Mohammed Voodoo Doll

I am really sick and tired of Islamic fascists rioting all over the world over a few cartoons depicting Mohammed in some form or another. 

 

I won't even go into the sacrilege that goes on with Jesus and film and art.

My Christian freinds have thought about burning down a KFC if the DaVinci code is shown in our town.  But we won't.

 

It is so wrong to be killing and destroying when at the same time the people fomenting these riots are creating suicide bombers who kill little kids, behead Americans, and destroy innocent life every day.  No riots over that. 

 

I have come up with a solution.  I am going to propose to some entrepreneur out there to create a Mohammed Voodoo Doll.  A doll that looks like and is named Prophet Mohammed.  The business could be called, Graven Islamic Images, Inc. They could find likenesses of Mohammed on Google Images.  Sell these dolls on the internet for $10 each.  I'll buy a dozen.

 

I don't believe in Voodoo.  But I figure people that believe that a sure trip to heaven with mass quantities of virgins at the other end is strapping yourself into a Honda a blowing yourself, anyone that stupid probably believes in Voodoo. 

 

So, here's the deal Islamic nutcases, you blow up some little kids in Iraq, Mohammed gets a pin or two in the gut, you kill one of our men or women, Mohammed gets knifed, you behead one of ours, Mohammed loses his head and I'll think of some porky desecration to boot.

 

I'll need to buy a dozen at a time since I plan to destroy his image often.

 

And, oh by the way, you riot over this, it's a ham and Mohammed soufflé I'll feed to my dog.  He'll eat anything. 

 

It's time to call this what it is, global Islamic insanity. 

Burned up - Burned out

 I went to see a business associate and man I friend last night.  His life changed a couple weeks ago. 

 

His house burned and everything in it.

 

I have never had such an experience. I've had floods.  But not burning.

 

He is upbeat.  That's the kind of man he is.  Neighbors have taken him in.  They will rebuild.  Life is going on.

 

But, as he told me of starting over, a few issues he related shook me.  He has no clothes.  They were all burned. All his wife's clothes.  No shoes.  No suits.  No coats winter or otherwise.  Just the virtual shirt on his back and his wife's. 

 

They aren't broke.  They have insurance.  Insurance is paying for the restoration of life.  But I thought about my shoes.  I would miss some of them.  My passport.  My birth certificate.  My pictures.  My computer stuff. 

 

I guess Katrina was far away for me.  They lost everything too.  But, Burning out completely gave me a start.

 

I admire him.  I might whine a little more than he does.  On the other hand, he reports it's kinda freeing.  I mean all his stuff is gone.  Some was stuff he was happy to see go. 

 

There is an old saying, 3 moves are as good as a fire.  I have moved more than 3 times in 20 years.  But fire seems more permanent and less discretionary.  I don't think that saying is true anymore.

 

Hang in there Randy, you have friends.  I'm one of them.

Hearts of Hearts

Feb 14, Valentines Day. This is 43 of them that Peggy and I have spent as sweethearts. 

 

She's still my valentine.  I want the world to know.  But you already do if you read this at all.

 

This morning, after a fast, she took a Cholesterol test.  Before she called me with the results I knew what they were.  Having a prophetic gift is a burden sometimes.  Sometimes I would rather not.

 

Genetics are the problem.  I am out of shape and overweight and have the Cholesterol readings of an athlete.  She is trim but carries around DNA that is against her and is a few straws short of 280. 

 

It's not fair and it's not lifestyle. 

 

She's a tigress.  No statin drugs for her.  She will have to have it monitored.  She is scheduled to go back in a few months. She is determined to do this with lifestyle changes.  If she makes lifestyle changes I will have to as well. Couldn't hurt. 

 

But, I held her last night, thinking of the DNA that created who we are, and thought of a quote a friend of mine uses often, "You can't repent of your DNA". 

 

But maybe we can try.

Arrest That Opera

Last Night Peggy and I went to the Lyric Opera again.  Twice in one week. It was Das Rosenkavilier by Richard Strauss.  I had heard it on the radio broadcast from New York.  I had never seen it. 

 

I guess superlatives leave me a little short.  It was fabulous in every manifestation you can imagine. 

 

The music was sublime.  4 hours never went by so fast. I didn't fidget in my seat as I usually do.  I just sat entranced. 

 

The costuming extraordinary.  It was very 18th century Vienna.  Classical. but beautiful without being ostentatious.

 

The sets were why I love our Chicago Lyric Opera company.  Intricate, believable, clever.

 

And the singers.  I know why the "male lead" is a trouser role but a young tenor would do as well and maybe be a little funnier.  Susan Graham was and is a great actor and played the part of a man playing the part of a woman.

 

I loved it all.  I have always loved certain operas but this one was exceptional.  Listenening to it will never be the same.  I will see this again. 

 

BUT, don't you hate when there's a but?  There is one issue I wondered about. 

The story starts and ends with the conflict over an affair between a character of high Royalty (a Marshallin) of perhaps late 30's or early 40's.  She has a young lover.  Really young.  17 years young.

 

OK, I understand, this was 18th century.  Things were different.  But, today we are putting 30 something female teachers in jail for having sex with teenage boys.  Just like in this opera.   I know, opera is full of all kinds of weird sexual stuff.  Wagner is famous for it.  But, this poignant love triangle plays itself out and you find yourself for feeling sorry for the older woman who is losing her little boy sex object to a young woman he is going to marry. 

