We have some great Fibbers lined up, but there's time for several more. Get your fib together and sign up online. Our latest contestant to join the fray is none other than Wade Williams. All you Rome area band students of the last -how many!!?- years will remember old man Williams and his crazy band stories. Come hear him on April Fools' Day next Tuesday evening at 7 at the rock Civic Center on Jackson Hill.
Comment
Laurie Craw
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| FROM HALEY'S MOM'S FACEBOOK: Haley just loves for me to post something like this about her... |
All food products should be clearly labeled and ably monitored for truth in labeling. Politicians should be clearly labeled, as well, with exactly who is paying their bills.
(This was in response to an outdated controversy over the content of some fast food, including McDonald's burgers. The "pink slime" once used by McDonald's and others is no longer used.)
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| The woods are wide open still. You can see the lay of the land and admire the winter textures. This is a special spot along the trail for my students of the last decade or so. We call it the Pentepus Tree. A Red Maple, or maybe a Chalk Maple - I don't remember - it has five boles that form an anthropomorphic hand reaching from the base of Lavender Mountain. The Pentepus was a way station where I'd lean against the fingers with my feet in the palm and tell a story to the kids sitting in the leaves. The strange tree is about to bite the dust, I'm afraid. The limbs have been dying one by one and they all look more than a little peaked now. The fungi are having a feast. |
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| I got a chance to spend some time by myself in the woods today along the Armuchee Elementary Nature Trail. This Hepatica was about the only full-bloom going, but it's going up and down the stream along the little bluff behind the school in all its glory. The Toothwort and Rue Anemone will be along shortly. |
Lots of "conservative" folk talk about horrible intrusion of government into their lives. I have not experienced a lot of that. Our government, elected by me and my fellow citizens, has, in many instances, enriched my life and my liberties. Of course sometimes I am in the minority and have to accept, temporarily at l;east, government action/inaction with which I strongly disagree.
"Instead of talking in abstractions, let's talk about HOW government controls our lives and HOW big business controls our lives, with concrete examples. And I'm talking about how we LIVE our lives, day in, day out. Government, that is, the laws created by our elected representatives in government and enforced by the agencies those representatives also created, tells me I can't do a lot of things but I honestly can't remember wanting to do something the government told me I couldn't do, except get into a national park campground after dark one time. If I were a male and got drafted to fight a war I didn't believe was moral or necessary for national defense, I'd definitely have a problem with "big government" as many young men did in the Vietnam era.But here's how big corporations (and small businesses) have kept me from doing things I DID want to do. Back in the "old days" before "big government" passed a law or two, I wanted to get a credit card in my own name to establish my credit but the banks said I couldn't because I was a married woman. I also wanted to take a one-month leave from my job when our first child was born, but my employer said I had to return to work as soon as my doctor said I was recovered from childbirth (that is, no longer "sick" under their sick leave policy) or lose my job. My husband and I were evicted from our rental apartment when our baby was born and it was perfectly legal for landlords to refuse to rent to adults with small children. More recently, I wanted to buy our diabetic son some health insurance to help pay for his life-saving insulin and other medicines but NO insurance company would sell him any.In all these examples from my real life, "big government" stepped in and made laws to enable me to do things I wanted to do, things that were very important to me. So these are my examples. Let's hear examples of how government has prevented you from doing something important to you."- Laurie Craw
Like many other posts of this sort this one elicited lots of comments. I usually enjoy it when friends like Howard, Sam, Laurie start commenting.
Comments:
Sam Burnham
Edward Snowden's revelations.
TARP
No Child/Common Core
2nd Amendment violations
Income taxes that over half don't pay.
Tax dollars spent on corporate welfare
Federal courts overturning state laws
War, war, war, war
NAFTA
Guantanamo- still going like the Energizer Bunny.
$3.42/gallon
No third or fourth party allowed in debates
Politicians with immense power over my life that appear on no ballot in my state (the reason we started with a republic with weak federal and strong state govts)
That's a start. I guess I'm an equal opportunity complainer. Washington, not just a single party, is the problem.
Terrell Shaw
Whoops… wuzn't through wit this, how'd it it get posted? Oh well…
All of these that are the result of laws were passed by our representatives, though I would like to see us make the Senate more representative and do away with the Electoral College and the return the filibuster to a real one.
TARP - (a Bush program) 97% repaid and may have saved us from a depression.
NCLB - a bad bipartisan program
Common Core - Mostly Common Sense
2nd Amendment violations - huh? Not a single gun taken from any law-abiding citizen yet
Income taxes that over half don't pay - but those half still pay lots of other taxes, and the folks who are paying are paying a smaller percentage than before 1980 and their percentage of the wealth is greater.
Tax dollars spent on corporate welfare - has been moderated some, but I agree
Federal courts overturning state laws - Article VI
War, war, war, war - We have made several mistakes here, but we have elected the guys who did it.
NAFTA - a mixed bag but my guys' should not have gone along with this. They did, and at the time so did I. Note this, it doesn't happen often: I wuz wrong.
Guantanamo- still going like the Energizer Bunny. I hope we'll take another stab at closing it soon.
$3.42/gallon - OK I guess some govt taxes are part of this, but we need roads and bridges and such.
No third or fourth party allowed in debates - Is there any govt involvement in organizing debates? Usually news orbs and LWV and other private groups set the rules I think.
Politicians with immense power over my life that appear on no ballot in my state (the reason we started with a republic with weak federal and strong state govts) - When we had that horribly weak fed under the Articles it was a horrible failure. Madison and Co definitely wanted to replace that with a strong federal govt with plenty of checks and balances within it, and a balance between it and the states.
Sam Burnham
The electoral college is the last stronghold of the old republic. I'm not surprised that it comes under attack from liberals. Granting 5 or 6 states the numerical ability to elect the president of a 50 state republic is probably the least fair thing that could possibly be done with legislation.
Sam Burnham
And the Senate should still be elected by the state legislatures. The founding fathers designed it that way for a reason.
Terrell Shaw
I can see some value in giving small states some special power, but the huge discrepancy b/w Wyoming and California is just too much. It is anti-republican in my book. Not that any change is coming there anytime soon.
Terrell Shaw
The Great Compromise was a wonderful thing. It allowed our republic to come into existence. But it WAS a compromise and made our republic something less than a true republic, and may have been a very long-term time bomb. When one senator from Wyoming (less people than Cobb County GA) can stifle our entire legislative branch we end up with the disfunction of 2014.
Terrell Shaw
You are in good company with some of the founding fathers (not all) who were very distrustful of the "people" at large. I am a small-r republican to my toes. I always want the broadest franchise and the greatest equality among citizens. I see no advantage in placing a state legislature filter between the people and their senators.
Terrell Shaw
Now, trying to repeal the 17th is bad enough, but if you go after the 19th Amendment, I'm telling Leigha.
Laurie Craw
Sam, judging from your list, I guess I didn't understand your anti-government perspective from the git-go. I thought you felt that government is controlling YOUR life and restricting your freedom in some ways, but apparently you just feel that the federal government (not state?) is involved in too many things in general. That's another debate.
Sam Burnham
Laurie, yes, the Federal government is too big and is involved on things it was never intended to be involved in. Most of it should be abolished.
On the contrary, the House is designed for the people, the Senate for the states. It would be unfair to bring Wyoming (first to pass suffrage) into the Union without giving it equal protection in the Senate.
Now, if you want to take power from ranchers and farmers and redistribute it to incredibly rich people and corporations in places like New York and California, that's the right course to take.
Sam Burnham
And actually, I'm in line with Founding Fathers like Jefferson, Patrick Henry and Sam Adams that were so trustful of the people that they were willing to leave governing power close to them, to maximize their influence over it as opposed to the Hamilton model of placing it in an ivory tower of strong centralized government.
Howard Smith
Fortunately, for all of you our founders wrote a living document, that both endures and adapts, and created a government, based on law, if not always in practice, and that is, if imperfect, still elected by us....for better and worse....and it only demands of us to make it work better in its pursuit of the common good our earnest participation.
Sam Burnham
So long as the creature doesn't evolve into another entirely different organism,
Howard Smith
That is called evolution and we have to adapt to change so, yes, the "organism" will change, too. and WE THE PEOPLE can and do and will create the future if we survive.
Terrell Shaw
Time out: Though I disagree mightily with you, Sam, I appreciate your willingness to use argument rather than vitriol to express yourself. Too many of us on all sides use that famous argument "[Fill in bad guy, bad idea, failed effort, straw man here] _________________ stinks therefore all you say in nonsense." So thanks for the polite debate.
Time in: Although I certainly believe in simple truths that don't change, I realize we live in complicated times, a diverse society, and a crowded planet. IMO Fifty "sovereign" states are not governable in a way that protects liberty, the environment, physical safety (from domestic & foreign dangers), reasonable economic security, etc.
I am glad that the founders realized that the wholly states-controlled govt of the Articles was a failure. We needed a federal govt and it needed power. I'm also glad they wrote in many checks and balances and divided the powers.
And I am glad that as history has progressed the system they wisely instituted for growth and change has allowed us to expand the franchise and make our Republic more responsive to ordinary Americans.
But as we've grown, inequalities that result from the Great Compromise and the Electoral College have become more pronounced. I see no reason for the ranchers and farmers in WY to have fifty times the influence in the Senate of the ranchers and farmers in CA. That's TOO much. In 1789 Rhode Islanders had about a 10 to 1 advantage over Virginians. Still bad. Useless argument, of course, but there it is.
Sam Burnham
And so many before us in other nations across the world have me believing that last "if" is very big. That is why I stay concerned
Sam Burnham
I'm not much for vitriol for vitriol's sake. I even try to find positives in people I disagree with and respect them in that way. This came in handy during this past summer's visit through Plains and Warm Springs.
Reason, argument and truth. As much as I disagree with the President, "Not Obama" is not a political philosophy. You have to know why you are for and against someone. That's why I'll never vote for either of our senators for any seat under any party, ever. I don't agree in practical application of stated belief. I want less talk and more action.
GWB spoke of smaller government and added an entire department to the federal government. Really? Words should equal actions. Too many folks telling me it's raining when I know better.
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| Another of Mr. Shaw's Stars from 2004-2005. Yay Cal! |
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| From his Mom's Facebook: I have to say how proud I am of my oldest son Cal! He was recognized tonight at the Hall of Fame banquet as Armuchee's male outstanding athlete award! It was also awarded for all his academic achievements! It did a mamas heart good to see all her son had accomplished! We love you and know you will do well in college!!! - Kim Russell |
Extremism is dangerous on both ends.
Do you feel the same way about Warren Buffett and George Soros?
Sam Burnham
You don't hear much about Buffett or Soros. They're doing the exact same thing the Koch brothers are vilified for. Just as guilty, just as damaging, just as wrong.
Terrell Shaw
We need to reduce the effect of money in politics. Soros and Buffett have not been as influential in politics as the Koch brothers but they should be limited too. By the way, there is much to blame about the Koch brothers and Adelson, but I have not done that here. My criticism here is of 1) the cancerous nature of unlimited and even uncredited money in politics; and 2) the cancerous effect upon society by extreme concentration of wealth. Soros and Buffett may contribute to the first, but at least they recognize the second and are using their money to support measures that help to change that.
Sam Burnham
If we reverse the cancerous nature of unlimited power of politics over every area of our daily lives and the cancerous effect upon society of the concentration of that power in Washington, the money will follow it right out the door.
Once we don't need Washington's permission to sneeze, the money will go elsewhere. And once that power is gone & the corporate welfare dries up the rest will work itself out.
Terrell Shaw
Some may be willing to accept a much lesser America, but I believe most folks want the safety, infrastructure, environmental protections, parks, schools, etc. etc that a huge country like ours in the 21st century affords us. Yes we must guard our liberty, but we can not soon return to the days of a tremendously smaller population with much less complicated lives.
Life is what it is. We have 50 states and a population of over 300 million that includes lots of Baptists, Catholics, Sikhs, Muslims, Atheists, Gays, Straights, blacks, whites, Cherokee, Navajo, Cajuns, Hispanics, etc, etc, amen. No man is an island.
What Adelson does with his casinos and Buffett does with his stocks, affects more than themselves and their families. What BP does with their drills and Monsanto with their chemicals, concerns me and mine. I want We the People looking out for my interests and those of my posterity, not a bunch of rich businessmen.
When We the People make decisions that displease us, We the People can raise Cain to get those things changed through our republican processes. We have virtually no control over the Koches and Soroses unless We the People assert some limits on 'em.
Sam Burnham
Washington hasn't been "We the People" in a long, long time. Since that time we've seen Both parties enjoy the power of control of both the White House & Congress. And the promises are still broken by both.
And with 50 states having the ability to govern returned to them (closer to home, where the founding fathers put it) we'd actually have a much greater America, not less. Just the improvements that could be made to education by the removal of the federal govt from it would be a great start.
Raymond Atkins
Government service should be determined by lottery and limited to one term. If you're drafted, you go.
Sam Burnham
That's not a bad idea. Pay them like soldiers. Treat them like soldiers. They won't stay long then.
Raymond Atkins
Then all the people with money will be finding a way to avoid going...
Sam Burnham
And succeeding in doing so.
