With the upcoming premier of National Geographic TV’s Doomsday Preppers (airing  Feb. 7^th, 2012), I have decided to finally take some time to write a piece for this blog. On the 7^th, beginning at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, National Geographic will be airing two episodes. I will be featured on the second one. Nope, we’ve got no idea at all what footage, content, or angle the show will take for my segment, and that’s just going to have to be O.K. whether or not I have patience.

Right before we started filming I prayed in earnest for 3 things: 1—that I didn’t want to bring shame to my faith, 2—that my actions would speak well of practical, peaceful preparedness, and 3—that I wouldn’t bring any shame to my husband or the rest of my family with my actions.  I suppose anything can be edited to sound like anything that a person wants nowadays. But in spite of some logical reasons why a “prepper” such as myself would NOT appear on a television show, and some rational reservations expressed by my husband right up to the last minute, I felt very strongly that I needed to go forward with it. Even after reading the riled protest of another prepper who was featured on the pilot episode and believed that she was maligned by being edited in an unflattering way. (In fact, I was actually surprised with her ire because personally, I thought the show reflected well on her and secondly).  I’m more of the opinion that if you don’t say anything embarrassing, you don’t give them any ammo to mess with.

But there was an additional concern that both my husband and I had in moving forward. We were both concerned about whether or not I could physically endure the rigor necessary for two days of filming. My health had really tanked recently. Prior to the scheduled shooting days, I had been in bed in some serious pain right up until the first day of the shoot and was certain to have some more pain to deal with—with or without 16 hour days. But again, I felt strongly that this was something I should do and that the Lord would fill in the gaps of what effort was still necessary after I did my best. And it turns out, He was right. I moved forward with some minor debts, but I moved forward in peace nonetheless.

My faith did not go unheeded. One miracle manifested itself early on and came in an interesting way.  About 6 months prior to the filming for Doomsday Preppers, I had been asked to participate in a show for The Learning Channel. Like the Doomsday Prepper show, as I prayed about it I felt strongly that I needed to do it.  It took weeks of work beforehand to perform some really hard labor and long days to get everything “camera ready.”  The last few days leading up to the shoot for TLC, I had several friends generously donate hours out of their day to help me really go in and get all of our preparedness supplies, food items, and other parts of my house organized—you know, for the dang cameras.  As I added to those supplies over the next 6 months, it was simple to stay organized and neat—thank goodness, because little did I know that my health would be so compromised less than 6 months later when National Geographic’s production company wanted to come into town.  There was no way that I would have been able to put in the physical exertion again for that many weeks to get ready for Doomsday Preppers.  As it turned out, not only was I SO incredibly blessed with all of the work that had been done earlier in the year—it was done in exactly that same areas that Doomsday Preppers would be filming.  As it turns out I was also doubly blessed because the 3 long days of filming that I had for the TLC show really prepared me for the lesser, 2 days of filming that I had with the National Geographic TV crew. Instead of being nervous and self-conscious, I was more ready to just be me. And by the looks of the first commercial that I’ve recently seen promoting the show, I kept my sense of humor about me during the process—thank goodness!

When I watched the previous episodes of the pilot for Doomsday Preppers which had aired the summer before, I was actually really impressed with how they presented the individuals. I saw plenty of things that I know non-preppers would scoff and scorn—but I suspect it would be more from the foreign nature of the self-reliance thought process and lifestyle, not because the people were portrayed as loons. I didn’t feel like I saw anything that would be embarrassing to a person who was willing to be more self-reliant in their life. I think all of the people were portrayed as positive, level-headed people who have firm hearts that drive them to take care of themselves and their families in the face of the realities that they believe will come their way some time down the road. I heard no talk of zombies, or threats to harm and kill anyone else, nor did I hear anything that I thought was incongruent with a preparedness lifestyle. There were tactics that I disagreed with, but nothing more than what a football coach might come up with after watching his team play. I was shocked—in a good way—to be frank, and impressed. I didn’t know that television could ever accurately portray people mindful of self-reliance in a rather accurate light.  And frankly…I was jealous.

