NBC's Substandard Bullet Proof Vest Accusations False???

Those who have been around for a while or perhaps study history a bit might remember or know of the "Flying Wing" and the interview Clete Roberts had with Jack Northrop.

In October of 1979, reporter Clete Roberts of Public Broadcasting System (PBS) station KCET-TV conducted an extraordinary interview with Jack Northrop, founder and former president of what was then the Northrop Corporation. In the filmed interview, it is clear that Mr. Northrop was not in good health: His appearance was frail, his eyes watery, and his voice broken. But his mind appeared sharp, and his memory seemed crystal clear. Led by Clete Roberts, Mr. Northrop told his story, clearly and forcefully, for what, he said, was the first time:

The same day that General McNarney[,] who was the chief -- the military chief -- of the Air Forces, came to my office with that additional order for thirty-five airplanes, which he said was a drop in the bucket as far as the ultimate order was concerned, Mr. Millar and I were requested to visit Mr. Symington (Air Force Secretary). At that meeting, he (Mr. Symington by context)...told us that he did not want to sponsor any new aircraft companies entering the business and having to be supplied with business over the years, and that he wanted us without question to merge with Consolidated Vultee, which was then operating a government-owned plant in Fort Worth, building the B-36, as a competitor to the B-35 or B-49 [Northrop's Flying Wing bombers].

After the lengthy diatribe on Mr. Symington's part, I said, "Mr. Secretary, what are the alternatives to this demand you're making of our merger with Consolidated Vultee?" He said, "Alternatives? You'll be goddamned sorry if you don't!"

The Northrop contract was canceled in 1949 but was it because of 'Public Servants' looking for kickbacks or that the 'government' at that time did not want to carry the burden of "cost, schedule, and technical performance." (page one of previous link)

Was Clete Roberts, a well known but faltering in his career News Talking Head at the time, just pushing a story that he knew would raise hackles? - It raised mine at the time... - In fact. My hackles are still raised over the issue. Having heard both sides of the issue I'm still more apt to believe that Symington had expectations of money through the deal...

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Now we have a new issue raised by the MSM through one of it's major players NBC. - Substandard Body Armor. -

NBC accused our government, in particular the Pentagon of purchasing second best for our troops. - Now NBC stands accused of using faulty information in it's report. - Will NBC reply to the accusations or just hope people don't hear about the opposing viewpoint. perhaps they will hope people forget about it and just take the original report as gospel...

One way or the other I've made up my mind concerning the issue.

All I can say about the above linked article is that I would trust Warner Todd Huston more than I would NBC...

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Honesty, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the San Diego Natural History Museum

If you had "authorative persons" teaching you concerning a subject you found interesting would you want the teaching to include points of view opposing that of the teachers?

I should think so. Even if the teachers simply said, "Some people believe, ...," and gave resources for further study if the student was interested in that train of thought.

Apparently, concerning the Dead Sea Scrolls, the people in charge of the San Diego Natural History Museum would prefer to give one viewpoint and one viewpoint only.

For years the scrolls were tightly held by a small group of scholars until they were finally FORCED to release them. This group wrote about and still holds to a certain theory concerning the origins of the scrolls. Their theory is now being disputed by several other "authorative persons". From what I understand there are no lectures concerning the dispute over the origins of the scrolls to be held at the San Diego Museum. I have posted on this subject previously and at least one person from the museum (Perhaps more. There were a few hits) did visit my posting. They could have left a comment correcting me but did not choose to do so.

The Museum is presenting the scrolls for two reasons.

1.) Educate and entertain the public.

and

2.) Make money.

Seems to me that they should be capitalizing on the dispute by setting up a series of lectures and pushing the debate through free internet advertising. People in the United States love debates.

Norman Golb has an interesting article on this subject and some folks have felt inclined to comment pro and con. Let the debates begin!!!

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Norman Golb will be speaking at the Kansas City Dead Sea Scroll Exhibit - April 24, 2007 - Unfortunately it is sold out.
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"Christian Traditions" turn to the East

Marsh West has written an article posted at The Conservative Voice - Gnosticism, Contemplative Prayer and Other "Christian Traditions" in which she tells of outfits like the Emergent Church teaching Eastern Mysticism and Gnosticism to it followers.

She gives as a definition of Gnosticism the following:

Christian Gnosticism is the belief that one must have a "gnosis" (from Greek "Gnosko," to know) or inner knowledge which is mystical knowledge obtained only after one has been properly initiated. Only a few can possess this mystical knowledge, limiting the number of those "in the know".

This is the same sort of attitude of those that bought into Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. The desire to be in "The Know". To have some "Special Revelation" that others did not have and thereby be above others.

A good name for this attitude is self centeredness. - Here is a News Flash - God has given to mankind (and womankind) His Word, the Bible. AND He has sent His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us individually and collectively. We don't need "Special Insight" that others do not have. We do need to get our own insight in line with the Word by reading the Bible and talking with God about it. (Prayer - speaking and listening) -

Check out Marsha West's article. I found it to be quite informative and "Right On!" (to quote my favorite line from the 70's).

My comment to Marsha West's posting is:

When I first became a Christian (back in the early 70's) I got hold of a book on yoga meditation and very briefly started practicing it. All I got from it was the feeling that I was wasting time better spent reading God's Word, the Bible.

It was in the 80's I was reading the Bible and came across a scripture (I wish I could remember which one but...) that as I reread it I could see that the meaning of it could be taken so many different ways.

I said, "Lord, Your word is so amazing. It can be so simple or it can be so complicated!"

The voice of the Lord came back at me and said, "Keep it simple stupid."

