Sunday, March 22, 2015

Reflections on Religion: East vs West, Disbelievers, and Extremism

Good Day World!

I have a few observations about religion today that may, or my not, surprise you.

For starters, Christians are murdered indiscriminately around the world everyday.

Example: Punjab province is home to the majority of Pakistan's four million Christians. A Christian couple were burned alive in an industrial kiln in Pakistan recently after being accused of setting fire to several verses of the Quran.

According to Mushtaq Gill, chief advocate at the Pakistani minority rights group Legal Evangelical Association Development (LEAD):

"A mob of several dozen attacked the building where they were.They broke their legs so they couldn't run and then threw them in the fire. Only some bones and hair were found at the site."

It’s simply not safe for Christians in Pakistan. The same goes for all the middle east and most Asian countries.

Islam and Christianity have always had problems co-existing.

At one time in history, Christians hunted down Muslims and slaughtered them, conquering their countries in the name of the Cross. The Muslims retuned the favor and conquered Christian countries and strongholds.

THE REALITY OF RELIGION IN THE 21st CENTURY

Islam has been perverted by extremists worldwide.

These extremists murder Christians and other Muslims (who don’t believe exactly like they do) somewhere in the world everyday. They call it Jihad. Jews and Christians are prime targets for these crazy Muslims whose beliefs violate the very Quran they profess to follow.

The world has not seen such brutality and savagery in modern times.

Horrible Stories were told about the Celts, the Aztecs and the Mongols; nevertheless they always remained stories of the remote past.

But what the militants of the so called “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria – ISIS” are doing is something else, what they are perpetrating defy any literary power to try and put it into words.

Driven by what they see as divine command and wreaking havoc and devastation only thought possible in Hollywood productions the Islamic militant group ISIS has pushed the definition of terrorism to a new and scary limit.

ARE AMERICANS BECOMING LESS RELIGIOUS?

“According to the Hartford Institute of Religion Research, more than 40 percent of Americans "say" they go to church weekly.

As it turns out, however, less than 20 percent are actually in church. In other words, more than 80 percent of Americans are finding more fulfilling things to do on weekends.

Furthermore, somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 churches close their doors every year. Southern Baptist researcher, Thom Rainer, in a recent article entitled "13 Issues for Churches in 2013" puts the estimate higher. He says between 8,000 and 10,000 churches will likely close this year.” (Source)

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

 

Saturday, March 21, 2015

As soon as we get a woman president put her on the $20 bill

Good Day World?

There’s a lot of talk going around nowadays about putting a woman on our $20 bill, currently occupied by Andrew Jackson.

The "Women on 20s" movement is going viral, with 80,000 people heading online to pick from potential candidates like suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Congresswoman Patsy Mink, and abolitionist Sojourner Truth

The list of candidates at womenon20s.org will be winnowed down to four finalists. Then, the campaign will put together a petition in hopes of catching the attention of President Obama. If 100,000 people sign, the White House will have to respond.

"It's a small symbol, but there are millions of bills that are going from hand to hand every day," said campaign founder Barbara Ortiz Howard. She hopes to put a woman's portrait on the $20 by 2020 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote.

That’s fine.

But what about tradition? We’ve always had presidents on our currency.

Now, because it’s viewed as politically correct, photos of women from housewives to politicians, are being considered.

It seems to me we’re losing too many traditions in this country.

Pretty soon we’ll start putting rock stars on 50-dollar bills. Sports figures will peek out at us from the $100 bill, and obscure politicians will be on the one-dollar bills. Five dollar bills will have photos of cartoon characters (from Porky Pig to Daffy Duck).

I’m just saying.

Of course, my humble opinion means nothing in this PC world we live in. But, I do have a solution that should be acceptable to both sides of the issue;

It’s simple; as soon as we get a woman president, we can place her face on the $20 bill.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

Friday, March 20, 2015

Lessons learned from Oliver, my blind cat

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Good Day World!

My wife, and I, rescued two cats last year.

