Thursday, October 28, 2010

Time Traveler Discovered?

Check out this video from CNN....it's a clip from a 1928 Charlie Chaplin movie where an extra walking in the background appears to be talking on a cell phone....in 1928??? What do you think???


Tuesday, October 26, 2010

What? Double Standards?

OK....so NPR fires commentator Juan Williams for saying that when he sees airline passengers who obviously identify with their Muslim faith, he gets nervous.   Personally, I agree with Mr. Williams and think that his firing was totally unfair.  I also feel that Mr Williams was well within his rights to express an opinion.  He wasn't disrespectful or vulgar, nor did he personally attack anyone.  His firing is an example of "political correctness" gone so very wrong.  I also strongly believe that NPR, with their blatant political bias, should not be funded with any taxpayer money whatsoever. 

Today, we have liberal TV personality Joy Behar from "The View," ranting about a Sharon Angle political ad, and calling Ms Angle a "bitch" on national TV.  Like Mr Williams, she was expressing her opinion; however she went too far when she called Ms Angle a "bitch" and said that Ms Angle is "going to hell, this bitch."  She personally attacked Ms Angle, in a very vulgar and disrespectful way.  Ms Behar is entitled to her opinion about the political ad, and about Ms Angle; but there is no call use the "b-word" in a personal attack.  In my opinion, this goes beyond "political correctness" and into the realm of viciousness.  In my opinion, calling a woman the "b-word" is akin to calling a black person the "n-word."  There is no place for it in civilized society, no matter what your political orientation. 

Now, I wonder, will there be a response to Ms Behar's vicious personal attack?  Or, will she be given a "pass" because of her political leanings?  Will Ms Behar be asked to leave "The View," as Mr Williams was asked to leave NPR?  Somehow, I doubt it....because, after all, she is a liberal.  Double standard?  You bet!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

A Poem

I  have a few friends and relatives who send me those "viral" emails....you know the type of emails that go around and around and around the ether.  Some of them make you think, some make you cry, and some make you mad (the one that make me mad are usually the ones that promise good luck or fortunes or something if you don't "break the chain.")  Anyway, my Aunt sent me one of the "viral" emails that not only made me think, but made me want to cry.  So, instead of sending it out to everyone on my contact list, I thought I'd post it here.  I have no idea who authored this poem, but whoever did, got it right.

A Poem Worth Reading

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Sam has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simply headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

h/t Dianne

Monday, October 18, 2010

"Real Housewives"

Patrick Dorinson, who blogs at The Cowboy Libertarian, has a published great piece on "real housewives"  on the  FoxNEWS Opinion website.  He's responding to a rant by comedian (if you like that kind of comedy) Bill Maher.  Apparently the rant started with Vikings quarterback Brett Farve's "sexting," progressed to white men and the women they like, and ended with comments about Sarah Palin and other conservative women.  You can probably tell that I don't find Maher funny, and so I don't watch him.  Anyway, Mr Dorinson's response is wonderful and one of my "must reads." 
Mr. Dorinson talks about the "real housewives of Idaho."  He describes women who
don’t have their own TV show although it would be a helluva lot more interesting than watching the other “real” housewives and definitely better than watching Maher’s weekly ego fest.


They don’t wildly spend money on frivolous things at high-tone stores. They shop at Costco to feed the family and during gathering feed the crew. They are partners with their husbands. Their children are taught the lessons of work, faith and family from the time they can walk and as soon as they can walk they are in the saddle working right alongside their parents.

You don’t hear a lot of whining about how tough their lives are. They know life is tough but they wouldn’t have it any other way.

They don’t have weekends. Saturday and Sunday are just two more days to get the work done.

They don’t stab their female friends in the back when they aren’t around. They pitch-in to help each other and treat each other’s children as if they were their own.

They don’t hang out at Starbucks because they aren’t dumb enough to pay $5 for a cup of coffee and don’t have the time or the inclination to sit around and be neurotic and catty.

And they face adversity everyday and meet it head-on.
Mr Dorinson's piece describes the "real housewives" I know.  These are my neighbors and my best friends.  These "real housewives" are more real that those women who pretend to be real on TV.  These "real women" are the reason I love living in a small town in Flyover Country.   As Mr. Dorinson so eloquently explains,

These are the “mama grizzlies” Sarah Palin is talking about. They identify with her because she is one of them.


