Glenn Beck's "The Swear Jar"

By John Kubicek

I think it was just last night, Glenn Beck made a big deal about what people were saying about his foul language on his new show on Fox News. That's good, because now I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed!



To be perfectly honest, I was beginning to wonder how long Glenn Beck would remain on Fox News. There were times when the way Glenn was talking in the first week on the new venue that it was hard for me to accept his vocabulary. Strangely, I was was beginning to wonder if Rupert Murdoch was demanding that Glenn went to the edge, just to get them more ratings. I pray that is not the case, but....

There is something that also seems to be strange about this. It was just last weekend that Fox & Friends did their story on McKay Hatcher and his No Cussing Club. The young man is the one responsible for nocussing.com.



So, to Glenn, you were wondering what "charity" to donate the proceeds from your "No Swearing Jar" to. It's a no brainer, isn't it? How about donating it to McKay Hatch's No Cussing Club? Or, you may have already thought of that. Maybe that is what this is all about. If that is the case, all I can say is: BRILLIANT! What a way to show how getting people to quit cussing has a lot of merit. It sounds like a great plan to me. Set the example, Glenn, be somebody that actually means it when you say you've been a little liberal with the lingo. I just hope that jar doesn't get too full of Lincolns. That would defeat the purpose.

And if you agree with me today, please email Glenn and let him know about this blog: glennbeck@foxnews.com

Related Story:
The Audacity of a Young American Hero

Experiment #44 - Underlying Agendas

By John Kubicek

I found two videos this morning that are "MUST SEE!" The very good thing is, these videos are not only very well done, but also excellent educational tools. Make your kids watch them 5 times a day, at the minimum!

The two videos show pictures of all of the Presidents, from #1 - George Washington, to #44 - Barack Hussein Obama. The pictures morph from one President to the next, and are great quality, for the most part (more about that later.)

Now, what I want you to do is to vote on which one you like the best. As of this writing, one of them has 2,687,275 views, and was uploaded on November 8, 2008. The other is at 62,309 views, and was uploaded on November 18, just 10 days later. So, does the one with over 2 million views deserve that number of views? Or should the other one, with just over 62 thousand views be the one you would really like to watch? You can comment on your votes here (delayed until I approve the comments), or on the digg submittal for this page. Now, let's get started. We're only talking about eight minutes of viewing time, so there should be no excuses, (other than you being on a dial-up line).

Video #1 - From George Washington To Barack Obama - A Long Way - Original Video


Video #2 - George Washington to Barack Obama in Under 4 Minutes


Of course, this is totally non-scientific research on my part. My informal poll is just that. But should there be a lot of comments on either of the venues, my blog or on digg.com, it should be interesting. Though the videos are similar in the special video effects (and kind of spooky at that!), they are somewhat different, both in video and audio. I really love both of the background music tracks, so on that "note", I was impressed with both of these. However, there were some differences in the presentation of both of these videos that I thought was interesting. My theory is that the number of views of these two great(est) videos on youtube.com may have been somewhat slanted based on the differences in presentation.

With that being said, I am hoping you will participate in this informal poll-based research. The responses, which you should make sure to read, will be the most interesting. It is a social experiment. And to think, I only took Sociology 101 and Politics 101 when I went to college. (Why did I have to go to college even before the personal computer was developed?) So, here it is in this social experiment. What say you?

Now, keep this in mind: History can be shown from different perspectives.

The Audacity of a Young American Hero

By John Kubicek

You may or may not be disappointed to find out that the video below is not about Barack Obama if you were going just by the title of this essay. No, this story is about young McKay Hatch, who came up with the "No Cussinig Club." The young man understands more about life than I can say about many so-called "adults." And here is the deal: It isn't just about cussing. This is about what bullies do to people. Wait, before I spoil the story, let me show you this video I saw this morning.

See what I mean? Imagine that, somebody - a young man, none the less - that says (paraphrased), "hey, I'm not into cussing, don't do it around me." Is that not audacity, or what?

And, why do I consider him an American hero? He's like a very young John Wayne. Know what I am saying? Do you know that most adults would back off from saying what they believe, because of the fact that they would fear being "different"?

So, give me a break, Americans. This guy made his statement, he's not backing down, and holy cow, he's letting the bullies know he's not going to take it without a fight. And this is a very, very important lesson we all need to take heed of, right now. Are we going to be afraid to voice our displeasure with what the government hands to us? Will we speak up about the global warming hoax? Stick up for our values? Are we going to allow ourselves to be bullied into not speaking up?

Here's to McKay Hatch, a young man who with courage, who has the audacity to go against the "norm" and make his statement. He said more in those few minutes than I've heard from Obama in the last two years.

Yes, there was that bonus tidbit from this video to enlighten us about courage, but that wasn't what McKay's mission was about. At one time, our parents probably would be giving us a good dose of a mouth full of soap if they heard their kids talk the way people do these days. That surely went out of style following some obscure U.N. Conference on various forms of child torture. Instead, the parents just cuss out the kids when they mess up. Go figure.

I don't know, but when we hear it often enough, as many of us do, it is difficult to keep from succumbing to the peer pressure of the very contagious potty-mouth syndrome. But that is no excuse. Take McKay's challenge, and sanction the language for awhile, especially when you are around kids, and especially if they are YOUR kids. Set the example. And believe me, for some of us, it could be a very great challenge. But, you will see great results from the effort!

