, please click on it to enlarge.)

Quoting from state papers of the Continental Congress, predecessor to our Constitutional Republic, try this statement on for size.


“…that the nation may be made a holy nation, and that the religion of our divine Redeemer, with all its benign influences, may cover the earth as the waters do the sea:”


Maybe it’s just me; but it would seem to go far beyond “implying” America was founded upon Christian doctrine. Remember; this is part of our nation’s official record.


As you glance over this one page, be aware, the book contains 1060 pages with similar historically accurate accounts which could only be understood to mean exactly what my short opening summary recorded, “America was founded upon Christian values”.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Mother Earth Rights - A Rose by Any Other Name

For all the marbles here in America, the communist agenda must first eradicate the widely accepted idea; rights come from God and are bestowed to individuals while powers are granted unto government by the governed. If this one thought is ever lost in the shuffle then communism will have won out and government will have gained the power to enslave us all.


Van Jones name has popped up in the news of late. You may recall he was a member of Barack Obama’s inner circle at one time; that Van Jones is “helping to push for a new, global architecture of environmental law that would give Mother Nature the same rights status as humans” according to an article by George Russell posted on Fox News website.


Hardly a day goes by where America’s foundations aren’t attacked; why would today be any different? You often hear or read how America is a melting pot of diversity, that we tolerate any and all, that America has room for those who want to build it up as well as those who wish to tear it down and rebuild it into something completely different. While there is a particle of truth in such a broad paint brush approach, painting with broad strokes fails to address the truth.


America was founded upon Christian values. Our sacred documents include the Scriptures, Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Individual rights are gifts from our Creator, not something Congress came up with. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights were put in place to protect individual God given rights FROM Congress and the natural expansion of government powers. America only works if a majority of its inhabitants voluntarily uphold the principles of self governance as set forth in these sacred documents.


Those who don’t understand the origin of rights, or worse, clearly understand constitutional limits on government as protecting God given rights, have tried for years to confuse this important issue. They blur the distinction by calling entitlements “rights”, as if the terms were interchangeable; they are not interchangeable.


Gerald Ford counseled (often attributed to Thomas Jefferson), “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have”. Do you really want to go along with the supposition, as proposed by progressives, that individual rights come from any source other than God?


“The new movement is almost certain to be showcased at a U.N.-sponsored global summit on “sustainable development” to take place in Rio de Janeiro in May 2012, when similar issues of “global environmental governance” are a major focus of attention.”


The U.N. wants to supersede the United States’ Constitution and Bill of Rights. Put it another way, a bunch of third world thugs want to impose their will on the entire world as if their way of doing business is some how better than the grand design offered by God here in America. Do we want to take a giant step backwards?


The left is counting on a stupor of thought as they intentionally misrepresent their bold bid to abolish individual liberties; freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to bear arms in defense of life, liberty and property and every other God given right we sometimes take for granted. All we need do is discount God’s role in America.


Jon McNaughton’s painting of Jesus Christ holding the United States Constitution might be the perfect example of our situation; after all, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. This painting drew enough heat from the left to have it removed from the book store at BYU because it offended so many progressives.


America is divided nearly in half. On one side are folks with traditional conservative values which sprang from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those on the other side would change America into a member state of some “yet to be” world wide governance system without the protection of our constitution. Short of calling these folks “workers of Satan”, for they would put us all in bondage; what else can they be called?


Van Jones is “one of the newest board members of an obscure San Francisco New Age-style organization known as the Pachamama Alliance, which has been creating a global movement to make human rights for Mother Nature an international reality — complete with enforceable laws.” A secondary group, The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, “is working to build a movement of millions of educated and inspired individuals, with thousands of successful cases of enforceable Rights of Nature legislation having been enacted at local and national levels, by the end of 2014…”


“Jones has continued to advocate those ideas since leaving the administration, as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a think tank closely associated with financier George Soros, and at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson Center for International Affairs.”


