The Voice of the Valkyrie

Kagan Busted for Fashion Violation

2010-06-28T11:45:00.001-07:00

Elena Kagan attended her first day of the Senate Confirmation Hearings sporting a bright blue suit that looked like it was pulled from the bargain bin of the local thrift shop. The big goofy collar and giant buttons would seem more appropriate coming out of a clown car than testifying before the Senate.

This eyesore of the Senate floor may be a political ploy on the part of Elena Kagan. The sooner they confirm her, the sooner she will be wearing "basic black" and this couture abomination will be covered up. However, that won't solve the problem of her haircut, obviously done by her 6-year-old niece.

Call the fashion police - fast!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.6

Apology Excepted

2010-06-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

General Stanley McChrystal apologized over his remark concerning the ineffectiveness of the White House, but these days an apology is not necessarily an admission of guilt. Like many others, Gen. McChrystal is apologizing for telling the truth. In the end his apology may be his exoneration.

When Representative Joe Wilson shouted "you lie!" in Congress, he was compelled to apologize. Once again, there was an apology for telling the truth. In the aftermath Rep. Wilson became a figure of moral courage in the Congress. When Representative Joe Barton was coerced into apologizing for calling the 200 million dollar fine to BP as a "shakedown." It turns out that the fine of BP fills all the definition of a shakedown by the government. The "escrow" fund of 200 million dollars will be managed by the White House - not by a neutral third party. As the facts began to come out, more and more people are agreeing with Rep. Barton.

Apparently in the Obama administration, the only thing you have to apologize for is telling the truth.

Midsummer

2010-06-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

Midsummer day is starting out cold and cloudy with the wind blowing sharp from the northeast. Even the normally buoyant jays look a little forlorn in the trees. Even still, it is Midsummer and I prepared the hearth for the summer. The fire is gone. The chimney is swept and clean and all the ashes are brushed away. Unless this is a cold, short summer (which it mght be), the hearth fire shouldn't be lit until Winter Finding (Sept. 22).

I decorated the hearth with gold foil, pine cones, and a candle arrangement to make it look nice. This weekend after the Midsommarfest, I will bring back the flower crown to lay in the hearth. It will be burned at Winter Finding (or possibly sooner), to show the end of summer.

An Unnecessary Evil

2010-06-18T10:18:00.001-07:00

The federal government is called a necessary evil, but recent events tend to support the point that maybe the federal government is not so necessary.

In the news this morning Adm. Thad Allen announced that "private vessels" have stepped up to participate in the cleanup of the Gull Oil Slick. Numerous private citizens have proposed methods and materials to contain, capture and clean up the oil. These private contributions have been ignored, and even hindered by the federal government. The private citizens have shown they are more effective than the Federal Government at resolving almost all problems.

So far, the only actions of the federal government are to:

to find ways to "shake down" (as Rep Barton put it) or stymie the oil industry.
develop new tax schemes to get in the pocket of the American people.

The Kabuki dance known as CEO's testimony before the Department of Energy Congressional Committee had all the resemblance of the old Soviet Union show trials of political dissidents. The behavior of the members of congress in this kangaroo court was an embarrassment to the American people. A kindergarten court could have shown more decorum and professionalism

The Obama Adminstration's lack of action on the Gulf Oil Crisis is not an isolated incident. They refuse to secure our borders, forcing the State of Arizona to take matters into their own hands. They force the counties on the border in Texas to deputize private citizens to take arms and defend their property line on the border.

The Obama Adminstration refuses to stop Islamic terrorism in the United States. Who is securing America? The latest terrorist attempts have been thwarted by private citizens, remaining alert. The recent successful attempt had all the warnings about the terrorist ignored by the federal government, due to their obssession with political correctness.

The federal government is not being flaccid or lax about these events. They need ongoing crises to push through their agenda against the American people. As Pres. Obama's White house Chief of Staff, Rahm Emmanuel said, "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." The Obama Administration, rather than solving the problem, is taking advantage of the crisis to bankrput the oil industry by imposing a totally unnecessary moratorium and to push through draconian environmental legislation.

