Almost Right

2012-02-15T15:58:00.001-08:00

Bernanke-Geitner-Obama Economics

2012-02-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

THE MESS THE BUSH-HOUSE BUILT

2003-05 Fed holds interest rates below norm of

TRUST ME ?

previous  20 years. And spurs people to
invest in real estate  beyond their means.
2007-08   Fed Term Auction Facility (TAF) gave
loans to banks to  shore up their balance
sheets but totally ignored growing toxic

assets. This enabled banks to continue to

make high risk loans.

RECESSION BEGAN

2008-09 Economic Stimulus Act was to jump start
consumer buying. It did not do so.
2008-09 The Fed attempted to rescue creditors of
Bear Stearns. The attempt helped very
few creditors and the company
went bankrupt.

2008-09 Fed made loans to Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac.
These loans were to encourage more risky mortgages.

2008-09 Fed turned OFF intervention to help Lehman Bros.

It was allowed to go bankrupt and fleese it's investors.

2008-09 Fed turned ON again to save AIG.
This firm and it's investors were at least partially
saved from overwhelming debt.

2008-09 Fed turned OFF when TARP was proposed.
The market panic was world-wide and the TARP
intent was quickly changed.

THE PANIC BEGAN

2008-09 TARP intended to purchase toxic bank assets but was
changed to purchase bank equities. And market

YES, IT certainly IS.

conditions immediately improved.
2009-10 The worst of the fiscal panic was over. And the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (STIMULUS) had no
noticeable effect.

2009-10 Fed began to purchase $1.25 Trillion of Mortgage Backed
Securities (MBS). This also had little or no effect on
mortgage rates once the prepaid risk and
default risk were controlled.

* * * * *

2009-10 Americans began to see that Obama, Bernanke & Geitner policies
made our economic conditions worse, not better.

Carpet Bombing Civilians

2012-02-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

I just reviewed a video on the life and times of America's B-52 Aircraft.

On the one hand this 50 year old bomber has helped us win several wars.

On the other hand, it was, in it's day, the the most effective destroyer of innocent humanity ever conceived by man.

From high in the air we (Americans) exterminated untold numbers of non-combatant men, women and children. Our history books usually refer to this as "collateral damage".

Isn't that like saying' "a few Jews were killed during the Holocaust".

Carpet bombing with no specific military target should be a very, very last resort. It should be considered no different than the use of nuclear bombs !

Insist on Political Civility

2012-02-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

We are watching as the political candidates shoot each other - and it's not pretty. Apparently this vicious "candidates gauntlet" is an expected part of our political system. Why can't we change that? It has become disgustingly nasty and we don't need that to elect anybody.

The government plan devised in 1776 was new to the world. It established the idea that citizens could elect their own government, and if they became unsatisfied with whomever they elected, they could elect a replacement. So far, so good.

One of the flaws in this scheme was the Founders lack of attention to placing candidates before the electorate. From the beginning the system of government was flawed by the unhealthy "vetting" of men and women offering to serve. The ommission of any "rules of engagement" resulted in the currently unrestrained competition for elected positions. This competition has evolved to the point that good, solid prospects for political office simply do not step up to offer their services. At the time our government was conceived, it wasn't perfect - but it was an improvement over any other system on the planet. The Founders provided for imperfections.

There are ways and means to make adjustments.

Henry Kaiser said the path to success was; " to find a need and fill it". We need to insist on civility and truthful political campaigns at every level. At the same time we need to insist on a careful examination of the credentials, personal integrity, and character of every candidate.

We should never. NEVER AGAIN have an unknown, unvetted President.

End.

Brilliant But Stupid

2011-07-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

Is there ANY hope of getting a smart Republican candidate for President who also has common sense? I just heard John McCain stomp on the TEA Party. Wouldn't he be a better politician if he listened to them? Now we must endure Obama until the next election. Grump!

Obama (and his administration) are clueless. They are an embarrassment to America. Republicans and Democrats once had principles. What happened? Where did their character and integrity go? They both avoid the Constitution as they scurry to get re-elected. That's seems to be all they think about.

A pox on both parties.

end

Shuttle Gone - Space Survives

2011-07-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

A number of people have shrugged and wept over the impending loss of America's space program. Hey guys, all is not lost. The space program has shifted from the government (NASA) to . . . drum roll here . . . . Scaled Composites Company, Burt and Dick Rutan, and the Mojave CIVILIAN space program. Please take a moment to gaze at the following link.

http://www.mojaveairport.com/photovideo/index.htm

This is the real deal. When I was in sales and working for Riggs/LaMoree Corporation the company "Scaled Composites" happened to be one of my accounts. We were then distributing and fabricating DuPont products, particularly Mylar polyester films, Kapton polimide films, and Nomex polyamide products. Scaled Composites used all three in the manufacturing of state of the art aerospace products. Their company was then located in Monrovia, CA and much smaller than it is today. As I recall they were housed in an industrial building of about 5,000 sq. ft. My contact there was neither of the Rutan brothers. It was a fellow named Paul ____________ , and I'm sorry to say I've forgotten his last name.

I suppose the time line was somewhere between 1960 & 1975. Riggs/LaMoree was, at the time, also a distributor for the Dow Corning Corporation. They were then the leading producer of silicone elastomeric materials for use primarily in electrical, electronic, aerospace and medical applications. Scaled Composites used Dow Corning silicone materials extensively in their prototype shop as flexible molds for airframe structural parts.

Scaled Composites, way back then, was a pioneer in the design and manufacture of high strength carbon fiber based composite structures. This link above shows just how far they have come since those early days.

Dixon

Learning About Natural Things

2011-07-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

Sitting on the patio at Starbucks this morning the sun was warm on my back. Another of the early morning coffee drinker regulars was across the table looking as if he also needed that first cup of the day. For no particular reason I noticed his fingers gripping his cup. They were large, puffy and had a hint of dirt under his broken nails. I thought that he probably was a mechanic or at least a man that worked with his hands. Our conversation began with the normal "how are you" greetings followed by a remark about whatever stupid thing headlined the morning news. The conversation moved sideways from there to my question about Dan's vocation.

It turns out that Old Dan had been a farmer most of his life. His hands had seen a lot of bruising hard work over years gone by. Dan sold the farm not long ago and, contrary to so many small farmers of the day, Dan had closed down and retired wealthy enough to be comfortable in retirement.

I told him I had spent summers on a Minnesota farm as a small boy, and he interrupted to reply that he too was born and lived on a farm in Northern Minnesota. In his case the nearest town was a few miles west of Mil Lacs Lake. In my case the nearest town was Grand Rapids just north of Mil Lac Lake. From that shared Minnesota root we talked for an hour about our early experiences on the farm.

I remarked that on Joe Koch's farm all plowing, root pulling, plowing and cultivating was done with a pair of horses. Large white horses. While at work each had a collar with two wooden risers on top. One horse, the one harnessed on the left, was "Fritz". The other was "Hans" who was always harnessed on the right. Fritz was the calmer and older of the two, and Hans was a "biter" and liked to kick and buck now and then. I was about 4 years old when I had my solo horse ride on Fritz.

Joe lifted me and sat me just behind the harness collar and told me to hold on tight. We the left the barnyard and headed toward a field that needed cultivating. I held tight on to the risers on Fritz's collar. My felt hat was too big and kept falling over my eyes. The two horses settled on a fixed and slow speed and clippity-clopped along with me bouncing away on Fritz. Joe was driving the pair from his seat on the disc machine. We soon left the narrow dirt road and headed into a field of dry scatter-grass that had been lying fallow for a couple of years. Joe stopped the rig and we placed a galvanized water bucket and dipper under a tree at the side of the field. Joe asked me several times if I wanted to stay with the water bucket or get back on Fritz and go plowing. I wanted to stay on Fritz and go plowing. Within about two hours of going back and forth cultivating with the discs, I was thinking that I had made the wrong decision. My bottom was sore and my arms were about to fall off. Joe called to me and said he thought I was turning red too, so we stopped for drink in the shade of the tree. I was sunburned bright red on every part of my anatomy that was exposed. That ended my first ride for the day and was told to stay in the shade until we started back. Joe finished the last row about noon and with me in his lap we clippity-clopped back to the farmhouse for lunch .

Dan then related a similar little story about his first ride. When he finished, one of us, I don't know which, mentioned that most kids today are not exposed to a rural lifestyle and miss the delight and complexity of nature. Our conversation drifted on that tone for a while and then concluded that the pace and demands that kids face today have changed radically. It is so much different for them today.

Young people today don't have a "first horse ride" experience,
they never milk a cow,
wring a chicken neck,
smell the hay in the loft,
repair a harness,
get water from a well,
or muck out a barn.

One hundred years ago most young children were somehow connected to farming and the natural world. The majority of today's children have no connection whatever. In fact most of them no longer live even close to that environment. They can hardly learn from it. I told Dan it was a shame and he pointed out that it was only one "shame" of many.

RELIGION used to play a role in teaching young people how to live
with one another. Today, the churches are empty.

FAMILIES used to be a basic and strong social unit and tended to have
clear-cut roles for each family member.

FATHER was the boss and the wage earner.

MOTHER was the child bearer and the home maker.

CHILDREN were expected to mind their parents and assist the family as directed.

BOTH Father and Mother would insist on attendance at school and church going.

For many years the teaching of manners, morals traditions and ethics was passed on to the children by their parents, teachers, church, and Sunday school. They learned these things from family traditions, a grounding in history and the teachings of their religion.

Today, the family unit is rapidly being changed or replaced, family traditions are being lost, history has been downgraded in our educational systems, and as science advances there are more people leaving religion and trying to replace it with "no religion". So where are children and young people learning manners, morals, ethics and traditions?

temporary end

Robert Citron

2011-07-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Municipal Bankruptcy - Orange County (CA)

Author: Larry Lambert

The US Bankrutpcy Code allows for counties and municipalities to seek bankruptcy protection under Chapter 9. No mention is made in the code for US States. The largest municipal bankruptcy in history occurred in Orange County, California. Now, sixteen years later, a (90 page) report of that investigation will soon be available on Amazon.com, Kindle, on e-books and in book stores (on a for-order basis).

Orange County is the richest county in the richest half of the richest portion of the richest state in the richest nation on the planet. How did this happen?

For the first time, the true story of what transpired, and who caused what is available to the public. This report is factual and is made without prejudice or bias. It's not written by a third party reporter or someone who had access to some of the facts. I had access to ALL of the facts and personally conducted most of the key investigative interviews. This is not a tell-all book in the sense of casting blame or pointing fingers. There was blame enough to be shared by everyone involved - The Orange County Board of Supervisors, The Orange County Treasurer, Merrill Lynch, Standard and Poors & Moodys Rating Services and other broker dealers.

***

On December 6, 1994, the County of Orange filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection. County officials believed this action was necessary because of market losses to the Orange County Investment Pool (OCIP) estimated at the time to exceed $2,500,000,000. Due to a favorable selling environment, the actual losses were later tabulated at about $1,690,000,000. Citron managed funds worth $8 billion but had leveraged them to amounts from 158% to almost 300%. (The OCIP had been leveraged to $21 billion dollars.)

