December 20th, 2013 at 06:38 am » Comments (3)

Some might remember this blog started because my views were deemed too controversial to be shared in “groups”

Sometimes it is difficult to keep to the Libertarian (not to be confused with Liberal ) principle that demands if you want a right for yourself, you may not deny that same right to another.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Phil Robertson is not the issue. Nor, technically is it a 1st Amendment issue unless you ascribe to the theory that the media is controlled by the government = It is really a business decision for both network and star.

For me, supporting Phil Robertson is NOT about the personal opinions he expressed, but rather my willingness to grant ALL the parties to the converstaion (Mr Robertson, NBC & GLAAD ) the right to express their views. And MY right to choose which of those is important to me and how I will choose to act.

To those carrying on about how could PR people “let” Phil Robertson take the Interview. It also means granting his detractors the right to hold and express their view

Phil Robertson is smart and likely knew that he was giving NBC a chance to get its way – it is an issue about supporting those who would suppress the right to hold and express a different view.

NBC may or may not be making a smart business decision, only time will tell. Once the new season starts and we can see if NBC takes advantage of the situation to “edit” out the content they have long wished to suppress, Well, I doubt it will kill me to cease to watch DD and Longmire the only two shows they offer of any interest to me. Certainly it will be easy to ignore all the others carefully designed to appeal the least desirable aspects of humanity.

What remains is whether all those upset will decide to do more than make short lived knee jerk reactions.

Will the majority of DD Viewers give up ALL the shows on that Network?

Are those professing support really willing to “boycott” the advertisers? Or just threaten to do so.

What if Wal-Mart or Cabella’s decides to drop the product line, will you stop shopping there? Seems to me much more effective to starve A&E of the ratings that drive the fees they can charge “sponsors”

It is interesting to see almost no comment from the family, and all things considered hard to believe they would consider staying with A&E without Phil and the freedom to express their professed family values.

It will be interesting to observe how many will allow themselves to be distracted from the real issues facing the country by a manufactured controversy and how many will take sustained action to support their beliefs.

No matter what any of us decide and what action we take – there are to many more important issues effecting our lives, our freedoms, and our country that need our attention.

December 21st, 2012 at 16:04 pm » Comments (1)

When I am upset I write, a lot more than I share

I have been doing that a lot of the last week of sleepless nights.

Frame the following within this past week of emotional devastation upon learning the grandchild of a wonderful lady I have known since I was about the same age as the grandson she lost last week in Newtown.

I came back to reading QA so I could escape this type of talk, founded in misinformation.

NO it does NOT Count that you “Mean Well”

NO it does not count there needs to be reform in how we handle mental health issue,

OR That So Many “Well Meaning” have failed to prevent our children from becoming irresponsible for their own actions so they think they can get away with this and be famous to boot.

So I decided to go read some QuiltArt to think about something positive and maybe get some creative outlet to begin to heal.

First thing I read

On 12/21/2012 11:15 AM, x-x-x wrote:
please write to your elected officials demanding better gun control laws.

WONDERFUL Exactly what we need MORE LAWS that won’t be enforced,
But Everyone will feel so-o-o-o much better.

So she wanted a letter, here is mine.

How about,

Let’s not become political puppets contributing to someone’s agenda to whittle away at our ability to care for ourselves instead of actually doing something that will help.

There IS an Assault Weapons Ban in Connecticut.

It was not an assault weapon used – it was a weapon made available by an irresponsible adult. Something that might have been avoided had the FBI done its job of timely response to background checks CURRENTLY REQUIRED BY LAW (along with about 2,000 other incidents of the FBI not providing timely response and thus a sale that never should have happened)

We could start with EQUAL PROTECTION by enforcing laws that exist – not just about weapons and their use in a crime, but ALL those laws meant to protect our way of life and our constitutional right to PURSUE Life, Liberty & Happiness –
No guarantee, we still have to work for it.

Let’s do something about the feeding frenzy of the media sharks.

How about demanding that the media not be allowed to report – on pain of significant jail time, fines and loss of broadcast licenses – thus taking away the “15 minutes” of fame. And if they use the Internet to spread misinformation, treat it as libel and make they responsible that way.

How about holding GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS accountable to COMPLY and ENFORCE the laws that exist.

You know, instead of setting up sales of easily modified semi-auto weapons to Gangs & Drug Cartels resulting in reported 100’s of deaths in Mexico of men, women and children and now showing up in California and other border states.

