I have mixed feelings about having missed out on the rapture gig that failed to come to fruition. Here we had an opportunity to spend eternity in heaven, yet there is something to be said for fulfilling our mission here on earth. I'm sure the fellow who prophesied the event had nothing but good intentions. I say that because there was really no way for him to gain financially, so at worse it was an outcry for attention. No harm, no foul as they say. I did think I saw that seven headed beast the Bible discusses in the Book of Revelation, but it turned out to be just me in the mirror before my morning shower. Nothing a shot of Mona Vie, a toothbrush, and a little hair gel can't chase away.
Since we did manage to survive the apocalypse, I'm going to take this time to alert you my blog maybe a little spotty for the next week as I will truly be offshore enjoying God's creation. If I'm able to catch an Internet signal, I'll post. Look for my tweets and Facebook postings to alert you. I'm sure there will be some wonderful fish tales to tel,l as we're going to invade the Dry Tortugas, explore the Keys, and troll the Gulf Stream for those monsters of the briny deep that taste, oh so good! Marlin, sailfish, dolphin, grouper, cobia, tuna, snapper, permit and pompano beware, I'm dusting off all my old good fishing spot numbers and busting out the big tackle!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Scams
Leadership
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
True Rapture!
Here are a few of my favorite little phrases to get you through this time of..."rapture?"
What you tolerate, you promote
To praise is an investment in happiness!
Strong lives are motivated by strong purposes!
"True happiness comes from things that cannot be taken away from you."-John Wooden
Mentoring is a relational experience through which one person empowers another by sharing their wisdom and resources.
Kindness given, is an investment.
We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea.
"If the world should blow itself up, the last audible voice would be that of an expert saying it can't be done."-Peter Ustinov
Failure makes people cruel and bitter.
We wake each day with the ability to reinvent ourselves.
We level the playing field when we refuse to allow circumstances to defeat us.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Leadership
Scams
What you tolerate, you promote
To praise is an investment in happiness!
Strong lives are motivated by strong purposes!
"True happiness comes from things that cannot be taken away from you."-John Wooden
Mentoring is a relational experience through which one person empowers another by sharing their wisdom and resources.
Kindness given, is an investment.
We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea.
"If the world should blow itself up, the last audible voice would be that of an expert saying it can't be done."-Peter Ustinov
Failure makes people cruel and bitter.
We wake each day with the ability to reinvent ourselves.
We level the playing field when we refuse to allow circumstances to defeat us.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Leadership
Scams
Friday, May 20, 2011
Judgement Day?
There is kind of an interesting take on the judgement day coming tomorrow. Since it is a revised forecast, as it didn't happen in the time frame it was last predicted back in 1994, the profit basically lacks credibility. So since I have a boat trip to make ready for, I'm going on the outside chance, it's not going to happen. Yet there are some interesting events that are pointing to the prediction having some merit. Those of us who have read, or read the Bible, understand God's favorite people are the Jews, and He basically gave them Israel as the promised land. Every once in a while, in anger, God adjusts their status in the Middle East. He likes to remind them who is boss, so throughout history Israel has had to defend it's border. But in the end, God cedes them the right to this territory, and usually lets them crush any opposition.
Now if you haven't noticed, Israel's neighbors basically hate them, and would like nothing better than to erase the State of Israel. Not really God's plan, if you check the owner's manual. Add to that, the fool we elected as president has decided to interject his opinion on the border situation, emboldening their enemies. Some how he got Helen Thomas's opinion of Israel confused with America's. After all Israel is an friend and aligns itself with the freedom of democracy we represent. So the situation is ripe for turmoil in the Holy Land. Believe it or not, the Bible has something to say about that....
Zechariah 14
The Day of the LORD
1 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming,
And your spoil will be divided in your midst.
2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then the LORD will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south.
5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley,
For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal.
Yes, you shall flee
As you fled from the earthquake
In the days of Uzziah king of Judah.
Thus the LORD my God will come,
And all the saints with You.[a]
6 It shall come to pass in that day
That there will be no light;
The lights will diminish.
7 It shall be one day
Which is known to the LORD—
Neither day nor night.
But at evening time it shall happen
That it will be light.
8 And in that day it shall be
That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,
Half of them toward the eastern sea
And half of them toward the western sea;
In both summer and winter it shall occur.
9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be—
“ The LORD is one,”[b]
And His name one.
10 All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem[c] shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses.
11 The people shall dwell in it;
And no longer shall there be utter destruction,
But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
12 And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem:
Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet,
Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets,
And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.
13 It shall come to pass in that day
That a great panic from the LORD will be among them.
Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor,
And raise his hand against his neighbor’s hand;
14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem.
And the wealth of all the surrounding nations
Shall be gathered together:
Gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance.
15 Such also shall be the plague
On the horse and the mule,
On the camel and the donkey,
And on all the cattle that will be in those camps.
So shall this plague be.
The Nations Worship the King
16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
20 In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts.[d] Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.
Now with that in mind, and all these current events; who could blame that fellow for thinking judgement day is just around the corner. It's pretty clear that God doesn't take lightly to folks messing with his chosen people. In any case, I'm still going to get the boat ready and act surprised if this all comes to fruition.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Leadership
Scams
Mentoring
Now if you haven't noticed, Israel's neighbors basically hate them, and would like nothing better than to erase the State of Israel. Not really God's plan, if you check the owner's manual. Add to that, the fool we elected as president has decided to interject his opinion on the border situation, emboldening their enemies. Some how he got Helen Thomas's opinion of Israel confused with America's. After all Israel is an friend and aligns itself with the freedom of democracy we represent. So the situation is ripe for turmoil in the Holy Land. Believe it or not, the Bible has something to say about that....
Zechariah 14
The Day of the LORD
1 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming,
And your spoil will be divided in your midst.
2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then the LORD will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south.
5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley,
For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal.
Yes, you shall flee
As you fled from the earthquake
In the days of Uzziah king of Judah.
Thus the LORD my God will come,
And all the saints with You.[a]
6 It shall come to pass in that day
That there will be no light;
The lights will diminish.
7 It shall be one day
Which is known to the LORD—
Neither day nor night.
But at evening time it shall happen
That it will be light.
8 And in that day it shall be
That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,
Half of them toward the eastern sea
And half of them toward the western sea;
In both summer and winter it shall occur.
9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be—
“ The LORD is one,”[b]
And His name one.
10 All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem[c] shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses.
11 The people shall dwell in it;
And no longer shall there be utter destruction,
But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
12 And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem:
Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet,
Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets,
And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.
13 It shall come to pass in that day
That a great panic from the LORD will be among them.
Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor,
And raise his hand against his neighbor’s hand;
14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem.
And the wealth of all the surrounding nations
Shall be gathered together:
Gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance.
15 Such also shall be the plague
On the horse and the mule,
On the camel and the donkey,
And on all the cattle that will be in those camps.
So shall this plague be.
The Nations Worship the King
16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
20 In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts.[d] Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.
Now with that in mind, and all these current events; who could blame that fellow for thinking judgement day is just around the corner. It's pretty clear that God doesn't take lightly to folks messing with his chosen people. In any case, I'm still going to get the boat ready and act surprised if this all comes to fruition.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Leadership
Scams
Mentoring
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Despotic Use Of Authority!
