Your Voting Power

About the value of your vote through knowledge rather than just through candidates. Click: http://www.fourwinds.blogster.com Thank you for visiting.....Bob

Usurping the Authority of the President of the United States

Did you happen to read the news today about The Queen of San Francisco and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic cohorts going to Iraq? This is a slap in the face of our President who, I believe, is doing the very best under most unusual circumstances to correct an unintentional error that more than he is responsible for. Just the same, we do not need every member of Congress to visit a war zone for whatever reason. It's absurd, absolutely flexing and over-indulging in new power given by a large body of screwed up voters hoping for the best. Folks, this is not the way. It seems that everyone has forgotten that there is but Captain of a ship. And, there is a reason for that! Since you are so smart and voted in "a change" and tripped up while doing it, you figure out why there is but one Captain on a ship. Now everyone in Washington wants to be and act like they are the Captain. Proof, have you ever seen so many people wanting to be President of the United States? What do you suppose has motivated that to happen? Not a one of those with eyes on the top job has any guts to hold the line at all costs. Not one have engendered trust of any sort, to any degree. None! What do you think madam Pee-low-see is trying to do that has not already been done by traveling to this zone? If you have ever expected to have a dignitary visit your organization, you would know that a lot goes into receiving so-called dignitaries. They just do not waltz in without so much preparation. Hey! People over there have a dangerous job to do, all of them. Will these self-important people stop bothering and hindering them! Bush, not happy with this Pee-low-see's trip, did not take issue with her visit -- along with that brilliant retired general Murtha. The purpose of the visit is "a fact-finding mission." What did everyone else that went to Iraq find out? Who is paying for this, you, the taxpayer might ask yourself. Someone must tell these people, and their RINO counterparts (Republican in name only) that enough of this division among the American People's Representatives is enough! Get on with positive work. What we are seeing and hearing is nothing short of lack of a solution by the opposing liberal people. Get on with the peoples and government's business. Stop wasting time on pet subjects and topics. Let each person receiving the big bucks do his or her job. Get out of their way. Today's news also revealed the capture and murder of four American troops by English-speaking, American-uniform-wearing enemy. It is time for all those generals wearing all the stars to get together and agree to start dropping bombs in areas where the enemy is located. The hell with the people that hide them or say nothing about them. That is war. This is no time to keep doing what we have been doing, because we will keep getting what we have been getting. Anyone with any sense of reason can tell you that. Fear of free speech is catching on, everyone complains among themselves it seems, but complaining directly is muted -- just ask your politician.His/her canned replies to your written complaint will prove it. Try it. Go ahead. Let them know how you feel, what you believe. Start your own blog and get it off your chest! Thanks for visiting. Bob

The Common Cold Skirmish

You can't do anything about the weather, but you can do something about a common cold. While you work on doctoring yourself to overcome or minimize a cold, keep away from others to prevent spreading the cold. Then enforce the number one best thing you can do: Wash your hands - often. Insist everyone around you do likewise. Use paper tissues only one time--no kidding--when you sneeze, or other use, replacing tissues each time. Common sense. Of course, but mission impossible most times. At the first sense that you are going to come down with a cold, usually a slight soreness in one of your nostrils or a slight sore or tickle in your throat, start drinking plenty of fluids, gargle with warm saltwater, get plenty of bed rest. This ought to nip the cold in the bud. Every year, almost without fail, I can count on "catching" a cold. Then, invariably I pass it along to my spouse. Then we seem to pass it back and forth. We are presently at the end of a bout that began around New Years Eve. We have treated ourselves, isolated ourselves as much as possible, followed all the wisdom of the ages to minimize the severity of the cold and not pass it along to anyone else. At times the cold appeared to be at an end only to start again. That may be where we're at now. I notice the bed rest for a day at a time seemed to help the most -- not go away -- helped. I suspect we sat too close to a person with a chronic cough when the next day we came down with our symptoms. While my spouse did not attend this same gathering with me the following week, the chronic cougher was there. This is when I became affected and have been nursing our colds together ever since. I firmly believe that people are utterly careless about their hygiene, and think nothing about how their lack of concern can and does infect others. Consider the cougher who persistently coughs in the hand and then shares the hand in a handshake or holds hands in a community setting. It happens more often than not. The person need not cough, but sniffle, sneeze, etc., utilizes a used tissue or handkerchief. The person does not wash his or her hands as a matter of course, nor is it always convenient to do so. In instances where it's a custom to exchange hand-holding for whatever reason, it ought to be understood when someone does not offer to extend their hand that it is better for all concerned. All guidance and instructions concerning hygiene always start by or include the subject of hand washing. There's a technique to hand washing. It's often described this way: Use soap and warm water - not hot. Wash for 15 to 20 seconds. Now, let me add some more common sense: Use a hand brush if available. Dry hands on clean paper towels or using an air dryer, again, if available. That's simple enough. Now the tough part: Do it as often as is possible. A recent article by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says you are not only likely to catch a cold this year, but several. "The typical American has two to four colds a year, slightly more if you're a woman between 20 and 30, fewer if you're an adult older than 60. Kids typically catch six to 10 colds annually...." Though this subject was brought on by my having "caught" a cold, my research uncovered the same prevention information as I had always known -- stay away from unnecessary gatherings and wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.... Simple, of course, but when dealing with others beside yourself, it's like trying to do something about the weather. -Bob- For some of my other articles on varying subjects, click on http://fourwinds.blogster.com Thanks for visiting.

