The Wilmington, NC newspaper seems to have instituted a policy of no longer providing descriptions of criminals at large, just the details of their clothing.
Well, they will go so far as to specify the gender of the criminals. They won't go further than that. This is based on the modern MSM practice of selective non-reportage of details. These are always done in particular circumstances (OMG, he said "always" again!) Some of these practices include:
When a politician is arrested for malfeasance and/or misfeasance and his party isn't mentioned, it's a Democrat.
When a crime is committed and the race of the suspect isn't mentioned, it was committed by a black.
update: bad link, fixed.
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Monday, September 30, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
A Man What Loves His Vittles
He loves his food so much he's willing to stab his son to death for taking some of it.
I done tole you to leave my poke chop alone, damnit!
I done tole you to leave my poke chop alone, damnit!
Silver Age For Silver Springs?
Maybe not a new golden age, as The Gainesville Sun wonders, but more likely a silver age, as occurred in the comic book industry: a lesser offspring of a superhero parent:
When visitors walk through the gates at the new Silver Springs State Park for the first time Tuesday, the place won't look much different than when it gasped and sputtered to a close two weeks ago.
The major things that have attracted visitors over the years — the springs, the glass-bottom boats and, more recently, the Twin Oaks Mansion concert stage — will be there.
There will be subtle differences, however. The animals are gone, for starters. There are no bears, no giraffes and no alligators — except the ample number that cruise just beneath the surface of the springs or sunbathe on the banks of the river.
A few derelict structures are also kaput, and there is fresh paint on the ones that remain.
But make no mistake, it is not the same. The opening of the park signals yet another new beginning for an iconic Florida destination that has undergone a number of makeovers in its 150-year lifespan.
The water quality of the spring isn't as high as it was in the early days, because of agricultural runoff. It's going to be a state park now, the property of the state of Florida, so that means the era of competing visions for the park will come to an end, and the usual state park plan for a self-sustaining tamed wilderness will be put into place: hiking trails, canoe/kayak access, camping. The glass-bottomed boats will probably remain, at least for now. I can envision at some time in the future an underwater auditorium similar to the one in Weeki Wachi being built, after which the glass-bottomed boats will probably be mothballed as a waste of government money.
Be sure to click on the slideshow. Here's a sample pic, of park model Ginger Stanley Hollowell playing with her cooter:
Don't She Have a Pretty Cooter?
When visitors walk through the gates at the new Silver Springs State Park for the first time Tuesday, the place won't look much different than when it gasped and sputtered to a close two weeks ago.
The major things that have attracted visitors over the years — the springs, the glass-bottom boats and, more recently, the Twin Oaks Mansion concert stage — will be there.
There will be subtle differences, however. The animals are gone, for starters. There are no bears, no giraffes and no alligators — except the ample number that cruise just beneath the surface of the springs or sunbathe on the banks of the river.
A few derelict structures are also kaput, and there is fresh paint on the ones that remain.
But make no mistake, it is not the same. The opening of the park signals yet another new beginning for an iconic Florida destination that has undergone a number of makeovers in its 150-year lifespan.
The water quality of the spring isn't as high as it was in the early days, because of agricultural runoff. It's going to be a state park now, the property of the state of Florida, so that means the era of competing visions for the park will come to an end, and the usual state park plan for a self-sustaining tamed wilderness will be put into place: hiking trails, canoe/kayak access, camping. The glass-bottomed boats will probably remain, at least for now. I can envision at some time in the future an underwater auditorium similar to the one in Weeki Wachi being built, after which the glass-bottomed boats will probably be mothballed as a waste of government money.
Be sure to click on the slideshow. Here's a sample pic, of park model Ginger Stanley Hollowell playing with her cooter:
Friday, September 27, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
My Fo-Tay Trumps Your Katana
Down in my hometown of Gainesville, Florida:
Two members of a landscaping crew had to run for their safety Tuesday afternoon after police said a Gainesville man threatened them with a Samurai sword.
The crew were working near the home of Rishiraj Rajan Job, 34, of 4288 SW 22nd Lane at around 2 p.m. when he walked out his door holding the 3-foot-long sword “in a baseball bat position,’’ according to a Gainesville Police report.
The men dropped their equipment, ran and called police.
Job had gone back inside when police arrived and ordered him to come out. Job opened the door, still holding the sword, and told police, “Come get me,’’ the report said.
Officer Christopher Kesting drew his weapon told Job to drop the sword, which he did. Job told police he had been drinking and “acting stupid.’’ Job had four swords and several large knives, police said.
Wonder if both the cop and the perp were thinking of this famous movie scene?
Two members of a landscaping crew had to run for their safety Tuesday afternoon after police said a Gainesville man threatened them with a Samurai sword.
The crew were working near the home of Rishiraj Rajan Job, 34, of 4288 SW 22nd Lane at around 2 p.m. when he walked out his door holding the 3-foot-long sword “in a baseball bat position,’’ according to a Gainesville Police report.
The men dropped their equipment, ran and called police.
Job had gone back inside when police arrived and ordered him to come out. Job opened the door, still holding the sword, and told police, “Come get me,’’ the report said.
Officer Christopher Kesting drew his weapon told Job to drop the sword, which he did. Job told police he had been drinking and “acting stupid.’’ Job had four swords and several large knives, police said.
Wonder if both the cop and the perp were thinking of this famous movie scene?
Car Update
Two alternators and a radiator later I'm back on the road *knock on wood*. Apparently there was a pinhole in the radiator spraying fluid into the alternator; I don't know if it was what caused the original alternator to fail, or if my nephew punctured it when he replaced the alternator the first time. The pinhole was discovered by the neighbor mechanic, who owns a shop down the road. He gave me the neighbor's labor charge of $100, bless him. Combined with $100 to pay for the new radiator and $100 to pay for a new battery, I've spent $400 on the car in the last month. Had to pawn a pistol to pay for today's work; I'll redeem the pawn two weeks from now.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
It's Never Golden Retrievers, For Some Reason
"California toddler mauled to death by 5 dogs."
You'll probably guess correctly before even clicking the link - - I did.
You'll probably guess correctly before even clicking the link - - I did.
Monday, September 23, 2013
The Sort of ATF Work that Even the NRA Supports
"8 men arrested on drug trafficking, gun charges."
Eight Gaston County men have been arrested on multiple drug trafficking and gun charges, the U.S. Attorney’s office said Monday.
Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as officers with the Gaston County and Bessemer City police departments arrested the men during an early morning sweep on Monday, said Anne Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The arrests are the result of an ongoing joint law enforcement effort focused on reducing drug trafficking and violent crime in Gaston County, with special emphasis on the Vantine neighborhood, authorities said.
A 60-count criminal bill of indictment against the defendants was returned by a Charlotte grand jury on Sept. 18. Portions of the indictment were unsealed Monday after the arrests.
Eight Gaston County men have been arrested on multiple drug trafficking and gun charges, the U.S. Attorney’s office said Monday.
Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as officers with the Gaston County and Bessemer City police departments arrested the men during an early morning sweep on Monday, said Anne Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The arrests are the result of an ongoing joint law enforcement effort focused on reducing drug trafficking and violent crime in Gaston County, with special emphasis on the Vantine neighborhood, authorities said.
A 60-count criminal bill of indictment against the defendants was returned by a Charlotte grand jury on Sept. 18. Portions of the indictment were unsealed Monday after the arrests.
Stupid Car.
Well, I really can't blame the poor car, I've been the one neglecting the maintenance for all these years, and now it's caught up with me. The car is a 1993 Nissan Sentra, my only means of transportation, and it's been very reliable for a lot of years with minimal maintenance, but old cars are subject to the same wear and tear of old age that we all are, and the Sentra is no different. I got paid a week ago and spent much of my paycheck buying a new battery and alternator and getting them installed, and I don't get paid again until this coming Friday, and that will mostly go to rent. Something is causing the battery to drain; I drove on the new battery for a week, and the car quit this evening on the way to work. I think I can get the battery charged and drive it to a garage tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest, but I haven't a clue as to what is causing the battery to drain and a mechanic will have to figure that out. I have a couple of pistols to pawn that I hope will cover it. Over on the sidebar is a brand new Paypal tip jar button. If you're feeling generous and would like to help out, I'm not too proud to ask.
Being poor sucks; it sucks even more when you know that no one is to blame but yourself for not establishing and maintaining good saving and spending habits. And the prospect of digging myself out of the hole I'm in is daunting -- no debt to speak of, but living paycheck-to-paycheck.
Just give me one good year, God, would you?
Update: Got the battery charged and the car started right up, drove it to a neighbor's garage. Turns out that the new alternator has already gone bad. The alternator was brand new, so a replacement is free, I'll just have to pay whatever labor the neighbor charged. Hopefully it will be the neighbor rate.
Being poor sucks; it sucks even more when you know that no one is to blame but yourself for not establishing and maintaining good saving and spending habits. And the prospect of digging myself out of the hole I'm in is daunting -- no debt to speak of, but living paycheck-to-paycheck.
Just give me one good year, God, would you?
Update: Got the battery charged and the car started right up, drove it to a neighbor's garage. Turns out that the new alternator has already gone bad. The alternator was brand new, so a replacement is free, I'll just have to pay whatever labor the neighbor charged. Hopefully it will be the neighbor rate.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Can He Still Be the Man From Gigante...
...after he...um...cut it off?
*rush of readers desperately clicking on the link to find out what got cut off*
*rush of readers desperately clicking on the link to find out what got cut off*
Saturday, September 21, 2013
"Angel Priest" Meets With Girl He Helped
Remember the story of the "angel priest" who suddenly appeared at an accident scene to anoint and pray with a young girl injured there, seemingly saving her life? Here's the follow-up:
Katie Lentz, a college student who nearly died in the mangled wreckage of a car crash last month, and the “mystery priest” who appeared out of nowhere to minister to her held an emotional reunion Friday at her Illinois home.
“I was just so thrilled he was there,” Katie told FoxNews.com about her meeting with Father Patrick Dowling on the same day she celebrated her 20th birthday.
“I thanked him for being there (at the crash scene) that day and he said he was very happy I could walk with my walker.”
She said there were no tears, but they exchanged a warm handshake and he sat next to her on the sofa in her family’s home in Quincy, Ill. while they chatted.
“They were just very happy to see each other,” said Katie’s mother, Carla Lentz. “She said she was so grateful he’d been there and he offered a prayer.
“He said God loves all of us and God loves you, Katie.”
Katie Lentz, a college student who nearly died in the mangled wreckage of a car crash last month, and the “mystery priest” who appeared out of nowhere to minister to her held an emotional reunion Friday at her Illinois home.
“I was just so thrilled he was there,” Katie told FoxNews.com about her meeting with Father Patrick Dowling on the same day she celebrated her 20th birthday.
“I thanked him for being there (at the crash scene) that day and he said he was very happy I could walk with my walker.”
She said there were no tears, but they exchanged a warm handshake and he sat next to her on the sofa in her family’s home in Quincy, Ill. while they chatted.
“They were just very happy to see each other,” said Katie’s mother, Carla Lentz. “She said she was so grateful he’d been there and he offered a prayer.
“He said God loves all of us and God loves you, Katie.”
Friday, September 20, 2013
When the Air Force Nearly Nuked NC
Back in 1961:
A doomed Air Force B-52 accidentally dropped two hydrogen bombs on North Carolina in January 1961, and one came perilously close to exploding and scattering deadly radioactive fallout over the Eastern Seaboard, according to a recently declassified report.
The 4-megaton Mark 39 bombs -- each packing 260 times the explosive power of the weapon that decimated Hiroshima -- broke loose over Goldsboro, N.C., as the bomber went into a tailspin and crashed.
All four safety mechanisms designed to prevent accidental detonation worked properly on one bomb, which landed in a meadow, but three failed on the other, and only a low-voltage switch kept it from exploding upon impact in a field in Faro, N.C., said the 1969 report.
A doomed Air Force B-52 accidentally dropped two hydrogen bombs on North Carolina in January 1961, and one came perilously close to exploding and scattering deadly radioactive fallout over the Eastern Seaboard, according to a recently declassified report.
The 4-megaton Mark 39 bombs -- each packing 260 times the explosive power of the weapon that decimated Hiroshima -- broke loose over Goldsboro, N.C., as the bomber went into a tailspin and crashed.
All four safety mechanisms designed to prevent accidental detonation worked properly on one bomb, which landed in a meadow, but three failed on the other, and only a low-voltage switch kept it from exploding upon impact in a field in Faro, N.C., said the 1969 report.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
If He's Committing More Crimes...
while wearing a court-ordered monitoring ankle bracelet, he's probably better off in jail:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have made an arrest in the alleged armed robbery of a woman who was confronted by two men in the garage of her north Charlotte home last week.
The robbery was reported Sept. 17 at the 6500 block of Quarterbridge Lane. That is in a neighborhood off Rumple Lane, east of Sugar Creek Road, in the Derita community.
Police say as a woman came home and pulled her vehicle into her garage, she was confronted by two men, one armed with a handgun. They demanded her money and then took her phone and other items from the vehicle before fleeing.
A CMPD officer later spotted a man who fit the description of the robbers. Police say that as the officer approached, the man threw down a plastic bag containing marijuana. Officers say a search of the man turned up items that belonged to the woman. They say the man, identified as [suspect], was wearing an electronic monitoring device that placed him at the scene of the robbery.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have made an arrest in the alleged armed robbery of a woman who was confronted by two men in the garage of her north Charlotte home last week.
The robbery was reported Sept. 17 at the 6500 block of Quarterbridge Lane. That is in a neighborhood off Rumple Lane, east of Sugar Creek Road, in the Derita community.
Police say as a woman came home and pulled her vehicle into her garage, she was confronted by two men, one armed with a handgun. They demanded her money and then took her phone and other items from the vehicle before fleeing.
A CMPD officer later spotted a man who fit the description of the robbers. Police say that as the officer approached, the man threw down a plastic bag containing marijuana. Officers say a search of the man turned up items that belonged to the woman. They say the man, identified as [suspect], was wearing an electronic monitoring device that placed him at the scene of the robbery.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Criticise the God-King...
...face the wrath of the IRS.
Newly uncovered IRS documents show the agency flagged political groups based on the content of their literature, raising concerns specifically about "anti-Obama rhetoric," inflammatory language and "emotional" statements made by non-profits seeking tax-exempt status.
The internal 2011 documents, obtained by USA TODAY, list 162 groups by name, with comments by Internal Revenue Service lawyers in Washington raising issues about their political, lobbying and advocacy activities. In 21 cases, those activities were characterized as "propaganda."
The list provides the most specific public accounting to date of which groups were targeted for extra scrutiny and why. The IRS has not publicly identified the groups, repeatedly citing a provision of the tax code prohibiting it from releasing tax return information.
More than 80% of the organizations on the 2011 "political advocacy case" list were conservative, but the effort to police political activity also ensnared at least 11 liberal groups as of November 2011, including Progressives United, Progress Texas and Delawareans for Social and Economic Justice.
Click the link to read the rest.
Newly uncovered IRS documents show the agency flagged political groups based on the content of their literature, raising concerns specifically about "anti-Obama rhetoric," inflammatory language and "emotional" statements made by non-profits seeking tax-exempt status.
The internal 2011 documents, obtained by USA TODAY, list 162 groups by name, with comments by Internal Revenue Service lawyers in Washington raising issues about their political, lobbying and advocacy activities. In 21 cases, those activities were characterized as "propaganda."
The list provides the most specific public accounting to date of which groups were targeted for extra scrutiny and why. The IRS has not publicly identified the groups, repeatedly citing a provision of the tax code prohibiting it from releasing tax return information.
More than 80% of the organizations on the 2011 "political advocacy case" list were conservative, but the effort to police political activity also ensnared at least 11 liberal groups as of November 2011, including Progressives United, Progress Texas and Delawareans for Social and Economic Justice.
Click the link to read the rest.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Benghazi: The Cover-up Continues
"Congressman: CIA Employee Who Refused to Sign Non-Disclosure on Benghazi Suspended."
A CIA employee who refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement barring him from discussing the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, has been suspended as a result and forced to hire legal counsel, according to a top House lawmaker.
Rep. Frank Wolf (R., Va.) revealed at an event on Monday that his office was anonymously informed about the CIA employee, who is purportedly facing an internal backlash after refusing to sign a legal document barring him from publicly or privately discussing events surrounding the Benghazi attack.
Most transparent administration evah. Yeah, right.
A CIA employee who refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement barring him from discussing the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, has been suspended as a result and forced to hire legal counsel, according to a top House lawmaker.
Rep. Frank Wolf (R., Va.) revealed at an event on Monday that his office was anonymously informed about the CIA employee, who is purportedly facing an internal backlash after refusing to sign a legal document barring him from publicly or privately discussing events surrounding the Benghazi attack.
Most transparent administration evah. Yeah, right.
I Was Drivin' Down the Road Tryin' To Loosen My Load, Had a Crazy Woman On My Mind...
...first she tried to grab me, then she tried to stab me, she ain't no roommate of mine...
A North Charleston, SC woman doesn't much like The Eagles:
A North Charleston woman is accused of wielding a knife in an assault on her roommate after he refused to stop listening to rock music by the Eagles Monday night.
Vernett Bader, 54, of Brossy Circle, is charged with criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature.
North Charleston police responded to Bader’s home late Monday concerning a reported stabbing, an incident report states.
The woman’s 64-year-old roommate was nursing stab wounds to his arm, hand and elbow, police said.
The wounded man told police that Bader grew angry with him while he was listening to the Eagles and watching television with his brother.
Bader told her roommate she didn’t want to listen to the band. He responded by telling her to shut up, the report states.
Bader grabbed a serrated knife from a kitchen drawer and swung it at the man, police said.
When the two men wrestled the knife away from Bader, she went back into the kitchen and found another, the report states.
Pic:
She Stab It With Her Steely Knives But Just Can't Kill the Beast...
Take it easy, honey.
That's life in the fast lane, I guess. Now she's a desperado.
A North Charleston, SC woman doesn't much like The Eagles:
A North Charleston woman is accused of wielding a knife in an assault on her roommate after he refused to stop listening to rock music by the Eagles Monday night.
Vernett Bader, 54, of Brossy Circle, is charged with criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature.
North Charleston police responded to Bader’s home late Monday concerning a reported stabbing, an incident report states.
The woman’s 64-year-old roommate was nursing stab wounds to his arm, hand and elbow, police said.
The wounded man told police that Bader grew angry with him while he was listening to the Eagles and watching television with his brother.
Bader told her roommate she didn’t want to listen to the band. He responded by telling her to shut up, the report states.
Bader grabbed a serrated knife from a kitchen drawer and swung it at the man, police said.
When the two men wrestled the knife away from Bader, she went back into the kitchen and found another, the report states.
Pic:
Take it easy, honey.
That's life in the fast lane, I guess. Now she's a desperado.
Troglodyting On Mars?
Probably the only feasible way to live on the planet, given that the atmosphere can't support human life and exposes the planet's surface to cosmic rays.
Martian bases could be built on the red planet by robots excavating underground caves, a group of German architects has claimed.
The team from ZA Architects believes that basalt, already detected on the red planet by rovers, could be used as a building material to create large underground caves and create a ‘martian cement’.
‘The surface of Mars is primarily composed of basalt, and the Phoenix lander directly sampled water ice in Martian soil,’ the team say.
‘Basalt is good material to make a protectional cave on, to produce insulation, and basalt roving, which is stronger than steel.’
The rovers would excavate large caves underground, leaving pillars of basalt to support the roof.
When human explorers arrive, they would simply need to install windows, doors and life support systems.
Concept art pic:
Martian bases could be built on the red planet by robots excavating underground caves, a group of German architects has claimed.
The team from ZA Architects believes that basalt, already detected on the red planet by rovers, could be used as a building material to create large underground caves and create a ‘martian cement’.
‘The surface of Mars is primarily composed of basalt, and the Phoenix lander directly sampled water ice in Martian soil,’ the team say.
‘Basalt is good material to make a protectional cave on, to produce insulation, and basalt roving, which is stronger than steel.’
The rovers would excavate large caves underground, leaving pillars of basalt to support the roof.
When human explorers arrive, they would simply need to install windows, doors and life support systems.
Concept art pic:
Quote of the Day
"Another one on psych meds and obsessed with video games. And moronic NYC media wants to take guns from a free people?"
Found here.
Found here.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Apologies For Light Posting
Been busy since last Thursday with car problems; easy enough to fix when you have money, not so much when you don't. A new battery and a new alternator later, I might be back to the status quo ante. So much for buying a new lawnmower and other lawn care products this month.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
NSA Chief Thinks He's Captain Picard
Glenn Greenwald reports on the "Information Dominance Center."
"When he was running the Army's Intelligence and Security Command, Alexander brought many of his future allies down to Fort Belvoir for a tour of his base of operations, a facility known as the Information Dominance Center. It had been designed by a Hollywood set designer to mimic the bridge of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek, complete with chrome panels, computer stations, a huge TV monitor on the forward wall, and doors that made a 'whoosh' sound when they slid open and closed. Lawmakers and other important officials took turns sitting in a leather 'captain's chair' in the center of the room and watched as Alexander, a lover of science-fiction movies, showed off his data tools on the big screen.
"'Everybody wanted to sit in the chair at least once to pretend he was Jean-Luc Picard,' says a retired officer in charge of VIP visits."
Read the whole thing.
"When he was running the Army's Intelligence and Security Command, Alexander brought many of his future allies down to Fort Belvoir for a tour of his base of operations, a facility known as the Information Dominance Center. It had been designed by a Hollywood set designer to mimic the bridge of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek, complete with chrome panels, computer stations, a huge TV monitor on the forward wall, and doors that made a 'whoosh' sound when they slid open and closed. Lawmakers and other important officials took turns sitting in a leather 'captain's chair' in the center of the room and watched as Alexander, a lover of science-fiction movies, showed off his data tools on the big screen.
