Blessed Are The Poor...

Today,I had an eye examine(yes,I am slowly going blind),and I got a new pair of safety glasses for work.Because we have a nice insurance plan,exam,frames,bifocals,transitional lens and safety features only cost me $42.00!

Because I was curious,I asked how much this would have cost me without my very fine insurance....and you guessed it...over $430.00!

This is what I would like to know...this is what I would like to ask my congressman:why does it cost someone poorer than me over ten times as much to afford eyeglasses!?!

I mean-come on.You can be working forty hours a week(fifty,fifty five,sixty)and without optical insurance,you have to pay over TEN times the amount for eye glasses that someone insured has to(let's not further discount the connection,here...anything paid through insurance raises the market price).

Why are people that can't afford insurance forced to pay TEN times the amount of those that are lucky enough to be able to?

It's an outrage.

Under-insured should,at least,only pay what wealthier people pay.

Sure,wealthier people work hard for their benefits-but insurance is just that:a benefit of their employment.Your family's health should not depend on a luxurious blessing of your employer.

I know the G.O.P. is fear mongering us into thinking that universal health care will decide when old people will die(like health care doesn't do that already),but what they aren't telling you is that the people that can least afford to have health care are taking the brunt of the failed health care system's costs.

The same old same old argument of,'I have to work for my insurance,why shouldn't they?' just doesn't hold much water.But the Republicans constantly spew it because the big business lobbyists pulling their strings keep telling them what to say.

Corporate welfare,on the other hand,seems to be OK.Pay banks,mortgage and car companies any amount they want(rumor has it that the Treasury Dept under the Bush administration 'gave' banks over FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS-gave-not lent),and it's good for the country.

But why help ailing businesses and not ailing families?Especially when having health care is more cost effective when illness is caught early on?
Because big business makes more on sick patients.

Those with a Republican lean will bite at any morsel thrown their way.Any excuse to fit their need.And damn if it's better for America.And damn if it's better for Americans.They just spew their hatred for our government all the while they're waving their red white and blue.

It makes me sick.

And I'd be outta luck without health care.

Andrew Jackson Not an American Citizen

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary,Fox news and the rest of the 24/7 un-news channels-instead of reporting real news-are still harping on President Obama(supposedly)not having a real birth certificate.

This is understandable considering-arguably-how un-American the Fox networks truly are.Fox news pretending to be fair and balanced,reacts to every slight against their points of views as amoral and grievant to the decay of the American way of life.Meanwhile,the FOX broadcasting network,one of the leading filth and trash distributors in America,pollutes the minds of the unsuspecting and weak on a daily basis.

Nothing like the un-values station to preach values...

Now..with that little tirade out of the way let be get to the gist of this post,that according to this published article,president Andrew Jackson may not have been an American citizen himself.

Why is this little side bar important?It isn't really,except for the fact that trivial matters seem to hold more news worthiness now-a-days then truly newsworthy topics...like health care.

But why emphasize the trivial when such important tasks at hand as universal heath care are being debated?

To bait and switch the American attention spans,that's why.If so called news networks actually spent as much time on the benefits of universal health care as they did debating the dead issue of president Obama's birth certificate,most people would soon start realizing the benefit of such a plan.Maybe actually writing or calling their congressmen and women.Which may sway enough elected officials to vote to pass the health care plan.

Keeping Obama in power.

What the networks and the politicians of the Big Business party are seeing is their own demise....unless they can propaganda-ize the masses into thinking their way.

So while they are 'mis'-leading the American republic,let me give them a sage piece of advice from one of their own early leaders:You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.

I suggest instead of trying to mislead the people,rather,to become true advocates of the masses.

An example:How can you preach against international organizations like the U.N. as being anti-American in nature when you push the agendas of international corporations in the name of Big Business?

This suggests that you care little(if at all)for America and only for the companies that line your pockets via $$$ grubbing lobbyists.

This puts you on the wrong side of history.This shows that you are more interested in maintaining your power and money than you are for caring for American.

The disarming fact that you think that your plan appears be working should be scaring the hell out of you.Alarms in your heads should be going off.You can't fool all the people all the time.

Just why are you trying to fool all the people?

These words should resounding in your head.Why are you trying to 'mislead' the people?

Unless you wake up to the truth,you will get your answer.You will be left behind as America moves forward...birth certificate or not.

