MSM BIASES ANYONE? - RIGHT THIS WAY... Promoline for Friday 20th 100820

            IT’S FRIDAY… so they say… and *they* are correct!

 

            End of the week – staring a weekend straight in the face.  The grasses and the weeds for the most part are producing a luxuriant crop… the livestock are happy – munching away.

 

            Kids are back in school – mostly around here – and mothers a whistling a happy tune.  Teachers are anxiously working their way through the items needed for the coming classes.  Freshmen are presumed properly registered and scheduled and so another academic year commences.  I’ve often wondered why they don’t call the beginning of the school year commencement rather than the end… I’m sure there is poetry in the reasoning somewhere.

 

            I ran across a remark by a CBS newsman that simply required commentary… so that’s the subject of today’s mini-rant. I don’t take them to task too often… some are folks I’ve known mostly slightly, and mostly from the opposite side of the political spectrum.  But after a while on the news fronts the battle sounds are just mostly noise… and we’re currently in the phasing down of the primary phase… kinda like a batch of popcorn when you’re trying to explode the remaining “old maids” as  the un-popped kernels are sometimes called – and hoping not to scorch the rest of the batch. Just an occasional “pop” now and then. 

 

            After this gets done… we’ll soon enter the hand-to-hand phase of the political battle… only when it’s mid-term elections that are the contests (no Prez or VP’s being contested) seems like the real pop’n’sizzle sort of reduces except where there are blood feuds going on – and I don’t keep up with out of state races that well. Anyway… it’s no hiding the fact that it’s another political season… some live for it – some die by it – at least in the political sense… and there will be lots of political corpses on the battlefield when this particular day is done… Nov. 2^nd… at least that’s what the forecasters are telling us.

 

            Oh well if it wasn’t this… it’d be baseball and football… maybe all of them together – We’ll see.  Just thank the Lord you’re able to take part in the process and you don’t have a politburo telling you for whom you may or may not vote.  It’s one of those things that seems important… but you really don’t know HOW important until the privilege has slipped over the side out of your grasp.  It’s important for people to be aware – awake!

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack

Delayed audio link:

 

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

MSM BIASES ANYONE? – RIGHT THIS WAY…

Just a Minute: -- Sometime back, in a discussion with a TV network executive, I proposed things would be better balanced if he’d send out two reporters with opposite biases… and see one which the audience preferred.  My host said his reporters had no biases.

Well, let’s check out CBS’s Face the Nation this past Sunday: host Bob Schieffer asked his political panel seven questions. Six highlighted Republican difficulties, and only one pointed out Democrats’  problems come November.

But instead of acknowledging Democrat political challenges, Schieffer acted as if both parties were equally in trouble – he said: "… Democrats on the one hand … have very bad economy, high unemployment: Republicans… on the other hand find themselves ... with...  people who have taken some very extreme views on things."

It got me to wondering if Bob Scheiffer has ever seen South Carolina’s Alvin Greene do a TV interview?  Has he heard state’s Democratic Senate nominee howl at a news reporter from inside his trailer?

I believe I’ll just let it rest there.  

<> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

 

 

 

 

MSM BIASES ANYONE? - RIGHT THIS WAY... Promoline for Friday 20th 100820

            IT’S FRIDAY… so they say… and *they* are correct!

 

            End of the week – staring a weekend straight in the face.  The grasses and the weeds for the most part are producing a luxuriant crop… the livestock are happy – munching away.

 

            Kids are back in school – mostly around here – and mothers a whistling a happy tune.  Teachers are anxiously working their way through the items needed for the coming classes.  Freshmen are presumed properly registered and scheduled and so another academic year commences.  I’ve often wondered why they don’t call the beginning of the school year commencement rather than the end… I’m sure there is poetry in the reasoning somewhere.

 

            I ran across a remark by a CBS newsman that simply required commentary… so that’s the subject of today’s mini-rant. I don’t take them to task too often… some are folks I’ve known mostly slightly, and mostly from the opposite side of the political spectrum.  But after a while on the news fronts the battle sounds are just mostly noise… and we’re currently in the phasing down of the primary phase… kinda like a batch of popcorn when you’re trying to explode the remaining “old maids” as  the un-popped kernels are sometimes called – and hoping not to scorch the rest of the batch. Just an occasional “pop” now and then. 

 

            After this gets done… we’ll soon enter the hand-to-hand phase of the political battle… only when it’s mid-term elections that are the contests (no Prez or VP’s being contested) seems like the real pop’n’sizzle sort of reduces except where there are blood feuds going on – and I don’t keep up with out of state races that well. Anyway… it’s no hiding the fact that it’s another political season… some live for it – some die by it – at least in the political sense… and there will be lots of political corpses on the battlefield when this particular day is done… Nov. 2^nd… at least that’s what the forecasters are telling us.

 

            Oh well if it wasn’t this… it’d be baseball and football… maybe all of them together – We’ll see.  Just thank the Lord you’re able to take part in the process and you don’t have a politburo telling you for whom you may or may not vote.  It’s one of those things that seems important… but you really don’t know HOW important until the privilege has slipped over the side out of your grasp.  It’s important for people to be aware – awake!

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack

Delayed audio link:

 

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

MSM BIASES ANYONE? – RIGHT THIS WAY…

Just a Minute: -- Sometime back, in a discussion with a TV network executive, I proposed things would be better balanced if he’d send out two reporters with opposite biases… and see one which the audience preferred.  My host said his reporters had no biases.

Well, let’s check out CBS’s Face the Nation this past Sunday: host Bob Schieffer asked his political panel seven questions. Six highlighted Republican difficulties, and only one pointed out Democrats’  problems come November.

But instead of acknowledging Democrat political challenges, Schieffer acted as if both parties were equally in trouble – he said: "… Democrats on the one hand … have very bad economy, high unemployment: Republicans… on the other hand find themselves ... with...  people who have taken some very extreme views on things."

It got me to wondering if Bob Scheiffer has ever seen South Carolina’s Alvin Greene do a TV interview?  Has he heard state’s Democratic Senate nominee howl at a news reporter from inside his trailer?

I believe I’ll just let it rest there.  

<> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

 

 

 

 

"KILPO' - RIP -- Just A Minute Radio for Wednesday 100818

            Wonderful to have you with us today –

 

            We engage in a bit of memory today since I just found out from reading newspapers yesterday that an old friend and editorialist to many of you (and me) passed away in Washington’s Georgetown University Hospital on Sunday.  His son, Kevin, said the cause was congestive heart failure. He was 89 years of age and would have attained his 90^th birthday on November, First.

 

            James Jackson Kilpatrick, born the son of a lumber dealer in Oklahoma back in 1920 -- is reported to have learned to read at four – and ultimately earned a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. In his early summers he carried papers -- and ultimately he aimed to be a journalist.  Eventually he ended up in the Virginia offices of the Richmond News Leader under the hand of the renowned biographer and editor, Douglas Southall Freeman, a Pulitzer prize winner – who wrote  highly acclaimed biographies of George Washington and Robert E. Lee – and profiled other Confederate Generals.

 

            Over the years I had occasion to communicate with “Kilpo” -- as he was known to his close associates – and found his books humorous and his interest in the correct and proper use of words – particularly in journalism – to be intriguing and most helpful.  He moved to a Virginia country place and used as his dateline – “Scrabble” – (near Woodville) in Rappahannock County -- commuting to Washington for interviews and TV appearances on “60 Minutes.”  Eventually, he took up a slower pace in Charleston, SC where I believe his first wife had relatives.  Later he returned to Washington where he loved to write especially about the Supreme Court. He took (and even presently some of the main-stream-media throw brickbats at his reputation) a lot of criticism for his defense of Sen. Harry F. Byrd’s  “Massive Resistance” to the Court’s sledge-hammer approach to integration of Southern Schools. He himself said about his writings at the time: …” Very few of us, I suspect, would like to have our passions and profundities at age 28 thrust in our faces at 50.”  

 

            So we have a skilled and professional journalist, holding his several views with passion and conviction, rather unfairly barred from the rarified elevation of the “Pulitzer” ranks because the political current of the times runs at rip-tide velocity in a direction out of sync the present journalistic ‘fashion’.

 

It’s too bad, but in my view “Jack” Kilpatrick, both as a thinker and writer, is head and shoulders above the vast majority of what passes for in most cases as scribblers in the “Fourth Estate.” I’m glad to have known him at least from a distance and benefitted from his love of “the right word” and passion for excellence in his profession.  He gave it his best.  I join with those who knew him better and found him universally respected as a gentleman who held and advocated his views with verve, honor and propriety. 

 

OK….  enough for a Wednesday. Time to put it to bed. (J)

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack

 

Delayed audio link:

 

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

 

“KILPO” - RIP

 

MizP: Just A Minute:– You look sad, Mr. Jack – Somethin’ wrong?

Jack:  Sorry -- didn’t know it showed, Miz Pearlie.

Homer:  You jist seem a little subdued, Mr. Jack.

Jack: I just found out yesterday a friend I knew in Washington passed away Sunday.

BB: Sorry Mr. J… Ennybody we know?

Jack:  Possibly -- his name is James J. Kilpatrick.

MizP: Oh I ‘member  -- He uster write a  column ‘bout usin’ rite words.

Jack: Or using words right, Miz Pearl.  He died at Georgetown University Hospital.

BB: That-ut’s where they took Prezdint Reagan when he  was shot – right.?

Jack: Right, Mr. Billy.  Kilpatrick was also on 60 Minutes.

MizP: Oh yeah… I dint see hit much -- he had argamints with a lady journalist.

Jack:  They sort of set the pace for all the arguing we see on TV these days.

Homer: He wrote frum out in th’ country, place called Scrabble… ?

Jack:  Actually, it was a rural place he  had in Rappahannock County, Virginia.

MizP; Virginia. – You frum Virginia ain’t you Mr. Jack.

Jack: Yes… My brother still lives near Roanoke.

MizP:  Ahm sorry you los your fren. 

Jack:  I collected a few of his books… about writing. For about ten years he was the Editor of

            Richmond News Leader and wrote a lot about the Supreme Court.

MizP: I member him writin’ ‘bout usin’ too many words… unnecessary words.

Homer: Ah remembers that-ut too…

BB: Homer, seems like we drowns in words these days…

Jack: I learned a lot from him and his books – I believe he wrote nine.

Homer: How many you have?

Jack: Four I think … Anyway… we’ll miss him… he stopped writing his column in 2009.

MizP: Ah’m sorry Mr. Jack…

Jack: Thanks Miz P… The important thing though is to remember is to be ready…

MizP: Tha-uts rite, Mr. Jack… an thank you fer remindin’ us.

Homer: And th’ truth kin make us free…

Jack: Excellent Homer… Times up… see you next time … I’m Jack Buttram.  (END) 

         

   JEBCO Editorial Service

wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk.com@arrl.net

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THE BEST OFFENSE IS...#&>@!%$! what(:)? -- Just A Minute Radio for Monday 100816

            G’day folks… Great to have you start the week with us…

 

            No kidding… I checked the budding, cycling, re-cycling of the 24 hr. news cycle – an read the online version of what’s happening inside the Beltway – and it almost takes my breath away…

 

            Charlie Rangle apologizing -- sort of – then holding an 80^th birthday celebration (I think his actual birthday was in June) and had what was reported as 600 guests at what each of the newscasts and all the print reports I read called the “glitzy” New York Plaza hotel. Charlie, who won his NY Congressional District race 40 years ago from Mr. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (who was a milk-Scotch mixed drinker) had his own island hideaway island off the Florida Coast… in the Bahamas…. This year Mr. Rangle, aiming for his 21^st term in Congress – but having already given up his Ways & Means Committee powerful chairmanship under pressure… even from Speaker Pelosi … Is facing a contest from fellow Haarlem politician Mr. Adam Clayton Powell, IV, which seems almost too ironic to be real.

 

            But Charlie – who the press speculated might be addressing an empty ballroom Friday evening – rounded up the ‘usual suspects’ and a few more…. Blew out the 8 candles on his birthday cake – and gave another speech similar to the 34 minute one he had treated the House of Representatives to during the week. He left the crowd with such memorable phrases as “Don’t leave me hanging in the wind.” – and for the House… “Fire your best shot for dismissal… don’t just leave me after my apology…”  it’s hard to get the exact quotes because punctuation in speeches is optional … and the stenos and the staff can go over the Congressional Record before it goes to the presses during the night.

 

            Ms. Waters left her indelible impression on a news conference that went close to an hour according to some observers… and wound down her talk saying “I haven’t violated anything…”  Speaking to reporters she said her work in Congress wasn’t very exciting or ‘sexy’ – so most people don’t get to hear about it until something like this comes along.”  She too disclaimed that neither she or her husband’s bank had done anything worthy of an investigation.

 

            Harry “Searchlite” Reid is ahead of Ms. Angel by a point or two – and has a team of 35 staffers combing news reports and everything to try and make Ms. Angel out to be a wacko… and says he’s *very glad* she won the primary. Will he be singing the same tune in November. It will be interesting to see.

 

            I think we have to go back to the mid-terms of 1994 – two years into Mr. Clinton’s presidency to get to anything like what is apparently in store in about 78 days. Too many details to bring up… it’s an interesting year… especially played out against the backdrop of the largest increase in national debt load anyone has ever imagined. I think the history books will have a LOT of things to say about the Obama Administration and Presidency.

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack

 

Delayed audio link:

 

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

THE BEST OFFENSE IS A…#&> @! %$! WHAT(J)?

Just a Minute: -- Charlie Rangle… Maxine Waters… Harry Reid …who are they? 

If you’d picked up a copy of yesterday’s liberal-leaning Washington Post  you’d have located all these worthies on the front page, back page, middle section and if you sampled a chunk of the Post’s Web pages Internet content -- complete with audio clips, video clips, birthday cake candle blow-out pictures, and a slow turn of a slightly dyspeptic calm little fellow from a Nevada town called “Searchlight” -- with nine million bucks in his campaign pocketbook – you’d know what we’re up against.

Combine these national Democrats, who hold the Presidency, and major majorities in both House and Senate -- you’ll find they’re giving a detailed impression of a combination Saturday Night Live – And ‘Chicken Little’ – which begins to look like a revival of TV’s  old “Sock It To Me” comedy show. 

Throw in Ex-Governor Blagojevich’s trial, Barbara Boxer’s pronouncements, Henry Waxman and Chuck Schumer’s love for the TV cameras – and the 78 days from now to November-second, becomes absolutely incendiary – Survival borders on the miraculous. 

 <> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

 

 

 

 

RECUSAL REFUSAL - Just A Minute Radio for Friday 13th 100813

            Despite my delay in getting this posted… it is still FRIDAY!

 

            My best excuse for posting after my usual deadline (which is usually around midnight the night before) is like the third grader who looks up at the teacher woefully and says: “The dog ate my homework.”  I do have a dog… but she mostly prefers the food we put out for her once a day in the evening. It seems she (Her name is Emma-lou – You know folks in the South… we just love hyphenated names.) only wants to eat once a day… and we don’t want her to get fat now that she’s about eight years old. Well… all that detracts from the main message…. I did write… but the computer ate it… or sent it off to never-ever-cyber space. [Either that or it’s the Lord’s way of editing what HE doesn’t want me to communicate.] Anyway… this completes the record.

 

            I’ve been in this contradiction of terms (management-labor) for some years now. My first job in public relations was trying to help a local commercial Chamber of Commerce operation set up by the local manufacturers, have more than one song to sing… or one string to their bow… whichever metaphor you prefer. Up to that time I had been entirely in radio news… where we don’t particularly care how to punctuate or capitalize or all those troublesome things to poor typists like me… we mainly are concerned with how you pronounce it.  All the rest goes by the wiayside.

 

            However when you get ‘thrown in the deep end of the pool’ and become the first and only staffer who is working on the organization’s newsletter… you suddenly realize some of the skills you DON’T  have.  Unfortunately that’s been my learning experience since the early ‘60’s… when I had to add some of those print skills to what I had been practicing for more than ten years.  It was *very* revealing.  And it’s a method of learning that goes on to the present.

 

            Right now… I’m trying to help a neophyte political candidate…. And while I’ve worked on a lot of campaigns, I feel like I’m in the deep end of the pool again.  Meanwhile… these little complications of losing the copy supposed to be posted the next morning intrudes.  Here I am once again trying to catch up.

 

            May I just pause and Praise the Lord for people who have the brains and computing skills to write a spell checker that catches mistakes and typo’s *most* of the time. When I think of all the ‘white out’ – copy paper I’ve had to throw away… sentences I’ve scratched out and replaced three or four times to the point of not being able to discern what I meant to say at the beginning… Well… I’ve gotten a great appreciation for excellent editing.  Unfortunately, I have no one at my elbow at the moment… and so am tempted to go on and on as I have today. 

 

            Well… have a great weekend—we’ll try to get together once we’ve gotten a better handle on what’s taking place over the weekend.  Keep looking up – I always helps to be cheerful and take your strength from the Lord!

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack

 

Delayed audio link:

 

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

RECUSAL REFUSAL – WSJ HEADLINE

Just a Minute: -- Who is Craig Becker? Appointed to the National Labor Relations Board in March by Mr. Obama. Becker was the lawyer for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – the largest government union at 2.2 million members.  

Mr. Obama promised transparency no conflicts of interest in his Administration. – Mr. Becker signed on.  The *intent* was to eliminate obvious political conflicts of interest. But so many Democrat Senators said they could not confirm Becker for fear of defeat in November – that’s why the recess appointment.

How does Mr. Becker interpret his conflict of interest?  He says he worked for the SEIU International, not the locals – voila!  NO Conflict of Interest. Ms. Wilma Leibman – also an Obama appointee and Chairwoman of the NLRB… HAS ‘recused’ herself from cases involving the Teamster’s, her previous employer. 

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Fund is asking AG Eric Holder – Department of Justice – top dog – to determine if Mr. Becker has violated his signed pledge.

How many think Holder will find Becker guilty?

<> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

www.wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net

 

 

 

 

 

AFGANISTAN scene of CRUELTY COMPOUNDED -- Just A Minute Radio for Wednesday 100811

            I hope it’s a GREAT DAY where you are –

 

            This summer has been a corker… and I desperately hope the Lord will soon put a cork in it… it’s a hot water bottle – for sure.  Now look six months ahead and know that we will be *really wishing for the heat* when the winter wind doth blow – with the icicles and the snow.

 

            OK… I know I’m not Robert Frost… but we could surely use a whiff or two of that brisk White Mountain Air they love to boast about up there in the Granite State. A couple of summers ago, we had some really good friends who were willing to loan us their New Hampshire ‘summer’ cabin on the lake up there for a really nice family get together. As usual we had some folks who were posted overseas and couldn’t come… and we missed them – but at the same time we had a great and wonderful family week together… and I wish we had the means to repeat it.

 

            But – you can’t go home again… at least according to Thomas Wolf’s title of his best selling novel – at least that’s what the reviewers of the day said. And I think there’s truth there. Don’t you find when you revisit the scenes of say your elementary school days… things are so much smaller than you recall them?  The same thing happens to home towns and rivers, lakes and mountains you conquered as a Boy Scout.  The Pinnacle is not nearly so high as you remembered it.  Except when you go back and try to get to the top at ages 65 and above (possibly younger if you’ve been sitting on the couch too long).

 

            Well… I hope you pay attention to today’s JUST A MINUTE.  It bears a message I think America would do well to heed.  The news stories that appeared after the barbaric gunning down of the 10 person Christian medical team doing the Lord’s work in Afghanistan and thereby becoming martyrs to what seems to be becoming the ‘radical’ Muslim cohort… I believe that event ill be a landmark in the winding down and closing of events for the present in that part of the world.  Of course like most of my predictions…. You’ll find I have a very cloudy crystal ball.  So I claim no great prescience in that theatre.  But it does strike me as tragic and totally regrettable, It definitely will affect events transpiring from this time forward in that part of the world.

 

            Well… time to put away the computer keyboard… and head for bed. Thanks for reading and listening.. I’d love to hear from you via e-mail… but I know I would be very slow about responding… so if you do decide to write… patience will be a help. 

 

            Cordially, In HIM

 

            Jack

 

Delayed audio link:

 

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

 

CRUELTY COMPOUNDED

 

Jack: Just A Minute: Miz Pearl – you’re looking sad. Something wrong?

MizP: (Subdued) Well… akshully,  Yes,Mr. Jack.

Jack:  You want to talk about it?

MizP: Ah’m not sure – specially in frunt of everbody.

Homer:  We’s awl your frens Miz Pearl.

BB: Yeah…… sumbody stole your money.

MizP:  Sumbody stole sumpin’ that’s fer shure. .. But

BB: Miz Pearl you jist say th’ word… Homer’n me, we’ll round up sum helpers an we’ ll …

Homer:  Mr. Bill’s rite Miz Pearl… we don’t let stealin’ git away with nuthin in Playfair,,

MizP:  Hit ain’t perzakly stealin… l

Jack: I think you can trust this group Miz Pearl… what’s hurtin’ you?

MizP: Ah wuz a-lisnin’ ta th’ radio yestiddy morning – when they was a-tellin ‘bout the’ people

Gunned-down in Afghanestan.

BB: That-uz terrible … count stand hit my sef.

Homer:  Rite…

MizP: All them people… over there a-tryin’ ta hep people.

BB: Oh yeah… Rite… an payin’ they’re own way too.

MizP: An then … then (sniff) them terribul  terrerisst…they come an … an (sobs)

Jack:  I understand Miz Pearl – here’s my handkerchief.

MizP: Thankee…  But that weren’t all …

Jack: What else …?

MizP: Well… then the ‘News Nouncer cums back an says they was jist  ‘relegious…

Jack: That’s right…

MizP: Said they din’t have anythang ta do wif Christianity But Mr. Jack… tthey WAS  Christians!!!

Jack: Right… they were a medical team working on eyes and teeth…

Homer: An they had bin oveah theyur – several years I heered.

BB: One of them sold his practice an paid his own way over  to hep…

MizP: An tha-uts whut meks it so Painful… they was jist a-doin good.

Jack: The  newsman said they weren’t proselytizing.

MizP: They WUZ a tryin’ ta show them whut Jesus would do!

Homer: At’s eggackly rite Miz P…

MizP: But this news feller (sobs-sniffs) he said they wasn’t havin’ any thang ta do ‘ bout …

Homer: He shore was wrong Miz Pearl…

BB: Rite Homer …

Jack:  They were there – doing all they could to help because they were Christians…

BB: At’s perzakly rite…

Miz: I jist cunt unnerstan WHY he said they wasn’t Christians.

Jack: They were – and ARE – Christians… and when trusting Christ it means they ARE now with HIM.

MizP: Ah know tha-ut … Ah jist wanted sumbody to say sumpin.

Jack: I did too Miz Pearl… and now I think we have. –… I’m Jack Buttram.

 (END)           

                 JEBCO Editorial Service

wmuu.com

e-mail n4zhk.com@arrl.net

 

 

 

CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS WITHOUT A PROGRAM? -- Just a Minute Radio for Monday 100809

            Good Day – Great to have you here…

 

            We’re ready to draw another week closer to showdown time.  But – you say – Congress has already gone home… we just wait till the election in November.  Oooop… Sorry…

 

            In case you missed it – the Speaker turned out the lower house telling them they could go home… last week…  then events changed her mind… and although the Senate was still in session last week… the House had hightailed it for home! … Only to find out it was a false alarum … and Madam Speaker ruffled her apron and called them all back again.  Rather like Humpty-Dumpty I suppose… but it can happen to anybody. Right?

 

            Anyway we still have the hot weather with us – and my experience says hot weather lingers well through August and into September… so I wouldn’t put away the beach outfits just yet… you may get to try again!  Although I’m sure it’s a pain to pack and unpack all those times. But eventually… the seasons *will* change… and so will the political winds.

 

            Speaking of wind… NOAA… the official US weather forecasting outfit … they expect the superheated ocean water to be the heat engine of more ‘named storms’.  One of my neighborhood friends said, “Why don’t they  quit namin’ th’ fool things… no sense in encouragin’ them!” I couldn’t agree more… I’m not sure I would have named them in the first place…but everybody’s got to have something to do… so I suppose thinking up names for oceanic storms… well, it’s about as good as pickin’ daisys… or Well… I don’t know what else might come up to that high standard. 

 

            Anyway… I don’t think I’m likely to have any input into what the storms do… In reality it’s in the Lord’s hands. And I wouldn’t have it any other way! (J)

 

            Glad to have you with us for the first of the week…. Drop us a line or an e-mail otherwise our fingers get rusty from failing to learn how to type!

 

            Cordially,  IN HIM

 

            Jack

Delayed audio link:

 

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

CAN’T TELL THE PLAYERS WITHOUT A PROGRAM

Just a Minute: -- Juan Williams, a black, respected newsman – employed in 1997 at The Washington Post, as editorial writer, op-ed columnist and White House correspondent.  Currently he’s senior correspondent for NPR and appears almost daily on FOX News. 

Last April he wrote: (quote) “There is danger for Democrats in recent attempts to dismiss the tea party movement as violent racists deserving of contempt. Demonizing these folks may energize the Democrats' left-wing base. But it is a big turnoff to voters who have problems with the Democratic agenda that have nothing to do with racism. “ Adding – “Democrats cannot win elections without capturing the votes of independent-minded swing voters. And that is where writing off the tea party as a bunch of racist kooks becomes self-destructive.”

Now it’s August, Williams writes: “How is it possible that the once glorious NAACP –has come to the point where it is pushing the first black president to fire anyone – but especially a black woman -- on a charge of racism without checking to be sure she was a hateful racist?” (Unquote) Fair and balanced? We’ve reported – you decide.

<> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

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WHO'S PLAYIN' GAMES WITH MY HEAD? -Just A Minute Radio for Friday 100806

            Of course – it’s FRIDAAAAAAAYaaaa!

 

            And it’s been hot! A shower cooled off things last evening.  The seasons roll on. From all reports this has been one HOT summer thus far!

 

            Besides that the political climate is heating up.  It’s getting to the point I just want to put my head under the pillow…but I suppose we’ll all survive…at least that’s the aim.  We got some more gardening hints… and things to can and put away.  I do remember how hot it was in the canning shed when all the tomatoes were headed for the half gallon jars… those were heavy vats to lift up on the stove.  I’ll have to admit I didn’t do a lot of that until I grew a little.

 

            But thinking back, with all the heat – and the other hazards of farm life – the little I experienced it… It’s a wonder anybody did anything. The only two places that were cool enough to tolerate in the middle of the day when we used to visit my Aunt Lucy who ran a ‘beauty shop’ in Simpsonville, was the movie theater (with air conditioning) or the ice-house…visited when we were out of ice… or planning to do some ice cream making.

 

            The forecasts for the latter part of the Hurricane season are for quite a busy time.  They base that on the heat of the ocean water which is apparently what keeps the Storm engines running… and that’s why they usually run out in early fall.  Well… we know it’s all in the Lord’s hands. I just wonder how we got through these hot seasons back in the 30’s & 40’s…

 

            Election time is a-comin’… but yesterday when I visited the barber-shop (it was either that or the dog pound) I was thankful for the air-conditioning… and the toleration it makes in the climate. They say it’s really been a commercial boon to the South… and every other way.  But there are those hot summer Sunday’s when I remember sticking my thumb through a cardboard fan supplied by the local undertakers… and just fanning away.

 

            We also had a single oscillating electric fan which we greatly enjoyed too… -- and August is the month for the oncoming crop of water-melons… what fun… spittin’ seeds in the front yard… only we didn’t really have enough grass in the front yard out in the country to call it a yard… most of the yard was in shade (welcome) from the very tall oak trees … and we swept the sandy yard with rake/brooms to keep the place looking neater.  

 

            But it was HOT… I can remember my dear little Grandma over in Alabama who was pretty short – and when she wore a sunbonnet she looked even shorter… But then I don’t reckon I was a sight to be-hold with my straw hat that had a piece of green plastic in the front brim… I thought that was *really* grown up.

 

            OK… stay cool and calm and collected.  See you next week Lord willin’…

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack

 

Delayed audio link:

 

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

WHO IS PLAYIN’ GAMES WITH MY HEAD?

Just a Minute: -- How do we successfully navigate the 24 hour news flow of public opinion? Christian writer, C.S. Lewis, advocated balancing one’s intellectual intake by reading several old books for every new one.

Recently I E-mailed a column from a major newspaper to an old university friend. It was composed by a former student at the college where my former colleague, a PhD, had taught and retired. I judged the column as middle-of-the road, but asked my old friend for his opinion.

I was genuinely taken aback to learn our political paths are now radically divergent.  He now endorses Mr. Obama which, of course, I do not. 

My friend let me know the former pupil’s field of study was Biblical and Theological Studies, adding: (quote)"He is attempting to psychoanalyze President Obama, and his diagnosis is that of an amateur who really is not qualified to make such judgments.  His statements lack any sense of professional expertise and really are 'sophomoric' in the full sense of that term." (Unquote)  

My friend suggests the erstwhile student has a long way to go before becoming a credible conservative columnist. 

I guess that’s why we have elections.

<> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

Jebco Editorial Service

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