Pictorial Guide to Al Gores Energy Usage

Algore wants you to reduce your energy consumption. Here is how he leads by example.

Congrats Nick!

Maybe there is hope for the homeland!





Re'volution!

Photos May 2007

New Camera Coming!

Believe it or not I have never owned a digital camera.

Here it is 2007 and I am the last to jump on the bandwagon. The last time we got anything like this was back in 1995 when we got the Sony Hi-8 Camcorder for purt-ni $1000. That was right before Kellen was born and we have used it a bunch. That being said- we have been using the camcorder less and less and its become a hassle to get out and use anymore. That is all analog- so I need to figure out a way to transfer all that footage to DVD someday.

The camera is scheduled to arrive here this coming Thursday via FedEx. It is a Sony DSC-H2 that was last year's new release but is now being replaced by a newer version- but still this is a great camera from all the reviews I have read.

I didn't want an SLR because that is way too complex for what I will do with it. But I did want something a step up from a simple point and shoot. So this is the right model I think. It has a good rubber grip which is what I really wanted. So many of these silver flat cameras concern me because they appear to be to flat and slick- perfect for slipping out of my hand and breaking.

In the future, I will post more "home-made" photos here that are worthy of public consumption for the 3 people who read this blog.

Bernard McGuirk for President!

Open Letter of Admiration to Don Imus

It was a blast while it lasted. You entertained me for the last 14 years beginning with my first job when living back in Portage. I used to laugh so hard on my way to work in the morning. The bantering between all the funny guys and Bernard McGuirk was just awesome. My favorite thing was Bernard doing the Cardinal O' Connor impressions. Actually in those stressful days teaching at Vicksburg schools, you were the best part of my day.

Notably, the hardest I ever laughed while listening to your show came back around 1999 while living in Detroit. I had to pull my car off the freeway on I-275 because I was laughing hysterically. It was an exchange between you and Bernard and you called him a "bald headed Nazi". I can't remember exactly what the conversation was about, but when you called him that - I just lost it. Those were such fun days.

The other "funniest" moment that I will never forget was when Charles McCord went byzerk when you couldn't stop talking about some Neville Chamberlain book. Charles, being the "straight man" always had a way to surprise me by jumping out of character to mock you. It was always clear by your response how much you love and respect that man. Your loyalty to Charles was obvious and admirable.

Your ideology has always been different than mine in your expressed politics, but that didn't matter because you were entertaining. You pulled no crap with anybody. I especially loved your cynicism against all pretentious people everywhere. Any thinking person had to agree with your intolerance of pretense- which I have always appreciated.

One of the highlights of living in Metro Detroit in the late 90's was going to see you at the Southfield Theater when you came and did a radio appearance with WXYT 1270 AM which later became an all sports station (much to my chagrin).

You inspired me to have a better appreciation of classic country music, which I had not been exposed to previously. I also enjoyed the deep insights of guests you had on often like the God Squad and all the smart historians.

You also coined several phrases which I have used on occasion, all to your credit, such as: "this can't suck enough" and the words "hideous" and "weasle"- usually when referring to obnoxious politicians or bad musicians.

You have always had me as a fan CONTINUE to.

Your recent comments did not offend me in the slightest. It was a normal "rap" between you and Bernard which made the show so entertaining. Sure, when one parses every word slowly and disconnects it from context it may sound crude- but I knew it was just jive and has NOTHING to do with the way you really are on the race issue. It was cutting edge comedy - nowhere NEAR the racism and banter heard on the Chappelle Show.

All these pantie-wearing media types mainly Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and all the other irrelevant wannabees are just out to get you for their own gain. It is wrong and I won't buy their crap. Harold Ford, Jr. is a backstabbing weasle and I hope you call him out.

What this all boils down to is just a few things.

1. Our feminized culture does NOT have a sense of humor
   
2. There are too many people out there just waiting to be offended

The only distressing thing I am observing now is watching you melt like a salted leech.

Fight the politically correct Gestapo.

Buck up and maybe you will be back on the air in some form soon.

Siriusly.

AL SHARPTON- NAPPY HEADED HYPOCRITE!

This is OUTRAGEOUS!

Don Imus, the king of sarcasm and syndicated radio genius is a funny man saying funny things which makes for great radio.

But I hope he's not caving, withering up like a salted leech.

People say he crossed the line with his “nappy headed hoes” comment referring the Rutgers Women’s basketball team. It was a funny comment in context. It was no different than what is done in comedy shows all across the country. Bernard McGuirk, Imus and his radio team are hilarious. That is why I listed to him – to laugh.

Don Imus makes fun of EVERYBODY especially the media that dominates the airwaves including Carville, Rush, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, his staff, himself, John Kerry, everyone else who becomes a media darling – especially the arrogant, pretentious drive-by-media.

So he offended some people.

GOOD.

We need more offended people in this world. He doesn't offend enough in my opinion. I think people get offended WAY too easily. I love to be made fun of in jest! This is because I do not take myself that seriously. Does that make me psychologically unhealthy? Maybe it's a view of my inadequacy before the Creator.

My real fear in all this is that Imus is going to cave and turn his show into a feminized lethargy of news and commentary with no zing. He is being chased into a corner by a bunch of politically correct thought police.

Right now I’m listening to Matt Lauer interview Imus berating him as “insensitive”.
Matt Lauer is a condescending pantie wearing feminized liberal wimp. He personifies the ca strati of NBC and all other networks for that matter.

The gargantuan hypocrisy of Al Sharpton pointing his finger at Don Imus is maddening. Here is Al Sharpton calling for Don Imus's resignation from radio. What about all the black rappers that degrade women in their music? Where is Al Sharpton calling on the record companies firing their black pimp rappers who make millions of dollars in the glorification of gang bangers and hoe makers? Huh? WHERE IS HE? Where is the public outrage and call for mass boycotts?

What about the Dave Chappelle Show and all the edginess that flows out of that black comedian’s mouth? By the way- I think Dave Chappelle is very funny.

Hey Sharpton- WHERE IS TAWANA BRAWLEY, YOU HYPOCRITE??!!

Al Sharpton was not even man enough to go on the Imus in the Morning radio show to discuss this. Imus, instead went to Al Sharpton’s show and sat there for two hours getting raked over the coals by that fat bloated nappy headed hypocrite.

Hey Sharpton- I'm calling for your resignation from all public organizations that you run because of your Tawana Brawley scam. Everyone knows that Imus is not a racist! He is just funny and pulls no punches including his own family and staff. He is funny- period! That is the kind of humor that I love- unpretentious, honest and biting.

