December 31, 2016

Last Post

This is post 415 this year. Not bad. Not my highest, nor my least number of entries in a given year. It seems I once again opted for quantity over quality at the old blog. Even my occasional readers probably expected nothing more. We are once again at the end of the year.  I do not anticipate plopping two entries onto the interwebz, so this is the last post of the year.

Happy New Year.

At this point we have nothing planned. The couple we usually hang out with is on vacation in the Florida sunshine. Our other friends are busy with a real life struggle: my friend Tony is lying in a hospital bed waiting on a heart transplant. I don't usually ask for this kind of thing but your prayers are appreciated. Compared to his plight, sitting at home watching Ryan Seacrest do his best Dick Clark impression is not so bad.

I spent yesterday evening cleaning carpets. The upstairs and stairway are done. I will do the rest of the house after we get the Christmas decorations and trees put away. Sounds like a great way to spend the holiday doesn't it? I'm not sure how I will stand the excitement.

Enjoy your New Year celebration. If you drink, do not drive.

How about a little ghost of Guy Lombardo to round off the year?



December 30, 2016

Big bag of nothing

Coasting today. Enjoy your Friday

December 29, 2016

Sad stuff indeed

In recent years 1950's Debbie Reynolds has replaced 1940's Esther Williams as my favorite old chick younger me would have fantasized about when they were young. I bet Reynolds did that intoxicating little laugh if you tickled her in just the right secret places.

Debbie Reynolds passed away yesterday. The death the previous day of her daughter, Carrie Fisher, was a strain Reynolds could not bear.  I have said it before, no parent should ever have to bury their child. It is a horror I pray to never face. After my aunt died you could almost see the life slip from my grandmother. Even though those two wonderful women died a few years apart, my grandma was not the same after cancer claimed my only aunt.

I am one of the least star struck people on Earth. I cannot think of a single celebrity, artist or musician that I care to meet. I wouldn't cross a restaurant to bother any athlete. I have no desire to go backstage to hang with my favorite musicians. It should come as no surprise that I do not watch TMZ and I don't scan Buzzfeed for the latest celebrity gossip. I really do not care what Johnny, or Jennifer, or Brad are saying or doing. That said, the passing of this mother/daughter pair is sad beyond belief. One would have to have the coldest of hearts not to understand the tragedy of the events, no matter if the people involved are famous. May they both rest in peace.

December 28, 2016

Temper tantrum

I had to behave like a real person yesterday. I got up at dark O'Clock, showered and hit the highways to arrive at the home office before seven. It was inventory day and my ability to count without using my fingers and toes was needed.  I don't mind getting up and going into work, just not early enough to post something on the old blog before i leave. I don't love you that much.

I am amazed at the pettiness of President Obama. He has absolutely stabbed Israel, our only friend, the only democracy in the Mideast, in the back. He has given the Palstineans yet another reason to refuse to negotiate with Israel on a two-state solution. Obama does not like the Israeli PM. Too bad.

Why Jews continue to vote overwhelmingly Democrat has confused me since Jimmah Carter was President. Democrats from FDR to now have screwed over the Jews. But American jews still keep voting for the anti-Semites. It is Stockholm Syndrome or something.

It appears Obama is going to shove his legacy down our throat in a last minute hissy fit. He is gonna figuratively trash his Vegas hotel room because he lost big at the craps table. He'll show us. Well, Mr. Obama, it is like you told us after you were elected; elections have consequences. America has repudiated your agenda on every level from local to state to federal. Get over it. These last minute moves make you look small, petty, and unPresidential. What is next? Are you going to stuff paper towels in the urinals and rip up the pillows as you vacate the White House? Did you carve a big "O" into the oval office desk so succeeding presidents will remember you?

Obama probably thinks the XX Amendment is racist because it kept him from sharing his vision for another four years.

December 26, 2016

Partied out

Good morning everybody. I'm at the old blog a bit later than usual. Late to bed and late to rise keeps me from posting anything wise.

I hope you had an enjoyable holiday weekend. I sure did. Food and family gatherings were all a great time. The granddaughter had a ball and really likes opening presents. The joy of a two year-old is contagious. I received some great gifts including a framed copy of the Chicago Tribune depicting the Cubs World Series victory.