 

I'm not defending teachers who seduce their students.  I am saying, maybe it was ever thus.  Maybe we don't understand this whole woman man boy girl thing well.  Maybe men and women are different.  Maybe the whole attempt to level the playing field and attempt to make men and women the same is wrong. 

 

Just asking.

 

On the other hand, as I got home at 2 pm (the opera got over at nearly midnight) I was still floating and singing "Ohne Mich". 

 

See this opera if you ever get the chance.  It's Grand.

UBERSETZUNG WOERTERBUCH

One of the reasons for friction among liberals and conservatives is that we often don't even speak the same language. Words can take on a very different meaning when used by the other side, and so to help everyone sort it out, here is a quick list of words and their leftist meanings:

Freedom Fighter = jihadist holding aloft Danny Pearl's head.

Terrorist = anyone working in the Bush administration.

Freedom of Speech = liberals uttering nonsense.

Hate Speech = pointing out liberal nonsense.

Racist = fallback position when you have nothing else to argue.

Intolerant = actually believing that some things are wrong.

Economic Justice = gimme gimme gimme.

Spending Cuts = not as much government growth as we'd like.

Tax Cuts = the worst idea since anti-communism.

Torture = anything causing discomfort.

Mainstream = killing unborn children and men marrying men.

Nazi = anyone who disagrees with me.

Moderate = anyone to the right of Pol Pot and to the left of Hubert Humphrey.

Hero = Fidel Castro.

Enemy = Joe Lieberman.

Bipartisan = Democratic legislation.

Divisive = Republican legislation.

War on Terror = a fake war that unfortunately pummels us at the polls.

Social Security = insignificant problem that will go away on its own.

Welfare = Free ride for the rest of your life on the government... Woo hoo!

 

Abortion = Birth control... (And the government should pay for it.)

 

Stolen Election- any election won by a Republican

 

Moderate = Hillary Clinton...

 

Social Security = A wonderful retirement plan.

 

Jimmy Carter = Peace maker and Great President. (a great liberal delusion)

 

Liberal Media = Objective Reporting

 

Whistleblower = upstanding citizens who tattle on the Bush administration.

Leaker = dirty rats who try to expose liberal plots against Bush.

Perjury = A good idea if you can get away with it...

 

Progressive=Anything but.

 

HAT TIP TO KEN 

Deadeye Dick

So that you won't have to watch Leno, Letterman, or the Daly Show on comedy central here are the Jokes you will hear.  As you know Dick Cheney shot a friend with buckshot by accident while hunting quail.  He's ok.

 

So, here are some Obvious Jokes you will hear that if they tell them you must shut your TV off in disgust. I'm not funny and even I can crack these:

 

Anything Deadeye Dick

 

Having to do with a member of the Gang that couldn't Shoot Straight

 

Why doesn't Dick take ______________ Hunting.  Insert political nemesis name here.  Hillary, Soros, Carter. 

 

Dick should have gone to Iraq because______________.

 

Dick Cheney weapon of mass destruction.

 

The list is long and already tedious.  If you are a member of the joke writing team for any of the above mentioned shows, no joke here, nothing to see, try being just a little bit creative. 

 

They won't be.

 

Sigh.

True Believer or Truly Deceived

Someone is badly deceived. It might be you, it might be me. So, to clear this up I suggest you take this truth test and see who it really is.

Do you believe:

1. That OBL would not have bombed us again if we had done nothing whatsoever in response to the terrorist bombings of 9-11.

YES____

NO_____

2. That the strife in Europe with Muslims going on right now would have not have happened without the Iraq war.

YES____

NO_____

3. That the Islamic Fundamentalist Fascists would have backed down and played nice if we had done nothing after 9-11.

YES____

NO_____

4. That the country of Iran would not have pursued Nuclear Weapons had we not gone into Iraq or Afghanistan.

YES____

NO_____

5. That the bombings which happened in London would not have happened if we had not been in Iraq.

YES____

NO_____

6. That Iraq under Saddam would have been impotent and innocuous in the world if we had just let him alone.

YES____

NO_____

7. That the bombings in Bali, the execution slaying of Theo Van Gogh, the bombings of embassies in Saudi Arabia would not have happened if we would not have gone into Iraq.

YES____

NO_____

8. That the fact we are in Iraq and Afghanistan is no deterrence to the current crisis in potentially nuclear Iran.

YES____

NO_____

9. That if we leave Iran alone, leave and whistle in the dark that everything will work out just fine.

YES____

NO_____

10. That an independent free Iraq and Afghanistan is bad influence for the other middle eastern countries.

YES____

NO_____

11. That the fact there were snafus in prewar intelligence our presence in Iraq has worsened the world situation and it's all Bush's fault.

YES____

NO_____

Give yourself 5 points for every Yes answer and a Zero for every NO.

0-15: You are on solid intelectual ground. It's not pretty but you aren't decieved.

16-30: Good basic roots but you need to reflect a little more on the whole thing. There is hope. Watch more Fox News.

31-50: Too Much CNN and New York Times media influence. Try relaxing and openng your mind a little bit. It won't hurt. There may be hope of sanity for you.

55: Head firmly inserted in the Sand and other places. There's little hope for you. Give up. Read Alice in Wonderland. You are one of them.

