"X" Marks the Spot

When I was growing up, not that the process was ever completed, we had a Hobo’s “X” marked on our front door. You couldn’t see it; but all the same it was there. Stray animals wandering the neighborhood would recognize the mark and know they were welcome to stop in for a meal and safe lodgings for as long as needed. Some of them became members of our extended family.


One time there was a lonely “hound mix” waiting for us to open the front door. He looked like he was on his last leg so my parents invited him in for a meal and a bowl of water. He didn’t venture very far into the house; content to be in out of the elements, he stayed in the entry way.


At the time we already had two pets, a large rust colored dog named Gritz and a feisty old grey cat, Topsey. Gritz was easy going and saw no problem letting the stranger in; Topsey, on the other paw, drew an imaginary line on the floor letting the interloper know he was on thin ice.


This was the Sixties and a popular television show in our house was Bonanza. One of the episodes had a hound sleeping on the porch of a back woods friend. Now and then the hound would move in its sleep. The dog shook its head when a fly landed on its ear and the owner remarked, “Walter’s getting excited”, as the dog went back to his slumbers.


We observed the “energy challenged” dog in our entry way the rest of the evening. The hound was so tired he fell asleep while leaning against the wall; his loose fitting frame sliding slowly down the wall and into a heap on the floor. We knew right away; his name must be Walter.


When it was time for bed it was decided the dog was to stay inside, something which everyone except Topsey thought was a good idea. Later in the night we awoke to the hound’s plea for help. Topsey had taken it upon herself to corner Walter and chastise him for trespassing.


Walter was indeed cornered; Topsey had a low growling threat escaping her mouth as her ears fixated on the cowering dog in the corner. Every now and then Walter would look to the heavens and let go with a mournful howl as if it were his last breath on this earth. Topsey would have been satisfied with that; but Walter was saved from eminent destruction that day and eventually become part of the family.


Walter wasn’t the sharpest pencil in the box and never figured out Topsey hadn’t signed the family contract adopting him. Topsey would set traps for Walter from time to time and enjoyed taking a piece of Walter’s nose when the poor dolt would fall into those traps.


Topsey would lie upside down on the floor pretending to be asleep. Walter would study the situation for a while and cautiously approach to see if she was in deed asleep. He would inch closer and observe no discernable movement until he was directly over her. At precisely the right moment Topsey’s front paws would surround Walter’s nose, claws extended, as she’d bite him. There would be a yelp as Walter retreated and a quite moment of satisfaction from Topsey as she marked her score card. Walter never learned from experience and fell for the ploy numerous times.


That was then and this is now, isn’t that how the line goes. The Hobo’s X that was on my parent’s home somehow managed to find my own home regardless of where we’ve lived. In reality, that Hobo’s X isn’t on the house, at least not the structure; it’s on our hearts. These wandering creatures are able to see into our hearts and recognize a gentle spirit, one who will graciously offer a meal or safe haven without expecting much, if anything in return.


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”.

Looking for an Old Photograph

(This story was posted previously; however, when I tried to link with it "the powers that be" had placed a blocker on it; claimed it had offensive material and/or spam, it does not contain anything offensive.  I've removed any and all links to it; hopefully that clears off the block.) 

Looking for an Old Photograph

I spent the morning looking for an old photograph. I wanted to find a group picture of my 1976 Point Control softball team to send off to an old friend. We would play in his backyard, tossing a worn out baseball for hours on end; pretending we were at Yankee Stadium. Forty years later we are comparing notes and catching up with each other.


I went through stacks of old pictures; finding all kinds of vacation shots in the mountains, our kids in various stages of growing up, cars we had owned (or had owned us); everything except the team picture. I found some photos from when my dad and I flew up to Chicago to take in a game, the Cubs at Wrigley Field, close but no cigar.


I rummaged through my desk, a study in creative disorder. I found my first rough draft for Chapter One of “Pecaw’s Gift”, a novel length work that I tried to get published. To save money I’d printed it on the back of my locksmith company letterhead; might as well since it had our old address. I wonder where I put the rest of that manuscript.


Maybe I could scan a copy of the plaque given to us for sponsoring my son, William’s, baseball team. They came in second place that year and each boy earned a trophy. Trophies are an important part of growing up. I still have the trophy from my Little League days. Thinking back, every kid who put on a team shirt got some kind of trophy just for being a member of the team, any team. It didn’t matter if they ever won a game, you got a trophy to put on the fireplace mantle. That trophy was a solid piece of evidence that you existed on this Earth. In time, at least in the back of your mind, that first trophy would be the start of many worldly awards; Rookie of the Year, National League MVP, two or three World Series rings, and the dreams roll on.


I played high school ball long enough to figure out that my chances of getting to the next level were slim to none. I did get my “letter sweater” and it hangs in the closet next to a light blue shirt with four hash marks on the left sleeve; the shirt I wore when I retired from the police department. Some trophies never make the fireplace; they hang in the closet.


