The minimum wage as a campaign issue

The Ohio Food Assistance Program (federally known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP) is designed to raise nutritional levels, to expand buying power, and to safeguard the health and well being of individuals in low-income households in Ohio. A household may consist of an individual or a group of individuals who live together and usually purchase, prepare, and eat their food together. The minimum wage in Ohio is $7.95 and in a 2 person household full time employment at minimum wage would put them $13,000 above qualifying for food stamps/assistance. Very few people stay at minimum. Studies show that low wage earners do better if they change jobs, which would mean having a good record at the first job.

Why don't the Democrats want something better than minimum for workers? Where are their demands for less regulation and a freer market which creates good paying jobs?

Cool or cruel?

Recently an abortion clinic worker posted a video of her own abortion. No way to know if it was real or just a way to get attention. But when I saw the video of the kidnappers of the Nigerian girls spew hate for Western culture, I think he must have that in mind--when a woman calls killing her own baby, "Cool."

Obama hits the dusty trail . . . again

The White House has nothing. And it's campaign season again. So . . . roll out climate change, racism, income inequality, and rape. Of course, there has always been climate change; Donald Sterling has always been a racist; in the same position with same life choices, there is no inequality; and the definition of rape keeps getting redefined. Never you mind. I know some voters who will fall for this.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/6/obama-hits-campaign-trail-wary-democrats/

http://www.firstthings.com/article/2014/03/the-public-square

http://blog.heritage.org/2014/01/29/u-s-debt-poses-greater-barrier-economic-opportunity-income-inequality/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/06/politics/white-house-climate-energy/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/29/living/campus-sexual-violence-report/

Did you vote?

            

I voted today. Showed my ID, just as I do when I pick up a prescription, see a doctor, board a plane, cash a check or enter a government building. If I used a food pantry, I would show it; if I went to a free medical clinic, I would also show it.

“Stopping voter ID laws is crucial to Democrats who argue college students, the elderly and minorities will be prevented from voting under the new laws.

“It’s no surprise that these voter suppression efforts are being pushed by Republicans in key swing states,” said Democratic Governor Association spokeswoman Lis Smith.” http://dailycaller.com/2011/07/07/democrats-continue-fight-against-voter-id-laws/

So the elderly and minorities don’t need ID to get free medical care or government food, and students don’t fly or buy prescriptions drugs?

Book club selections for 2014-2015

Our book club has been meeting for 35 years with some of the original “founding mothers” still with the group, and which began in the Clintonville area of Columbus.  I joined in 2000.  I don’t read a lot, and it it weren’t for this wonderful group, I wouldn’t probably be reading any fiction. Yesterday we voted on the selections for next year, first Monday at 2 p.m. except where noted (we don’t meet in the summer).

September 8, Monuments men by Robert Edsel, led by Bev, co-meeting with the night group, private home

October, Snow in August by Pete Hamill, led by Carmen, private home

November, The book thief, by Markus Zusak, led by Marcie, at Panera’s

December, Citizens of London, by Lynne Olson, led by Carolyn, at private home.

January, The mother daughter Book Club, by Heather Frederick, led by Marti at Panera’s

February, Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, led by Adrienne at Panera’s

March, My name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira, led by Letha at Panera’s

April, Cain at Gettysburg, by Ralph Peters, led by Carmen at private home

May, Dirty Life, by Kristen Kimball, led by Courtney at private home

Liberalism and liberals

About once a day, I hear (or read) about the hypocrisy of liberals who are not accepting of other views or who don’t allow conservatives the rights guaranteed in the constitution or demonstrate a lack of compassion.  Most recently it was about Condi Rice and the shameful behavior at Rutgers University, a school that in 2011 had the performer known as “Snooki” Polizzi as an invited speaker.

However, in my opinion, there is no hypocrisy—liberals have never been open to the ideas of others or respected those they don’t consider part of their class.

In The Revolt Against the Masses: How Liberalism Has Undermined the Middle Class by Fred Siegel (reviewed in First Things, June/July 2014) claims liberalism did not originate in progressivism, but instead began with a small group of intellectuals and writers, mostly based in Greenwich Village—H. L. Mencken, Sinclair Lewis, Lincoln Steffens, and Edmund Wilson.  Liberals “. . . had a quarrel with the industry, immigration and economic growth that had produced unprecedented prosperity in the United State.”  They developed a contempt for American culture and politics, and hostility toward the middle class, and in the 1930s many fell under the influence of Communism.

