Month: December 2013

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Our Daily Thread 12-20-13

Good Morning!

Only 5 Days Until Christmas! 🙂

On this day in 1606 the “Susan Constant,” “Godspeed” and “Discovery” set sail from London. Their landing at Jamestown, VA, was the start of the first permanent English settlement in America.

In 1803 the United States Senate ratified a treaty that included the Louisiana Territories from France for $15 million.

In 1820 the state of Missouri enacted legislation to tax bachelors between the ages of 21-50 for being unmarried. The tax was $1 a year.

In 1860 South Carolina became the first state to secede from the American Union.

In 1864 Confederate forces evacuated Savannah, GA as Union Gen. William T. Sherman continued his “March to the Sea.”

In 1879 Thomas A. Edison privately demonstrated his incandescent light at Menlo Park, NJ.

And in 1946 the Frank Capra film “It’s A Wonderful Life” had a preview showing for charity at New York City’s Globe Theatre, a day before its “official” world premiere.

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Quote of the Day

“Moving between the legs of tables and of chairs, rising or falling, grasping at kisses and toys, advancing boldly, sudden to take alarm, retreating to the corner of arm and knee, eager to be reassured, taking pleasure in the fragrant brilliance of the Christmas tree.“

T. S. Eliot

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Yes, as a matter of fact it is. 🙂

Next up, C’mon Ring Those Bells. Since she has a lot of fans around here, we’ll use her version.

For those who may be interested, here’s Evie’s YouTube channel.

And one more bell ringing song.

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 12-20-13

Who has a request or praise to share?

Psalm 119:73-91

73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

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News/Politics 12-20-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

1. Another court loss for the Obama admin.

From TheFreeBeacon  “A federal judge Tuesday rejected the Obama administration’s sweeping claims of executive privilege and ordered the disclosure of a foreign aid directive signed by President Barack Obama in 2010 but never publicly released.

U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Huvelle ruled the presidential order is not within the bounds of executive privilege and called the government’s arguments in favor of secrecy “troubling.”

“The government appears to adopt the cavalier attitude that the President should be permitted to convey orders throughout the Executive Branch without public oversight … to engage in what is in effect governance by ‘secret law,’” Huvelle said.”

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2. A+E has some decisions to make. Will they put Phil back to work, or continue to bow to the vocal minority and their PC nonsense? The balls in their court now. The family has decided it’s future with the network depends on what happens with Phil. And chose wisely, because lots of networks will offer them plenty to go elsewhere.

From FoxNews  “We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm,” the Robertson family said in a prepared statement. “We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty.”

The family said it has “spent much time in prayer” since learning A&E had suspended Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the Louisiana family, over comments he made about homosexuality.”

“While some of Phil’s unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible,” the family said. “Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Phil would never incite or encourage hate.”

The family also criticized A&E for its actions, saying he was placed on hiatus “for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right.”

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3. Poor Pajama Boy. Even MSNBC is making fun of him. Talk about Epic Fails….

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4. And things are getting even worse for PJ Boy.  He’s done 3 different ObamaCare ads thru his gig with OFA, but now it looks like he may have to find a real job. Heartbreaking as it may be, the ObamaCare ad blitz is coming to an end. 🙄

From TheHill  “The White House will conclude its 16-day media blitz designed to promote ObamaCare on Thursday with the release of a series of reports touting state-specific benefits of the president’s signature law, according to an official familiar with the plan.

“These state reports mark the culmination of a multi-week effort by the White House and supporters of reform to bring a renewed refocus on each of these benefits and what the cost of repealing them would mean,” the White House official said.”

“According to the official, the reports will show what the cost of repealing the controversial law would mean to average families across the country.”

“The White House insisted Wednesday that, although the daily ObamaCare messaging push would wrap up for the holidays, the administration would continue to push consumers to purchase coverage over the next three months.”

But don’t worry, OFA is sending out liberal bots, some of whom you may be related to, in order to harass you about ObamaCare at GrandMa’s house on Christmas day. 🙂 They got ya’ covered. 😉

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5. GRINCH ALERT!

The Grinch is a shifty one, he’s using one of his favorite aliases this time. (Mikey Whinestein) 

From TheMiamiHerald  “GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba —         The commander of this remote outpost said Wednesday night he would move two Nativity scenes from U.S. troops’ cafeterias to the base chapel, ending a daylong controversy kicked up by a few troops who protested to the Pentagon in secret.

“No one’s ever complained to me about it. We’ve been doing it for 10 years,” said Capt. J.R. Nettleton, commander of this Navy base, which has a school, a golf course and about 6,000 residents, a third of them civilian contract workers from Jamaica and the Philippines.”

