While channel surfing I came across an interview of Rick Warren by Ann Curry of NBC. Out of curiosity I decided to see how it went.
NBC is of course arguably the most left-wing network, pretty much undeniable in their so-called "news" programming over the last few years, and particularly obvious during the recent Presidential election. Ann Curry is one of the Today Show liberals, but I'd always thought she had been relatively pleasant and less confrontational with people she interviews who may hold more conservative views, compared to Matt and Katie.
But she really got in Warren's face about his support for Prop 8 in California. Even more than her somewhat surprising confrontational approach to him on the issue, I was surprised at the assumptions she made in attacking him.
Especially when she asked him how he could possibly deny the rights of two people to "love each other". That was the most revealing statement of where the gay marriage supporters and Ann are coming from on the issue.
Ann and her growing mob of fellow travelers have adopted the disease of narcissism that has become our national epidemic. They can't seem to separate love from sex.
For Ann and her crowd, apparently love is sex. Pastor Warren gave her a pretty good response, but it seemed to me that she didn't even process his answer, let alone understand it. The essence of his response was that mature adults must rise above their baser instincts and do what's right for themselves and each other. And the gay marriage movement he fears is more about the suppression of free speech and practice of religion than it is about same-sex couples making commitments to each other.
News flash: Love and sex are not corollary. Sex is part of the expression of married love and of course is necessary to perpetuate the species, but has never been the definition of love.
Can one love another without having sex with him or her? Absolutely.
Can one have sex with another without feeling "love"? I don't even need to answer that.
The interview included a discussion of the fact that Pastor Warren has given huge sums to the treatment of AIDS. Ann couldn't understand why he would do that and yet "hurt" gays by supporting Prop 8. I suppose she's never been to church, or she'd know the answer to that one.
Too bad shallow Ann doesn't understand those of us who belong to that strange tribe called "Christians".
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
I Can't Say it Better
Found this from somebody named Herb London of the Hudson Institute.
The America of now is one where Orwellian logic rules. Redistribution of wealth is fairness. Taxes are patriotic. The free market should be a regulated market. Big government is good for you. Politicians know what kind of health care is best for you. Choice should be limited, except when it comes to abortion. Power comes from being powerless. Progressive education is designed to promote progress toward socialism. Race doesn't count unless a person of color tells you it counts. Higher education gets lower each year. Those who create our problems should be asked to solve them. Religion should be a private matter that does not inform public morality. Liberal is radical. Free speech is selective speech. Courage is impetuousness.
Herb wrote the best paragraph I could imagine describing today's America.
The America of now is one where Orwellian logic rules. Redistribution of wealth is fairness. Taxes are patriotic. The free market should be a regulated market. Big government is good for you. Politicians know what kind of health care is best for you. Choice should be limited, except when it comes to abortion. Power comes from being powerless. Progressive education is designed to promote progress toward socialism. Race doesn't count unless a person of color tells you it counts. Higher education gets lower each year. Those who create our problems should be asked to solve them. Religion should be a private matter that does not inform public morality. Liberal is radical. Free speech is selective speech. Courage is impetuousness.
Herb wrote the best paragraph I could imagine describing today's America.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Christmas Thoughts
Hard times seem to inspire more folks to return to their Christian roots. We may still be a bit early in this current run of hard times, but I wonder if I'm not already observing some of that return.
It seems that people are divided into a few categories this Christmas.
The faithful joyfully go about the traditions of Christmas, many practicing those both sacred and secular. The faithful celebrate the birth of Christ while anticipating his triumphant return.
The nominal Christians enjoy mostly the secular traditions, perhaps considering making a rare appearance at a Christmas Mass or Service at the local church their parents took them to as children. They otherwise don't give the sacred meaning much thought.
The agnostics won't go to church unless dragged along by a friend or family member. They might enjoy participation in the secular activities, but give the sacred meaning little or no thought.
The atheists seem to spend most of the Christmas season angry. Inexplicably, as evidenced in the Washington State Capitol this year, they feel the need to insult and berate the faithful whenever possible. They try their best to remove all Christian symbols and speech from any public arena, and seem to make more progress on that agenda every year.
The Jews, excepting the atheists described above, go ahead and celebrate Hannukah, really more of a minor event for them, but it provides an opportunity for them to have their own alternative to Christmas.
The racially sensitive Black population embrace the relatively new Kwanzaa, which is a modern celebration created out of the ether by a communist college professor from California. I remain curious how many Kwanzaa celebrants truly understand how it came into existence, and how many of those also celebrate Christmas.
Islam doesn't seem to have a parallel celebration, except possibly the Islamic New Year. Other than the generally known plotting of the radical factions to exterminate Jews and enslave or convert Christians, I really don't know what the followers of Mohammed do during the Christmas season.
I've heard several times in the past few days people greeting each other with "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays". Sometimes I hear someone greet another with "Merry Christmas" and hear the other person respond with "Happy Holidays", and other times I hear the reverse. My sense is that it's a sort of subtle argument happening, but everybody's generally pleasant in the greeting.
Personally, I use "Merry Christmas". My intent isn't to engage in the argument, but to sincerely wish a merry Christmas. As much as secularists would like to change it, this remains fundamentally the Christmas holiday season. And it will always be so, at least unless the enemies succeed in exterminating us and renaming the holiday to the pagan "Winter Solstice".
My best hope is that everyone will reflect on the lessons of the birth of that Hebrew baby that would change the world for the next 2,000 years. The story of his birth, life, death, and resurrection give us our greatest hope.
I'm sorry for those who choose not to believe, as their lives must be hopeless and empty. I pray more of them at least explore the faith enough to discover it for themselves.
Merry Christmas!
It seems that people are divided into a few categories this Christmas.
The faithful joyfully go about the traditions of Christmas, many practicing those both sacred and secular. The faithful celebrate the birth of Christ while anticipating his triumphant return.
The nominal Christians enjoy mostly the secular traditions, perhaps considering making a rare appearance at a Christmas Mass or Service at the local church their parents took them to as children. They otherwise don't give the sacred meaning much thought.