If you want that explained in simple terms; the communist agenda requires that God given rights be forgotten and replaced with something less formidable. Man made “rights” will then be substituted as they can be rewarded or withdrawn as needed by which ever régime is in power at the time. It’s called enslavement; but they needed to call it something other than enslavement to sell the package, they picked Mother Earth Rights to go along with global sustainable development.


“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet”


Shakespeare understood the importance of a name. Would America smell as sweet if we called Progressives by a different name; communists, Marxists or socialists? Perhaps I’ve chosen a poor example since Romeo and Juliet both die as a result of their family names; is that the fate of America?


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

The Honorable EPA Owes Shell Oil Billions

According to an article by Dan Springer posted on Fox News website the EPA has effectively shut down Shell Oil from drilling this summer off the coast of Alaska. Never mind that Shell has invested “five years and nearly $4 billion dollars on plans to explore for oil in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas”; add to that, “The leases alone cost $2.2 billion”.


If our government had the gumption to lease for the purpose of drilling oil and then cancels permission to drill it would make the government “Indian-Givers”, wouldn’t it; or is that term politically incorrect? Maybe the fine print on the lease specifically prohibited Shell Oil from drilling and stated the lease was to be used strictly for non invasive purposes; say whale watching or Polar Bear repopulation efforts, and you’d believe that, right?


“The Environmental Appeals Board has four members: Edward Reich, Charles Sheehan, Kathie Stein and Anna Wolgast. All are registered Democrats and Kathie Stein was an activist attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund. Members are appointed by the EPA administrator.”


I’m sure the make up of the EPA board had nothing to do with Shell Oil being denied permission to drill. We’ve already past the Ides of March; but can’t you hear Marc Antony, praising the EPA’s board members? .


Friends, Alaskans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Shell Oil, not to praise it;
The evil big oil does lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones,
So let it be with Shell ... The noble EPA
Hath told you Shell was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Shell answered it ...




Here, under leave of the EPA and the rest,
(For the EPA are honorable men;
So are they all; honorable men)
Come I to speak at Shell’s funeral ...
Shell was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But the EPA says they were ambitious;
And the EPA are all honorable men….




I speak not to disprove what the EPA has spoken,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love Shell once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then to mourn them now?
O judgement! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason…. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin with Shell Oil,
And I must pause till it come back to me.




Shakespeare was able to turn the word honorable around to mean dishonorable; hope he forgives my abuse of his masterfully written speech. I couldn’t resist; my apologies to one and all for taking liberties with classic literature. (Attention Mrs. Spain and Mrs. Streusand; high school English teachers who thought I never listened.)


We promised them an opportunity to drill for oil, took their money and pulled the rug out from under them; isn’t that fraud by definition? I’d say the EPA and the U.S. government owes Shell Oil at least 6 billion dollars, plus interest; and we can be assured that debt will be paid as we’re represented by honorable men, are we not?


It says a lot about the validity of our word as a nation, “if our lips are moving, we’re lying”. China had better get used to the idea of holding an empty sack if they plan to collect any debts from this bunch of “honorable men” who represent our country.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Red Flag of Earth Day

Our anti-capitalist comrades, tree huggers and whaling ship protesters have April 22nd on all our calendars, Earth Day ; a time to mark the progressive movement’s entrance on to the grand stage of political upheaval. Who would have thought Gaylord Nelson’s efforts would have made such inroads into destroying capitalism and the foundations of industrial America?


Had industrial giants taken the initiative of self discipline the EPA may never have been created. Admittedly there were problems in the way industry failed to manage production; massive air pollutants spewed into the atmosphere and waterways treated as cesspools with little regard for anything other profit. The knee jerk public became aware of pollution; who can forget the pathetic tear rolling down the cheek of a Native American Indian with roaring smoke stacks behind his canoe? We the People reacted to the dangers presented by the media and the EPA was born, perhaps not the best term to describe the environmental movement; set the stage for political activism on a scale which has permitted the near destruction of capitalism.


