The Clarion Issue

The arrest of Jose Padillia, a.k.a. Abdullah al Muhajir, on May 8, 2002 has caused major concern in the United States about the use of “dirty bombs” by al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups operating in this country. Searches of various al-Qaeda strongholds and safe houses in Afghanistan and Pakistan turned up many diagrams and plans to produce nuclear weapons; however, most Americans realized that al-Qaeda did not possess the resources, materials, or facilities to produce a real nuclear weapon. However, a “dirty bomb” is totally practical and within the capabilities of any reasonably organized terrorist group.

A dirty bomb can be simply made and simply delivered. It does not require the bomb to produce a nuclear reaction and can be placed on a rooftop, subway, or park in any city and detonated by any simple radio controlled or timing device. While the device is not nearly as dangerous as a nuclear explosion, the ensuing panic could cause more deaths and chaos than the bomb and radiation itself and the clean up would be a massive and costly undertaking.

A dirty bomb is a conventional explosive surrounded by nuclear, radioactive material. The nuclear material has nothing to do with the actual explosion but is scattered by the explosion of the conventional bomb that it surrounds. Therefore, all of the nuclear waste caused by nuclear power plants, atomic weapons research, and even medical waste from X-rays and cancer treatments can become part of any dirty bomb.

The problem and challenge facing American investigators is to secure all of the nuclear waste here and around the world. In May 2002 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported that there were about 300 reports of missing radioactive materials a year in the United States.

The amount of missing radioactive material in the former Soviet Union is undeterminable at this point. Scientist estimate that 40 kilograms of weapons grade uranium and plutonium may be missing in the new republics and even more non-weapons grade material is unaccounted for. For the most part these republics cannot afford to keep the materials under guard. Only one-third of Russia’s 6,000 plus tons of weapons grade nuclear material is under guard. The United States is expected to spend over 50 million dollars in the next two years helping Russia secure these nuclear materials.

As other countries move into the nuclear age with atomic weapons, nuclear power plants, and modern medical technology, the collection, securing, and storage of these nuclear waste becomes more problematic, and the possibility of terrorist acquisition becomes more probable.

Other possible sources of radioactivity for dirty bombs is Cesium-137 and Strontium-90. Cesium 137 is used for atomic clocks and the treatment of cancer. It has a half-life of 30 years and government investigative agencies admit al-Qaeda has some of this material. Strotium-90 can be used in medical and agricultural experiments, remote navigational beacons and weather stations, and even in the space program.

While most of the radioactive material in the world is accounted for and under guard, moving the material to a secure, permanent locations is causing a problem for many governments. The Japanese Government planned to ship enough used plutonium for 17 atomic bombs to Great Britain, have the material reprocessed and repackaged, and then shipped back to Japan for storage. While the shipping was delayed due to the World Cup (the Japanese did not have enough security to protect the nuclear waste) the problem remains that the stockpiles of waste are growing around the world. The British now store over 70 tons of plutonium at Sellafield in sheds that are only one step above garden sheds. This is a dirty bomb waiting for an attack.

In the United States the same opportunities exist, only on a smaller scale. In June the governor of South Carolina, Jim Hodges, tried to halt the transportation of federal plutonium shipments through the state. Gov. Hodges was concerned that an accident or terrorist attack on the shipment (a convoy of trucks) would endanger the citizens of South Carolina. The heightened alerts from the Homeland Security Agency concerning July 4th celebrations focused national attention on the Governor Hodges’ concerns.

The threat of a dirty bomb is a major concern for those planning America’s Homeland Security. The easy to build bomb and the availability of the nuclear material make dirty bombs as big of a threat as small pox or Anthrax. In all of these cases the terrorist are counting on initial impact and mass hysteria and confusion to cause chaos and more deaths. The federal, state, and local government agencies need to plan immediate and secure responses for treatment of the victims and good evacuation plans for the areas attacked. For those who remember Hurricane Floyd in September 1999, the government has a long way to go.

Regardless of whether you believe or disbelieve America was founded upon Christian principles or religious freedoms, it is difficult to believe the United States sponsors a specific religion. I believe we truly are “One Nation Under God.”

I find it ironic that the same people that find the phrase offensive, usually hide under the very documents that declare there is a God. The recent decision by the 9th Circuit of the U. S. Court of Appeals, which declared the Pledge to the flag unconstitutional, is a prime example. The Pledge of Allegiance is a very simple statement of our republic’s principals.

The opening of the Declaration of Independence, the very document that initiated this country in 1776, also evokes God. It states:

"WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness...."

By now, everyone has heard the ruling that the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional in school, because of the words "Under God". I wonder if the same Judges will next rule our Declaration of Independence and Constitution unconstitutional as well?

What people need to realize is who and why this case was brought to court. A man, who is now a doctor, and a woman had a child together out of wedlock. The atheist father said he and his child found the phrase "Under God" offensive. Well now it seems the father has most likely committed perjury; because, he does not have custody of or any say in raising the daughter. Surely this affects his ability in bringing about this lawsuit?

The mother has sole custody of the child and states they are Christians. She further indicated that they do not find the phrase "Under God" offensive at all. Can and will the father be prosecuted for perjury? Will he be allowed the Clinton defense? After all, Clinton blatantly committed perjury, and he was usually seen attending church and holding a Bible in his hand whenever he got caught in one of his fiascoes.

How many people find the Declaration of Independence unconstitutional? How many people have sworn the oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and given their all to do so? How many more continue to do so? Will this ruling affect the oath that everyone that enters the U.S. Military takes? Will the ruling affect the oath that judges take when they are being sworn in?

The Supreme Court has ruled that the flag can be desecrated as a form of political speech. This new ruling on the phrase "under God" is nothing more than a continued attack and assault on the U.S. flag. The ruling is more spittle in the face of the brave and valiant men and women who continue to serve our GREAT NATION and our flag. This ruling affects every U.S. citizen from the military, to EMS, fire, and police personnel, to the everyday Americans that carry on their daily lives and work to make this the greatest country in the world.

