This failed in Congress, with his own party, so he’s going it alone

Cap and Trade failed in Congress--there weren't enough Democrats to support it. Some of them want the economy to recover, and want to hold their seats.  But Obama really owes his leftist supporters, so he's going it alone.  Who needs a Congress when you've got a Czar? In a week in which he gave the worst speech of his career, traded five terrorists for a deserter, was AWOL on the VA scandal, and got two members of his administration to take the fall for him, his ratings couldn't go any lower, so why not just confirm that Congress is an outdated vestige of a past that included a Constitution that outlaws just about everything he does?.

“Personally, I'm pretty skeptical that enough Democrats would have embraced cap and trade, even if the president had put it before health care. Democrats were willing to do a suicide charge on health care because they (incorrectly, so far) assumed that it would be much more popular after it was passed. Only a lunatic could have thought that Cap and Trade would be more popular once it started taking chunks out of peoples' paychecks. Especially in the middle of a brutal economic crisis.” http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/17/why-did-cap-and-trade-fail

The truth is there weren’t enough Democrats willing to support a carbon cap, let along Republicans. Michael Shellenberger of the Breakthrough Institute—a think tank that is highly skeptical of cap and trade—told me that his group spoke to environmental lobbyists back in 2008 who were working on a cap-and-trade bill in the Senate then, the Warner-Lieberman bill. Though it never went to a full vote, Shellenberger believes that a carbon cap bill in 2008 would have received no more than 35 votes. Now there are more Democrats in the Senate than there were then, and political realities change with a Democratic president in the White House—but that’s still a huge gap. http://science.time.com/2010/07/22/cap-and-trade-is-dead-really-truly-im-not-kidding-whos-to-blame/

Why blame Reagan?

In 1984, the HIV virus was identified by the U.S. Public Health Service and French scientists. In 1985, a blood test to detect HIV was licensed. Yet gay advocates criticize President Reagan for not speaking out about it until 1987 even though he had instructed his Surgeon General to issue a report in February 1986. (I even saw that on the cover of Entertainment magazine recently.) Gay bars, bathhouses and rampant promiscuity continued, but somehow it's Reagan's fault men were dying from their own sexual behavior?

What other president is blamed for deaths from disease before treatment/cure was found? There were at least 9 deadly diseases known to kill citizens in Washington's 2 terms. Inoculation for small pox was being tried in the mid 18th century and Jefferson didn't advocate for it until 1806. Even Lincoln got small pox after Gettysburg. FDR didn't start the March of Dimes until almost 20 years after he'd had polio. The Fords and Carters advocated for childhood vaccines 30+ years after I'd been vaccinated in 1945 and 1953. 45 years after the Surgeon General's report on smoking, President Obama was still smoking.

In the U.S. 443,000 people die prematurely from tobacco related illnesses each year according to the CDC--more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined and WWII deaths!. Not a peep from the White House (except to raise the cigarette tax which disproportionately hurts the poor).

So why the anger at Reagan for not jumping on the HIV band wagon?

Boko Haram killed 9 in Nigerian village

I grew up in and was baptized in the Church of the Brethren, as were my parents, grandparents, great grandparents and siblings.  Even as a little girl I enjoyed hearing the stories of taking Christ to the Nigerians, and eventually there was a strong Brethren church there, EYN, Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria. The Brethren Newsline of May 20, 2014, reported that five EYN members were killed by Boko Haram who are seeking a pure Islamic state for Nigeria. Nine were killed in the village of Shawa.

The wife of EYN president, Rebecca Dali writes: “We need your prayers.  Now there is virtually no security in Borno State, especially outside Maiduguri.  Many have fled to Cameroon.  In refugee camps in Cameroon and for some who are displaced there was no food, medical, or other kinds of help.  The government, even when warned, does not stop the violence.  People are suffering.”

The school from which the girl were kidnapped was established by a Brethren missionary couple now living in Kansas.

http://www.hutchnews.com/news/local_state_news/mcpherson-couple-watching-events-unfold-at-nigerian-school-where-they/article_ca81e3ca-e875-5ab1-a28a-bc6ad654e512.html

Sue after the sale

“Donald Sterling, who has co-owned the Los Angeles Clippers with his wife since 1981, sued the National Basketball Association a day after she agreed to sell the team for $2 billion following the uproar over Sterling’s racist comments.

Sterling, 80, seeks more than $1 billion in damages, claiming the NBA violated his constitutional rights by banning him from the sport for life, fining him $2.5 million and taking steps to strip him of ownership of the team solely on basis of a conversation with his lover he said was illegally recorded.”

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Donald-Sterling-NBA-Clippers-lawsuit/2014/05/30/id/574363#ixzz33ISJknkC

I know nothing about the law, but unless racist comments with his mistress in a private conversation was included in a contract of 33 years ago, I think he has a case. He has been defamed, humiliated in public and stripped of his property.  And they have what?  Illegally recorded and sold to the media conversation.

Shinseki and Carney go bye-bye

Two useful solutions for VA scandal

Paul Krugman, eat crow. Romney suggested private vouchers for veterans and was roundly ridiculed on the left. However, Obama said there were problems in 2008 and did nothing but ask for more money. It's control, not money. VA health system is socialized medicine, the direction all leftists want us to go. The pro-choice crowd wants no choice for education, veterans' health, light bulbs, etc. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/opinion/krugman-vouchers-for-veterans-and-other-bad-ideas.html?_r=0

It wouldn't take a genius: give the veterans vouchers to introduce some competition and reduce the wait time, and get rid of the unions. Why, when we already have civil service and professional organizations for every medical specialty, does there need to be union bosses calling the shots for veterans' health?

http://nypost.com/2014/05/28/how-unions-share-blame-for-va-deaths/

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/379051/while-vets-wait-va-employees-do-union-work-jillian-kay-melchior

Respect the bee

Shinseki takes the fall for the president

I'll only defend the president to this point. The VA has systemic problems that existed before January 2009. We know this because he claimed it so during his first campaign, and we know how he can be trusted on campaign promises to clean up problems with complete transparency.  However, the VA medical system is our completely socialized medical component of government health care (we have four—Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP are private/public partnerships with government being heavy handed), and the failures are consistent with the philosophy of having the government own and run health care.

"Eric K. Shinseki resigned Friday as secretary of veterans affairs, taking responsibility for a scandal in the VA health-care system over excessive waiting times and cover ups of what he called “systemic” problems."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/shinseki-apologizes-for-va-health-care-scandal/2014/05/30/e605885a-e7f0-11e3-8f90-73e071f3d637_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transcript-obamas-remarks-on-resignation-of-va-secretary-eric-shinseki/2014/05/30/92cd831a-e80c-11e3-afc6-a1dd9407abcf_story.html

Head injuries in sports

Glad to see the president is getting up to speed on head injuries (especially in children). I blogged about this 7 years ago. Welcome aboard, Mr. President. I didn't even have a scandal or two to cover up. http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2007/11/head-injuries-in-sports-columbus.html

Dr. [Daniel] Amen, who has seen over 30,000 brain scans, says: "I would not let my children hit a soccer ball with their heads, play tackle football, or snowboard without a helmet. I encourage my own kids to play tennis, golf, table tennis, and track. Your brain matters. Respect and protect it."

If an NFL players has also played little league, high school and college football, imagine the trauma to his brain.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-to-host-a-white-house-summit-on-growing-conerns-over-sports-head-injuries/2014/05/28/d49e48ae-e5ac-11e3-afc6-a1dd9407abcf_story.html

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/29/recalling-own-injuries-obama-calls-for-end-to-suck-it-up-culture-in-youth-sports/

Glenn Beck’s monologue about rape statistics

The anti-Beck forces were out saying his producer and side-kick Stu was ridiculing the seriousness of rape, when in fact  he was questioning the phony rape statistics recently published for political reasons (need to hang on the female vote?). Most rapes happen to men, and on today’s radio show Glenn talks about how his father was raped as a young man. He’s irate that truth has been cheapened in this latest study about rape where feeling pressured or feeling sorry is equated with rape.

“I will not comply. You do not own my thoughts. A few things are very clear to me, and no amount of speech giving or bumper stickers or EPA, NSA, IRS threats will ever change the facts that are true.

These are just a few of them: My child’s fingers are not, nor will they ever be a gun. Those who survived the Holocaust did not do so because of white privilege. A Hollywood blacklist is exactly the same horror show, whether the names on that list are communists or conservatives. 2 plus 2 equals 4. Always has, always will. I don’t give a flying crap how you got there, as long as you got there, to 4. Global warming is not the same as global cooling or global climate change, which is different than global climate crisis and none of them have to do with the shootings in Chicago or the idea of regulating the very vapor that we as humans breathe out, that we all learn trees breathe in to grow. That is just as ridiculous as your straight face plan to now regulate cow farts.

I’m sorry, but I respectfully, lovingly, yet full-throated declare that is nonsense. I also declare the self-evident truth that racism is not about having high expectations. Racism is not about standards. And rape certainly is not about someone asking for sex too many times and then being sad when you turn them down.

If you had the facts on how brutal rape is, it shows how awful your peer-reviewed study questions really are. Let’s contrast and compare, shall we, America? Who is hurting women? Who is standing up for women? Who is defending them and who is using them, merely for political power?”

http://www.glennbeck.com/2014/05/29/glenn-shares-painful-family-history-of-abuse-in-response-to-critics/

Emma Watson gets a pass on Brown’s gun ban

The older “student” is actually an armed guard protecting a movie star.  Others?  I guess they are either not safe, or extremely safe.  Either way, it’s hypocrisy.

Story at Time.

Helping the uninsured children of America

Of the 6.6 million uninsured American children in 2009 (7.2% of all children), about 2/3 were actually already eligible for health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP. About 40% of that 7.2% were children of illegal immigrants, but are American citizens by birth. Now with Obamacare, things will really be screwed up, and it's possible if CHIP funding lapses (which logically shouldn't be needed if we've got this other wonderful plan), there could be more uninsured children than before the ACA.

Now, I'm no math genius, but if 92.8% of all American children were insured either by private insurance or their parents' employer, and 40% of the uninsured were children of illegal immigrants, and 2/3 were eligible for a government plan already in place, were there no geniuses in this administration would could figure out a way to help these children without messing up every other child's plan?

Statistics from JAMA, May 7, 2014.

God created male and female for a reason

". . . and God saw that it was good" is a familiar phrase in the first Chapter of Genesis--light, water, vegetation, stars, swarms of living creatures in the water and the heavens, beasts and cattle and creeping things. All are pronounced “good” working up to his best creation. And finally "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it. . ." Then in the second chapter of Genesis we get more detail on what is good--instead of recording, "it was good" after God created Adam, he said, “It is NOT GOOD for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

There are virtually no differences between an Asian man and an African man--some skin cells and maybe hair texture. Nothing of importance. But between an Asian man and an Asian woman there are thousands of differences in brains, blood cells, skeletal systems, endocrine system and hormones, cardiovascular system, sexual organs, muscles and cells. Every cell has a sex. The blood of women has more water. Even our fingers are shaped differently. Women's hearts beat more rapidly. We respond differently to stress, as seen in MRIs. Women are better suited for life from their beginning--more than 140 male babies are conceived for every 100 females; by the time birth occurs, the ratio is 105 to 100, with the rest of the males dying in spontaneous abortions. That's because God wanted the human race to continue, and a new life needs both a mother and father--each new life getting something from each parent. You can redefine marriage if you wish, but not the plan.

Embracing change?

Pope Francis embraces his Jewish Rabbi (Abraham Skorka) and Muslim Iman (Omar Abboud) friends at the Western 'wailing' wall of Jerusalem. . . .”Father Rocky” Rev. Francis J. Hoffman - Priest, Author, Speaker, Ex. Dir. of Relevant Radio.

HIV/AIDS increasing among black gay men

"Published research does not provide definitive answers about why new HIV infections among young, black/African American gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) have increased. However, black/African American MSM of all ages experience racial disparities in health and are more likely than other gay and bisexual men of other races/ethnicities to encounter broader social and economic barriers. These and other factors place black/African American MSM at higher risk for HIV."  “In fiscal year (FY) 2011, approximately 41percent of the CDC’s budget was targeted to HIV prevention activities for MSM.” CDC fact sheet.

