Well that is what I bought today for the baby Bearded Dragons; but for me and the family (at least for Brendan and I because we were the only ones who ate supper) it was grilled steak.
I sprinkled the steaks with a good dusting of garlic powder, and a dash or two of salt, then grilled them to just about perfection, then smothered them in Peter Lugar's special sauce and some BBQ sauce too, then grilled a few more minutes on each side until they were perfect. Before throwing them on the plates, I also took some Italian Bread, toasted on the grill. Once the steak was ready, I took the bread, threw it on the plate next to the steak, and smothered it with my own concoction of a couple of teaspoons of vinegar (both Cider and White), a tablespoon of olive oil, about 1/34 tsp of garlic powder, salt to taste, a few leave of fresh and finely minced basil, diced yellow, red plum, and cherry tomatoes, some onion flakes, a diced sweet banana pepper, along with half of a diced jalapeno pepper - and man was that delicious. The peppers, tomatoes and basil were all from our garden. Of course we also had sides of my wife's homemade macaroni, and three bean salads. Truly an enjoyable repast, maybe especially since I washed it all down with a lemonade spiked with a couple of ounces of vodka. Followed that all up with a few chunks of cantaloupe. Man it was ever so good; and I am truly satiated.
The meal was made even better because it was absolutely beautiful outside today; it was probably about 80 or so when we sat down to eat, and there was a slight breeze to keep it extra nice for us under our Dogwood and Mulberry trees, and under absolutely clear blue skies. While the ladies did not eat, they just got back from a shopping trip and had eaten out,Celina treated Linda; their company at the supper table was well appreciated. It was nice to have all four of us together for a meal for a change.
Now that I am well stuffed and happy, hopefully I will not fall asleep before I figure out something else to blog about for this evening. But if I do nod off, I promise to dream about something to blog about tomorrow.
All the best,
Glenn B
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
VP Running Mates For John McCain - Ballseye's Short List
Yeah I know, I have slammed McCain on his recent choices for consideration as his running mate for the November election while at the same time not offering up any name of potential running mates I think he should consider. Well there are quite a few I can think of, but only very few one whom I will suggest. Now because of my position as a federal agent, I am forbidden by law from campaigning for a candidate. Yet I can express my opinion of them, and therefore can express my opinion about whom I think should be in the running, so here goes:
Condoleeza Rice - For some reason she does not want to run, at least did not want to run for the presidency, but I for one only can hope (and write emails expressing my hope to John McCain and the Republican Party) she would run for the vice presidency by McCain's side.
What are the qualities that I believe make her a good potential candidate for the vice presidency? First of all, she is fairly conservative, this alone makes her a much better choice than some of the names the McCain campaign has dangled in front of our faces recently. In fact, she used to be a registered Democrat, then she changed her political affiliation to that of the Republican Party when she experienced the racism that is enmeshed in Democrat Party, and after she fell out with the politics of that party because of the actions of then President Jimmy Carter. In other words, she matured politically, she grew up and became a responsible adult as opposed to a whining leftist.
She is an intelligent and well educated woman, and her through her education she has geared herself toward a lifetime dedicated to politics and diplomacy. Her BA degree was in Political Science. Her Master's Degree likewise. Her PhD in the same major. Her dissertation was done on military policy and politics in then Czechoslovakia. Her career has included university teaching at Stanford, where she specialized in teaching about the Soviet Union.
During the Reagan presidency, Dr. Rice served as Special Assistant Director to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1989 when George H.W. Bush was elected to the presidency, Rice was asked by National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft to become his expert on the Soviet Union. Under George H.W. Bush, she served as Director of Soviet and Eastern European Affairs in the National Security Counsel. This was no small task as this was at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In the early 1990s, Rice became an advisor to Chevron Oil at that time at the urging of George P. Schultz. She was so successful in help Chevron accomplish a huge deal in the Soviet Union that they later named a super tanker in her honor. At the same time, she went back to and continued working for Stanford University so as not to lose tenure. While at Stanford she was recommenced to replace the outgoing university president. While she was not selected for that position, the new president of Stanford picked her to become the Provost of Stanford - in other words to become it chief financial and business officer. So as she rolled along in her career she not only showed great promise in the political arena, but also gained experience in the business world. This was in about 1993. When she took the position of Provost, Stanford was running a $20 million budget deficit. She promised to balance the school's budget within 2 years - something that many believed was impossible to ever accomplish. Well she said she would do it, and that is what she did. The budget was not only balanced within 2 years, but the school had over a $14 million surplus for the firs time ever. While there at Stanford acting as provost she also broke from tradition and did not use affirmative action in tenure decisions.
Throughout the rest of the 1990s she continued to teach at Stanford, and also continued to work in the public sector as a national security advisor regarding mainly the former Soviet Bloc. In 2000, Dr. Rice became the foreign policy advisor of George W. Bush. Late in 2000, Dr. Rice was selected to become President Bush's National Security Advisor, she was the first woman to hold this post. She was dubbed Warrior Princess because of her ability to act demurely while at the same time remaining steadfastly resolute and having nerves of steel. Does 'Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick' have any similarity to this type of attitude. At this appointment, she departed from her position at Stanford, and she dedicated herself 100% to the United States of America.
Can you imagine that, a former democrat, a woman, an African American saying no to affirmative action! Are you beginning to see the picture. This person is a self made success story, one with the smarts, and the education, and so far some of the experience needed to become president, let alone vice president. Since being so appointed she has supported the war in Afghanistan, has supported the war in Iraq, has remained loyal to President Bush, and to America, has remained in office and has upheld her political and career convictions (as opposed to others like Colin Powell who turned tail and ran at the first sign of turbulence in the White House). She has not always made the right decisions, many have been faulted such as those about believing Iraq had WMD. Yet those decisions were based upon faulty intelligence and were believed by all involved across party lines at the time. The fact is that she recovered, and did not turn tail and cut herself away from the Bush administration, but instead remained there to make the best of what otherwise could have been a much worse situation.
In 2005, Dr. Rice became the first African American Woman, the second African American, and the second woman to hold that position. She believes in supporting basic human rights for all people, and in that regard she has been and remains a proponent of Democratic forms of government, and this is nowhere less obvious than in the Middle East. She is also a brave woman. She has repeatedly traveled to dangerous hot spots around spreading diplomacy as Secretary of State. It seems she is living up to the moniker of Warrior Princess. While in service of our nation she has visited over 70 countries. This includes repeated visits to Afghanistan and Iraq (where indeed she has visited the troops), and recently to war torn Georgia. She is also a strong supporter of the war on terrorism.
She is no stranger to domestic issues. She has a stance on abortion that would make some on the far right cringe, but my bet is that the middle of the road republican, even those middle of the road democrats, would find her stance reasonable. While she is opposed to late term and partial birth abortion, she does not believe government should play the role in the abortion issue that it has played. She is opposed to federal funding of abortion. She has called herself: "mildly pro-choice" but yet she has also said this in relation to abortion: "...we have to respect the culture of life and we have to try and bring people to have respect for it and make this as rare a circumstance as possible..."
Condoleeza Rice is no stranger to foreign policy. She is an accomplished executive officer with much experience as one. She geared her education toward politics not toward a law degree as do many politicians. She is and has been a member of the Republican and Democratic parties, and therefore has first hand experience with those from both sides of the aisle as she was at one time or another on each of those sides. She is tenacious at getting done what needs to be done. She is loyal. She is soft spoken, and tries the diplomatic approach; but she is ready to shut up and put up when need be, and if that means a fight to protect our interests, she is willing.
In 2004, Forbes magazine called her the most powerful woman in the world. In 2007, while speaking to a group of school children she was asked how it felt to be so powerful. She replied: "Sometimes you don't feel all that powerful."
Yes, she would be my number one suggestion to John McCain as to whom to consider for his running mate. She is number one on the Ballseye short list of ice presidential nominees for the Republican Party. As a matter of fact, the more I think of it, the sadder it is that she also told those same school children she would not run for the presidency. Too bad, she would have beaten all of the competition hands down from what I can tell. She is certainly the most qualified person to become a presidential or vice presidential candidate that I have seen in decades. If only the claim in this article was true. One can hope though, and I still hope that McCain comes to his senses and look to her.
There is a lot more to her than I have written abut above. Go to my sources, find your own sources, read up on her. I think you will agree she is vice presidential material at the very east; and if she serves as vice president my guess would be she would also serve as a future president of these United States.
I will put my money where my mouth is regarding the above. Should Senator McCain choose Secretary Rice as his running mate, I will make the largest political contribution I have ever made to his campaign, and it will be sizable for me as allowed by law. Not only do I envision McCain as a winner with Rice by his side, but I believe that with her as VP we as Americans would all be winners. I would vote for McCain if he chooses Rice. If he chooses Lieberman or Ridge, he can forget about my vote. As for you, make up your own mind, cast your ballot for whom you want, but please try to do so wisely after having given it some serious consideration.
All the best,
Glenn B
References:
http://www.state.gov/secretary/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/ricebio.html
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Condoleeza_Rice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condoleezza_Rice (much of the above info came from this article)
Condoleeza Rice - For some reason she does not want to run, at least did not want to run for the presidency, but I for one only can hope (and write emails expressing my hope to John McCain and the Republican Party) she would run for the vice presidency by McCain's side. What are the qualities that I believe make her a good potential candidate for the vice presidency? First of all, she is fairly conservative, this alone makes her a much better choice than some of the names the McCain campaign has dangled in front of our faces recently. In fact, she used to be a registered Democrat, then she changed her political affiliation to that of the Republican Party when she experienced the racism that is enmeshed in Democrat Party, and after she fell out with the politics of that party because of the actions of then President Jimmy Carter. In other words, she matured politically, she grew up and became a responsible adult as opposed to a whining leftist.
She is an intelligent and well educated woman, and her through her education she has geared herself toward a lifetime dedicated to politics and diplomacy. Her BA degree was in Political Science. Her Master's Degree likewise. Her PhD in the same major. Her dissertation was done on military policy and politics in then Czechoslovakia. Her career has included university teaching at Stanford, where she specialized in teaching about the Soviet Union.
During the Reagan presidency, Dr. Rice served as Special Assistant Director to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1989 when George H.W. Bush was elected to the presidency, Rice was asked by National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft to become his expert on the Soviet Union. Under George H.W. Bush, she served as Director of Soviet and Eastern European Affairs in the National Security Counsel. This was no small task as this was at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In the early 1990s, Rice became an advisor to Chevron Oil at that time at the urging of George P. Schultz. She was so successful in help Chevron accomplish a huge deal in the Soviet Union that they later named a super tanker in her honor. At the same time, she went back to and continued working for Stanford University so as not to lose tenure. While at Stanford she was recommenced to replace the outgoing university president. While she was not selected for that position, the new president of Stanford picked her to become the Provost of Stanford - in other words to become it chief financial and business officer. So as she rolled along in her career she not only showed great promise in the political arena, but also gained experience in the business world. This was in about 1993. When she took the position of Provost, Stanford was running a $20 million budget deficit. She promised to balance the school's budget within 2 years - something that many believed was impossible to ever accomplish. Well she said she would do it, and that is what she did. The budget was not only balanced within 2 years, but the school had over a $14 million surplus for the firs time ever. While there at Stanford acting as provost she also broke from tradition and did not use affirmative action in tenure decisions.
Throughout the rest of the 1990s she continued to teach at Stanford, and also continued to work in the public sector as a national security advisor regarding mainly the former Soviet Bloc. In 2000, Dr. Rice became the foreign policy advisor of George W. Bush. Late in 2000, Dr. Rice was selected to become President Bush's National Security Advisor, she was the first woman to hold this post. She was dubbed Warrior Princess because of her ability to act demurely while at the same time remaining steadfastly resolute and having nerves of steel. Does 'Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick' have any similarity to this type of attitude. At this appointment, she departed from her position at Stanford, and she dedicated herself 100% to the United States of America.
Can you imagine that, a former democrat, a woman, an African American saying no to affirmative action! Are you beginning to see the picture. This person is a self made success story, one with the smarts, and the education, and so far some of the experience needed to become president, let alone vice president. Since being so appointed she has supported the war in Afghanistan, has supported the war in Iraq, has remained loyal to President Bush, and to America, has remained in office and has upheld her political and career convictions (as opposed to others like Colin Powell who turned tail and ran at the first sign of turbulence in the White House). She has not always made the right decisions, many have been faulted such as those about believing Iraq had WMD. Yet those decisions were based upon faulty intelligence and were believed by all involved across party lines at the time. The fact is that she recovered, and did not turn tail and cut herself away from the Bush administration, but instead remained there to make the best of what otherwise could have been a much worse situation.
In 2005, Dr. Rice became the first African American Woman, the second African American, and the second woman to hold that position. She believes in supporting basic human rights for all people, and in that regard she has been and remains a proponent of Democratic forms of government, and this is nowhere less obvious than in the Middle East. She is also a brave woman. She has repeatedly traveled to dangerous hot spots around spreading diplomacy as Secretary of State. It seems she is living up to the moniker of Warrior Princess. While in service of our nation she has visited over 70 countries. This includes repeated visits to Afghanistan and Iraq (where indeed she has visited the troops), and recently to war torn Georgia. She is also a strong supporter of the war on terrorism.
She is no stranger to domestic issues. She has a stance on abortion that would make some on the far right cringe, but my bet is that the middle of the road republican, even those middle of the road democrats, would find her stance reasonable. While she is opposed to late term and partial birth abortion, she does not believe government should play the role in the abortion issue that it has played. She is opposed to federal funding of abortion. She has called herself: "mildly pro-choice" but yet she has also said this in relation to abortion: "...we have to respect the culture of life and we have to try and bring people to have respect for it and make this as rare a circumstance as possible..."
Condoleeza Rice is no stranger to foreign policy. She is an accomplished executive officer with much experience as one. She geared her education toward politics not toward a law degree as do many politicians. She is and has been a member of the Republican and Democratic parties, and therefore has first hand experience with those from both sides of the aisle as she was at one time or another on each of those sides. She is tenacious at getting done what needs to be done. She is loyal. She is soft spoken, and tries the diplomatic approach; but she is ready to shut up and put up when need be, and if that means a fight to protect our interests, she is willing.
In 2004, Forbes magazine called her the most powerful woman in the world. In 2007, while speaking to a group of school children she was asked how it felt to be so powerful. She replied: "Sometimes you don't feel all that powerful."
Yes, she would be my number one suggestion to John McCain as to whom to consider for his running mate. She is number one on the Ballseye short list of ice presidential nominees for the Republican Party. As a matter of fact, the more I think of it, the sadder it is that she also told those same school children she would not run for the presidency. Too bad, she would have beaten all of the competition hands down from what I can tell. She is certainly the most qualified person to become a presidential or vice presidential candidate that I have seen in decades. If only the claim in this article was true. One can hope though, and I still hope that McCain comes to his senses and look to her.
There is a lot more to her than I have written abut above. Go to my sources, find your own sources, read up on her. I think you will agree she is vice presidential material at the very east; and if she serves as vice president my guess would be she would also serve as a future president of these United States.
I will put my money where my mouth is regarding the above. Should Senator McCain choose Secretary Rice as his running mate, I will make the largest political contribution I have ever made to his campaign, and it will be sizable for me as allowed by law. Not only do I envision McCain as a winner with Rice by his side, but I believe that with her as VP we as Americans would all be winners. I would vote for McCain if he chooses Rice. If he chooses Lieberman or Ridge, he can forget about my vote. As for you, make up your own mind, cast your ballot for whom you want, but please try to do so wisely after having given it some serious consideration.
All the best,
Glenn B
References:
http://www.state.gov/secretary/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/ricebio.html
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Condoleeza_Rice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condoleezza_Rice (much of the above info came from this article)
The Glock 26 Hole In My Pocket
Well all I can say is that somehow the almost $600 I needed to purchase the Glock 26 smoldered slowly enough inside my pocket to actually only burn a hole in it once the paperwork was signed by my supervisor. In other words, I made it to the post office, without spending a dime of that money elsewhere, and then bought the postal money order for $545.56. That price covers the purchase of a new Glock 26, one extra magazine, Tritium Night Sights,, shipping and sales tax. I mailed out the money order minutes after I purchased it. So the check, so to speak, is in the mail. Now I have to remember to contact Glock tell them my money order is on the way, and then tell them I forgot to mention in the order that I would like the 5 pound trigger pull, not the 8 pound.
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
Thursday, August 14, 2008
McCain Considering Tom Ridge For Running Mate
Here it is right off of the FoxNews.com home page:
"McCain floats the prospect of choosing a running mate who supports abortion rights, saying former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge is someone worth considering."
Please tell me he is only kidding. Tom Ridge is, in my opinion, a less than desirable candidate. Tom Ridge was an early appointee to be Secretary for Homeland Security. He, in my opinion, totally destroyed what was one of the best long term anti-money laundering investigations in world history by taking away from U.S. Customs Agents, soon to become ICE agents, virtually all authority to investigate any money laundering offense related to terrorism. U.S. Customs Special Agents had seized tens of millions of dollars from suspected and known terrorists supporters, and from terrorists themselves. Ridge took that authority away from these agents, gave it to the FBI, and the FBI in essence dropped the ball and the investigation. After that, the Customs Agents who were then assimilated in Immigration and Customs Enforcement under DHS were not even allowed to ever again use the name of the operation that they had made such a success. Ridge reportedly gave it all away by agreeing to and signing a memorandum of understanding with the FBI, an agreement mind you that took away an awful lot of authority from the newly formed DHS, specifically from ICE and gave it to the FBI. Can you imagine the DHS not being allowed to investigate terrorism unless they first checked in with the FBI to see if the FBI wanted dibs on the case. Why have a Department of Homeland Security in the first palce? As far as I could see from where I sat, the rest of his time in command of DHS wrought similar tragedies. This man did not even know how to run a department like DHS in a well oiled manner, now McCain is considering him for his VP running mate!
If it were not so sad when it comes to the possible running mates whom McCain is considering it would be laughable. Still though, I imagine this man would be a better choice than would be Lieberman, Then again but let's get serious, and hope that so too does McCain. If you don't start writing to the McCain campaign telling him to choose a better running mate than those he has been considering then we will get a much less than desirable man as VP if they win - and it will be your fault as much as McCain's. You can shape whom he picks, write to him, tell him to consider someone with a sterling reputation, and someone who knows how to get the job done the right way, someone who stands for Republican ethics and ideals. Don't you get it - you are the voters. You should be telling him what type of running mate to select, not him telling us. Let's hope McCain gets it before it is too late; and the only way he will get it is if you start hammering away at the keyboard and sending him emails and letters telling him to look 'right' for his running mate. Well that's my opinion anyhow. It is up to you as the voters to act.
All the best,
GB
"McCain floats the prospect of choosing a running mate who supports abortion rights, saying former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge is someone worth considering."
Please tell me he is only kidding. Tom Ridge is, in my opinion, a less than desirable candidate. Tom Ridge was an early appointee to be Secretary for Homeland Security. He, in my opinion, totally destroyed what was one of the best long term anti-money laundering investigations in world history by taking away from U.S. Customs Agents, soon to become ICE agents, virtually all authority to investigate any money laundering offense related to terrorism. U.S. Customs Special Agents had seized tens of millions of dollars from suspected and known terrorists supporters, and from terrorists themselves. Ridge took that authority away from these agents, gave it to the FBI, and the FBI in essence dropped the ball and the investigation. After that, the Customs Agents who were then assimilated in Immigration and Customs Enforcement under DHS were not even allowed to ever again use the name of the operation that they had made such a success. Ridge reportedly gave it all away by agreeing to and signing a memorandum of understanding with the FBI, an agreement mind you that took away an awful lot of authority from the newly formed DHS, specifically from ICE and gave it to the FBI. Can you imagine the DHS not being allowed to investigate terrorism unless they first checked in with the FBI to see if the FBI wanted dibs on the case. Why have a Department of Homeland Security in the first palce? As far as I could see from where I sat, the rest of his time in command of DHS wrought similar tragedies. This man did not even know how to run a department like DHS in a well oiled manner, now McCain is considering him for his VP running mate!
If it were not so sad when it comes to the possible running mates whom McCain is considering it would be laughable. Still though, I imagine this man would be a better choice than would be Lieberman, Then again but let's get serious, and hope that so too does McCain. If you don't start writing to the McCain campaign telling him to choose a better running mate than those he has been considering then we will get a much less than desirable man as VP if they win - and it will be your fault as much as McCain's. You can shape whom he picks, write to him, tell him to consider someone with a sterling reputation, and someone who knows how to get the job done the right way, someone who stands for Republican ethics and ideals. Don't you get it - you are the voters. You should be telling him what type of running mate to select, not him telling us. Let's hope McCain gets it before it is too late; and the only way he will get it is if you start hammering away at the keyboard and sending him emails and letters telling him to look 'right' for his running mate. Well that's my opinion anyhow. It is up to you as the voters to act.
All the best,
GB
Monday, August 11, 2008
Hi Rita!
If you all don't know, Rita from The Jungle Hut has just moved down to Paraguay. I am pretty sure that this hit on my site was her checking on my blog. I mean, it's not like I know anyne else down at that end of the world who suddenly decided to check out my rants!
So, I just wanted to take a moment here on my blog to wish Rita and her family a safe, happy and rewarding time in their new home and with their new ministry in Paraguay.
All the best,
Glenn B
I Will Write To McCain - I Hope To Help Put An End To This Now
McCain is, in my opinion, considering ruining the Republican Party and all for which it has stood and for which it stands with his consideration of Lieberman for a running mate. I hit on this days ago here, and I will pull my support for McCain and for all other Republicans this election day if he chooses an ultra liberal Democrat like Lieberman as his running mate. I do not care if that means Obama wins. You see even if McCain wins with Lieberman, the Republican Party will have been devastated and so will the United States of America just as soundly as if Obama wins. The Republican Party had best wake up to the fact that it has a base of voters who will not stand for mavericks who go completely over to the dark side. If that means letting Obama win, so be it.
I had thought McCain had backbone, and respect for many of the more conservative issues, but if he picks Lieberman he will have shown us otherwise. It will have show us a truly bizarre side to him - his liberal Democrat side. I am going to write to his campaign now, and write to the GOP now. I am going to protest the fact that he has even gone as far as to simply consider Lieberman. I will tell them my money stops coming in if he chooses Lieberman. If many people do just that, well I imagine then you could just watch how fast he deselects him from consideration.
