Marian Apparitions National Geographic

Marian Apparitions National GeographicMarian 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.

Trump Outrage Misses Point

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.

Trump Outrage Misses Point

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.

Trump Outrage Misses Point

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.  BillLawrenceOnline.com Has New Look

We hope it meets your approval.

 

WAMS Back In Senate Budget

WAMS Back In Senate BudgetBy 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

The last person killed in a duel in England was Frederic Cournet in 1852, 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.

ISIS Implant Protest

ISIS Implant ProtestISIS Implant Protest. A street rally to protest the settling of Islamic Syrians who might be  ISIS implants has been scheduled for 11 a.m., Dec. 12 at Almshouse Road and Route 611 in Doylestown, for those who might be interested

It is being sponsored by the Kitchen Table Patriots.

ISIS Implant Protest

William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 12-7-15

IJN ShinanoWilliam Lawrence Sr Omnibit 12-7-15

The Japanese built the largest aircraft carrier in World War II.  It was the Shinano and she was 290 yards long and displaced 65,800 metric tons. She was launched on on Oct. 8, 1944. She was ready for sea  on Nov. 19. She was sunk 10 days later by the submarine USS Archerfish.

Shinano

Chesapeake Energy Bankruptcy Seen With Tax

Chesapeake Energy Bankruptcy Seen With TaxBy Sen. Scott Wagner: Chesapeake Energy Bankruptcy Predicted With Wolf Tax: 

Last Friday, Dec. 4, PennLive.com published a story titled “Severance Tax ‘100 percent guaranteed’ to be in next PA budget, Wolf policy secretary says”.

I have a prediction that Governor Wolf and his policy secretary, John Hanger, might find interesting.

I consider myself to be a fairly qualified and experienced investor – I regularly go on Yahoo Finance and check out financials and news of public companies.

Here is my prediction: I predict that Chesapeake Energy (NYSE Symbol – CHK) will file for bankruptcy protection within the next 12 months.

Here is my reasoning:

#1 Natural gas prices are at historic lows – natural gas companies are not able to cover their fixed costs and cover debt payments at the current price – to simplify this – if gas is selling for $2  per gallon and your fixed costs are $3  per gallon the company is losing $1 per gallon, and as a result the company will burn through massive amounts of cash quickly – in business when you run out of cash – you have a HUGE problem.

I researched Chesapeake’s most recent financials – just in the quarter ending September 30, 2015 – their third quarter revenue was $2.893 billion   – after paying ALL expenses they lost $4.695 billion  – that means just in the third quarter alone Chesapeake would have burned through $1,802 billion  of cash. They cannot continue at this rate. Chesapeake will run out of cash.

#2 Natural gas pricing is not going up for quite some time because the natural gas supply is far GREATER than demand – in addition, there are almost 1100 gas wells in PA that have been drilled, and are capped, and are not producing gas. Almost all of the 1100 wells do not have pipe lines in place to carry the gas to the main transmission line so there is still a lot of infrastructure that needs to be installed. This infrastructure costs money. Gas companies do not have the cash to install these pipe lines at the current low natural gas prices.

#3 Another large issue is that oil and natural gas companies routinely hedge their prices to protect for a price collapse – this is a type of insurance – typically these hedges only go out for two years. In simple terms, many of the natural gas companies had hedges in place when prices were a lot higher that paid them double or triple the current market rate for their gas supply. When prices are as low as they currently are, hedging is not an option.

#4 Chesapeake Energy had a class action lawsuit filed against them last week by Pennsylvania landowners because they are deducting from royalty payments the cost to transport the gas from the wellhead to the main transmission line.

Many landowners  receive zero royalty payments after Chesapeake deducts the transport costs, and some land owners have received invoices to back bill for prior years transportation costs.

The class action lawsuit will be settled for cash that Chesapeake is running out of.

#5 If you are familiar with stock market investing there is term called margin. This term means that you can buy a stock for cash and the brokerage house will lend you money to buy more stock – this is called buying stock on margin. SEC rules do not allow a stock to be purchased on margin if it is under $5  per share. Last Thursday at the close of the New York Stock Exchange, Chesapeake stock closed under $5  per share. This means that any investor who used margin or borrowed money to purchase Chesapeake stock had a margin call which is a demand to sell the stock immediately so the loan is repaid. When a stock drops under $5  per share large investors flee. Investors will shy away from Chesapeake because their future does not look good.

This morning as I am writing this  ( 10:10 a.m. Dec. 7) Chesapeake stock is trading at $4.17 per share, down almost $.40 since the open of the stock market.

Chesapeake is one of several companies in Pennsylvania that are choking financially because natural gas prices are so low – there may very well be more companies than just Chesapeake Energy that will be forced to file for bankruptcy protection.

