Category Archives: Endnote

http://takimag.com/article/truth_charity/print#axzz1bvz5cjBe

Truth & Charity
by Thomas E. Woods Jr.
August 07, 2009

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The system we have now involves a government-privileged central bank with a monopoly on the creation of legal-tender money, charged with watching over a cartel of ostensibly private but also state-privileged commercial banks. Its debasement of money makes it very difficult for people to save for the future without having to become speculators of one kind or another. A hard-money system, on the other hand, permitted the average person to save for the future simply by accumulating precious-metal coins, which, back in the days when they served as money, held or increased their value over time. Who today would save for the future by piling up Federal Reserve Notes? Society’s most vulnerable now must enter the stock market or take other kinds of risks just to hold on to their wealth. Is this not a moral issue?

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Papal infallibility, I was taught at the Prep and MC, was limited to “matters of faith and morals”.

Here we have the Vatican, as it often does, speak on economics.

Normally, I’d snooze thru these. But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen HOW the manipulation of money screws the little people.

The problem of “poverty”, like we see in Africa, is the corrupt governments. And, the “system” of foreign aid turns the poor into chattel slaves.

And, it just keeps getting worse and worse.

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http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=358597

WND RADIO COMMENTARY
Savage: Liberals now support death penalty?
Talk host asks why left, media celebrating execution of Gadhafi
Posted: October 21, 2011 1:40 pm Eastern
© 2011 WND

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Why are anti-death-penalty liberals, of all people, supporting the execution of a head of state?

That’s the question asked by Michael Savage at the opening of his top-rated talk-radio show yesterday following the killing of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

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“Why are, all of a sudden, war-mongers and death-penalty advocates so full of themselves?” he asked. “When Obama invades a country, it’s OK. When Obama executes someone, it’s OK; but when Bush did the same thing, it was a violation of human rights.”

It seems, Savage said, that “some dictators more equal than others.”

“Gadhafi is bad, but Assad in Syria is good? Ahmadinejad is good?” he asked.

“While the Hitler of Iran is invited to dinner at Columbia,” Savage observed, referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, “Gadhafi gets a bullet to the head. Why?”

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As a little L libertarian and fat old white guy injineer, it seems that abortion, the death penalty, and the “Just War” are all tied together.

While everyone celebrated OBL’s death, I wondered how this was Constitutional, moral, and effective.

Then “we” “nuked” that American citizen, AAA (i.e., Anwar Al-Awlaki), I wondered how this was Constitutional and moral.

Now, “we” “nuke” Muammar Gaddafi. Yeah maybe we did not directly pull the trigger. But we certainly put him in the cross hairs.

(One has to question BHO44′s foreign policy. Where is the balance against Iran? Israel is in the cross hairs. Radical Islam is empowered. Was BHO44 an Islamic “Manchurian Candidate” all along?)

We’re putting “droning” Yemen and putting troops into Uganda.

Sorry, but we are along way from the Constitution, the “Just War”, and — by the way — morality.

MYOB should be our “foreign policy”.

And, how about we bring our troops home from Korea, Germany, and the other hundred or so countries were in.

2012 should be an interesting election for “pro-life-ers”. How pro-life are they?

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http://biggovernment.com/waroot/2011/11/10/what-the-joe-paterno-scandal-and-the-penn-state-riots-say-about-america/

What the Joe Paterno Scandal and the Penn State Riots Say About America
by Wayne Allyn Root

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How could this happen in my America? Is everyone truly mad? Is winning football games more important than a 10-year old boy’s safety? How about dozens of innocent little boys? Is protecting a respected institution more important than stopping a child rapist? Why would educated responsible administrators with 6-figure and 7-figure salaries make the same decision to cover-up a heinous crime as priests and bishops and cardinals for the Catholic Church?

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I can’t imagine any of the thinking that allowed this to go on. “Papa Joe”? Mike McQueary? Any of the executives of Penn State? Anybody?

I can’t understand Penn State any more than I can understand the Catholic Church.

I can’t understand the Parents and Guardians of these abused children.

I can understand that “We, The Sheeple” are tolerant of celebrities, star athletes, and “winning” coaches.

I’m speechless, but I’d love to be on that jury.

I’m ashamed of Penn State and the Catholic Church.

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http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=12047

News
Pennsylvania bishops: school choice a ‘defining social justice issue’
October 13, 2011

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Following a statement in which the bishops of Pennsylvania called school choice “a defining social justice issue of our society,” the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has lent its support to Governor Tom Corbett’s plan to introduce school vouchers and expand the state Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC).

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“Social Justice” equals “socialism”, if not worse.

BUT, (and there is always a BIG butt), sounds like they are finally fighting for Catholic schools. Perhaps too late.

From Day One, the Gooferment’s role in “education” should have been vigorously opposed as First Amendment issue.

Gooferment should not be allowed to dumb down and propagandize future voters.

