Criminals on the RunWon't Be Fooled Again - - - Or will We???

Years ago, in my freshman year of high school there was one other freshman that brought pride to our entire class. I didn't hang out with him. Barely spoke to him because he ran with a different crowd. I never was sports minded (I'm still not) but still I took pride that there was ONE FRESHMAN, someone in my class that was on the VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM.

That freshman was John Goldenberg. Quite a guy! Very popular (amongst the jocks anyway) Pretty good looking. Reasonably good student. Teachers liked him and, as said before, the freshman took pride in him.

My high school even won the CIF (CA state H.S. championship) if I remember correctly for two years running. If not for two years we did at least win it once. As said before I'm not real sports minded. The fog of time is lifting some. I think we played for it twice and the second time we won.

WhooHoo! We won the CIF!

THEN!!!

The world came crashing down on the (by then Junior) class.

John Goldenberg was arrested and extradited to Mississippi. The CIF win was rescinded and all the H.S. football records had to be looked over and corrected.

It seems his real name was Jay Dennis Gould, was in his early 20's, was on the lam, wanted for bank embezzlement and finally caught. He was such a great football player because he was a good 4-5 years older than anyone else in the school.

Sure had me fooled along with everybody else. Except for the father of the girl that was concerned for his daughter's welfare. It was one man's questioning of history that revealed the past of Jay Dennis Gould (alias John Goldenberg).

John/Jay had come to town, was befriended by some people who believed his story of parents deceased, mean uncle who beat him regularly, his running away, school records destroyed when the little Mississippi school house burnt down. They took him in and helped him get into high school as a sixteen year old.

Quite the con artist. Guess that was why he was able to pull off the embezzlement and the falsification of his identity.

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Which brings us closer to the present. It seems that Athens, Georgia and many in the blogging community were taken in by a man who rolled into town about a year back and established himself as an opinionated retiree who often wrote letters to the local paper, the Athens Banner-Herald.

"Norm Weatherby" also had a blog called Quantum Thought - A Palette for Thinking which had many links to other blogs. Mine included. The Blog was deleted after one final posting which said:

"Norm Weatherby is unable to Blog at this time and is asking for
everyone's prayers. He will log on again when able. Thanks for your
support."

The blog is back up at this time and has been taken over by a person only identifed as Mcdanial

Well, back to "Norm Weatherby". It seems his real name is Larry Ray Bess (66) and a fugitive who fled child rape charges in Ohio 18 years ago.

The Athens Banner-Herald story (free registration required) stated:

Bess was indicted in November 1989 on charges of rape and gross sexual imposition of a minor - a crime similar to aggravated sexual battery in Georgia - according to Wilson.

Bess also was wanted on a 1999 federal warrant charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Ohio prosecutors allege Bess raped his stepdaughter over a six-year period, 1983 to 1989, beginning when she was 6 years old. The assaults happened in North Royalton, a suburb of Cleveland, officials said.

Bess never was arrested, but a grand jury indicted him after the stepdaughter took her allegations to prosecutors, according to Wendy Clawson, spokeswoman for the Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

"After he was indicted, he just took off," Clawson said.

I certainly hope that the stepdaughter finds some relief and comfort through his arrest and that his case is quickly settled with justice served to Bess in the way that he deserves.

One thing this posting shows is that running from justice is not new. Catching those running is not new either. I think that justice continuing the search for those running is a good use of tax dollars.

Our world is a safer place as a result.

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Hat tip to JMAC of Safe As Houses blog for the heads up on this one.

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Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip Wednesday Hero Blogroll - 9 May 07

Tjhis posting is from the Wednesday Hero Blogroll -

Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip
21 years old from Irving, Texas
2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
October 14, 2004


Louise Vandertulip fussed at her son about his spending. He bought wild, overpriced hats that had flames on them or horns coming out of the top, she said.

While in Army basic training, he bought portraits of himself. His mother told him to save his money.

She's glad he didn't listen.

The hats and the pictures are all a part of her memories now.

Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip was killed in Baghdad when his patrol came under small arms fire.

Josiah Vandertulip joined the Army right after his graduation from Irving High School in 2002. He spent a year in South Korea before being stationed at Texas' Fort Hood in February. Against his mother's advice, he volunteered to go to Iraq. She told him to wait, to go to college.

