Road Trip Report

I know you’ve all been dying to hear the details of my trip. Overall it was good, there were some bumpy moments, but overall I’d give it a 7 out of 10.

The Flight Up

Chris’ girlfriend got us to the airport in plenty of time. The only thing that pissed me off was that security made me throw out new bottles of shampoo, conditioner and my aerosol deodorant (nothing over 3.6 oz.). The flight was only half full, left only 15 minutes late, but arrived on time.

Our arrival was another of those little bumps. There were no signs in the terminal saying drop offs this level pick up that level, so we went out the front doors on the top and waited for my brother, who was circling the lower level. My brother doesn’t have a cell phone, so it was just luck that after about 40 minutes he decided to check the top.

Wonderful Beaverton

Good news here, my Mom was home, so even though she’s pretty much bedridden now, still sharp as a tack, just no energy, so we got to visit without the hassles of visiting hours and travel to and from the hospital. It kept the stay up there relaxed.

Grandma and Unca Doug got to see Chris for the first time in over 8 years (10 to 19 is a huge chunk to miss). They were impressed with how well he’s turning out and amazed that I had managed to teach him so well in the ways of the Dark Side knowing what a lib his Mother is.

Being a major reason for the trip was to get Grandma’s car for Chris, he was constantly chomping at the bit to go somewhere, anywhere so he could drive his new toy. It’s a ’99 Buick Century Limited, blue-gray, with only 27K on the dial. Leather seats and electric everything. Damn, my kids got a better car than I do.

Drive Home (Pt. I)
Beaverton Or. To Oakland Ca.

Out of bed at 5:30 AM and on the road by 7:45 AM, real close to the schedule I had in my head. I drove the first hour, then I gave up control to the boy. I’ve been the primary driver for so long now that I was amazed at how nice it can be to just sit and watch the scenery flow by and it is beautiful country up there.

It was smooth sailing till we got past Medford and the highway turned inland and started into the mountains and we hit rain. Not a hard rain just a constant drizzle that no matter what speed you set the wipers at, it was to fast or to slow.

Coming down out the mountains past Mt. Shasta, I was doing a crossword and started hearing Bott’s dots on the passenger side and the emergency corrugation strip on the driver’s side. Without looking up I just told Chris “Let’s try to stay between the lines for a bit.” He said he was getting tired (5 ½ hours behind the wheel) and there was rest stop a mile ahead and he wanted to change anyway. When we stopped and I got out of the car, I got blasted by about 50 MPH winds,. He had kept it steady enough that I hadn’t noticed, so I felt like an ass. I drove the next 5 hours to the Bay Area, mostly straight highway with no view due the clouds.

Bay Area

This will be my last trip there!!! Traffic sucks! We got into the area just after dark, it was foggy and really raining. We could see the freeway well enough, but nothing beyond it so I lost all sense of direction.

After a “brief” meandering tour of the hills of Berkley (I have no idea how we got there), we finally found Oakland. I should mention that I was so disoriented, that I actually stopped and asked for directions at one point, which at least got us headed in the right direction.

Due to a bunch of circumstances, I hadn’t reserved a motel. I paid dearly for this. There really isn’t a hell of a lot of motels in the area, and they’re spread all over the place. We hit six that were booked up, one that had one room at $109.00/night (HA!). We were getting farther and farther away from the stadium and I was just hanging onto my sanity due to fatigue and the stress.

I was really starting to wonder how comfortable the seats in the car were for sleeping when we spotted a Motel 6. Three rooms left and $114 for two nights. SOLD!!!

The place was crazy with Raider fans, but maybe because it was raining, it was quiet and we got a good nights rest.

Game Day

Woke up to the sun shining, something good to offset the karma from yesterday.

We arrived with plenty of time to spare, turns out the motel was only about 15 miles down the freeway , but good thing I have a mania about leaving time to deal with the unexpected, cause it came in handy. There is little signage directing you anywhere around the stadium and half of what they have is cryptic to the point of making no sense. There were plenty of cops around, but rather than direct traffic, they just sit on the pretty Harley Davidson motorcycles in groups of four and look cool while chaos flows around them.

We ended up in an “Overflow” parking lot (mud flat) about ½ mile from the stadium. It wasn’t a bad walk and once inside the parking for the stadium, we had time to cruise around a check out the tailgaters. Man, there were some parties going on. We entered on the wrong side (of course) and proceeded to the top of the arena to be told “You’re on the other side, go down two levels and around.”

The seats weren’t bad, tween the 20 and 30 , sun behind us and nice people in our section, even if some were Bears fans. I was a little disappointed, all these years, I’ve heard the stories of the “mean, nasty Oakland fans.” There was only one fight during the game. I’ve seen more violence at a Dodger game. It may be that a lot of the fight has gone out of both Raider and Bears fans (My sucky team doesn’t suck as much as your sucky team).

It was an action packed thriller with the score 3-3 into the 4th . As one Bears fan put it “two of the most inept offenses to ever bump heads on a football field.” With 4:04 remaining we kicked a 52 yard field goal to jump ahead. Followed by the Bears throwing 59 yards for a TD, followed by McCown getting sacked and fumbling on our own three, which the Bears ran in for another TD. Final 17-6.

Back to Oakland Base

We could have if we had really wanted, driven home right after the game, but I’m getting older and the idea of a long drive on top of a busy day just isn’t that easy anymore. We went back to the motel and watched the Sunday nite game where the Chargers, up 23-0 into the second quarter, did everything possible to lose to the Colts. The Chargers only won because the Colts missed a 29 yard FG in the closing minute. Final 23-21.

Drive Home (Pt. II)
Oakland to L.A.

Slept in a bit, didn’t want to rush out into “rush hour” traffic, so we left about 10:00 Am for the 6 hour sprint home. Traffic was moderately light, so traveling down I-5 was just a long boring cruise. Chris drove the whole way. (Gotta show the new toy to his girlfriend). Home around 4:30.

It’s nice to be home, and it was good to see my Mom again. I’m still a little travel weary, but I don’t go back to work until Saturday afternoon, so I think I’ll just take it easy.

I'm Baaack

Home this evening. Trip good. Long time in car. Tired. Will expound tomorrow.

A Hiatus From My Hiatus

Well no, I'm going to be posting, not even sporadically for the the next week. I'm going to be out of town. My son and I are flying up to Portland. This was a planned trip, but the timing is extra lucky.

The original plan was to get Grandma's car for my son and drive it home. Just a road trip for us guys. Now my Mom isn't doing well and is incarcerated in the hospital again, so it's probably a last chance for my son to see his Grandma.

Even though I'm beyond broke right now, the plane was cheap (using credit card miles) and the Raider's game we're going to on the way back home was paid for months ago. This will be his first Pro football game, as the Raiders left L.A. the year he was born. It's our Raiders (2-6) v. Da Bears (3-5), so it has a chance of being a good game. Of course with the tickets I could afford we're in another time zone from the field, but we are on the home team side and usually those are some of the most entertaining fans to be with. We're planing on wearing a lot of Silver and Black.

To fund this little adventure we loaded up the F-150 with aluminum cans that I'd kept stashed in a back section of my garage. It was like a vault that I'd draw on to have extra cash for Vegas and such. The lady at the recycling center seemed to take a liking to me and due to the amount of cans we brought in bumped the price from the base of $1.15/lb., up to $1.75/lb., then decided that I was so damn nice and incredibly handsome (HA!), she raised it up to $1.80/lb. With two trips there, I got just under $500, and there's still some left in the vault.