Orange County Treasurer Robert L. (Bob) Citron was the only Democratic Party politician within the Orange County Executive political community and the only one holding office on December 6, 1994 when Orange County declared bankruptcy.

Citron pled guilty to six felony counts and three special enhancements. Charges also included filing a false and misleading financial summary to participants purchasing securities in the Orange County Treasury Investment Pool. The court ordered Citron to serve five years of supervised probation, and to perform 1000 hours of community service. Citron did not serve any time in prison.

There are many lessons that can be drawn from this investigation, but perhaps the most striking one, which I believe that Bob Citron would agree with, was that he had absolutely no qualifications to manage funds of this magnitude. He ran for office unopposed for over twenty years, the public elected him because his name was the only one on the ballot. During the course of the investigation, I learned that Bob Citron kept his personal record of the funds, leveraged to $21 billion on the backs of a few manila folders. We obtained the ‘ledgers’ by way of a search warrant and they were duly booked as evidence.

Orange County arrived at a settlement with Merrill Lynch & Co, Inc. in 1998. Merrill Lynch paid $400,000,000 in civil fines and $10,000,000 in criminal penalties to settle accusations that it sold inappropriate and risky investments to Orange County Treasurer Robert L. (Bob) Citron. The agreement stipulated that Merrill Lynch not admit any liability. It remains the largest criminal fine levied and collected in the history of the State of California. Orange County lost $1.69 billion and eventually recovered about $600 million in total, including the $400 million from Merrill Lynch.

From the Investigative Summary-

"Robert L. Citron, elected Treasurer, his Assistant Treasurer Matt Raabe, and the Director of Management and Budget, Ronald Rubino were in a position to have “saved” the County, had they chosen to put the responsibilities of their office ahead of their personal ambitions and egos. Auditor-Controller Steve Lewis should have known, and had he exercised even the basic responsibilities of his office, he would have known the danger to the County, which resulted from Citron’s disastrous investment policy. The Board of Supervisors, and in particular, Supervisor Roger Stanton failed to supervise those elected officials who directly diverted funds, and failed to detect those illegal acts. Neither did he heed both implied and outright warnings of the impending disaster.

"Once the magnitude of the financial problem was known, Supervisor Stanton counseled other County officials, “do nothing, because if we do anything, it will be said that we could have done something.” (emphasis added) In large part the necessity of filing for Bankruptcy Protection under Chapter 9 resulted from the inability of the Supervisors to come to a decision. An eleventh hour bailout at very favorable interest rates had been arranged by J. P. Morgan & Co., which received the blessing of the Federal Reserve. That deal had been predicated on the acceptance of Orange County Government and their ability to appoint a Fiduciary.

"Had it been accepted, the County would not have needed to declare bankruptcy, and the resulting expense associated with the “less than investment grade” bonds the County sold would have been far lower. That deal was not accepted because there was no willingness to do anything. The investigation showed there was no resolve at the highest levels of County Management to do anything but blame each other in the hopes of retaining their political aspirations for future (and higher) office. In that way, in addition to those set forth previously, both Steiner and Stanton showed a total disregard for their public trust and responsibility."

In a sense, it was politics as usual, and because of that, the lessons learned are as applicable today as they were in back then.

###

Does Israel Have A Future

2011-07-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

In 1948 the victorious Allies gave Israel some borders - and there has been trouble ever since. Israel was, from the first day it opened for business, a gift from a guilty world and a huge gamble. The entire world was still feeling the horror and rubble of World War II. The totality of the holocaust was the most virulent anti-Semitism in recent centuries, and everyone was aware that:

          (1) Nazi Germany had led the band. and
          (2) The civilized world had ignored the reality
                  of their evil purpose.

As the story unfolded the Germans said that no one knew the extent of the Nazi inhumanity. We found that the claim was without merit. Over six million human beings had been exterminated and many people noticed and did nothing. It happened and everyone in the world was, to some degree, responsible. Everyone!

There was a tremendous outpouring of "guilt" that ultimately became the cause of the partitioning of the middle east. The new state of Israel was launched into a vicious environment. It's reception by Palestinians and other desert Arabs was horrendous. Yes, we know all that. We know that Israel has been under constant attack since 1948, and has survived. The survival has been possible because of :

(1) the ambition of Israel's people and
(2) the large dollar investment made by America.

Despite Israel's successful past, it's future is dark. There doesn't seem to be any rational way to end the Palestinian and desert Arab attacks. This enemy is intent on destroying the tiny state of Israel and will remain so UNLESS help arrives. The only factor with enough concentrated power to help - is America. Can America and Israel prevail?

Probably not! America and Israel have the power to eliminate the enemy - but can not and will not do so. The entire world would condemn such action. The days of gross attacks on civilian populations are over. Civilization has finally arrived at the point where the value of human beings is the first priority. Today, when nations (or any person) decides that WAR is the ONLY solution, civilization steps in with demands for POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. This "mis-named" corrective factor applies largely because of the tremendous improvement of communications media throughout the world.

Carpet bombing is no longer tolerated.
Nuclear weapons are no longer tolerated.
Spreading deadly poisons over civilians is no longer acceptable.
Massive distribution of chemical gasses is forbidden.

Note that with these few words I have stripped America and Israel of most of their power and military might - and raised the new fundamental question: "How can disputes be settled in the modern and more humane world?

I want to think on that for a while.

Alzheimers Is Coming To Town

2011-07-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
COMMUNITY

The first warning was my mild short term memory loss. It gradually got worse over a period of two years or so. An MRI indicated early onset dementia and specifically mentioned there was no indication of Alzheimer's Disease. Another year went by and the memory loss was noticeably worse. Several doctors administered basic memory retention tests. At first the result was 3 items remembered out of 3. Six months later it was 2 out of 3, and six months after that it was only 1 out of three. Obviously my short term memory loss was getting worse, yet it was (and is) still considered a mild problem.

Despite that cheerful (sic.) news it's clear that someday names will be forgotten, jobs meant to be accomplished - won't be, words will become lost or twisted in my speech, and the relentless progress of dementia will erode the ability to cope.

My "dementia" may begin to exhibit the traits of Alzheimer's, and Doctors and medications may be able to slow the declining process. I understand, yet unless science discovers a cure the end is inevitable. How long this disintegration will take is simply not predictable. I may have be two dozen or more years ahead, or only two. Nobody knows, but the probability of further memory loss will require more and more of my family, especially my long suffering wife. In the way of planning, I really don't think that there is much more that can be done. Since I retired (because:memory loss) about four years ago, my wife has assumed more and more responsibility. She is now the fully capable head of our household - and may be a caregiver someday if necessary. .

end 1

A little time has passed and there has been more memory loss. I'm beginning to think that one or more of my medications may be contributing to the problem.

Efexor, for example, is designed to change the serotonin function in my brain. It's possible side effects include increased memory loss.
Wellbutrin is another serotonin adjuster with the possible side effect of increasing memory loss. I take both of these medications regularly..

Today I met with the incoming Lt. Governor of Kiwanis Division 4. I am to be her Secretary and I am more than a little concerned that I still have the ability necessary. Do I or not? I'm on the edge. Now, every job schedule, appointment, future date, and every promise made has to be written. If it isn't, I will surely forget all about it.

end 2
.

National Journal vs Bachman

2011-07-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

This media darling presents very liberal trash attacks targeting anything political that is slightly right of center. In other words, just another political rag to line the bird's cage.

The most recent person to feel their wrath is Michelle Bachman. They apparently tired of back stabbing Sarah Palin. Anyway, the big Bachman boo-boo was that she once acted as a lawyer for IRS and tried to collect from dead-beat non-payers.

The National Journal rounded up a few disgruntled victims of Bachman's collection efforts and provided a media podium that amplified and broadcast their whines.

Just another disgraceful use of liberal media power.

end

Poverty & Death On Planet Earth

2011-07-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

An Indian once said; "when the sun comes up in the morning it will be the most important event of the day". I thought on that and concluded that everything does flow from the regular and relentless return of the morning sun. So good morning people!

You and I are more fortunate than most. We see the world through a lens of plenty. We are, unfortunately, a precious few. The world-wide gap between rich and poor has become obscene. The rich, that is you and I, get richer - while the poor people die . . . of starvation, lack of water, incompetent governments, and inadequate health care. Each year millions of human beings die . . . and we let them. Why? It's disgusting.

We (the rich) have the wealth, resources and technology to eliminate early and unnatural death on planet earth.

You say; "we are not rich and can't afford to help those in need".

May I submit that if you have enough to eat, clothes to wear, a roof over your head, and fresh water to drink . . . you are WEALTHY beyond measure compared to someone who has none of these".

more to come

.

California Freemasonry Today

2011-06-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

Joining the Masonic fraternity 45 years ago turned out to be one of the most satisfying things I've ever done. Over the years I have learned many things from Freemasonry, and the fraternity has always been interesting, informative and helpful. I was initiated, passed and raised to the 3rd Degree in Seafaring Lodge #708, Newport Beach, CA, and, in due course, went "up the officer's chairs". In 1977 I was elected Master of the Lodge. At that time there were about 400 Lodge members, many activities and great fellowship. It was a privilege and honor to be the Master of the Lodge. After I joined I discovered that membership was just an introduction to a fascinating learning experience.

Soon after becoming a member I also joined the Southern California Research Lodge. The SCRL is perhaps the best bargain in Freemasonry. It's one of the finest and most complete sources of information about the Freemasonry. Each month the SCRL mails it's members Masonic essays, pamphlets and books.

In 1980 I joined the Santa Ana Valley of The Scottish Rite of Masonry where I extended my Masonic education, and became a 32nd Degree Mason. I also joined The Grand Lodge of Scotland and it's supporting organization, the Robert the Bruce Association where, in 1993, I was elected it's President. At about the same time, from 1990 to 1995, I was appointed by the Grand Master of Freemasonry in California to be the Inspector of Orange County's 488th Masonic District. I mention my several memberships in these related layers of Freemasonry only to illustrate that I have been active in the California craft for a good many years.

California's Freemasonry is similar to that practiced in other parts of the world, but it's not precisely the same. There are minor and major differences in the workings of the Craft all around the world. For example:

Some Masonic Lodges admit women, but not in America.
In several other countries Lodges adopt political and/or religious views, but not in California - nor anywhere else in the United States.

Since 1929 all American Lodges chartered by the English Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons have specifically prohibited political, religious, and similar controversial subjects in it's Lodges.

Freemasonry is an intellectually challenging fraternity. It is a philosophy that teaches virtues, morals, ethics and the value of a person's life experience. Accurately defining it further is a challenge as every member develops his personal understanding of the education presented to him by way of a "set-in-stone formal ritual that uses symbols to solidify and guide a member's memory. The ability of each man to interpret his private definition of Freemasonry is a fascinating characteristic that scholars have studied for centuries. They have also found the exceptional use of symbology in th Masonic ritual has proven to aid members to interpret Freemasonry's complex philosophy. There is still another somewhat unusual characteristic of Masonry that is not common to most organizations:

No one person can speak for all of Freemasonry. There is no overall King, potentate, executive, general manager or other person to lead and speak for the entire craft. This is a strength, and as you might expect, also a weakness.

