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

A Teachable Moment II

Had this picture been available, it would have been included in yesterday’s post.



One guy is heading for the beer, the other is helping his fellow Irishman. Sgt. Crowley and Professor Gates have that heritage in common in equal measure. Each has one parent who is 100% Irish.

If you needed assistance which of the able bodied men would you rather have close? If, indeed, Gates is a long-time friend would “the one” not realize his pal might need a hand? I guess if you’re going to throw him under the very crowded undercarriage of the bus it really doesn’t make any difference.


In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

A Teachable Moment

What a load that is! Inherent in “a teachable moment” is the suggestion that there is someone who has a learning disability and the hour of their education has arrived. The speaker, no doubt, identifies with the educator. Nothing could be further from the truth in the recent “beer garden putsch” engineered by the white house to expose Crowley as the recalcitrant student. (Ed: Teachable moment, my Aunt Fannie; it was clearly a staged Kodak moment designed to make Himself look like one of the guys. He will never be one of the guys. He's a one man horror show.)

The whole affair simply demonstrates the unbelievable arrogance of the commander-in-chief. To assume that he has something to teach Sgt. Crowley about race relations or the manner of conducting police business in that highly mixed demographic arena is insane. Any officer with Crowley’s experience in a “town and gown” environment exacerbated by a racial component hardly needs advice from a serial lawbreaker from that same community. You do realize, don’t you, that Obama cleared up 17 unpaid parking tickets in Cambridge before he ran for president. No doubt they represent a youthful indiscretion left over from his Harvard days but are still, in the aggregate, evidence of avoiding a lawful summons and thereby breaking yet one more law. This is the same guy they selected as president of the Harvard Law Review.

Sgt. Crowley also took the opportunity to hand-deliver a letter from his fellow officer, Sgt. Leon Lashley, to the president regarding references made about the officer being an “Uncle Tom.” The letter, also copied to CNN, asserts that the issue has done irreparable harm to race relations in the community. He would probably know since that is his “beat.” There is a very special relationship between men who daily face armed enemies which transcends race and other petty differences. The man who “has your back” in the next unknown encounter is reverenced for his skills and abilities—not his skin color. These two officers clearly understand this relationship and the mutual respect it engenders.

We have heard little from Gates as a result of this encounter in the make-shift beer garden on the white house lawn. It is possible that he had been forewarned to keep his pie hole shut and not aggravate the situation any further. This is otherwise referred to as a “teachable moment.”

Throughout all this Sgt. Crowley has shown the evidence of his extensive training, devotion to his duties, rigorous attention to procedures not of his making, consideration of his entire community, and one more less definable characteristic—class. He is obviously well respected and liked by his peers in addition to clearly understanding his duties as a sworn officer.

Sgt. Crowley, I respect you for your courage but I have just one word of warning. You really should reconsider the company you keep when you go out for a beer.



In His abiding love,



Cecil Moon

Obamascare

The principal difficulty of absorbing the proposed health care initiatives floating around congress is two-fold. The first, and most obvious, is the cloud of lies surrounding the offerings.

You can keep your own doctor. No! You cannot keep your own doctor.

We will save a ton of money. No! What government agency or function ever operated at a savings? Are you old enough to remember the 3¢ stamp and twice a day mail delivery? How about the time it takes to process a license renewal at the DMV? Would you be interested in a $500 hammer?

We will not kill your grandma. No! Every five years or so of her dotage we will have a “sit-down” and discuss the gain in quality of life/death and make a choice between the red and the blue pill. Gramps, keep those running legs in shape so you can avoid the inevitable.

Duplicity, misdirection, and pure, unadulterated distribution of bovine feces have become an art form for this administration. An old-timer I once knew alleged that a certain neighbor would “lie when the truth would do better.” Unfortunately, this condition is not the exclusive property of the party in power but rather epidemic in our nation’s capital and capitol.. Although the Democrat branch is currently in the lead in the lying game, others in the minority can claim some success as well.

Unlike our ancestors, we fortunately have YouTube, citizen reporters, cop car dash cams and a surge in recording devices to verify or deny what has or has not been said. In this case, I guess we can only rely upon nine Commandments; more or less. The downside is the reluctance of the population to take advantage of the modern facilities available to actually check on the veracity of some of this clap-trap. It takes some degree of effort to keep up but it is possible.

The second problem we face with the upcoming legislation is the unwillingness of the congress critters to actually read what is contained in the proposals. They are paid a princely sum to do just that and they continue to balk at the prospect. I have made many trips to the Grand Canyon but have never been tempted to enjoy the grandeur wearing a blind fold. This is precisely what the representatives are doing. The only difference is that they are doing it with our lives at stake—not theirs. There is no provision announced that they would be subject to the same health care as those who elect them.

The most recent polling numbers indicate a 7% approval rate for our congress. Does this mean that 93% of their number in the house will not be returned to commit additional crimes in the next session? I doubt it! Partisan politics will assure the re-election of most of these people and we can start all over again in the next session.

In the “Sturm und Drang” of political struggles for control of the population there is a tiresome repetition at each election of what seems more like “football” favoritism than good sense. If one lives in Chicago or Saint Louis either the Bears or the Rams are obviously the best possible teams in the NFL. They are forgiven every miscue because of local loyalty and blind devotion.. We wear their colors, plaster their stickers on our vehicles, argue their skills with our brother-in-law and generally make fools of ourselves simply for the privilege of identity—not actual accomplishment. People in Cleveland can easily relate.

This not a game! Turning the control of 16% of the budget and more important, our lives, over to the well established incompetence of government is absolute insanity. The fact that the issue was even brought up is evidence of mental imbalance. If you are willing to trade your future well being for pure partisan politics then you will be right at home with the upcoming new health initiatives.

It is an absolute necessity that you make your wishes known. Our country is at a crossroads and you must be informed, aware and active. Have you contacted your representatives? Have you discussed your feelings on the issues with anyone? Have you attended a rally? Have you written to the editor of your local rag? In a word have you become involved? It is not necessary for you to be a helpless victim. At the least put up some kind of a fight.

The people who wish to change everything about America which makes it the greatest country in the world are tireless in their efforts. Your active response is absolutely essential if they are to be thwarted. Redundancy should be your guide in putting forth your opinions since your life depends on it.


In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon