Month: March 2014

by

Our Daily Thread 3-31-14

Good Morning!

On this day in 1776 Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John that women were “determined to foment a rebellion” if the new Declaration of Independence failed to guarantee their rights. 

In 1831 Quebec and Montreal were incorporated as cities. 

In 1870, in Perth Amboy, NJ, Thomas Munday Peterson became the first black to vote in the U.S.

In 1889, in Paris, the Eiffel Tower officially opened. 

In 1933 Congress authorized the Civilian Conservation Corps to relieve rampant unemployment. 

And in 1958 the U.S. Navy formed the atomic submarine division. 

___________________________________________

Quote of the Day

“The moving finger writes; and, having writ, moves on: nor all your piety nor wit will lure it back to cancel half a line, nor all your tears wash out a word of it.”

Edward Fitzgerald

___________________________________________

Today is Johann Sebastian Bach’s birthday.

And it’s also Lefty (William Orville) Frizzell’s.

___________________________________________

Anyone have a QoD?

by

Prayer Requests 3-31-14

Who has a request or praise they’d like to share?

Psalm 66

¹Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

2 Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.

3 Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

4 All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

5 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

6 He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.

8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:

9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.

10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.

12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

13 I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,

14 Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.

15 I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.

16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

by

News/Politics 3-31-14

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread.

1. Is Common Core becoming a campaign issue?

From FoxNews  “Parents across the country may hold the key to this year’s mid-term elections as they vent their anger over the implementation of a controversial education achievement measure called the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

Forty-five states and the District of Columbia have adopted the initiative in a bid, they say, to improve education standards in Math and English, and give new life to what many view as a sagging education system. Indiana recently voted to back out of Common Core.

But many parents see the initiative as a bid by the federal government to take over the education system. They are also angry over the “data mining” of students’ personal information, and say the stepped-up standards are not age-appropriate and are leading to anxiety and depression in their children.

Analysts warn the parental opposition could spill over into the November elections.”

___________________________________________

2. Social Justice isn’t clearly defined because it’s supporters use it as a catch-all phrase for whatever they want it to mean at the moment.

___________________________________________

3. What a waste of money, all in the name of PC versions of fairness.

From TheBlaze  “The U.S Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has forced a school in Michigan to tear down a brand-new set of bleachers for its boys’ varsity baseball team because the new seating is nicer than the girls’ softball bleachers.

The raised seating deck for the boys’ baseball team, which was paid for with money raised by parents, was put in place because fans who’d come to watch games at Plymouth High School in Canton, Mich., were having a hard time seeing the game through the chain-link fence WJBK-TV reported.

The parents installed the new bleachers themselves and even added a new scoreboard to the field, the station reported.

But after an investigation by government officials, which was prompted by an anonymous complaint, the school was told it had to remove the new seating because it was “no longer equal” to the adjacent girls’ softball bleachers, which have yet to get a makeover of their own.”

The clowns are running this circus.  

___________________________________________

4. Dissent will not be tolerated by the intolerant left.

From BusinessInsider  “Some employees at Mozilla, the non-profit organization behind the Firefox browser, are calling on new CEO Brendan Eich to resign. 

 Mozilla workers are upset with Eich because he supported Proposition 8 and donated to the politicians who backed it.”

“But some employees at Mozilla, such as design researcher Emily Goligoski, feel that Eich’s decision to back Prop 8 goes against Mozilla’s core values as a company.”

___________________________________________

 

 

by

Our Daily Thread 3-29-14

There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.

Sam Walton

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/samwalton146810.html#jwO4MOHPVhjAPI6R.99

Good Morning!

The weekend has arrived! And not just any weekend, it’s opening day of trout season here in PA. 🙂

Today’s header photo is from me.

On this day in 1638 the first permanent European settlement in Delaware was established. 

In 1867 the British Parliament passed the North America Act to create the Dominion of Canada. 

In 1943, rationing of meat, butter and cheese began during World War II. 

In 1951 Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage. They were executed in June 19, 1953.

And in 1973 the last U.S. troops left South Vietnam. 

__________________________________________

Quotes of the Day

“The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”

John Buchan

“There’s a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.”

Steven Wright

__________________________________________

Today is Brian Free’s birthday, so Gold City.

Next up, it’s 20 fingers, 4 hands, 4 feet, 2 people to turn the pages, and 2 pianos for Richard Rodney Bennett’s birthday.

__________________________________________

Anyone have a QoD?

 

by

Prayer Requests 3-29-14

Anyone have a request or praise to share?

Psalm 65

¹Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.

2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:

7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.

8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.

9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.

11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.