“A total of 18 U.S. service members stationed here, five of them officers, appealed to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation after an agonizing, secret meeting earlier this week about what to do about the two créches and other Christmas decorations that festoon the main prison and base dining rooms, the rights group’s president, Mikey Weinstein, said Wednesday.

Weinstein said eight of the protesting American troops work inside the detention center zone that this week held more than 150 Muslim prisoners. Weinstein said the protesters included 11 Christians, both Protestants and Catholics, and said the other seven included Jews, Muslims, agnostics and atheists from a variety of services, including the Army and Navy.”

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6. Some of Mikey’s friends are trying to push the Army to label the Family Research Council as a hate group. Given this administrations track record, they probably get their way.

From LifeSiteNews  “In response to calls by the Southern Poverty Law Center to have the army declare the American Family Association as an “extremist” group, the spokesman for the AFA has shot back, accusing the SPLC of being the true “hate” group.

“The AFA doesn’t hate anyone,” AFA Director of Issue Analaysi and Spokesman Brian Fischer told LifeSiteNews.com in an e-mail. “The real hate in all this debate is coming from the SPLC and is directed toward people of faith. The real hate group here is the SPLC.”

Last week, the SPLC urged Army Secretary John McHugh to list the American Family Association (AFA) as an extremist group. 

According to SPLC’s Josh Glasstetter, McHugh should classify the AFA as an extremist group because, he claims, Director of Issue Analysis and spokersperson Bryan Fischer has said homosexuals are responsible for the Holocaust. He also says Fisher has said Muslims should be deported from America, and wants women, Muslims, and homosexuals disallowed from military service.

Please, the SPLC is Hate Inc..

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7. Remember folks…

Vote Fraud is a myth.

From FoxNews  “Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted announced Wednesday that his office found 17 non-citizens illegally cast ballots in the 2012 presidential election — and has referred the case for possible prosecution. 

 The alleged crime would be a notable case of voter fraud in a key swing state. By law, only American citizens are allowed the privilege of casting ballots for the nation’s leaders.”    

 “Voting advocates have long complained that some of the country’s voter fraud investigations amount to voter suppression, aimed at preventing minorities and others from voting. But supporters say the efforts only are aimed at preventing voter fraud and maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. 

The new investigation comes after election officials secured several voter fraud convictions stemming from last year’s election in Ohio, including that of one poll worker who was accused of voting six times in the November presidential election.”

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Our Daily Thread 12-19-13

Good Morning!

Only 6 Days Until Christmas!

On this day in 1732 Benjamin Franklin began publishing “Poor Richard’s Almanac.”

In 1776 Thomas Paine published his first “American Crisis” essay.

In 1777 General George Washington led his army of about 11,000 men to Valley Forge, PA, to camp for the winter.

valley forge

In 1843 Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was first published in England.

In 1918 Robert Ripley began his “Believe It or Not” column in “The New York Globe”.

In 1959 Penn State’s Nittany Lions beat Alabama, 7-0, in the first Liberty Bowl football game.

And in 1959 Walter Williams died in Houston, TX, at the age of 117. He was said to be the last surviving veteran of the U.S. Civil War.

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Quote of the Day

“My relationship with ‘Pollyanna’ is a very personal one, because Pollyanna got me through my childhood.”

Eleanor Porter

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First today, some Faith Hill.

And some Michael Card.

And since this one is such a classic, and today is it’s 170th birthday….

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 12-19-13

Anyone have a request or praise they’d like to share?

I’m praising God that our 2 travelers, Jo and Phos/Roscuro made it home safely. 

I’m praying for their health, that they would receive rest, and enjoy their time at home.

And I’m thanking Him for a 3rd, who kept us up to date on things. Thank you Joanne. 🙂

Psalm 119:57-72

57 Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.

58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

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News/Politics 12-19-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

1. Some good news to start. A very nice story. 🙂

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2. And then it goes downhill……

Meet the new tone, which oddly enough, sounds just like the old tone.

From RollCall  “Newly minted White House counselor John Podesta has apologized for a remark that likened House Republicans to a “cult worthy of Jonestown” after getting called out by Speaker John A. Boehner’s spokesman.

“They need to focus on executive action given that they are facing a second term against a cult worthy of Jonestown in charge of one of the houses of Congress,” Podesta told Politico’s Glenn Thrush earlier this fall, before the former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton was named to the White House post.”

“Brendan Buck, spokesman for Boehner, had suggested the quote was a bad omen for 2014.