Tyranny:
1. Arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority.
2. The government or rule of a tyrant or absolute ruler.
3. A state ruled by a tyrant or absolute ruler.
Online etymology (word origins) also uses the term, "master," to describe tyranny.
So when a government imposes a law, that the majority of the citizens oppose, then proposes to tax those same citizens to support that law, (as England tried to do when America revolted), then applies that law to a select few, does that also define tyranny? I believe it does! Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the health care law, as passed by President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reed.
Even thought the majority of America objected to this legislation, through a despotic abuse of authority, and an unrestrained exercise of power, they passed it and signed it into legislation. They also approved a tax, or a fine, depending on who's asking them, for those who lack the mandated healthcare coverage they imposed.
But here's the real kicker... We live in America, where all men are created equal, and deserve equal justice under the law, so when a law is enacted, shouldn't it apply to everyone equally? There used to be a defense used by lawyers, where they'd call a police officer to the stand and ask them if they had ever let someone go for a speeding offense. As soon as they admitted they had, they would ask for dismissal of the charges on the grounds of selective enforcement. Not unlike the Obama administration allowing for businesses to apply, or should I say beg, for a waiver excluding them from this legislation. First of all, whenever you have to plead for an exemption from a law imposed upon you, your the victim of tyranny. This is directly contrary to everything this country was founded upon. Secondly if a law is worthy of enactment, it should apply to everyone equally, or don't pass it! How is it justice when one person or entity is allowed freedom from a law, when another is not? That fails the smell test for equal justice under the law, and opens the door for the government to apply favoritism.
On that topic, the administration is also withholding the list of whom was granted this favoritism, and who was denied. Does anyone else have a problem with that? The media should and will file a freedom of information act to attain this information, and since it's not in the interest of national security to withhold it, they'll have to release it. This needs the cleansing of the light of day, if your trying to conceal something, your doing something unethical; but then isn't the whole premise of selective enforcement unethical?
The kingdom of the Obama administration is trying to operate a tyrannical regime, directly violating the principles and the ideology defined in the Constitution. No one in this country should have to beg for exemption from the tyranny of an unjust law, not in America!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Scams
Leadership
1. Arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority.
2. The government or rule of a tyrant or absolute ruler.
3. A state ruled by a tyrant or absolute ruler.
Online etymology (word origins) also uses the term, "master," to describe tyranny.
So when a government imposes a law, that the majority of the citizens oppose, then proposes to tax those same citizens to support that law, (as England tried to do when America revolted), then applies that law to a select few, does that also define tyranny? I believe it does! Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the health care law, as passed by President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reed.
Even thought the majority of America objected to this legislation, through a despotic abuse of authority, and an unrestrained exercise of power, they passed it and signed it into legislation. They also approved a tax, or a fine, depending on who's asking them, for those who lack the mandated healthcare coverage they imposed.
But here's the real kicker... We live in America, where all men are created equal, and deserve equal justice under the law, so when a law is enacted, shouldn't it apply to everyone equally? There used to be a defense used by lawyers, where they'd call a police officer to the stand and ask them if they had ever let someone go for a speeding offense. As soon as they admitted they had, they would ask for dismissal of the charges on the grounds of selective enforcement. Not unlike the Obama administration allowing for businesses to apply, or should I say beg, for a waiver excluding them from this legislation. First of all, whenever you have to plead for an exemption from a law imposed upon you, your the victim of tyranny. This is directly contrary to everything this country was founded upon. Secondly if a law is worthy of enactment, it should apply to everyone equally, or don't pass it! How is it justice when one person or entity is allowed freedom from a law, when another is not? That fails the smell test for equal justice under the law, and opens the door for the government to apply favoritism.
On that topic, the administration is also withholding the list of whom was granted this favoritism, and who was denied. Does anyone else have a problem with that? The media should and will file a freedom of information act to attain this information, and since it's not in the interest of national security to withhold it, they'll have to release it. This needs the cleansing of the light of day, if your trying to conceal something, your doing something unethical; but then isn't the whole premise of selective enforcement unethical?
The kingdom of the Obama administration is trying to operate a tyrannical regime, directly violating the principles and the ideology defined in the Constitution. No one in this country should have to beg for exemption from the tyranny of an unjust law, not in America!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Scams
Leadership
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Wanted: Dead Not Alive!
The American public has a short term memory disorder. I can only assume that the rigors of daily life, complicated by the advent of technology that keeps us available for distraction 24/7, occupies the available memory we used to use.
The President and his administration have been shouting the praises of our special forces, seal team six, after their life threatening raid in Pakistan, to eliminate the terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. While almost everyone in the nation is rightfully applauding their efforts, and without a doubt they deserve our praise and admiration for keeping us free. This has not been the attitude of this administration in the past.
I'll bet if you think about it, you'll recall that less than two years ago, this same administration called three members of seal team six on the carpet, and actually tried to prosecute them for charges they had punched a terrorist suspect in the nose during a takedown. Some how that was considered brutality, and this administration took steps that threatened the careers of these same hero's, not to mention a possible jail sentence. How do we go from court marshalling for a pop in the nose, to hero status for two bullets to the head? Both targets offered a life threatening scenario, and I assume they'd not come quietly under the circumstances. If I were a member of the special forces, I'd have to think twice about bringing a suspect back alive. Dead men can't claim brutality and allow the liberals an open shot at those who protect our freedom.
In any case, it's an interesting change in attitude by those currently running our country. Actually, it's nice to see them join our side for once. Maybe they'll find comfort over here on the right, where we allow the armed forces to do their job and keep us safe!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Leadership
Scams
Mentoring
The President and his administration have been shouting the praises of our special forces, seal team six, after their life threatening raid in Pakistan, to eliminate the terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. While almost everyone in the nation is rightfully applauding their efforts, and without a doubt they deserve our praise and admiration for keeping us free. This has not been the attitude of this administration in the past.
I'll bet if you think about it, you'll recall that less than two years ago, this same administration called three members of seal team six on the carpet, and actually tried to prosecute them for charges they had punched a terrorist suspect in the nose during a takedown. Some how that was considered brutality, and this administration took steps that threatened the careers of these same hero's, not to mention a possible jail sentence. How do we go from court marshalling for a pop in the nose, to hero status for two bullets to the head? Both targets offered a life threatening scenario, and I assume they'd not come quietly under the circumstances. If I were a member of the special forces, I'd have to think twice about bringing a suspect back alive. Dead men can't claim brutality and allow the liberals an open shot at those who protect our freedom.
In any case, it's an interesting change in attitude by those currently running our country. Actually, it's nice to see them join our side for once. Maybe they'll find comfort over here on the right, where we allow the armed forces to do their job and keep us safe!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Leadership
Scams
Mentoring
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
How The West Was Won!
