Mr Rogers Makes an Ass of Himself
From the comments:
Those 300,000 died for an Idea of America. For all our flaws, America today is infinitely preferable to a coolection of unimportant states dominated by corrupt and amoral pseudo-aristocrats. The war is over and the Good Guys won. - Mark Rogers
Mr Rogers likely talks alot about the Declaration of Independence... one wonders if he's ever actually read it. Or if he's read Jefferson Davis' speeches before the Senate. Likely not.
Little man you're barking up the wrong tree. You likely assume you've run across some redneck malcontent who's pissed of because his sister dated a negro. Instead, you've found someone who's spent more than a decade researching the War for Southron Independence, its roots, its effects, and its aftermath.
I'm a historian sir, and a not a bad one at that. I suggest you, once you attempt to regain control of you faculties, attempt to educate yourself on the true causes of the war. You seem to think it had something to do with slavery. This proves you to be ignorant as the average History Channel devotee.
I suggest you begin by researching the American System... which was devised to pay for the War of 1812. There in you will discover the beginings of the rift that lead to the War, that was forced upon the South by the Tyrant King Lincoln.
If you prefer you can search this very blog for a detailed description of the events and causes that lead the War. Simply do a site specific search for "American System". It should prove eye-opening. The war had nothing to do with slavery and everything to do with the consolidation of power within the federal government.
Go on back to your TV and your O'Reilly factor Mr. Rogers. You aren't interested in learning the true history of your country any more than I am interested in teaching it to you.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Yankee Holiday
If anything at all, a good southron should be celebrating the 300,000 yankees we killed in our war for independence. This day was not, and to this day, largely is not, for us. It was designated to honour the yankee dead from the war.
Confederate Memorial Day varies from state to state... and is still recognized today.
As for those good southrons who died in the US Army post WWI, I suggest that those who choose to honour them today are welcome to do so, but they would be better off remembering them on the Confederate Memorial Day of their state. Those boys weren't going off fighting krouts or slants or charlie to defend some know-it-all buckeye. They were doing it to defend home, and home is the South. Home is Tennessee... or Georgia... or Alabama.
Not far from my old house in Morgantown there is a monument to the Yankee dead from the War for Southron Independence.
Regretfully... This is the first Memorial Day in 5 years that I won't have the pleasure of pissing on it.
If anything at all, a good southron should be celebrating the 300,000 yankees we killed in our war for independence. This day was not, and to this day, largely is not, for us. It was designated to honour the yankee dead from the war.
Confederate Memorial Day varies from state to state... and is still recognized today.
As for those good southrons who died in the US Army post WWI, I suggest that those who choose to honour them today are welcome to do so, but they would be better off remembering them on the Confederate Memorial Day of their state. Those boys weren't going off fighting krouts or slants or charlie to defend some know-it-all buckeye. They were doing it to defend home, and home is the South. Home is Tennessee... or Georgia... or Alabama.
Not far from my old house in Morgantown there is a monument to the Yankee dead from the War for Southron Independence.
Regretfully... This is the first Memorial Day in 5 years that I won't have the pleasure of pissing on it.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Time Well Wasted
On our adventures saturday we came across this ol' damn on the Duck River. We road the old roads that follow it for quite a ways. WellDigger almost kept up with us too!
That's me... lookin' down on JAC... just like always.
Drinkin' Sundrop on the front porch of the little country store by the river. Note Forrest is spelled with 2 r's. JAC was kind enough to surrender his seat to Digger for the picture. Hope y'all have had a good time too. I'm here with DJ... and DrWho... Their mom and grandmama... just finished playin' Red Rover and Duck Duck Goose with Jeb and Eli... now we're fixin' to play some Xbox.... sip some whiskey... who knows. Yup... wild times indeed!
On our adventures saturday we came across this ol' damn on the Duck River. We road the old roads that follow it for quite a ways. WellDigger almost kept up with us too!
That's me... lookin' down on JAC... just like always.
Drinkin' Sundrop on the front porch of the little country store by the river. Note Forrest is spelled with 2 r's. JAC was kind enough to surrender his seat to Digger for the picture. Hope y'all have had a good time too. I'm here with DJ... and DrWho... Their mom and grandmama... just finished playin' Red Rover and Duck Duck Goose with Jeb and Eli... now we're fixin' to play some Xbox.... sip some whiskey... who knows. Yup... wild times indeed!
Friday, May 26, 2006
Just Enough to Hang Themselves
Americans have a long history of suicide by crisis. Create a big enough crisis and the American populous will bend over take it in their patriotic posterior while singin' Glory Glory Haleujah.
Need to abandon isolationism? Why they sunk the Lusitannia!
Need an income tax? Why the government is broke and this one tiny 1% tax will fix it forever!
Need an excuse to stomp a little Nazi ass? Pearl Harbor!
Need massively increase police powers? We've got to declare war on drugs!
Need even more massively increased police powers? 9/11! We've got a war on Terrorism!
Want a biometric national ID card?
What? Oh... we're not there yet. Sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself. Lets back up. Have you read the Senates immigration bill?
No?
I have. It has some glorious language about a Biometric Identification Card. See... in fantasy land all the illegal immigrants will suddenly decide to obey the law, and as asked, go get Biometric Identification Cards (BICs). These cards of course identify them as illegals... who owe thousands in back taxes and so forth.
of course we don't live in fantasy land. Here in the real world Jose already has a fake Social Security Card.... and since there is no language in the bill requiring SS cards to be verified with the SS Administration... well... we call that a loop hole.
Think it was an accident?
Wrong answer. You need to go brush up on your Machiavelli.
See... We can't have a card just for illegals... it's profiling. It's racist. And besides... there's that loophole we have to close. No no no... the only way to solve the problem is for everyone to have a BIC. That's fair... and it solves the crisis.
This grass fire currently roaring at the sky over illegal immigrants is going to burn its own champions. Oh you want a wall do you? You want papers? Do you know why the caged citizen sings?
I do...
Now bend over. All together now!
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the...
Americans have a long history of suicide by crisis. Create a big enough crisis and the American populous will bend over take it in their patriotic posterior while singin' Glory Glory Haleujah.
Need to abandon isolationism? Why they sunk the Lusitannia!
Need an income tax? Why the government is broke and this one tiny 1% tax will fix it forever!
Need an excuse to stomp a little Nazi ass? Pearl Harbor!
Need massively increase police powers? We've got to declare war on drugs!
Need even more massively increased police powers? 9/11! We've got a war on Terrorism!
Want a biometric national ID card?
What? Oh... we're not there yet. Sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself. Lets back up. Have you read the Senates immigration bill?
No?
I have. It has some glorious language about a Biometric Identification Card. See... in fantasy land all the illegal immigrants will suddenly decide to obey the law, and as asked, go get Biometric Identification Cards (BICs). These cards of course identify them as illegals... who owe thousands in back taxes and so forth.
of course we don't live in fantasy land. Here in the real world Jose already has a fake Social Security Card.... and since there is no language in the bill requiring SS cards to be verified with the SS Administration... well... we call that a loop hole.
Think it was an accident?
Wrong answer. You need to go brush up on your Machiavelli.
See... We can't have a card just for illegals... it's profiling. It's racist. And besides... there's that loophole we have to close. No no no... the only way to solve the problem is for everyone to have a BIC. That's fair... and it solves the crisis.
This grass fire currently roaring at the sky over illegal immigrants is going to burn its own champions. Oh you want a wall do you? You want papers? Do you know why the caged citizen sings?
I do...
Now bend over. All together now!
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the...