How about demanding the press report when a trained individual STOPS the maniacs.

Long as I am suggesting some truth from the press, how about making them accountable for accuracy.

Would you want to be Ryan after pretty much a full day of every outlet reporting he was the shooter (bad enough it was his brother)

How about each and everyone of us STOP MAKING EXCUSES for those who do evil.

Everyone who supports allowing children to act without consequences, depriving them of the chance to develop a sense of accomplishment and responsibility by real achievement,

How about we stop making excuses for Terrorists foreign and domestic and take a close look at what is called “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” Because if those responsible for protecting us condone law breaking and YOU choose to ignore that because of some misguided sense of social justice –

Yes that means I return any money to the cashier – even just a dollar because as I once told my daughter, damned if I am going to hell for a quarter and neither should you.

And by the way, I include SWAT/Tactical attired thugs in jack boots waving batons outside a voting place to be domestic terrorists even if the person sitting in the office of Attorney General does not.

How about becoming better informed.

The STRICTEST gun laws exist in NYC & Chicago , and California.
Would you like to guess where the highest incidents of Gun Violence and particularly Murder exists.

Chicago tops the list, but what would you expect in city where its Mayor takes not steps to control the gangs beyond telling them to be more careful so children are not in the cross fire.

This is not NRA stats, this is FBI annual report of the what is sometimes called the 7 deadly sins.
Every responsible gun owner I know and as a result of my background I know quite a few, will tell you the problem is not a lack of laws, it is NOT ONLY a lack of enforcement – but the willingness to overlook these crimes because of some misguided guilt.

If an adult is willing to step up, be trained (as are all teachers in Israel because of their required Military Service) so the US can match the Israeli record instead of doing our best to be the world leader in death tolls in schools so that certain politicians can use these incidents to further their agenda instead of acting responsibly to “preserve and protect” the citizen of the United States.

So long as good people allow bad things to happen without consequences – and in my view that includes setting up shooting galleries by NOT taking EVERY REALISTIC step to protect our children then shame on you for falling into the trap of being so anxious to do something, that you will opt for the least effective means.

ENFORCEMENT of existing law will be more than welcomed by all responsible owners of firearms.

If you are foolish enough to think your local law enforcement will protect you, make a call and find out what their response times are. That is IF you can make the call AND THAT IS AFTER they figure out where you are – because most cell systems don’t have address/GPS look up.

I promise you NO ONE who has ever lost a friend or family member to violent crime
gives a damn about why their loved one is dead
only that they are dead well before their time.
finally, we all really wish you would stop making excuses –

Whether it is failure to study and flunking a test so the kid has to do summer school or commits a minor crime, don’t rescue them TEACH THEM TO BE RESPONSIBLE for their own actions. .

And Oh Yes, let’s stop creating safe zones where our children, our friends, and our neighbors are sitting ducks

Well, be assured you will reap what you sew and it is pretty obvious we are seeing that.
from storm victims (who actually might need those pillowcases, afghans, and quilts), to those grieving in the unrelenting public eye – one can only be truly terrified of what the third Sandy incident will bring us.

Let me trying another context, lest you think me completely ungrateful –

I treasure everything that BELONGED to my children, it reminds me of everything about their lives that should be celebrated and held close to my heart, shared with those who new them

Please do not confuse your need to “do something” as translating to providing permanent reminders of the death of a loved one.

The prayers of all as will those who have suffered thru the untimely death of a loved one are always welcomed – or mass cards or trees in Israel or donations to help the families cope with the financial aspects of their loss.

Still No Thank You, while I may appreciate the thought I want no permanent reminders of their death from anyone

There are things you can do, they just might not be comfortable or easy or convenient, but if makes you feel better to blindly write a letter demanding more laws without any idea of “what is on the books” but not enforced – instead of doing something real…

Well, be assured you will reap what you sew and it is pretty obvious we are seeing that.
from storm victims (who actually might need those pillowcases, afghans, and quilts), to those grieving in the unrelenting public eye – one can only be truly terrified of what the third Sandy incident will bring us.

I for one will not be unhappy to see the last of 2012 – so much sadness to be put behind us as we help each other to move forward with real positive actions.

Wishing you the best possible Christmas
May God Bless Us and Keep Us
in Health and Happiness in 2013

Wheat

August 8th, 2012 at 07:22 am » Comments (0)

Think Globally – Buy Locally
Everytime someone says something like that in any on line discussion group, it is immediately followed by all sorts of rationalizations why it can not be done, some is even valid.

