New Millionaires in Austell, Georgia

This is a tragic story, but I have a wager on the outcome.

At Six Flags Over Georgia this past Saturday, a teenage boy was decapitated by a roller coaster. With all the inspections and safety precautions, how could such a thing happen? Well, the boy evidently lost his hat when he rode the coaster. So when he got off at the end of the ride, he climbed one 6 foot fence festooned with "Restricted Area" signs, then he scaled another 6 foot fence with "Restricted Area" and "Danger" signs in an attempt to retrieve the hat. He was hit by the coaster as it reached its top speed of 50 mph.

Whose fault was this accident? All right thinking people will say, "It was the boy's fault. He went where he was not supposed to go." But I can imagine when this case hits the courtroom, and there's no doubt it will, the jury will see only that a grieving family can get a large amount of money from a faceless corporation with deep pockets. Of course, the faceless corporation with deep pockets is insured -- maybe by a subsidiary of the same insurance company you use. And when they have to pay that big settlement, guess whose insurance will go up?

And, what the heck, let's sue the fence manufacturers as well. They know people who don't think the rules apply to them can climb 6 foot fences. And what about those signs? Shouldn't they be in Braille as well as written English? Sue the sign manufacturers, too. And of course, the roller coaster manufacturers. And lest we forget, the hat was what caused all this in the first place. Sue 'em! No more hats that may fly off your head when you're going 50 mph!

It may seem that I care nothing for the pain this family is undoubtedly enduring. That's not true. I just know how things work in this litigious society, and it's pretty much a given that when a horrible accident occurs, even one obviously caused by the victim's own stupidity, lawsuits will be filed, and the taxpayers' money will be wasted on hours and hours in the courtroom.

If the facts as stated in the newspaper are true, and if our judges and lawyers really care about justice, there won't be a case stemming from this incident. However, my money's not on whether or not there will be a case -- it's on how much the family's gonna' get.

What country did you say this was?

I pull the coupons out of each Sunday's newspaper. Here's the text from one I pulled today:

Cupon Del Fabricante Vence 30/08/08

Ahorra 50 Cents

al comprar Un producto cualquiera

Charmin de 6

rollos o mas

Charmin Ultra Strong.

Es resistente y deja

menos pedacitos.

*vs. la marca con textura ondulada ultra.

I've noticed at Wal-Mart that they are turning all the Spanish labels to the front of the shelves. I say we mount a protest -- all American citizens should refuse to buy anything with the Spanish label turned toward the front. We may have dirty clothes and go hungry, but at least we'll have made a statement!

Some good points from a brilliant man.

Thomas Sowell is a brilliant economist, but he is able to explain his theories and philosophies so that even people as unschooled in economics as I can understand what he's talking about. He had a very informative column in today's paper, and I think he made some very good points.

1) There are many critics of our economy who say we should do things like Europe -- for example, nationalized health care. But they've not said anything about the fact that for the second quarter in a row, we've had no downturn in the economy.

2) Measured by purchasing power, output per capita in the U.S. is the highest of any large nation. New Jersey, alone, produces more than the entire nation of Egypt. California produces more than Canada or Mexico.

3) There are lots of statistics showing the U.S. to be monopolized by the rich, but those statistics chart income categories, not people. There are people moving in and out of those statistical categories all the time.

4) Most statistics are for households, not individuals, even though the average number in a household is declining. Therefore, income per household may show a decline when, in fact, income per individual is climbing.

5) Imitating Europeans when they are not doing as well as Americans makes no sense.

So when you read all those depressing statistics, take them with a grain of salt and remember what the old accountant said when the boss asked him what the company's net income for the quarter was: "What do you want it to be?"

Score 1 for the 2nd Amendment!

The Supreme Court this week, correctly interpreting the Constitution for a change, struck down Washington, DC's ban on handgun ownership. I haven't read the opinion written by Justice Scalia, but talk radio hosts say it is a masterpiece.

