Saturday, June 30, 2012
Gas and Yard Sales
Gas in my small neck of the wooks had dropped to $2.85 per gallon. Man, we felt like shopping and spending money, blah, blah. Today, as it so happens, my town had a citywide yardsale to get people to come to town and spend money. It worked! We had a yard sale and made a buck or two. Unfortunately, the price of gas went up $3.09 per gallon. Nearly fifteen cents over night. Must have something to do with the yardsale!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The End?
I have noticed that lately there have been a lot of TV shows about the end of the Earth. I took notice of this earlier in the year and thought it was just a passing television programers time. Now, it seems that this continuing and I am starting to feel uneasy about this trend. Are they trying to prepare us some disaster? Is the government using entertainment medis to prepare us? We know that the Doomsayers are calling for a drastic worldly change in December 2012. Makes you wonder if we should really be preparing for some event.
When you are tired of worrying about nationalized healthcare in the US, think about the end.
When you are tired of worrying about nationalized healthcare in the US, think about the end.
ObamaCare
The Supreme Court has shown us today that individual liberty does not have a place in modern America. Sure there are a few good things that are in the law that I would support. However, I don't feel that the individual should be forced to buy something it doesn't want. That is a slap in the face to all Americans who are self-sufficient. Why should we want to stand on our own two feet when we are penalized for doing so?
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Sin and Evangelism
From the Christian point of view, sin is the natural order of human
existence. We cannot completely avoid committing sin. Often it seems to be our
destiny to sin. We have no choice. Christ taught that all men sin. Let me
emphasize the word all. There are no free rides. It is a great error
to believe that Christians cannot sin. You will sin!
Don't go wasting time pointing out the sins of others. Attacking non-Christians for their sin is pointless. For the most part, they will do nothing but close their ears and not hear what you are saying. Christ said not to "cast ye your pearls before swine." Share Christ with those who willingly listen because they are drawn to the message. Standing on a street corner antagonizing passersby is not what Christ did. Why should we?
Just a few random thoughts.
Don't go wasting time pointing out the sins of others. Attacking non-Christians for their sin is pointless. For the most part, they will do nothing but close their ears and not hear what you are saying. Christ said not to "cast ye your pearls before swine." Share Christ with those who willingly listen because they are drawn to the message. Standing on a street corner antagonizing passersby is not what Christ did. Why should we?
Just a few random thoughts.
Christian Duty
The Christians' duty is to God. It is not to the State, political party, or self. The Christians' duty is not to condemn, belittle, or to be fearful. Neither is it the duty of Christians to decide who is going to Hell and who isn't.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Americanism
It is important for the survival of the nation envisioned by the Founding Fathers is the return to an old national awareness. Americanism is the idea that all individuals become independent and self-sufficient without any support from the government. The early colonists worked hard to stand alone, yet part of their communities. Each colonist did not require assistance from the colonial government. If a colonist needed assistance it was provided from the members of the community and not by the colonial government. Furthermore, the required assistance was temporary. Charity was accepted only temporarily and after all other personal needs exhausted. After the United States was formed and the westward expansion began, the tradition of self-reliance was continued.
Beginning in the mid-19th Century, the form of self-reliance began to fade. By the turn of the 20th Century, communism began to take a foothold as nations fell under it's power. Citizens were no longer able to be self-reliant and were forced to depend on the State. This loss of self-reliance in the United States started with Social Security as part of Roosevelt's New Deal. A new class of citizen developed in the United States that became more dependent on the State and less self-reliance. Now, citizens have becomes dependant on State housing, State food programs and State health care. They have become unable to rely on themselves for subsistence.
There is no denying that some citizens are unable to work for whatever reason. That is understood. Unless they are completely unable to earn a living and have no family to take care of them, then they should be provided with some assistence. Almost every one can work, even those who are disabled, with some exceptions. The Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is an example of people with a disability being self-reliant. There is work that can be done.
Americanism brings about a social change so that each individual is responsible for themselves without government support. Americans used to pride themselves for being able to work and be self-reliant. We need to return to that ideal.
Beginning in the mid-19th Century, the form of self-reliance began to fade. By the turn of the 20th Century, communism began to take a foothold as nations fell under it's power. Citizens were no longer able to be self-reliant and were forced to depend on the State. This loss of self-reliance in the United States started with Social Security as part of Roosevelt's New Deal. A new class of citizen developed in the United States that became more dependent on the State and less self-reliance. Now, citizens have becomes dependant on State housing, State food programs and State health care. They have become unable to rely on themselves for subsistence.
There is no denying that some citizens are unable to work for whatever reason. That is understood. Unless they are completely unable to earn a living and have no family to take care of them, then they should be provided with some assistence. Almost every one can work, even those who are disabled, with some exceptions. The Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is an example of people with a disability being self-reliant. There is work that can be done.
Americanism brings about a social change so that each individual is responsible for themselves without government support. Americans used to pride themselves for being able to work and be self-reliant. We need to return to that ideal.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Airlines could save us money
If you have been to an airport recently, were you able to see some outlandish color schemes used by some airlines? I created the montage below to provide a few examples.
A 747 requires 90 gallons (at around $250/gallon I might add) paint that weigh nearly 600 lbs. Each layer of additional paint adds more weight and lessens the fuel economy. This is carried over to the customer in ticket prices. The overall price per ticket per passenger over the life-time of the paint maybe small. Better fuel economy and less paint cost could save the ticket holder from paying for an extra carry-on or ticket reduction.