Don't back down I-Man! Don’t roll up. Don’t cave.

NOTE TO IMUS:
Ditch the ca strati at NBC and head to satellite radio. I, for one, will be a new subscriber.

FISHING ON THE BRAIN

Protect Your Kids From Fear

Here is a worthy reprint about all the fear obsessed "fun Nazi" parents out there:

Four 11- and 12-year-old girls stood in front of my open pantry, mouths gaping wide. "Look! Fruit Roll-Ups!" "Oh, my God! Chocolate-chip cookies!" "You have regular potato chips? We only get the soy kind!"

After 14 years and four kids, I thought I'd feel comfortable as a mother. Instead, I'm increasingly aware of a prickly new sensation: that I'm some kind of renegade. Who knew that buying potato chips would become a radical act? Or that letting my daughters walk home from school alone would require administration approval? How did I, a middle-of-the-road mom, become a social deviant?

Fear is the new fuel of the American mom. If it's not fear of her child becoming obese, it's the fear of falling behind, missing out on a sports scholarship or winding up with a thin college-rejection envelope.

Apparently I'm not nervous enough. Last summer while I was loafing in front of the TV with my kids, the most benign things morphed into menaces. For example, the sun: long-sleeved, UV-protective swimsuits were all the rage at my neighborhood pool, while I could barely remember to bring the year-old sunscreen. The water wasn't safe either: at the beach I saw tots dressed in flotation belts and water wings—for shelling along the shore. And goodbye, cotton candy and hot dogs! At a major-league game I saw moms and dads nix the stuff as if they'd never eaten the occasional ballpark treat. As if their children would balloon into juvenile-diabetes statistics if a single swig of sugary soda passed their lips.

Half my kids' friends—who already make A's and B's—had summer tutors in order to "keep it fresh." I thought vacation was for relaxing and recharging. What would our pioneer foremoms think? (You want something to worry about, let me show you frostbite, typhoid and bears!) Heck, what must our own mothers think? (Snap out of it! Go worry about something truly scary, like how you're going to pay for retirement!)

I thought that once the kids were back in school, things would calm down. Instead, a fresh seasonal crop of anxiety sprouted, this time over corruptive candy fund-raisers and insufficient use of hand sanitizer. I know one mom who wants to change her son's schedule because he doesn't know anyone in his classes; she's worried he'll be "socially traumatized" all year. Another is afraid of a learning disability she just read about, though her child seems bright and charming to me.

And then there's playground panic. I had to laugh when an Australian study recently found that playground injuries continue to rise despite safety improvements. One of the suspected reasons: the safe new play structures are so boring that kids are taking more risks in order to have fun.
The fears are as irrational as they are rampant. Recently my children's elementary school failed to meet adequate yearly progress goals for a particular minority's reading progress under the No Child Left Behind Act and was placed on a warning list. This meant parents might gain the right to transfer their children to another school in the district. Never mind that this very same school sent more kids to the district's gifted program than any other, or that this entire district has the highest SAT scores in the state. The day the news broke, six different moms (none in the affected minority) asked me if I was planning to transfer my kids. From neighborhood pride and joy to threat to child's future overnight.

It's not that I think parents shouldn't worry about anything. I'm personally petrified of SUV drivers on cell phones. I fret as much as the next mom about how to pay for college. I pray my kids won't wander onto MySpace and post something dumb.

But you can't go around afraid of everything. It's too exhausting! No matter how careful you are, bad stuff happens (diaper rash, stitches, all your friends assigned to another class). And it's seldom the end of the world.

Watching my daughter's friends ogle my pantry, I realized there's one big, legitimate fear that I haven't heard anybody mention: what's the effect of our collective paranoia on the kids? Yes, these very kids we want to be so self-sufficient, responsible, confident, happy and creative (not to mention not food-obsessed). They're growing up thinking these weirdly weenie views are healthy and normal.

Walking out my front door that day, each girl happily clutched a plastic baggie stuffed with the exotic kid snacks that my daughter had doled out in pity. I may be a rebel mom, but at least I'm not afraid of a chocolate-chip cookie.

COMMON SENSE

My Carbon Footprint

Thanks be to God almighty. My carbon footprint is above the national average. That is my new year's resolution, to have to biggest footprint in Gaylord. Now if I can only figure a way to get that footprint up the backside of Algore.

Living in Fear – The Politics of Worry

So your child want to go to a friend’s house – this friend has parents who have a gun in the house or it might be a parent with a swimming pool.

Which is more dangerous?

FACT: Children are almost 3 times more likely to get killed by drowning at a house with a swimming pool.

2004 statistics for children ages 0-14 years old in the USA:

Firearm: 358
Drowning: 802

All my intuitions have been confirmed by a great show on ABC’s 20/20. John Stossel did a 2-hour special on February 23, 2007 entitled Scared Stiff – Worry in America. I have long believed that all the worriers I know, chiefly my mother were emotionally invested in worry than in facts. My mom just wants the best for us but generally speaking in our culture we are invested in fear and worry. Just watch the show lineup on the DirecTV menu:

Asteroids, terrorism, global warming, electrical storms, EMP, and almost every news expose on CBS, ABS, NBS, CNNBS, MSNBS et al. they all LOVE fear.

FEAR SELLS.

For you risk assessors out there- try this scientific formula showing actual risk likelihood.

Outright myths debunked scientifically in this 20/20 special:

• Bicycle helmets lower head injury
• Cell phone cancer
• Gun ownership
• Pollution is increasing
• Pesticides
• Global warming
• Bird flu
• Child abductions
• Shark attacks
• Diseases – new diseases

too many more to list here.

If you want to worry- try worrying about workers in the deadliest jobs by ACTUAL STATISTICS:

1. Crab fisherman
2. Loggers

Should we never take risks? What about the risks of the founding fathers of the U.S? Would people even take those kinds of risks in our culture?

I can't hel but think of all the PANSIES that I know as close friends and acquaintances right here in Gaylord afraid of just about everything fun.

For my guy friends, the worries of their worry obsessed wives rule the decisions they make. They would NEVER dare go on a wave runner, snowmobile, 4-wheeler and chiefly- the dreaded……..motorcycle.

Folks- lighten up. Don’t worry- be happy and LIVE!

Idiot of the Week

Liberal Logic

1.Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.

2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.

3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.

4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. So,... above all else, avoid hospitals.

excerpted from some baby boomer relative sending me forwarded spam

The Marketing Morph of the Weather Channel

Trivia Question:

What did Dr. Heidi Cullen of The Weather Channel get her Bachelor Degree is?