"'Everybody wanted to sit in the chair at least once to pretend he was Jean-Luc Picard,' says a retired officer in charge of VIP visits."
Read the whole thing.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
Good Syria Analysis From Walter Russell Mead
Mead explains President Obama's "bumblefucking*" Syria strategy through the lens of his spectrum theory of foreign policy:
Longtime readers will know that I divide American foreign policy into four schools of thought. Hamiltonians (well represented among the old Republican foreign policy establishment) want the United States to follow the trail blazed by Great Britain in its day: to build a global commercial and security system based on sea power and technological leadership, maintaining a balance of power in key geopolitical theaters and seeking to attract rivals or potential rivals like China into our system as, in Robert Zoellick’s phrase, “responsible stakeholders.” Wilsonians also want the United States to build a world order, but to anchor it in liberal human rights practices and international law rather than in the economic and security frameworks that Hamiltonians prefer. Those two globalist schools dominate the foreign policy establishment’s thought about the world we live in, and have done so since the 1940s.
There are two other schools that are home-focused rather than globalist. They are less interested in changing the world around the United States than in keeping the United States safe from the world. Jeffersonians have historically sought to avoid war and foreign entanglements at all costs; Jacksonians have been suspicious of foreign adventures, but strongly believe in national defense and support a strong military and want decisive action against any threat to the United States, its honor, or its treaty allies. Jeffersonians are generally opposed to almost any war other than a war of self defense following a direct enemy attack; Jacksonians aren’t interested in global transformation but will generally back robust American responses to anything they see as a security threat or a threat to America’s honor and reputation abroad.
Click the link to read the rest. Mead concludes that Obama lost the Jacksonians through his fecklessness in regards to Afghanistan and especially Libya - - and the Jacksonians are the most warlike of all Americans. No American President can win a war without their enthusiastic support.
*Term coined by Jon Stewart to describe Obama's Syria policy:
Longtime readers will know that I divide American foreign policy into four schools of thought. Hamiltonians (well represented among the old Republican foreign policy establishment) want the United States to follow the trail blazed by Great Britain in its day: to build a global commercial and security system based on sea power and technological leadership, maintaining a balance of power in key geopolitical theaters and seeking to attract rivals or potential rivals like China into our system as, in Robert Zoellick’s phrase, “responsible stakeholders.” Wilsonians also want the United States to build a world order, but to anchor it in liberal human rights practices and international law rather than in the economic and security frameworks that Hamiltonians prefer. Those two globalist schools dominate the foreign policy establishment’s thought about the world we live in, and have done so since the 1940s.
There are two other schools that are home-focused rather than globalist. They are less interested in changing the world around the United States than in keeping the United States safe from the world. Jeffersonians have historically sought to avoid war and foreign entanglements at all costs; Jacksonians have been suspicious of foreign adventures, but strongly believe in national defense and support a strong military and want decisive action against any threat to the United States, its honor, or its treaty allies. Jeffersonians are generally opposed to almost any war other than a war of self defense following a direct enemy attack; Jacksonians aren’t interested in global transformation but will generally back robust American responses to anything they see as a security threat or a threat to America’s honor and reputation abroad.
Click the link to read the rest. Mead concludes that Obama lost the Jacksonians through his fecklessness in regards to Afghanistan and especially Libya - - and the Jacksonians are the most warlike of all Americans. No American President can win a war without their enthusiastic support.
*Term coined by Jon Stewart to describe Obama's Syria policy:
World's Oldest Bottle Message Found
Found washed up on a beach in western Canada - - and the finder refuses to open the bottle to read the note inside!
The bottle has been drifting around the Pacific Ocean for 107 years, thrown into the sea near San Francisco, and it was found washed up on a beach in Tofino, Canada: 1,115 miles in 107 years.
Sending a message by bottle is one of those things that you might wish to put on your personal bucket list. I've thrown four or five of them, and gotten replies to a couple of them. Maybe one day in the future the equivalent will be to send a message into space. Perhaps it's already been done by an astronaut with a sense of whimsy.
The bottle has been drifting around the Pacific Ocean for 107 years, thrown into the sea near San Francisco, and it was found washed up on a beach in Tofino, Canada: 1,115 miles in 107 years.
Sending a message by bottle is one of those things that you might wish to put on your personal bucket list. I've thrown four or five of them, and gotten replies to a couple of them. Maybe one day in the future the equivalent will be to send a message into space. Perhaps it's already been done by an astronaut with a sense of whimsy.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Indoctrination Chronicles #6
Down in Memphis, Tennessee, a teacher who asked the lil' chirrens to write about a person they idolized was less than happy when one of the lil' tykes wrote of God as her idol.
When asked by the news reporters what the school policy was, they admitted it was a mistake for the teacher to prohibit God as Elementary Idol. When asked what disciplinary procedures/recriminations the teacher would face, they babbled about privacy policies.
When asked by the news reporters what the school policy was, they admitted it was a mistake for the teacher to prohibit God as Elementary Idol. When asked what disciplinary procedures/recriminations the teacher would face, they babbled about privacy policies.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Hippie Tears!
Gun grabber hippie tears, the best kind!
But let it not be said that I totally lack empathy for the maggot hippies who lost their jobs:
Well, on second thought, I do lack all empathy for the plight of these two gun-grabbing hippie maggots.
But let it not be said that I totally lack empathy for the maggot hippies who lost their jobs:
Well, on second thought, I do lack all empathy for the plight of these two gun-grabbing hippie maggots.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Sunday, September 08, 2013
Sh*t Sister Says, Redux
"She's wearing pink all over and screaming like a Banshee." - - spoken of Victoria Azerenka, currently facing Serena Williams in the U.S. Open women's tennis final.
Friday, September 06, 2013
Wearing a Mask Ain't Much of a Disguise...
...if the mask doesn't cover your distinctive, Groucho Marx-like eyebrows:
A man who raided a betting shop was brought to justice today… because of his eyebrows.
Paul Shough, 28, was jailed for six-and-a-half years after threatening staff at a Coral store in Birmingham with an imitation gun, and managed to escape with £200 in cash.
He had covered his face before attempting the crime, but police were able to track him down thanks to his distinctive eyebrows and heavily-lined forehead.
In this case, he'd have been advised to cover the upper half of his face, I guess. Or shave those eyebrows off.
A man who raided a betting shop was brought to justice today… because of his eyebrows.
Paul Shough, 28, was jailed for six-and-a-half years after threatening staff at a Coral store in Birmingham with an imitation gun, and managed to escape with £200 in cash.
He had covered his face before attempting the crime, but police were able to track him down thanks to his distinctive eyebrows and heavily-lined forehead.
In this case, he'd have been advised to cover the upper half of his face, I guess. Or shave those eyebrows off.
In Airship News...
...the "Aeroscraft" prototype cargo zeppelin nears its first test flight:
An experimental airship came a step closer to its first flight last weekend when the silvery “Aeroscraft” zeppelin hovered a few feet off the ground outside the Tustin, Calif. blimp hangar where it's being built.
The Aeroscraft, a 266-foot-long blimp-like cargo ship, is expected to hold its first test flight within the next month, officials with developer Aeros Corp. said.
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an airworthiness certificate to the firm.
Click the link to read the rest. It would be cool if airships became common again, both for cargo and also for transportation of people. Hell, rock stars and billionaires could buy them as air yachts. Edgar Allan Poe once wrote a story in which he envisioned a future in which airships (although he used the term balloons were the main method of long-distance transportation in the world. I'd love to ride in one, some day.
An experimental airship came a step closer to its first flight last weekend when the silvery “Aeroscraft” zeppelin hovered a few feet off the ground outside the Tustin, Calif. blimp hangar where it's being built.
The Aeroscraft, a 266-foot-long blimp-like cargo ship, is expected to hold its first test flight within the next month, officials with developer Aeros Corp. said.
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an airworthiness certificate to the firm.
Click the link to read the rest. It would be cool if airships became common again, both for cargo and also for transportation of people. Hell, rock stars and billionaires could buy them as air yachts. Edgar Allan Poe once wrote a story in which he envisioned a future in which airships (although he used the term balloons were the main method of long-distance transportation in the world. I'd love to ride in one, some day.
Return of the Stylites
Monks who live atop pillars.
In this case a Russian Orthodox monk who was, in his youth, a criminal.
He lives atop this pillar:
And he's got a stupendous view of the wilderness of the country of Georgia:
The Christian practice of living atop pillars is an old one, dating back to the earliest days of Christianity, when the Desert Fathers were active. St. Simeon Stylites was the most famous of them.
Be sure to click over to the story, the accompanying photographs are stunning.
In this case a Russian Orthodox monk who was, in his youth, a criminal.
He lives atop this pillar:
And he's got a stupendous view of the wilderness of the country of Georgia:
The Christian practice of living atop pillars is an old one, dating back to the earliest days of Christianity, when the Desert Fathers were active. St. Simeon Stylites was the most famous of them.
Be sure to click over to the story, the accompanying photographs are stunning.
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
Indoctrination Chronicles #5
It's your first day of college at Michigan State University! A lot of money was spent, most likely by your parents, or perhaps you got student loans, and here you are in your freshman English class with Professor William Penn; what knowledge does Professor Penn want to impart on your first day of school? This:
“If you go to the Republican convention in Florida, you see all those old people with all the dead skin cells washing off them – uh, they’re cheap. They don’t want to pay taxes because they’ve already raped this country and gotten everything out of it they possibly could.”
Bastard has tenure, no doubt.
Update: He didn't have tenure! There is a God!
Update 2: He has tenure, after all. God is dead?
“If you go to the Republican convention in Florida, you see all those old people with all the dead skin cells washing off them – uh, they’re cheap. They don’t want to pay taxes because they’ve already raped this country and gotten everything out of it they possibly could.”
Bastard has tenure, no doubt.
Update: He didn't have tenure! There is a God!
Update 2: He has tenure, after all. God is dead?
Gee, This Seems Familiar
Over at Yahoo, a video of a chipmunk and a cameraman.
I've seen that particular scenario somewhere before; oh, yeah:
In the next scene, of course, they bring the cameraman into the emergency room with the chipmunk attached to his face...
I've seen that particular scenario somewhere before; oh, yeah:
In the next scene, of course, they bring the cameraman into the emergency room with the chipmunk attached to his face...
Things You Find On the Internet
A picture of me from my Navy days, in training school at NTTC Corry Station, Pensacola:
I'm standing on the left side of the photo, with a full head of blond hair and glasses, under the boots of the wall art, next to the CPO. These are Cryptologic Technicians and the class was Outboard/Tacintel, which was a Navy HFDF (High Frequency Direction Finding) system for locating enemy ships via their radio communications. Tacintel was a satellite communications network, a primitive internet.
I'm standing on the left side of the photo, with a full head of blond hair and glasses, under the boots of the wall art, next to the CPO. These are Cryptologic Technicians and the class was Outboard/Tacintel, which was a Navy HFDF (High Frequency Direction Finding) system for locating enemy ships via their radio communications. Tacintel was a satellite communications network, a primitive internet.
