This We Know, God is Nigh

Just this week, someone sent an email with the alleged origins of Taps. I found the story hard to swallow, so I did a little research. It would appear the story circulating about the Union Soldier who found his moaning Confederate son dying on the battlefield is inaccurate.

Instead, the wide belief is during the Civil War that General Daniel Butterfield of the Army of the Potomac felt the bugle tune of "Lights Out" was too formal. He reworked the tune with the help of his bugler, Oliver Wilcox Norton.

Whatever the origin, this soulful tune brings tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat whenever I hear it. The tune is deeply wrenching to the families in its use in military funerals. In all the mourning emotions brought out during the playing of this tune, there is hope.

My newly widowed mother placed ear plugs in her ears in the hope she wouldn't have to listen to the tune when her gentle warrior giant was laid to rest. She felt she would never stop crying if she listened to it at that particular moment. Instead, as the bugler played Taps on the hill off in the distance, accompanied by a 21 gun salute, she bowed her head. Later, she said the ear plugs did not cover the melody of Taps. Rather, the notes were muffled and among the most beautiful she had ever heard.

With that said, and with the memories of Taps in my head as I write, let me leave you with one of the versions of lyrics for the tune.

Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.

Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.


Yes, America, God is nigh. With all of the discouraging news right now, let us not forget, God is nigh.

Tea Brewing in Atlanta Today

The first photos are coming in for the Atlanta Tea Party Protest held today.

Hat tip to Lighthouse on the Right.

http://lighthouseontheright.blogspot.com/2009/02/photos-from-atlanta-teaparty.html

She Said Acts, He Heard Axe

I don't know the author of this great little ditty, but they sure made me smile this morning when I read it. The following was sent to me by email. Relax, read, and smile.


A woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services, when she was startled by an intruder. She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: 'Stop! Acts 2:38!' (Repent and be Baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven.) The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done.

As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: 'Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you.'

'Scripture?' replied the burglar. 'She said she had an Ax and Two 38s!'

Send this to someone who needs a laugh today and remember:

Knowing scripture can save your life - in more ways than one!

NY Supreme Court Could Decide to Protect Free Speech or Not

Another day, another story about the potential future of free speech. Keep an eye on this court's decision. Whichever way it goes could impact you.

Fashion Model's Application to Unmask Anonymous Blogger Threatens First Amendment Protections for Online Comments

/PRNewswire/ -- A pending application to the New York Supreme Court seeks to force Google to divulge the identity of an anonymous blogger because of a few comments made on the Internet on one single day. The application brings to the fore the need to ensure that First Amendment free-speech protections continue to extend to anonymous web-based commentary.

A hearing on the motion to reveal the anonymous blogger's identity is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25th. The petitioner, fashion model Liskula Cohen, alleges that references to her as a "skank" and "ho" on the website "Skanks in NYC" constitutes actionable libel under New York law and on that ground seeks to unmask the anonymous blogger.

"Despite its seemingly petty underpinnings, this case carries serious implications," says Debra J. Guzov, co-founder of Guzov Ofsink, LLC, which is defending the anonymous blogger. "We strongly believe that if the plaintiff were to succeed in her efforts, it would move toward the erosion of our basic constitutional right to anonymous free speech."

Anonymity and the Internet

The Cohen proceeding could potentially have a chilling effect on anonymous commentary made all over the Internet. "Ideas are exchanged freely on the Internet in large part because participants can speak using assumed names or no name at all," says Ms. Guzov. She adds that anonymity not only encourages democratic discourse and allows dissenters from majority opinion to share their minority views, but it also provides vital protection from the fear of political, economic or even physical retribution for espousing those views.

"The Internet has become the predominant forum in modern society for the free exchange of ideas and opinions, however absurd, profane, insulting or rhetorical," says Anne W. Salisbury, a Guzov Ofsink attorney who specializes in First Amendment cases. "We do not have to condone everything people say on the Internet, but we must respect their right to say it."

Courts all over the country have already ruled that words such as "skank," "pimp," "tramp" and "douchebag" are not defamatory, especially in the context of blogs and other online commentary. "Context matters," Ms. Guzov notes. "Indeed, in this particular case, no reasonable person visiting a web site entitled 'Skanks in NYC' would expect to find assertions of verifiable facts."

