A new meaning for “social media”

The internet is allowing more hookups for sex. The appearance of Craigslist in a given region was associated with a 15.9% increase in HIV incidence. More than 6,000 new cases of HIV infection could likely be attributed to the site each year. Most are for young gay and bisexual men, especially minorities. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2035585

Sounds like my diet—but never fewer words

Pause and learn a lesson

She waits at a stop light and is refreshed with the Lord’s presence.

http://mqcorner.blogspot.com/2015/05/observing-and-learning-from-toddler.html

“Focus on the things around you. There are exciting things happening right here in this place. You need to learn from these things to grow, to learn, to develop as I need you to.”

Ben Carson’s mother

"Baltimore moms can wait on the government to act and fail, or they can do what Ben Carson's mother did. She refused to accept excuses for failure, and instead taught Christian values of right and wrong and personal responsibility. The government cannot solve your problems-- they most likely created the problem in the first place." Star Parker

Book Club schedule 2015-2016

Our group met Monday and selected titles for next 2015-2016. Here's next year's schedule. I’m really excited about this list. We meet  at 2 PM at Bethel Presbyterian Church, 1735 Bethel Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220—first Monday except September and except for October 5 at Peggy’s in Bexley and December 7 at Carolyn A’s in Clintonville.

September 14--The Men Who United the States, by Simon Winchester--led by Carolyn A and Courtney.

October 5--Barefoot Lawyer: a blind man's fight for justice and freedom in China,  by Guangcheng Chen--led by Letha.

November 2--Dead Wake: the last crossing of the Lusitania,  by Erik Larson--led by Peggy.

December 7--Kaaterskill Falls: a novel, by Allegra Goodman--led by Carolyn A.

January 4--Clara and Mr. Tiffany, by Susan Vreeland--led by Bev.

February 1--Quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking, by Susan Cain--led by Justine.

March 7--Shakespeare Saved My Life: ten years in solitary with the bard, by Laura Bates--led by Mary Lou.

April 4--Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker: the unlikely friendship of Elizabeth Keckley and Mary Todd Lincoln--led by Jean.

May 2--Look to Lazarus by David, Elise and Bev Meyers--presentation by our own Bev.

Do black lives matter?

Loretta Lynch, the new attorney general, or chief cop, is going to meet with Freddie Gray's family. What message does this send to all the families whose children, father, mother, grandparents, etc. have been killed by thugs, burglars, psychos or just bad dudes but never get a word of condolence from the WH or DOJ? It's almost as if black lives don't matter, unless. . . a white person is  involved.   http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=922

And do black children matter . . . if they are killed by their parents? The ones that are not aborted.

Throughout the 28-year period from 1980 to 2008, infants under
1 year of age had the highest homicide victimization rate of all
children under age 5.

Of all children under age 5 murdered from 1980 through 2008—
 63% were killed by a parent—33% were killed by their fathers
         and 30% were killed by their mothers (table 3)
 23% were killed by male acquaintances
 5% were killed by female acquaintances
 7% were killed by other relatives
 3% were killed by strangers.

Of children under age 5 killed by someone other than their parent, 80% were killed by males.

Why are black males disproportionately represented in the prison population? Because they are disproportionately represented as both homicide victims and offenders. The victimization rate for blacks (27.8 per 100,000) was 6 times higher than the rate for whites (4.5 per 100,000). The offending rate for blacks (34.4 per 100,000) was almost 8 times higher than the rate for whites (4.5 per 100,000). Males represented 77% of homicide victims and nearly 90% of offenders (which btw means men are killing a lot of women).

The homicide rate peaked in 1980--10.2 per 100,000, dipped throughout the 80s, rose again in early 90s, then dropped to 4.8 homicides per 100,000 in 2010. This is what stiffer penalties and better policing have done and which will be undone by new calls for "justice." A large number of the lives being saved are black men, women and children. We have trouble makers, professional rabble rousers and race baiters, who want blacks to remain victims. Some within our own government. http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/htus8008.pdf

The gender gap in reading

Yes, there's a gender gap--in reading. And it is world wide, highest in Finland despite the praise for its school system. Not to worry though. It goes away in adulthood. Let’s hope we don’t spend too much tax money trying to fix it.

http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2015/03/26-chalkboard-gender-gap-loveless

The gender gap is large, worldwide, and persistent through the K-12 years. What should be done about it? Maybe nothing. As just noted, the gap seems to dissipate by adulthood. Moreover, crafting an effective remedy for the gender gap is made more difficult because we don’t definitely know its cause. Enjoyment of reading is a good example. Many commentators argue that schools should make a concerted effort to get boys to enjoy reading more. Enjoyment of reading is statistically correlated with reading performance, and the hope is that making reading more enjoyable would get boys to read more, thereby raising reading skills.

