Coconut oil for skin care

Perhaps one of the best, and cheapest tips circulating the internet is to use pure organic coconut oil for skin care. I had a jar in the cupboard for cooking, so I squished some (it is solid but melts with just skin heat) into an unused pill container and put it in the bathroom. This stuff is amazing. I'd had 2 stubborn spots on my face, and after using it for both removing make-up and a moisturizer under make-up, they just disappeared; last night I slathered it on my hands and put on cotton gloves, and this morning my hands feel like summer; and there is no water or alcohol or chemical lab list to worry about. There are lots of new babies in the family and I see it's good for stretch marks http://coconutoilcooking.com/coconut-oil-blog-posts/top-10-uses-of-coconut-oil-for-skincare/

                                    

I've only used it once for cooking, so have a lot on hand. It seems expensive for shortening, but when compared to a mid-price brand of lotion or moisturizer of a few ounces with all the unpronounceables on the label, it's a bargain.

Just three decisions will make a life time of difference

Just three decisions can change the course of a life time and family. None depend on party affiliation, race or religion.

"Consider three decisions that young people make: at what points to stop their education, begin work, and marry and have children. Brookings Institution calculations of census data for 2009, a deep recession year, show that adults who graduated from at least high school, had a job, and were both at least age 21 and married before having children had about a 2 percent chance of living in poverty and a better than 70 percent chance of making the middle class — defined as $65,000 or more in household income. People who did not meet any of these factors had a 77 percent chance of living in poverty and a 4 percent chance of making the middle class (or higher)."

http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2012/03/29-middle-class-myth-haskins

There is no transfer of wealth or invasive, snoopy government program required for this vast difference in poverty between the married and unmarried, the employed and the unemployed, the high school graduate and the drop out. It won't close the "income gap" between you and the President, who is a millionaire and actually did these 3 things, but it's almost a guarantee with God's blessings that you won't remain at the bottom.

"The average cohabiting union lasts about two years, with roughly half ending in marriage. Once married, formerly cohabiting parents have a much higher dissolution rate than couples who did not live together prior to marriage." http://www.clasp.org/.../publications_states/files/0086.pdf

Thursday Thirteen Christmas season 2013

Christmas  these days seems to begin around Halloween when Christmas themed merchandise appears in the stores, although for some retailers it’s even earlier and you see craft and decorating items stocked in strategic places.  This year Thanksgiving was the latest it could be and so the festivities and shopping had one less week. Our holiday season was saddened by the death of brother in law John Sterling, whom we had visited in October in California. He died the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  For us, Christmas more or less began at Thanksgiving when we began to discuss how we would do the holidays.  Usually our daughter has Thanksgiving dinner, but her father-in-law who lives in  Cleveland and who has been ill, was unable to travel, so they needed to be free “just in case,” so we had dinner here, and decided that I would host the family on Christmas Eve, and then we’d all go to our daughter’s for Christmas Day. I fixed a huge turkey, and we’ve had leftovers off and on since.  So beginning with Thanksgiving, we all went to church together at the Lytham Road campus of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church at 10 a.m. where we had worshipped when the children were growing up (began attending in 1974 and joined on Palm Sunday 1976).  Pastor TJ Anderson, our new senior pastor, gave the sermon. At this service we bring sacks of groceries to be distributed by the Lutheran Food Pantry. Our location of UALC has a traditional style worship with hymns and organ; Mill Run has contemporary style worship with praise songs and communion.

1.  On Wednesday, December 4, we attended with our neighbors Tom and Joyce the annual Conestoga (friends of the Ohio Historical Society) Holiday Party at The Boat House at Confluence Park. It was a lovely venue with views of the river and the downtown skyline lit up for Christmas.  Conestoga has 203 individual members and we learn about Ohio history, travel around the state together visiting historical places, and have fund raisers.  All the money supports the Ohio Historical Society. Our current endowment is about $66,000.

2. Mid-week day time Advent services are held on Thursday at the Lytham Rd. location, and we served communion on December 5.  Wednesday evening services are held at our Mill Run Campus. Usually serve at all these Thursday services, but this year we had conflicts on the other two dates. These services are followed by lunch in the fellowship hall.  Generally, it’s an older crowd, and follows the Thursday morning Bible study.

3.  On December 7, the combined choirs of Lytham and Mill Run presented a wonderful Christmas Concert on Saturday evening, “Glory, Peace, Joy” with conductors Brian Carlton and Michael Martin, with an orchestra. Members of our pastoral staff gave the readings from Isaiah, Colossians, Luke, and Matthew. I sat with the other women of our SALT group—our husbands were at home watching the OSU-Michigan football game, and they missed a beautiful concert.

4. On Sunday December 8, we attended our own service (8:15) and the 9:30 Celebration Service at Lytham, so we could participate in the installation of Pastor Thomas J. Anderson. Pastor David Wendel, assistant to the NALC Bishop performed the installation, with Pastors Brodie Taphorn and Buff Delcamp participating. Pastor TJ follows Pastor Paul Ulring who ended his service with the church in September. Pastor TJ said, “My primary mission is to kick you out of the nest.”

5. We were thrilled to have our friends Martti and Riitta Tulamo of Helsinki, Finland with us December 11-13.  We did some touring of the OSU campus where Riitta was a student at the veterinary college in 1978-80.  We spent a lot of time together in those days, so our children remember them well, and we had a dinner here on Friday night before taking them to the Brens where they would enjoy a few days, then going to the Rigolli home in Worthington before returning to Finland. We attended Advent services on Thursday and then stayed for a very nice lunch of lasagna and salad.

6. On Saturday December 14 our church’s Mission ministry had a pot luck at the home of the Camerons to meet with our missionaries Dave and Pam Mann who teach in Haiti and are home during the month of December.  It was so good to see them, and hear about what is happening at the school and clinic.

7.  On Sunday December 15 members of Conestoga were invited to a buffet and program at the Ohio Historical Society.  We went with our neighbors the Rieslings. The theme for this fall/winter has been the 50s—and there is a Lustron on display, so it was decorated with the much more simple décor of the 1950, including an aluminum tree and plastic poinsettias.

8.. Party with Faith of our Fathers study group Monday Dec. 16 and my  first training session with the Pregnancy Decision Health Center on Wednesday Dec. 18 where I hope to continue volunteering.  This is a Christian ministry that saves lives—of babies, but also mothers who may be in great distress with a pregnancy

9. Party for condo association hosted by the Thompson and Rieslings on Sunday Dec. 22.  The Thompsons had their twin 18 month old granddaughters with them, which really enhanced the environment. Joan and Joyce put out a beautiful spread of of wonderful food, and I think I gained back all the weight (6 lbs) I’ve struggled to lose during the fall.

10. We had a get together after exercise class at instructor Christine’s home on Monday December 23, and will have a 2 week hiatus.

11. We hosted our family for Christmas Eve for dinner—ham, roasted squash, potato salad, mixed fruit, cookies. Then together we attended the  UALC  9 p.m. service.  On  Christmas Day, we opened gifts at home after a leisurely morning, then attended church at 10 a.m. where we served Communion, and then went to our daughter and son-in-law’s for a lovely Christmas dinner and more gifts. Such lovely thoughtful gifts, and my daughter spiffed up my wardrobe, something I always look forward to.

12.  Friends of ours are hosting events in their homes in the next week, on Saturday December 28  the Sloughs, and on Monday evening December 30, the Zimmers.

13.  We will attend the New Year’s Eve Jazz Concert and Worship with Communion at our Mill Run church on Tuesday December 31 beginning at 5:30 for music and 6:00 for worship.

Obama’s obsession prevents him from doing his job

“Virtually all of the data cited by the left to decry the supposed explosion of income inequality, as Lee Ohanian and Kip Hagopian point out in their seminal paper, "The Mismeasure of Inequality" (Policy Review, 2011), use a Census Bureau definition of "money income" that excludes taxes, transfer payments like Medicaid, Medicare, nutrition assistance, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and even costly employee benefits such as health insurance.

Thus the data that is conventionally used to calculate the so-called Gini coefficient—the most commonly used measure of income inequality—ignore America's highly progressive income tax system and the panoply of benefits and transfer payments.”

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303773704579269990020773098?mod=trending_now_4

Income inequality?  There’s a huge gap between the Obama household and the Bruce household. And Oprah Winfrey and the  Obama household. And George Soros and Oprah Winfrey. And Bill Gates and George Soros. Good luck Mr. President in making us all equal.

Phil Robertson preaches it

Preaching in California for our eternal health care.

A beautiful day

How to destroy more entry level jobs—get the unions involved

Requirements for entry level

“Many fast food workers are high school students because the industry doesn't require much in the way of formal education or experience, and offers plenty of part-time positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that around half of food service workers were employed part time in 2010. Some employers have strict dress and appearance codes, while others provide more leeway. However, a neat, clean and polished appearance during the application process gives a good impression and can help you land a job.”

The job also requires adequate communication skills (pronunciation, grammar, ability to make eye contact, etc.) arriving on time, and not chattering with co-workers or reading smart phones while on duty. Good manners are a plus.  Workers are on their feet a long time.  The worker must be able to follow directions without getting mouthy or arguing.

I love cabbage—this looks so good

Garlic Rubbed Roasted Cabbage Steaks

This is a simple side dish worthy of a dinner party and couldn’t be easier to make. Four ingredients, a couple of minutes to prepare and toss in the oven for an hour.

Ingredients

• 1 (approximately 2lb) head of organic green cabbage, cut into 1″ thick slices
• 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 to 3 large garlic cloves,
• smashed kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• spray olive oil OR non-stick cooking spray Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Pull outer leaf off cabbage (it’s usually dirty and nasty looking), cut cabbage from top to bottom (bottom being root) into 1″ thick slices. 2. Rub both sides of cabbage with smashed garlic. 3. Use a pastry brush to evenly spread the olive oil over both sides of the cabbage slices. 4. Finally, sprinkle each side with a bit of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. 5. Roast on the middle rack for 30 minutes. Carefully flip the cabbage steaks and roast for an additional 30 minutes until edges are brown and crispy. Serve hot and Enjoy!

Copied from Jodie Strickland’s FB page, who got it from Skinny Body Care with Greg.

Not everyone has snow

But this is a lovely, if stylized, memory of Christmas as it probably never was.  I saw it at Flyover Culture on Facebook, which has the most beautiful photos of our country.  And promotes the conservative values and culture which I admire. We do have a light dusting of snow this morning and I’ll be meeting with friends of 30+ years for coffee.

Yesterday we got a note inside a Christmas card updating us on a small family we haven’t seen since Christmas 1965.  They were renters of the apartment in our duplex where we lived in Champaign, IL.  When we waved good-bye to them and their little daughter, I didn’t know we’d still be in contact almost 50 years later.  Except we aren’t. Until this year, the card simply had a signature.  Somewhere along the way the husband’s name was dropped from the card, then we got one photo card years ago with mom, daughter (now grown) and her husband.  The note reports the daughter’s daughter has just graduated from college.  However, the note which updated us, was intended for someone else and got in the wrong card.  Sigh.

Monday Memories—listening to the Christmas story

Some children may have learned the Christmas story from TV cartoons, but I can remember sitting on the interior stairs of our school in Forreston, Illinois (12 grades in one building) while the principal, John I. Masterson, read aloud the story from Luke 2.

January book club selection

"There are as many species of socialism as there are species of insects, and Thatcher loathed them all. I use the word "socialism" here as a shorthand for a system of government in which property is largely owned or controlled by the state, rather than by individual citizens, and in which wealth is redistributed to create a more egalitarian society. Equality is the ideal, coerced redistribution the means, and state the agent." Claire Berlinski, "There is no alternative; why Margaret Thatcher matters," (Basic Books, 2008)  the January selection for our book club.

                           

December 22, The American Prohibitory Act

“On December 22, 1775, the Parliament of Great Britain, under Lord North, First Lord of the Treasury, decided that sterner measures would be taken to subdue the rebellion now underway in the 13 American colonies. To this end, they decreed a blockade against the trade of the American colonists by passing the Prohibitory Act. “All manner of trade and commerce” would be prohibited, and any ship that was found trading “shall be forfeited to his Majesty, as if the same were the ships and effects of open enemies.”  The goal of the Act was to destroy the American economy by making it incapable of operating by means of prohibiting trade with any country.”

It became a declaration of war.

The Founder’s  Blog

A sweet card

I didn’t know there was an Equine Cancer Society.

The Equine Cancer Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of all horse owners on equine cancer. ECS also helps to raise funds for equine cancer research. Cow's Cause, named for Scout aka "Cow" the inspiration behind ECS, raises funds for the veterinary care of horses fighting cancer.

This and that. . .

