It was 40 years ago today... Yes sirree kiddies, it was 40 years ago today that "The Beatles" released the "Abbey Road" album. The album featured songs like, "Come Together", "Something", and "Maxwell's Silver Hammer."

The album cover photo was taken of the Beatles crossing Abbey Road in front of their studio. I remember there was speculation from the album's photo that Paul was dead because he wasn't wearing shoes and was out of step with the other three Beatles.

The VW Beetle parked on the left side of the street kept getting it's license plate stolen and is now on display at the Volkswagen Museum in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Melissa Sue Anderson, aka "Mary Ingalls" who turns 47 years old today. Mellisa was born in Berkeley, California. She is married to television writer Michael Sloan and they have two children, an 8 year old daughter named Piper, and a 3 year old son named Griffin. Melissa and her family became Canadian citizens in 2007.

Melissa is best known for her role as "Mary Ingalls" on the television serial, "Little House on the Prairie." She was on the series for eight years leaving in 1982. She was also "Millicent" on "The Brady Bunch", a little girl who kissed "Bobby" and made him see fireworks.

Melissa was nominated for an Emmey Award for her work on "Little House on the Prairie" in 1978 and won an Emmey Award for her performance in "Which Mother is Mine?" in 1979.

Melissa has a star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame" and in 1988 was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Ok.

Letter to the newspaper

I sent a new letter to the local newspaper. It's similar to the blog entry I made a couple of days ago on dominionism. Alma Tilley wrote a letter complaining about the Freedom From Religion Foundation and their billboards. So I just had to respond.

My letter reads as follows;

Freedom From Religion

On September 25th Alma R. Tilley wrote a letter entitled, "No Practical Effect." I applaud Alma's right to voice her opinion under the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States. I only wish the freedom from religion fight was as simple as her analogy to "Freedom From Bubblegum."

The fight for freedom from religion is a fight against the ultraconservative right wing religionists who want to abolish the U.S. Constitution and legal system, and Alma's ability to write her letter, and replace it with the Ten Commandments and Mosaic laws of the Judeo-Christian Bible. Many are referred to as dominionists. (google search?)

Dominionism is a doctrine which demands the total remaking of society to conform with the laws of the Old Testament of the Bible. It states that the second coming of Jesus Christ will never occur until "God’s kingdom" is established here on earth. The dominionists get their "authority" from the Judeo-Christian Bible and their interpretation of the book of Genesis, chapter 1 verse 26.

You know these folks. End times. Armageddon. Good vs. evil. They are advocating "reclaiming America for Jesus Christ" or bringing about "the rule and reign of the cross to America." People such as Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore who had a 5200 lb monument of the Ten Commandments erected in the State court building or 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee who is quoted in last years primary as saying, "I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God."

They don't want a democracy. They want a theocracy; A government where a god or deity is recognized as the state's supreme civil ruler. Take a look at Iran if you want to see what a theocracy looks like. Read the first five books of the Judeo-Christian Bible if you want a look at Old Testament prohibitions. Can you say animal sacrifices or death by stoning?

"One Nation Under God". Be careful what you ask for.

Ken Ferguson
Ontario, Ca.

Today, Tuesday September 22, 2009 at 5:09 a.m. ET, is the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. The first day of fall came into Southern California with a roar with our first Santa Ana wind episode.

I'm proud to say that our new fences I built last spring are still standing. My bike ride today was pretty slow when going east and north (into the wind) and pretty quick going south and west.

Fear the Ultraconservative Right Wing Christian

People today are quick to advocate returning the United States to it's Judeo-Christian heritage. Pastors are talking about "reclaiming America for Jesus Christ" or bringing about "the rule and reign of the cross to America." When you hear these kinds of things, be afraid. Be very afraid.

What you may be hearing is the theology of the dominionist. Never heard of them? You are probably not alone. I hadn't heard of them either until I read the book, "Racing Toward Armageddon" by Michael Baigent.

Dominionism is a doctrine which demands the total remaking of society to conform with the laws of the Old Testament of the Bible, and it states that the second coming of Jesus Christ will never occur until "God’s kingdom" is established on earth and reigns for either a thousand years or an unknown time period. They contend that all of the laws of the Old Testament, unless specifically revoked later in the Bible, are still valid and they want to literally replace the U.S. Constitution and legal system with the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic laws of the Bible.

The dominionists gets their authority from the Bible and their interpretation of the book of Genesis, chapter 1:26 which reads, "Then God said, let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish in the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over the earth, and over all creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Dominionists are calling for the death of all persons involved in abortions, homosexuals, anyone who practices witchcraft or astrology, children who disobey their parents, women who commit adultery, and rape victims who don't resist sufficiently. Read the first five chapters of the Bible to get a real taste of the Old Testament prohibitions.

So, these are just some wackos who don't have a lot of input in society today, right? Wrong!! Those who have put forth dominionist doctrine include former Alabama Supreme Court Judge Roy Moore, who had a 5200 lb. monument of the Ten Commandments erected in the judicial building, author Tim LaHaye of the "Left Behind" book series, televangelist Pat Roberts, and presidential hopeful, Mike Huckabee.

On January 15, 2008, during the presidential primaries, Mike Huckabee is quoted as saying, "I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God, and that's what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view of how we treat each other and how we treat the family."

D. James Kennedy, who hosts a yearly conference entitled, "Reclaiming America for Christ" is quoted in the Christian Science Monitor on March 16, 2005, "as the vice-regents of God, we are to bring His truth and His will to bear on every sphere of our world and our society. We are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government..., our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors-- in short over every aspect and institution of human society."