Freemasonry can stimulate a person's mind. The minor and major differences within the fraternity sometimes lead non-Masons to the wrong impression. The so called "secrets" of Masonry, for example, is often misunderstood. Freemasonry insists on preserving a few "secrets" and this often leads non-Masons to wrongly believe that Freemasonry is a "secret society". It is NOT a secret society at all. It may have been centuries ago but it is not true today. Since 1929 all lodges chartered by the Grand Lodge of England have been the most open of organizations. Consider if you will:

There are Masonic signs on Lodge buildings.
Lodge addresses are publicized and well known.
Thousands of books, magazines and pamphlets have been (and continue to be) published and widely circulated.
Individual Masons often wear (or otherwise display) Masonic emblems as they go about their business.
Any person who is so inclined can find information about Freemasonry in any library and on the Internet.

In 1717 four English lodges combined and formed The English Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Almost all English and American lodges that existed at that time agreed to follow certain rules and regulations established by the English Grand Lodge. Also in the early 1700's an English Freemason and Reverend by the name of James Anderson composed a book that became the standard for the lessons and the ritual of the craft. It has been modified over the years but it still usefully illustrates the Masonic lessons and how they are to be presented. The book is commonly referred to as "Anderson's Constitution" but it's full title is:

"The Constitutions of Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry"

The actual origin of Freemasonry is not known. There are a number of theories, hundreds in fact, but most historians agree that the it surfaced as an association (think "union") of "freestone masons". They gained prominence during the period of the building of the great European Cathedrals. As time passed other members of the building trades were included. During this time they were all actual or "operative" workmen. At some later time the Lodges began to admit up-standing men of good character who were not "operative masons". They were called "speculative" masons. Slowly, over a period of many years, the majority membership of Lodges changed from operative to speculative Masons. Today, Masonic Lodge members are all considered speculative.

During the balance of the 18th century19th century membership became an important element of a man's personal growth, philosophy, and well being. It was then and now desirable for ambitious men to join as a means of social and business advancement. It was and is a key to stepping forward in society.

In the mid 20th century membership reached a high point and then began to decline. Today, most Lodges have fewer members, the members are older, and the fraternity is attracting fewer applicants. Masons are concerned and asking each other what happened and why? The history of Freemasonry indicates periods of large increases and decreases. This is not the first time that Masons have worried about the future of the craft. I think it may be this worry about declining membership that causes Masons to continually "tinker" with the traditional philosophy and ritual presentation. With the best of intentions they are trying to make the Masonic education easier and faster to learn. They hope to make Freemasonry even more attractive to our ever changing world.

Are we (Masons) shooting ourselves in the foot? Let's face some awkward facts. Watering down the lessons and ritual does not bring more men to seek membership. Instead, and it sounds elitist to say so, but diluting Freemasonry seems to attract more men who are not leaders in society. There are very few Mayors, Doctors, Lawyers, Dentists, and Politicians joining Lodges anymore, and changing the ritual and lessons may be why. I must quickly add that many good men of outstanding and upright character join us every day, but not enough. Years ago the quality of Masonic membership was one of the social beacons in a community that made membership so attractive. It seems to have slipped a notch.

Understand if you will that many (if not most) non-masons have a favorable impression of the craft. At the same time a lot of them believe our 300 year old lessons and presentation ritual are:

Old and irrelevant.
Masonic public ceremonies are pompous and dated.
Our formal dress is an outmoded requirement.
Masonic emblems signifying membership are less esteemed in modern society.

The fact is that there are quite a few non-Masons that know very little about the fraternity - but ridicule it anyway. Masons need to improve their message out. It is easy to ridicule almost any human activity by making it sound foolish. We must do a better job of making the fraternity known to non-Masons. At the same time, we must not forget how we got here. It is the philosophy, moral and ethical lessons and the ritual that combine to improve individuals. If Freemasonry must shrink for a time, so be it - but we should not be quick to change the standards brought forward from 1717.

Freemasonry is designed to be timeless.

end

Palm Springs. Unique & Friendly

2011-06-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

My Grandson and I went to visit my daughter Trisha in La Quinta near Palm Springs. I've been there many times but this trip was different. Shane was driving. He turned off the 10 Freeway onto Highway 111 and we immediately encountered strong winds. Powerful gusts rocked the car back and forth and tried to push it out of the driving lane. Shane slowed and did a good job holding his line. We arrived at "windy corner" where there are usually dirt bikes and quads climbing the sand mountain on the right. Nobody was there today. Too much sand was in the air. The bikers wisely stayed home.

Shane

There were flat sided trucks being pushed one way and another on the road. We passed by the outpost village of 1950's homes at the base of a mountain on the right. Homes there are nestled on the flat desert floor. They looked tired, worn and in need of paint - but appeared to be out of the wind. As we continued toward the village of Palm Springs the wind gusts continued to bump the car left and right. We stopped at the red stop light at the Aerial Tram intersection. The wind wasn't quite as strong here. When the light turned green we resumed our drive and in a few minutes we began to pass the northern edges of Palm Springs. There were way too many vacant retail shops appearing along the roadside for a couple of miles with sad looking "For Sale" or "For Rent" signs in their windows. As we got closer to the center of town the businesses and shops were cleaned up, freshly painted and looked prosperous. Mid-town Palm Springs was welcoming, quaint, a little rustic, delightful and busy. Here the wind had died to a mild breeze. It was a dry 104 degrees and mist making devices were working over the patio restaurants and along the side walks. Yes, they do cool it down a bit.

As we worked our way south through dozens of stop signals we passed several small villages, each with a monument waterfall, manicured landscapes, golf communities, and both old and new desert homes. Brilliant flowers were all in bloom. The bright red geraniums and purple bouganvilia were especially beautiful. As we drove there appeared to be an over abundance of large and famous restaurants. Everyone in the desert must eat out.

At Ramon Road we turned left and within a few blocks found the trailer park where my Uncle Warren and Aunt Erma lived during the 1960's. We waved at the memory as we went by. Then we passed the Palm Springs Masonic Lodge where I tipped my hat. Then in a moment we were near the Palm Springs Air Museum. We had visited there on our last trip and found it as beautiful and interesting as ever. If you've never been there you have missed a five star attraction.

My Feet / Trisha's Pool / La Quinta Mountain

Shane and I finally made it to Trisha's home in La Quinta. Inside it was cool, the beer was cold, and the welcome appreciated. Her dog Pops made sure we were formally baptized by tongue licking, and the large pool beyond the great room windows was beckoning.

All was right with the world.

more to come

Sarah Palin Now Has My Attention

2011-06-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

Since the time that Sarah Palin was the Vice Presidential candidate she has been viciously attacked. In my opinion the vitriol is way out of proportion to her impact on the political scene. Admittedly, until recently I'd not paid much attention to her. I had formed an impression she was just another "pretty-face-air-head conservative" without a long and varied political education. You know, no gravitas!

Then I began to realize she was speaking for people like me - and speaking pretty well. She was zeroing in on the "common sense" that motivates most Americans. I was still put off by her unimpressive voice but not on what she says. My original concern softened and became a question: Was she overly ambitious and perhaps too big for her britches? Absolutely not!

The weeks went by quickly. She has convinced me that she is the "real thing". The Democrats and other liberals are sputtering in their beer as Sarah Palin continues to be the bright light of the American political scene. She caught the attention of the national spotlight - and insisted that the Republicans listen to their Conservative wing. She has done this despite the lack of Republican Establishment support, and the disgusting media bias, and the even more disgusting attacks on her person and family.

Conservatives have been ignored for years. When sad political circumstances let a radical left liberal win the most recent Presidential election (barely), Americans quickly found out how dangerous radicals can be. They have, during just a few months in power, damaged America badly. The vast majority of Americans agree. Conservatives, jumping at the opportunity to return America to reasonable governance, created THE TEA PARTY. Sarah Palin was quick to speak loud and clear in their favor. The entrenched political establishment went absolutely crazy. Sarah Palin had the crowd. The establishment in Washington reacted by starting one of the most vicious personal and political attacks ever seen in America. In my book the attacks have backfired and helped Sarah Palin accomplish her mission to wake America to the ultimate deadly threat of the radical liberal left.

SHE DESERVES A MEDAL !

.

Understanding Israel

2011-05-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

I've been reading "Beirut to Jerusalem" by Tom Freidman. It's a scholarly but easily read book that asks many interesting questions. Before reading it I never really knew what distinguishes a Jew from other Semitic people. I'm still not sure. Neither do I know who is NOT a Jew. The common definition is "one born of a Jewish mother" -or- "a person that becomes a Jew by conversion to Judaism". These definitions do not satisfy all Jews - but may be the most universally accepted. Judaism began in the "fertile crescent" near the eastern Mediterranean and includes the modern combined areas of Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and the area between the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This entire territory was once called "Canaan" and nomadic Hebrew tribes were centered there around the city of Hebron between 1991 BC and 1706 BC.

The Bible suggests that Jews are descended from the ancient Hebrew people who settled in the land of Canaan sometime around 1450 BC. All or most of the early Jews shared a lineage through their common ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob. Today we refer to them as "The children of Israel" and believe they were of twelve tribes, each descending from one of Jacob's twelve sons. They left Canaan during a severe famine and settled in Northern Egypt where they eventually became enslaved by the Egyptians. After about 400 years of misery Moses, with God's help, released them from bondage and returned them (Exodus) to their ancestral homeland in Canaan. About then the first Abrahamic religion began. The twelve tribes were organized as a confederacy and ruled by a series of judges. In 1000 BC a monarchy was formed under Saul. It continued under David who established Jerusalem as the national and spiritual capital of Israel. Now let's fast forward to 1948.

The United Nations organization, with leadership from America and it's allies, divided the "fertile crescent" and voted to return Jews to part of the ancient land of Israel. The establishment of a homeland was welcomed by the Jews even though it was only part of their historic Biblical lands. They believed the land eastward to the Jordan River, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip should have been included - and that without all of the ancestral land - Israel was not complete. The new Israelis quickly discovered that the land given to them was not defensible. Even before the day of it's founding Israel was under constant attack by the surrounding Arab (Palestinian) population. In 1967, Israel fought (The Six Day War) defending itself and expanding it's territory. It occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip - and found itself with well over 1 million Palestinian Arabs then residing in these occupied territories and 500,000+ Israeli Arabs. If Israel kept the newly occupied areas as part of Israel the Israelis would soon become a minority in their own country. Politically, this was not an attractive concept. The Israelis didn't agree on "what they should do."

So they did nothing. Israel's two major political parties, Labor and Likud, sat on the issue from 1967 to 1987 and thereby avoided a realistic decision. The impasse happened because:

(1) The Labor Party (Shimon Peres) refused to trade land for peace but would stop building settlements in densely populated Arab areas.

(2) The opposing Likud Party (Yitzhak Shamir) refused to accept U.N. Resolution 242 which called for Israel to withdraw from territories occupied in the 1967 war in exchange for Arab recognition of Israel's right to exist within it's 1948 borders. Shamir also insisted that Israel keep building West Bank settlements everywhere.

The two major political parties could not agree and while they argued, the Palestinian Arabs met late in 1967 in Sudan and resolved:

Not to recognize Israel under any circumstance.
Never to make peace with Israel.
And never to negotiate with Israel.