I made snickerdoodles with dried cranberries today for a Christmas party tomorrow (like I REALLY needed this).  I actually tasted the raw dough.  Remember when we were kids and that was the favorite part of Mom’s baking?  Now everything is unsafe.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/beware-of-raw-cookie-dough/?_r=0

Tooting my own horn. I think I have licked the caffeine addiction and the awful coffee at home syndrome. I've been drinking coffee since I was 13--and trust me, I'm a librarian who researches everything, coffee doesn't taste good, some just is less awful than others. It's an acquired taste and it actually does have health benefits--with or without the caffeine. Maybe it's the cold weather or da...rk mornings, but showing up at the coffee shop down the road at 6:30 a.m. just doesn't have the appeal it used to, so I've been making decaf at home, but a little stronger than directions. I've bought half n half, and just about, almost, maybe it tastes fine. I still show up occasionally to make sure everyone at Panera's is OK, but it will save about $10 a week for my Travel to Spain in 2015 fund. Even a small amount of real coffee will cause me problems, but not to worry--it actually helps some people with arrhythmias.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/coffee-new-health-food

Thursday I made the Cheeseburger in Paradise, but used sausage just to see if it might be good for a brunch.  The next day I gave a slice to my son who had stopped by to give us his Christmas ham.  He called later raving about it.  I guess it passes the test, uh?

David Meyers and Elise Meyers, well known Columbus authors (prisons, popular music, Lazarus history, Columbus jazz, true crime), are beginning a new project--the famous, now gone (as of 2000) Kahiki restaurant. I'm guessing some of you went there for special events in the past and perhaps you have memories or old photos you'd like to have memorialized in their new book. You can e-mail me for further information on arrangements to share what you know about a Columbus landmark.

                            

My friend Lynne loves to say around this time of year that we are closer to Spring than we were in September.

It’s hard to choose, he told so many

Obama’s next big grab, because the last one was so successful

“If you believe the left, the leading economic problem that Americans face today is not a lack of jobs
or the cost of living, but a crisis . . . of income inequality. . .

The left inflicts poverty and then campaigns against it. It raises the prices of products and the cost of services, it devalues incomes, destroys jobs and raises energy prices… and demands even more regulatory powers so that it can finally solve the poverty mess it creates once and for all.”

http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-poverty-of-income-inequality.html

Tolerance is not a Biblical value

              

Shocking isn't it?  Love, compassion, gentleness, kindness, patience, cheerfulness, respect, humility, conjugal fidelity, familial caregiving, honesty, happiness (blessedness), beauty, discrimination between right and wrong, justice flowing from God, the existence of and battle against evil, mercy, work, sharing, responsibility, wisdom, hospitality, gratitude, obligations to God and family, unity as God's creation, holiness, chastity, virtue, children as gifts of God, corporate worship, and many more can easily be located in the Bible and church tradition.

Not on the list of Biblical values are tolerance, Marxism, statism, utilitarianism, multiculturalism, sustainability, environmentalism (worship of Mother Earth), diversity, nihilism, redistributive justice, redistribution of wealth (aka stealing), lasciviousness, permissive sex, cohabitation, unity created by national or political grouping, disrespect for the aged, poor and unborn, relativism, fraud, --these and many others are all the province of the secular culture. Humanists and progressives may borrow temporarily some values and ethics from the Bible and not hurt or change who they truly are, but Christians are at grave risk when borrowing from the secular culture for their values.

Obama Repeals ObamaCare

I don't recall in my lifetime, any mess worse than Obamacare. He's all but admitted it doesn't work, he's violated his own law more times than we can track, offered cronies and supporters cover until after the next election, and has pulled back on the individual mandate (but is still going after Christians with a conscience). All major social legislation since the 1930s has had at least some support of both parties. The Democrats own this one 100%.

“HHS and the Senators must have coordinated in advance because literally overnight HHS rushed out a bulletin noting that exemptions are available to those who "experienced financial or domestic circumstances, including an unexpected natural or human-caused event, such that he or she had a significant, unexpected increase in essential expenses that prevented him or her from obtaining coverage under a qualified health plan." A tornado destroys the neighborhood or ObamaCare blows up the individual insurance market, what's the difference?

The HHS ruling is that ObamaCare is precisely such a "significant, unexpected increase." In other words, it is an admission that rate shock is real and the mandates drive up costs well into hardship territory. HHS is agreeing with the Senators that exemptions should cover "an individual whose 2013 plan was canceled and considers their new premium unaffordable." In her reply letter, Mrs. Sebelius also observes that some people "are having difficulty finding an acceptable replacement." She means the new plans are overpriced.” WSJ Review and Outlook

What the Left has left us for manhood

If you haven’t seen it, the guy on the right in the red jammies, its advertising for Obamacare over a cup of cocoa.  This juxtaposition is just too funny.  But sad, too.

A promise kept

Until the 20th century, virtually all Christian churches taught the same as the Roman Catholic on contraception and abortion. The HHS mandate is intended to end whatever vestige of Biblical teaching is left, and Sebilius a Catholic is leading the way. Not that Protestants have protested.  I’ve certainly never heard a sermon in my church on the sanctity of life, or even marriage for that matter.  Until the current administration, almost all Christian churches and denominations with the exception of a few "mainline" (and poorly attended) agreed on homosexuality. In fact, until the last election, even the President was coy and evasive about same sex marriage, flip flopping as he went to please which ever audience he was addressing.  With the leadership of "Hollywood" and celebrity values and the government's attacks on the first amendment freedoms of speech and religion, and the 4th amendment guarantees of privacy rights, indeed in 5 short years he has fundamentally changed the country. The idea that our Constitution and our Bill of Rights which originally were intended to protect us from an overbearing, oppressive government has been flipped to the government is our friend and buddy here to help us out of all messes and jams. This has pretty much been Obama’s goal. He’s reaching it with the help of Christians.

Obama’s vision—Pajama Boy and Julia

O

“Perhaps the goal of OFA was to create a readily mockable image to draw attention to its message, in which case Pajama Boy was a brilliantly successful troll. The right immediately Photoshopped him into the Mandela funeral selfie and emblazoned his photo with derisive lines like “Hey girl, I live with my parents” and “How did you know I went to Oberlin?” “

Julia needed the help of Obama-supported programs at every juncture of her life, and Pajama Boy is going to get his health insurance through Obamacare (another image shows him looking very pleased in a Christmas sweater, together with the words “And a happy New Year with health insurance”).

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/366806/pajama-boy-home-holidays-rich-lowry#!

The biggest lie and the biggest story of 2013

“The lie of the year, according to Politifact, is “If you like your health care plan, you can keep it.” But the story of the year is a nation waking up to just how radical Obamacare is — which is why it required such outright deception to get it passed in the first place.

