THERMOPYLAEHILLBILLY

Godfather vs the President

2012-01-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

Lets start out with a rundown on the Republican candidates running around the country in these straw polls. Santorum is very passionate and believes what he says about the country but looks to young to be president. Paul has some good domestic programs but no cohesive foreign policy and doesn't look presidential. Romney sounds like another Democrat or a snake oil peddler with money and can't keep his tie on straight.

So where does that leave us? How about we skip the going back to Reagan with Gingridge or go over the 98 charges the Democrats trumped up on him and never proved one. Show me any politician that hasn't made mistakes or admitted to them and I'll show you a damn liar. Gingridge is the most articulate of the crowd, knows more about Washington than the whole bunch and doesn't need a teleprompter to say his name.

In this next election the country will turn on who becomes president and sink, swim or drown. The people want a strong president who can lead us rather than running around in the bushes hunting the bird. Gingridge can take the heat, looks presidential and most important, he doesn't care if the president calls him a racist. He has been called a lot worse over the years

Baillie and the Boys- Long Shot

2012-01-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

click image

My Father's Eyes- Eric Clapton

2012-01-28T13:10:00.001-07:00

click on image

Wall Street a History

2012-01-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

During the 17Th century a war between the Dutch settlers and England was built to keep the war from spreading to the American Colonies. It was strictly for defence and was never used. Afterwords the wall was taken down and the name, "Wall Street" continued to be used. Today it is the hub of our financial district in the United States.

Occupy What & Who.....

2012-01-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

Every Blade of Grass

2012-01-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

Crazy Stripper and A Psychopath

2012-01-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

It's always interesting to get comments from people out there in the blogosphere that either have a name on them, they are anonymous or the people are lurkers. Lurkers are those who come and look but don't have anything to say. The comments that are anonymous sometimes are nutcases and them some make sense. One I got recently that has made several comments during the past few months, at first I just commented on it and moved on. But during the past 24 hours it has continued to play over and over in my mind. A lying sick in the head perjurer who can't get their facts straight on any television channel that doesn't check their facts and runs with a story for the ratings. Anonymous had it right this time, a crazy stripper and a psychopath.

There is Power in A Union 2012

2012-01-17T15:13:00.005-07:00

This ballad fits in quite well with the Occupy movement in the United States and other countries. The ballad below is for your decision. Just click on the link below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwbzxemJZIc

The Almighty Dollar- Colorado Springs, Colorado and Free Speech Zones

2012-01-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

Free speech zones in Colorado Springs have more to do with government fear of the people and the almighty dollar than anything else. The mayor and city council [government] are afraid of the people it's not the assembly as much as it is fear. The First Amendment scares government. Fear simply because people who assembly for what ever reason have power to sway the masses and that scares government.

Behind the city council who are nothing more than a puppet show and who's pulling their strings lies the city businesses and the tourist bureau. The businesses love the capitalism but they and the tourist bureau are afraid the city will lose the almighty dollar if people assemble on a corner or in a park. It's bad for business and to many people on the corner will be heard and the business will go somewhere else.

So like the homeless veterans and homeless they wanted out of sight they got their wish by force and a new city ordinance. The city could really care less what the people think or say. They want things that scare them and loses dollars for the city to be placed somewhere they can't be seen or heard. They will spin free speech zones as protection for the public, sanatation, fear of riots and a persons right to assemble. But when the gavel bangs it will be for government, businesses and the tourist bureau.

Unequal Treatment- Colorado Springs, Colorado Free Speech Zones

2012-01-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

"Re: Free Speech Zones."

"Colorado Springs is now discussing the possibility of setting up 'free speech zones' for those who want to exercise their First Amendment rights. Put them somewhere where no one will see them, seems to be the prevailing idea. This stems from opposition to Occupy Wall Street demonstrators across the country and at Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs.

The act of civil disobedience is a time-honored tool for those without personal power, buckets of money, or positions of authority to seek justice. Acts of civil disobedience were how citizens drew attention to their cries for freedom from the oppressive British rule in 1773-74, to the end of slavery, equal rights for women, civil rights, gay rights and opposition to the Vietnam war.

In the hierarchy of rights, the First Amendment is sacred, far and above the minutiae of municipal rules and regulations. Much turmoil and conflict, physical harm, expenditure of funds, and division of citizens could have been spared if authorities had honored this American exercise of rights. Police would only have been summoned if there was an imminent threat to life or property.

During the summer of 2010, when tea parties had marches and rallies---some wearing sidearms or carrying automatic rifles---They were not harassed by armored riot squads, threatened with arrest, or attacked with chemical weapons, billy clubs and rubber bullets.

In the case of Occupy Wall Streeters, there is the suspicion that excessive force has been used in defense of a particular partisan view of the content of the protest.

Instead of finding fault with the demonstrators or media, we should try and listening to the merits of their cause. In Colorado Springs, we start down a very slippery slope if we start trying to 'legislate' where we can speak freely or peacefully assemble."

A concerned citizen of Manitou Springs, Colorado

Cat Scratch Fever- Colorado Springs, Colorado Free Speech Zones

2012-01-13T16:51:00.001-07:00

"Re: Free speech zones."

"If you can't kill the tiger, remove it's claws."

A concerned citizen of Colorado Springs, Colorado

VFW Commander Takes Swipe at the Public

2012-01-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

"Despite 10 years of continual conflict, the American people apparently are divorced from reality when it comes to those in uniform [VFW Commander-in-Chief Richard De Noyer]. Well I'm sorry Commander but it may be time to consider what reality and possibly planet you are living on. That poll you got your information from smells like a skunks behind. They wouldn't know the truth if they looked it up in the dictionary.

From where I stand I see interaction between civilians, military members and even those who hate the military. Yes the service member, "sacrifices" but you can't expect a civilian to do the same thing. Is your idea to arm civilians and send them to Afghanistan to kill the bad guys. They wouldn't get past homeland security and would likly get locked up.

Like the old ladies they wouldn't even get throught a TSA body scan. You have two kinds of people here in this country military and civilians. The military protects the country in theory and civilians provide support for the troops. That appears to be going on around me in the big city and out in the hills of West Virginia. You and the rest of those old guys who wont give up the control to the younger crowd are distroying the VFW. Do you really believe WWII veterans are entitled to something extra and the end result is no VFW organization?

Congress Ripping off Military Retirees

2012-01-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

So how many 1099-R's did you receive this year military retirees? I know you didn't get just one and you sure didn't get just one LES [Leave & Earning Statement]. Why in the world did we get two this year? Well they explain it quite clearly in their newsletter. Like it's just another thing that happened this year. Nothing new just business as usual. "Your 1099-R[s] - reflect all 2011 payments [ 2011 National Defence Authorization Act]. Due to the pay date change approved by Congress earlier this year, your 1099-R includes 13 payments." Now this may sound like your getting more money in the envelope, but your not.
What Congress has did is another sneaky money grab from military retirees. By passing a bill that gives you 13 pay dates which is money for 2012 and being counted on your 2011 Income Tax. Now where is all that 2012 money going to go? Well in the pockets of the Congress. But they say they fixed it so this would never happen again but lets wait until next year and see what happens. So I have a 1099-R for 2011 and one for 2012. Then I have an LES for 2011 and 2012. This is just another screw job by the Congress and all those other hooded bandits in Washington.

American War Veteran's Gunfight Leaves 11 Dead

2012-01-05T19:44:00.001-07:00

"On a cold December day on a mountainside in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, Mexican War veteran Jonathan Davis faced 14 seasoned murders. In a matter of minutes, he killed 11 of them with handgun and knife in what writer John Boessenecker called "the single most extraordinary feat of self-defence by an American civilian in the annals of the Frontier.

This all brings us back to Jonathan Davis, who carried the honorary title of captain, and certainly earned it. Davis enlisted in South Carolina's Palmetto Regiment of volunteers in December 1846, quickly becoming a lieutenant.

Fighting with distinction in several key battles, he was wounded in action at Churubusco on August 20, 1847. One of the wars hardest-fought engagements, it cost the Americans more than 1000 casualties. Discharged in 1848, Davis headed for what would become the Golden State.

On December 19, 1854, he and two fellow prospectors, James McDonald and Dr. Bolivar Sparks, were passing through Rocky Canyon near Todd Valley on the middle fork of the American River not far from Sacramento.

Without warning, 14 banditos opened fire, killing McDonald instantly and mortally wounding Sparks, who only discharged two rounds before hitting the ground. [Sparks died of his wounds a week later on December 26.]. Davis stood his ground, grasped 'in a fever of excitement.' Unlumbered two colt revolvers, he methodically picked off seven bandits with lethal accuracy. Ammo rapidly depleted on both sides.

Four of the would-be robbers came after Davis with knives and a cutlass. Wielding his Bowie knife, he engaged them hand-to-hand, mortally wounding three by cold steel. The fourth fled the field of battle , minus a nose; he died the next day. The three other desperadoes hightailed it out of the blood-stained canyon."

Thanks to the VFW magazine

John Boessenecker's book, Gold Dust and Gunsmoke 1999

Sculpture Michael Trcic, One Man with Courage is a Majority

Homeless Veterans in the Fountain, CO Area

2011-12-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

Homeless Veteran

There continues to be creditable sightings of homeless veterans living in Fountain, Colorado and mainly along Route 85/87 and Fountain Creek. This would place them somewhere around the bridge area that crosses the highway. Fountain unlike Colorado Springs has some services for the homeless but not on a large scale. The sightings may be veterans that are just passing by Fountain heading some place else and are following the creek. There are also some trails in the local area along the creek they could be using. The only place that is listed in the Fountain newspaper where you can get a meal [soup & sandwiches] on Friday evening is the Methodist Church on Route 85/87. There is also a food pantry in the local area and if the veterans have funds other businesses. The sighting will continue to be monitored and veterans helped if they desire help or information on VA programs for the homeless. The local VFW recently had a dinner to raise money for homeless veterans.

Letter To Honda Motorcycle Division Never Answered

2011-12-29T03:34:00.000-07:00

Holiday Gift Cards

2011-12-29T02:57:00.000-07:00

Would you believe that this past Christmas the American people spent 30 billion dollars on gift cards? But guess what the businesses are hoping you don't use the cards because it ends up being money in their pockets. Some cards even have a fee up to $5 dollars you have to pay on them just to get the card. I received four cards myself and sent out about eight. To be honest I still have a couple in my billfold that I haven't used. Perhaps we should just send cash. You send me $25 dollars and I'll send you $25 dollars and we beat out the middle man. All we have to do is pay the mailman, hope it doesn't disappear in the mail and pay for the stamp. Just think 30 billion dollars floating around in the postal system. Sounds to me like a Congressional slush fund.

Change.org- Autistic Child Placed In Gym Bag By Teacher

2011-12-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

Chris Baker

When Sandra Baker was called to pick up her 9-year-old autistic son, Chris, from his Mercer County, Kentucky school, she was stunned by what she found: She says that Chris's teacher had stuffed him in a gym bag and left him in the hallway as punishment.

"When I walked in," Sandra told CBS News, "I went down his hallway, and I saw this big green bag laying in the floor beside the [teacher's] aide, and I saw it moving."

Then Sandra heard a voice come from inside the bag: “Momma, is that you?”

Sandra demanded her son be released immediately, but allegedly the bag was tied so tightly the teacher's aide struggled to open it. When Chris finally got out, his mom says he was sweaty and uncommunicative.

Lydia Brown, a freshman at Georgetown University, is autistic, too. When she heard about Chris's ordeal at school , she started a petition on Change.org demanding the Mercer County school district discipline the teacher who put Chris in the bag and require its teachers to complete training on interacting with autistic children. Click here to sign Lydia's petition now.

At a meeting with school officials last week, Sandra learned this wasn't the first time Chis had been stuffed in the duffel bag as punishment. The teachers allegedly referred to the duffel as a “therapy bag,” but lacking even basic training for working with autistic children, were unable to explain how confining Chris to a drawstring bag constituted “therapy” of any kind.

Here’s the worst part: after her meeting, Sandra says she rec eived no guarantee that this kind of abuse wouldn’t happen again -- either to Chris or to other students in Mercer County schools.

Fairbanks NewMiner- Bullying in the Army

2011-12-22T19:57:00.001-07:00

"Chinese American community leaders and family of Fort Wainwright Pvt. Danny Chen, who died under suspicious non-combat circumstances in Afghanistan, expressed guarded optimism to the news that eight soldiers in Chen's unit have been charged in connection with his death. Chen, the 19-year-old son of Chinese immigrants who live in New York, was found dead in a guard tower with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in October. The Army launched an investigation into the death, which was initially called a suicide, and on Wednesday, one officer and seven superior enlisted servicemen were charged.

Chen and the eight men facing charges were part of the Fort Wainwright-based 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The enlisted men face various charges including dereliction of duty, maltreatment, assault, involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide. The solders facing charges were identified as 1st Lt. Daniel J Schwartz, Staff Sgt. Blaine G. Dugas, Staff Sgt. Andrew J. Van Bockel, Sgt. Adam M. Holcomb, Sgt. Jeffrey T. Hurst, Spc. Thomas P. Curtis, Spc. Ryan J. Offutt and Sgt. Travis F. Carden.

The 4000-member Stryker Brigade deployed to Afghanistan in April for a tour of duty expected to last one year."

Ice Cream Sandwich's and Inflation

2011-12-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

Back in 1964 when I worked on an air conditioned ice cream truck for three summers to pay for my school clothes we charged $.25 for a large milk shake and $.35 cents for a cone that was about twelve inches high. If you tilted the cone it would fall off from the weight and gravity. Each night I would after we came back home make 300 round ice cream sandwiches and freeze them for the next day. At that time each one sold for $.05 and was a bargain. Today I saw the same one on a chocolate wafer for $1.49 plus tax. There seems looking back a huge discrepancy between a nickle and $1.49 plus tax.

American Troops In Iraq Sent To Syria

2011-12-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

Not all American troops reported being sent home are not all coming to the United States. Some are being sent home by way of landing in Syria to possibly fight there. Israeli intelligence has reported that,
"American special forces troops have been diverted to positions in Jordon opposite a Syrian tank concentration building up across the kingdom's northern border. At least one US aircraft carrying military personnel landed in the Prince Hassan Air Base located about 100 km to the east of the city of Al-Mafraq."

The 274 Who Served Their Country

2011-12-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

Congressional Medal of Honor

What great deeds and heroic actions did the 274 commit which reflected greatly on the United States of America and it's people? Name me the names of the 274 who sacrificed their lives for their country and God. Where are their accommodations and battle stars, their purple heats and ribbons. Where is the parade and bugle call for those who sacrificed their blood for people and country? Are they to be honored with fellow soldiers clapping and wives and family present. No! They were taken from the Dover, AFB, Delaware mortuary, to a Virginia land fill and dumped in 2008 by the United States Air Force. May God punish those responsible and allow them to burn in Hell.

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient From West Virginia

2011-12-07T18:51:00.000-07:00

SSGT. Spurrier and General Simpson

The Dominion Post:
by Jim Bissett November 30, 2011

"On November 13, 1944, the tiny farm village of Achain, France, was under siege by Nazi as World War II raged---but all that was about to change. American Forces were moving in, and a 22-year-old soldier from Bluefield would break ranks to slime his way, undetected and alone, through the west side of Achain's once quaint collection of farm houses and barns. He doubled-back on the occupiers. A burst from his M-1 silenced three of the enemy. That many more were taken out by the grenade toss that followed. When he was done, Sgt. James 'Junior' Spurrier Jr. had single handedly killed 25 German soldier's, while capturing as many as 60 more. That solo assault was said to have liberated the entire village. He was hailed a hero. His government draped the Congressional Medal of Honor around his neck, and his buddies tagged him with a tough-guy, battlefield nickname: 'The One Man Army.' But medals don't always make a life."

Fast forward 63 years to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.........

"Grandville's police chief Craig Cockrean, found that out a few weeks ago when he spied Spurrier's Medal of Honor and Bronze Star in the unlikely of places-- his childhood home in White Sulphur Springs. He discovered them in a safe containing the personal effects of his father, Joey Corkrean, who died in 2006. The elder Corkrean collected antiques and artifacts, like medals. Spurrier, who died in 1984 at the age of 61 and is buried in a veteran's cemetery in Tennessee, was honorably discharged from the Army after a well-publicized run-in with authorities in 1951.

'All I was thinking was that they were medals, and that they needed to go to the family of the person who earned them,' said Corkrean, who was getting his late dad's paperwork and other particulars in Order. 'That's why I had Matt take a look.' 'Matt' is Matt Allen, a police sergeant and military veteran who made note of the engraved name on the back--'Staff Sgt. Spurrier'-- and the recipient's serial number. Allen hit the Internet and started making calls, eventually ringing the number of Tony Whitlow, who founded the 'For Those Who Served' museum on West Main Street, in Spurrier's hometown in Bluefield. And from one sergeant and one veteran to another, Allen put the medals under glass in a frame. 'I thought it was a matter of respect', he said. 'This man fought for his country.'

Cockrean and Allen are motoring the medals to Bluefield for a service at the museum. The short program will include remarks by Herschel 'Woody' Williams, a Fairmont native who also won the Medal of Honor in World War II. Two of Spurrier's sisters and one of his daughters are also expected to attend."

The Monsoon Rain of Vietnam

2011-12-07T04:53:00.001-07:00

The Monsoon rain of Vietnam in 1968-1969 came in cold and lasted for a little over 20 days. It was an almost never ending downpour of cold rain and heavy winds. There was no heat except for a 55 gallon barrel we had placed under a tarp and burned wood in during the day. At night it was very cold and the two blankets, field jacket and the board I slept on kept me shivering most of the night. During the days that followed your feet turned white with wrinkles and stayed that way from the wet socks and boots you wore. The poncho and liner during the day just kept you dry from the knees up and the rain and mud kept your feet mostly wet. There were times you could huddle on some sand bags, curl up in your poncho in a ball and stay warm. It was a time to reflect on where you were and how tragically we had gone wrong. But we were alive, that counted for something and the next day. Back in the world you could do a slow dance in the rain.

Denver, Colorado 14.7 Pounds Per Square Inch

2011-11-02T11:48:00.000-06:00

[This is a reprint of my Colorado Springs homeless veteran and homeless blog dated 20 May, 2010]

Whats going on up there in the mile high city? Are they feeling a little more pressure up there? Why here in Colorado Springs we're feeling less than 14.7psi since we aren't at sea level. But if Susan Greene of the Denver Post has time to look at signs along I-25 she's not driving. You take your eyes off that eight lanes of concrete in Denver and your gonna get killed. They drive like lunatics and swerve around the giant pot holes filled with water along the highways. You head in to Denver and they have so many construction signs the town looks a big orange tangerine. Prostitution?.......I don't even want to go there, to much information overload.

So where is all the footage of Susan Greene and Keith Olbermann of MSNBC taken along Fountain Creek last November when Mayor Rivera was down there talking to the homeless? Yes I've said many times the mayor wears $600 dollar shoes and criticized the city government. However that doesn't mean I don't like the mayor because he sure didn't cause all our problems. If we want someone to blame for Colorado Springs problems and the homeless in the city we need look no further than the bathroom mirror. If we had as many voters as volunteers in Colorado Springs there wouldn't be a problem. Susan move to California, they can't even afford road signs.

Johnnie Martinez 47 Was A Human Being

2011-11-02T10:56:00.000-06:00

Johnnie Martinez was a "gentle" person just like you or me who didn't like fighting. Yes he had a problem and it was alcoholism. On 13 September he had fallen asleep on a "playground apparatus" in Dorchester Park in downtown Colorado Springs. At around 11:00 pm two individuals woke him out of his sleep and started beating on him. They beat him so bad that he lapsed into a coma and eventually died at the hospital. City police indicated there was no reason for the attack, he was not a trouble maker in the city. Just a homeless man down on this luck.

The city homeless are very upset and scared that this could happen to them. This is the 23ND homicide in Colorado Springs this year. The police are investigating, but there has been no one come forward and there is little evidence. Many of the homeless that are sleeping outside are scared and are now sleeping in groups for protection. Lisa Akerlund stated, "If we knew who they were, they'd be floating in the creek right now." Joe Taylor one of Johnnie's friends who visited him while in the hospital said, "They better hope police find them before we do." The homeless may be down and out, but they still have a code and sense of caring.

Maximum Capacity 33 People?

2011-11-02T10:20:00.000-06:00

What does maximum capacity 33 people mean? From past experience and working in engineering it should mean that the fire Marshall has deemed an area only large enough for 33 people at one time. So I'm in a public food stamp office waiting for a client and there is this sign on the wall in front of all the chairs. It states in large yellow letter Maximum Capacity 33 People.

So like the person I've always been I count the chairs and there are 43. So does this sign mean 33 people on a Tuesday or is it meant for some other day of the week? Perhaps it means 33 adults and the rest can be children. This is just another "sign" [pun] that we Americans put up some "sign's" that make little to no sense whatsoever. Plus it would likely serve no purpose to go into the cell phone signs on two of the walls that contradicted each other.

She's Always A Woman To Me Billy Joel: Angelina Jolie

2011-10-28T16:45:00.000-06:00

[This is a reprint of my Colorado Springs homeless veteran & homeless blog dated 6 June, 2010]

For all you homeless sailors out there who have been on a long cruse.

Click on site below:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=avaGk7uBIds&feature=related

The Homeless Tower of Babel in Colorado Springs

2011-10-28T16:29:00.000-06:00

[This is a reprint of my Colorado Springs homeless veteran & homeless blog dated 6 June, 2010]

The powers that be think they own the Homeless and are tooting their horn again. They have reached into the sky and standing on their tower of Babel almost touched the hand of God. They mix apples and oranges and come up with numbers pulled out of the air and translate them to jobs. They mix peaches and bananas and come up with 20% saving by moving the Express Inn East to the far side of town. They stand in front of the media and spout numbers the media gobble up by the running inch. They are nothing more than snake oil peddlers at the least and what the Homeless Foundation run by the government call, "Predators."

First let me say that Carl and Teresa McLaughlin have surpassed their calling and did amazing works in getting the Homeless temporary housing, counseling and jobs in the local area of the Express Inn. But what happened to all those jobs at Wall Mart, Arby's and McDonald's when the Homeless were forced to move to the Aztec across town? Yes some walk and others ride their bicycles but don't tell me they all have transportation because that's a lie. Don't tell me they all still have their jobs because that is a lie. So the figures they keep spouting of getting over 100 jobs is true but many have lost those jobs because of the move.

All that money they are saving and money pouring into the Colorado coffers with jobs are causing the coffers to overflow. Why next the Homeless will have paid off the cities debt and the city will once again be in the black.

But nowhere was it mentioned in the media that they have gone from three to four individuals per room. That sort of changes the equation, how much money did they really save and who doing the juggling act? At the Express Inn there was room under the beds for some storage of personal items. At the Aztec the beds are on the floor, there are no shelves or closets, four to a room and where are they supposed to secure their belongings? Their personal items and hot plates?

Actually since many do not consider the Homeless citizens this sounds more like a southern prison gang that a hand-up. We treat our prisoners across the country in many location better that we do the homeless in Colorado Springs. Being disappointed at the local media is being way to kind. They need to ask some questions or they end up getting no straight answers or ask to leave the room. Put simply the powers that be need to come down off their tower since they have excluded God from their equation [censorship]. However they continue to pour on the smoke and polish their mirrors.

Questioning Colorado Springs Homeless Numbers- Do The Math

2011-10-28T16:16:00.000-06:00

Denver, Colorado

[This is a reprint from my Colorado Springs homeless veteran & homeless blog dated 12 June, 2010]

Below is a reprint of the e-mail I posted on Matt Parkhouse's Forum discussion@homelesscs.org today 12 June, 2010. Following that is my assessment of homeless numbers that were effective 8 Jun, 2010. They include homeless veterans in Colorado Springs. Only count the numbers in red for my figures on the homeless living inside the city limits [194 square miles] of Colorado Springs. That comes out to 75.6 acres of land for each of 500 homeless individuals to lay their sleeping bags on after dark and be gone by daylight. My estimate came out to five hundred but I am using the figure 400-500 to allow for error. Should anyone wish to question these figures please write your guest blog and I will print it here wendol_1947@q.com for everyone to see.

"The Colorado Springs Hot Team is doing an outstanding job with the homeless and their creditability should not be questioned or besmirched by anyone. The mere fact that they, I and others disagree with the numbers of homeless inside the city limits of Colorado Springs camping out on private and public lands means, we have a difference of opinion and nothing else. The article in the Gazette was I believe very accurate. The Hot Team gets their feet dirty, I do, others and unlike some non-profits have more on our feet than carpet fibers. I except the nonprofit figures on the homeless but feel they are skewed for political and monetary gain. 'Numbers here numbers there, less numbers and I've made Colorado Springs safe from evil, give me more money!" To see my source numbers and what informants have told me check my Blog later on tonight. I believe I have been more than through and stick by my numbers. Should they be found to be off come November I will admit my mistake on this forum and my Blog. If you disagree write your own article and send it to me by e-mail [just leave out the name calling and swear words]."

1200 HUD Homeless and living in rooms CS

170 Homeless living in CS from last year living on public property

140 Were kicked out of programs

125 left town on buses

100 Veterans living in CS

75 Living at the Aztec Motel

60 New homeless living in CS

60 Went into affordable housing

50 Got their own place moved out of temporary housing

40 Homeless living on private property living in CS

30-35 Living in caves, etc., general area of Manitou to Garden of the Gods

30 From El Paso County who came back after county ordinance passed living in CS

25 Living in National Forest Bear Creek Canyon [5 miles]

20 Went into rehab

19 Living within 1/4 mile of Wal-Mart living in CS

18-20 Veterans Crawford House
18 In mental health shelter

15-20 Sleeping homeless in doorways, alcoves, abandoned houses, sheds living in CS

12-18 Sleeping under bridges living in CS

10 Homeless living in cars, trucks, vans and small motor homes living in CS

8 Homeless tent [set-up] campers living in CS

7 Families living west of Manitou

7 Living on church property [tents] living in CS

5-8 Living in churches CS

5 Living in National Forest West Bear Creek Canyon [5 miles]

5 Living in conex's and storage buildings living in CS

5 Camping on Ft. Carson inside city limits living in CS

5 West Bear Creek Canyon living in National Forest some with laptops [6 miles]

5 Camping inside city limits near Seven Falls living in CS

3 Came back to CS on buses living CS

2 Camping quadrant 16 Federal land [4.5 miles]

1-2 Living in dugout tunnels living in CS

1 Living in unused storm drain living in CS

1 Living across county line in Teller County National Forest hikes into CS each day for work [6.5 miles]

Homeless- Colorado Springs Metro Going For Broke

2011-10-28T16:09:00.000-06:00

[This is a reprint from my Colorado Springs homeless veteran & homeless blog dated 14 June, 2010]

The nice thing about the metro anywhere in the world? It doesn't pay for itself. The money is going down a rat hole. For those who use the metro and I have in the past it is for many their only means of transportation. Short of walking, using a bicycle, riding with a friend or taking a cab if you can float a loan. Here in Colorado Springs much of the service has been cut because of funding and there is no service on the weekends. The money is just not there.

Some homeless with jobs or have panhandled some money ride the metro since this is a big city and doctors offices and work are spread out. But for the most part they use others means of transportation or just walk. Some who live in the National Forest walk each day into Colorado Springs over five miles for work, appointments and supplies. But those are hardy individuals and not those who have been spoiled by living inside the city limits. The array of services for homeless and homeless veterans is astronomical in Colorado Springs.

So if the homeless need transportation not only for work but other issues why shouldn't they get the same treatment as other riding the metro? Why should one group get a special rate and the homeless who may actually be working are forced to pay full price or get a monthly pass? If the homeless get a monthly pass they tell me it costs about $50.00 dollars. I'm going to cut to the chase here and say if the youth of Colorado Springs get a discount for the summer all homeless seniors and the poor should get the same treatment.

Well if you go by the corner of Circle and Fountain you going to see an interesting sign. "Wear it and go where you want THE TAG is your ticket! Summer haul pass kids ride all summer for just 20 bucks." The youth of Colorado Springs have a right to have fun and spend their parents money or their own if they have a job. But couldn't the working poor get the same break since they are contributing to something and not just hanging out at the mall or pool. The metro wasn't making anything to start with and now they are making half of nothing. Someone explain to me why the youth in town are getting a break on metro tickets [a dog tag for the summer] and the homeless walk.

Homeless- Homelward Bound from Colorado Springs To Idaho & Oregon

2011-10-28T15:46:00.001-06:00

[This is a reprint from my Colorado Springs homeless veteran & homeless blog dated 21 June, 2010]

Well today three of my good friends that are homeless left on a bus heading for parts unknown and possibly a new life. During the past six months they have came and gone to the storage facility and shared many storied and much data with me. One is heading for Idaho and the other two are going to work their way to Oregon. All three heading to where they have family. They will be missed in Colorado Springs for their insight on the homeless and all the advice they gave to the greenhorns that are now homeless. May their path be guided by the light of truth and there backs protected by the wind.

It's interesting what you see early in the morning or toward dusk around the city if your really looking. Yesterday morning I say a place on the east side where the homeless camped for a few days and were moved by the police. Since then some four years have passed and nobody has set up camp there again. At least until yesterday. At least one person is camping there and being hidden by the trees and foliage would not be seen unless he waves a red flag or starts a fire. Last week I say a homeless friend who never ventures past Nevada Street clear over past Academy on the east side. Yes the homeless are getting a lot better at what they do when it comes to hiding out.

Some have taken to wearing black around dusk so that like Batman they can roam the streets of Colorado Springs at will and sleep where they want. Others just pick out a new location each night, go light since the weather is nice and sleep under the stars. By daylight they are mostly up and gone to work, breakfast or the library. Since the camping ordinance passed things have slowed down in the Springs as long as you don't get caught. At the Coming Out of the Cold meeting tonight the group concentrated their efforts on a second location for the homeless and more outreach for the coming fall. At least someone is thinking about whats going to happen when the leaves fall off the trees. Welcome to Colorado Springs!

Colorado College Community Kitchen 23 October, 2011

2011-10-23T17:06:00.000-06:00

The meal that the college crowd and others put on today was just short of fantastic. People from all walks of life mostly homeless arrived by auto, electric wheel chair, scooter, many bicycles and mostly on foot. They aged from small children to those in their 70's, male, female, a couple dogs and very diverse culture's and race. Some hung by themselves, others gathers in groups and some even talked to themselves. My mother used to do that each morning as she washed dishes. It seemed at the time she was getting the day straight. The college students and other volunteers were there as usual with their smiles, conversations and hard work.

Steve Bass was there and talking about his ticket for camping on public property and all the radio and other personalities that have been interviewing him. Steve just takes it with his usual smile and points out the red and white bulls eye on the front of his shirt. One senior had a large button that said, "God bless America" and one ladies wheelchair had a bumper sticker that read, "Obama needs to get a job."

The subjects talked about varied; NBA, city mayor, new police chief, the President and just about any subject you could think of. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the fall day and the leaves were blowing in the coffee and food. What a meal they had today; barbecued beef, Spanish rice, Sheppard's pie, mixed vegetables, mixed fruit, sweet potatoes, salads, bread, bagels, banana cream pie, cake, punch and coffee. This was served up to the beat of some very fine and loud jazz music and some even sounded like Frog Man Henry singing a couple of times.

The group is looking for a larger building to house the hungry homeless during inclement weather due to the building having a limit on occupants. During the past almost 20 years the operation has grown and during the past year just about doubled. Some Sundays the College serves conservatively a crowd of around 400 homeless and others. The group is very friendly and someone who's been here several years said the new mayor should stop by and have some Humble pie. Well Mr. Mayor, at least a cup of Joe, everyone has had their rabies shots.

Court Date Set For Debate on Anchorage Homeless Camps- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

2011-10-23T11:43:00.020-06:00

[This is a reprint from my Colorado Springs homeless veteran and homeless blog dated 6 August, 2010]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska- "A court date has been set for the debate over whether raids on homeless camps in Anchorage are legal.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaskas has filed a lawsuit contending the raids are unconstitutional because they violate rights of the homeless. A court hearing was held Monday and a Nov. 3 date set for oral arguments in the case. Jeffrey Mittmann, executive director of ACLU-Alaska, says a pleiminary injunction is now in place that prevents the municipality from doing any more raids until the legal issues are resolved.

