Deja vu Div (all over again subsection)

Jim Wright over at Stonekettle Station has pretty much summed up my feelings on the current foreign policy discourse occuring down in the GWTP and in the media. It's long, and at times repetitive, but, if you care and have the memories I do, it deserves your time and attention.

http://www.stonekettle.com/2015/03/the-narrow-gate.html

Geography Div (Religious Poultry Subsection)

Betcha never wondered ..............

Friday Rambling Thoughts ... Div

Getting from Here to There subsection:
I'm spending a couple of hours a day now traversing between the beltways to be with the Goose Girl. She's improving and every day I see a new bit of her progress on the road to recovery. It's still a long road though.
It's interesting seeing Baltimore from the perspective of the 'lil car and not from the truck. I guess since I don't have passengers, I am allowed to yell at the idiots that inundate our highways and by-ways.
WTF is so hard about "Right (or Left) Lane Closed Ahead (or 1500 feet or 1/2 Mile) ??" It ain't like it's written in Serbo-Croatian or Arabic, eh ??? Maybe I'm the possessor of magic glasses that instantly translate it into English and I don't notice.
I always told my pax that Merging is a lost art; and Yielding is a sign of weakness. Boy, does that ever contribute to gridlock !
And why does it seem that the more expensive or higher performance the car; the worse the skills of its operator ??
I guess after more than 50 years and a million miles behind the wheel I can only wonder where a huge group of the vehicle (mis) operators learned their skills. My Father, now deceased, is still the best driver I've ever known and I was always on my best behavior when he was in the right seat.

Please, Tell Me Again Why   subsection:
Along the way, I keep hearing the all-news, weather, traffic and sports stations break in with THE VOICE OF DOOM announcing "now, the latest on the Syrian Crisis !!"
What crisis ?? They're having a Civil War. There are two sides that want to participate in the war and get to be in charge when it's over; and one side that just wants enough clean food and water and a warm place, out of the wind and rain, to shit. Each side is further divided into religious and/or ideological factions concerned with what's God's real name and/or how many times you have to bow when praying (or something equally as inane and stupid) and are busy killing each other in a variety of ways - some more efficient than others - and killing a lot of the non-caring, non-participants (that would probably like toilet paper also) in the process.
Nobody can really say who's who ; or what's what; or I Don't Know (.....third base!) and there sure as hell ain't nobody selling scorecards that make any sense and there ain't no instructions on how to mark the balls and strikes.

The one thing EVERYBODY (at least all the Very Important People ) are saying is that WE (that's US) have to do something because ....... well, because .... because we just have to !!!  "Just Because" seems like a pretty silly reason to further expend our blood and treasure (that what hasn't already been tragically wasted in the past ten years). And it makes even less sense to keep putting it on the credit card. No swingin' dick runnin' their mouth has even brought up that point yet.

I have yet to hear anyone state just why the Syrian Civil War has anything that may affect the national security of the USA. Please, please don't give me the "we got to stop them over there, etc" bullshit from the GWB adventures.
If you've been listening to any of the rhetoric of the "bomb 'em all" folks over the past ten years, MUSLIMS are the boogeymen and the root of all evil in today's world and we need to rid the world of this menace.  Hey, has anyone noticed, these are Muslims killing Muslims !! Isn't that making "our" job a lot easier ??? Don't any of you rubes have the guts to say that ??

So much for this rant. At least the folks here at Hopkins know what they're doing and don't bullshit me when I ask a question.

FEAR div (Elmer Fudd* subsection)

Two posts from out there on the intertubes about being afraid:

Jim Wright at Stonekettle Station sez:

They’re afraid of the government. They’re afraid of the president, they’re afraid of congress, they’re afraid of the judges. They’re afraid of socialism. They’re afraid of Nazis and communists. They’re afraid of liberals and progressives and RINOs and feminists and Prius-driving vegetarians. They’re afraid of their neighbors. They’re afraid of the North and afraid of the South and afraid of people from Chicago, and New York and Washington D.C. and California. They’re afraid of gangs and crime and terrorism.  They’re afraid of know-it-all college educated long hairs. They’re afraid of political correctness and affirmative action. They’re afraid of minorities and they’re afraid of immigrants and they’re afraid of uppity blacks and strong-willed women and smart Asians and dirty Latinos and murderous Muslims. They fear their own supposedly loving God and they’re afraid of everybody else’s deity too. They’re afraid of the Rapture and the Anti-Christ and the End Times. They’re afraid of Sharia Law and they’re afraid of the Pope and afraid of the Jews – and yet they’re afraid of atheists too. They’re afraid of immorality and pornography and the internet and cable TV and that Rock&Roll music. They’re afraid of social media, they’re afraid of Twitter and Facebook and the bloggers and the Goddamned lamestream media. They’re afraid the military might just take over and they’re afraid that the military isn’t powerful enough. They’re afraid of death and afraid of taxes. They’re afraid of science, of evolution and climate models and plate tectonics and carbon dating and sex education. They’re afraid of abortion and birth control and the morning after pill, but at the same time they’re also afraid people might be having sex and they’re afraid “those” people might be having a whole bunch of welfare babies that they’re afraid they’ll have to pay for. They’re afraid of North Korea and China and the long defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. They’re afraid that somebody might be coming to take all their guns and they’re afraid of all the crazy people with guns and they’re afraid that the government has too many guns.  They’re afraid of being poor but they’re afraid of the rich too. They’re afraid of the Bilderbergs and the Illuminati and the New World Order. They’re afraid of the the banksters and yet they’re deathly afraid of any laws that might restrict those self same power brokers. They’re afraid of losing their entitlements and they’re afraid the undeserving want entitlements too and more than anything they’re afraid that somebody somewhere might be getting something for nothing on the taxpayer dime, but they’re afraid of making those same “takers” pay for their own healthcare.  They’re afraid of chemicals in their food and genetically engineered crops, but they’re afraid of laws requiring that those same ingredients be fully disclosed by food producers because they’re afraid that might be bad for business. They’re afraid of obesity and heart disease and that our kids are a generation of blubbery little couch potatoes, but they’re afraid of Mayor Bloomberg and Michelle Obama.  They’re afraid of Hollywood violence and yet they’re also afraid that Sesame Street might be making their kids into prancing pacifist pisswillies. They’re afraid we’ll run out of oil or that some America hating dictator somewhere will cut the oil off – and yet at the same time they’re afraid of solar panels and wind towers and electric cars.

And Gordon at Alternate Brain forwards a post for all those who have forgotten what " America" is all about ( I know I get the e-mails from folks every day).

* "Be afwaid.  Be verwy afwaid."

Seasonal Celebration Div (WTF subsection)

The other nite I was watching the teevee and saw an ad for Toys'R'Us advertising toys for Easter.
Huh ?? I thought Easter was the celebration of the execution of a seditious Hebrew carpenter  renewal of life and the promise of spiritual redemption. It's bad enough that the legend of the birth of baby Jesus has been turned into enormous retail orgy; now, we are turning the observance of the arrival of spring into a cross between the recognition of the Winter Solstice and Halloween !!!
Though the birthdate of the historical Jesus is subject to doubt, the place of his death in the astronomical calendar can be reasonably ascertained through the Jewish calendar and the celebration of Passover (though the calendrical date is subject to debate).
I know, I know, the Gospels say, and scripture says and Sister Mary Rebecca has he ruler ready if there's any questioning of the legitimacy of the whole fairy tale story. But do we need to indulge in yet another spectacle of toys, gifts and candy ???
If you puke after watching the video, I won't mind.
Time to send a message to the various temples of Mammon.

Zombies of the Culture Wars .... div

They're Back !!!!!
Tomorrow is September 11; a pretty horrible thing happened on a wonderful fall morning (and tomorrow's weather here near the GWTP promises to be exactly the same).
My in-box is beginning to overflow with the crank missives about the "sign on the store door in a Houston mall."  - -  I'm sure you've gotten at least one - if not two or three. For those without any friends or relatives on the far-right (or the simply excitable) here it is:

The verbiage attached in the e-mail goes on to make other claims.
Here's the SNOPES cite  and my previous post on "Calendrical Dysfunction"
As I've said before, it does no use to argue. They'll be hauling this one out of the crazy-bag every year.
The memory of the folks that died in the Towers and the Pentagon deserves better.

