Offsite Comments

The More Things Change Dept.

Texas Is Wrathy
Governor Says He Will Protect the Border

Austin, Tex. - "If I am compelled to take the situation in hand, I will do so vigorously. This state is bearing the burden of expense and suspense and the present federal policy towards this state is an outrage. Definite action should [be] taken by the federal government and protection given by garrisons of troops or the government should advise us that nothing will be done and let us look out for ourselves. We will not hesitate to protect our people if we can be advised that the federal government will not do so." ...

Bartlesville (Okla.) Daily Enterprise
Thursday, February 20, 1913
c/o The Gateway to Oklahoma History

http://mindfulwebworks.com/radical/texas-is-wrathy

When we lived in Chicago, our life was so arranged that I didn't usually have to fight the masses, at the worst times anyway. We had Milady's mother and other family and friends as our social life and their support with our young kids; as a native, she knew how to navigate the city (and where not to navigate) and helped this transplanted Okie get pretty good at it. We were constantly reminded, though, that we most assuredly were living in an amazing, crowded, stinky, and sometimes dangerous polyglot of humanity. We lived in the Big Portato for fourteen years. Now twenty years behind us, as of last April. It was very good to have her family for our kids.

Only once had a tenant's not-supposed-to-live-in boyfriend threaten to beat me up like a high schooler because the heat in our building was off for a few hours while we were away. (I ignored him and only talked with the tenant.)

Only once had to kick a naked bum out of the foyer. (Funny how fast those mentally unstable people get their act together when they're told the cops are on the way.)

Only once had a gun stuck in my back. ("Step down this alley!" Right. We just kept walking. He wasn't very good at holdups; we weren't very good at being held up.)

Only once felt like my family was about to be crushed by a surging crowd. (We had to get into the water to skedaddle down the beach out of there, missing the rest of the airshow.)

Only once had a prostitute proposition me. (Ugly, skinny, old grandma with gray-brown skin, but with impish eyes; I'm sure she was just teasing me, knew I wasn't going to be interested. Feeling evangelical, I actually stopped and chatted with my gap-toothed sister for a moment, without trying to be, you know, too preachy… or look to onlookers like I was interested! It's a living, she explained with a semi-toothy grin. Whew!)

Now, what's not to love about a life like that!

Yesterday morning, Milady and I were standing west of the house, looking for a trio of ladderback or pileated woodpeckers I'd glimpsed earlier. I think they're nesting up in one of the giant Ponderosas my grandfather planted a hundred years ago. (By the way, Okla. Ag. Dept. insists this is not a good place for pines. Ha ha ha.) The woodpeckers are remarkably elusive. I glimpse them, then they're around the back of the trunk.

We didn't see Woody & family, but just then a pair (at least) of bald eagles began soaring above us, gliding back and forth, crossing and criss-crossing directly overhead. One jetted over the South pasture, turned and skimmed out of sight far to the South-East, then I see a shadow, look up, and see he has soared back over us, coming directly out of the sun. Another bigger one flew by with something dangling in its beak. We're silly; even though they were high up, we were waving, you know, knowing how well they can see us.

There were ungainly, inelegantly-flapping turkey vultures circling also, just to make the eagles look all the more impressive. Raptors, I said to Milady, we've got some big raptors (also have golden eagles, also predators like owls); and unlike Jurassic Park's velociraptors, ours fly! To those birds, our new (but not young) little black kitty would be lunch. Fortunately, they'd probably rather have rabbit than grab a spitfire like Faithful.

Here's a video from a year and a half back of the kind of intruders we deal with on the farm frequently.

We've got no current garden, and really haven't proved very good at gardening, but, even so, we have enjoyed gourds, melons, strawberries, cherries, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, and wild garlic and I'm sure I'm forgetting several crops, directly from our land, over the years. When the volunteer peach tree had a good year, Milady made pies. Mmmm. Fresh hot home-grown home-made peach pie!

I know just what you're thinking: how can we stand it, when we could be living in a third-floor walk-up in Uptown, with all the variety and culture of a major urban center at our feet?

We endure. Somehow, we endure.

Christianity famously (and mistakenly) preaches to love one's enemies. -somebody

err #32

I love my sibling. if he goes whack and on the attack, I have a duty to stop him. I will love him as I kill him if necessary. It's not like I automatically have that kind of love for every enemy, but I get the idea by extrapolation.

Ref also Jesus' talk about who are my brothers.

There really should be a compilation of video interviews with true immigrants, saying all that's been related above.

Jean quoted back: "...can shout their complaints down a well."

Jean then added: "Sounds a lot like..." [the usual objections]

Now reverse the order. Already answered.

