Christmas. Bah, Humbug!

People who know me are aware that I follow the Jewish religion. Consequently, I do not observe or celebrate Christmas. I was raised by my mother in a single-parent household. My mother, who had fled Eastern Europe as a young girl, raised me in the religion of her birth and upbringing, i.e. Judaism. While I examined many, many other religions during my adolescent years and in my early college years, I chose to maintain my Judaism throughout all the years right up to this very day.

None-the-less, I do have a Christmas connection.

My paternal lineage is Danish; and, the paternal side of my family followed Lutheranism. My father and paternal grandparents did celebrate Christmas. I did attend paternal family Christmas Eve gatherings in the home of my grandparents as a very young child and later on as a young adult in the home of my father until his death in 1984. I have seven siblings, and not all have followed the Jewish religion as I do; in fact, several of them and their immediate families follow various Christian denominations, observing and celebrating the Christian holidays, Christmas included.

So, while I proudly profess my Judaism and cling preciously to my Jewish identity, I also recognize and appreciate the spirit of Christmas. In keeping with that perspective, I wish the very best to all my goyishe friends, especially to my four dearest internet friends in the blogosphere who incidentally are not only of different religious faiths than me but also are of very different political beliefs than me. I am making reference to Chris, mi amigo Tim, CW, and Dave the authors of:
Chili Dog Blog
Just Blowing Smoke
Tilting at Windmills
Hooda Thunkit's Therapy Blog (now defunct)
To these four very special persons, I write a shout-out of:
Merry CHRISTmas, my friends. I love you each like the brothers you have become to me.

And to everyone else, I say:


Oh, alright, in the further spirit of Christmas, please click onto the following embedded link for my final reference to Bah, Humbug!

Traditional Mass Media aka The News Now Is Trash Media Renamed as The Rumor Mill by Roland Louis Hansen

For a long, long time now, I have asserted that the traditional mass media are not the professional organizations they once were. Instead, the traditional print and broadcast mass media would rather sensationalize people and trivialize issues, as I have written before. And, as I have also previously stated, television news broadcasts go on and on and on about what they they will be telling us if we just stay tuned into their station --- and, then, when they finally report on whatever it was they said they would report on, there is nothing any more of substance than that which was contained within their ad infinitum lead-in teasers.

Another big problem with those traditional mass broadcast news media is that in their rush to be the first to inform, in their scurry to get the scoop, in their clamoring desire to boost audience, they neglect to get the facts before "informing" the public. That all leads to an extremely large volume of misinformation being spread to the masses with lightning speed giving rise to the fastest moving source of rumors that have ever existed on Planet Earth.

One of the latest most blatant examples of irresponsible, rumor-mongering journalism involves yet another tragedy of mass killings; this time involving young elementary school children and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

Chris "CW" Martin has written an excellent piece that exemplifies some of that which causes me concern and alarm. Please, please click on over to read:
Tilting at Windmills: The bigger issue here...

To me, the Mass Media is Trash Media.
I have now decided to rename The News to The Rumor Mill.
It does seem to be more fitting of their stature nowadays.

Xenophobia Runs Rampart In the U.S.A. Xenophobic Americans Are Not Good Americans!

Getting a job as a greeter with the United Nations is probably not the best career option for someone who suffers from xenophobia ....
Read more from Vocabulary.com.

To quote The Free Dictionary By Farlex:

xenophobe, n.
A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples.
xenophobia, n.
hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers or of their politics or culture
[Thesaurus] xenophobia
noun || racism, nationalism, bigotry, isolationism, racial hatred, ethnocentrism, jingoism, racialism, racial intolerance, ethnocentricity a wave of xenophobia
ref: The Free Dictionary / Xenophobia

Then, there is the Xenophobia article in Wikipedia that opens with this: "Xenophobia is a dislike or fear of people from other countries or of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange. Some definitions suggest xenophobia as arising from irrationality or unreason."
Read the entire Wikipedia Xenophobia article.

It seems to me that many people in the United States of America today have an unhealthy attitude of others who are not WASP Americans. These so-called self-proclaimed American patriots (people like the ones associated with Alliance of American Patriots and other similar dunderheads) have a chronic case of xenophobia. Among the many descriptions of xenophobia found in the Urban Dictionary is this one:

The belief that your country is the best and no other compares.
This is often due to ignorance and stereotypes.
ref: 6. xenophobia, Urban Dictionary

Having pride in one's country is one thing; but, xenophobia has absolutely nothing to do with being proud.

In my opinion, there are far too many xenophobes in America today.
It seems to me that xenophobia is running rampant in the U.S.A. Furthermore, it is my perspective that xenophobic Americans are not good Americans!

Bland Boobs

So, there are boobs; and then, there are boobs.

Some boobs even have boobs, such as (WARNING: Adult Content NSFW) this.

I don't know if there can be boobs that are bland; but, I have read about Bland Boobs, as I first wrote in an entry of Roland's Ramblings back on January 30, 2012 and that of which is reproduced below.

Have you read the story about Karina Bland's breasts? Heck, do not look at me that way! The story was written by Karina Bland herself. Do you even know who Karina Bland is or what Karina Bland looks like? Karina Bland is a journalist who is presently writing for The Arizona Republic.

Well, you can connect with Karina Bland on several internet places, such as:
Karina Bland on Twitter
Karina Bland on Facebook
azcentral.com Arizona's Home Page on Facebook in which Karina Bland contributes with comments
Karina Bland on LinkedIn

What? You want to read the story about Karina Bland's breasts? Okay, click on over to:
Time to heave this bosom into the right bra
[As an aside, you already know I have my own thoughts about adult women and their breasts, that is, if you have already read what I wrote about female breasts.]

What? You want to know what any of this about Karina Bland has to do with priest sex abuse? Well, the answer to that lies within the following embedded link to:
Priest Sex Abuse: Wwmd?
[Hint - Read the line that immediately follows the title in the embedded link.}

ref:  Karina Bland, Breasts, Priest Sex Abuse

Please do not put me into a booby hutch in order to transport me and to place me into the booby hatch. I think this booby trap of a Roland Hansen Commentary (and, that is The Straight Dope about booby trap) qualifies for the top honors of a booby prize. Don't you?

Thanksgiving à la Roland Louis Hansen

No Thanksgiving Dinner for me this year of 2012; because, my wife, Judy, and I are on the road driving the southern route to our second home in the 55+ community of Dreamland Villa in the Valley Of The Sun, Arizona.