Finally the Clarion Issue asks that anyone that finds the term "God" to be offensive, to please send us all of your U.S. currency! ALL OF IT! We would not want you to be offended by the words “In God We Trust” which appears on every single coin and bill coined and printed by our great nation. So by all means contact us, and we will make speedy arrangements to receive your highly offensive US Currency.

The U.S. Supreme Court has now put its stamp of approval on vouchers as a legal way to help children escape from failing schools. Any constitutional or legal impediment to vouchers has been removed. Only politics now prevents Georgia from providing educational choice for parents of children in schools that do not meet the needs of their

Eight years ago, Georgians made a commitment to provide children who excel in education HOPE scholarships and free college tuition. In this short period of time, HOPE has transformed our university system, created competition for access to our best universities, and raised standards for our brightest minds. The system works for them.

Unfortunately, far too many of Georgia's poor and disadvantaged children are trapped in failing schools and will never know HOPE. The system is not working for them. Meeting the needs of these students is the challenge that we face today. The Republican Party's plan is called 'Early HOPE for Georgia's Kids'. The Atlanta Democrats have killed this effort to help poor children in urban areas escape schools that don't deliver for them.

The Republican proposal would provide scholarships to the parents of low and moderate-income students in any school that fails to meet state standards. These Early HOPE scholarships could be used by that student to attend any other public or private school of their choice. The scholarship is funded by redirecting 90% of the state's funding per student from the local system to the school chosen by the parents of their student. That equals a scholarship of almost $5,000 and there is absolutely no extra cost to the taxpayers of Georgia.

This legislation does not mandate that local school systems do anything. It does not attempt to lay blame on teachers, administrators, students, or parents. It simply says that if a school's performance does not meet the state standard, then those kids ought to have a choice to leave that school for another one. Failure to meet basic standards should have consequences. We do not want the state to take over failing local schools nor do we want to shut the doors. We want the users of that school - the students and their parents - to decide whether their needs are being adequately met in that school or not. If they believe those needs are met in spite of the school's performance, they are free to remain at that school. If, however, a parent feels that their child's needs can be better served elsewhere, Early HOPE Scholarships will provide them with an opportunity to make that choice.

Under Governor Barnes' liberal reform effort, children must remain in a failing school for 3 years - and then an Atlanta bureaucrat will take over the school. The child is forced to remain, and the Principal is allowed to leave. The Governor and his allies blame the parents and teachers for this failure. This Republican’s Early HOPE plan does not assign blame; it offers a choice.

The defenders of the status quo complain that this would 'destroy' public education. Their claim seems to be that by forcing a child to stay in a failing school (and virtually guaranteeing a life of poverty for that child), they stand up for the principle of public education. This is silly. The question should not be what happens to the system if a child is free to leave, but what happens to the child if he or she is forced to stay.

'Public education' simply means that society agrees that tax dollars should be spent to make sure that all of Georgia's citizens are educated. It does not mean that, unless you are rich, that you have to send your child to a government-run school that is failing to provide even a basic education for your child. In a democracy, parents should

have the freedom to decide what is best for their children. Today, the government decides where your child will attend school. We let parents choose day care and pre-K for their children. We let them select their child's college or technical school. Georgia should offer the same choice for K-12 education.

Ultimately, our educational system must be held accountable to the 'consumers' of education - the parents and taxpayers of Georgia – for their employees, their cost, and, most importantly, their product. When there is no competition ... when there is a monopoly ... customers have no alternative. Educational choice can make schools accountable directly to those customers. Choice must be at the heart of any successful reform. It is not the only answer, but it must be the final escape route for those with little hope and no options.

Let's start a new century with real educational reform that provides educational choice. We cannot afford another decade of protecting the status quo. Georgia should join Cleveland and Florida and help give Early HOPE Scholarships to our children.

The June 26th ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, concerning the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag, touched off a roar of protest across the United States. While the decision will be reviewed by the entire panel and later by the U.S. Supreme Court, it is hard to forget the ridiculous site of Senators and Congressmen literally falling and climbing over one another to be next to the cameras broadcasting the entire legislative bodies of our great nation saying the pledge on the Capital steps and in their respective chambers.

Many Americans were asking the important question, “How could this happen?” “How could a Federal Court declare the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional?” The answer is simple. Federal judges, after they are appointed, serve until death, retirement, or they are impeached and removed from office. That is, they answer to no one, and they can only be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors,” not a political or legal opinion.

Here in lies the problem. Our “Founding Fathers” (or to be politically correct, “Founding Persons”) did not or could not have perceived such behavior as a President getting his piccolo played by an intern in the Oval Office or a stupid decision regarding the phrase “under God” in the Pledge to the Flag. They omitted the words “abject stupidity” as an impeachable offense because no one in 1787 could foresee stupid and self-serving idiots as Presidents or federal judges. Maybe it is time we amended the Constitution and listed “abject stupidity” as an impeachable offense.

Unfortunately, this will never happen. Individuals in power to amend the Constitution will never support the idea; because, they too suffer from “abject stupidity.” They pass meaningless laws regarding campaign reform, stuff the budget with pork barrel legislation, and leak national security information to the media for a sound bite on the 6:30 news. We will get no “abject stupidity” amendment from the power brokers of the beltway.

We can rest assured that come September the pledge will echo from schoolhouses all across America; the public will see to it. Yet we will still be stuck with idiots who make, interpret, and enforce our laws; because, no one wants to make “abject stupidity” an impeachable offense. Congress will still open the day with the pledge and a prayer even though no one is there to say or hear it, “In God We Trust” will still be on our currency, and the President will still end all his speeches with “God bless America.”

Thanks to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Americans will now be bombarded with 75 new country songs about the Pledge of Allegiance. Now that is “abject stupidly.”

