Monday morning links

RE: Rubio

Let the waves of fatuous chiding and Rubio scolding roll on; it is so revealing of the tsk, tsking and cluck, clucking old biddy mentality.

#1 Exasperated on 2015-06-15 07:30 (Reply)

...". Yet Fulwiler offers one explanation that’s seldom mentioned – lack of gratitude.

“We dress up for what we’re grateful for,” she says. “We’re such a wealthy, spoiled culture that we feel like we have a right to fly on airplanes,” says Fulwiler, ....

Church is like air travel now – it’s no longer a big deal because people have lost their sense of awe before God, Fulwiler says."

Amen. And its taking everything for granted -- I was thinking about this from the Disney post. There is very little we stand in awe of. That commercial where the kid is on vacation by car with his dad, and he's on his computer the whole time, shruggng at nature's beauty. Seems like the majority. MEh. "Entertain me".

#2 fjord on 2015-06-15 09:15 (Reply)

re You aren't dressing for God. You dress out of respect for the time and effort of those who make it all work.

Sigh.... there is always someone butting in and telling the little people how to live their lives. Now we have the religious apparel police who are the sole arbiters of what is 'tacky' and what is not.

I just get so effing tired of people telling me how to run my personal life.

#2.1 feeblemind on 2015-06-15 09:54 (Reply)

Well, this is about dressing for church, which in fact is all about how to conduct your personal life. So, yes, if there is a place one ought to put some effort into dressing reasonably, it's church. And I am including myself in that criticism; I can do better sometimes, but I just get lazy.

Believe me, it's low, low bar the pastor is setting.

You may not have fancy clothes, but they can be clean, not ripped, not revealing, you can at least wear a belt so do not moon half the congregation (I have seen that, yes).

#2.1.1 Cathy J on 2015-06-15 10:19 (Reply)

That's basically my standard: clean, not ripped, and no undue exposure of flesh by people who are, let's face it, past the age for such things, like myself. Otherwise it's the same thing I wear all the time.

Unless I have altar duty, and then I wear a robe. Same shoes, though: the sandals I wear 7/24/365.

#2.1.1.1 Texan99 on 2015-06-15 21:33 (Reply)

I honestly don't care what you wear at any time of the day, whether to church or grocery shopping or to get your mail at the end of the driveway.

My major agreement with the article was the lack of gratitude for everything in life. taking for granted everything in our civilized life because someone along the way sacrificed to build it and maintain it.

what you are is God's gift to you. What you become is your gift to God.

#2.1.2 fjord on 2015-06-15 11:00 (Reply)

I think what is in the hearts of the people at church (or anywhere, really) is what is important. How they dress for an occasion is much less important.

Having said that, I do wish people would dress better for church. For me, dressing up for church is to show respect for God, for the occasion, and the location. For example, I think it's in poor taste to show up at a fancy restaurant or a formal wedding in shorts. But I would never tell somebody to dress a certain way for church or probably anywhere else. I look at it as my responsibility not to judge a person on superficial issues. It's something that I work on and fail at constantly.

#2.1.3 mudbug on 2015-06-15 12:04 (Reply)

Pastors/Priests/Reverends could stand at the door (or their deacons) and bar people who aren't dressed correctly from coming in, but that would affect their church basket collections wouldn't it?

Diplomatically stating in sermon, in church bulletin or by word of mouth (preferable) might be less insulting, as it might not be taken so personally. even the messenger might reflect on their own appearance.

Of course "churches" are having problems with attendance as it is, so the superfunfockband churches probably don't have a problem with what you wear -- nor do (alot of them) seem to have a problem with abortion, infidelity or keeping the other commandments.

#2.1.3.1 fjord on 2015-06-15 15:31 (Reply)

I've noticed among protestant christians that there's a certain cachet in dressing down for Sunday services (shirt tails untucked, jeans, etc). unless I've been contaminated by my orthodox christian friends, I assume that a primary purpose of attending church is to worship God, so what's with the dress that wouldn't pass muster on casual Fridays? Jesus was a devout Jew (surprise!) who would not have dressed as a slob for Temple.