Obamacare was sold as simply a refinement of the current system, retaining competition among independent insurers but making things more efficient, fair and generous. Free contraceptives for Sandra Fluke. Free mammograms and checkups for you and me. Free (or subsidized) insurance for some 30 million uninsured. And, mirabile dictu, not costing the government a dime.”

Charles Krauthammer

“Three years ago I predicted that Obamacare would turn insurers into the lapdog equivalent of utility companies. I undershot. They are being treated as wholly owned subsidiaries. Take the phrase “strongly encouraging.” Sweet persuasion? In reality, these are offers insurers can’t refuse. Disappoint your federal master and he has the power to kick you off the federal exchanges, where the health insurance business of the future is supposed to be conducted.”

Phil’s mission—to tell people about Jesus and love them

The big lie Obama tells again and again

Another favorite lie of Obama is the BIG ONE--income gap/inequality. Few remember this but Bush took office with the effects of the 1999 recession on his hands; income of the top 1% plummeted well before 9/11. You've probably forgotten because Bush didn't waste a lot of breath blaming Clinton. And the income of the top 1% has been going up since, and has really taken off under Obama.  Have you heard him mention how well they are doing—surely you’ve seen the photos of the parties.

Also, wealthier households are usually married couples and better educated. Why promote education as a solution to poverty if you demonize those whose parents, grandparents and self have finished college? And do the math. Two wage earners with college educations are better off than a single mom who didn't finish high school. There will be a gap!

The biggest loss in wealth in 2008 was from the housing recession. Progressives will argue this to the grave, but it was our own federal bank regulations (the 1977 CRA and its expansion)  intended to help the poor by putting them in mortgages they couldn’t possibly afford and punishing banks if the didn’t, that created that. Blacks and Latinos were hurt the most in the housing collapse. CRA was bad for the poor and bad for the country, and ended up hurting everyone.

Also, people are retiring at a baby boomer rate--that means pensions pay less than jobs and people move down a quintile or two. We certainly did. Our children now have incomes much higher than ours, but it wasn't that way in 2000 when we had two incomes. Boomers also have different work rates and divorce rates than pre-boomers.  Women earned much more than previous generations, and the men earned less. After divorce, they both have less.

Yes, Obama’s big one is the wealth gap—the gap has always been there, but his policies plus factors he had no control over because they began years ago are the reason.  Yes, the federal government discourages marriage and encourages dependence on hand outs, and that’s not a good formula for wealth building.

Friday family photo—Aunt Martha’s quilts

I have two lovely quilts made by my grandmother's sister Martha Sanders who died in childbirth in 1889. No one in our family knew she had a granddaughter living in Dixon, IL, with many descendants. In 1999 my aunt Muriel noticed her obituary and the names of her parents and realized she was a cousin. She passed it on to me and I entered the names in the family database and corrected my copy of the family genealogy, The Jacob George Family of Adams County, Pennsylvania, (1998). Today my brother plans to meet with two of her daughters and hopefully find a good home for the quilts I've had for 40 years.

 http://memorypatterns.blogspot.com/2005/11/aunt-marthas-quilts-pt-2.html

http://memorypatterns.blogspot.com/2005/11/aunt-marthas-quilts.html

Presidential lies

LBJ:

• We were attacked (in the Gulf of Tonkin)

Nixon:

• I am not a crook

GHW Bush:

• Read my lips - No new taxes

Clinton:

• I did not have sex with that woman . . . Miss Lewinski

GW Bush:

• Iraq has weapons of mass destruction

Obama:

• I will have the most transparent administration in history.
• The stimulus will fund shovel-ready jobs.
• I am focused like a laser on creating jobs.
• The IRS is not targeting anyone.
• It was a spontaneous riot about a movie.
• If I had a son.
• I will put an end to the type of politics that "breeds division, conflict and cynicism.”
• You didn't build that!
• I will end the influence of lobbyists in Washington
• I will restore trust in Government.
• The Cambridge cops acted stupidly.
• No family making less than $250,000 will see any form of tax increase.
• The public will have 5 days to look at every bill that lands on my desk.
• It's not my red line - it is the world's red line.
• Whistle blowers will be protected in my administration.
• We got back every dime we used to rescue the banks and auto companies, with interest.
• I am not spying on American citizens.
• ObamaCare will be good for America.
• You can keep your family doctor.
• Premiums will be lowered by $2500.
• If you like it, you can keep your current healthcare plan.
• It's just like shopping at Amazon.
• I knew nothing about "Fast and Furious" gunrunning to Mexican drug cartels.
• Claimed to be the post-racial candidate in 2008.
• I knew nothing about IRS targeting conservative groups.
• I knew nothing about what happened in Benghazi.
• I have never met my uncle from Kenya who is in the country illegally and that was arrested and told to leave the country over 20 years ago.
• And, I have never lived with that uncle. (He finally admitted  (12-05-2013) that he DID know his uncle and that he DID live with him.

What is happiness?

I heard an interview on happiness this morning.  He said there are four elements of happiness:  faith, family, friends/community, and work. He said women do a better job with cultivating and maintaining friendships than men--that 60% of men will say their wife is their best friend, and that's unfortunate (only 30% of women say husband is a best friend). The happiest people are conservative women; unhappiest are liberal men.

He said it is a myth that depression and unhappiness stalk us at Christmas--that is actually the happiest time for most people; the months of greatest depression are May-July (I think that's when women try on swim suits, but he didn't really give that as evidence--that's my own thinking). People are not happier when they are given things (like welfare) or win the lottery because work provides the satisfaction that leads to happiness.

It was the Bill Bennett show and I think he was interviewing Albert Brooks who recently had an article in the NYT. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/opinion/sunday/a-formula-for-happiness.html?_r=1&

"Free enterprise gives the most people the best shot at earning their success and finding enduring happiness in their work. It creates more paths than any other system to use one’s abilities in creative and meaningful ways, from entrepreneurship to teaching to ministry to playing the French horn. This is hardly mere materialism, and it is much more than an economic alternative. Free enterprise is a moral imperative."