The food...what feasts! From barbecue at my mom's house Christmas eve to turkey and ham at my wife's family that evening to more turkey and ham at my daughter's on Christmas day, I ate and ate. Desserts and cookies and fudge and peanut butter pie and cherry delight and mashed spuds and noodles and rolls all have combined to make my blood sugar readings a bit high today, but lower than I expected. I dont even want to jump on the bathroom scale. That damn thing lies anyway. I'm thinking of frying up a piece of the leftover ham in a skillet and cracking a couple of eggs for breakfast. What he heck, one more day of over-eating won't kill me. Probably.

It was a great weekend and I hope yours was too.


December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas

The view from my patio December 2016

December 24, 2016

December 23, 2016

Frankie says Relax

We are in the midst of the holiday season. Lots of religions have celebrations around this time of year. Many are based on rebirth as we hit the solstice and the days begin to get longer. Indeed, this post may be better suited for next week and the advent of the New Year.

This may be a "pot meet kettle" posting. I sure hope not. I was most disappointed when Obama won the election in 2008 and 2012. I have looked at some of my posts from that time and I am certain I expressed disappointment, but in a reasonable manner. But life goes on. It is politics. The country is not going to collapse over night. We still have a system of checks and balances.

It is time to relax. No matter what you think about Trump, and there is plenty to worry about, some of this reaction is over the top. When you plan to disrupt the inauguration, when you want to have a concert that will compete with the festivities, when you boycott and shame entertainers for considering an inauguration performance you are borderline unhinged. It is OK to disagree about policy. Respect the office. Trump has yet to perform a single Presidential act. In fact, it looks like he is going to push an agenda most Democrats will like, starting with a stimulus not so different than he one Obama gave us. I am not in favor, but that does not give me leave to chase and harass Trump's daughter through an airport. That is just crazy behavior.

In the spirit of the holidays step back and assess.  Reign it in. It is OK to disagree with the policy, but Trump won. Get over it. Move on. Win the next election. Enough of the stupid stuff. If right wingers had disrupted Obama's inauguration, if his daughter was chased through the airport would you approve? I thought Bush Derangement  Syndrome was bad, but the angst and downright bat-shit crazy response to Trump's election makes me think a great number of liberals really do need therapy.

Relax. It will be OK. There is no need to ruin your Christmas dinner. Hug your kid. Pet your cat. Play fetch with your dog. Enjoy a cigar. There is plenty of good in the world. Do not spend so much time focusing on the bad that you miss it.

I complain as much as anybody. There is more than a decade of evidence right over there in the archives. Perhaps you will point to dozens of rantings stored over there on  the right that prove I am a hypocrite of the worst sort. I like to believe I spew my rant and move on with my day. You can't let this stuff consume your life. Everything Trump does or says is not a sign the sky is falling.

Relax, Chicken Little.

Edit: or just go Read a post that makes a lot more sense on the same topic

December 22, 2016

The day prior to the night before the night before Christmas

The stockings are figuratively hung by the chimney. The gift shopping is nearly done; we are out of time and out of money. I think a couple of items for the family gathering is all that is left. Cookies and candy are baked and prepared. The wife will make up some containers to gift the neighbors. I will brave yet one more trip to the grocery to get stuff to make for the various family get-togethers.

Friday and Monday are work holidays. In reality this week and next will be slow. No one wants to see or hear from a salesman at this time of year. To be honest, they don't want to anytime, but particularly right now. The first week of January will be tough to schedule appointments too. Even my winning personality, charm, and wit cannot overcome the holidays.

It appears a white Christmas is not in the cards this year. Winter storms are forecast for the Midwest, but it looks like we will be on the warm side and will see rain instead of snow.

Today's recommended Holiday movie is Donovan's Reef. This 1963 John Wayne comedy/action flick may not strike you as a Christmas movie, but the holiday plays a central theme in the tale. I may just throw the DVD into the player this evening. Heck, you can never go wrong watching The Duke.

I hope you have a great Thursday

December 21, 2016

The previous post left me sick

My wife, daughter, and granddaughter are all in the kitchen baking and decorating Christmas cookies.

Life is good. I feel better knowing there is still decency and goodness in the world.

