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MORE CHOLESTEROL NONSENSE

In the May, 2007 newsletter, the article “High Cholesterol Is Good for You” reported on the British study that showed that statin drugs, such as Lipitor, Crestor and other widely used brands, did not work for women and for very few men.

Now, there is a new study showing that Vytorin and Zetia failed to improved heart disease even though they worked as intended to reduce three key risk factors. These drugs have racked $5 billion in sales. The study was completed 2 years ago, but the results were just presented at a recent American College of Cardiology conference in Chicago and published on the internet by the New England Journal of Medicine, according to an Associated Press report of March 31, 2008.

While these drugs dramatically lowered LDL (bad cholesterol), fats in the blood called triglycerides and a measure of artery inflammation, CRP, they showed NO BENEFIT in reducing plaque build up in the arteries, which is thought to be a way to reduce risks of heart disease.
The interesting thing to note, is that Yale Cardiologist Dr. Harlan Krumholz, recommended that doctors and patients should return to statins. That is also an interesting recommendation in view of the report published in Lancet (the Medical Journal of England) and featured in our May 2007 report.

ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS ENTITLED TO FREE EDUCATION?

In a piece featured on Townhall.com on April 1, 2008, William Perry Pendley, President and Chief Legal Officer at Mountain States Legal Foundation, reviewed the 1982 Supreme Court decision which is said to guarantee children who are in the US illegally the right to a public education and that schools cannot inquire into their immigration status.

The case was Plyer v Doe, 457 US 202 (1982). It held only that illegal aliens are “persons” under the Equal Protection Clause and that states must have a basis that passes “intermediate scrutiny” to deny them free primary education. The Court held that a new Texas law did not meet that test.
The case does not apply to secondary and post-secondary education, did not hold that public education is a right, did not confer legal status on illegal alien children, does not prevent an illegal alien from being arrested and deported, and does not prevent a school from inquiring as to the legal status of and reporting illegal aliens. Plyer does not prohibit a state from denying primary education to illegal aliens, only that to do so, it must have a better reason that Texas did in 1982.

The 5 liberal judges who were in the majority at the time, admitted that free school was not a right, but that it was a special benefit and that Texas had not shown its law “had a substantial relationship to a substantial state interest” when it voted to deny them free education. They noted that there were only 3 million illegal aliens in the US, that Congress might declare them to be citizens, they would never leave, so citizens should pay to help them improve themselves, that citizens are “callous” toward illegal aliens so courts must protect them from “neglect,” and the cost of paying for their education is not as important as the psychological toll on them of not having a free education.

Penley noted that the 4 conservative judges in the minority responded with a vigorous dissent. “In an effort to become an omnipotent [problem solver,] . . . the court distorts our constitutional function;” “the importance of a governmental service does not elevate it to the status of a fundamental right;” “assum[ption of] a legislative role [is] one for which the court lacks both the authority and competence;” “[i]llegal aliens have no right whatever to be here, and the state may reasonably, and constitutionally, elect not to provide them with government services at the expense of those who are lawfully in the state;” “the constitution does not provide a cure for every social ill, nor does it vest judges with a mandate to try to remedy every social problem.”

Since the “facts” the majority relied upon to justify this decision are clearly different from the situation today, this case cannot be relied upon to support free education for illegal aliens.

However, when you consider the expense and damage this case has done over the years and the costs imposed by 5 “do-gooders” who usurped legislative powers, consider carefully the November elections both at the State and federal level. The choice of judges is very important to everyone.

NASA MEASURES GLOBAL TEMPERATURES
By Danny Huddleston, April 25, 2008

NPR has an interesting article on global warming... or cooling? The Mystery of Global Warming's Missing Heat. James Hansen and Al Gore must be so disappointed.  NASA is spending around 20 million dollars a year to deploy and monitor 3000 robot buoys around the worlds oceans and the data coming in doesn't support their theory on global warming, in fact it turns out the world has cooled slightly in the last five years.

It's surprising the mainstream media hasn't picked up on this, you would think the fact that the earth is cooling would be front page news.

