[date Sun, Dec 22, 2013 at 10:01 PM]
PN:
The season is upon us. As a young boy, Christmas was the ultimate most fantastic excellent time. Dad was home…… for days. Mom was happy, and the creations coming from her kitchen were the stuff of dreams. A true family time – we played games, went outdoors to skate or toboggan, visited family and friends. Standing the tree and decorating it took up an entire evening. The anticipation of opening gifts was almost unbearable. No computers, not one electronic game, home made treats, home made music. I’m sure it is a human trait to remember the good things and forget the bad. Amen to that……..
The celebration of Christmas has never been about the birth of Jesus for me. It has been about family and friends, dreams and plans, thought and contemplation, good times and memories, and in adult years, gratitude to live such a blessed existence – unlike a large % of the world’s population. The so called “teachings of Jesus” are the culmination of generations of thought, trial, and error. I expect that other humans have come up with the some of the same philosophy concepts, and some of the same guidelines, but the Judeo-Christian foundations of the West are without equal in world history relevant to influence, affect, and outcome. But it isn’t finished or complete. What I’m saying is it is a work in progress, not a done deal.
Merry Christmas to all!
Word ‘o the week –
The word of the week is “Ennui”. Mostly because of the terrific cartoon way down below.
The only song I can recall that has that word (in the English language):
Ella Fitzgerald – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhqJ_fK1zv8
Frank Sinatra – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueIRPDAbPNY
Erroll Gardner – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VHUpGxFJJ8 – technically, because this is an instrumental, the word “ennui” is really not part of the equation, but you can sing the words yourself while watching a master pianist…… (I hope I spelled that correct)(correctly).
S’MORE CHRISTMAS ‘TOONS
PERTINENT PASSINGS
Tom Laughlin died on December 12. Billy Jack gave rise to an entire genre of movies (before the politically correct noticed), and an entirely new way of marketing films. I think I’ll download Billy Jack just to see him kick the shit out of the bad guys one more time. R.I. P. Mr. Laughlin.: http://streetcarnage.com/blog/billy-jack-has-left-the-ice-cream-shop/
Peter O’Toole died on December 15. I wasn’t a fan, but do support his philosophy of responsibility for one’s own actions. A few noteworthy quotes –
“If you can’t do something willingly and joyfully, then don’t do it. If you give up drinking, don’t go moaning about it; go back on the bottle. Do. As. Thou. Wilt.”
“The only exercise I take is walking behind the coffins of friends who took exercise.”
“When did I realize I was God? Well, I was praying, and I suddenly realized I was talking to myself.”
This is a man who was a life-long “burn the candle at both ends” boozer. I hope his body is donated to science. Maybe they can figure out how he survived!
R.I.P. Mr. O’Toole –
CANADA
ALBERTA & SASKATCHEWAN
The “Economic Freedom of the World” rankings are in…… Alberta is number one, with Saskatchewan in second place if you discount sub-national government policies. Including sub-national government policies, Alberta remains the number one North American location, but Saskatchewan slips away (too many years of NDP style government regulations and policies?). Here’s the article:
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/4450/the_most_pro_capitalism_place_in_n_america_surprise
As the man says, where will the lefties escape to now that Canada is the most capitalistic place in North America?
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Almost the time of year for lists. In that spirit, here’s a list of president Obumble’s firsts:
A couple of my faves –
First President to Sue States For Enforcing Immigration Laws Passed by Congress (Source: The Arizona Republic newspaper)
First President to Threaten an Auto Company (Ford) After It Publicly Mocked Bailouts of GM and Chrysler (Source: Detroit News)
First President to Complete 150 Rounds of Golf in Less Than Five Years in Office (Source: Yahoo! News)
The concept of “Manchurian Candidate” is statistically viable with this “man”.
EDUCATING THE MASSES
Steve Saler is often controversial. A thought provoking article comparing the “education industry” approach to learning vs the “skunk works” methodology of Lockheed-Martin, and the importance of “system integration”:
http://takimag.com/article/the_education_industrial_complex_steve_sailer#axzz2nqq4YszJ
HEALTH vs HEALTHY
Smoking marijuana or using marijuana is touted as “safe”, “less harmful than alcohol”, “harmless”, and “medicinal”. Maybe so, maybe no. A plastic surgeon claims marijuana is the cause of “man boobs”, or “moobs”:
Astounding factoid – the fifth most common male plastic surgery in the U.S. is removal of extra breast tissue!!!!
