Thursday's Thoughts

The woman reclining in the boat is Kay Laurell. She was a Vaudeville performer and actor of the silent film era. Months after this picture was made she would be dead of what was first reported as pneumonia. We now know she died in childbirth.





• The power went out this afternoon as I started getting supper ready to cook.
• Had to go get takeout.
• Heartbreaking.
• How do you survive power outage in Texas heat? Go outside and play in the sprinkler.
• Saw a Marine at dinner tonight and as usual picked up his tab without letting him know who took care of it. Interestingly, I could tell from the conversation I overheard the woman he was with was a date and not a spouse and she was obviously impressed.
• You're welcome staff sergeant.

Monday's Missives

• The question was asked when talking about steroids in pro baseball,"What if it were Nolan Ryan we're talking about?" The point being if you thought all the users are scum.
• Interestingly, if talking about football the numbers may not be all that high in my opinion but, in baseball the holy hand wringing- especially say- 10 or more years ago is very, very naive- I guarantee you essentially 100% used steroids at some point.
• I hardly ever get naive or guarantee correct the first time.
• My patient died this morning before I got to them. It's a relief sometimes when that happens- like cutting class- I break out a movie, a book, go for ride or whatever, kind of fun- playing hooky. But, I always at some point in that day think of the family and hope they are OK even though I never met them or their loved one.
• The best nursing facility I've been in with easily the best nursing, rehab and dietary department etc. was a dump- literally a dangerous looking place in a bad neighborhood. The one which has easily the most beautiful facility I've ever been in in North Texas always has such a blase' attitude toward their patients when I go in, it very much borders on neglect.
• I gave Zac a piece of peach to take his sister when I made his this morning. After he gave it to her he smiled real big and said," Are you happy sister?"
• My sister is wanting to organize a regular family reunion- I hope she pulls it off- they can be fun and important. When we had them in the past we did them at the Wise County Posse Grounds in Decatur TX which was cool since a lot of the family has or had roots there and the counties reunion fair is there annually anyway.
• Sad, how often we think about reunions at of course- funerals and every time we say we need to get together... there are fewer and fewer people you call family to pull together. I do like though that there would be people from all sides of the families- in laws and outlaws etc. who would feel perfectly welcome to come if we can pull it off.
• Supposedly, if I laid out my political beliefs for you and you were an expert in political labeling you'd stamp me a Libertarian.
• Although I'd have to ask,"Is there a such thing as a qualified Libertarian?"
• Anybody who doesn't see a bias in the main news outlets toward a liberal political view seems dishonest to me. If I could honestly call myself liberal in my political thinking my response to the accusation would be along the lines of,"Of course it would seem that way if nothing else- we're right."
• A standout example on this subject: recently a guy defended his family against a burglar with a baseball bat- his aluminum ally I remember very well it being called because I simply could not check the news without hearing about one aspect or another of that story. The homeowner broke the burglars jaw and he was found in a storage shed nearby.
• You would have never heard a thing about it from any of those sources if it was a pistol he used- and have to know I'm right.

A Sign?

As I absentmindedly shook this shave cream can to get it ready to help a patient shave I turned it over and saw this. What or who becomes eligible (and for what) on June 15, 2010? If it is some kind of sign- I don't want to have to wait that long- gimme, gimme! I bet June 14, 2010 is going to be one restless night wondering and worrying about the cosmic meanings behind all this. That, or I'll forget.

Thursday's Thoughts

• From the show Land Of The Lost,  I think we're in a different world Will. Why do you say that dad?
• Umm, maybe because of the giant dinosaurs trying to eat you every time you turn around?
• Yes, been watching episodes of The Land Of The Lost series.
• Had forgotten Wesley Eure who played Will Marshall referred to himself professionally as simply Wesley.
• Fail.
• I tried to watch the movie Australia. Fifteen minutes of Hugh Jackman saying, Yahh! to a herd of cattle in slow motion and Nicole Kidman saying, Oh my.  in slow motion in a hoity toity English accent was plenty.
• Odd warning to the effect: Aboriginal and Maori Strait Islander peoples may need to be aware the images and/or voices of dead people may be portrayed in this film.
• Watched Kung Fu Panda instead.
• Great.
• There are few things better than the nights when it's bed time the baby has had such a full day and is so satisfied with life and secure that when I pick him up for bed and tell him where we're going he just lays his head down on my shoulder waves to big brother and sister while saying, Nite nite.  and when I lie him down he simply says, Nite daddy.  turns over and is asleep before I leave the room.

