BOWL UPSIDE MY HEAD

When I was a boy I treated my young sister to all manner of torture and misery. In those early years we lived in a rural community without the benefit of neighbor kids as play companions. Consequently, many times we were playmates. Frankly, I was mean to Marie. I was bigger, older and could get away with teasing and bullying. For some reason mom, dad, granny, and even Aunt Sarah (our part time black ironing lady and baby sitter) often excused my offenses and blamed Marie. I was a brat, probably the favored sibling, and spoiled. In retrospect my role was more a jerk than a nice brother to my sister. This pattern of poor behavior continued until I was about ten years old. Then, one day she did something I will never forget.

As was the custom in the fifties, unless a natural disaster was happening outside, children were expected to be outside.  I cannot remember if it was a large spider or long nasty snail, but I decided it needed to be attached to my sister's face. I carefully approached Marie with the offensive creature hidden in my closed hand. At the perfect moment I smeared the thing into her face. As expected, and to my delight her shrieks were loud and blood curdling. Then, Marie did something which literally marked me forever. From somewhere she found a heavy round bowl used to provide outdoor drinking water for our pets . With astonishing speed and accuracy, she slammed the bowl upside my head. The mighty blow knocked me senseless and drew blood. When I was patched up an inch long scar on my forehead appeared. Sixty some years later, I can still see the scar amid the wrinkles on my forehead. It remains the indelible mark and reminder of my sister's just revenge and my past meanness.

I deserved a good smack down from Marie, and hopefully she found a little payback for my earlier rotten behavior. At any rate, the event and the scar also remind me of Beatitude # 8 from the Gospel Of Saint Matthew. "Blessed are those who suffer persecution .. for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Despite the bowl upside my head, I think Marie will get to paradise easier than me because she was a much nicer kid.

  

THE U.N., BIG APPLE & DC CIRCUS ...

So, we are at war with a grand coalition of five nations and a few secret camel herding friends. Meanwhile, those wild and crazy UN guys are going to begin a meeting to discuss "global warming" or whatever the current hip word is for this fantasy. At the same time, the cool kids and worldly upper crust of the Big Apple will  march in the streets and chant about drowning polar bears, evil business people,  minimum wages for hamburger flippers, and a host of other silly issues. President Obama will visit the UN to head up a high powered talk fest to defeat Ebola just as he sends thousands of US soldiers into Africa to become potential disease carriers.

Down in Washington, the political fingers are pointing in every direction to explain how a nut ball entered the unlocked front door of the White House with a pocketful of knives. Press secretaries at the White House and Pentagon are busy getting briefed to tell the world exactly what Ms. Jarrett and POTUS want to reveal. The old boys and girls in Congress are salivating at the opportunities war, Ebola, and global whatever might afford their re-election possibilities.

More than ever we need God to bless America and show his or her amazing grace to a nation and world increasingly lead by funny bunnies.

 

THE GREAT GLOBAL WARMING OR WHATEVER HOAX

For several decades common sense and simple observation have surrendered to pop science and government induced hysteria designed to take away more personal freedom while collecting more taxes.

A "sky is falling" scenario of global warming, cooling, or whatever is now maintained as the world's greatest crisis. Nuclear proliferation, the 21st century revival of the Mideast Crusades, Putin's unholy ambitions, and the rising super military and economic power of China are minor concerns compared to weather changes according to many. Consistently, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Barrack Obama, and bands of scientists predict and proclaim catastrophic weather patterns as the worlds greatest problem. They cite melting polar ice caps, drowning polar bears, our coastal cities sinking under rising tides, and a variety of other life ending situations as their proof. Their message is always the same. Capitalist rich evil nations and individuals are to blame and only government can solve the emergency. Every dire prediction is made, immediately ballyhooed by the media, certified as Gods truth by politicians, and brainwashed into impressionable children. Despite the staged photos their predictions always fail to materialize. Recently, The Weather Channel and Audubon Magazine devoted great time and space to the threat, danger, and alleged reality of global weather goblins citing junk science sources and government agencies as their reliable sources.

