Hello and Merry Christmas!

       It is Christmas Eve as I write this and reflect on the year that has been. In so many ways it has been a blessings and in others a challenge.

      I've had my share of health challenges from gallstones to a hiatal hernia. Both are lifestyle issues that tell me I have to change. They can be endured and moderated through natural means and not with western medicine. Such things are a risk and take more time but are better than the alternatives.

      Work at the solar site provided enough income  that for the first time in years I made enough to have to file taxes. I appreciate the income but am not at all please with giving a government that over spends and supports so many things I disagree with my hard earned money. It is the law, whether I like it or not, and so I will obey and pay my share.

     This year was a dismal year for politics and social issues. We saw once again how little actually separates Republicans and Democrats. Both are rife with CFR members whose desire is to end our constitution, sovereignty, and individual rights. Both are spending us into oblivion as both are controlled by the elites and central banks. None of their policies make sense and virtually all of them are harmful to the citizens. We will now have foisted upon us socialized medicine which is an abject failure around the world except for the elite. Notice when the elites in charge pass laws they exempt themselves. It is only a matter of time before society objects to the point of revolt. When and how many do so will depend upon additional measures taken by the elites.  It is certainly not something I wish upon our nation and world. Many in other countries do not understand how different and free we are here and how much we cherish the rights of the individual over the group. Such freedom has risks but is far better than living as a controlled slave of the states.

      Recently, including this very day, we have the issue of violence in the news. The media and the national government insist it is all the fault of guns. That is simplistic and foolish but used to strike at the emotions of those who are stunned by the events. Prohibition does not work. It never has. Millions of people in this nation own weapons and are responsible with them. The bigger question is the high rate of unstable people walking about loose. They're just given a pill if they are treated at all. It is an insane way to handle the mentally ill. It is bad for them and harmful to society. Yet the bleeding hearts insist that putting them in a safe institution is cruel. Really? How cruel is it upon them and society to let them run loose? We also have the incessant violence of Hollywood and the entertainment culture. Violent movies, TV shows, and horrid music especially in rap, smother young minds exposed to it and hard wire things into them as their brains knit together. Such things are no influence? Then how does advertising work? Why did protest songs work? Yeah, and yet the entertainment types go forward with their explicit violence and sex and profit from it. We have pop culture tramps dressings and gyrating like drunken prostitutes on stage and in videos and young girls are supposed to be looking to them as role models. Really? Not in my world.

      Which brings me to my musical and artistic world. Celtic Woman and the artists past and present are such bright lights in a dark world. We fans have had our rough patches over the years but 2012 for the most part was not among them. These artists behave properly on stage and off. They truly are role models any young girl could emulate. The others in the group are fine folks as well. It is a class operation more so now than in the past for a couple of reasons. Staffing changes brought us a very professional yet far more open road staff. Bubba, Dustin, and others were extremely courteous and kind and provided a pleasant atmosphere for the avid fans and the artists. I have never seen the artists more happy and relaxed than I have this year. The artists as well were more open and approachable off stage as well. Kudos go especially to Lisa Lambe. She is a joyful soul on stage and very engaging with her avid audience. She is wonderful at spreading the love among all of her fans as best she can at after show meetings and at times away from it all. She is even handed in her Twitter interactions with fans and not singling out just one or ignoring them altogether. She is to be commended for her talent as well as her attitude. The other three are far less willing in these regards, although Chloe and Mairead are very good at that from the stage. The latter is getting better on Twitter to a degree and I did have very pleasant encounters with her during the year and a surprise one in Pittsburgh that was very kind. Chloe and Susan have almost no interaction directly with fans on Twitter, though they do post a lot of photos and such. Sadly they both tend to speak too quickly on social issues and the latest gun issues are among them. While we are a nation of free speech, I caution them to not alienate the majority of their fans with such posts. Twitter likely does not attract the bulk of their fans and especially older ones. Yet word does get out, and I would encourage the entire organization to NOT post links to controversial and radical people like Michael Moore or even the President. Well over half the audience is conservative and Christian. We sure don't want Celtic Woman to go the way of the Dixie Chicks, and it would be beyond foolish to ever say such things from the stage at a show or in interviews. So far they have been very smart about it all and kept it to Twitter. They put on a great show and are genuinely nice people. I especially want to thank them all for the encounters this month in Pittsburgh.

      Celtic Woman is now without yet another of its former principals, Lisa Kelly. She has moved off to be a full time mom to her four children. Most important job there is and I hope she will be well rewarded by it. at some point she will likely return to the stage and her willingness to stay connected to her fans will help her with that when she does. She has always been good at that sort of caring. I had the great fortune to attend another show last week where another former Celtic Woman artist was performing. Alex Sharpe was in Alpine Utah with a very fine violinist, Jenny Oaks Baker. It was a wonderful show with a full orchestra and girls choir. It was a wonderful meeting afterwards with Alex and Jenny. I highly recommend Jenny's Christmas CD, Noel, if you want a great holiday treat. So, I look forward to 2013 with the usual mix of anxiety and hope. In this world there is no perfection. You take good with bad and hope the good outweighs the bad. May each of you approach this new year with love, peace, and energy to live each day as if it were the last. events this year prove it could be at any time.

                                       Shalom,            Scott

When darkness casts a shadow, there is still the music

   A week ago today a dark pall began to descend upon our nation and the world.  The saddest part of it all was that pall was invited and welcomed. We were warned in Scripture about the end times and that many would be blind and deaf to the evil that would come. It is true. God’s Word is always true. How did we come to this and what is the future? Only god truly knows the answer to the latter, but I’ll offer my opinion on it along with how we got here. After all, this is a blog and largely a matter of opinion.

   My degree is in history and geography. My understanding of past events, people, and where it all took place is by no means as full as some but certainly far ahead of most. We in the United States have allowed all that has happened to us. This is our own fault for being distracted, complacent, and apathetic. It is we who have allowed our schools, media, and entertainment to become instruments of the far left and a world view alien to our constitution. This past election cycle exposed that as never before. The sheer ignorance of the masses and the clear propaganda of the media were on parade. The election was rife with massive fraud and even to this day the ones who could address and challenge it have meekly steeped aside. Schools, media, and entertainment culture have been tools of division to assist the political elites of both parties in the undermining and destruction of the constitution and the foundations of our nation. Numerous wedge issues are used to put people in groups and then pit them against one another. We let that happen. Schools at every level have ceased being institutions of education and have become places of indoctrination. Simply look at the photos and posters of the O man at school polling places as a tiny tidbit of the truth in that. Such photos should have never been at a polling place yet they were. Children are used as political pawns and taught about the benefits of leftist ideology at a young age. The left are not stupid. They understand that a person’s brain does not finish wiring itself until the person is in their twenties. So, indoctrinate them young and reinforce it and by the time they are done with university they are totally hard wired with leftist thought. This is also why the left puts such a premium on education and fights alternatives so hard. Story after story has come out of teachers reprimanding students for anything that does not fit leftist ideology and forcing upon them that which their parents may find objectionable. Recently a judge just decided that parents do not have the right to know what their children are taught. Fine then, perhaps we the people should refrain from paying the property taxes that support the schools. Maybe take the child out of that school and go somewhere else. No kids, no funding. This is the same crowd that says parents of a minor girl have no right to know if their daughter has an abortion. Remember “It takes a village”? That’s what that was all about, removing the power of the parent and replacing it with government. This past weekend Ireland voted to place an amendment in their constitution that is essentially a UN law. That law states that government can remove a child from the home if it feels it is in the “best interests” of the child. What is the definition of best interest? So, we now have at least a couple generations indoctrinated into the left and now voting all over western nations. We’ve let our courts rule against our own national best interests in favor of outside laws and thoughts. Islam has invaded the west and is bent on forcing Sharia law on the people. The weak west does nothing to stop it. The entire west needs to be placed on suicide watch as they are in the process of committing national suicide from The States to Australia to Western Europe. It is not only suicidal but insane.  We have ignored Rome, and the history of 20^th century despotism. But they no longer teach any meaningful history in schools. So when the election came upon us why did it go the way it did?

