Preaching to the choir... almost...

Make bacon and eggs with toast and coffee for breakfast with my late sleeping wife, and we talked about what to do after she retires. She has no experience with having nothing to do all day, and needs to make sure she doesn't end up like me. She has many ideas and some of them are interesting to me, but attitude needs always to be positive to hear well. Today we talked about gyms to visit or use. Talk is cheap, my only complaint of worth about the YMCA was that we paid for more than we used. Which was our fault, not the Y's. We determine that we will explore the options and pick one in December. The sounds of love at work, adjusting to change.

Off to church and combined service, packed house is always a good sign. It was combined so we could be special for Thanksgiving. The Pastor had a fine sermon and told a little story about his son and his school, then another one about homeless fellow met in Portland. All the stories were geared to the Thanksgiving theme and worked well. Attitude being the first thing, I really enjoyed the service, since I had come to worship and not to be entertained, amused nor patted on my back. There was a dinner after, with all the trimmings. So we ate and talked, and I got amused and started teaching. One man thought that the stock market was gambling, so I had to explain why stocks are good and derivatives are bad, and salesmen aren't to be trusted. Personal examples of investors were sitting at the table, and they testified.

Then our Sunday school teacher showed up and asked my opinion of a Walther 9mm, postwar manfacture and a price from Cabela's. So I asked a lot of questions, gave my opinions and talked him out of the temptation. But the conversation was a keeper, and he made sure I knew he wanted to go shooting with me at the East Gate range (which is Range 15 where I normally shoot). After we were done the Pastor came up and said hello, which surprised one of the men - that he knew our names. But I assured him a Korean pastor knows everyone's names, and if he wasn't looking at us he might have to be told which Korean lady we were married to, or our first male child's name. Anyway, it was my chance to tell the Pastor I enjoyed his story about his son and their relationship. He missed the relationship thing, and thought I was speaking about the broken English, and I told him that was a bad term the proper term is Korean English. Then I told him we had been talking about shooting and when his son was old enough I would be happy to teach him gun safety and marksmanship. That got a bit of wide-eyed panic in his eyes, seeing he is sure that Christians don't shoot, or that Guns are tools of the Devil. He didn't say so, but my wife was sure it was in that direction. Still gun talk at church, the promise of a shooting date, influencing the future economic activity of church members and worship of the Lord and celebrating Thanksgiving - which for believers is a daily activity.  Time for a nap?

You will pay the price, because it is fair...

I know that there are people that are sure the government is correct, that government officials won't lie or bear false witness, or be foresworn. Really, I know you are out there. I also know there are many of the opposite take. I will remain knowing there is a little truth in most thoughts.

I had a fine opportunity to get off the cable news feed yesterday and see 'Lincoln' by Spielberg and I really thought it came through very well. I was very impressed with all the actors, the photography and the writing and direction. I recommend you all go to see it, especially you Democrats, Republicans and those that still trust government to fix your problems. A real political eye opener.

I spent most of the evening reading The Wolf by Richard Guilliatt and Peter Hohnen, and aside from the best of real steam punk World War I naval action (and it was pretty good), the comments about the British Admiralty denial of truth for their best guess that wouldn't cause public alarm. Secrets and censorship and suffering because of lack of trust in the citizens and their good sense. Now I assure you that the other governments were engaged in suppression of their own citizens for the same different reasons. It didn't save the Tsar, the Kaiser or the King of England, empire breaking was the result.

There is mounting evidence the pace of disruption of the force is increasing, more regulation, more threats to improve our lives through more laws, drugs, sex and rock'n roll. You may disregard any threats from me, I own none of y'all and don't think I could possibly feed and cloth you. I also deny my ability to think for you, make you holy, whole or sane. You are going to have to be what the good Lord gave you and all that you have made of yourself. Take care out there, God loves you more than you realize, or you do know and are content to work on His Kingdom.

Your life is all about how you find it...

I love 'inside' jokes like this. Too funny because they are too true. The real heroes are lost; for the moment passes quickly and the fear is always coming back. I was thinking recently that the Wizard of Oz has had a greater influence on the awarding of medals to insure courage then the guys who worked hard to win, the ones that know what it takes, and pay the price.