I imagine that some time later in the day I may stumble over that team picture I was hunting for. It would be nice to have a look at some of the faces, young police officers taking a few moments in the middle of the night to play softball together. It was the “midnight league”, at least that’s what we called it. We all worked the evening shift and would get off duty around ten or eleven. The teams were made from various divisions within the police department. Ours was Point Control, the guys who directed traffic during rush hour, later to become Special Operations,. We came in third place that year; gave that trophy to our division commander to show off in the office. Point Control didn’t have too many trophies. There was the Safety Award Plaque that hung on the wall; the one that accidentally got nicked by a stray bullet, but that’s a whole other story.


I’ll keep looking for the picture; it’s become a challenge now. I did find a picture taken the day Lucy and I got married. We’d only been married a few minutes as we confidently marched back up the isle; my arm crooked around hers. I have to admit, that picture grabs my interest even more than the Point Control team photo. Trophies come in various shapes and sizes, this one still holds my hand on our Saturday night date.

Journal Entry July 1st 1776

This past week has been very difficult. As mentioned in previous journal entries, many of our neighbors have been forced to house British troops. We all have had to turn over much of our food stores to maintain the troops. If these insults were not sufficient to get my blood running hot, these Red Coats are going house to house in our small village confiscating anything which resembles a weapon, tools we use to gather fresh game as well as fend off those who would do us harm.


Just yesterday Lucy was forced to stand patiently at the front door to our humble quarters while Red Coats searched every nook and cranny for weapons. Fortunately they didn’t search under her overly long dress where they would have found four muskets; thank heavens for quick thinking. All our gun powder and shot has been carefully hidden away under the floor; but first thing tomorrow it will be taken to a more secure location in the thicket.


A small group met at the local pub last night after normal business hours. With the doors locked and lamps turned down low we heard rumors out of Philadelphia that armed conflict is inevitable. Cousin Richard Henry Lee has been attending those meetings, representing our interests and has assured us that every peaceable measure has been attempted up to date. According to Richard the only avenue left to the colonies is to declare our independence from British rule and the King. I fear our hardships have only begun.


Unfortunately, and perhaps to be expected, a few hot heads have taken to violence such as tossing stones at passing British troops. On Friday one soldier got bloodied and had his head bandaged after a volley of moderately sized rocks cascaded from behind a large stand of trees. As yet there have been no arrests; yet we all are considered suspect by the manner in which we are searched without cause upon entering the public square or simply walking among them.


Pastor Williams has asked the entire congregation to fast this Sunday and asked us to pour out our hearts to our Lord’s that we might have His Holy Spirit help in finding His will in these matters. May our actions be compatible with the expectations of our Savior or may He grant us forgiveness in our errors.


(This is a fictional account created as a measure of respect for those who placed their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor on the line in order to secure us our independence)


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”.

If you don’t know where you came from…

Have you ever heard the expression, “If you don’t know where you came from how can you know where you’re going?” This weekend many of us celebrate our Independence Day. I say many of us; but there’s a significant portion which doesn’t share the pride swelling inside as an American Flag is paraded down Main Street according to some Harvard professors. Why is that?


‘“The political right has been more successful in appropriating American patriotism and its symbols during the 20th century. Survey evidence also confirms that Republicans consider themselves more patriotic than Democrats. According to this interpretation, there is a political congruence between the patriotism promoted on Fourth of July and the values associated with the Republican party. Fourth of July celebrations in Republican dominated counties may thus be more politically biased events that socialize children into Republicans,” write Harvard Kennedy School Assistant Professor David Yanagizawa-Drott and Bocconi University Assistant Professor Andreas Madestam.”


Maybe folks would have a better understanding of America if they took the time to figure out where we came from. When you ask important questions interesting things happen.


Take for example the children’s song, I Am A Child of God , consider the message and compare it with what the Scriptures tell us; the answer is the same. We are children of our Heavenly Father, that same Being referred to in the Declaration of Independence as the Creator.


“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27


I keep forgetting, this requires a leap of faith, something quite alien to statists. There’s a line drawn in the sand, so to speak, dividing intellectuals from Creationist loonies. Many demean and ridicule people of faith as if religion was a crutch for the weak minded; a ploy used by the Father of Lies from the beginning of time.


Intellectuals don’t mind hiding behind God given inalienable right to express themselves at every turn. Of course they’d have us believe these are “natural rights”, something which government identified and handed out like pop sickles rather than acknowledge their true source. In fact they’ve embellished on the original right to freedom of speech considerably which now includes profanity, pornography and almost any conceivable abomination which springs from the mind, mouth or hand of man. Never mind the Commandments of God; we are free to act any damn way we please.


Progressive minded folks are comfortable with Einstein’s mathematics and theories regarding complex relationships on time, space, gravitational interaction and physics. If you looked up “Relativity” on the internet there are many listings, the easiest to understand is found here .


“Einstein stated that the theory of relativity belongs to the class of “principle-theories”. As such it employs an analytic method. This means that the elements which comprise this theory are not based on hypothesis but on empirical discovery. The empirical discovery leads to understanding the general characteristics of natural processes. Mathematical models are then developed which separate the natural processes into theoretical-mathematical descriptions. Therefore, by analytical means the necessary conditions that have to be satisfied are deduced. Separate events must satisfy these conditions. Experience should then match the conclusions.”


Before Einstein took his first breath the same all encompassing parameters had already been recorded; not in scientific terminology, plain ordinary English. God’s laws are comprehensive, binding and eternal; they include mathematics, physics, particle theory as well as how His children should behave while in mortality.


“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated — And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” Doctrine and Covenants 130:20,21


John Adams, one of our finest minds wrote: (No doubt, Adams was a hard core right winger)


“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”


Follow that train of thought and you’ll find George Washington’s famous quote: (What a crack pot, no doubt he had a few screws loose. He was a Free Mason; and we all know they were up to no good, a bunch of right wingers if ever there was…)


“Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”


Call me a right winger, one of those “tea partiers” who’ve sipped one too many. I snap to attention at the playing of our National Anthem and when I see the Stars and Stripes go by I stand, salute and revere what it stands for. Our Pledge of Allegiance includes the words, “one nation under God”. All that “extreme” right wing brain washing from the GOP must have found a weak spot.


Our athletes standing on the podium during Olympics give us a chance to appreciate a land so vast and full of accomplishments; my mind reflects on Francis Scott Keys historical tale which had our nation come out on top against incredible odds.


If successive generations fails to recognize the importance of these lessons then the shame be upon us for not doing our duty as citizens, parents and children of our Father in Heaven. My heart swells with pride and tears run down my cheeks when Katharine Lee Bates’ America the Beautiful is sung.


O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!


America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!


O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!


America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!


O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!


America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!


O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!


America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!


I refuse to take a step backwards and apologize for showing my patriotism, to shy away from feelings which are stirred within my chest this time of year. Those who fail to recognize the importance of knowing where we came from are empty shells living on borrowed, even stolen hope. Can those who lack the ability to understand and implement these foundational concepts expect to lead our nation toward a bright and shinning future?


Americans must recognize the Author of Liberty and gratefully acknowledge His hand as we celebrate our Independence Day. In case you haven’t figured it out, I know where I came from and I know where I’m going!


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”.

Progressive’s Perfect Storm Against God

You may recall a movie made not too long ago, The Perfect Storm, in which weather systems combined making for a devastating mix. We are witnessing the makings of a different kind of “perfect storm”, one brought about by years of pain staking efforts by progressives; call them what you will, these folks are the antithesis of the American spirit and they seek to destroy our very foundations.


One small cluster of storms is centered around the Pledge of Allegiance. The words, “one nation under God” really bother progressives. Numerous law suits have been brought to bear in order to protect one or two socially ravaged children from being tortured by these words, words which, according to some, violate the separation of church and state.


Most recently NBC fell under the fire for cutting ‘one nation under God’ during the US Open telecast .


“Shortly after the piece aired, NBC Sports host Dan Hicks apologized for the cut.”


‘“We began our coverage of this final round just about three hours ago and when we did it was our intent to begin the coverage of this U.S. Open Championship with a feature that captured the patriotism of our national championship being held in our nation's capital for the third time,” Hicks said. “Regrettably, a portion of the Pledge of Allegiance that was in that feature was edited out. It was not done to upset anyone and we’d like to apologize to those of you who were offended by it.”’


Then there was the speech by Obama at Georgetown University ; surely you remember the black cloth covering religious symbols (… and don’t call me Shirley).


“The White House asked Georgetown to cover a monogram symbolizing Jesus’ name in Gaston Hall, which Obama used for his speech, according to CNSNews.com.”


At the time the news media gave Obama a free pass and chalked it off as general policy, “The White House wanted a simple backdrop of flags and pipe and drape for the speech, consistent with what they've done for other policy speeches…”; however after a series of similar issues a trend begins to show.


Is it news worthy to report Obama omitted any reference to our Creator when quoting from the Declaration of Independence, not just on one occasion; but a couple of times?


“When the president spoke to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Annual Awards Gala on Sept. 15, many speculated he had inadvertently left out the word “Creator” when loosely quoting from the Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” Obama said at that event, “that all men are created equal, endowed with certain inalienable rights: life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That’s what makes us unique.”’


