Air Force tests missile in launch from Calif coast. The Air Force claims that it is a routine test. Hmmm, I wonder if it has anything to do with North Korea.
The American missile flew 4,200 miles. Now, I am sure we have ICBMs that can fly around the world, but the statement of this launch should be clear to North Korea. The Air Force was saying we can reach you. On the City Distance Tool, I calculated the distance from Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska to Pyongyang to be only 3732 miles. I am making the assumption, and North Korea should too, that Pyongyang is within reach of some United States Air Force missiles hidden somewhere around the Air Force bases in Alaska.
So North Korea has the potential to shoot some rockets and hit Japan who we have sworn to protect. History will probably view Japan as a twentieth century form of colony of the United States, but that is another article for another day. North Korea's rockets only have a range of 2,175 to 2,670. That is unless they have some secret missiles that they have not fired yet and are reserving for a strike. What are they trying to achieve through this course of action?
I hope they stop stop escalating the situation, stop proliferating weapons, and peacefully join the world community. A war between them and the United States will not benefit the people of either side no matter who wins, and it is not likely that North Korea would win. Just lay down the guns and peacefully come to the negotiating table. It does not seem that difficult.
But then I ask whether the Americans would do that if we were in their situation.
Don't Close the Rural Ohio Libraries
I have written the following letter to my Ohio representatives. They have proposed in the budget cuts to cut library spending almost 50%. This would mean the closing of the libraries in Antwerp and Hicksville. This would make our closest library be nearly thirty miles away. That is not something we would appreciate.
So I got my fingers to typing and wrote the following email. There is probably more important things to write to them about, but my friends work at the library and their livelihood depends on this. Plus, I do see a great benefit to our communities from the libraries.
Advocates blast Ohio Gov.'s proposed budget cuts
Dear xxxxxxxxxxxx,
I am writing in regards to the proposed budget cuts to the state library system. I just came home with 18 items checked out for my family of six. We go to the library at least every other week and find it to be a great asset to our continuing education and the education of our four children. We would not be exposed to as many books and learn as much as we do without the excellent Johnson Memorial Library in Hicksville.
We are homeschoolers and find that it is necessary to use the library for science books and other materials to broaden our children's minds. This is a huge savings to the state because our children are not an expense in the public school system. A brief side note - we would love some sort of voucher system to use on educational trips and materials, but that is a discussion for another day.
A possible solution to the financial crisis in regards to libraries would be to develop some sort of community library that would provide a library for both the school and the community. This would save in staff costs and allow for a broader selection by combining the two collections under one building. Developing and implementing that plan would need some serious discussion, planning, and months for execution. In the meanwhile, we would be left without a library for our family.
Please influence the budget so that our local library can stay open. The library is always busy, bustling with children, teenagers, and adults who are reading, using the internet, and enjoying getting to know one another. They run great community events that bring together people of all ages. I would love for you to come and see this library and its excellent staff. You could see the great impact they have on our community.
Losing them would be a loss that would drain our community. We are out here in the middle of nowhere, and our library does an amazing job at bringing everyone together and providing us with the books we need. The proposed cuts would mean that we would have to travel nearly thirty miles to reach the nearest open library. That is not something we would do. The education of our children and the rest of the children in this community would be negatively impacted by this. That would cost the State of Ohio much more in the future than the savings the State would receive through these short-term budget cuts.
Thank you for your time.
So I got my fingers to typing and wrote the following email. There is probably more important things to write to them about, but my friends work at the library and their livelihood depends on this. Plus, I do see a great benefit to our communities from the libraries.
Advocates blast Ohio Gov.'s proposed budget cuts
Dear xxxxxxxxxxxx,
I am writing in regards to the proposed budget cuts to the state library system. I just came home with 18 items checked out for my family of six. We go to the library at least every other week and find it to be a great asset to our continuing education and the education of our four children. We would not be exposed to as many books and learn as much as we do without the excellent Johnson Memorial Library in Hicksville.
We are homeschoolers and find that it is necessary to use the library for science books and other materials to broaden our children's minds. This is a huge savings to the state because our children are not an expense in the public school system. A brief side note - we would love some sort of voucher system to use on educational trips and materials, but that is a discussion for another day.
A possible solution to the financial crisis in regards to libraries would be to develop some sort of community library that would provide a library for both the school and the community. This would save in staff costs and allow for a broader selection by combining the two collections under one building. Developing and implementing that plan would need some serious discussion, planning, and months for execution. In the meanwhile, we would be left without a library for our family.
Please influence the budget so that our local library can stay open. The library is always busy, bustling with children, teenagers, and adults who are reading, using the internet, and enjoying getting to know one another. They run great community events that bring together people of all ages. I would love for you to come and see this library and its excellent staff. You could see the great impact they have on our community.
Losing them would be a loss that would drain our community. We are out here in the middle of nowhere, and our library does an amazing job at bringing everyone together and providing us with the books we need. The proposed cuts would mean that we would have to travel nearly thirty miles to reach the nearest open library. That is not something we would do. The education of our children and the rest of the children in this community would be negatively impacted by this. That would cost the State of Ohio much more in the future than the savings the State would receive through these short-term budget cuts.
Thank you for your time.
The Iranians, Free Speech, Democracy, and a Dose of Self-Examination
Well, I do not know what would happen in our nation if people took to the streets after an election. Would it look much different than what is happening in Tehran? Would the government guns come out and silence the protestors?
The Iranian protesters and their government's response causes me to wonder many questions. How do we really know if an election has been counted honestly? Would I be willing to go get killed to peacefully stand up for free speech or against government corruption? Should I be willing? Or is there more important things to live for? Do we truly live if we are not willing to die for things we believe in? Are their principles outside of my faith that I should be willing to die for? Should those principles be part of my faith? Do I have it in me to be a person willing to stand up for what is right at the risk of my life or the life of my wife and children?
I support the Iranian people and their right to free speech and democracy. I am awed by their courage at what seems like a feeble attempt at gaining earthly liberty. May their feebleness be rewarded by miracles.
So I have changed my time to Tehran time in what is probably a feeble attempt to confuse the Iranian government and allow freedom of speech on the internet. It will be this way until the protesters stop protesting. If it wastes one minute of a government monitors' time, then I will be happy. I wonder if any posts have wasted any time of American monitors; I know it has wasted time of theological monitors.
I am thankful that I live in a nation where I can say anything I want anytime I want, except for fire in a crowded movie theater. At least I do not know any cases of speech being stopped in our nation in recent times.
The Iranian protesters and their government's response causes me to wonder many questions. How do we really know if an election has been counted honestly? Would I be willing to go get killed to peacefully stand up for free speech or against government corruption? Should I be willing? Or is there more important things to live for? Do we truly live if we are not willing to die for things we believe in? Are their principles outside of my faith that I should be willing to die for? Should those principles be part of my faith? Do I have it in me to be a person willing to stand up for what is right at the risk of my life or the life of my wife and children?
I support the Iranian people and their right to free speech and democracy. I am awed by their courage at what seems like a feeble attempt at gaining earthly liberty. May their feebleness be rewarded by miracles.
So I have changed my time to Tehran time in what is probably a feeble attempt to confuse the Iranian government and allow freedom of speech on the internet. It will be this way until the protesters stop protesting. If it wastes one minute of a government monitors' time, then I will be happy. I wonder if any posts have wasted any time of American monitors; I know it has wasted time of theological monitors.
I am thankful that I live in a nation where I can say anything I want anytime I want, except for fire in a crowded movie theater. At least I do not know any cases of speech being stopped in our nation in recent times.
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