Monday Morning Rant 80

In a change in their line of attack, the environmental left has their undies in a bundle over America’s use of toilet paper. Criticizing the waste involved in the use of disposable tissue to accomplish fundamental clean up, they assert that we are needlessly destroying “virgin” (that, of course, is not true so therefore, it is a lie) forests to accomplish our necessary tidying up. It is not surprising that they don’t have a clue what a “virgin” forest is. Most people who have traveled beyond the county line have encountered managed forests somewhere in their travels. They exist largely in Canada, the US south, and the Pacific Northwest. Manufacturers of tissue require fresh (virgin, not old growth) wood to take advantage of the cellular structure which lends itself to maximum expansion and therefore softness. These are the trees which are planted in rows like most agricultural crops for the convenience of cultivation and maintenance during the growing cycle. They do not harvest the magnificent sequoias off precipitous mountain sides in the west to make Northern Tissue.

Having traveled and lived on foreign soil, I rejoice that my fellow citizens are as scrupulously hygienic as they are. From the perspective of air quality and environmental purity, it is a singular advantage for our countrymen. The Europe I lived in for over two years was, in general, very casual in their approach to personal cleanliness. Toilet paper was scarce, raspy, and very much like old newspapers. Deodorants were unknown. Even hand soap was like cleaning up with a rock. I would personally rather park my SUV and have the aforementioned available if I really thought the planet was in that much peril.

Obviously, the environazis have seen the future and it’s—Bangladesh! This is simply a matter of the hysterics attempting to exercise yet one more control over our lives. Leave me and my neighbors alone—please!

A Surprise Boost in Sales

Here’s a little ray of sunshine in our gloomy economic picture. Apparently most gun dealers are reporting sky rocketing sales in both firearms and ammunition. Manufacturers are having extreme difficulty keeping up with replacement orders on both categories. In addition, sales of Rand’s book, Atlas Shrugged, are enjoying an immense increase in sales and may require a reprinting. Gee, what do you suppose is causing that?

Things To Look Forward To

I found this on this web site (Warning: Most of the ads on this site are pornographic in nature and extremely offensive.) and it scared me to death. I showed it to my spouse and her immediate response was, “Oh that has to be either Iowahawk or the Onion.” Neither of these satire sites has the poor taste to suggest anything quite so vile. Here follows the exact quote from the site:

“For the youth today it is hard to understand parents who don't support Obama. This is common for many of the young people of this generation, just as the youth back during the civil rights era had parents who just didn't understand the racism like they saw it. Many of you are struggling with the fact that your parents just don't get it. They don't feel the same about Obama the way that you do. They still cling to their old ways of guns and bibles and greedy capitalism. You know better. You know that Obama, and the Democratic majority, can run things better than those greedy corporations. You know that the best way to run an industry is to nationalize that industry.That is why this thread has been created. For you, the future of our nation, to let us know who your parents are (sic). Tell us the names of those who do not support Obama the way that you do. Let us know if your parents own guns, or wish ill will toward the government. Let us know before it is too late for you and too late for your country. It is the patriotic thing to do. Let the government take care of this problem for you. List your parents name here.
__________________Things are going to change I can feel it..”

If that doesn’t send cold chills up your spine, you are too naïve for any good purpose. This is the beginning of a not too subtle knockoff of the Hitler Youth movement. The concentration camps of 1930’s Europe and especially Germany were occupied by many relatives who did not hew to the party line. It was real then and it will be real today if we allow it to happen.

For those who maintain, “It can’t happen here” need to check this website and take a big dose of reality. Following this entry on the site are voluntary contributions of names of parents who hold the symbols of a constitutional republic dear. This opens the door to retribution for petty childish grievances to be settled by the state through investigation and eventual incarceration and “reeducation.” The objective of the writer was unambiguous. It was clearly designed and stated that the bible, guns and financial success were the enemy. This swings to the door wide to bring oppression through mistrust into every family circle. This should concern all of us—NOW! You cannot mount an effective protest behind barbed wire..

And finally

A note of sadness filled the hearts of the congregation this morning as we attended the communion service. One of our number, a dear sister had departed in the preceding week to join the Lord. Even though weak and frail she was a tower of strength in her belief and work for the Almighty. Our mutual prayer is for God to extend the full extent of his mercy and welcome her with open arms; as I am certain He will. We shall all miss her terribly.

