Before I left University of Charleston yesterday I had a chance to sit down with some of the graduating class. It started out with three, and by the time I was done the number was approaching twenty five, as we chatted and exchanged ideas the number kept growing. They were attracted to the conversation because we were discussing their future, and most of them were very unsure. While they were about to receive their degree, and some of them have opportunities in the job market, most had no idea what to do next. The common theme is they've all forgotten how to dream, and most importantly the hadn't set any personal goals.
Funny thing, if that had been a class of kindergartner's they would have all wanted to be fireman, movie stars or policemen, they'd have had they ability to dream. But the one thing they all had in common was they had lost the innocence it requires to believe they could do or be anything they wanted. It was eye opening to see youth with the world in front of them, standing there lost. Well they were, the reason the crowd was growing was we were learning how to dream again. We reaffirmed our priorities, so we knew what was important in our lives, then we learned to use our imagination. Those looks of uncertainty were exchanged for the bright look of hope, as they relearned how to dream. As we parted the comments were flying, the one that made me the proudest was,"Man, if class was like this everyday they'd have to beat me to keep me from it."
Isn't the power of the dream amazing?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
A Little Reminder.....
Thought of the day.....
Hearken onto this,O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God!
Job 37:14
I'm on a drive through Florida to West Virginia, boy is that appropriate. What an amazing view of God's handy work! We've got to make more time to enjoy it!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Hearken onto this,O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God!
Job 37:14
I'm on a drive through Florida to West Virginia, boy is that appropriate. What an amazing view of God's handy work! We've got to make more time to enjoy it!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Imagine.....
Imagine....No not the famous 1971 John Lennon song, but let's use ours! Imagine you owned a stadium, and you decided to book two fantastic teams to play baseball. It was going to be the game of the century! You have a amazing facility, great food, a wonderful security force, first aid for anyone who needs it, it's just a spectacular atmosphere, not a bad seat in the house! Now in order to pay for all these amenities you must charge admission, everyone who would like to attend this event must purchase a ticket for their seat to this show. Would it be fair to say this is reasonable, as far as I've spun this fairytale so far? Good, then we'll continue.....
Now everyone who has purchased a ticket is entitled to see this game of the century as they've invested in a seat. Would it be politically correct to say that if someone was in your seat, enjoying the atmosphere you rightfully invested in, that an usher might be called to see if that person has a right to occupy that seat? And would it be fair to say that usher should ask the person occupying that seat to prove he has purchased a ticket to the show? After all everyone else in attendance has paid their dues to enjoy the amenities. If that person, who occupied your seat, didn't have a ticket, it might be reasonable to assume the security guards at this facility would escort them outside the gate, right? That's how it's supposed to work.....
Now let's step back into reality, the stadium with all these great amenities is actually the United States of America. The price of the ticket is the taxes you pay, and the guy in your seat is an illegal alien. The security guard,(police officer), might be called to answer a charge of racial profiling for asking to see his ticket, because he's occupying someone else's seat. Chances are excellent he's not going to be escorted back outside the facility. In fact they'll probably give him your seat, and as you why your such a hater.
I don't know about you, but I was kind of digging that imagination stuff. Reality dictates that if you find someone doing something questionable, and you ask them to prove they aren't, your a racist. Liberals have fired up everyone about the new bill enacted in Arizona, because it'll incite racial profiling. Apparently, just like the healthcare bill, they didn't read this one either. An officer cannot approach anyone and ask for proof of citizenship unless they've been detained for suspicion of another offense. In fact this bill is crystal clear about this, because they anticipated a constitutional challenge. This bill mirrors the language of the already existing federal statue, and simply empowers law officers to enforce current legislation. It merely targets "illegal" aliens, you know, those guys without a ticket to the game. Those "illegal" aliens can be of any nationality, gender, or religious belief, the law is applied equally. Just show us your ticket to the game!
In the liberal mind set, we need to outlaw those nasty tickets. They are the problem, causing discrimination, and racial profiling! Once again they look to cure the symptom, not the disease.
You know how a liberal saves you when your drowning? .....They close the pool (insert cymbal bash)....
Okay, imagine I didn't tell that joke. Here's the point, liberals have fired up the Latino community, falsely telling them they could be profiled as a result of this law. That's a lie. Al Sharpton and his band of useful idiots, are trying to organize marches and rallies. Guess he forgot to read the bill, and he also forgot to check with the American/African community as the majority support sending "illegal's" back, as they are taking away amenities they contributed for.
That bill doesn't allow for profiling, it doesn't care about the color of your skin, it doesn't care how your dressed, and it doesn't even care if you cannot speak the language. All it asks is if you are thought to have broken a law, that you be able to produce the identification or the green card the government issued you, and told you to carry at all times, when you came here. So if your a purple alien from another world who likes to commit felonies, your just as liable to be asked for ID as anyone else who commits a crime, Hispanic or not.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Now everyone who has purchased a ticket is entitled to see this game of the century as they've invested in a seat. Would it be politically correct to say that if someone was in your seat, enjoying the atmosphere you rightfully invested in, that an usher might be called to see if that person has a right to occupy that seat? And would it be fair to say that usher should ask the person occupying that seat to prove he has purchased a ticket to the show? After all everyone else in attendance has paid their dues to enjoy the amenities. If that person, who occupied your seat, didn't have a ticket, it might be reasonable to assume the security guards at this facility would escort them outside the gate, right? That's how it's supposed to work.....
Now let's step back into reality, the stadium with all these great amenities is actually the United States of America. The price of the ticket is the taxes you pay, and the guy in your seat is an illegal alien. The security guard,(police officer), might be called to answer a charge of racial profiling for asking to see his ticket, because he's occupying someone else's seat. Chances are excellent he's not going to be escorted back outside the facility. In fact they'll probably give him your seat, and as you why your such a hater.
I don't know about you, but I was kind of digging that imagination stuff. Reality dictates that if you find someone doing something questionable, and you ask them to prove they aren't, your a racist. Liberals have fired up everyone about the new bill enacted in Arizona, because it'll incite racial profiling. Apparently, just like the healthcare bill, they didn't read this one either. An officer cannot approach anyone and ask for proof of citizenship unless they've been detained for suspicion of another offense. In fact this bill is crystal clear about this, because they anticipated a constitutional challenge. This bill mirrors the language of the already existing federal statue, and simply empowers law officers to enforce current legislation. It merely targets "illegal" aliens, you know, those guys without a ticket to the game. Those "illegal" aliens can be of any nationality, gender, or religious belief, the law is applied equally. Just show us your ticket to the game!
In the liberal mind set, we need to outlaw those nasty tickets. They are the problem, causing discrimination, and racial profiling! Once again they look to cure the symptom, not the disease.
You know how a liberal saves you when your drowning? .....They close the pool (insert cymbal bash)....
Okay, imagine I didn't tell that joke. Here's the point, liberals have fired up the Latino community, falsely telling them they could be profiled as a result of this law. That's a lie. Al Sharpton and his band of useful idiots, are trying to organize marches and rallies. Guess he forgot to read the bill, and he also forgot to check with the American/African community as the majority support sending "illegal's" back, as they are taking away amenities they contributed for.
That bill doesn't allow for profiling, it doesn't care about the color of your skin, it doesn't care how your dressed, and it doesn't even care if you cannot speak the language. All it asks is if you are thought to have broken a law, that you be able to produce the identification or the green card the government issued you, and told you to carry at all times, when you came here. So if your a purple alien from another world who likes to commit felonies, your just as liable to be asked for ID as anyone else who commits a crime, Hispanic or not.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
You Have To Laugh!
I got a humorous e-mail the other day that sparked my thought. I'll include it at the end of this piece for all of you to get a chuckle. It draws a parallel between liberal and conservatives, it's funny when the comparisons are made, but sadly true...
We have a childhood obesity problem in this country, let's face it our kids eat too much and don't get enough exercise. The liberal cure; regulate Trans fats, and take soda out of school vending machines. Apparently putting those things out of reach will solve the weight issue, now what do they do about Oreo's? Wouldn't a better plan to be to educate the offenders rather than punish everyone for irresponsible behavior?
America's salt intake is too high. Liberal cure....regulate the amount of salt in food. That kind of puts a dent in the pretzel industry, so again rather than educate and confront the problem at the root of the problem, everyone suffers.
Marijuana abuse is a problem, liberal cure....regulate and tax it. After all the government can never have enough revenue!
Yesterday in protest to the new immigration law in Arizona, someone drew swastika's out of bean dip on the windows of the Capital building. Liberal cure...regulate and tax the sale of bean dip. You know without these tools of destruction available, this vandalism cannot take place. If you register all sales of bean dip, this sort of tomfoolery cannot happen, and to pay for people to oversee these regulations we need to tax the dip.
I only wish I could express the absurdity of this thinking as well as the following piece.....
If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.
If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.
If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.
If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.
If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.
If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.
If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.
I hope you got a chuckle!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
PS That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. Job 34,30
We have a childhood obesity problem in this country, let's face it our kids eat too much and don't get enough exercise. The liberal cure; regulate Trans fats, and take soda out of school vending machines. Apparently putting those things out of reach will solve the weight issue, now what do they do about Oreo's? Wouldn't a better plan to be to educate the offenders rather than punish everyone for irresponsible behavior?
America's salt intake is too high. Liberal cure....regulate the amount of salt in food. That kind of puts a dent in the pretzel industry, so again rather than educate and confront the problem at the root of the problem, everyone suffers.
Marijuana abuse is a problem, liberal cure....regulate and tax it. After all the government can never have enough revenue!
Yesterday in protest to the new immigration law in Arizona, someone drew swastika's out of bean dip on the windows of the Capital building. Liberal cure...regulate and tax the sale of bean dip. You know without these tools of destruction available, this vandalism cannot take place. If you register all sales of bean dip, this sort of tomfoolery cannot happen, and to pay for people to oversee these regulations we need to tax the dip.
I only wish I could express the absurdity of this thinking as well as the following piece.....
If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.
If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.
If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.
If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.
If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.
If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.
If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.
I hope you got a chuckle!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
PS That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. Job 34,30
Monday, April 26, 2010
Way To Go Joe!
Although I've been critical of the Obama administration, the door swings both ways on this blog. I'll be happy to give them the kudos they deserve when they act worthy, and the time has come. I watched Vice President Joe Biden and President Obama give speeches at the funerals for those coal miners lost in the West Virginia tragedy. I have to say the words they passed on to the mourners were perfect, and I'm going to especially point out Joe Biden, his unique ability to be an average Joe was especially beneficial. Joe touched the crowd and the nation as he related to the families and friends gathered to honor the memory of those lost. President Obama spoke eloquently, as he always does, and also was able to bring a level of comfort to the hurting. It was incredible to see those two use their gifts in such a needed way. Thank you for easing their pain!
