On reading Hegel and Marx

After struggling through Julie's manuscript to Chapter 8 (she's writing a book), I've decided that if you read and understand nothing but 18th and 19th century philosophers, historians, theologians, and educators--looking back to who influenced them and forward to whom they influenced in the 20th century--you'd pretty well understand the mess we're in today and the causes of WWI and WWII, and the pervasive weakness in the churches who subscribe to "social justice," which sets them up to be helpless to confront Islamists. Not sure who the big name thinkers of the 20th-21st centuries are, but they mostly seem to be scientists and not people in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Yesterday as I noted below, I was reading ScienceHeroes website about the 2 guys who invented chemical fertilizer in 1909--credited with "saving or creating" 3 billion lives.

Anyway, we got to all the 'isms of today--progressivism, liberalism, communism, materialism, environmentalism, Darwinism, multiculturalism, fascism, fundamentalism, conservatism--with the help of Kant, Fiehte, Schelling, Schleiermacher, Hegel, Strauss, Nietzsche, Feuerbach, Marx, Darwin and Dewey. What is it about the Germans. . .

Jalen Rose Leadership Academy

This is an inspiring story of a famous athlete returning home to save the children by starting a charter school.

Every weekday, 120 high-school freshmen from these neighborhoods attend Mr. Rose's academy, some arriving after two bus trips and all before 7:30 a.m. Located in a former public school building, the school has spartan facilities—a science lab with almost no equipment, cracked windows—and few modern frills, though every student is given a computer. . .

Mr. Rose plans to start with this freshman class and add a new grade each year until there are some 500 kids in grades 9-12. "This is college prep. We expect 90% to 100% to go on to college"—no mean feat when many students are entering ninth grade with only fourth-grade levels of reading and math proficiency. . . .

At the Leadership Academy, "we have a 20-to-1 student teacher ratio and 10-to-1 in math and English. We want to invest in every young man or woman who comes here." That means tailoring achievement standards for every student. "There may be a kid reading at a fourth-grade level [when he enters ninth grade] who when he graduates is reading at a tenth-grade level. That's a victory."

His school also doesn't have tenure for teachers. "I hate tenure. Tenure allows teachers to put their feet up on the desk and possibly have a job forever. That's why I got turned on to charter schools. It's a business model. Every employee and every teacher will be monitored by performance."

The Weekend Interview with Jalen Rose: From the Fab Five to the Three Rs - WSJ.com

30-40% of the world’s population would not be alive without their invention.

"Humankind is largely fed by food grown with synthetic chemical fertilizer. Because synthetic fertilizer requires a plentiful supply of nitrogen, inventing a process to fix it in ammonia was daunting. Attempts were made for over 100 years. Then in 1909 Fritz Haber, a German chemist, solved the problem in principal. In 1910, Carl Bosch, pioneering new engineering methods, commercialized the process. Known as the Haber-Bosch Process, it is now responsible for growing about half of the world’s food. It was one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. Without it, 30-40% of the world’s population would not be alive."

Science Heros

Unfortunately, it's what they did AFTER this invention that is controversial. They participated in chemical warfare development which killed over 1.3 million people in WWI. Compare that to almost 3 billion lives saved with the fertilizer.

Quietly bringing in New Year 2012

A very lovely New Year's Eve. First we attended a wonderful jazz concert at UALC which featured the works of Henry Mancini--always a nice walk down memory lane since he did so many movie and TV themes. Then a worship service with communion led by Pastors Dan Clark and Brodie Taphorn. We saw many friends from years ago that we miss now that there are three campuses.

Then we came home, put on some quiet music, had dinner, and I set out the little cardboard mailbox with all the Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year cards and letters and we took turns reading through them aloud--it took about 90 minutes. We had, of course, read them when they came through the mail slot or were handed to us, but this time we actually discussed them and noted things we'd missed. Usually I tape the return address to the card if the names are rather common or duplicative, but I missed one. Neither of us seem to know which "Jim and Becky" sent that card. . .

