Ox and Ribbons

Easter 2009

Easter 2009

Easter 2009

Innovative software removal technique

Dawn and a .223

I don't care if Obama IS a Muslim

Article V of the U.S. Constitution:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Emphasis added.

Apparently the Founding Fathers – as well as all of the states that adopted the U.S. Constitution – weren’t afraid of Muslims.

And, before the end of George Washington’s term, that lack of fear was made certain. The 11^th Article of the "Treaty of Peace and Friendship, entered into with Tripoli on November 4, 1796, and with Algiers on January 3, 1797, contains a clear statement of peaceful intent toward Islam:

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, - as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen, - and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

I don’t care if Obama is Muslim. I want somebody who will be less than 72 years old when taking the oath of office. I want a president who has a brain on his shoulders and can express his thoughts and policies clearly, without a teleprompter. I want somebody who doesn’t think it’s a good idea to have a permanent occupying army in Iraq. I want a president who will actually exercise due diligence before taking our country to war. The current occupier of our nation’s highest office failed miserably -- my metric is over 4,000 lost American patriots.

Top 10 things NOT to ask FBI while taking a tour

10. Since you did a background check on me, does that mean I'm going
to Guantanamo Bay at the end of the tour for the rest of my life?

9. Where's the room where you torture brown people who don't speak
English?

8. The C.I.A.: Friend or Foe?

7. What's your favorite round for knocking off hippies marching at
a peace protest, .45 cal, 9 mil, or 5.56?

6. In the scene from the movie "Die Hard," where Dwayne
the L.A. cop says "We're gonna need some more FBI guys I guess" -- was
that cool or what?

5. Does Will Smith monitor extraterrestrials from this office?

4. Will I be waterboarded for posting this?

3. That whole 4th Amendment, no searches without a warrant stuff,
does that mean the Founding Fathers were commies, pinkos, liberals or
terrorists?

2. Where in Tampa did J. Edgar Hoover shop for his dresses?

And, ....

1. Does Dick Cheney wear the same dress size as J. Edgar Hoover?

Gasparilla 2008

Gasparilla 2008

Gasparilla 2008

Gasparilla 2008

Gasparilla 2008

Me and my host and friend, Frank Fulghum.

Xmas 2007

My 44th Bday

Had to use the self-timer, of course.

Cub Scout Camping trip 2007

I took the boys to a Cub Scout camping trip in December. We had a blast. Here's our campsite, where they just loved being junior pyromaniacs.

Taking a break

Den 10, Pack 632

Handmade candles

Camping Dec 2007

Xmas Tree

Two patients

Jack had surgery to correct a hernia today. It went fine, according to the doctor the procedure was perfectly normal, but the experience was nonetheless quite traumatic. We were at the hospital from 10:30 until around 3:30.

While we were with him in the recovery/post-op room, Angelina called her sister, Sabrina, to report on the surgery. During the phone call, Sabrina tells us that Cooper had fallen and was in the nearest urgent care facility. Took 3 stitches to close up the back of his head, pictured above.

I sure could use a break from further hospital visits for a lengthy spell.

Sign of the Apocalypse Drawing Near

KU is playing MU Saturday, November 24. What would normally be a routine rivalry football game is now much more important, since KU is ranked number 2 in the nation and MU is number 4. The chance at playing for the national championship is on the line.

One of my good friends, Ted, unfortunately went to MU. He and I have exchanged some emails about the origins of the Jayhawk, and since I thought some of the stuff was interesting, I'm editing and posting some of my comments here:

1. During the Civil War, the Jayhawkers of Kansas were basically the functional equivalent of the Bushwackers of Missouri.
2. In the 1861 Osceola massacre, led by a guy who was later elected to the U. S. Senate representing Kansas, James Lane, nine men were basically murdered; however, at least the initial invasion of the town came as part of a legitimate warfare after the Battle of Wilson’s Creek and the Battle of Dry Wood Creek.
3. In Quantrill’s Raid, in 1863 of Lawrence, Kansas, somewhere probably between 185 and 200 men and boys were murdered. Wikipedia describes the attack as a “four-hour session of pillaging, systematic execution of most of the male population, arson, and other mayhem.” That, to my eye, does not sound legitimate, thus justifying the villainous reputation of one William Quantrill.
4. In retaliation after Quantrill's raid, and in order to eliminate the hiding places of the Quantrill terrorists, General Ewing, the Union general in charge of Kansas City and the surrounding area, issued Order No. 11, which basically ordered the forceful eviction of all rural people around Kansas City and the torching of their farms and homes. Order No. 11 was devastatingly effective at depopulating and destroying several Missouri counties. The biggest reason, I believe, that it is not more widely known is that the Union won and the Missouri Confederates lost. That, plus the fact that the wanton destruction was of property, not people. Cf. William Quantrill.
5. Churchill wrote that “history is written by the victors.” That concept is quite true, in comparing Quantrill to the Jayhawkers. We won, they lost; deal with it.
6. Since the victors do get to write history, I humbly suggest that the Tigerettes prepare to go in hiding beginning on Sunday, November 25, 2007.

Veteran's Day Parade

Beginning of parade from staging area

Pack 632

Cooper as Cub Scout

Jack O' Lanterns 2007