Saturday, February 23, 2013

THINGS---WORDS-THAT HAVE BEEN MUTED

WE ALL RECEIVE E-MAILS THAT ASK US TO FORWARD THEM TO AS MANY OF OUR FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE...MOST ARE LACKING IN SUBSTANCE--SOME ARE JUST JOKES THAT ARE EITHER GENUINELY FUNNY--(SOME LACKING IN TASTE)...OTHERS ARE A PARADE OF PHOTOS (FUNNY OR OTHERWISE)...THEN, OF COURSE, THERE ARE THOSE THAT THREATEN TO BRING YOU A PERIOD OF BAD LUCK IF YOU BREAK THE CHAIN...95% OF THOSE E-MAILS I SIMPLY DELETE--HOWEVER, SOME  I FIND WORTHY AND I DO PASS THEM ALONG...THE FOLLOWING ARE TWO SUCH EXAMPLES THAT SHOULD HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE MEDIA BUT DID NOT...A DIFFERENT TYPE OF POSTING FOR ME, BUT LIKE I SAID, SOME THINGS SHOULD BE PASSED ALONG-SO HERE ARE TWO THAT I FELT WERE WORTHY...EVERYTHING YOU READ IS AS IT CAME TO ME--MY THOUGHTS AND WORDS WILL BE  NOTED AS SUCH--ENJOY
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This letter was forwarded to Barack Obama, John Boehner, Chris Murphy, Dick Blumenthal, Elizabeth Esty, and Harry Reid 

I live in Sandy Hook, CT. My family and close friends weren't harmed on December 14. That day impacted 26 families with an indescribable, staggering pain and anguish. For most of Sandy Hook, it merely affected us with an inescapable intensity of sadness and grief.
Gun control has long been a focus of many in this country. Though I'm not knowledgeable of all the nuances of the Second Amendment, based on the Founding Fathers' circumstances, it had far more to do with enabling the citizenry to protect themselves against tyrannical government than against local psychopaths. It is about providing a balanced firepower so when King George's successor came knocking on your door, you could fight back. Government today is no less inclined to abuse its authority than it was then. Based on the absurd and ongoing power grab that is present day Washington, it's as threatening as ever.
That so many of you view the NRA with its resistance to further restrictions on firearms as intransigent lunatics has far more to do with how you conduct yourselves in office than it does with the NRA's actions.
You in public office are fundamentally dishonest people. You lead lives of deception at every turn, structuring your lives as comfortably as you can while governing with an indifference and arrogance that is absolutely maddening. When the country is reeling from financial disaster, you waste a trillion dollars on a health care bill we can't afford and you've never read. You claim it's critical because health care costs are killing this country... no they're not, you are! You are killing this country. You endorse the ongoing slaughter of millions of unborn children and whine when terrorists are water boarded. You can't lecture us right in Newtown High School about not doing enough to keep our children safe, while simultaneously slaughtering the unborn. You fabricate the intense, media laden drama of the fiscal cliff and lack the courage to do anything about truly reforming the obscene gluttony of government. You know you'll be out of office before the bill comes due… you don't care and have no integrity nor honor.
You lie whenever and wherever you need to to move forth your agenda. Were you able, you would purge the US of guns… every last gun in the country, if you could. So please forgive Wayne LaPierre and those of us who don't trust you as far as we can spit. You're a dishonest lot, motivated by a distorted worldview. If mass murder prevention were truly your goal, you would welcome armed security wherever needed. It is outrageous that we protect our money with far more firepower than we protect our children.
I have never owned a gun, nor wanted to as intensely as right now. You'll stop restricting guns when only you have them.

(I HAVE OMITTED THE AUTHOR'S NAME AND ADDRESS-JIM)
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COLUMBINE STUDENT'S FATHER 12 YEARS LATER !!Guess our national leaders didn't expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton , Colorado , was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need!


"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
- Darrell Scott

Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man's speech. Please send this out to everyone you can.
God Bless
-- Aspire to Inspire Before You Expire --
*************CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHY THESE TWO EXCHANGES  WERE NOT GIVEN ANY MEDIA COVERAGE---?? 
QUOTE FROM NAPOLEON BONAPART---'TAKE TIME TO DELIBERATE, BUT WHEN THE TIME FOR ACTION HAS ARRIVED, STOP THINKING AND GO IN.'
                                  TILL NEXT TIME-STAY HEALTH AND HAPPY
                                                                 JIM

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

THINGS----STORM OF 2013


MY MUCH BETTER HALF CAROL, AND OUR AWESOME NEIGHBOR AND FRIEND, STEVE LARSON, RETURNING FROM A JOY RIDE
DURING THE STORM
AND HERE COMES ANOTHER FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR-CHRIS VIGUE
WELL, WINTER MONTHS JUST CHIP AWAY AT MY USUAL BRIGHT AND SUN-SHINY PERSONALITY AND BY THE TIME THE END OF JANUARY ROLLS AROUND I’M A FAR CRY FROM MY SPRING AND SUMMER JOVIAL SELF…
AFTER THE STORM--THERE'S STEVE-NEIGHBORHOOD HERO-FINISHING OFF THE DRIVEWAY FOR ME
AND PROBABLY SAVING ME FROM A SPRAINED BACK OR HEART ATTACK...
YOU REGULAR READERS HAVE MET STEVE IN THIS BLOG BEFORE..ONE OF A KIND GUY..IF THERE
WERE ANOTHER TEN-THOUSAND LIKE HIM THE WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH-MUCH BETTER PLACE..
STEVE AND CHRIS CLEARED OUT HIS WHOLE STREET AND MUCH OF OUR STREET...

MY TRUSTY HARLEY DAVIDSON AND I WILL USUALLY GET TO DO A RIDE WHEN A HALF WAY DECENT WEEKEND ROLLS AROUND AND THE ROADS AREN’T TOO TRICKY-BUT NOT SO FAR THIS YEAR..ALL I’VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS FIRE IT UP-LET IT RUN TO SPLASH AROUND THE OIL A BIT—CLEAN OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND SHUT IT BACK DOWN…
OUR HUMBLE HOUSE-VISABLE AGAIN-THANKS TO STEVE

MY FLY-ROD SITS WAITING PATIENTLY FOR OPENING DAY, EVEN THOUGH THIS YEAR FISHING SEASON IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE FOR ME (SEE MY POST ON MY FRIEND-JAY MORIN).
THE BACK OF STEVE'S AND THE SIDE OF CHRIS'S AND CORRYN'S PLACE
ALL TERRIFIC NEIGHBORS

THE ONLY THING GETTING A WORK OUT IS MY SNOW-THROWER AND MY BACK-ARMS-LEGS-CHEST-HEART- LUNGS ETC.ETC. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE IN MORE TEMPERATE CLIMATES ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS WILL SOON BE JOINING YOU—HE’S HAD ENOUGH—HOUSE IS UP FOR SALE—AND HE IS MOVING TO SOUTH CAROLINA..TAKING HIS HARLEY (AND HIS WIFE) AND SAYING “SO-LONG.” HE HAPPILY LET ME KNOW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE HIS LAST   WINTER HERE…I MAY VERY WELL BE BUYING HIS SNOW BLOWER..
FIRST THE PLOW TRUCK GOT STUCK-THEN A COUPLE HOURS LATER-THE PAYLOADER CAME
TO HELP OUT--HE GOT STUCK--FINALLY GOT FREE AND THEY BOTH LEFT, LEAVING THE ROAD HOPELESSLY BLOCKED (VIEW FROM OUR DRIVEWAY)

NOW I’M THE KIND OF GUY THAT DOESN’T DEAL REAL WELL WITH EXTREMES..DON’T LIKE THOSE SUMMER HEAT WAVES AND HUMIDITY (FYI-HEAT WAVES KILL MORE PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER WEATHER EXTREMES)..HOWEVER, I DO ENJOY THE AWESOME THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTENING-KIND OF NATURE SHOWING HER STRENGTH, HUMBLING (TO ME ANYWAY)…BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF WINTER I HAVE HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH..AND THEN TO HAVE A STORM LIKE WE JUST EXPERIENCED HERE IN CONNECTICUT, WELL, LIKE I SAID, I DON’T LIKE EXTREMES..
KELSEY CYR DELICATELY CLEANING OFF HER CAR WITH A KING-SIZED ICE-SCRAPER--THIS WAS A CELL PHONE PHOTO AND UNFORTUNATELY IT LOOKS LIKE KELSEY IS STANDING ON A PINK THING
(MY FINGER GOT IN THE WAY) BUT SHE'S ACTUALLY STANDING ON THE TRUNK OF HER CAR!!
NICE JOB KELSEY..

