Muslims slaughter Christians in Central African Republic

450,000 Christians Flee From Muslim Attacks in the Central African Republic

"Unlike Christian communities in Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, and in other nations, whereby various sects are persecuted, it is clear that in the Central African Republic -- just like in South Sudan -- that Christians will not just sit back and wait to be slaughtered or become trapped in ghettoes. It is hoped that the international community will be fair in pointing out the real factors behind communal violence. After all, it is clear that religious tensions erupted after Seleka troops began to ransack Christian areas. However, the same media which always points out the "Buddhist" angle in Myanmar (more Christians have been killed in Myanmar than any other non-Buddhist religion in the last few decades) in relation to the persecution of Muslims in this country; they appear to loathe to point out massacres by Muslims forces in the CAR against Christians; just like the persecution of Buddhists and others in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is barely mentioned in Bangladesh." http://www.aina.org/news/20131127122830.htm

I first read about Seleka at a Human Rights site, which noted that it was a Muslim group, but didn't identify the civilians or villages as Christians.

Something like that

Obamacare supporters are taking the credit for slowing the rate of increase!

Paul Krugman is an embarrassment to his profession.

“Whatever the cause [slowing of the rate] , it started early on George Bush’s watch—not under Barrack Obama.

Moreover, ObamaCare doesn’t really begin until this coming January. All the changes up to now have been cost increasing—providing risk pool insurance to the uninsurable, forcing private plans to cover more benefits, and adding such extras to Medicare as free “wellness exams.”

So how does Krugman manage to give ObamaCare any credit for a slowdown in spending? He begins by noting that a 2011 letter signed by hundreds of health and labor economists pointed out that “the Affordable Care Act contains essentially every cost-containment provision policy analysts have considered effective in reducing the rate of medical spending.” “

http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=4817

A mother’s advice

A man in his 20s was griping (on Facebook) about needing to live with his parents to make ends meet so he could attend college  (because of minimum wage job, I assume).  His mother (who is still under 40) chimed in:

Spend your money on rent instead of video games and movies and you wouldn't be living with your parents. Just a little advice from your comment. People today seem to think that smartphones, cable and spending money are necessities. They live above their means then ask for a handout when they don't have a Turkey for Thanksgiving or enough high tech toys for the kids for Christmas.

Maybe it’s your (or my) thyroid

“If you're always cold or tired, you can't lose weight, you have brittle hair and fingernails, or you have other unexplained health issues, the answer may be "Yes."

Untreated, a thyroid disease can make you feel lousy. It can also increase your odds of having high cholesterol, developing atherosclerosis, and having a heart attack. “ Harvard Medical School “Healthbeat,” Dec. 7.

When I was in the hospital for heart rate problems (too fast and irregular), the doctor suggested, based on the blood work, that my thyroid was a bit low and that might be part of the problem with the heart.

My new internist agreed and prescribed Synthroid, very low dose.

What are the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism?

The more commonly known symptoms of hypothyroidism are weight gain, low basal body temperature, brittle fingernails with ridging, cold intolerance and cold extremities, like your hands and/or your feet.

However, the list of symptoms that can be associated with hypothyroidism is actually quite long, varied and can include symptoms that most women might attribute to perimenopause, such as: fatigue, muscle and joint pain, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, loss of libido, infertility, weight gain, decreased mental sharpness (brain fog), fluid retention, depression and/or mood swings. Check the article for 35 symptoms

Crazy, dumb police state

The entertainment industry can continue with violence and mayhem in films, TV and gaming because of their powerful lobby and cozy parties with the Obamas whom they fund, but children can't play with make-believe guns or bows or knives. How dumb. Rona Kaufmann is Superintendent of the South Eastern School District in Fawn Grove, Pennsylvania, and she has some explaining to do. http://video.foxnews.com/v/2903095903001/fifth-grader-suspended-for-shooting-imaginary-arrow/?playlist_id=940325739001

