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	<title>Ponderstorm</title>
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	<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com</link>
	<description>My Brainstorm on Life &#38; Politics</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:09:44 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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<title>Ponderstorm</title>
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		<item>
		<title>&#8220;The Federal Government Can Do Most Anything in This Country&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/08/02/federal-government-can-do-most-anything-in-this-country/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=federal-government-can-do-most-anything-in-this-country</link>
		<comments>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/08/02/federal-government-can-do-most-anything-in-this-country/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:09:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>PonderstormMike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ponderstorm.com/?p=265</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Watch California Democratic Congressman Pete Stark tell his constituents just how powerful the Federal Government has become in that &#8220;the Federal Government can do most anything.&#8221; It is very disturbing to see him trampling over the Constitution. This is an abuse of power and must be stopped or they will do &#8220;most anything&#8221; against our [...]]]></description>
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<p>Watch California Democratic Congressman Pete Stark tell his constituents just how powerful the Federal Government has become in that &#8220;the Federal Government can do most anything.&#8221; It is very disturbing to see him trampling over the Constitution. This is an abuse of power and must be stopped or they will do &#8220;most anything&#8221; against our wishes as they have proven over and over!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/08/02/federal-government-can-do-most-anything-in-this-country/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
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		<title>Are You a Democrat, a Republican or a Southerner?</title>
		<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/07/07/are-you-a-democrat-a-republican-or-a-southerner/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=are-you-a-democrat-a-republican-or-a-southerner</link>
		<comments>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/07/07/are-you-a-democrat-a-republican-or-a-southerner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:32:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>PonderstormMike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ponderstorm.com/?p=254</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Someone sent me this via email. I don&#8217;t know who to attribute it to but, as a Southerner, I thought it was funny and wanted to share. It&#8217;s entitled &#8220;Are You a Democrat, a Republican, or a Southerner?&#8221; Here is a humorous little test that will help you decide: You&#8217;re walking down a deserted street [...]]]></description>
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			</a>
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<p>Someone sent me this via email. I don&#8217;t know who to attribute it to but, as a Southerner, I thought it was funny and wanted to share. It&#8217;s entitled &#8220;Are You a Democrat, a Republican, or a Southerner?&#8221; Here  is a humorous little test that will help you decide:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You&#8217;re  walking down a deserted street with your wife and two  small children. Suddenly, an Islamic terrorist with  a huge knife comes around the corner, locks  eyes with you, screams obscenities, praises Allah,  raises the knife, and charges at you&#8230;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You are carrying  a Kimber 1911 cal. 45 ACP, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your  family. What  do you do?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Democrat&#8217;s Answer:</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Well, that&#8217;s not enough information to answer the question!</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Does the man look poor or oppressed?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Could we run away?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* What does my wife think?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* What about the kids?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* What does the law say about this situation?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Does the pistol have appropriate safety built into it?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does this send to society and to my children?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Is it possible he&#8217;d be happy with just killing me?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Should I call 9-1-1?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Why is this street so deserted?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* We need to raise taxes, have paint &amp; weed day.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* Can we make this a happier, healthier street that would discourage such behavior.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* I need to debate this with some friends for a few days and try to come to a consensus.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">* This is all so confusing!</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Republican&#8217;s Answer:</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">BANG!