Profound gender bias

Several months ago a woman was put to death as a convicted killer. The news around the execution dealt with the fact there are very few women on death row. Executions of women since colonial times has held at less than 2% of the total executions. Currently women comprise 1.8% of the U.S. death row population.

The basis of the motive for killing are: risk taking, aggressiveness, desiring power, fear of being caught, fear of humiliation, being perceived as intelligent, and sexual gratification. These are all traits usually associated with men. During trials for women accused of killing certain traits are emphasized to mitigate the crime and have the sentenced reduced. The typical traits used are: nurturers, seekers of  safety and stability, willing to share responsibility (power), not fully aware of consequences (ill informed rather than dumb), weak, and mild.

It makes sense. I am inclined to agree with it. The natural (God given) traits associated with the two genders means men are more likely to kill than women.

I submit these traits also explain why men are better in business than women. Successful businessmen are often said to have a 'killer' instinct. In negotiations they 'go for the throat.' In terms of risk, 'they put it all on the line.'

The same traits will also explain pay difference between genders. The genders make different choices based on their traits. The male wants to dominate. The female wants safety and stability. The male (aggressive) puts in extra hours. The female (nurturer) wants to care for her family.

Can a female be a successful business person? Sure. Two percent of death row is female. The percentage of successful business females is probably much higher since there is no criminal down side to consider.

The death row statistics indicate there is a profound difference in the genders.

Dead coral has sinking feeling

They have found dead coral in the Gulf within 25 miles of the BP spill. Naturally the cause must be the BP spill. The dead coral was found in water about 4,500 feet deep.

Coral is an animal. Coral formations are built by the off spring living on top of the carcasses of their ancestors. Interesting thing about coral is 80% grows in water less than 1,000 feet deep. The average deep sea coral which grows as thickets rather than reefs have been discovered as deep as 3,300 feet.  No documentation of coral below this depth. The deep water corals thrive off of hydrocarbons.

So how exactly did the oil spill kill coral thriving off hydrocarbons? Better yet how did this coral exist at that depth. Only in the minds of environmental extremist, wishing beyond hope that the BP spill can be labeled a disaster.

The most common method of killing coral is crushing by being struck. The most common cause of mass death is sinking. The coral bodies cannot stand the water pressure at a deeper depth and are crushed.  When the life fluids are crushed out, the skeletal calcium and limestone remain creating rock formations.

Many coral formations of The Great Barrier Reef in Australia die at the bottom as the weight above pushes it into the sea floor. The dead pieces break off and make many unique beaches on the surrounding islands. Airlie Island is famous for having course sand beaches consisting of large dead coral pieces.

It seems to me that if anyone bothered to check facts, the hyperbole surrounding this dead coral would have never existed. When they finally get around to doing some forensic investigation they will discover it was natural causes unrelated to the BP spill.

Don't hold your breath waiting for the real death cause to be published when discovered.

Sanctity of life

We often apply sanctity of life to all living organisms. Others will extend the term to cover systems (i.e. solar system) composed of inanimate objects. Based on the Bible, both are an improper use. Sanctity of life applies only to Mankind who was made in God's image.

God made the systems of inanimate objects as well as living organisms. His creation of them does not sanctify them. All of nature including the animals were made subordinate to Mankind.  In the Old Testament objects were sanctified by Mankind in ritual procedure directed by God. Most of those ritual sanctifications required the blood sacrifice of animals.

The Commankinddment "Thou shalt not kill" applies to the murder of a fellow humankind being. It does not apply to animals. Within the Law the death of an animal was treated as a property issue. However, under the Law given to Moses the unborn in a womankind's womb was protected with severe penalties.

It is clear that abortion is a sanctity of life issue. It is not a matter to be taken lightly. A strong Biblically based case can be made that abortion is murder. If not murder, the present case would be clear it is not condoned in God's given Law.

The New Testament has several references to providing for the aged especially older widows. These references are clear that dignified care is expected. The Old Testament  frequently conveys that long life and prosperity are blessings bestowed by God for living in obedience to Him.

Sanctity of life deals with respecting God.  Mankind made in God's image indicates the significance God has for Mankind. It behooves Mankind to acknowledge the implication and give life including the unborn the utmost consideration.

The prayers God listens to

My daughter sent me this E-Mail.

Funny how I get picked on for ALWAYS going to church.  Yet, a mutual friend's mom dies and I get asked if I am going to church tonight.  I replied no, there's nothing going on tonight.  And I am told, "Well, I need you to go today for her".  Really? Are prayers heard best when they are made from the church building? Why is it that they would think my prayers would be heard any louder than their own? So, does that mean that they do believe that there is a God? And that my worship of God isn't foolish?  It's just that they don't want to have God interfere with their life?  

Prayer Facts:

·         Location of the individual praying is not important.

·         The words used to start you're a prayer are not important.

·         The reason and content of the prayer is not important.

·         The only important fact is the prayer is intended to the one living God.

God doesn't listen to prayer in a language i.e. English, Spanish, French, etc. He listens to the heart and soul of the individual. When you pray he knows the concern.  He also knows the best outcome for that concern.

My daughter's friend was right to ask for others to pray. Personal bias in the situation is reduced as more people pray for the concern. As a group prays together for a concern , whether in physical contact or isolated from one another, God hears the problem.

Being in a Church building or holding hands with a long-time praying Christian allows the individual to focus on the concern, but it doesn't make it louder or impute greater worth on the concern.

Prayer is simply a conversation between a person and God.

Police do not stop crime

The function of the police is deterring crime. They cannot stop crime. Prisons stop crime. The best deterrent is: solving criminal activity and having the perpetrators punished.

Solving crimes means protecting evidence. The good police forces have become efficient in gathering data and meticulous in handling and assessing the evidence collected. The plethora of forensic based TV shows are indicative of the science involved in solving crime.

The men and women in uniform are the front line and are the face of our justice system. It is their job to stabilize a crime scene and protect it for the forensic specialist. This is what I honestly visualize when I hear the term 'protect and serve.'

The failure to deter crime is in the punishment phase. The police having done their job hand off the case to our justice system. The police solve the crime. Then it is time for the punishment side of deterrence. Even when convictions are obtained the resultant punishment is rarely a deterrent.