Best Of Craigslist

best of craigslist > san diego > SPICY BUFFLO WINGS Originally Posted: Fri, 27 Feb 17:41 PST
SPICY BUFFLO WINGS
Date: 2009-02-27, 5:41PM PST
I GOT THE WRONG KIND NOW IM STUCK WITH A BOX OF SPICY BUFFLO WINGS. I CANT EAT SPICY FOOD CAUSE IT AFFECTS MY HEART AND IM THE ONLY ONE HERE. MY CATS WONT EAT THEM EITHER. I PAYED 6 BUCKS FOR THEM SO I DONT WANT TO THROW THEM AWAY AND I DONT THINK I CAN RETURN THEM IF THERE ALREADY OPENED. PLEASE COME AND GET THEM THERE TAKEING UP ROOM IN MY FREZZER.
Location: EL CAJON
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interestsPostingID: 1053620172

Quoteable Notable

War isn't about who's right, it's about who's left

I Could Get In A Lot of Trouble With This Rig

"1947 Chevrolet COE Cabover Pickup: A real Jeepers Creepers “Special”!! 350 V-8 engine, Turbo 350 Automatic Transmission, 4X4 rearend with Hummer H1 Wheels (Run Flat Tires!). This Cabover will cruise at 70 mph down the highway, runs and drives great, and always starts the first time! It also has a super cool flame thrower setup, that uses propane gas, and will throw 12 foot flames out the back!! Great for the next car show, or simply lighting your kids fireworks! It has a clear 1947 title. "

Quotable Notable

"It's a sad day when a man changes his oil with a credit card instead of a wrench"

For Those Who Would NOT Serve

Read this if you have it in you to get a little sad, maybe a little ashamed and generally not feel the same about anything for the rest of the day- from Army Of Dude.

Quotable Notable

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. " - George Orwell

French Military History From Albinoblacksheap Blog

- Gallic Wars- Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian. [Or at ths time in history, a Roman -ed.

Hundred Years War- Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman." Sainted.

- Italian Wars- Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.

- Wars of Religion- France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots

- Thirty Years War- France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.

- War of Revolution- Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.

- The Dutch War- Tied- War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian War- Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.

- War of the Spanish Succession- Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a Marlborough, which they have loved every since.

- American Revolution- In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."

- French Revolution- Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.

- The Napoleonic Wars- Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.

- The Franco-Prussian War- Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.

- World War I- Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United States [Entering the war late -ed.]. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly, widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any improvement in the French bloodline.

- World War II- Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.

- War in Indochina- Lost. French forces plead sickness; take to bed with the Dien Bien Flu

- Algerian Rebellion- Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.

- War on Terrorism- France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.The question for any country silly enough to count on the French should not be "Can we count on the French?", but rather "How long until France collapses?""Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. All you do is leave behind a lot of noisy baggage."Or, better still, the quote from last week's Wall Street Journal: "They're there when they need you."

With only an hour and a half of research, Jonathan Duczkowski provided the following losses:
Norse invasions, 841-911.After having their way with the French for 70 years, the Norse are bribed by a French King named Charles the Simple (really!) who gave them Normandy in return for peace. Normans proceed to become just about the only positive military bonus in France's [favour] for next 500 years.

