LOVELIGHT
Magazine
*****
May 2008***Vol. 5, no. 5
***
FELIX CINCO DE MAYO,
HERMANAS Y HERMANOS MEXICANOS!
Managing Editors: Adamaria Francis and a franciscan taoist
*****
Special thanks, and public acknowledgment, to the following
contributors to this issue:
David Bosire, Jane Cassin, David Cummings, Jim Dwyer,
Maureen Dwyer, Christine Finer, Sandra Grubb, Nathan Merritt, Thomas Satiti, Geoffrey
Stoermer, V.J. Vissing,
*****
*****
LOVELIGHT
MAGAZINE: WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT
Lovelight magazine is free, coming to your
inboxscreen monthly, to announce the beauty of Love! We love to laugh!:)
So, if you discover any good chuckles, please send them along!:) But no bigoted, prejudiced,
scatological, geruntological, low-quality, or poor-taste humor, please.
Still, life is not all laughs. So, we hope also to share pleasant and
happy thoughts. Lovelight wants to
promote peace and harmony, all over the world, and to aid you to feel
good!:) If you are working on any
religious, psychological, or spiritual issues, we encourage you to read the
ezine, and to write to us at rmfrancis@juno.com
Also, if you come across any wise or
touching pieces, not copyrighted, fairly short, please share them with us! Also welcome are practical tips, short
pieces on personal philosophies, interesting facts, wordplays, and general
spirituality (but no religion or "preachy" dogma, please.:). We reserve the right to make whatever
changes we deem necessary or desirable before inclusion in Lovelight.
A subscription is free. As a subscriber, your email
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Please share, send, or copy, this magazine, or any parts of it. Share it as widely as possible, with
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Please photocopy, email, or snailmail any parts of it to others. Also, please have friends send us their
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Subscriptions are free.
This is "light" reading. And it is also great, fun reading. A collection of magazines is produced
once a year. We have published
three volumes, and this would make a sweet gift for a loved one. Happy reading!:)
*****
*****
LIFE CAN BE LUDICROUS:
SOME HUMORTHERAPY
TWENTY-FIVE REASONS I OWE MY MOTHER, sent in by Jim Dwyer
1. My mother taught me to appreciate a job well-done:. "If you're going to kill each
other, do it outside. I just
finished cleaning."***2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."***3. My mother
taught me about TIME TRAVEL . "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to
knock you into the middle of next week!"***4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."***
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC . "If you fall out
of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with
me."***6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in
an accident."***7. My mother taught me Irony. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry
about."***8. My mother taught me about the science of osmosis. "Shut your mouth and eat your
supper."***9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM . "Will you
look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"***10. My mother taught me
about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."***11.
My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."***12.
My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"***13. My mother
taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."***14.
My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"***15. My mother
taught me about ENVY. "There
are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful
parents like you do."***16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get
home."***17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
"You are going to get it when you get home!"***18. My mother taught
me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you
don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."***19.
My mother taught me esp. "Put
your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"***20. My
mother taught me HUMOR. "When
that lawn mower cuts off your foot, don't come running to me!"***21. My
mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."***
22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."***23. My mother
taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut
that door behind you. Do you think
you were born in a barn?"***24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll
understand."***25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about justice. "One day you'll have kids,
and I hope they turn out just like you!"
*****
*****
NINE WORDS THAT WOMEN USE, sent in by Jim Dwyer
1) Fine: This is the word that women use to end
an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.***2) Five
Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour.
Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five
more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.***3)Nothing:
This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should
be on your toes. Arguments that begin
with "nothing" usually end in "fine."***4)Go Ahead:
This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!***5) Loud Sigh: This
is actually not a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood
by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she
is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing.
(Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of "nothing.")***6) That's
Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can
make to a man. "That's okay" means that she wants to think
long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.***7)
Thanks: A woman is thanking you! Do not question, or Faint. Just say, "You're
welcome." (I want to add in a clause here: This is true, unless
she says "Thanks a lot." That is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking
you at all. Do not say, "You're welcome." That will bring
on a "whatever.")***8)Whatever: This is a woman's way of
saying, "Get out of here! Go fly a kite, or jump in the river!"***9)
Don't worry about it; I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning
that this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times,
but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man's asking,
"What's wrong?" For the woman's response, refer to Number
three, above.
