Pointing finger politics

The Colts should give a game ball to the Jax kicker, who missed two game-winning field goal opportunities. Despite some more than questionable coaching and time management decisions the boys in blue squeezed out a division win.

So now what gun grabbers? The Oregon shooter went through background checks, waiting periods, and every legal requirement to get his firearms.  Just what additional law do you have in mind that would have prevented this senseless tragedy? If you are going to point fingers at people like me and say it is my fault for not doing enough, you need to have a plan. At least The Obama didn't blame Bush.

I'll take "hypocritical Democrats" for $1,000, Alex

A few months ago a crazed murderer killed a bunch of Christians in Charleston. This nut job happened to be white. The President, the media, and left-leaning bloggers insisted we had to look at the shooters roots and background to determine the why of his actions. Southern culture was held responsible and State Flags were removed, 30+ year old TV show reruns were cancelled, dead generals were exhumed, and some people proposed destroying Stone Mountain sand the Jefferson Memorial.

This week a crazed murderer killed a bunch of Christians in Oregon. This nut job happens to be black. Will we look at his culture and background to find the why of his actions? Will we call for censorship of rap songs and their message of violence? Will we ban baggy pants? Will reruns of the 30+ year old TV show "Good Times" be axed from the airwaves? One of the main characters is always calling for explosives.

What is the difference?

Coming up with compelling post titles is hard

It is a blustery fall day. It is wet, rainy and windy,  Wait, isn't that the definition of "blustery"? That makes this paragraph redundantly repetitive.

I spent yesterday in beautiful Bloomington, IN at the youngest kid's college apartment. He had all four wisdom teeth extracted. When I left around eight last night he was doing remarkably well. The bleeding had stopped and he only had a little swelling. We will see how he is doing today. I took a couple of cans of chicken noodle soup with me. I was sure his stock of groceries was nil. I was right. Almost every dish and pan was dirty. I heated the soup in a skillet. The sink was full of dirty dishes even though he has a dishwasher. No, I did not clean up the mess. I did go buy some groceries for him, including some soft foods like pre-made mashed potatoes and mac & cheese for him to eat this weekend. He and his roommate did have plenty of booze on hand like most college kids.


Sorry. I'm back now. I went downstairs to get more coffee. I sure wish you would go out and get me a sausage and egg McMuffin. I work hard to keep you entertained, informed, and educated with riveting content like this post. All I ask in return is a crappy breakfast sandwich. You don't have to feed it to me or anything. Just go get it. I'll meet you at my front door; just call when you are close. No, I don't really want to have a discussion with you, we don't need to actually, you know, meet. Just hand me the bag and leave. Don't forget the hash browns. Thanks. Could you hurry? I'm sorta hungry.

The President continues to blame the NRA and Republicans for the actions of a crazed killer, citing their failure to pass legislation that has never been introduced, proposed, or even outlined in the broadest terms beyond outlawing so-called "assault weapons" which are rarely used in these type of crimes, or any crimes for that matter. Yep, if only the "bitter clingers"with their Bibles and guns would allow Congress to do what Obama has failed to propose, none of this would happen. Washington DC, I fart in your general direction.

Have a good Saturday and where are you with that sandwich?

Addendum

If it is an impossible task to deport 30 million illegal persons in the country, what makes gun grabbers think they can round up ten times that number of guns?

A commentary break from our usual frivolity

Tragedy and death in Oregon. One more loser seeking fame in our celebrity-obsessed culture. Do you want a discussion? Start there. What is the answer to gun violence? I don't know. Knee-jerk we-gotta-do-something-anything reactions are not the way to go. The President cries "See I told you we should ban assault weapons" even though there is no evidence an assault weapon was used. His fiction makes it just politics, not a serious quest for solutions. Hard-core gun lobby efforts to limit background checks is equally unhelpful. If you can't wait a few days to pick up that 911 there is a bigger issue. We also can't help but finally acknowledge that gun-free zones are invitations to these types of cowardly acts of infamy. The security guard at the Oregan campus was unarmed. What good does that serve? Worse, despite the hair tearing, hand wringing, and teeth gnashing we will experience over the next few days over the despicable actions of a crazed murdering megalomaniac, the media, pundits, and politicians will ignore the similar slaughter that takes place daily in every major city. They will ignore the fact that those targeted were Christians. They will ignore the basic fact that all of the laws in the world won't stop a nut job determined to kill.