Sick, disgusting, evil

Actress Lena Dunham says she wishes she could get pregnant so she could have an abortion. Source

No matter where you fall on the ideology spectrum regarding abortions, that is a sick, disgusting sentiment. It is borderline depraved.

She has apologized. She says it was a "joke". Are you laughing?  Some words cannot be taken back.

December 20, 2016

Winning comes at a high price

My oldest son and I went to see the movie Miss Sloane last night. It was filled with drama, action, and just the right amount of humor. The acting was better than I expected and the plot was remarkably complete. Over all, it was a pretty good movie.

No wait, we did not see that anti-gun flop. We saw Rogue One.

Spoiler Alert:

December 19, 2016

Stuff you know

Until Waterloo, Napolean and the Duke of Wellington had never faced each other on a battlefield.

Two of the greatest field generals and tacticians, not only of their time, but in history, were contemporaries, antagonists, and enemies. Yet they fought only one battle.

It was, for the most part evenly matched, right up until the end when the Prussians showed up on the French flank.

Liberal Irony

My oldest son is a bartender/waiter in a college town. He works at one of the chain restaurants. Some of his frequent customers are the professors from the university. My son says these professors are the worst tippers as a group. One guy in particular irritates him. This professor comes in often giving all within earshot a hearty dose of his political philosophy. The liberal professor holds forth on Trump, economics, and the so-called "living wage".  And never, no matter the size of the bill, tips more than $2, says my son.

Waitstaff and bartenders are paid in tips. Their minimum wage is a fraction of the federal standard and most restaurants only pay the minimum wage if the tip amounts are less than the hourly minimums. It is either/or for the worker. Most establishments get rid of servers who cannot pull in more in tips than the paltry minimum wage. So when this blowhard tips a measly couple of Washingtons on a $50 tab, then he has cheated the server. Not only did he not pay the worker for the effort. But he took up a table that might have tipped better.

I am in no way arguing you should generously compensate bad service. I do find it hard to believe this one guy gets substandard service every time he dines at this restaurant. If he does, he should not continue to patronize the business. I think we all can deduce this liberal professor is like a lot of progressives, he likes to spend everyone else's money, but is hypocritical when it comes to real life situations. Talk is cheap, apparently this blow hard liberal is too.

December 18, 2016

Panic

The losers of the election are in full panic mode. They tried recounts to change the Trump victory then it was fake news, then they blamed it on the Russians. They hope enough electors will ignore their will and then enough GOPers the House risk tar and feathering by their constituents to vote for ..well someone not Trump.

Now in an OpEd Some Dufus is arguing that the populous states could sue in the Supreme Court because less populous states get more influence in the electoral college. He compares the populations of California and Wyoming and since both only get 2 senators then each one in Wyoming represents far fewer voters than the 2 for California. I guess he does not understand that is a feature, not a bug of the Constitution. This Kenneth Jost believes that there is some method that the Court can make the Constitution, well unConstitutional or something. The electoral college is written in. It can only be abolished through the amendment process. Oh, and notice as a good liberal, he trots out he old "the electoral college is racist" canard, despite it not being true; the Connecticut Compromise HURT the slave states.

Anyway, if this is what passes for intellectual thought then the losers are truly desperate.

December 17, 2016

Ice, ice baby

The cul-de-sac in front of my house is a sheet of ice. It looks like a skating rink. Freezing rain, more like freezing mist, started around 10:30 last night and we have a fine coating of ice everywhere. I don't think it is heavy enough to start breaking power lines, but I suspect the roadways are treacherous. You can learn to drive in snow. No one can safely drive on ice.

Leftist hysteria and attempts to delegitimize the Trump election continue. The sore losers are sowing seeds they will regret. Just as Democrats are sorry they changed Senate rules to get their agenda passed, they will wish they never cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process in the future. The nation is divided politically. That will not change anytime soon. The smooth and seamless transition of power we have enjoyed since Washington left office in 1787 is no more. Acrimony and hate will ratchet up with each succeeding election. Disruptions of the electoral college, faux outrage and refusal by Congress to accept the election results, riots at the inauguration are just the beginning. How long until a future former government refuses to hand over the reigns of power because of a real or imagined issue with their successor? Just like my driveway this morning, it is a slippery slope and fraught with danger. This nonsense is the stuff of Banana Republics and the breeding ground for tyranny and future dictators.

