Ben Breedlove and the Other Side

I don't know the whole story on this video yet. This is part II - part I provides a little more background about Ben Breedlove and his health condition. What strikes me about this video is his description of the near-death experience. The light; the peace; the wanting to stay there. I had a similar experience, but I would describe it as an "awareness of being," rather than near-death, or cheating death.

He talks about his favorite rap artist, Kid Cudi, and a particular recording, "Mr. Rager" — weirdly enough, my maiden name is Rager, so I looked up the lyrics and the official video. I have to admit, it made no sense to me. It was very dark and depressing.

I couldn't make out from the "Mr. Rager" video whether they were pronouncing the name "Rager" with a soft "g" or a hard "G" - the proper pronunciation is with a hard "G." But who's to say what is "proper?"

The Wizard of Oz...A Different Take

Here's a very different perspective on the story of the Wizard of Oz. Could it have been an allegory, commenting on the political and economic climate of the day? It's an interesting theory. Did you know that in the original story, Dorothy's shoes were made of silver - they were NOT ruby slippers!

Money and Politics in the Land of Oz - from The Independent Review, published by The Independent Institute.

Social Security - Where Did It Come From?

Now, I've always been told that Social Security was intended to be a supplemental retirement plan. Just 5 years after it was implemented, it is clear that it was intended as a welfare trough.

http://www.newspaperarchive.com/SiteMap/FreePdfPreview.aspx?img=103256842 THREE BILLION PAID IN BENEFITS WASHINGTON, Aug. 12. (£>)

The government's social security program, five years old this week, has distributed $3,000,000,000 to the nation's aged and unemployed workers, and to widows, orphans and the blind.

In advance of its anniversary Wednesday, the social security board summarized its vast operations to show that some 50,000,000 workers had been enrolled in the program since President Roosevelt signed the act in 1935.

Dream Candidate

Okay, here's what I want:

Someone with Rick Santorum's ethics, Ron Paul's fiscal policy, Newt Gingerich's political savvy, Mitt Romney's business acumen, Rick Perry's cowboy attitude, and Michele Bachmann's passion. Top it off with Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan, and I'm in. To be fair, let's include Huntsman's daughters...hopefully, promoting Santorum.

What a horse race!

Sorry Romney, Santorum Officially Wins Iowa

This was good news to me, but unfortunately the records from a number of precincts have been "lost." (?!) So, we'll never know who really won Iowa. Good reason, I think, for a national primary. I'm wondering what the advantage is to state primaries? As it stands, the decision of 3-4 relatively small states essentially makes the decision for the nation. For instance, 48 of the 50 states no longer have the option to choose Bachmann, Perry, or Huntsman. It doesn't make sense to me.

Sorry Romney, Santorum Officially Wins Iowa - Katie Pavlich

GBTV Premiere Night

GBTV (Glenn Beck TV, an internet media network) is introducing some new shows tonight. The first two hours (5-7:00 pm eastern) comprised the usual Glenn Beck show — the focus on SOPA and PIPA was outstanding, although the explanations (and chalk-board illustrations) weren't as crystal-clear as others have been.

From 7-8:00 pm, a news show debuted from The Blaze. This show is hosted by Amy Holmes, who does the news updates on the regular 5:00 pm Glenn Beck show. She's really good! The first in-depth discussion about economics was a bit dry, but they did a piece on Che Guevara that was excellent.

At 8:00 pm, there will be a half-hour special, with Glenn highlighting some of the new shows, and features of the new GBTV headquarters in Dallas. This will be followed at 8:30 pm by the launch of a new reality show, "Independence, USA." The reality show is about a family in Pennsylvania that decides to learn how to live "off-the-grid." Should be interesting!

The evening will wrap up with a new edition of Brian Sack's comedy show, "B. S. of A." — always a hoot!

The new, young, talent on GBTV is impressive, the sets are great, and the production quality is top of the line. I highly recommend Roku, or another internet TV device, rather than watching these programs on your computer.

I do think GBTV is just a sample of what TV will be in the 21st Century.

Rick Santorum on our Founding Documents

Rick Santorum provides an excellent summary of the connection between the Declaration of Independence, and the U. S. Constitution. In part, he says:

The Constitution is not the "why" of America; it's the "how" of America. It’s the operator's manual. It’s the rules we have to play by to ensure something. And what do we ensure? God-given rights.

Read the Full Statement...

Class and Classics

She still changes the oil herself? And the spark plugs?? My hat is off!

What is truth?

I had a conversation with a friend about the nature of truth. He suggested that an automobile crash provides the definition of truth. Someone who is standing on the southeast corner when the crash happens has a totally correct version of what happened. Someone who is standing on the northwest corner of the intersection also has a totally correct (although different) version of the event. So therefore, truth is relative.

I think this confuses two very distinct concepts. Truth is what actually happened, and there is only one truth. Perspective is the report of truth, from a particular vantage point. It's not the same as truth.