I just shake my head at how the battle was lost befor ethe first shots were fired.

Argh!

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http://www.experiencelifemag.com/issues/november-2011/life-wisdom/the-art-of-mindful-drinking.php

The Art of Mindful Drinking
What’s the right role for alcohol in your life? Experts offer suggestions for creating a healthier, more conscious relationship to drinking.
By Caren Osten Gerszberg / November 2011

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When I was growing up, my French-born mother sipped wine freely and daily. I can picture her in the kitchen, stirring a bubbly cassoulet in a dark blue enamel pot, preparing a plate of cheeses, churning the pepper mill — with a glass in hand or waiting close by. A habitual part of her cooking process, wine was also served at every evening meal. Long, narrow, green-tinted bottles with strangely spelled words were as much of a staple in our fridge as a container of milk.

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[JR: I’m not the poster boy for anything; let alone alcohol. In my magnus opus “CHURCH 10●19●62”, I wished for sobriety.]

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Third, she’d agonize on but demand a promise of future honesty. Second, was where she’d spend a lot of time? Drinking like her Uncle vin would be a sticking point. The decision would hinge there.

…

“That being said, I will accept your apology and forgive. But there are three conditions. (1) Your Irish enough. I want the Pioneer Pledge. You can never take another drink.”

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Total_Abstinence_Association

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Pioneer Total Abstinence Association

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart (or PTAA) is an Irish organisation for Roman Catholic teetotallers. Its members are commonly called Pioneers. While the PTAA does not advocate prohibition, it does require complete abstinence from alcoholic drink from its members. It also encourages devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as an aid to resisting the temptation of alcohol. Pioneers wear a lapel pin called a Pioneer pin with an image of the Sacred Heart, both to advertise the organisation and to alert others not to offer them alcohol. The association publishes a monthly magazine, The Pioneer.

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http://www.pioneerassociation.ie/

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Our mission is to address the problems in society caused by excess alcohol consumption and drug usage. We do this through:
* Faith and prayer
* Self denial
* Example
* Activities based on presenting alternatives to individuals, particularly the young
* Advocacy

Our vision – based on the love in the Heart of Christ, as expressed in The Gospels – is to help to build a society where people live to their full potential and alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation avoiding the ills that arise in society from excess in its use.

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[JR: Probably wouldn’t have hurt to hear these ideas back in grammar school. Wonder if this is … … ]

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-daily-remembers-steve-jobs-as-visionary-of-technology-and-art

Vatican daily remembers Steve Jobs as ‘visionary’ of technology and art

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Rome, Italy, Oct 6, 2011 / 04:19 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican daily L’Osservatore Romano remembered Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, as a “visionary who united technology and art.”

The newspaper underscored that Jobs, who died at age 56 on Oct. 5 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, “was one of the leaders and symbols of the Silicon Valley revolution.”

This revolution was also one of “habits, mentalities and culture. A revolution that was an offshoot, but not an heir, of the lax ‘70s”

Jobs “was a visionary who united technology and art. True, he wasn’t a technician or an entrepreneur. He was not a designer or a mathematician. Neither was he the typical nerd or showman. Was he a pirate or a pioneer? History will be the judge. In the meantime, his genius creations remain with us,” L’Osservatore Romano said.

From “unwanted pregnancy” to genius

Steve Jobs was born on Feb. 24, 1955. He was given up for adoption by his mother Joanne Simpson because of her father’s opposition to her relationship with Jobs’ Syrian father, Abdulfattah John Jandali.

Joanne and Abdulfattah eventually married after the death of her father. They had a daughter and tried to get their son back but it was legally impossible.

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And, the rest was history.

Now factor in the Culture of Death, where unwanted children are “prevented”, or even more horrific, murdered.

Where have all the other “Steve Jobs” gone?

What miracles have “we” deprived ourselves of by stupidity?

Think of every human, who was ever unwanted or “defective”, yet made their contribution.

I just shake my head and wonder what could have been?

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http://dumpdc.wordpress.com/2011/09/24/flash-editorials-september-24-2011/

Flash Editorials September 24, 2011

By Russell D. Longcore

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Religion: Politics meet religion in Ohio – The Ohio legislature recently passed the so-called “Heatbeat Bill,” named because it outlaws abortion at the first detectable heartbeat of a human fetus. Now the bill must be passed by the Ohio Senate before it can be signed into law. It will be the most restrictive abortion law in the nation if passed. Remember folks…this is not about reproductive rights. You have all the reproductive rights you deserve…right up to the instant you get pregnant. Then your rights properly morph into responsibility…which is what REAL rights always do anyway. This is about whether or not it’s OK to kill another human being because its existence is inconvenient. Natural law bestows the right to life and NONE of us get here without some help. Good luck, Ohio. Godspeed. About 50 million lives have been snuffed out since Roe v. Wade in 1973. The oldest of them would be nearly 40 years old now…paying into Social Security and Medicare. OOOPS. Unintended consequences suck, don’t they?

