Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right

This story was fraught with so many wrong things, I couldn't even form my opinion. Then there is also the factor that my opinion makes no difference, but I needed to make peace with the "what should have been done" in the particular news item I was mulling over. I awoke to an hour of Jim Bohannon's late night show re-run at 5:00 am. It was in listening to his thoughts and the comments of his callers that really grabbed my attention in this news item. Seems a young man, a former Wal-Mart employee had apprehended a shop-lifter, after the shop-lifter pulled a knife. The alleged stolen merchandise was recovered and the next day this young man was fired. At first I was just furious about the treatment of this young man, because first and foremost, I enjoy not liking Wal-Mart. Well, I'm an American, we love to hate, we like to dislike, and Wal-Mart made my list with RFID tags, years ago and the big secret digital storehouse in Jane, MO. I haven't been in a Wal-Mart for over 5 years. Now back to the story. The more I thought about it and the more I looked for information on the topic, the more I found it to be less news worthy than I had originally thought at 5am. Or at least the newsworthiness of it changed for me. The fact that Wal-Mart has a "do not pursue" policy regarding shop lifting indicates they are going to draw a number of young men that just really have a fascination with a badge and the appearance of authority. I mean if the policy is to not apprehend, the security department or asset protection associates or whatever special title Wal-Mart has given them, the guys in uniform are simply props to deter the basically honest from temptation. But there is a policy in writing and shown to the employees through their training. We've all felt the disdain for some whipper snapper in a uniform throwing his weight around. When he was fired, he was told this was a non-rehirable offense. He said, in an interview, he can't even come back at 65 to be a Wal-Mart Greeter. And now, as the day has progressed, I can't help but see a different side of this. At 5am he was a mistreated hero, but now I have to admit; Rules are rules. It is neither admirable nor heroic to disregard the rules to enforce rules on others. Breaking the rules to catch someone else that broke the rules is not security, it's anarchy.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged . . .

As in the Days of Noah

Gonna preach here just a bit, and the text is from ahajokes.com. I found this at www.ahajokes.com, but never could get the page to open, so having read it before, I cut and pasted, below. This past week, the Torah reading was about Noah, and of course, to correlate there are words by Messiah in the New Testament. He spoke of the end of days being like the days of Noah. Since we have the promise from G~D that the world will not be destroyed by flood again, I found the words of this text to be absolutely prophetic.

Noah's Ark in Today's Society...

The Lord speaks to Noah and says: "In one year, I am going to make it rain and cover the whole Earth with water until all is destroyed. But I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on the Earth. Therefore, I am commanding you to build an Ark."
In a flash of lightning, G-d delivered the specifications for an Ark.
Fearful and trembling, Noah took the plans and agreed to build the Ark.
"Remember," said the Lord, "You must complete the Ark and bring everything aboard in one year."
Exactly one year later, a fierce storm cloud formed and all the seas of the earth went into a tumult. The Lord saw Noah sitting in his front yard weeping.
"Noah." He shouted, "Where is the Ark?"
"Lord, please forgive me!" cried Noah. "I did my best but there were big problems. First, I had to get a permit for construction and your plans did not comply with the codes. I had to hire an engineering firm and redraw the plans.
Then I got into a fight with OSHA over whether or not the Ark needed a fire sprinkler system and floatation devices.
Then my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission.
I had problems getting enough wood for the Ark, because there was a ban on cutting trees to protect the Spotted Owl. I finally convinced the U.S. Forest Service that I needed the wood to save the owls.
However, the Fish and Wildlife Service won't let me catch any owls. So, no owls.
The carpenters formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Union. Now I have 16 carpenters on the Ark, but still no owls.
When I started rounding up the other animals, I got sued by an animal rights group. They objected to me only taking two of each kind aboard.
Just when I got the suit dismissed, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. They didn't take very kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of the Creator of the universe.
Then the Army Corps of Engineer demanded a map of the proposed new flood plain. I sent them a globe.
Right now, I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking godless, unbelieving people aboard!
The IRS has seized all my assets, claiming that I'm building the Ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes.
I just got a notice from the State that I owe some kind of user tax and failed to register the Ark as a 'recreational water craft.'
Finally the ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against further construction of the Ark, saying that since G-d is flooding the earth, it is a religious event and therefore unconstitutional.
I really don't think I can finish the Ark for another 5 or 6 years!" Noah wailed.
The sky began to clear, the sun began to shine and the seas began to calm. A rainbow arched across the sky.
Noah looked up hopefully. "You mean you are not going to destroy the Earth, Lord?"
"No," said the Lord sadly. "The government already has!"
. . . neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. Torah of Holy Scripture

Murder?