I have observed weather for nearly seventy years and lived directly on the Chesapeake Bay nearly forty years. Except for northeast storms and the occasional tropical storm or hurricane I can safely report my dock space and property have not surrendered to the rising seas. I see ice & snow in the winter, heat and humidity in the summer, and usually more pleasant weather in the spring and fall. My observations have as much validity as all the junk science gathered by scientists paid by government grants to find problems, and thus continue their government paychecks. Is it any wonder that a greater and greater crisis is projected as government budgets allow more "studies" and scientists to collect government paychecks ? Ever wonder why the governments 50 year war on poverty produced more poverty and a cost of 21 trillion taxpayer dollars ?

Fact is the weather changes every day. It takes thousands upon thousands of years to measure patterns of cooling and warming on a planet millions of years old. Man's scientific weather measurements are only a few hundred years old, and man's influence on the climate is only a few thousand years old. I think it is BS and man's incredible ego to believe that my internal combustion engine, can of aerosol, or incandescent light bulb could destroy a planet and universe designed by Almighty God. To predict climate doom and gloom, so called "computer models" are always used. In my opinion, these "computer models" are probably a modern day version of crystal ball gazing, and are skewed to produce results consistent with pre determined goals.

In the history of mankind, the vast majority of scientists and The Holy Roman Catholic Church once taught and insisted that the world was flat, the earth was the center of the universe, and every man was directly related to Adam & Eve. Those who questioned these "scientific" certainties were often severely punished and excommunicated from the Church. It took hundreds of years of research and observation to disprove  scientific "facts" of the past. The current high percentage of climate alarmists are paid by governments and organizations with a strong motivation to further their cause.

Consider your lifetime and observations of the weather and it's occasional extremes.

Does a hot day, severe snowstorm, spring flood, tornado or hurricane mean the world is about to explode or implode from weather fluctuations ? Understand that governments good and bad are always seeking your money and liberty so that they (the government) can grow and assume more and more power.

While Al Gore and other climate alarmists have raked in millions of dollars in personal earnings, have any of their doomsday predictions come true ?

  

NASCAR POLITICIANS ...

In politics in order to reach a goal a course must be followed. The successful track will involve political turns to the right, turns to the left, and times to simply steer straight ahead. Unfortunately, in the last few decades there has been a tendency of politicians to be NASCAR like in their approach to problem solving. Simply stated, too many feel their road to victory is a continuous drive to the right or left. This manner of driving may result in a victory for a race car driver, but gridlock in the halls of Congress.

Being a good democrat, republican or independent should not involve being in lockstep or zombified with the extreme right or left wings of a political party. The polarization in Washington is crippling our nation. Too many politicians have abandoned the Constitution for the latest poll numbers or pop culture noise from media outlets, who themselves are, increasingly tied to political agendas.

In 2014 and 2016 new congress people must be installed who are alien to the partisan politics which is our current Congress. Our economy, energy independence, and prestige as a world super power have suffered. A strange blend of political correctness and greed for political power among incumbents has replaced the justice and common sense which should guide our national journey. The greatest asset of America continues to be it's people. However, to attain their partisan goals politicians have continued to slice and dice citizens into special interest groups. We the people must remain a united nation with a common language, culture, and set of borders. While we have historically welcomed legal immigrants to enrich our country with their contributions, we cannot become a patchwork of subcultures and unlimited diversity.

Our Constitution and system of elections provide a peaceful way to change our government. The upcoming elections must send a clear message to the governing class that America cannot and will not tolerate the extreme partisanship that has plagued our progress. So, turn off the political ads which are straight out lies or at best stretches of reality, and vote for the person least linked to the current Washington scene.

 

SMOKEY THE BEAR ...