</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Southerner&#8217;s  Answer:</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!  BANG! BANG ! BANG! BANG! BANG!</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Click&#8230;.. (Sounds of reloading)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">BANG!  BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Daughter: &#8220;Nice grouping, Daddy! Were  those the  Winchester  Silver Tips or Hollow Points?!&#8221;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Son: &#8220;Can I shoot the next one?!&#8221;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Wife: &#8220;You ain&#8217;t taking that to the Taxidermist!&#8221;</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I know this &#8220;test&#8221; is stereotyped and not all will find it funny.  While I am not trying to offend anyone, I am likewise not willing to bow before the &#8220;politically correct police.&#8221;  I wish everyone would just lighten up a little and laugh about these things a bit.</p>
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		<title>If Dr. Seuss Wrote About Nationalized Health Care . . .</title>
		<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/06/19/if-dr-seuss-wrote-about-nationalized-health-care/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=if-dr-seuss-wrote-about-nationalized-health-care</link>
		<comments>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/06/19/if-dr-seuss-wrote-about-nationalized-health-care/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 20:18:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>PonderstormMike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health care]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ponderstorm.com/?p=251</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Someone forwarded me an interesting &#8220;poem&#8221; that resembles a Dr. Seuss writing. If Dr. Seuss wrote about the nationalized health care legislation that was recently jammed through and shoved down our throats he might have said something like this: I do not like this Uncle Sam, I do not like his health care scam. I [...]]]></description>
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<p>Someone forwarded me an interesting &#8220;poem&#8221; that resembles a Dr. Seuss writing. If Dr. Seuss wrote about the nationalized health care legislation that was recently jammed through and shoved down our throats he might have said something like this:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I do not like this Uncle Sam,<br />
I do not like his health care scam.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I do not like these dirty crooks,<br />
Or how they lie and cook the books.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I do not like when Congress steals,<br />
I do not like their secret deals.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I do not like this speaker, Nan,<br />
I do not like this &#8216;YES WE CAN.&#8217;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I do not like this spending spree,<br />
I&#8217;m smart, I know that nothing&#8217;s free.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I do not like your smug replies,<br />
When I complain about your lies.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I do not like this kind of hope.<br />
I do not like it, nope, nope, nope!</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t know to whom to attribute this cleverness but I think they did an excellent job expressing my sentiments. I feel they should resign and leave us alone so others can undo their damage!</p>
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		<title>We Con the World &#8211; The Flotilla Choir Explains</title>
		<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/06/06/we-con-the-world-flotilla-choir-explains/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=we-con-the-world-flotilla-choir-explains</link>
		<comments>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/06/06/we-con-the-world-flotilla-choir-explains/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:18:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>PonderstormMike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ponderstorm.com/?p=245</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve embedded a video for a very well done Israeli-made spoof remake of 1985 &#8220;We are the World&#8221; single that raised millions of dollars of aid for starving people in Ethiopia. This video spoof was produced by Hebrew-language media satire site Latma and presents the &#8220;Flotilla Choir&#8221; and their song &#8220;We Con the World.&#8221; It&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
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			</a>
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<p>I&#8217;ve embedded a video for a very well done Israeli-made spoof remake of 1985 &#8220;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World">We are the World</a>&#8221; single that raised millions of dollars of aid for starving people in Ethiopia. This video spoof was produced by Hebrew-language media satire site <a href="http://www.latma.co.il/">Latma</a> and presents the &#8220;Flotilla Choir&#8221; and their song &#8220;We Con the World.&#8221; It&#8217;s purpose is to address the biased world-coverage of recent events where Israeli soldiers (IDF) defended themselves after being attacked when they boarded a ship attempting to enforce the naval blockade of Gaza.</p>
<p>As of today this video has already been viewed more than 1.2 million times (learn more from <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/culture/israeli-spoof-on-gaza-flotilla-clash-gets-nearly-1-million-hits-1.294467">report at Haaretz.com</a>). I hope it&#8217;s viewed tens of millions of times more! (If you want to learn more about this incident and the biased international response then there&#8217;s a great op-ed piece by Charles Krauthammer entitled &#8220;<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060304287.html">Those Troublesome Jews</a>&#8221; that I recommend reading.)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/06/06/we-con-the-world-flotilla-choir-explains/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
<p>I&#8217;ve included the full text for this song below (sung to the tune of &#8220;We are the World&#8221;: <span id="more-245"></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">There comes a time<br />
When we need to make a show<br />
For the world, the Web and CNN<br />
There&#8217;s no people dying,<br />
so the best that we can do<br />
Is create the greatest bluff of all</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We must go on pretending day by day<br />
That in Gaza, there&#8217;s crisis, hunger and plague<br />
Coz the billion bucks in aid won&#8217;t buy their basic needs<br />
Like some cheese and missiles for the kids</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We&#8217;ll make the world<br />
Abandon reason<br />
We&#8217;ll make them all believe that the Hamas<br />
Is Momma Theresa<br />
We are peaceful travelers<br />
With guns and our own knives<br />
The truth will never find its way to your TV</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Ooooh, we&#8217;ll stab them at heart<br />
They are soldiers, no one cares<br />
We are small, and we took some pictures with doves<br />
As Allah showed us, for facts there&#8217;s no demand<br />
So we will always gain the upper hand</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We&#8217;ll make the world<br />
Abandon reason<br />
We&#8217;ll make them all believe that the Hamas<br />
Is Momma Theresa<br />
We are peaceful travelers<br />
we&#8217;re waving our own knives<br />
The truth will never find its way to your TV</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">If Islam and terror brighten up your mood<br />
But you worry that it may not look so good<br />
Well well well well don&#8217;t you realize<br />
You just gotta call yourself<br />
An activist for peace and human aid</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We&#8217;ll make the world<br />
Abandon reason<br />
We&#8217;ll make them all believe that the Hamas<br />
Is Momma Theresa<br />
We are peaceful travelers<br />
We&#8217;re waving our own knives<br />
The truth will never find its way to your TV</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We con the world<br />
We con the people<br />
We&#8217;ll make them all believe the IDF is Jack the Ripper<br />
We are peaceful travelers<br />
We&#8217;re waving our own knives<br />
The truth will never find its way to your TV<br />
We con the world (Bruce: we con the world&#8230;)<br />
We con the people (Bruce: we con the people&#8230;)<br />
We&#8217;ll make them all believe the IDF is Jack the Ripper<br />
We are peaceful travelers<br />
We&#8217;re waving our own knives<br />
The truth will never find its way to your TV<br />
The truth will never find its way to your TV</p>
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		<title>Reprint: The Obama and Biden Gaffe Machine</title>
		<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/25/obama-biden-gaffe-machine/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=obama-biden-gaffe-machine</link>
		<comments>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/25/obama-biden-gaffe-machine/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2010 21:03:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>PonderstormMike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ponderstorm.com/?p=241</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This article is a reprint of one of mine from March 20, 2009 that I wrote for the original PonderPost blog. It is reprinted here due to the remake of PonderPost. Everybody makes mistakes. As in life, in politics there is no exception to this axiom. However, while it is understandable that a new administration [...]]]></description>
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<p>This article is a reprint of one of mine from March 20, 2009 that I wrote for the original <a href="http://www.ponderpost.com/">PonderPost</a> blog. It is reprinted here due to the remake of PonderPost.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Everybody makes mistakes. As in life, in politics there is no  exception to this axiom. However, while it is understandable that a new  administration will make a few extra mistakes, some of the recent ones  by Obama and Biden are being noted around the world. For example,  British Telegraph.co.uk editor Toby Harnden&#8217;s &#8220;<a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/toby_harnden/blog/2009/03/20/top_10_gaffes_by_barack_obama_and_joe_biden_">Top  10 Gaffes by Barack Obama and Joe Biden</a>&#8221; post found its way at the  top of the <a href="http://www.drudgereport.com/">Drudge Report</a> today. That  means it&#8217;s being read worldwide.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">In looking Harnden&#8217;s list over, most are rather serious gaffes (other  than Obama mistaking a White House window for a door). Many are poor  attempts at humor such as Obama&#8217;s suggestion that Nancy Reagan had  seances in the White House and his Special Olympics bowling joke on the  Jay Leno show last night. Perhaps it was that statement that prompted  this list.