The scary part is that this was a 5-4 decision. We have four Justices who do not believe the Constitution guarantees our right to bear arms. If Barack Obama is elected and appoints even one Justice, the next case bearing on the 2nd Amendment is lost. Can you imagine a Justice Jeremiah Wright, or a Justice Al Sharpton, or how about a Justice Michelle Obama?

The Court also this week, on another 5-4 decision, struck down the Louisiana death penalty for child rape. Justice Kennedy, writing for the majority, said that "the death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child." Sure -- if it's not your child. At least we'll have guns to protect ourselves and our families when some bleeding-heart liberal judge lets one of these animals out on a technicality.

Throwing good money after bad?

I'm no financier or economist, and I'm the first to admit I know very little about the mortgage industry, but this housing bill Congress is about to pass sounds like one of the most stupid things I've ever heard. The refinancing plan in this bill would "let the Federal Housing Administration back $300 billion in cheaper new home loans for an estimated 400,000 distressed borrowers who otherwise would be considered too risky for government-insured, fixed-rate loans."

Did you get that? Or am I the one not getting it? They are going to lend $300 billion to people who have proven they probably will not pay back the money. President Bush is planning to veto the bill, and I say, "Go, Pres!" At least somebody in Washington is demonstrating a little common sense.

Let me tell ya 'bout the birds and the bees. . .Verse 2

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about the reasons people believe teenagers get pregnant. Gloucester High School in Massachusetts has been in the news the past few days. It seems 17 girls there are pregnant, and the rumor is that they had formed a pact to all try to get pregnant so they could raise their babies together.

One of those girls was just on "Good Morning America" with her boyfriend. Chris Cuomo (who, by the way, conducted one of the most sickening interviews I've ever seen) asked the boy why he thought so many girls at the school had become pregnant. "The girls are just unlucky, I guess," he said. WRONG! They became pregnant because they had sex!

And then there was The Dallas Morning News editorial by Bob Herbert. I'm still not sure I understand his point. I think it is that the reason we have so many fatherless families is that men can't make enough money now to support a family. Go figure! Anyway, he says "one of the main reasons out-of-wedlock births have skyrocketed in recent decades is because it has become so difficult for poor and poorly educated young men to earn enough to support a family. . . Declining economic fortunes of young men without college degrees underlie the rise in out-of-wedlock child-bearing." WRONG! The reason out-of-wedlock births have skyrocketed is because people who aren't married are having sex!

I just don't quite get this guy's point -- why young men who have no jobs can afford to father children out-of-wedlock, but they can't afford to have them if they're married. Oh, silly me -- now I get it! If they have them out-of-wedlock, I get to support they're irresponsibly conceived, illegitimate progeny, and they don't have to worry about keeping their sagging pants zipped!

The pot calling the kettle black

The Dallas Housing Authority has a problem. They have 500 rent vouchers for needy families that are going unused. You'd think there would be 500 needy families in a city as large as Dallas -- and you'd be right. In fact, they have almost 8000 families on a waiting list. They're not even taking new applications. But the 500 vouchers available come with stipulations. They are for black families only -- whites need not apply. And they are for white neighborhoods only.

Why haven't black families snapped these up? Because many of the landlords won't accept them because the families have poor rental histories -- I think that means they tear up the properties and they don't pay the rent. Other families say they don't want the vouchers because they like their black neighborhoods -- that's where their relatives live, where their churches are, and that's where they like living. Other black families say they depend on public transportation, and the white neighborhoods are not convenient to catching the DART.

DHA must use the vouchers by December or lose funding for them. Let's analyze this -- if they have them now, and they're not being used, why does it matter if they lose the funding?

My main gripe with this is that if I, as a private citizen, built an apartment complex and reserved one block of apartments for whites only, I would be paying a heck of a fine to the federal government, and I might even find my little self in prison. Or if I built a house in a black neighborhood, and said, "This house is for whites only, because this neighborhood needs to be integrated," I don't think the government would stand for it.

My secondary gripe with this is that it's obvious the government's main concern is NOT providing housing to those who need it. If it was, those vouchers would go to the families who needed them, and they would be allowed to use them wherever they could. It is absurd that families needing housing are being denied because of the color of their skin or where they want to live. It appears the government's main concern is social engineering, and I believe that's what gave Hitler such a bad reputation!