Not only was I jealous of some of what I considered to be FABULOUS set-ups (a car that runs on wood, plenty of acres, all family members drawn near and on the same page, an entire self-sustaining ecosystem right outside your backdoor, and naturally generated energy with plenty to spare!) But I was a tad bit jealous for another reason. You see, I was invited and had accepted to be a part of their pilot show. I was excited about the concept. But a little bit of Hollywood politics got involved and suddenly I was informed midstream (last winter)  “Oh! The executive producer of TLC’s ‘Extreme Couponing’ saw all of your stuff and when she found out that you coupon too, said you HAD to be on their show!”  I guess they hadn’t seen a grocery “stockpile” like mine quite yet on their relatively new series. (I hate that word, by the way. When I think of a stockpile, I think of garbage. But that’s just me.) I was relatively appalled when I looked at their pilot episode portraying what I thought were crazy people who I thought would fit better on TLC’s Hoarders. (In fact, at least one of the women featured in the pilot is an absolute fabulous couponing guru AND entrepreneur that I have a great deal of respect for.)  I was nearly certain that I didn’t want to be a part of that show. It wasn’t me. It only remotely had anything to do with self-reliance because couponing was one of the strategies I employ to be sufficiently prepared without breaking the bank. “But I don’t want to be on their show. I have no interest in looking like one of those crazy people. I like YOUR show” I explained to the black hole of sound on the other side of the phone.

Needless to say, I went through all of the work and everything to do the TLC show hoping that SOME good could possibly come out of it that would benefit my passion for preparedness. As it turned out I got the best of both worlds. I didn’t get embarrassed and shamed by being featured on the show because I actually stuck to my guns during filming. I didn’t want to argue with my husband in front of the camera or maliciously tease him. I didn’t want to clear a shelf of items that I would never need or use. I didn’t want to buy things just because they were free in order to get my dollar number down. In other words, I guess I didn’t play well with others for TLC because, thank the Lord, my segment was scrapped. I’ve never been so happy and relieved about being kicked off a team in my life. No one had to hit me over the head to help me see that THAT was a blessing, but I confess that since I did feel right about moving forward to do their show in spite of my misgivings, the fact that the show got scrapped gave me no small amount of self-doubt as to my ability to listen and hear which way the Lord was guiding me—but only for a moment.

A of couple months after the TLC thing died down, I got the call from National Geographic TV and was invited to do their show.  I had never applied to be on their show; they simply called me clear out of the blue. Cool.  I remember after they called me, thinking,  “Hmmm.  Maybe I really was supposed to do this show.”  But then I went back to my cynical stuff. “Burn me twice” and all that… As such, I didn’t really allow myself to think much of it after that first day. I guess I had my guard up. I told myself not to get too emotionally involved this time around because nothing would come of it. So each time another e-mail and another “hoop to jump through” came across my e-mail, I just took it with a grain of salt knowing that it’s in the Lord’s hand. I’m a short, seriously overweight, nothing special woman in a suburb in Utah who’s a bit batty about being prepared for whatever curveballs come my way. I don’t believe in preparing for “the end of the earth. I mean really, if it’s the end of the earth, who in the world am I to think that I’ll battle against the Lord’s will to end it all and come out the victor?  So, what could be so interesting to a show called Doomsday Preppers? *grin*