We'll probably drive Portland to Oakland on Saturday, 11 hours, but two drivers and being my kid just got his license about a month ago, will be hard to get him out from behind the wheel. It'll mean we can't do the Eureka/Fortuna stopover that I wanted so he could see my Dad's family's home base, but it will allow more time in Portland with my Mom and brother.

I'll be back Monday and still won't have work until Saturday. I'm using all my vacation time being vacations are forbidden between Thanksgiving and New Years, except for the guy we just rehired who already had a British Isles Christmas vacation set up, so I could be looking at some good overtime before the end of the year.

I'll have no internet access until I'm back in L.A., so if you drop by BisW, post a couple of snarky comments on the Rott for me til then.

Why College Football Is Fun

I needed this. From my last few posts, I'm sure you know I'm in a major funk and in need of something to brighten my mood. I ran into this over at Hot Air via Allahpundit.

Excuse me while I go back and count how many laterals there were.

Touching Base

Life isn't better, but it really isn't worse (as if things could get worse). I've had crises occur in my life, just not so many all at once that have to be dealt with right now.

Some things have slowly piled up for years, and some just reared up out of nowhere. I feel like I've been hit from the "Bad News" side so many times without any "Good News" that I must walk with a list to one side.

I'm not necessarily complaining, "rain into each life must fall", but why did it have to be a damn Phoenix monsoon? Short duration (I hope), but you are going to get soaked.

A song got into my head today that I couldn't shake. It isn't really a commentary on events going on, maybe just the tone of the song.

I keep telling myself that I'm stronger than I think I am, it's just making decisions in the right order for the correct reasons. Trying to keep what is happening here from shading a choice that has to be made over there is a tad frustrating. Keeping decisions on family, work and friends from bleeding into areas that shouldn't is just wearing.

I'm not giving up, just tired at the moment.

Hiatus

My life has entered a place where it occupies all my time and then some. I am juggling work and layers of family on so many levels that there isn't time to think about much else.

To those who asked about me, Thank you for your concern. It's all serious, but not something I can, or am able to write about at this time.

I hope to be able to drop by all my friends sites and put in a snide comment somewhat regularly, but it may be a while before I get back to posting.

Fred

If you've been a regular to my site (Haahaahaaha, OK, I'm over it now), you'll notice a new thing on the right sidebar, "Endorsements". I'm going with Fred Thompson for the next election.

He is a true Federalist..if the constitution doesn't specifically mention it, it's not the Fed's job, it's up to the individual States. If enough States decide it should be Federal law, pass an amendment.

I've heard all the lame crap about he's lazy, he's just an actor, etc.

From The Globe and Mail:

THE PRESIDENT of the United States from 2008 to 2012 will be one of the following three people: Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney.

It’s rather early in the election season for such pointed speculation. But a look at the situation reveals that the prediction is not all that chancy.

It is now almost certain that Mrs. Clinton is going to be the Democratic nominee. Fred Thompson is the most likely choice for the Republican nomination, but he could not beat Hillary Clinton in the fall.

Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Romney are the only two Republicans with a shot at the nomination who could defeat Hillary Clinton.

Republican candidate Sam Brownback, a dark horse, said the other day that if the Republicans nominate Mr. Thompson it’s political suicide. He’s right. Most polls show that, going head-to-head against Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Thompson would lose by 2-1. The former Tennessee Senator would be the Barry Goldwater of 2008. He is too right-wing to appeal to enough moderates to win and he is too prone to incredible gaffes.

I've heard it before and I hope history repeats itself.

HT: Emperor Misha I @ The Rott

Sometimes I Just Can't Avoid The Cute Factor

I have no idea what got this song running through my head constantly, but whatever it was the ad guys for i-Pod must have recognized it.

I keep a lot of songs that I like to myself because sometimes they was just something that appealed to me. Back in High School, when I roadie for local bands, they didn't approve of things like Alice Cooper (too contrived) or later, anything that smacked of Disco. With this song I'll come out and say I just like it. It's simple, it's catchy. I'm not going to buy the album, but unless it gets really overuse, I'll just enjoy it whenever I hear it.

I spent about 40 minutes chasing it down and was pleasantly surprised at the video that went with it. Not glitzy or over produced, just a nice dance routine with good camera work.

If you were wondering it's called 1,2,3,4 by Fiest



Watching it again, I think it was when she started swinging her hips. I love to watch women walk, the way their hips swing compared to guys walking...we look like we're always just on the verge of falling over, where women flow.

Barak Obama is an Oreo

Hey, don't believe me, read what the expert says.

Report: Jesse Jackson Says Barack Obama 'Acting White' in Case of Six Blacks Accused in Assault Case

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Jesse Jackson reportedly ripped presidential candidate Barack Obama for "acting like he's white," according to The State newspaper in South Carolina,

[emp. mine]

Followed by the typical denial:

but the civil rights leader says he doesn't recall making any such comment.

Obama's response did cause a couple of points jump in my opinion of him.....but he's still a cypher with no record to make me believe he'll stand by what he says.

"Outrage over an injustice like the Jena 6 isn't a matter of black and white. It's a matter of right and wrong. We should stand as one nation in opposition to this and any injustice," he said. "My statements on Jena 6 were carefully thought out with input and support from one of my National Campaign Chairmen, U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr."

Obama also hasn't been silent on the issue, last week calling on the Louisiana local district attorney to drop the excessive charges.

The Jena incident snuck in under my radar, but what I've read about it, it's working it's way through the system. It doesn't put the town of Jena in a good light...but, I do not live there and I know if I had asked in college to be able to hold a meeting in the Black Students Union, I would have been told to get my cracker ass out of there.

The case began after interracial fighting broke out last school year when three white students responded to a request by a black student to open up access to a schoolyard tree — used as a meeting place for white students — by hanging three nooses around the tree. The white students were suspended.

The tree has since been cut down, but not before the six black students were charged with a racially-motivated assault on white student Justin Barker. Five of the students were charged as adults, the sixth as a juvenile.

The (one) white student who was beaten (by six), was beaten into unconsciousness then more. I'll be curious to see if this makes it to a "Hate Crime".

To me, the whole thing was stupid. The blacks couldn't find any other place on campus to meet? The whites couldn't refrain from something so asinine damn stupid as putting up nooses? Stupid is as stupid does.

The Mother of War

I know where she's coming from, but I cannot buy the premise. Watch this and we'll discuss.

I have heard this argument throughout my life, yet I always come back to what has happened in my life.

Indira Gandhi - war with Pakistan

Golda Meir - war with the arabs

Margaret Thatcher - war in the Falklands.

The idea that when women are in charge all conflict ceases is a fantasy.

This is twice she's lost it while accepting an award. I don't expect better from actors/actresses, it's just that people who live by their emotions just do not seem to be able to separate reality from the world they want.

Tammy Bruce said something today that really struck home. [paraphrase] Mothers are more likely to fight to protect their children."

I'm so disappointed because I have been in love with Sally since "Gidget" and the "Flying Nun". Even now when she's doing ads for osteoporosis, I still look at her and see her in her twenties.

Another of my icons just bit the dust.

I Did Survive

If you saw my last post, you'll understand that I was a bit stressed about my son starting to drive.

When I told the wife I was going to take him out for a test run, her only concern was "You aren't going to yell at him are you?"

I promised I wouldn't...unless he did something so damn stupid that he damn well deserved to be yelled at.

So, I took him out and for the first time "legally" driving (he admitted a while ago that friends had let him try) and he didn't do to bad.

Now the only vehicle we have is a F-150 Supercab with the 8 foot bed, and to be honest, even though I've driven school buses and small tank trucks, sometimes the damn size of it makes me uncomfortable.

