I have returned from Shovel-Stock hosted by Eric the Blade and meeting up with a bunch of Blodgers. Great people, great conversations, great food, great fire, multiple successful rocket launchs...good chutes on all of 'em...we even put one on the roof...which has become a custom, but a roof landing is in the hand of the Wind God. Yeap, there was an Ewe there as well, which is also becoming a custom. No one was shot, stabbed, or beaten. Everyone survived and I'm sure a good time was had by all.

For me, this is where it got bad.

The drive on I-40 from NC to TN or TN to NC is one of the prettiest in the country, especially when the Fall foliage is at peak...and it is PEAK right now...which means there are more people in the area than any other time of the year. I will say, this year the fall colors are as beautiful as I can remember.

I can make it from my door to Eric's door in about 6.5 hours. When I left the Blade's, my GPS said my arrival time was 2:08 pm...which was my plan...had some things to do when I returned yesterday afternoon...like a nice long hot bath with some of my woman's foo foo bubble stuff, among other things. I always smell like an over-made-up-French tart after after one of those...but I still take 'em.

I neither heard or saw any news while there, so I had no idea what I driving into. My woman didn't know about it either...she spent the weekend putting bread on the table and watching chick flicks.

The TN DOT did not "put out" any "road closed" signs until it was too late. I got detoured, with thousands (maybe more) of other cars and trucks about .75 of the way up the mountain(s). The detour involved service (dirt and gravel) roads in the mountains. The traffic was bumper to bumper...0 - 10 mph. I finally made it to the road in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park that would take my pissed off ass from TN to NC. Bumper to bumper...I'm telling you. I needed some gas, and I needed to pee, so instead of slipping onto the Blue Ridge Parkway (no fuel there), I had to head to the Cherokee Indian Reservation. I got some gas and took care of my business, but it was still 10 mph most of the way to Asheville...where I pick up I-40. Nightmare, I'm telling you.

Anyway, that was the most whacked out drive I've might have ever had. I don't think I've ever seen that much traffic on I-40...ever...and I've taken it coast to coast many times. It was still bumper to bumper (both lanes) after I got back on I-40...except these idiots were doing 80 mph minimum. I'm in the soup again...8 car pile up. ..i barely missed it...stopped...dark... and just an all around a cluster-fuck. 50 miles further down the road...another pile-up.. stopped...dark...not good.

Anyway, I arrived safely back in the Brier Patch after 9:00 pm...12 hours after I left the Blade's. Obviously, this was not in my plan...and I always have a plan.

I travel to Tennessee and back, often...but I won't be doing it again until someone fixes this shit. They say it might take several months to clear and repair, and the detour is between 200 and 250 miles. I-40 is closed both east bound and west bound.

It is what it is...but it seems to always be the unexpected that spanks your ass.

Rockets are fueled, gas in the ride, heading to the Blade's on the other side.

Shovel-Stock, that is...other side of the mountains.

As usual, Brother Dax has my back...I think.

Be back later...I hope. The last one was a close one.

Y'all play nice...

I awoke this morning and my woman told me the front yard had a Mohawk. I was like...WTF are you talking about. I mowed it yesterday, late afternoon, and the sun was in my eyes. I missed a strip in the middle. I like it and I'm gonna leave it. Hell, I might even dye it.

It is what it it is.

Seen on US Hwy 15-501 at Grove intersection, near Durham , NC.

Click Here

My former boss, who is a friend, came by the other day for some afternoon beverages on the Stretchengeti. He told me I was "Unmanageable" and compared me to Glen Beck...he added...I was relentless, intense, and would "just" not let up on matters I believe to be true. He also added that I would not tell anyone what I think it is they they want to hear. He also said that I research my arguments.

Well...right, wrong, or indifferent, I guess, I'll take that as a compliment.

...a comparison.

But, do you know who gave Hitler his power?

Clerks, Bookkeepers, and Civil Servants.

That is a fact.

I hereby challenge Obama to a game of chess. Stakes will be determined before colors are chosen.

I can beat him, and I'm not that good, but I do know how to think ahead, and he doesn't.

If I were you, I'd put your money on me.

Just sayin'

What in the hell are we thinking?

A six year old first grader, a Cub Scout, was suspended for taking a camping utensil to school. He was ordered by the school district to attend the district's reform school for 45 days.

A four month old baby was denied health Insurance for being too fat. I thought babies were supposed to be fat.

A high school senior, who is an Eagle Scout, on the honor roll, taking Advanced Placement classes, and has never been in trouble with the law, was suspended for five days because a two-inch pocket knife was found by school officials in his locked car. The knife was a gift from his Grandfather, who is the chief of police. This young man wants to attend West Point, and "now" is the time for him fill out his application for admission...but he can't because school officials will not allow him on school property.

I have carried a pocket knife every day of my life since I was five or six years of age. At the rate our society is going, I'll have to obtain a Concealed Carry Pocket Knife permit. What about the tire iron in the trunk of my vehicle. Will I need a Concealed Carry Tire Iron permit?

A Middle School student and his mother were told that they could not ride their bikes, or walk, to school. WTF

How do you teach values to young people, when you chastise them for everything?

I could go on and on, but the fact is...this country is out of fucking control on many different fronts.

We the People...need to wake up and do something about it...get involved...and not stay on the outside looking in. We are becoming BR (Beyond Ridiculous).

Personally, I have Zero Tolerance for this kind of shit.

We need more people children like him.

My woman and I, along with my dog Stretch, attended a Tea Party today. This young man spoke for over an hour...took questions for about 45 minutes...all without notes or a teleprompter...shooting from the hip, he was.

Anyway...got an autographed copy of his book.

Child Prodigy?... I don't know about that...but he is a very smart home-schooled young man. Very impressive.

I'm fairly good at technical support...put's bread on my table, but occasionally I get really pissed off. This is what I just did to a laptop that wouldn't behave.

I gassed it, and fired it (up).

It is no longer a problem. It is no longer...period.

If I can't fix a problem...I make it go away.

GREAT EXPLANATION OF WHY OBAMA WON THE ELECTION

From a teacher in the Nashville area:

"We are worried about "the cow" when it is all about the "Ice Cream"

The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year.
The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.
I decided we would have an election for a class president.

We would choose our nominees.
They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.

To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.
We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.
We got many nominations and from those,
Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.

The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.
I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he received parental support.
I had never seen Olivia's mother.

The day arrived when they were to make their speeches.
Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place.
He ended by promising to do his very best.
Everyone applauded and he sat down.

Now it was Olivia's turn to speak.
Her speech was concise.
She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream."
She sat down.
The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."

She surely would say more.
She did not have to. A discussion followed.
How did she plan to pay for the ice cream?
She wasn't sure..
Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it.
She didn't know. The class really didn't care.
All they were thinking about was ice cream.

Jamie was forgotten.
Olivia won by a landslide.

Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream
and 52 percent of the people reacted like nine year olds. They want
ice cream.

The other 48 percent know they're going to have to "feed the cow and clean up the crap."

Remember, the government cannot give anything to anyone --- that they have not first taken away from someone else.

...that you voted for the wrong guy; you were lied to by the media.

I wonder...how much of the damage 0bama has already done, and will do in the future, can be reversed?

Fool you once, shame on 0bama and the LSM...Fool you twice, shame on you.

0bama has gotta go.

Somebody, anybody, please explain to me anything 0bama has done to make our country better...anything.

The Useless Nations says the next world war might be in cyberspace. They could be right on this one. If one country could control or shutdown another country's cyber-infrastructure, the hacked country couldn't fight conventionally. Game over without a shot fired. Think about it...no power...financial markets down...telecommunications down...air and train travel down...no fuel..., and the list goes on and on.

Also, what happens if a Root Server is compromised?

Servile Dictatorship ?

"Someone recently pointed out how much Barack Obama's style and strategies resemble those of Latin American charismatic despots -- the takeover of industries by demagogues who never ran a business, the rousing rhetoric of resentment addressed to the masses, and the personal cult of the leader promoted by the media. Do we want to become the world's largest banana republic?"

-- Thomas Sowell

I personally know many Medical Doctors...from Oral Surgeons to Neurosurgeons. They do not support Obama, his Mob, and socialized medicine at all. They all believe Obama's health care "plan" will bankrupt their profession (the health care industry). These are smart people, caring people, and they don't shoot from the hip.

They will go do something else...

We are about to turn to port when we should turn to starboard.

Anyway, read this. Nothing you probably didn't already know.

I'm telling you...if Obama's health care fiasco is passed...we're in deep shit...your children, and grandchildren are in deep shit. Your parents are in deep shit. We are all in deep shit.

People need to fight the fight. I'm not kidding you.

Many people say "it is what it it is"...I disagree. You can do something...like getting involved in the issues that will influence your future, and the future of your parents and your children.

Obama and his Mob must go. The real question is: How much of the damage the Bobo administration has caused, can be reversed?

It is game time.

If you stay on the outside looking in, you have lost the game.

I'm just sayin'

...I'm serious.

Left-handed Bobo and his Mob do not have your best interests at heart. The first rule for overthrowing a people and their values...is to confiscate their guns.

I think he'll try to tax ammunition to the point of no return. I don't think he'll get the guns, but he will tax ammunition to such a level that people can't afford it...a handgun will become a very expensive rock...no Juju...no freedom. Long guns as well.

It amazes me that people are satisfied to be on the outside looking in...

Do something...do anything.

This will be more than interesting.

"Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our own defense? Where is the difference between having our arms under our own possesion and under our own direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?"

- Patrick Henry

I kid you not...pay attention before it's too late.

Slimy Bobo and his slimy Mob will slip it through our joke-ass politicians in Congress before you know it. Piggy-back it through on a stimulus highway improvement bill, or something. Maybe heath-care. Who knows?

People need to pay attention to what is REALLY happening.

People need to come in from the cold...so to speak.

PAY ATTENTION!!!

The US has lost over 4000 service men and women due to combat and non-combat related deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2002. That's almost 7 years. Each month over 35,000 Americans die in car accidents. Around 10 Americans die each day to drowning. That amounts to about 3,500 per year. Homicide deaths in Chicago alone, outpace Iraq/Afghan combat deaths. Washington, DC would double it. I could keep going, but there is no need. You get my drift. Do the math.

I haven't talked about lighting strikes, yet...or more than two cities.

I'm just sayin'

Apparently, the Thug in Chief, the first Thugness, and another super rich biased Chicago idiot could not bribe the IOC. They got their arrogant asses spanked.

Good! They are, and have always been, losers

I hope they had a nice vacation...at our expense by the way. At our expense, remember that.

The First Thugness and Oprah Winfrey took a little trip, at our expense. I hope they bought some "running" shoes.

I understand, that it costs about $70,000 per hour to operate Air Force One. That is some folding money. 70 grand per hour...

The first thugness said "I'm asking you to choose Chicago. I'm asking you to choose America," the First Thugness told committee members.

Bobo said, "If you do, if we walk this path together, then I promise you this: The city of Chicago and the United States of America will make the world proud."

Bobo got his ass kicked. Plain and simple.

How proud are you?

From the mailbag...Tip of the hat to my friend.

Obituary printed in the London Times...

Interesting and sadly rather true

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.