(I've also seen it spelled "Taqiyya".)
Are you familar with the term? If you are, you're a step ahead of this old rotorhead. I was quite aware of the concept, but had never heard the term to describe it.
The night before Christ's execution, Peter was asked if he knew Christ. Fulfilling prophecy, he denied Jesus three times.
Peter was ashamed and mortified at his own behavior.
Christians are supposed to be strong in their faith...
The faith builds a strong foundation for trust. When you can trust those around you, society can flourish and grow.
Muslims are taught a little differently.
If their lives are threatened they can lie, cheat, and deceive without religious repercussions.
That doctrine is called "Taqiya".
What sort of culture is built on such a foundation?
Now, walk another step with me-
When you hear Obama administration officials talk about how closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay and bringing these followers of Allah to the U.S. will strengthen us as a society and build goodwill between us and the rest of the world, think of Taqiya.
When you hear what a terrible thing waterboarding is, think of Taqiya.
When you hear Navy Seals have beaten a Muslim prisoner, think of Taqiya.
When you hear President(?) Obama spent several of his formative years in Islamic schools in Indonesia...
Think of Taqiya!
In spite of what this administration would have you believe, WE ARE AT WAR.
And right now, because we want to believe "everyone is just like us"...
We're losing.
30 November 2009
Precious Metals, @ 27November
Gold closed at $1175.50, another record high, up from $1146.80 last week.
Silver's close was at $18.49, up from $18.44 last week.
It's gonna be interesting to see the impact the Dubai implosion will have on all markets this week!
Think you oughta climb aboard this train?
Silver's close was at $18.49, up from $18.44 last week.
It's gonna be interesting to see the impact the Dubai implosion will have on all markets this week!
Think you oughta climb aboard this train?
29 November 2009
Band Of Brothers, Again.
The war in Europe is over, thanks in large part to the efforts of the brave men of "Easy Company". These men watch newsreels of the terrible struggle against the Japanese, and have been told only a certain number of them that meet an arbitrary threshold will be discharged and sent safely home... the rest will soon be transported halfway around the world to help finish the job against the Japanese.
In preparation for that likelihood, the company once again begins to train, replacements and old-salts alike...
Physical training, weapons training, tactical training.
There is a scene in that last episode showing a bunch of men who have been through the trial by fire together, out on a "patrol" in Austria, honing the skills that will be required in the Pacific theater. They hear a noise and a halt is signaled by the patrol leader. Looking around, they see a magnificent deer, at the alert, beautiful antlered head held high. Several of the men take aim on the creature...
Fresh venison would be a welcome addition to the chow the ARMY has been feeding them.
But the moment is magic... They're surrounded by beautiful unsullied forest and mountains depicted on picture post-cards. They all look at this gorgeous living thing and they can't pull the trigger. It turns and scampers away.
The scene was one of many that was so wonderful it made the tears flow, because I knew the feeling...
Before being drafted I enjoyed rabbit hunting. It was a chance to get out with the guys... to share an experience out of doors, and although the rabbits I shot always ended up on another's table, that meat was never wasted.
But hunting a creature that "hunts you" destroyed my desire to shoot animals. I haven't shot that old single-shot 16 gauge shotgun since 1964.
You may remember one of the channels aired "Band of Brothers" months ago and I commented I had digitally recorded all the episodes. What I failed to realize was that if I didn't "protect" them, they'd automatically be erased as new content was recorded. When I went to watch the third episode it was gone. I chose not to watch the rest until I could watch all in sequence. "Spike TV" ran the whole series, albeit WITH commercials, Thanksgiving Day. I recorded, AND PROTECTED them all.
I've been sick. I woke on Tuesday with a minor sore throat... ( I know you don't wanta hear this so I'll spare you the rest). Let's just say by Thanksgiving I had to get out of bed and get dressed to go to the dinner table and pick at the great meal Sara Jean had prepared. I've missed two days of work trying to heal. But being bedridden two days afforded me the chance to devote my undivided attention to the almost 15 hours of "Brothers" in sequence. Laptop at hand, I was able to pause the video, research people, places, things... then maybe rewind, and take it all in.
I finally finished it early this morning...
I'm speechless.
War is a terrible thing. It's also obvious that sometimes, war is the only way to survive... to achieve your goal.
There are scenes in the series that show atrocities being committed by Americans, but those atrocities pale in comparison to the scene of Easy Company discovering and liberating the Nazi concentration camp... atrocities committed in the name of the German people.
That set me to thinking of similar Japanese atrocities...
Nanking...
The Death March at Bataan.
I'm proud to be an American.
