May 03, 2006

Where is the Outrage?

"It takes four aspects for a free and democratic society to maintain itself."

"It requires a highly educated population that can write, read, think and vote intelligently."

"It takes a similar moral code whereby everyone adheres to the common good."

"It requires a similar code of ethics whereby citizens adhere to honesty, doing what is right and maintaining those ethics throughout the social fabric."

"Finally, it takes a similar language that allows citizens to discuss, debate and resolve problems."

"We compromise all four with an invasion exceeding four million new people into the USA annually. 20 million illegals to date and climbing. We allow the disintegration of our nation without a whimper."

Go read the entire letter at GuyK's.

One problem, the NEA has promulgated and accelerated the erosion of the "four aspects" for longer than the problem of the ILLEGAL immagrants exacerbated it. We need to revamp the entire educational structure, regardless of what we do about the invasion by illegals.
And we need to do it soon, or this nation will not last another generation.

I would contend that the poor educational system is one factor in why we are even arguing over what to do about the Invaders; had there been an effective education of this last generation, there wouldn't be any question about our course of action.

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Random Thoughts

Here are some random thoughts from Thomas Sowell. He's always worth the read, no matter what topic he is expounding upon.

I honestly believe that Thomas Sowell, William Buckley Jr., John Gailbraith, and Ayn Rand should be required reading before anyone even attempts to consider themselves as starting to be educated.

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May 01, 2006

Austin was Awesome

Well, I just got back in the door after a 2125 mile round trip to the Austin Blog Meet. Erin and I both had a GREAT time (even though I still couldn't talk Erin into doing a little range time, she opted to check out some of the retail facilities).

Special thanks to Beth for bringing the wheell chair; it sure came in handy! And extra special thanks to Lord Spatula for increasing my armory by a much needed easy carry piece.

Erin and I had a special adventure on the way home...we drove all those miles, and had an accident only 44 miles from home.

We had just crossed the Indiana state line and were doing splendidly, when for an undetermined reason,(NO I did NOT fall asleep at the wheel, and I have a witness to that!) the car decided it wanted to violate the rules of highway travel and attempted to move laterally instead of a forward motion, taking us over a 15 foot embankment....it then decided that lateral WASN'T a smart move and attempted to move foward over the head sized chunks of limestone in the drainage culvert at the bottom of the embankment. I did manage to keep enough control to keep it from flipping, and neither of us was hurt, except for some hard bumps and bruises. I managed to drive the car out of the culver and up the embankment back onto the highway, but the right front wheel was cracked and the tire was losing air. no way of telling what damage may be hiding on the undercarriage. Erin is covered by AAA, so we just had ourselves towed to the dealership; we should find out the total extant of damage sometime this evening or tomorrow. I really dreaded that call to my Ex to tell her that her car almost got totaled, but wasn't that bad, really....She took it all in stride; her only concern was that neither of us was hurt. I stood there and cried in the dealers lot...I had expected to have to try to run as she atttempted total evisceration on me for damaging her beauty, but instead, I got a hug and a "don't worry about it; thats what insurance is for".

I'm going to take a hot shower and then sleep for about 20 hrs or so, talk to ya'll when I return to the land of the concious.

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April 25, 2006

Rememberance

Today is a special day...it's Holocaust Rememberance Day in a number of countries (unfortunatly not observed in the US).

This is the day set aside to remember all the victoms of the Nazi atrocities during WW2. It's a day of special meaning to me, as my own father was almost a fatality of those atrocities...as it is he was a victom of experiences that no human being should ever have to undergo. It's important to remember that ordinary human beings are capable of such bestial behaviour if we are ever going to reach the point that it will never happen again.

Dad was interviewed by Rev. James Dobson in two segments of his Focus on the Family radio program last week. I learned quite a few things about my father I had never known prior to listening to this broadcast. Use the link and go to the archives for April 24 and 25 to hear it for yourself.

I hope that after you hear it, you will try to delve more deeply into that period of time and learn more about what happened, and even more importantly, WHY it happened. As my Dad noted, most of the people involved weren't monsters; they were ordinary people in extraordinay times and under pressures that many of us of the baby boom generation and beyond can't even conceive of in our nightmares.

Oh, and it's also my birthday; and getting to gain some insights into my father through this broadcast was one of the best presents I've ever gotten.