Education has changed in the last 100 years

Those of you with connections at Ohio State may have visited the web site for Knowledge Bank (OK, maybe not). It's kind of like a treasure trove of grandma's attic, a waste dump, and incredible hidden archives. Most universities have something similar. You can find everything from ancient university published journal articles to Uncle Joe's freshman economics paper. Yesterday I looked through the 1904-1905 course bulletin (scanned) for Ohio State, beginning with Stone lab on Lake Erie. I think there were 6 department/colleges then. What is fascinating is the required high school courses to enter. French, German and Latin for the College of Agriculture. For College of the Arts, add Greek. At the other end of bizarre were lots of British literature requirements for all colleges, including the "classics," but not even a nod to American literature.

https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/

These are lovely—free hymn arrangements

http://greghowlett.com/freearrangements.aspx

Also a blog with interesting stuff—and I’m certainly no musician.

http://greghowlett.com/blog/music-philosophy/danny-crawford-interview-part-1.aspx

Danny Crawford has had a 30+ year career as a performer (he was one of the founders of Karen Peck and New River) and as a studio musician. Within the world of southern gospel, he has worked with basically everyone you can think of and he has extensive experience in country and bluegrass as well (including Ricky Skaggs). Today he is off the road as a performer but plays on about 125 projects a year. (pt. 1 of an interview)

He has certainly transformed his party

How has Obama transformed America? When he was a state senator from Illinois his voting record on abortion was the most extreme of any elected politician. But he's certainly emboldened his party. The liberal fact checkers turn themselves inside out on Obama's record on abortion to twist the facts, but they can’t deny his results.

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/07/barbaric-100-of-dem-senators-vote-for-late-term-abortion-up-to-nine-months-of-pregnancy/#!

http://www.nationaljournal.com/health-care/cruz-senate-democrats-abortion-bill-is-the-war-on-women-20140715

"The bill is really about just one thing: It seeks to strip away from elected lawmakers the ability to provide even the most minimal protections for unborn children, at any stage of their prenatal development," said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee. "While the proposal is so sweeping and extreme that it would be difficult to capture its full scope in any short title, calling the bill the 'Abortion Without Limits Until Birth Act' would be more in line with truth-in-advertising standards."

Who reads which newspapers?

1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.
2. The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.
3. The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country.
4. USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't really understand the Washington Post. They do, however, like their statistics shown in pie chart format.
5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the country, if they could spare the time, and if they didn't have to leave LA to do it.
6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and they did a far superior job of it, thank you very much.
7. The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's running the country, and don't really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.
8. The New York Post is read by people who don't care who's running the country, as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.
9. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure there is a country or that anyone is running it; but whoever it is, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped minority feminist atheist dwarfs who also happen to be illegal aliens from ANY country or galaxy, as long as they are democrats.
10. The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country but need the baseball scores.
11. The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery store.

http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=7237

Makes me nostalgic for when Panera’s and a few other coffee shops had a house paper for both the Columbus Dispatch and the Wall St. Journal. WSJ actually has the most liberal news coverage, but the best conservative opinion page. Using WSJ I did a comparison of the difference between male and female writers' use of idioms.

http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2007/01/3328-e.html

Another Bush-Paulson

Former Bush Secretary of Treasury Hank Paulson is supporting Jeb Bush. Right there is a good reason to look elsewhere. Henry Paulson, the architect of the bank bailouts of 2008, is a former employee of Goldman Sachs and was a partner with Al Gore in a cap and trade scheme, a multi-billion dollar business called, Generation Investment Management (GIM). Very good at playing both sides of the aisle. Really big on getting rich with China.
http://www.paulsoninstitute.org/about/about-our-people/

Government policies

The government's role in holding back the Blacks of Baltimore. They should be very suspicious of more of the same, from segregationist city administrations to FHA to HUD to community organizers and academics on federal grants. http://www.epi.org/blog/from-ferguson-to-baltimore-the-fruits-of-government-sponsored-segregation/

Nationwide, black family incomes are now about 60 percent of white family incomes, but black household wealth is only about 5 percent of white household wealth. In Baltimore and elsewhere, the distressed condition of African American working- and lower-middle-class families is almost entirely attributable to federal policy that prohibited black families from accumulating housing equity during the suburban boom that moved white families into single-family homes from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s—and thus from bequeathing that wealth to their children and grandchildren, as white suburbanites have done.