All those herrings are bright red, Jean. The naturalized citizen route, got a problem with them? with Osma in Dave's post?

Jean ended: "People have been trying to figure this out since Sparta."

Earned enfranchisement has been figured out already. Just sayin', apply it!

Are you the person who moved lately from liberal land to conservative state? still "moving"? Great school here.

There are two paths to citizenship.

One is birth. Privilege.

The other is study and certification. Earned.

(Just leave marriage aside so I can KIS.)

The latter seems to produce excellent citizens, as a rule. (Thanks so much for yet another great example, WeirdDave!) The former, not always so much.

When the Newly Re-United States of America get started, limiting the path to enfranchisement to earning it might be efficacious. Squealers of objection of unfairness can shout their complaints down a well.

Could also include a period of military - or acceptable equivalent - but preferably military service. But that's a secondary matter. I just like thinking about the powerful, combat-ready military of the Newly Re-United States of America.

Wasn't Squealers of Objection formed by a bassist who split from the Mothers of Invention?

“walking ain’t crowded”

Heh. New one to me.

Not to argie wit Granny, but it does immediately make me recall several times in Chicago and once in Manhattan where walking was plenty crowded. Try stopping in the middle of the sidewalk at rush hour and see what happens!

Hi.

Bullets shooting bullets out of the sky picture. And they said it couldn't be done. Those they them!

http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2014/07/picture-of-day_11.html

Nice work, Pete. Liked the top one. My momma always said, God helps those who help themselves. I’m thinking maybe she didn’t mean like that, though.

cth: "I took 3 screenshots… but… I decided to spare you."

Good call, I'd say. Thank you.

(You know how you couldn't stomach 45 seconds of the stuttering clusterfluke? There's things I try to avoid, too, knowing them already far too well, even if from some other instance. The banality of evil is that it's always the same soulless face.)

PLOTZ!

Holy Heck! I just finished watching the Cab Calloway clip. That is some of the most hellacious hoofing I've ever seen.

Thanks again, Maet.

Black culture used to be really hot.

Beaten by moments by Slapweasel on the cattle thing

"An Angus cow is a black cow. That's it. Nothing really special about it." -blaster

Ahem. That was all my grandpappy raised. Wikipedia opineth:

Angus cattle (Aberdeen Angus) are a breed of cattle commonly used in beef production. They were developed from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus in Scotland, and are known as Aberdeen Angus in most parts of the world. They are naturally polled (do not have horns)... are widely used in crossbreeding to reduce the likelihood of dystocia (difficult calving). They are also used as a genetic dehorner as the polled gene is passed on as a dominant trait.

"Wait - Nick Cage beats out Bruce Willis!?"

It's not the quantity.

It's the quality.

Thanks for the Cab Calloway, Maet. Never can get enough. Nice, clear video!

It's tired, and I'm late, but [waves hello to everyone] Hello to Everyone.

[Falls on floor]

Relax! Enjoy! Grab a triple word square, cth! Hope you don't see this for a while.

I miss playing scrabble (I think I'm in Scrabble Chump League when I see you talking about it - I have bitter childhood memories of Scrabble sharks). Cards. Risk, Jotto. (Ever play Jotto?) With the kids grown & either gone or busy even when they're around, games aren't a Thing We Do anymore. Mrs & I don't even play Gin much. Need grandkids!

Mainly I wanted to say: cth, you are on fire lately. The news merits attention and focus by all creative minds, and you're all over it. I encourage you to continue, just as long as you're feeling balanced, e.g. able to take a while to only worry that your tile rack has nothing but 1-pointers.

Some random thaughts:

Random thaught #23e4^7:

I knew Sheila Jackson Lee's district was gerrymandered but I didn't know how absurdly until today when I looked up her district on Wikipedia.

"This will be another waste of time, I’m afraid.Just thought somebody might be interested." -PP

Thanks for posting this, Pete! Could well be that Boener will pass, but Lerner's crimes are so horribly evident, the Obamanation may let her be a fall gal.

I wonder if these folks would be so arrogant if Egregious Betrayal of Duty by a Public Servant was a hanging offense. Plenty of rope to go around.

Some variations on answers over at PoliNation including some that some webworker might have inspired.

Allen West "added that he hoped Republicans would capture the Senate in November and 'kick your white male butt out.'"

Gee, for some reason, as a white-male-butted citizen, I take no offense at this whatsoever!

Washington Times

Great Thinks Like a Mind Department

I was just about to upload a graphic when I paused to tune in here and discovered your graphic on the same theme!

So I posted a copy of your graphic on the same page, hope that's okay.

Five White Guys