Robertson vs. Podesta

So Duck Dynasty’s Robertson is fired for stating what's in the Bible, but Podesta, an advisor to the President, gets to slander and vilify gay Republicans, senior citizen Republicans, Latino Republicans, Jewish Republicans, Black Republicans, and over half of all Americans? He called us a Jonestown cult. Why doesn't he get fired? He actually is part of the government from whom we are protected by our Constitution. A&E is just an "evil capitalist" who doesn't like the Bible. http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/12/18/podesta-gop-jonestown-cult/4109385/

Can't have anything tainted or smutty or outrageous on pure as the driven snow A&E cable TV. . . "the network that airs “Bates Motel,” the series “The Killer Speaks,” which interviews convicted felons, and “Psychic Tia,” and that has in the past aired “Growing Up Gotti,” “Criss Angel Mindfreak,” and “The Sopranos,” has deemed “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson unsuitable for its broadcast because of an interview answer where he paraphrased Corinthians 6:9–11. That’s where they draw the line! (Jim Geraghty, National Review Online) http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/366724/ae-finds-something-it-absolutely-cannot-tolerate-jim-geraghty

This morning, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal issued a statement in response to the news of Robertson’s suspension: “Phil Robertson and his family are great citizens of the State of Louisiana,” Jindal said. “The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with. I don’t agree with quite a bit of stuff I read in magazine interviews or see on TV. In fact, come to think of it, I find a good bit of it offensive. But I also acknowledge that this is a free country and everyone is entitled to express their views. In fact, I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment. It is a messed up situation when Miley Cyrus gets a laugh, and Phil Robertson gets suspended.”

Jindal will be in deep doo-doo now with liberals for a reference to a cultural icon like Miley Cyrus.

Purge with a passion

Here's a new book--but I'm not sure you want to give it as a Christmas gift--it might seem like a hint. Buy it for yourself and keep it on the coffee table. "Purge with passion; organizing principles from a Christian perspective," by Jodie Watson, WestBow Press, 2013. (ISBN 978-1-4497-9513-9, $17.95).  WestBow is a division of Thomas Nelson.

I'm not a hoarder, and I'm not swamped with clutter. . . but I do have "stuff." Stuff that's really important to me, that belonged to my great grandparents—tools and dishes, or my grandmother’s scrap books, or a Christmas dress sewn by my mother for a 1955 dance, or Mother’s Day plates my kids made for me 40 years ago, or books I'll never read, or my grandfather's 11th ed. of the Encyclopedia Britannica (also the 12th and 13th), or glass dishes from my childhood, or my wedding dress (also my sister’s, made by our mother), or my parents' bedroom set, and so on. See? Just the important stuff.

Watson, who is from England, has family in West Africa, and when she visited she saw they had so much less than those of us in "developed" countries, but seemed happier. This is so much more than a book about clutter. It's about being free to live your life for Christ when you lay down your burdens.

http://www.supremeorganization.com/wordpress1/Assets_Library/Media_Kit/2011_Media_Kit.pdf

Snowbama

Common Core—are you smarter than 4th grade math?

Government bureaucrats, from your local board up to Arne Duncan (Dept. of Education) will demean your concerns, calling parents the educational equivalent of racist or homophobe if they try to organize and express their concern. Time to stand up for your children.

Progressives on Social Security

There are so many holes in this testimony about Social Security it is hard to know where to poke. GW Bush wanted to reform SS by creating private accounts, but the "progressives" screamed.  It would have meant we actually owned and controlled and passed along our investment--taking it out of government hands, an anathema to the left.

http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/testimony/testimony-on-the-importance-of-social-security-for-sustaining-living-standards-in-retirement

Stop with the anti-Christmas meme!

Not once have I ever been stopped from saying “Merry Christmas.” Now, I have complained in the past that the Upper Arlington Public Library “holiday book list” doesn’t contain a single mention of Christmas; but there are churches that call their bazaars Holiday Frolic, and their concerts Festive Fun for All.  Why should I expect more from the library?

Hey, there are real Christians really being murdered for their real faith in other parts of the real world.  Areas and nations where they used to worship in safety, or a few hundred years ago, represented a major religion.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/christians-face-organised-persecution-from-islamists-in-middle-east-says-prince-charles-9012254.html

http://www.raymondibrahim.com/from-the-arab-world/jihad-on-jesus-militants-firebomb-new-christ-statue-and-ancient-monastery-syria/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-james-clark/christianity-most-persecuted-religion_b_2402644.html

http://www.wnd.com/2012/09/persecution-of-christians-on-rise-in-u-s/

Distracted kids grow up to be distracted parents

"On October 1 (1990) the Wall Street Journal reported on the drop in literacy among school age children (Distractions of modern life)--even those whose mothers had spent hours reading to them as pre-schoolers. Children are too busy to read because of all their outside activities, no one converses with them, and they have developed two minute attention spans through TV and videos, concluded the article.

So that was 23 years ago, and those mothers who were too busy to read as children, now have smart phones, i-pods, i-tablets, e-books and they are posting on Face Book and Twitter and blogging, or tacking digital thingies on their Etsy page or Pinterest. They have children that hang out in groups with each child talking on the phone, but not to each other.

This doesn’t seem to be getting better.

Paula Priesse on the Messiah complex of Barbara Walters

“In one sentence Barbara Walters last night perfectly encapsulated the emotional immaturity of the liberal elite. When CNN’s Piers Morgan asked her why President Obama is “struggling,” a disappointed Walters responded: “We thought that he was going to be - I shouldn't say this at Christmastime, but - the next messiah.”

First of all, what’s up with this “we” business? She’s certainly not talking about all of us. If she means her media cohorts, at least Walters finally admits that they’ve been in the tank for Obama since day one.

Secondly, what possibly made Walters feel this way? Barack Obama was a one-term senator with not a single day of executive experience. Which makes one conclude that it was simply a matter of skin color. If so, Barbara’s cocktail buddies must be the most shallow and insipid individuals on the face of the earth.

Finally, and most importantly, anyone who thinks that any politician, left or right, will be America’s next “messiah” is mentally ill. The majority in this country, Ms. Walters, still believe that there is, and will forever be, only one true “Messiah.” “

Organizing for America’s silly ads

OFA has put out an ad with a dopey Millennial in his Onesie PJs drinking hot cocoa urging his age demographic to sit around and talk about health care.  So of course, people are ridiculing and revising it—to wait for the website to load.

This is sillier than the ads from the Colorado exchange which Democrats claim is not their fault nor tax supported because a non-profit designed them and they were meant to be “provocative.” Doh!

It’s almost as though someone on his own staff doesn’t like him

Eula Hall interview

Recently I received a notice of a new book about Eula Hall who has run a medical clinic in Kentucky since 1973, Mud Creek Medicine: The Life of Eula Hall and the Fight for Appalachia.  Upon checking, I found a 1988 interview for an oral history project, Appalachia Oral History Collection, Family and Gender in the Coal  Community Oral History Project.  I think you’ll enjoy it.