Monday, May 22, 2006
Friday, May 19, 2006
ATF
First the badnews. I searched hard... but sadly I couldn't find any of the requested bourbons. Ok... not true... I found Old Charter and George Dickle (not bourbon though, its made in Tennessee) but I just couldn't make myself pull the trigger. I've had both and found them vile. I don't remember specificly why they were vile... one doesn't linger on torment, nor formulate opinions on some fresh hell. Torment simply is.
Fear not. I shall endevour to find these items. It will have to be a longterm project instead of a quick fix I'm afraid.
But enough of that. On to the tasting. And what have we tonight? Well... I decided to limit myself to two new purchases. 1 bourbon and one fine Tennessee whiskey. In this particular state rivalry we have:
Wild Turkey Russel's Reserve, 10 years old. 101 proof
And the challenger?
Jack Daniels 1954 Gold Medal, 90 proof, age unkown. Usually 6 to 8 years.
Method: not to get to hoity toity here... I'm keeping it simple. A shot of cold distilled water... then an ounce of whiskey. That's it. Nothing complicated here. No cutting. Straight from the bottle.
Tenneessee: In the bottle the Jack is lighter than the serious amber of the Russell's. The Jack has an initial punch that's a little harsh. It's clear though. Bright. I've had a sore throat all week, and I just knew the Jack was gonna kill me... but it was smooth. A hint of a bite at the start... but that's it. Good stuff. It tastes like... well... whiskey. I dare say that if someone just wanted to know what whiskey tastes like... this is what I might describe. It's warm.. borderline hot... but smooth. There is no tanis. There is not even a hint of bitterness. Its not sweet candy like I normally drink... its more smoke and less caramel. But its good. There is a place for this in my vice cabinet. It finishes far smoother than the Turkey. I didn't expect to write that.
Quick shot of ice cold distilled water... ahhh... Look y'all... while I'm here.. let me just say... go buy a gallon of distilled water. I'll put it up against any spring or filtered water you can find. but back to the booze.
Kentucky: oh Russell... bourbon like this... they shouldn't put a man's name on it. It makes one feel quite uncomfortable when he's lavishing praise and declaring his unending devotion. Sweet sweet caramel goodness... it's like an alchoholic twix bar. The bite of Russells comes later than the Jack... and it may hit harder. It's not just the higher proof. Something else. Even still... this is complex goodness. The timing of the bite is largely insignificant because by that time you're already licking your lips enjoying the finest aftertaste known to man. The greatest thing about Bourbon... you don't really taste it until about 10 seconds after you swallow.
The verdict?
This was really over before it began and anyone who reads the blog should know that... But honestly the Jack was better than I thought it would be. Much better.
In the end... I'll sum up like this... either recommend or not recommend...
I recommend both.
Often.
Kentucky:
First the badnews. I searched hard... but sadly I couldn't find any of the requested bourbons. Ok... not true... I found Old Charter and George Dickle (not bourbon though, its made in Tennessee) but I just couldn't make myself pull the trigger. I've had both and found them vile. I don't remember specificly why they were vile... one doesn't linger on torment, nor formulate opinions on some fresh hell. Torment simply is.
Fear not. I shall endevour to find these items. It will have to be a longterm project instead of a quick fix I'm afraid.
But enough of that. On to the tasting. And what have we tonight? Well... I decided to limit myself to two new purchases. 1 bourbon and one fine Tennessee whiskey. In this particular state rivalry we have:
Wild Turkey Russel's Reserve, 10 years old. 101 proof
And the challenger?
Jack Daniels 1954 Gold Medal, 90 proof, age unkown. Usually 6 to 8 years.
Method: not to get to hoity toity here... I'm keeping it simple. A shot of cold distilled water... then an ounce of whiskey. That's it. Nothing complicated here. No cutting. Straight from the bottle.
Tenneessee: In the bottle the Jack is lighter than the serious amber of the Russell's. The Jack has an initial punch that's a little harsh. It's clear though. Bright. I've had a sore throat all week, and I just knew the Jack was gonna kill me... but it was smooth. A hint of a bite at the start... but that's it. Good stuff. It tastes like... well... whiskey. I dare say that if someone just wanted to know what whiskey tastes like... this is what I might describe. It's warm.. borderline hot... but smooth. There is no tanis. There is not even a hint of bitterness. Its not sweet candy like I normally drink... its more smoke and less caramel. But its good. There is a place for this in my vice cabinet. It finishes far smoother than the Turkey. I didn't expect to write that.
Quick shot of ice cold distilled water... ahhh... Look y'all... while I'm here.. let me just say... go buy a gallon of distilled water. I'll put it up against any spring or filtered water you can find. but back to the booze.
Kentucky: oh Russell... bourbon like this... they shouldn't put a man's name on it. It makes one feel quite uncomfortable when he's lavishing praise and declaring his unending devotion. Sweet sweet caramel goodness... it's like an alchoholic twix bar. The bite of Russells comes later than the Jack... and it may hit harder. It's not just the higher proof. Something else. Even still... this is complex goodness. The timing of the bite is largely insignificant because by that time you're already licking your lips enjoying the finest aftertaste known to man. The greatest thing about Bourbon... you don't really taste it until about 10 seconds after you swallow.
The verdict?
This was really over before it began and anyone who reads the blog should know that... But honestly the Jack was better than I thought it would be. Much better.
In the end... I'll sum up like this... either recommend or not recommend...
I recommend both.
Often.
Kentucky:
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Takin' Requests
ol' Res shot me an email and asked if I could hit some of the less common bourbons and offer some suggestions and notes and such. Now... I am a little wary of this... since I already went tried that swill Jim Beam Black. I already took one for the team. Now I'm bein' asked to hop once more into the barrel. Well... I reckon I can oblige. Even bad bourbon is ok in Coke.
So anyway... if you've been wonderin' about a batch and you'd like some info... comment here. I'll make a list and do some samplin' for ya.
ol' Res shot me an email and asked if I could hit some of the less common bourbons and offer some suggestions and notes and such. Now... I am a little wary of this... since I already went tried that swill Jim Beam Black. I already took one for the team. Now I'm bein' asked to hop once more into the barrel. Well... I reckon I can oblige. Even bad bourbon is ok in Coke.
So anyway... if you've been wonderin' about a batch and you'd like some info... comment here. I'll make a list and do some samplin' for ya.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
I Hate Republicans
Man I hope your kid doesn't sick in the middle of the night. Because if he does... you're screwed. Oh didn't you hear?
It seems that now, all items containing psuedafedrin must be moved behind the pharmacy counter. And therefore, if the pharmacy counter is closed... and you need say... infant tylenol plus cough.. or virtually any other children's medicine... you and your kid are screwed.
In order to purchase the stuff you have to go to the pharmacy, show your ID and have them enter you into their database. I was told by the pharmasist tonight (Walmart's pharmacy was closed but the kindly woman opened it to help me) that how much you buy and how often is strictly monitored. Apparently this is an attempt to crack down on meth production, which requires pseudefedrin.
Oh.. and the bill that requires this?
The Patriot Act.
Isn't that just f'ing lovely? A bunch of ragheads kill a bunch of yankees... and now I have to waste 45 minutes to buy my kid's cold medicine. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
Piss on you and your war on drugs. I don't give a damn who's making meth. Fact is if there was no war on drugs these pissant meth houses wouldn't exist. People would be buying different drugs at legal dealers like pharmacies and there would be no crime involved.
I hate the democrats... I hate them more than I hate the republicans... but thankfully Hate is not a zero sum game. There is plenty to go around.
I really want to leave this country.... really. I love Tennessee... but America is suffocating. Hrm... wonder what American trained anesthesiologits make in Belize...
Man I hope your kid doesn't sick in the middle of the night. Because if he does... you're screwed. Oh didn't you hear?
It seems that now, all items containing psuedafedrin must be moved behind the pharmacy counter. And therefore, if the pharmacy counter is closed... and you need say... infant tylenol plus cough.. or virtually any other children's medicine... you and your kid are screwed.
In order to purchase the stuff you have to go to the pharmacy, show your ID and have them enter you into their database. I was told by the pharmasist tonight (Walmart's pharmacy was closed but the kindly woman opened it to help me) that how much you buy and how often is strictly monitored. Apparently this is an attempt to crack down on meth production, which requires pseudefedrin.
Oh.. and the bill that requires this?
The Patriot Act.
Isn't that just f'ing lovely? A bunch of ragheads kill a bunch of yankees... and now I have to waste 45 minutes to buy my kid's cold medicine. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
Piss on you and your war on drugs. I don't give a damn who's making meth. Fact is if there was no war on drugs these pissant meth houses wouldn't exist. People would be buying different drugs at legal dealers like pharmacies and there would be no crime involved.
I hate the democrats... I hate them more than I hate the republicans... but thankfully Hate is not a zero sum game. There is plenty to go around.
I really want to leave this country.... really. I love Tennessee... but America is suffocating. Hrm... wonder what American trained anesthesiologits make in Belize...
No Chit
I mentioned the Templars invented the credit card a few days ago. I thought, for those who may be interested I'd explain exactly how it worked.
Calling a credit card may be a little misleading. It was actually more like a debit card. Pilgrims would make a deposit with a local templar, who would then code the amount onto a chit. At all the stops along the way... Inns... holy places... merchants of all forms... the Pilgrims could purchace or donate without cash. They would see the templars who would read their chit, make the relevant subtractions, and recode the chit. When the pilgrim returned home he would take his chit to the local templar who would read the final code, and if there was any money left over, it would be given in cash to the pilgrim. If the pilgrim had overspent, he would be billed.
Note that the Templars never charged interest. This was considered illegal for church bodies. Ursery it was called. The Templars got around this by instead charging service fees and rent.
See? Just a bunch of illiterate warriors.
I mentioned the Templars invented the credit card a few days ago. I thought, for those who may be interested I'd explain exactly how it worked.
Calling a credit card may be a little misleading. It was actually more like a debit card. Pilgrims would make a deposit with a local templar, who would then code the amount onto a chit. At all the stops along the way... Inns... holy places... merchants of all forms... the Pilgrims could purchace or donate without cash. They would see the templars who would read their chit, make the relevant subtractions, and recode the chit. When the pilgrim returned home he would take his chit to the local templar who would read the final code, and if there was any money left over, it would be given in cash to the pilgrim. If the pilgrim had overspent, he would be billed.
Note that the Templars never charged interest. This was considered illegal for church bodies. Ursery it was called. The Templars got around this by instead charging service fees and rent.
See? Just a bunch of illiterate warriors.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Biblical Polygamy
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1. "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6. "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7. "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9. " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10. "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11. "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12. "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
For the record, that's in red letters in lots of Bibles.
Deuteronomy 21:15
15 If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, 16 when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love. 17 He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father's strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
And... for you Adam and Eve types out there... who love the "One Flesh" arguement... Please recall... Genesis was written by Moses. Moses who had two wives, both of whom he was one flesh with.( Exodus 2:21, and Numbers 12:1) Moses was married to both Zipporah and the ethiopian woman.
So... I figured I'd kick the dead horse once more... I swear I saw it twitch.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1. "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6. "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7. "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9. " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10. "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11. "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12. "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
For the record, that's in red letters in lots of Bibles.
Deuteronomy 21:15
15 If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, 16 when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love. 17 He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father's strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
And... for you Adam and Eve types out there... who love the "One Flesh" arguement... Please recall... Genesis was written by Moses. Moses who had two wives, both of whom he was one flesh with.( Exodus 2:21, and Numbers 12:1) Moses was married to both Zipporah and the ethiopian woman.
So... I figured I'd kick the dead horse once more... I swear I saw it twitch.
Monday, May 15, 2006
The Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon
It seems if there is one topic I've researched almost as much as the War for Southern Independence, it is the strange history of Knights Templar. Call it coincidence. Both happen to be topics of vast and widespread ignorance.
When one first begins to research the Knights he will learn that the standard historian knows that they were nothing more than illiterate warriors, funded by, and strengthed by the Roman Catholic Church. Sadly... that's where it ends.
But if you dig a little further...
The Order was formed by what amounts to one large extended family, though the connections were in part convoluted. Their stated purpose was to protect pilgrims on their journey to the Holy Land. Many historians would tell you this is what they did. The recorded actions of the knights make this an unrealistic scenario... as they did not patrol the dangerous roads of the Holy Land to protect the pilgrims, but spent nine years in the dangerous and demanding task of excavating and mining a series of tunnels under their quarters on the Temple Mount. These arduous tasks were completed with the patronage and support of the King of Jerusalem.
Lieutenant Warren of the Royal Engineers re-excavated the tunnels mined by the Templars in 1867 . The access tunnel descends some eighty feet through solid rock before radiating in a series of minor tunnels horizontally under the site of the ancient temple itself. Lieutenant Warren failed to find the hidden treasure of the Temple of Jerusalem, but in the tunnels where the Templars laboured so... they found a spur, remnants of a lance, a small Templar cross and the major part of a Templar sword. Templar archivist for Scotland, Robert Brydon of Edinburgh now preserves these artifacts are for posterity. Interestingly, he also has a letter from a certain Captain Parker who took part in Warren's excavation under the Temple and several subsequent ones. Parker wrote to Robert's grandfather in 1912 and told of how on one of these expeditions he had discovered a secret room carved in the solid rock beneath the temple site with a passage leading from it to the Mosque of Omar. Parker apparently broke through one to many walls and found himself in the Temple itself. One can imagine the devout, and no doubt angry mob of muslims looking rather shocked. One can also imagine one Captain Parker shouting "Run Away!" as he fled like Brave Sir Robbin himself.
Lets face it... no post on the Templars is complete without at least one Python reference.
But what were the Templars looking for? For the answer we see the carvings on the Temple itself, which depict the Arc of the Covenant being buried beneath it. Or perhaps, this is the part in the tale when I should bring up the Dead Seas Scrolls. The Copper Scroll to be specific, which is, as much as the Knights themselves, an enigma. The scroll depicts items cherished by the Jews... both Holy and Profane, buried in various tombs. Excavation of these tombs has been largely completed... and as of yet none of the artifacts, described as The Treasure of Jeruselum, have been found. What has been found, in many of the sites is evidence of 12th century Templar excavation. The Templars were there first you see. But how did they know where to dig?
The accomplishments of the Templars goes far beyond legends about Grails and Arcs though. The Knights Templar invented the Credit Card. They were the worlds first international bankers. They funded the construction boom of the mideval age. They had the greatest fleet in the world at the time. They brought Gothic Architecture... Mouth to Mouth Resusitation, which had been practiced in the middle east for centuries (read Kings II)... countless wonders.
And they disappeared almost as fast as they formed. One friday they went from being one of the most powerful forces in all the world... to nothing.
And friends... when everyone from the Kingdom of France, to the Holy Roman Church owes you money... well... charges of heresy are nice and convienent... but the coffers need remain full. And who cares if a bunch of satan worshiping heretics get stiffed out of some money?
Were the Templars innocent of Heresy?
Don't ask me. I suggest you speak to the Pope. The Pope who cleared them... after years of investigation. The Church formally apologized. Yet still... the legend remains.
Oh... that day... that day they came for the Templars... you know what day that wasy right?
Friday the 13th... a cursed day ever since. At least... if you believe the legends.
It seems if there is one topic I've researched almost as much as the War for Southern Independence, it is the strange history of Knights Templar. Call it coincidence. Both happen to be topics of vast and widespread ignorance.
When one first begins to research the Knights he will learn that the standard historian knows that they were nothing more than illiterate warriors, funded by, and strengthed by the Roman Catholic Church. Sadly... that's where it ends.
But if you dig a little further...
The Order was formed by what amounts to one large extended family, though the connections were in part convoluted. Their stated purpose was to protect pilgrims on their journey to the Holy Land. Many historians would tell you this is what they did. The recorded actions of the knights make this an unrealistic scenario... as they did not patrol the dangerous roads of the Holy Land to protect the pilgrims, but spent nine years in the dangerous and demanding task of excavating and mining a series of tunnels under their quarters on the Temple Mount. These arduous tasks were completed with the patronage and support of the King of Jerusalem.
Lieutenant Warren of the Royal Engineers re-excavated the tunnels mined by the Templars in 1867 . The access tunnel descends some eighty feet through solid rock before radiating in a series of minor tunnels horizontally under the site of the ancient temple itself. Lieutenant Warren failed to find the hidden treasure of the Temple of Jerusalem, but in the tunnels where the Templars laboured so... they found a spur, remnants of a lance, a small Templar cross and the major part of a Templar sword. Templar archivist for Scotland, Robert Brydon of Edinburgh now preserves these artifacts are for posterity. Interestingly, he also has a letter from a certain Captain Parker who took part in Warren's excavation under the Temple and several subsequent ones. Parker wrote to Robert's grandfather in 1912 and told of how on one of these expeditions he had discovered a secret room carved in the solid rock beneath the temple site with a passage leading from it to the Mosque of Omar. Parker apparently broke through one to many walls and found himself in the Temple itself. One can imagine the devout, and no doubt angry mob of muslims looking rather shocked. One can also imagine one Captain Parker shouting "Run Away!" as he fled like Brave Sir Robbin himself.
Lets face it... no post on the Templars is complete without at least one Python reference.
But what were the Templars looking for? For the answer we see the carvings on the Temple itself, which depict the Arc of the Covenant being buried beneath it. Or perhaps, this is the part in the tale when I should bring up the Dead Seas Scrolls. The Copper Scroll to be specific, which is, as much as the Knights themselves, an enigma. The scroll depicts items cherished by the Jews... both Holy and Profane, buried in various tombs. Excavation of these tombs has been largely completed... and as of yet none of the artifacts, described as The Treasure of Jeruselum, have been found. What has been found, in many of the sites is evidence of 12th century Templar excavation. The Templars were there first you see. But how did they know where to dig?
The accomplishments of the Templars goes far beyond legends about Grails and Arcs though. The Knights Templar invented the Credit Card. They were the worlds first international bankers. They funded the construction boom of the mideval age. They had the greatest fleet in the world at the time. They brought Gothic Architecture... Mouth to Mouth Resusitation, which had been practiced in the middle east for centuries (read Kings II)... countless wonders.
And they disappeared almost as fast as they formed. One friday they went from being one of the most powerful forces in all the world... to nothing.
And friends... when everyone from the Kingdom of France, to the Holy Roman Church owes you money... well... charges of heresy are nice and convienent... but the coffers need remain full. And who cares if a bunch of satan worshiping heretics get stiffed out of some money?
Were the Templars innocent of Heresy?
Don't ask me. I suggest you speak to the Pope. The Pope who cleared them... after years of investigation. The Church formally apologized. Yet still... the legend remains.
Oh... that day... that day they came for the Templars... you know what day that wasy right?
Friday the 13th... a cursed day ever since. At least... if you believe the legends.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
A Humble Suggestion For Securing the Southern Border
Let the Bodies Hit the Floor
Broadband warning. Don't forget to push "play". Volume up!
Let the Bodies Hit the Floor
Broadband warning. Don't forget to push "play". Volume up!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
The Defacto Gold Standard, Commodities Vigilantes, and Meaningless All-Time Highs
As the DIJ prepares to revisit the stratisphere we shall hear proclamations of victory and glorious boasts. Hyperbole will run amock.
A word of caution.
Since its 1999 peak of 42.5 ounces, the DIJ has lost 60% of its value to gold. The apple's been cut into a 11,000 slices, and if you took all the remaining pieces and put them back together, you'd find the apple was less than half the size it was before. See where I'm going with this?
The apple metaphor is way of explaining what happens when bankers print more and more and more money. Which is happening, and has always happened. The trouble is, over the last six years asian central bankers, european central bankers and the US central bankers have been printing money faster than they ever have before, and all at the same time.
The Euro zone's M3 money supply is 8.6% higher from a year ago, and the UK's M4 is 12.2% higher. China's M2 money measure is 18.8% higher. The US M3 is off the charts. Greenspan inflated the M3 money supply by 72% or, $4.3 trillion over six years to a record $10.27 trillion, then, out of sheer shame, decided to stop publishing the M3 measure on March 24th, 2006.
With everyone printing money lunatics just loosed from the asylum, commodities traders have had to look somewhere else to find an accurate measure of worth. Dollars and Euros are just to unstable. Gold works nicely.
Increasingly we find commodities traders using gold as the measuring stick. Any time the central banks try to pump up equity or housing markets they are confronted by higher gold prices. What we're seeing is gold becoming more and more accepted among global traders as the preferred measure for valuing exchange traded assets.
At some point, this becomes a de-facto gold standard, where commodities vigilantes can jackup long term bond yields on short notice... almost at will... maybe as much as .5%. Basicly taking the central bankers over thier knee and giving them a well deserved whippin'. There is awesome power in the hands of the traders if they choose to excercize it. They could eventually force the central bankers to decrease the money supply in real terms.
Can't happen you say?
Already has happened says I. It happened throughout the 1980's and early 1990's.
Gold broke $720 today. If nothing else made any sense. If this whole post went over your head... just take this from it... Just a few years ago gold was $210 bucks per ounce. $1000 in gold back then (approximately 5oz) would be over $3,600 today.
That's called investing.
As the DIJ prepares to revisit the stratisphere we shall hear proclamations of victory and glorious boasts. Hyperbole will run amock.
A word of caution.
Since its 1999 peak of 42.5 ounces, the DIJ has lost 60% of its value to gold. The apple's been cut into a 11,000 slices, and if you took all the remaining pieces and put them back together, you'd find the apple was less than half the size it was before. See where I'm going with this?
The apple metaphor is way of explaining what happens when bankers print more and more and more money. Which is happening, and has always happened. The trouble is, over the last six years asian central bankers, european central bankers and the US central bankers have been printing money faster than they ever have before, and all at the same time.
The Euro zone's M3 money supply is 8.6% higher from a year ago, and the UK's M4 is 12.2% higher. China's M2 money measure is 18.8% higher. The US M3 is off the charts. Greenspan inflated the M3 money supply by 72% or, $4.3 trillion over six years to a record $10.27 trillion, then, out of sheer shame, decided to stop publishing the M3 measure on March 24th, 2006.
With everyone printing money lunatics just loosed from the asylum, commodities traders have had to look somewhere else to find an accurate measure of worth. Dollars and Euros are just to unstable. Gold works nicely.
