Month: October 2013

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Our Daily Thread 10-14-13

Good Morning!

Happy Columbus Day!

And for our Canadian friends, Jour de l’Action de grâce.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have no idea if I have that used properly or not because I don’t speak French. 🙂

On this day in 1912 Theodore Roosevelt was shot while campaigning in Milwaukee, WI. Roosevelt’s wound in the chest was not serious and he continued with his planned speech.  😯  William Schrenk was captured at the scene of the shooting.

In 1926 the book “Winnie-the-Pooh,” by A.A. Milne, made its debut.

In 1944 German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel committed suicide rather than face execution after being accused of conspiring against Adolf Hitler and the execution that would follow.

In 1962 The Cuban Missile Crisis began when U.S. reconnaissance aircrafts photographed Soviet construction of intermediate-range missile sites in Cuba. 

And in 1964 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent resistance to racial prejudice in America. He was the youngest person to receive the award.

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Quote of the Day

“Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.”

William Penn

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My statement above brought this to mind.

“But I must go into the world and do noble things for the good of all. And you can’t come because you don’t speak French.”

It’s Cliff Richard’s birthday.

It’s also Justin Heyward’s. He’s the singer.

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Anyone have a Question of the Day?

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Prayer Requests 10-14-13

 

Who has a request or praise to share today?

Psalm 59

¹Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me.

2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from bloodthirsty men.

3 For look, they lie in wait for my life; The mighty gather against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord.

4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine.

Awake to help me, and behold!

5 You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah

6 At evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city.

7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; For they say, “Who hears?”

8 But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision.

9 I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God is my defense.

10 My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.

11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget; Scatter them by Your power, And bring them down, O Lord our shield.

12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they speak.

13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, That they may not be; And let them know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. Selah

14 And at evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city.

15 They wander up and down for food, And howl if they are not satisfied.

16 But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy.

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News/Politics 10-14-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread.

I’m taking the holiday off. 🙂 But I did have one I wanted to post.

Mr. President, tear down those Barrycades.

Oh wait, never mind, they already did.

There’s only one thing left to do with them, return to sender.

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So of course they get treated like hardened criminals by park police. You know, ‘cuz these are the domestic terrorists DHS has been warning about. 🙄  Funny though, everything was pretty peaceful, until the armed guards, SWAT, and armored vehicles showed up.

From TheBlaze with lots of pics  “Members of the so-called “Million Vet March” descended on Washington, D.C., Sunday to protest the Obama administration’s decision to close the city’s public memorials.

Thousands of demonstrators arrived early in the morning and tore down barricades that had been set up to block people from visiting the popular attractions, WTOP reports.

The group said military personnel and veterans are “being used a political pawns in the ongoing government shutdown and budget crisis,” according to a statement on its website.

The group also said it has no political leaning, but believes that the closing of memorials is “a despicable act of cowardice.”

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Some politicians like Cruz, Palin, and Lee joined them. Funny though, I didn’t see any Democrats. 🙄  As expected, most of the media treats it like a Tea Party Rally, and attempts to dismiss it.

From USAToday  “Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas were among those who gathered Sunday morning, along with former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, according to WTOP radio. Cruz said President Obama is using veterans as pawns in the shutdown.

“Tear down these walls,” the crowd chanted. Protesters also sang God Bless America and other patriotic songs as they entered the memorial plaza.

The memorial has become a political symbol in the bitter fight between Democrats and Republicans over who is at fault since the shutdown began. Earlier rallies have focused on allowing access for World War II veterans visiting from across the country with the Honor Flight Network.

Sunday’s rally was more political. A protest by truckers converged with a rally by a group called the Million Vet March at the World War II Memorial. Participants cut the links between metal barriers at the National Park Service site and pushed them aside.”

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Here’s a photo, video, and Tweet montage of more of the fun from the nation’s capitol. Via WeaselZippers

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Our Daily Thread 10-12-13

Good Morning!

It’s Saturday! Yay! 🙂

On this day in 1492 Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, sighted Watling Island in the Bahamas.

