If you could go to Loch Ness tomorrow and prove or disprove conclusively the existence of the monster, would you? Should you? When all the questions are answered, when all the superstitions are stilled, when science has unraveled all the mysteries, what will we do? Would you want to live in such a time? Would we be able to live then?

This is the opening series from a George R. R. Martin story. Now I have issues with Martin and his apparent inability to finish the Song of Fire and Ice series.(hint, hint George. Some of your fans are growing impatient and frustrated.) That aside, it made me think about the idea of wonder. The idea of curiosity. Science, in and of itself, is wonderful and, more often than not, creates more questions than it answers. I do not see this as a bad thing. I see the unknown and wonder as positive things. Without the awe that drives us to question, "What if?" or "I wonder...." we wouldn't have a tenth of the scientific discovery we've had today. Where did we lose this ability to question, to dream.

If you look at modern education we are spoon-fed from cradle to grave exactly what the 'experts' want us to know. When was the last time a teacher actively encouraged a student to think for themselves? I had one teacher in high school that genuinely encouraged this kind of independent thought. Most didn't, or couldn't, be bothered to take the time to deal with logical analysis. If it wasn't in the book they weren't interested. This is the kind of educational system we've created for the children of this country. We're creating drones. It's no wonder that so many technical and scientific jobs are leaving the country. Today's children come out of high school ill-equipped to make it through college and even more poorly equipped to do any job that involves anything more complicated than pushing a button or inserting tab A into slot B.

And now our government once again wants to show the public that they are "doing something" to fix the 'crisis' we're in right now. The reason that they're going to get away with it is because the few people that actually take the time to stop and think about what's happening and ask the right questions are a tiny minority. Most people hear the politicians hot air on TV and think they're going to get money for free. They don't pay attention to the fantastic job public education is doing now. They are incapable of thinking this through to realize that no money is free. TANSTAAFL people. If you don't know what that stands for shame on you. Now go look it up.

We have to get back to being a skeptical society. We have to question the experts and the authorities. We have to be able to look at the world around us and see when the reality doesn't match the garbage they're trying to force feed us. If we can't get back to that kind of independent, rational thought then we are doomed to failure. We'll be no different than the brainwashed hordes were in the USSR or are now in North Korea. It's not too late.....not yet anyway. I can easily envision a point within the next decade where this downhill slide is irreversible but we're not there yet.


On a completely personal note, a friend of mine passed away here recently. He was a Marine aviator in Vietnam. He was an attorney and, eventually, a judge here in Kansas. He was the epitome of a good man. Even after losing most of his leg to cancer I never once heard this man complain about anything or say an unkind word about anyone, even when he was well within his rights to do so. The Marines guarding the Pearly Gates have added another to their order. You will be missed my friend. You are missed.

Captain Max Opperman
USMC
Semper Fidelis

Nom per Deus mi amici

Election soundtrack

R.E.M's It's the End of the World As We Know It

Appropriate don't you think?


End of line.



UPDATE: For the throngs of people, all two of you, who have pointed out that the song above contains the line "and I feel fine." here's why I feel fine.

First, most of a bottle of Dalmore Cigar Malt tends to ensure that I feel no pain.

Second, and more important, the election wasn't the blowout that most people thought it would be. The electoral vote went his way in dramatic fashion but he's winning the popular vote by about 5%. Sounds like a lot until you factor in what went into his win. Six hundred million dollars only buys five percent? And lets not forget the complicity of the media in hiding everything that could make Obama look bad while crucifying his foes. Don't believe me? Go look for stories on Joe the plumber or Sarah Palin's tanning bed and see what you find. Then go look for stories about Obama or Biden and their history's. Any mention of Biden's daughter and her arrests? Nope. Any stories on the shady dealings Obama had with Rezko? Not outside Fox News.

So basically you have the perfect storm for democrats. An unpopular president. A financial crisis(caused by democrats, extended by democrats, and, when republicans tried to stop it, guaranteed by democrats). An ungodly ability to raise money, even questionable money. Massive turnout in previously apathetic demographics. And, to top it all off, a media that turns a blind eye to anything that might raise eyebrows on the democratic side, including the flat-out lies by people like Obama, Biden, Pelosi, and Reid regarding the Wall St. meltdown. Put that all together and Obama only won by 5%??? How the hell, with all that in his corner, did he only win the popular vote by 5%? Democrats will never see this kind of opportunity again. especially after the people begin to see just how little a democrat controlled government gives a damn about them or their needs. Welcome to the United Socialist States of America. Check your civil liberties at the door.

Welcome to Hope and Change....

Okay you obama supporters, if you need any more proof that you're on the wrong side of the battle here then there's somethin wrong with ya. Explain to me how it's okay for a private citizen to ask The Anointed One a question and then have his private life plastered all over the world for it? To the point that they are posting Joe's personal info all over the place, including information regarding his tax status and medical bills he owes. Not only that they've posted his ex-wife's info as well. Hell, Obama's campaign treasurer has tax liens on him and his companies but you don't hear any of that in the media. And given Obama's take on health care reform Joe should be a perfect poster boy for what Obama wants to do given his past due medical bills. So why shred him? Why get personal? Cuz throwing tantrums and calling people names is the extent of their debate skills. They can't deal with criticism or rational thought.

They go off on him not having a plumber's license(in Ohio you don't have to have one as an apprentice as long as your boss does) and then they go after his boss's license as well. What the fuck man? So if I ask Obama a question his supporters get to put all my personal info out there and tear my life apart lookin for dirt? Fuck that shit.

This should piss everybody off but far too many people are sitting in their basements rubbing their hands together in glee that the person who had the audacity to question Obama is getting "what he deserves." Obama went into his neighborhood. Obama was walkin around. this wasn't a setup. this wasn't a trap. this was a voter asking a politician a question and getting dragged through the mud for having the gall to ask it. This is the kind of president you want? These are the kind of people you want to associate with? Then fuck you too.

When your candidate is so weak that he has to have you worms crawling out of the woodwork to tear down anyone who dares question him then he's not good for this country. He's not going to be able to be the leader of the greatest country in the world. When you have to attack people instead of dealing with their arguments you're not ready for any kind of responsibility either.

Going after Joe is probably the most despicable thing any of you have done this campaign and that's sayin somethin. Molotov cocktails and hacking e-mail are really just the tip of the iceberg here. Don't believe me? Go look it up. Try thinking for yourself for once.

BTW, I know his first name is Samuel. So what? I go by my middle name too. The talking head goin after Joe this mornin on Fox apparently only considers first names real names cuz he kept sayin, "Joe isn't even his real name." Guess I've been lyin to people all these years then, including the DMV and the tax man cuz I use my middle name on EVERYTHING.

Bottom line, personally attacking someone just for asking a question is wrong. period. end of story. Be careful what kind of precedents you set people. Because I promise you that this is one chicken you won't want comin home to roost. Welcome to Hope and Change aka Recess on the Playground. Can't wait to see who gets picked last for kickball.

Yup, still a racist.

I say that because, according to John "Never Met A Marine I Couldn't Smear" Murtha, since I'm not voting for Obama I must be racist. It's amazing to me the level of stupidity that's shown up this campaign season. Obama was supposed to be the "post-racial" candidate. The one to help us move beyond seeing skin color and instead be able to see ability. Nice dream anyway.

So, tell me. Which candidate invoked race every time he turned around? Which candidate said, "oh, by the way, did I mention he's black?" Which candidate said, "I know I don't look like the other presidents on the dollar bills." Hmmm? Give up? Here's a clue: he's black. That shouldn't be a big surprise because he already told us all this. Over, and over, and over. If you want to play the race game that's your call but don't sit here and tell me you're above that and then play the same race-baiting bullshit that Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan have been doing for years. Of course, we shouldn't really have expected any different. After all, Obama was mentored at the knee of Rev. Jeremiah "God Damn America" Wright.

It's really startin to piss me off how much garbage is being spewed about race in this campaign. I really don't give a damn what color your skin is. Can you do the job? Yes? Then I'll consider you for the job. Period. End of story. Does racism still exist? Of course it does. Will it be the reason Obama loses? No. Because the reason Obama will end up losing is too many people in America don't agree with his politics and policies. They don't agree with socialism. They don't agree with Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrne, and Jeremiah Wright. They don't agree with Michelle Obama that this country is just now worthy of pride. And, like me, they don't agree with the implication that if they don't vote for Obama that they're racist.

That all being said I'm not a big fan of McCain. I disagree with him on far too many issues for me to be able to vote for him. Like the last few elections I'm voting for the lesser of two evils. I guess it's too much to ask for a candidate that I can actually support as opposed to simply holding my nose and punching the ticket.

On a related topic, can we please get some honest politicians in office somewhere? Of all the institutions in this country the right to vote should be the most sacred regardless of party. However, Ohio Sec. of State disagrees. Almost 200,000 potentially fraudulent voter registration entries? Not to mention the story that Michelle Malkin put out the other day about voters from outside Ohio all using the same address in Ohio to register to vote and getting absentee ballots even though they have nothing to do with Ohio. Throw in the ACORN issues in ten states, including them registering more voters in one state than actually live there, and you've got a huge mess that is being pretty much ignored by the media because the people involved in the fraud are supporting Obama.

You have a sheriff getting in trouble for supporting McCain while on the job but LEO's and DA's in Missouri flat out state they will use their position and power to stifle any negative comments about Obama and nothing...NOTHING is done about it. Welcome to America my friends. Free speech is allowed only when you agree with the media and it's socialist masters. Perhaps it is time to go John Galt. Or maybe Paul Revere or Thomas Jefferson.

Make no mistake, this country is in the middle of a cold civil war. Obama wins and it will no longer be a war. It will be a massacre. His supporters have already shown their willingness to resort to violence to shut up anyone who dares say anything negative about him. What makes you think that will change if he wins? The only thing that will change is that those who feel that success should be shared with those who haven't earned it will be in control. Those who feel that the people who bust their tails to make it big shouldn't be able to keep the rewards their work brought them. Those rewards should be doled out to others because, as Obama puts it, "when you spread the wealth around it's good for everyone." My response? FUCK THAT SHIT!!

This is an open comment to all who feel that the sweat of my brow is reward enough in itself. I refuse to bow to you. I refuse to allow you to play Legislative Robin Hood because some people can't cut it. I have failed. I have been without a job. I have been, and currently am, without health insurance. Guess what? Nobody owes me a damn thing. The government doesn't owe me a handout. The rich don't owe me a portion of their wealth. I failed. And I'm getting back up by myself. So fuck you and get your hand out of my wallet you greedy little bastards.


end of line

Top Ten: Barack vs Windows Vista

1) Vista has user access control. Obama has reporter access control and truth squads.

2) Vista has blue screen of death. Obama's teleprompter has the same problem.

3) Vista has the Evil that is Bill Gates. Obama has Tony Rezko, Bill Ayers, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Bernadine Dohrn, and Michelle Obama.

4) If Vista dies you can go to an older version called XP. If Obama dies we get an older version called Joe Biden.

5) Vista was created by a huge group of greedy corporate suits. Obama was created by a huge group of greedy politicians.

6) Vista has a very friendly appearance with no substance to back it up. Obama has a very friendly appearance with no substance to back it up.

7) Vista has many versions for different users. Obama has many versions for different voting blocks.

8) Vista was billed as being a positive change for users yet made many users wish they'd never changed. Obama is billed as being a positive change yet will make many taxpayers wish they've never voted for him.

