Sunday, June 14, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Memorial Day
posted by Arkansas Jack
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.
[More]
Friday, May 1, 2009
Huckabee 2012?
posted by Arkansas Jack
I Hope So. A republican with true compassion!
But when it comes time to actually poll these candidates, Huckabee comes out looking pretty good. A new PPP poll, for instance, for the 2012 (!) Presidential Election shows Huckabee being more competitive than his Republican rivals against Barack Obama.
[More]
I Hope So. A republican with true compassion!
But when it comes time to actually poll these candidates, Huckabee comes out looking pretty good. A new PPP poll, for instance, for the 2012 (!) Presidential Election shows Huckabee being more competitive than his Republican rivals against Barack Obama.
[More]
Monday, March 30, 2009
This is What Happens When They Come To Help!
posted by Arkansas Jack
Wonder who he voted for?
ime and time again, General Motors Corp. (GM) (GM)'s board of directors reaffirmed its support for Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner, even as the company piled up billions of dollars in losses and begged for government loans to stay alive.
But Wagoner is now a high-profile casualty of government intervention, forced out as part of the Obama administration's sweeping last-ditch effort to save the century-old auto giant.
Wagoner, 56, who spent 32 years with GM working all over the world, stepped down effective immediately, the company said in a statement early Monday. He was replaced as CEO by Fritz Henderson, the company's vice chairman and chief operating officer.
GM board member Kent Kresa, a former chairman and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC), was named interim chairman and said new directors will make up the majority of GM's board when a new slate is nominated for election at the company's annual meeting in August.
[More]
Wonder who he voted for?
ime and time again, General Motors Corp. (GM) (GM)'s board of directors reaffirmed its support for Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner, even as the company piled up billions of dollars in losses and begged for government loans to stay alive.
But Wagoner is now a high-profile casualty of government intervention, forced out as part of the Obama administration's sweeping last-ditch effort to save the century-old auto giant.
Wagoner, 56, who spent 32 years with GM working all over the world, stepped down effective immediately, the company said in a statement early Monday. He was replaced as CEO by Fritz Henderson, the company's vice chairman and chief operating officer.
GM board member Kent Kresa, a former chairman and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC), was named interim chairman and said new directors will make up the majority of GM's board when a new slate is nominated for election at the company's annual meeting in August.
[More]
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Your Senate Hard At Work!
posted by Arkansas Jack
Now they are goin to ruin college football!
Senate reviewing how college football picks No. 1
Everyone from President Barack Obama on down to fans has criticized how college football determines its top team. Now senators are getting off the sidelines to examine antitrust issues involving the Bowl Champion Series.
The current system "leaves nearly half of all the teams in college football at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for the millions of dollars paid out every year," the Senate Judiciary's subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights said in a statement Wednesday announcing the hearings.
Under the BCS, some conferences get automatic bids to participate in series, while others do not.
Obama and some members of Congress favor a playoff-type system to determine the national champion. The BCS features a championship game between the two top teams in the BCS standings, based on two polls and six computer ratings.
Behind the push for the hearings is the subcommittee's top Republican, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah. People there were furious that Utah was bypassed for the national championship despite going undefeated in the regular season.
The title game pitted No. 1 Florida (12-1) against No. 2 Oklahoma (12-1); Florida won 24-14 and claimed the title.
The subcommittee's statement said Hatch would introduce legislation "to rectify this situation." No details were offered and Hatch's office declined to provide any.
Hatch said in a statement that the BCS system "has proven itself to be inadequate, not only for those of us who are fans of college football, but for anyone who believes that competition and fair play should have a role in collegiate sports."
In the House, Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, has sponsored legislation that would prevent the NCAA from calling a football game a "national championship" unless the game culminates from a playoff system.
Now they are goin to ruin college football!
Senate reviewing how college football picks No. 1
Everyone from President Barack Obama on down to fans has criticized how college football determines its top team. Now senators are getting off the sidelines to examine antitrust issues involving the Bowl Champion Series.
The current system "leaves nearly half of all the teams in college football at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for the millions of dollars paid out every year," the Senate Judiciary's subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights said in a statement Wednesday announcing the hearings.
Under the BCS, some conferences get automatic bids to participate in series, while others do not.
Obama and some members of Congress favor a playoff-type system to determine the national champion. The BCS features a championship game between the two top teams in the BCS standings, based on two polls and six computer ratings.
Behind the push for the hearings is the subcommittee's top Republican, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah. People there were furious that Utah was bypassed for the national championship despite going undefeated in the regular season.
The title game pitted No. 1 Florida (12-1) against No. 2 Oklahoma (12-1); Florida won 24-14 and claimed the title.
The subcommittee's statement said Hatch would introduce legislation "to rectify this situation." No details were offered and Hatch's office declined to provide any.
Hatch said in a statement that the BCS system "has proven itself to be inadequate, not only for those of us who are fans of college football, but for anyone who believes that competition and fair play should have a role in collegiate sports."