"When he was determined to do something in his heart, he would do it and hell or high water couldn't keep him from it," she said

By going, he knew someone else with a young family could be saved from serving, relatives said.

He always had the important things right, Louise Vandertulip said.

"There's a lot of rest in knowing that he died doing what he believed in and doing what he thought was right," she said.

"We have a much more real sense of the cost for the freedom that we enjoy now," said his father, Robert Vandertulip.

"Josiah was the first brand new soldiers I recieved as a dismounted team leader in Korea. He was one of the Best soldiers I have had the honor to train and work with. He loved being a soldier as much as any guy I have met. He was a great leader in the absence of his superiors. I could always count on him to make sure the mission was accomplished. I watched him change over the year I had him from a goofy kid, to a hard charging soldier."
Sgt. Nickolas Faul

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. To find out more about Wednesay Hero, you can go here.

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Children, Chapstick, Cats and Motherhood

This one take the cake. Happy Mother's Day!

A Mothers Day story by Sylvia Carey

Why My Lips Stayed Chapped on Mother's Day


We had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just recently died. Jack was a great cat and the kids would carry him around and sit on him and nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long on this mat in our bathroom.



Well, we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years old, 3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really loves Chapstick. LOVES it. He kept asking to use my Chapstick and then losing it. So finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep my Chapstick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed to put it right back in the drawer when he was done.



Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and try to get ready for Church with everyone crying and carrying on. My two boys are fighting over the toy in the cereal box. I am trying to nurse my little one at the same time I am putting on my make-up. Everything is a mess and everyone has long forgotten that this is a wonderful day to honor me and the amazing job that is motherhood. We finally have the older one and and the baby loaded in the car and I am looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally round the corner to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was applying my Chapstick very carefully to Jack's . . . rear end.

Eli looked right into my eyes and said "chapped."

Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right--their little butts do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't seem to mind. And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was the FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth.

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds us that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatures, there will always be that day when you realize they've been using your Chapstick on the cat's butt.

- Sylvia Carey

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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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Cary Cartter Sez: Write in Candidate - 2008 - 7May07

The following is from The Cary Cartter for President Campaign -

Cary Cartter sez:

Write In Cary Cartter for President

I don't know about you, but the choices for President are getting pretty homogenous. For the most part, the current crop of candidates have some glaring common ground - they are all Career Politicians, none of them appear to have ever needed to work for a living, and none of them seem to have a source of income outside of their investments - or rather, their family's investments.

How can they claim to be watching out for the best interests of the United States when their idea of "best interests" closely mirrors their investment list? There are not a lot of people in my neighborhood who are living off their investments. Most of my neighbors are working stiffs, just like me. Most of my neighbors don't feel represented in government, just like me.

When was the last time a candidate could say he or she was a member of the working class - with a straight face and without cue cards? And without paying hundreds of dollars for their hair to look "just right" while saying it?

I believe this is the greatest country on earth. I believe Political Correctness is tearing this country apart, on a variety of fronts - illegal immigration ("they do the jobs Americans won't" - oh, like murder, rape, and driving without license and registration?), the War on Terror ("if we talk to them, we can come to an understanding" - with a religious belief that you either convert or die?), and Liberalism. I believe that the United States needs to regain her direction and drive, and move to the forefront of the free world once again. I believe that We The People need to have our voices heard and listened to once again.

If you feel you are Out of Voting Choices, then choose to Make a Difference - write in Cary Cartter for President in November 2008. Please help me get the word out.

If you would like to know more about my stand, please visit my blog. If you have any questions you would like to see addressed, or if you would like to help spread the word about my campaign, you can e-mail me here.

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

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Hospitalman Luis E. Fonseca Jr.Wednesday Hero Blogroll - 2 May 07

The following post is from the Wednesday Hero Blogroll

This Week's Soldier Was Suggested By Echo9er

Hospitalman Luis E. Fonseca Jr.