I'm getting just a bit confused on definitions here, so I'll relay the story, as a matter of fact, I'm going to post it right here. It's a very short article.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,569572,00.html?test=latestnews

>>>LOS ANGELES — Authorities say a 37-year-old Los Angeles man has been arrested on suspicion of murder for the death of an unborn child believed to be his.
Police said in a press release that Joshua Woodward was arrested Sunday in Los Angeles and is being held on $2 million bail in a county jail.
Police say the arrest came after an investigation on Monday revealed "suspicious circumstances of a miscarriage." Investigators estimate the fetus was in its 13th week.
Police released no information on the mother or the circumstances of the child's death.
The release says Woodward is believed to have ties to Miami and Chicago and detectives are also seeking information in those cities.
Investigators are set to present the case to prosecutors on Tuesday.
A deputy at the jail had no information on an attorney for Woodward.<<<

First, at 13 weeks, I'm not saying I agree, but I thought, legally, it was a choice, not a child. Second, I thought murder charges could only be leveled if the unborn child was statistically viable. Third, $2 million dollar bail? Really? I just can't help but think this is some sort of political spectacle. Although I am sorry for the mother and clearly the child was unprotected and apparently unwanted, but I don't understand the legal logistics when abortion is an option in this gestational time frame. I mean, this would still be considered the first trimester. I am not an advocate for abortion. I don't believe in any invasive medical procedures. Considering the laws of the land. Is this man guilty of murder or practicing medicine without a license?
If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him . . . Torah of Holy Scripture

Controversy

I truly think the American pastime is now arguing and accusing. We just love controversy. Even those that prefer TV or radio, enjoy the programs that "stimulate thinking" which translates to regurgitating something said by a talking head, to argue about. I had a bit of fun this morning with my producer. I did a remote this morning, so we didn't have our usual rapport that includes facial expression and body language. Every topic I introduced was controversial and you could tell, he just wasn't sure where I was going to go with any topic. I have the greatest producer in the world, he's laid back, on top of his game, usually cool and calm, but I could hear him sweating this morning. First, he'd said something through the Trading Post show and his callers were getting on to him about it. I always make notes and for whatever reason, I'm thinking G~D, the very first line of my outline addressed what a great job he did on Trading Post. Next I mentioned medical marijuana as part of health care reform. That was a big uh oh! I mentioned it purely from a revenue perspective and to put the drug cartels out of business. He was doing his best to be supportive while hoping I'd change the subject. Next I brought up the materialism of our holidays coming up and speaking against materialism sort of rials the advertisers, so we moved along again. The next thing I brought up was hearing G~D give the warning about our holy with profane and spiritual with secular, again addressing materialism and big business. I didn't promote anything or deride anyone, it was just simply making observations on controversial issues, rather than speaking against anyone or going on a tangent. It seemed to me that the 30 minutes just flew, I'm not sure Dan felt that way.
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. New Testament

Wondering About the News

I'm beginning to wonder just how much of the news is even news. So many of the headlines seem to read like the front of the Enquirer or the Star at the grocery store check-out. As I'm getting the show together for tomorrow and doing a bit of preparing for some other projects, I can't help but wonder as I peruse the "news" how much of this is simply unnecessary information designed to do nothing more than create a stir and sell ads. And I simply can't get over the news agencies that denounce the other news agencies! As if the one telling us we can't believe the media doesn't see the irony in that statement. I discovered a proud moment in my own life, in terms of my participation in media. I have a radio show that airs weekly on Thursdays. I've always heard my producer say the words, but it didn't really click until a couple of weeks ago. When my show ends, my producer says, "Call letters, now joining the Glenn Beck show, already in progress." I find it quite the ego boost to know my show actually pre-empts 30 minutes of the Glenn Beck show. I mean, to listen to him tell it, nobody is supposed to quiet him. He's quite sure we all should want to listen to his shrill rambling and sobbing accusations. Well for those that can get the gist of his message in less than 3 hours a day, we have options. Turns out I don't need political clout or accusations or any other con-artist, charlatan approach. I simply have a show called "Choosing Life," which would only make sense to pre-empt some of the brouhaha!
The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, and good news invigorates the bones. a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Now We're Talkin' Health Care Reform