His main problem is the lack of faith in oncoming traffic. He shies away, towards the parked cars on the right not trusting the car coming the other way will stay on their side of the line.

Only once did I actually panic and go "left,left,left,left,LEFT, and at the next stop light, I was able to rapidly (and calmly) explain my concern and how to avoid giving his old man a coronary in the future.

While I remained completely composed throughout most of our 45 minute jaunt, just pointing out things to watch for. Like braking distance as related to speed. looking for back-up (and/or brake) lights while passing diagonally parked cars, any kid/teenager/idiot walking down the street. And above all, "Always count on that person is going to do the dumbest thing you can think of, so be ready for it."

When we got home, all I could think was "Damn, I need a beer", I popped one and then started to notice that my right leg was cramping up. I'm guessing I had had been pushing down with that leg for the entire drive. I finished 3/4 of the beer I opened and fell asleep due to fatigue.

I've had a day to recoup, so I guess we can give it another try.

Get Off The Road!! (this will be your only warning)

My boy sent me a text message today that sent a shiver down my spine. It's one of those things in life that you know is coming, you just try to stay in denial until it happens.

He got his learners permit today.

The thing that scares the crap outta me is that the only restriction is that he have another licensed driver "able to reach the steering wheel" with him, that is at least 18 years old. That would most likely be his girlfriend.

Right at this moment I'm flashing back on all the dumbass things I did when I first started driving and it's getting harder to breath....and there this tightening in my chest....and my left arm is feeling a little sore.

O.K. That's passed.

My son is, in reality, a fairly levle headed kid. He'll work jobs with lousy pay and few rewards with commitment. Still, he's 18, and the male brain hasn't fully formed until at least.....35...42....

I Got Some Bad News Yesterday

I have taken a loooong break from computer games, and I saw something that got great reviews. I thought I'd give it a try.

I downloaded the demo (1.8 gig/1 hour + download) of a hot new computer game. Installed it, and was informed I need to update my video driver. Problem, NVida doesn't even offer an upgrade for my card. It's 1 off.

Now should I mention the minimum amount of memory they recommend?

I'm not sure I can complain to much. I remember when brand new chips would come out every 6 to 8 months and machines cost a hell of a lot more than today. I've had 7 years with this set-up and no major problems.

It's time to start reading Fry's flyers and paying attention to who has a good sale. The problem is after this long, it's going to be like learning the whole thing again.

14 year old Mexican indian virgin girls

If you're looking for them, you're just going to have read my other posts.

This really is just a case of taking advice from a crusty old codger whose postings have earned my respect due to his honesty in posting his feelings and a site I drop by because I enjoy his "bits of wit and wisdom."

But I have found that if I don't post some bullshit every day I lose a lot of traffic..and once in a while one needs to mention 14 year old Mexican indian virgin girls just to get the wierdo google hits...

I just haven't been able to reach Guyk's or Misha's intensity on being able to rant about things important to me. I tend to over-analyze most of the time. By the time I get het up, the topic is two days old.

There are topics, like Immigration and islam that set me off with a very short fuse, but those are easy. I've spent time living and/or reading about them, so my opinion has something behind it. It's my opinion, but you're welcome to explain where I'm wrong.

For those of you that went off in my archives looking for 14 year old Mexican indian virgin girls...keep checking back.

Sitemeter

After a many months, I stopped checking my Sitemeter numbers and all the info It provides. There were other things to do and time was short, so short, I neglected to post for long periods.

I used to get a kick that when I'd post on Islam, I'd get hits from the ME, Turkey, Greece, and when I'd opine about immigration, I'd get an influx of South American countries. Nobody stayed long, but a hit was a hit.

Today, I look at the stats, and see that I'm down to a close circle of friends. You drop by knock on the door to see if I'm home, If I've posted something new you take some time to skim, if not you try again tomorrow.

This is a thank you to all those that drop by, you are appreciated

Men

What is a man? Why do we have to ask this question?

I was in High School when the Women's Movement started. I was incredibly confused about what it meant to be me, let alone a man...and women, these were completely alien creatures that terrified me, yet I wanted to get closer to.

Over the years it seems to a lot of people to just relating to shooting somebody, idiots, but one one the best lines for a guy was said by *celestial choir* John Wayne:
"A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do."

This post by Kim Du Toit should tie this all together:
The Pussification Of The Western Male
And make sure to read his wife's take on the article:
The Other Side

Unemployment Is To Low!

6% is way to high and 2% is way to low. You figure it out.
AP Spins Record Low Unemployment as Problem That Could Get Worse
By Noel Sheppard
via: NewsBusters

A Jew In the KKK

This is just funny. I think the Aussie accent really threw them and they were in deep before they knew it. The best part is in the last three or four minutes when He starts discussing exactly how his bloodline should run, and what about his children? You watch it and see.
John Safran tries out for the KKK:

glumbert.com - John Safran tries out for the KKK

Tour of an Middle Eastern City

It's a little long, mainly repetitious towards the end, but this is where centuries of muslim culture has gotten them.

We're always told of the great scientific and philosophical advancements they made up through their crusade up to Spain. Then funny thing, the advancements stopped.

Of course, if you listen to the asshats over at Glumbert.com like this one "tribe":

Afghanistan is neither a Muslim country or a country that thrives on oil. Afghanistan's highest export is fucking opium. It has nothing to do with oil.

Afganistan, not muslim? Then who the hell are the taliban, al queda and the mujahideen?

As far as opium, don't they know the price of heroin on the market? if they'd quit trying to kill each other and OPEC it, they could get some of the booty, rather than the middle man. You put Pablo Escobar over there, he'd be making a nickel a pod rather than five pods for a nickel ( or however they sell the crap).

Of course these arguments have little bearing here, as Medina is actually located in Saudi Arabia, the richest kingdom in the ME.
Check out the Urban Renewal of the beeeatifuuull city of Medina.

Medina Flying:

glumbert.com - Medina Flight

Has It Been A Week?

Man, how can time go by so fast? I'm on "vacation", but due to circumstances, haven't gone anywhere. It was more a point of using up a few days, because I don't think they'll let me carry over any unused days to next year. I'm using four days this time, but with my long change that's 9 days off. I go back on a Saturday, so it should be quiet, work Sunday and Monday, then I'm off again Tuesday and Wednesday.

Blackiswhite blew through my area last weekend without so much as a "How do ya do?" I just don't understand people that would rather spend their two days with the wife sans kids, than set aside three or four hours on an internet acquaintance.

And BisW, as far as:
After driving through L.A. on Sunday, I have to say that I don't get the attraction. Ventura was nice.
L.A. is like N.Y., If you've been around long enough, you can find the upsides to living here, and they do exist. Ventura is nice, but the COL there drove my parents to *shudder* Portland.

I think I'll vacation for a bit and see if I get in the mood for a "hard" post later. I've just skimmed news for the last week. This is suppose to be a rest period and news has a tendency to wind me up.

Vacation

I'm taking a vacation! In 2006 I stared asking for time away from work in May...but we were always going to have a big thing happening "that week", so I put it off and put it off. When it got to November, I asked again and was told "no". I said being policy is use it or lose it, I would "for the good of the company", could carry it over this time, I'll wait. If not, I'm on vacation as of now and you'll see me in 3 weeks.

The powers that be decided I would be allowed to carry my time over. According to records, I've used 6 days in January, I must have been really out of it, because I honestly don't remember taking the time...but I also took two days going to see my Father before he died.