A. Meteorology
B. Broadcasting
C. Weather Forecasting
D. Near Eastern Religion

YOU GUESSED IT!

Near Eastern Religion

She is a New Age liberal and ideological leftist posing as “Doctor” Heidi Cullen, Climatologist at The Weather Channel.

Why do you think The Weather Channel has made this ideological turn toward the left?

Answer: Wonya Y. Lucas, Executive Vice President of the Weather Channel

Here is an excerpt from World Net Daily about Wonya Lucas:

Lucas admitted in a recent interview with Media Village that the reprogramming of The Weather Channel was influenced by her tenure at CNN when that network shifted from presenting straight news to personality-driven programming.

Lucas decided that what was good for CNN was good for The Weather Channel, and the objectivity and respectability of the network has now been thrown out the window. It doesn't matter that CNN's turn to the left has caused their ratings to plummet; The Weather Channel's embraced its model.

Check out this short and AWESOME article about this at World Net Daily. Link opens new window.

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53636
******************

So now you know. The Weather Channel has become the “CNN” of the weather broadcasting. Which begs the question- who will be number one?

Accuweather anyone?

Global Warming Nazi's Of the World -- UNITE!

The weather Nazi’s are at it again. Now they are suggesting that meteorologists who reject manmade global warming should have their licenses revoked. This is the latest from none other than THE WEATHER CHANNEL! Yes, the most innocent and neutral of all cable channels has now dropped trow for Al Gore and the Hollywood left.

Here is the exact quote from self-labeled Weather Channel “Climate Expert”, Dr. Heidi Cullen,

If a meteorologist can't speak to the fundamental science of climate change, then maybe the AMS shouldn't give them a Seal of Approval.
http://climate.weather.com/blog/9_11396.html

Heidi Cullen goes on to say:

Clearly, the AMS doesn't agree that global warming can be blamed on cyclical weather patterns. It's like allowing a meteorologist to go on-air and say that hurricanes rotate clockwise and tsunamis are caused by the weather.

Umm, Heidi- you IDIOT-- as the resident ‘climate expert’ at TWS, you should know that hurricanes in the Southern Hemisphere DO rotate clockwise.

And I’m just a candy salesman!

Junk science continues to steamroll through the media. No longer can there be any debate. It time for the Nuremberg Trials to begin. Shoot all dissenters on sight. Rid the world of these common sense heretics!

What is truly amazing is that no longer is it just a theory with these Nazi’s.

Now it’s “believe us or die.”

My Cousin Rosie

(Never react . Let time pass before responding. Think cautiously. OK- it’s been three weeks and I’ve calmed down. So here is the Christian version.)

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to call a spade a spade. My cousin who shall remain unnamed--has become Rosie O’Donnell. A bloated moron, with a selfish meaningless life. Mired in anger and bitterness in her own unhappiness she decided to open her mouth and insert her foot.

She decided (unprovoked) to impart her snide, arrogant and condescending and totally inappropriate remarks about my parents –to my parents- right during Christmas party at grandma’s house. Not only was it an act of basic social stupidity, it reflected a very ugly picture.

If that is all it was – it would be a sad story. But it is a story of a lady who has been told her whole life how infallible and smart she is. Lifted to the highest stature of academic success, she traded any decency, virtue and grace to get there. Now – perched in elite academia, she is obviously, well-- miserable.

And that’s not all. Rosie's bad behavior is cottled by a mother who believes "she has the right to speak her mind” (as she said to my brother). To which it is then clear why the dysfunction exists in the first place. Like mother- like daughter – miserable, unhappy and angry.

Very unpleasant people.

Unable to find a boyfriend that could ever live up to her fantastic erudite expectations, she has been relegated to a life of sarcasm, condescension and arrogance. Her mucky personality is likely a result of seclusion from the company of good people. She has become like the people closest to her.

Let me say for the record, Rosie, I would NEVER trade my parents for yours. My parents are the inspiration behind two successful and happy sons and a daughter, not to mention their great families.

So when it comes right down to it, Rosie --the academically gifted purveyor of all things chemical- is really just a blithering mean and socially dyslexic punk.

Cauterize the Madness- Happy New Year 2007

More than ever before this holiday break was stressful and absurd with family infighting and bickering.

It is very good to be home. God bless the families that live by the good Book and think of others more than themselves. It is a rare quality indeed and one that we are blessed to observe here in our home town more than other places.

The specifics are many – the problem is singular:

Selfishness.

I have heard it said and do believe it is true that Greatest Generation gave up everything for their survival through the Great Depression and World War II. My grandparents (on both sides) came home from the war and built the greatest democracy in the world --all with a selfless spirit and focus on duty.
What came next was the Baby Boom which brought us the 60’s and the WIIFM generation (“What’s In It For Me”?) They had it so good from the sacrifice made by their parents that they got lazy and started expecting everything and expecting it now. Credit cards, lawyers, yoga, tofu and ADHD are what we have as a legacy.

It has run amuck.

The fruit of the selfishness is greed and the pursuit of money. Not that these things didn’t exist before, but I’m not sure it was as prevalent before. Now it seeks to separate families!

It shouldn’t have to be this way.

It won’t be this way.

God willing.

The Inconvenient Truth- Al Gore's Really Bad Movie

My oldest son (6th grade) came home one day last week and told me that they were watching Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" in school and would have to report on it. After my head lifted off my head and spun three times I took some Valium and decided to do some research with him so that we could put together a academically proper report. In my zeal I decided to write a report as though I was the student who was forced to listen liberal propaganda in the movie. What follows is MY report unedited with all the colorings that would SURELY get me kicked out of school. My son also wrote his report (based heavily on mine, I might add) without the sarcastic musings.

...........

I do not believe that global warming is caused by human beings. Global warming is part of a long term cycle caused by geo-climatic conditions occurring in hundred year cycles. I therefore believe that if humans cannot create global warming they cannot stop global warming. God made our wonderful earth to build glaciers, melt glaciers, spew billions of tons of toxic ash into the atmosphere from volcano’s and create hurricanes like Katrina. None of these were caused by people- they were caused by God. Although it takes faith to believe the way I do, in my opinion it takes a faith and arrogance to believe that global warming is caused by people.

Since 1895, the media has scared the public with global cooling and warming scares. From 1895 until the 1930's the media promoted a coming ice age. From the late 1920's until the 1960's they warned of global warming. From the 1950's until the 1970's they warned us again of a coming ice age. The present man-made global warming hype is just the latest scare.

