Remembering 9/11

Little did we know that September 11, 2001 was going to be a day like no other day in American history. Early risers had nothing to warn them of what was about to happen in the early morning hours of that Tuesday morning.

I was sleeping a little late that morning. My husband was in the computer room and had the television on watching Fox News. He immediately came and woke me up when the plane hit the first tower. I got up and went to the television. Our first impression was that it was an accident, but the next few minutes we found out it was a terrorist attack. When the second plane hit the second tower, it was just too surreal! The emotions were all over the range; this could not be happening in America. Yet, there we were watching live television, the towers crumbling, smoke filling the downtown area, and people running for their lives.

Our eyes stayed glued to the television for the entire day. We did not realize that the tragedy had just begun. We new the nation was under attack, but we didn't realize just how bad things were going to get before the end of the day. Nor, did we know how many lives would be lost. The people behind the attacks were dead set on destroying as much of the United States as they could. And, they never gave a thought to how many lives they were destroying. In fact, I am sure they did not care. Their satisfaction was born out of pure hatred for our way of life and the freedoms we have here in America.

One event after another began to happen. First the Twin Towers were hit and began crumbling, and then the Pentagon was hit by the third plane. The nation was expecting a hit on the White House as well. But the fourth plane was deterred by some very brave citizens that did not want to see others killed by these terrorists. They took matters into their own hands. They began to call relatives to let them know what was happening and they would not be coming home. They sacrificed their lives to save thousands of others that may have been killed had the plane been able to make it's way to it's destination in Washington, D.C. Instead, they caused the plane to go down in a field in Pennsylvania.

The death of all those thousands of people on that day left many grieving relatives behind - spouses, children, parents, friends. And it still has to be a terrible thing to remember, knowing those loved ones had no chance to survive such a terrible tragedy. Little did they know that morning, as they arrived for work, that their lives would be in jeopardy in just a matter of minutes. The passengers boarding those other two planes had no idea that they would not arrive at their respective destinations, and that their lives were hanging in the balance when they sat down in their seats.

As we go forward after this ninth year after this terrible tragedy, I pray that this country never has to undergo another day like that day in our history. But we have to be extremely cautious in the way we look at our every day actions, knowing that the enemy is right ready to hit us again. It doesn't matter that we have done nothing to cause the attacks other than being a freedom-loving country. May GOD keep us safe from more terrorists attacks.

Technorati Tags: 9-11 Tragedy, New York City, Pennsylvania, Twin Towers

Articles worth reading.

Here are some great articles that I thought would be a good read for those who haven't come across them.

God in our Classrooms
Pigs at the Trough
J.C. Watts says Christians should repudiate extremist groups
Judge rules National Day of Prayer Unconstitutional

Technorati Tags: News

Be Prepared

This morning when I got up, I turned on the television only to find that an earthquake had hit the country of Chile. Although it was a 8.8 on the Richter scale, it did not do as much damage as the one in Haiti. But, still it was a devastating event for those involved.

I have been watching this all day, waiting to see the damage that might be done to Hawaii with the tsunami. Seems as though they escaped without any damage. But it still may hit other places on the Pacific coast of the US and also Japan. There could yet be major damage from this earthquake and tsunami.

There was no way the people of Chile could have been prepared for this earthquake considering it happened in the middle of the night. It caught them all off guard. But the people of Hawaii knew the tsunami may hit them, so they made sure they had the necessary things to carry them through. And they were warned far enough ahead in order to move to higher ground.

The Bible tells us to be prepared. We never know when our time will come to leave this world. We also do not know the day nor hour of the Lord's return. The Bible tells us that those endure until the end will be saved. We need to hold on to His Word and be watching for His return every day.

Thank you, Sean Hannity

Today, I was listening to Sean Hannity's radio talk show. He had a caller that was trying to tell him he needed to change his 'tone' if he wanted to be effective. I had missed the first part of the guy's call, but knew immediately he was a liberal when I heard that. Learned later too, that he had a PhD.

Hannity spent a long time trying to get the man to give him specifics where he had been wrong. He never gave a reason, just made wide generalities. Hannity told him he could not believe that a man with a PhD couldn't give him at least 3 specific cases since he was making the charge.

The caller went on to say that we needed to be tolerant of the President and let him make his mistakes. I thought, man, you are out of touch! To me, there is nothing wrong with the truth, something lots of people don't want to hear. If we continue to tolerate all the government hands out without making a sound, then we deserve what we get! But I'm one for opening our mouths, and letting them know that we don't appreciate the way things are being handled, the out-of-touch Congress that thinks we private citizens are stupid and should keep our mouths shut - that they know what is best for us.

