My dear friend Cara wrote a nice little piece about Queen Elizabeth and it made me think of the two years I lived in England, and my feelings about the country and the Royals. I suppose I am an anglophile. I loved living in England and most everything I came in contact with there.
I remember being shocked at warm beer served in the pubs, and now, almost 25 years since my first pint, I still can’t stand most American beer.
My wonderful wife still doesn’t understand why I love British comedies; she just doesn’t get the humor. I personally can’t stand the American version of “The Office”, but will roll on the floor watching my dvds of the original British version. Sheila knows what I’m talking about there!
As for the Royals; I’ve always admired Queen Elizabeth. If her actions during WWII weren’t enough, then the way she has served her nation as Queen speak volumes of her character. I don’t necessarily agree with a monarchy per se, but I do respect how she has handled her position.
I remember being given the day off of work for Charles and Diana’s wedding, so a few of us went down to London town to check it out. WOW Talk about pomp and circumstance! I can’t even begin to describe the atmosphere that day. Of course, we were young GIs loose on the big town, so there were a lot of pints involved, so a lot of the day was lost…
I remember being in London on July 20th, 1982 when the IRA detonated two bombs killing four members of the Blues and Royals, seven of their horses, seven members of the Royal Green Jackets, and injuring over 50 others; both civilian and military. We had left Hyde Park an hour or so before the explosion, and learned of it when we entered a pub. The carnage we saw that day on the “telly” in that pub still stick in my mind.
I’ve visited England several times over the years, and I never get tired of it. As a self-proclaimed history buff, I love touring the country and just experiencing it. I still remember being 19 years old, standing at Warwick Castle and suddenly realizing how lucky I was to be a hick cowboy from a small mountain town in Colorado, and actually seeing places I learned about in high school history. Many people I went to school with still to this day, have rarely traveled outside our valley, let alone clear across the Atlantic.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Basic Finances for Government Idiots
I just don’t get it. Do our elected officials really think we the American people are stupid? Granted, by our own actions we’ve help perpetrate that idea by continually, year after year, allowing them to get away with their lies. We allow them to spout worthless platitudes that sound good, but don’t say anything of substance. Then we allow them to keep right on passing legislation that puts our nation further and further in debt and at risk.
The most important lesson I ever learned was to think critically. To LISTEN and analyze what is being said; to look beyond the words and find what is really being said.
For example, when president O says that “We cannot continue to spend more than we bring in…” I know what he’s saying is “raise taxes”; not “let’s reduce our spending”. And we keep letting them do it to us!
I wish I could get away with that sort of mentality. “Hey boss, I’m spending more than I make, so I need you to give me more money.” Hey, that should work right?
For those of you like me who are feeling the pinch of $4 + a gallon of fuel and rising costs on just about every conceivable consumable, without an increase in wages, we’ve had to make some adjustments to our budgets. I’m spending less. I’m doing without certain things and trying to be as efficient as possible.
What I HAVEN’T done is borrow more money to offset the increased living expenses. In other words, I haven’t raised my debt ceiling.
I’m not surprised that president O’s first and seemingly only reaction is to increase the government’s income. He did the same thing during his campaign; whenever funds were slowing down or lacking, he just went out and stroked the sheep to give him more money. He raised over $745 MILLION dollars (with vast amounts from questionable sources) for his campaign, nearly double what McCain raised. The point is, it never occurs to him to adjust spending, just go get more money!
Sorry Mr. president, but you can’t just keep telling us to give give and then give some more. You need to make dramatic and drastic cuts to spending if we’re ever going to get out of this mess.
How about this Mr. president; ask all the non-producing citizens (and especially non-citizens who are getting benefits from Uncle Sam) to give a little. Have them give up some freebies that us producers are paying for.
They talk about the evil corporations and how they’re sending jobs overseas or paying very little in taxes. They rely on our ambivalence or ignorance to not ask why corporations are doing these things. Because our elected leaders have hobbled them with so many regulations that they can’t afford NOT to send jobs overseas, or that THEY are the ones who wrote the tax codes, GIVING the corporations LEGAL loopholes to reduce their tax liability. Who’s really to blame?
And why is it that when they raise taxes on the “rich”, my taxes still seem to go up? Hmmmm, interesting phenomenon.
I’m by no means the smartest guy around, but I listen and think for myself. I ask questions instead of blindly accepting what is being said.
WARNING Adult Language Ahead
It’s time to quit fucking around and pull your head out of your ass Mr. president, and everyone on Capitol Hill. Stop fucking lying to me; I’m smarter than you think. Be a leader and make some tough calls for once. If you’re not willing to do that, then take your ass back to Chicago and go organize a community or two.
The most important lesson I ever learned was to think critically. To LISTEN and analyze what is being said; to look beyond the words and find what is really being said.
For example, when president O says that “We cannot continue to spend more than we bring in…” I know what he’s saying is “raise taxes”; not “let’s reduce our spending”. And we keep letting them do it to us!
I wish I could get away with that sort of mentality. “Hey boss, I’m spending more than I make, so I need you to give me more money.” Hey, that should work right?
For those of you like me who are feeling the pinch of $4 + a gallon of fuel and rising costs on just about every conceivable consumable, without an increase in wages, we’ve had to make some adjustments to our budgets. I’m spending less. I’m doing without certain things and trying to be as efficient as possible.
What I HAVEN’T done is borrow more money to offset the increased living expenses. In other words, I haven’t raised my debt ceiling.