Wondering what we get for 20 mil per year?  Here is a brief description from the Argo home page.
Argo is a global array of 3,000 free-drifting profiling floats that measures the temperature and salinity of the upper 2000 m of the ocean.  This allows, for the first time, continuous monitoring of the temperature, salinity, and velocity of the upper ocean, with all data being relayed and made publicly available within hours after collection.

Argo deployments began in 2000 and by November 2007 the array is 100% complete.  Today's tally of floats is shown in the figure above.  While the Argo array is currently complete at 3000 floats, to be maintained at that level, national commitments need to provide about 800 floats per year (which has occurred for the past three years).

NPR has the money quote from Josh Willis at NASA: (emphasis added) "Josh Willis at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory says the oceans are what really matter when it comes to global warming."

In fact, 80 percent to 90 percent of global warming involves heating up ocean waters.  They hold much more heat than the atmosphere can.  So Willis has been studying the ocean with a fleet of robotic instruments called the Argo system.  The buoys can dive 3,000 feet down and measure ocean temperature.  Since the system was fully deployed in 2003, it has recorded no warming of the global oceans.  "There has been a very slight cooling..."

It might just be worth 20 million if it helps to calm down global warming hysteria.  One good feature of the Argo system is that it is virtually tamper proof, unlike the land based system where temperature readings can be artificially inflated due to the urban heat island effect and bad placement of the monitoring stations. (i.e.: next to AC units) as has been reported.

Also a recent article from the BBC states that global temperatures have not risen since 1998.  That's 10 years with no increase and a slight cooling in the last five, all the while CO2 levels are rising every year.  Haven't we been told that more CO2 = higher temperatures?  It appears that the exact opposite is happening.

Reprinted by permission from The American Thinker.  www.americanthinker.com

CANDIDATE ANNOUNCES FOR THE 103rd DISTRICT

David A. Ryan Sr. is a lifetime resident of Alger in Ogemaw County. He is announcing his candidacy for the 103rd District seat for the State House of Representatives.

He is a graduate of Whittemore-Prescott High School and is currently employed with The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, MI.

Dave is a veteran of the United States Air Force, a member of the County Line Wesleyan Church, the American Holiness Campground, and the N.R.A., he is a steadfast defender of the 2nd Amendment.  He is also a motorcycle enthusiast, hunter,
fisherman, and hobby farmer.

He is married to Katina L. Ryan (Curry) formerly of Tawas.  They have four children - Courtney, Joshua, David Jr. and Sarah.

Dave is Pro life and believes that the Constitution and Bill of Rights is sacred and must be vigilantly protected. You can reach Dave at  989-873-4579, davideo1226@yahoo.com

MORE CHURCH BULLETIN BLOOPERS

Due to the Rector's illness, Wednesday's healing services will be discontinued until further notice.

The Rev. Merriwether spoke briefly, much to the delight of the audience.

On a church bulletin during the minister's illness: GOD IS GOOD; Dr. Hargreaves is better.

Applications are now being accepted for 2 year-old nursery workers.

The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth Into Joy."

If you would like to make a donation, fill out a form, enclose a check, and drip in the collection basket.

Sermon Outline:
I. Delineate your fear
II. Disown your fear
III. Displace your rear

Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on "It's a Terrible Experience."

Don't miss this Saturday's exhibit by Christian Martian Arts.

We are grateful for the help of those who cleaned up the grounds around the church building and the rector.

A worm welcome to all who have come today.

Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Nelson's sermons.

During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J. F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit.

 CLEAN WATER "RESTORATION ACT"

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing Wednesday, April 16, on HR 2421, the Clean Water Restoration Act, (CWRA) and the opposition was wide and deep. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republican Leader, issued a statement following the hearing. “There is significant nationwide opposition to this unprecedented and historic federal jurisdiction grab… Multiple witnesses testified to the confusion, costs, delays, and endless litigation that will result should this overreaching bill become law…HR 2421 and its companion bill in the Senate could lead to the regulation of virtually every wet area in the country…”

Senator James Inhofe, (R-OK), Ranking member of the Environment & Public Works Committee, also had harsh criticism of the bills. “Both Committees heard repeatedly in testimony that clean water is critical for our well being; however,” said Inhofe, “this bill does not lead to cleaner water and is nothing more than a federal land grab attempt. We should not propose, let alone pass legislative language that increases uncertainly, burdens local government, and challenges the sanctity of private property rights.” Sen. Inhofe continued, “If Congress is to amend the Clean Water Act, any changes must provide clarity and reduce lawsuits.

