Herman Cain sings at the National Press Club

When Herman Cain began to sing I recognized the song:

"I will forever lift my eyes to Calvary. To view the cross, where Jesus died for me. How marvelous, the Grace that caught my falling soul. He looked beyond my faults and saw my need."

The songs of Dottie Rambo filled my childhood home.

I sang along.... tears filled my eyes. I know the words. I believe them to be true.

Darius McCrary also sings Dottie's song


Tammy Swofford

Global National Trauma

Readers,

Global National Trauma


Tammy

Bibi Jones and Rob Gronkowski

Oh the marvels of social networking sites!

Who had even heard of Bibi Jones before she sent a couple of pictures from her Twitter account?

Rob Gronkowski put her on the stage. No one to blame but himself.

Typing Bibi Jones into a search engine and then looking for images, it seems her "acting career" is narrowly focused on two regions of her body. Please note, the girl does not seem to be a bibliophile. Probably not an oenophile either. I bet she likes fermentation in a brown long neck bottle.

Tickets to NFL games seem a bit steep.

But at least Rob didn't have to spring for season tickets to the opera or symphony.

Bibi isn't picky. But Rob doesn't seem that particularly bright either.

Tammy Swofford

Intellectual Battlespace

It occurred to me today that possibly months have passed without a blog with an "Intellectual Battlespace" meta tag.

Back in May of 2010 I wrote the six part blog "Assassin's Creed" which addressed jihad sites and their impact.

In digging through files I found a document which I reviewed within a private corridor of writing. But I think pulling it out and reading it again may put smoke in the muzzle for a future blog.

Currently, I need to write the second commentary for Daily Times with a bit of predictive analysis for the coming decade. The first piece is in the queue and is a bit of a recap of the years 2001-2011. It will be on the page on Friday. But once I am done with the second piece, I intend pull something out of the rabbit's hat for this audience.

Best Regards,

Tammy Swofford

Facebook Friends and Brain Size

I will never know for sure. Do I possess a high EQ? My friends tell me my emotional quotient is off the scale.

Since I don't use Facebook or other social networking sites, there is little reason to MRI my brain.

See link here

Does Facebook enhance our status as a social creature in a burgeoning sea of humanity? Are we better for the experience or perhaps just a bit more arrogant?

Yes, it is a tool used to establish vibrant communities of thought. But it can also be a tool for passive aggressive malice. I can accept your request. But then I can "unfriend" you.

Am I your friend because I look at your profile and note you have a few friends I would really like to meet? Would I be your friend based on your merits alone?

What do you think? Is social networking friend or foe? Is it a neutral value? The whole thing reminds me of looking at a high school yearbook to note "most popular" and "most likely to succeed". The verdict is not in yet. smile

But my experience tells me that most of us have a few friends, and a greater number of acquaintances. My friends know me well.

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

FRIENDS

For my baby brother. smile


Friends by Michael W. Smith


Tammy

Strategic Targeting

Those who know me well are aware that compassion is one of the gifts of humanity I bring to the table. Tonight as I left the area shopping mall a homeless man was somewhat sprawled by the exit. He is a quiet little black gentleman who is probably in his mid-fifties and he never approaches people for handouts. A couple weeks ago I stopped at the Starbucks counter and grabbed a cookie for him. Tonight, I asked him how he was doing. Naturally, I called him "Sir". Even homeless people deserve dignity. His one word answer sounded like two syllables:

"Hawn Gree".

I fished around for the little cash on hand, a mere four dollars. Admonishing him to "spend it on food" he immediately scrambled to his feet and headed back into the mall. Maybe he will sleep a bit better tonight with a few more calories in his body.

But my compassion, does not extend to those who engage in acts of proxy violence. Here is the latest commentary for Daily Times.

Article link here

Tammy Swofford

Natural Woman

Omar Garcia is a friend of mine who writes a blog. When I pulled up this:

The X Factor

I just had to look for:

Stacy Francis

What a voice! What a gift! There is nothing better than an individual who can stand up and deliver a song with a fabulous voice and heartfelt emotion. Move over, Lady Gaga. Ms. Francis wears a simple black outfit and does not need any props. It is not showmanship. It is a life lived in the real space which delivers the song.

Smiling,

Tammy

October Joys

October is a wonderful month for taking little road trips. The weather is beautiful and the long summer is now a thing of the past. A friend and I took off for Gainesville this week for a very important reason. We wanted to purchase some fried pies. smile This little restaurant on the city square has a great menu with affordable prices. But it is the fried pie display which brings the city folks to the countryside.

We sped on to Muenster, Texas to purchase cheese, bread and smoked sausage at a little grocery store loaded with food items from Germany.

