Richard Trumka on jobs etc...

In case you missed it this afternoon, Richard Trumka was Brett Behr's guest on Special Report. This man is so full of it.

Behr asked him about the future of Labor, and Trumka said "We were attacked this year like Scott Walker... But, no, we won in Wisconsin." He had this cocky-chin attitude when he said it. Behr pointed out that Scott Walker's decree for government workers was still in place. "For now," Trumka said, sort of like a threat.

The point here is, Mr. Trumka, that was specifically for government workers to take away collective bargaining, not a blanket law for all labor. I'm getting fed up with so many slight of hand as well as slight of tongue tricks that people like you are trying to pull over intelligent tax payers of this country. I'm praying that the real truth will come out in full glory, soon and very soon.

Walker was trying to make a little bit of money stretch to the limit so no one would lose their jobs. What good would collective bargaining have done anyone when there was no money to pay anyone? Where is the brain God gave you?

Okay... I have to quit now before my blood pressure sky rockets.


While on the subject of women...

Pregnancy, Estrogen and Women Pregnancy
Q & A & more!
Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.
Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.
Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.
Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?
Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.
Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.
Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.
Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.
Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.
Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

"ESTROGEN ISSUES"10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE "ESTROGEN ISSUES"
1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.
2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.
3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.
4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.
5. You're using your cellular phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: "How's my driving-call 1- 800-".
6. Everyone's head looks like an invitation to batting practice.
7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from "outer space".
8. You can't believe they don't make a tampon bigger than Super Plus.
9. You're sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.
10. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday..

TOP TEN THINGS ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND
10. Cats' facial expressions.
9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors.
8. Why bean sprouts aren't just weeds.
7. Fat clothes.
6 Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time.
5. The difference between beige, ecru, cream, off-white, and eggshell.
4. Cutting your hair to make it grow.
3. Eyelash curlers, but only if you were born in the 50s or before.
2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made.
AND, the Number One Number One thing only women understand:
1. OTHER WOMEN

Okay... so you probably just got this in your email box, too. I've seen these a dozen times before too, but they still make me giggle.

Smile, God loves you.

What makes women tick?


(I thought I'd raise a series that I did years ago to see if much has changed in that time...)


A pastor friend of mine told me that he liked my wisdom droplets post then he said, "When are you going to do something like that for men?"

Huh?

I didn't think I knew enough about women to advise men about them. Sometimes, with us women, it is all about me. Other times, we give to everyone but ourselves because we love the ones we are with--children, husbands--and everything else that is in our date books.

Then I heard a talk Beth Moore did on Hannah. I don't have that CD anymore. There are, however, certain things about Hannah that just shout out, "WOMAN".

Walk with me, if you will, for a moment in 1 Samuel 1 for a glimse at what makes women tick.

There was a man...named Elkanah...and he had two wives...

Of course polygamy/bigamy is forbidden in the US and in most places around the world it isn't practiced -- men have wised up since the days of Solomon. (I have so often wondered how wise it was for the wisest man in the world to have so many wives and concubines. Then I learned that he had his own apartment and no one could go to him without his leave. That was pretty smart.) But there are a lot of things that men can be married to besides a woman.

A woman needs to know her man loves her above all others. When a man spends long hours at work, at a hobby, working out, with "the boys" then there needs to be priority adjustment if the marriage is going to work.

When ...Elkanah sacrificed, he gave several shares of the meat to his wife Peninnah with all her sons and daughters; but, although he loved Hannah, he gave her only one share...

A husband needs to show his wife he loves her. We are not told how Elkanah showed Hannah how much he loved her but he allowed her rival, Peninnah, to revile her and torment her because she had no children. That doesn't show much love and allows conflict within the family. No matter what the husband puts in place of his wife--hobby, children, work etc, this thing or person which gets the major share of attention which the wife should have is reviling her and humiliating her. It is torment to love someone and be treated as the "second" wife.

Year after year this happened...

It is worse when nothing changes. We tend to pull into ourselves, get a defeatest attitude. Lose hope, slip into depression -- wait! That's true of everyone, not just women.

A woman's tears usually mean, "I need you to comfort me and show me how much I mean to you." Or they mean, "I've had enough and I just can't move another inch." Or, they spring from more simple reasons like laughter or sadness.

Once when she was in tears and would not eat, her husband said to her, "Hannah, why are you crying and eating nothing? Why are you so miserable? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"


[shock] Did he really say that? Let's face it, men haven't changed in 4,000 years, have they?


No matter how precious the husband is, living a life being tormented by another or being ignored is devastating. We cry, we whine, we are frustrated. When asked if anything is amiss, we say, "No."