Watch Out- Free Speech May be Subject to Government Regulation

As a firm believer in our country and in our Constitution, I am appalled at the state of the union today. Will free speech remain free or will it be completely taken over and regulated by those who "know best"?

Take a look at this interesting article and keep your eyes open. The battle is on.

Son of The Fairness Doctrine
Posted by Brian Darling (Profile)

Don’t be fooled by President Obama’s purported renunciation of the Fairness Doctrine last week. The far left fully intends to use a new regulatory scheme, the Son of The Fairness Doctrine, to regulate conservative talk radio. As Erick Erickson wrote last week on Red State, “Congress will restrict how many stations a company can own in a market. They’ll also require advisory boards for each station and make it easier to address consumer complaints against stations.” Although the left has backed away from the Fairness Doctrine because it is ineffective, they are gathering support for an attack on conservative talk radio......
http://www.redstate.com/brian_d/2009/02/23/son-of-the-fairness-doctrine/

Follow Your Choice, Choose Wisely

"How much longer will you be positioned on two doorsteps? If you believe in God, follow Him. If you believe in the idol, follow it" (I Kings 18:21).

Pope to Pelosi: Catholic Politicians Must Protect Life

Note: This press release is so different from the one Speaker Nancy Pelosi released earlier today. In her release, she just positively gushed about showing the Pope her family pictures. Funny how she didn't mention the admonishment at all. Guess we have to wonder if she heard him?

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Judie Brown, president of American Life League and three-term member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, issued the following statement today on the meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"We are encouraged by Pope Benedict XVI's admonishment regarding the requirements of moral law. The Vatican's statement earlier today said:

His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoins all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development.

These initial reports are very encouraging for faithful Catholics in America.

We hope and pray Pelosi will reflect upon the pro-abortion ideology that has defined her career as a politician and misled so many, especially Catholics.

We encourage our bishops and priests to emulate the same courage exhibited in Rome. These strong words from the Pope, coupled with Archbishop Burke's interview in January are a reminder that Catholic priests and bishops have a duty to protect the Eucharist from sacrilege and reassert the absolute necessity of enforcing Canon 915."

The Beginning of the End

Last night as I watched the news, the only soundbite used in the signing of the stimulus package was Barack Obama saying, "This is the beginning of the end." My question is, of what?

I can't remember if it was the local news affiliate who played that lonely statement or if it was the national news but I do know it was on ABC. That one statement can mean so much to so many different people.

Does it mean the beginning of the end of America? The end of democracy? The end of the recesssion? The end of job losses? The end of the world as we know it? The end of the world? The end of the political parties? The end of Wall Street? The end of individuals having some privacy left? The end of the best health care system in the world? The end of free choice? The end of hope?

Quote to Ponder

"Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer." ~Author Unknown

Star Spangled Banner Singing Contest

Sing it loud. Sing it proud. Go on and get those vocal chords working on the Star Spangled Banner. There's a new singing contest sponsored by the Smithsonian and YouTube for the Star Spangled Banner.

If I could sing, I would.

It's really ok that I can't sing as the Lord rejoices in a joyful noise. Guess he meant me.

Oh, say can you see..........

http://musicmattersga.blogspot.com/2009/02/national-museum-of-american-history-and.html

Good and Evil Quote

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women) to do nothing."
- Edmund Burke

Comfort of Opinion

This almost sums up the recent events in Washington on the Stimulus Bill.

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."
- J.F.Kennedy

Voluntary Taxes?

Reid Sets Us Free! Paying Taxes is Voluntary!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7mRSI8yWwg

Go On and Jump

Words of wisdom- and just when I needed them. Perhaps you need them as well?

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Only 1 of 2 things will happen. Either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!

Japan Didn't Spend Enough?

Is the Treasury's Plan to 'Go Japanese' Doomed to Fail?

/PRNewswire/ -- In the latest issue of The Casey Report, the flagship publication of Casey Research, Managing Director David Galland and Chief Economist Bud Conrad have examined the decline of the Japanese economy since 1990 and note the many similarities, and a few key dissimilarities, to the United States' current crisis.

"Statements made by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner suggest that he views the Japanese crisis as a useful comparison to the current situation in the U.S., except that Japan did not apply enough monetary stimulus early enough," says David Galland. "Our analysis suggests critical differences which could cause efforts to stimulate the economy back to life to fail."

