Old Skills Lost Arts

 I used to be a pretty good welder.  USE TO BE!  I was once a certified welder in my early 20s.  Took the test.  Even worked in a welding shop in West Fargo for a while.

 

I enjoyed it a great deal.  Still do if I were to weld, which I seldom do any more.

 

Today I had to do some repairs on the old Snowblower.  It's snowing felines and canines.  Piece of cake repair, or should have been.

 

Snowblower 18 gauge metal.  Bracket I need to weld on: 10 gauge. 90 amps, 3/32nd 6013 rod, should work.  Vertical welds.  Not a problem.

 

I forgot the one thing I should have remembered.  You weld into the heavier metal and draw out the pool to the lighter never actually placing the arc on the lighter materials.  Welding 101.

 

I know that better after I blew a nice hole thru the 18 gauge.  Oh, I got it fixed, It'll hold.  It's not the prettiest weld I ever made. 

 

But, It's funny how you forget.  I would flunk that welding certification test today.  I don't have a welder, have to borrow the neighbors.  If I had one I would use it about as much as I do my skill saw.  Occasionally. 

 

I do love the look of molten metal thru the lens of a welding helmet.  It is a thing of beauty.

 

I have a metal sculpture I want to do made of old garden tools.  I've been putting it off for a long time.  It's time. 

 

Tomorrow, or maybe next week or in the spring.

 

Or next time the snowblower needs repair.

An excellent piece of MEAT??????

We have a very nice European food store in our area, BENDE'S.

It's a half hour drive from here. But, IF you are northern European it's the place to go. I am so I do.

One of the select items in the store is Smoked Pork Loin. Let me describe it. Very hard, sorta like shoe leather only harder. Salty. Smoky.

I have figured out how to make this product.

Ingredient list:

• SALT
• PORK LOIN
• SALT
• SALT
• SMOKE
• SALT

Based on taste tests the recipe goes as follows:

1. Take one lean pork loin. Insert in bushel of salt. leave there for a year.
2. Remove pork loin, smoke for another year in the smoke house.
3. Soak in highly concentrated saline solution for two years.
4. Smoke and dry down for a year in the smoke house.
5. When consistency of shoe leather remove from smoke house and add salt.
6. Serve with salt.

So, the ingredient list should read:

• Salt
• Salt
• Salt
• Salt
• Smoke
• Pork Loin
• Salt
• Smoke
• Salt

Slice thinly and eat. No need for refrigeration. It's salted.

Now, here's the really ugly part. IT'S FABULOUS. PEGGY AND I CAN'T GET ENOUGH.

My hypertension loves it too.

The actions of a loser like Ron Paul speak louder than words

I am not a fan of Ron Paul. He is a spoiler and a whiny baby. OK, well that might be over the top. He may not be a spoiler.

In any case, he has no place in the Presidential race except to attract some tinfoil hat types along with the KKK and Nazis for support.

Then he demonstrates his lack of class by this. To be clear, I like Mike Huckabee as a brother. I wish he could run. I don't know if he will. I will not vote for anyone based on Religion.

This story is so sad and the actions of a true loser:

Two former Republican legislators from Mike Huckabee 's home state are in Iowa this week criticizing Huckabee's record on immigration and taxes on trips paid for by Ron Paul, Huckabee's Republican presidential rival.

Paul's campaign said Thursday it was paying former Sen. Jim Holt and former Rep. Randy Minton about $5,000 each to go to Iowa for a series of radio interviews criticizing Huckabee's 10 1/2 years as Arkansas governor.

"We just want to make sure Iowans get the full picture of what Governor Huckabee did when he was in office," said Paul's campaign spokesman, Jesse Benton. "There hasn't been a whole lot of information going out to Iowans and we want to make sure they get the full picture."

To counter the criticism, Huckabee brought in a group of longtime Arkansas supporters to defend his record.

Holt, who ran unsuccessfully for Arkansas lieutenant governor last year, has tangled publicly with Huckabee over immigration. Huckabee, a Southern Baptist preacher, spoke out against Holt's proposal in 2005 to ban state services to illegal immigrants and said "I drink a different kind of Jesus juice."

That same year, Holt opposed Huckabee's unsuccessful effort to make children of illegal immigrants eligible for state-funded scholarships and in-state tuition to Arkansas colleges.

Holt, who said he hasn't settled on a candidate for president, said he was called by Paul's Iowa field director last week. He'll be in Iowa through Saturday.

Asked why he was contacted, Holt said in a telephone interview, "If you do a Google search, you can see the Jesus juice quote anywhere."

Holt has been talking about Huckabee's stances on immigration, and his record on taxes and spending.

"He campaigned in Arkansas to the right and governed to the left," Holt said.

Huckabee singled out Minton by name last month in a letter to Arkansas Republicans asking for their support and their help advocating on his behalf.

Huckabee has vaulted to the top of the Republican presidential field in Iowa, but still faces some skepticism among Republican lawmakers in his home state.

On Thursday, he relied on a group of longtime supporters to tout his conservative credentials in Iowa.

"We want to let you know that he is a strong, solid conservative and he has not changed," said Anne Britton, who heads the Arkansas chapter of the National Rifle Association. She argued that Huckabee has long backed gun rights.

Huckabee spokeswoman Alice Stewart said the supporters were brought in in anticipation of Holt and Minton's visit.

"It's unfortunate that people are resorting to those types of tactics," she said. "We're focusing on getting a positive Huckabee message out there and making sure people know about his record."

Benton said Paul does not plan to bring in additional surrogates to campaign against Huckabee or any other candidate.

As he's gained in the polls in Iowa and nationally, Huckabee has faced criticism from rivals Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson but not from Paul. In a debate in September, Huckabee and Paul sparred over U.S. involvement in Iraq. Paul has made a pullout of troops the centerpiece of his campaign.

"Even if we lose elections, we should not lose our honor," Huckabee told Paul during that debate in New Hampshire. "And that is more important than the Republican Party."

Well said Mike, Well said.

From Newsmax

Mockingbird - A Tribute

Ike and Tina Turner. Long ago and in an obscure then and then of the 50's Ike and Tina covered Charles and Inez Foxx's Mockingbird. It didn't get much play but it was fabulous. Some folks deny they ever recorded it. I heard it. So they did.

When they sang Mockingbird as I heard it for the first time as a very young man of 12 years old I couldn't believe how excellent it was.

Well, Ike just joined the big band in the sky.

He had problems mostly caused by drugs and alcohol.

Tina did OK without Ike but they were great together.

I wish they had never broken up. He was a rare talent and a pioneer in R&B. We owe much to them and to him.

Any recording of them doing Mockingbird seems to be lost to posterity. I looked hard.

Here's Charles and Inez Foxx doing the song (no video). If this don't give you goose bumps you are dead.

Here's a video James Taylor and Carly Simon in happier years doing the song. White People shouldn't sing this song.

The Chinese are Superior to You

Years ago when I traveled about teaching the Dale Carnegie Course in Human Relations and Public Speaking (I was better at one of those two attributes than the other) there was a concept we taught people that I am relearning all over again.

Mr. Carnegie said, "The Chinese are superior to you in that they speak Chinese and you don't".

It's the Biblical principle that we should not think better of ourselves than we ought. That we are no better than others, equal at the foot of the cross.

Now the reality is NONE of us can reach that standard. We all believe we are better than the other guy in some way. It's a human failing and no matter how much theological lipstick we put on that pig we all are convinced that whatever we are, who we are, what we believe is superior to everyone else.

I learned that most keenly living overseas. No matter what country I lived in I was assured by the residents there that they were superior to the USA.

Certainly true in Germany and Japan. They see themselves as far superior to you and me.

Brazil, Taiwan, Great Britain, France, people here see themselves as above you in many ways.

I have a friend in Nigeria who believes Nigerians are superior to Americans in many ways (Particularly Spiritually).

But the big shock was when I was working in Mexico City, the people there, even those in dire poverty would say to me, "Yes America has great wealth but we have freedom here. We're better than you are".

Every country's populace believes themselves superior the the USA.

This is most certainly true not only in the realm of nationalism but is true of our theologies.

The latest Mormon flap regarding Romney and Huckabee is illustrative as is the speech Romney gave where he talked of faith but not about his faith. He in essence inferred all faiths are important and equal but Mormonism is a little more equal than others.

