Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Census Worker Death Ruled Suicide. Mea Culpa's Anyone?
On Sept. 12, Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old part-time Census field worker and teacher, was found hanging dead from a tree in Clay County, Kentucky. Some liberal bloggers, Southern Beale and Sean Braisted for example, were quick to accuse his death on right wing hate.
SB headlined her post "Another Victim of Right Wing Hate?" She concludes:
Braisted (known as Brainstem to some) asserts
SB headlined her post "Another Victim of Right Wing Hate?" She concludes:
It will be interesting to see how this investigation unfolds. Suicide seems unlikely, and the fact that Sparkman’s body was found on 9/12, the day of the big Tea Party rally in D.C., is suspicious.She does admit it may be a coincidence.
Braisted (known as Brainstem to some) asserts
I'm sorry to say that given the political environment created and fomented by the Republican party and its media counterpart Fox News, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if this was some Tea Bagger going off the reservation.Today police announce, after a lengthy investigation, that Mr. Sparkman's death has been ruled a suicide.
The census worker found dead with the word “fed” written across his chest in remote Clay County in September killed himself and staged the act to look like homicide, the Kentucky State Police said Tuesday.I wonder how many of the liberal hate-mongers will face up to their erroneous ways.
But State Police Capt. Lisa Rudzinski said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon, “Our investigation, based on evidence and witness testimony, has concluded that Mr. Sparkman died during an intentional, self-inflicted act that was staged to appear as a homicide.”
But Rudzinski said his hands and feet were loosely bound, and that his body was found in contact with the ground “almost to his knees.”
“Mr. Sparkman's wrists were bound loosely in front of his body, shoulder width apart, allowing considerable mobility,” Rudzinski said. “Mr. Sparkman was not blindfolded, as has been previously reported.”
She said duct tape held his glasses in place, and his mouth was stuffed with a rag and covered with tape.
“No defensive wounds were located on his body,” Rudzinski said. “And a rag was found in his pants that was consistent with other rags scattered at the scene, including the rag that was in his mouth. The victim’s clothes were found undisturbed in the bed of his pickup truck, which was also recovered at the scene.”
Moreover, Rudzinski said a “credible witness” told investigators Sparkman had said he planned to commit suicide.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Hasan and a Jihadist Imam
Following the Ft. Hood shooting, much has been said about Nidal Malik Hasan contacts with questionable persons with terroristic leanings including an imam, Anwar al Awlaki. Awlaki, an American citizen born in New Mexico in 1971, is identified as a jihadist.
Apparently, for some, jihad means to "struggle in the way of God" or "to struggle to improve one's self and/or society." Doesn't sound much different than much of what is taught in Christianity. But, for Awlaki and others like him, jihad takes a much more sinister meaning.
An essay by Awlaki, 44 Ways to Support Jihad, tells us pretty much all we need to know.
Point 2 is: Praying to Allah to award you with martyrdom.
Some other highlights:
The FBI is now performing full fledged cover our asses procedures.
General Casey might be more interested in preserving "diversity" than stopping killers. “Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength. And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that’s worse.” Tell that to the families of the victims.
What functional purpose does diversity serve the Army? Except for having a few interpreters plus people capable of communicating with and understanding the culture of natives of lands in which the Army may be, I can't think of any particular benefits. (Of course, this diversity doesn't include gays.) Casey's words give a hint of the PC world that probably helped Hasan fly under the radar.
We need to consider the possibility that individuals who act alone can be influenced into this action by others such as persuasive imams like Awlaki.
Apparently, for some, jihad means to "struggle in the way of God" or "to struggle to improve one's self and/or society." Doesn't sound much different than much of what is taught in Christianity. But, for Awlaki and others like him, jihad takes a much more sinister meaning.
An essay by Awlaki, 44 Ways to Support Jihad, tells us pretty much all we need to know.
Point 2 is: Praying to Allah to award you with martyrdom.
Some other highlights:
...encouraging others to participate in Jihad was an act of worship we were specifically asked to do.To me any military person and certain others having unauthorized contact with a person espousing such beliefs need checking into.
What Jihad needs is mujahideen who have the ability to walk for long hours, to run for long distances (important for guerrilla warfare), to sprint (important for urban
warfare),...