The “hockey stick” was used in the movie to prove human caused global warming in the 20^th century. It is a hoax.

According to Surface Temperature Reconstructions for the Last 2,000 Years a publication of the National Academy of Sciences published in 2006- the authors reaffirmed the existence of the Medieval Warm Period from about 900 AD to 1300 AD and the Little Ice Age from about 1500 to 1850. Both of these periods occurred long before the invention of the SUV or human industrial activity. In fact, scientists believe the Earth was warmer during the Medieval Warm Period when the Vikings grew crops in Greenland, than today. Maybe that is why they named it G R E E N land?

Alarmist politicians, Hollywood producers and teachers have been attempting to erase the Medieval Warm Period from the earth's climate history for at least a decade. David Deming, a professor at the University of Oklahoma's College of Geosciences, can testify to that. Dr. Deming was welcomed into the close-knit group of global warming believers after he published a paper in 1995 that noted some warming in the 20th century. Deming says he was then contacted by a global warming “scientists” who told him point blank "we have to get rid of the Medieval Warm Period." When the "Hockey Stick" graph first appeared in 1998, it did just that.

Speaking of this Al Gore movie, a pile of liberal excrement vainly propagated on young formative minds, the government recently published his A Skeptics Guide to Debunking Global Warming. The pamphlet available at: http://epw.senate.gov/repwhitepapers/6341044%20Hot%20&%20Cold%20Media.pdf. What follows is an excerpt from a floor speech given by James Inhofe Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works delivered Monday September 25, 2006.

What follows is a very brief summary of the science that the former Vice President promotes in either a wrong or misleading way:

· He promoted the now debunked “hockey stick” temperature chart in an attempt to prove man’s overwhelming impact on the climate

· He attempted to minimize the significance of Medieval Warm period and the Little Ice Age

· He insisted on a link between increased hurricane activity and global warming that most sciences believe does not exist.

· He asserted that today’s Arctic is experiencing unprecedented warmth while ignoring that temperatures in the 1930’s were as warm or warmer

· He claimed the Antarctic was warming and losing ice but failed to note, that is only true of a small region and the vast bulk has been cooling and gaining ice.

· He hyped unfounded fears that Greenland’s ice is in danger of disappearing

· He erroneously claimed that ice cap on Mt. Kilimanjaro is disappearing due to global warming, even while the region cools and researchers blame the ice loss on local land-use practices

· He made assertions of massive future sea level rise that is way out side of any supposed scientific “consensus” and is not supported in even the most alarmist literature.

· He incorrectly implied that a Peruvian glacier’s retreat is due to global warming, while ignoring the fact that the region has been cooling since the 1930s and other glaciers in South America are advancing

· He blamed global warming for water loss in Africa’s Lake Chad, despite NASA scientists concluding that local population and grazing factors are the more likely culprits

· He inaccurately claimed polar bears are drowning in significant numbers due to melting ice when in fact they are thriving

· He completely failed to inform viewers that the 48 scientists who accused President Bush of distorting science were part of a political advocacy group set up to support Democrat Presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004.

The movie we watched was nothing more than wild propaganda. It had a very one-sided point of view about global warming in saying that humans cause it. This movie is nothing more than an angry looser going insane in a desperate attempt to find legitimacy. He lost the presidential election in 2000 and has faded into obscurity. This movie was his attempt to find meaning in his life. He is a lost soul and a lost mind just as in the tradition established by his racist father who voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

...............................

ASSIGNEMENT QUESTIONS

List several harmful effect of global warming.

1. Bigger electric bill from running our air conditioner
2. More suntan lotion for when I go fishing and swimming
3. Having to listen to junk science being forced down our throat in school.

State some small changes we could make in our lives to be less harmful to our environment.

1. The premise is wrong. I don’t believe that we can affect the environment with individual changes in lifestyle

Conclude by stating the following:
What I will do to make a positive impact upon this problem?

1. The premise is wrong. Global warming is not a problem. It is a natural cycle that our earth goes through. We are not gods, we cannot control the path that this earth takes and to think so is arrogant. There is no impact whatsoever that I can make on global warming.

Summarize my stance on this sensitive issue.

My stance on global warming is that naturally occurs without human intervention. This movie is based on junk science and arrogance. It is junk science because global warming and cooling has happened naturally for thousands of years with and without industry pollution. The idea that humans created global warming is arrogant because we are not God. The idea that we can stop global warming morphs arrogance into clinical stupidity.

PayPal Goes Postal- In a Good Way

Leave it the United States Federal government to continue to demonstrate irrelevance. This time (or as always) with the postal system.

I do a LOT of shipping with FedEx Ground, USPS and least of all UPS. For years I struggled to efficiently ship out items sold on eBay or items sent to customers. I usually guess as to shipping fees to charge eBay customers- but finally bought digital postal scales.

For years I have used our FedEx Ground stickers to adhere to boxes and it has been great because we get billed later and can pay for everything once per month. But FedEx charges more than USPS and occasionally have screwed up deliveries I have sent or received. So I have searched for a way to use USPS as long as it lessens my hassle.

So USPS finally came out with stamps.com. Cool – right? Not. You have to PAY just to use that service in addition to your postage fees. How about the USPS web site? Well there is “Click-n-Ship” but you still have to type in the addressee to see the costs and print out the label to stick on your box. USPS’s address import feature is bug ridden as is their desktop software – Shipping Assistant 3.0.

So yesterday the sun came out and God shined down upon me. It was right there all along but was hidden.

PAYPAL!

I have seen their “Print Shipping Label” feature for months but upon selecting that option was taken to PayPal’s UPS portal. NOT. I don’t like UPS because of the complete hassle in dropping off my package to their Gaylord location which is a TOTAL hassle. And of course, they charge to come here to pick it up.

But- when I dug deeper in PayPal I found that I could select USPS as the default shipper and use that to ship all items. Bingo!

No importing of addressees, no package drop off hassles (my Post Office is just 2 miles away), no pick up hassles (our mailman will pick up anything), shipping fee hassles are gone – I can pay directly from PayPal when printing out the USPS label, AND THE COSTS ARE THE LOWEST!

The stars have aligned.

Reagan Lives Again

We know only too well that war comes not when the forces of freedom are strong; it is when they are weak that tyrants are tempted. We simply cannot learn these lessons the hard way again without risking our destruction.