The incident took place the week of October 14th, when fifth grader Johnny Jones asked his teacher for a pencil during class. Jones walked to the front of the classroom to retrieve the pencil, and during his walk back to his seat, a classmate and friend of Johnny’s held his folder like an imaginary gun and “shot” at Johnny. Johnny playfully used his hands to draw the bowstrings on a completely imaginary “bow” and “shot” an arrow back. Seeing this, another girl in the class reported to the teacher that the boys were shooting at each other. The teacher took both Johnny and the other boy into the hall and lectured them about disruption. The teacher then contacted Johnny’s mother, Beverly Jones, alerting her to the “seriousness” of the violation because the children were using “firearms” in their horseplay, and informing her that the matter had been referred to the Principal. Principal John Horton contacted Ms. Jones soon thereafter in order to inform her that Johnny’s behavior was a serious offense that could result in expulsion under the school’s weapons policy. Horton characterized Johnny’s transgression as “making a threat” to another student using a “replica or representation of a firearm” through the use of an imaginary bow and arrow. https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/on_the_front_lines/rutherford_institute_defends_10_year_old_suspended_for_shooting_imaginary_a

              

And Ohio is the shape of a hand grenade, and Illinois is an arrowhead. Vermont looks like a knife.

Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett

I used to do something like this when there was no money in the purse, but some food in the cupboard (usually the last 2 or 3 days of the month). Didn't know is had a name.

Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef
1 large onion (chopped)
1/2 teaspoon of seasoned salt...
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
a dash of Worcestershire sauce
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (can use 3/4 cheddar and 1/4 mozzarella)
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of Original Bisquick mix
2 eggs

Directions:
Heat oven to 400°F.
Spray a 9 inch pie plate with non-stick cooking spray
Cook beef and chopped onion in a skillet over medium about 10 minutes or until beef is brown. Drain excess fat.
Stir in salt, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce and then spread in pie plate
Next, sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of the beef
In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and Bisquick. Make sure you try to get as many lumps out as you can. Pour over meat mixture.
Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until a knife comes out clean

Serves 4-5 people

December 6

Advent is the time when Christians prepare to greet Christ—who came as a babe in a manger, who comes into our lives each day, and who will come again at the end of time. A saint honored on December 6 is St. Nicholas.

Advent

Jesus, St. Nicholas, and the law of the gift. The law of the gift is this: the more you give, the more you receive. http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/neuhaus/

I rarely send an e-card (we design our own Christmas cards), but really like these St. Nicholas cards (feast day Dec. 6). They won't be delivered until tomorrow. http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/e-cards/

Cut out, soft sour cream cookies

I usually use Neno’s (my husband’s grandmother) recipe, but thought I’d add this one to the list.

Ingredients

• FOR COOKIE DOUGH:
• 5-1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sour cream, room temperature
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• FOR FROSTING (makes 1 cup of frosting):
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3-4 tablespoons canned evaporated milk
• food coloring (optional)

