It's a slew of news with a fresh cup of Joe Thing

Dear America,

so, awakened by an officer involved shooting this morning.  correction, make that two officers down.  not sure of the details yet, but it all started about 4:45 am.  apparently, a robbery gone bad, beginning in Orange County, things escalated to a police chase all the way down south to my neck of the woods, and just up the street... so far, the word is, the suspect is still loose and on foot...comforting, isn't it?

normally we are a sleepy neighborhood; nothing bad happens around here.

but this morning, two of America's finest are down..with the seriousness of their injuries unknown.

will keep you posted.

welcome to blog #994...creeping ever so close to my thousand

In other news, it's the annual take your daughters and sons to work day...but just so we're clear, it started out as a girl thing, k.  The first official day took place on April 22, 1993; and its birth was intended to open the hearts and minds of young girls to reach their full potential in career goals, offering an opportunity for girls to be apart of a typical work day with one of their parents.  The day eventually had to expand to include boys (2003).  Why?  Because, well, its just not fair, right; why do girls get all the fun? 

Truth is, nothing can be gender specified anymore.  Not boy scouts; not Little League; not restrooms in schools; not baby showers....oh thank goodness, we are girl interrupted with breaking news:

Oh yay! ...two hours later...the guy is in custody; I can take the garbage out now.  

Oooooh and the news on the suspect  -- he's injured and on the way to the hospital.

The two of America's finest -- have non-life threatening injuries, and will recover!

In other news. Joe is in!

yippee skippy

this is gonna be good....

Former Vice President Joe Biden, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, California Rep. Eric Swalwell, Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, former Gov. John Hickenlooper, Gov. Jay Inslee, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Kamala Harris, ex-San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, former Rep. John Delaney, Miramar, Fla., Mayor Wayne Messam, author Marianne Williamson, and former tech executive Andrew Yang.

Officially NOT running -- Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, West Virginia state Sen. Richard Ojeda (announced run, but dropped out).

What I love most about Joe jumping in -- besides making it a congested field of twenty contenders --is we have lots and lots of Joe video!  AND, we have an entire eight years of  mistakes, controversy, lies on video about videos.... and more recently, fraudulent dossiers, unwarranted FISA findings, plenty of Russian collusion and obstruction of real justice all under the authority of the Obama Administration, with former Vice President Joe riding shotgun.  It's gonna be great.  There is just so much available!  So excited. Can't wait for what Rush has to say....later today...

 Re-litigating the Obama Administration here we come!
 Here's Joe:

"Everything That Has Made America America Is At Stake"

“We are in the battle for the soul of this nation,” according to Joe.

Basically, his inaugural campaign address, out on video -- with great hair and makeup and all...and surely with a schmear of Vaseline on the lens and made to look, like,  twenty years younger -- goes back to what happened in Charlottesville ....you know, that time when multiple factions hit the streets, with rioting and violence, escalating with a female protester getting hit and killed by a car with a white supremacist at the wheel.  This was all in response to a peaceful demonstration following the destruction to a few historical monuments around town; the peaceful demonstration was interrupted and hijacked by extremists from both sides of the political pendulum, and understandably, everything got out of hand.  Even the police were told to stand down, allowing the rioters to have their day. 

Joe -- Charlottesville became a CF of hate, almost overnight, if you know what I mean; ANTIFA is not without fault, nor are they angels.   Trump was simply trying to keep the peace.

But no matter, Joe seems to be leading with this lie, right from the start. To which I say, go for it.

In other news, "Easter Worshipers" fell victim to a terrorist attack in Sri Lanka.  [yes, it was days ago, but this girl hasn't shown up in days either...]

"Easter Worshipers"

It is Christians who were killed during Easter Services, aka "worship."

[gotta love my choice of YouTube channel, right?]

Anywho, with multiple blasts, 359 people have been killed, and to date, 58 people have been arrested -- with the radical Islamic Extremists, known as ISIS, claiming responsibility.

Can we talk about the hate crime heard round the world and  killing 359 people -- including 4 Americans? Can you address that, Joe?  Do you have the balls to call that hate for what it truly is?

I wonder if Antifa or  ISIS take part in the take your daughters and sons to work day?  Wouldn't that be sweet?   [yeah, and if you think I made a mistake including ISIS there, think again.  ISIS operates within America's borders.]

In other news, NYT Columnist Thomas Friedman (not to be confused with Milton) happened to say this OUT LOUD! --

“The whole day left me more certain than ever that we have a real immigration crisis and that the solution is a high wall with a big gate — but a smart gate,” Friedman wrote, which Blitzer read on the air.

 “Wolf, I’m as radically pro-immigration as they come. But, it’s pretty clear to me and unless we can assure a significant number of Americans that we can control our border, we’re never going to have proper immigration flow. I think we need, we desire, and that we actually have a moral responsibility given our history as a nation of immigrants,” Friedman stated.

got that right, Tommy; and thank you for confirming for all of us, that America needs "a high wall with a big gate -- but a smart gate."  And given the southern border lies only about 45 minutes from my front door, I appreciate your support of our nation's sovereignty and applaud your liberal guts to say so... big hugs...

okay, that's it on your news today.

but in my final, parting shots, allow me to give my girl a shout out today...as she's at work!  She's at work and has only just begun her career years; goodness knows where it will all lead, or just when this girl will get a couple of grand-babies...:)

If only we lived closer, like, in the same zip code, let alone the same state; she could have taken her mama to work today!   teehee.

Fun fact:  that girl grew up being taken to a couple of places of work with me...not just one day a year, but upon multiple occasions... like, days in a row sometimes, when she was sick, and at times before or after school.  But quite honestly, I really don't know what kind of an impression that left upon her, if any; being born in the mid-90's, she grew up in an era when everyone grows up and goes to work, whether you're a girl, a boy, or something in between.

the end; now that we have come full circle, I can stop and get myself a fresh cup of Joe to go along with this slew of breaking news going on around here.  yippee

Make it a Good Day, G

It's an Open Castration of Glenn Beck Thing

Dear America,

"A tyrant must 

put on the appearance 

of uncommon devotion to religion.  

Subjects are less

 apprehensive of

 illegal treatment from a ruler

 whom they consider 

God-fearing and pious." 

Aristotle

let's start with a big bang from Beck, shall we? 

“...if the country is lost, it will be lost because of the Christians...There will be no one else to blame...You can’t blame the progressives. You can’t blame the left. You can’t blame Hillary Clinton. You can’t blame anyone else but the Christians who are not living and voting their principles." 

[for the full story on Glenn Beck, host of the Christian skewering of the day, go to Breitbart]

Oh, and just before serving up this sweet and tangy self-righteous sentiment  -- Desperado made a special request for all of us true believers: to join Beck and his family in a mission for Monday... fasting for Cruz.  

Can I get a Hallelujah?! Just look at how the Lord works!  If we hadn't all watched it with our own two eyes....Taking the boy out of New York City...divining a road that leads to Dallas...and now look at this dude, digging deep, so deep he might have struck some oil, getting to the very core of it, and talkin' straight up (of course, without the whiskey chaser).   Praise the Lord, for judgement day came a whole lot  sooner than expected. and if you said all that sounding like your very own poor rendition of Francis Underwood the better for all of us; we're in this together, and a little whup-ass while undergoing a harmless character assassination is just one more way we can all contribute.  can I get an amen?

my apologies for that. (no, not really)

makes me wonder if some time over the last 48 hours my soul get-got herself possessed, or something. (wrong again)

But first things first, even if it comes second --

This girl happens to LOVE Jesus.  Little g gives thanks to the big guy, the BIG G, every single day -- on my knees usually --  and always in prayerful thanksgiving. 

And here's another truth be told -- this girl happens to like Beck vewy vewy much...that silly rascal.

So it's crazy with what comes next...

Beck 

      sounds       

     like       

a  kook. 