Dear Republican Party

Rumor has it Boehner will use his last days to shove through his long-desired amnesty plan. Free of electoral retribution, the retiring GOP leader can count on the support of house Democrats and the RINO wing. The problem is that poll after poll shows the American people, across party lines, do not want amnesty. Currently the most popular Presidential candidate is ahead primarily based on his strong anti-amnesty stance.

Mittens lost the last election to a bumbling President primarily because his base stayed home on Election Day. Here is a prediction, if the national GOP lets Boehner shove amnesty through then they can kiss the dream of holding the Presidency and Congress goodbye. Coupled with a sell-out on the budget (another great debate winner)*forcing an amnesty bill will be the beginning of the end. When the Whigs just became Democrats by another name it birthed a new party in the 1850s. It can happen again.

I'm told not voting is a vote for the Democrats. When there is very little difference between the parties in Washington, it seems I'm voting for the Democrat agenda anyway.


* why lose the leverage of calling the Democrat candidate as fiscally irresponsible? The GOP are the worst negotiates and campaigners ever.

Free firewood

Today is my oldest son's birthday. He is a talented artist and musician. He just needs a break. My daughter has a family name. The youngest son's middle name is a family name. The birthday boy -- he is named after two famous American generals. I'm not sure he cares.

Fall has arrived. It is in the forties this morning. Sitting here in shorts and a T-shirt, I find it a bit chilly. My coffee mug needs refilled, I'm off to the break room. That is a joke. I work from home. The break room is the kitchen. Ha ha, I bet you are holding your side from the hysterics. I know, I should be a writer on the Tonight Show with that kind of material.

when politics trumps morals

If you found out the local animal shelter took the unwanted puppies and kittens after they were euthanized and cut them up and sold them for dog food, would this bother you? Would you be up in arms, protesting outside the animal shelter?

Be honest. No one will know but you.


Tell me again how you are Okay with Planned Parenthood chopping up babies and selling their body parts.

Boo f-ing hoo, or How President Obama and his friends ruined my life

I met with the big boss from the German home office yesterday. He told me they are most pleased with my efforts. As a reward, my territory will double in January. The pay will remain static, mind you, but I will get to spend more time driving and traveling. I will rack up the hotel points. That means I can reward myself with a vacation from living my weekdays in hotels by going somewhere and spending time in a hotel! But I'm bitching over small things. I like my job and I am honestly glad to have it. I'm in a peevish mood this month. I need a vacation, but can't afford it. I have the aforementioned hotel points. I could stay just about anywhere gratis. But food and gas and activities take moolah. I can sit in a room and stare at the TV without leaving God's favorite state and it won't deplete my precious point fund. Anyway, at home I know who has handled what before they rubbed it on the remote. On the downside, If I take vacation days at home, the wife will put me to work doing stuff; cleaning the garage, yard work, painting something.

As mentioned the other day, today marks my youngest kid's 22nd birthday. He was just a boy when we started this blogging stuff. There are tales of his efforts in little league and elementary football there in the archives. Now he is a student at a major Midwestern university -- no, that is not the start of a "Dear Penthouse" letter. I will see him Friday. He is having all four wisdom teeth extracted. Sucks to be him. Since my insurance has a very high deductible, thank you Democrat Party, ObamaCare has been great (did the sarcasm font work?), my vacation funds will be spent at the dental surgeon's office.

See, it all ties in if you just stick to the end.

A Series Of Significant Signs Signaling Stupendous Stuff

a flock of geese just flew over the house heading...east. What does that mean? Are they heading south for the winter and made a wrong turn back in Albuquerque? Are they making a stop in Atlantic City before heading to Florida? Are the honking geese not migrating at all today and are merely heading for the retention pond in the apartment complex on the other side of the highway? I'm afraid we will never know. Frankly, I don't even care. I doubt you do either.

I had a weird dream that I knew the future, more accurately I knew what was happening now but was transported back in time. My Cassandra-like powers were not a blessing. It was terrible. No wonder Fate is often depicted as an ugly crone.

No travels this week. The boss is in from Germany. I'm off  to the plant for meetings this afternoon. 

I am awake and alive. God has given me another day. Hard to complain about that.

Odiferous Offerings

Once again it is Monday morning and my big bucket of blog ideas is empty.

