It is Rafting time!!!!!!!!!!

So, I just got back into work and my e-mail was flooded with videos. Here is a taste of what awaits me in WV upper river. Enjoy and prey for my safe return. BOHICA!!!!!!!!!!
Upper Gauley River: White water rafting in West Virginia WV

God is schools

Before you read this rant by Ben Stein I would like to express these are not all of my views. This does not mean that I agree or disagree with what he states. I do; however, love his style in expressing his views with such passion and humor. I received this in an e-mail September 9, 2008.

"I can only hope we find God again before it is too late!!

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it It shows that we are all brothers and sisters
celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein"

IPL Building.

Here is a taste of what is to come at IPL.

Sound Off!

Maybe your right, Cooperations do not care about individuals or me for that matter. We give and give to their bottom line and in return if profits are not where they believe they should be they take there ball and leave. So, why do always fall into that trap? For me, at least, it is a memory of sometime I once had. It could be that first taste of Star Bucks or that first game I attend with my father. What ever the reason I will always come back for more and yes, dejection will follow once the ride is over. Until then I will cheer and drink my favorites...

Coming soon!

I have been very slow with my postings lately. It has does not mean I have nothing to say, rather I have been in different states over the last couple of weeks. So, with that I will have some more thoughts and Ideas shortly.

Detroit,but only one day and not an entirety!

So, I am in Detroit, or just east of downtown Detroit, and I made a trip to a local liquor store. I did not stop at my first choice it had no visible windows and only two cars in the lot, I thought to myself, wait don’t go there and I went further down the road. I chose a chain 21st liquor with windows. I do not know what I thought windows were a good idea maybe I thought I was in Detroit and I want to know what I am walking into. Inside I found that by the coolers was a local gang, none of which the members were of age. Not that age matters when rolling 9 deep in a pack, much like wolves. One was on a cell phone yelling at a girl, I assume, about being with another guy and telling her in detail what he was going to do with her once he made the trip to her place with his boys. This is not to be a scared story, but it goes to enlighten us what could happen to our cities id we allow this violence or infighting to continue. The group did greet me with a question as to what I wanted, I guess to show they were in charge. I replied in kind with a joke of stature with where is the Shiner Bock ( my spelling is bad) and then asked for Bud Light. They laughed and I grabbed my case for the night. When I got back to the motel and turned on the TV. On HBO2 was a documentary about the Detroit Tigers in the 60’s. It covered Baseball, but also the riots that precursors Dr. Martin Luther King’s assignation. Now 44 were killed during the occupation of Detroit by us soldiers and I believe that they have never recovered. I know that Michigan is in a recession and the state has made that very clear during the Democratic election, I have seen the damage. I mean that the roads are in horrible repair. This may seem weak and maybe, but when you are traveling 94 to Detroit and have huge pot holes throughout the interstate that tells me you do not have money to fix roads and I do not mean Guion road in Indy, but a major road is falling apart because your state can not afford the crews to maintain the infrastructure. This state has a lot to offer, by the way near Ann Arbor the roads and great, but when your gas station promotes gambling as an attraction your in trouble. I now that Indy has a few just newly opened, but last time I check the gas station near Anderson does not have a bumper sticker giving the address and directions to any casinos’. I digress, This was an experience and needs to taken lightly, but nevertheless we need to not follow this example, I want my kids to feel safe buying booze at the local market without fear of being jacked for nothing…

Allstate Brickyard 400

There maybe some complaints about the tires of the race, but what is profound even through all of this is the American Spirit shared by the race fans. NASCAR embodies what it means to be an American, drinking in excess, mullets, and product placement. The church of racing is IMS and the fellowship is strong regardless of conditions and idiots sitting in front of you pouring upside down margaritas. The drive in was easy enough and had no problem parking and the exit was just as easy. We all had fun in the heat with Charlie's band and Trailer row. By the way the 88 car had 4 trailers compared to 1 for everyone else just FYI. I will be uploading some video soon of the events later...