Envy versus Jealousy

17. September 2010 by Danny Dirt.

Envy and jealousy are often thought of as interchangeable terms that are close enough in meaning.  In truth, they refer to two very different emotions.  Put simply, jealousy is the fear of losing something that we possess to another person where as envy is the pain or frustration caused by another person having something that we do not have.

A basic example of jealousy would involved three parties:
1. The owner
2. The object that is owned
3. The potential new owner of the object

Scripture says that our God is a jealous god.  This would imply that God is the owner, we are the object that is owned, and the jealousy stems from the pain of us being owned by another party (i.e. Satan).

Envy on the other hand, involves at a minimum - only two parties:
1. The one who possesses something
2. The one who doesn’t

The pain of envy stems from the frustration within the person who does not have that is caused by the other person who possesses something.  This is not to say that the person who possesses the object IS the cause.  It is merely the fact that they have something that is perceived to be of value to the person who does not.  An example of envy might be the frustration of other people having beauty, wealth, or some kind of higher social status.

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Why the church is in trouble

10. September 2010 by Danny Dirt.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the Catholic archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., told CNSNews.com that if “someone sees the Gospel as the truth of God’s presence in our world, that person should embrace the Gospel.” He also said, however, “If a person sees the Quran as proof of God’s presence in the world, then I cannot say, ‘Don’t embrace the Quran.’”http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/72393

I wonder if this idiot knows that the consequences for leading people astray are so bad that when they occur, such a person will rather that they had a millstone tied around their neck and thrown into a lake.  How bad is that?  What does the Quran say about Jesus Christ?

- He is not God
- He was just a prophet and teacher

Watch and see what the global Catholic church’s response is to this bishop’s comments.  This will give you a good indication as to why the Catholic church is on the wrong path.

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Shawn Dobry

23. June 2010 by Danny Dirt.

Shawn E. Dobry, 19, Oconto Falls, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, June 19, 2010. He was born in Green Bay, Feb. 27, 1991. Shawn graduated with honors from Oconto Falls High School Class of 2009. He was an Individual Regional Champion wrestler at 171 Lbs. and he ran Cross Country for the track team. Shawn attended UW-Oshkosh pursuing a degree in finance. He enjoyed spending time with his many friends and family.

Surviving are his father, Chris (Sara) Dobry, Seymour; his mother, Cynthia (Jay) Stodghill, Oconto Falls; one brother, Austin Kollmann, at home; grandparents, Rich and Sue Dobry, Crivitz; Richard and Susan Rogala, L’Anse, Mich.; Byron and Verna Grover, Lena; grandfather, Fred Farrish, Prineville, Ore.; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by one brother, Kyle Dobry in 2000.

Relatives and friends may call at the Oconto Falls Performing Arts Center, Saturday, June 26, from 1 p.m. until the time of Memorial Services at 4:30 p.m. with Chaplain James Frank officiating. Rhodes-Charapata Funeral Home, Lena is assisting the family.

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Scary Woman Retires

7. June 2010 by Danny Dirt.

This woman’s photo is flat out scary to me.  It reminds me of another very scary facial image I can remember from the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The face of the creepy child catching dude terrified me as a kid and even now, when I think back to it - my skin crawls. I can still here him saying, “Candy! Lollipops!”

So this week Helen Thomas retires after a video of her berating Jews and Israel surfaced.  Thomas was quoted as saying that Israel should, “get the hell out of Palestine” and that Jewish people should do home to “Poland, Germany … and America and everywhere else”.  Can you imaging for a moment, someone in the press saying that black people in America should “go home” as if the place where they currently live is NOT their home?

Helen Thomas writes a pseudo-apology on her website saying that her remarks “do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle ease only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance.”

Um…. What?

How can someone say, “get out of here” and then say that they REALLY meant to say, “I hope one day we will live in peace”.

So Helen Thomas “retires effective immediately” and the other news networks are going over her career and hailing her as being some kind of stalwart of truth, and fidelity who has seen history “first hand” as if the rest of us haven’t.   This woman is a Jew-hater and her friends in the media are spin-doctors.

This is an excellent response to Thomas:

An Open Letter To Helen Thomas

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What is the meaning of this?

7. June 2010 by Danny Dirt.

A quick scan on google news reveals the following headlines:

- Miley Cyrus makes out with female dancer
- Scarlett Johansson kisses Sandra Bullock
- Kids with Lesbian parents do just fine

These are not isolated headlines but appear in the news with greater frequency every day.  Not all of them are homosexual in nature, but an alarming number of them are.  Some people might look at this and say there is a clear pattern of anti-God, anti-family, anti-something being expressed, while others may say it is nothing more than a freedom of speech statement against the stuffiness of the culture.  Whatever you want to say about it, one thing is for certain: these messages being sent by Hollywood, MTV, and the basic entertainment industry of America are the exact opposite of those outlined in the scriptures of the Bible.  What the media is saying is the opposite of what God has said.  This much should be very clear and no mistake made about it.

