Altering the Weather Doesn't Require Costly Research

I really do try to just go on about life and refrain from noticing everything with a "different perspective." My mom always told me, I just tried to be weird. For some time now, the subject of weather has bothered me. I read a very insightful article today about the possibility of altering the weather and the funding for the research, which gave the same reasons for concern that I have had. We ran out of letters for hurricane names, California was burning for half of the summer and now is flooding. The midwest has been in a drought since Y2K, and flooded in '93. There were floods in New England, and more snow than they could shovel in the Ohio valley and the Rockies. And tornadoes have just appeared in all sorts of strange places at very strange times. Texas and Oklahoma are truly in crisis and the aftermath of Katrina continues, not to mention Rita and Wilma. The midwest had a horrible harvest of grains this year, but the soybean rust didn't arrive, so those that stockpiled the antidote are all that are hurt there . . .We do need help and we do need to alter something. As I heard some reporter today make mention of "thanking the wind" for the fires calming in Oklahoma and Texas, it was then confirmed, clearly. We have literally chosen to take G~d out of the equation where weather is concerned. The next thing I heard was a comment asking the meteorologist to "look into his crystal ball" for the 5 day weather prediction??? How many years have we just accepted in the American culture and comments about "mother nature?" We have personified storms by giving them names and then attempted to depersonalize the Creator by referring to "nature." Oh, and now we are considering funding research to alter weather??? We've done such a 'whiz-bang job' of everything else on earth, we have the audacity to presume that we can help G~d out of this weather tempest?
I've done a little research on my own and discovered something without the aid of grants or federal funding and at absolutely no increase to the deficit, here are my results: Repentance is much cheaper and more effective than Research. Now I realize, many may attempt to find a point of disagreement, but with that disagreement, I would ask: So, what is your better idea?


Ye shall keep My sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD. If ye walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: The Holy Bible

The Artful Adjectives

I am referring to the adjectives that I think are probably copyrighted "fair and balanced" by one of the "news" providers in our nation, otherwise known as media. I make a point of reading "both sides" of the news every day, but what I am realizing is that the conservatives truly seem to have choreographed the scene that establishes their own role as victims. That, however; is a blog for another day. What I would like to make note of today is the "alarming and unnerving" headlines that are presented under the auspice of fair and balanced. I, of course, have been trying to stay current on the updates of Israel, including PM Sharon's health. When the alarm came on this morning I heard that he would be undergoing a cardiac catheterization in a couple of weeks. Then I checked the "other" news source, the one that supposedly provides a liberal slant, according to the "fair and balanced" media competitor. Their report was also that PM Sharon would be hospitalized in a couple of weeks for a cardiac cath that would correct something that he had apparently lived with his entire life, but was discovered during his recent hospitalization. Now, as I always do, I went from there to the "fair and balanced" to read in the headline pertaining to PM Sharon "Heart Surgery." I immediately thought what the conservatives promote. "The other side didn't give the accurate information." But, as I clicked on to read, I discovered the exact same information that I had heard all day. It was simply placed under a less than calming headline. And this caused me to wonder, since I hear several "fair and balanced" followers that do not listen to any other source of news, because of the so-called bias. This was not the first time, the implication and innuendo seemed more alarming than other sources, and even more alarming than the information contained in the article. Are these people hearing "fair and balanced" and then being delivered adrenaline pumping headlines to keep them stirred up? Is "fair and balanced" soon to be associated and defined by apprehension and alarm?
do not swerve to the right or to the left . . .

Is That What We Financed?

This is a question that my husband posed to me regarding a situation in which our hearts and checkbook seemed a little bigger than our brains at the time. We had it on "good authority" that we were doing a good thing that would accomplish much. As the story and explanations continue to unfold, or shall I say unravel, my husband remains consistent with his comment . . . "Is that what we financed?" And being the business-minded woman that I am, I now find myself much more sensitive to the outcome of investment and much more leary of the marketing experts and propaganda promoters, regarding charity and "good causes." So, now I find myself double checking the funding and asking, "We're not financing this, are we?" I am all about being generous and helpful, but I am becoming exhausted with funding things that I do not find to be worthy causes or providing financing for things I would not spend the money for, much less find detrimental. Charity is supposed to provide for needs, not greed and certainly not mayhem.
After President Bush promised funding to the Palestinians, America also sent Dr. Rice to confirm the promise of funding the Palestinians. Once I read this promise was supposed to be based upon their control of attacks on Israel, then I read later, they would get the money anyway. Now, I read where the Palestinian leader, M Abbas, has organized some sort of "suicide bomber pension." Obviously the "successful" suicide bomber will not collect, but his family will. Now, if American funds are being sent to Palestine, "We're not financing this, are we?"
Then there was the tragedy of Katrina and Mayor Nagin announcing the layoff of half of the city workers, due to a lack of funding, send money!!! I read and saw the picture of Mayor Nagin in the White House receiving the promise of $3.1 billion. But before lights are on in the entire town, the announcement . . . Mardi Gras 2006 is a GO and there will be plenty of police, etc., blah, blah, blah. "We're not financing this, are we?"
I even heard on the radio this week, although I have not seen in writing anything to substantiate the report, that to lift spirits in New Orleans, they manufactured "snow?" I live considerably north of New Orleans, and the children in our town haven't seen any snow yet, this winter. "We didn't finance that, did we?"
Wouldn't it be nice to hear some reports of charity and generosity, and know, "I'm so glad we contributed to that!"

a generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

All This Protection is Scaring Me!

