Gird up your loins

Abby Johnson on Pro-life news in Texas

Good news from Texas! Tomorrow, our new RU486 law will go into effect...drastically reducing the amount of medication abortions performed in our state. Also, the law banning abortions past 20 weeks will go into effect tomorrow.
The law requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges will go to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. And the Ambulatory Surgical Center requirements will go into effect September 2014.

Monday Memories—watercolor

When my husband began painting in the 1970s he had a limited palette, burnt umber, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue , yellow ochre, cadmium red, Hooker's green with a few dabs of other blues and reds. He did barns and trees with no leaves, because green is very difficult to master in watercolor. Over the years he got more frisky and added a bird, then a chicken, a cow, and the barns got more red, a...nd the skies more pink. Then he took up sailing and started painting boats that weren't washed up on a beach or rocks. About 5 years ago he painted some flowers. A few years ago he started painting people, like 150 people on the dock at Lakeside and even did one of 5 girls in colorful saris last year. But as far as I can recall, Max is his first dog.

Max is a one woman dog—my sister-in-law Debbie who we were visiting in California two weeks ago.  He would look like he would let you pet him, or throw him a ball, but then would back off.  This will be sent to his “people.”

Free to Choose

I'm reading Milton Friedman's "Free to choose, a personal statement."  It was published in 1980, but reads like today's paper.  I'm in chapter 3, about the Depression, and the origin and problems of the federal reserve system.

"In the realm of ideas, the depression persuaded the public that capitalism was an unstable system destined to suffer ever more serious crises.  The public was converted to views that had already gained increasing acceptance among the intellectuals; government had to play a more active role; it had to intervene to offset the instability generated by unregulated private enterprise; it had to serve as a balance wheel to promote stability and assure security." And that rapid growth and power extended to Friedman’s day (1980) and ours in 2013. And it extended the Great Depression for a decade because the government had failed in its assigned responsibility in the Constitution--section 8, article 1. The Great Depression was not a failure of private enterprise he says, but of government. Unfortunately, both Presidents Hoover and Roosevelt tried to solve it with more of what brought it about, just as Bush and Obama did in 2008-2009. FDR's New Deal was Obama's Hope and Change.

Mike Rowe’s answer to a “fan” who hates Glenn Beck

We enjoyed Mike Rowe’s (Dirty Jobs) appearance on Glenn Beck last week.  He seems a really nice guy with a terrific voice and big heart (kind of like Glenn).  But some of his fans on Facebook weren’t pleased.

“As for your personal characterization of Glenn Beck, I can only assume you have information not available to me. In my time with him, I saw nothing “horrible, psychotic, hateful, or nasty.” I smelled no burning sulphur, no smoldering brimstone, and saw no sign of cloven hooves.To the contrary, I found a very passionate guy who employs about 300 people, works his butt off, and puts his money where his mouth is. Do we agree on everything? Of course not. Am I “disappointed” by that fact? Not at all. The real question, Shannon, is … why are you?

To be clear, I’m not here to tell you what to think or whom to hate. Like everyone else, you’re free to pick your devils, choose your angels, and attach the horns and halos accordingly.

But the guts of your question – even without all the name-calling and acrimony – reveal the essence of what’s broken in our country. You want to know “how I can associate” with someone you don’t like? The short answer is, how can I not? How are we ever going to accomplish anything in this incredibly divisive time if we associate only with people that we don’t disagree with?”

Forever Stamps weren’t

Obamacare isn't the only rocky roll out. Look what happened to the Let's Move series Forever Stamps AFTER they were printed and ready for first day issue ceremony. Depicted children in 15 activities: skipping rope, juggling, bouncing a ball, performing a cartwheel, kicking a soccer ball, playing basketball, skateboarding, twisting in the air, playing baseball, stretching, running, performing a head stand, jumping into water, climbing a rope, and swinging. 3 of them did not show proper safety. http://extramustard.si.com/2013/10/11/just-move-stamps-michelle-obama-safety-canelled/

HT Gayle

Where was the Captain?

“And there is the enduring mystery of why the president, who in his career has attempted to persuade the American people to have greater faith in and reliance on the federal government's ability to help, continues to go forward with an astounding lack of interest in the reputation of government.

He talks but he doesn't implement, never makes it work. He allows the IRS under his watch to be humiliated by scandal, waste, ill judgments prompted by ideological assumptions. He allows his signature program, the one that will make his name in the history books, to debut in failure. In response he says bland, rounded words that leave you wondering what just got said.”

There will be no consequences for Obama—other heads will roll, but not his.

Why would I say Obama will not suffer the consequences of the rollout failure, indeed is the true Teflon president? In 2001, 2002, and 2003 he voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act as an Illinois senator, and was rewarded with the honor of speaking at the 2004 Democratic convention which brought him national attention. This was at a time when probably 90% of Americans would have polled the other way, even hard core feminists. The 2002 federal law had already passed unanimously, making him the only U.S. politician to deny a born alive infant is a human being deserving protection and medical care.