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More On the Birds and the Poor

My previous posting linking to Quantum Thought's post, "The Enigma of The Bird Feeders." did not bring in any responses. I was figuring at least a couple liberals would complain about the story and say that Norm and myself were heartless and cruel for thinking ill of the poor.

None did.

It was not thinking ill of the poor for Norm to write his story. It really tells of how misguided enablers will draw to themselves those that are users.

I like Norm's story because I've seen it in action. Although his story is fiction it had a major element of true/real life in it.

I wrote to Norm and he included my comment in his posting.

Did I mention I like the story? - I've seen it happen through our church at one time. FREE FOOD! was the cry. Until we started demanding a bit of work through painting, gardening etc...

Hey! Where did the poor people go???

Here, in this posting, I write my remembrance from the 80's of what was behind that comment.

A mile from our church is a park that had become a hangout for "Urban Campers". Some might call them homeless. A few people from our church decided to do something for these poor folks so one Saturday they dragged a couple bar-b-ques down there and set up a huge picnic for them.

Huge success.

These folks were so grateful for the delicious meal and were very friendly and quite a few were receptive to the Word of God that these good Christians were sharing with them. All were invited to the church the following day.

The following day (Sunday) none of them made it the mile away to the church service perhaps because they didn't know where the church was or felt they would be out of place amongst all them 'fine church folks'.

The following Saturday with each meal served assurances were given they would be welcome to come to the church service the following day. Perhaps connections could be made for jobs etc...

None showed up.

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However, during the following week quite a few people come by asking for help. They really needed/wanted money but seemed satisfied to take a bag of groceries each. The next week even more came for 'help'.

I believe it was a Wdnesday that one man came by as Mitch, our church custodian, was finishing up some gardening. He was approached by this man who asked if there was somthing that the church could do for his predicament.

Homeless and hungry...

Mitch said the man would have to wait a bit while he finished what he was doing. As Mitch coiled hoses and put away the gardening equipment the man sat and patiently waited. He was so patient he did not feel the need to hurry Mitch up in his work by lending a hand. He just patiently waited for Mitch to finish.

After the gardening tools were put away Mitch led the man to a paint shed and explained that the church would be happy to give him food and some pay if he would help with just a bit of painting.

The man got irate and after a few choice words that sailors use normally outside of earshot of ladies he left without getting a bag of groceries.

The word must have spread pretty quickly because the beautiful people requesting help from out little church thinned out to nothing in two days time. None would lift their hand to paint or garden. None showed up for the next Sunday service either...

prying1 sez: I am not against charity and I'm pretty sure Norm is not either. What I am against is enabling people asking for handouts so they don't have to work. I could write more on this but I think this posting along with that of Quantum Thought's is 'nuff said'...

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Dictatorship of Relativism Tries to Conquer God

Hugh Hewitt has a post of the words of Cardinal Ratzinger's homily at the mass for the election of the new pope. Hugh gives credit to Roman Catholic Blog for the tip. In the Homily are these words -

- Quote - Every day new sects are created and what Saint Paul says about human trickery comes true, with cunning which tries to draw those into error (cf Eph 4, 14). Having a clear faith, based on the Creed of the Church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. Whereas, relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and "swept along by every wind of teaching," looks like the only attitude (acceptable) to today's standards. We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires. - end quote -

On Hugh's radio Show he asked the question, "What is the dictatorship of relativism?"

Lots of good answers on Hugh's show but the idea I got when I heard the words is that "Moral Relativism" demands complete obedience to nothing. If you believe that anything at all is ultimately true and unchangeable you are labeled as any evil name that will discredit you. Logical argument is not allowed for it would surely loose. No credence can be given to anyone of faith because it destroys all the denial that the moral relativist clings to. Hence the relativism becomes lord over their lives as they strive to reach nothing...

This would be funny if it were not so pitiable.

Update: Roman Catholic Blog has another link set up to Doug TenNapel's site which has some really deep comments on the dictatorship of relativism.

- Truth or ??? -

In starting my first post to my new blog I find a lot of stuff in my head wants to come out all at once. One word however comes to the forefront and might be found to be a recurring theme throughout my blogs.

TRUTH!

As I have visited other blogs I have found that the majority of those who post are concerned with accuracy in what they post. When giving opinions they state so. When reporting on news they provide links. When they discover they erred, without hesitation, they fess up and offer corrections.

I believe this is because a lot of bloggers are concerned with and for the truth. The funny thing about truth is the adjectives that can go with it. Immutable is one that comes to mind. If I tell you something, ie... "The sky is blue.", and you take me outdoors and show me a grey overcast day I find I did not tell you a truth. I must modify my statement, "The sky is usually or sometimes blue." If I chose to remain adamant and make excuses I appear to be a fool.

I cannot claim to tell you a truth one day and then, say a week later, come up to you and tell you I have a greater truth that supercedes lasts weeks truth and now makes it null and void. Last weeks 'truth' never was true or perhaps this weeks 'truth' is really flawed. If conflicting, either one or the other is really true and therefore conforms to facts and reality.

One problem I have with the (unchangable) truth is sometimes I do not like it. I might prefer to ignore it but it in no way ceases to be the truth because of my attitude or wishes. So it goes.

Protogoras, the fifth century B.C. greek Philosopher, maintained that all is illusion, and that there is no such thing as truth. But Aristotle refuted him by the following dilemma: "Your proposition is true or false: if it is false then you are answered: if true, then there is something true, and your proposition fails."

TRUTH

LOVE IT OR HATE IT,

IT IS BEST TO ACCEPT IT!

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