No, I didn't run up to Portland say "Bye, Dad" and come home. My schedule has a 5 day "long break" in it so I was able to be up there 6 days. I had to travel by train due to financial things, so instead of a two hour flight (if direct) it was a 26 hour....not bad ordeal.

Now I'm finding myself back in the same situation again. I have 13 days vacation and the end of the year is fast approaching. (I should mention here that vacation between Thanksgiving and New Years is verboten..due to a senior guy putting in for it on Jan 1st every year, and with only five guys working there, it kinda rubs the wrong way).

But, I'm off. I don't have to be back until 1:00 PM a week from Saturday. Not planning on going anywhere, nor do I have plans for the next week. I'm going to do what I want to do. Which may be not much. The boy has to work, so until we go to get his "new" car from Grandma in October, I have no obligations hanging over me.


I picked the video at the top because the Go Go's seemed like they were into the song on this tape.

The Idjit Vote

I always knew it, but now it's on the net, so my belief is supported.

From The Onion


In The Know: Candidates Compete For Vital Idgit Vote

Next time you vote, look at the people there with you. Chances are that if there are more than 4 voters there, one is an idjit.

Your Underwear Is The Wrong Color

The gift that just keeps on giving?

After my last post I just happened to run into this: Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Munajid: Western "Beasts" Use Colored Underwear to Conceal Their Filth


Good g-d. We use toilet paper instead of our left hand! Next thing you know, we'll say screwing a goat is wrong under all circumstances. Whereas if you screw a goat and sell it to another tribe, that's okay. Praise allah.

Religion of Peace: Why Christianity is and Islam Isn’t

O.K., I disappear for a week, then I go post crazy. I do have a long list in front of me of stuff I wanted to write about, but I'm a lazy bastard and didn't get around to it. After reading everyone else take on something, I try to step back and let it simmer. That doesn't work so well with a blog, you tend to be behind the news curve by the time you've got your position down.

This interview with Robert Spencer over at Hot Air is definitely worth your time. It is a quick synopsis of why we need to be vigilant about the creeping acceptance of Sharia Law into our daily lives. A new interpretation of law that has not been written, just imposed, so as not to offend a sect of our society.

Religion of Peace: Why Christianity is and Islam Isn’t

I'm short of funds right now,,so I can't buy it, but have added it to my library reserve list

Now That There Is Funny

I don't care who you are.

From: Latino Comedy Project



Check out their other videos, they've got a great sense of humor.

Science and Islam

From: Salon.com

The religious state of Islamic science

Turkish-American physicist Taner Edis explains why science in Muslim lands remains stuck in the past -- and why the Golden Age of Mesopotamia wasn't so golden after all.

By Steve Paulson

In October, Malaysia's first astronaut will join a Russian crew and blast off into space. The news of a Muslim astronaut was cause for celebration in the Islamic world, but then certain questions started popping up. How will he face Mecca during his five daily prayers while his space ship is whizzing around the Earth? How can he hold the prayer position in zero gravity? Such concerns may sound absurd to us, but the Malaysian space chief is taking them quite seriously. A team of Muslim scholars and scientists has spent more than a year drawing up an Islamic code of conduct for space travel.

This story illustrates the obstacles that face scientists in Muslim countries. While it's always risky to draw generalizations about Islam, even conservative Muslims admit that the Islamic world lags far behind the West in science and technology. This is a big problem for Muslims who envy the economic and military power of the United States.

What's so striking about the Muslim predicament is that the Islamic world was once the unrivaled center of science and philosophy.

While I don't unnecessarily, have any problem with this in this particular case because it is kind of an interesting predicament. I dunno, maybe a crew mate can hold a foot and spin him around while he prays.

The main thing about this story that really bothers me is the way Muslim's can't figure out the simplest things themselves. Don't believe me? Go here to "Ask the Imam" and peruse the littlest things these people worry about doing wrong and offending allah.

If there is anything a person can do, you had better ASK THE IMAM before you do it or your going to hell because you forgot to wash your feet first.

I think Christianity has a leg up here, There are 10 rules to follow, easy to remember and while not always easy, really not to hard to follow

Who'd a thought?

This is one of the funniest things I've seen since....the last time something was the funniest. I just couldn't believe a snake climbing a tree to get away from a rabbit.

“We control this House, not the parliamentarians!”

So says Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader, after dropping a quick gavel on a bill that dealt with giving money to the illegals. So much for the Dem's end of corruption.

Angela, a poster, at The Influence Peddler sez:

If this stands, it's the end of the Republic.

I know that sound like a line from the Black Helicopter/Chemtrails crowd, but I am gravely concerned about this. I've been a practicing attorney for 32 years, and a Democrat for 40.

We were told that Bush would destroy the Constitution, ignore votes, rig elections and disenfranchise the public. That is exactly what the Democratic leadership has just done.

If this stands, votes will no longer be needed in the house, the Democratic leadership can decide what the outcomes will be - including the outcomes of their own caucus votes.
5:27 PM

What was wrong? The Dem's have totally ignored parliamentary rule and are trying to say it was just a mistake and won't happen again. I've heard the whimpering about the Repub's holding open a vote longer than normal, the difference there was they followed procedure to get extra time, that's allowed, not normal, but it's legal.

Watch this guy and see how comfortable he is with what, I assume, he was ordered to do:

freebies for ILLEGALS that couldn't get passed on "Immigration Reform Bills" now gets tacked onto an agriculture bill.

The end of corruption?

From a Front Battling PC

Want to know what's in store for the U.S. if we keep up with the crap the Politically Correct crowd is continuously foisting on us?

Go read this posting from someone living in Eunikistan and is watching his neighboring country swirl the bowl. The Death of Sweden

According to them, this is done in order to fight against capitalist exploitation and for a global, classless society. Their logic goes something like this: If you protest against Muslim immigration, you suffer from Islamophobia, which is almost the same as xenophobia, which is almost the same as racism. And racists are almost Fascists and Nazis, as we all know, and they shouldn't be allowed to voice their opinions in public. Hence, if you protest against being assaulted or raped by Muslims, you are evil and need to be silenced. If a native Swede is really lucky, he or she will thus first get mugged or battered by Muslims, and then beaten up a second time by his own extreme Leftists for objecting to being beaten the first time.

You can't say you don't see signs of this here. CAIR wants it so if you se someone if you notice someone acting tense and out of the ordinary, and the guy is Middle Eastern looking and you point it out to someone, you are a racist ! Doesn't matter what the prvocation was. La Raza says if you report 15 guys living in the 2 bdrm house down the block, you are a racist!

This is a day off for me (Sunday?), and I was reading a book on the couch and Glen Beck just finished, so I switched over to Bill O'Reilly to see whether he was "looking out for me" or not...I was greeted with devastation.

A bridge over the Mississippi in Minneapolis had collapsed during rush hour.

It looks nasty, very much like what I"ve seen and experienced after an earthquake, so I am not , in no stretch of your warped little minds, going to minimize the terror these people are going through.

BUT, 1 hour and 15 minutes after this event occurred, the Department of Homeland Security releases their statement of "It's not a Terrorist Attack". Hell, haven't they installed a button on Chertoff's wrist watch yet that he hits the moment anything happens and that message goes out? You know, to calm the masses and prevent the genocide of...Muslims?

I will admit that during the initial pictures I was going "Oh. please, don't let this be terrorism." I was not thinking "I'm gonna kill me some ragheads for this".

Like our military's restraint at Falluja, I will not let myself be suckered into a knee-jerk reaction that, in this case, may prove to be "an act of G-d", or a low bid construction company doing the repair work on the bridge at the time.