The agnostics won't go to church unless dragged along by a friend or family member. They might enjoy participation in the secular activities, but give the sacred meaning little or no thought.
The atheists seem to spend most of the Christmas season angry. Inexplicably, as evidenced in the Washington State Capitol this year, they feel the need to insult and berate the faithful whenever possible. They try their best to remove all Christian symbols and speech from any public arena, and seem to make more progress on that agenda every year.
The Jews, excepting the atheists described above, go ahead and celebrate Hannukah, really more of a minor event for them, but it provides an opportunity for them to have their own alternative to Christmas.
The racially sensitive Black population embrace the relatively new Kwanzaa, which is a modern celebration created out of the ether by a communist college professor from California. I remain curious how many Kwanzaa celebrants truly understand how it came into existence, and how many of those also celebrate Christmas.
Islam doesn't seem to have a parallel celebration, except possibly the Islamic New Year. Other than the generally known plotting of the radical factions to exterminate Jews and enslave or convert Christians, I really don't know what the followers of Mohammed do during the Christmas season.
I've heard several times in the past few days people greeting each other with "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays". Sometimes I hear someone greet another with "Merry Christmas" and hear the other person respond with "Happy Holidays", and other times I hear the reverse. My sense is that it's a sort of subtle argument happening, but everybody's generally pleasant in the greeting.
Personally, I use "Merry Christmas". My intent isn't to engage in the argument, but to sincerely wish a merry Christmas. As much as secularists would like to change it, this remains fundamentally the Christmas holiday season. And it will always be so, at least unless the enemies succeed in exterminating us and renaming the holiday to the pagan "Winter Solstice".
My best hope is that everyone will reflect on the lessons of the birth of that Hebrew baby that would change the world for the next 2,000 years. The story of his birth, life, death, and resurrection give us our greatest hope.
I'm sorry for those who choose not to believe, as their lives must be hopeless and empty. I pray more of them at least explore the faith enough to discover it for themselves.
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Why Can't We?
All the noise about bailing out the Big 3 has generated some questions in my tiny mind.
The government seemed to barely blink at overriding the overwhelming "NO!" from the public to allow Henry Paulson the 700 billion to hand out to his buddies in the financial sector, seemingly with little or no oversight. Then the Big 3 come along, hat in hand, asking for a measly 35 billion bailout, and are slapped around for it.
Why the difference?
We're hearing a lot about how the Big 3 can't be allowed to fail. They are somehow the last bastion of America's industrial power, and it's only patriotic to use tax dollars to prop them up.
But they can't seem to compete. They have monstrous overhead, paying outrageously above-market compensation to their unions and executives. And they still build an inferior product, at least as far as public perception is concerned.
So my question is, why haven't some gutsy automotive engineers gotten together and created the great new American car company? One that produces innovative new vehicles at a lower cost that Americans will line up to buy? Isn't there a great void in the market needing to be filled by a young, innovative, and aggressive new company?
I know the barriers to entry are extremely high. The amount of capital it would require to build and test the prototypes, build and staff the first production plant, contract the suppliers, create the marketing campaign, recruit a network of dealerships, etc., is staggering. Not to mention scaling all the government-imposed barriers.
But it could absolutely be done. All it takes is visionary leadership; a charismatic salesman to convince investors to take the risk.
There is where I might have stumbled on the answer. Our country is suffering from a terrible drought of leadership. In government and industry.
Will the Big 3 become the Big 2? Or 1? Or will we soon see America forever lose its industrial capabilities to the East?
The government seemed to barely blink at overriding the overwhelming "NO!" from the public to allow Henry Paulson the 700 billion to hand out to his buddies in the financial sector, seemingly with little or no oversight. Then the Big 3 come along, hat in hand, asking for a measly 35 billion bailout, and are slapped around for it.
Why the difference?
We're hearing a lot about how the Big 3 can't be allowed to fail. They are somehow the last bastion of America's industrial power, and it's only patriotic to use tax dollars to prop them up.
But they can't seem to compete. They have monstrous overhead, paying outrageously above-market compensation to their unions and executives. And they still build an inferior product, at least as far as public perception is concerned.
So my question is, why haven't some gutsy automotive engineers gotten together and created the great new American car company? One that produces innovative new vehicles at a lower cost that Americans will line up to buy? Isn't there a great void in the market needing to be filled by a young, innovative, and aggressive new company?
I know the barriers to entry are extremely high. The amount of capital it would require to build and test the prototypes, build and staff the first production plant, contract the suppliers, create the marketing campaign, recruit a network of dealerships, etc., is staggering. Not to mention scaling all the government-imposed barriers.
But it could absolutely be done. All it takes is visionary leadership; a charismatic salesman to convince investors to take the risk.
There is where I might have stumbled on the answer. Our country is suffering from a terrible drought of leadership. In government and industry.
Will the Big 3 become the Big 2? Or 1? Or will we soon see America forever lose its industrial capabilities to the East?
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Stuff I Notice
Just some stuff I tend to notice.
It seems like a disproportionate number of
television news reporters have speech impediments.
psychology professors are most in need of counseling.
professional athletes and politicians are sociopaths.
the most irritatingly opinionated people are the most ignorant.
college professors lack common sense.
celebrities think fame means intelligence.
those easily offended are themselves offensive.
Just saying ...
It seems like a disproportionate number of
television news reporters have speech impediments.
psychology professors are most in need of counseling.
professional athletes and politicians are sociopaths.
the most irritatingly opinionated people are the most ignorant.
college professors lack common sense.
celebrities think fame means intelligence.
those easily offended are themselves offensive.
Just saying ...
