That explains my bad attitude, irritability, and the pain in my back and side. I broke down and went to the doctor today. I didn't need to go, since I did, after all, stay in a Holiday Inn Express last week. When the rash appeared Sunday I knew what I had. Shingles. Freaking shingles. Confirmed. While I can diagnose, I cannot prescribe. Thats why i went to tne doctor. I'm off for yet more meds to add to my daily pile.
Hooray for me.
July 31, 2018
It has finally happened
It has been opined that if you put a herd of monkeys in front of an equal number of typewriters eventually coherent words will emerge. Finally, the theory has been proven on a national stage.
USAToday has an editorial from some guy at The Cato Institute and Harvard arguing we should get rid of borders and offer unfettered immigration. I won't link to it because I'm lazy and I don't want to be the Typhoid Mary of crazy ideas.
Honestly, the author argues that we can eliminate illegal immigration by making ALL immigration legal. Well, duh. If we get rid of prohibitions on driving while intoxicated our drunk driving convictions will be zero.
As near as I can tell, the basic argument is we would save billions by not having to enforce laws or building walls. Indeed, this guy posits that immigrants will be more likely to leave since they didn't have to work so hard to get here.
No, this is not satire from The Onion.
In total ignorance of the immutable law of supply and demand the editorial writer says more immigrants will raise wages for everyone. He is convinced only the best and brightest will come. He cites the "success" of the mass influx of immigrants to Europe as proof. Seriously.
Don't worry, this turnip brain tells us, if too much largess from the government coffers goes to this influx of folks, we can just vote those benefits away. Yes, history shows that people often vote themselves less money taken from others. That last sentence was intended to be written in sarcasm font.
I'm not surprised this crazy thought is coming out of The Cato Institute. Those people gave us the basic outline of ObamaCare. If this is the quality of economic theory offered at Harvard, then I would send my kid to a different Ivy League institution. Better yet, I would look for a small college somewhere out in flyover country. Better still, I would place my kid in front of Milton Friedman videos on YouTube.
OK, Here is proof of the stupidity. I honestly feel just a little dumber just by reading such tripe.
USAToday has an editorial from some guy at The Cato Institute and Harvard arguing we should get rid of borders and offer unfettered immigration. I won't link to it because I'm lazy and I don't want to be the Typhoid Mary of crazy ideas.
Honestly, the author argues that we can eliminate illegal immigration by making ALL immigration legal. Well, duh. If we get rid of prohibitions on driving while intoxicated our drunk driving convictions will be zero.
As near as I can tell, the basic argument is we would save billions by not having to enforce laws or building walls. Indeed, this guy posits that immigrants will be more likely to leave since they didn't have to work so hard to get here.
No, this is not satire from The Onion.
In total ignorance of the immutable law of supply and demand the editorial writer says more immigrants will raise wages for everyone. He is convinced only the best and brightest will come. He cites the "success" of the mass influx of immigrants to Europe as proof. Seriously.
Don't worry, this turnip brain tells us, if too much largess from the government coffers goes to this influx of folks, we can just vote those benefits away. Yes, history shows that people often vote themselves less money taken from others. That last sentence was intended to be written in sarcasm font.
I'm not surprised this crazy thought is coming out of The Cato Institute. Those people gave us the basic outline of ObamaCare. If this is the quality of economic theory offered at Harvard, then I would send my kid to a different Ivy League institution. Better yet, I would look for a small college somewhere out in flyover country. Better still, I would place my kid in front of Milton Friedman videos on YouTube.
OK, Here is proof of the stupidity. I honestly feel just a little dumber just by reading such tripe.
July 30, 2018
Self inspection
I'm late getting to the old blog today. Did anyone notice? Does anyone care?
These inquiries would be more pertinent if I had anything worthwhile to write. Oh, I could navigate through the normal topics: weather, health, weekend activities. I could opine on he politics of the day. I could expound on any number of topics. I don't feel like it.
There you have it. Should things change, this space, or one very much like it, will be filled with letters, words, sentences, and paragraphs. Stay vigilant. Or not. This is a free choice blog.
These inquiries would be more pertinent if I had anything worthwhile to write. Oh, I could navigate through the normal topics: weather, health, weekend activities. I could opine on he politics of the day. I could expound on any number of topics. I don't feel like it.
There you have it. Should things change, this space, or one very much like it, will be filled with letters, words, sentences, and paragraphs. Stay vigilant. Or not. This is a free choice blog.
July 28, 2018
Two Deaths and a Funeral
I have this little water feature out by the patio. It is an old-fashioned hand pump running water into a "barrel" that sits on top of yet another barrel. Water drains in a stream from the "pump" into the smaller top barrel which overflows into the larger bottom barrel. Water is then pumped up to the top. Loop and repeat. Over time water evaporates and I have to add water. Sometimes the little electric pump gets choked with debris so I have to reach in and clear it.