“For those who’ve forgotten, a Democratic member of Congress was murdered in Jonestown and a current one, Rep. Jackie Speier, was shot five times during the same incident,” Buck noted.”

Yeah, classy as ever eh John? 🙄

Although I guess being called a cult is better than being called terrorists. Maybe…

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3. More waste that could be cut instead of troop pensions. And you just gotta love the “shocking” findings. 🙄

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4. Plenty more here to cut. And a CONTENT WARNING!!! for some adult (and duck?) material.

From TheNYPost  “While the White House and Congress griped this year about the pain of automatic budget cuts, the federal government still managed to spend billions of dollars on seemingly frivolous projects – from a $384,989 grant for Yale University to study the duck penis to $1.9 million for “lifestyle” lessons for Senate staffers.

Nearly $30 billion in questionable federal spending is detailed in the “Wastebook” that was released Tuesday by the Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who annually compiles the report.”

“$10 million for National Guard advertising tie-ins with the “Soldier of Steel” movie, despite budget cuts reducing the Guard’s strength by 8,000 soldiers.

$7 billion for the Pentagon to destroy vehicles and other military equipment used in wars in the Middle East rather than sell or ship the items home.

$17.5 million for special tax exemptions for Nevada brothels, including tax deductions for groceries, wages for prostitutes, rent and utilities.”

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5. Is this in every Democrat up for re-election’s future?

Yes please! 🙂

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6. I have to say, Phil shoulda seen this coming. Publicly speaking out against homosexuality is not tolerated.

With a CONTENT WARNING!!! for adult subject matter.

From MSNTV  “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson has been  suspended from the A&E reality series, following anti-gay remarks he made in  an interview with GQ magazine.  

In a statement, A+E Networks said he had been placed on indefinite hiatus.”

“We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ,  which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series  ‘Duck Dynasty,'” the company said. “His personal views in no way reflect those  of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the  LGBT community. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming  indefinitely.”

Robertson caused controversy with his comments, in which he grouped gays with  “drunks” and “terrorists,” and said that they won’t “inherit the kingdom of  God.”

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7. By now you’ve probably seen the commercial with the guy in the pajamas pushing ObamaCare. I think 12 year olds are making these commercials, and they seem geared toward children. They’re just awful. This one however, is a new low. This one features adult (supposedly gay) men in their underwear celebrating ObamaCare and being gay.  And remember folks, we’re paying for this garbage. Military pensions are being cut, but the President and Democrats can find the cash (400 million + so far ) to pay for the making and the advertising of this nonsense. It’s pathetic.

With a CONTENT WARNING!!! for adult subject matter and men in their underwear.

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Our Daily Thread 12-18-13

Good Morning!

1 Week Until Christmas! 🙂

On this day in 1787 New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1865 slavery was abolished in the United States with the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution being ratified.

In 1917 the Eighteenth Amendment (Prohibition) to the U.S. Constitution was passed by the U.S. Congress. It was later repealed by the 21st Amendment.

In 1935 a $1 silver certificate was issued for the first time in the U.S.

In 1936 Su-Lin, the first giant panda to come to the U.S. from China, arrived in San Francisco, CA. The bear was sold to the Brookfield Zoo for $8,750.

And in 1956 “To Tell the Truth” debuted on CBS-TV.

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Quote of the Day

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store.”

Dr. Seuss

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First up today, Roy Orbison.

And while digging for that one, I found this. 🙂

And we’ll finish up with Mark Schultz.

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QoD

Are you finished shopping yet?

And if not, what are you waiting for? 🙂

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Prayer Requests 12-18-13

Anyone have a request or praise to share?

And it’s Wednesday, so don’t forget The Gambia and it’s workers.

Psalm 119:36-56

36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.

40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.

53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

55 I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.

56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

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News/Politics 12-18-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

1. As they say, the devil is in the details.

And as they also say, there is no free lunch.

From TheSeattleTimes  “It was the fine print.

As fine print is wont to do, it had buried itself in a long form — Balhorn’s application for free health insurance through the expanded state Medicaid program. As the paperwork lay on the dining-room table in Port Townsend, Prins began reading.

She was shocked: If you’re 55 or over, Medicaid can come back after you’re dead and bill your estate for ordinary health-care expenses.

The way Prins saw it, that meant health insurance via Medicaid is hardly “free” for Washington residents 55 or older. It’s a loan, one whose payback requirements aren’t well advertised. And it penalizes people who, despite having a low income, have managed to keep a home or some savings they hope to pass to heirs, Prins said.