Increasingly we find commodities traders using gold as the measuring stick. Any time the central banks try to pump up equity or housing markets they are confronted by higher gold prices. What we're seeing is gold becoming more and more accepted among global traders as the preferred measure for valuing exchange traded assets.
At some point, this becomes a de-facto gold standard, where commodities vigilantes can jackup long term bond yields on short notice... almost at will... maybe as much as .5%. Basicly taking the central bankers over thier knee and giving them a well deserved whippin'. There is awesome power in the hands of the traders if they choose to excercize it. They could eventually force the central bankers to decrease the money supply in real terms.
Can't happen you say?
Already has happened says I. It happened throughout the 1980's and early 1990's.
Gold broke $720 today. If nothing else made any sense. If this whole post went over your head... just take this from it... Just a few years ago gold was $210 bucks per ounce. $1000 in gold back then (approximately 5oz) would be over $3,600 today.
That's called investing.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
True Pirate Tales: Black Beard
The infamous captain... King of the Pirates... was named... of all things... Teach. Edward Teach. He was made captain of a large French guinneman... on which he mounted 40 guns. He named her the Queen Anne's Revenge... and they would terrorize the south atlantic like no other ship in history.
Of Blackbeard's most famous exploits.. the siege of Charleston has to be the most impressive. The pirate anchored just off the bar... and proceded to take every ship that happened to come by. Now this was a bit of a problem, as effectively... this was a blockade. Eventually 8 vessels found themselves ready to sail, but trapped in the harbor. Outrunning or out-gunning the Queen Anne's Revenge just wasn't an option.
Blackbeard's Flag
In great show of bravado... and well... balls of steel... the pirates actually made demands, in person, to the governor of the province of Carolina. Oddly, even though he had a vast city in the palm of his hand... one that he could crush at anytime... he only asked for medicine for his men. While the government deliberated on the ransom, the pirates actually walked the streets of Charleston. Flaunting themselves. The government eventually capitulated, sending several chests of medicine. After that, Blackbeard simply freed his prisoners and captured ships, and went on about his way.
Its often said that the government doesn't negotiate with terrorists. It seems however, at least historicly, when one of the government's own has been taken prisoner... they seem to be a little more cooperative. Though I suppose having the capability to destroy an entire city may help as well.
The infamous captain... King of the Pirates... was named... of all things... Teach. Edward Teach. He was made captain of a large French guinneman... on which he mounted 40 guns. He named her the Queen Anne's Revenge... and they would terrorize the south atlantic like no other ship in history.
Of Blackbeard's most famous exploits.. the siege of Charleston has to be the most impressive. The pirate anchored just off the bar... and proceded to take every ship that happened to come by. Now this was a bit of a problem, as effectively... this was a blockade. Eventually 8 vessels found themselves ready to sail, but trapped in the harbor. Outrunning or out-gunning the Queen Anne's Revenge just wasn't an option.
Blackbeard's Flag
In great show of bravado... and well... balls of steel... the pirates actually made demands, in person, to the governor of the province of Carolina. Oddly, even though he had a vast city in the palm of his hand... one that he could crush at anytime... he only asked for medicine for his men. While the government deliberated on the ransom, the pirates actually walked the streets of Charleston. Flaunting themselves. The government eventually capitulated, sending several chests of medicine. After that, Blackbeard simply freed his prisoners and captured ships, and went on about his way.
Its often said that the government doesn't negotiate with terrorists. It seems however, at least historicly, when one of the government's own has been taken prisoner... they seem to be a little more cooperative. Though I suppose having the capability to destroy an entire city may help as well.
Monday, May 08, 2006
No Accounting For Taste
Waterboy comments: Res, I checked out a new single malt this weekend, Isle of Jura. Very good, light and smooth. I'll hold some in reserve
I nearly pissed myself when I read this. See... you must understand. Isle of Jura is perhaps the worst beverage of any form ever produced at any time by any one. The folks at Dupont have nothing that tastes this bad.
Long long ago when I was young and ignorant of many things, I purchased a bottle of the swill. The bottle became a lingering trophy to my own foolishness. It was like a curse. Lots of folks would sample it... but no one would take more than a sip.... and all who did so regretted it. I tried for years to give the shit away. No one would take it. If I recall correctly... I purchased the hated bottle in 1996. We sipped from it at my Bachelor's Party... and we regretted it. JAC turned green.
The nearly full bottle followed me to Memphrica... then to Knoxville... and then to Morgantown. In all those travels... all of the would be scotch lovers that I encoutered... all had nothing but curses to say about the vile Isle of Jura.
The curse was finally cured though... I stuffed it in a bag with a bunch of other half gone liquors collected through the years and gave it to the mexicans that moved us.
But ya know... the other day... I could've sworn I saw a familiar looking bottle of Isle of Jura Scotch laying by the side of the highway 96... right where those mexican's would've gone.
It was still mostly full.
Waterboy comments: Res, I checked out a new single malt this weekend, Isle of Jura. Very good, light and smooth. I'll hold some in reserve
I nearly pissed myself when I read this. See... you must understand. Isle of Jura is perhaps the worst beverage of any form ever produced at any time by any one. The folks at Dupont have nothing that tastes this bad.
Long long ago when I was young and ignorant of many things, I purchased a bottle of the swill. The bottle became a lingering trophy to my own foolishness. It was like a curse. Lots of folks would sample it... but no one would take more than a sip.... and all who did so regretted it. I tried for years to give the shit away. No one would take it. If I recall correctly... I purchased the hated bottle in 1996. We sipped from it at my Bachelor's Party... and we regretted it. JAC turned green.
The nearly full bottle followed me to Memphrica... then to Knoxville... and then to Morgantown. In all those travels... all of the would be scotch lovers that I encoutered... all had nothing but curses to say about the vile Isle of Jura.
The curse was finally cured though... I stuffed it in a bag with a bunch of other half gone liquors collected through the years and gave it to the mexicans that moved us.
But ya know... the other day... I could've sworn I saw a familiar looking bottle of Isle of Jura Scotch laying by the side of the highway 96... right where those mexican's would've gone.
It was still mostly full.
Ammo
A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity.--- Sigmond Freud
The world is filled with violence. Because criminals carry guns, we decent law-abiding citizens should also have guns. Otherwise they will win and the decent people will loose.--- James Earl Jones
There is no doubt in my mind that millions of lives could have been saved if the people had not been "brainwashed" about gun ownership and they had been well armed. Hitler's thugs and goons were not very brave when confronted by a gun. Gun haters always want to forget the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, which is a perfect example of how a ragtag, half starved group of Jews took up 10 handguns and made asses out of the Nazi's. — Theodore Haas, former prisoner of the infamous Dachau prisoner concentration camp
A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie. — VLADIMIR ILYICH LENIN
You are bound to meet misfortune if you are unarmed because, among other reasons, people despise you....There is simply no comparison between a man who is armed and one who is not. It is unreasonable to expect that an armed man should obey one who is unarmed, or that an unarmed man should remain safe and secure when his servants are armed. In the latter case, there will be suspicion on the one hand and contempt on the other, making cooperation impossible. — Niccolo Machiavelli in "The Prince."
A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity.--- Sigmond Freud
The world is filled with violence. Because criminals carry guns, we decent law-abiding citizens should also have guns. Otherwise they will win and the decent people will loose.--- James Earl Jones
There is no doubt in my mind that millions of lives could have been saved if the people had not been "brainwashed" about gun ownership and they had been well armed. Hitler's thugs and goons were not very brave when confronted by a gun. Gun haters always want to forget the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, which is a perfect example of how a ragtag, half starved group of Jews took up 10 handguns and made asses out of the Nazi's. — Theodore Haas, former prisoner of the infamous Dachau prisoner concentration camp
A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie. — VLADIMIR ILYICH LENIN
You are bound to meet misfortune if you are unarmed because, among other reasons, people despise you....There is simply no comparison between a man who is armed and one who is not. It is unreasonable to expect that an armed man should obey one who is unarmed, or that an unarmed man should remain safe and secure when his servants are armed. In the latter case, there will be suspicion on the one hand and contempt on the other, making cooperation impossible. — Niccolo Machiavelli in "The Prince."
Problem Solving
It was like Deja Vu all over again. We like to wind down with Eli before we put him to bed. Usually we'll all sit in the floor of his room and play with some colored shapes he has. You know the kind. There is a plastic box with variously shaped holes in the top, and there are plastic shapes that kids are supposed to put through the holes. Theoreticly that have to match the shapes to get them to fit. I don't work that way though... My brothers don't work that way... and my sons apparently don't work that way either.
Maybe there are kids out there who take the time to match up the shapes... not mine.
It was just me and Eli... He was tired and cranky... but he did want to play. So I got out the blocks and off we went. Just like his big brother did 2 years ago... he tried to put a square in a triangle hole. Then he looked at me. Then he looked at the box. Then he took the box apart and put the shapes in 2 at a time.
He was standin' up... bending over and droppin' the shapes in... and I guess he leaned over to far. He fell forward face first into the box.
It was like deva vu all over again.
He growled... and unleashed a furious combo of punches on the unsuspecting toy. He picked it up and threw it across the room and proceeded to send shapes in all directions as well. The he stood up... and surveyed the carnage. Well pleased with his revenge... he went over and got his bed time book and brought it to me to read.
The boys remind me of... well... my brothers and I. I know all you 80's kids had rubix cubes. I think I fooled with that thing for about 5 minutes before I jammed a flat-head screwdriver into it and popped it apart. JAC and Welldigger were the same way.
This kind of thinking gets you trouble though. Believe me. Teachers hate it. College professors hate it. Entrepeneurs love it... but the bureacracy they produce despizes it. The big companies claim to want it... but its just talk. In practice they beat it out of their people as fast as possible.
Organized society sees this sort of thing as Cancer. It's dangerous. It demonstrates an unwillingness to play the game... even a disrespect for the game.
It was like Deja Vu all over again. We like to wind down with Eli before we put him to bed. Usually we'll all sit in the floor of his room and play with some colored shapes he has. You know the kind. There is a plastic box with variously shaped holes in the top, and there are plastic shapes that kids are supposed to put through the holes. Theoreticly that have to match the shapes to get them to fit. I don't work that way though... My brothers don't work that way... and my sons apparently don't work that way either.
Maybe there are kids out there who take the time to match up the shapes... not mine.
It was just me and Eli... He was tired and cranky... but he did want to play. So I got out the blocks and off we went. Just like his big brother did 2 years ago... he tried to put a square in a triangle hole. Then he looked at me. Then he looked at the box. Then he took the box apart and put the shapes in 2 at a time.
He was standin' up... bending over and droppin' the shapes in... and I guess he leaned over to far. He fell forward face first into the box.
It was like deva vu all over again.
He growled... and unleashed a furious combo of punches on the unsuspecting toy. He picked it up and threw it across the room and proceeded to send shapes in all directions as well. The he stood up... and surveyed the carnage. Well pleased with his revenge... he went over and got his bed time book and brought it to me to read.
The boys remind me of... well... my brothers and I. I know all you 80's kids had rubix cubes. I think I fooled with that thing for about 5 minutes before I jammed a flat-head screwdriver into it and popped it apart. JAC and Welldigger were the same way.
This kind of thinking gets you trouble though. Believe me. Teachers hate it. College professors hate it. Entrepeneurs love it... but the bureacracy they produce despizes it. The big companies claim to want it... but its just talk. In practice they beat it out of their people as fast as possible.
Organized society sees this sort of thing as Cancer. It's dangerous. It demonstrates an unwillingness to play the game... even a disrespect for the game.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Derby Prediction
Y'all know I love horse racin' and I love the Derby most of all. So how does it look this year?
Lawyer Ron and Barbaro are the best horses in the field. They are workin' the best this week to. The best horse don't always win the Derby though. Most of these horses have been racing in 5 and 6 horse fields, and hardly any of them have run a mile and a quarter.
Experience could be an issue... this is a 20 horse field. The favorite, Brother Derek, hasn't raced against 20 horses in his last three starts combined. On the other side... You have Barbaro who loves the big crowds.
When I look over this field I see the a really intriguing race. Every horse has a plus, and ever horse has a flaw. How to call it?
If you like to go with the Best Horse... better go with Brother Derek. I don't see it though.
If you like the late closers... I would point you to AP Warrior, who almost destroyed Brother Derek at a mile and a sixteenth... or Steppenwolfer who's a late late breaker, and who's been running down Lawyer Ron all over Arkansas. The extra distance could be just what they need.
If you're a speed guy its hard to pick against Baffert's Sinister Minister. He has the best speed numbers in the field. Some will say there is to much speed here for him to win... but they said the same thing about War Emblem.
Me?
I like big, strong, ballsy horses. I don't like this little half bird things they are breedin' now. Barbaro stands like a princes and walks like a whore. He's big... he's got a real bad attitude and the racing snobs have blown him off. Oh... and he's 5 for 5. He's never lost. Now... he is coming off a long layoff... but with his fight, and the way he loves to put on a show for a big crowd, I expect him to throw some smoke.
1. Barbaro
2. A.P. Warrior
3. Sweetnorthersaint
But... this is the Derby. Don't be suprised to be suprised.
Y'all know I love horse racin' and I love the Derby most of all. So how does it look this year?
Lawyer Ron and Barbaro are the best horses in the field. They are workin' the best this week to. The best horse don't always win the Derby though. Most of these horses have been racing in 5 and 6 horse fields, and hardly any of them have run a mile and a quarter.
Experience could be an issue... this is a 20 horse field. The favorite, Brother Derek, hasn't raced against 20 horses in his last three starts combined. On the other side... You have Barbaro who loves the big crowds.
When I look over this field I see the a really intriguing race. Every horse has a plus, and ever horse has a flaw. How to call it?
If you like to go with the Best Horse... better go with Brother Derek. I don't see it though.
If you like the late closers... I would point you to AP Warrior, who almost destroyed Brother Derek at a mile and a sixteenth... or Steppenwolfer who's a late late breaker, and who's been running down Lawyer Ron all over Arkansas. The extra distance could be just what they need.
If you're a speed guy its hard to pick against Baffert's Sinister Minister. He has the best speed numbers in the field. Some will say there is to much speed here for him to win... but they said the same thing about War Emblem.
Me?
I like big, strong, ballsy horses. I don't like this little half bird things they are breedin' now. Barbaro stands like a princes and walks like a whore. He's big... he's got a real bad attitude and the racing snobs have blown him off. Oh... and he's 5 for 5. He's never lost. Now... he is coming off a long layoff... but with his fight, and the way he loves to put on a show for a big crowd, I expect him to throw some smoke.
1. Barbaro
2. A.P. Warrior
3. Sweetnorthersaint
But... this is the Derby. Don't be suprised to be suprised.
Friday, May 05, 2006
AFT
As you can see we've taken ATF to another level. You can barely make out the cigar... a special little Arturo that someone gave me... I have a humidor full of them... stop by some time. I promise to share. And hey... what better accessory for a hot tub and Makers Mark than a baby monitor?
