Politics and Frustration

Most of you have noticed that I have not been on as much in the last few months. What with the new kid and school and so forth, who could blame me? On top of that is the giant exhale after the initial Ron Paul push (yes, Ron is still working and still campaigning despite what your local paper or Faux News might have told you). But to be honest, politics is exhausting and equally frustrating, so perhaps a break was in the cards.

Over the last six months I have confronted people online and in person about the issues facing our nation. I have tried to explain why the Federal Reserve is an unconstitutional drain on our society that benefits only the elite; I have shed light on the unconstitutional and fraudulent income tax scam; I have demonstrated how the current administration (as well as past ones) have used “war” to increase their own power and decrease American’s liberty; I have shown how legitimate environmental concern and responsibility has been distorted into “An Inconvenient Truth” in an effort to further control Americans (and people globally) and decrease our liberties. The list goes on and on.

I am proud to say that I have had people tell me that something I said led them to think differently, or look at things from a different perspective. I have heard from many people who, once they actually heard what Ron Paul stood for, cast their vote with a passion and conviction they had never felt before. Like myself, I have heard from people who felt liberated one they understood that they did not have to be either a Republican or a Democrat, but that they could vote each issue as they saw fit. These people have had a huge weight lifted. Liberals are coming to see that just because Rush is a Conservative juggernaut, that alone does not make everything that comes out of his mouth evil or necessarily wrong. Conservatives are realizing that they can listen to a show on NPR or respect a Ted Kennedy viewpoint. More and more people are standing up and breaking free of the pigeon-holes that our two-party society has buried them in.

I am sad to say that most of you reading this right now are not as convinced. And here is where the frustration comes. If I ever heard an argument in favor of the IRS that made any sense or demonstrated any significant understanding of the issue, it would not be so frustrating. Instead, I hear things like, “How will we fund our schools?” or “Who will pay to fix the potholes?” At times I will read the slightly more legitimate, “Shutting down the IRS is too radical and unrealistic.” Suffice it to say that the first two types of argument simply display the ignorance of the objector. The last argument, while legitimate, is, in a way, even more frustrating. These people seem to realize the illegality, unconstitutionality and detrimental effects of the IRS, but think it is simply not worth the effort to try to change anything. Wow.

The same goes for people’s arguments in favor of the Fed, the “War on Terror,” Global Warming and so on. Most people don’t even know what the Fed is or what it does; if you dare say something against Bush or our foreign policy you might as well be a terrorist (which is, in fact, happening); and if you dare suggest that maybe climate change is not solely due to man you are nothing but a gas guzzling, white collar conservative. Something’s wrong here.

I could go on and on, as most of you know. But I will finish with this one plea. Please put the same sort of effort into researching these humongous topics that affect our world in so many significant ways as you do into researching what car you are going to buy next, what school you are going to put your kids in or what toothpaste you will use. To begin, go read Ron Paul’s The Revolution: A Manifesto and Andrew Napolitano’s A Nation of Sheep.

AJ, PJ and the DR

Abby doesn’t like going to the doctor. Well, actually, it’s not the going so much as the being there. Well, actually, it’s not so much the being there as it is having anyone at the doctor’s office make any sort of contact with her. She’s shy. So, today’s trip to the doctor was not a fun one.

Abby’s been fighting a cold for about a week now. Her molars have also started to break through. The result of all of this has been low-grade fevers, a very runny nose, tooth aches, ear aches and a terrible cough. The result of these things has been scary nights next to a 100 degree girl; trying to deal with someone who simply refuses to “blow” her noise; watching from across the room as a precious little girl sits silent and still with her hands in her mouth trying to bear the pain; struggling to maintain as my little Abby holds her finger in her ear, tears running down her cheeks, crying out to me about the hurt in her head; and thinking of her being jolted out of a restful sleep by a coughing fit. It’s been a tough week.