On August 11, 2004, Navel Hospitalman Luis E. Fonseca, Jr. was awarded the Navy's second highest decoration. The Navy Cross, which is awarded for extraordinary heroism while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States and must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk, was awarded for his actions while serving with Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, Task Force Tarawa, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

On March 23, 2004, Fonseca, Jr.'s unit were trying to take the Saddam Canal Bridge. Five Marines were injured when their vehicle was hit by an RPG. Fonseca, while still being fired upon by machine guns and RPG's, pulled the Marines to safety and established a casualty collection unit inside his own medical evacuation vehicle. After his vehicle was hit once again, Fonseca organized litter teams and directed the movement of four of the Marines, while personally carrying one wounded Marine over open ground to another vehicle. On November 15, 2004, Seaman Fonseca was awarded the "Grateful Nation Award" from the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs for his actions.

"I was doing my job," said Fonseca. "I wish I could have done more."

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

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Being Five Is Back!

If you have never read the comic strip Being Five you are in for a treat.

If you have read the comic strip Being Five you are in for a treat.

Especially if you like family friendly humor. You won't have to worry about letting your young'uns putting Being Five in their favorites list. Good clean humor the way humor was meant to be.

George Sfarnas is back and coming on strong with a new series of Georgie comic strips. Whether you have read him before or not it will be well worth your time to go through the archives link on the right side of his page. We will be calling the archives "Classic Georgie" BUT!!! Keep in mind the new strips are "Classic" the day they are posted.

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P.S. to Mr. Sfarnas - I know I overdid it with the links. I figured some of those just zipping through for blogsurfing points might click on one of 'em by accident...
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This Weeks Soldier Was Suggested By Sunny Kay

Col. Cyril Richard "Rick" Rescorla
68 years old from New York City, New York
16th Air Assault Brigade, Parachute Regiment (England)
Platoon Leader of 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) (U.S.)
September 11, 2001


Col. Rick Rescorla is a multiple time hero. In 1957 he enlisted in the British Army and began training as a paratrooper with The Parachute Regiment of the 16th Air Assault Brigade. He went on to serve with an intelligence unit in Cyprus, a paramilitary police inspector in the Northern Rhodesia Police (now the Zambia Police Service). When his military career ended in England he joined the Metropolitan Police Service in London. But he found the paperwork too boring and quite at the behest of a friend who encouraged him to join the United State Army. Which he did.

In 1963, Rescorla enlisted, with his friend, in the United States Army. After he completed basic training he attended officer training school and was assigned as a platoon leader in the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).

He was shipped to Vietnam and participated in the Battle of la Drang. While in Vietnam, he was given the nickname "Hard Core" by his men for his bravery in battle.

In 1968, Resorla became a U.S. citizen and continued his service in the Army Reserves until 1990 when he retired. In 1985 he joined a financial services firm, located in the World Trade Center, as security director.

In 1993, when the WTC was bombed, Rescorla was instrumental in evacuating people from the building. Afterwards, he enacted a policy in which all employees of the firm practiced evacuation drills every three months.

September 11, 2001. Rick Rescorla was supposed to be on vacation getting ready for his daughters wedding. Instead he was at work covering a shift for one of his deputies so that he could go on vacation. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit Tower 1, Rescorla ignored officials advice to stay put and opted instead to put his evacuation drills to use. While evacuating the 3,800 employees of his firm in Towers 2 and 5 he kept reminding them "be proud to be an American ...everyone will be talking about you tomorrow" and sang God Bless America over his bullhorn. When Flight 175 struck Tower 2, Rescorla had already evacuated most of the employees from his firm as well as many others from other floors. He then went back in, despite being told he needed to evacuate himself. The last known words anyone heard him say were, "As soon as I make sure everyone else is out". Tower 2 collapsed with Rick Rescorla last seen heading to the 10th floor looking for more people to help.

As a result of his actions that day, all but six employees of his firm made it out alive. One of those being him and three others being his deputies who followed him into Tower 2, Wesley Mercer, Jorge Velazquez, and Godwin Forde.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

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Report: Virginia Tech Gunman Sold Guns Illegally

It seems to me that editors no longer read copy or more importantly headlines with a view for error.

Report: Virginia Tech Gunman Sold Guns Illegally

I don't know about you but when I saw the headline I thought that this perverted, murderous jerk had been selling handguns on the streets and in back alleys.

The story is full of anti gun rhetoric...