When criminals are coddled it makes deterrence ineffective. The system is not geared for incarceration of miscreants, but to making useful citizens of convicted criminals. The general public is skeptical of criminal rehabilitation. An ex-con's usefulness is diminished by an inherent lack of trust.

Perversely, this lack of trust is actually put on the police. People aware of criminal activity are not forth coming with the information. They know the criminal even if convicted will be back in a relatively short time. They also know upon the criminal's return retribution will be extracted. The criminal knows that if caught for the retribution they will once again be back soon. It is their cost of doing business.

Those wishing to coddle criminals never understand when prisons are full and exceeding capacity, crime statistics are down.

 

Lost liberties

We have lost many liberties over the last half century.  They were lost to good intentions.  Chief among good intentions is the ability to unassociate or to discriminate. Some such as property rights (infringed by zoning) and self defense appear to be for overall community good. One of the first rights lost was education. Now health care is under attack.

Education is not a constitutional right. I see nothing wrong with free public school education. I see nothing wrong with mandatory education through age 14. Our rights are removed when the compulsory aspects (i.e. attendance) have no direct relation to actual learning. Our rights are infringed when non-public education has arbitrary compliance standards (curriculum specifications and number of instruction hours).

Initially zoning was used to keep health problems from impacting neighborhoods. Restrictions on the number by type of livestock particularly pigs and chickens were the first examples of zoning. Then zoning was imposed to "protect property values." Building requirements and square footage were imposed so a cardboard and tin shanty was erected next to a three story brick colonial home.  You don't want a shanty, buy the lot so they can't build.

The good intentions of anti-discrimination laws are insidious and caused the biggest loss of liberty. I have to justify terminating an employee based on more than we don't get along.  I can't refuse business to someone based solely on my personal biases. Let civil rights demonstrations of the 1960's change my actions not law and some "do gooder" judge.

These liberties were lost because of a law to make us all play nice. The laws were really unnecessary as there are viable market place remedies.

I am smarter than government. If I feel lost or bewildered I have friends who can make sense of a situation and plan a solution. Keep government out of my health care!

 

Voting is serious business

What is wrong with our country today: People being stupid in the voting booth. They go in uninformed and are later surprised to learn things about the people they voted for.  If you voted for a race and 30 minutes later can't remember who you voted for, you are an uninformed voter.

There are many voter guides out there. The homosexual groups have several. The guides are prepared by groups (Unions, liberals, conservatives, libertarians, environmental, "build the bridge", NRA,  and many others) all with single issues. One guide may not be enough.

If you use a guide, know the group preparing it. Know what  their issue is. More importantly what do they ignore.

Everyone should vote. Voting for someone because their last name is the same as your mother maiden name is irresponsible. So is I'm voting for him because he has a biblical name. I'll vote for him because of his party affiliation is also naive. The person on the ballot has no requirement to adhere to part policy. Don't expect them to do so.

 NO ONE should get your vote unless you feel they are worthy to be in authority over you. You are much better off to leave that ballot choice blank. Better yet, don't leave it blank. Write in your name. Or, the name of someone you would like to have in that office. This has the effect of voting for none of the above.

Voting for a minor party or independent is not a wasted vote. When people complain afterwards about the elected person you will know you voted responsibly.

If you can't find the information yourself, talk to someone you trust.  Do not go into the booth a vote based on a coin flip or worse.

Please vote Tuesday. But only those races where you are informed.

Multiculturalism is divisive not bonding

I was thinking about the Labor Day Louisville world fest celebration held on the water front. People got to enjoy ethnic food and visit exhibits on various cultures. All of which was good. It was no doubt an enjoyable weekend for those attending.

This event would be more meaningful if it wasn't such an everyday occurrence. Ethnic groups today tend to congregate and socialize together in a way to exclude others. Prior to the Cubans of the early 1960's immigrant ethnic groups clung together until assimilated into the American culture. Although some parents never truly assimilated the children nearly always did. The children left the ethnic neighborhood and as new immigrants of that ethnicity declined the neighborhood was assimilated.

The things of value provided by an ethnic group was absorbed and Americanized (pizza or tacos anyone).  The Americanized items are altered enough that the ethnic purist raise their nose in disdain. But it is the Americanization of these things that makes America the melting pot. Being American isn't about who you were, it is about who you are.

When individuals in an ethnic group cling together and don't assimilate, their uniqueness is not Americanized and isn't added to the American culture. They stagnate rather than grow.

Multiculturalism encourages ethnic groups to cling. Repeatedly telling them their ethnicity has value. I agree it has value. If you think it is better than America then go back and enjoy it. However, you came to America to get something different. How do you expect to get that difference hiding yourself in your ethnic culture.

Multiculturalism is a ploy of liberals to keep groups segregated. Being divided they can exploit them one against the other. If they assimilate to being American, they have common interest and are difficult to exploit.

Remember embracing your past limits your future.

 

 

Fixing FEMA

FEMA's roots were with the Flood Insurance Program (FIP). The FIP didn't help communities. It also was intended for one time relieve. The President would declare a Federal disaster requested by a State Governor. This onetime event should apply to any disaster.

Reoccurring events are north east snow storms, mid-west flooding, west coast fires, west coast earthquakes, tornados, and hurricanes. Many communities have had multiple hits of the same type disaster. Why should the rest of the nation pay to help them again?

A southern Indiana town called English was prone to flooding. After a particularly bad flood the decision was made to move the town. It was moved about a mile from its old location to high ground.

I am particularly incensed about New Orleans. The devastation there a few years ago was because money scheduled for flood protection was diverted to social causes like midnight basketball. Many of those politicians diverting the funds are still being elected and not held responsible.

Twice last century San Francisco area communities suffered devastating earth quakes. Both times National resources and funds were used to rebuild the communities. What did the rest of the nation get? Nancy Pelosi.

Once is enough. And even then it should be limited to Federal interest, i.e. Federal government buildings and installations. It may seem harsh but if they can't fully rebuild, they probably shouldn't since as history shows, it will happen again.

If I was rebuilding New Orleans, I would be creating a lake on the west to match Pontchartrain on the east. The removed earth would be used to raise New Orleans and provide suitable site drainage. Of course this makes sense and would never be allowed because of digging up wetlands.

Let the communities decide how to protect and use resources. There are enough square miles of wetland in Louisiana that a 1% loss would not be noticed.