Fast forward to Thursday evening. I get home around 8:30 or 9:00 pm after spending the week at corporate HQ. I go out to check the fountain. It is nearly dark. The water is low. Very low. I look again and notice something floating in the water.
It is a dead bird.
I almost gagged on the ham sammich I was chewing. I bagged the bird and trashed it. I am going to have to clean out the fountain this weekend.
Throwing on my imaginary Sherlock Holmes hat -- it is way too hot to slip on a Columbo overcoat -- I think I have arrived at the 3% solution. Over the hot summer the fountain gets mossy and green algae slimy. Last weekend I disassembled and cleaned it. I read on the Internet ( everything is true on the Internet) that adding hydrogen peroxide to the water will keep the system clean. Perhaps a whole bottle was too much? An alternative was the bird got in there to splash, got trapped under the smaller bucket and drowned. Theory number three is the bird just died and fell into the big bucket.
Yesterday found the wife and I on the road to attend a funeral. There were a lot of people there. It is always hard to lose a friend, a lesson I learned way back in high school. It was reassuring to see the love and respect from his community, co-workers, friends, and family. I'm not sure where on the hierarchy I fit. I have known him for almost forty years, talk every few months, meet occasionally. I can't say I was an intimate daily golfing buddy friend. Still, he was important to me and I like to think I was to him. He was a fraternity brother, a pledge brother, roommate. We stood in each other's weddings. He's gone. The funeral was for me and others who loved him.
On the long drive down empty I-69 through the hills of southern Indiana I had flashbacks of the opening scenes of the over-rated Big Chill playing in my mind.
Ah, so it goes.
With that, I know he is in heaven grinning over a beer and telling me "damn straight, Joe".
Fast forward to Thursday evening. I get home around 8:30 or 9:00 pm after spending the week at corporate HQ. I go out to check the fountain. It is nearly dark. The water is low. Very low. I look again and notice something floating in the water.
It is a dead bird.
I almost gagged on the ham sammich I was chewing. I bagged the bird and trashed it. I am going to have to clean out the fountain this weekend.
Throwing on my imaginary Sherlock Holmes hat -- it is way too hot to slip on a Columbo overcoat -- I think I have arrived at the 3% solution. Over the hot summer the fountain gets mossy and green algae slimy. Last weekend I disassembled and cleaned it. I read on the Internet ( everything is true on the Internet) that adding hydrogen peroxide to the water will keep the system clean. Perhaps a whole bottle was too much? An alternative was the bird got in there to splash, got trapped under the smaller bucket and drowned. Theory number three is the bird just died and fell into the big bucket.
Yesterday found the wife and I on the road to attend a funeral. There were a lot of people there. It is always hard to lose a friend, a lesson I learned way back in high school. It was reassuring to see the love and respect from his community, co-workers, friends, and family. I'm not sure where on the hierarchy I fit. I have known him for almost forty years, talk every few months, meet occasionally. I can't say I was an intimate daily golfing buddy friend. Still, he was important to me and I like to think I was to him. He was a fraternity brother, a pledge brother, roommate. We stood in each other's weddings. He's gone. The funeral was for me and others who loved him.
On the long drive down empty I-69 through the hills of southern Indiana I had flashbacks of the opening scenes of the over-rated Big Chill playing in my mind.
Ah, so it goes.
With that, I know he is in heaven grinning over a beer and telling me "damn straight, Joe".
July 25, 2018
2010 redux
Here is a link to an old post I do not remember writing. Click here if you love me
A little polish and it wouldn't be half bad
A little polish and it wouldn't be half bad
Please, please me
Dear Democrats,
Go ahead, run on abolishing ICE, raising taxes, and gun control. Please.
Go ahead, run on abolishing ICE, raising taxes, and gun control. Please.
July 24, 2018
Anything you can do...
I am ready to win the day. I spent he night in a Holiday Inn Express and now I am going to kick butt. What should I do? A little surgery? Nothing too critical like slicing into a brain or heart. Perhaps I shall excise a few warts, cut out an ingrown tonail, repair a hernia, splint a fractured tibia.
I just might do the lawyer thing. I could Clarence Darrow up a modern Scopes Trial, cast doubt on the guilt of OJ, prosecute the Manson Gang, mark up a one-sided contract.
I could be a politician. That is an easy gig, if you don't mind grubbing for money and selling your soul. Or being a self-centered egotistical dickwad lying hypocrite puppet whore willing to felate the nearest lobbyist after the local chicken dinner.
No, not even the Holiday Inn will let me sink that low.
I just might do the lawyer thing. I could Clarence Darrow up a modern Scopes Trial, cast doubt on the guilt of OJ, prosecute the Manson Gang, mark up a one-sided contract.
I could be a politician. That is an easy gig, if you don't mind grubbing for money and selling your soul. Or being a self-centered egotistical dickwad lying hypocrite puppet whore willing to felate the nearest lobbyist after the local chicken dinner.
No, not even the Holiday Inn will let me sink that low.