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><p><a href="http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/25/obama-biden-gaffe-machine/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I think one of the most serious gaffes, though, occurred over the  <span id="more-241"></span>gift exchange between British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President  Obama. Gordon Brown presented Obama with a pen holder carved from wood  taken from the <em>HMS Gannett</em> which was an anti-slavery vessel (wood  from which her sister ship [<em>HMS Resolute</em>] was taken to make the  Resolute Desk in the Oval Office). Brown&#8217;s gift also included the  commissioning certificate of <em>HMS Resolute</em> and a first edition  copy of the seven-volume biography of the great English leader Winston  Churchill. Sadly, Obama&#8217;s gift in return was a <img title="More..." src="http://www.ponderpost.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" alt="" />25 DVD set of  classic American films.  Ironically, this set, which is readily  available over the counter, was not in the correct DVD format for UK  audiences. (US and UK formats for DVDs are different and many players  cannot play both formats.)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Here&#8217;s one take on this serious gifting oversight:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><p><a href="http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/25/obama-biden-gaffe-machine/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Imagine if President George W. Bush had made this mistake. Would we  have ever heard the end of the outrage for tarnishing our image abroad?  So, my question now is what will Obama and Biden do next to embarrass  this country?</p>
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		<title>Guest Post: President Obama Giving Commencement Speech for Notre Dame</title>
		<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/25/president-obama-giving-commencement-speech-for-notre-dame/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=president-obama-giving-commencement-speech-for-notre-dame</link>
		<comments>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/25/president-obama-giving-commencement-speech-for-notre-dame/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2010 20:57:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>PonderstormMike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ponderstorm.com/?p=238</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The following guest post was originally published on March 24, 2009 for PonderPost. It was written by Tim Jones and is republished here with his permission to preserve it while PonderPost is renovated. * * * * * The University of Notre Dame has invited President Obama to give the commencement speech at the spring [...]]]></description>
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<p>The following guest post was originally published on March 24, 2009 for <a href="http://www.ponderpost.com/">PonderPost</a>. It was written by <a href="http://therealtimjones.com/">Tim Jones</a> and is republished here with his permission to preserve it while PonderPost is renovated.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</p>
<p>The University of Notre Dame has invited President Obama to give the  commencement speech at the spring graduation ceremony.  Additionally,  the university will bestow an honorary doctor of laws degree upon the  President.</p>
<p>This has the Catholic community in quite a stir, as parishioners from  both sides of the discussion weigh in.  On one side, many are happy to  have the President speak, including a growing Facebook group called, &#8220;<a title="Obama at Notre Dame Facebook Group" href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=cb0e090cee20d85084044008a05b14dd&amp;gid=70698078952" target="_blank">We Will Be Honored to Have President Obama at Notre  Dame</a>.&#8221; On the other, you have ardent, pro-life groups that  wholeheartedly oppose the President speaking at the premier Catholic  university in the country.</p>
<p>While I try to see both sides of the coin, I believe Notre Dame has  made an egregious error by inviting President Obama to give the  commencement address at, if not the premier Catholic university in the  US, the most well-known Catholic university.</p>
<p>The Catholic Church represents one of the most fervent supporters of  the pro-life movement, while President Obama represents one of the most  pro-abortion politicians, ever.  President Obama has gone so far as to  repeatedly vote for so-called pro-choice legislation that really amounts  to infanticide, in the case of refusing medical care to live babies  born after botched abortions.  His current administration threatens to,  at the very least, lessen the ability for Catholic hospitals to operate  with the <a title="Healthcare Consience Rule" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5255U420090306" target="_blank">elimination of healthcare conscience rule</a> and to  increase abortions by <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/nat4359.html" target="_blank">125,000  per year</a> with his Freedom of Choice Act.</p>
<p>It would seem that Notre Dame would prefer a <img title="More..." src="http://www.ponderpost.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" alt="" />commencement  speech given by someone that more closely represents the Church&#8217;s  positions, not just with regard to abortion, but across the board.   Doesn&#8217;t the Church have enough difficulty promoting it&#8217;s staunchly  pro-life position without endorsing the exact opposite activity with  President Obama as the commencement speaker?</p>
<p>As a Catholic and pro-life advocate, I&#8217;m disappointed with the  <span id="more-238"></span>University of Notre Dame&#8217;s decision to invite President Obama to speak  at commencement.  I believe President Obama fails to represent even the  most minute areas of the Church&#8217;s fundamental beliefs and tenets.   Additionally, Notre Dame violates the U.S. bishops mandate of 2004 that  forbids honoring (such as with an honorary degree) any person that &#8220;acts  in defiance of the Church&#8217;s fundamental moral principles.&#8221;</p>
<p>While I have little hope that the University administration will  rescind the invitation and they&#8217;ve indicated as much, a site has already  sprung up with <a href="http://www.notredamescandal.com/" target="_blank">a petition  to sign online</a>.  I signed, more as a statement of my position than a  true hope of changing the University&#8217;s decision.</p>
<p>The Notre Dame Scandal page with the petition does an excellent job  of summing up my opinion of the whole situation,</p>
<blockquote><p>Notre Dame has chosen <strong>prestige over principles,  popularity over morality</strong>. Whatever may be President Obama’s  admirable qualities, this honor comes on the heels of some of the <strong>most  anti-life actions of any American president</strong>, including expanding  federal funding for abortions and inviting taxpayer-funded research on  stem cells from human embryos.</p></blockquote>
<p>I do hope, in spite of my pessimism about rescinding the invitation,  that this opens the door to a wider discussion about Obama&#8217;s anti-life  and anti-marriage policies and legislation.  Additionally, I would hope  that other Catholic universities across the country use this as an  opportunity to re-examine their position with regard to their own  mission juxtaposed with the figures they ask to visit and speak at the  universities.</p>
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		<title>Guest Post: Red River Flood</title>
		<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/25/guest-post-red-river-flood/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=guest-post-red-river-flood</link>
		<comments>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/25/guest-post-red-river-flood/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2010 20:52:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>PonderstormMike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ponderstorm.com/?p=235</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This guest post was originally published on PonderPost on March 29, 2009 by Tim Jones. It is reprinted here with permission due to the changing mission of PonderPost.com. I was born and grew up in the Red River valley (that&#8217;s Red River of the north) in Breckenridge and Moorhead, Minnesota. As happens every year, the [...]]]></description>
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<p>This guest post was originally published on <a href="http://www.ponderpost.com/">PonderPost</a> on March 29, 2009 by <a href="http://therealtimjones.com/">Tim Jones</a>. It is reprinted here with permission due to the changing mission of PonderPost.com.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I was born and grew up in the Red River valley (that&#8217;s Red River of  the north) in Breckenridge and Moorhead, Minnesota.  As happens <strong>every  year</strong>, the Red River is <a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/red_river_flooding.html" target="_blank">flooding this valley</a>, as the spring thaw occurs.   This year, however, the river is projected to rise higher than ever  recorded  (although, recent reports show it will not be as high as  projected) &#8211; already <a href="http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/fargoflood/" target="_blank">above  the previous record set in 1997</a>.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I still have many friends in this area, although all of my family has  since moved out of the region (one due to the fact that she lost her  home in the 2006 flood).  These floods can be <strong>as damaging as a  hurricane</strong> is to those of us along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, only  these floods occur in freezing cold weather.  Please keep these people  in your thoughts and prayers, as they fight to save their homes and  families.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I do wonder, however, why you don&#8217;t hear any reports of <strong>WHY</strong> the river is cresting so high.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You see, in order to crest at record levels, the <a title="March 10  Blizzard" href="http://www.ndsu.edu/fargo_geology/flood_photos/march_2009/blizzard_fargo_nd_10-iii-2009_schwert.jpg" target="_blank">snowfall</a> for the previous winter, as well as the  depth of the freeze must also have been at record levels to produce so  much water as the snow and ice melt.  This in the time of critical  &#8220;man-made&#8221; global warming?  Something doesn&#8217;t seem right, here.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Maybe Al Gore has a good explanation for it.  Then again, I doubt it.</p>
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		<title>Reprint: Yes, With Obama We Got Change</title>
		<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/24/yes-with-obama-we-got-change/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=yes-with-obama-we-got-change</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 21:02:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>PonderstormMike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ponderstorm.com/?p=232</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This article of mine was originally published on PonderPost on April 18, 2009. With the coming relaunch of PonderPost, this post is being republished here so you can see if anything has changed for the better in the past year. I suggest if anything we are much worse off. During the Presidential campaign season we [...]]]></description>
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<p>This article of mine was originally published on PonderPost on April 18, 2009. With the coming relaunch of PonderPost, this post is being republished here so you can see if anything has changed for the better in the past year. I suggest if anything we are much worse off.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">During the Presidential campaign season we heard lots of talk about  change. Barack Obama told us he would deliver change and, as President,  that is exactly what he is doing. Few would doubt that he&#8217;s keeping that  promise.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">In no particular order, let&#8217;s look at some of the changes we&#8217;ve seen  so far in these first 100 days.</p>
<ul style="padding-left: 30px;">
<li>Ordered the closure of Gitmo within one year (<a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_090123.htm">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>Allowed travel and financial transactions to communist Cuba (<a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/04/barack-obama-cuba-statement-full-text.html">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>Ended harsh interrogation methods for terrorist detainees (<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/181007">learn more</a>).</li>
<li>Releases secret Bush Administration documents about methods for  handling terrorist prisoners (<a href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6377010.html">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>Called for nuclear disarmament and an end to nuclear testing (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/06/obama-nuclear-weapons-speeches">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>No longer calls the war against radical Islamic terrorists a &#8220;war on  terror&#8221; (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/31/obama-abandoning-war-on-t_n_162804.html">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>Allows federal tax dollars to fund embryonic stem cell research (<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/09/obama.stem.cells/index.html">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>Reverses the Mexico City policy and lifts the ban on federal funding  of foreign abortions (<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/23/obama-lift-ban-overseas-abortion-funding/">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>Speaks at the Catholic Georgetown University but asks them to <span id="more-232"></span>cover  up their Christian symbols (<a href="http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2009/04/16/white-house-asked-georgetown-to-cover-christian-symbols-for-obam/">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>Declares that the United states is not a Christian nation (<a href="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&amp;pageId=67735">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>Massively increases spending and doubles the national debt (<a href="http://www.heritage.org/research/budget/bg2249.cfm">learn more</a>).</li>
<li>Bows to the King of Saudi Arabia (<a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/04/obama_bows_down_to_saudi_king.html">learn  more</a> &#8211; includes photo &amp; video) but not the Queen of England.  [As President, he should not bow to any leader.]</li>
<li>Fires the CEO of a private corporation &#8212; GM (<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20625.html">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>Maintains control over banks by refusing the repayment of TARP money  (<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123879833094588163.html">learn  more</a>).</li>
<li>Buddies up to Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez (<a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090418/D97L43IO0.html">learn  more</a> &#8211; see photos below). <img title="More..." src="http://www.ponderpost.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" alt="" /></li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.ponderstorm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/obama-chavez.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-230 alignnone" title="Obama &amp; Chavez" src="http://www.ponderstorm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/obama-chavez-300x224.jpg" alt="Obama &amp; Chavez" width="300" height="224" /></a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.ponderstorm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/obama-chavez2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-231 alignnone" title="Obama &amp; Chavez" src="http://www.ponderstorm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/obama-chavez2-300x228.jpg" alt="Obama &amp; Chavez" width="300" height="228" /></a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I could go on and on with changes we have experienced in the past 3  months. Is this &#8220;change we can believe in&#8221;? Do you like any of these  changes? I wonder if we can survive the other changes Obama has planned  for us?</p>
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		<title>Guest Post: Gay Marriage = Money Grab</title>
		<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/24/guest-post-gay-marriage-money-grab/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=guest-post-gay-marriage-money-grab</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 20:48:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>PonderstormMike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ponderstorm.com/?p=226</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a guest post by Tim Jones that originally appeared on PonderPost. It was published on May 11, 2009 and is republished her with the permission of Tim Jones since PonderPost is being restructured for a future relaunch. I live in Florida and know a few gay couples that were married, here in Florida.  [...]]]></description>