Finally, in 1978 Egypt asked Israel if it would exchange all the occupied Sinai Desert in return for peace - and Israel agreed. Egypt and Israel have enjoyed a fragile peace ever since, but the future of the West Bank and Gaza Strip remains unresolved. At this point Israel will not deal with the PLO and refuses all Palestinian demands for independence. However, there are many in Israel who would like to negotiate with Jordan and return most of the West Bank in return for peaceful relations with Jordan.

to be continued

Roger Ailes. Former Hero?

2011-05-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

Michael Calderone writes for the Huffington Post - which was a disaster even without him. Michael has now done a hatchet job on Roger Ailes and Sarah Palin. He tries (unsuccessfully) to credit his misinformation to Gabriel Sherman's "New York Magazine". Nice try Michael. We all know that Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch put Fox News on the map. Fox has become the one media outlet that listens to conservatives, and most of the time tries to deliver news without a political bias. It doesn't always succeed, but it usually does. To me it seems that Fox is at least tinged with some level of conservative bias. It does, however, try to offset the current liberal insanity in the media.

According to New York Magazine's Gabriel Sherman, Roger Ailes "...thinks things are going in a bad direction". Another Republican close to Ailes told a reporter: "Roger is worried about the future of the country. He thinks the election of Obama is a disaster, and he thinks Palin is an idiot". Ailes apparently thinks she is stupid. Ailes has said that "people like Sarah Palin haven't elevated the conservative movement." Warning. All of these quotes are suspect. They may never have even been said.

Reporter Calderone adds: "Palin, a former Alaska Governor and current Fox News contributor, hasn't always listened to Ailes sage advice." Calderone says that: "Ailes told Sarah Palin to lie low after the Tucson shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz), but she went ahead with the infamous "blood libel" video. I've no idea what "blood libel" video he's talking about, but okay. Why shouldn't Sarah Palin speak her mind? Who does Roger Ailes think he is anyway? What makes him think he can dictate what to say to Sarah Palin or any other candidate. He's NOT running - nor is he some kind of Pendergast King maker.

I used to be an Ailes fan. I thought Roger and Fox News was about the only tv media outlet presenting conservative content. If Calderone's allegations of power abuse are true, it looks like Roger may have a huge ego problem. Perhaps he and George Soros should get locked in a box with two small swords.

So much for him throwing Sarah Palin under the bus.

Dixon

GOP Needs A Stronger Platform

2011-05-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

Like a number of my friends, I not very happy with the Republican Party. It's time to get the GOP house in order. The list of Presidential candidates is beginning (at last) to make some sense. There are a number of good prospects and the selection should easily be able to identify a candidate able to lead the charge against the Obama nightmare. But the GOP must also have a solid and coherent party platform. So far, the plavform is pathetic.

We believe in the sanctity of human life and support the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
We believe in the traditional model of monogamous, heterosexual marriage
We believe in the right to keep and bear arms
We support legal immigration and oppose illegal immigration
We oppose special privileges, rights, or accommodations based on sexual or behavioral preferences
We support strict limits on eminent domain
We support school choice programs, charter schools, vouchers, educational savings accounts and the rights of parents to home-school their children without interference from government
We support a merit-based pay system for teachers and elimination of union control of our education system
We support streamlining the environmental regulatory system to protect the environment, encourage business profitability, create jobs, and protect property rights

That's it.

Not a word about a balanced budget, paying down the debt, cleaning up the tax code, redesigning Social Security, ending the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya, reconsidering the President's personal ability to take our nation to war, and so forth?

If the GOP doesn't step to the plate, NO Republican candidate will win!

Guess who will?

New Campaign Rules

2011-04-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

For over two hundred years American political campaigns have included increasingly vicious personal attacks. The campaigns of 2012 promise more of the same. Carrying on this tradition is STUPID - yet both major political parties do it. Why can't they just sit together and determine rules that eliminate attempts to destroy a candidates character and criticism of a candidates family? It sounds so simple -yet as far as I know such rules have not seriously been addressed. Why not?

One significant reason citizens are reluctant to enter politics is the certainty that they and their family will also be subjected to intense personal attacks. Many potential candidates are unwilling to to do this. So
discussions, debates, and tough questions remain unanswered while personalities are being assassinated. Come on people, this is WRONG.

Election after election is decided by side issues of no importance - rather than knowledge and opinions that focus on IMPORTANT issues. This is not a good way to run a railroad or anything else.

Sadly, the 2012 election will (probably) be won by the Democrats. They have all their ducks in a row: the black votes, hispanic votes, union votes, liberal votes, welfare votes, and those of college and university educators. When ALL of these are combined with overwhelming media bias - the Democrats just can't be beat. But the circumstances offer the Republican party a unique opportunity.

The Republicans can field a far superior slate of traditional "Constitution based", traditional, and honest politicians in 2012. Look at them. They ALL would be an improvement over the current administration.

They will all be accused of favoring the rich, denying the elderly, taking Obamacare away from them, insisting on asking for more individual responsibilty, and wanting to reduce the overall scope of America's welfare. The Democrats will run these things into the ground. Americas liberal citizens, welfare recipients, illegal immigrants, and most others that benefit from receipt of our tax dollars, are all expected to vote the Democratic ticket.

* But they don't HAVE to resort to destroying Republican personal lives and characters to win.

* And the Republicans CAN'T win by attempting to destroy Democratic personal lives or characters.

Republicans therefore have an opportunity to devise a set of campaign rules as part of their platform and have every Republican candidate sign it. Then this party platform item can be submitted to Democratic candidates for their agreement and signing.

I can't imagine ANY citizen not supporting this effort.

Is it worth a shot?

.

California Citizens Are Stupid

2011-03-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

Californians, like most of you I've been critical of the the national and local political leadership. It's never been perfect but since the end of World War II our leaders have gone off the track.

For many years I have blamed our elected representatives for gradually destroying our country. During that time I have watched the Democrats and Republicans shoot it out in campaign after campaign. Each side makes promises they never intend to keep. Each side takes an ever increasing amount of money from citizen taxes to finance their showboat campaigns.

Once elected they immediately begin activities to insure their next election. There are no citizen politicians who enter politics with a sincere desire to serve their constituents for a term and then go home. None. That is not what the founding fathers had in mind.

Today state and federal governments are controlled by special interest groups, big business, big industries, and big money. Our elected representatives no longer think in terms of "right" and "wrong", and they no longer vote on legislation approved by their constituents. They make deals and compromises according to how their vote will affect their re-election, or how their vote can be traded for some special favor in the future.

I ran across the following list yesterday. Our elected representatives in California actually voted to approve each of these entities. After reviewing the list I think you will agree with me. California citizens have been taken to the cleaners, and it's time for a significant overhaul in our state government.