The city passed an ordinance in JUne giving the homeless five day's notice to leave the illegal camps.

Mittmann says property then is seized and destroyed.

Fairbanks Panhandlers Are Arrested After Turf Fight With Man in Power Ranger Costume-Fairnamks Daily News

2011-10-23T11:31:00.000-06:00

[This is a reprint from my Colorado Springs homeless veteran and homeless blog dated 6 Aug, 2010]

FAIRBANKS- "A Fairbanks couple is accused of threatening a Power Ranger wannabe earlier this week because he was panhandling in 'their' spot.

Phillip Ross Williams, 50, and Reta Carol Stidger, 45, have each been charged with one count of fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

Fairbanks police were called to the intersection of the Johansen Expressway and Hunter Street, a popular site for panhandlers, at about 1:15 p. m. Tuesday after witnesses saw the costumed panhandler, identified in charging documents as 23-year-old Isaiah Solomon, accosted by two other people.

Soloman, holding a sigh and seeking money for school from passersby, was wearing a mask and blue tights with red briefs on the outside.

'I don't know if the briefs came with the outfit or what,' Fairbanks police officer Chris DeLeon said.

DeLeon described the outfit as 'something my kid would wear,' and being modeled off of the outfits worn by Power Rangers or Transformers characters.

Williams and Stidger approached Soloman and ask him to vakate their spot or have his head 'bashed in' with a rock. He refused, and Williams reportedly threw a rock at Soloman's head before running away.

Police were on the scene within seconds. Stidger was arrested outside the nearby Chili's restaurant, while Williams was found hiding inside the restaurant's bathroom.

The couple have previous misdemeanor convictions, but both were released from jail on their own recognizance Wednesday after pleading not guilty to the assault charges.

While the Hunter and Johansen intersection is a popular panhandling spot for transients, DeLeon said, arrests are rare unless the panhandlers are a safety concern or overly intoxicated."

Colorado Springs Civilian Boot-Jacks- Programs to Brand 666 on Every Homeless Person

2011-10-23T09:56:00.000-06:00

[This is a reprint from my Colorado Springs homeless veteran and homeless blog dated 6 August, 2010]

What were the goals of non-profit groups in this country when they first started out to help the poor and homeless? I'm sure it was to give those less fortunate than us a hand up and get them back into the fishbowl. When Martin Luther said, "the devil temps me the most in the bath facilities," I really don't think he had on his mind branding 666 on every homeless man, woman and child in this country. But Colorado Springs and many other cities are heating up the irons and frothing at the mouth to brand the homeless. It's like they have rabies and can't help themselves.

A card system is great and wonderful for the homeless if it is used in a compassionate way and not just to cut individuals off and let them starve and go naked. Jesus taught a far different message 2000 years ago and it didn't include branding the homeless. For that matter branding anyone. Many people in Colorado Springs are against the card system to corral and monitor the homeless. Some non-profits who crack the whip each day, never step foot where the homeless live then go home to their fancy houses and shut the world out. each night Their salaries paid for by the kindness of the citizens of this country. They should be answering up to the people, someone, anyone and when they step out of line? They need to take the long walk.

This should not be misconstrued to include volunteers, those who get very little salary, the Hot Team or anyone else who's not out their cracking the whip at daylight, or flapping their mouth on the news each day attesting to their superhuman accomplishes.

Atlanta- Proof Positive the Economy is Getting Better

2011-10-23T09:43:00.000-06:00

[This is a reprint from my homeless veteran and homeless blog dated 16 August, 2010]
Whats going on down there in Atlanta, Georgia? Or is this just a reflection of the entire country and the downward slide of the economy? This almost sounds like a toy sale at Wal-Mart. Thousands of people and only one toy. Broken doors, trampled people and yes the dead. So the Atlanta Housing Authority says at 9:00 am we are going to give out 455 section 8 housing vouchers. So the people start arriving and arriving and before you know it there are 30,000 people for 455 vouchers. The police break out the heavy gear and the people proceed to start a riot. Can you blame the people for this? No! What is Georgia and most large cities doing to solve this problem? N-O-T-H-I-N-G!

2011 Homeless Stand Down Colorado Springs

2011-10-23T09:31:00.001-06:00

[This is a reprint from my Colorado Springs homeless veteran and homeless blog dated 7 October, 2011]

Colorado Springs Veteran Campsite

The 2011 Homeless Veteran Stand Down for Colorado Springs, Colorado will be held on Thursday October 13, 2011, 9am-2pm at the city auditorium [221 East Kiowa Street]. "The Stand Down is a community-based intervention program designed to help homeless veterans overcome homelessness and unemployment."

Homeless veterans will be offered clothing, hot showers, meal, work boots, jeans, underwear, haircuts, oral cancer screening and flu shots. Many non-profit organizations and the VA will be there to assist veterans in many programs, information and comradely. Transportation will be provided from several locations including the Marion House, Salvation Army Shelter, VA Out Patient Clinic, Dorchestier Park and VFW 4051. At the 2010 Stand Down 140 homeless veterans were served.

Steve Bass Defies Colorado Springs Camping Ordinance Goes To Jail

2011-10-22T16:11:00.000-06:00

Acacia Park peaceful in 1956

Well finally a person has stepped up to challenge an ordinance that wasn't Constitutional when it was passed. The city wanted, including the businesses, rich, the media and the tourist industry all of the homeless people gone from the Colorado Springs downtown and city area. Including those camping on public property along Fountain Creek and I-25. The smokescreen in the media was sanitation, fires, children at risk and a whole cast of reasons to pass the ordinance, but all lies. I'm sure the fire department was founded to protect only the homeless and the portable toilets that have been setting all over town for months along roads gathering dust were not practical to use. The mayor and city council listened to the 175 plus voices against the ordinance, waited out the people and banged the gavel, passing the ordinance while the media inhaled the ratings.

Now at the same minute and second the gavel was hitting the table the 9Th Circuit in California had ruled that any city that did not have enough housing for every homeless person were required to provide public property for them to live. Colorado Springs at that second was 800 beds short of meeting that goal of homeless human beings. So in essence the city council passed an unconstitutional ordinance, knew it and now have arrested the first person in two years to defy the city no camping ordinance. The city Hot Team [police] were just doing what the city told them to do and can't be blamed. They have families to feed and want to keep their jobs to.

Steve Bass is just one cog in the wheel of the big puppet corporation that pulls the strings on this country. That was what Occupy Colorado Springs was trying to tell the people. Wake up people before they take away the most precious thing you have, the Constitution. If the big shots want to camp in the park the city mayor will be serving up caviar on crackers at the peoples expense. Yes Steve Bass will now have his day in court on 8 November at 1:30pm to plead his case before the same court that will defy the Constitution.

If the people all stood up in this country and stopped this insanity as Steve Bass, we could take our county back from those who want to see us all behind the barbed wire. Steve Bass was thinking straight when he violated the ordinance, the rest of the people were the cowards and knew what needed to be done and did nothing. They let Steve Bass go to jail by himself and feeling good inside that he had dome right. Well Steve Bass is to be applauded regardless of what happens. He is just one of the first domino's to fall.

Steve and I had a conversation about ten days ago and with that his mind was made up, there was a line he wouldn't cross. They say he is crazy in the media and they got their ratings. But Steve Bass has worked with the homeless for untold years, at the Sunday soup kitchen, earned a degree in Colorado Springs, founded Syberenety, is a disabled American veteran and has more knowledge of what is right than those some of those setting in there ivory towers, those wearing the black ropes. Colorado Springs your mayor and city council are gutless and sway with the puppet strings. There will come a day when you wished you had been there with Steve Bass even if you never say it. Each of you has likely already washed your hands of the blood like Pilate. But that will never erase your blot on history.

Vietnam #18- Hepatitis & That Big Needle

2011-10-18T16:07:00.000-06:00

A large portion of my year in Vietnam was spent eating old time sea rations from the Korean War which were quite good. At other times we ate with the mountain tribe people or when we had the time from our duties ate at the officers/pilots mess down from the French plantation house. The 173rd Airborne and the 1st Cavalry had mess halls on the other side of the perimeter fence but it was to far to go and we seldom had the time.

The officers mess had an E-8 that ran the place and the food wasn't half bad the few times we ate there. However the E-8 got hepatitis and everyone had to go over to the 17th Army Field Hospital and get a shot. Without exaggerating the needle had to be at least six inches long and the diameter appeared to be the size of a small artery. They gave us the shot in the cheek and we went around limping for about three days. It seemed like whatever they were shooting in went on forever.

Several months went by and the E-8 somehow contracted hepatitis again and this time they came to our compound behind the 173rd and gave us the same needle in both cheeks. The Colonel was in front of me and we both walked away like we just got off some horse from a three hundred mile ride.

Colorado Springs City Fascists To Arrest The People

2011-10-15T14:56:00.000-06:00

The day has now come where you are unable to assemble on a public sidewalk. When they have came for everyone else they will be coming for you. The city sworn to protect the public is making plans to arrest anyone who assembles on public sidewalks in Colorado Springs. The Fascist boot jack Nazi's are going to arrest anyone with Occupy Colorado Springs or others who do not leave the public sidewalks and disperse. The police who have sworn an oath to uphold the US Constitution are in the process of beating down the people and taking them to jail. They are violating the peoples right to assemble and they don't care.

America is becoming nothing more than a Socialist, Fascist, Marxist Nazi concentration camp for the people. Why not just start digging ditches and shooting down the people. The city of Colorado Springs is nothing more than an arm of dictatorship. There was a time in this country when you could assemble peaceably on a sidewalk and nothing would happen. Now those who have no guns and are committing no violence are going to be attacked by those with body armor, tear gas and weapons. When are we going to wake up and see what is happening before it is to late.

Fort Carson Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

2011-10-14T18:52:00.002-06:00

Capt. Joshua Lawrence & Capt. Drew Russell

"Captain Drew Russell's [25] life was cut short on Saturday in an attack that in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, that also claimed another Fort Carson Captain" Joshua Lawrence [29]. "they are the 325th and 326th Fort Carson soldiers to be killed in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers were part of the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team in the 4th Infantry Division."

Occupy Colorado Springs, Denver & Wall Street

2011-10-14T18:30:00.000-06:00

"The purpose of Occupy Colorado Springs, which stands in solidarity with Occupy Wall St. and the many occupations taking place across the globe, by protection of our Inalienable Constitutional Rights, is to peaceably assemble throughout the Pikes Peak Region and educate the masses to instate change within our community in the name of Love for humanity and our Planet Earth through uniting the people and holding ourselves accountable for sustaining our Planet Earth and it's people."

On 11 October, 2011 [Tuesday] there were about 135 people assembled at Acacia Park in Colorado Springs either watching, learning or waving signs and banners supporting Occupy Colorado Springs. There were two tents setup which contained information on the movement, snacks and drinks. At 10:30 pm there were no tents setup to defy the city ordinance against sleeping on public property. The movement indicated they would sleep in the park and the city said they would be removed. A rumor started that the city police which were making their presence know were going to remove everyone including all those assembled on the public sidewalks. However by 1:30 am the police did not arrive. Acacia Park is one of the main locations where people assemble when they are protesting an issue.

In Denver today the city removed all the protectors which were in a private park because of the thousands of people assembled and the area was becoming a sanitation and health problem. The mayor also said nobody would be allowed to camp on public property. The city of New York is preparing operations to remove the protesters there and that could happen as soon as tonight. Those in New York today scuffled with the police but there has been no major violence and those protecting have been nonviolent.

Arthurdale Remembered- Decker's Creek & Hazelnuts By Jo Ann Lawson Frederick

2011-10-14T17:28:00.000-06:00

Burlap Sack of Hazelnuts

The fun of growing up in our town was what we made of it. Since there were so many poor people we made our own fun and excitement. In hot weather we played in Decker's Creek and were lucky enough to have about a foot of water in the creek running through our property. We would play all day long in the water or until we got hungry or mom couldn't set on the bank any longer and watch.

On the way to the creek you might pass an old fashion haystack with some strange holes in it. If you have never conquered a haystack, you lost out. The way to do it was to run toward the haystack, jump as high as you could, grabbing with your hands and kicking your feet in the hay, wiggling them until they made a hole, then back up and run again going one step higher, get the idea? Of course the goal was the top of it. It took me several summers to conquer one.

Winter was soon creeping up on us and daddy would give us each a burlap sack and we were to pick up hazelnuts. They were not heavy so you could fill the sack. I was the smallest and had to drag mine. The nuts were spread out on the basement floor to dry. Soon we removed the outer part and left the rest to dry again. Next was cracking the hazelnuts for Christmas; boy; were they good.

It didn't cost any money to do the things we did growing up in Arthurdale, but times have changed. There are lots of stories about growing up, more next time.

A Father, Son, Bear Cub and Cancer

2011-10-09T14:01:00.000-06:00

Billie, Wm [Willie] and Wm Lawson

It's really interesting what ones mind can take off a dusty shelf that's been lying there for 60 years and have you recall every so often. Sixty years ago my father and I went hunting out in the Burner Settlement where we lived. It was a daily routine for him and exciting for me. Now your going to say you were only four, how far could you walk in the woods. Well I never walked, my father carried me on his back in my diapers. Some 12 years later I would stand beside his bed and watch him slipping away, his life fleeting, in pain, his bones cracking from the cancer. But that's another story for a 16 year old to tell.

We had been in the woods a short time up on Bunners Ridge when we came upon a small black bear cub with a foot stuck in a trap. He was whimpering like I suppose I would have been doing. My father put me down and slowly went over to the cub. There were times or at least it is my understanding my father was not such a nice person. The little bear cub pulled back and appeared to be afraid. All the while my father was talking to him and slowly got the trap off his leg. When loose the cub ran off into the brush in front of us. In the short time my father and I had left in this world, we hunted, but he never mentioned the bear cub.

Colorado Springs Agency Collecting Stormwater Fees Has Message For Citizens

2011-10-03T15:55:00.000-06:00

To The Citizens of Colorado Springs:

Over the weekend I have read the stories, comments, and blogs, watched the news, and listened to the talking heads on the radio along with their callers and I feel it is necessary to rebut the misconceptions, fallacies, lies, uninformed, uneducated, ignorant and outright idiotic statements I have seen and heard about my agency, the judges, the sheriff and the city government. Although I cannot address any specific case or account due to disclosure laws, I will try my best to explain our collection processes and our position on these matters.

First of all we are not Nazi’s and there is no Gestapo. Any comparison is implausibly dim-witted and beneath rational discussion and those who made this comparison should be ashamed. Especially the tea partiers and conservatives, of which I am one, who have been whining and feigning outrage for years about the attacks from the left on your character and business practices; yet here you are. To argue against government debt but in the same breath argue that the government should not collect the money owed to it is absurd. Whether you agree with the debt is inconsequential. It has been found to be legal and owing by the courts and we were hired to collect it. If the 3 or 4% of you who did not pay this fee want to engage in civil disobedience that is your right and it is the right of the city and its collection agency to go after you and collect that which is owed. You are not victims. There is no police state. This is not Germany 1936 or a precursor to debtor’s prison. This is not Birmingham circa 1963, you are not MLK and we are not Bull Connor. This wasn’t actually said. It just seems like the next logical crazy statement in the poorly advised hyperbole train that is all too common today.

Secondly we have been in business and lived in this city for decades and so have our employees and their families. We resent the implication that we are some fly-by-night criminal organization sending the police to “steal” from you. The courts have found in our, and thus the city’s, favor on the validity of these debts in numerous cases including but not limited to mediations and trials. We have judgment against these debtors and we have the right to use any lawful means to collect a debt. Numerous attempts were made to contact debtors via mail and phone before legal actions were taken. All legal actions were taken with the permission of the city and all debtors and places of businesses are served in advance. All debtors have the right to file an answer and battle their debt in court. Once the judgment is filed we decide how we pursue payment, not the city. This includes property liens, garnishment of wages, and yes, even a till tap. Our contacts at the city were notified that these types of actions could be used. Most accounts never reach legal action, not to mention the measures that have garnered so much recent press. We would rather not have to use these remedies, but if payment is not made we have very few paths by which to seek payment. We have a business to run and an obligation to our client.