For a few Thanksgiving remembrances, please click onto each of the following:

Turkey, posted November 27, 2008 on Roland's Ramblings.
The Time Is Now To Tell Others You Love Them, posted November 13, 2010 on Roland's Ramblings.
John Hanson, First President of the United States, established Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.A., posted August 22, 2011 on Roland's Ramblings.
WKRP in Cincinnati, posted September 18, 2008 on Roland's Ramblings.
WKRP in Cincinnati: Turkeys Away, courtesy of TV Rage.
WKRP "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" Thanksgiving, the YouTube video.

A Thanksgiving Message From Roland Louis Hansen, posted November 24, 2011 on Roland Hansen Commentary.So, now, as I am driving somewhere in between Texas and New Mexico on this 2012 Thanksgiving Day en route to my Arizona home (well, actually I am composing this the day before and scheduling it to be published on T-Day), I wish you and yours:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Twinkie Brain (S)No Balls Anti-Union Bash-holes

Once again, anti-union bash-holes show their lack of thinking ability in blaming a union for the failings of good sound business practices. I allude to the idiot trolls that are flaming and blaming the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers union for the total mismanagement and bankruptcy of Hostess Brands Inc.

I read a stupid and totally ignorant person's opinion piece over on an internet bulletin board that was entitled "UNION STUPIDITY (AND OTHER REDUNDANCIES)" in which the twinkie-brain, dumbsquat with no balls, er, I mean Sno Balls, penned the following:

I like a Twinkie every once and awhile (did you know that they now have Twinkies with chocolate creme filling). But I'd be happy to forego the future opportunity for the sponge cake treat if Hostess sticks by its warning that it will begin to liquidate the company if striking union members don't return to work by the evening of November 15.

The company negotiated a new contract with the Teamsters, but the Grain Millers union launched a strike last week to protest a labor deal implemented during its bankcruptcy which contained cuts in wages and benefits. The strike (which includes the facility in Northwood, Ohio) has already resulted in the closing of three Hostess factories.

The liquidation of Hostess would result in the loss of 18,000 jobs.

I'm hoping that the company stands by its position to liquidate. Unskilled workers need to get a clue that they're a dime a dozen and in this Obama-tainted economy (their union dues helped to pay for Obama Part II) they should feel lucky to have a job.

Business executives have the education, skills, and experience to find other jobs. The laborers are the ones who are striking their way right out of an income.

Now, let's explore some other items concerning the Hostess company business fiasco. Please click onto each of the following and read what each has to offer:
HOSTESS' MISMANAGEMENT
Union pay cuts and management pay raises
Creditors Say Hostess Pay Is Questionable
'Hostess Brands is a microcosm of what’s wrong with America'
Hostess Blames Union for Bankruptcy after Tripling CEO's Pay

I say Union Bash-holes, er, I mean union bashers, can kiss my grits!

For a somewhat different perspective, might I be so bold as to suggest you now turn your attention to read mi amigo, Tim Higgins' piece entitled "The Twinkie Is On Life Support (Updated)" over on Just Blowing Smoke...

Obama Won. Romney Lost. Let's Move On Together, Now!

Obama won.

Romney did not win.

The patriotic thing to do now is to work together to make a great America even better.

Here is a little something I wrote over on Facebook:
"The name-calling needs to stop. The personal attacks and belittling of individuals based solely on different political perspective needs to stop. All Americans need to pull together. Divisiveness will not accomplish anything positive. It is time for what I call some real D.I.R.T., i.e. Democrats, Independents, (and) Republicans (working) Together. If we, the American people, set aside the distrust, if we set aside the hostility, if we set aside the verbal tirades, if we set aside the casting of stones, if we set aside pointing out blame, if we set aside pettiness, we just might be able to work together for the mutual benefit of all Americans."

And here is something that my friend Carolyn wrote when some folks responded to that with negative comments:
"Enough said Roland, I got your back on this one. If people would put the effort into pulling together that they put into fighting, this world would be a much better place."

And, then, there is that which Judy wrote in her Judy's Jewels blog entry:
Thank You Mitt Romney

'Nuff said.

Messianic Judaism Is Not Jewish! Beware of Wolves in Sheep's Clothing. Messianic Jews Are Christians.

Messianic Judaism blends evangelical Christian theology with elements of religious Jewish practice and terminology. Messianic Judaism puts forth that Jesus is not just a man, but also the Messiah. Furthermore, Messianics also believes that Jesus is "God the Son" (one person  of the Trinity). Going a bit further, Messianic Judaism believes that salvation is achieved only through acceptance of Jesus as one's savior.

That is all a far cry from the beliefs of Judaism. The central belief of Judaism is the absolute unity and singularity of God. Judaism does not believe in Messiah as "savior" and Jews do not believe Jesus was the Messiah. Furthermore, Judaism forbids the worship of a person as a form of idolatry.

As do I, Jewish organizations and the Supreme Court of Israel consider Messianic Judaism to be a form of Christianity.

References:
Messianic Judaism, princeton.edu ~ Allison Chaney.
Messianic Judaism, Wikipedia.
Judaism's view of Jesus, Wikipedia.
Why Jews Don't believe in Jesus, Being Jewish.
Why Jews Don't Believe in Jesus, Aish.com.
Is The Christian Movement Called "Messianic Judaism" a Form of Judaism?, Jews for Judaism.
The Jewish Response to Missionaries, Roland's Ramblings.

Messianic Judaism Is Not Jewish! Beware of Wolves in Sheep's Clothing. Messianic Jews Are Christians.

Obama to Romney: The Suggestion (you make) is Offensive

On September 11, 2012, J. Christopher Stevens, the United States Ambassador to Libya, and three other American members of the diplomatic staff were killed in an assault on the American consulate in the city of Benghazi in eastern Libya.

... in the hours after the death of the first U.S. ambassador killed in decades, Mitt Romney -- panicked as his poll numbers have slipped -- punched hard against the president, unleashing an unwise, inaccurate and unpresidential attack on the Obama administration.

ref: Romney foreign policy attack was disgraceful

At the October 16, 2012 Presidential Debate, Republican challenger Willard Mitt Romney asserted that it took the Obama administration two weeks to refer to the September 11, 2012 attack on the American Ambassador in Libya as an act of terror. Incumbent President Barack Obama took strong exception to the Republican candidate's allegation and responded as you may view and hear in the following video.

Presidential debate moderator Candy Crowley fact checked Mitt Romney after the Republican presidential candidate charged that President Obama failed to call the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi an "act of terror."

ref: Candy Crowley Fact Checks Mitt Romney On Libya (VIDEO)

Willard Mitt Romney was and is less than truthful, less than honest, less than a true American, and far less than Presidential.

