Security

Every week I do the shopping. I really don’t shop because if it’s not on my list, I don’t want it. This week at our not to distant grocery, I found a large crowd of people carrying long guns. For you that don’t know, that’s rifles and shotguns. At first I thought it was one of the pro-open carry demonstrations but it was wrong. Turns out one of the group had bought a couple of rib eye steaks and the others were there to act as security until he could get them to his truck. I think they escorted him home too.

When steaks hit $30 per pound, it is time to start raising cows. I’m thinking a black angus bull in my back yard. I can sell the fertilizer to all the old ladies for their flower beds and maybe charge any grandkids that come around to pet him. We do have rules against keeping livestock, but I’ll put a collar on him and say he’s a pet.

And so far as fertilizing the flower beds. I’ll just feed him a bale of hay and back him up to the flower beds.

Sometimes I amaze myself with all my great ideas.

PMO
©2014

Hummingbird

The lady that cuts my hair told me about a butterfly that landed on her hand the other day as she and her husband were outside - resting and having a glass of wine. She said that she dipped a finger into her glass of wine and put a drop on her arm. The butterfly proceeded to drink up the wine. That’s what she said. And, she also mentioned that the little critter didn’t fly away for a really long time.

Outside her shop, she has a bird feeder for hummingbirds. Some days there is a long wait for a bird to get in for a sip because there are so many birds hovering around the feeder. Being me, I suggested that she add some wine to bird feeder. I can only imagine what a hummingbird would do on a buzz. They might look like little drones gone berserk.

I have to wait until I get another haircut to find out if she did.

PMO
©2014

Watching The Lie

For some reason, people believe what they see and hear on television and even on the internet. Truth is that there is no truth on TV news and less on a majority of internet sites. Let me correct that. There may be the truth of something happened, but beyond that, it is purely spin.

Have you noticed that Israel is the bad guy in the Middle East. Truth is they were attacked and they responded. But, that is not what the media proclaims.

Yes, I have espoused my disdain for the media before. The reason is that as a group, they stink when it comes to reporting what is really happening. They don’t even pretend to hide what they do. They are proud of what they do.

Perhaps they are trying to protect everyone from the truth and everyone is happy they do. Perhaps that’s why Colonel Nathan Jessup (A few Good Men) said what he did.

"You can’t handle the truth."

PMO
©2014

Men Die First

Men die before women. And, there are reasons. Such as criminal activity. Men are more likely to be involved in dangerous criminal activity increasing their risk of death and injury.

Men are bigger than women and bigger is not better when it comes to longevity. Researchers point out that people under six feet tall live longer.

Women live about 10 to 15 years longer than men when it comes to heart disease. Estrogen is reportedly a natural defense to high cholesterol - especially the bad kind.

Men smoke, drink, gamble, take chances in sports and other activities, so a riskier lifestyle causes them to kick the bucket sooner.

And, they have higher risk jobs. Of course women today say they can do anything a man can do, but they don’t. Let me also add, women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a beer belly and bald head and still believe they are sexy.

Then, there’s the fact that men have weaker social connections. Men tend not to bond with everyone they meet. For the average man, to have one or two true friends is probably about normal.

These are not the only reasons men die before women, but they are a few valid reasons.

I still believe men die before women, because they want to.

PMO
©2014

Hatred

The Jewish people have been hated for centuries by just about everybody. Have you ever wondered why? Well, I have. So I did a little research. There seems to be several reasons, like, money, arrogance, and some of them dress funny.

Nazi Germany exterminated Jews because they said the Jews were rich while everyone else starved. The Middle East hates the Jews because they hate everyone, including each other. The common thread seems to be that the Jewish people did not have a country and were spread through out the world. So they made themselves a better target for hatred.

Reality is that everyone hates someone. Racism is the word used today, but that is not accurate. People hate because of culture and the unknown. Yes, there are legitimate reasons for one people not to like another. Usually, it is because of radical actions by any group. One religion hates the other and radicals make negative feelings for the whole group. Even within religions, there are segments that hate those with the same beliefs.

The truth is that people love to hate. It is in human nature to have to have something to hate. Psychologist contend that not all insecure people hate, but all haters are insecure. And, it you find others that hate the same things you do, then you have confirmation that your are right to hate. I find it interesting to watch how people that agree to hate something, hate other for something they disagree with.

