Thursday, January 30, 2014

Chaos. A modern American City


Chaos. Two days of mayhem in one of the world's most modern cities.
I'm referring to Atlanta, Georgia.
The same day that Atlanta received 2 inches of snow and came to a standstill, several cities in Canada received five times as much and continued to function normally.
Two hours after this 'storm' passed through Atlanta, 100,000 vehicles were paralysed on the three inter-states, and remained so for the next 36 hours. Two inches of snow.
Cars were overturned, tractor-trailers jack-knifed, there were 2,000 fender-benders, one fatality, one baby delivered by the side of the highway. Overnight 3,000 cars were abandoned, the National Guard was called out and all emergency services were deployed for two inches of snow!
Atlanta, America's  sixth largest city, grid-locked.

The point I wish to make is this. America has satellites galore in space, early warning systems in case of nuclear attack, its citizens are spied on to the minutest detail, cameras are everywhere, but nobody could bring this arsenal of technology to bear to fix a two inch snowfall.
Big Government again. They let a city grind to a halt for two days but took our jars of Marmite off the shelf for public safety.
Some one rightly said, the most common elements in the world are hydrogen and stupidity, and I'm inclined to agree with them.
Ian

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Adrift at Sea. A modern Day Ghost Ship.

I was struck by the story of M.V. Lyubov Orlova. 
This was once a luxury cruise ship that was being brought to port when the tow rope snapped in a gale and the vessel drifted off into the storm.
There have been sightings of the hulk since then but no accurate co-ordinates have been established.
For any one who can locate and bring the vessel to port there will be a pay-out of two million dollars as a salvage bonus.

But a caution to would-be adventures. 

Word is out that the stricken vessel (now adrift for 12 whole months) will be swarming with rats and other vermin and may well be a giant incubator of plague germs.

This puts me in mind of many gifted and precious people I have known personally who, somehow or other, lost their way and are now adrift in the vast ocean of life. Without rudder, without chart, without captaincy, without co-ordinates. Once cruise ships they are now ghost ships in this world, waiting for someone to attach a tow rope and rescue them.
Many years ago, believing in the mission statement of Jesus Christ:
"I am come to seek and to save that which is lost" I joined His salvage company. We don't get a million dollars for every lost ship we bring to port, but it is sure great to hear the Angels rejoicing when we do.

Jubilate.

Ian

Sunday, January 26, 2014

A modern Day Horror Story.

My wife and I went through an horrific shock this morning. 
On checking the news on our computer we found that two of our favorite (nay, revered)foods have been been condemned by the Canadian Food and Drug administration. 

I am speaking about Marmite and Bovril, of course.

These concentrated beef and vegetable products saw both Pauline and I through the lean years after the war, when our mothers assiduously clipped coupons from ration books to keep their families fed.

As far as we were concerned they stood for every thing British, along with Lucozade, Ovaltine and Penguin bars.
Now, in one hideous fell-swoop, they have been taken off the shelves of "Over 'ome" British stores in Canada; classified as dangerous to public health by the National Nanny.

Meantime legislation blithely proceeds to legalize marijuana and hash oil because of their 'medicinal benefits' to the human brain.

And maybe that's what it is all about. What these people have been smoking!

Back to those early days in England. My parents, as independent business people, instilled in me a healthy distrust of big government.
That distrust has only grown as the years have passed.
This morning's news has not served to weaken my conviction.

Trust in God and keep your powder dry and stock up on Marmite while you can.

Jubilate 

Ian