The older I get, the more I learn. It's been a habit of mine to be the defender of those who are critical toward what I believe strongly in, especially if that pops up in an Internet search. You see, the Internet is full of information, some accurate, but most not so much. It's a great place for anonymous individuals to fulfill their agenda, and take pot shots at the undeserving, most of the time leaving them defenseless as they are unaware of the misinformation. For example, you'd think an Google search of something as wonderful as Jesus would be a safe area, nope! Exactly three web sites down is something derogatory. My first urge is to click on it and read what this heretic has to say, but that just empowers his nonsense. The more traffic his site receives, and the more links associated to it, the higher is aspires in the list, giving it more credibility in the web surfer's eye. Being higher on the list deceives the searcher of information into believing it holds some truth or validity. So by me visiting these deceptions of truth, I was in fact, promoting more of the same. Especially those who allow comments, the bigger the argument they can cause, the more traffic frequents the site, driving it further up the list on Google.
So I now turn to the wisdom of the great Mark Twain. "Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that." I can tell you that's going to be a challenge for me, because I've always felt, what you tolerate, you promote: but under the rules of Google, what you argue with, you promote. It's a bit of a catch 22, especially if you have a tinge of choleric, (plenty of opinions, very little filter). I'll do better to promote my message, in my own venue, and if other's find agreement in what I pass on, the web sites that don't deserve our visit will sink back into the mire of insignificance, weighed down by their own discredit.
I hope this little tidbit of information has served to enlighten others who share my passion to disagree with injustice. Here I thought I was serving humanity by blowing holes in the absurdity of the self serving Internet pundits, yet I was actually promoting what I despise. Lesson learned!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Scams
Leadership
So I now turn to the wisdom of the great Mark Twain. "Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that." I can tell you that's going to be a challenge for me, because I've always felt, what you tolerate, you promote: but under the rules of Google, what you argue with, you promote. It's a bit of a catch 22, especially if you have a tinge of choleric, (plenty of opinions, very little filter). I'll do better to promote my message, in my own venue, and if other's find agreement in what I pass on, the web sites that don't deserve our visit will sink back into the mire of insignificance, weighed down by their own discredit.
I hope this little tidbit of information has served to enlighten others who share my passion to disagree with injustice. Here I thought I was serving humanity by blowing holes in the absurdity of the self serving Internet pundits, yet I was actually promoting what I despise. Lesson learned!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Scams
Leadership
Monday, May 16, 2011
Uncommonly Good!
After reviewing the "works" of the poet "Common," who was the guest of the Obama's at the White House this past week, I found them to be incredibly juvenile. Hardly the work of a serious artist! So with that in mind I decided to create my own poetry, bringing to light socially conscience issues. I'll be awaiting my invite to the White house....
Eenie, meenie, miney, moe,
Barack Obama has got to go!
How did we ever elect this man?
His whole administration has been a scam!
We've been lied to, time and time again,
This nation is hardly on the mend.
They've invited communists and radicals into the White House,
It's been done by Valerie Jarrett, and his spouse.
The economy is going down the tube,
It's time to remove him and his boobs.
They've run amok with this massive debt,
with no results as of yet!
When they are questioned, and asked about the bane,
we are told we have to share the pain.
Yet he seeks to tax only the upper class,
and villainize those who sell us gas.
I guess he thinks he's Robin Hood
Who redistributed wealth to do his good.
But Robin took from the government,
it was the tax dollars from the poor that they spent.
Taking money from those who are wealthy
Will not make this economy healthy.
The key is to make the spending end,
To put our country on the mend.
In 2012 we'll be asked, and we'll see,
If we bring this country back to you and me.......
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Scams
Mentoring
Leadership
Eenie, meenie, miney, moe,
Barack Obama has got to go!
How did we ever elect this man?
His whole administration has been a scam!
We've been lied to, time and time again,
This nation is hardly on the mend.
They've invited communists and radicals into the White House,
It's been done by Valerie Jarrett, and his spouse.
The economy is going down the tube,
It's time to remove him and his boobs.
They've run amok with this massive debt,
with no results as of yet!
When they are questioned, and asked about the bane,
we are told we have to share the pain.
Yet he seeks to tax only the upper class,
and villainize those who sell us gas.
I guess he thinks he's Robin Hood
Who redistributed wealth to do his good.
But Robin took from the government,
it was the tax dollars from the poor that they spent.
Taking money from those who are wealthy
Will not make this economy healthy.
The key is to make the spending end,
To put our country on the mend.
In 2012 we'll be asked, and we'll see,
If we bring this country back to you and me.......
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Scams
Mentoring
Leadership
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Adversity Creates Perseverance!
As a parent, it necessary at times to allow our children taste the pain of adversity. It's critical they learn how to deal with problems outside of our influence. Any parent finds this a struggle, but knows the introduction to the suffering through adversity requires the child use perseverance to overcome. That perseverance builds the child's character, giving you a mature, well rounded individual, ready to face the world, and deal responsibly when times get tough . The opposite is a spoiled brat, expecting everything to be handed to them, and throwing a tantrum when it's not. Those children feel they "deserve," rather than earn the fruits of life.
With that in mind, what kind of parents have we been to our country? Have we not raised several generations that expect, or rather "deserve," entitlements? Where are the mature responsible citizens, ready to roll up their sleeves and persevere through adversity? Have we not allowed generations to suckle at the teat of entitlements, to the point where they are no longer self reliant, and throw a tantrum when they don't get their way? When we refer to a "nanny state," I think most nanny's would be embarrassed at the finished product! It's not a pretty sight, rather a flock of immature, needy, ne'er-do-wells, expecting the government to step in whenever their standard of living declines. Where is the perseverance? Where is the character? Where is the personal responsibility?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Scams
Mentoring
Leadership
With that in mind, what kind of parents have we been to our country? Have we not raised several generations that expect, or rather "deserve," entitlements? Where are the mature responsible citizens, ready to roll up their sleeves and persevere through adversity? Have we not allowed generations to suckle at the teat of entitlements, to the point where they are no longer self reliant, and throw a tantrum when they don't get their way? When we refer to a "nanny state," I think most nanny's would be embarrassed at the finished product! It's not a pretty sight, rather a flock of immature, needy, ne'er-do-wells, expecting the government to step in whenever their standard of living declines. Where is the perseverance? Where is the character? Where is the personal responsibility?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Scams
Mentoring
Leadership
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Obscene Profit!
Recently, Washington has decided to demonize, and call to hearings the oil companies, because they felt the oil giants weren't paying enough in taxes. You see, politicians decided to label normal tax deductions available to every business and citizen as subsidies, as if they were handouts. Whenever you invest a dollar in the operation of your business, in the attempt to make a taxable profit, it can be deducted from the bottom line. It's neither a tax break, nor a subsidy, it's a written off expense. Let's look at who really collects the cash when oil companies work to gain profit.
First the oil companies must find oil to drill, this requires them to hire scientists who use equipment to locate pockets of oil. The profit made from charging the oils companies for that service, the wages the scientists and support people make are all, TAXABLE.
Then the oil companies must hire people to build and operate oil rigs to bring the product to the surface. All the income made by those employees, all the profit made by the companies who build the rigs, all the profit on metal sold to the manufacturers, and the income derived to produce that metal is,TAXABLE.
Then once the oil is brought to the surface, it needs to be transported. The trucks, boats, pipe, labor, and profit used in this process by those companies is again, TAXABLE!
