When the kids at school would ask me who I was going to be for Halloween I would tell them, “An old white guy”. They were not impressed. It did give me a reason to explain why I don’t celebrate Halloween or as the Latinos label it, The Day of the Dead. As a kid I saw a chance to get free candy. At times I even got into dressing up. I had a whole get-up of a Revolutionary War soldier that I enjoyed but at 6' 1" people wondered what my problem was.
As I get older I see a lot more of what is going on behind the scenes. Halloween still has pockets of fun and innocence but the forces of darkness are stronger all the time. They were probably there all the time. You can read the testimony of people who have come out of witchcraft and Satan worship who explain what has been happening in the shadows.
I have the same feeling about a lot of the music I listened to as a kid. I understand the concept of “I don’t listen to the words.” Yes they do, they just don’t understand what they really mean. As a young teen the meaning of, “Tonight your mine, completely” and “Will you still love me tomorrow” went completely over my head. Now I understand.
In re-reading a lot of the science fiction of my youth I find it hard to swallow the left wing whacko story lines. I wonder how I survived the brainwashing going on. My salvation was probably rooted in the fact that I read for the action and ignored the attempts to influence my thinking. Reading them as an adult I see the foundation for such things as the modern foolishness of global warming and hatred for Christianity. I start a lot and finish a few.
Have a safe evening. Turn on your brain. Look around you. Ask yourself if you really want to be a part of all this. Sometimes it is hard to grow up and call evil what it is.
homo unius libri
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Opus 2017-365: Headlines: Manafort Skootered
It looks like the Trump haters have found a victim or two. “And the winner is...” Paul Manafort and Rick Gates. I am sure that they are guilty of something. Maybe they misplaced a decimal in one of their tax returns.
The story linked by Drudge was in the Daily Mail. Basically what we have at this point is nothing. The only information is what has been leaked to the Main Stream Media. And then the judge orders the indictment sealed so that no one can read it. To put frosting on the liberal Halloween cake the administration is told they can say nothing.
This is called justice.
We need to keep in mind that there are so many laws and regulations in this country that all of us are guilty of breaking at least one of them every day. It is a wonderful way for people who have the wealth of the nation behind them to keep the peasants quiet and down on the farm. We will see how this works out with Manafort. Is he squeaky clean? I doubt it. Was a special prosecutor appointed to investigate the business dealings of a citizen for his entire life or was he appointed to find out if there was any collusion between Trump and Russia? Is this just intimidation to try to get Manafort to stab Trump in the back. Is there an indictment for Hillary in the works? Of course not, she is a Democrat.
It may be called justice but it isn’t.
homo unius libri
The story linked by Drudge was in the Daily Mail. Basically what we have at this point is nothing. The only information is what has been leaked to the Main Stream Media. And then the judge orders the indictment sealed so that no one can read it. To put frosting on the liberal Halloween cake the administration is told they can say nothing.
This is called justice.
We need to keep in mind that there are so many laws and regulations in this country that all of us are guilty of breaking at least one of them every day. It is a wonderful way for people who have the wealth of the nation behind them to keep the peasants quiet and down on the farm. We will see how this works out with Manafort. Is he squeaky clean? I doubt it. Was a special prosecutor appointed to investigate the business dealings of a citizen for his entire life or was he appointed to find out if there was any collusion between Trump and Russia? Is this just intimidation to try to get Manafort to stab Trump in the back. Is there an indictment for Hillary in the works? Of course not, she is a Democrat.
It may be called justice but it isn’t.
homo unius libri
Monday, October 30, 2017
Opus 2017-364: New Terms: Scootered
As we watch the joke on justice being played out by the Special Prosecutor Meuller we hear the rumors about an indictment. Of course there will be an indictment. If you dig deep enough and ask enough questions eventually someone will make a mistake and you can play gotcha. It is what happened to Scooter Libby. Did he commit any of the crimes they were investigating? Of course not. Then why did he go to jail? Because in the course of the intimidation, threats and questioning he got mixed up on an answer so he went to jail for lying to the investigators.
Will there be an indictment? You bet your sweet liberal saliva there will be. Will there be a conviction? That depends on how well they chose their judge, but keep in mind that liberals are really good at railroading justice. Someone will be convicted of something and the media will hoot it up like it was a house giving out See’s candy on Halloween.
One interesting difference will come up. George Bush did not stand my his man. He let Libby twist in the wind and then commuted his sentence. Trump will be a different kettle of fish. He probably has a pardon already filled out except for the name. Remember Sheriff Joe.
I have not checked the headlines yet so I don’t know who the rumors are about. In a perfect world the one being indicted would be Hillary or one of the series of conspirators who tried to set Trump up with the Russia nonsense.
The country should get so lucky.
homo unius libri
Will there be an indictment? You bet your sweet liberal saliva there will be. Will there be a conviction? That depends on how well they chose their judge, but keep in mind that liberals are really good at railroading justice. Someone will be convicted of something and the media will hoot it up like it was a house giving out See’s candy on Halloween.
One interesting difference will come up. George Bush did not stand my his man. He let Libby twist in the wind and then commuted his sentence. Trump will be a different kettle of fish. He probably has a pardon already filled out except for the name. Remember Sheriff Joe.
I have not checked the headlines yet so I don’t know who the rumors are about. In a perfect world the one being indicted would be Hillary or one of the series of conspirators who tried to set Trump up with the Russia nonsense.
The country should get so lucky.
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-363: Where Did My Sun Go?
Did you know the sun moves? I don’t mean from east to west. Even children in public school know that. They may not know east from west but they know the sun moves. I mean it moves from north to south. I have always known this intellectually but living in Texas it has become very clear.
When we first spent the night in our new house I noticed that the sun came up on the left side of our kitchen window. I have watched it move to the right until it is now coming up behind the roof of the garage and we still have almost two months of movement coming.
I know to some of you this is old hat but for me it is an unusual phenomenon. In California I had to struggle with the sun in my eyes as I drove to work or shining through my rear view mirror going in the other direction. Here it is a pleasant observation as I stand by the coffee pot.
Retirement has its moments.
homo unius libri
When we first spent the night in our new house I noticed that the sun came up on the left side of our kitchen window. I have watched it move to the right until it is now coming up behind the roof of the garage and we still have almost two months of movement coming.
I know to some of you this is old hat but for me it is an unusual phenomenon. In California I had to struggle with the sun in my eyes as I drove to work or shining through my rear view mirror going in the other direction. Here it is a pleasant observation as I stand by the coffee pot.
Retirement has its moments.
homo unius libri
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Opus 2017-362: 2-2
My wife is enjoying her first World Series as a Texan. She is rooting for the Astros because she now lives in Texas. Added frosting on the cake is that the other team, who shall go unmentioned, are from California.
We have not been able to watch. She has not been able to find the game on the TV connections we have but that does not keep us from enjoying the progress. It would be a welcome gift to see our first baseball season in our new state ushered in by a win for the home boys.
Go Astros.
homo unius libri
We have not been able to watch. She has not been able to find the game on the TV connections we have but that does not keep us from enjoying the progress. It would be a welcome gift to see our first baseball season in our new state ushered in by a win for the home boys.