The Christian Message Of 'Fight Club'

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...I know I am breaking the first two rules of Fight Club by talking about Fight Club,but isn't the philosophy behind Fight Club: to expose the hypocrisy of such mindless laws,rules and regulations that run our lives?!?

Fight Club is one of my favorite movies.Yes,I have friends that point out that 'Fight Club' is exactly the mindless media hype that it is supposed to to be ridiculing and rallying against{the ultimate 'Life Of Brian',"Be yourself,"group chant-as one of my friends so politely put it}.But,I don't believe shouting Lisa Simpson's famous quote,'How rebellious in a conformist sort of way,"does the movie any justice.

I see 'Fight Club' in a different sort of way.I see it as exposing Christian thoughts and ideals to those whom choose to ignore or not accept them.

A prime example of this anti-God thinking is to ask,"Why would God allow pain and suffering to exist?"

'Fight Club',the movie addresses this point quite poignantly.A main character, Tyler Durden states,"Listen to me! You have to consider the possibility that God does not like you. He never wanted you. In all probability, he hates you. This is not the worst thing that can happen."

Thus explaining away the ideology of God,the rest of the movie preaches why the way of suffering is the most direct route to total enlightenment.

Not buying into the repression of the 'social norms',and rebelling against the media hyped rules of oppression and slavery,are great 'Fight Club' themes.Those with even very little knowledge of the teachings of Jesus' can see similar messages spread throughout his gospels.

You must suffer for your life to have any meaning.You must stay the course and remain true to your core beliefs.Yet,you must be willing to grow in your assumptions and be able to change them as needed.You must treat people equally.That you must even be willing to die for your cause.These are not just strong 'Fight Club' ideals,but ideas that seem to mimic Christian ideology quite well,thank you.

Yes,'Fight Club' can be accused of taking the,'Because you'll buy anything,' Wall-Street message to John Lennon quasi-religious levels,but I feel that 'Fight Club' flies above the level of the agnosticism of all that's media.

'Fight Club' gives to those to whom the media tells to,'work jobs you hate so you can buy shit we don't need,' a fighting chance.

So even if you obey the frist rule of ,'Fight Club'...The word will spread.

http://wechoosethemoon.org/

Suzi & Sam's Wedding And The Foggy Mountain Breakdown...

I love weddings.I simply love them.While some people say that they are going out of fashion,I find them incredibly romantic.There is just something about celebrating love before God and family that is just so joyous.Suzi and Sam's wedding was certainly no exception.
From the rehearsal dinner(70's style fashions and plenty of beer),to the beautiful service,to the kick butt reception(I danced like a fool and drank way too much beer..as did almost everyone else),it was such a fun and wunderful celebration.
Great luck on your fantastic voyage Sam and Suzi:-)
I was going to write more about my niece,Suzi and her fiancee,Sam's wunderful wedding,but I am tired.A third of the way home from their Bethany,W.V. wedding,our Ford Windstar's transmission blew a leak and went kaput.The van had to be towed home(122 miles),and my sister Nora(whom lives in Columbus)drove two hours to pick us up,and take us to her house.We found the rest of our way home by Robyn getting our car via the tow truck guy and coming back to Columbus to pick the rest of us up at Nora's.Whoo...I'm beat...so is everyone us..


The Bride and Groom

Myself with Ms.Brunner,and my wife,Robyn.

Yesterday,at a Democratic dinner,I had the honor of meeting The Ohio Secretary Of State,Ms.Jennifer Brunner.She was the person most responsible for making sure that all the polling stations in Ohio ran fairly and smoothly during the last presidential election...no small feat if you remember the big mess that her predecessor made in the previous election.She is a recent recipient of the prestigious 'Profiles In Courage' award.She is planning on running for the U.S.Senate when George Voinovich vacates his seat in 2011.I hope she does well,and gets the seat.She is doing a great job as Secretary Of State and would make a fine Senator for the state of Ohio.

Happy Forth Of July

The New Screen Door and Other Various Ramblings....

When our front storm door finally went kaplooie,Robyn came up with the keen idea of replacing it with just a screen door.It was a little larger than our storm door so I had to do some fancy finagling to make it fit(for me,anyways).Somehow I managed to get it up.I was going to put a spring loader closer on it...but we decided that we liked that sound of the door slapping shut.Robyn was the real player in this episode.She painted the whole front door area...and it really looks sharp.

Nice job,dear.

My taste in beer is slightly askew,me thinks.I am the only one I know that actually likes the taste of the new Bud Light & Clamato{sort of like spicy V~8 juice} concoction called,'Chelada'.I just can't drink enough of it.It goes down so deliciously smooth...Mmmm...good stuff.I can not see why(or how)no one else likes it...I sure do.

I believe that Michael Jackson's downfall began when he bought-some say stole-the publishing rights to the Beatle's catalogue.Urban legend has it that while recording a song with Paul McCarthy that Paul told him how much he(Paul)was going to bid and Michael simply outbid him.I don't know how much truth there is to this story,but it does seem that Jacko went wacko soon afterwords.

Anyway...new news reports state that Michael may have given them back.

More than Neverland,Michael Jackson's life story seems more like something out of a Grimm's Fairytale.A cautionary tale for sure.

Wilco has a new album called,'Wilco-The Album'.There is even a song called,'Wilco-The Song'.Since they called the new recording an 'album',I got the grandiose thought of purchasing the actual Lp.Smart move,Ex-Lax..while the cd has been out for over a week,I still don't have the Lp:-(

Wilco is one of my favorite groups.Both,'Hotel Foxtrot' and 'A Ghost Is Born' are fantastic albums.Some of the best music of the decade.Well,all of their cd's are good,really.Those two are just both,just classics.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth is getting thirty days in jail for his drunk driving accident that killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes.

Meanwhile,the man that stole Lance Armstrong's time trial bike is getting 'three years in jail'!

Maybe it is comparing apples and oranges,but...I guess it pays to be a professional athlete.

Anyway,I hope that you are having a very nice summer.Good luck all.

Happy 'Father's Day' To me...

Hi,Every one.I had a great Father's day.I woke up to a great breakfast...cheese omelet with rehydrated morale mushrooms.Next,came the gifts...a Uof T hoodie;a coffee cup made by Tido,and 'Grand Torino'...just an excellent movie.



Off to Columbus ...a nice treat of overpaying for coffee at Starbucks..there isn't one anywhere near us,so it was worth it.











We went to see,'Up' in 3-D...
...just one fantastic movie..totally awesome.

*

*

*And finally,we went to 'BD's Mongolian BBQ for supper....yum,yum,yum...one super-duper Father's Day.Thanks family.

HEY...









...Thanks for showing me that when you disagree with someone that you shun them,and throw your relationship with them away.

That makes it perfectly acceptable for me to do this...













...'F' You,Olive Garden!

I come to your place for overpriced somewhat generic Italian food,not to be preached right-wing political mumbo-jumbo.

David Letterman's joke fits well within the politically acceptable humor standards of today's comedy.

If anything,Letterman should be accused of being late with this joke.

You ban Letterman.I ban you.

If you want to push your right wing political agenda,fine.But not with my $$$.

You will no longer get my business.

Capisci?

Drinking Schlitz

Yes,Schiltz.

I have been reading about the re-introduction of the 'older' formula of this classic beer for some time.

My memories of this brew began in the 1960's.It seemed like one of the only beers my family would drink at family reunions.

My own drinking experiences of it in the late '70's & early '80's were limited.Good times were had,but it got a low~end rep.I and most of my friends just didn't drink it all that much.

I haven't seen hide or hair of it in a long time.

But the hype,the news about the return of the 1960's formula peaked my interest.I wanted to taste the taste that my parents,aunts and uncles all tasted when they exclaimed,"Aaah,Schlitz,this is what beer should taste like."

So,I was pleasantly surprised when I found it in our local grocery store.I immediately bought and chilled a six pack.

I was hooked from the first sip.It is slightly heavier than your average beer(ie.Budweiser),yet has a very pleasant aftertaste similar to what you would experience in a high end beer,say,a Sam Adams.Love that aftertaste.

It is very drinkable..and by drinkable,I don't mean the modern term meaning,'no taste'...but just the opposite.Schlitz tastes good.Really good.'Schlitz tastes like beer should taste like'.

I introduced it to a buddy,Shane.Schlitz is all he will drink.

And,there is no headache afterwords either...not bad for a beer with some kick.

Am I a Schlitz drinker..?Yes,Yes I am.Damn straight I am.

HAPPY FLAG DAY,AMERICA !!!

While The Cat's Away...

While Robyn is off on her once in a lifetime 9 day vacation down at Siesta Key with three of her friends...I,too am having a grand time.I have been partying with friends and family...Buddies,graduation parties..you name it.

Siesta Key is con- sist- ently voted one of Ameri- ca's top beaches,so I know my beautiful wife is having the time of her life.The beach itself is as white as snow.Even in ninety degree heat you can walk on it in your bare piggies and it is as cool as can be.An the sunsets...WoW!

Don't even get me started on all the great places to eat.

Meanwhile,back at the ranch,Tyler was even home this weekend

(that's him with a graduation present that he made) to pick up the van

for his final week of school return.

The rest of the time has been all Andy,Adam(with Marissa),and Nikolas time.We have been having great fun.Eating out(pizza-wings,etc)

or at home(My famous homemade-light as air-pancakes;beer boiled hot dogs),and just having fun.

Yesterday,we played church softball...yes,I said we..I was re- cr uited because we were short.I went two for two and even scored the go ahead run(Presbo's 1st win:-).I ran like the six million dollar man(in slow motion),but sometimes it is better to be lucky than good....Oh Adam & Nik did great,too.

Tonight,we played Frisbee golf.The boys are really good..not me.It was a blast.

Tomorrow...Walleye and perch with the in-laws...

...This..ah-hem...is not even metioning the summer music mixes that I have been putting together,and...

...let's just say Robyn might be surprized to know that I have been really enjoying driving around in a new 2005 Dodge Stratus this week.

D-Day 2009

I am not a hero

I never claimed to be one

just being there doesn't make you one

does it?

just surviving

how

does that make me a hero?

Does dying make me one?

or living with the scars

or the fears?

I am no hero

in my nightmares

or when I panic

seeing the death

in it's quickness

that lives forever

cuz'

it's the fear

that keeps me in the tree

holding on for dear life

Finding Tido

Before I officially start this post,I want to give a big shot out to Mother Nature...this photo is of an upcoming storm this morning.

Since Tyler...affectionately called,'Tido',by his college pals,still has two weeks of school left,we decided to go south to Nelsonville to go visit him.
Tido showed us some of his art work...not for any of classes,mind you,just something he does on the side...all of these were done on any object that he could find lying around.He does them with just a can of spray paint.In the photograph,it loses most of it's three dimensionalism...but it still looks way cool...

Here is a pic with Adam and Tido......

....and here's another with him and Nikolas.

These are famous Nelsonville'Star' bricks.
They are the bricks that they used at Indy.

Adam,Tido,me and Nik.

*

Adam,

Robyn,

Tido and Nikolas with Tido holding Millie.

The Marriage Of Science And Religion

"Scientists seek the lawfulness of events.
It is the task of Religion to fit man into this lawfulness."

Frank Herbert

I came across this excellent quote while re-reading Frank Herbert's sci-fi masterpiece,'Dune'.I have written about the conflict between science and religion before.I have decided to revisit the topic,here,with another post.

First off,I consider myself a Christian.Secondly,I love science.I see no conflict.I,however,am not naive enough to assume that everyone else believes the same as I do.From agnostics that shout that there is no place in human evolution for religion,to the religious ignoring science based facts,I know that there are groups on both sides of these issues that see no common ground.

My guess is that for most people the conflict between the earthly and the divine/the proven and the hoped for,is an on going issue.I know it is for me.While I feel blessed to have been born and raised Christian,the conflict between what is science and what is religion rages on inside me.

As a daily reader of The Bible,I know that studying this living,breathing 'Word Of God' is just the tip of the iceberg of knowledge.Debates on it authenticity-alone-fill volumes of books and discussions.To me,the real truth of these canticles is the debate that they inspire.What is truth?Justice?Right?Wrong?

The Bible opens my mind to further debate and opinions.The truth can be found in music,love,poetry:any place I care to look.But,like everyone else,the answers I find,must suit my nature;must{if I am truthful} answer to my soul;to exactly who I am.

Thus,in searching for the essence of my being,The Bible-far from being my only source of knowledge-ends up being more correctly-like an appendix and/or index that I can always cross reference.It becomes-as science would say-my 'control group'.

Because in essence,I am a scientist.I love facts and figures.I am inspired to try and figure things out.That is why I like the book of 'Romans' so much.It is a step by step analyst of why Jesus matters(that it took me until my sixth time reading of it,to get this point is a lesson in itself).'Romans' did not hook me by faith,hope or love,but,rather,by cold-hard explanation.

It appealed to the scientist in me.Because I like science.

In my opinion,when man officially became man,it was not distinguished by either the touch of God or the leap from monkey unto man,but by the effect this moment caused on man>the ability to wonder>the ability to reason.

To me,what makes man man is not his ability to create tools so much as his need to wonder.How did I get here?Who made the stars?Why?Why?Why?

A question after man created the club that probably was almost as pertinent as,'what do I kill?' was probably,'What don't I kill?'(Unless this moral issue was already decided before hand-then,the club might have been invented simply as a means to defend).

Either way,right and wrong quickly became a quintessentially human issue.Those whom did wrong-probably because survival depended on these perceptions-were ostracized:good and evil were born.

Science and religion(as they still are today)became intertwined:build me a weapon and give me a reason to use it.

That neither science nor faith were exact was not the point.Cause and effect had to be addressed.'We did everything right,yet our crops failed.We were gentle,peaceful farmers,yet enemies came and raped our women.

Also,unexplained positive forces had to be addressed.Lighting that started fire.Rain that came unexpectedly during drought...how could this have happened?

Lacking both the knowledge and the understanding,mankind took on some assumptions.One must had been that,'There are powers beyond us at work here.'

Addressing the,'Why?'both science and religion were born.

In contemplating this post I asked myself where would man be if he never developed religion?While there were many 'near' universal truths,the only firm truth that I could come up with is that mankind has always and in almost all forms always believed that fire burns.

[Some nears misses are:there is always night and day;with water you get wet;everyone dies.]

Mankind,being the social animals that we are,had to adjust our thinking to social laws that would develop a survival rate acceptable to the tribe...ie form laws of social conduct.Laws were easier to enforce via power,or threat of punishment.

The individual was subject to the will of the whole.I.E.The whole became greater than the individual.Whether real or imagined,[Man]Gods were created.Real or imagined suddenly,there was a glue to hold a people together.

So,to dismiss religion into man's development is simply ludicrous.

But to discount science is to be equally so.

The power over people's lives without moral clarity can lead to corruption of ideals.Proven facts are needed to extinguish the flame of prejudice,ignorance and arrogance.

Thus,the marriage of Science and religion.

As an example,let's take on the issue of abortion.The moral high-ground on the issue was equally divided for and against it.On one side was the moral obligation to the mother.On the other side of the coin were the proponents of the value of life of the fetus/child.

It was science that ultimately turned the tide of public opinion against the procedure.Science grayed the issue by finding the technology to save younger and younger premature babies outside of the womb.It was science that exposed the fetus as a nearly fully formed child inside the womb sucking it's thumb.

Only science oriented people that refused to believe their own scientific data remained 100% pro-abortion.Abortion became an issue cleverly debated:Mother's rights vs. life itself.

Science gave the evidence,but it could not be the moral arbitrator.

Now,I am not saying that it will be religion that will resolve this issue.Debate should be waged on both sides of the issue.What I am stating is the moral equivalent to religion-the legal arbitrators of the law-will prevail...in fact..already have.

The obligation to social justice is inbreed into human beings.Perhaps,religion with God as the supreme being,will someday evolve out of the human experience,but as a Christian,I don't believe that this world will soon lose any of it's major religions.In fact,I believe just the opposite will be true.

But as a scientist,I hope that there continue to be those outside the faith that push us inside of it to reach for the greater good,the better value of human existence,the higher truth.The holier love.

After all...isn't that the goal of all great marriages?

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

We Love ya,Ma

Hi.All.I hope that you are having a fun and fantastic Memorial Day Weekend.

First things first...was that or was that not just a great-with literally only one second left-shot by LeBron James Friday night?WoW!The shot that saved Cleveland.

Earlier in the day I did a seven hour buzz(tree) job.It involved three moderately sized silver maples that had lots of over overhang[tree #1-overhanging not only the house,but the patio;tree #2(SHOWN BEFORE AND AFTER,BELOW)-involved large limbs overhanging not only a shed and a smaller mulberry tree but utility wires as well;and,finally,tree #3-limbs overhanging the electric lines,another shed and the tree needed tons of dead wooding].I could not have done any of these trees without the help of two of my boys:Nikolas and Adam.They pulled ropes,tied things on(like much needed water and/or my pole pruner),threw ropes,drug brush,cut things up on the ground,etc...thanks guys.The owner was so pleased he even gave us a $30.00 tip!

Meat- ball pizza for super..and then the Cav's last second miracle win to boot....One great day!