Did he really pull the old Christian card on the entire flock?   "If we lose America" -- Beck believes it is because CHRISTIANS are "not living and voting their principles."    Are you sure you're not a darn-tootin' Catholic cowboy now... with you rustling up all that guilt and what not...?

SO -- if we can just nit pick for a sec --
are you simply acknowledging that all Christians should see the same thing in Cruz that you see? and to that end, vote accordingly....as a block....because Ted, in all your fine judgement, is the good Christian in the bunch, the one with principles?  IS that correct?

You believe that the rest may be Christian, but, perchance, not the most principled of Christians -- and therefore, a vote to anyone else but Ted would prove to be an allegiance of some kind of sacrilegious fate -- a blasphemy of something dreadful -- a day of reckoning in lock step with Revelations?

For the sake of argument, let's agree to disagree and then disagree some more...and let's begin by leaving The Donald out of it; but what of the rest?  Let's go to the guys who have joined Ted in self-promoting a religious backbone in the campaign, however, taking a far more humble approach.
 
Is TED really better, more principled, than John Kasich...or Marco Rubio...or Dr. Ben Carson  -- who, as you must know by now -- experienced a personal turning point to the way of the Lord that changed him forever, and happens to read and know the Bible with a photographic memory and can recite a verse of worth on a moments notice and leads a campaign with the motto -- HEAL INSPIRE REVIVE?  And  -- come to think of it, for the record, Ben's tax plan in simple terms goes something like this: "Follow the Biblical example and make it flat and make sure everyone has skin in the game.  Everybody pays something." [Reprinted from a place in the heart of America, quite possibly within the Bible Belt itself, and called www.runbenrun.org}

But all that is neither here nor there really.   It's just this indignation pouring out from every pore...this highfalutin impulse to lambaste the very people who have supported you for all of your days, from CNN to Fox to The Blaze.    We are your people, Beck, and you just struck us with an arrow, splitting our hearts in two.

For this is news to me, Beck -- this whole thing about casting the entire lot of Christians as not only having in common a belief system, joined at the rib in being followers of Christ, indeed, but with that peace that passes all understanding, we should somehow, by some miracle of Lourdes, happen to all want the same thing, the same candidate -- and moreover, take your word for it, as if by decree or homily?

Oh the irony.  You know you are beginning to sound a lot like Pope Francis telling Trump how good Christians are to behave, and how building bridges between Mexico is better than a wall...just sayin' partner.

Of course, if we are to be drifters along those lines, believing in the premise that WE are ALL God's children, that we are all citizens under one heaven -- then why any border -- why any red lines in-between us, why any separation of church and state, country or language, why any separation between us at all -- not even oceans should come between us.  More to the point, this might be the perfect principled hour to call for Pope Francis to tear down his wall at the Vatican, for Saint Peter's sake.  How about we start there, while reciting the Hail Mary and asking for forgiveness as we go along brick by brick...But I .....digress.

And I suppose, Beck, heading this exhibition out west, setting sites on the LEFT coast and probably going straight to hell in the here-and-after,  but if we are to be rest assured upon your logic -- are you gonna tell me now that all African-Americans should vote the same way, think the same way, want the same things, too?    If little g were a betting girl, my six pence would be on Dr. Carson who just might take issue with this all or nothing, downright robbery, of independent thought!  For surely, there are times when common sense can only come when it decidedly, forthrightly,  goes against the grain, and with great courage -- in spite of the amber waves of resistance circling the wagons, and in this day and age, coming complete with hashtag slogans and a facebook page.

It's just wrong; we get annoyed with the Left for this very thing!  Breaking people down by demographics, hurling propaganda at them with break-neck speed, and then expecting a return on the investment at the polls.   We the people get used and spit back out with no apologies.

Oh my, this girl is 'a rambling on and on...

It's just disturbing, this thing with Beck and Cruz, aligned to make their mark in history from probably the right place, with good intentions, and clearly a solid, godly foundation for all the right reasons --- but somehow this platform suddenly, and feeling somewhat shameful to admit, feels dirty. [and speaking of dirty...]