Muslim 10 Commandments

According to this, God has given a new set of Commandments to the Muslim World.  I just thought I would pass them along.  Please don't come and firebomb my house Achmed.

2 Years Ago

February 8, 2004 a dear friend and influence on my life changed worlds stepping from Time into Eternity.  Pastor Dan Rothwell. 

I met him in 1976.  I was on a spiritual search.  A young girl that worked at KFGO radio at that time suggested I might find it interesting to attend a bible study he was holding on Wednesday nights.

 

I went to the building on 10th street and there was no one there.  All of a sudden this nice man introduced himself.  He had longish black hair, was kind and about my age.  I told him why I was there.  There was no Bible study that night but could I come back. I said I would, I didn't.  But I didn't forget how he treated me.

 

A few years later I was invited to a presentation the same church was putting on at the Fargo Convention Center.  It was good enough.  But there was a man I knew there as a carouser, a wild man, who was taking up the offering in Kentucky Fried Chicken buckets. 

 

I said Hi. So did he.  He worked in a car dealership.  A year later I was at a low point in my life, my marriage, my health.  I stopped at the dealership just to talk to this friend who had obviously gone thru a life change.  He told me what had happened.  I wanted that.  So he prayed for me.  I stepped out in faith.  I prayed to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.  I began going to the Church Dan Rothwell was pastor of.  I had never heard anything like that.  I had never seen anything like that.  I wanted what they had.  I wanted their freedom.

 

I began going to a prayer meeting that Pastor Dan conducted on Saturday Mornings.  This is months after I was prayed for in the car dealership.  I was enjoying this new fellowship but I wanted more.  I knew, there has to be more.

On my knees, all alone, without anyone around, in this prayer meeting the Spirit of God fell on me.  I began to speak in tongues and I was ruined forever. I'll never ever be the same.  I am so happy that in 1980 this all happened.  It is one of the most wonderful glorious things that ever happened to me.  I thank God every day for the fullness of His Spirit in me.

 

I became a member of that Church.  I became friends with Pastor Dan. I told him things about me I wasn't proud of.  Having been a Bible Scholar even before I became a believer we began a habit of discussing his sermons under preparation every week.  I would offer my 2 cents worth.  This became fun for both of us.  Iron sharpened iron.

 

Then I began teaching. I would watch what he did and then I did the same.  He was so influential in my life.  He was apostolic and didn't really understand it.  He was Prophetic in his consolation and didn't know it.  He was wise.  Very wise.  He didn't counsel like a Pastor.  He counseled like the wisdom of God.  And when he taught he could wring more truth out of a verse of scripture than anyone I had ever seen preach.  I wanted that anointing.

 

His influence was that of how to lead by example.  I never wanted to disappoint him.  For years I would have dreams where I would find myself awakened by fear that I had promised to do something for him and didn't.  He showed you could be bold and trust God.  He brought full blown Pentecost to life with balance.  We may not see his like again on this side of the veil.  I look forward to seeing him on the other side.  He would be 61 now.  He was 6 months older than me.  I met him when I was 30 and so was he.  New to Fargo. 

 

I no longer grieve. I just miss him.  I hope he would not be disappointed at what I have made of the investment he made in me.  I don't think he would be. 

 

Tomorrow morning I will teach the Book of Revelation with a mantle of anointing I can point back to a little Church in Fargo ND. 

 

God Bless Pastor Dan's family.  In a distant way I'm one of them.

Western Civilization will Survive and Prosper

TWO EVIDENCES:

 

NUMBER ONE: Last night I went to a Jr High school band concert.  I'll bet you are saying, better you than me.  You'd be wrong.  They were great.  Better than I remember our high school band 45 years ago.  They played Ellington, Gillespie, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and others.  It was excellent.  They were into it.  No rap groups (I don't dislike rap actually I just was heartened by this). 

 

NUMBER TWO: The ballroom dance craze in schools, on TV, on dance floors teaching and experiencing excellent dance by good dancers. 

These are both things the Islamic fundamentalist fascists will remove if they take over. This is western civilization.  This is worth fighting for. 

 

Western civilization is alive and well.  Long may it live.

 

 

A little Clarity Please

This week's King funeral caused a great deal of furor. I'm still angry about the behavior of some lowlifes.

So, I just want to be sure we all know what to do when it happens, and it will, someday a Kennedy or Carter will change worlds. When that happens if a person is allowed to speak at their funeral will the reverse be OK? I just want to be sure we know the rules. From the Anchoress:

So…if, let’s say, tomorrow Jimmy Carter dies (or Ted Kennedy, or any liberal) and there is the funeral…if some conservatives get up and use the occasion to criticize liberal dignitaries in attendance, that will be okay? Because, after all, Carter, or Kennedy, or whoever “were political people?” Is this really what you want, folks?

I mean, chances are highly unlikely it would happen - conservatives tend not to do that sort of stuff - but if it ever did happen - then what? If, let’s just say, someday we’re watching the fumeral of a former Democrat president, fer instance - and a conservative gets up and moves away from tribute and into politically charged speech…makes sneering remarks about 17% mortgage rates, or Iranian hostages, or bombing aspirin factories, or talking for years and years about WMD’s, or ignoring Rwanda, or lying under oath, or accessing FBI files, or whatever - that will be okay, right?

