Brutally Honest

Whose cheese is it, anyway?

By BroKen

In 1998, Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson published a book called “Who Moved My Cheese?” that has become an icon in business circles. It is a short little book which, at its core, is a parable about business but also about life. The parable focuses on a couple of mice who traverse a maze in search of cheese. When they find it, they learn the turns necessary to find it again and again and so are happy. But one day, there is no cheese at the usual location, so the whole process of finding the cheese begins again.

It is an interesting story which fits a lot of life. Change happens and we must adapt. But I wonder if the authors of the book understand the irony of their parable and its title. Creating main characters as mice running after their goal, do they realize they're describing what most of us call the “Rat Race”? Are they aware that most people want out of the maze; out of the pointless chasing after “cheese” and the arbitrary decisions necessary to get it? It is possible that they chose the maze metaphor in order to express that frustration. But I don't remember any place where they advise an outlook above or beyond the maze. There is advice to explore new and different areas of the maze and they describe lots of different and unusual cheeses, but it's all the same maze and it's all just cheese.... in the parable.

Even more puzzling to me is the fact that the authors never once answer the question of the title. To be fair, this isn't a religious book and perhaps they thought that any answer they give would turn some people off, so they left people to make their own solutions. But it is a very good question and it really does require an answer. If “cheese” represents fulfillment in life; contentment and satisfaction... Why does it keep moving as we go through life? Why does fulfillment fade away over time as things that once satisfied, no longer seem to do so? Who made this crazy maze anyway... and why?

Well, there is One who made the maze and moves the cheese. Why? Because when the cheese moves there is a chance that we'll look up and ask, “Hey, who moved the cheese?” In that moment, we might actually hear an answer like, “I did. Now that I've got your attention I'd like to talk to you about...” before we scurry off again looking for more cheese. Most of us, with sufficient cheese, would be content to stay in the “Rat Race” forever.

So, instead of looking left or right to find the cheese, whatever cheese means to you, look up to the One who made the maze and all the cheese that's in it. He can lift you up and out. Ultimately, life is never about cheese. It is always about Him.

 

Godfrey: Doesn't give a damn what Obama does to the country

Is this for real... or is it satirical and the joke's on those who really think this way? (Language warning)

Not sure when this was taped but you wonder... if it's for real... is he still thinking the same way now? Or was he just making fun of Obama supporters?

Color me curious.

Crossposted at Wizbang.

Doesn't this sound like a threat?

Van Jones is predicting an American fall:

"Hold on to your hats, we're going to have an October offensive to take back the American dream and rescue America's middle class," Jones told MSNBC's "The Last Word."

Jones warns of an "American Fall" like there was an Arab Spring.

Jones was President Obama's "green jobs czar" until he resigned in fall of 2009. Transcript below:

Van Jones: "We are going to build a progressive counterbalance to the tea party. Eighty percent of Americans agree with everything that you say on this show, but we have no voice. We know that jobs are more important, and this phony, made-up deficit stuff they talk about. We know that people who have done well in America should do well by America and start paying America back in the form of more fair taxes.

"People who benefited from the bailouts and from the tax breaks should start paying America back. They're doing great.

"Everybody else is suffering. That is 80 percent of the majority. And we're going to now have a voice.

"And you're going to see an American fall, an American autumn, just like we saw the Arab spring. You can see it right now with these young people on Wall Street. Hold onto your hats. We're going to have an October offensive to take back the American dream and to rescue America's middle class."

First you have Obama stating that America's soft... and then you have one of his czars say we're going to see an American fall.  Is there linkage?  Is there collusion?

The question posed in the title of this post is a valid one... and the follow-up is most cogent.

What will you do to defend against this predicted American fall?

Crossposted at Wizbang.

Obama now needs to rename the "Buffet Rule"...

... I suggest the "I'll-do-anything-to-redistribute-wealth Rule":

CNBC: "Are you happy that the way it is being described. Is the program that the White House has presented a million dollars and over your program? "

Warren Buffett: "Well, the precise program which will -- I don't know what their program will be. My program would be on the very high incomes that are taxed very low. Not just high incomes. Somebody making $50 million a year playing baseball, his taxes won't change. Make $50 million a year appearing on television, his income won't change. But, if they make a lot of money and pay a very low tax rate, like me, it would be changed by a minimum tax that would only bring them up to what other people pay."

CNBC: "Does that mean you disagree with the president's new jobs proposal which would be paid for by raising taxes on households with incomes of over $250,000."

Buffett: "That's another program that I won't be discussing. My program is to have a tax on ultra-rich people who are very tax rates. Not just all rich people.

How exactly will the White House spin this? 

The pic by the way is obviously of Buffett singing a different tune that that being sung by the White House.

Crossposted at Wizbang.

Obama: America "had gotten a little soft"

By Locutisprime

Is there any better example of hubris?

Searching for words, the president lets slip a significant piece of his reality during this interview. And that reality speaks volumes in my opinion. There is absolutely no association or connection made by his mind, that America's downward spiral competitively and economically, has anything at all to do with policy. Especially not his policy.

No mention of NAFTA or the myriad of federal regulations or EPA decrees that have been enacted to hobble and destroy industry after industry in this country over the last twenty years. No mention of the polices that he has enacted, or the other policies that are looming to be enacted, especially his environmental policies. No, none of that. Obama's simple revelation is that America has gone soft, no more, no less. Therefore if you are looking to assign blame? Assign it there.

That's what comes to his mind. And to think, that this is just a peek in the mind of what he must really think as it concerns this country and it's people. I would imagine, he actually believes that we as a nation are precisely where he and others want to see us at this juncture in time and he as his regime are quite content to continue to witness and steer that demise toward oblivion.

So....Let's recap the Obama presidency to date.  First everything was Bush's fault, then everything was congress' fault and now? Everything is America's fault. But it certainly isn't Barack Obama's fault.

Guess what? Herman Cain supporters are racist

By Locutisprime

"Let me tell you something about you that you didn't know!" For those wondering what could possibly be the next twist on racism that liberals might use to prop up their guy and their belief system, the waiting is over. Look no further than (comedian) Janeane Garofalo, who comes though once again for the Kool Aid drinkers.

RealClearPolitics:

"Herman Cain is probably well liked by some of the Republicans because it hides the racist elements of the Republican party. Conservative movement and tea party movement, one in the same. "People like Karl Rove liked to keep the racism very covert. And so Herman Cain provides this great opportunity say you can say 'Look, this is not a racist, anti-immigrant, anti-female, anti-gay movement. Look we have a black man.'"

Her observations of alleged  'conservative racism' begin at the 5:10 mark on the video, but not before she excoriates both Andrew Briebart and Sarah Palin as a guest on Kieth Obermann's most recent mutation and incarnation of faux entertainment programming. Take note, Ms. Garafalo doesn't like FOX news either. (surprise!)

Anwar al-Awlaki killed by drone attack in Yemen

Yet another Al Qaeda leader has assumed room temperature:

The U.S.-born terror mastermind Anwar al-Awlaki has been killed, Fox News confirms.

Awlaki was killed with several other suspected al Qaeda operatives, the Yemeni defense ministry said. The statement did not elaborate on the circumstances of Awlaki's death.

However, tribal sources told AFP that Awlaki was killed in an air strike which hit two vehicles in Marib province, an al Qaeda stronghold in eastern Yemen early Friday.

The 40-year-old, who was born in New Mexico, was linked to the 2009 Christmas Day "underwear bomber" plot -- a narrowly foiled bid to blow up a passenger jet approaching Detroit.

He was also linked to the failed Times Square bomb attempt in May last year and the November 2009 Fort Hood shooting, in which 13 people were killed by a gunman at the U.S. Army base.

Ya gotta think that Al Qaeda's line of succession is feeling a tad uneasy these days.

Crossposted at Wizbang.

Jihadist with physics degree plots to bomb Pentagon, Capitol

The dude reportedly lived in a half a million dollar home with well-to-do parents:

A Massachusetts man with a degree in physics was charged Wednesday with plotting to blow up the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol using remote-controlled airplanes filled with explosives.

Rezwan Ferdaus, 26, was arrested in Framingham after undercover federal agents delivered materials he had allegedly requested, including grenades, six machine guns and what he believed was 24 pounds of C-4 explosive. Federal officials said the public was never in danger from the explosives, which it said were always under control and closely monitored.

...

A federal affidavit says Ferdaus, of Ashland, began planning "jihad" against the U.S. in early 2010 after becoming convinced America was evil through jihadi websites and videos. He contacted a federal informant that December and months later, allegedly began meeting to discuss the plot with undercover federal agents he believed were members of al-Qaida.

A U.S. citizen who graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor's degree in physics, Ferdaus said he wanted to deal a psychological blow to the "enemies of Allah" by hitting the Pentagon, which he called "head and heart of the snake," according to the affidavit.

"Allah has given us the privilege," he allegedly told the informant. "... He punishes them by our hand. We're the ones."

Ferdaus made a brief initial appearance Wednesday in federal court on charges of attempting to destroy federal buildings and providing support to a foreign terrorist organization, al-Qaida. A detention hearing was scheduled for Monday.

...

Ferdaus is accused of planning to use three remote control airplanes measuring from 60 to 80 inches in length. He allegedly planned to pack five pounds of explosives in each plane, while saving some of it to blow up bridges near the Pentagon.

The planes, guided by GPS and capable of speeds greater than 100 mph, would hit the Pentagon and blow the Capitol dome to "smithereens," according to Ferdaus' plan, detailed in the affidavit. Ferdaus then planned a follow-up attack with six people divided into two teams, all armed with automatic weapons, according to the affidavit.

Ferdaus traveled to Washington in June to do surveillance, the affidavit said, and he drew up a 15-phase attack plan. He also allegedly rented storage space to work on the planes in Framingham, telling the manager he planned to use the space for music.

Asked at one point about possibly killing women and children, Ferdaus allegedly said all unbelievers of Islam were his enemies.

As Wizbang colleague Jay Tea reports, thankfully the man wasn't a Tea Party member... that might've been serious cause for concern for Obama administration officials since it's just another jihadist, no real concerns.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani

By Tim Chesterton

I hope that Brutally Honest readers will forgive me this morning, as I am in some haste, for simply posting a couple of links to my blog. Suffice it to say that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani seems very likely to join the ranks of the martyrs in the next few days, as a court in Iran seems poised to impose the death penalty on him. Please pray for him and his family, and please email your local Iranian embassy on his behalf. Links to posts on my blog here and here. Thank you for your prayers.

Rosh Hashanah's in the house tonight

Celebrating the Jewish new year, this is pretty cool:

H/T to American Digest.