Late Halloween night.
He collided with a train.
Trains win EVERY SINGLE TIME.
He wore a Deputy Sheriff's uniform, complete with (real) badge.
Returning from a party, he had a load of ethyl alcohol on board.
He was in trouble. If he truly was a Deputy, he was in a HEAP of trouble.
The ER had called the Sheriff's department for information. All they could do was affirm an officer by that name worked for them.
Both his femurs were broken. I've written before about the force required to do that...
Force so powerful it can burst or dislodge organs from their attachment points.
He definitely needed the helicopter.
Whether or not he was a Deputy had no effect on his medical care.
But somehow it did affect the stress level of all providing the care...
Were we dealing with someone who, like a soldier, regularly put his life on the line for others?
If so, what would cause him to be so intoxicated, even on a Halloween night?
This accident would be a life altering event, no matter what.
Would his job also be in jeopardy?
We loaded and transported him to the trauma center, still not knowing his official status.
Only later did we hear our patient's brother had loaned him his uniform for a family Halloween party.
And he survived.
31 October 2008
Compare and Contrast
Common sense isn't common.
This guy was brilliant.
Compare this video to the "no worry about my gas tank, no worry about my mortgage" video below.
Vote. Use your "un"common sense.
(Stolen at Fatale Abstraction.)
This Election's BIG Loser
The media.
And as a result, the news consuming public.
No matter the outcome, the winner of this election will be considered illegitimate, because our news organizations have failed us.
I don't think we yet realize how big a deal that is.
And as a result, the news consuming public.
No matter the outcome, the winner of this election will be considered illegitimate, because our news organizations have failed us.
I don't think we yet realize how big a deal that is.
Via Email From a Friend-
Dear Fellow Business Owner
As a Business owner who employs 30 people, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barack Obama will be our next President, and that my Taxes and Fees will go up in a BIG way.
To compensate for these increases, I figure that our customers will have to see an increase in my fees of about 8%. I will also have to lay off six of my employees. This really bothered me as I believe we are family here and didn't know how to choose who will have to go. So, this is what I did.
I strolled thru the parking lot and found eight Obama bumper stickers on my employees cars. I have decided these folks will be the first to be laid off.
I can't think of more fair way to approach this problem. If you have a better idea, let me know.
I am sending this letter to all business owners that I know.
Sincerely
Ward
Utopia Is Coming. Don't Worry, Be Happy!
Life is just gonna be swell:
Barry will bring us heaven, right here on earth!
Thanks again Instapundit
Barry will bring us heaven, right here on earth!
Thanks again Instapundit
30 October 2008
But Wait, There's More!
Did you watch Barry's infomercial?
Wouldn't it have been nice if he had held a 30 minute news conference instead?
Maybe then we'd know what we need to know about the man.
Wouldn't it have been nice if he had held a 30 minute news conference instead?
Maybe then we'd know what we need to know about the man.
Burning Questions-
We just returned from another enjoyable weekend spent with old H.S. classmates.
Saturday night, clear and chilly, was comfortably spent around a wonderful bonfire.
I made a comment that was as much a question as statement of fact, then promised myself I'd find the answer:
Wood doesn't burn.
Agree or disagree?
Look it up.
And another burning question-
I spend a great deal of time with Mr. Lycoming's product purring along behind me.
That purring is the result of some pretty violent stuff going on in that reciprocal, internal combustion engine.
Most of us have at least an idea of how that engine works, but...
When the spark plugs spark and ignite the fuel/air mixture, is that an explosion?
That fire obviously has to progress mighty quickly.
Your answer?
Saturday night, clear and chilly, was comfortably spent around a wonderful bonfire.
I made a comment that was as much a question as statement of fact, then promised myself I'd find the answer:
Wood doesn't burn.
Agree or disagree?
Look it up.
And another burning question-
I spend a great deal of time with Mr. Lycoming's product purring along behind me.
That purring is the result of some pretty violent stuff going on in that reciprocal, internal combustion engine.
Most of us have at least an idea of how that engine works, but...
When the spark plugs spark and ignite the fuel/air mixture, is that an explosion?
That fire obviously has to progress mighty quickly.
Your answer?
29 October 2008
Half And Half
Ha.
From a comment to a post at Epi's blog-
Him: "You know, he's half black and half white. Is it the black part you don't like or the white part?"
Me: "It's not the black or the white, it's the red."
My feelings exactly.
From a comment to a post at Epi's blog-
Him: "You know, he's half black and half white. Is it the black part you don't like or the white part?"
Me: "It's not the black or the white, it's the red."
My feelings exactly.
The "Talented Tenth"
...Been a while since I checked on Rattler Gator.
That's a mistake.
He always gives me hope for change.
That's a mistake.
He always gives me hope for change.
Pravda, Izvestia, et al...
If you are not afraid of this election, you must be clueless:
Read John's post,
Then read this satire(?)
My comment at John's blog:
"The only difference between us and the old Soviet Union now is that the government is not controlling the release of information...
liberal media outlets are.
Government control of information will start 4 November."
I asked before and I'll ask again-
Why would any Jew vote for this guy?
Now add to that-
Why would anyone?
Read John's post,
Then read this satire(?)
My comment at John's blog:
"The only difference between us and the old Soviet Union now is that the government is not controlling the release of information...
liberal media outlets are.
Government control of information will start 4 November."
I asked before and I'll ask again-
Why would any Jew vote for this guy?
Now add to that-
Why would anyone?
28 October 2008
Three Generations, From "Greatest" To "Gimme".
My Dad was a World War Two Veteran.
Awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, at our dinner table he was a living history lesson.
Looking around at my contemporaries I find most of them also had live, talking examples of what it takes to preserve the freedoms granted to us in the Constitution sharing their homes.
Everyone calls them "The Greatest Generation".
Why?
When needed, they didn't shirk...
They answered the call.
The next generation, my generation, was different.
Many were like me...
Raised by a brave, unselfish man, there was no question what I had to do when I was called.
Running to Canada was out of the question.
Getting married to avoid duty was out of the question.
I served.
But many, for whatever reason, did not. I've heard all the explanations...
"Illegal", "Immoral", "Unnecessary".
If you agree with that line of thought, come talk to some of my Vietnamese friends.
Prepare to be embarrassed, or worse.
Now comes the "Gimme" generation.
Some of them come here and comment.
Intelligent and quite able to speak their minds, they have all the answers to life's problems because they were raised in an environment where self-esteem was all-important.
Many have never felt the sting of switch or belt against their buttocks as children...
That would hurt their egos. That would embarrass them.
Better to use logic with them, right?
Rationalize with a precocious 7 year old.
But what has that attitude gotten us?
Selfish, self-centered kids, raised in a poor teaching environment, they have almost no ability to discern what is best in the long-term for themselves, for their children.
They are young enough to have never seen the abject failure that Socialism has brought in EVERY country that has tried it.
(One misguided soul responded that Socialism was successful in Sweden.
She had no idea of the social unrest there, and also didn't know Sweden is slowly moving towards Capitalism to resolve problems. They're also considering joining NATO because they cannot afford to defend themselves against aggressors.)
So here we are, facing an important election with large numbers of these "me!" generation kids fainting to the sounds of the most unqualified, misguided man to ever run for the office of President of the United States.
No amount of logic seems to make a dent...
"Don't confuse me, I already have my mind made up."
In spite of millions and millions being spent... lots of talk with nothing being said... our only hope is that many of these kids have actually turned out pretty well... (take a look at our all-volunteer military.)
The poll numbers ARE tightening.
Is the "in the tank" big media in for a huge surprise?
Won't surprise me.
Awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, at our dinner table he was a living history lesson.
Looking around at my contemporaries I find most of them also had live, talking examples of what it takes to preserve the freedoms granted to us in the Constitution sharing their homes.
Everyone calls them "The Greatest Generation".
Why?
When needed, they didn't shirk...
They answered the call.
The next generation, my generation, was different.
Many were like me...
Raised by a brave, unselfish man, there was no question what I had to do when I was called.
Running to Canada was out of the question.
Getting married to avoid duty was out of the question.
I served.
But many, for whatever reason, did not. I've heard all the explanations...
"Illegal", "Immoral", "Unnecessary".
If you agree with that line of thought, come talk to some of my Vietnamese friends.
Prepare to be embarrassed, or worse.
Now comes the "Gimme" generation.
Some of them come here and comment.
Intelligent and quite able to speak their minds, they have all the answers to life's problems because they were raised in an environment where self-esteem was all-important.
Many have never felt the sting of switch or belt against their buttocks as children...
That would hurt their egos. That would embarrass them.
Better to use logic with them, right?
Rationalize with a precocious 7 year old.
But what has that attitude gotten us?
Selfish, self-centered kids, raised in a poor teaching environment, they have almost no ability to discern what is best in the long-term for themselves, for their children.
They are young enough to have never seen the abject failure that Socialism has brought in EVERY country that has tried it.
(One misguided soul responded that Socialism was successful in Sweden.
She had no idea of the social unrest there, and also didn't know Sweden is slowly moving towards Capitalism to resolve problems. They're also considering joining NATO because they cannot afford to defend themselves against aggressors.)
So here we are, facing an important election with large numbers of these "me!" generation kids fainting to the sounds of the most unqualified, misguided man to ever run for the office of President of the United States.
No amount of logic seems to make a dent...
"Don't confuse me, I already have my mind made up."
In spite of millions and millions being spent... lots of talk with nothing being said... our only hope is that many of these kids have actually turned out pretty well... (take a look at our all-volunteer military.)
The poll numbers ARE tightening.
Is the "in the tank" big media in for a huge surprise?
Won't surprise me.
27 October 2008
Honoring Our Heroes-
Vote as they will vote.
(The comments are interesting.)
UPDATE:
Read this, and then the comments to the article.
(And my sense is that this is EXACTLY how the election will play out!
(The comments are interesting.)
UPDATE:
Read this, and then the comments to the article.
(And my sense is that this is EXACTLY how the election will play out!
26 October 2008
25 October 2008
Juno
I just finished watching Juno.
What a pleasant surprise.
Laughed.
Cried.
There are certain moments in movies when an actor can knock me out...
No lines to speak, the acting is all done with facial expression and body language.
In "Tootsie" Charles Durning amazed me with his expression in the bar scene when he comes to the realization that Tootsie is a man.
Ellen Page has a solo scene with no lines where you know she has made an important decision, and the young actress pulls it off.
Bravo Ellen!
Casting is great. Everyone is believable. I liked Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner was excellent. Michael Cera, an actor I had never seen before, does a wonderful, understated job as Juno's best friend/paramour.
J.K. Simmons, playing Juno's Dad, steals every scene he's in.
Rent it.
I liked it enough that I will again, later.
What a pleasant surprise.
Laughed.
Cried.
There are certain moments in movies when an actor can knock me out...
No lines to speak, the acting is all done with facial expression and body language.
In "Tootsie" Charles Durning amazed me with his expression in the bar scene when he comes to the realization that Tootsie is a man.
Ellen Page has a solo scene with no lines where you know she has made an important decision, and the young actress pulls it off.
Bravo Ellen!
Casting is great. Everyone is believable. I liked Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner was excellent. Michael Cera, an actor I had never seen before, does a wonderful, understated job as Juno's best friend/paramour.
J.K. Simmons, playing Juno's Dad, steals every scene he's in.
Rent it.
I liked it enough that I will again, later.
24 October 2008
VooDoo Economics
Lots of folks spouting Comrade Obama's line...
"Tax the rich. Spread that income around."
And you know what, on the surface that doesn't sound so bad...
Until you start using your brain a little.
I've blogged before about basic Sociology and Psychology.
No one refuted my comments then, they just ignored them and repeated the Socialist Party line...
"Stick it to the rich guy. He got that money through greed anyway."
As I see it, there are three problems with that thinking:
1. You are still rewarding poor behavior, and therefore will get more of it.
2. Obama's plan to soak the rich by increasing Capital Gains taxes, while eliciting a "go get those fat cats, Tiger", from the low-IQ crowd, will work negatively in another arena he hopes to improve- Job creation.
If I'm a "fat cat" and you increase my cost of doing business, I'm either gonna slash my costs, maybe by laying off employees, or pass those costs off to taxpayers and consumers as an expense-
the cost of doing business. Or alternatively I'll move my production facility offshore to avoid those costs altogether. Fat Cat won't pay them at all...
The consumer, and frequently the POOR consumer, will suffer most.
3. And back to Capital Gains tax increases-
Think this will only hurt the upper 5%?
Think because you aren't as rich as "Joe the Plumber" you don't pay Captital Gains taxes?
WRONG AGAIN BUNKY!
You own stocks, right?
Like me, you have stock in BIG OL' TERRIBLE OIL, right?
No?
Are you sure?
Got an IRA?
Got a 401k or 403b or any other retirement plan?
Own a mutual fund?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you probably own oil stocks.
You also pay Capital Gains taxes, either personally or as an expense of the plan.
Barack Obama wants to give you a tax increase.
Where's he coming up with this "95% won't pay more in taxes" lie?
Why aren't the masses catching on to the impossibility of what he's promising?
"Tax the rich. Spread that income around."
And you know what, on the surface that doesn't sound so bad...
Until you start using your brain a little.
I've blogged before about basic Sociology and Psychology.
No one refuted my comments then, they just ignored them and repeated the Socialist Party line...
"Stick it to the rich guy. He got that money through greed anyway."
As I see it, there are three problems with that thinking:
1. You are still rewarding poor behavior, and therefore will get more of it.
2. Obama's plan to soak the rich by increasing Capital Gains taxes, while eliciting a "go get those fat cats, Tiger", from the low-IQ crowd, will work negatively in another arena he hopes to improve- Job creation.
If I'm a "fat cat" and you increase my cost of doing business, I'm either gonna slash my costs, maybe by laying off employees, or pass those costs off to taxpayers and consumers as an expense-
the cost of doing business. Or alternatively I'll move my production facility offshore to avoid those costs altogether. Fat Cat won't pay them at all...
The consumer, and frequently the POOR consumer, will suffer most.
3. And back to Capital Gains tax increases-
Think this will only hurt the upper 5%?
Think because you aren't as rich as "Joe the Plumber" you don't pay Captital Gains taxes?
WRONG AGAIN BUNKY!
You own stocks, right?
Like me, you have stock in BIG OL' TERRIBLE OIL, right?
No?
Are you sure?
Got an IRA?
Got a 401k or 403b or any other retirement plan?
Own a mutual fund?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you probably own oil stocks.
You also pay Capital Gains taxes, either personally or as an expense of the plan.
Barack Obama wants to give you a tax increase.
Where's he coming up with this "95% won't pay more in taxes" lie?
Why aren't the masses catching on to the impossibility of what he's promising?
How's Your 401K/IRA Doin'?
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