I understand the issue many of you have with these tactics but they are legal and unfortunately, sometimes necessary. A till tap can be requested by anyone who holds a judgment against a business, not just collection agencies. We do not buy debt and we do not charge exorbitant fees and we certainly don’t collect every dollar placed with us. If a debtor refuses to honor the requests for payment or the judgments against them we must take remedies to recoup monies lawfully owed. Now a debtor may not agree that a debt but it is owed, but once a court enters judgment and finds that the money is due, there is no further argument. The right and honorable thing to do is pay it. If a debtor pays or makes payment arrangements no further collection activity is required. I will not apologize for my company pursuing these debts or the manner in which we collect. We have operated within the boundaries of the law and will continue to as we pursue these and other debts.

For those of you clamoring for a refund of all fees and a forgiveness of these debts please stop and think for a moment. Total outstanding debt is about a million dollars. Fees already paid voluntarily or collected: over $40 million. Now understand the city spent that money. In order to issue a refund the city would necessarily have to raise revenue somehow. That will either be in the form of a loan, which we the Taxpayer will repay, severe cuts to city operating budgets, by another fee, or by tax increases. Those are the only funding sources municipalities have. So why not just forgive the debt of the last few? Simple, they owe it. Not to mention that it might open the city up to lawsuits from the 96-97% of us who paid the fee seeking to get our money back. So we’re back to $40 million again not to mention the cost of defending these lawsuits for years to come. Those costs will have to be paid by us, the Taxpayer.

Whether you agree with the original Stormwater ordnance is immaterial. The fact is it was not an illegal tax; it was ordinance with fee structures. From 01/01/2007 to 12/31/2009 the ordinance was in effect and any payments not made are considered to be owed and should be collected. Those of us who voluntarily paid this fee should not have to cover the cost of those who are willfully disobeying the law.

As to our D- rating from the BBB I’m not sure how this rating was arrived at. We have had 2 complaints in three years. One was Stormwater related. If we failed to answer a complaint I apologize. It was an oversight and it is being investigated and answered as you read this. We had an A+ before Stormwater and I will see it restored as well as the reputation of my company. That being said our answer to Stormwater complaints of any kind is contained herein. Many of you may not like this explanation and it may not meet your satisfaction. That is not something I can control and it is certainly no reason to drop our rating so precipitously. We run our business within the confines of the law and our employees abide by all state and federal regulations. Now if you do not like the regulations…work to change them. Don’t name-call and compare hardworking American small business people, elected officials, and law enforcement officers to Nazi’s or mobsters. It makes you look foolish and detracts from your argument. Collection agencies provide a valuable service and return tens of billions to businesses and civil authorities annually. This staves off cost increases and fees that would eventually be passed on to you the consumer, and in this case, the taxpayer. If you want collection efforts to stop, pay the bill. Just like 96-97% of your fellow citizens did and our efforts will cease. We are a collection agency hired to collect a debt and we will continue to do our job. Thank you for the opportunity to address these issues.

Sincerely, Ric Mills

Vice President/COO

A-1 Collections, Inc.

Colorado Springs Storm Water Runoff Fees or Nazi's Pulling Teeth

2011-10-03T15:38:00.002-06:00

Anti-Nazi

A while back the Colorado Springs city council enacted a storm water fee which they believed they could call a fee, thus avoiding the word "tax." Well they started collecting the fee or tax, but about 3% or more of the people in the city refused to pay. They said based on the Colorado constitution no new or increased taxes may be enacted unless it is by a vote of the people. I love it when people avail themselves of their Constitutional rights. So the fee was declared unconstitutional and the city of Colorado Springs stopped collecting it.

But what about all those people who payed into the fee [$40 million dollars]? Shouldn't they get their money back? Well the city didn't think so and are keeping it. But the best part is the people who didn't pay into the fee [1 million dollars]? The city has hired a collection agency to collect the money the people should have owned if the measure was constitutionally sound. The collection agency has gone past normal practices and went into some businesses like gangsters, taking the businesses money from their cash registers and seizing property. Sounds like some Nazi thugs to me. How about those gold teeth?

So now a Democratic Congressman in Boulder is floating Prop 103 [with signatures of enough people to put it on the ballot] which would raise state income tax, sales tax and some other taxes to add additional funds to the state school taxes the state already provides. Ballot measure does not say who or what the tax will be used for except education. They can't live within their means and axe a few people or programs and now they have their hand out asking for more. About 3 billion dollars over a 5 year period it would raise and then go back to what it was? It doesn't matter that medical fees and some drugs keep rising in cost. In some cases 400% in a few months. Nor do they care that the people are having a hard time making a living with the sad economy and very few jobs.

But the most wonderful thing about Prop 103? It is the one and only tax measure on any ballot in the 50 states this fall. What does that tell you? Does it have a chance of passing? What part of NO don't you understand Mr. Congressman?

The First 20 Mile Ruckus Adventure Near Fountain, Colorado

2011-09-28T15:34:00.000-06:00

Fountain, Colorado

The Honda Ruckus is now fixed. No the shop didn't do it. I fixed it myself and went for a 39.4 mile [63.4km] circle south, east, north and west of Fountain, Colorado. That doesn't sound like much, but for a 49cc scooter that has a stock top speed of 45mph [72.4km h] it's a start. Put a whole dollar [0.74 Euro] of gas [petrol] in the Ruckus at the Loaf & Jug and headed out South Main Street. Not a cloud in the sky and a slight breeze or it could have been the wind passing my ears.

Decided that I would head down the Old Pueblo Road which at one time was likely the main road to Pueblo. Just short of the old bridge across Fountain Creek I crossed the railroad tracks and took a left east at the "y" on Hanover Road. On the way out Hanover Road I crossed several small mesa's doing about 30mph [48.3km h] uphill and almost 45mph on the way down. The Wilson Cemetery is kind of hidden on the left as you head out Hanover Road. Most of the ranch fence posts on the left are made out of old sticks and not manufactured posts.

During the entire trip 19 vehicles passed me in oncoming traffic and 7 passed my Ruckus. One was a school bus coming from Hanover Elementary School, a postal vehicle, a Direct TV vehicle and a sheriff's car. Mostly large ranches along Hanover Road and the remainder of the trip. At South Peyton Hwy and Hanover Road is the small community of Hanover. The Hanover Community Church is on the northwest corner and just down the road south is the Hanover Volunteer Fire Department.

Heading north on South Peyton Hwy you pass the elementary school on the left. It looks like the school has been added onto many times and looks like a clump of small and large additions. Across the road from the school is a park [public I think] and a baseball diamond. They must not play baseball anymore since the grass was about knee high on the entire field. At the northeast corner of South Peyton Hwy and Powers Road is the Chico Basin Cemetery.

Just past the cemetery was a auto tire hanging on a fence post. The breeze seemed to be coming south and slowed me down to about 30mph for a few miles. At Squirrel Creek Road I headed west passing a microwave tower at Milne Road. Heading back toward the west you have a very good view of the mountains and Pikes Peak in the distance. The rest of the trip was on Link, C &S, and Fountain Mesa Road to the house. There seems to be a lot to see along some roads when you slow down and are only going 35mph.

MARS OPPORTUNITY ROVER VS HONDA RUCKUS SCOOTER

2011-09-19T18:34:00.000-06:00

Opportunity Rover on Mars

Tell me if I'm wrong, but NASA built a rover about six years ago that was designed to last six months on the surface of Mars and its still going. In fact it has recently passed the twenty mile mark and just keeps on keeping on. So I buy a HONDA Motor Company Ruckus scooter four months ago and put 14.7 miles on it and it won't start. Well let me correct myself it starts for about two seconds and dies. They tell me the battery is dead and there is shellac in the carburetor. Now folks I have been driving automobiles for about 48 years and have yet to be told a vehicle has shellac in the carburetor. Sure if you leave the vehicle set there for ten years the gas in the tank may get some shellac. But four months? How long should a battery last? The ones on Mars keep recharging and are still working after six years. The carburetor and battery are not covered under the two year warranty. The warranty on Opportunity was designed to last for six months. At least give me another couple months of battery life. So someone tell me where my reasoning has gone wrong here. Or should I start buying vehicles that have NASA stamped on the rear of the vehicle?

How A Tree Taught Me To Ride A Bicycle

2011-09-17T20:39:00.000-06:00

These days they still make 26 and 28 inch adult bicycle to sell to the public and even a 29 inch. A 24 inch seems to be the size most often seen on the streets. Well back in the 50's there was also a 26 and 28 inch bicycle or at least we had one of each that was very old. They both had air in the tires, were mechanically sound and had no peddles. There were the round posts sticking out, but the peddles were gone. Well when the big boys got done with the bikes they just laid them down in the front yard by a large maple tree or against it.

Back then there was no mom or pop to show you how to ride a bicycle so you had to learn by yourself or in my case the tree helped. Sometimes the big boys would lean the bikes against our maple tree and it gave me an idea. So one day I got up on one of the bicycles and moved it vertical with my right arm and using the tree pushed off with my foot and away I went. That tree may still have my footprint on it somewhere and likely higher now after 56 years, I used it so many times.

Now stopping was another story for a little guy like me. The distance between the center post on a 28 inch bicycle and the ground was just about twelve inches short of my feet touching the ground. So I'm sure you can figure out why I jumped off the bike when my legs got tired. Then I would walk the bike back to the tree so it would be there next time the big boys wanted to ride it. But the big old maple tree was always there for me the next next time I wanted to visit the side streets nearby.

Cayuga Indian Chief John Logan's 9-11

2011-09-11T10:22:00.000-06:00

Today most network outlets are telling the story of the 9-11 tragedy and rightly so. It is a moment in history that no country will ever forget. But the sadness is quite profound for all of us and perhaps another smaller 9-11 would be appropriate for this day. Logan was born c1725 and died in 1780. He was from Pennsylvania and settled on Yellow Creek, Ohio about forty miles north of Wheeling, West Virginia. That would be Logan's Lament handed over to the British in 1774 after members of the Ohio Land Company mainly Colonel Cresap and company had accomplished their dastardly deed across the river in Ohio.

LOGAN'S LAMENT UNDER THE LOGAN ELM

Cayuga Chief John Logan

"I appeal to any white man to say if he ever entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat; if he ever came cold and naked and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace.

Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as I passed, and said, "Logan is a friend of the white man." I have even thought to live with you but for the injuries of one man, Colonel Cresap, who last spring in cold blood and unprovoked murdered the relatives of Logan, not even sparing his wife and children.

There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This has called on me for revenge. I have sought it; I have killed many; I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country, I rejoice in the beams of peace.

But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one."

Preston County West Virginia World War II Veteran Passes Away

2011-09-10T16:25:00.000-06:00

Leslie "Hat" Frederick 90, of Gladesville passed away Saturday August 27, 2011 at Windy Hill Manor with family by his side. He was born December 2, 1920 in Gladesville a son of the late Leslie A. and Bessie [Brown] Frederick. He was a World War II veteran serving in the European Theatre with the 80th Division of the 3127 Infantry. He was awarded four Bronze Battle Stars [Normandy Badge, Central Europe, Rhineland and Andennes], Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star and Victory Medal from France.

He is survived by his daughter Carla and husband Ronald; grandson Joshua; one brother Ivan "Red" Frederick; and one sister 104 year old Clarice Frederick Ervin. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty years Zella, one brother Maurice Glen Frederick; and one sister Ferne Frederick Mason. Interment to be in the Gladesville Cemetery, Preston County, West Virginia.

Russian Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Hockey Team Perishes In Aircraft Crash

2011-09-10T15:55:00.000-06:00

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

An estimated 100,000 people gathered Saturday in Russia's western city of Yaroslavl to honor the victims of a plane crash that devastated a local ice hockey team.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin joined the mourners for a ceremony at a hockey arena in Yaroslavl. They laid flowers near coffins containing the remains of players and staff from Russia's Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team.
Wednesday's accident took the lives of 43 of the 45 people on board the plane. Most of those killed were members of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, many of them international hockey stars. Coaches and club officials also perished.
The two survivors, player Alexander Galimov and crew member Alexander Sizov, are hospitalized in critical condition.
Russian aviation experts are investigating the crash. They say the plane's engines were operating until the moment of the crash, and that the stabilizer and flaps were in their proper positions.
The Yak-42 passenger jet crashed following takeoff from Yaroslavl, about 240 kilometers northeast of Moscow. The hockey team was headed to Minsk, Belarus for its opening game of the season.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a thorough probe into the cause of the crash, which is the latest in a series of fatal plane disasters in the country.
Last month, 11 people died when an Antonov-12 cargo plane crashed in Russia's far northeastern region of Siberia. In June, a Soviet-built Tupolev passenger plane crashed in northwest Russia, killing 45 people.

God of Old Testament Visits Colorado Springs

2011-09-10T08:41:00.000-06:00

On the morning of 23 August, 2011 the God of the old Testament dropped in on Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs and touched the brow of one Elsbeth Gleason 86 of German extraction and brought her back to life. In old Testament times God made it a habit of confronting man face to face with all forms of miracles. These days I think he does a lot of laughing at what he has created. Even in the new Testament when Lazarus lay in the grave, Jesus ask his father God for extra power to revive his friend. When Lazarus came back to life Jesus wept. But I'm getting ahead of myself and not giving the God of old the credit he deserves.

On 20 August, 2011 Elsbeth Gleason of Colorado Springs had an overdose of insulin for her sugar diabetes, hit the wall, hit the floor, got up, passes out on her bed and stopped breathing. The paramedics got her to breathing after an unknown amount of time. It could have been 10 minutes or four hours. She was rushed to Memorial Hospital in a coma and when they did a brain scan there were no brain activity. To most of us that would mean brain dead.

But the doctors placed her on oxygen, gave her fluids and her body continued to protect itself and started shutting down what it considered non essential parts of the body. Things like arm and leg circulation, kidney failure and self breathing. Day two her condition continued to worsen and another brain scan showed she had no brain waves. Day three still no brain waves and by this time the doctors and staff had written her off their charts. But as shown later God had not erased her from his chart.

So they pulled the plug on Elsbeth Gleason so to speak, but she didn't die. Oh, yes she was in a coma with no brain activity when they removed the breathing tube, stopped giving her anything except for pain killer and her body didn't die. They said it could be a few days but Elsbeth was now becoming a statistic. But sometime around 5 am on the 23 of August her husband Terry heard a voice say, "where have you been?" He thought he had went to sleep or was dreaming and got closer to the hospital bed. Again came a voice this time lower, "where have you been?"

Well he ran and told the nurses that she had spoken and they though he was crazy. They called the doctor and he thought they were all crazy. So he came in to the hospital to see what was going on and to Elsbeth's room. Well while talking to Elsbeth's husband and with his back turned, he heard a voice. With a loud scream he exclaimed, "it's an aberration, it's an aberration." It was an aberration alright, but not the kind he was considering. He later exclaimed that he had never seen anything like it in his career and likely never would again.

Yes man pulled the plug on Elsbeth Gleason but I'm thinking the God of the old Testament still had a few chores and things he wanted her to complete. So on 23 August, 2011 Elsbeth Gleason of Colorado Springs, Colorado who was born in Germany didn't catch the last train to the coast. Ever since the trains have been passing the city, but Elsbeth just seems to be getting better and you might say she hasn't got her ticket punched. The God of old it seems is still holding the ticket puncher.

Daily News-Miner- Alaska UFO 25 Years Later

2011-09-06T18:23:00.000-06:00

In the realm of unexplained events in Alaska, the story about Japan Airlines Flight 1628 must be near the top.

On Nov. 17, 1986, the JAL 747 was headed across Interior Alaska toward Anchorage when the captain and crew saw what they took to be unidentified flying objects.

They were northeast of Fairbanks at the time, carrying a cargo of French wine destined for Tokyo. The plane did a 360-degree turn south of Fairbanks as the strange lights continued.

The incident is among those mentioned in a two-hour show to be broadcast Thursday at 7 p.m. on the History Channel. "Secret Access: UFOs on the Record," deals with several incidents, one of which is the Alaska incident.

To this day the JAL story remains a mystery. The captain was a veteran of sound mind, Kenju Terauchi.

