hummm, haven't said this in a while

"I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL."

the Constitution, not the people

Our elected officials are to uphold the constitution, they don't have another purpose.

President of the United States (Executive Branch)

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States

Members of Congress (Legislative Branch)

At the start of each new Congress, in January of every odd-numbered year, the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate takes an oath of office. The Speaker of the House will direct the Members to rise and the oath is administered. The original oath was as follows: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States."

The oath was revised during the Civil War, when members of Congress were concerned about traitors. The current oath is as follows:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

a bit of wisdom from 1770

The Fall of Democracy:

When the thirteen colonies were still a part of England, Professor Alexander Tyler wrote about the fall of the Athenian republic over two thousand years previous to that time:

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasure. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy followed by a dictatorship.

The average age of the world’s great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have a progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, from dependency back to bondage.

Alexander Tyler (1770)

Economic Stimulus Plan

I'm not looking forward to this.

Grandpa and Andrew

Andrew before hs jr yr, Fargo, ND

Special note to Grandma

You know, if you click on the pictures, they get big.  To return to the blog, click the left arrow back on your navigation bar (probably, on the top left of your screen)  Karl

Mary the Nurse, early 80s (we're in the Army now)

This red dress, wow!!

I heard this was a good wedding, I wouldn't know

This was my favorite dress of all time

Does she look like a Carpenter, Long Ago...and oh so far away

Dude, is this guy looking forward to his honeymoon night, or what?

Patricia and Joseph Kopanda

Jake, 2 yr old Birthday, 1982

Notice the custom furniture, hand made in the Monk Wood Shop.  Yes, that is Bucky, The Wonder Horse, in the background.

Yes, Danny was there at Christmas 2008

Is she cute or what?

No, she's not 12 and yes, she is married.  Them Utah folks got nothin' on me.

One of my favorite dresses, smokin...

Were we really that skinny?

Just in case anyone wonders where Danny's hair comes from.

Who is this hot dish?

Mary, late 70s, She is soooo HOT!!!!

I think she was mad at me, must not have been important since I cannot remember.

Nat, Lauren, Jake

Lauren Michelle Loew

Mary's first day at work as a Graduate Nurse RN

Christmas 2008 at Aunt Tammy's and Uncle Bob's

Coach Monk, 2nd wrestling meet

The team is making progress. Looked much better in their second real meet than their first.

Coach Monk

Coach Monk leads his first multi-school scrimmage as the head coach of Lakota Ridge Junior High.  More to come over the next few months.

Nashville 2008 (for Lauren)

Check out the pictures. (Grandma, follow the link.)

http://picasaweb.google.com/Karl.Monk/Nashville2008#

England 2008

Just got back from a 9 day business trip to England. Stayed at a wonderful old hotel on the North Sea. Highly recommend it. The Grand Hotel http://www.grandhotel-uk.com/

Went to church on Sunday. Note: no styrofoam cups, real English China at the coffee after church.

Ate some Shepherd Pie and Chips.

Tuesday night is Dutch Apple pancake night

Awesome. Tart Granny Smith, a special batter that gives almost a solid custard feel to the mouth.

Tuesday night is strudel night

Yep, she's a keeper.

Went to KC to see Jake and eat some BBQ

Arthur Bryant's is the best BBQ place in the nation. We went to the original location in KC. Yes, that is John and Sarah in the picture at Bryant's. They were there on Sept 7, 2008.

Saturday night we went to the American Royal for the big BBQ contest. Hundreds of competitors.

Finally, Mary wanted to go to Lamar's Donuts, but it was closed on Saturday pm, so we went back on Sunday morning before returning to Cincy. (I cannot live with a depressed woman.)

Cape Hatteras Light Station

Tallest light station in the nation. Pretty awesome.

You can drive your car on the beach in NC

Mary wanted to take this picture since she thought I was stuck. (Actually, I was worried, but got out with a bit of rocking.)

Bodie Island, North Carolina

an awesome light station

Some of us are having a good time on vacation