I am sure that the paint schemes lend to brand recognition. You will never hear someone at an airport say, "I want to fly the pretty pink one." Most people don't care what color the plane is as long as the ticket price is competitive and the airline has excellent safety record. I'll take a plain, white bird over a pink one any day as long as I get to where I am going.
A 747 requires 90 gallons (at around $250/gallon I might add) paint that weigh nearly 600 lbs. Each layer of additional paint adds more weight and lessens the fuel economy. This is carried over to the customer in ticket prices. The overall price per ticket per passenger over the life-time of the paint maybe small. Better fuel economy and less paint cost could save the ticket holder from paying for an extra carry-on or ticket reduction.
I am sure that the paint schemes lend to brand recognition. You will never hear someone at an airport say, "I want to fly the pretty pink one." Most people don't care what color the plane is as long as the ticket price is competitive and the airline has excellent safety record. I'll take a plain, white bird over a pink one any day as long as I get to where I am going.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Bullying, A Social Failure
We teach out kids to be polite, help others in need, stand up for those who can't and stand up for yourself. We are doing quite will in the politeness department. Sure, we have a loss of tempers in the checkout line or on the highway, but as a whole, we are still courteous to those we meet. From there is it down hill in the socialization of our children. Being nice to others does reduce bullying.
In our modern society, there is a good amount of the population in the U.S. that is concerned more about themselves than others. We drive by the homeless at highway intersections. We drive by those who are stranded on the side of the road. There is justification in the latter as we are afraid to help strangers on the side of the road. More than one Good Samaritan has been robbed or killed for their pains to help a stranded motorist. The former is a belief that those who say they need help really don't and are running a scam. Who do we know that? We don't. There have been enough stories told about homeless driving BMW's to make us skeptical. So, we don't help. If we return to helping others, we will reduce the amount of bullying by showing that we care.
One of the great American ideals is to take defend those who can't defend themselves. If you see someone being robbed, step in. Recently (as reported in the news), a robbery was stopped by a bystander merely yelling at the robber. Defending others surely will reduce the amount of bullying. If you see someone being bullied, stand up! Become involved! Calling out a bully makes them aware that they are being watched and that the behavior is not acceptable. The worst thing you can do is to be part of the crowd and no nothing. This empowers the bully.
If you are pushed, push back. Bullies prey on the weak and insecure. There is a fine line between standing up to a bully and brawling. Act in self-defense!* Don't push back until you are pushed. Allowing a bully to get the upper hand shows that you can be intimidated and he will come back for more. Stop the bullying before it gets started. Bullies are not cowards and standing up to them may not completely solve the problem. If a bully punches, bloody their nose and they may think twice before hitting you again.
Our society has been inclined to let other people take up our slack. We become dependent on the school system to keep the peace in our schools. Unfortunately, they are not capable of watching all the kids all the time. Our kids are taught that if they are being bullied, go tell a teacher. I think that if you are punched by a bully, punch him back then go find a teacher to explain what happened and be accountable for you actions. Running to tell does not solve the bullying issue. In fact, it reinforces the behavior. Standing up for yourself is the way to go.
*I am not advocating violence. It is important that you defend yourself only with the amount of force necessary to stop the bully. Going home and getting a gun does not solve the problem! If you get punched, punch back and let it go.
In our modern society, there is a good amount of the population in the U.S. that is concerned more about themselves than others. We drive by the homeless at highway intersections. We drive by those who are stranded on the side of the road. There is justification in the latter as we are afraid to help strangers on the side of the road. More than one Good Samaritan has been robbed or killed for their pains to help a stranded motorist. The former is a belief that those who say they need help really don't and are running a scam. Who do we know that? We don't. There have been enough stories told about homeless driving BMW's to make us skeptical. So, we don't help. If we return to helping others, we will reduce the amount of bullying by showing that we care.
One of the great American ideals is to take defend those who can't defend themselves. If you see someone being robbed, step in. Recently (as reported in the news), a robbery was stopped by a bystander merely yelling at the robber. Defending others surely will reduce the amount of bullying. If you see someone being bullied, stand up! Become involved! Calling out a bully makes them aware that they are being watched and that the behavior is not acceptable. The worst thing you can do is to be part of the crowd and no nothing. This empowers the bully.
If you are pushed, push back. Bullies prey on the weak and insecure. There is a fine line between standing up to a bully and brawling. Act in self-defense!* Don't push back until you are pushed. Allowing a bully to get the upper hand shows that you can be intimidated and he will come back for more. Stop the bullying before it gets started. Bullies are not cowards and standing up to them may not completely solve the problem. If a bully punches, bloody their nose and they may think twice before hitting you again.
Our society has been inclined to let other people take up our slack. We become dependent on the school system to keep the peace in our schools. Unfortunately, they are not capable of watching all the kids all the time. Our kids are taught that if they are being bullied, go tell a teacher. I think that if you are punched by a bully, punch him back then go find a teacher to explain what happened and be accountable for you actions. Running to tell does not solve the bullying issue. In fact, it reinforces the behavior. Standing up for yourself is the way to go.
*I am not advocating violence. It is important that you defend yourself only with the amount of force necessary to stop the bully. Going home and getting a gun does not solve the problem! If you get punched, punch back and let it go.
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