And mind you, this is a response coming from a believer -- a true believer in all of the above....God being first and foremost, but an honorable mention surely goes to Cruz and Beck!

It's crazy; it's like, what is happening to me?  Or is the better question, what happened to Beck?

Should I stop and question this thing called my faith if my attractions go another way, opposite Cruz?
Is Beck's high and mighty passing of judgement against the entire nation of Christians of sound mind, or is he the wacko-bird about to start his third or fourth career selling snake oil at the county fair?

And yet...

If I dare keep going -- about that "if the country is lost" bit...

It must be said, that a fair portion of this good, godly country -- the Judeo-Christian roots -- have already been torn asunder!  Much to my regret to disagree with Beck's opinion -- the truth is, the progressives of yesteryear and all the way through today ARE to BLAME for America's fall from grace, from God, from a foundation that painstakingly laid the groundwork to grow the most prosperous, faithful, hard-working, educated, enterprising, independent people for all time.

It is done and it is not good.

Right now - - this country IS lost; it's no longer a question as to If or When.

There is neither a North or Morning Star to be seen.

We  are in the wilderness, fasting, and, coincidentally, well timed for being right in the middle of Lent.

We are lost.
We know we are lost.
And we are begging for directions from the likes of all kinds of passersby, searching desperately for someone to lead us out of the valley, over the mountain, to find happiness and restore us.

And it's a funny thing, but just yesterday, Sunday, I received word from God, himself:  there is not one man (or one woman) on the planet who can fix what is broken -- you know, as president -- without the good favor of each and every single man and woman and child doing their fair share, and duty, to God and to country. [Including congress!]

Our downfall IS believing government can replace God, can replace good citizenship, can make up for our teeny tiny transgressions here and there.  Our downfall is putting our faith into mankind and dismissing the essential elements of living soundly, morally, rightly under God and believing in something greater than ourselves.  Our downfall is letting go of the the word of God in our every day.

Beck. Beck. Beck Beck Beck....This thing called "not living or voting" by principle isn't about to happen; it's been a century in the making.  Nice try, though; nothing like a little religious tyranny roasted over an open fire.

.....Whoa, Nelly.....

Perhaps, we are looking at this the wrong way.  Maybe we need a change in perspective -- maybe if we actually climb the mountain and look down from above....

Perhaps,  a more reasonable explanation is simply recognizing that we the people haven't really changed; government, itself, is to blame, having grown so big, so thoroughly corrupted, to the point of no return.

[And this alone should immediately negate the worthiness of any candidate who has been on the inside, no matter if only a couple years or three decades; thereby, after taking account of what's to the left and who's to the right, swing your partner and doesy doe,  only two candidates remain out of the whole kit and caboodle to choose from -- Trump and Carson.  Boom.  Perhaps we should pony express a decision for P and VP right here and now.]

And finally, if for no other reason than ending on a high note --

...perhaps a better way to look at our culture, our faithful roots and the rewards that come with lock, stock and barrel begins and ends and begins again with realizing the scope and breadth of our charitable giving.  This is where we come alive as a people who truly live by our faith and hope and good will.   And it is quite puzzling, really, because I'm pretty sure Beck is well aware of these things, and a wee bit of restraint before his reckless damnation questioning every Christians values and principles would have suited him in the moment just fine.

And we need to look no further then this month's Imprimis from Hillsdale College.


Karl Zinsmeister, focuses on the subject of  Charitable Giving and the Fabric of America, and begins getting right to an astounding stat:

Private philanthropy is crucial in making America the unusual country that it is. Let’s start with some numbers. Our nonprofit sector now comprises eleven percent of the total United States workforce. It will contribute around six percent of gross domestic product this year. To put this in perspective, the charitable sector passed the national defense sector in size in 1993, and it continues to grow.

Now my wish is for you to read the entire piece, for the stories of bits and pieces of history speak volumes of not only our hearts and generosity, but of the way America truly works.  We work hard.  We make money.  And we give much of ourselves and our wealth away.

