13:08 – It’s Memorial Day here in the U.S., the day set aside to remember those who sacrificed themselves to protect our freedom. Although the official purpose of Memorial Day is to remember those who gave their lives in the service of our country, let’s also remember all of those brave men and women, living and dead, who through the years have put their lives on the line to protect all of us. As we have our cookouts and family get-togethers today, let’s all take a moment to think about our troops in the Middle East and elsewhere, who can’t be with their families. And let’s have a thought, not just today but every day of the year, for them and the sacrifices they are making and have made.
Frances and Al are up here for the holiday. Al brought up his roto-tiller/cultivator and spent several hours yesterday tilling a 15×20 foot garden plot. He, Frances, and Barbara have already planted some red pepper seedlings and two types of tomato seedlings out there. All hybrids. They’ve been in the ground at least two hours, but they don’t look any bigger to me yet.
I’m going to have Barbara sit down and look at the open-pollinated (“heirloom”) seeds we have on hand and decide what to plant. She wants to put in a few examples of various types, just to see how they do. I went out and grabbed a kilo or so of the untreated soil to send off for analysis. I suppose I could do it myself–Al in fact thought I was doing that when I disappeared indoors with the soil sample in hand–but our taxes have already paid for the “free” testing by the NC Ag Extension service, so we might as well have them do it.
“They’ve been in the ground at least two hours, but they don’t look any bigger to me yet.”
Don’t ya just hate that? Same deal up here. Wicked bummer, man.
“…but our taxes have already paid for the “free” testing by the NC Ag Extension service, so we might as well have them do it.”
That’s right, hand it off to the professionals. I gotta do the same thing here; our soil sucks, mostly clay and whatever flotsam and jetsam got dumped here by previous owners and storms like the one we had yesterday.
So today I’m cleaning up storm debris, chain-sawing a bunch of stuff, weed-whacking, hauling compost, and figuring out where to put our tool shed when we have the bucks for it, but currently I’ll be lobbying Mrs. OFD for a generator. (I’ll be advising her that we’ll likely be spending less dough on that than what we did for the wood-stove.) A shed will cost less than the stove, too. Hey, I’ll tell her that BOTH of those just about equal the cost of our lovely stove.
Otherwise a nice day here and the t-storm/gale broke up the humidity and it’s nice and breezy for this kinda scut work. I have to take a break to sit every fifteen or twenty minutes but whatever. I’ll be calling for another VA doc appointment, and I believe the next steps are gonna be new x-rays and an MRI. My next younger-brother recently had back surgery and left him with a six-inch scar. Maybe I can avoid that.
Wife is off to grab her stuff from the hoss barn as they’re moving her hoss from there today to another nicer barn and farm due east of here out in the hills, about twenty-plus miles. Some Vermonters and Mainers would call it East Bumfuck; nicer and more genteel peeps like ourselves say “East Overshoe.”
No idea what’s on the nooz today or what Cankles or Obola or Trump are doing and don’t give a blind rat’s ass.
No way! Tell the doc to go nuts with the incision, make it look like someone almost did you in but you were so tough that you lived. Then you can tell all sorts of stories to impress folks — the biker brawl you broke up by yourself, the jealous husband, the bear that you found in your shed.
Might not do you any good, though. When I went to the doc to get my throat cut*, I specifically told him to make it look nasty, like someone had tried to take my head off with a chainsaw. Did he listen? Hell, no. That’s what’s wrong with the US medical business, that the docs aren’t (mainly) paid by the patients.
* I’m the only person I know whose throat has been cut twice. The first was someone trying to kill me and the second was removal of an infection that had traveled up from an injured arm. Guess which one healed without a scar?
Depending on the diagnosis of back trouble, surgery can be no better than taking NSAIDs or other pain killers. It’s probably the least consistent in results of any surgery.
“It’s probably the least consistent in results of any surgery.”
I avoid, if I can, any invasive stuff and will certainly try to avoid that. But I can understand why some folks go for it, when, like me, they’ve tried everything else and the pain is more or less constant and you don’t necessarily wanna live with it until you finally croak. Which for me could be a decade or two.