***
Send this to the men you know, to warn them about arguments
they can avoid if they remember the terminology. Send this to all the women you
know to give them a good laugh, cause they know it's true.
***
STARTING EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK, sent in by Sandra
Grubb
1. Open a new
file in your computer.***2. Name it
"George W. Bush."***3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.***4. Empty
the Recycle Bin.***5. Your PC will ask you. "Do you
really want to get rid of "George W. Bush?"***6. Firmly Click "Yes***7. Feel better!
***
A woman decided that, for her fiftieth birthday, she would
give herself a facelift. At the
drugstore, she asked the clerk how old she looked. "Thirty," he guessed, and she announced happily,
"Fifty!" At the corner
market, the scenario was again repeated.
And she played the same routine with the countergirl at
MacDonald's. Later, while waiting
for a bus, she approached an older
man, wanting too play the game again. "I'm seventy-eight," the guy said, "and I
don't see very well. But there is
a way that I can always tell a woman's age. It sounds very forward, but it requires you to let me put my
hands under your bra. Then, and
only then can I tell you EXACTLY how old you are."
They waited for a few minutes in silence on the empty street until her
curiosity got the
best of her. She finally blurted out, "What the
hell,? Go ahead."
He slips both of his hands under her blouse and begins to feel around
very slowly and carefully. He
bounces and weighs each breast.
After a couple of minutes of this, she says, "Okay, okay...How old
am
I?"
He completes one last squeeze of her breasts, removes his hands, and
says, "Madam, you are
50."
Stunned and amazed, the woman says, "That was incredible! How could
you tell?"
The old man says, "Promise you won't get mad?"
"I promise I won't." she said.
"I was behind you in line at McDonald's."
***
HOW TO GET INTO HEAVEN I was testing the children in my Sunday school class to see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven. I asked them, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, Would that get me into Heaven?""NO!" the children answered. "If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?" Again, the answer was, "NO!" By now I was starting to smile. Hey, this was fun! "Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my husband, would that get me into Heaven?" I asked them again. Again, they all answered, "NO!" I was just bursting with pride for them. "Well," I continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?" A five-year-old boy shouted out, "YOU GOTTA BE
DEAD."
***
ATTEMPTING CLEAR COMMUNICATION, sent in by Christine
Finer.
A very proper lady began planning a week's camping vacation
for her and her Baptist Church group. She wrote to a campground for
reservations. She wanted to make sure that the campground was fully equipped
and modern, but could not bring herself to write the word "toilet" in
her letter. So, she decided on the old-fashioned
term 'Bathroom Commode.'
Once
written down she still was not comfortable. Finally, she decided on the
abbreviation 'B.C.' and wrote, 'Does your campground have its own 'B.C.?'
When the campground owner received the letter, he could not figure out what she
meant by 'B.C.' He showed it to several of the campers, one of whom suggested
the lady was obviously referring to a Baptist Church since there was a
letterhead on the paper, which referred to a Baptist Church.
Therefore, he sent this reply:
Dear Madam,
The
B.C. is located nine miles from the campground in a beautiful grove of trees. I
admit it is quite a distance if you are in the habit of going regularly. No
doubt, you will be pleased to know that it will seat 350 people at one time,
and it is open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday of each week. Some folks like
to take their
lunch and make a day of it. The acoustics are very good, so everyone can hear
even the quietest passages. It may interest you to know that my daughter met
her husband there.
We are also having a fund-raiser to purchase new seats, as the old ones have
holes in them.
Unfortunately, my wife is ill and has not been able to attend regularly. It has
been a good six months since she last went. It pains her very much not to be
able to more often. As we grow older, it seems to be more of an effort,
especially in cold weather. Perhaps I could accompany you the first time you
go, sit with you, and introduce you to all the other folks who will be there.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain. Laugh today! It is good for you!