Go Astros.
homo unius libri
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Opus 2017-361: Being on the Cutting Edge
My son in law has a fast car. My daughter will never drive it. It isn’t that he won’t let her. She just doesn’t know how to drive a manual transmission. I concede that I have failed her. When my son was working on his driver’s license we borrowed a car without an automatic and found and empty parking lot for his to experiment in. She slipped through the cracks.
I doubt if it has ruined her live but she will never know the joy of laying scratch from a stop sign. It is more fun when it is your father’s car and he will pay for the new tires and worn out clutch. I learned to drive a stick on dump truck. Did you know that dump trucks can lay scratch? I am not sure my father ever knew that.
How many experiences are closed to us because we refuse to learn new skills. Sometimes it is a matter of waiting. When we had our first internet connection it was a dial up. I refused to learn to use the internet because it was too slow. My son, on his way to becoming a techie, found it addictive. We found out how addictive when we got the phone bills. When the connections got faster I took the plunge. There are parts of the internet which make it worthwhile. How many people refuse to learn about e-mails and texting just because they are abused by so many?
How many experiences are not worth having? Do I really need a Facebook account? Will Instagram change my life in a positive way? Would I have a heart attack if I went skydiving? These are questions that each person must answer for themselves. I don’t have time to look for new experiences. My wife has a long list of experiences she wants me to have. They will take me into the next century.
homo unius libri
I doubt if it has ruined her live but she will never know the joy of laying scratch from a stop sign. It is more fun when it is your father’s car and he will pay for the new tires and worn out clutch. I learned to drive a stick on dump truck. Did you know that dump trucks can lay scratch? I am not sure my father ever knew that.
How many experiences are closed to us because we refuse to learn new skills. Sometimes it is a matter of waiting. When we had our first internet connection it was a dial up. I refused to learn to use the internet because it was too slow. My son, on his way to becoming a techie, found it addictive. We found out how addictive when we got the phone bills. When the connections got faster I took the plunge. There are parts of the internet which make it worthwhile. How many people refuse to learn about e-mails and texting just because they are abused by so many?
How many experiences are not worth having? Do I really need a Facebook account? Will Instagram change my life in a positive way? Would I have a heart attack if I went skydiving? These are questions that each person must answer for themselves. I don’t have time to look for new experiences. My wife has a long list of experiences she wants me to have. They will take me into the next century.
homo unius libri
Friday, October 27, 2017
Opus 2017-360: Election 2018: Shaking off the Flakes
I love the spin that the media puts on events. It seems that Senator Jeff Flake has smelled the roses and is withdrawing from reelection. He probably watched what happened in Alabama and can tell that what he is smelling is not roses. Arizona Central calls his announcement a “bombshell”. Many of us would label it an answer to prayer.
He tries to make it sound very noble with the comment,
The media will spin this as a move toward the Republicans losing seats in the Senate. My spin would be that this will insure that they will keep this seat.
Things are looking up. It must be time for another scandal out of the DNC and MSM.
homo unius libri
He tries to make it sound very noble with the comment,
"there may not be a place for a Republican like me in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party."It seems that at last the light has broken through. You would think that this was a real sacrifice but it is simply political survival. As the article says he has been “struggling in the polls”. The reason for that is there is a true conservative running against him who will get on board with the president’s agenda instead of being a John McCain clone.
The media will spin this as a move toward the Republicans losing seats in the Senate. My spin would be that this will insure that they will keep this seat.
Things are looking up. It must be time for another scandal out of the DNC and MSM.
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-359: Headlines: It’s About Time
According to the Washington Times, congress is finally going to look into some real scandals: Hillary’s uranium deal and Comey’s FBI priorities. There is no excuse for it taking so long.
For a long time the media has been yelling squirrel every time these issues came up. In the article they did it again,
Congress has a chance to get something right. Let it begin here. Does this shirt look good on me while I am holding my breath?
homo unius libri
For a long time the media has been yelling squirrel every time these issues came up. In the article they did it again,
“Democrats were infuriated by the announcements, saying the investigations were partisan-fueled distractions meant to divert attention from the ongoing Russia matter.”If there is anything that is partisan fueled it is the obsession with the nothing-burger of Trump and Russia, but as usual the psychological condition of projection is in play. If there is any real question other than “What took so long” it will be, “Will it do any good?”
Congress has a chance to get something right. Let it begin here. Does this shirt look good on me while I am holding my breath?
homo unius libri
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Opus 2017-358: Headlines: Or Lack Of
Yesterday was the first game of the World Series. We did not watch it. That is not new. I still wanted to know how it came out so I went to my morning news outlets: Crickets.
I checked three news sources and Drudge and could not find any reference to the game. Eventually I Googled it and found out the Dodgers won. I wonder if this is tied in any way with the honeymoon of the NFL ending because of the temper tantrums of multi-millionaires.
I lost interest in professional sports years ago. It looks like the country may be catching up.
homo unius libri
I checked three news sources and Drudge and could not find any reference to the game. Eventually I Googled it and found out the Dodgers won. I wonder if this is tied in any way with the honeymoon of the NFL ending because of the temper tantrums of multi-millionaires.
I lost interest in professional sports years ago. It looks like the country may be catching up.
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-357: Headlines: Three Strikes and We Are Out, part 2 of 2
Bloomberg examines three trends among the older generation: Working longer, dying earlier and sicker in between.
Why are things starting to go south for my generation? It is the real question. I have a few ideas. You could never prove anything but does the term “Woodstock” mean anything to you? My generation is the one that introduced free love and recreational drugs into the American way of life. Maybe it is time to pay the piper. Promiscuous sex leads to all kinds of problems. The disease factor is one. There are more types of venereal disease out there than you can throw a condom at. For those under some age VD is the old term for STD. Some of them cause your mind to rot. Some can kill if untreated. That can’t be a good sign. Does that have anything to do with the rising levels of dementia? Then you have the simple stress set up in your emotional life when you look on a part of life the God reserved for lifelong relationships and you subject it to one night stands. It is interesting that there is another link on Drudge talking about the wild life of the Rolling Stone staffers. Guess how old they are now.
We have also been free in our criticism of the pharmaceutical companies to the point where they are not putting much seed money into certain types of life saving research. I understand that the old antibiotics are not working on new strains of bugs and there are few new ones in the pipeline. Are you surprised? The executives in those companies have feelings to. They would prefer not to get sued or called greedy so go ahead and die early. You can always accuse the morticians of the same faults.
It could also be that we have reached a plateau in improvement of life expectancy. If you look at the chart provided you see a steady improvement from 1980 with three evenly spaced pauses. The pauses are minor compared to the major drop in mortality.
Meanwhile life is good. Just in case, I am ready to go. There is little I can do about it anyway.
homo unius libri
Why are things starting to go south for my generation? It is the real question. I have a few ideas. You could never prove anything but does the term “Woodstock” mean anything to you? My generation is the one that introduced free love and recreational drugs into the American way of life. Maybe it is time to pay the piper. Promiscuous sex leads to all kinds of problems. The disease factor is one. There are more types of venereal disease out there than you can throw a condom at. For those under some age VD is the old term for STD. Some of them cause your mind to rot. Some can kill if untreated. That can’t be a good sign. Does that have anything to do with the rising levels of dementia? Then you have the simple stress set up in your emotional life when you look on a part of life the God reserved for lifelong relationships and you subject it to one night stands. It is interesting that there is another link on Drudge talking about the wild life of the Rolling Stone staffers. Guess how old they are now.