“Then you can tell all sorts of stories to impress folks — the biker brawl you broke up by yourself…”
I broke up several of those by myself back in the late 70s and early 80s. I guess nowadays I’d need my M60 to do that again and some RPGs. Back then it was my PR24 Monadnock Prosecutor baton and a willingness to imitate helicopter blades. Also, being large myself, it was fun deploying that thing against pool cues and car antennas and knives. Drop two or three of the buggers to the floor or parking lot gravel and the chit stops; “who’s next?” Without drawing my crappy .38 revolver. And back then I still had a lotta adrenaline and a giant set; now I’m just a feeble old crippled loser that a ten-year-old girl could beat up.
“Guess which one healed without a scar?”
Hmmm….tough one. You and I lead charmed lives, methinks. I wonder when the charm will wear off….
I’m grilling a wiener today in memory of Mr. OFD.*
*After that back surgery, there’s no telling for a geezer of his advanced age. Could be bedridden for life, better off in his pine box.
To reword the old saw, god looks after drunks, fools, and Americans. I’m American and when I got my throat cut I was definitely drunk and arguably a fool. A bar dispute had turned into what I thought was a friendly scuffle. I grossly outclassed the other guy, so I wasn’t taking it seriously, which infuriated him into pulling a knife. That pissed me off, with predictable result.
When a coworker left the job, years ago, I brought in some donuts. And put up a sign: “Tom McSomebody memorial donuts. Eat these in remembrance of me.” You could tell who’d been raised Catholic by the double-takes, and you could tell who took it all a bit too seriously by the glowers directed my way. (Tom was Catholic, and he thought it was hilarious.)
“A bar dispute…”
Indeed. I haven’t been in a bar in decades. When I drank it was at home, often alone. (cue up the song “I Drink Alone.”
“Tom was Catholic, and he thought it was hilarious.”
I would also have laughed; ya gotta have a sense of hew-muh. That phrase, incidentally, is used by other mainstream Christian denominations, not just Catholic clergy. i.e, Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, etc. So some of the glowers may have well come from those old fuddie-duddies.
And Presbyterians. The only true faith, apart from Baptists.
There is no god but Steve and Steve is his prophet. Steve is also Steve’s treasurer, so send all donations to Steve to Steve.
Do you accept first born sacrifices Mr. SteveF?
Well, I felt like I ought to say I accept first-born if they’re young women, because I’d have to turn in my man card if I didn’t, but then it occurred to me that I don’t have to worry about a man card because I have a god card. Good, because I’m generally not too tolerant of young women. (Even less tolerant than of other people, that is.) Especially teenagers. Jeeze Louise, but teenage girls are annoying.
Especially teenagers. Jeeze Louise, but teenage girls are annoying.
Yes, they are. Especially cheerleaders who think they are at the pinnacle of popularity and success. Woe be to those who cross them. When you have 18 cheerleaders doing a routine, 17 of them in sync (for the most part), 1 of them totally out of sync, and you hear the parent of the wayward one questioning why the other girls are not in sync with their fake blond bimbo. Of course they heap praises on the little vertical smiling minion with the crotch goatee who now thinks she is perfect and thus unable to associate with anyone that has not obtained cheerleading nirvana.
Lovely imagery. Thanks.
What about a combination of Venezuela and Chicago? Wouldn’t that be just so special? In our major cities and surrounding ‘burbs, that is…
http://freedomoutpost.com/dozens-shot-over-memorial-day-weekend-as-the-collapse-of-chicago-accelerates/
But of course it couldn’t happen here.
Well, that article opened a new avenue of thought for me.
I’ve been sort of assuming the collapse would be uniformly distributed. Most of what I read seems to have the same basic assumption built in. But what if it’s not? What if the cities fall one at a time? Then you really could have mass migrations. Then you really could have “rescue and support missions” that rob the rest of the country but only delay the inevitable long enough for the vast horde to move on to another already overburdened city, and hasten its collapse.
Imagine the Katrina refugees in your area, only there are 7 MILLION of them instead of 100k. What would that do to your local (mostly stable) gang situation? What would it do to your schools? Your neighborhoods?
