February 12, 2009 - Msg 70192: Here's another..."The plumber you sent over is on crack, and while he was bending over to fix the sink, he showed me some plumber's crack!!"...hehehe.

Sorry..just HAD to.

Boo
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70193: OH NO! I swept with THAT? Serves me right.

Boo
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70194: Im at work now...good sweep Boo...let me get started...SPOT
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70195: Just tryin' to lighten things up, folks....Romeena's post kind of scared me.

Boo
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70196: Good morning everyone. Have to get my nose to the grindstone early this morning. Guess my boss thinks it's getting dull ;).

No power at home this morning. The winds are terrible. At least it's not very cold. SPOT, could you get one that for me?

ROMEENA: I have to say, I intended my post yesterday to have a goiod bit of nuance in it, which it ended up lacking. You did misunderstand what I was saying but that's entirely because I didn't say it very clearly or well. However, I am totally on board with the response post and can't say as I disagree with a single word in it. Well, I'm not sure about "wealth as a blessing" always being true; I think it can more often be a curse. One of the reason we have drifted so far as Christian Americans is because of our so-called wealth, in my opinion. But that's a small point. In any event, you still get my vote for the "wise words, well said" award.

My statement above (agreeing totally then stating a point of possible disagreement) made me think of something from last night. My daughter was telling us how she did on a test: "I got them all correct except for six of them." Talk about your spin.

I'll be back later, with my nub of a nose.

Me-They
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70197: Ky girl its RANDYCAN1@Yahoo dot com...SPOT
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70198: Good morning, BOO. Hope that Erin (and you) are feeling better.

You want scared? Try going into the Remshaw House with Gomer.

M-T
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70199: Will get someone headed that way M-T..."come in truck 211 I have a trouple call at M-T"S house come in 10-4"....M-T truck 211 has work order and on the way....SPOT
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70200: Morning Porch.

Cold and snowy on my porch this morning. I'm sooo ready for spring to sprang.

Romeena, I could not agree more with your post. I believe our Consti-tution to be an inspired document. And I beleive that God has smiled upon this nation because of our complying with His word. Ans as the Rev put it so well, He will not favor disobedience. To respond to MT's thoughts, No, I don't think God loves anyone more or less based on what country they live in. But I do believe He is faithful in his dealings with those who are faithful to Him. It's really not a difficult premise, although sometimes man will make it difficult. Not saying you do that. I think sometimes we can be overly anylitical in our approaching spiritual things. Again, not saying you do that. Just throwing it out there for anyone to chew on.
And although I would agree that wealth and blessings are not always to go hand in hand, I think it's all part of His plan for us, to grow and to learn. Wealth and prosperity can be a blessing or a hinderence to our walk with the Lord, depending on us. I'm not one to immediatly condemn someone with wealth, as being evil or wicked simply because they are wealthy. There are many I know who use there wealth for good and decent purposes. John Huntsman comes to mind for me here at a local level. A billionaire many times over, as founder and President of Huntsman Chemical, he is now devoting his life, and his wealth to finding a cure for cancer. He has opened a cancer research center in Salt Lake and is pouring millions of dollars into research and finding a cure to this horrible disease. His goal, is to find a cure to this, and die a broke man id needed. I just throw that one example out there. There are many many more examples. Wealth is not the problem. It is man's inability to be able to deal with it that's the problem. And one we will all need to deal with.
I'm probably making no sense with any of this. I just see in general, a disposition in this country right now to try and attack those in the country who have achieved and done well. Rightfully so, some who have done so at the expense of others have come under fire, but many others who are decent and wonderful people are being accused unfairly, simply because they have been succesful in their efforts.
Sorry, didn't mean to get all preachy.
Better shut up and get to work before I run y'all off and lose my job in the process. LOL

Love y'all.

Asa
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70201: Hey Spot-can you get truck 211 to swing by my rock? I did laundry yesterday and offered to do some of Me-They's wash,since his power was off. We need to get his clean drawers back to him!
Sometimes I don't respond right away to some posts,or don't respond at all,but don't think I don't ponder & think & pray over things. Boo,Maya is in my prayers.How heartbreaking.Please keep us posted.
Well,let's head over to the Waffle House for breakfast-see y'all there!
*******************
possum under a rock
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70202: You made perfect sense up there,Asa,and I highly doubt you're gonna run anyone off. Well,that mullet of yours might scare some folks away.. ha!
possum again
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70203: ASA: You are absolutely right: money is not the root of all evil, the love of money is. Prosperity is a blessing, when that prosperity is used to spread the love of God. When it's used for self service, it is a curse. My comment was just pointing to the fact that it seems the wealthier we have become, the more reliant on ourselves we have become. That's dangerous. It seems those who are most on fire for Christ are those in the third world who suffer al kinds of abuses, including poverty. Maybe when you have less to lose financially you are more willing to realy on Spirit.