I think that Maher belittles them and makes fun of their lifestyle because he is afraid of them and what they represent.

They represent an America that is in resurgence vastly different from his warped and cynical view of the nation and its people. An America that has finally had enough of being ruled by a bunch of elite coastal snobs who push their version of what this country stands for at the expense of traditional values and morals. An America that still prays to God asking for spiritual guidance, unlike Maher who openly mocks religion. Maher better hope he’s right about there being no God or come Judgment Day he is going to be one sorry fella.

It is also an America that is tired of the cattle crap Maher would call entertainment, polluting the minds of their children. And an America that stubbornly believes that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are not just meaningless words from our past but meaningful words to guide our future.
Thank God for "real housewives"  who are "real women!"

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Stories

Stories are wonderful things.  I love to read, fiction, non-fiction, biographies....pretty much everything.  Talented authors can create whole new worlds.  They can explore human emotions, and help us understand ourselves and others.  They can help us understand our past; where we come from and where we're going.  Talented authors can make us think.  Books are wonderful things.

But, there are stories in places other than books.  Some people can find stories in the rocks of the earth (something I wish I could read better).  Some people can find stories in their own imaginations.  Yesterday, I was able to find stories in a wonderful friend who took me with him to chase cows.

This friend is an 80-something horseman, cattleman, and gentleman.  He's lived in this valley all his life (except for a 4 year period when he served in the Air Force).  He invited me to go with him to look for some of his cattle on the mountain near our little town.  He, and his family, have grazing leases for his cattle on the National Forest land up there.  The cows, and their calves, graze on the mountain grass all summer; but when the weather starts to get colder, they come down the mountain to the pastures that sit at the base of the mountain and are moved to the desert grazing areas.  Some of the cows need a bit of "encouragement" to leave the mountain....so we took our horses and looked for them to head them down. 

It was a beautiful day; cool and sunny, with a very slight breeze.  It was fantastic to be out on a horse.  I enjoyed the ride, the weather, and the beautiful scenery.  But most of all, I enjoyed the stories my riding partner told.  He told me about growing up in the valley.  He told me how his great-great grandfather drove a herd of cows across the plains as a part of the great-Mormon migration, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley in the 1850s.  He talked about his fascination with cattle brands; and how his family has several generations of registered brands, starting with that great-great grandfather.  We talked about how different it is to run cattle on the mountain in these days of regulation and paperwork.  He told me about his experiences riding the range as a young man and packing what he needed on a horse.  His stories were fascinating, funny, poignant and proud.  I loved those stories. 

We should do everything we can to capture the stories that folks like my cattleman friend can tell.  They're too important to forget, and to wonderful to lose.

Halloween Democrats


Doesn't this say it all......

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Born on the 4th of July

For those of you of my generation, remember the movie "Born on the 4th of July?"  It was one of those "classic" Hollywood movies about veterans....you know the type of movie; the vet returns from war as a victim.  Tom Cruise starred in the movie, which was released in 1989.  The movie is described as a biopic about Ron Kovac, a paraylized Vietnam veteran who came home and became an anti-war activist because he felt "betrayed" by his country.  The movie won 2 Oscars, including one for Oliver Stone as "Best Director."  Well, in these days, we have an interesting contrast to the "vet as victim" mantra that Hollywood and popular culture try to portray. 

I'd like to introduce you to Army Staff Sergeant John Wayne Walding.  He's a real-life veteran, who really was born on the 4th of July.  SSgt Walding just graduated from the Army Sniper school, which is a great accomplishment.  But what makes it even more impressive is that SSgt Walding lost his leg in a 6 1/2 hour fire fight in Afghanistan in April 2008.  Walding and the other members of his Special Forces team were awarded the Silver Star for their actions that day.  Walding was shot in the lower leg and, in an article on the Army website, described how he had to use his boot lace to tie his leg to his thigh to keep it from flapping around.  Walding was determined to stay on active duty, and he's done so.  In fact, many of his classmates in the sniper course did not know he was an amputee.  He passed the extremely tough course without any specal accomodations, scoring well in all the exercises. 