We have also been free in our criticism of the pharmaceutical companies to the point where they are not putting much seed money into certain types of life saving research. I understand that the old antibiotics are not working on new strains of bugs and there are few new ones in the pipeline. Are you surprised? The executives in those companies have feelings to. They would prefer not to get sued or called greedy so go ahead and die early. You can always accuse the morticians of the same faults.
It could also be that we have reached a plateau in improvement of life expectancy. If you look at the chart provided you see a steady improvement from 1980 with three evenly spaced pauses. The pauses are minor compared to the major drop in mortality.
Meanwhile life is good. Just in case, I am ready to go. There is little I can do about it anyway.
homo unius libri
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Opus 2017-356: Headlines: Three Strikes and We Are Out, part 1 of 2
You may be young enough that you don’t care. Getting old and dying are not on your radar yet. Well and good. But when I saw a link on Drudge to Bloomberg telling me that my demographic is in trouble I decided to check it out. Three results were noted.
I fit into the first, delayed retirement. I did not leave the work force until I was almost 70. Why wait so long? Health insurance for my wife. While the nation was living in Obamacare Limbo I had what we called a Cadillac plan. We were well taken care of as long as I worked but when she got old enough for Medicare it was “Hasta la vista, baby”.
The second one I am still waiting to find out. Will I die earlier? My great grandfather lived to 67. My father died at 74. I figure, based on that pattern, to make it to 81. According to the article I am supposed to make it to 87.6. I will either be the first to know or the last depending on whether I die in my sleep or not. Since it also said there was a rising incidence of dementia in my age group I am not sure that dying earlier is such a bad thing. I am ready to go and ready to stay.
As for the third one, I am probably healthier than I was ten years ago. The doctors tell me I have something called atrial fibrillation, or a-fib for short. I get the impression it is fairly common and the big fear is people with a-fib tend to get blood clots in the heart which go to the brain and cause strokes. So to keep my wife happy and give the doctor a purpose in life I am taking my pills. He said I have the kind of a-fib which has not symptoms. I guess that should make me happy but it just makes it hard to believe there is a problem. I also have a pace-maker. Having said that I do not suffer from any of the ADL limitations the authors said are plaguing my generation. ADL is an acronym new to me meaning “activity of daily living”. I can still spin my own spaghetti, put on my own sox and wipe my own bottom. We sometimes forget what we have to be grateful for.
To be continued...
homo unius libri
I fit into the first, delayed retirement. I did not leave the work force until I was almost 70. Why wait so long? Health insurance for my wife. While the nation was living in Obamacare Limbo I had what we called a Cadillac plan. We were well taken care of as long as I worked but when she got old enough for Medicare it was “Hasta la vista, baby”.
The second one I am still waiting to find out. Will I die earlier? My great grandfather lived to 67. My father died at 74. I figure, based on that pattern, to make it to 81. According to the article I am supposed to make it to 87.6. I will either be the first to know or the last depending on whether I die in my sleep or not. Since it also said there was a rising incidence of dementia in my age group I am not sure that dying earlier is such a bad thing. I am ready to go and ready to stay.
As for the third one, I am probably healthier than I was ten years ago. The doctors tell me I have something called atrial fibrillation, or a-fib for short. I get the impression it is fairly common and the big fear is people with a-fib tend to get blood clots in the heart which go to the brain and cause strokes. So to keep my wife happy and give the doctor a purpose in life I am taking my pills. He said I have the kind of a-fib which has not symptoms. I guess that should make me happy but it just makes it hard to believe there is a problem. I also have a pace-maker. Having said that I do not suffer from any of the ADL limitations the authors said are plaguing my generation. ADL is an acronym new to me meaning “activity of daily living”. I can still spin my own spaghetti, put on my own sox and wipe my own bottom. We sometimes forget what we have to be grateful for.
To be continued...
homo unius libri
Monday, October 23, 2017
Opus 2017-355: Headlines: The 47% Award
I didn’t bother reading the article but I will link it for you if you are interested. Actually it is not an article, just a series of pictures. It talks about “The 15 Best Cheerleading Squads in the NFL”. It had the required picture of babes with their belly buttons showing to get the attention of armchair quarterbacks. What got my attention was the number 15. I asked myself, “How many teams are in the NFL?” You might know. I had no idea. So I Googled it and came up with 32.
How is it worth a spot in the Washington Times to act like half the cheerleading squads deserved a shout out for being better than the other half? Is there that little news? Have we no concern for the self-esteem of the also-rans? I sometimes come to the verge of despair trying to find out what is happening in the world.
homo unius libri
How is it worth a spot in the Washington Times to act like half the cheerleading squads deserved a shout out for being better than the other half? Is there that little news? Have we no concern for the self-esteem of the also-rans? I sometimes come to the verge of despair trying to find out what is happening in the world.
homo unius libri
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Opus 2017-354: J, C & C
In Texas the best Mexican food is served in Gringo restaurants. I kid you not.
We have been working on trying all the local joints in this part of Texas. The food is attractive and the servers are friendly. The decorations are well done. What they seem to have forgotten are jalapenos, cayenne and cummin. They also have this thing with American cheese. American cheese is the standard in everything. Once in awhile you get a sauce that redeems the entre but the norm is bland.
The best nachos I have had were in an Anglo place called “Cheddars”. The best salsa and chips I have had were at a German restaurant. I also had some great chicken fried steak at Adobe’s.
A few years ago I started experimenting with homemade chili. After several attempts that didn’t pass muster I stumbled across a recipe that mentioned something called cummin. I had filled the hole. Yes! It took more experimentation to realize that a touch of cayenne was enough but none was never enough.
And the labels are confusing. It seems that every Mexican restaurant calls things what they want to instead of having an industry norm. Our interaction with Tex-Mex has left lots to be desired.
There is much to learn about in Texas. The quest will continue.
homo unius libri
We have been working on trying all the local joints in this part of Texas. The food is attractive and the servers are friendly. The decorations are well done. What they seem to have forgotten are jalapenos, cayenne and cummin. They also have this thing with American cheese. American cheese is the standard in everything. Once in awhile you get a sauce that redeems the entre but the norm is bland.
The best nachos I have had were in an Anglo place called “Cheddars”. The best salsa and chips I have had were at a German restaurant. I also had some great chicken fried steak at Adobe’s.
A few years ago I started experimenting with homemade chili. After several attempts that didn’t pass muster I stumbled across a recipe that mentioned something called cummin. I had filled the hole. Yes! It took more experimentation to realize that a touch of cayenne was enough but none was never enough.
And the labels are confusing. It seems that every Mexican restaurant calls things what they want to instead of having an industry norm. Our interaction with Tex-Mex has left lots to be desired.
There is much to learn about in Texas. The quest will continue.
homo unius libri
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Opus 2017-353: Headlines: Can Hyenas Change Their Stripes
I don’t know if you have heard the recording of the tape made my Sergeant Johnson’s widow when the president called her to express his condolences. I found it at Power Line. It is only a few minutes long and you owe it to yourself as an American to listen. It is a warm and gracious conversation between the president and a woman with five children who just lost her husband.
After you listen, go and review the claims of the media and the Horrible woman in congress who used a tragedy to try and score some cheap points against a president they hate. If you are still a Trump hater and/or a Democrat you need to listen twice. You will find that the words in question about Sergeant Johnson doing what he wanted to do were used by the widow not the president. You had better get angry. If this doesn’t do it, nothing will.