This was my frame of mind when I was sent an intimidating, small-font, lengthy  appearance contract from the production company on behalf of National Geographic TV. Being the daughter of two generations of attorneys, and with a brother and a sister-in-law as attorney, and having been responsible for drawing up all of the legal documents for my own commercial financing days, I felt comfortable reviewing the contract myself. And on my own I felt that there was a very problematic portion thereof. Just to be on the safe side—not wanting to cause any trouble where it wasn’t necessary—I ran the concerned area of the agreement past my dad. Unfortunately, he agreed with me exactly. He and I discussed that just 5 words would make the agreement acceptable, but otherwise, I just couldn’t sign it.  So, when the executive producer sent me an e-mail asking me for the status of it, I sent it over to him but with my 5 word modification. (In hindsight, it’s kind of cool that the big whig was following up with me for the things he needed from me. I mean wasn’t he busy enough having lunch with some of New York City’s biggest personalities? Hee hee)  A day passed and he e-mailed me back and apologized explaining that it’s their hard and fast policy to never accept modified contracts. They never make exceptions to this, and no, they weren’t even supposed to ASK to make an exception either. I either have to take it as it is, or there would be no show experience for me. I was surprised at the peace, and the fact that I wasn’t bummed out as I kindly wrote him back, told him that it was too bad that I wouldn’t be on the show but that I was still a big fan of it and would be happy to cheer them on from the bleachers instead.  I expressed hope that he would understand that I just could not knowingly put myself in such a risky position with the way that the contract was presently written. OK. Yes, I allowed myself to be a bit bummed right after I hit the “send” button on that message, but I knew that what I had done was right and that was going to be enough.  Though once again I did question whether or not my spiritual wires were fried. Why did I feel so positive about moving forward with the show if it was just going to end up being all for naught? Oh well. I just shrugged my shoulders and figured this was just going to have to be one more of these moments that I would understand later in life when I was more mature spiritually. (that’s what I always try and tell myself when I just don’t get it. *grin*) I had officially kissed that boat good-bye. Imagine my surprise when I was e-mailed just what I needed to address my contractual concerns—something I was told would never be done. I literally got goosebumps when I read the words on the e-mail. The “never happen” just became a “no problem” occurrence.

It was a great experience indeed and for so many reasons. I learned so much, I was helped so very much, and I look back on what my husband and friends and I presented to the cameras without any misgivings or regret.

As the commercials begin airing nationwide for the episode to air on February 7^th, 2012, I’m shocked at how much feedback I’m getting—a mix of good and bad, foul and crass language along with the congrats, haters and lovers. I’m pleased thus far with what’s on their website and the smidgen of footage I’ve seen in the commercial. I hope that when people watch it they see the realistic side of preparedness and relate to the good old fashioned value of being self-reliant and taking responsibility for our own care, our own family, and our own health. I hope they cut through the zombie and apocalyptic nonsense and see the value and honor of being self-reliant. Dare I hope that a couple more folks will jump on the bandwagon? Yup.  I do indeed.

How to handle a real life wardrobe malfunction? What caused a room full of 30+ women to gasp in shock? Do the Preppers get paid to do the show?  Just how “real” are some of those moments?  How many cameras are on you? How to lose a camera for the sake of privacy?  Tune in for Part II…

What’s the saying? “We do not negotiate with terrorists?”  If only that were true of the lawmakers in Texas and everywhere else in the U.S. for that matter, because based on what I’m seeing nationwide, not only do we negotiate with terrorists, but we throw our own women and children at them as a sacrifice to appease their demonic appetites. Harsh words, perhaps, yes. But no harsher than the inexcusable cowardice which is being demonstrated by State Governments all over this nation in response to the DHS and TSA policies of stripping the freedoms from this nation’s air travelers.

I find this incredibly disturbing. Apparently the Federal Government has threatened Texas that if they do not allow the unlawful sexually invasive pat downs to continue in their state, the Feds will make Texas a “no fly zone.”

Texas has admirably been working on passing legislation which would make it illegal for the TSA trademarked pat downs to take place. Unfortunately, this threat seems to have been all that was needed to get the sponsoring State Senator to pull the proposed legislation thus negating any vote on it.

You know, more so than this heinous mob group called The Department of Homeland Security, I find cowards to be even more reprehensible.  I simply cannot abide them for any purpose nor to any length.  There was a time that such cowardice behavior constituted death to the coward, based on the belief that if one would not fight for freedom he was no longer eligible to enjoy its fruits.

Texas, and every other state in this nation, do the right thing and don’t back down from repealing this horrific practice from our airports! It has NEVER resulted in any good for any citizen of this nation. It blackens the heart and sensibilities of those who perform the searches and it dehumanizes those who are forced to endure such a blatant threat of false imprisonment, and many other constitutional violations and assaults.

Where are our brave men and women within the borders of this nation who will fight for our freedoms? Have they all been deployed to foreign nations to play a part in the amateur and deceptive production of “World Peace”?

See link here: http://stopaustinscanners.org/2011/05/come-and-take-it/

La Jolla Grove opened several months ago–July of 2010 to be exact.  A girlfriend and I went there shortly after they opened their doors. With every mouthful of food, drink, or dessert we assured ourselves that we would be returning. If I had written a review that first time I would have begged everyone to RUN to enjoy this delightful restaurant. I had told my husband back in July that I thought this would be my new favorite restaurant in town. However, I have a rule to never judge on the first experience–especially with a new opening. I have found that they can be abysmally inaccurate representation of their potential or a false start. So I always wait for a second trip prior to writing the review. So, return I did, this time with my husband in tow. Sadly, it simply was not up to par this time around, as if the honeymoon stage had worn off.

I opted to start with a different cup of soup than I had the last time (a frothy cream of mushroom–which was AMAZING and frothy without being laden down with cream) and opted for a potato leek this time.  While the taste was smooth, balanced, and thus promising the temperature was sorely disappointing. I watched a server go back and forth throughout the room in which I was seated attempting to find the rightful owner. Could he have been searching long enough to compromise the warmth of my soup?

My husband elected to try one of their “famous” fruit blend drinks. With the whole “fresh and organic” theme, I could only imagine how delectable it would be. Sadly, while there was definitely some fresh fruit in this frozen concoction, the natural taste was marred by little fruit taste, a lot of ice, and some kind of an syrup addition—you know those syrups that hardly ever taste anything like they are intended to represent, complete with that “saccharin” aftertaste. Bummer.

Then came the cheese and fruit plate which my husband ordered. I had shared with him that I had read rave reviews about it. I had also seen pictures of it online and was excited. But alas, meh… it looked nothing like the promotional pictures, with a plate that was sloppy enough any Food Network chef would have been appalled. It was cheese, like I could have purchased at my local deli counter and fruit that is presently carried by Costco.  That’s not quite impressive enough to price at $12 if you ask me. I’ll gladly pay for great presentation of mediocre food, but this really missed the mark.

Now, on to my main dish, the chicken crepes—again delivered by a bewildered server searching too and fro for the correct table. But I have to admit that those three tiny chicken crepes in a light cream sauce with butternut squash were delightfully memorable. I recall reading someone say that the servings were abundant at the restaurant. Um, they must have been anorexic, because that was never the case on any of the 4 entree dishes I’ve had there. Although, I have to admit that those three tiny little chicken crepes still beckon me at times. I wouldn’t mind sending my husband on a late night forage some time again if the right mood struck me. What really dampened the whole experience though was when I inquired of my (?) server about the chicken. (I never really felt like we had someone assigned to assist us, but more on that later.)  I was a bit surprised with his response.  Considering that the restaurant promotes itself as using fresh and organic foods,  I felt it a bit disconcerting that the person who delivered my dinner couldn’t share with me anything about the chicken, nor the red meat they served. That’s a big inconsistency in my book. Perhaps not an issue for folks who typically dine at one of the family franchises.  I was taken aback that my inquiry was met with a bewildered look. Was that a tinge of annoyance that I would have the temerity to even ask such a question on a Saturday night? *sigh* I thought of that aspect as I was forced to cut my chicken with a knife rather than being greeted by tender, moist chicken that would separate with a fork. That was a surprise since I had read a review in which even the steak was so tender it could be cut with a fork. Ok. Steak-fork. Chicken-knife. Got it.  (Utilizing a pressure cooker would deliver that kind of result consistently without compromising the taste and flavor on such a dish.) Again though, I have to say it was yummy, however, there was another off-putting aspect to this dish.

Considering I was ostensibly being served fresh, organic vegetables, they were remarkably brown. Instead of bright green beans and bright orange carrots, I had brown vegetables, which looked as if they had oxidized for too long and now resembled microwaved vegetables. It’s a pity that they were cut in such small pieces too, just like you see in those microwave steam packs. It would have been fitting the attempted fanfare of the restaurant had the vegetables shown some knife skills behind their presentation. In fairness though, I will say that the mushrooms inside the crepe were not overcooked.  And even as I’m writing this I can’t get that sweet creamy butternut squash sauce out of my mind. (Note to self, play with some recipes to recreate that sauce. It could be used on just about anything—vegetables, light meats, white fish, light pasta or even stand on its own as a delightful Fall weather soup!)