Can't wait to take advantage of this bargain!

A service station I passed yesterday had on their sign: "Buy 10 gallons of gas, get $2 off on a car wash!"

When gas was $1.50 a gallon, that wasn't a bad rebate. But at $40 for 10 gallons? Woo Hoo! Think I'll gas up both my cars!

And on a lighter note . . .

Don't you just love classified ads? I find some of the funniest mistakes in them.

I remember an ad several years ago advertising "Datsun puppies for sale." Of course, that was before Hyundai puppies became such good sellers.

Then there are the ubiquitous puppy dog ads that specify the animal has been "spade." Poor thing!

I saw one this morning that I thought was a real hoot. "I'm looking for a pool slide and diving boars. If anyone has one call 580-326-2011." He must be putting together a circus act.

I'm still wondering about this one -- "Who has a female Shih-Tzu they would like to give to a free home?" Does that mean these people didn't have to pay for their house? Or that they don't live under a dictatorship?

Or this one I saw some time ago -- "Wedding dress, size 8. Very good condition. Call 903-785-4390 and leave massage."

You owe me.

The Dallas Morning News reports today that $85 million in federal relief supplies is on its way to Louisiana for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. These supplies include linens, pots, pans, and other supplies .

My question is this: Have these people done without linens and kitchen utensils for almost three years because they've been waiting for the government to give them those things? I think I would have found someway to buy my own in that length of time. I somehow have the feeling that the people in Iowa displaced by all the flooding there will be a bit more self-reliant.

Don't eat it! Don't eat it!

I saw an article in today's paper that reminded me of a joke I heard years ago. If you're on the sensitive side, you might want to skip the next paragraph, because it does contain a vulgarity.

The kindergarten teacher had prepared lessons on animals and the products we get from them. One day she served the class hamburgers, and she asked the children what kind of animal the hamburger came from. "A cow," they all shouted. The next day they had bacon, and she asked them what kind of animal bacon came from. "A pig," they all shouted. The next day they had venison, and she asked them what kind of animal venison came from. There was silence. Prompting them with a hint, the teacher said, "Sometimes, your mother calls your father this." One little boy in the back became very alarmed and shouted the warning to his friends, "Don't eat it! Don't eat it! It's a_ _ hole!"

May 23, I reported on Oncor's plan to install smart meters in every home in North Texas, and I entitled the post, "We're on the Slippery Slope." Well, we just slid a little further. TXU is giving away $200 thermostats to any customer who wants one. This, they say, will help customers to conserve energy when demand is high. Customers will be able to access the thermostat on the internet and adjust it even when they are away from home. Here's the "Don't eat it" part. TXU will also be able to access your thermostat, and they will cycle your a/c on and off when they determine usage is high. "We think we're going to be able to do this without people really noticing it . . ." said TXU spokesman Brian Tulloh. I don't know about you, but when the temp hits 101, I think I'm going to notice if my a/c isn't on!

Not to worry, you say, this is a voluntary program. Of course it is . . . for now. They're just preparing us for making it mandatory. And remember, you heard it here first!

On a related note, today's local newspaper reports that "unusually high temperatures and high electric power consumption that may reach record levels for June are prompting the state to appeal to the public for conservation." I looked back over the weather records so far for June. Our high temperature has been 92 degrees. Our average high has been 89 degrees. What's "unusually high" about 89 degrees past the middle of June in Texas? Actually nothing -- they're just paving the way for the next rate hike. I checked the average high temperature for this date for however many years they've been keeping weather records, and it's 90 degrees, so looks to me like we're just having an ordinary Texas summer.

So remember, folks --- DON'T EAT IT!

Bet that frosts their buns!

A bunch of idiots trashed poet Robert Frost's former home at the Homer Nobel Farm in Ripton, Vermont. Frost spent many summers there, and the house is now owned by Middlebury College. Last winter, a Middlebury former employee held a party there for about 50 animals. They broke windows, antique furniture and china, discharged fire extinguishers, and vomited and urinated on the carpets. Most of them were charged with trespassing. Why they weren't charged with more than that, I can't imagine.