If you are not a Trump hater you will have your heart warmed by the conversation.
Stop the lies, Loonie Left. The country is getting sick of them, at least those who are listening.
homo unius libri
After you listen, go and review the claims of the media and the Horrible woman in congress who used a tragedy to try and score some cheap points against a president they hate. If you are still a Trump hater and/or a Democrat you need to listen twice. You will find that the words in question about Sergeant Johnson doing what he wanted to do were used by the widow not the president. You had better get angry. If this doesn’t do it, nothing will.
If you are not a Trump hater you will have your heart warmed by the conversation.
Stop the lies, Loonie Left. The country is getting sick of them, at least those who are listening.
homo unius libri
Opus 2017-352: Koreaphobia
Should we worry about Korea? Yes and no. A lot of it depends on certain circumstances.
How close are you to Korea? If I lived in Seoul I would be concerned. If I lived around Seoul I would definitely worry because I am not sure that Rocket Man can hit what he aims for. He is kind of like a new recruit into Napoleon’s army, armed with a cheap musket that had not been cleaned. It would fire but once the ball left the muzzle there were no guarantees. Since I live in the middle of America I, personally, have no fear. I do have some concern for family members in Japan.
Are you of draft age? If the curtain goes up it could well mean China would come into the fray. If that happens we are on the road to another world war. Assuming that the nuclear option is avoided it would mean a major call up of troops. It is still the law that young men must register for the draft when they turn 18. Rocket Man might show a generation of snowflakes just what it means to need a safe space. At my age I am too old to draft and my son might also be out of range.
Do you drive a KIA or Hyundai? Parts might run short.
On a more serious note, and here is where the theology comes in, I am afraid because of Korea. I am not afraid because I am worried about the evil in Korea. My concern comes because of the evil in America. Our common culture is in the process of spitting in the face of God, often and with great enthusiasm. Take any moral issue from telling lies to killing the innocent and you find the media, education, courts and government are leading the spray. Eventually God will say, “Enough”. When that happens all bets are off.
The only thing that keeps the wrath of God coming down on this nation is that there is still a faithful remnant. There are still a few who have not bowed their knee to Baal. If you are a grain of salt then stay salty. If you are living for the joy of the moment then thank a Christian for their influence.
Remember Sodom. Coming to a neighborhood near you.
homo unius libri
How close are you to Korea? If I lived in Seoul I would be concerned. If I lived around Seoul I would definitely worry because I am not sure that Rocket Man can hit what he aims for. He is kind of like a new recruit into Napoleon’s army, armed with a cheap musket that had not been cleaned. It would fire but once the ball left the muzzle there were no guarantees. Since I live in the middle of America I, personally, have no fear. I do have some concern for family members in Japan.
Are you of draft age? If the curtain goes up it could well mean China would come into the fray. If that happens we are on the road to another world war. Assuming that the nuclear option is avoided it would mean a major call up of troops. It is still the law that young men must register for the draft when they turn 18. Rocket Man might show a generation of snowflakes just what it means to need a safe space. At my age I am too old to draft and my son might also be out of range.
Do you drive a KIA or Hyundai? Parts might run short.
On a more serious note, and here is where the theology comes in, I am afraid because of Korea. I am not afraid because I am worried about the evil in Korea. My concern comes because of the evil in America. Our common culture is in the process of spitting in the face of God, often and with great enthusiasm. Take any moral issue from telling lies to killing the innocent and you find the media, education, courts and government are leading the spray. Eventually God will say, “Enough”. When that happens all bets are off.
The only thing that keeps the wrath of God coming down on this nation is that there is still a faithful remnant. There are still a few who have not bowed their knee to Baal. If you are a grain of salt then stay salty. If you are living for the joy of the moment then thank a Christian for their influence.
Remember Sodom. Coming to a neighborhood near you.
homo unius libri
Friday, October 20, 2017
Opus 2017-351: Headlines: Pigs and Warriors
Once again the left demonstrates how low they can go. Again it is a duly elected member of congress who, surprise, is a Democrat and decides to play with the tragedy of a fallen soldier to attack President Trump. When General Kelly asked, “Isn’t anything sacred any more?”, the answer is the same as it has been for years with the Democrats, “No”. At least nothing is sacred if it can be thrown at a Republican president.
People from the left are asking why we have soldiers in Africa anyway. To those who know not to put their hand under a running lawnmower the answer is obvious: They are there to train allies to fight evil so that we don’t have to activate the draft and send thousands to die in foreign countries. Keep in mind that these are the same people who believe the world is over-populated and on the way to starvation. They believe we are running out of natural resources. They believe that the emissions of people and their cars are going to make the oceans rise. They believe these things because they went to public school and don’t get out much aside from the local brewery and bistro.
How could our soldiers be ambushed like this? Such a question reflects little reflection. I am a Vietnam veteran. I was not a warrior so I don’t deserve any respect because I served. Only those who went into the jungles really earned that. With that in mind let me share two experiences I had.
One was in New Jersey as we were being “trained” to leave for Vietnam. They took us on a patrol through the woods. It was pretty open forest. Suddenly we were under attack. It was an ambush. The guys shooting at us were about 20 yards away. We did not even know they were there. Even after we knew they were there it was hard to see them. We were being prepared to enter a war zone where the enemy would not be shooting blanks and the jungle was dense.
The second was in Vietnam itself. A group of us non-warrior types were sent out on a patrol around the base at which we were stationed. Command didn’t expect us to find anything so I don’t remember any real warriors being with us. They feared we might find something so we were allowed to load our rifles. We walked down paths with vegetation on both sides that was higher than our heads. Our visibility was only a few feet. My mind went back to New Jersey. If we met anyone here the first we would know about it was when the AK-47's started talking to us.
It was scary. If you have ever been out of your armchair it is easy to see how a patrol could be ambushed.
So pray for our warriors as they do the things that keep the bad guys on other continents. And next time one of these self-righteous pigs want to make political hay from the blood of these volunteers, let them know that your momma taught you not to use the words you would like to use to tell them what you think of them.
Oh, and have I ever told you, vote the suckers out.
homo unius libri
People from the left are asking why we have soldiers in Africa anyway. To those who know not to put their hand under a running lawnmower the answer is obvious: They are there to train allies to fight evil so that we don’t have to activate the draft and send thousands to die in foreign countries. Keep in mind that these are the same people who believe the world is over-populated and on the way to starvation. They believe we are running out of natural resources. They believe that the emissions of people and their cars are going to make the oceans rise. They believe these things because they went to public school and don’t get out much aside from the local brewery and bistro.
How could our soldiers be ambushed like this? Such a question reflects little reflection. I am a Vietnam veteran. I was not a warrior so I don’t deserve any respect because I served. Only those who went into the jungles really earned that. With that in mind let me share two experiences I had.
One was in New Jersey as we were being “trained” to leave for Vietnam. They took us on a patrol through the woods. It was pretty open forest. Suddenly we were under attack. It was an ambush. The guys shooting at us were about 20 yards away. We did not even know they were there. Even after we knew they were there it was hard to see them. We were being prepared to enter a war zone where the enemy would not be shooting blanks and the jungle was dense.