13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

by

News/Politics 3-29-14

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread weekend, have fun. 🙂

1. Dirty Harry?

From PJMedia  “Jon Ralston continues to examine Sen. Harry Reid’s campaign finance records. What was first a series of questionable payments to his granddaughter totaling about $16,000 is now a larger series of payments adding up to about $31,000.

Reid, who has lately attacked private citizens from the well of the Senate for their campaign contributions, dismisses the controversy and pleads for his enriched granddaughter’s privacy.

“My granddaughter has been the target of harassing phone calls, strangers tracking her down and knocking on her door and negative, unwanted attention on the internet. This has gone too far and it needs to stop now. I deeply regret any role I had in creating this situation but now, as a grandparent, I say enough is enough.

No one should be harassing Ms. Reid, but frankly, Harry Reid is a confirmed liar, so there’s no reason to believe him when he plays the sympathy card. The FEC may not agree that “enough is enough.” Ryan Elisabeth Reid is a grown woman (and a rapper — no kidding), and she did accept the money that her grandfather paid her out of his campaign funds. Perhaps that rap career just needed a cash injection. She may not have known she was receiving campaign funds, but she probably did. Unless granddad paid her in cold, hard cash (which would be interesting!), she knew exactly where the money was coming from. It was on the check, pay stub or in the email she received when the payment processed. Maybe the FEC needs to take a look.”

I doubt Reid worries about the scorn, unwanted attention, and harassment the families of the Koch Bros. have to deal with because of the way he demonizes them. Seems awful hypocritical of Harry to whine here.

Here’s more, from TheFreeBeacon  “Another man might have assumed, correctly, that launching a campaign of insult and insinuation against two billionaires would result in renewed attention to his own finances. Not Harry Reid. The Senate Democratic leader since 2005, and the Senate majority leader since 2007, is not one to reflect before speaking. His mouth runs far ahead of his brain.”

“Now, with his majority in danger, his president unpopular, his floor agenda obstructed by members of his own caucus, Reid thrashes about uncontrollably. He calls Obamacare horror stories “untrue.” He says Obamacare numbers are not as high as projected because Americans “are not educated on how to use the Internet.” His Senate Majority PAC launches a $3 million ad campaign tying Republican candidates to two men most Americans have never heard of, two men who, funnily enough, are more popular than Reid.”

“From the floor of the Senate Reid says these two men, Charles and David Koch, are “un-American,” are trying “to buy America.” Without the terrible specter of the Koch brothers Harry Reid would be disarmed. He has no issue for his Democratic Senators to run on; the minimum wage and climate change are not enough. Nor has he another means of inspiring donors to open their checkbooks. He only has fear, fear of the Kochs, fear of extractive industry, fear of the portion of the elite that favors economic freedom. The Koch brothers, Reid says, “rig the system to benefit themselves.” He should know.

The fact that Harry Reid’s political and influence operation includes his five children has been established for some time. A few weeks ago, when I first heard Reid accuse private citizens of being un-American, I dredged up a Los Angeles Times article from 2003 with the headline, “In Nevada, the Name to Know Is Reid.” Chuck Neubauer and Richard T. Cooper’s meticulously researched and reported article begins with the story of the “Clark County Conservation of Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002,” a land bill of the sort that puts people to sleep. “What Reid did not explain” when he introduced the bill in the Senate, Neubauer and Cooper wrote, “was that the bill promised a cavalcade of benefits to real estate developers, corporations, and local institutions that were paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in lobbying fees to his sons’ and son-in-law’s firms.” I wonder why he left that part out.”

__________________________________________

2. Standing on principle, or showboating?

From CBSWashingtonLocal  “A Carroll County commissioner said she was “willing to go to jail” opening up a board meeting with a prayer despite a federal judge in Maryland ruling the board has to stop with opening meetings with prayers that reference Jesus Christ or any specific deity.

“If we cease to believe that our rights come from God, we cease to be America,” Robin Bartlett Frazier said Thursday. “We’ve been told to be careful. But we’re going to be careful all the way to Communism if we don’t start standing up and saying ‘no.’”

Judge William Quarles Jr. ruled Wednesday that the board must stop opening up its meetings with sectarian prayers. He says that while a lawsuit over the prayers proceeds that the commission may only have non-sectarian prayers.

Frazier said the ruling was an “infringement” on her First Amendment rights.”

And of course it was atheists who objected and filed the suit in the first place.

___________________________________________

3. Here’s an Update on the UNC scandal.

From TheBlaze  “Critics of the higher education system in this country and especially those who have long alleged college athletes get special treatment to maintain their academic eligibility have just been given an explosive piece of evidence. It’s severely lacking, has a page with only 146 words and contains grammar errors and misspellings. And it is worthy of an A-.

“It” is a final paper that was submitted by a University of North Carolina athlete and featured in an ESPN report this week. That report detailed two whistleblowers surrounding the the academics scandal that rocked the university this winter, where student athletes were “encouraged” to take “fake” classes in order to pad their grades, raise their GPAs and stay eligible to play sports.

“This is not even close to college work,” whistleblower Mary Willingham told ESPN, “yet this athlete was awarded an A-.”

__________________________________________

4. If this guy is to be believed, and I think he would know, ObamaCare’s worst is yet to come.

From TheWallStJournal  “Ezekiel Emanuel, Rahm’s elder brother, is a physician who helped design ObamaCare and has been one of its most intense champions. So you may be surprised to learn that in his new book, “Reinventing American Health Care,” he predicts that tens of millions more Americans will lose their medical plans in the coming decade.

In its “You’re the Boss” small-business blog, the New York Times quotes his prediction that by 2025, “fewer than 20 percent of workers in the private sector will receive traditional employer-sponsored health insurance.” As of March 2013 such benefits were available to 85% of full-time private-sector workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If Emanuel is right–and especially if, as he implies, ObamaCare was designed to produce such an outcome–the president’s repeated pledge that “if you like your plan, you can keep your plan” was a far more widespread fraud than has yet been realized.

In the next two to three years, Emanuel predicts, “a few big, blue-chip companies will announce their intention to stop providing health insurance. Instead, they will raise salaries substantially or offer large, defined contributions to their workers. Then the floodgates will open.” Small businesses will be even more eager to drop coverage.”

__________________________________________

by

Our Daily Thread 3-28-14

Good Morning!

Today’s header photo is from me.

On this day in 1797 Nathaniel Briggs patented a washing machine.

In 1834 the U.S. Senate voted to censure President Jackson for the removal of federal deposits from the Bank of the United States. 

In 1854 the Crimean War began with Britain and France declaring war on Russia.  

In 1885 the Salvation Army was officially organized in the U.S. 

In 1933 the Nazis ordered a ban on all Jews in businesses, professions and schools.   

And in 1979 a major accident occurred at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. A nuclear power reactor overheated and suffered a partial meltdown. 

__________________________________________

Quote of the Day

“When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is probable that many had conceived the desire of ruling.”

Thomas Clarkson

__________________________________________

Today may or may not be this lady’s birthday. Wiki just says 1957, but another says today. So we’ll go with it. 🙂

That was from Bill Gaither’s show. Today is also his birthday.

Both are from GaitherVEVO

And for some reason I have these guys stuck in my head. 🙂

__________________________________________

Anyone have a QoD?

 

by

Prayer Requests 3-28-14

Anyone have a request or praise to share today?

And it’s Friday, so let’s pray for Mumsee, Mike , and The Nest today.

Psalm 64

¹Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

by

News/Politics 3-28-14

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread, as always.

1. It sure seems like a lot of Democrats are having legal issues lately.

I’ve already linked a couple of times to the story in PA of several officials taking bribes to oppose Voter ID. The AG dropped it for political reasons, and now the state legislature is looking into the whole affair. Also 4 Republicans were approached, but declined to take the bribes.

Now we have a new one, also a Democrat, and abuse of her official position.

From 6ABC  “Pennsylvania state prosecutors won a first step Wednesday in their corruption case against state Sen. Leanna Washington, securing a judge’s ruling that they have enough evidence for a trial on charges that Washington crossed the line when she allegedly ordered taxpayer-paid employees to organize an annual “birthday party” political fundraiser.

 For eight years, Washington pressured her Senate staff to devote weeks to drawing up guest lists that included city and state officials, creating invitations and taking money from invitees that ultimately went to Washington’s campaign account, prosecutors say.

______________________

State Sen. LeAnna Washington was ordered held for trial yesterday on charges
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/LeAnna-Washington-to-see-her-day-in-court-.html#c5FbbmLdzPMA3T2O.99
State Sen. LeAnna Washington was ordered held for trial yesterday on charges
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/LeAnna-Washington-to-see-her-day-in-court-.html#c5FbbmLdzPMA3T2O.99
State Sen. LeAnna Washington was ordered held for trial yesterday on charges she abused the authority and resources of her Senate office to raise money for her re-election campaign.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/LeAnna-Washington-to-see-her-day-in-court-.html#c5FbbmLdzPMA3T2O.99

State Sen. LeAnna Washington was ordered held for trial yesterday on charges she abused the authority and resources of her Senate office to raise money for her re-election campaign.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane has accused Washington of directing her legislative staff to perform personal political campaign work while on taxpayer time.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/LeAnna-Washington-to-see-her-day-in-court-.html#c5FbbmLdzPMA3T2O.99

State Sen. LeAnna Washington was ordered held for trial yesterday on charges she abused the authority and resources of her Senate office to raise money for her re-election campaign.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane has accused Washington of directing her legislative staff to perform personal political campaign work while on taxpayer time.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/LeAnna-Washington-to-see-her-day-in-court-.html#c5FbbmLdzPMA3T2O.99

State Sen. LeAnna Washington was ordered held for trial yesterday on charges she abused the authority and resources of her Senate office to raise money for her re-election campaign.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane has accused Washington of directing her legislative staff to perform personal political campaign work while on taxpayer time.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/LeAnna-Washington-to-see-her-day-in-court-.html#c5FbbmLdzPMA3T2O.99

Next, the Mayor of Charlotte, NC.

