Welcome

Welcome to my blog http://www.skegley.blogspot.com/ . CAVEAT LECTOR- Let the reader beware. This is a Christian Conservative blog. It is not meant to offend anyone. Please feel free to ignore this blog, but also feel free to browse and comment on my posts! You may also scroll down to respond to any post.

For Christian American readers of this blog:


I wish to incite all Christians to rise up and take back the United States of America with all of God's manifold blessings. We want the free allowance of the Bible and prayers allowed again in schools, halls of justice, and all governing bodies. We don't seek a theocracy until Jesus returns to earth because all men are weak and power corrupts the very best of them.
We want to be a kinder and gentler people without slavery or condescension to any.

The world seems to be in a time of discontent among the populace. Christians should not fear. God is Love, shown best through Jesus Christ. God is still in control. All Glory to our Creator and to our God!


A favorite quote from my good friend, Jack Plymale, which I appreciate:

"Wars are planned by old men,in council rooms apart. They plan for greater armament, they map the battle chart, but: where sightless eyes stare out, beyond life's vanished joys, I've noticed,somehow, all the dead and mamed are hardly more than boys(Grantland Rice per our mutual friend, Sarah Rapp)."

Thanks Jack!

I must admit that I do not check authenticity of my posts. If anyone can tell me of a non-biased arbitrator, I will attempt to do so more regularly. I know of no such arbitrator for the internet.











Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Two Wolves Philosophy- Judi Cole e-mail

Most of you have probably seen this one before, but it's too good not to pass on again!





Two Wolves Philosophy


Two Wolves
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed

Stimulous Bill Explained-E-Mail PHS 50 classmate

STIMULUS PLAN EXPLAINED
>
>
> Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his
> economics professor
> and says, "I don't understand this stimulus bill.
> Can you explain it to me?"
>
> The professor replied, "I don't have any time to
> explain it at my office,
> but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me
> with my weekend
> project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The
> student agreed.
>
> At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the
> professor's house. The
> professor stated that the weekend project involved his
> backyard pool.
>
> They both went out back to the pool, and the professor
> handed the student a
> bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor
> said, "First, go
> over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much
> water as you can."
> The student did as he was instructed.
>
> The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the
> shallow end, and then
> dump all the water from your bucket into it." The
> student was naturally
> confused, but did as he was told.
>
> The professor then explained they were going to do this
> many more times, and
> began walking back to the deep end of the pool.
>
> The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we
>=2 0doing this?"
>
> The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to
> make the shallow end much deeper.
>
> The student didn't think the economics professor was
> serious, but figured
> that he would find out the real story soon enough.
>
> However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the
> deep end, the
> student began to become worried that his economics
> professor had gone mad.
> The student finally replied, "All we're doing is
> wasting valuable time and
> effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this
> process is all over,
> everything will be at the same level it was before, so all
> you'll really
> have accomplished is the destruction of what could have
> been truly productive action!"
>
> The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile,
> "Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill."

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

New Pledge of Allegiance- Laura Fisher e-mail

Thanks Laura!

This is re-cycling and well it should. Americans are very exhausted by ACLU and atheist victories in the arena of our lives. Give us back to principle-based American decency with freedom of religion not from religion. It prospered this country well to have those Judeo Christian principles.

Sam


>

*Subject:* Fwd: New Pledge of Allegiance
>
>
>
> *WRITTEN BY A 15 yr. Old SCHOOL KID IN
> ARIZONA :** *
>
>
> *
> New Pledge of Allegiance (TOTALLY AWESOME) !
>
> Since the Pledge of Allegiance
> And
> The Lord's Prayer
> Are not allowed in most
> Public schools anymore
> Because the word 'God' is mentioned....
> A kid in Arizona wrote the attached*
>
> *
> NEW School prayer :*
>
> *
> Now I sit me down in school
> Where praying is against the rule
> For this great nation under God
> Finds mention of Him very odd.*
>
> *If Scripture now the class recites,
> It violates the Bill of Rights.
> And anytime my head I bow
> Becomes a Federal matter now.*
>
> *Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
> That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
> The law is specific, the law is precise.
> Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. *
>
> *For praying in a public hall
> Might offend someone with no faith at all.
> In silence alone we must meditate,
> God's name is prohibited by the state.*
>
> *We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
> And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
> They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
> To quote the Good Book makes me liable.*
>
> *We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
> And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
> It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
> We're taught that such 'judgments' do not
> belong.*
>
> *We can get our condoms and birth controls,
> Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
> But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
> No word of God must reach this crowd. *
>
> *It's scary here I must confess,
> When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
> So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
> Should I be shot; My soul please take!
> Amen*
>
> *If you aren't ashamed to do this,
> Please pass this on. **
> **Jesus said,
> 'If you are ashamed of me,
> I will be ashamed of you before my Father.'

Friday, February 20, 2009

Sportsmanship- A Sea Of Blue UK Site

Rivals.com Home | Network Index | High School | Mobile | Video | Radio RSS | Subscribe | Shop






February 18, 2009


Associated Press


Talk about it in the Message Boards
The coach never considered any other option.
It didn't matter that his DeKalb, Ill., High School basketball team had ridden a bus two and a half hours to get to Milwaukee, then waited another hour past game time to play. Didn't matter that the game was close, or that this was a chance to beat a big city team.



Johntel Franklin scored 10 points in the game following the loss of his mother.
Something else was on Dave Rohlman's mind when he asked for a volunteer to shoot two free throws awarded his team on a technical foul in the second quarter. His senior captain raised his hand, ready to go to the line as he had many times before.

Only this time it was different.

"You realize you're going to miss them, don't you?" Rohlman said.

Darius McNeal nodded his head. He understood what had to be done.

It was a Saturday night in February, and the Barbs were playing a non-conference game on the road against Milwaukee Madison. It was the third meeting between the two schools, who were developing a friendly rivalry that spanned two states.

The teams planned to get together after the game and share some pizzas and soda. But the game itself almost never took place.

Hours earlier, the mother of Milwaukee Madison senior captain Johntel Franklin died at a local hospital. Carlitha Franklin had been in remission after a five-year fight with cervical cancer, but she began to hemorrhage that morning while Johntel was taking his college ACT exam.

Her son and several of his teammates were at the hospital late that afternoon when the decision was made to turn off the life-support system. Carlitha Franklin was just 39.

"She was young and they were real close," said Milwaukee coach Aaron Womack Jr., who was at the hospital. "He was very distraught and it happened so suddenly he didn't have time to grieve."

Womack was going to cancel the game, but Franklin told him he wanted the team to play. And play they did, even though the game started late and Milwaukee Madison dressed only eight players.

Early in the second quarter, Womack saw someone out of the corner of his eye. It was Franklin, who came there directly from the hospital to root his teammates on.

The Knights had possession, so Womack called a time out. His players went over and hugged their grieving teammate. Fans came out of the stands to do the same.