*****
*****
LOVELETTERS
FROM BUDS, PALS, AND FRIENDS
From David Bosire of Love Ministries of Kenya:
Dear Brother,
I am glad to hear of such a wonderful news that you
are going to include the love ministries in Kenya in your magazine.
We are working hand in hand with brother Thomas though he
lives as far as Kitale.
So the love ministries is still opening and expanding
its roots to the parts of KenyaÉ.
Through phone and email we are in touch with Thomas
all the time and Rabson too.
So, our prayers are that this ministry grow here also
and through it the message of Love that can be preached.
We are also praying that one time one day you will get
ways opened so that you can visit us and see what the situation is especially
that of the orphans .
Pass our sincere regards and greetings to all brethren
.
Yours brother,
***
From TJ Vissing:
ÉSorry I have been unattached. I do get your lovelight
newsletter, and thoroughly enjoy it. I tend to be the kind
of person
that keeps to myself. As you know life can get busy and we
can get
lost in the day to day shenanigans of life.
First let me take a moment to thank you for all you have
done for me.
In fact you probably donÕt realize the impact you have had
on my
life. What started as a random encounter on the radio with
you and
Ron [Esposito[, ended up changing my life. I think [that the
radioprogram] "Heartmind" really opened my
eyes to the opportunities of life and helped move me away
from the
heavy and cumbersome dogmas of religion that I struggled
with for years.
Honestly, when I was in the fourth grade I knew the catholic
church
wasnÕt for me. There were things that just didnÕt make any
sense.
Your radio show really helped put things in perspective. It
showed me
there were ideas out there that could move humanity towards
a much
better place. Whether you were talking about Taoism or life
outside
this planet, it showed me that none of us has all the
answers.
Over the last few years I have read many books about spirituality
and
religion and have come to realize I still have a lot to
learnÉ.
But the idea that this guy [named Walsh] was
having a conversation with god turned me off. I was able to
separate
the message from the messenger, and could use that to help
me see the
world from a higher placeÉ. I have learned
not to take anything as absolute fact, but he makes a great
case for
whatÕs wrong with religion, and encourages us to not tip toe
around
religion like its sacred, when more often itÕs doing damage
to humanity.
I have toyed with the idea that I may, perhaps, be an
atheist. The
problem there is, in order to be an atheist you have to
believe there
is no god. I canÕt step into that world. I am willing to
accept there
may or may not be a god, but I cannot hold the idea as a
truth that
is right or wrong.
Right now IÕm reading a bookÉ to the possibility of all
things being connected and the power we have as participants
in the
connected system of things makes anything possible. ItÕs a
little
more based on the science of physics, and in some way that
helps
validate the ideas. Spirituality without science seems a
little like
Òfeel good storiesÓ. When looking for answers to the big
questions in
life, defaulting to the stories of the sages and prophets
are nice,
but have little to back them up unless youÕve had some
personal
experiences (like you have had) that allow you to see things
from a
unique point of view.
ÉI find it hard to get
out of my own head long enough for the power of the divine
to be seen
or heard. I canÕt prove it, but I think the biggest problems
we have
on this planet is the lack of ability to get ego out of the
way.
I find that giving myself the permission to take the time to
get out
of my own head is a very hard thing to do. The daily grind
seems to
control all my time. On a good note, I thoroughly enjoy my
life with
my wife and kids, as well as my job. But I realize I give up
control
to those agendas. Again I am generally fine with that.
I recently started attending a Unitarian church, at my
wifeÕs
request. I struggle with the whole ÒchurchÓ thing. Organ
music,
choirs, sermons, and singing hymns pretty much turn me off.
But the
Unitarians have a pretty good gig going. ItÕs more of a community
action group than a religion. I donÕt see my self hanging
around a
lot but will get there from time to time and hopefully hear
a good
message.
This I can say with conviction. Some of the best messages on
human
relations are things I have heard from you!
Your message of love is one of pure heart and great
inspiration. The
world needs to hear your message. I find it hard to believe
more
spiritual and religious people have not echoed your message.