The Pope has boarded his jumbo jet to fly back to his own private migrant-free country to settle in amongst his priceless artworks to pen another diatribe about global warming, the evils of capitalism, and exhorting every nation except Vatican City to take in more migrants.

The Cardinals, the baseball ones, not the Catholic ones who vote for the Pope, the Pirates, and the Cubs have the three best records in baseball. One of them will be eliminated in a one game wildcard playoff. Life ain't fair and it was never meant to be.

The Colts pulled off an ugly win Sunday. Scores throughout the season are not cumulative and a lucky two point victory is as much a win as a thirty point blowout in the standings. The team has serious flaws. I have no doubt the Patriots will drop sixty points on the Colts when they come to call in a few weeks.

I watched the eclipse on and off last night, between innings of the baseball game. Just as the Earth's shadow darkened the lunar body the clouds moved in and kept the moon hidden for the test of the night. I imagine that kept the werewolves at bay.

The big boss arrives from the Mother Country tomorrow. Expense reports are also due this week. I better get busy. Blogs don't pay the bills. Have a good Monday.

I conducted the same number of mammograms as Planned Parenthood did last year.

The Cubs have clinched a playoff spot. Life is good. Considering just how bad they have been for the past half-dozen years, making a one game do-or-die playoff is welcome.

The Pope has come to the US to lecture us on a variety of topics. When is he going to sell off church property, paintings, golden altars, relics, and antiques to start helping the poor? How many Syrian migrants is he going to allow to set up camp in St. Peter's Square? Is he going to quit traveling in that big jet plane and go coach? That's what I thought. A pointed hat does not always cover a pointy head. The United States Federal Government spent $949,000,000,000 in welfare spending in 2014. That does not include state and local programs or private charity. It does not include humanitarian aid we provide across the globe. This country helps the poor far in excess of a trillion dollars a year. Much of which we are borrowing, leaving the interest and debt to our children and grandchildren. When the Vatican can boast of similar generosity I will listen. Until then, the Pope can take his lecture and shove it.

The family will gather this evening to celebrate my kids' birthdays (is that the right syntax?). You read that right. All three of my kids have birthdays within a two week period. The boys days are actually just a day apart. The daughter had her day on the 14th. The boys will celebrate on the 30th and 1st. We are all going out to dinner for a joint celebration this evening. Life is good.

The sky is overcast this morning. I love this time of year. The days are warm without the humidity. The evenings and mornings cool and refreshing. It brings to mind campfires and cider. I remember the smell of burning leaves, a smell indelibly impressed on my mind that is as much a part of fall as pumpkins and Halloween. Alas, most people under forty have likely never smelled a leaf pile burning, experienced the low haze of smoke settling over the neighborhood. Kids today don't have to make a snap judgement -- do I ride my bike through that pile of leaves by the curb or are they smoldering underneath? Maybe that is just my memory and rampant leaf burning was just a tradition in my little hick hometown. I do know getting rid of fallen leaves was a little easier when you could just rake the leaves into a pile out by the curb and set them on fire.

Partying in a Pope Hat

Winter is coming. There was the faintest bit of russet and gold amongst the green of the trees in Minnesota and Wisconsin during my travels this week. Which brings us to this week's Friday music selection.

I had the Agents of Fortune album on 8 track back in the seventies. (Mmmm-click-click.. )I think I had it on vinyl too. While I might have dropped a couple of bucks on an LP, I was never a big BOC fan. There is a sketchy and tenuous link between the leaves dying and this song, but I'm not up to the task of fleshing out the idea. Just listen to the music and enjoy your Friday.

It was my intention to put up some Fleetwood Mac this morning. I think the harmonies on the song Dreams are beautiful. When I woke, BOC was playing in my head, so here we are.

I have questions

Hillary Clinton has finally stated her position on the Keystone Pipeline. Notice how she timed it to get buried under the Pope news? The Pontiff talked about "economic imperialism" and immigration. I'm not sure where those fall under the category of religion, but the Pope has spoken. Since I'm not Catholic, I can say that I think the Pontiff can be fallible. Maybe Catholics use a different Bible. It seems to me that the Old Testament serves as a cautionary tale against migration. The Jews found themselves in Egypt, in Assyria, in Babylon and in each case wanted nothing more than to get back to Israel. Every time they got away from the land of Abraham they needed prayer and martyrdom and God's intervention to get them back home. That seems a pretty clear object lesson. But, as usual, I digress.