In the House, Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, has sponsored legislation that would prevent the NCAA from calling a football game a "national championship" unless the game culminates from a playoff system.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Dollar dips on Geithner’s ‘loose talk’
posted by Arkansas Jack
Wow, is anyone surprised?
The dollar fell briefly on Wednesday after US Treasury secretary Tim Geithner said he was open to exploring a Chinese proposal to reduce reliance on the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency.
Mr Geithner told the Council for Foreign Relations that he had not studied the proposal by Chinese central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan for greater use of Special Drawing Rights in international reserves, but said “we are quite open to that”.
He said increased use of SDRs should be thought of as an “evolutionary” step rather than a step towards “global monetary union”. The SDR is a synthetic currency unit maintained by the International Monetary Fund that represents a basket of actual currencies.
The dollar fell 1.3 per cent against the euro as headlines saying “Geithner open to SDR currency” flashed across traders’ screens. With the currency falling, Mr Geithner’s interviewer – Roger Altman, a deputy Treasury secretary in the Clinton administration – gave Mr Geithner the chance to clarify his remarks.
[More]
Wow, is anyone surprised?
The dollar fell briefly on Wednesday after US Treasury secretary Tim Geithner said he was open to exploring a Chinese proposal to reduce reliance on the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency.
Mr Geithner told the Council for Foreign Relations that he had not studied the proposal by Chinese central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan for greater use of Special Drawing Rights in international reserves, but said “we are quite open to that”.
He said increased use of SDRs should be thought of as an “evolutionary” step rather than a step towards “global monetary union”. The SDR is a synthetic currency unit maintained by the International Monetary Fund that represents a basket of actual currencies.
The dollar fell 1.3 per cent against the euro as headlines saying “Geithner open to SDR currency” flashed across traders’ screens. With the currency falling, Mr Geithner’s interviewer – Roger Altman, a deputy Treasury secretary in the Clinton administration – gave Mr Geithner the chance to clarify his remarks.
[More]
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Legalize drugs to stop violence
posted by Arkansas Jack
What are these people thinking?
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Over the past two years, drug violence in Mexico has become a fixture of the daily news. Some of this violence pits drug cartels against one another; some involves confrontations between law enforcement and traffickers.
Recent estimates suggest thousands have lost their lives in this "war on drugs."
The U.S. and Mexican responses to this violence have been predictable: more troops and police, greater border controls and expanded enforcement of every kind. Escalation is the wrong response, however; drug prohibition is the cause of the violence.
[More]
What are these people thinking?
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Over the past two years, drug violence in Mexico has become a fixture of the daily news. Some of this violence pits drug cartels against one another; some involves confrontations between law enforcement and traffickers.
Recent estimates suggest thousands have lost their lives in this "war on drugs."
The U.S. and Mexican responses to this violence have been predictable: more troops and police, greater border controls and expanded enforcement of every kind. Escalation is the wrong response, however; drug prohibition is the cause of the violence.
[More]
Monday, March 23, 2009
Call it a condom conundrum
posted by Arkansas Jack
The people hav spoken they want change!
Call it a condom conundrum.
At a time when the federal government is spending billions of stimulus dollars to stem the tide of U.S. layoffs, should that same government put even more Americans out of work by buying cheaper foreign products?
In this case, Chinese condoms.
That's the dilemma for the folks at the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has distributed an estimated 10 billion U.S.-made AIDS-preventing condoms in poor countries around the world.
But not anymore.
In a move expected to cost 300 American jobs, the government is switching to cheaper off-shore condoms, including some made in China.
[More]
The people hav spoken they want change!
Call it a condom conundrum.
At a time when the federal government is spending billions of stimulus dollars to stem the tide of U.S. layoffs, should that same government put even more Americans out of work by buying cheaper foreign products?
In this case, Chinese condoms.
That's the dilemma for the folks at the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has distributed an estimated 10 billion U.S.-made AIDS-preventing condoms in poor countries around the world.
But not anymore.
In a move expected to cost 300 American jobs, the government is switching to cheaper off-shore condoms, including some made in China.
[More]
Friday, March 20, 2009
Obama Wants You To Pay More For Your Health Insurance
posted by Arkansas Jack
President Obama's plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs for the treatment of troops injured in service has infuriated veterans groups who say the government is morally obligated to pay for service-related medical care.
Calling it a "desperate search for money at any cost," Craig Roberts, media relations manager for the American Legion, told FOXNews.com on Tuesday that the president will "wish away so much political capital on this issue" if he continues to insist on private coverage for service-related injuries.
Cmdr. David K. Rehbein of the American Legion, the nation's largest veterans group, called the president's plan to raise $540 million from private insurers unreasonable, unworkable and immoral.
"This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate 'to care for him who shall have borne the battle,' given that the United States government sent members of the Armed Forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies," Rehbein said late Monday after a meeting with the president and administration officials at the Veterans Affairs Department.
[More]
President Obama's plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs for the treatment of troops injured in service has infuriated veterans groups who say the government is morally obligated to pay for service-related medical care.
Calling it a "desperate search for money at any cost," Craig Roberts, media relations manager for the American Legion, told FOXNews.com on Tuesday that the president will "wish away so much political capital on this issue" if he continues to insist on private coverage for service-related injuries.