Ronald Reagan
RNC Convention in Detroit
July 1980

For some unknown reason, I decided to find Ronald Reagan audio clips online. I found a site that lists his most famous speeches beginning in 1964 when he campaigned for Barry Goldwater. I cannot begin to communicate how refreshing it is to hear the greatest president in my lifetime state (with clarity) the principles I embrace.

I actually listened to four or five entire speeches in mp3 format including is farewell in the Oval Office. They have been refreshing, inspiring and (dare I say), emotional.

In this present time there is NO conservative leadership, NO conservative ideal being modeled in Washington and certainly with NO conservative agenda from George W. Bush. Reagan has rescued me.

I came into my political awareness during the Reagan presidency but have always relied more on adulating fans of Reagan than my own first hand experience. It was time for me to go back, look and listen for myself.

With internet marvels such as Google image clips, audio clips and YouTube – Reagan’s leadership and charisma can be experienced once again. I think it’s what many conservatives need – it certainly is what I needed.

Couldn't Have Said It Better

"We Transformationed to a New Democractic Super Majority"

I know what you're thinking Don...."what a dumbass"!

Compassionate conservative do-nothing - unable to lead a conservative movement for congressmen to follow.

Jerk.

Bush No More

Reluctantly and angrily today I no longer support George Bush.

It is though I cannot believe what I am writing. No one has been a more rock solid Republican voter than me! I have NEVER voted Democrat. I always vote straight Republican except for the U of M Board of Regents, MSU and Wayne State University boards- in which case I vote straight Libertarian.

After listening to George Bush’s firing of Donald Rumsfeld and the following news conference yesterday- I find Bush to be simply embarrassing. I used to think his stutters and misspeaking were endearing, but have now become pandering, apologetic and whining.

For the sake of ensuring a Democrat loss, I never broke ranks in the past. Now there is nothing to loose. Bush lost the election by failing to lead a conservative movement.

Bottom line: George Bush is NOT a conservative. He does NOT promote a conservative ideology. He does NOT demand conservative points and agenda items down through the ranks of Congress. He does NOT lead a conservative movement.

That is why Republicans lost. Democrats put on their sheep’s clothing and talked like conservatives for the last four weeks deceiving the electorate while the Republicans slept. The Republicans were silent on values, silent on partial birth abortions, silent on Marriage Amendments, silent on all the things that win in elections. Barak Obama sounded like a born-again evangelical in the last four weeks of his Democratic run. All this while his voting record shows no sign of the conservative values he spouted in his campaign.

Because conservatism wins every time.

Conservatism did not lose, REPUBLICANS DID.

Democrats filled the vacuum.

George Bush is a jelly-spined president on most every issue except terrorism. Although he has been effective on national defense, he has done NOTHING to promote his cause by helping win congressional elections NECESSARY in getting his supporters in office.

Two steps forward – two steps back. Thanks George!

God Help Us All

I’m so depressed I’m cancelling all my appointments today and going fishing.

Jennifer (Oh Canada!) Grandholm, Debbie Stab-me-now and Nancy Pelosi now make the governmental decision affecting my life. NANCY PELOSI of San Francisco! HELLO!

My old idea that 50% of everyone you meet is an idiot is outdated.

It’s now 56%.

God help us all.

Much more to come….

Got Religion?

It amuses me to look back on history and see how the pendulum of meaning changes from generation to generation.

Take cigarettes, they were commonplace and accepted in the 1950’s but are a bane today. Churches were once bastions of denominational heritage and are now in competition for superior ecumenicalism.

Take the Christian faith. A popular and at times- misleading statement from the pulpit is, “you don’t need religion, you need Jesus”. Well what’s wrong with looking at Jesus religiously? If the point of that statement is forsaking all other faiths in preference of Christianity, then fine. But maybe more religion is what we really need. Maybe we need to approach our relationship to Jesus more religiously.

Where has duty gone? I mean duty as being a virtue. Duty once held a prized position in a virtuous life. It was held highly by the likes of George Washington, John Wesley, Clara Barton and Mother Theresa.

There is the heroic tale of Lord Nelson who saved England from conquest at Trafalgar in 1805. They remembered his signal to the sailors of all ships of the line, “England expects every man to do his duty.” Then there was that dreadful day when the young (queen to be) Elizabeth learned, when she was ten years old, that her Uncle David, King Edward VIII, was not going to do his duty, but was to give up the Throne in 1936 for the woman he loved.

Duty: a moral obligation to act, an impulsive response to a higher calling.

Duty’s virtue is apparent in sermons of yesteryear. Take the first sentence of John Wesley Sermon 101 written in 1787: I am to show that it is the duty of every Christian to receive the Lord’s Supper as often as he can.

What does this mean for today? To me it means that we have forsaken duty in several areas of our Christian walk.

Church Attendance
“Forsake not the assembling” has turned into “I’ll go to church if I feel like it”. This command given to us in the book of Hebrews is non negotiable, but how often we don’t see it as a divine instruction, but instead worship corporately on our own schedule.

Meaningful Liturgy
Twenty-first century evangelicalism has devolved to a church service that is many times staid and void of meaning. I categorize current church worship liturgy into what I think of as a liturgical triangle: Modern Pentecostal, Conservative Baptist and Liturgical Catholicism – with all shades of difference in between.

We sing two praise choruses, have the offering, listen to the announcements, sign and pass the register book, sing a couple more songs then listen to the sermon and go home. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to have a true communion with God every Sunday? What about a quiet, darkened sanctuary with a few lit candles at the altar while we commune with God? What about approaching God in reverence and awe instead of hoping to catch a glimpse of Him through the over-amplified Christian rock/praise appealing to our baser instincts?

The same goes for another side of the church triangle in those churches whose weekly church service consists of hymns written with archaic words accompanied with a loud out-of-tune piano, poorly sung bluegrass music, then a “fire and brimstone” sermon.

Finally, there are the quiet, repetitive and rote utterances of Roman Catholic liturgy which can lack the element of a personally relating with Jesus Christ. Maybe this could be taking duty a little too far.

So how can we be more religious in our Christian walk?

Obligatory Prayer
How about teaching our children that prayer and devotion are expected daily? I know that this only had a positive effect on my parents and family who practiced it. What was at times a hassle turned into a valued and regular talk with God. This time can become cherished and provide a good heritage.

Compulsory Sacrifice
Our sacrifice can be as simple as opening a door for an elderly person at a restaurant. Sacrifice is the idea that other people (and a higher purpose) are more important than us. This may be the hardest thing to achieve in our world. We live in a world where it’s “all about me, all about I, all about #1” as the song goes. We need to give up our comfort and pride for the benefit that others would see Creator of the world.