Arms training is an essential part of preparation for Jihad.
Our children need to be raised up with the love of Jihad and the mujahideen. ... They need to be taught to be proactive rather than passive. Al Zubair bin al Awam – one of the ten given the glad tidings of Paradise – used to take with him to the battlefield his son Abdullah when he was still a child. But since Abdullah was still a child and therefore couldn’t fight, his father would have him carry a small knife and go around the battlefield searching for injured disbelievers in order to finish them off.
The FBI is now performing full fledged cover our asses procedures.
But the bureau has hit back, arguing that since the Hasan-al-Awlaki exchanges were "explainable by [Hasan's] research and nothing else derogatory was found, [investigators] concluded that Major Hasan was not involved in terrorist activities or terrorist planning." (Hasan had been conducting research into the attitudes of Muslim soldiers at war with other Muslims.)It appears the FBI, and probably others, are stuck in the "it must fit the traditional definition of terrorist activities or terrorist planning" mode. The idea of someone influencing others to commit acts of violence and others committing violence without actual collusion seems beyond their scope of comprehension.
General Casey might be more interested in preserving "diversity" than stopping killers. “Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength. And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that’s worse.” Tell that to the families of the victims.
What functional purpose does diversity serve the Army? Except for having a few interpreters plus people capable of communicating with and understanding the culture of natives of lands in which the Army may be, I can't think of any particular benefits. (Of course, this diversity doesn't include gays.) Casey's words give a hint of the PC world that probably helped Hasan fly under the radar.
We need to consider the possibility that individuals who act alone can be influenced into this action by others such as persuasive imams like Awlaki.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Health Care Reform and the Perpetual Vicitms
The other day I received an email from one of my Senators, Sherrod Brown. You may remember him as the senator who claims diabetes makes you more compassionate and fair. The subject line of the email reads, "Health Reform: Ends Industry Discrimination Against Women, Protects Ohio’s Seniors."
I have my doubts about it protecting seniors but now the discrimination against women part is my focus. First, I wonder if women ever tire of being the perpetual victims. Do women ever tire of being portrayed as helpless and impotent, as needing the constant assistance of men and government to be able to survive day to day life? Apparently not as one of the actions of feminism has been to perpetrate this image and insist on special government programs and laws to benefit the powerless, downtrodden female.
Secondly, how much discrimination do women face from the health care industry? To answer this question, I've explored the services available at hospitals in the greater Cincinnati area.
On the home page of the University Hospital of Cincinnati you'll find links for Women's Community Health Centers and Women's Services plus a Lactation Internship Program(??).
At Christ Hospital, where my two youngest children were born, you can click on the "Departments" menu, go down to "Women's Services" and find: Birthing Center, Breast Health, General Health Information for Women, Prenatal Clinic, Reproductive Services, Women's Health Today Magazine and Women's Surgery Center. Bethesda North and Good Samaritan Hospitals have women's programs that include Maternity Services, Breast Care, Specialized Gynecology Care, Fitness, Programs and Classes and TriHealth Nurse Midwives. The Mercy Hospitals conduct a The Spirit of Women program.
Across the Ohio River in northern Kentucky, St. Luke's Hospital's services include Birthing Center, Breast Health Center, Nurse Midwives, Perinatal Centers, Physicians for Women and Women's Heart Health. St. Elizabeth's in northern Kentucky provides a Women's Wellness program. (St. Elizabeth's and St. Luke's are affiliated at some level.)
Deaconess Hospital has no obvious special programs for women or men. Jewish Hospital links to a Breast Center.
This is not to say that any of these programs are not legitimate but none of these hospitals has any apparent similar programs for men. No prostate cancer centers or programs, no men's health centers, etc. If the result of discrimination against women is having the health care industry catering to your every need, we need more of this, not less.
Of course, Sherrod Brown is another mindless liberal parroting the same drivel liberals have repeated since the mid-Sixties. The real issue is that the liberals want to control ever more of our society in every way they can. Freedom means that people, and organizations, can act in ways that liberals don't approve and we can't have that. And, do women ever get tired of being treated as helpless little things that can't possibly make it on their own. The chauvinists of decades ago held women in higher regard than today's liberals.