Reviewer Geoffrey Kabaservice in First Things says “Siegel makes some telling criticisms of the pre-World War II generations of left-leaning intellectuals.  They often were dismissive of the heritage and unique qualities of the United States, clueless about capitalism, too ready to see small business owners as a proto-fascist petty bourgeoisie, and too prone to thinking of big business as an oppressive force.” He was, however, critical of what he saw as many shortcomings in the book and thought Siegel “lacked objectivity.”

To me Siegel seems on target--like what Democrats (liberals, progressives, socialists, Communists) say about the middle class today, especially the Tea Party, conservatives and Republicans.

Liberals, Siegel says, love bureaucracy, don’t understand the people they claim to want to help, and expelled whites from the cities which they then bankrupted.

https://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/opiate-elites_775988.html

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304434104579382882678398034

http://www.c-span.org/video/?317203-1/book-discussion-revolt-masses

Michael Barone loved it. “From the dumbing down of education to extreme environmentalism, from anti-family poverty programs to free-speech curbs on campuses, the excesses of our times are laid out like the pieces of a puzzle. It is a clear-eyed vision of how we got to this troubled place.”

http://nypost.com/2014/02/15/the-revolt-against-the-masses-reveals-liberalisms-elitist-roots/

Herman Cain

Sung at the funeral of a friend on Saturday

Jerusalem, by the Hoppers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hy5VxG6q98

Monday Memories—before I was born

In the fall of 1939, important things were happening, and these little kids started first grade in Mt. Morris, Illinois.  It was in their 1952 Mounder yearbook as a memory. I have two cousins in this group, and can recognize almost all of them, although I wasn’t born yet when they started school.  That’s how it is in a small town.

Good morning.

Thought I'd shake up the taste buds today. Usually I have an orange or apple with almonds or walnuts for breakfast. Today I had a baked sweet potato, 769% of Vit. A requirement and 65% Vit. C. low in sodium, and very low in saturated fat and cholesterol. It is also a good source of fiber, Vitamin B6, potassium and manganese. Then I had some fresh strawberries (picked up the rest of the Vit. C) with some almond milk, higher in many nutrients than cow's milk. High in calcium, Vit. D, Vit. E.

Of course, I added some butter and salt.

Will you live past 90? New research

Last night's 60 minutes (it's really 42 minutes) had an excellent report by Leslie Stahl on being over 90 years old. It challenged many myths about aging. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/living-to-90-and-beyond/

Some findings were no surprise to me. “People who exercised definitely lived longer than people who didn't exercise. As little as 15 minutes a day on average made a difference. Forty-five was the best. Even three hours didn't beat 45 minutes a day." However, the grim statistics were—over age 65, dementia doubles every 5 years.  Low blood pressure is worse than high blood pressure this age group, and being overweight, or normal weight, is better than being thin. Wine, dessert and coffee are good for long life.  Much of dementia in this age group is not Alzheimer’s, but hundreds or thousands of tiny strokes.  Some people seem to have something that protects them from dementia—this research will hopefully solve that puzzle.

Taking supplements doesn’t provide any protection, but being social does.  So take a friend to lunch, volunteer, go to church, join a book club, help your neighbors (it’s a 2-fer).

The death of Clayton Lockett

President Obama said the botched execution of a murderer was "deeply troubling." In 1999, Clayton Lockett kidnapped, beat, and shot 19-year-old Stephanie Neiman and ordered accomplices to bury her alive; this was after forcing the victim to witness the gang rape of a friend of Neiman.  Lockett had recently been released from prison and chose his young victim at random.  To my knowledge, President Obama has not called her torture and death deeply troubling.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/05/02/obama-oklahoma-execution-is-deeply-troubling/?wpisrc=nl_headlines

I love stories like this

California Chrome’s dam was purchased for $8,000 and the stud fee was $2,000.  Careful research on genes and good training.