Reading Noted Commentators' Commentaries/Articles

Do you read the George Will commentary columns/articles? He is a columnist for the Washington Post. He also replaced a much missed John Leo who wrote as a contributing editor/columnist for U.S. News & World Report magazine. Anyway, George Will does a good job telling a story, but I often wonder who he is writing for. That is, which level of reader? Hardly a time goes by when I read his column without a dictionary at hand. No joke. Even with a couple of years of college under my belt, his writings contain words I have never seen or noted or heard. This forces me (and I confidently believe forces other readers as well) to interrupt my reading to refer to Webster's New World College Dictionary, Third Edition, 1997. Reading the Foreward in this dictionary will have you believe editors everywhere use this tome in their work. With George Will injecting unfamiliar words into his commentaries, as I have always noticed when I allow myself to read his columns, I have to say George Will owes the Webster Dictionary maintainers thanks, because without the dictionary his writing would be difficult to comprehend, you would probably need to resort to guesswork and make the best of it. I am fairly certain George Will is a highly educated personage, but is it necessary, even wise, to inject unfamiliar, uncommon lexicon into his articles? I think not, unless your ego is at work and you are trying to impress. Both a terrible waste of time and talent. It was early in my pursuit of public speaking that I learned to stick to the point, keep it simple, i.e. easily understandable without causing the hearer to wonder what you are saying, thereby losing a good deal of what you are saying while he is wondering . This same idea applies to writing. There is no substitute for the KISS formula that ought to be applied in most everything we do. If you do not know what KISS stands for, ask me. When I know more than a couple of readers connected to this blog would care to know, I will provide a clear answer. Meanwhile, I hope and pray that you understood every word used in this commentary. Every word I believe was needed to clearly make my point. Thanks for visiting. Bob P.S. You can read over 50 of my other blogs by clicking: http://fourwinds.blogster.com/ *****Readers are encouraged to thoroughly investigate any offers advertised on my blog page beyond my commentary. I do not necessarily endorse any advertiser found on my site. *****