I'll wait, I'll watch, and I'll expect the person(s) responsible to be held in account for what happened.

Who Is A Suicide Bomber?

And what is their motivation? It's not always what you think. Do you use a distraught girl who was injured in an accident and dumped by her boyfriend?


She says she didn't want to kill anyone...but she tried to pull the pin at the check point when stopped.

She'll still get the treatment she requires, but is she ever going to realize what she was going to do? Destroy a hospital that was going to help her and the people she lives with.

I Now Have Something To Look Forward To In The Elections

Cindy Sheehan has announced her bid to run against Pelosi in the upcoming elections.

Cindy Sheehan Targets Pelosi, Impeachment via NewsMax.

I can't wait to hear the idiotic respond to the insane. The level of discourse in these debates should cause peoples heads to explode. Pelosi thinks that she'll just be able to ignore Saint Cindy of the Ditch, but I don't think the LameStreamMedia will allow it. Pelosi is to secure in her seat, so the only thing worth covering will be to see how much Cindy can get under her skin.

Just For Glee

Hell, I'll steal his title too, and because that make me feel guilty, I'll give the Hat Tips above the fold.

From GUYK who got it though JACK.

4th WEDDING

A woman, married three times, walked into a bridal
shop one day and told the sales clerk that she was
looking for a wedding gown for her fourth wedding.

"Of course, madam," replied the sales clerk,
"exactly what type and color dress are you looking
for?"

The bride to be said: "A long frilly white dress
with a veil."

The sales clerk hesitated a bit, then said, "Please
don't take this the wrong way, but gowns of that
nature are considered more appropriate for brides
who are being married the first time - for those
who are a bit more innocent, if you know what I mean?

Perhaps ivory or sky blue?"

"Well," replied the customer, a little peeved at
the clerk's directness, "I can assure you that a
white gown would be quite appropriate.

Believe it or not, despite all my marriages, I
remain as innocent as a first-time bride.

You see, my first husband was so excited about
our wedding, he died as we were checking into
our hotel. My second husband and I got into
such a terrible fight in the limo on our way to
our honeymoon, that we had that wedding annulled
immediately and never spoke to each other again."

"What about your third husband?" asked the sales
clerk.

"That one was a Democrat," said the woman,
"and every night for four years, he just sat
on the edge of the bed and told me how good
it was going to be, but nothing ever happened!"

Why Can't We Know Out Who's Here?

I know he'll never run for President, but he always seems to get it right.

HT:GUYK of Charming, Just charming

Why Can't They Make It Like They Used To?

I have worked for oil companies for the last 30+ years. I have a tendency to get a "bit" of dirt, grease, and other crap under my fingernails and around my cuticles. Trying to keep them clean is a major problem.

The sad looking thing in the picture above is a fingernail brush that I bought from the Fuller Brush Company 35 years ago. It still works, but I'd like to have another to keep at my jobsite. Even though Fuller is still in business, they don't make this anymore, and the ones they make are the cheapo crap that I can by at the grocery store...and they don't work.

I'm not sure what it is, but if I like a product, because it works, or lasts, they stop making it.

I cannot remember where I ran across theseaudio clips while bouncing around different site a few days ago, but it has stuck in my head since.

The man who pulled me to the dark side explains the inherent flaws in Socialized Medicine and what it leads to. I was particularly struck by the start of Part II when he explains that where you work will be dictated by the government. You've grown up in Boise, and want to work there, tough luck, Boise has enough doctors, you are needed in Minot N.D. (place a friend of mine described as summer lasting from June 30 to July 1..on a good year).

I'll let (pre)President Reagan explain:

What Do They Really Want?

If I hear this again, I'm going postal (remember that phrase?). Here, once again, in English, the terms for peace are laid out by the Islamofasicts.


I know hes a boring speaker, so I'll give you the "talking points".
Adam makes six demands on behalf of al Qaeda:

From The Jawa Report:

1) Pull all U.S. troops out of Muslim lands. But I thought pulling out of Iraq would make al Qaeda stop? Oh:

And let us be clear. A pull-out from Iraq alone in the absence of compliance with the remainder of our legitimate demands will get you nowhere and will not save you from our strikes.

SO stop wasting your time, and trying to save face with these futile, farsical maneuvers on Capitol Hill and start making some serious moves.


2) Stop all support of all Muslim regimes. Al Qaeda considers every Muslim country on earth--even Saudi Arabia--to be apostate.

3) End aid to Israel. They hate the J-O-Os.

4) Allow Muslims to establish sharia law. This means that we should not interfere when they start killing apostates and stoning adultresses.

5) Stop all broadcasts to the Middle East. Apparently, they don't like CBN as much as they despise Spice. Especially broadcasts which try to alterfaith, minds, morals, and valuesSuch liberty loving people!

6) Free all Muslims from our jails.

A final parting shot:

This is not a call for negotiations. We don’t negotiate with baby killers and war criminals like you.

Oh, the irony! Warning, graphic image below:

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Al Qaeda family values in action.

12 year old Taliban boy holds up head of hostage he has just slowly sawed off with a knife.

JibJab

I hadn't been by JibJab in a while, and now I'm a little upset. They do have some funny stuff over there. Here's one I missed, even though they sent me an E-mail to tell me about it. (it's the account I use to register for crap that I think will spam me and go to about one a month.)

Any way here's the "Star Spangled Banner" performed by some of our Presidents.

Star Spangled Banner
|Funny Jokes at JibJab

Cruising around and ended up at this site: "iPhone Review"

I share this guys hatred of cell phones. From the time I got my first pager, through work, I realized being able to be in touch all the time wasn't really a benefit. I could cut my cell phone plan down to about two hours a month and have more rollover minutes than I'll ever use.

Now with this do all "phone" how long until one or two functions go south rendering it useless? And you know the ones that crap out first are going to be the ones you use.

I followed the link back to his main page and watched some of his videos, one was so-so, but this one I really liked. I like the band "Fallout Boy", although I'll never be able to listen to this song again without hearing Shamus' lyrics. Kind of like the first time I noticed the "stronger than dirt" line at the end of The Doors, "Touch Me".

Here's Shamus' "Gun/Dad/Arse/Face"


Updated: I know nobody asked, but I'm going to add this commercial from the 70's so you young'un's understand why this has stuck with all these years. It was an inside joke when they did it, but has driven me crazy since I first thought I heard it, and has detracted from my love of what would be a great song since then.

Happy 4th of July

Y'all have a happy and safe 4th, and say a prayer for those in the Armed Forces serving around the world protecting "America, the Beautiful."

The MSM and the Truth

From TJ's Anti-Contrarian Blog

Two views of the same incident, one the reports by the MSM:

On 31 May 2007, SINAN SALAHEDDIN, an Associated Press Writer reported that a suicide bomber had killed 25 and wounded 50 near Fallujah.

One from a Marine that was there:

“[D]ue to aggressive patrolling by Iraqi forces [a] bomber who doubtless wanted to target the civilians at the headquarters itself in order to cause the most catastrophic effects, was forced to detonate his vest almost a half-mile away when he was halted by police. He succeeded in causing superficial wounds to one Iraqi civilian, as well as killing himself. No one else was injured, no other damage caused, and in the aftermath of the incident, the precinct signed up an additional 75 recruits for police service. This bomber failed - he failed to kill innocents and he failed to deter the progress of standing up Iraqi police.

Go read the whole letter from the Marine and you'll understand why people just don't believe what is being fed to us by the Media.

Some Depressing Links

I got home tonight and started my perusal of web sites for what was happening today, and it just seemed to get more depressing the more I read.