I am a little dejected though... as you can see DrWho herself was violating the number 1 rule of the Red Light District (That's the Tiki Bar's name).
Rule Number 1: No Bikinis in the Hot Tub.
So anyway... its was a long hard day... I spend the better part of it building a raise bed garden for DrWho... 12 railroad ties... 16 foot by 8 foot or so.... two timbers deep. It will take about 11 scoops of dirt to fill it.... so yeah... I'll be back in the hot tub tomarrow night too.
I dunno though... Tomarrow is Old Timers Day here in Dickson. Blue Grass bands... a Liars Contest, and a Ms. Old Timers padgent for women 65 and older. Sounds like some serious fun. I may have to wait on the dirt. We got our tomatos in anyway... and no... we didn't use no yuppy upside down bucket trick. We planted them the way God intended.
In whisky barrels. Whole damned backyard smells like Jack Daniels now.
Anyway... I'm out. I'm sure Spacebunny is somewhere tippin' up a Guiness... and Waterboy is probly sippin' some nasty scotch... and no doubt Vox has something with a damned umberella in it. Thank God JAC and Res can at least be counted on to drink real whisky.
Y'all keep 'em straight... Oh... did I mention I was buyin' a 24/7? .45 if you please.
Thank ya sir... Thank ya very much.
As you can see we've taken ATF to another level. You can barely make out the cigar... a special little Arturo that someone gave me... I have a humidor full of them... stop by some time. I promise to share. And hey... what better accessory for a hot tub and Makers Mark than a baby monitor?
I am a little dejected though... as you can see DrWho herself was violating the number 1 rule of the Red Light District (That's the Tiki Bar's name).
Rule Number 1: No Bikinis in the Hot Tub.
So anyway... its was a long hard day... I spend the better part of it building a raise bed garden for DrWho... 12 railroad ties... 16 foot by 8 foot or so.... two timbers deep. It will take about 11 scoops of dirt to fill it.... so yeah... I'll be back in the hot tub tomarrow night too.
I dunno though... Tomarrow is Old Timers Day here in Dickson. Blue Grass bands... a Liars Contest, and a Ms. Old Timers padgent for women 65 and older. Sounds like some serious fun. I may have to wait on the dirt. We got our tomatos in anyway... and no... we didn't use no yuppy upside down bucket trick. We planted them the way God intended.
In whisky barrels. Whole damned backyard smells like Jack Daniels now.
Anyway... I'm out. I'm sure Spacebunny is somewhere tippin' up a Guiness... and Waterboy is probly sippin' some nasty scotch... and no doubt Vox has something with a damned umberella in it. Thank God JAC and Res can at least be counted on to drink real whisky.
Y'all keep 'em straight... Oh... did I mention I was buyin' a 24/7? .45 if you please.
Thank ya sir... Thank ya very much.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Further Evidence of the Pussification of America
Life in Prison.
We don't even have the balls to kill the unrepentant bastard who helped execute the events of 9/11/2001.
Justice demands his execeution. Men all over the world know this. But America... a nation women has flinched.
Liberals... morons... you believe this will change anything? You believe one Jihadist will be impressed by your mercy?
They see it as weakness. For crying out loud... you people scream about diversity.. don't you know anything about middle-eastern culture? Of course not. You watched something produced in Bollywood once so you think you're diverse.
The man new you didn't have the balls to kill him. He dared you to do it... and you let him live. He made a fool of you in front of the world... and you're bragging about it.
I have no love for a country to scared to administer justice. America deserves to die.
Life in Prison.
We don't even have the balls to kill the unrepentant bastard who helped execute the events of 9/11/2001.
Justice demands his execeution. Men all over the world know this. But America... a nation women has flinched.
Liberals... morons... you believe this will change anything? You believe one Jihadist will be impressed by your mercy?
They see it as weakness. For crying out loud... you people scream about diversity.. don't you know anything about middle-eastern culture? Of course not. You watched something produced in Bollywood once so you think you're diverse.
The man new you didn't have the balls to kill him. He dared you to do it... and you let him live. He made a fool of you in front of the world... and you're bragging about it.
I have no love for a country to scared to administer justice. America deserves to die.
Life in Picture
I thought I'd show you some of the pictures from this week... That white thing is Tildabell, Julie's new lap dog. It's a malteze. She hasn't pissed in the floor yet... so she can stay. Super Dog is the mythical Chocolate lab y'all have heard about. Please notice the dog's impress vertical leap... yeah... I know he missed the frisby. To get a clue as to his size... please look at that last one of him looking down at Tildy and Jeb. Of course up top are the required baby and puppy pictures.
***Insert Awwwww Here***
I thought I'd show you some of the pictures from this week... That white thing is Tildabell, Julie's new lap dog. It's a malteze. She hasn't pissed in the floor yet... so she can stay. Super Dog is the mythical Chocolate lab y'all have heard about. Please notice the dog's impress vertical leap... yeah... I know he missed the frisby. To get a clue as to his size... please look at that last one of him looking down at Tildy and Jeb. Of course up top are the required baby and puppy pictures.
***Insert Awwwww Here***
Things Fall Apart
I find myself aware of America's limitless struggles... her omnipresent and infinitly varied conflicts. This isn't to say that this is particularly new. When ever you look back through the history of America you always find conflict. America has seen them all before.
The race problem in America has existed, perpetually on the verge of explosion, for 200 years now. Each new generation of blacks is described as the generation that won't take it anymore. Farakhan says the same thing that Malcolm X said. The sky is always about to fall.
Immigration seems like a huge never before faced problem to those who think History started in 1960 but to those of us who've read more than text books... well... we know that what's going on with the mexicans ain't really that different than what happened with the Irish. People were just as fired up about immigration in the 20's as they are today... and they were just as fired up about it in 1880 as they are today. The sky is always about to fall.
The market fluctuates.. up and down and up and down... though of course... it's really always down... the Dow is fixing to hit an all time high... think that could be because the dollar's worth less? If I have an apple, and I cut it into 3 slices... then I cut each of those slices in to 3 slices .. I have nine slices. Does that mean I suddenly have 3 apples? Of course not. Same thing with money. The total Dow has a set worth, and that worth is continually being divided by an ever growing number of dollars. We keep cutting the apple into more and more slices... but that doesn't mean the apple is growing. In fact, just like an apple, with each cut, you lose a tiny amount. But where is the bottom? This has been going on for 70+ years... The Sky is always about to fall.
Conflicts.... Abortion. Prohibition. Gun Rights. Taxes. Wellfare. Entitlements. Forgein War. Gay Rights. The list goes on and on and on and its as old as America itself. America is a woman. She craves above all else a crisis.
This woman America is getting more and more in touch with her feminity as well. It cannot be debated that women are gaining real measurable power in the United States. The knee-jerks will proclaim the greatness of this... but we have a name for things that have never been tried before. We call them experiments. I don't know what the outcome will be... and neither does anyone else. All I know is what I've seen so far.
Women crave security and pleasantry. These things don't mix with conflict very well. Women also solve their problems by talking, instead of doing. They don't need to actually solve the problem you see, they just need to feel better about the problem's existence. Maybe in a country of perpetual crisis that will work out well. It will certainly give them something to talk about anyway.
I can't help but think its going to go badly. It could well be my imagination, but it certainly seems to me that as women gain more and more power, the country's crises multiply. That's not to say the women cause such things... but lets face it... when it comes to race relations, talking almost always just makes it worse. It does nothing but inflame. Think about it. Seat belt laws don't keep people from dieing on the highway. They just make people feel better about the problem. Drug laws don't prevent additiction. They just make people feel better about the problem. On and on and on... Government of Mommy, For Mommy, and By Mommy.
