“Due to technical problems at this blog, I have moved to a new address and have a new name. You can access it  here – “ http://billyworldchangernews66.blogtownhall.com/ .

Thanks,

 Well there is a saying all good things must come to an end. Today, Friday, January 16th brings this blog to an end. Don't fear I am not done blogging just because of some technical issues  , I will have a new blog with a new address. The link along with the address to it will be posted here on Monday.

Please know I am very thankful to all of you who have read my posting here, and I am also thankful to those of you who have posted a comment about one of my postings even if  we didn't see eye to eye on something. I hope most of you if not all of you will follow me to my next blog.

Thanks and God Bless You, and Yours.

 The rattle and swish of shakers, the rumble of a thunder tube and the chimes of a triangle mingled with violins and a cello as children made sweet music in the sunny atrium of the Children's Hospital & Medical Center on Wednesday morning.

The Omaha Symphony, which will present a "Symphonic Story Time" children's concert Sunday, Jan. 18 , had brought a bit of the performance to hospital patients and visitors, giving them a chance to enjoy a hands-on musical experience in an "instrument petting zoo." The children also created their own instruments.

"We really wanted to do something for the kids who couldn't come to the Sunday concert," said Jennifer Boomgaarden, the symphony's director of education and community partnerships. It was the first time the symphony brought the program to Children's, she said.

Sarah Brownlee, a cellist and spokeswoman for the symphony, coached brothers David and Elliott Landers of Omaha on the rudiments of playing her instrument.

David, 12, said the cello was pretty cool, and he liked the deep sound.

(Read more of this story right here.)

 

 I hope you read my last post  (Email the White House and ask for a Pardon ) in which I wrote it would be a good idea if everyone would email or call the White House in light of the  Border Patrol agents -- Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. I did email President Bush and that email is below.

Dear President Bush:

 I hope this email finds you doing great.

First off I want thank you for  being our President and keeping another 911 attack from happening.

You have been in my prayers.

I do ask you do one more thing before leaving the White House please please pardon Border Patrol agents -- Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.

Who were put in prison base on the words of a drug dealer. These two men like any law man were just doing their jobs. As a backer of yours please do the right thing here.

Thanks again for being our President and I hope in the next few days you will take this action.

Billy

Two former U.S. Border Patrol agents -- Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean -- are serving
11- and 12-year prison terms for attempting to apprehend an illegal alien drug smuggler. The smuggler, who was transporting 743 pounds of marijuana (about $1 million worth), was given full immunity to testify against our agents, free health care, and free border crossing passes that he used to transport more drugs into the U.S.

I wanted to remind you that this blog has only one more day left. Starting next week my main blog will have a different address. The  new address and the link will be posted on this blog. I hope more of you will follow my new blog. Thanks.

 Q. What lessons do you think Republicans should learn from the last two disastrous -- for them -- election cycles?

A. There are at least three lessons that immediately jump out at me. The first is that the party must consistently do what it says. You can't be the party of fiscal discipline and tolerate the kind of spending that our party has accepted in the last several years, especially in Washington. Our actions have to match our rhetoric. If the Democrats had proposed many of the spending initiatives and projects that Republicans ended up approving, we would have been the first to criticize them. It isn't just earmarks. Look at some of the discretionary spending increases in Washington.

(The above is part of interview Cal Thomas did with the Gov. of Lousiana who is pictured below. Read more  below.)

 

We went to Washington to change Washington, but we became a captive of Washington. We were supposed to be the party of outsiders. We became what we were elected to change.

Q. How do you think President-elect Obama is doing so far?

A. The president deserves our support as Americans. In church, we pray for our president, whether we voted for him or not. I think we should look for opportunities to work across party lines with him. I also think as Americans we also have an obligation to stand on principle when we disagree. We should genuinely want him to succeed.

 

(We need not only more Republicans  like Gov. Jindal we need more Americans like him. Who will put nation ahead of party. Read the whole interview Cal Thomas did here .)
 

It is a cold day here in Nebraska. This morning it was 3 degrees below 0 and the wind chill made it even colder. I thought schools might get called off so I was hoping to be able to do a lot of blogging this afternoon, but they weren't so I will have to save my blogging for tonight. Keep warm.

  A federal lawsuit filed Monday claims Roman Catholic bishops are wrongly imposing their religious beliefs on victims of human trafficking by prohibiting grant money to be used for emergency contraception, condoms and abortion care.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the complaint in federal court in Boston against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The suit claims the agency, which distributes money to help trafficking victims, has allowed the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to limit the services its subcontractors provide. The ACLU claims the bishops' conference is misusing taxpayer money and attempting to impose its religious beliefs on trafficking victims.

 

(What a shock the Catholic church doesn't want people to use condoms or have abortions. This is a reason faith based groups need to be careful anytime they take money from Uncle Sam. My question is what is the ACLU doing to help the victims of human trafficking . The ACLU has never backed  a faith based group including those who are trying to help those who have needs. Read more of this story ACLU says Catholic bishops are misusing grant money. - )