Six Word Memoir: A Meme

Always On Watch tagged me with this meme, "Six Word Memoir" and I thought about it for awhile. I prefer to think that my blogging friends are tagging me out of friendship rather than some desire to punish me. Besides, most memes are rather fun, silly, and creative. So why not?

Here are the rules:

The Rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want.
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to the original post if possible so we can track it as travels across the blogosphere.
4. Tag at least five more blogs with links.
5. Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

So here's my own Six Word Memoir:

Seeking creative outlets, I discovered writing.

And the image, of course, is for my own published novel. Why not, eh?



Now, before you start to panic, I'm not going to tag anybody else. If you'd like to try it out, go ahead! It's a thought-provoker, and it probably won't be easy. Compressing your life into six words is tough. But go on and give it a try.

I double-dog dare you!

Golden Memories: Leave Them In The Past

Reliving the past is not nearly as satisfying as we think it should be. You can't recapture your youth, not to mention your childhood, no matter how golden those days seem to you. It's just your memory playing tricks on you. The things that were so important to you in your youth are no longer important, things you enjoyed then are boring now, events you were afraid to miss then seem pointless today.


And that's normal, of course. In childhood, and even in our teens, everything is new, exciting, to be experienced before they disappear. We had to stay up and watch television - all the other kids were allowed to, so why couldn't we? It was important! We didn't want to miss it! And we certainly missed a lot of things, didn't we? At the time they were very important to us. But as the years go on we realize, if we think about it at all, that they were nothing to worry about. We really missed nothing. There would always be another cake or Christmas cookies, summer re-runs of television shows would allow us to see what we may have missed the first time around, the Ice Cream truck would show up again when summer did, and we should have learned that we missed darned little. But we, as children, don't seem to realize that. And that's natural, I think, for the young human.


As we grow older we remember all those things we may have missed out on as bigger, grander, more exciting than they really were. We get nostalgic about our childhood and seek to recapture it by experiencing the familiar things of our past. And re-experiencing those things so often leads to disappointment. Why? Because we have matured - I hope! - and moved on to adult things. Peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches give way to Hoagies, applesauce gives way to salads, Saturday morning cartoons are pushed aside by the News, blocks and Lincoln Logs are replaced by cars and computers. And yet, we still want to go back to the simpler pleasures of the ice cream cone from the Ice Cream truck, the Huckleberry Hound cartoons with a bowl of Cocoa Puffs while we wear our jammies. We felt safer then, and our memories are softened by the difficulties of living as adults.


But we still try to go back.



In September 1962, ABC aired The Jetsons for the first time. This was Prime Time, folks, the Family television viewing part of the day, and the cartoon was intended to be enjoyed by adults. The Flintstones had pioneered the Prime Time cartoon idea in 1960. I remember, vaguely, the Flintstones airing in the evening, but since I was still six-years-old when The Jetsons premiered, I recall them a bit better. But, as is usual with memory, my memories of The Jetsons is different from reality. I have matured since I first saw The Jetsons in late 1962.


Trying to recapture some of the fun of my childhood, I recently watched the very first episode of The Jetsons. I expected to get a few chuckles from it. What I got were a few smiles and a lot of head-shaking. I now understand why the show lasted for only one season. (A second season would not occur until 1985.) Based on the formula for adult sitcoms of the day, including a laugh track, the cartoon simply isn't funny. What I remember as very funny turns out to be fairly tame stuff devoid of even the laughter that The Flintstones would generate. I was disappointed, to say the least.


After all, the Warner Brothers cartoons I still enjoy - Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig - remain funny to this day. Created for adults, the Looney Toons rarely were less than full of laughs. But Hanna-Barbera somehow missed the boat with The Jetsons. Of course, this is borne out by the show not being picked up for a second season after March of 1963, while The Flintstones were still going strong (still being produced in 1966.) One was funny and kept its audience, the other was not and did not. So why did I remember it as funny?


Because I was a little boy. The funny flying cars, the robot maid - Rosie, who appeared in only two episodes - the push-button world that The Jetsons inhabited, were all things of wonder and delight for a little boy. As an adult the cartoon is such tame stuff that it surprised me I recalled it so positively. That's the difference, I suppose, between our childhood memories and our adult experiences. My memory of summers as a child are nearly uniformly shaded in golden hues. In my mind summers were almost always early evening with the sun reaching for the horizon, the heat of the day becoming a cooling breeze, the trees all in full, green splendor, the games of baseball finished, an ice cream cone in my hand, and so on. I have to think hard to remember the scary things of those days.



Not all of my childhood memories are like The Jetsons, of course. I still laugh out loud watching the Three Stooges, old comic books can keep me interested just as they did in the old days, I still like macaroni-and-cheese, and my M&Ms mania has never abated. But I had to learn all over again that what I remember from my childhood was colored by my own innocence, inexperience, and fresh eyes. Better to leave those memories where they are, and enjoy them at a distance, rather than seek them out to relive them. You can't relive them.

Not A Lot Of Cussin' Here

Following Bookworm's lead I subjected my blog to the analysis of the "Cuss-O-Meter" which resides at One Plus You. This meter rates your blog or website on the percentage of pages that contain cusses - foul language. As they say:

First we count the number of pages on your blog or website that contain cuss words and compare it to the total number of pages. The result tells us approximately what percentage of pages on your website contains cuss words. We then compare that percentage to all the other websites who have used the Cuss-O-Meter, giving you an idea of how foul-mouthed you are when compared to the rest of the web.