And where is Daddy?
Daddy came home from WWII, plopped his ass down on the couch, cracked open a cold beer, turned on the color TV, and we ain't heard from him since.
I find myself aware of America's limitless struggles... her omnipresent and infinitly varied conflicts. This isn't to say that this is particularly new. When ever you look back through the history of America you always find conflict. America has seen them all before.
The race problem in America has existed, perpetually on the verge of explosion, for 200 years now. Each new generation of blacks is described as the generation that won't take it anymore. Farakhan says the same thing that Malcolm X said. The sky is always about to fall.
Immigration seems like a huge never before faced problem to those who think History started in 1960 but to those of us who've read more than text books... well... we know that what's going on with the mexicans ain't really that different than what happened with the Irish. People were just as fired up about immigration in the 20's as they are today... and they were just as fired up about it in 1880 as they are today. The sky is always about to fall.
The market fluctuates.. up and down and up and down... though of course... it's really always down... the Dow is fixing to hit an all time high... think that could be because the dollar's worth less? If I have an apple, and I cut it into 3 slices... then I cut each of those slices in to 3 slices .. I have nine slices. Does that mean I suddenly have 3 apples? Of course not. Same thing with money. The total Dow has a set worth, and that worth is continually being divided by an ever growing number of dollars. We keep cutting the apple into more and more slices... but that doesn't mean the apple is growing. In fact, just like an apple, with each cut, you lose a tiny amount. But where is the bottom? This has been going on for 70+ years... The Sky is always about to fall.
Conflicts.... Abortion. Prohibition. Gun Rights. Taxes. Wellfare. Entitlements. Forgein War. Gay Rights. The list goes on and on and on and its as old as America itself. America is a woman. She craves above all else a crisis.
This woman America is getting more and more in touch with her feminity as well. It cannot be debated that women are gaining real measurable power in the United States. The knee-jerks will proclaim the greatness of this... but we have a name for things that have never been tried before. We call them experiments. I don't know what the outcome will be... and neither does anyone else. All I know is what I've seen so far.
Women crave security and pleasantry. These things don't mix with conflict very well. Women also solve their problems by talking, instead of doing. They don't need to actually solve the problem you see, they just need to feel better about the problem's existence. Maybe in a country of perpetual crisis that will work out well. It will certainly give them something to talk about anyway.
I can't help but think its going to go badly. It could well be my imagination, but it certainly seems to me that as women gain more and more power, the country's crises multiply. That's not to say the women cause such things... but lets face it... when it comes to race relations, talking almost always just makes it worse. It does nothing but inflame. Think about it. Seat belt laws don't keep people from dieing on the highway. They just make people feel better about the problem. Drug laws don't prevent additiction. They just make people feel better about the problem. On and on and on... Government of Mommy, For Mommy, and By Mommy.
And where is Daddy?
Daddy came home from WWII, plopped his ass down on the couch, cracked open a cold beer, turned on the color TV, and we ain't heard from him since.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Strike?
Did I miss something? These people on the news kept talking about some form of protest or strike or something... I didn't notice anything though. Then again... I haven't actually seen a mexican since I moved to Dickson.
How 'bout y'all?
Today was all about showing us how much these illegal bastards matter... any of you inconvienenced? I didn't think so.
Ya know... its a funny thing about a strike... you have to know when to do it, and when not to. If you really do make things happen then a strike ain't a bluff. But if you take more than ya give... well... its best to let sleepin' dogs lie. You don't want to call attention to the fact that folks don't really need ya that much.
Real Estate Agents don't ever go on strike. Neither do lawyers.
Ya know why?
Did I miss something? These people on the news kept talking about some form of protest or strike or something... I didn't notice anything though. Then again... I haven't actually seen a mexican since I moved to Dickson.
How 'bout y'all?
Today was all about showing us how much these illegal bastards matter... any of you inconvienenced? I didn't think so.
Ya know... its a funny thing about a strike... you have to know when to do it, and when not to. If you really do make things happen then a strike ain't a bluff. But if you take more than ya give... well... its best to let sleepin' dogs lie. You don't want to call attention to the fact that folks don't really need ya that much.
Real Estate Agents don't ever go on strike. Neither do lawyers.
Ya know why?
Draft Recap
Ok... so I've finally let the finality of it all hit me... the draft is over. Vince Young is the Titan's Next Big Thing.
I'm not disappointed. It's not that... its just that I liked Jay Cutler a lot better. I felt we could've traded down and added a load of picks and still got an awesome QB. Oh well... we'll see how it goes.
I don't mean to sound disappointed mind you. After all... the Titans landed Vince Young and Lendale White. That's unbelievable to me. Lendale White? In the middle of the second round? Maddness! The Titans had the boy at number 16 overall on their draft board. In-freakin'-sane.
On to the other picks... Mahelona... the big interior lineman from Tennessee... that was a great pick. I love Jesse. Huge.... sick strong... loves the weight room. Can't beat him. He reminds me a lot of Joe Salevea.
Orr... the Wideout from Wisconsin... another unsung kid. Great speed though... he will stretch the field. He's the Titans Tyrone Calico insurance policy.
I wish we'd drafted at least one offensive lineman... but hell... that's pickin' a nit.
So what does this mean for next year?
Sometime in the next 24-hours McNair is either going to be cut or traded. The Titans will officially hand the keys to Billy Volek who will keep the job until Vince Young is ready. Vince probably won't play at all next year... and he may even sit for two years like McNair did. Either way though... The Titans are looking pretty good with their off-season additions. Expect a power running game with Travis Henry and Lendale White getting most of the work. Chris Brown is about done in Tennessee.
Now that I think about it...
Vince Young... Lendale White... Travis Henry...
Ya know... you could put the wishbone in against some of these NFL Defenses and utterly destroy them.
Hrmmm...
Ok... so I've finally let the finality of it all hit me... the draft is over. Vince Young is the Titan's Next Big Thing.
I'm not disappointed. It's not that... its just that I liked Jay Cutler a lot better. I felt we could've traded down and added a load of picks and still got an awesome QB. Oh well... we'll see how it goes.
I don't mean to sound disappointed mind you. After all... the Titans landed Vince Young and Lendale White. That's unbelievable to me. Lendale White? In the middle of the second round? Maddness! The Titans had the boy at number 16 overall on their draft board. In-freakin'-sane.
On to the other picks... Mahelona... the big interior lineman from Tennessee... that was a great pick. I love Jesse. Huge.... sick strong... loves the weight room. Can't beat him. He reminds me a lot of Joe Salevea.
Orr... the Wideout from Wisconsin... another unsung kid. Great speed though... he will stretch the field. He's the Titans Tyrone Calico insurance policy.
I wish we'd drafted at least one offensive lineman... but hell... that's pickin' a nit.
So what does this mean for next year?
Sometime in the next 24-hours McNair is either going to be cut or traded. The Titans will officially hand the keys to Billy Volek who will keep the job until Vince Young is ready. Vince probably won't play at all next year... and he may even sit for two years like McNair did. Either way though... The Titans are looking pretty good with their off-season additions. Expect a power running game with Travis Henry and Lendale White getting most of the work. Chris Brown is about done in Tennessee.
Now that I think about it...
Vince Young... Lendale White... Travis Henry...
Ya know... you could put the wishbone in against some of these NFL Defenses and utterly destroy them.
Hrmmm...
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