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2. The GOP effort to restore military pension cuts has failed. It’s a sad day when a country doesn’t keep it’s promises to veterans. They swore an oath and honored it. This breaks the promises this country made in return for that.

From FoxNews  “A final effort by Senate Republicans to halt cuts to pensions of military retirees failed late Tuesday, after Democrats blocked an amendment to the controversial budget bill.

The two-year budget agreement, which cleared a key test vote earlier in the day, was expected to get a final vote no later than Wednesday.

Ahead of the final vote, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., tried unsuccessfully to use a parliamentary tactic to force a vote on the amendment, which he wrote to undo the cuts for military retirees.

A provision in the already House-passed bill would cut retirement benefits for military retirees by $6 billion over 10 years.”

There are plenty of areas in the military budget worth cutting. The billions they’re wasting on “green fuels” at an outrageous cost would be a good place to start. And notice they left the unionized civilians workers alone, just like with Tri-Care. This is aimed at the troops. This is just wrong.

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3. And in case you are wondering, no, disabled vets are not exempt like union workers.

From TheFreeBeacon  “A provision cutting the pensions of military retirees in the bipartisan budget deal that the Senate will vote on this week does not exempt disabled veterans, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.

Disabled retirees were previously thought to be exempt from the changes to military retiree pay, which could cost servicemembers up to $124,000 over a 20-year period.

The Free Beacon previously reported that military retirees under the age of 62 would receive 1 percentage point less in their annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in the plan crafted by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D., Wash.).

The section of the U.S. code that has been altered also applies to disabled servicemembers, many of whom have been wounded in combat.”

Those who vote for this should be ashamed of themselves.

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4. Dissent is not tolerated. And remember, $1.5 million a day in federal funds go to support PP. So we’re probably paying for their “lobbying” against this man. Witch hunt is more like it.

From LifeNews.com  “Planned Parenthood is after the career and livelihood of a distinguished, highly-qualified, good high school teacher, Bill Diss, who had the audacity to tell Planned Parenthood that they were not allowed in his classroom.After a second hearing last night, that pro-life teacher, Bill Diss, has been fired.

The school board for the Portland Public School District voted to terminate Diss’ contract after Planned Parenthood’s lobbying effort.

Diss experienced censure in his teaching career beginning in 2007 when he publicly opposed the building of a new Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in downtown Portland. The current action follows Mr. Diss’ opposition to being forced to facilitate presenters from the Teen Outreach Program (TOP), a program administered by Planned Parenthood, coming into his tutorial session to recruit students.”

“Diss also spoke in defense of himself and asked the school board to consider the ways in which he was targeted by Planned Parenthood. He reminded them that his teacher reviews had been exemplary until he took a stand against Planned Parenthood. He also mentioned the hundreds of thousands of dollars he brought in grants to the school. After listening to the public comments, the school board recessed for private consultation.”

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5. Are televangelists about to go the way of the dodo thanks to Congress?

From NationalJournal  “Congress is trying to take televangelists from your televisions.

That’s the argument from faith-based broadcasters who are pushing to preserve the nation’s “must-carry” rules. The rules, which date back to 1992, require cable and satellite companies to pick up local broadcast affiliates—even the small, less popular stations.

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., is pushing legislation to scrap those rules as part of a broader effort to deregulate the airways. Online video and expansive satellite lineups have given consumers so many options that the government no longer needs to decide who carries what, Scalise said.

But local broadcasters say they provide a public good, and therefore providers should be barred from dropping them in favor of potentially more lucrative outside programming.”

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Our Daily Thread 12-17-13

Good Morning!

Only 8 Days Until Christmas!

On this day in 1777 France recognized American independence.

In 1791 a traffic regulation in New York City established the first street to go “One Way.”

In 1903 the first successful gasoline-powered airplane flight took place near Kitty Hawk, NC. Orville and Wilbur Wright made the flight.

In 1944 the U.S. Army announced the end of its policy of excluding Japanese-Americans from the West Coast which ensured that Japanese-Americans were released from detention camps.

And in 1969 the U.S. Air Force closed its Project “Blue Book” by concluding that there was no evidence of extraterrestrial spaceships behind thousands of UFO sightings.

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Quote of the Day

“Once a nation parts with the control of its credit, it matters not who makes the laws.”

William Lyon Mackenzie King

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First up today, some PianoGuys.

Next up, a request for David Meece.

And on today’s date in 1892 Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” was first performed. Some say it may have been tomorrow’s date, but I’m going with today.

The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

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Anyone have a QoD?