I am perverse

'Deed I am. I don't like, or approve of, or donate to, the Red Cross. I'm wishing someone would sue them for false advertising and make them either take the 'Cross' out of their name altogether, or insert 'Double' in front of it.

And yet I get unspeakable pleasure watching this number rise.

"That unit is a woman."

"A mass of conflicting impulses."

O Yeah. Now I remember why I used to be feminist.

Because Superman was an asshole.

Polipundit links up with Accordion Guy to introduce us to a 1959 blog. Very cute, very fun so far as the word 'blog' goes.

But, ya know what? Superman was a smug, smarmy saboteur. Lois had her situation under control (sort of), and because Superman's precious little ego was hurt, he fucked with her. Not in a fun, carnal way - in a nasty, slimy, underhanded manipulative way.

I was just thinking yesterday about how long it's been since I heard the term 'delicate male ego.' Oooooo, we had to be so careful of the delicate male ego. Really, truly, I kid you not. Girls were actually told (and tragically, some believed it) to appear dumber and clumsier than they were, so as not to tread upon the delicate male ego. I was lucky in my tender years - my dear old Dad pointed out the obvious:

"If you have to pretend to be less than you are to attract a man, you'll spend your life stagnant and undeveloped to please an insecure, inferior man who's not worth pleasing."

Thanks, Dad.

Gosh, I'd like to kick Superman in the nuts right about now. My inner feminist is raging. Feminism's gone overboard in many spots, but it surely was needed way back when.

Harold Fish has still not gone to trial. Since it's a trumped-up charge initiated by a vicious mob, perhaps it's just as well.

I keep him in my prayers.

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, everyone.

Merry Christmas!

Hap-Hap-Happy Birds

It's enough to make me wish I was technically competent so I could record this and let you hear it. There's about 90 gazillion birds singing up a storm outside my window.

I was going to say that they sound as happy as larks, but then I realized that would be a silly thing to say.

Origin of the word "Christmas'

This is for the people who are coming here by search engine.

Christ's mass. A day set aside for contemplation of God's gift to us - His Son. Sometimes (cough, cough) gifts are exchanged among humans as a sort of tribute to the gift we received from God.

Sometimes abbreviated Xmas. In a bunch of languages, the X is pronounced Kh, (the hard C is Christ with a little more throat thrown in), so the 'X' is just an acronym for Christ, same as the 'U' is USA stands for United. Additionally, the X is also a symbol for the cross, which Christ died on for your sins. So Xmas is not sacreligious sacril disrepectful towards the Christian religion.

The Naughty Seasonal Post

On Dasher, on Dancer, on Comet and . . . hey! What happened to Comet?

It's too cold to blog.

Private Citizens fill gap left by Government

Raise a glass to The Coalition to Prevent Assault Weapon Violence, who've stepped in to help pick up the slack now that the AWB has expired. It's citizen-leaders like these that make America great.

hat tip: Robert at The Backroad Blog.

An ounce of prevention, and all that

There's an interesting discussion going on at Geocaching.com, one with arguments and concerns that will probably sound familiar to gun owners.

The original poster brings up the 'what if' possibility of the government trying to ban or regulate geocaching. The most common response is that geocaching will simply go underground if need be. People would try to follow the letter of the law, but circumvent the spirit. Good for them. But the posting developed into a long, thoughtful discussion of could it happen, how could it happen, why would it happen, can we prevent it and how? Maybe it's a discussion gun owners should have had in 1934.

Mom told me about a letter to 'Dear Abby' or one of her equivalents, in which the writer suggested hunters abandon hunting those poor widdle animals and go geocaching instead. I suspect there's a tremendous difference between hunting a moving creature and hunting a stationary box, but leaving the merits of the letter-writer's argument aside, it's just interesting that that type of mind (animal rights fluffy-fluff) would be involved in geocaching.

OK, so I'm making a big leap here - automatically placing 'animal rights' people inside the 'gun-grabber' box. But it seems a fairly safe assumption to make 9 times out of 10. I wonder, would a left-leaning geocacher start to understand gun-owner concerns if Big Gov put the screws on geocaching as it has on guns?

What if, what if? I'd hate to find out the hard way, by seeing govt actually tax and regulate geocaching to death. But it would be interesting to watch in an alternate universe.

Weedon Island Mangrove Tunnel



Besides great kayaking, Weedon Island is also reknowned for the first discovery/classification of the Weeden Island Culture, a culture in existence about 1,700 to 1,000 years ago in the Northern Florida/Georgia area and responsible for 'construction of some of the earliest dated flat-topped platform (or temple) mounds' in North America. The name 'Weedon/Weeden' got misspelled somewhere along the way. Ironically, Weedon Island is at the very outer reaches of Weeden Island culture.

You're Betty Grable!


What Classic Pin-Up Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Ah, Betty! or sometimes Bette

"The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there"

Have a Coalition Christmas!

Who's in the Coalition of the Willing, and what kind of neat stuff can we buy from them?

A train or wine buff (& the two are not mutually exclusive) might enjoy this Amtrak wine carafe set, made in the Czech Republic. James, posting at Chicago Boyz, (busy man, that James!) also points to CZ Firearms from the Czech Republic. Mmmmm, firearms. If you happen to be the recipient of these Czech wine carafes and Czech guns, remember not to use them both at the same time!


For a variety pack of United Kingdom stuff, try Hamper.com of Oxfordshire, UK, Bespoke Hampers for Corporate Clients and Winner of the Queen's Award for Enterprise International Trade 2003!

omigod look at the baubles from Poland. I want it. If you want to add to the flavor, put your recipient's Polish name day on their tag.

This Slovakian Renaissance vase is less flamboyant than the Polish, but quite elegant and a bit unusual. This would be nice to float roses in.


For your most demanding mustard needs, naturally nothing will do but the finest. And lucky for you, mustard from Azerbaijan is available from the Mount Horeb Mustard Museu . . there's a mustard museum?? Ye gads, they offer "free, confidential, condiment counseling." Sorry, I digress . . but, um, what sort of deep, dark, confidential condiment secrets do people have??

Finally, when your back hurts from all that shopping, you'll need a little massage. Shop Australia online for a little
Emu massage oil.


& there's STILL all these other countries to go shopping in:

Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Norway
Netherlands
Iceland
Italy

Baltic States:
Estonia #
Latvia #
Lithuania #

Central Europe:

Balkans:
Albania #
Macedonia #
Romania #
Warm, fuzzy, gramma-knitted sweaters from Bulgaria

Turkey puts out some very nice copper and brass items. I actually purchased one of these copper samovars about a month back. It's great fun if you're a serious tea drinker, and fascinating simply because it's the most efficient wood/charcoal stove in existence. Russia claims to be the inventor of the samovar, but it may actually have originated in Azerbaijan.

Croatia #
Slovenia #

Eastern Europe
Ukraine


Moldova needs all the help it can get. The only product I could find from Moldova is wine, which seems to be available from a New Jersey dealer. I can't stand wine, and I may buy a couple bottles for myself. Lord have mercy. I've been poor and down, but never had to consider selling my kidney just to get by. More on Moldova here. Ya know, the whole idea behind this post may seem silly, or frivolous, or oh-so-american-consumer . . . maybe it is, whatever. It started out as just as fun way to learn about some of these countries . . but . . hell, if you do nothing else, if you care about nothing else, sneer if you like, but say a prayer for Moldova anyway. You don't have to believe in God to pray; God believes in you.

More on Moldova and its wine here. On e-bay, there seem to be lot of Moldovan coins and stamps for sale.




Japan
South Korea
Singapore
Philippines
Afghanistan
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Georgia
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Solomon Islands
Mongolia
Tonga
Thailand

United States of America

South and Central America:
El Salvador
Colombia
Nicaragua
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Honduras

I hunted for Palau, but apparently the island itself is such a lovely gift that it has no need to manufacture anything for export. They'll be having an Underwater Photography event in March '05, and celebrating 11 years of independence in Oct. '05.

Costa Rican Peaberry coffee is superb, by the way. Beats Colombian hands down, no contest.

Time flies when you're having rum.

Enter at your own risk

As part of an apparent conspiracy by corporate America to ensure that we all come to hate Christmas and the holiday season with a fiery, unrelenting passion, T.J. Maxx is already playing Christmas carols.