Big Bird Is On Mitt Romney's Thanksgiving Dinner Table

During the presidential debate of Wednesday, October 3, 2012, Republican candidate, Willard Mitt Romney, asserted that as President of the United States of America he would (paraphrasing here) kill Sesame Street's Big Bird in order to reduce federal spending, or as some have put it, "that though he likes PBS, he would fry Big Bird and the other muppetiers to save money."

To be precise, here is a transcript of what GOP nominee Romney told the debate moderator, PBS News Hour Host Jim Lehrer:

"I'm sorry Jim, I'm gonna stop the subsidy to PBS. I like PBS, I love Big Bird, I actually like you too, but I'm going to stop borrowing money from China to pay for things we don't need."

Articles on this story on the internet that you may find interesting reading include:

• Big Bird in the Presidential Debate: Mitt Romney advocates cutting funding for Sesame Street, PBS
• Battle of 'Sesame Street': Political fight over PBS has long history
• Big Bird vs. Mitt Romney: Sesame Street's Social Media Smackdown
• Mitt Romney's New 'Sesame Street' Theme Song Has Big Bird Singing the Blues
• Co-creator of 'Sesame Street' calls Mitt Romney 'silly' for wanting to pull plug on federal funding for PBS
• Muppets Fight Back! Sesame Street Strikes Back At Mitt Romney (PHOTOS)
• 'Sesame Street' Responds to Mitt Romney's Big Bird Mention in the Presidential Debates

Do you agree with Willard Mitt Romney that Big Bird, the rest of the Muppets, and all of PBS should be killed off in the federal budget in order to to reduce federal spending as a means to decrease the federal deficit?

Car Prices

According to TrueCar, the average new light vehicle sold in September came with a transaction price of $30,282.

Low interest rates and new cars draw buyers in September.

GM Says ‘Nobody’ Makes Money.

What is the Real Price of a New Car?

Car prices soar, incentives plummet.

Tiny electric Smart car will also have smallest price.

I have a real difficult time accepting what I consider outrageous car prices. I believe that all too often, cars are being manufactured purposefully in such a way as to not be affordable. Automobile manufacturers no longer produce a simple vehicle for transportation; they are more and more into mandatory luxury. For example: Why are power windows on every car? Does that not increase the manufacturing cost and consequently the price to the customer? Why not manufacture and offer a basic car without all the power gizmos, with simple bench seats as opposed to bucket seats, with no radio or music player, no cup holders, etc., etc., etc.???!!!...

Furthermore, I believe the automobile industry from suppliers to manufacturers to sales artificially inflate their costs in order to stick it to the consumer, ergo sticker shock.

So, in keeping with GM alleging that 'nobody' makes money in the new car sales market, I offer you this:

Pay More, Get Arrested Less!

What are your thoughts?

Guns Don't Kill People.

Do Guns Kill?

Hydrogen bombs don't kill people. People kill people.

Jerry Newcombe: Aurora Killings Result Of Americans Having No Fear Of G-d Or Of Hell.

Guns and Killing.

Republicans Use Glock To Take Aim At Congresswoman.

Gun's don't kill people.
If you do not believe that, just read this.

Cars: American as Apple Pie

The above is my lead-in to this Roland Hansen Commentary entry.

Cars are as American as apple pie. Or are they?

It seems to me that any statement about American cars being as American as Apple Pie is just as controversial as is the debate over the meaning of Apple Pie.

There was a time when speaking of automobiles that a statement using the words "car" and "American" synonymously in the same sentence was right on target. Now, all that can be said is:
American cars have their place in history.
I emphasize "in history" because American cars are no more!

Here, take a look at:
The Cars.com American-Made Index
By Kelsey Mays, Cars.com
What Are the Top American-Made Cars?

Thank you to Adam Hansen for bring up the topic in your blog entry:
All American?

Yes, indeed! Cars? American cars? Apple pie? American pie?
Using those statements in the same sentence are as controversial as some people seem to think of some sexual practices.
As American as Apple Pie -- now, that is hard to swallow!

SNAP! Take the Food Stamp Challenge.

I am just relaying the information. Here, read this copy and paste job from Jewish News of Greater Phoenix:

Local rabbi takes food stamp challenge
LEISAH WOLDOFF
Managing Editor

Rabbis and cantors across the country are committing to live for one week on a food budget of $31.50, as part of the 2012 Jewish Community Food Stamp Challenge. Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman of Congregation Kehillah in Scottsdale has taken the challenge.

The $31.50 - or $1.50 per meal - represents the average allotment for individuals on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps.

The program is "meant to supplement a family's food budget, but to some it's their entire food budget," Sharfman said.

The national challenge - organized by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs in partnership with MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and several other national Jewish organizations across the religious spectrum - is an effort to spread awareness of the national crisis of hunger and poverty.

"Hunger and food insecurity touch every one of our communities, but it is rarely talked about and frequently misunderstood," said Rabbi Leonard Gordon, co-chair of the Jewish Community Food Stamp Challenge, in a release. The challenge "is a way for rabbis and cantors to make the invisible daily struggles of congregants and neighbors real, while demonstrating the Jewish community's deep commitment to help those in need."

Sharfman took her challenge Aug. 31-Sept. 7; and in addition to the financial restriction, her personal requirements included keeping kosher and eating healthy, which meant no fast food and avoiding "carb overload," she said.

As she prepared for the challenge, she was struck by how much planning it takes to live on such a strict budget. She also learned that "there are no shortcuts. You can't go out to eat, you can't just go out and grab something if you're trying to be healthy."

Here's a sample of her menu for the week:

For breakfast, she bought oatmeal in bulk - not instant. "We were allowed to use seasonings that were in our cabinet so I put a little honey in it - it was filling, but it wasn't particularly tasty."

She also ate eggs with a little cheese in them and half a banana or apple. Berries weren't on sale that week, so they were out of her price range. She chose to not purchase yogurt because it wasn't filling enough.

For lunch, she had macaroni and cheese or a peanut butter and honey sandwich and half an apple.

During the week, she avoided breakfast or lunch meetings because eating out wasn't an option. "It was very not social," she said. On that budget, "you can't have any meals out. Maybe if I ate fast food, but I don't."

For dinner, she cooked two kosher chicken legs and thighs in soup, adding pasta and any vegetables she could afford: carrots, celery, turnips, onions. "That lasted for a couple of meals." Then, she recooked the chicken "and that became my Shabbat meal."

She also bought a big bag of lettuce from Costco and shaved some carrots into it - "cucumber put me over my budget" - and made her own salad dressing.

Sharfman said she gained an appreciation for being able to purchase food with a higher convenience level, and although living within the budget may be doable, "I realized how complicated it makes an already complicated life."

The Food Stamp Challenge isn't new. The first one was organized by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) in 2006 and gained national attention in 2007 when four members of Congress took the challenge and blogged about their experiences. According to the FRAC website, frac.org, hundreds, if not thousands, have taken the challenge.

As Congress' Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction works on producing a plan by Nov. 23 to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion, anti-hunger advocates are concerned that SNAP will be a target for funding cuts or structural changes that "could result in enrollment being capped and many struggling with hunger being kicked off the program," according to JCPA. The organization encourages individuals to contact their members of Congress about opposing any proposals that would hurt SNAP.

Locally, the Association of Arizona Food Banks, which received a $27,000 grant from MAZON in June for advocacy and education, provides information on its website (azfoodbanks.org) about advocacy and public policy news regarding hunger, as well as sample letters one could write to their members of Congress.

In 2011, more than 1 million people in Arizona - in 465,375 households - participated in SNAP, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

In June of this year, the most recent data available on the USDA site, there were 1.1 million Arizonans in 481,901 households participating.

On a national level, 44.7 million people - in 21 million households - received SNAP benefits in 2011, according to USDA.

In addition to taking the challenge, clergy are invited to host pages to raise funds to support JCPA's anti-hunger effort. As of Sept. 18, Sharfman had raised 77 percent of her $1,000 goal (visit tinyurl.com/Sharfmanchallenge).

Participating in the challenge made Sharfman see things differently. For instance, when she saw a couple going grocery shopping with their two young children who, as children tend to do, asked for certain foods that they wanted their parents to purchase, she wondered, "What does it feel like to not have that leeway, to always have to tell the children, 'no'?" It also made her think back to when she taught young children and asked them to bring in food for class projects, "not even thinking about what it meant to the family who might not have been able to afford it."

The point of taking the challenge is to "express gratitude toward the blessings in my life and to share those blessings," she said. Also, Judaism mandates social justice. If there are "people right down the street from me who are in pain and are suffering, then it's my suffering, too."

The experience gave her a different level of empathy, she said, and great appreciation for never having been in that position.

"I can't tell you that I know what it's like because I don't," she said. "I knew going into this that I had seven days and I'm done. I was very well aware that my pantry is full. If I couldn't handle something from this experiment, I could go grab something from my pantry. I didn't, but psychologically, I knew it was there.

"What does it mean when the cupboard really is bare?"

Anyone is welcome to take the Food Stamp Challenge. For more information, visit foodstampchallenge.com.

ref: JewishAZ.com/Local rabbi takes food stamp challenge

Rick Santorum on the 2012 United States Presidential Election: "we might as well stay with what we have"

A few months ago, former United States Senator Rick Santorum (R, Pennsylvania) made a series of statements from which one could logically conclude that Santorum would rather see President Barack Obama win a second term than have Mitt Romney succeed in his quest for the Presidency of the United States of America.Read these quotations of conservative Republican Rich Santorum:

"You win by giving people the choice. You win by giving people the opportunity to see a different vision for our country, not someone who is just going to be a little different than the person in there."

"If we are going to be a little different, we may as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk in what may be the Etch A Sketch candidate for the future."

"This election isn't gonna be won by a Republican candidate who's gonna outspend Barack Obama ten to one to win a race. That's how Romney wins. He overwhelmingly outspends whoever's in his way. That's not gonna work in the general election."

“If Governor Romney thinks that he is the CEO of America and can run and manage the economy, he doesn’t understand what conservatives believe in.”

“We don’t want someone in Washington, D.C. to manage the economy. We want someone who can get Washington out of our lives.”

“Running a business is not the same as being president of the United States.”

REFERENCES:
Santorum: Might As Well Have Obama Over Romney
Santorum doesn't let up on Etch A Sketch attack
Santorum: America doesn't need Romney as CEO

What Has Obama Done?

The answer to that question may be found here (Click on, and open in a new browser, the embedded link, silly!).

Thank you to Judy for pointing me in the right direction (or should that be the left direction) in locating such a complete answer to such a serious question. Oh, attribution to Judy may be found on her Judy Hansen Commentary entry, "What has Obama Done…"

Pause for thought:
Right vs. Left : Which Side Are You On?

Hollywood Casino Toledo Is Irresponsible!

I took a look at and explored the web pages of Hollywood Casino Toledo. Having done so, I am disturbed and angered about a promotion on the Hollywood Casino Toledo "PROMOTIONS" page.

Not only is Hollywood Casino Toledo promoting itself, but Hollywood Casino Toledo is advocating that people lie to their employers by calling in sick when not sick, encouraging people to defraud employers in the cases where there is PTO (paid time off) for sick employees, and advocating that the work ethic be replaced with gambling!!!!

Here, read for yourself. I am placing below a copy and paste job of the (offending, in my opinion) Hollywood Casino Toledo promotion.

WINNING BEATS WORKING Friday, August 31st ★ 9am - 5pm Take a sick day because winning sure beats working! Just play with your Marquee Rewards card at your favorite slot machine and you could be our winner. If you are selected as one of our winners we’ll locate you at your seat and upload $100 FREE SLOT PLAY directly to your account.

It is totally and completely irresponsible for Hollywood Casino Toledo to do this. Shame on them. They promote themselves, discourge honest work, and lower community standards in all one fell swoop.

90 Reasons To Give President Obama 4 More Years!

I read the following on the ABOUT 90 DAYS, 90 REASONS web page:

90 Days, 90 Reasons is an independent initiative unaffiliated with Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. 90 Days, 90 Reasons was conceived by two guys originally from Chicago, Dave Eggers and Jordan Kurland. In late July, they looked around and saw that many of Obama’s voters and donors from 2008 needed to be reminded of all he has accomplished, and all he will do if given another term. They asked a wide range of cultural figures to explain why they’re voting for Obama in 2012, in the hopes that this might re-inspire the grassroots army that got Obama elected in the first place. Every day, a new reason will be posted —

AND, I learned about it in the very well worded Chili Dog Blog entry 90 Reasons In 90 Days, the title of which I suggest you click upon in order to read the entry for yourself. I could not agree more with what is written in that entry to which I commented with a simple "I concur."

Kudos to Chili Dog!

Tea Party - Party On! American History Ignorance.

Weighing In On Romney vs Obama. Hot Dog!

President Obama gave a speech in Roanoke, Virginia.

Mitt Romney and Company, many Republicans but not all, and other Anti-Obama folks who I generally reference as Obama Bashers have used these words of President Obama to attack the President claiming he is unAmerican, a socialist, and out of touch:

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help.  There was a great teacher somewhere in your life.  .....  If you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that.  Somebody else made that happen."