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[JR: Interesting the implications of social policy? One shouldn’t mess with what one really doesn’t understand. Seems so obvious to me. Guess that’s what MC did for me — made me realize how dumb I really was.]

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http://www.irishcentral.com/story/ent/manhattan_diary/pat-robertson-if-your-wife-has-alzheimers-divorce-her-130014073.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qt_JCnRdCQ&feature=player_embedded

Manhattan Diary
by Cahir O’Doherty

Posted on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Pat Robertson: if your wife has Alzheimer’s, divorce her

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I’ve come to anticipate high handed judgements from American evangelical leaders, but even I was surprised by the sheer thoughtlessness of Pat Robertson’s directive to the husband of an Alzheimer’s patient this week.

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Wow, this is hard to stomach. Maybe I’m overly sensitive to the topic. I’d give anything to have any part of my spouse back. Weren’t we taught that bad things do happen to good people and we have to “accept” our burdens with love. In my novel, I wrote some dialog that I still believe.

“My love, were it in my power, I would sadly grant thee this boon. But, we have to continue to follow His Plan for us. Let’s go forth and speak no more of this. Who ever is last will be last. It will be His choice; not ours. We’re but humble custodians of His temple on earth. It’s not our place to trump His plan. Whatever that plan be, know that I will be with you to my last breath.” — character “John” to Marie about dying in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 2 Page 399

“You can’t be afraid. It’s not right to be afraid. It’s as if you don’t trust the Lord with our lives. I’m not a big Bible Banger, but it seems rude to joggle God’s elbow. Like a little kid, who has no concept of what is happening.” — character “John” in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 2 Page 206

It seems to me that the proper advice would be to chastise the wayward spouse to tend to his duties and forego his dalliances. Once you give your word, you’re committed. If you word is no good, why should anyone trust you? Why should you trust yourself? The beauty of marriage is that you go “all in” for however the cards fall. And, while Caesar can grant you a divorce from your civil marriage, there’s no release from your vow but death.

Shame on Pat for not realizing that while the poor afflicted woman may no longer be in her right mind, she has dignity. Palming her off on the State so that the wayward husband can party hearty is just wrong. Immoral! Shame on Pat for this answer.

“I knew I was sunk-but, damn it, if you are caught by the Birkenhead Drill, the least you owe yourself is to stand at attention while the ship goes down.” — Robert A. Heinlein’s “Double Star”

It would be a “Birkenhead Drill” (The famous soldiers’ action which became the epitome of courageous behaviour in hopeless circumstances.) but it was his self-assumed obligation to stand by his wife’s side.

Again, maybe I’m too close to the topic.

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http://www.impactlab.net/2011/09/10/birth-control-pills-found-to-affect-memory/

September 10th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Birth Control Pills found to affect memory
in: Analysis, Birth, Brain, Breakthrough Thinking, Health & Fitness, Historical Perspectives,
Medical Breakthrough, New Discoveries, Science & Technology News

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Women who use contraceptives like birth control pills experience memory changes, according to new UC Irvine research. Their ability to remember the gist of an emotional event improves, while women not using the contraceptives better retain details.

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Nielsen and fellow researcher Nicole Ertman agreed the findings could help lead to fuller answers about why women experience post traumatic stress syndrome more frequently than men, and how men remember differently than women. Men typically rely more on right-hemisphere brain activity to encode memory. They retain the gist of things better than details. Women on the pill, who have lower levels of hormones associated with female reproduction, may remember emotional events similarly to men. Nielsen plans to do her doctoral thesis on whether hormones affect the retention of details.

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[JR: Yup, "we" are definitely experimenting on "ourselves" without any real understanding. When do we stop? When "we" screw something we can't undo! In the dikw (i.e., data, information, knowledge, wisdom) meme that I like, wisdom is understanding the bounds of knowledge. Where is the "edge of the earth"?]

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http://www.theblaze.com/stories/is-supporting-the-death-penalty-christian/

FAITH
IS SUPPORTING THE DEATH PENALTY ‘CHRISTIAN?’
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:18pm by Billy Hallowell

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Head continues by explaining Jesus’ denunciations of violence in the Gospels. He makes it a point to note John 8:3-11, which shows Jesus stepping in to stop a would-be instance of capital punishment. Below, read this section of John for yourself:

3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

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It’s interesting that followers of the Prince of Peace can endorse abortion, war, and the “death penalty”. Just strikes me as absurd.

First, the process of determining guilt or innocence is flawed. Time after time we hear of cases of “Sorry about that”. There’s no “eraser”, control Z, or backspace / retype on the death penalty. It’s final.

Now, bear in mind that these are dangerous people. Maybe we need a Devil’s Island.

We can save a lot of resources by stopping it.

Then, maybe we can say “Then, neither do I condemn you”?

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