I’m not quite sure who my server was as I was never able to catch someone when I really needed them. There were many occasions in which I was searching to find someone to refill my water—definitely one of my pet peeves as I’m well aware that if I were drinking hard liquor I would never have difficulty finding someone to provide me with a refill.  At one point I was tempted to get up and walk over to the hutch where I saw the pitchers set and help myself. Here’s one of my sticking points. If I’m going to dine at a white table cloth kind of restaurant with the food prices to match, then I expect the same kind of elevated service.  Not once did we catch the name of any of the plethora of young folks who served us.  Nor did anyone return to the table after we were served to follow-up on the quality and temperature of our food.  In such a restaurant with pretentious prices and claims of excellence, I actually thought it odd that no member of management came by the table to check on things either. It’s a definite rule of Restaurant Excellence in my book. That which you do not monitor you cannot influence or change.

Another positive note, once you’ve placed your order you are provided with a delightful breadbasket, filled with fresh herbed butter balls (perfectly soft for spreading) and an array of various rolls. Sun-dried tomato, spinach, wheat, and white.  The first time my friend and I went we were swept away with one of the rolls that failed to make an appearance the night my husband and I were there. And to make matters worse, the server of the moment had no hesitation in bringing us smashed, yes SMASHED rolls–all three of them–when he brought us another basket at our request.  With such delectable flavors, I couldn’t imagine a manager or chef being OK with that kind of presentation. It’s kind of like putting Silly String on a Monet.

I must say that the total of three desserts I’ve enjoyed at La Jolla have all been memorable. The Lemon Cream Cake with fresh fruit and the Chocolate Cake with a gooey center was absolutely delightful. The Orange Crème Brule was also nearly perfect—just a little bit more of a caramelized top and we would have had a perfect 10 for that venture.  I wouldn’t be opposed to either going there exclusively for the desserts or ordering them to go. Even something as simple as the ice cream and fruit dessert dish sounded promising as it was mentioned twice by two different servers as one of their favorites.

Bottom line, La Jolla is incredibly disappointing, but has a great deal of potential that’s easily achieved if those at the helm choose to make a few changes and incorporate them consistently throughout all of their staff. Either it’s going to be a pretentious, sinful escape from the real world and thus they can charge accordingly, or it’s not. Either way, they’ve got to make a decision what the direction of their restaurant will be and make it congruent all throughout. When I left after paying a bill of $50 plus a gratuity, I would have expected to have felt like I just enjoyed a delightful splurge as I do when I indulge at The Melting Pot or some other favorites.  But in this case I was left feeling like I was missing something in exchange for the money and the time, and that’s obviously never a good way for your guests to remember a restaurant experience.

The restaurant is located at

4801 North University Avenue #610
Provo, UT 84604
(801) 224-5111

You don’t need to call ahead for reservations in most instances, but they do accept them.  It’s a good idea to do so on a Friday or Saturday night as they only have enough overflow seating for about 8 – 10 people.

So, ironically within moments of me posting my last comment, Congressman Chaffetz’s office contacted me through my blog here. I called them as per their request and spoke to a staff member by the name of Troy. I’m not sure what I expected with the call, but he was cordial and spoke very candidly. Unfortunately though he didn’t have any earth shattering news for me about what is being done about this issue. Unfortunately since that post, I’ve seen the issue and the problems compound substantially.  Since my first letter to him we’ve had several recordings (audio and visual) make it to You Tube depicting DHS’s Brute Squad–showing us proof after proof that the very worst of our concerns are indeed valid. One man reported being touched 360 degrees all around his mid-section along the flesh. A three-year old girl shrieking in horror as TSA groped her.  A 28 year old woman told of her horrifying story of being touched in her genital area during her pat down.  We even now have the well known line that starts  “if you touch my junk…” etc.  Today on my Facebook wall, a woman commented that when she refused the full body scan, TSA informed her that she would be subjected to “a full body cavity search.”

Let’s take a step back for a second. Last I checked, searches such as these are actually reserved for military prisoners and inmates at prison.  So why in the world are we, free and honest citizens of the United States, being subjected to such abuse?  Oh, and don’t think for a moment it’s NOT abuse. Adding insult to injury is the rampantly egotistical attitude of the TSA agents as they commit this crime!  Who reading this has EVER been subjected to a full body grope by a kind, polite, and empathetic TSA representative who at least tries to be mindful of the degradation and humiliation that such a search imposes?  NONE. All we ever hear are egotistical challenges as if standing up for our rights gives them that much more cause to suspect us!

Let me see if I get this straight, we string up an honored U.S. Soldier and try him as an evil criminal for defending his life and having to take the life of another in a time of combat–which situation we ordered him into, and yet we think that the TSA is perfectly within their rights to violate any person they deem fit?  We allow pirates to have free reign against our nation and we have no compulsion to control our borders.  Sounds pretty messed up if you ask me and it’s time we stop the nonsense–even if it means a little bit of inconvenience on the day before Thanksgiving. I assure you that that portion of inconvenience is NOTHING like we will be looking at if this kind of monarchical behavior is permitted to continue.

I watched a beautiful movie this weekend called “The Hiding Place.” In it there is a point in which all of the females who have been captured by the Nazis are taken to a concentration camp and put through “processing.”  The very first task of this process was for them to strip completely naked–no slips, bras, or panties–and to then go through an inspection, then a forced chemical shower, and then a check in and THEN they were given their clothes so that they could regain some semblance of their dignity again.   If the irony of the situation doesn’t hit you yet, read this paragraph again.  I think that the only thing that’s different when it comes to dealing with airport security is the technology–oh, and at least we’re not shot right on the spot if we object to the full body scan.  No, then we’re just humiliated with TSA agents yelling back and forth “full pat down!” as if they’ve just hit the mother lode of terrorists and will now be awarded a Purple Heart!

The insults continue as we see over 35,000 of the full body scan images posted online for all the world to see. Of course we were assured that they were not even saved! Then lemon juice is poured on the wound when sound bites are published or aired from TSA representatives or that she-man, Napolitano.  They have the audacity to accuse Americans who refuse the body scan as being–and I quote–”irresponsible for not going through the body scan.”  I see. You have no law or rationale to espouse as the basis for this blatant violation of our freedom so instead you slew insults as “We The People” who employ you.  And where, pray tell, was the “responsibility” of the TSA that assured us that the body scan images were never going to be stored?

Then the Napolitano Puppet says that Americans “must sacrifice for the safety of their nation” –when referring to the scan and grope process.  I’m sorry. But I don’t see how an 86 year old man in a wheelchair, a single mother trying to get her 5 children under the age of 7 through security, or a three year old girl must be groped in order for my nation to be secure, unless you are simply attempting to make it weak and mindless on behalf of our enemies before they invade.  That was certainly the strategy of the Nazis–dehumanize them so that they have no fight left in them.   And while you’re humiliating Americans and turning them into mindless sheep, the real enemy is circling around the chaos and discontent and getting ready for their next attack. Frankly, I’m starting to wonder if facets of my own government aren’t the real enemy. You certainly didn’t see the Senate take a stand on this issue when Congress presented them  the Bill to eliminate the full body scan.

Let’s talk about that too for a moment. I realize that it’s got to be impossible to please all of one’s constituents. But I thought that Congressman Chaffetz was adamantly opposed to the full body scans. He’s one of those who sponsored the bill in Congress to get rid of them. However, last night when he appeared on the news and was told of a boycott movement for everyone to opt out of the full body scan on the day before Thanksgiving, he stated that he didn’t think that was a good idea due to the backlog it would present at the airports.  Let me see if I get this right, Congressman.  It’s OK if we stand up for our rights and freedoms but not at the inconvenience of anyone else?  I wonder just how convenient it is for the families of the soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq?  I wonder just how convenient it would be for Barack Obama and his family to avoid the scans if he was “just” a Congressman?  I’m sorely disappointed to hear that Congressman Chaffetz’s feels that freedom should only be fought for when it is convenient. I’m 100% positive that the men on Lexington Bridge so many years ago were not there simply because it fit into their scheduled events with their family and their businesses.