Cmdr. David K. Rehbein of the American Legion, the nation's largest veterans group, called the president's plan to raise $540 million from private insurers unreasonable, unworkable and immoral.
"This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate 'to care for him who shall have borne the battle,' given that the United States government sent members of the Armed Forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies," Rehbein said late Monday after a meeting with the president and administration officials at the Veterans Affairs Department.
[More]
We're Back
posted by Arkansas Jack
Sorry for those of you who missed us. We are back and we are going to have some fun!
Sorry for those of you who missed us. We are back and we are going to have some fun!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Hide the Wife and Kids! The Legislature’s Back
posted by Arkansas Jack
We could not agree with you anymore Bob!
As always, there’s not a man, woman nor child safe when the legislature is in session.
The 87th General Assembly convenes Jan. 12 in Little Rock. You know, if the New Testament had gone through the Arkansas General Assembly, all we’d have is Matthew, Mark, Luke and Dismissed.
Now that the obligatory obligatories are out of the way, let’s take a look at how the robbers and thieves we’ve elected to represent us are going to attempt to pilfer our hard-earned money this go-around.
First of all, according to a report in The Morning News, there’s also old business to consider: Paying for a statewide trauma system that lawmakers universally supported in 2007 but could not agree on how to cover the $25 million price tag; and revisiting efforts from two years ago to make torturing animals a felony without threatening routine agricultural practices.
On that second one, lawmakers will have to consider whether or not shooting a raccoon with a nail gun in Madison County is cruelty to animals or a favor to the raccoon.
Meanwhile, Rep. Gene Shelby, D-Hot Springs, and the anti-smoking organization “Step Up Coalition” have suggested raising the tax by at least 50 cents per pack on cigarettes and using the revenue to cover the cost of the trauma system.
[More]
We could not agree with you anymore Bob!
As always, there’s not a man, woman nor child safe when the legislature is in session.
The 87th General Assembly convenes Jan. 12 in Little Rock. You know, if the New Testament had gone through the Arkansas General Assembly, all we’d have is Matthew, Mark, Luke and Dismissed.
Now that the obligatory obligatories are out of the way, let’s take a look at how the robbers and thieves we’ve elected to represent us are going to attempt to pilfer our hard-earned money this go-around.
First of all, according to a report in The Morning News, there’s also old business to consider: Paying for a statewide trauma system that lawmakers universally supported in 2007 but could not agree on how to cover the $25 million price tag; and revisiting efforts from two years ago to make torturing animals a felony without threatening routine agricultural practices.
On that second one, lawmakers will have to consider whether or not shooting a raccoon with a nail gun in Madison County is cruelty to animals or a favor to the raccoon.
Meanwhile, Rep. Gene Shelby, D-Hot Springs, and the anti-smoking organization “Step Up Coalition” have suggested raising the tax by at least 50 cents per pack on cigarettes and using the revenue to cover the cost of the trauma system.
[More]
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Luke, Chapter 2
posted by All of Us
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2: This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria.
3: And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
4: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5: to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6: And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
7: And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8: And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9: And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
10: And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;
11: for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12: And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"
15: When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
16: And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17: And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child;
18: and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19: But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20: And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21: And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22: And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23: (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
24: and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25: Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26: And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27: And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
28: he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
30: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31: which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."
33: And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him;
34: and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against
35: (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
36: And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
37: and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
38: And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39: And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40: And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
41: Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
42: And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom;
43: and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
44: but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances;
45: and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46: After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions;
47: and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48: And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously."
49: And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
50: And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.
51: And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
52: And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.
Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you and yours
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2: This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria.
3: And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
4: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5: to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6: And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
7: And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8: And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9: And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
10: And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;
11: for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12: And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"
15: When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
16: And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17: And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child;
18: and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19: But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20: And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21: And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22: And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23: (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
24: and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25: Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26: And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27: And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
28: he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
30: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31: which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."
33: And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him;
34: and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against
35: (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
36: And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
37: and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
38: And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39: And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40: And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
41: Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
42: And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom;
43: and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
44: but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances;
45: and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46: After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions;
47: and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48: And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously."
49: And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
50: And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.
51: And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
52: And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.
Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you and yours
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
posted by Arkansas Jack
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
Monday, December 1, 2008
Pentagon to Detail Military to Bolster Security
posted by Arkansas Jack
Is this just the start?
The U.S. military expects to have 20,000 uniformed troops inside the United States by 2011 trained to help state and local officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe, according to Pentagon officials.
The long-planned shift in the Defense Department's role in homeland security was recently backed with funding and troop commitments after years of prodding by Congress and outside experts, defense analysts said.
[More]
Is this just the start?
The U.S. military expects to have 20,000 uniformed troops inside the United States by 2011 trained to help state and local officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe, according to Pentagon officials.
The long-planned shift in the Defense Department's role in homeland security was recently backed with funding and troop commitments after years of prodding by Congress and outside experts, defense analysts said.
[More]
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