Blog Pandering

OK, I been in a funk as of late. Just can't seem to get the thoughts out of the head and onto the screen.
Nobody has pissed me off.
Nothing has inspired me.
I got nothin.
I feel so... Kal-ish.
Going out on a limb here, and gonna try something different this time.

Throw a topic my way.
Ask me a question.
(either here, or through private email: addy in the profile)
Anything at all.

We'll see how this works.
Come on, don't let me down.


Oh yeah... as for Annabella, up at the top of this page: Ain't she cute?
Of course, she has absolutely nothing to do with content of this posting. It's just that this guy has got me in a slightly nostalgic mood. Must've been something he said...

Too Funny, Had To Share

Assmonkey

Assmonkey: best defined as any disagreeable idiot who has successfully combined being an asshole with the brainpower of a monkey.

Similar to an Asshat, but multiplied by a factor 9.73.

Umm....

Off to your right, top of the sidebar, you will see a graphic.

The story behind it is here.

As Father to a Son, I can't help but feel heart wrenching sorrow for a friend of a friend of a friend, an obviously great blogger who until now I had no knowledge of.

Follow the links, and may The Spirit move you.

As If Islam Didn't Look Stupid Enough Already...

Nearly twenty years ago, a rarely read author, Salman Rushdie, was rocketed to international recognition when thousands of Religion of Peace followers took to the streets in violent demonstrations across the globe, all in protest of a stupid piece of fiction nobody with a life would've ever bothered to read anyway.

To this day, I know of only one person who has read the most famous book of the modern age. And he is a Muslim. His take: it was a goofie, hard to read thing that made little sense. A big waste of time and money, and a public crime against paper and ink. And not the least bit offensive to his Muslim sensibilities.

Adding further bewilderment to the whole situation, the Queen of England has seen fit to reward Rushie with an honorary knighthood for writing books nobody much cares to read anyway. (Now will you believe me when I say this old woman is the recipient of too much to-do?)

Kinda like Paris Hilton, Rushie has managed to make a career out of being famous for being famous.

So what do we have now?
Thanks to the Queen, whose only purpose is to exist in order to serve no other purpose (and we thought Paris had an easy gig), once again, thousands of Islamic assmonkies take to the streets, burning things, and shouting. demanding. threatening. screaming of death and violence to people they don't know, over a book none of them has read, and nobody else would've ever heard of, if they hadn't been acting like retards in the first place.
Read about it here.

Standing Your Ground

At Ben's place, the topic of 'turning the other cheek' was touched upon. Though not the subject of the post, it became a side issue.
I want to clarify, if I can, a take on this Biblical passage, and the one I accept as most workable in the context of the entire canon of scripture and Tradition. The comment section of a posting just isn't a suitable enough spot for me to do this so I'm doing it here.

In Matthew 5:38-41 Jesus is quoted:
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

Let's break this down and start at the beginning...

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Notice Jesus specifies the right cheek. This presumably would have to be done with the back of the right hand, as the left hand was not to be used (Except for unclean purposes. This was the custom, and still is.) Such a slap is a rebuking act, like from a master to a servant, parent to child, husband to wife, and is meant to be insulting or belittling It is not an invitation to brawl.
By offering the offender the left cheek as well, a return strike would have to be open-handed, or closed-fisted, and seen as clear challenge to a knock-down drag-out between what is now(though briefly) two societal equals.

In a class society, such as that of Biblical times, nobody of higher status would want to risk an ass whipping at the hands of one of lower status, especially one whom he had just elevated to that level, although briefly, through an act of pride.

Keeping in mind that Biblical times were violent times, where blood and gore were not just a part of daily life, but public spectacle as well. Receiving such a rebuking slap was really just a minor slight. Just to remind you where you stood.
And not an occasion to start a war over.

"And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well."

This would render you naked. Nudity itself was not a shame. Instead, the one who witnessed and created such nakedness was the one shamed. ("look what you did to me, you pig!")

"If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

This is a reference to a Roman law of compulsory service, which allowed a soldier to require a civilian to carry his pack, or anything else, up to one mile. And not further. By going the extra mile, the civilian is exposing the soldier to punishment for violating the law. Do this once or twice, and the soldiers would be hesitant to seek you out next time they're looking for a chump.