The Tea Party is not Republican

The Tea Party is still misunderstood. The Tea Party candidates are almost exclusively Republican. But, to the Tea Party it is a matter of convenience rather than philosophical agreement. The Tea Party has drawn their members from the fiscally conservatives regardless of their political registration.

The Tea Party is a philosophy of small government, low taxes, and Constitutional fidelity. Except for a few scattered cases, it is not an official political party to have registered members. Democrats who would never vote for a Republican may do so this November if the candidate is the one supported by Tea Party.

Many of the Tea Party candidates are not avowed social conservatives. For instance many do not support a Pro-life agenda. They are not for abortion. They simply don't see it as a legislative issue. Under Federal law this type of issue should be precluded by the 10^th Amendment giving the States the legislative power on the issue. A Tea Party Candidate would not support Federal legislation to overturn Roe vs Wade. They would support legislation repealing Supreme Court Decisions not consistent with the 10^th Amendment.  Thus, Roe Vs Wade would be null and void by fiat.

The liberals have pushed social legislation. None of it should be allowed under the 10^th amendment.  If a candidate has a narrow view of things applicable under the 10^th amendment it doesn't matter what is particular view is on a social issue they will vote in agreement with conservative social viewpoint.

A fiscal conservative and strict constitutional interpretation candidate will produce conservative social aligning votes. This type candidate would see education, health issues (including abortion), "the Arts", retirement (including social security), Fannie and Freddie, and the National  Flood Insurance Program as unfounded government intrusion.

Phasing government out of those programs will boost the economy.

Activist atheists are liars

Atheists were behind the elimination of prayer in school. They are the impetus behind the movement to eradicate "In God We Trust" from our money and "Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.  They say they do not believe in God and find the reference offensive.

Their reasoning is illogical. How is someone offended by something that doesn't exist? Since they believe God doesn't exist what is the nexus for the offense. A true atheist could not be offended.

If I proclaimed I got heartburn from drinking distilled water, people would know I was lying or woefully misinformed. Distilled water is one of the few substances that cannot produce heartburn. It may manifest itself by moving heartburn causing material to a sensitive area of the stomach, but water was not the cause.

I believe the activist atheist is offended because he does believe in God. They don't like God's moral standards and thus repudiate God. These activist atheist are offended every time they see the word "God" because it mocks their public profession of non-belief.

Another lie of the activist atheist is their desire to help others see the truth. To what purpose? Without God there are no moral standards. Without God there is nothing after an earthly death. An atheist thus has to live in the now. Why would an atheist have altruistic tendencies? If they receive no benefit from an action what is their motive?

A true atheist would only debate the existence of God as a dispassionate intellectual pursuit. Any other form of discussion is evidence of being  in denial about their belief. Witnessing about Christ to them doesn't start with Jesus. It starts with how did this world come into existence?

When they agree to some "unknown cosmic force. " You reply "Like God?"

BP hayride clean up

Using straw to clean up the BP oil spill has received a lot of play. It seems so institutive to use. The Utube renditions all used small containers to demonstrate the technique. The conditions around the  demonstrations were tightly controlled.

The demonstrations all showed oil on water. Straw was added. The straw absorbed the oil. The straw was removed. A filtering display showing a substantially reduced quantity of oil ended the demonstration. It appeared to be a sure fire clean up method.

The obvious problem using straw is how to apply it. With a spill area expressed in square miles how do you get straw put onto the oil? The oil doesn't travel to the straw. Boats do not want to enter the spill area because of the high potential to ignite the oil which is now surrounding the vessel. Air drop of straw still as spreading issues as a plane has a narrow path.

If the application issue is solved the next problem is recovery of the straw. What is the mechanism for retrieving the straw and where do you store it until it can be delivered to shore? The reluctance to put a vessel in jeopardy would still apply.  

Straw floats because there are air pockets between the cells of the plant. A large portion of the absorbed oil replaces the air. This changes the buoyancy of the straw. If the air pockets are filled with oil, the straw is now heavier than water and sinks. Straw entrained with oil would adversely impact shrimp, oyster, and other fishery beds.

If the oil doesn't fill the air space, sea water will. The straw then becomes water logged. Straw in this condition probably will not sink to the bottom. But it probably doesn't float on the surface either.

Solutions frequently  only produce more problems.

 

1970’s School Busing Goal

Equal education for all races was the goal. The statistics today of achievement by race are essentially unchanged from the 1970's. So, either busing didn't work or it was unnecessary.

It was unnecessary and known to be unnecessary in the 1970's. The true goal of Louisville busing was to financially bail out the city school system. This was done under the guise of court ordered busing, merging the county schools (88% white) with the city schools (35% black). The resultant black ratio was 17%. Over the next three years that grew to 19% because of "white flight" (white families moving to surrounding counties and private schools).

The unstated goal was societal tinkering. The theory was:

1)      By better mixing the races the children would learn tolerance.

2)      As adults they would better tolerate having mixed race neighborhoods.

3)      Racial based bias would fade away.

The first graders of that initial busing year are 41. Black children are still involuntarily bused more than white children. Most unincorporated Jefferson County neighborhoods are still less than 5% black. The predominately black neighborhoods have grown in area not shrunk. The merged school system needs more money.

I see no success from busing.  What have we learned?

·         Individual preference is subservient to the government.

·         You can't make peoples of different heritage voluntarily mix.

·         The school system will never have enough money.

There are 35 people in JCPS department called transportation. There are separate departments for bus maintenance and bus driver training. So what else is there for these 35 people to do except layout busing routes? Then there are the departments of demographics and diversity.  What is their purpose, other than continue failed policy connected to busing?

The State legislature wants to effectively end busing. The school system should embrace the idea. They can eliminate over 50 positions and move those resources to areas that are more important.

God is God

Perhaps it is a good thing the ACLU and other groups are trying to remove God from our society. Don't get me wrong, I don't like what they are doing. What I wonder, do people who oppose the ACLU understand who God is?

My title "God is God" is profound, not cliché. Any definition of a god will reference some type of mystical power and an ability to control human behavior.  The God I know created the universe around us. He created everything we can see or touch. He created us; but, not as puppets. God gave us free will and the ability to reason.

We applied our reasoning ability to time and developed the concepts of hours in day and the days in a year. We have developed other time concepts: decades, centuries, and the average life span of a man. But we do not have a grasp of eternity.