To be honest, however, I am grateful that things are not worse. Abby fought off a flu earlier this year (the first time she had ever been sick), and that was not a good time. Some of you remember it. I’m happy to say that she is nowhere near that sick. In fact, she is already much better than she was and is only really having to deal with the cough right now - hence the trip to the doctor.

Unfortunately, having a loving, doting, sister is not always a good thing. While Abby has always found comfort placing her hand down Alison’s shirt, what’s a girl to do when mommy isn’t around? Put her hand “lovingly” on her baby sister’s face, of course. I have no doubt that Abby is gently and lovingly comforting her little sister, as far as she is concerned. However, the flexible, wire-framed baby seat that Penny sits in tells quite another story. From the perspective of the stressed and flexing chair, if Abby were to quickly release her “loving” grip, Penny might be flung back over the couch - perhaps even to the kitchen depending on the wind. All that to say that Abby is a wonderful older sibling who graciously shares her love, affection, and communicable diseases with her little sister. Yes, Penny has started to get a cough. And if there is anything more heart wrenching that a 2 year old with a cough, it is a two month old with a cough. Penny already struggles with reflux, and earned a gold medal in Nagano for “Weird Throat Noise Making,” so the addition of a cough is all the more frustrating.

About the doctor’s visit. Things were going along smooth…who am I kidding? As soon as Abby made eye contact with the nurse, she hid behind Alison’s chair. It only got worse when the nurse tried to take Abby’s temperature. While it should not have been difficult - the nurse using one of those little metal spears that you simply hold under the child’s arm for a few seconds - watching made me think of one of those on-stage sword fights where after all the convincing clanking of metal, the victor buries his weapon in the one place that virtually every actor killed by a sword takes the wound: just under the armpit. I was half expecting Abby to silently collapse on the floor in defeat. Suffice it to say that once the doctor arrived, things didn’t get any better. Though all she had to do was check Abby’s ears and listen to her breath. Go figure.

Seriously, though, if any one else were to make such commentary about my little girl, I would defend her to the death - the completely silly and illogical death. Little girls get to hide behind their mother’s chairs and take refuge behind their father’s legs anytime they feel the need. And for that matter, so do big girls, and teenage girls and girls who have gone off to college, and girls who are getting married, and even girls who have girls of their own. I will never tire of hearing “uppy daddy.” I will never cease to be the wall between Abby and whatever she fears. I hope she never tires of being held or guarded or simply cherished.

Same goes for you Penny.

Lord, help me be the best father I can be (and please do something about those coughs!)

So keep the girls in your thoughts and prayers.  Things are not nearly as bad as a father makes them out to be.  Abby is on the way out and we have caught Penny early on the way in.  They are both using an inhaler to help relax the lungs (Abby does not like that either) so that might help.  We’ll see.

Got Gardasil?

So what’s the deal with Gardasil?  That depends who you ask.  Big Pharma would have you believe that apart from so-called vaccines like Gardasil your children are at serious risk of cancer and so forth.  The truth of the matter, however, is quite another story.

Fortunately, more and more people are becoming more and more aware of the dangers of Big Pharma (as well as other Big Corporations).  Whereas “TV said it was ok” seemed a good enough justification in the past for writing off so many things as “conspiracy theories,” each day we are witnessing an increase in the number of news reports, even from the main-stream media, either warning of the dangers or reporting the outcomes of such things as new “vaccines,” genetically modified food and more.  It seems that the crazy people who warned us of such dangers were on to something.

Instead of laying out the dangers of Gardasil for you here, I am going to point you towards a couple of people who have been working hard to shine the light on this atrocious and even criminal behavior.  Below are some links for Mercola.com and NaturalNews.com.  Both of these are great resources and I would encourage you to keep an eye on each of them.  Follow the links below and be sure to check out the related links they offer. 