They’re brothers, and came as a set. One of them, Oliver, is blind. Tommy is sighted. They’re four-years old, and inseparable.

(left –Tommy – right Oliver)

From the start, I assumed that Oliver would have a lot of limitations because he couldn’t see. That assumption flew out the window like a bird in no time. Oliver stayed close to Tommy at first, following him like a dog on his tours of their new house.

I was amazed when Oliver quit following Tommy and struck out on his own within a couple of weeks. He seemed to magically avoid every obstacle that came into his path. Every now and then however, he would gently bump into something.

That misstep never set him back. He just changed course without a complaint. Not even a meow of irritation. The lesson; it made me realize how resilience and patience overcomes all obstacles.

When I watch Oliver play with his brother it’s apparent he enjoys ATT_1426813729235_imagelife. He isn’t bothered by not being able to see. He was born blind, and doesn’t know any different. My concerns for him slowly dissipated as I watched how he handled the setbacks life had to offer.

That lesson hasn’t been lost on me.

When I see Oliver romping across the house in his peculiar panther-like style – he stays close to the ground – I have to smile.

Oliver is fearless. He stretches out to his full length to reach a window sill and chins himself up – claws sinking into the wood trim and leaving behind scars to show he was there before.

The lesson is obvious; don’t be afraid to reach out and embrace life.

The fact that Oliver has become more independent since he moved here – he seldom follows his brother (other than to play) and explores the house daily noting any changes that have occurred since the day before.

I think Oliver has a sixth sense. Or, radar. The way he avoids new obstacles – for instance, the ottoman in the living room constantly gets shifted from one side of the room to the other – is nothing short of uncanny.

When Oliver arrived he wasn’t wild about getting petted. Now, he loves having his little head stroked – especially under the chin. He’s gotten use to our touch and has become a loving member of the family.

By the way, Tommy is the Zen master. He’s doing great and fits right in – even with our pug Molly. The two play together now. Oliver is still standoffish with Molly, but the two have showed mutual respect and declared a truce.

Once again, Oliver had a lesson for me: “Life is too short to spend it fighting and mistrusting people”

Time for me to walk on down the road…   

 

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Live Hard and Long! A Birthday Tribute to Bruce Willis

Happy Birthday!

Bruce Willis!

One of my favorite action heroes on the big screen is Bruce Willis.

Seeing as how this is his birthday, I thought it would be nice to pay him a small tribute by taking a look at some of his work via video clips and links.

Video clips

Best known for his role as John McClane in the "Die Hard" series. He has appeared in over 60 films, including "Pulp Fiction", "Armageddon", "The Sixth Sense", and "Sin City".

Walter Bruce Willis was born on March 19th, 1955.

You might be surprised to learn that he was born in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California,

He’s married to model and actress Emma Heming (29). They got married in Turks and Caicos Islands, on March 21st, 2009.

For you astrology fans, Bruce is a Pisces

Historical Events in the Life of Bruce Willis

1985-03-03 - "Moonlighting" with Cybill Shepard & Bruce Willis premieres on ABC TV in the US
1987-09-20 - 39th Emmy Awards: LA Law, Bruce Willis & Sharon Gless win
1999-08-02 - "The Sixth Sense", starring Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, and
Haley Joel Osment, premieres.

Achievements

Motion pictures featuring Willis have grossed US $2.64 billion to $3.05 billion at North American box offices, making him the eighth highest-grossing actor in a leading role and twelfth highest including supporting roles. He is a two-time Emmy Award–winning, Golden Globe Award–winning and four-time Saturn Award–nominated actor.

In 2013, Willis was promoted to the dignity of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters on February 11, by French Minister of Culture Aurélie Filippetti.

Everything considered, Bruce Willis is an entertaining guy!

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

 

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Everything you ever wanted to know about ‘Hump Day’

Woden, Odin

Good Day World!

Starting around 1965, Wednesday began being referred to as “hump day.”

Smack dab in the middle of the traditional work week, arriving at Wednesday symbolizes that we’ve made it over the hump and the weekend is in sight.