Now compare the two stories.  Granted, SSgt Walding wasn't confined to a wheelchair the way Kovac was; but SSgt Walding never considered himself a "victim" nor did he decide his country had "betrayed" him.  He's made of better stuff.  He decided he wouldn't let the loss of a leg stop him from accomplishing goals he set for himself.  The path may have been more difficult, but he accomplished those goals anyway.  SSgt Walding sees himself as a soldier, not a victim.   Now I ask you.....which is the more healthy point of view? 

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Small Towns and Newspapers

The place where I live is just one of the many things that has changed in my life in the last couple of years.  I left the big city and the beltway and moved to a very small town in the remote county where my mother grew up.  I love it here.  It's home.  It's beautiful.  It's a place where I can be myself and do the things that make me happy.  It's a place where people bond together into a community, and care about each other. 

It's a fantastic place to live for so many reasons; but it is small!  For example, it's so rural that we don't have mail carriers to deliver the mail.  Each small town has a post office and you have to stop there to get your mail.  Now this isn't all bad.  When you stop at the post office, you have a chance to run into a friend or acquaintance that you haven't seen in a while.  When you stop, you can chat with any number of people who have also stopped for their mail.  The post office is somewhat of a social center, particularly when the postmaster is as friendly as our postmistress.  In some ways, it's part of the heartbeat of our community.  You can also tell we're a small rural community by reading our newspaper.  It comes out weekly, and is delivered through the post office.  The newspaper carries stories of interest to the community; things like local sports updates, articles about the farmer's market, and ads from local government candidates, as well as tips on how to deal with an early frost.  Of course there are also the obligatory legal notices and a section of classified advertisements. 

Today, we went to the post office to get our mail.  As we were chatting with the postmistress, I gandered through the paper (to see if there was a story about the football team...there was).  Here's a classified ad that caught my eye, and caused me to laugh out loud:

PAY FOR MY DUI

(name deleted) is asking for donations to help pay his find for a DUI.  On August 21, he came down to see the Rodeo, he slept in the back of his truck at his nephew's sawmill.  The next morning, he couldn't resist doing a couple of doughnuts, the cops were called, and he got a DUI.  You can send donations to:  (address and phone number deleted).  Any help is appreciated.  Thanks.
I was so tickled that I was almost tempted to send a buck....almost, but not quite!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Sauce

I did something today that I've never done before.....I made tomato sauce;  made it with tomatoes that I grew in my own garden.  After I made the tomato sauce, I bottled it (all 3 pints of it, but hey, it's something I did for myself).  It tastes wonderful!  I don't know why garden-grown tomatoes taste so much better than store-bought tomatoes, but they do.  And tomato sauce made from garden-grown tomatoes tastes fantastic!  I just hope the rest of the tomatoes that I have on the vines in my tomato jungle (it really is a jungle....I planted the tomato plants too close) ripen before it frosts.  I want to make more tomato sauce!  The tomato sauce joins the salsa and the spaghetti sauce that I've made from those tomatoes.  So yummy! 

The whole time I was making the sauce, I kept thinking about my grandmother.  She loved tomatoes, and she'd bottle her own sauce.  When we'd come to visit, particularly as she grew older, she'd let us cook.  She'd always send us out to the storehouse to get her tomato sauce if we made spaghetti, or sloppy joes, or anything requiring tomato sauce.  She liked her's better than anything store-bought.  She was right, her's was better.  I guess it's because she raised the tomatoes with love, then cooked and bottled the sauce with more love.  Maybe it's the love that makes homemade sauce taste so good.  Maybe.....

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Marine's Vigil at Rolling Thunder 2010

OK....in keeping with my promise to keep the conversation open, here's a wonderful video from this year's Rolling Thunder in DC. Gotta love those Marines.....




So why does this Marine (who's name is SSgt Chambers) undertake this vigil?  Here's a video (although not a very good video) where he tells the reason he started and continues this vigil. 




h/t Airman Mom

Been Awhile

It's been a while.  I'm not sure why, but I quit blogging for a while.  It wasn't a conscious decision; it just happened.  Sure, I've been extremely busy....but I'm always busy.  I know I thought (a lot) about things I wanted to post in this blog....but I didn't post any of them.  I'm not sure why.  This blog was (is) an outlet for me.  It gives me a chance to have and join conversations about things of importance to me.  I enjoy the thought process that goes into writing posts, and I enjoy the feedback I get from sharing my thoughts.  So, I'm not sure why I stopped blogging for a while....I just did. 

So....I'll do better at blogging.  I promise......