When the meter had analyzed my blog, atop the page was this:

Around 4.5% of the pages on your website contain cussing.

This is 50% LESS than other websites who took this test.

Created by OnePlusYou

As you can see on the meter my blog barely rises above the "Darnit" level of naughty language. Now that's not bad for someone who can slip into "F-Bomb" mode easily when in the company of other "F-Bombers". I don't take any particular pride in being able to sink to the level of a drunken sailor in using vulgar language. But I do know that I can indeed speak at the same level as others when called to do so.

But I remember being told once - actually I heard it said to someone who routinely used vulgarities in her everyday speech - "People tend to use foul language because they have a poor vocabulary. Try to expand yours and stop sounding like trash." I took that to heart.

After all, how does it sound to your parents to intersperse your speech with foul language when there's no need? Does your mother really want to hear her beloved child using the "F" word, "S" word, and other curses when you speak with her? How 'bout your Father? Would your grandparents chuckle at your precocious ways? No. They would be embarrassed with you, for you, and wonder when you're going to grow up.

Yes, there are times when a good solid vulgarity is perfect as punctuation. But all too often we use foul language all the time. I can't tell you the number of times I hear parents simply blathering on, every other word an ugly curse, while they are with their children. Children hear more than we think they do. And they emulate their parents. It's ugly to hear, ugly to see.

English has so many words, as do most languages, that there is little reason to slip into cursing and vulgarity in every conversation. Frankly, if you cannot find a better word to use then you do need to work on your vocabulary. Heck, we all do.

And in that vein - nice use of vocabulary, eh? - here's a site that promotes vocabulary in a fun way. It's called Free Rice. The premise is to donate some of your online time to feed the hungry. And it doesn't cost you a single cent. What you do is play a simple word game. For every correct answer the site donates 20 grains of rice to feed the hungry ( through the UN World Food Program). The rules are very simple:

Click on the answer that best defines the word.

If you get it right, you get a harder word. If wrong, you get an easier word.

For each word you get right, we donate 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program.

WARNING: This game may make you smarter. It may improve your speaking, writing, thinking, grades, job performance... (more)

clerihew = humorous verse (I got this one wrong. And now I know!)


I've played this three times and donated a few thousand grains of rice. Clicking on the "Options" tab allows you to save your game totals. This way you can pick up where you left off. There a lot of levels to this. The best I managed to reach was a vocabulary level of 53. Didn't last long, and now I'm at level 45. Yeah it gets tougher as you play. But you will learn a lot of new words. Some you'll never see or use again. But some you might find slipping into your conversations.

Since this is affiliated with the UN one can legitimately wonder whether it is on the up-and-up. I choose to believe it is and act accordingly. As they say on their FAQ page:

Who pays for the donated rice?
The rice is paid for by the advertisers whose names you see on the bottom of your vocabulary screen. This is regular advertising for these companies, but it is also something more. Through their advertising at FreeRice, these companies support both learning (free vocabulary for everyone) and reducing hunger (free rice for the hungry). We commend these companies for their participation at FreeRice.

So click on the advertising banners while you're at it. Can't go wrong just visiting an advertiser. Also:

If FreeRice has the rice to give, why not give it all away right now?
FreeRice is not sitting on a pile of rice―you are earning it 20 grains at a time. Here is how it works. When you play the game, advertisements appear on the bottom of your screen. The money generated by these advertisements is then used to buy the rice. So by playing, you generate the money that pays for the rice donated to hungry people.
Does FreeRice make any money from this?
No, it does not. FreeRice runs the site at no profit.

vair = squirrel fur ( I had no idea, but I guessed and was correct! LOL)

There are images you can use on your blog or website to use as links, a running total of rice donation totals, and so on.

firth = estuary (I knew this one. Easy.)

So why not learn to stretch your vocabulary and leave most of the foul language behind? You can speak better, you can improve your vocabulary, you can rise above the level of trash when you speak. And you can do all this and donate food as well!

redact = edit (I guessed right. *whew!*)

Give it a try!



Note: One of Bookworm's commenters - suek - reminded me that there is a Blog Readability test, too. You can find it here. And here's my graph showing the Writing Pad's 'readability'.

Movie Reviews

peruke = wig (dunno why but I did know this one!)

Memories: Wicked Game

Funny how you hear a song and it seems like it was just yesterday you first heard it. In some cases I know I am kinda astonished to realize just how many years have fled since I first heard a tune. To me the songs of the Beatles remain fresh as the day they first reverberated from the radio. The same is true of a lot of bands and singers. And that includes singers I did not hear of until they had been active in the music scene for quite some time.

The first time I can recall hearing "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak was barely over ten years ago. At the time I was working in the Seminole Casino, over in Tampa, and the sound system played some station all night long while we cleaned the place. "Wicked Game" was one of the tunes that I heard and remembered. But to me, hearing it then was it's first incarnation. What a surprise to learn that it had been released as far back as 1989. Folks, that's nearly twenty years ago!

My ex used to have a bit of a thing for Chris Isaak. But the name meant nothing to me. Though I had heard "Wicked Game" I had no idea who the artist was. So when she would ask me to buy her a Chris Isaak album - she lived in Wyoming, or Texas, at the time - I would find one and buy it for her. I never put the name and the song together.