It wasn’t enough to bring industry into line with reasonable modifications for both ecological preservation and industrial prosperity; the progressive movement which hijacked the so called “environmental movement” had been waiting in the wings, as it were, for the lights on “Main Street” to all be “green” at precisely that moment, a chance to alter America’s path toward socialism.


Early on the EPA became a champion of the people, spot lighting polluters and making them do what should have been done years ago. The next logical step was to implement other “tweaks” to the system; nothing which would stand out as pure socialism or affronts to capitalism yet would set the tone for more demands and adjustments; impositions which would eventually bring capitalism to its knees.


Here is where bureaucracy, appointed administrators rather than elected representation; here is where bureaucracy is able to defeat the will of the people. Folks with an ulterior agenda, one other than pure water and air, folks with an ulterior agenda to cripple capitalism through industry killing mandate after mandate took control of environmental groups such as Sierra Club, Friends of Earth, The Climate Project (Al Gore) and of course we couldn’t leave out Greenpeace.


Most ecological “grass roots” organizations, (what exactly does grass roots imply?), grass roots organizations started off as relatively obscure conservation groups intending to do their part to save a portion of what they considered an important ecosystem. Along the way, as it is expressed in many articles, “they matured” they matured into vast political power wielding tentacles of the progressive/socialist/communist party agenda. The driving interest has little to do with saving tree frogs or muted owls; rather, their goal is to destroy industry through Lilliputian mandates in order to prevent the mythical global warming disaster . It’s all based on lies!


They presented a doomsday scenario , one which could only be averted by extreme and very costly measures, unpopular and yet necessary to save the future for our selves and our children. Only a selfish capitalist or a fool would stand up and fight against preventing doomsday. It became a settled issue, one which could not be approached without considerable risk to both standing and livelihood.


“Much like 1970, Earth Day 2010 came at a time of great challenge for the environmental community. Climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent politicians, a disinterested public, and a divided environmental community all contributed to a strong narrative that overshadowed the cause of progress and change. In spite of the challenge, for its 40th anniversary, Earth Day Network reestablished Earth Day as a powerful focal point around which people could demonstrate their commitment. Earth Day Network brought 225,000 people to the National Mall for a Climate Rally, amassed 40 million environmental service actions toward its 2012 goal of A Billion Acts of Green®, launched an international, 1-million tree planting initiative with Avatar director James Cameron and tripled its online base to over 900,000 community members.”


Their power base depends, to a certain extent, on “We the Sheeple” rather than a well informed electorate formerly known as “We the People”. Through mass media which is part of their power base they have been able to spread their well constructed lie to the point of bringing the most productive industrial nation nearly to its knees, all in the name of saving the future for “our children”. Who could possibly be against saving the future of our children? “The world is on fire”, isn’t that what Al Gore proclaimed?


“ Greenpeace was one of the first parties to formulate a sustainable development scenario for climate change mitigation, which it did in 1993. According to sociologists Marc Mormont and Christine Dasnoy, Greenpeace played a significant role in raising public awareness of global warming in the 1990s.”


Unfortunately for the “Church of Man Made Global Warming” folks are becoming aware of the lies, the phony made up statistics which were the basis for the IPCC’s report to the United Nations, the same report which the EPA has used to press for further impossible mandates on energy producers here in the United States. Obama promised to stop evil coal and oil industries when he got elected; and he’s done a good job at killing off quite a few jobs in the process.


And so, with wild enthusiasm for saving the future for our children, the United Nations has finally begun its march to the sea, creating all encompassing mandates which would define Mother Earth as being equal to man in every way; able to bring suit against anyone who might defile her nether regions, suck at the teat too much or betray her womb. It must be coincidence; world wide proclamations every April precede Earth Day, merely a coincidence. Happy Earth Day!



This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Cat Naps on Break are Healthy

There have been a flurry of reports recently of Flight Controllers sleeping on the job; one in particular where a couple of airplanes full of passengers landed without assistance. Fox News website had yet another story today out of Miami :


"The Federal Aviation Administration is changing air traffic controllers' work schedules most likely to cause fatigue following another incident in which a controller fell asleep while on duty, this time at a radar center in Miami."