One of the first things I ran into was a post by Micheal Yon on a horrific find when he wen into a Iraqi village with an Iraqi army unit. It's not pretty what the al-queda "freedom fighters" left behind. I'll let Micheal explain: Bless the Beasts and Children.

I then got to read about an insider's view of the TSA and the reasons you get to stand in lines forever with your shoes off to get on a plane: Knee-Jerk From The DC Jerks Again.

There was some good news today, even if it was a half-assed attempt of doing the right thing: Bush commutes Libby sentence.

Half-assed in that Libby should have been pardoned for being convicted of a non-crime, but the fine still has to be paid (this will be covered by donations), and he will lose his law license due to the conviction.

Ball-less George is guessing that by commuting the sentence, he gets the right off his back, but by not pardoning Libby, he will still look like he isn't completely caving in.

Didn't work.

And for those of you who think this is a "travesty of justice", just keep in mind Sandy Pantsburglar and...

Clinton's commuted the sentences of

16 members of FALN, a violent Puerto Rican nationalist group that set off 120 bombs in the United States mostly in New York City and Chicago, convicted for conspiracies to commit robbery, bomb-making, and sedition, as well as for firearms and explosives violations, and:

Carlos A. Vignali had his sentence for cocaine trafficking commuted, after serving 6 of 15 years in federal prison.

Susan McDougal, who had already completed her sentence, was pardoned for her role in the Whitewater scandal; McDougal had served 18 months on contempt charges for refusing to testify about Clinton's role.

Dan Rostenkowski, a former Democratic Congressman convicted in the Congressional Post Office Scandal.

Roger Clinton, the president's half-brother, on drug charges after having served the entire sentence more than a decade before. Roger Clinton would be charged with drunk driving and disorderly conduct in an unrelated incident within a year of the pardon.

And by all means lets remember this upstanding citizen: Marc Rich, a fugitive, was pardoned of tax evasion, after clemency pleas from Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, among many other international luminaries. Denise Rich, Marc's former wife, was a close friend of the Clintons and had made substantial donations to both Clinton's library and Hillary's Senate campaign.-- One company from which Rich bought crude during this period was a front for extremist Russian and Ukrainian organizations. All were pro-Saddam; one was a staunch supporter of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il. Another company was tied to a major money launderer for Saddam.

To reach these conclusions, BusinessWeek traced crucial connections from a number of official inquiries and documents. Key among these documents: shipping tables from the Middle East Economic Survey (MEES), the preeminent authority on tanker activity in the Middle East. These detail the ports, tankers, destinations, and buyers of Iraqi crude. Other insights came from a 2004 CIA report on Iraq, data from Switzerland's Federal Commercial Registry Office, and the many inquiries launched into Oil-for-Food. The Justice Dept., six congressional committees, a U.N. commission, Morgenthau's office, and several countries, including Switzerland, are all investigating the program. Extensive interviews with dozens of oil traders, government investigators, and energy experts around the globe helped form a clearer picture of how the network operates.

How Conservative Am I?

Took this test over at Blogthings

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 90% Conservative, 10% Liberal Social Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal Personal Responsibility: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal Ethics: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

It came out pretty much as I supected it would.

Another Hiatus

Work, work, work ,work....hello boys. (Mel Brooks, Blazing
Saddles).

Life's been fun since the last time I posted. The intensity the workplace isn't getting better and turmoil on the home front has been occupying most of my time. This is the first I've been able to sit at the computer since my last post.

One side is worked out and the other is leaning in the other direction. Stay tuned.

Those of you who still swing by, thank you for your patronage, I'm trying (again) to get back in the swing.

Wild Wildlife

This is one of the coolest nature videos I have ever run across. A Water Buffalo calf gets taken by a pride of lions, who get interrupted by a couple of crocodiles that want in on their prize, only to have a whole herd of Water Buffalo descend on them to take the calf back.

glumbert.com

I found this at Signal 94

What's Up With This Whole MIddle East Thing?

I'm just gonna steal this off the Rott, who got it from LC nerbygirl. (HT...HT)

Try this sight and get a condensed history of what is Israel and why it is.

Terrorism Awareness Program

The "New" Immigrant

I got this off of Charming Just Charming

New Immigrants
From: 'David LaBonte'

My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to 'print' it myself by sending it out on the Internet.
Pass it along if you feel so inclined.
Dave LaBonte (signed)

Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the Orange County Register:

Dear Editor:

So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.

Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.

They had waved good bye to their birthplace to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture.

Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany , Italy , France and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan . They were defending the United States of America as one people. When we liberated France , no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

And here we are in 2006 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.

And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty , it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.
(signed) Rosemary LaBonte


P. S. Pass this on to everyone you know!!!
KEEP THIS LETTER MOVING!!

Readin Pa. Needs More Gun Laws

Not if you ask the Sheriff. The mistake they keep making is asking the person who has to deal with the results of restriction of the 2nd Amendment.
By Kori Walter
Reading Eagle

Reading, PA - Berks County Sheriff Barry J. Jozwiak asked a panel of state lawmakers in Reading on Thursday to shoot down any legislation that would limit handgun purchases, claiming it would not curb crime or gun violence.

Jozwiak’s testimony before the state House Judiciary Committee in City Council chambers put him at odds with Reading Mayor Tom McMahon, Philadelphia lawmakers and others calling for tougher handgun laws in response to a rash of shootings and murders in Pennsylvania cities.

Jozwiak, a Republican, said he opposed a bill that would limit people to buying one handgun per month.

The money quote.

Instead of passing new gun laws, Jozwiak said, police and judges should enforce existing laws.

“Gun control does not reduce crime,” Jozwiak said. “In fact, criminals prefer their victims to be unarmed."

Of course it's not like the bozos sitting behind desks, with their added police patrols by their houses and state trooper escorts would ever listen to the guy that has to clean up after their diktat's everyday.

H/T rightwingprof

Is Paris Burning?

Well, at least her ears, cause I gonna talk about her and of course the MSM is going non-stop about it.

Sentenced to 45 days in Los Angeles County Jail (reduced to a "guaranteed minimum" of 24 for assumed good behavior) Paris is released after what is in the real world 3 days.

Oh yeah, she was "reassigned" to "House Arrest", but hell, if I could be forced to stay in a 4,000 sq. ft. house with maids, cooks and my friends able to come by, I'm going to go get myself arrested.

Why should I care about this? As far as Paris as a person I don't. She broke the law and should have to pay the penalty. exactly like some friends of mine.

One guy, busted righteously, got 2 weeks in L.A. County Mens Jail, before the pretty new Twin Towers. He spent (what they called) 4 days in. One FULL day to process in, 2 days of trying not to get noticed, and 36 hours processing out. They released him at 1:30 AM in the middle of downtown L.A. I know, because I picked him up. after he called me at around hour 30 that he needed a ride.

The other person (female) was sentenced to 12 days in Inyo County Jail (Bakersfeild), an exact duplicate of L.A. County, just smaller. She went in on a Friday and was released on Monday at 6:00 A.M. A short serve, but she cried the whole time she was in, and if they weren't overcrowded, she'd have been there longer. Nobody gave a damn what she felt.

Both these people are good, they screwed up, and they got what they deserved, maybe a little less, but no consideration was given to whether things where a little difficult while they were incarcerated factored in. They were there until the system decided to let them out.


With Paris, it's come down to the jail system doesn't want to look like it is actually punishing someone for ignoring the law and they just can't handle the deprivation, if I ever get busted for DUI, I'm gonna cry in my cell and get "reassigned to Paris' house with an ankle bracelet for the FULL term of my sentence.