President Obama has given new guidelines telling the feds to back off on arrest and prosecution of medical marijuana. I addressed this, in part, at my other blogsite, Rhapsody Road. Finally, something he and I agree on. This manufactured war on drugs from the Reagan years has done nothing but increase the number of prisons our country now has. And why would a so called G~Dly nation outlaw something HE created? Pot isn't like meth or LSD, or even drugs processed from plants. Pot isn't a composite of chemicals or cleaning supplies. Pot is the plant and the finished product, like; created just that way. I've always thought the war on drugs was really just to manage and create jobs. Health care in rehab, and guards in prison. And let us not forget an entirely new Cabinet Post for the executive branch of our ever expanding government. Legalizing pot makes sense on so many levels, but specifically economically. If pot is legalized for medical use, or just legalized in general, it becomes an agricultural crop. If pot is legalized, it becomes taxable. Pot is still being used, now; but the government is missing the revenue. As far as more power to drug cartels if it's legalized . . . is the most ridiculous of arguments. Drug cartels are in business to deliver illegal goods. Moonshine and the runners thereof; basically went out of business when prohibition was repealed. I'm guessing the same thing would happen with drug cartels, at least where marijuana is concerned. As a natural girl with MS, I'm all for the legalization of it, but my state is far from open minded, so until it's legal, I'll not be partaking, but I'm all about this portion of health care reform.
And G~D said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed . . . Torah of Holy Scripture

No COLA

I've been just a bit cynical about our Social Security System for some time now, but I have to admit, I've refigured this a different way, and naturally gotten different results. As we know, the primary group of people that do not consider social security benefits to be in the same category as welfare, are the ones collecting. And the group of people that are collecting truly believe they paid into it for their own retirement. The social security system was set up for one generation to pay in, to support the previous generation. That is an unarguable fact. The "fact" that it has been redefined does not change the original fact of intent. At the risk of sounding disrespectful, I've seen several professional photographs of my grandma in her younger days after she "went to town." Now, while she was waiting tables and could afford her portrait to be taken many times over, her parents spent 18 months living in their chicken house, without chickens, while building another house due to the loss of their main homestead in the depression. All of this occurred basically in the same time frame. My great grandparents were the first generation eligible for Social Security benefits. That generation did not pay in, but they literally, took care of the previous generation and provided 16 members of the industrial revolution work force for every one person that collected, while still basically providing all their own food. Clearly the first generation to collect did contribute. Then somehow the very next generation got it in their head that they were paying into their own retirement and many of them are still collecting. My grandma, in her 90's, is certainly not alone in her generation. The nursing homes are filled with people handing over their social security checks for skilled care. Now, moving right along into the next generation who is now retired and collecting what they paid in, plus they have pensions. I'm ready to do the math. I'm not even going to address the pre-medicare years of FICA. This is simple and since I had found data, I never actually did the math. The average worker by the end of the 60's was having 4% of their pay withheld for social security and their employer was matching that, making 8% of their income going into that fund. That basically boils down to 1 month of collection for every year of work. So, for those that spent 40 years in the work force and have it in their mind, they were paying in for themselves, there should be 40 months to be collected. That's 3 years and 4 months. So, in the many blogs that I have made mention of the 13 months, that was the original data collected, but after doing the math and crunching the numbers, if every generation is only considering themselves, and this is America, after all, so that would be the case for the most part. Each worker is entitled to collect 1 month for every year they worked! And oh, by the way, my new math doesn't include a raise and apparently the government agrees with me. There will be no COLA this year, but I'm sure there will be plenty of programs to subsidize one more senior benefit. While I'm on this tangent, I was appalled at the grocery store to discover that my husband and I could have a senior discount on a certain day. Yeah, two of us, well into the comfort years of middle aged and not underfed are entitled to a discount on our groceries while the young struggling families who have more withholding than any generation has ever seen, never get a discount day.
With all the senior discounts and continuing high unemployment, meaning less withholding, why should there be a COLA?
And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Torah of Holy Scripture