Is a Bear Catholic? Does a Pope Sh*t In the Woods?
The answer to that question would be "No," and "Maybe, if the Pope were to go on a camping trip with the Scouts of St. George," a new Catholic organization based on the Boy Scouts:
A little further under the radar, another scouting group has quickly grown from the vision of one man and, while it's not having a big convention in September, it's sending troops out into the wilderness to sharpen their outdoor skills and practice their faith.
On May 24, Texas outdoorsman, college chancellor/professor, Eagle Scout, and father of seven (including four boys) Dr. Taylor Marshall (pictured) announced on his blog, Canterbury Tales, his intention to create a new group. It was to be built on the principles set out by BSA founder Robert Baden-Powell in 1908, who chose St. George—the dragon-slaying patron saint of his native Britain—as also the patron of young men seeking strength and virtue.
Along with traditional scouting activities, Taylor wanted the group to also emphasize his faith, as a former Episcopalian priest who converted to Roman Catholicism.
In a few short months, the Scouts of St. George has become a reality, with troops springing up—largely but not necessarily connected to Catholic parishes—around the country and overseas. The first camp-out for a SSG troop happened the weekend of Aug. 24, but the bulk of the current troops' first outdoors adventures will come during September.
"Our campout," says Marshall, "for Troop 1 and Troop 5, Dallas and North Fort Worth, we're are going to go out Sept. 6 and 8. We're going to have a couple priests and deacon; we'll have Mass, rosary both nights, Angelus prayer. It'll be great; it'll be so much fun."
Such an organization will be a fat target for the scorn of the Left, with questions about merit badges for pedophilia being only the most obvious avenue of attack. This new organization is obviously a response to the continuing attacks on the Boy Scouts of America by the gay and atheist lobbies, and designed to prevent either of those lobbies from entry:
One of the chief concerns Marshall has been dealing with is the concept of the SSG as being exclusive to one faith.
"That's been the most controversial," he says, "but I've stood by my guns on this. We are a Catholic organization; we do hold to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, so everything they teach, we hold. And the membership is Catholic. Of course, we realize that every boy's father is not Catholic, but those fathers are welcome to join us and be part of what we're doing.
So by being openly a Catholic-only organization, atheists - - no matter how virtuous - - are excluded, and the language about "the Magisterium of the Catholic Church" means that non-celibate gay boys would not be admitted, either, and nominally celibate gay boys that joined the group would be expelled if they were caught engaging in homosexual acts. Or perhaps, like certain orders of monks, they would have to publicly confess their sins and be subject to corporal punishment.
I can't imagine this new organization will go very far. The level of scrutiny it will receive will be extreme, and any missteps trumpeted far beyond reality by a hostile media.
A little further under the radar, another scouting group has quickly grown from the vision of one man and, while it's not having a big convention in September, it's sending troops out into the wilderness to sharpen their outdoor skills and practice their faith.
On May 24, Texas outdoorsman, college chancellor/professor, Eagle Scout, and father of seven (including four boys) Dr. Taylor Marshall (pictured) announced on his blog, Canterbury Tales, his intention to create a new group. It was to be built on the principles set out by BSA founder Robert Baden-Powell in 1908, who chose St. George—the dragon-slaying patron saint of his native Britain—as also the patron of young men seeking strength and virtue.
Along with traditional scouting activities, Taylor wanted the group to also emphasize his faith, as a former Episcopalian priest who converted to Roman Catholicism.
In a few short months, the Scouts of St. George has become a reality, with troops springing up—largely but not necessarily connected to Catholic parishes—around the country and overseas. The first camp-out for a SSG troop happened the weekend of Aug. 24, but the bulk of the current troops' first outdoors adventures will come during September.
"Our campout," says Marshall, "for Troop 1 and Troop 5, Dallas and North Fort Worth, we're are going to go out Sept. 6 and 8. We're going to have a couple priests and deacon; we'll have Mass, rosary both nights, Angelus prayer. It'll be great; it'll be so much fun."
Such an organization will be a fat target for the scorn of the Left, with questions about merit badges for pedophilia being only the most obvious avenue of attack. This new organization is obviously a response to the continuing attacks on the Boy Scouts of America by the gay and atheist lobbies, and designed to prevent either of those lobbies from entry:
One of the chief concerns Marshall has been dealing with is the concept of the SSG as being exclusive to one faith.
"That's been the most controversial," he says, "but I've stood by my guns on this. We are a Catholic organization; we do hold to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, so everything they teach, we hold. And the membership is Catholic. Of course, we realize that every boy's father is not Catholic, but those fathers are welcome to join us and be part of what we're doing.
So by being openly a Catholic-only organization, atheists - - no matter how virtuous - - are excluded, and the language about "the Magisterium of the Catholic Church" means that non-celibate gay boys would not be admitted, either, and nominally celibate gay boys that joined the group would be expelled if they were caught engaging in homosexual acts. Or perhaps, like certain orders of monks, they would have to publicly confess their sins and be subject to corporal punishment.
I can't imagine this new organization will go very far. The level of scrutiny it will receive will be extreme, and any missteps trumpeted far beyond reality by a hostile media.
Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Happy Birthday...
...to Mort Walker, creator of the comic strip Beetle Bailey. Mr. Walker is 90 years old today.
Sunday, September 01, 2013
The Fourteen Holy Helpers
A bit of Catholicism I wasn't familiar with.
I've been re-reading the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters, one of which is titled The Leper of St. Giles. Today happens to be the feast day of St. Giles (as I am informed in a daily Saint that the Franciscans email to me) and, reading about Giles, I discovered he was one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers." This is a group of saints who, rather than assist in general terms with the state of one's soul, seem to instead focus on helping with particular parts of the human body; St. Agathius against headaches, for example.
When I attended Catholic school as a boy one of the "fun" days in the year was the feast day of St. Blaise, where after the Mass, individuals were "blessed" with the protection of St. Blaise by having unlit candlesticks crossed under one's throat. Blaise is another of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Down at the bottom of the Wikipedia article linked above is a truly charming bedtime prayer invoking the Fourteen:
When at night I go to sleep,
Fourteen angels watch do keep,
Two my head are guarding,
Two my feet are guiding;
Two upon my right hand,
Two upon my left hand.
Two who warmly cover
Two who o'er me hover,
Two to whom 'tis given
To guide my steps to heaven.
I think I'll write that one down and add it to my own bedtime prayer.
I've been re-reading the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters, one of which is titled The Leper of St. Giles. Today happens to be the feast day of St. Giles (as I am informed in a daily Saint that the Franciscans email to me) and, reading about Giles, I discovered he was one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers." This is a group of saints who, rather than assist in general terms with the state of one's soul, seem to instead focus on helping with particular parts of the human body; St. Agathius against headaches, for example.
When I attended Catholic school as a boy one of the "fun" days in the year was the feast day of St. Blaise, where after the Mass, individuals were "blessed" with the protection of St. Blaise by having unlit candlesticks crossed under one's throat. Blaise is another of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Down at the bottom of the Wikipedia article linked above is a truly charming bedtime prayer invoking the Fourteen:
When at night I go to sleep,
Fourteen angels watch do keep,
Two my head are guarding,
Two my feet are guiding;
Two upon my right hand,
Two upon my left hand.
Two who warmly cover
Two who o'er me hover,
Two to whom 'tis given
To guide my steps to heaven.
I think I'll write that one down and add it to my own bedtime prayer.
WWII LST In Charleston, SC Until Tuesday
LST-325.
Pic:
There's a fine novel I read long ago about an LST in WWII called The Ninety and Nine, by William Brinkley.
Pic:
There's a fine novel I read long ago about an LST in WWII called The Ninety and Nine, by William Brinkley.
Tiny Little Pleasures...
...like the flip-top cap that Colgate puts on its toothpaste, so you don't have to worry about losing the cap:
(that's a replica WWI German Trench Knife at the bottom of the photo, made by Böker).
(that's a replica WWI German Trench Knife at the bottom of the photo, made by Böker).
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Indoctrination Chronicles #4
Down in Paducah, Kentucky, kids at the McCracken County High School were indoctrinated into the proper leftist meaning of patriotism and respect for the flag:
Yes, that's the flag lying on the floor, along with a stand and notebook that allows the lil' chirrens to record how standing on their country's flag makes them "feel." I have to guess that most traditionally-raised Americans would feel like Wesley in this scene from The Princess Bride:
Reading further down in the story the "teacher" involved in the flag desecration expresses regretthat she was caught that she didn't have tenure that she made such an error in judgment. Yah, right.
Yes, that's the flag lying on the floor, along with a stand and notebook that allows the lil' chirrens to record how standing on their country's flag makes them "feel." I have to guess that most traditionally-raised Americans would feel like Wesley in this scene from The Princess Bride:
Reading further down in the story the "teacher" involved in the flag desecration expresses regret
Friday, August 30, 2013
Let's Paraphrase Heinlein, Shall We?
"Watched Cops are Polite Cops."
Heinlein is, of course, famous for coining the expression "An armed society is a polite society." And long before Heinlein, there was the Latin poet Juvenal, who coined the phrase Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (Who watches the watchmen?)
The camera does. Objectively and dispassionately.
Heinlein is, of course, famous for coining the expression "An armed society is a polite society." And long before Heinlein, there was the Latin poet Juvenal, who coined the phrase Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (Who watches the watchmen?)
The camera does. Objectively and dispassionately.
Biden To Visit Charleston, Savannah
Story.
Rumors that the Vice President is on a fact-finding mission for President Obama to determine whether Charleston, Savannah and Jacksonville actually are on the Gulf Coast went unconfirmed as of this writing.
Rumors that the Vice President is on a fact-finding mission for President Obama to determine whether Charleston, Savannah and Jacksonville actually are on the Gulf Coast went unconfirmed as of this writing.
Headline of the Day
"'Black Jesus' murder: Leader of 6,000-strong cannibal rape cult hacked to death by villagers in Papua New Guinea jungle after killing yet again."
"Stephen Tari called himself 'the true Christ' and had previously been accused of raping, murdering and eating young girls."
Well, that one will be hard to top.
"Stephen Tari called himself 'the true Christ' and had previously been accused of raping, murdering and eating young girls."
Well, that one will be hard to top.
What Was It That Wayne LaPierre Said?
"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."
In this case, the good guy was a convenience store clerk. Since the neighborhood involved is Hidden Valley, I'll presume that the dead dude was a Usual Suspect.
In this case, the good guy was a convenience store clerk. Since the neighborhood involved is Hidden Valley, I'll presume that the dead dude was a Usual Suspect.
That Didn't Take Long
Historic Fort Monroe, occupied by the US Army until last year, is already being vandalized by thieves in search of copper.
Pic of the old fort:
What a damned shame. I used to love visiting the fort during my Navy years in Norfolk, and I got to see it again just a few years ago, on a vacation trip.