Did you know that the name Wednesday derives from two mighty but distinct gods?

The Old English word for Wednesday indicates that the day was named for the Germanic god Woden.

In Romance languages, the name is derived from the Roman god Mercury. (For example, Wednesday is mercredi in French and miercuri in Romanian.)

Woden (also known as Odin) and Mercury have  been associated since Scandinavian and Roman cultures crossed paths. Under Woden’s supervision, the earth and sky were created from the dead body of a giant named Ymir.

Woden also created the first man and woman from an ash tree and an alder. As if fashioning the human race wasn’t enough, Woden also established the laws of the universe.

Mercury was the messenger to the gods, along with being the patron of science, the arts, travelers and athletes.

Today, he is one of the most widely recognized gods. Usually, he’s depicted wearing a winged helmet and sandals.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

A leprechaun told me to wish you a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Aye, and it’s a fine day Lassies & Lads!

Every year on March 17, the Irish and the Irish-at-heart across the globe observe St. Patrick’s Day.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Tis like a morn in spring.
With a lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing
When Irish hearts are happy
All the world is bright and gay
When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure, they steal your heart away.

NEWS

For the first time in its 115-year history, South Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade will include groups representing the LGBT community. 

HISTORY OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY VIDEOS

There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

St. Patrick: Why Green? Green was not the first color associated with St. Patrick, so just how did green come to represent this holiday?

10 Funny Irish Jokes

Video: Stories and poems attached to St. Patrick’s Day – told by an Irish poet

Go mbeannai Dia duit (May God Bless You)

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

Monday, March 16, 2015

Senator/Soldier violates Iowa State Code of Military Justice

Good Day World!

There’s a senator who is also a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard who could, and should, be court-martialed for her seditious actions.

When Lt. Col. Joni Ernst, the junior senator from Iowa, joined 46 other treasonous senators in going over the president’s head and contacting Iran, she violated the Iowa State Code of Military Justice.

Her signing of the seditious letter to Iran is a clear and direct violation of Chapter 29B.85 of the Iowa State Code of Military Justice.

29B.85  CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS.
Any person subject to this code who uses contemptuous words against the president, the governor, or the governor of any other state, territory, commonwealth, or possession in which that person may be serving, shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

This is very serious infraction.  We are a nation governed by civilians.Our Commander-in-Chief is a civilian.The government officials that hold ultimate authority over our military are civilians. 

This is true at the federal level and the state level.This has always been the case since George Washington was president.He resigned his military commission to accept the position of president.

We have never in our history had a military ruler.Military obedience to civilian authority is critical and essential if we are to maintain the democracy we inherited.   That is why "contempt towards officials" is such a serious matter.

Lincoln enforced that discipline during the Civil War.Even with the imposition of martial law, Lincoln remained a civilian commander. Truman enforced the same discipline after WWII when he relieved Gen. MacArthur of his command.

Obama enforced the same discipline recently when Gen. McChrystal was relieved of his command.There is nothing anachronistic about this fundamental principle.

In the federal armed services, this is handled under Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

“Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”

Reading the federal version, it is obvious where Iowa got the wording for its law.  It's not an accident or a coincidence.  The importance of enforcing the requirement for military obedience to civilian authority is universally applied at every level of governance, from the federal to the local level.

In the Open Letter to Iran, which Lt. Col. Joni Ernst freely signed,  it says:

“…we will consider any agreement regarding your nuclear-weapons program that is not approved by the Congress as nothing more than an executive agreement between President Obama and Ayatollah Khamenei.”

The fact of the matter is the president, under Article 2, section 2, has always been recognized as uniquely empowered to speak on behalf of the nation. After all, the president is the Chief Executive.

This principle has been in place for over 200 years.  Secretary of State Jefferson -- as instructed by President Washington -- made this point in writing to Edmond Genet in 1793, explaining that no one but the president could speak for this country.