If you are not convinced that you may need to do something about this, look at this quote from the above linked article:
""Conservatives would be p---ed as hell - I think you would have a revolt, but sometimes John does what John wants to do," the adviser said."
Well how about Senator McCain doing what the Republican voters want him to do? Isn't it us whom he is supposed to represent! It is about time he started representing we Republicans, and not giving in to his tendency to have a fit and then placate himself in whatever manner he chooses to further spoil himself rotten all so he can be a maverick. He ran as a Republican, now let him start acting like one; and this is coming from me who is only a fairly moderate conservative at that. I think that if others do not wake up to see the devastation a vice president like Lieberman would bring to the Republican ticket and Republican Party, well then the Republican Party is lost as are many of the Republican Ideals upon which said party once stood. You see, it cannot be victory at any cost because once we win at any cost we give up our ideals. When we do that in an ideological contest, such as is a political election, we have defeated ourselves win, lose or draw. It is exactly what I believe McCain is now considering in order to come out on top in the election. Shame on him, he will not be worthy of at least my vote if he does so.
All the best,
Glenn B
I had thought McCain had backbone, and respect for many of the more conservative issues, but if he picks Lieberman he will have shown us otherwise. It will have show us a truly bizarre side to him - his liberal Democrat side. I am going to write to his campaign now, and write to the GOP now. I am going to protest the fact that he has even gone as far as to simply consider Lieberman. I will tell them my money stops coming in if he chooses Lieberman. If many people do just that, well I imagine then you could just watch how fast he deselects him from consideration.
If you are not convinced that you may need to do something about this, look at this quote from the above linked article:
""Conservatives would be p---ed as hell - I think you would have a revolt, but sometimes John does what John wants to do," the adviser said."
Well how about Senator McCain doing what the Republican voters want him to do? Isn't it us whom he is supposed to represent! It is about time he started representing we Republicans, and not giving in to his tendency to have a fit and then placate himself in whatever manner he chooses to further spoil himself rotten all so he can be a maverick. He ran as a Republican, now let him start acting like one; and this is coming from me who is only a fairly moderate conservative at that. I think that if others do not wake up to see the devastation a vice president like Lieberman would bring to the Republican ticket and Republican Party, well then the Republican Party is lost as are many of the Republican Ideals upon which said party once stood. You see, it cannot be victory at any cost because once we win at any cost we give up our ideals. When we do that in an ideological contest, such as is a political election, we have defeated ourselves win, lose or draw. It is exactly what I believe McCain is now considering in order to come out on top in the election. Shame on him, he will not be worthy of at least my vote if he does so.
All the best,
Glenn B
Mossberg M-44 U.S. - Why Did These Have To Go On Sale Now?
That is as in now when I have just put together the cash to buy a Glock 26 direct from Glock? The temptation is almost overwhelming to buy two of the Mossbergs instead of the Glock 26, and about the only factor that keeps me from doing so is the fact that when I retire next year (and it looks like the end of next year, or the first 2 days of January 2010, for sure) I will probably have a hard time again ever purchasing a pistol being that I live in the godforsaken, and Schumerite -Clintonite plagued state of NY. Yes the idea of buying two of these is still quite tempting even though, or maybe because, I already own one of them. The Mossberg M-44 U.S. is just one heck of a nice rifle. Gosh-darn the CMP's lousy timing on this one, and for getting me all worked up like this! (By the way if you just clicked on the CMP link, and have been to the CMP before, you will notice the new look of their website. Bookmark it, it is also a new web address.)
The M-44 I bought from the CMP (pictured) was my first purchase from them. Heck I think it may have been my only purchase from them so far. It was well worth whatever I paid for it, and I am pretty sure it was under the current selling price they have now of $175 plus shipping of $22.95. If you want one of these, and I highly recommend them, you need to follow the CMP rules for a purchase, and that means among other things that you must be a member of a CMP affiliated club (as in an affiliated rifle or pistol club). You also have to prove you are 18 or older, and that you are a United States Citizen (imagine that you actually need to be a citizen - I like it). You also need to prove that you have had marksmanship or other firearms experience.
The Mossberg M-44 U.S. is a bolt action rifle chambered for the .22 round. It will, if I remember right, accept .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle rounds. It is a hefty .22 rifle coming in at just over 8 pounds, and having a length of about 43 inches. They load from a 7 round box magazine; however, the magazines do not come with the rifle - though they are available for separate purchase. As with mine, the ones they now have for sale are pretty old. I think they were manufactured in the 1940s. They used a plastic trigger guard, and many of those have shrunken and cracked with age (replacements are available commercially). Otherwise they are supposed to be in pretty good shape. If mine, the one I bought a few years ago, is any indication, then I have to say the CMP assigned grade of NRA Very Good is an understatement. Mine was in Fine to Excellent condition with Parkerized finish on the metal and an oil stain on the wood. The rear sight currently coming with them is a Mossberg peep sight, and the front sight appears to be a post variety (as is on mine).
I have seen these same rifles sell at well over $400 apiece. Hmm, did I say I was considering buying 2 of them (darn that thing with the Glock 26, gosh darn the CMP's timing on this). I have to imagine that these will sell out with a few months at most, they are in limited supply. Oh well, now you know about them, and maybe you will be able to do something nice for yourself and pick one of these up. If you are willing to take a tip from a guy called Ballseye, then go ahead splurge on yourself, because in my estimation they are well worth every penny.
All the best,
Glenn B
The M-44 I bought from the CMP (pictured) was my first purchase from them. Heck I think it may have been my only purchase from them so far. It was well worth whatever I paid for it, and I am pretty sure it was under the current selling price they have now of $175 plus shipping of $22.95. If you want one of these, and I highly recommend them, you need to follow the CMP rules for a purchase, and that means among other things that you must be a member of a CMP affiliated club (as in an affiliated rifle or pistol club). You also have to prove you are 18 or older, and that you are a United States Citizen (imagine that you actually need to be a citizen - I like it). You also need to prove that you have had marksmanship or other firearms experience.
The Mossberg M-44 U.S. is a bolt action rifle chambered for the .22 round. It will, if I remember right, accept .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle rounds. It is a hefty .22 rifle coming in at just over 8 pounds, and having a length of about 43 inches. They load from a 7 round box magazine; however, the magazines do not come with the rifle - though they are available for separate purchase. As with mine, the ones they now have for sale are pretty old. I think they were manufactured in the 1940s. They used a plastic trigger guard, and many of those have shrunken and cracked with age (replacements are available commercially). Otherwise they are supposed to be in pretty good shape. If mine, the one I bought a few years ago, is any indication, then I have to say the CMP assigned grade of NRA Very Good is an understatement. Mine was in Fine to Excellent condition with Parkerized finish on the metal and an oil stain on the wood. The rear sight currently coming with them is a Mossberg peep sight, and the front sight appears to be a post variety (as is on mine).
I have seen these same rifles sell at well over $400 apiece. Hmm, did I say I was considering buying 2 of them (darn that thing with the Glock 26, gosh darn the CMP's timing on this). I have to imagine that these will sell out with a few months at most, they are in limited supply. Oh well, now you know about them, and maybe you will be able to do something nice for yourself and pick one of these up. If you are willing to take a tip from a guy called Ballseye, then go ahead splurge on yourself, because in my estimation they are well worth every penny.
All the best,
Glenn B
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Fate, Karma, Providence - call it what you will
There is an old saying that goes: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.
Well yesterday I did what I thought was a good deed. Yesterday, I went out of my way to the old neighborhood, to a bakery to pick up a treat that my wife loves. I wanted to surprise her, and when she wakes up later this morning she will have a tasty treat waiting for her.
Before I headed home from the bakery, I figured I would stop to see a friend. As soon as we met, he told me that another dear friend’s father had passed, and the son of that same friend and his ex-wife, who is also a dear friend of mine, had also passed. Both departing this world within the last two weeks, about a week apart from one another.
So I went to see my other friend, his ex, and all the others who were gathered to grieve. And I grieved with his family and loved ones. As fate would have it I wound up there right after the funeral for the lost son.
Now you may look at this, and then may agree that indeed no good deed goes unpunished; and that my good deed was outweighed by bad fortune. Yet, I have to tell you without a shadow of a doubt, I was not punished but was a lucky man. By chance of something I tried to do for another, I was there where I could help when dear friends needed comfort, and when the comfort of my presence was all I could offer. Call it fate, karma, luck, providence. Call it what you will; but my doing a nice thing put me in the right place, at the right time, to do what little I could to comfort some friends.
I am one heck of a lucky man, and I guess I’ll have to admit, at least in this case, my good deed did not go unrewarded. My reward was being there, and comforting my friends, doing what little I could do for them at this sad time, that was more than I deserved, and it meant more to me than you could imagine. You see they had lost my phone number, and no one had called me to let me know what had happened. It is funny how things sometimes play out, how you are sometimes faced with totally unexpected consequences of your actions, and how sometimes things just turn out for the best, even when you are suddenly faced with worst, all because of something seemingly unrelated that you did. It s exactly how my day went, and it was about as far from what I had planned as I could have imagined; but I have to admit, it was good to be there for my friends in their time of need, certainly more than I expected and more than I deserved.
All the best,
Glenn B
Well yesterday I did what I thought was a good deed. Yesterday, I went out of my way to the old neighborhood, to a bakery to pick up a treat that my wife loves. I wanted to surprise her, and when she wakes up later this morning she will have a tasty treat waiting for her.
Before I headed home from the bakery, I figured I would stop to see a friend. As soon as we met, he told me that another dear friend’s father had passed, and the son of that same friend and his ex-wife, who is also a dear friend of mine, had also passed. Both departing this world within the last two weeks, about a week apart from one another.
So I went to see my other friend, his ex, and all the others who were gathered to grieve. And I grieved with his family and loved ones. As fate would have it I wound up there right after the funeral for the lost son.
Now you may look at this, and then may agree that indeed no good deed goes unpunished; and that my good deed was outweighed by bad fortune. Yet, I have to tell you without a shadow of a doubt, I was not punished but was a lucky man. By chance of something I tried to do for another, I was there where I could help when dear friends needed comfort, and when the comfort of my presence was all I could offer. Call it fate, karma, luck, providence. Call it what you will; but my doing a nice thing put me in the right place, at the right time, to do what little I could to comfort some friends.
I am one heck of a lucky man, and I guess I’ll have to admit, at least in this case, my good deed did not go unrewarded. My reward was being there, and comforting my friends, doing what little I could do for them at this sad time, that was more than I deserved, and it meant more to me than you could imagine. You see they had lost my phone number, and no one had called me to let me know what had happened. It is funny how things sometimes play out, how you are sometimes faced with totally unexpected consequences of your actions, and how sometimes things just turn out for the best, even when you are suddenly faced with worst, all because of something seemingly unrelated that you did. It s exactly how my day went, and it was about as far from what I had planned as I could have imagined; but I have to admit, it was good to be there for my friends in their time of need, certainly more than I expected and more than I deserved.