The crude then arrives at the refineries, where it is made into, diesel, gasoline, fertilizer, plastic products, etc. Those processes, their wages, all the equipment involved is again, TAXABLE!
Those products are then transported to the wholesaler, the trucks, wages for labor, and any profit is again, TAXABLE!
The retailer then gets his hands on the finished product, which he sells to John Q Public. All the labor and the profit is again, TAXABLE.
I know I missed some of the TAXABLE areas in this process, but I think you get the idea. The entity that profits from the exploration, refining, transportation, and resale of crude oil products has one common denominator, it's all taxed by the government. Who actually profits the most from the oil companies efforts? Why are they pointing fingers at them? Could oil products be sold for less if they weren't taxed excessively?
Lastly, who is the villain here?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Scams
Mentoring
Leadership
First the oil companies must find oil to drill, this requires them to hire scientists who use equipment to locate pockets of oil. The profit made from charging the oils companies for that service, the wages the scientists and support people make are all, TAXABLE.
Then the oil companies must hire people to build and operate oil rigs to bring the product to the surface. All the income made by those employees, all the profit made by the companies who build the rigs, all the profit on metal sold to the manufacturers, and the income derived to produce that metal is,TAXABLE.
Then once the oil is brought to the surface, it needs to be transported. The trucks, boats, pipe, labor, and profit used in this process by those companies is again, TAXABLE!
The crude then arrives at the refineries, where it is made into, diesel, gasoline, fertilizer, plastic products, etc. Those processes, their wages, all the equipment involved is again, TAXABLE!
Those products are then transported to the wholesaler, the trucks, wages for labor, and any profit is again, TAXABLE!
The retailer then gets his hands on the finished product, which he sells to John Q Public. All the labor and the profit is again, TAXABLE.
I know I missed some of the TAXABLE areas in this process, but I think you get the idea. The entity that profits from the exploration, refining, transportation, and resale of crude oil products has one common denominator, it's all taxed by the government. Who actually profits the most from the oil companies efforts? Why are they pointing fingers at them? Could oil products be sold for less if they weren't taxed excessively?
Lastly, who is the villain here?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Scams
Mentoring
Leadership
Friday, May 13, 2011
Phobia
Friday the 13 TH, the day people hide under the covers, avoid black cats, don't walk under ladders, etc, etc. One might wonder why a date on a calendar has such a powerful effect on them, or even why they'd let it affect them at all?
Phobia, an explanation one can accept to rationalize what they don't understand. Often passed down from generation to generation, and accepted as fact, for lack of information. At some point in time, somewhere, somehow, someone had a bad day on Friday the 13 TH, now to explain that coincidence away, it's universally accepted as a bad luck symbol.
Our quirks become hereditary. I can't tell you how many people I've met that share the same fears and phobias as a parent. A perfectly grown, oversized man fearful of a bug, an otherwise rational woman, afraid to enter the water because fish live in it. It applies to food as well, how many children won't eat beef with any tinge of pink in it, for the irrational fear of disease passed on by a parent's phobia? It's the fear of the unknown, a lack of information or experience that send these otherwise fearless humans into a panic.
Action cures fears, as well as a good dose of information. Most of what we fear is based in ignorance. How sad is it when one gripped by fear misses out on a great time, because they refuse to face their fears? Never stop the learning process, and never, ever miss out on a chance to experience something new. Information and experience can put those phobias back in the closet to lurk in the darkness an await some other uninformed victim.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Phobia, an explanation one can accept to rationalize what they don't understand. Often passed down from generation to generation, and accepted as fact, for lack of information. At some point in time, somewhere, somehow, someone had a bad day on Friday the 13 TH, now to explain that coincidence away, it's universally accepted as a bad luck symbol.
Our quirks become hereditary. I can't tell you how many people I've met that share the same fears and phobias as a parent. A perfectly grown, oversized man fearful of a bug, an otherwise rational woman, afraid to enter the water because fish live in it. It applies to food as well, how many children won't eat beef with any tinge of pink in it, for the irrational fear of disease passed on by a parent's phobia? It's the fear of the unknown, a lack of information or experience that send these otherwise fearless humans into a panic.
Action cures fears, as well as a good dose of information. Most of what we fear is based in ignorance. How sad is it when one gripped by fear misses out on a great time, because they refuse to face their fears? Never stop the learning process, and never, ever miss out on a chance to experience something new. Information and experience can put those phobias back in the closet to lurk in the darkness an await some other uninformed victim.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, May 12, 2011
The Immigration Scam!
We've been told over and over again about the brilliance of our president. I guess it's all perspective, cause where I'm sitting, he has to be surrounded by a bunch of dimly lit bulbs. I'm going to overlook the insensitivity of inviting the rapper "Common," known for his adoration of a cop killer, to the White House during police week, let's get right to the speech about immigration.
In El Paso, Texas, the president stood before the nation and lied. Then to justify the lie he mocked the call for a secure border. As he complained about those who seek the security of a closed border, noting their lack of satisfaction for the progress his administration has made, he projected to the nation he doe not understand the task at hand. It's not about the methods you use, it's about results. You might suggest alligators and a moat, you might line the border with man eating tigers, it's your task to protect and secure our borders, and that has not been accomplished. While you might be satisfied with your performance, the nation isn't.
We are then handed the proposal from this massive intellect, that we should stop the demand for illegal drugs, thereby stopping the flow of those who breech our borders. Nice try, let's apply a little logic to that. Say you have a boat, it has a leak, a flow of unwanted water breeching the hull. Do you repair the hull, or seek to change the will of the water to enter the hull? Now a dash more logic. Illegal drugs are sold to our citizens because we have the wealth to afford them. Suppose they do accomplish cutting off the desire to use illegal drugs in our nation, where is the next closest nation with the affluence to afford their products? Is it to Mexico's south? Hardly, it's Canada! Are the drug traffickers going to pole vault the United states to get there, or go through it?
Now again we are fed the absurd statement we need workers from Mexico to do the jobs American's won't. Again I'll apply some logic to this....Our unemployment rate is somewhere around 9%, we don't need an outside work force. We need to quit subsidizing people to sit at home and be idle. It's amazing how the will to do those "unwanted jobs" will vanish when the desire for running water and having a roof over your head takes priority. They'll be working at Mac Donald's, picking produce, cleaning gutters, and cutting lawns like there was no tomorrow. I don't buy this scam, and never have. Take away the incentive not to work, and replace it with the need to work. We will become a productive and employed nation, generating dollars that stay here in our economy, not being sent to Mexico to migrant's families. Granted, I'll never win the Latino vote, but then my focus is on the nation, not a voting demographic.
Since President Obama is trying to convince us he's a Christian, here's a bit of advice from the Bible that will help him reaffirm that next time he addresses the nation...
"These are the things that you shall do; Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgements that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for these things I hate, says the Lord."- Zechariah 8:16
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Leadership
In El Paso, Texas, the president stood before the nation and lied. Then to justify the lie he mocked the call for a secure border. As he complained about those who seek the security of a closed border, noting their lack of satisfaction for the progress his administration has made, he projected to the nation he doe not understand the task at hand. It's not about the methods you use, it's about results. You might suggest alligators and a moat, you might line the border with man eating tigers, it's your task to protect and secure our borders, and that has not been accomplished. While you might be satisfied with your performance, the nation isn't.