#2.1.4 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-06-15 12:07 (Reply)

Of course, the simplest solution is to just not go to church. A personal relationship with God does not require you to hang about at a certain time and place, nor to make an appearance so you the "liaison" will put in a good word for you.

So if you don't get a kick out of hanging about with a bunch of people who want to judge your manner of dress, then don't go. If you need some preaching, watch one of the broadcasts. Otherwise, maintain your personal relationship and leave off the ceremonial BS.

#2.1.5 JK Brown on 2015-06-15 12:57 (Reply)

ceremonial BS

holy shi'ite, if that's how you people see your own church, no wonder your numbers are collapsing.

#2.1.5.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-06-15 13:23 (Reply)

Slightly off topic, but I was interested in the “alpha male” observations
I was thinking of the male bosses with whom I have worked. I can only think of one who fits the stereotypes fictionalized by entertainment. All of the rest were competent problem solvers with good leadership skills. The best boss I ever worked for was a fair and even handed problem solver, very situationally aware of internal and external considerations, able to discipline and herd cats, capable of seeking and eliciting the information he needed to make the most of the resources he had at his disposal and make informed decisions, He worked very hard; in short his success was based on diligence and respect, not fear. Full disclosure I am in the world of low volume, high mix, contract manufacturing which requires more rigor than many businesses. I don’t know what people experience in megacorporations or the services industries. Anecdotal, I know, but my observation is that alphas are not gratuitously abusive and that abusive or sadistic behavior is more a marker for someone lower down on the food chain. In addition, I think people naturally gravitate to alphas, and it’s not due to coercion or deception. In my culture, I think of an alpha male as “steadfast”, and a defender of the defenseless. Romantic, naive, possibly? Contrast that with ISIS, criminal gangs, or organized crime. Are gang leaders etc. alphas?

#3 Exasperated on 2015-06-15 09:15 (Reply)

How about this for a thought experiment? Consider the 2016 presidential candidates in light of this. Are those who dedicate their resources to deception and manipulation of the public really alphas, or are they wannabes?

#3.1 Exasperated on 2015-06-15 09:33 (Reply)

My best boss was a woman. My worst boss was a man.

My female boss stood up for the workers in her department. Treated everyone fairly. Was easy to talk to. Appreciated the work we did.

My bad male boss would criticize you meanly one minute and then praise you the next. Sometimes the same type of work would elicit different reactions depending on his mood. He would send you back to re-work stuff that had been perfectly fine to begin with. Then change his mind and have you go back to the original. He always liked to complain about how hard he worked, how many hours he put in on the weekend and implied that none of us could ever work as hard or be as dedicated. Most stressful time in my life was working for that man.

#3.2 MissT on 2015-06-15 15:07 (Reply)

You aren't dressing for God. You dress out of respect for the time and effort of those who make it all work.

That's quite an assumption.

Farmers Hit Hard by the Estate Tax

Nation, trade, economy hit hard by endless farm subsidies.

#4 Ten on 2015-06-15 10:13 (Reply)

A USDA worker walks in the office and finds a co-worker crying at his deck. He asks what is wrong, why are you crying? The fellow answers " my farmer died." The joke is that there as many USDA workers as there are farmers and that he is afraid he will be fired.
But, the real joke is that Ag works on behalf of the family farm, rather than BIG Agriculture and BIG Chemical. I wonder how many family farms, as opposed to corporate farms, or factory farms, are left?

#4.1 Exasperated on 2015-06-15 10:31 (Reply)

>>>I wonder how many family farms, as opposed to corporate farms, or factory farms, are left?

factory farms ARE family farms.

