NO WORK

Hi all. I have nothing to talk about except that I am off this week. Wait, one more thing. What do you think about this Korea thing? Kinda bad. North Korea fired missiles at South Korea. Timing is what should concern everyone.

Some people have suggested that the missile that was fired off of the California coast was from a Chinese submarine, like the one that popped up near some US ships. I was Navy ROTC and was learning to be on a sub hunter. We were taught about doing things like that. In either case North Korea's move will require a response.

If we go to war with China, even a non-nuclear one, things will not be good for anyone. I do not believe such a thing will occur. Still, we do not like to see war of any kind.

One more thing to discuss. Thanksgiving. It is not really a religious holiday, yet it is the most sincere. We thank our maker for providing for us. Sometimes we forget to do that and the holiday reminds us. I am thankful for much, I may not have much but I am thankful for much. I am thankful for having daughters who know who they are. I am thankful for my siblings and relatives. I am very thankful for my friends who have stood by me, encouraged me, made me smile and supported me when I needed support. I am thankful for great food, hey, I like food.

I may be losing my house; but, that just makes my life easier. I am not into possessions. I prefer to have little, less to take care of. I am thankful to God for giving me the chance to help others. I am thankful that he gave me my mind and my body, both have served me well. I am thankful for rest and music and comedy and trees and mountains and the desert (the desert is a wonderful place, so much quiet and so much life that can only be seen if you still your heart).

I am thankful for my little blog and my readers. I am. I like knowing someone reads my insanity, that it has any value. This blog was started for a couple of reasons and the reasons continually change. People need to express themselves and this has been a fun outlet. I have written in other places and have always managed to find people who actually enjoy my writing, it is an honor.

Because I want to make people aware of things they might not otherwise read, I spend a couple of hours a day reading. I read a lot. I figure most of my readers are well read and follow the news so I try to find things they might not have seen or present perspectives that might not be as common. Another way to look at things, not necessarily right, just different.

If I read an article such as the recent one discussing how the Vatican doesn't have enough exorcists and needs to recruit them because there is a rise in the number of possessions, I find that interesting. You don't have to be Catholic to find that interesting. It deserves to be considered regardless of from which perspective, heck, atheists would find it interesting.

Bait and Switch

A lot has been said about the new "security measures" being employed at airports by the TSA. Like a magician, the politicians are hiding the real purpose. Lets discuss the set up.

Firstly, we had an underwear bomber. Now this guy was a graduate student and the son of one of the wealthiest people in Nigeria. He covered himself in a blanket and attempted to ignite the device sitting in his chair. How come he didn't do it in the bathroom of the plane? If he had they would not have been able to stop him. Isn't that just common sense?

Anyways, days after the attempted explosion airports began installing the scanners. How did the manufacturer know they would be utilized and purchased. Oh, remember this, many of the people who worked for Homeland Security at the top were also lobbyists for the company that made them.

Lets jump forward a bit. As the discussion of the body scanners develops it turns out that so many problems have occurred that people are outraged. It was discovered that although we were told the images were not going to be kept, they were and about a 100 showed up on the internet. How did that happen? Who posted them? Better yet, how come Homeland Security isn't tracking down who posted them?

Now lets say you don't want a body scan, the TSA will then use an aggressive pat down even on children and babies. We have had TSA agents fondling the breasts and crotches of children, the elderly and the disabled. Sounds like they really don't want you to "opt out" of the scan.

We have been warned by the media that people are making too big a deal of this (I will not link to the articles). The head of the TSA is saying that opting out is basically unAmerican.

A alternate is now being discussed whereby people who were pre-screened and gave up biometric information would get a regular old security screening. So what are the real issues?

Are we actually safer because we take off our shoes? Are we actually safer if we let people oogle our naked bodies? Israel security says nope. Then why do it? Apparently for money, the money the lobbyists spent and received. But that is not the real reason either, to give up our privacy and accept what we are told.

With all of this hassle and the complaints, more people are expected to fly this year. Not me. The real question is what we will individually do and not do. It is a question of personal choice and privacy. What will you trade it for? It does not matter to me whether it be full body scan, aggressive pat down or biometrics. I opt out of all of them.

What happens when this "furor" is over, one of them will be accepted and none are needed. People are wondering what the least offensive method is, why should it be offensive at all? Travel is not a privilege, it is a right. Having said that, travel by plane is not. Travel by public transportation is a privilege. I do not like that the privilege has such a high price; but, that is what it is. Driving is also a privilege. Walking is a right.

Now kiddies, what will happen next. You will need to have a full body scan to drive to Mexico or Canada. You will need it to walk to Mexico or Canada. Everyone is calling for tougher border security to keep out illegals and we will be the ones who have the scans. Wanna bet?

Where will you draw the line? As a Christian I believe that eventually we will be asked to take a mark. It will be invisible to the naked eye; but, it will be taken willingly. We will take it in exchange for having the type of life we used to. Many will take it willingly and say they were "forced" to. The bible says we will take the mark so that we can buy and sell. No thanks.

This question is really for Christians, believers. If you do not believe the bible then question is just silly. How can a believer take a mark when it is the only thing clear in the Book of Revelations. Yet they will, they will for comfort. Comfort and happiness are overrated. Doing the right thing is underrated.

If you are a "Christian" would you take the mark if it was invisible or would convince yourself that you don't know it is a mark, or would you lie to yourself? This is very much a Christian question. Now I will tell the Christians something. It says that in that day many will say "Jesus, Jesus" and he will tell them to go away, that he never knew them.

We are too often taught that if we believe Jesus is our saviour, then we are saved. I tell you that is not what the bible says. Jesus said that if we loved him then we would do his will. His will is simple, love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. If you believe it will change how you act. It also says that even the demons know who Jesus is and know he is lord. They are no saved either.

The TSA is wrong for viewing naked children, it is a crime. To take your child to the airport knowing that their nakedness is even more wrong because parents have a duty to their children. Perhaps you can begin to see my point. Why would anyone expose their children to such a thing, what travel plans can outweigh their duty to protect their children? The TSA is wrong, allowing your children to be exposed is worse.

If I still had young children I would ask, before beginning the security check, what my child would have to do. If I were told that the agent was going to touch my child's privates I would not fly. How can a parent willingly allow their child to undergo such a thing?

There are many who will disagree with me. That is fine. Who do you think will be applying for the jobs to pat down your children? Pedophiles work where children are, that is their logic. TSA agents don't have top secret clearances, they are paid piddly amounts. Who wants a job groping people? Not me. It is a trick and we are being herded but we still choose. It is our choices that define us, not our so called "beliefs". Faith is belief which leads to action. Be well and love one another.

For a dear friend

My life was fairly stable for a very long time. Go to work, come home, be with the family. It was a simple life and didn't appear complicated. Unknown to me were many things that came out later; but, prior to their coming out it sure seemed normal. Then one day my father had a stroke. Everything changed.

I was blessed in that I was able to care for my father in my home. He was quite aware but couldn't remember yesterday. He couldn't remember where places were. He was still a great guy to be around.

Yesterday a dear friend's father had the same thing happen. My prayers and thoughts are with him. I had to take my father's car keys from him. He could not be allowed to drive. It is the worst feeling in the world to take your father's keys away knowing he will never get them back. It is not just about the driving, it is being forced to limit your father's freedom to protect him and others. It has to be done sometimes and it makes you feel like garbage if you love your father and are proud of him.

I looked up to my father and owe him so much. The same is true for my mother but she died in an instant and I was not there. I don't know what to say to my friend except I am sorry that he will have to go through the same damn thing. His father was like my father, a man who take care of whatever life through at him and did it damn well.

