Whew!

I am tired. Last night I was ready to shut the TV off and grab some Zs when I happened on to "Thank You For Not Smoking". Two minutes, and I ended up watching to the end. It's what I call a trainwreck movie. You don't like the characters, yet you just can't stop watching, same as a train wreck.

Got up by 8, went to the South Hill Wal-Mart, to get Mrs. BiW's Oil Changed. Bought the sheet sander that Dick said I needed. Came home, put laundry in the wash, sanded the spackle, applied the super-lightweight spackle, took the seats out of the van, took a bunch of stuff from the garage to the Goodwill. Stopped by the other house, can't see where Mom made any progress moving out ...ggggrrrrrrrrrr. Came home, swithced the laundry, went to McClendon's, bought 12 yards of beauty bark, came home, trimmed, and mowed the yard, finished the weeding, and put the beauty bark down. I could use another 4 to 6 yards, but it'll do for now. Then I got out the power washer, cleaned the sidewalk, which was really bad, and half the driveway, which wasn't much better, then took apart a bunch of the cheapo furniture that had been in the garage, showered, went to my in-laws, got their mail, then came home, cooked a steak and my last twice-baked potato, washed it down with a Hornsby's, and I will shortly do the laundry (Folding, Ironing, Putting it away, vacuum, and maybe clean the bathroom so she will just relax when she gets home tomorrow afternoon. Or not. Any way, the pix should speak for themselves.

Closing minutes of a long week

He sat next to the open patio door, listening to the gentle rain fall from the grey skies. He missed the thunderstorms in the midwest. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't accurately describe the experience to people who had lived in this state their entire lives. He remained convinced that nothing demonstrated the sheer power of nature more effectively than a good, house-shaking, window-rattling thunderstorm. From the black and threatening clouds, the wind that forced decades-old trees to bow before it, to the occaissional, unatural stillness and errie green skies that preceeded the tornados that such storms sometimes spawned, Washington simply had nothing to compare to it. When the infrequent thunderstorm did come through, its tame nature and distant thunder seemed to be a pale immitation of the real thing, an ersatz show of power, yet it was more than enough to frighten the natives.

Nevertheless, he enjoyed the tranquilizing effect that the soft, light rain was having on him. In the neighboring trees, he heard a night bird trilling, and he sat silently as the wind blew up around him, cloaking him in the scent of the wet earth.

He considered how much had happened in the last month and a half. It still seemed strange to him that he could feel something other than anger and irritation. It was stranger still that he frequently did. Of course, it had been so long, that even though he was feeling things again, it did mean that he knew exactly what he was feeling. The hardest thing for him was the clarity. He really wasn't prepared for the abilty to understand some much of what was going on around him, or how much he was actually responsible for it. Even though he had faith that it would, with time and work, all turn out better in the long run, that didn't stop the niggling little doubts from popping up like daisies in the field of his days as they streched out before him. But like any nuisance, they faded. He smiled. A miracle in itself.

He took another pull on the beer. The craft brews of the Northwest were pretty good, but there were times, he would surrender a testicle for an icy Molson.
He thought about how nice it would be to just go to the ocean. The roar of the waves crashing into the shore were a sound he never tired of. He shivered a little as the sun sank lower into the horizon, somewhere behind the clouds. Soon he'd have to go into the empty house. He knew it was temporary. She and the kids would return in just a few days, and he knew that she actually wanted to come home. That didn't make the evenings any easier. They never were when she was gone. Maybe he'd listen to the stereo for a while. The music kept awakening things in him that he thought long dead. He sighed, got up, and went back inside to meet with himself for a while.

Friday Night at Home

Tried to go to the Spanaway Wal-Mart and get Mrs. BiW an oil change for her car before she comes back. They're remodeling. The Oil and Lube Center was closed. Stopped at the Albertsons, got salad shrimp, cukes, vine tomatoes, romaine lettuce, black olives, blue cheese and Ken's Greek Salad Dressing. Oh, and a six pack of the new Hornsby's Crisp Apple Hard Cider. I may be alone here tonight, but I had a good dinner.

A window into chapter X

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair as the pastor wound up his sermon. It had been a long day already. He and children left the house ten minutes before the start of church. He had waited, knowing that she wasn't going to arrive before they left. Not after the argument they had the prior evening, and the distant looks betraying an unmistakable anger that he could no longer identify with. When she left the house to go to her friend's, it had a feeling of permanence that felt like a spear through his spirit.

Nevertheless, he awoke, fed and dressed the children, and came to church. He knew the name of the demon plaguing him for the last decade, finally. He wasn't afraid to say it out loud and call him out. He had done that earlier in the service, and now felt as if a great weight was released from his soul. It didn't make it any easier to listen to the sermon, which seemed to be an encyclopedic litany of the many ways he had failed, as husband, father, and man, but at the same time, he realized that knowing was half the battle, and he could do things correctly moving forward.

He heard the buzzing of his phone in the bag before him, which had been set to vibrate. He leaned forward and seruptiously opened the new text message. It was from her. Three simple words. "I am home."

He quietly shut the phone, and put it back into his bag. He couldn't help wondering who would be greeting them when they came home. The wife and mother, or the woman who acted like an angry stranger. He pondered this as he rose, and bowed his head for the closing prayer.

His phone buzzed against his side as they pulled into the driveway. The kids, seeing the other car in the driveway, couldn't wait to get out of the car, run through the garage, and bound up the steps and into the house. When he was half way up the first flight of stairs, he could feel that something was different. He could hear her, hugging the children, and talking to them about their morning. As he turned on the landing, he looked up, to find her looking down at him. He was surprised to find that it was a soft look, as if colored by affection not displayed in some time. When he reached the top of the stairs, she stepped forward, into his arms, and hugged him tightly. He looked down, she reached up, and before he could say anything, her lips pressed hard against his, as she cradled the back of his head in her hand, her fingers running through his short, bristle-like hair. When it was done, they both drew back, and regarded each other. She said, in a quiet voice, "I want to come home."

Obligatory Kid Pics.

You don't like it, go see Dick. He has a bag of sand you can pound. My page, whatever I wanna do.

Thursday Project

OK, so I bit off more than I could handle in one evening. The two smaller front beds are weeded and ready for beauty bark. I'll finish the other one tomorrow. After all, its gonna rain again. (This is the Puget Sound, you know.)

Oh, and the spackle I put in the was last night started to crack. Any ideas? (Dick, that means you.)

Why Do They Call It Vacation?

Got a call from Mrs. BiW this morning. Apparently, her mother has ratcheted her hen pecking up about five notches, and Mrs. BiW is squarely in her sights. Add this to a less than pleasant visit to her grandmother, who isn't doing well, and fatigue, well...she was pretty upset. The upside is that her sister is doing well and the boys are having fun playing with their cousins. In retrospect, I should have done all that I could to fly back with her and the boys, if only to be a shield for some of the inevitable unpleasantness. I know that her Mom is stressed, spending the week caring for a sister who is dying from the same awful disease that took her father, and her mother, who is fighting a losing battle with cancer, and had a penchant for being unpleasant on her good days. (But seriously, Mrs. BiW lived with her for years, I came to love the mean old lady too. I know how much it upsets her to see her like this.) Her Dad is upset because her Mom is upset, and therefore, the criticism, and the sensitivity to it both go up tremendously. She texted me later to say she was better, but I think this is going to be a very rough trip for her. I'll be busy when they fly back on Sunday trying to get her relaxed before the big meeting on Monday.

Today's Stuff

Got a nap, went to the golf lesson. Used the nine iron. Worked on technique. Wasn't hitting too bad by the end of the session, but I know I'll be sore tomorrow.

Came home, fixed Heir No. One's dresser drawers. The nails that held the bottom of the drawer in place and prevented them from moving around fell out, so the bottom would slide, creating a gap. A few nails later, and everything is groovy again.

Then on to the hole in the wall. I stuffed it full with paper towel, then applied spackle. Once it all firms up, I'll sand it and then that will be taken care of.

Batchin' It

Dropped Mrs. BiW and the heirs off at the airport early this morning. I may take a nap this afternoon. 4:30 am wake-ups suck.

Work today, into the evening, golf lesson, then home to two smaller projects at the house: fix the drawers on heir no. one's dresser, and patch a hole in the wall on the staircase. No real excitment other than the brief eyeful of the gorgeous Mrs. BiW this morning as she dressed and the text message she sent after I dropped her and the boys off and was almost to work.

I have a lot of projects to tackle in the next 4 days, and not enough time to do them.

Apologies

Sorry for the light blogging. It was a very busy weekend, and I have been struggling to help Mrs. BiW and the heirs to prepare for their upcoming trip. I'll post more later tomorrow, after things slow down a tick, and I have my first golf lesson.

And Now For Something Completely Different...

I may have some more narratives like the one below. I'm actually feeling inspired for the first time in a very long time, which lead to me writing the best thing I have written in over a decade the other night, and frankly, there is much more where that came from. I pretty much decided that I'll write a novel, and I'll test fly a few portions here from time to time, just for some feed back on how they read.

Feedback would be appreciated; offers to buy copies of the completed work are encouraged.

Interlude

He stood at the corner, as the beeping crosswalk droned on, telling him that it was not safe to cross the street yet. He reached around and tapped the button again. A robotic voice interrupted the beep and said "Wait."

Even with the dark sunglasses, he found himself squinting in the early evening sun, which glowed overhead in a cloudless sky. While he was not sweating yet, a fact which surprised him given the fact that it was 92 degrees and he had already walked a block to the corner, he felt the familiar dampness and tingle of beads of perspiration start to form underneath his arms.

The beeping had stopped, replaced by the robotic voice, stating, "Auburn Way North, Crosswalk is Open..."

As he stepped off the curb, a hot wind washed over his body, making him feel as if he were naked and had just stepped into a hot shower, despite the fact that he was still wearing his dress slacks, shirt, and tie that he had put on in the morning, before getting the boys off to their Grandparents and gently carressing his wife's half-dressed, slumbering form with the lightest of touches for nearly twenty minutes before she awoke to see the time. The memory of the deep, low moans the touches elicted from her sleeping body and the slight smile on her lips as she saw the clock, but could not bring herself to be angry with him was echoed in the smile that came to his own countenance. The wind stopped and he again felt the oppressive weight of the sun pressing down on him as he crossed the street on the way to get the Claratin she had called and asked him to pick up before their date that night.

He softly laughed as he marveled at the extraordinary stress the two seemed to cause each other, yet he knew, deep in his heart, there was a smoldering ember of affection that she harbored still, that with time, effort, and great care, could be fanned once more into a roaring conflugration. This mated to the realization that he would do anything for her in his power that she asked him to do. These paired thoughts stopped all other ones from racing through his head, as he continued on his way to the store, his shoes clicking in a moderate, even rhythym on the sidewalk below his feet.

Thanks for the Vote of Confidence, I Think...

I've been pondering James chapter 1 a lot in recent weeks. The idea that you should rejoice in trials and temptations for the opportunity to grow spiritually is very difficult to embrace when you are actually in the thick of it. Don't get me wrong. I'm in a much different place today then I was a month ago, and yes it is a better place, (and no I didn't take a Xanex, today, Dick.) where I can see things I didn't before, understand a lot more, but I am still confounded by the woman in my life.

I'm gonna get mushy here, so bear with me.

My wife has the brightest spirit I know. She's has always had this bright light shining from inside here, and it damn near blinded me when I first really saw her. Years of me not reconginzing and dealing with the demons that have haunted me made me do everything but treat her right. That kind of damage takes its toll. A month ago, I was asked to leave my home. I refused. At the same time, I found my way to a particularly insightful tome, partook of it, and let God pick me up by the scruff of my neck, smack me around a few times with a clue bat, and say "Do I have your attention now, Son? Good. Let's talk for a while." And we have. And I have been studying, and talking with my wife, having real conersations. Some good, some not so good, some downright discouraging. She isn't asking me to leave anymore. I think the best way to describe her current feelings, based on a lot of what has come out in our conversations is hurt, angry, and conflicted. I pray with her daily. I pray for her daily. We've had some fun moments. We've had some nice moments. We've had some wonderful moments, and we've had some very HARD moments lately. I have heard her say some things that make me wish that speeding bus I imagine behind me would just run me over. But the difference is that I don't avoid those confrontations any longer. I don't want to. I realize now that no matter how painful it might be to talk to her about some of these things, and believe me, painful is simply a generic term to get through this sentance, I would rather be having this pain, gutting it out with her, taking ownership of this mess I helped to make, and rebuilding this marriage, brick by back-breaking brick, than to be without her. I know God brought us together. She's told me (recently) that she believes the same. It can't be just to leave behind two very wounded people, and two boys who would never really recover from what that would do to them. And so I fight. So I change. So I seek understanding, and engage, rather than withdraw when faced with conflict. It isn't easy. My trip to the doctor yesterday confirmed this. Don't even ask about my blood pressure. This is the biggest battle of my life, and I am working on at least five different things every day. Anxiety is the least of my troubles. But she is worth it. My eyes have been opened to the possibilities, and I know now that we can be so much more---live out loud, and that is why I don't just get up everyday, but I catch myself smiling, for no apparent reason at all. I guess it is a vote of confidence that I can handle it, straight from the guy upstairs. In weaker moments, I think a little less confidence would be nice. But I know better.

Sorry if that is too Al Gore for you, Dick. It is the truth, and it is very much on my mind. Even when I sleep.

More Fun and Games.

Doc says the chest pains are stress related, but not a heart attack, or angina. He thinks anxiety attacks. Prescribed Xanax. The good news is I got to come home and take a nap, and I have apparently lost about 20 lbs since March. Yeah, me. I think.
Mrs. BiW drove me to the doctor and tofill the script, and home. she seems genuinely concerned. Her words this morning when we were talking aon the phone and it happened again? "BiW, you're scaring me."

Once I get Mom moved out of the house she hasn't been paying me rent for in months, that will reduce a lot of stress for me right there.

Out of Sorts

Don't ask me why. I just seem to have a lot of nervous energy today. The walk at lunch helped, but I foresee some SERIOUS Nordic Track time tonight after the boys go to bed. I have to wait that long since Mrs. BiW is going to dinner with a friend. The nice thing about learning to name your inner demons and face them down is the control that it gives you. My pants just seem to be a lot looser now, and I really don't feel like I am missing anything if I don't eat (unless I just don't do it at all, then I get that nice "Whoa! What the heck just happened to me?" feeling.)

The bad news is that I seem to get these little fits of anxiety(?) for reasons I can't explain. Physical activity helps, but when you're engaged in a serious rewrite of an LLC Agreement and the associated documents that go with it, you can't just get up and go for a walk for an hour. At least it will be good and warm when I go home. (That's a joke. If it warmer than 75 degrees farhenheit, it is really too warm for me. When I lived in Michigan, this was the time of year I would immerse myself up to my neck in Lake Huron [See Liquid Ice] for as long as I could stand it until the sun went down.

Lottery Dreams

Didn't win Tuesday. As of this morning, tonight's drawing is worth $126 Million. Cash Lump sum payout is $71.5 Million. I would SO like to call in uninterested come Monday. Just dreaming my way through it:

Taxes off the top : about $17 million.

Amount left over after paying off all debts: Still over $50 Million.

Gifts to family, freinds, our church, and establishing several scholarships and foundations: Still got about $43 Million.

Being able to tell Mrs. BiW that she can have what ever she wants in Tiffany's and flying to Paris for dinner? Priceless.

Holidays

I think I am one of 5 attorneys working this week, and frankly, I don't want to be here this July 3rd afternoon. The good news is that tonight is dance lesson night. Mrs. BiW and I practiced last night. I think one of the reasons that "it feels right" this time is that she is having to learn things also. She danced when she was younger, so consequently, she is used to knowing what she is doing. This translates into her leading. She can't do that in swing dancing, and it is hard. We had to work on hand positions for a few minutes last night so she could feel me push as well as pull. She got it. She is having trouble with the West Coast Swing steps also. Fair is fair, though. I have real trouble with the East Coast Triple Step, which is the one she really wants to do. Its ok though, because we both have to work on it. Together. Without children.

Did I mention that I really look forward to these date nights?

Bought a Mega Millions ticket. $106 Million means we don't have to work and we get to take a few trips. Plus a whole lot o stuff gets taken care of. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If I could pay off my lawschool loans, maybe I could learn a trade and work with my hands. It would be nice to step away from my work at the end of the day and see something that has actually been completed instead of a pile of paper.

Y'all have a good fourth. I'm gonna do some stuff with my family and be back here on the 5th, moving more paper around on my desk.

Reading Material

Ok, I haven't had a history of official endorsements, but I felt the need to speak up about this one.

"Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul"
and
"The Way of the Wild Heart: A Map for The Masculine Journey"
By John Eldridge

Up to the point I read the first one, I would have to categorize myself as an "Intellectual Christian". Its kind of like hearing the melody, but not the rhythym. The result is that I was not LIVING life true to myself. I was like a blind person, really only able to feel anger and irritation, which meant that I was making a mess of my home and my family. Well, a mess would be polite. I found myself in a very dire place, where I was in serious jeopardy of losing my family. I walk around the mall after work lead me to wander into the bookstore and find the first book. While I read it, I kept seeing so many things that made sense. A lot of sense.

For the first time in years, I actually have some feelings and emotions. I'm fighting everyday for my marriage and my boys, not taking anything for granted, and understanding that I have have to continue changing who I am and how I do things regardless of whether my wife and boys will decide that I'm someone they want to live with.

That isn't to say that I don't wrestle with doubts and uncertainties, but the difference is that I am not afraid any more. Turning all of that over and living faith grants a kind of peace that nothing else brings.

I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea; I don't expect anyone to change what they are doing in their own lives (Dick comes to mind). I just wanted to let everyone know what is going on in mine...you must have at least a "I can't turn away from the train wreck" fascination. After all, you're reading it.

Britanistan Terrorism

Saw in the news today that while I enjoyed a blissful weekend in the land of the free, courtesy of brave men and women in uniform in all parts of the globe, that the UK has had some "issues" with those peace-loving muslims CAIR keeps telling us about.

Keep your eyes open, Alex. I'll be praying for you, Anita, and the girls to remain safe.

Weekend Fun!

Mrs. BiW, one of her friends, and heirs no. one and two and I all drove up to Seattle last night to watch the Marniers play the Blue Jays. I used to love the Jays, back when they used to field a good team and you couldn't get a ticket to a home game for love or money. It was raining when we left, so when we got there, to the upper deck, the top of Safeco Field was closed. The sun came out, it cleared up, and they open the top. It was fun. It was my first time there, and I was surprised how many other people were wearing Jays gear. Heir No. Two ran out of attention span by the third inning, so I took him out and we walked all around the upper deck. He sat on my shoulders. He had a great time. We left in the seventh inning, and came home. Mrs. BiW is still sick with a sinus infection so she crashed out before too long.

This morning, we took the boys to see Ratatoulle. The little one is too little to go to the movies. I had to sit in the lobby with him for the last 20 minutes, which is too bad, because I was really enjoying the movie. Now if I could just figure out what to make for dinner...

Another Update

Started a swing dance class with Mrs. BiW last night. I had a lot of fun. The instructor is very good. Mrs. BiW had fun also. She got roses delivered today as a thank you for a wonderful evening.

On other fronts, the spiritual battle rages on. I keep getting some interesting insights, mostly about things I have been doing wrong. I know that is so I can start doing those things right, but it can be a little discouraging at times just the same.

Update.

No, I'm not really back yet, although you could say I have had an ephipany and then some. Lots of rebuilding to do, but I know who's got my back, and part of knowing what to do for me right now involves a lot of trust and listening for the necessary guidance. For now, I can say this:

Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 6:16, NIV

See ya in a while. Maybe.

Hiatus

It seems that I've been in denial about a lot of things for several years now. Especially myself. What this means is that I need to engage in a pretty serious life audit, and determine what who I am, what I want, and what I'll do to get there. If I'm lucky, then I'll figure it out, and maybe earn a place in the hearts of those most dear to me. If I can't accomplish that...

The Family You Choose

I was thinking this morning about family. Being an only child and the oldest male in my line of descent, I think about these things alot now. Last week Mrs. BiW and I met with Heir No. One's new psychiatrist, who will be helping him to cope with the different issues raised by his Aspergers Syndrome. During the discussion, my wife raised the opinion that my father had it and that I show signs of it. At this, the Doctor looked at me and asked, did you have trouble with social interaction when growing up. I said "No." He asked "What make you say that?" I replied, because even though I was an only child, I have four brothers. And I can be very social, I just don't choose to be on many occaisions."

My wife was forced to agree. I have four brothers. I will until the day I die. Even though one is in Britanistan, the other three in Michigan, and one of those in a self-imposed exile from the rest of us, they each know that they can count on me, and I on them, and I can carry that thought with me always.

*raising a glass*
Alex, Brian, Matt, and Jaime, freinds absent but not forgotten.

A Bone to Pick...

I usually listen to the Michael Savage show when driving home from the office. I think he sometimes self-indulgent and almost a parody of himself, but there is no questioning his conservatism. I even liked his sometimes guest host, Douglas Urbanski, until today. When I got in the car at a quarter after five, he was talking about the media's attempts to crown a republican candidate that Shillary could beat. Then he said that Fred Thompson was a great example of such a creation by the liberal media, and how he isn't electable.

Come again? A creation of the liberal media? Unelectable?

He continued to give his take on the latest debate, and how he felt that Romney wasn't getting the exposure that he felt necessary because the media recognizes him as a threat to Shrillary, but never really gave any reasons why he felt that the Fred buzz is a product of the left-leaning media. I listened for the next 45 minutes, and the only thing I could glean in the way of an objection is that Fred is an actor, but isn't Reagan and doesn't have his political experience. He feels that the buzz is due to Fred's most recent acting gig.

What an ass. Until it had come up, I didn't know Fred had been on Law and Order. I'm lawyer. I live it, and with few exceptions, I don't find watching it to be that entertaining. Do I think the acting experience is a plus? Absolutely, but I like the Senator because he gets it. Listen to the commentaries. Read the text. Even without the sonorous delivery, you can tell the guy understands what is at stake, and the lack of political experience makes me believe he won't be beholden to anybody. As for being a creation of the left-leaning media, I can't say I've read much of anything from the MSM outlets about him.

Mike, I like your show, even when I disagree with you, but Doug resorted to the lefty tactic: throw the bomb and run. You wanna convince me? Bring me something substantial.

It Is Important. You Know What to Do.

http://www.imwithfred.com/

Click, sign up, and give.

Hat tip to Dick.