Twenty-five of those charged entered pleas. Their punishment -- they must take two classes on Robert Frost's poetry. I would consider that opportunity a reward, but then I am a human being who appreciates the genius of writers like Frost. Can you imagine this bunch of hyenas being forced to sit through poetry classes?

The judge in this case, is one naive soul -- he says, " . . .if these teens had a better understanding of who Robert Frost was and his contribution to our society, that they would be more respectful of other people's property in the future and would also learn something." Yeah, right!! The classes are not going to make silk purses out of these sow's ears. When all is said and done, the vandals will still be uncouth good-for-nothings -- Oh, but they'll be uncouth good-for-nothings who'll be able to recite the first line of "The Road Not Taken," and that will make all the difference.

The bells are ringing, for me and my gal . . . Oops, I mean guy!

California is rejoicing! Weddings are taking place everywhere! All ages are getting married! We are enlightened! We are tolerant!

Yes, folks, same-sex couples are tying the knot in California. Pictured in today's paper are Del Martin, age 87, and her partner, Phyllis Lyon, age 84, being married by the San Franciso mayor. Doesn't it just warm the cockles of your heart?

Gays are warning each other, however, to be circumspect about all this. Kendall Hamilton and his husband-to-be say they hope no "guys will show up in gowns." I find this to be terribly intolerant of men who choose to dress in drag. After all, who's to say what's normal? Kendall Hamilton has just demonstrated that he is a bigoted transvestophobe.

Hamilton goes on to say "We want everybody to be free, but the image does matter. They are going to try to make us look like freaks." And a man with "his husband-to-be" doesn't strike you as freaky?

I'm gonna protect you . . . NOT!

I came across this video yesterday, and I find it quite alarming. Listen to what Obama has to say, and see if you agree.

http://www.macsmind.com/wordpress/2008/06/08/obama-wants-to-protect-america/

He spends most of this minute and a half video telling us he's going to cut billions in defense spending, he's going to end the war in Iraq (he doesn't say how), he's going to stop investment in missile defense systems, he's going to allow no weapons in space, he's going to stop the development of future combat systems, he's not going to allow new nuclear weapon development, he's going to take our ICBM system off alert.

And then he says, "My sole defense priority will be protecting the American people." Now, Essie May doesn't believe in bad words, but JUST HOW IN THE HELL IS HE GONNA DO THAT WHEN WE HAVE NO WEAPONS?

And by the way, all those defense contractors making all that money -- they're providing thousands of JOBS. When you shut them down, where are all these people going to work? I know -- they can go to work for Obama's welfare department, because it will certainly be growing!

Happy . . .

Essie May has decided she must change with the times. In accordance, may I wish you all a

HAPPY MA' BABY DADDY DAY!

How does gay marriage threaten heterosexual marriage? Like this . . .

When confronted with the argument that gay marriage is bad for family values and makes a mockery of legitimate marriage, gays always trot out the tired old, "How could allowing gays to marry make your marriage any less legitimate?"

Well, now we know.

Since California has legalized same-sex marriage, Bakersfield's County has halted ALL civil weddings. Starting Tuesday, when the California Supreme Court's order legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect, Kern County Clerk Ann Barnett will issue new gender-neutral marriage licenses as required by law. But she will not perform the ceremony (evidently, the County Clerk in California has that authority much as our justice of the peace does). This decision came after she learned that she could not refuse to marry a same-sex couple.

Our legislators and courts need to think long and hard on this issue! They have opened up a can of worms, and once done, you can't recapture all those slimey little boogers! We better stop right here, repent, and put the lid back on that can. Otherwise, normal people will no longer be allowed to legally marry.

It's a mind-bottling thing!