I am stunned that “research” is blaming racial disparities and homophobia for the increase in HIV at a time when gay sex is practically being pushed into the forefront of every news story, and everyone should be covered with Obamacare.

Here’s the score.  Anal sex is transmitting HIV, not poverty, not stigma, not society. And the more that is encouraged and normalized (by “safer” sex methods), the higher the transmission rate. Also, young people know there is treatment available if they develop HIV, so there is little reason to be cautious as men were becoming in the 80s.

New statistics from the New York Department of Health and Hygiene and the Centers for Disease Control show that, in New York City, the majority of 647 women who tested HIV-positive in 2012 acquired the virus through unprotected sex with bisexual men.

There is so much money being funneled into community based prevention and behavioral programs that recipients would be crazy to ever find a way to stop young men from having sex with each other an end the government gravy train. For example:

$111 million Expanded Testing Initiative (ETI)

$55 million to 34 states and cities  to support HIV testing services  for  minority at-risk populations.

$240,000 over two years to two organizations—AIDS Unitedand theCenter for Black Equity (formerly the International Federation of Black Prides) to increase awareness

NYC article

RCA congregation votes to leave and reaffiliate

On April 27, 2014, University Reformed Church (URC) voted 282-9 in favor of leaving the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and affiliating with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

This church is located at 841 Timberlane, East Lansing, MI 48823.

 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2014/05/27/university-reformed-church-votes-to-leave-the-rca/

Death and the Civil War—PBS

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/death/

The greatest loss of life of any U.S. war was the Civil War, where 1 in 5 Americans experienced the loss of someone they knew.  There was no system for burying the dead at that time as a responsibility of the government.  This film is fascinating history.  It is also on-line.

Napoleon Bonaparte Corbett

2nd great grand uncle, buried at Stones River National Battleground, died 1863 according to Find a Grave. Thanks to “cousin” Berta whose husband took the photo for sharing this. "Bonaparte was a Corporal in Company D 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry. His regiment was organized at Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tennessee and was mustered in for a three year enlistment on January 27, 1863 under the command of Colonel William C. Pickens."

Rhubarb dump cake

 

1 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/4 inch pieces (between 3 and 4 cups)
1 cup white sugar
1 (3 ounce package) strawberry jell-o
1 package yellow cake mix
1 cup water
1/4 cup butter, melted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread the rhubarb evenly in the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle the sugar over the rhubarb, followed by the jell-o, and finally the cake mix. Pour the water and melted butter over the top. Do not stir. Bake for 45 minutes or until the rhubarb is tender.

Looks yummy.  I have everything except the rhubarb on hand.

Plains, Georgia is the site of the newest Chautauqua

Today in church at Lakeside I learned that Plains, Georgia is one of our newest Chautauqua locations with the help and support of President Carter. Representatives of Lakeside Chautauqua were on hand for the opening. Almost a century ago, many towns hosted traveling Chautauqua which brought music and the arts to rural communities. My father as a child attended a Chautauqua in Dixon, IL which had permanent buildings, and my mother attended the Chautauqua in Franklin Grove, IL which had sites for tents. The one in Plains seems to be a revitalization of one like that, and not a whole season like we have in Lakeside, Ohio and Chautauqua, NY. http://www.plainschautauqua.com/

 

Eastern Illinois University has Chautauqua information in its archive.  "Chautauquas were retreat camps, primarily for adults. The Chautauqua movement can be traced to 1874 at Lake Chautauqua, New York when a group of Protestant ministers began a training camp for Sunday school teachers. Chautauquas grew in popularity and spread throughout the country. The actual format of chautauqua programming varied within each camp. Some were more religious based, while others focused more on entertainment. The chautauqua movement peaked in the 1920's but declined as radio and other new technologies created new forms of entertainment and recreation for Americans." http://booth.library.eiu.edu/archon/index.php...

http://ciweb.org/literary-arts?gclid=CIKokrbGx74CFahAMgodoWUANw