In fact
I find it downright unbelievable that anyone who claims to
speak for
Jesus doesnÕt speak about what you speak. I donÕt pretend to
know why
things happen the way they do, but I tend to think the world
is not
yet ready for your message of love. Every-time we take one
step
forward in this country, itÕs followed by two steps back.
You are a
light in the darkness.
Speaking of darkness. IÕm not as worried about it as I used
to be. I
recently found out my younger sister has cancer. I would
have been
asking all those god type questions, like, Why her? Why so
young? Why
do bad things happen to good people? But now I figure there
may or
may not be a reason for these things, and I know that I
could never
answer those questions. So letÕs get through our lives with
as
gracefully as possible and do as much good along the way,
simply
because it feels right. We are all given a death sentence,
itÕs just
that most of us donÕt know the time frame with which to put
it in
context.
Relative to most people you have lived a pretty rough life.
But look
at how gracefully you live it every day. You are a shining
example of
grace in motion. If our politicians could pull that off, the
world
would be a different placeÉ. If
they could only hear your message. Thank you for trying so
hard to
get it out there.
Éwe are
basically star-dust, swirling around watching life go by. If
we can
get through each moment with grace and helpfulness, then
this moment
would have been worthwhile. I think that is what we are here
to do.
String together worthwhile moments while we are here. Make
each
thought count. Make every meeting with another person,
one
worthwhile. Add goodness and value to the mix. And above
all, come
from a place of love, give it freely, and let it make itÕs
mark.
ÉI will not disappear. I will
always have my ear tuned for your message. But know this.
What you
have planted in my heart and soul, with your messages over
the years,
get passed along to everyone I meet and know. My children
and wife
more than anyone have felt the impact. They may not know it
started
with you, but you and I both know it has.
Thanks for your message, and especially for giving it
so
unconditionally.
***
From Nathan Merritt:
Dear shi
I went to your website, having no idea you had such a far reaching and
multifaceted ministry, and was greatly surprised. I'm pleased that a loving
mind and heart such as yours have the opportunity for expression and service.
May your influence continue to grow!
Your book Jehovah Goodbye is quite fascinating and impactful. It's an important
and highly beneficial book.
So, at the risk of seeming presumptuous, I would like to include some of the
methods I used in marketing my two books. I have never spent a dime advertising
themÉ.
Divine blessings to you shi.
Another from Nathan Merritt:
Dear shi
Thank you for responding at length to my little essay on the wedding of Jesus
in Cana of Galilee. I remain convinced that the story is indeed about the
wedding of Jesus. The identity of the bridegroom is cleverly concealed in
the open.
Yes, "rabbi" is an anachronism. I did not discover that fact until
after my essay had been written for a few months.
I'm not a scholar of Koine
Greek, but am familiar with it in a utilitarian way and can read it slowly and
painfully. I'm aware that Christos means Anointed, one anointed by God for a
particular office or service. I'm not intimate with the details of the
anointing ritual, but if my memory can be trusted olive oil mixed with scented
spices was used. I could look it up but I'm still sipping my morning
coffee. :-)
I've read all of the Nag Hammadi library many times as well as other
"Gnostic" texts. I'm familiar with the primary place given by
Gnostics to Mary as chief of the apostles. I know the Gnostic ideas about Jesus
being a nonmaterial being sent from the Pleroma, etc. I go further than they
do. Jesus was no phantom, but is entirely Mythological in the Joseph Campbell
sense of MythÉ. Jesus is a
personification of the sun, and his life story is played out in the starry sky.
I know you are visually impaired, but I will include these enjoyable little You
Tube videos so that you can hear what's being said. Most are by Acharya S. Your good wife will hopefully tell you
what's on the screen. These videos really are fun and also educational for
fundamentalists.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QQ-kvw1fYXs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FRcCEZflIP4
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FNhGQYo4yZs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IGbJpGlwjyU
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xfzolk7FRXk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CA5SHKM3V48&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ELoN3OSY6hA
You can use these video shorts in educating your students. My own master thesis
is written on this topic.