Wayne and Marie (housemate from the U. of I. in the 1950s) still get the prize for most travels and activities, but I think Marilyn Ford won for biggest family photo--almost 40 children and grandchildren in her photo. I got out the church directory from 1978 and she and Jack had 4 children in that photo. Gayle's Thanksgiving letter usually leads the pack, and we think there will be a few yet to come this week. My brother called instead of sending a card--they've gone to e-mail, which is difficult since my husband doesn't do computer stuff. We really treasure the hand made and artistic efforts--we seem to know a lot of artists. I didn't do a Christmas letter this year--maybe this will inspire me. . .

Week-end plans to bring in the New Year 2012

It's the end of the year. Not to be original, but time sure flies. Tonight we're going out with Ron and Jane to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary. I'm thinking of baking a cake and then coming back here after the Rusty Bucket--but maybe if I wait the urge and ambition will go away. We met when we were all members of First Community Church in 1968. The guys met in a men's breakfast group, Jane and I met at a funeral, and the guys still see each other weekly for a Wednesday morning group which Ron teaches.

Then tomorrow evening we're going to the New Year's Eve Jazz Concert and Worship at the Mill Run campus of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church at 5:30, then worship and communion at 6:00. Sunday there is a reduction in the number of services because of Saturday worship so we'll go at 10 a.m.

Always take off your apron before photographs

Blogger's stats

I've recently switched over to a new Blogger template, and although it takes some getting used to (I guess they have to have something for the younger employees to do), I am paying more attention to the stats feature. Today for the first time I looked at country of origin for my visitors (for December 2011).

USA -- 1,789
France -- 283
Russia -- 152
Switzerland
and Germany -- 101 each
U.K. -- 81
Taiwan -- 71
Canada -- 68
India -- 50
Turkey -- 19

Of course, my all time big winner is a HGTV story on Tony Chau moving to Las Vegas. 534 page views since Oct. 15, 2010. So many people want to get rich on the internet.

Civil dialogue

Some readers of blogs say anything. I saw this at Frugal Cafe. A Blogger shouldn't have to explain how to be polite and non-threatening to commenters, but this is the world we live in.

Because of the onslaught of attacking comments against Sarah Palin and/or her children (often with the F-word or other vulgarities) , anti-Palin comments are no longer accepted for posting. Don't waste your time trying. There are plenty of liberal blogs and Obama-run media articles out there bashing Palin... post your hate-driven criticisms on one of those sites. My blog, my rules.

The 1% today were the 99% yesterday

Mobility is the unique feature of our economy and culture. That's why people want to come here. The Occupiers are not only wrong, but they dumb, uninformed and anti-American.

Holder needs to go

The empirical evidence shows that voter ID laws do not suppress minority voting. In Georgia, black voter turnout for the 2006 midterm elections was 42.9%. After Georgia passed its photo ID, black turnout in the 2010 midterm rose to 50.4%. Black voter turnout also rose in Indiana and Mississippi after enactment of their voter ID laws.

IHOP makes the Wastebook 2011

A DC development corp builds an IHOP in Columbia Heights (DC) with federal subsidy ($765,828) and gets listed in Coburn's Wastebook 2011. Leftists go crazy because it's mentioned on Fox and in Coburn's list, and insist it isn't yuppieville. So I looked at real estate in the area. 1 bdrm $2,160, 2 bdrm $3,050, average salary $65,231. That would buy a few pancakes for government workers, wouldn't it? But so what? Why do we need to subsidize IHOP? Or rather, why are we subsidizing a development corporation with a 40 year federal/local back patting, wallet padding scheme?

Anacostia Economic Development Corporation

Looking through Anacostia's timeline, I see that 40 years ago it did help the neighborhood by assisting small business in the community--hat store, hardware store, shoe store, funeral home, supermarket, furniture store, drapery store, etc. But the big money was in Title VII CDC, and it moved on. Looks like some lottery, gaming, and cable--then apartment development, then a for-profit subsidiary, more real estate development and shopping centers, relocation of some government office buildings and post office. Wheeeee! Why does this company still need the government to make a profit and payroll? And of course, former DC Mayor Marion Barry is involved.