Contracts are made between corporations and private individuals who take on debt with land, buildings, equipment, costs, for the care and feeding of livestock, paid for at finished product time. This is the way it is with poultry and swine, at least, I don't know of anyone who raises beef under a contract. most beef farmers just sell their finished cattle at auction unless they sell privately.

Servicing debt when everything has skyrocketed in costs means you gotta go big or go home. You can't pay for a $250,000 tractor milking 15 cows.( Of course you can buy a cheaper, used tractor, but there is some expensive equipment that is necessary for each operation. Regulations require it. )...
Or pay $30,000 in property taxes a year with 100 layer hens.
Even the Amish can't do it. They are getting bigger and bigger or diversifying with other occupations to add to income.

Corporations, as well as gvt dictates requirements for livestock and crop production. So is that guy that farms 4,000 acres or has 10,000 cows still a family farmer? He might have to employ workers to help him, or increase his equipment. Either way costs. And someone still usually has to work off farm in order to afford food on your own table and health insurance (been there, done that)

#4.1.1 fjord on 2015-06-15 15:53 (Reply)

Both farm subsidies and the death tax are wrong. I doubt that eliminating one will help with the other.

#4.2 mudbug on 2015-06-15 11:45 (Reply)

And the farmer's daughter says "AMEN."

#4.2.1 mary on 2015-06-15 13:23 (Reply)

https://youtu.be/5tu32CCA_Ig

#5 Ten on 2015-06-15 11:09 (Reply)

At Shooting Range, Texas Governor Abbott Signs “Open Carry” And Concealed Carry Bills On State University Campuses…

all the same, I'd prefer "shall-issue" concealed carry laws permitting concealed carry anywhere.

the idea of your basic citizen-yahoo openly packing heat is a disturbing image.

#6 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-06-15 12:30 (Reply)

I support concealed carry laws, but I also know they are silly in most instances. If you are carry concealed, nobody is supposed to know. If there is no reason for the police to stop you, they wouldn't have a reason to know either. Same for the bad guy. Of course the nice thing about concealed carriers is that the bad guy doesn't know who is carrying either so he has to be more careful (and given all the stories I've read about their experiences with legal carriers, they haven't been careful enough - which suits me just fine).

I can't say that open carry would not cause me concern. I have no problem with it in certain contained circumstances, but those are pretty much the only times I've encountered it. Open carry used to be much more common and I'm not sure it wasn't any more dangerous. It would certainly take some getting used to it though.

#6.1 mudbug on 2015-06-15 17:17 (Reply)

concealed carry permit holders have to receive a minimum of training, which is better than nothing.

I do a lot of competitive shooting (trap), and have an instinctive unease around people who I'm not absolutely certain can handle a gun safely. seeing someone openly carry for no obvious reason makes me even more nervous. as I see it, many pro-second amendment advocates are in love with the idea of guns. not as something to actually shoot, or compete, or hunt with, but as a kind of fetish object. I'd just rather not be around those people when they're armed.

#6.1.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-06-15 20:35 (Reply)

I compete also (bullseye pistol, service rifle, occasionally skeet) and I know what you mean. Kids today aren't taught gun safety and gun handling like they used to.

I was an RSO at a local range that was shared with police departments and I used to shoot at another range that was shared with their local police department. In both cases, the police were the ones who shot up the range - generally not the many inexperienced people who came to shoot their first gun (granted, the police were training for stressful situations). Of course, I worry more about the neophyte and even more about the person who doesn't know he's a neophyte, but there are no guarantees for even the police.

But, as I say, your point is taken. I suspect that there are areas where the culture is such that someone who open carries would be expected to be safe - and areas of Texas may be some of them. There are surely not enough of them.

#6.1.1.1 mudbug on 2015-06-15 22:57 (Reply)

I don't care what people wear to church so long as they are IN church. No church rat or minister should presume to judge the heart of another person in God's house. I try to dress nicely because it happens to remind me to stop my normal rush and be reverent, but it's not necessary, and not my job to sneer at others.