Directions

MAKE COOKIE DOUGH:
In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, & salt; set aside. In second large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream the sour cream and butter at low speed; add sugar, eggs, and vanilla & mix until combined. (It's okay if it's a little lumpy as long as no butter chunks are visible.) Gradually add the flour mixture to the sour cream mixture, mixing until well combined. Dough will be sticky. (If cookie dough is too thick for your mixture to handle, you can stir it by hand with a wooden spoon.) Divide dough onto two pieces of plastic wrap; flatten dough, wrap tightly, and refrigerate until chilled, 1-2 hours. (Make ahead tip: Dough may be made to this point and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.)
ROLL, CUT, & BAKE COOKIES:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Generously flour your counter or work surface to prevent dough from sticking. Rub flour on the rolling pin. Put one of the chilled pieces of dough on top of the floured surface and sprinkle the top of the dough with more flour. Starting at the center, roll the dough out to one edge; return to the center and roll to the opposite edge. Continue rolling until dough is an even 1/4" thick all over, sprinkling with additional flour, if needed, to avoid sticking. Dip cookie cutter in flour and cut out dough shapes. Transfer dough shapes to baking sheets. Continue rolling dough, cutting shapes, and adding to baking sheets until they are filled. Bake 2 sheets at a time for 8-10 minutes, rotating and switching pans half way through cooking time. Bake them just until they are baked all the way through but haven't started browning on the bottom. If a soft textured cookie is desired, it's very important not to over bake them. Transfer hot cookies to a baking rack to cool completely. (Make-ahead tip: Cooled, unfrosted cookies may be stacked in a sealed container and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 2 weeks.)
MAKE FROSTING:
Combine powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla, and half of the evaporated milk in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to combine ingredients on a low speed until its' a thick paste consistency and all of the lumps are gone. Gradually add remaining milk and continue mixing on medium speed until frosting is a smooth, silky, spreadable consistency. If it's still too thick, add more milk 1/2 teaspoon at a time until it's desired consistency. Mix in food coloring, if desired.
FROST & STORE COOKIES:
Frost each cookie and decorate with sprinkles while frosting is still wet. Leave out to dry for several hours until dry to touch before storing in an airtight container. If stacking frosted cookies, put waxed or parchment paper between layers.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION per cookie: 125 calories, 4.5g fat, 70mg sodium, 19.6g carbs, 10.7g sugars, 1.5g protein, 0g fiber; Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 3

http://www.theyummylife.com/Sour_Cream_Sugar_Cookies#EmbedRecipe_294

Three phases of ObamaCare by James Taranto

Phase 1, the technical failure, might have been avoided had the administration had some basic standards of competence. But Phases 2 and 3 are inherent in the law.

Phase 2 was the revelation that the ObamaCare enterprise is the most massive consumer fraud in American history--that the "if you like your plan, you can keep it" sales pitch was not only false but deliberately deceptive, and also that ObamaCare forces insurance companies to engage in dishonest practices such as selling maternity coverage to men and postmenopausal women. "Health care experts say, it's not out of the question that the Obama administration could face the worst-case scenario on Jan. 1: the number of uninsured Americans actually goes up." Politico.

Phase 3 will develop over the coming months. Phase 3 is the demonstration that even if the system is technically functional and the fraud impervious to redress, ObamaCare is economically unviable because of adverse selection: Americans who stand benefit from the law's price controls, the old and the sick, will buy insurance in large numbers, while those who get hit by them, the young and the healthy, will not.

There’s more.

NSA and Obama

http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/national/how-the-nsa-is-tracking-people-right-now/634/

“. . . the National Security Agency is collecting billions of records a day to track the location of mobile phone users around the world. This bulk collection, performed under the NSA’s international surveillance authority, taps into the telephony links of major telecommunications providers including some here in the United States.”

Letters to President Clinton

There are a number of adoption stories in the Bible. Moses' name was given to him by his adoptive mother, the daughter of Pharoah who "drew him out of the water." The Bible doesn't say what his Hebrew name was, but according to the Midrash it was Tuvia. He kept his Egyptian name even after he knew he was a Hebrew. Rabbi Genack writes that as an Egyptian royal and not a Hebrew slave he asserted the then-unknown principle of the freedom and dignity of man. "It is therefore, Moses the Egyptian, and not Tuvia the Hebrew, who is destined to be the giver of the Law and the "father of Prophets" who will mouth the Divine imperative", (Deut. 16:20) "Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord you God is giving you." p. 12, Letters to President Clinton, (Sterling Ethos, 2013)

This book recommendation might surprise you, but hear me out. "Letters to President Clinton; Biblical lessons on faith and leadership," edited by Rabbi Menachem Genack, Sterling Ethos, 2013. Bill Clinton was a Southern Baptist who became friends with Rabbi Genack in 1992; they began a written dialogue that continues to the present. Genack also recruited other Jewish friends to join in the Biblical  reflections/commentary. These have been compiled and edited by him with comments dealing with the context and setting. Each essay is only a page or two, easily finished in one reading and organized by general topic, the largest probably being "Leadership," but also including "Sin and Repentance," "Creation," "Community," "Faith," "Dreams and Vision," and "Holidays." Protestants tend to cherry pick slections of the Old Testament to fit either "end times," or their denomination's teaching on Jesus. This is a fresh and delightful look at how Jews see those same stories and passages, along with the scholarship they've developed over thousands of years.