Clinton has come out against building the Keystone Pipeline because of global warming. Now I have a serious question. How can transporting crude through pipes underground have a larger carbon footprint than toting it by truck?  Seriously, could someone from the "WeAreAllGonnaDie" global warming/climate change crowd explain this to me? Now I suppose the Teamsters are going to be OK with Hillary's position, but how does she explain to the tens of thousands of union construction workers that she is not interested in getting them "infrastructure " work?  How will she explain to the American people that she is more in favor of buying oil from OPEC and the Saudis, that she wants you and me to pay more for gas to fight global warming?  Of course as soon as the pipeline is dead look for OPEC to Jack the price per barrel again.  You do not think the current price is a coincidence do you? Of course no one in the media will bother to ask her these questions. Maybe the answer is lost somewhere in her secret email files.

Dear Indianapolis Colts

You went out and spent big bucks for a stud free agent running back. Why in blazes are you passing on third and two and third and one?

What a maroon

Apparently Lindsey Graham was spouting off on one of the Sunday news programs yesterday. He recounted a tale of a kid he met in Kabul, who moved to the United States and became a citizen. Graham said he hoped that wonderful kid could be president some day. To paraphrase a classic SNL skit; "Lindsey, you ignorant slut..." you have been in the Senate for how many terms? You have run for President two or three times. You swear to uphold the Constitution, yet you are too  stupid to know a naturalized citizen CANNOT become president? You are a fucking tool. If you are one of the leaders of the GOP, then the nickname of "stupid party" is especially apt. Since all of those old blond jokes are now probably verboten by the PC police, I'm going to recycle them as Lindsey Graham jokes.

For some reason yesterday's post reminded me of an old effort from back in 2012. Hunting back through the archives I found stuff I don't even remember writing, including a short story about a kid in junior high being abused by the class bitch. I had no idea I wrote that. I remember writing a half-assed tale about a mean old drunk, but not that one. Alas, like most of my literary efforts it died for lack of imagination and talent. Anyhow, the frame of mind that inspired yesterday's ramblings reminded me of This post

In the meantime, me and Elvis are off to Blue Hawaii.

North Star blues

I miss the stars. We moved to the suburbs almost two years ago. I love our house, the neighborhood and the nearness of shopping and dining options. Previously if I wanted to buy a pair of pants, for instance, I could go to WalMart, the farm supply store, or...no other choice unless I drove thirty or forty minutes to Indianapolis. Now, I can be at three different malls in fifteen minutes. There are many advantages to living here, the best of which is I am closer proximity to all of my kids.

Living amongst the more than eighty-thousand in my town, surrounded by the million-plus in the metropolitan area means congestion, people, crime, and light pollution. I miss seeing the stars.

Thunder rumbles in the background as rain taps a steady rhythm on the roof and gurgles in the downspouts. It is a good day for reflection. Last night I saw a snapshot from a long-ago family gathering. I don't remember the event. I was maybe eight or nine. Dead relatives smile back at me in the picture. I look at the photograph and I instantly remember the people as they were and as they are today. I miss my youth, but would not repeat it for anything.

I miss seeing the stars, yet would not move back to the small town under any circumstances.

I Nearly Forgot

It is Friday. This is music. Thus, this is your Friday Music Selection. You must listen and enjoy. The Obamassariat decrees it so.

Kerouac

I rolled out of Dubuque on old US Highway 52. The pavement rode the bluffs along the river; curving and climbing the Iowa coast. After about 30 miles the road turned east and I crossed the Mighty Missippi on a grated narrow bridge. I sloped across the northwest corner of Illinois seemingly alone on the highway. I turned on the baseball game and for a while felt transported to a time I never knew. I took a one block detour to see the birthplace of Wild Bill Hickok ( who wouldn't) before turning onto the interstate. I picked up U.S. 24 before rejoining US 52 near the heavily guarded Indiana border (just checking to see if you are paying attention). I eventually got home.  It was another day driving the heartland. It was yet another thousand mile week. I like my job. I don't mind the travel; the being away from home. It is the hours of windshield time each week that are sucking my life away. Thirty-four thousand plus miles since the beginning of the year is too much driving time. I get three more states at the first of the year.