The second was in Vietnam itself. A group of us non-warrior types were sent out on a patrol around the base at which we were stationed. Command didn’t expect us to find anything so I don’t remember any real warriors being with us. They feared we might find something so we were allowed to load our rifles. We walked down paths with vegetation on both sides that was higher than our heads. Our visibility was only a few feet. My mind went back to New Jersey. If we met anyone here the first we would know about it was when the AK-47's started talking to us.
It was scary. If you have ever been out of your armchair it is easy to see how a patrol could be ambushed.
So pray for our warriors as they do the things that keep the bad guys on other continents. And next time one of these self-righteous pigs want to make political hay from the blood of these volunteers, let them know that your momma taught you not to use the words you would like to use to tell them what you think of them.
Oh, and have I ever told you, vote the suckers out.
homo unius libri
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Opus 2017-350: On the Street: Changing Planes in Purgatory
On our way back from the wedding we had to make a stop and change planes. There are places in this country that you can’t get to from here so you need to go through there. It was a bit cheaper to make the switch in Los Angeles. I was only there about an hour but it was enough to remind me that I was glad to be gone.
There is an attitude at LAX which reflects the mindset of California. It isn’t the construction going on. I can deal with that. It is the bean sprouts and tofu atmosphere they strive for. I have been in a lot of airports across the country. In all the others you get a variety of places to eat and shop that reflect all levels of taste or lack of it. You have fast food and exclusive sit-down restaurants. Not at LAX. Here you have a string of yuppie bars and bistros that appeal to the affluent and the snowflake. In the little kiosks they have more brands of bottled water than soda. You can find potato chips but they are all at knee level. And in LA the prices are higher than any other airport I have been in recently.
I could not wait to get on the airplane. I had a growing fear that my flight would be cancelled and I would be stuck there. We found more people at LAX who believed in global warming than you could find in the entire state of Texas. It is truly the land of nuts, fruit and flakes.
It is good to be home.
homo unius libri
There is an attitude at LAX which reflects the mindset of California. It isn’t the construction going on. I can deal with that. It is the bean sprouts and tofu atmosphere they strive for. I have been in a lot of airports across the country. In all the others you get a variety of places to eat and shop that reflect all levels of taste or lack of it. You have fast food and exclusive sit-down restaurants. Not at LAX. Here you have a string of yuppie bars and bistros that appeal to the affluent and the snowflake. In the little kiosks they have more brands of bottled water than soda. You can find potato chips but they are all at knee level. And in LA the prices are higher than any other airport I have been in recently.
I could not wait to get on the airplane. I had a growing fear that my flight would be cancelled and I would be stuck there. We found more people at LAX who believed in global warming than you could find in the entire state of Texas. It is truly the land of nuts, fruit and flakes.
It is good to be home.
homo unius libri
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Opus 2017-349: On the Street: The Sad
As I said last time, I have been out rubbing elbows with America. There are a lot of good people out there. Mixed in with them are the ones that we have been calling snowflakes. Many are millennials but that label should be understood as a generalization and not used as a stereotype. On one blog I saw someone using the term bubbles instead of snowflakes. There are a lot of people would live in an artificial world of dreams. They are the prey of the pin pricks of life.
Picture someone in their mid twenties, still living at home, never had a job and counting on writing the “Great American Novel”. What happens when mom develops dementia and dad has a heart attack? Where do these people go? They are nice. They are well-meaning. They are close to hopeless, bumping up against desperation and don’t know it.
Picture people who know so little of the social graces that they get up and walk out of a wedding before the bride is out the door. I can understand not knowing what to do with your hand when you walk someone down the aisle on your arm. I can understand not knowing which side of the room to sit on. I can understand not knowing which fork to use. I can’t understand standing up in the middle of the ceremony to take a flash picture. There are so many actions that show consideration for others. They are called manners. They become etiquette. They may get complex but they are based on a desire to make social interaction smooth. The self centered generation doesn’t even know there are bumps to avoid. I am not sure they would care if they knew.
The world they have inherited has worked well for most people and provided a secure life for the majority. The world they will mold is going to be a disaster.
Maybe they will learn.
Then again, maybe they won’t.
homo unius libri
Picture someone in their mid twenties, still living at home, never had a job and counting on writing the “Great American Novel”. What happens when mom develops dementia and dad has a heart attack? Where do these people go? They are nice. They are well-meaning. They are close to hopeless, bumping up against desperation and don’t know it.
Picture people who know so little of the social graces that they get up and walk out of a wedding before the bride is out the door. I can understand not knowing what to do with your hand when you walk someone down the aisle on your arm. I can understand not knowing which side of the room to sit on. I can understand not knowing which fork to use. I can’t understand standing up in the middle of the ceremony to take a flash picture. There are so many actions that show consideration for others. They are called manners. They become etiquette. They may get complex but they are based on a desire to make social interaction smooth. The self centered generation doesn’t even know there are bumps to avoid. I am not sure they would care if they knew.
The world they have inherited has worked well for most people and provided a secure life for the majority. The world they will mold is going to be a disaster.
Maybe they will learn.
Then again, maybe they won’t.
homo unius libri
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Opus 2017-348: On the Street: The Good
I have been on the road for about six days. We went to a wedding and stayed with the parents of the groom. The core of the trip was to celebrate the marriage of friends we consider family and spend time building memories. In the process I rubbed elbows with a cross section of America. Some of the news is good. Some is sad.
The good was personified in the person of a guy who represents the core of America. He was a blue collar retiree. He had worked his entire life in industry. In the process he had raised and married off several children and moved into the joys of spoiling grandchildren. He and his wife and worked hard and watched their money but from the stories I heard they were far from skinflints.
They enjoyed life. They helped others when they could and carried their share at all times. He was a hunter, football fan and fast car nut. He was a walking stereotype. At the same time he was on his smart phone every time the conversation lagged. He is an example of what has made this country the envy of the world.
I found myself learning about parts of our culture I had never touched. I watched TV shows that I will probably never watch again but I enjoyed learning what a flower car is and hearing about a motorcycle rally out in the middle of nowhere that drew 700,000 bikers. I was shocked that a trip to Alaska to bag a moose cost $10,000.
I am guessing that he might think of himself as a Democrat. He had been union all his life. At the same time he seemed to agree with me on the big issues. He is probably what the Democratic party used to be and has walked away from. He was not from Texas but people like him explain why the big cities of Texas can be so liberal but the state can still hold traditional values.
There is hope out there.
homo unius libri
The good was personified in the person of a guy who represents the core of America. He was a blue collar retiree. He had worked his entire life in industry. In the process he had raised and married off several children and moved into the joys of spoiling grandchildren. He and his wife and worked hard and watched their money but from the stories I heard they were far from skinflints.
They enjoyed life. They helped others when they could and carried their share at all times. He was a hunter, football fan and fast car nut. He was a walking stereotype. At the same time he was on his smart phone every time the conversation lagged. He is an example of what has made this country the envy of the world.
I found myself learning about parts of our culture I had never touched. I watched TV shows that I will probably never watch again but I enjoyed learning what a flower car is and hearing about a motorcycle rally out in the middle of nowhere that drew 700,000 bikers. I was shocked that a trip to Alaska to bag a moose cost $10,000.
I am guessing that he might think of himself as a Democrat. He had been union all his life. At the same time he seemed to agree with me on the big issues. He is probably what the Democratic party used to be and has walked away from. He was not from Texas but people like him explain why the big cities of Texas can be so liberal but the state can still hold traditional values.