We are then handed the proposal from this massive intellect, that we should stop the demand for illegal drugs, thereby stopping the flow of those who breech our borders. Nice try, let's apply a little logic to that. Say you have a boat, it has a leak, a flow of unwanted water breeching the hull. Do you repair the hull, or seek to change the will of the water to enter the hull? Now a dash more logic. Illegal drugs are sold to our citizens because we have the wealth to afford them. Suppose they do accomplish cutting off the desire to use illegal drugs in our nation, where is the next closest nation with the affluence to afford their products? Is it to Mexico's south? Hardly, it's Canada! Are the drug traffickers going to pole vault the United states to get there, or go through it?
Now again we are fed the absurd statement we need workers from Mexico to do the jobs American's won't. Again I'll apply some logic to this....Our unemployment rate is somewhere around 9%, we don't need an outside work force. We need to quit subsidizing people to sit at home and be idle. It's amazing how the will to do those "unwanted jobs" will vanish when the desire for running water and having a roof over your head takes priority. They'll be working at Mac Donald's, picking produce, cleaning gutters, and cutting lawns like there was no tomorrow. I don't buy this scam, and never have. Take away the incentive not to work, and replace it with the need to work. We will become a productive and employed nation, generating dollars that stay here in our economy, not being sent to Mexico to migrant's families. Granted, I'll never win the Latino vote, but then my focus is on the nation, not a voting demographic.
Since President Obama is trying to convince us he's a Christian, here's a bit of advice from the Bible that will help him reaffirm that next time he addresses the nation...
"These are the things that you shall do; Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgements that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for these things I hate, says the Lord."- Zechariah 8:16
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Leadership
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Global Has To Be Earned!
There is very little that torques me up like an announcement, or a mandate from an individual, or an organization that they are going to start or pursue a global _______ (fill in the blank). Now mind you, I'm not against something powerful enough to have worldwide implications, that's a lofty goal, and a worthy one, but the word global has come to indicate socialism, for the collective good. My internal alert systems spring into action whenever one announces that as their intentions. With few exceptions, anything "global" worthy doesn't become so by announcing it, it has to earn worldwide recognition.
Here is a few simple cases in point, that I'm personally familiar with....
Orrin Woodward and TEAM leadership development, started out by pursuing the individual. Offering a service that the average "Joe" could find useful in their daily lives. It's blossomed into a worldwide..."global" business. Affecting and building leaders, teaching them the principles of L.I.F.E., (living intentionally for excellence). It has grown to that proportion, not because it announced or intended to, but because it offered value that knew no limits.
The second example is very similar, Mona Vie. Started out with no designs on being international, but the quality of it's products, the integrity of the corporation, and it's pay plan is something people globally seek the value of. So it has grown exponentially.
The last example is what your reading, my blog. Begun as a means to vent, I had no intention of anyone, much less people from other nations subscribing to my musings. The unintended, unannounced consequences of that effort has led to worldwide readership, proving that if you simply seek to add value to another, the goods or services your offering will grow without boundaries. There is no need to profess "global" intentions, they present themselves to the worthy.
Beware of the one who announces a "global" intent. They often seek to impose on the collective, rather than offer humanity freedom to choose their best option. If what they have to offer adds value to another's life, it'll earn global recognition all by itself. Whenever it's announced to be for the "good of the world," it's often exposed to be for the good of the announcer. Value is apparent, scams, not so much!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Here is a few simple cases in point, that I'm personally familiar with....
Orrin Woodward and TEAM leadership development, started out by pursuing the individual. Offering a service that the average "Joe" could find useful in their daily lives. It's blossomed into a worldwide..."global" business. Affecting and building leaders, teaching them the principles of L.I.F.E., (living intentionally for excellence). It has grown to that proportion, not because it announced or intended to, but because it offered value that knew no limits.
The second example is very similar, Mona Vie. Started out with no designs on being international, but the quality of it's products, the integrity of the corporation, and it's pay plan is something people globally seek the value of. So it has grown exponentially.
The last example is what your reading, my blog. Begun as a means to vent, I had no intention of anyone, much less people from other nations subscribing to my musings. The unintended, unannounced consequences of that effort has led to worldwide readership, proving that if you simply seek to add value to another, the goods or services your offering will grow without boundaries. There is no need to profess "global" intentions, they present themselves to the worthy.
Beware of the one who announces a "global" intent. They often seek to impose on the collective, rather than offer humanity freedom to choose their best option. If what they have to offer adds value to another's life, it'll earn global recognition all by itself. Whenever it's announced to be for the "good of the world," it's often exposed to be for the good of the announcer. Value is apparent, scams, not so much!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Who Is John Galt?
"You have reached the blind alley of the treason you committed when you agreed you had no right to exist."
This statement is part of a paragraph taken from the book "Atlas Shrugged," What John Galt is eluding to , is when you conform to the collective, you've essentially lost your individuality, hence your right to exist. He's actually foretelling a socialist society, with cradle to grave entitlements, after we've ceded the right to be an individual. The result is devastating. The paragraph continues.......
"Once you believed it was 'only a compromise': you conceded it was evil to live for yourself, but moral to live for the sake of your children."
How many times have we been sold by Washington, that government need to compromise to work? There is never a need to compromise your beliefs, values, or your principles, as we have been led to believe. This is a tool of the left, used to impose their will over time. They creep and nudge us away from what we see as right and good. As shown in the rest of the quote.....
"Then you conceded that it was selfish to live for your children, but moral to for your community."
This is the creep of compromise I was referring to above. After attempts to make you feel guilty or selfish because the good of the many, exceeds the will of the individual or the family, they ask for compromise!
"Then you concede that it was selfish to live for the community, but moral to live for your country."
Once again your shamed into aspiring to live for the greater good. The pressure to put aside your individual rights for an even larger cause mounts.
"Now, you are letting this greatest of countries be devoured by any scum from any corner of the earth, while you concede that it is selfish to live for your country, and it is your moral duty to live for the globe. A man who has no right to life, has no right to values and will not keep them." -John Galt...Atlas Shrugged
Isn't this the cry of those who seek a global community? What is next, living for the good of the universe? It seems there is always a greater good than the individual, in the eyes of the liberal. We are in the early stages of living the quote, "the needs of the many, out weight the needs of the few." Freedom begins at the smallest point, the individual. When we overlook the rights of the single unit, they are trampled by the needs of the many. The fact is, if you truly see to the needs of the individual, the needs of the collective are met.
I encourage you to see the movie "Atlas Shrugged." It's fantastic entertainment, wrapped in a warning to protect the freedom of the individual. While this quote is from the book and not the movie, as the movie is just the first part of many sequels to come, you'll find a plethora of eye opening examples of how we're drifting from the freedoms granted to us by our forefathers that allow this capitalistic society to prosper.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Scams
Leadership
Mentoring
This statement is part of a paragraph taken from the book "Atlas Shrugged," What John Galt is eluding to , is when you conform to the collective, you've essentially lost your individuality, hence your right to exist. He's actually foretelling a socialist society, with cradle to grave entitlements, after we've ceded the right to be an individual. The result is devastating. The paragraph continues.......