Holy Reverence for Christ
This means living Christ in our community with the idea that we represent saved sinners only by the grace of God. For most of us, this would mean living in humility and reverence.

So duty and religion go hand in hand. Instead of viewing God as just casual friend we need to view Him with greater piety. Granted all Christian are different and all Christians will view God differently, but I maintain that we could all use a little more religion in our walk.

Time for Labor Day to Die

Labor Day is the most useless of all the holidays. Besides that, it is the most oxymoronic with an emphasis on “moronic”. Where did Labor Day come from? Basically, it was started by labor unions in 1884 in New York City. By June 28, 1894, Congress passed a law making Labor Day official.

Whatever you think about Labor Unions of yore, now they are clearly illegitimate (observe the disintegration of GM and Ford). But like all things governmental, traditions and programs are retained regardless of their meaning. Just look at FDR’s Social InSecurity program and the Income Tax (Achievement Tax) that was implemented to assist in the time of war. These are programs that once may have been effective but are now Jurassic and disfunctional.

Now Michigan politicians, with their infinite reservoirs of wisdom and moral light, have passed an IDIOTIC law banning schools from starting until after Labor Day. So it is good for the tourism business? Great! Let’s think of some new laws that negatively affect education for the benefit of business. How about a new law mandating that each HS student spends one week each school year working for local businesses pro bono? Now there is a surge in Michigan’s economy.

This STUPID school start date law combined with the MEAP testing mandates are forcing schools into an almost impossible scheduling situation.

I don’t rest on Labor Day. I’m stressed for the first day of school which is TOMORROW. My kids are stressed, my wife is stressed and my dog is stressed. Labor Day adds one more day to the school year pushing the year end out farther into June. With all the snow day we have already - who wants that?

So let’s face it. Labor Day is useless.

Labor Day celebrates Unions which don’t work.

Labor Day screws up the school calendar.

NO ONE rests on Labor Day- they are too busy stressing about the next day!

Labor Day is a bad excuse for a holiday. It must die.

My Take on the Whole JonBenet, John Karr Thing

I cannot help but be delighted at watching the media squirm in anger as they realize that they have been had. John Mark Karr is not their man. DNA tests yesterday proved he did not rape JonBenet. God- what a stupid name. It just sounds so pompous and erudite. What a bunch of pompous blow hard parents that would name their kid after French, patẻ eating surrender monkeys.

Granted, I hope they do find the rapist and the killer. I still think it is possible that John Mark Karr may have killed her. Maybe someone else raped her and then he killed her – who knows. He is still a creep. He looks like a lot of college students I remember in music school. I think it’s the polo shirts buttoned to the neck.

It is just that the media was already demonizing Mr. Karr and had him convicted before the truth came out. The TV gaggle couldn’t rush to the microphone fast enough. It would be hard to label any one talking head – but the one I saw last night was the substitute for O’Reilly. I can’t think of his name, but he is otherwise a decent guy (former conservative Congressman from Ohio, I think). He was ranting in disgust at how the Boulder DA screwed this up.

Ha ha - sucka's!

And also let me give the final word on the Ramsey’s. Mr. Ramsey, I hear, is a decent man. I have heard this first hand from a local politician who knows him. Frankly, if I had a chance to meet him, I’m sure we would agree on lot being that we are both conservatives. (Well, I’m 50% Republican, 50% Libertarian- so maybe we would agree on most things.)

But I’m sorry.

Any parent that names their kid JonBenet is screwed up. Then to smear your kids face with make-up, put evening gowns on them and cover them with jewelry shows a serious Oedipus complex.
To me it is the height of arrogance and dysfunction. The poor girl ate it up; I’m sure to no fault of her own. She was a normal girl forced into tragic circumstances by her “popularity fiend” parents.

And if it was Patsy who was the driving force behind the beauty queen pageant complex- I still blame Mr. for being a willing accomplice. As the man in
the family he should have had put his foot down. NOTHING positive comse from these stupid youth beauty pageants! All it does is glorify outward appearance as a primary factor of character. Besides that- it gives the kid a false idea that they are “above” other kids who may not be as attractive- thereby, leading to a contorted view of the world. Also- it pits one couple against another for “the title” of having the “best girl”. What a bunch of crap.

Besides my daughter is way more beautiful than theirs anyway. After all, Kaylee made it to the cover of People Magazine. Suckas!

I don’t mean to resurrect all the negativity especially since Patsy died last hear from cancer- but the frankly- it’s not me who has resurrected these emotions. It is the media who has gone wall-to-wall with JonBenet coverage.

John Mark Karr is a perv – there is no question about it. He is a mistake waiting to happen or maybe it’s already happened. I’m not sure what the facts are regarding his criminal activity- but what is clear is what had been left in his wake – a broken home, abandoned kids, multiple firings from multiple elementary school teaching jobs, residency
in Bangkok .

Folks- let me be blunt about Bangkok. If you are not in the military, missions or just passing through- you are probably there to get attention from 10 year old girls. I could be more graphic- but will try to keep this post somewhere above the gutter.
It is a depraved city. The Sodom or Gomorrah of the far East.

Still, pray for his soul.

Why I Voted “NO” on the Jail

[Letter to the Editor of the Gaylord Herald Times submitted August 12, 2006]

After seeing Jail Initiative Fact Sheet published by Otsego County it was clear that I would vote “NO” on the construction of a new jail.

Before seeing the fact sheet I was more concerned with cost of 1.6 mills over 20 years, which would have personally cost me over $4,000 over 20 years. After seeing the fact sheet I was shocked to see the type of people that are being jailed in Otsego County most of which should never be in jail to begin with.

According to the Fact Sheet Crime Statistics, in 2005-2006 there were 3,627 charges against inmates residing at the jail. Fifty-one percent (51%) of charges were drug related. Apparently, many of these are people smoking dope, getting high and ……..threatening public safety? No, just screwing up their own lives. Why waste valuable jail space on pot heads? Hey, if inmates are truly a public threat, such as drunk driving, I believe they should be in punished in jail and detoxed, but for idiots who want to shoot LSD and watch Pink Floyd videos, why send them to jail? That is not an efficient use of my tax dollars!

In addition, I do not see the value of jailing misdemeanor criminals which were 67% of the outstanding warrants as of May of 2006. I see the failure of the New Jail Proposal as a catalyst for proper pruning of the criminal justice system of Otsego County.