Eternity does not include this universe which we can see and touch. God's plan is to destroy it and establish a new earth, a new universe. A display on a wall today is dust in eternity. The only transition to the new universe are those individuals who know God and have accepted his plan for redemption.

To fight to keep a display of the Ten Commandments or to acknowledge God in the pledge of allegiance as part of our heritage is a noble and just cause. To fight because you honor and respect God is good and demonstrates your values and character. However, if the fight is for God, you do not understand God.

The God who created the earth can etch the Ten Commandments on the wall in a manner that cannot be erased. When we fight for God we are denying His ability.

Our fight should be a witness about His ability to redeem man.

 

Gas mileage requirements

Technology has surpassed the benefit of measuring gas mileage.  Now that we know crude oil is a renewable resource, reducing consumption with known huge reserves is pointless. Supply and demand will dictate mileage standards by users instead of arbitrary government requirements.

The pollution related aspects of gas mileage are institutionalized  in engine design. Changes would require substantial infrastructure investment. Pollution control  features are not just a design concern, but it also impacts maintenance and repair.

The computer controlled ignition system optimizes fuel usage. As a result the gas molecule is efficiently reduced  to its basic elemental parts. The most prominent compounds are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, and nitric oxide. The pollution control devices with the computer assisted air and fuel mixture does a good job of filtering and containing the emission of deleterious compounds like ozone and nitrogen dioxide.

Government regulations are never economical. The government cost of printing and distributing the regulations cost several million a year. The government employed regulators will easily exceed one billion a year. The regulated industry, in this instance, automobile manufacturers, refineries, and repair shops expend manpower in documenting compliance with the regulations. This cost is nearly incalculable. Leaving aside the auto manufacturers and refineries the repair shops across the country must be able to document their compliance. If these repair shops do only 2 hours each a month in compliance the cost substantial. I believe one trillion dollars would not be an over estimate for the entire private sector.

Roughly four million new vehicles are produced each year for use in the United States.  That represents about $300 per new vehicle in tax money spent by the government for regulatory compliance. The private sector cost is probably equivalent. For the private sector repair industry it represents over $3,000 per vehicle.

Retaining unnecessary regulations is not good for the economy.

Impact of a hard nose president

The President administers the government. Congress establishes laws and creates a budget. Congress has no enforcement power. A budget doesn't demand the money be spent. A budget limits the way money is spent.

A hard nose President can make congress pass a balanced budget. When a budget has a deficient, it means more money is allocated for spending than there is revenue. A hard nose President instructs his chosen Secretary of the Treasury to not write checks if there are insufficient funds.

Having a budget allowing spending the check writer must decide which items in the budget don't get their checks written.  Having insufficient funds to meet all obligations you don't write checks to pay congressional salaries. Still can't meet obligations don't write checks to pay congressional staffers salaries. Next step don't pay for reimbursement or office expense for these individuals.

Now not paying congress will not make a dent in the month's deficit, so move on to pet projects of the congress. Earmarks are the obvious choice. Although rare, some earmarks can benefit the nation. As the administrator, use discretion and fund those projects.

These decisions are probably a cup of water in a five gallon bucket. The next step is to keep the American people on your side. So don't pay out money to the UN or any foreign nation except leases on military installations. The various ethnic groups usually have enough animosity against one another they will not join forces to form meaningful opposition.

Still lacking funds, stop paying National Public Radio, AMTRAK, or any of the nearly four dozen independent agencies (not under a Cabinet Secretary). Of course you do want to pay the Secret Service, Department of Defense, and Treasurary Cabinet. And, absolutely don't touch Social Security.

It is my opinion this approach would result in passage of a balanced budget.

God and politics

On the macro scale God doesn't involve himself directly in politics. On the micro scale God does involve himself in the lives of individuals. The involvement doesn't have to be the candidate. It could be a campaign staffer, monetary supporter, or a voter.

God's goal is to redeem every individual from their sin. God can easily make any government a God fearing institution.  To what purpose? Governments do things to people not things for them. Governments biased to God are the result of the Godly people within that society.

Societies form government to protect the members of the society. Christians already have God as their protector and are guaranteed membership in His heavenly and final society. Thus, the Godliness of a nation or its lack thereof is of little consequence to a Christian.

As a Christian we are to spread the Gospel of Jesus. That task is simplified if the nation is God fearing. Although we do not need a Godly nation on earth, it doesn't hurt anything if it is. In America using the voting booth to achieve that purpose is acceptable if within the scope of our duties to God.

I fully believe God does direct individuals to run for elective office. I find it difficult to believe God tells any candidate the decisive issue of the campaign is "God wants Christians in office". Well duh. God can put a Godly person in office without a self proclamation from that candidate.

I ran for office with a campaign button stating "Ask about Jesus."  I knew it to be a losing stigmatism. And it was. I didn't understand why God wanted me to do it. In the next election cycle I had several candidates say my campaign button gave them the courage to not be hesitant about being Christian.

As a voter know the issues and the morals of the candidate.

Mountain top mining

Mountain top mining is an aesthetic concern not an environmental issue. The mining is a straight forward engineering and construction process. Proven construction controls keep the material handled from impacting the environment. Under current law the mountain top must be restored.

Coal mining is the principle user of mountain top mining. A coal seam, be it two feet or twenty feet thick can be removed by auguring from the side. Columns of the coal must be left to support the undisturbed material above. Coal extraction from this method rarely exceeds 35%.

There is no inherent environmental harm from this type of mining. The removal of the overburden (rock and soil above the coal) does not release any gases. The over burden material now exposed to rainfall does not contain pollutants above background levels found in naturally occurring material. No Impact to air from gaseous releases; no impact to streams from runoff; and no impact to ground water from leachate. Where is the environmental harm?

The impact is simply aesthetics. My favorite reason for stopping the mining is, "That mountain has been in our family for over 150 years." No doubt true. There is also no doubt that sometime in that ownership period the mineral rights were sold. The family had been using those proceeds for years. Now the owner wants to claim the material.

One problem in mountainous areas is tillable land. Mountain top mining could create a plateau and fill part of the valley. Depending on the depth of the coal seam this could produce 1,200 to 4,000 tillable acres. A good size farm by anyone's definition.

You don't want that mountain mined. You don't want tillable land. Buy back the mineral rights.