You have been warned.

Good Goly, Miss Moly!


YOU ARE MOLY


What herb are you?
brought to you by Quizilla


never heard of it.

It was an ugly enough herb, a prickly plant which sprawled low in the shadow of the trees.

but: Though it grows in soil perverse,
Heaven hath been its jealous nurse,


Moly the God's most sovereign herb divine.

Moly, the uncharm

A magic herb with black roots and white flowers that was given to Odysseus by Hermes to ward off the spells of Circe.

Or am I soft, magnetic, and only slightly coercive?

; )

Old Eyes

Da Goddess has a post and pictures up on a Protest Warrior excursion. I tried to snag one of her photos, but either she has them protected or else I just don't know how to do it.

But go here, and - excuse me for speaking this way but I am moved -

look upon this ancient warrior, who has fought on foreign soil and in his golden years steps forth again, to stand straight and tall for the same ideals for which he fought as a young man. This time, he fights a quieter fight, but one on his own soil, against those he fought to protect so many years ago.

Where is the poet that can honor such a man? Where is the artist who can capture such dedication, such irony?

May the Good Lord bless him and keep him.

Where is the moralist, the philosopher, who can reach the Code-pinkers and their ilk, transport them from where they are now - screeching on the streets of San Diego in 2004, screeching against the very idealism that makes this ancient warrior what he is - transport them away, to an alternate 2004 where no such warriors had existed 40, 50 years ago?

Surely, God or perhaps Satan looks at the human race and laughs at us.

Fiercely Independent! gggrrrrooowwwlllll

You Are a "Don't Tread On Me" Libertarian

You distrust the government, are fiercely independent, and don't belong in either party. Religion and politics should never mix, in your opinion... and you feel opressed by both. You don't want the government to cramp your self made style. Or anyone else's for that matter. You're proud to say that you're pro-choice on absolutely everything!

What political persuasion are you?

Silly post

Microwave pouches are easier to deal with if you carve a big X from one corner to another before heating. when it's done, just flip it over.

Easier than poking holes or cutting a corner.

Thank you, Veterans!

See the guy trying to fix the hole in the wing with a screwdriver? That's my Dad.

The SOC planes rode on Naval aircraft carriers. Basically, the takeoff was accomplished by flinging the plane off the ship with a giant rubber band. They knew they'd been hit by Japanese fire, but had no idea how bad or how close until they got back on ship.

God bless you all.

WWII; USS Louisville SOC

He never called, he never wrote

not so much as a card on my birthday!

Leaders of Women's Groups Say Democrat John Kerry Should Have Sought Them Out

Leaders of several women's groups said Tuesday that Democrat John Kerry fell short in his bid for the White House because he didn't make a more direct appeal for support from women voters.

Can you believe these broads? Me, me, it's all about meeeeeeee!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES!!!

Artists in Afghanistan




I don't know the details, but this picture (and 2 more) are making the email rounds. Isn't it great?

"Check out what some of our boys overseas did to their helicopter. Some Afghan is probably freaking out right about now.
This very special Mi-24 helicopter is presently flying in Afghanistan, where it is no doubt causing quite a stir. "

Second Helicopter Pic

The eagle has landed!

Chin up

State of emergency in Iraq; car bomb near the Iraqi finance minister's home; First marine casualities in Fallujah.

Hang tough. This utter mayhem is to be expected. There will be increased resistance because of the US election and because of the impending Iraqi election. The terrorists will be just about hysterical by now, and are fighting like the cornered rats they are.

There's only a month or two until the Iraq elections, and if the terrorists can disrupt that they'll feel like they had a big win.

After the Iraq elections, the terrorists (whatever's left of them) will be wanting to disrupt the legitimate processes as much as possible. It's not going to be pretty for at least 4 more months.

Truly worthwhile accomplishments are rarely easy. If Kerry (or anybody else) actually has a feasible plan that will accomplish getting rid of the terrorists and getting democracy to Iraq, now would be a real good time to share it with the rest of us. Otherwise - courage, patience and faith. Our astonishing military and the brave Iraqi people are plowing through hell. They will come out the other side, but it's a tough journey.

Stay the course.


Update: Hey! Nobody else is blogging about this! I figured there'd be lots of hysterics . . nobody's even paying attention. If Kerry'd won, I expected Iraq to fade out of view but Kerry didn't win. So I figured it would stay in the news (a) in its own right and (b) to continue harping on Bush. What gives? It still matters.

?

Why Bush?

The BBC asked why we voted for Bush. Here's a few reasons why I did:

He says what he means, and means what he says.

He has the guts to look terrorism in the eye and deal with it for the long term - and that takes a tremendous amount of courage. If democracy can indeed take hold in Afghanistan and Iraq, the people of the middle east will have been given an alternative to fighting. 'If' always carries a risk, but we need to dare great risks if we are going to accomplish great things. What are the choices? We take the risk, and win or lose spectacularly, or we take no chances and face a certain, but slower, death. To the 'give peace a chance' crowd, please review your history. We gave peace a chance and we got 9/11.

He's less inclined to socialism than John Kerry, although his 1st term spending does not please me one whit. The Democrat Party may as well be honest and call themselves socialists. It would be kind of neat if they'd read up on how many people died under socialism during the 20th century, too. Capitalism has it drawbacks, but it rarely shoots people in the back of the head.

He's not so daft as to surrender US sovereignty to the United Nations, a corrupt and useless organization if ever there was one.

The US is sometimes accused of propping up dictators in exchange for US support. To our shame, this accusation has sometimes been well-founded. George Bush, in a little-heralded but major and gutsy move, formally reversed this policy. We will no longer sacrifice what's right for short-term gain. Major, gutsy, that's what moral vision looks like, thank you President Bush. This policy reversal alone is enough to merit a 2nd term vote.

His love for his country is blatant and unashamed. So is mine.

Finally, he's a gentleman. If the tone of US political discourse has been foul of late, you cannot lay the blame at President Bush's feet. I've been voting for nearly 30 years; this is the first time I've voted a straight ticket. I could not, in good conscience, vote for a Democrat, a member of a political party that:

(a) actively embraces propaganda so vile it is used by US enemies as a recruiting tool. (Terry McAuliffe's embrace of Micheal Moore)

(b) has essentially called me a slut (James Carville)

(c) called me a brownshirt (Al Gore)

(d) slandered my country while overseas (a host of assorted drug-addled musicians and Hollywood vermin)

(e) denigrated my country and my President overseas (Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton)

(f) licked the boots of Saddam Hussein, an enemy of my country and a creator of mass graves (Jim McDermot)

(g) elevated Osama Bin Laden above the rights and lives of my countrymen (Cynthia McKinney, Patti Murphy)

(h) attempted to tromp all over balance of power and the legislative process (Mayor Newsome and *some* San Francisco gays)

and that's just the official Democrats. The rank and file have behaved much more atrociously.


There's more but that will do to get on with.

VIVA LA BUSH!

Sober today, and only slightly hungover, so I can address this without wanting to bite anyone.

Gay Marriage and the Cheneys:

this is a short post at the Volokh Conspiracy, so I'm reprinting it full

If, as Eugene and others have suggested, it was voters who turned out to vote against gay marriage who gave Bush his margin of victory in Ohio, it lends credence to the theory that the reason Kerry and Edwards both noted that Dick Cheney has a lesbian daughter was to discourage turnout among precisely these voters.

True story, as unlikely as it sounds: I spoke Wednesday with a 75-year, unmarried, supe-duper Christian virgin who voted for the first time in her life on Nov 2, 2004. She'd just never been interested in politics before, but between the fuss made about it last election and since, and also maybe because she's moved from a house to an apartment (more time on her hands), she decided this year to pay attention and perhaps vote. Well, she did vote and she voted for Bush. The tipping points for her were (1) a Frontline show "supposedly comparing Bush and Kerry, but they made Kerry look like he walked on water and Bush look like a total wash-out. Nobody could be as bad as Bush was painted and still make it to the presidency. I thought 'Who do they think they're kidding?'" and (2) 'that remark about Mary Cheney. Is that what "they call compassion? Anybody can carry a bible or wear a cross - doesn't mean anything and you're a fool if you think it does. I felt like my religion was being used."

Granted, she's an unusual woman.

o lord.

