Some good news from Iraq and their security apparatus. Though a day late and a dollar short (and a few hundred lives unfortunately) it is good to see the response and its effectiveness.
H/T Iraq The Model
State owned al-Sabah reports that a special force of the ministry of interior captured 14 suspects believed to have been involved in the August 19 attacks in Baghdad that killed more than a hundred people. The confessions of the captured cell members lead to the bomb factory where the trucks used in the attacks were made. Inside the factory, which was in the Ghazaliyah district in northwestern Baghdad, another truck-bomb was found and disposed of. ...(more)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Obamacare 2.0 or Bait and Switch
Charles Krauthammer delivers a "Plan B" for Obamacare. As I have said before, no reasonable person will deny that we need some changes, but reasonable people can and do disagree on complete overhaul, deficit spending, and putting government in control of healthcare matters. Here's one such proposal:
"...Obamacare 2.0 -- promulgating draconian health-insurance regulation that prohibits (a) denying coverage for preexisting conditions, (b) dropping coverage if the client gets sick and (c) capping insurance company reimbursement.
What's not to like? If you have insurance, you'll never lose it. Nor will your children ever be denied coverage for preexisting conditions.
The regulated insurance companies will get two things in return. Government will impose an individual mandate that will force the purchase of health insurance on the millions of healthy young people who today forgo it. And government will subsidize all the others who are too poor to buy health insurance. The result? Two enormous new revenue streams created by government for the insurance companies.
Its not perfect but its another idea/option, something congress seems to be woefully short of these days.
but then Krauthammer then lets the other leather boot drop as it were:
"...Isn't there a catch? Of course, there is. Government-subsidized universal and virtually unlimited coverage will vastly compound already out-of-control government spending on health care. The financial and budgetary consequences will be catastrophic. And the only solution will be rationing. That's when the liberals will give the FCCCER regulatory power and give you end-of-life counseling. " (more here)
"...Obamacare 2.0 -- promulgating draconian health-insurance regulation that prohibits (a) denying coverage for preexisting conditions, (b) dropping coverage if the client gets sick and (c) capping insurance company reimbursement.
What's not to like? If you have insurance, you'll never lose it. Nor will your children ever be denied coverage for preexisting conditions.
The regulated insurance companies will get two things in return. Government will impose an individual mandate that will force the purchase of health insurance on the millions of healthy young people who today forgo it. And government will subsidize all the others who are too poor to buy health insurance. The result? Two enormous new revenue streams created by government for the insurance companies.
Its not perfect but its another idea/option, something congress seems to be woefully short of these days.
but then Krauthammer then lets the other leather boot drop as it were:
"...Isn't there a catch? Of course, there is. Government-subsidized universal and virtually unlimited coverage will vastly compound already out-of-control government spending on health care. The financial and budgetary consequences will be catastrophic. And the only solution will be rationing. That's when the liberals will give the FCCCER regulatory power and give you end-of-life counseling. " (more here)
Friday, August 28, 2009
Christian vs. Public Education
I cannot recommend highly enough this article from the editors of Touchstone Magazine. It pulls no punches in pointing out the glaring problems of anti-Christian public education that no amount of rationalizing can make go away, while at the same time talking about how true, robust, Classical Christian education is the only education worth having.
This is a must read.
This is a must read.
ABC, NBC Won't Air Ad Critical of Obama's Health Care Plan
So, if there was ever any doubt in your mind which way the media leans, this should put it to rest. It's unconscionable that anyone should be allowed to present an opposable view the Obama Administration.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Frankenstein?
It is indeed a slippery slope. Of course just because we have the knowledge to clone a person that doesn’t mean that we will, right. Create a person without a soul? I think of Daemon, Boys from Brazil, or Pet Cemetery…….
God has given us free will. With our research we have created a lot of good, but much wrong has come with it.
I found this article interesting. Scientist have determined and proven that they can take fertilized egg and genetically correct any genetic defects carried by the parents. This is accomplished by adding genetic material "mitochondria" from a third person. So....now the baby has three genetic parents?
Just because we can do it should we? After all, God made a mistake, so we should correct his mistake, right? If a child has the possibility of a genetic defect they are of no use, so instead of just aborting them and flushing them down the toilet, or tossing them in the sink until they die, now we can genetically engineer them so we can have the perfect child.