Doing it all for the glory of God

~ Guest Writer ~

By rjw

Recently, I offered to submit a contribution for an upcoming issue of Generations. I had in mind an accounting of a recent and difficult trial in my life that the Lord is still bringing me through. For several weeks I toiled to produce something, but I could not put down in few enough words the accounting of what occurred in my life. The text of my story did not allow enough space to include God and what He had done for me. For days I pondered over what I wanted to say and how to say it. The truth was, I had writers block and I could not write what I wanted to contribute.

I had made a commitment to get my contribution to Generations submitted within a certain time frame. I wrote, deleted some, then rewrote a little more without any result. Frustrated, I asked God a simple Question; “What am I doing wrong? What would you have me say, Lord?”

His answer came to me very quietly. Quiet as it was, His answer was very clear. I was focusing too much on the details of my recent trials. Too much print was being devoted to my problems, while too little space was devoted to the Lord. Additionally, I realized that I was glorifying myself through how I had suffered through my problems, while I failed to humble myself in giving God all the glory for what He was doing to handle everything.

1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

What I have learned, what God has taught me, what I believe Him to be inspiring me to say is the following; Whether I am writing a submission for Generations, or in all else that I set out do in my life, I am to do it to glorify Him.

I must learn to kick my pride to the curb through humbling myself. I understand that whatever I do, all of my actions and thoughts are to be done to Glorify God. This is such a simple lesson, yet it is also such a gargantuan task for me as just a mere man.

In my business dealings, personal relationships and in all of my deeds and thoughts, I must do all things in such a fashion that glorifies God, not me. The task before me is monumental which I will undoubtedly foul up from time to time. I know that over time, placing God before me in all that I set out to do will become easier as it becomes habit.

Thank God I have the saving grace of Jesus, that when I fail, He is forgiving and loving enough to let me have another chance in honoring and glorifying Him in all that I do.

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death (Just don't give me "Abe" Obama)

By John Kubicek

Tomorrow, you will experience the "change" you have been "hoping for." Before the change happens, though, I hope that you will watch the above video. At least once. I've watched it multiple times, and I lost count.

I heard and saw a few things in this video that told me that today was the day I needed to see this one, along with sharing it with my readers and friends.

It's just hours from right now, and change will begin.

Oh, and I still haven't figured out why Barack Obama decided to be emulating - to the point of obsession and infatuation - Abraham Lincoln, and not Martin Luther King, Jr. And I'm fine with either one of them, really... but haven't his handlers bothered to tell "Abe" Obama that both Lincoln and MLK were Republicans?

Because today is a holiday celebrating the great Martin Luther King, Jr., I dedicate this blog post to him. Yes, he was a hero. I am glad there is a holiday to honor him and celebrate his life.

A Legacy of Mixed Emotions

By John Kubicek

(This story was updated on January 16, 2009)

I'd love to have a chance someday to step into a time machine, and go about 50 years into the future. I would want to be transported into a school library, to check on the one thing that would be the most interesting to find out about: How will history look back at the eight years of the George W. Bush (U. S. President #43) administration?

Before the step into the future takes place, I remind myself of who could control the academics in America when I step into the future. Would the text books be written by historians that have been "educated" (indoctrinated would have been a better word) during this time? While knowing that there could be a liberal bias in the way history will be written, I'll still be hoping that a blog, such as this one written in this time of history, will be found by an inquisitive research historian that actually wants to know all sides of the issues.

My prayer will be that, for those of you that may still be alive in 50 years from now, historians will have made an honest attempt to state the true facts. Whether or not that will happen, only time will tell. But, the reason why it would be good for there to be an accurate and unbiased recounting of this time of history is because of the two important lessons that will hopefully be learned.

In my analysis of the last eight years, there is a significant and definitive moment when the attitude of many Conservative Americans realized that the President they re-elected was not going to be what we expected. There were two distinct periods of this administration where it is divided between high expectations being realized, and extreme disappointment (which is the normal response to have when putting our faith in a man instead of the Higher Power that we should be praising and worshipping).

For many of the Conservative Republicans that voted for a second Bush term, there shouldn't be any reason to feel guilty. The radical change in the direction of the Bush administration came a little after the 2nd term began, and it took most of us by total surprise. (There will be some that will tell us that we shouldn't have been surprised, but that is a subject for a later column about the coming New World Order.)

If we were to find nomenclatures for the two George W. Bush terms, I think I can provide a good starting point for your consideration. The first term would be named the "9/11 Term." At that time, my President was displaying the kind of "September 12th kind of people" we needed to be. Many of us were very proud to be Americans, and we proudly displayed that love of our country.



But then, following George W. Bush's win over John Kerry in November of 2004, there was a change. It was a drastic change, and it resulted in great shame for many people that had always supported the President. While many on the left could easily point to the Hurricane Katrina time for displaying a great lack of compassion on the President's part, I can go one better: This is why I would label the 2nd Bush term as the "Ramos and Compean Term".

Yes, while President Bush was running against John Kerry in the Fall of 2004, I had no doubts about who I would stand up for. I actually worked for his campaign. I had a dream come true when I was able to meet both the President and the First Lady, at the base of the steps from Air Force One. I had no qualms about having the great honor to ride in the motorcade from the Eastern Iowa Airport to the downtown venue where the President spoke to his strong supporters. It was a very happy and proud moment of my life. My belief at that time was that the President was a lot like me. I believed him to be a strong Christian with values that would be very easy for me to share with him.

It was in the second term that things changed. In the midst of a war in Iraq that was beginning to go horribly wrong, we had Hurricane Katrina. It came within W's first year of his second term. Though I wouldn't lay all of the blame at the President's feet, I can also say I wasn't horribly impressed with the performance by the new Department of Homeland Security. And it wasn't long after that, the various conspiracy theories started to come out of the woodwork: Everything from the evil Cheney planning 9/11, to the suspicions that the dikes protecting the 9th Ward in New Orleans were sabatoged by the government. I looked past those loonie ideas as schemes to discredit my heroic President. It wasn't those kinds of things that made me change my opinion to the point of being extremely disappointed.

It was pretty early in 2006 that I started seeing the writing on the wall regarding the President's stance on immigration. It was bad enough that we began to see a departure from Conservative fiscal policies that we would expect from a Republican-controlled Congress. But, when we started hearing the talk about giving amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants, Conservatives went ballistic. The boiling point was finally reached when two heroic Border Patrol Agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, were sentenced to prison time for their efforts to stop a drug runner.

It was all during these last two years of the George W. Bush administration that we learned what it meant to be a "globalist." Eight years ago, I never would have expected it. For me, it was all about George W. Bush being a "9/11" President. How sad it was for me to find out just how easily I could fall for such a pretender. For all the pride I had in the man in his first term, how sad it was to see that all evaporate with his 2nd term nurturing of the globalist agenda. No matter how well he will be remembered for his initial ability to bring Conservatives - for that matter, the country - together right after 9/11, it is all going to be forgotten in history based on what he did with his second term.

The Ramos and Compean case has become the theme of that distastrous 2nd term, as it illustrates the true legacy of the Bush 43 presidency. I hate to even have to write that. It is sad, because I saw a resurgence in the respect of the office for those first four years. What a wonderful change that was from the previous occupant in the Oval Room. It was a complete wardrobe makeover - from stained blue dresses to a man that always wore a suit and tie when working in the Oval Office. So sad, as all of that upward spiral in patriotism and seemingly high values and ethics all went down the tubes in the way that Ramos and Compean have been treated.

To the historians who will be writing the text books for our future generations that live decades from now: Please make it clear that we had a President that could have made a big difference in the course of this nation going in a positive direction, and he let it all slip away. We had a President that capitulated to a segment of society that felt that our national security would be better served by the global agenda. And please include the part how people found out that we could be fooled by politicians that were wolves in sheeps' clothing.

They say that the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things and expecting different results. The textbooks of the future may never reflect the lessons that we have recently learned, should we continue to blindly follow the political system as it now stands. We must never throw the Bush 43 Legacy down the "memory hole," no matter how mixed-up it became. Quite to the contrary, especially now that we know what such a failure can lead to: An ObamaNation.

Related stories:
Farewell to George W. Bush - by Jane Chastain
Does Iraq make Bush a 'failed president'? - By Larry Elder

And Even In Hollywood

By John Kubicek

Two of the actors in Hollywood that came out of the 1980's are now facing all of our fears. John Travolta and his wife just lost their son. And Patrick Swayze is facing up to having a deadly form of cancer.

In a blink of an eye, life as we know it can change. If there were two of the stars from the past that can make a difference, it will be John Travolta and Patrick Swayze. Whether it is John, in losing his young son, or Patrick in facing the fact of losing his own life, you'll see a common thread. They will both show the value of life in the way they handle the losses that they are dealing with.

Our prayers go out to both of them and their families.

A New Insidious Form of Highway Robbery?

By John Kubicek

Highway robbery? I'll say! We're looking at a deal where it's "Heads - They win, Tails - We lose." The government seems to have us from either side of the coin. You'll see what I'm talking about in the two videos that I'll provide below.

On the one side of the coin, we have the various state governments desperate for financing needed work on the infrastructure, especially when it comes to transportation needs. The roads need maintenance, whether it is filling pot-holes or plowing snow and salting the streets. And yet, states are asking the Federal government for financial assistance, but not for the needs of maintainence of our existing roads or building new ones.

But wait, what about all the money they are collecting from us in the present gas taxes? Not enough? We all pay a federal gas tax, and then the states collect their cut, too, in varying amounts. Apparently, it is no longer enough, even for just normal road maintenance.

So, then, what about the fact that President-(S)elect Obama wanted to spend a lot of money on improving our infrastructure? Did he somehow forget to mention that the money for that would have to come out of our pockets, in the way of higher gas taxes? In addition to the income taxes and all the other taxes we pay?

I can easily illustrate the point I'm trying to make by providing the following video clip for you to view:

And then, there's the other side of the coin.

There may be a reason that the government is no longer getting the needed funds from us in the way of gas taxes. That's right: They have been wanting us to drive more fuel efficient vehicles, both because of trying to decrease energy usage and carbon emmisions. However, because of the very high fuel prices we paid at the pump last summer, people did cut down on driving when possible, we bought less gas, and because gas taxes were tied to the number of gallons, the gas tax revenues went down, down, down.

Wouldn't you think that the government could afford an economist that would have figured that out? I digress.

So, because gas tax revenues fluctuate, and are most likely still falling just because the economy is down, the government needed to find another way to get their sticky fingers on our money. Would a smart idea occur to them, as in charging a percentage of the sale price - like sales taxes - or, would they come up with something very lame? If you guessed the latter, you would probably be right. Here is the latest ingenious idea from the people we pay to represent us:

Oregon looks at taxing mileage instead of gasoline

Associated Press, January 2, 2009

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon is among a growing number of states exploring ways to tax drivers based on the number of miles they drive instead of how much gas they use, even going so far as to install GPS monitoring devices in 300 vehicles. The idea first emerged nearly 10 years ago as Oregon lawmakers worried that fuel-efficient cars such as gas-electric hybrids could pose a threat to road upkeep, which is paid for largely with gasoline taxes.

"I'm glad we're taking a look at it before the potholes get so big that we can't even get out of them," said Leroy Younglove, a Portland driver who participated in a recent pilot program. [Continue reading]

Oh, definitely, I can tell you about these "pilot programs," but it'll have to wait. The following video explains a lot more about what they have come up with now:

If you ask me, I'm thinking that being tracked where ever we go will not be something to make Americans a bunch of happy campers. It's pretty insidious, as Rick pointed out. Oh, what's he know? He's just the weather guy...

Of course, we would never think that the government would ever have a need to invade our privacy by accessing the GPS data that is collected in measuring our driving distances, right? And I just can't help wondering how they will bill you for those taxes, what happens if you cross state lines, or if the government officials that came up with this "brilliant" idea even asked any of the questions most of us want to ask? I have a lot of questions!

Now that you know about this ridiculous idea, don't you have to just wonder, "What are they thinking?" Or, maybe we should be wondering, "Is this a plot - sorry, I mean a pilot program - to erode our rights even further?"

Further highway robbery by the government may be just the least of our concerns.

To the Fallen Heroes!

By John Kubicek

My last blog of the year. To all of the Veterans, past and present, I honor you. With the following video, this is my salute to you all!

While I had wished many of my friends and fellow journalists a Happy New Year in several recent blogs, this is the one that is actually the most important. My friends, and my dear fellow patriots that take advantage of our 1st Amendment Rights, would not have that right if it wasn't for you, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. You all will be in my prayers, and I hope to see you home soon!

Happy New Year!

Wait, one last great tribute to our military men and women:

Thank you, Bubba! You are also a great inspiration for the rest of us that keep our military members in our prayers!

A Happy New Year for my friends at WND.com

By John Kubicek

There are many people I want to thank for helping 2008 be a good year, and to thank in advance for a wonderful year to come in 2009. Many people have faced hardships and sorrows in 2008, but it was the friends I have that kept me encouraged to get through the storms I faced. I believe that without a doubt, there will have to be a lot of that love going around in 2009. While many of us may be spared from a devasted economy, wicked weather and other disasters, there will be the few that will need us to keep in our prayers.

Had it not been for WorldNetDaily, I would have never known most of the friends that I have now. I had been an avid reader of the site for quite awhile, when one day, there was this icon with "digg" on it. I remember that day, and always will, as it seemed like just yesterday, but it was in late April, 2007 when I first noticed it. It did not take me long to develop a network of my loved friends once I started submitting WND articles to digg.com.

And it has been a wild ride since then. I then became aquainted with the blogs. At first, I put a lot of time on blognetdaily, a WND forum. Writing about articles and the issues of the day was always fun, and just as enlightening when reading other's comments, or posts. And then came digg.com. Now, I'm not sure if Joseph Farah, founder of WND, would agree that digg has been a good thing. For all the positive things posted on digg.com regarding him and WND, there have also been a hefty and lefty share of WND-haters. The detractors. Uh, I just have to say this: "Can you digg it?"

You see, I love reading commentaries as much as I love writing them. If there has ever been a great advantage of having the Internet (thanks to Algore, of course /sarcasm), we have the ability to share our thoughts with each other. Once upon a time, it was when the printing press was invented that helped to shape civilization. And now, we have the ability to share our thoughts and concerns and epiphanies with each other at light speed. And now, it is a 24/7/365 Town Hall meeting. You gotta love it!

Thanks to my many friends at WND, I was introduced to this new way of communication. I don't know if there is any other way to show my great appreciation for what they do, other than to keep doing what I've been doing! And, right back at them, I hope that they also keep doing what they've been doing, too! And in a gushing way of saying it, THANK YOU, JOSEPH FARAH! You have chosen the greatest writers around to be apart of your crew. Everybody there at WND and Shop.WND deserve my greatest kudos!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, you all!

Related stories:
A Happy New Year for my friends at digg.com!
2009: Make it the "Acts of Kindness YEAR"

A Happy New Year for my friends at digg.com!

By John Kubicek

More than anything that I've learned since joining digg.com back in April of 2007. I've learned the importance of the people that I correspond with, the importance of being committed to great friendships. I dedicate this post to all those on digg.ocm that have added so much to my life. (Hey, and some aren't even my "mutual friends" - some are people that I could argue with all day, but I love them, too!)

I was just getting my feet wet on digg for the first 8 months in 2007. It was when I started taking it seriously in 2008 that I saw how much it helps to even have some moral support. Stuff happened in 2008 that I hope I'd never have to experience again. The very difficult winter last year, my dog Moochie taking off for an unannounced vacation from her castle in February, a problem with excess water in Cedar Rapids last June, losing my job in June and getting it back in September, and of course the ongoing theme: wondering if what I am doing is going to help anyone... Oh, wait, I forgot - for a moment - about that election thing and the financial blow-out...

And so, am I saying that 2009 will be any easier? Uh, no. In fact.... Okay, I'm not going to go there, but I do believe that all of us together can help each other, just the way I was helped through my storm in 2008.

There's another point that I want to get to today, too. This Happy New Year's message also goes out to people that have not been exactly my fans. But, many of those that do not agree with me, well - I see a lot of good in many of them, too! For me, that has been easy to accept them as friends (to a point). I have personal experience with loving people in my family regardless of their point of view.

In fact, just yesterday I pointed out in a comment I wrote that I will no longer digg down comments unless they are so offensive that I am compelled to report it to digg.com as violations of the Terms of Service. That goes for anyone I know on either side of the aisle. I do believe in tolerance, but I will draw a line in the sand.

With that being said, let me reiterate the fact that my experience on digg.com has brought me in contact with many great people, who I only wish the best for in this next year. It may be difficult, but we can pull together regardless of our personal opinions. Kind of like we were right after 9/11. Know what I'm saying?

My Christmas Sermon for 2008

By John Kubicek

Christmas... Is it really "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"? Is it the "happiest season of all"? For some, it is. For others, it is not. Uh, no, I'm not going to provide any scientific research data. No numbers that you will have to dive through. This is just an observation based on the views of people that I know and love.

For me? Christmas is great! Was it always? Absolutely not!

The one thing that I found out was that many people seemed to have painful memories of this season. And yes, on the positive side, for many people, there have been many joyful memories!

I am one of the vast majority of people that can easily say that they've experienced both sides of the spectrum. There have been many good memories just as much as there have been very sad memories. And then, there will be years when this season results in mixed memories, both good and bad.

Well, I guess that's the way I've looked at this year, to a point. There were, and have been things this year that I know are affecting me, and much of that is knowing what others are going through. I know of people that have recently lost loved ones, and I know of people that are still suffering severe financial hardships from the Flood of 2008 here in Cedar Rapids.

It was after reading Glenn Book's Christmas classic, "The Christmas Sweater," just before Christmas, that I decided that this was going to be a year that I would enjoy every little bit of the Christmas spirit that I could soak in. I decided not to only enjoy the happiest Christmas memories of the past, but I would do everything I could to produce brand new happy Christmas memories. And, in my heart, I succeeded.

Early this week, I happened to come across something new. It was a musical group that I had not heard of before. I recorded it. I put in on youtube.com, and I believe that it is worthy of sharing with you on this great day of the Lord! Here they are, the Annie Moses Band:

Bethlehem, the House of Bread

We Three Kings

Do you ever wonder sometimes how it is possible to be joyful in times of sorrow? There's a good chance that you haven't found a way to do that. I'm one of the lucky ones that has succeeded in that effort. I learned to combine the best of the old memories with developing new good times that I won't forget. Here is an example of that, brought to you by "Straight No Chaser":

It could have happened to you in the past... It could be happening to you now... Or, it could happen to you in the future. Whatever it is, I just hope that I can remind you that not everything that happens to you is YOUR plan. No, but you can be joyfull knowing that there is a God that has a much greater plan for you. Make what you want to of this season, but for me, that thought that God gave us the gift of that child, it is what makes this another Great Christmas!

My 2008 Story of the Year - They Make 'em Good in Iowa!

By John Kubicek

There could have been many stories that would make it to the top of the list for TOP NEWS STORIES FOR 2008. In this case, I'm going to tell you about the top story that directly touched my life, in many ways. And this is a story that really needs to spread across the land. We are all facing a coming crisis that may still be beyond our imagination.

In 2008, and even carrying over from 2007, Iowa had experienced a very brutal winter. Across this great state, many Iowans fell on their knees and prayed, and we had the support of many people across this great land. We've had to endure many hardships.

Despite the great adversities of last winter, we persevered. Iowans are resilient, as are most of the people across this great nation.

Being that this is my "Top Story of 2008," I wanted to make this a good one. That is why for the next few minutes, I'll just let the following videos speak for me:

Maybe the reason for sharing this story today is that we are all facing our storms. We now need to decide where we want to go. In the last video, there was Ashton Kutcher, a good ol' Iowa native. He decided to do what he could to help in his home state. I respect that. Really, I greatly do respect that. They DO make 'm good in Iowa. Joining in the effort to help out Iowans was another Iowa native, Shawn Johnson, an Olympic gymnast.

And better yet, there are efforts going on that you will probably never see in the news. We'll continue to talk about those efforts in the future.

There is a point to remember here. Consider what had happened here in Iowa as an example. As we face further tribulations - personal or nationwide - let's remember that we can all be here for each other. Let's be September 12th people, folks.

ILLINOIS: Ground Zero for the ODD Pandemic!

By John Kubicek

Update, Friday, December 12, 2008
In my haste to break this feverish story, one that could not just go viral, but BE viral, I failed to mention the prerequisite reading that would be necessary to comprehend this installment. The background for this story can be found in The Wizard of ODD. Even though I had left a few clues in this piece - you know, like that underlined text which is normally a link to another page - it seemed that some readers were still left clueless. No, not saying all of you! Just those few... Never mind. Just make sure you have the background for this story before continuing.

I may soon have to go into hiding. I'm now the ultimate whistle blower. I've apparently uncovered that strain of O.D.D. that has gone into pandemic mode, and seems to be a real career killer. And then, I go and discover ground zero. Yes, right there in Illinois! And now, the President-Select is right in the middle of a gigantic storm.

So that you know just how this disease of O.D.D. is spreading, we need to see how there is more than obvious evidence of defiance:

Video above: Hey Rod, you'll never be able to look your mom in the eyes again!

And it all fits. The dots are easily connected. Now, the left side of the talking heads in the media are all claiming that the Governor of Illinois has lost it. And I kind of feel bad; I think I've given them some new type of disorder to explain the bizarre behavior. Oppositional Defiant Disorder, now known as, Obama Derangement Disorder.

When the belief becomes so strong that you are beyond any kind of reality of what you mean to America... When the belief becomes so strong that you would lie to your mom.... It has to be a matter of derangement and delusional beliefs.