Laurie Craw
Sam Burnham, what you say sounds sensible. Take away government's power and the billionaires will have no reason to spend their money to influence our government. "Small government" sounds great until you remember a little history. Capitalism has many benefits but its natural evolution is concentration of wealth and concentration of power in monopolies. Energy monopolies. Transportation and communication monopolies. Banking monopolies. Healthcare monopolies. Food and water monopolies. The way to make the greatest wealth is not to compete but to eliminate the competition. And where does that leave us little guys? Without "big government," it leaves us at the mercy of a handful of megacorporations not only for our livelihoods but for everything we need to live. And BTW, those even-richer, unregulated billionaires would STILL control what's left of our "small government." In short, shrinking and weakening government would not expand individual freedom in any meaningful way but it would free the billionaires to take more control of our lives.
Sam Burnham
Well, since humongous government has done such a fine job of preventing monopolies, mega corporations and crooked billionaires, I guess I'll concede my argument.
Terry Lewis
Good point that it would free billionaires to take more control of our lives. But, OH how I would rather the billionaires control my life than the government!!! There are laws to protect me from billionaires but not the government!!! We need strong leadership at any organization or govt. A little common sense helps. Looking at Obama who said the Super Bowl would be close and who laughed at Romney who mentioned the power of Russia and whose experience was being a lawyer for Acorn and social activist. We need a Reagan who played all the different parts of leaders as an actor and gained a lot of insight! lol
Terrell Shaw
Sam, government does help rein in monopolies, corrupt corporations and corporate leaders, though Republicans have lessened our ability to do that over the last 30 years. Terry, I am just flabbergasted that anyone would rather be governed by billionaires than by our republican government. That is downright scary.
Sam Burnham
It's just hard for me to believe that either of these parties is less responsible than the other. History has shown time and again they only pad their own pockets on our efforts.
Terrell Shaw
Then vote 'em out. Democracy is a very bad form of govt but it beats all the rest. There will always be ne'er-do-wells, crooks, cowards, etc. But there will also always be statesfolk, thinkers, good guys.
Terry Lewis
Terrell, my point was about what Laurie said...."shrinking govt. would free billionaires to take more control of our lives". Billionaires taking control of my life is like an alien from Mars doing the same! the only one that controls me is my wife. lol. As I said, we have laws to protect us from unethical, criminalistic type persons. But, a government can have the power to control your life in many ways.
Terrell Shaw
Only by the will of the people, who should use the their government to balance six goals: better govt, justice, peace at home, defense from enemies, general welfare, and liberty.
Laurie Craw
Instead of talking in abstractions, let's talk about HOW government controls our lives and HOW big business controls our lives, with concrete examples. And I'm talking about how we LIVE our lives, day in, day out. Government, that is, the laws created by our elected representatives in government and enforced by the agencies those representatives also created, tells me I can't do a lot of things but I honestly can't remember wanting to do something the government told me I couldn't do, except get into a national park campground after dark one time. If I were a male and got drafted to fight a war I didn't believe was moral or necessary for national defense, I'd definitely have a problem with "big government" as many young men did in the Vietnam era.
But here's how big corporations (and small businesses) have kept me from doing things I DID want to do. Back in the "old days" before "big government" passed a law or two, I wanted to get a credit card in my own name to establish my credit but the banks said I couldn't because I was a married woman. I also wanted to take a one-month leave from my job when our first child was born, but my employer said I had to return to work as soon as my doctor said I was recovered from childbirth (that is, no longer "sick" under their sick leave policy) or lose my job. My husband and I were evicted from our rental apartment when our baby was born and it was perfectly legal for landlords to refuse to rent to adults with small children. More recently, I wanted to buy our diabetic son some health insurance to help pay for his life-saving insulin and other medicines but NO insurance company would sell him any.
In all these examples from my real life, "big government" stepped in and made laws to enable me to do things I wanted to do, things that were very important to me. So these are my examples. Let's hear examples of how government has prevented you from doing something important to you.
YOUTUBE.COM
"The Calla Lilies are in Bloom Again"
"The Calla Lilies are in Bloom Again"
Ruth Baird Shaw
My wonderful son, Terry brought a vase of jonquils, daffodils, and hyacinths over to me Sunday afternoon!
Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) a subspecies of the Eastern Newt. This a common newt of the eastern US and the newest occupant at Arrowhead Environmental Education Center.
Comments:
Sarah Anne
does it normally have a bigger abdomen or is s/he with child/eggs?
Terrell Shaw
I wondered the same thing. I don't remember it looking this way in the tank. Maybe it's just the way it is being held. I'll take a good look at it again on Monday.
Sarah Anne
maybe its not her good side. lol
Bob Doster
Any relation to the Gringrich newt?