I just plain get annoyed when people want to retain something they don't own or even control.

Don’t forget the corollary to the Buckley Rule

Bill Buckley the Godfather of the modern conservative movement issued a Rule: Vote for the most conservative person who is electable. Although not identified as a corollary, Buckley also advised: Better dead than red. The advocates of the Buckley Rule today fail to apply the corollary.

A RINO's (Republican In Name Only) voting record will align more closely with the Communist philosophy than the Declaration of Independence. A moderate is not more conservative than a liberal. A moderate merely says let's take a smaller bite of communism.

Voting the most electable conservative still elects some ultra liberals (communist in sheep's clothing). The USSR advocated communism for nearly a century. They attempted to purge all conservatives.  Yet their liberal philosophy could not stand against the backlash of freedom and the wall came down.  

Freedom is the foundation of conservatism and the antithesis of communism. The TEA Party has applied the corollary. They support and vote for the most conservative candidate. A true conservative cannot be a communist.

The TEA party supported candidates of 2010 are the initial wave of the American backlash against the liberal forces attempting to mold modern America. In last year's general election and this year's primaries TEA Party supported candidates have shown political strength even when they didn't win. It is likely some may have won had the voters voted their conscience rather than being politically expedient.

I have made the determination that Unions, environmental groups, and the "can't we all get along" groups are communist in philosophy whether by intent or unconsciously being duped. So since we have reached the point where we believe all candidates lie, vote according to their sponsors. Or vote against based on their sponsors. This may cause you to vote outside the mainstream. But, doing so means you have taken a stand to stop the slide America is taking.

Our Pastor is moving on

Kevin Ezell came to Highview Baptist Church in 1996. Since then the church has more than tripled in attendance.  Mission participation is no longer dominated by youth trips. Kevin is leaving pastoral duties at Highview to take on an administrative position with the South Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. In many ways this move is a logical progression from what has been accomplished at Highview under his leadership.

Kevin is beloved and respected by the members at Highview. He has also garnered the respect of other pastors and church leaders in our community. The sadness I feel in his move is personal. It is tempered by the realization God is orchestrating the change which will include replacing Kevin at Highview.

Near the beginning of Kevin's second year at Highview he stated from the pulpit with unadulterated joy that 33 people were participating in the outreach program. I thought he is glad? That is less than 1% of the membership. Why aren't people participating? That question was immediately replaced by, "Why aren't you?" So I joined the outreach program.

Kevin's heart and understanding of God is illustrated by one instruction he gave to the outreach teams. If you witness to someone and they accept Christ as their savior, do not try to get them to join Highview. Inquire into their church background. Encourage them to make this decision known to the leadership of their current church. Volunteer to go with them. Stay in touch with them until they have settled into active participation with a church.

To Kevin outreach was about building the body of Christ. Not building a congregation. He noted following that instruction, God will take care of building Highview. We need only be faithful in reaching out to the lost.

Like the Apostle Paul and the church at Ephesus, Kevin will always be part of Highview.

Oil floats on water

Nothing can change the fact of oil floating on water. News reports that layers of oil attributed to the BP spill have been found submerged in the gulf are either out right misrepresentations or faulty analysis. I can believe an "environmental" group would lie to advance their agenda. I can also believe purposeful misrepresentation to gain prestige. I cannot accept a knowledgeable person suspending the laws of physics to make such a claim.

It's an undisputable fact that oil molecules are lighter than water molecules. There are possibilities for oil to be found submerged in the sea. Emulsification with a substance heavier than water is an explanation. However, it would not be from the BP spill. Hence, it is a natural occurrence.

The layer being reported as several inches thick is another clue to the misrepresentation. Why no specificity to the layer thickness? Was the sampling device not able to measure the layer thickness? Were several samples taken with varying results? The report doesn't provide any detail to address these questions. It breathlessly proclaims unresolved problems from the BP spill.

Heat and pressure in the cauldron at the earth's mantle is capable of producing marvelous things, like diamonds instead of coal. Presuming the report is not outright fabrication, we need to know what non-oil substances were found in the layer with the oil. Of course reporting that information would probably show the BP spill was not the reason for the layer.

A reporter may not know the simplest laws of physics. A good reporter would know their limitations and seek expert advice from another source. Sadly, too many reporters today are merely cheerleaders. When a cheerleading reporter initially receives information fitting their preconceived ideas or biases, they do no fact checking.

It is up to us to fact check.

Being a Christian is not difficult

Some people believe being a Christian is a chore, takes great effort, or is difficult to do correctly. None of those beliefs are true. Some Christians are constantly searching for the correct check list, Or reviewing the latest literature about being Christian.

To be a Christian a person needs to recognize they are a sinner incapable of not sinning. They must have a desire not to sin and be repentant of their sinful life. Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins paying the penalty for our commission of them. But he was resurrected and lives today. Accepting his sacrifice for our sin and accepting him as Master of our life is what makes us a Christian. Nothing else. Nothing less.

The people who view being a Christian as difficult, a chore, or putting forth effort have confused being with living. When they have those perceptions, they have not turned their life over to Jesus as Master. If Jesus can be resurrected from the dead, how can surrendering our life choices to him make them onerous.

Just as we cannot be sin free we cannot live as a Christian without guidance of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who resides in us upon acceptance of Jesus as Master.  Ignoring that guidance is when it becomes difficult. Not seek that guidance is when it require effort. Not rely on that guidance it becomes a chore.

A person's earthly life is meaningless against the promise of eternity gained by accepting Jesus. Why have a job; why care for family members; or why be an active part of a local congregation? Because God, for reasons known only to Him, has not seen fit to end the person's earthly existence.

Pursue life as a Christian with a smile not a scowl.

Ever changing environmental niche

Seems the polar bears found a food source even though the ice floes are decreasing. The source was walruses. But walruses were already a source. It seems the walrus, who nested and raised young on floes had to go ashore where the polar bears were stranded.

The walrus actually likes the shore. In fact large herds are frequently found on the Russian shore of the Chukchi Sea. With the ice retreat, the Alaska shoreline became available to the herds. The shore habitat is the equivalent of a mall food court. The ice floe habitat is like a mom and pop grocery in rural area. Where would you choose to live?