Here is the dirty rotten truth, every religious expression considers itself the true faith and therefore superior to every other. If you think about it for half a second, of course they do. If I considered for a moment that some other expression was superior to the one I practice (in the words of Pricilla and Aquila to Apollos, A BETTER WAY) wouldn't I run towards that faith expression in a heartbeat? It would be hypocrisy for me to not if I were a seeker after God.

In that vein:

Lutherans consider themselves superior to Mormons

Mormons consider themselves superior to Lutherans

Catholics to Methodists

Methodists to Catholics

Pentecostals to Dutch Reformed

Dutch Reformed to Pentecostals

Bahia to Muslims

Muslims to Bahia

Atheists and Agnostics to Christians

Christians to Atheists and Agnostics

So whatever you are, whatever theological or a-theological base you operate from you can fill in these blanks:

_______________ are superior to_____________

No matter what you write in those two spaces it's true for you.

To be clear, this is not about tolerance or allowance for a difference of opinion in a civil way. This is about the natural attitude of superiority in a person's opinion or theology over another's. I say again, if you thought your theology, politics or opinion was not superior you would change it. That's why we proselytize.

If we didn't believe Christianity was superior as Christians we are awfully stupid sending millions of dollars overseas to missions. So we do.

I was in a recent flap with a man I respect that drives this post. I accused him of this natural proclivity and did it with all the Gentleness I am capable of, that being nearly none.

Both of us are convinced in our hearts of the Biblical correctness and superiority of our religious convictions and practices. We can both quote bushels of Chapter and Verse as Bible Bullets to hammer the other one into submission or anger. At the end of that confrontation it would be as Mr Carnegie said, "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still". I actually have that hanging on a plaque on the wall. I think I'll read it again.

This is a problem. One I won't solve here. This is true of all beliefs, political, philosophical, religious:

Democrats consider themselves superior to Republicans

Republicans to Democrats

Liberals to Conservatives

Conservatives to Liberals

Communists to Fascists

Fascists to Communists

Women to Men

Men to Women

So, if you think you are superior in theology, politics, National Origin, worldview or gender to others guess what,

YOU'RE NORMAL

So, what to do? Treat one another with respect and honor. That's the Biblical thing to do. Don't use arrogant pontification to trumpet the superiority you feel. Be careful of others opinions even if you think they are absolutely wrong, blind, misled, etc. I often find myself thinking of people who have a differing opinion from mine, "HOW IN THE WORLD CAN THEY EVEN THINK THAT'S TRUE".

I do this worse than almost any one else I know.

Except for you.

OOPS, there I go again.

Christmas Music

 We have a Direct TV sat dish.  Nothing special in programming over Dish except for God TV and several other Christian channels.  But, one thing we have discovered are the XM music channels. 

 

I'm hooked on channel 866.   That's a 24/7 classical Christmas music channel.  WOW. 

 

It plays day and night.  Many of my favorite opera stars sing these carols.  The choirs are fabulous.

 

What a wonderful service they provide.  On the local music stations that play Christmas Music little of it is sacred anymore.  I'm pretty tired of White Christmas and Santa Baby.  It's all political correctness.  We are robbed of hearing GOOD Christmas music on radio because we have to listen to crap that doesn't offend atheists.

 

But, Peggy and I are sitting here reading  (and Blogging) with wonderful music on the telly.  Wonderful stuff.

 

If you have such a dish try it, you'll like it.

Sweep in Heavenly Peas

I always liked that Christmas Carol.

She is so cute.

The TRUTH is OUT - Global Warmin Global Fraud

Yes, Virginia, there is Climate Change. It's just not your fault.

It never was.

Bali there was a big conference on global warming. The delegates used as much fuel and pollution generated as 20,000 autos to attend this concert. But the Caviar was good.

So enjoy the change as best you can. You didn't do it and you can't stop it.

So says THOUSANDS OF ACTUAL SCIENTISTS WHO DESCENDED ON THE CONFERENCE TO DECLARE THE WHOLE THIN A FRAUDULENT POWER GRAB.

Hospice Care for Church

Last Sunday in a Reformed Church (building). Not much Reformed Church going on any more.

We were meeting there.

When masses of Christians voting with their feet are finding hope in other Christian spiritual expressions could there be a potential for a problem to be resolved? Or just to let it die.