 In the not so distant future we are going to look back and wonder how did we lose our Republic and we can point to George Soros and the Democrat Party. They will not be able to control what they have started any more than a speeding motorist can control his car on the icy interstate.


December 16, 2016

Turkey gravy in five easy steps

Friday at last. Another miserable week in this  miserable year is almost in the books. I'm going to try and get in some Christmas shopping this weekend. It is far more likely I will take a day off next week and go to the mall during the day when the crowds are smaller. As usual, the wife has given me little to work with. "There is a white shirt with red on the sleeves at the Loft" is not much help. I have no intention of spending an hour sorting trough clothing at a women's store to determine if that is a T-shirt, a blouse, stripes? Or she tells me there is a necklace at Macy's. She assures me it is similar to "that one" she has, but when I ask her to show me she says she will later. So Christmas comes and I buy the wrong stuff or different stuff that she takes back or never uses or wears. A little help on her part would go a very long way. Women. I suspect yours is just the same.





Can you dig it? Ding , dong-ding, doooong.

I had a mini-rant here about the sore losers and their efforts to disrupt the Electoral College, but I erased it. It is Friday and I don't want to get all honked off. Besides, you either find the whole Democrat/never Trumper effort a disgrace or else lack the sack or ability to make a cogent argument against my position. And sorry, but Hamilton would be appalled at the hijacking of his name to thwart the will of the people and States.

If you see me at the mall, do not try to stop and chat. I will be on a mission to get in, get out, and making every effort to avoid beating any number of nitwits I encounter about the head and face with rolls of wrapping paper. Oh, and there is "this one sweater at Kohls" the wife likes. If you see it, let me know.

December 15, 2016

What a pile of steaming horse crap

This is why many of  us out here in flyover country think that Black Lives Matter and Identity Politics in general is a damn joke. If ever an asshole deserved to die, it was that guy and race had nothing whatsoever to do with it.

Maybe they should teach students at Ohio State a course in old tales, starting with the one about the boy and the wolf.

Hoo Boy

Baby, it's cold outside, and I ain't singing a Christmas song. The wind chill is around -12 or so. It really doesn't matter, once you pass zero, it is just cold. Go stick your head in the freezer. Yes, it is just like that outside.

But I'm just complaining. It is not like I have to work outside or anything. I'm ensconced in a warm house. I have a doctor's appointment later this morning, but that means I will be out in the cold long enough to scurry from my warm car to the warm lobby. It may be uncomfortable for those 45 seconds, but in reality I wouldn't even need a coat. But hey, my bitching filled up a couple of paragraphs!

I'm off later this morning to get an annual physical. I should put " marks around the annual, since I have not had a physical in five or six years. I have been to the doctor, I just have not had a thorough exam. But as far as I can tell, I am reasonably healthy. Except for the diabetes thing. Oh, and the going blind thing. I think that one is fixed. And I need a haircut. I don't think that is a health thing, unless I develop a Sampson complex in the next few hours. I hope the Doc doesn't want to do a prostate exam. I had chili for supper last night.

I have wasted enough of your time. No soldiers of the Rebel Alliance were harmed while creating this post. This entry was created using electricity generated from coal. This is, and will remain a vegan-free content website. Void where prohibited. Please don't send cash or stamps. No CODs. Bonus offer void in Montana. Final notice, your auto warranty is about to expire. Kevin is home alone and it is clear that Betty, Bailey, and Mary Ann were hotter than their more glamorous counterparts. I really do have a model of the HMS Victory on my desk. In just over a month Barry will be gone and my glee has nothing to do with the amount of melanin in his skin. Do not staple, mutilate or fold. Keep off the grass. Any resemblance to a real person, living or dead, is a coincidence.

Bonus Question: do you think Bill shook his head and with all the venom he could muster said to Hillary, "I can't believe you lost to Donald Fucking Trump, you stupid c%#t".

December 14, 2016

Not an original thought

Shut up about the popular vote.

Democrats are not being governed by a minority. Clinton won California by an estimated 4.3 million votes. She is ahead in the 'popular vote' by just over two million votes. That means she lost 49 states by about 2 million ballots.