About New Year Resolutions

Virtually everyone making new year resolutions are blowing in the wind. Here, just over a week from the start of 2007, most resolutions made have already become history, and more falling by the wayside daily. The few who do stick with their committed resolution(s) are exceptional. Are you exceptional? And, of course, the resolve made needs to be worth-while, not just some puny commitment that anyone can satisfy. But those who have resolved to do or accomplish something that calls for personal, interior strength, and are true to themselves, ought to accept personal gratification and reward themselves when they are honestly satisfied that they have achieved what they said they would do without backsliding to a halt. It occurred to me that human nature, as recorded in the Good Book, is indeed weak. Let's take a serious for-instance: Most people know the existence of the Ten Commandments, but either don't know them, don't want to know them, think they're suggestions, have no clue as to Who gave them, or to whom. Taking all of these excuses into consideration, and believing every bit of Old Testament history about them, I offer them to you as the perfect New Year Resolution, worthy of the most serious effort to live by them. I see the Ten Commandments as the bedrock for peace on earth as was meant to be. A slow, purposeful reading of each Commandment, pondered upon, will reveal to you a most desirable world in which we all could live without a single reason for adversity. A remarkable transformation can take place in you when you take the Ten Commandments as a personal guide for living. As you become more keenly aware of the significance of the Commandments, you realize how distant the peoples of the world have become from the law God handed down to Moses on only two tablets. Evil men work very hard to have you believe the Ten Commandments of God are outdated. Wiser men will say that God gave us these Commandments so only God can repeal them. He has not. So God's law remains unchanged as set down by Him. Some of you reading this may ask what are the Ten Commandments? Others may have forgotten what the Commandments say, still others may believe they are suggestions; and there are those of you who need to be reminded of their essence. Only you know where you stand. Since God's law is so vital for your eternal salvation, I will include them below as a strong recommendation for you to consider for your 2007 New Year resolution. No matter what sort of resolution you made, even if you've made none at all, however mindfully important to you, none will ever be as important as a resolve to live by God's Ten Commandments every moment of every day for the rest of your transitory life. It won't be easy going, but reach for perfection anyway, knowing well that you'll never attain it. Setbacks are not uncommon for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that you're a human being. But as you strive for perfection you'll know that you're doing the best you can. Be honest and God Himself will know that you're doing your best too. May you be or become a child of God and know why you are walking the face of the earth for a little while before being called home by your Creator. Here, then, are the Ten Commandments to consider for your resolutions for 2007. Think upon each one until you feel you understand what they are saying to you: 1. I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange Gods before me. 2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day. 4. Honor your father and your mother. 5. You shall not kill. 6. You shall not commit adultery. 7. You shall not steal. 8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. 10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods. Anyone finding fault with any of the Commandments will be exercising nothing by an excuse in order to deny their existence. I didn't say that accepting God's law would be easy, though you'd think they ought to be; but I'll guarantee you'll find your life more acceptable and fruitful.In solitude,think what that would mean to you. Happy 2007 to you. Bob

How to Stop Carrying Unnecessary Weight

Caring people can find themselves under a load heavy enough to crush six people. If you can relate to this, stop! Put the load down. Take a good look at it, and you will find that load is all borrowed. Some from the past when old heartaches and sorrows seemed to weigh you down; some of the weight belong to yesterday, some from tomorrow, some even for next week or longer ahead. All "borrowed" as a wise man once said. This is what is crushing. An ancient blunder, really not uncommon.

St. Paul said "when old heartaches and sorrows" and a host of other worries or concerns "seem to weigh us down and blot out the sunshine, forget 'those things which are behind,' and 'reach forward to the joys before us...."

The life that matters tells you what to expect. No need for gloom. Know that day follows night, that spring and summer succeed winter. Know, also, that the road traveled is not always going to be easy. Knowing will make you aware of possibilities and, therefore, wiser. Knowing need not include gloom. After all, you are a member of God's family. Place all your hope and confidence in Him. God has no record of failure.

We make our own hindrances. Our Creator has done all He can to free us from every weight. He has given us forgiveness for the past; He helps us in the present, give us assurance for the future. As we face the coming days of the new year, know that each day brings us closer to our Master's return. Lay aside all truly unnecessary weight. Forget and forgive the ills behind you, the unkindness which friends and foes have shown; the murmuring you may hold. Hope in God. You have but one day to worry about -- today. Here is what you need to consider:

Yesterday -- There are two days in every week about which you should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond your control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. You cannot undo a single act you performed. You cannot erase a single word you said. Yesterday is gone -- forever -- beyond recall.

Tomorrow -- The other day you should not worry about is tomorrow, with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and perhaps its poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond your immediate control. Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, you have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

Today -- This leaves only one day for you to worry about -- Today. Any man can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burden of those two awful eternities, yesterday and tomorrow, that we break down. It is not the experience of today that drives men mad. It is the remorse or the bitterness for something which happened yesterday or the dread of what tomorrow might bring. Therefore, do your best to live just one day at a time.

Most of my ills I have cured, and the worst I have always survived.

But the very worst ones I've endured -- were those that never arrived. -- Annoymous

Words of wisdom (abbreviated) from circa 1692 are offered for the opening of your new year 2007:

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons...

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism...

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul...

Sorrow looks back;

Worry looks around;

Faith looks UP.

Bob -30-

P.S. To view Bob's Blogs from the mid-2006, click: http://fourwinds.blogster.com and you will find a variety of topics.

p.p.s. ****I encourage readers to thoroughly investigate any offers advertised on my blog page beyond my commentaries. I do not necessarily endorse any advertiser found on my site. Bob ****