There is hope out there.
homo unius libri
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Opus 2017-347: New Terms: Penced
You have heard of being Borked. I think we are ready for a response from loyal Americans. Now we can be Penced or Pence someone. What it means is taking a public stand based on principle. It means the risk of being mocked and refusing to compromise with people who want to destroy all that is good about America.
When you are at a school board meeting and they want to do away with the current boys and girls bathrooms you can respond one of two ways. If you have good self control, you can stand up and leave after casting a look of disgust at the board chairman. Excuse me, chairperson. If you are more spontaneous, you can break out in hysterical chortling, struggle to your feet and laugh your way out. Let them know they have been Penced. You can later withdraw your children from public school and home school them.
If you are at a church meeting and you have someone recommend that saving whales is more important than saving babies, call for a vote. If the congregation votes to send a contribution to Green Peace and consider abortion a matter of personal choice it is time to leave. If you want a capital letter Pence you can write Ichabod over the door on you way out.
We need to get active in Pencing. Too long have we been silent, courteous and respecting of the feelings of others. They have taken it for victory and if we don’t start Pencing, they will be right.
Stand up and be counted, then walk out.
homo unius libri
When you are at a school board meeting and they want to do away with the current boys and girls bathrooms you can respond one of two ways. If you have good self control, you can stand up and leave after casting a look of disgust at the board chairman. Excuse me, chairperson. If you are more spontaneous, you can break out in hysterical chortling, struggle to your feet and laugh your way out. Let them know they have been Penced. You can later withdraw your children from public school and home school them.
If you are at a church meeting and you have someone recommend that saving whales is more important than saving babies, call for a vote. If the congregation votes to send a contribution to Green Peace and consider abortion a matter of personal choice it is time to leave. If you want a capital letter Pence you can write Ichabod over the door on you way out.
We need to get active in Pencing. Too long have we been silent, courteous and respecting of the feelings of others. They have taken it for victory and if we don’t start Pencing, they will be right.
Stand up and be counted, then walk out.
homo unius libri
Friday, October 13, 2017
Opus 2017-346: Middle Class Morality: Moderation
One key concept that could be established is that the idea of being middle class is a Biblical standard. Some people think the desire to be rich is an American thing. It isn’t. What is American is a political and economic structure which allows anyone to be successful. Some would define that as being rich. What is also American is the teaching of moderation. That is why America has such a large middle class. That is why, as we drift toward a pagan culture, the middle class is being squeezed.
The Bible teaches moderation. I came across this in Proverbs.
Do we have extreme wealth? Do we have extreme poverty? Yes. I lost my rose colored glasses long ago. I also read this weak about a famous, successful personality who committed suicide. He had it all and killed himself. Obviously he had not accepted Middle Class Morality.
Viva la middle class morality.
To be continued...
homo unius libri
The Bible teaches moderation. I came across this in Proverbs.
(Proverbs 30:7-9 KJV) Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.Notice the balance. We live in a culture that has made it possible for common people to work hard at low level jobs and still earn enough to support their families in comfort and security. They may not have as much as they want but where else could someone putting bolts on a car live in their own home and hope to send their kids to college. We were recently talking to a waitress in a family restaurant who owned her own home. Only in America. Only in a country with Bible based Middle Class Morality.
Do we have extreme wealth? Do we have extreme poverty? Yes. I lost my rose colored glasses long ago. I also read this weak about a famous, successful personality who committed suicide. He had it all and killed himself. Obviously he had not accepted Middle Class Morality.
Viva la middle class morality.
To be continued...
homo unius libri
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Opus 2017-345: Pork Belly Is Real
I have always heard about people investing in pork belly. I thought it was some kind of joke. When I used Google to check my spelling I found out that pork belly is very real.
The first surprise was that it is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. As my eye ran down all the references to pork belly I saw a listing of the 15 best places for pork belly in San Antonio. Fifteen? Best? How many places serve this joke line for investors?
There were links to pork belly tacos and pork belly ramen.
Maybe I am missing something. Maybe not. I know how many places brag about serving menudo and I know what it tastes like. Let me have the Doritos; you can have the pork belly.
Deal?
homo unius libri
The first surprise was that it is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. As my eye ran down all the references to pork belly I saw a listing of the 15 best places for pork belly in San Antonio. Fifteen? Best? How many places serve this joke line for investors?
There were links to pork belly tacos and pork belly ramen.
Maybe I am missing something. Maybe not. I know how many places brag about serving menudo and I know what it tastes like. Let me have the Doritos; you can have the pork belly.
Deal?
homo unius libri
Monday, October 9, 2017
Opus 2017-344: Monday Pulpit: Dogma and the First Amendment
I have strong opinions about a lot of things. I know, surprise. At the same time I am sometimes quite comfortable with other people having strong opinions that differ from mine. Some areas don’t make a whole lot of difference. You can serve menudo at your restaurant and as long as you keep it far away from me I might come back. You can wear garish combinations of colors and I will be glad to treat you like a human being with some worth. You can refuse to have a gun in your home and drive a hybrid. We can get along. That is what the First Amendment and Freedom of Speech is all about, the things we disagree on.
Other things are open to debate but demand a strong response. You are wrong if you abort your baby. You a stealing if you take handouts when you don’t need them. You are going to hell by any path but Jesus.
I am also in favor of expressing opinions. I will express mine. I would be a better person if you would express yours. How do you expect me to be enlightened if you don’t care enough about me to lead me to the truth? Of course that goes both ways. What got me going down this dangerous path was a statement by the pastor in a church I attended a few weeks ago. This is a paraphrase but close enough for reference.
The church was also loaded with Calvinists so I had to be careful. There were times in history when being an Arminian around a bunch of Calvinists could get you burned at the stake. I was worshiping with a bunch of people that I had deep disagreements with. I can do that. There are a few issues that bring my blood to a boil but I can live with that because they have the basics down. We agree to disagree, or at least I do.
So preach it, brother. It may have to do with the TULIP system. If you don’t know what that is then you are not a graduate of a Calvinist seminary. It may have to do with tax rates. It could be that you hate Trump. Say it loud and clear.
I may need to straighten you out, unless you are a Calvinist. Calvinists are hopeless. Brothers in Christ, but hopeless.
homo unius libri
Other things are open to debate but demand a strong response. You are wrong if you abort your baby. You a stealing if you take handouts when you don’t need them. You are going to hell by any path but Jesus.
I am also in favor of expressing opinions. I will express mine. I would be a better person if you would express yours. How do you expect me to be enlightened if you don’t care enough about me to lead me to the truth? Of course that goes both ways. What got me going down this dangerous path was a statement by the pastor in a church I attended a few weeks ago. This is a paraphrase but close enough for reference.
“When it comes to doctrine we are not only allowed to make a strong statement, we are required to do so. It is not judgmental.”It was a Presbyterian Church and the pastor was wearing a robe so I did not shout, “Amen”. There were even people there who had on coats and ties so I did not run the aisles waving my hanky.
The church was also loaded with Calvinists so I had to be careful. There were times in history when being an Arminian around a bunch of Calvinists could get you burned at the stake. I was worshiping with a bunch of people that I had deep disagreements with. I can do that. There are a few issues that bring my blood to a boil but I can live with that because they have the basics down. We agree to disagree, or at least I do.