I have a confession to make. I actually paid money to see "Blades of Glory," the Will Ferrell movie about two male ice skaters who compete as a team in the pairs competition. If you've ever seen anything with Will Ferrell in it, you can guess it was pretty silly. There was one line in it, though, that I've taken with me. Will Ferrell's character, Chaz Michael Michaels, hears some news, and he says, "It's a mind-bottling thing!" Since then, nothing boggles my mind. My mind gets bottled instead.

This morning, I read a mind-bottling bit in the newspaper. If you are easily offended (even not so easily offended), be forewarned. This is sick!

There is an obscenity trial going on in Pasadena, California. Or at least there was an obscenity trial going on. It has been suspended by the presiding federal judge, because he was found to have posted some obscene things on his own website. The trial was already in progress, and jurors had viewed some pornography sold by a Los Angeles businessman that would make even most pornographers blush. Somehow, the Los Angeles Times got hold of information that presiding Judge Alex Kozinski had some explicit images of his own. Even a general description of what was on the website is obscene, but suffice it to say, it involved more than human participants.

What was Judge Kozinski's reaction? He says he doesn't think it's obscene. "I think it's odd and interesting. It's part of life." Mind bottling, isn't it?!!

Plan A or Plan B?

Just heard a news report that placed in a nutshell what Obama and McCain would do about our economy:

McCain - Cut the corporate income tax (that's not just big business, that also means the small hometown operations); $5000 income tax credit for health insurance; extend the Bush tax cuts. Eliminate earmarks. I believe McCain is the only senator who has never availed himself of this practice as a matter of principle. Imagine, a politician with principles! All of those mean money in your pocket, and money in your pocket helps the economy.

Obama - Raise income taxes on the rich (his definition of rich); raise corporate taxes (that will be passed along to the consumer); universal health care (notice it's universal -- not FREE -- universal just means everybody's going to have to pay for it -- unless of course you're a deadbeat and already live off the taxpayers). See any more money in your pocket with any of these ideas?

What a gift!

There was a letter to the editor in Sunday's edition of The Dallas Morning News from Donna Chamberlain Arthur of Las Vegas, New Mexico. Donna's son, Karl Chamberlain, is on Texas' death row and is scheduled for execution June 11. Donna urges us to "come forward and insist the state of Texas change its laws in a positive, evolved move forward and abolish the death penalty forever." She says Karl has been an incredible gift in her life. I wonder if Felicia Prechtl and her family would feel the same.

You see, Felicia answered her door to Karl Chamberlain one day in August of 1991. He lived in the same apartment complex, and he wanted to borrow some sugar he said. Here's what Texas Department of Criminal Justice says happened next:

Chamberlain left the apartment and returned minutes later with duct tape and a rifle. Chamberlain entered the apartment, displayed the weapon to Felicia, and forced her into a bedroom. Chamberlain taped her hands and feet, and sexually assaulted her. Chamberlain took the victim into the bathroom and shot her one time in the head with a .30 caliber rifle, causing her death. Chamberlain left the apartment and returned to his own apartment.

Well, maybe it wasn't Chamberlain who did it. How can we be sure? Here's the info on the case from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott:

Police questioned Chamberlain the night of the murder, but he was not arrested until July 17, 1996, after a fingerprint search returned his name as a possible match. Police arrested Chamberlain, who gave investigators a written confession. He also directed them to a weapon of the same type used to kill Prechtl, and provided DNA samples that matched the profile of samples taken from Prechtl’s body.

Well, Donna, here's what I think. We'll take that "evolved move forward and abolish the death penalty forever" when animals like your son take an "evolved move forward" and stop violating and killing innocent people.

P.S. There was no concern whatsoever for the victim's family in Donna's letter. Maybe she needs to "evolve forward" to a little compassion for those who deserve it.

Antichrist?

I'm sure you've received the email with all the reasons Barack Obama is probably the antichrist. Number 1, I would like to know the scripture that says the antichrist will be a muslim. I don't think there is one. Number 2, I would like to know the scripture that says he will be in his 40's. I don't think there's one of those, either. In fact, the scriptures say the antichrist will be an imitation of the true Christ. That being the case, he'll probably be in his 30's when he comes into power.