Why do we say that when we know something is wrong. Sometimes we want that attention we get when the information is being pried out of us. Sometimes we just know deep in our heart that no matter how hard we try to explain, we will never be understood according the the depths of our feelings.

Hannah was in bitterness of soul. In anguish she prayed from her heart with only her lips moving. Eli accused her of being drunk.

This is just great! [tongue in cheek here] Not only does her rival revile her and persecute her, but the chief priest jumps on her, too. How does one deal with all this strife? Hannah chose to bring it to God. This shows a tremendous depth of faith.

Then she vows to give away her son to become a Nazarite (Numbers 6) if God will just give her a son.

She poured out her soul before the Lord.

Selah!

How often do we pour ourselves out so that God can fill us up? I try to remember to do that every morning so my day is much better. How sweet that is to pour ourselves out to the Lord. He knows everything about me; all the stinky things as well as all the fragrant things so I may as well be completely honest with Him.

When we pour out, God is always so faithful to fill us up. Hannah was blessed by God in a most special way.

How has God filled you up recently?


Abundant blessings


While it is not rocket science, it seems that some people don't get the Truth. I just have to wonder at that. Why is it so hard to understand what God's Word says? Then I have the smack to the forehead and I realize that only the Holy Spirit can help a person actually understand His Word. To those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness. Paul said that.

Stanley was preaching on Psalm 81. I particularly love verse 10. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

There are some conditions, just like where God says, he who delights in the LORD, He will give you your hearts desires. That just plain tastes good.

There can't be any idols, false gods like Hinduism, Islam, Budda or pantheism, wicca or any other idol like job, church, TV, shopping, spouse or children.

Does anyone see the correlation here?

It we put anything or anyone before God, then that is an idol. Am I beating a dead horse?

Another condition is to be humble...teachable. When we are stubborn and hang on to things that God has asked us to give to Him -- that could be anything. Including giving of ourselves, our everything. Open every door in our heart and give Him absolutely free reign in our lives.

The next condition is to walk in His ways. That one is hard to do... unless we hide His word in our heart so that we won't sin against Him. Walking in His ways comes a lot easier when we LOVE Him and want to please Him. Which takes us full circle back to the idol thing and that leads us right back to the stubborn thing.

Isn't it amazing that we absolutely will walk in a circle if we do not walk in His ways?

Personally, I think I'd rather sit on God's feet and hang on for dear life to His legs, then I'd never make a false step or step out of His path... But, then, I may not be able to bring Him glory if I'm forever on His feet. How would I be able to walk in His ways if I do not know how to walk?

Therefore, I must walk and tumble and scrape my knees, maybe twist an ankle so that I can learn what God would have me learn so that I am prepared for my eternal purpose. Yes. That's the circle where the blessings are and where God opens the windows of Heaven pouring blessings into the center of it. Yes. That's the circle where you'll find me.

I might have a few scratches, a bloody nose or banged up knees... But, I'll have my blessings in abundance plus all the Fruit of the Spirit. Great joy, kindness, peace, faith, self-control, meekness, and love all in abundance. How marvelous is His name. Glory!

Webcam Senior style

I haven't seen something so funny in such a long time.

Sarah Palin rises above the miry sludge

The AP reported on Todd Palin's reaction to the "new" supposed biography of Sarah Palin:
Sarah Palin's husband on Thursday called a book critical of his family "disgusting lies, innuendo and smears" as the former Alaska governor's camp sought to discredit a racy biography that includes allegations of infidelity and drug use
Now we have witnessed another slam against Sarah which has no substance. If anyone watched her show about experiencing Alaska this summer on TLC, you'll remember seeing the house next door to the Palin's and a few comments about the stalker that lived there. I didn't understand the comments because I haven't been watching Palin that closely.

I did read her book, (reviewed it here) and it was most excellent. Her integrity and work ethic are something to strive for, and Todd's as well. She h

I'd like to know when the American public is going to wise up and quit believing everything they read on the net, hear on TV, and swallow with their breakfast news. It is amazing to me how much filth is published these days with no ounce of truth.

When I first started out in journalism way back in high school in 1970, if we didn't have at least two sources for the information we printed we got an F for the day, and if we so much as had two words together of someone else without quote marks and citation, we flunked the class altogether. It was that serious.

Today, any blogger can print some outlandish, stupid something, seeming without fear of a libel suit, without fear of recriminations of any kind, and get floods of visits from people all over the world. Even though something is not true, idiots still listen to it; and spread it to hundreds of others making a piece of gossip a viral communication. That is sickening.