WE WERE KIND OF TRAPPED FOR TWO DAYS, AND OTHERS WERE NOT ONLY BURIED WITH SNOW BUT WHEN THE CITY PLOWS WERE TRYING TO UNCOVER THE STREETS THEY LIVED ON MANY GOT STUCK AND SIMPLY LEFT A HUGH PILE OF SNOW, THERE-BY BLOCKING ANY ACCESS AT ALL TO THEIR HOMES..NO FIRE-TRUCKS—NO AMBULANCE—NO HELP OF ANY KIND COULD REACH THEM THROUGH THE WAIST HIGH SNOW EXCEPT ON A SNOW-MOBILE…NOT JUST FOR A FEW HOURS-BUT IN SOME CASES FOUR DAYS…
EVEN MY JEEP COULDN'T MAKE IT ANY FURTHER DOWN THIS ROAD

I LEARNED TWO THINGS ABOUT MYSELF AFTER THE STORM…ONE THING-I DON’T LIKE FEELING TRAPPED AT ALL!!  THE OTHER THING I AM KIND OF ASHAMED OF AND I JUST MIGHT TURN IT INTO A FUTURE POST…

MY LITTLE BIT KOOKY CAROL-READY TO GO FOR ANOTHER SPIN

THE FURTHEST THING FROM MY MIND WAS DOING A POST ABOUT THE STORM—(SURVIVAL FIRST)…SO AS I WENT ABOUT DOING WHAT HAD TO BE DONE, I DIDN’T BRING MY CAMERA ALONG, BUT MY PHONE ENABLED ME TO TAKE A FEW PHOTOS HERE AND THERE WHEN THE THOUGHT STRUCK ME..CHECK THEM OUT AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU OUT THERE HAVE MUCH BETTER PICTURES TO SHARE..IF YOU FEEL LIKE SEEING THEM POSTED-SEND THEM OVER…HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A VERY LONG TIME BEFORE WE CAN TAKE PICTURES LIKE THESE AGAIN…

LONG TIME FRIEND AND CO-WORKER FRANK TEDESCO, GETTING READY TO LET ME HAVE A SNOWBALL
IN THE HEAD-BUT IF HE THROWS LIKE HE SHOOTS--I'M SAFE..
 

TILL MY NEXT POST-STAY WARM-STAY SAFE-STAY HAPPY—CHECK BACK AGAIN—HAPPINESS AND HEALTH TO YOU AND YOURS…

 

***************************************JIM**********************************************

 

 


















Sunday, February 3, 2013

THINGS------GUNS


USED TO TRY AND POST A PIECE ON MY BLOG EVERY WEEK…KIND OF LOST IT FOR A WHILE AND MY LAST POST IN OCTOBER DEALT WITH THE PASSING OF MY LIFE LONG FRIEND, JAY MORIN…A FEW OF MY FRIENDS HAVE APPROACHED ME AND WONDERED WHY I HAD NOT DONE A POST LATELY ABOUT THE ON GOING FUROR DEALING WITH FIREARMS (SO CALLED ASSAULT RIFLES)…I DIDN’T REALLY WANT TO DO A PIECE ON THE MATTER BECAUSE OF THE EMOTIONAL STATE OF THE PUBLIC IN REGARDS TO THE MATTER AFTER THE SANDY HOOK TRAGEDY…BUT AFTER HEARING SOME OF THE WORDS OF WISDOM (?) THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORTH BY OUR ILLUSTRIOUS POLITICAL LEADERS, I FELT I HAD TO JUST STATE MY POINT OF VIEW ON THE MATTER…PUT SIMPLY –THEY DON’T HAVE A CLUE…

 

FIRST OF ALL—AN ‘AR-15’ IS NOT AN ASSAULT RIFLE…IT IS A SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE—LIKE MANY OTHER HUNTING RIFLES…IT LOOKS LIKE AN M-16 WHICH IS AN ASSAULT RIFLE…APPEARANCE IS THE ONLY SIMILARITY THE TWO WEAPONS SHARE…AN M-16 FIRES SEVEN ROUNDS A SECOND, AN AR-15 FIRES ONLY AS FAST AS YOU CAN PULL THE TRIGGER—LIKE MANY OTHER HUNTING OR SPORT SHOOTING RIFLES…

 