I want to tell my friend what I learned so I can help him. I didn't learn anything except that it feels terrible. My friend is a good man and he will do what needs to be done, his father will be proud of him. His father will get to see him do whatever needs to be done and knowing that he raised a man with integrity, one that does not whine or carry on, a real man. It's tough to be a real man.

I debated writing this, my friend reads the blog. I do not feel it would be right to call him as he has much to deal with at present. It may be a few days before he reads this. He will read it in his time.

These type of events happen in life, we age and things stop working. The strongest of us can need care and assistance. Some of us are unaccustomed to being helped, I was. When my father got sick I needed help from others and had to learn to accept it. It felt great to be unafraid and not need anyone's help. It feels good to be unafraid of this world and this life, to be independent.

A few years back I had a severe depression or something. This young man helped me come back to being me and helped me to get healthy again. I cannot thank him enough and have already seen the kind of man he is. Having met his father I know his father will be proud of him and will give him a hard time. He will be proud of his father for giving him a hard time.

I have no words of wisdom. I have been through it and have nothing to share that will make it easier, it isn't easy. After my dad's stroke I would take him to Vegas each month because he liked it. He was still my dad, he just couldn't drive or remember yesterday. He still enjoyed my cooking and the company of our family. There was never a thought of my dad being put in an institution he was going to be with me or my brother or sister. It was that simple.

I have never regretted caring for my father, it was an honor. It was an honor to return something back to him for all that he had done for me. Honors are earned and my friend has earned the right to decide what is best for his father because his father knows he raised a man who can make the right decisions. He did.

When I had my breakdown or whatever, I told my wife that I feared I was losing my mind, she it was my problem and to deal with it. No sympathy, no love, no care. You never know how people will react to problems. A young man I know was in a horrifying accident a couple months back, he should have been dead. He had a girl friend, she had told him previously that if he was ever seriously injured she would leave. She did not, she has stayed by his side as he slowly recovers. People can even surprise themselves.

I have attended more than 15 funerals in the last three years, many more, I lost count. I have spoken at most of the funerals. You would think I would be good at it by now. Nope, sucks each time. What do you say when people are going through these types of events, you tell the truth, it sucks and I am sorry that you must go through this.

I write what I would say to my friend, it sucks, you will handle it well and do what is right because you are your father's son and I am proud of you and sorry that you and your family must deal with this.

Happy Sunday

Perhaps I will post later.

Worth Watching

This video is long and very worthwhile. I beg you to watch the whole thing. It tells you who/what really owns this country. I had previously shown how government pensions own Harrah's casinos.

The truth is that public enterprise organizations and public pensions control the corporations by owning the stock. The Wall Street crash and the federal "bailout" took the stock away from the state and local funds and federalized them. That is why the Federal government now owns GM, Chrysler, the banks...

The issue that this man discusses is about taxes not being necessary. People will like that; but, the bigger issue is the ownership and control of the corporations. The public retirement funds are used to achieve political ends.

Marriage

I was going to bed but got sick. My stomach has been all over the place recently. We change as we age and can no longer eat as we once did. So, I decided to post an article that I had read. Marriage no longer considered relevant.

I want to ask a question. What made marriage relevant in the first place? It has been around a very long time, pair bonding is human nature. Some people will attempt to say that marriage existed because it promoted this or that outcome. Nonsense. Pair bonding has always been human. Love is human.

Two bible statements. First, God condemned adultery, it is one of the ten commandments. He stated that once bonded people should not be separated. He also said something else, he said in the last days marriage would be outlawed.

There are many people who will say that we live longer and that it is unreasonable to think that people can stay together for life in the modern days. Okay, how long can people be expected to be together? I think the odds would go up if people got to know each other before sleeping together.

I don't know

I read the news and so much of it is just garbage. I don't believe half of it anymore. I am stunned by the acceptance of dishonesty. I am even more amazed by the lack of shame. People do things and have absolutely no shame.

I am too tired to write. Be well.