NOW THE TENSIONS TAKE OVER -- For Just A MINUTE Radio on Tuesday 120131

We have had some beautiful Spring like days here on the farm.

 

The only problem is it ISN’T SPRING!  Ii isn’t even groundhog day until Thursday!  How many cold (below freezing) hours are required before apples or peaches or whatever else ‘set’ the fruit? I fear we’re getting near the limit. (L)

 

Of course I don’t know what we can do about it?  No way to make the trees bud at the right time and pollinate and all those things.  Oh my… The Lord must be very busy at this time of year.

 

And just think…He’s got all those chores to do about the countries in the Southern Hemisphere.  Just think of what chaos there would be if the seasons got mixed up as to which month they were in and all that. Maybe I could persuade one of the kids to ‘gin up a story about it. But once you got the story set… how would you get it ‘unstuck’?  I suppose you’d have to have an asteroid come along and bump the earth – without an explosion I’m hoping… and that would set things right again… But of course it would upset Greenwich Mean Time – and all the other precise measurements that are based on the stars.

 

Oh well… I’ve got enough on my plate for tomorrow even though I haven’t thought about it. I guess I’ll just get up early – again. But today I fell asleep… when I shouldn’t have. Oh don’t get up set… I wasn’t driving or doing anything unusual… just sitting in the easy chair. Best place to take a needed nap. (J)

 

Hope you have a good day… and don’t stay up too late tonight when getting the election returns. It all works just like clockwork… except when the polls malfunction … then we’ve got a problem. 

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack Buttram

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“JUST A MINUTE”

NOW THE TENSIONS TAKE OVER

          Just a Minute: One look at the hip-high green vegetated everglades makes me wary of striking off across the marshes of South Florida. Maybe it’s the primal fear of snakes or alligators that calls forth more prayers for those who work in such an environment. Maybe those sufficiently committed toward the goal of winning this swing state, cast aside the fears of the peninsula and put down the dread they have of marshes and swamps. 

          Within a few hours we’ll know the victor of the ‘winner take all contest’ – and he may stride on to claim victory in August right here in Tampa Bay.

          Mr. Santorum has taken fatherly care of his 3 year old. Dr. Paul is off carrying on his particular brand of stirring up votes. Which leaves Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney to battle it out in the middle of the Sunshine State – in the deep darkness of after sunset?

          It’s not the same as watching the races at Daytona – but underneath are the tensions of striving to maintain a nation beloved by its people. Let us lift our hearts in prayer for our Nation.  <> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)  

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THE POLLS BEGIN TO SETTLE DOWN -- for Just A Minute Radio -- Monday 120130

If you’ve ever ridden a trolly car (and most of you haven’t – you’re not old enough) you find they make sudden ‘lurches’ even when they are on rails. 

 

The same is true of railroading… although it was dampened a good deal back in the days of passenger trains – especially when improved cars with longer wheel bases and springs were added to the ‘luxury’ type cars – but even they on certain bends and curves tended to lurch or whatever beyond the train crew’s ability to control what was supposed to be a smooth ride.  There were switching areas in the yards and other ‘sudden’ curves which – when taken at too high a speed – could cause the conductor, mail clerk, fireman or anyone who was standing to have to brace themselves.

 

Well… that’s sort of the ride we’re feeling in Florida these days… and it’s probably going to continue as the race grows tighter and the emotions stronger.  Those backing the various candidates… n both parties actually – find supporters and financial backers insisting more strongly that their strategy be listened to… and those kinds of ‘strong’ suggestions have the making of bad politics, bad tempers and bad results. 

 

Actually the Lord has the total control of all these things although the news media and even less interested and more even tempered observers tend to get out of line or over the top in wanting to be listened to or have their opinions followed. It happens… and one of the results is often ‘voter fraud’ imposed by powerful people in places not easily observed. Southern Illinois … south Texas, various other states that were often run by political machines … wound up being sites of such shenanigans.  They still exist when pressure gets high enough and law enforcement gets lax or is overcome by moneyed forces.

 

Well… we’d better not try to deal with that in one program… but I would not be surprised with all the extra money floating around because of the interest in this election and hot tempers galore… there will have to be strong legal enforcement and public support to keep our election process on an even keel. 

