Merry Christmas
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Posted:Dec 25, 2018 6:29 am
Last Updated:Nov 1, 2019 6:48 am 5215 Views
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Shall we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and not the generic 'Happy Holidays'?
Absolutely! Merry Christmas everyone .....
What about the Happy New Year part?
I'm gonna hold off on that one until it actually is the new year.
We having a white Christmas?
Unfortunately not. Forecast is for some fog and temperatures in the mid 30's. That's close enough - it 'feels' like Christmas ought to feel.
You're not into lounging in the pool and basking in the sun on Christmas?
Not even!!!! God bless those that are, but I'm the 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas' sort. I want weather that frosts my cheeks and makes me nose run.
That's right ...... You're that "I gotta have four distinct season" type of person.
I grew up that way and I'll die that way. We're digressing here.
Merry Christmas!!!!
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Turn Off Your Auto - Renew
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Posted:Dec 21, 2018 9:10 am
Last Updated:Nov 1, 2019 6:48 am 6066 Views
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I have been a member of ALT for many, many years. Through those years, users have endured problem after problem after problem with the site. If it's not this, it's that. If it's not that again, it's this again. It NEVER ends and it NEVER gets better! NEVER. To think I pay money for this shit......
Currently, the IM has been fucked up for far too fucking long. Even when it's 'theoretically' working, it is unreliable, sporadic and a CONSTANT source of frustration. Again, I pay money for this shit?
We all know the definition of insanity. Well, in this case, it's paying ALT money over and over again and expecting a different result, i.e. a functional site. I'm done being insane.
I have turned off my auto-renew feature, and I encourage everyone to turn theirs off too. Although I suspect it would be the slightest of chances, maybe it might signal the powers to be at ALT that they need to pull their collective heads out of their collective asses and fix this piece of shit site. Yeah, right - like they'd fucking care!
Friends don't let friends pay money to use ALT.
Is that the end of your rant?
I could go on and on, but anyone who has been a member here for any length of time knows exactly what I'm talking about. The straw that broke the camel's back has finally arrived.
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True Warrior
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Posted:Jun 7, 2016 7:20 am
Last Updated:Mar 1, 2019 6:42 am 52609 Views
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Sitting Bull was an incredibly wise man.
He was indeed. I see this not only as his definition of a warrior, but also the definition of a 'man'. Well, a man worth his weight in soy beans.
Is this what you see when you look in the mirror?
It is what I aspire to.
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You Ever Wonder?
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Posted:Jun 6, 2016 11:27 am
Last Updated:Sep 4, 2018 12:35 pm 52684 Views
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Wonder about what?
Why they put an expiration date on sour cream?
Rhetorical question?
Rhetorical? That's a big word for you! When'd you learn that?
Fuck you and the you rode in on. Any other rhetorical questions you want to turn us on to?
How do you know when you're out of invisible ink?
Sheesh ..... Where do you come up with this shit?
Fuck if I know ..... I just heard them or saw then somewhere along the line.
Any more of these conundrums?
Maybe at a later time.
Hopefully much later.
Fuck off.
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Class and Race Warfare ......
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Posted:Jun 4, 2016 11:16 am
Last Updated:Jun 23, 2016 3:11 pm 52165 Views
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"Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong." Muhammad Ali
Ali's passing is such sad news. The Greatest indeed!
Put a microphone in front of him in his heyday and you never knew what you were going to get. When he wasn't self promoting, he had some very profound things to say, and this is one of them.
So he's saying it's even wrong to hate Caucasian people? Who knew! I thought it was 'Open Season' since they are the sole cause of each and every problem that's ever been faced by mankind.
Well fuck yes they are! And it only makes sense that Caucasians living today should be held responsible for each and every terrible deed of their collective ancestors.
You are shitting us - Right?
More or less. I really wanted to mention a few words about class warfare. That is what I'm really fucking sick and tired of.
What .... Like the rich should pay their fair share, etc.?
That's one of the mantras that make Me crazy. I wish those that have waterlogged themselves with that Kool-Aid would be forced to define just fucking exactly what that 'fair share' is.
They'd actually do that .... Come up with a definition?
Fuck NO! Then they'd have to shut the fuck up about it. Their mantra would lose it's steam. As long as 'fair share' is an elusive figure, they can run their mouths and spew their class warfare into perpetuity.
So no matter how much someone they consider 'rich' has to pay in taxes, etc. it will always be considered not quite 'fair' yet?
Ed Zachary.
Are we rich?
FUCK NO, not even in the same ballpark. We're the class that supposed to hold the rich in distain. How dare they fucking apply themselves, become successful and wealthy. After all, isn't life merely a lottery that they won? It's their moral obligation to share their winnings.
