The Election, Unbelieveable!

I have heard that there are some people wanting to vote for the third party presidential candidate during this election. That is a very noble idea, and I agree to a degree. However, the libertarian candidate, Bob Barr, like Ron Paul, is adamantly opposed to a woman’s right to choose, which would have a terrible effect upon the Supreme Court with the inevitable appointments coming up. All four of the liberal justices are old enough to retire, and at least two will definitely retire or die in the next 4 to 8 years.

Ralph Nader and the Green Party candidates are the most progressive candidates, but, even if one of them would win, they wouldn’t be able to get anything passed because they would have no other party members in Congress to work with. The Dems and Repubs would eat them alive and make them look terrible, making any future chances at a third party making its way into the system sufficiently virtually impossible, at least in the near future. I know it is a tough reality to swallow, but it is the reality of the matter.

The way to get more parties in is from the bottom up, by getting more independents, Greens, progressives, Libertarians, etc. elected at the lower levels so that the other parties are incorporated into the system, so that when a third party candidate is finally elected into the executive, he or she would have the ability to get something accomplished. Until that happens, we really are stuck with the way that it is. But, of course, as with all of us, you are free to vote with the dictates of your conscience.

To me, the most important issue is the make up of the Supreme Court. Right now, it is 4 to 4 with 1 swing vote. At least 2 of the liberal justices will be retiring or dying (Universe forbid) in the next 4 to 8 years. All of the liberal justices are well beyond retirement age, while all of the conservative justices are young and will last for years to come. If a republican is elected, the make up of the Supreme Court will drastically shift to the right killing human rights as we know it today. Scalia, Alito, Thomas, and Chief Justice Roberts (the four conservative justices) are dying to turn the tide on human rights. If a democrat is elected, it will at least stay the same for the next 4 to 8 years.

That, to me, is the number one issue. But again, you are free to vote your conscience.

Unfortunately, there is some really crazy stuff going on with the election ballots in Illinois, which may have the potential to declare them invalid.

The Illinois Constitution requires that it be put up for a vote among the citizens of the State to determine whether it should be reviewed via a Constitutional Convention (a.k.a. a Con-Con) every 20 years. It is due to be on the ballot in this election.

However, a Chicago judge declared the language on the ballot for the Con-Con referendum illegal. The judge found the statements that not voting  equals a “no” vote, and that the 1988 referendum failed by a margin of 3 to 1 offensive. I disagree that the first statement was legally offensive because it is informative and information that a voter should have. However, the latter statement is clearly illegal because it is campaigning, in violation of the election law that prohibits campaigning within 100 feet of a polling place.

The judge’s ruling is only binding in Chicago, and the Cook County election officials are examining how to fix the problem. But regardless, the language is on all the ballots statewide, it is too late to change the millions of ballots statewide, and in the worst case scenario, the entire ballots throughout the State could ultimately be considered illegal and declared invalid, wiping Illinois’ electoral votes out of the presidential election.

I sincerely hope this does not happen. However, after the 2000 election, anything is possible.

My Life, what a cool story

Among other things, I am a senior youth adviser at the ALUUC. I truly adore those little men and women. I learn as much from them as they learn from me, if not more. What an honor.

We were doing check-ins at last Sunday’s evening group. Check-ins are where we talk about what has been going on in our lives since the last time we met. After the kids were done, us three advisers talked about the camping trip we went on the weekend before.

When it was my turn for check-in, I was coaxed into telling the kids about my fabulous news. One of the advisers, who was also on the camping trip, asked in a telling tone, “So, Jerry. What happened with you on the camping trip?”…LOL.

So, I just blurted out that “I am in love with Jeanie ______.” One of the kids started clapping and said, “And that is my aunt.” LOL. Too cute.

I explained to the kids how it all evolved. I told them how Jeanie and I have known each other for awhile. Her and I are in the same close circle of friends that they mostly know too. I have always admired and adored Jeanie from afar from the first day I laid eyes on her. I had no clue that she was also interested in me. I am truly honored that such an incredibly beautiful woman, both inside and out, was so interested in me. We began talking/chatting/corresponding more online and learning about each other.

