Dear Tyler:

I would like to engage you in conversation concerning your comments printed in Sunday's paper. If you have time please contact me at Starcityflyer@aol.com  E. Duane

E. Duane Howard:

 Yes Joe, I was shown how to switch to Internet Explorer, then all I need to do is push "Control" plus the "+" key and it will enlarge you'lls microscopic posting to a comfortable size for reading without nose being pressed against the screen, :-)    Thanks!

Glad I could help.  Now I've got to work on getting Gip some help.

E. Duane..."Yes Joe, I was shown how to switch to Internet Explorer, then all I need to do is push "Control" plus the "+" key and it will enlarge you'lls microscopic posting to a comfortable size for reading without nose being pressed against the screen, :-)    Thanks!"

J.C..."Glad I could help.  Now I've got to work on getting Gip some help."

Sir, my poor mother tried, my wife has tried for 20 years, friends gave up long ago, Doctor's changed profession, and I try daily. I hope you like a challenge, and I'll do what I can to help things along. Gip

PS...Good on you E. Duane!

Luanne Traud:

Does your vote matter?

Yes my (our) vote matters.   Os Hillman said, “What audience do you play to? Each day you are seen by many who will make a judgment about the way you handle yourself among different audiences. Politicians have learned to play to their audiences, customizing messages for the needs of their particular groups.”

I recently watched an episode of “Touched by an Angel” titled, For Such a Time as This. It was about a woman Senator up for re-election and what her son found in her briefcase.  He found pictures with information about people (including children) in the Sudan who were being bought and sold into slavery.  He used that for his class show and tell.  His class project raised over $3,000, meaning at least 64 people could be saved from a life of torture.  She was more concerned that she might lose the election than the heart of her own son.  She was a people pleaser.

Just an illustration of an even bigger problem.  Our vote really does matter.  What kind of people do you want serving within our government?  I know I want those who have my best interest at heart and peoples of other countries; especially if it means their lives will be saved and made better.

We vote people into positions of authority within our state and local governments.  I envision the day when we won’t have career politicians. Their many years in public service have allowed them to promote their agendas and not benefit those who voted for them.  Perhaps they have found loopholes that protect them, line their pockets, make them look good, but do nothing for us.   How many politicians today really know what it means to be without health care?  In my opinion they don’t because they are already covered. 

~Tanya~

Acts 20:24," But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God's grace."

"Leadership is not magnetic personality that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not "making friends and influencing people that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, raising a person's performance to a higher standard, building a personality beyond its normal limitations." ~Peter Drucker~

I see another illustration here because of just one person from the Bible.  Because of one woman, a Samaritan, who was thirsty, hurting, lost and alone an entire city was saved because of her testimony after she met Jesus personally.  Read the book of John chapter 4.  ~Tanya~ 

“The settled happiness and security which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world. . . . The security we crave would teach us to rest our hearts in this world and pose an obstacle to our return to God; a few moments of happy love, a landscape, a symphony, a merry meeting with our friends, a bath or a football match, have no such tendency. Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.” ~C. S. Lewis~

Sandy Light:

Yes, I believe a single vote can often make a tremendous difference and have found some interesting items to confirm this belief:

 - Just one vote per precinct in only three states would have made Hubert Humphrey president instead of Richard Nixon.                                        - In 2000, one vote per precinct in several states elected George W. Bush president.                                                                                                - In 1845, one vote admitted Texas into the Union.                                                                                                                                                      - In 1923, one vote gave Adolf Hitler the leadership of the National Socialist Party. *

                                                            *(sources: constitutionalrightsnetwork, poetpatriot.com)

Luanne Traud:

Does your vote matter?

Individually, my vote matters in that I am choosing an elected official from a slate of names – or writing in the name of a candidate who I feel will be better than those offered.  My vote, combined with those of other persons, will be counted in the totals.  Sometimes my vote is in the majority -- for the winning candidate --sometimes it is not.

The key word here is “choice.”  I have the right to choose from the slate offered – or not – and to reelect the candidate representing the incumbent party – or not.  My vote is a chance for me to express my displeasure with or support of the current regime.

Even though all votes are anonymous, the winning candidate would do well to study the election results and temper his (or her) actions based on the overall constituency rather than on his (or her) personal or party agenda.  Practicing bipartisanship can be a win-win situation.

 Clonnie:  I really like your official response.  For a conservative, you show quite a lot of creativity -- must be that retirement thing creeping up on you. 

On a sadder note, was that your pic in today's paper -- with the story about the fireman who had the brain tumor?  Great show of support from y'all.  Such a tragedy.

Leesa

Clonnie Yearout:

And I want her to hold the office singularly, not share it like Hillary Clinton and John Kerry are currently doing.  

Somehow I don't see John Kerry sharing anything!

 What's Gip need help with?

E. Duane..."What's Gip need help with?"

E. Duane, it is a long and worrisome list. It started at birth, and grew more worrisome daily. Bad attitude, lack of decorum, and I may or may not use deodorant. Ever since I read the directions on the deodorant, I use it much less..."remove cap, and push up bottom" is what it says. I don't know anything. Gip

Gibson Brown:

."remove cap, and push up bottom" is what it says.

Good one!  My husband's favorite is spray paint cans:  "remove cap and shake vigorously".  You two must NEVER meet.

Sandy Light:

Yes, I believe a single vote can often make a tremendous difference and have found some interesting items to confirm this belief:

- Just one vote per precinct in only three states would have made Hubert Humphrey president instead of Richard Nixon. 

- In 2000, one vote per precinct in several states elected George W. Bush president.

- In 1845, one vote admitted Texas into the Union.

 - In 1923, one vote gave Adolf Hitler the leadership of the National Socialist Party.

Folks, have a look at the One Vote Fallacies page at Snopes.com.  It begins:

"Regardless of the value of casting a ballot, the fervor to incite others to vote doesn't abrogate the need to be factual in the claims used as prods. The falsities listed above routinely find their way into the media, most likely because they have so often been circulated as part of larger lists detailing incidents where one vote made an important difference that this year's inciter doesn't think to question them."

E. Duane Howard:

What's Gip need help with?

Getting back to the mother ship.

Gibson Brown:

Ever since I read the directions on the deodorant, I use it much less..."remove cap, and push up bottom" is what it says. I don't know anything.

ROFLMAO !

JC..."ROFLMAO !"

Sir, laugh if you must, but what used to send family, friends, two pups and three cats out of the room in hot foot mode, now brings the fresh whistle of the "old spice" theme song. I'm just saying. Gip