The painful reality is not everything we need is actually still made here – some jobs are coming home and if we get enough elected representatives who are more interested in our national best interests, perhaps that trend will continue. We will see after November.

So what to do with those things you cannot do without, but can’t find “made here” (Not in the US? Okay, substitute your own country name and this could apply to you too.)

FWIW, I do ship all over the world, often as not first checking to see if I can point the buyer to a seller in their own country – if for no other reason than postage from the US to almost anywhere is high.

Thus, my rationalization is to stretch the phrase “Think Globally, Act Locally” a bit to allow it to be “if it does not create a job in the US other than delivery of an international parcel, I probably don’t need it.” I don’t need $50 plus designer jeans, I am perfectly happy with $30 Buddy’s Jeans made from fabric woven in the USA and sewn in US facilities — My next sneakers will be New Balance

Using Knitting Needles, Crochet Hooks, YARNandTHREAD as an example – unfortunately there are few US Made products to choose from.

On the other hand, while I understand the obvious economics, I also understand that every time some buys “direct” from another country, you cost American jobs,

Does it cost more and possibly mean we must buy less, yes, but if it helps your neighbor – isn’t that of some importance?

There are brands, distributed by US companies that employ US workers at all levels – from shipping clerks to CEO – Muench yarns of California is a master distributor for both Pony & Knitter’s Pride, there are a number of sub-distributors for these Indian and German made products

Skacel is the legal US distributor for Addi’s (and in this case those who ship to the US are violating their contract with Addi by shipping to the USA – add the helping maintain US Jobs, you are also avoiding abetting the illegal actions of the overseas seller.)

Clover-USA is a master distributor (supplier to Retailers and Multi-line distributors) is Clover. Again, their products are also handled thru a number of smaller, regional distributors who employ your fellow citizens.

Between these distributors and the retailers are employees and the families they support from the shipping companies like the USPS, UPS, truckers and more.

Of course there are the owners, employees and other staff of your independent retailers –

It may not always be possible in the words of Singer Songwriter, Toby Keith, who co-wrote “Made In America ” with Bobby Pinson, Scott Reeves

… spends a little more at the store
for a tag in the back that says u.s.a.
won’t buy nothin’ that he can’t fix,
with wd40 and a craftsman wrench
he ain’t prejudice he’s just,
made in America

So we made a business decision (and yes there is some rationalization involved) If a product did not mean US Jobs on its way to us, then we won’t sell it. (we also don’t sell products we would not use when the tool or supply is appropriate to the task)

A few years ago when I had way too much time on my hands, I researched and determined every item we sold in our online store effected the livelihoods of 5 to 500 jobs in the USA.

Isn’t it worth something to improve the economy of the country you call home and the lives of those who choose to work in your home country,

The choices are yours, I’ve already made mine.

Enjoy The Making

Wheat

October 23rd, 2010 at 00:41 am » Comments (0)

But I’ll bet he’s wish he had –

The follow quotes were published in 1942 by William J. H. Boetcker, a Presbyterian minister in a pamphlet entitled

Lincoln On Limitations
which did include other Lincoln quotes, but also added 10 statements written by Boetcker.

They were:

1. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

2. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong

3. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

4. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

5. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence.

6. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

7. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

8. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

9. You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

10 You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.

Wheat added: When you are at the Polls this November, REMEMBER these words and choose carefully,

Do you want leaders who lift us – increasing OUR POWER or leaders who hold us down to increasing THIER power over us

Wheat

November 18th, 2009 at 09:02 am » Comments (12)

Within the past 10 years at least a 1/2 dozen friends and family have had their lives saved because of a Mammogram affording early protection.

It is a proven fact that early detection is infinitely increasing the best chances of survival.

So, biting my tongue REALLY HARD to keep this somewhat objective, it is simpler to say, that even Hillary who was a leader in the fight to get PREVENTIVE things like annual Mamograms for women over 40 must be standing with mouth agape.

One has to wonder how TREATING a disease like Breast Cancer can be less expensive than the cost of Annual Screenings.

Now than an “influential” Federal task force makes radical change in breast cancer screening guidelines
including recommendations which challenge use of mammograms,

Here is a link to just one of the many new stories about this next step into health care Rationing.

May I suggest you let your Senators know today and often that this is NOT your idea of “reform” but rather a governmental death sentence to millions of our nations citizens.

Wheat