Yes, "Jesus" is portrayed as rejecting the role of the Kingly
Messiah, the bloody tyrant and conqueror messiah to which you
refer. "Jesus" is portrayed as accepting the role of the
suffering servant, the priestly messiah. The sacrificial lamb. All of it has
it's roots in the Mystery religions that were ubiquitous in the Levant, as you
already know. The dying and rising Godman was at one time a universal motif, or
perhaps even an archetype in the Jungian sense.
As to the canonical NT, I spend a rather long and involved chapter in Jehovah
Unmasked tracing how the NT books were chosen by the Catholic councils,
while other writings were suppressed and destroyed. I trace how the NT
scriptures have been altered in some important ways. (There are some glaring
historical examples that no fundy can back out of)
I am unfamiliar with the additional information you included concerning
Christos meaning someone who has been enlightened. This idea would have to be
apart from the mainstream of Greek scholarship. I learned what Koine Greek I
know from Koine Greek scholars from Greece. So, the idea that it indicates a
level of enlightenment probably comes from Gnostic sources, which would be
entirely consistent with their approach. Buddha comes from budh, which means
awake. So, you and I used to go door to door as JWs offering the Buddha
magazine! Hehehe.
I am unfamiliar also with the apparently Gnostic usage of "apostello" [in John 17:3] as"
emanated." Apostello composed of the Greek words for "from"
and "put." From-put. There are no contexts in the NT that would give
any indication that it means "emanated." The best equivalents we have
in English are "commissioned" or "dispatched." A
usage such as "emanated" would have to come from a Gnostic
source.
My own personal spirituality could be described as a simplified form of
Advaita Vedanta. It's teachers become far too nit-picky and obtuse in
my opinion--hence trapped in their left brain hemisphere--but in it's general
features I agree with Advaita Vedanta. I agree because it's teachings
have been my core experience, long before my involvement with Bible
religion, and even when I was a Buddhist priest.
Well, I think I've taken up enough of your time shi. Thanks again for the
timely and enjoyable read. Thank you too for placing me in queue for an
astrochart! Blessings divine to you shi.
In Light,
***
From Tom Sitati, also with Love
Ministries of Kenya:
Hello Pastor Richard,
It is a blessing for us to be connected to the love
ministries, through your encouraging emails we have managed to serve the Lord
with a great zeal and power. I thank
you so much for the book, my assistants have fallen in love with it we are
getting great revelations on walking in the love of God. Let me introduce you
to my two assistants pastor Harun Shikuku and Wycliffe Wamalwa, this are the
brothers who have worked with me tirelessly please pray for them.
***
From Jane Cassin:
Sorry we were not able to make it
today, I meant to get back with you yesterday but I was teaching classes Sat.
and Sunday, I do some part time classes for IUPUI.
May is usually a crazy month for us,
but June is a month that is not normally very busy, if you have something then
let me know.
Also Rick is still looking for
full time work and I don't know what hours or days he will have available once
he starts. Keep us in your thoughts on that as things are getting very tight!
I'm sure you had a good turn out
today [at the Sunday Pneumarium Gathering]. Let every one know we enjoyed all of them and hope to get
together again soon.
Blessings,
***
From David Cummings:
Hey Shiningthunder,
I "Love," believe in, and fully support what you
are doing. I don't know if
you remember me, but I met you twice a few years ago. I gave
you the
articles from Scientific American magazine about the
rational evidence for
the illusion of perceived reality.
Anyway, now and then I check your site or your blog, and I
am always blown
away by what you write. Your articulated wisdom is such a
mirror of my own
intuitive understanding of the cosmos.
I wish I was able to meet with you again and assist your
mission directly.
However, I am still working an overnight weekend shift at
St. Joseph
Orphanage, and so my schedule is difficult right now.
Yet, I am doing what I can in the name of Love. In fact,
here's my latest
venture: www.HealingEmbrace.org/. I am trying to aid in the
healing of
distressed children. I think it's what the Way wants me to
do, for I've hit
barriers in everything else I've tried yet have succeeded
well in my child
advocacy work.
