Monday, August 31, 2009

The World Is A Dangerous Place.




Of course or military equipment is shielded against this. Somewhere an American sub would respond in kind. But if it is North Korea that was the perpetrator there are no lights to turn off.

Thankfully the world loves Obama and his charisma alone is enough to protect us.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Flip Capture: Fire In The Sky


I bought a Flip Ultra Camcorder to document the Sooner T.E.A Party. For a $150 digital camcorder it is pretty cool. I have encountered a few little issues but it is a great little camera for outings, trips, parties, vacations and those types of things.

Last night a front came through so I took it out and sat the little tripod on the porch bistro table. I was hoping that I could grab a lightning bolt. Just turned it on and walked away. It will record for two hours. I ending up just recording a few shorter sequences as the light show intensified.

What I think is cool is that the first time you USB it to the computer it sets up its editing program. I learned that in Snapshot capture there is a nice little tool that scrolls through every frame. When frame comes up that you want a still of just hit a button and that image goes into a queue of thumbnails. Once you have what you want hit a button and it creates a folder like August 2009 and saves the .jpp's there.

It is a sensitive camera and I was able to grab shots of my cats eating on the porch at night with only the porch light on. However, when I maxed its ability I can see that the sudden change from darkness to intense light leaves an artifact on the image. This shot was taken shortly before midnight. So can see the dark area at the top where, I assume, the sensors are trying to adjust:


I was able to capture a good sequence of a lightning bolt and its thunder.


This little thing is a good bang for the buck.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Camelot Was A Liberal Delusion



Teddy, Don't Leave Us.


In an ironic way he now leaves us in a sinking nation drowning in debt.
Something he shares fault for.


Now we are going to have to deal with a week's worth of accolades about his service to our nation at $100,000 a year plus perks. At the same time there are four Americans families dealing with their loved one's loss when they served their country at $25,000 a year plus miserable conditions in Afghanistan. It cost Edward nothing. It cost them everything.

One asked not what he could do for the country but what the country could do for him

The others asked not what their country could do for them but what they could do for their country.

So long pal. Hope you enjoyed this life, next on might be a little different. To those whom much has been given, much shall be required.



Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Leftist Orwellian Parrots


Gateway Pundits has a post about the 'Pro Reform' minions launching a 'grassroots' assault to counter the very effect town halls.

While reading through the Politco article I noticed this:
Reform supporters are planning to hold more than 500 events between Wednesday and when lawmakers return to Washington Sept. 8, ranging from neighborhood organized phone banks to professionally staffed rallies with hundreds of people.

The Left has received its weekly instructions for semantic obfuscation. Using the term 'Reform Supporters' subtly implies the opposition is against reform of health care. Nothing can be further from the truth. In fact it is the right demanding reform; Medicare reform, tort reform and government reform as opposed to the Left demanding 'reconstruction' of 1/6th of our economy. I heard a pro Obama pundit use this last night on TV and just heard it on XM while driving back from the store.

Of course, in their mind, if you oppose them then you are 'against reform'. I suspect there will be a lot of this until somebody shuts them down. This is a fallacy of reasoning know as the complex question. The most famous example being: Do you still beat your wife?. It implies that you beat her in the past even if untrue.

But in the truck I thought I recalled where the Left may have gotten the idea. Think of what might happen if a citizen went into a Pet Shop run by a Leftist:



But then 'reality based' was never an appropriate adjective to describe them.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Sooner Tea Party, Aug. 22, 2009


I decided to attend my first T.E.A Party. It was sponsored by the The Sooner Tea Party . With my new Flip camcorder Ultra in hand I collected over an hour and a half of the event. As I go through and edit the footage I will post what I saw.

Also quite visible at the event were folks from the OKC 912 Project and the local chapter of AFP, Americans For Prosperity. It appearred to me that the OKC 912 Project were in the yellow shirts and were managing the event. The AFP was collecting signatures for the Patient's Bill of Rights.

I was offered a button saying 'I am AFP' by two young people. I really didn't know who they were but she did tell me they were a grassroots organized so I held up their button and said 'grassroots?' kidding her. I asked them if they'd like to explain what their organization is and they obliged to let me video a short explanation of their group:




Some of the first attendees I encountered were these two ladies.










They were upset because the organizers had made them cover a tee-shirt one was wearing. I was not sure but I think it was for a gubernatorial candidate that was not the one the organizers supported. They apparently wanted to keep control of the message. Nice ladies.