These are all California State Agencies
California Academic Performance Index (API) * California Access for Infants and Mothers * California Acupuncture Board * California Administrative Office of the Courts * California Adoptions Branch * California African American Museum * California Agricultural Export Program * California Agricultural Labor Relations Board * California Agricultural Statistics Service * California Air Resources Board (CARB) * California Allocation Board * California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority * California Animal Health and Food Safety Services * California Anti-Terrorism Information Center * California Apprenticeship Council * California Arbitration Certification Program * California Architects Board * California Area VI Developmental Disabilities Board * California Arts Council * California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus * California Assembly Democratic Caucus * California Assembly Republican Caucus * California Athletic Commission * California Attorney General * California Bay Conservation and Development Commission * California Bay-Delta Authority * California Bay-Delta Office * California Biodiversity Council * California Board for Geologists and Geophysicists * California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors * California Board of Accountancy * California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology * California Board of Behavioral Sciences * California Board of Chiropractic Examiners * California Board of Equalization (BOE) * California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection * California Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind * California Board of Occupational Therapy * California Board of Optometry * California Board of Pharmacy * California Board of Podiatric Medicine * California Board of Prison Terms * California Board of Psychology * California Board of Registered Nursing * California Board of Trustees * California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians * California Braille and Talking Book Library * California Building Standards Commission * California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education * California Bureau of Automotive Repair * California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair * California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation * California Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine * California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services * California Bureau of State Audits * California Business Agency * California Business Investment Services (CalBIS) * California Business Permit Information (CalGOLD) * California Business Portal * California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency * California Cal Grants * California CalJOBS * California Cal-Learn Program * California CalVet Home Loan Program * California Career Resource Network * California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau * California Center for Analytical Chemistry * California Center for Distributed Learning * California Center for Teaching Careers (Teach California) * California Chancellors Office * California Charter Schools * California Children and Families Commission * California Children and Family Services Division * California Citizens Compensation Commission * California Civil Rights Bureau * California Coastal Commission * California Coastal Conservancy * California Code of Regulations * California Collaborative Projects with UC Davis * California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth * California Commission on Aging * California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation * California Commission on Judicial Performance * California Commission on State Mandates * California Commission on Status of Women * California Commission on Teacher Credentialing * California Commission on the Status of Women * California Committee on Dental Auxiliaries * California Community Colleges Chancellors Office, Junior Colleges * California Community Colleges Chancellors Office * California Complaint Mediation Program * California Conservation Corps * California Constitution Revision Commission * California Consumer Hotline * California Consumer Information Center * California Consumer Information * California Consumer Services Division * California Consumers and Families Agency * California Contractors State License Board * California Corrections Standards Authority * California Council for the Humanities * California Council on Criminal Justice * California Council on Developmental Disabilities * California Court Reporters Board * California Courts of Appeal * California Crime and Violence Prevention Center * California Criminal Justice Statistics Center * California Criminalist Institute Forensic Library * California CSGnet Network Management * California Cultural and Historical Endowment * California Cultural Resources Division * California Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Branch * California Data Exchange Center * California Data Management Division * California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission * California Delta Protection Commission * California Democratic Caucus * California Demographic Research Unit * California Dental Auxiliaries * California Department of Aging * California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs * California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board * California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control * California Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) * California Department of Child Support Services (CDCSS) * California Department of Community Services and Development * California Department of Conservation * California Department of Consumer Affairs * California Department of Corporations * California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation * California Department of Developmental Services * California Department of Education * California Department of Fair Employment and Housing * California Department of Finance * California Department of Financial Institutions * California Department of Fish and Game * California Department of Food and Agriculture * California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) * California Department of General Services * California Department of General Services, Office of State Publishing * California Department of Health Care Services * California Department of Housing and Community Development * California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) * California Department of Insurance * California Department of Justice Firearms Division * California Department of Justice Opinion Unit * California Department of Justice, Consumer Information, Public Inquiry Unit * California Department of Justice * California Department of Managed Health Care * California Department of Mental Health * California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) * California Department of Personnel Administration * California Department of Pesticide Regulation * California Department of Public Health * California Department of Real Estate * California Department of Rehabilitation * California Department of Social Services Adoptions Branch * California Department of Social Services * California Department of Technology Services Training Center (DTSTC) * California Department of Technology Services (DTS) * California Department of Toxic Substances Control * California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) * California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVets) * California Department of Water Resources * California Departmento de Vehiculos Motorizados * California Digital Library * California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program * California Division of Apprenticeship Standards * California Division of Codes and Standards * California Division of Communicable Disease Control * California Division of Engineering * California Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control * California Division of Gambling Control * California Division of Housing Policy Development * California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement * California Division of Labor Statistics and Research * California Division of Land and Right of Way * California Division of Land Resource Protection * California Division of Law Enforcement General Library * California Division of Measurement Standards * California Division of Mines and Geology * California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) * California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources * California Division of Planning and Local Assistance * California Division of Recycling * California Division of Safety of Dams * California Division of the State Architect * California Division of Tourism * California Division of Workers Compensation Medical Unit * California Division of Workers Compensation * California Economic Assistance, Business and Community Resources * California Economic Strategy Panel * California Education and Training Agency * California Education Audit Appeals Panel * California Educational Facilities Authority * California Elections Division * California Electricity Oversight Board * California Emergency Management Agency * California Emergency Medical Services Authority * California Employment Development Department (EDD) * California Employment Information State Jobs * California Employment Training Panel * California Energy Commission * California Environment and Natural Resources Agency * California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) * California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES) * California Executive Office * California Export Laboratory Services * California Exposition and State Fair (Cal Expo) * California Fair Political Practices Commission * California Fairs and Expositions Division * California Film Commission * California Fire and Resource Assessment Program * California Firearms Division * California Fiscal Services * California Fish and Game Commission * California Fisheries Program Branch * California Floodplain Management * California Foster Youth Help * California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) * California Fraud Division * California Gambling Control Commission * California Geographic Information Systems Council (GIS) * California Geological Survey * California Government Claims and Victim Compensation Board * California Governors Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons * California Governors Mentoring Partnership * California Governors Office of Emergency Services * California Governors Office of Homeland Security * California Governors Office of Planning and Research * California Governors Office * California Grant and Enterprise Zone Programs HCD Loan * California Health and Human Services Agency * California Health and Safety Agency * California Healthy Families Program * California Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau * California High-Speed Rail Authority * California Highway Patrol (CHP) * California History and Culture Agency * California Horse Racing Board * California Housing Finance Agency * California Indoor Air Quality Program * California Industrial Development Financing Advisory Commission * California Industrial Welfare Commission * California InFoPeople * California Information Center for the Environment * California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) * California Inspection Services * California Institute for County Government * California Institute for Education Reform * California Integrated Waste Management Board * California Interagency Ecological Program * California Job Service * California Junta Estatal de Personal * California Labor and Employment Agency * California Labor and Workforce Development Agency * California Labor Market Information Division * California Land Use Planning Information Network (LUPIN) * California Lands Commission * California Landscape Architects Technical Committee * California Latino Legislative Caucus * California Law Enforcement Branch * California Law Enforcement General Library * California Law Revision Commission * California Legislative Analyst's Office * California Legislative Black Caucus * California Legislative Counsel * California Legislative Division * California Legislative Information * California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Caucus * California Legislature Internet Caucus * California Library De velopment Services * California License and Revenue Branch * California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program * California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board * California Maritime Academy * California Marketing Services * California Measurement Standards * California Medical Assistance Commission * California Medical Care Services * California Military Department * California Mining and Geology Board * California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts * California Museum Resource Center * California National Guard * California Native American Heritage Commission * California Natural Community Conservation Planning Program * California New Motor Vehicle Board * California Nursing Home Administrator Program * California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board * California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board * California Ocean Resources Management Program * California Office of Administrative Hearings * California Office of Administrative Law * California Office of AIDS * California Office of Binational Border Health * California Office of Child Abuse Prevention * California Office of Deaf Access * California Office of Emergency Services (OES) * California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment * California Office of Fiscal Services * California Office of Fleet Administration * California Office of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Implementation (CalOHI) * California Office of Historic Preservation * California Office of Homeland Security * California Office of Human Resources * California Office of Legal Services * California Office of Legislation * California Office of Lieutenant Governor * California Office of Military and Aerospace Support * California Office of Mine Reclamation * California Office of Natural Resource Education * California Office of Privacy Protection * California Office of Public School Construction * California Office of Real Estate Appraisers * California Office of Risk and Insurance Management * California Office of Services to the Blind * California Office of Spill Prevention and Response * California Office of State Publishing (OSP) * California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development * California Office of Systems Integration * California Office of the Inspector General * California Office of the Ombudsman * California Office of the Patient Advocate * California Office of the President * California Office of the Secretary for Education * California Office of the State Fire Marshal * California Office of the State Public Defender * California Office of Traffic Safety * California Office of Vital Records * California Online Directory * California Operations Control Office * California Opinion Unit * California Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) * California Park and Recreation Commission * California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) * California Performance Review (CPR) * California Permit Information for Business (CalGOLD) * California Physical Therapy Board * California Physician Assistant Committee * California Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services * California Policy and Evaluation Division * California Political Reform Division * California Pollution Control Financing Authority * California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo * California Postsecondary Education Commission * California Prevention Services * California Primary Care and Family Health * California Prison Industry Authority * California Procurement Division * California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) * California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) * California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) * California Real Estate Services Division * California Refugee Programs Branch * California Regional Water Quality Control Boards * California Registered Veterinary Technician Committee * California Registrar of Charitable Trusts * California Republican Caucus * California Research and Development Division * California Research Bureau * California Resources Agency * California Respiratory Care Board * California Rivers Assessment * California Rural Health Policy Council * California Safe Schools * California San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission * California San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy * California San Joaquin River Conservancy * California School to Career * California Science Center * California Scripps Institution of Oceanography * California Secretary of State Business Portal * California Secretary of State * California Seismic Safety Commission * California Self Insurance Plans (SIP) * California Senate Office of Research * California Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program * California Small Business Development Center Program * California Smart Growth Caucus * California Smog Check Information Center * California Spatial Information Library * California Special Education Division * California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board * California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) * California Standards and Assessment Division * California State Administrative Manual (SAM) * California State Allocation Board * California State and Consumer Services Agency * California State Architect * California State Archives * California State Assembly * California State Association of Counties (CSAC) * California State Board of Education * California State Board of Food and Agriculture *California Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) * California State Children's Trust Fund * California State Compensation Insurance Fund * California State Contracts Register Program * California State Contracts Register * California State Controller * California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) * California State Disability Insurance (SDI) * California State Fair (Cal Expo) * California State Jobs Employment Information * California State Lands Commission * California State Legislative Portal * California State Legislature * California State Library Catalog * California State Library Services Bureau * California State Library * California State Lottery * California State Mediation and Conciliation Service * California State Mining and Geology Board * California State Park and Recreation Commission * California State Parks * California State Personnel Board * California State Polytechnic University, Pomona * California State Railroad Museum * California State Science Fair * California State Senate * California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) * California State Summer School for the Arts * California State Superintendent of Public Instruction * California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) * California State Treasurer * California State University Center for Distributed Learning * California State University, Bakersfield * California State University, Channel Islands * California State University, Chico * California State University, Dominguez Hills * California State University, East Bay * California State University, Fresno * California State University, Fullerton * California State University, Long Beach * California State University, Los Angeles * California State University, Monterey Bay * California State University, Northridge * California State University, Sacramento * California State University, San Bernardino * California State University, San Marcos * California State University, Stanislaus * California State University (CSU) * California State Water Project Analysis Office * California State Water Project * California State Water Resources Control Board * California Structural Pest Control Board * California Student Aid Commission * California Superintendent of Public Instruction * California Superior Courts * California Tahoe Conservancy * California Task Force on Culturally and Linguistically Competent Physicians and Dentists * California Tax Information Center * California Technology and Administration Branch Finance * California Telecommunications Division * California Telephone Medical Advice Services (TAMS) * California Transportation Commission * California Travel and Transportation Agency * California Unclaimed Property Program * California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board * California Unemployment Insurance Program * California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission * California Veterans Board * California Veterans Memorial * California Veterinary Medical Board and Registered Veterinary Technician Examining Committee * California Veterinary Medical Board * California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board * California Volunteers * California Voter Registration * California Water Commission * California Water Environment Association (COWPEA) * California Water Resources Control Board * California Welfare to Work Division * California Wetlands Information System * California Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch * California Wildlife Conservation Board * California Wildlife Programs Branch * California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) * California Workers Compensation Appeals Board * California Workforce and Labor Development Agency * California Workforce Investment Board * California Youth Authority (CYA) * Central Valley Flood Protection Board * Center for California Studies * Colorado River Board of California * Counting California * Dental Board of California * Health Insurance Plan of California (PacAdvantage) * Humboldt State University * Jobs with the State of California * Judicial Council of California * Learn California * Library of California * Lieutenant Governors Commission for One California * Little Hoover Commission (on California State Government Organization and Economy) * Medical Board of California * Medi-Cal * Osteopathic Medical Board of California * Physical Therapy Board of California * Regents of the University of California * San Diego State University * San Francisco State University * San Jose State University * Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy * State Bar of California * Supreme Court of California * Teach California * University of California * University of California, Berkeley * University of California, Davis * University of California, Hastings College of the Law * University of California, Irvine * University of California, Los Angeles * University of California, Merced * University of California, Riverside * University of California, San Diego * University of California, San Francisco * University of California, Santa Barbara * University of California, Santa Cruz * Veterans Home of California
We desperately need every one of these. . . . Right?

Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan & Libya?

2011-03-19T18:02:00.000-07:00

Here we go again. America is in a recession and our bank is busted - yet we've AGAIN taken over our self imposed role as fixer of someone else's (expensive) problems. I had a bad feeling about our "first strike" concept when Bush Jr. sent our military to Iraq. I had a worse feeling when that war grew to include Afghanistan. Then Pakistan. Now Libya.

As far as I can figure it, none of these sand pit nations has ever been a serious threat to America. About the only thing we've been interested in from these far off civilization misfits - is OIL.

If each one of these miserable and backward places stopped supplying a significant percentage of our oil supply - we'd have a reason to be dissed - but not a reason to go to war.

Hussein can rattle our cage and disrupt area stability, but he could actually threaten only our interest in Israel and to stop selling us oil. So we went in with bombs.

Afghanistan has never been a real national entity. It's always been a collection of impoverished tribes temporarily held together by the most brutal, usually corrupt, and despotic leaders available. The nation's only claim to fame is that they could sell a lot of heroin. How do they threaten us or anyone else?

Oh yeah, the Taliban ruled there for a while. (Bad Guys). Then the Al Queda Terrorists moved in and hid there for a while. (More Bad Guys) Then both the Taliban and Al Queda moved in with our allies (ho ho ho) in Pakistan. Now, Pakistan could actually do some damage to somebody - including America - but they are our pals so we have to cherry pick their people to remove the Taliban guys and the Al Queda guys without harming the "yankee go home" Pakistanis. This is the most ridiculous, most expensive, most lacking in public support, and most un-winnable WAR we've ever been in.

Why us? Who is helping us? In waging this miserable war we also have the weakest coalition of non-existent and ineffectual allies ever pasted together.

So now we bomb Libya.

What are we thinking?