I’m not surprised that president O’s first and seemingly only reaction is to increase the government’s income. He did the same thing during his campaign; whenever funds were slowing down or lacking, he just went out and stroked the sheep to give him more money. He raised over $745 MILLION dollars (with vast amounts from questionable sources) for his campaign, nearly double what McCain raised. The point is, it never occurs to him to adjust spending, just go get more money!
Sorry Mr. president, but you can’t just keep telling us to give give and then give some more. You need to make dramatic and drastic cuts to spending if we’re ever going to get out of this mess.
How about this Mr. president; ask all the non-producing citizens (and especially non-citizens who are getting benefits from Uncle Sam) to give a little. Have them give up some freebies that us producers are paying for.
They talk about the evil corporations and how they’re sending jobs overseas or paying very little in taxes. They rely on our ambivalence or ignorance to not ask why corporations are doing these things. Because our elected leaders have hobbled them with so many regulations that they can’t afford NOT to send jobs overseas, or that THEY are the ones who wrote the tax codes, GIVING the corporations LEGAL loopholes to reduce their tax liability. Who’s really to blame?
And why is it that when they raise taxes on the “rich”, my taxes still seem to go up? Hmmmm, interesting phenomenon.
I’m by no means the smartest guy around, but I listen and think for myself. I ask questions instead of blindly accepting what is being said.
WARNING Adult Language Ahead
It’s time to quit fucking around and pull your head out of your ass Mr. president, and everyone on Capitol Hill. Stop fucking lying to me; I’m smarter than you think. Be a leader and make some tough calls for once. If you’re not willing to do that, then take your ass back to Chicago and go organize a community or two.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Patrick the Pitbull
I meant to post this the other day when I first heard about it, but time and other things got away from me again (yeah, big shock there!).
Time and time again I’m reminded why I have such little faith in the human race. More often than not, I think I’d be so much happier if I could close off my life from the rest of the world and just live my life with my animals and a (very) select few other people. I know the few readers of my blog will agree with me that this story is beyond words. I’m so angry that it’s a damn good thing that Kisha Curtis lives in New Jersey and not anywhere near the Rude1 Ranch, since firearms are plenty around here.
I’ve never been a real fan of pitbulls, simply because my canine companions are generally of the working dog or retriever breeds. However, I know that pitbull’s generally get an unfounded bad rap simply because of the idiot humans who abuse them and train them to be violent. Plus the media inflates bad press about the breed and fuels more fear of them. This breed, more than any other, has suffered severely from misinformation.
No matter your feelings about pitbulls, this story should piss you off beyond measure. No creature deserves this horrific treatment. I wouldn’t have blamed this dog if he was afraid of and/or violent towards people after how he was abused. Thankfully, he appears to recognize the love and care he is finally getting and isn’t harboring any ill will, however, time will tell.
I can hardly look at the pictures and videos without tearing up and seeing the red rage. I was almost physically ill the first time I saw the pictures. Words can’t describe the magnitude of my anger towards the piece of shit who did this to that poor dog.
Heros come in all shapes and sizes, in all kinds of places. We usually think heros are our military, law enforcement, fire fighters and medical professionals; and rightly so. However, the garbageman who took the time to look into the garbage bag and call the authorities is a hero to me, as well as the staff taking care of Patrick.
**UPDATE**
Patrick Seems to be doing quite well, all things considered, under the loving care he is recieving. He still has a long way to go, but he is a fighter in the good sense of the word. His pictures show what a special little guy he is.
Thank you to those caring for him so well, and to all who wish him well.
Oh and I see the piece of Shite (my Scots coming out) Kisha Curtis is out on $1,000 bail. I hope they throw the book at her and then smack her in the head with it.
Time and time again I’m reminded why I have such little faith in the human race. More often than not, I think I’d be so much happier if I could close off my life from the rest of the world and just live my life with my animals and a (very) select few other people. I know the few readers of my blog will agree with me that this story is beyond words. I’m so angry that it’s a damn good thing that Kisha Curtis lives in New Jersey and not anywhere near the Rude1 Ranch, since firearms are plenty around here.
I’ve never been a real fan of pitbulls, simply because my canine companions are generally of the working dog or retriever breeds. However, I know that pitbull’s generally get an unfounded bad rap simply because of the idiot humans who abuse them and train them to be violent. Plus the media inflates bad press about the breed and fuels more fear of them. This breed, more than any other, has suffered severely from misinformation.
No matter your feelings about pitbulls, this story should piss you off beyond measure. No creature deserves this horrific treatment. I wouldn’t have blamed this dog if he was afraid of and/or violent towards people after how he was abused. Thankfully, he appears to recognize the love and care he is finally getting and isn’t harboring any ill will, however, time will tell.
I can hardly look at the pictures and videos without tearing up and seeing the red rage. I was almost physically ill the first time I saw the pictures. Words can’t describe the magnitude of my anger towards the piece of shit who did this to that poor dog.
Heros come in all shapes and sizes, in all kinds of places. We usually think heros are our military, law enforcement, fire fighters and medical professionals; and rightly so. However, the garbageman who took the time to look into the garbage bag and call the authorities is a hero to me, as well as the staff taking care of Patrick.
**UPDATE**
Patrick Seems to be doing quite well, all things considered, under the loving care he is recieving. He still has a long way to go, but he is a fighter in the good sense of the word. His pictures show what a special little guy he is.
Thank you to those caring for him so well, and to all who wish him well.
Oh and I see the piece of Shite (my Scots coming out) Kisha Curtis is out on $1,000 bail. I hope they throw the book at her and then smack her in the head with it.
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