I moved through the crowd getting shots of signs. I got a chuckle out of this one:


By the time the speeches began I would estimate about three hundred people scattered across the expanse of the plaza. Here is a link of speakers and the transcripts.



I was listening to a speech by Cindy Crenshaw who had lost her legs in a terrorist attack during Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany that killed 11 and wounded 200. Though she claimed she was not a public speaker she gave a good 'rally the troops' speech. I moved up to the side of the steps to get a better shot and filmed most of her speech. I moved back to the base of the steps to get a better shot and had no sooner reached a point to film her when I heard a disturbance behind me. This is what happened:


















The Little Things May Count



This article provides the background on the US outrage over Britain's release of the Lockerbie bomber. Even more so now it has been learned for oil deals are involved. Unlike the rumored blood for oil this is actually the willingness to ignore the blood of the murdered for oil. But then from Gordon Brown's perspective and duty it is in the best interest of the nation he is charged to represent.

It has been said that nations do not have 'friends' but only national interests. However, being only human, the personal world views of anyone representing a nation can't help but enter into their decisions. Obama's narcissism along with his belief in black liberation theology could very well have entered into Britain's calculus.

The British Empire is still viewed in its former colonies as the perpetrator of the 'white man's greed' running 'a world' in need. People retaining this grudge are the kind that would be found attending a Rev. Wright servant. To them it is not sufficient to simply be free of the yoke of oppression, they call for social justice to mask the intent of revenge.

Obama comes from this line of thinking. It would be my hope that there is a protocol office in the West Wing, maybe not. The tradition between heads of state is to exchange gifts as a representative of the nation. In Obama's case, a nation where the distinct majority of citizen's grudges were settled so long ago that we now have an affinity with our former oppressors. There is no reason the Presidency should be used to get one in on Britain. The White House surely has intelligence on Gordon Brown down the hairs on this toes. So the protocol was followed but the gift of DVD's, that an aid could just grabbed at Wal Mart, to a man with degenerative eye disease is pettiness so twelve per cent of our populations could have a momentary feeling of 'social justice'. It appears Obama may have a lot more in common with Gaddafi than with Gordon Brown.

Obama's subtle sleight to 'dis' both Britain and Gordon Brown personally may have influenced the British decision. On one hand, there is British national interests like petroleum profits, good-paying jobs and growing commerce. On the other hand, there is knowing that releasing a dying mass murderer to a hero's welcome back home will enrage your most important ally. An ally whose President gave a momentary feeling of 'social justice' for ten percent of the population over national prestige. Unfortunately many people with personal interest for justice will have to take the hit. How many are hurt, how many are help?

I have a feeling that Gordon Brown knows how to respond to a 'dis' the British way:

Friday, August 21, 2009

The Emperor's NewSpeak: Wee Weed Up



I think I figured out where Obama gets this 'All Wee Weed Up' from.

"There is something about August going into September where everybody in Washington gets all wee weed up!"


"Me wee weed."




But now it is traditional America that gets We Weed On.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Thick As A Brick


From the Washington Times:

Obama: GOP conspiracy out to kill health reform

"I think early on, a decision was made by the Republican leadership that said, 'Look, let's not give him a victory, maybe we can have a replay of 1993, '94, when Clinton came in, he failed on health care and then we won in the mid-term elections and we got the majority. And I think there are some folks who are taking a page out that playbook," the president said.

Appearing on the Michael Smerconish radio show, Mr. Obama said he would "love to have more Republicans engaged and involved in this process," but he vowed to win the battle, with or without support from the minority party in Congress.

His narcissism has him coming from a point that his ideas are so brilliant, his charisma so enticing and his reasoning skills so perfected that only a conspiracy to destroy him personally could be behind this opposition to his nefarious plan to create a socialist government. He assumes the Republicans agree philosophically but just don't like him... probably because he is pseudo 'black". He apparently can't fathom the concept that others may not think his plans are all that brilliant, sometimes outright foolish.

We are split into camps that oppose each others approach to governance. One uses Alinsky to pursue centralized authority of their party, the other follows the Constitution to maintain the republic.

Shuckster In Chief


Sitting here eating my lunch watching Obama's radio interview. What a sham. His every attempt to be portrayed as reaching out to ordinary people has been exposed as a coordinated scam complete with rehearsed question from plants. They've even used a little girl to read a prepared question to the President. Have they no shame ? So how to get around these busy-bodies always exposing the way the trick is done?