“He being the only channel of communication between this country and foreign nations, it is from him alone that foreign nations or their agents are to learn what is or has been the will of the nation; and whatever he communicates as such, they have a right, and are bound to consider as the expression of the nation.”

That principle has been ratified numerous times across the centuries. Undermining that authority is sedition. Undermining the authority of the president while you are serving as an active duty officer in the Iowa State National Guard is clearly contemptuous.

At the federal level, an officer is in violation of this law (Article 88) if their behavior meets the following tests:

(1) That the accused was a commissioned officer of the United States armed forces;

(2) That the accused used certain words against an official or legislature named in the article;

(3) That by an act of the accused these words came to the knowledge of a person other than the accused; and

(4) That the words used were contemptuous, either in themselves or by virtue of the circumstances under which they were used.

This brings us to the case of Lt. Col. Joni Ernst. I assume the same elements, or similar elements, are used to determine compliance at the state level for Section 85 as they are at the federal level for Article 88.

In this case, Sen. Joni Ernst is a commissioned officer.(1)

She did use words against the president.(2)

These words were published to MANY people besides the president.(3)

The circumstances of these words are contemptuous of the president and his authority.(4)

That's four strikes.

By her behavior, Joni Ernst has disgraced her commission and tarnished the reputation of the Iowa National Guard.  Her behavior reflects poorly on her and her chain of command.  It also provides a poor example of leadership to those men and women entrusted to her command.

Because of her actions, Lt. Col. Joni Ernt appears to have willfully violated Iowa Code 29B.85. The only reasonable course of action is to subject Joni Ernst to court martial and punishment in proportion to the severity of her infraction. (this article first appeared in Alternet)

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Sunday, March 15, 2015

When my time comes, celebrate my life in music

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Good Day World!

We are born, and eventually we die.

What we do in-between defines us.

I’ve got 20 tunes that I’d like played when it comes time to bid adieu to my friends and family.

(Photo-The Love of my life, and wife, Shirley)

In that final celebration of my life let music tell my story:

The Animals were known for their gritty, bluesy sound and deep-voiced front man Eric Burdon. Three of their hits really spoke to me. They are:

"The House of the Rising Sun." "We Gotta Get out of This Place", and "It's My Life."

Another one of my favorite groups is The Doors.
From the Strange Days album (1967) I really related toPeople Are Strange.” I also like, “Break on Through (To the Other Side)” from “The Doors” 1967 album.

One of those defining life moments for me happened when I was in a chopper flying to Cambodia. A boom box was playing “Paint It Black while I wondered if I’d survive the incursion into another foreign country. It was upbeat and scary.

This anthem song Where Have all the Flowers Gone: Eve of Destruction by Barry McQuire is another song that has a lot of meaning to me. The music is highlighted with real films from the Vietnam war.

When it comes to Love Songs my favorite one is “Brown-Eyed Girl,” by Van Morrison, because it’s my song to Shirley – my wife, and love of my life.

One of my favorite singers is Joan Baez. Everything she’s done is magic. In particular I love “In The Quite Morning.”

Favorite traveling songs:“I’m On The Road Again by the Canned Heat, and their classicGoing Up The Country.”

These musical hits all ring memory bells dear to me:

White Rabbit, by Grace Slick & The Jefferson Airplane.

That’ll Be The Day by Buddy Holly.

American Pie, by Don McLean

Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks (1974 – the year I got married)

Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce

Run Through the Jungle by Creedence Clearwater Revival

 

Someday Never Comes also by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Mercedes Benz by the great Janis Joplin.

I Did It My Way by Frank Sinatra

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Staying Forever Young at Heart

Good Day World!

Let’s set the tune for today by listening to Forever Young by Joan Baez

and by other artists such as

Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, or The Band.

The lyrics to this song speak to me. It’ my life’s anthem.

I may be 64 years-old, but I don’t feel like an old man. I may look like one, but the “real me” is much younger.

I laugh easily. I love passionately. My sense of humor remains unmarred over the decades. I can still remember being five years-old.