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<p>This is a guest post by <a href="http://therealtimjones.com/">Tim Jones</a> that originally appeared on <a href="http://www.ponderpost.com/">PonderPost</a>. It was published on May 11, 2009 and is republished her with the permission of Tim Jones since PonderPost is being restructured for a future relaunch.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I live in Florida and know a few gay couples that were married, here  in Florida.  You might be saying, &#8220;I thought gay marriage had not been  legalized in Florida?&#8221;  Well, you&#8217;re right.  As far as the government is  concerned, it&#8217;s not a legally binding contract, as a standard marriage.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">However, they were married, in a church, in Florida, with the full  bridal party, and rings.  We&#8217;ll come back to that, in a minute.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Marriage is a sacrament &#8212; a state of grace or a vocation between  you, your spouse, and God.  When I got married, I wasn&#8217;t particularly  concerned with what the government thought or did with respect to my  marriage.  I just wanted to be married to my wife.  I wanted my church&#8217;s  blessing and my parent&#8217;s blessing, but I did not concern myself with  the state&#8217;s blessing.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Many churches (not the Roman Catholic faith to which I belong) in  Florida will perform weddings for gay couples.  You can have the full  ceremony, complete with flowers, music, and reception.  With the  blessing of these churches and your family, you can be a married couple  &#8212; what would seem to be the most important part of this sacred union.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">With that in mind, I&#8217;m not stopping anyone from getting married in <span id="more-226"></span> the state of Florida (or any other state, for that matter) and truly,  neither is the state of Florida.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">The &#8220;fight&#8221; for gay marriage is nothing more than a <img title="More..." src="http://www.ponderpost.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" alt="" />red herring  designed to grab money from the public coffers for a small minority  population, in the name of &#8220;tolerance,&#8221; &#8220;diversity,&#8221; and &#8220;political  correctness.&#8221;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Any gay couple, anywhere can get married, if they want to badly  enough to find a church that will marry them.  Will they have a license  from the state?  Maybe, maybe not, depending on the state.  But what  difference does that make?  Isn&#8217;t the important thing that you committed  your life to another in the name of love and they did the same?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Apparently, that&#8217;s not enough for the gay community.  They want all  the rights and benefits afforded heterosexual married couples.  This is  nothing more than a continuation of the vicious spiral our country has  found itself in, where everyone wants their piece of the pie, along with  part of yours.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">It&#8217;s more of the entitlement mentality that will ultimately destroy  the foundation of our country and revoke our liberty.  Gimme, gimme,  gimme.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You want to marry your gay lover?  Go for it.  I certainly won&#8217;t  stand in your way, but stay out of my pocket.</p>
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		<title>Guest Post: Very Illustrative Videos</title>
		<link>http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/24/guest-post-very-illustrative-videos/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=guest-post-very-illustrative-videos</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 20:40:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>PonderstormMike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ponderstorm.com/?p=223</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This guest post was originally written for PonderPost on May 20, 2009 by Tim Jones. Since PonderPost is being reworked for a new yet-to-be-announced project, Tim let me publish it on Ponderstorm for our readers: I found these videos on Jimmy Akin&#8217;s Catholic blog.  They are amazingly good at illustrating Obama&#8217;s budget cuts and spending, [...]]]></description>
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<p>This guest post was originally written for <a href="http://www.ponderpost.com/">PonderPost</a> on May 20, 2009 by <a href="http://therealtimjones.com/">Tim Jones</a>. Since PonderPost is being reworked for a new yet-to-be-announced project, Tim let me publish it on Ponderstorm for our readers:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I found these videos on <a title="Jimmy Akin" href="http://www.jimmyakin.org/" target="_blank">Jimmy Akin&#8217;s Catholic blog</a>.  They are amazingly good  at illustrating Obama&#8217;s budget cuts and spending, so I thought I would  share them with the PonderPost readers.  Enjoy! <span id="more-223"></span><p><a href="http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/24/guest-post-very-illustrative-videos/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><p><a href="http://www.ponderstorm.com/2010/05/24/guest-post-very-illustrative-videos/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p></p>
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