Well you take it right to the enemy... right-wing radio. Not Rush, not Savage, not Hannity but to some local Obama supporter, a radio host who calls himself conservative. Some terms just don't mix, like conservative Obama supporter. I've heard of them once.... once. Then you have various White House interns and staffers call into the show with intelligent sounding questions. This way it is impossible to reveal your plants or allow unplanned dissent. Maybe add a negative caller to feign authenticity.

Once again I offer my services, at a reasonable rate, to assume the position as Czar of 'Why that's a stupid idea' to this administration.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

View From The Back Row

William Shakespeare - All the world's a stage (from As You Like It 2/7)

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:

But Bill, someone has to be in the audience or else the play is pointless. That's where I am, sitting in the audience and having a chuckle watching the social forces clash. I do hope the side in favor of less government in my life wins. But quite frankly, the great American dumb-down has me spent.

I have come to the realization that none of this is real. In fact, Shakespeare has it right, our society is but a stage where the players are ordered about by the wizards of imagery behind the curtains. There are the players but then there are people like me, Mr. Nobody. I can scream, I can write or even jump up and make a big scene but the play goes on. No use in even trying; so sit back, relax and have a chuckle.

We have a president, who isn't much of one in the functional sense, he simply plays one on television. He is no more than a television-ready pitchman for every left wing lunatic cause out there.

Semantics is their weapon of choice to close the sale. They use words like 'reinvestment' when the intent is little more than embezzlement to reward their facilitators. He uses 'we' as if speaking of all three hundred million of us when he actually means unions like ACORN, SEIU, UAW and those bubble-dwelling self affirmed elitists in urban centers. The real 'We' exists only in his mind as someone to blame every time he does some boneheaded thing. We get a lot of blame from him. 'We' made him do it and we're out to get him.

To them 'astrotufing' is when ordinary people write on poster board they bought at Wal Mart to make a homemade protest sign for tomorrow's rally. The only involvement with a insurance company would be if they had a wreck driving their car to the rally.

However, what is not 'astrotufing' is when paid union members are loaded on a bus with matching tee-shirts and signs fresh from Kinko's on the union's account and driven to the rally at no expense to themselves. It is of particular interests why members of a union that should be providing for its members health care needs, are so adamant about the need for others health care.

Another tactic is over-generalization. Their position is 'health care reform'. Both sides are for this since it is obvious that has become what this is about. But for the other side you are a racist if you oppose a public option. This is the soft bigotry of low expectations based on one's skin color that the left has practiced into an art. If you oppose any aspect of their policy then you are against reform. If people gather for a grievance against their government then they are a mob. If it is 'right-wing' it must always be an extremist. All fake, all lies, all deception.

The most common method of deception they use is misdirection. If 'We' are focused on Obama's birth certificate then We aren't looking into his records at Columbia and Harvard. When he releases proof of his natural birth then the doubters will look like fools. If Shepard Smith is screaming at Bill Burton's obfuscations about the public option then we are being misdirected from the actual mechanism of nationalization of one sixth of our economy, the Health Insurance Exchange. Perhaps they floated this balloon to give the opponents a feeling of Pyrrhic victory. Much like throwing the dog a bone to divert his attention.

Here's the elephant in the room from the video:



Essentially this HIE will act like a Board of Directors of every private health insurance company, deciding what policies can be offered. Why is it even necessary? The HIE is the point in the scheme where the health care industry becomes nationalized. It is an interesting play, this grand illusion...but it's time for concessions.

Monday, August 17, 2009

White Wash House




These folks at the White House are morons. They put up the snitch line at flag@whitehouse.gov. Those emails are now archived. Yesterday Major Garrett brought up these spam emails coming from Axelrod. I got one of them. Robert Gibbs looked foolish trying to dodge the question of where the White House got these email addresses. I've just heard that they have taken down flag@whitehouse.gov. ..... There's Major's answer.

It is amateur time once again at the White House.

Signs of Hope




Good News on a Monday.
Soon to be just ma'am ?

Update: Looking even better

2010? Yes We Can!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Meanwhile, back in the real world...



Amazing how things work when you have a representative that is one of you and actually represents you.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Hindsight



Notice he literally talks out of the left side of his mouth when he cops that 'how dare you ask me that question' attitude and then how petty he gets. On the small chance some liberals get buyer's remorse how can they claim they were fooled ?

You Can Trust Him ?


Would you buy car from this man ?


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The Nuclear Option



I hear a lot of TV pundits and politicians that for the life of them cannot understand what this the TEA Party or Town Hall uproar is about. What they fail to understand it isn't about any one thing. It is an expression of disgust that has built for years and this free for all spending is the last straw. I would say that people are fed up with the arrogance of Washington D.C. People are getting tired of being talked to like they are slow children.