July 23, 2018
Changing lanes on the Tri-State
Ah, Monday. It looks like it will be a great week, weather-wise. In all other aspects not so much. I'm off to the corporate HQ this morning. I'm not sure why I'm going, but the boss says "You Shall" and I does. So I will pack up my working files and my laptop, and other stuff and sit at a desk in the corporate office and do exactly what I do in my home office. And the next time I get the lecture about watching my expenses I will sit and seethe and bite my tongue to keep from mentioning the cost for me to sit at the corporate office and do the same work I do remotely. When I said I wanted to get out on the road more this wasn't what I meant. I guess I will have to wear shoes at work this week.
But I complain too much and you don't care.
Posting may be light, or not, depending on if my crappy iPad can connect to the hotel interwebz. I don't blog from the company 'puter.
Have a great Monday. I made other plans.
Oh, I read two years of archived crap looking for a particular post I want to rerun. To quote U2: i still haven't found what I'm looking for. I will admit I do not write with the same élan as I did a decade ago. Perhaps the same verbosity, but not with the intensity or sense of purpose. It is clear my blogging is more a habit and less a platform than in previous times. I'm sorry.
I did run across a short piece of fiction about a snot-nosed kid I thought was pretty good. I had no memory of writing it. I may put it up again. Of course I did not bookmark it, so who knows if I can find it.
But I complain too much and you don't care.
Posting may be light, or not, depending on if my crappy iPad can connect to the hotel interwebz. I don't blog from the company 'puter.
Have a great Monday. I made other plans.
Oh, I read two years of archived crap looking for a particular post I want to rerun. To quote U2: i still haven't found what I'm looking for. I will admit I do not write with the same élan as I did a decade ago. Perhaps the same verbosity, but not with the intensity or sense of purpose. It is clear my blogging is more a habit and less a platform than in previous times. I'm sorry.
I did run across a short piece of fiction about a snot-nosed kid I thought was pretty good. I had no memory of writing it. I may put it up again. Of course I did not bookmark it, so who knows if I can find it.
July 22, 2018
Housekeeping
I did some editing of the blog roll. If I axed you by mistake let me know. If you want added tell me also.
It hurt to erase some old blog buddies. The bottom line is if you have not posted in a few years or if the blog is removed then I need to quit hoping you will be back.
Again, if I mistakenly cut you please tell me in the comments.
It hurt to erase some old blog buddies. The bottom line is if you have not posted in a few years or if the blog is removed then I need to quit hoping you will be back.
Again, if I mistakenly cut you please tell me in the comments.
July 21, 2018
Life holes
I did not sleep well last night. There is nothing new in that. For once, I know why. I received a call last evening that one of my very good friends has passed away. He was my college roommate for four years. We didn't see each other or talk as often as we should have, life sometimes gets in the way. I used to see him several times a year back when I travelled to Evansville on a regular basis. We still talked every few months.
I have been searching in vain for an old post about the day we met at college. I have sure written a lot of stuff. If I find it I'll post it as a rerun.
As I grow older this stuff is gonna happen more frequently, but it still sucks.
That dude and I packed a shitload of fun into four years.
Damnit, my eyes are watering.
I have been searching in vain for an old post about the day we met at college. I have sure written a lot of stuff. If I find it I'll post it as a rerun.
As I grow older this stuff is gonna happen more frequently, but it still sucks.
That dude and I packed a shitload of fun into four years.
Damnit, my eyes are watering.
July 20, 2018
Baling hay at the ant farm
Friday is here. The weather quacks predicted rain over night and I am not surprised to wake to a perfectly dry lawn. Now they say the wet weather will be here this afternoon. We need the rain.
As to other news, I have nothing to report. My neighbor has their house for sale. I hate to see it, they are good people. Unfortunately he got a new gig in Illinois. They are asking a lot for their house. I hope they get it. That is good for all of us in the neighborhood. I have no intention of selling my house, but increased property value is a good thing. At least until the Digger wing of the Democrat party outlaws private property.
As far as I know, we have no plans for the weekend. It is supposed to be a rainout, so I guess I will get to some neglected household chores. I have no doubt the boss has a long list of stuff in mind.
There you have it, a big old Friday nothingburger post. Aren't you glad you stopped by?
As to other news, I have nothing to report. My neighbor has their house for sale. I hate to see it, they are good people. Unfortunately he got a new gig in Illinois. They are asking a lot for their house. I hope they get it. That is good for all of us in the neighborhood. I have no intention of selling my house, but increased property value is a good thing. At least until the Digger wing of the Democrat party outlaws private property.
As far as I know, we have no plans for the weekend. It is supposed to be a rainout, so I guess I will get to some neglected household chores. I have no doubt the boss has a long list of stuff in mind.
There you have it, a big old Friday nothingburger post. Aren't you glad you stopped by?
July 18, 2018
This is a mountain. This is a molehill. See the difference?
