For the Love of a Horse in One's Life

To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years, a horse can teach a young girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the tallest of girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat for any child. For that, we can be grateful.

Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle or a computer, a horse needs regular care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the crust of ice off the water buckets is to choose responsibility. When our horses dip their noses and drink heartily; we know we've made the right choice.

Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy keepers, requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay, and a trough of clean water. Others will test you - you'll struggle to keep them from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're intentionally finding new ways to injure themselves.

If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses? Indeed, there are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor. Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect it.

Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing. You will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether. There are as many "types" of horses as there are people- which makes the whole partnership thing all the more interesting.

If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing you can learn in a weekend. You can, in fact, learn the basics on a Sunday, but to truly ride well takes a lifetime. Working with a living being is far more complex than turning a key in the ignition and putting the car or tractor in "drive."

In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he' fed up with how slowly you're learning his language. Regardless, the horse will have an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences - if it suits him. It all depends on the partnership - and partnership is what it's all about.

If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it, you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how little you know, and how much you have to learn.

And, while some people think the horse "does all the work", you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven.

You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The results may come more quickly, but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through trust? The best partners choose to listen, as well as to tell. When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment brought about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between horse and rider. These are the days when you know with absolute certainty that your horse is enjoying his work.

If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us have to squeeze riding into our over saturated schedules; balancing our need for things equine with those of our households and employers. There is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as we'd like. Hours in the barn are stolen pleasures.

If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: a warm place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals. Some of us need these reminders.

When you step back, it's not just about horses - it's about love, life, and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it gently. As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow.

We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union. We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to give.

To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of battle.

Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and challenges met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before them, asking little in return.

Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart. Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end the life of a true companion.

In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses--or our horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place.

Author Unknown

The Meaning of the Season: A Rifle for Christmas

This story is poignant this year. Some may know and some may not; 2008 was a hard year for my family. David was laid off from his programming job at CompUSA when they went out of business at the start of the year. He recently started a new job on December 1 for which we are very thankful. Despite the tighter belt through the year and this Christmas, I was compelled to help another family with Christmas as we aim to do each year. Even with one salary, we are blessed in so many ways and I wanted to share those blessings with others. This story touches on so many themes, I hope you enjoy it.

Better bundle up - the goose bumps will freeze you!! I think I need to read this every year at Christmas. This is what Christmas is all about...


Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.

It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.

After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight."

I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what..

Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me."

The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.

After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what? Yeah," I said, "Why?"

"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt."

That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait.

When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. “Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"

Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.

"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.

"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.

My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.

I soon had the fire blazing and every one's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.

Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.

Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.

At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.

Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."

Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."

I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.

For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensen’s, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life – one where the true meaning of the season came shining through.

Merry Christmas Everyone and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Wisdom of Ages

In the history of the world, there has never been a socialist country that has succeeded for any significant period of time. Every one of those countries has gone down in economic flames. Anyone who does not believe that "spreading the wealth around" is socialism should take a governmental studies course.

As we face a serious event in the US tomorrow, I have found a thought to consider. Here are some words of wisdom for our country to think about…

• You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
• You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
• You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
• You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
• You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
• You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence.
• You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

~ attributed to Abraham Lincoln

God bless America - vote November 4th.

There is NO such thing as "Separation of Church and State" it is simply a liberal fairy tale

I am truly sick of the whole "separation of church and state" discussion that seems to be a knee-jerk reaction by liberals whenever a conservative mentions their personal faith.

The Foundation Documents of the U.S. include the Declaration of Independence; Constitution and Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution). The Declaration of Independence includes multiple references to God (or "The Creator" - who the heck do you think created us at the top of earth's food chain if not "God"?) and is the primary document on which the foundation of the USA rests.

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights does not include any language that establishes a "separation of church and state". In point of fact, the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment protects the right of the people to have and practice their own chosen religion. This was written into the Constitution because of the situation in England that many of the Colonials suffered under.

In England; there existed the Church of England - a national church that was also a political entity and which could exact taxes from the citizens of England - in addition to the taxes exacted by the government. Many an English Landowner - most notably the second (or third, etc) sons of a nobleman lost their property - and their titles due to unjust taxation by the Church of England.

In America, the Founders were committed to preventing a state established religion that could exert similar authority to the Church of England. Thus, the First (ratified) Amendment to the Constitution is written to protect the people from being forced into an autocratic situation - that of having a state run religion.

As this is the history - and yes, it is documented - look in the Foundation Documents and the Articles of Confederation - to see the background explained here in this Blog post.

The actual term and interpretation of "separation of church and state" is contained in the text of a personal Thank You letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Church in 1802. This letter actually exemplified the explanation given above - that no man was subject to explaining his faith to any other man. Nor, was a man's faith subject to governance by the Federal Government.

So, as is exemplified in both the First Amendment and the Danbury Letter, in all fact; the term "separation of church and state" has been usurped by those who would deny the basic Christian Principles in the foundation of the US.

As if this was not enough; there is an Article of the Constitution which lays down clearly that if there is an incorrect "interpretation" of the Constitution and the Amendments, that interpretation - and any following actions based on that incorrect interpretation - do not constitute the creation of a right - or precedent of law that will stand under examination.

The meaning of the Founders was clear - practicing the religion of one's choice was protected in the US and infringement of that right is indeed Unconstitutional.

Life or Death? The choice seems abundantly clear...

I actively watched the major speeches of both the GOP and DNC conventions. The issue with the greatest clarity for me is the dichotomy of the two 'tickets'.

On the one hand, we have the silver tongued speaker who voted repeatedly against legislation to protect live babies (little human beings) when born following an attempted late term abortion. A man who would not want to "punish his daughters with a baby"(1) if she were in Bristol's shoes. A man who is all for protecting the polar bear and the three-toed purple spotted tree frog - but not a child.

On the other hand, we have a man who is pro-life who chose as his running mate a woman who, pregnant with a child the parents knew had special challenges - accepted that gift from God with open arms. A woman who believes in abstinence teachings for children - so that they may be taught by the ones with the true responsibility in the matter - their parents; not so that they be ignorant. A woman who feels a politician's job is to serve "with a servant's heart" (2). A woman who, upon finding her own daughter pregnant; once again accepts God's challenge ahead and supports Bristol and looks forward to welcoming her grandchild.

That is about the most clear you can get on the differences between McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden. A ticket that stands for life and respect - or - a ticket that stands for fluid morality.

The choice, for me, is clear.


Notes:
(1) - Senator Obama on March 30, 2008 in a Town Hall Meeting
(2) - Governor Palin on September 3, 2008 at the RNC

Liberals - the only ones who can "SAVE THE EARTH" - in their minds

One thing that astounds me is the level of hubris in the minds of the environmentally elite. (or those who like to think they are "elite")

Creationists, Darwinists, etc - agree that the earth is old. Over the life of the earth; species have come and species have gone. Extinction of one group has led to an opportunity for another to arise or thrive.

Those who are so intent on preventing the extinction of any species need to be aware that we are interfering with the process of the earth. By stepping in and re-creating or infusing new populations; we need to ask "are we stopping a normal event that will prevent another life form from growing; or even being?"

Yes, I know the hue and cry of "man is destroying habitat" will bombard me. I would say that the earth cycles and sun/solar system cycles destroy habitat and have done so for millennia on end.

The natural resources of the earth exist - irrefutable fact. They are being used under a technological evolution and invention by man. Cows, horses, lions, tigers, bears and beavers are not using (to my knowledge) air conditioning. Man is. Is it a "luxury?" Perhaps. I would say both A/C and heat have prevented human death and extended human life.

Is it "bad" or "evil" to use heat? No. Cavemen used wood fires. Due to smaller populations, this was not an issue. Today's population would not be able to subsist on wood energy without exhausting "wood reserves". Thus, oil and petroleum products are more sustainable than the technology of the Neolithic period. That is an improvement and advancement that protects the resources of the earth. Though some people still use some wood energy, it is by far replaced by oil. Follow me here before jumping my ass.

In tomorrow's technology, oil will become obsolete. Though some applications may continue to exist. However, we are not at the point of 'getting off oil'. Does this mean we will 'kill the planet'? No. (Though the case is certainly out there that technology advances in energy have been ignored due to the abundance and cheap availability of oil. ) If the perfect "renewable, clean, powerful energy solution was unveiled today, it would still be DECADES before delivery systems were in place in every nook and cranny of the US; vehicles able to use that energy are built; vehicles are replaced and are on the road that use the new fuel and not one "oil" car is left running; homes are powered by the magic new fuel; ALL 170 by-products of oil are recreated in some other form.

This process of replacing all oil touch points is not some unimportant piece of a new fuel program - it is integral to converting the country - and the world to new systems. You cannot by-pass his process by shutting off the spigot today and letting people suffer until new technology is in place. The world has to continue to run for those decades without much interruption or (nature of man) there will be massive wars, deaths, pestilence. I would think the environmentalist elites would be against these disasters. (maybe not)

Those who belittle the pragmatic and call them "planet haters"; "knuckle draggers"; deniers or whatever; I find interesting. They are bullies. These bullies assume if they ridicule those of disparate view points - or who bring up points that the enviro-bullies have no answer to - the pragmatists will curl up and blow away. You are all in for a sorry day coming quickly upon you. Those who are realistic enough to understand that oil will play a part in our near (and medium term) futures are gaining clout and voices. Those who call themselves "earth aware" will know that no longer will we run away and hide from sarcasm.

Those who are enviro-bullies are infantile political sycophants with little or no natural intelligence. Let's hope the one with the big ears doesn't get to move this January….

Tina Davila - Victim of U.S. Governmental Ineptitude

The following news story is heartbreaking, frustrating and just plain maddeningly unnecessary. I am posting it here today for a very clear purpose.

The scum killer in the story is - you guessed it - an Illegal Alien. Yep, that is correct. If the do nothing bozo's in Washington D.C. had simply DONE THEIR JOBS, the probability is that this loser wouldn't have been in the US in the first place.

This murder of a Mom, a wife, an American is the responsibility of our leaders. This is the result of - and therefore the fault of President Bush, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Ted Kennedy, Barbara Boxer, the Mayor of San Francisco, and every other politician or law maker who has not stepped up and put an end to the open borders of the United States. If I had my way, this family would take this to the people named above (and all the others I did not have room to name). I think this family should sue every political 'leader' who has failed the citizens of the US - and this Mom in particular.

Let me ask you this; how many more Americans have to die and families have to be left bereft before we demand action? I am SO past the point of 'enough'. Write, call, meet with, demand that your elected officials CLOSE the borders NOW.

Too bad Houston citizen - and fighter of crime - Joe Horne - was not at this location - maybe he would have had his shotgun with him. I know that I for one will be supporting the 'open carry' bill in Texas.

Slain mom's kids plead for help finding her killer.

Tina Davila died defending baby from carjacker: 'She was the coolest mom'

By Mike Celizic

TODAYShow.com contributor

They wanted her car. She wanted her baby. And because of that, Tina Davila, mother of five and beloved by all, is dead. Her family wants her killer brought to justice.

"She was a good person and she was good to be around," Davila's 17-year-old daughter, Patricia Matt, told TODAY's Meredith Vieira Wednesday in New York. "Everybody wanted to be around her. All the kids liked her. They thought she was the coolest mom."

It was April 17 when Davila was killed in Texas because she refused to give an assailant the keys to her car, in which she had left her infant daughter. But the pain of the loss, painted in tears that flowed down Patricia's cheeks, is still fresh for those she left behind.

The 39-year-old Davila had pulled into a parking lot of a Harris County, Texas, cell phone store to pay her bill. She left her daughter, 4-month-old Kaylynn, in the back seat and started to go inside when she was accosted by a man who grabbed for the keys to her SUV.

The confrontation was captured on grainy surveillance video from inside the store. It shows a man, identified by police as 23-year-old Timoteo Rios, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, grabbing for the keys. Davila pulls back, and the man stabs her in the chest several times before turning and fleeing. Davila, mortally wounded, runs after him before turning and staggering into the store for help. EMTs rushed her to a hospital, but she died there of her wounds.

Still at large!

Rios remains at large, and police suspect he's fled to Mexico. A man identified as his accomplice and the driver of the car in which they arrived at the store and fled the scene, is in custody. Police said he is Kennedy Escoto, 17. He has been charged with aggravated robbery for his involvement with the theft of beer from a convenience store immediately before the attempted carjacking that left Davila dead.

Eric Matt, Davila's first husband and the father of three of her children, got a call saying his ex-wife and high school sweetheart had been injured. Though the two had divorced in 1996 after eight years of marriage and three children, they remained friends. Matt said his ex-wife continued to help him out in tough times many times over the years.

"They told us that Tina was involved in an accident," Matt told Vieira. "My oldest son, we both went to the hospital, thinking she was in a car accident or something. When we arrived, we asked about Tina Davila that was in an accident, and the people said, 'You mean the woman who got stabbed?' Right then and there is when it kind of shocked and hit us."

Matt never got to see Davila. But he did learn that she had died protecting Kaylynn. "The officers said she wasn't willing to give the keys," he told Vieira. "Her last words were, 'My baby. My baby's in the back of the truck.' "

That Davila gave her life to protect her child didn't surprise Matt. "She would do that for every one of her kids," he said.

'Sticker mom'

Indeed, in her community, Davila was known as the "sticker mom," a title that reflected her penchant for covering the back of her car with decals representing the sports teams her children belonged to. She never missed any of their games and always led the cheers.

Her 15-year-old son with Matt, Payton, tried to describe his mother to Vieira. He got out the word "just," hesitated, swallowed hard, chewed his lip, took a deep breath, fought back tears and finally gave up, overcome by grief.

And that, said Payton's father, is why the three came to New York to appear on TODAY. "The reason we're here is the fact that there's one more person out there that maybe somebody will know. Tina was very important in our lives. She was a mother that was a good mother. She cared for every one of her children. Just to see the sadness in my kids — it's a lot of adjusting going on through this period of time. I feel there would be some closure in our family if this other man would be caught."

A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the capture of Rios, whose police record includes brief jail terms last year for marijuana possession and for criminal mischief and failure to identify himself to police. Authorities say he may still be driving the gold Ford Taurus with Texas plates P42 CYY and a broken left-side mirror held on by duct tape that he was in at the time of the murder.

Fairness Doctrine - NOT Fair to America

"Our massive strategy was to use the Fairness Doctrine to challenge and harass right-wing broadcasters and hope the challenges would be so costly to them that they would be inhibited and decide it was too expensive to continue."

--Bill Ruder, Democratic campaign consultant and Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Kennedy Administration [1]

Today, there have been a number of reports that the liberal Democrat lead Congress is making yet another attempt to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine.

• For those who do not know what the Fairness Doctrine was;
  The rule was first articulated in 1949, when television was in its infancy and radio meant a handful of AM stations in each market. In its final form, the rule required broadcasters to "afford reasonable opportunity for discussion of contrasting points of view on controversial matters of public importance." Until it was abolished in 1987, this Federal Communications Commission rule required broadcasters to air all sides of controversial issues.
  

At first glance, something called the 'Fairness Doctrine' may sound innocuous. Fairness is, after all, a basic American value. But as a matter of principle, any such government controls on media content is anathema to constitutional guarantees of free speech. And in practice, the so-called fairness doctrine was deeply unfair.

Liberals are so intimidated by conservative talk radio that they are attempting to bring back the Fairness Doctrine. The Democrats state that the Fairness Doctrine will guarantee that more opinions will be heard. Of all arguments for the reinstitution of the fairness doctrine, the most inaccurate and insidious is that it will permit a greater diversity of opinion to be heard.

By requiring, under threat of monetary penalties, that broadcasters "fairly" represent both sides of a given issue, advocates of the doctrine say they believe that more views will be aired while the editorial content of the station can remain unaltered. But with the threat of potential FCC retaliation for perceived lack of compliance, most broadcasters would be more reluctant to air their own opinions because it might require them to air alternative perspectives that their audience does not want to hear.

Thus, the result of the fairness doctrine in many cases would be to stifle the growth of disseminating views and, in effect, make free speech less free. This is exactly what led the FCC to repeal the rule in 1987. FCC officials found that the doctrine "had the net effect of reducing, rather than enhancing, the discussion of controversial issues of public importance," and therefore was in violation of constitutional principles. [2]

Additionally, I believe that Nancy Pelosi and her crew know EXACTLY what the re-enactment of the Fairness Doctrine would do - that it would decimate conservative talk radio and TV. These are broadcasts where not only are opinions given; news stories are reported that are not heard at all on mainstream media channels and information is given to Americans who are too busy with work and families to chase the truth of news themselves.

If the fairness standard is reinstituted, the result will not be easier access for controversial views. It will instead be self-censorship, as stations seek to avoid requirements that they broadcast specific opposing views. With the wide diversity of views available today in the expanding broadcast system, there is a simple solution for any family seeking an alternative viewpoint or for any lawmaker irritated by a pugnacious talk-show host. Turn the dial.