But did I not say, in a previous post, that:

I am sure that you have seen how tragic this disorder is. It just seems so obvious when you see people that are ODD. The childlike behaviour of believing in the most unbelievable fantasies. I mean, people that only knew one thing about the candidate, and possible source of this deadly behavioral disease, and that was "hope for change." And yes, if you noticed I said "deadly," you would hopefully know just how profound that was. Because it seems like they are willing to watch the suicide of America happen right in front of them, and not say anything (unless you are Glenn Beck).

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

The ODD pandemic has begun! And be sure to keep an eye out for another symptom: Mass Obamacide!

Previous Story:
The Wizard of ODD

Who is for Gun Control in America?

By John Kubicek

It wasn't long ago that Doug Powers wrote about the gun control in India, and how it became so easy for terrorists to gun down so many people. He writes:

One thing is certain: Mass terrorist slaughters like the one in Mumbai could happen in the United States. That something similar and on such a grand scale hasn't happened yet isn't for lack of trying on the part of terrorists. As many mass shootings in the U.S. have demonstrated to us (and unfortunately to terrorists as well), our citizens are horrendously unprepared and untrained for a terrorist attack like the one in India last week. And by 'trained,' I mean more than just to dial 9-1-1 and eke out a prayer before being shot.

So, just how fast can you even dial 9-1-1? And what happens if you get voice mail when you call 9-1-1, in desperate need for emergency assistance? And will you even have time to say a prayer?

There was just one problem with Alderman (Alderwoman, to be P.C.) Lyda Krewson's analysis and lack of a solution. Would her husband have been gunned down had the criminal that did it have to wonder if the intended victims could be armed? The following video will answer that question:

So, would criminals be deterred if they had to worry about people having a way to defend themselves? Would the opportunities for a crime to be committed be drastically reduced? You betcha!

And, that is the whole point. When the 2nd Amendment was enacted, though, the need and purpose for the citizens to be armed was in the desire to defend ourselves against enemies, foreign and domestic. Yes, for deterrence! And it worked, at least until the government began regulating what kinds of guns could be sold, and where people could own them. Conceal and carry laws have only brought us restrictions that were greatly increased. And what did we get for that tactic? Columbine? Virginia Tech? Mass shootings in malls across the country?

How long will it be before we have a terrorist attack such as in Mumbai, India? How long will it before an undeterred domestic enemy decides to put America into lock-down - martial law - for an undetermined amount of time?

To answer the question, "Who is for Gun Control in America?": Criminals and the enemies of our freedom, foreign and domestic.

Related Story:
A gun is worth 1,000 pictures - by Doug Powers

Out-of-Control Snowballs

By John Kubicek

In much of America, at this time of year, the Northern half of this great country sees the wintry weather, and there are always the conditions somewhere during the season where making snowballs, and better yet - the good old snowman - is a common past-time. Well, that was when I was a kid. The perfect time to accomplish such feats is when the temperature is just right, hovering a little below the freezing point. The snow packs very easily. The snow flakes, being big, stick together with little effort. A small snowball can certainly be rolled up into a ball big enough to produce that really weird looking thing out on a front lawn with a carrot for a nose, hunks of coal for the eyes.... Oh wait, that was even before MY time! Okay... almost before my time.

There was a common metaphor I noticed when reading Glenn Beck's book, "The Christmas Sweater" last night. There was the theme of the Christmas like weather, the "White Christmas" as many of us seem to wish for. And yet, in a way of countering that theme, Glenn told about how things seemed to be like an out of control snowball in his young, innocent life. (Don't worry, I won't tell you how the story ends, because I haven't gotten there yet!)

So, this morning, while contemplating the wisdom I've soaked in so far from that book, I realized how much it related to the way things are going in this country. Just as event after event for "Eddie" in "The Christmas Sweater" was increasing in intensity, the way things are going in the U.S. and in the global economy, there seems to be an uncontrollable snowball effect. Yes, the snowball seems to grow exponentially if it is rolling down hill. Who's going to be able to stop it? Funny, but I feel the way Congress is handling the situation, they are sending our kids and grandchildren out to try to lay down in front of the massive, rolling snowball.

So, if there is a way from stopping the growing snowball, rolling down hill, out-of-control, it needs to be us that still have enough strength - we hope - to block it's destructive path. Hopefully, that snowball hasn't gotten beyond our abilities to keep it from crushing our future generations.

The Wizard of ODD

By John Kubicek

In trying to find out if there was anything in Wikipedia for "O.D.D.", I found the following:

Oppositional defiant disorder is a psychiatric category listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders where it is described as an ongoing pattern of disobedient, hostile, and defiant behavior toward authority figures which goes beyond the bounds of normal childhood behavior.

That explains everything, doesn't it?

The President-Elect may have suffered from it when he was a kid, and most likely never recovered. I mean, just look at how much he disrepects America and everything it stands for, our Founding Fathers, the Constitution of the United States, the Star-Spangled Banner, and probably the Pledge of Allegiance.

So, why did I even bother to look up that acronym in the first place? Well, I wanted to coin a new acronym. It was going to be "ODD", meaning Obama Derangement Disorder. And while I find that the American Psychiatric Association has already spoken for the ODD acronym, I had to decide if there was still a way I could utilize this ODD idea in a column.

Let's go back and look at the description of ODD: It is an "ongoing pattern of disobedient, hostile, and defiant behavior toward authority figures which goes beyond the bounds of normal childhood behavior." Hey, it seems that would describe a few of Obama's friends! I mean, well, who could think of more oppositionally defiant people than the Rev. Jeremiah Wright or former domestic terrorist without remorse Bill Ayers?

You do see where I am going with this, right? I think we need to petition the American Psychiatric Association to immediately change the name of ODD from Oppositional Defiant Order to Obama Derangement Disorder, in honor of the President-elect.