I became the Adult RE (Religious Education) coordinator, and I asked Jeanie’s brother to be the facilitator of the Music & Spirituality class. He in turn asked Jeanie to work with him. The three of us are now the facilitators of that program.

One day, a lot of my friends and I were hanging out on my deck. One of those friends was Jeanie’s ex sister-in-law, who we will call M. M’s phone rang and when she answered it she said, “Jeanieeeee.” My eyes bugged out because I knew who it was. After hanging up, M asked me what the bug eyes were all about, and I told her that I think Jeanie is an unbelieveably beautiful woman.

The next thing you know, one of my other friends said that Jeanie and I would be perfect together. Then they all started a discussion about it as if I wasn’t even there. Before you know it, they were all in agreement. Jerry and Jeanie would make a wonderful couple.

Before long, our dear friends had us practically together. Before we actually were together, it was like we were actually together…LOL. So, Jeanie and I started talking even more, talking about the class that we will be teaching together and getting to know one another better. Eventually, we just kind of naturally melded together, and us officially coming together at the camping trip was just a natural thing to happen. The first night of the camping trip, Jeanie and I got the chance to go off alone to talk a bit. While holding her in my arms and gazing into her beautiful eyes, I said, “I am so in love with you.” It just naturally flowed out of me. By the end of the weekend, we were crazy about each other and incredibly in love.

Anyway, M, who was the other senior youth adviser said, “It really is a pretty cool story how they came to be.”

I decided to go take a look at my history page tonight, and as I was reading it, I had another “AH HA!” moment. I usually got rather bummed when thinking about my past. But, as I was reading through it tonight, I realized how right M was and how blessed I really am. And, now that I am with Jeanie, it all makes perfect sense, and I now see how the story of my entire life is really a pretty cool story that led me to my wonderful friends, the ALUUC, and to Jeanie. She is such an amazing woman, at least she is to me.

Back to Benton

Seven of my closest friends and I, and five of their children, went camping over the last weekend. We camped at the KOA Kampground in Benton, IL, where my kids and I stayed during the first week in July, and we visited the Garden of the Gods. Even though it rained 85% of the time we were there, we had an absolute blast, worked extremely well together, and it turned out to be rather productive.

Day 1, Friday, September 19th: The early crew, which included me, got there and set up camp on two adjacent tent sites. We had a total of three tents and a canopy. Another tent got set up later that evening by the late crew. We went to the store to get the food that we needed for breakfast the next day, and a few supplies that we were lacking. My back gave out on me, so I had to wait in the car.

As we were hanging around the campfire that night, it began to rain about 10pm. So, we all ran to our respective tents. Mine, in which there were four of us sleeping, leaked. Pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags got wet. At least, ours did. I will explain what I mean by “ours” momentarily.

Day 2, Saturday, September 20th: I was supposed to cook breakfast. But, needless to say, I didn’t sleep very well because of the rain, and I was TIRED. So, I suggested that we go get some donuts for breakfast. However, something motivated me, and I went to work. And, what was really super cool, we all worked together to make a marvelous breakfast for 13 people.

I set up the griddle that I brought to get ready to make pancakes. But,….well, a she that I will explain about momentarily…..took over the task of making pancakes. Another friend started the fire. Another friend grabbed the bacon and started cooking it in the skillet over the fire. I broke 18 eggs, scrambled them, put them in another skillet, and started cooking them over the fire. Another friend started his table top grill and made the toast. After the pancakes were done, the wonderful one that I am going to talk about momentarily cooked another batch of 18 eggs on the griddle, and the Canadian bacon. We all worked great together to rock out an awesome breakfast for 13 people.