Zero Tolerance is Ludicrous

After reading about another situation in which an Eagle Scout has been suspended from school for 20 days over having his "survival kit" in his car, which contained a sleeping bag, water, C-rations, and a small pocket knife, a gift from his grandfather, I'm just sick. The man that made this decision, George W. Goodwin, appears to not have any idea what it might mean to be a scout, stands by his authority and his right to be devoid of reason. I, have now come to the conclusion that there is an agenda to emotionally emasculate every male in the country. It started with the ERA and now every real interest a little boy would have is associated with violence, so we hand them game boys and teach them video violence. Here is a quote in the article about Mr. Zero Tolerance, as the Superintendent is referred to.
"Students may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension from school" for engaging in violent conduct, which includes merely "possessing a weapon."
This is the second article I've read just this week. I have determined, I need a bumper sticker that states:
I have Zero Tolerance for Zero Tolerance!
. . . the people could not discern . . . Holy Scripture

Amero . . . Amore'

Now that swine flu vaccines are on the horizon, I'm beginning to get the conspiranoid e-mails about the money. This country just seems to be obsessed with being religiously fearful. We love our "In God We Trust" coins! And you better believe our money is worth the paper it's written on! The latest fear is about a world currency and how that will come about. Well, let's consider this logically, shall we? First, currency is only a means for transaction and as Bush 41 so poignantly explained back in the early 90's, this is a global economy. The idea of a world currency has been around for the better part of two decades and was a very real concept at the end of last century. Neither the UN or Barack Obama have hardly introduced something new! What I really don't understand is what the typical e-mail receiving American is all upset about . . . Americans, themselves, have all but eliminated American currency. And according to the e-mails I've read and the commentaries I've heard, the possibly coming currency is referred to as "amero" which sounds to be an association to America. It was the second Bush administration that enacted the agreement between Canada and Mexico for some North American Continental connection. We have e-transactions, credit cards, debit cards, online banking, and checks for purchasing products made in China, India, and Bangladesh. Now that I think of it, checks are practically an antiquated procedure. So, what's the big protest about eliminating American currency, considering the fact, we Americans are rarely using American currency? Most checks are e-deposits and many transactions are e-withdrawals. I couldn't be sitting here on this blog without an Internet Service Provider knowing my credit card number or having the routing numbers on my checking account. So why be all upset about a new UN currency, when we, Americans, have already replaced our currency with plastic and electronic transactions and debt? I think the one thing that concerns me the most is the fact that oil appears to be the new gold standard and America isn't producing much, but is very dependent on the countries that do. Basically, the latest fear has made me realize we simply love our materialism and don't want anyone messing with the way we do things. We expect the world to continue to honor our currency. It is, after all, as I stated earlier; worth the very paper it's written on. Say, for example, if gasoline is 10 cents a gallon in Venezuela while it's $2.25 here in America, will the American dollar only be worth about a nickel, in the global economy? And what happens when what little America produces will only be worth a penny???
Now that's a reason to send a fearful e-mail . . .
. . . A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil . . . the Revelation

More Profoundness from Our Public School System

A six year old boy has been suspended for bringing a "weapon" to school. This school is one of the many that has a "zero tolerance" policy. I'm so sick of the word tolerance being thrown around in all the many ways it is used for and against freedom. This little six year old is so proud of going to school and likes it so well, he often wears a suit and tie just to express his enthusiasm and respect. Now, for his big "weapons" charge. He's also proud to be in the Boy Scouts or Cub Scouts, I would say, by his age. He was so excited about that, that he brought the knife, spoon, fork, gadget to eat lunch and that's where the insanity begins. The teacher took it from him, gave it to the principal and the rest is simply ridiculous. The school officials have ruled that he must be suspended and attend 45 days in Reform school. This little boy reads above his level, his math skills are accelerated. He has never been a discipline problem in school. He's active in sports and church, and was clearly looking forward to Cub Scouts. His mom is Co-President of the PTA, his step-father is a good role model and his dad is active in his life. This just makes me cringe. How can anyone be so stupid and get a teaching certificate? And now that we see it is, in fact, possible; where do we go from here? I, for one, would not want someone that appears to lack the ability to actually think, walking my dog, much less teaching my child. And a principal that has this sort of reaction and a School Board that stands behind such outlandish decisions? Knowing this will scar the child for life, either way it goes, just what has our public school system saved the children from? The little boy was going to eat lunch with his camping tool. Big deal!
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. New Testament

Does It Truly Require Legislation?