MILITARY RETIRED GROUP STORMS HILL WITH HEALTH CARE WHITE PAPER

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Press Release by the Military Retiree Grass Roots Group

Washington, DC--Members of The Military Retiree Grass Roots Group (MRGRG) in Virginia stormed the Hill and completed distribution on July 2 to all 100 Senate offices and all 435 offices in the House of Representatives of the MRGRG White Paper urging Congress to make immediate legislative improvements to the DoD TRICARE program, particularly TRICARE Standard.

The White Paper generally received a very favorable response at all levels. There is a growing awareness of the urgent need to fix the unsatisfactory health care system known as TRICARE through a combination of immediate actions by DOD and legislative action by Congress. All military families -- both active and retired -- are urged to become involved, since health care is viewed as their most important earned benefit.

The White Paper is the most comprehensive study on TRICARE from the user's perspective -- written by users and for users. One of its recommendations is that a partial solution to the health care problems faced by military retired families is to offer them the option of participation in the Federal Employee's Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP). That option, the Keep the Promise Act, is now before Congress in the form of HR179 (323 co-sponsors) and S278 (15 co-sponsors). Premiums for federal employees coming on active duty from the National Guard and Reserves are already being paid for by DOD.

The White Paper proposes FEHBP funding at the 90% level, in recognition of the special sacrifice of retired military members and their families, and the fact that retired pay was expressly kept lower than civilian retired pay because of promises made by the government of lifetime health care without a need for additional insurance.

Many specific improvements to TRICARE Standard are proposed in the White Paper. These include: badly needed increases in reimbursement rates; responsiveness to users; immediate elimination of the requirement for non-availability statements that removes choice for military families, and -- all designed to improve ACCESS, CHOICE, QUALITY, and COST for military families.

This "storming the Hill" phase of the MRGRG efforts will be followed by another direct mailing of a hard copy of the White Paper to the elected official's "home" office in their "home" state. This is being accomplished by the New Mexico branch of the MRGRG, with the leadership of Paul Balaich and with support from the Billboard Fund led by Jack Hollinsworth of Oklahoma. This mailing will be finished within two weeks. Over 700 CD's of the White Paper and initial VIP books for the Congress were provided through the personal efforts of Paul Pritchett of Missouri. All deserve special gratitude from the entire military community.

The entire White Paper is downloadable is both MS-Word and PDF format from:

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/fhs1713

It is also viewable online, complete with ALL links to supporting information at:

http://rebel.212.net/mhcrg/MRGRGwhitepaper.htm

Due to the large volume of email received in support of the White Paper, the Arkansas MRGRG web site is discontinuing the email mechanism for taking signatures of support. It will be replaced shortly with the ability to send, quickly and easily, pre-scripted messages based on zip code entered, to both U. S. Senators and Member of Congress in support of needed improvements. An additional announcement will be made when that capability is in place.

The Military Retiree Grass Roots Group encourages all military families and all friends of the military to read the White Paper, and especially to telephone and write your senators and your representative to support legislative changes to TRICARE. MRGRG also encourages ALL to join the no-cost MRGRG by sending an e-mail to:

MRGRG-MS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

The MRGRG is a grass roots group of military retirees formed to improve health care for active duty and retired military members and their families. MRGRG was instrumental, in addition to the Bud Day lawsuit now pending in the Federal Circuit of Appeals, in motivating Congress and supporting associations to assist with passage of the TRICARE for Life Medicare Supplement. For more information on the MRGRG check out:

http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/lig/f/s/fsears/

The MRGRG accepts contributions for the printing of CDs for all members of Congress, printing and mailing, and for Billboards across the nation that convey our message at strategic locations that "Congress Denies Earned Medical Benefits to Military Retirees."

Donations can be mailed either to:

Jack Hollinsworth,

Military Retirees Legislative Fund,

Rte 2,

Comanche, Oklahoma, 73529;

MRGRG-NM Fund,

1528 Serrano,

Alamogordo, NM 88310-3900.

A limited number of specially bound, hard copies are available of the complete 215 page White Paper, the same as those provided to Congress. A copy will be provided for contributions to the MRGRG Billboard Fund of $100 or more until the supply is exhausted.

MRGRG WHITE PAPER GROUP:

Colonel John M. Vann, USA-Ret 703 830-3775 Virginia

Major Pete Peterson, AUS-Ret 870 431-5073 Arkansas

SGM Floyd Felts, USA-Ret 706 863-9596 Georgia

LTC Douglas Dukes, USAF-Ret 912 427-4087 Georgia

Colonel Jim Engelage. USA-Ret 540 678-0855 Virginia

LTC Dave Vann, USA-Ret 703 591-6034 Virginia

MSGT Floyd Sears, USAF-Ret 228 875-2268 Mississippi

MSGT Jim Whittington, USAF-Ret 601 426-9734 Mississippi

LTC Tom Dooley, USA-Ret 719 576-0019 Colorado

Humor Us Back to Top

A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. This new element has been tentatively named “Administratium.” Administratiun has 1 neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 111 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass 312.
These 312 particles are held together by a force called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

Since Administratium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected as it impedes every reaction with which it comes in contact. A minute amount of Administratium causes one reaction to take over four days to complete when it would normally take less than a second. Administratium has a normal half-life of 3 years; it does not decay but instead undergoes a reorganization, in which a portion of the assistant neutrons, deputy neutrons, and assistant deputy neutrons exchange places.

In fact, Administratium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization causes some morons to become neutrons forming isotopes. This characteristic of moron-promotion leads some scientist to speculate that Administratium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quality is referred to as “Critical Morass.”

AN AMISH ELEVATOR
An Amish boy and his father were visiting a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again.

The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, "Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don't know what it is."

While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheel chair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched the small circular numbers above the walls light up sequentially. They continued to watch until it reached the last number and then the numbers began to light in reverse order. Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous, voluptuous 24-year-old blonde woman stepped out.

The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son..."Go get your mother."

Sally told her girlfriend, “I was so worried that my mechanic would rip me off. I was so relieved when he told me that all I needed was blinker fluid!”

