[date Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 9:23 PM]
PN:
T’day, a markedly Empire-ish theme or two, old chaps and chappettes. First off, a toast to all snow shovelers wherever you may be (Ron, Steve, and Jim T. are in AZ, but I know they shovel something down there, too):
Royal Navy toast of the day:
Ourselves, as no-one else is likely to concern themselves with our welfare.
And the Queen, God Bless Her.
A worthy toast for all white males, and females, everywhere!
Today’s menu – a starter of Mark Steyn – a new pressing, but guaranteed to be vintage – extolling the tortuous trail of history that culminates in a declaration of “Dependence Day” for the once majestic British Empire. Mr. Steyn at his best; humorous, knowledgeable, insightful, clairvoyant:
http://www.newcriterion.com/articles.cfm/Dependence-Day-6753
You may not take the time to read the above article – c’est domage. Here’s a summary for the reading challenged:
“If I am pessimistic about the future of liberty, it is because I am pessimistic about the strength of the English-speaking nations, which have, in profound ways, surrendered to forces at odds with their inheritance.”
I loved the comments of the commentators after the article, too. I do think that the language spoken by a people affects and effects (permeates?) all…. There has never been a greater human history than that of “the English Speaking Peoples”. If you have the chance (and whom doesn’t?) pick up a copy of Winston Churchill’s work “History of the English Speaking Peoples” or put it on your Bucket List. While you’re at it, get Hayek’s “Road to Serfdom”. On it, boss!
Excellent Adam Carolla diatribe here:
[youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=urdV5DwT4Ns&feature=player_embedded]
Love his line about suicide – “that’s just Darwin taking out the garbage”. Hilarious? You bet! What a potty mouth….
Best Al Gore PhotoShoped pic ‘o the century –
Sod off Swampy just slays me! Is that you, Godzilla?
How about a peek at Charlton Heston’s home and gun vault? Beautiful collection! –
Incredible carving in miniature! Lookie lookie –
Many more here –
http://stories-etc.com/graphite.htm
Ronaldo sent me a link which led to the above, and the following, which is a collection of (gag, choke…) Chevrolet convertibles. I’m sure none of you are interested in looking, but here it is anyway –
http://stories-etc.com/chevy.htm
An interesting analysis of the US political left / Democrats / progressives / MSM vitriol last week from Daniel Henninger –
A short excerpt here:
The divide between this strain of the American left and its conservative opponents is about more than politics and policy. It goes back a long way, it is deep, and it will never be bridged. It is cultural, and it explains more than anything the “intensity” that exists now between these two competing camps. (The independent laments: “Can’t we all just get along?” Answer: No.)
Interesting times cometh.
How about something else interesting? You got it……. SNOW!
Here is the clean-up after good old 20th snowfall. Notice the accumulation. No warm beer here! –
Paraphrasing the best of children’s song –
But the snow came back the very next day.
The snow came back. They thought it was a gonner,
But the snow came back. It just couldn’t stay away. Yeow!
Of course, this cannot deter a Kanuckistan man! Out comes the trusty (but not rusty) snow shovel, and we clean away the hard water once again…. You might notice a slight warming, too –
Accumulation of several snows on the ’73 Mustang “weather station” –
Seems an appropriate time to use a word I haven’t typed, ever. Gadzooks! Spell check says I didn’t get it right…..
21 snows to the 12th of January. This will beat the recent (Drovarian Vernon) 6 year record I bet. 2008 -2009 winter saw 26 snowfalls, but only 14 or so by this time that season. The news as it happens….
I have a tradition of writing down titles and authors of books I’d like to read on slips of paper. I must have 3 dozen slips of paper, with well over 100 titles to read. At the end of the year, I order those I think I might like to own (vs those I just want to read, which I get at the library). Here’s what I bought for the first quarter of 2011. All but one showed up this week:
- Intellectuals and Society – Thomas Sowell
- Basic Economics – Thomas Sowell
- The Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States – pocket edition
- The Constitution of Canada
- In Fifty Years We’ll All Be Chicks (and other complaints from an angry middle-aged white guy – Adam Carolla
- The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
These will keep me mystified for a month or so…..
I expect Barry, Robert, Jimmy B., and Cam will be (if not there already) counting down the sleeps until the Sun City Invasion™ of 2011. Have a great time fellas, and try to stay out of jail, Jimmy. Get sunburns all! Wish I was there…. from a journalistic standpoint. It’s gonna be some golf gaming I bet….
Those little yellow people have a unique slant (no pun intended) on American politics. Here’s a video from Next Media Animation entitled “Is Sarah Palin Gunning for 2012?” Can’t call it reporting or analysis, but surely can call it bizarre and wackeroo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&v=YYzU3wSfoq8&annotation_id=annotation_216175<br />
Lots more (if you can stand it) on YouTube.
One last go at the Tucson tragedy, this time from Rex Murphy (Yeaaa!). Do not dismay – although Peter Mansbridge shows up right at the end of the clip, but you don’t have to listen to him (Yeaaa!):
[youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=Y_IH5b7uN88&feature=player_embedded]
Rex gives his usual verbose but appropriate analysis of what is tarnishing the mantle of the greatest country on earth…..
Wonder what to do this weekend? HEY! Maybe it will snow!
Joe (Shoveler) Mekanic
p.s. R & C, F coming right up!
You might like to read about C&F’s comments about the above cartoon at the captain’s comments link. If you have been following developments in Palestine, this cartoon is as valid today as it was in 2006:
http://www.captainscomments.com/comment/376
Another gem from 2006. Change the city name to suit the latest. Terrorist (Muslim) caused deaths in 2010 totaled 9,175 per Holger http://holgerawakens.blogspot.com/2011/01/islam-rings-in-new-year-celebrating.html Total to date in 2011? Greater than 200:
