Articles Comments

Barb’s Blog » Archive for January 2010

Retro

Retro

Retro is fun. I like looking back to easier times; good times spent with family and remembering songs and the way things looked back then…. What a pleasant experience it has been to work for a new client, Paul & Kathy Hittle of Severn Gas Pumps. Going to their house and workstation was like time travel. They restore old gas pumps, even as old as the 1900’s, all the way up to the 1960’s. They also … Read entire article »

Filed under: Featured, Personal

The Cost of Illegal Immigration

Lisa sent this to me. Mind you, I am all for legal immigration, but this surely makes you think. 1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state  governments. Verify  at: http://tinyurl.com/zob77 2.    $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on  food  assistance programs such as food stamps,  WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. Verify  at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 3. $2.5  Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens. Verify  at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 4. $12  Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and  secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of  English! Verify  at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANscriptS/0604/01/ldt.0.html 5. $17  Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the  American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor  babies. Verify at http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANscriptS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 6.   $3 Million Dollars a … Read entire article »

Filed under: News Items

Snow Day

Snow Day

Today a few inches of promised snow will have turned into 8 by tonight. So today turned into an “update the look of my blog day.”  While I passed the time doing that, (and in between falling and driving in the snow), I took photos of a few of the birds coming to the feeder in the cold. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

State of The Union

Last night’s speech… the words disconnect and delusional came to mind at the time. Today, even ABC felt that Obama didn’t get his facts straight. (Does he ever?) Point number one. “Foreign companies to spend without limit in our elections.” The president has assailed the Supreme Court’s decision on campaign financing, and tonight said, “The Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests — including foreign companies — to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests, and worse, by foreign entities.” According to Atlas Shrugs: This from the first president in history to flout election campaign laws and receive millions from foreign countries (including Gaza), blockbusting stories that broke at Atlas all during the campaign. When You … Read entire article »

Filed under: News Items

Do YOU Know What is in the Health Care Bill?

In the video are a few key points of the bill that might surprise (and upset) you. Copy of the Health Care Bill HERE (PDF Format) … Read entire article »

Filed under: Featured, News Items

Silas, Cardinal, and the Puzzle

Silas, Cardinal, and the Puzzle

Almost everyday, I lift Silas  up to my window and we watch the cardinal as he perches on the fence by the house. He gets very excited and shouts, “Red bird, red bird!” So, he was very delighted to see for my mom’s winter project, a jigsaw puzzle of a cardinal. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Boys and Chairs

Boys and Chairs

I love it when children take everyday objects and let their imaginations transform them into something else. In the boys case today chairs were a train or a bus or something fun. They sure made it fun. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Climategate

According to PrisonPlanet… Global warming is heading to the same dustbin of history as Y2K, SARS and swine flu – another manufactured scare peddled primarily to make vast profits for corrupt elitists at the expense of the general public. The entire fraud is collapsing under the weight of its own lies as new revelations of IPCC deception and bias emerge on an almost daily basis… The first major blow came when the IPCC had to admit that their 2007 forecast that the Himalayan Glaciers would disappear by 2035 was completely wrong. The absurd claim was first made by a little-known Indian scientist in an interview for an online magazine, invoked by the World Wildlife Fund, and then copied into the 2007 IPCC report with no investigation as to its accuracy. It then … Read entire article »

Filed under: News Items

Obama’s Big Chill

The announcement that President Obama will freeze non-military discretionary spending for three years has the liberal caucus in a tizzy. And why not? No less than four times during the presidential debates did President Obama actively campaign against an across the board spending freeze. Is Obama borrowing from McCain now? … Read entire article »

Filed under: Featured, News Items

Dollars and Denmark

Dollars and Denmark

This year, when you’re filing your tax forms, and perhaps  writing that check to your government, you might want to consider (besides all the other foolish expenses) the cost of our officials recent trip to Copenhagen. From CBS NEWS Congress Went to Denmark, You Got the Bill  (TRIPS TO COPENHAGEN COST OVER $1,000,000...) For 15 Democratic and 6 Republican Congressmen, food and rooms for two nights cost $4,406 tax dollars each. That’s $2,200 a day – more than … Read entire article »

Filed under: Featured, News Items

Government Run?

This came to my email today… To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature, The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke. Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke. War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to “the poor” and they only want more. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke. … Read entire article »

Filed under: General

Cry Translator

Cry Translator

Hungry Annoyed Tired Stressed Bored A list of things that can make a baby cry. Iphone now claims it can translate those cries for you. A team led by Dr Antonio Portugal Ramírez, a Spanish pediatrician, devised a program to analyse the sound through the phone’s mic, and display the translation. The £17.99 app, called the Cry Translator, was launched first in the US. The makers claim 96 per cent accuracy. But parenting experts believe it could make people rely on technology, not instinct … Read entire article »

Filed under: News Items

7 Ways to Survive the Jobless Recovery

In spite of the government telling us the recession is over, I am hearing of layoffs, pay cuts, and people not able to find jobs yet. I was very interested in the headline I recently found, 7 Ways to Survive the Jobless Recovery. Here are some snippets: 1. Don‘t wait for lost jobs to return. Chances are they won’t. In prior recessions, many job losses were temporary, and laid-off workers were often called back. But this time there’s a lot more going on than just a recession. 2. Don‘t count on big companies. They’ve gone to a lot of trouble to cut costs and weed out workers, which is the main reason corporate profits have held up reasonably well (and the stock market has enjoyed a historic rally). For the most part, big companies … Read entire article »