There is a lot of blustering, a call to arms but that only hurts the cause. It may seem patriotic to grab the guns but the original patriots were facing an actual army. That is not so now. What I think will grab the attention of those residing in our federal government is to call for a Constitutional Convention. There was a well-reasoned call months back and I don't recall the professor that came up with it.

According to Article V ( keep in mind the same Constitution level that established the three branches of our government ). According to Article 2/3 of the states can call for a Constitutional convention.

Article V

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

No where does it say a state has to send its Representatives or Senators. In fact you don't want them there. A Constitutional Convention can achieve things the Congress can't. Here's my list of things it could do:

01. Add or take away the enumerated powers of Congress.
02. Set term limits.
03. Force all federal candidates to use public money to finance their campaigns.
04. Limit the contact and contributions from special interests.
05. Rewrite the requirements for office.
06. Override legislation from the bench.
07. Abolish the income tax.
08. Require a balanced budget.
09. Forbid the government from owning stock in a public company.
10. Eliminate earmarks.
11. Modify the rules Congress sets for itself.
12. Break the party apparatus in Congress as far as leadership.
13. Institute a method of recall on a national referendum. So 2/3 of the states could remove a Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi. Although they represent their states when they assume a leadership role it effects all of us.
14. Guarantee each state an amount of federal funds to maintain infrastructure without condition.
15. Change federal election law requiring photo ID, proof of citizenship, outlaw community action groups from bulk registration, eliminate early voting.

That's a few things. Beauty of it is there's not a thing Obama, Pelosi Reid or any of them can do about it. The true sovereign power in this nation will be demonstrated. Just forming an exploratory commission will get their attention. The federal government will be left on the sidelines awaiting our verdict. All we need is a shot across the bow...tread on us no more.

Now that will get far more attention than shouts and threats. Talk about eliminating
tax and they will become very attentive.

Sunday, August 09, 2009

The Dreams From MY Father


The Scene: It is spring of 2012. Much anger came about after the passage of Obamacare. In 2010 Democrats lost Congress and investigations immediately proceeded when the new Congress came into session. By early 2011 most of the Obama advisers had been indicted and convicted of such crimes as extortion, bribery, fraud and abuse of power along with many from the Democrat caucsus in Congress.

By late 2011 the House impeached Obama and weeks later the Senate convicted him of high crimes from his assault on the Constitution as well as incitement to riot, abuse of power, fraud, extortion, theft, malfeasance, uttering a forged instrument and censured by Congress for conduct unbecoming of the office.

At that time he went missing. A team of veterans organized a search squad. The search went on for months but came to and end in early 2012 when an anonymous tipster with an Arkansas accent directed the team to a sewer on Chicago's South side, an Obama-friendly tribal enclave where he began his career and worked his way to the top. On this occasion he was pulled to the top of the sewer and taken into custody. He is being held in the vacated prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba due to shortages of space when Guantanmo prisoners were moved to homeland ultra-max federal prisons.

Mission "Read The Bill"


I decided to download the current bill HR3200. Don't even attempt to read it online. The Rocky Mountains will be a prairie by the time it loads. I downloaded the main bill and a summary from the House site.

Here are the files to download. Server must be getting pounded. Don't try to open them from the link... well that's if you won't be needing your PC for the next 15 or 20 minutes.

HR 3200 Text

HR 3200 Summary

I have read the summary and am down to page 19 of the bill. I think I will use this post to record what I find. May post the table of contents and build one huge page with notations, questions and observation per section. Gonna take a while.

My impression from the Summary is there are some good ideas. But me driving around in a brand new $50K cowboy cadillac is a good idea too. Unfortunately neither I nor the government can pay for our good ideas without mooching some money somewhere.

A couple of well-intentioned goals but openings for a lot of unintended consequences. If you build it they will come... oh dear will they come. With an expansion of demand will come an expansion of the personnel needed to address their needs.

The only thing that can relieve this rise in demand is to expand the time needed to service this demand in a quality care fashion. What may have taken a month before may take months. If the demand grows then care will move towards rationing. Much like having too many hungry people and too little bread. Although others may believe it possible, I don't think Obama can live up to the messiah's ability to take little and create abundance.