Oh by the way, dominionists are of a protestant mind and have no room in their world for any other religion or belief system.

So be careful what you ask for. It may just come true!!

This billboard is currently on display in Moscow, Idaho.

Sadly, the Pentagon indicated that 14 United States serviceman were killed this last week in Iraq and Afghanistan. 13 of the 14 killed were in the Army, one in the Air Force.

According to iCasualities.com, the total number of U.S. Servicemen killed in Iraq now stands at 4,663 with 1,404 more in Afghanistan.

I'm disappointed in the fact that President Obama hasn't gotten us out of these conflicts. As my friend Jack is quick to point out to me, the troop levels have dropped in Iraq because they are being moved to Afghanistan.

Yum Yum!! Hot dogs and chili. A "man meal" no doubt about it!!

This was the evening view from my camp site as the sun set into the Pacific Ocean. Funny there's no steam afterwards!!!

I made it back from camping in one piece on Friday afternoon. The campground only had 43 camp sites and by Thursday evening it was full of senior citizen ukulele players. So Thursday evening I was serenaded by about 20 ukulele players who brutalized some of my favorite songs. But they were having a great time hootin' and holerin' and singing along while they played.

Had a great drive up to Big Sur. I took the "back roads" there utilizing the 15 to the 395 to the 58 to the 99 to the 46 to Hwy. 1. Total travel time was seven hours. Nothing major to report on the way other than the lady at the 7-11 store tried to charge me for three bags of ice instead of two, and some lady made a left turn in front of me on the 395 in Atalanto and tried to kill me.

Got into the camp ground at about 3:3o and set up camp. The campground is very clean and has mostly tents and some small Rv's. Each site has a fire ring, a picnic table, and cooking grill. There is a water spout about 10 yds. from me and a bathroom with flushing toilets about 50 yds. the other way. No Showers.

I must be out in the sticks because when I got into my car to go exploring, Gretchen couldn't find a Starbucks anywhere. I found one in an Albertson's in Moro Bay where I picked up some plastic spoons. It's hard to eat Cheerios with a fork!!! I had to drive 35 miles just to get cell phone service.

After setting up camp, I went for a walk to the nearby beach. Sand Dollar Beach is it's name. It's about a 20 minute walk which ends with about 100 steps down to the sand. I will spend some quality time here over the next couple of days.


My exploring led me to San Luis Obispo where Gretchen found me a Barnes & Noble where I was able to hook up to the Internet and get this post out. Below is the view from the window of Barnes & Noble,

Having a good time. The weather is in the high 60's to low 70's during the day and a bit chilly at night. Lucky I brought an extra blanket.

Last Sunday many of the locals at San Onofre State Park clothing only section held a small demonstration against the State starting to enforce nudity laws after Labor Day. The demonstration was covered by the Orange County Register newspaper who took this photo.

All of this to do is over a section of the beach which is only about 100 yards long and about a one half mile walk from the bottom of trail #6. I didn't attend the demonstration.

Last weekend Karen and I spent a wonderful day together in San Diego. We attended the San Diego Pagan Pride Day Festival in Balboa Park. The festival was rather small, with only about a dozen booths, but the people were spirited and into the season.

We arrived at the festival at noon and found this noon time ritual taking place in a rather large consecrated circle. We stayed at the festival for about two hours and checked out the booths and, of course, the people.

This was a really awesome tree we saw in the park.

After the festival we drove over to Coronado Island. We found a window seat in a Boar's Head Restaurant where we could enjoy the San Diego sky line, and of course, the people.

Of course, Karen was lookin' way awesome!!!

Patrick Wayne Swayze

August 18, 1952 - September 14, 2009

I missed President Obama's speech to Congress live last night, but watched the tape and read the text this morning. President Obama was greeted with over four minutes of standing ovation from the entire audience before beginning his speech. The topic; President Obama's proposal for health care reform.

It was interesting to watch as the camera panned across the audience and showed Republicans sitting on their hands and not applauding during many of the standing ovations President Obama received. Representative Wilson from South Carolina even went so far as to heckle the president, yelling out that he was a liar. Several were so juvenile that they held pieces of paper on their lap with protest signs. How sad is that?

We as a country need to take better care of those who can't care for themselves. 25,000 people stood in line for three days at the Forum in Inglewood recently to try to get some basic health care for themselves and their families. Hundreds had to be turned away. How sad is that?

Don't tell me that they are illegals, or drug addicts, or this or that!! They are human beings just like you and me. There's no reason that a country as rich as the U.S. should have people dying because they can't receive the proper medical care. We managed to find the money to run half way around the world to attack the sovereign nation of Iraq. Oh wait. We're still paying for that.

Many of you know, I like President Obama and I'm proud to have voted for him last November. I enjoyed his speech and hope he is able to get the reforms for the health care system that he proposes.

I can't believe it's September already!!! Where did the summer go?? September means kids are back in school. Thus is the case with my two youngins. Josh and Corey are once again prowling the hallowed halls of Mt.Sac this semester. I can't believe the price of books now days.


I can't believe that there are those who would object to their kids listening to an address from the President of the United States during school hours. And yet, the local paper this morning had an article on a local school district who sent authorization forms home with their students to allow their children to hear his address.

Some nut cases are saying that President Obama is interested in forming the youth of the United States into a youth group similar to the Hitler Youth of the WWII era. What kind of paranoia is that?? Don't you think it's gone a little too far?? Let's remember that he is the President of the United States.