Human Shield

I stole this directly from The Dread Pundit Bluto. When I saw it, I just had to pass it on.

An Iraqi child seeks safety behind an American soldier following a terrorist suicide attack.

Thanks to Gateway Pundit.

Congradulations Texas....It's Twins...Again

While inhaling lunch today (busy work day) I was watching Headline News on CNN and got this story, I can't find a link at CNN so this will have to do.

DALLAS (WFAA) -- When it comes to children, one Dallas mother knows about having them in pairs.
The odds are one in 500,000 but she gave birth to her third set of twins at Baylor University Medical Center.

[all emphasis mine]
Pretty long odds, not to mention:

She took no fertility drugs.

Of course I see no reason to do that if you've already had two set of twins, but here's where the story gets real good.

cares for four-year-old Natalie, three-year-old twins Adam and Sebastian and two-year-old twins Rachel and Raquel.

I'll do the math for you...that's a set every year.
Followed by:

The father of the latest set of twins hopes he's ready.

O.K., to me that reads this guy isn't the father of the previous four kids.
Now...the kicker

But with neither the 21-year-old father nor the 20-year-old mother employed -- all the children are supported by welfare -- the young family faces financial and emotional obstacles.

Six kids, 20 years old and unemployed and they face financial and emotional obstacles? Who'd a thunk it. (Obviously not them.)

Oh, and something you'll just have to take my word for, because it isn't in this article, She want to have at least TWELVE kids.

Not mentioned either in the cited article or mentioned on CNN was the immigration status of "young mom Amanda Gonzales", so I'm sure it wouldn't factor into the whole thing.

So once again, Congratulations Texas.

Another Broken Promise

I keep promising to post regularly, and what happens? Every time I think I got life under control, reality jumps up and smacks me a good one.

After 14 months of non-production at work (I work for an oil company, so non-production refers to barrels of oil produced, not necessarily what we're doing), we are finally starting to get things moving again. Of course we're two men short for even a minimum staff, and gee, the equipment that didn't work to well before...still doesn't work to well.

Lots of O.T., but I'm just so fricken tired, I can't even enjoy the extra income before my family spends it.

Of the five employed here, there is myself (who truly knows all and makes no mistakes), the foreman, and two new guys. One who thinks he knows how everything in the universe works (with no experience in the oil field) and will argue every procedure, and one guy who has experience, but seems to have major A.D.D., and the last guy, who broke his foot a month ago falling off a ladder and won't be back for another three weeks (thanks Workman's Comp..."how many pain killers do you want and come back next week").

I'm stressed and I'm strained and for the time being, no more promises of regular posts. I'm going to try, because I really do enjoy this cathartic exercise, but at this moment, it's just one to many things.

I see a light at the end of the tunnel....Ohh crap, it's a train.

I Normally Don't Do Endorsements

Long ago, when I first started reading blogs, I was going down the "Imperial Council" list at The Rott to see who the Emperor relied on for hearing the truth. Some of the links had been idle for some time, but then I ran into "Imperial Minister of Truth: Bill Whittle."

It is a series of essays on the American condition that were so dead on and written so well I was shamed to be even attempting to write my opinions on the same internet.

Shortly after I found "Eject! Eject! Eject!", Bill went on hiatus and deprived me of his concise view of what is right and wrong with our country.

Well he's back and writing as good as ever. He has a Two parter called "Sanctuary" (this is Part I of II), and another called "Tribes". Go and read them, they are worth your time.

The Endorsement:
If you like these I would suggest you buy his book "Silent America: The Second Edition" which has his past essays plus these latest essays.

Music - Live

A blog I drop by regularly listed all the concerts he had gone to and that got me trying to remember who I've seen back in the days when I could tolerate the hassle of going.

First Concert: Hollywood Bowl - 1967
John Mayall, Lee Michaels, Iron Butterfly
All 3 for $5.50...first time I smelled marijuana (wanted to know who was burning watermelons?) An aside: I just saw Iron Butterfly at a local "Street Fair" a couple of years ago....Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida, baby.

The Rest:
Led Zepplin twice

Lee Michaels again

Emerson, Lake and Palmer twice, once with god-awful Quad sound that was useless unless you were dead center in the arena. My girlfriend at the time was 5 feet tall and unless she was on my shoulders, couldn't see...a long concert.

David Bowie four times

Deep Purple (with Ian Gillian lead singer)


The ASU/Phoenix years:

Pink Floyd - "Animals/Wish You Were Here"

Blue Oyster Cult outside of 5 screaming lead guitars at the end, for some reason I don't remember much. (Mheh)

Dave Mason - small theater in the round with a rotating stage.

Pat Benatar - I just love her voice.

Al Stewart - "Year of the Cat", again at that small theater in the round.

Kiss - one of my frat bothers wanted to go, it was within walking distance on campus and why not. Turned out to be fun.

Frank Zappa - twice. Once in L.A.(with the Mothers of Invention) and once at ASU.

Queen - just one hell of a show. Freddie Mercury was a showman.

Since I've become a cranky old fart that hates crowds:

David Bowie - this concert is counted above, but he said it was the last time he was going to focus on all his old classics. It was at Dodger Stadium and I got tickets on the field about 20 rows back- center stage. The pisser was that a friend of mine, who could take or leave Bowie, got tickets for free 12 rows closer.

Bruce Springsteen - 3 times. My wife is a BIG Springsteen fan. Once at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum - Free tickets from a guy I think was trying to hit on my wife (sucker), we were so far from the stage we needed binoculars to see the "big screens", and twice in one month, once at the Pond in Anaheim, then 2 weeks later at Staples Center (my first and only time in a limo, paid for as a bonus by my wifes boss. If you've got a couple hundred extra to blow, that's the way to go).

I'm sure I've forgotten a couple either because I went with someone who wanted to go at the last minute and I was free, or something else could have fogged my memory. The ones I wish I had gone to and missed the chance:

The Who
Stones - No I won't go now
Beatles - There never really was the opportunity, I just missed.
Jimi Hendrix - no...really?

Biggest Regret:
The Doors: In 1968, I was in Jr. High and they played at my (soon-to-be) High School. I heard a really great band was going to play there, but fear of "the big kids" made me skip it.

May Day - An Actual Follow Up

I've often promised to do a follow up on a post and got sidetracked to where it wasn't pertinent anymore and dropped it. Not this time.

Picking up my paperwork for the drug test at the other site worked well, they said there were people everywhere in the morning. The staging area was bout two blocks north of my work site. I'm sure I passed the test as I made sure the have used only my finest drug, so they should be impressed with the high quality of my sample.

After depositing my sample with the clinic and starting into work, I heard on the radio that the parade was just starting, so by the time I got to work, most of the marchers had moved north. (I wonder why that direction was picked? Maybe it's a genetic thing and that's just the direction they have to move.)

What I did see was lots of street vendors selling American flags and those God-awful 3 foot plastic horns that they sell to the guy behind you at at sports arenas. All-in-all I wasn't affected by it to much, but one of the guys I work with went into the Jewelry District which was right in the middle of the whole thing to buy something for his new girlfriend, and all the stores had decided to close for the day. He says he may take that as a sign that maybe he should slow down with her a bit.

