You're In the Army Now.

My nephew will be shipping out to United States Army basic training in less than a week. He was here visiting over the holidays and at his request I was directed to go listen to a certain song on the puter.  It was rap. Hip Hop Sludge as I call it..  I immediately clicked over to this, and told him to get used to listening to some real music.. When he heard it, I couldn't tell if the look in his eye was pride or fear.  Exactly my emotions about him enlisting.

p.s. cuts 3 and 10 are my favs.

Food Chain

 

Food Stylist Fail.   Sometimes you just try a little too hard. When it happens you should just go look in the mirror,  and say, "NO."

click pic to enlarge

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toasted turkey, ham 'n cheese on italian bread w/ sweet chili sauce

avacado, mandarin, pineapple

The Racecard

In my lifetime, in terms of racism, Americans have gone from calling them Niggers to calling them Mr. President.  In terms of historical social progress this is warp speed.  I'm not saying that racism doesn't exist or that those living through the civil rights movement shouldn't feel some anger. What I don't see though, among the current black leadership is the jubilation that should accompany angry 20/20 hindsight, as once unattainable goals are achieved. Celebration of new ground being plowed, instead of casting the seeds of hate and racism onto the same old, tired, worn out ground.  Examples: Thurgood Marshall,  Charlie Sifford, Colin Powell, Condaleeza Rice, and the chosen one himself, Mr. Obama.  In my lifetime, racial barriers have been trampled at an astounding rate. I think this is good.

What I don't like is the desperate clinging, of the same 'ol leadership in the black community, to the outdated notion that if you scream "RACISM" at the top of your lungs at every opportunity, you can stay relevant and obscure the truth.  A tactic co-opted by liberal politicians as well. And for these hucksters, relevancy=power.  Why is the leadership and vision of the civil rights folks not maturing and evolving along with the real progress?  And more importantly,  where is the  black "street" in demanding a new leadership structure to continue, and even accelerate, the rate of forward progress?

Mr. Obama is a case in point.  He's a product of the Chicago version of racecard politics.  The Jesse Jackson, Jeremiah Wright school of coloring. Perpetual exploitive racism.  Imagine a white guy, shedding the last vestiges of historical racism, then he listens to Rev. Wright, and knows Obama tolerated that shit for 20 years. Might this give him pause in his evolving racial perspectives?

 Obama has gotten himself the highest elected position in the world because of dying racism among non-blacks, yet he keeps himself chained to the bondage of old ideas and thinking. He got elected because of non racist, non blacks, not hate-spewing old school black leadership.  Is he not in a position to come out and publically denounce wingnuts like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, instead of sending his minions ( Axelrod, Jarrett, Carter, etc.) out to join the racism choir at every opportunity in hopes of muting opposition analysis?

 How does he square hope and change with Jesse Jackson being caught calling him a nigger and  not coming out and publically crushing him? How can he morally pass up the opportunity to show the "blind faith" segment of the black street a new vision?   A new path. A path illuminated with the light of truth.  Bill Cosby was right.

Hopefully some day soon, a new type of black leadership will emerge.  One that doesn't perpetuate racism as a means to maintain power, and money. A leadership not sustained on the blood and despair of their brothers that is required for racism show and tell. An honest black leadership.  Telling it like it is, warts and all. In the meantime, we get this.  These HillBuzz boys got shit figured out.  Ironic isn't it, gay fellas hitting the racism nail square on the head, while exhibiting modern leadership qualities for their own persecuted segment of society.  I love it.

Piksher Taker Wannabe

I have a 4500 sq ft Quonset building.  A Gomer hut.  I like curves. I like clean lines.

click pics to enlarge

Surprisingly cool in the desert heat as most solar radiation is reflected

neat trick on this pic; enlarge, then quickly scroll up and down

Decievingly larger space inside that anticipated

My Grandfather came out from Texas to build them during WWII at Luke Air Force Base

I miss my Grandpa, and Gomer

Food Chain

Over the holidays, it's not unusual to "bulk" up just a tad. Cooking for a horde, Blowing the froth off more than a couple. Goodies Galore.  Time for a more realistic approach to consumption.

click pic to enlarge

sauteed tilapia fillet

lime and ginger infused asparagus

plain 'ol french bread

Poets Corner

When you have poured your heart and soul into building a business from scratch and make the decision to shut it down, it doesn't matter whether it's from defeat or emancipation. It feels the same.

A Well Worn Handle

tools that begat blisters, mere detritis now

stories of sweat, dripping with blood

the tales they tell, I'll miss'em somehow

with their leaving, tears in a flood

once a king's ransom, earning their keep

coaxing from earth, tuition's gold

leaving for a pittance, not yet to sleep

slaveholder I feel, uttering your sold

stephen

Nekkid Emperors

DRUDGE REPORT HEADLINES:

Winter Could Be Worst in 25 Years for USA...

CHILL MAP...

Britain's big snow shuts cities...

GAS SUPPLIES RUNNING OUT IN UK...

Elderly burn books for warmth?

Army drafted to rescue 1,000 snow stranded motorists...

Vermont sets 'all-time record for one snowstorm'...

Iowa temps 'a solid 30 degrees below normal'...

Seoul buried in heaviest snowfall in 70 years...

3 die in fire at Detroit home; power was cut...

Midwest Sees Near-Record Lows, Snow By The Foot...

Miami shivers from coldest weather in decade; Florida Gov Signs Emergency Order ...

Cold snap spurs power rationing in China...

Aren't you glad you aren't Al Gore right now?  It must be humiliating for him to have his big Nobel Peace Prize winning piece de resistance lying about in frozen shards. This was going to be Al's big chance to finally show Bill Clinton who really was the tallest hog at the trough. All those big donations that Slick Willie raked in were mere millions.  Al was going for a billion. With a capital B.  I mean, after all, the science was settled. Power hungry politicians all lined up, hands out, this thing was happening.  Cap and Trade baby!!  Then, UH OH. Climategate.

 The day it broke I called Al's office in Nashville.  NO COMMENT I was told by the cute sounding phone answerer babe.  I called alot over the next 10 days or so.  NO COMMENT.  Al cancelled his speech in Copenhagen and slunk out of town in the blizzard conditions.  And now it seems that even God is mocking poor Al.  As in; see the Drudge Headlines above.  Somewhere, Al's  true believers are huddled in a snow cave plotting their next move.  This thing is far from over, but the AGW nekkid emperors will have an easier time selling lumps of coal than carbon credits. 

At least Al had the good sense to equip himself personally for that which he predicted.  Rising seas, flooded coastlines, SWIM FOR YOUR LIVES!  Keep stroking Al. 

photos by others