The lesson here is not so much one of pacifism, but of passive resistance.
Jesus isn't telling us to be wimps and sissies.
He is teaching us to take a stand for our dignity, and turn the tables on our offenders.

Bragging Rights

Seattle has the Space Needle.
Chicago has the Sears Tower.
San Francisco has the Golden Gate.
Nearly every great American city can brag of some feat of structural engineering that just makes them oh.. so.. special.

Well, it just so happens that the lowest common denominator city of Fort Smith is not to be ignored,either.

You get hit with it soon after disembarking at Fort Smith Airport. Heading to the restroom, you cant miss it, right up there on the wall, the proud proclamation that lets you know that right here, right now, you are about to enter a special place, unlike any other place in the world, an architectural wonder only somebody in Fort Smith can truly appreciate:

I cant help but think this place costs more to build and maintain than the typical Fort Smith homestead.







They got their pride, ya know?

Hollowed Ground

Fort Smith boasts a long history of ruggedness and promotes it's place in history as the 'edge of civilization' in the 1800's. Before booking the trip, I sent away for a visitor's packet that primarily talked about the Fort Smith Historical District and Museum.

A big bunch of hooey, for the most part. Centered most heavily on Judge Isaac Parker,the famous "Hanging Judge" of lore. The whole "Historical District" thing could have fit within two acres. I guess truth in advertising doesn't pertain to tourist guides.

The National Cemetery was a lot more lively (pun intended).
Rather small as national cemeteries go, it is a final resting place for American fighting men dating back from The War Of Northern Aggression to present day.


Strolling among the thousands of headstones, realizing that these relatively few don't even begin to scratch the surface of the number of sacrifices made on behalf of our nation, I couldn't help but feel renewed respect for those who are still fighting today, regardless of the politics behind it.

Lesson Learned: Speed Limits Are For Real

Here in California, posted speed limits, whatever they be, are primarily suggestions. Try going 55mph on the highway and you will likely get run over. And that's in the right-hand lane.
You see, we may have a right-hand lane, but every lane is a passing lane, and there is no such thing as a slow lane.
You can go 85mph even in the 55mph zone if everybody else is doing it(and they usually are) without running too big a risk of being bothered by the cops.

Well, my first morning in Arkansas I was taught differently. Cruising a down slope, in a very unpopulated area near the airport, nobody near for half a mile, some cop pulls out of a mostly hidden spot along the road and pulls me over. My crime: going 50mph in a 40mph zone.
Taking my license and information, after asking a few questions about my presence so far from home,(No, Sir. I have no people here.), he retreated to his patrol car and started talkin through his radio.
A few minutes went by, and he still hadn't returned, and I just sat there, wondering what all the fuss was.
And kept on waiting.
Finally, at about the 15 minute mark, I started to worry. Last time a traffic stop took this long I was, unwittingly, on my way to jail.
Right about this time, as I'm thinking the worst, I see a second patrol car coming up the road toward us. Yup, I knew it. If only knew what for.(Well, I did have an idea what for, but I'll keep that to myself for now).
A few seconds later,to my relief, the second patrol car passed us by... and kept on going. whew!

So I just sat there, watching the cop in my rear view, as more minutes ticked by. He was still on the radio.
Still talking about me.
Now I'm gettin impatient.
What the hell is so damned interesting about me?
Come on dude. Bust me or not, just do it.

Finally...
Cop walks over to me, I notice he's not reaching for cuffs, but does have a ticket book in his hand.
OK. That's cool. I'll take it.
Handing me the citation, I notice, big letters across the top:WARNING
Warning? What the hell is this?

Then Cop proceeded to lecture me on safety, being attentive, and all the horrible accidents,blahblahblah...
jeeezus.
It felt like I was still in driver's ed 27 years ago.
What's next? A note home to Mom?

For good measure, I collected another one of these WARNING chits two days later,along with another lecture, for doing 46 in a 35 zone.

Oh, well.
They do things different here.
Sure beats a ticket. And a fine.
And it sure ain't California.

Time To Play Catch Up

A guy leaves town for a few days and all the traffic dries up. My,my.. what a fickle crowd you are. Next time, take the Islamic porn lurkers with you, dammit!

Where was I? Oh yeah, tales from Fort Smith.
Day One and Two: I guess there was some sort of radical thunderstorm type stuff going in Dallas. My flight outta Orange County was delayed 2 hours waiting for the plane to arrive after being delayed in Dallas. My connector to Fort Smith was also delayed, as was everything to and from Dallas that day. Eventually, I arrived sometime around 8:30 pm instead of the 4:00 pm as originally scheduled. Too bad my bags didn't. I had to show up at the airport again in the morning to pick up the luggage they originally lost in Dallas.

Monday morning, I made a visit to what is arguably the most prominent, and oldest, landmark in the city: Immaculate Conception Church.
Originally starting out as a log church, the present structure was completed in 1900.
It's visibly striking in contrast to the surrounding city.

And the interior didn't disappoint either. I made a point to visit everyday, for personal reasons(more specifically, off to the left).



Also, on the grounds of the church is another historical landmark: What remains of Zachary Taylor's HQ, the hearth, where he prepared for the war with Mexico. Couldn't help but think: this may be a point in the next US-Mexico boundary line by the time George Bush gets through with us.

From The Notepad:

Arkansas women really dig me. "What kin i getcha,Hon?" "Be raht witya,Dear." "Moe coffee,Dahlin?". I've never felt so loved.

I much prefer the 90 degree weather combined with thick-as-fog humidity to the 90 degree dry heat of Southern California.

Waffle House: Grits,eggs, and toast served up fast; and a damn good cuppa joe. What more does a man need?

During the week, you can always get the $100 room for $45 if you know how to work it. Fort Smith is no exception.

The posted speed limit: they mean it! ("This is not California,Sir"). Folks here might be laid back, but the cops are anal.

Only two sports teams matter: the Razorbacks and the Sooners. Acknowledging one automatically denies the existence of the other.

Checking your bags to Dallas/Fort Worth is easy. Getting them from there to Fort Smith is something entirely different.

Chinese restaurants in Fort Smith ain't worth a damn...

but the BBQ joints are The Shit.

Arkansas beer is 5%, but not on Sunday. Oklahoma beer is 3.2%, every day. My advice: buy extra beer on Saturday in Arkansas.

Just for giggles, I put $1 in a Cherokee Casino slot machine. One play later, I had a free drink, and $1.50 credit. I cashed out and left.

Folks in Arkansas are uppity toward the folks from Oklahoma, and look down on them. Oklahoma folks look down on the Arkansas folks for being all uppity about Arkansas.
Go figure...

Not everybody in Oklahoma has a broken down pick-up in the front yard. A lucky few have rusted-out school buses. It must be a status thing.

Be Back Soon

I'm off in the morning.
See ya all Friday.

I'm Starting To Like The Impeachment Idea

Back in the 1990's, didn't the American Lung Association announced that they had eliminated tuberculosis in this country? Things are different now, with TB on the rise once again.
Most infamously, this latest widely publicized case of the international traveler infected with a rare form. Stopped at the US-Canada border when his passport flagged a warning, the border agent let him in anyway, and the latest is that said border agent has since been relieved of duty (fired), and rightly so.

Since the American Lung Association made it's announcement, TB has seen a rise in reports among the communities infested with large amounts of illegal immigrants Mexicans. Here in Orange County, I read the reports and keep up on the local news. I've had to take my kids down for testing on direction from school authorities due to another infected Mexican kid being discovered.

Orange County, my current home, has been hit fairly hard by the wave of illegal immigration since the early 90's. And all this TB is coming to us via our southern border. All with the implied consent of the Bush Administration. Say what you will about this problem being 21 yrs long, or how border control was really lost in the 1990's, but last report I've read about pegged fully one-half of all illegals currently in this country as having arrived just in the past six years. These are Bush's babies. A direct result of his non-enforcement. And by connection, this is Bush's TB outbreak.

If the feds are going to relieve a lowly border agent from his duties because he let a TB infected person through the border, and rightly so, isn't it about time we relieve George Bush of his duties?