Yes, you can secede. The sooner, the better.

The problem is that, despite your having the wherewithal to do just that, you won't.

This group should be ignored where they are until they drown in their vomit.

I'll have to read this blog when I'm sober

Raw Dog

20:21

Vedder's research demonstrates that America’s universities have become less productive, less efficient, and more likely to use tuition money and state and federal grants to subsidize non-instructional activities such as huge pay raises for the administration, reduction in teaching loads for professors, opulent social functions and funding sometimes trivial research.

I've been wondering why liberal academia, so eager to foist socialism on the rest of us, is also so unwilling to put it into practice. PhDs in Universities make a goodly sum . .tuition has risen far faster than inflation . . University professors talk the socialist talk, but they don't exactly slip a portion of their salaries to beleagured parent.

Sweetheart

James is a complete sweetheart for linking to me, from two blogs, no less, and I assure you (& him) that I rarely blog while snockered.

But sometimes, things really irritate me, ya know? If the right gets as goofy as the left, well . .AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!

Mandate, Schmandate

in which I blog half-crocked and piss off the entire civilized world as we know it.

In the vocabulary of the blogosphere, the word 'moonbat' has come to mean someone leaning so far to the left that all their brains slid out their left ear onto the floor, where the dog ate it. What's the opposite? What do you call someone who leans so far to the right that they, too, lose their brains? A Sun-emu? Moon:sun, flying mammal:flightless bird. It will have to do.

The sun-emus are crawling out of the woodwork since the re-election of George Bush, some screeching such tripe that they make the paranoia of the moonbats seem reasonable. Listen up, sun-emus: FUCK YOU!

President George Bush does NOT have a mandate to make abortion illegal, nor to drive gays into deep, dark caves, nor to - goodness only knows what else the sun-emus can come up, but that will do for a start.

First off, to listen to some of the talk, one would think that the sun-emus, and only the sun-emus, are responsible for Bush's reelection. ain't so. There are some other groups:

Vietnam veterans, aka Anybody But Kerry
Vietnam immigrants, also aka ABK
Iraqi immigrants
Iranian immigrants
Quite possibly Afghani immigrants
Security moms
Floridians tired of the insults generated by Al Gore's y2k shenanigans
Pro-war libertarians


I don't know what the numbers of most of the above groups are, but the libertarians voting for Harry Browne in 2000 numbered about 1,000,000. Figuring a 50/50 pro/con war split, and assuming some stuck with Badnarik 'anyway,' that's roughly 250,000 voting for Bush, not Badnarik, this year. What's the difference between how many Floridians voted for Bush in 2000 vs 2004? Beats me, I'm too sloshed to remember, but whatever that number is, factor it in. Now go look up all those other groups. Oh yeah - 2.5 million Vietnam vets. Beats me how many Vietnam immigrants, but don't forget to add the kids. Remember the kids? The half-American, half-Viet kids that got automatic citizenship? You don't? Well, bleep you. Anyway, a bunch of them.

That brings the exact number to somewhere between 2,275,000 and a whole lot more. Subtract that from 4,000,000, and you get a max of where's my calculator 1,725,000, or approximately 2.923728813559% sun-emus out of the 59,000,000.000000000000 + that voted for Bush, which is not a fucking mandate, so don't think you own the President or the country all by your little ol' selves because you don't.

Bush has a mandate to prosecute the war on terror. That is his sole mandate. Thank God, I don't think he's a stupid as you sun-emus.

Do ya love this country? Well, do ya, punk? Because if you do, pay some attention to the founding principals and the American Ideals.

"That government is best which governs least."

"Government, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a really nasty master."

Ok, so I screwed up the word in the last quote. You get the concept.

Remember also that power shifts. Any laws enacted now set precedents. If you are successful in creating a law, any law, that dictates who may contract with whom, when, what, where, what they may do in their bedrooms, how they may leave their worldly goods, and so on, you open the door for such laws to be imposed on yourself. Are you effin' daft? Do you want to open that door?

& for pete's squeaks, lay off the hare-brained amendments! (post for another day, but damn!)

Listen up, sun-emus, if ya don't give a hoot about the constitution, and if you're truly so blind that you don't think oppressive laws will never come back to bite you, maybe you care about God.

Have ya read Genesis? Do you know what God's first gift to mankind was?

Free will

Use extreme caution is trying to steal God's first and greatest gift away from his children. If you believe in God, you know what I'm saying. If you don't, why should you care about gays and abortion and whatnot anyway?

& why did God give man free will? because "He was lonely." That bit of the Bible twists my heart, but it's there. God was lonely. So he gave us free will, so we could choose to come to him all by our lonesome. God wants each one of us to choose, in our hearts and of ourselves, to come to Him. God Himself apparently doesn't want us dragged there, kicking and screaming. So have a care, sun-emus. Don't make our gifts to God more feeble than our natural human weakness dictates. Leave us free to give freely and cheerfully what we have to give.

Well!

I have a whole lot of extremely nasty things to say to GLAAD, too, but I'm sloshed and hungry. Some other time perhaps . .

naw, hell, better say it right now.

Yo! GLAAD! Yer farkin' NUTS! Not only are you nuts, but you're lazy and whiney. You don't even know what you want!! FAUGH!! You make me sick.

You say you want gay marriage made legal, and you don't even know what gay marriage is. You won't sit down and figure it out, you just whine and look for judges willing to piss on the constitution and the concept of balance of power. Are you really so stupid that you don't see the potential consequences? Because if you are truly that DUMB STUPID BLIND, you deserve to be locked in a room with sun-emus forever and ever and ever, with nothing to eat but 3-day old fish and nothing to drink but Coors light. It would serve you right.

Quit fucking up the English language. Marriage means the union of a man and a woman, always has, always will. Deal with it.

If you want marriage, grab yourself someone of the opposite sex and go to it.

If you want something other - work towards it in a logical manner, within the framework of the laws in place. What you actually want, although you are apparently too daft or too whiney to realize it, is a shortcut way to contract for a union between two members of the same sex. You've no business calling this contract 'marriage.' Have a contest, come up with a different name. I like 'homonogomy' myself - to me, it has a cozy, homey sound, as opposed to civil union (too cold) or carnal union (too decadent). But it's your union, up to you. Have a contest, take a poll. Whatever. But don't steal a word that doesn't belong to you.

And decide, among yourselves, exactly what you want that word to mean. Does a homonogomous union mean that each partner is the other's next of kin? Fine. Automatic step-parent in the case of kids? Fine. Domestic partner, for those companies that provide for such things? Fine. Whatever. But dammit, decide. Come to consensus amongst yourselves, work out the legal paperwork, then present a bill to your state legislature. Ask for homonogamy to be considered a contract, similar to but not the same as, marriage or whatever. Don't forget to deal with divorce while you're at it, suckers.

BTW, the vodka is Krolewska. It comes in the loveliest bottle, looks like a stained glass window. I'm mixing it with Shasta kiwi-strawberry soda. Since it's Polish vodka, and Poland has been sooooo cool and tough (GO GROM!), I figure drinking it is my patriotic duty.

Anything else? No, that's enough for now.

Please, everybody, try not to go off your rocker.

Local band plug: Runa Pacha, Andean-Peruvian. Soothes the soul.

Perspective on incumbents versus challengers

It's obviously a little late in the day, as far as the 2004 elections go, but Alaa at The Mesopotamian posted something to consider that wouldn't have occurred to me:

If you think the President did a bad job and made mistakes and got us all in a mess, then he must not be let off and must stay to clear the mess. Letting him off now will release him from his responsibility to finish the job and tidy up.

If you replace him now with the Senator, then both men will have ready excuses for any future failure. The one will be able to say that he was not allowed to finish his work and the other can say that it was not his fault anyway, because the other made such mistakes as to make any remedy impossible.

Great-Aunt Ruby's Peanut Butter Cookies

This cookie recipe was brought to you in part by the 59 million + US citizens who voted for George Bush, and by Senator John Kerry, whom I thank for being gracious in defeat.

1 cup shortening (1/2 c. butter, 1/2 c. lard)
1 2/3 c. sugar
1 c. peanut butter

Blend the above ingredients together.

2 eggs, slightly beaten - gradually add to peanut butter mixture

Sift together:
2 1/2 c. flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

and gradually add to above.