Sprawled across the desk In front of me are over 400 pages of documentation on the LOST tax. A Power Point presentation sits at the top of the desk containing over 70 slides on statistical data about Camden County, St. Marys, Kingsland and Woodbine. The data includes population numbers over the last 10 years, millage rates for the County and Cities, and numerical data on Hotel / Motel visitors and numerous other elements effecting service delivery costs. How do I put all this information in front of the reader without inviting him to sit at my desk for a couple of weeks?

I will begin by illustrating the futility of such a task. Why would any writer believe he can summarize all this data without understanding the simple concept, “Show me a tax any citizen likes.” I’m fairly certain that no one has come up with that tax yet!

To explain the maze surrounding LOST, I will touch briefly on the background of the law, the purpose of the tax and the current impact and future impact of LOST.

LOST was passed in the Georgia General Assembly initially in 1975. The law has experienced many modifications from 1976 through 1997 including being ruled unconstitutional in 1979. Under the current law and the negotiated population distribution method, the County receives 43.53% of LOST revenues and St Marys receives 29.26% and Kingsland has 20.49% and Woodbine has 6.72%. These percentages equal approximately $6 million dollars in revenues.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m not sure any citizen likes a tax. Regardless of whether the tax is an option tax or property tax, this dislike seems the same. I would suggest the greatest strength of the option sales tax is that it is paid by residents and nonresidents alike. Did I mention the one agreement I hear about taxes? The tax we don’t have to pay is liked most. The Georgia Department of Revenue suggests that approximately 1/3 of the LOST revenue is generated by nonresidents visiting to the local area. This represents $2 million dollars coming into Camden County. So where does all this money go? You will find that county and city governments alike use these dollars to reduce the cost of services and provide rollbacks in property taxes.

Camden County and the cities of St. Marys, Kingsland and Woodbine began negotiating the future of LOST in June of this year. The first proposals offered by the county and cities quickly erased any thought the negotiations would go off without a hitch. The problem is best defined by the numbers. The Cities asked the County to take one hundred thousand dollars less while the County asked the cities to take one million dollars less. The Cities cited population growth as the largest element for their position by asking the County percentage be reduced from 43.53 % to 41.63 %. The population growth in Camden County increased from years 1990 to 2000 by 13, 497 residents. The cities argue 11, 381 of those residents moved into the cities of St. Marys and Kingsland affecting the cost on delivery of service. The county argued the services countywide are equally impacted by this growth. The parties have met on two occasions and little movement has been made thus far.

The future tax implications will not be pleasant if the parties are unable to reach an agreement. To make up the revenues required by the county and cities should an agreement on LOST fail to be reached, the impact on property taxes would be staggering. The elimination of LOST will require increases of 2.92 mills in County taxes, 5.36 mills in St. Marys, 6.14 mills in Kingsland and 27.31 mills in Woodbine. Over coming 6 million dollars in taxes will not fair well with citizens if it comes in the form of property tax increases. At the end of the day, elected officials know voters don’t like to see their taxes go up but giving in from either side causes the under dog to do just that. I leave you with this. If citizens don’t like taxes, they are sure to hate those (taxes or those that caused them) on the horizon.

It has been over a year since the great and sovereign City of St. Marys annexed a portion of the Point Peter area. For the newly annexed citizens on the point very little has changed in the amount of services they receive. This lack of service and attention by our city leaders has many new citizens asking what are we receiving for the new taxes they are expected to pay. Trash and yard waste pick up is now slower, and not one foot of city water and sewer lines has been run in the newly annexed area.

It is the sewer and water issue that concerns many of the residents on Point Peter. Many of the homes are over 25-years old and are beginning to experience problems with the wells and septic systems that service them. The growth in population of the area over the last 25 years has begun to tax the abilities of the underground aquifer. The depletion of the fresh water has allowed the seepage of harder, salinated water into the aquifer making the water virtually undrinkable and unusable. The new environmental wetlands area regulations require very expensive improvements to any septic system replaced in the area. These problems and regulations make the availability of city sewer and water services a must for the newly annexed citizens on Point Peter.

The proposed development of two marinas and a ritzy housing development in the Point Peter area has provided the City of St. Marys with the necessary economic motivation to began feasibility studies concerning the expansion of water and sewer services in the area. The problem with these services, however, is still the astronomical cost to the consumer.

The City of St. Marys expects each homeowner to pay a whopping $2,400 for the privilege of receiving the service that is expected by any homeowner living in a city. While the original St. Marys sewer lines were run by the city using a bond issue paid for by a millage rate increase, the city now expects the newly annexed areas to “pay out of pocket” while paying the higher millage rate imposed to run the original sewer lines.

As a humanitarian gesture, the City of St. Marys will allow the hookup to occur, provided the homeowner agrees to pay the hookup fee over a period of time. However, to ensure payment of the fee, the city has been known to place a lean on the property until the entire $2,400 has been paid.

Once again the Clarion Issue contends that this policy reeks of mercantilism, an economic philosophy thrown out with the British in 1783. If the City of St. Marys wishes to run the sewer lines to the “wine and cheese” crowd’s ritzy subdivision, with their $250,000 homes, expensive yachts, and manicured golf course, they should provide the newly annexed plebeian citizens with expedient service at a reasonable and affordable price.

The Clarion Issue wishes to point out one redeeming point of county-city cooperation to be seen on Point Peter. The county has its garbage pick up on the East side of New Point Peter Road on Monday, while the city picks up its citizen’s garbage on the West side of the road on Tuesday. By collecting garbage on different days the city and county garbage trucks do not run the danger of hitting one another on New Point Peter Road. Camden County is making progress!

You get a call from someone claiming to be an AT&T Service Technician conducting a test on your telephone line. He says, "To help me complete this test, please dial nine (9), zero (0), and the pound sign (#). Then hang up." You're a nice guy, and you want to be helpful, so what do you do? Report the guy, that’s what. He is trying to turn you into the next victim of a very serious nationwide phone scam.

Under no circumstances should you ever dial or press 90# for ANYONE! The caller is trying to get access to your line to make long distance calls that will be billed to your home number. So in this case, trying to be nice will cost you a bundle. By dialing 90#, you are giving the caller full access to your phone line to make long distance calls. When you get an enormous bill, you will have NO

WAY of proving you didn't make the calls yourself. So protect yourself, and do not dial 90# for anyone.

This scam is often used by individuals incarcerated in jails or prisons who have no money for the pay phone, so be on the alert and report any suspicious calls to the GTE Security Department or the consumer protection unit of your local police, making note of the caller's number if you have that service on your phone.

The existence of this scam has been verified with BellSouth, UCB Telecom, Pacific Bell, MCI, Bell Atlantic, GTE, and Verizon. Please pass this information on to everyone you know, particularly elderly acquaintances, since the elderly tend to be more trusting and are, therefore, more susceptible to scams and fraud.

So do yourself a favor, and DO NOT press or dial 90# for ANYONE under any circumstances.

Harrycane (hurricane): A harry/cane is large low-pressure storm found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. These storms have winds from 70-180 mph and are usually accompanied by flooding.

Tornader (tornado): A tor/na/der is a twisting windstorm with winds around 125mph. They can accompany thunderstorms and are naturally attracted to trailer parks.

Billy Bob: “Hay Tracy Jo, did ja hear ‘bout that harrycane that hit Luzyanna (Louisiana)?”
Tracy Jo: “Yea, ya I did. It hit round Nawlins (New Orleans) and depletely comolished a whole bunch of ‘em ‘er gamblin’ boats.”

Charlene: “Hurry up Bubba, y’re gona miss me telling about the tornader hitt’en the trailer park on the 11 o’clock news.”

Skeeter: “When that thar policemun asked me was I goin’ to a fur, I said – “Do you see any ladders on this here truck?”

The following story is something I wrote. I hear it is now being passed around military bases, here and abroad, to help instill morale amidst our troops. It first was sent to a member of the Special Forces and within a month, it has spread throughout the Pentagon and many of our military bases.

With Labor Day coming, I thought this might be something you can use for your next paper. I'm more than happy to share the story. The reports I have received from some members of the military have all been positive. Here is the story of my life experiences over my 24 years as a Pro-Wrestler.

A question was posed to me so I decided to post my answer. The question was "If I know now what I knew then, would I do it again?”

To begin the story, almost not a day goes by when the pain doesn't creep into this road weary body from the years of abuse inflicted in the ring. As I look back, I remember many of my battle scars including 23 or so operations (nine surgeries alone trying to rebuild my knees.) There were broken bones, concussions, and my skull was broken 20 or 30 times. I had a few heart surgeries and even suffered a major stroke. I was even declared legally dead on two different occasions.

I feel very blessed that I was given the chances that I had. Unlike the thousands of other wrestlers who never get a push, I received a few pushes here and there. In fact, my talents have blessed me to branch out into other interesting adventures including radio, TV, movies, and I even broke into film directing.

Ask many of the workers (wrestlers) in our business why they do this and there will be many answers. I know of workers who have been forced to have multiple hip replacements, new knees, new joints, multiple screws, pins and plates just to hold us together, all thanks to our business. There are wrestlers who are now paralyzed and a few more have died doing what they love.

In my case, I put my life on the line everyday for the fans. Laughingly it is not for the money. How many workers besides me have spent $40 on expenses to make $20, just to perform? Some times we made a few thousand for a gig. We "old timers" remember our carny/gypsy type lifestyle when 3 or 4 guys would travel, cramped in a car, journeying from town to town just for the love of the business. Sometimes we made good money, sometimes we broke even, and there were times when promoters stiffed us. (Sorry, that is a whole another horror story that almost every worker has faced at one time or another.)

Back to my pain riddled body. Yes, painkillers are our lifeblood, but that is not all. You see, I tried to visit children's hospitals, senior centers, orphanages, and veteran’s hospitals whenever I came to a town. The smile on their faces when they shook my hand made everything worth it, and it reminded me that what I do is for the fans.

About 15 years ago, I suffered a major stroke. I could not walk or talk and the doctors gave me less than one and one-half years to live. Talk about depression. A few days prior, I'm performing in front of thousands of screaming fans, and today I'm buzzing for morphine and a bedpan. It was NOT a happy site! The doctors all said my stroke was caused from my time in the ring and one too many chair shots to the head. Jokingly but being serious, I told my doctors that since they used shock paddles to bring me back to life two other times, that if they find me dead again, to take those paddles and shove them. I said I paid my dues on earth and am not coming back. The doctors all laughed knowing what just happened to me.

My name in the ring is "The Hangman." I try to sign all my autographs with these three words, "Hang In There." For years I have spoken with children, runaway's, seniors, etc., and always told them, no matter how bad it looks, hang in there. But now I was telling myself to hang in there. It is easy to give advice but hard to take it!

My mind flashed pictures of the veterans I met that had their arms or legs blown away, those children that are struggling everyday to stay alive, and those seniors that society and more importantly, their own families had forgotten. It was hard to see a young child, about 7-years-old, lying in the hospital bed with only days or hours to live. Their courage helped pull me through, and made what I do that much more important.

An example I wish to share is I was visiting a hospital and the word quickly spread that "The Hangman" was here. I would visit with the children and give out autographed pictures and some mini nooses. Well, this family heard about me and sent the nurse to track me down and ask if I would visit their child. (NOTE: I'm in tears at this moment writing this story, because what happened will always be with me.) You see the child was 8 years old and a huge wrestling fan. He never got to meet a wrestler, face to face, and this was a dream of his. The nurse brought me to the IC ward and we met his parents in the hallway. They told me about their child's wish and his condition. Asked if I could please step in and say hello to him. Their emotions hit me hard and there was no way I could say no. I learned this boy was dying and the doctors did not expect him to make it through the night. For at least the next hour, I sat on the hospital bed with that boy. We talked, laughed, hugged and shared a most intimate moment together. When it was time for me to run to make it to the show that night, I reluctantly bid farewell. The young man was beaming with pride, clutching his new autographed picture and his hangman's noose. His father walked me out to the hall while his mother stayed at their son's side. His father hugged me and thanked me for taking time out to visit with their son. We both shed tears as we said good-bye and I made my way down the hall.

