A hole in their souls

I’ve visited many Occupy sites (west coast, east coast, Canada, mid-west, south, as well as Columbus and Toledo) and read their complaints, demands and suggestions. It’s obvious that this movement, at least in North America, is not an economic or political problem, but a spiritual one. People who have more “stuff” than they know what to do with are unhappy because some people have more--more stuff, more debt, more bling. It’s the opposite of need. It’s the black mold of selfishness and greed--the very thing they see in others. And they want others to be sucked into their misery. They aren’t poor, they’re suffering from income-envy; they aren’t hungry, they’re overfed and underexercised; they aren’t sick, they’re over medicated; if they‘re thirsty, they just open a plastic bottle and trash the environment. They’ve got a huge hole where there should be wholeness in God.

This should be a great mission field for Christians. We've been there--we used to think stuff, or power, or position, or a relationship would satisfy the spiritual cravings of our sinful nature, too. They don't even know what riches are out there for them, and they are scrambling for pennies!

One job, created or saved--$800,000

I was browsing the government ARRA "transparency" site for the first stimulus (looked like it had been months since it was updated), and I came across a place in Georgia, Huston County, I believe, where upgrades to a public housing project TJ Calhoun was to get $800,000. Under jobs created or saved category, the word "one." But nothing had been done, so I guess that's a moot point. Meanwhile, on the radio, I can hear the familiar voice castigating Republicans for wanting people to stay unemployed. ARRA money went to unions and to government agencies. ARRA Junior won't be any different.

Why has the President sent troops to Uganda?

We're supposed to believe that an African country with a stable government, an army, marines, air force and national defense group, with over 800,000 young people turning 18 each year can't beat back a rag tag band of terrorists numbering 500-3,000 calling itself The Lord's Resistance Army.

Only 100 troops you say? That's all Kennedy sent to VietNam in 1961--fifty years ago. From little acorns. . .

Could be:

Oil

Minerals (80 something)

Wag the dog, pt. 4

Something even more sinister

or

Just because he can.

Jodi and Susi plan for retirement

Note: The story of Jodi and Susi is fiction--at least the main characters. The amounts and the disparities in the pensions are true. This is why I’m voting for Issue 2 in Ohio.

Jodi and Susi are both 55 and were roommates at a Christian college. After graduation Jodi went on for an MBA right away, but Susi took a teaching position in a poor community because she could get assistance paying her college loans from the government. Later she got an M.S. with assistance from the school district where she settled. Jodi spent years paying off her school loans; Susie invested her windfalls from the federal and local governments.

Both women today make $90,000 a year, Jodi as a manager of several Wendy’s restaurants working about 60 hours a week, 12 months a year, and Susi as an assistant principal working about 40 hours a week, 10 months a year. Susi goes interesting places in the summer to teach teachers in 6 week workshops, does a little touring on the side, and invests her additional summer salary, looking ahead to when she can retire with 35 years next year at 56 in the state teacher‘s system. Jodi would like to travel, but keeps it modest because she needs to invest in her 401-k and private savings, looking ahead to when she can retire at age 67 or later.

Next year Susi will begin drawing her $70,000 pension and will begin substituting in different districts, selecting carefully only those jobs she truly loves--like working with low-income children slipping through the cracks of all the regulations imposed by the U.S. Department of Education and the State Board of Education, and the local board. There are days when she's reduced to tears by the burden of what is expected of her. The school districts will benefit because they won’t need to pay her as much as a regular teacher who will need union negotiated benefits, plus she’s an outstanding teacher with experience and will do a better job than a beginner.

Jodi has another 12 years to work and pay into Social Security, to which she began contributing at age 16. When she retires, her “government” pension will be $28,150 (this figure will be larger in 2023, but that’s what it would be today). She has paid much more into FICA than Susi has paid into STRS because restaurant managers don’t have a powerful union. Technically she’s Susi’s employer so she’s also been contributing to Susi’s pension. She has also worked longer days, and more days per year than Susi. She too is reduced to tears some days as she has to do basic remediation for some of her employees who attended schools where Susi taught because they are unprepared for the work world.