So preach it, brother. It may have to do with the TULIP system. If you don’t know what that is then you are not a graduate of a Calvinist seminary. It may have to do with tax rates. It could be that you hate Trump. Say it loud and clear.
I may need to straighten you out, unless you are a Calvinist. Calvinists are hopeless. Brothers in Christ, but hopeless.
homo unius libri
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Opus 2017-343: Bird Brained
Not being a bird I can’t be sure what is going on outside my window. It could be a mating ritual. It could be competition over territory. It might be a favorite seed that is being argued over. It could be birdbrained games. I don’t have any idea.
My attention was flagged by repeated motion. It needs to be repeated or I don’t bother looking up. I am at a stage in life and finances where I buy some glasses at the dollar store and wear them over my prescription bifocals. It makes the regular part of my spectacles into reading glasses. It works and it is cheap. The problem is that in order to see anything further than the computer screen I need to take off the auxiliaries. It isn’t worth the effort for one little shadow chasing across my peripheral vision.
But they kept going, so I took a look. It was interesting but it didn’t do much more than feed my enjoyment of the trees and wildlife outside my window.
I will settle for that today.
homo unius libri
My attention was flagged by repeated motion. It needs to be repeated or I don’t bother looking up. I am at a stage in life and finances where I buy some glasses at the dollar store and wear them over my prescription bifocals. It makes the regular part of my spectacles into reading glasses. It works and it is cheap. The problem is that in order to see anything further than the computer screen I need to take off the auxiliaries. It isn’t worth the effort for one little shadow chasing across my peripheral vision.
But they kept going, so I took a look. It was interesting but it didn’t do much more than feed my enjoyment of the trees and wildlife outside my window.
I will settle for that today.
homo unius libri
Friday, October 6, 2017
Opus 2017-342: Should-a-Beens: Mavericks for Sale
Where is the Democrat party’s Rand Paul? Why don’t they have a John McCain? How is it that the Democrats are capable of such lock-step zombyism?
It could be a weakness of the Republicans. Maybe they are all such nice guys that they can’t bring themselves to force people into line. Maybe they are afraid of rejection. Or it could simply be that conservatives tend to believe in individual freedom. Maybe they believe that the ones to discipline Rand Paul should be the people that elected him, not the party bosses.
Maybe it is the commitment of the Democrats. The problem with that is that the only thing they seem to be committed to in this generation is an ideology of socialism and central control. What kind of people with above average intelligence and any moral principles could sit silently and follow the agenda and distortions of the Obama administration? Maybe the question answers itself.
Should I be glad that the Republicans actually believe in the kinds of diversity that make a difference? Republicans as a whole don’t have racial hangups like the left. What we have are hangups about liberty and living our own lives.
It would still be nice if all the mavericks were not on our side.
homo unius libri
It could be a weakness of the Republicans. Maybe they are all such nice guys that they can’t bring themselves to force people into line. Maybe they are afraid of rejection. Or it could simply be that conservatives tend to believe in individual freedom. Maybe they believe that the ones to discipline Rand Paul should be the people that elected him, not the party bosses.
Maybe it is the commitment of the Democrats. The problem with that is that the only thing they seem to be committed to in this generation is an ideology of socialism and central control. What kind of people with above average intelligence and any moral principles could sit silently and follow the agenda and distortions of the Obama administration? Maybe the question answers itself.
Should I be glad that the Republicans actually believe in the kinds of diversity that make a difference? Republicans as a whole don’t have racial hangups like the left. What we have are hangups about liberty and living our own lives.
It would still be nice if all the mavericks were not on our side.
homo unius libri
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Opus 2017-341: Healthy Insights: Cancer Link
The link on Drudge had to do with medical. I was shocked when I hovered over the line and it did not show it was coming from an English newspaper. That made me think it might be valid, so I clicked it. It wasn’t English, it was French. All in all though it seemed to be an actual report on actual findings. The point it made is that being over weight has been shown to be a factor in having cancer, especially in women.
I was already aware of the issue of weight and diabetes. Now we can add cancer to the list. There is never a 100% correlation but we are dealing with things that can be pushed away from our future by pushing away from the table today.
Don’t be too consumed by the definitions of overweight and obese that the doctors give. When I was at my lowest weight and looked downright skinny, I was still classified as overweight and on the verge of obesity. The best way I know that I have gained some of it back is to put on some of the clothes that fit just fine two years ago. I know that cotton shrinks with washing, but not that much.
Don’t panic. Do take it seriously.
homo unius libri
I was already aware of the issue of weight and diabetes. Now we can add cancer to the list. There is never a 100% correlation but we are dealing with things that can be pushed away from our future by pushing away from the table today.
Don’t be too consumed by the definitions of overweight and obese that the doctors give. When I was at my lowest weight and looked downright skinny, I was still classified as overweight and on the verge of obesity. The best way I know that I have gained some of it back is to put on some of the clothes that fit just fine two years ago. I know that cotton shrinks with washing, but not that much.
Don’t panic. Do take it seriously.
homo unius libri
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Opus 2017-340: King Anyone?
Is our republican form of government on its last legs? We have a lot of threats to the good life America has known. On one side you have people calling for a Constitutional convention. They think they can limit the changes but they need to understand that the original convention was made up of delegates told to limit the changes. They ignored it. At the other end you have the Progressive anarchists trying to ferment a revolution that will overthrow the structure we have with violence. If they can cause enough fear with their violence then people will respond with violence and some kind of police state would be set up. Will we survive? Yes, but in what form?
How about a king?
If we were electing a king, for whom would I vote? Whom would I trust to establish a dynasty? Should we play with a different approach to government? There are many variations in history. Most have had good times and bad. I think the results of the form of government are more a matter of “people getting the government they deserve” than the actual system itself. Maybe that is heresy for an American but history has a lot of examples.
Take the idea of a dictator. Most people don’t realize that dictators are elected by the people or are appointed with public approval. We tend to think of Adolf Hitler. He was a dictator. Although his brown shirts used tactics similar to Antifa thugs of today, he did not take over in a military coup. He won the election. He may have used intimidation and violence but it was the people of Germany that ultimately said “Yes”.
The concept of a dictator goes back at least to the Roman Republic. In times of crisis they realized that the bickering of the Senate would take too long. Action was needed and it was needed now. So they would appoint one man as dictator. Originally it was for the period of one year, then he would step down. During that year he had absolute power and after he stepped down could not be punished for anything he had done. It was very efficient and of course people tried to manipulate it. Julius Caesar was murdered because he seemed to want to be dictator, for life.
It is said that a benevolent dictatorship is the most efficient form of government. The problem is that the benevolence usually disappears.
Would that be any worse than the entrenched elites in Washington?
homo unius libri
How about a king?
If we were electing a king, for whom would I vote? Whom would I trust to establish a dynasty? Should we play with a different approach to government? There are many variations in history. Most have had good times and bad. I think the results of the form of government are more a matter of “people getting the government they deserve” than the actual system itself. Maybe that is heresy for an American but history has a lot of examples.
Take the idea of a dictator. Most people don’t realize that dictators are elected by the people or are appointed with public approval. We tend to think of Adolf Hitler. He was a dictator. Although his brown shirts used tactics similar to Antifa thugs of today, he did not take over in a military coup. He won the election. He may have used intimidation and violence but it was the people of Germany that ultimately said “Yes”.