I am hated for being white. Why? I had no control over that. And, if I were black, I would be hated for that. I have friends that are black, Asian, American Indian, Mexican, and Jewish. I guess I am going to have to call my Jewish friend Josh and tell him I am supposed to hate him, but I’m not sure why. Maybe he can come up with some reasons for me. It’s going to be hard to hate him because he gave me a 24 pack of Big Red soda when I retired.

All this rambling is about why we really hate is simply to feed a need to hate. Millions of people have died at the hands of other people that really didn’t know why they hate them.

So far as Jews being different. Yes, they work and become rich. Some of them do. Yes, they have a religion strange to others - especially to Baptist. And, some of them dress funny.

Heck, people in East Texas dress funny and they are not even Jews.

PMO
©2014

Middle East

I did a little research to determine why there is almost always some kind of conflict going on with Israel. The answer is simple. All their neighbors want them dead. They have wanted them dead for many, many years.

Israel is a small country, with a population of about 8 million. It is approximately the size of New Jersey. Texas is 33.5 times larger than Israel.

As usual I have a solution to the problem. Why don’t we move all the Israelis here and let them protect our borders? They are really good at it. And we could deport 20 or 30 million illegal immigrants to Israel. This would solve three problems. The Israelis would have a home where the neighbors aren’t always trying to kill them. Our borders would be protected. And, since a lot of illegals that are deported just come back, they would have a lot further to travel.

No need to thank me for another wonderful idea.

PMO
©2014

Power

What is the most powerful force on this earth? This is not just another one of my stupid questions. Think about it. I’m talking about a force that can literally destroy mankind.

Would it be nuclear weapons? How about a giant asteroid crashing into the planet? Or, maybe just the force of the weather - tornados, monsoons, and such? Fire is certainly a powerful force.

By now, someone must have said God is the most powerful force. And, you would be wrong. God allows mankind to be free spirits with the ability to choose to be destroyed or not. He really has no promise of destruction until His return.

The most powerful force is a who. Who is free to destroy bodies and souls and will use any and all means to do so? Everyday, if you pay attention, there is a pile of evidence of the destruction of mankind. There are no rules, no laws, no mercy. Destruction is the sole objective and the power to accomplish the task is unlimited.

Keep guessing. You might come up with the right answer.

PMO
©2014

Give'm Hell Teddy

Texas Senator Ted Cruz said, "The Obama White House is the most anti-Israel administration this government has ever had." Cruz spoke on Fox News show Hannity. He went on to suggest that the FAA decision to halt air travel to Israel was an "economic boycott."

Cruz also criticized John Kerry for giving $47 million in economic aid to Hamas in Gaza. To a grumpy old man’s way of thinking, that’s like someone who’s supposed to be your friend, helping your enemy to attack you.

A spokesperson denied the comments and called them ridiculous and offensive.

The ban on flights has been lifted.

It is obvious that the current administration does not like Israel.

But, hey. They don’t like America either.

PMO
©2014

Haunted House

Old houses make sounds. Usually the sounds are creaks and cracks and may be a moan. Not our house. Before we go on, you must know that hate is too mild a word for how I feel about this house. I’ve worn out several thesaurus looking for a word to describe my feeling and there all are too sweet.

Back to the house sounds. We’ve have a loud sound that varies. I began to think the house swas haunted. One time it was a whine, according to my financial controller who heard it. Then it was a loud sound as if someone was gagging and throwing up.  Next there was the one that sounded like a cow mooing. I thought the house must know how I feel and is trying to get back at me.

I investigated everything in plumbing and electrical that could cause noises, but because they came randomly I could not locate the cause. Then while we were watching TV, with the iPad on an end table, the sound came back. It was the iPad and a game that our special needs granddaughter plays. She always has the volume up. She lays the iPad down in her room or just anywhere when she leaves, so we couldn’t identify exactly where the sounds came from. And, obviously, she doesn’t sign out of the game or turn the machine off.

I still think the house is haunted and am still trying to find just the right word for it.

PMO
©2014

George

I try to do a good deed every year and learn something new. Yes, I should do more than one good deed and learn more than one new thing, but I don’t want to. I’ve already done my good deed for the year and have a few months left for me to squeeze in another one should the mood strike. I won’t tell you what the good deed is because if I tell others, it won’t be a good deed.

