Who will you believe?

Losing private coverage, cost increases, rationed care, doctors fleeing the field--it’s all there in Obamacare. Why would we want this? What were we promised during the 2008 campaign and since January 20? It hardly matters, does it? Go back and look it up, but it was all Lies. It was all lies. Our representatives have failed us by not reading their bill and then demeaning the outrage of the voters who did read it; our senators might as well be employees of the lobbyists and special interests. We were told the “system” was broken even though over 80% were satisfied with their employer or private based health insurance. In Europe about that many are dissatisfied or think their government plan is broken!

What to think when government agencies have different agendas? The White House Council of Economic Advisors says something completely different than the CBO and the CMMS. The new "fat cat" Obama attacks on the banks is just to take your eye off health care ball/bill, which is probably a ruse to take your eye off the economy busting cap and trade plan, which is probably a deception to confuse you about the complete take over through various regulations, laws and loss of freedoms of everything we thought we had in this country.

Robert Creamer, the Illinois convicted felon who wrote this plan, must be rubbing his hands with glee, a witch over a caldron, "Well my pretties, Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air." Indeed.

Today’s new word--impacted

“The Internet has impacted news and journalism more than almost any other category of information.” Library of Congress Preservation Newsletter, Oct. 2009

Not a new word--just grates on my ear/eye when I hear it/see it, and I always wonder if it’s correct. Not trusting the Library of Congress to be jargon free, I looked it up at Daily Writing Tips.

Using the word “impact” as a verb meaning to strike forcefully against something was first heard in 1916, according to Daily Writing Tips. And verbs have participles, thus the above sentence with “has impacted.”

Before that (and still in use) “impact” meant pack in or up, to press together--like an impacted tooth or impacted bowel. Impact as a noun was noted almost 200 years ago in 1817, “the effect of coming into contact with a thing or a person” or collision, forcible contact. And nouns become verbs all the time. Like Google and google. Or mother and mother. House and house. Impact is a word the EPA loves to use.

And the writer of that tip doesn’t like it either, but didn't say it was incorrect--just disconcerting.

Learning new words was one of my unmet New Year’s Resolutions for 2009. When I go back and reread them, I see I didn’t learn them, just wrote about them.

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo

Last night we got in line, after line, after line along with thousands of others from central Ohio to see the Wildlights (Nov. 20-Jan.2). The temperatures had moderated a bit, and I think everyone within 100 miles had decided this was a good time. I can't tell you how many children and elders we saw in rolling vehicles bundled in coats and blankets. It was really fun to see people of all ages, but particularly multi-generational families, out having a good time. We took our house guests, Zeke and Frandy, citizens of Haiti and students at the University of Akron. But it was our first time to see the lights too, and I doubt that we'd been to the zoo in 20 years. All the animals that weren't asleep were visited, because people wanted to get inside warm buildings! We didn't leave home until about 6:30, and if you're planning to take in this show, I recommend you start out much earlier than we did. We were probably at our exit off Rt. 33 at least 30 minutes, and I think the people exiting the outbelt waited even longer. While we were waiting the boys sang "O Holy Night" for us in French. (They know four languages.) Fortunately, in our last line, the ticket line, someone had extra coupons for one person free with one adult purchase, so between the four of us that saved us $14.

At church today, our guests were able see our Haiti missionaries, Dave and Pam Mann, home for the holidays, and visit four of our nine services to meet the people who support Institution Univers. Our son joined us for dinner, and tonight our UALC couples' group and some neighbors will get together at our home.

No, you take her!

From Tim Reynolds AP report on how Tiger is hurting the other pro golfers and the fans.

"Take Dodie Mills, a 61-year-old pediatric nurse from Port Charlotte, Fla. She was at the Shootout to see Kenny Perry, among others, but says her real lure to watching and playing golf has been Woods.

Him, she wants to forgive.

The women whom Woods has reportedly been linked to, Mills has much harsher words for them.

"I think all the fame, all the money he has, all the women took advantage of it," Mills said. "He and his wife love each other. I know they do, and Tiger will do what's right. ... I can understand how a man in that position can be very easily swayed by women. I was 23 once. He's in his prime. All these women wanted a piece of him."

