Posts

Posted on

Mark

Mark’s birthday is today, December 9th. Today he would have been 57 years old. Mark died much too early on March 18th, 2023. We can only trust this was time for him to end his path on earth.

Mark lead a very complicated life. At birth, he almost died from a blood issue due to antibodies from his mother attacking his blood cells. As it would have it, I was not able to donate blood for him due to an incompatible antigen in my blood. A fireman stepped in and volunteered blood that saved Mark’s life.

Mark was the youngest and fourth in the line of children in the family. He struggled at school due to what was much later diagnosed as dyslexia maybe triggered by his blood issue at birth. No one really knows for sure. He mostly overcame this challenge and graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree.

He first worked for Kokomo Opalescent Glass Company, a then partly family owned business. Later he became the sales manager for a floral container manufacturer. Finally, Mark became interested in real estate, first as a broker. Within a few years, he made the decision he wanted to pursue becoming a real estate appraiser. This required more academic study and being mentored by a licensed appraiser for at least two years. He was successful in navigating all of this.

In 2000, he, with his father by his side, opened a new business: Blacklidge Appraisals. He continued this business to the time of his death.

Marked loved the fast lane. Early in his life this was through bicycle racing. Then came a trail motorcycle…. a time in a race car training sponsored by his grandfather Blacklidge….. and finally racing of jet skis. This racing was with a close friend who, together, traveled the loop of jet ski competitions. Mark and his friend were good.

His “cottage” at Lake Freeman allowed Mark to continue with the water sports. He loved time there particularly with his two daughters as they grew up. His daughters were his joy.

I must say something about Mark’s issues with substance abuse, particularly alcohol. This challenge started really as early as high school. He was never able to conquer this addiction. It remained his nemesis and was the cause of many heartaches for him and his family, immediate and extended. Hopefully, lessons can be and were learned from his struggles.

I write this as Mark’s father. I loved and love him deeply. We had many, many good times over the years from the time he was born. I am guessing I spent more time with him over his lifetime than with any of my other three children. We were close. I miss the good times.

I pray.

Posted on

Thanksgiving 2023

Marcia and I are grateful for the many blessings we have received in our lives. Yes, we would have some things be different than they are, but life goes on. We cannot decide what others choose. We trust God.

So, we enjoyed together, the two of us, the preparation of our Thanksgiving dinner. Marcia was the wonderful, loving chef that prepared many of her family’s traditional dishes. And to boot, we had apple pie as desert. The food was presented on Blacklidge family China and bowls and served with Blacklidge Sterling Silver tableware. We felt the presence of ancestors from both sides of our family. They shared with us the time together.

At the same time, we pray for our country and the world. We pray for protection and blessings for those we dearly love.

Now we move on to the Christmas season and recognition of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Guide.

Posted on

Humans

“It took most of human history for our  population to reach 1 billion—and just over 200 years to reach 8 billion. But growth has begun slowing, as women have fewer babies on average. When will our global population peak? And how can we minimize our impact on Earth’s resources, even as we approach 10 billion?” American Museum of Natural History

Now demographers are predicting human population on planet Earth will peak at about 10 billion. That is when birth rates and death rates are predicted to equalize. The big question is whether planet Earth can survive at this level of human beings. In his book, 10 Billion, Dr. Stephen Emmott, who is the head of Computational Research at MicroSoft Research, does not think so.

Emmott summarizes his conclusions on the last two pages of his book. “The biggest and most important experiment on Earth is the one we’re all conducting, right now, on Earth itself. Only an idiot would deny that there is a limit to how many people our Earth can support. The question is, is it seven billion (our current population [which is now 8 billion]) ten billion, or twenty-eight billion? I think we have already gone past it (at 7 billion). Well past it.”

“We could change the situation we are now in. Probably not by technologizing our way out of it, but by radically changing our behavior. But there is no sign that his is happening or about to happen. I think it’s going to be business as usual for us. As a scientist, what to I think about our current situation? Science is essentially organized skepticism. I spend my life trying to prove my work wrong or look for alternative explanations for my results. I hope I’m wrong. But the science points to my not being wrong. “

“As I said at the beginning, we can rightly call the situation we’re in an unprecedented emergency. We urgently need to do — and I mean actually do — something radical to avert a global catastrophe. But I don’t think we will. I think we’re fucked.”

The two most populated countries on Earth are China and India. Chinese population is estimated at a little over 1.4 billion. India’s population is also at a little over 1.4 billion. In comparison, USA population is about 332 million. The continent of Africa population is a little over 1.2 billion and growing. All ten countries with the highest birth rates are African with those in the Middle East being not far behind along with some in South America. And take a look at living conditions in most of those countries. Many at poverty levels.