Code words

Pretty soon using the word "Benghazi" will be code for racism or sexism. The cover up was used to ensure Obama's reelection because the theme was he had defeated terrorism.

"New York magazine columnist Jonathan Chait appeared on MSNBC with host Alex Wagner on Friday evening to preview what he thought a special committee to investigate the response to the Benghazi attacks would look like. He said that the “discourse” on the right about the deadly 2012 attack is “one notch more respectable than birtherism” and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has avoided establishing such a committee for fear that his conference members would go overboard in attacking the administration."  Mediate.com

“President Barack Obama has described al Qaeda as having been “decimated,” “on the path to defeat” or some other variation at least 32 times since the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, according to White House transcripts.” http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-touts-al-qaeda-s-demise-32-times-benghazi-attack-0

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/17/romney-obama-benghazi-defeated-debate

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/110612-632391-60-minutes-tape-suppressed-to-aid-obama.htm

Where Christians disagree—the Eucharist

What is Holy Eucharist?

Holy Eucharist is the sacrament in which Jesus Christ gives his Body and Blood himself for us, so that we too might give ourselves to him in love and be united with him in Holy Communion. In this way we are joined with the one Body of Christ, the Church.

After Baptism and Confirmation, the Eucharist is the third sacrament of initiation of the Catholic Church. The Eucharist is the mysterious center of all these sacraments, because the historic sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is made present during the words of consecration in a hidden, unbloody manner. Thus the celebration of the Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (Second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium [LG], 11). Everything aims at this; besides this there is nothing greater that one could attain. When we eat the broken Bread, we unite ourselves with the love of Jesus, who gave his body for us on the wood of the Cross; when we drink from the chalice, we unite ourselves with him who even poured out his blood out of love for us. We did not invent this ritual. Jesus himself celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples and therein anticipated his death; he gave himself to his disciples under the signs of bread and wine and commanded them from then on, even after his death, to celebrate the Eucharist. "Do this in remembrance of me" (1 Cor 11:24).  Taken from YOUCAT 208, Catechism for Youth

"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also the chalice, after supper, saying, This chalice is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me'" (1 Cor 11:23- 25).

This, the oldest account of the events in the Upper Room at the Last Supper, is by the apostle Paul, who was not an eyewitness himself, but rather wrote down what was being preserved as a holy mystery by the young Christian community and was being celebrated in the liturgy. (YOUCAT 209-210)

“Eucharist, because it is an action of thanksgiving to God. The Greek words eucharistein¹⁴¹ and eulogein¹⁴² recall the Jewish blessings that proclaim — especially during a meal — God's works: creation, redemption, and sanctification.” cross-ref 1324

Transparency? The Press Corps reports

A new survey in Politico Magazine asked 60 members of the White House press corps varying in age and experience to share their thoughts on what life is really like within the Beltway for journalists.

Foreclosure of a mega church in Georgia

Blogger.com where I have my blogs has a feature called "next blog" so I was browsing today and found Church in the Now of Conyers, GA, and the last entry was about its foreclosure, Easter 2012. It was a huge, magnificent facility and not ugly like most mega churches. So I read through the pastor's timeline of how he started it in 1985 with 54 members, up to the sale for over $18 million, and about the other 90 churches in Georgia going through foreclosure.

Wondering where they went and expecting a rebuilding with renewed energy, I Googled. In 2010, he had announced he was gay, he says, to stem the tide of gay teen suicides. Really? How many teens listen to adults about their sexuality? Plus the highest suicide rate in the U.S. isn't gay teens--it's men over 85. And he'd been married twice and had 4 children. If claiming to be honest about sexuality, at least be honest about other things.

Over the centuries, millions of men and women have given up acting on sexual feelings and putting aside personal relationships from marriage to affairs to procreation in order to achieve a higher calling (whether or not you agree isn't the point). Millions more are caretakers for spouses and have set aside sexual desires for a higher form of expressing love.  Every day there are married people who choose to be faithful to their vows rather than act on their sexual desires.  He needed to be honest, but probably should have started with his first wife and the original congregation of 1985 and stop blaming society for his hiding his true feelings all these years. From celebrities to politicians to pastors: if you can't accept your homosexuality, don't be surprised when society isn't sympathetic with your cover up when you finally come out.