Religion div (weirdness subsection)

Every time I read something like this, I just gotta wonder if:

a) his faith wasn't strong enough;
or
b) whatever supreme being sky-deity he was praying to was pissed off at him;
or
c) he was just plain wrong.

You decide ........ (and don't get me started on them what keep snakes (cute, cuddly creatures that they are) as pets.

Been Surfin' div

Fixer has a great post over at Alternate Brain: The Bomb ...

Follow the links therein (especially the one about Barry Goldwater  - - the one I remember) and enjoy.
Kinda like what I said early this month but with a bit more bite (and better pictures).

Random musings div

Kinda been bombarded with information lately ....it's a wonder my bear brain don't explode sometimes.

Let's see  - -
JP Morgan Chase (a great big "bank,") lost a lot of money. Now, the rest of the 1% involved are mad.
maybe the solution  (as Duncan Black says : " is to give them more free money."

Mittens doesn't remember what he said, but he stands by it.  And some half-wit Super-Pac Billionaire wants to smear the President because of that black preacher in Chicago. So fucking what ??? I thought Mr. Obama was a Kenyan Muslim, so HTF could some "christian" preacher in Chicago have any influence on him ???? Why can't these people get their shit together in one sock ?? (and why are they billionaires if they are soooo stooped ??).

While out in Arizona, the politics get weird and weider (or is it dumb and dumber ??).

Speaking of billions,"Facething" is now selling stock. Huh ??? They don't make anything, duh !!!
 ( Unless, of course, you count the alchemy of turning a perfectly good noun - -  "friend'  - -  into a verb).
Along with that, one of it's "inventors" has decided that he really doesn't want to be a real 'Merican and a job creator. The Senate is mad, but maybe he'll renounce his choice just like Michele  - -  the dimwit serving on the other side of the white dome thingee.

Meanwhile, despite Jamie's problems over at Chase, nothing still on where the money went from MF Global. I'll bet you know just what the "MF" stands for, eh ???

Maybe we should have a consumer version of the "Stand Your Ground" law present in so many states. Imagine, when a company, corporation or individual "threatens" you (and remember, "Corporations are people, my friend") the threatened party can stand his ground and defend himself, his home, his property  and his family. Ah, but therein lies anarchy.

I'm sure the mini-bears will continue to bombard me with more "stuff and nonsense"  - -  need to find them a job (or girlfriends).

Calendrical Dysfunction div

Several times every year I find this in my inbox (often repeats from the same sender).

WTF, over .............

It's amazing that so many folks don't know the difference between the Gregorian calendar and a Lunar calendar , on which so many religious holidays are calculated.
Ain't it amazing that Jesus was born on the same day EVERY year, but dies on a different one from year to year ?????

Gosh, Golly Sandy, in 2002, them Muslims celebrated the death of Imam Ali on Christmas Day !!! Talk about a war on Christianity !!!

This is the guy that is the holy saint of Shia Islam  - -  sort of like a Martin Luther of Christianity - - Sort of like the difference between Eastern Orthodox and Romam Catholicism  or Church of England or ..... well, you get the picture.

There could be a huge schism within the Fundamentalists when Billy Graham dies and several true believers (including his son) fight for his mantle. If there's only one true God, then why is he telling so much different shit to so many people ????

I've tried pointing this fact to the mailer, but it does absolutely no good.

So many of the "War on Religion" crowd sound just like the Know Nothings. Only the names, sects and dates have changed to protect the gullible.

Eternity div

Having come close to making this trip, I obviously have some feelings and opinions. Ones beliefs are as personal as your attendance to bodily functions  - - better to take care of them yourself (and believe me, I have the requisite experience). Once you start to applying or attributing them to someone else (whether individually or as a group) you are going to get into trouble.  Funny, never thought that bears might not consider this.

Naturally, one of the occupants of the "clown car" was offended. Fortunately, the judge (via Rude Pundit) is a bit more civil and possessed of reason.

Issues, div

While driving4$$ yesterday (had a good day and even foreigners tipped- better than the 'Mericans) the news, news, weather and sports seemed to revolve around a) Whitney Houston - dead at 48, and b) birth control.
The talking heads all seem concerned with what a bunch of supposedly celibate men worry about because they hear voices in their heads (or listen to someone else who does). Sure takes some thinkin' to figure out what they mean. It isn't like there are problems in this nation and the world that DON'T involve a woman's reproductive parts - like the economy, war in Afghanistan, dead turtles, poverty or whatever. And still no one seems to be asking women.
Nope. We gotta concern ourselves with zygotes. It's amazing that once they turn into "babies", the fault goes back to the women what birthed 'em. ("You should have thought about what you were doing").

Guess there's a lot of truth here:

Ya know, so far none of the chattering class has said that if we had "single payer," universal healthcare  in this country, this wouldn't be an issue. Just sayin'.

Shiny Thing div ... cont'd

So, the Newtster wins in SC. Now on to Florida. George Wallace won there in 72 (though as a Democrat), and we know what happened to him. Ya never know what will happen when you get south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Then there's the Mittster trying to spin the loss. He just don't get it  .... the Republican "base" don't really trust him ( in spite of the fact that he's "every thing they want to be") Maybe it 's because we already have the ideal candidate  - -  only problem is he's a Democrat.

Then there's the religion thing ....... So many folks still think that Mormons are a cult (well, any religion that won't admit you to their sanctuary .......... ). Of course the Mormons have so many things going for them things going for them.

Of course, the Founding Fathers basically felt there was no place for "religion" within the political structure, thus, Article VI, section III of the Constitution (the US one so revered by the Tea Party and Republicans - when it suits them) stating, "... no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the United States."
Then there's that inconvenient First Amendment thingee about "establishment of religion or free exercise thereof." What that means is you can't bring Heavenly Father, Jehovah, Yahweh, Allah, Jesus, the Buddha,  Flying Spaghetti Monster, Satan, Spider Grandmother (and so on for the uncounted names of the various and sundry greater and lesser deities out there in their many flavors, colours and manifestations) into the public arena under the sponsorship of "government." Get it ???
You are free to practice your beliefs in public and private, advertise them, annoy others with them; but you can't give them the power of government approval.

My beliefs are MINE. You may respect them or not. You may attempt to sway them, if you choose. That's your right, and possibly an edict of the tribe you belong to.  Every time one of the political class puts his or her religion on display, I immediately lose a modicum of respect for them. It's wonderful to have your "faith" but I'd rather you earn my respect and trust through your actions.

Bible div

Isn't it great that just about anything or anyone can be praised, condemned, justified, banned, encouraged, discouraged and so on by almost randomly picking out some passage of Scripture ???

Out there in Kansas, and it's not the only place a verse from Psalm 109 is being construed as a prayer to remove the President. Some say that it's an incitement for a violent and premature end to Mr. Obama's Presidency. Ah well, it's the Bible and it pretty much depends on your point of view.

Now, what if . the President decides to go to a church,  give the reading from the Old Testament and choose Psalm 109: which begins:

1	Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
2	for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me:          they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3	They compassed me about also with words of hatred;          and fought against me without a cause.
4	For my love they are my adversaries:          but I give myself unto prayer.
5	And they have rewarded me evil for good,          and hatred for my love.

Now, I guess a reasonable person may be tempted associate a face to surrounds that "mouth of the wicked (or deceitful)" - -  the uncharitable among us might call to mind John Boehner or Mitch McConnewhom the later verses call to have visited upon them all sorts of nasty things  - - unto whole generations  - - ( it does leave out more graphic things like pustulating sores and such ) . well you get the picture.

Imagine the explosion of viperous flak from the likes of Rush, Glen, Bill O  ........ well, you get the picture.

But, take it from Proverbs 18 :

7  A fool's mouth is his destruction,          and his lips are the snare of his soul.