Do the Math

I always enjoyed math in school and followed the curricula from basic math through elementary calculus—most of which I promptly forgot. Trig and solid geometry have occasionally served me well but numerical relationships are sometimes hard to grasp.

It is especially hard with unwieldy huge numbers with more zeros than pins in a bowling alley. Our modest household budget has no need of a clear understanding of millions, billons, or the new, common budgetary measure, trillions. Therefore, I am grateful to a commenter (Vinnie) on Roger L.. Simon’s blog for the following:

“Jack Uldrich, a futurist asked a mathematician to help him explain a million, billion and trillion to his audiences. The professor called him later and said to imagine seconds backward as a measure to help his audience understand the concepts.

He said:

a million seconds ago was 12 days ago

a billion seconds ago was 30 years ago

a trillion seconds ago was 28,000 BC

and our gov’t is spending how much of our children’s $$$ ?”

Having read the above anecdote, I am sure you will never read or hear the word ”trillion” again without the proper context. What a difference one letter can make. When some politician speaks of a ten million dollar savings please keep this illustration in mind.


In His biding love,

Cecil Moon

A Disclaimer re: Astroturfing

Since April 15 this year, we/I have attended 7 public events in opposition to various White House initiatives. I am currently planning a trip to Washington, D.C. in September for the three day Taxpayer March. We are also on the alert for any gatherings or contacts which may arise before that occasion.

On our own initiative, we both have blogs his and hers which deal with our response to various issues which have and will come before the government bodies. Both the inbox and the sent mail files on both our computers are jammed on a daily basis. We both spend several hours a day reading blogs, newsletters, books, pamphlets, mail, and politely talking to anyone who will listen about current and historical matters.

So far this has involved driving a gas hog about six hundred miles and by September 15the trip to DC will have added at least 2500 miles to bring the total to 3100 miles. At 20 mpg, that figures as follows: 3100 ÷ 20 x $2.45 = $379.95. Since I enjoy it, I will be camping on the DC trip and only have an average of about $25.00 per day costs for shower furnished campgrounds for the week. Not including food and impulse buying that gives a rough total of about $525 for the trip coming and those already made.

We are also outfitted with appropriate signage, sturdy shoes, a bull horn, printed handouts and flags. We make all our displays at home so the only cost is the time and a few bucks for sign material. Our ISP’s (one phone hookup and one satellite) come to an additional $125 per month. I have also just updated my computer equipment to the tune of an extra $1000.

Why am I boring you with our finances? I don’t seek nor expect any compensation, donation, or reimbursement for our expenses either in the future or the past. This web site is not a commercial enterprise. It seeks nothing from you other than serious consideration of the thoughts advanced. I offer this information only as evidence of the ridiculous and false charge of “astro-turfing.” It applies equally to millions of our fellow patriots.

Ours, and millions of others, is a grass roots effort. The White House has assigned the other label of astro-turfing to imply that those who object to their nefarious practices have sponsors in various commercial and organizational fields which are the targets of our current government. We are supposedly financed and encouraged by these enterprises to promote their interests. They have taken this from the substitution of AstroTurf on a football field for the natural grass which is difficult to maintain during their ever colder season. The time, energy, and money involved in attempting to return the republic to a sane level is a result of honest love for America and hands on knowledge of our historical way of life. To suggest otherwise is the typical failure of the ruling elites to actually understand and empathize with their fellow citizens.

We don’t want bailouts, cap and trade, socialist health care, an emasculated military, gun control, dozens of “czars”, cars or bars to our former way of life. What we do want is a sensible deliberative body, a court which follows the Constitution and an executive who does not confuse his leadership with royalty. This is inconsistent with the agenda of the current administration. Therefore, as usual, they fall back upon the analogous lie to discredit those who cherish their liberty.

Actually, their use of “astro-turfing” is apt for that which they hope to accomplish. An additional reason for the teams using this product is the increasing presence of mud on the field as the season wears on. Politics is an equally dirty business. As their purposes become ever clearer the political landscape becomes a muddy, filthy mess. The cleanliness provided by AstroTurf would be a welcome addition to their lives. It aint gonna happen.