I could fill this white space with a litany of complaints. I won't. Breathe easy. We are in the summer blogging doldrums. My meager readership is down. Blogging activity from others is more sporadic. Those items are reported as facts, not statements of grievance.
The weather is warm, but humidity levels have dropped. In fact, it was only in the upper 50s when I woke up this morning. Much needed rain is expected to move in tomorrow and hang around for the weekend.
The Levellers and Diggers in the press are continuing to offer completely over-the-top Trump hysteria. A joint press conference with Putin is compared to Pearl Harbor because Trump failed to be critical of Russia? That is so much pure hyperbole I can't even countenance the ignorance involved. I know the sneak attack that launched us into WWII was more than 75 years ago, but even a graduate of 6th grade US history should be able to make the mountain and molehill comparison.
Another pundit labeled the meeting as treason. Really? Did Trump give away state secrets a la media darling Chelsea Manning? Did he tell Putin he could be more flexible after the election? Did he offer state secrets to the commie bastards if they would help defeat Reagan? Did Trump give away nuclear secrets like the Rosenburgs? Did the Great Orange One toss the gate keys to our fortresses in the manner of Benedict Arnold? Did he let Americans die in Libya and then pawn off the failure by blaming a video no one had watched? Did he allow a big donor to sell secret missile technology to the ChiComs? Must I go on?
One idiot, in complete Constitutional ignorance said Trump and Pence should be impeached and Hillary could then clean up the mess. That is not even remotely how this works you blithering fool.
I've said it before, I was never a huge Trump fan. The more the Levellers and Diggers go hysterical in their criticism the more I move into his corner. The election is over. You lost.
The weather is warm, but humidity levels have dropped. In fact, it was only in the upper 50s when I woke up this morning. Much needed rain is expected to move in tomorrow and hang around for the weekend.
The Levellers and Diggers in the press are continuing to offer completely over-the-top Trump hysteria. A joint press conference with Putin is compared to Pearl Harbor because Trump failed to be critical of Russia? That is so much pure hyperbole I can't even countenance the ignorance involved. I know the sneak attack that launched us into WWII was more than 75 years ago, but even a graduate of 6th grade US history should be able to make the mountain and molehill comparison.
Another pundit labeled the meeting as treason. Really? Did Trump give away state secrets a la media darling Chelsea Manning? Did he tell Putin he could be more flexible after the election? Did he offer state secrets to the commie bastards if they would help defeat Reagan? Did Trump give away nuclear secrets like the Rosenburgs? Did the Great Orange One toss the gate keys to our fortresses in the manner of Benedict Arnold? Did he let Americans die in Libya and then pawn off the failure by blaming a video no one had watched? Did he allow a big donor to sell secret missile technology to the ChiComs? Must I go on?
One idiot, in complete Constitutional ignorance said Trump and Pence should be impeached and Hillary could then clean up the mess. That is not even remotely how this works you blithering fool.
I've said it before, I was never a huge Trump fan. The more the Levellers and Diggers go hysterical in their criticism the more I move into his corner. The election is over. You lost.
July 17, 2018
A crappy post
Nothing new to report. I was up most of the night--intestinal issues. I shall eschew the details. Was it bad Mexican? Alas, it was most likely my meds. I've been down this road before; they work well for a couple of years then the side effects outweigh their usefulness. My issues have gone from occasionally to once a month to weekly. Now I have to discover which of my daily pills (or weekly shot) is the culprit.
What was up with that Trump presser yesterday? His sucking up to that commie bastard was worse even than Obama bowing to the Saudis. I get there is no point in antagonizing Putin. Russia is going to feign innocence, whether they are guilty or not. Trump didn't have to say he believed him though.
On a side note, how can Mueller claim the DNC servers were hacked by Russia when there is no evidence? Law enforcement has not accessed the servers. The prosecutors are taking the word of an outside firm. Billy's house was robbed. Dave thinks Joe did it. Billy won't let the cops examine his house. Would Joe be indicted based on speculation? I only play a guy pretending he is a lawyer after staying at a Holiday Inn Express, but come on, man. Your average per-law student could rip that apart in moot court. Yet somehow the geniuses at The New York WaPo Times and the alphabet networks see the indictments and utter a Jan Brady-like Russia, Russia, Russia.
But resist.
I think there is enough crap for everybody to be tired of it.
What was up with that Trump presser yesterday? His sucking up to that commie bastard was worse even than Obama bowing to the Saudis. I get there is no point in antagonizing Putin. Russia is going to feign innocence, whether they are guilty or not. Trump didn't have to say he believed him though.
On a side note, how can Mueller claim the DNC servers were hacked by Russia when there is no evidence? Law enforcement has not accessed the servers. The prosecutors are taking the word of an outside firm. Billy's house was robbed. Dave thinks Joe did it. Billy won't let the cops examine his house. Would Joe be indicted based on speculation? I only play a guy pretending he is a lawyer after staying at a Holiday Inn Express, but come on, man. Your average per-law student could rip that apart in moot court. Yet somehow the geniuses at The New York WaPo Times and the alphabet networks see the indictments and utter a Jan Brady-like Russia, Russia, Russia.
