The past week was marked by blessed rains, the demonstrated need for a computer replacement, and the exposure of an elitist, arrogant academic. One good thing out of three isn’t bad.
Rural living without services and infrastructure typical of urban neighborhoods does keep your focus more on the natural aspects of life. Indeed we share all the conveniences of city dwellers but the delivery systems vary. Our electricity comes from a consumer owned cooperative. Our water is from our own well and is fresh, clean and extremely tasty. It also varies consistently with the water table levels. Our dead end road is always the last one cleared of any obstruction. Our waste disposal is through a septic system which is very efficient. As a result of an all-electric home, our expenses for utilities are all wrapped in one bill a month—from the Ozark Electric Coop.
We are subject to inconvenience only in the event of a flood, ice storm, fallen trees or other natural occurrence. So far, God has provided the tools and the energy to cope with minor interruptions in our services. We are blessed by our conditions with economies and relative independence. Everyone should have as much.
Since many of our common on-line providers have stopped or plan to stop services based on our operating system (Windows 98) we must make a replacement. In the process of finding a new unit, I have discovered that many of the prominent features in the current market don’t really apply to our use. We spend little time listening to downloaded music (we prefer to make our own,) watching memory-hogging videos, or using built-in web cams. The shopping for a new one is frustrating but entertaining. Since we are in advance of actual need (for now) we can afford to be amused by the efforts of sales people and websites advancing the latest technology. Happily, the costs have diminished considerably since our last purchase. For greater utility, we have decided upon a laptop with all the horns, bells, and whistles. At about a third the cost of the original (actually the third) unit it offers far greater mobility with satellite capability. We can only hope that the transfer of data does not hinder our efforts to keep in touch.
The issue over the arrogant academic will be dealt with in later, more comprehensive post.
Good News in Polling
This poll is predicated on the response of “likely voters.” It is good to keep in mind that Rasmussen was the pollster who nailed the actual percentages in the 2008 elections. Detractors will claim that people generally, as interviewed by others, indicate the president’s popularity; not true. As a predictor of future events a poll needs to involve only those persons who actually have a voice. That would be the voters. If one does not vote; one is not heard.
This demonstrated lack of confidence in the president, although heartening to his opponents, can be transitory. The much maligned Tea Parties are obviously a strong component in the following illustration but it’s not like a ball game score. There is no permanence to these numbers, which highlights the necessity of continuing the struggle to defeat the Marxist trend to completion. We can not just say “we won” and drift into complacency. We need to continue, on a daily basis, to carry the message to others in public events and private conversations.These numbers will be excused away by the powers in Washington until they reach a sufficient proportion---15%, -20%. or better -25%--and the realization occurs to them that they are riding a dead horse. Then and only then will it be possible to realign political thrust to return to the original intent of the founders of this magnificent nation. The threat will remain if we forget that old Ozark homily: you can kill a snake but it won’t die until sundown.
Washington ’s snake has more than one head. In addition to Obama, the message must be sent to Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dodd, Boxer, Murtha, Kennedy and the rest that their jobs are in jeopardy as well. If this nation is to survive, we must continue our efforts to unrelentingly keep the pressure on. We can do this because America is worth saving and average Americans know it.
A Note on Marital Bliss
This came in the mail and the only one who doesn’t understand it will be a single person who was raised in an orphanage.
“Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the
other is usually the husband.
When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that
I should get it fixed.
But, somehow, I always had something else to take care of first: the truck,
the car, e-mail, ball games. Always something more important to me.
Finally, she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home
one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a
tiny pair of sewing scissors.
I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was
gone only a few minutes.
When I came out again, I handed her a toothbrush. 'When you finish cutting
the grass,' I said, 'you might as well sweep the driveway.'
The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.”
A Genuine Apology
Regular readers are well aware of my attitude toward apologies. Generally they are a slippery affair designed more to elevate the offender with qualified remarks regarding the offense. Finally, in the matter of Jeff Bezos of Amazon and the discontinuance of a book on Kindle we find the genuine remorse and repentance so lacking in most efforts to apologize. The entire entry is here but I am going to quote his statement here:
“This is an apology for the way we previously handled illegally sold copies of 1984 and other novels on Kindle. Our "solution" to the problem was stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles. It is wholly self-inflicted, and we deserve the criticism we've received. We will use the scar tissue from this painful mistake to help make better decisions going forward, ones that match our mission.
With deep apology to our customers,
Jeff Bezos
Founder & CEO
Amazon.com “
The link is provided above to enable you to gauge the customer reaction to his obviously heart-felt apology. My deepest congratulations and best wishes to Mr. Bezos—you sir, are a “stand-up” guy.
And Finally
Brother Wells brought the message at Fellowship Baptist this morning and he pointed out, with a huge volume of scriptural backing, that church attendance is not intended for occasional spiritual cleansing. Regularity is commanded by God. Failure to support one’s church routinely is a sin. It’s in the book.
The bird feeder is still occupied by the usual suspects. As I look out the window, I see a rather bland looking hummingbird which is moving too fast for me to satisfactorily identify. What a remarkable piece of work he is. Otherwise all is well on our bluff-top hide-a-way as we await our next exciting moment. It will come; it always does.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
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