 

Probably Prayer is the most efficient tool to be used – an it’s completely lawful. (J)

 

May the Good Lord bless us all as we go through this trying time.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

Jack

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“JUST A MINUTE”

THE POLLS BEGIN TO SETTLE DOWN

          Just a Minute: I’m looking over the Rasmussen polls. Going back over the calls vs. actualities they’ve racked up so far they have the most accurate results so far.     Of course many things happen in volatile primary voting.  This early in the contest it’s risky to put forth ironclad predictions – so I won’t.  But at the moment with the reactions and effects of this weekend Mr. Romney has widened a significant margin.   I’m not cold stone predicting a win because uncertain events often are thrown into the mix; but in checking the accuracy of the polling done by Mr. Rasmussen and his crew vs. the other major league predictors, it appears in the Mitt vs. Newt contest -- Mitt is pulling ahead. 

          Of course that can always change – and possibly will; but right now this is looking like Mr. Gingrich’s reactions, and tendency to push too hard when challenged is wearing thin and won’t serve him well in coming days. We’ll just have to hold on and see.

          Sorry -- out of time. <> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)  

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THE PLAY TAKES A SURGICAL TWIST -- Just A Minute Radio for Friday 120127

Well hardly seems possible but we’re drawing on to the end of January. 

 

Florida has already cast a *bunch* of advance ballots – and it’s a winner take all kind of voting.  Frankly I’ve forgotten how many electoral votes are in the Florida count… but it’s a bunch … the number 30 sticks in my mind. I’ll look it up when I’m not so sleepy.

 

The debate in Jacksonville coming *after* the State of the Nation speech and *before* Florida with that big Hispanic contingent in it’s delegation – is a hefty player as Al Gore and George Bush (43) can tell you without blinking – maybe tearing up a little but they’re big boys now.

 

I’m finally getting the hang of doing things with my desk-top computer… I’ve only had it about a year and a half (L) … by now I would be thinking about a replacement *except* for two things: I don’t have the money -- & 2 --  I don’t want to be having to learn something new about a new machine.

 

That’s what’s bugged me all along about computer things.  You hardly get one to the point where you know what you want to do and how to do it – and next thing it’s time to re-up for another expensive machine with new programs etc. etc.

 

My view of my memory system is it’s like your “too small” attic or storage room. When you want to put something new in… you’ve got to throw something that’s in there out… or away… or give it to someone who wants it.  A garage sale is more work than generally it is worth… but no sense griping about all that.

 

The night (I’m typing after midnight) draws on apace… when I get to this stage I always make errors – like not *sending* the stuff I’ve prepared for the radio.  That’s not helpful for today… or in this case the NEXT day – which it turns out is *already* today… Argh!

 

Well… enough griping about today… or this week…. See you next week. Have a great weekend!

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack & Barbara

===============

 “JUST A MINUTE”

THE PLAY TAKES A SURGICAL TWIST

            Just a Minute: Are you good at solving mysteries?

          At eight last night four candidates stood on a Jacksonville stage queried by CNN’s white-bearded Wolf Blitzer, and tried to deliver -- if not a knockout punch at least a win by a TKO.

          Dr. Ron Paul got the most laugh lines with his short answers and succinct delivery – but he’s not really playing for the grand prize. The win he will carry away will be a slot on the nominating conference program – and keeping his ‘libertarian’ campaign alive.

          Sen. Rick Santorum – youngest of the bunch seemed trying hard but lacks the seasoned and courteous gravitas to pull it off.  Newt tried his ‘argument with the moderator’ act – but struck out.  Thus leaving Mitt Romney having still a steep hill to climb to the National Convention, but finally achieving a degree of the necessary determination and ‘fire in the belly’ observers say he must master.  So the battle will probably continue until they return to Tampa on August, 27^th.

          Can’t be too soon for me. <> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)  

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TWO ON A BENCH YOU CAN'T FORGET -- for Just A Minute Radio on Thursday 120126

Once more yesterday we enjoyed weather in the 60’s – like Florida – but we’re still here in the studio!  Will it ever be winter?  Just ask the folks in Wisconsin.

 

This journey is taking us on a convoluted route – up hill and down dale – and who knows if Grandma will get to carry her presents over the white and drifted snow any time soon?  We’ll have to get some of the New Englanders, or upper MidWesterners to carry the snow to the sleigh from all I hear in the weather reports.

 

I can remember the days we were able to ice skate in Roanoke Virginia… and the days we were not… in fact my brother… four years younger… fell into the ice cold water one winter… and I was the one to shepherd him home. I don’t think I was too gentle… and I have apologized several times over the years.  Things sometimes stick in your mind when you shudda done better! And I shoudda. My Brother’s name is Jimmy and he suffers a LOT from arthritis…  back in our school days we never gave it a thought.

 

Well time does change things for us doesn’t it. Don’t say something today you’ll be sorry for tomorrow.

 

One of the reasons for speaking softly – says the ‘manners book’ is that if you use quiet and comfortable words they go down a lot easier when you come to the place of having to eat them. Certainly a thought that ought to be spread around during this political season.  Yesterday I watched the ceremony when the Congresswoman from Tucson, Arizona submitted her resignation to the Speaker of the House in the early afternoon. She’s a really sturdy and beautiful lady and deserves all the accolades.  She has a loyal and diligent staff from all reports and they deserve accolades also for the difficult times they have had to suffer. May the good Lord bless them all.

 

See you tomorrow.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack Buttram

===================

“JUST A MINUTE”

TWO ON A BENCH YOU CAN’T FORGET

            Just a Minute: Do you recall Nancy and Newt on a cozy park bench discussing their agreement on “Global Warming?” Now their memory is ramped up and it’s making new news.

          First, when Mr. Gingrich was asked about that warming TV commercial the two opposites made – his response was, “That was one of the stupidest things I have ever done.” And a lot of us agreed.

          Now he and Mrs. Pelosi – his bench mate in the earlier TV spot – are both involved with one another on TV except not together. Since Mr. G is now front runner in Florida she knows a few things when he had to resign and pay a $300 thousand dollar ethics fine – which would simply crush his run for the nomination.

          Newt professes he doesn’t know what she’s talking about and she should lay it all on the line -- which might cause her to violate a secrecy pledge made when Newt was dismissed from the Speakership.

            Looks like we may have struck an iceberg on the voyage to the nomination and I suppose we’ll just have to await results.  

<> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)  

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HOW'R YOU GONNA GETEM WORKIN' AGAIN? -- for Just A Minute Radio on Wednesday 120125

Back near waterside again.  It’s been *almost* Florida weather this fall/winter in our part of the Blue Ridge SE of the Smokies. It’s hard to get a real WINTER feeling. In our part of the upstate we’ve just not seen snow.

 

But who knows… It was back in the 70’s I think when we had a 13+inch snowfall, enough to close schools, churches etc. etc. somewhere near the first week in March as I recall.  I know it was enough to make travel on I-85 from Charlotte on down toward Atlanta in to South Carolina’s largest, unplanned parking lot.

 

But that was unusual – just like this warm streak has been unusual. (I wonder just how much just like is likely (or liable) to pull the same stunt. Ah well… we shall depend on our handy- dandy, always alert, WX station near the Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) airport, to keep us informed.

 

Actually – to tell you the truth – as a pilot who was trained and used to flying in rough weather when necessary, I do (and did) appreciate the efforts the men and women there put into their forecasting.  As far as those who *must* depend upon weather forecasts… I’d rather have them forecast weather that turns out not to be as bad as expected than the other way around. And the fact is – again speaking for myself – I’d rather be down here, wishing the weather was good enough to be up-there… than the other way around.  Once or twice in 20+ years of all weather flying I did find myself wishing to be on the ground safely than otherwise.

 

So the weather people for my money in the main do an excellent job of conveying what conditions are expected – and giving pilots ‘opt out’ choices than knowledge than a turned around situation.  There are OLD pilots and BOLD pilots – but it’s a rare day when you’ll run into a group of OLD BOLD pilots. (J)

 

Times up for today… see you again tomorrow – DV,

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack Buttram

===================

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

HOW’R YA GONNA GITTEM WORKIN’ AGAIN?

 

BB: Jist A Minit: Mr. Jack – Now that-ut we ain’t in South Carolina no mo-wa –

               Whut air we gonna git done?

Homer: Mite as well go on doin nuthin fer awl th progress bin made.

MizP: Well whut’s the firs than ta do?

BB: How ‘bout buildin’ tha-ut oil pipe line. Thousans of jobs!

Homer: He’s done caved ta th onyion bosses.

MizP: You means Union… don’t cha?

Homer: Yeah – thass rite.

MizP: Well whut IS a-hapnin?

BB: Rite now seems like nuthin’s happnin -- nothin’ ta say.

Homer: Well they better git busy an say hit!

Jack: Did ja hear anything new last night at the state of the state?

BB: Sounded ‘bout th’ same as ever… only longer…  

MizP: Whut air we a-gonna do ‘bout hit.

Homer: We’s either gonna git our head’s t’gether or we’s gonna…

MizP: We’s gonna hang sepretly  -- an thas uncomfortable I heer.

BB: Hit shore souns uncumfortabbuble ta me.  

Jack: How so?

BB: Firs thang is less see sum ackshun… not another bushel o words.

Homer: Ah’d shore secund tha-ut motion.

MizP: Ah’d jes as soon they shuddup an DO sumpin.

Jack: Right – You’re talking about getting a bill passed.

MizP: Seems like they caint see th foress fowah th’ trees.

Homer: Whut da ya mean Miz Pearl?

MizP: Ah mean get sumpin done…Not jis argued ‘bout it

BB: Hit’s like a barge stuk in a water lock.

MizP: The voting public is getting ready to say a pox on …

               bof yo houses. 

BB: Thass rite… He’s done sole out to the labor bosses again.

MIzP: Ifn’ he’d git ta work an quit flyin’ round th nation.

Homer: Rite Miz Pearl tell’em ta git sumpiin done quit jis tawkin’.

Jack: So thanks to everybody … You know the Lord is in

               control lets just quit talking for now.

                <> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

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THE MORE WE SHOVEL THE MORE SEEMS TO BE THERE - Radio for Just A Minute on Tuesday 1201124

OK folks… time for a little rest.

 

How about a saunter along the well trodden path – watch out for the sleeping gators.  Observe the great grey beards of hanging Spanish Moss… it’s a trademark of Florida and so here we are.

 

We’re learning about abandoning politics for a little while just to let the ‘little grey cells recuperate’ and resume their original duties and function. While visitors to these parts busy themselves with the contest that will come later in Tampa when the nominating convention convenes in Tampa. But enough of that for now… we’ve decided it’s time to think about something else…

 

What else is there? Will Jack and the Beanstalk fans cry. They spend each waking moment (and some sleepy ones too) thinking about how this feat of beating back Barack Obama and his drive for four more years.  We’re just here for a little relaxation R&R one might call it – and the incipient debate this evening continues to draw the ones whose future is well wrapped up in the proceedings today… and next Tuesday.

 

So…we’re trying to keep the army moving along without it losing the connection with why we’re interested in the ‘Glades of Florida.’

 

What’s happening today is we’re taking 30 seconds or so of program time to see if we can grab a little return from never, never land – and concentrate on the task at hand… as well as praying for all the candidates.  I have some ideas about how to pray at the moment – but have been asked to ‘cool it’ for the present. So that’s what I’m doing and we are not in the BIG state of Florida with something like 14 million people – and a few gadzillion oranges and other types of fruit.

 

So to accomplish my purpose I’m headed for bed after putting this blog in the proper channels…and praying for you as well as for all the candidates… Because I’m positive the LORD’s will – NOT My will is the important thing to keep the eye on the prize. Thanks for being with us.

 

May the Good Lord Bless and Keep us in the hollow of HIS hand.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack & Barbara

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“JUST A MINUTE”

THE MORE WE SHOVEL THE MORE SEEMS TO BE THERE

          Just a Minute: Today is even more crowded with political junk mail no matter how fast I bail it out. So, today I’m veering off the beaten path.

          I don’t personally know H. Jackson Brown Jr. but he’s written lots of books from Tall Pine Lodge in Fernvale, Tennessee. Even the name sounds restful.

          In these books he collects observations by individuals of different ages and assembles them in random volumes of ‘sayings’ I’ll read you a few to bend your mind off politics and give the grey cells a rest. These are things he has learned:

          I’ve learned my Daddy can say a lot of words I can’t.  – Age 8 // that it doesn’t cost anything to be nice. – Age 66 // Most of the things I worry about never happen.  Age 64 // every great achievement was once considered impossible – Age 47 // Homemade Toll House cookies should be eaten while still warm. – Age 29 // If you spread the peas out on your plate, it looks like you ate more. – Age 6.

          OK now you’ll feel better tomorrow. <> I’m Jack Buttram (END)  

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YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A TV HOLIDAY -- Monday Jan 23rd 120123

Well, It’s pleasing to have all you folks here on time and all.

 

Saturday was an interesting day at most polling places. The staff were required to tell you only one party would be voting on Saturday in South Carolina – and it *might* not be yours. But from all we could tell at voting places there was not *much* confusion. In parts of our County the polling sites are so close together people continue to get one mixed up with another.

 

And there are the inevitable breakdown of machines. Which delay’s voting – and particularly keeps the polling open beyond the seven PM deadline.  Even when new machines are requisitioned there are still delays and unacceptable problems because of the new procedures required which turn out to be delaying.  But in the places I observed there was order and general good behavior – with few exceptions.

 

It seems to happen most of all to people who are not frequent voters – as in not having voted in three or four years.  That’s OK *if* you haven’t moved or died.  You’d be surprised how many ‘dead’ people vote in general elections in some states. But it’s generally not a problem in South Carolina.

 

Well… talking about it makes me sleepy because the polls have to open at 7 AM – that means the polling place has to be set up generally no later than 6 AM… And then the place has to be closed at 7PM… and all the take-down process takes time and hope…  Hope that the ‘automatic’ machines will produce CORRECT tapes as to the numbers of people who voted – which must be MATCHED (numbers only) with the number of people who signed the voting roster to vote.

 

Well mistakes do happen and they are a bear to untangle – especially with an inexperienced crew.  So we’ll be having more voting later this year… November 6^th to be exact.  So if you move, or in some other way change your place of ‘registration’ – normally the ONE place you call home – be sure the county registration – or registrar’s – office has new paper-work filled out on you within thirty (30) days of your move, so you are registered or re-registered in your new domicile… (place of living) – you can only have ONE … you can only vote ONCE – but there are cases of being handicapped etc. in which you can have someone help you at curbside and vote legally.

 

So – enough of all that… let’s pray the system works well and the campaigning and behavior on the hustings will correct and dignified and as rapid as possible.

 

Aren’t we thankful to live in America where voting is not only allowed but encouraged! Let’s thank the Lord for that!

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack & Barbara

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“JUST A MINUTE”

YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A TV HOLIDAY

            Just a Minute: If you don’t care for negative campaigning – you might as well declare a noise-free zone at your house for the next nine days. You didn’t really think Mr. Romney would ‘go quietly into that good night’ did you?

          It appears Mitt – who doesn’t like street fighting – is sharpening up what he will need to stay in the race now for some time. Newt, who feels right at home when the verbal swords are clashing, is relishing his role.

          What I would have liked to have seen, vanished in hot air; the ‘tumult and the shouting’ I wrote about on Friday may now be softened since something like 30 to 40 percent of the eligible voters have already have already cast their advance ballots.

          Less than three percent of the GOP’s convention delegates have now been selected – so there’s still plenty of room for elbowing and sand-throwing.

          Might as well turn up the stereo -- select what YOU want to hear.

<>I’m Jack Buttram. (END)   

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THE TUMULT AND THE SHOUTING DIES...? for Just A Minute Radio for Friday 120120

I wasn’t entirely sure we’d make it on this run.

 

This has been a hectic week and a half or so since the close of the New Hampshire primary… and it looks like Iowa will be looking for those missing eight precincts between Thanksgiving and New Years. Rumor has it that this has happened before.

 

In fact one of the partial telephone conversations that was broadcast on the night everyone was staying up trying to find the missing ballots had a rather gravelly voice saying: “Oh those E-8 Forms are a waste of paper anyway!”  Sounds like whoever he was he’d decided how to get rid of them so he wouldn’t have to travel in to DesMoines to place ‘em where they belonged.

 

It’s sure made an embarrassment for the Iowa delegation. Perhaps they’ll do something corrective by next go ‘round.  Or it could just become a part of the Iowa Caucus routine… the Treasure Hunt to find the Precinct reports. It gives a certain ‘flexibility’ to the ballot returns. Hmmmmm. 

 

Well… they stayed up late to finish up the reports. And we’ll be doing the same thing here in South Carolina – only NOT losing the ballots I hope. So… I’m yawning and toddling off to bed so I  won’t be nodding off when the voting’s going on tomorrow. Thanks.

 

See you next week, (DV)

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack and Barbara Too…

============================================

“JUST A MINUTE”

THE TUMULT AND THE SHOUTING DIES…?

          Just a Minute: Perhaps I’m just getting older, but the noise erupting from the TV rockets between my ears and I’m wondering if the world will come upright again after the current election. Did we have an inkling this would happen when Mr. Obama declared his run for the Presidency?

          We’ll finish this South Carolina campaign tomorrow – and thank the Lord for some welcome rest between now and the resumption of it in Florida after a few weeks. We surely welcome the break.  But when I think this won’t be over ‘til November… please hand me another aspirin.

          Recent experience shows we definitely can use refresher lessons in courtesy with one another.  We urgently need to realize our Constitution protects free speech, but does not condone offensive manners or forsaking respect. Our recent irritation with one another calls to mind a bit of Rudyard Kipling poetry…“The tumult and the shouting dies - The Captains and the Kings depart - Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, An humble and a contrite heart.”

          <> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)  

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WHAT IS THAT CHOAKING FEELING NOW HERE? for Just A Minute Radio Thursday 120119

OK just for today we’ll break off the politics for news about the Internet… and SOPA and PIPA.

 

They are whatchamacallits – the Army and Navy use them all the time. I can’t recall the generic name of abbreviations but the services are full of ‘em.  SOPA stands for Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Internet Piracy Act. COCUSA (Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America – where I was employed long ago) are engaged in protecting the creators of copyrighted materials.  And these legislation pieces are aimed in that direction.

 

Google, Wikipedia and other utilizers and distributors of the Internet wares are interested in cutting down on ‘piracy.’  ‘Piracy’ in their eyes is where someone creates a book, a song, a painting, and lots of other things – they hold a ‘copyright’ to what they have created. Others who come along and ‘pirate’ that creation should not be able to do so… or need to be obedient to the copy write laws and pay the original creator for his/her work. It is very complicated law.

 

One of the most recent problems arising out of this is radio stations that play music created by someone else – should they be *required* to pay a fee… a royalty … to the person who wrote, composed or played the song which then was broadcast on the air?  A big change in the enforcement of this ‘law’ just about drove a lot of radio station managers buggy.

 

Well… you can see the person responsible for creating the material does have a right to be compensated for his/her services… but what about the guy who has bought an put up the station that plays the music… he’s using it (the music) and it’s making another person richer… what does the radio station owner collect out of that?  Most of the music industry says – well the station is profiting by playing my music and selling advertising on his station which is popular because of what I have created… therefore *I* the owner of the station should be getting some slice of the pie… and it goes on. 

 

Well… I’m certainly not going to solve that problem here… but you begin to see where the boundries lie… and there’s a lot to be explained and pounded out etc. etc. more than I can manage here. But at least you now know why some of the Internet was dark yesterday… I guess you can write them about it. (J)  Eventually it’ll all “come out in the wash” as the old folks used to say.

 

I’m giving up for today… politics looks simpler after this escapade. (J)

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack Buttram

==================

“JUST A MINUTE”

WHAT IS THAT CHOAKING FEELING THAT’S NOW HERE?

          Just a Minute: Yesterday – well in fact up until just after midnight this morning – a large part of the Internet was shut down. It went dark because some of the users want to demonstrate against legislation called SOPA and PIPA which they see as huge threats the usefulness and freedom of this ‘social’ medium.

          What has happened is Wikipedia and hundreds of other websites went dark for 24 hours protesting two controversial pieces of legislation they see as threatening Internet security while undermining freedom of speech. This legislation is advanced in an effort to crack down on online "piracy" which they define as the illegal distribution of copyrighted material.

          Hollywood, music writers performers etc. along with the Chamber of Commerce of the USA are sympathetic to the cause -- believing the laws will help protect copyrighted material. Problem is they may also become abridgements to freedom of speech protected under the first amendment to the Constitution. SOPA and PIPA are aiming to protect from ‘piracy’ but at this stage are canons aimed at constitutionally protected free speech.

          Beware and be forewarned.  <> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)  

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www.wmuu.com

E-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

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AH DON'T THANK I UNNERSTOOD WHUT YOU SAID -- for JUST A MINUTE Radio Wednesday 120118

Things are moving pretty fast nowadays as we get deeper into the actual Presidential Preference Primary.

 

Lot of “P’s” in that sentence – but it serves to awaken listeners to the fact this is an unusual election because it is allowing the voters of a state to select nominees on the State’s ballot for the election to follow in November of 2012.  It’s a complicated matter before and after the actual voting.

 

First of all the electoral process was put in place back in the 1700’s when horses, mules and boats powered by sail power were the main means of transportation. It was before the telephone or speedy means of communication. It would be a 100+ years until the telegraph came into being and railroads became the most rapid method of transportation.

 

All of this meant to get the word out about who wanted to run for office and how it might be accomplished in a nation that was spread out from the eastern coast of North America to the Mississippi River and from the Gulf of Mexico to the St. Lawrence river – it was quite a territory. That meant long carriage or horseback rides and mail that was very slow in its travel. Consequently there had to be communications by mail which took time and travel.

 

All that just to put you in the mind of what was involved in electing a government and establishing it in the new nation. It was not simple and there was much ground to be covered.

 

When you stand back from pre-Revolutionary days and contemplate communicating from Northern Maine to Georgia and territories westward – all by horseback or carriage speed – you begin to grasp some of the challenges that faced the new leaders of the New World.

 

It’s always inspirational to me to think on those hardships and dedication; and to recall the effort that had to be exercised in those days to bring the United States into a cohesive and successful state. I’m sure it evidences God’s care and leading to those who valued their freedom to worship without being dictated to by a king or a warlord.  When I meditate on it all the words of the hymn “How Great Thou Art” begin to churn in my subconscious… and I find myself thanking the Lord for HIS kindness in seeing our nation through the birth pangs and growth difficulties that have brought us to this present day.  How thankful we should be every day and every hour.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack Buttram

“JUST A MINUTE”

AH DON’T THANK AH UNNERSTOOD WHUT YOU SAID

 

MizP: Jist a Minit: Mr. Jack – Ah’m gittin mo an mo cornfused.

Jack: What’s it all about Miz Pearlie?

MizP: Firs of awl ah heah Mista Rominy is a-head and then Ah heah

                hit’s Mr. Gingrich an I don know whas th truf.

Homer: Ah’m with Miz Pearlie Mr. Jack – awl these numbers is cornfusin’.

Jack: OK..we’re voting in South Carolina --  Saturday … there are

               statewide races --  and there are National races.  

Homer: But theys only one winner?

MizP: But  you kin have diffrunt ree-sults in each one?

BB: Ah gits hit… you kin have one ahead in the State wide race…

MizP: But sumbody else ahead in a national race ?

Homer: So sumbody kin win th’ race in South Carolina … but ….

BB: But be behine or lose on th’ national scorecard.

Jack: Exactly.  All that’s not explained when if you’re just talking

               about who won or is winning in South Carolina.  

MizP: Oh – so Mr. Rominy won in Ioway an New Hamshire but  he …

Homer: He coudda loss in South Carlina!

BB: But how are we a-gonna know who… who…

MizP: Rite… who’s the winner?

Jack: What do we call the race or the election just now here in our State?

BB: Hit’s th’ Presidential preference primary….

Jack: Right -- the purpose is to elect *delegates* to the national

   nominating Convention which won’t convene until in the summer.

Homer: An tha’ss where they’ll e-lect th’ nominee!

MizP: Oh yeah…thass where then they picks a vice-president…

Jack: Right – where they pick a V.P. Nominee… the Republican ticket.

MizP: But whut about th’ pollsters and awl?

Jack: Gallup and Rasmussen they are just observers.

MizP: Oh, -- so who do we b’leeve?

Homer: You end up with th’ O-fficial vote thass whut counts.

BB: An ‘splain sumpin’ ‘bout th’ Letric college.

Jack: I think you mean the ELECTORAL COLLEGE – and that’s

Homer: Ah know – thass the story fer another day…

Jack: Right…’cause time’s up.  Don’t forget to vote Saturday –

               I’m Jack Buttram  (END)    Jebco Editorial Service

                                                     www.wmuu.com

                                                 e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

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