DROVERIA

PN:

Joe’s Comment – Well, the furnace is cutting in during the very early morning hours.  It has rained several times this week.  Dew on the windshields.
Autumn has arrived.
If there is any salvation for my spirit during this melancholy march to Winter it is the increase in reading I feel compelled to pursue.
For that is all that Autumn means to me, despite the lovely colorful death of all the trillions of photosynthesis miracle workers on every local flora entity, most notably the deciduous trees.
The death of leaves is colorful.  But ominous…..
The bugs die or hibernate or leave for sunnier warmer climes.
So too the birds.  And squirrels.  Turtles, even.
Here in Canada, Our Dear Leader, Chief Rainbow Socks, continues to lead drag Canada from its state of economic prosperity to Third World banana republic misery with social policy based on ideology, not reality.
As the jingle goes, what’s a poor girl to do?

For me, it means research.
How did this shit happen?
Anyone reading this weekly rant will attest to my strong opinions about cultural aberrations foisted upon us by government.  Thomas Wolfe famously wrote “you can’t go home again“.  I contend that if you never left, you are still there!  Furthermore, you have the onus, the responsibility, to reckon how things changed right under yer nose.  Then, accept the burden of correcting and repairing the wrong(s).
When you observe the machinations of the political organs in China, Cuba, Venezuela, and other “People’s Republics” (did I forget North Korea?) what are the foundational differences separating their political philosophy from The West?
I might add, from what remains of The West, as I will elucidate below.
To my little pea brain, when distilled, dissected, and scrutinized under an electron microscope, it has to do with The Individual vs the “Common Good”, aka, The State.
In some persons minds, the health and preservation of The State (whomever and whatever that might include) supersedes the right(s) of the Individual.
That is, the individual citizen bows to the collective.
From cognizance (I think, therefore, I am), and experience (I think, therefore I do), and wisdom (I think, therefore I know) this is inefficient, destructive, and a malaise of thought.
In other words, extremely exciting and worth pursuing for a certain type of individual.  (Think psychopath, think narcissist, think “your betters”).
For average (or above average) Mud Peckers, Dirt People, and the Salt of the Earth men and women, this is a foreign concept.
Speaking from experience, all I ever wanted was to pursue my pursuits (often expressed as “happiness”), have adventures (a hopeful byproduct of pursuing pursuits), and when absolutely unavoidable, leave this mortal coil having contributed more than I took.
And to be left the fuck alone to pursue my “happiness”.
Alas, life is more Yogi Berra than Jesus Christ –


This week I read a book on my “must read” list (which list has become unimaginably long, hopelessly long – bring back the Reader’s Digest!).
The book is by Thomas Paine, and is titled “Common Sense – Addressed to the Inhabitants of America“.
Difficult for me to parse, because…. language.
Mr. Paine and I do not speak the same King’s English.
However, after much reading, re-reading, mulling, and reading again, I believe this brief plea was instrumental in the spawning of The Declaration of Independence in America.  He outlined a form of government based on law, formed by the People, for the People.  He advocated freedom from monarchy, and the establishment of self rule.  In this work he did not prescribe a method of preserving sanctity, i.e., preventing corruption (“separation of powers”), but he did lay the groundwork, sketch an outline for a Republic.
History has named him a “Founding Father”.  He is considered the “Father of the American Revolution“.  He abhorred slavery, monarchy, and was a harsh critic of religion.
What’s not to like?
I learned a few things reading this document from Thomas Paine.
–  Ideas spring from the minds of men (and women too, damn it!), not committees
–  The “Collective” is not an entity; it is composed of like minded individuals, and as such each can be persuaded on an individual basis
–  The written word has unimaginable power (memes/mind viruses: Richard Dawkins)
–  1776 English is hard to parse for an old Mud Pecker like me…..
I started reading another work this week.  “The Wealth of Nations”, by Adam Smith.  Coincidentally, published also in 1776.  Is it coincidence?
Remember the words of Stephen Bannon “There are no conspiracies but there are also no coincidences.”
Something in the air, at the time, I reckon:

On another note, the first day of Autumn has arrived.  My mood definitely shifts.
Six months ’til Spring seems a very long time even when it flies by.
Some tunes appropriate for the mood and season.
A Melody Gardot creation:

The same again, another fantastic version, with Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa:

Don Henley and Bonnie Raitt with a melancholy heartbreaking masterpiece:

Lucinda Williams singing “Lost Girl”:

Peter Sarstedt with his eternally haunting ballad:

And the incomparable Nora Jones, a gentle spirit if ever there was:

 

Passings

Roger Whittaker (RIP)
One of our favorite singer / composers.
Thank doG technology has preserved his fabulous voice.
Thank you, Mr. Whittaker for the years of musical excellence you shared with the world:

Canadiana

Quick Dick McDick
Once again, Saskatchewan’s agrarian ambassador to The World™ brings the message Turdeau doesn’t want to hear, doesn’t like to hear, won’t listen to, and, just plainly, doesn’t hear.
Jesus H. Pifarino, it ain’t rocket science.
You can’t tax your way to prosperity, to riches, to wealth!
QDMcD patiently explains how the politicians shit in the buckwheat.
That expression means ruin the crop.
Joe can’t help thinking they do it on purpose….
Is it avarice?  Or megalomania?  Psychopathy, narcissism, or a bad case of “Marie Antoinette-ism”?  Letting us eat cake sounds like a party.
Until you find out it is urinal cakes.
Which begs a question – the expression “physician, heal thyself” ( Greek: Ἰατρέ, θεράπευσον σεαυτόν, Iatre, therapeuson seauton ), sometimes quoted in the Latin form, Medice, cura te ipsum, is an ancient proverb appearing in Luke 4 :23.) means “We won’t believe a word you say until you take care of what ails you”.
What, pray tell, is the equivalent for misdirected, misguided, perhaps malevolent politicians?
Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, don’t we wish politicians would “tend to their knitting“.
It’s not as if they are twiddling their thumbs with sweet fuck all to do.  Although the “big money” indicators show Canada is “prosperous”, culturally we are a hot mess.
What Joe and I surmise is that the real work politicians were sent to Ottawa to do is an incredibly difficult task that they are not equipped to address.  Hence, they diddle about, consumed with distractions, with “shinny things”.  Oh look!  Over here!  Oppression!  Stop the press, stop the country, prepare the lecture!  Listen up, you naughty Canadians!
Joe and I ask: how many hands can milk the horse before there is nary enough to placate the thirsty?  Only a politician would seek a “solution” that has no ailment to address.  Samuel Clements sums it up well –
Here is a brilliant commentary from QDMcD, from the Saskatchewan heartland:

 

Americana

Megyn Kelly, Dan Bongino
What is the “American success story”?
The lives of these two people, that’s what.
The following interview is sparkling.
How refreshing to hear these people speak freely:

Andrew Klavan
Joe says this is his favorite bald guy.
And our favorite commenter about “The Culture”.
A fabulous Christian ex-Jew writer and polemicist.
The one, the only, The Klavan:

Health

Red Meat / Diabetes?
Dr. Ken Berry and Dr. Ben Bikman detail the function of insulin in relation to protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
Joe and I are so impressed that we rushed out and had Amazon deliver Dr. Bikman’s book, “Why We Get Sick” in two days.  Free delivery.
Amazing what thinking you know something does for your self image:

 

Food for Cancer
Dr. Thomas Seyfried was featured in Sunday Rant – 1923.
His research of 30+ years has led him to believe that cancer is a metabolic disorder, not a genetic disease or mutation.
His data and experimentation support his argument.
In this discussion of cancer with Rena (5 Minute Body), he asserts that by shifting the paradigm of “Cancer Research©” from the current focus on genetic disorder to a focus on metabolic health, the incidence of cancer will be reduced by 50%!
That there should be enough for the medical community to pay attention, if only to disprove Dr. Seyfried’s theories.
Joe and I have only 74 years of life on this planet.
We are not aware of any other life we have had.
Consequently, we have a rather biased vested interest in our existence.
The message is simple.  Cancer cells need certain forms of nutrition.
When mitochondrial dysfunction reverts to fermentation for energy, the smart response is to cut off the source of fuel for fermentation.
Sign us up!:

 

Cartoonists

Sean Delonas
Joe and I love Mr. Delonas’ dark characatures of events and politicians.
There are some cartoonists that are head and shoulders above all others.
Mr. Delonas is a gifted artist –

Joe’s Garage

700+ HP Flathead
There are people who specialize in optimizing power plants.
On more than one occasion, Joe and I have included Keith and Jeff Dorton’s place of business, Automotive Specialists, in this rant.
If there are “mad scientists” of the automotive world, these two men must be in that select group.
In this video, work that took two years to complete produced a 700+ horsepower flathead Ford, running Ardun heads and a supercharger.
The ultra rare Ardun head motor was built to challenge the land speed record for the XXF category at Bonneville.
Joe and I figure the old record doesn’t stand a chance.
Unfortunately, Bonneville was rained out this year.
It will be worth the wait to see this engine run next year:

Ford GT
The Texas Mile is owned by a Ford GT.
The fastest terminal velocity ever (rear wheel drive) – 310.8 mph – was set last December by Johnny Bohmer, driving his 2006 Ford GT (Sunday Rant – 0123).
I ask Joe, why for?  How come this?  WTF?
Joe says the Ford engineers designed the Ford GT as a tribute to the original Ford GT40.  The car was a showpiece of the best Ford can do – a “Halo car“.  Unlike other halo cars built primarily for marketing / recognition, the Ford GT was a bona fide race car modified for the street.  Or was it a street car modified for racing?  You decide.  Whatever you decide, it is an extremely overbuilt car.
Watch the following video, and you will learn of the amazing “over engineering” included in the Ford GT.  This was what allowed Johnny Bohmer and his crew to modify the Ford engine to produce very high levels of power needed at speeds over 300 miles per hour.  The factory engine internals were capable of over 1000 horsepower.  Mr. Bohmer’s GT is producing close to 3,000 horsepower.
Joe says with that big a stable, the hay bill would cripple us financially!:

Continue reading Sunday Rant – 3923

PN:

Joe’s Comment – What a great week!
The weather was very acceptable.
The projects, although progressing at a glacial pace, are proceeding toward completion.  Each and every one.  That definitely begs a Tiny Tim reference.
I’ll take the blessing, too:

My fear of being a dollar short and a day late has forced a realization – only a dollar short, and only a day late is an admirable, if unachievable, goal for me!
Nonetheless, it is to carry on that I must.  Not in the “Carry On” tradition (British humor), but more like Don Quixote.  Although to describe myself as a member of the lowest nobility is a stretch. A simple Mud Pecker is more apt…..  I’ve spent more than a few whiles (thank you, Donald) jousting at windmills.
Perhaps the music and lyric of Gordon Lightfoot illuminates:

“Through the woodland, through the valley
Comes a horseman wild and free
Tilting at the windmills passing
Who can the brave young horseman be?
He is wild but he is mellow
He is strong but he is weak
He is cruel but he is gentle
He is wise but he is meek”
There you have it!
A conundrum of contradictions and opposites.
When the weather is fair, it is tenable, defensible.  Even justifiable.
When the weather is sour, not so much.
‘scuse me, while I touch the sky!:

Americana

Tucker Carlson
Mr. Carlson is a high value commodity in the punditry profession.
He is a humanitarian.
His current utterances about the cultural and political reality in the good ol’ U.S. of A. is definitely NOT approved by the Biden Administration.
A speech from September 10^th, given in Utica, Michigan:

Megyn Kelly
Ms. Kelly interviews The Donald.
An interesting exchange.
Mr. Trump is his usual self.
The follow-up with Victor Davis Hanson and Megyn Kelly is worth the time:

The Culture

Intellectual Frog Legs
Joe Dan Gorman has been remiss in regularly producing issues of Intellectual Frog Legs.
This irritates Joe, because he really enjoys the product!
We understand Mr. Gorman has undergone some personal trials.
This issue is better than ever, and we’re glad he’s back in production:

 

Finance

All Wars (Are Banker’s Wars)
Ivor Cummins is Joe and my statistician of note.
He is an engineer, and uses his excellent ability to think critically, to analyze data about current hot topics, and report to us, the Mud Peckers and Dirt People of the World.
The fact that this documentary caught his attention and gained his analysis speaks volumes.
Once again, Joe and I lose our certainty virginity.  Another topic we hadn’t considered to consider.  We are now contemplating our reaction if the stated theorem is true, is factual.  If so, WTF can a person do about it?
The older we get, the more disgust and anger we foment:

 

Health

Dr. Robert Cywes
This video was embedded in Sunday Rant – 4522.
You can see our comments about it at the time.
It is an important video.
We won’t reiterate our comments, but we will point out that the modern vegetarian and vegan diet is comprised mostly of vegetation that humans created.  That’s right, by GMO.  Genetically modified organisms can be created when human intervention, such as selective breeding and hybrid isolation are used, by people, to alter the plant.  Gene splicing is a technology that has only recently been used by man (and woman…. sheesh!) to stack the deck, to mark the cards, to weight (weigh?) the dice.  You know, to create what we think we want.
We must say again that the old expression “you are what you eat” is unfortunately focusing on outcome.
The more correct, more accurate expression is “you eat what you are“.
It is the subtle difference between surviving and flourishing!
Once again, with enthusiasm, here’s Dr. Cywes with some truth bombing.
As our Scottish ken would say, “ye canna deny the facts!”:

Here is the documentary Dr. Cywes suggests all y’all and all us all watch.
It is titled “The Botany of Desire“.
No thanks necessary.
If you fear changing your Weltanschauung, if you fear cognitive dissonance, if you fear logical disconnect, this is the video for you.  Confront your ignorance all ye who would wimp, who would conform, who would comply!:

After watching both of these excellent videos, you should be pondering why plants allowed us to exist, to evolve, to survive.
Back to the Talking Heads for musical reference…..
“You may ask yourself: how did I get here?”:

 

Joe’s Garage

Honda CB750
Joe and I have owned quite a few motorcycles over the years.
The very first was a Sears imported Italian two stroke scooter called “Allstate” – really a Vespa 125, manufactured by Piaggio of Italy.  Sears sold a variety of scooters (see them here).  We drove all over Calgary AB at the sweet young age of 14 years, without a helmet (not “mandatory” in those days), and had many adventures, none of them fatal.  We still have some scarring, tho’.
Our second was a Honda Dream 305cc, a real motorcycle.  This was a big step up from the Allstate.  Lord love a duck, we adored that bike!  We couldn’t afford much more (we were in lust with the British twins, but our pockets were too empty).  That romance came later…..
We made do.  When the helmet laws were introduced (for safety!!!), we used a football helmet until we could afford to buy the “real thing”.  Joe says we came to Libertarian philosophy then: we fulminated loud and long about the gummints intrusion into personal choice.  Meat for another meal….
Joe remembers learning much of the basic theory of vehicles by making mistakes while servicing and repairing these two machines.
Time went by.  We didn’t die.  Sure, we fell off a number of times, off a number of different bikes.  Friends owned a variety of machines, too.  Sometimes we swapped to try a different bike.  The ’60s were a golden time to get motorcycling into your veins.
By the late ’70s we had owned various Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, BSA, Triumph, and Norton motorcycles.  Our favorite handling bike ever was a Bonneville 650cc.  For sheer visceral grunt, we had two Norton Commandos, both 750cc.  You had to hang on tight when giving them “full beans”.  Then we bought a Suzuki Katana 1100cc and experienced truly scary levels of speed.  Of course, we had to fall off this one, too.  All in a day’s riding…..
During our riding years from 1963 (at 14 years – legal age to drive a scooter in Alberta) until 2020 when we sold our last bikes, we have witnessed and participated in what was the coming of age of popular motorcycling.
One of the greatest of all time, not for maximum performance or handling, but for all round comfort, ease of operation, dependable and reliable service, simple maintenance, and value for your money was the Honda CB750, a transverse 4 cylinder machine that literally changed the motorcycling industry.  The following video explains:

A note in closing.  Joe and I were never Harley Davidson fans.  Hell, our 305 Honda handled better, and was quicker around the city than any of those “hogs” we not so affectionately refer to as farting horses or Hardly Abletwos.  Although the HD brand has a storied history in flat track racing, we’ve always considered them big fat ugly stinky leaky noisy heavy cumbersome (have you ever seen someone trying to park an HD?) high maintenance dickmobiles.  Who in their right mind would build a large displacement V twin (at 45° no less, no more)?  With no inherent primary or secondary balance.  Heating issues with the trailing cylinder.  One nasty bitch to kick start!  Thank Jesus (and Kettering) for the electric start.
We don’t think we’re prejudiced, just logical.  We don’t like any of the farting horse copy cats, either.  If pigs could fly…..

The Arethusa
1927 was a good year.
That’s when this ship was built, and christened Ina.
1985 was a good year too.
That’s when Sylvia Maessen bought Ina, and renamed her Arethusa.
In 1999, Arethusa was outfitted with its current engine, an Industrie 2VD5 diesel engine.  An engine built by the Dutch company De Industrie from 1932 to 1951.
We couldn’t find much info about De Industrie with Google or Duck Duck Go: slim pickin’s.  A bit about the VD series diesels here.
Joe says this sweet tug, originally used to haul garbage scows, is a beauty from an era that built boats which have become classic designs.  We enjoy and celebrate the fact that this beautiful old boat is alive and well almost 100 years after her launch.  Just watching the start-up procedure and hearing her pop to life makes Joe grin like a dimwit.
A piece of Dutch maritime heritage:

Continue reading Sunday Rant – 3823

PN:

Joe’s Comment – The weather is fine!  No worries, no problems, many projects.
I have been working on the bathroom renovation.  Although I started taking things apart several weeks ago, progress is slow.
Mainly because funds are scarce, time is at a premium, and the copper in place is hard to access.  I did pick a version of vinyl tile for the floor (1′ x 2′ marble pattern).  I bought a used vanity 2 feet wide to replace the horrendous 5 foot mess that was in place.
Most of the time I stare and measure and try to make a plan on how to do the mods and retain the venting system, and change things one step at a time.
The first actual job is to put down the vinyl tile.  Then install the bath /  shower one piece unit.  Then the toilet.  Finally, the new (used) vanity.
All while enjoying the last of the Summer days.
And getting the vehicles plugging the driveway moving.
Last year everything project wise was put on hold on November 1^st (when the snow arrived) and wasn’t resumed until Spring.
The old expression (I’m a day late and a dollar short) is a pitiful understatement in regards to my progress.
However, health is well, days are sunny and warm (if no longer long).
The new COVID crazies are out in full force, with their masks strapped on and their virtue flag waving in a self created stiff breeze.
I don’t bother to ask WTF?
It is true that I don’t want to know how their deductive facility is working.
What I want is Spring.
I’d be happy to forego Autumn and Winter.
The stress of anticipating the bad weather is only equaled by the numbing reality when it does break.
Weather in Canada is somewhat unpredictable.
Schizoid.  Like so –
Is there a weather broker in the crowd?

Canadiana

Quick Dick McDick
The next installment of hay making from the man from Saskatchewan.
Joe and I were lucky growing up.  We had family with farms.  A fascinating trip for city folk.
As friend George McF. used to say, “if I win the lottery, I’m going farming ’til I’m broke!”:

Jimmy Buffett (RIP)
What ho!
If Joe and I have any regrets or a bucket list, attending a Jimmy Buffett concert has got to be on that wanna do.  If we ever wanted to be a joiner, we would be parrot heads!
If you haven’t been, like Joe and I, take a look at any of his concert videos and take a look at the folks in attendance.
A true cross section of the cream of humanity.
With one common denominator – happy peace loving generous laid back souls…..
We’ve included him in the “Canadiana” section because, in his own words – “Canada holds a special place in my heart,” he said in a 2004 interview. “I’ve got more family in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia than I do in the States.”
In terms of unique life paths, Mr. Buffett carved his own.
Who else could be a ballad singing beach bum and parley that lifestyle into a billion dollar concern, all while making people smile, laugh, relax, and feel good about their life, about the company they keep and seek?
Here’s a documentary that recounts the origin of the parrot head following of Mr. Buffett’s fans:

We can’t not include Margaritaville, so here it is:

A few more that Joe and I revisit; more often as the years accumulate:

A personal philosophy that Mr. Buffett lived –

 

Passed But Not Forgotten

Christopher Hitchens
Mr. Hitchens died in December of 2011.
His career as a polemicist, author, critic, journalist, contrarian, and atheist made him a frequent guest on many talk shows and a debater of many subjects.
Joe and I were swayed by his strong and verbose arguments on many subjects.
None more persuasive than when he railed against religion, especially that of Islam.
Here’s a collection of moments when his ability to coherently convey ideas made his argument irrefutable:

 

Science

Ivor Cummins
Mr. Cummins is a scientist first.
Here are some facts (as well as are known today) about the Earth, its history, and the story of CO2:

 

Joe’s Garage

More Motocross
This ride is fantastic!
Rob Holyoake’s qualifying ride wasn’t recorded in the Foxhill VMXDN 125cc class.  As a consequence, he could only start after the qualified riders reached turn one.
Riding his 1996 125cc Husqvarna, Mr. Holyoake proceeded to pass 41 riders to finish 2^nd overall.
This video is from his helmet camera.
Jesus and Mary!
This champion spent more time airborne than on the ground!
What a performance!
It astounds Joe and I to know that there are so many people participating in this sport at this level of proficiency.
We do wonder how busy the emergency room at the local hospital gets during race day(s):

Stovebolt II
The good folks at Automotive Specialists do it again.
The last of their masterpieces featured in this rant was their Bonneville Salt Flat record attempt flathead Ford build.
This engine is a period piece Chev engine build – the venerable 261 cubic inch second generation Stovebolt is given a new life and two turbo chargers.
As usual, Keith Dorton fixes and re-engineers all the inherent problems and issues of the original engine.  What emerges is pure gear-head gold.
That is a strong statement from Joe and me, for GM products don’t inspire us much.  An amazing build by an amazing gang at A.S.:

Continue reading Sunday Rant – 3723