Anyway, I just want to shout out to you that I am grateful
for the message
you are sharing. At some point, I really want to directly
help Love
Ministries spread the blessings of Love. Our world really
needs it more than
ever.
All the best,
*****
*****
HE STEPPED INTO
THE MILKY WAY!
Dear Friends,
On 032708, Thursday, I sent to some of you an email requesting that you join a Healing Circle for my friend Frank Tyrrell near Atlanta. As is so often the case on earth, some of our shared energy did not make it "all the way through." Frank, as his good intuition suspected, is wrestling with a major health-problem. (He is a sunmoon pisces.:) He has lung-cancer. On April 28, in his sleep, he left our world and soared into the Milky Way. He and I often used to discuss this inevitability that we call "death," and he often expressed his fervent hope that he could exit our planet in precisely this way-- quickly and painfree, while still asleep. This he often called the "perfect exit." So, dear friends, our dear friend was blessed with the "perfect exit." He did not suffer pain, and did not drag out the death-process; this he dreaded more than even death itself.
He and I were both pisces, and the sign is famous for its unbridled imagination. On long afternoons, we used to fantasize soaring through the stars, and into the galaxies, in our spiritual bodies; now, for him, this glorious vision is no longer a mere fantasy. He has traveled to the sweet Homeworld, and there, in his personal "Welcome Home" picnic, he has been welcomed into the perfect world by Jomioki, Blufeather, Angie (Moon Maiden), Safire, and many other friends, many from his previous lives. He is now surrounded by people who love him dearly and deeply. His life on earth was troubled fairly deeply by an anger that he held against his bio-father, and against the cult. He has now released all this anger, and has found, for the first time, true serenity and tranquility in deep, bottomless peace. When on earth, he so treasured this peace that he sought to find it through drugs, and he might have even touched it briefly once or twice. Now, he has found it permanently, and he lives in a bright soft cloud of eternal peace.
He now basks in the perfect warmth of ideal weather every day, the warm sunlight blending sweetly with cool breezes. He now plays with the friendly and telepathic animals, and they like him as much as he likes them. He can eat to his heart's content, for the "photofood" of the Homeworld, although exquisitely delicious, contains no calories, and yet, it is the most scrumptious and delightful food that you have ever tasted. (All the senses are about a hundred times as powerful as they are on earth.) The only purpose of the Homeworld is to teach us, remind us, how to play. It is a "recreation" world, and not a "learning world," like the earth. So, it is filled with an abundance of unimaginable delights.
*****
*****
LEADERSHIP, sent in by Jim Dwyer
This is the kind of leadership we have needed for the
last 7 years and need for the future or this country is doomed. here are some excerpts from Lee
Iacocca's new book:
'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's
happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder.
We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a
cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean
up after a hurricane-- much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting
mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay
the course'
Stay the course? You've got to be
kidding. This is America , not the damned 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite:
'Throw all the bums out!'
You might think I'm getting
senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to
speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders
are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq
, the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press
is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise
of the ' America ' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had
enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't
call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and
willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis! Leaders are made, not born.
Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet
up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when
you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your
world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other
time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes.
A Hell of a Mess. So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody
war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest
deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to
Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care
costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy
policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves.
The middle class is being squeezed
every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership. But when you look
around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the
curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction,
potence, and common sense? I might be a sucker for alliteration, but I think
you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better
idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and
throw away our shampoo! We've
spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how
to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from
the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day
evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the
decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers
crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen.
Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is
thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in
manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when
'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and
more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who
can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis,
or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are
the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class
dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on
your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being
hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of?
That some bonehead on Fox News will
call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a
change?
Had Enough?
Hey, I'm not trying to be the
voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out
because I have hope, I believe in America . In my lifetime I've had the
privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also
experienced some of our worst crises: the 'Great Depression', 'World War II',
the 'Korean War', the 'Kennedy Assassination', the 'Vietnam War', the 1970s oil
crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I've
learned one thing, it's this:
'You don't get
anywhere by standing on the
sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a
better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to
play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to 'Action'
for people who, like me, believe in America. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's
shake
off the crap and go to work. Let's
tell 'em all we've had 'enough.'
Excerpted from 'Where Have All the
Leaders Gone?'.
Copyright (c) 2007 by Lee Iacocca.
All rights reserved Lee
Jim Combs US Army (RET) Realtor
Asset Realty Inc.
Cell: 803-622-6242
E-mail: jcombs6@sc.rr.com
www.columbiacastles.com
*****
*****
THE TOP TEN
DETOX FOODS, sent in by Geoffrey Stoermer
Lemons
Drinking fluids is essential to keeping your system clear of toxins, and the
vitamin C found in lemons (lemonade, lemon water) works wonders when it comes
to converting those toxins into easily flushed water-soluble forms.
Watercress
Watercress moves things out of your system by acting as a diuretic, plus it's
rich in minerals.
Garlic
Garlic is good for a lot of things, one of which is activating liver enzymes to
help clear out garbage faster.
Green Tea
Green Tea is also good for a lot of things in your body, and for detoxing it
has catechins (they speed up liver activity).
Broccoli Sprouts
Broccoli sprouts have 20-50 times more cancer-fighting and enzyme-stimulating
power than the regular, grown up plants do.
Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds help protect the liver from damage caused by alcohol and other
toxins. And if you want more than just what comes on your hamburger bun try
tahini, a sesame seed paste commonly used in Asian dishes.
Cabbage
The liver uses two main detoxifying enzymes -- and cabbage activates them both!
Psyllium
Full of soluble fiber it helps "mop up" toxins and flush them out of
your body. Either mix it into juice or have it in cereal for breakfast.
Fruit (all kinds)
Full of detoxifying vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber, fruit is great pretty
much across the board.
*****
*****
RESUME
OF A LOSER, sent in
by Maureen Dwyer
GEORGE W. BUSH
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20520
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Law Enforcement:
I was arrested in Kennebunkport, Maine, in 1976 for driving under the
influence of alcohol. I pled guilty, paid a fine, and had my
driver's license suspended for 30 days. My Texas driving record has
been 'lost' and is not available.
Military:
I joined the Texas Air National Guard and went AWOL. I refused to take a
drug test or answer any questions about my drug use. By joining the
Texas Air National Guard, I was able to avoid combat duty in
Vietnam.
College:
I graduated from Yale University with a low C average. I was a
cheerleader.
PAST WORK EXPERIENCE:
I ran for U.S. Congress and lost.
I began my career in the oil business in Midland Texas , in 1975. I
bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas. The company
went bankrupt shortly after I sold all my stock.
I bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took
land using taxpayer money.
With the help of my father and our friends in the oil industry
(including Enron CEO Ken Lay), I was elected governor of Texas.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS GOVERNOR OF TEXAS:
I changed Texas pollution laws to favor power and oil companies, making
Texas the most polluted state in the Union. During my tenure, Houston
replaced Los Angeles as the most smog-ridden city in America.
I cut taxes and bankrupted the Texas treasury to the tune of billions in
borrowed money.
I set the record for the most executions by any governor in American
history.
With the help of my brother, the governor of Florida , and my father's
appointments to the Supreme Court, I became President of the United
States, after losing by over 500,000 votes.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PRESIDENT:
I am the first President in U.S. history to enter office with a criminal
record.
I invaded and occupied two countries at a continuing cost of over one
billion dollars per week.
I spent the U.S. surplus and effectively bankrupted the U.S. Treasury.
I shattered the record for the largest annual deficit in U.S. history.
I set an economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any
12-month period.
I set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period.
I set the all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the U.S.
stock market. In my first year in office, over 2 million Americans lost
their jobs and that trend continues.
I'm proud that the members of my cabinet are the richest of any
administration in U.S. history. My 'poorest millionaire,' Condoleezza
Rice, has a Chevron oil tanker named after her.
I set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips by a U.S.
President.
I am the all-time U.S. and world record-holder for receiving the most
corporate campaign donations.
My largest lifetime campaign contributor, and one of my best friends,
Kenneth Lay, presided over the largest corporate bankruptcy fraud in U.S.
history, Enron
My political party used Enron private jets and corporate attorneys to
assure my success with the U.S. Supreme Court during my election
decision.