Then again, during the Sept. 22 fundraiser at New York’s Roosevelt Hotel, President Obama told the audience:


“[I]f we stay true to our values, if we believe that all people are created equal and everybody is endowed with certain inalienable rights and we’re going to make those words live, and we’re going to give everybody opportunity, everybody a ladder into the middle class, every child able to go as far as their dreams will take them — if we stay true to that, then we’re going to be able to maintain the energy and the focus, the fight, the gumption to get stuff done.”’


If you take that statement by Obama for a “ride”, it might be inferred that “we’re going to give everybody opportunity”, translated into progressive double speak; means government, not God is where these opportunities come from. You see, everybody already has the opportunity, those inalienable God given rights which the progressives so desperately want to blur into oblivion.


You might recall how the Department of Veterans Affairs in Houston asked Rev. Scott Rainey to offer the invocation at the Houston National Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend along with the stipulation his prayer be subjected to approval and editing .


“Rainey was instructed by the cemetery to submit his prayer for review a month ago. Cemetery director Arleen Ocasio then emailed Rainey on May 19, informing the pastor that the prayer was still in need of editing.”


That brings us to current events; Arleen Ocasio is in the news again. It has become the position of Department of Veterans Affairs to ban any mention of God, Jesus Christ or Christianity on National Cemetery grounds.


“…director Arlene Ocasio has stated the National Memorial Ladies cannot tell families ‘God Bless,’ they cannot communicate in writing or orally…” It would seem Arlene Ocasio, representing the United States government by virtue of her position has declared religious expression off limits; so much for our inalienable God given rights.


“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”


There are many who would like to see any mention of God, Jesus or Christianity banned; preferring to interpret the 1st Amendment to be freedom from ever having to hear about religion rather than an individual’s right to express his/her beliefs without interference from government. Progressive tolerance means “as long as your expression fits with our philosophy” and there is no room in the progressive agenda for our Creator, Jesus Christ or Christian principles which include God given inalienable rights.


Know this; in order for the progressive Utopia to be fully installed all links to the past must be obliterated. In the near future there can be no reference to God given inalienable rights because progressives must be in control of all entitlements. The constitution and Bill of Rights has to be destroyed for all practical purposes.


“A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.” (Gerald Ford - joint session of Congress on August 12, 1974)


According to Charles W. Nibley , (Conference Report, October 1923, p. 62):


“… the prophet Joseph Smith said the time will come when, through secret organizations taking the law into their own hands, not being governed by law or by due process of law, but becoming a law unto themselves, when, by those disintegrating activities, the Constitution of the United States would be so torn and rent asunder, and life and property and peace and security would be held of so little value, that the Constitution would, as it were, hang by a thread…”


It doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to see as a nation we have strayed from the safety of our constitutional form of government, a government designed to answer to “We the People”. Consider, if you will, as we approach our Independence Day, a paragraph from our founding document:


“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security…”


Combine the events listed here and then include the many “presidential executive orders” which skirt legislative efforts, orders which transform our constitutional republic into a repressive totalitarian régime. It doesn’t take much imagination to comprehend the width and breadth of this perfect storm, a progressive’s perfect storm aimed at the heart of this nation and all that we hold sacred.


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”.

Texas Locksmith License Renewal Requirements

June 21, 2011







Texas Department of Public Safety


Private Security Board


6100 Guadalupe, Building E


Criminal Law Enforcement Building


Austin, Texas 78752






Subject: Locksmith License Renewal Requirements


An Open Letter to those involved in the locksmith industry






Honorable John E. Chism, Honorable Howard H. Johnsen, Honorable Mark L. Smith, Honorable Albert L. Black, Honorable Charles E. Crenshaw, Honorable Brian England, Honorable Doris F. Washington




Hopefully you will appreciate the efforts within this correspondence, efforts to contain my contempt for most everything done by the DPS/PSB; well intentioned attempts to “safeguard” society from unscrupulous or improperly equipped locksmiths. In the past letters sent to the DPS/PSB have gone unanswered; almost as if the concerns of an individual locksmith had little if any importance or weight in formulating rules and regulations which govern the locksmith industry.


“Most of the major ills of the world have been caused by well meaning people who ignored the principle of individual freedom, except as applied to themselves, and who were obsessed with fanatical zeal to improve the lot of mankind-in-the-mass through some pet formula of their own…the harm done by ordinary criminals, murderers, gangsters, and thieves is negligible in comparison with the agony inflicted upon human beings by the professional ‘do-gooders,’ who attempt to set themselves up as gods on earth and who would ruthlessly force their views on all others.” (Henry Grady Weaver, The Mainspring of Human Progress pg 40-41)


My locksmith license (B12254) comes up for renewal in September, a license which is mandated by the State of Texas in order to do business in what used to be a free market system. Licensing will remain, water under the bridge; the legislature determined licenses were needed to safe guard the citizenry from unscrupulous or improperly equipped locksmiths. They left the nuts and bolts of how to implement that legislation to the DPS/PSB; the term for such transfers of power actually has a name, the Intelligible Principle .