If the AP writer had any sense of humor the title could have been, "Sleepless in Miami". At the end of the article was a short paragraph which offers the answer and would save a considerable sum of investigative money:


"It has been known for decades that fatigue is rampant among controllers. FAA rules forbid any sleeping on the job, even during breaks. Employees who violate those rules can be fired. But controllers told The Associated Press that unsanctioned napping at night where one controller works two jobs while the other sleeps, and then they swap, is an open secret within the agency."


The simple answer would be to lighten up on the rules and permit worker to lawfully cat nap during breaks instead of threatening them with disciplinary action and/or suspensions. Plenty of scientific studies have been done, results checked and re-checked; when working night shift jobs the human body naturally gets sleepy, especially when the intensity of work dwindles down to pure boredom.


I'll tell on myself, having been a night shift police officer; almost every night I took a twenty minute nap when I called out for a meal break. I didn't need to eat; but those twenty minute naps made working all night bearable. This isn't to say it was within authorized policies of the Houston Police Department which had at the time, and likely continues to have a policy which strictly prohibits sleeping on duty.


My reasoning, call it rationalization if you must; what's the difference between calling out to eat for twenty or thirty minutes, something which is permitted and authorized; what's the difference between refueling an empty stomach and refueling a tired mind if they both can be accomplished in the same amount of time?


One night my supervisor heard me call out at a specific location and since I was on his "list" he checked to make sure I was actually there. He assumed I was at a place that served food, what's that old saying about assume, "making an ass out of u and me?" In fact I was across the street parked behind a warehouse taking my cat nap break.


He tried to make a big deal out of it; filed disciplinary paperwork claiming dishonesty for calling out at a fictitious address, sleeping on the job and being a regular pain in the butt; that last part may have been worded differently, you get the drift. I beat him on the dishonesty part since the two locations were in the same hundred block and the Department gave me an official warning about sleeping on duty, even if it was my allocated break.


It wouldn't have bothered me except this was the same supervisor who fell asleep in his patrol car stopped at a traffic light one night a while back. Several concerned citizens thought he was injured or had suffered a heart attack so the call went out as an "Assist the Officer". Upon arrival we figured out what happened and had a good laugh at his expense; funny how none of us considered filing an official complaint, what a hypocritical jerk!


There are a couple of ways to solve the problem of sleepy air traffic controllers, or for that matter any of a number of night shift employees falling asleep at an inopportune moments. I guess we could fire them for being human; but what would that accomplish?


No; the first would be to make sure these folks have at least one other person in close proximity to jostle them into full alert mode if needed. I would have enjoyed having a partner to share the dangers of being a night shift cop; but there weren't enough to go around. The other obvious solution would be to let employees take a cat nap for twenty minutes instead of loading up on carbohydrates which will almost certainly put them under. All in favor of letting folks take a cat nap raise their right paw.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Shared Prosperity

Every news source and pundit has already put in their “two cents worth” regarding Obama’s proposed budget fix; why the need for one more? Maybe if I added a little humor to the mix some on the left might grasp what we conservatives are trying to say; at least that’s better than getting hostile.


Obama gave us his grand assessment; this budget will be a “Framework for Shared Prosperity and Shared Fiscal Responsibility”. In my conservative right minded thinking that’s, “take from the rich and give to those less fortunate”; in other words, socialism. Obama plans to raise taxes on the wealthy by a trillion dollars to make up for irresponsible spending; yea, that’s hilarious.


I actually got an email from a leftist “FaceBooker”, ( is that a word, FaceBooker?), requesting I join a “Day of Fasting—To Shame the Shameless—Republican Budget”. If it weren’t so pathetic I would have laughed. I can only assume the reference was to Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal , the only serious attempt to keep our nation solvent. I’ll sing a few bars of Kum-By Ya; will that suffice?