"As the airplane passed over Eielson Air Force Base, near Fairbanks, the captain said he noticed, looming behind his airplane, the dark silhoutte of a gigantic "mothership" larger than two aircraft carriers. He asked air traffic control for permission to take his airplane around in a complete circle and then descend to 31,000 feet. Terauchi said his shadower followed him through both maneuvers," a 1987 account in Air & Space magazine said.

While the late Philip Klass, a UFO debunker, contended that the JAL crew saw the bright lights of Jupiter, that did not end the debate.

Leslie Kean, author of "UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go on the Record," provides commentary for the TV show on several cases she included in her 2010 book, one of which is the JAL close encounter.

One of the fascinating aspects of the tale comes from John Callahan, a former FAA executive who gave these remarks at a National Press Club presentation in 2007:

What I am about to tell you now, is about an event that never happened.

I am John Callahan, and I was Division Chief of the Accidents, Evaluations and Investigations Division of the FAA in Washington, for 6 years during the 1980s.

In early January of 1987, 1 received a call from the Air Traffic Quality Control Branch in FAA's Alaskan regional office, requesting guidance on what to tell the media personnel who were overflowing their office. The media was requesting information about the UFO that chased a Japanese 747 across the Alaskan sky for some 31 minutes at flight levels between 31000 and 35000 ft. on November 17, 1986. Somehow, the word had got out.

"What UFO; when did this take place; why wasn't Washington Headquarters informed?" I asked.

"Hey," he replied, "who believes in UFOs? I just need to know what to tell the media to get them out of here."

The answer to that question was easy: "Tell them it's under investigation. Then, collect all the data - the voice tapes and data disc for both the facility and the military. Send then overnight to the FAA Tech Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey."

Japan Air Lines flight 1628, a cargo jet with a pilot, co-pilot and one crewmember, was just north of Anchorage, and it was about 11 p.m. when the pilot first reported the UFO. He described it as a huge ball with lights running around it. He said it was about 4 times bigger than a 747, and he saw it with his own eyes. So did the other two-crew members.

Over the course of 31 minutes, the UFO jumped miles in a few seconds, changing places to different spots around the 747, in one sweep of the radarscope.

After receiving the data from Alaska almost two months later, I briefed my boss Harvey Safer and the FAA Administrator Admiral Engen, and Safer and I went to the FAA Tech Center to observe the playback.

The FAA had developed a program capable of recreating the traffic on the controller’s scope, or plan view display. I instructed the FAA specialist to synchronize the voice tapes with the radar data so we could hear everything the controller and pilot said. I videotaped the radar display.

Later that day, I requested that the FAA automation specialists plot the radar targets along the route of flight and explain what each target was doing. I videotaped the resulting chart.

The print out and radar play back displayed primary targets in the vicinity of the 747. These target returns were displayed about the same time and place as the pilot advised viewing the UFO.

Both the radar and manual controller observed the primary target. The military controllers also viewed the primary target on their radar and identified it as a double primary. The pilot and crew viewed the target on their radar and were able to see the huge UFO at the same time as it approached their aircraft.

If this craft had been a Learjet or military aircraft at the wrong attitude, that would have been clear. The FAA has procedures that cover tracking unidentified aircraft violating another's airspace - but it has no procedures for UFOs.

Back at FAA headquarters, I gave Administrator Engen a quick briefing and showed him the video. He set up a briefing with President Reagan's scientific staff, and told me my function was to give them a dog-and-pony show and hand this event off to them, since the FAA does not deal with UFOs.

I brought along a copy of the video and all the data print outs available at the time.

One of the scientists asked a number of questions, such as, what is the range of the radar, what is the frequency of the radar, what is the band width, what is the formula for the height equipment, etc.

I was impressed with the response from the FAA experts. At the end, one of the three people from the CIA said, "This event never happened; we were never here; we're confiscating all this data and you are all sworn to secrecy."

"What do you think it was?" I asked the CIA person.

"A UFO and now they have over 30 minutes of radar to go over," he responded.

"Well let's get a TWIX out and advise the American public that we were visited by a UFO," I suggested.

"No way, if we were to tell the American public there are UFOs they would panic," he informed me.

Some time after the briefing, the detailed FAA report which included extensive interviews with the pilot and crew, the chart prepared at the Tech Center; and facility voice tapes arrived at my office and were placed on a small table waiting for the CIA to request more data.

The material stayed there until I retired 2 years later, and I've had it ever since.

Most people including FAA controllers really aren’t familiar with how the FAA radar system works and why all aircraft traveling through our airspace are not caught on radar or displayed on the controllers PVD. But I am.

The system and organization of the FAA is not configured to identify and track these types of performances.

Today- Navy Seal Jon T Tumilson Dog Hawkeye by Scott Stump

2011-08-27T19:45:00.000-06:00

SEAL- Petty Officer 1st Class Jon T Tumilson

Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson lay in a coffin, draped in an American flag, in front of a tearful audience mourning his death in Afghanistan. Soon an old friend appeared, and like a fellow soldier on a battlefield, his loyal dog refused to leave him behind.

Tumilson’s Labrador retriever, Hawkeye, was photographed lying by Tumilson’s casket in a heart-wrenching image taken at the funeral service in Tumilson’s hometown of Rockford, Iowa, earlier this week. Hawkeye walked up to the casket at the beginning of the service and then dropped down with a heaving sigh as about 1,500 mourners witnessed a dog accompanying his master until the end, reported CBS.

The photo was snapped by Tumilson’s cousin, Lisa Pembleton, and posted on her Facebook page in memory of the San Diego resident. Tumilson, 35, was one of 30 American troops, including 22 Navy SEALs, who were killed when a Taliban insurgent shot down a Chinook helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade on Aug. 6.

“I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members that couldn't make it or couldn't see what I could from the aisle,” Pembleton wrote on her Facebook page. “To say that he was an amazing man doesn't do him justice. The loss of Jon to his family, military family and friends is immeasurable.’’

Hawkeye was such a huge part of Tumilson’s life that Tumilson’s family followed the dog down the aisle as they entered the service in front of a capacity crowd in the gymnasium at the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School. Hawkeye then followed Tumilson’s good friend, Scott Nichols, as Nichols approached the stage to give a speech. As Nichols prepared to memorialize his friend, Hawkeye dutifully laid down near the casket.

Hawkeye- Tumilson's Labrador Retriever

The youngest of three children, Tumilson had wanted to be a Navy SEAL since he was a teenager. Friends and his two older sisters remembered a fearless soldier, and a Power Point presentation was shown that illustrated Tumilson’s active life outside of the military, which included scuba diving, martial arts, and triathlons.

"If J.T. had known he was going to be shot down when going to the aid of others, he would have went anyway," friend Boe Nankivel said at the service.
“Your dreams were big and seemed impossible to nearly everyone on the outside," his sister, Kristie Pohlman, said at the service. "I always knew you'd somehow do what you wanted."
As for Hawkeye, the loyal Labrador will now be owned by Nichols, Tumilson’s friend.

News From Survival International- UN Logo & Yaguarete Pora Cattle Ranching Company

2011-08-26T20:41:00.000-06:00

Ayoreo Indians in Paraguay have been left amazed by the UN’s reaction to a formal complaint they issued against cattle ranching company Yaguarete Pora.

In May, Ayoreo leaders issued a formal complaint against the company’s involvement in the UN Global Compact, an initiative allegedly designed to encourage businesses to comply with environmental and human rights principles.

The Ayoreo pointed out that the company has been found guilty of illegally clearing forest in their ancestral territory and withholding evidence proving that uncontacted Ayoreo Indians are living there.

The UN’s response to the Indians’ request that it remove the company from the initiative stated, ‘We have neither the resources nor the mandate to conduct investigations into any of our participants.’

But now the UN has written to Yaguarete. However, far from taking issue with its human rights abuses, the UN complained that Yaguarete was displaying its logo without having filled in the necessary form, and asked it to remove the logo from its website.

Now you see it........................................................ Now you don't
© Survival

The Global Compact logo immediately disappeared from the company’s website.

Uncontacted Indians could be wiped out if the cattle ranchers continue to destroy the forest on which the Indians depend for their survival.

Arthurdale Remembered- The Funeral Cake by Jo Ann Lawson Frederick

2011-08-19T12:12:00.001-06:00

Funeral Cake for Child

One day my brother mentioned something to me that made my ears perk up. I had never heard of a funeral cake, so he told me what it was. It seems when someone passes away in the community, the neighbors, friends, and relatives react by baking, cooking, and delivering food in respect.

The wakes were held in the homes, there had to be food for anyone who wanted it, what they brought and how it tasted would determine whose food it was. In small communities ingredients might be scarce whereas ingredients would be in abundance on the farm area, milk, cream, cheese, eggs, lard, and buttermilk would be handy, for baking fresh bread and cakes. Keep in mind that donated foods for a wake would be delivered promptly.

Decorated cakes with icing, xxx sugar, and jellies, etc. You could create your own designs and ultimately you would have a lady in the community who would be known for her beautiful funeral cakes.

Resurrection Cake with Whisky Sauce

Take homemade one cake mix, your choice. Mix well, pour in a well greased cake pan, kind of deep. Over the top, pour a pint of stewed pears or other fruit of your choice. Can fruit will do fine, but home-canned is best. Then cover the top of the fruit with pats of oleo, or butter, and sprinkle with a good coat of sugar. Stick in preheated oven over 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until cake has risen to hide the fruit and is brown. Eat hot with a good whisky sauce. Recipe from White Trash Cooking by Ernest Matthew Mickler 1986.

Whisky Sauce

2 cups of sugar

1 cup bourbon [quite strong, may try using less]

1/2 lb. butter [2 sticks]

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

1 pinch of salt

REPOST- Who Am I? Why? Who Were You Thinking Of?

2011-08-18T22:29:00.000-06:00

I was born in one country, raised in another.

My father was born in another country. I was not his only child. He fathered several children with numerous women.

I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in me. My mother died at an early age from cancer.

Later in life, questions arose over my real name.

My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.

I grew up practicing one faith but converted to Christianity, as it was widely accepted in my country, but I practiced non-traditional beliefs & didn't follow Christianity, except in the public eye under scrutiny.

I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult, disguising myself as someone who really cared about them..

That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.

I wrote a book about my struggles growing up. It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.

I became active in local politics in my 30's then with help behind the scenes, I literally burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my 40s. They said I had a golden tongue and could talk anyone into anything. That reinforced my conceit.

I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization. Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me as though I was a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.

I drew incredibly large crowds during my public appearances. This bolstered my ego.

At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy. I was very critical of my country in the last war and seized every opportunity to bash my country.

But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country's economy. I pretended to have a really good plan on how we could do better and every poor person would be fed & housed for free.

I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess. It was the free market, banks & corporations. I decided to start making citizens hate them and if they were envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.

I called mine "A People's Campaign" and that sounded good to all people.

I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics & was able to gain widespread popular support.

I knew that, if I merely offered the people 'hope,' together we could change our country and the world.

So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include "persecuted minorities". My true views were not widely known & I needed to keep them unknown, until after I became my nation's leader.

I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found out what I really believed, if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with.

I'm glad they didn't. Then I became the most powerful man in the world. And the world learned the truth.

Adolf Hitler

Who am I?

Why? Who were you thinking of?

Jane Cline's Garage Sale- Salem, Oregon

2011-08-18T18:31:00.000-06:00

Jane Cline has a form of bone cancer that puts holes in her bones and they become brittle, crack and break. So to pay her hospital bills she decided to have a garage sale in her back yard to raise some cash. But Cline ran afoul of Salem, Oregon city officials who have an ordinance that states you can only have three sales a year. So a neighbor called the city and complained. The city closed down Cline's garage sale and indicated they would fine her $300 if she started it back up.

In all fairness to the city they said they would see what they could do. That likely means they want Jane Cline to go inside her house, eat dog food, lay there till she dies and then they can throw her warm body on the ash heap. What ever happened to as long as your neighbor wasn't firing rockets into your yard leave them alone? In fact what ever happened to helping your neighbor with the garage sale? Perhaps bake a few cupcakes? Some neighborhoods are so restrictive they come out with a ruler and measure your grass, then they count the dog turds. Why can't people just get along?

If You Would Like To Help

Perjury or Forswearing

2011-08-18T08:27:00.000-06:00

"Forswearing is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. The rules for perjury also apply when a person has made a statement under penalty of perjury, even if the person has not been sworn or affirmed as a witness before an appropriate official."

Narcissism- The Clinician Has Spoken

2011-08-17T09:06:00.002-06:00

http://youtu.be/mQZmCJUSC6g

Blogger & Lady Justice With Her Blindfold

2011-08-17T08:35:00.000-06:00

Anyone reading blogs on this site can attest to the fact that there are more than enough blogs relating to Veterans. Some sad, deaths, killed in action, injustices against Veterans, PTSD and criminal cases. There is no one sided stories here. Some may be taken from another blog and some written due to their being reported in no other publication. They are equally represented unless a blog is a personal opinion of the author.

There has only been one blog with several stories written here since the local newspaper does not cover every story that goes through the court and it relates to two families. The author has tried to write them in an objective manner and is not a college journalist. One family chooses not to inform most of the family, another wants everything kept quiet and this is the only location they can receive information. While some of the family is located in the United States many are not.

They come from overseas [at least 26 visits] to find out what is transpiring with their family member here in the United States. Those in the United States that are not being given information [at least 16 visits] also have no newspaper they can review. Interest in Colorado Springs has been minimal and visitors from military bases in other states about the same. A few European countries have visited that do not encourage decent.

A court of law in this country is open to the public and you can listen to a case, get transcripts and in this case read a blog. Lady Justice does not have a blindfold on to stifle anyone's voice, hearing or sight. Anyone has the right to report on a case and those who believe there have been mistakes, request a correction. There is no secret to making comments on Google Blogs, Facebook or sending e-mails. However even those organizations have rules and a safety net for users.

Century Link has a location where you can ban those who who send you unwanted e-mails. Facebook will block individuals from your individual page. Google Blogger has a, "awaiting moderation" site you can review all comments. In some cases they will all three block specific writings that are related to free speech. There are many bloggers who block all comments and except none. This blog excepts and encourages English comments regardless of whether they agree with the author or not.

The things that are not acceptable are swearing, attempts of a person to get even by switching subjects when their argument is flawed or attacking a person with slander that has nothing to do with the subject matter in the blog. Anyone with their own blog can say what they like on any subject whether it be true, questionable or lies. Those who exercise their Constitutional rights on their own blog are to be applauded. Switching from the subject at hand to placing the monkey on another's back is nothing new. The politicians use it everyday and it works fine for the brain dead.

Change.org- Kelly Williams-Bolar Akron, Ohio

2011-08-16T16:08:00.000-06:00

Kelley Williams-Bolar is a single mom from Akron, Ohio who was sentenced to 10 days in jail and 3 years probation for sending her kids to a safer school in her father's neighboring district, instead of the crime-ridden district where she lives.

While Kelley has already spent her time in jail for this crime, the conviction will stay on her record for life. That means Kelley can't ever teach in Ohio, even though she's on her way to completing her teaching degree. She needs a full pardon from Ohio's Governor to clear her name.

The Ohio Parole Board has less than 60 days to recommend to Ohio Governor John Kasich if Kelley Williams-Bolar deserves to be pardoned. Can you sign the petition to Gov. John Kasich and demand that he pardon Kelley Williams-Bolar for sending her kids to a safer school district?

After more than 100,000 Change.org members and other activists signed petitions asking Gov. Kasich to pardon Kelley, the Governor asked the Ohio Parole Board to look into Kelley's conviction and report if she should be pardoned. During her hearing last month, Kelley made clear that her only goal was her children's safety. "I did some things wrong," Kelley said to the Parole Board through her tears. "But I love my kids."

The judge in Kelley's case said that the harsh penalties for telling district officials that her children lived with Kelley's father, when in fact they lived with her in a different town, will serve as a message to other parents considering a similar move.