THAT MUCH BEING CLARIFIED, I FAIL TO GRASP THE LOGIC OF LIMITING RIFLE MAGAZINES TO ONLY 10 ROUNDS…IN THE MARINES WE USED TO DUCT TAPE THE BOTTOMS OF OUR MAGAZINES TOGETHER SO WHEN ONE WAS EMPTY IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF THREE OR FOUR SECONDS TO RELEASE THE EMPTY, FLIP IT AROUND AND INSERT THE FULL MAGAZINE BACK INTO THE WEAPON…OF COURSE I AM VERY SURE THAT ANY FELON OR MENTALLY DISTURBED BAD GUY IS GOING TO TURN IN HIS 20 ROUND MAGAZINE (THAT HE HAS FOR THE WEAPON HE ILLEGALLY OWNS) BEFORE HE COMMITS HIS CRIME…ONE THING I AM WILLING TO BET ON IS THAT THE PROPOSAL TO RAISE TAXES ON AMMO BY 50% WILL PASS, AFTER ALL, IT SEEMS LIKE POLITICIANS ARE ALWAYS READY TO RAISE TAXES WHENEVER THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES…I CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER HOW A HIGHER TAX ON AMMO WILL PREVENT A FELON FROM COMMITTING A GUN RELATED CRIME OR HOW IT WILL KEEP OUR CHILDREN AND US ANY SAFER (EXPLAIN PLEASE)?? GUN FREE ZONES?? GET REAL-SANDY HOOK SCHOOL WAS A GUN-FREE ZONE, A SOFT TARGET, NO RESISTANCE, DEADLY FORCE RULES SUPREME IN A GUN FREE ZONE..DEADLY FORCE CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY DEADLY FORCE…IF I MAY QUOTE “THE ONLY WAY TO STOP A BAD GUY WITH A GUN--IS A GOOD GUY WITH A GUN.” WHAT OTHER RESPONSE MAKES SENSE? DO YOU WAIT FOR THE KILLER TO RUN OUT OF AMMO?? THE POLICE MIGHT BE THERE SHORTLY BUT A LOT OF DAMAGE COULD BE DONE “SHORTLY” (EVEN USING ONLY 10 ROUND MAGAZINES). AND ULTIMATELY EVEN THE POLICE RESPOND WITH THE THREAT OF “DEADLY FORCE.”

BACK GROUND CHECKS—YES, GOOD IDEA AND ONE THAT IS IN PLACE IN CONNECTICUT…MORE GUN CONTROL LAWS??? HOW BOUT ENFORCING THE ONES IN PLACE NOW??---OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE REPORT NO.2007-R-0442, “CASE STATISTICS FOR FIREARMS VIOLATIONS FOR THE YEARS 2001-2007”

CARRYING PISTOL WITHOUT A PERMIT-58% -NOT PROSECUTED

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF ASSAULT WEAPON—47%-NOT PROSECUTED

USE OF FIREARM TO COMMIT CLASS A, B OR C FELONY—72% NOT PROSECUTED

CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF PISTOL OR REVOLVER-55%-NOT PROSECUTED

26,725 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED FOR FIREARMS VIOLATIONS—71% WERE NOT PROSECUTED’’

WE HAVE THE LAWS--OUR WONDERFUL JUDICIAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO IGNORE THEM..

YEA, I DO OWN GUNS…I KNOW HOW TO USE THEM SAFELY, I ENJOY TARGET SHOOTING AND I AM DEADLY WITH THEM…BUT I’M ONE OF THE   GOOD GUYS…I PRAY THAT I WILL NEVER HAVE TO USE ONE IN SELF-DEFENSE OR TO DEFEND OTHERS WHO CAN’T DEFEND THEMSELVES…I WOULD HAPPILY TURN ALL MINE IN IF MY DOING SO WOULD BRING BACK THE LIVES LOST AT SANDY HOOK…BUT THAT WON’T HAPPEN…I WOULD TURN THEM ALL IN IF IT WOULD MAKE US ALL SAFER AS A SOCIETY, BUT IT WOULDN’T MAKE THAT HAPPEN EITHER…WHEN ALL THE EVIL IN MEN’S HEARTS HAS VANISHED--WHEN HUMAN RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER COVERS THE WORLD—WHEN THE STRONG HELP THE WEAK—WHEN PREDATORS ONLY EXIST IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM--WHEN THE GOD GIVEN GIFT OF LIFE IS TREASURED AND RESPECTED BY ALL—THEN I’LL HAPPILY TURN MINE IN—BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WON’T HAPPEN EITHER…

                       UNTIL NEXT TIME—MAY YOU AND YOURS STAY SAFE AND HAPPY

*****************************JIM**********************************