All the best,
Glenn B
Friday, August 8, 2008
I Am A Blooming Idiot...
...and now I am going to keep you all in suspense until at least Tuesday or Wednesday to tell you why I just wrote that. I can say, that within the past two or three days, I have quite possibly screwed myself royally because of a momentary lapse of paying attention to details - or in other words because of my having been an idiot. More info later, because whether or not I really screwed myself, or just pulled a boner, will now depend upon whether or not someone else is honest and does the ethical thing when that person realizes my foul up. It should be quite obvious to the other party involved that I messed up. Of course had I been paying attention it would have been obvious to me before it was too late so to speak. Hopefully someone else will be more attentive to detail than was I, and then will be honest and ethical about it. Time will tell.
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
For The First Time In Decades - I Will Refuse To Vote...
...well at least if McCain chooses Joseph Lieberman as his running mate; and that is the 'rumor' I heard on a radio talk show yesterday or the day before. I know, I have said all along that while I do not think him my candidate of choice, a vote for McCain is a vote that will defeat Obama, and that is a good vote. I dread the idea of Barack Hussein Obama becoming our president. He is flippant, obnoxious, arrogant, and extremely inexperienced when it comes to being an executive of anything. Besides that he is, as far as I can tell, I blatant liar who changes his views on a regular basis in order to get more votes, and not because of any real change in his convictions. Of course I also beleive him to be a communist and socialist all rolled up into one.
Yet, with McCain reportedly considering Lieberman as his running mate, I must say things have changed. Lieberman may support Israel, Lieberman may support the troops, Lieberman may support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and support the global war against terrorism, but otherwise he is one of the most liberal senators in Congress. McCain is already too liberal for my liking, and now he is considering pairing up with someone more liberal than himself, and not a liberal Republican mind you, but a Democrat. I will not be responsible for putting a man like Senator Joseph Lieberman in the White House, and I will not vote in this election, at least not for president and vice president, if Lieberman becomes McCain's running mate. Heck, I even like the guy, but I do not like his very liberal stance on many issues; and we need to take a stand on those issues, and vote not by party, or by likableness, but by our stance on the issues.
Sure, by my own past logic, that will in effect be a virtual vote for Obama. I do not care! It is about time that the Republican Party wakes up and realizes that Republican is synonymous with at least 'moderate conservative'. Running two liberals on the Republican ticket, one who is not even a Republican, is akin to the Republican Party telling us that our conservative values are trash. Well if that is the case, let them learn a lesson, let Obama get elected and screw tings over for 4 years. Maybe by then the republican Party will have reorganized with some conservative goals in mind. If not, well it will be time to again register as an Independent. If you think I am wrong on this okay, but here is a fine example of a liberal running gas a republican who screwed things up royally, and who continues to do so: Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City.
I am hoping with all my heart that McCain will not be foolish enough to choose a Democrat (nor a turncoat who becomes a Republican) as his running mate. Sure, it might allow him to win the election, but it will destroy the Republican Party and that for which it has stood over the years.
All the best,
Glenn B
Yet, with McCain reportedly considering Lieberman as his running mate, I must say things have changed. Lieberman may support Israel, Lieberman may support the troops, Lieberman may support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and support the global war against terrorism, but otherwise he is one of the most liberal senators in Congress. McCain is already too liberal for my liking, and now he is considering pairing up with someone more liberal than himself, and not a liberal Republican mind you, but a Democrat. I will not be responsible for putting a man like Senator Joseph Lieberman in the White House, and I will not vote in this election, at least not for president and vice president, if Lieberman becomes McCain's running mate. Heck, I even like the guy, but I do not like his very liberal stance on many issues; and we need to take a stand on those issues, and vote not by party, or by likableness, but by our stance on the issues.
Sure, by my own past logic, that will in effect be a virtual vote for Obama. I do not care! It is about time that the Republican Party wakes up and realizes that Republican is synonymous with at least 'moderate conservative'. Running two liberals on the Republican ticket, one who is not even a Republican, is akin to the Republican Party telling us that our conservative values are trash. Well if that is the case, let them learn a lesson, let Obama get elected and screw tings over for 4 years. Maybe by then the republican Party will have reorganized with some conservative goals in mind. If not, well it will be time to again register as an Independent. If you think I am wrong on this okay, but here is a fine example of a liberal running gas a republican who screwed things up royally, and who continues to do so: Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City.
I am hoping with all my heart that McCain will not be foolish enough to choose a Democrat (nor a turncoat who becomes a Republican) as his running mate. Sure, it might allow him to win the election, but it will destroy the Republican Party and that for which it has stood over the years.
All the best,
Glenn B
Soldiers' Care Package Donation - Thank You
I wanted to make sure to say thanks to Rita and Clinton and their family who donated toward the Soldiers' Care Package. That was very nice and generous of you, and your donation will help put big smiles on some soldiers' faces, I am sure of that. I thought I was going out to shop for the items last weekend, but as it turned out I did not get the chance. So this weekend I'll head out to someplace like Costco to pick up the goodies for the package. With the donation you gave, and at least a matching donation from me for goodies, it should be a pretty nice package.
Once I get the stuff, I'll take a picture of it, and I'll post it here. Along with the package, I am going to include an American Flag. My assigned soldier from Soldiers' Angels asked me to do so. He told me he and his unit will fly that flag, and they will pose with the flag for a picture, then send me the pic. Rita, you will be sure to get a copy of that picture if you want to send me your address down in SA, or an 'in care of' address up here.
Thanks again.
All the best,
Glenn B
Once I get the stuff, I'll take a picture of it, and I'll post it here. Along with the package, I am going to include an American Flag. My assigned soldier from Soldiers' Angels asked me to do so. He told me he and his unit will fly that flag, and they will pose with the flag for a picture, then send me the pic. Rita, you will be sure to get a copy of that picture if you want to send me your address down in SA, or an 'in care of' address up here.
Thanks again.
All the best,
Glenn B
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Glock 26
Okay, I have another offer to purchase a pistol direct from the manufacturer through my employer. This time it is for a Glock 26, 9mm pistol. This is the so called 'Baby' Glock. It is going for $477, with 2 magazines and Trijicon (or is it Tritium?) night sights. This offer seems more tempting than the ones I can get through my job for a SIG or an HK. Why, well because both the SIG and the HK are offered only in a law enforcement configuration which means both have a double action only trigger pull, and that trigger pull is horrendous. At least on the Glock I have a choice of the 5 lb.or 8 lb. trigger pull. This beats the HK by at least 4 pounds, and by 7 pounds if I get the lighter of the two offered on the Glock.The Glock I think is also the smallest of the three pistols I have been considering. It is also the least expensive. I have also carried a Glock 19 for about the past 15 years; man it has been a long time. I am very familiar with it, and have had no major problems with it in all that time. There have been magazine exchanges where Glock has sent new mags to my employer to replace old ones, but they took care of problem mag designs very well in that regard. They now seem to have gotten it right. I also probably have a few of my own spare Glock magazines around. They are usable in the Glock model 26.
Now of course, the Glock 26 does not come in .40 S&W caliber, it is a 9mm. That will have to do, as for some reason my job did not authorize a personally owned Glock 27 in .40 S&W to be carried. That is strange since the HK and the SIG have to be in .40 S&W. Go figure, but that is the goobermint. Despite that, I have to tell you, this one is really tempting. It would be a great gun for retirement if only because of its small size thus making it quite concealable. In addition, I shoot very well with it (I carried a model 26 as backup on my job for several years and shot better with it than with the larger model 19). Yep, I think this may be the one. I have scrimped, and saved, and sold things I already owned to gather the cash (and payday is Monday) toward the purchase of a new pistol, and I think I may have to act before they pull the deal or raise the price.
Now for the tough decision - Olive Drab or Black? Basic Black has always suited me in my Glocks, so I suppose I'll stick with it. Tomorrow I will fill out the order form and the required purchase letter from my office. I already did that for the HK, but trashed that letter once I saw the deal on the Glock 26. This is going to be the one - really - it is the one.
All the best,
Glenn B
Glenn B
Rapist/Killer Jose Ernesto Medellin Executed in Texas
It is about time that the United States of America allow its states to enforce their own laws regardless of so called International Law. It is about time we tell the world that when the scum of other nations come to our nation to commit heinous crimes such as murder and rape, they will be dealt with according to the laws of our nation and or of our states. It is about time that we realize we are a sovereign nation, and that international treaties, international law, and the United nations do not rule here. Sure we should follow international treaties, but first and foremost we need to protect our people, and we need to prosecute criminals to the full extent of our laws. If that means violating an international treaty, I say it is just and right. Others worry that the violation of international treaties will badly effect our citizens who visit other nations; the thing is though it will most likely only effect they of us who violate laws in other countries. Keep that in mind when you visit other nations, be on your best behavior while there.
Truthfully though, this case is not about a violation of international treaties. The fact of the matter is that the accused never once while his trial was ongoing, asked to be allowed to consult with the consular offices of Mexico. He only asked for that after convicted and sentenced to death - 3 years later. Why, because it was a lawyers' ploy to get him off, to to grant him a temporary reprieve. The Supreme Court of the United States did not think his case merited review. In fact the Supreme Court rules that neither the U.S. President or the International Courts can force Texas to review this man's case. "Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a 6-3 majority that the international court's judgments cannot be forced upon individual states." (source of quote CNN, at: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/05/scotus.execution/index.html. In that light, Texas went ahead with his execution.
On August 5, 2008, at 9:57 PM, Jose Medellin was put to death, see:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398465,00.html.
The state of Texas proved his family wrong as they had said only God can take a life. I beg to differ, and so too apparently did Texas. It is God who gives life, but anyone can take it. It is sad how no one has ever heard Medellin's family protest the killing he committed by saying only God can take a life and condemning him, yet he took two lives after he first brutally raped the two youngwomen girls, Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman 14, whom he killed. He is, or was, among the scum of the earth, and he got what was coming to him; and for that I say good riddance. It is sadder still how many in the world flocked to lend him, a heinous criminal rapist and murderer, to offer him support. Still though we have one less piece of shit murderer among us, and that my friends is a good thing.
I would like to give Mr. Medellin his due even though I do not consider him being owed much. I will grant that in the end he showed a bit of compassion for the families of the victims. He said this:
"I'm sorry my actions caused you pain. I hope this brings you the closure that you seek. Never harbor hate," (source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398465,00.html).
I don't think though that his sorrow can have done much to assuage the pain and suffering that the families endured over the past 15 years while waiting for justice to be done. I don't know if even Mr. Medellin's death can have done much to help them to find a true end to it all, there is no such thing as closure when you lose a loved one. Maybe though this will bring them closure in one regard, in knowing that yes justice can and will be done, their daughters have been avenged, that this man will not have the chance to ever do it again.
My heartfelt sympathy to the families of Elizabeth and Jennifer, and my sympathy to the family of Jose Medellin. Remember they lost a loved one too, and it was not they who committed the murder. As it has turned out, the one who was guilty has paid the price, and they need to understand that, but there is no need to condemn the living who had no hand in it. As for Jose Ernesto Medellin, again I say - he was the scum of the earth, good riddance to him.