Other health care related items courtesy Instapundit:
Unemployment tops 10%, let's wreck health care
Flu shot favoritism, is this how health care will work?
"Buried in Nancy Pelosi’s health-care bill is a provision that will partially repeal tax indexing for inflation, meaning that as their earnings rise over a lifetime these youngsters can look forward to paying higher rates even if their income gains aren’t real."
Buy a policy or go to jail.
Can't remember where I found this one: CBO: Republican health plan would reduce premiums, cut deficit
I have my doubts about it protecting seniors but now the discrimination against women part is my focus. First, I wonder if women ever tire of being the perpetual victims. Do women ever tire of being portrayed as helpless and impotent, as needing the constant assistance of men and government to be able to survive day to day life? Apparently not as one of the actions of feminism has been to perpetrate this image and insist on special government programs and laws to benefit the powerless, downtrodden female.
Secondly, how much discrimination do women face from the health care industry? To answer this question, I've explored the services available at hospitals in the greater Cincinnati area.
On the home page of the University Hospital of Cincinnati you'll find links for Women's Community Health Centers and Women's Services plus a Lactation Internship Program(??).
At Christ Hospital, where my two youngest children were born, you can click on the "Departments" menu, go down to "Women's Services" and find: Birthing Center, Breast Health, General Health Information for Women, Prenatal Clinic, Reproductive Services, Women's Health Today Magazine and Women's Surgery Center. Bethesda North and Good Samaritan Hospitals have women's programs that include Maternity Services, Breast Care, Specialized Gynecology Care, Fitness, Programs and Classes and TriHealth Nurse Midwives. The Mercy Hospitals conduct a The Spirit of Women program.
Across the Ohio River in northern Kentucky, St. Luke's Hospital's services include Birthing Center, Breast Health Center, Nurse Midwives, Perinatal Centers, Physicians for Women and Women's Heart Health. St. Elizabeth's in northern Kentucky provides a Women's Wellness program. (St. Elizabeth's and St. Luke's are affiliated at some level.)
Deaconess Hospital has no obvious special programs for women or men. Jewish Hospital links to a Breast Center.
This is not to say that any of these programs are not legitimate but none of these hospitals has any apparent similar programs for men. No prostate cancer centers or programs, no men's health centers, etc. If the result of discrimination against women is having the health care industry catering to your every need, we need more of this, not less.
Of course, Sherrod Brown is another mindless liberal parroting the same drivel liberals have repeated since the mid-Sixties. The real issue is that the liberals want to control ever more of our society in every way they can. Freedom means that people, and organizations, can act in ways that liberals don't approve and we can't have that. And, do women ever get tired of being treated as helpless little things that can't possibly make it on their own. The chauvinists of decades ago held women in higher regard than today's liberals.
Other health care related items courtesy Instapundit:
Unemployment tops 10%, let's wreck health care
Flu shot favoritism, is this how health care will work?
"Buried in Nancy Pelosi’s health-care bill is a provision that will partially repeal tax indexing for inflation, meaning that as their earnings rise over a lifetime these youngsters can look forward to paying higher rates even if their income gains aren’t real."
Buy a policy or go to jail.
Can't remember where I found this one: CBO: Republican health plan would reduce premiums, cut deficit
Friday, October 30, 2009
A Monster of the Loose
During my teens and twenties, I looked to songs and music to help find some sense of life. Looking back, I wonder why it took me so long to realize that, in general, lyricists and musicians had no greater insight into life's mysteries than myself or anyone else.
Still, lately, the words to one of my old favorites, “Monster” by Steppenwolf, keeps coming to mind. The first half of the song covers the settling (conquering) of America by Europeans and then moves on to current circumstances. Although the song was released 40 years ago, it speaks quite will to today's situation.
The last half of the song is what speaks to us now.
And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey
The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
Isn't this why Obama was elected? He seemed generous and kind. He was going to give us “universal” health care. He and his Democratic cohorts were going to be so much better than those nasty, cold-hearted Rethuglicans.
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind;
As much as any previous administration, Obama is greasing the palms of the wealthy and his supporters. Screw the commoners.'
Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'
Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching
So much for hope and change, it's 1969 all over again.
This Halloween the monsters are especially scary.