A few months ago I was watching some sort of concert on TV. It may have been a PBS offering, but I don't recall. Anyway the artist was Chris Isaak and Silvertone. And he performed "Wicked Game". I think, aside from finally putting two-and-two together, what I really enjoyed most about the performance - and I do like this song immensely - was that Isaak didn't add lots of flourishes and crap to the performance.

I know some people like the concert versions of their favorite bands. They get a kick out of the free-form some bands take to the music they perform live as opposed to the studio version. But I prefer the studio versions of most music. After all, that's the way the band or artist originally wanted to present the song to the public. I could care less about a drum solo added or a guitar riff that lasts five minutes. Give me what was first recorded. That's what I paid for in the first place.

As for Chris Isaak, he's considered in some circles a Rock musician, in others as a Country musician. Me, I think he's managed an interesting mixture of the two. Isaak has his own unique musical sound as well as a compelling voice.

Here is one version of "Wicked Game" for you to enjoy. This is a music video with the studio version of the song. Click here for YouTube's unembeddable video: the version I saw on TV. Live with Silvertone. I think you'll enjoy both. And if you don't recognize the title of the song or the name Chris Isaak, I'm betting you'll recognize what you are hearing.

"Wicked Game" may be 20-years-old, but I think it's as fresh as ever.

"Wicked Game"
by Chris Isaak (1989)

The world was on fire and no one could save me but you.
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do.
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you.
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you.


No, I don't want to fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't want to fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)
With you (This world is only gonna break your heart)


What a wicked game to play, to make me feel this way.
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you.
What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way.
What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you and,


I want to fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I want to fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)
With you.


The world was on fire and no one could save me but you.
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do.
I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you.
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you,


No, I want to fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I want to fall in love (This world is only gonna break your heart)
With you (This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I... (This world is only gonna break your heart)
(This world is only gonna break your heart)


Nobody loves no one.

Okay, he's a good-looking guy. I get why my ex had a 'thing' for him.

Another V.P. Choice For McCain: J.C.Watts

"...they [ Jesse Jackson, et al.] said that I had sold out and Uncle Tom. And I said well, they deserve to have that view. But I have my thoughts. And I think they're race-hustling poverty pimps." J.C.Watts, on declining to join the Congressional Black Caucus. Hannity & Colmes (1997)

In 2002, the last Black Republican in the US House of Representatives retired, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. He had been elected to the House four times from Oklahoma's 4th Congressional District. Originally saying he would serve only two terms, Watts ran for re-election and won his third and fourth terms. He served the people of Oklahoma in the US Congress from 1995 to 2002.

The Republican Party thought so highly of him that he was then selected to head GOPAC, the Republican Party's action committee, founded by Delaware Governor Pierre S. du Pont in 1978 in "an effort to build a farm team of Republican officeholders who could then run for congress or higher state offices later". Watts headed GOPAC until he was succeeded in February, 2007 by Maryland's former Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele. His return to the private sector, while a boon to him and his family, was a big loss to the Republican Party. So who is J.C.Watts? And why am I blogging about him?

A native of Eufala, Oklahoma, Julius Caesar Watts (he tells people the J.C. stands for nothing, but that he would say it was for 'Julius Caesar' as a joke. The Congressional Biographical Directory lists Watts' official name as "Julius Caesar Watts, Jr.".) was reared in the Baptist Church, graduated from High School in 1976, and was recruited by the University of Oklahoma for the football team. From Wiki:

Chosen to play the quarterback position, Watts led the OU Sooners college football team to consecutive Big Eight Conference titles and Orange Bowl championships under the leadership of head coach Barry Switzer. Twice, in 1980 and 1981, Watts quarterbacked the Sooners to Orange Bowl victories over the Florida State Seminoles and knocked the Seminoles out of contention for the national championship. He earned MVP honors in both games. He graduated in 1981 with a BA degree in journalism.

Between 1981 to 1986, Watts played professional football in the Canadian Football League for the Ottawa Rough Riders, receiving the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player award during his rookie season in a Grey Cup loss to Warren Moon and the Edmonton Eskimos. Watts continued to play the quarterback position (which had brought him success at OU). By the end of his football career, Watts had played against such quarterbacks as Damon Allen, Warren Moon, Matt Dunigan, Tom Clements, Condredge Holloway, Dieter Brock, Joe Paopao, Danny Barrett, and Vince Ferragamo during his sojourn in the CFL.

J.C was a football star. Probably not quite good enough to make it to the NFL (He was a running quarterback at a time the NFL wasn't much interested in running quarterbacks), Watts nevertheless was a professional athlete of some renown. When he retired from football he returned to Oklahoma and became a youth pastor for the Baptist Church in Del, Oklahoma. He served in this position from 1987 until 1994. During this time he was approached by some prominent Oklahoma Republicans who asked him to consider running for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Watts defeated his Republican Primary opponents and took the election in November, 1990. J.C.Watts became the first Black elected to state-wide office in Oklahoma history. Then, Wiki notes:

Four years later, Watts was again approached by prominent Oklahoma Republican leaders and asked to consider running for an open seat for Congress (Oklahoma's 4th Congressional district, being vacated by Congressman Dave McCurdy. Watts agreed and in November, 1994, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the first black member of Congress not to join the Congressional Black Caucus. [emphasis mine!]