52 years young. Battered and bruised, but still ready to fight the fight.

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April 21, 2006

My Dad

HERE is just ONE reason I'm proud of my dad.

He never talked about his childhood with us when we were growing up, except in the most general terms; it's only in the last two years that we have started to learn just some of the horrors he endured as a boy.

His main message is that we can never allow such horrors to occur again, and that God (HOWEVER you should choose to believe in him/her) is the only thing that can help you endure such experiences with (at least a semblance) of sanity afterwards. My Dad has never been religious, but he's always been a staunch believer in Christ and God.

There were many things I could never understand about my Dad when I was growing up, but now that I have begun to learn about his past, I can begin to understand him a great deal better. I'm glad he has broken his silence about the past, so I can, now that he's in the last years of his life, at least start to know the person he really is and why he is as he is before it's too late. Thats a gift that many children never have in their relationships with their parents, and I'm truly grateful for that.

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Now THATS an Idea!

Kim du Toit for Press Secretary!

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Reconnected, AT LAST

Rumors to the contrary, I haven't died, or ran away to be with an exotic circus dwarf.

Seems that there were some problems with my internet connection; as in, I didn't HAVE a connection due to some unfortunate circumstances....funny how IP's are so slow to tender services and so damned fast to cut you loose if you miss paying a phone bill you didn't even know you had....

Enough grousing about troubles, Let me do some cruising and see what I can come up with for you; assuming any of you have bothered to keep me on your reading lists.

Be back in a bit to share anything that might have caught my eye, so please reinstate me to your lists, because I'm aiming to get back in your good graces.

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March 27, 2006

Rumors to the contrary

No, I'm not dead, or back in the hospital (though the way I've been feeling, that really doesn't sound like a bad idea).

I just have been feeling, as Acidman would say, "worse than Fido's ass".

I haven't been able to sit in the computer chair for any length of time to even check my e-mail, much less blog; and I haven't been coherant long enough to write anything that makes sense if I could.

I went to see a neurologist the other day to see about some things that may just be side effects of my meds or may be indications of some new problems. He's arranging to get some tests done; a PET scan, a tilt-table orientation test, and a full panel of endrocin tests, and my PCP has arranged for me to have a renal function series to be done too. Needless to say, I'm going to be busy the next few weeks, but at least it seems that the Docs are getting serious about seeing what I really need and what they can do for me.

Hopefully, I'll feel up to resuming regular posting soon, and I really want to let all of you, my internet friends that your prayers and best wishes really are the best medicine a guy can have, and I really do appreciate you all.

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March 04, 2006

Hospital Fun

Note: My name is Erin, and I am Bert's daughter. While at the hospital with him this afternoon, Dad wrote out a quick note to post here. After I got home and followed his instructions, I checked to see if it had posted and discovered that Lila had already posted something about his current whereabouts. I decided to just come back in here and add this little forward but to still post it, just to adhere to Daddy's wishes. So, sorry if you're getting dual information.

Went to see the quack to see about getting some relief from this lung thing...

He took note of my blood pressure and respiration rate and told me that I was to NOT pass Go & collect $200, but head to the emergency room ASAP; he would have them waiting for me.

I walked in the ER door and within 5 minutes I had an IV of 50% nitroglycerin flowing into my arm, an O2 line going at 5L in my nasal cavity and a pretty nurse pushing Lasix into my arm at a 4mg/3min rate.

They believe that I have pneumonia and congestive heart failure brought on by the excess fluid in my lungs. They want to do a heart cath just to be on the safe side and do an overhaul on my drug regimen. They were also a bit concerned that I had lost so much weight in the last six months and want to do some basic cancer screening tests -- just to cover their asses bases. Might be a few days until I can get access to a keyboard, but I'll be thinking of you all.

Dad didn't mention this in the note he gave me to type, but the doctors also believe that it is very likely that he had a small heart attack this week, which he didn't notice due to the pain he was already experiencing in his chest from the lung congestion. He's in the hospital for a few days, but he'll hopefully be back on his feet (or, in Dad's case, ass -- his most favoritest position) in just a few days.

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February 27, 2006

Prayer Request

I got this E-mail, and I'm passing it on by posting it.
************************************************************
I understand the weather in Iraq is very difficult to bear
right now. Our troops need our prayers for strength, endurance
and safety.