Here's some more:

Still, partly because so much of private charity takes place out of the public eye—on the local level, private, often anonymous—many grossly underestimate its power and insist that major concerns can only be addressed through government action. They seem to have three major criticisms of private philanthropy: one, it’s a drop in the bucket; two, it’s amateurish, chaotic, and lacks expert coordination; and three, private donors act from impure motives.

Drop in the bucket? The Gates Foundation alone distributes more overseas assistance than the entire Italian government. Over its first two decades, its overseas vaccine program is projected to save the lives of almost eight million children. And the Gates Foundation represents only a tiny sliver of American philanthropy directed overseas. Members of American churches and synagogues send four-and-a-half times as much to foreigners in need each year as Gates does, and total private American philanthropic aid sent overseas substantially exceeds the foreign aid budget of the U.S. government. The latest totals are about $39 billion and $31 billion, respectively

Did you get that?

Private American philanthropic aid totals 39 BILLION dollars and exceeds the foreign aid budget in the U.S. government!

Members of American churches and synagogues send four and a half times as much to foreigners in need each year as Gates!

Yes.  I am repeating myself.  And with good reason!  This is good stuff!

Karl also informs us that we actually live in a polyarchy society -- a society that enjoys many independent sources of power -- and of course,  it's the opposite of monarchy.   Adding to the nature of who we are, Karl notes:

But philanthropy in the United States is not just a story—or even primarily a story—about wealthy people or big foundations. Only 14 percent of charitable giving in our country comes from foundations, and only five percent from corporations. The rest comes from individuals, and the bulk of it comes from small givers at an average rate of about $2,500 per household per year.

This IS who we are.

We are, generally speaking, enterprising church goers, tithers, givers, healers,  And while we're at it, let's stop the billionaire bashing, too.

And I believe, we, Americans, Christian or not, like to do the right thing, too.

And it just makes me ill to bicker over whose Christian heart is bigger, purer, faster, better -- but more than that, this coercing, manipulative, campaign strategy to coalesce behind Ted Cruz is a shame.  A real shame.   It's an unbridled, un-principled tack that hits Christians, pitting Christians against Christians!  We might as well send in the clowns and the lions all at the same time.

okay G,
bring it on back,
c'mon girl,

yes!
indeed!

Oh my -- to God be the Glory!
We are, generally speaking, enterprising church goers, tithers, givers, healers -- and fiercely, fearlessly independent!

This is who we are...today.
This is who we were...yesterday.
And this is who we will be -- with great, unwavering faith -- tomorrow.

and as always,
Make it a GOOD Day, G

It's a Naked Christmas Tree Thing

Dear America,

hi.
miss me?
yeah, no, not really. got it.

that's cool.
just in case you wanna know, I have been busy.

Knee deep in reading this week -- just a little gift to self that keeps on giving [to myself]; and at the top of the book pile with top priority is..............The Naked Communist.  Oh MY Goodness.  Winner winner chicken dinner.  Un&%#*ingbelievable.  What a good book.  It is so good, I am taking my time with it.

So between the reading and the recently added part time work that has become a full time job -- my energies have been twisted at best, and totally shot at worst.  But enough about me.


I just had to jump in to chat it up a wee bit today.   And no, not to talk about my little sugar Cain; not to talk about Gloria 'pumped up kicks' Allred...of course, that little nickname of hers should make you wonder; and no, not even to talk about the hypocrisy of realities that surely lives and breathes within the Left aorta of the heart of society.

No, I am gonna lock into one thing and one thing only -- and as it would turn out, it has nothing to do with anything related to the Herman Cain scandal.

No.  I am here today to mention the Christian tax -- all wrapped up and tied with a bow at The Heritage Foundation.  [yeah, they didn't refer to it as a "Christian Tax" -- but I will]

So FIRST -- GO HERE.

I know.  What's the big &%$*ing deal, right Joe...as in Biden....because that's just the way we roll around here.... it's just fifteen cents.  

But think about it.

The Left continuously picks and chooses when they enter the 'separation of church and state' zone and when they don't (of course, the idea itself -- of this so-called "separation" -- is a whole 'nother controversy...which WE have not enough time for today).