The benthic organisms walruses prefer are not produced on an ice covered shore. Once the shore is exposed they flourish. They still exist on the shallow sea floor. In the fact the sea floor is the source for the exploding onshore feast.

Being onshore makes the walrus more susceptible to predators such as the polar bear. Whoops, circular logic here. The walrus was the prey of the polar bear on the ice floes. Now they are the prey of the bear on shore. What is the difference?

Environmental niches begin at the bottom of the food chain, starting with plankton. As that supply expands or contracts the animals above on the chain follow the food source. When the source diminishes all the animals up the chain diminish.

A predator like a polar bear will seek alternate food sources. Caribou herds would be a choice. Bears usually avoid caribou because the chase to run down one is exhausting. Increased attacks on man-made settlements are the true indicator of habitat deficiency. There have been no reports.

Perhaps the walrus and bear are no different than man. When it heats up, just go to the beach and enjoy life.

Charity is a business

Dismas Charities purchased luxury suites in the new downtown arena. They explained the money came from investments not donations. I guess the acquisition of the investments was a miraculous occurrence and purchase with denotations. Why could they do this? Because, charities are not accountable to the donors.

United Way provided a service when it began. It cut down solicitations for charities by combining them into one request at the work place with payroll deductions. After making a pledge a worker could say I gave at the office. This did cut down on solicitations.

It also grew new charities. Practically anybody with a charitable idea could get funded through the United Way. These new charities didn't have to explain their goals or be accountable for delivery of services to the donor. They need only satisfy the United Way criteria.

The last time I reviewed the list of charities on the United Way list I would not contribute to about a third of them. You may agree and that is why you designate your contribution.

It isn't distributed like you think. Each charity has a goal amount established by United Way. Let's say Charity ABC, your designated charity, goal is 10% of the total for all charities. Charity DEF, to which you would never donate, goal is 5%. A successful United Way campaign would reach 100% of the total for all charities. If ABC reached 80% of its goal through designated pledges and needs $20,000 to reach its stated goal. After all designated amounts were subtracted there was $1,000,000 undesignated. You would believe ABC would get $100,000 or its 10% share of the undesignated. It only gets $20,000, the amount needed to reach its goal. Charity DEF got zero designated pledges. Yet it likewise received its total goal amount.

I recommend giving directly to your chosen charity(s). Only the donor can determine accountability.

Government and Being Christian

Glen Beck in a recent Washington DC rally called for a spiritual rebirth of our Country. Cautionary communication was issued by many evangelical leaders because Beck is Mormon and doesn't believe in Jesus as the son of the one living true God and savior of sinful man. Beck is right in terms of government. The evangelical leaders are correct in a Mormon's view of Jesus.

They are both correct because they are talking about two different things. A Christian lives in this world under two authorities: God and the government of his earthly domicile. Examine the lives, beliefs, and actions of the founders of America.  Learn it was founded on principles of freedom of choice, personal responsibility, and desire for a peaceful society. Understand those principles were molded by their Christianity. When Beck calls for a spiritual rebirth, it is not a religious doctrine or denomination. He is calling for those principles of our Christian founders; then to live and act accordingly.

Christians know God provides for us. Citizens of America know government does things to us. The government has no soul. That is why its attempts to provide for its citizenry fail. The ever evolving Nanny State of America today is essentially trying to replace God.

Beck wants to change the course of governance; not save souls.  As an evangelical Christian you can stand shoulder to shoulder with Beck in his desire to change the course of government.

Because of the beliefs of our founders, America has down through time been called a Christian nation. It wasn't then and it isn't now. It was a country populated by a Christian majority. People not a nation spread the gospel message. Unfortunately, the American Christian began to rely on the nation's characterization as Christian, rather than actually telling about Christ.

Jim Blockey sept 2, 2010 - Objective of First Amendment

A follow up on my August blog on the separation of Church and State

The objective of First Amendment is not about controlling religion. Proof of this would be in the 1844 U. S. Supreme Court case of Vidal v. Girard's Executors. In the unanimous decision Justice Joseph Story wrote in his commentary about the original meaning of the First Amendment,

"The real object of the First Amendment was not to much less advance Mohammedanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by Christianity, but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects (denominations) and to prevent any national ecclesiastical patronage of the national government."

If we would have taught the true history of America in our schools this debate of the Muslims shoving their Mosque in our face would not be taking place. The First Amendment was not intended to give freedoms to America's enemies.

What would have happened 50 years ago to an American that started preaching communism? He would have been put in prison, or worse, for treason.

Because of our lack of education in the true history of this country we have this false belief that the First Amendment protects our enemies in their quest to take over America. Communism and Socialism are America's enemies as is the Muslim religion.

 

Shale oil reserves

The continental U.S. has more oil reserves than all of the Middle East. The largest basin extends into Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. The problem is that most of it is trapped in shale rock formations. The oil has permeated and adhered to the grains of the rock. Russia and China also have large shale oil reserves.

In 1980 a pilot recovery system was successful in extracting marketable fuel without further refinery cost. The best estimate for full scale production was $70 a barrel. The market for crude from drilled wells was under $40 a barrel. The pilot plant was converted to a refinery.

Shale oil usually has few impurities. The pilot plant production was gasoline, propane, and crushed aggregate. The aggregate was suitable for use with concrete production. There was no waste product.

 Inflation would have tripled the production cost. Fortunately technology has negated inflation, keeping the price per barrel under $80. When the price per barrel got to $75, gasoline went over $4.00 a gallon. OPEC knew that price per barrel was not sustainable, because it was too close to the production cost for refining shale oil.

Shale oil is a strip mine operation. It is not as dirty as coal because the permeated oil holds the dust particles. It does have a greater fire risk during handling than coal. However, the heat intensity is equivalent to a weenie-roast bon fire. Accidents involving raw product is limited to the footprint of the release.

If we want to be energy independent why doesn't the government assist in getting this type of production in place? Why the constant harping about alternative energy sources? Don't these "harpers" know we already have an effective and efficient infrastructure and delivery system for heating our homes and moving about our community? Why fix a system that isn't broken?

Home owners association responsibilities

The recent arrest of Spencer County man for growing pot and possession of other drugs shocked the other residents of the subdivision. Many of the subdivision residents were alarmed, appalled, and nearly apoplectic.  They never realized they had been apathetic.