Pink Swastikas to Boy Scouts: Allow Gay Membership or Lose Meeting Place

The gay lobby and its sympathizers continue to demand that an American institution based on bedrock principals change to meet the "new" morality of anything goes. My pal, Darth Bacon, a resident of Philthydelphia brought this to my attention a while back, but I saw this story tonight, and felt that it was comment worthy.


From the A. P.:

PHILADELPHIA - The city may require the Boy Scouts of America's Cradle of Liberty Council to affirm that it will not discriminate against openly gay people or else lose its rent-free headquarters.

Kinda reminicent of the gays who keep trying to tell the Pope that he has to change and accept them they way that they are.

The City Council passed a resolution Thursday that City Solicitor Romulo L. Diaz Jr. said was a last step needed to end the Scouts' lease under a 1928 ordinance that leased the land to them in perpetuity.

You must conform! You must! Gay is good!

Jeff Jubelirer, a spokesman for the Cradle of Liberty Council, said any decision probably would involve the leadership of the scout's National Council, and he did not know how scout officials would react.

What dispute? A decades-old organization based on Christian principals that used to have the support of the body politic in an era when character, not public deviance used to be a civil priority has refused to compromise itself so that deviants can participate in the Boy Scouts without the guilt that comes from a lifestyle choice that is contrary to the principals of the organization. Why start your own your own organization like the Gay Scouts of America, with merit badges in Interior Design, Anonymous Gay Sex, and of course, Stooping to Any Low to Force "Acceptance" by Everyone Else in the World.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that as a private group, scouts have a First Amendment right to bar gays from membership. The Cradle of Liberty Council adopted a nondiscrimination policy in 2003 but was ordered to revoke it by the National Council, which said local councils had no right to deviate from national rules that bar participation by anyone who is openly gay.

Nothing like a local chapter going of the reservation to cater to the Intolerant Scions of Tolerance. Paging the Anglican Church, Paging the Anglican Church!

Jeff Jubelirer, a spokesman for the Cradle of Liberty Council, said any decision probably would involve the leadership of the scout's National Council, and he did not know how scout officials would react.

Because the National Council will yank their charter so fast, they'll be let naked and cold before they have any idea what is going on.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that as a private group, scouts have a First Amendment right to bar gays from membership. The Cradle of Liberty Council adopted a nondiscrimination policy in 2003 but was ordered to revoke it by the National Council, which said local councils had no right to deviate from national rules that bar participation by anyone who is openly gay.

I imagine that Sir Baden Powell is waiting for his opportunity to lead these fine "scouts" on a "special" hike, if you know what I mean.

I'm Sure Glad That Bush Feels That We Can Work With This Guy

Once again, from the only paper I read with any regularity, the Globe and Mail, we have an interview with Bush's favorite Russian, Vlad "I'll Kick Your Ass" Putin:

Mr. Putin, in an interview at his summer residence outside Moscow, said he considers U.S. plans to build an eastern European anti-missile site to shoot down Iranian missiles a provocation aimed at Russia.

Sure, because there is an obvious relation between the two.

He repeatedly described the anti-missile system as a part of the American "strategic nuclear potential," whose existence he said requires Russia to retaliate to maintain the global "strategic balance."

Such need being triggered by our proven willingness to nuke other nations without any provocation whatsoever, I'm sure.

Asked what he might do to retaliate, he said he would return Russia to the Cold War status where missiles were aimed at European targets.

Reviewing the gratitude shown by Europe for our intent to sacrifice American lives to liberate their countries and keep them free of Soviet oppression in the past, my first inclination is to say, "Fine. Nuke Europe. The rate they appear to be going, any vestige of civilzation there will be under the heel of Islam soon anyway, and they don't appear to want to meet that threat anyway." but I figure that will just send everything sideways that much sooner.

"It is obvious that if part of the strategic nuclear potential of the United States is located in Europe, and according to our military experts will be threatening us, we will have to respond," he said.

Sure, because we want to spend the time and effort defeating you again, after we already won the cold war. Don't you have an ethnic minority to brutally oppress or a significant rival to drive to ruin?

"What kind of steps are we going to take in response? Of course, we are going to get new targets in Europe."

Becuase we know we couldn't take you in a straight up fight, so we'll use other nations as shields. "Give me what I want or I'll shoot this puppy" is always a righteous strategy.

He suggested that this could include powerful nuclear-capable weapons.

Because what's the point in having a planet-destroying arsenal if you don't get to use it?

What kind of means will be used to hit the targets that our military believe are potential threats to the Russian federation? This is a purely technical issue, be it ballistic missiles or cruise missiles, or some kinds of novel weapons systems - this is a purely technical issue."

And since the President of the United States is completely unwilling to even secure the borders, I feel confident that he'll do nothing to prevent me from acting like a madman.

Its a good thing that I read THE BOOK and know how it is going to end. Otherwise, I might worry.

Selfish Attorney Endangers Others and Further Maligns Profession In the Process

The AP had an interesting story about the TB infected lawyer who endangered others at the Globe and Mail.

One thing is clear about the honeymooner who put airline passengers at risk of getting an especially dangerous strain of tuberculosis: He can't claim ignorance.

No. Just stupidity with a healthy dose of extraordinarily bad judgment.

Andrew Speaker didn't just have doctors' warnings against flying to Europe, and again against flying back. As a personal injury lawyer, he presumably knew something about the dangers of reckless behaviour.

Which is why he should be sued until his eyes bleed.

And most amazingly, Speaker has a new father-in-law with a vast knowledge of the disease he carried aboard two trans-Atlantic flights.

See above.

Bob Cooksey, a CDC microbiologist specializing in TB and other bacteria, said he gave his 31-year-old son-in-law some “fatherly advice” when he learned the young man had contracted the disease. He would not comment on whether he reported his son-in-law to federal health authorities, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not explain how the case came to their attention.

He let his daughter marry Andy, and presumably enjoy intimate contact with him after learning he has a strain of drug-resistant TB? Is he the beneficiary of a really large insurance policy on her life?

Some travellers who flew on the same flights as Speaker angrily accused him of putting hundreds of other people's lives in danger.

And rightly so.

Despite warnings from federal health officials not to board another long flight, he flew home for treatment, fearing he wouldn't survive if he didn't reach the U.S., he said.

Who just happened to go on vacation knowing he had this disease. Riiggghhhht.

“I'm a very well-educated, successful, intelligent person,” he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “This is insane to me that I have an armed guard outside my door when I've co-operated with everything other than the whole solitary-confinement-in-Italy thing.”

I’m selfish bastard who has cooperated with with all instructions except the ones I didn’t like, ‘cuz they’re no fun, you know?

The Homeland Security Department is investigating how Mr. Speaker was allowed back into the U.S. on May 24, after he flew to Canada to avoid being stopped by U.S. health officials.

Wait a minute! He feared he wouldn’t survive if he didn’t reach the US, so he flew into Canada???

Along the border crossing at Champlain, N.Y., an inspector ran Mr. Speaker's passport through a computer, and a warning — including instructions to hold the traveller, don a protective mask in dealing with him, and telephone health authorities — popped up, officials said.

Good.

About a minute later, Mr. Speaker was instead cleared to continue on his journey, according to officials familiar with the records.

Of course he was. Move along. Warning of serious health threat, nothing to see here, move along.

The inspector has been removed from border duty.

How comforting.

The unidentified inspector explained that he was no doctor but that the infected man seemed perfectly healthy and that he thought the warning was merely “discretionary,” officials briefed on the case told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is still under investigation.

Am I the only person who finds it disturbing that customs inspectors are making determinations as to the potential health threat a person poses based on appearance?

Colleen Kelley, president of the union that represents customs and border agents, declined to comment on the specifics of the case, but said “public health issues were not receiving adequate attention and training” within the agency.

Do you think??? If Al-Queerda is paying any attention, they just found a new way to hit us.