M-T
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70204: Hi All,
Will thing are a miss around here from all the storm and high windy .
I will take the cold and snow becaues I heat storm like rhat one.
Someday I will till you why!
So everyone ch in. PLEASEE

TOM

February 12, 2009 - Msg 70205: I think when the Lord wrote that it's easier to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to make it into heaven, He wasn't denying paradise to the rich because of money. He was pointing out that the love of money creeps up on you and has a way of taking over. I think that takes shape today in the form of "financial security." I know a lot of CHristians who are giving until it hurts to help others, but I know of many who are more concerned with the future of their retirement accounts and saving for their kids college years away rather than with sharing right now with those who desperately need help.

M-T
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70206: Me-They, I think you are right on. I understand what you were getting at originally, and I agree. God said he would prosper the faithful, but He also left some pretty strict guidelines about how we are to use our resources. At the same time, not everyone is prospered monetarily. There are many kinds of wealth, not all involving money. Eventually, the faithful will all experience "riches", but they may be the "riches in glory", not on this earth. Exactly what those riches will be - who knows?

This much I know, unless this country returns to a faith in God, and cleans up its act with regard to behavior, God is going to lose patience with us, if He hasn't already. A nation's relationship with God is always a two-way street, and America is busily putting up roadblocks, making it just almost illegal to worship and pray. I can't help but think that day will come too, if we're not careful. We have two major threats facing us today. The ACLU wants to take away our religious freedom and make this a totally religion-free country. Islam wants to wipe out Christianity and force us to "convert" to Islam, making us a Muslim country. I can't help but wonder what's going to happen when those two factions meet?

We need to confront the ACLU legally, and somehow, some way, force it to disband. It's a boil on the backside of this nation. As for Islam, as I wrote a while back in the blog, the best defense here is a strong offense. Unless we strengthen the Christian fiber of this nation, Islam is going to fill the voids. If you flood a room with light, darkness cannot come in. Let the light go out, and darkness will be everywhere.

Boo, I don't mean to frighten anyone, but truth is truth, and we are in a huge battle right now. Not many people have recognized it yet, but we are, make no mistake about it. Read anything you can find by Nonie Darwish, and get a copy of the Quran. Read it, and know that the things taught in that book are deeply ingrained in millions of people who already occupy this country, with more coming in every day.

Ok, that's enough. Be blessed, everyone. --Romeena
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70207: Me again. Just in case anyone would like to read the blog to which I referred, it can be found at:
www.romeena-viewsfrommywindow.blogspot.com.
Sorry, I have never mastered the art of making links. I'm not very ept, but I imagine you all know how to copy and paste.

The address will take you to the most recent post, but scroll down to October 15, to the title "Darkness Cannot Vanquish Light". Obviously, it was written during the election campaigns, and there are political opinions expressed there, which are now no longer important. Skip about halfway down, and you'll find the part about the threat of Islam. Friends, I cannot tell you how serious I am about this, and how strongly I feel about it. America is just tootling along, unaware, letting it happen. It scares me too, Boo. --Romeena
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70208: Well, whaddaya know? My computer is more ept than I am. Apparently it now recognizes anything written in web address format, and makes a link out of it. I knew it would do that with email addresses, but not with these things. So - there you have it. Just click. I tried it, it works. --Romeena
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70209: Computers...they're handier than a pineapple skinner!

;)

M-T
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70210: Oh, and Happy Charles Darwin's Birthday to everybody! It's the bicentennial today. Doesn't that just make you want to crawl from the primordial ooze and grow legs?

More to my tastes in celebrating...happy Abraham Lincoln's birthday! It's his bicentennial today, too. Imagine the two them born on the same day, in the same year.

One who did so much to heal humanity, and another who did so much to destroy it (in my opinion--sorry Bonzo!).

APB for CHUCK, HAZEL, AFD, MERRIWEATHER, OPIEMOM, NEW NEIGHBOR, GOOBER, and the list goes on...

M-T
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70211:
I took what was mine from the mine.
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70212:
MT- -Were there 6 questions on the test? (:
MDC
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70213:
Happy Birthday Abe and pappa bear!
Boo- what a way to sweep! ha
Things with the construction remodel going well.
TOM- Prayers for you friend.
Prayers also continue for Betty, boo's rehab girls and all.
RO- You mentioned the aclu and muslims, and boo i dont want to scare you, but I did hear of a public school that had a "muslim" day where they were getting "diversity" indoctrination, and they actually got prayer rugs, muslim clothing, said muslim prayers etc and aclu did nothing. I got this info from Jay Seculow's American Center for law and Justice.
well, back to work.
MDC
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70214: Darwin's Birthday,Lincoln's Birthday,and Pappa Bear's Birthday? Boy, are the Morrison sisters gonna be busy today!
Happy Birthday Mister Mayberry Mayor!

possum once more
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70215: Possum I will get truck 211 by the rock..cant have M-T with dirty shorts..ghey Romeenam,Boo,Mybuddy Asa and dog grooming friend Mavis,MDC,Lucy...Ky my e-mail is above..well lets find Maude and head to Olive Garden..Possum thanks for b-fast...I shot you some mail too...well...ok possum girl you bring us a newspaper to read at lunch..Asa you hold the door...twin 150"s on tonight for race fans!..Idol was good last night...ok enough chit-chat....prayers...SPOT
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70216:
Ha possum, remember also when one guy said it was
mohammad's birthday in order to get his bottle!
My how times have changed!!
Hey has anyone else heard this thing that is going around
that supposedly george sorros and warren buffet
pulled out billions in stock that send the market on it's downward dive just before the election?
Scary stuff if it is true.
MDC
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70217: Hey Spot did you git the email that I send you

TOM

February 12, 2009 - Msg 70218: MDC,will ya pick up a jar for me? Strictly for celebrating,you know! Ha! I wanna toast the Mayor!
Spot,I was just checking my e-mail-thanks! That one about the dog was cute- need to send it to Mavis!
Let me go read the rest of my e-mail while I wait on MDC to bring me my jar from the Morrison sisters. Maybe you can hitch a ride over on Truck 211,MDC!
*******************
possum under a rock
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70219: Tom send me another one so I can have your mail...I did not know that was you buddy..SPOT
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70220:
Possum, you been readin' those 15 cent magazines again? teehee
MDC
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70221: "A decoy. Shazam."
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70222: I read yesterday that I should read more today!
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70223: I told my pop to get a bottle of pop, but to be careful that the lid didnt pop off as he listened to his pop music.
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70224: In case anyone celebrating is interested, I have a flower making machine in my office...

Happy birthday PAPPABEAR!

MDC: I don't get it. What test?

Here come my shorts, POSSUM...

M-T
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70225: Its national "Pappabear" birthday "day"...I will take a jar please....SPOT
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70226: "QUARTER!"
That's for MDC.
Me-They,you ain't tossing MORE shorts this way are ya? I'm sending all the ones I just washed back to ya on Spot's Truck # 211.Maybe if I hurry,I can wash this latest batch & send them along with all the others. You're going thru a lot of shorts lately,BTW! Ha!
possum again

possum again


February 12, 2009 - Msg 70227: I think I've had enough celebrating.I'm seeing double!
possum
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70228: Spot,you can have what's left in my jar,if you don't mind sippin' after a possum!
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70229: HELP the windy may M-T short fly all around here.
Nice short what the little heart on thim hehe.

Spot it is coming

TOM

February 12, 2009 - Msg 70230: MDC I saw that story on the ACLJ site a while back. Scary stuff, indeed. You can count on it, the ACLU will not interfere with anything the Muslims do. They justify that by saying that they have a constitutional right to worship as they choose. When Christians do something, they interfere, saying that we're trying to "establish religion". I have long suspected that the ACLU is Muslim-backed. Who knows how far their tentacles reach? --Romeena
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70231: Check your mail possum and see if you can open those pics...thanks TOM....SPOT
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70232:
MT- check your post 70196 regarding the test question. She said all but 6 right, so i was asking if there were just six questions. (:
OK, it was a stretch!!
Pass the jar Spot.
Possum, did you know that horses' eyes are full size when they are born?
MDC
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70233:
MT- My, the wheat and the tares grow up together
don't they?
MDC
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70234: Yea, but the harvest is not far off me thinks MDC.

aSA


February 12, 2009 - Msg 70235: Oh, I believe the story (about the school), MDC. I don't even know how to describe how it makes me feel because they won't even let my Jesus in the door of the public school system.

Well, Ro, it so happens that a good friend was telling me alot of what you are telling me today concerning Islam. It is very scary and I don't know what to do about it, other than pray and share the gospel. What else can we do?

M-They, I could be wrong here, but I thought that what Jesus was saying in that chapter...(wasn't it after the rich young ruler went his way when Christ asked him to sell all he had and follow him?), is that it would be very hard for a person who trusted in riches to enter into the kingdom, but he goes onto say that "with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible"...that goes for all of us, doesn't it? We can't come on our own works or merit, but God can save us, and only God. Just my thoughts. There are some verses in some of the epistles, I think in Romans somewhere, where Paul talks about rich Christians in the early church and he tells them to be generous in giving, but no word about them not entering into heaven. In the same passage, Paul mentions that God gives us all things to enjoy, which is a very interesting verse. Just my thoughts.