I am so glad we have people like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Dennis Miller, Laura Ingraham, and others who take time to listen, seek out the truth, and then let the public know the real truth. The majority of the media has been lax in saying anything contrary to what the President says. But these men (and women) have the courage to go against the grain and report the truth. It's just that some cannot 'tolerate' the truth.

Technorati Tags: Sean Hannity, Conservative, Liberal

Tragedy

I cannot see how anyone can watch the tragedy in Haiti and not be moved. How someone could get upset because America is sending help their way is beyond my imagination! But there are people in this world that begrudge us sending any help to other countries.

This afternoon, a man called in to a local radio show and complained about the government sending any money to Haiti. He could not understand why they'd send money over there when 'the health care plan' had not been passed yet. He equated the need for a health care bill here in the US with the overwhelming needs of a devastated Haiti.

I have sat here and watched show after show of people who have been hurt or those who have lost loved ones. Also, there are those who are missing that they think may be alive and others who have just today been rescued. When you see a father standing over his daughter who has been hurt, and another daughter who had died, it hits home. This man wished God had just taken his life instead. The one daughter alive had been unable to get medical assistance. There is just not enough to go around right now.

Another couple shown tonight are headed home to America. They aren't leaving Haiti simply because they want to. They have made their home in Haiti for about 5 years, helping others there. But they had young children and said, with tears in their eyes, that their family had to come first.

Watching such a tragedy in another country is hard on those of us who are unable to help. But we can send them our prayers. They need so much, but right now, they need comfort more than anything. Most have lost everything they own. Some are waiting to hear if some of their family is still alive. This has to be taking a toll on them above and beyond anything we can imagine. So let's all hold them up in prayer that God will turn this tragedy into a new beginning.

Haiti earthquake: destroyed housing in Port-au-Prince.
Photograph: Logan Abassi/Getty Images

• Psalms 46:1-4, " God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."
  

Haiti...Hurt and Hope

Technorati Tags: Haiti, Earthquake, Tragedy, Prayer

Happy New Year

Today is the first day of 2010, the first day of 'the rest of our lives', as I've heard all my life. I got up thank the Lord for yet another day of his blessings. Each day is indeed a gift from Him above.

Here is some reading for beginning the new year.

Texas Teachers warned against being being 'heterosexist'

Unrest in Iran: The Vindication of George W. Bush

War? What War?

Resolved: Tell the Truth

Another Year is Dawning

Living Fearlessly in 2010

The Last of 2009 - Good Reads

A Decade of Radical Islam: Will the West wake up to the threat in time?


The Cloward/Piven Strategy of Economic Recovery

Paul Harvey dead at the age of 90

Well known radio commentator Paul Harvey died this week at the age of 90. I always loved to hear him speak. He had a voice that you could never mistake for another. I'll always remember his signing off each day with "Paul Harvey, Good Day". He is a personality that will certainly be missed in the news world and among his many followers.

Harvey's wife, Angel, who produced his radio programs, died in 2008. Angel Harvey is credited with creating his popular radio feature "The Rest of the Story."

Broadcasting Pioneer Paul Harvey Dies


Technorati Tag: Paul Harvey


Linked at Conservative Cat

Was your Mother pro-life?

To me, that is an easy question to answer. At least, my Mother gave birth to all three of the children with which she found herself carrying in the womb. I must have gotten my pro-life stance from her as I had two children. My daughter had four and my daughter-in-law has had two. Abortion was never in the equation. I find it ironic that these people advocating abortion had a mother who was pro-life, especially at the time of their birth. Do they not realize, had she been pro-abortion, that they would not have been here? But, she gave them the chance at life, the life they want to take away from those babies they carry in the womb, even right up to the time of birth.

It seems that women who want the ‘right to choose’ are going against Palin, not on the issues, but because she is pro-life and she ‘might’ try to press her beliefs on them. I don’t see the job of the Vice-President as going after women who don’t have her beliefs.

I heard a couple women talking today, one of them Kirsten Powers, on Fox News. They were saying that they didn’t like the way people were jumping on her as a woman, but then they turned around and said she didn’t speak for women. One said, ‘what did the feminists fight for, and here she wants to take it away?’ They don’t understand we all have the right to have our opinion and make our own choices. That seems to have been lost in the mix of the discussion. I think they realize it would take everyone in Congress to over turn Roe vs. Wade, yet this is what they think the McCain/Palin campaign is going to do.