On Thursday, a tan and healthy-looking Mr. Speaker was flown from Atlanta to Denver, accompanied by his wife and federal marshals, to Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center, where doctors planned to isolate him and treat him with oral and intravenous antibiotics.

A few lawsuits will wipe the tan right off him, I’m sure.

Mr. Speaker's father-in-law has worked at the CDC for 32 years and is in the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, where he works with TB and other organisms. He has co-authored papers on diabetes, TB and other infectious diseases.
“As part of my job, I am regularly tested for TB. I do not have TB, nor have I ever had TB,” he said in a statement. “My son-in-law's TB did not originate from myself or the CDC's labs, which operate under the highest levels of biosecurity.”

Certainly an interesting statement. Why did he deny that it came from him? Why did Andy get checked?

“I'm hoping and praying that he's getting the proper treatment, that my daughter is holding up mentally and physically,” Mr. Cooksey said. “Had I known that my daughter was in any risk, I would not allow her to travel.”

How does someone who works with the disease assume that there is no risk to a loved one when there is no determination of the strain? I’m sorry, that doesn’t add up.

Andrew Speaker recently moved from an upscale condominium complex in anticipation of his wedding, former neighbours said. He also wrote in an application to become a board member of his condo association that he was going to Vietnam for five weeks as part of the Rotary Club to act as an ambassador.

Maybe he picked it up there...but if he was so damn healthy, what prompted him to get tested?

Mr. Speaker told the Journal-Constitution that he wasn't coughing and that doctors initially did not order him not to fly and only suggested he put off his long-planned wedding. “We headed off to Greece thinking everything's fine,” he told the newspaper.

So I decided to go on my honeymoon and put my wife at risk because I felt fine, even though I am a well-educated person and could presumably find out how much risk I pose to others by Googling the name. With intellectual processes that sharp, I'm sure he has a long career ahead of him in Congress. Asshat.

Friday Favorite

I always loved this tune. Dick probably knows these guys.

The Latest Insult

Have you ever poured all of your attention and energies into a worthy endeavor for a prolonged period of time just to have it all turn into a steaming pile of manure and then you are on the receiving end of a professional equivalent of an unforgivable curse?

Me too, and I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY pissed!

Idiocy That Passes For Education

I saw a story on MSN today about grandparents suing the Chicago schools for showing "Brokeback Mountain" to their 12 year old grandchild. I thought that type of thing would be a no-brainer, but not in what passes for edumincashun today. Hell, I never want to watch it and I'm an adult. Apparently the kid required some therapy after, and the grandparents were a little teed off over evposure to the language and concepts.

I hope they win.

Fun with the NHL Playoffs

My Ottawa Senators are kicking butt! Three games to none against Buffalo. I love it! (Even though Ryan Miller, the Sabre's goal tender is a cousin of mine.)

New Music

Last week I heard Christina Aguilera's "Candyman". If you like Big Band/Swing, you'll like it. If you don't, it sucks to be you. Myself, I'm a sucker for a great horn arrangment. Mrs. Blackiswhite bought me the album, "Back to Basics." No other Big Band track on it. Some interesting retrotracks of other types. She actually has a hell of a voice. I don't know why she is trying to out-slut all the other women in the business. If she cranks out more tracks like some of these, she'll do just fine.

I Say It to My Clients, I Say It to My Kids...

Dick, I tell you, I do not know why these guys never caught on. I had three of their albums when i was in high school, and all three cassettes were in heavy rotation in my car...

Another Nugget From my Misspent Youth

Understand, I grew up in a shop town. My freinds did not understand my ecclectic tastes in music.

It Was True Then, and It Is True Now...

Sorry, did you say something? I was flashing back to High School...

Another Classic

Late Night Summer, Driving Around the City, Smelling the Air and Sliding Into THAT Mindset...

One of My Favorite Songs

These guys do melodic melancholia better than anyone I know. This song is a prime example.

Dhimicrats In Congress Continue Their Attempts to Criminalize The White Male

H.R. 1592 came to the House floor this week. Titled the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, this bill proposes to take acts that are already criminal, and make them MORE criminal by federalizing them if they are committed against people belonging to certain groups and classes, i.e., anyone who is not a white male. Don't take my word for it. Have a look yourself.

`Sec. 249. Hate crime acts

`(a) In General-

`(1) OFFENSES INVOLVING ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN- Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person--

`(A) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and

`(B) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if--

`(i) death results from the offense; or

`(ii) the offense includes kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

`(2) OFFENSES INVOLVING ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR DISABILITY-

`(A) IN GENERAL- Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, in any circumstance described in subparagraph (B), willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of any person--

`(i) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and

`(ii) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if--

`(I) death results from the offense; or

`(II) the offense includes kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

`(B) CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the circumstances described in this subparagraph are that--

`(i) the conduct described in subparagraph (A) occurs during the course of, or as the result of, the travel of the defendant or the victim--

`(I) across a State line or national border; or

`(II) using a channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce;

`(ii) the defendant uses a channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce in connection with the conduct described in subparagraph (A);

`(iii) in connection with the conduct described in subparagraph (A), the defendant employs a firearm, explosive or incendiary device, or other weapon that has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce; or

`(iv) the conduct described in subparagraph (A)--

`(I) interferes with commercial or other economic activity in which the victim is engaged at the time of the conduct; or

`(II) otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce.

`(b) Certification Requirement- No prosecution of any offense described in this subsection may be undertaken by the United States, except under the certification in writing of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, or any Assistant Attorney General specially designated by the Attorney General that--

`(1) such certifying individual has reasonable cause to believe that the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person was a motivating factor underlying the alleged conduct of the defendant; and

`(2) such certifying individual has consulted with State or local law enforcement officials regarding the prosecution and determined that--

`(A) the State does not have jurisdiction or does not intend to exercise jurisdiction;

`(B) the State has requested that the Federal Government assume jurisdiction;

`(C) the State does not object to the Federal Government assuming jurisdiction; or

`(D) the verdict or sentence obtained pursuant to State charges left demonstratively unvindicated the Federal interest in eradicating bias-motivated violence.

`(c) Definitions- In this section--

`(1) the term `explosive or incendiary device' has the meaning given such term in section 232 of this title;

`(2) the term `firearm' has the meaning given such term in section 921(a) of this title; and

`(3) the term `gender identity' for the purposes of this chapter means actual or perceived gender-related characteristics.

`(d) Rule of Evidence- In a prosecution for an offense under this section, evidence of expression or associations of the defendant may not be introduced as substantive evidence at trial, unless the evidence specifically relates to that offense. However, nothing in this section affects the rules of evidence governing impeachment of a witness.'.

Nice, huh?

I see that the pink swastika lobby got tossed a bone also. Even though their is no concrete evidence supporting the creation of a protected class based on sexual orientation, the dhimis decided, all by their lonesome that they are worthy of special protection. This all misses the point. If I beat the crap out of you and kill you, I have committed a crime. If I beat the crap out of you and kill you and you happen to be gay/hispanic/jewish or female, I committed a crime, AND I get a longer sentance, whereas the penalty for doing the same to me is the same, no matter who does it or why. So much for equal protection under the law.

I don't question their patriotism. They simply do not have any. They have overstayed their welcome. Its time to march on D.C. with pitchforks and torches and show these weasels the door.

Revenge of Free Speech

I see that Imus is suing the spineless wimpletons at CBS. Apparently the contract recognized that he was provocative and encouraged it. It also required them to issue a warning before firing him. Whoops. Sucks when the hired help actually READS the contract.

CBS has said they'll fight him in court. They didn't fight when it mattered. They didn't call bullshit on the left-reverends Sharptongue and Jackson. That kind of abdication should be painful, and being spineless wimpletons, only a pecuniary loss will hurt.