I mean, talk about defiance! Not wanting to produce a valid birth certificate? Oppositionally Defiant! Check. Disobedience regarding the Constitution of the United States? Check. Hostility toward anyone that wants to ask questions about his eligibility to be President of the United States? Does having all of your records sealed qualify for hostility? I think so. Check.

But the scariest part of this disorder is that it appears to be contagious. Not just to the point of being an epedemic. It has definitely gone into pandemic proportions! People all over the world seem to be inflicted with this particular strain. It seemed to have been spread at the time that Barack Obama went on his international speaking tour. I seem to remember seeing the news clips of the hoards of humanity that were screaming and shouting, and most likely hallucinating (they seemed to think they were seeing the Messiah!).

There is one more problem that seems to very prevalent among the afflicted. Like HIV lead to AIDS, BDS appears to be leading to ODD. Yes, the chances of somebody with the Bush Derangement Syndrome seems to be directly correlated with the recent ODD pandemic.

There could be a cure, and that is the good news. It doesn't seem to be a genetic disorder, also good news. It was found that uninfected parents can still have offspring that have been diagnosed with this disorder. It is now theorized that the communication of the disorder could be happening in schools and college campuses. It has also been observed that in most cases, adult instructors seemed to be the ones that were the ground-zero point of infection.

Vast resources are going into finding the cure and an inoculation to prevent ODD. The New Media has been doing all we can in order to educate the public. However, it is an overwhelming task to finance the needed research and public education. Unfortunately, just like when the AIDS virus was getting started, the media has not been our friend. The AIDS disease could have been minimized had it become public knowledge much sooner, and now we're having the exact same problem preventing ODD. In fact, it even seems as though the mainstream media sources are not only making this an obscure story, they are also promoting the abhorrent behavior that expands the massive damage to the health of our country, not to mention, our national security.

I am sure that you have seen how tragic this disorder is. It just seems so obvious when you see people that are ODD. The childlike behaviour of believing in the most unbelievable fantasies. I mean, people that only knew one thing about the candidate, and possible source of this deadly behavioral disease, and that was "hope for change." And yes, if you noticed I said "deadly," you would hopefully know just how profound that was. Because it seems like they are willing to watch the suicide of America happen right in front of them, and not say anything (unless you are Glenn Beck).

So, what is real anymore? Is there the Wizard of ODD behind the curtain? Believe me, insanity is just not the way I want to go. I am immune to ODD. I've made sure of that. I made sure my only savior was the REAL One, Jesus Christ. Please innoculate yourself now.

Related Story:
We Will Soon Know "The Prince"

The Obamacide of the United States of America

By John Kubicek

In a column by Doug Powers this morning, "Life of Riley vs. Life of Brian", I learned a new word: "Obamacide." Now, his use of the word was different than how I am using it. But hey, there are many words that have multiple meanings, right? In the context of this writing, I am using a derivative of the original meaning of the word, coined by Doug, as he expresses in the following:

In Texas, a man committed suicide and left a note asking Obama to "take care of my family," highlighting how the creation of a hopeless dependency culture breeds pitiful indigent lemmings who some days are too depressed to even suck the public teat. Because of this, I coined the word "Obamacide," and I sincerely hope it doesn't catch on.

Sorry, Doug, but the cat has already been let out of the bag. It's too late now. It will likely take on a life of its own now. Only in my expression of the word, "Obamacide," it refers to the millions and millions of people that voted for a person that wants to take away our means of defending our freedom. And I'm not just talking about taking away our arms, but that is where it starts, as shown from a section of CHANGE.GOV, as seen below:

UPDATE - 19 NOV 08: You can now click on the above text (graphic) so that you can see it clearly. I then had to update the following description to the first video.

The following video may bring to light an intersting related item that should have been of concern to the voters (who value our freedoms):

And now, I present you with this youtube video that tells you all about Obama's desire to crack down on people that want to bear arms:

Thank you, obamaspromises!

So, am I wrong? Does it seem like there are enough people that would fall for another attempt to limit our ability to arm ourselves? Why did so many people vote for Barack Obama? They either knew very well what would happen, or they had no clue. Actually, take your pick. It was both. The propaganda of the far left worked. Enough people drank the kool-aid. It was mass Obamacide.

And now, there is another problem. A main stream media that will say or print anything (or nothing...take your pick). They seem to be mostly the rabid supporters of the President-elect. There were things they knew about, but neglected to share with us. Oh, but if it was somthing that is anti-Palin, even if it wasn't true, or not verified, it went to the press, above the fold, or headlining the various liberal-slanted networks, or thrown out there by the Soros-produced websites. Well, let's see, how could they? Why would they? Well, here's an example I'll be willing to bet never makes it to page one, above the fold, but maybe those questions will be answered:

Believe me, I am not so sure that this was a matter of the press being duped. They may have been fully aware of what was going on. Just think about that. If you think somebody got one by the press, that the media didn't verify the source.... How do we really know that they didn't know? "A truly trained reporter would know it," says the guest Fox News contributor, Liz Trotta. They didn't check out the story, because maybe they didn't want to. Maybe it wasn't simply neglect to do their jobs. They should have known how to verify the source. But, the story was just too good, and they figured they could get away with it. They drank the kool-aid. The main stream media commited mass Obamacide.

Alone, neither of these stories may have mattered to the masses. When they are combined, though, it is something that should set off the alarms. There is a problem here. I'm just saying that there are dots to be connected.