Andrew Ouellette posts this in response:
1066 A.D. William The Conquerer Duke and Ruler of France Launches the Largest Invasion in the history of the world no other was as large until the same trip was taken in reverse on June 6th 1944 William Fights Harold for the Throne of England Which old king Edward rightfully left to William but Harold Usurped the throne Will fights the Saxons (English)wins and the French Rule England for the Next 80 Years. then the French start the largest building and economic infrastructure since the fall of the Roman Empire the Norman Economy skyrockets and the Normans inadvertantly start England to become a major world Power Vive La France-

Matt Davis posts this in response to Andrew Ouellette above:
Oh dear. We seem to have overlooked some basic facts. Firstly, Philip the First (1060 - 1108) was King of France at the time of the Norman invasion of 1066 - William was Duke of Normandy and, incidentally, directly descended from the Vikings. William was, therefore, as alien to France as the experience of victory. Since Philip did not invade England, the victory at Hastings was Norman - not French. Normandy may be a part of France now but it most certainly wasn't in 1066. Therefore, William's coronation as King of England had nothing whatsoever to do with the French. As usual, they were nowhere near the place when the fighting was going on. The mistaken belief that 1066 was a French victory leads to the Third Rule of French Warfare; "When incapable of any victory whatsoever - claim someone else's".
Mexico, 1863-1864.France attempts to take advantage of Mexico's weakness following its thorough thrashing by the U.S. 20 years earlier ("Halls of Montezuma"). Not surprisingly, the only unit to distinguish itself is the French Foreign Legion (consisting of, by definition, non-Frenchmen). Booted out of the country a little over a year after arrival.
Panama jungles 1881-1890.No one but nature to fight, France still loses; canal is eventually built by the U.S. 1904-1914.
Napoleonic Wars.Should be noted that the Grand Armee was largely (~%50) composed of non-Frenchmen after 1804 or so. Mainly disgruntled minorities and anti-monarchists. Not surprisingly, these performed better than the French on many occasions.
Haiti, 1791-1804.French defeated by rebellion after sacrificing 4,000 Poles to yellow fever. Shows another rule of French warfare; when in doubt, send an ally.
India, 1673-1813.British were far more charming than French, ended up victors. Therefore the British are well known for their tea, and the French for their whine (er, wine...). Ensures 200 years of bad teeth in England.
Barbary Wars, middle ages-1830.Pirates in North Africa continually harass European shipping in Meditteranean. France's solution: pay them to leave us alone. America's solution: kick their asses ("the Shores of Tripoli"). [America's] first overseas victories, won 1801-1815.
1798-1801, Quasi-War with U.S.French privateers (semi-legal pirates) attack U.S. shipping. U.S. fights France at sea for 3 years; French eventually cave; sets precedent for next 200 years of Franco-American relations.
Moors in Spain, late 700s-early 800s.Even with Charlemagne leading them against an enemy living in a hostile land, French are unable to make much progress. Hide behind Pyrennes until the modern day.
French-on-French losses (probably should be counted as victories too, just to be fair):
1208: Albigenses Crusade, French massacared by French.When asked how to differentiate a heretic from the faithful, response was "Kill them all. God will know His own." Lesson: French are badasses when fighting unarmed men, women and children.
St. Bartholomew Day Massacre, August 24, 1572.Once again, French-on-French slaughter.
Third Crusade.Philip Augustus of France throws hissy-fit, leaves Crusade for Richard the Lion Heart to finish.
Seventh Crusade.St. Louis of France leads Crusade to Egypt. Resoundingly crushed.
[Eighth] Crusade.St. Louis back in action, this time in Tunis. See Seventh Crusade.
Also should be noted that France attempted to hide behind the Maginot line, sticking their head in the sand and pretending that the Germans would enter France that way. By doing so, the Germans would have been breaking with their traditional route of invading France, entering through Belgium (Napoleonic Wars, Franco-Prussian War, World War I, etc.). French ignored this though, and put all their effort into these defenses.
Thomas Whiteley has submitted this addition to me:
Seven year War 1756-1763Lost: after getting hammered by Frederick the Great of Prussia (yep, the Germans again) at Rossbach, the French were held off for the remainder of the War by Frederick of Brunswick and a hodge-podge army including some Brits. War also saw France kicked out of Canada (Wolfe at Quebec) and India (Clive at Plassey).

Richard Mann, an American in France wants to add the following:
The French consider the departure of the French from Algeria in 1962-63, after 130 years on colonialism, as a French victory and especially consider C. de Gaulle as a hero for 'leading' said victory over the unwilling French public who were very much against the departure. This ended their colonialism. About 2 million ungrateful Algerians lost their lives in this shoddy affair.