This bill does neither. It will not curtail litigation, but rather increase it.” Rep. Mica said; “The responsible regulatory agencies also voiced their concerns with the bill…and believe that such a heavy-handed legislative approach is unwarranted. With our economy already in troubled waters, this legislation could push American jobs overseas and put another nail in our economic coffin,” Mica said.

Reprinted by permission from the April 22, 2008 edition of  Liberty Matters News Service. www.libertymatters.org

IS THE MEDIA BURYING AN AMAZING OIL BREAKTHROUGH?

Joe Kovacs of WorldNetDaily (WND) reported on April 16, 2008, that one of the potentially biggest energy breakthroughs in history is getting virtually no coverage.  Despite a WND story in March introducing a new technique where altered bacteria "rapidly digest" everything from grass clippings and wood chips, turning them into hydrocarbons for fuels such as gasoline and diesel.  If done on a large scale, it could provide billions of barrels of renewable oil every year.

The pioneer of the process, agricultural researcher J.C. Bell, the CEO of Bell Bio-Energy, Inc. is surprised at the lack of attention from the national media.  While the story of Bell's bacterial discovery has already been published in two Georgia newspapers – the Tifton Gazette and the Macon Telegraph – neither report was picked up by the Associated Press, despite those papers being members of the news cooperative.

WND contacted the bureau chief at the AP's Atlanta office, who said, "I can't give you an answer as to why, because this is the first I've heard of it. We'll look into it and see what's going on."

Reporter Jana Cone, who documented Bell's claims for the Tifton paper, was also at a loss to explain why the AP neither picked up the story nor assigned its own writer.

"I have no explanation except people don't think it's possible," Cone said. "All of our stuff is available to them, and they pick up stories as they wish. If what [Bell] says is a fact, it could be absolutely huge."

Bell maintains with just 2 billion tons of biomass, his process can produce 5 billion barrels of oil each year naturally, with no negative impact on the environment.

"That's 5 billion barrels of oil that can be produced from just trash," he said.

Despite the national media's silence, Bell is moving forward with plans to make his process a reality.

"It's not even theory anymore," he told WND. "Now we're just engineering. We are within a very few days of announcing the location of our first pilot plant."

The process of converting biomass into energy is not in dispute scientifically.

"Yes it can be done, but you have to do it economically," said Dr. Art Robinson, a research professor of chemistry at the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine who publishes the Access to Energy newsletter. "These other ways [of producing energy] work; the only question is if they're competitive in price. Any hydrocarbon under pressure and temperature can turn into oil."

Robinson added, "We only have two competitive ways of making energy at low costs: hydrocarbons [oil, gas, coal and methane clathrate] and nuclear, and both are demonized to the point that our country is in trouble."

For the third straight day today, oil prices settled at a record high, gushing to a record $115.07 a barrel at one point. Gasoline prices have also been surging along with crude. AAA reports gasoline prices hit a new record of $3.399, up more than a penny from the previous day's price of $3.386.

POOR NATION/RICH NATION

Benjamin Powell has edited a study published by Stanford Economics and Finance (480 pages) with chapters by a series of authors who have studies the economies of different countries around the world.

His belief that encouraging small-business entrepreneurs is the best way to achieve and maintain general affluence.  The volume addresses countries and regions that have failed to develop because of barriers to entrepreneurship and those that have developed by reforming the institutional environment to protect private property rights and grant greater levels of economic freedom.

It stresses that programs which focus on government action fail to bring about the desired result.

`SUNRISE SIDE REPUBLICAN WOMEN'S CLUB