I have purposely remained quiet after the shooting incident in Miami last week, looking for more information or evidence, but it is scarce. My sincere condolences to his widow and family. I have not read about one single passenger that was frightened by this "alleged" situation, before someone lay bloody and they were told at gunpoint to cooperate . Nor have I read that any of the witnesses heard this passenger use the word "bomb." I have yet to read how this air marshall that was sitting several rows away from this man became aware of his "alleged" potential to be uncooperative. And of course we know that air marshalls are undercover, so when they take "authority" they must just look like anybody else waving a gun and shouting. I wonder if they look "erratic" to passengers that don't have supersonic hearing and know what's going on. With all this talk of terror in the air for the past few years, I don't think I would assume that a guy waving a gun and shouting, would necessarily be a "good guy." With all the anti-terrorists talk and the endless meetings these air marshalls must attend, I'm sure they are ready to respond in a split second, but that appears to now be translated "shoot first and ask questions later." I think what bothers me more than an "allegedly erratic" passenger or a "potentially jumpy" air marshall is the American response to this tragedy. And it is a tragedy. An unarmed man that was just trying to get home was taken out, in the prime of life. Now, granted, he was only one person, as opposed to the three thousand on 9/11, but he was still unarmed and unsuspecting.
Is there any data or any statistics as to the number of "sucide bombers" that make the announcement before they detonate? Where are the logical questions in this situation? Our authorities say the air marshall acted appropriately, so that's that. They do say there will be an investigation, but who does the investigating? And no investigation is going to bring an innocent man back to life. This situation really got me thinking. My husband and I have done a bit of traveling. Since 9/11, we've been to our nation's capital and even done some international travel, and I felt no more afraid or safe than when I had traveled before 9/11, significantly more inconvenienced and dehumanized, however; but that was by American airport security. And I know, there really are droves of paranoid Americans that get fed this fear propaganda that feel safer because of all this, but . . . I find those individuals less than reassuring.
What I do know, as an American, with a few stamps in my passport both before and after 9/11; after 12/7, I don't think I want to do any more air travel.
There's an old saying something to the effect: "Dead men tell no tales." They can't tell the truth either.
Come now, and let us reason together . . .

A Tree by Any Other Name

I must admit, I never thought I would be posting an agreement with Dennis Hastert, but here I am doing just that. Let me qualify the rest of this blog with this statement. I do not agree with Dennis Hastert's politics, but I applaud his reference to the Christmas Tree. I have no earthly idea why our President referred to the tree at the White House as a "Holiday Tree." I can't speak for all the other religions, but I have done a few Google searches and I discovered . . .Many other religious and non religious observers do not have a tree in their holiday events. As a matter of fact, "traditional" Christianity seems to be the only one, although I think the tree huggers may include some sort of tree ritual in their beliefs, I don't think they are "big" on the idea of cutting them down. I was very cautious in using the term tree hugger until I found some very proud believers in their cause referring to themselves as such. I had thought until now, only John Hagee and Rush Limbaugh used the term, so if I have offended an ecologist, please forgive me. Now, back to this Christmas tree business. As a Bible literalist, I don't have a holiday tree. I do celebrate the Feast of Dedication (Chanukah), but there's no tree for the event. I know for a fact, there is no Chanukah tree, and I couldn't find a Bahai tree, nor a Hindu tree. I don't know what the Buddhists do this time of year, nor do I know what the Muslims festively celebrate, but I couldn't find a tree for their events, either . . . so what exactly is a Holiday Tree? If there are only two belief systems that acknowledge the use of trees in their beliefs, how does changing the terminology include the rest of us? If it's a Christmas tree that is being lit or decorated, or whatever, then call it that. If it is a tribute to ecology that is not being cut down, then call it that, but making it generic only appears to dim the value and importance to the one that changes the name. It certainly doesn't invite inclusion into the event. Dennis Hastert, good for you! You called it what it is! It's nice to see a politician stand up for his values and beliefs and since this is America, I don't have to agree with your politics to applaud!
For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it . . .Jeremiah 10:3-4a

Enough Whining and Sniveling

I am exhausted with the lame excuses, blame game, and whining of the present party of power. Get a grip! The present party of power has the majority in the House, the majority in the Senate, absolute control of the White House, and seven out of nine Supreme Court justices were appointed by the present party of power. And yet there continues to be "hand-wringing," complaints about the democrats, and accusations of conspiracy against their well-meaning goodness for our country and a good portion of the rest of the world. Every day is something new to mourn. I am sick to death of hearing about what Ted Kennedy is causing these "moral highroaders" as their followers refer to them. Don't tell me Ted Kennedy is ruining this entire country from one Senate seat in Massachusetts. I can't believe any intelligent thinking person would believe half the propaganda put out by the media mongers of this group that portray themselves to be constitutional patriots. How did the antics of rude third graders get to be politically revered and applauded in this country? Perhaps the rude precocious third grade bullies have simply grown up and still have the brazen pushiness to maintain the control. Or maybe a few boys of the American blue-bloods grew up with those silver spoons and all the backing their fathers and grandfathers could provide. I truly do not begrudge them their power. We know from history, the true price of power is the human soul, so I am not interested in competing, but what I would really like; is for them to enjoy their power without this continual whining for more. They have it all and are still unhappy. For all practical purposes, we have become a one party nation, what more is there? If there is complaining to be done, it certainly should not be from the powers that be. As a matter of fact, if the powers that be are doing a good job and taking the "moral high road," how can there be room for complaints, much less by the very people calling the shots? If there are still things to whine about after 5 years of absolute authority and power, it is time for the leaders, to pick up a mirror and take a good long look.
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.