I have protected my friends at Enron and Halliburton against
investigation or prosecution. More time and money was spent investigating
the Monica Lewinsky affair than has been spent investigating one of the
biggest corporate rip-offs in history. I presided over the biggest energy
crisis in U.S. history and refused to intervene when corruption involving
the oil industry was revealed.
I presided over the highest gasoline prices in U.S. history.
I changed the U.S. policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded
government contracts.
I appointed more convicted criminals to my administration than any
President in US. history.
I created the Ministry of Homeland Security, the largest bureaucracy in
the history of the United States Government.
I've broken more international treaties than any President in U.S.
history.
I am the first President in U.S. history to have the United Nations
remove the U.S. from the Human Rights Commission.
I withdrew the U.S. from the World Court of Law.
I refused to allow inspector's access to U.S. 'prisoners of war'
detainees and thereby have refused to abide by the Geneva
Convention.
I am the first President in history to refuse United Nations election
inspectors (during the 2002 US election).
I set the record for fewest numbers of press conferences of any President
since the advent of television.
I set the all-time record for most days on vacation in any one-year
period. After taking off the entire month of August, I presided over the
worst security failure in U.S. history.
I garnered the most sympathy ever for the U.S after the World Trade
Center attacks and less than a year later made the U.S. the most hated
country in the world, the largest failure of diplomacy in world
history.
I have set the all-time record for most people worldwide to
simultaneously protest me in public venues (15 million people),
shattering the record for protests against any person in the history of
mankind.
I am the first President in U.S. history to order an unprovoked,
pre-emptive attack and the military occupation of a sovereign nation. I
did so against the will of the United Nations, the majority of U.S.
Citizens and the world community.
I have cut health care benefits for war veterans and support a cut in
duty benefits for active duty troops and their families in wartime.
In my State of the Union Address, I lied about our reasons for attacking
Iraq and then blamed the lies on our British friends.
I am the first President in history to have a majority of Europeans (71%)
view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and security.
I am supporting development of a nuclear 'Tactical Bunker Buster,' a WMD.
I have so far failed to fulfill my pledge to bring Osama Bin Laden to
justice.
RECORDS AND REFERENCES:
All records of my tenure as governor of Texas are now in my father's
library, sealed and unavailable for public view.
All records of SEC investigations into my insider trading and my bankrupt
companies are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.
All records or minutes from meetings that I, or my Vice-President, attended
regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for
public review. I specified that my sealed documents will not be available
for 50 years.
*****
*****
WHO KNEW! THE MANY USES OF VODKA sent in by Jim Dwyer
1. To
remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka. The stuff
dissolves adhesive.
2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill a trigger-spray
bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set five minutes and wash clean. The
alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew.
3. To clean your eyeglasses, simply wipe
the lenses with a soft, clean
cloth dampened with vodka. The
alcohol in the vodka cleans the glass and kills germs.
4. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting
your safety razor blade soak in
the alcohol after shaving. The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.
5. Spray vodka on wine stains,
scrub with a brush, and then blot dry.
6. Using a cotton ball, apply
vodka to your face as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.
7. Add a jigger of vodka to a
12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from
hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.
8. Fill a sixteen-ounce
trigger-spray bottle with vodka and spray bees or wasps to kill them.
9. Pour one-half cup vodka and
one-half cup water into a Ziploc freezer
bag and freeze for a slushy,
refreshing ice pack for aches, pain or black eyes.
10. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise
jar with freshly packed lavender flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid
tightly and set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee
filter, then apply the tincture to aches and pains.
11. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth
to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.
12. To cure foot odor, wash your
feet with vodka.
13? Vodka will disinfect and
alleviate a jellyfish sting.
14. Pour
vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the urushiol oil from
your skin.
15. Swish a shot of vodka over an
aching tooth. Allow your gums to
absorb some of the alcohol to numb
the pain.
And silly me! I've only been drinking the stuff!
*****
*****