Those residents had a certain mind set. These things happen in the big cities not the rural areas. We are solid middle class folks. We have moral standards. Criminal behavior is unacceptable. What I call righteous indignation.

Their reaction is something must be done. They want to crank up the home owners association (HOA) to prevent this type of thing. They get busy stirring up interest using their righteous indignation talking points.

A HOA has only two functions: enforce deed restrictions and maintenance of common areas. The primary purpose of a HOA is to preserve property values. Anything beyond those is merely community socializing. Annual picnics and newsletters are frequently done through a HOA. Some may even build and maintain a club house and or swimming pool.  But none ever have police powers.

I cannot think of any resolution or by-law amendment a HOA could pass that would stop the criminal activity that initiated the righteous indignation. Without police powers how could the criminal activity be discovered?

All the agitation may begin to get neighbors to know one another better, which is a good thing. Of course if you know your neighbors wouldn't you realize something odd (criminal activity) was occurring?

But wait. Wasn't the guy arrested? Didn't the current system work? Why does the HOA need to take action?

The call for action from righteous indignation is a typical liberal ploy to gain more power and control over the lives of others. Never willingly release any of your rights because of righteous indignation.

guest blog Robert Romano on Fannie and Freddie

Excellent follow-up to my thoughts about Fannie and Freddie

Robert Romano NN&V Staff Aug 25^th 2010

How to get rid of Fannie and Freddie

Recently, Americans for Limited Government (ALG) interviewed former chief credit officer of Fannie Mae, Edward Pinto, to get his thoughts on how best to bring an end to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-owned mortgage giants that helped cause the financial crisis, and to see what impact that would have on the housing market.

Pinto recently wrote an oped for the Wall Street Journal outlining his proposal, and also published a new forensic study explaining in indisputable detail how government policies, including those of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) helped to cause the crisis by weakening underwriting standards, lowering down payments, and generally degrading the quality of credit in the U.S.

"We got into this problem over 15 to 20 years through HUD, it's going to take us time to get out of it because they've left us in a terrible mess. We need to back out of it just like one backs out of any alley," Pinto said, explaining that it must be done "slowly and deliberately."

Pinto noted that securities sold by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are only selling for a slightly higher rate than treasuries right now. "The spreads are narrow to Treasury because they've got the unlimited backing of the federal government. They're not explicitly guaranteed by the federal government, but there is no limit on the amount of money that the Treasury can give to Fannie and Freddie to back them."

 

Nature is designed for balance

A new report from the gulf oil spill was not widely distributed. A microbe capable of surviving and flourishing in sub 80 water was identified. This microbe eats oil without depleting oxygen in the water column.

For over twenty years oil eating microbes have been used to remediate underground spills. Usually mechanical assistance is needed. These microbes go into near hibernation at the typical 56 underground temperature. Hot air is pumped down to invigorate the microbes. These microbes also use oxygen to facilitate their digestion. In fact without oxygen they may refuse to eat. So it is common to infuse the hot air with pure oxygen.

The gulf microbe is slightly different. It either draws oxygen from the air or metabolizes water freeing the hydrogen and using the oxygen. Metabolization is the probable method since that would result in methane as the oil molecule is reduced to atomic levels. The microbe doesn't need heating since it can use direct sunlight to facilitate chemical reaction with the oil.

It should not be a surprise that the microbe exist. Oil releases from natural sources to the gulf surface are common. The BP spill quantity far exceeded normal releases. Microbes have a very short gestation period. Once an abundant food source, the spill, was found it began eating and reproducing. Thus, reaching population density to be discovered as a new microbe strain.

Don't worry about microbe pollution now that the spill is gone. They will either go dormant or disintegrate to atomic levels.

Once again proof God's intelligent design, from microscopic microbes to acres of wetland, doesn't need man's intervention to keep the world clean. God gave man intelligence and reasoning, so to use those skills to assist is expected. To use those skills to predict calamity is unmitigated arrogance.

 

When it ceases to be free

Why is Google Earth free? One possibility, it is run by liberals who do not want to gouge anyone. (Meaning they can't figure out how to stick it to the rich.) Another possibility is a business plan to create a demand and then institute a fee subscription. A third possibility, it is profitable through on page ads and fees charged for links to secondary sites.

The business plan possibility of future fees will raise liberals hackles. When traffic to the site reach a certain threshold, subscription fees become increasingly desirable. The company decides when to begin subscription fees and announces the date for implementation requiring subscription to continue access.

The net neutrality proponents use this scenario as one reason why internet regulation is necessary.  Such regulation would be ineffective.  The company can move the data and servers outside the jurisdiction of the regulators. Besides, there are existing laws that can be used to ensure "fairness."

Microsoft is a prime example.  The Clinton administration brought unfair trade practices against Microsoft resulting in a settlement by Microsoft. No one will admit it also caused the collapse of the stock market tech sector stocks. The timing of the collapse following the settlement was coincidence.

The information used by Google Earth is not proprietary. Anyone can obtain the information.  Develop software to use the data. If Google Earth did go subscription, other small providers would spring up serving  a localized area. Charge a subscription fee, claiming to be more accurate, more up to date, or cite improvement of some other facet to be competitive.  

The market place will always outperform regulation. In fact regulation stymies innovation. In the long run, the product will be better and cheaper if unregulated.  Net neutrality is not about fairness, it is about power and control.

Safest cars

Just saw a recently released safe car list. I expected to see Hummers and big SUVs. There  was no engineering data on construction. There was no crash test statistics. The basis was insurance claims. I wanted to know why these cars were the safest.

The problem with insurance claim statistics is the basis for the data. Was the highest rated model determined by dividing all claims for that model by the total number of that model insured? Was the highest rated model selected by that model having the smallest number of claims compared to other models? Regardless of the method were multiple claims for same vehicle ignored or included? Were all insurers included or just insurers participating in a national association group? Did parking lot incidents under 10mph have the same weight as interstate incidents of 55+mph? Was safety factor based on injury to people or repair cost?

Looking at the models listed you will not find muscle or sports cars favored by young men.  You will not find vehicles typically associated with offsite service entities. You will not find typical commuter vehicles.

The models listed are associated with part time workers, young women new to the work force, soccer moms, yuppies, and retired people. The safety list isn't about vehicle safety. It is about the life style of owners.