In the early fifties with my cousin Bobby I met Smokey at the Washington National Zoo. At the time he wasn't wearing jeans or a forest ranger hat, and was not walking on two feet.  We met the real four legged Smokey who was a valuable resident at the zoo for over 25 years. At the time of our visit he lived and paced a small barred cage with a tiny pool of water cut into the cement floor. I half expected that he might talk, but he only paced and occasionally sniffed at bits of fruit.

The fictional Smokey was created in 1944 as a government mascot to warn against the dangers of forest fires. The real Smokey was a rescue bear from a New Mexico forest fire in 1950. He was briefly called "Hotfoot Teddy" before stardom gave him his permanent name. In time he had a wife bear named Goldie Bear and an adopted son named Little Smokey. When Smokey died in 1976 a Washington Post obituary was posted. His remains were returned to Captain, New Mexico in what is now Smokey Bear Historical Park.

Meeting Smokey was a big deal to a couple of six year old boys. Bobby and I waited with hundreds of other kids to get our chance to see the brave little bear that had scaled a tree to escape burning. He really sustained some burns and needed to be nursed back to health. At the time, I ranked meeting Smokey as a celebrity encounter just as important as meeting Santa Claus. While time has diminished the fantasies of Santa, Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, I will always believe in Smokey because I  met the real deal bruin at the National Zoo a long time ago.

Whenever I see a Smokey Bear sign or Public Service Announcement it brings back fond childhood memories of the real Mr. S. Bear.

Happy Birthday Smokey and remember California, only you can …… ! 

Finally, why are few massive wildfires north of our western border in Canada ?

From the left Bobby, Me & Smokey

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ANOTHER 4 OR 6 YEARS OF INCUMBENTS ?

The big Fall elections are here and isn't it about time we make some big, really big, changes in Congress ?

First, any incumbent of either party should be carefully scrutinized. The record of Congressional action in improving our economy, international standing, lowered corporate & personal taxes, and energy independence has been miserable. Scandals have poisoned federal agencies into cesspools of crony capitalism, inaction, and downright fraud. Politicians of both parties have catered to the moneyed lobbyists offering them the biggest shot of political gain and personal wealth. It's not so much a democratic or a republican party problem, but more a problem with incumbents. The need for term limits is so damn obvious, but it will never happen because of the self interests of corrupt Congress persons and their puppet masters. Therefore, voters must do what they can to create change. I personally believe that if every incumbent were replaced in 2014 and 2016, the inexperience of rookie congress people would be an improvement over the current crappy leadership in Washington.

Second, is it not a little scary that Hillary Clinton heading for a 2016 Democratic Party coronation has stated that she believes the number one problem in the world is global warming or climate change ? This liberal rallying point flies in the face of reality, and the concerns of Americans in every significant poll. Is it possible Ms. Clinton can bypass her miserable record as Secretary of State and her minimal record as a Senator by appealing to this emotional canard ? As for the Al Gore pool of 97-98% of supporting scientists, I say it's unproven pop science designed to penalize rich nations, empower government overreach, and line the pockets of Mr. Gore and his pals. In world history, practically every learned scientist and the Holy Roman Catholic Church taught and insisted the world was flat, the earth was the center of the universe, and man really did descend from the Garden of Eden. It took hundreds of years of very careful scientific inquiry to disprove these great ancient "truths." It will be centuries before we know the facts of the earths cooling and warming patterns. Nonetheless, with today's world on fire, our economy in decline, and our natural resources either forbidden (coal) or hampered by government dictate, Ms. Clinton offers global whatever as the worlds number one problem ?

Third, here in Virginia we have Senator Mark Warner up for re-election. Although a very bright person and successful businessman, he voted with Obama initiatives about 97% of the time. Also, Senator Warner supported Obamacare. In the next sixty days his democratic machine will spend millions to distance himself from Obama, and dump tons of dirty tricks on his republican opponent. Should Mr. Warner be rewarded for being an Obama pawn by re-election and another six years ?

Whether in Virginia or somewhere else, before you pull the lever or mark your ballot on election day think. Please think, and carefully consider our "State of the Union" and how it has degenerated over the last six years and which politicians are responsible.