Maybe our third president, Thomas Jefferson observed "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government." Maybe Pres. Jefferson was not so radical...

A Resounding Undorsement

2009-10-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

I just received the 2009 Washington State/King county Voter's Pamphlet for the General Election. One of the dilemmas on local election is the listing of candidates as "non-partisan." What kind of policies and beliefs will "non-partisan" candidates support or oppose? Since I'm a long-time net-surfer, I decided to google the candidates to see what I find. My first on deck was Susan Hutchison, a candidate for King County Executive to replace the happily-gone Ron Sims. As I read the list of results, I realized that it was more productive to read the pages who oppose a candidate rather than those who endorse them. One of the results that jumped out at me was an article by Valerie Tarico of the Huffington Post, entitled, Susan Hutchinson - Washington State's Sarah Palin. Washington State's Sarah Palin??? Sounds like a good pick to me. Her score rose even higher after I read a petty lambasting of Ms. Hutchison by The Stranger - a local left-wing moonbat rag. I refer to these negative endorsements by the left-wingers as "undorsements." I found these undorsements to be quite enlightening. A search on other candidates revealed other enlightening endorsements A liberal blogger said Reagan Dunn, candidate for King County Councilmen, was stupid for saying "The first rule in economics, you don't tax economic activity in a down cycle of the recession." - doesn't sound stupid to me... I guess it's true... any publicity is good publicity.

Sound Religion?

2009-09-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

I have been reading the book, The 5,000 Year Leap, and in the section on "4th Principle: Without Religion the Government of a Free People Cannot Be Maintained," Benjamin Franklin is quoted from his letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University: “Here is my Creed: I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That he governs it by his providence. That he ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we render to him in doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points of all Sound Religion.” Franklin's essential beliefs on religion summarized in his writings reflected the beliefs of the Founding Fathers. Religions of American Democracy must be founded on "Sound Religion." Based on these writings, The 5,000 Year Leap enumerated the fundamental principles of "Sound Religion" as:

There exists a Creator who made all things, and mankind should accept and worship him.
The Creator revealed a moral code of behavior for happy living which distinguishes right from wrong.
The Creator holds mankind responsible for the way they treat each other.
All mankind live beyond this life.
In the next life, mankind are judged for their conduct in this one.

The more traditional mainstream religions adhere to these principles, such as conservative Judaism, Traditional Catholicism, Traditional synods of Lutherans, and the other more traditional and conservative protestant denominations. Obviously some neo-pagan religions and Satanists don't adhere to these principles. However, the properly applied Asatru, Forn Sed, or Odinist religion would meet the principles of "Sound Religion." This is also true of Celtic paganism, or traditional Wiccans that strictly adhere to the "Rule of Three." These might also adhere to the principles of "Sound Religion," except that the Deity is viewed as polytheism as opposed to monotheism. Surprisingly, some modern Christian denominations might not be considered "Sound Religion." Those pentecostal/evangelical denominations that place the role of grace in salvation/justification too far above moral conduct might not be considered "Sound Religion." These sorts of beliefs spawn incidents like Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart driving drunk down the wrong side of the road in Miami with a whore in the car, and yet his followers still considered him a good Christian. Progressive Catholic parishes and dioceses that have become infected with "Liberation Theology" and abandoned their traditional dogma have turned their churches into little better than indoctrination centers for socialism and gnosticism. This problem was once considered only an issue in Latin American, but liberation theology has also infected Catholics in the USA. More liberal Protestant denominations are not immune from watering down their beliefs to the point that they can no longer be considered "Sound Religion." The ELCA Lutheran conference, modern Episcopalians, some Methodists, and Unitarians often ignore or downplay the principles of "Sound Religion." I would like to get some feedback from different denominations to show why they do or do not adhere to the Founder's principles of "Sound Religion."