   The mass of the people are now conditioned to government being the answer to everything. They ignore that government actually created the problems to begin with. In this country we have two main political parties. They are nothing like what they used to be. The democrats have gone so far left they are virtually indistinguishable from socialists or even communists. Not a chance JFK could have ever received the nomination for President in this day and age from that party. They have embraced every radical leftist agenda and group they can in an effort to keep the nation divided. They have a complicit media fully on board with that. Yet while these folks are evil they are not dumb. They are devious, deceitful, dishonest, vulgar, and hateful. They have their cult followers believing it is the other side who are like that. The majority of the entertainment culture fully supports it all. There are some exceptions but they are in a minority by a large percentage. Then there are the Republicans. They are fence-straddling, cowardly, and weak. They are as corrupt as the other party. That could clearly be seen from the nonsense that took place in the primary and the evaporation of the truth that Ron Paul had won several states. They cooked the books. They then ignored and alienated all of Paul’s delegates and himself at the convention. They put forward a nice man but the weakest in the entire field that could have been chosen. I warned folks early on he would lose if he was the nominee as the conservative base would not turn out. They did not and he lost. Ronald Reagan could not get the nomination for that party today. Had the base turned out then no amount of fraud could have overcome the result. I blame the republicans every bit as much as the fraud and radical left. It is why I removed my name from any party rolls years ago. It is more of the same and divisive.

   So now the left will reap what they have sown. They will own what is coming this next four years. They will own higher unemployment, higher inflation, and an increasingly divided population. The O man is in no way a unifier. The end result of aggressive leftist policies will be the remainder of the middle class dissolving, more part time work than full time and the evaporation of the private sector under the burdens of taxes and regulations. The foolish energy policies will result in far higher prices and far less availability. The O man and his goon Mr. Chu are opposed to coal, petroleum, and anything else that is not “green”. There will be zero economy with the energy prices they want. But they don’t care. The agenda is to destroy nations and replace it with the UN or similar body. Then we have the poisonous O care that is already taking a toll on jobs. Our debt will grow as more and more stop earning enough to pay or have a job to pay any at all. The foolish central banks tell us printing more money will stimulate the economies of places like here and Western Europe. The only things they stimulate are interest payments to those banks and ever bloated government debt.  We are witnessing the decent of a very dark cloud that will likely end western civilization as we know it. Replacing it will be an ascendant Asia. We can hope it is East Asia and not West Asia. While I am no fan of the communists in China they are preferable to the radical Muslims if one had to choose. It is my opinion that the forcing upon us of UN laws and policies will in the end result in civil war here. The one thing that will set it off most certainly would be confiscation of weapons against our constitution. Folks forget that was actually the thing that stimulated our revolt and independence from the British. I hope these people who have been so bent on the rapid movement “forward” to the left have sense to stop their foolish aggression. But greed and the lust for power and control is a strong force. I doubt they have such restraint. They certainly have shown no fiscal restraint operating against the law for four years without a budget. Evil has run amok and the people have voted for it. They have picked their poison and so many innocent others will be forced to drink it with them. It is on a massive scale in government and business. It is not some obscure notion. It is real. The assaults on the people of the light by the forces of darkness are ongoing throughout the world. The light of Christianity is being attacked at every turn in the name of “tolerance”. Yet those who tell us Christians we are not tolerant are they themselves intolerant and even hostile. These radicals would kill us without hesitation yet we do not call for the same. Yet we are the intolerant ones. We speak out against embracing abortion and homosexuality yet we do not go around and seek the death of those who practice it. We pray for them. Yet neither group can be found protesting in front of an Islamic mosque against a culture that surely would kill them in nations ruled by that culture.

   So where do we go now? We are here for a reason, each of us. We are called to something and each has a gift to share. There may come a time when we must use that gift to defend freedom. We just celebrated Veterans Day. Yet those in the grave may have spilled their blood in vain as we give away the freedoms they fought for and become the very things they fought against. I say that about not just us here but many western nations. There may come a time when we must fight again. I believe currency collapse, hyper-inflation, and civil war are all possible. Are they certain? I hope not. But to avoid it all we must have rational leaders who honestly care about the nations and their people. I see none of that now. I encourage everyone to pray. I encourage everyone to love. Cherish the blessings you have now as they can vanish in an instant. Today I watched and listened to my favorite group, Celtic Woman, as they appeared on a daytime soap opera. They sang The Parting Glass. As I watched these beautiful women with their soulful sound, tears came to my eyes. All I could think about were all the fallen who died for Ireland, the United States, and other nations, who may have done so thinking their nations would remain free in part due to their sacrifice. I thought about all who may die in a possible coming conflict, and that the parting glass may be raised to freedom itself. In the eyes and voices of Lisa, Chloe, Mairead,  and Susan I saw hope and a connection to a spirit and a time long past. That happens a lot with them for me. They are part of what keeps me sane. They would likely disagree with my stance on most issues. It is up to each to choose our path and as long as they refrain from any overt politics I can and will continue to support them. After all, insanity is not an option. We have enough of that going around now! So, no matter how dark the shadow and foreboding the time, I will pray to the Lord and know that He is, and keep the melodies in my heart. May God bless us all as we enter further into this ever darkening time. I pray each of you come through it and into the light.

                              Until next time,        Scott

A week away

   Well, we are now one week away from the election in the United States. At least I think we are, barring any shenanigans by the current crop in charge.  It has been a very rocky four years for many people. Very little has gone right. Now, of course you won’t hear the leftist media say that. For them and so many of the indoctrinated it has been nothing but positives. Well, the facts don’t bear that out, but please don’t confuse the poor folks with the facts. On every front we are worse off now than four years ago. The economy, foreign relations, socially and culturally, and numerous smaller issues are each in play and we have seen some of that in the debates, though nowhere enough.