Except for the young women new to the work force, the vehicles on the list would have low annual mileage users. The vehicle users are not usually out and about during peak traffic hours. They would seldom travel roads where the speed limit is above 45mph and probably not over 35mph.

For safety, the bottom line is don't buy a car on the list, adjust your life style to reduce risk. Or, just use common sense.

Guest Blog Rebekah Rast on public School

Found this interesting after my JCS blog

 "If you build it, he will come." It seems some school districts nationwide are taking this quote as their own.  Come September, thousands of kindergarten through 12th graders will flood through the doors of the newly built Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Los Angeles.

The school is known as the "Taj Mahal" of public schools. Built from the former Ambassador Hotel, where the Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, the architects of the school held back no luxuries while staying true to the site's acclaimed fame.

The complex holds 4,200 students within its art-covered walls and also houses a marble memorial depicting the school's name sake.

A state-of-the-art swimming pool and public park enhance the complex as well.

Yes. This is a public school. Its price tag. It is now the most expensive public school ever built, costing $578 million or $137,619 per student.

"Spending this kind of money on a school is outrageous," says Bill Wilson, president of Americans for Limited Government (ALG). "The public school system doesn't need a half-billion-dollar building to help students succeed; it needs proper educators and better management of the resources it has."

The advocates of the school say it will be a more pleasing and hospitable environment for learning. The only problem is Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has one of the highest dropout rates of the nation. For 2007, the graduation rate was only 40.6 percent — well below the national average of 68.8 percent.

"There are no connections between facilities and students' success beyond a safe and well-functioning building," says Adam B. Schaeffer, Cato Institute's policy analyst for the Center for Educational Freedom.

Pouring money into school complexes isn't a new idea. New York City has a $235 million campus and New Brunswick, N.J., opened a $185 million high school in January.

In fact, Schaeffer says, from 1999 to 2008 public school spending on infrastructure increased by 445 percent, while student enrollment during that same period increased by only 7 percent.

Why are these lavish schools being constructed?

"They have money so they spend it," Schaeffer says. "Bond revenue is easy to borrow and pay back later."

Most taxpayers have no idea how much of their money goes into education. In a report written by Schaeffer titled They Spend WHAT? The Real Cost of Public Schools, he writes that about $1 out of every $4 of taxpayer money goes to fund education.

Aside from fancy schools, how much is it costing taxpayers to send children to public schools?

In the 2007-08 school year, LAUSD had 693,680 students enrolled and calculated an average per pupil cost of $11,357. This number is astonishing, as the median cost for a private school in Los Angeles is estimated at around $8,300.

Los Angeles, with its highfalutin flair for school architecture, still doesn't compare to what other areas spend. Washington, D.C., states it spends $17,542 per pupil and the graduation rate for all students in the District of Columbia for 2007 was only 59.5 percent, again, below the national average.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Utah State spends one of the least amounts on public education. Jordan School District in Sandy, Utah, spends about $5,111 per pupil. The district's 2007 graduate rate was 79.3 percent, well above the national average.

Unfossillized fuel

All my life I have heard that gasoline is a fossil fuel, a non-renewable resource. That crude oil is from decomposed dinosaurs and huge lush tropical swamps buried under layers of sedimentation.  I have learned all of God's creation is a complete whole and balanced. A non-renewable is not consistent with God's design.

Large oil deposits have recently been found under igneous rocks. Since igneous rocks are formed from molten material (like lava), they would burn up the carbon based decaying matter before being entrapped under a layer of cooled molten material. The rock formations are dome shaped.

Oil is not compressible. It is a basic principle behind the invention of hydraulic lifts, car brakes, back hoes, and several thousand other devices. Oil from deeper in the earth being forced up under the igneous rock layer would create a dome shape. So how does oil come from deeper inside the earth?

As the North American tectonic plate rides up over the pacific plate, a veritable water highway is created between the two plates. Water at the ocean bottom would flow down this highway to the deep reaches under the earth. It would carry decaying matter with it as it went. As it reaches the hot regions deep underground the mixture would flash into basic atomic elements.

Carbon which doesn't like being alone grabs some hydrogen making itself a gaseous molecule. These super heated gases begin the trip back to the earth surface. Carbon likes big parties so it begins to combine into ever larger molecules. Once the molecule has at least five carbons it becomes liquid or oil.

As this oil is pushed ever upward it encounters an igneous layer. The uncompressible oil begins to bend the rock layer forming a dome. If the dome cracks, the oil squeezes through invading the sedimentary layers above. The formations where first discovered.

This is one theory. If not exactly correct, the evidence does suggest that oil is a renewable resource and not a decayed Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Jefferson County School’s Business Plan

Facts:

14,000 employees, teachers including subs 6,000, principals 700

150 teachers removed from their 2009-2010 school, 3 principals removed from their 2009-2010 schools, 2 principals suspended first day of 2010-2011 for being inept

Schools  (in 2007): Elementary 87, Jr High 23, Sr high 20

75 Departments at the board employing 1140 people

No charter schools thus no federal money.

Property tax increase of $0.03 per $1,000 of value.

Third straight year of property tax increase.

Questions:

Why are only 49% of employees teachers or principals?

Why are the 5 principals per school?

What are the funding sources other than property tax?

Why doesn't the system have charter schools?

Why is this information not more widely known?

Why 5+ support people per teacher?

What are the people removed because of 2009-2010 performance doing now?

 

It is interesting that all services and departments must be retained, but taxes increased to cover budget.

 

Do we need the 220 people in the department s of Family Planning, Student Development Services, School and Community Nutrition, School to Career, Community Support, Cultural Studies, English as a Second Language, Family Resource Center, Business Partnerships, Health Promotions, Demographics, Safe and Drug Free Schools, Diversity, Homeless Education, Louisville Day Treatment, or Neighborhood Places?

 

What kind of savings could be achieved by consolidating departments of similar function like: Payroll, Purchasing, Accounting, Supply Services, Division of Financial Services, Grants and Awards Accounting, School District Business Partnering, and Financial Planning (total 110 people); or, Human Resources, Pupil Personnel, Personnel Services, Administrative Recruitment and Development, Employee Relations, and Louisville Education and Employment Partnership (Total 110 people)?

 

It should be evident the Jefferson County School System has a bad business plan. I don't know of any company that can be successful with 6,000 production workers (Classroom teachers) and 8,000 management and administrative  workers.