[1]Quoted in Jesse Walker, "Tuning Out Free Speech," The American Conservative, April 23, 2007

[2] Excerpts from the Heritage Foundation - 1993

Build YOUR American Dream - on your own merit

To all those that get the fact that hope and advancement come from within:

This is exactly the point of the father/daughter story: You have to decide to succeed and keep on trying – there will be obstacles at times – that is what faith is for – faith in God, tomorrow, good people, your efforts.

I have heard stories about those who have been discriminated against and they have been hurt and discouraged. What it demonstrates is that you came in contact with an organization full of absolute total jerks. (Good that they are all concentrated in one place) But, for every company like that there are 10-fold companies who are not like that.

I bet everyone in the working world was discriminated against at some time – black, white, woman, too educated (intimidated the hiring manager), too fat, dressed in a different manner, too many earrings…it goes on and on. Do you think as a woman in the technology field – especially in the early and mid-90's that I was not discriminated against? I was.

I have had 40+ year old mainframe developer's walk out of advanced programming classes – before the class started - when they realized I was not the secretary setting up the class but the instructor. I have had these men write notes to leave with our admin – before they ever heard me say one word that I could not teach them a thing because I was a "girl". They said that I should teach graphics and word processing classes because I was a girl and only good for being a secretary. Think that didn't hurt? Wasn't a crushing blow to the ego? I was a huge blow. But, keeping your head high and ignoring the idiots are a better way to succeed. I just went forward and put the turkeys out of my mind – could be worse - at least I wasn't married to them!

You are the master of your soul and the captain of your destiny – I know trite right? It actually is not. You are the only one who can change your situation. Fail at something? Learn the lesson and try again. Not getting anywhere? Change your approach. The answer is not to give up and wait for someone to fix the mess – if you quit, you have no chance. Obama's message is "poor you, you have been hurt, held back, given a short stick" his platform answer is "the government will help you out, bail you out, fix the wrong". In short grow government and taxes to hand out money to those who perceive their deserved success has not been met.

You know, punish the successful as they must have cheated in some way to achieve success. THAT path my friends will lead the people of this nation to a multi-generational society of governmentally dependent people who are not abject to failure and being told what to do.

That my friends leads to the common man thinking that the socialist "re-distribution of wealth is a good thing - giving the corrupt in government an open door.

A Conservative Father's Discussion with his Liberal Daughter

Father and Daughter Discussion

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words, redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil and selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father.

He responded by asking how she was doing in school. Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened then asked, 'How is your friend Audrey doing?' She replied, 'Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over.'

Her father asked her, 'Then why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend Audrey, who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPAs.'

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, 'That's a crazy idea. How would that be fair? I've worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work. Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!'

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'Welcome to the Republican Party.'

Canada's National Healthcare cost VS US Healthcare cost - 2007 data

Many in Obama's camp are parading Canada's "National" healthcare - and what the extolling virtues of that plan are - after all - they don't pay anything for a heart transplant or any other service. Well, my scholarly Obamites - let's compare Canada's tax rate and health premiums with the US (using my income/taxes etc)

NOTE: Please see end of post for source research links.


In the US (2007 rates):
Total Income tax on household - $21,000
Medical Insurance (Family of 4) - $3,600
RX Drugs - $900 (Thyroid disease - mine)
Office visits - $100 (10 /year - family of 4 for 2007)
Total Medical Expense + Taxes 2007 - $25,600

In Canada 2007 rates:
Total Income tax on household - $$40,894
Medical Insurance to cover additional expense (Family of 4 )- $3,600
(increased care provided to = what I have now)
RX Drugs - $720 (Thyroid disease - mine)
Office visits - $140 (10 /year - family of 4 for 2007)
Total Medical Expense + Taxes 2007 - $45,354

Difference in cost:
Canada: $45,354
US: $25,600
______________
$19,754 MORE in my pocket in the current US System.

DO I REALLY need to say more?????

SOURCE -
Canadian Info: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/individuals/faq/taxrates-e.html
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/170/13/1906
US Info: My 2007 tax return

Do you still think Obama's "National Healthcare" is such a great plan? We all know Washington gets very gluttonous with new programs and fees so the cost will likely be more than this. Personally, I prefer to keep the almost $20K in my pocket.....

Moms - have you let yourself go?

Recently, I was participating in an online board talking about the new Suave Commercials that depict a "Mom" who - after children - has let herself go to pot. There was a great deal of angst on the boards about how important your children are and that your looks don't matter. While I can definitely agree on the level of tasks, to do's and a myriad of other things on a Mom's "Most Important" List; I do have to agree with a number of bloggers here and there that many Mom's DO let themselves go - and join the "I want to look natural" group. This, ladies, is NOT the best choice you can make - for yourself, your children and - importantly - your marriage.

I am a 41 year old, red-headed Mom of 2; a Professional Software Architect; business owner; horse owner (barn chick cleaning 5 stalls daily). Despite the typical 16+ hour day, everyday I put on fresh, flattering clothes, do my hair with highlights, painted nails and apply some cosmetics - enough so my husband is well aware I am his wife, not his brother. I do this not only for my husband (which is ultimately for me) but for me and the whole family. I don't pretend to be anyone. It took work and effort to become who I am and I love that person - including every wrinkle, stretch mark and scar.

Why do I say that my looking put together - if not always professional is important to the family? Because it reflects on the family - your husband in social circles (ever run into an Exec from your DH's company or their spouse at the grocery/soccer/tutor's? I have - and I feel more confident when I have my "best face" forward.

When you show up at your child's school for a PTA meeting, Room Mom (yes, I do schedule time for this) or teacher conference in your sweats and bunny slippers, it makes you child look bad - sorry - it is true - first impressions are the only impression you get to make.

It is all about confidence. When you know you look good (not "date" night or fashionista) you walk taller. You project an image of confident ability. When you look like a schlumpy, frumpy, dowdy housekeeper, people assume you are a slob.