Pinewood Derby Day!

No. One Son did OK. He finshed in average territory. If they gave out a prize for coolest looking car, he'd have won hands down.

I Guess It Is True...

Money CAN buy happiness...if you are 3 and 7, and its Momma and Daddy's Money. Lots and Lots of Money! I'm the one kneeling, by the way.

Vacation!

Vacation starts tommorrow. After the last three weeks of litigation hell I've been wading through, it can't come soon enough. I had to spend today in the rat maze that is the King County Superior Court in Seattle. My feet hurt, I'm tired, and I have a headache. I'm ready for five days away from the phones, the stuff on my desk, and all the hassles.

By tomorrow afternoon, I'll be in Anaheim, in sunshine and mid-seventies. (Sorry, Sig, I saw you got snow again today.) Check in, relax, take the boys to the pool, call SoCalOilman and say hey. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, take the heirs to see the mouse, and fly back on Tuesday. My Mom is housesitting, so no worries there.

The hotel website says free high speed internet. We may post some pics. We may not.

The Latest Kill of the Politically Correct

Don Imus is the latest casualty in the war that the politically correct have been waging against the world the rest of us live in. When I lived in Michigan, I used to watch part of Imus’ morning show on MSNBC. One of the things I liked about Imus was the fact that he was an equal opportunity offender. Left, right, middle, sideways, no one was safe from his pithy observations.

Last week, he made the mistake of saying some of ‘those’ words. Not a four-letter word. That would simply mean paying an FCC fine and moving on. Such an act might not even raise an eyebrow in today’s world. No, Don said some of the dreaded ‘double-standard’ words. You know, those words that have been hijacked by popular culture and made declared off-limits for utterance by a member of any group other than blacks, because if they are uttered by a white male, they can only be interpreted as a racist, bigoted act of hatred that demands the immediate and undeniable outrage of so-called civil rights leaders. You know the ones I’m talking about; they’re the ones who can’t be found when members of their own noble group use such words in public.

This is the part where I get to insert my disclaimer. I would not have said what Imus said. This is not out of fear of using the dreaded double-standard words; I grew up in the suburbs of Flint, Michigan. It’s not like I haven’t heard them before, or that I don’t understand that black people might take offense at their use. It is because I think a point could have been made without saying what was said. Imus has stated that he was looking at it from the standpoint of the impression of two very different teams and styles, in the vein of a matchup between nuns and female bikers. I have never even seen the Rutgers Women’s basketball team, but if they really do have tattoos, I’m sure their daddies must be soooooo proud, not to mention former team members, and alumni.

Don and producer Bernard were discussing the NCCA women’s basketball championship, and Imus remarked that the Rutgers team looked rough, because they had tattoos and such. Bernie fired back “tough looking hos” to which Imus replied “nappy headed hos”. That was enough to fire up the outrage machine. The left-reverend Al Sharptongue (of the famous race-baiting Tawana Brawley hoax) and Jesse Jackson ( think Martin Luther King without dignity or rhetorical genius) wasted no time in parading the predictable “This Cannot Stand!” stance, with Sharptongue calling for his immediate firing and Jackson threatening to protest.

Imus soon apologized for his words, for all the good it did him. The apologies were repeated, and Imus even went on Sharptongue’s show to sit in the hotseat and subject himself to Sharptongue’s sanctimonious finger-waving and silly expressions of outrage, all the while claiming that by having Imus on and continuing to subject him to accusations and demands that he resign. The penance was to no avail. This evening, Associated Pravda was reporting:

“CBS Radio and MSNBC both said they were suspending Imus’ morning talk show for two weeks following his reference last week to members of the Rutgers women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed hos.””

Now I have been scratching my head and trying to figure out why a man who has gotten to insult Presidents of the United States, while they were physically present, should have to endure this kind of nonsense. The answer is, of course, because the President didn’t inspire the soldiers of political correctness to outrage, but the utterance of “racially charged” words by a white male did. This is not because it is a battle worth fighting. It is because it is a battle they could win.

These “prominent civil rights” figures can’t be bothered to pursue the issue with their own people. Words such as “nappy” (which according to the Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language, means “(of hair) kinky”---as no other definition seems to apply.) are perfectly acceptable when spoken by a black person [no, I won’t be forced into saying “African-American”, since not all black Americans have come here from Africa, and since hyphenated-Americanism is one of the leading factors in our collective hypersensitivity that is destroying our nation on a daily basis] but if you are a white male, you might as well be wearing a white robe and hood and burning a cross in suburban Detroit---not that I’d recommend it. I can think of few things to get a person killed quicker.

This is the kind of hypocrisy that infuriates me. When does one group in society get to dictate the proper and improper use of English words for the rest of society? When should the rest of us stand idly by, and let a misfortunate turn of phrase define a career and its end? These really should not be rhetorical questions. If we continue to watch from the sidelines while sanctimonious, self-promoting zealots who use race and outrage as vehicle to self-aggrandizement, all in the name of preserving dignity in the name of the “oppressed” or the “downtrodden”, then freedom of speech will mean nothing at all, because only the defenders will be able to exercise that right. No one else will be deemed worthy. We will all be prohibited from anything other than prescreened and approved discourse; anything else might hurt someone’s feelings.

The stakes are high ones. We are already being betrayed on a daily basis by a media that selectively cherry-picks quotes and statements, so it can report not what happened, but the story it wanted to happen, and we let them slide every day. That is how we have gotten to a point where moral relativists and Christophobes can perpetuate the lie that “all cultures are equal”, and that religion, especially Christianity, serves only to make the human condition worse. The story gets obscured by the message. If you were in suspended animation for the last thirty years, and suddenly woke up, ran out, and bought a major newspaper, you’d have a hard time realizing that western civilization is at war with Muslims who have decided that the west must convert or die. In fact, if you could discern that we are at war, you might not be able to figure out who the malefactors really are. To hear the media’s take, the administration and most of the pentagon should be cuffed and frog marched all the way to Gitmo for their “crimes against humanity.”

Upon reflection, I can see that Imus is concerned about how this will affect his ranch for kids with cancer and blood diseases. What I don’t understand is why no one close to him clued him in to the fact that if he is going to start treading lightly now, he may as well retire. He is an easy target for those who have decided to make an example of him, and the gangpile is the predictable result. Whenever given a choice, the left won’t fight the hard battles, the ones that might actually result in a meaningful change. They will ALWAYS go after the soft target, especially if that target is high profile, and is sure to get them lots of juicy headlines to build up their own bona fides, no matter how shallow they may be. Even if he returns after his two-week suspension, he won’t ever be back. The threat of suspension or firing will stifle the rapid-fire sequence of exchanges that frequently makes the difference between entertaining radio, and background noise for a morning commute. The left will claim this as a victory. But once again, free speech is the victim. I did some searching and found a large portion of the transcript of Imus’ appearance on Sharptongue’s show. I have included portions with appropropriate commentary following. Think about it. Think I’m wrong? Tell me about it. I invite a dialogue. If you act like a shrill moonbat, you will be treated as such.

IMUS. No, I understand that, but I'm not thinking that it is a racial insult that's being uttered at somebody at the time. I think it's in the process of this - what we're trying to rap and be funny. I mean I understand it's not funny. I understand there's no excuse for it. I'm not pretending that there is. I wish I hadn't of said it. I'm sorry I said it but -

SHARPTON. Now, let me ask you this - and then we could talk about the things that you want to talk about. If you realize that something must be done, why would you then feel that we are out of order to ask that you step aside.

Have you asked rappers and other entertainers in your communities to “step aside.”? Don’t bother answering that. I wouldn’t be able to able to hear you over the sound of the deafening cricket chirps.

IMUS. I didn't say that.