Similar to the U.S., in the years leading up to its "Lost Decade" per-capita debt in Japan soared, by seven-fold. Also similarly, the debt bubble in Japan collapsed, dealing a crushing blow to equities and real estate markets. The Japanese government responded to its financial crunch by going on a fiscal stimulus spree. The Japanese government debt grew to 160% of the GDP. The United States' debt is currently 75% of the GDP but expected to climb significantly as further stimulus is applied.

Japan also cut its lending rate to zero percent, just as the United States has done. The Bank of Japan, similar to our Federal Reserve, acquired Japanese government bonds and providing more liquidity to weak banks. That this approach did not provide the desired results and did not revive the Japanese stock market, Treasury Secretary Geithner attributes to Japan's hesitant approach, indicating a willingness to act more forcefully, and to continue applying stimulus, in order to restart the economy.

"The Treasury secretary's words and the plans so far revealed seem to us to misunderstand some key differences between the U.S. economy now, and Japan's then," says David Galland:

-- Japan had a current account surplus throughout its crisis which
provided support to the yen, whereas going into its crisis the U.S.
has a record current account deficit and is the world's largest debtor
nation.
-- The Japanese are savers by nature. Americans are big spenders and are
entering the crisis with little or no savings.
-- The work ethic and the quality of primary education in the United
States have declined more than in Asia.
-- There are record amounts of U.S. dollars in the hands of foreigners
who are paying close attention to actions by our Treasury department.
Excessive stimulus could trigger a devastating exit from the dollar,
creating a vicious circle of a weakening dollar and soaring interest
rates.

Casey Research is a team of highly experienced investors and trained economists who spend countless hours researching powerful economic trends and the very best ways to profit from same. Their clientele is made up of individual and institutional investors who share the costs -- through subscription fees -- in exchange for unbiased research and information they can use in managing their portfolios to produce above-average returns.

More Pork Than a Pig Farm- Help Stop Stimulus

Help us Stop 'America's INFLATION Stimulus Bill'

/Standard Newswire/ -- The so-called stimulus bill appears to be on the verge of passage following a "compromise" crafted by Republican Senators Specter and Collins and Democratic Senator Nelson. It demonstrates a stunning ignorance of how business works and how jobs are created. For example, in its over 1500 pages, there is not one single mention of increasing profits in American businesses, yet any business owner knows that sustained profits are the only way that businesses can expand and create new jobs. Without a clear focus on increasing profits, the long-term result of a huge increase in government spending can only be one thing: staggering inflation.....
http://statenationalpolitics.blogspot.com/2009/02/help-us-stop-americas-inflation.html

Don't Just Stay on the Sidelines. Let your Senator know how you feel.

Do Something, Anything

" I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
-Edward Everett Hale

Socialist View of Democrats Revisited

"The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." -Norman Thomas 1944

"The Socialist Party will no longer be running a candidate for president. The Democratic Party is leading this country to Socialism much faster than we could ever hope to." -Norman Thomas 1956

Thomas (1884-1968) was a six time presidential candidate from the Socialist Party of America.

Bully Tactics Again? Keep the Fear Alive

I always try to listen to a portion of the morning news while I'm in the kitchen just a cookin' and a cleanin'. Two different stories caught my attention while I was up to my elbows in soapy water. Now, I'm thinking that some mouths need to get washed out as well.....

You remember the recent inauguration speech with the reference made by the President that if the enemies of the United States would unclench their fists, he would extend the hand of friendship (or something like that). Anyway, during the speech, I took that statement to be for the enemies of our great country.

Just this morning, I guess I was wrong. George Stephanopolis used that same wording when he said the President would have to reclench his hand if the Republicans don't support the stimulus package and pass it this weekend. The big question here is who is the enemy of the United States? Is it Americans who believe the current stimulus package is wrong for the future of our country? Is it Americans who don't want a plan that was bullied into passing? Is the style of governing these days changing into a forced support? Will he take the non supporters out behind the woodshed and beat them up with his clenched fist? Hmmmm.