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The amount of anti gun stories with it's ignoring of the protection a gun gives law abiding citizens always jumps dramaticaly when violence as happened in Virgina occurs.

How quickly might the VA gunman been taken out and how many lives might have been saved had there been law abiding, licensed citizen on campus. - By the campus rules it would not and did not happen.

Many blog postings and news articles are on the anti gun side of the line. Here is one posting that I agreed with 100% - Gun-Free Zones = Happy Hunting at My View from the Center by Whymrhymer.

Although, I must say, the word "HAPPY" in the title will not be in line with victims or their relatives feelings.


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Imus and the Virginia Shooter

I have not, until tonight, posted on either Imus nor the Virginia shooter. Now I am posting and connecting the two...

Went to church tonight. Wednesday night prayer meeting that started out with a bit of praise and worship.

One of the things that was mentioned during the praise and worship was the scripture:

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord... (Eph 5:19)

These days there are many that would say that for me to post the above quote from the Bible is an evil thing to do and that I'm trying to force my beliefs on them and that I'm just a hypocrite anyway, why should they listen to me, etc.... I used to have a snappy line for people like that but a Christian buddy of mine, upon hearing me say to a couple of guys, "OK! Go to hell then!" told me it was an unchristian thing to say. So I won't say it to those who thought that quoting Bible is evil etc...

I explained to my buddy the point I was trying to make is that it is peoples own choice that sends them to an eternity without God or into his embrace. God is ever trying to draw people to Himself. Not to an established religion but to Himself. - People get turned off by the way they see "religious" people act and attribute it to God. - Doesn't work that way. - God does not ask people to follow other people. He wants US (you too!) to follow Him.

Hence we get scripture that tell us to:

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Phil 4:4

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How can we help but to rejoice when we realize that "God IS!" and he does concern Himself with our affairs.What a great God! He wants us to be happy. ALWAYS!!! (He said so)

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Well suppose that Imus and the Virginia shooter both had taken these scriptures to heart. WHAT IF (words that never really mean anything because time, as we know it, cannot be turned back) but WHAT IF Imus and the Virginia shooter spent some time, even if it was just minutes, singing praises to God?

Not god as they know him. Not god as they think of him, not god as even you nor I think of him, but God as He is!

Realising their insignificance compared to the Creator of all that any man's senses can appreciate. The only true God that stands outside of space and time so that even scientists, philosophers and poets cannot find ways of proving His existence. The God that offers grace, mercy, friendship and love freely and only requires that a person give to Him that which is owed to Him.

The only True God who can only be reached by faith.

Had either of these men spent a minute portion of their lives learning the benefits of Praise and Worship they most likely would not have had their names in the papers for the reasons they did.

Imus was crass and lowbrow. The Virginia shooter as filled with evil. Neither of them needed to be. They had choices as do we...


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P.S. Imus gets a second chance. Yahoo News says, target="_blank">"Advertisers want Imus back" and a San Berdoo Station is playing "Best of Imus"

P.S. (again) The Virginia shooter does not get a second chance... - People will spend a lot of time trying to figure out "WHY did he do it?" - What they learn about the man will most likely not apply to the next evil person that performs similar acts. His reasons were incomprehensible as will be the next...


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Chief Master Sgt. John GebhardtWednesday Hero - 18 APR 07

The following is written and distributed by Wednesday Hero Blogroll.

This Weeks Soldier Was Submitted By Anna

Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhardt
Superintendent of the 22nd Wing Medical Group at McConnell Air Force Base


Have you heard of Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhardt? Maybe you have and maybe you haven't. CMSgt. Hebhardt gain some notoriety recently. Not for an action that he took on the battlefield, but rather for a picture(not shown because it is graphic) that was taken of him.

In 2006, CMSgt. John Gebhardt was photographed holding a little Iraqi girl that had been injured. Her family had been attacked by insurgents. Both of her parents were killed, along with many of her siblings, and she had been shot in the head and left for dead. But she was tougher than that. She was brought to Balad Air Base Hospital where she was operated on and ultimately saved. As you can imagine, it was an extremely hard time for this little girl. Her recovery was hellish. But when CMSgt. Gebhardt would hold her, she seemed to be comforted. He spent many nights sleeping in a chair with her in his arms. The picture wast taken by a fellow airman while CMSgt. Gebhardt and the little girl were napping. Said CMSgt. Gebhardt, "I'm sure that probably just gave her some inner peace that she could reach."