That evening I was called out of the dressing room by security. I was told someone had to see me. I walked with security and I saw the boy's father. I learned his son had passed away a few hours after I left. He filled me in on how the boy bragged to the nurses and doctors of how "The Hangman" came to see him. He showed them his autographed picture and the noose. The news that hit me the hardest was when I learned the boys dying request was to have his father tell me (The Hangman) thank you for coming by the hospital to visit with him. That night was the hardest time I ever had going into a match.

So to try and answer the question "If I knew then what I know now, would I do it again?" Let's just say, that incident with that young man made every pain I felt worthwhile. And YES, I would gladly do it all over again!

After the Battle of Atlanta in 1864, Confederate General John B. Hood led the Confederate Army of Tennessee north in an attempt to draw the Union Armies led by General William T. Sherman out of Georgia. As Hood invaded Tennessee, Sherman opted to reinforce Union General George T. Thomas, the “Rock of Chickamauga,” in his endeavors to defend the Union supply lines in Tennessee, while Sherman embarked on his historic “March to the Sea.” As Hood headed north and Thomas consolidated the Union army around Nashville, Tennessee, the stage was set for the bloody Battle of Franklin which occurred on November 30, 1864.

The Battle ensued when Hood’s Confederate Army of the Tennessee collided with the Union units heading north to reinforce Gen. Thomas at Nashville. The IV Corps and the XXIII Corps, led by Union General John M. Schofield, had entrenched outside the town of Franklin, 15 miles south of Nashville. The Union forces numbered around 22,000 men, while Hood’s forces contained about 38,000 men. At the end of the day 9,000 Americans were casualties of war.

The gallant men in gray made charge after charge at the Union line beginning around 3:00 in the afternoon. Over 20,000 Confederate soldiers attacked the Union line, more than participated in Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg in 1863. The Confederates actually broke the Union line, but the line was retaken by a Union counterattack. Schofield lost 2,400 men at Franklin, but Hood lost 6,300 including 12 generals. One of the Confederate generals killed at Franklin was General Pat Cleburne, a popular divisional commander in the Army of Tennessee.

Hood went on to lose a major battle at Nashville in December 1864. He retreated and was removed from command in January 1865 at his own request.

Today the Franklin Battlefield is under siege from urban sprawl. Only 11 acres of this hallowed ground has not been developed. A Pizza Hut marks the spot where the gallant Cleburne fell, and a Domino’s dominates the place where his gray backs fell as they assaulted the Union trench. The Williamson County has purchased the 11-acre plot; however, the county plans to erect a library on the 11 acres, which includes a cemetery for the fallen Confederates. The plan has caused controversy in this Nashville suburban area.

The Clarion Issue reminds its readers and the Williamson County Commission of the importance of preserving history and the memory of the men, both blue and gray, who hallowed this ground almost 140 years ago. Rather than constructing a large county library, the commissioners should consider building a small interpretive/research center on the battlefield so visitors can revisit those terrible hours on November 30, 1863, visit the Confederate cemetery, and see a small part of the original battleground.

The Biblical adage, “Spare the rod; spoil the child,” was taken to extremes by Baptist ministers in Austin, Texas, on July 3, 2002, when they beat an 11-year-old boy over an assignment in Bible class. The beating took place in the boy’s home.

Joshua Thompson, age 22 and a pastor at the Capital City Baptist Church in Austin, is accused of beating Louie Guerrero for an hour while his twin brother, Caleb Thompson, also a minister at the church, held him down on a bed. The two pastors turned up the radio to mask the boy’s shrieks of pain. According to reports, the mother and stepfather of the boy were at home when the two pastors arrived with the boy and said they had “a problem.” The ministers then cut a substantial switch off of a tree, took the boy into a bedroom and began to beat the boy.

According to police reports the ministers were trying to break the 11-year-old for lying about cheating during his Bible studies. They indicated that the family would not be allowed back in church until the boy was punished and admitted to his cheating.

Police investigating the incident indicated they have uncovered other cases of abuse in the Capital City Baptist Church of Austin. Louie Guerrero indicated that he had been physically abused by the ministers before, and now other families are reporting abuse by the Thompsons. When asked by the press about the abuse, the pastor of the church and father of the abusive twin ministers, Hank Thompson, indicated that the boy needed beating, but he would have never hit the boy on the back, just on the bottom. Maybe the Thompson twins were just “honoring and obeying their father.”

An imported Chinese fish, the predatory Snakehead fish, has been spotted in Maryland and Florida. The Snakehead fish has a long dorsal fin, is 40 inches long, weighs up to 15 pounds, has snake-like scales, and very large teeth. It is pale gray to dark brown and has red eyes. Snakehead fish are native to China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India. They tend to be very predatory in nature and will eat all the native fish in an area over a period of time. Snakehead fish can live out of water and have the ability to move over dry land from one water reserve to another.

The fish was first discovered in Maryland in a pond near Crofton, Md. Over 10 have been taken from the Crofton pond. Kill on catching signs encourage area anglers to destroy the fish if it is caught.

Scientist are unsure how the fish got to the pond. The Snakehead fish is considered a delicacy in Asia and may have escaped from an area restaurant. Being able to live on and waddle over land may have allowed the fish to make it to the pond. There is a chance that an unhappy aquarium owner released the fish when the Snakeheads ate the other fish in the tank.

Snakeheads have also been identified in Broward County, Florida. Over 100 Snakeheads have been caught in Florida since 2000, and there is evidence that the fish are reproducing.

There is also evidence that the lionfish, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans have been released into U.S. coastal waters. The lionfish is also very predatory and carries venom in its fins that can cause death to humans. Divers report having seen the lionfish from Florida to North Carolina.