All the best,
Glenn B
Truthfully though, this case is not about a violation of international treaties. The fact of the matter is that the accused never once while his trial was ongoing, asked to be allowed to consult with the consular offices of Mexico. He only asked for that after convicted and sentenced to death - 3 years later. Why, because it was a lawyers' ploy to get him off, to to grant him a temporary reprieve. The Supreme Court of the United States did not think his case merited review. In fact the Supreme Court rules that neither the U.S. President or the International Courts can force Texas to review this man's case. "Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a 6-3 majority that the international court's judgments cannot be forced upon individual states." (source of quote CNN, at: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/05/scotus.execution/index.html. In that light, Texas went ahead with his execution.
On August 5, 2008, at 9:57 PM, Jose Medellin was put to death, see:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398465,00.html.
The state of Texas proved his family wrong as they had said only God can take a life. I beg to differ, and so too apparently did Texas. It is God who gives life, but anyone can take it. It is sad how no one has ever heard Medellin's family protest the killing he committed by saying only God can take a life and condemning him, yet he took two lives after he first brutally raped the two young
I would like to give Mr. Medellin his due even though I do not consider him being owed much. I will grant that in the end he showed a bit of compassion for the families of the victims. He said this:
"I'm sorry my actions caused you pain. I hope this brings you the closure that you seek. Never harbor hate," (source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398465,00.html).
I don't think though that his sorrow can have done much to assuage the pain and suffering that the families endured over the past 15 years while waiting for justice to be done. I don't know if even Mr. Medellin's death can have done much to help them to find a true end to it all, there is no such thing as closure when you lose a loved one. Maybe though this will bring them closure in one regard, in knowing that yes justice can and will be done, their daughters have been avenged, that this man will not have the chance to ever do it again.
My heartfelt sympathy to the families of Elizabeth and Jennifer, and my sympathy to the family of Jose Medellin. Remember they lost a loved one too, and it was not they who committed the murder. As it has turned out, the one who was guilty has paid the price, and they need to understand that, but there is no need to condemn the living who had no hand in it. As for Jose Ernesto Medellin, again I say - he was the scum of the earth, good riddance to him.
All the best,
Glenn B
Sunday, August 3, 2008
An Honor Killing Or A Murder? Looks the Same to Me.
To me Honor Killings and Murders are one and the same thing, and there is no honor in committing murder. Of the major religions in the world, I believe there are two that allow (or at least practice) Honor Killings: Islam and Hinduism. I could be wrong, there may only be one, but I seem to recall Hindu women being killed for honor under religious law or belief.
Recently a so called Honor Killing went awry - well really they have all gone awry since they are all murders, but bear with me, I am making a point. Let's just for the sake of this piece say a particular Honor Killing went bad. You see, a 23 year old young lady in the country of Jordan left her home. It was suspected, by her brother, that she had gone away with of all things - a man! Upon her return to her home, her brother killed her to maintain the honor of his family. Now that could be seen as all well and good by Islamists; after all it is their religion that preaches such is a good thing - no not women going away with men, but killing unmarried women who consort with men. After all it is for the family's honor.
The thing is though that in this case an autopsy revealed the woman was a virgin. Sort of makes me wonder, had she really been away with a man for 4 months? Maybe she was just away from home for 4 months, you know, as in on her own. Then again, even if she was with a man, maybe it was for an honorable purpose, it surely was not for the purpose of having vaginal sex. So what of this killing be an Honor Killing as opposed to sheer murder? Well, since this took place in or near Amman, Jordan, I am wiling to bet that little happens to the brother (who by the way confessed to this seeming atrocity) with regard to criminal punishment. Of course, I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure it is the penal code in Jordan that upholds such killings, and the almighty - the all holy Q'ran that prompts men to kill women in the name of honor when the women who are unmarried are with men.
I can just imagine the masses of Jordan and the Muslim world, for the most part, rejoicing in how the brother rid the world of another harlot who was unworthy of life because he SUSPECTED she had done something dishonorable. Barbarians is too nice a term to describe those who hold these beliefs as far as I see them.
If you want to read about it in the article in which I saw this tidbit of injustice, go here:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24115111-23109,00.html
By the way I found that link here: islam - the Religion of Peace (and a big stack of dead bodies)
As I read the short article about this killing, I noted one thing of importance was missing, and that has been nagging me. There is no explanation within the article of why this would be considered an honor killing. Sure it implied ebcause the brother suspected the woman had been dishonorable with a man, but that is not what I mean. What is the underlying cause of him thinking he should resort to an honor killing is more of what I mean. Was the reason that the brother sought vengeance on his sister to protect the family's honor a cultural thing, was it a national thing, was it a regional thing, was it just done in a rage, was he a psycho, or was it done because the brother was following the teachings of his so called religion? Yep, sure seems funny how the article does not mention such an important aspect regarding this killing - but then you suspect exactly why he did it - don't you? Have you arrived at the same conclusion as me? My conclusion is he probably did it because he practices the Religion of Peace. All I can say is I believe it to be one heck of acrock of shit contradiction of terms to call a religion that apparently allows and apparently even condones such killings - the religion of peace.
All the best,
Glenn B
Recently a so called Honor Killing went awry - well really they have all gone awry since they are all murders, but bear with me, I am making a point. Let's just for the sake of this piece say a particular Honor Killing went bad. You see, a 23 year old young lady in the country of Jordan left her home. It was suspected, by her brother, that she had gone away with of all things - a man! Upon her return to her home, her brother killed her to maintain the honor of his family. Now that could be seen as all well and good by Islamists; after all it is their religion that preaches such is a good thing - no not women going away with men, but killing unmarried women who consort with men. After all it is for the family's honor.
The thing is though that in this case an autopsy revealed the woman was a virgin. Sort of makes me wonder, had she really been away with a man for 4 months? Maybe she was just away from home for 4 months, you know, as in on her own. Then again, even if she was with a man, maybe it was for an honorable purpose, it surely was not for the purpose of having vaginal sex. So what of this killing be an Honor Killing as opposed to sheer murder? Well, since this took place in or near Amman, Jordan, I am wiling to bet that little happens to the brother (who by the way confessed to this seeming atrocity) with regard to criminal punishment. Of course, I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure it is the penal code in Jordan that upholds such killings, and the almighty - the all holy Q'ran that prompts men to kill women in the name of honor when the women who are unmarried are with men.
I can just imagine the masses of Jordan and the Muslim world, for the most part, rejoicing in how the brother rid the world of another harlot who was unworthy of life because he SUSPECTED she had done something dishonorable. Barbarians is too nice a term to describe those who hold these beliefs as far as I see them.
If you want to read about it in the article in which I saw this tidbit of injustice, go here:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24115111-23109,00.html
By the way I found that link here: islam - the Religion of Peace (and a big stack of dead bodies)
As I read the short article about this killing, I noted one thing of importance was missing, and that has been nagging me. There is no explanation within the article of why this would be considered an honor killing. Sure it implied ebcause the brother suspected the woman had been dishonorable with a man, but that is not what I mean. What is the underlying cause of him thinking he should resort to an honor killing is more of what I mean. Was the reason that the brother sought vengeance on his sister to protect the family's honor a cultural thing, was it a national thing, was it a regional thing, was it just done in a rage, was he a psycho, or was it done because the brother was following the teachings of his so called religion? Yep, sure seems funny how the article does not mention such an important aspect regarding this killing - but then you suspect exactly why he did it - don't you? Have you arrived at the same conclusion as me? My conclusion is he probably did it because he practices the Religion of Peace. All I can say is I believe it to be one heck of a
All the best,
Glenn B
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Ballseye's View Of Capitalism
I like to spend my earnings on my yearnings.
That is my thought (note that is singular) on capitalism in a nutshell.
In case you are wondering, that was part of a long worded reply I left over at Pen of Jen reference her blog on outrageous and silly spending, see:
http://penofjen.blogspot.com/2008/08/photo-montage.html
I know her heart was in the right place when she wrote that one, but I must say I just did not agree if only because at heart I love capitalism, and I love earning my keep, and I love doing with my earnings what I darned well please when I can afford to do so. Of course, I just did not agree when talking capitalism and my ability to earn and buy with my earnings as I please - I do agree with Jen that people sure do waste money. Yet, if they earned it, I guess that is their prerogative. I do agree more with her though that one should stay within their means (such as with credit card debt) and shucks I think maybe I did mention that but not clearly enough in my long worded reply on her blog. Oh well, Jen when you see it here, well you'll understand I agreed with you more than I appeared to have done in my reply on your blog.
I love how that woman makes me think. Always a challenge to the little gray cells. If you want to read a thought provoking blog then visit her's at:
http://penofjen.blogspot.com/
and at:
http://doublenickelfarm.blogspot.com/
Someday, I am hopeful I will be able to visit her and her family on their farm in New Mexico (I think), and as far as I am concerned it would be money wisely spent. Of course, first I'll have to earn it before I can spend it. Did I say, I love capitalism? Yes, I do.
All the best,
Glenn B
Simple Things...
...can sometimes make me quite content. Take a sweet Nectarine. Peel and pit it, take 4 large strawberries, and half a glass of orange juice, and half a glass of cranberry juice cocktail, and toss em into a blender (heck we only got our first blender last week). Then blend until smooth. Then add a decent ration of potato vodka. Have a sip or three so the rest left in the blender will fit into the glass. Mmm, is that good? You bet it is good.
Then take 3 Hebrew National Franks, steam them to perfection in the microwave, slap them onto a couple of slices of Baker's Inn multi-grain bread, one of the slices already having been slathered with both Gould's Horseradish and a lot of decent spicy brown mustard. Throw that sandwich onto a paper plate. Grab that glass - almost still full - of sweet nectar. Go enjoy lunch. It is exactly what I just did and still am doing. It was such a good pick for a gloomy, rainy, yet warm summer's afternoon that I just had to share it with you. Pardon me while I have another sip of today's special brand of ambrosia...
Yes, I am content and life is good, often because of fairly simple things.
All the best,
Glenn B
Then take 3 Hebrew National Franks, steam them to perfection in the microwave, slap them onto a couple of slices of Baker's Inn multi-grain bread, one of the slices already having been slathered with both Gould's Horseradish and a lot of decent spicy brown mustard. Throw that sandwich onto a paper plate. Grab that glass - almost still full - of sweet nectar. Go enjoy lunch. It is exactly what I just did and still am doing. It was such a good pick for a gloomy, rainy, yet warm summer's afternoon that I just had to share it with you. Pardon me while I have another sip of today's special brand of ambrosia...
Yes, I am content and life is good, often because of fairly simple things.
All the best,
Glenn B
All This Talk About Blogspot Sites Being Labelled As Spam...
...may have had little to do with my not being able to access my site using IE7. It seems there was, and still is as I write, some problem with having SiteMeter installed to track my blog. I found out about that tidbit at a Google Help Group. Although I did look, I did not note anything about that at the Blogger site when I looked through the "Known Issues" section to find out what was the problem. Many people, at the Google Help Groups, are complaining of receiving the same error message I was receiving, but Blogger seems to be doing nothing about it, that is if this is truly different than the problem of Google having labelled many sites as spam. I never received the email they supposedly sent out to zillions of bloggers telling them their sites were considered spam, so I don't know yet if my problem was one and the same as that one. Confused yet, so am I.
I wonder if I wills till have problems accessing other sites that rely on SiteMeter. Time will tell.