Mix well. Form balls, maybe a little smaller than a golf ball.

Place on lightly-greased cookie sheet. Squash flat with fork.

Bake at 375 - 400 for about 10 minutes.

These continue cooking for a bit after you take them out of the oven, so don't wait until they look too brown.

Buck up, Buckeyes!

Welcome to the wonderful world of villification. Unless John Kerry behaves like a gentleman and a statesman, you will shortly began to hear things about your state that are slanted and/or untrue - things that will make you look like a collection of addled doofuses. Things that are done all over the country, and have been for years, will be highlighted as if Ohio is the only place where it happens. When lawsuits are filed, and thrown out, only the filing will be reported. The frivolity of some of these suits won't be discussed. There will be foul rumors and false canards flung at you, and the stories will never be corrected.

Hang in there, kiddos. If you have a blog, blog that side of the stories that the media won't report. When this is finally over, your state will have a healthly, well-deserved contempt for the media as well as the democrat party. And at the next election, the margin won't be so small, as a certain portion of your electorate will resent the slander.

Best of luck to you.

Cookies or deadmen voting?

OK, all those who have not yet voted, and are legally entitled to, here's the deal:

If President Bush clearly wins this election, I will publish Great Aunt Ruby's Peanut Butter cookie recipe. These are real peanut butter cookies, the kind with a fork mark in them, such as you probably have not tasted for 15 years.

I know a lot of you out there have been bribed by the Democrat party. Connie Milstein was not imprisoned, so for all I know she's handing cartons of cigarettes to the homeless again. Listen up, you people-bribed-by-democrats: In the voting booth you can (and should) vote the opposite of whatever the briber wanted you to vote.

So what do you want? Do you want this country run by a bunch of sleazy corrupt bribers, or by the good and honest George Bush, PLUS a really, really good peanut butter cookie recipe?

Choose wisely, choose well.

Must post on Osama

All the cool blogs are doing it and I get so tired of being behind the times.

So here's my take on it:

Bin Laden's alive? Dang! You sure? If you are sure, well, you can knock me down with a feather!

Bin Laden is Bush's puppet? You mean all those terrorists blew themselves up just to further Bush's aims? In a weird sort of way, that is a delicious thought. Please, please take pictures of these terrorist bums when you tell them. I gotta see their faces. In the real, sane, actual world, it's a scurrilous, slanderous, pernicious bit of nonsense - but in the propaganda world, o baby spread that thought. Bin Laden is Bush's puppet . . I suppose Sharon is Bin Laden's puppet, and Arafat is Sharon's puppet, and John Howard is Arafat's puppet, and - o my.

As far Osama Bin Laden himself - I don't give a red rat's rear end what he had/has to say.

He's just a puppet anyway,

{chortle, snort}

Riddle me this

Boy, there are some nasty commenters to Jeff Jarvis' post Bin Laden remixes Fahrenheit 9/11.

I would just like to know - if Kerry is smarter than Bush, and has been smarter for the past 3/4 years, and coulda woulda shoulda done so much better - if he has a plan -

wouldn't it have been kind of nice of him to show up at some meetings and maybe let the rest of us in on it? If he had a workable strategy, superior to the one in place, didn't he have an obligation to his country to share it? Especially given his job description?

Remember the pre-war buildup? I do . . . all those discussions with various people for and against . . always, always, my conversations ended with "I don't know what else to do. I don't like it. Do you have any better ideas?"

and no one did. No one did.

Except, apparently, John Kerry. If only he had shared it with us then. He could have spared us all this.

Why did Kerry put us through this?

The Mood of Hillsborough Voters

Just to say:

The general mood of the voters in line at the polls was:

(1) cheery at the process and participation
(2) patient at the wait. Some had good stories about people who risked their lives to vote in other countries, others had stories about old-timey America and bribes of whiskey at the voting booth. "The wait is longer than I expected, but it's good not to be shot at!" "Yes, but I wouldn't mind the whiskey about now."
(3) fervent hopes, expressed with a pursing of the lips:
(a) that the media will refrain from announcing until they know what they're talking about;
(b) that the election will not go to court;
(c) that whoever loses, loses graciously and courteously. "None of this 'oops, I changed my mind' stuff."

Oddly, item (c) was expressed most glumly and wistfully by those of a liberal bent. I think the DNC would do well to grow the hell up while it still has members to loose. I actually felt kinda bad for those liberals in line.

Interestingly, the liberalish people who were worried about FL counties screwing up mentioned Appalachicola! Now why? It's Broward, Brevard and Miami-Dade that screwed up 2000 and 2002, and Broward has already managed to screw up 2004 even before the election. So where did Appalachicola come from?

Early Voting

So I went and voted this morning like a good girl. It was PACKED!! Three hour wait . .

All you people who haven't voted yet - allow yourself plenty of time, take a folding chair, a hat, and some water. Whew.

You might want to bring a little light reading, too - say, War & Peace. You'll have enough time to finish it.

Hopefully Tuesday won't be so backed up. More places will be open and anyway, I swear all 700,000 Hillsborough county voters were at the library this morning.

Good things: They do make you sign a little statement that you'll only vote once and that you understand voting twice or illegally gets you a $5000 fine or 5 years in prison.

The voting machines were tested in public and, after the testing was completed, locked down. The Supervisor of Election website had the procedure and invitations to witness the tests up on their website during testing, but it looks like it's gone now.

Anyway, they were tested and locked up, then brought out for voting day. Vital parts of the machines still have locks on them, not to be removed before election day.

The machines register votes in 3 different ways - there IS a paper trail, a CD, and some other way which I forgot. (sorry, but my feet hurt by then).

To vote, you need a photo ID and the signed statement. They don't MAKE you have a voter's ID card, but they 'recommend it.' You get through the line faster if you have it.

I BELIEVE THAT ON TUESDAY YOU WILL NEED YOUR VOTER'S REGISTRATION CARD!!!!

Looks like what they're doing for early voting is registering that you voted in a laptop and presumably sending that info over to your regular precinct - possibly they're shipping over your signed statement as well.

The crowd was pretty cheery and sociable. We had a lot of discussions about the amendments and stayed waaay off any actual candidate discussions. I enjoyed it. It's so much easier and more useful to discuss issues and ideas than individuals - and more polite!

Bad Thing I'm not sure how the write-in candidate stuff works on these new machines. In the District 11 House of Rep race, there are three guys running: Jim Davis (d) Bob Johnson (l) and Karl Butt, asswipe socialist. Jim and Bob are on the ballot - but Karl is a write-in and I think the only write-in. The write-in spot is blank on these touch-voting machines. I have a sinking feeling that people who don't want Jim or Bob will hit the write-in spot and not realize who/what they're voting for. I left this spot blank, myself. At ballot completion, the computer told me it was blank in big, bright red letters. "Are you sure? Do you want to go back or do you want to cast your ballot as it?"

They've done everything else so well, presumably they took care of the write-in situation too, but I'd hate for spot-skippers to accidentally vote for a socialist. O well - if FL sends a socialist to the House, we'll know how it happened and fix it next time.

Really, if an individual voter can screw up these machines, that is a person so stupid they probably forget to breathe.

'Nuff! Three hours in line to vote - I'm feeling very patriotic and hungry!!

WTF?

Go to ebay. Search on tibet opal and take a look at some items being sold. Look at the starting bid and the shipping country.

Never mind, for the moment, that the seller apparently thinks 'opal' simply means any precious or semi-precious gem. Could be an honest language problem. BUT - 99 cents for a silver/sapphire snuff box?

Are they cheap imitations? Or is some Chinese critter robbing Tibet blind? Either way, if the seller is indeed located in China, they must be doing this with the okay from the Chinese government. Internet access doesn't come easy in the People's Republic - it just ain't allowed.

Here's a pipe. Five bucks.

Teapot. Five bucks. Has a dragon on it so it "will bless you escape from calamity." Didn't work too fucking well for the Tibetans, did it?

Maybe there's a big reserve. Maybe some Tibetan somewhere gets a kickback. Maybe they're cheap imitations and it's the ebay bidder who gets ripped off.

Maybe.

Good Riddance, Bob Graham

and Mel Martinez will be getting my vote, but what is The Veterans Party? and
Dennis Bradley?

He's got some interesting ideas.