According to a Supreme Court ruling made by Chief Justice John Marshall many years ago such shifting of authority is constitutional under certain guidelines which have become blurred to the point of irrelevance.


“Marshall explained: If Congress delegates quasi-legislative powers to another body, it must provide a “general provision” by which “those who act” can “fill up the details.” In other words, Congress cannot give an outside agency a free hand to make law, but it can authorize the agency to flesh out the particulars of a law Congress has already shaped.”


{…}


“Not surprisingly, with such open-ended authority, the power and discretion of agencies expanded rapidly. In recent years, the Court has refused to limit agency power whenever the statute is silent or ambiguous on delegation and the agency’s regulations are based on a “permissible” interpretation of the statute. In practice, the vast majority of regulations are now deemed permissible.”


This does not erase the issue of government having usurped authority in the Utopian desire to protect the general citizenry at the expense of individual constitutional rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is not the purpose of government to sacrifice individual God given rights in the name of public safety; to do so turns individual citizens into subjects of the state.


Members of the DPS/PSB are charged with coming up with rules and regulations for the security industry. Locksmiths by virtue of carefully worded language are included; their every activity defined. Locksmiths were conscripted; forced to abandon what had been a free market system. Acknowledging duties which are assigned to the board, I must remind you all that government here in America answers to the people; not the other way around.


“Each of us has a natural right – from God – to defend his person, his liberty, and his property. These are the three basic requirements of life, and the preservation of any one of them is completely dependent upon the preservation of the other two. For what are our faculties but the extension of our individuality? And what is property but and extension of our faculties?" (Frederic Bastiat, The Law, p.6) (emphasis added)


“Since God created man with certain unalienable rights, and man, in turn, created government to help secure and safeguard those rights, it follows that man is superior to the creature which he created. Man is superior to government and should remain master over it, not the other way around. Even the non-believer can appreciate the logic of this relationship.” (Ezra Taft Benson, The Proper Role of Government)


Benson added:


“The important thing to keep in mind is that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they, themselves, have in the first place. Obviously, they cannot give that which they do not possess. So, the question boils down to this. What powers properly belong to each and every person in the absence of and prior to the establishment of any organized governmental form?”


The State of Texas, or any other state in America has no powers except those granted by its citizenry; this is at the very heart of today’s correspondence with you, the DPS/PSB. You each have the responsibility to carefully consider the consequences of each and every rule or regulation imposed on individual members of the locksmith industry or the security industry as a whole.


According to the rules and regulations mandated by the DPS/PSB each licensed locksmith must re-qualify via continuing education credits in order to maintain the ability to work in his/her chosen field. By licensed locksmith I’m referring only to individuals who have already presented themselves before the State of Texas, provided sufficient proof of integrity or standing in the community, passed criminal background checks and have a track record of serving the public in a professional manner.


The rules are all encompassing and do not take into consideration a number of pertinent factors. These rules presume that all locksmiths are interested in addressing a wide range of security related fields or that each locksmith intends to move forward and expand upon his/her skills in order to stay current with changes in the industry. By writing mandates around such presumptive goals the DPS/PSB has marginalized a portion of legitimate locksmiths.


At one time I was a general purpose locksmith; involved in safe installation, putting in dead bolts, rekeying residential structures, master keying industrial structures and picking up automotive locksmith work too. Over the years I found I had little desire to work on anything other than automotive locks and refer customers to other qualified locksmiths when they desire work on anything other than automotive.


Does this in any way diminish my being a qualified locksmith? The answer is no; but when looking for continuing education credit courses the list is insulting at best. I can pay $150.00 to take an 8 hour “hands on” class offered by one of my competitors through the Greater Houston Locksmith Association where I’m a member in good standing. It would cost me one day of work in my own business. The State authorized instructor, Stacy Hetchler is a great automotive locksmith; but it’s insulting for the State of Texas to have a journeyman locksmith take basic automotive classes simply to meet the mandates of the DPS/PSB.


I did notice some classes offered by Elite On Line services, “Automotive Key Generation – Ford Vehicles”, “Automotive Key Generation GM Vehicles (1- 8)” and “Tips and Tricks for Automotive Locksmithing (1 – 5)”. Here’s the course outline for the Ford class which would give me 2 credit hours to my now mandated 16 hours.


“This is the first in Elite CEU’s Automotive Key Generation series. This two hour video course focuses solely on Ford automobiles for the benefit of all technicians, salespeople, and managers within the security and low voltage industry, but is especially geared for those in the locksmith industry. By addressing the specifics of key and security issues with Ford vehicles we will cover valuable ways to becoming more proficient and profitable with the car locksmith and security business. Real-world examples will be demonstrated which will allow you to see firsthand the do’s and don’ts in how to deal with Ford vehicles.”