And finally, let me say it sure seems strange I could post to my blog but not see the actual blog to which I had posted but that is just what was happening.
All the best,
Glenn B
I wonder if I wills till have problems accessing other sites that rely on SiteMeter. Time will tell.
And finally, let me say it sure seems strange I could post to my blog but not see the actual blog to which I had posted but that is just what was happening.
All the best,
Glenn B
Friday, August 1, 2008
Apparently Others Are Having The Same Problem Using IE7...
...to access their blogspot blogs. Feels better now that I know it is not just my IE7 screwing up on me, and is apparently a problem with blogspot. Hopefully they will stomp out whatever bug is causing this soon. See you then. And oh yes, of course I am blogging in the dark so to speak.
All the best,
GB
All the best,
GB
I Cannot View My Own Blog From Home...
...nor can I view any other blog on blogspot.com. When I try to do so, the sight appears to come up, and then a small window apears that says "Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site: whatever one it is", followed by: "Operation Aborted." Apparently though, I can blog, or at least that is my guess since I am doing it now. If you can read this - please go to my profile - then send me an email by clicking on my email link and tell me if you got through to my blog. I am wondering if for some reason they are blocking my computer???
Oh well, this sucks bigtime. Hopefully I will figure it out before too long.
All the best,
Glenn B
Oh well, this sucks bigtime. Hopefully I will figure it out before too long.
All the best,
Glenn B
Today In History - Africans Come To America As Indentured Servants
August 1, 1619 is often acknowledged as the 1st day that African slaves were brought into the American Colonies (what later became the state of Virginia) as Indentured Servants. Their being the first Africans in America is sometimes disputed in that it is reported a census record for Virginia showed 32 Africans some 5 months earlier. With regard to those Africans brought into Jamestown on today's date: They were purchased by Jamestown, by way of barter, from a passing Dutch ship bound from Angola to Mexico. The ship needed repairs and Jamestown needed able bodied workers. The deal was done in order to provide Jamestown with those able bodied workers after their own population had been decimated by disease and war with Native Americans.
These first Africans joined what then was probably 1/2 of the white population of America as indentured servants; those white indentured servants were mainly Irish, Scottish, English and German. Approximately 1/2 of all whites in America during the 17th and 18 centuries were indentured servants. As indentured servants, these first Africans in America had something different to which to look forward than did many who followed them; they had freedom on the horizon. As indentured servants they worked for for a set period, and then were set free and provided with land and supplies upon attaining freedom.
It was not until after the only briefly successful Bacon's Rebellion, led by Nathaniel Bacon, that the slave trade of Africans in America pretty much turned to pure slavery - whereby African slaves became slaves for life, and their progeny inherited their slave status. The rebellion while at first a success, was put down several months after it had begun. It was a rebellion made up mostly of poor landowners and indentured servants, that fought against local Indians whom they saw as a threat, and against a government that was unjust to them. The government, in the long term, failed to support the campaign against the Indians despite many colonists and indentured servants losing their lives to them. Whether or not invasion of Indian lands by Bacon was right by today's standards, the truth of that time was that the government opposed the right of people of the Virginia Colony to be able to defend themselves, and bacon supported it. In addition the government had caused fine tobacco production (the main cash crop) to drop, and then raised taxes to make up for the loss in revenues. Furthermore the governor, Sir William Berkley had granted special favors to those in his favor, and had virtually ignored the needs of those wealthy not in his favor, and also ignored those who were poor and who were indentured servants.
Had the rebellion been a success there may never have been African slavery, as opposed to indentured servitude, as we know it today. Things also may have been quite different not only for those who were brought here against their wills from Africa, but for all Americans. This is because the acknowledgement of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (as a means of self defense, and as a means to oppose tyrannical government) was born under Bacon. It was also one of the first things that was revoked once power was restored to the former ruler of Jamestown. It was not until the rebellion was squashed and the liberty to exercise that right was revoked that slavery took a different turn, albeit indirectly but no doubt in part caused as a result of the rebellion's failure. (Please note the facts about Bacon's Rebellion, and about Bacon, were pretty much undisputed until recent years with the revisionist view of all things historical. Today manyultra-liberal 'modern' historians try to make Bacon look to be little more than a greedy land baron, when in fact he was a rebel in opposition to tyranny, and he fought along with many poor landowners and indentured servants.)
We can certainly learn from history folks, and we need to beware of those who would taint history, and they who would under that veil of lies try to strip us of our rights. Free men, and men who see others as equals, such as was Bacon, see one of our most important rights to be the Right To Keep And Bear Arms. This is so that we can defend ourselves and so that we can put down tyranny when it tries to overpower us with unjust rule. It is only the tyrants who wish to do away with that right, and it has been that way throughout history. Trust no man who says you do not have an inalienable right to keep and bear arms because in all likelihood, once you surrender those arms, it will be the same man who holds you under his well armed rule no matter what your race.
All the best,
Glenn B
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-Americans (see the history section of this article)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States (see the Colonial America section of this article)
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0805681.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacon%27s_Rebellion
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p274.html
http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/bacons-rebellion.htm
http://www.virginiaplaces.org/military/bacon.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indentured_servant
These first Africans joined what then was probably 1/2 of the white population of America as indentured servants; those white indentured servants were mainly Irish, Scottish, English and German. Approximately 1/2 of all whites in America during the 17th and 18 centuries were indentured servants. As indentured servants, these first Africans in America had something different to which to look forward than did many who followed them; they had freedom on the horizon. As indentured servants they worked for for a set period, and then were set free and provided with land and supplies upon attaining freedom.
It was not until after the only briefly successful Bacon's Rebellion, led by Nathaniel Bacon, that the slave trade of Africans in America pretty much turned to pure slavery - whereby African slaves became slaves for life, and their progeny inherited their slave status. The rebellion while at first a success, was put down several months after it had begun. It was a rebellion made up mostly of poor landowners and indentured servants, that fought against local Indians whom they saw as a threat, and against a government that was unjust to them. The government, in the long term, failed to support the campaign against the Indians despite many colonists and indentured servants losing their lives to them. Whether or not invasion of Indian lands by Bacon was right by today's standards, the truth of that time was that the government opposed the right of people of the Virginia Colony to be able to defend themselves, and bacon supported it. In addition the government had caused fine tobacco production (the main cash crop) to drop, and then raised taxes to make up for the loss in revenues. Furthermore the governor, Sir William Berkley had granted special favors to those in his favor, and had virtually ignored the needs of those wealthy not in his favor, and also ignored those who were poor and who were indentured servants.
Had the rebellion been a success there may never have been African slavery, as opposed to indentured servitude, as we know it today. Things also may have been quite different not only for those who were brought here against their wills from Africa, but for all Americans. This is because the acknowledgement of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (as a means of self defense, and as a means to oppose tyrannical government) was born under Bacon. It was also one of the first things that was revoked once power was restored to the former ruler of Jamestown. It was not until the rebellion was squashed and the liberty to exercise that right was revoked that slavery took a different turn, albeit indirectly but no doubt in part caused as a result of the rebellion's failure. (Please note the facts about Bacon's Rebellion, and about Bacon, were pretty much undisputed until recent years with the revisionist view of all things historical. Today many
We can certainly learn from history folks, and we need to beware of those who would taint history, and they who would under that veil of lies try to strip us of our rights. Free men, and men who see others as equals, such as was Bacon, see one of our most important rights to be the Right To Keep And Bear Arms. This is so that we can defend ourselves and so that we can put down tyranny when it tries to overpower us with unjust rule. It is only the tyrants who wish to do away with that right, and it has been that way throughout history. Trust no man who says you do not have an inalienable right to keep and bear arms because in all likelihood, once you surrender those arms, it will be the same man who holds you under his well armed rule no matter what your race.
All the best,
Glenn B
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-Americans (see the history section of this article)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States (see the Colonial America section of this article)
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0805681.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacon%27s_Rebellion
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p274.html
http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/bacons-rebellion.htm
http://www.virginiaplaces.org/military/bacon.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indentured_servant
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
I've Been Busy...
...I've been down in the dumps (for personal reasons I will not go into on my blog), and i just have not had a lot of time to blog. Maybe tomorrow, or Friday for something.
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
Monday, July 28, 2008
I Predict - Gloom and Doom
The way things have been going for the last few years, it should be obvious to anyone who looks back though the pages of history with an eye for comparison to today, that we in the world today are due for a major conflict between nations. I remember not too long ago a prominent US politician in essence said that small nations were not the ones we need to worry about, but large nations are the ones we need to fear such as how we feared the Soviet union. He is, in my humble opinion, dead wrong. If you look around the world today, you will note a militaristic strengthening in many of the world's small nations. In fact, many more of them are building up their military power than those that did so before the last two world wars. For example, prior to WWII, only three nations of the then son to be formed Axis Powers, were building up militarily. They were:
1) Germany, a nation devastated by WWI, by the Great Depression, and by foolish borrowing that placed them as the most heavily indebted nation in the world at that time. Yet they had a leader with vision, albeit twisted vision, of world conquest and domination. Yet he was a leader who brought them up to becoming a world power in only a few years despite sanctions imposed on them by other nations; and despite their small size they almost conquered the world.
2) Italy, a nation that was floundering in financial and social ruin. It had turned to Colonial Africa in the hopes of replenishing resources, but could not go it alone. Just another small nation, almost insignificant in the world picture, but that had a leader who got the trains running on time, and who motivated its people with visions of grandeur.
3) Japan - Another small, rather insignificant country who until just recently (as history goes) at that time had depended upon Samurai warriors for an army. They were small but had ambitions of expanding their world holdings. They were led by a fanatic whom the people believed was a god.
WWII began in 1939, and it rapidly progressed with victory after victory for the Axis Powers, these three nations and a few other small nations that joined them. Hitler and the Third Reich was steamrolling over Europe. One country after another had fallen. Poland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Great Britain was on the brink of collapse. I have heard it hypothesized that had Hitler kept up the bombing raids over England for a few weeks more, they would have fallen. Had the Germans invaded England, it would have likely been over in days. Yes the Brits were tough, but they were failing miserably if slowly.
In the east, one Pacific island nation after another fell to Japan. The United States was brutally attacked at Pearl Harbor. China was under siege and millions were killed. Burma fell. Australia was threatened as was New Zealand.
The thing that amazes me most when I look back is how blind the world seemed to remain to the growing threat caused by the countries that would unite as the Axis Powers. Japan had rattled sabers for years before. Their emperor promised great expansion. They were building up a military force made from metal purchased from the USA and others. It was no secret that they were seeking to expand militarily; yet no one paid them any mind. Italy was likewise, but probably did not look to be as much of a threat, and anyway they seemed interested in Africa. Who cared about Africa back then, very few unless they had colonial holdings therein. Germany was the most boisterous of the three major Axis Powers. They not only rattled sabers, they but and air force. That was strictly forbidden under the Treaty Of Versailles. They did not stop at an air force, they also built and army and a navy. Besides that they built roads, roads that would lead to other European Nations and would act as highways for tanks, armored cavalry, and infantry. In addition Hitler boasted that the Third Reich would conquer the world, that the final solution would exterminate the mentally handicapped, the gypsies, the and the Jews among others. That Germany would conquer Russia.