Listen, learn and exercise

I’m not really an exercise enthusiast, but since developing bursitis in December, I can’t do much walking, so I’m using my Gold’s Gym Power Spin 210 U—or an exercycle.  It keeps track of heart activity, speed, distance and calories.  I’ve figured out if I ride my power spin for 10 minutes at 3 levels of difficulty I burn about 40 calories; 4 times a day would be 160 calories, or one cookie with no chocolate chips. Sigh.

                         

              Photo predates our new carpet and flat screen TV.

Since exercising this way is boring, I’m trying to finish the audio of Jesus of Nazareth, the infancy narratives by Pope Benedict XVI, and have learned a lot, although I could probably learn more if I were reading.  For instance, today I learned that “King of the Jews” which is the title the Magi used, was not known to the Jews, and wasn’t used again in scripture until Pilot said it.  So it is a prefiguring in the infancy stories of the crucifixion.  Also the Magi brought myrrh, an expensive spice used for perfume, spice and anointing the dead. Because of the coming holy day, the women were not able to use myrrh on the body of Jesus and by they time they got to the tomb after the crucifixion, he was already gone, so the myrrh was not used—he was alive, not dead. Benedict uses a lot of Old Testament background and early church fathers.  Very interesting comments about the star made by believers even in the first and second century. It is not at all dogmatic—just provides the research and teaching over the years, even that which isn’t popular today.

“While he was interrogating Jesus, Pilate unexpectedly put this question to the accused: "Where are you from?" Jesus' accusers had called for him to receive the death penalty by dramatically declaring that this Jesus had made himself the Son of God-a capital offense under the law. The "enlight­ened" Roman judge, who had already expressed skepticism regarding the question of truth (cf. Jn 18:38), could easily have found this claim by the accused laughable. And yet he was frightened. The accused had indicated that he was a king, but that his kingdom was "not of this world" ( Jn 18:36).

And then he had alluded to a mysterious origin and purpose, say­ing: "For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth" ( Jn 18:37).All this must have seemed like madness to the Roman judge. And yet he could not shake off the mysterious impres­sion left by this man, so different from those he had met before who resisted Roman domination and fought for the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. The Roman judge asks where Jesus is from in order to understand who he really is and what he wants.

The question about Jesus' provenance, as an inquiry after his deeper origin and hence his true being, is also found in other key passages of Saint John's Gospel, and it plays an equally important role in the Synoptic Gospels. For John, as for the Synoptics, it raises a singular paradox. On the one hand, counting against Jesus and his claim to a divine mission, is the fact that people knew exactly where he was from: he does not come from heaven, from "the Father," from "above," as he purports to ( Jn 8:23). No: "Is not this Jesus, whose fa­ther and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" ( Jn 6:42). “

- See more at: http://www.imagecatholicbooks.com/book/226834/jesus-of-nazareth/#sthash.u4PCTbzR.dpuf

Thomas Watson, Puritan

I review a lot of books (from the agency hired to promote the books) and receive a lot of fluff. Rather than say "this stinks," I just don't blog about that title. That's why it's such a pleasure to report on a fantastic writer, rich with references, and blinding clarity. Thomas Watson, a British puritan (1620-1686). I was checking Google for a definition of a word we Christians hear a lot (glorify, glorification, glory) and found him. "Man's chief end is to glorify God." Absolutely wonderful. Put it on your bucket list--both the essay and the act.  http://thomaswatsonquotes.com/

How far should they go with personal, private speech restriction?

Will it end with Donald Sterling? He had a black/Mexican mistress was jealous of some hunky black athletes she was hanging out with, so he said some crude things.   Perhaps their 50 year age difference made him a bit insecure in his manhood?  Now they are going to take his team away from him for being a racist.  I heard that there's another team owner who has contributed to causes to support marriage and the gay mafia are going after him.

This may not turn out well--do you want your business destroyed because you contributed to Planned Parenthood or you're not vegan, or you own a fur coat, or use coal for your electricity, or you're a pagan, or you had two mothers, or you contributed to the growth of federal control over education, or your grandmother was the vice president of a bank in Hawaii? The Democrats won't always be in power and political correctness can swing both ways.