"We got back to playing the game and I asked if he wanted to come and sit on the bench," Womack said during a telephone interview.

"No," Franklin replied. "I want to play."

There was just one problem. Since Franklin wasn't on the pre-game roster, putting him in meant drawing a technical foul that would give DeKalb two free throws.

Though it was a tight game, Womack was willing to give up the two points. It was more important to help his senior guard and co-captain deal with his grief by playing.

Over on the other bench, though, Rohlman wasn't so willing to take them. He told the referees to forget the technical and just let Franklin play.

"I could hear them arguing for five to seven minutes, saying, `We're not taking it, we're not taking it," Womack said. "The refs told them, no, that's the rule. You have to take them."

That's when Rohlman asked for volunteers, and McNeal's hand went up.

He went alone to the free throw line, dribbled the ball a couple of times, and looked at the rim.

His first attempt went about two feet, bouncing a couple of times as it rolled toward the end line. The second barely left his hand.

It didn't take long for the Milwaukee players to figure out what was going on.

They stood and turned toward the DeKalb bench and started applauding the gesture of sportsmanship. Soon, so did everybody in the stands.

"I did it for the guy who lost his mom," McNeal told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It was the right thing to do."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night.
? Dave Rohlman, head coach of the opposing DeKalb team on what his players will take away from this experience.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Franklin would go on to score 10 points, and Milwaukee Madison broke open the game in the second half to win 62-47. Afterward, the teams went out for pizza, two players from each team sharing each pie.
Franklin stopped by briefly, thankful that his team was there for him.

"I got kind of emotional but it helped a lot just to play," he said. "I felt like I had a lot of support out there."

Carlitha Franklin's funeral was last Friday, and the school turned out for her and her son. Cheerleaders came in uniform, and everyone from the principal and teachers to Johntel's classmates were there.

"Even the cooks from school showed up," Womack said. "It lets you know what kind of kid he is."

Basketball is a second sport for the 18-year-old Franklin, who says he has had some scholarship nibbles and plans to play football in college. He just has a few games left for the Knights, who are 6-11 and got beat 71-36 Tuesday night by Milwaukee Hamilton.

It hasn't been the greatest season for the team, but they have stuck together through a lot of adversity.

"We maybe don't have the best basketball players in the world but they go to class and take care of business," Womack said. "We have a losing record but there's life lessons going on, good ones."

None so good, though, as the moment a team and a player decided there were more important things than winning and having good stats.

Yes, DeKalb would go home with a loss. But it was a trip they'll never forget.

"This is something our kids will hold for a lifetime," Rohlman said. "They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night."

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Common Sense Management- Dick Klitch story



I am proud to be friend of Dick Klitch's. We had breakfast this morning in Worthington. Dick related an interesting story to me this morning, as he has many others during our meetings.

Dick has managed many indoor and outdoor tennis sites in Huntington W.V. And Columbus and has performed clinics in FL. Portsmouth, New England, and in Portsmouth OH, our home town.

Dick kept all of the schedules of those taking lessons from his group of fourteen tennis pros, including himself. In arranging and doing repeated rearranging of schedules, it became evident to him that some of the pros were "stealing" clients from some of the other pros.

Dick called a meeting and posed the problem to the group of pros. "What can we do about this?, he inquired. Silence and a little squirming in the seats. Dick banged his gavel sharply so that all would notice. "With no other suggestions, I have made my decision. When it becomes necessary to rearrange the schedule, I will place the student under the pro of their choice, who will procede to teach the client. You will do the teaching; however, I will get the fee."

Noisy protests ensued. No other suggestions did.

Shortly the rearrangement was necessary again and Dick re-confronted the involved pro with the new policy. It was not a welcome thing. The client proceded to have the lesson, but shortly dropped out of the program. The pro complained to Mr. Klitch but received no sympathy.

Isn't it strange that common sense answers give results whether wanted or not.

I have great admiration for Dick's common sense solutions.

Wheat- E-mail from Sarah DuPuy Rapp

From:: Fw: Wheat













"Who will help me plant my wheat?" said the little red hen.
"Not I," said the cow.
"Not I," said the duck.

"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did. She planted her crop, and the wheat grew
very tall and ripened into golden grain.
"Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the duck..

"Out of my classification," said the pig.

"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.

"I'd lose my unemployment comp ensation," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did.

At last it came time to bake the bread.

"Who will help me bake the bread?" asked the little red hen.

"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.

"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.

"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.

"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen.

She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a
share. But the little red hen said, "No, I shall eat all five loaves."

"Excess profits!" cried the cow. (Nancy Pelosi)
"Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck. (Barbara Boxer)
"I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose. (Jesse Jackson)
The pig just grunted in disdain. (Ted Kennedy)
And they all painted 'Unfair!' picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.

Then the farmer (Obama) came. He said to the little red hen, "You must not be so greedy."
"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.
"Exactly," said Barack the farmer. "That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the
barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must
divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle."



And, they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, for now
I truly understand."

But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the 'party' and
got her bread free. And all the Democrats smiled. 'Fairness' had been established.

Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared...so long as there was free bread that 'the
rich' were paying for..

EPILOGUE

Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs.

Hillary got $8 million for hers.

That's $20 million for the memories from two people, who for eight years repeatedly testified, under oath, that they
couldn't remember anything.

IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT????

A cultural highlight- Jack Plymale e-mail

Subject:* Only a farm kid.

A rancher got into his pickup and drove to a neighboring ranch and knocked
at the door. A young boy, about 9, opened the door.

"Is yer Dad home?" the rancher asked.

"No sir, he ain't," the boy replied. "He went into town."

"Well," said the rancher, "Is yer Mother here?"

"No, sir, she ain't here neither. She went into town with Dad."

"How about your brother, Howard? Is he here?"

"No sir, He went with Mom and Dad."

The rancher stood there for a few minutes, shifting from one foot to the
other and mumbling to himself.

"Is there anything I can do fer ya?" the boy asked politely. "I know where
all the tools are, if you want to borry one. Or maybe I could take a message
fer Dad."

"Well," said the rancher uncomfortably, "I really wanted to talk to yer Dad.
It's about your brother Howard getting my daughter, Pearly Mae, pregnant."

The boy considered for a moment. "You would have to talk to Pa about that,"
he finally conceded. "If it helps you any, I know that Pa charges $500 for
the bull and $50 for the hog, but I really don't know how much he gets fer
Howard."





--
Jack P.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Replacing Michelle- Judi Cole e-mail

And there are those among us who trust this couple? Politics is profitable tho those who truly believe.


----- Original Message -----

From: judith Cole

Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 6:17 PM

Subject: REPLACING MICHELLE!











Replacing Michelle



At the top right hand corner of Page 17 of the New York Post of
January

24th, 2009, was a short column entitled "Replacing Michelle" in
the

National Review "The Week" column. Here it is, word for word, as
it appeared

two days ago......