None of this was really done in secret, especially in Germany. They openly defied the treaty of Versailles, openly spouted talk of war, and openly made preparation for it as the world watched in mute unconcern. The result was the bloodiest war the world had yet seen. Tens of millions died as a result. It is estimated that over 72,000,000 people lost their lives in WWII. Read that again - over SEVENTY TWO MILLION - all because a few small countries got together and tried to conquer the world.
So what does that have to do with today. Why do I predict doom and gloom? Well I believe we are only years away from, maybe even only months away from, WWIII. Why - well because the signs are there, and this time the smaller countries are preparing better than they did before both of the last two world wars. They are preparing in many ways. The first and most obvious is that they are gearing up militarily. Just look to Iran, Venezuela, North Korea (yes they have agreed to stop production of nuclear material, now that we believe they have the bomb already), Syria, and Russia (not such a small country but one that would surely become much stronger with an alliance of small countries). Look to also to Pakistan, and India. Look to Japan which is for the first time in over 60 years gearing up for war. Loo to to a really big country - Red China. They are building up one of the largest navies ever to exist. Why do they need a large navy except for an invasion fleet. Think about it. Now you can say, as did people like Neville Chamberlain before WWII that these buildups mean little to nothing; you could be right, but other things say not.
Look at the messages coming out of countries like Iran and North Korea and Venezuela and Russia. They are all spouting off against a perceived enemy, the United States of America. They are all countries that seem bent on expansion or possible world domination. Look too to the Islamo Fascists. it does not matter from which country they hail, there politics is there religion and they spout off conquest of the world. They also preach the destruction of Israel and of the USA. North Korea constantly harangues us as evil, and so too does Iran and Venezuela. The pot is more than stirred, it is at a boil and ready to overflow in violence.
At the same time, the USA is at one of the weakest points in the last 30 or so years. It has not been this weak militarily since carter, and not as oil depleted since Nixon. We are much as were the Soviets when they collapsed. The thing is though, despite what the Soviets said we wanted when they painted us as evil, we really did not want to conquer the Soviet Union. We wanted the world to be at peace. We wanted to spread democracy and freedom. We were ready for war if need be, but it did not come to that. These other nations today, many of the ones I have mentioned are hate mongers. They do not want to spread freedom, they want to expand and conquer, they want to rule more and more people, they want to in essence conquer the world, and the USA is the prime target.
All they need to accomplish are a few strategic strikes on US soil. A few well orchestrated attacks in the Gulf of Mexico and in Texas would wipe out many of our oil wells, and our oil refineries. A few more well planned attack in Alaska would destroy our other main source of domestic oil. We would be helpless. You look and say - hey that is impossible. Yeah right, just as France said that the Maginot Line was unbreakable. maybe it was, so the Germans went around it because of pompous blind fools in the french government, France fell quickly. How could we be attacked like that. Well for starters our military is strung thinly in Iraq and Afghanistan among other places. Our resources to build up our military are being depleted on a daily basis by terrorists, yet we probably fund those same terrorists by sending money for oil to Islamic countries - countries such as Saudi Arabia that is a known terrorist hot bed. Our economy is folding, we are in debt more than ever before, and the time is simply ripe for a few small countries to do their damnedest to do their worst to us. If they succeed, even with a few small non-military attacks carried out by terrorists, I suspect that other nations will quickly lend them support. What nations, well Russia and China to name two of them. These two countries, either singularly or together, already militarily support North Korea, Iran and Venezuela. You can bet Saudi Arabia and many other Arabic countries would also support them in such a cause, and so too would Islamo Fascists.
In addition to all of that, our current involvement in two wars is not doing a lot of good for us in any of this regard, that is unless we take quick and decisive action to win those wars; and then to claim the spoils of those wars. Why on earth Iraq is not paying us back for our expenditures over there is beyond me. They are oil rich and could easily pay us in that manner, yet we allow them to suck us dry. Same for Afghanistan, they must have something of value with which they could make reparations to us for our assistance in freeing their nation from the Taliban. We are, in effect, helping pave the way for the war machines of other nations to ride roughshod over us.
Of course a secondary target in all of this will be Israel, and the rest of the free nations of the world. Israel may well be attacked first; yet somehow I think it will be the USA to weather the first attacks of the next WW. I think these little piss ant nations have already caught us acting fat, dumb and happy, just look at oil prices; and that soon they will catch us with our mouths agape as the bombs start going off on our home soil. Israel will be attacked immediately after that, and will be nuked off the face of the earth if my suspicions hold true. All the more reason to suppor them with all we can, allies are a good thing of which one never wants to run short.
Yes the time is ripe for another world war, and this time we here in the USA are the primary target of much of the rest of the world. Sure we have allies, but which would stick with us. I suspect and hope that Australia, Canada, Japan, Great Britain and Italy would all be by our side. But what about France, what about Argentina, what about Mexico (heck they are already invading us). If a world war does break out, we are in for some bad times so it is about time we start acting like the possibility of a third world war really exists. Wiser words were never spoken than these: "They who long for peace must prepare for war".
Well that is it for me spouting off gloom and doom. I have gotten it off of my chest for now; but I am sure to remember it come November when I vote for president.
Hoping for peace
through superior firepower,
Glenn B
1) Germany, a nation devastated by WWI, by the Great Depression, and by foolish borrowing that placed them as the most heavily indebted nation in the world at that time. Yet they had a leader with vision, albeit twisted vision, of world conquest and domination. Yet he was a leader who brought them up to becoming a world power in only a few years despite sanctions imposed on them by other nations; and despite their small size they almost conquered the world.
2) Italy, a nation that was floundering in financial and social ruin. It had turned to Colonial Africa in the hopes of replenishing resources, but could not go it alone. Just another small nation, almost insignificant in the world picture, but that had a leader who got the trains running on time, and who motivated its people with visions of grandeur.
3) Japan - Another small, rather insignificant country who until just recently (as history goes) at that time had depended upon Samurai warriors for an army. They were small but had ambitions of expanding their world holdings. They were led by a fanatic whom the people believed was a god.
WWII began in 1939, and it rapidly progressed with victory after victory for the Axis Powers, these three nations and a few other small nations that joined them. Hitler and the Third Reich was steamrolling over Europe. One country after another had fallen. Poland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Great Britain was on the brink of collapse. I have heard it hypothesized that had Hitler kept up the bombing raids over England for a few weeks more, they would have fallen. Had the Germans invaded England, it would have likely been over in days. Yes the Brits were tough, but they were failing miserably if slowly.
In the east, one Pacific island nation after another fell to Japan. The United States was brutally attacked at Pearl Harbor. China was under siege and millions were killed. Burma fell. Australia was threatened as was New Zealand.
The thing that amazes me most when I look back is how blind the world seemed to remain to the growing threat caused by the countries that would unite as the Axis Powers. Japan had rattled sabers for years before. Their emperor promised great expansion. They were building up a military force made from metal purchased from the USA and others. It was no secret that they were seeking to expand militarily; yet no one paid them any mind. Italy was likewise, but probably did not look to be as much of a threat, and anyway they seemed interested in Africa. Who cared about Africa back then, very few unless they had colonial holdings therein. Germany was the most boisterous of the three major Axis Powers. They not only rattled sabers, they but and air force. That was strictly forbidden under the Treaty Of Versailles. They did not stop at an air force, they also built and army and a navy. Besides that they built roads, roads that would lead to other European Nations and would act as highways for tanks, armored cavalry, and infantry. In addition Hitler boasted that the Third Reich would conquer the world, that the final solution would exterminate the mentally handicapped, the gypsies, the and the Jews among others. That Germany would conquer Russia.
None of this was really done in secret, especially in Germany. They openly defied the treaty of Versailles, openly spouted talk of war, and openly made preparation for it as the world watched in mute unconcern. The result was the bloodiest war the world had yet seen. Tens of millions died as a result. It is estimated that over 72,000,000 people lost their lives in WWII. Read that again - over SEVENTY TWO MILLION - all because a few small countries got together and tried to conquer the world.
So what does that have to do with today. Why do I predict doom and gloom? Well I believe we are only years away from, maybe even only months away from, WWIII. Why - well because the signs are there, and this time the smaller countries are preparing better than they did before both of the last two world wars. They are preparing in many ways. The first and most obvious is that they are gearing up militarily. Just look to Iran, Venezuela, North Korea (yes they have agreed to stop production of nuclear material, now that we believe they have the bomb already), Syria, and Russia (not such a small country but one that would surely become much stronger with an alliance of small countries). Look to also to Pakistan, and India. Look to Japan which is for the first time in over 60 years gearing up for war. Loo to to a really big country - Red China. They are building up one of the largest navies ever to exist. Why do they need a large navy except for an invasion fleet. Think about it. Now you can say, as did people like Neville Chamberlain before WWII that these buildups mean little to nothing; you could be right, but other things say not.
Look at the messages coming out of countries like Iran and North Korea and Venezuela and Russia. They are all spouting off against a perceived enemy, the United States of America. They are all countries that seem bent on expansion or possible world domination. Look too to the Islamo Fascists. it does not matter from which country they hail, there politics is there religion and they spout off conquest of the world. They also preach the destruction of Israel and of the USA. North Korea constantly harangues us as evil, and so too does Iran and Venezuela. The pot is more than stirred, it is at a boil and ready to overflow in violence.
At the same time, the USA is at one of the weakest points in the last 30 or so years. It has not been this weak militarily since carter, and not as oil depleted since Nixon. We are much as were the Soviets when they collapsed. The thing is though, despite what the Soviets said we wanted when they painted us as evil, we really did not want to conquer the Soviet Union. We wanted the world to be at peace. We wanted to spread democracy and freedom. We were ready for war if need be, but it did not come to that. These other nations today, many of the ones I have mentioned are hate mongers. They do not want to spread freedom, they want to expand and conquer, they want to rule more and more people, they want to in essence conquer the world, and the USA is the prime target.
All they need to accomplish are a few strategic strikes on US soil. A few well orchestrated attacks in the Gulf of Mexico and in Texas would wipe out many of our oil wells, and our oil refineries. A few more well planned attack in Alaska would destroy our other main source of domestic oil. We would be helpless. You look and say - hey that is impossible. Yeah right, just as France said that the Maginot Line was unbreakable. maybe it was, so the Germans went around it because of pompous blind fools in the french government, France fell quickly. How could we be attacked like that. Well for starters our military is strung thinly in Iraq and Afghanistan among other places. Our resources to build up our military are being depleted on a daily basis by terrorists, yet we probably fund those same terrorists by sending money for oil to Islamic countries - countries such as Saudi Arabia that is a known terrorist hot bed. Our economy is folding, we are in debt more than ever before, and the time is simply ripe for a few small countries to do their damnedest to do their worst to us. If they succeed, even with a few small non-military attacks carried out by terrorists, I suspect that other nations will quickly lend them support. What nations, well Russia and China to name two of them. These two countries, either singularly or together, already militarily support North Korea, Iran and Venezuela. You can bet Saudi Arabia and many other Arabic countries would also support them in such a cause, and so too would Islamo Fascists.