California got screwed*. The rest of us got what we wanted.

I can live with that.

It is well past time to quit bellyaching. Consider this post an electronic Kleenex to wipe away your tears.

Besides, we do not elect the President through the popular vote. This election is proof positive why the system we have works perfectly.



* and just how many illegals voted in California?  More than a couple of dozen I am certain. 

December 13, 2016

Next you will be telling me the USSR was so afraid of Carter they got Reagan elected

So let me get this straight, anonymous sources at the CIA have told the Washington Post that Russians deliberately tried to help Trump win the election. The Evil Empire managed this not through direct interference in the voting process, but by hacking various Democrat emails and releasing the contents. Now no one is claiming the released info is not authentic, but that by telling the truth Hillary lost the election.

Ponder that for a moment. The truth cost the Democrats the Presidency, and that is the chief complaint. 

Many intelligence agencies dispute the claim the Russians were trying to help Trump. After all, the DNC admits they were first hacked in the summer of  2015, long before anyone considered Trump would be the nominee. There is an "inconvenient truth" for you conspiracy-minded losers. If Putin was all in for Trump, why is there no evidence he was attacking or trying to hack Trump's 16 competitors for the GOP nomination? After all, the Kremlin had to get Trump the nomination before they could help him win the Presidency.

Maybe we should consider the source. This is the same CIA that brought us the Bay of Pigs, failed to predict the Iranian takeover of our Embassy, did not foresee the fall of the Berlin Wall and the USSR, The CIA said that Iraq did, then didn't, then that they could have WMDs. They claimed that Iran stopped trying to get nukes, until it was discovered that they were. The CIA missed the Arab Spring and was as surprised as we were when terrorists struck on 9/11. The CIA failed to warn that Russia was moving into the Ukraine, and underplayed the strength and spread of ISIS.

Democrats have blamed their loss on racists, Russians, fake news stories about fake news,  hacked voting machines, ignorance, global warming, lack of safe spaces, SUVs, angry union guys, homophobia, xenophobia, not enough early voting, maybe even space aliens, for all I can tell. Blame falls on anything but a lying, untrustworthy candidate only concerned with getting more money and power who did not have a valid plan for the economy, foreign policy, fixing ObamaCare or immigration. But Hillary had a vagina. There was that. They don't understand how Clinton lost Wisconsin when she did not even campaign there.

The whole idea that the Russians tried to elect Trump is about as silly as the notion that rogue electors will try to give the election to either a politician who didn't even run and lost both of his previous tries at the office (Romney) or the guy who was so unpopular he could only barely win one primary - his own state (Kasich).

I think we have just another example of butt-hurt establishment types who cannot accept that the American people were not the sheep following the herd as they imagined.

Perhaps all of you so outraged that a foreign power would try to interfere in elections should take a gander at St. Obama's actions during the last Israel elections or the Brexit vote in Great Britain.


It is beginning to look...

It started in snowing pretty hard earlier this morning. We are expecting anywhere from 1-3 inches. SnowTeamScareTeam is hyping 3+ inches, so I suppose we will get about half of that, at best.

In any case, the snow makes it seem a little more Christmasy. Here is a shot of the lights on front of the house:


Here is a view of the big Christmas tree taken right afyer we got it up and decorated:


You can just see a glimpse of the lighted garland-wrapped stairs in the foreground.


You can get two euchre decks from a single pinocle deck of cards

I work out of a home office. When I first started the arrangement, setting up a home office was a problem in a three bedroom house with three kids. We were already short on space. I now have a four bedroom home, albeit the bedrooms are on the small side. I am not sure how we managed to upsize in the last move. Anyway, we have a four bedroom house for the two of us since the youngest has a college apartment where he mostly resides. But he does still have a bedroom. My wife watches our granddaughter, so we have a bedroom with a bed for her and my office occupies the last bedroom. My office is upstairs in the corner overlooking the backyard and the big willow.

My office is eclectic in its decor. I have a couple of those big pictures on canvas -- one of Wrigley Field and one of Lucas Oil Stadium. My college sheepskin is framed and hung next to my desk. Framed photos of Johnny Cash and the Rat Pack flank the football stadium picture. My 24" wooden cigar store Indian stares in somber reflection from atop one of my two-drawer filing cabinets and a printer sits on the other one. A model of the HMS Victory shares room on the shelf above my desk with my humidor and an artificial plant.  My favorite picture of my wife, taken some thirty years ago, sits on a corner of my desk.