Really--do browse the Wastebook 2011. It is fascinating.

Hoosiers didn't need guardians in 1947

This floats around a number of conservative blogs citing on-line newsletter Foundation for Economic Freedom, but I also found it in a book, Contemporary American Federalism, by Joseph Zimmerman (SUNY Press, 2008), a preview of which was in Google, but not the section with the footnote which cited the source. I hope it is real, because on the Internet if something sounds too good to be true, you're usually right to be suspicious. In any case, our states, like our citizens are so accustomed to being on the dole, this would be tough to pass today. "Being fooled," of course, refers to many of FDR's programs during the Great Depression. And as single moms have learned since the mid-60s, Uncle Sam is not a good step-father.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 2 of the 85th General Assembly of the State of Indiana, passed by that state’s House and Senate in January 1947.

"Indiana needs no guardian and intends to have none. We Hoosiers—like the people of our sister states—were fooled for quite a spell with the magician’s trick that a dollar taxed out of our pockets and sent to Washington will be bigger when it comes back to us. We have taken a good look at said dollar. We find that it lost weight in its journey to Washington and back. The political brokerage of the bureaucrats has been deducted. We have decided that there is no such thing as ‘federal’ aid. We know that there is no wealth to tax that is not already within the boundaries of the 48 states.

So we propose henceforward to tax ourselves and take care of ourselves. We are fed up with subsidies, doles and paternalism. We are no one’s stepchild. We have grown up. We serve notice that we will resist Washington, D.C. adopting us."

Happy Days are Here Again

Ronald Clark, a blogger and retired systems engineer for the Navy from Indianapolis, Indiana writes:

Back when the depression was going and America was suffering badly, Franklin D. Roosevelt mounted a Presidential campaign that featured the song, "Happy Days Are Here Again" with vague promises of a transformation of America into a place where the Government would take care of the people. He was elected with "Happy Days Are Here Again" ringing in everyone's hearts and ears. This was the start of real socialism in America and if you are so inclined to research the era, you will discover everything that FDR did during his years as President, made the depression and suffering much worse. The depression was a once-in-a lifetime opportunity (never let a crisis go to waste) to gain power for the Federal Government to implement policy that would never be accepted during normal times. His nanny Government also was responsible for extending the depression in America while the rest of the world recovered quite rapidly.

In other words, it was WWII that ended the American depression, not the entitlement, utopian policies of FDR. There is even strong evidence that FDR made decisions that forced the US into war in order to recover from the depression with his socialism policies firmly in place.

I know, not pretty, but mostly true.

The "Happy Days Are Here Again" theme during the FDR era is the same utopian Flim Flam that people ate up then and is the same as is the "Hope and Change" utopian nonsense that gullible people are gobbling up today and believe the Government can create jobs and take care of them. The point being, that the same disastrous results are occurring as in FDR's day and one must wonder if all of these unnecessary wars nowadays are an attempt to recover as FDR used WWII to recover. (Sorry, the wars nowadays are not big enough to effect the desired change.)

There really is no free lunch, someone must pay and we are now paying with our treasure, freedoms and jobs.

Happy Days

Original recording used in the 1930 MGM film Chasing Rainbows and recorded by Leo Reisman with vocals by Lou Levin.

You do the math--Obama's economy

The ravages of the Obama economy now mean that more Americans live under the federal poverty line than at any time in U.S. history since records have been kept. Under President Barack Obama, every fifth child in America now lives in poverty.

The Democrats took over the government not in January 2009 with Obama's election, but in January 2007, with control of the Senate and House. They destroyed, with Senator Obama's help, a good economy with a 4+ unemployment rate, but put Barney Frank in charge of an important finance committtee, and let Fannie and Fred continue their bad subprime loans.