Another story this morning has its origins during the days of Martin Luther King. I truly believe Mr. King thought his word of nonviolence would work. The early days where fear of the unknown caused many Americans of many races to strike out against the other were not right. Hats off to the old gent who has now taken it upon himself to publicly apologize for his actions against those of a different race. He's asked for their forgiveness and for the forgiveness of the Lord. Now, I have to wonder if people of all races who have continued to keep fear alive will do the same?

Fear. It's a recurring theme these days. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the future. Fear for the safety of our country. Fear.

Best thing I can think to do is get on my knees and pray for our country and our leaders to open their eyes and seek to follow God's will.

Why Do I Have to Move?

The newest proposal on the senate table is a tax credit of up to $15,000 if you purchase a home within the the next 12 months. Well, gee, that's nice if you want to move.

I rather like my house, my neighborhood and my town. So, if I'm to benefit, I have to first try and sell my home and then buy another one? Why not just give a tax credit to those who want to stay where they are?

Help those of us average people who have struggled mightily to stay the course during the recession.

Just a thought.

Up to 4 in Obama'a Friends Unintentional Tax Problems

Gee, now Hilda Solice, the nominee for Labor Secretary, has surfaced with not paying taxes. Or rather her husband didn't.

Guess it's the fourth unintentional law breaker of Obama's nominees exposed.

Just how long is "unintentional" going to work?

Thanks to USA Today for digging up the info and to the Twitters for finding it!

Many Faiths, How Many Gods?

I decided I would check out the speech President Obama delivered this am at the National Prayer Breakfast. He mentioned there are many faiths and not one of them is centered on hate. Nice sentiment, although some faiths seem to bring out the worst in human nature. Guess it's that old "die for the cause and get rewarded" extremism by some Middle Eastern faiths that has gotten the rest of the world confused. Guess some of us have missed the love concept.

There was one sentence that rocked me in the speech. Mr. Obama is known to be a good speaker and he is known for "let me make this perfectly clear" speechifying. How could a man who says he is a Christian (as he says in this speech) make the following statement?

"....But no matter what we choose to believe, let us remember that there is no religion whose central tenet is hate. There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being. This much we know.".....

Excuse me? This super clear speaking man has just intentionally said, "There is no God who condones..." blah blah. How many are there?

Shouldn't the clear corrrect Christian statement be "God, in his Ten Commandments, said, Thou shall not kill"?

Doesn't this one statement sound as if there are multiple god types running around? Has he checked the Ten Commandments lately? Isn't there one that states "Thou shalt not have any other gods before me"?

For one who always wants to be perfectly clear, I guess we can see exactly how clear his beliefs are.

All This Global Warming Sure Is Cold

Just helping a fellow Twitter get the word out. Of course, it's not hard for me to believe it is cold outside as the thermometer hasn't gotten above freezing yet again today.

Global Warming Videos

Big News Ignore Obama's Current Trend

There's all sorts of new polls out within the last two days. What is amazing to me is that I haven't heard word one about them on the TV news moguls like ABC, NBC and CBS.

Now just why wouldn't they want to report that Obama's approval rating has dropped 19 points since he has been in office? Now just why wouldn't they report that more Americans disapprove of the Obama Economic Stimulus Package than approve it?

Could it be the beginnings of a severe case of "egg on the face" disorder?

Time, America. Time.

Today's Woes for Obama and Friends

Oh dear. Now, it has surfaced that another of Obama's nominees has tax issues. That's three so far. How high will the count go?

On another note, a new Gallup poll shows Obama's rating has dropped about 19 points since he took office. The poll just released show his approval rating is down to 64%. Guess it's hard to stay so favorable in the public eye when you can't count on just speeches. Guess the public expects some actual work for the good of the country.

This tidbit just in. Two of Obama's nominees have now withdrawn.

Hmmm. Time, America, time.

"Oops, I Forgot" is Recurring Theme

Have you been paying attention? Not only did Obama's treasury nominee Geithner not pay his taxes, now Daschle shows up on the wrong side of a tax bill.

Why is it that those have been nominated to lead America are free to disregard the law of the land? Would the Fed look the other way for most Americans? Why aren't these Obama friends getting fried by the media or by the Feds for breaking the law?

Where are their cancelled checks? Will they be audited to see what else they forgot to mention?

How can these men be trusted to do what is right for America? How can these men be trusted at all?

Just wondering about it all as I sit and honestly do my taxes.