But your message is clear too: Ohio should be working to improve all schools, instead of punishing parents whose children are trapped in unsafe, ineffective schools. Please sign the petition to ask Ohio Governor John Kasich to pardon Kelley Williams-Bolar.

http://www.change.org/petitions/gov-john-kasich-pardon-kelley-williams-bolar-she-shouldnt-go-to-jail-for-protecting-her-kids

Thank you for taking action,

- Patrick and the Change.org team

This email was sent by Change.org to NIKKIG1108@HOTMAIL.COM.
Start a petition. Unsubscribe from future weekly updates. Edit your email notification settings.

Defamation, Libel and Slander in Our Town

2011-08-16T15:52:00.004-06:00

"Meant to harm ones reputation, decrease respect, regard or confidence; or induce disparaging hostile, or disagreeable opinions or feelings against an individual."

What about the individual who has worked with the poor and downtrodden for over 45 years? Helped build a private school in California for physically and mentally impaired high school students who lost their right to public school under Proposition 13? Worked in Amerasian orphanages in two countries to bring them a better life when their fathers deserted them. Provided meals to homeless, students and Veterans in many states during times when they were without and away from home? Served meals on military posts for veterans and their families at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Veterans Day?

Worked with homeless and homeless Veterans on the street for seven years and spoke before the city council for better services for the poor and outcasts? Ran a storage unit for homeless and Veterans so their few worldly good and important papers were not tossed aside by government. Protested against a fake Ohio Indian tribe in Appalachia so seniors would receive reduced prices on food in major chain stores and not starve? Fought the United States government and according to the lawyer in charge, helped stop the killing of innocent civilians in Iraqi prisons?

Everyone makes mistakes in life we are sorry for, but we can't change that. So anyone out there that wants to impugn [destroy] someones good name by false allegations, half truths and some truth in blogs, attaching others blogs to theirs, or public to get even, put it on the scales and see how it balances against what others have to offer. Go ahead and give it a shot and see just how pathetic and mentally disturbed some life stories sound.

Blame choices in life on family and try garnering symphony from the public. Especially the lies that are so obvious. That includes embarrassing family members, extended family and friends. Things done by those in life to protect a family member are a distant last consideration in many resumes and most could care less what anyone thinks.....and all this over one domestic violence case and an an alleged murder attempt. Just plain despicable, sad and sickening.

Jimmy Swaggart: One More Valley

2011-08-15T20:59:00.000-06:00

http://youtu.be/w1PtHsKfXUQ

Get past the man and listen to the song my Mother loved.

Domestic Violence A Cutting Sword In Society

2011-08-14T17:09:00.003-06:00

Domestic violence is a double edged sword and a cancer that can be relegated to remission. It is in many cases a learning defect passed down from one generation to the next. Also caused by alcohol and drug abuse. But the chain of domestic violence can be broken. First a person must admit in public that he or she has a problem and go to effective counseling. There are many programs across the county, some for a fee and some free. Asking those that have been abused for forgiveness and family would help. Even if the relationship has long since ended.

Then there are the die hards that say "they have no problem" and "everyone else is the problem." They continue their battering and it gets worse. The abused are relegated to being nothing more than a slave to the abuser. The abused have few or no friends because the abuser does not allow them. In fact they have no life. The abuser controls the abused and expects the abused to focus all their attention on him or her. They refuse counseling, fake counseling and in a court of law plead not guilty.

Turned loose with no punishment or treatment they will continue the same relationship or move on to another. The abused will profess how they still love the abuser and have him turned loose from charges levied against him or her in court. The abused will grasp at any straw available to them including disowning their own family and blaiming them for the problem. The abused will say they have received professional help and side with the abuser. For the abused there is only one solution. Allow the abuser to go free with the least punishment and take him or her back.

An abuser who attempts to kill a victim can't say turn me loose, other things made me do it. They like the rest of society who have committed a crime must face punishment and be responsible for their acts. They can't throw the monkey on someone else's back and go free. Softening the punishment will only turn a person loose on society who then becomes a danger to society. This is something many abused do not see or care about. Others besides themselves. They could care less about themselves, their families and focus all their attention on helping the one who abused them the most go free.

So the abuser who refuses to admit his problem in court or the public will not change and the abused will give up their soul to have them released. The abused see only one thing. I can fix him or her if just given enough time. But time has a habit of running out on the abused. Either in years or death at someones hands. Unrepentant abusers need to be punished to the full extent of the law. That would include prison time where they can get proper counseling if they except the help.

Only time will tell what an abuser will do if given proper treatment. The abused will have scars that will never go away. The abuser can change and given a long track record of no more abuse can once more look him or herself in the mirror. But the abuser must come clean on his or her own. An abuser who threatens another's life in a relationship forfeit any rights they may have had, except a fair trial by a jury of their peers. Then a person either change or remain the sick person they were.

www.tessacs.org/contact-us

Former Fort Carson Veteran's Bond Remains At $200,000

2011-08-12T15:14:00.000-06:00

A former Fort Carson veteran Sgt. Albert Granados who has been incarcerated since early July in Colorado Springs for ten alleged counts, from Murder 1-extreme indifference to assault 3-know/reckless cause injury on 11 Aug, 2011 requested through his lawyer to have his bond reduced and issued a plea of not guilty. The lawyer stated that Mr. Granados was a 15 year honorable veteran who had served his country well including three tours in Iraq. He further stated that Mr. Granados when the alleged acts happened was on Si-co-tropic drugs and was suffering from PTSD. That during the past 35 days he had been taken off the drugs and wanted the VA to evaluate them.

His lawyer ask that the bond be reduced to something like $50,000 so that Mr. Granados or his family could afford the cost. The lawyer stated Mr. Granados was a poor man with only his disability and had no way of raising the bond. His family was willing to have a family member come to Colorado Springs to assist Mr. Granados in finding an apartment and help monitor his activities. He stated that his client had no past history of convicted offenses, had family who had agreed to help and would like to see him put in a VA program for evaluation with a GPS leg tracker. He further stated that because his client was off the drugs, knew he was not to be in contact with the plaintiff, he was not a danger to anyone and was not going to flee.

The defendant's wife told the judge that because of his actions in the Colombian Army, killing at least 17 Communist gorillas, the PTSD and Si-co-tropic drugs, this was a one time episode and that she felt he should be put in a VA evaluation program since he was not a criminal. Her and the defendants brother were visibly shaken and broke down and sobbed at one point. Neither her or anyone else in the courtroom testified that Mr. Granados bond should remain at $200,000.

The Assistant District Attorney, detective on the case and defendants father-in-law testified that the bond should be maintained or raised since Mr. Granados was a danger to family members and the community. The assistant district attorney pointed out that Mr. Granados had friends in the community who could provide him weapons if he were free, he was considered a flight risk and numerous other reasons why the bond should remain in place.

The lead detective stated that the domestic violence had continued in the family for at least 15 years. The defendant had threatened to kill several police officers and others at his former residence in Colorado Springs, placed a gun to the head of the grandson while still living on Fort Carson and he had documented evidence to these and other incidents. He also stated that the defendant had a sniper rifle, 2 AR-15's, a modified shotgun, 2 9mm pistols, boxes of ammunition, body armour, survival gear he was attempting to retrieve when apprehended including a 9mm Beretta in his car which were all confiscated. Mr. Granados lawyer pointed out to the court that all weapons and equipment were legally purchased and owned.

The father-in-law testified that he, "was not buying the song and dance put on by the defendant's lawyer" and that he considered Mr. Granados a danger to his daughter, grandson and community at large. He further attempted to state that Mr. Granados had threatened to kill him three times, he had lost tract of the number of individuals he had threatened to kill, when Mr. Granados lawyer objected. The judge told him to let the father-in-law finish, which he did. His last statement read into the record was to whatever extent it took, he would protect his daughter and grandson.

The district attorneys office requested the bond be raised an additional $50,000, however the judge felt the defendant could not raise the current bond, so there was no use increasing it further. After careful consideration reviewing all documentation, the judge rendered his decision that the bond remain at $200,000. He further told Mr. Granados bond did not have a bearing on guilt or innocence and that just with Count 1 if convicted, he faced a minimum of 8 years to life in prison.

The date for Court Motions was set for 29 Sep., 2011 at 1:30pm, Trial Readiness 10 Nov., 2011 at 11:00am and Trial Date for 14 Nov., 2011 at 9:00am. When ask the defendant's lawyer indicated he expected the trial to last no longer than one week.

Seal Team Six, A Vietnam Veteran Loves You

2011-08-12T01:21:00.000-06:00

What if you died on a battlefield, woke up and everyone you ever loved or cared about had moved on or died alongside you.

http://youtu.be/hEmUEYSN-wo

Fort Carson's, Murdering Leopard's At 1829.10 meters

2011-08-11T18:33:00.000-06:00

Shakespeare once said, "The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their Bones." But what if the leopard has gnawed on the bones for a decade or two? What if the leopards have shown no public remorse and proclaims their innocence? What if they have apologized to no ones bones and continues their murderous rampage once the restraints are off, the innuendos died down, the curtain lifted? Their keepers whisper to those that will listen. Are they still to be considered a threat to the herd? Yes.

Those that have pointed out the leopards spots, became fearful for others lives, listened to the crocodile tears. Do they deserve to be singled out for Gods wrath simply because because they cared? What if they protected the herd even as their faces was being tromped in the mud. What if the cubs appreciated nothing and would not even support their own blood? At what point does the caring stop and the pity begin? Does the murdering leopards deserve a second chance to change their spots? No.

What if the leopards uses the excuse they drank the grape Kool-Aid, some higher master made them do it or they didn't really mean to kill? Should they be turned out of the iron cage, given a free pass with a mere chance they wont do it again? Perhaps kill a few more leopards on the way by? Kill the whole family? Be given a free pass just because a few brain-washed hearts say so? What about those that fall between the cracks, their hearts broke, because some are unable to see the forest for the trees?

Let them be fodder for the cannons, they are nothing, "how dare they," throw them to the leopards.

Pre-Revolutionary Americans or Patriots?

2011-08-09T19:44:00.000-06:00

Signing the Constitution

Riots continue all over the globe for many reasons and one being a loss of confidence in government. In some countries due to the economic slowdown of economies many have taken to the streets to show their displeasure over employment, banking and government financial abuse. Several countries in the middle east are having their citizens systematically slaughtered simply because they want democratic reform. But what about the United States with its few riots and a handfull relating to a lack of confidence in government officials in Washington?

In resent years the United States has had a gradual separation of people who believe you have a right to your opinion and those who believe you don't. In all cases to date we are talking about peaceable assembly and the right to voice an opinion. One of those groups is The Tea Party which represents a diverse group of Americans who have many problems they see going wrong in America, politics, state and federal government. The Vice President of the United States and many news networks who mimic the establishment in Washington call them terrorists.

Wouldn't terrorists be a group of individuals who blow things up and kill countless civilians? What is wrong with The Tea Party and other groups expressing their opinion peaceably regardless of the subject, short of yelling fire in a theatre. Well we have three groups, the Democrats, Independents and the Republicans. The Republicans and Independents believe you have a right to express and air your grievances before the public or government. The Democrats believe the same thing as long as what you say agrees with their view. Disagree with them and you are a crazy, to be ridiculed and a terrorist who needs to be silenced or locked away.

However between all of this bickering comes a new poll from Rasmussen which shows that only 17% of the American people believe the US Government has the consent of the governed. The same poll shows that the American people give the Congress of the United States a whopping 6% approval rating. Is there really a, "sea of anger churning" here in America that, "wants to take their country back [their Constitution]?" If it comes down to the American people resisting or dissenting, it will not be because they started anything. Contrary to what the President, Congress and the Democrats believe it will take more than 20,000 military troops to stem the tide of America once it starts moving, short of major bloodshed.

Quartzsite, Arizona Police Chief Calls Out The Dogs

2011-08-07T22:24:00.001-06:00

Liberty and freedom fighters of America such as Oath Keepers, Greater Phoenix Tea Party, Sons of Liberty Riders, Sons of Liberty and other Constitutional groups have been labeled by the Quartzsite, Arizona police chief as "Terrorists" and he has reported them to the FBI. Many of these groups from the southwest will muster at Quartzsite on 27 August, 2011 in support of the Quartzsite Ten. Ten Quartzsite police officers who blew the whistle on police chief Gilbert for corruption and violation of citizens rights under the Constitution. The Quartzsite Liberty Festival will also support local activists [journalist Jennifer "Jade" Jones] and Mayor Ed Foster [a Marine Veteran].

Oath Keepers- www.oathkeepers.org

2011-08-07T05:39:00.000-06:00

“The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their Houses, and Farms, are to be pillaged and destroyed, and they consigned to a State of Wretchedness from which no human efforts will probably deliver them. The fate of unborn Millions will now depend, under God, on the Courage and Conduct of this army” -- Gen. George Washington, to his troops before the battle of Long Island

Such a time is near at hand again. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the Courage and Conduct of this Army -- and this Marine Corps, This Air Force, This Navy and the National Guard and police units of these sovereign states.
Oath Keepers is a non-partisan association of currently serving military, reserves, National Guard, peace officers, fire-fighters, and veterans who swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic … and meant it. We won’t “just follow orders.”
Below is our declaration of orders we will NOT obey because we will consider them unconstitutional (and thus unlawful) and immoral violations of the natural rights of the people. Such orders would be acts of war against the American people by their own government, and thus acts of treason. We will not make war against our own people. We will not commit treason. We will defend the Republic.

Declaration of Orders We Will NOT Obey

Recognizing that we each swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and affirming that we are guardians of the Republic, of the principles in our Declaration of Independence, and of the rights of our people, we affirm and declare the following:
1. We will NOT obey any order to disarm the American people.
The attempt to disarm the people on April 19, 1775 was the spark of open conflict in the American Revolution. That vile attempt was an act of war, and the American people fought back in justified, righteous self-defense of their natural rights. Any such order today would also be an act of war against the American people, and thus an act of treason. We will not make war on our own people, and we will not commit treason by obeying any such treasonous order.
Nor will we assist, or support any such attempt to disarm the people by other government entities, either state or federal.

In addition, we affirm that the purpose of the Second Amendment is to preserve the military power of the people so that they will, in the last resort, have effective final recourse to arms and to the God of Hosts in the face of tyranny. Accordingly, we oppose any and all further infringements on the right of the people to keep and bear arms. In particular we oppose a renewal of the misnamed “assault-weapons” ban or the enactment of H.R. 45 (which would register and track gun owners like convicted pedophiles).
2. We will NOT obey any order to conduct warrantless searches of the American people, their homes, vehicles, papers, or effects -- such as warrantless house-to house searches for weapons or persons.
One of the causes of the American Revolution was the use of “writs of assistance,” which were essentially warrantless searches because there was no requirement of a showing of probable cause to a judge, and the first fiery embers of American resistance were born in opposition to those infamous writs. The Founders considered all warrantless searches to be unreasonable and egregious. It was to prevent a repeat of such violations of the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects that the Fourth Amendment was written.
We expect that sweeping warrantless searches of homes and vehicles, under some pretext, will be the means used to attempt to disarm the people.
3. We will NOT obey any order to detain American citizens as “unlawful enemy combatants” or to subject them to trial by military tribunal.
One of the causes of the American Revolution was the denial of the right to jury trial, the use of admiralty courts (military tribunals) instead, and the application of the laws of war to the colonists. After that experience, and being well aware of the infamous Star Chamber in English history, the Founders ensured that the international laws of war would apply only to foreign enemies, not to the American people. Thus, the Article III Treason Clause establishes the only constitutional form of trial for an American, not serving in the military, who is accused of making war on his own nation. Such a trial for treason must be before a civilian jury, not a tribunal.
The international laws of war do not trump our Bill of Rights. We reject as illegitimate any such claimed power, as did the Supreme Court in Ex Parte Milligan (1865). Any attempt to apply the laws of war to American civilians, under any pretext, such as against domestic “militia” groups the government brands “domestic terrorists,” is an act of war and an act of treason.
4. We will NOT obey orders to impose martial law or a “state of emergency” on a state, or to enter with force into a state, without the express consent and invitation of that state’s legislature and governor.
One of the causes of the American Revolution was the attempt “to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power” by disbanding the Massachusetts legislature and appointing General Gage as “military governor.” The attempt to disarm the people of Massachusetts during that martial law sparked our Revolution. Accordingly, the power to impose martial law – the absolute rule over the people by a military officer with his will alone being law – is nowhere enumerated in our Constitution.
Further, it is the militia of a state and of the several states that the Constitution contemplates being used in any context, during any emergency within a state, not the standing army.
The imposition of martial law by the national government over a state and its people, treating them as an occupied enemy nation, is an act of war. Such an attempted suspension of the Constitution and Bill of Rights voids the compact with the states and with the people.
5. We will NOT obey orders to invade and subjugate any state that asserts its sovereignty and declares the national government to be in violation of the compact by which that state entered the Union.
In response to the obscene growth of federal power and to the absurdly totalitarian claimed powers of the Executive, upwards of 20 states are considering, have considered, or have passed courageous resolutions affirming states rights and sovereignty.
Those resolutions follow in the honored and revered footsteps of Jefferson and Madison in their Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, and likewise seek to enforce the Constitution by affirming the very same principles of our Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights that we Oath Keepers recognize and affirm.
Chief among those principles is that ours is a dual sovereignty system, with the people of each state retaining all powers not granted to the national government they created, and thus the people of each state reserved to themselves the right to judge when the national government they created has voided the compact between the states by asserting powers never granted.
Upon the declaration by a state that such a breach has occurred, we will not obey orders to force that state to submit to the national government.
6. We will NOT obey any order to blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant concentration camps.
One of the causes of the American Revolution was the blockade of Boston, and the occupying of that city by the British military, under martial law. Once hostilities began, the people of Boston were tricked into turning in their arms in exchange for safe passage, but were then forbidden to leave. That confinement of the residents of an entire city was an act of war.
Such tactics were repeated by the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto, and by the Imperial Japanese in Nanking, turning entire cities into death camps. Any such order to disarm and confine the people of an American city will be an act of war and thus an act of treason.
7. We will NOT obey any order to force American citizens into any form of detention camps under any pretext.
Mass, forced internment into concentration camps was a hallmark of every fascist and communist dictatorship in the 20th Century. Such internment was unfortunately even used against American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II. Whenever a government interns its own people, it treats them like an occupied enemy population. Oppressive governments often use the internment of women and children to break the will of the men fighting for their liberty – as was done to the Boers, to the Jewish resisters in the Warsaw Ghetto, and to the Chechens, for example.