"Once you believed it was 'only a compromise': you conceded it was evil to live for yourself, but moral to live for the sake of your children."
How many times have we been sold by Washington, that government need to compromise to work? There is never a need to compromise your beliefs, values, or your principles, as we have been led to believe. This is a tool of the left, used to impose their will over time. They creep and nudge us away from what we see as right and good. As shown in the rest of the quote.....
"Then you conceded that it was selfish to live for your children, but moral to for your community."
This is the creep of compromise I was referring to above. After attempts to make you feel guilty or selfish because the good of the many, exceeds the will of the individual or the family, they ask for compromise!
"Then you concede that it was selfish to live for the community, but moral to live for your country."
Once again your shamed into aspiring to live for the greater good. The pressure to put aside your individual rights for an even larger cause mounts.
"Now, you are letting this greatest of countries be devoured by any scum from any corner of the earth, while you concede that it is selfish to live for your country, and it is your moral duty to live for the globe. A man who has no right to life, has no right to values and will not keep them." -John Galt...Atlas Shrugged
Isn't this the cry of those who seek a global community? What is next, living for the good of the universe? It seems there is always a greater good than the individual, in the eyes of the liberal. We are in the early stages of living the quote, "the needs of the many, out weight the needs of the few." Freedom begins at the smallest point, the individual. When we overlook the rights of the single unit, they are trampled by the needs of the many. The fact is, if you truly see to the needs of the individual, the needs of the collective are met.
I encourage you to see the movie "Atlas Shrugged." It's fantastic entertainment, wrapped in a warning to protect the freedom of the individual. While this quote is from the book and not the movie, as the movie is just the first part of many sequels to come, you'll find a plethora of eye opening examples of how we're drifting from the freedoms granted to us by our forefathers that allow this capitalistic society to prosper.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Scams
Leadership
Mentoring
Monday, May 9, 2011
That's Entertainment!
I just got finished watching eighty five year old, actor, Dick Van Dyke promoting his new book, and reminiscing about the Dick Van Dyke Show. One of the interesting issues he brought up was how carefully they were censored during filming. They were not allowed to say the word pregnant, they had to sleep in separate beds, and they even had an issue with Mary Tyler Moore wearing Capri pants. All I could think of is how far have we strayed from those ideals. Humor and a interesting dialog, has been traded for sex and exhibitionism. It's no longer the quality of the story line, but how outrageous you can be that draws the attention of the viewers. Basically, talent has taken a back seat to exploitation.
I watched a movie in the theater, the other day, for the first time in decades, I loved the story line, but I couldn't help think of how the movie has two totally unnecessary sexually suggestive scenes that added absolutely nothing to the plot. Just because you have license to, does not require that you do, do! It's like adding spice to your cooking, there is a point where you've detracted from the flavor of the dish itself. Pouring chili powder and cayenne pepper all over pudding may make it spicy, but the dessert doesn't call for that.
If you going to produce a love story, so be it. That's the time and place for romance and sex. I swear they'd put a sex scene in a documentary just to prove they could get away with it.It seems like there is a constant nudge to see just how far society will allow Hollywood to go. Hollywood should self censor themselves, let's get back to entertainment that features talent, and a story line that grabs your attention because of it's quality, not because of how risque it can be.
Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Andy Griffith, Julie Andrews, etc all made careers based on entertaining the viewing audience. They played a part, made you believe they were living it, and never compromised their talent. The understood drama. Theater reflects life, so I'm told, today's product suggests we've lost our morality, and compromised talent for sensationalism. While the examples I've used above are old school, it reveals how far back we have to go to find our morality. The steady decline of our culture is reflected in our entertainment. If we self censor and demand a better product inputted to our society, will the output not reflect it? Where society's problems different when the above actors entertained us?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Leadership
Scams
I watched a movie in the theater, the other day, for the first time in decades, I loved the story line, but I couldn't help think of how the movie has two totally unnecessary sexually suggestive scenes that added absolutely nothing to the plot. Just because you have license to, does not require that you do, do! It's like adding spice to your cooking, there is a point where you've detracted from the flavor of the dish itself. Pouring chili powder and cayenne pepper all over pudding may make it spicy, but the dessert doesn't call for that.
If you going to produce a love story, so be it. That's the time and place for romance and sex. I swear they'd put a sex scene in a documentary just to prove they could get away with it.It seems like there is a constant nudge to see just how far society will allow Hollywood to go. Hollywood should self censor themselves, let's get back to entertainment that features talent, and a story line that grabs your attention because of it's quality, not because of how risque it can be.
Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Andy Griffith, Julie Andrews, etc all made careers based on entertaining the viewing audience. They played a part, made you believe they were living it, and never compromised their talent. The understood drama. Theater reflects life, so I'm told, today's product suggests we've lost our morality, and compromised talent for sensationalism. While the examples I've used above are old school, it reveals how far back we have to go to find our morality. The steady decline of our culture is reflected in our entertainment. If we self censor and demand a better product inputted to our society, will the output not reflect it? Where society's problems different when the above actors entertained us?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Leadership
Scams
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Is There No Heaven In Jihad?
Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord;
They rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah: And with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (Martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve.
—Qur'an, Sura 3 (Al-i-Imran), ayat 169 - 170
You have to wonder why Muslims are upset we hastened this reunion between bin Laden and Allah. Sounds pretty wonderful to me! Isn't a bit hypocritical to tout the glory of being a jihad suicide bomber when your out protesting that America sent bin Laden to Allah? If you ask me, it just waters down the message!
I took the time to research the 72 virgin thing they are offering as perks to turn yourself into a human explosion, it seems there are discrepancies about that. While they seem to be in agreement they will be beautiful brown eyed women, some say they will be wives, accompanied by a multitude of servants. So if your looking to have an afterlife comparable to something written in playboy advisor, you might want to do the research before you light the fuse. Some of the sexual connotations were lost in the translating. I guess it depends on whose warped mind was doing the interpretation!
Any who, you'd think the Muslims would be celebrating bin Laden's reunion with Allah, and sending us thanks for arranging it. The fact they aren't isn't doing any bonuses to their recruitment program, or perhaps they aren't as devote believers as we are led to believe.....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
They rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah: And with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (Martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve.
—Qur'an, Sura 3 (Al-i-Imran), ayat 169 - 170
You have to wonder why Muslims are upset we hastened this reunion between bin Laden and Allah. Sounds pretty wonderful to me! Isn't a bit hypocritical to tout the glory of being a jihad suicide bomber when your out protesting that America sent bin Laden to Allah? If you ask me, it just waters down the message!
I took the time to research the 72 virgin thing they are offering as perks to turn yourself into a human explosion, it seems there are discrepancies about that. While they seem to be in agreement they will be beautiful brown eyed women, some say they will be wives, accompanied by a multitude of servants. So if your looking to have an afterlife comparable to something written in playboy advisor, you might want to do the research before you light the fuse. Some of the sexual connotations were lost in the translating. I guess it depends on whose warped mind was doing the interpretation!