Pic of the old fort:
What a damned shame. I used to love visiting the fort during my Navy years in Norfolk, and I got to see it again just a few years ago, on a vacation trip.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Distillery Opening In Downtown Charleston, SC
High Wire Distilling Co.
The Rhum Agricole (a sugar cane product popular in the French West Indies, particularly Martinique and Haiti) sounds particularly appealing.
The Rhum Agricole (a sugar cane product popular in the French West Indies, particularly Martinique and Haiti) sounds particularly appealing.
Volcano Blog: Volcano Photographer Martin Rietze
Travelling the world photographing volcanoes in eruption.
Sample pic:
Dangerous work, although it appears that Rietze is much more careful around the most dangerous types of volcanoes, those that explode violently and produce pyroclastic flows (an avalanche of superheated ash that burns all in its path, such as happened at Pompeii and St. Pierre, Martinique). A pyroclastic flow was responsible for the deaths of volcano photographers Maurice and Katia Krafft in Japan in 1991.
Sample pic:
Dangerous work, although it appears that Rietze is much more careful around the most dangerous types of volcanoes, those that explode violently and produce pyroclastic flows (an avalanche of superheated ash that burns all in its path, such as happened at Pompeii and St. Pierre, Martinique). A pyroclastic flow was responsible for the deaths of volcano photographers Maurice and Katia Krafft in Japan in 1991.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
I Guess They Judged Him On the Content of His Character...
...and not the color of his skin.
The only black US Senator was not invited to the Martin Luther King, Jr., March On Washington anniversary because he's a Republican.
The only black US Senator was not invited to the Martin Luther King, Jr., March On Washington anniversary because he's a Republican.
New BBQ Restaurant Coming To Charlotte
Dickey's Barbecue Pit, apparently a Texas chain with several NC locations already. Going into the Ballantyne area, so no excessive driving involved.
h/t Barbecue Brothers.
h/t Barbecue Brothers.
Six Free Bites
Down in Spartanburg, SC, a serial domestic abuser has finally gotten some jail time - - after the seventh instance of abuse.
Ya know, vicious dogs typically get "one free bite," after that they are euthanized. Might be a good policy to apply to our Usual Suspect™ here. It would definitely increase the supply of donor organs available.
And he'll be out in a year. His woman's bruises will have barely healed and he'll be right back doing the same thing. Bet on it.
Ya know, vicious dogs typically get "one free bite," after that they are euthanized. Might be a good policy to apply to our Usual Suspect™ here. It would definitely increase the supply of donor organs available.
And he'll be out in a year. His woman's bruises will have barely healed and he'll be right back doing the same thing. Bet on it.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Yet Another Murder By One Of Obama's Sons
99-year-old Fannie Gumbinger won't make it to the century mark.
I wonder if the law enforcement agencies and the MSM will team up yet again to declare this yet another "random" murder with no racial overtones?
Jesus wept.
I wonder if the law enforcement agencies and the MSM will team up yet again to declare this yet another "random" murder with no racial overtones?
Jesus wept.
The Daughter of Jesus Chooses To Stand Mute
Which is how she identified herself to sheriff's deputies in Hawthorne, Florida, after stabbing a man to death.
The deputies used a K-9 dog to make her submit:
Deputies arrived and called for Dallas to come out, but she stayed seated on a bed in the rear bedroom with her arms folded. Using a shield marked “SHERIFF,’’ deputies went into the house and told her to come out or they would send in the police dog.
She didn’t, and they did.
LOL. I like this reporter's writing style.
The deputies used a K-9 dog to make her submit:
Deputies arrived and called for Dallas to come out, but she stayed seated on a bed in the rear bedroom with her arms folded. Using a shield marked “SHERIFF,’’ deputies went into the house and told her to come out or they would send in the police dog.
She didn’t, and they did.
LOL. I like this reporter's writing style.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Meanwhile, In Gainesville, Florida...
...One of Obama's Sons™ opened fire on four movie-goers outside a theater simply because they tripped him, he claimed.
There you see the mindset difference between the law-abiding gun owner who acquires a concealed handgun permit and the Usual Suspects™: the law-abiding citizen goes to the trouble of taking classes and learning about what is and is not a legitimate scenario for using his/her gun; the Usual Suspect™ does not; indeed, the Usual Suspect™ is very often a felon forbidden to own a handgun because of previous acts of violence. Lower mean IQ in the Usual Suspect™ result in poor decision-making skills and poor impulse control. You won't find any NRA instructor who teaches that it is acceptable practice to shoot someone simply because they trip you, either intentionally or unintentionally. Indeed, it's what distinguishes adult behavior from the behavior of a child.
There you see the mindset difference between the law-abiding gun owner who acquires a concealed handgun permit and the Usual Suspects™: the law-abiding citizen goes to the trouble of taking classes and learning about what is and is not a legitimate scenario for using his/her gun; the Usual Suspect™ does not; indeed, the Usual Suspect™ is very often a felon forbidden to own a handgun because of previous acts of violence. Lower mean IQ in the Usual Suspect™ result in poor decision-making skills and poor impulse control. You won't find any NRA instructor who teaches that it is acceptable practice to shoot someone simply because they trip you, either intentionally or unintentionally. Indeed, it's what distinguishes adult behavior from the behavior of a child.
Meanwhile, In UK...
...the police are once again arresting law-abiding citizens simply for having the temerity to defend their businesses against burglars.
A businessman who confronted a burglar raiding his premises appeared in court yesterday accused of attacking him. Andrew Woodhouse, 43, was chasing thieves off his property when he claims one of them 'came at' him with a wooden stick.
Father-of-five Woodhouse allegedly used the stick to injure the man's legs before holding him down while his wife called the police.
But when officers arrived they arrested Woodhouse and held him in a cell for 18 hours.
He appeared at Newport Crown Court yesterday charged with grievous bodily harm with intent which has a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
In the US, of course, Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground laws prevent this sort of gross injustice by police, even were they inclined to view the law-abiding and criminals as morally equivalent, as UK seems to do. Indeed, it's only a matter of time until UK criminals form unions to better protect their interests against evil law-abiding citizens.
A businessman who confronted a burglar raiding his premises appeared in court yesterday accused of attacking him. Andrew Woodhouse, 43, was chasing thieves off his property when he claims one of them 'came at' him with a wooden stick.
Father-of-five Woodhouse allegedly used the stick to injure the man's legs before holding him down while his wife called the police.
But when officers arrived they arrested Woodhouse and held him in a cell for 18 hours.
He appeared at Newport Crown Court yesterday charged with grievous bodily harm with intent which has a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
In the US, of course, Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground laws prevent this sort of gross injustice by police, even were they inclined to view the law-abiding and criminals as morally equivalent, as UK seems to do. Indeed, it's only a matter of time until UK criminals form unions to better protect their interests against evil law-abiding citizens.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Three Distended Stomachs
Those would be the stomachs of myself, sister and dog. I cooked a pot roast in the slow cooker today, a little 2.5 lb. roast made to a recipe I found on the internet - - the other three ingredients being a can of cream of mushroom soup, a packet of onion soup mix, and water. The result was quite tasty, if it didn't quite match what my late mother was capable of. The roast was sized perfectly for a tiny family such as ours.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
The Wildwood Men...
...and the Wildwood Weed:
Three men were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana late Saturday night after the driver of the car they were in led Marion County Sheriff's Office deputies on a high-speed chase.
You know exactly where this is going, right?
Jim Stafford is an old Florida boy himself, by the way.
Three men were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana late Saturday night after the driver of the car they were in led Marion County Sheriff's Office deputies on a high-speed chase.
You know exactly where this is going, right?
Jim Stafford is an old Florida boy himself, by the way.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Unprepared, But Still a Hero
He saved two senior citizens from an attack by dogs.
He had to do it bare-handed, though:
After a long hot day of work for York County’s road maintenance department, Tim Walling was beat.
He was driving home at about 6:30 p.m., turning on to India Hook Road, when he saw a pair of dogs attacking two people.
A bunch of other drivers saw it too. They must have. It happened on the sidewalk and in a parking lot of an apartment complex on a busy city street, near an intersection with other busy city streets.
The man being attacked by the dogs, Andrew Jorgensen, 78, has had a triple-bypass heart operation and has an artificial knee.
His wife, Thelma “Tee” Carlile, 68, is being treated for angina, heart pains.
But Walling did not know any of that as he drove past the scene. All he heard was a woman screaming, terrified, as she held two little dogs, Rosie and Daisy, in her arms.
Walling, 46, did not do nothing, as all those other drivers did. He made an immediate U-turn, pulled his truck up on the sidewalk, and lunged out to help.
He had no stick or pole, no knife or gun. All he had to protect these two strangers was his body and his guts.
No tire lug wrench in the trunk of the car? Come on, now. For any of you reading this, do you have a basic tool or survival kit somewhere in your car? Maybe with a folding shovel for snow or sand or mud? A staff, if you're a hiker? Maybe a machete for chopping brush? These aren't expensive, and don't take up much space. The best solution for pit bulls is a gun, of course, but not everyone wants to invest the time and money to acquire a concealed carry license, and some folks aren't willing to leave a gun such as an old shotgun or .22 rifle in the trunk of their car for fear of theft. Any tool is better than no tool, though. Even a screwdriver is enough to fend off a dog attack.
He had to do it bare-handed, though:
After a long hot day of work for York County’s road maintenance department, Tim Walling was beat.
He was driving home at about 6:30 p.m., turning on to India Hook Road, when he saw a pair of dogs attacking two people.
A bunch of other drivers saw it too. They must have. It happened on the sidewalk and in a parking lot of an apartment complex on a busy city street, near an intersection with other busy city streets.
The man being attacked by the dogs, Andrew Jorgensen, 78, has had a triple-bypass heart operation and has an artificial knee.
His wife, Thelma “Tee” Carlile, 68, is being treated for angina, heart pains.
But Walling did not know any of that as he drove past the scene. All he heard was a woman screaming, terrified, as she held two little dogs, Rosie and Daisy, in her arms.
Walling, 46, did not do nothing, as all those other drivers did. He made an immediate U-turn, pulled his truck up on the sidewalk, and lunged out to help.
He had no stick or pole, no knife or gun. All he had to protect these two strangers was his body and his guts.
No tire lug wrench in the trunk of the car? Come on, now. For any of you reading this, do you have a basic tool or survival kit somewhere in your car? Maybe with a folding shovel for snow or sand or mud? A staff, if you're a hiker? Maybe a machete for chopping brush? These aren't expensive, and don't take up much space. The best solution for pit bulls is a gun, of course, but not everyone wants to invest the time and money to acquire a concealed carry license, and some folks aren't willing to leave a gun such as an old shotgun or .22 rifle in the trunk of their car for fear of theft. Any tool is better than no tool, though. Even a screwdriver is enough to fend off a dog attack.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Favorite Scene From Favorite Movie
Wyatt Earp (Kevin Costner) meets Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid) for the first time, from the movie Wyatt Earp:
That bit with the whiskey bottle was masterly. Watch Doc's eyes narrow when he sees how fast Wyatt's reflexes are; then, realizing Wyatt doesn't represent a threat to him, he smiles, amused by it.