Watts served in the US House, as I noted above, for four terms, retired to private life and began the J.C.Watts Companies, of which he is the chairman. A consulting firm for business, the company's Mission Statement says:

"Create a world-class business bringing diverse people together in profitable, sustainable relationships across multiple industries.
Offer turn-key solutions for the emerging marketplace at the nexus of business and government, economics and culture. Utilize government and corporate strategies, business ownership, partnerships and alliances.
Provide unparalleled market value to our customers, clients and business partners. Unleash the power of teamwork to accomplish exceptional results."

I especially like that last sentence: "Unleash the power of teamwork to accomplish exceptional results." Something the Republican Party needs to do. As do the American people.

So why am I touting this Oklahoma Republican at all? What's the point? Until he retired from pulbic office, J.C.Watts was one of the rising stars of the Party. He was someone to be reckoned with and part of the Party's future. A powerful voice for Conservativism with the fearlessness to speak out that he probably honed on the football field. He never had a problem with describing his belittlers in a scathing, and dead-on, way.

Time Magazine question: YOU HAVE SAID SOME BLACK LEADERS ARE "RACE-HUSTLING POVERTY PIMPS" FOR KEEPING AFRICAN AMERICANS DEPENDENT ON GOVERNMENT.

Watts: They've turned race and poverty into an industry. They say Republican policies have hurt poor people. Point to them. Look at the major cities where you have black leadership. You have black mayors, black city officials. But you often have the highest crime rate, the highest unemployment. Maybe it's time we look at different [policies] for dealing with old problems.

Time: SO HAS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SOLD BLACKS A BILL OF GOODS?

Watts: The Democratic Party has taken the black community for granted and said, "This is the most loyal constituency we have. They're not going anywhere." But the Republican Party has said, "That's the most loyal constituency Democrats have. They're not going anywhere. We've got to win without them."

On legalism in Politics:

Legalists think their burden should be your obligation. For the legalists, you can never be black enough, conservative enough, liberal enough. If you don't hew totally to their line, your purity is questioned. You are to say and do exactly as they want you to say and do. Do what the group does and think what the group thinks. Don't be an individual with your own convictions.

or to simply tell it like it is to a national audience.

"You see character does count. For too long we have gotten by in a society that says the only thing right is to get by and the only thing wrong is to get caught. Character is doing what's right when nobody is looking."

Nor was he afraid to tell the Republican Party it was diddling when it should have been fighting harder.

"Republicans want to say we reach out. But what we do instead is 60 days before an election, we'll spend some money on black radio and TV or buy an ad in Ebony and Jet, and that's our outreach. People read through that."

From "On The Issues"


Watts is a perfect example of what Americans can do with their own GOD-given talents, hard work, and determination. He's risen above his own youthful stupidity and indiscretions, gotten involved, become a success. Watts has been a professional athlete, a Youth Minister, a state-wide elected official, a US Representative, and a successful businessman. At no point has he curbed his tongue to "get along" with the "powers-that-be", shrunk from taking on the Leftist Democrats and their Socialist schemes, or hesitated from calling out his racial brethren when they've surrendered to the "race pimps" rather than fight for a life of excellence and accomplishment. At the end J.C.Watts is a proven winner - in athletics, in politics, in business. And his wife, Frankie, and four children would probably agree. He's a fine man with a lot of potential ahead of him, still.

So perhaps he's another choice that John McCain can look at for a Vice Presidential Running Mate. I would definitely get behind J.C.Watts on the Republican ticket. Patrick, at Born Again Redneck, posted that Watts told Sean Hannity that he is not interested in the VP nomination. I wonder what he'll say if the McCain people come calling. So I'm not ruling him out at all.



"What Color Is A Conservative?"


J.C.Watts' speech to the NRA, May 20, 2000.

"J.C. WATTS: The politics of personal destruction" August, 2006

J.C. Watts on why Heritage matters - June, 2007 - video

What Dems Say Before The Elections Roll Around: Iraq WMDs

This video was created by the Republican National Committee, and it came to me via email. My uncle, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army, sent it to family and friends. And I am posting it here as a reminder that what the Democrats say and do depends entirely on their political agendas, not on what is real, or what is good for this country, never mind the rest of the world.

If you want to simply download the video here's the address m Uncle linked to: Bercasio.com and here's my LiveLeak link for the same video: LiveLeak WMD video

Watch it! Remember it. The Dems will froth at the mouth as they Kerry-ize ("I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it." October, 2003) what they said before and what they have said since.

When Leftists Attack: Peace Means Violence

Skye blogs at Midnight Blue. For some time she has followed the so-called Peace activists who protest against our troops at a weekly gathering in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She takes pictures and reports on the goings on there, and has helped to organize counter-demonstrations against these anti-American Moonbats (sorry, Van Helsing, but the name fits!) As Skye posted on the 22nd:

A beautiful day for a rally that turned ugly when a peace protester crossed the line from ugly remarks to violence.

Snarky retorts, name calling and mis characterizations by the CCPM are common place events in my 7 month documentary of this rally. Yesterday crossed the line, when I was struck twice by a peace protester. I can deal with all the above, but will NOT tolerate any form of violence against my person. I am consulting legal advice on this matter.

She emailed her story to Melanie Morgan, reporting:

Melanie,

I am saddened to report this:

Saturday around 12:10 PM, a member of the Chester County Peace Movement (CCPM) slapped a woman twice ( that would be me) who was videotaping an exchange between the two opposing groups. Police were called and an officer arrived at 12:15 PM and announced to the crowd that he was conducting an investigation.

The CCPM member was pointed out to police and the officer told the man to come forward and the man refused. The guy was totally uncooperative, belligerent and would not go with the officer. When he shoved the officer, the officer's partner took him to the ground to be handcuffed. The guy continued to resist while on the ground and the peace movement folks surrounded the officers, some as close as a foot or so away.

Photos at the bottom of http://picasaweb.google.com/rgc1946/WestChesterMarch222008 show this quite clearly.


I've prided myself in my professional conduct at this rally and to be struck twice by a 'peace' protester who has been present since the time I began covering this rally is truly disturbing.


Sincerely,
Skye

Needless to say this tale is raising anger among Americans who actually love this country ( and a lot of bloggers) and believe in the Freedom of Speech. Gayle, at Dragon Lady's Den posted about this and linked to the full story at Marie's Two Cents. Marie has lots of links for your edification. I recommend you follow them and get up-to-date!

There is video and there are pictures, too. And, of course, the 'Peace' activists are lying about what happened and trying to spin it to their advantage. Traitors, Moonbats, and Liars. And they remain as violent as they ever were. 'Peace' to them is a weasel word they use to excuse every violent action they wish to take in their agenda of destroying Liberty and Freedom for Americans and the people of the entire world.



Cowardly Jackass That Slapped Skye: John Meicht

Skye, with Michelle Malkin. Looks like a threat, huh?

Don't ignore this! These are our enemies, Folks, not just a few misguided neighbors. These are not simply confused Democrats with a disagreement; these are Leftists who will do whatever they feel they must to win. And that means lies, distortions, and violence to get their way. Our enemies within our borders. As Van Helsing so rightly describes them: Moonbats!

Skye! We're with you!

"Benning's War" - benning Could Use Some Help!

"The Nation Makers" - by Howard Pyle (1906)


Recently I received the latest royalty check from my publisher for “Benning’s War”. It was for the princely sum of $1.80. One book sold in that quarter. An ebook, to be exact. So my sales have definitely plummeted. No wonder, since I don't promote it aside from the banner ad at the top of this blog, really. I do wish that a big publisher would discover it, or maybe even a motion picture producer. Imagine a producer reading it and thinking, "This would make a pretty good movie!" And I think it would make a great movie!


Yeah, that's the kind of thing that can turn a little-known - or unknown - book into a major hit. And, yeah, I think about that now and then. A bit of money coming in would certainly be helpful, y'know? But I didn't write "Benning's War" to make money. No, I wrote it to see if I could, to get a story out that was running around my mind, to do something that would allow me to stretch my creative muscles. The result was a finished book - a work of historical fiction - that satisfied those initial desires. And getting it published was wonderful. ePress-Online, a small, electronic publisher, did a great job assigning editors to my manuscript, walking me through the rewrite/editing process, and putting "Benning's War" together in a form that would sell. And then they ran it through Lulu.com to make it available in a print version. A short time ago my publisher worked out an arrangement to get Print-On-Demand books of theirs sold through Amazon.com Who could ask for more?


But I certainly want to see many thousands of copies of my book sold. And right now it looks as though "Benning's War" is sinking into oblivion. If you haven't bought a copy yet, please do! The story is one of the American Revolution. It tells the tale of a young man of western Virginia who went to war for the Independence of America. He is a veteran who finally experiences the utter horror of surviving the Massacre at the Waxhaws, fights and befriends Indians, and goes back to the War to help chase down and fight the British once more at Kings Mountain. There's adventure, action, some Romance - yes, I wrote a bit of romance into it - and a bit of actual history to keep you interested. I hope!


Some of you have bought the book, and I'm grateful! If you have, why not post a little review of the thing on your blog or website? Hey, it's a blog topic, if you're having a thin day blogging-wise. I'll even put up some graphics you can use for links. But, no, you certainly don't have to.


Just remember: "Benning's War" is still available in a print version as well as an e-book version. It will not go out of print. And the cover art was drawn by myself. *pats himself on the back, dislocating his arm* My mother recommends the book, as do some of my writing friends. I hope you do, too, or will buy a copy and spread the word. Wouldn't this be a good choice to give as a gift for the Independence Day coming up? Or maybe for Flag Day?


"Benning's War - A Novel of the American Revolution" is available at Lulu.com and Amazon.com Get your copie(s) today! And spread the word!

Here are some small graphics for you to use, if you like:



Perhaps you like the intricately detailed banner from the top of my blog? Here you are:

A Dead Horse Flogged In Florida

So the Florida Legislature has extended a formal apology to Black Americans for its part in Slavery. By a unanimous voice vote the resolution passed without discussion. From Tampabay.com :

The House and Senate approved a resolution expressing "profound regret for the involuntary servitude of Africans, and calling for reconciliation among all Floridians."

There was no discussion before the unanimous voice votes, but the reading of the resolution — which described how slaves' ears were nailed to posts during whippings — brought some lawmakers, including Tampa Sen. Arthenia Joyner, to tears.

"It was painful," said Joyner, a Democrat and black caucus member. "I tried to imagine myself under those circumstances. I mean, I know how incensed I got in the '60s just knowing I couldn't get into a movie!"

Gov. Charlie Crist, affectionately dubbed "Florida's first black governor" by some black lawmakers, visited the Senate chamber to watch the vote.

This is representative government at work. Unfortunately it is not work that is pressing, nor terribly important considering that Slavery was officially abolished by the Florida Legislature in the State Constitution of 1868. 153 years after the end of Slavery in Florida and the entire United States of America, 150 years after the writing of that State Constitution, no real reason existed for such a resolution or apology. But, by golly, the politicos had to get to work on it. Not for them the tough work of getting a handle on rising property taxes, sky-rocketing Home Insurance rates, or the ongoing death of the education system in the State of Florida. No, these brave, hard-working souls got down and dirty and dealt with an issue that has been dead for a century-and-a-half. Impressive.

And now I learn that our Republican Governor is now considered the state's first black governor. Inspect the photo of Governor Charlie Crist for an idea of how "black" he truly is. To top this off the Governor is not averse to handing out the money of modern Floridians to the descendants of Florida slaves. If descent can be accurately established. Wonderful. We certainly don't waste too much money here. So let's toss some extra greenbacks to some unhappy, unfulfilled, unpleasant folks who continue to have their hands out for something that is not theirs. Reparations would be the opening of Pandora's Box. Every crackpot with a grudge would ooze out of the woodwork demanding money for ills - real and imagined - that they have suffered throughout their lives.

Again, from Tampabay.com :

The resolution did not address reparations. Crist appeared to be open to such efforts if slave descendancy could be established. "Certainly, it's something you'd like to be able to do," he said.

But one black lawmaker, Sen. Al Lawson, said reparations are unlikely because they are controversial and they would cost the state so much. "But I appreciate the governor's comment," said Lawson, D-Tallahassee.

At least Senator Lawson is thinking about the State. What is Charlie Crist thinking about? He has now slid off the table as a Veep mate for John McCain, in my opinion. Which Black Americans need reparations? Which ones have felt the utter sting, humiliation, and degradation of slavery? Not one. The Laws make sure that no one is denied employment because their skin is too dark, or their parents came from another country. No Black American is denied a chair at the table in a Public Library, a seat at the table in a restaurant, cable TV hook-up at their home, or anything else.

If you cannot get a job - and you usually have to start at the bottom, even us privileged White Folks - and move up, something is fundamentally wrong. With you. Not with Society; not Whites, Blacks, Browns, or anybody else. Making a living takes hard work, discipline, and a bit of planning. You don't get ahead by spending your money on revolving hubcaps. You don't move up the ladder in a company by dressing as if you just left your gang 'Peeps' outside. You don't make a better life for yourself speaking as if you have a mouth full of marbles, and dissing others who can speak and be understood. Posing to intimidate old White people won't get you ahead in life. Hard work and discipline will.

An apology? I would have thought that the spending of thousands of lives in our Civil War would have been sufficient apology. But it never is, is it? As long as the Race Warlords are out there, stirring up hatred and a sense of entitlement among their poor, benighted Brethren, there will always be more to be demanded.

Enough! My ancestors never owned black slaves. Ancient ancestors of mine may have held Irish slaves - as that is something we of the Irish race used to do - but never black ones. I have nothing to apologize for, nor does my family. And my country made its apology with massive amounts of Blood and Treasure in the 19th Century. No more apologies. Enough is enough.

The Florida Resolution:

The resolution
WHEREAS, African slavery was sanctioned and enforced through laws enacted by Florida's first Territorial Legislative Council in 1822, and
WHEREAS, the Council and its successors did, over four decades, construct a legal framework that perpetuated African slavery in one of its most brutal and dehumanizing forms, and
WHEREAS, this legal framework included such lawful punishments as the following: "That any negro or other slave duly convicted of robbery & or burglary shall suffer death or have his or her ears nailed to posts and there stand for one hour and receive 30 lashes on his or her bare back at the discretion of the court," and
WHEREAS, in 1827, free Africans were denied the right to vote and in later years were, by law, so repressed, restricted, and harassed that by 1850 most had been driven from Florida, and
WHEREAS, African slavery was entrenched within the plantation culture of Middle Florida to such a degree that by the year 1860, 73 percent of the total population of Leon County were slaves, and
WHEREAS, there were early political leaders in Florida who advocated a vigorous defense of slavery, and
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has identified grave injustices inflicted upon African slaves and freemen by the state, and
WHEREAS, even though the laws permitting such injustices have been repealed, it is important that the Legislature express profound regret for the shameful chapter in this state's history and, in so doing, promote healing and reconciliation among all
Floridians, NOW, THEREFORE,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida, the House of Representatives Concurring:
That the Legislature expresses its profound regret for Florida's role in sanctioning and perpetuating involuntary servitude upon generations of African slaves.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature calls for healing and reconciliation among all residents of the state.

I'm telling you, this won't be sufficient. It never is for some people.

Hat Tip to Van Helsing at Moonbattery for first bringing this to my attention.

A Blessed Easter, 2008! (with Update)

Luk 23:32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.


Luk 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.


Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.


Luk 23:35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided [him], saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.


Luk 23:36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,


Luk 23:37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.


Luk 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.


Luk 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.


Luk 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?


Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.


Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.


Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.


Luk 23:44 ¶ And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.


Luk 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.


Luk 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.


Luk 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.


Luk 23:48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.


Luk 23:49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.


Luk 23:50 ¶ And, behold, [there was] a man named Joseph, a counsellor; [and he was] a good man, and a just:


Luk 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) [he was] of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.


Luk 23:52 This [man] went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.


Luk 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.


Luk 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.


Luk 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.


Luk 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Luk 24:1 ¶ Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them.


Luk 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.


Luk 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.


Luk 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:


Luk 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down [their] faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?


Luk 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,


Luk 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.


Luk 24:8 And they remembered his words,


Luk 24:9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.


