http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?fid4ct=8930 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:38:39 EST Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:40:31 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss RapidFeeds v0.1 -- http://www.rapidfeeds.com NoMoBias nomobias@centurytel.net en-us nomobias@centurytel.net http://home.centurytel.net./kodyfrazier/nomobias/img/bg_header_middle.jpg http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?fid4ct=8930 Editor Kody Frazier January 12, 2008 I must have gotten mixed up in the whole "it's an election year and the world is going to hell in a handbasket" thing because I completely forgot we should be spending this time discussing the proper way to designate time in the state of Missouri. It's not enough that there are issues such as a failing healthcare system that desperately needs overhauled, or that education in the state is failing our students. Nope, we need to spend some time with old father time. State Senator John Louden(R) of Ballwin, Missouri has decided that it would be a tragedy for students to be taught that history can be broken up into B.C.E and C.E. (Before Common Era and Common Era) instead of the traditionally Christian monikers of B.C. and A.D. (Before Christ and Anno Dominae). http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500754 nomobias@centurytel.net Missouri Education http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500754 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:09:00 EST Editor Kody Frazier After reading an article in the Springfield News-Leader ("Gifted students in rural areas do without" -AP) concerning the plight of gifted programs in rural Missouri I was motivated to put my thoughts into this editorial piece. I can think of no greater tragedy than the waste of a human mind. I honestly don't know if it was motivation from the No Child Left Behind Act that convinced Missouri legislators to stop directly funding gifted programs, but I have a strong suspicion that there is a correlation. I also suspect that many of the legislators did not participate in gifted programs themselves and thus have no concept of the benefits that can be derived from such an experience. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500753 nomobias@centurytel.net Missouri Education http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500753 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:07:00 EST Editor Kody Frazier In the midst of the 2008 elections several things have become apparent to me. The first is that abortions are only worth discussing every two to four years. Otherwise they are too controversial for polite society. Secondly, politicians are secretly working very hard to improve our lives but once again only want to talk about it every few years. Last, and not least (cliche), is that illegal immigrants are apparently eating the heart and soul out of the United States. If we are to believe the politicians then illegal immigrants pose a bigger threat than terrorists and nuclear war combined. If terrorists are smart they will begin converting Mexicans to Islam and send them over strapped with nukes. In fact Tom Tancredo announced his resignation from the Presidential race and stated that the only reason he remained in the race thus far was to make sure the issue of illegal immigration never went away. As if it might. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500752 nomobias@centurytel.net Missouri Politics http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500752 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:06:00 EST Editor Kody Frazier Governor Blunt should reconsider his policies. I'm not talking about healthcare or education policies, but rather his e-mail policies. This winter Governor Blunt and his legal team have been under intense scrutiny from Attorney General Jay Nixon, who is also running against Blunt in 2008, for routinely deleting e-mails after seven days. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500751 nomobias@centurytel.net Missouri Politics http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500751 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:03:00 EST Editor Kody Frazier Many people would likely cringe after reading the title to this piece. However, it is the truth when dealing with the issue of abortion. A new initiative has been set forward by an Illinois based organization, The Elliot Institute, which has submitted a ballot measure to the Secretary of State that would effectively ban all abortions in Missouri. According to the text of the ballot it would require all abortions performed in the Missouri to meet new stricter criteria. No longer would a woman be allowed to have an abortion performed for purely lifestyle reasons. A doctor would have to decide that it was medically necessary for the patient to have an abortion as long as keeping the child may result in long term physical or emotional problems or cause death. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500736 nomobias@centurytel.net Medical http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500736 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST Editor Kody Frazier What is wrong with Fred Thompson? When exactly is he going to realize he is running for the Presidency of the United States of America? Right now he is running a campaign more akin to a popularity contest at any high school. Making his campaign announcement on a late night talk show was a great move and likely necessary, given that he was entering the race later than almost anyone else. His name recognition alone will account for some the votes he receives. That wont be enough to gain the Republican nomination though, and he hardly seems to be trying to gain more votes. John Stewart of the Daily Show believes in a score of 1 to 10 Fred Thompson is about a 6 in his eagerness to be President. His poor showings during debates and a lack of enthusiasm are hardly indicative of his long acting career or his stint in Congress. He lacks the charm and knowledge one would expect out of a main with his resume. His campaign needs a boost, now more than ever. With primaries looming just over the new year hump and his polls in the gutter his campaign offices must be sweating out the holidays. At least they will save money on heat costs. While on Charlie Rose, on PBS, Thompson said, "We're going to need adults � someone that had the experience and knows this country and knows the people and knows the world."� Is he trying to say Americans want an old actor that has no real interest in being the President? With all the references made to Reagan lately, maybe we do. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500726 nomobias@centurytel.net Presidential Election http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500726 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:45:00 EST Editor Kody Frazier I support stem cell research. That alone may be enough to persuade many people to stop reading. For those of you who are still with me let us explore the matter at hand. Blunt announced his plan to provide money for Ellis Fischel, the cancer treatment hospital that is part of the MU system. This is great news which would seem to require no controversy. Senator Chuck Graham-D Columbia seems to think that it is. He is not attempting to stop this initiative for now, but he has filibustered a previous initiative simply because it would not allow stem cell research in the facility. Like I said, I support stem cell research. I believe that it holds the best chance we have for finding cures to many diseases that afflict citizens in Missouri and around the world. If no cures are found I still believe it will result in great advances in the medical field. This does not mean that I believe we need to stall important budget decisions for a cancer treatment hospital simply because it does not fund research using stem cells. The best treatment for a disease may be preventing it, but that does not help the people suffering right now. I understand the position that Senator Graham was coming from and in some ways agree with his decision to question the initiative. Instead of destroying the bill, however, the Senator may need to pick a new battlefield. You have to be willing to lose a battle to win the war. Trying to prove a point regarding stem cell research by stalling funding of a vital cancer treatment hospital is not likely to gain popular support. There is a fundamental problem with the stem cell initiative in Missouri. Until more citizens are better informed we will be left with a large conservative base that believes babies are aborted for deranged medical experiments. I will not get into the beginning of life debate, but I will say with absolute certainty that no woman has aborted a baby with the intention of it to be used for stem cell research. For that matter, no baby in a womb has been aborted for stem cell research, ever. We can find a better time and place to discuss the issue. Cancer patients in Missouri may want a cure, but they need treatment first. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500724 nomobias@centurytel.net Medical http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=500724 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:44:00 EST