Moving along. I learned this week that George Patton believed strongly in reincarnation. If you don’t know who George Patton was, you may want to take an opportunity to learn something new. General George thought that he had lived several times as a warrior, even fighting along with Napoleon. That’s why he felt himself to be an outstanding warrior and commander. He had thousands of years experience.

I don’t know how you feel about reincarnation, but I don’t believe in it. The labor unions would never allow it anyway. Just think about a worker that helped build the pyramids and the great wall of China then shows up in Jersey as a brick layer.

Talk about seniority.

PMO
©2014

Really Remember?

Do you remember Tiananmen Square? On June 5, 1989, a lone student stood up to a column of communist tanks in China and stopped them cold. Do you remember the crowds gathered along the street, watching to see what would happen? Thousands waited to see if the man would be overrun.

If you remember the crowds, you remember wrong. The street had been cleared. It was just the lone man and the tanks. Do you remember what happened to the man? To this day, no one really knows what happened to him.

The point is that the old adage is right. "Never believe what you hear and only half of what you see." The brain not only forgets details, but it implants details. That’s why eye witnesses are often wrong, or are only partially right.

Grumpy old men can’t remember anything, so we are okay.

PMO
©2014

Columbrium

Our community church is considering a columbrium. That’s a structure to place cremation remains, in case you are not familiar with the word. Any takers would be a part of the commune for a long time. And, as usual it causes me to ask questions.

First, do you have to continue to pay club dues for eternity? And, what about the minimum utility bills they charge?

Because church buildings ultimately fall down or are sold, what happens if the church is turned into a skating rink or bowling alley? I’m guessing with the bowling alley, your ashes could be transferred to hollow pins.

What happens if the church building burns down? If the columbrium is close to the building, how are they going to tell which ashes are yours? You could get burned up twice. Maybe three times - if you go to the bad place.

I am going to talk to the preacher and tell him that if he can get a columbrium in the shape of a golf cart, it will sell out faster than a pop star concert.

Better yet, why not put one on every tee box?

PMO
©2014

Warning: Farm Animals

Breibart.com reports that some rural residents of Englewood, Florida are fighting a proposed housing development by putting up signs warning potential new neighbors about what happens on farms. Specifically mentioned are noise, odors and outdoor sex. Fact is farm animals make funny souinds, smell bad and have sex outdoors. The signs are intended to be a warning.

It’s like moving next to an airport and complaining about the traffic patterns. People do that all of the time. And, it happens all over the country. Reading the comments about the post reveals there are people from numerous states complaining about those people that move in and immediately want to change everything. We have a bunch of them in Texas. Yes, even in East Texas.

It’s all part of the "nanny" mind set. Which is to say, "I will tell you what you can and cannot do."

It doesn’t work real well on grumpy old men.

PMO
©2014

May Be Tragedy

The Prez said this week in Wilminton, Delaware that the downing of the Malaysian Airlines passenger jet in the Ukraine may be a tragedy. His exact words were, "It looks like it may be a terrible tragedy."

I’m not sure what the criteria is to be a terrible tragedy, but am sure that someone is working on that.

I’m guessing it’s not Bush’s fault.

At this time.

PMO
©2014

Floor Tiles

Part of my training to be a grumpy old man is to fix stuff. Usually it is something that someone has done that creates a problem, but I have to fix it. No wonder I am grumpy.

We have several floor tiles that are not set properly. The solution is to replace the tile or find a solution to make them secure. Because the tile is no longer available and to replace the whole floor would cost thousands of dollars, I searched for a solution and came up with a product to try. It works. You can cement a tile that is in place. The stuff is a very sticky solution that you inject under the tile. A lot of it does not go under the tile, so you have to deal with that. It does take patience and limited skill. I have limited skills.

Because I found the product on line at one of the big box stores, they asked for a product review. Usually I don’t do them, but this time I did. And, they even posted the review on line.

When I get my fingers unstuck from the cement, I’m going to fix something else.

PMO
©2014

Are You Stupid?

Are you stupid? Please raise your hand if you are stupid. If you raised your hand, you really are stupid. I can’t see you. Are you ignorant? Again, raise your hand if you are ignorant. If you raised your hand, you should feel stupid.

"Everyone is ignorant. Just in different subjects." That what Will Rogers said. I know I am ignorant in thermonuclear weapons systems and dentistry. There may be a few other things too.

The problem with stupid people is that they don’t know they are. The problem with ignorant people is that they choose to stay that way.

Politicians depend on both.

P.S. Another way to identify stupid people is to ask a group, "Raise your hand if you are ignorant." The stupid people won’t raise their hand.

PMO
©2014

Too Serious

Lately I have been too serious. But it is not my fault. If people would stop doing stupid things, I could go back to being crazy. I like crazy. It keeps me from going insane.

Insane people make me too serious.

PMO
©2014

Social Justice

Gary North, The Tea Party Economist, quotes Dr. Walter Williams, my favorite economist, on social justice. "I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. If you think you deserve part of what I earn, please explain why?"

When I was young, I used to work any part time job I could find. We were very poor and I needed and wanted some things - like new clothes and hamburgers. My mother told me that I had to share my earnings with my younger sister because she couldn’t get a job. My solution to that direction was to quit working.

When I did go back to work, I kept what I earned until the time came for me to support the whole family for a period of time.

PMO
©2014

Sick

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a judge in Australia’s most populous state has compared incest and pedophilia to homosexuality because it used to be illegal and widely considered unnatural. Judge Gary Neilson contends that incest is illegal to reduce the number of birth defects, but with abortion readily available, it should not be.

Yes, the reaction to the judge has been shock. But, then so were reactions to homosexuality not that long ago.

If you think that the very idea is disgusting and just plain sick, you may want to be careful what you say. It could land you in trouble.

Never happen? Wait and see.

PMO
©2014

Fired

An opinion printed in the New York Post reveals that the defense department is sending pink slips to commanders in combat zones. Last week, more than 1,100 Army captains were told they would be retired. Budget cuts are projected to shrink the Army from the current 520,000 to 440,000, the smallest size since before WWII.

Just imagine you are in combat, bullets whizzing above your head, bombs exploding, comrades being killed and wounded and you get notified that when your tour is up, you are out of the Army.

Not a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Is this how America treats soldiers?

PMO
©2014

Never Too Late

According to a Fox News report, the Selective Service System mistakenly sent notices to more than 14,000 Pennsylvania men born between 1893 and 1897, ordering them to register for the nation’s military draft and warning them that failure to do so is punishable by a fine and imprisonment.

The men are likely all dead, since the youngest would be 117 this year. But, the clerk that works with the state database failed to indicate the century of the birth dates.

There were some descendants that got letters and were more than a little upset. That’s how the Selective Service System found out about the glitch.

The descendants should have just called in and pretended to be the person receiving the notices, and asked if they could join up.

PMO
©2014

Solution

Illegal immigration is a major problem in this country. The immigrants break our laws and then demand our social services. That’s like someone breaking into your house and demanding you cook them meals. Again, I remind you that I am all in favor of legal immigration. But, it rubs me the wrong way when millions cross into the country, protest in the streets, burn our flag, commit crimes and bring diseases that were eradicated here long ago.

Obviously, the current administration has no intention to stopping the flow. In fact, they encourage it. When the reason for that is revealed, there are going to be a lot of upset citizens. It will be too late by then. It is already too late.

Now everyone has some solution for the problem, but no one seems to agree with others and the end result if typical government. Nothing is done.

The White House wants $2.2 billion to address the problem of young invaders. Since no real number is available, let’s use 10,000 immigrants. Has anyone done the math?

Just give each one of them $20,000 and send them home.

Just think how much we will save in social services and education alone.

PMO
©2014

Questions

As usual I always have questions, especially about the "stuff" I see and hear on the "news." If you sense a bit of disdain for the media, it is intentional.

My questions for today are:

To all the pro-abortion people, wasn’t your mother pro-life? If she now supports abortion, does that mean she wishes your were never born?

And, to those that oppose a fence along our southern border, if fences don’t work, why is there one around the White House? And, just about every house in America.

Seem like fair questions to me.

PMO
©2014

Mighty Thirsty

It’s mighty dry in these here parts pardner. At least that is the conclusion of the folks in the State office that keeps track of water. Texas reservoirs are down about 33%. Some smaller lakes are almost half full or empty, depending upon how you look at it. What does all this mean? Well, Texas has a high growth rate and more people and business means more demand for water.

Our lake is full, but the city of Ft. Worth is supposed to start taking water from it in a couple of years. That means that the sign on the entrance gate may have to be changed from "bay" to beach, or maybe, "mud flats."

With all the recent flooding around the country, I think we should build pipelines from state to state that can move water from those that have to much to those that ain’t. It couldn’t cost over a few trillion dollars.  Of course, if it is done by government, it would never get done.