Luk 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary [the mother] of James, and other [women that were] with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?


Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.


Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.


Act 1:9 ¶ And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.


Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;


Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Update: I got back at 9am, from the Sunrise Easter service at The Church On The Bayou, in Tarpon Springs. That's the church my folks belong to and serve as Deacon and Deaconess (Cool, huh?). The Sunrise service begins at 6:45am, and is fairly short. Good thing because I needed coffee! *wink*

The morning was cloudy, although when I arrived at the church - I was one of the first there, and was pressed into service handing out the programs and forks (I will explain) - there were breaks in the clouds and the moonlight was illuminating the edges of the breaks. A very pretty sight. Last year it was in the 40s for the service, but this year I had to take my coat off. Cool in shirt-sleeves, but too warm in the coat. As the service went on the clouds opened more and light began to shine. But the sun itself did not appear until after. No matter. If you have read my blog you know I’m a storm and rain guy. But it was a pretty morning.

*Mosquitos are sluggish at this time of year, but they are out there! Just a public service announcement, y’all!*

The choir the pastors thought was coming didn’t show, but the choir leader did! Odd, huh? And she sang the first hymn and it was fine. Too dark to read a hymnal so we didn’t really sing along. And we were outside with no hymnals. *shrug* And I was still handing out programs and forks (Explanation coming) so I hummed.

This service brings together a few of the Tarpon Springs churches and denominations, with the pastors sharing the prayers, invocations, sermon, and dedications. It’s nice. And it’s a way to see what pastors in other places do and say.

Pastor Henry Cribb, from the First United Methodist Church of Tarpon Springs, gave the sermon - his idea to hand out the forks - and opened with a joke. I’ll see if I can retell it:

Local pastors get together on Mondays to talk, catch up with local news, and so on. They have coffee in a local diner to do this. And they do it most every Monday. It’s also a way to encourage each other, pray together, and so on. One of the pastor’s parishioners saw this - at this point Pastor Cribb mentioned that he was not giving names to protect the innocent, which got a nice laugh - and the woman asked the Pastor what was going on.

The Pastor jokingly told her that the ministers got together, as a way for them to stay ahead, because they exchanged sermons.

The woman spoke to him in a very stern, Mother-knows-best way to the Pastor.

“You have to stop!” she told him.

“But why?” the Pastor asked her.

“You’re being shorted!”

And this got a good laugh from all of us. Then Pastor Cribb got into the sermon which also was a bit humorous, having to do with a woman’s funeral instructions to her minister, as she was approaching death. The last thing she demands of him for her funeral is that in the casket, for the viewing, she be holding a fork in her hand.

“A fork?”

“I know you probably think it’s an odd request.”

“Well, a little different. Why a fork?”

“You know I’ve been coming to the Church suppers and parties, the church picnics and benefits. for years. And loved them all. It was always fun, and there was always a fellow who’d come around, clearing the plates way, and he’d lean over and say, ‘you might want to hold on to that fork.’ And I did, because I knew something good was coming; something better was coming. So I held on to that fork.”

“And so, for your funeral...?”

“When the folks come by to look at me, they’ll see that fork, and they’ll ask, “Why is she holding a fork?’ And you can tell them. You can say, ‘She’s holding that fork because she knows something better is coming. Something better is coming.’”

And that got a thoughtful laugh, and was a nice story. So he explained the stainless-steel fork in detail. Why a stainless-steel fork? Stainless, because the Blood of Christ washed all the stains of our sins away. Steel, because steel is durable, holds weight, and is tempered by the heat of this world, and the fork because we know something good is coming!

Well, Pastor Henry Cribb said it better. After all it took a good twenty minutes for him to preach. So I just gave you the gist. And I think it was a nice sermon for an Easter morning. And we all left the damp grass lawn of the church with a stainless-steel fork to remember the sermon.

The hymn to close the service - since we had no choir - was led by a young pastor, Ken Pippin from Highest Praise Family Church, and he spoke for a minute, then began to sing, "Jesus loves me, this I know ..." And danged if we didn't all know this hymn. And we sang it. Two verses! Right out of my memories of Sunday School! What a nice hymn for an Easter, right?

After the service the church had a three-dollar a plate breakfast, which was tasty - and coffee, was needed! - and I chatted with my folks for a while. I wished them and all I saw a Happy Easter. And I wish the same to you! Happy Easter!

Christ Is Risen; He is risen indeed!

"Jesus Loves Me"

Words: Stanza 1, An­na B. War­ner, 1860. Stanzas 2-3, Da­vid Ru­ther­ford Mc­Guire. This hymn first ap­peared in the no­vel Say and Seal, by War­ner's sis­ter Su­san; she want­ed a song for a Sun­day School teach­er to sing to a dy­ing boy, and asked An­na to write it.
Music: Will­iam B. Brad­bu­ry, 1862

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”

Refrain

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Note: Sister Toldjah reposts her Easter 2007 entry. Have a tissue or hanky handy. You've been warned!

5 Years Gone: Iraq Anniversary

When the US was first powerful enough to throw its weight around it did so against the Spanish Empire. The US threw the Spaniards out of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Although our nation had some "colonial" ambitions, the use of American force was actually a response to the call for intervention by ... the American people. Cuba returned to the Cuban people, Puerto Rico remained a protectorate of the US, and the Philippines were finally granted complete independence in 1946, on July 4th of that year. This stretching of US military muscles began in 1898, and with few exceptions, has resulted in the liberation of millions of people around the world. The cost to our nation, in treasure alone, has been astronomical. The cost to our nation in the lives of our best and brightest is incalculable.