Please remember Erin in your prayers. The poor things is very sick today. She hasn't been out of bed and has a fever. I feel sorry for her.

Better go get some clothes out of the drier....

Boo
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70236: "If I had remembered to turn on the drier, my clothes would be drier"...did I spell "drier" right, or is it dryer??

Boo
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70237: I went all the way to the top of the stairs to play with my top...now top that!

Boo
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70238: BOO: I agree with you about that scripture. I think we are both saying the same thing, in different ways. I may not be communicating too clearly today; with all these birthdays, my celebrating is interferring with my posting. Who spiked the punch?

TOM: I don't have hearts on mine. But if you see a pair of Superman underoos flying by, well...

MDC: I listen to Jay Seculow's radio show from tiem to time. Interestingly, though the ACLJ and ACLU are typically on opposite sides in the courtroom, they actually have joined together on some cases as well. I guess it goes to show, even a clock is right twice a day ;).

I am no defending of the ASCLU, which has defended some repulsive, vile things in the name of civil liberties, but the organization does have an interesting origin and did some good stuff in the early 20th century. Too bad they are more concerned today with defending the liberties of some, at the expense of many others, for the good of none.

At the risk of sounding downright Pollyannaish (is that a word?), the Moslem threat is, in some ways, checked by the far-left anti-religious direction some would have us take. I can't see how the two could survive in the same place. If the ACLU thinks the Chrsitian right is difficult, let it try conservative Islam.

But have no fear. "Greater is He that is in me." Christianity has survived the Roman Empire, heresy from within, and it will survive this.

Me-They
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70239: Boo,hope Erin feels better fast.

Spot,yes,I got those pictures just fine.LOL at the Beverly Hillbillies as Homeland Security! Yep,they'd take care of things-sure nuff!
Ok,I did breakfast,Spot & Maude treated us to Olive Garden for lunch,so who's cooking supper?
*********
possum again
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70240:
"Down with the gold standard!" (per Regis)
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70241:
Listen to a story about a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed,
Then one day he was shootin at some food,
And up through the ground came a bubblin crude...

Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

Well the first thing you know ol Jed's a millionaire,
Kinfolk said "Jed, move away from there"
Said "Californy is the place you ought to be"
So they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly...

Hills, that is. Swimmin pools, movie stars.
-------------------

Well now it's time to say good by to Jed and all his kin.
And they would like to thank you folks fer kindly droppin in.
You're all invited back agin to this locality
To have a heapin helpin of their hospitality

Hillybilly that is. Set a spell, Take your shoes off.

Y'all come back now, y'hear?.




February 12, 2009 - Msg 70242: Guess you didn't hear that Jed invested with Madoff.

M-T
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70243: Heehee..

Thanks Possum, Erin is snoozing on the couch right now. I am glad she is sleeping, but every time she wakes up from a nap, she feels horrible. I gave her some advil and that helped some.

Me-They, off and on I have been watching the History channel today and they have been showing the Lincoln series of documentaries. Very interesting, and heart-wrenching, too. When I think of him losing both of his beloved sons while they were children, it is a wonder he was able to keep going. Their were some interesting things shared that were writing of Lincoln's friends about how he thought he had syphillis and had a few prostitute friends. I was sorry to hear that, but I am wondering if it's true and if he could have given it to Mary, thus her insanity. I think she ended up in an institution, didn't she? Very interesting stuff, history! :-)

Any of you have any interesting Valentine plans for this weekend?

Boo
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70244: Hey, why don't we form a troupe? "A history troupe and anyone who doesn't join is Brittish!"

Boo
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70245:
Yup, old Madoff made off with the goods.
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70246:

The St. Valentine info...
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70247: I'm not sure if Mary ended up in an institution, but she did have mental problems. While they were worse in later life, she exhibited questionable behavior even while a young wife. Her grief over the loss of her sons, then her husband, seems to have pushed her over the edge. Lincoln himself was pretty obviously a depressed person most of his life. I have read a couple of biographies of Lincoln and don't remembre reading that either one actuially had syphillus or exhibited symptoms.

One amusing quote attributed to Lincoln gives a quick insight into Mary Lincoln's family (this is the jist of the quote, anyway): "God himself make do with one 'd.' The Todds demand two." They were a wealthy, slave-owning Southern family who did not like old Abe.

See y'all tomorrow.