There are those people that WANT to take away our means of defense, and those that will pretty much believe all that the MSM tells them. And who controls the MSM? Why are there some in power that want to resurrect the "Fairness" Doctrine? And they are also the ones that will probably lead the way to more infringements on our 2nd Amendment rights?

Just say "NO!" to the Obamacide of our freedom of speech. That will be the only thing to prevent the Obamacide on our 2nd Amendment right to arm ourselves. And that would be the Obamacide of our freedom, and the end of the United States of America, as prescribed in our Constitution.

Just say "NO!" to Obamacide, and don't drink the kool-aid!

RELATED STORY:
Life of Riley vs. Life of Brian - by Doug Powers

A Change I Can Believe In

By John Kubicek

A Change I Can Believe In: Glenn Beck is being added to the Fox News Network lineup starting in January 2009.

On his very first appearance on the curved couch on Fox & Friends, he makes a great point about what Sarah Palin had to go through with her McCain campaign "handlers." Yeah, good job, McCain campaign. No wonder why Sarah Palin went "rogue", which started at about the time when "Joe the Plumber" appeared on the scene. Here is the first segment:

Before I start talking about some more serious stuff, let me first point out an observation that Glenn made towards the end of the above video. Glenn, as a husband, understood the "look" that Todd Palin was giving John McCain during the concession speech. Well, could it be that Todd had by chance seen this following video?

Getting to know you - From: jedreport

In light of what I just heard while working on this, straight out of the mouth of Glenn Beck while doing his morning show, not one thing I wrote above really makes any difference now. What I just heard was a man that was not afraid to share his Love for the Lord on the air. Well, add that to the fact that somebody commented on the first video, saying that CNN was cancelling Glenn's contract, and that was why he was going to Fox.

Hey, maybe now we will know why CNN cancelled his contract; they were afraid - very afraid - to have a true believer in their line up!

I hand it to Roger Ailes and Fox News Channel. I am sure they knew where Glenn stands. They had to know. Glenn's book, "The Christmas Sweater," is now on the shelves. It's a novel, but I am sure it is as revealing of Glenn's beliefs as "Dreams of My Father" was of Barack Obama... only from a whole different point of view.

Yes, this morning, Glenn was talking about emails he's received about "The Christmas Sweater," and I heard his voice break up... not because of radio static... No, I heard Glenn have a good and well deserved "choke up" moment. I was right there with him. Me, too, Glenn.

When the "Fairness Doctrine" goes back into affect, I guess that maybe Roger Ailes will have to go ahead and hire ALL of the great talk radio hosts, and then tell the FCC to ... uh, never mind. But, you get the drift? Apparently, TV networks can put on what ever biased news that they want to - fair and balanced is obviously not a requirement like on radio networks.

Let's go another step further, just to keep the news balanced. Fox News Channel needs to have a segment at least once a week with Sarah Palin, as a Fox News contributor... No, wait. Not just one segment a week, but as many as they can on every one of the shows in the Fox News line up! (I wonder, though, if Huckabee would go for that idea? Hey, Huck! Think future Cabinet post!!)

Glenn Beck, on Fox News Channel, that is a change I CAN BELIEVE IN! Will Rush be next?

Related Stories/Referenced Videos:
John McCain's Concession Speech
Getting to know you - From: jedreport
Glenn Beck on The O'Reilly Factor - GlennBeckVideos

Dreams of a Community Organizer for Conservatives

Dreams of a Community Organizer: For Conservatives, expatrioted Republicans, and Independents that still believe in the Constitution

By John Kubicek

Who says that people can't rise to the top regardless of all of the barriers. Barack Obama has proved that it could be done, and became the President-elect, even with a bi-racial background. "Joe the Plumber" became a spokesman for the Republican campaign late in the last election cycle. Gov. Sarah Palin went from soccer mom to Governor.

So, uh, what am I saying? That I plan to run for President someday?

Sorry, but that job is way over my paygrade. But, what I AM saying is that I have no qualms for being a reflection of the world view that many of us, probably in the majority, would like to voice. But hey, who's got time? To do that requires a lot of sacrifice.

Trust me, Samuel J. "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher and Sarah Palin both sacrificed time and money in the last couple of months. Oh, wait, they sacrificed even more than that; they have both been the targets of personal attacks.

Aware of the dangers of being in the spotlight, I'll be happy to sacrifice my time, privacy, and even what little I have in finances, if there should ever be the day when.... well, when I step up and quit worrying about the consequences. That is only because I have the passion to do what I am able to do, to help organize a community of voters that will turn things around.

Obviously, I didn't enlist the assistance of a ghost writer (you know, like Bill Ayers) in the writing of this story. That wouldn't be necessary. I still have plenty of coherent things to say - on my own - despite my exposure to the drug culture of the early 1970's life on a college campus. Or maybe, despite my exposure to the liberal philosphies of most of my liberal college professors... Besides, the only "ghost writer" I'd ever trust would be the Holy Spirit. Yeah, the "Holy Ghost Writer"!

If I were to get a start somewhere, though, I would write a book, an autobiography. I am sure that one of the main themes of my "Dreams..." book would definitely be focused on my late wife, Connie. She was born with "special needs". I married her, regardless of those needs. I pretty much gave up everything to be with her, to care for her, in her last few years here before going to the Lord. And it was worth every moment, every sacrifice. And it was my choice.

Oh, you say you want to read the rest of the story? Well, while the book is yet to be published... when I finally get around to writing it... there is always the vast resource of my archives that you can check out. Hey, what can you say, what you write on the internet never goes away.

For those of you that didn't quite understand this post, please go back to riding your skateboard and asking your mom to make some more kool-aide. Seriously, you wouldn't be able to handle the truth.