Such a vile order to forcibly intern Americans without charges or trial would be an act of war against the American people, and thus an act of treason, regardless of the pretext used. We will not commit treason, nor will we facilitate or support it.”NOT on Our Watch!”
8. We will NOT obey orders to assist or support the use of any foreign troops on U.S. soil against the American people to “keep the peace” or to “maintain control” during any emergency, or under any other pretext. We will consider such use of foreign troops against our people to be an invasion and an act of war.
During the American Revolution, the British government enlisted the aid of Hessian mercenaries in an attempt to subjugate the rebellious American people. Throughout history, repressive regimes have enlisted the aid of foreign troops and mercenaries who have no bonds with the people.
Accordingly, as the militia of the several states are the only military force contemplated by the Constitution, in Article I, Section 8, for domestic keeping of the peace, and as the use of even our own standing army for such purposes is without such constitutional support, the use of foreign troops and mercenaries against the people is wildly unconstitutional, egregious, and an act of war.
We will oppose such troops as enemies of the people and we will treat all who request, invite, and aid those foreign troops as the traitors they are.
9. We will NOT obey any orders to confiscate the property of the American people, including food and other essential supplies, under any emergency pretext whatsoever.
One of the causes of the American Revolution was the seizure and forfeiture of American ships, goods, and supplies, along with the seizure of American timber for the Royal Navy, all in violation of the people’s natural right to their property and to the fruits of their labor. The final spark of the Revolution was the attempt by the government to seize powder and cannon stores at Concord.
Deprivation of food has long been a weapon of war and oppression, with millions intentionally starved to death by fascist and communist governments in the 20th Century alone.
Accordingly, we will not obey or facilitate orders to confiscate food and other essential supplies from the people, and we will consider all those who issue or carry out such orders to be the enemies of the people.
10. We will NOT obey any orders which infringe on the right of the people to free speech, to peaceably assemble, and to petition their government for a redress of grievances.
There would have been no American Revolution without fiery speakers and writers such as James Otis, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, and Sam Adams “setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.”

Patrick Henry: “Give me Liberty, or Give me DEATH!”

Tyrants know that the pen of a man such as Thomas Paine can cause them more damage than entire armies, and thus they always seek to suppress the natural rights of speech, association, and assembly. Without freedom of speech, the people will have no recourse but to arms. Without freedom of speech and conscience, there is no freedom.
Therefore, we will not obey or support any orders to suppress or violate the right of the people to speak, associate, worship, assemble, communicate, or petition government for the redress of grievances.
— And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually affirm our oath and pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. Oath Keepers

The above list is not exhaustive but we do consider them to be clear tripwires – they form our “line in the sand,” and if we receive such orders, we will not obey them. Further, we will know that the time for another American Revolution is nigh. If you the people decide that you have no recourse, and such a revolution comes, at that time, not only will we NOT fire upon our fellow Americans who righteously resist such egregious violations of their God given rights, we will join them in fighting against those who dare attempt to enslave them.

NOTE: please also read our Principles of Our Republic We Are Sworn to Defend
More About Oath Keepers
Oath Keepers is a non partisan association of currently serving military, peace officers, fire-fighters, and veterans who will fulfill our oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us God.
Our oath is to the Constitution, not to the politicians, and not to any political party. In the long-standing tradition of the U.S. military, we are apolitical. We don’t care if unlawful orders come from a Democrat or a Republican, or if the violation is bi-partisan. We will not obey unconstitutional (and thus unlawful) and immoral orders, such as orders to disarm the American people or to place them under martial law. We won’t “just follow orders.” Our motto: “Not on Our Watch!” or to put it even more succinctly, in the words of 101st Airborne Commander General Anthony McAuliffe at the Battle of the Bulge, “NUTS!”
There is at this time a debate within the ranks of the military regarding their oath. Some mistakenly believe they must follow any order the President issues. But many others do understand that their loyalty is to the Constitution and to the people, and understand what that means.
The mission of Oath Keepers is to vastly increase their numbers.
We are in a battle for the hearts and minds of our own troops.
Help us win it.
www.oathkeepers.org

President's Hip-Hop Barbecue & Dead American Soldiers

2011-08-06T17:40:00.000-06:00

Harry Reid, Up Yours America

Hey Mr. President lets go ahead and have that Hip-Hop Barbecue at the White House to celebrate the death of a helicopter full of American soldiers in Afghanistan. You know, throw another rib on the grill for each soldier that was killed. Perhaps some more sauce on each one to represent the blood spilled for what? Money down a rat hole to keep your war chest full of useless Democratic greenbacks.

You, Harry Reid want to raise taxes on the rich and other Americans because our credit has been downgraded. Yes it was the American peoples fault, it had nothing to do with you lollygagging hypocrites in Washington. What about all those blacks rioting at the Wisconsin State Fair and attacking only whites? It must have been those racist white people across America. I'm sure that trumps Tar Baby and "boy" spelled with a small "b" this past week. But take a couple days off and let it all blow over.

First downgrading of out country's credit in our history. S&P was right, the balanced budget and world debt limit raised really did the trick. The American people caused that to. Mostly white people. That must be some of that change you have been telling us about Mr. President. I'm sure you the Democrat and Republican parasites are one happy bunch in the hot tub this weekend. I bet your all sucking on both ends of the ribs together. If you fell into a barrel of tits you would come out sucking your own thumb.

God bless our dead servicemen and may Dante's Hell await all those whores of Babylon, inside the beltway who call themselves politicians and caused their deaths. Enjoy those ribs, all of us in America will soon be coming to an end due to your total incompetence and greed. Top this Mr. Jamaican, Philadelphia, Field Negro who slapped his lips about Tar Babies and "boy" and overlooks blacks beating whites, dead Americans and Hip Hop barbeques. You enjoy those ribs to if you get an invite and wash it down with some of your downhome stupidity.

An Adventure In Alaska by Joann Lawson Frederick

2011-08-04T13:23:00.000-06:00

Chicken, Alaska 99732

We turned off the main highway at Tok Junction where the dirt road to Chicken heads north; also known as the Old Taylor Highway 5, or the Top of the World Highway, not more than a cut around the mountains, closed in the winter, just don't look down. We stopped in Chicken, with the only Alaska state bird which is spelled four ways [tparmigan, Ptarmigan, tarmigan, parmigan]. The miner's didn't know how to spell it so they all agreed and named it Chicken. It could have also been for the gold nuggets the size of chicken eggs.

Chicken had a population of 34 in the summer and four in the winter, and at least one car a day. The family of four endured the seasons to record the weather. The old town of Chicken is still there and the new small post office. Nothing livable, mostly cabins falling down. On the south side of the road, the new town is rough wood and all in one row, stores, whisky, clothes, etc.

We found a girl making wild blueberry muffins. We bought some and got something to drink, what a treat. Everyone was friendly. Moving on we camped overnight near the Mosquito Fork of the Yukon River, we couldn't wander around at night, bear country. The next day we arrived at Boundary, the border town between the Yukon Territory and Alaska. There was a small airport used by the only inhabitant whom we never saw. Some of the old falling down cabins in the ghost town still had sod on the roofs. Everything was boarded up, we had to peek through the windows.

The whole trip and into the Yukon Territory was quite an adventure, but it was scary to think we had to go back the same way. This story is one persons happy recollection of Alaska and the Yukon Territory in 1988.

EXPRESS SCRIPTS- The Bubonic Plague of Medication

2011-08-04T12:01:00.001-06:00

One Line Dated 07/23/2001 From Express Scripts Letter

Let me start by saying I have used military Tricare for at least 35 years and have complained or written them not once. Through them I kept getting requests for mail-order medication where I could save 2/3Rd's of the cost. So finally after about a year ago I gave in and signed up with Express Scripts. That was a month ago and my life has never been the same again. The reason I am doing this blog is that I sent them an e-mail and they responded to only the address change I requested and ignored the rest.

The first problem I encountered was I gave them one address and somehow they made two addresses out of it. One was 1614 and the other they decided was 1641. After three telephone calls and them insisting they only had one address, my postman started writing nasty-grans on my mail to correct my address. After e-mailing and calling them yesterday [this has been a month] they now say the address has been corrected. I never had this problem with Wal-Mart or Walgreen's. They were always friendly and helped you out with your medications.

Each doctor must submit prescriptions to Express Scrips by FAX or mail and they will be put in the system. My heart doctor got tired arguing with Express Scripts and changed me to an over the counter medication that accomplishes the same goal. When I "canceled" that medication it remained in the system for almost a month with them asking me to renew or cancel it. Yesterday I finally convinced them on the telephone to cancel the prescription [I think].

Yesterday I looked at the Express Scrips website and it showed that one prescription [my doctor has FAXed it to them 16 times] needed to be FAXed by my doctor and three [zeros in red] needed to be refilled by my doctor. I called a few minutes later and the gentleman said no "only one of the four needed to be FAXed." That would be the one sent in 16 times. So I copied their form of the Internet and took it to the doctor today and will see what happens.

During the past month I have called them at least 6-8 times and each time they contradict their computer program and themselves. They are rude on the telephone and on one occasion the lady was in a hurry to get off the telephone. They have outright lied, changed there story and blamed the problem on the computer program they use. Glad it not protecting this country. In the last month I have received 41 documents, many not telling me what they were related to because of privacy issues.

If you send a customer a letter and it says you need to "reorder" a prescription that would be fine. If you received an automated call from them saying you need to "request a refill" that would be fine. If you receive an e-mail saying your "order is being processed" that would be fine. But what you get is a blanket statement telling you to call their number to avoid delays, etc. No reason for the call, e-mail or letter.

When you do call the number or click on the Internet line it takes you to the main Express Scripts page or about 12 buttons to push on the telephone. Since you don't know what your calling about you wait for an operator to assist you. When they look at your page they many times do not know what your calling for. Or if you have checked your Internet page they change what it just said. They remind me of the employees at the military commissary who when ask where something is located say, "I don't know, I just work here."

One last comment and proof of what I have said above. I have included at the top of this blog one line from a letter Express Scripts sent me about a week ago. It speaks for itself and no explanation is needed for anyone who has a brain.

NOTE: Express Scripts if you would like to respond to this blog I will give you equal time. Please send your answer to 1614 Rainier Drive Apt. 25 Colorado Springs, CO 80910 and it will be added in it's entirety.

The Whore of Babylon and His Parasites

2011-08-03T22:22:00.001-06:00

The Whore of Babylon

People what did we just get in this budget deal and debt raising circus act? Did the Democrats or Republicans lower anything in this new budget? It sounds good on paper but the American people just got the shaft from the best proctologists on the planet. Come November they are all going to do it again to us. The price of gas goes up 5 cents and we all go mad. But they are throwing away trillions in Washington and almost nobody cares.

When are we gonna put a stop to this madness of now 14.5 trillion dollars in debt? This is not Motel 6 and nobody is going to leave the light on for our children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Samuel Adams in 1768 called the royal officials from Britain, "parasites sent by the whore of Babylon to gorge on the golden Calf." Don't you see the parasites are the Democrats and Republicans and the whore of Babylon is running the country. Wake up America!

Plumber's Butt Violation- Duluth Trading Company- Longtail T

2011-08-03T21:11:00.000-06:00

Arthurdale Remembered by Joann Lawson Frederick

2011-08-01T15:49:00.000-06:00

We moved to Arthurdale in 1934 when I was 3 years old. Our new home was finished on the inside and on the outside soon after we moved in. In those days, the 30's and 40's we were poor and didn't know or maybe we were rich and didn't know it. We seemed to have everything we needed.We had a beautiful garden, chickens and eggs for moms chicken and dumplings on Sunday. A cow for milk and butter.

I was around nine when daddy's illness got worse, doctors were at a loss to find his problem. He was walking with a cane and was to thin and weak to work. He was 35 and had been a hard worker. Times were hard and money was scarce. Mon had to make ends meet, she was barely 100 pounds, but what energy she had. She never gave up on daddy and finally took him to Philippi to the Meyer's Clinic. After all tests and exams were done, they decided he had an inward goiter.

After making sure us kids were in good hands mom went back to the clinic to be with daddy. The surgery was a success and he recovered well, but without any money our carefree life was slipping away. At my age I was wondering what would happen to us. One sunny summer day we heard a vehicle coming up our driveway. It was a truck, We hardly ever saw vehicles in those days. We ran outside to see two men getting out of the truck.

The men ask mom if Mr. Lawson could come out. They helped him to the truck and opened the tailgate, to our amazement the truck was full of home canned goods, clothes, baked goods, small household items and even some money. I will never forget that day. It was a generous gift from the whole town and it kept us going until daddy could get back to work. I looked at daddy that day and he was crying.

Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win For the Economy and Budget Discipline?

2011-08-01T10:49:00.000-06:00

Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline

Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline

Removes the cloud of uncertainty over our economy at this critical time, by ensuring that no one will be able to use the threat of the nation’s first default now, or in only a few months, for political gain;
Locks in a down payment on significant deficit reduction, with savings from both domestic and Pentagon spending, and is designed to protect crucial investments like aid for college students;
Establishes a bipartisan process to seek a balanced approach to larger deficit reduction through entitlement and tax reform;
Deploys an enforcement mechanism that gives all sides an incentive to reach bipartisan compromise on historic deficit reduction, while protecting Social Security, Medicare beneficiaries and low-income programs;
Stays true to the President’s commitment to shared sacrifice by preventing the middle class, seniors and those who are most vulnerable from shouldering the burden of deficit reduction. The President did not agree to any entitlement reforms outside of the context of a bipartisan committee process where tax reform will be on the table and the President will insist on shared sacrifice from the most well-off and those with the most indefensible tax breaks.

Mechanics of the Debt Deal

Immediately enacted 10-year discretionary spending caps generating nearly $1 trillion in deficit reduction; balanced between defense and non-defense spending.
President authorized to increase the debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion, eliminating the need for further increases until 2013.
Bipartisan committee process tasked with identifying an additional $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, including from entitlement and tax reform. Committee is required to report legislation by November 23, 2011, which receives fast-track protections. Congress is required to vote on Committee recommendations by December 23, 2011.
Enforcement mechanism established to force all parties – Republican and Democrat – to agree to balanced deficit reduction. If Committee fails, enforcement mechanism will trigger spending reductions beginning in 2013 – split 50/50 between domestic and defense spending. Enforcement protects Social Security, Medicare beneficiaries, and low-income programs from any cuts.