The combination of the overnight snow (about 2”) and freshly filled feeders left an interesting record of the bird traffic on the deck. There were tracks everywhere. I doubt there was 5 square inches anywhere which they didn’t mark with their distinctive foot prints. The breed mix continues with neither addition nor subtraction. I read somewhere that we should supplement their intake with a supply of water. What next? Perhaps a “comfy” chair and a reading lamp would be nice. Although I only have about a dozen and a half who frequent the “bird landing” here, they can be a worry; what must be the power of God, that he can keep an “eye on each sparrow?”

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

AN UNUSUAL UPDATE!!

Forty Days and Forty Nights

We have now wandered in this wilderness for “forty days and forty nights” and prayed earnestly for a peaceful solution. I am certain that God has heard our prayers but it has become increasingly apparent that our legislators and president have not.

The “tea party” has become a common sight in cities across America. The citizens have seized this symbolic icon of resistance to “taxation, without representation” and shown their colors in grand numbers. The best homemade protest sign seen so far is a child carrying: “No Daddy, I can’t loan you a trillion $’s.” Overriding the clever signs is a sense of purpose akin to the intent of those patriots who confronted their British masters in Massachusetts in April of 1775.

I have studied and narrated that story in many circumstances in my life and cherish the opportunity. When the British regulars, with all their spit and polish, pipes and drums with flags flying, neared the green at Lexington, they saw a rag tag assembly of militia drawn up there to resist their advance to Concord. Among the militia was an age variance of about 55 years. They had little in common dress as traditional armies do. Their armaments varied. Their state of mind was influenced by staying up all night plotting their best course for resistance.

As the two sides, apparently at a stand off, waited, one of their number decided to light the flame of liberty and fired the first shot. Although unable to certainly confirm it, I have long suspected that it was the oldest of their number, an impatient man in his seventies. I can easily relate to his frame of mind since we are of like age. Whoever did it; the game was on! That moment and the subsequent defeat of the British at the bridge at Concord marked not only the defeat of the oppressors but placed the founding brick for the building of the greatest country this world has ever seen. Had not that tiny group resisted and delayed the advance, the greater force would not have had the time to assemble at the bridge for a successful defense.

In that tradition, I urge you to join in your local “tea party” and make your personal feelings known. Without you, it is for naught. Without you and millions of your state of mind, this country will perish.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

The Strength and Wisdom of Churchill

After eight years of strident opposition to everything which our president attempted we are advised by our “betters” to stem our objections to the radical actions of the new administration. They who formerly claimed that “dissent is the highest form of patriotism” now claim to see the need to disavow that dicta and urge full cooperation (submission to?) with the redirection of the country to socialism with fascist overtones.

Personally, I find oppressive ideology far more threatening than armies, and will turn to Winston Churchill for advice in confronting either.

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." Churchill

To concede to the smallest issues is to allow that “toe in the door” to bring about the cataclysm of destruction which the left desires so fervently to inflict upon this nation. One need only turn to Britain to see the result of allowing a chink in the wall of liberty go unrepaired. Their tolerance of an Islamic incursion upon their soil; their plunge into the abyss of socialism; their restriction of fundamental freedoms in the pursuit of diversity all add up to a recipe for the dissolution of a once grand country. To see the emasculation of their proud symbol, the lion, brings a tear of sadness to the most jaundiced eye. They have provided a case study for those who seriously consider such things; are we paying attention?

To allow, without protest, even the slightest alteration of the will of the founders of this nation to proceed, would be treasonous. To ignore our sacred Constitution being interpreted in accordance with the will of a Marxist government is to volunteer for servitude at the least and death at the worst.

Our nation was compounded by a collection of heroes who fully understood the role of the individual in the building process. Were they always well directed? No! Were they able to make corrections to insure liberty for all men? Yes! They did not claim perfection but were ever alert to insight for improvement of the human condition. My prayer is that we will summon the courage to join with those who protest our descent into this cavernous pit of directed destruction of the republic.

We need not only the help of Almighty God but also the efforts of even the least of our citizens to confront this evil and assist in forcing it to retreat in face of liberty loving peoples throughout our nation.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

More Wisdom for the Ages

In the midst of the all out assault on sanity prevalent in today’s news, it is time to offer some thoughts of others on issues great and trivial. Enjoy!

