Giving

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

This video has had over 9,000,000 views (hat tip to Brooke):

Nincompoopery — And Worse

(Weekend roundup post.   For the definition of nincompoop, see THIS in the Urban Dictionary. Commenters are encouraged to post links that tell of more nincompoopery)

Links to read (more possibly added as the weekend progresses):

US Military Bases are ‘Gun Free Zones’ Because Democrats Decreed Them To Be

New report says only one-third of Syrian rebels are "moderates" -- and those "moderates" burn churches

Unregulated dinner parties! The horror!

In Fairfax County, protests over dumping of [250,000] library books...

Your iPhone uses more energy than a refrigerator

A 47-Story High-Rise Has a Tall Problem: They Forgot the Elevators

Obama Says Insurance Will Be 'Significantly Cheaper' Under Obamacare, But That Isn't True

Obama claims gov’t healthcare will cost less than the average monthly cell phone bill

Walgreens Changes Health Care Plan for 160,000 Workers Because of Obamacare

Cleveland Clinic to Reduce Budget by $330 Million Due to ObamaCare, Layoffs Inevitable

A Nation of Laws

By Sam Huntington

Why must we accept the authority of government? There are actually three reasons: fear, tradition, or philosophy. If we refuse to obey the law, government will punish us. If we refuse to obey the law, we violate religious teaching (Give unto Caesar). If we refuse to obey the law, we break faith with our fellow citizens. Therefore, it is possible to postulate that government has a stake in maintaining its power over its citizens, even to the extent of fooling us into believing that we the people actually govern. We do not.

If this is true, then what must we think about this notion of natural law? There is actually more than one form of natural law: Divine, secular, and historic. Divine law is revealed to us from an all-powerful being. Secular law is the consequence of man’s understanding of physical, biological, and behavioral factors. Historic law has evolved over the course of human history, either because of accumulated understanding, or well-established practices and experiences. Of these three, historic law is most flexible.

Danger Signs Ignored

According to Reuters, the police in Newport, Rhode Island, were so concerned by the bizarre behavior of Aaron Alexis that they notified the Navy Police weeks ago.

Life Is For Living!

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

The biggest purchase we've ever made and now the fourth vehicle in the AOW household's "fleet":

Mr. AOW has more information about the van, as well as an anecdote about our maiden voyage last week.

BREAKING! Headquarters for the Naval Sea Systems Command breached!

Active shooter(s) at the Washington Navy Yard, less than a mile from the U.S. Capitol. Multiple people shot there, and all inside have been ordered to shelter in place.

The Navy Yard is an extremely secure facility! Documents with the highest classification! This facility houses the command center for naval operations in the eastern Mediterranean.

Breaking coverage at WTOP.

UPDATE @ 3:34 P.M., EDT: This screen shot appears to a photo of Aaron Alexis, who has now been named as the suspect:

At this point, 12 are confirmed dead.

Book Review: An Occasional Walker

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

A readable and unique book!

An Occasional Walker is a modern Canterbury Tales — albeit with political twists related to the world's state of affairs today.

But do not conclude that this book is all about politics! Rather, An Occasional Walker resonates with humor, satire, and personal anecdotes, which are poignant at times. The author is clearly a wordsmith who knows how to use the English language efficaciously so as to engage the reader.

Musical Interlude

Enjoy:

Nincompoopery — And Worse

(Weekend roundup post.   For the definition of nincompoop, see THIS in the Urban Dictionary. Commenters are encouraged to post links that tell of more nincompoopery)

Links to read (more possibly added as the weekend progresses):

Syria analyst [Elizabeth O'Bagy] vouched for rebel group that depicted burning US Capitol

Obama boasts of ‘decimated’ al Qaeda undermined by intel briefings: Agencies warned administration the group was expanding, not ‘on the run’

Jeb Bush awards Hillary Liberty Medal on eve of Benghazi anniversary

Union Square ‘I hate white people’ beating...

Internet Radio: No Looking Back

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

Today, WC and I will be interviewed on Blog Talk Radio's No Looking Back, co-hosted by Elizabeth of The Hill Chronicles and Bernie of Planck's Constant. The show airs for 30 minutes beginning at 4:30 P.M. EDT.

For additional information, please CLICK HERE.

The Power to go to War

By Sam Huntington

We once more enter the discussion of who has the power to take the American people to war. On the one side of this argument, represented by nearly every president since Harry Truman, the president as chief executive and commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the United States has the power to act unilaterally with regard to imposing hostilities upon another nation. On the other side of this argument are those who argue that only Congress can declare war, only Congress can fund war, so that no president may commit this nation to war without the authority of the Congress.

It is easy for me to dismiss the first argument as one made by those who wish to retain their power. It is easy for me to support the second argument because it is ludicrous to imagine that a nation founded on the principle of checks and balances would so easily give over to the president such unlimited powers.

Dr. Robert Turner of the University of Virginia School of Law makes a case for the former argument, stating that it was the intent of the founding fathers to give the president massive power as this nation’s chief executive. According to Dr. Turner, Jefferson himself weighed in on this very topic:

Never Forget (Updated the evening of 9/11)

Set to the music of Samuel Barber's "Agnus Dei" from Adagio for Strings:


Reflect upon the solemnity of this day:    
 

Obama, Christianity, and Islam

Please watch this short video released on August 31, 2013 (hat tip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance):


Information about ISNA (Islamic Society of North America)

Doublespeak

(hat tip to Reliapundit of THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS)

The ugly truth:

Time For Comedy

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

As a member in good standing of the Grammar Police for the past several decades, I love the following comedic take on punctuation. Dean Martin, one of the best straight men in show business, couldn't keep a straight face throughout the segment.

Enjoy:


Laughter is the best medicine!

Nincompoopery — And Worse

(Weekend roundup post.   For the definition of nincompoop, see THIS in the Urban Dictionary. Commenters are encouraged to post links that tell of more nincompoopery)

Just one link this week because the information is so extensive and includes multiple embedded links:

What are the specific details of the Common Core Initiative Standards (CCIS)?

Folks, there is no escape from what is afoot. Not only public education but also private education and homeschooling will be affected.


If this topic doesn't interest you, please scroll down to the posts published earlier this week.

Playing Games

Senator John McCain played poker on his iPhone during a U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing related to Syria. What's more, he Tweeted about it:

Speaking of playing games:

POLITICIANS ARE A PLAGUE UPON THE LAND!

China: Erudite, Suave, and Clever

By Sam Huntington

It is an interesting study. On the one hand, we have Barack Obama, a man elected to the American presidency owing to his vast experience and proven diplomatic ability, who in spite of apologizing to the entire world for the United States of America, its history, and its people, managed to fall flat on his face during the so-called Arab Spring movement. On the other hand, there is a growing Chinese influence in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) that is anything but Obama-like. Let’s take a look …

One may recall that the Arab Spring had its beginning when a Tunisian set himself on fire after being harassed by a city official. It has been shaking the Middle East ever since. Three dictators have met their end because of the Arab Spring, but we are not entirely sure this was a good thing. It takes years to record a history.

An Upside Down World

by Sam Huntington

It really is an embarrassment. On the one hand, the federal government identifies certain Islamacist groups as terrorists in federal court, and then classifies these same organizations as “moderates” suitable for Obama’s so-called Moslem Outreach Program. No, this isn’t a communist party problem: both political parties of guilty of this —treason. There has been a long succession of flip-flops, from Clinton to the present bungler. Some of these so-called Moslem moderates were advising our president even as they were being investigated for terrorism.

It begs the question: are we really that stupid? Yes, it’s true. We are now part of a circus managed by clowns. Dangerous clowns.

Back To School Today

The homeschool classes that I teach resume today. 

As a result of the anticipated work load this first week of classes, I am turning over to Sam the management of this blog through Thursday.

This term I am scheduled to teach the following middle-school and high-school courses: World Literature, Advanced Composition, English Grammar, Spanish, Latin, and SAT Verbal Prep.  I also have a heavy schedule of private tutoring and piano lessons this term.  Good-bye, Saturdays!