'Some employees are simply irreplaceable. Take Michelle Obama:
The

University of Chicago Medical center hired her in 2002 to run
"programs for

community relations, neighborhood outreach, volunteer
recruitment, staff

diversity and minority contracting."



In 2005 the hospital raised her salary from $120,000 to $317,000
- nearly

twice what her husband made as a Senator.



Oh did we mention that her husband had just become a US Senator?
He sure

had. Requested a $1 Million earmark for the UC Medical Center,
in fact.



Way to network Michelle!



But now that Mrs Obama has resigned, the hospital says her
position will

remain unfilled. How can that be, if the work she did was vital
enough to be

worth $317,000?



We can think of only one explanation: Senator Roland Burris's
wife wasn't

interested.



---The Editors of National
Review, writing in the Magazine's Feb 9 issue.'

An Open Letter to Congress- John Massey e-mail

An Open Letter to the Congress
and the President of the United States
For the last 35 years, educators and analysts at The Heritage Foundation have been intimately involved in the nation’s great public policy debates. In all that time, we have never encountered legislation with such far-reaching and revolutionary policy implications as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act currently before Congress. And never have we seen a bill more cloaked in secrecy or more withdrawn from open public exposure and honest debate.
In addition to being the single most expensive bill ever proposed, this measure calls for a massive expansion of the federal government’s reach into the day-to-day life of virtually every citizen, business and civic organization in the nation. That, in itself, should be the subject of an extensive public conversation and thoughtful debate. Instead, we have seen Congressional leaders schedule snap votes on a 1,434-page bill that no one—repeat, no one—has had a chance to read in its entirety, much less digest and deliberate.
This bill has been advertised as an economic stimulus bill—despite the fact that the Congressional Budget Office estimates it will actually weaken our nation's long-term economic growth. While the stimulative utility of the bill is, at best, questionable, it would unquestionably rewrite the social contract between the American people and their government. For example:

The bill reverses the bipartisan and highly successful welfare reforms of 1996 and drastically expands the welfare state. For instance, it will start rewarding states for adding people to their welfare rolls, rather than for helping them find gainful employment. And contrary to long-established practice, it will entitle able-bodied adults without children to receive cash assistance.

It does extreme violence to the concept of federalism—bailing out states that have spent irresponsibly at the expense of taxpayers in states that have been fiscally prudent.

It greatly shifts the responsibility and power over health care delivery and decision making from individuals to government. Among other things, it would create a new federal health board to decide which medical services are “effective” in America, paving the way for government effectively to overrule the clinical decisions of private physicians.

It deliberately censors religious speech and worship on school campuses by prohibiting use of any “stimulus” funds for facilities that are used for sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school of divinity.
The list goes on. These and similar provisions will mean fundamental changes in our society. In many instances, the bill would establish policies that directly challenge widely held American values.
We are appalled that Congress is even contemplating such profound changes with so little openness and due diligence. In the past, major policy changes in our welfare system, or health care, or trade policies, etc., were always, quite properly, preceded by extensive public conversation and full debate. That is how a democracy should make important decisions.
The failure of Congress and the Administration to allow that debate is damaging to our democracy. Both chambers of Congress suspended their budget rules to push it along. And both the President and the leaders of the House and Senate have violated their solemn promises that the bill would be available for several days of public review prior to voting, so that the American people might have a chance to learn what is in the bill and to make their views known to their elected officials.
This reckless approach to governance can only undermine public faith in our elected officials and our government as a whole. We call on Congress and the Administration to live up to their promises and stated ideals, and give the democratic process a chance to work.

Sincerely,

Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D.
President
The Heritage Foundation

Wall Street Letter of Outrage- Judi cole e-mail

----- Original Message -----
From: judith Cole
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 6:24 PM
Subject: wall street letter of outrage










Wall Street letter of Outrage MUST READ!!!



(If you didn't see this, she really hits the nail on the head. I hope everyone reads this and realizes just how socialist this country is becoming. Like Alisa we should all be outraged).


This letter was sent to the Wall Street Journal on August 8, 2008 by Alisa Wilson, Ph.D. Of Beverly Hills , CA . in response to the Wall Street Journal article titled "Where's The Outrage?" that appeared July 31,2008.


Really. I can tell you where the outrage is. The outrage is here, in this middle-aged, well-educated, upper-middle class woman. The outrage is here, but I have no representation, no voice. The outrage is here, but no one is listening for who am I?

I am not a billionaire like George Soros that can fund an entire political movement.

I am not a celebrity like Barbra Streisand that can garner the attention of the press to promote political candidates.

I am not a film maker like Michael Moore or Al Gore that can deliver misleading movies to the public.

The outrage is here, but unlike those with money or power, I don't know how to reach those who feel similarly in order to effect change.

Why am I outraged? I am outraged that my country, the United States of America , is in a state of moral and ethical decline. There is no right or wrong anymore, just what's fair.

Is it fair that millions of Americans who overreached and borrowed more than they could afford are now being bailed out by the government and lending institutions to stave off foreclosure? Why shouldn't these people be made to pay the consequences for their poor judgment?

When my husband and I purchased our home, we were careful to purchase only what we could afford. Believe me, there are much larger, much nicer homes that I would have loved to have purchased. But, taking responsibility for my behavior and my life, I went with the house that we could afford, not the house that we could not afford. The notion of personal responsibility has all but died in our country.

I am outraged, that the country that welcomed my mother as an immigrant from Hitler's Nazi Germany and required that she and her family learn English now allows itself to be overrun with illegal immigrants and worse, caters to those illegal immigrants.

I am outraged that my hard-earned taxes help support those here illegally. That the Los Angeles Public School District is in such disarray that I felt it incumbent to send my child to private school, that every time I go to the ATM, I see "do you want to continue in English or Spanish?", that every time I call the bank, the phone company , or similar business, I hear "press 1 for English or press 2 for Spanish". WHY? This is America , our common language is English and attempts to promote a bi- or multi-lingual society are sure to fail and to marginalize those who cannot communicate in English.

I am outraged at our country's weakness in the face of new threats on American traditions from Muslims. Just this week, Tyson's Food negotiated with its union to permit Muslims to have Eid-al-Fitr as a holiday instead of Labor Day. What am I missing? Yes, there is a large Somali Muslim population working at the Tyson's plant in Tennessee . Tennessee , last I checked, is still part of the United States . If Muslims want to live and work here they should be required to live and work by our American Laws and not impose their will on our long history.

In the same week, Random House announced that they had indefinitely delayed the publication of The Jewel of Medina, by Sherry Jones, a book about the life of Mohammed's wife, Aisha due to fear of retribution and violence by Muslims. When did we become a nation ruled by fear of what other immigrant groups want? It makes me so sad to see large corporations cave rather than stand proudly on the principles that built this country.

I am outraged because appeasement has never worked as a political policy, yet appeasing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is exactly what we are trying to do. An excellent article, also published recently in the Wall Street Journal, went through over 20 years of history and why talking with Iran has been and will continue to be ineffective. Yet talk, with a madman no less, we continue to do. Have we so lost our moral compass and its ability to detect evil that we will not go in and destroy Iran's nuclear program? Would we rather wait for another Holocaust for the Jews - one which they would be unlikely to survive? When does it end?

As if the battle for good and evil isn't enough, now come the Environmentalists who are so afraid of global warming that they want to put a Bag tax on grocery bags in California; to eliminate Mylar balloons; to establish something as insidious as the recycle police in San Francisco. I do my share for the environment: I recycle, I use water wisely, I installed an energy efficient air conditioning unit.
But when and where does the lunacy stop?Ahmadinejad wants to wipe Israel off the map, the California economy is being overrun by illegal immigrants, and the United States of America no longer knows right from wrong, good from evil. So what does California do? Tax grocery bags.

So, America , although I can tell you where the outrage is, this one middle-aged, well-educated, upper middle class woman is powerless to do anything about it. I don't even feel like my vote counts because I am so outnumbered by those who disagree with me.

Alisa Wilson, Ph.D.
Beverly Hills , California



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Lasting Impression and Almost Last One- Sam

My dear wife, Jeanie, did not remember this true happening, but she enjoyed it this morning and highly recommends it:





Lasting Impression and Almost last One


Sam Kegley


I am 76 and the incident I am writing about is probably two years old. Jeanie and I are grandparents to three granddaughters and two step-grandsons (now nine to fourteen years of age). That we grandparents love them all is a fact of which we proudly enjoy and even boast.

We wish to quietly appreciate their enjoyments and accomplishments. We find many such occurrences in observing their young lives.

We joined daughter-in-law, Terri, and our granddaughters’s Tobey and Ida Scout (son Jay’s) at their pool on that day. It was a lovely summer day and the girls were running, sliding, splashing, and having an over all wonderful time in the water, on the diving boards, and on the giant slide.

Both girls have had many swimming and diving lessons in local pools, at Ohio
State University, and at Upper Arlington High School.

While observing, Grandpa Sam harkens back to my younger days. My good friend in Dayton, Ronnie Walters, reminded me recently that he and I had swum across the Terrace Club pool there 159 times without stopping. The pool was approximately sixty feet across, as I remember. I was then thirteen and he was twelve. We each believed that we could swim across any ocean then.

We spent countless hours at the Terrace Club and swam and dived many of those hours in the tremendously appreciated Portsmouth pool. At any rate I believed that I was moderately good at swimming and diving, although my diving repertoire included only a jack-knife and a swan dive.

I would often remind the girls to keep their legs together and their toes pointed for smooth, splash-free entry into the water.

Both girls were already experienced in going off the spring boards and the ten foot high diving board. Maybe they were nearing, but not yet achieving the perfectly together limbs with pointed toes and splash-free entry. Tobey since has done so. Certainly I remembered that I had often done that.

So, it becomes break time at the Hastings pool. Only adults are allowed into the water for the youngsters’ ten minute safety break.. The girls have gathered under an umbrella with mommy and grandma far across the pool, and I am up on the board, ready to enjoy another perfect dive, which I hadn’t done for a long while. I honestly tried to be inconspicuous, but wanted to get Tobey’s and Ida Scout’s attention. I yelled without being heard by them, but it probably drew the attention of many other than the two girls.

After a slight pause, in which many pool gatherers were wondering what that old fool was going to do up there, I wasn’t sure at all that my girls were watching, but here I go.

After one’s first dive from the high board, there is little to strike fear into the rookie diver. I was no rookie. I stood back on the board took a little run and jumped up for the spring to make myself soar up into the air, I would then tuck and touch my toes for a jack-knife, and finish by straightening out for the perfect entry.

It didn’t go quite that way for this demonstration.

I ran, jumped, and sprang upwards, but I neither soared, nor did I reach a grand apex, nor open out of the tuck for the smooth entry. My body opened quickly, the legs did not find each other and I don’t know how the toes pointed, but I entered more like the proverbial belly-smacker with a non-glorious splash. I thought that I would soon expire.

Ten foot times 250 pounds is 2500 foot- pounds of force.

I was only saved by the bell which permitted all younger swimmers to re-enter and enjoy the water. I slinked away and off into the crowd at the pool. Fortunately, my granddaughters didn’t see it, and I can still tell them toes pointed, legs together and smooth entry. I will never again attempt to demonstrate.

Grandpa’s words must be more illustrative than my actions anyway.

John Howard Message- Thanks Lou Flores and Google

John Howard was the second longest leader of Australia. He lost the election in November, 2007 (he was 68 and the succeeding Rudd, was 50. This is from the Southern Maryland political newspaper. The speech quoted here is attrbuted to Mr. Howard.

Politics Democrat, Republican, Independent. Liberal or conservative. We're talking politics here!


Member Since: Dec 2006
Location: Fort Washington, MD
Posts: 7,287 Prime Minister John Howard - Australia

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I got this in an Email, and I am not bothering to Vet it, it sounds good anyway:


Quote:
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.
Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: 'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist att acks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.'

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'
'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'
'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'
'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,
'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'
'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'


Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths.



Urban Legends Reference Pages: Muslims Out of Australia!


Quote:
The individual statements attributed to Australian government officials included in the e-mail reproduced at the head of this page are thus essentially accurate, but the selectively-quoted excerpts of controversial material from different news stories create the misleading overall impression that Australia enacted a formal policy to force some Muslim groups out of the country. The statements quoted were part of the public debate over an issue that flared briefly in the immediate aftermath of the London Tube bombings, then quietly subsided.

__________________
If You Kill Enough of Them, They Will Stop Fighting .... Curtis LeMay, US Air Force

People Should Not Be Afraid of Their Governments. Governments Should Be Afraid of Their People. -V

A patriot must be ready to defend his country against his government -- Edward Abbey.

Peace Is The Time It Takes to Reload Your Rifle - Bob Dylan 1984

Survival Blog






All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:17 AM.


-- somd.com Classic Style -- New Blue Contact Us - Southern Maryland Online - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top






Brought to you by Virtually Everything, Inc. ©1996-2008, All rights reserved.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Response to Memory e-mail- Ginny Marsh


This is a response to a memory laden e-mail about the things we were used to in our high school times. Ginny Looney Marsh loved that, but has a recent memory of HS kids crashing near their place in FLin their cars.