SHARPTON. Oh, you don't think we're out of order.

IMUS. No, sir.

SHARPTON. So you've come to sign your resignation?

Why do you automatically assume that your desired result is the ONLY possible result?


IMUS. No, I'm not signing anything.

SHARPTON. So what are you saying?

IMUS. I'm saying you have the right -

SHARPTON. You want to determine what ought to happen even though you are the one that did the wrong?

I don’t remember you being appointed to judge the propriety or impropriety of others.

IMUS. I didn't say that either.

SHARPTON. O.K.

IMUS. I said you have the right to say and do whatever you want to do. What I want you to do, and everybody else - everybody who's calling me a racist, everybody who's calling me a bigot, everybody who says, I don't know anything about him, because I've heard people say, I don't know what's in his heart and I don't know - I've never listened to his show, but I want him fired. That's an ill-informed decision.
When have you ever known Sharptongue to make a well-informed decision?

SHARPTON. I'm going to take a break and we're going to talk about. I will give you credit for showing up and I'd even give you more credit if you'd decided to take - change your mind about resigning.

IMUS. But you're not making an informed decision, Reverend Al.
============================================================================
IMUS. And then he [Reverend Deforest Soaries] said something else, he said, you know, you said, here's what you have to understand - that's what he said now - he said, black people, at the core of their soul, don't believe that white people like them. And he said, at some point when something like this happens with someone like you, who they would - who a person could, you would think, could trust and would be on our side, he said, this just confirms that whole fear. He says, so it's an egregious sin that you've committed, and I said that I understood that.

No. Instead you have decided to trust the likes of the left reverends Sharptongue and Jackson, who’s years of tireless labor have done wonders in improving their own living conditions. Too bad they have squandered your trust, and too sad that you are unable or unwilling to see it.

============================================================================

SHARPTON. Let me - you see this young lady here? Where is she at? You see this young lady?

IMUS. Yes, sir.

SHARPTON. This young lady just graduated . . . , went to Temple. She is not a nappy-headed ho, she's my daughter.

Very good, Sharptongue. If she just graduated from Temple, that means she doesn’t play ball for Rutgers, either.

IMUS. I understand that.

SHARPTON. And when I heard what you said, I've got to defend my daughter.


Why? Does she play basketball for Rutgers?
==================================================================================
SHARPTON. - before we go there, let me say this. I don't think the issue is that you may have done good things. The issue is whether we can afford a precedent to be established that somebody can say something that you admittedly say yourself is wrong and I say is racist and sexist, and it just be glossed over. That's the issue here. Because then, if you walk away from this unscathed, the next guy could say whatever he wants and just say, I'm sorry.

IMUS. Unscathed? What are you, crazy? How am I unscathed by this? Don't you think I'm humiliated? Don't you think I'm embarrassed? Don't you think –

Don’t you think having to be in the same room dealing with your incredible arrogance and conceit qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment?

SHARPTON. You're not as humiliated as young black women.

I suppose no one would understand that better than you, having first made a name for yourself by exploiting one yourself.

One of the Reasons I Live Here

It was sunny Thursday, the mountain was out, and I had to go downtown for a Continuing Legal Education Course.

"Gift", My Ass!

I woke up this morning to the news that Ahamadinnerjacket has decided to free the British service men and woman that his nation kidnapped as a "gift" to the people of Britain, in honor of the pedophile prophet's birthday and Easter.

"Gift", my ass.

After sucessfully demonstrating that one of our staunch allies has all the backbone of a cup of jello, and parading the captured saliors and marines in front of a camera to repeat silly confessions of tresspassing into Iranian waters, he has no further use for them. Killing them might raise a level of ire in John Bull that an overt act of piracy couldn't seem to muster, and since he has already shown that the West will not do what is necessary to discourage such activity, he not only knows that he can develop his nuclear weapons with impunity, but now terrorists have been sent a clear message: The British will not put up a fight to prevent capture or regain captured personel. They may as well pack up their kit bags now, and leave, before attrition decimates their ranks to the point that no one will be left to ship home.

As for the speculation that the US is complicit in this abdication of authority because it allowed the release of an Iranian "diplomat" who was intercepted upon his arrival in Iraq to help those fun, freedom-loving insurgents that we have come to know and love, I wouldn't put it past some element of our government, but at the same time, it doesn't seem logical. If we had taken such a person into custody, it seems to me we'd have shipped him off to one of those "Secret" prisons the NY Slimes and their mindless minions keep blathering on about, where we would have pumped his goat-buggering self for every scrap of information, then tortured him for the hell of it, before shipping him off to Club Gitmo, where he could enjoy three squares a day, air conditioning, and all the praying to Mecca that he could handle. Sorry kiddies, it just doesn't make sense to me.

I'm starting to think that nothing matters from this point on. We're obviously going to let Monkey-Boy get his nukes, and after Israel and a few American cities disapear in a hot, blinding flash, then maybe those of us who remain can find the courage to roll up our sleves and not just exterminate these animals, but remove all vestigial remnants of their existance on the planet.

That Didn't Take Long

I see that Britain's kidnapped sailors and marines are still in captivity in Iran. I don't imagine that we will hear too much more about this. As I searched my usual suspects today, "the news" on the subject is that the limeys are sending a naval officer, with the approximate rank of commodore to grov...I mean "negotiate" for their release. As I write this on tuesday evening, I had to scroll way down the page at the Globe and Mail to find a story about them that seems to focus on the "hope" that the Iranians may soon get back a "Diplomat" that was picked up by "armed and uniformed gunmen" on his arrival in Iraq in February. The story goes on to allege that these gunmen were under the command of...wait for it...AMERICANS.

I figured that the fifth estate would not take long to:
a.) start to bury the story, and
b.) spin this in to the fault of the Great Satan, The United States of America. After all, their masters really would not have it any other way. I have heard several stories in the past days about the nations of europistan, Britain included, having slashed their military budgets, while the world's no-goodniks, China, North Korea, the seething nations of arab street, have all been increasing their military spending. The observation was made that the British fleet is little more than a coastal defense force now. How the mighty have fallen. Somehow, I think my welsh forbears would not be happy to see England on the verge of extinction by an act of suicide. While there was no love lost for the English, at least John Bull of old was not afraid to treat acts of piracy as the crimes that they are, and exact swift and sure retribution on the offenders.

I said a few days ago that if I were a British Marine or Sailor, I would categorically refuse to take part in any more bording parties. It is heartbreakingly clear that their own government is not terribly concerned abaout getting them back. I repeat that here. Admittedly, it would be difficult to tell from US news sources if there were still real Englishmen and Englishwomen in Britain who had both a sense of pride, and unmistakable outrage of their own with the Iranian provocateurs, and their own government, which has shamefully abdicated its duty to its citizens and servicemen who are in the service of the Crown. However, I interpret the gradual descent of this story from the headlines of the news to below the fold and the implications that this is America's fault as an indication that we, too, have lost something as a nation.

We have lost the solidarity of free nations.

No longer does the "free world" stand together as a force arrayed against the coming night. Europe has fallen prey to lackisdaisical immigration policies and the mistaken belief that its cultures had nothing better to offer immigrants who made a point of coming to them. Instead of requiring these immigrants to assimilate into their culture, they abandonned their own in the lie of moral relativity. And now, like the British sailor of ages past, the free nations of europistan are coming off of cultural benders to find themselves impressed into the service of others, who have no respect for them and view them and their lands as booty to be spent or horded at leisure.

We are in danger of the same thing happening here. The concepts of right and wrong, and of cultural superiority have been banished for education; no culture, no idea, no ancestor, is better than another. There is no right and wrong. Things simply are. Our collective consciousness is continually misdirected. Greed and narcisism are cultivated, and everywhere you look, we are exposed to the constant message that we as a nation are bad, that we are evil.