But resist.
I think there is enough crap for everybody to be tired of it.
July 16, 2018
Mundane Monday or good old number 6087
On occasion I go back and read some of my archives in a narcissistic binge. Sometimes it is to find something for a rerun, sometimes to indulge in a soporific. I have written a lot of words here.
One thing is clear, I often write with what can only be described as a Peter Strzok-type smirk. I'm sorry for that. My natural disposition is that of a sarcastic smarty pants. I guess regular readers don't mind my dry humor; you keep coming back despite my fat fingers typing "tne" instead of "the" on a regular basis and a plethora of punctuation and spelling errors.
It may very well be my incredibly insightful and accurate political analysis that brings you here. Perhaps it is my often riveting accounts of my daily life. You want to live vicariously through me.
No?
I hope to do some long-overdue maintenance around here in the coming weeks. I need to weed out the old blog roll. If you haven't posted in three or four years you probably are not about to start blogging again, despite my wishes otherwise. I need to add some folks to the roll, especially Slugmomma who sends a boatload of readers over here. Please accept a belated thanks for your support.
Gracias and merci to you all.
More. Long-time reader and all around good guy Hey Teacher will be in downtown Chicago next week. Does anyone have some recommendations for grub?
One thing is clear, I often write with what can only be described as a Peter Strzok-type smirk. I'm sorry for that. My natural disposition is that of a sarcastic smarty pants. I guess regular readers don't mind my dry humor; you keep coming back despite my fat fingers typing "tne" instead of "the" on a regular basis and a plethora of punctuation and spelling errors.
It may very well be my incredibly insightful and accurate political analysis that brings you here. Perhaps it is my often riveting accounts of my daily life. You want to live vicariously through me.
No?
I hope to do some long-overdue maintenance around here in the coming weeks. I need to weed out the old blog roll. If you haven't posted in three or four years you probably are not about to start blogging again, despite my wishes otherwise. I need to add some folks to the roll, especially Slugmomma who sends a boatload of readers over here. Please accept a belated thanks for your support.
Gracias and merci to you all.
More. Long-time reader and all around good guy Hey Teacher will be in downtown Chicago next week. Does anyone have some recommendations for grub?
July 15, 2018
Please Joe, tell me more
I started on the last book of the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell Friday evening. That is number 20, if you are counting. According to my blog archives, I started re-reading the series around May 29. That means I am knocking off a book about every 3 days or so. In my spare time. In my youth I probably could have read all 20 books easily in less than 25 days. I was a loser middle school kid then with nothing better to do than read and fondle myself. Things didn't get much better in high school.
It was easier to read in those days. I only needed 3-4 hours of sleep. There was nothing on tv. There were no video games. I could read two Louis L'Amour westerns in a day, if I worked at it. I can't sit and do marathon readings like that any more. You may read faster. Hah, those 20 books are without a doubt more books than my wife has read in 40 years, combined. By a factor of 20. That's just one more thing we do not have in common.
Anyway, to celebrate my almost done with the books moment, I watched Waterloo yesterday. If you can't find a copy come on over and watch it with me next week. You bring the beer and steaks. I will provide the popcorn. Just kidding. You could send me a box of Omaha steaks and I'll loan you my movie though. You will also have to give your first born and the title to your truck or car as collateral. That movie is rare and hard to find. Unless you go to Amazon. It is easy to find it there. But it is not a cheap DVD, you won't find it in the $5 bin at WalMart.
I think I'll start in on the Patrick O'Brien stuff again next. It has been a few years, so why not?
Edit. True confession this was a canned post. Freshly canned, mind you. I was in a chatty mood yesterday, but saw no need to throw up tree posts on a Saturday. OK, the picture was canned some three weeks ago, still I'm sure you get my point. Anyway, I did not watch Waterloo. I took down tne DVD to view it on the big TV. Instead I discovered a very good mini series on Napoleon * from about a decade ago that I had never seen. As near as I can tell, the costumes and facts are pretty accurate. The battle scenes are pretty meh. The actor playing Bonaparte is too old, though. Lest we forget, Napoleon was in his twenties when he conquered Italy as a general and was only in his thirties when he tamed all of Europe. He was just 46 at Waterloo. Take that Zuckerburg, you slacker.
*sorry, my crappy first generation iPad won't connect and link to imdb.
It was easier to read in those days. I only needed 3-4 hours of sleep. There was nothing on tv. There were no video games. I could read two Louis L'Amour westerns in a day, if I worked at it. I can't sit and do marathon readings like that any more. You may read faster. Hah, those 20 books are without a doubt more books than my wife has read in 40 years, combined. By a factor of 20. That's just one more thing we do not have in common.