In 1792 the first monument honoring Christopher Columbus was dedicated in Baltimore, MD.

In 1892, in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Columbus landing, the original version of the Pledge of Allegiance was first recited in public schools.

In 1933 John Dillinger, bank robber, escaped from a jail in Allen County, OH. The sheriff was killed by his gang as they helped Dillinger escape.

In 1933 the U.S. Department of Justice acquired Alcatraz Island from the U.S. Army. 

And in 1938 filming began on “The Wizard of Oz.”

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Quote of the Day

“Put your nose into the Bible everyday. It is your spiritual food. And then share it. Make a vow not to be a lukewarm Christian.”

Kirk Cameron

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Today is the birthday of Luciano Pavarotti. So here he is with a guest, doing a different style of music than his usual.

But don’t worry, I’ve got another, more his usual style.

 For those who don’t speak Italian, (like me) the lyrics in English are here.

And it’s also Michael Roe’s birthday. So here he is, with Phil Keaggy.

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 10-12-13

Who can we pray for today?

Psalm 57

¹Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

2 I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.

3 He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.

8 Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.

10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

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News/Politics 10-12-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

The other day I was hard on Gov. Jerry Brown for his signing of the non-physician abortion law. He was wrong to do so IMHO, but this time he gets it right, so it’s only fair I point that out too.

From ABCNews  “California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill Friday that would have banned future sales of most semi-automatic rifles that accept detachable magazines, part of a firearms package approved by state lawmakers in response to mass shootings in other states.

The governor announced signing other gun-related legislation but rejected the centerpiece bill, which would have imposed the nation’s toughest restrictions on gun ownership.

Brown’s veto message said it was too far-reaching. The bill by Democratic Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg would have outlawed future sales of an entire class of weapons that includes most assault rifles.”

“”I don’t believe that this bill’s blanket ban on semi-automatic rifles would reduce criminal activity or enhance public safety enough to warrant this infringement on gun owners’ rights,” the Democratic governor wrote in his veto message.”

Golf clap.

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Funny, now they’re called non-essential, but they have no problem activating these units for Iraq and Afghanistan though. More discretionary cuts meant to hurt. They didn’t have to do this. The White House and DoD chose to.

From PewStates.org  “Nearly 50,000 full-time National Guard employees have been furloughed as a result of the federal government shutdown. The standoff in Washington also has resulted in the cancellation of most of this weekend’s training exercises, depriving even non-furloughed guardsmen of the salaries they receive for drilling. 

The furloughed guardsmen are paid by the federal government, even though they are under the command of their states’ adjutant generals and governors. The guardsmen who have been affected generally work as full-time computer programmers, or are engaged in cybersecurity or administrative work. Guardsmen whose salaries come from state funds will not be furloughed.  In some states, that is about half of the total.”

“Several governors were furious about having to issue furlough notices to guardsmen in their states. “Some of these men and women have been deployed multiple times,” Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage said in a statement. “This is a shameful tactic to use against Mainers who have put their life on the line to protect our freedoms.”

In Colorado, where National Guard troops are helping with the recovery from massive flooding, Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, ordered the state to pay the salaries of the 650 furloughed guardsmen who were assisting with cleanup.

“We can’t afford to lose one day in rebuilding areas destroyed or damaged by the floods,” Hickenlooper said. “Our National Guard troops are an invaluable part of the team working on the recovery. We need them to stay on the job.”

Not smart.

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The Senate has approved a bill restoring funding to military chaplains. But due to changes to the House bill, it now goes back to the House.

From FoxNews  “The Senate has approved a bill to let military chaplains work despite the partial government shutdown.

The Senate backed a version of the measure late Thursday. The version expressed the sense of Congress that chaplains should continue offering their services to members of the military and their families, and it had already passed the House.

Slight changes to the House measure were made by Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin of Michigan. Levin added a provision expressing Congress’ hope that the defense secretary could figure out how to pay contractor clergy.”

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One group challenging the shutdown of a federal park has won a court case challenging the closing. At least for now.