Sorry ladies - I know I will get roasted for this - but I don't care: the truth hurts. Your Au natural face is not (in most cases) the best you can look. A light quick cosmetically enhanced look is simple and important.

I do not mean full-on war paint. Tinted moisturizer or mineral powder foundation a little bronzer, mascara and lip gloss is the difference between looking old and tired - or young and fresh. You can do this in 5 minutes flat and there is NO ONE that doesn't have 5 minutes to themselves to feel pretty and confident.

It doesn't matter that some of you think you are being "feminist" and "strong" by rejecting cosmetics, heels, hose and dressing up. Pampering myself isn't "bad" or selfish - it shows respect for me - by giving myself time to recharge; it shows respect for my husband - I'm worth it, I deserve it and I love to spend that little extra time. I think that is being "feminist" - because it is MY choice.

I'm no super Mom - and don't pretend to be. I mess up royally sometimes - we all do. The fact remains, some Mom's let themselves go. Some look like washed out men with breasts. "Choose" to look as you like...bottom line, without a little care and attention; even the most beautiful 20-something "earth mother" gets to looking a little....haggard around the edges.

Image matters. You may not like to hear it, but it does. It may not be fair and you can protest all you want - but I would hazard a guess that if your husband came home and you had put a little time into your image (lip gloss, powder, mascara - 2 minutes girls) he would take a second look and notice. You may not care...but, he might.

Some guys commented on the board that they like it when women care how they look. Think they are cavemen? Perhaps your guy thinks the same. Maybe not....but remember - they spend their work day exposed to sharp women who DO care about their image. Then they come home...

Solutions to our Economic Crunch - from an everyday ordinary person.

The economy is in shambles and all we hear is how Washington is scrambling to solve these “tough” issues. Well, I am no brain surgeon, but listed below are solutions to many of the problems facing us today.

The big problems in the economy?

The Fed -

• Lowering interest rates for over a year has devalued the dollar on the world market
  Inflation is at 17 year highs – we aren’t aware of this because Washington changed the way they calculate and report inflation since the 1980’s. If calculated in the same manner as it was 17+ years ago, today’s inflation rate is 11% (pretty Carter-esque isn’t it?)



• A devalued dollar is causing inflation on gas, oil, and food.
  If interest rates were increased .5 - .75% - the corresponding drop in oil prices would be (reported by an oil & gas analyst to Congress in January) 20 - 30 dollars a barrel.

Global Warming Hoax -

• We all hear the scare tactics on TV. Here are a few real facts (go ahead and Google or research these little tidbits, they are out there – it is just that no one looks because they get their news from TV…)



• The IPCC has accepted as correct and acknowledged the findings in a new climate change research report which finds that the so called Global Warming stopped in 1998. Since 1998, the earth has cooled .7 degrees.



• Global Warming has been changed to say "Global Climate Change". The UN, Al Gore's, etc want to keep "Climate Change" as a big issue because of the money it generates for these people/organizations.



• The US Presidential Candidates are all looking at a "carbon tax". Each of these Senators have been briefed - in the Senate - by leading authorities that there is no Global Warming, yet their platforms still insist on a carbon tax.

Lack of meaningful Energy Policy -

• This country needs to suck up a number of things to solve the "oil" issue once and for all. Political leaders need to have the cajones to put the Environmental Groups in their place. If these people had their way, we would all be sitting in the dark in a cave someplace freezing to death and not eating anything but weeds.



• We need to drill ANYPLACE there are oil reserves: ANWR; Off Southern Coast, etc - this doesn't have to be forever, just until we can get other alternatives up and running. The Caribou will be fine for a couple of decades.



• We need to build new Nuclear Power plants to produce cheap electricity. France runs 85% of their electric power on nuclear plants for over 35 years and have had no problems or issues. They also use technology to re-use their fuel rods - cutting down on waste by over 80%. (Are we not at least as smart as France?)



• We have more than the equivalent of Coal Reserves in the US that Saudi Arabia has in oil. Through new technologies that are environmentally clean, we can produce liquid fuels (Gasoline, home heating oil, diesel, etc) from coal - with 100% of the CO2 captured - which can then be used to improve oil wells production in the form of underground pressure. This results in no increase of CO2 in the air. (though, if you read above, you will be able to infer that Al Gore's model of direct increase in temperature based on increase in CO2 is flawed since CO2 has risen since 1998, yet temperatures have fallen.



• Electric; gas electric; diesel electric cars are the answer to transportation questions for the future. Battery technology is improving. There are currently cars being tested that have a 400 mile range on a single charge.



• Solar and wind power can be used in new home construction to improve energy efficiency.
  If we instituted these changes, in 4 years we could have much of the infrastructure in place and online and in under 10 years (like 8) we could be free of ALL foreign oil. (Not just Mid-east, but ALL - Canada, Mexico, etc) This set of changes would also create MASSIVE amounts of new jobs - at all levels, blue collar, technical, white collar; thus improving our economy.

Politicians -

• Many of the politicians in Washington have never worked or succeeded in any other arena than politics. Without skills outside of politics, they know nothing in depth about this country and its people.



• Regular people in the US - teachers, doctors, community leaders - all need to take up the banner and replace the career politicians with honest ordinary people. This is the model the Founding Fathers envisioned - people serving their country in this way for a short time - and then going HOME to their REAL lives.

"We The People" need to be encouraging and DEMANDING that our political leaders do the same, we will all be much more successful in our own personal lives - and the shining country would be back where we all want the US to be - a world leader. If not, we can send them home to give a new career a try – I’m sure it’ll do them good.

Why not pass this on to your Representatives in Washington…Maybe they will wake up.

Higher Taxes - No, REALLY!