On a side note. This is why I started doing these Wednesday Hero posts. Because of people like Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhardt. It's soldiers like him that make me proud of our military.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

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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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Military Memories (page 1)

This is the first installment of what might be the first of many or perhaps the only "Military Memories" posting. That is, my somewhat fading remembrance of my U.S. Army Days in the early seventies.

SATURDAY!

(Ft Sam Houston TX - Early 70's) Greatest day of the week if you don't count Sunday. I did count Sunday so it was really the second greatest day but close enough to first to fill me with joy. It was about 1100 hrs and the barracks were pretty much empty. Just a few of us hanging around and it was a nice quiet day. I was laying on my bunk enjoying a book. If I remember correctly (And I might not be) it was The Death and Life of Harry Goth

Suddenly the sound of a truck stopping outside the barracks, one of the doors opening, a sargent, a stranger to all, appears and says (while jabbing his finger at everyone in the room), "You, you, you, you, you, you and you. Outside! Into the truck! The General's Wife wants a rock garden."

"What is this?" someone said. (It might have been me. I certainly thought it.)

"Look", said the sargent. "I don't like this any more than you do. The General's Wife got it in her head to have a cactus garden with a bunch of rocks. I got saddled with the job of getting a detail to gather the rocks. You got saddled with the job of being that detail. The sooner we get the rocks and drop 'em in her yard the sooner you can get back to your bunks."

At that point in our lives we did not know that we could sue the General's Wife nor that she was misusing government property (we G.I.'s) not to mention the destruction of the environment by having us take rocks from point A to point B. (The earth is still reeling from the impact. Watch AlGores movie, An Inconvenient Truth and he mentions this event in the middle somewhere). We were naive back then. Little did we know we were impacting the GLOBAL WARMING ISSUE.

So, as ordered, we climbed into the back of the deuce and a half truck. Made ourselves comfortable. (Thats a joke son!) and wished we were driving the damn thing so we could at least have an idea of where we were going.

So much for SATURDAY!

Well, The truck finally stops in the middle of the Texas desert (which is what is Fort Sam Houston is mostly composed of). We climb out and the sargent explains that he doesn't want little bitty rocks but real good sized ones so the General's Wife can have a real good rock garden and no future soldier will have to come out into the middle of this God forsaken desert and get more of the damn rocks.

The way he said it we were doing this for our children's children...

So we started picking up rocks and throwing them into the back of the truck. Good sized ones like he said to get. Good Lord! We got into the spirit of the job. We did enjoy the sound of the rocks landing in the truck. Sometimes two guys would manhandle a rock up to the truck and it would take three of 'em to lift the sucker in. I, of course would supervise just to make sure they did it right.

Well! It didn't take long before all the loose big rocks were in the truck and then we took to digging and yanking a bit to get 'em out of the ground. Would have helped to have a crowbar but there were enough of the rocks that had edges a body could grab onto and yank 'em free then carry 'em to the truck.

I found a good size rock that was just like that. Sort of a corner I could grab onto and yank on and up it came easy as pie. (Not the kind of pie mom used to make. Maybe I should compare it to fruitcake...)

Only one difference from this rock and the few others I had snatched from Mother Earth (Gaia). This one had a few bugs under it that instantly started running in circles in the depression where the rock had once hidden them. I realized at this point I was disturbing the ecology of the desert and let the rock settle back to it's rightful place of being.

I knew then that we were doing wrong.

So I walked up to the sargent and explained to him in words he could understand how I felt about our rapine of Mother Earth (Gaia).

I said, "I quit!"

"What?" said the sargent?

"I quit! I'm not moving another rock!"

"You can't quit! You're in the Army!"

"Cum'meer! ... Lift up that rock!!!" I said and pointed to the exact one where I had disturbed God's creatures beneath it.

I said this with such authority that the man had no choice but to do my bidding. Even though he outranked me he lifted the rock, saw the nest of scorpions I had beheld and was not as gentle as I when he dropped it back on the half dozen or so scorpions. (We both failed to count them.)