I am proud only a small part of the populace fall into that particular trap set by Satan himself. A huge portion of the American population want truth, seek truth, and guard truth. The communications sector has an excellent police department. We need only look back a decade or so to see the reaction to Connie Chung's ill-advised betrayal of Gingrich's mother. The "just between us" really didn't mean off-the-record at all. Journalists all over the world turned a cold shoulder to Chung, and the sting didn't go away. The public squelched her career after that.

Dan Rather got in plenty of hot water when he reported lies trying to make a point which turned into something worse than yellow journalism. Steven Glass became a piranha after his "glorious stories" were discovered ingenious lies without any real sources, just fictional short stories.

I admire the way Sarah and Todd Palin have conducted themselves in the nasty pubic arena of politics. I my opinion they have risen far above the muck and mire, and remain clean. That's huge, and can only be done by the grace of God.


Kinde Durkee--history of malfeasence

A question asked by Brenda Elliot of Klein Online, is on target. How could they not know? Durkee was arrested by the FBI for allegedly using clients' funds for her own personal use. Her firm is the treasurer for hundreds of Democrat campaigns, offices, local governments, non-profits, and who knows what all. Stealing money from one client to plumb up another client's coffers to give self-credibility is taking from Bernie Madoff's Handbook of Stealing or How To Create A Ponzi Scheme That Lasts. 

I'm appalled at the gullibility of some people. Then again, it is so easy to allow someone to bamboozle you into thinking you are stupid for not understanding a financial report. Leaders who sloggity-blog through business meetings and financial audits are too afraid to let on that they can't make heads or tails of the paper in front of them. I reviewed a book called "Forensic Accounting For Dummies". It gives, in simple terms, what you should be looking for when your accountant gives you that monthly financial report.

After reading Elliot's report, I'm flabbergasted that people can be so dumb as to put blind faith and trust into an accountant's hands just because they've been in business for years and have handled so many different clients. Don't they balance the checkbook at the end of the month? Apparently, not because they even allow the accountant control of the checkbook. [Insert shocked look here.]  I can't imagine allowing someone else to have that kind of control, no matter how reliable, trustworthy, and/or busy I am.

I was Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce for my little town. I never went home until the books balanced for the day. It's called Due Diligence. How that firm could keep its clients after all the financial blunders since 2001 (Diane Watson's campaign), and perhaps earlier than that, who knows? How dumb can you get? Apparently, much dumber.

I'm thinking when you are that dumb, when you persist in your dumbness, when you've been fooled twice or more, then you deserve what you get. Imagine paying some accountant for the privilege of going to jail or for the privilege of paying exorbitant fines because your accountant didn't do his/her job. Now that's really dumb. If I were a political contributor, I'd be screaming for my money back... then again, contributing after the accounting problems had surfaced and the candidate still used the same accountant, I'd be even dumber than the organization using the alleged fraudulent accountant. Here's your Dunce Cap! Wear it and be proud.

Jobs plan -- something else for GOP to choke on

Pres. Obama's jobs plan is just another knee jerk campaign foible. I don't need a crystal ball to know that this is more of the same in order to get votes from those who are entitlement minded. "Let's make sure all the wealth is distributed evenly."

Here's the thing. I'm all for closing loopholes and everyone paying their fair share of taxes. Some study somewhere that Herman Cain referred to said a flat tax wouldn't work because it would over tax the poor and under tax the rich. I can understand that. So why not utilize the poverty level to even it out? The poverty stricken don't pay taxes anyway. Not to beat a dead horse, but hasn't the corporate world demonstrated they won't hire or expand because there isn't any solid ground to stand on when it comes to taxes and pile on top of that health plan costs?

Flat taxing worked in Rome. When everyone knew how much their tax was going to be and what ever they made over that tax level they paid no taxes on it. This encouraged the economy so much, no other economy in the world before or since was so vibrant or so solid. Growth, expansion, business health, individual wealth all benefited greatly because the business owner wasn't penalized for making money.

Obama's plan, both the jobs bill and the mandatory health care plan, penalizes businesses for expansion and growth. If it is passed, we will slide into a far greater depression than that of the late twenties and thirties of last century. We can't keep manipulating interest rates hoping that will stem the tide, because it won't. Our economy has been manipulated so long, it doesn't know where the center of gravity is.

Am I alone in seeing this?

Obama's Jobs bill -- another nightmare?

