Today in History--Patsy Cline died--one of my favorites

March 5, 1963, Patsy Cline died in a plane crash.

The Disposable Woman - NYTimes

Charlie Sheen's TV show and behavior for the public in "real time" aren't the only things going on in our culture that say women are disposable. How about gay marriage, surrogate pregnancies, gay adoption of children, the disappearance of women from substantial roles in film after about age 40 when they are no longer sex kittens and too young to play grandma roles, and can we please get some women in the lighting design field? I'm so sick of buried can lights, lights that shimmer and quiver because they are "environmentally sustainable" and ugly lamps. Also, to look at the lack of women in the leadership of many businesses that need to grow from inspired entrepreneurship, I suspect the government is pushing them all into "public service." Unfortunately, there are female, morally bankrupt, addle-brained, implanted and botoxed counterparts of Charlie Sheen, but because they are more disposable, they don't last as long.

The Disposable Woman - NYTimes.com

To say nothing of the women so stupid they actually spend time with this abuser--or watch his show.

"Our inertia is not for lack of evidence. In 1990, he accidentally shot his fiancée at the time, the actress Kelly Preston, in the arm. (The engagement ended soon after.) In 1994 he was sued by a college student who alleged that he struck her in the head after she declined to have sex with him. (The case was settled out of court.) Two years later, a sex film actress, Brittany Ashland, said she had been thrown to the floor of Mr. Sheen’s Los Angeles house during a fight. (He pleaded no contest and paid a fine.)"

R&B and Rap entertainers running for cover of charities

Of course, we'll never know if the money really goes to charity--because who tracks that? Entertainers and politicians have a very low charitable donation rate, preferring that the government take care of those things on their behalf with other people's money. Even CNN caught on to the hypocrisy. Why would their agents even book them for these venues--never mind, I know, because they get a percentage of the huge fee. Do you suppose they'll cough up their percentage?



#more-6225

Poet from the past on my aunt's refrigerator, Arthur Frederic Otis

My cousin Dianne copied some of the clippings from her mother's refrigerator for us to enjoy. Her funeral was two weeks ago yesterday. Pastor Ginny of the Church of the Brethren had used some of her clippings in her eulogy. My husband said, probably thinking of our own top drawer, that he really enjoyed "The top kitchen drawer" by Arthur Frederic Otis. Just because (I'm a librarian), I checked this author in Google. I didn't find a lot, but more than what most people have. He was born in 1895 and died in 1984--a very long life for someone of his generation--almost 90. As near as I can tell his publishing life began rather late--the first thing I could find was from the mid-1940s, and he had a number of poems, verses, and short fiction published in the Saturday Evening Post, and The Rotarian, and I even found a few songs.

But sadly, the first thing I found was a death notice for his son, Arthur Frederic Otis, Jr. in an Illinois veterans' database: "Otis, Arthur Frederic Jr., Pfc., USMCR - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Otis Sr., 600 Riford Rd., Glen Ellyn." In 1945, Arthur Sr. published (apparently privately) a book titled, "Forever nineteen." Searching a little deeper, I found this title listed with other books about WWII battle of Okinawa, where young, very young, Arthur was killed in action, June 20, 1945. How the family (I found 2 sisters in a historical society obituary notice) must have grieved, and I wonder if this publication, written when he was 50, started his writing career. Arthur Otis was also in the University of Illinois alumni database, but I don't know what his professional life was. In November 1948 he filed for copyright for a book of poetry, Dancing Shadows, 128 pages. However, I think his best creative act was the smiles of his readers, like Aunt Muriel, with his light verse about ordinary things like cluttered drawers, flat tires, and the things of everyday, mundane life.

Aunt Muriel (94) with her newest great grandson (7 weeks) a few days before she died. And if Aunt Muriel were alive, she would have loved this story!

Adult Stem Cell Research Avoids Ethical Concerns | Science and Technology | English

The latest issue of "Healthy Pet" (Winter 2010) has an article about adult stem cell therapy helping pets with arthritis, hip problems, ligament injuries, etc., however, I can't find much recent research that there's much progress for people. I think adult stem therapy is being done on humans in other countries. Praise God for George Bush, who held the line on embryonic stem cell research, which pushed researchers to look for alternatives with adult stem cell lines.

Adult Stem Cell Research Avoids Ethical Concerns | Science and Technology | English

CARL

"Paul Kengor says that conservatives were reluctant to face up to the truth about Obama because they didn’t want to be accused of “McCarthyism” for raising the issue of his communist connections. The 600-page Kengor book [Dupes] includes the excerpts of the [Frank] Davis FBI files that others have shied away from. Kengor, a professor at Grove City College, is not afraid to tackle the terrible truth. We need more like him in academia.

The difference between calling Obama an anti-colonialist, a socialist, or a Marxist mentored by a top operative of the CPUSA is that one category should immediately earn you an FBI investigation. Former FBI agent Max Noel says the Bureau used to investigate candidates for federal employment by analyzing Character, Associates, Reputation, and Loyalty to the United States. The first letters in those words make up the acronym CARL.

Obama could not have been elected president if he had been subjected to the CARL test. Leaving Davis aside – and he was on the FBI’s “security index” — Obama’s relationship with communist terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn was enough to disqualify him for the presidency. Photos of the Weather Underground bomb factory they abandoned in San Francisco in 1971 reveal these Cuban-trained terrorists were working on anti-personnel weapons, including stabbing devices, and had C-4 plastic explosive."

Exposing Un-American Activities

Builders Exchange needs director of membership development

"The successful candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a business-related field. A minimum of two years sales experience is preferred. Knowledge of commercial construction, association operations and general database skills are also preferred. The Builders Exchange offers a competitive base salary, commission and benefits."

Builders Exchange - BX weekly online newsletter

Does that look like racial discrimination to you--asking for a bachelor's degree in marketing? I heard that Seattle officials think so. It's called social justice to defeat institutional racism to not require a minority (black) to have the degree others (white) must have to qualify.

It's practically an admission that 50 years of special recruiting, workshops, summer programs, loans, grants, and non-discrimination laws haven't worked--at least not for black males, who since the late 1970s have been losing ground in the college area--to both black women and white men.

Interview with Pete Holmes on Fox (near the end).

Summer Internship for Native Americans in Genomics (SING)

When I saw this I wondered where they were going to find the Native Americans in Illinois, but I recall that Ohio State you only needed to be 1/32 of (any race) to be considered eligible for a minority placement. Also, do they expect these Native Americans to return to "the community" to practice genomics?

Summer Internship for Native Americans in Genomics (SING) | The Institute for Genomic Biology

Number of Words in the English Language: 1,008,879

In English conversation class today (at our church) someone asked how many words are there in English. I guessed 2 million--someone else said 4,000. I was a little off, but not as far as she was. 1,008,879. I think that's the most of any language, however, some like Finnish, can invent new words just by adding pieces parts (which we sort of do too). We borrow from many languages, and English is now global. Did you know there are over 50 words for sheep in English? You probably won't ever need to know them, but in New Zealand, you might.

The Global Language Monitor » Blog Archive » Number of Words in the English Language: 1,008,879

According to another source, about 200,000 words are in common use today. An educated person has a vocabulary of about 20,000 words and uses about 2,000 during a week's conversation.

A Union Education - WSJ.com

". . . unlike in the private economy, a public union has a natural monopoly over government services. An industrial union will fight for a greater share of corporate profits, but it also knows that a business must make profits or it will move or shut down. The union chief for teachers, transit workers or firemen knows that the city is not going to close the schools, buses or firehouses.

This monopoly power, in turn, gives public unions inordinate sway over elected officials. The money they collect from member dues helps to elect politicians who are then supposed to represent the taxpayers during the next round of collective bargaining. In effect union representatives sit on both sides of the bargaining table, with no one sitting in for taxpayers. In 2006 in New Jersey, this led to the preposterous episode in which Governor Jon Corzine addressed a Trenton rally of thousands of public workers and shouted, "We will fight for a fair contract." He was promising to fight himself."

A Union Education - WSJ.com

In Ohio, you can't get a teaching job if you don't join the union. You might be a libertarian or a Republican, but you'll be paying to elect Democrats.

I've read through many articles about what is expected of teachers today and some of the rigid rules that interfer with educating children. I also talk to teachers. It makes me wonder, what really does a union do for these people except offer them expensive insurance and legal help if they are fired?

Also, politicians don't set up some of these ridiculous standards in a vacuum. It's coming from professional organizations and academicians--all probably formerly teachers. I have no idea why a teacher's performance or that of her school should be judged on how well a child with an IQ of 85 and one who is a recent immigrant learn English. They are teachers, not miracle workers! Where is the union in defending them against the state or federal standards? Anyone know how many classroom teacher jobs were saved by ARRA one time money as compared to administrators' jobs? Where is the union? Anyone know who came up with the current ridiculous math teaching fads? Where is the union?

Michelle Obama gets a Republican boost on obesity

It's the hypocrisy of her campaign that conservatives resent. Who's tending the WH garden? Her staff. She's a nag. And Governor Huckabee is putting weight on again, which I think shows how difficult this is even with education, knowledge and a TV camera in your face.

AFP: Michelle Obama gets a Republican boost on obesity

Mengumpulkan Pikiran Saya

Someone translated my Morgenthau article into Indonesian (I think): Mengumpulkan Pikiran Saya. I'm about to roll over to 405,000 visitors.