Trying to incrementally change the intransigent is folly. I too wish I could go back to that little white wood frame North Dakota Mo Synod Lutheran Church of 1954 that I remember and loved so well as a child. It's gone now and so are all the trappings of what was.

Much of what I see are people engaged in Hospice Care as the Church of former years dies a slow death. No one denies the inevitability of her passing, they just want her to be comfortable as the last gasps are taken.

Meanwhile, new birth is breaking out, it's different, it's alive, it's fresh and just a little strange. But it's real.

After the epithet is written for the past church the new life will bloom.

I only hope the new life doesn't become so pleased with it's past that it repeats the pattern once again.

I won't be here to see that, but I have hope they might not repeat the error of dwelling on former things.
Isaiah 43:18

God then says, "Behold I do a NEW THING" V19

If it's new to GOD it's new to YOU and ME. Why do we try to preserve the former things?

The National Intellegence Estimate is Wrong AGAIN

Two weeks before the Cuban Missie Crisis the NIE said:

"The USSR could derive considerable military advantage from the establishment of Soviet medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in Cuba, or from the establishment of a submarine base there. . . . Either development, however, would be incompatible with Soviet practice to date and with Soviet policy as we presently estimate it."

Special National Intelligence Estimate 85-3-62, Sept. 19, 1962

They were wrong then, and they are wrong now. In fact the NIE reports have been wrong a great deal.

You can read all about it here.

And the left rejoiced when they read this NIE. The right looked at it with suspicion. The left had a party. You can put away the paper hats now, Left. It's all male bovine excrement.

The Enemy from Mars

Last night LATE on TBS I watched a movie from 1998 called Mars Attacks. Jack Nicholson as President. Sort of a Clinton type. Glen Close as first lady. Martin Short as a George Stephenaopolis type.

Directed by Tim Burton. Supposed to be a comedy. I had seen it before. This time it was far less funny and more disturbing (as Burton's stuff often is) than not.

I was seeing the whole thing thru the eyes of the Islamofascist mindless attacks on Civilization. It bothered me.

These people coming from somewhere, another culture, another value system, looking at our economic and cultural system as corrupt and evil, coming and destroying everything. Pretending to make peace and then out of that huge murder. Then mindless destruction of everything.

There are lots of parallels in the movie. Some was just camp and silly. Tom Jones? There were salutes to other films. I saw all that.

What impressed me was the incompetent way we (western civilization) dealt with this. Not to crush them, but to believe in vain the attackers from mars could be negotiated with, talked to, persuaded and how that had no hope whatsoever.

That is exactly what I believe we are doing in dealing with islamofacism in the world. There is one snippet where the President of France calls Jack Nicholson and tells him he has come up with an agreement with the Martians. Nicholson at this point knows better and tells him to run. They murder everyone in the room. Great Fun EH?

Except, that's up until recently was the attitude of many in Europe toward the Muslim extremist threat. We'll be nice to them and they'll be nice to us. Ask the Netherlands, Ask Great Britain, Ask France, Ask Denmark.

There is no negotiation. There is no discussion. They are from Mars and they are here to kill us all.

So, what do we do? Start playing Eddie Arnold singing when I'm calling you on the Radio 24/7? That's how it was stopped in the movie.

We have no other plan that WILL work.

Two Comments wortth repeating

Regarding how the world looks better now than a year ago:

If things continue to improve in Iraq and we dodge the recession bullet aimed at us by the MSM (right now, 95% of all mortgages are being paid on time and 85% of all subprime mortgages are being paid on time), history may look back on Bush as a:

“Brave visionary with the conviction to stay the course and win despite calls from a failed Democratic Congress to surrender to terror...”

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid will go down in history as the two most anemic, worthless and weak leaders in the history of the Congress.

George Bush may have his failings (first of which is an inability to market his own successes), but he has been a fearless stalwart against the radical islamist storm, and for that I praise him.

Bush Approval Rating above 50% by election time? Yes, possible and that means a Republican takes the White House and we win back the Congress too.

AND, a memory that made me choke up from RBB (Reality Based Bob)

When we were young, Santa brought our tree (and presents) after we went to bed Christmas Eve. It was great to go to bed without one Christmas item…save for the Christmas lights on the house, and wake up with an outrageous full blown Christmas scene that morning. My folks did such a great job hiding it all and who knows how late into the night they were up with the tree and assembling all the toys. It was magic.