Still, lately, the words to one of my old favorites, “Monster” by Steppenwolf, keeps coming to mind. The first half of the song covers the settling (conquering) of America by Europeans and then moves on to current circumstances. Although the song was released 40 years ago, it speaks quite will to today's situation.
The last half of the song is what speaks to us now.
And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey
The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
Isn't this why Obama was elected? He seemed generous and kind. He was going to give us “universal” health care. He and his Democratic cohorts were going to be so much better than those nasty, cold-hearted Rethuglicans.
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind;
As much as any previous administration, Obama is greasing the palms of the wealthy and his supporters. Screw the commoners.'
Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'
Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching
So much for hope and change, it's 1969 all over again.
This Halloween the monsters are especially scary.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Is Health Care A Right?
Reading this post, Health care–right or privilege?, I had a thought. (Horrors!) One of the arguments for health care reform and single payer health care is that health care is a right.
My question is: If health care is a right, does this mean that taxpayers are obligated to pay for health care for everyone? I can think of no other right that works this way. In the criminal court system, if you can't afford an attorney for your defense, the state provides you one. If you've got the money, you pay. (And, the cut off is pretty low.)In the civil court system, you're screwed.
We have a right to bear arms. Does the government pay for your gun should you decide you want one? Of course not. Indeed, if you want to conceal carry, you end up paying the government. Sounds a lot like the old poll tax where you had to pay to exercise your right to vote.
Does the government give you money to practice freedom of religion by building a church, synagogue, mosque or pentagram? Does the government give you pen, pencil, paper, computer, Internet access, or whatever so you can practice your freedom of speech and of the press?
How do you go from health care is a right to we must pay for every one's health care? When are you going to buy me a Colt Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911?
My question is: If health care is a right, does this mean that taxpayers are obligated to pay for health care for everyone? I can think of no other right that works this way. In the criminal court system, if you can't afford an attorney for your defense, the state provides you one. If you've got the money, you pay. (And, the cut off is pretty low.)In the civil court system, you're screwed.
We have a right to bear arms. Does the government pay for your gun should you decide you want one? Of course not. Indeed, if you want to conceal carry, you end up paying the government. Sounds a lot like the old poll tax where you had to pay to exercise your right to vote.
Does the government give you money to practice freedom of religion by building a church, synagogue, mosque or pentagram? Does the government give you pen, pencil, paper, computer, Internet access, or whatever so you can practice your freedom of speech and of the press?
How do you go from health care is a right to we must pay for every one's health care? When are you going to buy me a Colt Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911?
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Football Udate
Going into this week, my son's football team, the Mason County Royals (KY), held the number one spot in the AP Kentucky Class 3A rankings for the sixth week in a row. Last night they played the Russell Red Devils who have dominated Mason County overall.
Last year, in the first game my son started on varsity (defensive tackle in that game), Mason County beat Russell for the first time ever on Russell's field. An accomplishment my son and his teammates can be proud of. Last night they set another milestone. They beat Russell 34-21 to become the first Mason County team to beat Russell in back to back meetings.
Mason County jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first half and then held on the rest of the way. The victory brings them to 7-0 for the season. Three games to go.
It's funny how this team has lived up to their expectations. My son's class, juniors now, has been labeled one of the most talented football classes ever for his school since the 6th or 7th grade. The class ahead of them is also quite talented. The starting running back, who may be the best ever before it's all over, comes from class behind them.
Seeing this talent in middle school, people were saying this year would be the year for them to shine because of the sum of the talent in those three classes. It's still to be seen how far they can go, but the assessment was right and it sure is fun to watch.
BTW - In my completely biased opinion, my son is playing quite well at offensive left tackle. Opposing teams have yet to produce someone he can't block. When the team needs a few yards for a first down, they almost always run behind him because he goes where he wants. In one game, the opposing defensive end tried to speed rush the quarterback on a passing play. My son blocked him as he should have by running the guy back and out of the play. The opposing player complimented my son with, "You're fast!"
Last year, in the first game my son started on varsity (defensive tackle in that game), Mason County beat Russell for the first time ever on Russell's field. An accomplishment my son and his teammates can be proud of. Last night they set another milestone. They beat Russell 34-21 to become the first Mason County team to beat Russell in back to back meetings.