While working as a police officer I’d often be assigned to make burglary reports. Folks would get home from a long day at work and find the back door had been kicked in; their stereo, computer, television and a few personal items had been taken. They’d call the dispatcher and ask for an officer to fill out a report; a couple of hours later, after the serious calls had been taken care of a patrol car would stop by. (Did you catch that, burglary is not considered a serious call unless bad guys are still in the house. Are you rolling on the floor in a fit of laughter yet?)


At first they were shaken up, then as we filled in the report they’d become “distanced” as they thought about the items which they no longer controlled. Finally they became angry at those who’d broken in and taken a part of their lives.


“You should be ashamed of yourself. That burglar is depending on you. How’s he gonna’ buy enough rock cocaine with such measly pickins’?” I’d explain how important it was to do a better job, work longer hours and accumulate more expensive items for the burglars to steal.


At first they’d give me a wide eyed stare, as if to say, “What the heck?”. I’d give them half a smirk; letting them know I was pulling their leg. The reality of it all; I was more right then wrong.


“Yea, burglars wouldn’t have to break into near as many houses if you’d hand over better quality stuff. That cheap television will only get them a few bucks at the pawn shop so they’ll have to break into one of your neighbor’s house just to make ends meet.” I’d laugh at my preposterous remark until the complainant understood my sarcasm. They’d take in a deep breath, let it out and realize there was a particle of truth; if the bad guys scored big enough they’d take a day off now and then.


Once in a while I’d hear, “Burglars aren’t much different than the government; I do all the work and they take all the good stuff”. The problem with such a statement; it’s not true, most burglars only break into your house once and move on to another while government keeps coming back for more and never stops.


I grabbed an old chart somebody else posted on the internet showing who pays taxes by income groupings, a chance to bring up wealth or class envy. More importantly, it shows those evil rich people are only paying 40% of the entire nations taxes. They should be ashamed of them selves for not working hard enough, not providing the government with sufficient reserves to cover each and every entitlement program concocted.

I guess this is what Obama meant when he told the American public his plan for “Shared Prosperity and Shared Fiscal Responsibility”; the rich will just have to do more. There’s no reason to detail what he might have meant by “Shared Fiscal Responsibility”; my sides ache already from laughing so much.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Farewell Head Buttr’ & Hobo Kitty History Links

We had a sad day here at the Stern's house; another one of the Hobo Kitties has been hit by a car. Head Buttr’, as we had named her, was one of only two Hobo Kitties that made the transition from feral to being truly domesticated. We lost Princess a little over a year ago; why is it the ones who get into your heart are the ones to get run over?


Lucy met me at the back door with her broken heart showing when I got home from doing some locksmith work. I knew right away something was wrong as she led me silently into the house where she had Head Buttr’ wrapped in a towel, as if sleeping, on the kitchen nook floor. May her eternal dreams place her at the end of our bed, cupped in my hand peacefully purring or in her “safe spot” on the stairs over looking the den.

 We buried her in the back yard among the Creeping Jasmine and Wandering Jew where she liked to play. If it’s against the home owner’s association rules then I’ll deal with that later; but my guess is they can’t read so such a prospect is unlikely.


While looking for reference links to other Hobo Kitty posts it dawned on me to simply list those I could find here. Click on a link to get an idea of what goes on in our garage.

The original Hobo Kitty Nefertiti


Oh Brother


Thankful for Hobo Kitties


Princess Hobo Kitty


With heavy heart


Grandkittens


Mama Hobo Kitties Needed a Rest


Mark Twain Hobo Grandkitty

Lost Hobo Grandkitten


Iron Workers on Break


Silver Bubba’s Hobo Kittens


AKA F1


Six Heads in a Bowl


Grateful for Thick Gloves


Jaw Dropping Experience


Jaws Partaking of the Morning Dew


Fall Garden and Hobo Kitties

Going over these posts has softened the pain; enough to get past this afternoon.