I think I'm finally getting a grasp on all this legislation. Our politicians appear to have nothing else to do and we have apparently become a self-centered society void of compassion for others. The idea that children with allergies have to lobby Congress to make laws for their safe and comfortable school attendance just seems unnecessary. As I read the article, the kids said if they can get whatever law passed, that they have lobbied, then every year at the beginning of the year and when they change schools they and their parents can meet with the teachers, etc. to determine the best course of action, atmosphere, and diet to address their allergies. It really takes laws for teachers to care about the kids' allergies and asthma? Really? It requires federal legislation for parents of affected children to be heard by the public school system? Again, really? I find that both sad and disgusting. I remember kids with allergies and asthma when I was in school and the teachers did everything they could to keep the kids comfortable and avoid exacerbation. As a matter of a fact, in elementary school, if we kids saw someone in distress, we went and got a teacher to help them. When we got older, we pitched in and offered assistance, ourselves! Without any laws or anything! We operated on just the simple basic idea that someone having a serious allergic reaction or asthma attack needed assistance, and if something triggered that reaction, if it was possible, we avoided it, moved it, or threw it outdoors. It wasn't tattling and it wasn't butting in, it was caring about another human being. I'm getting a little sick of a tolerant, supposedly caring society, that requires laws to take proper precaution and measures for people to simply be thoughtful of another human being. Why doesn't a so called Christian nation simply live by the Christian text?
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. New Testament

It Just Doesn't Add Up to Me

A video of the IDF soldier, Shalit, has been viewed and the Israeli leaders are satisfied that he is alive and "well" under the circumstances. He was kidnapped three years ago and he's been an interesting "bargaining chip" for Hamas. I don't know how many concessions have already been made by Israel, for safe return of this young man, but this last one simply makes me wonder. Israel agreed to release 20 women prisoners for the video. That's right, just the video! And I think it's only a couple of minutes long. I've read the information, reread the information and it still doesn't make any sense to me. First, the young man is a soldier, so this really should make it some sort of war issue by now, but for some reason, Israel appears to be cowering and conceding. Next, I read the list of the young women that were released and with the exception of just a few, most of their crimes were pretty brutal. There were, as I said, a few that were members of some banned organizations, and several were due to be released by the first of next year, but in the list of names and charges, I read "attempted murder" several times. I'm just an onlooker here, but it really does appear that Hamas will empty the Israeli prison by just throwing crumbs. I'd like to be a peacemaker in this, but seriously, doesn't someone need to ask just how many times this is going to happen? I can't actually nail down an exact number, but Egypt is the arbitrator between Hamas and Israel and they have literally discussed over a thousand prisoners be freed in exchange for Shalit. I see this as a never ending, insatiable demand on the part of Hamas, while one Israeli soldier is all that Israel is asking for. Israel needn't cower and concede.
For their rock is not as our Rock . . . Torah of Holy Scripture

The Latest About H1N1 Vaccine

I'm hearing a number of people debating this new vaccine and the conspiranoid e-mails are beginning to stack up in my Inbox, but something has really caught my attention. I am shocked at the number of nurses who are concerned about this vaccination and are afraid of their job security if they refuse it. First I find it absolutely poetic justice that health care job security may be contingent on blind faith obedience to the medical powers. Next, I can't help but wonder since nurses do have more education regarding these chemicals, just what is being done to the general population and really, I wonder how long it has already been done? I watched an interview with a nurse who was protesting the mandatory shot and frankly, I have to wonder, the way the interview went if she even has a job, now. She was grasping at straws pretty desperately, and she clearly crossed a line of authority in questioning the CDC. Turns out some nurses are objecting to a shot that is presented to be for their own good, and the good of the patients they will be working with. Does anybody know what happens when somebody crosses a nurse in her carrying out doctor's orders? I mean they do earn a living just following orders . . . So, what's the big deal now?
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity . . . the Revelation