No shit. Fuck those rich people. Turn them upside down and shake every last penny out of their pockets. Oops.... Wait. You were just shitting me - Right?
I wondered if you'd catch on. I will never ever drink that fucking Kool- Aid. I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who said something to the effect of. "You can not lift one man up by pulling another man down."
So are you about done ranting now?
Sure, why not.
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Memorial Day Tale
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Posted:May 30, 2016 10:36 am
Last Updated:Mar 12, 2017 1:14 pm 54233 Views
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I do not know when it first happened, but some years ago I visited the old Fort Boise cemetery. There is one large memorial marker documenting the names and dates of birth for five of Captain and Mrs. Patrick Collins.
Daniel Collins
Born - Cincinnati, Ohio, August 14, 1864
Died - Fort Boise, November 23, 1865
15 Mos. 9 Days
Thomas Collins
Born - Cincinnati, Ohio, January 14,1868
Died - Fort Boise, January 8,1877
8 Years, 11 Mos. 25 Days
William Collins
Born - Sacramento, California, January 7, 1872
Died - Fort Boise, January 14, 1877
5 Years, 7 Days
John Collins
Born - Camp Harney, Oregon, January 2, 1874
Died - Fort Boise, January 12, 1877
3 Years, 10 Days
Charles Collins
Born - Camp Harney, Oregon, November 19, 1875
Died - Fort Boise, January 13, 1877
13 Mos. 25 Days
That the family lost four , all sons, within the span of six days hit Me like a ton of bricks. I couldn't even imagine the anguish or sense of loss. For some unknown reason, I am periodically drawn back to the cemetery to stand before this marker to reflect on the family and their loss. Perhaps a part of Me wants them to know they're not forgotten. Today was one of those days. I visited their graves and wrote down the information above from the marker. Then I thought I'd share it with all of you to further honor their memory. I had always figured the must have died from some sort of sickness, but I had never researched it until today. The Patrick Collins story follows for those of you interested.
The observance of Memorial Day finds many area residents visiting local cemeteries. One cemetery which is easily overlooked, except perhaps by veterans’ groups, is the old Fort Boise Cemetery located behind the present Veterans Administration grounds on Cottonwood Creek. Although there are not many tombstones in the cemetery, there are six in one group, which, if the story behind them is known, makes us painfully aware of how difficult and uncertain life was on the frontier.
The tombstones mark the graves of six members of the Patrick Collins family. Collins was born in Ireland in 1833, emigrated to the United States at an early age, and joined the United States Army as a private in 1855. He saw duty in Missouri and Texas, and served with the Union Army during the Civil War. He was promoted several times, eventually reaching the rank of major. In 1865 he and his wife lost a , Daniel, who was fifteen months old. The cause of the boy’s death is not known, but one small tombstone was placed in the military cemetery.
Shortly after Daniel’s death, Major Collins was transferred to Camp Warner, Oregon, and then to Arizona where he remained for three years and eight months fighting Apache Indians. He was then transferred to Sacramento, California, and from there to Camp Harney, Oregon, where he was stationed for three more years. During these years he and his wife had six more , four boys and two girls. In September of 1876, he was transferred back to Fort Boise where he served as Commander of Company A in the 21st Regiment of Infantry, and also served as Commandant at the fort except when relieved at intervals by the presence of a senior officer.
His wife and family had gone with him from post to post, with the possible exception of the time he spent in Arizona, and it must have been a difficult task moving often and adjusting to new surroundings. The community of Boise was favorably impressed with the family, as they were described as a “pleasing and interesting group--this amiable and devoted father and mother, with their six rosy-cheeked intelligent gathered around them.” Unfortunately, this lovely group was soon to be broken. In January of 1877, a scarlet fever epidemic hit Boise, and hit the Collins family especially hard. Within six days all four sons, Thomas, aged nine, John, aged three; Charles, aged fourteen months; and William, aged five, were dead. Four more small stones joined the first one in the military cemetery.
Other in the community also died from scarlet fever that winter, but no family suffered the way the Collins family did. The newspapers of the area offered their condolences, with the Idaho Avalanche in Silver City noting that “such a family calamity never before occurred here, and every one grieves with the bereaved parents at their unparalleled affliction.” A few days after the funeral, The Statesman printed a poem titled “On the Death of Captain Collins’ ” which attempted to offer sympathy. The first stanza was:
Four little souls have departed
This earth for another sphere,
They were worshipped and idoled
Of parents and friends far and near.
Oh! Could there be solace sufficient
To console the bereaved of their loss.
But such is beyond consolation
For we all must bear our own cross.