Mason County jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first half and then held on the rest of the way. The victory brings them to 7-0 for the season. Three games to go.
It's funny how this team has lived up to their expectations. My son's class, juniors now, has been labeled one of the most talented football classes ever for his school since the 6th or 7th grade. The class ahead of them is also quite talented. The starting running back, who may be the best ever before it's all over, comes from class behind them.
Seeing this talent in middle school, people were saying this year would be the year for them to shine because of the sum of the talent in those three classes. It's still to be seen how far they can go, but the assessment was right and it sure is fun to watch.
BTW - In my completely biased opinion, my son is playing quite well at offensive left tackle. Opposing teams have yet to produce someone he can't block. When the team needs a few yards for a first down, they almost always run behind him because he goes where he wants. In one game, the opposing defensive end tried to speed rush the quarterback on a passing play. My son blocked him as he should have by running the guy back and out of the play. The opposing player complimented my son with, "You're fast!"
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Musings
Feeling inundated with information and events, at times I find it hard to decide about what to write. Maybe, it's a type of writer's block. Primarily, I've wanted to write about the Roman Polanski affair. Wisconsin law professor Ann Althouse covered this subject as well as anyone. Also, lgazissax at Alexandria wrote an insightful post relating this to the Catholic church, as did Marci Hamilton at FindLaw.
Every thought I've had on Polanski and his supporters dwells somewhere in those links. Whoopi Goldberg's Polanski didn't commit "rape-rape" comments aggravated and astounded me as much as any one's. Whoopi follows up with the wonderfully insightful, "We're a different kind of society, we see things differently ... would I want my 14-year-old having sex with somebody? Not necessarily, no." Not necessarily? Hell, no, I wouldn't want my 14 year old having sex. I wonder if I should get some "roofies" and beer and take Whoopi on a date. (Ugh.) Does Whoopi have any kids? I hope not.
Tiny Cat Pants, a liberal blog, points out feminists that don't get it. She quotes Peg Yorkin founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation,
I happen to have a daughter, age 13, as of this writing. Naturally, she is tall, beautiful, witty and intelligent. Should someone do to her what Polanski did to that 13 year old girl, I'd be royally pissed. Going to jail would be the least of his problems.
As an example, Nicholas Neff, Jr., age 23, was arrested in Cincinnati for having consensual sex with a 15 year old. He had met her on the Internet and traveled from Florida to hook up with her. From radio reports, the girl's father got a hold of Neff before the police.
Notice the black eye. It would have been hard to stop at just one. Neff would be a better case for leniency than Polanski but I doubt he'll find many supporters.
There is truly a social strata that believes they are above the commoners and don't answer to the same rules. We're back in the times when the nobles weren't so noble.
Every thought I've had on Polanski and his supporters dwells somewhere in those links. Whoopi Goldberg's Polanski didn't commit "rape-rape" comments aggravated and astounded me as much as any one's. Whoopi follows up with the wonderfully insightful, "We're a different kind of society, we see things differently ... would I want my 14-year-old having sex with somebody? Not necessarily, no." Not necessarily? Hell, no, I wouldn't want my 14 year old having sex. I wonder if I should get some "roofies" and beer and take Whoopi on a date. (Ugh.) Does Whoopi have any kids? I hope not.
Tiny Cat Pants, a liberal blog, points out feminists that don't get it. She quotes Peg Yorkin founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation,
It’s bad a person was raped. But that was so many years ago. The guy has been through so much in his life. It’s crazy to arrest him now. Let it go. The government could spend its money on other things.Geez.
I happen to have a daughter, age 13, as of this writing. Naturally, she is tall, beautiful, witty and intelligent. Should someone do to her what Polanski did to that 13 year old girl, I'd be royally pissed. Going to jail would be the least of his problems.
As an example, Nicholas Neff, Jr., age 23, was arrested in Cincinnati for having consensual sex with a 15 year old. He had met her on the Internet and traveled from Florida to hook up with her. From radio reports, the girl's father got a hold of Neff before the police.
Notice the black eye. It would have been hard to stop at just one. Neff would be a better case for leniency than Polanski but I doubt he'll find many supporters.
There is truly a social strata that believes they are above the commoners and don't answer to the same rules. We're back in the times when the nobles weren't so noble.
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