We really don't realize how good we have it. My take away moment from this Christmas -- Rain. Rain had never experienced Christmas before because they do not celebrate Christmas in Thailand. He said this was the best Christmas ever. How good is that?
Seriously, we went to church on Christmas Eve and had a short service with lots of music and communion. It was really cool. I just hope we can all appreciate what we really celebrate at Christmas, and that is Jesus's birth. It was a wonderous thing that his parents faced such adversity and shame. Mary was a wonderful servant of the Lord, and so was Joseph. We have them to thank for bringing our Savior into the world.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Media Obsession with Celebrities v. the "Real" News
Unless you have lived under a rock the past few weeks, you surely know that Tiger Woods is in a heap of trouble. What looked at first to be a "tryst" with a New York "hostess" whose fiance ironically died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, has turned into the sports story of the first decade of the 21st Century. The notoriously private Tiger Woods was exposed, and how exposed he was. He has cultivated a public persona of don't follow me, get your photo ops on the golf course and leave me and my family alone. His circle of friends guarded his privacy. Apparently, the prostitution businesses he frequented did as well. The first two girls, Rachel Uchetil and Jamie Grubbs, to "out" him either intentionally or not, both thought they were "special" to Tiger. Little did they know, they were nothing more than freebies, if that is accurate. Because he makes Elliot Spitzer look like a choir boy with one transgression. When Tiger first had his accident, I was like leave him alone, because there are obvious problems. But it isn't our business. Well, it still isn't our business, but it sure is a big mess in which we are all soaking up the details.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill laden with almost a half a TRILLION dollars in ridiculous spending with nary a mention in the mainstream media. In other words, it is pork, or what I like to call, buy me and I will vote for you spending. It makes me sick. Why can't our country look at what our government is doing. Because it is totally taking advantage of us. Stand up and speak out! The health care reform, which Nancy Pelosi says she will "do anything" to pass before Christmas, is unconstitutional. The federal government cannot REQUIRE every US citizen (as well as the illegal immigrants) to purchase health insurance. They do not have the constitutional authority to do so. When a reporter asked Ms. Pelosi what constitutional authority there was for what the Congress was proposing, she said "seriously, seriously." Well, yeah, we are serious. Ms. Pelosi, Harry Reid and a lot of those in Congress live in dreamland, or make that the beltway. The government has totally lost touch with the American people. They do not care what we think or we want. What they want is power and big government. The health care reform bill does nothing to curb rising health care costs. I think it will make the costs rise even more. The government likes to vilify health insurance companies. But government run health care, i.e. Medicare and Medicaid is a lot worse than private insurance.
We need to have our voices heard. Remember when both parties tried to pass immigration legislation last summer. It had bi-partisan support. The American people did not support it. People called their Congressmen and Senators outraged. It did not pass. We need to do the same thing now. However, those that want this health care bill passed, don't care what we think. They want to have a segway into a single payor system where we all are covered by government provided health care. We don't want it. So stop them now.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill laden with almost a half a TRILLION dollars in ridiculous spending with nary a mention in the mainstream media. In other words, it is pork, or what I like to call, buy me and I will vote for you spending. It makes me sick. Why can't our country look at what our government is doing. Because it is totally taking advantage of us. Stand up and speak out! The health care reform, which Nancy Pelosi says she will "do anything" to pass before Christmas, is unconstitutional. The federal government cannot REQUIRE every US citizen (as well as the illegal immigrants) to purchase health insurance. They do not have the constitutional authority to do so. When a reporter asked Ms. Pelosi what constitutional authority there was for what the Congress was proposing, she said "seriously, seriously." Well, yeah, we are serious. Ms. Pelosi, Harry Reid and a lot of those in Congress live in dreamland, or make that the beltway. The government has totally lost touch with the American people. They do not care what we think or we want. What they want is power and big government. The health care reform bill does nothing to curb rising health care costs. I think it will make the costs rise even more. The government likes to vilify health insurance companies. But government run health care, i.e. Medicare and Medicaid is a lot worse than private insurance.
We need to have our voices heard. Remember when both parties tried to pass immigration legislation last summer. It had bi-partisan support. The American people did not support it. People called their Congressmen and Senators outraged. It did not pass. We need to do the same thing now. However, those that want this health care bill passed, don't care what we think. They want to have a segway into a single payor system where we all are covered by government provided health care. We don't want it. So stop them now.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Grand Circle Tour 2007
We visited Arches NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in May 2007, and it was beautiful. Just posting some pics.Sunday, December 6, 2009
Politics Never Ceases to Amaze Me
I am amazed that our President visited Capitol Hill today for some behind the door arm twisting (and vote buying). Didn't he say that politics "as usual" was out the door in his administration. There would be transparency and bi-partisanship. Where is that now? It is totally non-existent.
If you haven't realized it, this health care bill is nothing but a total government take over of the health care industry. Health care is expensive, but has any one looked at the costs of the development and research of innovative treatments. I don't want government health care, and I don't understand why I can't buy health insurance like I do my car insurance. My health insurance is tied to my employer, and if I don't have a job and have to buy health insurance it sucks.
The first thing about this "reform" is it is unconstitutional if some one would actually address that issue. But second, and most important, we CANNOT afford it as a country. Our country is wallowing in debt, spending money it doesn't have on "stimulus" after another to no avail. The first one under GWB was January 2008 with unemployment at 4.9%. Now, three or four stimulus deals later, unemployment is around 10% and our debt has increased over $1 trillon dollars.
Can some one please stop the bleeding? I want my country back.
If you haven't realized it, this health care bill is nothing but a total government take over of the health care industry. Health care is expensive, but has any one looked at the costs of the development and research of innovative treatments. I don't want government health care, and I don't understand why I can't buy health insurance like I do my car insurance. My health insurance is tied to my employer, and if I don't have a job and have to buy health insurance it sucks.
The first thing about this "reform" is it is unconstitutional if some one would actually address that issue. But second, and most important, we CANNOT afford it as a country. Our country is wallowing in debt, spending money it doesn't have on "stimulus" after another to no avail. The first one under GWB was January 2008 with unemployment at 4.9%. Now, three or four stimulus deals later, unemployment is around 10% and our debt has increased over $1 trillon dollars.
Can some one please stop the bleeding? I want my country back.
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