When proponents of this form of heightened, over sexualized culture push this idea in reality they are actually saying:

- this behavior is normal (i.e. it is so common that a large percentage of people do it or encounter it regularly)
- this activity is acceptable (i.e. many people - perhaps even most people approve or at a minimum “don’t disagree with” it)
- it is ok to do whatever makes you fell good (this mentality is commonly associated with self-actualization where the ultimate goal of mankind is his own pleasure)
- this is merely a reflection of how the society at large thinks and feels
- if the majority feel a certain way, then that way is inherently correct and should be promoted as “normal” or “good”
- rules and laws whether morally or ethically based are inherently obtrusive, generally anti-majority and therefore are considered “bad” and should be removed.

In the selection of the wording for the article headlines, additional information is being transmitted.  Consider the following headlines:
1. Kids with Lesbian Parents do Just Fine (US News & World Report)
2. Children of Lesbian Couples do Well In School and Life (Fox News)
3. Kids of Lesbians have fewer behavioral problems (CNN)

The pattern here seems to imply that our children are (or might be) better off being raised in Lesbian households.  This sounds very very pro-feminist.  It’s not just the title of the articles, but also the way that Google New displays them.  Of course there is a pattern because each article was written from the same study.  The collection of articles grouped like this also sends another message - “Don’t be afraid of this.  It might actually be a good thing”.

When I read such headlines, I read the meaning as follows:
1. Men not required to raise children
2. Females alone can teach children everything they need to know
3. If Females alone were allowed to raise the next generation, world peace followed by Utopia would be the result.

“Stupid men only get in the way.  They’re only good for one thing and not very good at that!  Come-on cloning technology!  Then we can do away with the scourge of society - MEN!”

Have I drawn the wrong conclusion from all of this?  Have I made a mountain of assumptions out of nothing at all?

Read your Bible my friend, read your Bible.

When you observe our culture, what goggles do you put on to interpret what you see?  What measuring stick to you use to discern the events of the day?  Is it a hard stick firmly planted in a solid unmovable object or one of those plastic flexible whippy kind of yard sticks?

I would encourage you to pay close attention to the following when you consume the news from your favorite source:
- What is the view regarding Israel?
- What is the view regarding persecution of Christians or Christianity?
- what is the view regarding appropriateness of entertainment?
- What is the view regarding violence?
- what is the view regarding nudity?
- what is the view regarding the killing of children - specifically abortion?
- what is the view regarding the killing of elderly  - specifically assisted suicide?

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Obama Backpeddling

4. June 2010 by Danny Dirt.

Recently, two particular incidents have come to light that would seem to be worthy of the impeachment of President Obama.  The first is the possible job offer that was presented to Joe Sestak (supposedly by Bill Clinton) so that he would not run against Arlen Spector (D-PA).  Spector is widely viewed by the Republican party as a traitor for having switched to the Democrat party.  Careful observers will note that he was more or less always a liberal Democrat regardless of what party he claimed to be with.

The other incident involves Andrew Romanoff who is the speaker of the Colorado State House of Representatives.  According to news sources, members of the Obama administration discussed potential jobs with him rather than him running in the Senate Primary.

These things alone are worthy of impeaching Obama.

 White House Dogged by Second Job Offer

Obama Claims He was “Unaware” Of Backroom Deal

Update #1 - White House Admits Job Talks With Senate Candidate

White House Team Looks Like Bumbling Clowns

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More Public Radio Ranting

16. April 2010 by Danny Dirt.

On the way home from work, I was cruising through the available radio stations and I once again stopped on Wisconsin Public Radio.  The show was “At Issues” with Ben Merens.  I think the format of the show is kind of a weekly-news-in-review.  People just call in and voice their opinion on the news of the week.  I guess the only difference between that and what I do here on DannyDirt.com is that I pay for this web space where as no private party pays for public radio.  It is tax payer funded along with any additional donations they can solicit.

So this guy calls in and complains that those mean old Republicans are joining forces again to oppose the new “energy jobs bill”, aka “Cap and Trade”, aka “Tax and Hide What You spend”.  Then he says, “I don’t know why more people don’t have electric windmills.  For only $2,000 dollars a family can get their own wind mill, get off of the grid and be energy independent.”

First of all, this is totally not true and secondly, our hero of the show - Ben Merens says nothing.  He asks no follow up questions about this.