The USA sacrifices its people and its treasure for the ideals of Freedom and Liberty, not for territory, prestige, or oil. Despite the cries of some that we are not the World's policemen, our nation has taken upon itself this very role. Whenever and wherever our national interests are threatened, or our national safety is at risk, we have shouldered the burden to go to war. We do not do so happily. We do so reluctantly. But with few exceptions we also do so to win.

Winning wars means the survival of a nation and its systems. Losing a war means the loss of sovereignty, the loss of treasure, the possible enslavement of the people, and the possible dismemberment of the nation itself. With GOD's help we have avoided those costs. But we have refused to shrink from a fight. Diplomacy only goes so far. Then you must surrender or fight. Americans have chosen the fight. Americans do not choose to surrender to tinpot dictators and thugs.

Today we mark the anniversary of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq - the Second Gulf War - and the defeat of Saddam Hussein and his pathological, Socialist, Baathist regime. To win the immediate War took lives and cost us treasure. However the alternative was, and is, too ugly to allow. Those who prattle on about the US invading Iraq for her oil, are ignorant of reality, or purposely deceptive. They should be ignored. We invaded Iraq following a decade of the Iraqi regime ignoring its responsibilities to the cease-fire agreements it made. Those agreements were the response to the Kuwait invasion by Iraq, the brutality and horror of its short occupation of Kuwait, and the eventual coalition of nations that fought Iraq and beat her.

In short, Iraq lied about its commitment to peace following the First Gulf War, refused to abide by the treaties it signed, funneled humanitarian aid to weapons and the building of palaces, harbored and trained terrorists, and refused to accept the U.N.-sponsored WMD inspections regimen. If, as some fools think, Hussein lied about Iraq's nuclear weapons research, as a way to seem more dangerous and powerful, then he miscalculated badly. If, as the blind may believe, no WMDs were ever discovered in Iraq following our invasion, then they are just as simple-minded as those who volunteered to be Human Shields against the US air attacks against Iraq. Nerve gas is a WMD. It was found in Iraq. Many other items of a similar nature have been found there. Case closed.

Of course the greatest difficulty America has faced in the Iraq War and the occupation following, has been the whining about the massive loss of American lives there. As if those who whine so ever cared about American military members anyway. They didn't, they don't, and they never will. Is the Iraq War over? Yes. The actual War is finished. Has been for awhile now. But this is a new type of war and we cannot simply declare ourselves the winners and amble home. Our existence in Iraq draws the terrorists. And that means we can kill them there, rather than fight them here.

But haven't we lost thousands and thousands of men and women in the War? How can we keep up with this huge loss?

The Iraq War, to date, has cost the US some 3,987 lives. That total runs from the invasion in 2003, to March of this year. Yes, that's a lot of dead Americans. The loss of a single American service member is a tragedy. 4,000 is unimaginable and dreadful. But Gateway Pundit managed to put it into perspective. And you should pay attention. Here are two of the graphics from his page:



Casualties in the entire Iraq War versus casualties in some major World War II battles. Click on the image for a larger version.



Think GWBush is killing off the military? Comparison of five years of military deaths during the Clinton Administration versus the Iraq War. Click on the image for a larger version.


I suggest you surf on over and read all of it. It will open your eyes if you still are under the influence of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

Today let us remember not just the dead in this war, but the injured and maimed, and all of those who left their loved ones, and their homes, and went to a war in an ugly place across the Ocean from us. They went to defend Freedom, serve Liberty, and liberate the enslaved people of Iraq. They didn't want to go to war. But they went. For Liberty. For Freedom. For us!

A Hat Tip to Gina Cobb who linked to Gateway Pundit!

Mississippi: Obama and McCain

The Mississippi primary is over and Obama has cruised to a win there. John McCain, on the Republican side, has won handily garnering nearly 80% of the vote.

Now, I suspect that Mississippi went for Obama based on his race. I don't have the polling data to support that. It's just a hunch. But what I do know is that, yet again, the men of the Democrat Party stayed home. 42% of the voters in the Dem primary were males, 58% were females. And, no, primaries are not directly relevant to the general election in terms of participation. Massive Dem turnout for primaries has often translated into less than stellar numbers once the November election occurs.

But I wonder how this is playing out in Democrat homes across the country. As the women march to the polling sites to cast their votes for the candidate of "Change, Hope, and Unity" *kaff kaff*, or to vote for the candidate of "Screech, Anger, and Lies" *heheheeee!*, the men seem to dither and then not bother to vote at all. The Democratic Party has become Feminized, at least during the Primary Season. And that's not a good thing. The Party needs leadership in a time of troubles around the globe. But what it's getting is the same old socialist garbage with a new coat of paint. So the men show their apathy and remain home. This cannot be good for old-time, true Liberal Democrats. But it's Manna for the New Leftist who now controls the Democrat Party.

Regardless who takes the nomination of the Dems I think this apathy will play out well for John McCain and even the Republicans in general. Once the electorate sees and hears the Democrat candidate speaking the same old losing, Socialist platitudes and realizes just how empty their promises are, America will "McGovern" them out of office.

I could be wrong. I have been before. But if McCain speaks to the historical record of Socialism, displays the ugliness, emptiness, and economic despair that comes with Socialism, I'm betting that Americans will "Just Say No!"

That's what I think, anyway.