Responsible Reproduction

"The reproduction debate's heating up as TLC prepares to air the fourth season of its Duggar Family hit, 19 Kids and Counting. This season, the Duggars have upped their clan-size from 18 to 19, and it has some arguing yay or nay about the 'Duggar-style' approach to reproduction. We say, as long as Jim Bob and Michelle are able to keep a roof over their family's head and modern-modest clothes on their backs, there's a far more important reproductive issue at hand. So, we're offering to run this billboard in the Duggar's hometown of Tontitown, Arkansas, as well as in nearby Springdale and Fayetteville"

See, Duggars and Dogs: PETA Weighs In 

Thanks to Jen & Speedy

Supreme Court Gets New Robes After Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission

Scalia and the other champions of "original intent” showed their colors.  They praise and cite strict construction to deny basic rights to some poor soul and castigate the "activist judges" below who tried to uphold those rights.  Yet, they don't hesitate to overturn established law to advance their own  ideological  & political agendas. At least Carl Rove and his ilk don't hide behind black robes as these hacks do  I'm embarrassed for them and our judicial system.    Thanks for trying Jim. 
"This year showed us that a republic periodically has to save capitalism from itself. Corporations are creations of the republic, not its equals or superiors. We citizens charter them, protect them legally, subsidize them, and even bail them out - and punish them when, as with Pfizer Chemical, their profit-maximizing violates drug-safety rules.

We couldn’t do that if a level playing field of “robust speech’’ were overwhelmed by corporate speech, which isn’t free because corporations, unlike individuals, are not full-fledged members of the community. As inanimate entities, they are incapable of what the political philosopher Michael Sandel calls “a willingness to sacrifice individual interests for the sake of the common good, and the ability to deliberate well about common purposes and ends.’’

That’s why corporations can’t vote - and shouldn’t be able to use the wealth we let them amass to inundate our deliberations. TV ads telling us how deeply oil companies care about the environment aren’t part of open give-and-take; they’re efforts to cash in on a consensus that might not have emerged at all had corporate money dominated our elections and debates more than it does.

That’s what’s at stake in the Supreme Court’s worrisome readiness to consider overturning restrictions the republic was wise enough to enact. If Olson’s business clients want to smear Clinton, let them do it openly, not from behind the façade of a corporation claiming First Amendment rights. The amendment’s framers intended those rights for others; Justice Scalia and other champions of “original intent,” call home!"

Except from Corporate free speech? Since when? By Jim Sleeper September 5, 2009

The Way We Were-Baseball, Childhood, Bonding With a Blind Man, Economics, & a Small Step Away From Racism.

This is Jim Morgan's response to this baseball video about St. Louis.  Click here if you want to see it, but it's not necessary to appreciate his thoughts.

"Thanks for that great link.

Sportsman's Park, like a lot of the old parks, had a charm that just isn't there in the newer stadiums, even the retro parks.  I was fortunate enough to see the Cardinals play there several times.  In 1956, I believe it was, my Dad got tickets to the All-Star game through one of American National Bank's (later First National) correspondent banks in St. Louis.  He and Joe Mitchell took Jon and me up to St. Louis for the game.  What a great experience.

I remember sitting next to a blind man who would ask me what happened after each play.  To frame up the difference in baseball economics then and now, he only had $.06 in his pocket, not enough to buy a lemonade for $.15.

I would recommend two books to anyone who is interested in the history of baseball in St. Louis:

The Spirit of St. Louis, A History of the St. Louis Cardinals and Browns, by Peter Golenbock.  This one covers the history of professional baseball in St. Louis clear back into the 1800's

and

October, 1964, by David Halbertstam.  This one covers the 1964 pennant races in the American and National leagues, and is really interesting from a baseball perspective.  It may be just as interesting as a social commentary, however.  By 1964, the Cardinals had embraced integration and number of their stars were African-American or Latin American, including Bill White, Bob Gibson, Curt Flood, and Lou Brock (who came over from the Cubs that year in a trade for Earnie Broligo, one of the great one-sided trades in baseball history).  The Yankees on the other hand, and had at that point signed few black players - I believe Elston Howard my have been onboard by then.

1964 was the year the Phillies blew a big lead at the end of the year.  I believe they were 6 games ahead with only 12 left to play.  I remember sitting in the officer's club at Tuy Hoa Air Base in Vietnam in 1968 talking baseball with a friend from Philadelphia.  He pulled out two tickets to the '64 World Series --- between the Yankees and Phillies, which obviously didn't happen.  I hope he held on to the tickets; they're probably valuable today."

Maybe They Need a New Strategery.

Buddha Meant Well, But Meaning Well & Spouting Gems Just Don't Cut It.

Deuteronomy 13:6-10

If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die.

2 Chronicles 15:13

Whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

65 Years Ago Today the Red Army Liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp in Poland.

Nations have made January 27 their National Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust. It marks the day in 1945 that the largest Nazi death camp was liberated by Soviet troops.

We must never forget.

Thanks to Rev. Sandi

Candidate Training Film

Funny Way of Laughin- We Miss Burl.

Happy Birthday Again Robbie. Thanks for Living.

Godless Communist Frogs

Carl The Floor Walker

A Japanese game of Shuttlecock-"Hanetsuki"-Fun was had by ALL!

Traditionally played on New Year's, the Japanese girly game Hanetsuki is really a fun game to experience........(note to self: always have a Hagoita Paddle handy rather than a yard stick; so much more ENJOYABLE!..........Peace Out!!!!!)

If You Don't Love Jesus, Go To Hell.

"Ain't No Better Eatin Than a Hog" Bud Searcy

Thanks to Sammy

Such a Fool. Thank you Billie

Thanks to Rosalia

One of Scotland's Unofficial National Anthems-Flower of Scotland

Performed here by the Corries and written by Roy Williamson of the Corries, circa 1965, about the victory of the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, over England's Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

O Flower of Scotland,

When will we see

Your like again

That fought and died for

Your wee bit Hill and Glen

And stood against him

Proud Edward's army

And sent him homeward

Tae think again

The Hills are bare now,

And Autumn leaves

lie thick and still,

O'er land that is lost now,

Which those so dearly held,

That stood against him,

Proud Edward's Army,

And sent him homeward,

Tae think again.

Those days are past now,

And in the past

they must remain,

But we can still rise now,

And be the nation again,

That stood against him,

Proud Edward's Army,

And sent him homeward,

Tae think again

Thanks to Stuart

Does Your Dog Bite?

DeMint Suggests Sergeant Schultz Head TSA!

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has blocked the nomination of Erroll Southers, President Obama's pick to head the Transportation Security Administration and "not just because he's a negro," says DeMint.   DeMint is also concerned because it's possible that Southers may allow TSA employees to unionize and earn a living wage.  "We don't want too much competition for these TSA jobs" claims DeMint.  "In the long run, Southers would only be hurting his own people" he added.  . 
With increasing security breaches at airports, DeMint realizes that someone must take the reins of the agency.  He has proposed famous former security officer, Sergeant Shultz.  "He's white, experienced, and definitely anti-union" says DeMint.

Happy New Year From Me'n Jennifer & Todd.

The Fisherman’s Prayer- Some Folks out There Spend Their Whole Lives in Prayer. Good Luck Has Got to Come from Somewhere.