Barnabas, a California toy poodle, has been a registered Republican voter for over two years. His owner, 78-year old Donald Miller, registered him using the California mail-in registration form. The hoax was only realized when Barnabas received a jury summons in the spring.

Donald Miller now faces six months in jail and a $1000 fine for misdemeanor vote fraud. Although Barnabas never voted, he went to the polls several times with Miller. Barnabas received all the voter materials and sample ballots.

Miller realized that the game was over when Barnabas received the jury summons and informed the media about the “alarming laxity” of the voter registration system. Miller used the opportunity to point out that the regulations need to be tightened up.

Barnabas could have easily voted an absentee ballot, citing an important veterinarian visit or pressing business for the Humane Society. It is ashamed that Barnabas will not be able to serve on jury duty; after the O. J. trial, it appears that the California juries need some good old dog sense.

JESSE’S MOVING ON, WILL NOT RUN FOR A SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR
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In a surprise move Jessie Ventura, former professional wrestler, Rolling Stones security man, and present Governor of Minnesota, announced that he would not run for reelection in 2002. The announcement came in an interview on Minnesota Public Radio on June 18th.

Jessie “the Body” Ventura made national news when he won the 1998 Gubernatorial Race as a member of the Reform Party where he defeated Skip Humphrey (son of former U.S. Senator and Vice President Hubert Humphrey) and Norm Coleman . Ventura later switched to the Independent Party. Many independent voters and third party followers had hoped Ventura would run for president in the 2000 campaign.

The outspoken Ventura was often a guest on TV talk shows, including many of the news talk programs on CNBC and the Fox News Network. Jessie also brought on a lot of criticism by refereeing the World Wrestling Federation’s Summer Slam in 1999 and serving as the color commentator for the short-lived XFL while governor.

Ventura was able to cut taxes in Minnesota, but the recent economic downturn has brought on a $3 billion dollar deficit in the state’s treasury. While most states’ economies have suffered similar fates, the Republican and Democratic parties have blamed Ventura for the deficit.

One issue championed by Venture was allowing third party candidates into the televised presidential debates. The exclusion of third parties in the debates deprives these candidates of much needed national exposure. As the two major parties develop more and more control over the debates, the third parties are deprived of raising public awareness of their major issues and the ability to raise funds for their campaigns. Ventura credited much of his 1998 victory to his appearance in the gubernatorial debates in Minnesota.

Minnesota voters can now choose between Tim Pawlenty, the Republican candidate, and the Democratic contender, Roger Moe for governor. It is back to politics as usual in the Gopher State.

In a 6-3 ruling on June 20th the high court decided that the execution of the mentally retarded was unconstitutional. The case involved a Virginia case involving Daryl R. Atkins who had an IQ of about 60. Atkins had shot and killed an Air Force enlisted man for beer money in 1996. Atkins had never lived on his own or held a job.

The case now effects 20 states that allow the execution on the mentally retarded. The generally accepted IQ for retardation is about 70 and the individual should have a documented case history in the schools and community concerning the retardation.

The Los Angeles police were dumfounded in their search for Paolo Ayala, a missing 7-year-old boy, during the first week of June. Ayala was missing from a birthday party in the Holmby Hills district where the guests had gone swimming. Although the police had searched the grounds several times, they had missed the body lying at the bottom of the pool. Ayala was found in the pool in his swim trunks, and the coroner’s report indicated the boy had been in the pool for the entire two-day search.

Once again the L.A.P.D. has made the news with a major snafu. It is no wonder the people of Hollywood want to secede from L.A.

Former Lt. General Benjamin O. Davis, leader of World War II’s Tuskegee Airmen, died July 6th after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. General Davis was 89.

Davis is best known for leading the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American fighter pilots, during the Second World War. At that time the American armed services were segregated. The future pilots trained at Tuskegee Institute, a school founded by Afro-American educator Booker T. Washington, in Alabama. After training, the airmen fought in the European Theatre escorting bombers attacking Italy. The 332nd Fighter Group flew over 200 missions during the war and achieved an outstanding record and reputation.

The efforts of General Davis and the 332nd Fighter Group has been credited with helping end segregation in the Armed Forces. Davis also served as the head of the Federal Sky Marshal program in the 1970s and also as Assistant Secretary of Transportation.

Mohammed Nour al-Din Saffi was taken into custody on July 3, 2002, after entering the United States without the proper paperwork for flight training. Saffi, age 36, was to undergo flight recertification and training at Aeroservice Aviation Center at Miami, Florida, a school where one of the Sept. 11th hijackers was trained. Suffi just happens to be a stepson of Iraq’s infamous leader, Saddam Hussein.

Saffi, now a citizen of New Zealand, has worked for Tiger Lines Cargo in Auckland as a pilot and was to receive training to fly a new Boeing 727 recently purchased by the company. Suffi will be deported to New Zealand.

Suffi’s parents were working for Iraqi Airways when his mother, Samira Shabandar, had an affair with Saddam Hussein. Hussein then “persuaded” Samira’s husband to obtain a divorce from her and made Samira his second wife. Samira and Saddam Hussein have one child together. Suffi’s father later became the head of Iraqi Airlines. Suffi moved to New Zealand, became a citizen, and holds a flight-engineering license in that country

Hungry Egyptians looking for a quick and patriotic snack can now choose Yasser Arafat cheese puffs for those 10:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. munchies. For the mer cost of 25 piaster (5 cents U.S.) Egyptians can now support the Palestinian cause by voting with their taste buds and pocketbooks. The cheese snacks are part of the growing support that typical Egyptians are showing for the Palestinian cause.

The package of the cheese puffs, what the Clarion Issue prefers to call “Snacks for Attacks,” has an unflattering cartoon picture of Yasser Arafat in military dress, signature black and white checkered headscarf, and a Palestinian flag on the bag. The label on the bag reads “Adu Ammar, hero of the struggle.” Abu Ammar is Arafat’s nom de guerre.

The “Snacks for Attacks” are the product of the Egyptian food company al-Jawara. Spokesmen for al-Jawara indicate that 3% of the profits from the “Snacks for Attacks” will go to help the Palestinians wounded in the latest uprising in the West Bank. There was no indication of how al-Jawara would insure that the money went to the wounded Palestinians and not for weapons, suicide bombers, or support of Arafat’s good old boy supporters in Palestine.

The al-Jawara spokesman did not indicate when low fatwah “Snacks for Attacks” would become available.

Shopkeepers in Cairo, Egypt, indicate the “Snacks for Attacks” are a big hit in Egypt. There is also a big demand for Palestinian headscarfs and flags. Shopkeepers also report a grassroots (or sandroots) boycott of American products in the Arab state.

The Clarion Issue contends that Yasser Arafat, a.k.a. Abu Ammar, should change his name to Snoop Cheezy Cheeze and go into gangster rap. This roll seems fitting in light of Arafat’s concept of peace and prosperity for the Palestinian people

Norway announced that it would resume hunting whales and exporting the meat to Iceland in spite of an international ban on commercial whaling.

Norway fisherman and whalers contend that the mink whale has made a major comeback in the last 15 years and the large numbers of whales is a contributing factor in the decline of other fish populations in the north.

Norway expects to import whale meat not only to Iceland but to Japan as well. Whale meat is a delicacy in Japan.

Norway has put constant pressure on the International Whaling Commission to loosen the restrictions on whaling, but the IWC has refused to do so. The resumption of the whale meat exports ends a 14-year Norwegian moratorium on the practice of hunting whales for export.

In mid July the Greek government announced that several members of the allusive terrorist organization known as November 17th has been taken into custody. The government believes that two brothers taken in the raid, together with a third brother wounded by the early explosion of bomb, are the leaders of this small, yet affective, group of terrorist.

The capture of the leadership of Nov. 17th before the 2004 Olympic games in Athens has been viewed world round as a positive development for the security of the games.

The Nov. 17th group developed as a left wing response to the right winged military junta that ruled Greece in the 1970s and continued to operate in Greece after the fall of the junta.

It is estimated that the membership of Nov. 17th never was more than 20 people. Seven members of the group are now in Greek custody.

In a heart warming and humanitarian gesture, a Moslem appeals court in Funtua, Nigeria, has delayed the execution of a woman convicted of adultery for two years so the woman can wean her baby. Amina Lawal Kurami was convicted in March for adultery after bearing a child out of wedlock. She was sentenced to death by stoning.

Nigeria is one of the nations in Africa where Islamic sharia law is used as the civil law code. Sharia, based on the Arab common law, has not changed since the days of the profit Mohammed (600 A.D.). Sharia punishes theft by the amputation of the hand, and apostasy (conversion) and adultery by death.

Amina will be reprieved until 2004, then stoned. How can people say Islam is not a merciful religion?

In Narayanganj, Bangladesh, a snake charmer was called in to find and dispose of two cobras found in the backyard of Mantu Kasai. The snake charmer, Dudu Miah, began searching for the cobras’ nest and uncovered 3,500 cobras under the floorboards of two houses.

Miah captured the snakes but disclosed that he did not quite know what to do with all the venomous reptiles. Miah, who obviously does not suffer from ophidophobia, indicated that he would search the area for more snakes when time permitted.

In the meantime the Clarion Issue recommends the Kasai family visit the local humane society and adopt a pet mongoose or two.

Ted Williams, the legendary hitter of the Boston Red Socks, died in Florida on July 5, 2002. Williams had battled heart disease for several years and had two heart surgeries since January 2001.

Williams was the last hitter to hit .400 in a season. He also was the American League’s MVP twice, won the baseball Triple Crown in 1942 and 1947, hit .344 during his career, and had 521 lifetime homeruns. Williams still holds the career on base percentage (.482), a record that has held for over 40 years.

Williams entered major league baseball in 1939 at the age of 21. His 1941 season saw him hit .406, going 6-for-8 during a doubleheader on the last day of the season. He also hit 37 home runs, had an on base percentage of .735 during the 1941 season. Williams retired in 1960 and was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1966.

Williams never enjoyed a good relationship with the press. The press criticized him for not joining the service early in World War II although he was the sole support for his ill mother at that time. Williams later served in the Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War as an aviator. Williams never trusted the press after this incident, and it may have cost several MVP awards.

Williams has been called one of the most complete players to ever play the game. He loved the game for the game’s sake. The year he hit .400 he had the option not to play the last day so his average would not fall below .400. Williams opted to play that day despite of the fact that his average might drop below .400.

In a day of player strikes, million dollar salaries, and players using steroids to achieve records, it is good to be able to remember the days when baseball was a game, and the players played because they loved the game. We’ll miss you Ted. Say hello to Roger, Mickey, and Joe in that big ballpark in the sky.

Former President Jimmy Carter’s recent trip to Cuba would not have been complete without a trip to a Cuban baseball game. After his historic speech to the Cuban people in which Carter criticized both the U.S. embargo on Cuban trade and Cuba’s lack of free press and elections, Carter, and former Cuban baseball star Fidel Castro visited a Cuban ballpark and took in a game.

Prior to becoming an unwashed revolutionary and sometimes-washed dictator, Castro was a fairly good baseball player with major league potential. However, before allowing Carter to throw out the first pitch, the former Cuban star had to give Jimmy a few pointers on how to pitch a baseball.

The world has to wonder what history would be like if Castro had become a Yankee, Brave, Cub, or Red Sock. The world would have been spared the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Elian Gonzales episode, explosive seashells planted by the CIA, and thousands of Castro’s useless and pointless speeches. Of course had Jimmy Carter been able to throw a few curves in 1980, the United States may have been spared the Reagan administration.

The keeper of the gates to Hades in Greek mythology.
The Egyptian beast who ate the hearts of liars and cheaters after judgment.
The fertility deity in the Rastafari/Voodoo faiths
The Egyptian god of time
The rat god of the Hindus

Amentet (Amanti or Ammut) was the beast who hung out at the heart scales and ate the evil hearts when the soul failed the feather test.