Sam, I love this. Something I thought about just yesterday. There has been
two terrible auto accidents happen on the four lane highway built outside of
our subdivision lately. One was last December, killing two young teenage
boys, from the same school nearby. Going east on this road. Hit a pole and
broke in two. Sunday after church as Eddie and I passed near that accident, we
noticed a group of people in the field. This was going west near that same
accident that happened in December. I said, look there's people taking
pictures and some of them are crying. Something must have happened. Well, we
found out Monday morning in the newspaper. Two young teenage girls were involved
in an accident. Their car came around the corner, hit a pole and broke into
flames. One girl died and the other is critical and in the hospital. Now,
here's what I'm thinking====this accident happened at 2:30 am Sunday morning.
The girls were not wearing seatbelts. They were 17 years old. When we
were teens, did our parents allow us out that late at night? Were we driving
our own cars while we were still in high school? Did we even have cars of our
own when we were 17? Have you driven by high schools lately and noticed all
the automobiles in the parking lot? I can't even remember if there was a
parking lot at Portsmouth High for teachers. The world is certainly different
today, and we still managed to get into some trouble. Though not as bad as it
is today.

By the way, those two girls went to the same school as those boys who died
in December.

Ginny


In a message dated 2/9/2009 7:31:33 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
skegley@columbus.rr.com writes:

Monday, February 9, 2009

Italian secret to a long marriage- Judi Cole

*ITALIAN SECRET TO A LONG MARRIAGE **

At Saint Rocco's Catholic Church they have a weekly husband's marriage
seminar. At the session last week, the Priest asked Luigi, who was
approaching his 50th wedding anniversary, to take a few minutes & share
some insight into how he had managed to stay married to the same woman
all these years.


Luigi replied to the assembled husbands, "Wella, I've a-tried to treat-a
her nicea, spenda da money on her, but besta of alla is that I tooka her to
Italy for the 25th anniversary!"


The Priest responded, "Luigi, you are an amazing inspiration to all the
husbands here! Please tell us what you are planning for your wife for your
50th anniversary."


Luigi proudly replied, "I'm agonna go get her!" *

Bad idea for Christians- Lou Flores

Keep it moving


The movie Corpus Christi is due to be released this June to August.

I detest the idea of the movie and I totally agree with the message below:.

Let's stand for what we believe in and stop the mockery of Jesus Christ our
Savior. Where do we stand as Christians? At the risk of a bit of
inconvenience, I'm forwarding this to all I think would appreciate it too.
Please help us prevent such offenses against our Lord. It will take you less
than 2 minutes! If you are not interested, and do not have the 2 Minutes it
will take to do this , please don't complain when God does not have time for
you, because He is far busier than we are.

A disgusting film set to appear in America later this year depicts Jesus and
his disciples as homosexuals! As a play, this has already been in theatres
for a while. It's called Corpus Christi ' which means 'The Christ Body.'
It's revolting mockery of our Lord. But we can make a difference. That's
why I am sending this e-mail to you. If you do send this around, we may be
able to prevent this film from showing in America and South Africa .

Hey, it's worth a shot! Apparently, some regions in Europe have already
banned the film. All we need is a lot of prayer and a lot of e-mail.
Remember, Jesus said 'Deny Me on earth and I'll deny you before my Father'.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

My mother taught me- Blaine Bierley

> 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
> "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.
>
> I just finished cleaning."
>
> 2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
> "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
>
> 3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
> "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle
> of next week!"
>
> 4. My mother taught me LOGIC .
> " Because I said so, that's why."
>
> 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
> "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not
> going to the store with me." well duh!
>
> 6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
> "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an
> accident ." (everyone learned that one)
>
> 7. My mother taught me IRONY.
> "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."
>
> 8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
> "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
>
> 9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM .
> "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
>
> 10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
> "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
>
> 11. My mother taught me about WEATHER .
> "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
>
> 12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
> "If I told you once, I've told you a million times: Don't
> exaggerate!"
>
> 13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .
> "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
>
> 14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
> "Stop acting like your father!"
>
> 15. My mother taught me about ENVY .
> "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who
> don't have wonderful parents like you do."
>
> 16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION .
> "Just wait until we get home."
>
> 17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
> "You are going to get it when you get home!"
>
> 18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE .
> "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck
> that way."
>
> 19. My mother taught me ESP.
> "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"
>
> 20. My mother taught me HUMOR .
> "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."
> (can I crawl to you then?)
> 21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
> "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
>
> 22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
> "You're just like your father."
>
> 23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS .
> "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
> 24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
> "When you get to be my age, you'll understand." (never happen)
> 25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE .
> "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.
> YIKES, IT CAME TRUE!!!!!!!!
>
>

Carmen Possum Poem- Jack Plymale

*Thanks a heap Sam. A little humor for you when you have the time( when
would that be). Pursuant to our little expedition into foriegn phrases and
dead languages the other day. A favorite poem of mine," Carmen Possum". I
don't know who wrote it but must have been an OSU guy.If you don't have a
copy of "Best Loved Poems Of The American People" you can probably find it
in Wikipedia. Long,farcical, but funny and a little bit nostalgic.*




Carmen Possum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Carmen Possum is a popular 80-line macaronic poem written in a mix of Latin and English. Its author is unknown, but given its theme and language it can be surmised that he or she was from the United States, and either a teacher or a student of Latin.

The poem takes off from a play of words in the title: possum means "I can" in Latin, and "opossum" in colloquial English. Thus, while carmen possum sounds like valid Latin, it only makes sense when translated as "The Opossum's Song".

The poem can be used as a pedagogical device for elementary Latin teaching. The language mix includes vocabulary, morphology (turnus) and grammar (trunkum longum).

Carmen Possum is also a musical piece by Normand Lockwood.


[edit] The poem
THE NOX was lit by lux of Luna,
And 'twas a nox most opportuna
To catch a possum or a coona;
For nix was scattered o'er this mundus,
A shallow nix, et non profundus.
On sic a nox with canis unus,
Two boys went out to hunt for coonus.
The corpus of this bonus canis
Was full as long as octo span is,
But brevior legs had canis never
Quam had hic dog; et bonus clever.
Some used to say, in stultum jocum
Quod a field was too small locum
For sic a dog to make a turnus
Circum self from stem to sternus.
Unis canis, duo puer,
Nunquam braver, nunquam truer,
Quam hoc trio nunquam fuit,
If there was I never knew it.
This bonus dog had one bad habit,
Amabat much to tree a rabbit,
Amabat plus to chase a rattus,
Amabat bene tree a cattus.
But on this nixy moonlight night
This old canis did just right.
Nunquam treed a starving rattus,
Nunquam chased a starving cattus,
But sucurrit on, intentus
On the track and on the scentus,
Till he trees a possum strongum,
In a hollow trunkum longum.
Loud he barked in horrid bellum,
Seemed on terra vehit pellum.
Quickly ran the duo puer
Mors of possum to secure.
Quam venerit, one began
To chop away like quisque man.
Soon the axe went through the truncum
Soon he hit it all kerchunkum;
Combat deepens, on ye braves!
Canis, pueri et staves
As his powers non longius carry,
Possum potest non pugnare.
On the nix his corpus lieth.
Down to Hades spirit flieth,
Joyful pueri, canis bonus,
Think him dead as any stonus.
Now they seek their pater's domo,
Feeling proud as any homo,
Knowing, certe, they will blossom
Into heroes, when with possum
They arrive, narrabunt story,
Plenus blood et plenior glory.
Pompey, David, Samson, Caesar,
Cyrus, Black Hawk, Shalmanezer!
Tell me where est now the gloria,
Where the honors of victoria?
Nunc a domum narrent story,
Plenus sanguine, tragic, gory.
Pater praiseth, likewise mater,
Wonders greatly younger frater.
Possum leave they on the mundus,
Go themselves to sleep profundus,
Somniunt possums slain in battle,
Strong as ursae, large as cattle.
When nox gives way to lux of morning,
Albam terram much adorning,
Up they jump to see the varmin,
Of the which this is the carmen.
Lo! possum est resurrectum!
Ecce pueri dejectum,
Ne relinquit back behind him,
Et the pueri never find him.
Cruel possum! bestia vilest,
How the pueros thou beguilest!
Pueri think non plus of Caesar,
Go ad Orcum, Shalmanezer,
Take your laurels, cum the honor,
Since ista possum is a goner!