I'll be passing through Beckley, West Virginia the middle of this week, it's a pretty town nestled between the mountains. The coal barges will be running up and down the Kanawha river, and the industry will move forward, regardless of the tragedy. But I will be reminded of the incredible sacrifice those who work in extreme conditions make to power our country. Coal not only powers our nation but it fuels the economy of West Virginia and the other nearby states that mine for it, in fact it's their heartbeat. Just like the auto industry is to Michigan, and the sunshine is to Florida, and it has been for generations. Let me join the others who have offered a prayer for the families of these hard working men, and again thank the President and the Vice President for their soothing words at a much needed time.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
I'll be passing through Beckley, West Virginia the middle of this week, it's a pretty town nestled between the mountains. The coal barges will be running up and down the Kanawha river, and the industry will move forward, regardless of the tragedy. But I will be reminded of the incredible sacrifice those who work in extreme conditions make to power our country. Coal not only powers our nation but it fuels the economy of West Virginia and the other nearby states that mine for it, in fact it's their heartbeat. Just like the auto industry is to Michigan, and the sunshine is to Florida, and it has been for generations. Let me join the others who have offered a prayer for the families of these hard working men, and again thank the President and the Vice President for their soothing words at a much needed time.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Hindsight!
One of the things, and there are several, that continually gnaws on me about our politicians, is their unique ability to overlook the root of the problem when seeking a solution. Example: The proposed financial reform legislation package…..
“We need to regulate Wall Street,” is the cry heard from Washington. “The taxpayer shouldn’t have to bail out financial institutions insuring their ability to take unacceptable risks.” Very noble, yet pompous, arrogant, and asinine, considering the process that led to their financial distress. The vehicle that carried Wall Street to the financial breakdown was provided by Washington’s meddling in the first place. Wall Street traded risky mortgage backed securities that were created by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac., (both government sponsored entities). This was in a response to legislation enacted by Washington to allow “risky” homeowners to receive financing. Those “risky” mortgages were bundled up and sold on the exchange, enter Washington again. Mark to market legislation enacted by Washington said the value of a good or service is only relevant to what it’s value is on the open market. You can’t create a value. Seeing these mortgage packages were extremely risky and not properly secured by equity, because they were lending 100 plus percent of an inflated false value, they became basically worthless. Hence the financial crisis, as the market was trading heavily in these investment opportunities.
So the genius in Washington provided the gun, loaded it, pointed it at their head, counseled them on pulling the trigger, then has the nerve to complain when they committed financial suicide. Now those “fat cats” on Wall Street are the villains, and need to be “controlled,” through the passage of more of Washington’s incredibly inept legislation.
Has anyone else wondered why so many have left high ranking positions in Goldman Sachs to become Washington’s financial advisors? As CEO’s and the like their salaries had to be 7--8-9 figures, yet they opt for appointments that pay less than $180k. Sort of eludes to the fox watching the hen house! Point to make here is …Where were these financial guru’s when Bernie Madoff was ripping off the public? He ran one of the biggest ponzi schemes of all time right under their nose. Or was it?
We have laws in place to prosecute fraud, let’s just use those. Maybe if the Attorney General wasn’t so busy with bringing terrorists to trial in the USA, he could actually do his job and protect the public. If fraud is proven the perpetrators need to be punished harshly as a message to those who might consider the risk. Enacting legislation is simply shutting the barn door after the horses got out and using the same latch we had available in the first place!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
“We need to regulate Wall Street,” is the cry heard from Washington. “The taxpayer shouldn’t have to bail out financial institutions insuring their ability to take unacceptable risks.” Very noble, yet pompous, arrogant, and asinine, considering the process that led to their financial distress. The vehicle that carried Wall Street to the financial breakdown was provided by Washington’s meddling in the first place. Wall Street traded risky mortgage backed securities that were created by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac., (both government sponsored entities). This was in a response to legislation enacted by Washington to allow “risky” homeowners to receive financing. Those “risky” mortgages were bundled up and sold on the exchange, enter Washington again. Mark to market legislation enacted by Washington said the value of a good or service is only relevant to what it’s value is on the open market. You can’t create a value. Seeing these mortgage packages were extremely risky and not properly secured by equity, because they were lending 100 plus percent of an inflated false value, they became basically worthless. Hence the financial crisis, as the market was trading heavily in these investment opportunities.
So the genius in Washington provided the gun, loaded it, pointed it at their head, counseled them on pulling the trigger, then has the nerve to complain when they committed financial suicide. Now those “fat cats” on Wall Street are the villains, and need to be “controlled,” through the passage of more of Washington’s incredibly inept legislation.
Has anyone else wondered why so many have left high ranking positions in Goldman Sachs to become Washington’s financial advisors? As CEO’s and the like their salaries had to be 7--8-9 figures, yet they opt for appointments that pay less than $180k. Sort of eludes to the fox watching the hen house! Point to make here is …Where were these financial guru’s when Bernie Madoff was ripping off the public? He ran one of the biggest ponzi schemes of all time right under their nose. Or was it?
We have laws in place to prosecute fraud, let’s just use those. Maybe if the Attorney General wasn’t so busy with bringing terrorists to trial in the USA, he could actually do his job and protect the public. If fraud is proven the perpetrators need to be punished harshly as a message to those who might consider the risk. Enacting legislation is simply shutting the barn door after the horses got out and using the same latch we had available in the first place!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Saturday, April 24, 2010
One Hundred Percent!
"Effort gives significance to life."
Orrin and I were out fishing yesterday and getting in some great CD time, when Claude Hamilton made this statement in one of his talks. The words passed by so quickly and were almost indiscernible as they flowed toward the point he was trying to make. I saw Orrin's ears perk up and we both looked at each other as the statement sunk in. I could tell we'd both heard a jewel. The funny thing is I've heard this talk before and those words never stood out, until yesterday.
Effort is the accolade you give everything of significance you do in life. If you place value on anything, you devote effort to it. Conversely, if a project doesn't hold value to you, the effort is minimal. There is no higher praise you can give a task than your best effort! It anoints the project with worthiness!
Effort is the gold standard by which we live, it assigns value. Are you applying yourself, or just putting a check in the box? Is the job being done with love, or are you just looking for results? If it doesn't deserve your best effort, perhaps you need to find something more meaningful.
You can apply this to relationships as well. A honest assessment of your devotion to a relationship is very telling. How much effort are you willing to give? Is there effort on both sides? Is each individual in the relationship giving 110%?
Take that five word statement and use it as a gauge for employment, relationships, hobbies, tasks, etc. It'll help you prioritize your life, and maybe shed some light on your goals and dreams. Life's too short to not give your best effort!
God bless!
Capt. Bill
Orrin and I were out fishing yesterday and getting in some great CD time, when Claude Hamilton made this statement in one of his talks. The words passed by so quickly and were almost indiscernible as they flowed toward the point he was trying to make. I saw Orrin's ears perk up and we both looked at each other as the statement sunk in. I could tell we'd both heard a jewel. The funny thing is I've heard this talk before and those words never stood out, until yesterday.
Effort is the accolade you give everything of significance you do in life. If you place value on anything, you devote effort to it. Conversely, if a project doesn't hold value to you, the effort is minimal. There is no higher praise you can give a task than your best effort! It anoints the project with worthiness!
Effort is the gold standard by which we live, it assigns value. Are you applying yourself, or just putting a check in the box? Is the job being done with love, or are you just looking for results? If it doesn't deserve your best effort, perhaps you need to find something more meaningful.
You can apply this to relationships as well. A honest assessment of your devotion to a relationship is very telling. How much effort are you willing to give? Is there effort on both sides? Is each individual in the relationship giving 110%?
Take that five word statement and use it as a gauge for employment, relationships, hobbies, tasks, etc. It'll help you prioritize your life, and maybe shed some light on your goals and dreams. Life's too short to not give your best effort!
God bless!
Capt. Bill
Friday, April 23, 2010
Leadership!
I saw a posting on Facebook yesterday that caught my attention, it read.....
"Leaders are born. not chosen. In battle soldiers will rely on the toughest and wisest person to lead them to victory."
While it's true leaders are born, it's not true people are born leaders, as I felt this infered. The definition of leadership is influence, if you have influence over someone your a leader. A mother has influence over her child, hence she aspires to leadership.
Leadership or influence isn't always defined as good, you can influence someone in a negative manner. I think we can all agree Hitler was a leader, and a good one, many, many, people followed his influence. He just led people in a negative manner.
People follow leaders into battle who exhibit character, integrity, and knowledge. None of that is bequeathed to us at birth. Knowledge is learned, integrity and character are by products of the influences in your life. A "born leader" is akin to an "overnight success", there is no such thing.
Leadership is a culmination of personal growth. We can look back on one of the greatest leaders of all time, Winston Churchill, no one would have predicted from his early years he could lead a nation, especially one in the turmoil of a World War. His own father told him to join the infantry because in his opinion he didn't have the intelligence to be an officer. Leadership is a teachable skill.
Often times leadership is confused with "positional authority", like the boss at work. That's not influence, that's leverage. People follow a overseers orders to keep their income, that's a fear or blackmail situation. Leadership involves the willing. Those people are no more leaders then a prison guard is a CEO.
So let's all be good leaders! Influence people in a positive direction. Let your integrity and character draw people to follow your example, and then turn on your personality to cement the relationship. Follow a path of personal growth, and you'll be amazed at the people who walk in your footsteps.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
"Leaders are born. not chosen. In battle soldiers will rely on the toughest and wisest person to lead them to victory."
While it's true leaders are born, it's not true people are born leaders, as I felt this infered. The definition of leadership is influence, if you have influence over someone your a leader. A mother has influence over her child, hence she aspires to leadership.
Leadership or influence isn't always defined as good, you can influence someone in a negative manner. I think we can all agree Hitler was a leader, and a good one, many, many, people followed his influence. He just led people in a negative manner.
People follow leaders into battle who exhibit character, integrity, and knowledge. None of that is bequeathed to us at birth. Knowledge is learned, integrity and character are by products of the influences in your life. A "born leader" is akin to an "overnight success", there is no such thing.
Leadership is a culmination of personal growth. We can look back on one of the greatest leaders of all time, Winston Churchill, no one would have predicted from his early years he could lead a nation, especially one in the turmoil of a World War. His own father told him to join the infantry because in his opinion he didn't have the intelligence to be an officer. Leadership is a teachable skill.