Here's a bonus scene from later in the movie:
That bit with the whiskey bottle was masterly. Watch Doc's eyes narrow when he sees how fast Wyatt's reflexes are; then, realizing Wyatt doesn't represent a threat to him, he smiles, amused by it.
Here's a bonus scene from later in the movie:
Meanwhile, In Stockholm...
...where the State is apparently required to pimp your cat...
Officials with Sweden's Enforcement Agency said the department helped a woman find a male mate for her cat in heat.
The agency said the Stockholm woman told authorities she had a contact with the owners of a tomcat named Ove to have the male feline mate with her own pet, which she said is in heat and will urinate on the walls if a mate is not found in a timely fashion, Swedish news agency TT reported Wednesday.
The woman said Ove's owners were attempting to back out of the deal.
"It's not so unusual for us to make these kinds of decisions," Caroline Riderstal, the Enforcement Agency supervisor for the case, told The Local.se.
"We came to a decision on a contract basis and such instances crop up from time to time -- it can be about anything at all. If something needs to be moved, then it can be something we work with. The owner wants action and that's why she left the case in to us," Riderstal said.
Riderstal said the agency has ensured Ove's owners will allow him to breed with the woman's cat.
Officials with Sweden's Enforcement Agency said the department helped a woman find a male mate for her cat in heat.
The agency said the Stockholm woman told authorities she had a contact with the owners of a tomcat named Ove to have the male feline mate with her own pet, which she said is in heat and will urinate on the walls if a mate is not found in a timely fashion, Swedish news agency TT reported Wednesday.
The woman said Ove's owners were attempting to back out of the deal.
"It's not so unusual for us to make these kinds of decisions," Caroline Riderstal, the Enforcement Agency supervisor for the case, told The Local.se.
"We came to a decision on a contract basis and such instances crop up from time to time -- it can be about anything at all. If something needs to be moved, then it can be something we work with. The owner wants action and that's why she left the case in to us," Riderstal said.
Riderstal said the agency has ensured Ove's owners will allow him to breed with the woman's cat.
Clean-Up In Aisle Three, Please
The God-King went off TelePrompTer again.
In an effort to stop military lawyers from using comments by President Obama to prevent sexual assault prosecutions, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has sent out a directive ordering the military to exercise independent judgment in the cases and effectively ignore the president’s remarks.
“There are no expected or required dispositions, outcomes or sentences in any military justice case, other than what result from the individual facts and merits of a case and the application to the case of the fundamentals of due process of law,” Mr. Hagel wrote in a memorandum dated Aug. 6 that is to be disseminated throughout the military.
Since May, when Mr. Obama said at the White House that sexual offenders in the military ought to be “prosecuted, stripped of their positions, court-martialed, fired, dishonorably discharged,” lawyers in dozens of assault cases have argued that Mr. Obama’s words as commander in chief amounted to “unlawful command influence,” tainting trials and creating unfair circumstances for clients as a result.
Their motions have had some success. At Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina in June, a judge dismissed charges of sexual assault against an Army officer, noting the command influence issue. In Hawaii, a Navy judge ruled last month that two defendants in sexual assault cases, if found guilty, could not be punitively discharged because of Mr. Obama’s remarks.
In an effort to stop military lawyers from using comments by President Obama to prevent sexual assault prosecutions, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has sent out a directive ordering the military to exercise independent judgment in the cases and effectively ignore the president’s remarks.
“There are no expected or required dispositions, outcomes or sentences in any military justice case, other than what result from the individual facts and merits of a case and the application to the case of the fundamentals of due process of law,” Mr. Hagel wrote in a memorandum dated Aug. 6 that is to be disseminated throughout the military.
Since May, when Mr. Obama said at the White House that sexual offenders in the military ought to be “prosecuted, stripped of their positions, court-martialed, fired, dishonorably discharged,” lawyers in dozens of assault cases have argued that Mr. Obama’s words as commander in chief amounted to “unlawful command influence,” tainting trials and creating unfair circumstances for clients as a result.
Their motions have had some success. At Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina in June, a judge dismissed charges of sexual assault against an Army officer, noting the command influence issue. In Hawaii, a Navy judge ruled last month that two defendants in sexual assault cases, if found guilty, could not be punitively discharged because of Mr. Obama’s remarks.
Monday, August 12, 2013
"Angel Priest" Identified
Follow-up to this post of mine.
The mysterious Catholic priest who showed up at an accident scene, gave comfort to the sick, and then vanished, has stepped forward and identified himself.
The mystery priest who recently showed up at a crash site, anointed a victim and then vanished has been identified — and he came forward by posting his identity in the comments section of a Catholic news site. The story began on Aug. 4, after Aaron Smith, 26, struck Katie Lentz, 19, in a head-on car crash. In the days that followed, the tale of a faith leader who disappeared went viral.
But now the individual, who brought calm upon the situation and who rescue workers have been hoping to find and thank, has been found. A press release provided to TheBlaze from the Diocese of Jefferson County confirmed that the Rev. Patrick Dowling, one of the priests who works with the diocese, is the individual whom they have been seeking.
Click the link to read the rest. Father Dowling revealed himself as the priest in question in a comment at the National Catholic Register.
The mysterious Catholic priest who showed up at an accident scene, gave comfort to the sick, and then vanished, has stepped forward and identified himself.
The mystery priest who recently showed up at a crash site, anointed a victim and then vanished has been identified — and he came forward by posting his identity in the comments section of a Catholic news site. The story began on Aug. 4, after Aaron Smith, 26, struck Katie Lentz, 19, in a head-on car crash. In the days that followed, the tale of a faith leader who disappeared went viral.
But now the individual, who brought calm upon the situation and who rescue workers have been hoping to find and thank, has been found. A press release provided to TheBlaze from the Diocese of Jefferson County confirmed that the Rev. Patrick Dowling, one of the priests who works with the diocese, is the individual whom they have been seeking.
Click the link to read the rest. Father Dowling revealed himself as the priest in question in a comment at the National Catholic Register.
Ixnay On the Essiahmay
In Tennessee, a judge changed a boy's name from Messiah to Martin.
He might get a complex and end up crucified, otherwise.
He might get a complex and end up crucified, otherwise.
Spock's Brain Was Not Available For Comment
"The Barren Wombs of Smart Women."
The writer's thesis is that the higher the IQ of a woman, the less likely she is to want children:
Western sophisticates claim that the world already has enough people, and many tend to see it as a matter of conscience to not breed. The problem is that hordes of Third Worlders suffer no such ethical qualms. Paradoxically, the pampered First World utopian ideal that the world should be intelligent, sustainable, and filled only with children who are wanted could backfire and create a planet crammed almost exclusively with emotionally, financially, and intellectually deprived Third World bastards.
This wasn’t the case before feminism came along to empower women and free them from childbearing’s oppressive shackles. It wasn’t the case until Big Brother morphed into Big Daddy and financially penalized the intelligent for reproducing as it gave handouts that encouraged cretins to spawn. It wasn’t the case during the Victorian Era, when it wasn’t considered so déclassé for wealthy and intelligent women to have children and when it’s estimated that the mean Western IQ was nearly 14 points higher than it is now.
That was, of course, the reasoning behind the Star Trek episode "Spock's Brain," in which a planet of cretins needed intelligent guidance, and Spock was chosen as the lucky donor of a sufficiently intelligent brain.
The writer's thesis is that the higher the IQ of a woman, the less likely she is to want children:
Western sophisticates claim that the world already has enough people, and many tend to see it as a matter of conscience to not breed. The problem is that hordes of Third Worlders suffer no such ethical qualms. Paradoxically, the pampered First World utopian ideal that the world should be intelligent, sustainable, and filled only with children who are wanted could backfire and create a planet crammed almost exclusively with emotionally, financially, and intellectually deprived Third World bastards.
This wasn’t the case before feminism came along to empower women and free them from childbearing’s oppressive shackles. It wasn’t the case until Big Brother morphed into Big Daddy and financially penalized the intelligent for reproducing as it gave handouts that encouraged cretins to spawn. It wasn’t the case during the Victorian Era, when it wasn’t considered so déclassé for wealthy and intelligent women to have children and when it’s estimated that the mean Western IQ was nearly 14 points higher than it is now.
That was, of course, the reasoning behind the Star Trek episode "Spock's Brain," in which a planet of cretins needed intelligent guidance, and Spock was chosen as the lucky donor of a sufficiently intelligent brain.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Meanwhile, In Raleigh, NC...
a armed home invader confronts an armed homeowner...and loses.
The deceased goblin would appear to be a usual suspect™.
I'm also thinking of changing my nomenclature here at The Drawn Cutlass a little bit, because "usual suspect™" might be a bit insensitive and biased. How does "Son of Obama" sound? Let me know in the poll below.
The deceased goblin would appear to be a usual suspect™.
I'm also thinking of changing my nomenclature here at The Drawn Cutlass a little bit, because "usual suspect™" might be a bit insensitive and biased. How does "Son of Obama" sound? Let me know in the poll below.
SC Police Capture Redneck Ninja
Apparently the ninja's disconnected cell phone auto-dialed 911.
The officer noticed that Shuler was carrying a large walking stick and what appeared to be a knife in his back pocket, the report states. Police found another pocket knife in his front pocket and concealed pipes measuring seven inches and four inches long.
The pipes had pieces of cord attached to them and the police initially mistook them for improvised batons, according to the report. Inside one of the pipes police found a shell and buck shot.
Police discovered the pipes were actually improvised shotguns, and Shuler was charged with unlawfully carrying the firearms.
Officers also found a razor blade hidden in Shuler’s phone case and a needle in the bill of his hat.
So: A cane or staff, two home-made shotguns, two knives, a razor blade and a needle. It's possible that the shotguns will get the guy charged under the 1934 National Firearms Act, a federal offense.
The officer noticed that Shuler was carrying a large walking stick and what appeared to be a knife in his back pocket, the report states. Police found another pocket knife in his front pocket and concealed pipes measuring seven inches and four inches long.
The pipes had pieces of cord attached to them and the police initially mistook them for improvised batons, according to the report. Inside one of the pipes police found a shell and buck shot.
Police discovered the pipes were actually improvised shotguns, and Shuler was charged with unlawfully carrying the firearms.
Officers also found a razor blade hidden in Shuler’s phone case and a needle in the bill of his hat.
So: A cane or staff, two home-made shotguns, two knives, a razor blade and a needle. It's possible that the shotguns will get the guy charged under the 1934 National Firearms Act, a federal offense.
Remember Heinlein's First Published Story?
Life-Line, about a machine that is able to determine a human's life-span?
Looks like Heinlein's machine has become a reality:
Scientists have designed a ‘death test’ which can tell you how long you are going to live. The non-invasive laser test is able to determine when a person is going to die and is the first of its kind in the world. A wristwatch-style device analyses the body's endothelial cells through the surface of the skin, measuring how the body will decline with age.
Click the link to read the rest.