   In the economy we are told that we are having a “weak recovery” which is just plain silly as there is no recovery at all. By most measurements we are in a depression. Far more unemployed and actually more than posted as once you fall off the rolls of getting a check you are no longer counted. Where have those jobs gone? Largely overseas. Ross Perot warned us way back in 1992 and he was right. I knew I voted for him for a reason. As Mr. Obama said in one of the debates (he slipped up), some jobs we will never get back. Right, because even the machinery to produce was sold and went elsewhere. You cannot have a first world economy if you produce nothing. You cannot base an economy on retail spending. Can we get our productive capacity back? Yes, but it will take a combination of a deep reduction in corporate taxes and regulations as well as corporate America being willing to reduce their profit margins. It also means dumping unions that caused us to have higher costs that made us non-competitive in the market place. Frankly, I don’t see any will by any of the parties to do any that. We are told that “the wealthy must pay their fair share”. More class envy from the left and more division. Look, I am not wealthy, but what someone else makes is not my business as long as they aren’t stealing it from me and as long as it is done legally. Do I think some athletes and entertainers are making obscene amounts? Yes I do as are some corporate executives. What the DC elite don’t get is that the “wealthy” can take their money and go anywhere in the world. France will find that out soon enough. We need a flat tax, or better yet get rid of the income tax and just do a sales tax. Everyone pays that, including criminals and non-citizens. You do not tax food essentials at the store or basic toiletries. We also have the ridiculous notion that we can print our way into prosperity. That has never worked at any time in history anywhere in the world. It is awful policy by central banks and does nothing but increase the debt and cause inflation due to the loss of value in the dollar. Central banks PROFIT from printing money and creating debt. Their policies manipulate markets and create the boom and bust cycles. Central banks must end.

   Then we have our dismal foreign relations at the hands of our Muslim in chief and Ms. Clinton. None of the folks in power have yet to meet a terrorist, leftist, or dictator they didn’t like. It is very clear these people at every level do not like this country. They do not like individual freedom of the people or of our nation. They are all into group think and division. Divide and conquer works. Just read the Communist Manifesto and Saul Alinksy’s Rules for Radicals. The blueprints are right there. Lump people into this group or that then pit them against each other so the people cannot unite against their true enemy which is the ruling elite. Comments like the ones Mr. Obama made to the Russians make it very clear he is working behind the scenes to undermine our safety and sovereignty. These folks want the UN in charge of everything. It is an organization that is run essentially by people and ideology anathema to our own in the constitution. We then see countless executive orders like the NDAA which also show that the American people are the ones the elite view as their enemy, not radical Islam or other such ilk. We are viewed as weak by our enemies and Mr. Obama clearly is operating in great sympathy with radical Islam. Just read his book. “Should the political winds turn ugly I will side with the Muslims.” They certainly have turned ugly and he is doing just that. Nations around the world are allowing radical Islam to dictate terms and watching as western nations cower in fear. Yet we the people are giving countless billions to radicals like the Muslim Brotherhood. We would never do that if asked, and neither would we be throwing money willy nilly to every tin pot dictatorship around the world. It is like giving your lunch money to the school bully. Radical Muslims should be deported from every western nation including this one. If they want Sharia law let them live under it in the numerous Islamic nations in Asia and Africa. But it is not just Islam. I have friends in India who have fallen victim to radical Hindus simply for preaching and teaching peacefully the Christian Gospel. He was arrested for doing so, his 90 year old mother beaten, and his wife almost in hiding and no longer able to have the orphanage she operated. All around the world Christians are under assault and the UN does nothing, our DC elites do nothing, and even the Christian community sits meekly by weeping and praying while countless are slaughtered in places like Nigeria, Philippines, and Egypt. It is truly disgusting.

   Why the weakness? Try the indoctrination system that is our schools for one thing. Gone is actual education, replaced by political correctness and fluff. Don’t get me wrong, there are some fine teachers and professors still out there but they are fewer and fewer. There is story after story that shows up of teachers being totally out of line in promoting their own leftist political views in the classroom. Disagree and you are victimized. Wear a Cross and out you go, but Islamic studies is just fine. Really? Where is separation of mosque and state? A huge number of children get out of high school and have to take remedial everything to go forward in college. And what prospects for jobs do they have anyway at this point? They have poor spelling and writing skills and get almost no history or geography. They do not even tested for history on their precious tests which are largely only to get funding for the school and not about actual student learning. What they are tested on is very narrow and a broad education in a disciplined classroom would work better to assist them in passing any test.  No child left behind has left them all behind. But we care more about the student’s self-esteem than whether they actually know anything. So they feel good about themselves but are dumb as a post. It sounds a lot like a certain occupant of the White House. But it is not in the best interest of the leftists to have an educated population. They want them dependent, ignorant, and poor so they are easily controlled. It’s working, sad to say.

   Finally we get to social issues and cultural decline. Crude, vulgar, angry, hateful, intolerant, and close minded rule the day. Oh but the left thinks those are Christians and conservatives. Not even remotely true. We have an intense sense of right and wrong without grey areas. Yet when you disagree with the left they go on a vulgar and hateful scree that turns the air a deep midnight blue with profanity and threats of violence. There are two major cultural issues but many minor ones. Abortion and homosexuality are the two biggies. Frankly, neither of them are covered under our constitution. It is not for the Federal government to pay for sexual activity going in or coming out. War on women? Those that think they have a right to MY wallet to pay for THEIR indiscretions are out of line. You want a REAL war on women then take a look at Sharia law and radical Islam. I don’t see any Code Pink folks in front of mosques do you? Likewise I see no gay protests in front of mosques against a culture that would have them killed. Christians are not talking about killing them, at least not ones who know Scripture. If you don’t want a sexually transmitted disease or a pregnancy then guys need to keep it zipped and gals need to keep their legs together. Too simple? Too bad. Abstinence works every time. As for the whole “marriage” debate, that too is bogus. Government has no business in marriage except to protect minors. Find a religious person to say the words, Sign the appropriate legal documents then get on with it. It is not for government to endorse or interfere in the relationships of two consenting adults. Note that I said TWO, CONSENTING, ADULTS. Both the abortion and gay marriage issue are wedge issues created by the left to undermine the foundations of a stable society. If we were actually obeying our founding document then neither of those would be an issue. But the left must divide us or they cannot win. Same goes for race relations. I have zero issue voting for black candidates. I can think of a great many extremely qualified for a variety of posts including the top one, and I have done so in the past.

   We have a group in power which has scandal after scandal, secret after secret, and know only division and nothing about unity unless you want a socialist-communist or Islamic state. The man at the top is obviously a serious narcissist. Notice when he speaks that the good things are always I and me and bad things are always we, they, them, and you. He cannot be honest about who and what he is or his agenda and has not been at any time except when he got caught or slipped up. He, Biden, and Ms. Clinton laugh off serious issues. It is the laughter of Hell. The attorney general and the entire cabinet are totally incompetent and possibly even treasonous. And Mr. Chu, what kind of an economy do you think we’ll have with European fuel prices? What is happening to electricity prices as coal fired plants are shut down with nothing to replace them? At every turn they go around the constitution and Congress does nothing. There has not been a budget the entire time O has been in office yet they still spend and raise the debt ceiling. There is no restraint in DC, and lest you think I am Mr. Republican, I am not. They continue to foist upon us left of center and push away conservatives. I know JFK could not get the democrat nomination and he might not even get the republican one if he were still around. That is how far left we have gone. We are heading for a huge cliff and only we the people can stop it, and it will not be by voting party line. Both parties are bankrupt and most of the media nothing more than propaganda for the left. Goebbels would be proud.

   I voted early last week. I used a paper ballot as those machines are a huge potential for fraud. I showed my ID and was happy to do so. Those that protest it only wish to commit fraud by allowing multiple voting, dead people voting or for non-citizens to vote. You need an ID for almost everything and it does NOT disenfranchise anyone. Then there is the threat of violence by groups like the racist Black Panthers, La Raza, and other leftist groups. Now we have the UN coming to “observe” when they have zero authority to do so. It is a scenario primed for massive fraud, so we need a huge voter turnout to overcome it. I voted by conscience as an independent. I am informed on the issues and where the candidates stand. There was no emotion in my vote. I was voting with my brain and not some other body part. Our obligation is to the constitution and nothing else politically. If they voted for the NDAA I said no. If they voted for Obamacare I said no. We are the last remaining nation that is not socialist, communist, a dictatorship, or an Islamic Republic. And that is what all of those groups hate so much and why they are working so hard to end us as a constitutional, independent, republic.  Say no to them and yes to freedom for the individual and the nation. It is the most important election in our history. God’s blessings and peace to each of you. Many died to give you the right to vote. Don’t let that blood have been shed for nothing.  

A special anniversary amid troubled times

Hello everyone,

      One year ago I was on my way to Atlanta for my third Celtic Woman DVD recording. My first had been in 2007 in Dublin for the Christmas show. The second was in 2010 at the Pwoerscourt Songs From The Heart recording. This time the ensemble graced us with a recording here in the states to thank the American fans for their support. The fans turned out in record numbers to thank them back and juice the audience. I have been witness to a great many changes in the group over the years. The events that led to the changes weren't always positive, but the changes themselves were. Staff changes on the tour eventually made the American tours much more pleasant. Artist changes have been dramatic, yet in spite of them the ensemble has not skipped a beat. All of that in spite of ever declining economies and financial challenges for their fans, myself included. It has certainly been a strain at times to attend so many shows, meetings, recordings, and the associated travel costs. Were it not for some truly wonderful friends I could not have done that the past couple of years.

       In 2007 Meav and Hayley bowed out. Lynn was brought in. That was followed in 2009 by the departure of Orlagh and the full time addition of Alex Sharpe. But in 2010 both Alex and then Lynn along with several band and choir members departed. In came Lisa Lambe along with new band and choir members. At every step the selections have been great. just a short few weeks ago Lisa Kelly announced her desire to commit to being a full time mom. Susan McFadden had been standing in and one would suspect she will stay full time. All of the artists who have departed eventually began doing their own artistic thing to the delight of their fans and audiences. I suspect Lisa Kelly will follow suit in her own time perhaps on Broadway where she would do very well. Hayley already had a fine career and still does. Meav and Orlagh teamed up for a Christmas DVD. Lynn and Alex have been mildly active in Europe, Alex having just done a Mediterranean cruise. Orlagh has been the most active until her recent pregnancy and now birth of her first child. Many of the former band and choir have gigs of their own too.

       All of them have inspired me over the years to write song lyrics, poems, and a novel. They have been bright lights in an ever darkening world. For me, as a degree holder in history, I see a great many truly horrific things on the horizon both internationally and domestically. This comes from elements of radical Islam as well as the political radical left. Individual freedoms, thoughts, and traditional values are under constant attack by a worldwide ruling elite that believes in a mass of poor and a small ruling class. America is boiling under the surface and threatens to erupt if such radical forces push too hard. November is the most important election in the history of our nation. It will determine if we adhere to the constitution or throw it all away and become a socialist nightmare. The current leader is a narcissist and megalomaniac similar to other dictators of the past. The debt is now 16 trillion and growing with an out of control spending and no budget passed since the current regime was elected. The Federal Reserve, along with the European Central Bank foolishly think printing more money will stimulate economies when it has the reverse effect of saddling nations with enormous burdens they cannot possibly pay off. Who benefits?  The elites making the policies. Iceland saw this and threw out and arrested bankers and government. So far they appear to be the only smart ones in the west. Asia is on the ascent while the west implodes and commits political, cultural, and economic suicide. Thought police and one sided media aid governments in dividing the people against each other shifting their anger from where it should be and that is upon government itself who has sold the people out in almost every way.

        So, amid the gathering clouds of darkness there are things we can hold on to and cherish. Things that cannot be taken away. Our God, each other, experiences, and memories. Christians around the world are under assault as nations appease Islamic radicals. The economies suffer and even here in the states we now have 53% of the people who are now classified as low income and eligible for government aid. I am among them but refuse. Those figures come from a rapidly shrinking middle class. Schools are abominable in their indoctrination of socialism and poor overall education. It is in the government's best interest to create nations of compliant sheep. At least that is what the elite in charge think. They are threatened by an educated and independent middle class. They are threatened by an armed citizenry which is why the aggressive UN policies on gun control that our government wishes so much to sign on to. The socialized medicine scam is a boondoggle that is wholly beyond our means to pay for and benefits only the insurance and drug companies. While it may be cheap out of pocket, quality and promptness of care will suffer greatly as it has everywhere this has been tried. It has created mass retirement of quality health care professionals and will do so here too.

       I began this blog on a positive note. I will end it that way too. Since 2007 I have been blessed with a great deal of inspiration. I have come to know many great artists. For me it has been always been a focus on the amazing artistic gifts and presence of Mairead Nesbitt, the Celtic Woman violinist. She is married now and seemingly happily so. My prayer for her is that life remains a blessed, fulfilling, and happy one. Without her life would have been much different and certainly not a better one for me. While I still can I will attend shows in which she performs. I have a few scheduled. What happens in this nation will dictate whether I can actually be there for those. Most of the artists I know are well on the other side of the political spectrum from me. As long as they do not insult half their audiences by taking political or social stands on stage they will retain a solid following. A large part of their audience would take great issue with support for our current regime or for socialism in this nation in general. It is best they remain smart and not get caught up in it and stick with what endears them to so many, their music. I encourage everyone to vote, and to do so from conscience and not party loyalty. Be informed. We may or may not have another chance to do this through the electoral process. Let's cherish that right and use it to full effect.

                                 All the best,       Scott

Merry Christmas, now be gone 2011

Hello everyone,

It is time for the annual end of the year blog. I would have waited a week but will not be online and what can happen in the last week. Don't answer that! after this year so far it could be anything. I'm sure almost everyone can look back and find good moments and bad in the course of a year. Some may have had an overwhelmingly positive year, and others the opposite. For me the latter. What follows is the usual commentary on various topics wrapped up by my final entry regarding my favorite artists.

Politics. Anyone who knows me knows I am a constitutional conservative. I do not like Mr. Obama's policies or his party's ever increasing turn to the left. I'm not wild about the other major party either as they too are farther left than they should be, so much so that there is little difference in the two. That is why I chose years ago to not affiliate with party. They are bankrupt. Our founding fathers and founding documents find big government socialism to be anathema. I agree. Some think it is more fair to the average citizen, yet they fail to see that the same percentage rise to the top as the bottom tier grows. The middle class is shrinking and over half the people in this country now qualify as poor. I am among them. The new year will likely bring the harshest campaign ever for the Presidency. Yet the Republicans seem bound and determined to foist on us a so called "moderate" in Romney. Moderate equals left of center. That will cause the base to sit out and give us four more years of elitist, racist, anti-Christian, bloated government who will finish the constitution and drive the final nails in its coffin. Frankly, even China looks pretty good right now. I know I have plenty of friends and no shortage of artists I support who have no issue at all with Obama. Friends can agree to disagree in an effort to resolve issues. Artists are well served to distance themselves from any politics or risk alienating half of their audience. The outlook for politics and peace throughout the world in 2012 is bleak to say the least. But I encourage every eligible voter to be fully informed and then vote their conscience regardless of whether they think a candidate can win and regardless of party affiliation. If you don't vote, then don't complain.

Economy. The economy is poor. There has been no recovery. Unemployment figures are far higher than stated as is inflation. Did you know that if wages had kept up with inflation since 1971 that the minimum wage now would be $60 per hour?! Did you know actual unemployment to be between 20-30%? Actual inflation is double digit if you add in food and fuel. Those were conveniently dropped from the statistics in the 1980's. My own personal economy took a hit due to those I work with or for cutting back out of fear of an imminent collapse in their business. It did not happen but it is their business and choice. It forced me into work for which I was not suited but needed to pay the bills. I'm now doing contract work which is sporadic. That in addition to some of the things I do on the side and I can get by but barely. I had to resort to a room mate but that was only until this month and now back to paying full rent. every month is on the edge. It would not be that way had I not been so incredibly foolish in my passions. The accumulated debt I likely cannot pay off short of some miracle with my writings and songs. It is what it is. Some things I simply felt worth the expense over the years as the creative results were so voluminous. The new year does not promise to be much better. But you wake up every day and just do your best and trust.

Online things. This has been a year of change for me and others on the internet. My Space for me has become rather useless. The account will be deleted soon. Twitter has proven to be more frustration than blessing and why would anyone care what I'm up to anyway? It seems dominated by females talking to each other and males sitting idly by watching as the moss grows on them. I left it once and may do so again, except that a couple of people I follow are not on Facebook so no place else to keep up. Facebook has been an interesting place on a whole range of topics and interests, though they really need to stop tweaking it. A rift occurred there, though, and the damage caused by that person is likely not repairable.

Then there are the forums. At one time I was admin in six of them. That was by request. I'm now down to one, the relatively inactive Lisa Kelly one owned by Jim Allen. The Olivia forum disappeared earlier this year. The artist had "moved on" with her music and only wished to interact with people in her own peer group. Guess the international fans and their efforts could go stuff themselves. It was a huge blow and very hurtful. Some nice songs came out of all of that and maybe they'll make their way out there. The orphanage in India I guess is not on her radar any more either. What few CD's I still have are available for donations to that orphanage. The Lynn forum changed hands as did the Alex forum. Early this year the original Alex forum was down for several weeks and a member elected to create a new one. That is the one that survives with any level of activity. That same fan went on to create forums for Lisa Lambe and Sarah Burke. Fine and dandy. All deserving of them.

Then there is the queen of them all, the Máiréad forum. By far the most energetic, by far the most enthusiastic, and by far the most friendly and inclusive of the communities created for these artists. It produces the largest fan gatherings, helps more people attend shows who otherwise could not, has the greatest promotional mechanism for the artist and itself, and has the largest charity drive. Early this year a handful of members felt the forum was not what it had been when it began. None of them had been there in the beginning. In any case they took their ball and created their own court. Their right to do and any site that promotes the artist is a good thing. I wish them the best. The owner of it has by far the best archives on the artist anywhere. It far exceeds anything on her own site. There was growth in the forum, energy, well attended Sunday chats, and the very best site for show reviews of any related to this group. But it also has its share of controversy. Not on the site but off site. We tried to assure the artist and others that these are viewpoints of individuals and not the forum. In any case, my own outspoken nature and ties to some were enough that I stepped down as admin early in the year. The replacement did not last long, citing it was too much work for her schedule. So, I stepped back up to help Mike. I stayed in that role too long and more controversy came later in the year over the issue of the charity check presentation. This time it did show up inside the forum and that was wrong to allow. I made a statement in the forum blog accepting responsibility for that and I stand by that. I apologized to the artist there and do so again here. The forum is not the place for it. Because of that I stepped down again as it had to fall on someone. The buck stops at the top. She deserves better and the only way that site is ever going to stand a chance to get to the next level with her is if I am no longer speaking for it or representing it. Mike will do his best to make amends and soothe things even while additional off site commentary may occur. The artist should NOT condemn the forum for the opinions voiced off site by those who happen to be members. There is plenty of support there for her and lots of wonderful people in that community. It is a lovely family but with the usual odd characters you get in any family. Folks like me may just be the crazy uncle that gets locked away in the attic, but we mean well.

Celtic Woman. A far too engrossing passion for a lot of people. In some cases it borders on worship. But, taken at the proper level and with limited expectations, it is a very positive distraction. It has been responsible for building a great many friendships and resulted in at least a couple of fan marriages, and no one inside the group. It is not without flaws as you can see by my previous posts here. But the good far outweighs the bad. Such has been the case this year. A huge blunder on the part of someone led to uproar leading up to Máiréad's birthday in Springfield. In the end the fans had great seats and a great after show after corrections were made. Máiréad even graciously attended the after show which she had not done on her birthday previously. Everyone was very grateful to her for that. Celtic Woman listened and saw to it that more fan friendly folks ran the after show. The amiable Dustin represented Madstone and was a vast improvement over the surly Mitch. Bubba Dixon took over this aspect of the operation from Rachel. It was very well received and he has been exceptional in his courtesy and professionalism all the way through the year. There was still some discontent over poor seats at high prices from some PBS stations. There is still some discontent for the all too brief time given each fan at the after show for the money paid. But, photographs were once again allowed and that helped a lot and made for very many happy faces. My compliments to the organization and the artists for allowing this again as you had early on. The ensemble had very well attended shows in Europe, Japan, and the states. They ended the year with their first ever Christmas tour, and the first tour using symphonies. Even better for that was the return of David to the piano. There was also the Believe recording in Atlanta which brought a record gathering of familiar faces in one place. It was enough that a room was rented at the venue the day of the first show and a fan documentary recorded. The most special part for me, though, was the pub after the first night's show. In it were gathered fan and artist alike sans the front four. Those conversations and that courtesy were so very much appreciated. It was family, pure and simple, and God bless the artists who were there that took time to interact and to compliment us as much as we did them. Some negatives too this year from the organization mainly things on line and all on Twitter. Those do not bear recounting here. Now some thank yous.

Mike Brown. As dedicated and generous a fan and friend as any artist or fan could ask for. His expenditures in money and time are immeasurable. there is no way anyone could adequately describe or express thanks for all you have done. Now at 101 shows and climbing, and those are just the seats you occupied and not the many others acquired and donated to others. I wish Pittsburgh had been far more special for you. Recent events overshadowed what should have been a truly special night. You deserved far more than you received. Thank you for being such an amazing fan and friend. Good luck leading the Máiréad forum and mending the fences towards a stronger relationship with the artist.

Scott Meenen and Dave Bussells. Thank you for allowing me to lead the various forums you own or created. It has been an honor. Thank you, Scott, for paying the bills that keep the lights on in the enchanted forest. Thank you, Dave, for staying on top of things. I hope the artist at some point will thank you for those things personally.