Often times leadership is confused with "positional authority", like the boss at work. That's not influence, that's leverage. People follow a overseers orders to keep their income, that's a fear or blackmail situation. Leadership involves the willing. Those people are no more leaders then a prison guard is a CEO.
So let's all be good leaders! Influence people in a positive direction. Let your integrity and character draw people to follow your example, and then turn on your personality to cement the relationship. Follow a path of personal growth, and you'll be amazed at the people who walk in your footsteps.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Equipment!
Here's a poem I love, and passed on to my boys. I hope you find it as useful as I did!!!
EQUIPMENT
FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF,MY LAD
YOU’VE ALL THAT THE GREATEST MEN HAVE HAD,
TWO ARMS,TWO HANDS,TWO LEGS,TWO EYES,
AND A BRAIN TO USE IF YOU WOULD BE WISE.
WITH THIS EQUIPMENT THEY ALL BEGAN,
SO START FOR THE TOP AND SAY, I CAN.
LOOK THEM OVER,THE WISE AND GREAT,
THEY TAKE THEIR FOOD FROM A COMMON PLATE,
AND SIMILAR KNIVES AND FORKS THEY USE,
WITH SIMILAR LACES THEY TIE THEIR SHOES.
THE WORLD CONSIDERS THEM BRAVE AND SMART,
BUT YOU HAVE ALL THEY DID WHEN THEY MADE THEIR START.
YOU CAN TRIUMPH AND COME TO SKILL,
YOU CAN BE GREAT IF YOU ONLY WILL.
YOU’RE WELL EQUIPPED FOR THE FIGHT YOU CHOOSE,
YOU HAVE LEGS AND ARMS TO USE,
AND THE MAN WHO HAS RISEN GREAT DEEDS TO DO,
BEGAN HIS LIFE WITH NO MORE THAN YOU.
YOU ARE THE HANDICAP YOU MUST FACE,
YOU ARE THE ONE TO CHOOSE YOUR PLACE,
YOU MUST SAY WHERE YOU WANT TO GO,
HOW MUCH YOU STUDY THE TRUTH TO KNOW.
GOD HAS EQUIPPED YOU FOR LIFE, BUT HE
LETS YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO BE.
COURAGE MUST COME FROM THE SOUL WITHIN,
YOU MUST FURNISH THE WILL TO WIN..
SO FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF ,MY LAD.
YOU WERE BORN WITH ALL THAT THE GREAT HAVE HAD,
WITH YOUR EQUIPMENT THEY ALL BEGAN,
GET HOLD OF YOURSELF AND SAY : I CAN
--EDGAR A GUEST
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
EQUIPMENT
FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF,MY LAD
YOU’VE ALL THAT THE GREATEST MEN HAVE HAD,
TWO ARMS,TWO HANDS,TWO LEGS,TWO EYES,
AND A BRAIN TO USE IF YOU WOULD BE WISE.
WITH THIS EQUIPMENT THEY ALL BEGAN,
SO START FOR THE TOP AND SAY, I CAN.
LOOK THEM OVER,THE WISE AND GREAT,
THEY TAKE THEIR FOOD FROM A COMMON PLATE,
AND SIMILAR KNIVES AND FORKS THEY USE,
WITH SIMILAR LACES THEY TIE THEIR SHOES.
THE WORLD CONSIDERS THEM BRAVE AND SMART,
BUT YOU HAVE ALL THEY DID WHEN THEY MADE THEIR START.
YOU CAN TRIUMPH AND COME TO SKILL,
YOU CAN BE GREAT IF YOU ONLY WILL.
YOU’RE WELL EQUIPPED FOR THE FIGHT YOU CHOOSE,
YOU HAVE LEGS AND ARMS TO USE,
AND THE MAN WHO HAS RISEN GREAT DEEDS TO DO,
BEGAN HIS LIFE WITH NO MORE THAN YOU.
YOU ARE THE HANDICAP YOU MUST FACE,
YOU ARE THE ONE TO CHOOSE YOUR PLACE,
YOU MUST SAY WHERE YOU WANT TO GO,
HOW MUCH YOU STUDY THE TRUTH TO KNOW.
GOD HAS EQUIPPED YOU FOR LIFE, BUT HE
LETS YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO BE.
COURAGE MUST COME FROM THE SOUL WITHIN,
YOU MUST FURNISH THE WILL TO WIN..
SO FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF ,MY LAD.
YOU WERE BORN WITH ALL THAT THE GREAT HAVE HAD,
WITH YOUR EQUIPMENT THEY ALL BEGAN,
GET HOLD OF YOURSELF AND SAY : I CAN
--EDGAR A GUEST
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Meet The Press!
Today I'm going to delve once again into the media, and it's left wing bias. First a disclaimer, I've never ever been a fan of David Gregory, current moderator of "Meet The Press." His recent antics this past Sunday have done nothing but confirm my suspicion he's anti conservative, and a left wing pundit.
First a little background on Mr. Gregory. Prior to his current gig on Sunday morning he was the White House correspondent for NBC news, another link to his left wing spin. While covering the White House I'd always found him to be the guy who asked irrelevant questions , and trying to promote the agenda he wanted to discuss during briefings, even if it had little or nothing to do with the topic being discussed. He has "skin in the game", as he married Fannie Mae's executive vice president, Beth Wilkinson.
Now to the infraction; During an interview with a republican conservative who had just mentioned she always voted on the side of freedom, he responded with this....
"Where did freedom get us during the financial crisis, I think that's a fair question to ask." He then went on to assault capitalism and the free market principles this country was founded upon.
I'd like to respond to that question if I may Mr. Left wing, socialist promoting, TV news journalist!
While freedom has it's flaws and is subject to abuse by those who lack integrity, it's still the best program. Let's examine history; We'll start with the dawn of man, and the Garden of Eden, where as reported in the Bible, Adam and Eve were given freedom to do anything they wanted, (as an inalienable right), except eat the fruit from the forbidden tree. Because man is flawed,they committed the original sin, and violated the only rule they had to live by. Abuse of freedom has consequences, they were cast out of the Garden, and life as they knew it changed dramatically.
The same applies for the financial crisis, rules were in place and abused. You choose to blame freedom for the failure, I am quick to note, man is not perfect, but a sinner. The simple answer is for the abusers to be punished harshly, not unlike Adam and Eve were for their indiscretion. So freedom wasn't the cause of the recent financial crisis, the flaws of mankind are. Someday you on the left will discover man is flawed, and freedom is no more responsible for the financial crisis than a pencil is for misspelling words. Stop blaming God given rights for the imperfections of man.
Freedom is about having choices, one of them is the choice to do right or wrong. You can apply Socialism, Communism, or any other "ism" you choose, man will still err. As the saying goes..."To err is human, to forgive divine!", and to punish is the proper course for those who sin. More laws don't stop the ethically challenged from misbehaving, it simply makes them more creative. Harsh and swift enforcement of the rules in place are the simple deterrent to bad behavior.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
First a little background on Mr. Gregory. Prior to his current gig on Sunday morning he was the White House correspondent for NBC news, another link to his left wing spin. While covering the White House I'd always found him to be the guy who asked irrelevant questions , and trying to promote the agenda he wanted to discuss during briefings, even if it had little or nothing to do with the topic being discussed. He has "skin in the game", as he married Fannie Mae's executive vice president, Beth Wilkinson.
Now to the infraction; During an interview with a republican conservative who had just mentioned she always voted on the side of freedom, he responded with this....
"Where did freedom get us during the financial crisis, I think that's a fair question to ask." He then went on to assault capitalism and the free market principles this country was founded upon.
I'd like to respond to that question if I may Mr. Left wing, socialist promoting, TV news journalist!
While freedom has it's flaws and is subject to abuse by those who lack integrity, it's still the best program. Let's examine history; We'll start with the dawn of man, and the Garden of Eden, where as reported in the Bible, Adam and Eve were given freedom to do anything they wanted, (as an inalienable right), except eat the fruit from the forbidden tree. Because man is flawed,they committed the original sin, and violated the only rule they had to live by. Abuse of freedom has consequences, they were cast out of the Garden, and life as they knew it changed dramatically.
The same applies for the financial crisis, rules were in place and abused. You choose to blame freedom for the failure, I am quick to note, man is not perfect, but a sinner. The simple answer is for the abusers to be punished harshly, not unlike Adam and Eve were for their indiscretion. So freedom wasn't the cause of the recent financial crisis, the flaws of mankind are. Someday you on the left will discover man is flawed, and freedom is no more responsible for the financial crisis than a pencil is for misspelling words. Stop blaming God given rights for the imperfections of man.
Freedom is about having choices, one of them is the choice to do right or wrong. You can apply Socialism, Communism, or any other "ism" you choose, man will still err. As the saying goes..."To err is human, to forgive divine!", and to punish is the proper course for those who sin. More laws don't stop the ethically challenged from misbehaving, it simply makes them more creative. Harsh and swift enforcement of the rules in place are the simple deterrent to bad behavior.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Hater's Beware!
If someone were ignorant enough to mock a member of the Jewish faith for wearing his traditional yamaka, society would be quick to call him anti-Semitic . If they made light of the wearing of traditional African tribal dress like Kente cloth, Ghanaian smock, or a Kente buba and skirt set, we'd define them as racist. Same holds true for the Islamic burka, or any other clothing worn because they are all expressions of heritage and symbols of the struggles their forefathers endured. We hold dear to those people's rights of free speech and dress here in the United States of America!
So why is it acceptable for those who oppose the Tea Party movement to openly mock the wearing of traditional dress and tri-cornered hats of the founding fathers? The people who feel it necessary to wear this tribute to those who pioneered our country are simply remembering where their heritage and roots came from. Does anyone label the Tea Party critics as racist or call them out for the haters they are? Why not?
The left of this country label Tea Party activists as fringe, or a minority movement. Isn't it still an act of hate to diminish a minority's heritage, and dress? The left is quick to paint the facade of being the protector of the minority, yet still they diminish someone who is expressing their solidarity with their forefathers, because they can't benefit from exploiting it. That speaks volumes as to where the progressive's heart is. I'm with ya brother, as long as I can count on your vote, if I can't then the heck with your civil rights. I'll just make fun of you and call you a lunatic, because of the way you dress. I wonder if George Washington would have opted for a different style when crossing the Delaware, had he known his painting would be displayed, and people who emulated his dress would have been named loons because of it?
