Recorder Orchestra of New York

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:48:32 GMT

If you'd like to hear what a recorder orchestra sounds like, visit the Recorder Orchestra of New York website.

The Dinner Roll

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:14:55 GMT

by Richard Gleaves

Once upon a time I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President.

I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics.

There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a free country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was earned honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor.

I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room.

We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner.

The meal was served , and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen.

"Sorry 'bout that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry."

"I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass.

Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. "And his brother, Eric, is very thirsty," said the President.

I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I withheld my comments and decided to play along. I don't want to seem unkind..

My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite.

"Eric's children are also quite hungry."

With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me.

I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room.

And their grandmother can't stand for long."

I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken.

I turned back to the President.

"Their grandfather doesn't like the cold."

I wanted to shout, "that was my coat!" But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled.

Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table.

I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home.

Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him.

"Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do."

My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor.

The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak, and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops.

"By the way," he added , "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories.

I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind.

There's a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars.."

I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème Brule.

He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair.

He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if it were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss.

I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle.

Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us.

What had I done wrong?

As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands.

"You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said.

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!

Serve or Starve...

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:40:30 GMT

Jobless flock to sign up
for the military

The US doesn't have a military draft. Yeah, right...

Keepin' Out the Hinn!

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:33:18 GMT

Texas televangelist Benny Hinn
refused entry to Britain

The nicest thing I can say about Benny Hinn is that he is entertaining. His theology is questionable (trinities within trinities?) and I believe I saw a video once where he was healing household appliances. That being said, this action by the British government is outrageous! They didn't let him in because he didn't have a letter of sponsorship from his church?!?! Benny Hinn IS his church. I'm a church elder. Does that mean I can't visit Great Britain without such a letter? England is well on the road towards becoming a godless totalitarian dystopia. It's a land of mindless murderers and Big Brother government (with exceptions for the "chosen few" of course.). George Orwell was a true prophet.

Don't laugh, America. We're just a few years behind the losers "across the pond."

Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Money

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:39:32 GMT

The Case Against the Fed

What is money? How do banks work? What causes inflation? Why is the world economy so screwed up? The vast majority of the world's population has no understanding of these matters. This article by Murray N. Rothbard tells you everything you need to know about our monetary system, and why we need to get rid of the Federal Reserve.

Justice?

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:29:02 GMT

Is This What You Want?

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:26:04 GMT

No Vaccine for Me!

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:44:10 GMT

The More Things Change...

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:44:03 GMT

Iraq shoe thrower 'was tortured'

Over 4400 soldiers have been killed in Iraq and tens of thousands more injured, but it's OK because we stopped the torture over there. Oh, wait...

Proverbs 29:2

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:21:10 GMT

When the righteous are in authority,
the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules,
the people groan.

Monastro's Xanga