Well, as it stands, those are words that really did come out of the mouth of President Barack Obama when speaking about being successful in America. However, those words are only a small part of what our President said AND he said some other words just before, in between, and just after those specific remarks that give those comments an entirely different slant and meaning than that which Obama Bashers would have you believe.
If you are a person who formulates an opinion based on factual information, rather than a knee-jerk, emotional reaction to half-truths, you may wish to read a transcript of the President's entire speech word for word and in context. If so, use your computer mouse or keypad or whatever electronic gizmo you use to click open the following embedded link to read:
Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event in Roanoke, Virginia

Now, then, a truly intelligent person will use facts to formulate a well-informed opinion. Obama Bashers do not use that axiom.
So, what of those remarks of the President? Some people have used President Obama's remarks out of context to bash him. Other people have examined what the President has said about being successful in America and at what GOP presumptive Republican President nominee Mitt Romney has said about being successful in America in order to weigh in on the Romney versus Obama race for the Presidency of the United States of America.
To that I say:
Hot Dog, Chili Dog!



Read that to which I refer by going over and reading All It Takes Is Hard Work? from Chili Dog Blog.
Postscript for additional reference: What Did Obama Actually Say?

Let's Check Facts Before Bashing Our President, Barack Obama

I hear many people who clamor, "Let's Blame Obama!" To them and others I say click over and go read Obama, Falling Gas Prices and Radio Silence from Jill Miller Zimon on Writes Like She Talks.

The attack television political ads by Romney and Company (i..e. Republicans) are just plain misleading and deceiving. Obamacare isn't the biggest tax increase in history. My friend Ron Prochaska put it this way on his Facebook wall: "Hey non-reseachers, check this simple chart. Even you can understand Obamacare is far from the largest tax increase in history. Facts are difficult to debate, but, hating Obama the way you do, you'll find a way." He then posted a chart similar to the one you will see if you click on over to read Republicans Falsely Claim Obamacare Is The ‘Largest Tax Increase In History’ by Pat Garofalo and Travis Waldron.

Earlier today, July 12, 2012, I wrote the following on my Facebook wall:
Fact or Fiction! People should get the facts before formulating an opinion. Far too many people neglect to fact check first. Then, they get all entrenched in their own ill-informed opinion and bash those who happen to disagree with them. SAD! Thank you goes out to Jerry Rosen for letting me share this. 
Health care law "largest tax increase in history on the middle class," says TV ad.

Hey, do remember reading Dumb Obama Bashers Need To Wake Up And Support President Barack Obama or have you not read it?

I say, "Let's check facts before bashing our President, Barack Obama."

Conservative Patriots of America: Kish mir en toches!

I recently saw that a person I know had placed something on that person's own Facebook wall that read as follows:

(Name redacted) shared Conservative Patriots of America's photo. If YOU AGREE, give this a "Like" & hit that "Share"!! Take a spin at the checklist pictured. This is the MOST heated conversation we have had on this page thus far. Obviously, this photo strikes-a-cord with MANY Americans, on BOTH sides of our politics, R & D -- CLICK INTO THE PHOTO TO JUMP-IN ON THE THREAD & TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!! IT'S YOUR COUNTRY!! GET ON THAT MODERN-DAY "FRONTLINE"!!
Connect with even MORE Patriots!! Join us here on fb at Conservative Patriots of America" 

blah, blah blah and then had a photo with the following written on it:

ELECTION 2012 IS COMING
HERE IS ALL I WANT
Obama: Gone!
Borders: Closed!
Language: English!
Culture: Constitution, and the Bill of Rights!
Drug Free: Mandatory Drug Screening before Welfare!
No Freebies to: Non-Citizens!
ALSO ----
BALANCED BUDGET!
TAX REFORM!
AND
TERM LIMITS FOR CONGRESS & SENATORS!
Only 86% will send this on, Should be a 100%.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to write a book of a response. Instead I quickly and simply wrote this:

I believe in the freedoms and the opportunities that the United States of America has offered to people throughout the world for over two centuries. I believe our country need to continue to do so with the same open arms it afforded our ancestors. I respect the President of the United States. I truly enjoy cultural diversity and the variety languages and traditions. I oppose mandatory drug testing by the government as I believe it violates the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the part of the Bill of Rights which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause. Congress consists of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate; The Senate is not a separate entity as implied in the above proclamation. We already have term limits; it is called the ballot box and we exercise that right every two years on members of the House and every six years on members of the Senate. I believe Conservatives in the United States today to be a group of elitists, not very different from the National Socialism that was the ideology of the Nazi Party and Nazi Germany which was a variety of fascism that incorporated biological racism and antisemitism.

I left it at that; but, there really is so much more that could be said in response to the bullshit drivel of the Conservative Patriots of America. Now, mind you, with very rare exceptions, I do not normally use foul language or make personal attacks or name call in my written form of communications, but the crap those idiots and other asswipes that sympathize with them put out, such as the above, make it to my exception list.

I say to the Conservative Patriots of America: Kish mir en toches!

Thoughts on Mitt Romney

People are talking about Mitt Romney. What I am reading about what they are saying has got me thinking about Mitt Romney.

To read the message that got me wondering about Mitt Romney, just click over here.

There is more to all this than meets the eye. Read the article NBC's Taibbi Highlights Mitt Romney's Polygamist Ancestor and 'Controversial' Mormon Faith by Kyle Drennen, January 10, 2012, as it appears on  NewsBusters, which describes itself as "a project of the Media Research Center (MRC), the leader in documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias."

What about Mitt Romney's missionary work and his place in history as it relates to the Viet Nam War? Well, I found an interesting story about all that over this-a-way.

And what of Romney's position on China? Well, go on over to read an insightful article about this from Reuters.

USA Today has an eye-opening article about Mitt Romney, investments, banks, and taxes. For some enlightenment on this very interesting Romney approach, go on over to read this.

All this Romney stuff should make you think, I know it made me think. Food for thought. What do you think?

Christians Legislate To Impose Their Beliefs On Jewish People.

Often, I hear people assert that the United States of America is a Christian country. They do so despite the fact that there are many other religious faiths observed in America, including the small minority of people who adhere to Judaism. These Christians think it is perfectly appropriate, even their duty, to impose their Christian religious beliefs upon non-Christians, even to the point of passing laws at all levels of government thereby circumventing, ignoring, and violating The First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Despite their cries of indignation, outrage, and downright hostility to other countries who have governments that are controlled by religious beliefs (e.g. Islamic governments), these Christians who profess that those 'other' religions should not legislate and impose their beliefs unto the citizens of their respective countries think that the same rules do not apply to them here in the U.S.A.