But the whole thing is odd, really.

The Administration has decided it needs yet another department to elevate the image of the Christmas tree, of all things.  Which makes me wonder, why now?   which is funny, considering that it seems to be a common refrain around here these days (indeed, and it does sound like we are gonna circle around back to Cain, but no, not really).

But anyway, here's some details, handpicked from the post written by David S. Addington, from Heritage:

"In the Federal Register of November 8, 2011, Acting Administrator of Agricultural Marketing David R. Shipman announced that the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board.  The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)).  And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10)."

 really?

ex squeeze me?

....in the era of let's take God out of everywhere -- and often -- especially that crazy Christian one, this administration targets Christians, in the particular, charging fifteen cents a pop to "enhance the  image of Christmas trees?"  under the guise of "helping" the Christmas tree industry, you think charging more for them is going to be a benefit?  in a recession?  (yes, the recession...still)  but seriously?

AND you want a bunch of left wing, secular bureaucrats to run the program?

hold up while I get a good belly laugh on the floor...morphing, of course, into an even bigger, better cry (aka fully enhanced)..

Way to ring in the Christmas season, Mr. President.

And pulleeze -- don't even try to give me the cultural Christmas excuses -- Christmas, all of it, including but not limited to all of it's symbols, especially the Christmas Tree -- is celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Do Jewish people get a tree?  do Hindus get a tree?  do Muslims get a tree?  NO  NO  and hat trick NO.

Sure, these days, it is hard to tell; but maybe that is the problem (and we'll save that for another day).

Given my mood -- being totally unnerved and unsettled by this little book highlighting the true color of red defining Communism -- perhaps this news is just poorly timed according to my own little world. 

But is it just me?

and call me funny -- but wasn't the president, just last week, mocking Congress (and God) all in the same breath, when he was trying to push his latest jobs bill?  When he thought congressional actions to be incredulous, spending essential time to "re-affirm" our motto, "In God We Trust" ...like, what a waste of time that was....stupid congress...and like, how is just trusting in God gonna help us make jobs...

So lets talk about waste then:   On a day, of all days, when you announce cutting back on government "swag" all the way around the evergreen branches --  tell me -- just how many bureaucrats will it take to "enhance" an image that clearly doesn't need this kind of help?  what will that really cost us, the taxpayer, when all things are said, and done, and promoted, by a government gaggle of unbelievers?   Is this part of that thing Michelle was referring to --  in re-defining our traditions and whatnot?

sounds like we are beginning to 'change our history' -- beginning with re-defining the Christmas Tree for us; playing with the altering of it's image, perhaps.... it's meaning... and overall, transforming and ENHANCING our traditions...because I'm with the government and I'm here to help.


from the little red book, The Naked Communist:

"...But in rejecting the Judaic-Christian code of morals, Engels tried to represent that Communism was merely moving up to a higher level where human conduct will be motivated exclusively by the needs of society: 'We say that our morality is wholly subordinated to the interest of the class-struggle of the proletariat.'"

Right, because people, by themselves and left to their own devices, are just      that      good.

Utopia here we come.  Can't wait.  Perhaps somebody could produce a secular Advent calendar to mark the days...hey, if you have the means, go for it, no need to thank me or give me a penny.

And make a mental note, if you will:  secular, faux-fir Christmas trees are not only the next big thing -- they are the only thing.  You heard it from me, little G, here first.   Jesus is not the reason for the season, got it? genericbegeesus dot gov IS, starting tomorrow....because, you know, "...[Marx and Engels believed that] Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of a heartless world, as it is the spirit of spiritless conditions.  It is the opium of the people."

and now, it's time for me to curl up with The Good Book (the real one); then, get right back at The Naked Communist cuz it's getting hot up here in America.


Make it a Good Day, G

my apologies, drank the eggnog just before dropping in...

but just one more thing before I go:

....had no idea that Karl Marx was such a fruitcake...
but this, along with all the other things aforementioned, we will save for another day.