There are some educational incentives but it will be years to get these new doctors and nurses online. But limiting a doctor's income will drive many out of the business. What we will end up with is not the best and brightest, who should be well-rewarded for their skills, but instead will have the 'Affirmative action' level of competence. Another aiming to the least common denomitaor. Another effort for mediocrity.

Pardon the errors. Will fix in the morning.

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Obama: As Good as a PlayStaion 3


Here we have an Obama supporter who has worked at McDonalds for four years. He goes into a religious frenzy when Obama picks him for a question. This is the interview after. When you play this it is likely YouTube will list the question video.

Why do I suspect this guy thinks cap and trade is when a pro baseball team brings an new player to the team, suits him up once then trades him to another team?

Friday, August 07, 2009

Selling Snake Oil - Deception by Omission


The sales pitch:

1. If you like your plan you can keep it. - TRUE
2. If you like your Doctor you can keep your doctor. TRUE but....
Your doctor will become limited in what he/she can do for you.

BUT.... it is the last private insurance you'll ever have.

If, after the bill is enacted, say you have BCBS and as time goes by and you decide Aetna has a better plan then Aetna cannot sell you insurance. They cannot take on any new customers. ( Correction they can but only plans the government approves of).

Through natural attrition there will exist only government approved plans in the future. So much for more choices. Essentially they are going to setup this entity called the Health Insurance Exchange. Private insurers can offer only government approved plans through this exchange. Government steps in and controls health care. Reminds me throwing a prisoner in a cell and telling them they are free... free to walk anywhere they like in the cell.

Now watch the deception of the master liars:



Current House Bill:

SEC. 102. PROTECTING THE CHOICE TO KEEP CURRENT COVERAGE.
(a) GRANDFATHERED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE DEFINED.—Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of establishing acceptable coverage under this division, the term ‘‘grandfathered health insurance coverage’’ means individual health insurance coverage that is offered and in force and effect before the first day of Y1 if the following conditions are met:
(1) LIMITATION ON NEW ENROLLMENT.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of Y1.

Democrat's Democratic Principles




Commenter over at Gateway Pundit found this video link at Free Republic.
apologies for not being specific but I lost my place and can't fine it again.

Bush's Quandry



Freedom of Choice



SUPPORT
THE RIGHT
TO CHOOSE

ABORT
OBAMACARE

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Culture of Corruption - Exposed... Finally




Now Nancy... who was right about Jefferson?

Clunkers for Clunkers


Political Pundit #1: Cash for Clunkers is a stunning success.
Political Pundit #2: This administration is proud of this program.
Political Pundit #3: Ridiculing this program is just more racism.

Just how close to the truth are they?

If you believe these pundits then grab the tops of your shoulders firmly and pull with all of your might. Be sure to wash your face and hands after.

Just a thought


Has anyone noticed there are no protests from the Anarchists? Perhaps they are satisfied with the Obama's liberal Democrat's efforts at destroying America. Atta boy Bama.

Understanding Town Hall / TEA Party Anger


The administration and liberals are attempting to portray the anger at these summer recess townhall meetings and the anger that brought the TEA Party movement as astroturf events being sponsored by the vast right-wing conspiracy.

They are tone deaf to the reality. Their passive-aggressive defense methods are one of the things people are fed up with. Their kind of lying is cute when a three-year old tries it. Just doesn't work when someone, assumed to be an adult, tries it.

The administration's lying insults our intelligence. The arrogant assumptions that produces those lies makes people even madder. Team Obama just doesn't get it. The more they try to paint this anger as manufactured the more ridiculous they look.

Perhaps this video will get it through their thick skulls. They need to understand that they are the ones we are fed up with. Hopefully the point will be made next year when many of these congressional 'superior intellects' will be looking for work in the economy their botched efforts helped create.



Note to Team Obama: Once again I offer my services as the CZAR of That's A Stupid Idea. I would essentially serve as the official 'enemy inside the wire' adviser. Give it some serious thought. Someone needs to get the stupid ideas under control up there.

Monday, August 03, 2009

Speaking of the Devil


Whatever happened to Rezko Co? Wonder if the beans he spilled every got cooked? You know with all that is going on I now know for a fact that Obama is an alpha-bonehead but I had almost forgotten he was a lying sleazy crook first and foremost.

So far two of the amigos have been indicted. One remains at large. If you want to know a man's character look at his friends and associates.

In the video there is good imagery that the things he did for Chicago are the things he is busily doing to America. Keep in mind he has sealed his paper trail but the video gives us an idea of his community organizer skills.

Government Math



Ma & Pa Kettle were elected to Congress. Here we have them returning to their district during the summer recess explaining the numbers of a Democrat program to a constituent.