Brenda Leigh--you should be ashamed of yourself for misleading young women

We've borrowed and returned 2 seasons of "The Closer" from the library, and checked out seasons 3 and 4. We've thoroughly enjoyed the excellent writing and acting of this TNT show, which ends after the seventh season this year. Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) would be such a beautiful role model for young women who want to be both authoritative, tough and a good manager, but yet feminine and tender too. She wears modest feminine attire, loves her kitty, and is usually emotionally exhausted when coming home from work.) Unfortunately, the writers gave her a live-in boyfriend as a subplot (they marry in later episodes) to help her solve crimes and a former married lover as her boss for tension and humor at work. I guess it would just be too much work to figure out how she could possibly be a fine, capable woman and be sexually chaste too. Since the crime and the team's dynamics are the center piece each episode, how hard could it be to make Brenda really smart?

Since young women (and even some old) have decided living with the guy is an OK opening for marriage and long term plans like having a family, the divorce rate has soared and the child poverty rate has gone out of sight, with only 8% of children from married households living in poverty and 56% with single moms living in poverty. How smart is that, Hollywood, to promote this? Don't you want people to continue buying your product?

Women could virtually wipe out poverty in a generation just by having higher standards for themselves and the men they love.

.

Newmont Mining Corporation

I see I've bought 50 shares of Newmont Mining Corporation (NEM), a gold producer, with significant assets or operations in the United States, Australia, Peru, Indonesia, Ghana, Canada, New Zealand and Mexico. Well, I hadn't planned to buy gold for my retirement portfolio, but apparently if you do, you'll be helping me.

Discovery & Development | Newmont Mining Corporation

SunChips' compostable bags get quieter

In a world of chaos and intractible problems, it's nice to know that sometimes there is a solution to . . . noisy snack bags.

SunChips' compostable bags get quieter | Drug Store News

Are they paid for recruiting for the government programs

I noticed this disclaimer on a private, non-governmental website encouraging people to sign up for government benefits. There are two ways (alluded to in the message) to make money doing this: 1) either the government reimburses them for the referrals, or 2) they resell the information collected from those who inquire.

"FamilyFinancialHelpUsa.net is not a government agency and is in no way affiliated with any government agency. This is not an application for Food Stamps, LIHEAP or HUD Public Housing. We are a private organization. We use the information you provide to connect you to the correct site to apply for food stamps, LIHEAP and HUD Public Housing in your state. Additionally we will give you the opportunity to participate in private offers that we believe may benefit you through email. We will also provide you with ways to get other free things that may interest and help your family after entering the site. You are not required to participate in these offers or buy anything to get access to your free financial aid and other free help for the family. Please support our sponsors who keep this site free."

Inspiring story by Jewish Ethiopian Immigrant to Israel

Hope and Change--it's not just a political slogan

Hope and Change is the message of the New Testament, and it was stolen by the Obama campaign because the clever marketing firm that ran the campaign knew the familiarity and the challenge of it have a comfortable, familiar ring, even if the candidate was preaching political concepts unacceptable to most Americans--concepts that have failed in every country they've been tried. "Hope and change" (the slogan) is also an underlying desire of youth--in my generation it was the 18-23 year old's mantra, but since adolescence has been lengthened since the mid-60s, so has young adulthood, and now it's the 20-30 year olds who yearn to make changes in the world and believe they are the generation to do it. Constant, unremitting change (they are fuzzy on this but it includes risk taking, hedonism/slackerism, entertainment and sports) is in fact their hope as they postpone marriage, family and career.

Paul lists seven questions in Romans 8.31-39

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We have our only HOPE in Jesus Christ, and yes, because our lives will CHANGE, we CHANGE the world.

Do be fooled or misled by political slogans. Jesus didn't come to change political systems, or to be a humanist mystery called "peace and justice." He's not a member of any nation or political party. He's Lord and Savior of the universe, The Word of God, the Alpha and Omega, and he's Hope and Change.

In yesterday's sermon John Stolzenbach said he uses this passage from Romans at every funeral. Yes, it's truly amazing in listing changes and hope. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Life here is full of changes--don't leave home without hope.

A New Newt - Gingrich Tries to Reconnect With America

I don't care what he converts to or how many films he makes about a pope, I certainly hope Republicans aren't fooled again by nominating an unelectable candidate. Maybe the current Mrs. Newt believes him, but I don't.

A New Newt - Gingrich Tries to Reconnect With America - NYTimes.com

FBI File: However bad you thought Ted Kennedy was, he was worse!

Mayrantandrave has an interesting story about this sad, old man when he was young, frisky, interviewing Communists, and renting a brothel.

FBI File: Ted Kennedy and the Santiago Brothel « Mayrant&rave