We still do that today. My sister, brother and I go out to mom’s with the biggest tree we can find at 9pm Christmas eve. Our family home had 8’ ceilings so we would get an 8 or 9 foot tree. Trimming what we had to, to get the darn thing into the house. We have always gone to the same tree lot, going on 40 years now, and bargained with the same guy, Eddie. We’d get a 300 dollar tree for 50 bucks and a plate of fresh cookies. We’d load it onto my flat bed ourselves and off we’d go.

When Mom moved out to Leisure Village we were scared that the ceilings might be a wee bit shorter or the doors too narrow….BUT!!!!! Her smaller new place has an 11’ tall peak in the center of the living room. Any guess as to the height of our last 3 trees. They scrape the ceiling and probably go 8’ in diameter. My brother is the lighting technician, then Mom and Paula take over with the ornaments and finally I am the tinsel master extraordinaire…one strand at a time…one strand at a time… Our trees are the talk of the town.

It is magic. I love my family very much. I can’t wait for Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas everyone.

And to you Bob, Merry Christmas

New Study Explodes Human-Global Warming Story

As much of the U.S. is being blasted by vicious ice storms, a blockbuster report published in a prestigious scientific journal insists that the evidence shows that climate warming is both natural and unstoppable and that carbon dioxide (CO2) is not a pollutant.

Writing in the International Journal of Climatology of the Royal Meteorological Society, professor David H. Douglass (of the University of Rochester), professor John R. Christy (of the University of Alabama), Benjamin D. Pearson and professor S. Fred Singer (of the University of Virginia) report that observed patterns of temperature changes ("fingerprints") over the last 30 years disagree with what greenhouse models predict and can better be explained by natural factors, such as solar variability.

The conclusion is that climate change is "unstoppable" and cannot be affected or modified by controlling the emission of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, as is proposed in current legislation.

According to Dr. Douglass: “The observed pattern of warming, comparing surface and atmospheric temperature trends, does not show the characteristic fingerprint associated with greenhouse warming. The inescapable conclusion is that the human contribution is not significant and that observed increases in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases make only a negligible contribution to climate warming.”

One of his co-authors, Dr. John Christy, added: “Satellite data and independent balloon data agree that atmospheric warming trends do not exceed those of the surface. Greenhouse models, on the other hand, demand that atmospheric trend values be 2-3 times greater.

"We have good reason, therefore, to believe that current climate models greatly overestimate the effects of greenhouse gases. Satellite observations suggest that GH models ignore negative feedbacks, produced by clouds and by water vapor, that diminish the warming effects of carbon dioxide.”

And the third co-author, Dr. S. Fred Singer, said: “The current warming trend is simply part of a natural cycle of climate warming and cooling that has been seen in ice cores, deep-sea sediments, stalagmites, etc., and published in hundreds of papers in peer-reviewed journals.

"The mechanism for producing such cyclical climate changes is still under discussion; but they are most likely caused by variations in the solar wind and associated magnetic fields that affect the flux of cosmic rays incident on the earth’s atmosphere.

"In turn, such cosmic rays are believed to influence cloudiness and thereby control the amount of sunlight reaching the earth’s surface­ and thus the climate.

"Our research demonstrates that the ongoing rise of atmospheric CO2 has only a minor influence on climate change. We must conclude, therefore, that attempts to control CO2 emissions are ineffective and pointless — but very costly."

Newsmax

My Candidate for President of the USA............

I love my wife and we are happily married. Now, you must know, despite all rumors to the contrary she isn't perfect. Oh, in my eyes she is but I am also aware she has flaws that others might see.

That's the same with me. I'm not perfect by a long shot, I have flaws, but she loves me in spite of my gross imperfections.

Marriage is like that. Some would say she "Settled" for me. Others might say I "Settled" for her. The reality is neither of us did. We understood that perfection is the enemy of the good and even of excellence. There was an interesting "This I Believe" regarding the idea of settling. It was pretty good. I may not agree in full with the thesis, I do agree with the concept.

That's true in a job, that's true in a church, that's true in having friends. If you want perfection you will get neither excellent nor good. You'll just keep lurching from place to place wishing and hoping and eternally disappointed.