In addition to all of that, our current involvement in two wars is not doing a lot of good for us in any of this regard, that is unless we take quick and decisive action to win those wars; and then to claim the spoils of those wars. Why on earth Iraq is not paying us back for our expenditures over there is beyond me. They are oil rich and could easily pay us in that manner, yet we allow them to suck us dry. Same for Afghanistan, they must have something of value with which they could make reparations to us for our assistance in freeing their nation from the Taliban. We are, in effect, helping pave the way for the war machines of other nations to ride roughshod over us.
Of course a secondary target in all of this will be Israel, and the rest of the free nations of the world. Israel may well be attacked first; yet somehow I think it will be the USA to weather the first attacks of the next WW. I think these little piss ant nations have already caught us acting fat, dumb and happy, just look at oil prices; and that soon they will catch us with our mouths agape as the bombs start going off on our home soil. Israel will be attacked immediately after that, and will be nuked off the face of the earth if my suspicions hold true. All the more reason to suppor them with all we can, allies are a good thing of which one never wants to run short.
Yes the time is ripe for another world war, and this time we here in the USA are the primary target of much of the rest of the world. Sure we have allies, but which would stick with us. I suspect and hope that Australia, Canada, Japan, Great Britain and Italy would all be by our side. But what about France, what about Argentina, what about Mexico (heck they are already invading us). If a world war does break out, we are in for some bad times so it is about time we start acting like the possibility of a third world war really exists. Wiser words were never spoken than these: "They who long for peace must prepare for war".
Well that is it for me spouting off gloom and doom. I have gotten it off of my chest for now; but I am sure to remember it come November when I vote for president.
Hoping for peace
through superior firepower,
Glenn B
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The Skies Stormed...
...away today, torrents of rain coming down as I have not seen in at least a week. It's not unusual to have summer storms in this neck of outermetrsloburbia but it is a bit bit much seeing them this bad twice within a week. It just rained almost as bad as today this past Wednesday. Today, despite the weather, or oblivious to the pending high chance of downpours, I took a drive to a not all that local reptile speciality pet shop today and got stuck in the middle of one heck of a thunder storm, in fact several of them. The roads were flooding and people were driving slow (for a change) except of course for a few idiots in their SUVs who probably believed were invincible in a 4W drive. I guess they just don't realize that an SUV can have trouble breaking in the rain just like any other vehicle. Then there was the Latin Somebody Or Other MC group riding their bikes in the rain. That was just a sight to see, but at least they pulled over under an overpass when it got really bad. Oh well, enough on other people in the rain, back to my mission.
The trusty Corolla handled nimbly despite the rain, and I arrived at the pet shop in one piece. I got just a bit damp running from the car to the door, just a bit though because thankfully the rain had let up just before I arrived there. While there I made a quick purchase of a thousand 1/4" crickets. It was well worth the drive if only because they are so deliciously good when baked into a freshly homemade pie crust. (Of course that's not what I do with em, after all the baby bearded dragons need to eat.) Then I headed to a local pet shop and picked up some other things for my other critters and headed home. While getting out of and into my car there, I had to virtually wade through a puddle that actually came up over the tops of my feet. I got pretty soggy from the ankles down, but somehow the rest of me stayed pretty dry - I guess because I had a small umbrella in the back seat. I forgot about it at the first shop (did not really need it there as there was a short break between downpour), but remembered it at the second one where it was indeed needed as the rain was coming down hard again. It did its job well for such a tiny umbrella as it is. Funny how I did not see one other person with an umbrella as they either ran through the parking lot toward a store or toward their cars all the while getting absolutely soaked. What is it with people? For me, I can say: What a trip. As it turned out, with those storm cells raging on and off, a trip that usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour took me about 1 3/4 hours, but I survived.
Of course, once I got home, the fact that is was wet outside did not phase my wife one bit with regard to her wanting me to BBQ. Truly, she would have given me a break and she would have cooked the chicken and steak in the oven if I had wanted her to, but I decided what the heck I was wet already, and we were both looking forward to some hunks of charred meat. So I took the matches from her (the electric starter on the grill must have been wet because it was not starting anything), and I also grabbed grabbed a bier, then I fired up the grill. I stayed pretty dry by standing in the garage a few feet from the grill as the food cooked, and I just came out to check on it and turn it as need be. I have to admit it was darned good, probably better than any cricket pie would ever taste; and I did not get all that wet since the rains had let up pretty much by then. As for the crickets, the baby bearded dragons sure made those crickets look tasty as they gobbled em down (no not all of em at one feeding, they will last about a week or two). For some reason, unfathomable to me, they seemingly did not care one little bit that the crickets were and kicking as opposed to barbecued or baked into a pie crust. Nope they did not seem to mind at all.
All the best,
Glenn B
The trusty Corolla handled nimbly despite the rain, and I arrived at the pet shop in one piece. I got just a bit damp running from the car to the door, just a bit though because thankfully the rain had let up just before I arrived there. While there I made a quick purchase of a thousand 1/4" crickets. It was well worth the drive if only because they are so deliciously good when baked into a freshly homemade pie crust. (Of course that's not what I do with em, after all the baby bearded dragons need to eat.) Then I headed to a local pet shop and picked up some other things for my other critters and headed home. While getting out of and into my car there, I had to virtually wade through a puddle that actually came up over the tops of my feet. I got pretty soggy from the ankles down, but somehow the rest of me stayed pretty dry - I guess because I had a small umbrella in the back seat. I forgot about it at the first shop (did not really need it there as there was a short break between downpour), but remembered it at the second one where it was indeed needed as the rain was coming down hard again. It did its job well for such a tiny umbrella as it is. Funny how I did not see one other person with an umbrella as they either ran through the parking lot toward a store or toward their cars all the while getting absolutely soaked. What is it with people? For me, I can say: What a trip. As it turned out, with those storm cells raging on and off, a trip that usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour took me about 1 3/4 hours, but I survived.
Of course, once I got home, the fact that is was wet outside did not phase my wife one bit with regard to her wanting me to BBQ. Truly, she would have given me a break and she would have cooked the chicken and steak in the oven if I had wanted her to, but I decided what the heck I was wet already, and we were both looking forward to some hunks of charred meat. So I took the matches from her (the electric starter on the grill must have been wet because it was not starting anything), and I also grabbed grabbed a bier, then I fired up the grill. I stayed pretty dry by standing in the garage a few feet from the grill as the food cooked, and I just came out to check on it and turn it as need be. I have to admit it was darned good, probably better than any cricket pie would ever taste; and I did not get all that wet since the rains had let up pretty much by then. As for the crickets, the baby bearded dragons sure made those crickets look tasty as they gobbled em down (no not all of em at one feeding, they will last about a week or two). For some reason, unfathomable to me, they seemingly did not care one little bit that the crickets were and kicking as opposed to barbecued or baked into a pie crust. Nope they did not seem to mind at all.
All the best,
Glenn B
Inflation and Balderdash...
...and yes you know I meant to put another word, also beginning with a B, in the title instead of balderdash. I recently went to a modern day drugstore to buy some batteries. You know the type of drugstore, one of the ones that sell everything from pantyhose to pills to popcorn. As for the batteries, nothing special really, just some run of the mill button type alkaline batteries for a small electronic scale, LR44 batteries to be specific.
I asked the price of 3 of these batteries and was told they were $12.95. Not $12.95 for all three, but rather $12.95 each. I was pretty surprised to hear that, and asked the clerk to double check on the price. 'Yep, that'll be $12.95 each, everything has gone up in price because gas went up'. I was flabbergasted, I mean really, could inflation due to the high price of gasoline have made the price of batteries go through the roof too, or was it just price gouging? Since I wasn't born yesterday, and since I really did not need to use the scale except to weigh a few pieces of gold jewelry I am considering putting up for sale, I figured why bother - I could have them weighed another day.This morning was another day. I signed onto GunBroker.com where I had just sold an item in an auction. I guess being on an auction site of one sort or another led me to think about selling the jewelry, and that made me think I had to know the weight of the pieces, and that made me think of the scale, and that brought me back to the batteries and to the really high price quote. So I plugged the term LR44 into my browser. What pops up but several links to sites selling these batteries. I took a look at a few of them, and that made me realize I had been
That is 44 cents each, shipping included. I would open a battery store if I could get em that cheap then think I could really sell them for $12.95 each on a regular basis.
The thing that gets me the most though is how anyone could be so naive as to believe that a commonplace a battery as is the LR 44 could have a legitimate price tag on it of $12.95 (or $38.85 for three plus tax), and also believe it is the price of gasoline that caused it to go up so high. Are people that friggin stupid? Don't answer that, it will just depress me to hear from someone other than myself that yes they are indeed that stupid. Now don't try to defend this particular clerk by saying maybe she was new to the store and was not familiar with the prices; she has worked there for years, and has been in the photography department where they sell those batteries for as long as I can recall her being in the store. It just boggles the mind that people are so easily manipulated by greed mongers, and that they would be willing to pay stellar prices based onbullshit balderdash.
As for me, I'll buy them somewhere where I can get a reasonable price, like from an online retailer, or from a store with prices that honestly reflect the worth of these batteries. I'll also be going back to the same store wherein I was given the $12.95 apiece price quote, and I'll be taking along a copy of a few of the ads I found to show to the manager of the store. I figure that, and a bit of a speech about how I feel like they tried to cheat me may get me the batteries at a fair price, and maybe get me an apology and some future discounts. If not, I can shop at their competition across the street.
All the best,
Glenn B
The thing that gets me the most though is how anyone could be so naive as to believe that a commonplace a battery as is the LR 44 could have a legitimate price tag on it of $12.95 (or $38.85 for three plus tax), and also believe it is the price of gasoline that caused it to go up so high. Are people that friggin stupid? Don't answer that, it will just depress me to hear from someone other than myself that yes they are indeed that stupid. Now don't try to defend this particular clerk by saying maybe she was new to the store and was not familiar with the prices; she has worked there for years, and has been in the photography department where they sell those batteries for as long as I can recall her being in the store. It just boggles the mind that people are so easily manipulated by greed mongers, and that they would be willing to pay stellar prices based on
As for me, I'll buy them somewhere where I can get a reasonable price, like from an online retailer, or from a store with prices that honestly reflect the worth of these batteries. I'll also be going back to the same store wherein I was given the $12.95 apiece price quote, and I'll be taking along a copy of a few of the ads I found to show to the manager of the store. I figure that, and a bit of a speech about how I feel like they tried to cheat me may get me the batteries at a fair price, and maybe get me an apology and some future discounts. If not, I can shop at their competition across the street.
All the best,
Glenn B
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Police
Heck, I could have just bought 2 tickets online for pretty good seats at the final Police show in their reunion tour (and supposedly final tour forever). One level above floor level, to front of stage to left of stage as you look at it, 6th row, aisle seats. Really good seats, but man oh man $359 each, plus $18.50 handling fee each. I was sorely tempted if only because I was thinking I could sell one and still go and almost have paid for both by selling the one, or sell both and have some decent profit. Then again, I am a wussie and don't want to take the chance of getting skunked and holding two tickets, without getting any of the money back. Of course, I could always take my wife, but I doubt she would appreciate the show, or the fact that I would have to go into hock to buy the tickets.
Maybe I should check out a show before the final show.
All the best,
Glenn B
Maybe I should check out a show before the final show.
All the best,
Glenn B
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)