We come to church because we need each other, because Christianity is about God more than it is about us, includes joining a community of sinners seeking Jesus, better able to help each other in a group. It's not individual wishes, prejudices or opinions that please God but feeding the hungry, comforting the broken-hearted,bowing before the Almighty, fighting to protect the weak or to advance a just cause.

Fussing about outward appearances?

Matthew 23:27

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

#7 Retriever on 2015-06-15 13:34 (Reply)

scribes? Pharisees? hitting close to home. besides, if you'd have actually read that passage, its not the outward dress that Jesus rebukes. its the outward appearance that isn't matched by the inner or private conduct. I thought you people read your own scripture.

your own St. Paul repeatedly admonished christian communities for incorrect behavior. your own Jesus' parable of the wedding feast has a dude being kicked out of the wedding for being inappropriately dressed.

#7.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-06-15 14:06 (Reply)

"Question: Name An Activity The Government is Better At Than the Private Actors It Purports to Regulate"

Fraud and Misrepresentation

Financial crimes

Embezzlement

Extortion

#8 Jim on 2015-06-15 15:11 (Reply)

re Cashless economy:

yeah. This concerns me. The opportunities to take advantage the little people will be immense, not to mention the unprecedented oversight. In addition there is the vast increase in federal power that would result. And if they decided for some reason to deactivate your plastic you would be totally screwed.

OTOH it looks like it would complicate illegal activities like the drug trade. And what about the illegals? Would we have to issue them a card when they arrived?

#9 feeblemind on 2015-06-15 19:36 (Reply)

UPDATED VERSION OF A CHILDREN'S FABLE

"Who will help me plant my wheat?" asked the little red hen.
"Not I," said the cow
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself." She planted her crop and the wheat grew
and ripened.

"Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Out of my classification," said the pig.
"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.
"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did.

"Who will help me bake the bread?" asked the little red hen
"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.
"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.
"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.
"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen.

She baked five loaves and the wonderful aroma filled the land, all of
her neighbors couldn't help but enjoy the fragrance.
They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share but the little red hen
said, "No, I have worked hard on all five loaves, and I will freeze
what I don't eat."

"Excess profits!" cried the cow. (Nancy Pelosi) "Capitalist leech!"
screamed the duck. (Barbara Boxer) "I demand equal rights!" yelled the
goose. (Jesse Jackson) The pig just grunted in disdain. (Harry Reid)
And they all painted 'Unfair!' picket signs and marched around and
around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.

Then the farmer (Obama) came. He said to the little red hen, "You must
not be so greedy."
"But I worked and earned the bread," said the little red hen.
"Exactly," said Barack the farmer.
"That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful.
Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants.
But under our modern government regulations, the productive
workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who
are not working and idle."

And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen,
who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, for now I truly understand."
But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her since she never
again baked bread because she joined the 'party' and got her bread free.
'Fairness' had been established.
Individual initiative had died but nobody noticed; perhaps no one
cared, so long as there was free bread that 'the rich' were paying for.

EPILOGUE

Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs.
Hillary got $8 million for hers.
That's $20 million for the memories from two people, who for eight
years repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn't remember
anything...and one is now running for President!!!

IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT?

#10 feblemind on 2015-06-15 21:39 (Reply)

Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs.

why are you against the free market?

or are you jealous because you're not getting paid for your memoirs?

both?

#10.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-06-16 10:07 (Reply)

The sign linked in this story isn't on that indoor gun range where Governor Abbott signed the bill. It is located at a little bank in the tiny town of Chappell Hill, Texas. I have linked a story featuring the sign at the bank.

http://www.federalobserver.com/2012/08/04/chappell-hill-texas-bank-sign/

If you have any money lying around, I would recommend you deposit some in this bank. The owner is a great guy.

#11 Dangerous Dean on 2015-06-16 01:35 (Reply)

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Monday, June 15. 2015

Monday morning links