So even though Obama is a seriously dangerous man, I haven't jumped on the Obama as antichrist bandwagon. But I have to confess, I saw a picture in Sunday's edition of The Dallas Morning News that really gave me pause. I can't put it on here because I don't want to break any copyright laws, but if you have a copy of the newspaper, it's on page 3P in the Letters section. If you don't have that, you can go to www.gettyimages.com and put 81408651 in the search box and it should bring up the photo.

Why did this picture strike me? It's a photo of Obama in St. Paul, Minnesota. The caption reads, "Supporters reach out to touch presidential candidate Barack Obama in St. Paul, Minn." We've all seen photos of people reaching out to get a handshake from a politician. In fact, I've done that myself -- I've shaken the hand of both Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon. This is different. The people in St. Paul seem to be in a frenzy to merely touch Obama. They are caressing his head, touching his shoulders and his back. It made me think of Luke 6:19: "And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all." Do these people think they are touching their messiah?

Let me tell ya' 'bout the birds and the bees . . .

Remember that old song -- "A Thing Called Love"? The opening verse was "Let me tell ya' 'bout the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees . . ."

I've come across some people who need some lessons about the birds and the bees! Yesterday's Dallas Morning News had an article about teen pregnancies in North Texas. The headline said, "Many reasons cited for teenage mothers." I don't think there are many reasons. I think there's one. They're having sex!

Jorge Castillo who has a 5-month-old child with his 15-year-old girlfriend says peer pressure is why she became pregnant. No, Jorge, you had sex, and that's why she became pregnant!

Arlington school superintendent Hector Montenegro says the teens are getting pregnant because their parents need counseling on how to talk to them. No, Mr. Montenegro, the teens are having sex, and that's why they're getting pregnant!

Sam Houston High School counselors say that the neighborhoods around their school are low income. Both parents work and have little time at home with their teens, and that's why they're becoming pregnant. No, the teens are getting pregnant because they're having sex!

Now this one I find laughable -- officials in the parenthood education program say the reason teens are getting pregnant is because there is very little public education available about how to prevent pregnancies. No, the teens are getting pregnant because they're having sex!

Jacke Bzostek, education director at Planned Parenthood said lack of funds and a government that favors abstinence over contraceptives is to blame for teens getting pregnant. No, Mr. or Ms. Bzostek, teens are getting pregnant because they're having sex!

Robert Rivera, Arlington City Council member, says teens are getting pregnant because the Catholic Church doesn't believe in contraceptives (never mind that they also don't believe in premarital sex!). No, Mr. Rivera, the teens are getting pregnant because they're having sex!

How do I know that none of these things causes pregnancy? Well, I was a teenager once, myself, and we had peer pressure, too, but I didn't get pregnant. My mother never really had a sex talk with me. She did one time give me a book I laughingly called "The Otter Book." It made a half-hearted attempt to explain sex using a family of otters. Other than that, I was pretty much on my own, but I didn't get pregnant. I came from a low income family, and both my parents worked, but I didn't get pregnant. There was absolutely no public school education on contraceptives when I was a teenager, but I didn't get pregnant. Government didn't mention sex at all when I was a teenager, but I didn't get pregnant. We weren't Catholic, and my church didn't talk about contraceptives, but I didn't get pregnant. Want to know why I didn't get pregnant? Because I didn't have sex!

World's top?

Mary Madewell in yesterday's newspaper reported on Jadielle Ray, a local high school freshman, who "returned from the International Future Problem Solving Conference earlier this week as the world's top scenario writer in middle grade (7-9) competition." Mrs. Madewell includes snippets from Jadielle's story in the article.

First of all, my sincere congratulations to Jadielle. Maybe Mrs. Madewell could take some lessons from her, as she seems to have a little problem with subject-verb agreement: "Each student composed a futuristic short story about child labor and were given two hours to complete competition."

From the few snippets I read, Jadielle writes well for a 9th grader, but if she is the world's best, I certainly question the quality of today's public school education. I saw nothing in what she wrote that any one of her age should not be able to do as proficiently. And if I had been Mrs. Madewell, I would have chosen to publish pieces from her work that were free of grammatical errors. Could it be that Mrs. Madewell did not recognize the errors in the excerpts she chose? Or could it be that Jadielle's paper had no error free portions?