Anyway, to celebrate my almost done with the books moment, I watched Waterloo yesterday. If you can't find a copy come on over and watch it with me next week. You bring the beer and steaks. I will provide the popcorn. Just kidding. You could send me a box of Omaha steaks and I'll loan you my movie though. You will also have to give your first born and the title to your truck or car as collateral. That movie is rare and hard to find. Unless you go to Amazon. It is easy to find it there. But it is not a cheap DVD, you won't find it in the $5 bin at WalMart.
I think I'll start in on the Patrick O'Brien stuff again next. It has been a few years, so why not?
Edit. True confession this was a canned post. Freshly canned, mind you. I was in a chatty mood yesterday, but saw no need to throw up tree posts on a Saturday. OK, the picture was canned some three weeks ago, still I'm sure you get my point. Anyway, I did not watch Waterloo. I took down tne DVD to view it on the big TV. Instead I discovered a very good mini series on Napoleon * from about a decade ago that I had never seen. As near as I can tell, the costumes and facts are pretty accurate. The battle scenes are pretty meh. The actor playing Bonaparte is too old, though. Lest we forget, Napoleon was in his twenties when he conquered Italy as a general and was only in his thirties when he tamed all of Europe. He was just 46 at Waterloo. Take that Zuckerburg, you slacker.
*sorry, my crappy first generation iPad won't connect and link to imdb.
July 14, 2018
I know, let's let everyone out of prison
Today marks Bastille Day in France. For me it serves not as a reminder of independence, but as a warning of what happens when progressives get in charge. Getting rid of a king was a good thing, mind you, but the excesses and freedom-destroying ways of the leftists always ends in disaster. Things started with freeing criminals in France and moved on to outlawing churches right to chopping off the heads of people who failed to toe the line. Then they gave us a the metric system. Finally, the end result, as always, was a dictator.
Lest we think this progression an anomaly, see Russia, China, Cuba, Cambodia, and Venezuela.
From now on I will refer to lefty / progressive types as Levellers or Diggers* here at the old blog. At my semi-advanced age I still learn new stuff. Imagine my surprise when studying a bit on the English Civil Wars to run across a bunch of Marxists before Marx existed. At least the levellers admitted the goal was everyone would be leveled off, not a pipe dream that everyone would be raised to wealth.
The Leveller-types in Revolutionary France ended dressing like beggars so that they did not pretend to be better than the lowest of society. Imagine, the leaders of various Committees sitting around in filthy rags in the name of equality. Form over substance and hypocrisy are the hallmarks of Diggers. Even modern ones like millionaire Bernie Sanders.
*BTW the diggers were squatting on someone else's land. Note the Leveller-leanings in the article. Do a little research on your own to learn more. It doesn't cost nothin' to surf the interwebz. I can't do all the heavy lifting.
Lest we think this progression an anomaly, see Russia, China, Cuba, Cambodia, and Venezuela.
From now on I will refer to lefty / progressive types as Levellers or Diggers* here at the old blog. At my semi-advanced age I still learn new stuff. Imagine my surprise when studying a bit on the English Civil Wars to run across a bunch of Marxists before Marx existed. At least the levellers admitted the goal was everyone would be leveled off, not a pipe dream that everyone would be raised to wealth.
The Leveller-types in Revolutionary France ended dressing like beggars so that they did not pretend to be better than the lowest of society. Imagine, the leaders of various Committees sitting around in filthy rags in the name of equality. Form over substance and hypocrisy are the hallmarks of Diggers. Even modern ones like millionaire Bernie Sanders.
*BTW the diggers were squatting on someone else's land. Note the Leveller-leanings in the article. Do a little research on your own to learn more. It doesn't cost nothin' to surf the interwebz. I can't do all the heavy lifting.
July 13, 2018
Tripto...whatever
It is Friday the Thirteenth. I'm not superstitious about this day. In fact, I am tempted to prop up my ladder and jog a few circles around and under it. I won't because the neighbors would think me insane and, well, there is no point in tempting fate. But really, I'm not superstitious.
July 12, 2018
Weekly Recap
I spent a bit of time on the road this week. I cut a zigzag swath across the Buckeye state from the southwest corner to the northeast corner and back in a US 30 straight line to the safe and comforting arms of the Hoosier heartland. Alas, no beers with Cappy or the MIA EOB since I stayed as far from metro Cleveland as possible. I wooshed into Wooster.
I have no interesting tales from the road to offer. There was no egregious driving, no interesting wayside attractions; unless you countenance the Smuckers Farm Store in Orrville. I did a quick drive-by, never exiting the car. I did not have time for a football side trip to Canton.
I spent a good portion of the drives listening to the Revolutions Podcast.
And there you have it, a quick summary of my week so far.
Riveting, ain't it?
I have no interesting tales from the road to offer. There was no egregious driving, no interesting wayside attractions; unless you countenance the Smuckers Farm Store in Orrville. I did a quick drive-by, never exiting the car. I did not have time for a football side trip to Canton.
I spent a good portion of the drives listening to the Revolutions Podcast.
And there you have it, a quick summary of my week so far.