I'm proud to be a Veteran and even remotely connected to these brave men... past, present, and future.
Millions and millions freed in Iraq and Afghanistan...
No more "Rape rooms".
No more humans being fed into wood chippers.
No more "Children's prisons".
No more women being beaten because they don't have "men's rights".
Women in those countries once again at least have a chance at equality in education and vocation.
My country is the world's best "force for good", and I am proud of her and the men who presently defend her.
To my fellow citizens who continue down the path of self-hatred...
Maybe you need to watch "Band of Brothers"?
In preparation for that likelihood, the company once again begins to train, replacements and old-salts alike...
Physical training, weapons training, tactical training.
There is a scene in that last episode showing a bunch of men who have been through the trial by fire together, out on a "patrol" in Austria, honing the skills that will be required in the Pacific theater. They hear a noise and a halt is signaled by the patrol leader. Looking around, they see a magnificent deer, at the alert, beautiful antlered head held high. Several of the men take aim on the creature...
Fresh venison would be a welcome addition to the chow the ARMY has been feeding them.
But the moment is magic... They're surrounded by beautiful unsullied forest and mountains depicted on picture post-cards. They all look at this gorgeous living thing and they can't pull the trigger. It turns and scampers away.
The scene was one of many that was so wonderful it made the tears flow, because I knew the feeling...
Before being drafted I enjoyed rabbit hunting. It was a chance to get out with the guys... to share an experience out of doors, and although the rabbits I shot always ended up on another's table, that meat was never wasted.
But hunting a creature that "hunts you" destroyed my desire to shoot animals. I haven't shot that old single-shot 16 gauge shotgun since 1964.
You may remember one of the channels aired "Band of Brothers" months ago and I commented I had digitally recorded all the episodes. What I failed to realize was that if I didn't "protect" them, they'd automatically be erased as new content was recorded. When I went to watch the third episode it was gone. I chose not to watch the rest until I could watch all in sequence. "Spike TV" ran the whole series, albeit WITH commercials, Thanksgiving Day. I recorded, AND PROTECTED them all.
I've been sick. I woke on Tuesday with a minor sore throat... ( I know you don't wanta hear this so I'll spare you the rest). Let's just say by Thanksgiving I had to get out of bed and get dressed to go to the dinner table and pick at the great meal Sara Jean had prepared. I've missed two days of work trying to heal. But being bedridden two days afforded me the chance to devote my undivided attention to the almost 15 hours of "Brothers" in sequence. Laptop at hand, I was able to pause the video, research people, places, things... then maybe rewind, and take it all in.
I finally finished it early this morning...
I'm speechless.
War is a terrible thing. It's also obvious that sometimes, war is the only way to survive... to achieve your goal.
There are scenes in the series that show atrocities being committed by Americans, but those atrocities pale in comparison to the scene of Easy Company discovering and liberating the Nazi concentration camp... atrocities committed in the name of the German people.
That set me to thinking of similar Japanese atrocities...
Nanking...
The Death March at Bataan.
I'm proud to be an American.
I'm proud to be a Veteran and even remotely connected to these brave men... past, present, and future.
Millions and millions freed in Iraq and Afghanistan...
No more "Rape rooms".
No more humans being fed into wood chippers.
No more "Children's prisons".
No more women being beaten because they don't have "men's rights".
Women in those countries once again at least have a chance at equality in education and vocation.
My country is the world's best "force for good", and I am proud of her and the men who presently defend her.
To my fellow citizens who continue down the path of self-hatred...
Maybe you need to watch "Band of Brothers"?
27 November 2009
Character. Honor. Principles.
Now that it's a fairly sure thing Al Gore was trying to (succeeded in the case of some sheeples), pull the wool over our eyes about this AGW/Climate change fiasco, will he have the character to return his Nobel Peace Prize and his Oscar?
Will those of you who came here and argued that this was settled, "consensus" science have the character and honor to come now and apologize for trying to lead the rest of us to financial destruction?
On both counts, I bet not.
Character. Honor. Principles.
Will those of you who came here and argued that this was settled, "consensus" science have the character and honor to come now and apologize for trying to lead the rest of us to financial destruction?
On both counts, I bet not.
Character. Honor. Principles.
26 November 2009
Socialism and Thanksgiving
Click the link for the top video, "Too bad Marx didn't read Bradford".
Happy "Free Market" Thanksgiving, everyone!
25 November 2009
Thanksgiving Outrage
I am SO thankful for those still ready to be our sword and shield, since I'm getting too old to carry them myself.
I am outraged at those in my government that still don't seem to have gotten the message that we are at war and must fight those who would deny us our future Thanksgiving Days.
If I knew where to march, I'd grab my pitchfork, light my torch, and call for you to do the same.
Bizarro world!
(Added later)-
Related!
I am outraged at those in my government that still don't seem to have gotten the message that we are at war and must fight those who would deny us our future Thanksgiving Days.
If I knew where to march, I'd grab my pitchfork, light my torch, and call for you to do the same.
Bizarro world!
(Added later)-
Related!
24 Hours of Separation
When your kid calls and says "How high should a fever go before you go to the Emergency Room?" your heart skips a beat.
"How high is your fever?"
"103."
"Son, it's time to go to the hospital."
When he doesn't take your advice you think, "Okay, a fever of 103 could affect his judgment. He's 17 hours away by car, so driving to him is out of the question. What now?"
Thank God we have befriended some of his friends in Phoenix...
We called one of them and asked her to check on him, and she did. His fever broke and in four days he was well. But once again it was a reminder of the difficulty that comes with being separated by nearly 2000 miles.
The fascination of Phoenix wore off quickly for him.
When he came home for Thanksgiving last year he prayed for snow. When I arrived at the train station to pick him up his prayer was answered... not much snow, the sky was just "spitting". But the sky was gray, the temperature was hovering near 32 degrees, and it was odd seeing my son enjoy weather we hoped would soon pass.
He lost his full-time job (and his health insurance) a year ago. Three part-time jobs paid the bills and left him with a little discretionary income.
Then he lost one of the top income-producing part-time jobs. He started pounding the pavement, looking for another job... ANY job. The thought of our child, a college graduate and expert in his field, unable to get a job as "greeter" at a big-box store, was frustrating. In four months he used up his savings and was embarrassed when he had to ask for help to pay his bills. Now this is serious... time to start thinking about "Plan B".
Jobs are scarce everywhere, and they're not much better here than there.
I called friends.
Friends responded.
We spent most of the day yesterday pounding pavement searching, hearing "Maybe".
On the way home we stopped to visit with one last friend. There we heard not only, "When can you start?", but "You can live in my property across the street."
It's a job he's never done before. It won't pay much more than minimum wage. But, as I so often say these days, "I've been employed and I've been unemployed. Employed is better."
It's a start. He'll be two hours away. Then next time he has a fever of 103 his Mother and I will be able to jerk a knot in his butt.
God is in control.
"How high is your fever?"
"103."
"Son, it's time to go to the hospital."
When he doesn't take your advice you think, "Okay, a fever of 103 could affect his judgment. He's 17 hours away by car, so driving to him is out of the question. What now?"
Thank God we have befriended some of his friends in Phoenix...
We called one of them and asked her to check on him, and she did. His fever broke and in four days he was well. But once again it was a reminder of the difficulty that comes with being separated by nearly 2000 miles.
The fascination of Phoenix wore off quickly for him.
When he came home for Thanksgiving last year he prayed for snow. When I arrived at the train station to pick him up his prayer was answered... not much snow, the sky was just "spitting". But the sky was gray, the temperature was hovering near 32 degrees, and it was odd seeing my son enjoy weather we hoped would soon pass.
He lost his full-time job (and his health insurance) a year ago. Three part-time jobs paid the bills and left him with a little discretionary income.
Then he lost one of the top income-producing part-time jobs. He started pounding the pavement, looking for another job... ANY job. The thought of our child, a college graduate and expert in his field, unable to get a job as "greeter" at a big-box store, was frustrating. In four months he used up his savings and was embarrassed when he had to ask for help to pay his bills. Now this is serious... time to start thinking about "Plan B".
Jobs are scarce everywhere, and they're not much better here than there.
I called friends.
Friends responded.
We spent most of the day yesterday pounding pavement searching, hearing "Maybe".
On the way home we stopped to visit with one last friend. There we heard not only, "When can you start?", but "You can live in my property across the street."
It's a job he's never done before. It won't pay much more than minimum wage. But, as I so often say these days, "I've been employed and I've been unemployed. Employed is better."
It's a start. He'll be two hours away. Then next time he has a fever of 103 his Mother and I will be able to jerk a knot in his butt.
God is in control.
23 November 2009
22 November 2009
Tattoos and Blood Donation
There was a blood drive in our town last week. I missed it once again because of my present work, sleep, work, sleep, work schedule. Motivated partly by the Ft. Hood terrorist incident, Sara Jean went to donate. Coincidentally on the way to work that night I heard a blurb on the radio about problems you might have donating blood at some facilities if you have "skin art". I was listening to a distant AM radio station and static precluded me from hearing much of what I wanted to hear.