Personally, it'd have to be a big money wager to get me in a tri-cornered hat, powdered wig, pantaloons, and a white ruffled shirt, but I'll never disparage someone honoring their heritage. In fact, I'm going to begin to call out everyone who does, as the anti-patriot they are. I'm proud of how this country began, patriotism isn't just for the 4th of July. There is no call to toss slurs at the patriotic, actually that behavior is the opposite of being patriotic; Isn't that still called treason?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
So why is it acceptable for those who oppose the Tea Party movement to openly mock the wearing of traditional dress and tri-cornered hats of the founding fathers? The people who feel it necessary to wear this tribute to those who pioneered our country are simply remembering where their heritage and roots came from. Does anyone label the Tea Party critics as racist or call them out for the haters they are? Why not?
The left of this country label Tea Party activists as fringe, or a minority movement. Isn't it still an act of hate to diminish a minority's heritage, and dress? The left is quick to paint the facade of being the protector of the minority, yet still they diminish someone who is expressing their solidarity with their forefathers, because they can't benefit from exploiting it. That speaks volumes as to where the progressive's heart is. I'm with ya brother, as long as I can count on your vote, if I can't then the heck with your civil rights. I'll just make fun of you and call you a lunatic, because of the way you dress. I wonder if George Washington would have opted for a different style when crossing the Delaware, had he known his painting would be displayed, and people who emulated his dress would have been named loons because of it?
Personally, it'd have to be a big money wager to get me in a tri-cornered hat, powdered wig, pantaloons, and a white ruffled shirt, but I'll never disparage someone honoring their heritage. In fact, I'm going to begin to call out everyone who does, as the anti-patriot they are. I'm proud of how this country began, patriotism isn't just for the 4th of July. There is no call to toss slurs at the patriotic, actually that behavior is the opposite of being patriotic; Isn't that still called treason?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Monday, April 19, 2010
Which Of The Three Are You?
Another Monday, the start of a new week. How are you going to survive? Well Ben Sherwood, in his book; "The Survivor's Club", suggests people react in one of three ways when faced with adversity, like a Monday.
Ten percent of the people just do the totally wrong thing. They run amok when a challenge faces them, lose their mind, and create more problems than they solve. Perhaps your acquainted with someone like this! I've found in the right setting they can be quite entertaining, but absolutely useless when the pressure is on.
Eighty percent of us do nothing. We become victims of adversity and await the help of someone else. That's quite a majority, although comforting that more don't align themselves with the first group. What kind of chaos would that create? It is disturbing that such a large majority seeks the guidance of others before acting. Many times in a crisis, time is an important factor, there is no time for indecision. I can't help but ponder; is this group so large because we've become a "looked after" or entitlement society? No sense risking failure, someone will fix this mess!
The final group is way too small. Sherwood tells us that the leaders are a mere ten percent. Those take charge, get things done doers are the same size minority as the chaos creators. Has there ever been a better time for TEAM leadership development? One of the keys to success as an entrepreneur, is to find a need and fill it. Here's your need! Ninety percent of the population is looking for leadership! Could you ask for a bigger market? What a wonderful testament to the need for what TEAM has to offer!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Ten percent of the people just do the totally wrong thing. They run amok when a challenge faces them, lose their mind, and create more problems than they solve. Perhaps your acquainted with someone like this! I've found in the right setting they can be quite entertaining, but absolutely useless when the pressure is on.
Eighty percent of us do nothing. We become victims of adversity and await the help of someone else. That's quite a majority, although comforting that more don't align themselves with the first group. What kind of chaos would that create? It is disturbing that such a large majority seeks the guidance of others before acting. Many times in a crisis, time is an important factor, there is no time for indecision. I can't help but ponder; is this group so large because we've become a "looked after" or entitlement society? No sense risking failure, someone will fix this mess!
The final group is way too small. Sherwood tells us that the leaders are a mere ten percent. Those take charge, get things done doers are the same size minority as the chaos creators. Has there ever been a better time for TEAM leadership development? One of the keys to success as an entrepreneur, is to find a need and fill it. Here's your need! Ninety percent of the population is looking for leadership! Could you ask for a bigger market? What a wonderful testament to the need for what TEAM has to offer!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Sunday, April 18, 2010
A Few Good Words!
As I was getting my daily fulfillment of the Good Book, I came across an interesting quote in the book of Job.
"Whence cometh wisdom, and where is the place of understanding?" Job 28:20
Great question, huh? God gave us the key to the answers, all we need to do is read. Wisdom is passed down by men and women much smarter than I through books. Starting with life's owners manual, The Bible, the answers are all right for us to read. I'm preaching to the choir here, because you've come to this site to seek wisdom and entertainment. I do want to submit to you though, the power of wisdom is available to everyone, it just takes the where-with-all to seek it in books. It even comes without cost! You can hit the library for free, and not invest a dime.The only requirement is your time and a willingness to learn.
As I read further in Job, he finished that chapter with these words, and I will close with this too....
"And onto man He said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." Job 28:28
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
"Whence cometh wisdom, and where is the place of understanding?" Job 28:20
Great question, huh? God gave us the key to the answers, all we need to do is read. Wisdom is passed down by men and women much smarter than I through books. Starting with life's owners manual, The Bible, the answers are all right for us to read. I'm preaching to the choir here, because you've come to this site to seek wisdom and entertainment. I do want to submit to you though, the power of wisdom is available to everyone, it just takes the where-with-all to seek it in books. It even comes without cost! You can hit the library for free, and not invest a dime.The only requirement is your time and a willingness to learn.
As I read further in Job, he finished that chapter with these words, and I will close with this too....
"And onto man He said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." Job 28:28
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Saturday, April 17, 2010
If a Sparrow Cannot Fall Without His Notice.......
One of my favorite subjects to discuss has once again come to light. A federal appellate judge in Wisconsin has decided to declare a National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. The judicial activists have again misinterpreted what has been written in the Constitution. The only written reference to this is covered in the First Amendment, which reads....
"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof."
Period, end of story. There is no reference to separation of church and state. The concept of separation of church and state was mistakenly taken out of context from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson that reads as follows....
"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties."
Jefferson was replying to the Danbury Baptists Assn. in Connecticut after they inquired as to why he didn't recognize a national day of thanks, like presidents before him had. There is no wording in the written law, simply the judicial system's insistence that Thomas Jefferson's opinion, is in fact basis for legal interpretation demanding a separation of church and state. This letter was written in 1802 well after the founding fathers had ratified the Constitution,( 12/15/1791).
So, to all the atheists, ACLU activists, left wing radicals, and judicial law making wannabe's; There is no paperwork to back up this opinion. You cannot change written history by ignoring the facts!
The spirit of the National Day of Prayer, (in my opinion) is to honor the actions of our founding fathers. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable task, and unable to reach any form of agreement in what to base our new country's mission statement upon, in June 1787 the Constitutional Convention was deadlocked and Ben Franklin rose to call for daily prayer and said.....
" The longer I live, the more convincing the proofs I see of this truth, that God governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."
Franklin then called to adjourn to the church across the street for prayer and reflection. History then reports they reassembled and were able to find common ground, to forge this great nation. So is it not in the spirit of that intervention, we honor their accomplishments with a National Day of Prayer? The left can dilute the historical facts they teach our children, and ignore the principles used to found this country, but despite all that effort, the facts remain. We are "One Nation Under God!" This is why we call for a National Day of Prayer!
I can't believe my computer tried to correct the grammar of Thomas Jefferson!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof."
Period, end of story. There is no reference to separation of church and state. The concept of separation of church and state was mistakenly taken out of context from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson that reads as follows....
"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties."
Jefferson was replying to the Danbury Baptists Assn. in Connecticut after they inquired as to why he didn't recognize a national day of thanks, like presidents before him had. There is no wording in the written law, simply the judicial system's insistence that Thomas Jefferson's opinion, is in fact basis for legal interpretation demanding a separation of church and state. This letter was written in 1802 well after the founding fathers had ratified the Constitution,( 12/15/1791).
So, to all the atheists, ACLU activists, left wing radicals, and judicial law making wannabe's; There is no paperwork to back up this opinion. You cannot change written history by ignoring the facts!
The spirit of the National Day of Prayer, (in my opinion) is to honor the actions of our founding fathers. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable task, and unable to reach any form of agreement in what to base our new country's mission statement upon, in June 1787 the Constitutional Convention was deadlocked and Ben Franklin rose to call for daily prayer and said.....
" The longer I live, the more convincing the proofs I see of this truth, that God governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."
Franklin then called to adjourn to the church across the street for prayer and reflection. History then reports they reassembled and were able to find common ground, to forge this great nation. So is it not in the spirit of that intervention, we honor their accomplishments with a National Day of Prayer? The left can dilute the historical facts they teach our children, and ignore the principles used to found this country, but despite all that effort, the facts remain. We are "One Nation Under God!" This is why we call for a National Day of Prayer!
I can't believe my computer tried to correct the grammar of Thomas Jefferson!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Friday, April 16, 2010
Beneful!
Did you ever wake up in the morning and just not have the where-with-all to face the day? Maybe have second thoughts about going to work or applying yourself to the task that needs doing? I never suffer from those momentary lapses, I have this incredible 80 lb alarm clock, that come 7 am, if I'm not up and dressed and standing at the front door with leash in hand, there is going to be a problem. Every once in a while I'll test his persistence, which in itself is a lesson for all of us to learn, and roll over under the covers when he begins his ritual to alert me it's time to exercise. First comes the feint whine, just loud enough to get your attention, should that fail he'll stand right over top of you and stare. Then the feet begin to dance, just the front ones, in an effort to demand you notice, Should I carry this on to the next level, he'll bark right in your ear, then leap on and off of where your trying to hide under the sheets. The final assault is to pull the bedding on to the floor. Come heck or high water, this mission is going to be accomplished, NOW! My dog has absolutely no problem communicating, he makes sure you understand his point. He's living monument to persistence and the art of communication, and he doesn't even speak the language.
Now while on these morning rituals, I notice things. A new neighbor, in her effort to beautify the neighborhood, has planted some marigolds surrounding her mailbox post. Since they don't have a watering system, those poor flowers aren't doing as well as she'd like. They've become stunted and the blooms are not as big or as plentiful as they should be, had they been given the proper amount of water and fertilizer. The other thing I've noticed is the bed she carefully made is becoming overrun with weeds.
Here's the point, The good Lord surrounds us with lessons everyday, if we take the time to notice. This example spoke to me like this. Your best intentions will be overcome with everything you were trying to prevent, if you don't nurture the project. Neglect is the biggest enemy of a sustained successful outcome. While you await the seeds to blossom into the fruits of your labor, it's important you provide the best environment for success.