Me-They
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70248:
Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is the name of several martyred saints of ancient Rome. The name "Valentine", derived from valens (worthy), was popular in late antiquity. Of the Saint Valentine whose feast is on February 14, nothing is known except his name and that he was buried at the Via Flaminia north of Rome on February 14. It is even uncertain whether the feast of that day celebrates only one saint or more saints of the same name. "Martyr Valentinus the Presbyter and those with him at Rome" remains in the list of saints of the Catholic Church.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Saint Valentine the Presbyter, is celebrated on July 6, and Hieromartyr Saint Valentine (Bishop of Interamna, Terni in Italy) is celebrated on July 30

The name "Valentine" does not occur in the earliest list of Roman martyrs, compiled by the Chronographer of 354. The feast of St. Valentine was first established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among those "... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." As Gelasius implied, nothing was known, even then, about the lives of any of these martyrs. The Saint Valentine that appears in various martyrologies in connection with February 14 is described either as:

A priest in Rome
A bishop of Interamna (modern Terni)
A martyr in the Roman province of Africa.

The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in the Nuremberg Chronicle, (1493); alongside the woodcut portrait of Valentine the text states that he was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II. He was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't finish him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. Various dates are given for the martyrdom or martyrdoms: 269, 270, or 273.

The official Roman Martyrology for February 14 mentions only one Saint Valentine.

Happy St. Valentine's Day (Sat.) from
ole MDC
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70249: Good afternoon, porch. Just about to get ready to go to work, thought I'd drop by for a minute.

Me-They, you are absolutely right, Christianity will survive, It always has, it always will. We all know that, if we've read the book! However, whether it will survive in America today remains to be seen. Oh, there will always be a remnant, a spark, but the belief system that has undergirded this country since its inception may be subjugated and find itself meeting in dark basements some day. It has happened in other countries, and it can happen here. As for the ACLU contending with Islam, and finding them harder to control than Christians, that's true - if indeed they aren't working hand in hand, and I'm not at all sure about that. Once again, as I implied in the blog "Darkness Cannot Vanquish Light", silencing the Christians is the best way I know to smooth the way for Islam.

One of America's weaknesses has always been our sense of invincibility, the notion that we're too strong for anyone to take us down. Kruschev recognized that, and alluded to it when he said communism would destroy us from within. He knew the USSR couldn't defeat us militarily, but he also understood our political system well enough to know that we would strangle ourselves eventually, unless we wake up. Communism, per se, may not be much of a threat today, but Socialism certainly is rearing its ugly head these days (Pelosi?), and the silencing of the Christians is becoming more and more blatant.

One more question. If schoolchildren and corporate employees are being asked to take "cultural awareness and sensitivity" courses, why is it that immigrants to this country are not asked to do the same thing? They are the newcomers, after all. It seems to me it would be nice if they had to become aware of our cultural beliefs, and learn some sensitivity toward us home folks. No, they come in here and demand that we accommodate them in everything from their language to their food and their holidays and their religious customs, with absolutely no regard for ours. Personally, I'm sick of it.

Now I have to go to work. I just hope that the immigrants I will be serving are mostly illegals from Mexico and South America. They're generally polite and respectful, and I speak enough Spanish to get by, so we usually have a good time, even a little fun. It's the Middle Easterners that turn my fur backward. The men are rude and arrogant, the women usually whiny and demanding. Oh well, it's only for twelve hours. God will help me. --Romeena
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70250: Me-They, why in the world did Abe marry into that family? The documentary mentioned that he loved another but marry Mary (there's another homonym)out of duty, or some such. Big mistake. ;) They told a story about how Mary threw alot of dinner parties during the war, which folks did not like, and that she was always tardy when coming down to dinner, making the others wait. Abe gently scolded her for it once, and she grabbed a china cup full of hot coffee and threw it in his face. Poor Abe.

boo
February 12, 2009 - Msg 70251:
Hello porch family

M-T.....I love your daughter's responce to the test. That is good!

Boo....still praying for Erin. Poor little thing. Hope she gets feeling better soon.

Spot....did you see any of the duels today? Pretty good racing and should be a good 500.

Ro...hope you have a good shift tonight and everything goes smooth.

Well see ya'll at breakfast. I'm heading to bed. Need to give my brain (what little I have) a rest. Been writing and working on new songs pretty much all day today.
Have a good night and prayers for all the porch family.
-REV.
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70252: Mornin' Y'all! Can't rock long,gotta head down towards Charleston,run some errands. Then get back to the Rock 'cause Laci might be staying the next few nights with me.
Computer still hanging on (I'm gonna look at new computers while I'm out,maybe find one to put on my Wish List) but might not be on Porch much-when Laci's here I'm pretty busy.
Anyhow,want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. Love you all!
See ya when I see ya! Breakfast at IHOP this morning- load up on those pancakes!
******************
possum under a rock
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70253: Good morning everyone. That wind yesterday was something, wasn’t it? A few counties over they were measuring gusts at almost 100 mph. I’m just thankful we got our electricity back yesterday (thanks, SPOT!).