Any who, you'd think the Muslims would be celebrating bin Laden's reunion with Allah, and sending us thanks for arranging it. The fact they aren't isn't doing any bonuses to their recruitment program, or perhaps they aren't as devote believers as we are led to believe.....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Liberal Defined
I got a spur in my britches and decided it would be prudent to define the adjective, "liberal." After all to understand something you should find out about it's beginnings, where it came from, if you please. So after checking the etymology of the word, here is the results....
Liberal; late 14c., from O.Fr. liberal "befitting free men, noble, generous,"
Now this made me even more curious, it's a bit of a contradiction of the definition of the big government liberals of today's society. I was wondering how they strayed? Further research revealed...
Purely in reference to political opinion, "tending in favor of freedom and democracy" it dates from c.1801, from Fr. libéral, originally applied in English by its opponents.
Again it strays from the liberal of modern day. How free is a man bound by a controlling government seeking cradle to grave entitlements, and interfering with everything from child rearing to diet? Then I found the perversion of the original intent of the word.....
But also (especially in U.S. politics) tending to mean "favorable to government action to effect social change," which seems at times to draw more from the religious sense of "free from prejudice in favor of traditional opinions and established institutions" (which dates from 1823)
Apparently 1823 was the year being liberal morphed from enjoying freedom from government, to imposing government as a means of change. Good thing liberal mean the first definition at the founding of our country, not the later we struggle with now.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Liberal; late 14c., from O.Fr. liberal "befitting free men, noble, generous,"
Now this made me even more curious, it's a bit of a contradiction of the definition of the big government liberals of today's society. I was wondering how they strayed? Further research revealed...
Purely in reference to political opinion, "tending in favor of freedom and democracy" it dates from c.1801, from Fr. libéral, originally applied in English by its opponents.
Again it strays from the liberal of modern day. How free is a man bound by a controlling government seeking cradle to grave entitlements, and interfering with everything from child rearing to diet? Then I found the perversion of the original intent of the word.....
But also (especially in U.S. politics) tending to mean "favorable to government action to effect social change," which seems at times to draw more from the religious sense of "free from prejudice in favor of traditional opinions and established institutions" (which dates from 1823)
Apparently 1823 was the year being liberal morphed from enjoying freedom from government, to imposing government as a means of change. Good thing liberal mean the first definition at the founding of our country, not the later we struggle with now.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Friday, May 6, 2011
Think About It!
The quality of our decision making is directly proportionate to the quality of the information we receive. It can also be said with a modicum of truth that the company we keep also has a direct influence upon our decision process.
Example; Back in the day it wasn't uncommon for me to decide to indulge in a few cocktails after an activity. Using short term thought principles and the influence of the company I kept, this seemed like a great idea. Reevaluation with good information thought through using long term thinking, void of peer pressure, not such a good choice. I was investing my hard earned money for the privilege of renting some fluid I would soon deposit in a urinal. While it passed through my body, it left me incapable of making good decisions, possibly embarrassing myself in public, left me at the mercy of others for transportation home, and reminded me the next morning of what a terrible decision it was to indulge by means of a hangover. Some how I was convinced by the information available to me that this was a good decision.
Properly evaluating the information led me to understand that money spent was best left in my pocket, avoiding possible embarrassment, the loss of my freedom to go where I wanted, when I wanted because I was intoxicated, and the subsequent penance of a hangover. Long term vision and delayed gratification, verses short term thinking, and rationalizing I deserved the binge. I sought bad advise from others that wanted me to share in their misery, and used a flawed thought process to justify the decision.
So many times we can save ourselves the pain by thinking in the long term. Weigh the pro's and con's. What is to be gained? What's the down side? Who's best interest does this serve? Is you decision influenced by those who are interested in your best outcome, highlighted by their own personal success, or those who want company in the septic tank of misery? Chose those from whom you seek counsel with great care, it will define you. Most importantly, is my decision in alignment with my morals and principles?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Example; Back in the day it wasn't uncommon for me to decide to indulge in a few cocktails after an activity. Using short term thought principles and the influence of the company I kept, this seemed like a great idea. Reevaluation with good information thought through using long term thinking, void of peer pressure, not such a good choice. I was investing my hard earned money for the privilege of renting some fluid I would soon deposit in a urinal. While it passed through my body, it left me incapable of making good decisions, possibly embarrassing myself in public, left me at the mercy of others for transportation home, and reminded me the next morning of what a terrible decision it was to indulge by means of a hangover. Some how I was convinced by the information available to me that this was a good decision.
Properly evaluating the information led me to understand that money spent was best left in my pocket, avoiding possible embarrassment, the loss of my freedom to go where I wanted, when I wanted because I was intoxicated, and the subsequent penance of a hangover. Long term vision and delayed gratification, verses short term thinking, and rationalizing I deserved the binge. I sought bad advise from others that wanted me to share in their misery, and used a flawed thought process to justify the decision.
So many times we can save ourselves the pain by thinking in the long term. Weigh the pro's and con's. What is to be gained? What's the down side? Who's best interest does this serve? Is you decision influenced by those who are interested in your best outcome, highlighted by their own personal success, or those who want company in the septic tank of misery? Chose those from whom you seek counsel with great care, it will define you. Most importantly, is my decision in alignment with my morals and principles?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Terrorism And Property Rights!
Osama bin Laden understood that the basis of freedom lies upon the principle of property rights. The technique the terrorist used was to take advantage of the principles of a free society and use them to strike us where we are most vulnerable. While the killing of infidels was a secondary pleasure to this sick mind, his main target was buildings; symbols of freedom and a capitalistic society. The twin towers were a symbol of our economic center, and the pentagon was a symbol of our military might. He sought to destroy them to show the world the "Great Satan", was not invincible, and he showed the world that man has no rights of any kind without the ability to exercise the safety of proecting property rights.
It's kind of ironic that he understood what the principles of our freedom well enough to attack it where it's soft underbelly is. I can't help but wonder if citizens of this country maintain the same knowledge?
Without the ability to keep and own property without fear of losing it, our other freedoms are lost. We would have to spend the bulk of our time protecting our possessions. If the anarchy bin Laden sought to impose existed, we couldn't leave our homes unattended, as someone might just move in and claim it for their own. We would be consumed protecting our possessions! It would be impossible to leave home to exercise our freedom of speech, freedom to pursue happiness, enjoy life and liberty. It all hinges upon the right to own property, that's the heartbeat of a free society!
Not only do our citizens lack the understanding of these principles, some of them don't even know who bin Laden was. The #1 search on Google was, "who was bin Laden?" 66% of those who sought that info were teenagers, which begs the question; what are they learning in school? I'll bite my tongue here and not continue on a rant about tax dollars spent to educate, and the quality of the finished product, as some of us have to be at work today. But honestly, isn't that what this whole post is about?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Leadership
Scams
Mentoring
It's kind of ironic that he understood what the principles of our freedom well enough to attack it where it's soft underbelly is. I can't help but wonder if citizens of this country maintain the same knowledge?