Eliminating War

2011-03-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

ELIMINATING WAR

What has gone wrong with the nation of my birth? America used to be the beacon on the hill, the leader of the free world, and the place of limitless opportunity. What happened? Where did it go? Thinking back on it, didn’t we get off on the wrong foot when we began killing off the indigenous population. Our goody-goody ancestors were a bunch of egocentric butchers. Ask an Indian. All this talk about the Mayflower and pious Quakers and sitting down with Tonto and eating a fine turkey dinner on Thanksgiving - is nonsense. We killed off the Noble Savages as quick as we could. Those that we missed were eventually rounded up and imprisoned behind barbed wire on the open plains. Let’s face it; the first white folks to arrive here came with a religion full of fire and brimstone and not much else. They certainly were not then (or now) very nice to the Red Man. The new arrivals were actually religious bigots with blunderbusses and false beads. They stole the land that became our nation.

A few years went by before somebody figured that we should have a government to prevent everybody from killing each other. The slave owners, rich guys, and powerful land barons got together and designed a proper “Judeo-Christian” government. If followed it would rule and keep the peace. To everyone’s surprise . . . it worked. The old birds did a pretty good job of establishing a workable government. It wasn’t easy. There was a lot of arguing, posturing and irrelevant elocution, but in the end they came up with a carefully reasoned set of instructions and prohibitions including the papers of the Continental Congress, the Federalist Papers, The American Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Tom Paine’s pamphlets and a few amendments to the Constitution.

These several pieces of paper were intended to be used for many succeeding generations. They were designed to limit the power of government and provide the most individual freedom possible. The Constitution, for example, could be changed only if a specific, complicated and difficult process was followed. Those hard-to-change documents were expected to be the rule and guide of our new nation . . . something like the Ten Commandments became the rule and guide of Christianity.

With the signing and adoption of those documents, the new government began. At first it seemed to be working – but it wasn’t. A few of the “rules” had to be changed. Constitutional amendments were enacted to correct deficiencies, but the government still wasn’t perfect. It was, however, a better government than any other on the planet.

At the time of adoption we only had half a nation as the Louisiana Purchase was still in the future. No one knew about Seward’s Folly either, but Alaska was a horse traders bargain when it finally happened. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before there was a grinding conflict between free states and slave states. A disastrous Civil War finally united the several states, and as a side benefit, slavery was abolished. Even more important, Americans discovered that they could participate in wars if they didn’t like something. And so began a periodic succession of wars.

During the Civil War it was the government that decided citizens should kill each other. It was hoped that the War would unite the states into a respectable and cooperative nation, and at the same time, free the slaves. It was the bloodiest damn war we had ever seen, but it almost did the job. Be sure to note the “almost”.

Look what has happened since. Every few years Americans have participated in (or started) another war.

There was a study, The Report From Iron Mountain, which was composed by a largely liberal group that included John Kenneth Galbraith. Briefly, it found that:

war produces waste and controls surpluses
war produces jobs and industrial advancement
war stimulates the economy
military service is a patriotic priority in society
War produces a state supported haven for the unemployable.

Look again at this list. It’s a good summary of the advantages of war to the state. The decision makers, Presidential Administrations, Congress and the Supreme Court, and etc., faced with a long range peace and stability threat . . . tend to choose war. War insures the subordination of citizens to the state because of the residual war powers that are inherent in the concept of our nation.

A serious critic has determined that “only in times of war or the threat of war are a nation’s citizens compliant enough to carry the heavy yoke of government without complaint”. No amount of sacrifice in the name of victory will be rejected, and resistance is treason.

In peacetime citizens resent high taxes, shortages, and government interventions. It is interesting to note that no government has long survived without enemies - and armed conflict. Why is this? Because war has always been an indispensable condition for stabilizing society.

Now let’s skip ahead in time to the George W. Bush Administration. Since then Republicans have rightly been accused of two principal characteristics: (1) They like to start wars and, (2) they don’t like to pay for them. Republicans are aware that support for the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan has always been paper thin. Bush Jr. also knew what happened when his father raised taxes to pay for the first Gulf War. He lost his political job. Consequently, the Bush, Jr. (Republican) administration resolved to fight wars on-the-cheap and with deceptive cost estimates. This policy turned into a gigantic, costly and deadly mistake. According to the Office of Management and Budget’s, Peter Orszag, it costs about $1 million dollars per year per soldier in the field, and the cost of the war in Iraq (so far) is estimated to be about $775 Billion Dollars. The cost of the war in Afghanistan, about $378 Billion Dollars. Right now, continuing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan appears to be running about $12 billion per month. How are we paying for these wars?

The Obama White House has no plans for paying for the war in Iraq or the expanding war in Afghanistan. It gives every impression that, more than likely it will follow the Bush Jr. precedent and just put it all on the national credit card. Who cares about the deficit anyway? Republicans are now being forced to choose between continuing to fight wars that they started and still support, or raising taxes.

Republicans in Congress would rather drink poison than raise taxes.

If the Democrats decide to end these wars it will be even more difficult to increase taxes to help pay for their progressive programs. It’s a Mexican stand-off.

There is yet another angle that Mr. Obama must consider. Robert Dallek, a Boston University historian, convincingly told Mr. Obama that “war kills off great reform movements.” He cited:

World War I ended the Progressive era
World War II ended the New Deal
The Korean War ended Truman’s Fair Deal, and
the Vietnam War absolutely crushed Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society

Our President is a radical liberal Democrat who is attempting to force very expensive progressive legislation on citizens who are not convinced that they want. Common sense indicates that it would be easier for him to find support if the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan were ended tomorrow. Theoretically, there would be more dollars available for social programs. Sadly, that is not the case at all. Ending the war would actually make it more difficult to either cut existing programs or raise taxes for new programs.

America today has many social programs that have been enacted with no mechanism to pay for them. (Social Security, Medicare, Obama-care, Government Employee Pensions, and etc.) A few of these are very important to our citizens and it is unrealistic to consider ending them or even scaling them back. So, the government has passed that burden to future generations. They are borrowing non-existent (future) money to fund un-sustainable programs. When President Bush, Jr. took office this kind of spending was already in place – and he made substantial additions, particularly when he added the immediate financial cost of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan – without raising taxes and without relieving the national budget by shrinking or ending non-essential programs already in place. George W. Bush, Jr. caused a tremendous increase in our national debt.

When President Obama continued the unfunded spending with his disastrous national health care plan, the looming disaster arrived. America is now on the verge of bankruptcy. It is a desperate situation that must be relieved by one or more of the following measures:

tax revenue must be increased
the ill-conceived national health care plan must be cancelled
the qualifying age for Medicare must be raised
the War in Iraq must terminate
the War in Afghanistan also must end
the government must develop a defensive military plan

Some Democrats have suggested that Republicans seem to believe that war’s end badly thought out government programs. This becomes a tongue-in-cheek argument for continuing wars while the Democrats have power. This, of course, is a blatantly unfair accusation and is not what happens. War tends to:

increase the size of government
increase the scope of government
increase the spending of government
increases taxes to increase government revenue
and restricts civil liberties permanently

Republicans do not wish these things to happen.

Over many years it’s been the Democrats who have sponsored most progressive (and often flawed) social programs that were not in accord with our nation’s heritage. Their adoption of social programs expressly prohibited or certainly not intended by our nation’s founders is very disturbing. It has become common that unpopular Democratic social legislation often bends, distorts, or ignores of our Founding Documents.

Unfinished…..

Dream - or Too Much Beer?

2011-03-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

She finally gave in. (Never Happened!)

Here's my new motorcycle. (She put sugar in the tank!)

Now if I could just get a tan. (Doubtful at my age!)

Old guys may not finish first but they sure as hell give it a go.

END

Another Obama-Holder Treason

2011-03-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

The video noted below is one more heartbreaking proof that Mr. Obama and Mr. Holder are anti-American and purposely ignoring our Constitution as well as our traditions. I've tried to give them every benefit of doubt as they pursue their progressive agenda but this travesty in Arizona is just one error too many.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/tsH8xvjTAlo

Dufuss Has An Epiphany

2011-02-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

I've gone over the hill and if I had any sense I wouldn't worry much about the future. After all, I'll be long gone before it gets here. Nevertheless, our nations current problems are ripping the fabric of America and have gained my complete attention. I just can't help wondering what will the future be for my grandchildren and beyond?

Nearly all our nations problems can be traced to either politics or wealth. Oh, I know that's not strictly true - but politics and wealth can be said to be at two of the most significant problems of every nation. In our case Americans are standing by as our political system is poisoned - and a reactive over correction threatens the land in another way.

The entire mess is because of the growing gap between rich and poor. We (you and I) are standing by watching the advancing tsunami without doing anything, and someday, when history looks back, it will be said that America deserved to fail. They will ask why did this happen? It happened because Democrats and Republicans have abandoned the principles of representative government. In place of principles they have chosen to sell their vote for the sole purpose of getting re-elected.

This was not the debate and compromise our Founding Fathers had in mind. Americans best interest has been replaced by greed.

Liberals look down their collective noses at Conservatives - yet the majority of Americans favor Conservative principles. Moderate politicians of either party understand that our government was designed with a part liberal and part conservative.

The Founding Fathers also took great care to divide the government's power between three branches. They intended that the Federal Branch should control things that logically could be best controlled by that branch.

They assigned to the State Governments those things that would be best controlled by more local administration.

And they assigned the interpretation of laws to the Judicial Branch.

These three branches were designed so that any two would have oversight of the other.

****more to come

What Should We Be Doing ?

2011-01-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

Our book club has been discussing America's many problems, and  look at politics as the basic cause of most of them. This may or may not be true, but that's how we see it.  Our conversations are critical, and range from the:

         (1) The "UGLY AMERICAN".

           (2) The "DESPAIR OF THE POWERLESS".

The club members are particularly critical about the quality of the people we elect to govern us. Once elected too many turn out to have very poor judgement, and a few to be glaringly incompetant. As if that isn't enough, decent morals, ethics and guiding principles are becoming a thing of the past. We, as a club, agree that it's time for change but are concerned that we don't know what we should be doing to influence a return to good government.

In our search for fundamental causes we often return to:

(1) The LACK OF WEALTH among the poor.

(2) The increasing GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR.

Who is to blame? The clube members are both liberal and conservative. It is historically normal for the LEFT liberal Democrats to blame the RIGHT conservative-libertarian-Republicans - and vice versa, and yet each faction appears to be equally to blame. For 200 years our democratic republic

BELIEVE IT OR NOT
THIS IS A HARVARD EDUCATED
U.S. SENATOR

has pushed, prodded and twisted our the FOUNDATION GUIDELINES. Sadly it appears that one of the flaws in the original design is the difficulty for Americans to defend the original design. Even so, we need to recognize that it took over 200 years to reach the desperate situation as it is today, but with recession on everyone's mind, and the recently controversial reactions of our government, Americans are wringing their hands and worrying:

                       OH MY GOD, WHAT SHALL WE DO?

Our government is failing and our leaders have the wrong plan of action to fix it. There is no single way to restore the government - yet there must be something each of us could do. They, the politicians, tell us we need to CHANGE - but they don't agree on HOW, WHAT, WHEN or WHY.

With all of our tallented high IQ geniuses we've still found no way to address either of the very basic root causes of problems:

                             THE LACK OF WEALTH and
        THE GROWING GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR

People die every day for lack of sanitation, adequate food, basic medications, and fresh non-polluted water. They die by the millions while the rich sit and watch it happen. Why hasn't civilized society relieved these terrible conditions? Exactly why are the rich getting richer as the poor get poorer?