BOO: Another scandal was that Mary Lincoln spent lavishly while her husband was president. She overspent the White House budget many times over, and got cabinet officials and staff to help cover it up. Most of it was behind her husband’s back. At least at one point the Congress was going to have an investigation, but (if I remember correctly) they eventually backed down. Her “misappropriations” of public money was on a very large scale and she could have been charged criminally. But, you know how it goes, “love is blind.”

ROMEENA: I’m not sure what would be in it for the ACLU or radical Islamists to be in league together. No matter what I may think of the ACLU’s ideology, I don’t think it is deliberately—or intentionally—trying to destroy the country. I think it’s more an ignorance thing. From what I have seen and read, the ACLU would just as soon stomp all religion, including Islam, out of the “public” sector.

I think you are spot-on about us being complacent about our invincibility. We are raised believing that the U.S. is undefeatable, at least on a grand scale. We think of ourselves as tough enough to withstand anything. All the while, most of us are overweight, overeducated, and very full of ourselves. I, like you, hope that we can humble ourselves and realize that we are nothing without the help of Providence.

As far as sensitivity training, I think it gets pretty silly sometimes but I guess you can’t be too “sensitive” to others. I do believe that it is the responsibility of those who move here for a better life to learn the language and customs, etc. However, especially when people are new to our shores I think it’s understandable that we should go the extra mile to be courteous and understanding—sensitive. I equate it with having someone move into your house; at least at first you make sure that the guest feels welcome, and you do that by placing their needs and comfort first. As time moves on and they settle in, you expect that they will start adapting to how the house runs. You do some accommodating, too, but it’s up to them to learn the ropes, so to speak. When the “host” is too set in their ways or the “guest” is inflexible, there’s going to be unpleasant living for everybody!

BOO might know something about that, huh?

I’ll be back in a bit.

Me-They
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70254: "Who you calling sensitive?!"

M-T
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70255: Good morning, all. We had a decent shift, including one nice little Hispanic girl who spoke no English, was very appreciative of my efforts in Spanish, and we got along quite well.

Me-They, you could be right about the unlikely alliance between the ACLU and Islam - I pray that you are. I don't profess to be aware of all the activities of the ACLU, but it seems to me that by far the majority of their activity is aimed at silencing Christians. As for what would be in it for them, who knows? An unholy alliance such as that could involve a lot of perks and rewards.

About the "sensitivity training" issue, I still feel pretty strongly about that. Perhaps where you are you don't encounter it as much as we do down here in Texas, but it's a problem. It gets expensive, for one thing. A small example - my hospital has to print anything that will be read or used by a patient in two languages - Spanish and English. To put it on a specific basis, that means twice as much paper used, twice as much shelf and/or file space for storing both kinds of documents. So far, we only have to accommodate Spanish-speakers, but it won't be long until Farsi and Urdu and who knows what else will be on our shelves.

It means having people available who are fluent in many languages, else you can't get a legal surgical consent signed! If a non-English speaker decides to take a walk outside for a cigarette and gets hurt, they can sue us, saying we didn't warn them of the hazards in their language. It has happened.

A police officer was indicted and tried for manslaughter because he shot a thug who was charging at him with a knife in his hand. The reason? He only yelled "Stop!" in English, he didn't say it in Spanish, so the poor attacker had no idea the officer had ordered him to stop. The officer was exonerated eventually, but it really stunk around here for a while.

People are losing their jobs because they're not bilingual, and in the case of the very poorly-run Dallas School District, some of the people hired to replace them have turned out to be illegal immigrants with faked SS numbers, and the DISD knew it!!

It's getting to be a bit sticky around here, and people are tired of it. We pretty much don't care whether we're being good hosts or not. Somewhere along the line, the guest has some responsibility as well, or should have, but you'd never know it.

Well, I'm sorry I started all this. Maybe after a nap I'll be better company. --Romeena
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70256: Dang, I just lost a long post due to the censor!! I hate that. Anyway, I will give you a condensed version.

Thank you for your prayers, REV. Erin is still feeling badly and has a fever, but she is better than yesterday.

Me-They, I had heard about Mary and her spending habits while in the white house. She certainly would have been in trouble for it today. I guess Abe had compassion for her because she was not mentally well. The history channel mentioned that when their oldest boy died, it was an agonizing death that took 56 days. They didn't mention what actually killed the boy. Would you happen to know? I know the younger boy died from Typhus.