Monday, November 24, 2008
Looks Like MN Needs the IN Voter ID Law
From John Hinderaker:
Minnesota makes no serious effort to prevent voter fraud. It has been reported that one-quarter of all the votes cast in Hennepin County, the state's largest, were same-day registrations. In most instances, not only are voters not required to show identification, it is illegal to ask them for it. So we have no way of knowing how many non-citizens voted; or how many students from Wisconsin voted there, then crossed the border to vote again in a college town in Minnesota; or how many people voted in another state and also cast an absentee ballot in Minnesota, or vice versa; or how many felons voted; or how many fictitious people registered by ACORN, the voter fraud organization that put on a major push in Minnesota this year, ostensibly showed up to vote; or how many residents of nursing homes voted without having any idea they had done so; or how many voted in two or more Minnesota precincts; or how many people voted for themselves and also for someone who they knew had died or moved out of a precinct by election day; or how many Franken ballots were slipped into voting machines by Democratic election judges when no one was looking. There is no way, at this point, to separate the legitimate ballots from those that were cast illegally. The legal and the illegal, the real and the fake, are being counted with equal precision.
The larger question for me is, how can it be possible that Minnesota would even consider electing Al Franken to the US Senate? It would seem that the cold (no global warming in those north woods, I can attest) has frozen their collective brains. Even if Norm Coleman is a jerk (and I have no information on that question one way or the other), how could anyone possibly believe Stuart Smalley is a legitimate replacement?
Then again, they did elect Jesse Ventura to be their governor once. Incomprehensible.
Minnesota makes no serious effort to prevent voter fraud. It has been reported that one-quarter of all the votes cast in Hennepin County, the state's largest, were same-day registrations. In most instances, not only are voters not required to show identification, it is illegal to ask them for it. So we have no way of knowing how many non-citizens voted; or how many students from Wisconsin voted there, then crossed the border to vote again in a college town in Minnesota; or how many people voted in another state and also cast an absentee ballot in Minnesota, or vice versa; or how many felons voted; or how many fictitious people registered by ACORN, the voter fraud organization that put on a major push in Minnesota this year, ostensibly showed up to vote; or how many residents of nursing homes voted without having any idea they had done so; or how many voted in two or more Minnesota precincts; or how many people voted for themselves and also for someone who they knew had died or moved out of a precinct by election day; or how many Franken ballots were slipped into voting machines by Democratic election judges when no one was looking. There is no way, at this point, to separate the legitimate ballots from those that were cast illegally. The legal and the illegal, the real and the fake, are being counted with equal precision.
The larger question for me is, how can it be possible that Minnesota would even consider electing Al Franken to the US Senate? It would seem that the cold (no global warming in those north woods, I can attest) has frozen their collective brains. Even if Norm Coleman is a jerk (and I have no information on that question one way or the other), how could anyone possibly believe Stuart Smalley is a legitimate replacement?
Then again, they did elect Jesse Ventura to be their governor once. Incomprehensible.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Incarcerated in the Zoo
The celebration moves into full swing, as an apparent majority of the population seem to have received their wish - full Democrat control of government.
So the celebrating individuals now feel free to examine me and the shrinking number of people like me, trying to figure out how any reasonably intelligent human being could possibly be disappointed or even frightened as the Messiah prepares to take over the government.
For what it's worth, here's the perspective of this oddity from the Zoo.
First and foremost, my objection is moral.
The "Freedom of Choice Act" is a nightmare. Fortunately I don't have any daughters, because all parental consent laws regarding abortions for minors will be wiped off the books nationwide. As will waiting periods, counseling, and any other measures passed by the states in an attempt to offer alternatives to women who think they might want to vacuum their developing baby out of their womb. My tax dollars will be used to help poor women kill their unborn babies, and quite possibly the occasional baby born alive by mistake. Any and all public expression of opposition will be harshly prosecuted.
Gay Marriage is a direct assault on Christianity. Because the movement, at it's root, isn't about marriage at all. Gays can get together right this moment with a group of friends and make any promises, personal or contractual, they want. No, it's about telling Christians that we dare not breathe a word of the most mild suggestion that the behavior is wrong. And it's about forcing all employers through the force of law to provide benefits to same-sex partners. It's fundamentally about supressing freedom of thought, expression, and the right to hire and fire people based on a moral standard.
Universal Healthcare will kill the healthcare system. I do not disagree there's a massive problem with healthcare in our country, but the problem is high cost, not the lack of government control. If the government provides my healthcare, then they also can deny me healthcare. I want the problem of cost solved so healthcare is accessible, but the voters said they want the government to confiscate money from those who have and give to those who have not. I struggle to keep up with my own crippling healthcare costs, but the last thing I want is for the government to swoop in and rescue me with their new freedom-sucking plan.
Socialism is government control over the citizens' lives. It replaces the corporate fat cats with a new group of government bureaucrat fat cats, leaving everybody else worse off than they were under free enterprise. Because, you see, socialism sucks all incentive and work ethic out of the population. Why should I work my tail off to get the exact same government check as the guy next to me who is drunk most of the time and produces practically nothing? Socialism knocks the rich down several notches, but actually knocks everybody else down a few notches as well, all in the name of "fairness". But of course, don't dare peek at the lifestyles of the political party bureaucrats, who somehow manage to maintain lavish lifestyles for themselves.
We've already lost the country envisioned by our Founders. Congress ignores the constitution with impunity. And the Messiah President will soon stack the courts with judges who will make sure that can continue through the next two generations.
So the celebrating individuals now feel free to examine me and the shrinking number of people like me, trying to figure out how any reasonably intelligent human being could possibly be disappointed or even frightened as the Messiah prepares to take over the government.
For what it's worth, here's the perspective of this oddity from the Zoo.
First and foremost, my objection is moral.
The "Freedom of Choice Act" is a nightmare. Fortunately I don't have any daughters, because all parental consent laws regarding abortions for minors will be wiped off the books nationwide. As will waiting periods, counseling, and any other measures passed by the states in an attempt to offer alternatives to women who think they might want to vacuum their developing baby out of their womb. My tax dollars will be used to help poor women kill their unborn babies, and quite possibly the occasional baby born alive by mistake. Any and all public expression of opposition will be harshly prosecuted.
Gay Marriage is a direct assault on Christianity. Because the movement, at it's root, isn't about marriage at all. Gays can get together right this moment with a group of friends and make any promises, personal or contractual, they want. No, it's about telling Christians that we dare not breathe a word of the most mild suggestion that the behavior is wrong. And it's about forcing all employers through the force of law to provide benefits to same-sex partners. It's fundamentally about supressing freedom of thought, expression, and the right to hire and fire people based on a moral standard.