I read Gates of Fire, and was in awe that the author captured the true Spartan warrior - his boldness, his professional competence and then during battle  - captured the bravery, then the tired, then the saving of self, the fear, and the overcoming it to fight effectively but hopelessly to the end. About my own life and how I feel 'great' about somethings and not so much about others has to do with what I know about me, my conduct and how short of my goal I fall.

I once organized a twenty-four hour relay race, and there were three teams of ten, and we started running and passing the baton and recording in pictures and script the event. But one of the memories was that going through the heat, the darkness of the night, the stiffening muscles, the longer to finish your mile and the shorter the rest between your chance to get up and do it again, the jokes between runners and recorders, the visits from wives and girl friends - looking at us like we were a little bit crazy. Periodic checks from the command structure to make sure we weren't going to turn this into an embarrassment. And then as the last hour finally showed up, the drive to run just a shade  faster, pass the baton quicker, to look good for the gathering supporters. That was when the battalion commander showed up with his staffers, he was a very fine commander, and he even ran that last lap before the bell to pace those last runners. We set no records, we hurt no one, we all left victorious and worthy -- sure we never needed to do that again.

Lots of challenges in the world, and trying to find good things to do and say, and to be a real help is better than wallowing in misery. I wish y'all luck, I will go see Lincoln today.

ZimbabweZombie Project...

I don't believe there is a great conspiracy out there trying to destroy an America that was too big and too proud. I think that there are lots of little conspiracies of little people that don't know what the consequences will be for their petty efforts. They don't study History and have been on a really stupid economic model. It all comes from thinking government can provide everything - never has been true, and the other idea that because someone is in charge they must be followed and must be right.

When Africa was gaining independence, various countries from the end of World War II, there were problems. Seems the black Africans were still very tribal, the Communists provided education and weapons, European nations and business wanted to continue to exploit the riches of the Continent for their profits. the white Africans wanted to continue to build their business, farms, or efforts to self govern. And the Internation Monetary Fund and World Bank wanted to help (always for their own profits and power).  The goodness of the civilized West decided the how when and why independence would be gained and would work, most of them were living in Europe or English speaking America... and they were trying to correct the impression of the miserable exploitation of black Africa by Europe.

I like looking at the various African nations, they haven't done as well on their own as they could have remaining a strong link with Europe - but they lived their history and their anger is often strong. It only matters to the people of Africa, how they treat me - I don't have enough time left to visit and see their wonders, and there are many. There are also dangers and dirt and bugs, which don't get experienced on video feed. Such a clean pretty picture.

Well, if one does no more than listen to Oprah's experience with her school, the Rwanda genocide, and the driving the whites out of Zimbabwe (which seems to be a popular model to destroy the Republic of South Africa) one can see the framework of the destruction of the good old United States of America. Everyone divided against each other, to exploit others, to take what you want for free, to behave badly and cause it is fun, exciting and you don't look far enough into the future. What awaits is authoritarian rule (with harmless voting) to control the population as it gets regulated (strangled) and ruled unmercifully (read raped and robbed). or the zombies are going to run free killing and eating brains because there isn't a strong independent minded population - willing to sacrifice for the common good and the future. I am sure that the zombies won't eat well, most of the population has shown a decided lack of brains, sigh.

There are millions of great Americans in the world, but they never want to be in charge of more than they can control. The others are the ones to watch closely - they cannot be trusted. Don't worry about taking notes, if the best win they will be busy building a better future, if the worst win - if they remember how to write they will tell the story to their own glory. Oh, you notice that it is happening even now? Yep.

Oh, I know that there are millions of good brains out there for the zombies - just they are too well mannered and now even politically correct to whack a mole or behead a zombie in anything except a video game.

Important financial advice...

Money is not real,  but if enough of us believe in it whatever the government says and all that we accept has an ability to transfer your work and property to others for commerce. And to the government for your protection, to the union for their job protection and to the thieves for their protection. Your hard work protects a lot. But it is based on a form that the government calls currency or money.

I am sure that the Fiscal Cliff isn't the real problem, and it isn't the Social Security nor the Medicare, and it isn't the high cost of weapons and military. The real problem is there isn't any good faith or credit, and there never has been any value to what they call money, except good faith and credit on your ability to work, produce and payback. Since the Zimbabwe Plan is in effect, we are going to loot the rich and give to our supporters their tools, land and wealth. Which will breach the final barrier to everyone being miserable which becomes the new standard of fair.

My point being, with the problems with the money I recommend converting it to something you can use. Tools, land, animals, metals, beans, water source. For free you can read The Forgotten Man, about our Depression. The go find a history of the German Money between the World Wars, and Zimbabwe from the collapse of Rhodesia to today. Having spent an afternoon crawling around under my home in the crawl space, I was reminded that exteriors are always cared for better than the concealed framework supporting everything. If the country ever restores individual responsibility and honor, they can rebuild a better world. Of course, it isn't up to the country to restore responsibility and honor. The country doesn't believe in it. The individuals do.

I have given up 'HOPE', don't need it now...

Saturday, I woke too early after too little sleep, dressed and drove off to Oregon. Thinking I needed one of those early graffiti 'Oregon or bust' on the side of the Caravan. It once took so long, long ago and far away. Three rest stops and coffee refills later I pulled in and said hello to the crew prepping for the start of the Appleseed. That fine volunteer effort to teach marksmanship and our Heritage. I knew everyone, although I mistook Ben for Ambulance Driver, memory and eyesight being so old and worn. Douglas Ridge Rifle Club provided the range and two fine Range Safety Officers, with long NRA and shooting experience.

It was a full day, the shooters did improve and enjoy the training. I left after the last rounds down range, I was weak but happy and had a long way to go, at least three more rest stops and coffee and a burger on the trip. Darkness surrounded Saturday and I never saw my home except in the headlights that day. One of the funny things was being asked by one of the RSOs what were we smoking up there in Washington, since we passed the marijuana legalization. I knew the results and I had cast my ballot, but hadn't run into the thoughts of how that would look to people of sense outside our state. I told them that when we had busted up the State monopoly on alcohol sales the Liquor Control Board disappeared so they remade themselves as the Marijuana Control Board, that is my take on what was going on.

I went to sleep quickly and deeply, because I was in very tired mode, woke prepared for the Lord and His worship, it was the real Veterans and Remembrance Day and I shared thoughts and prayers about that. At Sunday school I was able to relate my Appleseed experiences to the other men, as we discussed the Lord's work to be done, how to know we are still able and how to tell the story. I like being able to tie the two together. There weren't any firearm fearful at the table, but there weren't any exhorters or preachers for the bringing shooting to the masses. So many to hear the word and believe, but one has to go out and find them where they wander. Too easy to see the relationship, isn't it?

Part of the discussion was about the election results - and our teacher led off with submission to authority, for it is God's will. He didn't like my response, but I did have to finally agree that everything finally resides there and we don't know why He is working that way. Like taking a shot, in the cold, gray and wet - what God has given is the challenge what I have to deliver is my best effort - what doesn't kill me will make me stronger. We discussed the fool General BetrayUS, dishonoring his God, his family, his honor, West Point and all that Loved him and his slut, a name she won't be called (I figure she was just looking for a speaking circuit and a second book - the real steamy slimy "Swapping of body fluids with my boy toy GI Joe General"). The ladies on The View had their take on it, the news corps had their presentation and I will leave you to your own. The fool general knows there were thousands of finer soldiers and warriors in our Army, and he also knows God, all those that truly love him, and the country will forgive him - if he confesses and makes his life right. Even the slut will be saved, as soon as she wakes up to her sins and repents. Just thinking to myself that this world is very like an old fighters gym, a lot of stinking old sweaty clothes, sweat and worn leather and more boring training until the opportunity to fight at the peak of our condition, lots of bruises and beatings and sharing the old tales.

I have given up 'Hope' and will run on Faith, for I know the Truth and it sets me Free. Go with God.

Veterans Day... you don't really understand...

So, read The Charge of the Light Brigade, by Tennyson and then The Last of the Brigade, by Kipling. Now you have so much of what Veterans Day is about - not the dead, but the forgotten and discarded. They aren't the 'thing' now. And I am tired of the 'thank you for your service', I have the one I never felt brave enough to respond to after Vietnam burned in my mind, none other will ever reach that level. But for you that really want to understand, go ask them for their story - ask them for their opinion about something just as stupid as your opinion of the worth of their war, reach out to them and LISTEN about their lives before the world centered on you and your friends and your things worth dying for... they will go quietly into the night and you will be left with a world you made poorer by your ignorance of worth. It will be yours... all yours.

I still love the fact that in the 19th Century the British Empire stood for the best of  Western Civilization and then look at them now. How do you get there from here?