My desk is a cheap one from WalMart that I put together. It is small but adequate. I have a nice high backed leather desk chair. A recliner occupies one corner. My office is crowded and comfortable and my space.  I like it fine.

I have worked out of a cubicle. I was the sole tenant in a 70 year-old five story office building for a number of years. I had an office on the second floor above a credit union when I started this blog. For more than a decade I have worked from home. It takes discipline. I go into the office, shut the door and do my thing. There is no TV. I come out to get more coffee and to get rid of it an hour or two later. I go down for lunch and ignore everything else that may be going on in the house. It was easier to work at home when my wife left for work every day, but she respects that I have work to do and rarely bothers me.

December 12, 2016

Please don't

I read over the weekend where the government is thinking about letting people use their cell phones on airplanes. Only those who never fly or routinely fly on government aircraft or private planes could think this idea will work out well. It is bad enough listening to other folks' private conversations in the gate area. Crammed shoulder to shoulder with fat Mary while she discusses her colitis with cousin Jane or next to sunglasses indoors guy while he negotiates a contract is the last thing I want to do. And let us not forget about Speakerphone Steve who cannot be bothered to hold that heavy phone up to his ear or twenty-something Teresa trying to facetime with her cockapoo back in Cedar Rapids. No thank you. 

People cannot be bothered to get off the phone for ninety seconds to complete a retail transaction. What makes anyone suppose that same pajama pants-at -WalMart chick will be any less rude crammed into the window seat in 16A?

It is hard to imagine that there was a time when ordinary citizens went about their daily lives where the only phone they had was screwed to the wall in their kitchen. Look, I love my cell phone. I have had one since 1993 (most likely long before you got one). But I can, and do, survive a couple of hours without using it. I do business deals. I have customers and bosses. They accept I am out of touch while flying the friendly skies.

This is a convenience we do not need.

December 11, 2016

Happy Birthday Indiana

On this date in 1816 Indiana became a state. At that time most of the population lived in the southern part of the state. A few hardy souls ventured along the Wabash or Whitewater rivers This was the woolly west. It took tough and brave SOBs to battle mother nature, wildlife, and the native Indians to settle here. Tecumseh's Confederacy was defeated at the Battle of Tippecanoe only five years before Indiana became a state.

My many times great grandfather arrived sometime around 1820 into the north central part of the state. I am a Hoosier through and through. According to the Internet, and everything is true on the Internet, only a little over three thousand people share my last name in the United States. One-third live in that same part of Indiana today.

Happy Birthday Indiana. You may be 200 years old, but you don't look a day over 150.

December 10, 2016

Saturday cartoon





I have nothing today. I don't want to rant about politics. You don't give a fig about my personal life. We all have weather.

I'm not really sure why you visit this blog anyway.

Have a great Saturday.

December 9, 2016

Grab Bag 'o Fun

The windchill was -6 when I left the hotel to head to the airport yesterday morning. Guess what? It is winter. We have a dusting of snow on the ground this morning. It is quite pretty.

By the time I left for the airport in Omaha, flew to  loathsome O'Hare airport, sat through my layover, flew to Indy, rode the bus to my car in long-term parking, and drove home in rush hour traffic it took almost exactly the same amount of time to get home as it would have if I drove home from Omaha.

I'm flabbergasted at the total loss of reason from the losers of the election. Michael Moore is calling for riots protests to disrupt the inauguration. Can you imagine his outrage if a righty proposed such for Obama?

I'm still trying to figure out how voting for a rich old white guy instead of a rich old white woman is racist.

I am astounded at the complete lack of understanding of how the Constitution works. I have read editorials and listened to Democrats who argue that a majority of Americans are being governed by a minority. One went so far as to argue that the whole setup was designed to placate slave states and is further evidence of the racist underpinnings of our nation. The failure to teach history in this country is America's chickens coming home to roost. The electoral college and the senate were designed to protect the less populous states from the tyranny of the larger states.