That is quite the dilemma you have there in the Dallas are, Romeena. You would think it would be bad here since we are closer to the border, but we don't have the amount of illegals that you do in your area (yet).

Better go, things to do...

Boo
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70257: I hear you, ROMEENA. I'm sure you have it very different than I do. I've visited the Dallas area many times, and I know things are very different there than they are here as far as immigration goes (though things here are slowly heading your direction). And, your "chosen profession" puts you in direct contact with many more people than mine, and under very different circumstances. So, anything I have to say I understand is "easy for me to say."

Personally, I don't mind the whole English-Spanish thing. The fact is we have a bunch of Spanish-speaking immigrants coming here. As long as we do, I think it makes sense to have safety signs, official documents, etc. in both languages. We can't expect people to learn the language overnight, but on day-one they are going to be navigating our streets and filling out forms. Why should we make it unnecessarily difficult for them? Just because we can? I suspect it costs a less to paint a stop sign in two languages or print a two-page form instead of one rather than the resulting accidents or lost productivity. Not that Canada is any great example of much (except hospitality and freindliness), but they have been doing it there for a hundred years and its not that big a deal.

Besides, we are not, and have not been, as language-homogenous as we sometimes think. In the town I now sit, almost half the population was German speaking in the mid-19th century. You could find signs and advertising in both languages. There were German schools. There were major churches where the services were held in German. One former mayor, who was born in this country of a German father, still spoke German and translated between neighboring businessmen (he left a diary). And this is the third largest city in Maryland. You can go to any major city in this country and find "Little Italy," "Little Poland," etc. There are restaurants in Baltimore today in its "Little Italy" where you'd better know some Italian to get by. The fact is it takes time for the language and culture to sink in--usually a generation or two--and not all remnants will be lost.

The trouble for many of us is that, for the most part, we are dealing with "first" generation Hispanic immigrants, and lots of them. I think by the time the immigrants coming today have kids, and they have kids, they will be speaking English fluently and you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between "them" and "us." No doubt our culture will get a little more "Hispanic" in the coming years. But our culture had always been changing as new people come here. The Germans brought us doughnuts and long pants for men. The Italians, lasagna and Sophia Loren. The Mexicans, salsa and Flamenco music. I believe, maybe naively, that we just need to get through a time of transition. We can do that by trying to understand that people are coming here because they are attracted to this country, not by a desire to recreate from where they are leaving. A little hospitality on our part, even if its thrown back in our face, is the right thing to do. We're only responsibile for doing our part.

(One side note: When I am talking about immigration above I am talking legal. The illegal issue is a whole different ball of wax that I don't want to start a moulage about.)

M-T
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70258: BOO: Their son Edward died at age 4 of consumption. Willie died duting LIncoln's term of typhoid fever. Tad died as a young man of tb. However, it is suspected that all three may have suffered from a genetic thyroid cancer that probably killed Robert and Tad. From what I have read, no one really thinks that Tad had tb anymore because all the symptoms weren't there; they think he died of the cancer.

M-T
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70259: Hey Rev..I dont miss a lap of racing!...none..hey all...working on the barn...will read in a bit...Lunch?...SPOT
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70260: Hi folks, just wanted to check in and see how everyone was doing.
I have to run up to the Toyota dealership and get the car diagnosed. Seems I stopped on some ice about a week ago and the car's computer freaked out and has been giving us a skid control warning light that hasn't gone off yet.

I swear, the next car I get will be one without a computer. I'll take a Model T anyday over these overly sensitive plastic cars they have nowadays. :)

-Sterling Holobyte
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70261: Hi folks, just wanted to check in and see how everyone was doing.
I have to run up to the Toyota dealership and get the car diagnosed. Seems I stopped on some ice about a week ago and the car's computer freaked out and has been giving us a skid control warning light that hasn't gone off yet.

I swear, the next car I get will be one without a computer. I'll take a Model T anyday over these overly sensitive plastic cars they have nowadays. :)

-Sterling Holobyte
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70262: Wow, I had forgotten all about Tad. I was thinking they had 2 sons, but now I remember. How horrible to lose all three sons. I don't know how people kept from going stark-raving mad in those days....I guess some of them did. Who's Robert??

I think you may have already caused a moulage with your post, M-T...we'll see :)

Boo
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70263: Hey Sterling, good to see you (both times)!

Boo
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70264: Well said, Me-They, and your points are well taken. I realize I'm giving a distorted impression of my true attitude about the whole thing. Fact is, I have good friends among many ethnic groups, I try to learn bits and phrases in their languages (much to their amusement) and am more than willing to welcome people into the country. As you said, however, the key word is "legal". And there is fault on both sides of that issue. We make it ridiculously difficult for someone to enter legally, ridiculously easy to enter illegally, and then stand around and wonder why they choose the easy way.