"OK men! That's enough rocks for the General's Wife. Get back in the truck!"

I was so glad that the sargent had common sense. He too recognised that Mother Earth (Gaia) is not to be trifled with.

We rode in the back of the deuce and a half with our feet on the seats in case any of God's creatures similar to the nest of scorpions had ended up in the truck. No one dozed during the trip. Some of our lively discussion was about spiders as well as scorpions. We quickly but cautiously dumped the rocks in front of the General's Wife's house and rode back to the barracks with our feet still on the seats. Just in case...

Moral of this story: Don't hang around the barracks on Saturday morning!

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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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SSgt. Keith "Matt" MaupinWednesday Hero Blogroll

This Weeks Solider Was Summited By Lt. Schneider

SSgt. Keith "Matt" Maupin
24 years old from Batavia, Ohio
Army Reserves 724th Transportation Company
MIA Since April 9, 2004



Strength, perseverance and determination is how you would describe the family of SSgt. Keith Maupin. Because even though their son has been missing now for almost three years, his parents still haven't given up hope that he's still alive. Said his father, Keith Maupin, "I'm saying it ain't over till the fat lady sings and when she sings, I'm going to choke her. That's what I say. They're going to find Matt." His mother, Carolyn, was quoted as saying, "We're to keep our hope up. And praying until they can prove to us 100 percent either way. And that's what I'm going to do. And I realize we only have a 50/50 chance here, but I'm not going the low road. I'm going the high road"

SSGt. Maupin, who was PFC. Maupin when he was captured and has since received two promotions, was reported MIA when his fuel convoy came under attack near the Baghdad International Airport. Along with Maupin was Sgt. Elmer Krause and seven employees of U.S. contractor Kellogg, Brown & Root. All of whom were either rescued or escaped. Seven days later, on April 16, Al-Jazeera aired a video tape of Maupin in which he was forced to admit that he was went to Iraq unwillingly. Then on June 28, 2004, Al-Jazerra reported that PFC. Maupin had been executed by a group calling themselves Persistent Power Against the Enemies of God and the Prophet. But no concrete proof has surfaced either way.

His parents have created a website called Yellow Ribbon Support Center if you would like to check it out. And while most in the media have forgotten Keith Maupin, Wednesday Hero hasn't.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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Some Excellent eBay Deals

A friend of mine, "Quezalmark" is currently posting some items on eBay that I hope will interest you. - A friend of hers is moving from her home of MANY years into a retirement home and as a result much of her collected treasures are on the 'auction block'.

Two items of note are watercolor paintings by Frances Wheeler of scenes from the Washington D.C. area. - Other paintings by Frances Wheeler are listed on AskArt and show auction estimates ranging from $600.00-$2000.00 - - - Quezalmark's starting prices are $99.00... - Check out the bio on Wheeler that Quezalmark has on the auctions... - Homework was done on these babies!

- To view image if it is under the sidebar - right click on picture and select/click "View Image" - OR! Click on the link......

Fabulous C1945 Frances Wheeler Watercolor Flower Seller Washington DC

Frances Wheeler Watercolor Washington Monument DC

So! You don't care about watercolor paintings? - Won't fit your decor? Have no interest in art investments??? - Don't let that stop you from checking out the other well kept items from the 30's & 40's that Quezalmark has listed.

Quezalmark's Auctions

- What you bid will be going to the owner of the goods. Any extra you add to the final price plus postage will help defer costs... - - - Please note that not all that Quezalmark might have listed is for the friend that is moving. These auctions are time sensitive too. - Ask if you are not sure but rest assured that it is quality stuff on these auctions.


These paintings are not an "eBay Charity Auction" so you can be assured that all profits (Quzalmark is eating the ebay fees for her friend's auctions!) will be going to the intended target.

