DUTCH TREAT- Cal Fox's Blog

Lots of whimsy and wisdom in this List and photos from a really cool website-

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/01/the-5-best-toys-of-all-time/all/1

Here are the Top Ten Music Albums of 2011 as chosen by Christianity Today magazine.  There are reviews of each one, plus runner-ups.  Wide variety of lyrics and styles.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/commentaries/2011/2011ctmusicawards.html

"The Iowa State University/Gazette/KCRG survey is the latest poll to show Paul leading in the Hawkeye State’s caucuses. Paul’s supporters are disproportionately young, independent, non-interventionist, non-Christian and ...dedicated. [emphasis added]

"In the Iowa poll, Paul gets more than 50 percent support from the two youngest age groups — 18-29 year olds and 30-44 year olds — but gets less than 12 percent of 45-64 year olds and those 65 and older. In the Post poll, he gets 20 percent among 18-49 year olds, but just 8 percent among those 50 and older. That’s a remarkable age gap."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/who-is-a-ron-paul-supporter/2011/12

"Libertarians support maximum liberty in both personal and economic matters. They advocate a much smaller government; one that is limited to protecting individuals from coercion and violence. Libertarians tend to embrace individual responsibility, oppose government bureaucracy and taxes, promote private charity, tolerate diverse lifestyles, support the free market, and defend civil liberties."

"Centrist prefer a "middle ground" regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on the issue, they sometimes favor government intervention and sometimes support individual freedom of choice. Centrists pride themselves on keeping an open mind, tend to oppose "political extremes," and emphasize what they describe as "practical" solutions to problems."

"For a decent indicator of whether you are a libertarian according to the simple definition, take
the World's Shortest Political Quiz."

http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz

Three of my Devotional articles has been posted at

http://kudospress.com/serendipity/index.php?/pages/library/QT_Thots_December2011.html

"His Will sustains me"

"His will strengthens me"

"His will feeds me"

Read about our largest Embassy in the world, the 1000s of Americans who work there and the additional 1000s of "contractors" the US employs for "security" there and the billions of tax dollars to maintain all of this.

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20111221-us-diplomatic-security-iraq-after-withdrawal?

The Federal Government has no constitutional power over public schools run by the States, BUT it does have great influence in the form of setting national educational standards and money in the form of grants to compel States to meet those standards.  If they do not comply, they do not get the Money.  Thus Federal control  over the Nation's public schools gradually spreads and leads to the achievement of Educational Goals set by the Administration in Office not the State, local School Boards, local Staff and definitely not the Parents.  Do Teachers really want this control [not their Union- the teachers themselves]  Do Biblical Christians really support this Federal control?  

http://www.masslive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/mass-wins-federal-grant-for-early-education

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/18/schools-race-teaches-states-a-hard-lesson/

It is not so simply.  Times Magazine chose the Demonstrators of the world to be their "Person of the Year" last week, but while they definitely got attention and have been influential in their respective Countries, a lot more than noisy protests is required to make real change in a Society.  I think many Americans like to think all the uprisings were to achieve something like the "Democracy" we say we believe in. Most media carry that message.  But National change requires a lot more than slogans, protests and the demands of minority groups.  Here are two articles that give a reality check.  They are about Syria but illustrate well the many factors involved in changing any Country's Leadership, Policies and direction.  Many deep rooted social, cultural, ethnic factors are involved.  Politics, Power and a history of conflict and control of one group over another is involved.  We must consider "Regime change" not just the elimination of a Dictator.  Often that "Regime" is the Military.  And when it comes to American intervention in other Nations, political pragmatism and strategy and even greed come before ethics and morality.  

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20110504-making-sense-syrian-crisis?

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20111214-syria-crisis-assessing-foreign-intervention?