And once again

In our country and with our system of government, it is not the political leaders that determine the character and direction of the people. Rather, it is the character and direction of the people that determine the political leadership.

So, the answer for any troubles we might have is not to be found in trying to pick a proper political leader alone.

Here is what someone else said about the matter:

"Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation.
No theoretical checks-no form of government can render us secure.
To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea, if there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men.
So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them."

James Madison

Somebody up there really doesn't like you after all.

Just Received this notice affecting our Charter School Teacher friends. It seems that someone does not like Charter Schools and wants all the Charter School Teachers to quit immediately. If this goes the way the IRS wants it to, states will have no say in this matter any longer.:

"Possible IRS rule change alarms charter schools.

The IRS is proposing changes to the rules for Charter Schools. You have until Monday to comment at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools website:

www.publiccharters.org/Additional-Pages/IRS-Proposed-Regulations.aspx

The issue is this: The regulation would force those charter school teachers who have chosen to be in the state retirement system and are currently contributing to their state retirement plans to quit their charter-school jobs or lose the money that has been contributed to their accounts by the state. Teachers can keep what they've put into the account, but anything the state has put in would be gone.

This is a retroactive action that is certainly unfair and should be illegal.

But apparently the proposed regulation will not be subject to a vote by Congress and is NOT legislation. Instead, the IRS is simply required to use its expertise and experience to come up with the best policies."

Here is a little more information from the Arizona Charter Schools Association:

Protect Charter Teacher's Retirement Benefits

Old and New

Calling it an important part of Western culture, members of a House committee voted Monday to let schools teach the Old and New Testaments to students in public high schools.

Bill to bring Bible onto High School

I find this kind of interesting and thought I might comment on it.

It is certainly controversial. I am sure some will say something like, "How dare they teach the Bible in public schools! It smacks of establishing a religion and will open the door for those evangelicals to make more converts and send more kids to pray around the flag pole. What is going on with this legislature!"

But, here are some reasons to include a study of the Old and New Testaments:

- The legislature is correct. Without an understanding of the Bible, it is literally impossible to understand many literary references. It also has had an undeniable affect in western civilization, and is difficult to understand the foundational background of our laws, ethos and culture without an understanding of the Bible.

- It is perfectly acceptable to study the tenants of other religions, from the deep held beliefs of the ancient Greeks to the text of the Bhagavad Gita to the tenets of secular humanism. There is no reason to exclude a study of the Bible simply because it's existence makes some people unreasonably angry.

On the other hand

- It is already perfectly acceptable to study the Bible as literature, or as a foundational cultural reference or as a religion. Why does a law need to be passed to implement this? Diane (my lovely wife) attended an Arizona High School not that long ago, and she had a course on the Bible as Literature. Did something shift, besides the volume of the voices of some in the culture, that made it necessary to codify a whole new course? It seems to be a bit of someone feeling the need to make a law about something so they can say they did something. Election season is now!


And a personal bias

I am very much in favor of schools that are "Christian" in beliefs, teachings and practice. I go so far as to say that our public education system, and especially our university's, seem to work hard to indoctrinate the young people in our culture to reject Christian beliefs. So, if you are a parent that wants your kids to learn about the Bible, flee the public school system as quick as you can. Or else do what you can to teach your children what you believe is the truth. If you are otherwise, then disregard my opinion.

And here is a reasonable statement from the ACLU (and some of you find that hard to believe) about the Bible in Public Schools:
The Bible in Public Schools: a First Amendment Guide

One of our own

One year ago today, we lost one of our own, helicopter pilot Loren Leonburger, in a crash on the Waterman mountains.

Our unit did have the opportunity to work with him just prior to his passing. It was an honor.

Take some time to remember him by looking at a couple of links:

Friends remember

Pima County Sheriff's Department

Hundreds gather to remember

Rest in Peace Loren, and thank you for your service!

I think I found a nice little side job

I just saw that the Pima Association of Governments and the City of Tucson is ready to spend $300,000 on a consultant to do a study about the proposed streetcar plan. Here are the requirements, as reported on azstarnet:

"The consultant will prepare a "Tucson Modern Streetcar Land Use and Development Implementation Plan." There have been 11 previous planning studies of the area, according to a PAG document.

The consultant would study properties within a quarter mile of the streetcar line; the potential for streetcar-oriented development; and the city's existing land-use plans, zoning maps, and development and design standards. Then the consultant would make policy recommendations about streetscapes, parking and housing. The scope of work calls for the consultant to meet with any stakeholder affected by the project and pay special attention to the historic West University neighborhood."

The local news reports that, according to the City Manager, the "...consultant's report will validate and supplement his staff's reports."

I figure I need a staff of three to complete this project. I will be the lead consultant, since I will be the one applying, so I will take the lions share of the money. I need one person who can read, so they can look over the eleven previous studies and one person who can type and knows how to use a word processing program.

Who's with me? And where do we apply?

Read more: $300,000 allocated for streetcar consultant

Overwhelmed, and I like it

I really just meant to pick up a couple of extra books to get me through the holidays. I figured, I could spend some time reading, which I find enjoyable and relaxing, and maybe I could learn a little something.

The problem is, the library has a seeming inexhaustible supply of books, so my eyes were bigger than my holiday. I suppose that it also didn't help that we had our annual holiday movie viewing spree.

Here are some books that I have been working on or have recently read. They each had some interesting and great stuff. All of them had more to recomend in them than I could possibly put here, so I will just throw in a quote I liked from each of them and a link to a summary. So if you are looking for something to read, consider something from this list:


Seal Team Six

"The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday"







Leadership and Crisis

" A surprising number of Americans do not see the connection between the growth of government and the loss of freedom."




The Midas Touch

"It’s next to impossible to build a successful business without relationships. But you can do it without partners if you are capable of structuring deals and bringing in the right talent for specific projects."





Rin Tin Tin

"He's so tough I have to feed him manhole covers for breakfast."









The End Of Molasses Classes

"Create moments that will have a lasting impact on children's lives."








Primetime Propaganda

"...there has been no more powerful voice in our culture than television."





The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor

Ok, nothing really useful in this one. This one was just for fun. But here is something:

"No one is more shocked by Brian's actions than Brian......"

Commitment Card

During the civil rights campaign in Birmingham, Dr. King required that everyone participating with him sign a pledge committing to do ten things.

Would you have stood with Dr. King and pledged to do all ten? Which ones would you not be willing to do?

Martin Luther King Jr., 1963

I hereby pledge myself—my person and body—to the nonviolent movement. Therefore I will keep the following ten commandments:

1. Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.

2. Remember always that the non—violent movement seeks justice and reconciliation — not victory.

3. Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.

4. Pray daily to be used by God in order that all men might be free.

5. Sacrifice personal wishes in order that all men might be free.

6. Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.

7. Seek to perform regular service for others and for the world.

8. Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue, or heart.

9. Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.

10.Follow the directions of the movement and of the captain on a demonstration.

I sign this pledge, having seriously considered what I do and with the determination and will to persevere.

Name____________________

Address__________________

Phone___________________

Nearest Relative___________

Address__________________

Besides demonstrations, I could also help the movement by: (Circle the proper items)

Run errands, Drive my car, Fix food for volunteers, Clerical work, Make phone calls, Answer phones, Mimeograph, Type, Print Signs, Distribute leaflets.

ALABAMA CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Birmingham Affiliate of S.C.L.C.

505 1/2 North 17th Street

F.L. Shuttlesworth, Presiden