What do Sharia Law and Motorcycle Safety Have in Common?

 

 

 

Remember the Miller Analogies Test you took for grad school?  If presented with the words, "Sharia Law" and "Motorcycle Safety" what might you determine the two had in common?

 

That's a difficult one, so I will give you the answer.  Both of these words were "covers" for bills in the NC General Assembly to which abortion restrictions were added.

 

Two weeks ago the Senate passed a bill regarding Sharia Law to the effect that NC does not honor Sharia Law.  (Duh!)  Without notification to the public or interested parties, severe restrictions on the rights of women to obtain abortions were added to the Sharia bill.  The bill included such severe restrictions that it  would effectively shut down every reproductive health provider providing abortions in the entire state except for one provider in Asheville.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The governor (who ran on a platform that he would not support ANY additional restrictions on abortion) indicated that he was not pleased with the manner in which the bill was rushed through the Senate.  He called for discussion and stated that he would veto the legislation if it came across his desk as written.

 

So the NC House of Representatives brought forth a motorcycle safety bill last week.  Western NC Representative Joe Sam Queen was really surprised when he opened the folder regarding the motorcycle safety bill.  The bill contained seventeen (yes, 17) words on motorcycle safety!!!  The remainder of the bill was about abortion restrictions.  Again, no notice to the public.  Apparently not even any notice to the Representatives on the committee.

 

 

 

 

The House version of the bill changed very little from the Senate bill.  One change was that a physician needed only be present for the FIRST DOSE of RU-487, not the entire time.  But the restrictions on providers included in the bill would still have the effect of closing all providers except for the one in Asheville.  (NC is a very long state.  The drive from the NC coast to Asheville is more than eight hours.)  The governor, contrary to his pre-election statements, has indicated that he will sign the House version of the bill.

 

Protests continue every Monday in Raleigh, at the General Assembly.  Hundreds have been arrested during these peaceful and lawful demonstrations.

 

(The following two photographs from the Raleigh News and Observer)

 



She definitely looks like a criminal in need of handcuffs, doesn't she?

 

 

Many have suggested that the peaceful protesters should receive nothing more than citations, if that.  It certainly appears that the arrests are politically motivated.  But the General Assembly Police Chief denies that they are political.  He says they are "necessary to disperse the weekly crowds."

 

Take a close look at the following photograph of a Moral Monday arrest.  Look closely at the number of people and their composition.  How many police officers does it take to arrest a single non-violent woman trying to take a legal stand against an oppressive leadership?

 

 

Oh, she looks dangerous as well.

It's not just abortion rights and it's not just me, friends.  The Editorial Board of the New York Times recently printed an op-ed titled "The Decline of North Carolina."  (You can find the July 9 editorial here)  The piece ends with the following sad words:

"North Carolina was once considered a beacon of farsightedness in the South, an exception in a region of poor education, intolerance and tightfistedness.  In a few short months, Republicans have begun to dismantle a reputation that took years to build."

This is my State and I still love it and don't want to live anywhere else.  It breaks my heart to see my State take away from the poor and disadvantaged and give more to the rich pigs who bought the seats in our General Assembly.

Humorist Jim Hightower said,
"You will never clear up the water until you get the hogs out of the creek." 

I hope that if we all speak up we might be able to do just that.

Fridays Are Golden

 

 

 

And so it goes.  We continue to have daily rain, almost three inches again in the past 24 hours.  The constant rains and swollen rivers have profoundly affected our tourist industry.  The rafting, kayaking, and tubing companies cannot put people on the flooded fast-moving streams during this, their otherwise busiest season.  Tomatoes are rotting on the vines.  Corn stalks are knee deep in water.  Slides have closed several roads and houses are being undermined and threaten to come crashing down hillsides in some areas.

 

So I should not complain because we are truly very little affected by all the rain.  Just more and more dog towels to wash. 

 

Lucy is bored.  Her bed is wet because she just ate an ice cube.

 

 

She looks out the dining room window.

 

 

 

Still raining

 

 

 

Ellie doesn't even look out the window.

 

 

 

It's too depressing.

I'm reminded of Longfellow who said that "Thy fate is the common fate of all;  into each life some rain must fall."

Today's quote is from Marcel Proust:
"Let's be grateful for those who give us happiness; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls bloom."

 

WHATEVER YOUR WEATHER, HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AND GIVE SOME HAPPINESS.

 



Come Rain or Come Shine or Both

 

 

Generally speaking, I love the rain.  I love to sit on the screen porch and watch the rain.  I love to sit in the library and watch the rain.  I loved the rain when I was a kid, especially the summer rain at my grandpa's farm.  Sitting in the barn listening to rain on the tin roof.  The only time in my life when I didn't like rain was when I did home care visits in the inner city.  Trying to juggle equipment, arriving at the door dripping wet...no, rain is not a friend to home care nurses.

 

We have had so much rain lately that I really can't say I still enjoy it.  But yesterday around sunset brought a beautiful rainy sight.

 

(You will need to click on photographs to see the rain)

 

 The setting sun was shining through the rain in the yard.

 

 

 

 A change in camera settings almost obscures the rain.

 

 

 

Large drops falling straight down 

 

 

 

 We certainly didn't need more rain, but it was beautiful.

Longfellow said it best,
"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain."

Science Be Damned...

 

 

The North Carolina General Assemby has been extremely busy making laws to address issues we do not have and defying scientific evidence.  Take religion, for example.  The Assembly has decreed that NC has a right to establish a state religion if so desired.  According to the "logic," only the Federal Government is prohibited from establishing religion but individual states are not specifically prohibited from doing so.  And if not specifically prohibited then it must be allowed.  No one suggests establishing a state religion...only that a state COULD if it wanted to.

 

And a new bill states that NC does not follow Sharia law.  (We needed that bill to attach limits on abortion rights.)

 

And in case you thought you might order a TESLA electric car, we have a law prohibiting direct sales of automobiles except through a dealership.  And since TESLA does not have dealerships, you'll have to spend your hundred thousand dollars (or more) to get another car or get your TESLA out of state.

 

In one of its first acts, the NC General Assembly voted to deny the results of a scientific study indicating the rising sea levels along the Atlantic Ocean.  The reason?  It would be bad for business development along the NC coast.

 

Our General Assembly has mandated that the school curriculum (beginning in seventh grade) MUST include teaching that one cause of pre-term birth is previous abortion.  This, despite findings to the contrary from the Centers for Disease Control and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  So science be damned!

 

And we have a new bill that allows complete secrecy in chemicals used for fracking shale.  The companies do not have to disclose what toxins they may be pumping through the lines, and possibly leaking into the ground water.  Earlier the General Assembly voted that companies may pollute the ground water UP TO THE PROPERTY LINE without consequences.

 

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see a house bill stating the earth is flat and both the sun and moon revolve around it.

 

After the 2010 census, the General Assembly gerrymandered districts so that many of our citizens are not really represented in voting districts that are divided so as to favor one party over another.  And in response to the findings of NO VOTER FRAUD in NC, our General Assembly wants to shorten the early vote, not allowed early voting on Sundays, and require photo identification prior to voting.  To prevent a problem that does not exist?  Or to disenfranchise some voters.

 

But the true passion of the old farts  representatives in the General Assemby seems to be to deny a woman's right to make the most difficult decision of her life.  But let's call it something else.  Here are the names of some of the bills:

 

- Women's Right to Know

- Insurance and Health Care Conscience Protection

- Family Faith and Freedom Protection Act

 

The effect of these bills, if passed into law will CLOSE every reproductive health center providing abortions in the entire State except for one provider in Asheville, NC.  Regardless of your personal feelings, the State should not make this choice for women.  I am old enough to remember when abortions were not legal and I know the consequences this can have.

 

So heck.  Maybe I'm the one who is wrong.  Perhaps the world really is flat.  And at the rate we are going, our ship of State will soon sail off the edge.

 

 

A fellow Tarheel has written a song that pretty much sums up my own feelings about our General Assembly.  You can find it here.  (Apologies upfront to anyone offended by the eff word.  But sometimes it is the only one that works.)

My State is changing in ways I do not like, but I will hang on until the end.  Despite what is happening in Raleigh, most of the people are good people with good intentions.  I only hope that the voters will recognize what is going on and get rid of the worst offenders.  To steal a movie line:  WE'RE MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.

Fridays Are Golden

 

 

If you have access to news and weather it comes as no surprise that western North Carolina has seen a deluge this past week.  Here at our house we have measured 11 inches of rain since last Sunday.  Many roads in our county are closed and the French Broad River Basin is out of banks in several places.  In other nearby counties slides have completed closed some highways.  And it's not over yet.  Few people recall this much rain absent a tropical storm.

 

 

 

This is what's in store for us.

Photograph from The Weather Channel

 

 

The downtown Independence Day festivities went on in the rain although we did not attend.  Rather, we celebrated at home with my favorite food...HOT DOGS!  We never eat hot dogs so it was quite a treat.  And they were fantastic!

 

July 4th marked Lucy's birthday as well.  She is eight years old although she still thinks of herself as a teenager.  We had two choices when we selected Lucy from the breeder.  She immediately came up and started chewing on my husband's shoe laces while the other puppy moved to a corner of the room.  My husband was hooked forever from that moment.  After we made our choice, the breeder brought out another female from the litter.  They could have been twins both in actions and in looks.  He said he wanted to keep a female from this litter and had not been able to make up his mind between these two dogs, finally deciding only 30 minutes before we arrived.

 

 

Baby Lucy loved to crawl over and push this giant ball. 

 

 

 

 

 She ran and played until exhausted.

 

 

 

She never did like to have to sit on command. 

 

 

 

Ellie shared her tennis balls. 

 

 

 

 She is a great dog to take hiking and will go and go, smiling all the way.

Lucy brings great laughter and joy to our lives.  She has quite a sense of humor and is very creative at amusing herself.

Our quote for the week comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson who penned the words during the Civil War.  They apply no less to our situation in America today:

"The reason why the world lacks unity and lies broken and in heaps, is, because man is disunited with himself."

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND SAFE WEEKEND, EVERYONE!!!

 

 



Celebrate Freedom

 

 

Remember how much our liberty and freedom really mean.  And have a happy and safe Independence Day.

 

 

Photograps from Internet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CELEBRATE AND DEFEND YOUR FREEDOM!

 



We Grieve...

 

 

Nineteen firefighters lost their lives yesterday fighting a fire in Yarnell, Arizona.  Nineteen.  We grieve for them and the ones they left behind.

 

 

(Photographs from the Associated Press)

 

 

 

 

The fire, started by a lightning strike, now covers more than 6,000 acres

"Sorrow makes us all children again---destroys all differences in intellect.  The wisest knows nothing."  Ralph Waldo Emerson