Next week - the State Fair of Texas awaits me and a few friends. Foot-long corny dogs, fried salsa, fried bubble gum and funnel cakes topped with whipped cream will call out to our fat cells. I can hardly wait!

Smiling,

Tammy Swofford
tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Protecting a Woman

Hey Readers,

Here is the latest for Daily Times - including an updated photo. The previous photo used for my column was the blog photo. For the blog, I will remain eternally young. smile

Article Link


Tammy Swofford

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Stalking for Dollars

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel stalked this month?

My grocery store has pink ribbons on price tags everywhere. I am asked if I want to give a dollar to "cure breast cancer". I find the script degrading. If I say "no", then the implication is that I don't give a damn about curing breast cancer. I am an insensitive soul. Who can't afford to give a dollar?

The last time I went through the line, the cashier glared at me when I declined the script. Maybe she has survived breast cancer. I have a brother in a wheelchair with a brain tumor. He needs my dollar. His tumor does not warrant the funding which breast cancer receives.

On Tuesday of next week a large box will await the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In the box, some of the most expensive and gently worn clothing in my closet. There is the suit that I wore twice. I purchased it to speak at an event at the Park Cities Club in Dallas. I then wore it to a general meeting, when serving as the 2nd vice president of my local MOAA chapter. Expensive shoes with nice heels have made their way into the box. The LLS always calls with a supplication for any clothing or household items for pick up. Susan G. Komen has the feel of arm-twisting.

I see pink ribbons everywhere. I am tired of the media and market saturation.

I believe in direct hand-off charity. There are no administrative or advertisement costs attached to what I give to those in need.

Breast cancer has sufficient funding. What about childhood asthma? What about little kids with eye tumors? What about funding for strokes, spinal cord injury research or traumatic brain research?

I did give a dollar the other day. My favorite cashier informed me that she receives gift cards if she secures the top donations for her store. I love my cashier. So I gave a dollar. But I am going to add to the script next time I shop. I will loudly proclaim: "My brother is a brain cancer survivor. Would you like to give a dollar to help him?" I await the stunned silence.

Tammy Swofford

James Oppenheim: Buy U.S.A.

Jim is a great friend, and it has been quite awhile since I have linked to his site. But this latest post caught my eye tonight.

Buy U.S.A.



Tammy

Daily Times Article: October 7, 2011

Readers,

Here is my latest contribution to freedom of expression. smile


Article Link


Tammy

Smear Campaign Against Governor Rick Perry

The headline on the front of the New York Times today is, "Snag for Perry: Offensive Name at Texas Camp".

So it seems good to take a moment to remind the readership of yearly honesty and ethics polls. Nurses and military officers are at the top. As a nurse and an officer I now direct your attention to the link on the page to see the ethics-n-honesty rating for news reporters.

Lemme get this straight.

Governor Rick Perry hunts at a West Texas ranch. His father leased the land and hunted at the ranch thirty years ago. This is a family tradition. In Texas, deer leases last longer than the average marriage.

On Sunday the Washington Post was all over the page with their (ahem) research. Apparently, there was a rock near the entrance to the ranch with the word "Niggerhead". As recently as three years ago, or maybe it was in the "1990's", or on the other hand, maybe it was in the "1980's", the specter of offense was displayed on a rock. The statistical sampling was "at least seven people".

Slap yo' Mama! I am impressed! Thirty years ago, twenty years ago, or three years ago "at least seven people" have a shared memory of paint on a rock. The whole thing reads like a bungled smear campaign.

This "revelation" is now a "challenge" to Governor Perry. Zzzzz

Please, dear minions of the media. Let me know if Governor Perry:

*Has sexual relations with a child

*Smokes dope in the choir loft every Sunday

*Takes pictures of himself a la Anthony Weiner

*Pockets money meant for a women's shelter

*Has tertiary syphilis which has moved to his spinal column.

Otherwise, take a hike. Americans are able to sniff out smear campaigns.

Link to article

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Egypt and the "Arab Spring"

Interesting link sent to my email today.

Click on link here

Tammy

HEALER

Good Morning and welcome to Sunday Worship!


Link here


Tammy

Morning has Broken

Morning has broken - cool and beautiful in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

The Rangers play today. Go Rangers!! Arkansas & Texas A & M also have a game in Arlington, so the traffic will be congested for all fans working their way to the games. But the weather will be perfect for these sporting events.

I am grateful to God for this gift of mercy. We have come through a season of hardship with the heat. We still need rain. Desperately. But the change of a season is upon us.

As a child, I loved the song "Morning has Broken" by Cat Stevens. Yes, there is much for which to be thankful today.

Cat Stevens link

Tammy