It's the math, stupid

Cozy Scandinavian Apartment Showcasing Inspiring Details

Ignore nor this tiny, aneseptic apartment in Sweden. I'm just testing my blogger button.

Cozy Scandinavian Apartment Showcasing Inspiring Details | Freshome

Year end contributions to Christian organizations

Although we regularly tithe at our church home, Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, at the end of the year we enjoy looking over and supporting other Christian appeals. Luther suggested for Bible study 1) Oratio (prayer), 2. Meditatio (meditate) and 3. Tentatio (struggle) which isn't a bad plan when chosing good causes--because the ones that aren't good are tossed when we receive them, and the others set aside for further consideration.

1. Pinecrest Community is always on our list and this year I included a note to Leanne Manheim, the Development Director, because I've met her a few times on the visits with my sister. The Illinois budget is in terrible shape--the state isn't paying its Medicaid bills for months and months.

2. Pregnancy Decision Health Centers help women with problem pregnancies make good decisions for their babies. Abortion is the holocaust of our era--some 50 million deaths since the early 70s. The other day I heard a revolting statistic--64% of the women who "chose" abortion felt pressured by boyfriend, husband, parents or peers. If you are 17 and don't have access to your own funds even for doctor and hospital, or transportation to a pregnancy help center, what would you do if parents demand that you have an abortion in order to remain under their roof--and the boyfriend's parents agree.

3. Lower Lights Christian Health Center on Columbus' west side provides health care in a low income area of our city, over $350,000 in unreimbursed medical care to uninsured and underinsured patients, which is about 75% of its patient population. It was started by a young Christian female doctor, Dana Vallangeon, in 2002.

4. World Mission Prayer League supports 120 full time workers to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was founded by Lutherans in 1937. I am one of its "prayer warriors," and I love their publications.

5. Into the Field is the newest ministry on our list directed and founded by Jennifer Cameron, the daughter of friends and member of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church. It serves other ministries and the Body of Christ seeking to serve other Christians.

6. Lutheran Bible Translators brings the gospel to people who have no written language and put it in their "heart language."

7. Lakeside the Chautauqua on Lake Erie is where we have our summer home, and now spend the better part of the summer. Gate fees and association dues just don't cover the expenses to keep this community of art, literature, music and religion running, so there are always fund raisers.

8. 168 Film Project , has a huge mission--to illuminate the Word of God through short film. The founder, John Ware, is now a Californian, but is also a son of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, and his mom still attends there. There are 168 hours in a week and that's how long the writers, actors, editors, directors, etc. have to put together a short (11 minutes) film on a Bible verse. Last year an entry for documentary featured UALC, directed by Steve Puffenberger.



And finally, there may be a few conservative candidates and organizations on our list of gifts, but that will be our little secret.

Ohio State Receives $1.4 M Grant for Development of Resistant Ash Tree

Although it's too late for the lovely graceful ash trees we have now on our condo grounds and the grounds at Lakeside, Ohio, this is indeed good news--if it works. Can't be too soon. . .

Scientists with Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) have received a three-year, $1.4 million grant to continue their groundbreaking work toward the development of a tree that can be used for preservation of ash in natural and urban forests. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) provided the funds.

Ohio State Receives $1.4 M Grant for Development of Resistant Ash Tree — Ohio State University Extension

How a Sustainalist Think Tank rates Obama

Call them leftists, socialists, environmentalists, greengoes or sustainalists, makes no difference. Here's how the World Resources Institute rates Obama in 2011 for Climate Policy.

1. Congress Didn’t Act (makes little difference--Obama has said he will veto anything that is anti-regulatory or good for business).
2. National Vehicle Rules Established (EPA and DOT busy nailing down the coffin lid for Michigan).
3. California Moves Ahead (going international for its regulations to further create a budget crisis).
4. Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Economic benefits (a greenhouse gas cap–and-trade program for the electricity sector in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S.)
5. EPA Makes Slow Progress on GHG Rules (moving forward with more regulations, just not as fast as WRI would want). The EPA is a regulatory train wreck.
6. Emissions Continue to Climb (hard to imagine since taking clunkers off the road so low income people can't afford a car to drive should have fixed that).

This isn't being done or not done by legislation--our elected representatives who are supposed to be our voice in Washington. It's all regulatory. We the people have no say in any of this. Only lobbyists, unions, and politicians.

The federal government is the biggest user and abuser of fossil fuels.

Caravaggio: The power of art

On my link, each part flowed seamlessly into the next. It takes about an hour to watch the whole thing, but it is well worth it. Caravaggio--evangelist for the unwashed.

Emily's List supports pro-abortion Democrats

The pro-abortion group EMILY’s List, which supports female Democratic candidates who oppose all limitations on abortion, has unveiled new endorsements in four highly-contested 2012 House races.

Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D-OH), Elizabeth Esty, Dina Titus and Tarryl Clark have each proven to EMILY’s List that they will not waver in their support for abortion-on-demand.

Story here.

Elizabeth Esty, an attorney and former state lawmaker, is running for the House seat in Connecticut’s 5th district being vacated by Congressman Chris Murphy who is running for Senate.

Former Congresswoman Dina Titus from Nevada’s 3rd district lost her reelection campaign in 2010 to pro-life Joe Heck by a margin of just 2,000 votes. Redistricting has put her in 1st district.

Former MN State Representative Tarryl Clark unsuccessfully challenged pro-life Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in 2010 in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District. Redistricting has put her in the 8th.

Ohio's Congresswoman Betty Sutton due to redistricting will face Republican Congressman Jim Renacci, who currently holds a 100% voting record on pro-life issues.

Why do Democrats hate American babies?

Am I happy or blessed?

Today I was reading Psalm 119 in a modern English version, and found it off-putting to use our common, homely, overused, trite word HAPPY instead of the more familiar BLESSED. But then I did a little research, and found that HAPPY is more accurate, plus it has a deeper meaning than we usually assign to it.
Happy are they who follow the pure path,
who walk in the law of the Lord.
Happy are they who obey his decrees
and seek him out with all their heart.
Ps. 119:1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God's revealed will). Amplified Bible.

Also came across this explaining the difference between ashre (happy) and barak (blessed). Ashre involves our choices, our doing.

Dr. Walter D. Zorn, Prof. of OT & Biblical Languages Lincoln Christian College & Seminary, Lincoln, IL

"Happy in the Psalms"

Gerald Janzen discovered in his study of ashre that it is not the "antithesis to the cry of woe, hoy, 'Ah! Alas!'"5 Neither, Janzen revealed, was it ever used with reference to God. The word is never on God’s lips to refer to man or to Himself. When one “blesses” God or God “blesses” man, barak is used, not ashre. Ashre is used 44 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, 26 times in the Psalms . . .

. . . having looked at all the 26 references to ashre used in the Psalter, I discovered that “happiness” is a by-product of something one does and includes the choices one makes. Psalms 1 and 2, of course, set the tone as one discovers that “happiness” comes by the good choice of not “walk[ing] in the counsel of the wicked or stand[ing] in the way of sinners or sit[ting] in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Ps 1:1-2). This coincides with the idea of “happiness” being “bliss.” It is a “delight” to meditate on God’s instruction. The “doing” here is the study of God’s Word. Psalm 2 concludes with an ambiguous thought: “Happy [are] all taking refuge in him.” The “him” could be the “Son,” the newly anointed and exalted Son-King, or Yahweh, the King Himself.

(It is unfortunate that the NIV uses “blessed” to translate ashre. It is best to use “blessed” for barak instead of ashre. The English student would not know the difference. Using “happy,” or “blissful,” or perhaps “fortunate” would be best for ashre as it refers to the human being, and particularly God’s people.) A review of the 26 references in Psalms will reveal the source for "happiness" and its logical consequences. . .

I feel better now, and in the future will read it with a different eye.