Bill Jordan, Ralph Nye, Ron Foster, and so many others. Thanks for being people of such great character and friendship. It has meant the world in a difficult year. Also thanks to Jim Allen for his ownership in some of the forums and his personal support. Also to all the moderating team in the Máiréad forum. You're the best. Far too many friends from the forums and Facebook to thank. I want to say something else here. After the show in Springfield, ten or so men gathered for the usual post show nibble and chat. It was a conversation anyone's mom could have sat in on and not blush. It is always that way. These women are held in the highest and most proper regard. That anyone out there could ever characterize such men as risk factors or unsavory in any way is dead wrong and they would be lucky to have men like that in their lives. We are not and never will be like the screaming teenage girls who attacked the Beatles and ripped their clothes off. Things of beauty need to be preserved and cherished. These women and the music are all that for a great many.

Celtic Woman LTD. I have been as guilty as any in throwing stones. If I did not care about the artists and fans I would have said nothing and simply walked away. You may have preferred that but it is not my nature and never has been. I encourage you to embrace those familiar faces and not push them away. Some of what you did in 2011 showed embracing and some pushing away. There really is no knowing what to expect. But take what is said both positive and negative and know there is always room for improvement. It is true for each of us as individuals and for companies as well.

David Downes. Brilliant. I don't know how many times I have heard that word when people speak of you. Show after show is consistent in the quality of the arrangement and the artistry. Thank you for this creation and for being kind to the fans in meetings after the Believe recording and on the symphony tour.

Anthony Byrne, Andy Reilly, Ray Fean, Ewan Cowley, Dermot Kiernan Not only are you each gifted but you are also exceptional in your care and concern for your fans. And yes, YOUR fans. You earn them with every performance and with every kind interaction on stage and off. You are not only the best at your craft, but good people. Andy, Dermot, and Ray, I would encourage you to create a Facebook fan page as Ewan and Anthony have done. MySpace and Twitter really are not all they could be for nurturing your fan base.

Sarah Burke, and Amy Rivard. You may not be current members, but that fan base you built while with the group has stayed with you and still promotes and supports you. Your kindness to each of us is part of that. May all the best things come from the gifts you have and share.

Orlagh Fallon, and Alex Sharpe. Exceptional artists but also exceptional people. You both proved that this year on stage and even more so off stage with the incredible kindness showed to those familiar faces. You now do what you do on your own terms and it blesses both your family and your fans. May your careers be brilliant ones and the fans as numerous as the stars in the heavens.

Lisa Lambe. From opening night in Florida to my final show in Buffalo you nailed it and weaved those curly red locks around the hearts of many. It is clear you are a true professional and very well suited to your role. I appreciate those few special moments like the blown kisses, the meeting in Sioux Falls, and the tweets early on. You have a fan here and I'm sure you'll not take any of them for granted. Please consider a Facebook fan site like Lisa and Chloe have.

Chloe Agnew. Ave Marie. L'Assenza. Two songs that showcase both the power and the persona. It is my hope you'll never go pop but play to the strengths that songs like these give you. Every standing ovation is well earned. Thank you as well for taking the time twice on Twitter to answer questions from fans. It was very well received and very much appreciated.

Lisa Kelly. Oh my. Another child on the way? Well, boy or girl, the little one will be blessed. How could one not be with The Voice singing lullabies to them? By far and away you are the most interactive and caring of your individual fans on both Twitter and Facebook. You were the one God sent to unlock my own creative gifts. I will forever be grateful. Thank you. Stay in touch and I will make it my priority to keep you in the review loop from the 2012 tour on the Lisa forum. You and that little one on the way will remain in my prayers.

Máiréad, um, hmmm, ni Nesbitt? Mustapha? We'll just go with Máiréad Nesbitt for now. First and foremost I owe you an apology for being way too far over the top. That certainly is even more undesirable with you being married now. I'm just a fan. A very avid one to be sure. A passionate one for reasons you well know especially from the writings and now the fan documentary. Some things have been said by me and others this year better left unsaid. That may yet hold true again in the weeks to come. I am stepping back from all of that. Things have happened this year that change what has been. It will never be the same. Thank you for the inspirations. Thank you for allowing my heart to rest in your fiddle case for awhile. Thank you for helping me feel alive and love again like I had not known in over 20 years. Thank you for answering the question about who it was that had haunted my dreams. The only gifts I can give you now are prayers and to take several big steps back and simply revel in the artistry and magic of what you do and how you do it. I'm sorry for anything said or done in the past four years that may have given offense. You may see me from time to time at a show. The prayer for you has always been that you be happy, healthy, safe, prosperous, and that you know The Lord, and know the best, most unconditional and rewarding love a human can know.

So to all of you who read this, I had planned a more hard edged blog. I cannot. It is Christmas. It is time to move on to a new path in 2012 and wherever God takes me. I'll be very active in political speaking, on social commentary, and in getting my creations out there for publication and use. Celtic Woman now simply must be like a family reunion with those in the audience and to a lesser degree on stage. Merry Christmas to all, and have a blessed 2012. For me, 2011 was largely a year I could have done without. Perhaps it will be something to build on and the new year far more positive.

God bless, Scott

Believe it or not, I'm a Believer

Hello everyone!
Well quite a bit has happened since the last blog post. And in this post I want to let you know what I believe and what I don't. What you believe and whom you believe is up to you. But this will touch upon politics, business, and social areas, as well as my favorite area, Celtic Woman. Why the title? The name of the new Celtic Woman show is, Believe. We'll get to that later.

We are now in the last year of the current presidency of the United States. I do not believe we are headed in the right direction. I do not believe we have people in leadership positions in significant numbers to turn it around at any level of government. I believe the people are being summarily dismissed by the vast majority of elected officials. I do not believe in socialism. I also do not believe in anarchy. But somewhere in the middle of all of that is the constitution. I believe it is being bent, twisted, and corrupted by those in power to say what they want it to say to support their policies. I do not believe it is a "living document". If words are always open to interpretation then they lose their essential meaning. They mean what they meant when they were written. If you want to change things then there is an amendment process to do that. But those in power know the people do not support their increasing encroachment on every aspect of life and that any amendments that enable that would fail. So they go around it. I do not believe the President is legitimate as too many facts show he was not born in this country. I do not believe he is even remotely a Christian. I believe we have a great plenty of non-white candidates who could have done a far better job. i do not believe our government wants the country to succeed as an independent, free market, republic. I believe globalism is killing western nations and that Asian nations and others are laughing at us. I do not believe the government actually cares about education or health care. Follow the money. If the people are ignorant, poor, and dependent, then they are easy to control. "Education" died long ago when it became politically correct and about nothing but passing tests to receive funding. Likewise, if the people are given mediocre health care as they are in other nations with socialized medicine, then more will die. Fewer people are easier to control. Conspiracies? Maybe. But it is clear that the governments of western nations have joined others in having arrogance in power. They will not listen until they are too scared not to. I believe the 2012 elections will be the most vicious ever, and that neither party has the answers or truly wants to fix what they have done wrong. I believe every citizen needs to be fully educated in order to vote and that education cannot come from a biased media. If you believe in the constitution as written and in a better life for generations to come then please take an active interest and get involved regardless of your political persuasion.

