This letter is to both challenge and encourage the churches of Helena to lead the community in an energy conservation effort this July 30! The idea is simple, on Sunday morning people will arrive to church walking with family, riding bikes with neighbors, sharing a ride with a friend or using public transportation where available. This practical action is perhaps contrary to our consumerist habits, but is in harmony with Judeo-Christian ethics and tenets. Use less, have more! Churches should lead this local effort to see the wisdom of frugality, and help lessen our dependence on nonrenewable oil. So come on Helena, “empty the parking lots, and fill the sanctuaries!”
Brad LoveOlney
I have a better idea, everyone stay home on Sunday. Sleep in. Spend time with your family. Imagine that.
Jul 27, 2006
Jul 25, 2006
Husband off to Iraq
My husband left for Iraq last Tuesday morning. The kids and I sent him off early in the morning. His first stop is Gulfport, MS. He has emailed twice and called once. The most important thing he told me was were he was going. It is Al Teqaddum in the Al Anbar region. Not good. The Seabees just lost another sailer there July 12th. I told myself I would not read the news or pay attention to whats going on over there. What I don't know won't hurt me, but I could not help myself. I may blog more about the war in Iraq now more than my usual posts. Need somewhere to air my concerns I guess.
He will be gone 9 months. Which is not bad compared to the other branches of the service. I have an employee who has been over there three times for 18 months. He is in the Army Reserves. We knew when the war broke out my husaband would have to go eventually. But I was hoping after over three years things would have settled down enough so he may not have to go. Wrong! It has actually gotten worse in Al Anbar from what I can tell. The Seabees lost two sailers last month. Also we do not hear about those injured, only those killed. How many I wonder? Its going to be a long 9 months.
He will be gone 9 months. Which is not bad compared to the other branches of the service. I have an employee who has been over there three times for 18 months. He is in the Army Reserves. We knew when the war broke out my husaband would have to go eventually. But I was hoping after over three years things would have settled down enough so he may not have to go. Wrong! It has actually gotten worse in Al Anbar from what I can tell. The Seabees lost two sailers last month. Also we do not hear about those injured, only those killed. How many I wonder? Its going to be a long 9 months.
Jul 17, 2006
Flag Burning/Letter to the Editor
Offensive ad
Recently I heard an extremely offensive radio ad in which Sen. Burns questioned the patriotism of his opponent, Jon Tester. The issue was flag burning, and what should be done about it. Loyal Americans hold every possible viewpoint on this issue, which is how it should be in a free society. Sen. Burns argues that the ONLY patriotic position is a constitutional amendment to ban it.This argument is ridiculous and fails the simplest test of logic. We have thousands of laws and only 27 constitutional amendments. It’s extremely complicated and expensive to amend the constitution. We deal with almost all social concerns with ordinary laws. We don’t even have an amendment to ban murder. Does that mean we like it? We deal with murder through regular laws, and if flag burning violates the rights of others (such as using it as harassment) we can deal with it through ordinary laws as well. Sen. Burns is cynically trying to use the strong patriotic feelings of veterans and other Montanans to mount a smear campaign against a good man. Let’s use the voting booth to tell him what we think of those tactics in Montana.
Eric WahlerP.O. Box 1455
Recently I heard an extremely offensive radio ad in which Sen. Burns questioned the patriotism of his opponent, Jon Tester. The issue was flag burning, and what should be done about it. Loyal Americans hold every possible viewpoint on this issue, which is how it should be in a free society. Sen. Burns argues that the ONLY patriotic position is a constitutional amendment to ban it.This argument is ridiculous and fails the simplest test of logic. We have thousands of laws and only 27 constitutional amendments. It’s extremely complicated and expensive to amend the constitution. We deal with almost all social concerns with ordinary laws. We don’t even have an amendment to ban murder. Does that mean we like it? We deal with murder through regular laws, and if flag burning violates the rights of others (such as using it as harassment) we can deal with it through ordinary laws as well. Sen. Burns is cynically trying to use the strong patriotic feelings of veterans and other Montanans to mount a smear campaign against a good man. Let’s use the voting booth to tell him what we think of those tactics in Montana.
Eric WahlerP.O. Box 1455
Jul 16, 2006
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- The Israeli military and Hezbollah traded deadly attacks for a fifth straight day on Sunday, with the Lebanon-based militants striking Haifa and other towns deeper inside Israel.