The Apology Tour - Parte Deux

2009-09-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

Once again, Obama finds an opportunity for an Apology Tour, where he can apologize for America - in other words, to blame all the problems in American on the previous administration. This time he didn't have to deal with jet lag and hotel reservations. Instead of Mohamed (Obama) going to the mountain (the World), the mountain came to Mohamed. Yes, he made his second Apology Tour in his address to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

His address to the UN General Ass. was like Neville Chamberlain on steroids. He basically bared the throat of America and dared the world to cut it. He began with an admission of guilt - but only for the actions taken prior to his adminstration:

"I took office at a time when many around the world had come to view America with skepticism and distrust. A part of this was due to misperceptions and misinformation about my country. Part of this was due to opposition to specific policies and a belief on, on certain critical issues, America had acted unilaterally without regard for the interests of others."

His Muslim background began to show he presented himself as a man willing to abandon national leadership for the sake of world leadership:

"...it is my deeply held belief that, in the year 2009, more than at any point in human history, the interests of nations and peoples are shared. The [Muslim] religious convictions that we hold in our hearts can forge new bonds among people..."

It's like he's trading the security of the USA to be the 12th Imam that will exert Muslim domination over the whole world? He certainly tried to give that impression. He went on to describe his efforts on this issue:

"...I have carried this message from London to Ankara, from Port of Spain to Moscow, from Accra to Cairo..."

His geographical references actually demarcated the Muslim World, if you consider that London is now part of Eurabia and Spain used to be Muslim.

Moreover, he also called for the baring of Israel's throat as well, saying: "The time has come -- the time has come to relaunch negotiations without preconditions that address the permanent status issues, security for Israelis and Palestinians, borders, refugees and Jerusalem." He assures that now that he is President, the USA is no longer the devil, but a friend to the world. "For those who question the character and cause of my nation, I ask you to look at the concrete actions we have taken in just nine months." He then went through a list of his accomplishments as Obozma, the Great and Powerful. Since he has been in office, he has:

"prohibited without expectation or equivocation the use of torture by the United States of America." - As a signatory of the Geneva Convetnion, torture has never been condoned by the United States of America.
"ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed." - Yee-ahh, how's that going?
"set a clear and focused goal to work with all members of this body to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda." -You mean all those UN members who are supporting and training Al-Qaeda?
"appointed a special envoy for Middle East peace." - Revolutionary... ground-breaking... what president has ever done this?
"invested $80 billion in clean energy." - why do they consider tax revenues as an investment? In other words, he took our tax money and paid off his campaign supporters.
"worked with the G-20 nations to forge a coordinated international response of over $2 trillion in stimulus to bring the global economy back from the brink." - so all that stimulus money he blew through was for the rest of the world, not the US economy.
"We have also re-engaged the United Nations. We have paid our bills. We have joined the Human Rights Council."

This is priceless, he wants to be on the human rights council with such choice picks as:

Bangladesh - Where Bhuddist monks are murdered by a Muslim-dominated government.
Bolivia - An American-hating Marxist regime.
Cuba - are you kidding???
Pakistan - Where women are executed for the crime of getting raped.
Qatar - Where the Imams teach that men should beat their wives (for any reason).
South Africa - the home of necklacing.

His address was so conciliatory and feeble that it caused the British press to refer to Obama as "President Pantywaist." It is no surprise that Franklin Roosevelt was the only US President he considered worth mentioning in his 40-minute harangue. I can hear the snoring in the UN General Assembly Hall. Not to be outdoned, Muammar Gaddafi prattled on like a raving lunatic for 100 minutes. Besides being mildly entertaining for his absurdity, his speech convinced everyone of his complete incompetence as a national leader. Gaddafi did express his approval for Obama, saying, "I would be happy if America was governed by him forever." Yeah, that's a vote of confidence - approval from the craziest guy in the whole freak show.

Over-Played?

2009-09-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

Has the race card been played too many times? In Obama's own words in his book Audacity of Hope, even Obama admits that: "...white guilt has largely exhausted itself in America; even the most fair-minded of whites, those who would genuinely like to see racial inequality ended and poverty relieved, tend to push back against suggestions of racial victimization—or race-specific claims based on the history of race discrimination in this country." And there is good reason for his view. Time and time again, the race card has been played to excuse bad or even criminal behavior of minorities. By doing this, it ensures that minorities will continue to be relegated to the margins of society, where the benefits of the true American Dream are unattainable. They will be kept in the slavery of the welfare "plantation." They will not study to get a legitimate education. The "race card" mentality encourages minorities to cross the line into criminal behavior, and condemns them to a life on the fringes of society. They will not develop the good habits of polite society, and will thus never be admitted into polite society. Some will not learn to speak good, gramatically-proper English, which reduces minorities to the appearance of ignorance and incompetence. Make no mistake, true racism does exist in American society. However, like the boy who cried "wolf," the over-use of the race card could cause the dismissal of true cases of racial injustice. It also encourages reverse racism, where persons of the White majority are abused unjustly for reasons of race. This week, an incident occurred on a school bus in Belleville, Illlinois, where a white student was severely beaten by black students for trying to sit next to a black student. This incident was not considered a racial hate crime. If the situation had been reversed, where a group of white students beat up a black student, the cries of "hate crime" would be plastered across national headlines. Incidentally, in the same week, a small white boy was also beat up by a group of black students in Hazelton Missouri. What must be remembered is that these black students will now have criminal records for these unconscionable acts. What did their parents and their community do to discourage this sort of behavior? Incidents like this will continue as long as historical injustices continue to be dredged up by the black communities and black leaders to justify this sort of behavior. In Obama's own comments: "I can’t help but view the American experience through the lens of a black man of mixed heritage, forever mindful of how generations of people who looked like me were subjugated and stigmatized, and the subtle and not so subtle ways that race and class continue to shape our lives." Does Obama encourage socially acceptable behavior among minorities? He also describes how difficult it is for minorites to conform to American society: "In general, members of every minority group continue to be measured largely by the degree of our assimilation—how closely speech patterns, dress, or demeanor conform to the dominant white culture—and the more that a minority strays from these external markers, the more he or she is subject to negative assumptions." He dismisses normal, polite behavior accepted as the standard in America as "white culture." The ability to speak clearly and accurately is a part of "white culture." The accepted standards of good order and law within society is "white culture." He expects that American society should accept rude, offensive. and disorderly behavior if it comes from minorities. The majority of Americans voted for a black man as President, but apparently this show of color-blindness is not good enough. Is it any wonder that the race card has been over-played?

Participating in 9-12

2009-09-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

Since I didn't go to Washington DC for the 9-12 March, I decided to attend a local Washington (State) 9-12 Event. There was a local 9-12 demonstration where Hwy 520 ends in the Redmond/Avondale area from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. It was a bright sunny day, but a little toasty. Some people from the local conservative groups were nice enough to provide water. The crowd was a mix of young and old of different ethnic groups. There were even a few children who were having quite a good time, and getting a lesson in Civics at the same time. One old fellow had a sign that said "I'm 90. Please let me live." He was great! He brought a trumpet, and he played it very well.

A few dissenting people drove by but their responses were unintelligible, gibbering rage. Quite a few people honked their horns in approval. When the truckers drove by, you could easily tell by their responses the independent truckers from the teamsters. The independent truckers would honk their approval, and the teamsters would give us the finger.

The difference in behavior seems consistent with other demonstrations. The so-called "mob" was polite and orderly, while the Union and liberal dissenters were rage-filled and vulgar.

Remembering 9-11

2009-09-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

It's been 8 years since that fateful day on September 11, 2001, but it seems like it just happened. Obama decided to try and eclipse the significance of 9-11 by declaring a "National Day of Service," and downplay the real threat that still exists in international terrorism. Ralph Peters, a journalist from The New York Post expressed his outrage at denigrating the memory of 9-11 in his article today titled "Betraying our Dead." Fortunately, there are too many of us who cannot forget that day. Here's what I remember: I worked in the engineering department of a television cable company on September 11, 2001. We had a live video feed into our conference room, and we sat glued to the television as we watched the horror. I said to my colleagues, "Those people should get out of there. What if the buildings fall down?" Everyone in the room looked at me like I was crazy. Twenty minutes later the first tower came crashing down. I was totally numb. The whole scene was unbelievable. We all sat there frozen for what seemed like an eternity. Later I walked out of the conference room, and I saw one of the engineers who was a foreign national from Jordan. He sat at his desk staring at nothing. I could tell he was disturbed. Some of the other engineers came out of the conference room. I said to them, "Guys, we have to go talk to him. He probably thinks we hate him." So a few of us went over to see how he was doing. There was an uncomfortable silence, so I blurted out, "Hey we know you don't approve of what happened, and nobody thinks bad of you." He looked very relieved and said that what those terrorists did was very evil. The news began to come out about United Flight 93, and we began to be really concerned. The flight was headed our way. Our company sent all non-operations people home for the day. The schools sent students home, and the Mayor of Pittsburgh ordered the evacuation of downtown. Nobody knew how big this terrorist plot was. I went to my home on a very high hill and most of the neighborhood stood out on their lawns watching the sky. Everyone had this idea if we saw United 93 flying, we could tell the police, so it could be located (the terrorist pilots had turned off the location beacon by then). People were telling their children, "We mustn't be afraid. If they make us afraid, the terrorists win." After awhile we saw a big smoke plume off to the east. We thought that United 93 has probably crashed, but we didn't find out until later that the plane had crashed over in the next county (Somerset). September 11 reminds of why our Armed Forces are overseas fighting terrorists, and keeping America safe. September 11 compels me to express my appreciation to the members of the US Military who worked tirelessly to keep our nation safe. Thank you for your service!

No Change... for a Change

2009-09-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

The joint session of Congress was slobbering with excitement over Obama's address. He was going to take a fresh approach this time. However, when he began to speak, it was obvious this was a clone of his previous speeches. He began by pointing out that President Theodore Roosevelt wanted health care reform. Oh really??? Maybe he was thinking of Franklin Roosevelt... He continued with a recitation of fuzzy, misleading, or inaccurate statistics. Then he launched into his anecdotal sob stories to establish an emotional connection with his audience. Fortunately, he limited his sob stories to two - one about a man and one about a woman to cover both genders. Then he launched into his same tired lies (you can keep your insurance, the program won't cost anything). He dissembled on the public option (aka government option) to prevent controversy - neither confirming or denying it. He proposed a fuzzy "marketplace" concept claiming it would increase competition - which begs the question of why they are not proposing the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines. The "marketplace" concept look suspiciously like a re-packaging of the same tired government take-over of health care He did express his irritation about the opposition to his health care plan. He complained of "bickering" about the plan. He accused the opposition of "making wild claims about a government takeover of health care" in spite of the fact that the wording of the bill actually points to that probability. It's clear that he will brook no opposition in his shut-up-and-drink-the-koolaid address.

Weird (Environmental) Science

2009-09-03T18:17:00.000-07:00

John Holdren was recently appointed as the Science and Technology Advisor to the President. While his fields of study were aeronautics and astronuautics, this space cadet decided his academic background qualified him to be an expert on environmental issues. Why is it that most of the proponents for global warming are physicists as opposed to climatologists and meteorologists? Like his fellow environmentalist, wack-job scientists, he has a rather ho-hum academic record - no ground-breaking research in his major field of study, mediocre research papers filled policy opinions and fuzzy data (if any). Most of his career has been in positions rife with political administrivia. Some of his non-peer-reviewed research paper titles:

"Meeting the Climate-Change Challenge." The John H. Chafee Memorial Lecture, National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington, D.C., January 17, 2008.
"Global Climatic Disruption: Risks and Opportunities." Presentation at Investor Summit on Climate Risk, New York, February 14, 2008.
"Ending the Energy Stalemate: A Bipartisan Strategy To Meet America's Energy Challenges." Presentation at the National Academies 2008 Energy Summit, Washington, D.C., March 14, 2008.

...oh yeah...really serious research, hard science. To be fair, he has previous experience as a science advisor. He was a technical advisor to Al Gore on his documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." Oh yeah, he did a great job of keeping the science on track in that POS. His scraggy beard and pompous demeanor give the impression of a religious leader of a kook religious cult...and his opinions are not far from those of some wack-job cult leader. He proposes the forced sterilization of women and the revising of society and economics against the will of the people. He should have stayed in outer space where he started out his career.

U. S. Senate or House of Lords?

2009-08-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and he members of the U.S. congress and Senate are acting more like the House of Lords than the Vox Populi. During this recess, the Congressmen and Senators have returned to their home states, and behaved like scolding schoolmarms and pompous mandarins. They think they have come back to their home states to "teach" us the error of our ways. To their utter shock, they find that the peasants are revolting - but they should not be surprised.

They have no intention of being supported by the health care system they intend to foist on the American citizens. they will still have their own health care program. After all ,they can't be expected to live like the "common rabble." The American Citizenry protests this utter violation of the U.S. Constitution, and the basic principles of liberty that generated the original Declaration of Independence. In response our congressmen and senators call us "terrorists," "Timothy McVeigh" followers, "Nazis," and "a mob."

The same congressmen and senators who scolded the CEO's of the automobile industry for flying private jets to discuss their corporations' financial distress are no trying to order up a fleet of luxury jets for themselves in spite of the nation's mounting national debt. They pose themselves as the nation's aristocracy, continuing to accord luxuries for themselves, expecting their positions to be "hereditary" rather than a defined term. They are deaf to the cires of the citizens. Their disdain for their own constituents is open and blatant.

It is time to remind them that they are voted into office - not anointed and crowned.

The Apology Tour

2009-04-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Obama has been on a whirlwind tour apologizing for all the bad things that America has done, blaming America for the major woes of the world, and generally embarrassing the entire nation. He has been cozying up to the worst of the world's dictators like the marginalized geek-boy who finally gets to hang out with the cool kids. His desire to be liked by our actual or potential enemies displays a weakness in the leader of the major world power. He bows to the King of Saudi Arabia. He gets chummy with Uggo Chavez of Venezuela, even helps hims promote his trashy book. Everywhere he goes, he disgraces the USA. Does he really have the right to apologize for all of us? He isn't apologizing for anything he's done. Besides spending the nation into debtor's prison, he really hasn't done anything on the world scene. He is not apologizing for himself. He is accusing the rest of the nation before the whole world. He is setting himself up on the international scene to blame the previous Bush administration, the opposition, the people "clinging to their guns and religion," in case there are any international problems. That way, all the tin-pot dictators around the world will still be his friends. Are you embarrassed enough yet?

Rise Above the Ruin

2009-03-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

I realize my last post "The Dying Wolf Age" was rather bleak, so I thought I would post some words of encouragement. The tactic for surviving the end of the Wolf Age is to rise above the ruin. How do you do this? A number of techniques and programs have been out in the public eye in the wake of the current economic uproar and moral degeneration. The book Survivor's Club describes how the attitude and skills of certain individuals make them more likely to survive in perilous situations. The 912 Project is a program started to help people keep their values straight and remember what is important in life. Here's a quick rundown of some techniques to rise above the ruin.

Know what you believe. Case studies of people who survive stressful situations are those who have a defined set of values and principles and hold onto those values and principles.
Prepare for the worst case. People who are willing to think the unthinkable will survive when the unthinkable happens. These are the people who have an exit strategy, a "Plan B, and even a "Plan C." They have emergency supplies and contingency plans worked into their life
Separate yourself from the dying system. As the world descends into insanity, you need to find a place of sanity. Don't build you life around this house of cards. Learn to do without the things. Disconnect from the popular culture. Don't obssess about America's Top Model. Learn how to be independently competent. How to start a campfire, use tools, build things, repair things. Learn to find pleasure in simple things, a woodland path, your family, your friends.