Don't believe it. We saved the world. Twice. When there is a disaster in the world, we're among the first on the scene. Our scientists have done much to fight disease, to feed the hungry, and improve the human condition. Have we been perfect while doing it? HELL NO. We turned a blind eye to the plight of many of our own citizens here in the land of the free. At times, we have sacrificed the rights of the individual to ensure that our nation would survive to return to a free exercise of the blessings of liberty. Do not forget who you are. Do not forget your legacy, your birthright. We are being invaded at this very moment. Some in society continually try to redirect the debate from the focus on the very illegality of these people being here with emotional arguments, with irrelvancies, with illogic, with lies. Don't Let Them. The time may soon arrive when each of us will have to make hard choices about our very survival. I am not so optimistic that I think that I will survive, but when I am called to account for my time on Earth, I want to be able to say that I gave my life in the defense of liberty.

A Speedy Recovery

LC Jackboot is having surgery tomorrow for a shoulder that has been troubling him for a while. I'll have you in my prayers for a speedy recovery, JB.

The Kitchen Sink, Part Two.

Yeah, I finally got this done today, also, although the plumbing made me throw up my hands and call my father-in-law for some assistance, after two trips to McClendon's Hardware on my own. Antother trip, some sawing and cutting, an approach that messed with the pipes that were still there, and BAM! It works, and no leaks, either. I think the next thing I am tackling are the floors in the house.

Last Night's Movie Was?

The Guardian. Having grown up in Michigan, I have always had an appreciation for the men and women of the Coast Guard. If you have ever seen a November storm on the lakes, you have an idea of what it means to be staring down the full fury of nature. This was not very different. The Bering Sea in winter, a place where your time in the water can be measured in minutes. And rescue swimmers jump out of perfectly good helicopters, right into the full fury of it. I recommend it.

And Now...

The kids are finally in bed (way wound up from the birthday party, (and me with no patience left), I will sit down to watch a movie. Flags of Our Fathers, or The Guardian? I'll let you know.

And the Kitchen Sink!

Wednesday evening, while washing the dishes, I thought the sink lever felt a little funny. When I shut off the water, I knew why, because I ended up with this POS in my hand.

Thanks, MOEN, for ruining my weekend. (Buy it for life, my ass.) I was hoping to have just a little bit of time during the day to either do what I wanted, or to prepare for Heir No. Two's birthday party on Saturday evening. But thanks to the quality workmanship of MOEN, I have a project to take up my time. And it wasn't enough to replace the faucet. You see, I am married. Being married means never having to do the simple fix; instead, you get to UPGRADE. I mentioned something to Mrs. Blackiswhite Thursday about stopping at Home Depot on my way home to pick up a new faucet. The response: "You might as well wait. I want a new sink too." "Why?" "Because you can't put a new faucet on that old sink. It will look yucky." I took a deep breath. "And?" (Because I knew there was more.) "And because the one we have isn't deep enough. I can't wash the big pots in it." I sat silently, straining my brain to remember the last time I saw her wash any pot, let alone a big one. Those of you who have been married a while understand my conundrum. If you say what you are really thinking, you get to pay the consequences for a long time. If you get upset, you pay the consequences for a long time. Finally, I settled on "So you're taking a $75 repair job and turning it into a $450 dollar upgrade, and taking my weekend away at the same time?" "Yes." I hate the casual ease with which she can say that. Friday night, we went to the Home Depot, pcked out the Kohler 19 Gauge Stainless Steel with 8 inch deep sides, the Kohler Chrome Drains, and the Delta (That's D-E-L-T-A, not MOEN) Faucet, and casually dinging the plastic, I headed out the door.

Saturday morning, I climbed underneath the old no-name sink with some POS hardware attached, and did what I do best with tools: I took it apart. Naively, I believed that since the two sinks were the same size, the new one should drop right in. (You can insert the laughter here if you've played this game before.)

As it turns out, the first hole was never cut square to begin with, and then the self-rimming lip on the underside of the new sink is an inch longer and an inch wider than on the old one, so the beveled corners in the cutout are as useful as honesty in Congress.

Many adjusting cuts later, I have it so it is almost flat, and I think that once the clips are attached underneath, it'll be just fine. Tomorrow, I tackle the Plubming. Hooking the water up will be no big deal. The drains, and the dishwasher? We'll see.

A Long Week In Bizzaro World

This can sum it up, I think:

"Iran Detains 15 British Sailors"

After several late nights/early mornings having to write treatises on why the sun doesn't rise in the West because opposing counsel thinks that it is appropriate to respond to a default motion brought because they are 40 days late with a reply to counterclaims by filing a motion to strike certain allegations contained therein which is also 40 days late, rather than file the bloody answer with the predicatble denials, at least not until the eve of consideration. Then they failed to deliver discovery on either day promised in writing by opposing counsel, which was the straw that broke the camel's back. I was up preparing the motion to compel (with sanctions) because they made up push then for over forty days after they discovery was due to get the protective order I would not stipulate to, and then because I had to push continually for 40 days after they got an order. Stuff I'm entitled to, and I have to put in late nights in the theatre of the absurd because they don't feel the need to comply with the rules. "Civil" procedure indeed.

And now, I hear that the ragheads grabbed a bunch of sailors doing their jobs in that little corner of Hell, and HOURS pass with no response, other than negotiations? I freely admit that I am a Right-Wing Death Beast. I'm not upset at the Iranian's conduct. Being the subhuman, rock-worshipping misanthrops that they are, I expect no better of them. I am horrified at this latest demonstration that the Western world has lost its stones. There can only be one response to this, and unfortunately Dhimi Carter set the wrong example the last time that this happened. Grab 30 of their nationals. Not the average Achmed. No one will notice. Go into their embassy and grab 30 nationals. Put a bullet behind the temple of the 2nd most important one you grab. Make damn sure they know that it happens again in an hour, every hour, on the hour, until your people are returned, unharmed. Announce that if you go through all of them with no release, then their "capital" goes up in a flash of light.

When will the pinstriped weenies understand that we will never get them to respect us, but we can get them to respect what we can do to them? Such a course of action should have them acting like human beings in short order. And if it doesn't work, then they lose the privilege of drawing breath. It is that simple. If it isn't, then Western Civilization is finished.

Sleep Tight

Savage's guest yestday was dicussing the fact that Litvinov (The polonium tea guy) was a nuclear arms smuggler, an ancolyte of the Religion of Pus, and more likely poinsoned himself than was offed by the Russians, since Polonium is only produced in an amount of 7gr annually, making this about a 30 million dollar hit. All in a discussion of how suitcase nukes are real, USA Today's uber-reliable story notwithstanding.

Sleep tight.

Not As Bad As I Thought

Not as much pain as I thought this morning. Worked late tonight, so I'll go tomorrow night, and on Saturday, and Sunday.

Alex and his family are now settling in in England. He emailed me some photos today. He still doesn't have broadband at his home, so no posts at his site yet.

Started Working Out Again For The First Time In 5 Months.

I'm gonna hurt tomorrow.

The Result Is Slightly Wrong Based on the Fact I Only Had Two Choices for Each Question

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 90% Conservative, 10% Liberal

Social Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Ethics: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Disturbing (Yet Unsurprising) Thoughts

Today's sermon was on 2 Timothy. Of particular interst was 2 Timothy 3:1-3:5 :

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to their parents, unthankful, unhold, unliving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughtylovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And From such people turn away!"

The sacrastic side of me says "That doesn't realy leave me any place to turn."

But seriously, does the list remind you of any place and time?

I'd Listen To Her Sing The Phone Book!

This Video Made Me Want To Be A Singer