Susi, by the way, never actually joined the teacher’s union, but she had to pay dues anyway if she wanted to teach in a public system in Ohio. Like the majority of teachers in the United States, she votes Republican and doesn’t like it that the unions contribute primarily to Democratic candidates and causes. She’s also pro-life, and is really bothered that teachers unions contribute heavily to candidates and organizations that support abortion, and especially to Barack Obama, who is very pro-abortion and pro-embryonic stem cell research. She contributes to pro-life organizations, but not as much as she surrenders to the union.

In any case, next year at 56 she has great plans to enjoy her retirement with her pension and her private investments. Meanwhile, Jodi puts a smile on her face, her lunch in her briefcase, and heads for the free-way.

Friday Family Photo--The Wedding 1970

My husband's brother, James B. DeMott, died on September 14 at 63. This is a photo of them together before Jim's wedding in 1970 (not sure of the date).

Fall flavors

I bought pumpkin bagels this week. They are OK, but somehow the flavor of pumpkin and the texture of a bagel just don't seem right. Is this being too judgemental?

My new coffee thermos mug from Panera's is leaking . . . something. But there's nothing in it. I've sent the promo company a note. I think I'll take it back. It was made in China, and I violated my own rule about not putting things made in China in my mouth or on my body.

Teachers unions give more money to political campaigns than all the other unions combined, but very little to Republicans--$56 million to Democrats and $4 million to Republicans. But only 45% of the teachers are Democrats. So I guess we know why we've got crappy schools in cities run by Democrats. . . which is just about all the big ones. But the recorded dollar number is just the tip of the iceburg.

Waiting for Superman--the movie

Tuesday night I saw the documentary Waiting for Superman. The depiction of the familes trapped in bad public schools is gut wrenching, but in a way beautiful, as you see the deep love and commitment the parents (poor, middle class, black, white, Hispanic, inner city, suburban) have to their children and their belief in education. I'm the third generation in my family to attend college, and I'm not sure I'm that passionate about the value of higher education. One statistic surprised me: if we could get rid of the 6-10% of really awful teachers (can't be fired because of the union) and just replace them with mediocre, we could have a system as good as Finland's, which is rated best in the world.

Having lived in two very small towns, Forreston and Mt. Morris, Illinois, I think I had some outstanding teachers in the days before unions and high wages. But a few did get the boot before they could do much damage. Two on sex charges (and that seems to be about the only way to get rid of bad teachers today), one of was fired even before the school year started when the administration found out he liked to have "slumber parties" for the athletes and the other for exposing himself. Two male teachers were not prepared to deal with teen-agers, who even in the 1950s could think up a lot of mischief. My first grade teacher was really harsh, and just died a few years ago. She was too mean to die, but boy did I learn phonics!

My all time crush on a teacher was my third grader teacher, Miss DeWall. I've forgotten her first name, but she left after one year to get married and I believe she died while I was in college. She was kind, beautiful, attentive to all, very thorough, and lots of fun. Every child should be so fortunate to have a Miss DeWall in her life.

Marisa's Take: Occupy Wall Street looks like church to me

Note to Marisa: This doesn't look like my church.

The Occupy Wall Street movement where crowds of the ignorant, uninformed and unwashed, most of whom have never voted, have taken over private property and obstructed freedoms of other citizens. They are demanding the wealth of others to pay off their debt and greed. (You don’t need to be wealthy to lust after others belongings or God wouldn't have included it in the commandments.) Marisa Egerstrom, a PhD candidate in religious history, and a member of Protest Chaplains thinks the OWS looks like something built on Christ’s teaching, life, death and resurrection. Sorry Marisa, we aren’t reading the same Gospel. I had a number of classes in Russian and Soviet history, used to translate Russian medical material to earn my college tuition, and had a Chinese roommate in college whose family fled the massacres by Mao. The OWS really looks a lot like people demanding national socialism, not realizing that they are useful idiots, expendable in the next stage of the movement/revolution, just so much fodder to get people worked up.

I wonder how CNN would cover honest believers witnessing to the protesters about Jesus death and ressurection on their behalf.

My Take: Occupy Wall Street looks like church to me – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

Food buzz words

Food security (a buzz-word) and/or good nutrition is not food self-sufficiency (another buzz word). I've noticed that many political celebrities have photo ops at trendy, high priced Chicago or Washington restaurants or campaign events that serve waygu-steak or fancy ethnic foods, while the rest of us are encouraged to get dirty and harvest our back yard gardens or raise a few chickens in order to save the planet.