Deserving of an A -- certainly. The world's best -- I really hope not.

You might be a redneck if . . .

A few years ago, it seemed everyone was griping about how shabby our city looked -- rundown and weed-infested properties, junk-strewn yards, inoperable vehicles, and those ugly torpedo signs. So we got a code enforcement task force.

I don't agree with every point in every ordinance the task force has come up with, but now it seems everyone is more concerned with rights violations than with cleaning up the city. Let's face it -- the rare antique automobile you are restoring may not be an eyesore on your nicely manicured front lawn, but the 1989 rusted out Buick in your neighbor's yard cannot be made unlawful without also getting your vehicle. The ordinances have to be broad enough that they are not discriminatory.

Torpedo signs have come in for their share of controversy. People will go out of business if they cannot have them. If a business is that unstable, I don't think the sign is going to make the difference. And businesses can still have the signs if they are properly mounted, so the "it will ruin my business" thing just doesn't wash. Besides, most of the time what you see on these blights on the landscape is "B G SA E! UP O 25% FF!" And the kids delight in switching the letters around to spell nasty words.

Now the big issue is parking recreational vehicles (including boats, trailers, motor homes, etc). First of all, I blame the newspaper for getting everyone stirred up. The headline on more than one of the stories intimated that residents would not be able to park the vehicles anywhere on their properties. What the ordinance did say was that the vehicles could not be parked on a front driveway or anywhere they were visible from the street.

One resident said his motor home "sticks out about 11 feet from the front of my house . . . We've lived there 40 years and nobody on my street has ever complained." The task force did produce a complaint on his motor home, but it was from a lady who lives a few blocks away. Perhaps his neighbors don't complain because he's not currently violating the law. Or maybe they don't complain because sometimes you have to go along to get along. We had a problem with one of our neighbors actually encroaching on our property with one of his vehicles, and even though it was an irritation, we didn't say anything about it for a long time.

But the resident who really caught my attention was Glenn Smallwood, who feared the city was taking away more and more of our rights. He kind of talked out of both sides of his mouth, though. "You've got rules already that you're not enforcing," he said. But then he complained that he had actually deeded a lot to the city, because code enforcement was on him all the time about the high grass and untidiness. The city shouldn't be telling people what to do on their own property, he says -- he currently has eight pickups and a gooseneck trailer in his front yard. I think Mr. Smallwood is the very reason the city DOES need a few ordinances!

Sure, I believe you!

"In the FLDS church, all marriages are consensual." Willie Jessop, FLDS elder. Sure, I believe you!

"If McCain gets in . . .I'll be checking out a move to Italy. Maybe Canada, I don't know. . ." Susan Sarandon. Sure, I believe you!

"Nobody did anything wrong." Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins on his office soliciting gifts from Dallas area businesses, organizations, and individuals. Sure, I believe you!

"I didn't do it." Tony R. Hewitt, accused Dallas scarecrow bandit. Sure, I believe you!

"My momma wouldn't do nothing like this." Jamal McDow, son of accused Dallas scarecrow bandit Yolanda McDow. Sure, I believe you!

"God told me to do it." Naveed Haq who killed one woman and injured several others at a Jewish Center because he was tired of the Jews. Sure, I believe you!

"I'm uh ... near the Eiffel Tower and the New Year's celebration is unreal." Scott Peterson, who was in California, on the phone with his mistress. Sure, I believe you!

"I didn't kill my wife." Scott Peterson. Sure, I believe you.

"I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky." Bill Clinton. Sure, I believe you!

"I offer change we can believe in." Barak Obama. Sure, I believe you!

Methinks thou dost protest too much!

In recent months in our community, there was a scandal involving a couple of fairly well-known people who engaged in an adulterous affair. There was a public confession, and of course, the ensuing gossip, condemnation, and speculation.