Electric windmills that are large enough to provide enough power to run a house - an energy efficient house with energy efficient appliances, and people who live in them that are very energy conscious can easily run $20,000.   If you don’t think so, check out AWEA.

This doesn’t even take into account whether or not the area that you live in will provide enough wind to make it feasible.  Nor does it take into account the growing number of people who don’t like the noise or think the flashing of the sunlight on the propeller blades causes epilepsy or seizures (which I might add that I don’t think there is a lick of truth to).  But that is besides the point.

Here is my point: for a radio network that likes to refer to itself as “the ideas network”, they’re not real big into challenging anyone’s ideas - unless your a conservative, republican, or Christian.

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Open Letter To Congressman Steven Kagen

18. March 2010 by Danny Dirt.

Steve - I want you to vote NO on the current proposed health care legislation.

 

Here is why:

Obama, Reid, and Pelosi are using some kind of magical form of math to make the numbers appear to work out.  I read the news and I am a very well educated person.  Any person with a fraction of my education can see that the numbers don’t add up and it will grossly affect the national debt and deficit.  Go and find Congressman Paul Ryan and read his proposal.

 

I want you to avoid Nancy Pelosi and stop spreading her psycho-babble.  She is out of her mind and it makes you look bad when you repeat what she says and blindly agree to it.

 

I was fortunate to make it on one of your telephone town hall meetings.  In fact, I also got to ask you a question.  Thank you very much for that opportunity.  I asked you where the money was going to come from for the bail-out.  Rather than answer my question or listen to my concern, you presented me with your sales pitch.  When you have town hall meetings, listen, taken notes, stop trying to sell people on the government snake oil plan.

 

Never, under any circumstances should you vote “YES” on any bill that you have not read and fully understand just because we need “something / anything” to fix the current problem.  You are a doctor which means you should be a fairly intelligent person.  Blindly voting yes on bills that affect 20% of the national economy is not smart.  Don’t do it.  Don’t toe the party line.  Be an independent thinker.

 

Avoid bills with lots of pork.  When you vote yes to such bills, it is very clear to the people of Wisconsin that someone attempted to slip something through that shouldn’t have gone through.

 

Each of the steps that the Obama administration has taken since it took office last year can be explained away, but when they are viewed together, they form a pattern.  Most American’s see the pattern, but apparently it is difficult to see when you’re in congress.  Here is the pattern:  Loss of personal freedom.  Do not kid yourself into thinking this is not happening.

 

Finally, when I try to evaluate what the Obama administration is doing, when I look at where the country is headed, I look at all of the events and put them into a time-line.  I like to “connect the dots” so to speak.  When I connect the dots of the Obama administration and the events of the Democratically controlled house and senate, it is clear to see that an agenda of socialist nature is being rammed down the throat of the American people.

 

Do not waste your breath in telling me that what I am seeing, is not really happening.

 

* Scrap the current health care bill.

* No more bail-outs.

* Reduce the deficit and pay down the national debt.

* Read the constitution.

Thanks, Dan

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French Balls

2. October 2009 by Danny Dirt.

President Obama was given a verbal thrashing when French President Nicolas Sarkozy told him to wake up and try living in the real world.  Earlier in the week, Obama told the United Nations that he wanted to see a world without nuclear weapons.  Long before the words even exited his mouth, North Korea and now Iran have announced that they are nuclear capable nations.

North Korea already possesses nuclear warheads and the rockets to deliver them.  Iran has successfully tested their own rockets this past week during war exercises and it is also widely believed they will be nuclear armed within the next six to nine months.  In previous comments, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has announced his distaste for the country of Israel and his plans to “wipe them from the face of the earth”.

Here is where Sarkozy chimed in,
“We are right to talk about the future. But the present comes before the future and the present includes two major nuclear crises.  We live in the real world, not a virtual one.  We say that we must reduce (the number of nuclear weapons).  President Obama himself has said that he dreams of a world without nuclear weapons.  Before our very eyes, two countries are doing exactly the opposite at this very moment.  Since 2005, Iran has violated five Security Council resolutions…  I support America’s extended hand.  But what have these proposals for dialogue produced for the international community?  Nothing but more enriched uranium and centrifuges.  And last but not least, it has resulted in a statement by Iranian leaders calling for wiping off the map a Member of the United Nations.  What are we to do?  What conclusions are we to draw?  At a certain moment, hard facts will force us to make decisions.”

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Public Radio and Paying Attention

2. October 2009 by Danny Dirt.

On the way into work this morning, I had the opportunity to listen to “The Week In Review” with Joy Cardin.  Her guests were Tony Palmeri associated professor of communications from UW-Oshkosh and Ann Althouse professor of law at UW-Madison.