Pardon my saying so; but I’ve been an automotive locksmith specialist for the past 35 years and either I’ve learned how to do it by now or never will. I make keys for a variety of cars; some which require transponder technology, others which might be considered antiques by today’s standards. I don’t wish to work on certain vehicles, either I didn’t invest in the expensive transponder program for that vehicle or otherwise have no inclination; those vehicles I refer to other qualified locksmiths. The State of Texas has no business dictating what avenues of locksmith work I need to “brush up on” or expand my level of proficiency, such issues are strictly between the locksmith and the customer.


There is no consideration in the rules and regulations for experience gained over a lifetime. It must be the assumption of the DPS/PSB that locksmiths have little if any ability to remember from year to year the tricks of the trade, all those tasks which he/she use on a daily basis. Why else would there be an all encompassing mandate for basic skills, continuing education courses which do nothing other than add to the cost of doing business.


An argument has been presented that “professional” locksmiths would want to constantly improve their skills in order to provide the highest level of service to the community; a fine suggestion, a repressive mandate. Do you on the board see the difference between a suggestion and a mandate?


In my particular business I carefully weigh the benefits of purchasing expensive automotive key program updates against the likelihood of getting my investment back. Why learn to work on a vehicle that you might see only once or twice a year?  On some cars the best answer is, “That’s a dealer only item”; which means I don’t know other locksmiths dumb enough to open that can of worms either.


The public has been offered an empty promise of “security” by virtue of locksmiths having a State issued license along with mandated continuing education; however it is reprehensible for the state to restrict legitimate business or free trade by imposing Lilliputian standards on an individual’s constitutional rights. It is one thing for a trade organization to impose minimum requirements for membership; yet another for the state to limit an individual’s ability to earn a living.


Not too long ago (about a year) the President of the Texas Locksmith Association stood before the board and suggested the DPS/PSB increase the number of mandatory continuing education credit hours from 8 to 16; that suggestion was turned into a mandate. I sent a letter to the board expressing my opinion; a letter which either never was read or not considered important enough to reply to.


I respect other locksmith’s desire to improve the public’s perception of the industry. If the President of the Texas Locksmith Association wishes to require additional standards for membership in that organization so be it; however, as an independent business owner/operator in the locksmith business his opinion is left at the door upon entering my business as is the State of Texas DPS/PSB. My skills and services are the sole concern of my customers; not my competitors and certainly not the State of Texas.


At the risk of being redundant, Ezra Taft Benson pin pointed the argument best:


“The important thing to keep in mind is that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they, themselves, have in the first place. Obviously, they cannot give that which they do not possess. So, the question boils down to this. What powers properly belong to each and every person in the absence of and prior to the establishment of any organized governmental form?”


The DPS/PSB does not have any inherent powers, only those powers which have been given the board by the citizenry. The DPS/PSB may not over ride individual inalienable rights through the “will of the people” as expressed by a majority or any appointed representative of a recognized professional organization, regardless of their numbers.


Simply put, if the President of the Texas Locksmith Association knocked on my door and demanded I start using Brand X, take a refresher course in master keying or began measuring the size of letters and numbers at my shop I’d laugh at him just prior to throwing him out into the gutter. He is free to run his locksmith business any way he likes or even require members in TLA to follow his guidelines; past that he has no authority or power.

In our carefully structured society, a society dependent on the rule of law and individual protections afforded under our constitutional government, individuals, not government agencies determine the daily conduct of commerce.


In closing I’ll leave you with one more quote from Bastiat, a more civilized string of words than I was tempted to address the DPS/PSB; but quite to the point.


“Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough.” From Frederic Bastiat’s, “The Law.” We need more of his righteous indignation at the socialistic egotists who want to rule us all.”




T. F. Stern
T. F. Stern & Company
15707 Autumnbrook Drive
Houston, Texas 77068




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”.


This will also appear as a feature article on Fiercely Independent Locksmiths of America’s website.

Bowl a Hundred, Dad!

Call me one of the lucky ones, I’m still able to pick up a telephone and call my Dad; but I do have to speak very loud for him to hear. Mostly I talk to him via Mom; saves a lot of yelling back and forth so we keep it simple. I tell him, “Bowl a hundred” if he’s on the way to the bowling alley to be with his buddies; my way of saying “I love you, Dad”.
 The picture which accompanies this article was taken around the holidays; can’t remember for sure; but it was either Thanksgiving or New Year’s Day because there were football games on the television.

Dad and Bonnie were enjoying the afternoon as he told the story of Jack and the Bean Stalk as the two of them rocked in the chair together. There were some slight changes to the story line; I recall hearing Dad explain that it was, “1st and goal on the seven yard line as Jack went up to meet the giant”.