I am distressed with the budgetary hearings that have been reported in the news. The Bush tax cuts are one of the only good things in the economy right now. I say that because our citizens were in a similar position in the 1970's with extreme interest rates, staggering inflation and high taxes. Our economy and employment failures and troubles were legendary. With the Democratic budget proposal we face all of that and more.

$683 billion dollars in tax hikes – including the .50/gallon proposed fuel tax to fight the fictional man-made global warming, plus the ridiculous run up in fuel prices caused by the oil futures speculation market will bury citizens and the country. Aiming tax rate increases on those who are making $30k for individual and $60k for couples is ludicrous. Most people who have a degree and are 2 worker families are making those amounts of money. They are also struggling under record fuel prices – which are driving record food prices.

You have to eat – and feed your kids and you have to drive to get to work. Short of those 2 activities, people will not be doing much this year. The price of milk has risen from $1.99/gallon last summer to over $5.00/gallon now. That is a 280% increase in under a year. Ground beef has risen 167% in that same time frame. Boneless chicken has risen 220%. Gasoline has gone up 132% over the same time last year. ($2.53/gallon to $3.35/gallon - I am so happy I keep track of these prices in a spreadsheet)

If you average those numbers together, you get an average increase of 139% over last year on necessary items – that is an inflation rate on those items that is much higher than the government reported rate of 3.4%. 3.4% - WHERE do they get that number?

I do not know about you, but my salary has not risen at the same rate as consumer goods. In fact, my salary stayed the same this year – due to cost cutting measures. So, I lost purchasing power and we have tightened our budget. That is true of most Americans.

My suggestion to all of our officials is to cut the baloney and act in a way that will help – not drown the people they represent. Otherwise, many political leaders may find themselves looking for a job in November. I suggest Nancy Pelosi and her counterpart in the Senate get a real clue on how Americans feel.

NOW how good do Obama and Hilary look to you?

Reference to the Tax Hike information: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,337588,00.html#

The Ripple Effect from Oil Speculation

I would like to know WHAT our elected leaders are doing to help Americans with fuel prices. Please do not talk to me about supply and demand. Our supplies are at a high – we have put gasoline into the reserves for the past 18 weeks. Do not talk to me about crude oil inventories. Our crude inventories have gone up – and a drop was reported last week – which sent prices higher – because the crude was off the shore in Houston due to heavy fog.

No, what I want to hear our “leaders” talking about is the oil speculation market. The oil futures/speculation market has driven the price of oil to extremes over the past 3 – 4 years. It became a noticeable evil in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast. Let me give you a few facts that are on the internet – easily able to be verified through some Google searches. About 8 years ago, there was ~9 billion dollars invested in the oil futures market. It drove prices, but it was not bad. Today, there is over $250 billion dollars in that market. I would not be surprised to hear that most of our elected officials are heavily invested in that market.

It needs to end. Caps need to be set on that market. The Government (God help me for saying this) needs to step in and shut those swindling thieves down. Why do I say that? After all, this is a capitalist society, right? Wrong. This is a closed market. There is no entrepreneurship in this club. I cannot go out and start my own oil company or refinery. It is a closed market. That makes it a monopoly and since the Administration was all interested in Bill Gates monopoly in software, why are they doing nothing about the oil market?

I do not want to hear any more about OPEC or any other influences. OPEC is right. The US has botched this market SO BADLY that it has been one of two driving factors in this recession. Yes, we are in a recession.

When the cost of milk goes from $1.99 to $5.00+ a gallon in less than a year, which is a lot more than the Administration's 18% price increase reported in the news – that indicates stagflation – after all, my salary did not go up to meet that increase. Those price hikes are across the board – ground beef - $1.79 a pound last summer is now $2.99 a pound less than a year later. What is the Administration waiting for? People are giving up out here, for God’s sake – the Administration thinks a stupid $600 check is going to solve this? I cannot believe the House and the Senate would be that stupid.

Do you think Americans are idiots? They know that oil prices drive gas. Gas prices drive food, clothes, and etc prices. Using corn ethanol (another staggeringly stupid move to appease Iowa farmers and the farm lobby) is cutting into the food supply. That in turn raises food prices. It is also forcing ranchers to kill their beef sooner and not replace it. Beef is going to go sky high here in a few months. Then what are people going to eat? WHAT is the Administration waiting for?

Let me go further – at $4.00 a gallon for fuel now – and at least $4.50 or more likely $5.00 a gallon this summer, people will not be able to afford to go to work. I do not want to hear about “public transit”. That solution is not viable in North Texas – and many places across the country. Let me give you my example: with public transit, it would take me 4 hours to get to work – part of that involves a ~2 mile distance that is not spanned by any transit bus. Imagine walking that in the summer heat and then sitting down with clients. Yeah, nice. Then another 4 hours home – adding 8 hours to an 8 hour day. Not very realistic is it?

So, not only can people not afford to go to work, they will not go anywhere. No summer vacation. That tanks your tourism industry. Hotels are hit; the movie industry gets hit further (adding to the fact that no one wants to see their America bashing films); manufacturing is hit because people aren’t buying anything. Then, unemployment rises – and things just get worse.

If our elected leaders do not step in and do something smart –you know – shut down the speculator market on oil; tell the fed to stop cutting interest rates because it devalues the dollar when they cut rates and put more money into circulation – something like that; we are looking at a spiral that could very well result in a 1930’s style depression. Does the President really want that on his watch? I cannot stress this enough – DO SOMETHING before it is too late.

An American's Perspective on Immigration (reprinted)

ORANGE COUNTY, (CALIFORNIA) NEWSPAPER

New Immigrants -

(This is a very good letter to the editor. This woman made some good points.) For some reason, people have difficulty structuring their arguments when arguing against supporting the currently proposed immigration revisions. This lady made the argument pretty simple. 'NOT' printed in the Orange County Paper

Newspapers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not agree with the philosophy they're pushing on the public. This Woman wrote a great letter to the editor that should have been published; but, with your help it will get published via cyberspace ! ________________________________________________________

From: 'David LaBonte' My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to 'print' it myself by sending it out on the Internet. Pass it along if you feel so inclined. Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the "Orange County Register": ________________________________________________________

Dear Editor:

So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the "Statue of Liberty" because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry. Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer.

Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented . Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning 'English' a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.

They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade fora future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out.

My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy,France and Japan None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the "United States of America" as one people.

When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German-American or the Irish-American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

And here we are in 2008 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country.

I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.

As for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the "United States" just yet.

(signed) Rosemary LaBonte

Helloooo??? Customer Service anyone??

OK - before I really get into this, I have to be honest and tell you that I HATE grocery store "self-service". I hate it. Why do I hate the self-service lines? I'll tell you why. If I am going to a store every week and every week they are getting $100 or more of my money....I want someone with a smile to stand there and wait on me. I want to see my money in action.

Personally, I have enough jobs to do and hats to wear., I have a job - more than one actually. I do not need to be the cashier and bagging clerk at Wal-Mart or Albertson's. I am also not in the mood to play "cashier". If I wanted to do that, I would not have gone to college and worked all these years at a career....I would have gone to work at "Stop & Shop" or "Star Market".

So, on the night in question, I left my Mary Kay business meeting and stopped at Albertson's to pick up some lunch drinks for my son. I also found a couple of other items we needed. I then headed for the check-out. I walked right past the self-service lanes for reasons I have explained and will expound on later. I went to Aisle 5 where the light was on. No one was there - when I looked around, I saw a number of clerks standing around doing nothing - then the check-out supervisor told me to move to Aisle 7 - which I did. The clerk who was there, took a look at me, and walked away. So, I went picked up my things and moved to the Self-Check lane - understnadably irritated. I will not go to Albertson's again.

As far as I am concerned self-service has gone WAY too far. First, it was pump your own gas...save .10. Well, I still liked the option of paying more and having someone else - some nice gentleman - stand in the rain and snow to fill my gas tank. I paid for it.


Then, it was the ATM machine. Wait on yourself at the bank. "Oooh, try this Mrs. Jones...it is so much faster"...then, "Oh, and don't worry one little bit, you will pay a service charge for using the ATM, but it will save you so much time". Yeah right. You give your money to a machine and the bank gets more profit. Nice.


Now it is the grocery store where we are supposed to help ourselves. What we are doing is working for the store - for free. That way, they can keep hiring low - and executive profits high. I don't like doing any kind of "work" for free. That is why they call it work. Hmmmm...makes you think.


Another thought that occurs to me as we walk down this path of more and more self-service is that we are taking jobs out of our economy. Now, we all hear from "economic analysts" that the U.S. is becoming a "Service Centered Economy" - that means that we are all serving some customer. Well.....where is the "service" for the American citizen? Are we exporting it all? Are we sending all of our politeness and customer service skills overseas?

The scariest thought about the spread of the "do it yourself" service industry is....what's next? Are the Insurance Companies going to get on the bandwagon? "Oh, go ahead Mrs. Smith...you can do that Pap Smear yourself...just follow the directions and stick the swab..." or will it be more like "take the scalpel...now are you sure your husband is under the anesthesia...?"

So, when I get on my soap box here and rant a little about my experience last week at the Albertson's in Lewisville, you need to understand where I am coming from.

Catholic and Proud of it!

I have to tell you that I do not generally keep up with "The View". I work and do not have time usually to watch a morning TV show. I happened to see it January 9th.

On that day I was affronted, offended, angry and incredulous that Joy Behar had the audacity to malign Catholicism on that show. Why is it that the media, the liberals, the left always have this feeling that they can attack Christianity whenever they want - and to top that off – when the “progressive atheists” feel Christianity needs to be really skewered the attackers focus on Catholics and the Catholic faith.

Let me explain something to you - slowly so all you bigots against the Catholic faith can understand it. The Catholic Church was the FIRST Christian religion. It was founded by the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those first Catholic Christians were chased, hounded, persecuted, and killed in vile ways. Why? So they could keep their word and follow their teacher, Jesus. After all that believers have been subjected to in the past, it is infuriating to listen to attacks from television "want to be's" that have absolutely no understanding of the faith.

Let me give you a quick run down on the top stupid comments non-Catholics make about Catholics; No, we don't pray to the Saints; No we don't ask the Priest for forgiveness in the Confessional; Yes, we do believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is our personal Savior and that our sins are forgiven by His death on the Cross; No we do not believe the Virgin Mary is a "god"; No we do not believe that Purgatory means that you are not "forgiven" and not let into Heaven; Yes, we are the basis for the Baptist faith - and every other Christian denomination; No they didn't leave the Church because Catholics did something wrong, it was a political struggle they ran away from; and finally - Yes, the Catholic Church is the largest religious community on earth.

There are very strict guidelines in the Catholic faith. These have been passed down for 2,000 years directly from those first Apostles of Christ. In order to become a Saint, you must meet all of those requirements, and it takes time for this process to be completed. In addition to Mother Theresa, there is also Pope John Paul II who is in the process of beatification and will eventually (with grace) be counted among the Communion of Saints.

Why, you ask are there not a lot of Saints in today's world? I think that is clear. We have an overwhelming lack of morals, ethics, values; we entertain ourselves with perverse, vapid personalities on TV - not unlike Joy Behar - who have nothing to add to the world but their empty senseless remarks. Who among these people is up to the consideration for Sainthood?

Tell me, would you have the courage to stand on your soap box and attack in a similar manner the Islamic religion by calling Mohammed a terrorist? Would you sit there and call out Martin Luther King and say he stepped above his place in society? Would you tell Hillary Clinton that she is not qualified for the White House on the merits of being married to the 42nd President? No, I didn't think so.