What happens then? Population number pressure in one area results in pressure to migrate to areas of lower population and higher standards of living. We are seeing this worldwide which is causing major disruptions to countries and cultures. Look at Europe and the USA now. It is happening. The hordes are moving. And unless there is back pressure, it will continue.

Until we face head on the fact that Earth cannot support an ever increasing human population — or even the current population level — the planet is headed for biological collapse. The wisest decision is to find ways to gradually decrease human numbers and consumption levels and natural resource use over time, but no one appears to really take this seriously. Unfortunately, Dr. Stephen Emmott may be right…… “Fucked”.

Posted on

Christianity & Islam

Time for Western nations to wake up. There is a war again between nations predominantly Christian and those predominantly Muslim. This is against a backdrop of over 2000 years. In short, Christianity and Islam are incompatible. Islam today is dominated by violent aggressors wanting to take over the world. The goal is to overtake any nation or peoples that are Christian or Jewish. It cannot be allowed to happen.

All western European nations have their roots in Christianity. Hundreds of years ago, they had to beat back Islamic aggressors. With the hordes of Muslim illegal immigrants that have flooded into Europe, they may have to do it again.

The United States of America was founded by Christians. Those that wrote the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were not Muslims, nor Buddhists, nor Hindus, nor any other religion found around the world. They were Christians. The USA is a Christian based country. Yes, there are minorities of a variety of religions now in the USA, but none except Islam followers seem to be aggressive and wanting to take over the “West”. It cannot be allowed to happen.

Our southern border is being flooded with illegal aliens. The DHS reports there are hundreds of potential terrorists among those who have crossed the US border. And who are these terrorists: followers of Islam.

It is time to slam the US borders shut to all illegal aliens with particular attention to Islamists. It is time to export all illegal aliens, again with particular attention to Islamists. And it is time to keep a very close eye on all Islam communities existing already in our country. I heard even this week that New York City has proposals for there to be more mosques and public loud speakers that call for Islam prayers during the day. This, too, must be stopped.

Christians must be prepared to defend the country and the Christian faith. The Judeo-Christian roots must be made stronger. Otherwise, the country is in peril.

Posted on

The Father

I have included here an image of a small wood carved piece that spoke to me at the Hallmark store as it was closing up for good. I am father to four children: Dawn, Jill, Doug, and Mark. From the day each was born, I treasured each. I did my best to help raise them and be supportive as they grew from infants to young adulthood. I deeply love them all in spite of some really rough times along the way. Their mother and I were divorced in 1979 after 19 years of marriage. This was an action I was advised by a clinical psychologist to take some 9 years earlier, but I just could not leave my children. Following the divorce, my two sons and I lived within a mile of our original family home for many years. Some 7 years after my divorce, I married again. This time to a remarkable and very loving woman whom I feel is my soul mate and whose daughter became as precious to me as my original four. Our marriage is now in its 38th year.

The monstrous and grotesque problem that has existed for now 44 years is my first wife never came to mature terms with the divorce. She made it her goal in life to never allow a blended family. She was not having any of that. She successfully prevailed over all of her four children who became adults over the years and then on to the grandchildren. What a tragedy. And the children, now middle aged adults, seemingly never questioned what was going on. They catered to her every wish and about literally worshiped the ground she walked on.

I cannot, however, absolve myself from responsibility. Had I been forceful and direct from the beginning with her and with the “children” and not allowed lies to stand, things may have been different. That I did not do at now a great cost. The mother of the four was not an innocent victim as she so successfully made herself out to be.

The result of her actions and attitudes — and my lack of forcefulness particularly early on — is they, the “children”, have now only one living parent, the father, and one living step-mother; both of whom were exiled long ago. Their mother and her subsequent husband of decades (their step father whom they ultimately embraced) died this year, 2023.

This entire story is sad and all laid at the feet of now one who is deceased as well as at my feet. Nice going. Of course, the “children” will continue blindly on as will the grandchildren. Again, sad.

Posted on

The Bible

Mark's Bible
Mark’s Bible

For the Christmas 1984, I gave each of my children, Mark being one, a Bible. I hoped this Bible would be a light to them along their paths. This was over 38 years ago. Much has passed since then.

Mark died on March 18th, 2023. His life was much too short. He was born in 1966, December 9th.

One rainy day after Mark had died, I happened to go out the west passage door of our garage. This was not a normal way out for me. Much to my surprise, this Bible in its original worn box was laying on the concrete walk in front of me. I learned later one of Mark’s daughters, Kelcie, had returned it to me. I am grateful.