Florida - Hillsborough County - ballot stuff
Congressional Representative, District 11

Jim Davis, D-Tampa

If you're in this district, you shouldn't need me to tell you about Davis. He's a gun-grabbing quasi-socialist. On the plus side, he seems to be a decent human being - a rare beast indeed in today's Democrat party. He pesters the state of Florida far too much when he should be working for it, but he does occassionally have decent ideas.

Robert Edward Johnson, Libertarian-Tampa

Bob sent me an email:

Hi, my name is Bob Johnson. I am sending you this email because you've shown interest in helping the cause of freedom in the past. My web site is Bob Johnson 4 Congress.org and I'm also sending you two enclosures which state what I'm for and what I'm against (the latter being my opponent's voting record). I'm confident that if you'll read both enclosures, and especially if you'll read my informative and entertaining web site, you'll want to vote for me. If so, please at the very least feel free to forward this enclosure to as many friends as possible. I am running for Congress in the 11th District which not only includes Tampa, but the S.E. portion of St. Petersburg and portions of Manatee County, including portions of Brandenton. This was a result gerrymandered in 2002, when my opponent, alleged Democrat Jim Davis, cooperated with surrounding Republican Congressmen to gerrymander more Democrats into his district and out of theirs. However, I believe he has hoisted himself by his own petard this year. While he was unopposed in 2002, I am running a serious campaign in ALL districts in the 11th, and hope you will support me. I'm the only one on the ballot against him. I'm finding that the folks who should be his base (the sort who'd normally vote 85% Democrat) actually can't stand him, don't feel he's given any constituent services, etc. A fellow who USED to campaign for my opponent called ME up after I gave him a leaflet and HE AND HIS PEOPLE ARE HELPING ME UNDERMINE MY OPPONENT'S CORE BASE!!! Many Democrats also dislike Davis' voting record since he voted for the war and the so-called PATRIOT Act. If I can get the minimum Republican vote (about one third) who can be expected to vote AGAINST Jim Davis ANY day of the week, and if I can get about a fourth of the Democrats to cross over and vote Libertarian, I WILL win and become the first Congressman ever elected on the Libertarian Party ticket.

[snip] the rest is send-me-money-volunteer.

Bob's 1st enclosure:

Bob Johnson for Congress – Let’s Try FREEDOM!
Some recent votes by my Democrat opponent Jim Davis:

he voted to invade Iraq, causing a 35% increase in the price of gas and electric bills, $1200 in taxes per family per year, and resulting in 1000 US dead and 5000 wounded.

he voted against a resolution supporting allowing the Pledge of Allegiance.

he voted for the so-called “PATRIOT” Act, allowing ‘sneak-and-peek’ at bank accounts without a warrant, investigating reading material at libraries, etc.

he voted twice for tax-supported abortions on military bases.

he voted against the long-standing ban on using tax money for international organizations that promote abortions. The ban was maintained by only five votes!

he voted against allowing marijuana for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

he voted to increase taxpayer funding for the National Endowment for the Arts that in the past has funded highly offensive ‘art.’

he voted against a bill that would have capped our contributions to the UN at no more than those of any other permanent member of the Security Council, despite the UN Security Council’s lack of help on Iraq.

he voted for allowing negligence lawsuits against gun manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations when criminals use firearms illegally - not surprising since he’s a lawyer and this helps create lawsuits.

he voted against a bill that would have followed modern mainstream thinking on forest management (thinning forests to lower risks of wildfires, diseases, etc.).

he voted against using a small portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling. Imagine how high oil prices would be now if this had failed!

he voted against allowing voucher education for low-income schools in Washington, DC. This passed by one vote!

he voted against moving national class-action lawsuits out of local and state courts and into Federal courts to stop the “court shopping” that costs consumers millions and enriches trial lawyers. He also voted against medical malpractice reform.

he has consistently voted against tax cuts and government spending cuts.

I’d have voted the opposite way on these votes. Unfortunately, this is the tip of the iceberg! Please help us by emailing or giving out leaflets or putting a sign in your yard. Call 813-951-2604 or write to Bob Johnson for Congress, 902 E. Annie #27B, Tampa, FL 33612. Vote Nov. 2! Pd. Pol. Ad. Pd. for by Bob Johnson for Congress Committee, 902 E. Annie St. #27B, Tampa, FL 33612, approved by Bob Johnson, Libertarian, for U. S. Congress, District 11

Bob's 2nd enclosure (what Bob is for):

A phased withdrawal over the next two years of our troops from abroad, saving almost 20% of the Federal Budget. Defend US borders, not 130 nations abroad. Our nation should attack only when attacked. Afghanistan needed invading for that reason; Iraq did not. Costly in lives and lucre, the Iraq invasion has increased terrorism instead of reducing it (which is reflected in the higher gas prices as of April) not only in that region, but in nations like Thailand which previously had a relatively ‘mellow’ Moslem population before Iraq fighting intensified in April. We should also have been out of the Korean peninsula decades ago, since we’re defending not only South Korea (a nation with a larger GDP than Canada) but Japan for free. Bush said Clinton should never have gotten us into Kosova or Bosnia, and had promised in 2000 to withdraw, but we’re still there. We should also get the US out of the UN, which is obviously corrupt beyond repair. As our troops come home, they’ll make our economy stronger and restore our families. We’ll also have a lot more resources available to defend our own borders not only from 9/11 terrorism but also from undocumented aliens with criminal backgrounds.

Abolish the IRS, replace the income tax, social ‘security’ taxes and Medicare taxes and replace them with a National Sales Tax. Taxes on income from work or business activity discourage work and business activity. Taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains discourage savings. Are we surprised that we have a pathetic savings rate and record bankruptcies, VISA card debt, etc., when we tax work and saving rather than consumption? Abolishing the IRS will also stop the 1040 loopholes for the wealthy since it’s somewhat harder to hide consumption and thus evade taxes.

Slowly privatize Social ‘Security’ to be a true savings plan instead of the ‘reverse Robin Hood’ ‘rob our children’ plan we have now, saving 25%. Social ‘Security’ is insecure. It has never been a true savings plan, and that’s why even Alan Greenspan recently raised the red flag on its future. Without a drastic increase in birth rates or immigration it is doomed. Let’s continue to fund benefits for the elderly and those about to retire out of the National Sales Tax, but let’s phase out benefits increasingly for younger folks, since their income will no longer be taxed, making work and saving for retirement much easier. ‘Social’ Security is also quite anti-social since it largely robs the poor and gives to the rich (e.g., poor folks start work before they’re 18 and frequently die before they’re 65, they raise more kids for the wealthy to tax, etc.).

True medical reform that makes medical care and drugs actually cheaper. The AMA deliberately restricts entry into medical schools, which drives up the cost of medical services. Let’s look into use of anti-trust and RICO statutes to stop this. Let’s also deregulate the drug testing process somewhat to make drugs cheaper. Today, aspirin wouldn’t even pass muster since the same proportion you give to a person kills a rat.

Auction the electromagnetic spectrum and Federal lands in Western states and divide the proceeds amongst all Americans, giving each a check. TV stations, radio stations, etc., use the airwaves for free. Why? As long as they pay us a yearly rental fee or a one-time purchase amount, let them say whatever they want. Let’s do the same with unused Federal lands and give each American a check in a bank account that each American can use upon reaching 18 years of age.

Here's campaign money info on Bob.

Karl M. Butts, write-in. - Socialist Workers Party.

Ahem.

Looks like Mr. Butts has submitted no financial information. Why does this not surprise me? Socialists do seem to think laws are for 'other people.'


Well, hell. Maybe I'll skip this spot on my ballot. I WILL NOT vote for a democrat for the foreseeable future. Johnson is bad on the war, pretty good on all else. I wish the Libertarian party hadn't gone all whackjob on Iraq. Defending the country IS a constitutional responsibility of the Federal government.

Hello there Florida voters!

For pity's sake, if any of you have any comments about any of the local candidates/judges, share the wealth. Click 'talk to me' and tell us what you know!

I'd be interested in what you think about amendment 4, too.

Local Florida Ballot Stuff

I find it very difficult to make an informed decision on the local stuff. You can read a bit about the judges up for election in The Merit Retention Pamplet prepared by the Florida Bar Association.