Not "CORPORATIONS" (read SCAM ARTISTS!") with 'empty pockets till you fill them' (like ebay charity auctions is prone to do!) -

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- pockets waiting to be filled with money that an elderly lady could use... -

Knowing this consider adding a few bucks to the final bid/postage to help cover Quezalmark's labor of love...
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Since this posting is liable to be seen worldwide I thought I'd point out too Quezalmark's T.O.S. includes this bit:

Overseas & Canadian Bidders are welcome, but you MUST USE PAYPAL to pay for the auction. If you cannot pay by this method, please do not bid!
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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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A Poem From Me

Just in case this ends up traveling through the internet forever and ever, Amen! I wanted to get credit for it. - Originally posted on a Ranchoweb Discussion Board (2 Apr 07) -

Concerning Compulsive/Obsessive behavior or Obsessive/Compulsive behavior whichever way you want to look at it...

Compulsive is one thing.

Obsessive is another.

They say to mix them is bad.

One comes from a fling

The other from thinking

Mixing them comes from a gad...

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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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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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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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Baby Bell Has Arrived!Still Needs Prayer

For those who noticed on my sidebar the request for prayers for Baby Bell Please keep them coming. (Click here to see sidebar posting) I recieved the following email from Rick Bell:

Marybeth was delivered on March 27 at 1:00 in the afternoon- she was 6 lbs and 2.9 oz.

This was three and a half weeks early, but the timing was perfect. We had just managed to get everything in order last weekend. On Monday, the day before, Jennifer was having her weekly checkup to detect any possible problems from the Rh issue. The levels looked a little too high, but at this stage the readings are not very reliable. So she was told they would check again on Thursday, and if it read the same, they would have to make some decisions.

Jennifer did not want to be induced, nor did she want a cordocentesis. So this presented something of a possible dilemma. She prayed to the Lord that she wouldn't have to be induced.

Dilemma solved. At 3:15 the next morning, her water broke! We dropped the boys off at a friend's and went to the hospital. There were no complications and it was a completely natural and unmedicated birth. It could not have gone better!

The Rh issue was never an issue!

But the heart problem is still there.
It looks like we are going to have to have surgery on Friday, sometime between 11:00 am and 2:00pm. We were praying that she would not need this first surgery, but "Not my will but thine be done..."
The upside is that she looks great all around, healthy and strong (not to mention beautiful!). She'll be able to make it through. Pray that her parents would too!

Some of you had told us that our daughter would be born just fine and without problems. SHE WAS. We are thankful and greatly encouraged. The heart problem is different, though. We have to go through this. The Lord will be there. Thanks for helping to pray us through.

Rick and his wife are wonderful people and their reaction to this time of difficulty shows how much comfort and peace of heart one gets from the Christian walk. - Keep them and Baby Marybeth Bell in your prayers.
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Update: Praising God that Marybeth's first surgery went fine and she seems to be
doing very well. Thanks for the many emails and of course for the
prayers. Now she just has to hold up well and adjust and recover.

In Jesus,
Rick

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Here is a link to the Bamboo Bell and a bit more info in Rick's own words. -
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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

Billy Hodges - U.S. Army & Texas National GuardHunts For HeroesWednesday Hero - 27 Mar 07

The following is from The Wednesday Hero Blogroll

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

Billy Hodges, kneeling center.


Billy Hodges, who served in the U.S. Army and Texas National Guard between 1971-1979, is not only being profiled for his service, but also for what he's done since then. Mr. Hodges runs an organization based in El Campo, Tx called Hunts For Heroes. They also have chapter in South Carolina , Arkansas , Mississippi , and California and what they do is take soldiers who've been wounded in battle on hunting and fishing trips and other outdoor related activities. All free of charge.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.





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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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Pork Barrel Spending and Cut and Run Pullout By Democrats

Hank Johnson, Congressional Representative for Georgia's 4th District' voted for The 'Emergency Spending Bill' (read 'Piggies Filling Their Pockets'). - Congressman Hank Johnson set up a brand new blog and posted at Good Will Hinton (Where The Right Meets The Left) - Hank Johnson's posting - Exit Strategy: Why I Supported the Iraq Accountability Act - is somewhat enlightening...

In his post vote posting Congressional Representative Hank Johnson says:

I am passionately opposed to the war in Iraq. I am committed to bringing our brave troops home and sickened by the prospect of prolonging this tragic and unnecessary conflict.

And today I have made a very difficult decision – by far the most difficult I have ever made in public service.