That's how I feel about political candidates. I will (as will all of us) ultimately have to settle for what the primary system (as flawed as it is) will provide to us to vote for in the general election.

If I could imagine a perfect candidate he or she would:

Understand and believe in confronting evil embodied in terrorists worldwide.

Not think that government and politics are the answer to everything, or even very much.

Not be moved about by every wind that blows around like global warming, energy Independence from corn alcohol but to trust the market more than man's politics.

Not give a rip what our "allies" around the world think. We are the free world's leaders, LET'S ACT LIKE IT! If Norway objects, OH WELL. We have the right, privilege and responsibility to maintain the Pax Americana as we see it until it's handed off to someone else. Who else is there globally who will take this on? I really don't care what people in countries who benefit from our Pax Americana as they snipe at the USA. If you don't like it move to Russia. They don't like it there either. I'm just a little ticked at people who live under the umbrella of peace we bought and paid for with American Blood and Tears whining about the fact that we continue to do our best to preserve the peace we purchased for them.

Understand we live in a world made up of people who will move around for economic purposes (Immigrants, legal and otherwise). That we need to get control on their presence among us by implementing a strong Guest worker ID card program. Then sanctioning employers who go against the grain on this, George Bush had this one right and I wish people understood it. Bush Hatred Disorder has kept good policy from being considered. Forget building a fence, it's stupid, expensive and mostly ineffective. Let's choke off the jobs and get people registered. Jobs will be filled, we'll just know who is filling them.

Have a strong military, make military a good option as a career. How can we have 30% unemployment in the inner city black community among males between the ages of 18-32 and have a military begging for recruits. Where's the disconnect?

Get guns back in the general population with good gun training. A society that refuses to understand that a well armed populace makes guys like the shooter invading a "Gun Free Zone" like the Omaha mall felt invincible for a little while because he knew even the guards didn't have guns. If he hadn't taken his own life how many could or would he have killed before anyone got to him? Or Virginia Tech. I guess those nutcases didn't read the signs that proclaimed these places to be gun free zones. I want any potential shooter to think that mall employee or that little old lady standing in line or as in Virginia every teacher has a loaded firearm and knows how to use it. It might just slow things down a little. At least in yesterday's shooting in Colorado Springs at New Life the guards were armed. Kudos on the woman that took him out. That's more than the security at the mall in Omaha or Virginia. My candidate would see to it more people had guns. People trained in how to use them.

The same thing goes for water boarding and other forms of "Interrogation". Even if we never actually used it I want our enemies to fear being captured and questioned by our military and intelligence agencies. I want them to fear what we might do to them. Real fear. It's the same reason we have nuclear weapons. I want our enemies to think we might just use them (again) - on them. And hoping we might not if they behave and cooperate with us. Big Stick and Speaking Softly still works. Nuclear disarmament and military ineptitude (which we demonstrated before the surge in Iraq) only emboldens international terroists who are kin to the Omaha mall and Virginia tech shooters. IF we ever declare the USA a "GUN FREE ZONE" we are toast.

On health care I want a candidate that understands the free enterprise system and recognizes that the mess Health care is in this country is because we do NOT have a free enterprise system. It's government, lawyerized and insurance controlled. We can do better getting the government out of the health care business. If we must have a safety net, make it for those who need it. But do it with money, not control. Need means we no longer rely on others to make decisions about the level of care we get. Insurance companies and the government does that now. In both cases both are usually wrong. AND Forcing me to buy overpriced insufficient insurance is no plan at all. We can have both but it must be at the local level. Nationalized health care is a political impossibility and in the long run only serves the politics of left wing nannystateism.

On personal freedom. I want a candidate who leaves me alone. Smoking bans are dumb. Gun bans are dumb. Music bans are dumb (rap). Religious bans are dumb. Seat belt laws are dumb. CAFE Standards for gas mileage are dumb. Formulations for gasoline in 20 different ways are dumb. Let me live my life. I'll make the decisions I want to . Nannyism is a slippery slope. Leave me alone. Don't tread on me. I'll figure it out.

On Life. I want a candidate who believes all life is precious. Who will not endorse or support the killing of innocent life no matter what. That is abortion and euthanasia. Life that took life must be dealt with, that's not innocent life, so support of a death penalty is in line with this opinon. I'm uncompromising in my antithesis for abortion and euthanasia and I want a candidate that feels as I do.

