Our Budget Ideas

Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) sent out an email today asking for "Your Budget Ideas." This is what I sent him, not that I am expecting him to listen.
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Senator Bennet,

Thank you for soliciting our comments on the budget. If you listen to them, we can stop the looming economic disaster. As you know, we are rapidly approaching the point where we will no longer even be able to pay the interest on the national debt. The President has submitted a budget, which, like most politicians seeking re-election, postpones the necessary pain of extreme cost-cutting until after the next election. Worse, rather than cutting the budget and reducing the deficit, he is continuing his runaway deficit spending. Yes, he inherited a budget deficit from his over-spending predecessor, but rather than bandage the wound and stop the bleeding, President Obama has cut even deeper and opened up an artery. In just his first two years, he took us farther in debt than all previous administrations combined! It took George Bush a full 8 years to accomplish the same task!

Government spending is out of control. It is time for courageous politicians to admit to the people that we are in serious trouble and make deep, painful cuts. Cut up the government credit card. No more debt! Eliminate unconstitutional programs and agencies. Seek and destroy government waste. End wasteful earmarks. The Republican promise of $100 billion in cuts is not even enough, when the President is planning another $1.38 TRILLION in deficit spending (and adding $7.2 TRILLION over 10 years). Please stop putting bandaids on arterial bleeding. Have the courage to make real, significant cuts, balance the budget, and start paying of the national debt.

If you don't, the next step is for the rest of the world to end the dollar's status as the world reserve currency, resulting in the collapse of the dollar and massive inflation. What was once whispered in dark corners of the Internet is now being reported on CNN and Fox News. We can't ignore the debt any longer. DO SOMETHING AND DO IT NOW! Please!

A True Hero

When the horrible shooting in Tuscon happened, an armed citizen, Joe Zamudio, was next door in Walgreens. Here is the story in his words:

Note that without special military or police training, he was able to rapidly assess the situation and took the appropriate action. Even though he was momentarily confused about who the real shooter was, he didn't shoot the wrong person; in fact, he didn't even draw. Mr. Zamudio is a true American hero. He proves that an average citizen, carrying a concealed weapon, can make the right decision and make a difference within precious seconds, even though the police are only minutes away.

Why I D/Won't Own Apple Products

The Apple Store has again refused an app promoting the Manhattan Declaration, a statement of Christian faith, because it is allegedly 'likely to expose a group to harm.' The supposed harm comes from the "anti-gay, anti-choice" language in the declaration, defending the Biblical positions that homosexuality and abortion are sin. According to the Apple Store, my Christian faith is harmful to others. The folks at the Manhattan Declaration summed it up, saying, "it is difficult to see how this is anything other than a statement of animus by a major American corporation against the beliefs of millions of Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox citizens."

So, even though I am looking forward to one day owning a handy little pad/tablet device, there is yet another reason not to purchase an iPad or any other Apple product. Heck, I don't even have iTunes or QuickTime on my computers.

There are some levels of politically correct insanity I can deal with (and have to if I want to buy almost anything these days), but when a company decides that a basic statement of Christian beliefs is "likely to expose a group to harm," I have no use for that company or its products.

Happy New Year!

It's CHRISTmas!

The second best holiday of the year has arrived! In the next days, we celebrate the Incarnation, that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His Glory, the Glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). The eternal Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, uncreated deity, fully God, stepped into time, taking on a human nature in addition to His divine nature. The almighty Son became a helpless baby, needing His mother to care for His every need and requiring protection from His step-father. For the first time, He was cold, felt pain, and identified with our weakness. He did not cease to be God, but instead "emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant" (Philippians 2:7), choosing not to exercise His abilities of God, but to live as one of us, depending on the Father and Spirit for strength and wisdom.

The Incarnation is a magnificent demonstration of the love, power, and wisdom of God. It was the necessary prerequisite for our salvation at the cross. It enabled Him to fulfill the promise to David that one of his descendants would sit on the throne of Israel forever and to be the Servant promised in Isaiah. It prepared the Lord Jesus Christ to be our High Priest, ever interceding for us to the Father and bridging the gap between us and Him.

In the midst of the gifts, the time with family and the wonderful food, take time to reflect on the Miracle of CHRISTmas, the Incarnation. Share it with your children and rejoice with the world that God has come near, Immanuel, God With Us.

Make Liberal Heads Explode

They think it's a massive Tea Party Conspiracy! (It's not...)

Let's make liberal heads explode. Vote for Bristol and Mark!

Awana Grand Prix Results

The little man and I had a great time, and so did a lot of other folks. It's hard to balance my competitiveness with the desire to see my kids involved and enjoying the building and the races. This year I think we did OK in that regard. We also put together a couple very fast cars. The little man's Green Machine averaged 211.3 mph (scaled!) and came in fourth overall after placing 2nd in the first heat and 1st in the 2nd and 3rd heats.

The cars winning 2nd and 3rd place tied at 211.6 (and had to run the first ever run-off), and the young lady who won 1st place for Sparks ran 211.7 mph. It was very, very competitive. We were only 0.4 "miles per hour" difference between 4th and 1st - 0.19% of the total speed.

My Go Fish car ran 213, 214, and 211 in three heats - I saw one time of 2.56- seconds (I'll have to record those next year). The 214.07 was one of the best times ever on the track. I guess we must be doing something right! (See my previous post for links to tips and tricks. Some work, and some aren't worth the effort.)

Until next year, keep it fun, keep the kids involved, and keep your drive to win in balance with the needs of the kids.

AWANA Grand Prix

It's time again for the AWANA Grand Prix at our church. Cars have been built, the track is set up, and tomorrow is the big day. My little man has his Green Machine tuned up and ready, and my Go Fish ICHTHUS Mobile is weighted down and ready to go. I'll post pictures tomorrow!

For now, here are some sites I found with tips and tricks for making fast Grand Prix/Pinewood Derby cars.

• Wayne Schmidt's AWANA Grand Prix Race Car Page (Engineering analysis of what works and what doesn't!)
  
• Scoutorama's Mixed Bag (Some good, some bad)
• Fast Facts (Generally good, basic tips)
• Pinewood Freak (Lots of articles - READ THE COMMENTS!)
• The Physics Behind the Car! (Very cool for the geekiest of us - explains why things work)
  

By the way, please note that some of the tips created for Cub Scout Pinewood Derby cars don't work or aren't necessary on AWANA Grand Prix cars. The GP axles don't have those annoying ribs, and GP wheels are made of softer plastic, so some of the tools for PD wheels you have to be very careful with.

So what is my regimen? It's a secret! When you're competing against folks who have tracks set up in their barns, you have to keep some kind of edge!