In fact, the right to choice is what Nancy Pelosi has said in her speeches. She, as a Catholic, went against the teaching of the church when she said that she didn’t think that the Catholic Church had an answer for when the right to life took place. She was called on this by an archbishop and told that the right to life started at the moment of conception. I had a Catholic friend back in the 60’s that always said they did not believe in abortion. So, apparently Pelosi hasn’t been paying close attention to her church teachings.

Pelosi, who has served as a Democratic representative from San Francisco for nearly 22 years, elicited strong protest from the Catholic clergy and laity when she said on Meet the Press that the church has been indecisive on when life begins. She also argued it doesn't matter what the correct answer is, because a woman's right to an abortion trumps an unborn baby's rights, regardless of when his life begins.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Pro-Life, Conception, Abortion, Nancy Pelosi, Birth

Hyprocisy in the media

There are so many of the people out here in the public that are fed up with the way that Governor Sarah Palin has been treated since being chosen by McCain for his vice-president running mate. They have jumped on her hot and heavy first with the statement (NOT the truth) that her 17 year old daughter was the real mother of the new baby that was born with Down Syndrome. They have also made statements that she should have made a different choice when she found out through tests that this baby boy had Down Syndrome. In other words, she is pro-life and that offended some that she didn't get an abortion. It is sad how easily some can throw away the life of another human being. I questioned one other day and asked him how he would have felt had his own Mom wanted to abort him. He thought it would have been no big deal. Things happen. :(

Then, to combat that accusation, she opened up her family's life more by telling the world (which had no business knowing) that her 17 year old daughter, Bristol, was 5 months pregnant. She went on to say that her daughter had made the choice to keep the baby and marry the young man she has been dating. But this young girl has been raked over the coals,too, and she doesn't deserve what she is getting. I applaud this young woman for making the correct decision. She will never be sorry that she decided to carry this child to term and enjoy the baby for years to come. The other alternative that most would love to have seen her take was abortion. But they don't understand that this is a very close-knit family. They value every child that comes their way. They are pro-life and would never think of aborting a baby.

The Democratic party (Obama, to be exact) believes in late-term abortion. He has made the statement that he doesn't want his girls to have to be burdened with a baby until they are ready for one. In other words, I'll make sure my daughters have a chance to have an abortion if they happen to get pregnant and don't want the baby. That upsets me and many others that think children are a gift from God. Not one of them is here without a reason.

It appalls me that they will ask questions of a woman that they would never ask of a man. Would they ever ask Obama how he's going to run the country with 2 girls at home while his wife is working at her high-salaried job? She's not a stay-at-home Mom! And, did they question Joe Biden when he chose to go back to work and leave his two sons every day after his wife and child were killed? I don't think so. So why be hypocritical now in asking these questions of her? Also, it angers me that they are attacking her and her daughter when they found out that her 17 year old girl was pregnant. Just because this young girl made a mistake does in no way reflect on the parent's upbringing of their children. Many families have these problems in their family, but it doesn't mean they aren't good parents. I believe this is happening to Sarah and her family simply because she is pro-life and didn't entertain abortion.

I used to have a little hope for some of the reporters, but I'm losing respect for the majority of them this week! I applaud those reporters that have taken a stand for Sarah Palin and her family, though, especially Laura Ingraham! I saw her and Greta VanSustern last night. And she recognized how Greta felt because of what was reflected in her eyes. But you know what? John Coale, Greta's lawyer husband, who is a democrat, has gone over to the republican ticket and is now working for the McCain campaign. He thinks that McCain is the best bet for our country at this time. You can view the interview by Tammy Haddad on video.

Technorati Tags: Media, Hypocrisy, Sarah Palin, Family

Paul Newman dying with lung cancer

I just learned yesterday that Paul Newman has lung cancer. He just finished his chemotherapy and has gone home. From what I have read in the news, he only has weeks to live. And he had requested to be at home with his family when he passes away.

He has given his race car with the number '82' to his best friend. And he has made provisions for his son to take over his salad dressing business where all the proceeds go to charities.

Newman will join lots of the great actors who have gone before him such as Clark Gable, Henry Fonda, John Wayne, Cary Grant, and Jimmy Stewart. He seems to be a very personable man. I have always admired him as well as his acting ability. And it helped that he was a handsome man! :)

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Paul Newman, Lung Cancer, Chemotherapy

Kim Komando on Digital drugs

When we think of kids using drugs, we automatically think of those that they buy illegally or perhaps steal parents' prescription drugs. But, now, that is not always the case.

Kim Komando has written an article in her newsletter about Digital drugs. These are those for which your child only needs a music player and headphones.

But Web sites are targeting your children with so-called digital drugs. These are audio files designed to induce drug-like effects.