Lest there be anyone who doesn’t yet believe that it is indeed our RIGHT to refuse this horrid “security” process I would like to point you towards the U.S. Constitution, particularly the 4th Amendment which reads:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Now let’s see. Which of our “things” are being seized upon in the land of the TSA?  Can any of us find it “unreasonable” to have our nude bodies FORCIBLY shown or groped by complete strangers?  Indeed we are being  “violated” and “searched without a Warrant or probable cause.”

I’m also of the belief that this procedure is in violation of the 8th Amendment as well as it inflicts “cruel and unusual punishment” even in light of the fact that NO crime has been committed. You’ve got felons on death row who are allowed to argue that DEATH is a cruel and unusual punishment and yet we find no problem with this violation as being objectionable??

I guess what this all boils down to is whether or not we are still considered to be in the United States of America when we pass through that “security section” of the airport. Or do we forfeit our citizenship the moment we stand in that line?  Doesn’t Congress take an oath to defend the Constitution against ALL enemies,  foreign and domestic? Martial law has not been declared as far as I know. I don’t recall hearing that the Congress has “called forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections,  and repel invasions.”  But they sure seem to be standing idly by while Americans are harassed and harangued by this blatant domestic enemy.

I have no earthly idea why we can’t permit proven CURES for cancer in our nation, yet the FDA has no problem poisoning our body with the full-body scan x-rays and why the local authorities have no problem with a complete stranger patting down a 13 year old girl.  The worst part is that this is all done in the name of “security” and even worse, millions of Americans are actually ACCEPTING this!

In rereading the letter I wish that I had posed the question as to why this illegal search and seizure is acceptable in the first place.  Aren’t we assured freedoms from illegal search and seizure? Isn’t there a little something known as “probable cause”  that must be met prior to us being  violated in this manner?  A police officer can’t even stop me while traveling in my car without probable cause, and yet we are required to subject ourselves to sexual foreplay at the hands of a stranger, simply because we don’t want to be seen as scantily clad as the latest pin-up porn star for the TSA?

Anyway, I thought I’d share the letter I wrote Congressman Chaffetz. If he responds, I’ll share that information as well.

 I couldn’t help but think that such a statement was so hypocritical given the offensive, fraudulent, and vile rhetoric we have to hear from so many in Washington, D.C. as of late, including from our Usurper in Chief.

 “The United States is not a Christian nation”

 “I must apologize for the United States.”

The DHS diatribe believing that those who sustain and support the U.S. Constitution are somehow predisposed to be terrorists to our nation and that returned military veterans are more susceptible to such dangerous ideology as well. 

Most Americans today could go on and on adding to this list of untruths.  Even more importantly, I believe that the majority of the words I hear coming from Washington D.C. and the lap dogs in our mainstream media are not even conveyed with any intention of being informative or accurate, rather to sway and manipulate.  And to me that makes them the defilers of truth and leaders of the most harshest scheme of all.

 Now that, my friends is “harsh rhetoric.”

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14317552

Over 30 states are considering laws to opt out of Federal health care.  Another dozen states are not taking any chances on the 2^nd Amendment being trampled in their state and thus are passing laws to uphold the right for individuals to own and carry firearms manufactured in their own state without any obstruction from federal law.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14318094

 As despicable as our Federal Government is being at present, I’m grateful that I live in a state in which the truths of our unalienable rights still mean something. Heaven help Illinois, New York, Maine, California and other states who have willingly whittled away their dignities, liberties, and freedom.

 How do I describe this feeling?  Sorrow? Anger? Disgust? Mourning? Grief?  Probably a little of all of the above as I consider the sad state of our nation’s children and youth these days.  This morning I surprised myself as I burst into tears reading about a local woman who smothered one of her infant babies because he was crying too much. Being unable to bear children perhaps made the situation that much more emotionally painful.  Then I read of a gal who was suing her college because she was unable to get a job.  I shake my head in complete disbelief at the lack of work ethic, accountability, responsibility and morals that so many of our young adults possess today.  And finally, this morning I read what is ostensibly news worthy—P. Diddy gives his 16 year-old son a gauche, lavish birthday party complete with “grown-up” stars galore, along with a $360,000 car (he doesn’t even have a drivers license) and a $10,000 check.  http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/crush/diddys-son-gets-a-360-000-car-for-his-sixteenth-birthday/270/?nc This gesture to me seems as hollow and void of love as a rough stone in the middle of the desert. Such a gesture is truly not love. It’s void of anything which is virtuous.  It’s adulterated indulgence in its worst form.  It’s a deceptive display of parental affection.  It’s a counterfeit of parental responsibility, enduring love, and goodness.  It deceives life’s real parents into believing that you must give your children lavish gifts (relative to ones income status) and spotlight attention instead of playing the tough and mostly unappreciative role of parent and mentor in a child’s life.  In this instance, P. Diddy fills his own shallow need to be appreciated by his generosity to his son landing all over the tabloids.  He demonstrates to his son that his lifestyle is how one really lives.  That THIS is the kind of birthday party to have if your truly anybody of significance.   I can’t help but think, what in the world did his son ever do that was so wrong as to deserve such detached and obtuse displays of affection from his father? Does this young man not deserve to be truly loved and nurtured with something other than the emotional equivalent of a Twinkie?  Just as the twin son deserved more than a brutal death at the hands of his mother, and the college student deserved to be taught the realities of life in order to avoid the social deviancy she’s presently exhibiting so too do our nation’s youth deserve the inheritance of sound morals and conscience. 

 As an added symbol of his great depth of character, P. Diddy gave his son a $10,000 check during the birthday affair, of which his son publicly donated, with great fanfare to the cause in Haiti.  I’m sorry if I sound awful here, but a $10,000 check after you’ve just been handed a birthday party that would feed the entire nation of Haiti for a year, and then a car worth more than 6,000 Haitians make in a month (if they are fortunate enough to be gainfully employed) seems a bit insulting to me. In my mind it’s akin to eating a big, juicy hamburger in front of a homeless person and then “generously” handing them the last bite of the soggy bun crust.

 I am NOT one of those people who feels that those who are wealthy are inherently evil or criminalistic.  Those are characteristics of people, not the presence of a large bank account. I believe that monetary wealth is what happens when you work hard and smart. I believe that we ALL have a right to choose to be financially wealthy or poor, comfortable or miserable, happy or desperate. I do not possess a scarcity mentality.  I’m confident that every person who works hard and honorably can be rewarded the materialistic fruit of their labors. I believe that the traits of a hard worker cannot be borrowed or loaned, leveraged or mortgaged. Additionally, I do not believe that wealthy people owe anything to those who are not as well off.  That’s not what this article is about. But I am truly saddened to see any parent display a wealth of worthless currency rather than a mountain of values, charity, enduring love, and substance which can positively affect the lives of untold numbers. I believe that the true dearth of recession in our nation is the absence of lasting wealth—the wealth of character, value, intelligence, common sense, civility, inherent beauty, honor. This kind of deficit is not something that we can throw money at. We must pay our way to virtue by time, study, diligence, and the very best of motives. We can’t borrow a moral compass from anybody else.  We must create it for ourselves and be willing to live by it.  Oh how I wish that more parents, friends, and family taught such a truth to those around them.

 I’m not accusing P. Diddy of being a bad parent. He could be perfectly attentive, kind, loving, etc. to his children. However, this particular display was certainly misguided and perfectly played into what ails our society today.  I have no idea what mental illness the mother may have which caused her to smother her own helpless flesh and blood.  And I have no frame of reference by which to understand what circumstances brought the female college graduate to believe that she was entitled to a job from her alma mater.  But what I do know is that the results of the actions of all three of these individuals was wrong—pure and simple—and inherently damaging to the cause of hope and salvation of mankind. I also know that these actions were not just happened upon. They were the result of a corrupt and contaminated germination which they inherited throughout their lives.  As a nation, we simply cannot expect to harvest virtue in the fall when we plant seeds of entitlement, contempt, and apathy in the spring.  May we all be more diligent in passing on a future full of joy, virtuous satisfaction, and a life that’s truly praiseworthy to our children.

See this article at InfoWars: http://www.infowars.com/2010-food-crisis-means-financial-armageddon/