Recently, Lisa Brown, a state representative in Michigan, gave a speech on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives in which she pointed out that the Michigan Legislature was in the process of trying to enact legislation that would impose Christian religious beliefs on Jewish people, specifically in regards to the issue of abortion, a subject that is indeed covered under Jewish law.
Despite the argument put forth by Representative Brown, not only was the bill passed by the Michigan House of Representatives, but she was censured and forbiddened to speak further on the bill after she made her initial comments.

You may view and listen to those comments of Michigan State Representative Lisa Brown right here:

Prior to her initial and only permitted talk, Representative Lisa Brown was preceded by another State Representaive from Holland, Michigan who spoke about religious freedom. It was only after that spiel that Representative Brown spoke on the bill before the legislative chamber in which she spoke personally about her own faith. Here is the text of the portion of her speech that addresses the religious aspects of the debate:

I'm Jewish. I keep kosher in my home. I have two sets of dishes. One for meat and one for dairy, and another two sets of dishes on top of that for Passover. Judaism believes that therapeutic abortions, namely abortions performed in order to preserve the life of the mother are not only permissable but mandatory. The stage of pregnancy does not matter. Wherever there is a question of the life of the mother or that of the unborn child, Jewish law rules in favor of preserving the life of the mother. The status of the fetus as human life does not equal that of the mother. I have not asked you to adopt and adhere to my religious beliefs. Why are you asking me to adopt yours?

Why do Christians believe it is justifiable to legislatively impose Christian beliefs on Jewish people and other non-Christians, but it is not justifiable to legislate non-Christian beliefs onto Christians?

United States Senate Republicans Deny American Working Women Equal Pay For Equal Work

Apparently, Republicans in the United States Senate do not think that women are worth as much as men.

The United States Senate has failed to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act that would provide equal pay for women performing equal work as men. The failure to assure equality falls squarely on the shoulders of Senate Republicans, all of whom voted against Paycheck Fairness.

SHAME on the Republican Senators!

ref:
GOP Kills Paycheck Fairness Act, Equal Pay for Women, Common Dreams, June 5, 2012.
Paycheck Fairness Act Fails Senate Vote, Huffington Post, June 5, 2012.
Equal pay for women, The Issue, (an editorial), Times Daily, June 7, 2012.

Freedom

When the symbol of freedom becomes more important than freedom itself, then we have no freedom.
- Roland Louis Hansen

The question "What is the importance of freedom?" was posted on the political science pages of eNotes. Click here to read the responses.

In the United States of America, our flag is the world's symbol of freedom; and, symbols of freedom are taught to 1st grade children.

Freedom is a valued aspect of American democracy; and, yet many Americans want to limit the freedom of other people, especially when they place a higher value on the symbol of freedom, such as the Flag of the United States or the Pledge of Allegiance, than they place on freedom itself. Read what Ron Gibbons wrote in Letter: A symbol of freedom not more important than freedom itself.

You might find it interesting to read what American children write about freedom. Click on over to American Freedom Essay Contest, Student Winners, and from there you may follow the embedded links to read the actual essays.

Now, how about going on over to read:
Freedom quotes from ThinkExist.com, "You think, therefore You exist."
Freedom Quotes courtesy of BrainyQuote.com.
Quotations about Freedom from The Quote Garden.

Dumb Obama Bashers Need To Wake Up And Support President Barack Obama

Take a look at this excerpt from an article I recently read:

There is a number buried in today’s government labor report that deserves closer examination: 35,000. That’s the net number of private sector jobs created during the Obama administration to date. That’s right, it’s a positive number. After the worst economic disaster to befall the United States in 80 years, that’s a number that maybe we should be applauding. ..... But the real eye-opener comes when we compare Obama’s numbers to George W. Bush’s. In Bush’s first term, the economy shed 913,000 private sector jobs! 913,000!

Now, go read the entire article:
Leonard, Andrew, Bush vs. Obama: Jobs, During George W.'s first term, big government boosted employment. For Obama, it's the opposite, Salon.com, May 4, 2012.

You know, I cannot help but wonder, WHY ARE OBAMA'S CRITICS SO DUMB?, especially after having read

"When Obama took office, the United States was losing around 750,000 jobs a month. The last quarter of 2008 saw an annualized drop in growth approaching 9 percent. This was the most serious downturn since the 1930s, there was a real chance of a systemic collapse of the entire global financial system, and unemployment and debt—lagging indicators—were about to soar even further. No fair person can blame Obama for the wreckage of the next 12 months, as the financial crisis cut a swath through employment. Economies take time to shift course."

That is an excerpt from a Newsweek article written by Andrew Sullivan. Here go read more of the article over at The Daily Beast:
In Newsweek Magazine, Andrew Sullivan: How Obama's Long Game Will Outsmart His Critics, January 16, 2012, The right calls him a socialist, the left says he sucks up to Wall Street, and independents think he's a wimp. Andrew Sullivan on how the president may just end up outsmarting them all.

And over at The Huffington Post, you can read:
Obama One Of Five Presidents To See Dow Jones Gain More Than 50 Percent Over First Three Years

There are over 200 reasons to support the re-election of President Barack Obama as listed in the Forbes magazine article of February 24, 2012 written by Chris Weigl. Go on over to read:
What Do Americans Think Of Obama's Performance As A President?

Gay Marriage. President Barack Obama. Mitt Romney.

The 2012 campaign for President of the United States of America is heating up. However, neither of the two major political parties has yet officially nominated their respective candidate. None-the-less, it does appear that the Democratic Party will nominate incumbent President Barack Obama, and that the Republican Party, i.e. GOP, will nominate Mitt Romney.

President Obama is viewed by many as a liberal, some people even allege that he is a Socialist or a Communist. And then there are the zealous, self-righteous, self-appointed religious experts who incorrectly proclaim that President Obama is a Muslim, his Christian church membership and attendance notwithstanding.

Some people (read that to include me) see Mitt Romney as a rogue conservative who fluctuates on the issues given the situation of the moment, as a billionaire who could not care less about low and moderate income Americans or the middle class, and as a Mormon who worships three different and distinct entities while concurrently professing to be Christian.

These two individuals, Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama, have recently addressed the issue of same-sex marriage; and, that subject has now been injected into the 2012 Presidential campaign, and done so wrongly, in my opinion. Gay marriage is now all over the news. But, why??? Since when does the President of the United States have the authority to make public policy concerning the issue of marriage? And, why should the government, any level of government, even be involved in the personal and domestic topic of marriage?

