The people's voice of reason
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Empty screen before me once again, hands at the keyboard [see Mark 9:43-47 below] contemplating what to address for this month’s column... • The ray of hope for corrupt politicians upon reversal of Felon Hubbard’s 5th count of the twelve jury convictions? • The adulation of McCain? Boycott gubernatorial race voting to reduce signature requirements in our ballot access restricted State? • The Anita Hill DC flashback? • Explain the deleterious history of Nazis to those who are too blind/ignor...
Judge Dale Segrest Retires Tallassee, AL Judge Segrest is looking forward to retirement after years of community service and dedication to justice. Now is a new time for family, friends relaxation. Agape. Wikipedia defines agape as a "term referring to love, "the highest form of love, charity" and "the love of God for man and of man for God". You will find him most days in the garden. Toiling over each plant with intentionality. A job that was once a hobby now has new meaning. The garden that...
The Wilcox County line sign is missing on Highway 41 in Hybart. I stopped once to take a picture of it. I guess that’s why I noticed its absence. I’m sure others have noticed too. It has been gone for several months now. I keep waiting to see how long it will take for it to be replaced. Currently, we are building on at least six months or two seasons, depending on how you want to look at it. By this time of year, yellow butterflies are darting along the sides of all highways leading into Wilcox...
Are you dealing with an “unsolved case or situation” from your past that needs resolution? Are you waiting for your day of justice or repayment? God promises in His Word that He is your vindicator. He is your defender. He will settle your case and repay everything that the enemy has stolen. “God is a just God and He will repay the exact compensation owed you. He will settle and solve the cases of His people.” Hebrews 10:30 To allow Jesus to settle our debts, you have to forgive others in the...
Prof. Thornton's recent book, The Skyscraper Curse offers sound perspective on booms and busts in our economy making business cycle theory accessible to the current, 21st-century audience. Long time readers will appreciate how this higher stationed colleague (I'm only an Instructor) is a kindred Spirit in efforts to educate up and coming generations. Seems most of the math/quant jocks on Wall Street, at the Fed, etc. barely remember the 2008 Crash and what triggered it, much less the 1987 Crash...
Ah, yes. In the immortal words of Yoda, well not really Yoda but. . . , “The stupid is strong with this one.” And yes, it is on display in full regalia these days. Just a couple of examples for you today. 1. Bettie Scott Cook: Have any of you ever heard of this political hack? I had not. This Democrat (imagine that) happens to be a Black woman running for a state seat in Michigan when she recently referred to her Asian rival as a “Ching Chong.” No, you really cannot make this stuff up. Accordi...
The beginning of summer is approaching and we are nearing my favorite time of the year. Summer in the south brings with it vacations, weekends spent outside, outdoor activities, and a multitude of other opportunities. It is a great chance to get out and enjoy our wonderful state parks. I am certainly biased to Alabama but some of the world’s most beautiful natural sites can be found within our state and many of those are at Alabama state parks. Alabama is home to 22 state parks, each having a...
Unfortunately in my work I run across situations where there is a not a good understanding of the implications of a real property deed not having an up to date deed. One thing that happens at times, more so in rural areas is on the death of someone, their estate is not probated and their real property is inhabited by one or more heirs. The heir or heirs continue to pay real property taxes and even insurance when the property contains insurable structures. The problem is that as time goes on...
We build houses like we will be here forever, but it is all very temporary. “Fleeting,” I think is what the Bible says, “The twinkling of an eye.” We are given, on average – if we are lucky – about 78 years. This average of course is not always accurate. You can’t depend on it. It is more unpredictable than Alabama weather or hormonal women. Nobody gets promised any tomorrows. There will come a day for each of us when there will be no next week. It is all a balance between the uncertainty of tim...
God has put dreams and desires in your heart…things that you are hoping for, praying about, and believing in. Habakkuk 2:3 says, “The vision is for an appointed time. Though it tarry, wait earnestly for it, for it will surely come.” When you have a dream from God in your heart, you don’t have to struggle and try to force it to happen. You don’t have to be worried or frustrated….wondering if it will ever come to pass. When you have God’s promises deep in your heart, you will enter in to a place...
Beginning on a sad note, I wanted to pay tribute to my wife's mother, Maria Guadeloupe (Lupe) Paredes, who died on 7 July of an aortic dissection. I could not have asked for a better mother-in-law. In 33 years of marriage, we never once had a crossed word or disagreement. I loved her greatly. Now to it. There seems to be a never-ending cacophony insanity that emanates from the left. When I say never ending, I truly mean never-ending. Everyday there seems to be another story that makes my head...
Since President Trump’s selection of Judge Brett Kavanaugh currently of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy on the United States Supreme Court there has been a lot of discussion. Judge Kavanaugh is a relatively young man when compared to some current and prior Supreme Court justices and was a high school classmate of current Justice Neil Gorsuch. Judge Kavanaugh can make a significant impact on cases for many y...