Statistics lie. Both unemployment and inflation are at far higher levels than quoted. They will get worse. We are not in a recession, we are in a depression. The dollar will continue to loose ground as they print more to pay for things the people don't want. But I do not believe it is totally a government issue. I believe it also comes back to corporate greed. It is the relentless search to squeeze that last penny from people whether it is what a company charges or how it pays and treats its employees. Corporate America has become as bloated, inefficient, and arrogant as government. Less competition means you can treat your customers with less respect. Higher unemployment means you can treat your employees with less respect. I believe both are bad for our nation. Yet it is the same elitist mentality that runs both government and corporations in America. And once again, follow the money. It is all some care about. It is their god. I believe outsourcing and globalism are disasters and harm the great majority for the benefit of a few. I do not believe in isolationism, yet I do believe in taking care of your own first regardless of what country you are. No nation should be beholding or under the thumb of some larger entity whether it is the EU or the UN. The Robin Hood syndrome only produces more misery as the middle class shrinks, the poor grow, and the rich get rich at the expense of both. Helping others and charity should never be forced or it is resented as are the ones who supposedly get the aid.

I believe all human beings are equal in the eyes of God. I do not believe in political correctness or in perks to various groups done out of guilt. I believe all humans err but can and are forgiven. I do not believe that entitles people to continue treating others poorly. I do not believe it is our right to condemn another person. Yet I do believe we have every right to condemn someone's actions and hold people accountable. I do not believe in special rights for specific groups but equal rights that are already in the constitution. I do not believe in abortion or in homosexual "marriage". But I do believe that each must decide for themselves and not be persecuted for it. That we do not agree with someone does not give the right to commit violent acts against them in a free society. I believe we as Americans must be a united people in spite of our differing views and beliefs. I believe we must drop the hyphens and simply be Americans for a nation divided against itself cannot stand. Yet our own government and media do just that in dividing the people.

Then we come to the passion of my life for the past four years, Celtic Woman, and its artists. I believe they are the premier ensemble of artists ever created. I believe each has exceptional talent that has blessed them in rising beyond in a nation packed to the rafters with talented artists of all kinds. I believe each of the artists know that they have been blessed and still remain humble in large measure. I believe the operation of the tours in the states can and should be better. I believe communications internally between the various aspects involved can be much better especially between the promoter and the various PBS stations. Once again, in Atlanta, we saw what happens when it works right and when it doesn't. The first night was totally handled by PBA30, the Atlanta PBS station. will call was efficient and the venue wonderful with its staff. The seating for those who pledged was excellent. That combined with an incredible fan gathering, and a beautiful new show to make for a perfect day. The audience rose in song after song to give ovations and move the artists as they had seldom if ever been before. They earned every bit of it in this latest David Downes gem. The primary artists, Chloe Agnew, Lisa Lambe, Lisa Kelly, and the feisty Máiréad Nesbitt combined with their marvelous band and choir as well as a children's choir, and bagpipe band, to make Believe a huge success that will doubtlessly tour to very receptive audiences. I believe in spite of an ever more poor economy that this ensemble will weather the storm. We need what they offer. I believe they offer what no one else in entertainment does and it is positive and uplifting for any generation. I believe most music in this day is forced upon a public by labels and promoters and it is all about money. While the Celtic Woman artists certainly want to be paid well, I believe for them it is still largely about the music and the performance. i can see it in their eyes in show after show as they interact with their familiar faces who love them so much. In the pub after the show the first night the fans mixed with band, choir, and techs, and it was pure family. Certainly there were some fans who sought autographs or photos, but it was not the mobbing some might have predicted. It is just not our way. Celtic Woman fans for the most part respect that private space and time. Yet the artists were gracious in stopping by our table and chatting with us later on. The fans at my table kept using that same word, family, and it was a premier day from start to finish for all involved.

But the next day once again the inefficiency and lack of communications made itself known again. Three stations were involved in pledging for that day. Will call was offered starting much later than the day before. That created angst in the avid fans enough so that dinners were cut short to get in line early. If you were there early things went smoothly enough yet it did not have to be such a rush. The Fox Theater staff are first rate and the stations staffed several will call areas. I would recommend the Fox to any performing group and to anyone attending a show. Once again, though, most of those who pledged were "treated" to poor seating. While the average person who attends a show could really care less, the avid fans who pay more for a ticket should be given the premium seats. That is especially so when they travel form all parts of the country. Again, as happens on tour, those who pledged were never told their seats or even the sections they would be in. Most were in the back 1/4 of the venue. This is something I relayed to PBS President, Paula Kerger, back in April after the near disaster at Springfield Illinois. Every station MUST have the tickets in hand when they take a pledge, and MUST offer the best seats to those who call in first. Neither GPB, nor the two Tennessee stations did that. I have worked with dozens of stations since 2007 and am building a good file on which ones do things right and which ones do not. In this event PBA30 did it right just as they did on the spring tour. GPB and the others did not, from that silly lottery meet & greet that wound up with vacancies on the spring tour, to the poor seating at this show, they need to get their act together. Something else that I have to say as well. The avid fan communities made a concerted effort to turn out big for this recording. They did so and drove the audience that first night to an all time high. the next night, while still a decent audience, it could not compare as the vast majority of the avid supporters were well back in the audience and those in the pit seats seemed glued to their chairs. That is disrespectful to the artists to not provide them the very best. I give kudos to the artists and even Scott Porter for the responses given on Twitter after the events. However, I do believe that once again Mr. Porter missed a golden opportunity to connect with the ones who are the biggest contributors from the fan base. We were in the venue the entire day that first day. Yet he was "too busy" to stop up for five minutes. I do not believe that. He also had the chance to pop into the pub afterwards and do the same and again chose not too. I am at a loss as to why he evades fans personally as though they have the plague. I am also at a loss as to why the principal four were once again carted off the first night and not in the pub. The fan base has proven itself time and again yet the paranoia of keeping them under close guard continues. It was nice, however, that some fans were treated to seeing them by the stage door the second night. It would seem though that there is still this fear of male fans on the part of those calling the shots. I do not get that sense from the ladies themselves and never have. The avid fans are every bit as protective of these precious gems as the ones internally charged with guarding them. I do not believe that the recording in Atlanta had anything to do with the cancellation of the UK tour. Everyone went on a break. While I think these hard working artists deserve lots of breaks, they had just come off a long one after the German tour. American fans should not be blamed by UK fans for what happened. I do not believe the group will tour the UK in the future as they will no longer be welcome after two cancelled tours. That having been said, the continent is embracing the ensemble quite well and has already been booked for next year.

So, another long speech. Some will like it, some will not. It is what it is. All of life is what it is. But for me this past four years I live for life's experiences, its relationships, and its beauty. I have found no greater beauty in humankind than in the music and magic of Celtic Woman and its artists. Perfect? No. But nothing else and no one else have ever inspired me to write the volumes I have in poetry and prose. God owns my soul. A certain fiddler owns my heart. Love, if it is real, is both unconditional and giving. an unrequited love is still love and it still produces positive things if channeled properly. I believe we are headed as a world and a nation into incredibly dark times. But I believe in the power of The Holy Spirit, the power of music that comes from it, and the power of love that can and does overcome any challenge. In those things I am a true believer. What do you believe? I Believe I'll go see more Celtic Woman shows, God willing. God bless 'em in spite of the flaws in the system. Cheers, Scott

Government excess, riots, spoiled brats, the needy, and feral humans part II

I see a world turning ever darker, ever more desperate, ever more angry, ever more selfish, and ever more violent. I see the forces of darkness and light aligning and preparing to face off against one another. Amidst it all there are points of life, love, and hope. No, not the phony hope politicians who want votes dispense, but the real hope in greater things and in a greater power.

I've watched the world slowly erode this year both from natural forces and that of humankind. Horrific stories of earthquakes, tsunamis, major storms, floods, drought, and heat. We can do nothing about those things but it seems Mother Earth is rather grumpy to say the least. Such things are ages old and Scripture speaks about them as well. But there are things we can control if we unite and do so. Those are the things humankind is doing to itself at the hands of its leaders and its criminals. At times they are one and the same.

Government excess has run rampant over the citizens around the world. It begins with the greed of the elite in power not only in government but in other positions of power. Don't get me wrong, if you earn it honestly and harm no one in the process then you deserve it. Yet you should also have compassion and voluntarily share it with those in need. But it seems that the elite in power have an all consuming need to own it all. The resulting backlash in places all across the planet is predictable. It comes when government promises too much, can't possibly deliver, yet takes more and more without the will of the people. Such was the case beginning in Egypt and spread throughout North Africa and West Asia. Such is the case in the imploding nations of the EU. Every one of those nations should promptly remove itself and the EU should be done away with. Such violence will likely soon be the case in other nations including our own. You cannot promise to do everything for the people, take more and more yet spend beyond it, then deliver nothing or deliver poorly. It is a formula bound to fail and it has in nation after nation. I keep hearing "tax the wealthy" yet that denies the reality that the folks in charge ARE the wealthy. It also denies that you could take every asset from every so called wealthy person and not even pay a fraction of the interest on the debt. How about the Federal Reserve rescind interest payments on the debt? Oh no, the bankers won't do that! If you actually put teeth in taxing the wealthy they have the ability to simply pick up and leave. No, the real target is the middle class who will bear the brunt of any tax policy. The goal of governments around the world is a two class society of ruling elite and serfs. The latter are to be dependent, ignorant, and poor. Middle class is too much of a threat to the elite. So what has the lunacy of policy and elitist greed and thought wrought?

The result has been violence with the latest taking place in the UK. Mobs of spoiled brats take to the streets, loot, burn, and hurt people because they cannot have what they want simply handed to them. So they take it. It is not totally their doing. It is the way they have been conditioned in the home, schools, and media. These are mainly young males without work, but some are truly children. Unemployment is rising quickly in western nations. They are bored, angry, and spoiled. They see no prospect at earning and the austerity programs due to government abuse mean less given to them. People should have never been promised such a thing to begin with. If you feed a wild animal long enough it will become dependent and not able to feed itself. When you take it away it either starves or goes on a foraging rampage. Such is the cost of government programs that simply give after taking from others. It removes incentive from both groups. All the while the truly needy of the planet are ignored. Not that handouts are the answer for them either. Everyone deserves the dignity of earning their own way to support themselves and their families. That is robbed of them again by governments who horde it for themselves and their elite friends.

In the states we have been told our national credit rating has dropped a notch. It should have been dropped several. The insatiable appetite of the ruling elite in DC, all of whom are millionaires, could not be quenched. As they spend more and more beyond their means they print more money (if not in reality but on paper) and they erode the currency. While they vote themselves regular pay raises their policies create inflation which erodes the average citizen's ability to make ends meet let alone get ahead. They have lied about figures to cover their tracks. Inflation is actually at 12% and not the low single digits they claim. How is that? In the 1980's they removed food and fuel from the statistics. Do you go out and by a fridge or TV every week? a car? A house? No. They have also lied about unemployment. Each week more go on the unemployment rolls yet others disappear when their benefits run out. Yet media says that new claims for unemployment are down. It leads the average person to think unemployment is down. It is not. Only the newly unemployed applications are fewer than the week before. See the spin? We are at between 25-30% unemployment and rising. Add that to rising costs due to inflation and you see a recipe for the same thing here you are seeing in the UK. It is only a matter of time and simply needs a trigger. Be ready.

It takes me back to an earlier blog about feral humans. Undisciplined beasts who operate only on base instinct. They want what they want and will simply take it. Doesn't matter if its money, sex, or something that belongs to someone else. It would seem many in the ruling elite are feral humans just as much as the unruly and violent mobs on the streets. The people have been divided against themselves by those who rule and their affiliates. It is time to cohere as one body and in an orderly way take back what is ours by law in the Constitution. Those in power should be trembling as the economy and society will only degrade more before the 2012 elections. It is a formula for even greater grab for power by governments as they squelch the violence their own policies created. You need only look at the TSA to see how far it can go in encroaching on your rights. If you want it, earn it. That includes freedom. Don't leave it to others to do it for you. The founders of this nation did not.

On another more pleasant note we have the beauty that is Celtic Woman. They are coming to the states in September to do a new DVD recording. They will be overwhelmed by their audience of avid and energetic fans. The artists have earned that even if those that surround them have not. The show is without flaw in general with few exceptions. It is uplifting and inspiring in a time when we need such things. While some critics grumble about it being staged and artificial, those of us frequent concert goers know the genuine nature of the artists and the nuances of each night. Don't mistake choreography for a lack of passion or inability to touch deeply at the heart. The schedule has always been a busy one and thus some have left. Those that remain and the new additions continue the legacy of quality in artistry and care for their craft and their fans. Yes, there are still bugs in the system as revealed of late by yet another end to shows in the UK. That is twice now and the reason given seems a bit skeptical for many. It will likely end any decent support for the ensemble in the UK ever again. Yet on the continent they were met with great sales and great audiences. Enough so they will return this fall and again next spring. The artists themselves are busy people and thus at times less than attentive on line to fans and forums. But it is also understood the massive amount of comments to wade through and they cannot possibly respond to them all. In my opinion each of the artists should be following their fan forums on Twitter. But here I must single out the newest Celtic Woman, Lisa Lambe, for going out of her way to make the kindest remarks to her fan forum and for sending messages and tweets to some individuals. There was a time when they all did that. Perhaps it is because she is new and not jaded. The core three seem a bit more encroached upon and seem to have backed off a bit. I'd like to think the success isn't going to their heads. That delightful fiddler had been wonderfully supportive of her forum yet has not been so much of late. She did tweet to her forum back in April which was very sweet. The charity drive in her name is going incredibly well in spite of the awful economy. Chloe has never responded to her forum on either Twitter or FB. No idea why but that forum is still very strong and very active with fans around the world. Lisa Kelly responds reasonably well on Facebook by at least clicking the like button which is a nice signal she is still connected. Former choir members Amy Rivard, Julian David Edwards, and Sarah Burke have been wonderful this year in responding to their fans. Amy and Sarah have forums and they have said very kind things about them. Former CW ladies Meav, Orlagh, Deirdre, and Alex have been responsive in various ways to their fans and Orlagh has been quite successful in her solo tours. Lynn Hilary seems willing to ignore the fans she won for whatever reason, which may simply be her personal discomfort with individual attention. Current choir member Dermot Kiernan has been the most responsive to fans is currently on a very special trek in Spain. A new show will be born soon and with it more inspiration and ever more devotion by the fan base. If you focus on the positive, things of true beauty, peace, and love, then all the ugly and negative of this world fades to the background. It doesn't mean you ignore it, but it means you are better equipped to face it. God bless the artists past and present of Celtic Woman for bringing so many of us the kind of joy that can only be counted as a gift from God. We'll see you and a huge throng of fans in Atlanta.

Peace, Scott