During the campaign of 2008 he lied about his Illinois vote (which was on record), and said others were lying about him (this is a favorite campaign tactic of his) and was rewarded with the presidency. He is "not merely pro-choice, but radically pro-abortion. His voting record indicates that he does not believe infants deserve protection even once they have emerged from the womb if they are deemed to be below the age of viability, and he did in fact, three times, vote to keep a form of infanticide legal." (National Review Online quote)

Really folks, if you have a record like that--denying infants medical care and letting them die--what's the big deal about programs that won't talk to each other?

EMR being updated during a doctor’s visit remind me of texting while driving

Yesterday I had my first appointment with my new internist as a follow up to my hospitalization in Sept. (my doctor is no longer seeing patients). If there's something more off-putting than having a doctor you trust and have known for years staring at a computer screen, it's got to be having no eye-contact and puzzled looks with one you don't know at all while she's reading and trying to figure out what's in your electronic record. It's like trying to have an intimate conversation with someone browsing their smart phone and never looking up. Upon leaving my appointment, I stepped on the elevator with someone reading her phone; she looked up when I spoke to her, smiled, and looked back at the phone and we continued in silence. I think I know her about as well as my new doctor.

Over 80% of EHR systems force the doctor to enter and manage the data in cumbersome, inflexible and artificial fashions that rarely reflect the true nature of the doctor-patient experience. Physicians have often adapted and learned how to be “texting” while driving through patient encounters, but many patients are increasingly uneasy with the situation where they don’t have the full attention of their doctors.

http://focusonthepatient.com/2013/03/10/emrehr-monsters/

Texting While Driving is now the leading cause of death for teens:
1. Makes you 23X more likely to crash – National Hwy Transportation Safety Admin.
2. Is the same as driving blind for 5 seconds at a time – VA. Tech Transportation Institute
3. Takes place by 800,000 drivers at any given time across the country
4. Slows your brake reaction speed by 18% – HumanFactors & Ergonomics Society
5. Leads to a 400% increase with eyes off the road

http://www.textinganddrivingsafety.com/texting-and-driving-stats/

A for real Obamacare ad for Colorado

Keep in mind, Obamacare will only work if young people (who currently don’t have insurance) sign up for it, so all the ads I saw for Colorado were clever and feature that demographic.  In the past, young adults didn’t buy health insurance even when offered by their employer.   Wait till they find out it may cost a pizza and beer.

Your medical records—no expectation of privacy

Government profits $51 billion from student loans

Story at Huffington Post, May 14, 2013

“The Obama administration is forecast to turn a record $51 billion profit this year from student loan borrowers, a sum greater than the earnings of the nation's most profitable companies and roughly equal to the combined net income of the four largest U.S. banks by assets.

Figures made public Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office show that the nonpartisan agency increased its 2013 fiscal year profit forecast for the Department of Education by 43 percent to $50.6 billion from its February estimate of $35.5 billion.

Exxon Mobil Corp., the nation's most profitable company, reported $44.9 billion in net income last year. Apple Inc. recorded a $41.7 billion profit in its 2012 fiscal year, which ended in September, while Chevron Corp. reported $26.2 billion in earnings last year. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo reported a combined $51.9 billion in profit last year.”

Maybe this will fix it

To solve a glitch or long term program failure

If you've spent a lot of money to solve a problem, and you're not successful, spend a lot more. It won't work, but will make you feel good. That's the model for Obamacare rollout of 3 weeks (est. at 1 billion already paid to contractors) and Head Start after 48 years (estimated $180 billion) based on 3rd grade tests.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/03/05/parents-deserve-to-know-the-facts-about-head-start/

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/21/obamacare-website-glitches-cgi-private-contractors

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/25/gop-lawmakers-threaten-subpoena-over-obamacare-launch-documents/

Lerner and Sebelius get to keep their high profile jobs that caused great loss of faith in government, but a lowly Obamacare enrollment guide? She gets fired.

http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/24/obamacare-operator-fired-after-hannity-radio-call/

“After 16 long days of vowing to Republicans that they would not cave in any way, shape or form on ObamaCare, Democrats spent their first post-shutdown week caving in every way, shape and form. With the GOP's antics now over, the only story now is the unrivaled disaster that is the president's health-care law.

Hundreds of thousands of health-insurance policies canceled. Companies dumping coverage and cutting employees' hours. Premiums skyrocketing. And a website that reprises the experience of a Commodore 64. As recently as May, Democratic consultants were advising members of Congress that their best ObamaCare strategy for 2014 was to "own" the law. Ms. Shaheen has now publicly advised the consultants where they can file that memo.”

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303615304579155962427302786

Grain free cookies

I haven’t tried these—I don’t eat gluten free, but am interested in the concept. They are crunchy, not chewy says the author of this blog post.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour
• 3 tbsp. coconut flour
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup coconut crystals
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (softened or melted)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 -1/2 cup chocolate chips

1) Preheat oven to 350 F.

2) Mix almond flour, coconut flakes, tapioca flour, coconut flour, coconut crystals, sea salt, and baking soda in a medium sized bowl.

3) In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, maple syrup, and vanilla until well combined. Now add the coconut oil and keep mixing.

4) Add your flour mixture. And finally, fold in the chocolate chips.

5) Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and scoop approximately a tablespoonful onto the parchment paper. Pat out the cookies into small circles. Bake for 12 minutes. The cookies will spread and turn golden brown. Let them cool on the sheet for a few more minutes, then ideally set them on a rack to cool completely before you move them into a storage container.

The cookies will turn chewy if you close them up in a closed container. I keep them in the fridge, and they stay delicious and crunchy.

Abby Johnson urges you to get help

I follow Abby on Facebook.  She has such a positive, upbeat attitude and her goal is to close abortion clinics and find jobs for the workers.

“I've had two abortions. I've stood by as thousands of babies died right in front of me. I know the pain of abortion very intimately.

But I have also healed from that pain and regret. In fact, I don't even call myself a "post abortive woman" because I don't want that label. My abortions do not define who I am today.

If you are a woman or man who finds it difficult to watch videos about abortion, or who continually mourn for aborted child, there is help and healing available. You do not have to live with that pain. God does not want you to!

There are so many ministries to help! Here are just a few that you can look into. ...
- Surrendering the Secret (my personal favorite)
- Save One
- Project Rachel
- Forgiven and Set Free
- Healing a Father's Heart
- PACE
- Rachel's Vineyard
- Healing Hearts
- Life Redeemed
I'm sure some of you have other ones to include.

Find help today!”

MARINE CORPS EXERCISE REGIMEN FOR PEOPLE OVER 60

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room on each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides. Hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax. Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags. Then try 50-lb potato bags, and then eventually, try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.

Why I left the Democratic party

Michelle Bachmann wrote in her autobiography.

“In 1976, I was still a Democrat. The Democratic Party, while it was then edging toward an abortion-on-demand stance, still allowed room in its ranks for pro-life leaders. Carter himself proved to be a clover waffle in the abortion issue, suggesting that he was pro-life to the pro-lifers and prochoice to the prochoicers--and yet the media, always Carter friendly, never nailed him on his hypocrisy. So in our naiveté, we failed to realize that Carter was playing a duplicitous double game. And the Republican Party, meanwhile, still seemed at that time to be dominated by defenders of the proabortion stance.

Yet back in the seventies, the parties had not yet sorted themselves out on the rival issue of abortion. So in 1976, many pro-life and socially conservative Americans could be found conscientiously voting for the Carter-Mondale ticket, thinking they were voting pro-life. And Marcus and I did more than that; we helped on his campaign, handing out fliers and making phone calls.”

I remember it was still possible to be a pro-life Democrat and a Christian evangelical back in the 80s—at least in Ohio--maybe even into the early 90s. Although I wasn’t particularly political then.  Campaigners kept quiet about the issue.  But then they really clamped down. By 1996, there was no point in even struggling with the issue.  The party of the poor and dispossessed and minorities had become the party of death on a huge scale—with 38% of the 50 million abortions being for black women--and much wealthier.  Now abortion was included in the Democrat platform—promoting killing the smallest and weakest of society in order to placate the lust for power in the women’s movement and to “cure” poverty.

If you don’t know

when life begins, don’t take a chance at making a mistake and killing a human being. Or supporting a law that will do it for you.

Remember, the Democratic Party is Pro-Abortion life—any reason, any time, any gender-- and included that in their last several campaign platforms.  Barack Obama is the first openly pro-abortion President, and supporter of Planned Parenthood.

2000-2012/Protecting A Woman's Right to Choose. The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right. Abortion is an intensely personal decision between a woman, her family, her doctor, and her clergy; there is no place for politicians or government to get in the way. We also recognize that health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for abortions. We strongly and unequivocally support a woman's decision to have a child by providing affordable health care and ensuring the availability of and access to programs that help women during pregnancy and after the birth of a child, including caring adoption programs.

2004/Embryonic stem cell research. Pres. Bush has rejected the calls from Nancy Reagan, Christopher Reeve & Americans across the land for assistance with embryonic stem cell research. We will reverse his wrongheaded policy. Stem cell therapy offers hope to more than 100 million Americans who have serious illnesses-from Alzheimer’s to heart disease to juvenile diabetes to Parkinson’s. We will pursue this research under the strictest ethical guidelines, but we will not walk away from the chance to save lives and reduce human suffering.  (Adult stem cell research  surged ahead during the Bush years  providing many medical miracles.  So far, none have come from embryonic research which was never illegal and several lines were always available,  and there was no problem for privately funded researches, but to no avail.)

Bill Clinton on abortion.

September jobs numbers—the left is blaming the shut down and refusing to see how Obamacare is hurting employment

“Last week’s Federal Reserve Beige Book includes direct references to the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) causing employers not to hire workers. The Beige Book “summarizes comments [the Fed] received from business and other contacts” in each of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts. The October 16 Beige Book mentions the Affordable Care Act and its regulations 10 times—and each time, the districts report it has hurt employers, increased costs, and/or depressed hiring. Look at what businesses are reporting about the Affordable Care Act:

Summary. “Several Districts reported that contacts were cautious to expand payrolls, citing uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and fiscal policy more generally.” “

http://blog.heritage.org/2013/10/22/proof-that-obamacare-is-hurting-the-economy/