Indeed, the Connecticut Compromise ensured that the Constitution established a bicameral (two houses) legislature. Virginia wanted the legislature to be based purely on population. New Jersey wanted each State to have equal representation. The Connecticut Compromise established the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate giving equal representation to each state. From day one, the most populous states were under-represented in the Senate. Note, nothing in this design had anything to do with slavery. In fact, it was the northern small states pushing for equal representation to make sure Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania did not push their agendas on the small states. It had nothing whatsoever to do with slavery.

Democrats are crying over Trump's electoral victory despite not winning the popular vote. This is exactly how it was designed. Clinton's margin of victory comes almost entirely from California. If we were a pure democracy then California and New York would dictate the direction of government. This is not that hard people. The election worked as it is supposed to. It is a genius design. The United States is exactly that; a collection of states. The states are semi-autonomous political entities united together.  The states are not political districts of the federal government. The collective states formed the federal government. The feds did not create the states.

If you want to believe otherwise, then I have one argument for you. If all the states have to be the same then New York, Massachusetts, California, Illinois, and Virginia would have to have the same open carry laws as say, Indiana or Texas. Federalism doesn't seem so bad now. eh?

I find the idea that California wants to secede from the Union equally laughable. Let us leave aside for a moment that secession was settled some 150 years ago. If California were to secede then Social Security stops. Medicaid stops. There are no more food stamps or WIC programs, There are no more highway funds. There are no more drought funds. There are no military bases. No border patrol. The US would likely impose a tariff on California goods. The cost to import cars and oil, and manufactured goods into California would soar. California would no longer get electricity generated by dams in the United States. US dollars are no longer valid currency. California would have to establish its own currency. What do you thing a California currency would be worth? The State is billions in debt. Who will back the currency? California would have to negotiate its own trade deals with China, Canada, Mexico, the EU, and OPEC.Go ahead and leave.

The sore losers in California cannot accept that they are out of step with a large portion of the nation. The secessionists are like petulant teenagers threatening to leave home. It sounds great until they learn they will have to pay for their own gas, insurance, cell phone, and clothing. Then mom and dad do not seem so unreasonable.

I didn't want to do a long political rant on a Friday. I suppose it is only marginally more palatable than a Friday Music selection.


December 7, 2016

I oughtta grab a box of steaks while I'm here

Here I am in former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning's favorite city, as least when it comes to snap count cadence. It is cold, temperatures in the 20s and wind chills around 10 or 11.

My flight in yesterday was typically boring. On the leg from Chicago I had the seat hog asshole next to me. He wasn't satisfied with part of the armrest, he needed it all and also part of my seat space for his elbow. I took my space when he reached for his drink but when he put his arm against mine he wins; I don't like to be touched and it weirded me out after a while. I nearly smarted off to him, but what is the point. The new, more polite me sucked it up. It was a short flight and experience tells me you cannot shame assholes. They are who they are. He knew he was being a selfish jerk and did not care.

For a good part of my life I flew a lot. I was boarding a plane between 100 and 130 times a year, every year, for a period of more than six or seven years. In my last job I flew every three or four weeks. Now, not so much, a few times a year. I don't miss it. Flying has become  crowded, uncomfortable and inconvenient. Even if I was back in top frequent flyer status with free first class upgrades on EVERY trip, I still would not want to be back in the commercial airways every week. The free miles are nice, but but not worth it in the post 9/11 squeeze every cent out of the passengers, cram 'em in airline mentality.  At this point in my life I have around 1,000 commercial flights under my belt. It quit being an adventure a long time ago. It is a necessary evil to avoid driving more than 9 hours each way to do my job. 

So it goes, life on the road ain't the fun you imagine it to be. Work travel isn't vacation travel. But it is my life and I'm used to it. 

December 7th



To the Congress of the United States

Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

--December 8, 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt


December 6, 2016

This man has no honor

Christopher Suprun is a man without honor, a person with no integrity. He was chosen to represent the wishes of  the voters of Texas. He is unable unwilling to fulfill that obligation. Instead, he has chosen to represent his own interest. He is a piece of shit with no honor. He can wrap it up in rationalization all he wants, but that does not change a thing. Suprun wanted to be an elector, now he won't do his duty. He should resign. He is a disgrace, he is deplorable. He should not be trusted at all going forward. Christopher Suprun is not a man of his word.