When I look in the mirror that young man in my mind stares out from behind my wrinkles and silver mane. Yet youth, unlike one philosopher's suggestion that it’s wasted on the young – can be eternal…

in your mind, heart and actions. 

I am as curious today as I was 64 years ago. At times, I feel old when by body fails me. Then I remember; I chose to be

forever young!

Time for me to walk on down the road… 

 

Friday, March 13, 2015

Who said, ‘Help me?’ When 1st Responders Arrived at Accident

Good Day World!

I’ve run across many mysteries in my life, both personal experiences, and in news stories. I find them fascinating, and whenever I run across one I enjoy sharing it with my readers.

The most recent example of a mysterious story is about a car accident that happened recently outside Salt lake City, Utah.

For reasons unknown, Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck, 25, went off the road and crashed in the Spanish Fork River. She was killed (massive trauma), but her 18-month-old daughter, Lily was still alive in the back seat.

The car was upside down and partly submerged in the icy river when first responders arrived. As three police officers and two firemen surveyed the situation they heard a mysterious voice say, Help me.”

Officers Tyler Beddoes, Jared Warner and Bryan Dewitt told Lt. Matt Johnson they heard an adult voice before being aware of the infant trapped upside in a car seat. Johnson relayed their report to ABC News.

He said the two firefighters, Paul Tomadakis and Lee Mecham, also heard the voice before realizing there was a toddler in the submerged car.

"To me, it was plain as day," Warner told KSL.com. "I remember hearing a voice that didn't sound like a child, just saying, 'Help me.'

Of course, the voice couldn’t have been Groesbeck – she was dead. But whose voice did the five men hear?

Some might say it was Lynn Groesbeck’s voice – coming from the other side to save her child. I don’t know. It’s an interest theory.

Who do you think the first responders heard?

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Racist remarks, treason, and lack of class – GOP on a roll

                                           Good Day World!

You’d think that after last week’s controversial House speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who denounced the president’s negotiations with Iran, that Republicans would show a little class and get off Obama’s back.

You’d be wrong.

Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky, tried to rush the bill to the floor but had to reverse course, after Democrats threatened to block the move.

This week, Republicans doubled down on their destructive rhetoric. 

Republican Sen. Michael Willette refused to resign over a series of offensive Facebook posts. In the posts he suggested President Barack Obama's family members are part of the Islamic State group.

When the Maine Democratic Party called on him to step down over what they described as a "prolific online history of racist and bigoted remarks," Willette backpedaled, said he was sorry, and that he won’t continue to post lies.

His history says otherwise.

Willette also posted a photo of Obama on Facebook pretending to use the president's words, saying of the Islamic State group, "I'll deal with them at the family reunion."

It’s more than not having any class that makes Willette a problem. He’s admitted having animosity toward Muslims and suggested that members of Obama's administration are part of the Muslim Brotherhood.

It’s apparent he hates the president, and that’s he’s graduated from hateful rhetoric to downright lies. Willette has gone too far this time.

Speaking of going too far..

More than 155,000 people have signed a petition to the White House (yesterday) urging charges be filed against 47 Republican senators who they say committed "treasonous" offenses by writing Iran's leaders about ongoing nuclear negotiations.”

When those 47 Republican senators sent  a letter to Iran’s leadership Monday warning them that an international nuclear deal with them could be scrapped if they didn’t like it, they went too far.

According to the petition, the 47 senators "committed a treasonous offense when they decided to violate the Logan Act, a 1799 law which forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments."

Those 47 senators – including three potential Republican presidential candidates - broke the law, or at least violated the traditions of Congress, by directly engaging a foreign power on US foreign policy.

Even some Republicans realize that the letter went too far.

Negotiations with the Islamic republic "are tough enough here and I didn't think it was appropriate to add another element that makes it more difficult," Senate Republican Jeff Flake told National Public Radio.

In both cases, there’s a total lack of respect for the president of the United States.

Meanwhile, the world looks at the political dysfunction festering in Congress and wonders how united we really are.

Time for me to walk on down the road… 

 

Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

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