Secondly, for those who DO belong behind bars, I want the most discomfort possible. Jail is should not be a social service, it should be punishment. My, how the pendulum swings from cruel Medieval torture to 21st century “rehabilitation” (and cable TV). Where is the middle ground of punishment by confinement? While I am personally compassionate towards the remorseful that have broken laws, I see the role of the county jail to punish.

If you think that 8-12 inmates per cell is crowded, go talk to submarine crew from the U.S. Navy, maybe they could explain what overcrowded accommodations are. I frankly do not care that hardened criminals are uncomfortable. Committing serious crime is not a ticket to Club Med.

If there is a valid safety concern for inmates such as putting hardened criminals in the same cell as first time offenders, then slap the first time offenders with a hefty fine and let them go. Next time they won’t be first time offenders. If Bubba wants to “play” with the other inmates, then either Bubba needs serious restraints placed upon him, or perhaps he belongs in a more restrictive correctional facility.

Thirdly, my “NO” vote on the jail proposal was a personal referendum on what I have seen as over-zealous laws and police officers.

The most recent example is that a good personal friend was stopped by the Gaylord City Police this past week and the corner of Dickerson and M-32 and given a ticket for not wearing a seat belt. When asking the officer what else he had done to be stopped, there was no other reason. The officer said that they were in the middle of a “campaign” to enforce seat belt use. A “campaign?” Without going into a diatribe on my views of useless and intrusive laws, let me say that stopping a driver for not wearing a seat belt is government tyranny.

When fines are delivered to the citizenry to enforce useless laws (“air crimes”) it is strictly revenue raising. In the past it was know as highway robbery, now we call it “Click It or Ticket”. Police need to stop acting as the county pillagers and focus on something serious, such as, oh…..crime fighting.

While this is not directly tied to my nixing a new jail, the “NO” vote is my voice of opposition to law enforcement gone amuck.

Incidentally, I voted “YES” on all other proposals, which provided an actual benefit to me, a citizen of Otsego County.

“Respite to Reload” for Hezbollah

What a bunch of crap! According to the ABC NEWS online headline, Israeli PM Has Accepted Cease-Fire Deal.

Condoleezza has reluctantly taken the bait and caved to the pressures of the “international community” (whatever the hell that means). Time to cycle through the same mistakes that have been happening for the last 60 years.

What’s the phrase? THOSE WHO FORGET THE MISTAKES OF HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT THEM.

Here we go again.

Every time Hezbollah and Israel have a “cease fire” or a “time-out” or a new “land for peace” deal, it always ends up as “respite to reload” plan for Hezbollah.

Mark my words. This will not work. It is a merely the calm before the storm. Prime Minister Olmert has accepted this “cease-fire” because of U.N. pressure once again, but the pot is boiling. The time is coming when the godless and demon possessed Hezbollah will again commit an atrocity against Israel, and the camels back will be broken.

There is only one solution to the Israeli – Palestinian conflict. TOTAL DEFEAT OF HEZBOLLAH.

Nothing short will do. Civilians will be killed as all total defeats have shown us. Here are a few battles in history where TOTAL VICTORY meant the killing of civilians.

DATE: February 13, 1945
PLACE: Dresden, Germany
U.S. bombing killed at least 35,000 civilians to ensure the Nazi’s were stopped.

DATE: August 6, 1945
PLACE: Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan
U.S. atomic bombs killed 214,000 civilians resulting in defeat of the murderous Empire of Japan

So let’s see if this new “cease-fire” will be the one that will bring lasting peace to the Middle East.

Kum-by-ah.

Three Cheers for the MI-5

Have you noticed that EVERYONE is a suspect? The granny with a cane, mothers with baby food and white guys with golf clubs. All because we are afraid to profile.

All Muslims are not terrorists but have you noticed that all terrorists are Muslim?

So we have slowed air transportation to a crawl because now we assume that every traveler is a terrorist. Well, that would be the easy way out wouldn’t it? Since we can’t (won’t) identify Middle Eastern Muslim men as the higher risk for sinister activity, we inconvenience the masses to avoid being called a racist. This is all part of the exposure of white guilt so poignantly championed be Shelby Steele.


Thanks to the British patriots we are safer again for a while. With laser precision, dogged persistence and steel resolve they have taken down the twenty-one Muslim men who were intent on blowing up airliners over the Atlantic. No CIA leaks, no international diplomacy, no treason by the New York Times and no “cautious restraint” from Kofi Annan, the chief anti-Semite.

Our Homeland Security has much to learn from the MI-5 and the Mossad, if only they would. Take the fight to the enemy and defeat them. Most likely, Middle Eastern Muslim men, that is.

No More Slavery

What a challenge! Dave Ramsey, a financial counselor has put us to the test. The question is “can we succeed”? Debt is bad – that is the point.

We are on a mission to become debt free. In our culture it is not taught to defend against the constant onslaught of credit card offers, refinancing offers, home equity and the like. I certainly bought into the whole thing back in college. It started with a yellow credit card application from Citibank on my dorm desk in 1986. It gave me instant access to $2,000 which started me on an undisciplined binge lasting until, well – lately.

I have heard people like Larry Burkett and others on the radio counseling about proper financial living, but frankly, it always sounded unrealistic and boring. No more.

Thanks to Dave Ramsey, who’s “in your face” style is what I needed. I could not recommend anyone more highly. He has shown us how all our debts can be erased with some laser focused attention for the next seven years. It is seriously possible to have everything paid off – including our home – in seven years. For those of you who know me- that sounds like a big leap. You may wonder if we can even have normal life at the same time. The short answer in no. My “normal life” has always consisted in getting stuff, stuff and more stuff. For us it is monumental to be debt free by the time our oldest graduates from high school.

Can we do it? It is a big mountain. I think so and I’m determined.

My short sighted view of finances has gotten the best of me over time and has made me a slave. Proverbs 22:7 says it all – “the borrower is SLAVE to the lender”. I really feel like a whipping boy to our mortgage company and I’ve had enough.

My slavery to the lenders has choked off my ability to tithe properly, give to caused that we believe in and made many of the little things in life a struggle.

Maybe some of you are in the same rut. Drop me a note if you can relate.

Uncle Tom Ritchie - 1946-2006

Today my uncle Tom Ritchie of Lowell, MI died of meningitis that suddenly attacked his weakened immune system after undergoing chemotherapy for the last few months.

My memories of Uncle Tom go back to my earliest days. He and his family have always been part of the "inner circle' of family gatherings. His father and my grandmother were orphaned siblings in the 1920's. Their sibling bond held tight even among their respective children, that being my dad and Uncle Tom and subsequent families.

