Husband Says He Can’t Afford His Wife as a Stay-At-Home Mom and His Reasoning Adds Up. Big Time.

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Photo Credit: Steven Nelms

Photo Credit: Steven Nelms

Steven Nelms has been married to wife, Gloriana — Glory for short — for three years. Together they have a two-year-old son named Ezra.

When Steven and Glory got married, Glory worked while Steven finished up school. Once their son was born, it didn’t seem financially possible for Glory to go back to work. Nelms explains to IJReview:

“With childcare costs it would’ve been a wash with her income at best. So we decided that she would stay home as long as it made sense.”

In an attempt to appreciate all of the work Glory does for the family — and put a numerical value on it — Nelms wrote a profound essay that he posted to We Are Glory.

“I’ve had this thought in my head for a while now. I’ve been thinking that I can’t afford for my wife to be a Stay-At-Home Mom. Now, I don’t at all mean to offend anyone with this post. I just have to say that for me personally, I can’t afford it… I mean that I quite literally cannot afford my wife to be staying at home. Here’s why…

My wife stays home and takes care of our son every single day. She changes his diapers, feeds him, plays with him, puts him down for his nap, and comforts him when he’s upset. And that’s just the bare minimum. A child can typically get that attention at a day-care. But on top of that, he is her only focus… Obviously, this is part of being a parent. You take care of your child and you raise your child. But let’s face it. In our day and age… there is a company ready and willing to do just about anything. So while, yes, my wife is my son’s mother and it is a natural result of being a parent to love and care for your own child, there is also a very quantifiable dollar amount that can be attributed to the services rendered. I am in no way trying to simplify, objectify, or devalue the priceless love of a mother for her child. But let’s be real. Pay day feels good for a reason. Because you’re seeing your hard work appreciated in a tangible way that lets you “treat yo self”. And this is exactly why I can’t afford my wife being a Stay-At-Home Mom. The national average weekly salary for a full-time nanny is $705. That’s $36,660 a year.

We make ends meet comfortably and are by no means scraping the bottom of the barrel… [but] the services rendered of caring for our child every single day of the year would absorb the majority of our income. Flat out, no question, game over, I cannot afford my wife to be a Stay-At-Home Mom. And that’s just the beginning of it.

(Read more from “Husband Says He Can’t Afford His Wife as a Stay-At-Home Mom and His Reasoning Adds Up. Big Time.” HERE)

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Rand Paul Strays from Libertarian Roots as He Courts GOP Base

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Rand PaulWhen the presidential buzz began building around Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) a couple of years ago, the expectation was that his libertarian ideas could make him the most unusual and intriguing voice among the major contenders in the 2016 field.

But now, as he prepares to make his formal announcement Tuesday, Paul is a candidate who has turned fuzzy, having trimmed his positions and rhetoric so much that it’s unclear what kind of Republican he will present himself as when he takes the stage.

“He’s going to get his moment in the sun,” said David Adams, who served as campaign chairman for Paul’s insurgent 2010 Senate campaign. “What he does with it from there will have bearing on the Republican Party.”

There are at least two areas where Paul has moved more in line with the conservative Republican base, somewhat to the consternation of the purists in the libertarian movement: adopting a more muscular posture on defense and foreign policy, and courting the religious right.

Where he once pledged to sharply cut the Pentagon’s budget, for instance, Paul late last month proposed a $190 billion increase over the next two years — albeit one that would be paid for by cutting foreign aid and other government programs. His tour following the announcement of his candidacy will include an event at Patriots Point in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor, with the World War II-era aircraft carrier USS Yorktown as a backdrop. (Read more from “Rand Paul Seems to Stray from Libertarian Roots as He Courts GOP Base” HERE)

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Libya Rejects U.S.-Led Offensive Against Islamic State, But Wants American Dollars

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Libya_c0-90-3400-2071_s561x327Libya’s top diplomat in Washington wants aggressive U.S. support in containing the Islamic State’s rise in her nation but strongly rejects the idea of an American-led bombing or ground offensive, saying it would just make things worse.

In an acknowledgment of how poorly some in the region see the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, the charge d’affairs of the Libyan Embassy in Washington said replicating that strategy in Libya would likely draw more foreign fighters into the nation.

“We don’t want Libya to become a land for the jihadists from all over,” said Wafa Bugaighis, who told reporters during a roundtable discussion that there are already more than 5,000 fighters on Libyan soil aligned with the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL.

At the same time, Mrs. Bugaighis lamented Washington’s ambivalence toward backing what she described as the only “legitimate and democratically elected” government in Libya as it attempts to contain the Islamic State.

The government, which has operated out of the northeastern Libyan city of Tobruk since an Islamist parliament took over Tripoli last year, is in dire need of military training and hardware, as well as counterterrorism intelligence sharing from the West, she said. (Read more from “Libya Rejects U.S.-Led Offensive Against Islamic State, Seeks Aid” HERE)

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Stanford PhD Cancer Researcher ‘Poisoned’ Classmates’ Water With Carcinogenic Embalming Fluid

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studentA PhD student from Stanford has been caught trying to poison her classmates by putting a known carcinogen in their water bottles.

Police have charged 26-year-old Xiangyu Ouyang with four felony counts of poisoning after investigators say the student put paraformaldehyde – which could cause death if consumed in large amounts – in her classmates water bottles beginning last September, according to Daily Mail.

Ouyang was at Stanford on a prestigious Agency for Science, Technology and Research scholarship that Singapore gives out to top students. She will now face up to eight years behind bars.

“I am truly sorry for what happened, but I really didn’t mean to harm people,” she told police. “It was me crying out for help.”

Ouyang was described by fellow classmates as shy and insecure, with one of her victims telling authorities that the girl “had never had a boyfriend, and envied those who had.” (Read more from “Stanford PhD Cancer Researcher ‘Poisoned’ Classmates’ Water With Carcinogenic Embalming Fluid” HERE)

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Dog-Poop DNA Tests Nail Non-Scoopers

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Photo Credit: Seattle Times

Photo Credit: Seattle Times

And you thought that at least your dog’s intestinal movements would be, you know, a private thing.

Just you and Rex at the park, or maybe by your neighbor’s hedge, in that spot where that neighbor can’t spot you two.

But, no, DNA testing for dog droppings — to identify whether it was left by Rex or Fluffy — has finally arrived in this region.

Bad dog, Rex. Here are the double helixes that prove it.

A company called BioPet Vet Lab, out of Knoxville, Tenn., says its PooPrints testing kits are now in 26 apartment and condo complexes and homeowner associations in greater Seattle. (Read more from “Dog-Poop DNA Tests Nail Non-Scoopers” HERE)

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Rolling Stone Apologizes, Retracts Discredited Rape Story

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Photo Credit: Fox News

Photo Credit: Fox News

Rolling Stone magazine on Sunday night apologized and officially retracted its discredited article about an alleged gang rape at the University of Virginia, and an independent review said the article may cast doubt on future rape accusations.

The review, undertaken at Rolling Stone’s request, presented a broad indictment of the magazine’s handling of a story that had horrified readers, unleashed widespread protests and sparked a national discussion about sexual assaults on college campuses.

The report from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism on the editorial process called the article a “story of journalistic failure that was avoidable.”

The article focused on a student identified only as “Jackie,” who said she was raped by seven men at a fraternity house. It also described a hidden culture of sexual violence fueled by binge drinking at one of the nation’s most highly regarded public universities.

The report found, among other things, that Rolling Stone did not try hard enough to find the person Jackie accused of orchestrating the assault. (Read more from “Rolling Stone Apologizes, Retracts Discredited Rape Story” HERE)

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‘Role Players’ Solicited for Military’s Emergency-Prep Drill in Texas

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Emergency Prep“Role Player’s (sic) Needed,” is the title of the ad, posted five days ago on the local Craigslist for Austin.

The ad is soliciting online applicants for a total of 60 paid “role players” to participate in a four day U.S. National Guard Training Exercise for Emergency Preparedness slated to begin April 22 in Govalle.

Only ten “role players” are needed for the final day of the drill. The pay is $10.10 per hour.

The ad explains, “Role players will simulate as ‘victims’ who are then ‘rescued’ as part of their training” . . .

The ad was placed by IIF Data Solutions, a private firm that specializes in domestic operations training and exercise development, logistics and facilities operations and role player support services, among other services. (Read more from “‘Role Players’ Solicited for Emergency-Prep Drill” HERE)

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Anchorage Mayoral Candidate Open Carries, Catches Sign Vandal [+videos]

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On Friday evening, Anchorage mayoral candidate Amy Demboski encountered an apparent vandal preparing to destroy one of her 4×8 campaign signs.

What happened next may surprise you.

The 38 year-old Assemblywoman confronted the would-be perpetrator, despite the fact that he was obviously aggressive, and armed with a box cutter.

[Editor’s note: the first part of the video includes surveillance footage of the vandal. Watch until the end for pictures of the destroyed and defaced signs]

What the video may not show clearly is the reason why the vandal may have thought better of carrying out his plan.

Demboski was exercising her right to open carry. I bet the press didn’t tell you that.

Here’s the evidence, a photo taken by someone who witnessed Demboski talking with the police on site.

Amy Sign and Gun

Anchorage Police are investigating, and have apparently pressed charges.

Listen to why Joe Miller and other conservatives are supporting Amy Demboski for mayor:

UPDATE: There is some confusion as to whether mayoral candidate Amy Demboski actually drew her gun during the confrontation with the apparent sign vandal. During this interview today, Ms. Demboski confirmed that the gun remained holstered, and was never drawn or touched during the encounter.

HIDDEN CAMERA: Gay Wedding Cake At Muslim Bakeries [+video]

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GayActually, I taped this video a long time ago but due to audio corruption issues, was never able to upload it. Now that my in-house whizz kid, Jared was able to salvage the footage, I am passing it onto you.

What do you think happens when a gay, like SUPER gay Crowder tries to get a super gay wedding cake baked at a Muslim bakery? I’m pretty sure you can guess, but you might as well watch this week’s adventure to Dearborn, MI to find out!

(Read more from “HIDDEN CAMERA: Gay Wedding Cake At Muslim Bakeries” HERE)

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A City on a Hill, If You Can Keep It

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CThe history behind the religious observances known as Passover and Easter are not just foundational to the Jewish and Christian faiths, but also to the founding of the United States of America.

The story of the Passover displays the awesome power of the one, true living God in whose image we are made. Through a series of plagues He inflicts upon the tyrannical kingdom of Egypt and its pagan pantheon, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob demonstrates that He alone is God—and there is no other. That the state is not god, despite Pharaoh’s claims to the contrary, nor are the false idols the state demands the people worship.

To make plain His sovereignty, the God of Israel selects a defrocked member of the Egyptian court, who is now a lowly shepherd because he defied the state and stood up for his fellow Jew, to be His people’s deliverer.

His name is Moses.

Since Pharaoh refuses to obey God’s command to “let my people go” throughout the course of the plagues, God raises the stakes on the stubborn and wicked Egyptian government. After many years of shedding innocent Jewish blood, even decreeing forced abortions to keep the Israelite population down, the oppressive Egyptian regime faces a reckoning. So God sends a plague of death on the first-born sons of Egypt as justice for their mass murder and enslavement of the Jews.

For their own protection, the Jews are instructed to paint their doorposts with the sacrificial blood of a precious lamb, which was an animal that signified innocence. That way, the plague would “pass over” the Jewish families and spare them from the judgment. This is the plague that finally breaks Pharaoh’s will, and he agrees to allow the Israelites to leave.

There is more to the story, but once their “exodus” is complete the Jews are finally free.

However, even a free people need order. So God gives Moses “the law” beginning with the “Ten Commandments.” This is how the Jews will live so that they will be a light to all nations. Modeling the character, holiness, mercy, and justice of God to the rest of the world as His covenant people.

It is from this story the founding generations of this country established what our Declaration of Independence refers to as “the laws of Nature and Nature’s God.” In fact, the original basis for our civic laws comes right from the law revealed through Moses:

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
Every state Constitution mentions and thanks God for its existence, freedom, or both.

2. You shall not make idols.
The state is not god. Only God is God. Therefore, the state cannot establish a religion, nor restrict it.

3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
The name of God is so sacred, we make every elected official swear an oath of integrity and loyalty “so help me God.” A reminder that by betraying your promise to your countrymen, you’re really betraying God.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Days of remembrance (Saturday for Jews, Sunday for Christians, religious holidays, observances, etc.) are protected and made accessible by law.

5. Honor your father and your mother.
Parents were the ultimate arbiter of how best to raise, educate, and prepare their children to become adults. Only in extreme situations would the state interfere.

6. You shall not murder.
The “unalienable” right to life mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.

7. You shall not commit adultery.
The civil law so revered the sacrament of marriage that it originally criminalized sexual behavior outside of the marriage covenant.

8. You shall not steal.
Private property rights were protected by law.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Perjury is a crime. We even impeached a president for it.

10. You shall not covet.
You don’t have a “right” to that which you didn’t earn and doesn’t belong to you, but instead have the same opportunity to succeed and fail in our meritocracy as everyone else does.

Then there’s Easter, which is so integral to Christianity there isn’t Christianity without it.

Either the God of Israel supernaturally intervened into human history to raise from the dead His only begotten Son named Jesus Christ, himself a Jew, or He did not. Christianity leaves no middle ground for interpretation here, but simply puts the onus on each individual to believe or not believe based on the evidence (faith and reason).

Making each individual responsible for their belief or unbelief demonstrates how individualism is prioritized in Christianity. While the Jews were given a covenant as a people reconciled to God as a distinct culture, Christianity says every individual in the world can now be reconciled to God through Christ—who paid for their sins at the Cross. No matter where they live, how they look, or what language they speak.

As the lamb’s blood once protected the Jews from God’s wrath at the Passover, Christ has become the “the lamb of God.” God has shed the blood of His own son to atone for our sins that separated us from Him (what Christians refer to as “Good Friday”). Thus protecting us from the judgment we deserve. As a result, a relationship between individual believer and the most powerful being in the universe is now possible.

The emphasis Christianity places on the individual was a great influence on our Founders, many of whom were Christians. Hence, they established a government where rights and liberties were granted by God to individuals, not through a collective like government, and were not based on a group identity or social status.

Both Passover and Easter prove the God we serve is not a passive being, nor does He turn a blind eye to sin and injustice. That He will go to great lengths to put rebellious regimes in their place, but also to seek and save those who are lost. These two events are not merely religious theory, but actual history that transformed the world and inspired the founding of the world’s greatest nation—the United States of America.

And we will suffer consequences for abandoning these truths. As the great Puritan Founder John Winthrop said in his famous “City on a Hill” speech, citing the words of Moses from the Torah:

“But if our hearts shall turn away so that we will not obey. But shall be seduced and worship other gods of our pleasures and profits and serve them, it is propounded to us this day we shall surely perish out of the good land whether we pass over this vast sea to possess it. Therefore, let us choose life that we and our children may live. By obeying His law and cleaving to Him. For He is our life and our prosperity.” (See “A City on a Hill, If You Can Keep It”, originally posted HERE)

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