Looks like Heinlein's machine has become a reality:
Scientists have designed a ‘death test’ which can tell you how long you are going to live. The non-invasive laser test is able to determine when a person is going to die and is the first of its kind in the world. A wristwatch-style device analyses the body's endothelial cells through the surface of the skin, measuring how the body will decline with age.
Click the link to read the rest.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Wound Healing With Bee Vomit
Surgihoney.
A new honey has been produced that has had ‘amazing’ results treating wounds and infections.
The bio-engineered product Surgihoney was tested on babies, new mothers, cancer patients and the elderly for over a year in Hampshire hospitals.
Wounds and ulcers, including those infected with the superbug MRSA, healed within days, while the number of women who suffered infections after giving birth by caesarean section has halved.
It has also healed the wounds of soldiers returning from Afghanistan, and been used to treat acne and to protect the skin of cancer patients fitted with a catheter for chemotherapy.
Dr Matthew Dryden, consultant microbiologist at the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘It will revolutionise wound care around the world.’
Honey has been used for its healing powers for thousands of years, although doctors favour penicillin and antibiotics.
Lord knows we need knew solutions, since we've over-used antibiotics to the point where most of them don't work any more.
A new honey has been produced that has had ‘amazing’ results treating wounds and infections.
The bio-engineered product Surgihoney was tested on babies, new mothers, cancer patients and the elderly for over a year in Hampshire hospitals.
Wounds and ulcers, including those infected with the superbug MRSA, healed within days, while the number of women who suffered infections after giving birth by caesarean section has halved.
It has also healed the wounds of soldiers returning from Afghanistan, and been used to treat acne and to protect the skin of cancer patients fitted with a catheter for chemotherapy.
Dr Matthew Dryden, consultant microbiologist at the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘It will revolutionise wound care around the world.’
Honey has been used for its healing powers for thousands of years, although doctors favour penicillin and antibiotics.
Lord knows we need knew solutions, since we've over-used antibiotics to the point where most of them don't work any more.
Friday, August 09, 2013
Former Marine Discovers Cure For Criminal Recidivism
It involves eight inches of filet knife, applied under the rib cage of the subject criminal.
Chicago police said a 44-year-old former Marine used a knife to kill a man who had broken into his garage.
Mark Hayes said an alarm went off in his garage at 3:30 a.m.
When he went to check the garage, he was approached by the the intruder, who attempted to attack him with a hammer, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Hayes fought back with a fillet knife, and stabbed the intruder under his ribcage. The man began bleeding profusely.
The intruder ran and jumped into the car, and went to Roseland Hospital, where he was identified as Harold Cornell, 52.
Cornell died at the hospital at 3:44 a.m., the Tribune reported.
He had more than 25 arrests on his record since 1985, including theft, criminal trespassing and domestic battery.
I like how UPI uses proper nomenclature: former Marine, not ex-Marine.
Chicago police said a 44-year-old former Marine used a knife to kill a man who had broken into his garage.
Mark Hayes said an alarm went off in his garage at 3:30 a.m.
When he went to check the garage, he was approached by the the intruder, who attempted to attack him with a hammer, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Hayes fought back with a fillet knife, and stabbed the intruder under his ribcage. The man began bleeding profusely.
The intruder ran and jumped into the car, and went to Roseland Hospital, where he was identified as Harold Cornell, 52.
Cornell died at the hospital at 3:44 a.m., the Tribune reported.
He had more than 25 arrests on his record since 1985, including theft, criminal trespassing and domestic battery.
I like how UPI uses proper nomenclature: former Marine, not ex-Marine.
Thursday, August 08, 2013
Remember Ronald Reagan's "Welfare Queen?"
This might be her granddaughter:
The drunken-driving suspect who police say ran a Boston Globe delivery truck off the highway and forced it into a 40-foot free fall onto the Leverett Connector — then threatened to put a voodoo curse on the cop who arrested her — remained locked up on bail yesterday.
Vivencia Bellegarde, 25 — who is also under investigation by state officials after cops found her carrying two other people’s EBT cards — was being held on $10,000 bail yesterday, according to Peter Van Delft, a spokesman for the Suffolk sheriff’s department.
The Herald reported yesterday that Bellegarde threatened to cast a voodoo curse on the state trooper who busted her early Monday after the terrifying crash on northbound Interstate 93 that put driver Paul Healy Jr., 35, in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. When trooper William Kokocinski asked her why she had two other EBT cards, he wrote in his report, the Cadillac-driving Bellegarde called him a “dumb (expletive) for paying for food when she gets it for free.”
I basically just wanted this story on my blog so I can refer back to it in future arguments.
The drunken-driving suspect who police say ran a Boston Globe delivery truck off the highway and forced it into a 40-foot free fall onto the Leverett Connector — then threatened to put a voodoo curse on the cop who arrested her — remained locked up on bail yesterday.
Vivencia Bellegarde, 25 — who is also under investigation by state officials after cops found her carrying two other people’s EBT cards — was being held on $10,000 bail yesterday, according to Peter Van Delft, a spokesman for the Suffolk sheriff’s department.
The Herald reported yesterday that Bellegarde threatened to cast a voodoo curse on the state trooper who busted her early Monday after the terrifying crash on northbound Interstate 93 that put driver Paul Healy Jr., 35, in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. When trooper William Kokocinski asked her why she had two other EBT cards, he wrote in his report, the Cadillac-driving Bellegarde called him a “dumb (expletive) for paying for food when she gets it for free.”
I basically just wanted this story on my blog so I can refer back to it in future arguments.
They Took Everything He Had...
...until all he had left was his pride, and his anger. And his guns.
The father of Rockne Newell, who murdered the town officials in a Pennsylvania town who he thought responsible for ruining his life, speaks of his son.
Most people can handle life's hardships. Some can't; when they can't, most will turn the anger inward, and commit suicide. Some few turn the anger outward, and kill those they think responsible.
I'm not saying here that I excuse what Rockne Newell did; I am saying that I can understand him, and his anger.
The father of Rockne Newell, who murdered the town officials in a Pennsylvania town who he thought responsible for ruining his life, speaks of his son.
Most people can handle life's hardships. Some can't; when they can't, most will turn the anger inward, and commit suicide. Some few turn the anger outward, and kill those they think responsible.
I'm not saying here that I excuse what Rockne Newell did; I am saying that I can understand him, and his anger.
Priest Mysteriously Appears, Anoints the Sick, Mysteriously Vanishes
Who was he? Where did he come from, and where did he go?
Emergency workers and community members in eastern Missouri are not sure what to make of a mystery priest who showed up at a critical accident scene Sunday morning and whose prayer seemed to change life-threatening events for the positive.
Even odder, the black-garbed priest does not appear in any of the nearly 70 photos of the scene of the accident in which a 19-year-old girl almost died. No one knows the priest and he vanished without a word, said Raymond Reed, fire chief of New London, Mo.
Carla Churchill Lentz, mother of the teen who was critically injured, said emergency workers have told her there is no way her daughter should have lived inside such a mangled car. Of the priest, she said, "I do believe he certainly could have been an angel dressed in priest's attire because the Bible tells us there are angels among us."
The scene unfolded Sunday morning. Katie Lentz, a sophomore at Tulane University, was driving from her parents' home in Quincy, Ill., to Jefferson City, Mo., where she has a summer internship and planned to attend church with friends. The Mercedes she was driving collided with another vehicle on a highway near Center, Mo. The accident crushed Lentz's vehicle into a ball of sheet metal that lay on the driver's side, Reed said.
Reed's team and emergency workers from several other jurisdictions tried for at least 45 minutes to remove the twisted metal from around Lentz. Various pieces of equipment broke and the team was running out of choices. A helicopter waited to carry Lentz to the nearest trauma center. Though Lentz appeared calm, talking about her church and her studies toward a dentistry degree, her vital signs were beginning to fail, Reed said.
"I was pulled off to the side by one of the members of the" helicopter evacuation team, Reed said. "He expressed to me that we were out of time. Her condition looked grim for her coming out of that vehicle alive. She was facing major problems."
At that point, Reed's team agreed to take the life-threatening chance of sitting the vehicle upright so that Lentz could be removed from it. This is dangerous because a sudden change in pressure to the body can be critical, he said.
That's when Lentz asked if someone would pray with her and a voice said, "I will."
The silver-haired priest in his 50s or 60s in black pants, black shirt and black collar with visible white insert stepped forward from nowhere. It struck Reed as odd because the street was blocked off 2 miles from the scene and no one from the nearby communities recognized him.
"We're all local people from four different towns," Reed said. "We've only got one Catholic church out of three towns and it wasn't their priest."
Reed and the other emergency workers were on their knees. The priest of about medium build, maybe 6-feet-tall, stood above them.
"This priest approached Katie and began to pray openly with her," Reed said. "He had a bottle of anointing oil with him and he used that."
Another firefighter who had been watching said it appeared as if the priest also sprinkled Reed and two other emergency workers nearby with oil.
Everything happened quickly after that. Twenty emergency workers pulled together and sat the car upright, Churchill Lentz said. Katie Lentz's vital signs improved and a rescue team from a neighboring community suddenly appeared with fresh equipment and tools. Lentz was removed and rushed to the hospital.
With Lentz gone, the rescue team prepared to clean up, Reed said.
"We all go back to thank this priest and he's gone," he said.
Initially, they assumed he had to get to his home church to lead Sunday services. But then they looked at their photos of the scene.
"I have 69 photographs that were taken from minutes after that accident happened — bystanders, the extrication, our final cleanup — and he's not in them," Reed said. "All we want to do is thank him."
Who is he, this mystery priest? Where did he come from? Where did he go?
Certain evangelicals will tell you that only one man ever born of woman was exactly six feet tall:
"Now wait, John, that's just foolish for the lack of sense. Ain't no mortal man on this earth exactly six feet tall."
"I'm saying what the stranger said."
"But the only one who was exactly six feet—"
"Hold your tater while I tell about it."
----
"Troy," said Mr. Absalom, "I'm just as glad as you are about all this. But don't credit me with that bridge-idea. This carpenter here, he thought it up."
"And now I'll be going," spoke up the carpenter in his gentle way.
They both looked on him. He'd hoisted his tool chest up on his shoulder again, and he smiled at them, and down at Little Anse. He put his hand on Little Anse's head, just half a second long.
"Fling away those crutches," he said. "You don't need them now."
All at once, Little Anse flung the crutches away, left and right. He stood up straight and strong. Fast as any boy ever ran on this earth, he ran to his daddy.
The carpenter was gone. The place he'd been at was empty.
But, looking where he'd been, they weren't frightened, the way they'd be at a haunt or devil-thing. Because they all of a sudden all three knew Who the carpenter was and how He's always with us, the way He promised in the far-back times; and how He'll do ary sort of job, if it can bring peace on earth and good will to men, among nations or just among neighbors.
It was Little Anse who remembered the whole chorus of the song—
"Shoo, John, I know that song! We sung it last night at church for Christmas Eve!"
"I know it too, John!"
"Me! Me too!"
"All right then, why don't you children join in and help me sing it?"
Go tell it on the mountain,
Tell it on the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ was born!