From FoxNews  “The mayor of Charlotte, N.C. — the state’s largest city and the site of the 2012 Democratic National Convention — resigned Wednesday hours after he was charged with federal public corruption and accused of taking bribes in an FBI sting.”

______________________

Then a state Senator from Cali., with arms deals involving terrorists and taking cash to support marijuana legislation. Also arrested with him was a notorious gangster, who has been given awards by Sen. Diane Feinstein and other local Dems.

From TheSFGate  “An outspoken advocate of gun control and open government, Yee is charged with conspiring to traffic in firearms as well as six counts of scheming to defraud citizens of honest services. He has not commented on the allegations.

Investigators say Yee took bribes in exchange for political favors in order to pay off a $70,000 debt from an unsuccessful run for San Francisco mayor in 2011 and to fund his run for secretary of state. The bribes were paid by undercover agents, the FBI said.”

So he’s an anti-gun hypocrite too.

______________________

Next, to the other coast and election fraud. They even forged Derek Jeter’s signature.

From DNAInfo  “Three former campaign workers for Bronx Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo‘s reelection bid were charged with forging nearly 100 signatures, including Derek Jeter’s and Kate Moss’, on the candidate’s primary ballot petitions, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.”

______________________

And another case of bribery and corruption from earlier this month in NY.

From TheNYTimes  “William F. Boyland Jr., an assemblyman from one of Brooklyn’s most prominent political families, was convicted on Thursday of bribery and several other federal crimes.”

“The subsequent four-week trial in Federal District Court featured undercover audio and video recordings of Mr. Boyland asking for money in exchange for political favors, including a request for $250,000 to pay for his legal fees in the Manhattan case.”

___________________________________________

2. Yet another ObamaCare lie. Illegals won’t be eligible.

From Breitbart  “The Obama administration has been helping to facilitate a series of events nationwide at Mexican Consulate offices to enroll people in Obamacare – and a key activist says the efforts are “our responsibility” regardless of citizenship.

“Whether they’re Mexican nationals or whether they’re United States citizens or whether they’re in transition– and if they’re there it is our responsibility within all of America to educate on the Affordable Care Act,” Enroll America Field Organizer Jose Medrano told Breitbart News on Wednesday.

Health Care insurance navigator groups hosted an Obamacare enrollment fair on Tuesday in the Mexican Consulate’s Brownsville office, The Rio Grande Guardian reported last Friday, where Mexican nationals among others were counseled about enrolling in the ACA.”

__________________________________________

3. WooHoo!

From TheHoustonChronicle  “A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld Texas’ tough abortion restrictions that have forced the closure of about 20 clinics around the state, saying the new rules don’t jeopardize women’s health.

A panel of judges at the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court judge who said the rules violate the U.S. Constitution and serve no medical purpose. After the lower court’s ruling, the appeals court allowed the restrictions to go into effect while it considered the case, which ultimately could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The new law requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and places strict limits on doctors prescribing abortion-inducing pills. More regulations that are scheduled to begin later this year weren’t a part of the case.

In its opinion, the appeals court said the law “on its face does not impose an undue burden on the life and health of a woman.”

__________________________________________

4. You would think this should be causing liberal teachers to rethink their voting patterns, but their white guilt won’t allow them to think it thru.

From FrontPageMag  “Nobody works harder or spends more money to elect liberals than teachers and their labor unions. But these same elected officials are now asking the one question that teachers never thought they would hear: “Why are you so racist?”

“The Department of Education has held since 2009 that any disparity in discipline or education achievement between white and black students is the result of racial discrimination. The President often refers to this racial disparity.

But here’s the catch: Most teachers are white, female, liberal and supporters of President Obama. They thought they were the solution. Turns out they were the problem.

Glenn Singleton is one of the people in charge of solving the problem of racial disparity. In hundreds of school districts around the country, his company has been hired to show this cohort of young, white, liberal and female teachers how they are racist; how their racism is responsible for the achievement gap; and how they have to admit their own racism in a series of “Courageous Conversations” if they ever want to be successful educating black students.”

___________________________________________