Of course, their careers are in the toilet no matter the result of the trials

“Criminal charges filed Friday against six Baltimore police officers in the death of Freddie Gray were based on "politics and crowd control," not justice, renowned civil rights lawyer Alan Dershowitz tells Newsmax TV.

"This is a very sad day for justice . . . Today had nothing to do with justice. Today was crowd control. Everything was motivated by a threat of riots and a desire to prevent riots," Dershowitz said on "The Steve Malzberg Show."

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsmax-Tv/Freddie-Gray-Alan-Dershowitz-police-charges/2015/05/01/id/642143/#ixzz3Z4cjiED7

I have no idea what happened to Freddie Gray, and neither do the thousands of demonstrators or the Mayor of Baltimore or Al Sharpton. I'm willing to wait for evidence and a trial. It's one of the basics of our justice system--a presumption of innocence, the prosecution must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, each essential element of the crime charged. Shocking how many "leaders" are willing to ignore this.

Time for Democrats to panic

Democrats are clearly panicking. There has never been a better time to be black in America, and if word gets out, they might lose their victim voter base. So we need new riots and protests.

In the last 2.5 decades crime has dropped drastically, so it's time to gin that up by complaining about the number of black men in prison (which is why the neighborhood is safer). Blacks are now over represented in many city governments and community protection agencies, so it's time to blame the white controlled system, micro aggression, etc. The college enrollment rate is higher for black high school graduates than whites, so it's time to berate the education system. More whites are killed in officer involved shootings at a higher rate than blacks, so it's time to get on social media and tell lies. With at least 5 government health insurance systems, no black need be without health care--so it's time to blame the GOP for not making even more money available. 126 wealth transfer programs for the poor, most of which recipients are white--but don't advertise that--Democrats don't want the world to know that millions of whites don't have that mystical "privilege" they tout.

Now the bad news is out there, too--AIDS among young black gay men is the highest for any group--gay and bisexual men represent approximately 2% of the US population, but account for three-fourths of all estimated new HIV infections and blacks account for most of those. Abortion of black babies is at an all time high--genocide rates--78 percent of the abortions in New York City were for black or Hispanic babies. Where are the marches and outrage? Black men are not marrying the mothers of their children leaving many kids to grow up without a male parent. Until the 1960s, blacks were more likely to be married than whites, and then came the "war on poverty" and Uncle Sam as a step-father. But, the Democrats can ignore every academic and religious study that says family is important to economic, social and political well being and just ask for more money.

Succeeding While Black - 5 Ways to Avoid Altercations with the Police by Matthew R. Drayton, guest blogger

I have been in situations where I could have easily gotten into confrontations with police officers. Years ago, I regularly worked with local and state police officers in major cities throughout the U.S. I can tell you first hand that there are some police officers that are prejudiced or egotistical, and some that have their own agendas. I remember arriving in Texas to meet and work with local police there. When I reached out to shake one of the officer’s hands, he refused! Later during that same trip, I was almost arrested because the same police officer who wouldn’t shake my hand, failed to tell a group of his fellow officers who I was as I approached them.

On another trip to California, a police officer stood two feet in front of me and stared me down while I waited to meet with the Deputy Police Chief. I had never met this officer before, nor did I do anything to him to warrant the stare he was giving me. In both Texas and California, I was the only African American in the group; my co-workers were not subjected to the same treatment. In both cases, I had no choice but to work through whatever issues those police officers had with me. I did not respond to their behavior towards me, and worked more closely with the officers who reached out to me than the ones who didn’t. In the end, we successfully finished our work in both cities, and I made some new friends in law enforcement.
My experiences with the police were not all bad; in fact there were more positive experiences with them than negative ones. I realize some of my circumstances and encounters with the police were of a different nature than being pulled over for a routine traffic stop, but the two situations I mentioned above were intense and could have easily become confrontational. I have been stopped and pulled over by the police numerous times over the years, and I can honestly say, I have never been mistreated by a police officer. The following tips have worked for me when I have had encounters with police officers in the past. Hopefully they can help you too.