Stay on the Path 101

There’s a reason for most everything; it’s just a matter of figuring out the divine mysteries which enter our lives. Most of us are slow learners and learn life’s lessons over and over. A good friend once explained it as taking “Attitude 101…Again”.


So it is with 11 year old Assistant Scoutmasters teaching young people Orienteering , the use of maps and compasses in order to stay on the path. This past week a new crop of eager young minds gathered around my compass for instructions; how to orient it to a map, set a course and follow it. Some might have thought the lesson was for the boys; but they’d have only been partially right.

The next night while working at the Houston Temple there were very few patrons to attend to so I had extra time to read the scriptures. The pages opened to Alma 37 and I began reading at a random spot , towards the end of the chapter:


“38 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona , which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.


39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.


40 And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.”


What are the odds, a scripture about using a compass the day after teaching the scouts; will wonders never cease. Now, I’ll be the first to admit my compass was purchased at a local sporting goods store and hardly compares to the fine workmanship as was found on the Liahona; and it certainly never exhibited specific instructions from the Lord on how to get through an orienteering course.


I continued reading:


“41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;


42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.”


Some might say they were lost; but they were lost in a multitude of ways. I could explain in my own words; but the next verses encapsulate it perfectly:


“43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.


44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.”


Christians all around the world are looking forward with great anticipation to Easter Sunday; a time to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The world we know is in turmoil and yet, if you consider our lot in life, are we not living the “Life of Riley” with all our conveniences?


We complain because gasoline is up another twenty cents a gallon and they say it will continue to rise. We grumble when traffic on the freeways bogs down while listening to an iPod plugged into the stereo system of our air conditioned car. Yea, we have it tough looking for alternative routes on our GPS trying to get home.


“45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.


46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.”


This message has been available to anyone with ears to listen or eyes to see, let us not be slothful in observing what has been done for our sakes. Easter isn’t to be celebrated just one day of the year; but in our hearts each day. If we will stay on the path our way home has been prepared. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Worried About Government Shutdown?

There’s a poll question on KPRC’s website that asks, “Are you worried a government shutdown will affect you?” The question doesn’t cover my concerns about whether or not the government might function even less proficiently should certain non-essential functions be put on hold until such time as a budget is agreed upon.


The question is academic since both Republicans and Democrats came to an agreement, an agreement not to do anything significant in the way of spending cuts. The way it was explained to me, each day our government spends roughly $50 billion; but the huge squabble in Washington evaporated when they decided to cut $38.5 billion.

Am I worried about the government shutdown? The question should have read, “Are you concerned that our government is spending money that won’t be available until the next two generations are born, grown up and have to fork over 75% of their earnings in order to keep all the entitlement programs operational?” Are you concerned that those in leadership positions refuse to act responsibly and slash trillions of dollars of entitlement programs in order to save the country? I’m not concerned nearly as much as I’m angry!


The only representative to have gained my favor is Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan who proposed slashing the budget by $6.2 trillion over a ten year period. Most of Washington is unwilling to act while the ship is sinking; bailing with tea spoons rather than getting out buckets which would be more efficient. As fast as our ship is going down I fear not even buckets will prevent the inevitable; but for goodness sakes, at least put forth an honest effort.


Name calling is a favorite pastime and effective tool for silencing those who don’t support the leftist agenda; this time the popular derogatory stain, “extreme” for anything which resembles self restraint and responsibility. Tea Baggers, Republicans, Conservatives; call them what you want as long as the word extreme is included in the sentence; the media reports it and the slow witted masses latch onto the negative inference, if it doesn’t fit the leftist agenda it must be extreme and wrong.


Interestingly, as I think about the situation, I’m not as angry at those on the left; they continue to promote their ideology, making America a socialist nation even if it means going bankrupt through reckless or even suicidal spending. Am I Worried, perhaps; but disgust and anger better describe my feelings towards spineless Republicans who have neglected their duties to represent our constitutional republic through conservative measures which are tried and true.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Think You’re Depressed Now?