And one more I couldn’t resist –
OK, OK, I more and that’s it –
More my style of health –
Mental Health
The resolution of the debate is “Be it resolved, men are obsolete…” This is fodder for the feminist fantasy, and was argued by women at the Munk Institute. Their website is here:
http://www.munkdebates.com/debates/Gender-in-the-21st-Century
I didn’t register to read the transcript, and didn’t want to spend $$$ to see the video. All in all, the ladies arguing the pro position, Hanna Rosin and Maureen Dowd, won over the audience by convincing them men are indeed as frivolous as ice cream. Arguing the con position were Camille Paglia and Catlin Moran. Camille’s observations about the debate are here:
http://ideas.time.com/2013/12/16/its-a-mans-world-and-it-always-will-be/?xid=gonewsedit
A quote from her article –
…...”It is overwhelmingly men who do the dirty, dangerous work of building roads, pouring concrete, laying bricks, tarring roofs, hanging electric wires, excavating natural gas and sewage lines, cutting and clearing trees, and bulldozing the landscape for housing developments. It is men who heft and weld the giant steel beams that frame our office buildings, and it is men who do the hair-raising work of insetting and sealing the finely tempered plate-glass windows of skyscrapers 50 stories tall.”
Perhaps these 2nd and 3rd generation feminists see the world as being complete and these hard, exhausting, dangerous jobs will all be done? I’ve driven hundreds of thousands of miles in Canada and the U.S. I’ve seen thousands of construction projects and work environments. A constant in them all is a dearth of the fair sex. As a dedicated life-long lesbian, I think that is a fallacious argument. There will always be a need for new construction, better construction, smarter design, improved use of materials, more efficient infrastructure. These modern feminists (I conclude) see social engineering as a hard science……..
Perhaps people supporting this viewpoint give explanation to the feminist silence about the evils of Islam and Sharia law – they share the zero sum view THAT IT IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE’S FAULT FOR THE SHIT THEY’RE IN.
A statement sure to draw ire in the irascible –
POLITICS, POLITICIANS, HUMOR, WACKEROOERY
An oldie but a goodie –
GUNS, GUNNERS, GUNNERY
Wild Bill for America has a happy story he calls “Buckshot Patty”. The bad guys get their just deserts:
[youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=S07kfTQB_Qg]
The United States ranks 3rd in Murders throughout the World.
But if you take out Chicago , Detroit , Washington DC and New Orleans, the United States is 4th from the Bottom for Murders.
These 4 Cities also have the toughest Gun Control Laws in the United States.
All 4 are also controlled by Democrats.
It would be absurd to draw any conclusions from this data ………………. RIGHT….RIGHT?
Joe Mekanic believes that signs like this would NOT be necessary in a culture where carry licenses were de rigueur. Me too. Although it wasn’t like that in post war Canada (carry license for sidearms), most homes of my acquaintance had at least one long rifle, and ammunition for it. Different times? Very different times. Different people? The demographic has changed – there are now more “visible minorities” and more cultural influences. Time for a carry law in Canada.
PHILOSOPHERS, PHILOSOPHY, SMART TALK
Bill Whittle explains why you shouldn’t mess with Texas in this opinion video titled “I Can’t Believe They Let You Do That!”:
[youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=4CDFxeB7Y-s]
“As long as I am an American citizen and American blood runs in these veins I shall hold myself at liberty to speak, to write, and to publish whatever I please on any subject.” – Elijah Parish Lovejoy (1802-1837)
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Jefferson
RELIGION OF PEACE (ON ALL OF US)
It’s the week before Christmas. Lots of killings, bombings, beheading, stonings, and other Muslim frolicking in the news. I’m just tired of linking the articles. This week I ignore the savages. After all, it’s Christmas!…..
How do you ignore the “giant squid in the room”? How about burning 500,000 Korans? Seems logical to me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2z-YHF_GVk
SUNDAY SERMON
Today’s sermon delivered by Richard Dawkins, titled “The Root of All Evil”:
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMigkP5BELc
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3JycUFk9Ts
A scientific analysis of what religion is supplementing – an idea of what it provides, provokes, purveys.
WEATHER (I want to or not)
Cabin fever is setting in. The days are now getting longer, but not longer enough. I think I hear voices. I know I drink spirits, but do I see spirits? Is it a sign? Sigh…….. It’s officially “WINTER”……..
Joe (Ennui) Mekanic
p.s. Ramirez is a Christmas present that lasts all year long –