During the middle of the story the old rocking chair, one which had been around since I was a little boy; that old chair gave up the ghost. Dad and Bonnie crashed to the floor; no injuries other than the chair was a total loss.


I have a long list of “Dad” stories from over the years, Dad waving at the ambulance driver, the broken front seat in his car, bread sticks at the restaurant, recovering my lost shoe at the train depot; too many interesting stories so I’ll only share one more.


Dad had fallen asleep in his favorite chair while the rest of us finished watching a movie one Saturday evening. His internal alarm clock reminded him it was time to secure the house for the night as he wandered to the front door and bolted it, on to the side door and ending up at the sliding glass door at the back of the living room.


He latched the door and then fumbled around for the pull cords to shut the drapes; his first pull only managed to get them half way closed. In his sleep he reached for the cord only to grab hold of the wrong one; the drapes being returned to their fully opened position. Each time he reached in to grab the cord his efforts were frustrated; the drapes now dancing back and forth as the veins in his neck began to swell.


“Dick! What in the hell are you doing?” Mom had a way with words as she addressed the love of her life. Dad, eyes still closed, took a deep breath as he carefully considered his reply; not wishing to hurt the love of his life with a harsh answer.


“I’m practicing!” That’s my Dad; always looking out for what’s best for his family. For some reason my eyes just swelled with tears; must be allergy season, that’s it. “Bowl a hundred, Dad!”


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”.

Conversation with my granddaughter

Jocelyne called a while ago wanting to talk to “Memaw”. They were catching up on things and Lucy told her all about finding yet another Mama Hobo Kitty living in our garage and that we now had new baby kittens to look after. The idea of having different Hobo Kitties, that is, other than the group we already had living in our garage caused her to wonder about things. The topic changed slightly as she thought about one of her favorite Hobo Kitties, Head Buttr’; the one who’d let Jocelyne pet her.


My granddaughter asked, “How come Head Buttr’ didn’t look both ways before trying to cross the street and getting hit by a car?” Lucy said it would be hard to say since Head Buttr’ was dead couldn’t tell us now.


“Well you could write her a letter and put it on the marker where she’s buried. Then Head Buttr’ could read the letter and tell you why she didn’t look both ways.”

Jocelyne told us a “secret”; she’d been given a complimentary Tracy Drywall pen of her very own. She could now write and draw with her own pen. Lucy and Jocelyne talked about next time she was over they could read a book together. Having a conversation with a 5 year old, almost 6, is a worthwhile event; takes your mind off of other pressing issues.

Need a set of lungs, make that to go…

Life has a way of imitating fiction from time to time. There’s a story by Jessica Ryen Doyle on the Fox News website out of Belgium that should make your skin crawl, Doctors euthanizing patients to obtain transplant organs .


‘“Given that half of all euthanasia cases in Belgium are involuntary, it must be only a matter of time before the organs are taken from patients who are euthanized without their consent,” Saunders told The Telegraph. “The matter of fact way the retrieval process is described in the paper is particularly chilling and shows the degree of collaboration that is necessary between the euthanasia team and the transplant surgeons – prep them for theater next to the operating room, then kill them and wheel them in for organ retrieval. All in a day’s work in Brave New Belgium. Doctors there are now doing things that most doctors in other countries would find absolutely horrific.”’


Did you catch that, “half of all euthanasia cases in Belgium are involuntary”; guess that explains how socialized medicine has been able to keep up with demand. If you get sick while on vacation in Belgium wait until you get home or those pictures you took might be your last.


This might be a good time to plug a short story I wrote many years ago, The Organ Donor Program . The idea of paying retirees for non-productive time set the stage for a rather unpleasant solution, one which saved share holders a considerable sum while at the same time providing much needed organs to those on waiting lists.


Here in America we should reconsider whether or not socialized medicine and Obamacare might lead to similar compromised doctor - patient loyalty issues. You think HMO’s are cold and heartless now; just wait until single payer health care kicks into gear. I can hear them calling out from operating room four as the folks in room three stand by with their newly recruited volunteer, “I need a set of lungs; make that to go!”


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”.

Justice System Lottery

In the never ending game of Justice System Lottery taxpayers in Harris County, Texas will be coughing up $3 million dollars after an appeals court upheld Shirley Nagel’s wrongful death case against Harris County in 2009. Nagel originally called police when her 52 year old son, Joel Don Casey, stopped taking his medication and became violent. “Deputies Tasered him 18 times and his hands and feet were bound.”


“The medical examiner said Casey died from psychotic delirium and heart disease that was impacted during the restraint.”


A couple of thoughts came to mind; his mother knew her son needed treatment, why’d she call the police instead of an ambulance? There must have been some kind of violence, either actual or threatened for her to summon police. She was afraid of her own son and thought it reasonable and prudent to have him removed.