It will never end? I told my husband if American's colonized Mars, we would turn on each other. Is it part of the human condition. There was a Star Trek episode that covered this topic. There were people who had have a black face on the left and white on the right. There were others who had a black face on the right and white on the left. They hated each other. I joked if white people lived on Mars, they would turn on blue eyed Chatholics. He laughed, but it is true. It is the old "us vs. them" attitude. A tribal reaction to strangers. It starts with the family. Then the church, community, county, state, Country. I support the peace keepers, but..................................
It will never end? I told my husband if American's colonized Mars, we would turn on each other. Is it part of the human condition. There was a Star Trek episode that covered this topic. There were people who had have a black face on the left and white on the right. There were others who had a black face on the right and white on the left. They hated each other. I joked if white people lived on Mars, they would turn on blue eyed Chatholics. He laughed, but it is true. It is the old "us vs. them" attitude. A tribal reaction to strangers. It starts with the family. Then the church, community, county, state, Country. I support the peace keepers, but..................................
Jul 12, 2006
Reverend compares Ken Lay to Jesus?!
Ken Lay's memorial attracts power elite
George H.W. Bush, James Baker among attendees at packed church for the Enron founder; reverend compares fallen energy titan to Jesus.
July 12 2006: 6:10 PM EDT
HOUSTON (Reuters) -- Houston's political and business leaders, including former President George H.W. Bush, turned out for Kenneth Lay's memorial service Wednesday, less than a week after the Enron founder's sudden death.
Friends and family lauded as a devout Christian and family leader the man who built Enron into an international energy powerhouse before its collapse in the biggest corporate scandal of its time.
Ken Lay
Lay's stepson David Herrold told the nearly full First United Methodist Church that Lay was wrongly convicted, and he was angry about the portrayals of his stepfather in the media.
"He did have a strong faith in God and I know he's in heaven, and I'm glad he's not in a position anymore to be whipped by his enemy," Herrold said.
Lay, who was 64, died while vacationing in Colorado on July 5, just six weeks after a jury convicted him and former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling of conspiracy and fraud in the 2001 collapse of the energy company.
Lay was found guilty of 10 counts of conspiracy, fraud and misusing personal bank loans on May 25 and was facing decades in prison at his sentencing, which was scheduled for Oct. 23.
Lay was a longtime friend of the Bushes, contributing to their political campaigns and was nicknamed "Kenny Boy" by President George W. Bush.
The former president and his wife Barbara entered and exited the church by a rear exit and did not speak to the media.
Among the other luminaries at the service were former Secretary of State James Baker, former Secretary of Commerce Robert Mosbacher Sr., several corporate heads such as Reliant Energy Inc.'s Joel Staff, and baseball team owner Drayton McLane.
The ceremony started slightly late after former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier collapsed in the aisle as he entered the church. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital, and an announcement made later in the ceremony said he was in stable condition.
George H.W. Bush, James Baker among attendees at packed church for the Enron founder; reverend compares fallen energy titan to Jesus.
July 12 2006: 6:10 PM EDT
HOUSTON (Reuters) -- Houston's political and business leaders, including former President George H.W. Bush, turned out for Kenneth Lay's memorial service Wednesday, less than a week after the Enron founder's sudden death.
Friends and family lauded as a devout Christian and family leader the man who built Enron into an international energy powerhouse before its collapse in the biggest corporate scandal of its time.
Ken Lay
Lay's stepson David Herrold told the nearly full First United Methodist Church that Lay was wrongly convicted, and he was angry about the portrayals of his stepfather in the media.
"He did have a strong faith in God and I know he's in heaven, and I'm glad he's not in a position anymore to be whipped by his enemy," Herrold said.
Lay, who was 64, died while vacationing in Colorado on July 5, just six weeks after a jury convicted him and former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling of conspiracy and fraud in the 2001 collapse of the energy company.
Lay was found guilty of 10 counts of conspiracy, fraud and misusing personal bank loans on May 25 and was facing decades in prison at his sentencing, which was scheduled for Oct. 23.
Lay was a longtime friend of the Bushes, contributing to their political campaigns and was nicknamed "Kenny Boy" by President George W. Bush.
The former president and his wife Barbara entered and exited the church by a rear exit and did not speak to the media.
Among the other luminaries at the service were former Secretary of State James Baker, former Secretary of Commerce Robert Mosbacher Sr., several corporate heads such as Reliant Energy Inc.'s Joel Staff, and baseball team owner Drayton McLane.
The ceremony started slightly late after former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier collapsed in the aisle as he entered the church. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital, and an announcement made later in the ceremony said he was in stable condition.
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