The Economy of A Police Officer

Economy: sparing or careful use of something.

There has a been a heated controversy going on in Tulsa over letting some police officers go. The economy is to blame. Budgets have to be cut.

Here are some of the cuts: TULSA, OK -- The cutbacks at the Tulsa Police Department include the helicopter unit. Five officers who have spent most of their careers flying - are replacing rookies out on the streets.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Officials have figured out what to do with horses from the Tulsa Police Department's mounted patrol unit, which has been eliminated because of budget cuts.

Twenty-one officers turned in their equipment on Wednesday after learning they were laid off. The city says the budget is to blame. We watched as they emptied their cars and turned in their badges. They say they simply don't understand.

There is also a discussion about officers who do not live in Tulsa don't get to drive their cars home.

Tulsa - The Fraternal Order of Police is being asked to help the City keep police officers on the force by forgoing its take-home car benefit for officers.

I think the police budget should be the last item to cut. During this bad economy the crime rate has been going up. Every day there are more reports of bank robberies, hold-ups at convenience stores, home invasions, and car break-ins. When I drive a little over the speed limit I always keep my eye out for police or highway patrol and guess what? I rarely see them anymore.

I also think the parking of a police or highway patrol car in a neighborhood or apartment complex is an excellent crime deterrent. I know when I see a police car parked in my daughters' complex it makes me feel a little safer for them. I don't think giving this up would save enough dollars to matter.

When you think about the sacrifices these officers make every day, you just can't justify denying them their due. I've heard that officers get their coffee free at the places they frequent but that's a small price to pay for their presence. I would welcome them.

I believe they are worth every bit of pay or benefit they get. In fact, they are worth more. The economy of a police officer (sparing or careful use) is a delinquent (formal failing in one's duty) idea.

Egg in the Hole

I made "Egg in the Hole" for breakfast this morning. It is a recipe from "The Pioneer Woman Cookbook." My husband taught me how to make this when we first got married almost 34 years ago. His mother called it, "Hobo Sandwich." She made a story about a hobo who was hungry and so he borrowed an egg from a chicken and milked a glass of milk from a cow. I don't remember where he got the bread. It is a quick, easy breakfast. I love eggs anyway. Did you know that Dr. Oz says you should eat an egg a day? No more problems with cholesterol like they used to say. It is full of protein and all the vitamins except C. It is a good source of iodine and vitamin A.

The recipe is in Ree's new cookbook. It is obviously very easy to make just by looking at my plate. Bread, egg, butter, salt and pepper. You just cut a hole in the center of the bread with a biscuit cutter and brown the bread in butter in the skillet. Drop the egg in the center hole and cook on both sides. Voila! Instant breakfast. No need to make toast. You already have it.

What can I say?

Wordless Wednesday-Baby Face

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The Milk of Human Kindness

Milk of human kindness

Meaning

Care and compassion for others.

Origin

From Shakespeare's Macbeth, 1623:

"Yet doe I feare thy Nature, It is too full o' th' Milke of humane kindnesse."


I watched Marley and Me last week. I was unprepared for the sadness at the last half of the movie. I thought it was a comedy. I do recommend the movie to any animal lover but be warned: tears could fall. 

I also watched an episode last week on Dr. Phil about "Marcus Wesson molested, abused and controlled his family in cult-like ways, impregnated some of daughters and nieces, and murdered nine of his children one horrible night in 2004."

 It was horrible beyond belief.  

And you see these sad commercials about animal abuse.  Sometimes she sings "In the Arms of the Angel."  It really is a sad statement about human nature.  These are my beliefs.  I believe that all humans are capable of evil.  I believe that man was created in the image of God.  I believe that Adam and Eve fell by choosing to follow their fleshly desires.  I believe that there is a devil that tempts us but I believe that we make the choice.  God has made a way to escape temptations but we must look for the way.  Not every one is taught this.  But everyone is without excuse:  "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."

"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised.  Amen."

"Futhermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.  They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.  They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;  they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless."

"Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."   (Romans 1: 20-25; 28-32)

I think this describes our society quite well.  Man apart from God can commit atrocities.  I am not talking about religion either.  Religion has been the cause of most wars.  Religion is just a belief that you practice.  Mankind loves darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.  Turning away from God and being separated from Him has made a lot of evil deeds possible.  I am not trying to judge anyone, I think the Word of God has clearly done that already.  

I am thankful that not all people turn to darkness but it is sad to view the depths that some have fallen.  God help us.

This is what I believe.  There is so much more to this life than meets the physical eye!

Camping

Our trip to Dover, Arkansas was successful. We used our Chalet Alpine rv for the first time. We stayed four nights without too many problems. Since this was our first trip we had to get used to the camper. Hauling it was no problem, we were able to haul it and the four-wheeler trailer hooked together with our Toyota Tundra. We could run 70 and 75 miles ph easily. The first and second night our furnace came on and several times we would hear a beeping sound. My husband finally figured out the 12v wire needed to be hooked up so the spark igniter could work properly. The freezer worked great. Things were so cold in the refrig part that the milk partially froze. I had to turn it down. All our meat stayed frozen solid in the freezer. We didn't try out the shower because the campground had a shower and bathroom to use. Our air bed was great but we have decided to get a regular mattress because we will never use the table under the bed. We'll just dedicate that space to the bed full time. We had our flat-screen tv and dvd player that we bought for the rv. We got an off-air antenna that worked great picking up 9 channels with HD even. The only thing I cooked this time was waffles for breakfast. We ate a packed lunch every day out in the woods on the trails. Every evening after trail-riding we would get cleaned up and go into Russelville and find new places to dine. The weather was beautiful. It was pretty cool every morning and would warm up to about 60 degrees. We did not get rained on except the first night and that was while we were sleeping. We rode the Moccasin Gap trails every day. There were four couples all together. Two couples stayed in cabins and two of us stayed in RV's or toy haulers. It was a great trip.

Wordless Wednesday-Home Away From Home

2005 Chalet Alpine

Home away from home

Hauling toys. Headed for Arkansas Mountains.

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That's All Folks!