JUDGE STUFF

Shall Justice Kenneth B Bell of the Supreme Court be retained?

Sure

What about Raoul Cantero III?

Ya know, I have this unreasoning prejudice against people with numbers after their name . . why is that? Poor guy. Maybe his grandma made him do that. He can stay.

Second District Court of Appeals
Canaday - Yes
Kelly - ?
Northcutt - ?
Villanti - ?
Wallace - ?


County Judge Group 11
Henry Gill or Liz Rice?

The Tampa Trib endorses Liz Rice. But she's eeewwww a commercial litigation attorney.

Henry Gill disagrees with the Trib's endorsement (imagine that!) but he, too, is a litigation attorney.

sheez. The Trib screwed up Gill's online rebuttal, so Gill may get a sympathy vote anyway.

Hell. Some actual information would be nice.



My local concrete company sent me some info on Bob Buckhorn, Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 6:


AN OPEN LETTER
TO: INTERESTED PARTIES (PLEASE COPY OTHERS)

Bob Buckhorn (D) - Candidate County Commission District 6 - is commited to the imposition of $4 billion tax and fee increase in unincorporated Hillsborough County over the next 15 years.

Mr. Buckhorn stated that this tax increase in needed to fund "our $4 billion transportation deficit."

Note: Mr. Buckhorn's opponent, Brian Blair (R), disagrees with Mr. Buckhorn. Mr Blair states - "We do not have a revenue problem in this county - we have a spending problem"

The facts are we do not have a $4 billion transportion deficit. We have a $1 billion transportation backlog. Further, funds are in the pipeline to fund this backlog. (source: Public records)

Mr. Buckhorn proposes a significant increase in impact fees, a $0.05 per gallon increase in our local option tax and an increase in our local option sales tax. He should know that an increse of $0.01 in our local option sales tax would be required to yield $4 billion over a 15 year period. He also should know that this would increase our local sales tax to $0.08 - a 14% increase.

If Mr. Buckhorn is successful, Hillsborough County would then impose the highest sales tax in the State of Florida. In fact, if Mr. Buckhorn's agenda is adopted, businesses and residents would relocate out of our county - and few, if any - businesses would relocate to our county. Needless to say the loss of jobs would be substantial and our local economy would be decimated.

Yours very truly,
Cast-Crete Corporation

Ralph W. Hughes
Chairman

P.S. A $4 billion tax increase over a 15 year period would result in an additional $267 million being taken out of the pockets of the people each and every year.

I had to re-type the above letter, and I'm pretty tired. All typos are mine, not Mr. Hughes.
I wish Mr. Hughes was running for something. or working as a reporter.

I've gotten tons of pretty postcards with pictures of candidates looking serenely and pompously at flowers & stuff, but Mr. Hughes is the only information with actual facts and figures.

yikes.

2004 Florida - Amendment 3

I say yes to Amendment 3. So does Hog on Ice.

Trial lawyers say No, so - well, it's a no-brainer, isn't it? #3 won't stop anyone from going to trial, just reduce the legal robbery.

Turn-about is Fair Play
- or - Sauce for the Goose, Sauce for the Gander
- or - Payback's a m*^$%#@-f(^@&*#

In a modest way, I contributed to this retreat of the elite.

Seems like they were tougher in the old days, though. All ya gotta do now is make their eyes water.

And where are their manners? Not a one of them wrote me back!

Fun Fact

You can tell if an artichoke is fresh by holding it up to your ear and squeezing it. A fresh artichoke will talk to you!

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

"Whither thou goest I will go
where thou diest I will die --
the Lord do so to me and more also if aught but death
part thee and me"

We really are gullible.

but maybe it's better to be gullible than to be a bunch of back-stabbing, lying, thieving weasels.

Talk me out of it!

So I saw a pretty gun at the gunshow, and now I think I need it.

It was waaaaay cool - a black powder pirate's gun with the rounded, wooden grip. Purty engraving.

Then I saw an American Revolution reproduction - black powder again - something-or-other. Lots of gold (gold-tone! prolly turns your finger green!) - ooooo, shiney.

I do not need a black powder gun . . I do not need a black powder gun . . I do NOT need . .

{whimpers like a puppy}

How Girls Can Help Their Country

Shooting

All scouts should know how to shoot. By this I do not mean that you should go all day behind some big dog and try to kill the birds he finds for you, for that is the most useless form of shooting, all things considered, that can be devised. What I mean is that Scouts should know how to load and fire a gun or other firearm so as not to be at a loss for a means of defense should an emergency arise. It is one of the best means to "be prepared." My preference for practice of this kind is a small rifle as being less dangerous than any form of pistol and excellent training for hand and eye. Avoid, however, the very high power modern firearms - the kind that "shoot today and kill next week," as as there is too much danger of reaching some one that is out of sight. The same may be said of the automatic pistol which fills too large a circle with missiles of sudden death.

Handbook for Girl Scounts, 1913


What do they mean by 'guns and other firearms??

As seen on CBS News! Canadian Pharmacy Drugs


NO PRESCRIPTION REQUIRED!

Xanax, Cialis, Viagra, Soma & many more!


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.6 (FreeBSD) iD8DBQBBRyYyJjGc5ftAw8wRAt63AKCihQc0plRlfwJHQ3qA4LwoIQVqQQCdEvcR sV4sbbE6Nw1EtDwlDVZ+SBg=SC -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

I received this junk email from 'Dr. Queen.' As seen on CBS News, eh? Does Dr. Queen have a great sense of humor, or is he serious? Who can tell?

Lo, How the might are fallen.

Most people just find you weird.

yeah, yeah. We knew that.


You're a Mystical. You don't fit in in any way and
most people just find you weird, but you are in
a group. You are respected by everyone, even
though you're just really different.


What kind of group person are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Jeez, maybe I shouldn't take these things on an empty stomach:


Harp Seal


What is Your Inner Animal?
brought to you by Quizilla



A Mouse!
"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one
thing - that it was all started by a
mouse."
Walt Disney


What Is Your Spirit Animal?
brought to you by Quizilla

Yeah, well, but I'm an armed mousey harp seal!



>You really aren't that vicious you just do it for
self defense, but you sure are cute. -Hugs-
OWWWW


What Dangerous Animal are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

All quizzes taken at DovenWolfSteig (no idea what that means!), a young 'un with a bunch of quizzes and a very hypnotic cursor.



One more . . just one more . . this is the last, I swear. This one from Hog on Ice, purveyor of renowned recipes and rants.


You are the Moon card. Entering the Moon we enter
the intuitive and psychic realms. This is the
stuff dreams are made on. And like dreams the
imagery we find here may inspire us or torment
us. Understanding the moon requires looking
within. Our own bodily rhythms are echoed in
this luminary that circles the earth every
month and reflects the sun in its progress.
Listening to those rhythms may produce visions
and lead you towards insight. The Moon is a
force that has legends attached to it. It
carries with it both romance and insanity.
Moonlight reveals itself as an illusion and it
is only those willing to work with the force of
dreams that are able to withstand this
reflective light. Image from: Stevee Postman.
http://www.stevee.com/


Which Tarot Card Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I like this better than the mouse seal. "the stuff dreams are made on" Look out, Bogie, here I come!

How Girls Can Help Their Country

How to Secure a Burglar with Eight Inches of Cord

Make a slip-knot at each end of your cord. Tie the burglar's hands behind him by passing each loop over his little fingers. Place him face downwards, and bend his knees. Pass both feet under the string, and he will be unable to get away.

Handbook for Girl Scouts, 1913 edition



Update: This is from the very first Girl Scout Handbook. I don't know, but I very much doubt that it's in the handbook used today. Sorry to rain on anyone's parade. : (

This is why I'm an old book fiend. The long-ago attitudes were different and worth examining. We've tossed out a lot that was bad, but also much that was good, and I'm all for grabbing the baby back out of the discarded bathwater. 'Chronological snobbery' is a thing to avoid.

Look at the title: 'How Girls Can Help Their Country.' First off, there's an automatic assumption that helping your country is a good thing. Why, one can almost see Michael Moore sneering at the thought.

Second, the assumption that securing a burglar is a good thing for the country. Yes! Making it impossible for a bad guy to continue doing bad things is good.

Finally, the assumption that even a 12-year old girl, properly trained and prepared, can help herself, her neighbors and her country. You need not be weak. You need not be helpless. You need not surrender your self-sovereignty without a fight. With brains, pluck and luck, you can win.

This from a book written before women could even vote, and which also contains many instructions on being a good housekeeper and mother, and being womanly. Now there's a lost concept! Frankly, some it chaps my hide but let's listen to it:

"An imitation diamond is not as good as a real diamond. An imitation fur coat is not as good as real fur. Girls will do no good trying to imitate boys. You will only be a poor imitiation. It is better to be a real girl such as no boy can be."

Now that paragraph, taken by itself from the 1913 book and flavored by general 2004 attitudes, is bound to raise some hackles. Yet combined with the concepts of self-defense, health, and careers as expressed in this 1913 book, it doesn't sound so bad. We've thrown out a lot of bad things - I'm glad I can vote! but

But we've also thrown out, or at least diminished, the basic American ideal: the Rugged Individual; self-sovereignty; self-reliance. Call no man master. One of my clearest recollections of Sept. 11 was the blank looks of the faces of newscasters when they talked about "What American Means." Self-doubt was plastered on their faces as they uttered those words. Our anchormen and women, for the most part, had no idea what America meant. And for good reason. Somehow, during the civil rights liberation of groups like blacks and women, an insidious enslavement began. Not wearing a seatbelt? busted. Smoking in the wrong place? busted. Cutting down the wrong tree? busted. Hanging on to property wanted by the government? busted. and on and on and on and on and on.

A society in which groups are enslaved or oppressed is bad; a society in which all are oppressed is no better. Where did we go wrong and how do we get back on track? In 91 years, we've gone from expecting 12 year girls to be able to subdue a burglar, to expecting an adult to be incapable of deciding when to wear a seat-belt. What the hell happened to our respect for each others' intelligence and freedom?

They got him.

Remember the story of a soldier getting beat up at a Toby Keith concert in Ohio? Kudos to the Columbus Ohio police, who've arrested the 2-bit thug.

Hat tip to James at Hell in a Handbasket. Thanks, James!

. . . You just might be a Floridian

If you feel sorry for Jeb Bush and wouldn't wish his job on your worst enemy . . .

If you store your lawn furniture in your pool . .

If you bring your solar yard lights inside at night, and set them outside again in the morning to recharge . . .

If you keep your lawn ornaments in your living room . . .

If your art discussions compare the impressionism of one neighbor's plywood paintings versus the cubism of another's . .

If you know the ratio of 6 drops of chlorine to 1 gallon of water . . .

If you make coffee and omelettes over a sterno as a matter of course . . .

If utility repairmen fill you with lust and desire, regardless of age, sex or buttcrack, . . .

If you've ever prayed for a westerly shear . . .

If you have FEMA on speed-dial . . .

you just might be a Floridian!

To Err is Human
to refrain from sniggering at somebody's error is devine.

See, it was like this . . . I mean, it happened to a friend . .yeah, yeah that's the ticket! It happened to a friend of my neighbor's uncle by marriage. Nobody I know would do something like!

So there was this person, see? and she - uh, I mean he - yeah, he - well, he had to evacuate and he couldn't take his guns and didn't have a gun safe, right? So he put his guns and stuff in the washing machine because, like, what looter is going to stop and do laundry? So he thought he got everything out, but well . . .

How long does it take ammo to dry out? Will it still be good? What does one do with bad ammo?

It was the good ammunition, too, the hydroshocks.

Not, mind you, that I would ever do a thing like that.

Stop sniggering!

What does one do whilst sitting around waiting for the world to end, again.

Why, one takes online quizzes as posted by Eric, of course!


If this gentleman:

A focused advisor whose actions are dictated by almost pure logic, you believe in exploring the fascinating possibilities around you.

"Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

Spock is a character in the Star Trek universe. His biography is available at Nimoy.com.

had lived in these times:

Which British Literary Period are you? Victorian 1837-1900--Tennyson, Dickens, Hopkins. You are a product of those that came before you. You aren't afraid to question those in authority, but all in all, you're happy with the Empire

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

what would he be?

Sherlock Holmes!! I'm Sherlock Holmes!!

I always wanted to be Sherlock Holmes!

It's a pity they selected the dumbest quote of Spock's, ever. If ya gotta quote Spock, I like this better (said as he's firing a phaser at a disintegration chamber in The Armageddon Factor: "I am practicing a peculiar form of diplomacy."

Much as I like the original Star Trek, I never really thought about the music until reading what Lileks had to say about it. James Lileks shines spotlights on the ordinary, and calls attention to everyday charms that would otherwise go unnoticed. It's a gift and a blessing.

Gloating and Trembling over Ra^ther's fallout

I don't remember where I read things, and so my linkage to the deserving blogs is dreadful. I'm sorry about that . . .

Anyway, this post is about the tremblings of Big, Old, hardened-artery Media and the gloating of New, Fresh, little zippy Bloggers. Zippy Bloggers have been singing thusly:


Rather, Burkett and Mape
had a story taking shape!
They'd stab their prez right in the back and Bush would not escape!
AAAAnnnd their ratings would be greeeaat AASSSS all their viewers gaped!

So Rather jumped through hoops
to push ahead his scoop
But bloggers saw right through his poop and now Dan RAAAAther's head's in a loop!

Ding Dong Old Media's Dead
Which Old Media?
The Big Old Media!
Ding Dong the Big Old Media's dead!
It's goooonnne where the goblins go
below
below
below . .

etc.

and Big Old Media responded with numerous snarky comments and articles about pajamas and [snort, chuckle] blogger's lack of checks and balances.

But, if not for big old media, the best of bloggers wouldn't have much to talk about. And, if not for new, zippy bloggers, big old media would continue to suck.

Imagine if the forged media story had been shorter and more honest. What if Rather & co. had posted the documents without the trumped up story? What if they'd included all the expert opinions, as well as all the interviews? Then sat back and watched the blogosphere examine it?

Well, there's always the possiblity that it wouldn't have been examined if it had been reported properly. But assuming it was examined? Rather & co could have sat back, let the blogosphere done the legwork, verified the conclusions, then come back with a real story: "Somebody out there is so willing to drag this president through the mud that they were willing to forge documents and risk prison." They could have served up a warning to us all - to be careful and cynical. They coulda come up smelling like a rose.

Well, maybe next time. For now, old media could remember this little axion:

1) Say what you mean.
2) Mean what you say.
3) Shut up.

Old media also has to remember that the meaning of news reporting is to report, dammit! I don't need their opinions; I have plenty of my own. So we'll revise that axiom:

1) Report what you know.
2) Know what you report.
3) Shut up.

BTW, you can't 'know' an opinion. You can have one, believe one, and feel one, but you can't know one. You can reach conclusions based on facts, but you can't know a conclusion either. You can only know facts.

Best drunk with friends

What sort of doggie treats does McAullife feed Dan Ra^ther, anyway?

Electricity is a beautiful thing

I am fine and have nothing to complain about.

I do strongly urge all persons who make a habit of protesting electric plants to try going without it for a few days. It can be done by the average bear, but it's pretty annoying. It's a little rough on people with respirators and the like.

Traffic was the most fun. No traffic lights, no street lights, just a bunch of stressed out people whose nerves were jangling with cabin fever. But no gasoline either, hell with it, I just stayed home.

George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees are cordially invited to go to and stay put. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays postponed the double header with the Yankees, because dammit we're having a hurricane down here and we are going to stay with our families and we can't get a plane anyway. And Steinbrenner tries to say the Devil Rays are forfeiting the game? No, sir. In the words of some radio sportscaster: "And Steinbrenner has a home in south Tampa. Maybe he did leave his family there to face it out alone. If he did, he's not a man."

Any team that beats the Yankees is okay by me. Thank you, Cleveland Indians.

You didn't see that kind of pettiness over the Cubs/Marlins game. Thank you, Chicago Cubs.

Hurricane Frances - Pets

This is from an email I received. Can't vouch for any of it, so phone first!

Hello, all.

I've been very concerned about the issue of where
people can take their pets during hurricanes, besides
motels or hotels that quickly fill up, so I've been
compiling some info. Please note I am in the
Jacksonville area and therefore, do not have intimate
knowledge of all these locations; for now, I can only
provide the general info and for those of you in those
areas, you will need to check out the specifics and
locations.