(1) In 1962 the richest 1% had 125 times the average family's wealth.

(2) In 1982 the richest 1% had 156 times, and

(3) In 2002 the richest 1% of our population had 225 times.

THE GAP IS PRIMARY CAUSE
OF DISCONTENT IN ALL SOCIETIES .

So the answer has been before us all the time.

To effect CHANGE we need to find ways to influence political power and direct governments to function as each of us thinks it should.

We may disagree often - but left, right, or middle - we can find solutions.

Dixon

Almost First Black In Minnesota

2010-12-16T15:31:00.000-08:00

IT'S MY WORLD NEXT

We were coming from town on a graded washboard country road when my uncle told Joe to stop for the guy hitching a ride with his thumb. Joe pulled the old pickup to a stop and my uncle asked; "how far". The fellow replied; "to Ben's place". My uncle turned to Joe and told him Ben's was only a mile or so out of the way. Joe, the driver, talked across me and my uncle and told the guy to climb in the back and he did.

I was sitting on the bench seat between Joe and my uncle with the gear shift between my knees. It was my job to shift the gears when Joe put the clutch in and told me which gear he wanted. As we were getting up to speed again I asked my uncle why the fellow's skin was so dark? He chuckled and said that the man was a nigger and all niggers are dark. Being about 5 years old my next question was; why? My uncle didn't answer right away and glanced toward Joe who was grinning from ear to ear. Then my uncle said he didn't know why, but he thought most niggers came from Africa where they all had dark skin. When we got to Ben's we stopped at the side of the road and the fellow jumped out. He thanked us for giving him a ride, smiled, and waved as we drove off.

That was the first time I had ever seen someone with a chocolate dark skin. It was about 1941. I found out later that there were only a few dozen negros in northern Minnesota at that time. When we arrived at the lake Joe dropped off my uncle and I at our cabin. My Aunt Erma was in the yard hanging up clothes and she asked why we were so late? My uncle told her it was because we took a nigger over to Ben's place. She looked at him with a frown and told him not to ever use the word "nigger" around me, and that he should always use the word "negro" instead.

Okay, it's now 70 some years later and the word "nigger" isn't used anymore - except rarely by another dark skinned person. It's pretty much considered a swear word or put-down now. For some reason the word "negro" isn't used anymore either, but "negro" isn't a swear word or a put down. I've no idea why it's no longer used. Maybe it's just because people with a dark skin prefer the word "black"?

That's what everybody uses these days. Frankly I don't like it as well as "negro". I suspect it's because I dislike being called "white". I find it strange that we use colors to describe people? I know these "color" descriptions will gradually be obsolete. Society is changing. Television, travel, and improving worldwide education are bringing people closer to one another. Racial descriptions are in the process of change as barriers drop and as more inter-marriages happen. It's not so important any more, and perhaps all racial descriptions will just fade away someday.

Bump

Post Ideas & Comments

2010-12-08T16:08:00.001-08:00

ATABOY ISLAND SOUTH OF CATALINA

Catalina Island is just 26 miles off the coast of Southern California. The weather is warm there and Avalon is it's only village. Not too far away there are several other small and uninhabited islands, except for Ataboy. The residents of Ataboy Island lies about 45 miles southwest of Catalina. It's not as well known but it has an interesting history. Years ago when the indians first arrived they named the island Ataboy. The name was meant to be a light hearted joke but in no time at all it was adopted as official. Ataboy is the tip of an undersea mountain that rises 1,230 feet out of the sea. It's 10.2 miles long and at it's widest part it's only 8 miles across. Like Catalina, Ataboy has one natural harbor on the lee side and another on the windward side.

The first settlers on Ataboy were a tribe of indians paddling canoes as the traveled north following the California coast. Late one afternoon a heavy mist fell upon them without warning and the lost sight of the land. The sun dropped rapidly and the mist turned to a dense fog. They turned their canoes toward land and hoped they would sight it before darkness. They didn't know it but they had become disoriented and were actually headed westward and away from the coast. The night became very dark, the fog lay on the ocean surface. The fog thickened and they began to lose sight of one another. To stay together they had to rig rope lines between their canoes. The ocean surface swelled easily with a gentle rolling motion as they paddled on. After many hours passed and it was the darkest part of night they heard barking noises ahead. Within minutes they landed on a narrow beach among sea lions napping, barking and roistering on the sand. They had landed at the southern end of what became known as Ataboy Island.

When morning arrived the fog lifted well above the sea but remained a dense layer that filtered the warming sun. The indian tribe and the sea lions woke at almost the same time. As the indians looked up and down the beach they were surprise to see several hundred sea lions lazily basking in the warming sand. The indians gathered and compared their levels of exhaustion and complained about the increasing noises of their barking and squawking neighbors.

The tribe was happy and anxious to press on up the coast of the island. They got back in their canoes and began following the island's shoreline northward. They remained disoriented but confident that they could paddle close to shore until a more suitable place for breakfast was found. After a several hours they reached a small natural harbor with an excellent sandy beach to land on. They pulled their canoes up on the land and wasted no time finding a place to make a fire pit. They had trolled as they came up the coast and caught several fish. The sooner they could get them on a spit and cooked, the better. They were very hungry. A shallow pit was dug and a fire started on a bottom of rocks and out of the wind. The leader asked a few of them to go inland a ways and collect larger rocks to set the perimiter of their fire. They did so and on their return breakfast was served.

The next day the fog lifted and wisped away with a gentle wind leaving the brilliant and unfiltered sun to warm and great theor awakening. The leader gathered a council of elders who decided to send a few of the tribe to look for more firewood, and a few others to find an area to establish some huts for sleeping, and still a few more to follow the course of the trickling fresh water stream up the mountain to it's source.

Each of the crews was successful. The first came back with enough wood to support the fire. The wood they collected came from a small grove of trees located in a hidden canyon not a mile from the beach. The wood cutters made four carrying platforms and loaded as much as they could on each one and returned to the fire pit. On the way back they spotted many land birds as well as sea birds and saw goats far in the distance up the mountain. There was obviously enough wildlife to keep them well fed.

The second crew looked for a protected clearing near the woods where they could erect sleeping huts. They found flat clearing nested up against a fifty foot high rock wall on one side and trees on the other. The clearing was on elevated land with drainage all the way back to the beach should it rain. It was small, only 50 ft. by 200 ft., but would do very nicely as a building site.

The third crew followed the trickle stream up hill. It was a hard climb in a few places, but they managed to reach a small lake after four hours of hiking. It was the fresh water source and they decided that it was probably fed by an underground supply. They couldn't be sure but it wasn't important anyway. There was enough fresh water that the tribe would never run out.

The third group was the last to return. They had climbed four hours and it took nearly as long to return. The devoured the fish cooked for them as it had been nearly a day since they had anything but berries and water from the stream.

It had been an excellent day. They had a fire and they had fuel to keep it going. They had food from the sea and the promise of foods from the land. They had found a place to stake primative huts to protect them from the night and the wind and the rain. It was time to establish their community.

******

WIND FARMS SCAM

Driving to Palm Springs you must pass the San Gregornio Wind Farm. Now isn't wind farm an odd name for a forest of rusting windmills rising out of the desert? I idly wondered if these ugly machines actually worked. They don't. There are thousands of them in this farm and generally speaking, only about 40% generate electricity - once in a while. Theoretically there are enough machines to provide electricity for the entire Coachella Valley if they all could function everyday. They can not. Even if they could, are they a viable alternative energy source. No, they are not. It turns out that our earmark happy government has to heavily subsidize these things - but they still can't be cost effective. Maybe if gasoline was priced at $30.00 per gallon, but that doesn't seem likely very soon.

Looking out over the wind farm I noticed that about one in four was standing idle, and I wondered why. It turns out that most of these machines were put in place in the 1970's and 1980's. They have simply worn out. Maintenance is difficult and expensive and a lot of owners did little or none. Some of the early machines were of dubious quality and value. They just didn't last.

Then I found out that about 40% of those with propellers turning with the wind and supposedly sending electricity to a power grid someplace, were actually just spinning freely and delivering nothing. If I was an investor looking over this so called wind farm, I'd be discouraged.

What about the math? If there are about 5,000 of these wind mills in the Palm Springs farm, and each of them costs roughly $300,000, then I lam looking at somebody's $1,500,000,000 mistake.

And this is supposed to save the environment?

******

NEW SCHEDULE CHRISTMAS 2010

6:00 am    Breakfast                                        Calories
                   Orange Juice / Cereal                       200

8:00 am      Go for coffee & health bar (1 hour)      100

9:00 am      LA Fitness (1 hour)
10:00 am     Computer time (1 hour)

11:30 am      Lunch Mon-Tues & Thurs-Fri and        500
                         Kiwanis on Wed   (800 calories)

1:00 pm      Home chores (2 hours)
3:00 pm       Computer time (1 hour)
4:00 pm       One Glass Wine or Beer & tv time    200

5:30 pm       Linda home
6:00 pm        Dinner
                     Small portions anything                   900

8:00 pm       Snack                                               100

                                                                          ====

                                            Calories/Day             2,000

******

THE DEATH PENALTY

I'm for it - but with many reservations. In our prison system we have inmates who have been wrongly convicted. One is too many, but actually it is estimated that we have more than one hundred who have been wrongly convicted. Our judicial system allows errors to happen, not on purpose and not by accident either. The system just isn't perfect.

Until recently identification of guilty people has relied on fingerprints, witness observation, and other hard evidence. Today quilt or innocence has been made even more definitive and proven correct by the introduction of dna as "positive proof".

Experts tell us that dna evidence is infallible. On that basis criminals in jail have been re-tested and compared with old evidence AND FOUND NOT GUILTY. This dna confirmation is at once a wonderful tool - and a disastrous indictment of previous judicial failures.

(1) If capital punishment is to be continued should we not require
     dna testing of all criminals on death row?

(2) In the future should dna testing be required as one more confirmation
      of guilt?

(3) In capital murder cases  should we not retest death row inmates as
      a condition of proof positive of their implication?

********

I've written some really bad blogs recently. Just can't get into the mood and tired of all the left-right politics. I had an epiphany a few days ago. A light bulb went off and I instantly understood that a government, any government, must of necessity be part left wing and part right wing. Government just won't work otherwise.

Assuming there are some sort of borders and our mythical government is to function within them, let me explain myself further. I'm talking about big governments and small town governments and every entity in between.

The normal left liberal view is that BIG government should control all functions of it's citizens. Now if you think carefully about that statement - it's stupid.

The normal right wing view is that SMALL government should be employed only to do only those tasks that an individual can not do.  That to is a stupid statement.

Our own Founding Fathers designed a government system composed of both left liberal and right wing assignments. Viola! Simple. What is so hard to understand?

Of course it makes sense for government to provide the common protection of all it's citizens. One individual certainly can't do it. In our American example one state can't do it either. The same thinking was applied to other potential dangers. That's why we have a national Food & Drug Administration, system of commonly owned national parks, a national Department of Health & Welfare that guarantees equal treatment for all citizens, and so forth. These and many others are typical of the kinds of protective functions we expect our national government to handle.