Rabbi Genack is rabbinic administrator and CEO of the Orthodox Union's Kosher Division, overseeing the certification program of some 7,000 food-production facilities in 80 countries. OU is America's oldest Orthodox Jewish communal organization, embracing over 400 synagogues across North America (from publicist). Whether you buy it or get it from your library, you'll enjoy this book (just don't expect to agree with everything, but that should be the case with all books about the Bible).

Letters to President Clinton: Biblical Lessons on Faith and Leadership Edited by Rabbi Menachem Genack,
Sterling Ethos/OU Press, New York, 2013. 288 pages, ISBN 978-1-4549-0791-6

This would be an excellent Christmas gift, Christian or Jew, Democrat or Republican.

Reviewed: http://www.ou.org/jewish_action/11/2013/letters-president-clinton-biblical-lessons-faith-leadership/

Hayek on my bookshelves

Road to Serfdom, written by F.A. Hayek for a British audience but not published until 1944,  has become a “classic,” and one I’d never heard of until Glenn Beck’s show on Fox. Beck probably did more to get people reading than Oprah Winfrey. Any mention of a title, and the warehouses were empties.  The left just hates the way it dismantles and warns about socialism, authoritarianism and totalitarianism.

I have vol. 2, the “The definitive edition,” with text and documents, edited by Bruce Caldwell (University of Chicago Press, 2007). There are 20 volumes in the provisional collected works by Mr. Caldwell.

Here’s something appropriate because of the lies with spin we’ve been subjected to lately.  From “my mother had no health insurance,” to “I never knew my Uncle Omar” to “You can keep your doctor, period,” this explains the thinking.

“The word “truth” itself ceases to have its old meaning.  It describes no longer something to be found, with the individual conscience as the sole arbiter of whether in any particular instance the evidence  . . . warrants a belief; it become something to be laid down by authority; something which has to be believed in the interest of the unity of the organized effort and which may have to be altered as the exigencies of this organized effort require it.” . . . produced cynicism, loss of the sense of even the meaning of truth, the disappearance of the spirit of independent inquiry and of the belief in the power of rational conviction. . . every branch of knowledge become political issues to be decided by authority. . . “ p. 178

Worse than even I could have imagined

RE: OBAMACARE A comment posted on the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare FB page

"I actually made it through this morning at 8:00 AM. I have a preexisting condition (Type 1 Diabetes) and my income base was 45K-55K annually. I chose tier 2 "Silver Plan" and my monthly premiums came out to $597.00 with $13,988 yearly deductible!!! There is NO POSSIBLE way that I can afford this so I "opt-out" and chose to continue along with no insurance.

I received an email tonight at 5:00 P.M.... Informing me that my fine would be $4,037 and could be attached to my yearly income tax return.

Then you make it to the "REPERCUSSIONS PORTION" for "non-payment" of yearly fine.

First, your drivers license will be suspended until paid, and if you go 24 consecutive months with "Non-Payment" and you happen to be a home owner, you will have a federal tax lien placed on your home. You can agree to give your bank information so that they can easy "Automatically withdraw" your "penalties" weekly, bi-weekly or monthly! This by no means is "Free" or even "Affordable."

Really, folks, how does this help the low income/poor? Democrats:  Do you have an explanation for this travesty?

How the White House memorializes Mandela

With a photo of Barack Obama.  But I’m sure he knew nothing about this.

Will unions be able to improve service at this Grandview Heights McDonald’s?

I have no idea how many protesting the fast food wage (entry level, starting job, many for teens) are not working there and are union plants.  I was browsing one of those rating systems for one in our area, and I’m guessing these employees are all doing well, and looking for advancement.  This store is at 911 W. Fifth St., Grandview Heights, Ohio, and the customer gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

                                   

“Yes, I know I am reviewing a McDonalds, but we all should know no two McDonalds are the same. All health comments aside lets get right down to the results.

This McDonalds is really, really busy during meal hours, days when I choose to stop in a get breakfast on the way to work I always worry when I see the line completely wrapped around, but I have never waited more than about 7 mins, usually its around 5 mins.

They have yet to mess up my order at all or do anything else that would lead to complaints. When I decide to eat inside I find the restrooms, eating area and kitchen clean. I even like that they let a local semi "weird" guy just watch the TV in there all night when he just gets a coffee, which they may or may not make him pay for.

All in all this is probably one of the best McDonalds in Columbus and since I do not plan to go around all of Columbus to try them out you will just have to take my word for it.”

I worked for 25 cents over minimum at a Readmore Bookstore in the early 80s.  I wasn’t even worth that.  I was just awful at learning the cash register and figuring gift coupons. And my being a librarian with an MLS was useless to my employer. 

Barack’s uncle Omar

I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for Obama (aka White House) lying about his uncle. He was out of the room when the truth genes were passed out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/12/05/after-denying-they-had-met-white-house-now-says-obama-lived-with-uncle/

It's just stunning what the smartest man on the globe claims not to know.

Jay Carney (paraphrase): "No one asked him (Obama) when the original report came up." So it seems No one, Someone, Anyone and Everyone are ganging up again on the President. They are probably all Republicans and members of the Tea Party.

Rick Warren’s new book, The Daniel Plan

                         

Today Gretchen Carlson interviewed Rick Warren about his "The Daniel Plan" which is about healthy eating and exercise, and she specifically asked what he thought about the Obamacare mandate requiring Christians to violate their conscience and teachings, and after telling her Christians had the first hospitals he moved right back to talking about his book and didn't answer her question which included a clip of Cardinal Dolan on NBC.

One of the guests with Warren commented on obesity and brain function. Compared to people of normal weight, overweight people’s brains look 8 years older and obese people’s brains appear 16 years older. Warren has lost 65 lbs.--so maybe that was his problem with answering a very clear question.

http://bebrainfit.com/lifestyle/drains/the-toll-being-overweight-takes-on-your-brain/

Some clergy don’t have enough to do

More than 60 clergy of the Washington, DC area have signed a letter to the NFL and Washington team owner Dan Snyder calling for D.C.’s football team to change its name (Washington Redskins). I wonder if they could get 60 DC clergy to protest abortions in Washington, which is about 30/1000 compared to 19.6/1000 in the rest of the nation. I wonder if 60 clergy join in the March for Life that is held every year on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Which kills more people--a sports name (also used by American Indian schools as a mascot name) or dismembering and decapitating living babies in utero. Have they protested this: "Multiple individual plans available on the D.C. health-insurance exchange specifically cover elective abortion but not hearing aids, routine foot-care, and routine eye-care." Where's the outrage about 40% of the abortions in DC are for low-income minority women?

Those aren’t footballs in those bellies.

Twain has a familiar ring

People with short memories say, or at least liberals say, no president has been as abused as Obama (they've already forgotten the horrid things said about Bush). But Mark Twain was vicious about Teddy Roosevelt. "[No] President before who was destitute of self-respect & of respect for his high office; we have had no President before who was not a gentleman; we have had no President before who was intended for a butcher, a dive-keeper or a bully, & missed his mission by compulsion of circumstances over which he had no control. . . and. . . "Roosevelt is far and away the worst President we have ever had, and also the most admired and the most satisfactory. The nation’s admiration of him and pride in him and worship of him is far wider, far warmer, and far more general than it has ever before lavished upon a President, even including McKinley, Jackson, and Grant."

That worship thing sounds familiar, doesn't it?