Portsmouth trying for entrance into SOC- PDT

BlankPortsmouth proposes to join SOC
by John Stegeman, Interim Sports Editor
1 day 17 hrs ago | 253 views | 0 | 0 | |
By JOHN STEGEMAN

Interim Sports Editor

Representatives from Portsmouth and South Gallia high schools met with athletic directors from the Southern Ohio Conference at a league meeting Wednesday to propose admission into the league for all varsity sports.

For the Trojans, this is the fourth attempt to join the SOC, which includes all the high schools in Scioto County except Portsmouth, three Pike County schools, one Jackson County school and one Lawrence County school.

Portsmouth's last attempt to join was in 2001. This time around, Portsmouth and South Gallia are on a joint ticket, applying for admission together.

Portsmouth Athletic Director Joe Albrecht made the case for Portsmouth.

"We felt that we'd be honored to be in the SOC," Albrecht said. "We feel that our athletets compete against each other from an early age since we're (located) right in the middle of everyone.

"We feel that we could add to the competitive level," he added. "It would generate more income for all schools involved."

Some time ago, Portsmouth would have been the largest school in the conference. Now however, it would be the third largest behind Northwest and Waverly.

"We're not the same school, and nobody is, that we were 20 or 30 years ago," Albrecht said. "We would be the third largest enrollment in the league."

Portsmouth currently competes in the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League. In that league PHS is the smallest school and has to travel as many as three hours to reach some opponents.

South Gallia is currently independent but plays many SOC schools each year.

Albrecht said the meeting was very welcoming and listened to what both schools had to say.

"It's such a strong established league with rivalties already in place," Albrecht said. "It really means something, in talking with their coaches, to win an SOC championship in any sport... We dont have that same feeling in the SEOAL."

SOC Secretary-treasurer Dave Frantz explained what has to happen for any school to join the league.

"Before a new member school is admitted to the conference there must be a waiting period of two regular (monthly) meetings," he said. "Potential member schools may be admitted by a three-fourths positive vote of all votes cast."

Neither South Gallia or Portsmouth submitted suggestions for realignment of the league divisions but Frantz said that is something the league will have to discuss.

"There was discussion of how would we handle scheduling and would we need three or two divisions," Frantz said. "It was very unofficial brainstorming."

Frants said there will be one more meeting where the proposals are reviewed, and at the next meeting there will be a vote. For a three-fourths majority, if all 16 schools vote, 12 positive votes would be needed for admission.

"This is one of those deals where all the athletic directors will go back and talk with their superiors and get their heads togeter and decide what is best for the Southern Ohio Conference," he said. "Different schools have different policies. Ultimately the vote comes from the top. Different schools handle their voting different ways. Sometimes the superintendent makes the decision and sometimes the athletic director makes the decision."

South Gallia athletic director Jack James could not be reached for this story.

----- Original Message -----
From: Jack H Plymale
To: Sam Kegley
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 9:00 AM
Subject: Re: Portsmouth wanting in SOC League





On Sun, Feb 8, 2009 at 4:50 AM, Jack H Plymale wrote:

Looks like the final degradation. If that guy there in Portsmouth can get this done;he and his massive coaching staff may not have to work at all.Last year didn't give any evidence that they did anyway,If they get in this league they need to leave two open dates. One for aunt Nancy's girls school. The other for the little sisters of the poor.They shouldn't be any worse than 500 against them.




Sorry that this hurt you so much, Jack.

Portsmouth may sometimes have more athletic championships because not all good people are out of there. But defacto segregation has moved many to the suburbs of the once respectable city or even to far away places like Costa Rica.

It may hurt to see the County League schools on the PHS schedule, but you find many of PHS"S athletic offspring on the rosters of these schools now.

As your football coach, Paul Walker, went on to become the dominant basketball coach in Ohio, if not all of HS basketball and the terrific Greater Ohio League (GOL), things are constantly changing. Portsmouth was respected in the league, but that kind of travel for the 100 mile and over distant competition, eventually made the scheduling difficult in bringing those calibre teams to P'Town.

Other factors, beyond me, brought the apparent future promise of Portsmouth down. The confluence of two rivers, the steel mill, the largest singly owned freight yards in the world, and a strong shoe industry slipped into history.

Even the Detroit Lions suffered this year and that city is in a downward spiral. Our Portsmouth Spartans are hardly remembered except by old Torjan warhorses like yourself, Jim Fout, and Doc Yeagle. I found out this week that my cousin and friend, Don Barney passed away two years ago. Change. We are currently promised change on the national scene and I don't welcome the type that is coming.

I know you don't like to bring up the politics subject so I will stay away from that.

Your memories of our city on a hill, or beyond the flood wall, are great. Please continue sharing, especially thoughts of your beloved Mabert road, your parents, and your teammates.

Sam


Sam Sorry to hear about Don. He was a friend of mine also. He was an
excellent athlete also, especially basketball, but just didn't take to team
sports. Not real fast but plenty of courage. Sam, I just yesterday
finished " An Empire Of Wealth"by John Steele Gordon. You share an
understanding of the economy with him. His is just a bit more studied in
detail and a bit more extensive.If you have the time, I think you'd like the
book. By the way Sam, the Lions have suffered for years. They just rolled
over and died this year.

Heart and warm water- Clay vice- Agent extraordinaire!

Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water





This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.



For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack...

A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.

A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life.. So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.

I JUST DID

Saturday, February 7, 2009

The Invisible Mom- Pat Richards Whitehead

My mother, Mary Kegley, with her ten kids, was so invisible. God bless the wisdom of Charlotte's thoughtful friend in this message. Sam

The Invisible Mother......

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the
way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask
to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the
phone?' Obviously, not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking,
or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because
no one can see me at all.
I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands,
nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? & Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a
clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What
number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30,
please.'

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a
friend from England .

Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and
on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at
the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel
sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to
me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe .
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:
'

To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building
when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would
discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which
I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of
their names.
These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see
finished.
They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of
God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the
cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny
bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are
you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be
covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied,
'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was
almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte . I see
the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No
act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've
baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a
great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a
disease that is erasing my life.
It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the
antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one
of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to
work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could
ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to
sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend
she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in
the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for
three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean
I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want her to want to
come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to her friend, to
add, 'you're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're doing
it right.
And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at
what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by
the sacrifices of invisible women.


Great Job, MOM!
Hope this encourages you when the going gets tough as it sometimes does.
We never know what our finished products will turn out to be because of
our perseverance.

Stimulus Pork- Charles Krauthammer

The Fierce Urgency of Pork

By Charles Krauthammer
Friday, February 6, 2009; A17



"A failure to act, and act now, will turn crisis into a catastrophe."

-- President Obama, Feb. 4.



Catastrophe, mind you. So much for the president who in his inaugural address two weeks earlier declared "we have chosen hope over fear." Until, that is, you need fear to pass a bill.

And so much for the promise to banish the money changers and influence peddlers from the temple. An ostentatious executive order banning lobbyists was immediately followed by the nomination of at least a dozen current or former lobbyists to high position. Followed by a Treasury secretary who allegedly couldn't understand the payroll tax provisions in his 1040. Followed by Tom Daschle, who had to fall on his sword according to the new Washington rule that no Cabinet can have more than one tax delinquent.

The Daschle affair was more serious because his offense involved more than taxes. As Michael Kinsley once observed, in Washington the real scandal isn't what's illegal, but what's legal. Not paying taxes is one thing. But what made this case intolerable was the perfectly legal dealings that amassed Daschle $5.2 million in just two years.

He'd been getting $1 million per year from a law firm. But he's not a lawyer, nor a registered lobbyist. You don't get paid this kind of money to instruct partners on the Senate markup process. You get it for picking up the phone and peddling influence.

At least Tim Geithner, the tax-challenged Treasury secretary, had been working for years as a humble international civil servant earning non-stratospheric wages. Daschle, who had made another cool million a year (plus chauffeur and Caddy) for unspecified services to a pal's private equity firm, represented everything Obama said he'd come to Washington to upend.

And yet more damaging to Obama's image than all the hypocrisies in the appointment process is his signature bill: the stimulus package. He inexplicably delegated the writing to Nancy Pelosi and the barons of the House. The product, which inevitably carries Obama's name, was not just bad, not just flawed, but a legislative abomination.

It's not just pages and pages of special-interest tax breaks, giveaways and protections, one of which would set off a ruinous Smoot-Hawley trade war. It's not just the waste, such as the $88.6 million for new construction for Milwaukee Public Schools, which, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, have shrinking enrollment, 15 vacant schools and, quite logically, no plans for new construction.

It's the essential fraud of rushing through a bill in which the normal rules (committee hearings, finding revenue to pay for the programs) are suspended on the grounds that a national emergency requires an immediate job-creating stimulus -- and then throwing into it hundreds of billions that have nothing to do with stimulus, that Congress's own budget office says won't be spent until 2011 and beyond, and that are little more than the back-scratching, special-interest, lobby-driven parochialism that Obama came to Washington to abolish. He said.

Not just to abolish but to create something new -- a new politics where the moneyed pork-barreling and corrupt logrolling of the past would give way to a bottom-up, grass-roots participatory democracy. That is what made Obama so dazzling and new. Turns out the "fierce urgency of now" includes $150 million for livestock (and honeybee and farm-raised fish) insurance.

The Age of Obama begins with perhaps the greatest frenzy of old-politics influence peddling ever seen in Washington. By the time the stimulus bill reached the Senate, reports the Wall Street Journal, pharmaceutical and high-tech companies were lobbying furiously for a new plan to repatriate overseas profits that would yield major tax savings. California wine growers and Florida citrus producers were fighting to change a single phrase in one provision. Substituting "planted" for "ready to market" would mean a windfall garnered from a new "bonus depreciation" incentive.

After Obama's miraculous 2008 presidential campaign, it was clear that at some point the magical mystery tour would have to end. The nation would rub its eyes and begin to emerge from its reverie. The hallucinatory Obama would give way to the mere mortal. The great ethical transformations promised would be seen as a fairy tale that all presidents tell -- and that this president told better than anyone.

I thought the awakening would take six months. It took two and a half weeks.

letters@charleskrauthammer.com

Four Cats- Clay Vice Agent Extraordinaire!

Subject: four cats ((THIS IS SO TRUE LMAO!!))














The Four Cats

Four men were bragging about how smart their cats were.
The first man was an Engineer,
the second man was an Accountant,
the third man was a Chemist, and
the fourth man was a Government Employee.

< FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=maroon size=5>To show off, the Engineer called his cat, 'T-square, do your stuff.'

T-square pranced over to the desk, took out some paper and pen and promptly drew a circle, a square, and a triangle.

Everyone agreed that was pretty smart.
But the Accountant said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said,
'Spreadsheet, do your stuff.'

Spreadsheet went out to the kitchen and returned with a dozen cookies. He divided them into 4 equal piles of 3 cookies.
Everyone agreed that was good.

But the Chemist said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said, 'Measure, do your stuff.'

Measure got up, walked to the fridge, took out a quart of milk, got a 10 ounce glass from the cupboard and poured exactly 8 ounces without spilling a drop into the glass.

Everyone agreed that was pretty good.


Then the three men turned to the Government Employee and said, 'What can your cat do?'

The Government Employee called his cat and said, 'CoffeeBreak, do your stuff.'

CoffeeBreak jumped to his feet......







ate the cookies........
drank the milk.......
sh*t on the paper.......





screwed the other three cats.......

claimed he injured his back while doing so.......



filed a grievance report for unsafe working conditions........



put in for Workers Compensation................and
went home for the rest of the day on sick leave............









AND THAT, MY FRIEND IS WHY EVERYONE

WANTS TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT!!

Open Letter from the Boss- Sarah Rapp

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\Rapp photo.doc




A Boss Who Tells it Like it Is ...

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this
company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has
changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news
is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten
your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you
decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against
employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a
back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you
see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big
home at last years Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of
luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the back story.

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square
foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted
into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company,
which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went
back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective
transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on
weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was
married to my business - hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a
modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars
and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of
hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling
through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look
like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and
lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and
my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too,
will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at
about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for
me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to
yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this
company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend.
There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like
a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of
that garden - the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations ... you never
realize the back story and the sacrifices I've made.

Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right
decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't.
The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the
same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.

Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep
and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is
starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you
why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I
have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes.
Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on
taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess
what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and
regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my
time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for
quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy
who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000
people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting
at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check?
Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this
country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit
and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants
to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why
your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don't understand .. to stimulate the economy you
need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated
to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing
that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired
more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees
would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and
better salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate
and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or,
do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and
always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it.
Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are
the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be
further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this?