Universal Healthcare will kill the healthcare system. I do not disagree there's a massive problem with healthcare in our country, but the problem is high cost, not the lack of government control. If the government provides my healthcare, then they also can deny me healthcare. I want the problem of cost solved so healthcare is accessible, but the voters said they want the government to confiscate money from those who have and give to those who have not. I struggle to keep up with my own crippling healthcare costs, but the last thing I want is for the government to swoop in and rescue me with their new freedom-sucking plan.
Socialism is government control over the citizens' lives. It replaces the corporate fat cats with a new group of government bureaucrat fat cats, leaving everybody else worse off than they were under free enterprise. Because, you see, socialism sucks all incentive and work ethic out of the population. Why should I work my tail off to get the exact same government check as the guy next to me who is drunk most of the time and produces practically nothing? Socialism knocks the rich down several notches, but actually knocks everybody else down a few notches as well, all in the name of "fairness". But of course, don't dare peek at the lifestyles of the political party bureaucrats, who somehow manage to maintain lavish lifestyles for themselves.
We've already lost the country envisioned by our Founders. Congress ignores the constitution with impunity. And the Messiah President will soon stack the courts with judges who will make sure that can continue through the next two generations.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Solving the Big 3
Evidence of the sheer stupidity of the Big 3 CEO's, riding their Gulfstreams to DC to beg for cash, is the additional fact that they didn't really have a case to make.
Unless you call "please bail us out, we're going under" a case.
Here's an idea.
Federal Government, just say no.
Big 3 shareholders, fire your boards of directors and CEO's and put actual intelligent businesspeople in charge.
Management, get in a room with the UAW and hammer out a deal. They give back on some salary and benefits in the short run in return for employee ownership in the company. If and when the company makes money again, so will the union membership.
Make more deals with the union in the areas of quality and productivity. The more productive each union member and the better quality of the product, the more they stand to make from improved sales. Actually ask the Union bosses to allow the company to cut loose the dead weight.
Not to mention cutting loose the dead weight in the executive suites and the engineering departments and the administrative departments.
That sounds to me like a company that could survive and prosper.
Instead of the company that's asking the government for billions in bailout dollars that will end up funding union pensions and management golden parachutes.
America, where have ye gone?
Unless you call "please bail us out, we're going under" a case.
Here's an idea.
Federal Government, just say no.
Big 3 shareholders, fire your boards of directors and CEO's and put actual intelligent businesspeople in charge.
Management, get in a room with the UAW and hammer out a deal. They give back on some salary and benefits in the short run in return for employee ownership in the company. If and when the company makes money again, so will the union membership.
Make more deals with the union in the areas of quality and productivity. The more productive each union member and the better quality of the product, the more they stand to make from improved sales. Actually ask the Union bosses to allow the company to cut loose the dead weight.
Not to mention cutting loose the dead weight in the executive suites and the engineering departments and the administrative departments.
That sounds to me like a company that could survive and prosper.
Instead of the company that's asking the government for billions in bailout dollars that will end up funding union pensions and management golden parachutes.
America, where have ye gone?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Repeating History
Back to the future.
Economic troubles are so similar to the 30's it's amazing. Even more amazing is how few of our leaders in Washington seem to understand anything about our conditions. They certainly don't seem to have learned anything from the experiences of the "Great Depression". Mostly they seem be focused on making sure they and their buddies prosper, not caring much at all about the country as a whole.
And we've elected a president who fancies himself a pacifist version of FDR.
Only those able to pay off all their debt as soon as possible have a chance at survival over the next dozen years.
Personally, I have to try everything I can to keep income going. I know a regular job isn't going to happen, so I've got to find every possible way to keep the business bringing in revenue. Then make the payoff of the mortgage #1 on the agenda.
Maybe I'll have to actually start farming.
Economic troubles are so similar to the 30's it's amazing. Even more amazing is how few of our leaders in Washington seem to understand anything about our conditions. They certainly don't seem to have learned anything from the experiences of the "Great Depression". Mostly they seem be focused on making sure they and their buddies prosper, not caring much at all about the country as a whole.
And we've elected a president who fancies himself a pacifist version of FDR.
Only those able to pay off all their debt as soon as possible have a chance at survival over the next dozen years.
Personally, I have to try everything I can to keep income going. I know a regular job isn't going to happen, so I've got to find every possible way to keep the business bringing in revenue. Then make the payoff of the mortgage #1 on the agenda.
Maybe I'll have to actually start farming.
Monday, November 17, 2008
New Airport Over the Top?
I got my first look at the new Harvey Weir Cook International Airport when my flight got in late Friday night. It is certainly an impressive new facility for Indy.
I can't help but wonder just how much in tax dollars went into this new showpiece for the Indiana capitol. Was the old airport really that bad? I didn't think so.
I'm pretty happy that they named it after the old WWI Ace H. Weir Cook. It's refreshing that Indiana can actually remember their heroes from that far in the past.
They're certainly saving money on TSA employees, as I observed on Sunday as I flew out of the new airport on Sunday. The new combined security checkpoint has maybe 8 or more (I didn't count) security lines, but only had 2 open Sunday. So instead of my usual 5-10 minute trek through security at the old airport, this time it took almost 30 minutes. And I was in the new "expert traveler" line.
Woo Hoo.
I must also adjust to the fact that walking to the terminal from the parking lot is no longer an option. The new parking lots, which seem to go on for miles, are pretty much inaccessible to or from the terminal on foot. So waiting for the bus, then waiting as it stops at every shelter in the lot, is no longer optional.
Some things that made me chuckle a bit:
After only a few days, the carpet near the gates and on the jetbridges is already stained. Won't be long before it's every bit as disgusting as the carpet at the old airport.
The terminal is somewhat reminiscent of Detroit's on the inside, albeit a bit smaller and without the train. Like Detroit, there are flat-panel televisions on the walls. But unlike Detroit, they're small flat-panel televisions you can't really see unless you get very close. It's pretty clear somebody decided to save money on the TV's but might has well have saved all of it, since nobody can watch them anyway.
The bottom line for me is there's this beautiful new airport that takes longer to drive to, longer to get into from the parking lot, and longer to get through security.
They call that progress?
I can't help but wonder just how much in tax dollars went into this new showpiece for the Indiana capitol. Was the old airport really that bad? I didn't think so.
I'm pretty happy that they named it after the old WWI Ace H. Weir Cook. It's refreshing that Indiana can actually remember their heroes from that far in the past.
They're certainly saving money on TSA employees, as I observed on Sunday as I flew out of the new airport on Sunday. The new combined security checkpoint has maybe 8 or more (I didn't count) security lines, but only had 2 open Sunday. So instead of my usual 5-10 minute trek through security at the old airport, this time it took almost 30 minutes. And I was in the new "expert traveler" line.
Woo Hoo.
I must also adjust to the fact that walking to the terminal from the parking lot is no longer an option. The new parking lots, which seem to go on for miles, are pretty much inaccessible to or from the terminal on foot. So waiting for the bus, then waiting as it stops at every shelter in the lot, is no longer optional.
Some things that made me chuckle a bit:
After only a few days, the carpet near the gates and on the jetbridges is already stained. Won't be long before it's every bit as disgusting as the carpet at the old airport.
The terminal is somewhat reminiscent of Detroit's on the inside, albeit a bit smaller and without the train. Like Detroit, there are flat-panel televisions on the walls. But unlike Detroit, they're small flat-panel televisions you can't really see unless you get very close. It's pretty clear somebody decided to save money on the TV's but might has well have saved all of it, since nobody can watch them anyway.
The bottom line for me is there's this beautiful new airport that takes longer to drive to, longer to get into from the parking lot, and longer to get through security.
They call that progress?
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Like Conspiracy Theories?
Here's one that's about as plausible as any.
Just imagine that the current financial crisis was carefully planned and executed by the government, with willing accomplices among a few key CEO's from Wall Street.
Paulson, Bernanke, Cox, Reid, Pelosi, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Franklin Raines, and several others conspired to create a financial crisis by strong-arming major banking and investment firms into making a high number of bad loans. Included in their arm-twisting was an implied promise that when all came tumbling down, the powerful government leaders would see to it the executives involved would escape with very sweet parachutes.
Why was this crisis engineered?
Here's where the conspiracy theories really come into play.
The obvious motive: Destroying the public's confidence in capitalism to usher in a statist/socialist government controlled by the same people named above.
But how about this one: Decimating American's 401K's and Pensions to head off a Social Security crisis just when the peak of the Baby Boom generation are reaching retirement age. Millions of people who were planning to retire in the next 5-10 years have lost an average of 40% of their retirement assets, and the volatile stock market may move even lower.
So all these baby boomers are rethinking their retirement plans because they no longer have the money they counted on to see them through a comfortable retirement. Millions will have to postpone retirement, thus delaying their applications for Social Security Retirement Benefits.
There's a story running around that the new President Obama may introduce a plan that would offer Americans a sort of guaranteed defined benefit retirement pension in return for what's left of their 401K or IRA accounts, representing a massive government confiscation of the personal savings of the American population. I'm not yet sure whether it's true.
Sound plausible? I think it's frighteningly plausible.
Just imagine that the current financial crisis was carefully planned and executed by the government, with willing accomplices among a few key CEO's from Wall Street.
Paulson, Bernanke, Cox, Reid, Pelosi, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Franklin Raines, and several others conspired to create a financial crisis by strong-arming major banking and investment firms into making a high number of bad loans. Included in their arm-twisting was an implied promise that when all came tumbling down, the powerful government leaders would see to it the executives involved would escape with very sweet parachutes.
Why was this crisis engineered?
Here's where the conspiracy theories really come into play.
The obvious motive: Destroying the public's confidence in capitalism to usher in a statist/socialist government controlled by the same people named above.
But how about this one: Decimating American's 401K's and Pensions to head off a Social Security crisis just when the peak of the Baby Boom generation are reaching retirement age. Millions of people who were planning to retire in the next 5-10 years have lost an average of 40% of their retirement assets, and the volatile stock market may move even lower.
So all these baby boomers are rethinking their retirement plans because they no longer have the money they counted on to see them through a comfortable retirement. Millions will have to postpone retirement, thus delaying their applications for Social Security Retirement Benefits.
There's a story running around that the new President Obama may introduce a plan that would offer Americans a sort of guaranteed defined benefit retirement pension in return for what's left of their 401K or IRA accounts, representing a massive government confiscation of the personal savings of the American population. I'm not yet sure whether it's true.
Sound plausible? I think it's frighteningly plausible.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
When Empires Fall
The best civilization in the history of the world may soon die.
Founded by a small group of incredibly courageous and brilliant leaders, it's been overall a great 233 years for a nation carved out of the wilderness. No society in history has seen the heights of prosperity and military might of the place known as the USA. Never has there been a place where people from all four corners of the planet yearned to emigrate for a life unimaginable in their home countries.
But democratic rule has become mob rule. Anyone feeling a slight from this open society, whether real or imagined, finds a government receptive to granting them special treatment. Instead of encouraging and helping lift those on the bottom of the economic ladder, we make sure they don't succeed by redistributing wealth to give them a meager subsistence, while keeping their government-run schools abysmal.
Now the government moves to "rescue" the nation by taking over private industry, starting with the banks. The mob installs political leaders not based on their efforts for the good of all, but for the goodies they promise to take from others and hand out.
And the once-mighty military will be decimated by naive leaders without any apparent understanding of history or of the enemies who are bent on the destruction of this country.
In the meantime the population is lulled by hedonistic entertainment, hyped sporting events, and celebrity worship.
When the safety and security of the USA is gone, it will be too late.
My concern isn't much for myself. I've lived my life in the greatest era of technological and living standards progress in the history of the world. But what will my children be left to face within their adult lives? I fear the next decade or two will not be pleasant.
But I fervently hope and pray that somehow those fears will not be realized.
Founded by a small group of incredibly courageous and brilliant leaders, it's been overall a great 233 years for a nation carved out of the wilderness. No society in history has seen the heights of prosperity and military might of the place known as the USA. Never has there been a place where people from all four corners of the planet yearned to emigrate for a life unimaginable in their home countries.
But democratic rule has become mob rule. Anyone feeling a slight from this open society, whether real or imagined, finds a government receptive to granting them special treatment. Instead of encouraging and helping lift those on the bottom of the economic ladder, we make sure they don't succeed by redistributing wealth to give them a meager subsistence, while keeping their government-run schools abysmal.
Now the government moves to "rescue" the nation by taking over private industry, starting with the banks. The mob installs political leaders not based on their efforts for the good of all, but for the goodies they promise to take from others and hand out.
And the once-mighty military will be decimated by naive leaders without any apparent understanding of history or of the enemies who are bent on the destruction of this country.
In the meantime the population is lulled by hedonistic entertainment, hyped sporting events, and celebrity worship.
When the safety and security of the USA is gone, it will be too late.
My concern isn't much for myself. I've lived my life in the greatest era of technological and living standards progress in the history of the world. But what will my children be left to face within their adult lives? I fear the next decade or two will not be pleasant.
But I fervently hope and pray that somehow those fears will not be realized.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Trying to Avoid Election News
But it's very hard. Even listening to music on the radio during my drive to Nashville did not protect me from election reporting. I got to my hotel room and decided to just watch ESPN, but even there I have to hear at least a little bit about the election.
I did a quick channel surf and noticed that CNN and MSNBC were already celebrating an Obama victory with only two states called (KY for McCain and NH for Obama). All they're missing are the party hats and streamers.
Think Happy Thoughts. Before we descend together into the new Dark Ages.
I did a quick channel surf and noticed that CNN and MSNBC were already celebrating an Obama victory with only two states called (KY for McCain and NH for Obama). All they're missing are the party hats and streamers.
Think Happy Thoughts. Before we descend together into the new Dark Ages.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Another Airline Misadventure
I'm increasingly in favor of letting these major airlines collapse under the weight of their own incompetence. Which leads me to my latest story of my own maltreatment by Continental Airlines.
We finished early on Friday. Checking online, it would cost me $400 to book an earlier flight, so I thought I'd try standby. So I headed to the George Bush International Airport, turned in my rental car and took the overcrowded rental car bus to the terminal.
Checking in, I paid the $50 fee for the priviledge of standing by for the 4:10 flight to Indy, endured the TSA shakedown, and trekked to the gate. I grabbed some lunch and settled in for the wait for my flight.
Finally the gate agent boarded the flight, but never made any announcements regarding standby passengers. So I approached her as the last few passengers boarded and showed her my standby document. She checked the computer and couldn't seem to find my record, then shrugged and told me the flight was full.
Just full. No apologies, no explanations, no eye contact. She then took off down the jetway to send the plane on its way.
So I'm used to rude gate agents, and didn't think twice about her appalling lack of customer service skills. Disappointed, I made my way to the other concourse to settle in for the 3 hour wait for my originally booked flight.
The agent working that 7:15 flight was somewhat friendlier and more helpful than the previous one. But when I gave her my documents and she looked for me on the computer, she frowned and said, "I can't seem to find you in here".
A few more keystrokes later, she found me. "This shows your standby cleared on the earlier flight. Were you late or something?".
Of course, I told her no, I wasn't late. That the agent told me the flight was full and turned me away.
She shook her head and sighed, asked me where I would like to sit, and printed me a boarding pass for an exit row aisle seat.
I got home after midnight instead of early evening because of a Continental Airlines employee who was uncaring and incompetent.
Would I care much if Continental ceases to be a viable airline?
The answer is obvious.
We finished early on Friday. Checking online, it would cost me $400 to book an earlier flight, so I thought I'd try standby. So I headed to the George Bush International Airport, turned in my rental car and took the overcrowded rental car bus to the terminal.
Checking in, I paid the $50 fee for the priviledge of standing by for the 4:10 flight to Indy, endured the TSA shakedown, and trekked to the gate. I grabbed some lunch and settled in for the wait for my flight.
Finally the gate agent boarded the flight, but never made any announcements regarding standby passengers. So I approached her as the last few passengers boarded and showed her my standby document. She checked the computer and couldn't seem to find my record, then shrugged and told me the flight was full.
Just full. No apologies, no explanations, no eye contact. She then took off down the jetway to send the plane on its way.
So I'm used to rude gate agents, and didn't think twice about her appalling lack of customer service skills. Disappointed, I made my way to the other concourse to settle in for the 3 hour wait for my originally booked flight.
The agent working that 7:15 flight was somewhat friendlier and more helpful than the previous one. But when I gave her my documents and she looked for me on the computer, she frowned and said, "I can't seem to find you in here".
A few more keystrokes later, she found me. "This shows your standby cleared on the earlier flight. Were you late or something?".
Of course, I told her no, I wasn't late. That the agent told me the flight was full and turned me away.
She shook her head and sighed, asked me where I would like to sit, and printed me a boarding pass for an exit row aisle seat.
I got home after midnight instead of early evening because of a Continental Airlines employee who was uncaring and incompetent.
Would I care much if Continental ceases to be a viable airline?
The answer is obvious.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Campaign Weariness
Just let it be over, please.
I'll go vote on Tuesday, for whatever it's worth.
It's hard to imagine anybody who really doesn't know the difference between Obama and McCain, or between their congressional Republican and Democrat candidates by now.
Does anybody really make a voting decision based on a political ad? I certainly hope not.
How many Obama voters have the slightest idea who the guy is, and what he stands for? I wonder, because I've had to really dig to just come up with the most likely profile for the guy. And I can't guarantee that profile is correct.
On the flip side, how many voters don't know all they ever wanted to know about McCain? He's been a Senator forever and might be the easiest politician in the country to research.
Yet we're told there's this huge group of voters out there who swing like an open gate in the wind. Obama today, McCain tomorrow, maybe Obama the next day - decisions, decisions. Who are these people? People lacking any personal convictions? Maybe simply ignorant and easily swayed by any persuasive influence that gets their attention? I don't think I've met any of them yet, but they must be out there.
My impression of the Obama voter comes down to this very basic theme. The typical Obama voter first and foremost hates Bush and wants the Anti-Bush. She thinks she will get goodies from Obama for free, like tax rebate checks and free heathcare. He thinks Obama will end the wars and make the world a peaceful place. They both think Obama will end the dreaded Global Warming, punish evil rich people, and get them a raise at work.
These people are going to become extremely disappointed. I'm not sure how long the Obama administration will be able to get away with, "be patient, this mess was all Bush's fault, and will take some time to turn around". I suspect they'll only get away with it for about 18 months, before people start figuring out who has really killed the economy and depressed their wages or lost them their jobs.
Obamamaniacs love Europe, even though they've never been there. Too bad they will soon find out what the average European lifestyle looks like.
I'll go vote on Tuesday, for whatever it's worth.
It's hard to imagine anybody who really doesn't know the difference between Obama and McCain, or between their congressional Republican and Democrat candidates by now.
Does anybody really make a voting decision based on a political ad? I certainly hope not.
How many Obama voters have the slightest idea who the guy is, and what he stands for? I wonder, because I've had to really dig to just come up with the most likely profile for the guy. And I can't guarantee that profile is correct.
On the flip side, how many voters don't know all they ever wanted to know about McCain? He's been a Senator forever and might be the easiest politician in the country to research.
Yet we're told there's this huge group of voters out there who swing like an open gate in the wind. Obama today, McCain tomorrow, maybe Obama the next day - decisions, decisions. Who are these people? People lacking any personal convictions? Maybe simply ignorant and easily swayed by any persuasive influence that gets their attention? I don't think I've met any of them yet, but they must be out there.
My impression of the Obama voter comes down to this very basic theme. The typical Obama voter first and foremost hates Bush and wants the Anti-Bush. She thinks she will get goodies from Obama for free, like tax rebate checks and free heathcare. He thinks Obama will end the wars and make the world a peaceful place. They both think Obama will end the dreaded Global Warming, punish evil rich people, and get them a raise at work.
These people are going to become extremely disappointed. I'm not sure how long the Obama administration will be able to get away with, "be patient, this mess was all Bush's fault, and will take some time to turn around". I suspect they'll only get away with it for about 18 months, before people start figuring out who has really killed the economy and depressed their wages or lost them their jobs.
Obamamaniacs love Europe, even though they've never been there. Too bad they will soon find out what the average European lifestyle looks like.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Lemmings
I wonder if some lemmings don't really want to jump off the cliff, but have no choice. Could it be they have to join the rest of the lemmings simply because they'll be trampled if they try to leave the mob?
The American lemmings are already jumping off the cliff. Those of us who watch it happen are powerless to stop it, so we go over the cliff with everyone else simply because we have no other choice.
The financial crash we're experiencing now has no parallel since the 1929 crash, which led to the Great Depression. The house of cards built over the past 30 years finally fell down under the weight of Fannie and Freddie.
Our two Presidential candidates presumably wish to don the mantle of FDR, who created an alphabet soup of socialist agencies and entitlement programs. Many Americans revered him for "saving" them by giving them subsistence level jobs.
There's Bad - John McCain, who is so tone-deaf that he proposed more bailouts to a nation fed up with the idea that the taxpayers have to bail out the criminals who caused the problems and got rich in the process. In the last debate, he seemed to be trying to out-Democrat the Democrat. He seemed completely out of touch with the mood of the people and completely lacking any ability to concisely define the problem or propose any innovative solutions.
Then there's Worse - Barack Obama, who offers nothing but rhetoric suggesting Bush is the Herbert Hoover of our age and McCain is simply another Bush. McCain's plan may have been a bad one, but Obama doesn't even offer one. Worst of all, this approach has worked wonders for his campaign - polls suggest he's going to win the election running away.
At such a critical time, to have Dumb and Dumber running for President and Dumber winning ..., well, back to the lemmings analogy.
The cliff we're running over is the loss of America. Obama (aka Dumber) will gladly abdicate our soverignty to the New World Order, a globalist socialist government that will make the freedoms we have long cherished in the United States of America a thing of the past.
The American lemmings are already jumping off the cliff. Those of us who watch it happen are powerless to stop it, so we go over the cliff with everyone else simply because we have no other choice.
The financial crash we're experiencing now has no parallel since the 1929 crash, which led to the Great Depression. The house of cards built over the past 30 years finally fell down under the weight of Fannie and Freddie.
Our two Presidential candidates presumably wish to don the mantle of FDR, who created an alphabet soup of socialist agencies and entitlement programs. Many Americans revered him for "saving" them by giving them subsistence level jobs.
There's Bad - John McCain, who is so tone-deaf that he proposed more bailouts to a nation fed up with the idea that the taxpayers have to bail out the criminals who caused the problems and got rich in the process. In the last debate, he seemed to be trying to out-Democrat the Democrat. He seemed completely out of touch with the mood of the people and completely lacking any ability to concisely define the problem or propose any innovative solutions.
Then there's Worse - Barack Obama, who offers nothing but rhetoric suggesting Bush is the Herbert Hoover of our age and McCain is simply another Bush. McCain's plan may have been a bad one, but Obama doesn't even offer one. Worst of all, this approach has worked wonders for his campaign - polls suggest he's going to win the election running away.
At such a critical time, to have Dumb and Dumber running for President and Dumber winning ..., well, back to the lemmings analogy.
The cliff we're running over is the loss of America. Obama (aka Dumber) will gladly abdicate our soverignty to the New World Order, a globalist socialist government that will make the freedoms we have long cherished in the United States of America a thing of the past.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
I don't fit the profile
I'm becoming somewhat surprised lately that the profile of the Obama voter doesn't fit me at all, but still it seems I'm outnumbered.
I can't vote for Obama, because I don't belong to his constituency.
I am not
Black
An angry minority
A socialist
A communist
Ignorant of American History or the Constitution
A Hollywood Celebrity
A guilty-feeling blueblood
An atheist
New-Age or Pantheist or Pagan
A vegan
A PETA member
A modern Christian who would recreate God in My image
A narcissist
A bureaucrat
A government dependent
A pacifist
A Muslim Terrorist
A Weather Underground Terrorist
An infanticide supporter
Naive
An ACLU member or supporter
Anti-American
A Bush hater
A La Raza (The Race) member or supporter
An illegal immigrant
A flag burner
Anti patriotic
Ready to see America humbled
A Trial Lawyer
A College Professor
A Teacher's Union Activist
A Union Leader
A felon
A single urban woman
A gay, lesbian, bi, trans ... or otherwise deviant
Prepared to bestow preferential rights to people based on a deviant behavior
A disciple of the Nobel winning climate scientist Al Gore
A Kos or HuffPo contributor
A megalopolis denizen
Prepared to abdicate national soveriegnty to a New World Order
A "journalist"
Influenced by Mainstream Media propagandists
from the Chinese government
Americans, meet your new ruling class.
I can't vote for Obama, because I don't belong to his constituency.
I am not
Black
An angry minority
A socialist
A communist
Ignorant of American History or the Constitution
A Hollywood Celebrity
A guilty-feeling blueblood
An atheist
New-Age or Pantheist or Pagan
A vegan
A PETA member
A modern Christian who would recreate God in My image
A narcissist
A bureaucrat
A government dependent
A pacifist
A Muslim Terrorist
A Weather Underground Terrorist
An infanticide supporter
Naive
An ACLU member or supporter
Anti-American
A Bush hater
A La Raza (The Race) member or supporter
An illegal immigrant
A flag burner
Anti patriotic
Ready to see America humbled
A Trial Lawyer
A College Professor
A Teacher's Union Activist
A Union Leader
A felon
A single urban woman
A gay, lesbian, bi, trans ... or otherwise deviant
Prepared to bestow preferential rights to people based on a deviant behavior
A disciple of the Nobel winning climate scientist Al Gore
A Kos or HuffPo contributor
A megalopolis denizen
Prepared to abdicate national soveriegnty to a New World Order
A "journalist"
Influenced by Mainstream Media propagandists
from the Chinese government
Americans, meet your new ruling class.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Does any of this ring a bell?
Do these sound familiar?
1. Abolition of Private Property
2. Heavy Progressive Income Tax
3. Abolition of Inheritance Rights
4. Confiscation of Property from Emigrants and Rebels
5. A Central Bank
6. Government Control of Communication and Transportation
7. Government Ownership of Factories and Farms
8. Government Control of Labor
9. Corporate Farms, Regional Planning
10. Government Control of Education
The principles from the Communist Manifesto as defined by Marx and Engels are worth another look.
Does it frighten anybody else to read these again and discover how many of these have already happened in America, and that a major political party is seeking the power to implement the rest?
1. Abolition of Private Property
2. Heavy Progressive Income Tax
3. Abolition of Inheritance Rights
4. Confiscation of Property from Emigrants and Rebels
5. A Central Bank
6. Government Control of Communication and Transportation
7. Government Ownership of Factories and Farms
8. Government Control of Labor
9. Corporate Farms, Regional Planning
10. Government Control of Education
The principles from the Communist Manifesto as defined by Marx and Engels are worth another look.
Does it frighten anybody else to read these again and discover how many of these have already happened in America, and that a major political party is seeking the power to implement the rest?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The Death of Objectivity
The evidence is overwhelming. From Fannie and Freddie to Lehmann and AIG, no major news outlet has yet taken the time to investigate the root causes of the meltdown and report back to the American public.
Where are the multi-part investigative reports on the news that cover the history of Fannie and Freddie, the conditions that caused the mortgage mess, why they happened and who were the key players?
Has anyone answered to your or my satisfaction these basic questions? --
Why were mortgage brokers allowed to sell mortgages to unqualified borrowers?
What was the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the buying and selling of these mortgage-backed securities throughout the financial industry?
Who ran Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Since they were quasi-government institutions, who in the government was responsible for their oversight?
Was there anyone on Wall Street or in the Federal Government who saw this meltdown coming and tried to sound the alarm? If so, how did authorities respond? If not, how could that happen?
What Federal Agencies were responsible for regulating Fannie and Freddie? Did they discover the problem and try to do something about it? Or were they stopped by politicians higher up the ladder?
Instead of independent investigations giving the public facts on these and other questions, all we see is a megaphone handed to Obama with a slap on the butt and a "go get 'em tiger!".
And that's the answer to the basic question I've posed. If such an independent investigation were to take place by reporters who are willing to report the truth, no matter how it might reflect on one candidate or the other, it could kill the candidacy of their own favorite candidate.
Objective journalism appears dead, and with it American democracy. When the press becomes monolithically partisan and chooses to withhold the truth from the public if it might reflect badly on their chosen candidate, the dream that was America is lost.
Where are the multi-part investigative reports on the news that cover the history of Fannie and Freddie, the conditions that caused the mortgage mess, why they happened and who were the key players?
Has anyone answered to your or my satisfaction these basic questions? --
Why were mortgage brokers allowed to sell mortgages to unqualified borrowers?
What was the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the buying and selling of these mortgage-backed securities throughout the financial industry?
Who ran Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Since they were quasi-government institutions, who in the government was responsible for their oversight?
Was there anyone on Wall Street or in the Federal Government who saw this meltdown coming and tried to sound the alarm? If so, how did authorities respond? If not, how could that happen?
What Federal Agencies were responsible for regulating Fannie and Freddie? Did they discover the problem and try to do something about it? Or were they stopped by politicians higher up the ladder?
Instead of independent investigations giving the public facts on these and other questions, all we see is a megaphone handed to Obama with a slap on the butt and a "go get 'em tiger!".
And that's the answer to the basic question I've posed. If such an independent investigation were to take place by reporters who are willing to report the truth, no matter how it might reflect on one candidate or the other, it could kill the candidacy of their own favorite candidate.
Objective journalism appears dead, and with it American democracy. When the press becomes monolithically partisan and chooses to withhold the truth from the public if it might reflect badly on their chosen candidate, the dream that was America is lost.
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