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What he said

Ace of Spades has a good write-up on the speech that Prime Minister Netanyahu made to Congress.  In a nutshell, Israel is willing to work with the Arabs to create a Palestinian state, but the Palestinians must accept Israel’s right to exist, and Israel will not retreat behind borders that would make it impossible for her to defend herself.

Israel is like any country in that it looks out for its own interests above all other considerations.  Usually that puts them into alignment with the United States, but not always.  There have been incidents that have shaken our relationship, but for the most part, Israel has stood with us.  Compare this with her opponents.  

Israel is closest thing to a democracy in the middle east.  The runner-up, Turkey, isn’t even close.  While other countries in the region have wavered between indifference and outright hostility, Israel has been our ally.  We should support her as she tries to find a path to peace that is more than surrender.

by daddybear71 on May 25, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Israel

Posted by daddybear71 on May 25, 2011

https://daddybearsden.com/2011/05/25/what-he-said/

Business Idea

While contemplating the dietary levels of caffeine necessary to work the graveyard shift when you normally work during the day, an idea occurred to me.  All coffee houses seem to have cute names for their different brews:  Columbian Dark Roast, Yemeni Breakfast, Detroit Gutter Brew, whatever.  Since my coffee doesn’t normally allow much light to pass through it, it’s been likened to motor or crude oil.  Why not capitalize on that and come out with my own DaddyBear branded coffee?

I could have a chain of coffee houses that look like oil change stations, manned by hairy ex-Marines with an attitude problem.  The offerings would include Vegemite sandwiches, bran muffins, and whatever recipe of the day I feel like baking.  Of course, I’d have to hire Juan Valdez and his trusty goat to go around the world and find the choicest coffee beans.  For a roastmaster, I’ll hire someone who looks like an extra from Mad Max.

Our coffee offerings would be:

  • West Texas Intermediate – A Light, Sweet Roast.  While the center of a glass pot of this brew is still dark enough that normal light will not flow through it, the very edges of  the pot will show a nice, warm dark brown glow.  A spoon placed in this coffee will fall to the side of the mug.  Good for drinking in the middle of the day where you need a touch of caffeine to keep an even keel, but don’t want to be wired.  Can be served in any normal, ceramic coffee cup or mug.   The aroma will be rich, with notes of cactus and bluebonnets.
  • Brent – Medium Roast – When held up to a light, this blend will allow no light to pass through it.  This would be good for mornings, when you need that little kick in the butt to get motivated for the day.  A spoon placed in the center of a cup of this coffee will stand on its own.  Should be served in a U.S. Navy issue porcelain mug, as Mid-Rats coffee is close in taste, thickness, and corrosiveness to this concoction.  The bouquet will include notes of lingenberries and scotch whiskey.
  • DaddyBear’s Special Roast – A roast as dark as overused motor oil – When held up to a light, a pot of this coffee will absorb not only the light behind it, but also from all sources of illumination near it.  This drink is meant to be consumed by IT specialists, medical students on an ER rotation, and the crews of space freighters who can’t sleep because the grue might get them.  A spoon placed in a cup of this coffee will burst into flames, then dissolve.  Should be brewed and served in vessels made of borosilicate glass.  This coffee smells like a 1953 Cadillac diesel engine.

So what do y’all think?  I can start research as soon as I get some investors!

by daddybear71 on May 25, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in coffee coffee coffee

Posted by daddybear71 on May 25, 2011

https://daddybearsden.com/2011/05/25/business-idea/

In memorium

Macho man Randy Savage 1952 – 2011

by daddybear71 on May 25, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on May 25, 2011

https://daddybearsden.com/2011/05/25/in-memorium/

Quis costodiet ipsos custodes?

Several members of the Internal Revenue Service have been busted for tax fraud.  Apparently these fine upstanding public servants falsely claimed a credit for first time home ownership.  Pardon me if I don’t seem surprised.

This is a problem you find with large organizations.  There is a sort of herd immunity from culpability, so it becomes easier to abuse the trust of those they are pledged to serve.  If you’re just one of several thousand people who do your job, then it’s easy to either coast at a minimum level of effort or to abuse your position for personal gain and not get caught.

One of the reasons I support a winnowing of the government workforce is that a smaller workforce will be easier to monitor for such corruption and malingering.  If there are fewer IRS employees, it will be easier to find those who are not serving the public in the way they should.

The same goes for every other government bureaucracy.  My formula for making government cheaper and cleaner is not complicated:  Simplify the laws, cut the staff, ruthlessly enforce standards of conduct, and improve efficiency.

by daddybear71 on May 24, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on May 24, 2011

https://daddybearsden.com/2011/05/24/quis-costodiet-ipsos-custodes/

Dear PGA

I’d like to thank you for the following:

  • Holding your tournament at the private golf course down the road from me, which is situated in what was a rural area 20 years ago. Of course, now it’s in a suburban setting, so there are more people to be inconvenienced, so you’ve got that working for you.
  • Not arranging for adequate traffic control on the main road that leads to my neighborhood.  Normally we don’t need police officers or temporary traffic lights, but something tells me you ought to consider them.
  • The extra 15 minutes added to getting home this morning after working the night shift because every fool within 3000 miles was trying to find parking and get to the golf course.  At least this year I’m not finding BMW’s and Audi’s parked in my front yard like last time.
  • The flights of helicopters, either news or transport, that have been buzzing my neighborhood all day.  Nothing helps me sleep during the day like the sound of an air assault.
  • The cost of gas in our area is about 20% higher than it was a week ago, probably thanks to your event.  Say what you will about Louisville, they know how to squeeze a few extra dollars out of tourists. Of course that means those of us lucky enough to live here get squeezed too. Luckily, if I travel across town, I can get gas at actual market rates.  The gas stations over by where I work thank you.

Anyway, good luck with your little golf tournament. I’m personally going to be praying to the thunder gods for torrential rain and lightning for the next week or so.  Maybe we’ll get really luck and have an early season hurricane or maybe even a very well targeted tornado. Nothing says ‘easy putt’ like 120mph rotating winds.

by daddybear71 on May 24, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in PGA

Posted by daddybear71 on May 24, 2011

https://daddybearsden.com/2011/05/24/dear-pga/

Hey Buddy

Wanna buy a bridge?

On today’s date in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge opened to the public.  15 minutes later, sales of the Brooklyn Bridge began in earnest. 

by daddybear71 on May 24, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on May 24, 2011

https://daddybearsden.com/2011/05/24/hey-buddy/

Today’s Earworm

OK, last one of the “Movie Soundtracks of my Youth” series.

I must have listened to this one about a million times when I was a sophomore in high school.  It was the last gasp of top 40 music for me before we moved to California and I discovered both alternative rock and hippie chicks.

by daddybear71 on May 23, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Earworm

Posted by daddybear71 on May 23, 2011

https://daddybearsden.com/2011/05/23/todays-earworm-140/

If your myelin is erect for more than 4 hours

Contact your neurologist.

A recent study found that administering sildenafil to animals with symptoms of multiple schlerosis can reduce damage to the nervous system.

If given shortly after disease onset, the scientists say they observed the drug reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the white matter of the spinal cord, reducing damage to the nerve cell’s axon and facilitating myelin repair

The optimist in me sees hope for people who suffer from a crippling disease.  Sildenafil has been in wide use for years, so the side effects are well known.  Taking it for MS would probably be as safe as taking it for sexual disfunction.  A friend of my family died slowly from MS, so any treatment that could give these people a few more years of life is a good thing.

The cynic in me notices that Viagra will be going off patent early in 2012, so Pfizer might be looking at a way to extend their revenue stream.  I wouldn’t be surprised if a new MS treatment wasn’t brought to market soon which combines sildenafil with another MS drug, and therefore can be patented.

Hopefully this research leads to a new treatment for MS.   And if the quality of life for patients is improved, then who can begrudge the company who brought the drug to market from making a few more shekels?

by daddybear71 on May 23, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on May 23, 2011

https://daddybearsden.com/2011/05/23/if-your-myelin-is-erect-for-more-than-4-hours/

Today was my turn

Yesterday, the Irish Woman power washed the porch, driveway, sidewalk, footbridge, and about half of the siding and rock face of the house.  Today was my turn.  I took care of the rest of the house, the fences, the aggregate patio, the picnic table, and the barbecue.  By the way, did you know that aggregate patios that are in the shade 90% of the time are a perfect growth medium for mildew?

Except for what was covered with cloth and safety glasses, I had an even green-gray undercoating, with stripes of darker material covering everything.  It kind of resembled a very fine tiger stripe camouflage pattern.  Man, I haven’t been that filthy in a very long time.  I’m pretty sure the last time was when we did an exercise and set up the command post at the bottom of a coal strip mine and it rained for three days.  Taking a shower without actually touching something was an adventure, even after hosing off in the yard.

Anyway, the power washing is done.  Next project is to repair all of the concrete and coat it.  Then we repair the blacktop in the driveway and treat it.  Then we replace the 4×4 posts on the car port.  Then we paint everything.  Of course, we still have to transplant two fruit trees and plant the vegetable garden. Longer term projects include removing the old outbuilding, putting a new roof on, replacing the retaining walls in the back yard, and screening in the porch.  And of course, theres the antiquated ductwork, wiring, and plumbing that all need replacement.

Oh the joys of home ownership, especially when your house was built in the late 1940’s.

by daddybear71 on May 22, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in yuck

Posted by daddybear71 on May 22, 2011

https://daddybearsden.com/2011/05/22/today-was-my-turn/

Call me immature

But the term “Surprise aerial insertion into the enemy rear” got me giggling like a fiend just now.  Worst part is, I wrote it about 15 years ago, with no comedic intent.

by daddybear71 on May 22, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by daddybear71 on May 22, 2011

https://daddybearsden.com/2011/05/22/call-me-immature/

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