I heard very little last night about what was IN the bill, and heard mostly what the bill would do for America. Well, considering how unconnected Obama has been to the business sector, I'm wondering if it will be another "You'll have to pass it to see what's in it" bill. Did you notice how much he talked about transportation, infrastructure, and building? 

I warned several months ago about the new transportation bank "they" are talking about. This sounds to me like an official proclamation upon this very thing. I am all for the marketplace determining economy. I seriously doubt the Democrats will be able to allow that, though. It will be more government-in-your-face than ever before.

I was going to do a lot of research before posting about this, but I'm too afraid it will make me sick at my stomach. Obama gave us a lot of "sounds good" rhetoric, but I'm like that old lady at the hamburger place, "Where's the beef?" I didn't hear any place in the speech where he used specifics concerning actual wording in the bill. He did make sure we understood he was urgent about it, but it was like ramming it all down our throats never mind we're choking to death.

He used phrases like: 
"We should all be taxed fairly." -- Absolutely. Everyone grumbles, but we all know we have to pay them. That is a homer statement for everyone listening. What did he mean behind the statement? Strip away the rich corporate loopholes and make sure corporations don't make a profit. That means share holders won't be investing in corporations any more and that means death of the corporation, death to major employers, death to new jobs. But, yeah make sure those rich guys pay through the nose so us middle-class folks don't have to pay.

He said:
"Cut in half payroll taxes, and that will make sure everyone takes home more money for their families." -- The most expensive tax out of the paycheck is Medicare and Social Security. So how will those two "protections" keep the river of money flowing into the pool so we can all play in it?

OBAMA: But what we can't do, what I will not do, is let this economic crisis be used as an excuse to wipe out the basic protections that Americans have counted on for decades.

It's a contradiction. The only basic protections we Americans have had for decades are Medicare and Social Security, and unemployment insurance.

I wrote an essay on how the USA is mirroring the tactics of the Roman Empire where I note that Augustus revived the Empire's economy by doing massive public works. It did put people to work, and it did greatly boost the economy. But, the Romans didn't realize there is a definite need to know when to back off and when to keep going. Then Tiberius cut back on the public works, but hoarded money causing a shortage of money.  “The shortage of money and the curtailment of state expenditures led to a sharp downturn in economic activity which was only relieved when the state made large loans at zero interest in order to provide liquidity” (Thornton, M.K., and Thornton, R.L. (1990) "The Financial Crisis of A.D. 33: A Keynesian Depression?" Journal of Economic History 50(3): 655-62). Stimulus Package, Roman style.

 That is so familiar I'm wondering if we couldn't just save paper and look up the news tablets of ancient Rome. 
 
Why can't we take a leaf from Augustus' notebook? Why can't we learn from history? The growth of the Roman economy did not come from taxes! Before Augustus there was a system of tax farming where the tax collectors added exorbitant fees onto the required taxes because they could. [Tax farming]  became so burdensome on the provinces they raised a hue and cry and “tax farming” (Bartlett, 1994) was abolished in favor of wealth taxes and population tax under Augustus.  It was a pro-growth instead of progressive tax system. 
This is because any growth in taxable capacity led to higher taxes under the tax farming system, while under the Augustinian system communities were only liable for a fixed payment. Thus any increase in income accrued entirely to the people and did not have to be shared with Rome. Individuals knew in advance the exact amount of their tax bill and that any income over and above that amount was entirely theirs. This was obviously a great incentive to produce, since the marginal tax rate above the tax assessment was zero. In economic terms, one can say that there was virtually no excess burden (Musgrave, R.A.  The Theory of Public Finance. New York: McGraw-Hill 1959.)
 
If it worked back then, why can't it work now for both individuals and businesses? Where is Thomas Jefferson when we need him?
 

Fall on Lake St. Joe

Fall on Lake St. Joe in Newellton, LA

I have a new program that I reviewed for Amazon.com which I adore. It's called Painter 12 and was developed by Adobe. This is by far one of the most fun software I have ever used. I painted this in about two days. It is 11"x7" I hope you enjoy looking at it as much as I enjoyed painting it. Happy Fall, everyone. 

This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Turkey kicks out Israeli diplomats

At least I think that is what this article is saying. This is one of the flimsiest excuses I have ever read. It just proves to me (and anyone who cares to pay attention) that people will see what they want to see, and believe what they want to believe. Last year when Israel boarded the Gaza-bound ship from Turkey the supposed humanitarian group used pipes, guns and what ever else was at hand to thrash the Israeli who knew something very fishy was afoot.

What the Turks did was wrong.
1. They were warned what would happen if they came into Israeli waters.
2. Self-defense was warranted when the Israelis were viciously attacked.
3. There was supposed to be no weapons on board, only food stuffs and medical supplies.
4. Weapons were found with little trouble.

Now, Turkey is cutting off all ties with Israel because they won't apologize for what happened last year.

There is something incredibly wrong with this picture.

This reminds me so much of what Nehemiah said in chapter 4.

Neh 4:14  After looking things over I stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and everyone else: "Don't be afraid of them. Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes."
15  Our enemies learned that we knew all about their plan and that God had frustrated it. And we went back to the wall and went to work. 16  From then on half of my young men worked while the other half stood guard with lances, shields, bows, and mail armor. Military officers served as backup for everyone in Judah who was at work rebuilding the wall. 17  The common laborers held a tool in one hand and a spear in the other. 18  Each of the builders had a sword strapped to his side as he worked. I kept the trumpeter at my side to sound the alert. 19  Then I spoke to the nobles and officials and everyone else: "There's a lot of work going on and we are spread out all along the wall, separated from each other. 20  When you hear the trumpet call, join us there; our God will fight for us."




God will fight for us when we give Him absolute control.

Women falling away from religion?

My first thought was, "Well, I got tired of being the spiritual leader in the home, so it stands to reason that most of the Christian women in America got tired, too."

Then I went to the actual survey results page on Barna: http://www.barna.org/faith-spirituality/508-20-years-of-surveys-show-key-differences-in-the-faith-of-americas-men-and-women and I was surprised to note that this was just a "new analysis of surveys done by Barna. I would really like to see the methodology and the original surveys that were newly analyzed.

Yes, church attendance is down.
Yes, there are fewer baptisms.
Most likely there are fewer parents attending with children. This would definitely impact the thought processes of children twenty years later in today's society.

I'm going to do some more research on this because I feel it is a survey that needs more study before concluding there are fewer women believers today than twenty years ago, except for those women who have gone on to be with Jesus. That would mean the belief factor would be stagnant which isn't true at all.

How to pray for your children...or anyone else you love

I got the Bible verses from the Men's Class at my church in Louisiana. The comments are my own.

Jam 4:10 Be humbled before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Pray for a spirit of humility.
The after taste is truly sweet.


Pro 9:10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Pray for a spirit of reverence.
The experience is enlightening.


Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart! For they shall see God.
Pray for a spirit of purity--a desire to be clean.
It smells a lot better than being dirty.


Pro 4:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and let your eyelids look straight before you.
Pray for a spirit of purpose. Pray for the wisdom to set goals.
When a person has purpose, he/she rarely gets distracted by worldly things.


Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts having been sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body having been washed in pure water;
Pray for a spirit of assurance and a depth of faith.
Being sure-footed keeps a person from stumbling and falling off the path.

Fraud and Waste of $60 billion

What else is new? This subject was closely studied after the Viet Nam war... uh, police action. It was closely studied during construction of public buildings when a $12 wrench cost $45 and a $9 toilet seat cost the government $50 or $100 depending on the contractor. Did we not learn our lessons way back then more than 40 years ago?

What is the matter with our government? It has far too many fingers for the hand it has. We now have a mutant ninja government that is so quick with knee-jerk reactions, and so many fingers in the pie that you can't even determine what kind of pie it is. I listen in stunned silence at the next horror story splashed all over the news. Oh, wait! Most of the news outlets do not tell us these behind the scenes nuggets of horror, do they? Kudos to the Associated Press, though, which stated in a story...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. has lost billions of dollars to waste and fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan and stands to repeat that in future wars without big changes in how the government awards and manages contracts for battlefield support and reconstruction projects, independent investigators said Wednesday.

The story goes on to state we are really in for more of the same because the Dems and GOP are at odds over the deficit. [Please, join me in a shocked look here.] I'm like John Stossel, "Give me a break!"


What is causing the deficit? Big government that doesn't have the least notion of what a budget is. It's like a shopaholic with an unlimited Black American Express card (that's the one where you can buy a yacht and a helicopter on the same day, right?) Our Prez keeps saying that we're not going to cut spending by sacrificing people. Well, we wouldn't have had to if the people would quit sleeping in the hammocks. Welfare and Medicaid were institutions which were originally designed as safety nets, not hammocks. 


The main cause is this pilfering of billions of dollars by companies under government contract. If any corporate entity were to do business like this it wouldn't last six months. I am appalled that no one seems to care that we are bleeding money at quart rates rather than pin-prick rates.


How far would an individual get when more money went out of the check book than was deposited? A prison door would be slammed on a person who made free with money like that. It's called fraud.