After breakfast, the only other adult male and I went to the store to get a few supplies that we realized we were lacking. Then we all caravanned down to the Garden of the Gods. The minute we got there it started raining. However, it only rained for about 10 minutes. As we started the quarter mile trek, all of my friends, including the kids, were amazed by its beauty. We climbed rocks, meditated, chanted, and just enjoyed it all. However, half way through, a 16 year old from another group fell 30 feet from a cliff. My friend that is a nurse assisted with the medical needs, and I helped haul that injured young man out of there. It was still an amazing experience.

By the time we got back to the campsite, the other male friend and I thought it was too late to be cooking because it was going to be dark soon. Plus, we were afraid that storm system we ran into down at the Garden of the Gods was going to end up on us. But, the girls were insistent and did the cooking themselves. Right when he and I left to go out to eat, it started to rain, and it rained the whole time we were gone, and it stopped as soon as we returned. Too weird.

The girls and I hung out around the campfire, drinking, until around midnight. Then the one that I promise I am going to talk about momentarily went for a walk and to talk.

Day 3, Sunday, September 21: It rained allllll night long, and into the morning. A few of us hung out in the canopy drinking coffee waiting for the rain to stop. The rain suddenly stopped, the sky cleared, and we rocked tearing everything down and getting packed. I was drenched at the end, so I took a shower and we all headed home.

The main event: (I really don’t know how else to label it…LOL). “The One,” the love of my life, my soul mate, whatever you want to call her, and I got together. She and I have been friends for quite sometime. We are both members of this wonderful circle of friends, and we are absolutely crazy about one another. From the first moment I laid eyes on her over a year ago (or more), I was in awe, and I have admired her from afar ever since. Now we are together and melding into one, and our togetherness officially began during this camping trip. What a beautiful memory that this camping trip will always be for us.

I am sure from here on out, there will be many entries about US.

Mad Cow Testing Blocked

WHAT?!

From FindLaw at: http://news.findlaw.com/ap/a/w/1155/08-29-2008/20080829092009_17.html

Court: US can block mad cow testing

WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal appeals court says the government can prohibit meat packers from testing their animals for mad cow disease.

Because the Agriculture Department tests only a small percentage of cows for the deadly disease, Kansas meatpacker Creekstone Farms Premium Beef wants to test all of its cows. The government says it can’t.

Larger meat companies worry that if Creekstone is allowed to perform the test and advertise its meat as safe, they could be forced to do the expensive test, too.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday overturned a lower court ruling that would have cleared the way for the testing. The appeals court said restricting the test is within the scope of the government’s authority.

So, a company that wants to expend the resources to ensure food safety is legally prohibited by the government from doing so?

You have got to be shitting me!! (YHGTBSM!)

The Hidden Premise

I firmly believe that we learn something with every experience that we have. Whether it’s consciously or subconsciously, we learn something with each person we meet, see, hear, talk with, or even pass on the street.  In addition, our consciousness (mind, brain, whatever) accepts and processes information that we are not consciously aware of. At the same time, there are hidden messages in things that many of us aren’t aware of until it is pointed out to us.

As an example, I was the guest presenter at the ALUUC on June 29th, 2008. I gave a presentation called “AH HA!” The sermon was on my “AH HA!” moments that helped lead me to where I am today. I provided the audience with quite a bit of personal history about myself, which included some rather intimate details, to demonstrate how important those “AH HA!” moments were.

Quite a few members approached me for weeks thereafter congratulating me on a job well done, and thanking me for sharing intimate details that most would consider secret, or that they would have themselves kept secret. In other words, they were shocked by what I shared, figuring that most people would have kept such things inside as skeletons in their closets, if you will. In consideration of my past, many of them said, “And, look at you now.”

This made it clear to me that many people did not “hear” the hidden premise within my presentation because such a comment implies a negative judgment of my past experiences, even though I explicitly said that every experience that I had was a blessing that lead me to where I am today. If I did not do or experience one single thing that I did in my past, I would not be the person that I am today. And, I don’t mean to sound pompous, but I kind of like me and who I am today. Therefore, how can I in good conscience label anything that I did, or any experience that I had, as negative or bad? At the time, I was simply where I was on my path.