The biggest offender? Michelle Obama.

For the moderately obese--a chance to earn some money

and help other people. If you're willing to admit to being moderately obese, OSU Nutrition Study is looking for you (male or female) and has $300 for you to join a simple study. You don't even need to diet! Non-smoking, moderately obese people (body mass index between 30 and 44), with family history of obesity, aged 21-40, needed for study on body processes that affect weight control; must give 2 small blood and urine samples, do a 20-30 minute breath test that measures internal calorie use rates, and take vegetable oil capsules for 6 weeks; compensation of up to $300. Contact: 614-689-0954

Why is President Obama so anti-life?

Obama has failed miserably in many areas, but one promise he kept was about approving more embryonic stem cell lines, even though by the time he became president, adult stem cells were the gold standard. "As president, I will lift the current administration’s ban on federal funding of research on embryonic stem cell lines created after August 9, 2001 through executive order ..." The National Institutes of Health continues to waste more taxpayer funds on destructive embryo research adding more lines. What does Obama have against the unborn that he is so Hell bent on destroying them?

Two very famous men of our time, Barack Obama and Steve Jobs, were born to very young, unwed mothers (who eventually married their birth fathers, although Obama's father being a Muslim was already married.). It was not an auspicious beginning, but Jobs was adopted and Obama was essentially raised by his grandparents. Neither faced poverty, want or lack of love and they went on to achieve the highest in politics and wealth that our current culture offers (although not in spiritual matters--and that's what counts in the end as Jobs has discovered).

So it puzzles me that two men who should be grateful for life itself are so careless about their own responsibilities. Jobs denied his out of wedlock child for years, putting mother and child on welfare, and Obama is the most virulently relentless advocate for killing the helpless unborn that we've ever had in any branch of government, federal or state. One is left to wonder if deep down there isn't some pool of self-hatred and lack of self-worth that they, particularly Obama, would demand such power over others' lives.

Are flares back in style and I missed it?

I bought a pair of light colored (oyster) chino slacks today, hook and button waist, slightly riding low, Merona, nanotex, and although I wasn't surprised at the length, since I usually have to shorten slacks, I was surprised they are flared.

But for $2.99 (I bought them at Marc's a remainder outlet), I won't quibble. Now I'll go hem them.

Internments and relocations of Americans and aliens during WWII

The round up was ordered by President Roosevelt within hours of the attack on Pearl Harbor. . .

During World War II when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, more than 158,000 U.S. residents were either relocated and/or interned under restrictive governmental actions, and another 836,000 individuals had their freedom restricted by the government. About 130,000 were Japanese aliens and Japanese Americans living on the west coast who were put in internment camps, of which about 58% were citizens. Other Japanese ancestry citizens who lived away from the coast and not near military bases were not disturbed.

Less well known is the fact that German and Italian aliens living in the U.S. were arrested by the FBI and interned in 55 camps created just for Europeans, as well as many German-Americans and Italian-Americans. 236,000 Americans of German ancestry and 600,000 Americans of Italian ancestry were subject to restrictions.

This M.S. thesis by Larry DeWitt says 31,275 Europeans were arrested, and 25,655 were sent to the camps. Some were put on parole, or released. Also arrested were foreign merchant seamen and other non-Americans unfortunate enough to be in the U.S. at the time.

Larry DeWitt's Master's Thesis: The U.S. Social Security Board and its Program of Assistance and Services to Enemy Aliens and Others During the Relocations and Internments of World War II- Chapter 1 (I removed the hot link to this document because it had been hacked for a not very pleasant web sit.)

Wormwood Occupies

In my e-mail box today, an offer to claim $4.5 million: "listen dear client all you need to do is only forward your information required.reason because this is legibly signed by this delivery security office and also we discovered this email reported in this office last-night telling us that this consignment box worth of this fixed sum of money was about to be scammed by 419scammers. so we the entire organization formed in order to protect the interest of our clients."

Is this from an Occupy group, do you suppose? It makes as much sense as they do--protesting student loans while attending Columbia University in the most expensive city in the country; demanding collapse of corporations while wearing and using all their products; storming banks and capital buildings on a holiday; chanting and repeating phrases while wiggling their fingers. It's raining in Columbus; we can only hope for some rain on Wall Street.