Whiner Of The Week


"They have not tried hard enough to help me,"


Girl graduates with an IT degree. She can't find a job and is suing her College for failing to help her find a job. An IT degree! Apparently has yet to dawn on her that if she got off facebook for a bit and tried Google she might just find a whole new world of opportunity. That's right dear, people actually post job openings online.

But sweetie, if you can't figure out that IT people solve problems and you can't solve this.... you just don't 'get it'. You'll never survive in the industry. If you want your money back then you would have better luck suing your parents for making you stupid.

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Omelette Quest



I usually don't eat breakfast. Just not in the mood for food when I awake. Saturday morning I woke up thinking of an omelette. I went to a little cafe and took my regular seat by the television. Fortunately they show Fox News and the financial show was on.


Now I live in a fair and balanced area. If I drove on into town they are very democratic at the McDonald's and Three Buddies BBQ. CNN on one side and Fox News on the other if you can find a seat. The further up the snooty places to eat the more likely it being CNN or MSNBC. This means it must be carefully timed to avoid having to attempt eating and watching one of their political pundits at the same time.

I ordered my meal and three folks seated themselves behind me. My omelet came and as I eat I could not help but hear their conversation. The lady was explaining to an elder what was going on with this threat of punishing us if we approve the English Only legislation. Them thar are fighting words partner.

I listened a bit more and just had the urge to jump in... so I turned and said it is well known you don't mess with Texas but it isn't all that good of an idea to get Okies cross-wise with them. We had a conversation but I kept feeling like I needed to gracefully jump out. But they sort kept me in. The lady and I were in synch. I now know I am not crazy sitting here as a digital hermit but there were others, like me, that are fed up with this absolute arrogant stupidity out there.

They had gone to the TEA party in July. The lady was telling me about and she said she still get chill bumps as she rubbed her arm. I could tell the guys were getting a little bored but she was fired up. Told her she should run for office or participate. She said she is involved with our local gubernatorial candidate, hometown lady, former Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin. Currently representing the Oklahoma 5th District. She represents a good chunk of OKC too.

Our current Democrat governor is history. He voted against the sovereignty act but his veto was overridden. Oklahoma is a purple state. Usually a fair spread among the counties. But in 2009 it is the only state where all counties went red. I have a hunch that may have been more to do with Congress than Obama though many here saw through his crap. We've had our share of con artists.

That encounter shaded my thinking for the rest of the day. I AM NOT ALONE.

Senator Inhofe zeroed in on the issue. The states are not agents of the federal government. The federal government is the agent of the states. This is where the line must be drawn.

Now what happens when we vote the English Only into law? What does the federal government withhold? How long before we counter with the argument that federal funds are drawn from revenues collected among all states. By withholding these funds the federal government diminishes the equal standing among states by considering treating one state differently than the other forty-nine. Equal standing among the states by their agent. At the foundation of this republic the approval of each state was required to bring the mutual, national government into to being. They also defined the limitations of this government.

What A Waste

This video is a metaphor for what Obama plans to do with our traditional economy.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

My Conversion





I know this is long and probably a boring read but at least it is now documented in case I don't remember so well in the future. This happened around 1973/74 when I was 18.

I am a Christian because I have had 'experiences'. These most often happen when there is nobody to witness. When I was young I was a bit cocky. Smart, good-looking, dated the hottest girl in class and demonstrating leadership skills by my senior year. Got a little full of myself. My philosophy instructor and I had an ongoing exploration of the existence of God. We once climbed halfway up a mountain in Norway and looking out across the valley below us he asked me how could such beauty exist if there were no God? Not a problem, beauty is merely what we say it is.

This was my senior year of high school in Stavanger, Norway . The adults around me kept urging me to 'apply myself' but I wanted adventure. I ended up in Grand Isle, Louisiana aka seven miles of sin and sand. I worked as a contract production support. The natives of the island are decendants of the pirate Lafite. The older native islanders spoke French. So it was not unusual for them to be telling you something half in english the other half in french. They are an extremely tight group and untrusting of outsiders. As time went by and I worked and partied with them they began to say things like 'oh him, he's ok' when asked if I could be trusted. Later I became 'one of them'. Sort of like being a made man. No outsidder dare mess with me or they would likely find themselves beaten and naked 10 miles up the bayou on Hwy 1. Though once over distrust they turned out to be really nice folksy people.