The hidden or unspoken message in all of that is that it is only harmful to our individual selves and our individual inner spirits to negatively judge people as they are. Like me in my past, people just are what they are, they are where they are on their respective journey, and we have no idea where they are going to end up. Trust me, people that knew me 20 or more years ago, that I do not still associate with, would laugh in your face if you told them how I am today.

“Yeah, sorry buddy, but I guarantee we are NOT talking about the same Jerry Zarley that I knew. He was nothing but a high-school dropout that was a lazy, scrounging, worthless, womanizing, piece of crap user, and there is no way he changed that much.”

But, I cannot look back and regret being “a high-school dropout that was a lazy, scrounging, worthless, womanizing, piece of crap user,” because if I wasn’t that then, I wouldn’t be what I am now. Therefore, it would be foolish of me to negatively judge anyone for how they are now because they are just where they currently are on their journey, and I have no idea where their journey is leading them, or how they are going to end up.

Huh?

U.S. forces arrest senior Iraqi official

(Reporting by Tim Cocks and Wisam Mohammed; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Charles Dick) (Emphasis added).

Is this a joke?

Here! Here!

Or is it Hear! Hear!

Hell, I don’t know and it doesn’t really matter. One of the most intelligent posts that I have ever read, and on something that I have thought about but have never been able to sufficiently articulate was posted by David Dimston from Austin, Texas. on the issue of the idea of changing the drinking age.

The unwillingness of many people to engage in a reasoned dialogue about the effectiveness of current drinking-age limits taps into a Puritan ethic that runs deep in our history from Prohibition to the war on drugs to abstinence-only sex education in our schools. It is the “absoluteness” of the proponents’ convictions and the ruthless persecution of anyone who doesn’t share their views that prevents not only a real conversation but new approaches or solutions to some of the problems facing our country.

David Dimston
Austin, Texas

Right on, David.

On the Death Penalty

In Idaho, the man that kidnapped, raped, tortured, and killed a 9 year old boy, among other things, was sentenced to death by a jury. When the grandmother of the child saw the killer in the court room, she said, “I seen nothing but an evil, empty, coldhearted shell.”

As a result, I began to wonder, with the death penalty, are we just killing the “shell” yet letting the negative energy/spirit live on?

I will update more later. I have to think on this a little further.

Today

Barack Obama announced Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate today at the Old State Capitol here in Springfield. A historic event that I did not attend. I don’t like crowds very much, and I had a better view on TV.

I really didn’t do much of anything else. I took Zach to his HS football picnic and bought season tickets to his games. Nicole and I got KFC for dinner. Other than that, I just bummed around the house today.

The Ultimate Question?

Tonight, I was working on my writing project. I have been told by many people that I know that I should write a book about my experiences. So, I don’t know if it will turn into a book or not, but I am working on my life’s time line, from birth to the present. What I hope to do is take a look at the entirety of my life and in chronological order. Maybe doing this will help me see where my path is taking me. At minimum, I will definitely learn more in depth details about myself for my path of self-discovery.

Anyway, I was writing along and I began to discuss how I see most things as completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things (i.e. the man made concepts of money, capitalism, politics, “the rule of law,” “responsibilities,” war, religion, etc.). Then I asked myself, “What is the grand scheme?” What is it that REALLY matters? So, I began to wonder, are these (What is the grand scheme? What is it that REALLY matters?) the ultimate questions as opposed to the other questions that are typically asked (i.e. Where are we humans from? Where do we humans go after we die?)?

We have an entire ecosystem just here on Earth made up of more things, beings, and creatures than just us humans. To leave the questions in regards to humans makes us rather arrogant to think that we are the only thing that matters in the grand scheme things. So, to ask what is the grand scheme and what REALLY matters takes the entire interdependent web of existence into consideration rather than just us humans.

But, there are some resulting questions begged:

(1) What grand scheme? Is there such a thing? I believe there is, but how do I know?

(2) What is the source of the grand scheme? To say that there is a grand scheme implies that there is a single source from which it comes.

I am sure the answers to these will beg many other questions.