(You can read the rest of this fine Silver John story by Manly Wade Wellman here.)
Probably sometime in the next couple of days there'll be a follow-up to this story, identifying the priest and why he so suddenly appeared and so suddely vanished. But you know what? I hope not.
Emergency workers and community members in eastern Missouri are not sure what to make of a mystery priest who showed up at a critical accident scene Sunday morning and whose prayer seemed to change life-threatening events for the positive.
Even odder, the black-garbed priest does not appear in any of the nearly 70 photos of the scene of the accident in which a 19-year-old girl almost died. No one knows the priest and he vanished without a word, said Raymond Reed, fire chief of New London, Mo.
Carla Churchill Lentz, mother of the teen who was critically injured, said emergency workers have told her there is no way her daughter should have lived inside such a mangled car. Of the priest, she said, "I do believe he certainly could have been an angel dressed in priest's attire because the Bible tells us there are angels among us."
The scene unfolded Sunday morning. Katie Lentz, a sophomore at Tulane University, was driving from her parents' home in Quincy, Ill., to Jefferson City, Mo., where she has a summer internship and planned to attend church with friends. The Mercedes she was driving collided with another vehicle on a highway near Center, Mo. The accident crushed Lentz's vehicle into a ball of sheet metal that lay on the driver's side, Reed said.
Reed's team and emergency workers from several other jurisdictions tried for at least 45 minutes to remove the twisted metal from around Lentz. Various pieces of equipment broke and the team was running out of choices. A helicopter waited to carry Lentz to the nearest trauma center. Though Lentz appeared calm, talking about her church and her studies toward a dentistry degree, her vital signs were beginning to fail, Reed said.
"I was pulled off to the side by one of the members of the" helicopter evacuation team, Reed said. "He expressed to me that we were out of time. Her condition looked grim for her coming out of that vehicle alive. She was facing major problems."
At that point, Reed's team agreed to take the life-threatening chance of sitting the vehicle upright so that Lentz could be removed from it. This is dangerous because a sudden change in pressure to the body can be critical, he said.
That's when Lentz asked if someone would pray with her and a voice said, "I will."
The silver-haired priest in his 50s or 60s in black pants, black shirt and black collar with visible white insert stepped forward from nowhere. It struck Reed as odd because the street was blocked off 2 miles from the scene and no one from the nearby communities recognized him.
"We're all local people from four different towns," Reed said. "We've only got one Catholic church out of three towns and it wasn't their priest."
Reed and the other emergency workers were on their knees. The priest of about medium build, maybe 6-feet-tall, stood above them.
"This priest approached Katie and began to pray openly with her," Reed said. "He had a bottle of anointing oil with him and he used that."
Another firefighter who had been watching said it appeared as if the priest also sprinkled Reed and two other emergency workers nearby with oil.
Everything happened quickly after that. Twenty emergency workers pulled together and sat the car upright, Churchill Lentz said. Katie Lentz's vital signs improved and a rescue team from a neighboring community suddenly appeared with fresh equipment and tools. Lentz was removed and rushed to the hospital.
With Lentz gone, the rescue team prepared to clean up, Reed said.
"We all go back to thank this priest and he's gone," he said.
Initially, they assumed he had to get to his home church to lead Sunday services. But then they looked at their photos of the scene.
"I have 69 photographs that were taken from minutes after that accident happened — bystanders, the extrication, our final cleanup — and he's not in them," Reed said. "All we want to do is thank him."
Who is he, this mystery priest? Where did he come from? Where did he go?
Certain evangelicals will tell you that only one man ever born of woman was exactly six feet tall:
"Now wait, John, that's just foolish for the lack of sense. Ain't no mortal man on this earth exactly six feet tall."
"I'm saying what the stranger said."
"But the only one who was exactly six feet—"
"Hold your tater while I tell about it."
----
"Troy," said Mr. Absalom, "I'm just as glad as you are about all this. But don't credit me with that bridge-idea. This carpenter here, he thought it up."
"And now I'll be going," spoke up the carpenter in his gentle way.
They both looked on him. He'd hoisted his tool chest up on his shoulder again, and he smiled at them, and down at Little Anse. He put his hand on Little Anse's head, just half a second long.
"Fling away those crutches," he said. "You don't need them now."
All at once, Little Anse flung the crutches away, left and right. He stood up straight and strong. Fast as any boy ever ran on this earth, he ran to his daddy.
The carpenter was gone. The place he'd been at was empty.
But, looking where he'd been, they weren't frightened, the way they'd be at a haunt or devil-thing. Because they all of a sudden all three knew Who the carpenter was and how He's always with us, the way He promised in the far-back times; and how He'll do ary sort of job, if it can bring peace on earth and good will to men, among nations or just among neighbors.
It was Little Anse who remembered the whole chorus of the song—
"Shoo, John, I know that song! We sung it last night at church for Christmas Eve!"
"I know it too, John!"
"Me! Me too!"
"All right then, why don't you children join in and help me sing it?"
Go tell it on the mountain,
Tell it on the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ was born!
(You can read the rest of this fine Silver John story by Manly Wade Wellman here.)
Probably sometime in the next couple of days there'll be a follow-up to this story, identifying the priest and why he so suddenly appeared and so suddely vanished. But you know what? I hope not.
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Our President, the Harvard Law Graduate...
...who apparently couldn't pass elementary school US geography.
Unless they didn't teach it inKenya - - er, Indonesia - - er, uh... Hawaii...
Unless they didn't teach it in
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
Criminal Mischief With Buttered Toast
Down in Union, South Carolina.
Damage to the SUV was estimated at $1. A sheriff’s report did not mention a motive.
*shakes head sadly*
Damage to the SUV was estimated at $1. A sheriff’s report did not mention a motive.
*shakes head sadly*
Monday, August 05, 2013
Life At Silver Springs
What life was like for a veteran employee of Florida's most famous pre-Disney tourist attraction.
Although I have pleasant memories of Silver Springs, and my exposure to Ross Allen's reptile show lighted my own interest in snakes, I have to admit a personal preference for the rival Rainbow Springs (both Rainbow and Silver Springs are now part of the Florida State Parks system).
If you're an old Florida native, you can visit this website to see the old tourist attractions of your youth, most now close for many years.
Although I have pleasant memories of Silver Springs, and my exposure to Ross Allen's reptile show lighted my own interest in snakes, I have to admit a personal preference for the rival Rainbow Springs (both Rainbow and Silver Springs are now part of the Florida State Parks system).
If you're an old Florida native, you can visit this website to see the old tourist attractions of your youth, most now close for many years.
Saturday, August 03, 2013
Follow-Up: Sara Lee, I Now Hate Your Pound Cake
Back in February I posted about my experience with the "new, improved" Sara Lee Pound Cake. Sara Lee had, apparently in response to a few complaints here and there down through the years, decided to change the recipe for the cake that had been in existence for nearly 50 years. Needless to say, the changes made the cake taste horrible, too me and to other people, as well.
I happened to have a desire for a Sara Lee Pound Cake the other day, and wondered if they had changed the recipe back, so did a google search on sara lee pound cake new recipe sucks and found this Facebook posting, in which Sara Lee apologizes for the recipe change and notes that they had gone back to the old recipe:
Sara Lee Desserts Maria and Patti: We wanted to be sure you heard the news! Due to demand from loyal customers like you, we're bringing back Sara Lee All Butter Pound Cake (both family and regular sizes). It'll be hitting store shelves over the next few months. If you have any questions, please let us know by calling 1-888-820-7100. Thanks!
So yesterday I went to the Harris Teeter and purchased a pound cake, and sure enough, it was the old recipe; needless to say, this morning the cake - - one of the large "family size" cakes - - is almost entirely consumed.
I'm glad Sara Lee saw the handwriting on the wall more quickly than Coca-Cola did back in the 1980's when they brought out New Coke.
I happened to have a desire for a Sara Lee Pound Cake the other day, and wondered if they had changed the recipe back, so did a google search on sara lee pound cake new recipe sucks and found this Facebook posting, in which Sara Lee apologizes for the recipe change and notes that they had gone back to the old recipe:
Sara Lee Desserts Maria and Patti: We wanted to be sure you heard the news! Due to demand from loyal customers like you, we're bringing back Sara Lee All Butter Pound Cake (both family and regular sizes). It'll be hitting store shelves over the next few months. If you have any questions, please let us know by calling 1-888-820-7100. Thanks!
So yesterday I went to the Harris Teeter and purchased a pound cake, and sure enough, it was the old recipe; needless to say, this morning the cake - - one of the large "family size" cakes - - is almost entirely consumed.
I'm glad Sara Lee saw the handwriting on the wall more quickly than Coca-Cola did back in the 1980's when they brought out New Coke.
Nutcase Follow-Up
That would be the case of the nutcase woman in Fort Mill, SC, that I first blogged about here.
She's in the news again:
A woman accused last week of confiscating guest IDs at a Fort Mill hotel and claiming to work with the Secret Service later called the same hotel’s manager five times and claimed to be an FBI agent, police say.
Now, the Charlotte woman’s face is featured on social media, and she’s been added to the list of accused criminals wanted by the York County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 25, deputies responded to the Clarion Hotel on Foothills Way near Carowinds when the hotel manager reported that Carma Leilani Ariel, 45, confiscated the IDs of several guests, although she had been asked not to return to the hotel, according to a York County Sheriff’s report.
I'm guessing that the York County Sheriff's Office came in for a lot of ridicule for letting the woman go on her way, unable to determine whether she actually was a federal agent. I'm also guessing that they didn't want to run her fingerprints to see if they matched to anyone in the database, even though she was committing crimes by impersonating a federal agent and collecting ID's from fellow guests. Looks like ass-covering time at the Sheriff's Office.
She's in the news again:
A woman accused last week of confiscating guest IDs at a Fort Mill hotel and claiming to work with the Secret Service later called the same hotel’s manager five times and claimed to be an FBI agent, police say.
Now, the Charlotte woman’s face is featured on social media, and she’s been added to the list of accused criminals wanted by the York County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 25, deputies responded to the Clarion Hotel on Foothills Way near Carowinds when the hotel manager reported that Carma Leilani Ariel, 45, confiscated the IDs of several guests, although she had been asked not to return to the hotel, according to a York County Sheriff’s report.
I'm guessing that the York County Sheriff's Office came in for a lot of ridicule for letting the woman go on her way, unable to determine whether she actually was a federal agent. I'm also guessing that they didn't want to run her fingerprints to see if they matched to anyone in the database, even though she was committing crimes by impersonating a federal agent and collecting ID's from fellow guests. Looks like ass-covering time at the Sheriff's Office.
Friday, August 02, 2013
I Think He Violated Most of Florida's Criminal Code
Down in my hometown of Gainesville, Florida, a Usual Suspect™ proves himself to be an over-achiever when it comes to violating the law.
Feel free to try and count up all the laws he broke. I can't be bothered, myself. Damn shame his mama didn't abort him.
Feel free to try and count up all the laws he broke. I can't be bothered, myself. Damn shame his mama didn't abort him.
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