God has given us free will. With our research we have created a lot of good, but much wrong has come with it.
I found this article interesting. Scientist have determined and proven that they can take fertilized egg and genetically correct any genetic defects carried by the parents. This is accomplished by adding genetic material "mitochondria" from a third person. So....now the baby has three genetic parents?
Just because we can do it should we? After all, God made a mistake, so we should correct his mistake, right? If a child has the possibility of a genetic defect they are of no use, so instead of just aborting them and flushing them down the toilet, or tossing them in the sink until they die, now we can genetically engineer them so we can have the perfect child.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Week In Review
No, there is no news here. No biting commentary. No editorial remarks, though goodness knows the world screams for them. Instead I intend to bore everyone making the unfortunate choice to read this, with a slide-show of sorts, of how I spent the last week. Same sedative qualities as the traditional slide show motif only without the chance of an occasionally interesting picture- although those may come later. Please contain your excitement.
We traveled to Missouri to visit my wife's parents who live in Independence. I have the best in-laws in the world. Good laughs, good stories, no drama, no pressure or expectations. It is ostensibly a trip for my wife but I get to reap the benefits of a relaxing vacation, sleeping in till 6:30 or so and walking about a good part of the time with no shoes. I cannot remember the last time I really "needed" a vacation but this was one of those times. I had a knot in the middle of my back all the week prior upon which another knot seemed to form as we made the flight to Kansas City. I felt it melt away every minute I was there.
Perhaps it was the rain. After a summer of which has included almost 70 days of 100+ temps I can honestly say that the sights and sounds and smells of the rains which have turned the area into a lush green place were a welcome greeting.
On these trips we always try to see some historical and educational sites for the boys and for ourselves as we all love history. This trip was particularly fun/interesting in this regard and I offer up our itinerary to you as a preview in the event you decide that a similar trip might be worth your time. (It would be)
First, we went to the Truman Presidential Library. I've only seen one other presidential library, that being good ole LBJ for whom we can thank for the day off tomorrow. (At least you can if you are a state worker here in Texas or work with one as does yours truly) I enjoyed this library more than LBJ's and regret that we did not have more time to spend there. I would easily go back.
That same day we went to the Truman Home where Harry and Bess (and her mother) and their daughter Margaret lived before during and after the White house. My wife told the boys the story of walking by the house when she was in school and waving to the Secret Service men in the house across the street. By that time Margaret had already left and rarely visited or stayed long as she was no fan of Independence. The house is in almost the exact state that it was when Bess died in 1982.
Next day we went to Pella, Iowa to take our oldest son on an official visit to my wife's Alma mater, Central College. Pella, of Pella Windows fame is a town with strong Dutch roots and influence even to this day, complete with an historical village with canal, a windmill and even a tulip festival. And best of all, Dutch bakeries to die for. Our son was treated to a reserved parking space (this made a huge impression on him) and a four hour tour of campus that included the opportunity to speak with professors in German and Drama, both current areas of interest. He also had the opportunity to learn about the school's Study Abroad Program which was responsible for bringing my wife and I together 22 years ago.
The meeting with the drama professor was a real eye-opener for him. She asked him if he like to read and how many books he had read. He said he hadn't read many and didn't like to read (which is not entirely true). The professor told him he needed to start reading - a lot. She assigns almost a thousand pages a week and encouraged him to begin reading a play a week and books from the Great Book Lists. You should have seen his face. But I think it made an impression that his parents could only hope for.
Next day we went to the National Frontier Trails Museum. While interesting this was not the best part of the day. Outside this museum is a restored, refurbished and refurnished train deopot that is completely free to visit. A tour is provided by a volunteer and was a great visit.
Next we went into Kansas City to the Crown Center to the boy's favorite place to eat, Fritz's. You can't go wrong when your food is delivered to your table by train. After lunch we went to a Narnia Exhibit and a Legos artist exhibit.
The next day we went to what I thought was the best of the week. The Steamboat Arabia Museum. The Steamboat Arabia was a side wheeler steamboat which hit a snag in the Missouri River and sank near what today is Parkville, Missouri, in 1856 with 200 tons of supplies. They found the boat in the early 90's about a half mile from the river in a farmer's field about 45 feet down. Most amazing of all they found most of the supplies in tact. Wedgwood china, hand blown Italian glass beads, bolts of cloth and silk, clothes, clothes pins, coffee grinders, basins, utensils weapons, foods, champagne, who name it. 2/3rds on display. they expect it will take another 15 years to preserve the remaining artifacts. Simply incredible and worth a trip all on its own. The website does not do it justice but its a start.