I am sorry but I am not breaking this one. Send this on after
a short prayer; please don't break it:

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they
perform for us in our time of need.
I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Amen."


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When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a
prayer for our troops around the world.
Pass this request to all who might
pray. Do not let it stop with you, please - of all the gifts
you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine
deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best!!!
Thank you.

Assurance of Endurance


II Samual 22: 2, 3


The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer.


The God of my strength, In Whom I will trust!

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February 26, 2006

Light Postings....

Sorry about the light posting lately...I was engaged in trying to get my shit in one sock getting ready for my court case to be heard on Monday afternoon.

I hope I got it all right and that this will be the end of the nightmare. It's already taken all the money that I had set aside for the Austin blogmeet, but I have a month to try to scrape that together again, and without it, I'd have been a guest at the greybar hotel, so no tears on that score.

I've done everything I can to get in compliance with the City's (I think unreasonable) demands, we'll just have to see if the judge agrees tomorrow.

But as you may surmise, it's been a real strain, and I haven't felt like posting even when I had the time; hopefully, that laxness will end tomorrow.

I know that there have to be rules to ensure the health and safety of all the residents of a community, but when the letter of the law becomes more important than the spirit, there is a problem. Unreasonable restrictions just cause more pain/trouble/hassel than the original "infrantion" ever could.

UPDATE: Well I went to court and found that they were willing to go (relatively) easy on me. They determined that I had done what was possible under the circumstances to come into compliance with the zoning codes. Then they doubled the fine in the original plea bargain, and gave me until May 1st. to pay it. (I came prepared to pay the original fine, so I now owe the city $256.)

All I have to do is pay the fine by the due date and the case will be considered closed; WITH the proviso that I do not come into violation for the same thing, or be found in contempt of court and face a 6 month jail sentence and a $5,000 fine. Gonna make it hard to make the Austin Blogmeet, but not totally impossible, just have to wait and see how it works out.

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R.I.P.

"nip it; nip it in in the bud" "it's an art treasure, see?, it says 'frageelee' "

If you can remember those tag lines, you know that we've lost two of the best charactor actors that ever lived.

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Darrin McGavin

They even acted in a movie together, "Hot Lead and Cold Feet":

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They say that bad news always comes in threes...in this case I hope not, I've lost enough of my childhood already.

UPDATE: Well, there is a third...Dennis Weaver of the Gunsmoke, Gentle Ben, and McCloud series fame. He also starrred in one of my favorite movies, called Duel.

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Allah or Jesus?

I got this from a friend of mine in the Second Amendment group I belong to. I believe that I have seen it before, but I can't remember for sure. Snopes says that this event was is based in a true event....but distorted.

Their point that Islam is not the monolithic ediface that is presented in the MSM is a good one. BUT when one reads the statements coming out of the mouths of Islamic religious leaders, it still leads one to wonder, and the the main question about which would seem to be the more benificent religion when one compares the basic attitude towards those that do not subscribe to the tenets of the religion is still valid, at least in the case of those radical elements that are fomenting all the problematic religious uprisings in the world today.

###################################################

During the training session for maintaining my state prison security
clearance, there was a presentation by three speakers representing the
Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of
their belief systems.

I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say.
The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with
a video.

After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers.

When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked:
Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and
clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the
infidels of the world. And, that by killing an infidel, which is a
command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven. If
that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?"

There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation,
he replied, "Non-believers!"

I responded, "So, let me make sure I have this straight. All
followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of
your faith so they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?"

The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command
to that of a little boy who had just gotten caught with his hand in the
cookie jar. He sheepishly replied, "Yes."

I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine the
Pope commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr. Stanley
ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go to Heaven.

The Imam was speechless.

I continued, "I also have problem with being your friend when you
and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me. Let me
ask you a question. Would you rather have your Allah who tells you to
kill me in order to go to Heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you
because I am going to Heaven and He wants you to be with me?"

You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame.

Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the
'Diversification' training seminar were not happy with Rick's way of
dealing with the Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslim's
beliefs.

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February 24, 2006

SWMBO Speaks

Mamamontezz has broken her silence on things of merit and shows that she still "HAS IT".

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February 15, 2006

"we weren't IMMEDIATLY INFORMED" ! THe HORROR!