Riveting, ain't it?
July 10, 2018
Historical Beauty
 |
| George Romney Wikipedia |
She was known as a raving beauty in her day, and she is absolutely gorgeous by today's standards as well.
July 9, 2018
I joyfully drank from a plastic straw
I need some time off to recover from my weekend. Sheesh.
Friday we met some old friends for dinner. We went to our other friends' house to hang by the pool and play cards on Saturday. Yesterday we did yard work. The wife worked me like a slave driver to make up for the work we didn't do Saturday. I partially rebuilt a walkway through the fence. That involved moving pavers and hacking out roots that were lifting the stones. I tore out six shrubs around the patio. We weeded the garden patch and trimmed trees and weeded flower beds. The wife would have kept working, but I waved a sweaty white flag and begged for mercy.
Other than that, we did nothing of interest all weekend.
Friday we met some old friends for dinner. We went to our other friends' house to hang by the pool and play cards on Saturday. Yesterday we did yard work. The wife worked me like a slave driver to make up for the work we didn't do Saturday. I partially rebuilt a walkway through the fence. That involved moving pavers and hacking out roots that were lifting the stones. I tore out six shrubs around the patio. We weeded the garden patch and trimmed trees and weeded flower beds. The wife would have kept working, but I waved a sweaty white flag and begged for mercy.
Other than that, we did nothing of interest all weekend.
July 7, 2018
July 6, 2018
TMI, boring stuff, wrap up. No weather report
I was up a good portion of the night sick. Was it the fish I ate for supper? I think not, there was no attendant stomach cramping. More likely it was my semi-regular bout of metformin's revenge. That medicine, while effective, has caused repeated bouts of diarrhea for years. I don't know why it has to strike late at night. Switching to the slow release version has helped. When I took the regular stuff I was struck repeatedly -- at least once a week. Tales of unfortunate attacks were often related in these pages. I am probably banned for life from the Dairy Queen in Brillion, WI. I will not go into detail about my intestinal issues this morning. Suffice it to say I'm tired.
Between trips to the downstairs bathroom I watched a couple of cooking shows, some classic Rat Patrol, Highway Patrol, Sea Hunt, and Flipper. I watched those half hour dramas as a kid. Rat Patrol and Flipper were in black and white at my house. Color TV was for the rich kids.
Here we are on Friday. Already. After thinking it through, I could get used to four day work weeks. Well, to be honest, I could get used to a different job. Then I wouldn't mind a five day week. Anyone hiring?
We have no big plans that I'm aware of for the weekend. One of the shelves in the wife's closet has pulled out from the wall, so a repair job is in order. I'm certain she will ignore my admonition that she has too many clothes.
Have a good Friday, I need to grab more coffee.
Between trips to the downstairs bathroom I watched a couple of cooking shows, some classic Rat Patrol, Highway Patrol, Sea Hunt, and Flipper. I watched those half hour dramas as a kid. Rat Patrol and Flipper were in black and white at my house. Color TV was for the rich kids.
Here we are on Friday. Already. After thinking it through, I could get used to four day work weeks. Well, to be honest, I could get used to a different job. Then I wouldn't mind a five day week. Anyone hiring?
We have no big plans that I'm aware of for the weekend. One of the shelves in the wife's closet has pulled out from the wall, so a repair job is in order. I'm certain she will ignore my admonition that she has too many clothes.
Have a good Friday, I need to grab more coffee.
July 5, 2018
Easy strawberry dessert
It seems like Monday all over again. That is why mid-week holidays suck.
On the other hand, it is like two very short weeks with an extra Saturday thrown in.
On the other hand, I only have two hands so there is no third point of view.
That's all. I have nothing else today. Oh I am chock full of opinion, anecdotes, and nonsense. I'm just too lazy and tired to put in the effort.
Save those tears for something really important.
On the other hand, it is like two very short weeks with an extra Saturday thrown in.
On the other hand, I only have two hands so there is no third point of view.
That's all. I have nothing else today. Oh I am chock full of opinion, anecdotes, and nonsense. I'm just too lazy and tired to put in the effort.
Save those tears for something really important.
July 4, 2018
When in the Course of Human Events
...we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor
July 3, 2018
Tawdry Tuesday
Greetings Internet Warriors, friends, readers, and social media gadflies. I have little to report on this Tuesday morning.
It is hot. It is probably hot at your house too. It is summer after all. Six months from now I will likely report that it seasonably cold.
There is a threat of rain today, heat and humidity often bring on afternoon showers. I mowed the lawn yesterday evening in anticipation.
I'm trying to coast through the day to get to the holiday. We are going to a 4th of July party tomorrow: food, fun, and fireworks are on tap. I suppose I might force myself to drink a beer and smoke a nice stogie. I'll do it for America.
I'm warning you now tomorrow's effort will be a canned post. No fresh content on a mid-week holiday. I'm not sure if I will toss up a patriotic post, a musical interlude you will ignore, or a rerun. "Other" might fill the bill. What do you think? Do you care? Will you even stop by?