I'll be back to posting soon
We traveled to Missouri to visit my wife's parents who live in Independence. I have the best in-laws in the world. Good laughs, good stories, no drama, no pressure or expectations. It is ostensibly a trip for my wife but I get to reap the benefits of a relaxing vacation, sleeping in till 6:30 or so and walking about a good part of the time with no shoes. I cannot remember the last time I really "needed" a vacation but this was one of those times. I had a knot in the middle of my back all the week prior upon which another knot seemed to form as we made the flight to Kansas City. I felt it melt away every minute I was there.
Perhaps it was the rain. After a summer of which has included almost 70 days of 100+ temps I can honestly say that the sights and sounds and smells of the rains which have turned the area into a lush green place were a welcome greeting.
On these trips we always try to see some historical and educational sites for the boys and for ourselves as we all love history. This trip was particularly fun/interesting in this regard and I offer up our itinerary to you as a preview in the event you decide that a similar trip might be worth your time. (It would be)
First, we went to the Truman Presidential Library. I've only seen one other presidential library, that being good ole LBJ for whom we can thank for the day off tomorrow. (At least you can if you are a state worker here in Texas or work with one as does yours truly) I enjoyed this library more than LBJ's and regret that we did not have more time to spend there. I would easily go back.
That same day we went to the Truman Home where Harry and Bess (and her mother) and their daughter Margaret lived before during and after the White house. My wife told the boys the story of walking by the house when she was in school and waving to the Secret Service men in the house across the street. By that time Margaret had already left and rarely visited or stayed long as she was no fan of Independence. The house is in almost the exact state that it was when Bess died in 1982.
Next day we went to Pella, Iowa to take our oldest son on an official visit to my wife's Alma mater, Central College. Pella, of Pella Windows fame is a town with strong Dutch roots and influence even to this day, complete with an historical village with canal, a windmill and even a tulip festival. And best of all, Dutch bakeries to die for. Our son was treated to a reserved parking space (this made a huge impression on him) and a four hour tour of campus that included the opportunity to speak with professors in German and Drama, both current areas of interest. He also had the opportunity to learn about the school's Study Abroad Program which was responsible for bringing my wife and I together 22 years ago.
The meeting with the drama professor was a real eye-opener for him. She asked him if he like to read and how many books he had read. He said he hadn't read many and didn't like to read (which is not entirely true). The professor told him he needed to start reading - a lot. She assigns almost a thousand pages a week and encouraged him to begin reading a play a week and books from the Great Book Lists. You should have seen his face. But I think it made an impression that his parents could only hope for.
Next day we went to the National Frontier Trails Museum. While interesting this was not the best part of the day. Outside this museum is a restored, refurbished and refurnished train deopot that is completely free to visit. A tour is provided by a volunteer and was a great visit.
Next we went into Kansas City to the Crown Center to the boy's favorite place to eat, Fritz's. You can't go wrong when your food is delivered to your table by train. After lunch we went to a Narnia Exhibit and a Legos artist exhibit.
The next day we went to what I thought was the best of the week. The Steamboat Arabia Museum. The Steamboat Arabia was a side wheeler steamboat which hit a snag in the Missouri River and sank near what today is Parkville, Missouri, in 1856 with 200 tons of supplies. They found the boat in the early 90's about a half mile from the river in a farmer's field about 45 feet down. Most amazing of all they found most of the supplies in tact. Wedgwood china, hand blown Italian glass beads, bolts of cloth and silk, clothes, clothes pins, coffee grinders, basins, utensils weapons, foods, champagne, who name it. 2/3rds on display. they expect it will take another 15 years to preserve the remaining artifacts. Simply incredible and worth a trip all on its own. The website does not do it justice but its a start.
I'll be back to posting soon
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Lutheran Updates
In Eutychus' absence, I will say that I have posted on my blog Bedlam or Parnassus a couple of pieces on the Lutheran vote to allow "committed, monogamous, homosexuals" to serve as clergy.
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