Mitt Romney has gone on the record with this statement:
"I disagree with the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. Marriage is an institution between a man and a woman. I will support an amendment to the Massachusetts constitution to make that expressly clear." 
Hey, don't take my word for it; you can see and read that Mitt Romney statement and more for yourself in the web page Romney position on Same Sex Issues. And yet, Mr. Romney claims his perspective on the issue is not religiously based. You can read that for yourself, also. Just click over to The Washington Post Election 2012 Blog to read Romney: Gay marriage stance was ‘not a religious decision’

Meanwhile, many individuals and the news media are incorrectly stating that President Obama is "in support of gay marriage" - or perhaps I should say that it is my belief that the wording being used is incorrect and misleading. The wording is in many news stories like the following, for example:
Obama's gay marriage endorsement could sway state battles, by Dan Springer, published May 14, 2012, FoxNews.com.

It is my perspective that the wording is incorrect and misleading; because, I view the approach by the President as one that concerns equal rights for individuals in determining their own personal domestic arrangements among consenting adults.

Who am I and who the hell are you to determine which adult should be able to wed which other adult??? It is none of my business; it is none of your damn business; and, it damn well should not be the business of any freaking government!!!

Whatever happened to the perspective held by many Republicans, by many Conservatives, and by many, many members of the Tea Party Movement that individual rights are sacrosanct and that there should be limited government? OR, do they apply that value only as it relates to their own strongly held beliefs?

I put forth that this whole brouhaha over same-sex marriage, or as some may call it, gay marriage, is nothing but a prejudicial, discriminatory smoke screen to deny people equal rights under the law.

Oh, and by the way, I really believe that all marriages should be gay, as in happy.

Just Be Yourself. To Thine Own Self, Be True.

I am so sick and tired of all the two-faced hypocrites. They put one face on in public and a different face on in private.

There are holier-than-thou religious hypocrites who proclaim to be good followers of a Supreme Being but who spew forth venom of hatred toward persons who do not agree with them. Many of the religious zealots will ostracize those who do not share the exact same religious beliefs. They will kill in the name of the Lord. These "good" people are some of the most prejudiced, discriminatory people on Earth.

There are the passionately biased politically opinionated people who are strong advocates of the freedom of speech and of political expression for all those who are of the same opinion; but, woe unto those who are of a different perspective because all of a sudden the same ideals of freedom of speech and of political expression do not apply.

There are those hypocrites claiming to be of sound moral character that lead secret private lives quite different from that which they profess. And yet, while in the public eye, these same people will sit in judgement regarding other peoples' lives whether it be marital relations, religious practices, sexual mores, etc.

There are the folks who say or write whatever they want to whoever they want and whenever they want, but who do not afford others the same courtesy. They will say whatever is on their mind at the moment. They will voice their unsolicited opinion. They will tell you what you should do, when you should do it, and how you should do it; But, all hell breaks loose if you dare do that to them

There are the friends and relatives who claim their love and affection but will turn their back at the drop of a dime for the silliest of reasons or for no apparent reason at all. They will like you only as long as you never disagree with them. They want you to visit them or telephone them, but never reciprocate in kind. They know you when it is beneficial to and for them to know you; otherwise, you never hear from them. As long as you are whatever others want you to be, they will like you. The moment you are not who or what they want, you are history.

I could go on and on and on. However, I choose not to. My message is simply this:

BE YOURSELF! 

To Thine Own Self, Be True.

On Religion and God

Here is a message On Religion and God from George Carlin:

Caveat Emptor: Something Smells Fishy In America.

You might think that you could trust American business to be honest and trustworthy. Well, that is what many American Political Conservatives, such as Republicans, Tea Party members, Libertarians, etc. would have us all believe. You know who I mean --- the ones who blame liberal politicians, Democrats, and others concerned about ALL Americans for poor business climates in the United States, the ones who assert there is too much government regulations involved in American business ventures and that those government regulations harm business and are the cause of unnecessary rises in prices; the ones who say businesses can regulate and police themselves; the ones who postulate that unscrupulous businesses will not be allowed to continue their existence because customers will go elsewhere.

Well, I want to state that something smells fishy in America when it comes to the private business world. There is something very wrong when businesses will rip off customers with downright fraudulent practices, and the political conservatives continue to defend what appears to be business-as-usual in the United States of America, and the American government is blamed for the ills of private American businesses.

Hey, have you ever heard the story about that new diet? You know - the seafood diet -- yep, whenever I see food I eat it. Well, I am not about to eat the business practices of American restaurants, grocery stores, and others that are defrauding the American public when it comes to seafood. I think that it does smell fishy.

Fish fraud is running pampant in America, the land of the free, the land of opportuity, the United States of America. Watch this video from June 8, 2011, Fish Fraud: Are you sure about what you are eating?

Here is another video, Boston Globe and Oceana Investigate Fish Fraud from January 20, 2012, for you to watch and listen.

This fish fraud has been ongoing; and, it continues to exist despite the fraudulent practices of American businesses involved in the seafood industry. Examples of the fraudulent American business practices within the fish food business may be read in the following articles:
ABC News Blogs, Investigation Uncovers Rampant Fish Fraud, October 25, 2011.
The Associated Press, That's Fishy: Feds Fight Fraud In Seafood Sizes, NPR, March 15, 2012.
Hsu, Tiffany, Fishy fraud: Officials fight overweighted, overpriced seafood, Los Angeles Times, March 15, 2012.

Well, as the saying goes: Caveat Emptor.
Something Smells Fishy In America. Way To Go, USA!

Fred LeFebvre: Hypocrisy and Trash, Dishes It Out But Cannot Take It!

Radio Trash Talk Personality, Fred LeFebvre, who is consistent in his "blather on about how union workers are overpaid and under worked" gets a taste of his own medicine over at SwampBubbles. The obnoxious Fred LeFebvre is also very vociferous in his badmouthing of public employees and of candidates for public office. With the shoe on the other foot, Ultra-Hypocrite Fred LeFebvre tries to divert the attention away from the real issue.

Here, take a look read for yourself; click on over to:
WHO SHOULD BE PAID MORE TEACHERS, FIREMEN, POLICE, OR A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATED TALK SHOW HOST?

It seems as though Fred LeFebvre is paid far more for his part-time job than many union workers are paid for full-time work. Additionally, Fred LeFebvre gets his fringe benefits and has other income from other part-time work and is not too scarce in his assets.
When you click over this way, a new browser will open and it will display a listing of documents that are a matter of public record; then if you double-click the row entitled Case#: DR20110690 - Date Filed: 07/05/2011 - Event Code: 4- Event Desc: SCHEDULES I III IV F - E-Jo, you will be able to see the information mentioned in the preceding sentence.