Mills was hardly alone in that assessment.

Noted sports attorney David Cornwell also pointed out that the women — more than 10 by some counts — who have been romantically linked to Woods in the last two weeks should bear as much of the blame as the golfer himself."

What vow did these women break? Who was bringing possible disease and mayhem home to the marriage bed? Poor, little helpless, self-centered, rich beyond his wildest dreams, Tiger. Victimized by all these low life Bimbos, run of the mill waitresses and "non-professionals" as a former madam called them. While his wife was pregnant. Yeah, lots of sympathy I'd give the adulterer. Most of these dreary look-alikes thought she only was "special," that she was the one to light the fire the wife at home couldn't. Where's the sympathy for confused, morally corrupt women? Give me a break. That's about the most idiotic piece of writing I've seen on this topic!

Getting a jump on New Year's Resolutions

Eat less, move more, don't smoke. Works for everyone. It was settled long ago--even our mothers and grandmothers knew this. But it's still good for a research grant.

"Combined impact of lifestyle factors on mortality: prospective cohort study in US women." Rob M van Dam and others. (Harvard School of Public Health) BMJ 2008;337:a1440 Free access to entire article.

If it's too cold to walk outside, walk in the halls and stairwells or the mall. And don't you believe that old myth that it's too expensive to eat healthy. It costs far less to take some fresh fruit to work, or warm up a few veggies in the microwave than to eat a loaded ciabatta bread with chips.

Now, if I could just take my own advice. . .

Creating jobs and wealth

Congressman John Campbell (R-CA) at Townhall wrote about how Obamanomics (saving and/or creating non-existent jobs) could work in real life using the Obamath. He gave an example of “saving” calories he could have eaten but didn't, and how he could gain weight. He asked his constituents for examples and thought this one the best.

Dear John:

Using Obamamath, I've just saved, nay, created a great deal of money. How? I had wanted to buy a new Lamborghini Gallardo roadster so that I could drive to the White House to personally thank our beloved President for all that he is doing to save us from financial ruin. The trip, via New Orleans in order to view the results of former President Bush's failure to forestall Hurricane Katrina, would have been an approximately 6,000-mile roundtrip.

I didn't buy the Lamborghini, as it wasn't manufactured by Government Motors. I not only saved (created) some $243,000 (including tax) by not making this purchase, but I saved (created) an additional $1,500 by not purchasing fuel for the trip.

Since both the Gallardo and its fuel would have been imported, I'm sure that the Governmental Accountability Office would classify these as "green" savings.
Thus by not buying a Lamborghini Gallardo, and not driving it to visit our President, I will have created a total of $244,500 in Green Savings. Not bad for an amateur!

But think for a moment: If each of the approximately 4 million families who live in Barack Obama's Illinois and Joe Biden's Delaware were to NOT buy a new Lamborghini, and NOT drive to the White House (via New Orleans), we would create an additional $1 trillion in new Green Wealth. Now that's Obamawealth with a vengeance!

But it's only a suggestion

Washington Post, again late to the party, says: "Arrests suggest U.S. Muslims, like those in Europe, can be radicalized abroad." Link. Actually, they can be radicalized at home too, as the Ft. Hood terrorist has proven, and other examples from the WaPo article. A-3 of yesterday's WSJ had a full page (2 stories) on young American Muslims radicalized right here in the good old US of A. Products of American schools and parents. David Headley (changed his Pakistani Muslim name) who is fair skinned due to an American mother is charged with helping the 2008 deadly Mumbai attacks. Then five American Muslims have been arrested by Pakistani anti-terrorism authorities. They had been reported missing by their DC area families. I wonder if they'll be treated as well as the Gitmo detainees by the Pakistanis?

Over a week ago (Dec. 4), the story in the WSJ about the al-Qaeda bombing of a graduation ceremony in Somalia brought ears to my eyes--and a lot of anger. Even the liberal WSJ seemed at a loss for appropriate "explaining away" the horrible images of a graduation blown up by fellow Muslims--why? For accepting aid and assistance from the U.S. so Somalia can drag itself out of the middle ages. Did Obama even mention it? No, he can personally and ignorantly condemn the Boston police on a moment's notice, but for 19 dead Muslims blown to pieces, a message from the State Department will have to do. It's not like there wasn't warning--an April WaPo story said the administration was "mulling" over the evidence. In that story it was reported 20 Somali-Americans were training in Somalia. Mulling. Is that another word for dithering--as in Afghanistan troop requests? He's the one with all the warm fuzzies, who thinks the power of himself will quell all this violence and evil. Oh wait. No, that was before his Afghanistan speech. Our just-fell-off-the-turnip-truck President must be a delight for the Muslim terrorists. Or maybe the Somali Muslims didn't get that message that he now knows there is good AND evil. Maybe they know he has no intention of stopping them. The account of Abdinasir Mohamed's of doctors, engineers, professors and government officials being left in a pile of mangled bodies is something all jihad-deniers need to read.

No creator, designer or planner

"MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs found in viruses, plants and animals. They regulate gene expression by binding to complementary sequences within target miRNAs. The mammalian genome encodes hundreds of miRNAs that collectively affect the expression of about one-third of all genes."

And to think this all just happened. No creator, no designer, no planner. We couldn’t exist without "the awesome power of miRNAs" as Nature magazine calls it. Awesome. Power. Seems I've heard that theme before.

Psalm 66: 1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

Prosperity in the Heartland

A recent study at the University of Illinois found that much of rural America is actually prosperous. What accounts for their flourishing? Family ties and civic-minded churches, says the blogger at First Things, at Green Acres is the Place to be. I receive regular newsletters from the U. of I. on research, but must have missed this one of a few days ago.

"Why Some Rural Places Prosper and Others Do Not" was coauthored by Andrew Isserman, Edward Feser, and Drake Warren and published in the International Regional Science Review in July 2009.

Counties in America's Heartland came out on top with half its rural counties prospering. USDA defines the Heartland as Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa and parts of six adjacent states.

In the Southeast and Southwest, fewer than one in twenty rural counties prosper.

Prosperous rural counties have more off-farm jobs, more educated populations, and less income inequality than other rural counties. Geographical factors like climate, topography, distances to cities and airports, and interstate highways are unimportant in distinguishing prosperous counties from others.

"Instead, the results supported what many rural people believe to be true—civically engaged religious groups and a common ancestry can really matter," Isserman said.

Interstate highways and airports not so much. Hmmm. Go tell that to the pork fed Congress that never misses an opportunity for naming. From reading the press release it doesn't look like the scholars will pursue faith and shared values as a reason for prosperity--plan to dig deeper on the lack of prosperity in those counties with high minority populations.

When better isn't good enough

"After much soul-searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person." Tiger Woods

Imagine that. He needs soul-searching to reach deep within his vacuous, moldy value system to see if bedding Bratz look-alike Bimbos was the best work out routine for his wife, family and career. If we can believe these devoted groupies, some of whom are probably confessing just to get their photo on the web, "everyone" knew--they were seen publically, photos were taken, arrangements were made for the hook-ups. Since he made no attempt to hide it, even other golf celebs knew and didn't say anything, just what did Tiger think was going to happen? (Probably not that his wife would clobber him with a golf club.) Where was the press which was so concerned about Lindsey Lohan, Britney Spears, Michael Vick, Dave Letterman (for 2 or 3 days) and other morally shriveled celebs? Apparently firmly attached to the Tiger gravy train. It was worth more to keep quiet than to sell that story to his adoring, blind public.

When these ladies of the night (and day and morning) start comparing dollar figures, there is going to be some flaming wrath and law suits like you wouldn't believe, but by then the press will have moved on to protect their next income source.

Humility isn't his strength

Or maybe it's just his generation. "By our count there were 38 I's (including two I'ms, but excluding two I's in a quote from Martin Luther King) in President Obama's speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize." James Taranto, Dec. 10

I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. . . . I cannot argue with those who find these men and women--some known, some obscure to all but those they help--to be far more deserving of this honor than I. . . . I am the Commander-in-Chief. . . . I come here with an acute sense of the costs of armed conflict. . . . I do not bring with me today a definitive solution to the problems of war. . . . I make this statement mindful of what Martin Luther King Jr. said. . . . I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence. . . . I face the world as it is. . . . I--like any head of state--reserve the right to act unilaterally. . . . I prohibited torture. . . . I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed. . . . I have reaffirmed America's commitment to abide by the Geneva Conventions.