Have you seen the commercials for anti-depressant drugs available to the public? Most of these products spots show a middle aged woman standing against a back drop of despair; a lifeless expression on her face as drudgery takes over where the enjoyment of life should have been. Then comes the mandatory inclusion of possible side effects; some people have had slight loss of hearing, vision, an increased level of depression or thoughts of suicide. If you notice any of these changes, not that you’d care since you’re already depressed, please contact your doctor as these symptoms could be life threatening.


The warnings don’t end there; in some cases these products have, on rare occasions, been suspected of causing liver damage, heart failure, sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, constipation and severe gas. Some users have complained of dry mouth and these products, in some instances, are associated with the immune system’s reduced ability to fight off colds and other viruses. I’m not making this up ; or am I?


Think you’re depressed now; wait until you take one of these products. If you’re lucky you’ll continue to be simply depressed.


I’m waiting for the next step, a natural progression in advertizing:


“Call the law offices of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe if you or a relative have taken Crappylife, Bored2tears or Ghoahead-Jump Anti-Depressants. Our bored and certified professionals will help get you the money you deserve if you or a loved one committed suicide, been forced to use scissors with rounded tips, become a prisoner of the bathroom due to uncontrolled bowel movements, suffered liver failure or any number of product related injuries. Call us today; nothing like a huge court settlement to brighten your day!”


Disclaimer: Products listed are fictitious and should not be taken even if you are depressed to the point of wanting to end it all. The law firm of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe is fictitious and yet they’ve been credited with legal victories in all 57 states.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Having Fun with Tragedy

This morning on KPRC’s website there was a story about a fellow who got killed trying to cross one of our freeways. Idle curiosity had me reading the details; turns out he was fleeing the police.



“According to police, the victim was a suspect in an altercation in downtown Houston. He then got on a METRO bus and exits at the Acres Homes stop, according to police. METRO police apprehended him at a James Coney Island on the northbound feeder road, police said. The man got into a confrontation with officers and proceeds to run across the freeway, police said.”


“HPD said the man managed to get across the northbound lanes on I-45 but was hit by a Ford Expedition and possibly two other vehicles as he tried to cross the southbound lanes on I-45, police said.”


There’s a scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; actually a couple of scenes come to mind. “Next time I say, Let’s go to Bolivia…” I can’t picture Butch and Sundance heading out of town on a Metro bus much less scuffling with police at James’ Coney Island.


The professional trackers were hot on their trail, looking back once in a while, “Who are those guys?” rapidly making their way across rocky terrain, higher and higher. Surrounded with no way out and faced with the decision; “We could shoot it out or jump” followed by Sundance’s, “I can’t swim”. Butch laughs while moving ever closer to the edge, the river far below, “Hell, the fall will probably kill you”. The two of them step off into the arms of gravity, “Ohhhhhhh…(think of a letter, any letter)…hit!”


I could have used the movie, Speed, lots of action there too. Towards the end the mad bomber’s holding the detonation device while our hero is wrestling with him on top of a speeding out of control train. “You know what I like about you. You’re tall.” Splat, as the overhead marker catches the bad guy and takes his head off.


The same basic scene was in another movie, Narrow Margin; Gene Hackman playing the part of a resolute prosecutor trying to get a key witness to testify against a murdering thug. While on top of the speeding train, about to get blasted by one of the many bad guy’s hired guns and approaching a tunnel, “You know what I like about you... You’re tall.” Thump, the bad lady meets her final reward.


I may have altered the exact dialog; but the ending left little for the imagination. Forgive my retired night shift cop humor; it comes up at the most extraordinary times. Getting slammed by an Expedition going sixty miles an hour couldn’t have been better than a comfortable jail cell for the night. He must never have heard the old saying, “You may beat the rap; but you can’t beat the ride”


As a matter of minor interest; both of my daughters have wrecked cars at that particular location. I think there’s an evil spirit built into the roadway and the City of Houston should put up road signs, “Bad Karma Ahead, Exit Now!” Okay, I admit it; I should probably seek professional counseling.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.