The 53%--a new website lauding Americans who face adversity and survive

Some are immigrants, some are disabled, some are single parents struggling to get through college, but they have this in common--they don't approve of those who say they are the 99% and want to destroy the economic base of our nation.

We are the 53%

There's a lot of pressure to abort. . .

Sometimes it's the woman's parents, sometimes the boyfriend, and increasingly it's the culture--her peers.

At the eighth week of pregnancy, my daughter had her first sonogram. She called and told me all about it, with great excitement in her voice. She didn’t know if her baby was a boy or a girl yet, but he or she had a head, body, arms, legs, fingers, and toes! My daughter overflowed with joy as she told me how her baby had wiggled around on the screen in front of her, moving tiny arms and legs.

Then she said, “And Mom, when I got back to my dorm room after the sonogram, I had an e-mail waiting for me … from a friend telling me it wasn’t too late to take the abortion pill. I still had one more week left before it would be too late!” Mifepristone (formerly known as RU-486) can be taken as late as nine weeks after the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period—in other words, until she is seven weeks pregnant.

Kristin continued, “Mom! My friend was telling me that I could take a pill and make my ‘problem’ go away. But it’s not a ‘problem’—it’s a baby! I’ve seen him! He has arms and legs, and even though I can’t feel him yet, he’s moving all around inside of me!”

And Baby Makes Two: A Pro-Life Profile in Courage | LifeNews.com

This political ad is a bit disingenuous

American Crossroads today (October 11) announced it is releasing a TV ad in Pennsylvania and Florida as part of a continuing campaign to aggressively counter President Obama's efforts to sell his second stimulus plan at state and local events.



When could we ever trust what he said?

How smart is WiseWoman?

In common parlance, the words "wise woman" mean someone who depends on cards and herbs and pagan rituals to heal or help someone. But not so in the federal government.

The WISEWOMAN program (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation) is administered through CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP). The WISEWOMAN program provides low-income, under-insured or uninsured women with chronic disease risk factor screening, lifestyle intervention, and referral services in an effort to prevent cardiovascular disease. The priority age group is women aged 40–64 years.

CDC funds 21 WISEWOMAN programs, which operate on the local level in states and tribal organizations.

The current budget for this program which essentially screens women for health problems is $16 million and change. So I was browsing through the screening pie charts and was more than a little shocked to see that 84% with hypertension, 84% with high sholesterol and 88% with diabetes had previously been diagnosed.

It seems we have an awful lot of programs to meet the needs of the uninsured, but wasn't that the reason we needed to rush Obamacare through without reading it--because so many didn't have these things, which are clearly right under their noses, plus screening women previously diagnosed. A screening or a diagnosis or a counseling moment doesn't mean treatment, doesn't mean research. Actually, doesn't mean diddly squat if the patient doesn't follow through.

You can look at the list of accomplishments, but you'll find nothing about mortality or extended life for those participating.

A Pair Of (Nobel) Aces

The Nobel Prize for Economics goes to two Americans, Thomas Sargent of New York University and Princeton's Christopher Sims, who have separately exposed the flaws in government stimulus spending. For President Obama, a Keynesian, it's the Anti-Peace Prize. Stimulus spending is the equivalent of a "sugar high." Obama certainly didn't deserve a peace prize (in fact that looks pretty silly now), but these guys seem to know what they're talking about.

A Pair Of (Nobel) Aces - Investors.com

Working families party, SEIU, ACORN organizing the Occupy groups--this is definitely NOT grass roots

She says the capitalist system isn't working for any of us? Hmm. Wonder what she wants to replace it with? European socialism? National socialism? Communism?

"In 1992, Joel Rogers​ co-founded the New Party, a Marxist coalition that endorsed and helped elect left-wing political candidates; one of its most noteworthy members in the mid-1990s was Barack Obama​. After the New Party closed its doors in 1997, it was reinvented the following year by Joel Rogers’ partner, Daniel Cantor, as the Working Families Party, which became a powerful front group for ACORN." [FrontPageMag.com]

Obama's connection to the Working Families Party is probably why you'll not hear him chastizing the organizers of this, which if it works like the 1960s, will severly hurt his campaign.