Without the ability to keep and own property without fear of losing it, our other freedoms are lost. We would have to spend the bulk of our time protecting our possessions. If the anarchy bin Laden sought to impose existed, we couldn't leave our homes unattended, as someone might just move in and claim it for their own. We would be consumed protecting our possessions! It would be impossible to leave home to exercise our freedom of speech, freedom to pursue happiness, enjoy life and liberty. It all hinges upon the right to own property, that's the heartbeat of a free society!
Not only do our citizens lack the understanding of these principles, some of them don't even know who bin Laden was. The #1 search on Google was, "who was bin Laden?" 66% of those who sought that info were teenagers, which begs the question; what are they learning in school? I'll bite my tongue here and not continue on a rant about tax dollars spent to educate, and the quality of the finished product, as some of us have to be at work today. But honestly, isn't that what this whole post is about?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Leadership
Scams
Mentoring
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
A Note To Community Organizers!
The forcible occupation of another man's property or the obstruction of a thoroughfare is so blatant a violation of rights that an attempt to justify it becomes abrogation of morality. Think about that for a second, where in any bona fide text, (so I'm saying "Rules For Radicals" isn't a bona fide guide for behavior), does it ever consider it rational for any individual to disrupt and impede upon the rights of another? Just because you disagree with someone, that's not permission for bad behavior.
To convince others to join you is nothing short of ganging up on, and trying to force your will on another. That's nothing short of sinful. Rights are not a matter of numbers, and there can be no such thing as actions forbidden to an individual, but permitted to a mob. I'm speaking here directly to unions, student protesters, community organizers, and any other radical or non radical group that attempts to solve social problems by means of physical force. Civil discourse is uncivilized behavior!
We have the right to assemble and voice our complaints in an organized, law abiding manner. That is guaranteed us by our Constitution. The Tea Party rallies are exactly how the system was designed to work. Agree or disagree, you have to admit they were law abiding, and left the place better than they found it, the polar opposite of mob discourse designed to intimidate or bully citizens to impose their will. The end result never ever justifies a means that infringes upon the God given rights of another. Mass disobedience is an assault on the concept of rights: it's the mob's defiance of the legal system and totally unacceptable.
How worthy is a cause if you have to force others to comply?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Leadership
Scams
To convince others to join you is nothing short of ganging up on, and trying to force your will on another. That's nothing short of sinful. Rights are not a matter of numbers, and there can be no such thing as actions forbidden to an individual, but permitted to a mob. I'm speaking here directly to unions, student protesters, community organizers, and any other radical or non radical group that attempts to solve social problems by means of physical force. Civil discourse is uncivilized behavior!
We have the right to assemble and voice our complaints in an organized, law abiding manner. That is guaranteed us by our Constitution. The Tea Party rallies are exactly how the system was designed to work. Agree or disagree, you have to admit they were law abiding, and left the place better than they found it, the polar opposite of mob discourse designed to intimidate or bully citizens to impose their will. The end result never ever justifies a means that infringes upon the God given rights of another. Mass disobedience is an assault on the concept of rights: it's the mob's defiance of the legal system and totally unacceptable.
How worthy is a cause if you have to force others to comply?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Leadership
Scams
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Keep Moving People!
"They" say, "revenge is a dish best served cold." While the news of the death of bin Laden was an outstanding payback for the United States, and goes a long way to extract revenge upon the terrorists who brought down the Twin Towers, assaulted the Pentagon, and the resulting deaths of our civilian heroes who crashed the flight 93 in a field in Pennsylvania, We will shortly realize it's like putting ointment on the elbow of a badly sunburned body. There is a tinge of relief, but the pain of reality will soon overcome the elation.
It's a wonderful thing that our special forces expedited the introduction of bin Laden to Allah, he deserved to meet his maker and collect his virgins. However, the elation we feel is going to fade, oh, so quickly. I predict the next time you visit the gas pump, or the register at the grocery store, the harsh reality that there is so much more work to do, will trump thoughts of bin Laden. We need to stow this victory in the trophy case and move forward, as this side show is distracting us from addressing current problems. There is no time to dwell on how quickly bin Laden was buried, or if George Bush's policies led to this outcome, this chapter is over.
So, outstanding job Mr. President on accomplishing a decade old goal. President Bush deserves recognition for his enacting the methods that eventually led to this outcome, say what you will, this time the ends justified the means. (That was a jab, Saul Alinski fans). Our special forces, although they humbly do their job,asking for no credit, have performed virtually flawlessly, reinforcing our faith, and showing the world they are like no other. Side bar, isn't it odd, the people who actually did the work, aren't on the center stage collecting credit? As a nation, we can huff and puff all we wish, but without those elite fighters to back it up, we are just a bag of wind. I hope someday I can find the word of praise those brave young men and women deserve for their service to their country.
Now with that said, back to $4.39 a gallon gasoline.......
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Leadership
Scams
It's a wonderful thing that our special forces expedited the introduction of bin Laden to Allah, he deserved to meet his maker and collect his virgins. However, the elation we feel is going to fade, oh, so quickly. I predict the next time you visit the gas pump, or the register at the grocery store, the harsh reality that there is so much more work to do, will trump thoughts of bin Laden. We need to stow this victory in the trophy case and move forward, as this side show is distracting us from addressing current problems. There is no time to dwell on how quickly bin Laden was buried, or if George Bush's policies led to this outcome, this chapter is over.
So, outstanding job Mr. President on accomplishing a decade old goal. President Bush deserves recognition for his enacting the methods that eventually led to this outcome, say what you will, this time the ends justified the means. (That was a jab, Saul Alinski fans). Our special forces, although they humbly do their job,asking for no credit, have performed virtually flawlessly, reinforcing our faith, and showing the world they are like no other. Side bar, isn't it odd, the people who actually did the work, aren't on the center stage collecting credit? As a nation, we can huff and puff all we wish, but without those elite fighters to back it up, we are just a bag of wind. I hope someday I can find the word of praise those brave young men and women deserve for their service to their country.
Now with that said, back to $4.39 a gallon gasoline.......
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Mentoring
Leadership
Scams
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Some Random Thoughts!
Here's some quick thoughts that ring so true are polar opposite of what we are told....
Contrary to popular belief of fanatical advocates, (those who need for you to compromise), compromise does not satisfy, but actually dissatisfies all involved.
Keeping yourself in the "middle of the road," leads to no other destination.
The hallmark of the intellectual is to deny intellect.
Young people go to college for the purpose of acquiring theoretical knowledge to guide them in practical application.
It's futile to fight against, if one does not know what one is fighting for.
Men cannot be enslaved politically until they are disarmed ideologically.
I found these truisms great fuel for thought. I hope they inspire thought for you as well!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Leadership
Mentoring
Scams
Contrary to popular belief of fanatical advocates, (those who need for you to compromise), compromise does not satisfy, but actually dissatisfies all involved.
Keeping yourself in the "middle of the road," leads to no other destination.
The hallmark of the intellectual is to deny intellect.
Young people go to college for the purpose of acquiring theoretical knowledge to guide them in practical application.
It's futile to fight against, if one does not know what one is fighting for.
Men cannot be enslaved politically until they are disarmed ideologically.
I found these truisms great fuel for thought. I hope they inspire thought for you as well!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Leadership
Mentoring
Scams
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