Friday Thoughts/SkyWatch

SkyWatch Friday

I thought that I might use SkyWatch Friday to recycle a few photos that I took last year and posted on my old blog. I have re-sized them to much smaller files so that I won't fill up my blog space as quickly. At any rate, these three crosses are over 75 feet tall and sit in front of a church in Rogers, Arkansas. Sometimes God adds just the right clouds for the occasion.
I can't wait for Saturday to get here. There is a car show just four miles from here, in Pea Ridge, AR, that starts at 9:00 a.m. You can bet I will be there with camera in hand. You will have to put up with the photo results of my excursion next week, I am sure. I have no idea what to expect. It is a small town, and people from the surrounding area will bring their street rods and classics into town and show them off. I am expecting to have a great time. It's supposed to be HOT, so I will try to get finished with my photos before noon. I already have Ruby Tuesday's and Wordless Wednesday's done for another two weeks. I am expecting to get another couple of weeks worth of photos from the car show. Stay tuned. You know I can't wait two weeks to post them. There will be sneak previews before the final set of photos.
Back to a Friday Thoughts tradition, gospel music. There are times in life when we feel lost, helpless, and generally unable to cope with the trials of this life. How often have you just wanted to look to heaven, know that there is a God who loves you, and cry out to Him, "Rescue Me."

Some Things Never Change

By Brad Heath, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Billions of dollars in federal aid delivered directly to the local level to help revive the economy have gone overwhelmingly to places that supported President Obama in last year's presidential election.

That aid — about $17 billion — is the first piece of the administration's massive stimulus package that can be tracked locally. Much of it has followed a well-worn path to places that regularly collect a bigger share of federal grants and contracts, guided by formulas that have been in place for decades and leave little room for manipulation.

STIMULUS FUNDS: States aren't using money as intended

"There's no politics at work when it comes to spending for the recovery," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says.

Counties that supported Obama last year have reaped twice as much money per person from the administration's $787 billion economic stimulus package as those that voted for his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, a USA TODAY analysis of government disclosure and accounting records shows. That money includes aid to repair military bases, improve public housing and help students pay for college.

In many ways, it still looks like politics as usual. Some things never change. You only thought you voted for a change. I find Mr. Gibbs comment laughable. I know, I'm getting old and senile, but this is exactly why I don't trust politicians...any of them! They will tell you anything to get elected, and do anything to get re-elected.

Wordless Wednesday

I am Sooooo 13!

Ruby Tuesday

Any patriotic celebration is going to provide multiple opportunities for Ruby Tuesday photos. The Celebrate America that I featured last week was such an occasion. During the tribute to each of the armed forces, I thought of Travis at Trav's Thoughts when the Marines showed up. This one is for you Travis. Enjoy.

Another Photographer

A couple of weeks ago, I told you that I was giving my daughter a digital slr camera for her birthday. Well, here are the first results. The first photo is the oldest grand daughter. The second photo is the middle grand daughter and the grand son. My daughter e-mailed me these photos. They are virtually straight out of the camera. All I did was save them for the web to reduce the file size and make one very minor crop. I have done NO PhotoShopping whatsoever. I told you that she had an eye for this hobby. Here's the proof.

Happy Independence Day!

The Celebration Continues