If it was reasonable and prudent for her to be afraid then why wouldn’t it be just as reasonable and prudent for officers upon being confronted with a violent psychotic man to use necessary force to halt the violence? Would they have been justified in taking his life or had they done what they could to keep from using lethal force?


I read another account of this incident written by Leticia Juarez which added an interesting consideration:


“When asked on the stand what he would do differently, Deputy Gehring said he “would do it the same.”’


{…}


‘“Very unfortunate, but they were just trying to do their job,” Harris County Attorney Frank Sanders said.”


Having been a patrol officer and worked the street, too many times we confronted similar violent individuals. It took several officers to take them down and literally “hog tie” them to keep them from kicking or biting. Let me tell you, that’s about as dangerous as police work gets because some of these folks are drugged up, feel no pain and keep on coming at you.


I have to wonder, if confronted by a violent psychotic would Deputy Gehring really do it the same all over again? Even if he followed the Department’s Standard Operating Procedure Manual to the letter, it would only be natural to pause, even if for half a moment to consider the death of Joel Don Casey and wrongful death lawsuit which followed.


In that half moment, where a sliver of doubt might exist is where added danger lurks for police officers and the public. Instead of acting swiftly to contain a violent individual with less than deadly force, Tasers most times are not fatal and usually have no long lasting effects; a delay of action could bring about disaster for officers and/or the public.


Our thanks to Shirley Nagel and her attorney for helping create a sliver of doubt which one day will creep into some officer’s mind at that moment when he/she is carefully determining how to best survive a dangerous situation. I have all the compassion in the world for her loss; however, according to all accounts her son was clearly violent and there was no way of knowing the outcome.


This is our Justice System Lottery, for those who fell off the turnip truck on their way into the big city. Every now and then one lucky winner takes home a bundle of money. Just like other lotteries, for that one person to win millions, millions of others must pay; in this case the taxpayers of Harris County, Texas paid the winning ticket.


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”.

Let’s destroy another crop

If you’ve been locked away in a closet of late, there was a deadly E. coli outbreak in Europe which sickened hundreds and is linked to the deaths of at least 22 people. Last week cucumbers were blamed and folks immediately stopped buying cucumbers.


Over the weekend bean sprouts were said to have started the outbreak; but that was before any evidence was found to support such an announcement. Like it or not the media controls public awareness; folks are not going to eat cucumbers or bean sprouts for quite some time.


“German authorities searching for the source of the deadly E. coli strain said Monday that initial tests on suspect bean sprouts were negative. Tests will be carried out on a wider sample of older sprouts and packaging, Die Welt newspaper reported.”


This is a little like “trial by media”; breaking news about a crime, the suspect’s picture is splashed across the evening news with a smattering of details to indicate police got the dirt bag and good riddance to bad baggage. Articles appear for a couple of days showing crime scene photographs with close ups of a pair of little girls panties to let everyone know what kind of beast was involved, the suspect’s picture carefully offset on the monitor. The suspect, a geometry teacher for the past 14 years, is said to have raped one of our precious children; loss of a once promising career and he’s forced to move away from his respectable neighborhood.


A few months go by and the public isn’t interested in the follow up story on page 26 of the local rag which exonerated the suspect; not much is mentioned of his being unable to find gainful employment. He might as well be a cucumber or a bag of bean sprouts; nobody will go near him.


“Suspicion for the cause of the deadliest known E. coli outbreak had fallen on lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers, initially from Spain. The E. coli outbreak has killed 22 people, sickened more than 2,200 and left Europeans across the continent uneasy about eating raw vegetables.”


Remember sitting at the dinner table with a lump of cold spinach looking back at you? Your parents giving the old, “You’re not finished until you eat every last bite!” as you try to push it under the napkin. “There are children in Africa starving”, that was the killer line back when I was a kid.


I once offered to collect my left over vegetables, put them in a parcel post box and have it delivered; the suggestion was not received well and I still had to eat my spinach. Over the years I’ve learned to enjoy, even relish freshly steamed spinach; a little butter and salt to bring out the natural flavor.


In this brave new world your children, while trying to get away from the table might say, “This stuff tastes like sh...” Before they complete that last word you interrupt them, “It is; now finish your dinner!”


This whole E. coli thing is a scare tactic; government goons trying to put farmers out of business; but why? It must have something to do with cows destroying the atmosphere, methane, CO2 levels or some such thing.


Eventually private farms will go bankrupt and the government will take over. Former farm owners are now on the clock as employees or perhaps a better term, indentured slaves. They make enough to get by, no more, no less; just like the rest of the work force.


Can you imagine eating Government Brand Spinach; never fresh and only comes in a can? No more fresh spinach that might contain bacteria; no, this stuff will have been nuked before it ever hits the shelves. Time to set this aside; it’s time for breakfast.


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”.