My dog isn't the only one who benefits or enjoys those morning walks!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Now while on these morning rituals, I notice things. A new neighbor, in her effort to beautify the neighborhood, has planted some marigolds surrounding her mailbox post. Since they don't have a watering system, those poor flowers aren't doing as well as she'd like. They've become stunted and the blooms are not as big or as plentiful as they should be, had they been given the proper amount of water and fertilizer. The other thing I've noticed is the bed she carefully made is becoming overrun with weeds.
Here's the point, The good Lord surrounds us with lessons everyday, if we take the time to notice. This example spoke to me like this. Your best intentions will be overcome with everything you were trying to prevent, if you don't nurture the project. Neglect is the biggest enemy of a sustained successful outcome. While you await the seeds to blossom into the fruits of your labor, it's important you provide the best environment for success.
My dog isn't the only one who benefits or enjoys those morning walks!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Taxing!
Ah tax day! Here's where Americans empty their pockets and donate up to 35% of their hard earned money to support the spending habits of the addicts we elected. Today everyone is a fiscal conservative; Well everyone who actually pays income tax. Apparently 50% of Americans don't participate in this ritual.
While they do contribute 7.5% to 15% to social security, and a few percent more to support medicare and medicaid, lower income owners get a pass on the federal income tax. You see, "All men are created equal" here, until it comes to supporting the government. Some may say that the financial well to do should pay more, and to that I say they do; 35% of a $1,000,000 is a whole lot more than 35% of $48,000. I've done the math!
So is a "progressive" (note how that is similar to the progressive movement) tax code fair and just? Nope! The wealthy don't use the government's services any more than average income citizens. Our country's founding mission statement demands that we treat everyone the same, they didn't allow for exceptions! Do the wealthy in this country have an obligation to the poor? Well, in my eyes that's between them and their maker. When the government decides to commandeer your wealth and redistribute it, that akin to theft. The government is entitled to tax you to keep itself operational and defend our borders, again as outlined in the original mission statement, but charity is up to the individual.
Non profits are viable business. They employ people and administer charity virtually fraud free. Not a claim the government can make. The non profit also strives to get the recipient off the handout wagon and back to a contributing member of society, again another claim that eludes the government when they get involved in charity.
Citizens will gladly give their fair share to keep America strong, but there is a bile taste in our mouths from misappropriation of funds, fraud, and usurping of authority. Be heard, and be heard often, and most importantly insist on candidates that'll follow these guidelines, then vote!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
While they do contribute 7.5% to 15% to social security, and a few percent more to support medicare and medicaid, lower income owners get a pass on the federal income tax. You see, "All men are created equal" here, until it comes to supporting the government. Some may say that the financial well to do should pay more, and to that I say they do; 35% of a $1,000,000 is a whole lot more than 35% of $48,000. I've done the math!
So is a "progressive" (note how that is similar to the progressive movement) tax code fair and just? Nope! The wealthy don't use the government's services any more than average income citizens. Our country's founding mission statement demands that we treat everyone the same, they didn't allow for exceptions! Do the wealthy in this country have an obligation to the poor? Well, in my eyes that's between them and their maker. When the government decides to commandeer your wealth and redistribute it, that akin to theft. The government is entitled to tax you to keep itself operational and defend our borders, again as outlined in the original mission statement, but charity is up to the individual.
Non profits are viable business. They employ people and administer charity virtually fraud free. Not a claim the government can make. The non profit also strives to get the recipient off the handout wagon and back to a contributing member of society, again another claim that eludes the government when they get involved in charity.
Citizens will gladly give their fair share to keep America strong, but there is a bile taste in our mouths from misappropriation of funds, fraud, and usurping of authority. Be heard, and be heard often, and most importantly insist on candidates that'll follow these guidelines, then vote!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Today's Pilgrims
You can trace, without fail, the problems that plague a struggling company or nation, to the loss of it's original mission statement. Business's that have lost their way forgot the principles they were founded on, and government is the business end of a country. It doesn't take a whole lot of looking to arrive at this conclusion here in the United States.
For instance, ask any child about the Pilgrims, your answer will surely include something about the first thanksgiving, but little else about the reason they left the security of England to migrate to an unknown world, we inhabit today. What drove those settlers of Pilgrim Rock to a sixty day ocean crossing in a boat that was designed to transport wine across the English Channel? The answer to that question is the root that drove the founding of this great nation, yet we either ignore it, or it's dismissed. I know a scant few people who can relay the information that their journey took sixty days or it was in a boat not designed to cross the Atlantic. So how can we expect future generations to understand the principles upon which this country was based?
The future of this country is based in the past. The Pilgrims traveled half way around the world, had virtually no food, were surrounded by hostile Indians when they arrived, all in the name of religious freedom. They steadily lost family and friends during this quest, but never relaxed their rigid religious convictions. They set up a cage for people who didn't honor the Sabbath. Sinners were whipped and placed in stocks, adulterers were forced to wear labels on their clothing, and a sodomizer was put to death. They knew freedom alone is not God's desire for humans. Freedom is accompanied by a second pillar: responsibility! There is no freedom without obligation.
We've strayed a great deal from that mission statement. We've forgotten exceptional people have to be subordinate to God's ultimate design and align our ambitions around those principles. Maybe it's time to reconnect with our past, and teach the original mission statement to our children. Our morality has suffered because we lost touch with our past. The common thread that links the destruction of every great civilization is the loss of morals.
We can embrace history, learn from it, and pass it on to our children as a tool for guidance, or we can continue on the path we're on, and ignore the inevitable. Are we arrogant enough to believe we can over come what has toppled every great civilization?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
For instance, ask any child about the Pilgrims, your answer will surely include something about the first thanksgiving, but little else about the reason they left the security of England to migrate to an unknown world, we inhabit today. What drove those settlers of Pilgrim Rock to a sixty day ocean crossing in a boat that was designed to transport wine across the English Channel? The answer to that question is the root that drove the founding of this great nation, yet we either ignore it, or it's dismissed. I know a scant few people who can relay the information that their journey took sixty days or it was in a boat not designed to cross the Atlantic. So how can we expect future generations to understand the principles upon which this country was based?
The future of this country is based in the past. The Pilgrims traveled half way around the world, had virtually no food, were surrounded by hostile Indians when they arrived, all in the name of religious freedom. They steadily lost family and friends during this quest, but never relaxed their rigid religious convictions. They set up a cage for people who didn't honor the Sabbath. Sinners were whipped and placed in stocks, adulterers were forced to wear labels on their clothing, and a sodomizer was put to death. They knew freedom alone is not God's desire for humans. Freedom is accompanied by a second pillar: responsibility! There is no freedom without obligation.
We've strayed a great deal from that mission statement. We've forgotten exceptional people have to be subordinate to God's ultimate design and align our ambitions around those principles. Maybe it's time to reconnect with our past, and teach the original mission statement to our children. Our morality has suffered because we lost touch with our past. The common thread that links the destruction of every great civilization is the loss of morals.
We can embrace history, learn from it, and pass it on to our children as a tool for guidance, or we can continue on the path we're on, and ignore the inevitable. Are we arrogant enough to believe we can over come what has toppled every great civilization?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
This is a Taxing Situation!
I saw a pie chart the other day that simply amazed me. I was struck with awe, it reflected the amount of spending, and how our dollars are divided in the federal budget. I've got to tell you this was an eye opener, 40% of the tax dollars we send to Washington is spent on Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. It consumes nearly 1/2 of the budget, and far exceeds any other programs. It dwarfs defense and education spending.Here's the kicker....The new healthcare legislation hasn't been added to this chart yet!
Does it strike anyone else wrong that a program like Social Security, that by the way was supposed to be an insurance pool that supported itself, is preventing us from servicing our debt? The money paid in by the taxpayers has been robbed, because legislators didn't have the spine to tell us they were going to raise our taxes to pay for unfunded programs. In theory Social Security should be self supporting and solvent.
Like you and I are required to do, it's time the government lived within it's means. That doesn't mean raising or creating new taxation, it means cutting spending, and being fiscally responsible. There is a push on to consider a value added tax to confront these out of control spending policies. That tax is a federal sales tax where every good produced in this country is taxed as it passes down through the distribution chain. Her's a quick explanation.
A good produced is taxed by the feds before it leaves for the warehouse. The warehouse taxes it again before it moves to the retail outlet, then finally the good is taxed yet again when the consumer purchases it. In effect it has been taxed 3 times, and the price to you increased. They have this system in Europe and it adds an additional 20% to the cost to you the consumer. This doesn't include the existing state sales tax, which will still be applicable.
Washington is testing the waters on this idea. They have sent a few people out to discuss the possibility of this occurring. The way we react to this rumor will define the course they will plot to enact this new tax. If we don't object loudly to the rumor, they regard it as doable. If there is a large protest, they will find a way to soften their message till we accept the need for this assault on our income stream.
New taxation is unacceptable. You can't out tax financial stupidity. We must control spending as the first step. The answer doesn't always have to come out of pocket. In closing a bit of humor, or is it? What is the difference between the tax man and a taxidermist? .......The taxidermist leaves the skin!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Does it strike anyone else wrong that a program like Social Security, that by the way was supposed to be an insurance pool that supported itself, is preventing us from servicing our debt? The money paid in by the taxpayers has been robbed, because legislators didn't have the spine to tell us they were going to raise our taxes to pay for unfunded programs. In theory Social Security should be self supporting and solvent.
Like you and I are required to do, it's time the government lived within it's means. That doesn't mean raising or creating new taxation, it means cutting spending, and being fiscally responsible. There is a push on to consider a value added tax to confront these out of control spending policies. That tax is a federal sales tax where every good produced in this country is taxed as it passes down through the distribution chain. Her's a quick explanation.
A good produced is taxed by the feds before it leaves for the warehouse. The warehouse taxes it again before it moves to the retail outlet, then finally the good is taxed yet again when the consumer purchases it. In effect it has been taxed 3 times, and the price to you increased. They have this system in Europe and it adds an additional 20% to the cost to you the consumer. This doesn't include the existing state sales tax, which will still be applicable.
Washington is testing the waters on this idea. They have sent a few people out to discuss the possibility of this occurring. The way we react to this rumor will define the course they will plot to enact this new tax. If we don't object loudly to the rumor, they regard it as doable. If there is a large protest, they will find a way to soften their message till we accept the need for this assault on our income stream.
New taxation is unacceptable. You can't out tax financial stupidity. We must control spending as the first step. The answer doesn't always have to come out of pocket. In closing a bit of humor, or is it? What is the difference between the tax man and a taxidermist? .......The taxidermist leaves the skin!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Dawn of the Information Age!