I know I haven't weighed in on the hunting accident controversy...it was an accident, and that about covers it. No, I'm NOT concerned about the "delay" in reporting it to the news media. and all the furor over the "delay", as far as I'm concerned, reminds me that it was 24 HOURS before Teddy reported his little dip in the bay, and the 30 hour delay in reporting on the Vince Foster "suicide note", orchistrated by none other than THE Hillery herself..nothing was ever made in the media about these "mistimings of information dispersal" in the press...Just another example of BDS on the part of the press..

This bumper sticker pretty much sums up my attitude:

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Image hosting by Photobucket To Michelle Malkin for the link to the bumper sticker.

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February 13, 2006

REMINDER

Remember guys, Valentine's day is TOMORROW!

Maybe you're lucky like me and have a sweetie that's easy to please on this day of romantic expression promulgated by the corporate interests of the greeting card companies, but for G-ds sake, at least get her a card!

I've learned that even when they SAY that it's ok that you forgot, it is NOT.

I have it covered, but I thought I'd post this as a tribute to my lovely wife of almost 12 years too:

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To my Valentine, with all my love,
Of whom I cannot say enough in praise:
May my love for you sufficient prove,
Yearning to redeem your caustic days.
Vortices within may drag you down.
Anchor, then, in my serenity.
Love saves some who otherwise might drown,
Embarked alone upon their Galilee.
Nor should you deem your own love not enough
To be the chapel to which I retreat
In search of a pavilion for my pain.
No love is love unless it be a seat
Enchanted, where a stone might weep again.

And Honey, below the fold is JUST for you. (that means don't look, the rest of you pervs!)

Hat tip to www.angelart-gallery.com for the cool valentine art and to Nicholas Gordon for the poem more...

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February 12, 2006

New Addition to the Blogroll

I received an e-mail from one of the co-founders of a site called Watching America , asking me to check out the site as a possible addition to my blogroll.

Since he indicated that he had read my feeble attempts and found them interesting (flattery, the grease of society!) I did so, and found what I think will become a daily read in my never ending search for inspiration/information in writing a post that someone may find worthy of perusal and comment.

I added them as number three in my "National Stuff" section, please check them out, you'll be glad that you did.

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February 10, 2006

Experiment

With all the controversy over cartoons lately, and in my never ending quest to get a fatwah placed against me, I thought that it might be instructive to post a couple cartoons. Both are offensive, though they are each offensive to a different major religion.

I thought it might be instructive to observe the difference in reaction to the cartoons by the adherants of those faiths. Both cartoons involve sex in a manner offensive to the creeds held by those faiths, after all, sex is the hottest trigger to anger the religious.

First the Catholic:

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Then the Islamic:

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Let the fun begin.

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February 07, 2006

Another test

I saw this over at GuyK's place and thought I'd give it a go. It does sum me up pretty well for the most part, although I do think I'm more agreeable than the test would make me out to be.




Your Five Factor Personality Profile



Extroversion:



You have low extroversion.

You are quiet and reserved in most social situations.

A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you.

You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people.



Conscientiousness:



You have high conscientiousness.

Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life.

Most things in your life are organized and planned well.

But you borderline on being a total perfectionist.



Agreeableness:



You have low agreeableness.

Your self interest comes first, and others come later, if at all.

In general, you feel that people are not to be trusted.

And you're skeptical that anyone else really feels differently.



Neuroticism:



You have medium neuroticism.

You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic.

Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy.

Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of.



Openness to experience:



Your openness to new experiences is high.

In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas.

You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits.

A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

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Texas Blogfest!

I've been informed that the dates for Texas Blogfest will be April 28 through the 30th. and that it will be held in Austin instead of Dallas this year.

Mamamontezz won't be able to attend this year, there just isn't enough time left in her vacation bank.

I don't know HOW I'm going to afford airfare/hotel/car rental, but I fully intend to be there. Maybe I can sell one of my lesser organs to finance the trip.

Better yet, maybe SS will FINALLY get off their dead asses and give me the money I'm entitled to for two years back benefits. If I hadn't had to pay the fine/court costs in my fight with the city; I'd have had at least a third of what I need for the trip; it really galls me that the money is languishing in the coffers of Indianapolis, instead of my travel fund...but facing 3 months in an 8 x 10 cell for contempt appealed to me even less.

If any of you are driving to the Fest from up here in the snowlands, how about swinging by the Circle City on your way? We can share driving chores and fuel costs. Just an idea...

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