These digital drugs are alleged to alter your mental state. And you will be surprised at the extent of drugs that can be bought through these digital drugs. To get a better understanding of how these things can harm your child, visit Kim Komando and read the entire article. For me, I did not know there was such a thing until I read her newsletter article today.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Kim Komando, Digital Drugs, Children, Teenagers

Salomonella outbreak spreads to 16 states

UPDATE: More than 383 people in 30 states have now been infected by the salmonella virus.

Meanwhile, investigators are focusing on Mexico and central and southern Florida, which were the biggest suppliers of tomatoes at the time of the outbreak. "There is certainly a high likelihood that they came from Mexico or Florida," Acheson said.

There has been a steady increase in the number of cases of salmonella that was linked to uncooked tomatoes according to the New Mexico Department of Health communications director has said.

The source of the tomatoes responsible has not been determined yet. But 50 more cases have been found. It has been determined,though, that none of the tomatoes were grown in Texas or New Mexico. The other states where cases have been reported are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

At least 23 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported, she said. Patients ranged in age from 1 to 82.

The rarity of the Saintpaul strain and the number of illnesses "suggest that implicated tomatoes are distributed throughout the country," she said.

Technorati Tags: Salmonella, Tomatoes

Time Warner Cable money-hungry?

Can you imagine losing your home in a tornado coupled with a bill for cable equipment destroyed in that tornado? Well, neither could Ann Beam of Wheatland, Wisconsin.

When Ann received the $2,000 bill from Time Warner Cable, she could not believe it. She immediately called the company and a manager told her there was nothing the company could do. She was told to turn the bill over to her insurance company. But the equipment was over 9 years old and the company would only play a portion of the bill.

Time Warner Cable spokeswoman Celeste Flynn said many customers got charged for unreturned equipment because they canceled or transferred their service without mentioning their requests were tornado-related.

"We understand this is an unusual situation," Flynn said Wednesday. "All they will need to do is call and we will take the equipment off their account."

The tornado destroyed over 2 dozen homes and damaged about 80 more on January 7th.

The one thing that bothers me is the fact that they were billed in the first place. The company had to know that the equipment was destroyed in the tornado and not the result of the people moving and not returning the equipment.

Technorati Tags: Time Warner Cable, Tornado, Wisconsin

Bolton says Mideast peace plan should be dropped

clipped from www.onenewsnow.com Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton is calling on the president to dump his effort to broker peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. According to Bolton, it is not President Bush who is seeking a Mideast peace legacy before leaving Washington, but rather Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He says with less than a year left in Washington, Rice is putting the pressure on the more reasonable party -- which is Israel. But Bolton argues there is no Palestinian leader who can make commitments or follow through on them, so there is no prospect for diplomatic progress.

Former UN Ambassador John Bolton thinks that it is more important for the United States' security to confront the expanding influence of Iran in the Middle East.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Mideast, Peace Plan, John Bolton, Israel, President Bush, Condoleeza Rice

Atheist Michael Newdow at it again

If Michael Newdow gets his way, 'In God We Trust' will be erased from our money. In 2002, he sued Congress and several officials to get the 'under God' taken out of the pledge of allegiance. But, a judge found two years later he didn't have a case since he did not have custody of his children. He immediately sued on behalf of some unknown families. And, in 2005, it was upheld by a federal judge in Sacramento.

In 2005, a federal judge in Sacramento found in favor of Newdow, ruling the pledge was unconstitutional because its reference to "one nation under God" violates children's rights to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God." The judge said he was following the precedent set by the 9th Circuit Court's ruling in Newdow's first case.

A panel from this same court is to hear arguments on this case as well as the case for taking 'In God We Trust' off all our money. Newdow says making money with that phrase violates the First Amendment which requires separation of church and state.

Last year, a federal judge in Sacramento disagreed, saying the words did not violate Newdow's atheism. Newdow appealed.

Congress first authorized a reference to God on a two-cent piece in 1864. In 1955, the year after lawmakers added the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance, Congress passed a law requiring all U.S. currency to carry the motto "In God We Trust."

I have a feeling that this man would go to his grave suing Congress or whomever in order to get these two things changed throughout the nation. And neither of them present a problem to him or his children. If you don't want to say the Pledge of Allegiance, don't. And, what harm does the 'In God We Trust' phrase do on the money in your hand. I have yet to hear of anyone being made to trust in God by the money they have in their pocket or hand! I believe this man just enjoys seeing his name in print! Or perhaps he wants to make a name for himself in history. Well, if that is his objective, in my opinion, he has already reached the mark!

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber

Technorati Tags: Michael Newdow, Atheist, In God We Trust, Pledge of Allegiance, Under God, Currency

I thought I had heard it all

clipped from www.washingtonpost.com Divorce Found to Harm The Environment With Higher Energy, Water Use By Juliet Eilperin Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, December 4, 2007; Page A02 Divorce is not just a family matter. It exacts a serious toll on the environment by boosting the energy and water consumption of those who used to live together, according to a study by two Michigan State University researchers. The analysis found that cohabiting couples and families around the globe use resources more efficiently than households that have split up. The researchers calculated that in 2005, divorced American households used between 42 and 61 percent more resources per person than before they separated, spending 46 percent more per person on electricity and 56 percent more on water.

I haven't figured out how divorce harms the environment. The first thing that came to my mind, after reading the headlines, was we don't bathe together. Perhaps we do use more electricity and water if we live by ourselves than we would if we were married. But, what does that have to do with harming the environment? The next thing we will hear is every single person is being forced to get married or live with someone else in order to not cause more 'harm to the environment'.

Technorati Tags: Divorce, Environment, Energy, Water

It Pays To Save!

Just ask second honeymooners Larry and Mariam Orenstein. They married in 1947 and spent their honeymoon in The Palmer House in Chicago. The total bill was only $10.

The Palmer House has had a policy that anyone staying there more than 50 years ago can spend their anniversary in the hotel for the same amount they paid the first time. In the past 25 years, less than 10 couples have taken them up on the offer. I would think most people did not save things like the Orensteins did. The hotel requires the couples to have their original bill. And, the couple saved it along with other mementos from their honeymoon.

The Orensteins, who are Milwaukee residents, are 81. In the end, they didn't even have to pay for their stay this time. Their 12 year old grandson paid for it as a gift to them.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: The Palmer House, Chicago, Milwaukee, Honeymoon

Porter Wagoner dead at age 80

Those of you who are country music fans will remember Porter Wagoner. He always wore his rhinestone-clad outfits. Porter Wagoner joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1957 and remains a loved member of the Opry. He helped launch Dolly Parton's career by hiring her as his duet partner.

Porter was born in 1927 in West Plains, Missouri. He died today of lung cancer at the age of 80, the same day that the Grand Ole Opry was inducting 3 more members.

I will always remember Porter singing 'Green Green Grass of Home'. He also had 2 hit duets with Dolly Parton called “Just Someone I Used To Know” and “Making Plans.”

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
The UnCooperative Blogger

Technorati Tags: Porter Wagoner, Grand Ole Opry, Lung Cancer, Missouri, Nashville

Anti-Discrimination law receives scorn

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may have opened a can of worms when he signed the anti-discrimination bill to make words like “Mom” and “Dad” obsolete in the schools. There is also to be no mention of marriage in schools. Anything pertaining to a normal lifestyle as conservative families see it will not be permitted in the schools. Even the kindergarteners will not be protected. They will be introduced to homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality even if the parents protest.

World Congress of Families Global Coordinator Allan Carlson said the measure, SB 777, is "a blatant attack on the natural family orchestrated by the alternative-lifestyles lobby."

In my opinion, California’s governor has sold the conservatives, who chose to vote for him, a bill of goods that isn’t to their liking. He mis-represented his views. I would venture to say this will probably harm his chance at re-election, if he chooses to run for another term.

"It will prohibit anything that suggests that the natural family – a man and a woman, married, with children – is normal or typical," said Carlson. "Thus, under this latest advance toward a Brave New World of polymorphous perversion, California textbooks will no longer be able to use words like 'mother and father' and 'husband and wife,' because they suggest that heterosexuality is the norm – even though that is manifestly the case, even in California."

May God help a nation who seems to be forever getting it wrong. If God had meant for there to have been a diversity in marriage or lifestyles, then he would not have made ‘woman for man’, as he did in Genesis 2:21-24, when he took the rib of Adam and made Eve for his own. He gave them the charge to replenish the earth, which cannot be done through homosexuality.

Perversion is becoming the ‘norm’ among so many in this nation. One day, the Lord is going to get tired of blatant disobedience to His Word. He will bring calamity to this nation, if we don’t begin to realize what this is doing to society. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had my fill of political correctness! It is time we got down to business for God; otherwise, this nation is not going last. He will have the last say, and it is up to us whether we want the ‘freedoms’ the officials are handing us, or for this nation to be seen as a God-fearing one.

Other links:
Schwarzenegger signs pro-homosexual bills

Linked at Pursuing Holiness
Conservative Cat
Don Surber

Technorati Tags: Anti-Discrimination, Schwarzenegger, California, Pro-homosexual bill