You won’t have a problem with it, because the funeral of a “political” person is now simply one more “political event,” right? And sometimes crassness is called for? Can even be touted as a virtue?

Well. If those are the new rules, don’t forget who made ‘em up.

I don't want to be part of those rules. What's good for the Goose is good for the Gander seems to apply here.

But, conservatives are too classy to act like those morons did at the funeral this week. The real name for the classless left is trailer trash, that's who they really are. No, that's too good. It insults both trailers and trash.

PS:
Jerry Springer's show was higher class then the left showed themselves to be at this funeral. Maybe that should be the new name for the left wing nuthouse. The Jerry Springer Party. Then the Democrats can regain their former good reputation and good name. It was a proud place at one time. It's been soiled.

On Teaching Religion in our Schools

I'’m a Christian. I want every person to know Jesus. There is an attempt to teach religion in our schools. I'’m against it. Religion is defined by the dictionary in part as: A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

It'’s religion that is being taught with unrestrained zeal and devotion that I am against. You know it's religion when:

• There is no empirical proof
• It requires faith to believe it
• It attempts to explain origins, events and creation
• It relies on ancient bits that are pieced together
• It says that all other beliefs are wrong
  

That religion is evolution. The "church of evolution" has taken it upon themselves to establish a state church against the tenets of the constitution. Is evolution a religion? Some educators have put together legislation to outlaw the teaching of anything other than evolution in the classrooms where origins are taught. This is establishing a state religion. This article appeared in a Madison Newspaper an excerpt of which appears below:

"Our children must be exposed to what science really is about and how the scientific enterprise functions, free of political or religious connotations," Berceau said at a news conference where she was flanked by Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, and University of Wisconsin-Madison professors. "It is designed to prevent the introduction of pseudo-science in the science classroom."

Under her plan, parents could file lawsuits if their children's science teachers went beyond the curriculum to teach non-science-based theories, she said. Berceau said philosophy or other courses could teach intelligent design or other religious-based theories.


They call intelligent design pseudo science. I won'’t call evolution pseudo religion.

I'’ll just call what it is: Religion! The priests of which are so evangelical they fear and hate anything that challenges them at any level.

Don'’t let this religion in your classrooms to the exclusion of any others.

This is a war for the hearts and minds of your children (and grandchildren) and the classroom is the battlefield.

Shameful Mr Peanut

I have spent the afternoon doing paperwork in front of the TV screen watching the funeral of Corretta Scott King’ in Eddie Long’s church building.

Much of it has been inspirational and uplifting. I thought President Bush’'s statement was eloquent and in the right nature appropriate to the moment. Several others were in line with the day.

President Clinton and the Future President Clinton were magnificent.

Then there was Jimmy Carter. How did he ever become President? This is the lowest I have ever seen him sink. I have never had a very high opinion of him but it went down lower today if that is at all possible. He is hopeless. I know he thinks he said something of meaning today. He only said mean and base things. Please Mr. Peanut, Go away. You’'re embarrassing.

Seeing him on the dais with the Presidents Bush 1 and 2 and Clinton 1 and 2 he looked very small. He didn't even shake the standing President's hand when he came to the podium after shaking all others on the podium. That was out of line. President Bartlet from West Wing would have cut him off at the knees. He would have deserved it. Carter is now (in the world of Gene) the worst President this country ever had and if he could be impeached post presidency I would vote for it.

I expected banality from Ted Kennedy. Some other unknown Reverends got up and said some inappropriate things. I don’'t know who they were and if we are lucky they will slink back into the holes they came from.

This was a funeral, like President Clinton said, “"This is about a woman"”. He chastised the politicizing of the event. If you ever wondered about the class or lack of it of the left wing in this country I advise you to watch this funeral in full. I hope the RNC keeps copies. It will shock and shame you.

But they know no shame. I'’m not shocked.

We are all Temps

I have a friend in NYC who calls himself a permanent Temp worker.  It's a joke.  I have another friend who after more than 30 years with a Fargo Radio station was unceremoniously fired on Friday of last week. 

 

I feel wounded.  I always admired his "Permanence".  30 years.  Wow. 

 

In that time I have owned/started a dozen different businesses.  Been hired and fired a half dozen times.  And had a church fold.

 

I'm the poster child for impermanence.  I'm not sad.  I've lived a great life.  I still do.  Sometimes my sweet wife would like to see me "settle down".  After over 60 years that's highly unlikely.

 

But, Larry's expulsion reinforces a truth I have always known.  Even when it looks permanent, nothing is permanent.  Permanence is an illusion.

 

I first became aware of this fact during the Vietnam War.  I was signing up when my Cousin Jim Lee came to visit.  I loved him.  He was my favorite person in all the world.  I asked him if he thought he would end up in Vietnam.  He said, there was no chance, it would take act of congress to place him there.  He was about to enjoy his military experience on this side of the pond.

 

In 5 months he was in Hanoi. 

 

I didn't join.  Only then did I come to the realization, permanence is an illusion.

 

So whatever you are doing right now.  It's not permanent.  You can and probably will be replaced, fired, go out of business, be demoted, be let go, kicked out the door or go belly up; or whatever euphemism meets your purpose.

 

We are all temporary employees in an impermanent word.  I enjoy being a temp.  Keeps my edge sharp.

 

Heck, even life isn't permanent.