(You may be asked to sign up for the Mercola articles in which case it’s up to you.  I have never had a problem with spam from Mercola and his newsletter has turned out to be one of the few I actually check out every time it comes.  If you are hesitent to give out your email, just go sign up for a new email to use only for such things.  You should do that anyway and only provide the information you want to provide when signing up for that new email address.  Gmail from google gets the job done.)

 

Mercola: The HPV Vaccine: Preventive Care or Human Sacrifice?

Mercola: Thousands have Gotten Sick from Gardasil HPV Vaccine

Mercola: Vaccine Companies Investigated for Manslaughter

Mercola: Gardasil — New Video Reveals Hidden Dangers

Must Read Natural News Special Report: The Great HPV Vaccine Hoax Exposed

These are just a handful of the tragic stories and dire warnings surrounding Gardasil as well as many other vaccines.  Get your google out and do some investigating of your own.  This is serious stuff.   

 

 

 

Oh Canada!

Big Pharma is rearing its ugly head in the Great White North. 

A new law, C-51, which seeks to outlaw up to 60% of natural health products sold in Canada, is being pushed by the major pharmaceutical companies (as if that’s surprising).  Follow the link below to read the whole story, then spend some time browsing Natural News for a ton of great information.  This is a site that you need to visit regularly.  In fact, sign up for their email alerts today.

Canada’s C-51 Law May Outlaw 60% of Natural Health Products; Big Pharma Pushing to Criminalize Supplements

Fun Stuff

Have you heard of Make Magazine or the Maker Faire? What about Instructables? If not, then check them out now.

Maker Magazine touts itself as the first magazine devoted entirely to DIY (Do It Yourself) projects and their Make Faire is an awesome two-day family friendly event in the San Francisco Bay area celebrating the DIY lifestyle. But don’t think of it as a home and garden show or even a cool gadgets showcase. It is a tinkerers paradise and a great place to both catch a glimpse into the future and race evil looking power tools.

Instructables is more of the same. It is an online treasure trove of DIY projects and fun activities. Fun to read and even more fun to do.

Just thought you might enjoy that. Have fun. Til next time!

The R3volution Has Come!

Well, the book, that is.  I am excited to say that I received my first two copies of Ron Paul’s new book, The Revolution: A Manifesto yesterday and I am already digging in, despite having about five other books that I am required to read asap!

I will not go on and on right now.  I will only say this: You need to read this book.  I don’t care who you are or what you believe, you need to read this book. 

• If you support Dr. Paul, then read it to further support him and refine your understanding of the R3volution.  You will come away motivated and equipped to continue the struggle. 
• If you are not familiar with Dr. Paul, then you owe it to yourself to see what he is all about.  Try to lay aside your presuppositions and preconceived notions (as much as one may) and come at this fresh in order to truly understand it. 
• If you are an enemy of the R3evolution (and shame on you) then you must read this book so that your arguments are not in vain and are directed fairly and properly at what Dr. Paul believes and not what someone else says he believes (Main-Stream Media would be a perfect example).

Seriously, if I find myself in another Ron Paul debate with someone who receives his information from Faux News, CNN or the New York Times again I will….I am gonna… well, I will kindly ask them to read the primary sources and then come back and talk to me.  : )

I said I would not go on and on right now, and I won’t, though I am having to purse my lips as I write this.

Just go buy the book.

 

 

 

April 21, 2008

YAY!: Lakers Win! Avalanche Win! Angels Win Series Against Mariners!

BOO!: Ducks Lose.

——————–

RON PAUL IS COMING TO TOWN! Well, if you live in San Diego, that is. And fortunately, we live close enough!

The San Diego Meetup group has announced that Ron Paul will be signing his new book, The Revolution: A Manifesto, at Balboa Park on Friday, May 23, at 6:00pm. An exact location has not been determined yet, but we are assured that all systems are go. Alison, I and the kids will be there in our Ron Paul duds, hootin’, hollarin’ and generally carrying on for Ron and hopefully getting our books signed and maybe even having some pictures taken. Of course, if they allow hugs, I will have to be pried away from Dr. Paul as well.