From TheWashingtonPost  “Fed up that the federal shutdown was keeping them off their practice fields, a group of young lacrosse players in Northern Virginia challenged the government in court. And at least for now, they won.

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the National Park Service to immediately reopen Langley Fork Park in McLean — which was closed Oct. 1 — and allow the boys and girls of the McLean Youth Lacrosse organization back onto the fields.”

“The judge’s order was not final. Attorneys are scheduled to return to federal court in Alexandria on Oct. 18 — provided the courthouse is still open and judges are still hearing civil cases  — to hash out a more permanent resolution. But until then, Langley Fork Park will be open for the hundreds of kids in the youth lacrosse group, which sued the Park Service, and for anyone else who might want to use it.”

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Fizzled.

From FoxNews  “A trucker protest aimed at clogging the Capital Beltway around Washington to protest government “corruption” was not shaping up to be quite the commuter nightmare organizers had threatened. 

 As of Friday morning, dozens of tractor-trailers were said to be on the road as part of the protest convoy.”

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And last today, I’m going to do my Rant! 😦 for the week here…….  

Now I’m a fan, but this is not helpful.

From WashingtonCBSLocal  “Dr. Ben Carson slammed President Barack Obama’s signature health care during his speech at the Value Voter’s Summit Friday.

“Obamacare is really, I think, the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery,” Carson declared. “It is slavery in a way because it is making all of us subservient to the government.”

Carson said the implementation of the Affordable Care Act was never about health care, only control.”

First off, as bad as I think ObamaCare is, it certainly isn’t the worst thing to happen since slavery. 50 million unborn children killed by abortion is certainly many degrees worse than ObamaCare. Be serious.

And while I agree it’s about control and making people rely on, and be subservient to the govt, the comparison to slavery is unfair. This is nothing like the physically and mentally forced subservience that slaves were subjected to. It’s nothing of the sort. I feel the same way about it when homosexuals attempt to compare themselves and their struggles to what slaves went through. It’s inaccurate and insulting. These things are bad, but they’re not slavery bad. There is no comparison.

This type of hyperbole is just gross, whether it’s from Sharpton, gay activists, or conservatives. Just my 2¢.

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Our Daily Thread 10-11-13

Good Morning!

It’s finally Friday! 🙂

On this day in 1776, during the American Revolution, the first naval battle of Lake Champlain was fought. The forces under Gen. Benedict Arnold suffered heavy losses.

In 1881 David Henderson Houston patented the first roll film for cameras.

In 1890 the Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in Washington, DC.

In 1929 JCPenney opened a store in Milford, DE, making it a nationwide company with stores in all 48 states.

And in 1983 the last hand-cranked telephones in the U.S. went out of service. The 440 telephone customers of Bryant Pond, ME, were switched to direct-dial service.

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Quote of the Day

“The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.”

George  Washington

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Today is Tramaine Hawkins’ birthday.

It’s also Cynthia Clawson’s.

On this day in 1727 this song was first performed at Westminster Abbey.

And it’s Daryl Hall’s birthday too.

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 10-11-13

Who has a request or praise to share today?

Psalm 55:16-23

16 As for me, I will call upon God, And the Lord shall save me.

17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.

18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, For there were many against me.

19 God will hear, and afflict them, Even He who abides from of old. Selah Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God.

20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant.

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

22 Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in You.

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News/Politics 10-11-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

I’ve got a bunch today, so I’ll be brief. Or not. 🙂

First up, an interesting read on the spitefulness from the White House and the similarities to other spiteful leaders in history.

From TheSultanKnishBlog  “The Berlin Blockade was a siege in all but name. Beyond the sheer fact of food and coal being cut off to a city of millions were a thousand minor humiliations by Soviet officials designed to break the will of their enemies to resist. That was their mistake. And it’s a mistake that the left often makes.

The barricades around the Lincoln Memorial and the WW2 Memorial, the traffic cones blocking the view of Mt. Rushmore and the sawhorses around Old Faithful are no Berlin Blockade, but they come out of the same meanness of spirit and the same motives.