In praise of Erroll Garner

We have this wonderful jazz program on Public Radio in Chicagoland with music from the 30's-60's.  (Buckley on Jazz) I have enjoyed it for over 30 years.  We often traveled with a group of friends while it played on the radio in the late 70's going to the Lakes for dinner at DeRox Supper Club when we lived in Fargo.

 

Today the featured artist was Erroll Garner.  It was so great to hear him again.  I only have one album (33 lp) from the 60's I bought after hearing him live in the old wooden festival hall building at NDSU.  It was not greatly attended but he played with gusto.  Hearing him groan along with the music, a syncopated left hand and a hammer interpretation with the right hand amazed me once again today. 

 

Hearing him play Ain't Misbehaivin' was worth the price of admission.

 

I think it's time I revisited the work of a truly great piano artist. 

Erroll Louis Garner, January 15, 1921 - January 21,1977.  Rest in peace.

 

Killing the Mockingbird

This is about accusation.  False and Real.

 

My wife and I have a fair bit to do with kids.  Lots of reasons. But we do.

 

There is a disturbing trend which is resulting in accusations. False and Real.

 

In schools "Don't Touch Me"  is code for I don't want to do what you are asking  to do and so I won't and there's nothing you can do about it. 

 

Inappropriate touching is wrong.  Sometimes if a kid (6-7-8 grade) is uncooperative and needs some physical direction (like out of the room) he/she cries rape.  Not rape exactly, Don't Touch Me.  It's not far separated in it's tone.

 

It puts fear in the hearts of teachers and workers in the school.  Every few months in the Chicagoland area there are episodes where a teacher or principle trying to keep order physically restrains a student.  And is sued.

 

Schools are a mess.  Public education should be outlawed.  That's another discussion.  I'm hopeful that public education will fall off the edge of the earth.

 

But, we have taught thin skinned accusing behavior to our kids and are reaping a whirlwind we didn't think was blowing.  Stranger Danger is good.  Don't take candy from the old man in the car.  Don't let anyone touch you inappropriately.  All good.

 

But Judge, Jury and Prosecutor is now in the hands of teens and sub teens.

 

Don't Touch Me now means I'll get my lawyer.  Or my rich parents will. 

 

Same thing applies to racial comments.  Someone calls someone a name and the long arm of the law comes out.  I'm not for calling anyone names but this doesn't need Barney Fife and his deputies involved. 

 

Don't Touch Me has gone too far.  It's the killing a mockingbird accusation that has neutered our schools, churches, caretakers and authorities.  We are reaping a whirlwind of sassy kids, disorder, lack of focus and a new generation who doesn't get it. 

 

I lived in fear that Mr. Schuske would kick the crap out of me if I sassed back in class.  If I had known he couldn't I would have sassed more.  Or worse.

Encountering the Borg

You know the Borg.  They have become the metaphor for nearly every kind of unified force for evil.  A mindless collective consciousness.

 

I have seen every Borg episode of Star Trek Next Gen several times.  I’m easily entertained. 

 

Tonight I encountered a member of the Borg Collective.  How do I know? 

 

First the Borg are oblivious to others around them. 

 

Second they did what they did without consideration for others. 

 

Third they were connected thru implants in their brain the Borg collective. 

 

Fourth they are rude as they pursue what they do.  If you get in their way they will walk over you.

 

I was at Quiznos.  I like their subs.  Toasted.  Wheat.

 

In walked a Borg.  He had a Bluetooth cranial implant.  He was talking to someone somewhere.  Loudly.  There were others in the shop.  He talked so we could all participate in his self-important conversation.  I think when you get the Borg Bluetooth implant it requires that you talk very loud at all times.  He did barely acknowledge the man from whom he ordered his sandwich.  He had his teenage son with him.  He didn’t acknowledge him either.  If a car had driven thru the window of the shop it wouldn’t have mattered.  What he was talking about was far more important.  Some big software deal. 

 

Borg are always tweaking the system.

 

He got his sandwich, got into his ship (I didn’t see if it was square) and lifted off.

 

Resistance in this case is NOT futile and I REFUSE to be assimilated. 

 

Evil Bluetooth Borg.

How I got here

I am not of "Germans from Russia" heritage.  Many people from the Dakotas are.  We were different.  Redlin's are Prussian.

 

Our Stambuch (Family Tree) goes back as far as 1271.  We were rooted originally in Estonia which at that time was a Germanic area.  We were Pastors, College Professors, Farmers, Shoemakers, and Crusaders.  We liked going to war.  Later when Martin Luther did his thing we were part of the peasant wars.  There are actually two little towns named REDLIN in Germany, one near the town of Wittenburg where Luther posted his 95 thesises, and one in protestant Mecklenburg Vorpommeran, Germany.  I have visted both of these places.

 

My people were pushed out of Pommerania (now Poland) after Kaiser Bill lost it.  Here's a picture of the Church my Great Great Great Grandfather was baptized and married in. 

 

They came to America on a boat in 1888.  They had been pushed off their land, moved to Schleiswig-Holstein in Northern Germany, and then to Iron Ridge Wisconsin and then to homestead in South Dakota north of Watertown.  I was born there 55 years later.  Remements of the old homestead sod house and all still stands kind of.

 

Germans from Russia were socialistic. ND Bank, State Mill and elevator. etc

They lived communally.  Voted NPL.  Were pacifists. That's why ND is considered to be one of the most socialist states in the union.  That's why is still screwed up today electing liberal representitives and voting for Bush.  ND doesn't know who it is.