My financial controller assures me that the water shortage is not an excuse for me to not take a bath.

I’m thinking once a month. Or, twice a year.

PMO
©2014

Sock Hop

Our little commune is planning a ‘sock hop’ in August. The announcement proclaims fun for all ages. Keep in mind that the average age inside the stockade is about 99. I am the ‘kid.’

Memories of a ‘sock hop’ tell me that we held them in a gymnasium and you had to take your shoes off so as not to damage the hardwood floors while you danced. Visualize a bunch of seniors with bunion pads and support hose in socks on a hardwood floor. Half of them can’t stand up without a walker or a cane. Whose crazy idea was this?

 I hope they don’t dance the twist.

With all the knee and hip replacements, one could get killed by exploading metal parts.

PMO
©2014

Ribs And Snickers

The Rite Reverend Doctor Will Bill - now retired - used to hold men’s night at his church. He cooked and served ribs which he prepared on a cooker. That’s it. Just ribs. There were no vegetables, bread or anything else. And, he had Snickers candy bars for desert. The extra large bars of Snickers.

Over the holiday, I had ribs smoked to a heavenly flavor. Then I had four Twix candy bars.

I don't like Snickers.

PMO
©2014

How Was Your 4th?

People ask, "How was your 4^th?" It’s kinda like, "How was your weekend, or holiday, etc." They really don’t want to know. They just want you to say, "It was fine."

I have decided that what we need is a scale to measure such events. One that would allow the questioner to understand the responder. Maybe, we could use the five star system. "My 4^th was a definite 3 stars." The old one to ten thing would be a little outdated and more complicated. "I’d give my 4^th a 5.5." Then you would get someone like me that would respond, "My 4^th was a 6 and 7/8s."

I’m waiting for someone to ask me how was my 4^th.  I going to ask them what scale they use.

People usually just walk away from me.

PMO
©2014

Good And Evil

If you do evil for a good reason, is it okay? How about if you do good for an evil reason? I suppose a lot of people don’t really know the difference between good and evil. The entertainment industry and the media encourage you to do what feels good - wether it is evil or not.

I am not sure that Americans truly believe there is evil any more. Sure, if you oppose abortion, gay marriage, or controlling masses with "free" living, you are evil. But, there are so many contradictions. At least for now, sex between adults and children is still condemned, but children are encouraged to have sex. Animals have more rights than humans, and it is the human that is evil.

There is an old story about a wise old Indian who taught his grandson, "You have two wolves that live inside you. One is good and one is evil. They are in constant battle." The boy asked, "Which one wins?" The old man’s reply, "The one you feed."

Remember Edmund Burke said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing."

PMO
©2014

Declaration

Almost everyone knows the first words of the Declaration of Independence. "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have bound them to another," is the way I was taught and had to memorize it back in the second or third grade.

Again, almost everyone knows the Declaration contains, "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The question is, how many know the last paragraph? Read it carefully:

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

For many of the signers, lives and fortunes were lost, but their sacred honor was not. It is time to restore sacred honor and a commitment of lives and fortunes.

The fires of freedom may be just smoldering coals now, but do not be deceived. When the people rise with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, America will be restored.

 

Happy 4th of July.

PMO

©2014

Land Of The Free

America is truly the land of the free. Free food, free housing, free medical, free education, free clothing, free phone, free transportation, and free money to spend on a big screen TV. And, if you should work, you can get paid in cash - no taxes. Is this a great country or what?

Well, maybe not for the worker bees, but they don’t count.

PMO
©2014

Washy Washy

My financial controller has been treading on dangerous ground for a long time. When she is away, I have to be the domestic engineer. Because she was in a meeting this week, after I did the weekly shopping trips, I did the laundry. I am now quite expert in the field. Little does she know, if I get a better offer, we are going to have to negotiate at least a boat and motorcycle.

She came home before I finished and asked what was in the dryer. "Jeans," I replied. Jeans are always the last load. But, this week, I thought I would mix it up a bit and do them before the shirts.

She promptly turned on the lights in the laundry room which does not need lighting usually. But then, she turns on the lights while the washer and dryer run. I think she believes the clothes are afraid of the dark. She usually turns on all the lights in the house while she folds clothes.

If I can take apart and put together an M1 rifle in the dark, she should be able to do a little folding.

PMO
©2014