Don’t think Chicago’s refugees would all be resettled in big cities. You’re not safe in the country. Whole towns in southern Texas were overwhelmed with massive Katrina refugee influx. Small towns don’t have the political protection they need to keep the refugees out. Even here in my area, local schools and residents are only NOW recovered from the Katrina refugees. The mark they left on the schools will continue to be felt for a long time. (Test scores and ranking wiped out. Good teachers driven out. Resources diverted from maintenance and building plans.)
Gotta think on this some…..
nick
And this sucks on so many levels.
“Army veteran, 25, ‘suffering from PTSD identified as shooter in Houston gun rampage that left two dead and six wounded’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3617029/Army-veteran-25-suffering-PTSD-identified-shooter-Houston-gun-rampage-left-two-dead-six-wounded.html
4 tours before the age of 23.
Stepping aside from the tragedy of it all, please note the following which were CHOSEN by editors to be a part of the article, and a part of the official narrative.
“a rampage with a high-powered AR15 rifle ”
“According to KHOU, he had recently expressed anti-government sentiments, but the motive behind the shooting is still unknown.
His father told Click 2 Houston: ‘We have not received confirmation, but I strongly suspect. I really believe this is a PTSD thing.
‘On the internet he met some people or some people that believed like him.’
His father added that he decided to move to Houston to meet others who thought the United States was on the brink of collapse.
‘He was rambling off about the economy collapsing’
It is a shame that this young man’s own father seems to have thought of him as a crazy nut, full of ridiculous ideas.
nick
Note the talking points above, high powered rifle, crazy PTSD vet, crazy dangerous people on the internet, ridiculous ideas like an economic collapse. It’s depressing as hell.
Note also the progression regarding the good samaritan. On the day he was a second shooter, modified to “another armed individual on scene” to now a good sam, trying to help.
What’s coming for the shooter? Articles stressing the tragedy of a young man destroyed in a senseless war, and let into crazy town by radical elements online? Or will they demonize him?
One of the funniest and saddest things that I have seen in a while. “Key & Peele – Substitute Teacher”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7FixvoKBw&feature=youtu.be
“Where is Ay Ay Ron?”
“You’re not safe in the country.”
We know. We also know that as the State crumbles, we’ll take matters into our own hands, too.
“Small towns don’t have the political protection they need to keep the refugees out.”
Also known. And we’ll know who the political people were/are who let it happen to us, or, actually went out of their way to facilitate it. There will be retribution and that should be made clear to them beforehand.
“4 tours before the age of 23”
Standard now. And OFD had four deployments to hostile combat zones by the age of 21. (signed up when I was 17, with siggies from both parents).
“high-powered AR15 rifle”
Yeah. If that’s “high-powered,” what’s an AR10? Fucking cretins.
Ya know what’s really amazing? I deal with or interact with PTSD combat vets every week up here and most of us have various firearms. Isn’t it odd that there aren’t many more of us crazy fuckers blowing up the landscape? Well, that day may come yet, and our political “leaders” seem to be doing everything humanly possible to bring it about. I hope, though, like Mr. DadCooks says, we can start at the top of the food chain.
That’ll be the day:
https://westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/making-yankees-and-other-scalawags-squeal-in-horror-long-live-the-flags-of-dixie/#comments
And as is my wont, another cheery thought for the evening, whoops, very early morning, before I retire:
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/05/paul-craig-roberts/can-expect-end-world/
Sure, why not keep sticking our fingers in the Russian Bear’s eyes and the Chicoms while we’re at it. And also keep stirring it up real good in the Sandbox hornets’ nests like Syria and Iran.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4erJjojjvc
Oh what the heck, one more:
https://westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/quote-of-the-decade-6/#comments
I always knew the PC crap was commie-inspired and designed. And it’s recently given us new terms and phrases and acronyms for our wonderful English language; SJW, progs, virtue-signalling, etc.
Nice if you can afford to pay this sort of fine. Expect to see some Swiss politicians hanging from lamp posts soon…
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/674569/revealed-only-place-in-world-where-asylum-seekers-banned-Oberwil-Lieli-Switzerland
I did see an article years ago about back surgery and how it’s largely ineffective. It was something about a conference of doctors specializing in back pain and corrective surgery and one of the speakers said, “Raise your hand if you would recommend disc replacement surgery for a close friend or family member.” Not a single doctor at the conference raise their hand. Yet, how many of those doctors have performed disc replacement surgery? Disturbing.