 

We were never part of any commune, socialist movement, NPL, and we were supporters of the military. 

 

We are just a little different from other Germans in ND.  We were Fiecely Christian, Conservative, Independant, and just a little hard to get along with.

 

We still are.

 

 

A Recommendation from Gene's Bookclub

 A book you should read (but liberals won't):

 

Fred Barnes has written a little book.  It’s called Rebel in Chief.

 

It's an extension of what he wrote in 2004 right after Bush kicked Kerry's Butt.

 

Just reading exerpts I grasped why I and so many of my ilk are so slavishly loyal to George W Bush.  He represents the person we wish we would be if somehow they made us President (or King).

 

Some of the things he says about our magnificent President in this book are:

 

GWB plays by a different set of rules, he has a complete lack of interest in being loved by the Beltway establishment.

 

He operates his administration like a small occupying band of insurgents, an elected band of brothers and sisters on a mission.

 

He sees himself as an alien in the realm of the governing class having been given a green card by the voters. 51-48%.

 

He avoids being sucked into the Washington mindset and echo chamber.  He and Laura avoid the capital’s social whirl.  He goes to bed early (he ducked out of a dinner with India’s prime minister at 9:30am to go to bed).  He was up at 5:30am because, as he said, “I’ve got a lot to do”. 

 

He goes to Crawford Texas, to relax, not to the Kennedy center.

 

His emotional distance makes it easy for him to break some furniture sometimes.  In his first term metaphorically he busted up a whole living room.  He abrogated the missile defense treaty (Star Wars), He gave a really cold shoulder to Al Gore’s Kyoto treaty (thank the Lord), He insisted immediately that 9-11 was an act of war, he ignored the international community’s insistence that the path to peace in the middle east was negotiating with Yasser Arafat. 

 

He committed Washington’s cardinal sin of taking on Social Security, trying to do major reform.

 

And he cut taxes.

 

As a result his Rebel in Chief style has brought republicans to the mountaintop.  He initiated a political realignment that continues today.  He helped congressional republicans achieve a majority as well.

 

Clinton got what he strived for, Personal Popularity.  Bush is willing to surrender personal popularity to get what he seeks: a transformation of American Politicos that makes the Republican Party the majority party.

 

Bush talks about Jesus far less than Clinton did.  He doesn't wear his faith on his sleve like Clinton did.  He is deeply religious but private about it.  But his memorable quote is: Liberty is not America’s contribution to the world but is God’s gift to Mankind.

 

Somehow Bush is able to stand strong in the face of bad news:

The news media hammers hard on him about Iraq, Drug entitlement program, the accusation of a culture of corruption, $3 gasoline, Iran, the ownership society that hasn’t yet gotten traction.

 

George W Bush has recently been reading about George Washington.  He is said to have commented, he was the first, I’m the 43^rd.  They’re still analyzing him.  In 200 years they’ll still be analyzing me.  I will do what I believe to be right.

 

I guess it will come as no surprise, I am so glad he is there in the White House and in Charge.  He is my hero.  

 

As for me and my house, God Bless President Bush

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Year 2029

Headlines from the year 2029:

Ozone created by electric cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, Mexifornia, formerly known as California. White minorities still trying to have English recognized as Mexifornia's third language.

Spotted Owl plague threatens northwestern United State s crops and livestock.

Baby conceived naturally. Scientists stumped.

Couple petitions court to reinstate heterosexual marriage.

Last remaining Fundamentalist Muslim dies in the AmericanTerritory of the Middle East (formerly known as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Lebanon).

Iran still closed off; physicists estimate it will take at least 10 more years before radioactivity decreases to safe levels.

France pleads for global help after being taken over by Jamaica.

Castro finally dies at age 112; Cuban cigars can now be imported legally, but President Chelsea Clinton has banned all smoking.

George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036.

Postal Service raises price of first class stamp to $17.89 and reduces mail delivery to Wednesdays only.

85-years, $75.8 billion study: Diet and Exercise is the key to weight loss.

Average weight of Americans drops to 250 lbs.

Japanese scientists have created a camera with such a fast shutter speed, they now can photograph a woman with her mouth shut. (Hummmmmmmmm)

Massachusetts executes last remaining conservative.

Supreme Court rules punishment of criminals violates their civil rights.

Average height of NBA players now nine feet, seven inches.

New federal law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers, fly swatters and rolled-up newspapers must be registered by January 2036.

Congress authorizes direct deposit of formerly illegal political contributions to campaign accounts.

IRS sets lowest tax rate at 75 percent.

Florida voters still having trouble with voting machines.

 

Responce to goodness

I got this from a freind of mine.  You may have seen it, but just in case.....

 

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut.  After the cut he asked
about his bill and the barber replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money
from you; I'm doing community service this week" The florist is pleased and
leaves the shop.

Next morning when the barber goes to open there is a thank you card and a
dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the
barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing
community service this week." The cop is happy and leaves the shop.

Next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a thank you card and
a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Later a Republican comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill
the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm
doing community service this week." The Republican is very happy and leaves
the shop.

Next morning when the barber goes to open, there is a thank you card and a
dozen different books such as "How to Improve Your Business" and "Becoming
More Successful."