So what is my point? It’s this:  Governor Wolf ran his campaign for Governor telling everyone that he was going to get $1 billion dollars in severance taxes from the natural gas companies. With  current natural gas prices a severance tax would yield $100 million dollars at best.

There is currently an impact fee – tax in place – so the severance tax would cost the gas companies more money, which they do not have.

The reality is that the gas companies will pass any taxes on to consumers – which means YOUR gas bill will go up if there is a severance tax imposed.

Don’t believe me?

Read York Daily Record’s latest article, “Columbia Gas Gets Smaller Rate Hike Than Sought” which talks about the gas company passing on the costs.

And by the way, this morning the price for a barrel of oil dropped under $40 – it is currently at $38.71 at 10:20 a.m..

Oil companies are facing the same challenges as the natural gas industry because the price of oil is at historic lows.

Sen. Wagner represents the 28th District in the Pennsylvania Senate.

Chesapeake Energy Bankruptcy Predicted With Wolf Tax

Quran Hate Speech

Quran Hate Speech
Quick quiz Ms. Attorney General: What’s more “violent”, drawing this or trying to kill the person who did?

Quran Hate Speech. Obama’s Attorney General Loretta Lynch responded  to the Dec. 2  Islam-inspired slaughter in San Bernardino, Ca. by making a pledge the very next day to a Muslim lobbying group that she would prosecute anyone who used “anti-Muslim” rhetoric.

“When we talk about the First Amendment we  make it clear that actions predicated on violent talk are not American. They are not who we are, they are not what we do, and they will be prosecuted. My message not just to the Muslim community but to all Americans is: we cannot give in to the fear that these backlashes are really based on.”

Violent talk not American? Well, she may have a point. Pamela Geller brilliantly produced some very striking examples of violent talk found in the Quran which can be found here and are reproduced below. This talk is certainly unAmerican in our view.

Will Lynch prosecute? LOL.

And slay them wherever you come upon them, and expel them from where they expelled you; persecution is more grievous than slaying. But fight them not by the Holy Mosque until they should fight you there; then, if they fight you, slay them — such is the recompense of unbelievers, but if they give over, surely Allah is All-forgiving, All-compassionate. Fight them, till there is no persecution and the religion is Allah’s; then if they give over, there shall be no enmity save for evildoers. (Quran 2:191-193)

Men are the managers of the affairs of women for that Allah has preferred in bounty one of them over another, and for that they have expended of their property. Righteous women are therefore obedient, guarding the secret for Allah’s guarding. And those you fear may be rebellious admonish; banish them to their couches, and beat them. (Quran 4:34)

They wish that you should disbelieve as they disbelieve, and then you would be equal; therefore take not to yourselves friends of them, until they emigrate in the way of Allah; then, if they turn their backs, take them, and slay them wherever you find them; take not to yourselves any one of them as friend or helper. (Quran 4:89)

This is the recompense of those who fight against Allah and His Messenger, and hasten about the earth, to do corruption there: they shall be slaughtered, or crucified, or their hands and feet shall alternately be struck off; or they shall be banished from the land. That is a degradation for them in this world; and in the world to come awaits them a mighty chastisement. (Quran 5:33)

When thy Lord was revealing to the angels, ˜I am with you; so confirm the believers. I shall cast into the unbelievers’ hearts terror; so smite above the necks, and smite every finger of them! (Quran 8:12)

Make ready for them whatever force and strings of horses you can, to strike terror in the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides them that you know not; Allah knows them. And whatsoever you expend in the way of Allah shall be repaid you in full; you will not be wronged. (Quran 8:60)

Then, when the sacred months are drawn away, slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them, and confine them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayer, and pay the alms, then let them go their way; Allah is All-forgiving, All-compassionate. (Quran 9:5)

Fight those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden — such men as practise not the religion of truth, being of those who have been given the Book — until they pay the tribute out of hand and have been humbled. (Quran 9:29)

Allah has bought from the believers their selves and their possessions against the gift of Paradise; they fight in the way of Allah; they kill, and are killed; that is a promise binding upon Allah in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Koran; and who fulfils his covenant truer than Allah? So rejoice in the bargain you have made with Him; that is the mighty triumph. (Quran 9:111)

O believers, fight the unbelievers who are near to you; and let them find in you a harshness; and know that Allah is with the godfearing. (Quran 9:123)

When you meet the unbelievers, smite their necks, then, when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds; then set them free, either by grace or ransom, till the war lays down its loads. So it shall be; and if Allah had willed, He would have avenged Himself upon them; but that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will not send their works astray. (Quran 47:4)

Quran Hate Speech