December 5, 2016

Pretending to be a textile worker does not make you an expert on weaving

There is not much to report today. I fried up some chicken last night. Mashed spuds, gravy, corn, and biscuits rounded out the meal. Yes, there might have been a few carbs present.

Not much happened, news wise, over the weekend. Recounts are going on in Wisconsin and starting in Michigan today. Early results in Cheeseland indicate the initial counts were pretty accurate and that Trump is slightly expanding his lead.

Funny, the sore losers are only asking for recounts in close states where they lost. Why not claim there might be, could be, perhaps was...well something...since the polls were wrong in New Hampshire and Minnesota which were much closer than expected Clinton wins? Oh, right, because this is about trying to screw up the Electoral College and making money for Jill Stein.

I read a rant from Sally Field yesterday where she claimed that the Electoral College has stolen the election from Hillary Clinton. Sally said ( I paraphrase) that if we are a democracy then the person with the most votes should win.  Sally, I really, really don't like you.  Silly, ignorant proclamations of this sort are exactly why we should not listen to actors or actresses on topics of importance. Pretending may be a skill, but it does not make one an expert. I will type this slow so you can follow along, Sally Field. We have a representative republic in the United States, not a democracy, you ignorant slut. Maybe you should have taken a civics class back in high school. Maybe instead of flying around letting schoolboys look up your dress in some sick sexual fantasy involving nuns and weird hats you could have taken a course in political science at the local community college.


December 4, 2016

Johnny Cash hit song to be banned in Eastern Tennessee

It is cold this morning; near freezing. It is not abnormal for the season. SnowTeamScareTeam was in a lather because it might snow today. Probably not, but maybe! If it does, it will be at best a dusting, but SNOW! Since this is written garbage, not video garbage you cannot see me shaking my head in mild disgust. I am, believe me. Look, I'll do it again. Imagine it, people, that is what words are for.

Yesterday was entirely unproductive. The wife went shopping and I  mutated into a couch potato. John Wayne, a documentary about the Cubs World Series win, and a broadcast showing of "It's a Wonderful Life" pretty much took up the day. I guess. Oh, I also watched a Debbie Reynolds movie in the morning. And can I add that she was hot back in the day? I went back and looked, the flick was "Bundle of Joy". I've seen it bunches of times. It is a musical remake of an older film. This was filmed when Reynolds was married to Eddie Fisher and around the time Princess Leia was born.

So yeah, I wasted the day. I did walk about three miles in the morning, so there is that. Since i smoked a cigar while strolling the neighborhood I suspect any health benefits from the mild exercise were negated. If you were using me as a roll model I seriously question your life choices.

I do not anticipate today being much more exciting. Enjoy your Sunday and because I too often forget to say it, thank you for stopping by.



*re: the title of this post -- too soon?

December 3, 2016

And on Saturday

We watched cartoons. And ate sugary cereal. And turned into productive citizens (with diabetes). But we did not sit around playing video games.


December 2, 2016

Praeses et Professores

I'm not dead, just busy. Year-end mileage logs for the company car and filling out November expenses have delayed posting today. Wednesday and Thursday I was in Chicago doing my work thing. In other words, I'm offering lots of lame excuses for why I haven't posted my normal brand of genius for a couple of days. This is post 5,514. It is my 382nd effort this calendar year. Go ahead, demand a recount. It is the thing to do these days.

I dragged out the mower Tuesday and chopped and bagged the leaves in the front and back yard. When I got home last night the back yard is again covered completely in a gold layer of leaves. The trees back there are still at least 80% covered. It was January last year before they were done shedding and it looks like it will be that way again this year.  I refuse to rake in January. They can lay there 'till spring when I will mow them up then.

There is snow in the forecast this weekend. I am ready. Bring on the white Christmas, baby.

I picked up my re-done glasses this morning. Since the prescription is fairly strong and mostly to correct astigmatism, they lenses are a stark change. I have a headache and stuff looks a little distorted. .
You are now caught up on the tediousness that is my life. Don't you feel better?


Here is a little Friday Christmas Music for your enjoyment.

No, no, there is no need to thank me.
Consider everything here that is of original content copyrighted as of March 2005
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