When I get more specific information, I will try to post it here.

If you have not ordered the book, get on with it! There is a link in the sidebar.

What I’m Up To

Things have been busy around the Morrow household, to say the least. And to be completely honest, I have not been all that enthusiastic about posting to the blog. I am finding that I am simply not able to do the things I really want to do at the moment, and the subsequent frustration is keeping me from doing other things that I am capable of doing (or at least trying). This being the case, we will just have to wait and see how things evolve here at BTFOG.

For now, here is what I’m up to.

Books I’m Reading:

• Four Views on Salvation in a Pluralistic Society (or something like that). Actually, I have not started reading it yet, but I have to start soon. It’s for class. Unfortunately, I am not entirely interested in the topic at the moment - or I should say, I am more interested in other topics right now. Regardless, I better dig in soon.
• Shedd’s Dogmatic Theology. A great theology, but again, for class, and I am not yet looking forward to this readings accompanying assignment. Oh well.
• Who Moved the Stone by Frank Morrison. Classic defense of the resurrection by the one-time atheist. Almost 80 years old now (the book, that is) and still kickin, I am using it as part of a larger research project. Stay tuned.
• A handful of other resurrection works.
• Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham. Very good book I come back to from time to time. Recommended.
• A Foreign Policy of Freedom by Ron Paul. Basically, I am just reading this again as I wait anxiously for Dr. Paul’s new book, The Revolution, to come out. Have you pre-ordered yours yet?
• A bunch of reference works.
• Mere Christianity. There are so many incredible bite-seized pieces of brilliance in that book, it should be read and reread.

Sites I am keeping an eye on:

• http://www.americanvision.org/garyblog/. While Gary and I have finally found something to disagree on (let’s just say it’s partially political) for the most part, I nearly always enjoy reading Gary’s take on things. He and his staff do a good job of coming up with new and varied yet relevant topics to post about every day or two.
• http://gobabymorrow.blogspot.com/. Yes. It’s my wife’s baby blog. Honestly, I regularly read something on there I didn’t know about. Besides that, I love to read my wife’s thoughts on just about anything.
• http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/. A good resource for the libertarian, constitutional leaning Christian. Take the time to dig through the article archives.
• http://www.diigo.com/. I finally found the tool I have been looking for. If you want the ability to make persistent notes and highlights on Web pages, have access to your bookmarks from any computer, and a ton of other things, check out Diggo. I am actually hoping to write up an entire post dedicated to Diggo in the near future. Check it out.
• Anything related to the Lakers, Angels, Ducks and Avalanche.
• A handful of other things that I don’t have time to write about now because my daughter Abby just woke up and it’s time to get fatherin’.

I had a few other things to share, but they will have to wait. Abby calls.

Recommended Reading (and watching)

When you get a chance, head over to the Recommended section to learn about one great book and a couple of good films.

A Nation of Sheep by Judge Andrew Napolitano will give you the intriguing, maddening and often frightening details of what happens when a government assumes too much control. This is the perfect book for people who have a tendency to label just about everything as a conspiracy theory or who take Fox News or CNN as gospel. Coming from a Fox News host and regular contributor, it packs an unexpected punch, from a guy who cannot be labeled a conspiracy nut. The book is entertaining, informative and a quick read.

Why We Fight and No End In Sight may prove a bit more controversial at first, but are important and necessary films and will help to give you “the other side of the story.” These can’t be written off as mere “Bush Hate” or Left Wing propaganda. These are stories from the soldiers, Iraqi people and high level US government personnel who dared to question the motives, plans and execution of the so-called “War on Terror.”

All of these will move you and get you thinking. Regardless of where you are in the discussion, these resources will prove invaluable.

I’ve been busy

Obviously, I have not had much opportunity to write lately. Honestly, I have no idea when I will get back into the swing of things. I do have a good reason though. In fact, I have a couple of good reasons.