Major Collins continued to serve at Fort Boise after that sad winter until November of 1879, when tragedy struck again. The major was riding with two other officers in the garrison ambulance when the horses became frightened at some clothing hanging near the road and ran out of control. The men jumped from the vehicle, but in doing so Major Collins received a blow on the head which caused him to lose consciousness and die a few hours later. Again both The Statesman and the Idaho Avalanche offered condolences and sympathy to what remained of the grief-stricken family.
After reporting the death of Major Collins and the details of the funeral, The Statesman does not indicate what became of Mrs. Collins and her two daughters. It is probable that she returned to her home, which was possibly in Cincinnati. It is likely that before she left, she had the large flat stone made which is in the cemetery with the other five grave markers. This stone lists all six members of her family which she lost while living in Boise. The stone can be seen in the cemetery today; five of the small stones nearest it in the row mark the graves of the five Collins boys.
During the Memorial Day season, it is well to reflect upon the sacrifices made by those who pioneered this area and by the soldiers who were here to protect the pioneers. Bringing civilization to this area was not easy, and was costly in terms of human life. The west would never have been settled without courageous people like the Collins.
For those of you paying attention (and I know at least one of you is) I use the rank of Captain for Patrick Collins, while this article (Historical Society) uses the rank of Major. On the large flat stone mentioned above, and attributed to Mrs. Collins, the rank of Captain is utilized. I have to assume Mrs. Collins was well aware of her husband's rank and, accordingly, the Historical Society's article is in error. I do not know when the ghosts of the Collins family will again summon Me to their graves. I just know they will, as they so often have.
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Remember and Honor Them
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Posted:May 28, 2016 7:37 am
Last Updated:Jun 1, 2016 12:30 pm 54033 Views
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Early Observances of Memorial Day
The Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history, requiring the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.
It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.
Decoration Day
On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.
On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. Many Northern states held similar commemorative events and reprised the tradition in subsequent years; by 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Many Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I.
Evolution of Memorial Day
Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.
For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees; the change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.
A little historical perspective?
I feel it appropriate. I want everyone to know that Memorial Day is when we honor those who gave their lives for our country.
Do we additionally honor those who served or who are serving?
Of course, they should be honored every day. Memorial Day is specifically for those that made the ultimate sacrifice for you and Me.
Now I've got a lump in My throat.
Good. I hope this will give the readers what I consider the appropriate perspective about Memorial Day.
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Now THIS makes Me chuckle......
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Posted:May 24, 2016 11:13 am
Last Updated:Nov 12, 2016 3:25 pm 53881 Views
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You should start off by telling everyone you are copying this from someone else's blog.
I think you just covered that. I can't vouch for accuracy of the University or the contest, but I LOVE the definition.
Think it hits the nail on the head do you?
I have never heard it put quite so accurately.
So, like what color are we going with?
I'm not sure. I don't see 'copycat'.
Copycat is a color?
Yean, right. I'm thinking a blue would work well. We can always test it and edit if necessary.
There is an annual contest at Texas A&M University calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term. This year's term was:
"Political Correctness."
The winner wrote:
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end. "
Now that's funny.
Yeah, I find it sad so many adhere to the 'doctrine'.
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Breaking Habits
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Posted:May 21, 2016 9:18 am
Last Updated:May 23, 2016 6:50 am 55782 Views
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Is this gonna be one of those fucking 'snoozer' blogs?
Eat shit. If you don't want to help out, go screw yourself.
OK .... I'll play along for a while. What habits are we trying to break? Chewing fingernails, cussing like a drunken sailor (squid) ... What are we talking here?
Quitting chewing tobacco. That 'dip' that goes behind the lower lip. I'm on day number #4 now - I think.
You think? You didn't make it down on the calendar? Smooth move - Real smooth.
Yeah, well fuck you. That's close enough for government work and the date isn't as important as the fact I've stopped.
Been climbing any walls? Kicked the dog? Chewed 10,000 packs of gum yet?
None of the above. Yeah, 'the urge' hits Me periodically, but it's fleeting. I see this as more mental than physical, so I just tell that little 'Chew Druid' to go fuck himself when he taps on My shoulder and entices Me.
You're so full of shit. You've cheated haven't you?
That's not an option, fuck nuts!
So let Me see if I've got this right. People here are supposed to actually be like, you know, interested in what habit you're breaking? This is considered interesting blogging?
You're such an asshole! Fuck you!
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Winston Churchill
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Posted:May 17, 2016 5:52 am
Last Updated:May 18, 2016 2:11 pm 56444 Views
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“Churchill: "Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?"
Socialite: "My goodness, Mr. Churchill... Well, I suppose... we would have to discuss terms, of course... "
Churchill: "Would you sleep with me for five pounds?"
Socialite: "Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!"
Churchill: "Madam, we've already established that. Now we are haggling about the price”
That sort of puts it in a nutshell, doesn't it?
Indeed.
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