Thanks, Guys.

The drainage in our house hasn't been top notch since we moved in this past June. The toilets, tubs and sinks have never drained fast enough - as far as I was concerned.....it seemed to me that something was causing a clog in the main drain.

Last night, while I was at work, my wife called to tell me that it had gotten worse. It was obvious now that a serious clog had developed; flushing the toilet in one part of the house made the toilet in another part (closest to the street) over flow. Even running water in the kitchen sink was coming out in the bathroom.

There was no way I could afford a professional plumber. I called my friend, Jerry for help. He's an electrician - not a plumber, but he's working on a house and one of the guys working with him knows plumbing.

We rented an auger and Jerry's friend, Chris, removed the toilet and ran the 75 feet of cable through the drain line. Chris said he could feel the obstruction about 5 or 6 feet down.

Whatever was clogging the drain line was pushed through and into the main sewer.

Chris replaced the toilet and everything is working better than the day we bought the house.

Jerry and Chris wouldn't take money. I only had to pay the rental on the auger and for a new wax seal kit for the toilet.

Thanks, Jerry and Chris.

Pope Benedict XVI Addresses UN Summit With Video Message.

This from UN Summit on Climate Change:

In lieu of live national statements in the plenary - to allow for more inter-active discussions during the Summit - all Heads of State and Government were invited to send in a pre-recorded video statement to be posted here and on YouTube beginning on the day of the Summit.

I've uploaded Pope Benedict XVI's video statement - as well as a transcript (it's sometimes difficult to understand the Pope's thick accent).
My thoughts on his statement will come in a later post.



I wish to reflect today upon the relationship between the Creator and ourselves as
guardians of his creation. In so doing I also wish to offer my support to leaders of
governments and international agencies who soon will meet at the United Nations
to discuss the urgent issue of climate change.

The Earth is indeed a precious gift of the Creator who, in designing its intrinsic
order, has given us guidelines that assist us as stewards of his creation. Precisely
from within this framework, the Church considers that matters concerning the
environment and its protection are intimately linked with integral human
development. In my recent encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred to such
questions recalling the “pressing moral need for renewed solidarity” (no. 49) not
only between countries but also between individuals, since the natural
environment is given by God to everyone, and so our use of it entails a personal
responsibility towards humanity as a whole, particularly towards the poor and
towards future generations (cf. no. 48).

How important it is then, that the international community and individual
governments send the right signals to their citizens and succeed in countering
harmful ways of treating the environment! The economic and social costs of using
up shared resources must be recognized with transparency and borne by those who
incur them, and not by other peoples or future generations. The protection of the
environment, and the safeguarding of resources and of the climate, oblige all
leaders to act jointly, respecting the law and promoting solidarity with the weakest
regions of the world (cf. no. 50). Together we can build an integral human
development beneficial for all peoples, present and future, a development inspired
by the values of charity in truth. For this to happen it is essential that the current
model of global development be transformed through a greater, and shared,
acceptance of responsibility for creation: this is demanded not only by
environmental factors, but also by the scandal of hunger and human misery.

With these sentiments I wish to encourage all the participants in the United
Nations summit to enter into their discussions constructively and with generous
courage. Indeed, we are all called to exercise responsible stewardship of creation,
to use resources in such a way that every individual and community can live with
dignity, and to develop “that covenant between human beings and the
environment, which should mirror the creative love of God” (Message for the
2008 World Day of Peace, 7)!
Thank you.

Indoctrinating the School Children.

Listening to Neal Boortz's radio show this A.M., I learned of this little video.
How's that Hope & Change workin' out for you?

Support Obama and Say "No" to the Taliban.

I don't read Trudy Rubin's column often. As a matter of fact, the only reason I read her column from this past Sept. 13 is because the column was reprinted in my local newspaper and reading materials are scarce in the break-room at work.

In this column, Ms. Rubin argues that we should pass Obama's health care plan. Now, I wasn't surprised that she wants us to support the President, but her arguments for our doing so are, far and away, the most bizarre arguments I've come across in our national health care debate.

She writes;
"A U.S. president who fails on his signature issue - health care - won't have the strength and public support to deal with new challenges by Islamists. He will be seen at home and abroad as seriously weakened. Yet neither party seems much bothered by this threat."

The gist of her argument is this : Should Obama fail to pass health care reform, he will be seen as weak and that weakness will embolden the Taliban, Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda.

It doesn't really matter that the health care reform offered may not be in our best interests. We should let Obama have his way in this. Passing Obamacare will show that the President has power and thereby frighten the Islamic terrorists.

According to Rubin, we and our Representatives and Senators should start thinking beyond our narrow self-interest and win one for the One.

Well, at least she didn't call us racists.

Douglas Kmiec Interviewed in Malta.

In an interview published online on the times of malta website, the new American Ambassador to Malta, Douglas Kmiec, tells of a conversation he once had with Obama where Obama asks;

"What would cause a mother to contemplate taking the life of a child? It has to be something awful. It has to be a woman without shelter, without insurance, without the next meal on the table."

Compare this to Obama's statement;

"I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

Obviously, with the financial advantages that the Obama family have, should one of his daughters get pregnant as a teenager, she would not be without shelter, without insurance or concerned about where her next meal is coming from.

Still, Obama would have no difficulty aborting his grandchild to prevent his daughter being "punished".

Kmiec goes on to say that, although he has some disagreements with Obama, he supports the President because Obama believes it is the responsibility of government to provide a family wage, to care for the environment and to provide health care for the uninsured.

What, exactly, is a "family wage" and why would it be the responsibility of the "government" (read taxpayers) to provide everyone with one?
So then, does that mean the government forces companies to pay everyone whatever it takes to buy whatever food our families need - along with mortgage, car payments, furniture, TV , and internet access? Where would it stop? Who determines what my family needs? Me? And the government sees to it that I'm paid enough to cover it all?

The environment?
Everyone - even mean spirited capitalists - want clean air and clean water. But, in order to combat "global warming" a government would have to take control of every aspect of our life to "save us from ourselves". After all, according to some environmentalists every thing humans do damages the planet.

"provide health care for the uninsured"?

Just how can that be managed? I don't make a great deal of money, but a portion of my pay check goes to cover my family's health insurance. I know people who make as much, or more, than I, yet don't provide their family with insurance and will use the money to have a bigger house, or a nicer TV and such as that. My taxes have to go up to help those folks?

Douglas Kmiec may have convinced himself that Obama has the answers, but he hasn't convinced me.