In our efforts to end this war, we in Congress are faced with imperfect options. The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act (PDF file - HTML HERE thanks to Google) upon which we voted today is a strong bill and will do much to hasten our withdrawal from Iraq. But it is a flawed bill, an imperfect bill. I had hoped for a more aggressive measure and, in past weeks, considered voting against it.

I was an original supporter of the amendment offered by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, which called for a fully-funded, immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Regrettably, that amendment was rejected before it could even be considered on the floor. It is clear that more aggressive measures to curtail the president’s power would be destined for the same fate in this body.
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This bill will require withdrawal of U.S. armed forces from Iraq if its conditions are not met. It will hold the Iraqi government officials accountable for their action and inaction. It will greatly increase funding for the care of our veterans, who have been neglected upon their return from heroic and frequently traumatic service abroad. It will appropriate deeply needed funds to restore our proud military to a state of strength and readiness.

This is an imperfect bill. But, for all its flaws, it is the right first step -- the right step today.

I will solemnly lend it my support.

I noted that in his entire posting not one mention of what would be the results of the U.S. pulling out from Iraq. Neither did he mention any of the PORK included in this bill.

• "extraneous pork-barrel spending" —
  
• "pet projects with no direct connection to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars" -
• "meant to win over on-the-fence Democrats"

are just three comments from only one online news source. There are many others.... - Hank failed to mention them... -

(Among the projects attached to the legislation are funding for spinach subsidies and money to rebuild levees that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.)


I left the following comment there and would encourage those reading this to join in the discussion.

prying1 sez:

I was around

When the U.S. abandoned Vietnam because of the lies of people like John Kerry I believed those lies and thought them the truth. It took the Swift Boat Veterans to reveal the truth. Our soldiers were not eating dead burnt babies. They were attempting to protect the South Vietnamese from the ungodly murderers of the Chinese supplied North Vietnam.

When we left Vietnam is when the real atrocities were commited by the south's 'brothers' from the north. MILLIONS WERE MURDERED as a result of the U.S. leaving and the U.S. left because the war then was micromanaged by Congress just as our current Congress is trying to micromanage our current war.

Let the generals run the war. YOU know nothing about how to run a war. YOU have never studied warfare or you would not have voted the way you did.

The same thing as happened in Vietnam WILL happen if the U.S. pulls out of Iraq too soon. Millions will be murdered and TERRORISTS WILL GET CONTROL OF IRAQI OILFIELDS!!!

You may disagree with how we got there and why we are there but you cannot disagree with the fact that if we pull out now it will be a repeat of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Countries surrounding Iraq (read Iran and Syria) will fill the void the U.S. leaves with violence that pales in comparison to what they have now. Those who befriended the U.S. will be the first to lose their lives. - Their blood will be on your hands! -

Your vote was an error and hopefully those in your district will rectify the matter next time your name is on a ballot.

The roll call for the bill can be found here - hat tip and thanks to AubreyJ for the link!!!
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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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Is the Surge Working?

AubreyJ has posted Iraqi and Coalition Forces Kill, Capture Terrorists

Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 17 terrorists, detained about 90 suspected insurgents, and found several weapons caches in operations throughout Iraq in the past three days, military officials reported.

Coalition forces killed five terrorists, destroyed a bomb-making factory and detained three suspected terrorists during an operation today near Taji.

Elsewhere, Amiriyah police and Marines from Regimental Combat Team 6 engaged armed groups of al Qaeda for more than five hours today, killing eight insurgents and wounding five, south of Fallujah, near the town of Amiriyah.

Enemy fire continued sporadically throughout midday, when supporting fixed-wing aircraft engaged about 20 insurgents with guided munitions and strafing fire. Six insurgents were killed and their vehicles were destroyed as a result. The five wounded policemen were transported to a local hospital and treated.

During a raid near Balad, coalition forces detained 10 suspected terrorists and found a large amount of weapons in two targeted buildings.

West of Taji, coalition forces captured three suspects with alleged ties to car bomb operations and foreign fighter facilitation.

AND THE LIST GOES ON!!!

prying1 sez:

Seems to me that the politicos on the left should be cheering at this news instead of threatening to stop funding, demanding the U.N. be given the plow handles, demeaning our troops and giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

May the Living God watch over the coalition forces and befuddle the minds of our enemies.

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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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