About the worst thing that has ever happened to politics, from the view of the modern day politician, is the dawn of the information age. Political dinosaurs like Joe Biden have become used to passing off statistics out of thin air to accent or highlight a point they were making. With the dawn of the Internet and it's availability by simply using your cell phone, their talking points are readily verifiable. So the yarns they are using to passing off as fact are being quickly exposed, and their credibility is being called into question.
The information age and the awakening of the general voting public just might create the new moral standard in Washington. The era of spewing half or totally untrue information is slowly being pushed to the wayside, as voters are demanding a new level of integrity. Character and truth may yet become fashionable in Washington, and I for one will embrace the change.
Prior to this revelation the voters knew they were being lied to, it was just too difficult a process to verify, so it was accepted as normal behavior. Now it's virtually impossible to deceive the public and a politician's rhetoric is bound to be exposed with lightening fast speed, and then they can be held accountable at the scene of the crime. Contrary to the past procedure, where time had the opportunity to distort the words, now the perpetrator is immediately exposed.
I find it hilarious that politicians are trying to say there is no proof they said something, then a pundit will do an hour long show highlighting every little burp of the truth that passed through their lips. Reminding me of the phrase, "I know your lying, your lips are moving." My guess that quote was attributed to a voter calling out a politician.
This whole new revelation has politicians calling to "regulate" the media. Swats at our freedom of speech are being thrown out their daily trying to silence the truth. They don't like the exposure of the truth, it calls their integrity into question. Hence the latest assault, "The Fairness Doctrine", yet again another attempt to quell the truth. I guess they forgot the saying, "Truth, Justice,and The American Way!"
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
The information age and the awakening of the general voting public just might create the new moral standard in Washington. The era of spewing half or totally untrue information is slowly being pushed to the wayside, as voters are demanding a new level of integrity. Character and truth may yet become fashionable in Washington, and I for one will embrace the change.
Prior to this revelation the voters knew they were being lied to, it was just too difficult a process to verify, so it was accepted as normal behavior. Now it's virtually impossible to deceive the public and a politician's rhetoric is bound to be exposed with lightening fast speed, and then they can be held accountable at the scene of the crime. Contrary to the past procedure, where time had the opportunity to distort the words, now the perpetrator is immediately exposed.
I find it hilarious that politicians are trying to say there is no proof they said something, then a pundit will do an hour long show highlighting every little burp of the truth that passed through their lips. Reminding me of the phrase, "I know your lying, your lips are moving." My guess that quote was attributed to a voter calling out a politician.
This whole new revelation has politicians calling to "regulate" the media. Swats at our freedom of speech are being thrown out their daily trying to silence the truth. They don't like the exposure of the truth, it calls their integrity into question. Hence the latest assault, "The Fairness Doctrine", yet again another attempt to quell the truth. I guess they forgot the saying, "Truth, Justice,and The American Way!"
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Sunday, April 11, 2010
A Raging Debate!
One of my favorite past times is to invade liberal blogs and spew common sense. Call me silly but one of my goals in life is to stomp out stupidity. Trust me, I have my hands full, and I confront it daily. This isn't just a hobby, it's a passion, I feel it's an infection gnawing upon the bowels of society. So as a civic minded citizen, I feel it's my duty to confront and expose it. In this liberal blog a mother was hailing the advantages of having her 26 year old infant covered under the family plan. And I replied.....
I too have children of this age group. First of all, there is a misnomer printed above. Your children are already allowed on parent's coverage as long as they attend college, till age 24. So any claim of hardship while attending college are bogus. Secondly insurance is a responsibility, not a right. This responsibility costs an individual of the 19 to 26 year old in my state, $200/month, very affordable. There are no limits for preexisting conditions, but while we're addressing this issue, the majority of 19 to 26 year old applicants are extremely fit, the few with preexisting conditions are the exception, not the norm. These additions to an insurance pool is what keeps the premiums down for the older, less healthy insured.
There is no need to keep 19 to 26 year old dependents on the family plan, unless they are attending school, and that was already available. If a parent is concerned about the irresponsibility of their offspring, it's simply a matter of them purchasing their policy for them. We didn't need legislation for that.
I don't care if you work at fast food or as a bartender, healthcare premiums for the young are affordable. While they prefer to have cable @ $80/month, or a 52 inch flat screen HDTV, or an expensive stereo in their financed car instead, it may require a sacrifice. Responsible adults call it delayed gratification. That's the theory where you downgrade your lifestyle to fit your income and still handle your responsibilities. What a novel idea! Walk to work, take a bus, turn off the cable TV until such time you've earned it financially.
Sometimes you have to drill your response home, this was countered by a reply from yet another mother who found her insurance only covered her children till the age of 22 while attending school, and the premiums were $275.00/ month. She asked me unbelievingly what healthcare provider I had, and here was the reply....
My healthcare provider is Priority Health. they cover full time college students till age 24 with proof of enrollment. Even @ $275/ month, insurance is affordable, that's 12 hours a week of part time work @ min wage. Any student with 3 to 4 years of college experience should be able to qualify for that kind of position easily. It's a wonderful opportunity to teach responsibility, bill paying, and other valuable life lessons. After all at 22 they are just about done with the college experience, and ready to enter the work force. Unless of course they are opting to pursue an advanced degree, which should suggest they begin to contribute to their own needs, as Mom and Dad's responsibility to suckle them has long since expired. Being that type of crackerjack student implies a wisp of resourcefulness, which should enable them to get a higher paying part time job, diminishing the need for hours worked.
I didn't get anymore replies....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
I too have children of this age group. First of all, there is a misnomer printed above. Your children are already allowed on parent's coverage as long as they attend college, till age 24. So any claim of hardship while attending college are bogus. Secondly insurance is a responsibility, not a right. This responsibility costs an individual of the 19 to 26 year old in my state, $200/month, very affordable. There are no limits for preexisting conditions, but while we're addressing this issue, the majority of 19 to 26 year old applicants are extremely fit, the few with preexisting conditions are the exception, not the norm. These additions to an insurance pool is what keeps the premiums down for the older, less healthy insured.
There is no need to keep 19 to 26 year old dependents on the family plan, unless they are attending school, and that was already available. If a parent is concerned about the irresponsibility of their offspring, it's simply a matter of them purchasing their policy for them. We didn't need legislation for that.
I don't care if you work at fast food or as a bartender, healthcare premiums for the young are affordable. While they prefer to have cable @ $80/month, or a 52 inch flat screen HDTV, or an expensive stereo in their financed car instead, it may require a sacrifice. Responsible adults call it delayed gratification. That's the theory where you downgrade your lifestyle to fit your income and still handle your responsibilities. What a novel idea! Walk to work, take a bus, turn off the cable TV until such time you've earned it financially.
Sometimes you have to drill your response home, this was countered by a reply from yet another mother who found her insurance only covered her children till the age of 22 while attending school, and the premiums were $275.00/ month. She asked me unbelievingly what healthcare provider I had, and here was the reply....
My healthcare provider is Priority Health. they cover full time college students till age 24 with proof of enrollment. Even @ $275/ month, insurance is affordable, that's 12 hours a week of part time work @ min wage. Any student with 3 to 4 years of college experience should be able to qualify for that kind of position easily. It's a wonderful opportunity to teach responsibility, bill paying, and other valuable life lessons. After all at 22 they are just about done with the college experience, and ready to enter the work force. Unless of course they are opting to pursue an advanced degree, which should suggest they begin to contribute to their own needs, as Mom and Dad's responsibility to suckle them has long since expired. Being that type of crackerjack student implies a wisp of resourcefulness, which should enable them to get a higher paying part time job, diminishing the need for hours worked.
I didn't get anymore replies....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The Week in Review!
Things that caught my attention this week!
Note to President "O".... When responding to Sarah Palin, people who live in glass houses, (with no nuclear clue), shouldn't throw stones.
I'm deeply saddened by the retirement announcement of Rep. Bart Stupak. I think it would be more fitting if someone who abandoned their principles to be evicted from office by what used to be his supporters, but now he's robbed them of that opportunity as well. One can only assume you traded your office for a government job, one outside your state. I hope it was worth it.....
Note to Sally Quinn, faith columnist at the Washington Post.... It's not very Christian to diminish others to make your point. Just because Sarah Palin mispronounces a word, does not mean her opinion is less valid. If you'd like to review your faux paus, I could make a month worth of posts on your career as documented by any Internet search, but then that wouldn't be very Christian either, would it? Again, see the glass house notation to the Pres....
A message was sent to our nation by the dear young girl who chose to end her life after being bullied in a Massachusetts high school. I can't imagine the pain that poor child was in, the misery that drives someone to terminate her gift from God above. But I can imagine where a little prayer in school, or some good old faith based principles like,"Love thy neighbor," or "Treat others like you'd like to be treated," or maybe even being your brother's keeper, might have come in handy here. Wasn't Massachusetts one of the first to evict God from public schools? Maybe now we'll hear her plea for help.
Fun fact....Did you know the First Continental Congress, those crafty fellows who laid out the foundation this country was founded upon, had printed, and financed, a version of the bible to be distributed though out the schools of this great nation. Somehow that little ditty got lost in the new version of history our children are being taught.....I wonder who overlooked that?
Youth unemployment rate is 21% overall, but if your a black youth it's 50%. Good thing we got them healthcare until they are 26, huh?
The current administration was all giddy about the increase of jobs this week. I hate to throw a wet blanket on that exuberation but in a month, according to the Dept. of Education 1.5 million students will be fresh out of college with bachelors degrees looking for work. 700,000 will graduate college with associates degrees also searching for viable employment. Then there are the millions who will go directly from high school into the job search. Do you think there will be a glut of retirement parties to match this influx of labor? I'm thinking in this economy retirement is not as popular as it used to be! Look for a little spike in the unemployed in the near future.....
Just a little more on the retiring members of Congress. You may paint your leaving with whatever brush you feel appropriate, but here's my take. If you voted for the health care bill, you have a yellow stripe running down your back, right where your spine used to be. This was nothing short of a terrorist act, but unlike the self destructing bombers, who stand in the middle of their destruction for their cause, you are more of the Timothy Mc Veigh type. Light the fuse and run.
My it's been a busy week! I can't wait to see what the next one brings!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Note to President "O".... When responding to Sarah Palin, people who live in glass houses, (with no nuclear clue), shouldn't throw stones.
I'm deeply saddened by the retirement announcement of Rep. Bart Stupak. I think it would be more fitting if someone who abandoned their principles to be evicted from office by what used to be his supporters, but now he's robbed them of that opportunity as well. One can only assume you traded your office for a government job, one outside your state. I hope it was worth it.....