It's quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift
and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the
government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future.
Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire.
You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive
and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs
will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will
be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country,
steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever.
If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no
employees to worry about ...

Signed,
Your boss

Our faith is attacked in "Stimulous" Ramey Hoskins

I would like to be kinder and gentler, but this offends me!

The real Change in American politics. It isn't coming. It is here.

Wake up America!


Subject: Re: Fw: People of faith may be target of 'stimulus' package








The administration's economic stimulus bill needs a fix to avoid a courtroom confrontation.




Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law & Justice, tells OneNewsNow there is a provision of the act that actually allows for funds to be given by the federal government in the form of grants for renovation of existing colleges and universities.

"But when you read a little bit further into this legislation, there's a specific prohibition on two things," the attorney explains. "One, if the university itself is a religiously based or faith-based institution, it does not qualify. And if the facility that is being renovated allows religious worship to take place, it also does not qualify."

Specifically, the provision reads that stimulus funds may not be used for "modernization, renovation, or repair of facilities -- (i) used for sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school or department of divinity; or (ii) in which a substantial portion of the functions of the facilities are subsumed in a religious mission."



Under that provision, according to Sekulow, many schools would bar on-campus worship or even Bible study because it will put federal funding in jeopardy. That, he says, should raise a warning flag in a federal courthouse.

"It is unconstitutional -- and while I'm prepared to challenge it in court, and we're already working on a possibility, it really needs to be handled in the legislation," the ACLJ leader suggests. "That needs to be job one...remove this provision and get it out of the legislation."

Sekulow states that a "troubling pattern" is developing regarding the use of taxpayer money -- and that this provision is the latest example. He contrasts it with the new administration's swift move to make federal funds available for abortion-providers overseas.

"There is a priority problem in Washington," he says in a press release. "This is not what 'economic stimulus' is about. We know that the American people don't want their tax dollars used for discriminatory measures. That's why this provision must be removed now."

The attorney says if the discriminatory provision is not removed from the stimulus package and is approved and signed into law, the ACLJ will challenge it in federal court.



Stimulation of discrimination?
Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, agrees that the "anti-faith" language of the provision will censor and force people of faith from the public square.

"In order to receive stimulus money our public schools will have to expel after-school Bible clubs and weekend religious meetings," says the Christian attorney. "People who want to speak about their faith will be unwelcome in public places."

He adds that President Obama's idea of faith-based initiatives apparently is to "remove faith from all initiatives

Quote for the day- Les- e-mail

Well, I think the following quote is not only a quote for the day....but a
quote for our time.. Read it carefully and with thought....sorry to say - but
I believe it's dead on.






Subj: Quote for the day!
"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out
of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must
work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything
that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the
people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is
going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does
no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for,
that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth
by dividing it."


~~~ The late Dr. Adrian Rogers , 1931 to 2005 ~~~

Friday, February 6, 2009

One day a mother died... -Blog Agent Clay Vice

,One day a mother died.

And on that clear, cold morning,
in the warmth of her bedroom,
the daughter was struck with
the pain of learning that sometimes
there isn't any more.

No more hugs,
no more lucky moments to celebrate together,
no more phone calls just to chat,
No more 'just one minute'

Sometimes, what we care about the most goes away.
never to return before we can say good-bye,
Say 'I Love You.'

So while we have it . . it's best we love it . .
And care for it and fix it when it's broken
and take good care of it when it's sick.

This is true for marriage .... and friendships ..

And children with bad report cards;
And dogs with bad hips;
And aging parents and grandparents
We keep them because they are worth it,
Because we cherish them!

Some things we keep --
like a best friend who moved away
or a classmate we grew up with.
There are just some things that
make us happy, No matter what..

Life is important,
and so are the people we know
And so, we keep them close!

I received this from someone today
who thought I was a 'KEEPER'!

Then I sent It to the people
I Think of in the same way!

Now it's your turn to send this to all those people
who Are 'keepers' in your life!

Thank you very much for
being a special part of MY Life!

Be kinder than necessary,

For everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Don Barney- Cousin of the Kegleys

I thought of Don Barney, a cousin of the Kegleys- his mother Mabel was my dad, Forest Kegley's sister. Don played basketball for the Trojans and probably graduated in 1946 with my sister Joan.

I looked Don up on www.Switchboard.com and called what I thought could be his home in Plano, TX, just north of Dallas. I talked with his wife, the former Helen Burnette of Otway. Unfortunately, Don died a couple of years ago. His sisters, Wilma and Dorothy, have also passed away, Wilma just recently. Ruth is still living in CA. Unfortunately, Ruth (Poodle)is not so cognizant now in her eighties.

Helen was very nice to talk with and I left my blog address with her.

I am sorry that I hadn't recently thought about Don. I remember watching him score fifty points in a church league game in the old Trinity Church gym and it was something (he did a lot of cherry picking but it was still remarkable). Don's cousins on his dad, Ollie's side, were Bert and jack Barney.

So many have passed on now- my sister Joan, Bert and Jack, and we still think of things we should have done.

Audrey Hepburn said once:



Jeanie and I think Jay's and Terri's Tobey favors the beautiful Audrey Hepburn:

something Audrey Hepburn said once...

when asked to share her "beauty tips"
(it was read at her funeral years later):
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness...
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone... People,
even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed,
and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older,
you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

The Medicine You Need- Pat Richards Whitehead

Subject:The Medicine You Need
Prescribed by the Great Physician
*****************************
The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...

Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job lost everything he possessed
Peter denied Christ (3 times! )
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
Mary Magdalene was
the Samaritan woman who was divorced, more than once...
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...

AND
Lazarus was dead!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Women over forty- e-mail Blaine Bierley- Andy R.

> In case you missed it on 60 Minutes, this is what Andy Rooney
> thinks about women over 40:

> 60 Minutes Correspondent Andy Rooney (CBS)
>
> As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just
> a few reasons why:
>
> A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and
> ask, 'What are you thinking?' She doesn't care what you think.
>
> If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit
> around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and
> it's usually more interesting.
>
> Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match
> with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant.
> Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if
> they think they can get away with it.
>
> Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know
> what it's like to be unappreciated.
>
> Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins
> to a woman over 40.
>
> Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier
> than her younger counterpart.
>
> Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off
> if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one. You don't ever have
> to wonder where you stand with her.
>
> Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons.
> Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-
> coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in
> yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old
> waitress. Ladies, I apologize.
>
> For all those men who say, 'Why buy the cow when you can get the
> milk for free?Here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are
> against marriage.Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying
> an entire pig just to get a little sausage!
>
> Andy Rooney is a really smart guy!
>

Blog Definition

On Line Blog Definition
Google-Blog Definitionblog, short for web log, an online, regularly updated journal or newsletter that is readily accessible to the general public by virtue of being posted on a website.