Then don't insult the Roman Catholic Church with your ignorant comments.

House Democrats are crafting a “scaled-down” immigration reform measure
despite the political minefields that surround the issue, the Roll Call
newspaper reported Monday.

It says that Hispanic members — including Rep. Joe Baca — are seeking
five-year visas for illegal immigrants who pay fines and pass criminal
background checks. Baca, a California Democrat chairs the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus.

Baca said the prospects for a compromise package were discussed in
high-level meetings that included Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Caucus
Chairman Rahm Emanuel, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who chairs a key immigration
subcommittee, Roll Call said.

Ok – this is a report that we are seeing in the News. I have to tell you that this kind of legislation will be fought tooth and nail. The American people are not – repeat NOT – interested in ANY kind of amnesty action. In fact, we want the borders closed right now. We want the fence built that was voted on and passed into law – and we do NOT care what squabbles you are using as reasons not to finish what we the people have asked for. We want the illegals that are here to return to their country of origin, and then apply for legal entry into the US. If they are here and have children who are legal citizens, they can have a few options:

1. Leave with your child and apply for a visa for yourself.
2. Apply for the visa while staying here and being subject to (and actually paying – in full - before visa is granted) a large fine for sneaking into the US.
3. Ask for a hearing in which you may be granted dispensation and a visa if you can show that you have; a.) Paid taxes; b.) Not unlawfully siphoned off our services (SSI, welfare) and c.) you have had continuous employment while here in the US with no arrests.

These are acceptable approaches to this issue. We the people will NOT stand for amnesty of ANY kind. Wake up government (and Mr. McCain) and get a clue, please.

Ah - The Power of Love!

Flowers, candy, red hearts and romance. That's what Valentine's day is all about, right? Well, maybe not.

The origin of this holiday for the expression of love really isn't romantic at all -- at least not in the traditional sense. Father Frank O'Gara of Whitefriars Street Church in Dublin, Ireland, tells the real story of the man behind the holiday -- St. Valentine.

"He was a Roman Priest at a time when there was an emperor called Claudias who persecuted the church at that particular time," Father O'Gara explains. " He also had an edict that prohibited the marriage of young people. This was based on the hypothesis that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because married soldiers might be afraid of what might happen to them or their wives or families if they died."

"I think we must bear in mind that it was a very permissive society in which Valentine lived," says Father O'Gara. "Polygamy would have been much more popular than just one woman and one man living together. And yet some of them seemed to be attracted to Christian faith. But obviously the church thought that marriage was very sacred between one man and one woman for their life and that it was to be encouraged. And so it immediately presented the problem to the Christian church of what to do about this."

"The idea of encouraging them to marry within the Christian church was what Valentine was about. And he secretly married them because of the edict."

Valentine was eventually caught, imprisoned and tortured for performing marriage ceremonies against command of Emperor Claudius the second. There are legends surrounding Valentine's actions while in prison.

"One of the men who was to judge him in line with the Roman law at the time was a man called Asterius, who's daughter was blind. He was supposed to have prayed with and healed the young girl with such astonishing effect that Asterius himself became Christian as a result."

In the year 269 AD, Valentine was sentenced to a three part execution of a beating, stoning, and finally decapitation all because of his stand for Christian marriage. The story goes that the last words he wrote were in a note to Asterius' daughter. He inspired today's romantic missives by signing it, "from your Valentine."

"What Valentine means to me as a priest," explains Father O'Gara, "is that there comes a time where you have to lay your life upon the line for what you believe. And with the power of the Holy Spirit we can do that -- even to the point of death."

Valentine's martyrdom has not gone unnoticed by the general public. In fact, Whitefriars Street Church is one of three churches that claim to house the remains of Valentine. Today, many people make the pilgrimage to the church to honor the courage and memory of this Christian saint.

"Valentine has come to be known as the patron saint of lovers. Before you enter into a Christian marriage you want some sense of God in your life -- some great need of God in your life. And we know, particularly in the modern world, many people are meeting God through his Son, Jesus Christ."

"If Valentine were here today, he would say to married couples that there comes a time where you're going to have to suffer. It's not going to be easy to maintain your commitment and your vows in marriage. Don't be surprised if the 'gushing' love that you have for someone changes to something less "gushing" but maybe much more mature. And the question is, is that young person ready for that?"

"So on the day of the marriage they have to take that into context," Father O'Gara says. "Love -- human love and sexuality is wonderful, and blessed by God -- but also the shadow of the cross. That's what Valentine means to me."

Economic Stimulus or Progressive Stupidity? You decide...

Happy 2008! I want to comment on the "Economic Stimulus Plan" announced today.

First let me say that I think the entire plan is the most stupid move on the part of Washington that I have heard this year.

Let me explain - the country doesn't have the money to fund SS; medicare; the Medicaid Drug plan...and they want to take money that they are supposed to be using to manage the country's defense and infrastructure; and send it to citizens to spend at Wal-Mart? Can you say "stupid"?

Second - the compromised bill will "rebate" tax dollars to people WHO DON'T PAY TAXES. Yep it is right in the news stories - "The Bush plan would not pay rebates to citizens who hadn't paid taxes" Uh, that is not a rebate it is a hand out. Who paid for THOSE checks? You and me that pay taxes. What do you think is going to happen in 2009 if a Democrat like Hilary Clinton is elected? She has already said that she is going to repeal the Bush tax cuts and raise taxes. Well, there goes that "rebate".

Third - if they wanted to "stimulate the economy" long term they should look at ways of keeping jobs in America - and shoring up the borders to stop the flow of people who are using our systems to ruin our schools and hospitals.

And Last, Americans and our "leaders" have poorly managed the economy for well over 15 years - the piper has to be paid. A recession is likely in the cards for 2008 - and this "band-aid" isn't going to stop it.