Remember, 50% of all doctors graduated in their bottom half of their medical school class. 🙂
Holy tautology, Batman!
Considering the washout rate in medical school, call it 80%, half of medical doctors were in the 9th decile of their starting class while the other half were in the 10th decile.
While dummies don’t usually(rarely) get into med school I’ve certainly known some I would avoid getting treatment from. Mostly because I doubt the stability of their personality.
True enough. Though on the matter of skill and knowledge, beware affirmative action regarding any doctor younger than 50.
“While dummies don’t usually(rarely) get into med school I’ve certainly known some I would avoid getting treatment from. Mostly because I doubt the stability of their personality.”
This also goes for dentists and chiropractors. Too many derps regard them all as minor deities and the medicos don’t often reject that worship.
Yep, under the old meritocracy admissions standards, nearly all med students were white or oriental men. Very, very few women had the grades or test scores to be admitted, and almost no blacks. The Allan Bakke decision changed that, so now ability is less important than immaterial characteristics like sex and skin color. I long ago told Barbara to go to young white or oriental male physicians because they received no preference in admission to med school.
Please excuse any unintentional micro-aggressions I may have made.
“Please excuse any unintentional micro-aggressions I may have made.”
I counted a good half-dozen micro-aggressions in your hateful rayciss screed.
No excuse, and incidentally, the PC and SJW crowds operate under the “black flag,” no quarter given. We should return the favor, of course.
What about the intentional microaggressions?
My GP is an hispanic, not my favorite guy but he seems more than competent. I rarely see him. My cardiologist, gastrointestinologist, and oncologist are indian (no feathers) and I actually like them all and can even understand them, mostly. The surgeon that tried make me less of an asshole two years ago was white, very white. Word was he is temperamental but I had nothing but good experiences with him.
No question that Indians are probably the dominate race now in the medical fields here.
Chiropractors? Go to a masseuse instead. Might at least get a happy ending.
Imagine the Katrina refugees in your area, only there are 7 MILLION of them instead of 100k. What would that do to your local (mostly stable) gang situation? What would it do to your schools? Your neighborhoods?
My brother-in-law was shot and killed for $65 cash in 1982 by two guys from Detroit that had been in Houston for only a week.
I go to doctors that are recomended to me and that I like and trust. Their skin colour and what they have between their legs makes no difference to me. For years I saw a female doctor in Canberra and really liked her. Now my GP and all my specialists are male.
Lynn wrote:
“… two guys from Detroit…”
How long did they get, or did they swing?
Lynn wrote:
“… two guys from Detroit…”
How long did they get, or did they swing?
They claimed it was a drug deal gone bad and the DA ran with it. My BIL had a pot record and pot in his car under the driver seat. They pleaed to 18 months in Texas state prison. Our DA in Fort Bend County always seems to be lazy and incompetent.
They shot him in the back with a .357 after they ran him off the road. The Missouri City cops found one of them trying to start his car when they arrived.
I still miss him. He introduced me to my wife, his sister.
For Family Practice I prefer female doctors. In fact, I insist upon it. I got tired of male doctors that barely listen and could go through an entire exam without making eye contact. Female doctors are, in my experience, more engaged with their patients and for a Family Practice doctor that’s what I prefer. Thanks to the “Find a Physician” feature complete with photographs on most health system websites I can also make sure she’s a very attractive female doctor. 🙂
Now, if I see a specialist about anything I want the best of the best and I couldn’t care less how awful their bedside manner is.
Considering the washout rate in medical school, call it 80%, half of medical doctors were in the 9th decile of their starting class while the other half were in the 10th decile.
Not sure how high that rate is. My wife’s class didn’t get that much smaller as the years went on, but she was at a top-10 in the US school. And it was before the Bakke decision.
I long ago told Barbara to go to young white or oriental male physicians because they received no preference in admission to med school.
What is more important is where they went to medical school and where they did their residency. If they went to a mediocre or worse school and a mediocre residency, avoid them. I’ve had bad experiences with doctors from those places. My wife was smart enough to do her residency at one of the top places in the world for her specialty – one of her attendings wrote the standard anesthesia textbook. (They also had JFK’s and Connolly’s anesthesiologists on staff.)