Note to Sally Quinn, faith columnist at the Washington Post.... It's not very Christian to diminish others to make your point. Just because Sarah Palin mispronounces a word, does not mean her opinion is less valid. If you'd like to review your faux paus, I could make a month worth of posts on your career as documented by any Internet search, but then that wouldn't be very Christian either, would it? Again, see the glass house notation to the Pres....
A message was sent to our nation by the dear young girl who chose to end her life after being bullied in a Massachusetts high school. I can't imagine the pain that poor child was in, the misery that drives someone to terminate her gift from God above. But I can imagine where a little prayer in school, or some good old faith based principles like,"Love thy neighbor," or "Treat others like you'd like to be treated," or maybe even being your brother's keeper, might have come in handy here. Wasn't Massachusetts one of the first to evict God from public schools? Maybe now we'll hear her plea for help.
Fun fact....Did you know the First Continental Congress, those crafty fellows who laid out the foundation this country was founded upon, had printed, and financed, a version of the bible to be distributed though out the schools of this great nation. Somehow that little ditty got lost in the new version of history our children are being taught.....I wonder who overlooked that?
Youth unemployment rate is 21% overall, but if your a black youth it's 50%. Good thing we got them healthcare until they are 26, huh?
The current administration was all giddy about the increase of jobs this week. I hate to throw a wet blanket on that exuberation but in a month, according to the Dept. of Education 1.5 million students will be fresh out of college with bachelors degrees looking for work. 700,000 will graduate college with associates degrees also searching for viable employment. Then there are the millions who will go directly from high school into the job search. Do you think there will be a glut of retirement parties to match this influx of labor? I'm thinking in this economy retirement is not as popular as it used to be! Look for a little spike in the unemployed in the near future.....
Just a little more on the retiring members of Congress. You may paint your leaving with whatever brush you feel appropriate, but here's my take. If you voted for the health care bill, you have a yellow stripe running down your back, right where your spine used to be. This was nothing short of a terrorist act, but unlike the self destructing bombers, who stand in the middle of their destruction for their cause, you are more of the Timothy Mc Veigh type. Light the fuse and run.
My it's been a busy week! I can't wait to see what the next one brings!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Friday, April 9, 2010
This Just In!!!!!!
I was READING the other day, in search of more nuggets of information, when I stumbled across some interesting tidbits. It was an eye opener, giving an example of just how much the media influences our lives.
In a study of the New York Times front page coverage, it was discovered that airplane accidents were reported sixty times more often than say, auto deaths, HIV/AIDS, cancer, or heart disease. Despite the fact your odds of being killed by a domestic flight is one in sixty million.
So how many people do you know that are frightened, or just plain uncomfortable while boarding a plane for a trip? Isn't their phobia fueled by media sensation? By rights, they should be more concerned of dying in the car on the way there, or contracting the HIV virus while on the plane, because the odds are better of that happening then dying in a plane crash.
Here's another little known fact, securely avoided by the media. The European Transportation Safety Council also adds forty percent of those who perish in a plane wreck, are avoidable. They either freeze in fear, or are ignorant of escape avenues necessary to save their lives.
So like other unlikely causes of death, shark attacks, lightening strikes, or meteors falling from the sky to obliterate you, death by plane flight is sensationalized by the media, whipping up fears that shouldn't exist. Which is a cause for reflection,
How many other issues are heightened by reporters looking to sell advertising space? Does this also apply to our political opinions? How about our feelings on faith, child rearing, marriage, sex, global warming, fidelity, etc, etc. The media has an influence in our lives, but only if we allow it!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
In a study of the New York Times front page coverage, it was discovered that airplane accidents were reported sixty times more often than say, auto deaths, HIV/AIDS, cancer, or heart disease. Despite the fact your odds of being killed by a domestic flight is one in sixty million.
So how many people do you know that are frightened, or just plain uncomfortable while boarding a plane for a trip? Isn't their phobia fueled by media sensation? By rights, they should be more concerned of dying in the car on the way there, or contracting the HIV virus while on the plane, because the odds are better of that happening then dying in a plane crash.
Here's another little known fact, securely avoided by the media. The European Transportation Safety Council also adds forty percent of those who perish in a plane wreck, are avoidable. They either freeze in fear, or are ignorant of escape avenues necessary to save their lives.
So like other unlikely causes of death, shark attacks, lightening strikes, or meteors falling from the sky to obliterate you, death by plane flight is sensationalized by the media, whipping up fears that shouldn't exist. Which is a cause for reflection,
How many other issues are heightened by reporters looking to sell advertising space? Does this also apply to our political opinions? How about our feelings on faith, child rearing, marriage, sex, global warming, fidelity, etc, etc. The media has an influence in our lives, but only if we allow it!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Food For Thought!
“History is written by the survivors.” Social Forces, October 1931.
So with that in mind, Are you a survivor? Do you have a plan? Today's little ditty is food for thought. Are you prepared to act and not react should the worse possible scenario play itself out? Have you considered the possibilities?
When you board a plane, Do you listen to the flight attendant and locate the exits, then think about a course of action should there be a problem? When your on a boat, do you know where the fire extinguishers are and the life jackets? Do you know how to use the radio and summon help? If so, your posed to be a survivor!
How about a natural disaster? Do you have a supply of food and water should it become unavailable? Do you know how to hunt, fish, or gather food to survive? Are you aware of the plants that are edible or poison? Do you have the tools you need to muddle by, or have you put those concerns in someone else's hands, like the government? Is everything in place for you to be a survivor, Or are you poised to be a victim, like those who suffered through Katrina?
How about an economic collapse? The loss of your spouse? Are they your provider? What if one of your children suddenly was missing. Have you considered the options? Are you prepared? These are all questions survivors ask and have the answers for. This is the line drawn in the sand between being a survivor and a victim.
Suppose tomorrow there was no government and total anarchy? What if the assistance checks stopped and there was no more welfare, or healthcare? Suppose there was a shortage of medical professionals. These are all grim prospects, but all the questions a survivor has decided to answer ahead of time. They take the proactive approach, instead of reacting to immediate danger.
So, What are you going to be thinking about today?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
So with that in mind, Are you a survivor? Do you have a plan? Today's little ditty is food for thought. Are you prepared to act and not react should the worse possible scenario play itself out? Have you considered the possibilities?
When you board a plane, Do you listen to the flight attendant and locate the exits, then think about a course of action should there be a problem? When your on a boat, do you know where the fire extinguishers are and the life jackets? Do you know how to use the radio and summon help? If so, your posed to be a survivor!
How about a natural disaster? Do you have a supply of food and water should it become unavailable? Do you know how to hunt, fish, or gather food to survive? Are you aware of the plants that are edible or poison? Do you have the tools you need to muddle by, or have you put those concerns in someone else's hands, like the government? Is everything in place for you to be a survivor, Or are you poised to be a victim, like those who suffered through Katrina?
How about an economic collapse? The loss of your spouse? Are they your provider? What if one of your children suddenly was missing. Have you considered the options? Are you prepared? These are all questions survivors ask and have the answers for. This is the line drawn in the sand between being a survivor and a victim.
Suppose tomorrow there was no government and total anarchy? What if the assistance checks stopped and there was no more welfare, or healthcare? Suppose there was a shortage of medical professionals. These are all grim prospects, but all the questions a survivor has decided to answer ahead of time. They take the proactive approach, instead of reacting to immediate danger.
So, What are you going to be thinking about today?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
To Be, Or Not To Be?
To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of ignorance. ~A. Bronson Alcott
Or as Chris Brady is fond of saying, in a kinder gentler way.....
You don't know, what you don't know, you know?
And the answer to this malady is? Information and experience! I was just contemplating the other day, the person I've become is due basically to the information I've sought and the things I've experienced. Charlie "Tremendous" Jones says it this way...
You'll be the same person in five years you are today, except for the books that you read, and the people you meet.
Every person you meet, every experience you have, be it good or bad, is a learning opportunity. Do you treat it as such? Be it conscience or not, life's daily grind molds our being. We are a product of our environment! So what petri dish is your habitat? What influences do you allow in your life? Come to think of it, I'll bet you that's where the saying, Guilty by association, was born.
In conjunction, your media input also sets the tone for your thoughts and actions. With that in mind I recently came to a revelation. Why not start the day with a few words of wisdom from the one who created and gave it to us? You know I seen a massive improvement since I've started my days with a Bible passage. Coincidence? I think not!
So where does your input come from? How about the ones you love, are they spoon few information from the boob tube? What have you read lately that has expanded your mind, or broadened your horizons? These are all great questions to reflect upon.
The best question one can ask of themselves is...Are the associations I have and the media I'm inputting taking me in the direction I want to be?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Or as Chris Brady is fond of saying, in a kinder gentler way.....
You don't know, what you don't know, you know?
And the answer to this malady is? Information and experience! I was just contemplating the other day, the person I've become is due basically to the information I've sought and the things I've experienced. Charlie "Tremendous" Jones says it this way...
You'll be the same person in five years you are today, except for the books that you read, and the people you meet.
Every person you meet, every experience you have, be it good or bad, is a learning opportunity. Do you treat it as such? Be it conscience or not, life's daily grind molds our being. We are a product of our environment! So what petri dish is your habitat? What influences do you allow in your life? Come to think of it, I'll bet you that's where the saying, Guilty by association, was born.
In conjunction, your media input also sets the tone for your thoughts and actions. With that in mind I recently came to a revelation. Why not start the day with a few words of wisdom from the one who created and gave it to us? You know I seen a massive improvement since I've started my days with a Bible passage. Coincidence? I think not!
So where does your input come from? How about the ones you love, are they spoon few information from the boob tube? What have you read lately that has expanded your mind, or broadened your horizons? These are all great questions to reflect upon.
The best question one can ask of themselves is...Are the associations I have and the media I'm inputting taking me in the direction I want to be?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Speechless!
I don't think I've seen in my lifetime, quite the assault on our freedoms and the Constitution, that is happening here and now. The FCC is holding hearings on "Net Neutrality", an attempt to "control" the Internet. Because this administration cannot tolerate the exposure brought on by the openness of the Internet, the seek to impose rules on your freedom of speech. Controlling the media is the first step on the road to Communism.
Think about it...Every step they take has been put under the microscope of public opinion fueled by the power of the Internet. Groups have organized to defeat the will of this administration all via the evil Internet. This form of communication is their worse nightmare, and now they look to silence their critics. Just recently technology has exposed the dangerously false accusations of racism by members of the black caucus in congress. Proof solid that the verbal insults and the spitting incidents never happened, they were simply fabricated to use the cloak of being a victim for sympathy of their cause, and related actions. Shame on you for trying to discredit dissent with lies, invention, and deceit.
