William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 12-11-15
The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest man-made thing in the world for 3,800 years. Then in 1311 the Lincoln Cathedral was built and that surpassed it.
William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 12-10-15
William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 12-10-15
The westernmost state is Alaska. And so is the easternmost state. Some of the Aleutian Islands are on other side of the International Date Line.
Female Vets Sought For Saturday Ceremony
Female veterans are being sought to participate in Wreaths Across America ceremony 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Delaware County Veterans Memorial, 4599 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square.
It’s a last minute notice but if if one can participate she should email here name/branch/military service to ARTEMISProductions@juno.com.
Any age veteran from World War II through the current conflicts will be accepted. The ceremony will last about 30 minutes.
Female Vets Sought For Saturday Ceremoney
Tom Bergbauer R.I.P.
Tom Bergbauer died yesterday, Dec. 9.He was 82 and lived in Sicklerville, N. J.
Thomas A. Bergbauer had worked 38 years as a reporter with the Courier Post and was vice president of the Philadelphia Press Association.
He is survived by his wife Doris C. (nee Narciso); son, Thoma Jr.; daugher, Teresa Gericke ; four grandchildren, Thomas A. Bergbauer, III , Samantha Bergbauer, John Gericke, IV and Ryan Gericke; great grandson Luke Bergbauer and his brother Louis V. Bergbauer and the late Francis Bergbauer.
Tom belonged to the Vita Nuova Sons of Italy Lodge #2327. He was very active with the Knights of Columbus and was a third degree honorary life member of the Santa Maria Council #1443 in Haddon Twp. and a fourth degree member of Bishop Eustace Assembly #652 and its color corps. Tom was also a volunteer at the Cathedral Kitchen.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
There will be a viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Saturday morning at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, St. Luke’s Church, 55 Warwick Rd., Stratford, N.J. 08084. Funeral Mass 12 noon at church. Interment New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
Family and friends may share memories at www.GardnerFuneralHome.com.
Tom Bergbauer R.I.P.
Marian Apparitions National Geographic
Marian Apparitions — The December 2015 edition of National Geographic has a fascinating and respectful article about the many reported appearances of the Virgin Mary worldwide throughout history and how the Catholic Church treats them.
The article describes how these apparitions have involved in prophecies that came true, formed nations and have been connected to unexpected curse for those thought to be suffering without hope.
The article, “How the Virgin Mary Became the World’s Most Powerful Woman” can be found here.
Hat tip Tom C.
Marian Apparitions National Geographic
William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 12-9-15
William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 12-9-15
Movies made in Cantonese Chinese must be dubbed for those who speak Mandarian Chinese.
Trump Outrage Misses Point
Donald Trump said, Monday, Dec. 7, that there should be a ban on Muslim immigration until we find out “what the hell is going on” in the Muslim community and oh did the outrage machine get in gear. Well, the Trump outrage misses point.
Here is today’s front page of the New York Daily News.
Golly what incisive commentary. The Donald is beheading the Statue of Liberty with a scimitar. If The Donald carried around a scimitar we sure wouldn’t want him as president, much less if he beheaded people. Actually, if he beheaded people and put it on YouTube we would want him banned from the country.
Here is yesterday’s front page of the Philadelphia Daily News.
We should just invoke Godwin’s Law and make Trump president. But let’s not. Let’s just point out that, unlike with Christianity and Judaism, Hitler never tried to wipe out Islam. He actually kind of liked it. Some say it even inspired him.
Even the Delaware County Daily Times feels obliged to defend the poor oppressed sect of head choppers. Delco Muslims Discount Trump Because They Have Faith in America their front page screams. Do the Delco Muslims have faith in our history of tolerance of dissenting views? Or do they have faith that our social events make for a lot of fat targets? We wonder.
And that gets us to the point. If piracy, violence and terror were not granted permission by a religious document there would be no call for a ban on immigration for those who accept the authority of such a document which are those who called themselves Muslim. If the sect had a reputation for merely praying seven times a day and then passing flowers to passersby there would no controversy. Is there anyone calling for an immigration ban on Buddhists? Hindus? Didn’t think so.
This is not a religious dispute about the nature of God or even His existence. This is an existential philosophical battle.
Our nation was founded on the values of certain unalienable right bestowed upon all individuals by our Creator. This dovetails very nicely with, and is in fact based upon, the value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Philosophies that conflict with this must be and will invariably be fought and we would be fools to welcome those who hold such conflicting philosophies.
And for the record it should be noted that Trump is not calling for a permanent ban. It’s rather bad journalism to imply otherwise.
Trump Outrage Misses Point
BillLawrenceOnline.com Has New Look
BillLawrenceOnline.com has a new look. It is cleaner and appears to work better on mobile devices. 
We hope it meets your approval.
WAMS Back In Senate Budget
By Matthew Brouillette
Yesterday, Dec. 7, the Pennsylvania Senate passed budget-related legislation: SB 1073 and SB 1082. Now, taxpayers can finally see what’s in Gov. Wolf’s “framework” for a new budget. Here are five things we know:
1. Excessive Spending Growth. The $30.8 billion budget represents record spending and a 5.4 percent increase over last year’s budget. Even including items shifted off budget last year, this amounts to an increase of $500 million more than inflation and population growth.
2. WAMs are back. The Senate budget includes a $103 million increase in Community and Economic Development spending. This includes several line-items identified as WAMs (or “walking around money”)—slush funds used for special projects. In the past, they’ve been used to buy votes and foster rampant corruption.
3. Problematic pension reform. The revised pension bill includes a side-by-side hybrid, with a smaller defined benefit pension and a defined contribution component. While a step in the right direction, it doesn’t get the politics out of pensions.
The proposal further underfunds teachers’ and state workers’ pensions and lacks transparency. It suspends a provision that requires pension bills to have an actuarial note explaining long-term impact before a vote.
4. No privatization in “liquor privatization.” The Senate liquor plan—which has been reported on but not yet passed—would retain the government monopoly over wholesale distribution. That means every retailer would continue to buy wine and spirits from the PLCB. There would be a “study” to recommend whether the state should privatize. On the retail side, state stores would remain open in perpetuity.
5. Higher Taxes. The Senate plan requires higher taxes. We know this will include some broad-based tax increase to generate the $600-$700 million needed to pay for the spending.
We don’t know what taxes will go up. There is no agreement on a tax plan; that is, the Senate passed a budget without the revenues to pay for it. It’s unclear if there is support in the Senate to pass a tax hike, but there are very clear signs there isn’t support in the House for a tax hike of this magnitude.
To see how your senator voted, here is the roll call for SB 1073 and SB 1082.
It’s not over yet. To voice your concern to your Senate and House members, email them today.
Mr. Brouillette is president and CEO of Commonwealth Foundation.
WAMS Back In Senate Budget
William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 12-8-15
William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 12-8-15
The last person killed in a duel in England was Frederic Cournet in 1852, a French refugee. His opponent was Emannuel Barthelemy, another French refugee, who would be convicted of manslaughter for the deed. Barthelemy served but seven months.
Three years later, however, he shot and killed his boss along with another man. For this he was hanged.