Interview with Eula Hall, June 14, 1988

"Whether it is the trailblazing, family feuds, coal miners' strife, moonshinin', or just folksy charm, the personal stories of individuals found in the hills of Appalachia often do rise to the heights of drama and intrigue, and reach to the depths of the American experience. Eula Hall's life is no exception. Eula's story is of a woman of remarkable strength, shaped by her community above all else. It is a story that should appeal to those with no connection to Appalachia, and to those who simply want to leave the world a better place than they found it. From a rugged mountain youth to hired girl to organizer, health care entrepreneur, and iconoclast, Eula's story echoes the story of America in the twentieth century, in all her rage and glory. She is the quintessential Appalachian-American poverty warrior combined with bucolic self-sufficiency, and she represents a dual ethos of community and individualism that is unique to the mountains.

"Eula, like so many quiet civic heroes, didn't do it for fame because, in her words, 'Fame ain't worth a damn'; didn't do it for accolades because 'We need action, not awards'; and sure as hell didn't do it for money because she's 'been rich without money since birth.' She fought on, and risked her life at times, as the sign outside the clinic reads: 'For the People.'" Pages: xvi – xvx Mud Creek Medicine

Butler Books, 2014.

More woes to come with Obamacare

The poorly named, “Affordable Care Act” is only going to get worse, reports an article in the Wall Street Journal on the 15th.

“More IT failures are likely. People looking for health plans on ObamaCare exchanges may be able to fill out their applications with more ease. But the far more complex back-office side of the website—where the information in their application is checked against government databases to determine the premium subsidies and prices they will be charged, and where the applications are forwarded to insurance companies—is still under construction. Be prepared for eligibility, coverage gap, billing, claims, insurer payment and patient information-protection debacles.”

“In the nearer term, a political iceberg looms next year [2014]. Insurance companies usually submit proposed pricing to regulators in the summer, and the open enrollment period begins in the fall for plans starting Jan. 1. Businesses of all sizes that currently provide health care will have to offer ObamaCare's expensive, mandated benefits, or drop their plans and—except the smallest firms—pay a fine. Tens of millions of Americans with employer-provided health plans risk paying more for less, and losing their policies and doctors to more restrictive networks. The administration is desperately trying to delay employer-plan problems beyond the 2014 election to avoid this shock.”

From a different WSJ article, Almost everyone loses

“. . . what ObamaCare means to the uninsured who were not uninsurable is higher prices for a product they already were disinclined to buy, along with a punitive tax on not buying it. That seems more like a mugging than a benefit.

How many of the uninsured lack insurance because of pre-existing conditions? It's hard to know, but it would appear the proportion is not high.”

“If ObamaCare's architects had approached the matter intelligently, they would have conducted research to identify the extent of that precise problem and carefully targeted their response. Government is quite capable of implementing even modest programs disastrously, but the hubris of demanding "comprehensive reform" gave us a law that had to be marketed via massive consumer fraud, and that harms almost everyone it affects.”

Oops. Obama supporters losing insurance

“Many in New York’s professional and cultural elite have long supported President Obama’s health care plan. But now, to their surprise, thousands of writers, opera singers, music teachers, photographers, doctors, lawyers and others are learning that their health insurance plans are being canceled and they may have to pay more to get comparable coverage, if they can find it.” New York Times  In the past (before Obama) they were able to purchase health insurance with group rates through their associations—now they are thrown on to the pricey individual market.

“. . . under the Affordable Care Act, they will be treated as individuals, responsible for their own insurance policies. For many of them, that is likely to mean they will no longer have access to a wide network of doctors and a range of plans tailored to their needs. And many of them are finding that if they want to keep their premiums from rising, they will have to accept higher deductible and co-pay costs or inferior coverage.“

But of course, it’s all the Obstructionist Republicans who are to blame, just like the untrained, unvetted navigators is just a plot to defeat this.

Washington Post has listed the president’s “If you like your health care plan.. .” as one of the big whoppers of 2013. 

Abby Johnson is fruitful and a blessing to the oppressed, a savior for the unborn

At one time she helped women obtain abortions—she worked for Planned Parenthood.  She also had abortions and knows exactly the physical and psychological pain—and realizes how ignorant she was at that time.  Now a Christian, Abby Johnson works to prevent abortion, and has a special heart for abortion workers, encouraging them to leave their jobs and helping them find new careers.  An amazing lady. Today she announces a new blessing.

Genesis 1:28 says, "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.'"
Psalm 127:3 says, "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him."

Doug and I feel incredibly blessed to announce that we are pregnant with Johnson baby #4!! We covet your prayers during this exciting time in our lives. Yes, we will "have our hands full," and we can't imagine it any other way.

“Conversion is always at the heart of the prolife movement.
Pray for conversion of abortion clinic workers, those who support abortion, women in crisis pregnancies who may consider abortion, abortion supporting clergy and religious, abortion supporting politicians, apathetic Christians and those in our own movement who seek to divide and destroy our common goal.”  Abby

So, some who read this page are being prayed for by Abby. . . and me.

Happy birthday Boston Tea Party, December 16

The Boston Tea Party was a nonviolent political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773. The Tea Party became an iconic event of American history, and other political protests often refer to it--got to love the language, "odious miscreants and detestable tools" "murder and destroy," "vile ingrates," committee for "Tarring and Feathering." Very detailed history of the event at this site.

http://williamdbailey.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/the-boston-tea-party/

Megyn Kelly and her critics—Santa Claus

I'm not sure what the dust up is about Megyn Kelly reporting that Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) was white. That one I know since today's 19th century caricature is based on a real Scandinavian. The cartoon version can be any ethnicity the parent wants. As for Jesus, who knows? And he's the reason for the season. Yesterday I read a very compelling story about a Syrian man who had fled to Turkey with his family and instead of his successful construction business, he was working in a sweat shop, and happy to get it. He had green eyes and very light skin. As do many Kurds and Berbers.

It's a puffed up argument in my opinion meant to detract and make us all look silly. Kelly's very successful and beautiful, and that makes all the other network talkers mad. No one knew who Aisha Harris was, but they do now after the race baiting, knee jerking men got done ridiculing Kelly. Really, it's embarrassing to even show this, and the level that networks go to (down): http://nation.foxnews.com/2013/12/16/megyn-kelly-addresses-white-santa-comments

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/

Catholics shoot themselves in the foot over politics

The only organization/agency large enough and powerful enough to face the power of the federal government is the Catholic Church, which Obama continues to denigrate and insult with his actions and policies, the latest being closing the Vatican embassy, but including the dreadful HHS mandate, using lackey Catholics in his administration and announcing embryo experimentation at a Catholic institution. Why Catholics continue to put their politics above their church baffles me.

http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/president-obamas-faithful-helpers?

“In an interview with the National Catholic Reporter, [Raymond] Flynn said “it’s not just those who bomb churches and kill Catholics in the Middle East who are our antagonists but it’s also those who restrict our religious freedoms and want to close down our embassy to the Holy See. There’s no diplomatic or political benefit to the United States.”

“This latest insult to Catholics by President Obama is just the most recent attempt to weaken the influence of the Church on family and life issues. It is a strategy that has been effective for the President since the earliest days of his presidential campaign when he enlisted the help of progressive Catholic groups like the George Soros-supported Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and its sister-organization, Catholics United, to successfully convince Catholic voters to focus on social justice issues like poverty as the way to reduce abortion rates without restricting abortion rights. Refusing to hold politicians like President Obama and Kathleen Sebelius accountable for their votes in favor of partial birth abortion and taxpayer funded abortion here and abroad, the Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United encouraged Catholics to elect candidates who would address what they called the “root causes” of abortion.”

An atheist’s view on life

as opposed to a Christian’s view on life.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen. 
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen. [Lutheran Book of Worship, Book of Common Prayer]

I love this creed.   In our worship, we don't use it as often as the Apostle's Creed, but it is the most common and frequently used in Christendom. ". . . and was made man" has probably been changed to "became truly human," but the LBW is from 1977.  And so far, we still have Father and Son.

"We look for the resurrection of the dead."  That's our hope.  And it's everyone, even unbelievers and those who hate God. John 5:28-29

 ²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.

Obama’s database will live longer than his presidency

“The President has put in place an organization with the kind of database that no one has ever seen before in life,” Representative Maxine Waters told Roland Martin, “That’s going to be very, very powerful,” Waters said. “That database will have information about everything on every individual on ways that it’s never been done before and whoever runs for President on the Democratic ticket has to deal with that. They’re going to go down with that database." Waters (D-CA) was ...explaining the 2014 and 2016 elections on Washington Watch, Feb. 2013, and apparently knew about the NSA spying, and the IRS mugging. Sometimes a blabber mouth is useful. Martin was suggesting that people had to get what they wanted now (that Obama was in his second term and OFA was a 501c4) but she stopped him and said there were much bigger plans afoot and that Organizing For America had a database. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=49a_1360284775

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/15/organizing-for-action-obamas-group-has-yet-to-apply-to-irs

Trans-Pacific Partnership

“There are many important lessons from ObamaCare that we should apply to another huge project that could have a similarly devastating impact on our nation. In November 2009, President Obama announced his intention to have the United States participate in a so-called trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I say so-called trade agreement because 80 percent of the proposed agreement deals with a great many issues besides trade.”

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/17175-trans-pacific-partnership-tpp-bigger-and-more-dangerous-than-obamacare

Friday family photo—dinner with the Tulamos

This is a “selfie” with 6 people at dinner on Friday.  The Tulamos of Helsinki, Finland, became our friends 35 years ago when she was getting her master’s degree in veterinary science and he worked with my husband at Feinknopf, Macioce and Schappa. She is nearing retirement as an equine surgeon and he has passed his architectural practice on to his son.  We had a great time reminiscing about old times  1979-1981.  I told my husband his sweater looks like it’s from the old Bill Cosby show wardrobe closet, and he thinks it might be that old. They recently bought an off season home in Spain (much cheaper cost of living and lower taxes than Finland) and we’re hoping to visit in a few years.

Oops.

I didn’t double check to see if this was really on Healthcare.gov.

From zygote to you

Human development is a continuous process that begins when an ovum from a female is fertilized by a sperm from a male. Growth and differentiation transform the zygote, a single cell formed by the union of the ovum and the sperm, into a multicellular adult human being. Most developmental changes occur during the embryonic and the fetal periods, but important changes also occur during the other periods of development: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood... Although it is customary to divide development into prenatal and postnatal periods, it is important to realize that birth is merely a dramatic event during development resulting in a distinct change in environment. Development does not stop at birth: important developmental changes, in addition to growth, occur after birth... Most developmental changes are completed by the age of 25. (Moore, Keith, The Developing Human, Clinically Oriented Embryology, 1982, p. 1)

What the President didn’t know. . . Mark Davidson

I didn't know Jeremiah Wright gave inflammatory and anti-American sermons…
I didn't know Bill Ayers…
I didn't know Tony Resko…
I didn't know Benghazi was a terrorist attack…
I didn't know my Justice Department was intimidating and investigating journalists… ...
I didn't know what the IRS was doing…
I didn't know what the NSA was doing…
I didn't know the web site wouldn't work…
I didn't know you would lose your insurance…
I didn't know we had a spending problem…
I didn't know the uncle I lived with…

I don't know why ANYONE would believe this President.

Kanye West—outdoes himself

Not your insurance, not your doctor, not your drugs

Look what his substandard non-compliant insurance covered: "In August 2013 I became very sick with a strep bacteria poisoning my blood stream. The bacteria blinded my left eye, ate a hole through my heart, caused five strokes on both sides of my brain and forced the removal of my prosthetic left knee." A 12 hour surgery saved his life--he only had a few days to live without it. Now he's been notified that the insurance company will no longer serve his state, so he's losing his insurance. He's hoping he can keep the excellent medical team that saved his life, if and when he finds insurance. http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/12/please-pray-for-me-i-am-losing-my-insurance/#!

It’s now coming out that many drugs won’t be covered, or the co-pays will be 40%. An MS drug on the bronze plan will cost about $2,000/month—and that’s actually covered! Out of pocket costs for drugs will not be part of the cap. http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottgottlieb/2013/12/09/no-you-cant-keep-your-drugs-either-under-obamacare/

That’s a pretty big trade off for free birth control and pediatric dental coverage.

We’d better watch out. . .

How HHS spreads racism myths

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are more severely affected by HIV than any other group in the United States. The government infantilizes black men by absolving them of their responsibility 30 years after AIDS was recognized as a problem and how it was spread.   “Social factors such as poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to health care put communities of color at increased risk. Nearly half of all new HIV infections occur in African-Americans, for example, even though they comprise only about 12% of the U.S. population.” OPA fact sheet

Raise your hand if you believe men having sex with men rather than social factors spread HIV/AIDS.  The government’s own research contradicts this statement.

“Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are at alarming risk for HIV acquisition, demonstrating the highest rates of incident infection of any age-risk group.” Cite.

“Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are more severely affected by HIV than any other group in the United States.” Cite

“By race/ethnicity, black/African American transgender women [formerly men]  have the highest percentage of new HIV-positive test results. . . A review of studies of HIV infection in countries with data available for transgender people estimated that HIV prevalence for transgender women was nearly 50 times as high as for other adults of reproductive age.” Cite

“. . . there is one population in which the epidemic continues to grow in countries of all incomes: men who have sex with men (MSM) Cite

"The recent rise of HIV/AIDS ... is huge and it's not talked about because 'Gay Inc.' says nothing about it," he says Cite

The people he loves to hate

The top 40% of U.S. households paid 106.2% of income taxes; bottom 40% paid -9.1%, and received an average of $18,950 in 'transfers.  But it’s never enough, is it? CBO reports on the 2010 year. See p. 13

And it will get worse for high earners. New taxes for high-income taxpayers, enacted with the Affordable Care Act, took effect in 2013.

I noticed on the chart that the low income pay more of the excise taxes (percentage of income, I assume) than the wealthiest.

How to save $42 billion without cutting poverty programs

Eliminate duplicative and unnecessary Government programs. None of these are poverty programs (close to $1 trillion).  Many of these hide in place as “capitalism” or private sector help being boosted by the government. If these are private sector, let them support them. It’s inefficient for the government to do it. Planned Parenthood certainly doesn’t need taxpayers support—there are enough crazies out there willing to send them their tax deductible donation as a Christmas gift.

International affairs

• The Overseas Private Investment Corporation
• The Export-Import Bank

Energy—Dept. of

• Commercial Deployment and Technology Development
• The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Energy Frontier Research Centers
• Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer

USDA

• The Market Access Program
• The Foreign Agricultural Service

Transportation

• Return power to the states
• Amtrak
• The New Starts Transit Program
• Intercity Rail Subsidies

Economic and Regional Development –yes, some developers, electricians and contractors would squeal

• Community Development Block Grants
• Economic Development Administration

Education

• Competitive Grants Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
• Head Start (note: this would be political suicide, even though after 40 years it has never shown results)

Cultural Agencies

Labor

• Job Corps
• Corporation for National and Community Service

Health (or death as it turns out)

• Title X Family Planning Grants (a lot of this goes to Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the country)

Administration of Justice (these mostly go to state and local governments which then are weakened if the support is withdrawn—huge number of employees)

• Community-Oriented Policing Services (the federal gov’t is not supposed to be policing our local communities)
• The Legal Services Corporation

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/08/federal-spending-by-the-numbers-2013

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/08/federal-spending-by-the-numbers-2013

A selfie at a funeral?

This man is such an embarrassment to our country. We have a first class narcissist as our president. Michelle doesn’t look too happy—probably was taught some manners.

Government workers who are paid less than minimum wage

The 2014 budget requested $1.061 billion for the Corporation for National and Community Service, an increase of $12.2 million over the 2012 funding level. This is our tax money used for "unpaid volunteers." That means they work below minimum wage, but all the government workers in the agency above them get paid nice salaries with benefits. In true government double speak it is supposed to expand ...opportunity and embrace competition. ???? This is not to say people haven't had wonderful experiences in AmeriCorp or benefitted from being farmed out to a church organization that helps immigrants, but somewhere we need to let these organizations stand on their own and actually hire people to take their place in the work force.

I was in Brethren Volunteer Service as were my sisters in the 1950s. It can be done without your tax dollars. This is me showing off a pair of shoes after we went shopping in downtown Fresno. The washing machine (wringer) was in the shed. It was a great experience—many churches now offer volunteer opportunities at no cost to the taxpayer, except from her own pocket.

The Job Corps is a “Great Society” program, which offers job-training services to disadvantaged youths age 16–24 in 125 sites across the nation. The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General estimates each Job Corps participant who is successfully placed into any job costs taxpayers $76,574 (I don't know what the unsuccessful cost us). They are less likely to finish high school than those disadvantaged who don't participate, and when employed, make 22 cents more per hour than a control group. I'll bet McDonald's or Wendy's could have trained them and at least taken them to assistant manager, beginning at minimum wage.

I'm fine with internships and volunteerism; I'm fine with the minimum wage for entry level jobs for people who need to learn job skills, team work, and dealing with the public. It's the Democrats who scream about minimum wage not being high enough, and then pay their political lackeys at the Obama campaign (OFA) or fancy non-profits nothing. They have options: full time for nothing, or half time for nothing. I wonder if they get Obamacare?

Three years ago the Labor Department said it was going to do something about this—but in the for-profit sector only. Non-profits like the President's campaign arm is free to abuse employees, I mean interns and unpaid volunteers, any way they choose.

Imus in the Morning

I don't think I've ever watched Imus in the Morning, but I am today. The non-stop Obama coverage (Mandela) is too much. Mandela could have left prison any time in those 27 years if he had renounced terrorism. He was a Communist who soon learned that in order to lead he had to put that aside to lead his country to prosperity. In fact, if you look at the Communist leaders in today's world, only North Korea and Cuba have not cozied up to capitalist investment, so they are totally failing and are violators of human rights. The 20th century Communist/socialist governments killed more of their own citizens (about 100 million) than all the old time cruel monarchs, Kaisers, petty princes, caliphs and czars of the previous centuries. And yet we still have Americans who think MORE government is the answer.

Obama offering below minimum wage—no wage at all

Organizing for Action (Obama's campaign arm which was fast tracked for its non-profit status while Tea Party groups waited years) is advertising for 14 unpaid interns. How's that for below minimum wage, way below? Full time below, and part time below.

"OFA is now accepting applications for full-time and part-time HQ Interns for the Spring 2014 and Summer 2014 HQ Internship Programs in Chicago, IL.... HQ Interns will have the unique opportunity to work closely with staff in advancing the President's agenda. Departmental placements available include Grassroots Organizing, Training, Issue Campaigns, Digital, Press and Finance. Please include your departmental placement preferences in your cover letter. Accepted HQ Interns will be paired with departments based on their stated interest, qualifications and availability. This is a 14-week, unpaid internship program." (from the OFA website)

Farmers line up to pay tribute to one of their own who died of cancer

http://modernfarmer.com/2013/10/breathtaking-tribute-fallen-farmer/

What is the collective noun for crooks and liars?

• squad
• bevy
• clutch
• murder
• team
• association
• stalk
• staff
• band
• crew
• ?? suggestion??

A Californian visits the United States