Norwegians don't like the snub

Apparently 44% of Norwegians think our president was rude to forgo the festivities. Yes, we know how they feel don't we? Except a much higher percentage of Americans think he did nothing to get this prize and he probably should have stayed home, or turned it down.

Newly minted Nobel Laureate Barack Obama has stirred up some bad feelings in Oslo, Norway, by opting out of a round of events traditionally attended by the prizewinner — not the least of which is lunch with the King of Norway.

According to a report by the U.K.’s Guardian, Obama has scratched off a dinner with the Norwegian Nobel committee, a press conference, a television interview, appearances at a children's event promoting peace, a music concert — as well as a visit to the exhibition that honors him at the Nobel peace center. Newsmax story

Editor and Publisher, 125 years old, to cease publication

"NEW YORK Editor & Publisher, the bible of the newspaper industry and a journalism institution that traces its origins back to 1884, is ceasing publication.

An announcement, made by parent company The Nielsen Co., was made Thursday morning as staffers were informed that E&P, in both print and online, was shutting down.

The expressions of surprise and outpouring of strong support for E&P that have followed across the Web -- Editor & Publisher has even hit No. 4 as a Twitter trending topic -- raise the notion that the publication might yet continue in some form.

Nielsen Business Media, of which E&P was a part, has forged a deal with e5 Global Media Holdings, LLC, a new company formed jointly by Pluribus Capital Management and Guggenheim Partners, for the sale of eight brands in the Media and Entertainment Group, including E&P sister magazines Adweek, Brandweek, Mediaweek, Backstage, Billboard, Film Journal International and The Hollywood Reporter. E&P was not included in this transaction." Link.

The Massachusetts Primary--Guest Blog

Yesterday the primary took place in Massachusetts to replace Senator Ted Kennedy. Link. AG Martha Coakley won the Democratic nomination with 304,056 votes or 47% of the Democratic vote and 37.5% of the total vote. Scott Brown won the Republican nomination with 141,810 votes or 89% of the Republican vote and 17.5% of the total vote. You can cross parties in the primary so it is difficult to say whether a Republican voted Republican or did they cross over and vote Democratic. But a big factor is that only 11% of all registered voters in Massachusetts are registered Republicans. The last time there was a Republican Senator was Edward Brooke who lost his seat in 1979.

But how come Massachusetts gets a Republican governor every second or third election? Because they need one to clean up the financial mess the Democrats create. Well, the Democratic train wreck is here now and the nation, along with Massachusetts needs to put a Republican in this seat. Is it impossible? It is next to impossible, but the time has never been better. Republicans don't vote much in Massachusetts elections as they think it is no use. Well, with these very small turn outs the Republicans have a better chance than normal. I have addressed this communication to those of you who live in Massachusetts. You must vote! Also, please send this to all the people you know in Massachusetts and work to get a better turn out. I believe the election date to fill this seat is January 18th or close to this date.

Democratic candidates for governor in NJ and Virginia were voted down. That made big news and sent an unsettling message to the 111th congress. A Republican Senator from Massachusetts would be like setting of the A bomb in Congress.

Again, please vote and pass the word onto your fellow Massachusetts residents and friends. It is not impossible. And just as important, Scott Brown is a well qualified state Senator who has great values and represents a true difference to the liberal politicians trying to destroy or republic, our culture, and our future.

Bill L.

(Bill and I attended the same high school in Illinois, although I'm not sure we ever spoke. He was in my sister's class; an upperclassman and an athlete and I . . . wasn't. His permanent residence is Florida for the taxes and the weather, but he has had a home on Cape Cod since 1976. His roots and both children (small business people) and grandchildren are there. He lived in Massachusetts for a decade in the 1970's and for three short years in the late 1990's when he worked out of Sweden as a senior executive for a global manufacturing corporation headquartered in Goteborg, Sweden. Bill maintains an extensive e-mail list for discussion and information and that's how I came across this information.)

If you don't vote in Massachusetts, consider sending a contribution to Mr. Brown's campaign. Something or someone has to stop the Obama machine. Norma

A beautiful Christmas card

This may be the all time favorite e-Christmas card going around. It's from 2004, but never gets old. One of the lists from my high school (Bill L.) sent it this year. It comes from Ashland University here in Ohio, and I think may be one of the best PR tools a school could have. Great links, easy to read web-page.
http://ecard.ashland.edu/index.php?ecardYear=2004adm

More on this topic at my faith blog, Church of the Acronym.

Can Google make you stupid?

No, but it can help get you there if you're not careful.

"Larry Sanger has made his living on the Internet. He co-founded Wikipedia, one of the world’s top 10 Web sites with more than 65 million visitors monthly, and he now leads two other ambitious online projects. So why does he fear what the Internet is doing to our minds and those of our children?" Inquiring minds want to know.

Google won't make you any more stupid than reading only Reader's Digest instead of the original, Bible commentaries instead of the Bible, or consulting a watch instead of figuring out the position of the sun and moon. It's a tool, and I love it. I actually know (or used to) some of the arcane rules for searching complex databases, but I "google" it instead. The difference is, I know not to trust everything I read and check several sources, look for not just two sides of a question, but four or five. I've even poked through that long list of e-mails from the Climategate whistleblower and read a number of scientists who don't agree there is a consensus on the cause of global warming.

Right now I'm reading "A faith and culture devotional" by Kelly Monroe Kullberg and Lael Arrington (Zondervan 2008). I just love it that Kelly and Lael sifted through the world of Christian intellectuals and selected the authors and the topics in art, literature, history, science, etc. and that they provide further reading suggestions and web sites if a particular topic interests me. From there I can google til my heart's content.

My Monday book group, and we all read and we know how and when to Google.

Obama pays Hillary's bills with our money

Stimulus money--about $6 million--pays off Marc Penn, Hillary's pollster. I guess that answers the question about where are the jobs.

And here's his version:

"A public relations firm headed by Hillary Clinton's former campaign strategist shot back Wednesday at a report saying it received nearly $6 million in federal stimulus funds, blasting the claim as "fundamentally inaccurate."

The Hill newspaper reported that two companies run by Mark Penn -- Clinton's pollster during her 2008 presidential run -- received $5.97 million from the $787 billion stimulus package so he could preserve three jobs at his public relations firm, Burson-Marsteller.

The firm had secured a contract to work on a campaign advertising the nation's switch from analog to digital television, and the Hill reported that $2.8 million of that contract was given to Penn's polling firm, Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates.

But Burson-Marsteller on Wednesday disputed the newspaper's report, calling it "fundamentally inaccurate" in a statement. The firm said it was awarded a "competitive bid contract" in 2009 to support the Federal Communications Commission's initiative to "educate and advertise the congressionally mandated switch to digital television."

The firm said the contract, which included other vendors, was completed "under budget" and cost $4.36 million -- not $6 million." Fox News

Competitive bid, eh?

I don't care if it is 100% organic cotton

This is drop dead ugly, and women should be insulted to be told it's fashionable. Bad hair, too.

Blizzard closes Wisconsin

What? We're used to the University closing in Columbus when the high wind and snow gets blowing building a few drifts over the parking lots, but Madison? What happened to the global warming? This sure isn't climate change, because when I was a kid it always piled up in Wisconsin and then sort of slopped over into Illinois.

"In response to the blizzard that has impacted the state, [Wisconsin] Governor Jim Doyle has ordered the closure of all state government and University of Wisconsin campuses for public business. The Governor's order directs that state employees are not to report to work, unless their job duties include the provision or support of an emergency response, public health or public safety function, and their absence would compromise delivery of essential public health, public safety or emergency response functions that are required to continue despite weather conditions."

I tried a couple of sites today and they either weren't working or closed due to the weather.

Digging out (Madison) at Wunderphoto

Soapbox Jill at Real Debate Wisconsin

Robinson's column on race

Now, if a conservative white radio commentator had been this racial, all hell would break loose, but I think we get Mr. Robinson's drift.