The bad side of this demonstration seems to have come at the after party get together. A couple thousand gathered at MacArthur Park and after a couple cervesas, decided to toss the empties at the cops. The news this morning said they hit a motorcycle officer in the head while he was riding by. This got the cops a tad PO'd and they decided the party had gone long enough. The order to disperse was given and they started herding the crowd towards the exits. The crowd didn't move and the police used rubber bullets and pushing to get them to comply. The reason for the crowd not complying, is being put forth, that the order was not given in a language they could understand. Number one, I would be willing to bet that the cops did give the order in both English and Spanish
, and what difference would it make if they didn't?

Today I read that the trouble makers weren't part of the community, that they were anarchists. Well hell, if you're going to associate yourself with these asshats, you are going to be rolled up with them when they do their thing. Look at who sponsored your little parade.

May Day

Or as I refer to it "National Socialism Day".

I just got a phone call from work a few hours ago to tell me I needed to come in early (Yeah OT) so I can can drive to the edge of the world to take a drug test. In itself no biggy, if they can't get readings from over 15 years ago, I'm OK, but shortly after I got off the phone with my Foreman, I caught the news and they were talking about the illegal immigrant protest for tomorrow in downtown L.A.

For the last two weeks there has been one of those fold-up road barricades sitting in the center divider of the street I work on warning about the street being closed. I was going to work at night and couldn't read all of it until a few days ago when there was nobody behind me and I could go slow and point my headlights at it. Yep, they were closing the street so the illegals could take a day off of work and protest that they had jobs.

Now, with this drug test, I would get the pleasure of driving through this crap, not once, but twice. I immediately called work to get directions and said I'd just go straight from home...nope gotta pick up the form signed by the Foreman.

We finally worked it out that I can pick up the form at our other site which is hopefully far enough away to be out of the clutter zone.

A couple of months ago there was a mini illegal rally and I watched a guy across the street selling American flags right and left and I'll admit, except for one asshole driving up and down the street in his '64 Cheby lowrider laying on his horn (obnoxious bastard) and waving a Mexi flag, I didn't see many, but that one was small and planned at the last minute. I'm waiting to see what tomorrow's looks like.

My hopes aren't high. Between the flashes of red realizing my commute was going to be a real bitch, some jerk off activist was explaining that the reason all these people were here was due to a conspiracy between "Big Corporations" the U.S., and the gov'ts of their home countries. The answer to this was for the U.S. gov't (not their home gov't) to create more jobs so the "Big Corporations" couldn't exploit the people.

May Day from Wikipedia:

The date consequently became established as an anarchist and socialist holiday during the 20th century, and in these circles it is often known as International Workers' Day or Labour Day. In this form, May Day has become an international celebration of the social and economic achievements of the working class and labor movement. [emp. - mine]

Building Trust

I was just listening to "Geraldo At Large" on Fox where they were discussing "sniching". The message was that the cops have to do more to create trust with the community, but how are the cops going to do anything when the people they need to talk to about a crime are just going to lie to them, or not give any pertinent information.

If you want the gangbangers out of your neighborhood, you have to tell the cops who the bad guys are.

This is just like having Iraq in our backyard. Somebody has to stand up and point at the guy that is dragging the rest of the area down, and someone has to stand up behind them and on and on.

The police want to do their job, but if they don't trust the info fed to them or they think you're lying to protect your cousin, nothing gets done.

Stand up and make your kids life better than yours.

If It Wasn't So Sad....

A couple of days ago the Emperor posted a bit "Burqa, Burqa Cucumber Jihad" from an article on Al-Queda's in Iraq's take on islamic law.

...al-Qaida has warned street vendors not to place tomatoes beside cucumbers because the vegetables are different genders, Col. David Sutherland said.

We had a good chuckle over the idiocy of this, and rightly so. These bozos seem to fear anything that could have a sexual connotation that I think it can be classified as psychotic. Then last night I ran into this news out of Iran:
Anger at Iran dress restrictions
By Frances Harrison
BBC News, Tehran

....Police say they stopped more than 1,300 women for dressing immodestly on the first day of the campaign in Tehran.

More than 100 women were arrested on Saturday; half of them had to sign statements promising to improve their clothing, the other half are being referred to court.

That really isn't unusual, for these goat molesters, they do this every year when it starts to get warm out. The part that points out the derangement involved with this whole thing was:

One foreign journalist was stopped and the police complained the photograph in her press card was indecent, even though it was taken by the Ministry of Islamic Guidance.

I'm just waiting for sharia law to go into effect in Fwance, Britain, Canada or Minnesota, whichever comes first, to watch the reactions of the women when they start having to run the gauntlets of morals police swinging at them with canes and writing tickets because their overcoat is to tight and you can kind of see where their waist might be.

Here you go ladies, the new spring fashion.

What's Right With Country

Country Music isn't my favorite, but there are quit a few songs that I enjoy. While I was cruising around last night, I came across this little speech that Jeff Foxworthy gave at the opening of the County Music Awards. It's a good summation of what I do like about the music. You'll have to go to Hot Air to see the video.



His speech reminded me of song I hadn't listened to in a while, so I headed over to YouTube and found it. It still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it.

Another Long Hiatus

Damn life just seems to keep getting in the way of important things like posting what's happening in my extremely exciting life and pontificating on the events in the world.

Work's been very busy and the projection of running the site at something close to it's capacity is a reality. However, it has required a bit of work to get the final pieces set up and we've been operating with minimum crew -1. One of my co-workers had the gall to fall and break his ankle, so we've had to work a lot of 12 hour days to cover his shift.

I had today off and go on graveyard shift tomorrow, so things should slow down and let me catch my breath. Check back and we'll see.

And thanks to those that wrote your condolences for my Dad. My brother wrote me a letter on his feelings, and if I get his permission, I will post it.

Dad

I've known it was going to happen sooner rather than later, but I still haven't been able to take in the news yet.

Just before 8:00 AM this morning my Father passed on. He was 89 years old. Two days ago he had a massive heart attack that put him back in the hospital, so I knew it was likely his time was real short. He had had like 5 minor attacks over the last few years, but they were so mild that they were only diagnosed through treating some other problem.

Dad's parents came over from England just before the turn of the century (1900) and settled in Northern California. His Dad was a carpenter who built a large part of the town of Fortuna California and had the misfortune to step on a nail and get tetanus when my Dad was five. The vaccine was newly discovered, but had to be brought up from San Francisco and it just took to long.

He grew up as the baby of the family through the Depression with a single mother, two brothers and three sisters.

He and one of his brothers ran a radio repair shop for a while, then he went to college. He never finished due to WWII, enlisting in the Army Air Corp as a radioman and served in the Pacific.

After the war, he sent to work in the aero-space industry, working for McDonnell Douglas, JPL, Space General/Aerojet General, and Hughes. His work was always "classified", so I never knew what he specifically did. I knew he had worked on a early seeker torpedo, so I just assumed he was involved with radar and guidance.

Every year he would "disappear" for two weeks to do testing up at Vandenburg. We didn't "know" he where he was and had to call his office to leave a message to have him call us back if we needed him. Course when he brought back pictures of the fields of wild flowers blooming we could guess where he a gone.

My Dad's finger prints are on the moon. Some component that went into the lander was worked on by his team, and just before it absolutely had to be shipped they found out something hadn't been plugged in properly, so they told him to go into the clean room and open it up and re-hook it, no gloves, no bunny suit, just get it done. I guess it worked OK.

He was always there for us, providing what we needed, and giving us more than we probably deserved. The only time you couldn't find him was Sundays. My Mom, brother and I are night people and never got up before 10-11 AM, Dad was long gone. He would take MY dog, Tori, get in his '59 VW bug and hit the road. It was just his time for himself.

I'll miss him so much. I just thank God I was able to see him two months ago and tell him I loved him.