Most important in this list of correct responsibilities of the national government is the assortment of entitlements we have managed to combine with what we consider our natural and vital freedoms. Our founding documents say they are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Ever since the date of our nation's founding, there has been a constant effort to expand the number of freedoms. To some degree this continueing effort has been successful. We now expect our national government to guaranty and pay for our right of free speech, right of assembly, right to a fair and speedy trial, right to a minimum wage, right to a guaranteed retirement supplement, right to medical care, right to a paupers funeral,  if necessary, and right to a prison with television and conjugal visits. This list goes on and on. Only the first three were intended by our Founding Fathers.

So where did they come from, and why?

Why Does Islam Attract

2010-12-07T10:19:00.000-08:00

I admit that the attraction of Islam is beyond my understanding. Everyday people are flocking to this religion, dismissing modern civilization, and joining the brutality and hardships of the past. What are they looking for? What does Islam provide for them?

Friends tell me that the people joining Islam are the destitute, homeless, poverty stricken and illiterate that live under despotic governments, and that they look to Islam as a community of other people who want to share their misery.

I don't buy that. My experience indicates that intelligent and wealthy people also (are joining or already) have accepted Islam as their religion. It is, perhaps surprisingly, a fact that Islam has an equal attraction for rich and poor. The question is; what is it?

This video is at once impressive and frightening. It contains excellent pictures of Islamic pilgrims carrying out their duty.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/11/hajj_2010.html

In the western world we tend to accentuate the elements of Islam that go against modern beliefs. It is true that Islam is intolerant, inflates the power of men, reduces the power and person of women, allows illiterate Imams to direct their life styles, and usually functions within the medieval brutality of Sharia Law. Not one of these elements is considered acceptable in the modern world.

So what attracts?

Bump

Corn Derived Ethanol Isn't Green

2010-12-03T09:19:00.000-08:00

The so called Green Movement has been down the wrong road more than once, but they persist in repeating their mistakes. Since I don't know who is responsible, I will blame everything green on Al Gore, the mighty green midget.

FARM COMMUNES AND
5 YEAR PLANS WILL FIX ANYTHING

Environmentalist groups stopped nuclear power 30 years ago and only now are beginning to see their error. It took a while didn't it.

An even worse example of bad mistakes is the converting of corn to ethanol. Sure it can be done, but why do it?

Our intrepid government leaders actually have had a program in place since 2004 that pays a subsidy to ethanol producers. It started by paying $0.51 per gallon of gas containing 10% corn derived Ethanol. In 2008 the subsidy was reduced to $.45 per gallon. Some people were getting rich while some others were starving. You would think the government would begin to have second thoughts.

By 2010 the U.S. Ethanol industry is using 40% of all corn grown here, and 15% of all corn grown in the world, and there are shortages in cattle feed, and food for humans. That just can't be good.

But the real kicker is a study made in 2005 found that corn derived Ethanol requires 29% more fossil fuel to produce it than the energy it delivers.

That should be the end of that !

Dixon

Education Gone Amuck

2010-12-02T14:17:00.000-08:00

EDUCATION IN AMERICA. Most of the people I know don't seem to have extra time for anything serious. That's not much of an excuse for overlooking something as important as our children's education is it. Are we all so absorbed with the demands of the moment? Of course not, yet many of us complain about our public schools. Do you know what is happening there? Surveys indicate that most of us don't have a clue, but we are gradually learning that product, an educated student, is not measuring up to international standards.

HISTORICAL SNAP-SHOT. Following World War II American society was changing fast. Our system of education, which at that time was highly decentralized, fell under the influence of liberal social engineers who thought the system wasn't fair to all. Certainly, a few states provided a better education than some other states. The element of competition was intended to ultimately raise the quality of education. The liberal educators began to insist that the system must require all states to furnish an equal education. So began the erosion of the American educational system.

The National Bureau of Education, which in 1939 was a tiny office in Washington, became an official bureau under the Federal Security Agency, and was renamed the Office of Education. In 1953 the Federal Security Agency was given cabinet status and the name changed to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

John Dewey, Educator. At some time between 1939 and 1953 Americans were introduced to John Dewey, a social engineer, psychologist, philosopher, and education specialist. His growing influence at that time coinsided with the beginning of our educational system's decline. Dewey presented a good story and our educators bought it. He convinced the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare that they should create a mechanism that required all state run schools to meet national standards. The objective was to enforce an equal education for all American students. Dewey believed his concept would provide a scholastic incentive for all public school students and thereby improve our teaching methodology and improve the quality of a student's education.

INTERESTING FACT. There is no Constitutional authority for our National Government to meddle in our State Established and Run Public Schools. None at all.
BUT WHAT IS DEWEY'S THEORY. To this day, many people still think of John Dewey as the Father of Modern Education. This, despite the fact that his theories are based on first accepting Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Both theories contend that:

1.   positive change is the highest good,
2.   nothing is constant,
3.   there are no absolute standards,
4. everything is relative.

Today, many people have a problem with this on religious or philosophic grounds. They believe:

      *   If relativism denies absolutes,
      *   and God is absolute, then
      *    evolution denies God.
WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT GOD? Our founding fathers believed that we should only elect men that had faith in Almighty God, who would restrain them from error, lead them to correct decisions, and judge them at the end of days. They also believed every citizen should have a knowledge of the religious contributions to our history. Granted, they specifically did not want public schools to teach any particular religion, and they forbade the federal government from interfering in any way. The "states" were to be responsible.

Denying God. This was the key used by Karl Marx and Joseph Stalin to tear their people down. Shouldn't that alone convince us that it's not a good idea? By removing God from our public schools, we are denying our children over 2,000 years of religious heritage. John Dewey believed that teaching our students to be better citizens of the new world order is much more important, and therefore religion must be erased from our educational system altogether. He felt that it is more important to teach students to eliminate bigotry, prejudice, and intolerance from their lives.

John Dewey didn't like God. He was an atheist, who found fault with established curriculum that focused on content alone rather than content and the process by which it is judged. He wanted to know how the curriculum might contribute to society in the future. This is a bit confusing so let me put it another way. Dewey thought that an experience of a lesson might be rewarding to one person and detrimental to another. He believed the value (or worth) of the experience must be judged by the effect it has on the individual at the present time, in the future, and it's ultimate contribution to society.

Dewey promoted what he called:

                  1. "evolutionary democracy",
                  2. "evolutionary education", and
                   3. "evolutionary laws".

He taught that a student's allegiance to his or her country, family, and God are of little or no relevance to education.

Dewey promoted

national tests to measure the equality of educational achievement in all states. He encouraged the federal government to reward those students [schools and school districts] that met the national requirements by paying national dollars per student, and to punish by not paying if they did not. This concept, in several different formats, endurs today despite students falling further and further behind.

We have since learned, by trial and error, that Dewey's theories do not foster education any more than throwing money at it.

THE PRODUCT IS FAILING
The practical fact is that there has been no change in math achievement or reading scores for over 40 years.

This result has not been caused by our lack of spending tax dollars. In 1970 the Federal Government spent an inflation adjusted $32 Billion dollars on just elementary and secondary education. In 2006 they spent over 160% more. If you divide that by students you will find that the real increase was $435 per 1970 pupil to $1,015 per 2006 pupil. Well more than double. During the same period the Federal Government increasingly demanded more standards, testing, and accountability. The result failed to improve.

Why have they failed? The DOE spent more than enough money - and they began the effort to set new national achievement standards. Where did they go wrong? Could it be that failure is built into the system? When the Federal Government spends money it's not used to improve education. It is used to gain favor with teacher unions, administrator associations, and/or other special interests. The result is that spending goes up and achievement does not.

The official mission statement of the Department of Education is:

To promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

To accomplish their mission the DOE designs and manages federal "funding programs" for education, and provides financial aid for college assistance.

Contrary to the usual assumption, Department of Education, (in the past), DID NOT determine curricula or educational standards. Those functions were left in the hands of states and local school districts.
The quality of instruction and level of achievement was also a state process. It was (and is) called "accreditation".

So, basically the DOE manages a budget that spends federal funds on education, and that's about it. What about those standardized national tests? The ones that are slowly becoming entrenched DESPITE THE CONSTITUTION. The fact is that national testing of elementary and secondary students exists in nearly all industrialized countries, including ours. The United States has indeed a national system of educational testing. As more and more liberal politicians ignore the Constitution, the trend is toward even more national control.

As our fading, decentralized, state systems bow to the power of nationalization, the quality of achieving a competitive education fades at the same or even faster rate. The Constitution and it's 10th Amendment become increasingly less relevant. Nonetheless, during the most recent past, there has been an insistent and growing effort to establish national educational control.

In 1965 Congress passed the national Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) which authorized federal funds for disadvantaged and handicaped children. This national standardized test is now required to receive federal funding for disadvantaged students.

In 1989 our government established six national educational goals.

By 1990 more than 40 states required a minimum competancy examination (MCE) before awarding a high school diploma.

In 1994 two more national educational goals were added and passed into law as the Educate America Act (EAA) that demands accountability on both state and national levels.

Also during 1994 the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) linked federal funding with achievement standards and accountability.

Many states require high school seniors to take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and/or the American College Test (ACT) and Advanced Placement (AP) examinations.

There is also the federally funded National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests also known as "The Nation's Report Card". These tests are given to a group of selected representative students to track long term trends in student achievement.

As you can see, we can no longer continue the fiction that the United States Federal Government has little involvement in the Nation's educational systems. Nor can we deny that our educational systems are seriously underperforming.

What might be done to improve American education?

Bump

For starters

Disband the national DEPT. OF EDUCATION.
    Assign it's necessary functions to logical alternative government offices.

Reduce the power of teacher and administrator UNIONS.

Eliminate the unhealthy practice of TENURE.
    Replace it with a rotating board of peers (with 1 year term limit)
    to review and act on all complaints.

Insist that State school districts provide a DISIPLINE representative
for schools with a chronic disipline problem.
    Initiate strict rules (laws) governing student behavior, and appropriate punishments.

Allow no electronic phones, text message devices, iPods or similar, or any
     other entertainment and communications devices to be carried by a student
     during regular class hours. NONE.

****unfinished blog topic

Remembering The P-51 Mustang

2010-12-01T10:19:00.000-08:00

Today, for some reason I felt like reviewing a special video in my "save it" file. It's about the slow fading away of an entire generation of WWII pilots from the scene. They're almost all gone now. Not quite, but almost. These men flew North American P-51 Mustangs a very long time ago.

The men were mostly boys at the time. They climbed into the cockpit of a plane designed with a slide rule and made with care, piece by piece by men and women on an old fashioned assembly line. Each part was fastened with blind rivets to another, and the final result was the finest fighter plane the world had ever seen.

Now, this video is a glimpse of one of those boys who at 20 years of age flew his Mustang straight into battle. With a whine and a roar he chased and caught enemy planes that were in the sky specifically to shoot him down. Their object was to kill him. But he survived. Mission after mission, he survived.

When I saw this video an entire period of my life came back to me. I remembered the headlines, the newsreels, and the patriotism of my family and neighbors. It was men (boys) like Jim Brooks that put the enemy out of business. They were, and are, my heros.

Enjoy the show . . .

http://www.asb.tv/videos/view.php?v=1bf99434&br=500

Now, wasn't that just a fascinating reminder?

Bump