The ongoing conversation was about a number of different topics - the first of which I heard was regarding the stimulus bill.  As you continue reading, keep in mind that the stimulus package was in the neighborhood of $787 Billion Dollars and approximately 4-5% of the money has actually been spent on projects so far.  Obama sold this as a tool to create jobs and get money moving again.  Also keep in mind that just this morning, it was announced that unemployment is at 9.8% which is the highest it has been in 25 or 30 years.

In the month of September alone, the American economy lost another 263,000 jobs.  In fact, if you have been paying attention to the job loss and economy reports, you will notice that all of the headlines are suffixed with “<rose or fell>” and “<more or less>” than expected.  This means that just like global warming, I mean global cooling, I mean global climate change - the economists do not the ability to predict the state of the economy or rate of job loss with any kind of accuracy.

A caller gets on the program and says that she is pleased with the way the stimulus money is being used.  Why, just the other day she was driving along and came across some road construction.  There was a large sign near by that indicated that this work was being performed as a result of the stimulus money.   WhoooHoo! She also said that she had a sister that was some how involved in public education and her department had run out of money to fund some kind of project but they had now received new funding again as a result of the stimulus money.  Her view point - The stimulus is working.  So there you have it - two rock solid and indisputable examples disproving the supposed facts of the doom and gloom news.

Does it strike anyone else as odd that there would be a sign along the road advertising where the funding was coming from for a public works road construction project?  How do you reconcile this with the fact - and I do mean FACT that the economy is flat out not doing well?  This is putting the direness of the situation in a more positive light than it actually deserves.  There are communities where unemployment has now exceeded 25%.  Some areas are shutting down government offices, police stations, and other public works facilities.  The state of Michigan and the upper parts of Indiana come first in my mind.

How can the WPR guests conclude that the “stimulus is working”, when in fact percentage wise - very little of the money has actually been spent and what has been spent, is by and large not going to sectors of the economy that produce jobs or long term stability?  If all it took was 4 or 5 percent of the $787 B to get it going, can’t the government give all or most of the rest of it back?   Yet, if you were to listen to Obama alone, this is exactly what he is telling the world as he travels around.  “We’re investing in American infrastructure…” and “… we’ve spent our way out of debt…”.  Of course he can say that because there is at least one road project being worked on and the bill for the debt has not come due (yet) - which makes his statement true in a binary sense.  Yet in truth, it is largely a deceptive statement.

The caller then goes on to comment on her feelings about bringing the Olympics to Chicago.  “I think it would be great thing to showcase all the mid-west has to offer”, she says.  “It is a great thing for Milwaukee (to be so close to Chicago)”.  Basically, she feels very positive about the potential for the 2016 Olympic Summer games to come.   Nothing is said about the recent polls that indicate half of Chicagoians do not want the Olympics because the preparations for it will turn into a huge financial burden after the games are done.   Certainly no one comments about the kid who was recently beat to death by a gang or the 4 other survivors that are currently in the hospital.

This is when Professor Oshkosh chimes in, “absolutely… blah blah blah… this would be a great opportunity”.  It was obvious that he has been drinking the Obama Kool-aid.  What struck me was Professor Althouse’s comments.  She said, “If Obama wanted to do something good for Chicago, he would concentrate on addressing the problems the people of Chicago actually have rather than trying to showcase the best of Chicago for the world to see.  They have a high crime rate, high unemployment, high welfare, and other long term problems that the people need real solutions to.”  It was a very insightful analysis on the order of importance and what is the best long term benefit not just for Chicago and Illinois, but the mid-west in general.

Another caller chimed in, “… I think this is nothing more than payback to the city of Chicago for all its support in helping Obama get elected…”  Still another caller says, “… I would be concerned with Obama’s connections to people like Tony Resko and any other real estate connections he might have.  There is going to be a lot of construction for this.  Who is going to benefit financially from the Olympics coming to Chicago.  Follow the money.”

Professor Oshkosh piped back in, “This is not payback for anything.  That is just foolishness”.  Would somebody please serve up another glass of Kool-aid for Professor Oshkosh.  Of course leave it to the show’s host to not address or recnognize any of what has just been said, address any of the questions raised by the callers, and to change the subject.  This is why I don’t like to listen to public radio.  While it might be “OK” to state your opinion on the “idea’s network”, it is definately not “OK” to put them on the chopping block and analyze what has been said.

What is a person to conclude from all of this?  First and foremost - PAY ATTENTION!  Pay attention to what is actually happening verses what people say is happening.  When they don’t jive, someone is lying.

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