So many questions, so few answers.
That is on you, you know. The answers part.
Have a great day.
It is hot. It is probably hot at your house too. It is summer after all. Six months from now I will likely report that it seasonably cold.
There is a threat of rain today, heat and humidity often bring on afternoon showers. I mowed the lawn yesterday evening in anticipation.
I'm trying to coast through the day to get to the holiday. We are going to a 4th of July party tomorrow: food, fun, and fireworks are on tap. I suppose I might force myself to drink a beer and smoke a nice stogie. I'll do it for America.
I'm warning you now tomorrow's effort will be a canned post. No fresh content on a mid-week holiday. I'm not sure if I will toss up a patriotic post, a musical interlude you will ignore, or a rerun. "Other" might fill the bill. What do you think? Do you care? Will you even stop by?
So many questions, so few answers.
That is on you, you know. The answers part.
Have a great day.
July 1, 2018
Apparently, hypocrisy is an actual political philosophy
Pundits, in a total panic, have argued in recent days that Trump should not appoint a conservative or orginalist judge to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Kennedy. HUH? These are supposedly intelligent people. They maintain "the balance of the court" must be maintained.
My belly hurts from laughing. First, would any of these hand-wringing journalists and politicians have argued at all that had Hillary won she should nominate a conservative to replace Scalia in order to maintain "the balance of the court"? None of these same people were lambasting Obama when he nominated Garland to replace Scalia. Why wasn't the same so-called precedent in place for the last President?
What a joke.
I will quote the President when I remind you that elections have consequences. Oh, and that president was Obama.
Second, let us imagine for a mere moment the confirmation hearings if we were to adhere to the imaginary "maintain the balance of the court" principle that never existed before leftists began to lose elections. Where do you find a so-called moderate candidate that is all over the place on his opinions?
"Yeah, Mr. Senator, I will opine according to whim. I promise to vote half the time with the leftist "The Constitution is a living document" faction and the other half of the time with "The Constitution says what it says" wing. My opinions will be crafted to placate whomever was most angry with me after the last decision".
Sheesh. Are people really that moronic to argue for that?
Finally, the appointment of right-leaning judges does not mean the nation will revert back to slavery, concentration camps, or 1984-type total government control. First, those programs are the constructs of the Democrats. What? who supported slavery and the KKK? Who appointed the Justices in the Dred Scott decision? Democrats. Who interned Japanese into concentration camps? Right, FDR and the Democrats. Which party is increasingly far left? Bingo again. So a more conservative court is not likely to move us towards leftist political philosophies like fascism or Nazism.
Finally, righties and lefties alike need to be prepared. SCOTUS is not likely to get rid of abortions. There may be some limits imposed, but abortion is just like guns; a losing proposition for the party that bans them. The best way to lose elections for 20 years would be to get rid of the second amendment or to outright ban abortion.
I would love to go on the Sunday news shows when one of these so-called political experts are offering the "maintain the balance of the court" argument. My rebuttal would be short and sweet:
"Are you on drugs or just stupid?".
My belly hurts from laughing. First, would any of these hand-wringing journalists and politicians have argued at all that had Hillary won she should nominate a conservative to replace Scalia in order to maintain "the balance of the court"? None of these same people were lambasting Obama when he nominated Garland to replace Scalia. Why wasn't the same so-called precedent in place for the last President?
What a joke.
I will quote the President when I remind you that elections have consequences. Oh, and that president was Obama.
Second, let us imagine for a mere moment the confirmation hearings if we were to adhere to the imaginary "maintain the balance of the court" principle that never existed before leftists began to lose elections. Where do you find a so-called moderate candidate that is all over the place on his opinions?
"Yeah, Mr. Senator, I will opine according to whim. I promise to vote half the time with the leftist "The Constitution is a living document" faction and the other half of the time with "The Constitution says what it says" wing. My opinions will be crafted to placate whomever was most angry with me after the last decision".
Sheesh. Are people really that moronic to argue for that?
Finally, the appointment of right-leaning judges does not mean the nation will revert back to slavery, concentration camps, or 1984-type total government control. First, those programs are the constructs of the Democrats. What? who supported slavery and the KKK? Who appointed the Justices in the Dred Scott decision? Democrats. Who interned Japanese into concentration camps? Right, FDR and the Democrats. Which party is increasingly far left? Bingo again. So a more conservative court is not likely to move us towards leftist political philosophies like fascism or Nazism.
Finally, righties and lefties alike need to be prepared. SCOTUS is not likely to get rid of abortions. There may be some limits imposed, but abortion is just like guns; a losing proposition for the party that bans them. The best way to lose elections for 20 years would be to get rid of the second amendment or to outright ban abortion.
I would love to go on the Sunday news shows when one of these so-called political experts are offering the "maintain the balance of the court" argument. My rebuttal would be short and sweet:
"Are you on drugs or just stupid?".
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