Did you know?

Mayor Tom Leppert of Dallas heads up a back to school fair every year for underprivileged children. The fair provides them with backpacks and school supplies. I, myself, have more than once contributed to a "pack the backpack" charity to help provide school supplies for poor children. But no more!

Did you know that the State of Texas provides a $30 back to school stipend for each child in a family receiving welfare? I realize that with today's prices and extravagant school supply lists, that most likely covers only about half their supplies, but shouldn't the parents of these children be expected to kick in something, too? These people are cleaning up -- I've seen them make the rounds of King's Daughters, Salvation Army, and other charities, but I didn't know they were getting an extra check from the state as well. And I know some teachers spend their own money to keep extra supplies in their classrooms. Then there was the elementary class where the children were told to bring two boxes of Kleenex. When the mother who told me about this sent just one box, the teacher said something. The mother said, "When little Judy runs out, I'll send another box." The teacher then explained that the second box was for children who didn't bring their own. I very much admired this mother for standing her ground and refusing to send another box.

The bottom line is this -- just how much of that $30 in state money per child do you think actually gets spent for the benefit of the child?

"Proposed cuts tough on the poor." The Dallas Morning News; August 25, 2010; p. 4A.

Now do you get it, Gloria?

Gloria Arellano left her 2-year-old son in the car on a 110 degree day while she took care of some business. Fortunately, a security guard saw the child and got him out of the car before he suffered permanent injury or death. He and his siblings are now under CPS protection with an unnamed family.

Gloria says she doesn't see what the big deal is. "I left a window cracked and food in there." I suggest that for Gloria's enlightenment, we put her in a car, crack a window, and let her sit locked in it on a 110 degree day. Bet she'll think it's a big deal then.

Honestly, some people are just too stupid to exist!

"Police: Mom who left tot didn't get 'big deal.'" The Dallas Morning News; August 25, 2010; p. 1B.

Sure, you can have your job back!

You have to wonder sometimes what people do with the brains God gave them. If it weren't such a tragedy (nine people were killed) the thought processes of this man would make for great comedy.

Rolando Mendoza was fired from the Manila police force in 2008. He wanted his job back. "I know," he thought. "I'll hijack a bus full of tourists and hold them hostage until they let me be a policeman again." I guess we'll never know why he thought that would work, because he was one of the ones who ended up dead. Unfortunately, he took a bunch of innocent people with him.

That's some pretty expensive swimming!

Remember when Essie posted about the protest at Dallas City Hall concerning closing some of the municipal swimming pools (August 25, 2010 -- "Did they take the day off?")?

Well, here's an update for you. The city released some statistics regarding the expense to run those pools. Over the last three summers, each visit to Exline pool in South Dallas cost the taxpayers $136. Each visit to Glandale pool in East Oak Cliff cost the taxpayers $80. The overall average cost for the city's 21 pools was $31.

That's some pretty expensive swimming, and I don't know anyone with half a brain who would advocate continuing to pour money into those holes.

"Pools cost taxpayers up to $136 per visitor." The Dallas Morning News; August 22, 2010; p. 1B.

We don't care if an enemy combatant is in the White House.

LaJuan Marke of Palestine, Texas, says that when most Americans don't care what religion a president or a building is, he will know his country "has grown up."

Really, LaJuan? You don't care if your President is a radical Jihadist? You don't care if a Wiccan temple goes up next door to your house? Gosh, I don't believe you really live in Palestine. I think you're a resident of lalaland.

"When we will have come of age." The Dallas Morning News; August 23, 2010; p. 12A.

So how much money is too much?

Morris D. Fried of Richardson says that the only way to prevent mothers from killing their children is to provide a strong safety net. He says that might even mean a "restriction on the freedom of a very few to accumulate personal wealth a thousandfold beyond any conceivable human need."

First, Mr. Fried, mothers killing their children has nothing to do with how much money they're getting from the paychecks of others. It has to do with irresponsible behaviour and a lack of natural affection (as predicted by the Biblical end-time prophesies). Second, just who is going to determine who makes too much money? If you make more than I do, I say you make too much, so let the taxing begin over there on Northview Drive in Richardson.

"Our duty to the community." The Dallas Morning News; August 23, 2010; p. 12A.

Essie picks some nits.

I guess I'm nitpicking here, but I saw this in the newspaper the other day and the contradiction really struck me.

The Reverend Ritch Johnson preaches at a cowboy church. He invites everyone to come. He says, "It's led by the purpose of a nonjudgmental gospel . . ." Then he says in his next sentence, "But with that tactic, we're seeing a lot of lives changed."

Why would you want to change someone's life if you don't see anything wrong with the way they're living now? The gospel I grew up with, the one in the Bible, has "repentance" as one of the main tenets. How can you be non-judgmental about repentance? If I tell you I see nothing wrong with your life because I'm not going to judge, how can I then tell you that God said you need to repent? Haven't I judged if I do so?

And that's what's wrong with the world now -- we have to be "tolerant" and "non-judgmental" when God said, "All have sinned." We have to say, "You're fine just like you are," when God said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all perish." We have to say, "One religion is as good as another as long as you're sincere," when Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me."

And that's the Rev. Essie's sermon for today.

"Heavenly home on the range?" The Dallas Morning News; August 21, 2010; p. 7B.