That is where I was and my thoughts concerning God at the time of my conversion. In between I had come to realize that I wasn't being true to the youthful quest for truth. I had realized how easy it was to say God doesn't exist or there was no Jesus but when I get myself in a threatening situation who ya gonna call? Jesus.

Never having read the Bible, I decided that before I can make any critique I obviously need to read it. I committed myself to a three tier approach. First read it just to get the general idea, second time read it for detail and historical context, who di what, when and how.The third time read it critically and just try and break it as God challenges the reader. I was at stage one when I was converted. Just beginning to read it. Not skipping over the boring begats and census.

My current neighbors are very religious and recently we had an impromptu yard-work break conversation. She mentioned God answering those that call on him. I told her my experience was different and that is the point I will eventually get to. Brevity is not a virtue I possess and I apologize taking a while to get to the point. But to me the context is important and that is a setting that takes a bit.

Let me mention one other thing about Grand Isle. It has an almost perfect beach seven miles long. Nice hard packed walking sand and an offshore industry that washed up many curious things. Walking it was an adventure. I lived at the northeast end and all the retail was towards the middle. A good three mile walk but it was wonderful to make the walk. I had my Islander approved sandals and personally-discovered driftwood walking stick and walked as much as possible.

One night I had walked to the bar and had a drink or two with my sandwich, visited with friends then took off back down the beach back to the house. It was a nice semi moon night, calm sea and most pleasant walk. At the time I was contemplating Revelation where the beast rises from the sea and wondering if the sea meant humanity and how we all may have actually risen from the sea. Was my daily shower a yearning to return to my aquatic nature ?

My contemplation was broken when I noticed up ahead of me four people. As I got closer I saw them standing with their arms up praising Jesus. I'm thinking "oh no religious nuts'. I move up towards the dunes hoping they wouldn't see me. As I got parallel to them I heard someone call me by name. I approached and realized it was this guy name Eddie, biggest drug dealer on the island but that was a well kept secret to a few of us. He was not someone you messed with. I only knew who he was and frankly taken back a bit that he even knew my name.

I replied "Eddie? Hey man what's going on?" He asked me if I knew Jesus loved me and I told sure. It was Eddie, his sister, her boyfriend and another guy I'd never seen. Eddie was an islander but his sister and the two others lived in New Orleans. They were all fried on PCP., not really sure but they weren't drunk So I told Eddie I didn't know he was all into Jesus and asked what they are all doing.

He then explained to me that his sister had been raped and they know who it was and if I won't to run to New Orleans to kill this guy. He offered me some drugs and I told him I had never done the stuff and have to be on the boat in a couple of hours. At the same time I sat down on a big driftwood log and asked Eddie "dude let me understand this. You are going to go kill this rapist. What I don't get is at the same time you are asking me if I know if Jesus loves me? I'm not sure where you're coming from. Can you go over that again?" So he does.

As my neighbor said, those that seek God will find him. True indeed. But in my case The Lord found me! He grabbed me by scruff of the neck and told me "OK smart-fella, 'Mr. I'm not sure if He exists', just sit there and watch, I need your mouth for a minute." It was without doubt the oddest moment of my life, maybe even out of body like feeling. I was just a tool in His hands. Just an observer.

As I sat there and spoke, I don't recall everything but I know it was eloquent and I recall all four of them sitting in the sand looking up at me mesmerized by the words and gentle ogic. It was like little children listening to a story. That is what I recall the most, the imagery. Perhaps because only my ears and eyes were available for my personal use at the itme.

Truthfully... it freaked me out. I do recall something like this, "look it is great you have found Jesus, He wants to see more of you, but when your stoned like this how can He believe what you say? Would you show up at your parents house stoned like this? Jesus loves you and isn't all that upset about being wasted but He does ask that you visit him sober. The thing that does concern Him is that you accept his love but will not accept the love he has for another that has fallen like yourselves, the guy that raped your sister. After getting this far out of the hole why dig yourself in even deeper by acting on your anger? Let the police deal with this. Witness against him openly and let him pay for his violations within the law. Let him take his own fall.

Then suddenly it was like I came out of a trance. I did notice how calm and relaxed I felt, almost a kind of being spent but not exhausted. Actually , I was thinking 'where did that come from! ' They sat there for a minute still staring at me. Eddie's sister began crying and saying "he' s right" between her sobs and finally, of her own accord, said "I forgive him". BOOYAA Holy Spirit-5 Satan-0.