The straight skinny on tattoos and blood donation can be found here.
21 November 2009
Why Marriage Is Work
The intake vent to the furnace is in the living room, ten feet up the wall. The cover has to be taken down at least yearly, the dust visible to anyone who studies it. Eight screws hold it in place. Taking it down and putting it back up is a bit dangerous and a pain in the kazoo.
I took it down yesterday. She cleaned it, then decided it was showing too much wear and tear, so she painted it. This afternoon, re-installing it, I had seven of the eight screws in place when she looked up and said, " The vent openings have to point down."
I responded, "No, if the vents point down, you'll be able to look into this hole from the living room."
"No, the vents HAVE to point down or the dust will fall into the intake and we'll have to clean it more quickly."
Seven screws back out, I turned the vent 180 degrees and started to re-install it. I had three screws started when she said, "WAIT! Were the vents up when you first took it down? 'Cause that's really ugly!"
Sigh.
I took it down yesterday. She cleaned it, then decided it was showing too much wear and tear, so she painted it. This afternoon, re-installing it, I had seven of the eight screws in place when she looked up and said, " The vent openings have to point down."
I responded, "No, if the vents point down, you'll be able to look into this hole from the living room."
"No, the vents HAVE to point down or the dust will fall into the intake and we'll have to clean it more quickly."
Seven screws back out, I turned the vent 180 degrees and started to re-install it. I had three screws started when she said, "WAIT! Were the vents up when you first took it down? 'Cause that's really ugly!"
Sigh.
NOT! How It's Done
Embarrassing and expensive...
With the factory check pilot and Border Patrol Standardization pilot aboard!
With the factory check pilot and Border Patrol Standardization pilot aboard!
20 November 2009
Precious Metals, 20 November 2009
Gold last week- $1116.80. This week- $1146.80, another record high.
Silver last week- $17.39. This week- $18.44.
If you think it's too late, I think you're mistaken. This train has a long journey ahead.
UPDATE-
You can check spot prices of the precious metals "live" here.
Silver last week- $17.39. This week- $18.44.
If you think it's too late, I think you're mistaken. This train has a long journey ahead.
UPDATE-
You can check spot prices of the precious metals "live" here.
Now All I Need Is A Gun Rack
Sara Jean has wanted one for years, since Mom gave us her set of "Friendly Village" dishware. We've had no place to display it. So a week ago I took my own advice...
By opening a "Macy's" charge account I got an additional 10% off a China cabinet that was already reduced 30% in price.
...No interest charged for one year, so I'll be paying the loan back with dollars that are of less value than the ones I borrowed. (See the post immediately below this one.) What a deal, huh?
We're far enough from the store, they won't deliver it... we gotta go get the thing. And that will be no small matter... the distribution center where we need to pick up our new piece is all the way on the other side of BigTown, a little more than two hours away. As you can see, this cabinet is a two-piece affair... the top is mostly glass to display the dishware. The bottom is fronted by two big doors which, when opened, reveal two shelves and two drawers for storage of flatware or the remaining small body parts of folks who show up on our doorstep wearing anything with Barack Obama's image on it.
Put together, the two pieces are 82" tall, 17" deep, and 50" wide.
Obviously, when we go to pick them up they'll be in big cardboard boxes...
Not a load we can shoehorn into the back of a 4-door sedan. I need a pick-'em-up truck.
How often do you find yourself in this position?
Me? I find myself needing a pickup three or four times a year, minimum. The last time I needed one was when I took five 30-gallon containers full of crushed aluminum cans to the recycling center. That effort earned me something like $78, which, considering I had to drive 3 hours round-trip seemed a little sad. Add to that the fact that I always return a vehicle with a full tank of gas and it was even sadder. Add to that the fact there was a stiff wind when I stopped to fill the gas tank that ripped the big door from my hands and slammed it into a short concrete pole protecting the gas pumps, dinging the door to the tune of a $120 repair on the borrowed truck, and the $78 for recycled aluminum ended up being philanthropic environmentalism on my part. Look, I care about the environment, but the only reason collecting and crushing the aluminum cans was attractive was because there was money involved!
I needed/wanted my own pickup.
My neighbor two doors down lost his job in the Spring. Unable to find work, he's slowly been selling off his possessions, including an old 1988 Chevy Silverado. When I saw the "For Sale" sign I asked "how much?"
"$800."
"What all is wrong with it?"
"It runs good, but the gearing is wrong, so 70 indicated is actually 55 m.p.h.. And the rear main seal leaks pretty bad... I just keep adding oil to it."
I drove it. It ran fine and sounded good. I paid him and brought it home.
So I've owned this ratty old thing now five months or so, and I've been waiting until I have the time to replace the seal myself, (I'd need help to do it right), or until I have the money to have an expert do it. And then I noticed something...
When I went out to start the truck a couple weeks ago, there was no oil on the dipstick. WTH?
A leaky rear main would not empty the crankcase while the truck was sitting.
I took the truck to my mechanic for repair and told him what I know...
"The former owner says the rear main seal is bad, but the oil is getting out statically, somehow."
My wrench-twister called me yesterday-
"The oil pan has a hole in it. Looks like someone scooted the engine across a concrete floor on the pan and wore a hole in it."
Me... "Fix it."
So now I have my pickup.
Ratty lookin', runs great... I don't have to worry about where I park it.
I paid $800 for the truck and $300 for this repair, and I'm kickin' myself for not having it fixed sooner. If it wasn't illegal, I'd put a gun rack with a lever action .30 cal rifle in the rear window.
We'll go get the China cabinet my first day off work...
In MY pickup truck!
By opening a "Macy's" charge account I got an additional 10% off a China cabinet that was already reduced 30% in price.
...No interest charged for one year, so I'll be paying the loan back with dollars that are of less value than the ones I borrowed. (See the post immediately below this one.) What a deal, huh?
We're far enough from the store, they won't deliver it... we gotta go get the thing. And that will be no small matter... the distribution center where we need to pick up our new piece is all the way on the other side of BigTown, a little more than two hours away. As you can see, this cabinet is a two-piece affair... the top is mostly glass to display the dishware. The bottom is fronted by two big doors which, when opened, reveal two shelves and two drawers for storage of flatware or the remaining small body parts of folks who show up on our doorstep wearing anything with Barack Obama's image on it.
Put together, the two pieces are 82" tall, 17" deep, and 50" wide.
Obviously, when we go to pick them up they'll be in big cardboard boxes...
Not a load we can shoehorn into the back of a 4-door sedan. I need a pick-'em-up truck.
How often do you find yourself in this position?
Me? I find myself needing a pickup three or four times a year, minimum. The last time I needed one was when I took five 30-gallon containers full of crushed aluminum cans to the recycling center. That effort earned me something like $78, which, considering I had to drive 3 hours round-trip seemed a little sad. Add to that the fact that I always return a vehicle with a full tank of gas and it was even sadder. Add to that the fact there was a stiff wind when I stopped to fill the gas tank that ripped the big door from my hands and slammed it into a short concrete pole protecting the gas pumps, dinging the door to the tune of a $120 repair on the borrowed truck, and the $78 for recycled aluminum ended up being philanthropic environmentalism on my part. Look, I care about the environment, but the only reason collecting and crushing the aluminum cans was attractive was because there was money involved!
I needed/wanted my own pickup.
My neighbor two doors down lost his job in the Spring. Unable to find work, he's slowly been selling off his possessions, including an old 1988 Chevy Silverado. When I saw the "For Sale" sign I asked "how much?"
"$800."
"What all is wrong with it?"
"It runs good, but the gearing is wrong, so 70 indicated is actually 55 m.p.h.. And the rear main seal leaks pretty bad... I just keep adding oil to it."
I drove it. It ran fine and sounded good. I paid him and brought it home.
So I've owned this ratty old thing now five months or so, and I've been waiting until I have the time to replace the seal myself, (I'd need help to do it right), or until I have the money to have an expert do it. And then I noticed something...
When I went out to start the truck a couple weeks ago, there was no oil on the dipstick. WTH?
A leaky rear main would not empty the crankcase while the truck was sitting.
I took the truck to my mechanic for repair and told him what I know...
"The former owner says the rear main seal is bad, but the oil is getting out statically, somehow."
My wrench-twister called me yesterday-
"The oil pan has a hole in it. Looks like someone scooted the engine across a concrete floor on the pan and wore a hole in it."
Me... "Fix it."
So now I have my pickup.
Ratty lookin', runs great... I don't have to worry about where I park it.
I paid $800 for the truck and $300 for this repair, and I'm kickin' myself for not having it fixed sooner. If it wasn't illegal, I'd put a gun rack with a lever action .30 cal rifle in the rear window.
We'll go get the China cabinet my first day off work...
In MY pickup truck!
19 November 2009
Obama's Misery, November Update
Finally!
"The Misery Index" has been updated.
Last Index, (two months ago)... 8.51%
This update, 10.02%
Does the fun start now?
"The Misery Index" has been updated.
Last Index, (two months ago)... 8.51%
This update, 10.02%
Does the fun start now?
18 November 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)