1. REMOVING UNCERTAINTY TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY

Deal Removes Cloud of Uncertainty Until 2013, Eliminating Key Headwind on the Economy: Independent analysts, economists, and ratings agencies have all made clear that a short-term debt limit increase would create unacceptable economic uncertainty by risking default again within only a matter of months and as S&P stated, increase the chance of a downgrade. By ensuring a debt limit increase of at least $2.1 trillion, this deal removes the specter of default, providing important certainty to our economy at a fragile moment.
Mechanism to Ensure Further Deficit Reduction is Designed to Phase-In Beginning in 2013 to Avoid Harming the Recovery: The deal includes a mechanism to ensure additional deficit reduction, consistent with the economic recovery. The enforcement mechanism would not be made effective until 2013, avoiding any immediate contraction that could harm the recovery. And savings from the down payment will be enacted over 10 years, consistent with supporting the economic recovery.

2. A DOWNPAYMENT ON DEFICIT REDUCTION BY LOCKING IN HISTORIC SPENDING DISCIPLINE – BALANCED BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND PENTAGON SPENDING

More than $900 Billion in Savings over 10 Years By Capping Discretionary Spending: The deal includes caps on discretionary spending that will produce more than $900 billion in savings over the next 10 years compared to the CBO March baseline, even as it protects core investments from deep and economically damaging cuts.
Includes Savings of $350 Billion from the Base Defense Budget – the First Defense Cut Since the 1990s: The deal puts us on track to cut $350 billion from the defense budget over 10 years. These reductions will be implemented based on the outcome of a review of our missions, roles, and capabilities that will reflect the President’s commitment to protecting our national security.
Reduces Domestic Discretionary Spending to the Lowest Level Since Eisenhower: These discretionary caps will put us on track to reduce non-defense discretionary spending to its lowest level since Dwight Eisenhower was President.
Includes Funding to Protect the President’s Historic Investment in Pell Grants: Since taking office, the President has increased the maximum Pell award by $819 to a maximum award $5,550, helping over 9 million students pay for college tuition bills. The deal provides specific protection in the discretionary budget to ensure that the there will be sufficient funding for the President’s historic investment in Pell Grants without undermining other critical investments.

3. ESTABLISHING A BIPARTISAN PROCESS TO ACHIEVE $1.5 TRILLION IN ADDITIONAL BALANCED DEFICIT REDUCTION BY THE END OF 2011

The Deal Locks in a Process to Enact $1.5 Trillion in Additional Deficit Reduction Through a Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Committee: The deal creates a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Committee that is charged with enacting $1.5 trillion in additional deficit reduction by the end of the year. This Committee will work without the looming specter of default, ensuring time to carefully consider essential reforms without the disruption and brinksmanship of the past few months.
This Committee is Empowered Beyond Previous Bipartisan Attempts at Deficit Reduction: Any recommendation of the Committee would be given fast-track privilege in the House and Senate, assuring it of an up or down vote and preventing some from using procedural gimmicks to block action.
To Meet This Target, the Committee Will Consider Responsible Entitlement and Tax Reform. This means putting all the priorities of both parties on the table – including both entitlement reform and revenue-raising tax reform.

4. A STRONG ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM TO MAKE ALL SIDES COME TOGETHER

The Deal Includes An Automatic Sequester to Ensure That At Least $1.2 Trillion in Deficit Reduction Is Achieved By 2013 Beyond the Discretionary Caps: The deal includes an automatic sequester on certain spending programs to ensure that—between the Committee and the trigger—we at least put in place an additional $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction by 2013.
Consistent With Past Practice, Sequester Would Be Divided Equally Between Defense and Non-Defense Programs and Exempt Social Security, Medicaid, and Low-Income Programs: Consistent with the bipartisan precedents established in the 1980s and 1990s, the sequester would be divided equally between defense and non-defense program, and it would exempt Social Security, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, programs for low-income families, and civilian and military retirement. Likewise, any cuts to Medicare would be capped and limited to the provider side.
Sequester Would Provide a Strong Incentive for Both Sides to Come to the Table: If the fiscal committee took no action, the deal would automatically add nearly $500 billion in defense cuts on top of cuts already made, and, at the same time, it would cut critical programs like infrastructure or education. That outcome would be unacceptable to many Republicans and Democrats alike – creating pressure for a bipartisan agreement without requiring the threat of a default with unthinkable consequences for our economy.

5. A BALANCED DEAL CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESIDENT’S COMMITMENT TO SHARED SACRIFICE

The Deal Sets the Stage for Balanced Deficit Reduction, Consistent with the President’s Values: The deal is designed to achieve balanced deficit reduction, consistent with the values the President articulated in his April Fiscal Framework. The discretionary savings are spread between both domestic and defense spending. And the President will demand that the Committee pursue a balanced deficit reduction package, where any entitlement reforms are coupled with revenue-raising tax reform that asks for the most fortunate Americans to sacrifice.
The Enforcement Mechanism Complements the Forcing Event Already In Law – the Expiration of the Bush Tax Cuts – To Create Pressure for a Balanced Deal: The Bush tax cuts expire as of 1/1/2013, the same date that the spending sequester would go into effect. These two events together will force balanced deficit reduction. Absent a balanced deal, it would enable the President to use his veto pen to ensure nearly $1 trillion in additional deficit reduction by not extending the high-income tax cuts.
In Securing this Bipartisan Deal, the President Rejected Proposals that Would Have Placed the Sole Burden of Deficit Reduction on Low-Income or Middle-Class Families: The President stood firmly against proposals that would have placed the sole burden of deficit reduction on lower-income and middle-class families. This includes not only proposals in the House Republican Budget that would have undermined the core commitments of Medicare to our seniors and forced tens of millions of low-income Americans to go without health insurance, but also enforcement mechanisms that would have forced automatic cuts to low-income programs. The enforcement mechanism in the deal exempts Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare benefits, unemployment insurance, programs for low-income families, and civilian and military retirement.

256 Million Americans Very Happy

2011-08-01T10:38:00.001-06:00

President Obama looked at Oprah, chuckled and said, "you know, I could throw a $1000 bill out of this aircraft window right now and make somebody very happy." Oprah shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I could throw ten $100 bill out of this aircraft window and make 10 people very happy." Michelle added, "that being the case, I could throw one hundred $10 dollar bills out of this aircraft window and make a hundred people very happy....." Hearing their exchange, the military pilot rolled his eyes and said to the co-pilot, "I could throw all three of them out of the aircraft window and make about 256 million people very happy."

Neutered Liberal Cats by ThoseShirts.com

2011-08-01T10:09:00.000-06:00

Warren Buffet Weights In On Debt Problem

2011-08-01T10:03:00.001-06:00

"You just pass a law that says anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% GDP all setting members of Congress are ineligible for reelection."

British Ghosts of Fort William Henry

2011-07-31T22:25:00.000-06:00

Fort William Henry is not the history here but was located on the southern end of Lake George in New York. During part of the French and Indian War it was manned by about 600 British regulars of the 35th Foot Regiment and 1200 provincials from New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Hampshire. Commanding Fort William Henry was British Lieutenant Colonel George Monro and his adversary was Marquis de Montcalm Commander-in-chief of 7500 French regulars, provincials and approximately 2000 Indian allies from 33 different nations

Colonel Monro made a valiant stand under the circumstances but on the morning of August 9, 1757 he lowered the Union Jack and surrendered. Montcalm was a gentleman and the entire British garrison was to be given safe passage to Fort Edward some 15 miles distance. The British were not to fight again for a period of 18 months, they were to keep their personal effects, sidearms, regimental colors and one six-pound cannon to symbolize their brave defence. The wounded would be cared for by the French at Fort William Henry. Montcalm was to retain all military stores, fort provisions and all French prisoners in North America were to be returned to Canada by the following November.

The savages least they be called human, had no part in this gentleman's agreement and had their own idea of what the outcome should entail. The Abenaki first fell upon the wounded British soldiers in the hospital murdering, scalping and taking their baggage and personal effects. The next day as the British departed for Fort Edward the savages attacked the rear, killing and scalping. By August 11th 700 British soldiers had been killed, wounded or were missing. Ironically the remaining British survivors somehow managed to carry their six-pound cannon to Fort Edward. God rest their tourmented ghosts.

The UN Turned Upside Down by ThoseShirts.com

2011-07-30T23:17:00.000-06:00

Who Do You Think You Are.....

2011-07-30T22:51:00.000-06:00

http://youtu.be/8v_4O44sfjM

Arthurdale Remembered, Belated Halloween by Joann Lawson Frederick

2011-07-30T22:39:00.001-06:00

When we were young my mom took care of us like parents should today. When we had functions at school, mom would walk with us and little did we know she also checked on us during the evening, not to spy but to make sure we were safe. Our Halloween in those days were different we shelled corn off the cob and saved a big bag full to throw at peoples windows and with mom waiting on the road we ran across yards to throw corn at the windows and yell, "trick or treat."

When the porch light came on we ran back across the road. One evening about dark we were shelling corn in the living room when there was a strange noise in the front of the house. Everyone looked at each other with a little fright in their eyes. Mom got up and said to us, "don't move until I get back." I don't think anyone batted an eye until we heard her coming back, she came in the house grinning. We all waited to hear what happened. She said, "someone tied a cow to our front porch and I simply took it to the next neighbor and tied it to their porch. We all had a good laugh.

"When I Was A Wild and Reckless Youth"

2011-07-29T02:26:00.000-06:00

Brother and Sister LeMaster were married young and came from the east. If the truth be known he came to Oklahoma six months before it became a state. That would have been around the middle of June, 1906. When he arrived in Altus, Oklahoma he went out and bought a horse and buggy. On this occasion he decided not to consult God and the horse died on the way home. A poor preacher whose second occupation was trimming trees all over Oklahoma. Used to tell us how he had worn out four bibles teaching the word of God.

Brother LeMaster didn't preach the word of man, he preached the word of God. He was a humble preacher who stated he'd never been in a hospital for his health. God took care of the doctoring. The God of old. He used to tell the the young people in the Church of God how when he was young, "he was a wild and reckless youth." He would ride his horse down the icy hillsides to impress the girls. Brother LeMaster liked to testify about God protecting his life and he testified often. They both used to set in a pew in front of me.

Brother LeMaster was poor, dirt poor. But his old beat up car used to get them around, except when it was broke or had no brakes. He believed that God would provide and he always did. If you got to his house early enough you could fix his brakes before he got out of bed. He would except a gift, but never ask for one. Brother LeMaster never believed man had went to the Moon. His understanding of the bible was man was not meant to be there. That was the one subject we agreed to disagree on in all the time I knew him.

Him and Sister LeMaster used to sing solos but kind of out of tune. Nobody laughed and I'm sure God heard his angels singing. He would pull a piece of grocery sack out of his coat pocket with the words penciled on it and just start to sing. Most of us had never heard the songs before but they were always inspiring. Brother LeMaster was good at plays on words and used to entertain the youth with them. Said his Chevrolet used to, "Chevy on the road and lay in the garage." Or how he used to live down past Snuff Street, "drive a block and take a dip."

Him and Sister LeMaster could not hear to well and he spoke softly, except when it came to God. He would tell us about Oklahoma, where he lived and worked all his life. Never heard him complain about anything. He mostly talked about how he loved the Lord. When we would have a pot luck Sister LeMaster always ask if she could take a couple sandwiches to their son who lived with them. Most were poor in the church but rich in heart. At one time Brother LeMaster may have been a wild and reckless youth but the preacher I knew was a man of God, from the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee.

I Survived Vietnam, Now You Survive Breast Cancer

2011-07-22T17:54:00.001-06:00

Survival Straps www.survivalstraps.com puts out these very beautiful straps that can be any color you like. They are "Proud Supporters of the Wounded Warrior Project." The straps are hand made in the United States. I picked blue [Air Force] for surviving Vietnam and pink for women to survive breast cancer. It comes in two colors of your choice, made of 550 lb. paracord, has a dog tag on it [five lines], a stainless steel adjustable bracket and pin [a breakaway extra pin is included]. Mine has my name, old service number, religion, blood type and where I was stated in Vietnam. Give them a look see and support breast cancer awareness.

Macy's Being Ran By The Transportation Safety Administration [TSA]?

2011-07-22T17:04:00.000-06:00

It appears that Macy's has taken a page out of the play book used by the Transportation Safety Administration [TSA]. They are running airline passengers through x-ray machines that show them naked. Macy's is putting their dressing room doors on backwards so employee's and anyone else who wants to look can see customers naked. Like the TSA it's legal in many states and Macy's defends the program. It is illegal to video tape customers in fitting rooms, but if you put the doors on backwards all you have to do is look inside. No video taping involved. So the next time your down at your neighborhood Macy's or any other retail store trying on clothing? You better check the door and if it's on backwards someone is watching you moon the band.

20,000 Military Troops Being Readied By Obama For Insurrection In US

2011-07-22T10:02:00.001-06:00

Abraham Lincoln/Barack Obama

The president of the United States has ordered that 20,000 military be readied in case of a civil insurrection. What is it that President Obama and his staff know that, We The People do not? This week they have also said the middle class is full of terrorists. Are they getting this from the three major television networks or are they making it up as they go? Where is the proof that the American people are about to start a revolution?

How many military installations, government buildings, post offices in the US have been blown up this week? NONE. How many military soldiers, federal workers, members of Congress, judges in the US have been killed this week by civil unrest? NONE. How many major cities have rioted, interstates blown up, bridges, water plants, nuclear power plants, buses, trains, shopping malls or civilians killed this week? NONE.

So is this administration looking at something concrete [information] when they decide these types of action or are they preparing themselves some form of martial law to force total control on the American people. Unless the administration can come up with a good reason, logic dictates they are after the weapons and what freedom the American people have left. Mr. President 20,000 troops will not be able to control 230 million unless some Americans are sacrificed as an example.

Do your people have a little blood letting in mind? 250,000 may do if your not talking about trying to control the inner cities. Read your history, urban warfare is not that popular and leaves an awful lot of soldiers assuming room temperature. Remember the US all volunteer military is now a mercenary force in theory and some may not be so quick to kill Americans. Under their military oath they have sworn to protect the United States of America, but a right to disobey any order which goes against their conscience. Killing Americans for doing nothing, I don't think so.

So where is this going Mr. President or are you planning another 1861 Abraham Lincoln [martial law] if the American people do not agree with you? How about a Vietnam Kent State all over but with a bigger cast and crew? But I'm sure Mr. President declaring martial law just because the Washington press corps yell a question at you? Most Americans I'm sure can take a little constructive criticism. Perhaps you need some courses in anger management. So whats the plan?

Staff Sgt. James M Christen, of Loomis, California

2011-07-22T05:28:00.000-06:00

Staff Sgt. James M. Christen, 29, of Loomis, Calif. | Freedom Remembered

freedomremembered.com

Staff Sgt. James M. Christen, 29, of Loomis, Calif., died July 19 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Truth Stranger Than Fact "Or" The Horses Mouth Died

2011-07-21T19:25:00.002-06:00

NYT is in the red.....well what about that.....must have run out of lies to print.

Marilyn Monroe had sex.....must have been the new film that gave you the clue.

115 degree's in Washington, DC.....now thats some hot air!

"Big Sis".....sabotage on water supplies and nuke plants.....watch for the TSA shortly on the Interstates.

Is it just me.....or is Hillary with child?

"Attack of the urban mosquitoes"..... must be shipping them in from Texas or Alaska.

"Woman brawl over seat on NYC subway"..... got more ratings than the WWF cage matches.

"America: now stuck on the Earth".....okey, who let the air out of the Space Shuttles tires?

"New debt plan".....or how to finish off the American people and the country.

GE 13% profit rise.....are these people ever going to pay taxes?

"65 kids told to lower swimsuits".....feses in pool.....TSA must be running that pool.

Department of Homeland Security..... '" white middle class most likely terrorists'".....well I'll be danded.

''Uproar as BBC muzzles climate change experts".....they must have been watching ABC, CBS and NBC.