They begin to rise and I was getting ready to finish my walk down the beach. Eddie grabbed my walking stick and said "You can't leave yet. I want you to come to the house and tell my wife exactly what you just said. We go to his house and it is two in the morning. He ran upstairs two steps at a time and brought her down with the sleeping baby girl in her arms . "Listen to this."

It was still sort of fresh in my mind but it didn't originate from me so I gave it my best recalling. She listened intently and began that slow subdued crying of a person facing hard personal realities. Once I said what I remembered of it I begged my way out and wished them well. I do have to add this. These two people were stunningly attractive in that Cajun, dark-haired, dark-eyed kind of way. Both were eye candy to the opposite sex. They had everything going for them and about the cutest little baby girl you ever saw. Life was their oyster, unfortunately polluted by crime and drugs.

Two days later I unloaded Eddie's wireline machine on the deck. When he got to the top deck he looked for me. When he found me he came up to me, put a huge bear-hug on me and kissed me on the check. Keep in mind this is one of the most notorious and feared people on the island. Cross him and bad things will happen. Additionally this is not something you see in the oilfield every day or that you want seen! When he pulled away he was choking up yet there was a radiant countenance on his face. Tears of overwhelming joy forming in the corners of his eyes. He grabbed my upper arms and sort of shook me slightly while saying "You saved me man, you saved my family! I will never be able to repay you. You saved my life! You saved our lives" So I asked him if he was sober and what's this all about?

He told me that after I left he and his wife sat at the kitchen table with the baby and had a talk. So they came to a decision to put their house on the market and move back to their house in New Orleans near a little church where the pastor is an old friend of theirs. Do things right for their own sake and for the baby. This was no place to raise her. In fact he took his entire drug stash, drove to the bridge and threw it into the sea. He said it felt good, like getting out of prison.

I told him I hadn't done anything. I was just like him, a witness. That may have been my mouth but those sure weren't my words. Thank yourself for making the call and Jesus for answering. It isn't about me, I was just borrowed for a minute. I was just walking on the beach and the Lord needed a mouth.

I believe he invited me to the house for jumbo that night and he invited the 'Christian spiritual leader of the island' over too. I seem to have gotten the impression this was the person on the island that had gained respect for his spiritualism. I also recall the guy felt challenged. But I made sure he understood that what happened was a once in a life thing. What I was trying to say was just because you hit a hole-in-one on a short par three does not necessarily mean you are worthy of being a golf instructor. I recall the urge to reject outside influence because I wanted to form my own opinions as I read through the Bible.

That's my first experience and it sealed the deal for the rest of my life. At that point in my spiritual growth I never expected to be side-swiped by God. Never saw it coming. Fortunately I wasn't wearing my seatbelt :-) It burned neural traces into my brain so deep I have never forgotten the event. Will not turn away and definitely will not turn back though I do stumble often. I completed my quest and my Bible, the very same one I was using at that time... in fact I think I may have bought it at the grocery store there, now looks like a scratch pad where I have made notations. I have others more ornate or with a better reference section but that one is my pride and joy.

I deal with a lot of people that think it was just a dream I am recalling or I am just making it up. That's fine. I understand. Hopefully it will happen to them one day so that they can understand.

Protect and Serve

Started seeing this pop up everywhere yesterday. Here's my take on it.

At least one government official in this photos inherently lives his obligation to protect and serve. Dr. Gates would do well in the coming days to consider who really has his best interests in mind based on their behavior rather than their rhetoric.

I think there is a teachable moment here. Unfortunately the one that needs to learn does not accept criticism because he is not capable of thinking critically.



Things To Come


The US Postal Service is having to make drastic cuts to stay afloat. Obama's meddling in the auto industry has introduced another government program called cash for clunkers. It was problematic to begin with so the auto industry giant SNAFU's in charge want to end it causing a rush to take advantage of it before it ends. Now Chuck Schumer wants to pump $2 billion into it. Exactly what will happen to their Health Care fiasco.

Now these people look at the TV quite seriously and want us to believe they can run a national health care program ? The idiot-in-chief actually wants us to believe he can do it without raising taxes. If implemented there will be a rush to get services. So how much additional funds will that require? The left and some on the right made sport of voodoo economics and the concept that all boats rise with the tide. Well in the inverted world of liberal thinking they also all sink with the draining of the water.

The true Cash for Clunkers program is this liberal Democrat government and its policies. We keep pouring money into it and get nothing back but the same old failed policies. I mean watch this. Maxine Waters actually thinks that the government that can't run a postal service or a small trade in program can run the oil industry better than the private sector.

The best stupidity money can buy.