Then a Democrat comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill
the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing
community service this week." The Democrat is very happy and leaves the
shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen
Democrats lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the
left and the right

Facts Versus Truth

Years ago there was a program on NPR called Mr. Science.

He would propound some strange theory and then questioned he would say, “"Because I know more than you do, I have a degree in Science". It was funny. Kinda.

Last night I was listening to the last hour of an overnight program which is rerun in our market from 11-12 midnite. The conversation was about psychic phenomena and/or the paranormal at any level.

Dr Mark Schermer who writes Scientific American and Publishes the Skeptic Magazine was the main part of the discussion was incensed that anyone could believe any of this. He was dismissive, arrogant, defensive and pejorative of anyone who could or might believe any of the theory brought by the other sides of the argument. I have no dog in the hunt but I was amused by the vigor with which Schermer rejected any arguments. It was very familiar sounding.

The man in favor of the argument for psychic phenomena asked a simple question. What if certain psychic phenomena were factually demonstrated and proven beyond any reasonable doubt. Would you believe then? Schermer said no. “The facts would not disprove the truth”. HUH?

On Extension 720 radio with Milt Rosenberg two weeks ago Dr Leonard Susskind who has written a new book about string theory (The Cosmic Landscape : String Theory and the Illusion of Intelligent Design: by Leonard Susskind). Susskind gave an intense rationale as to why string theory can not support intelligent design. The problem he was dealing in his book was a trend deep inside the research community where thousands of scientists are beginning to say that the nature of matter illustrates how intelligent design is actually the only valid thesis of all material existence. Many of them have begun to explore the Christian faith. Some have even become committed to it. Hawking and Einstein both postulated that an argument can be made for a creator God when you consider the basic nature of matter.

For the first hour he went merrily along propounding and demeaning faith in God as proven by his “truthiness”. Then in the second hour he had to take calls from listeners. To his dismay local scientists who have come to grips with the "“God created the universe”" concept in Chicagoland began to call him (we have Fermi Lab and Argonne Labs in town with about 5000 quantum physicists in house). They debated scientist to scientist with an equal authority of scientific depth. His arguments began to whither. His frustration became palpable. Halfway thru the hour he refused to take any more calls. They had gutted his arguments regarding string theory's ability to discount intelligent design whatsoever. Never let the facts get in the way of the truth. He wasn't convinced. I guess when Dale Carnegie said, "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still"
It's still true!

I have been in a political, cultural and religious discussion for a few months now with some wonderful intelligent people who are proving this pattern perfectly.

They don'’t let the facts get in the way of their “"truth"”.

If you are solidified in your thinking and someone comes along with a contrary opinion, the capacity to consider the other side is limited by how it might disturb your matrix of life theory in which you live. Like the professor on Milt Rosenberg'’s program, the facts must never interfere with the truth matrix we have all developed for our lives.

This goes both ways. I have come out recently for re-examining the socio-economic fabric of our lower and lower paid work force and it'’s long-term implications politically for the USA. My thesis is that the wide division economically (middle class disappearing) with a permanent underclass who is allowed to vote will ultimately result in a demagogue taking power in the USA. Chile, Venezuela, and other elections demonstrate that potential. We are living in Germany 1927.

I have been pilloried by my right wing friends for this view.
They have called me every name including the one most vile, Liberal.

I have made public statements about why Wal-Mart is not good for America. My conservative friends have smiled knowingly and considered me just a bit wacky. Liberal friends have considered this a coup. Nope. I try not to let the truth I live by mess with the facts I plainly see. I am trying to see thru the Matrix of my own life. Fortunately other conservative thinkers are coming to this conclusion. Matt Drudge, and today, Kathleen Parker who is no liberal at any level are speaking out on this issue. I think the facts are starting to modify certain conservative "“Truths"”.

In an interesting article it was demonstrated by some researchers that political viewpoints were not processed by the reasoning portion of your brain. That in fact what you believe you believe in spite of the facts, your truth, is unmolested by reality. That by the way is true for me too. I am trying to wrestle against this incursion of bias in favor of reason.

I have discovered that when confronted with facts that counter their truth there are predictable responses from the right or left:

• Denial
• Ridicule
• Anger
• Refusal to continue any debate
• Arrogance (we'’re smarter than you are, The Mr Science Defense)
• Trumping by superior education
• I donÂ’t care what that proves, I still don'’t believe
• Discounting the person who said it as ignorant
• Parsing (this happens a great deal with people who struggle with the Bible, take a verse out of context and try to prove this or that)
• Changing the subject to deflect the power of the argument.
• Trying to pigeonhole the person. I am a charismatic Christian. Many mainline friends will couch anything I say within my prescibed (by them) Charismatic framework. That somehow sufficiently discounts the opinion I express. Never let facts get in the way of truth.
• Engaging in intellectual dishonesty to maintain a position you have become aware is destroyed by the facts

Sadly, this kind of attitude exists in families (that'’s why you feel so much like a child when you go see your Mom and Dad even when you have grandkids of your own). The facts have no bearing on the truth in your brain.