9) Vista's source code is proprietary and thus unavailable to the public. Obama's early political history is covered up and thus unavailable to the public.

10) Vista is a top-heavy, resource-hogging, slow-responding, pain in the ass. Obama is.....well, maybe Microsoft should have called Vista Barack instead.

Support the Troops Motherfucker

Steve Almond recently posted an editorial that is apparently his attempt at gaining the prestigious Biggest Fucking Asshole and Waste of Oxygen award. The statue for this is, of course, a big puckering rectum.

Go read the editorial then come back. Done? Good. Now calm down. Put the gun down there skippy. Shooting him isn't the answer. Steve appears to believe that the troops, and by inference, those who support them are prone to violence and trigger happy. Normally I would be the first to disagree with him but i have a violent reaction to stupidity and Steve appears to have a terminal case.

His comment about how the "the most insidious byproduct of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has been a reflexive sanctification of the military" is the most infuriating thing I've ever read. Period. So let me get this straight there bucko, the most underhanded and deceitful result from 9/11 was the fact that people decided the military was worth supporting? It wasn't the passing of the most invasive legislation ever in the Patriot Act? It wasn't the creation of the largest government increase ever in the Dept. of Homeland Security? Nope. It was the people of this country deciding that the military that fights, bleeds, and sometimes dies for them was worth backing to the hilt. Good call there Steve. I'm glad to know that you're here to explain to we proles that that things we believe in are simply our knee-jerk reaction to one of the most tragic events in our country's history. Guess none of us could have ever supported the military before that date. That simply never occurred to you did it? Cuz what kind of inbred, uneducated hick would support the military without a reason?

Here's the difference between American's and people who simply live in this country. Psst, that would be you Steve. You require the military to be involved in something you approve of in order to support them. American's don't. We understand that it takes a special kind of person to willing offer themselves up as the shield between us and the evil in the world.

But, for arguments sake lets apply your logic to other government funded programs. If, in order to support something, I am required to have full agreement with the program then I no longer support Medicaid, Welfare, any pork-barrel projects, raises for civil servants, and, of course, the IRS. There are myriad other programs out there that don't feel "morally necessary", as you so eloquently put it, so I refuse to support them. In fact, I refuse to support the bailout of AIG, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. There's no morally justifiable reason for the government to do that. I'm waiting anxiously for your editorial on those actions as things you aren't supporting now.

You go on to make a comment about there being a lack of "financial and moral oversight" for the military. Does that explain the "guilty until proven innocent" assault on the Marines accused in Haditha? We've got soldiers crippled by a set of ROE's so ridiculously stringent that our own troops are hesitant to fire back at times for fear of being brought up on murder charges. Don't believe me? Ask the troops. You could ask Seal Team 10 but the only survivor of that team has already answered that question you pathetic little twit. We hold our troops to a standard unmatched EVER in history. The fact that you choose to ignore this simple fact and instead make comments about "atrocities" and "savagery"committed by our troops without a single source cited says an amazing amount about your ethical standards. The sad thing is that even if you had just one example you'd use that as proof that all of our troops are guilty. So, since one left-wing liberal committed acts of terrorism, can you say William Ayers, are you all bomb throwing cowards?

I'm guessing that you don't like you're own pathetic standards applied anywhere other than your own personal agendas but I thought you might want to see just how full of shit you really were. But, call me crazy, I have the feeling that you have no issue with the blatant hypocrisy you're exhibiting cuz, as Misha always said, "If standards are good, double standards must be twice as good."

I do have one last question Steve, do you have enough mouthwash to get the taste of your own bullshit out of your mouth?

end of line.

Verbal Beatdown

Hey Rudy: Biden said he didn't get his veep nomination in writing. You were a US Attorney at one point. Anything he can do if Obama changes his mind again?

Hey Sarah: Obama called. He'd like you to stop kicking him in the balls. And he says his wife wears lipstick. Does that make her a hockey mom or a pit bull? He's confused.