As Americans we should be vocal and irascible about this attempted breech of the rights our forefathers fought for, and bequeathed to us. It's unconscionable in this day and age we should be ignorant enough to allow this attempted overthrow of our Republic to be brought to the table. How can able bodied citizens sit quietly and watch as this administration erode our path to freedom? The fact this proposal is even being considered is an example of how spoiled we've become and how little we regard our gift of free speech.
Speak now people...or forever hold your tongue, as soon to be define by law.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Think about it...Every step they take has been put under the microscope of public opinion fueled by the power of the Internet. Groups have organized to defeat the will of this administration all via the evil Internet. This form of communication is their worse nightmare, and now they look to silence their critics. Just recently technology has exposed the dangerously false accusations of racism by members of the black caucus in congress. Proof solid that the verbal insults and the spitting incidents never happened, they were simply fabricated to use the cloak of being a victim for sympathy of their cause, and related actions. Shame on you for trying to discredit dissent with lies, invention, and deceit.
As Americans we should be vocal and irascible about this attempted breech of the rights our forefathers fought for, and bequeathed to us. It's unconscionable in this day and age we should be ignorant enough to allow this attempted overthrow of our Republic to be brought to the table. How can able bodied citizens sit quietly and watch as this administration erode our path to freedom? The fact this proposal is even being considered is an example of how spoiled we've become and how little we regard our gift of free speech.
Speak now people...or forever hold your tongue, as soon to be define by law.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday,Monday!
What better way to start a new week than to discuss healthcare. Just one question haunts me. If one of the pre twenty six year old insured on their parents plan becomes pregnant, is the grandchild covered under the parents insurance policy too? Okay, I have more than one question. Is the father then grand fathered in? What if the two become married? Suppose they choose to adopt? Is this similar to a friends and family cell phone plan? Since they are dependent upon their parents for insurance, are they not also dependents when it comes to deductions come income tax time?
Now in a totally unrelated story, one that tickled my funny bone, a urologist in Orlando posted this sign on his office door.....
If you voted for Obama and his health plan, please seek your healthcare elsewhere. In this office, healthcare reform starts here and now, not in four years.
Senator Alan Grayson, the vocal an imbalanced representative from the Orlando district is quite miffed at the good doctor. I'm sure his disgust will be short lived though, as his seat is up for election this November, and his following has diminished to about the size of the guy who stands on a street corner here screaming his preaching at passing cars. Just another one of the examples of collateral damage of the Obama healthcare plan. Maybe now Grayson can take the time to seek the psychiatric care he needs. I understand senators have excellent health insurance!
Hey! Have a great Monday!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Now in a totally unrelated story, one that tickled my funny bone, a urologist in Orlando posted this sign on his office door.....
If you voted for Obama and his health plan, please seek your healthcare elsewhere. In this office, healthcare reform starts here and now, not in four years.
Senator Alan Grayson, the vocal an imbalanced representative from the Orlando district is quite miffed at the good doctor. I'm sure his disgust will be short lived though, as his seat is up for election this November, and his following has diminished to about the size of the guy who stands on a street corner here screaming his preaching at passing cars. Just another one of the examples of collateral damage of the Obama healthcare plan. Maybe now Grayson can take the time to seek the psychiatric care he needs. I understand senators have excellent health insurance!
Hey! Have a great Monday!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter! Today is a day of new beginnings, Christ rose from the dead today to absolve us from our sins. A fresh start is what we celebrate on this Sunday! It seems like a great time to reflect, what are we going to do with this new found opportunity?
I start everyday on the right foot and read a little inspiration from the Bible. I find it leaves me clues to success. For instance just this morning I was reading from the Book of Job, and right there in black and white were these words for all to see....
"With the ancient is wisdom and in the length of days understanding." Job 12:12
Besides the fact it was inspirational, and tells me that as I grow older, the wiser I'll become. It brought me to this thought. Wisdom is passed down to us through books. All that knowledge doesn't have to be relearned, it's right there for us to read and experience the easy way. For lifetimes people have sought the keys to success, and there it was right in the Good Book, for us all to read. Starting with the Bible,(which is where this original wisdom was brought to light), man has passed down his experiences, both good and bad, in literature. Why not learn the easy way, though the knowledge of others, then expand on your adventure adding on to the trails of those who passed before us? Can't we rise to a new level with the head start of free wisdom? Many have paid the price and all we have to do is read and learn. The shortcut to success was right there all the time.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
I start everyday on the right foot and read a little inspiration from the Bible. I find it leaves me clues to success. For instance just this morning I was reading from the Book of Job, and right there in black and white were these words for all to see....
"With the ancient is wisdom and in the length of days understanding." Job 12:12
Besides the fact it was inspirational, and tells me that as I grow older, the wiser I'll become. It brought me to this thought. Wisdom is passed down to us through books. All that knowledge doesn't have to be relearned, it's right there for us to read and experience the easy way. For lifetimes people have sought the keys to success, and there it was right in the Good Book, for us all to read. Starting with the Bible,(which is where this original wisdom was brought to light), man has passed down his experiences, both good and bad, in literature. Why not learn the easy way, though the knowledge of others, then expand on your adventure adding on to the trails of those who passed before us? Can't we rise to a new level with the head start of free wisdom? Many have paid the price and all we have to do is read and learn. The shortcut to success was right there all the time.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Saturday, April 3, 2010
This is not Funny!
Just a quick update on the racial slur issue from the other day. Andrew Brightbart has raised the ante up to $100,000.00 reward for anyone who can produce a video or an audio that proves the congressmen were verbally racially slurred. Still no takers.....
Just when I think I've hear it all out of the people we send to Washington to represent us, it just keeps getting worse. A democratic representative went on camera and when challenged about the constitutionality of the health care package said....I don't care about the constitution! Excuse me? Wasn't your first act after being elected to take an oath to defend that document?
In a totally unrelated act of absurdity, the democratic representative from Georgia, while questioning a high level military official, noted he was concerned that if we continued to populate Guam with military families, the island could capsize. Would someone please pinch me, I have to be having a nightmare!
This is our fault people. We elected these spectacles. We have to vet our choices out better. They are not only embarrassing themselves, they embarrass us. The whole world watch what they say. Our government is beginning to look like a skit out of Saturday Night Live. It's not funny anymore.............
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Just when I think I've hear it all out of the people we send to Washington to represent us, it just keeps getting worse. A democratic representative went on camera and when challenged about the constitutionality of the health care package said....I don't care about the constitution! Excuse me? Wasn't your first act after being elected to take an oath to defend that document?
In a totally unrelated act of absurdity, the democratic representative from Georgia, while questioning a high level military official, noted he was concerned that if we continued to populate Guam with military families, the island could capsize. Would someone please pinch me, I have to be having a nightmare!
This is our fault people. We elected these spectacles. We have to vet our choices out better. They are not only embarrassing themselves, they embarrass us. The whole world watch what they say. Our government is beginning to look like a skit out of Saturday Night Live. It's not funny anymore.............
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday!
Today is a day of reflection! I've realized that no matter how screwed up this world seems or the troubles we face, there is always one constant. The ever present undying love from our maker above. Good friday is the day that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and was hung on the cross, then died for our sins. God, so love the world, (that's us), that he gave his only son. As a father I can appreciate the depth of that. Here's my take....No matter how bad or good it seems, remember that God loves you, and he doesn't create any junk.
Enjoy these three days of Easter, but keep in mind that though your darkest hours, your always loved. That's quite a commitment. I'll bet if you think about it there are some times that each and everyone of us is very hard to love. Yet it's still waiting there for us to accept. His arms are always wide open, despite our faults, that's devotion, and the one constant that everyone shares.
That my friends is the ultimate comfort in a world of uncertainty!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Enjoy these three days of Easter, but keep in mind that though your darkest hours, your always loved. That's quite a commitment. I'll bet if you think about it there are some times that each and everyone of us is very hard to love. Yet it's still waiting there for us to accept. His arms are always wide open, despite our faults, that's devotion, and the one constant that everyone shares.
That my friends is the ultimate comfort in a world of uncertainty!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, April 1, 2010
April Fool!
The first of April is upon us. Spring is in the air, the start of regular baseball season is just around the corner, and today is a day for fools. Here I sit approaching a crossroads, where does this go from here? Do I point out the fools in Washington, or the fools we've been for letting it get to this point? There is the fool I've not considered.....The fool that is satisfied with what's going on in our country.
Washington is a victim of technology. Legislators can't make a move anymore without someone capturing it on a video, or recording it on a cell phone. It exposes the corruption and the opens our eyes like never before. It also reveals what isn't, or hasn't happened. The recent instance where cries of racial slurs being hurled at minority house legislators remains unsubstantiated, despite Andrew Brightbart offering $10,000.00 for any video or audio proof. The police escorts standing right beside the alleged victims also failed to hear the unwarranted slurs. Perhaps technology also has the advantage of keeping us from being played for fools, and exposes those who try to make us fools. If a racial slur is hurled in a crowd of thousands and no one hears it, did it really happen?
We live in the information age, where fools are exposed everyday. I offer for your consideration You Tube, an entire industry dedicated to entertaining us with fools. It'll be increasingly difficult to be a fool, without being discovered and exposed. Washington is going to have to reform, or find another level of deception!
Here's my prayer...That this level of technology we've arrived at will enforce honesty and integrity with the fear of being exposed. That we'll not achieve a new level of deception, but yield to what's right and good!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Washington is a victim of technology. Legislators can't make a move anymore without someone capturing it on a video, or recording it on a cell phone. It exposes the corruption and the opens our eyes like never before. It also reveals what isn't, or hasn't happened. The recent instance where cries of racial slurs being hurled at minority house legislators remains unsubstantiated, despite Andrew Brightbart offering $10,000.00 for any video or audio proof. The police escorts standing right beside the alleged victims also failed to hear the unwarranted slurs. Perhaps technology also has the advantage of keeping us from being played for fools, and exposes those who try to make us fools. If a racial slur is hurled in a crowd of thousands and no one hears it, did it really happen?
We live in the information age, where fools are exposed everyday. I offer for your consideration You Tube, an entire industry dedicated to entertaining us with fools. It'll be increasingly difficult to be a fool, without being discovered and exposed. Washington is going to have to reform, or find another level of deception!
Here's my prayer...That this level of technology we've arrived at will enforce honesty and integrity with the fear of being exposed. That we'll not achieve a new level of deception, but yield to what's right and good!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
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