The petty harassment extended to a 24-hour blockade of an inn that had tried to stay open and rangers arriving to block Old Faithful every time it erupted. There are few moments that sum up the meanness of spirit of the Obama Blockade as well as a park ranger angrily telling senior citizens to get back on the bus and stop taking photos because they are engaging in forbidden “recreating”.

The Obama Blockade has no valid justification. Like the Berlin Blockade, it is about power and control.”

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Next, good, let’s see more.

From TheWashingtonTimes  “Taking their lead from the veterans who first pushed through the barricades  to visit the World War II Memorial,  Americans nationwide are defying the federal government shutdown, tossing aside  traffic cones and toppling wooden fences to get to national parks and other  federal lands that the administration has deemed out of bounds.

As the shutdown hits the middle of its second week, civil disobedience has  become a sensation. Some proudly post online photos of themselves overcoming the  government’s obstacles, and others use more subtle ways to make their point.”

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And here’s more.

From TheWaPo  “Organizers of the “Truckers Ride for the Constitution” rally say they are indeed coming to Washington on Friday — but whether they will shut down the Beltway or just make a lot of noise remains to be seen.”

“Zeeda Andrews, one of the organizers of the event, said the ride is a go, but emphasized that it will be peaceful. She said that Georgia trucker Earl Conlon “overstepped his boundaries” earlier this week in saying the event was just a ploy to get attention for the group’s agenda.

“Yes, it is happening,” she said about the rally. Andrews said she expects “a few thousand truckers” to descend on the District on Friday.”

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Veterans are sick of the poor treatment and are planning a protest as well.

From VetMarch  “In a mean-spirited fit of selfish anger, Barack Obama has shut down our nation’s war memorials. And he has declared open war on our honored veterans!

 The World War II memorial … the Vietnam Veterans Memorial … the Korean War Veterans Memorial – Obama has shut them all down to force his will on the House of Representatives and frankly, to get revenge on the American people who oppose Obamacare and his other naked power grabs.

Let’s put it plainly: Barack Obama is behaving like a vicious tyrant. And if he succeeds in this assault on the democratic system, the Republic we love is at mortal risk. It’s just that simple.

That’s why I am asking you now to take two decisive moves to show Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi – and all of their oppressive ilk in Washington – that “We the People” are still in charge. And we won’t rest until we take back our memorials and monuments!”

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Some folks are picking up the slack. 🙂

From USAToday  “Most everybody complains about the government shutdown, but Chris Cox is actually doing something about it.

With many government operations shuttered by the political standoff in Washington,  Cox took a lawn mower to the National Mall this week and began cutting  grass areas between the Lincoln and World War II memorials.

“These are our memorials. Do they think that we’re just going to let them go to hell?” Cox told Washington radio station 99.1 in a story recounted by Columbia, S.C., TV station WIS.”

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Maybe de-funding ObamaCare won’t be necessary. It could just collapse on its own.

From TheDailyMail  “Obamacare’s main sign up engine attracted  just 6,200 new customers on its launch day and 51,000 after the first  week

At the same rate, the 6-month open  enrollment period would sign up just 2 million Americans, including 14 states  and D.C., which have their own insurance exchanges

The Congressional Budget Office says  Obamacare needs at least 7 million customers to stay afloat  financially .

Numerous Obama administration officials  have denied seeing any enrollment figures at all

MailOnline’s sources are two Health and  Human Services workers who have access to the data as it’s  crunched

So the White House lied yesterday when asked if the numbers were available. Not surprising.

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And it’s look like 800,000 NJ residents just found how it will impact them.

From NJ.Com  “Hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans opened the mail last week to find their health insurance plan would no longer exist in 2014 because it does not cover all the essential benefits required by the Affordable Care Act.

The news surprised some who were unaware that provisions in the new law known as “Obamacare” were forcing insurance companies to scrap some plans they had previously offered.

“The Affordable Care Act is driving many changes to products and pricing,” said Thomas Vincz, a spokesman for Horizon. “Horizon BCBSNJ is actively working to help our members find new insurance plans that meet their needs and budget.”

Sorry folks. But elections have consequences’.

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