Filed under: News Items

How to Live Happily on 75 Percent Less

The “change” in the economy has touched nearly all of us and recently I read an article how some are coping with it. It tells the story of a lady who was laid off from her job, and took another one with a serious cut in income, and prestige. Nine months after getting laid off, Catherine Goerz once again became part of the rush-hour commute—in a way she’d never anticipated. To pick up extra cash, Goerz took a temporary job handing out fliers touting the benefits of public transportation in the San Francisco subway system. Occasionally she’d bump into people she knew from her former job as a creative producer for a Bay Area communications company. “They’re in their corporate clothes,” she recalls, “and I’m in this silly T-shirt and hat. ‘Cathy, is … Read entire article »

Filed under: General

Security

Security

Usually Silas is a tiny fireball, charging through the house, hardly still a moment. It’s sweet every once in awhile to see him calm, doing what calms him the most; clutching his blanket (he must have the torn edge), his pillow of many colors, and his nuk. He’s a sweetie pie. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Silas and New Glasses

Silas and New Glasses

After noticing Silas has a sensitivity to sun, I splurged and got him a pair of sunglasses! … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

The Invisible Woman

Hope to every taken-for-granted woman in today’s world. … Read entire article »

Filed under: General

Transparent

Obama promised at least 8 times to the American people that he will have health care negotiations in public on C-Span. He has not followed up on that promise. In fact the only thing that is transparent here is that he never intended to keep that promise;  Back room secret negotiations locking Republicans out, signing bills that congress can’t even read, and millions and million dollars spent to give dissenting politicians to their states in trade for their vote for this so called health care bill are the ONLY things that are transparent. At least for those who are aware of the truth. … Read entire article »

Filed under: News Items

THR3E

THR3E

“Indeed,” Dr. Francis Said. “Can a man step beyond evil’s reach? I think not. Not in this lifetime.” “Then all men are condemned to a lifetime of evil,” Kevin said. “I lifetime struggle with evil, not a life of evil,” Dr. Francis clarified. Currently reading, Ted Dekker’s “Three” Three Dekker delivers another page-turner with this psychological Christian thriller about Kevin Parson, a 28-year-old seminary student who suddenly becomes the target of an evil nemesis . . . [A]n almost perfect … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Detroit in Ruins

A picture of what happens when democrats are in charge. … Read entire article »

Filed under: News Items

Embers 4 Ashes at Rams Head

Embers 4 Ashes at Rams Head

It doesn’t seem that long ago we went to Rams Head to see Todd Rundgren. Imagine how it felt to see my own son and his band playing there! Last night was such a time. The band right before they were about to play. It was nice to have good lighting on the drummer for a change. Simeon Ryan Ben Doug Miquel Group Shot It’s nice when all your friends show up to support you… Even Cameron made it! I took nearly 1000 photos last night. I have … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Marriage Penalty

From the Wall Street Journal Some married couples would pay thousands of dollars more for the same health insurance coverage as unmarried people living together, under the health insurance overhaul plan pending in Congress.The built-in “marriage penalty” in both House and Senate healthcare bills has received scant attention. But for scores of low-income and middle-income couples, it could mean a hike of $2,000 or more in annual insurance premiums the moment they say “I do.” For an unmarried couple with income of $25,000 each, combined premiums would be capped at $3,076 per year, under the House bill. If the couple gets married, with a combined income of $50,000, their annual premium cap jumps to $5,160 — a “penalty” of $2,084. Does this seem fair to you? … Read entire article »

Filed under: News Items

Homemade Playdough

Homemade Playdough

Miranda made some play-dough for Silas and he enjoyed it so much! Want the recipe? Add coloring to the following: Cooked Playdough (flour and salt) 3 cups flour 1.5 cups salt 6 tsp cream of tarter 3 tbsp oil 3 cups water Dissolve salt in the water. Pour all ingredients into a large pot. Stir constantly over medium heat until a ball forms by pulling away from the sides. Knead the dough mixture until the texture matches playdough … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Faith is Required

Faith is Required

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but I find myself each year, getting off course from all my normal duties. I spend the day after New Years in a heap of fatigue and collapse. I have hardly rested at  all when I start to do things to catch up with what I should have been doing the past month or so. One of those duties is finishing up the sermon’s page at my church. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Digital Art with Apophysis

Digital Art with Apophysis

Over the Christmas break I got some time to play with the digital art program Apophysis. My favorite creation is below, the rest you can find HERE … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Freckles

So sweet a story… An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws. “You’ve got so many freckles, there’s no place to paint!” a girl in the line said to the little fella. Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head. His grandmother knelt down next to him. “I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles, she said, while tracing her finger across the child’s cheek. “Freckles are beautiful!” The boy looked up, “Really?” “Of course,” said the grandmother. “Why, just name me one thing that’s prettier … Read entire article »

Filed under: General

Happy 2010

Happy 2010

Happy New Year! For my first new thing this year, I started a new Photography Portfolio!  » Please see it HERE … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal