The Danger of Celebrating Halloween – A Retort

By K. Daniels
Ghost Writer

This retort is in reference to an article by Kimberly Daniels that I believe may have some inaccuracy or at the very least, some interpretation vastly different than most.

October 31. Yes, it is Halloween, and is mostly a secular celebration. As the eve of All Saints Day, it is a religious holiday among some Christians.

I will also agree with Ms. Daniels on her definition of the word holiday. From Merriam-Webster dictionary it is Middle English, from Old English hāligdæg from hālig holy + dæg day. This dates to before the 12th century.

Webster also tells us that hallow means to make holy or set apart for holy use. It also means to respect greatly (venerate) and in older language use it also implies a saint, a shrine, or a relic.

Ms. Daniels wonders whom Halloween is set apart for. Her answer is Lucifer. My answer varies somewhat. The etymology of the word Halloween is All Hallows Even (All Saints’ Eve). Halloween is a vigil for the feast of All Saints Day, which is held on 1 November to honor all saints’ known and unknown.

All Saints’ Day is followed on 2 November – unless this is a Sunday or a solemnity, then 3 November is the observed day -- by All Souls Day which commemorates souls believed to be in need of prayer in order to help them progress through Purgatory.

Another celebration held during the same time frame is Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico and began converting the native peoples to Roman Catholicism, this holiday was moved to coincide with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

I think we should visit the historical significance of Halloween, which has its origins in the festival of Samhain (Celtic: “End of Summer”), with the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland. November 1st was considered the end of the summer period and was the date the herds were returned from pasture and land tenures were renewed. This was also the time when the souls of the dearly departed were believed to return to visit their homes.

People set bonfires on hilltops to aid in relighting hearth fires for the impending winter and to frighten away evil spirits. They sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the ghosts thought to be present. It was this that led to beings like witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons to be associated with the day. This time period was also considered favorable for making predictions on marriage, health, and death. When the Romans conquered the Celts in the 1st century A.D., they added their own festivals of Feralia, commemorating the passing of the dead, and of Pomona, the goddess of the harvest.

Let’s look at a few other items mentioned in Ms. Daniels post about Halloween.

• Lucifer. A Latin word that means “light-bearer” that also is the name of the Morning Star or day star that precedes the rising of the sun. How a reader interprets Isaiah 14:3-20 or 2 Peter 1:19 will determine if a fallen angel or the devil are implied.


• Belial. Seems to really be saying something more like “without worth” rather than false son.


• Time-released curses. I’m not even sure how that works. Is it like time-released medication that slowly disperses into the blood stream? Maybe it is like the birthday cards that have music? I send one that has recorded curses to someone and it becomes time released?


• Ms. Daniels says she does not buy candy during Halloween season. Apparently she believes, “most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.” I had no idea there were that many witches working at all the candy manufacturers and candy retailers.


• Fashion police. Ms. Daniels would like to predict that the following colors should be out, out, out of your wardrobe: orange, brown and dark red. All the leaves in my yard are in big trouble now. Apparently Ms. Daniels believes, “During this season witches are celebrating the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. They give praise to the gods for the demonic harvest. They pray to the gods of the elements (air, fire, water and earth).”


• Ms. Daniels, where do you live that this fills your head? “Halloween is much more than a holiday filled with fun and tricks or treats. It is a time for the gathering of evil that masquerades behind the fictitious characters of Dracula, werewolves, mummies and witches on brooms. The truth is that these demons that have been presented as scary cartoons actually exist. I have prayed for witches who are addicted to drinking blood and howling at the moon.”
  
  

In case Ms. Daniels hasn’t given you enough foods for thought, here is some additional suggestion she has come up with for a fun filled evening.

• “The word "occult" means "secret." The danger of Halloween is not in the scary things we see but in the secret, wicked, cruel activities that go on behind the scenes. These activities include:


• Sex with demons


• Orgies between animals and humans


• Animal and human sacrifices


• Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood


• Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies


• Revel nights


• Conjuring of demons and casting of spells


• Release of "time-released" curses against the innocent and the ignorant.

Another abomination that goes on behind the scenes of Halloween is necromancy, or communication with the dead. Séances and contacting spirit guides are very popular on Halloween, so there is a lot of darkness lurking in the air.”

Note to self – and really anyone reading this – do not live in Jacksonville, Florida. This is where Ms. Daniels ministries are and apparently there are lots of terrifying things occurring there.

Ms. Daniels, I reject your reality and substitute my own. Time to have a little Halloween candy…

Links:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halloween
http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2009/10/pat-robertsons-christian.html
http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/halloween/halloween_danger_daniels.aspx http://www.alan.com/2009/10/29/kimberly-daniels-warns-that-evil-is-sent-through-halloween-candy/
http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/prophetic-insight/23723-the-danger-of-celebrating-halloween
http://kimberlydaniels.com/Main.php

Image http://images-3.redbubble.net/img/art/size:large/view:main/1810182-2-all-hallows-eve.jpg

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Foreclosure - Why Obama's Plan Isn't Working

RealtyTrac has released their third quarter report on foreclosures and not surprisingly, foreclosures are on the rise in Minnesota and nationally. The housing market is still in grave danger and there will be many more people who will be unable to stay in their homes.

Are foreclosures decreasing? No.

Are loan modifications happening in significant numbers? No.

Are most people trying for a modification "kicking the can" or being "shined on" through an apparently never ending process? Yes.

Will foreclosure numbers remain high? Yes, and here are some reasons why.

The original foreclosures were likely due to strange and exotic loans, sub-prime, adjustable rates, purchased well beyond their means or were over leveraged when the economy failed. Many of those loans are all ready in the proverbial pipeline. Feel like you can sigh with relief? Don't do it.

Now there are fixed rate mortgages starting to fill in the gaps. How can that be? Well, many of these folks have or more likely had good credit, but the loss of jobs and the national unemployment rate of almost 10 percent is factoring in on new foreclosures.

How do the people that started on a modification over six months ago not get it? Well, there needs to be a stream of income, and if your job is gone, there is no income. Magic, no modification and now you are in foreclosure. Congress has now realized the modification plan was not meant to work with unemployment. Who knew that a collapsing economy in 2008 might cause unemployment in 2009 and beyond? Unbelievable!

There are some in Congress that have had the thought that non-payment of mortgages might be due to unemployment. I am shocked! You mean people without jobs don't have money? Maybe the initial program -- that moved and is still moving too slowly -- was made to address problems at that point in time rather than current housing crisis issues and concerns.

Here's a wonderful statistic for you too. Foreclosure starts are happening at more than twice the rate that trial modifications are extended. This means homeowners may simply redefault on their restructured mortgage because they now find themselves unemployed. Isn't that wonderful? The great American dream has become the great American deception.

What does the future potentially look like? There will be some modifications. How many? Moody's says somewhere around 1.5 million over the next three years. Seems like a lot until you see there is an expected foreclosure rate of 1.9 million for 2009 and 1.8 million 2010. Now that 1.5 million over three years isn't looking so hot is it? How will you really know that there will be a reduction in foreclosures? Good news here folks, once the unemployment rate hits the pinnacle. How high is that? Some say at 10.2 percent and estimate that will occur in the second quarter of 2010.

Links:
PBS Frontline - Close to Home
Principal Writedowns are Better for Mortgages and Why They Aren't Done
Obama's Plan 7 Things to Know
Why Foreclosures Keep Rising
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Giants Ridge / Minnesota National Golf Course

Update.

The golf pro has requested the golf vouchers be returned for reissue to be used in 2010. I will update when the 2010 vouchers arrive. Sphere: Related Content

Giants Ridge / Minnesota National Golf Course

Hello golfing friends.

I sent an email on 14 October 2009 to Giants Ridge and Minnesota National regarding golf vouchers that were part of a charity auction in September 2009. I have received an acknowledgment of the e-mail arriving, but no response and am concerned that this business and their affiliates may not have customer service as one of their priorities. I have included the original e-mail below so you may read what has been seen and ignored.

Wanted to be certain you were aware of this so you may adjust accordingly to avoid Giants Ridge and Minnesota National in any future golf travel.



----- Original Message -----
To: info@settlersridgemn.com ; mailto:info@giantsridge.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 11:44 AM

Subject: Golf Vouchers

At a recent fundraiser for a local not-for-profit, I received vouchers for complimentary rounds of golf at The Legend or The Quarry at Giants Ridge. The vouchers show a valid date through 20 October 2009.

When I called to book accommodations and golf, I was told the course was closed for the season and the vouchers will not be honored this year, next year or at any time in the future. This seems myopic to me and certainly does not impart the dedication to customer service that I would have anticipated. Your cost for the golf rounds pales in comparison to the money we would have spent on travel, gifts, lodging and dining, not to mention word of mouth and residual business.

As with most issues, a very small percentage of people ever report their concerns. Statistically, the average business never hears from 96% of its unhappy customers. Additionally, for every complaint received, the average business has another 26 customers with problems, and at least six of those will be serious.

Customers mean business. If you are interested in learning more about how that affects your business, I would be happy to assist you.

Thank you.




Links:

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http://minnesotanationalgolfcourse.com/

http://giantsridge.com/

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Credit Cards

Summary of Credit Card Interest
Credit card interest is the main way credit card issuers generate revenue. Over the past sixty-years, interest rates on credit cards have gone from zero to double-digits. This money is a major contributor to the bank’s bottom line and as such, you can anticipate rates continuing to increase.

The Beginning of Credit Cards
In the late 1800’s merchants and consumers exchanged goods and services through the concept of credit. At that time, the most common credit “cards” were charge plates and charge coins.

Oil companies and department stores were issuing cards in the early 1900s. Like their predecessors, these cards were only accepted in limited issuing locations and were mainly designed to create customer loyalty and to improve customer service.

These initial cards were followed by the “Charg-It” bankcard, which was introduced in 1946 in Brooklyn, New York by banker John Biggins. This card worked for local purchases and customers needed an account at Biggins’ bank. During the same era, Franklin National Bank brought out their own card for loan customers, but again, the bank’s account holders were the only people who could use this card.

Diner’s Club Card Debuts
In 1949, the Diners Club Card became the next step in credit cards. First used at New York's Major's Cabin Grill by Frank McNamara and his partner, Ralph Schneider, in February of 1950 to pay the bill with a small, cardboard card. Coined the Diners Club Card it was used mainly for travel and entertainment purposes. Diners Club claims the title of the first credit card in widespread use.

The Plastic Age
Diners Club had 20,000 cardholders by 1951 and within ten years the cardboard card was replaced with plastic. Diners Club was technically a charge card with the total charges were meant to be paid in full at the end of the month.

American Express followed Diners Card into the card market. Founded in 1850 and specializing in deliveries as a competitor to the U.S. Postal Service, they started offering money orders in 1882 and traveler’s checks in 1891. American Express had talked about a travel charge card as early as 1946, but it was the introduction of Diners Club that motivated them into action. In 1958 they entered the card market with a purple charge card for travel and entertainment expenses. In 1959, American Express introduced the first card made of plastic (previous cards were made of cardboard or celluloid).

Shortly after the plastic cards were introduced, American Express introduced local currency credit cards in other countries. One million cards were being used at about 85,000 establishments within five years, both in and out of the United States.

Bank Cards
All-purpose cards arrive in 1966 when Bank of America started their franchise BankAmericard, later known as the Visa card. MasterCard also gets its start in 1966 when banks join together to form the InterBank Card Association. This group is in direct competition with Visa. When these two groups were formed, the banks needed to decide which group to join. Bylaw changes down the road would allow banks to belong to both associations and issue both cards to their customers.

These new bankcard associations required cooperation between banks and created an open-loop system that allows fund transfers between banks. American Express, Diners Club and Discover Cards are still closed-loop systems.

Visa and MasterCard issue credit cards through member banks and also control the processing rules for those cards. Boards of directors that are mainly executives from the member banking organizations run both Visa and MasterCard.

Interest Makes the World Go Around
The revolving balance came into existence in 1959 and exists because banks are allowed to charge interest on the balances. This is a reasonable expectation since you are borrowing money and the interest is their fee. You are benefiting from using your future money and the banks are cashing in on their risk by charging you the fee. In theory, this is designed to be a win-win situation.

The government has historically placed limits on interest rates, which theoretically keeps consumers protected from unethical or radical changes in rates. In the United States, the States mostly governed this until 1978 when the pendulum swung to the credit card companies’ favor. The new rule allowed credit card companies to charge the highest rate allowed in their home state, (Marquette vs. First Omaha Service Corp.) regardless of where the customer resided.

That led to a mass exodus of credit card companies out of their home states and into their new, lender friendly, home states. Citibank fled from New York to very lender friendly South Dakota. Others headed to Georgia, Illinois and Delaware. After these moves, it is no surprise that interest rates began climbing.

Interest Rates
Today, the average consumer credit card interest rate is over 12%. On average, every consumer that has a 5% interest rate has a balancing consumer with a 21% interest rate. There are also rates out there as high as 30% with no stops or controls from keeping those from escalating.

As it stands today, credit card companies have the legal ability to raise your interest rate for many reasons. Like interest rates, card issuing companies search for usury laws that are beneficial to them too. Here are some of the most common ways your interest rate increases:

· Late on a payment to the cardholder.
· Late on a payment to another creditor like the gas or electric company.
· If you have increased debt from another creditor, like an additional credit card.
· If your FICO score drops.

In May 2009, Congress passed the CARD bill, which will go into effect in February 2010. This will not cap the credit card interest rates, but will eliminate or reduce some of the more ruthless practices that credit card companies participate in. In 2010, the credit card companies will need to give you 45 days notice – currently 15 days – before their interest rate can be changed. There will also be restrictions for raising interest and charging certain fees or penalties.

Knowledge is Power
Over the past sixty-years, interest rates on credit cards has gone from zero to double-digits. This money is a major contributor to the bank’s bottom line and as such, you can anticipate rates continuing to increase.

As a savvy consumer, you can educate yourself about credit cards and their various fees and charges. You can switch to a prepaid card or a bank debit card and avoid paying interest all together. Learn about your options and make informed decisions about your financial tools.




Links for More Information:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/credit/ NPR

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/credit/more/life.html

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-cards-history-1264.php

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Open Letter to Michele Bachmann

Dear Rep. Bachmann:

I hadn't received any response indicating that you received my note so I am resending it with a receipt request so I know our e-mails are connecting to each other.

The original note is below my signature in case the first one didn't get through.

Thank you for your consideration.




----- Original Message -----

To: info@michelebachmann.com
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 12:02 PM
Subject: Health Care Insurance


Dear Representative Bachmann:

I am concerned about the information you are sharing regarding health care insurance reform.

As a long time supporter and advocate for mentally and physically challenged individuals, I am disappointed on your remarks from the Congressional Record on 27 July 2009, where you stated that Ezekiel Emanuel say medical care should be reserved for the nondisabled. Your comment was. "So watch out if you're disabled." From what I have found, Ezekiel Emanuel has a positive medical record and it appears that you may have cherry picked a philosophical idea from an academic paper without properly citing your source. Emanuel stands public against euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide, which makes me question that validity of your comments. Please enlighten me with your research and facts on this topic.

I also question your statement that health insurance reform is unconstitutional. Could you please share with me the location in the Constitution that you are deriving this conclusion from?

With regard to illegal immigrants receiving tax funded health care, which bill are you referencing? The only bill that I see as having been submitted entirely to the House specifically says that no federal money will be spent on giving illegal immigrants health coverage. I realize that you may have more up to date information, so if there is an additional bill presented that supports your conclusion, please share the information with me.

While you are looking up that information, could you please show me where you are seeing that Planned Parenthood would be putting sex clinics in schools? As a licensed substitute teacher with many friends that are school nurses, I can appreciate the benefits of in school clinics for sick and/or underprivileged children, but I am unable to see in any of the language where there are provisions for abortions. Again, please enlighten me if there is something I am not seeing by including citations and links if possible to the information.

Please explain your understanding of a "Death Panel" and where you see this information in the health insurance reform. Where are you seeing that euthanasia or "mercy killing" is part of any plan? Are speaking about Rep. Earl Blumenauer's provision that allows Medicare to pay doctors for voluntary counseling sessions that address end-of-life issues? If so, what I see is the same thing that occurred for ever terminally ill person from my own family and from my in-laws too. These conversations between the doctors and family members included living wills, making a close relative or a trusted friend your health care proxy, learning about hospice as an option for the terminally ill, and information about pain medications for people suffering chronic discomfort. From my experiences with family members, this is a positive way for patients to be in control of their lives and make their own decisions regarding care.

I look forward to your response and answers to my concerns. Sphere: Related Content