I would vote for a program that would make it inexpensive (vs the thousands it costs now) to enter legally. I would include a very strict background check, and a requirement to attend at least three months of ESL classes immediately upon arrival, to learn basic, survival-type English. Then if someone still enters illegally, when there's no reason to do so, other than a questionable background, I'd come down on them like ugly on an ape and send them home. Perhaps a little time served in a prison camp such as the one Sheriff Joe Arpaio runs in Arizona would help. A few weeks on a chain gang would lessen the attraction to return.

My church conducts weekly ESL classes, and if I didn't have to work on the nights before the classes, I'd likely be a teacher. My SS class makes up welcome baskets and distributes them in apartment complexes inhabited almost entirely by illegals. We help them fill out papers and applications. We have a Hispanic congregation, a Thai congregation and a Nigerian congregation who meet in our church building at various times, free.

The fact is, I have much more patience for those folks than I have for our own third and fourth generation welfare babies who sit around on their rumps and do drugs, while I'm working nights to pay the taxes that support them. Now there's a soapbox you really don't want me to climb on. Old, infirm, disabled and can't work? Fine. I'm happy to help fund the welfare check. Lazy, drug-addicted, shiftless and carrying a big sense of "entitlement"? Not fine. Even the Bible says, quite plainly, that if a man will not work, then he should not eat. It doesn't say "cannot work", it says "will not". There's a huge difference. OK, enough of that. This time I'm going to bed. --Romeena
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70265: On that final note, ROMEENA, we have total agreement. Sweet dreams.

BOO: Actually, they had four sons. Robert was the other (I said him above when I meant Edward). He outlived his mom, and tried to take care of her.

M-T
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70266: No way! I never even heard of Robert...I guess because he didn't die a terrible death in his youth, he doesn't get much attention. It makes me feel better to know that Mary had a living son to take care of her. Wonder what ever became of him? I guess I will have to google Robert.

Boo
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70267: Well, I googled, and got some pretty interesting information on Robert. He lived quite the life and turns out he didn't help out Old Mary so much. Turns out he had her committed and they were estranged for the last years of her life.

Did I ever tell you that I saw the orginal chair that Lincoln was shot in (before restoration) and the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan? I was a kid but I remember it well (probably due to the gorry bloodstains). We even have a picture of it around here somewhere.

Better go...

Boo
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70268: BOO: From what I read (and this was a while ago so I may be remembering incorrectly), Robert did his best in a terrible situation. Mary was no picnic when all was pretty well. I imagine she was impossible (imbossibly crazy?) by the tiem she died. Sad situation.

STERLING: I forgot to say howdy!

M-T
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70269: BOO: This is from Wkipedia, so take it with a grain of salt: "His mother's 'spend-thrift' ways and eccentric behavior concerned Robert Lincoln. To gain control of his mother's finances, he had her committed to a psychiatric hospital in Batavia, Illinois in 1875. She was released after a three-month stay. The committal proceedings led to a profound estrangement between Lincoln and his mother, and they never reconciled." Like I said, sad.

I thought this was interesting, too: "In an odd coincidence, Robert Lincoln was once saved from possible serious injury or death by Edwin T. Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth. The incident took place on a train platform in Jersey City, New Jersey. The exact date of the incident is uncertain, but it is believed to have taken place in late 1864 or early 1865, shortly before John Wilkes Booth's assassination of President Lincoln.....Months later, while serving as an officer on the staff of General Ulysses S. Grant, Robert Lincoln recalled the incident to his fellow officer, Colonel Adam Badeau, who happened to be a friend of Edwin Booth. Badeau sent a letter to Booth, complimenting the actor for his heroism. Before receiving the letter, Booth had been unaware that the man whose life he had saved on the train platform had been the President's son. The incident was said to have been of some comfort to Edwin Booth following his brother's assassination of the President."

M-T

February 13, 2009 - Msg 70270: More trivia: Robert was supposed to accompany his parents to Ford's Theater the evening Lincoln was assasinated. However, he was sick and decided to go straight to bed. He later was present at (or witnessed) the shootings of President Garfield and McKinley.

M-T
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70271: WE DEFY THE MAFIA!
February 13, 2009 - Msg 70272:
Well, you all have a great St Valentine's Day
and weekend.
The All Star game will be coming to you from HERE this Sunday evening.
Nascar and baseball almost here!!
God bless and prayers for all!
Luv ya,
MDC
Rafe: How long has he been ailin'?