In the Matrix (the movie). Cypher has decided to rat out his fellows including Morpheus, Neo and Trinity. There is a scene within the Matrix where he and Mr. Smith (an agent) are in a fine restaurant. Cypher is eating a steak and drinking fine wine. He says, "“I know that none of this is real. I know the fact is this steak doesn'’t exist. When I taste it, that it's not real. That this wine is all a program. But I don'’t care. I'’m sick of being in that smelly dirty place"”. So he makes a deal with agent Smith in exchange for living in wealth, fine food and lots of women. Exchanging a "truth" for a lie the reality he knows to be correct is swaped for a new reality that is counter to the facts. "Truth" trumping facts.

Of course none of it happens. He dies. That'’s the way movies are.

But, to a person who has a mindset of emotional truth which cannot be challenged with facts will ultimately find themselves like Cypher deciding to live a lie. Oh they'’ll be happy, they'’ll think things are as they should be. They will even find others to reinforce their "“truth"”. That'’s why talk radio (conservative or liberal) is so successful. That'’s why the blogosphere is so explosive. We can build our own worlds in our own little truth matrix.

I can, you can, find truth from others that lines up with your truth. And you can live in your Matrix. I'll live in mine. We will be amazed that other people can possibly be so confused and deluded.

Just don'’t let the facts get in the way of the truth you have chosen.

As Neo said at the end of The Matrix, "“Now that you know, what are you going to do now?"

[W + (D-d)] x TQ) ÷ (M x NA ( I wish someone would have told me)

Now I know. 

 

Yesterday January 23, the one with all my catastrophe, was the worst day of the year. 

 

They knew over in Scotland ahead of time.

 

http://news.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=108812006

 

And they're 6 hours ahead of us. 

 

So why didn't they tell me? 

 

Maybe I didn't listen.

 

A Chronicle of Narnia

Last night when the Narnia movie finally moved to the old person discount matinee-pricing ($4) Peggy and I went to see it.  I’m cheap.  But I did buy popcorn and a coke (diet).  She snuck in her own drink.  CHEAPO.  So the movie tickets were $8.  The coke and popcorn was $8.50.

 

We went to a theater in Aurora.  Mostly Hispanics and their kids in the theater.  I like Hispanics.  I work with them.  Find them good folks.  But, 18 month old babies shouldn’t go to movies with lots of crash and bang in them.  I digress.

 

The movie was astoundingly beautiful. 

 

How they made the animals talk and act so real I’ll never know.  I guess it’s all with computers but the animals looked as real as any you would see, maybe better.  Not cartoon like at all.

 

The little girl Lucy was darling. 

 

The beings were so real.  I saw Lord of the Rings (all of them) and these were more real and more in some cases terrifying. 

 

The story of redemption was there but not in anyone’s face.  In fact, if you didn’t know the nuances of the redemption story you would never know that’s what it’s about.  C S Lewis was brilliant at maintaining integrity without sacrificing the story.

 

If you haven’t seen it, try to see it on the big screen.  It’s huge in it’s spectacle.

 

The white witch was more evil than I could have thought and without any redeeming quality at all.  Lewis really got the character of Satan right.

 

And I didn’t cry at the death of Aslan as I didn’t cry at the scourging of Jesus in the passion. 

 

There were other scenes of bravery and valor that choked me up.  I’m a sucker for a hero.  I love it when the good guys win.

 

 

 

 

Being Omniscient is Hard sometimes.

It’s Monday again.  Let’s see.

 

Yesterday I pushed the button in the car for the door opener and started to back up.  Before the door began to open.  Fortunately the door and I saw each other before impact.

 

Then I was off to Church.

 

I was teaching from Rev Chap 5 and leading to 6 on the duality of the Godhead and it’s Trinitarian implications.  Teaching people who have no clue what I’m talking about, I’m doing what no theologian ever tries to do:  Explain the concept of the Trinity in 40 minutes or less. 

 

Afterward in total despair I said to Peggy, “The bus didn’t get there today”.  My wonderful wife said, “Well you gave everyone a great deal to think about”.  That means the bus didn’t get there. (Terminology which in preacher terms means you tried as hard as you might and no one figured out where you were going or were able to ride along.  The bus didn’t get there). 

 

So, today, I’m feeling rather dismal.  I’ve got the Monday morning preacher blues.  Happens often.  I’m sure Dylan wrote about this.

 

Then, to top it off: 

 

I’m off this morning to see if there are any big checks at the post office.  Nothing.  Leaving the post office I look to the right, a minivan ahead of me.  I look to the left, nothing coming.  So I go.  The minivan didn’t.  Crunch.  1 mile per hour.  I’m sure that between our automobiles it will be $4000.  And Ford is going broke.

 

Idiot.  Not her.  ME.  So after a half hour on the line with a really nice lady from Liberty Mutual, my victim and I departed. 

 

I did a couple other errands.

 

Then, feeling very sorry for myself.  I decided on some comfort food.

 

I’ll bet as a German you would have prescribed sauerkraut.  Most of the time that wouldn’t be a bad bet.  But, comfort food for me is SUSHI.  I love sushi.  And the rolls.  The really hot mayo.  lots of wasabi.  Burn out the guts.  Now that’s real comfort.  No chocolate for me.  Noserii.

 

I could use some pity here.  I’m feeling kind of old and stupid.  I know I have friends who know that feeling sometimes.  You might be amused to know that on my business cards it says “Gene Redlin, Horticultural Q”.  I am almost never asked what that means.  If you are a Star Trek Next Gen fan it will be clear.

 

I hope to return to my omniscient self soon.

 

Then I will have all the answers for all the world.  But not on Mondays.