I am seriously thinking of getting some white pants complete with grass stains to wear at upcoming events. It might well help define the nature of my protest.


In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

Suppression of Dissent

Here is the opportunity you have been waiting for; to get back at your obnoxious brother-in-law, to get revenge on an employee of the DMV who kept you waiting four hours or the merchant whose stated policy wasn’t to your liking. Here’s your golden moment for revenge. Simply follow the instructions as suggested by the White House and create a life of horror for any of the individuals cited above.

“There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov . ”

I dearly love the choice of the word “fishy.” This was no doubt selected by Rahm “dead fish” Emanuel since that appears to have been his weapon of choice. Apparently he mailed a fish wrapped in newspaper as a warning to an opponent in a political battle. Old habits die hard.

Of course the administration will never think of using the accumulated millions of expressions of opposition to the healthcare initiative as an enemies list. Those names would never show up at the FBI, the IRS, or the CIA for “further investigation.” There are endless bureaus, boards, and panels in Washington who have the capacity to do irreparable harm to any citizen with the temerity to complain.

In simple truth, what they fear is not messages sent on the back channel but rather the extremely overt complaints which are delivered through letters to the editor, commenters at Town Hall meeting throughout the country, and confrontations at the offices of elected officials. Unlike the occluded behavior from the White House, the citizenry is open and shouting from the house tops their objection to the government’s bogus take-over of 16% (and growing) of the US total spending.

This outrageous request could easily have been penned by Dr. Joseph Goebbels or Heinrich Himmler. The alternative should have been spelled out as well; “We have our ways!” The ReichsfuhrerSS Himmler, an expert at disposal of dissenters (at least 6 million Jews plus Poles, homosexuals and others) would have found the above quote quite to his liking. Both of these guys came in to the Nazi Party at its origin and stayed to the end. In 1931 they both appeared quite benign and offered little threat. We now know how that turned out.

Although the quote seems quite childish now, it is revealing in its insidious nature and intent. It is simply one more piece in the continuing assembly of a mosaic of oppression. Had the Germans recognized the problem in 1931 it is highly unlikely they would have supported the principal actors. This entire matter raises some highly conspicuous warning flags which our citizens disregard at their peril. You personally run the risk of having your name submitted to the White House as a disgruntled person operating under their radar.

Can you see the danger in this approach? Will you live to regret your ignorance of this impending threat? Feel free to now turn me in: my doom is sealed anyway.



In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

Monday Morning Rant 103

A gorgeous weekend with a refreshing rain, cooler temperatures and back-to-back gatherings of the faithful lifted the spirits of everyone involved. We attended a thank-you fish-fry devotional with members of the Fellowship Baptist on Saturday night. The star attraction was the white bass and a hay trailer loaded with fabulous food. I could be wrong about that. Possibly the star attraction was the kids running everywhere. Or maybe, it may have been the remarks from the associate pastor, Bob Clark or the great hospitality shown by Mary and Larry Wood who hosted the event. No, in the final analysis, it was the unseen but strongly felt presence of Jesus Christ that carried the evening.

The wonderful drive to Miami, OK on Sunday was a delightful preparation for the Sacrament Service at our Restoration Branch. Gordon Sevy, from Buckner Congregation, delivered the message with remarks pertinent to the occasion and his good wife Dorothy provided her experienced hands playing the organ. That coupled with an unusually high turn-out carried the good spirit from the night before into an uplifting experience on all fronts.

With that background it is a little difficult to get in the mood to “Rant” but I shall do my best.

Ignorance is Bliss

This would be funny if it were not so tragically sad. Demonstrating their stupidity, fans of the late pop star, Michael Jackson, gathered on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame to morn the passing of their hero. With various trinkets and mementos related to the life of their idol, they set up a vigil on the busy street.

Just one problem here; the star was imbedded in the sidewalk to pay tribute to a long gone radio disc jockey with the same name. After all, the names, neither Michael, nor Jackson are all that uncommon. I should be grateful because it provides a segue to the next topic.

Distractions

Have you noticed over the last six months that nearly every time there is a critical matter in the nation which might possibly engender some opposition to a further assault on the Constitution, a companion issue arises to distract from the more important matter? Here we must keep in mind that news does not become news until it gains coverage from the main stream media.

Here, I repeat an illustration I wrote previously about a friendship I gained at a lengthy show I “worked” in Las Vegas years ago. My booth at the show was close to and in clear sight of the stage. The magic act prevailed upon me to store some of their equipment in my stall to avoid the long carry back and forth to the dressing room. I was happy to oblige and over the show duration we all became fast friends. They performed 4 shows a day and I became very familiar with their act. I have always been a great fan of really good magicians and had the rare opportunity to carefully study their unchanging routine.

Sometime during the continuation of the show, he volunteered to show me how he did some of the seemingly impossible tricks: e..g. stuffing his wife into a box 18” on each side. I politely declined since I realized that it would destroy my enjoyment of the illusion. I did learn that the success of their act was the use of distraction to cloud the reality of nearly everything they did. They were very good.

They could, however, learn a great deal from the best illusionist I have ever seen—B.H. Obama. I have noted that anytime an issue reaches critical mass and the opposition starts to mount, we find some issue arises to distract the people’s attention from what is afoot. Some are intentional and others just fortuitous. Cap and trade slipped through the house within the chimera provided by Michael Jackson’s death. That was pure chance I imagine. The original stimulus bill was offered under the cover of “saving the economy and the banking system.” The composite “Gates, Crowley, ‘stupid’” remarks came as the support for the new health care (scare?) waned.

The allocation of print space and air time is an editorial decision made by those who are demonstrably in the pocket of the current administration. Magicians, illusionists, crooks, conmen and leftists use the technique with great expertise. What ever the right hand is doing; be advised, the left hand is in complicity with that action. In addition, my old friend also had a convincing constant spiel to further distract from the action of his hands. Does that ring a bell?

An Obama aide once famously remarked, “Don’t ever waste a crisis.” He thoroughly understood the illusionist’s art and continues to use those techniques. When a hullabaloo over a minor occurrence is written or aired; look past it and note what else is concurrent to remove your attention and do lasting damage. With the least transparent administration in recent history, one needs to always keep an eye open for more mischief.

A March on Washington

I am beside myself with joy. This morning I received my tickets for the demonstration in Washington, DC for the rally on September 10, 11, and 12. The tickets are free and limited to the first two million to apply. Actually, there is no limitation on the numbers who may attend. The mall is huge and if the transportation has to park in Baltimore I will be overjoyed.

As time progresses you will hear more and more about the events planned for the occasion. In the mean time, please consider going and mixing with the anticipated throng to protest the overthrow of our Constitutional government under God. You will, no doubt have the opportunity to make friendships which will last a lifetime.

This can be a signal moment in our nation’s history. The greater the number the more terror we can put in our representative’s hearts over fear of their individual potential job loss. For a schedule of events and further information you will find it here.

Attend your local Tea Parties and visits with your representatives. Talk to your neighbors, friends and family. Become aware of the issues and voice your opinions to all who will listen. Become an active patriot in support of the nation we all so love. Prove to our detractors that we all actually do care about the future of this great nation.

I’ll see you there!

And finally

Life continues apace in the Ozarks. The hummingbird continues to defy any attempt for solid identification. After a full year of existence, the deck has finally attracted the first squirrel. He has not quite figured how to get to the bird feeders since they are hanging. I have every confidence that he will.

I am continually amazed by the bounty of God which He has provided for our use and enjoyment. Trust me; this is an un-earned boon. Our prayer is that your life is as full-filled as ours and that you have concurrent joy in His world.



In His abiding love,

Cecil L. Moon