If you had not before read or if do not recall the previous Roland Hansen Commentary Fred LeFebvre of WSPD: Rude and Crude are his True Colors and the earlier Roland Hansen Commentary Fred LeFebvre: The Disappearing Act, I urge you read or re-read them both now.

It seems to me that Fred LeFebvre, who in my opinion is himself a fine example of low-life, sleazebag, scum, trash, can dish it out but not take it.

ObamaCare Is Morally Correct. Opponents Are Egocentric, Selfish Heretics!

Over on Facebook, I saw that some of my "friends" (as Facebook connections are referred) had clicked the "Like" icon on the "For America" Facebook page wall photo cartoon with a caption that reads:

LIKE if you agree that ObamaCare is wrecking our nation!

Upon seeing and reading that I just could not pass up the opportunity to write a little something in response to their slam on ObamaCare. My comment appears on that Facebook page, as follows:

Roland Hansen commented on ForAmerica's photo: "I support national health care. The insurance industry is not only ripping Americans off financially but they are making medical decisions that let people die who could otherwise be treated and saved. People who are anti-ObamaCare are selfish and uncaring."

It seems that some people, far too many people in my opinion, put a much higher value on the almighty dollar and on the quest of making a profit than they do on the value of human health, on that of every single American. (The following sentence has been revised as a result of being updated on September 26, 2013.) An example of such had been the posts tagged "ObamaCare" on a website called Fix Health Care Policy that has since been replaced with that of Defund ObamaCare, both projects of The Heritage Foundation.

Some people even use mass e-mail on the internet spreading blatent lies about ObamaCare in an effort to scare Americans. They would rather resort to their malicious mistruths than stick to the facts. But, any way you cut it, these so-called patriotic Americans value money more than they value human health.

I venture to guess that many, but certainly not all, of those folks who are opponents of ObamaCare are also defenders of the Patriot Act, which in my opinion undermines the liberties and freedoms of the Constitution of the United States of America.

I also venture to guess that many, but certainly not all, of the ObamaCare opponents label themselves as Christians. Gee, I wonder what Jesus of Nazareth thinks of people who place a higher value on money than they do on human life.

Well, at least I know that Barbara Bush supports ObamaCare.

Big Brother Is Watching You In Toledo, Ohio

Who is watching you in Toledo, Ohio?
Has 1984 finally arrived in Toledo during the year 2012?
Have Toledoans adopted the language of Newspeak?
Is Big Brother (Nineteen Eighty-Four) the new government leader of Toledo?
Do you believe that Big Brother is watching you in Toledo?
Has the era of Big Brother: The Orwellian Nightmare Come True in the City of Toledo?
Is it all just blowing smoke... or is there someone to watch over me in Toledo, Ohio?

What say you? Any thoughts on this?

Me?
I sure as hell will not cast a ballot to re-elect Toledo City Council members who vote to enact legislation such as that being proposed. In fact, I will try my damnedest to make sure any such council member is defeated in the next municipal election.

President Barack Obama. Catholics. Birth Control, Contraception, Sex.

The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, has recently taken the bully pulpit route in his desire to assure that all women in the United States have health care insurance coverage for birth control.

Generally speaking, and I emphasize generally speaking, Roman Catholics have not been pleased with the President's perspective that all women in America should be treated equally in having contraception services as a proviso of health care insurance. While the President has attempted to honor religious belief systems and assure the religion protection guarantees of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, some Catholics have been very vocal in attacking the President, postulating that he is violating the First Amendment and some attacks even go to the point of making the accusation of "the Obama Administration’s efforts at forcing contraception on Catholics."

Leaders within the Catholic Church in the United States vow that they will continue to actively oppose President Barack Obama's proposal concerning health care insurance contraception coverage. Click on the embedded link to go on over to read:
U.S. Catholic bishops oppose Obama birth-control plan

In trying to better understand the issue from the official Catholic perspective, I did a search on the internet and found quite a few web sites, web pages, and specific comments that I found interesting.

The comment "... sexual pleasure within marriage becomes unnatural, and even harmful to the spouses, when it is used in a way that deliberately excludes the basic purpose of sex, which is procreation. God’s gift of the sex act, along with its pleasure and intimacy, must not be abused by deliberately frustrating its natural end—procreation ..." may be found on the web page Birth Control from the web site of Catholic Answers.

The comment "... we are enormously grateful to the Church for her constant teaching that sexuality must be open to the transmission of life ..." may be found on the web page Contraception Misconceptions of the web site of catholic-pages.com.

I also have placed embedded links on the titles to some other web pages I suggest you read. The web pages are:
Catholicism and Family Planning
Catholicism and sexuality
Christian views on contraception
Religious views on birth control

"Jew him down." "I got jewed."

So! Hmmm. Have you ever used slurs that are an affront to Jewish people? If you haven't used any of those slurs yourself, have you heard any the slurs used in conversation that are demeaning to Jewish people?

One such slur is the phrase "Jew him down."
Click over to the following embedded link to The Phrase Finder to learn about the phrase "Jew him down."

I find it interesting that people I know, people who say they are my friends and who know I am Jewish, will use the phrase "I Jewed them down" and then do not understand why I find it offensive. I mean, these folks continue to use that phrase even though I have informed them that I do not like it. Consequently, I no longer consider anyone my friend nor will I associate with anyone who continues to use the phrase after I have expressed my displeasure in its use.
Click on over to read the responses over at the Yahoo! Answers web page What does the term " I Jewed them down" mean? and think about it.

Take a look at all the google search results for the phrase Jew them down.

Okay, okay, so someone overcharged me for an item I purchased. Another person charged me an outrageous amount for an item of low quality that was no way worth the price. What do you say? Many people say "I got jewed." Yet, again, another derogatory slur that demeans Jewish people!!! But, still, if you follow the embedded link, you can take a look at all the google search results for the phrase I got jewed.

Yeah, I know, this isn't the first time I have written a commentary that concerns Jewish people. Actually, I guess I have written several blog entries along those lines. Here, take a look at the search reults for the use of the word "Jew" in Roland Hansen Commentary entries.

I have also written quite a few things about this same overall topic over at my other blog, Roland's Ramblings, including one earlier today. You can search over there if you are inclined to find all of them over there; however, the only one to which I wish to link, and upon which I wish to close this Roland Hansen Commentary is the one I wrote today on Roland's Ramblings; it is Jew Hater Anthony Graziano Allegedly Firebombs Two Synagogues.