The primary runoff is in the record books with over 87% percent of registered voters not participating in party elections they funded, some saying in fear of making an error for actual or accused ‘crossover voting.’ This may be the duopoly’s desired result fueling the irony of claiming to want increased voter participation at the same enacting more impediments toward this end. The obvious answer is to prohibit taxpayers from paying for these party politics. If a party wants to use our publi...
As the 2018 primary season thankfully ends, King Solomon’s lament in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “So there is nothing new under the sun,” might well be applied to Alabama politics, with the “nothing new” being the absolute viciousness of campaign politics. I think after each election that it can’t possibly get any worse, yet I’m proven wrong each cycle. Worse is the fact that this latest nasty war of words was waged amongst those who ran under the same political banner. The next time you question why...
We are now well into the 2018 hurricane season, and a major storm may or may not hit us this year. But when one does, the news media will always mention a little consequence called “price gouging.” Reporters usually hype it up as something terrible, selfish, and even criminal. But when disasters strike, entrepreneurs are quick to respond by trucking in critical supplies and selling them for prices far above the norm. And people in need will be willing to pay for them. Are these suppliers rip...
Travis came into my life in 1990, when he was two and I was 18. His mother was not involved at that stage in his life and my life had not prepared me for being a stepmother. But I changed my schedule at AUM, and switched from working nights at Country’s Barbecue to working days at Colonial Bank. I would drop Travis off at daycare before 8:00 and pick him up just after 5:00. Up until now, I don’t think I have ever written a word about those years of my life. It is not as if 18 to 23 didn’t exist...
Are you praying and seeking God for change in your life? Perhaps there seems to be invisible roadblocks preventing you from truly experiencing God’s blessings. James 3:16 tells us, “For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is strife and every evil work…” The Bible tells us that when we hold on to strife, it brings about confusion and hurt. Strife can creep in much like a disease to steal your peace and joy…destroying relationships and taking away your hope. You must stay on guard con...
I had a professor while I was working on my Masters who once told me to never write when I was angry. Through the years, I have generally heeded this advice. Once in print, those words are never going to disappear. This week has been one of those angry political weeks and I have intentionally stayed away from my computer wanting to calm down before putting thoughts on paper. But a deadline is a deadline. I wanted to write but my anger was at such a fever pitch that I had to put this...
Best races of the year have been for Attorney General and Lt. Governor June 27, 2018 The best races of the year have been for Attorney General and Lt. Governor, as well as Agriculture Commissioner and for the 2nd Congressional district. The Attorney General post is considered the best stepping stone to Governor and U.S. Senator. It is very high profile and prosecutes bad guys who go to jail and cannot vote against you, and you look like a good guy to the rest of the law abiding voters in the sta...
The state of California has a larger economy than many countries and is the most populous state within the United States. Many in California think differently from those of us in Alabama with resultant taxes and the cost of living being significantly higher, in case of taxes by design of it's legislators. Even so, within California there are different schools of thought and that is somewhat evident by the current number of Californians leaving to settle in other states which has California losin...
Bill Britt (4/18/18 Alabama Political Reporter) stated current and former BCA members thought the board’s vote to demand Canary’s resignation was good news for the State’s future and those close to the process were angry Chairman Hand wanted to keep Canary until the fall. APR’s sources said this was an attempt for the BCA to further influence election outcomes. The plan was to control campaign donations and win enough races to stage a comeback. Hand seemed willing to risk everything protect...
Because of my Biblical worldview, for which I do not apologize, my view of current culture and events is filtered through that belief, and I can’t help but reflect on the similarities of the mindset of many in our nation with that of the Israelites many centuries ago. After generations of captivity in Egypt, the Israelites were finally free of the tyranny of their harsh taskmasters and were being led by Moses into their Promised Land. But as with anything worthwhile, the journey wasn’t eas...
The purpose of a law, any law, is a singular objective—protecting people from the wrongdoings of other people. To be moral, just, legitimate, and Constitutional, it must meet that criterion. Otherwise, it is usurpation and oppression. Laws that are obviously just are those against murder, bodily harm, theft, destruction, and any other actions that hurt or violate other people and/or their property. These can be readily understood by any civilized person. Common sense dictates that only a few l...
The beginning of summer is approaching and we are nearing my favorite time of the year. Summer in the south brings with it vacations, weekends spent outside, outdoor activities, and a multitude of other opportunities. It is a great chance to get out and enjoy our wonderful state parks. I am certainly biased to Alabama but some of the world’s most beautiful natural sites can be found within our state and many of those are at Alabama state parks. Alabama is home to 22 state parks, each having a...
One reason Wilcox County stays broke is because people steal. That is not in any way meant to take away from the gross mismanagement we’ve come to call normal, but theft happens too often and audits are too few. The latest sin to slither out of the courthouse emerged when the bank called retiring Probate Judge Jerry Boggan and informed him that funds were not sufficient for the checks that were being presented. Now I don’t know, but I would think that in that very moment, the Honorable and kin...