"I am a bomb technician. If you see me running, try to keep up!"

Seen on a t-shirt on a trip to Alaska: “Remember, once you leave the bus; you become part of the food chain.”

"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you"-MSgt Mitch Spies, USMC (Ret)

"There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness."-Dave Berry

"Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, it doesn't go away."-P. K. Dick

Here is some sound evidence that even geniuses can be wrong: "640K (of RAM) ought to be enough for anybody."-Bill Gates, 1981

"I believe the Battle of the Network Stars should be fought with guns!"-Steve Martin

Let’s hear it for this thought. It’s why we live in a house without stairs. "Stress management: it is the difference between pushing your husband down the stairs and just thinking about it."-unknown

"If you water it and it dies, it is a plant. If you pull it out and it grows back, it is a weed."-Gallagher

The following bridges the gap between the quotes which are funny (ironic?) and those which require deeper thought.

"The three most useless things to a pilot are the altitude above you, runway behind you, and a tenth of a second ago."-Richard Bach

"People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abe Lincoln

"What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting?"-George Eliot, from Adam Bede (last chptr)

"A man with a good wife is the luckiest of God's creatures, and one without must be among the most miserable, I think, the only true blessing of their lives is that they don't know how poorly off they are."-Stephen King, Green Mile

"Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders."-Mary Schmich

"The creator of our universe wanted human beings to become space travelers. We were given a moon that was just far enough away to require the development of sophisticated technologies, yet close enough to allow us to be successful on our first concentrated attempt."-Kraft Ehricke, Washington DC, 1984.

At http://dir.yahoo..com/Arts/Humanities/History/U_S__History/People/ is an alphabetical list of figures in US History. On that list Lee Harvey Oswald is next to Jacqueline Kennedy-Onasis and Chuck Yeager is next to The Wright Brothers. There is no mention of George Welch.

"It's better to burn out, than it is to rust; the king is gone, but he's not forgotten."-Niel Young

"That he which hath no stomach to this fight, Let him depart; his passport shall be made, And crowns for convoy put into his purse: We would not die in that man's company That fears his fellowship to die with us. ...... We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now abed Shall think their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."-William Shakespeare, Henry V (act 4, scene 3)

And finally, my favorite source of earthly wisdom offers this: "Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear."-Thomas Jefferson

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

A Train Wreck!

In a moment of clarity I noted the perfect definition of a “train wreck.” It is generally defined by the collision of two unstoppable forces. This perfectly describes the forces which we have observed from the “the one.”

On the one track we have the momentum generated by the successful campaign for the presidency which was fueled by the messianic zeal of his supporters and the press. On the track coming ever nearer is that unstoppable behemoth, market forces in response to governmental clumsiness and outright fraudulent self-interest. Those with knowledge of Newtonian physics can only anticipate with horror the inevitable result as these forces collide. They are incompatible and the outcome can be extremely dangerous.

Anyone who has actually seen the results of railway accidents soon discovers that it is unsafe to pull a vehicle snug up against the barrier rail at a railroad crossing. In this real life circumstance it is far better to leave a generous space between one’s vehicle and the actual railway right of way. When accidents occur, the cars often leave the rails and scatter themselves about the adjoining ground. In the ensuing chaos it would not be uncommon for them to wind up fifty to hundred feet from the tracks. I park far to the right and allow the suicidally impatient to go around and have the front row seat. Although I do not fear death, I see no reason to accelerate the process.

Like the train wreck, and the resultant random destruction, the current disparity between campaigning and governing leaves serious questions of the outcome. The possible damage goes far beyond that which is, so far, readily observable: financial markets in complete disarray, insecurity in the populace, constant reminders of the felonious activities of governmental officials, decisions ruled by the self interest of bureaucrats, and the ever present reminders from the top of further problems to come.

To continue the analogy, how does one avoid a train wreck? There are several ways. For one, it is nowhere more clear than on the rails that speed kills. Another is the efficiency of control devices to assure that two immovable objects do not occupy the same space coming in opposite directions. In addition, to lessen the damage, that variant dangerous cargoes not be loaded together whose interplay in a collision would heighten the resultant chaos.

No cheerleader ever stopped a train wreck. While gathering voters, raising money and improving your image are desirable to gain high office, they are not the stuff of governance. In the distribution of immense sums of money, long deliberation should be the rule and not the desire to show how quickly you can rise to a possible solution. I would think that a government which can’t get a letter from Washington to New York in three days would not have the chutzpah to think it could distribute nearly a trillion (!) dollars in less time between the vote in congress and the final signature of the executive.

My personal opinion is that the American people gave up their rightful control of the government at the ballot box. Seeking “hope and change” will not stop a train wreck either. By endorsing an office seeker instead of a journeyman office holder they ceded control. There is a reason that railroads reward longevity: it’s the experience factor of seniority which they value so highly. My son learned how to operate an on-plant diesel switch engine in less than half a day. He also recognized that it does not qualify him to take his place on a mainline route. In a perfect world, everyone would realize their limitations. Unlike those who passed the bill without a thorough knowledge of its contents, a competent engineer would not operate with a light proof mask over his eyes.

Lastly, the “porkulus” package contains many volatile issues all crammed together: housing, banking, infrastructure, manufacturing, education, healthcare, and energy. Each on its own is of great importance. But, within the categories are long embedded bureaucrats who narrowly cannot see beyond the huge desks in their own department. If you are totally committed to “green solutions” to energy you will not be able to see the wisdom of either drilling or development of nuclear sources. Given their personal commitment to such issues, congressmen rely upon the reactions of their constituents rather than an unbiased view of needs of the republic as a whole.

For further information on train wrecks one needs to do little more than check out the safety record of Amtrak. They are the government entity which provides the entirety of our nation’s passenger service. Google “accidents Amtrak” and peruse the 376,000 entries all of which are devoted to the subject of tragedies on our country’s passenger rail system. If anyone should recognize a train wreck it would be our government.

My conclusion is simply, as formerly stated, to park as far as possible from the right-of-way and watch without danger. Unfortunately, in this case, you may wind up being a participant whether you want to or not.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

So You Think You’re Important

My daughter sent an email with some of the most fascinating pictures on the comparisons of heavenly bodies I have ever seen. They clearly work to the absolute destruction of your idea of your importance in the universe. As I attempted to wrap my feeble brain around the concepts offered in the photos, I watched in my mind’s eye as my ego circled the drain.

To man’s credit, he has had his vision focused on the heavens from the earliest recorded histories. Without benefit of VLA (see ZB post January 28, 2009) to locate and gather information on these celestial bodies, early man quickly learned to attach a spiritual component to their presence. In the noted article you will see how science has evolved to certify these heavenly features. Ever since, but in a gradually more refined manner, we have acquired an ever increasing concept of the universality of our Maker. In this timeless milieu, God has constructed a delicate balance in the unlimited vastness of space.

The montage of photos and digital interpretations follow so give some serious thought to what is represented here.

Well, what did you think of those? I truly believe that every person in a position of leadership should be required to view that series and then direct the affairs of their assignment with a new respect for their actual significance in the universe.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

Monday Morning Rant 79

There are concerns about a couple of different items in light of the coverage of the “porkulus disaster.” The first is the apparent attitude of the president and many top officials in Washington who seem to portray a constant message of gloom and doom. I fully appreciate that it is necessary, when you have just passed and signed the largest pork bill in history, to cover your foolishness in the event it turns into the national tragedy which it undoubtedly will. Be assured; it is not a stimulus. Much of the legislation deals with projects which have no hope of being implemented before 2010 at the earliest and little which (percentage wise) will aid the citizens at the present. Not even the $13.00 will help.

That having been noted, may we observe that the executive branch in particular has a “bully pulpit” to set a theme for the nation as a whole? What they have done with the complicity of the media is sound more like Chicken Little than the American eagle. Yes, we have financial problems and yes home prices in certain areas have dropped below their value as mortgage collateral and yes, to a degree, there are marginally more homes in foreclosure than usual.

To cast an unbiased eye on this matter, we turn to Alan Reynolds of the Cato Institute with the result of some amazing research he has done on the subject. In this linked article he names the five (5!) states which are experiencing the bulk of the grief in this imbalance in our normal financial condition. He also explains the circumstances which brought it all about and has some interesting figures on the threat of unemployment. There was a time when we lived not in fear but in a spirit of courage to confront our problems. Let us pray that our leadership will fully understand the indomitable will of the American people and get over this business of crying in our beer all the time and encourage the citizens to exercise their will.

As you read Mr. Reynolds piece I encourage you to pay special attention to his remarks on the second item--unemployment figures. One issue which many have not factored in is the truth that most of our retailers traditionally cut back on personnel shortly after the busy Christmas season. Any business (retail) that I have ever been a party to wound up virtually costing me the entire month of December in personal time to maintain enough staff to handle the business. Most businesses operate with longer hours and greatly increased traffic during that critical season. It is a shakey balance which must be maintained and those in my level of management were the ones who filled the gaps. On December 20th, you may need twenty cashiers manning the registers. On January 5th, you only need about 7 to 12. You may keep five delivery trucks on the road in December and only need 2 or 3 the following month. This is a component of manufacturing and services as well. It is a fact of the marketing scheme.

No manager, be it retail, service, or manufacturing, intentionally lays people off without reason unless he himself is seeking greener pastures. There is no profit in maintaining millions in inventory if you can’t get it out the door. These people fully understand this as well as the penalty for failing to maintain an inventory of workers to do the job.

In summation it is apparent that our leaders do not understand the Americans they govern. The president endlessly campaigned on promised transparency and then summarily concealed the details of the “porkulus” package. The leadership of the congress didn’t even provide the full details to the membership before they put it up to a vote. Then they follow up with a message laden with dire warnings. To counteract this, read the report I linked and while it will not completely put your mind at ease; it will help.

Pillsbury Doughboy Obituary

This was lifted from the web-site Wicked Thoughts in its entirety. While probably not newsworthy, it is at least, punny:

“Veteran Pillsbury spokesman Pop N. Fresh died yesterday of a severe yeast infection. He was 71.

Known to friends as Brown-n-Serve, Fresh was an avid gardener and tennis player. Fresh was buried in one of the largest funeral ceremonies in recent years. Dozens of celebrities turned out including Mrs. Butterworth, the California Raisins, Hungry Jack, Aunt Jemima, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Skippy. The graveside was piled high with flours as longtime friend Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy, describing Fresh as a man who "never knew how much he was kneaded."

Fresh rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with many turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes -- conned by those who buttered him up.

Still, even as a crusty old man, he was a roll model for millions. Fresh is survived by his second wife. They have two children and another bun in the oven. The funeral was held at 350 for about 20 minutes.”

An apology

In an unheard of circumstance, The Huffington Post, a leftist blog site, offered a heartfelt apology to John Gibson. They acknowledged with regret that they had falsely accused him of identifying Eric Holder, the attorney general, of being “a monkey with a bright blue scrotum.”

What was refreshing was the absence of “weasel” words in the formulation of the apology. It had been alleged that Gibson made the remark in response to Holder’s accusations of racial cowardice on the part of the American public. Nothing was heard from the attorney general regarding his ill-thought remark.

And finally

Without flat tires and other distractions, I finally made it to Miami, OK for some much needed fellowship with the Saints who fill their pews. On the drive over, I made note of the progress that the citizens just east of Neosho, MO were making in restoring order to their tornado ravaged area. It has been nearly a year and I’ll wager none of you heard of their mini-disaster. I pointed out at the time that the obviously “manufactured” homes, so prevalent in the area, were the ones with the least damage. The result for “stick” houses ran from lost roofs to total devastation. There were also huge trees scattered everywhere.

I was reminded of some definitions relative to storm damage: minor damage = your house; major catastrophe = my house. By virtue of driving through the area over fifty times since the event, their accomplishments in the rebuilding and clean up process have reached a near personal level. As each broken window is replaced, each porch rebuilt, each roof repaired and each brush pile is burned and larger pieces turned into firewood, I make a mental note and rejoice for their progress. But, progress it is! I’m certain they had lots of help but I have never seen any evidence of FEMA or local services. At the offset, every lot became a construction zone but now one only sees a ladder here and there as evidence of storm clean up.

These folks are typical Americans who have the capacity to shed a tear and then rapidly get to work to clean up the mess. The signs of their responsibility were everywhere. It shows by the stacks of newly delivered lumber and shingles, heavy equipment, temporary living accommodations, and yes, even working on the Lord’s Day to restore shelter for their families. It’s nearly complete and I thank God for people such as these. It is a cause for thanksgiving and a sign of hope for the republic.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon