Blog Archives
Joyce Kilmer on Trees
Trees
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~Joyce Kilmer
Some of F.C.C. Commissioner’s Comments on Net Neutrality
While speaking at the non-partisan Free State Foundation’s policy forum, Republican F.C.C. Commissioner Mike O’Reilly explained some of the consequences of President Obama’s “modest proposal” regarding Net Neutrality.
Obama’s Dangerous Illusions of War
President Obama took pride that he unilaterally led US troops out of Iraq in 2011 (without achieving a Status of Forces agreement) and promises to do the same in Afghanistan by 2016. Casual political observers may now conclude that President Barack Obama has dispensed with the dangerous illusion about optional wars after the aerial bombing of ISIS and Khorasan Group targets in Syria. US CentCom claims that the Khorasan Group was in the final stages of an imminent attact on US targets, potentially even in the U.S. Homeland.
However, in the run up to the still unnamed mission from the nascent anti-ISIS coalition, President Obama insisted on being clear about not having American boots on the ground.
Congress voted for funding to train Syrian rebels, but that training is said to take a year to accomplish. Now that American airpower decimated ISIS and Khorason targets near Aleppo and Raqqa, Syria, an ISIS pull out would leave a power vacuum. Without American boots on the ground, who re-establishes order? Prior to the bombing, former Marine Corps Commandant (Ret.) General James Conway suggested that Mr. Obama’s apparent strategy against ISIS did not have a snowball’s chance in hell of succeeding.
Mr. Obama may still harbor the illusion about cafeteria conflicts, but General Douglas MacArthur’s warning that: “It is
fatal to enter any war without the will to win it” rings true today.
fatal to enter any war without the will to win it” rings true today.
America acting to stop the brutality and belligerence of terrorist armies like ISIS and the Khorason Group which threaten US is a tardy step in the right direction. However, not having a clearly defined plan of action other than ruling out boots on the ground may keep the chimera alive for the Commander-in-Chief.
h/t: Bob Englehart
Obama’s New Golf War? (sic)
While the parents of murdered photojournalist James Foley were meeting the press, President Obama took five minutes away from his current vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts to comment on the brutal beheading. Within ten minutes of Mr. Obama’s brief statement, the so called “Preezy of the United Steezy” was back on the golf course, yukking it up with golf partner former hoops star Alonzo Mourning.
President Obama’s photo op was not generally well received even in the liberal Lamestream Media. Some journalists criticized Mr. Obama’s informality, speaking on such a serious subject without wearing a tie. Another complaint was President Obama referring to the slain American as “Jim”, as if the President had personally known the deceased hostage. The vacuousness of the comments did not satisfy the hunger in the public to do something. To that end, there were governmental leaks about a failed hostage rescue by American armed forces. What seemed to be most damaging was the optic about Mr. Obama shifting from being Mourner in Chief to golfing with Alonzo Mourning so quickly after the event.
On MSNBC’s “The Morning Joe”, host Joe Scarborough offered an alternative take on what the New York Daily News dubbed “Bama’s Golf War”.
Well, isn’t that special? Here’s a pro tip for Joe Scarborough — resist Potomac Fever. As late as March, 2014, Scarborough, the former four term Republican (?) Congressman from the Florida panhandle (FL-1st), had been publicly toying with a Presidential run. You have no real path to the Oval Office and you will never be able to make $99,000 a week other than doing something like your faux conservative schtick on “The Morning Joke”.
Pro arguendo, if President Obama is intentionally projecting an image of being a cold customer to intimidate ISIS, it is worth considering the results of this “strategerie”.
In attempt to be charitable, one hopes that this is not a concerted strategy from Obama’s Oval Office (or putting green), but is a manifestation of a Celebrity-in-Chief who is just playing through– same as it ever was.
h/t: New York Daily News
Admiring the Inner Strength of David Wilson
David Wilson is a 23 year old running back who was a first round draft choice by the New York Giants in 2012. Wilson’s dream from the age of eight was to play in the NFL. Wilson lived that dream for 21 games over two seasons, but had been plagued with a neck injury .
During the first week of the NFL preseason, as Wilson was attempting a comeback from neck surgery, he ran into the back of one of his teammates during scrimmage. Afterwards, his spinal doctor diagnosed Wilson with diffuse cervical stenosis. Since Wilson had a disc removed from his spine after his October 2013 injury, the running back was advised not to play football anymore, as doing so would put himself at risk for serious spinal injuries.
After his player received such bad news from the doctors, New York Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin was surprised that Wilson still had a smile on his face, but Wilson refused to be pulled down into a state of melancholy. Coughlin marveled that: “There’s a lot to be said about his inner strength right now.”
As David Wilson processed his situation, he remarked:
“I’m thankful that I can literally walk away from the game and that I am healthy and capable of doing the same things I have done all my life, except play football. I always try to find the positive in everything. I prayed this morning before I went to see [the doctors] that they would tell me what God would tell me. He put His answer in them to relay to me.”
David Wilson’s poise of facing such devastating vocational news with good cheer and hope is admirable. Wilson’s faith puts his trust in God, which is a lesson worth remembering and emulating.
h/t: New York Post
P.K. Subban — One Classy Canadien (sic) Who Rejects Racists Rubes’ Barbs
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| P.K. Subban, Defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens |
After PK Subban scored the winning goal in double overtime for the Montreal Canadien’s 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins in game one of second round of the NHL Eastern Conference playoffs, he was reportedly pelted with trash by bellicose Bruins fans at the TD Gardens. When asked if he was hit by the debris, Subban said: I don’t know. It doesn’t even matter.”
What was harder to deny were the brigade of bigoted Bruins fans which took to Twitter to share thousand of racist comments to trash the 24 year old defenseman from Toronto whose parents emigrated from the Caribbean to Canada. It got so bad that the Bruins’ President Cam Neely issued a statement:
“The racist, classless views expressed by an ignorant group of
individuals following Thursday’s game via digital media are in no way a
reflection of anyone associated with the Bruins organization.”
This torrent of intolerance is not the first time that some Masshole bigots have sullied the sport. When Joel Ward clenched the series for the Washington Capitals over the Boston in 2012, some Bruins fans issued a barrage of racist rants on Twitter. What makes this episode remarkable is that it took place in the turbulent cultural cross currents of the Donald Sterling Clippers controversy in the NBA.
When Subban chose to respond to these racists’ rants, his thoughts could not be contained in 140 character limit of Twitter. Subban said:
First things first, the Boston Bruins are an Original Six franchise,
they have been around a long time, they are respected. It’s
completely unfair for anybody to point the finger at the organization of
the fan base. They have passionate fans here, a great fan base and
since I’ve been in the league, it’s been awesome.
I’ve come to Boston many times, my family has come here and it’s
been great. What people may say on Twitter or social media is not a
reflection by any means of the league or the Boston Bruins.
You know what the funny thing is, is that we get stronger as a league. You see how people come together and it’s great. It’s not just about
me. The NHL has tons of players from different backgrounds, from
different places around the world and that’s what makes this league so
special and that’s what makes sports so special, it brings everybody
together.
Another great hockey game today. I’m sure everybody enjoyed it and I
look forward to the rest of the series and everybody else should, too.
Even when pointedly interviewed on television about the incident, Subban refused to climb onto the racial victims bandwagon.
Subban brushed off the brusque bigotry, he spoke highly of the passion of his arch-rival Bruins fans, while touting the virtues of hockey. When pressed he called out the stupidity of the minority of insult hurlers.
Even diehard Bruin fans are impressed by Subban’s class. Someone reacting to the Boston Herald’s coverage of the incident wrote:
I hate the Habs, but in regards to P.K. Subban praise is due. P.K. is a
class person and a helluva hockey player, man can he skate — beautiful
to watch. Fortunately, I believe we will be loving to hate P.K. (the
player) for years to come. Oh, and those walking pieces of human debris
who sent those tweets etc. … can now crawl back into their rats nests
while the rest of us enjoy a great playoff series.
Even some Massachusetts politicos have gone out on a limb to praise Subban’s poise. Charlie Baker, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, posted on Twitter
Passions can run high among hockey fans, especially a playoff series between members of the NHL’s original six. But P.K. Subban demonstrated remarkable virtue should be admired across the board as one classy Canadien. Subban’s example is a better example of what sports can do.
Sarah Palin on Life in Amazing America
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) continues to be a conservative cultural vanguard who is adept at reinforcing her own brand.
Palin’s latest project is a reality series Amazing America with Sarah Palin on the Sportsman Channel.
The series is intended to be an anthology which explores the people, places and pastimes which makes America great as exhibited through outdoor living. Ms. Palin, who some have dubbed “The First Lady of the Outdoors”, will host the weekly half hour show in which she chooses the topics and the guests.
Amazing America will be co-hosted by comedians Mark Christopher Lawrence and Jerry Carroll. Carroll claims: “I bring that good ol’ boy, dare I say redneck, blue-collar experience to the viewers.” The patriotic rockers Madison Rising wrote an original theme song for Amazing America theme.
Amazing America will highlight outdoor sports and spectacles not normally in the limelight, like a blacksmiths’ championship, or spotlights on professional shooters, knife makers and taxidermists.
But Momma Grizzly’s creative control should allow for messaging which reinforces her political and cultural weltanschaaung, such as her selfie challenge to young women.
Amazing America premieres at 8 PM EDT on the Sportsman Channel.
h/t: Breitbart
District of Calamity 