What did I see. I saw something Mark had treasured for over 38 years. I saw a Bible he had protected in its original box that was now worn on its edges. I took the Bible from the box and opened the leather cover. Inside I read, ….. “In All Your Ways, Acknowledge Him; And He will make your Paths Straight”; Proverbs 3:6. And I read, “To Mark, With Much Love, Your Pop. Christmas 1984”

And there was the original letter I had written to my children. The last paragraph reads… “I love you all very much and I hope this Bible will help make your Way a little easier as you go. Look for the gems as you read and your life will become fuller for it. Remember, the teachings and truths all already reside in your own hearts and the Bible cannot really tell you anything you do not already know deep inside. It can only help bring them to your consciousness.”

But what caught my most attention was the red ribbon marker. I opened the page marked. There was the 23rd Psalm in front of me. There was the Psalm Mark had chosen to make his favorite….. ‘The Lord is my shepherd…….. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

His father misses the good days we had.

Posted on

Declaration

“…..Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

I am wondering if we are coming close to a time again talked about in the Declaration of Independence? Our federal government is failing us. Many courts are corrupt and are political tools of the Democrats/Socialists/Communists. The residents of Washington DC vote something like 90% Democrat. They are the entrenched bureaucrats — the deep state — that have interest in larger and larger government to protect their own jobs. The Congress is mixed with many patriots, but just as many or more that want to feather their own nests and are corrupt. This includes about all Democrats and many RINOs including Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell. And I often have wondered how millionaires are made on Congressional salaries. And now we have a President who blatantly is corrupt along with his extended family. They are in fact openly criminals, but nothing has been or likely will be done about holding any to account under Department of Justice leadership. Even the move to impeach the President seems anemic.

The other elephant in the room issue threatening to sink the county is that of the illegal alien invasion of the United States. It is now up to an estimated 12-15 million illegal aliens now inside the country. Even major cities like New York and Chicago, who were openly “sanctuary cities”, are crying for more federal money and help. I say, too damned bad. You made your beds, now lay in them. In the end, if we are to survive as a country, there must be mass deportation of illegal aliens back to their countries of origin. No questions. No sympathy. Illegal border crossing = out.

Our country is failing. If patriots do not act soon, it may be too late. I have my doubts about waiting for the 2024 election. I think we are on the verge of a need to “alter or abolish” what we see before us now every day. I don’t like to think about armed action by citizens of the United States of America, but it may come to that. Hope that it does not have to.

American Flag
Posted on

Thought from Jane Goodall

“Here we are, arguably the most intelligent being that’s ever walked planet Earth, with this extraordinary brain, yet we’re destroying the only home we have” Jane Goodall

The beat goes on. We get caught up in the crisis of the day and lose sight of the big picture. All over the planet we have mass migration of people going on. Why? There was a time when people stayed close to where they were born for generations. The natural resources were there to nurture them. Now we see those resources being used up rather than conserved. What happens then. In the past when there was what was perceived as unlimited resources elsewhere, populations just moved to other more resource rich areas. That is no longer possible. Planet wide natural resources are now limited and being used up at alarming rates. We are seeing exactly what happens when a species overshoots what supports it, but in the case of humankind, it is the entire planet. I believe you can conclude what happens eventually.

The biggest issue now seems to be “climate change”. I prefer to call it what it once was: “global warming”, which is a more accurate description of what is happening. The evidence of warming is overwhelming. The questions arise over whether this is part of a natural Earth cycle or is being caused by human activity; specifically the burning of fossil fuels and the creation and release of chemicals that contribute to the capture of solar energy on the planet. My conclusion is that the argument does not matter. We have passed the point of any effective action. The planet is warming and will continue to warm for an indefinite future. Nothing human beings can do will make any difference at this point and certainly the USA alone cannot do anything effective. The hysterical move to electric vehicles is absurd and counter productive. More waste will be created. And where is the electricity going to come from? I do not see any significant moves to modernize the electric grid in the USA and to increase electric generation by some means to replace generation by coal or natural gas. Certainly, solar panels and windmills cannot possibly do the job and they both have significant downsides including environmental damages. So, we are really stuck with global warming and the continued use of fossil fuels to power modern civilization. Hang on.

Jane Goodall is right.

Posted on

Victoria

In Indiana Congressional District 5, we have one tough woman, Victoria Spartz. Spartz in an immigrant to the United States in 2000 from Ukraine. She is a full US citizen, a business woman, and a very strong conservative in the Republican Caucus. We are extremely lucky to have her as our Representative. She is currently with the few who are trying to change the House of Representatives back to a routine that would require voting on separate funding bills rather than on one big bill to fund the entire US government. That is the way it used to be…. it put people on the record and allowed for close examination of what is being funded. Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the House has turned traitor and liar. He must go. Spartz is with those who believe new Congressional leadership is required. She is one of the few strong now.