Here is the list I have so far of a few more places
where you and your pets will be allowed during the
hurricane. Since these places will probably fill up
quickly, please double check their status if possible,
before heading out, animal in tow:

Seminole County
Sanlando United Methodist Church Ministries
Emergency Shelter in Longwood
http://www.sanlando.org/community/shelter.htm

Brevard County
* The Melbourne Greyhound Park (pets and people)
* Brevard County's Animal Services and Enforcement
division - both north and south county animal shelters
(pets only, not people)

Animal Rescue League of the Palm Beaches
Pets can ride out the storm here, free, on a
first-come, first-serve basis, if you live in a
mandagory evacuation zone. This Humane Society
operation is located at 3200 N. Military Trail in West
Palm Beach, about a mile north of Okeechobee Boulevard
(686-3663). You'll need to take food and a carrier for
your own pet. (This is in case you can't find any
other place for you AND your pet...it's for pets only;
you'll need to find a separate facility for yourself.)

Volusia county
Pet shelter: Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E. State
Road 44 DeLand (1/4 mile east of Interstate 4 on State
Road 44). Transportation also is provided at regular
bus stops if animals are in crates.

Lake and Sumter counties

Three shelters in Lake County — Astatula Elementary
School, Lost Lake Elementary School in Clermont and
Villages Elementary School — will accept pets with
their people.


Charlotte County
North Port High School (6400 W. Price Blvd.) in North
Port accepts people and their pets.

Manatee County
Emergency leaders opened people and pet-friendly
shelters at:
Lee Middle, 4000 53rd Ave. W.,
Lincoln Middle, 305 17th St. E., Palmetto; and Manatee
High, 1000 32nd St. W.

As far as motels and hotels, there may be some room
left at some locations. My Web site, FloridaPets.net,
has an excellent listing of pet-friendly facilities.
Earlier this year, we personally called and verified
policies, but you'll still want to call for room
availablity and to verify pets are still allowed. I
always say, "A location's pet policy is only as
friendly as their last bad pet-related experience."
Check out our list here:

http://www.floridapets.net/Vacation.html

In addition, in case you have to go outside Florida to
find accomodations, the following motel/hotel chains
are, IN GENERAL, pet-friendly, but when you call to
check on room availablity, also verify their pet
policy:

Best Western Inns 1-800-528-1234
Comfort Inns 1-800-228-5150
Days Inn 1-800-329-7466
Econo Lodge 1-800-553-2666
Holiday Inn 1-800-465-4329
Howard Johnson 1-800-465-4329
La Quinta Inn 1-800-531-5900
Motel 6 1-800-466-8356
Quality Inn 1-800-228-5151
Ramada Inn 1-800-228-2828
Red Roof Inn 1-800-843-7663
Residence Inn 1-800-331-3131
Super 8 Motels 1-800-800-8000

Hope this list helps some folks. Everyone be smart and
safe!

=====
Kind Regards,

FloridaPets.net
WEB: http://www.floridapets.net

"Pets are part of the family, so take them along! FloridaPets.net has pet-friendly resources and information for Florida residents and visitors.

How Girls Can Help Their Country

Humility

Humility, or being humble, was one of the things practiced by the knights; that is to say, that, although they were generally superior to other people in fighting or campaigning, they never allowed themselves to swagger about it. So don't swagger.

And don't imagine that you have got rights in this world except those that you earn for yourself. You've got the right to be believed if you earn it by always telling the truth, and you've got the right to go to prison if you earn it by thieving; but there are lots of men who go about howling about their rights who have never done anything to earn any rights. Do your duty first, and then you will earn your rights afterward.

From 'How Girls Can Help Their Country - Handbook for Girl Scouts.' 1913

Parse the Sentence

This is a partial re-run from July '03, for the benefit of Mssrs. Kerry, Bush, Feingold and McCain.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Subject: Congress
Verb Phrase: shall make no
Direct Object: law
Adjective Clauses:
* respecting an establishment of religion
* prohibiting the free exercises thereof
* abridging the freedom of speech
* of the press;
* the right of the people to peaceably assemble
* to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

Conjunctions: or; and

Exercise 1
By use of conjunctions and adjective clauses, there are actually six sentences contained within the above single sentence. Can you find them?

(a) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.

b) Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.

(c) Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.

(d) Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press.

(e) Congress shall make no law abridging the right of the people to peaceably assemble.

(f) Congress shall make no law abridging the right of the people to petition the Government for redress of grievances.

a short drop and a quick stop

Consistency in John Kerry

At the website Stolen Honor, there is a clipping of a gentleman named James Warner from a to-be-released documentary of the same name.

"essentially, he accused all of us of being criminals . . . "


" . . this naval officer admits that you are a criminal, and that you deserve punishment . . ."

"these words prove that you deserve punishment"

"first of all, he was an officer . . in a combat unit . .with an M16. so he was armed. A US or Naval officer, armed, seeing someone doing something clearly illegal - he has an obligation to stop it . . You were armed, you had the ability to stop these things, why didn't you stop it?"

He was saying we done these things, things he knew to be false . .he burned up his band of brotherhood.

" . . . He has always opposed everything the US Armed Forces had to do . . if his judgement is bad, and it is consistently bad . . always, when the judgement is bad, it is in favor of our enemies and against the United States . . ."

Marines Are From Mars, Iraqis Are From Venus
Major Ben Connable
First Marine Division G-2
30 May 2004

When something is very, very, very worth reading, it's harder to come up with something to say about it. Just go read. Both parts.

BAD WORDS

In 2000, Harry Browne was my man for the top political position in the US of A. Didn't like his open immigration policy, but at that time it was possible to be naive enough to think it wasn't that important.

Then Sept 11 happened, and I was relieved that Bush, not Browne, was in office. I started leaning heavily toward Bush, based on (a) his clear-eyed view of the terrorist threat;
(b) his acknowledgment that the US has, in the past, supported dictators through expediency, and his declaration that we would no longer do that, even if it seemed in our best short term interest to do so. People, that was ,major, gutsy, and long overdue.

Then the Campaign Finance Reform Act reared its ugly head. Bush said - I could swear he did? - said he wouldn't sign it. HE SIGNED IT!.. HE KNEW IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND HE SIGNED IT!

ugh.

The Supreme Court pissed on its duty and us, and didn't throw it out.

Well . . the Libertarians have no one; lessee what the dems come up with . . .

Gawd help us, the backstabbing sonofabitch Kerry.

Do the Libertarians have anybody yet? Oh, Badnarik, a willfully blind fruitcake re: terrorism . .

Oh, well, maybe Bush isn't so ba. . What? He's doing what??

This column by Gary Aldrich puts it succintly:

"Establishment politicians on both sides of the aisle are annoyed that ordinary groups of citizens can impact their carefully crafted election scenarios. They have become spoiled, petulant, and powerful. They don’t like surprises, and, yes, there is a brotherhood of political operatives who hang together regardless of party."

Who'm I gonna vote for? People, we're in genuine trouble. Both Kerry and Bush are against the Bill of Rights.

My inner wild-eyed maniac thinks it's time to give politicians a short drop and a quick stop.

That's Despicable

My little ol' computer just flagged a virus for me - sent via email with the fake header 'FoxNewsComments.'

Does whatever bozo sent this out honestly think he'll accomplish anything beyond deepening contempt for so-called 'liberal' element? Does he think he's some sort of warrior, for pete's sake?

snort!

"Sayeed, is it your will to detonate this day some C-4 on the public way where walk many infidels which is a stink in the eye of the Almighty?"

"Afendi, most assuredly not, for by the Prophet's beard, the hated nation of our enemy has brought forth and set against us a person fairly sloppin' over with GRAVITAS!"

Flamberge, smart and deadly. A very complicated
attacking weapon, mainly used for throwing down
horse men or cutting pike heads off. (Please
Vote)


What sword would you use (info and pics on swords as well)
brought to you by Quizilla

Simple Sail

mmm - if you kayak, take a gander at a simple sail rig.

No measurements listed, but maybe it doesn't matter too much. I don't know what a 'timber rod' is, I searched but some are 2" round, some are curtain rods, some seem to be 2 x 4 . .?

Probably a PVC pipe and a rectangle of sailcloth would work.

hmmmm.