Uncle Tom was a very successful businessman having started his own paper products brokerage then expanding into other recyclable products then eventually into meat and deli products. He was very successful by this world's standards but even more successful in building the kingdom of God through his ministry with Baptists for Life and many short term mission trips to Romania working with adoption agencies there. He is to this day known as "dad" by many Romanian people. His love changed many lives.

He radiated love in so many ways. He always had a smile on his face - and always had a funny joke to tell. You knew he loved his kids and grandkids because of the love they showed to him. It was obvious- he was full of love. I know the love came from Christ who meant everything to him.

I also remember Uncle Tom as being able to give a whooping when he needed to. One time many year yore- I was on the receiving end of that much needed discipline and I am grateful for it. He always disciplined in love.

My dear wife had the privilege of working for Uncle Tom the year we met at Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference in Muskegon, MI. Darlene actually worked for him for two full years until we moved to Portage, MI. I'll never forget Uncle Tom crying as we loaded the moving truck from our Grand Rapids apartment in regret that Darlene would be moving away. He was really fond of Darlene and it was clear that she was more of a daughter than an employee.

Darlene loved Uncle Tom and has always thought the world of him. Uncle Tom in a way was an "ambassador" of the Perrine family to Darlene in that he represented all the positive traits that I wanted to show to Darlene of my extended family. In fact, Darlene could not imagine a better work experience with such a Godly leader and boss as Uncle Tom was. To this day, Darlene compares every boss to him. The measuring stick is very tall making it tough for any boss to compare.

Most of all, Uncle Tom was a Godly man. I'm sure those closest to him knew his shortcomings, but to most everyone he came into contact with, he was Christ. He loved so deeply.

Matt, John, Phil and Leah and Aunt Terre - I have no idea how you can cope with this loss. Only through prayer, time and a clear image of Uncle Tom sitting next to Jesus.

Uncle Tom- you are a model to me and I praise God for you. Your life was pillar of love and goodness for all to see.

To your beloved family -
from Mark, Darlene, Kellen, Benji, Kaylee and Brianna Perrine

Darlene & Mark - 14 Years Together!

To Darlene -

For the fourteen years of our marriage, God has seen fit to bless us in unimaginable ways. Once again, this year – I am given to write you a sonnet, plagiarized, though it may be. I hope it can express my love to you better than through a card.

These words, though not in foresight of my death, express my heartfelt love.

Sullivan Ballou, a Major of the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers, fought for the Union cause. On July 14, 1841, he wrote a letter to his beloved wife two weeks before the Battle of Bull Run.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown up to honorable manhood around us.

If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name...

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!

But, 0 Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you, in the brightest day and in the darkest night... always, always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again...

Sullivan Ballou was killed one week later in the 1st battle of Bull Run.

If I could live every day as though it were my last it would be with these thoughts. I love you and am the most blessed of men to have you in my life.

Love,

Mark
June 6, 2006

SHE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!

A case of mistaken identity. A small glimpse of the grace of God. A visual demostration of the love of Jesus in coming back from the dead.

Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you, Jesus!

Visit the blog of the Laura VanRyn (authored by her parents), the girl who died and was thought to be alive.

I'm Baaaaack

I'm baaack. Since the foliage has sprouted from our home to the radio tower, we lost internet. Until, that is, I ordered "The Silver Bullet" a powerful antenna that cuts through the forest to optimize the signal. I installed that up on the roof yesterday, in the freezing rain. Why? Because I was desperate for my internet. I suppose it's like an alcoholic needing booze.

So I went up the ladder with an umbrella, socket wrench, crescent wrench, utility knife, tacky tape and a towel. It was ok for the first 10 minutes, then I started feeling, umm- queasy. After all, I was just 3 feet from a 50 foot drop.

Anywho. It turns out that my transmission problem is more likely due to a wireless router problem than anything else.

Long story- short. It finally works!

Show Your Sis Some Love

Kellen and Benji, you are two of the greatest gifts your mother and I have been given. Kellen, you were born at a time of tumult in our lives at the end of teaching career and beginning of my venture into the scary world of sales and business. Your early formative years saw many changes from living in a busy metropolis, to a serene country farm in Suttons Bay and finally to our forest home. You started kindergarten in Detroit, 1st grade in a school comprised mostly of native Americans and now in Gaylord.

Ben, it hasn’t been quite as turbulent for you, but you too, have had your share of adjustments.

What has your mom and I concerned at this time is your jealousy and resentment towards your younger sisters. Truly, I can understand why you feel this way. Kaylee is a people pleaser. She loves to be around us. She craves approval and love. She is a girl. Ponies, princesses, pink and pretty posies. Brianna is the shadow of her older sister, just slightly funnier.

You love video games, Lord of the Rings movies and watching TV. But just because the girls want to spend more time with us DOES NOT make us love them more than you. I hope and pray that someday you will see that your natural inclinations as boys does not make you less special than them.

Realize that your mother and I made a commitment before you were born that we would never show favoritism and would give you each all the love you deserve. We love you for the boys that you are.

Actually, you are just like me! I was the same way. You wouldn’t catch me coloring pink or asking my parents to watch me dance. I was too busy shooting crows, snakes and trying to get myself killed. Totally boy.

I hope it is sooner than later that you learn to love your “annoying” sisters for who they are. Realize that they look up to you and admire you. To them you are their cool brothers. Hopefully, you can model the chivalrous men someday they will want to associate with.

In the mean time, hold on to love that your little sisters want to show to you and just pretend – just imagine the possibility that their admiration for you may not last forever. Their admiration for you is something that some boys never get and live their whole lives wishing to receive.

Start giving your sisters a big hug.

We love you. Hey – let’s go fishing tomorrow!

In Loving Memory of Whitney Cerak

In loving memory of Witney Cerak. I never knew her directly, but I know, love and respect her parents, Newell and Colleen Cerak. You could scour this earth and never find two nicer and more decent people.

Last night a truck crossed the median on I-69 in Indiana ripping in half the van containing college students from Taylor University.

The sadness emanating is beyond words. We are to bear one anothers burdens. In that light, I can only describe the overwhelming grief as God's call for us to hold up Colleen, Newell and Whitneys older sister's at this time.

Whitney- I know that you had a positive effect on so many if your life. It is a regret that I never got to know you personally. I am certain that you are now dancing in the arms of Jesus and waiting for you dear family to join you.

Darlene and I tearfully, send our sympathies to the family and close friends and lift them up in prayer at this time.