On Taxes. I want a candidate who's goal it is to eliminate the need for taxes. Here George Bush has failed. We spent too much. Eliminate whole government departments. The IRS, The education department, the USDA (we need a USDA like we need a USDCSA). That would be a department dedicated to the furtherance and preservation of convenience store operators. How silly can you get. I want a candidate who starts with a clean slate and says let's quit spending money and let's figure out another way to collect taxes we will need. Flat or fair tax, I don't care, let's just abolish the IRS and start over.

On Government. Less is more. I am drawn to candidates that believe that less government is better. Smaller. Simpler. Local. Regional. I'm against "Revenue Sharing". Revenue sharing is what got us a national 55mph speed limit on interstate highways. I'm against matching funds. I'm against the federal government sending money to anyone anywhere. There are always strings attached.

On education. Get government out of education. Not even a no child left behind. No public education system at all. Sell the schools to private enterprise. I want a candidate that supports and endorses sufficient vouchers for education, money the government pays directly to providers for educating kids. I want it such that if your school stinks you have options. Even home schoolers would be supported in this. If we could take our kids out of bad schools and put them supported in good schools at our choice we would have better schools. No mother of any child I have ever seen wants their kid to be a failure in life. If they have a chance to see their kid "Make it" they will. Support the kids in education who continue to prosper up thru the 14th grade. That's graduation day and cost free IF YOU STUDY. If you don't you can be flunked out by 10th grade and should be.

On Homosexuals in our society, I want a candidate that sees things in this regard as God sees it. Sin is sin. Homosexuality is an aberration. It is not an aberration that should not be supported or endorsed any more than an aberration to commit adultery, an aberration to steal, an aberration to lie, an aberration to murder. Those are aberrations people are born with and we don't endorse or support them. Why do we support it in our society at large? The person who is born with propensities to steal, kill, commit adultery or lie stays out of jail or difficulty by avoiding the behavior that would lead them into trouble. That's not true of Homosexuality. And, to be clear, this means no homosexual marriage either. If a person wants to enter into a contract with another we can't stop them. Let's just not call it marriage. Marriage is one woman and one man. One of each. I want my candidate to believe that.

On Religion. I want a wise candidate. Therefore I want a candidate who believes and acts within the foundational spiritual truths in the Bible. There are plenty. I want a candidate who prays. They all will anyway. I want a candidate who fears God because as the Bible says, "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom". Proverbs 1:7 And Job 28:28 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' " And, I want a wise President.

A candidate of my choosing would have a clear understanding that he in himself has no strength or wisdom whatsoever. He would know that all the education and knowledge in the world cannot substitute for wisdom that comes from God. Solomon needed it. Our next President will need it . I need it.

I do not equate moral purity with Godliness. If that were the case no one is Godly. If a person says he is without sin he's deceived. Any righteousness we have is filthy rags before God and a phony. When I see accusations of unrighteousness from either party I recall who the accuser is. When the voice of accusation comes as it did against Jesus I see it as so much Devil inspired blah blah blah.

I am not a perfect Christian, I am not a perfect man, and I recognize that in accepting a candidate to vote for I won't get the man or woman I wish I could have gotten. I then have to take my screen of qualifications and see which candidate most fits thru the screen. Like my marriage example I'll have to settle. The one that's closest to my desires I will vote for and so should you. I'm also not a cookie cutter conservative but I'm pretty conservative.

Now, looking at all that, which of the candidates most fit my profile.

I'll let you answer that for yourself.

Thanks to Friends

Friday night in meeting with a very mature prophet of God with several other friends he prophesied something over me that I was a bit surprised at.

He prophesied that I would come out of the shadows. That the influence God had intended for me was about to be released. That I would no longer be hidden.

I know if I don't mess it up it's true.

Then this afternoon I got a notice from Africa, from Olofunso my pastor friend that he had forwarded this prophetic encouragement to his whole network. That's lots of people worldwide.

That doesn't count the forwarding of forwards.

I'm glad others have been able to be part of what God is showing his prophets right now. It's exciting to hear from heaven and know it's for the greater body of Christ.

Thanks Dr O.