The concept of a dictator goes back at least to the Roman Republic. In times of crisis they realized that the bickering of the Senate would take too long. Action was needed and it was needed now. So they would appoint one man as dictator. Originally it was for the period of one year, then he would step down. During that year he had absolute power and after he stepped down could not be punished for anything he had done. It was very efficient and of course people tried to manipulate it. Julius Caesar was murdered because he seemed to want to be dictator, for life.
It is said that a benevolent dictatorship is the most efficient form of government. The problem is that the benevolence usually disappears.
Would that be any worse than the entrenched elites in Washington?
homo unius libri
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Opus 2017-339: Headlines: Take a Deep Breath
How should we respond to the Las Vegas tragedy?
There are many legitimate ways.
Prayer for the victims and their families
Serious thought about our own priorities
More time spent with those who are important to us
Plan to attend a concert or sporting event
That last may seem strange but we need to keep in mind that the point of terror is to get people to live in fear, to change their lifestyle and be crippled in the process. Was this guy technically a “terrorist”? Only time will tell. What he did instills terror even if he was just a sociopath.
What we as Americans need to do is continue to live our lives. Do a little math. There were 22,000 people at the concert. Even in a closely packed crowd with an unobstructed, preplanned field of fire and an automatic weapon how many people were killed? Let’s say 110 to make the math easy. Each one was a tragedy. Collectively this was obscene. With that in mind take note that 21,890 lived through the crime. That means that 99.5% of the people shot at lived to tell their grandchildren about it. I am aware that if I had lost a family member I would be too much in shock to see this.
A link on Drudge caught my eye and took me to the Miami Herald. This is a statement that we need to file away and keep reading until we understand it and believe it.
Meanwhile, don’t believe much of what you read for the next few days. Reporters are desperately seeking headlines that will advance their careers. Politicians are looking for ways to cut into your liberty while you are still in shock. Wait a week and then start listening to people you think you can trust. There is probably a lot going on that we have not heard yet.
homo unius libri
There are many legitimate ways.
Prayer for the victims and their families
Serious thought about our own priorities
More time spent with those who are important to us
Plan to attend a concert or sporting event
That last may seem strange but we need to keep in mind that the point of terror is to get people to live in fear, to change their lifestyle and be crippled in the process. Was this guy technically a “terrorist”? Only time will tell. What he did instills terror even if he was just a sociopath.
What we as Americans need to do is continue to live our lives. Do a little math. There were 22,000 people at the concert. Even in a closely packed crowd with an unobstructed, preplanned field of fire and an automatic weapon how many people were killed? Let’s say 110 to make the math easy. Each one was a tragedy. Collectively this was obscene. With that in mind take note that 21,890 lived through the crime. That means that 99.5% of the people shot at lived to tell their grandchildren about it. I am aware that if I had lost a family member I would be too much in shock to see this.
A link on Drudge caught my eye and took me to the Miami Herald. This is a statement that we need to file away and keep reading until we understand it and believe it.
“This country has so many public venues and it’s built on the premise of free assembly for whatever purpose — for political purposes, for religious purposes or even just for amusement, as was the case here,” said Jim Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police. “It’s hard to say what more could be done that hasn’t been done short of curtailing the American way of life, which I don’t think is a particularly good idea.”This police spokesman sees the bigger picture. Life will never be totally safe. The only way to make it really safe is to lock us all up and give dictatorial powers to a select few with guns. In effect you would need to establish a society like the Communists did in Russia and China but keep in mind in order to keep the sheep safe they murdered millions who were suspicious. I will take my chances. I vote for liberty.
Meanwhile, don’t believe much of what you read for the next few days. Reporters are desperately seeking headlines that will advance their careers. Politicians are looking for ways to cut into your liberty while you are still in shock. Wait a week and then start listening to people you think you can trust. There is probably a lot going on that we have not heard yet.
homo unius libri
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Opus 2017-338: Headlines: The Lean Continues
At one time in recent history Fox News was growing like mold in a wet shower. Their slogan was “Fair and Balanced”. We don’t have cable and my only exposure was on Sunday morning as my wife watched the broadcast portion. For a supposedly conservative station to have a discussion group with Juan Williams on it tells me they were trying to give both sides a voice.
I salute them.
But I am ready to take a knee on Fox News. It seems that they are infected with the leftward drift that infiltrates almost every successful organization. It happens in business. It was radical in education. Churches are abandoning their purpose. Fox joins the line.
I started reading a recent article that promised to give me some insight into what was facing the Supreme Court this year. I stopped reading when I came across this editorial, historically ignorant, comment in the middle of what was supposed to be news.
So gerrymandering has a long history. If you read the comment in Fox News the way most people read the news you come away with the feeling that this is a Republican disease. I will admit that the Republicans of Texas are probably working to adjust the boundaries. That is one reason why I moved here. It is also one of the reasons I left California. The gerrymandering Democrats of California make the Republicans of Texas look like the JV team.
My problem is not bringing up the problems of redistricting. It is a problem that has some simple solutions but the problem is not “Republicans in recent years”. The problem is courts today, politicians down through history and voters with attention spans shorter than their last winning streak in Las Vegas.
I am in favor of bias-neutral districts. I voted for it 10 years ago in California and it passed but nothing has been done. The problem is that the courts and parties want to use district lines to advance their agendas.
So vote for it. They must cheat to win. If we have neutral districting it will be easier to vote the suckers out.
homo unius libri
I salute them.
But I am ready to take a knee on Fox News. It seems that they are infected with the leftward drift that infiltrates almost every successful organization. It happens in business. It was radical in education. Churches are abandoning their purpose. Fox joins the line.
I started reading a recent article that promised to give me some insight into what was facing the Supreme Court this year. I stopped reading when I came across this editorial, historically ignorant, comment in the middle of what was supposed to be news.
“-- Voter redistricting, and just how much state legislatures can use partisan gerrymandering, maneuvers that have benefitted Republicans in recent years.”For those who has socialists for history teachers, gerrymandering goes back to the days of the Founding Fathers. It is a play on words based on a politician named Elbridge Gerry and districts that were drawn up to look like salamanders. It isn’t really significant since the political parties have changed their stands so much over the years but he was a member of the historic Democrat-Republican party which later dropped the “Republican”. This is offered as a note to remind you that, like the KKK, slavery, Jim Crow and the Black Codes, if you follow the dots on gerrymandering they lead to Democrats.
So gerrymandering has a long history. If you read the comment in Fox News the way most people read the news you come away with the feeling that this is a Republican disease. I will admit that the Republicans of Texas are probably working to adjust the boundaries. That is one reason why I moved here. It is also one of the reasons I left California. The gerrymandering Democrats of California make the Republicans of Texas look like the JV team.
My problem is not bringing up the problems of redistricting. It is a problem that has some simple solutions but the problem is not “Republicans in recent years”. The problem is courts today, politicians down through history and voters with attention spans shorter than their last winning streak in Las Vegas.
I am in favor of bias-neutral districts. I voted for it 10 years ago in California and it passed but nothing has been done. The problem is that the courts and parties want to use district lines to advance their agendas.
So vote for it. They must cheat to win. If we have neutral districting it will be easier to vote the suckers out.
homo unius libri
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