1. Obey the law: If you are breaking the law in any way; it’s only a matter of time before you have to deal with the police. Turn on your flashers, drive slowly and pull over to a well lit busy area if you are pulled over. Cooperate if you are being questioned or arrested to avoid any physical confrontation. 
2. Be polite and show respect: Greeting and treating a police officer with respect immediately de-escalates the situation. Regardless of how you feel about being pulled over or questioned, the police are authorized to do so. Mouthing off and becoming aggressive towards the police will make the situation worse.
3. Obey police officer orders: When a policeman asks you to do something reasonable, do it. Remember, these men and women are trying to do a job, and sometimes need to gather facts to do their job. Disobeying the police officer’s orders will again only make the situation worse. 
4. Make lifestyle changes: Most of the things that happen to us are a result of our decisions. Alcohol, outdated license plates, and erratic driving are a few contributors to police stops. If you are hanging out late at night with known offenders, or in places where there is a high probability of a crime, there will likely be a heavy police presence there. 
5. Educate your children: Teach your children at an early age about police brutality, and to be respectful when dealing with the police, and all adults for that matter.  Explain current events to them in an unbiased way, and make them aware of the dangers they face if they break the law, and what can happen to them at the hands of some police officers. 

It is not my intent to downplay police brutality incidents or to be insensitive to anyone who has suffered or died at the hands of the police. My purpose is to help African Americans understand that engaging an officer properly can de-escalate the situation, and possibly avoid a deadly altercation. I am a middle-aged, African American male who regrettably has had too many encounters with the police during my lifetime. I have never been arrested or beaten by a police officer, nor have I ever been disrespectful or mouthed off to one.

Retired Army Sergeant Major Matthew R. Drayton is a corporate speaker, life coach, consultant, leadership expert and author of Succeeding While Black. He has also been mentoring youth for over a decade and is currently the Executive Director of Great Oak Youth Development Center, a NC-based non-profit organization that mentors at risk youth. For more information, visit www.MattDrayton.com.

Where I am--678.2 miles since Christmas

At least I got out of Virginia (on my exercycle)

"0.84 mi to Buckhorn, KY", Breathitt County

Dessert will be pudding

A gallon of milk at Marc's today was cheaper than 1/2 gal, so we're having pudding tonight. Great price on boneless pork roast ($1.88/lb), so the last one is going into the crock pot for pulled pork (still had some in the freezer from the last special).  A quart of the Half n half ultra pasteurized was cheaper than regular.  You just never know when you shop there.

Losing our religious freedom

When we warned about loss of religious freedom they just shouted us down. In the U.S. telling people to shoot white police is protected speech; telling people that marriage is for a man and woman is not going to be protected speech or freedom of religion.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/04/29/obama-admin-catholic-schoolss-non-profit-status-will-be-an-issue-if-gay-marriage-made-a-right/

As marriage and religious liberty expert at the Heritage Foundation Ryan Anderson observed, when Justice Samuel Alito asked the Obama administration’s Solicitor General Donald Verrilli whether a religious school could lose its tax-exempt status if it affirms marriage as the union between a man and woman, Verrilli responded, “It’s certainly going to be an issue. I don’t deny that. I don’t deny that, Justice Alito. It is it is going to be an issue.”

Anderson related this discussion to Justice Antonin Scalia’s concern about the effects of a Supreme Court-created constitutional right to same-sex marriage on religious liberty. Verrilli responded that there have been no violations against religious liberty in states that have redefined marriage in democratic fashion. Scalia observed, “They are laws. They are not constitutional requirements. That was the whole point of my question. If you let the states do it, you can make an exception. … You can’t do that once it is a constitutional proscription.”

“Not only is there nothing in the Constitution that requires the redefinition of marriage, but a ruling saying that there was could create unimaginable religious liberty violations,” writes Anderson. “These situations are best handled democratically.”

Man attacks bear to save his Chihuahua

“I hit him with an overhand right—and hard,” Moore said. “His head snapped around, and he stumbled. I’m a 192-pound, 6-foot-2½ man, and the bear outweighed me, but I was taller.”

The septuagenarian slugger said his fist landed “right in the jaw, right below his eye and part of his snout.”

Link

Six pounds is a big Chihuahua.