The lady involved in the affair now has a blog where she preaches about forgiveness and lets us in on all sorts of details of her private life. She also posts to something called "Twitter." It's evidently some sort of abbreviated blog where you log on periodically throughout the day just to let people know what you're doing and/or thinking.

Just a few hours ago, she posted on Twitter: "(her name) is tired of being the topic of discussion." Well, honey, let Essie May give you some advice. If you've been involved in a scandal, the best thing to do is to keep a low profile. You don't post stuff on the internet everyday, and then complain because people are still talking about you. If you want people to forget about you and the things you've done, quit promoting yourself!

My dog is my baby!

A Denton, Texas, couple is asking the city for $206,000 and threatening to sue. Their dog got out of their backyard, and the city euthanized him before they could pick him up. The city clearly messed up, and I completely sympathize with anyone who loses a dog in such a manner -- my dog is my baby, and I would be heartbroken if something like that happened to me.

However, I question whether this couple is really that heartbroken over their loss or they just see the possibility of a financial windfall. When you hear the whole story, you just might wonder, too.

Amicus, a 3-year-old black labrador, was picked up by animal control officers on May 8. A neighbor told the officers where Amicus lived, and the officers left a notice on the door telling the owners how to retrieve their dog. The owner called the next day (May 9) and arranged to pick the dog up on May 16. That's where my doubt comes in. If my dog is in the city pound, when I call it will be to tell them I'm on my way to get her! The couple says they didn't pick the dog up sooner because they were waiting for a paycheck to pay the $109 fee to get the dog back. To me, that's like saying, "I'll get my kid a shot of antibiotics when I get paid." I would have borrowed the money, used a credit card, hocked some tools, appliances, or jewelry -- I wouldn't have left my dog in the pound for a week! Amicus' records were tagged, but a goof-up resulted in him being euthanized on May 15.

Amicus' owner says, "I'm not going to just let them get away with an apology. They can't bring my dog back, so the only thing they can do is give me money." It sounds to me like Amicus' owner is just a little too hung up on money!

Can God lower gas prices?

There is a headline in today's Dallas Morning News: "Can God lower gas prices?" It's over a story about Rocky Twyman, a man from Rockville, Maryland, who has organized a group called Pray at the Pump. Mr. Twyman's group gathers at service stations for public prayer asking God to lower the price of gasoline.

I'm all for prayer -- I practice it regularly. And there is certainly nothing wrong with asking God to intervene. Of course God can lower gas prices -- He is omnipotent. However, I don't know that we've given God any reason to lower the price of gasoline. The sad fact is, we've given him much more reason to keep on increasing the price.

On the front page of the same newspaper was an article about Texas homosexual couples going to California to get married. Do you think we deserve God's blessing for that? Pornography, protected by the first amendment, is rampant in movies and on the internet. Do we deserve God's blessing for that? We hand out condoms and birth control to children instead of teaching them that God says it's wrong to have sex outside of marriage. Do you think we deserve God's blessing for that? We can't walk down the street or do our shopping without hearing God's name taken in vain. Do you think we deserve God's blessing for that? Christians are called right-wing fanatics by liberal politicians, and sometimes even by conservatives. Do you think we deserve God's blessing for that?

God does, indeed, answer prayer, but he is not like the genie in the bottle. There are some prerequisites to answered prayer.
1) We must humble ourselves.
2) We must seek His face.
3) We must turn from our wicked ways.

Our national leaders need to be courageous enough to stand up and say, "Homosexuality is wrong, and we'll not pass any laws approving same-sex marriage. Some things are not covered by the first amendment, and pornography is one of them. Children should not be and will not be encouraged by government to engage in promiscuous behavior. We expect our citizens to be civil in public; therefore, if you take God's name in vain or say the f word in public expect to be charged with disorderly conduct. Everyone has the right to worship in this country, and no religion, including Christianity, will suffer governmental discrimination or persecution." Then, we might see the price of gasoline fall in answer to our prayers.

One of my favorite quotes is from Alexis de Tocqueville, the 19th Century Frenchman who toured and studied America. "America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." Sadly, this brilliant man's prediction has come to pass.