The Dying Wolf Age

2009-03-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

Time winds down to August 15, 2011 and the dying wolf ends its 6480-year reign. The symptoms of this age are becoming more evident. The wolf age is characterized by lawlessness, disorder and hunger. Lawlessness: Our system of justice is turned upside-down. Police officers are jailed for simply doing their job, as in the case of Campion and Ramos. Criminals guilty of the most heinous and perverted crimes are set free or given a slap on the wrist. Crimes committed by those holding the highest offices in the land are not even prosecuted. Disorder: Borders are thrown open to potential enemies. Monetary systems are collapsing. Families bonds are dissolved. Private property is seized or controlled by draconian laws. The outrages to good and decent society are increasing exponentially. Right and wrong, good and evil are being confused in the minds of the people. Hunger: The entire world is focused on appetite, lust, and acquisition, turning on each other in rage and desperation. As they attempt to loot the treasury, the Obama administration expresses outrage to find that George Bush already cleaned them out: Their is no honor among thieves. Everyone is scrambling to get their share of the loot. Even in everyday society, civil behavior is degenerating as the panic and desperation increases. Even the normal mode of feeding the appetites and lusts does not satisfy. Nothing but hunger remains. All sense of honor is gone. All high principles are forgotten. All reason and wisdom are cast to the wayside. But the cycle will turn around again. The Axe Age will come and the axe will fall on those who deny justice, reason, and order. Then it will be the time for the hard-working people of decency, honor reason, wisdom, and courage.

The Garry Owen

2009-03-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

I used the Ringdroid application on my G1 phone to create a ringtone of the Garry Owen March, the cavalry song. Some people remark about my odd ringtone, and here is my explanation: My ancestors were pioneers in Oregon Territory, and settled in the Palouse region (famed for the Appaloosa horse). Every now and then the native Americans of the area would go on the warpath, so everyone would have to go down to Fort Wallula (orignally Fort Nez Perce) to hide out until it was over. My great-grandfather got his house burned down three times by the natives. When the cavalry reinforcements arrived to drive off the natives, the pioneers knew they could go home. The tune of the Garry Owen carried on the wind was always a message of joy for the pioneers, so I keep it on my mobile phone today, in honor of my ancestors.

The Empty Economy

2009-03-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

I noticed this week while driving to work how much less traffic there is during the rush hours. I drive against the grain, so I'm used to seeing the opposite lane of traffic on I-405 thoroughly choked. This week the traffic heading into Seattle and Bellevue was fairly thin compared to usual. The only place it started backing up was around Kirkland where there is always a "Kirkland Crawl." When leaving work, the traffic was almost non-existent on the road. The opposite lane, usually choked up, was moving at a normal pace, even near Bellevue. I thought this might just be my own impression, so I asked around. Others I work with have noticed the same lack of traffic on the road. Is this an indication of the lack of employment? Or is it that people are trying to save money on gas? Maybe it's a combination of both. We now are free from the usual rush-hour car-pocalypse, but it may be a warning of a larger apocalypse...

Going Galt

2009-03-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

As the "soak the rich" policies roll out of Washington, DC, there is a growing trend among professionals, entrepeneurs and investors in the above $250,000 tax bracket. The phenomena is called "going Galt." It is a reaction among these economic heavy-hitters, who are burdened with confiscatory taxes and a growing number of government regulations which run counter to productivity. They are simply dropping out of the race. Investors are selling off their stocks; professionals are taking in less work or retiring early. Business owners are selling off their businesses. The term "going Galt" is from a novel by the Objectivist philosopher Ayn Rand titled Atlas Shrugged. The protagonist John Galt took all the most productive people in the country to a community called "Galt's Gulch" where they started their own separate economy, free from the oppressive government regulations and taxes. Without these "producers" in society, the entire economic system collapsed. I had read Atlas Shrugged several yeas ago, and saw in its pages the seeds of what has now come to full stinking flower in our economy. This novel is now becoming a reality in America, which is why this classic is rapidly rising on the bestseller lists. Read this book if you dare to see what happens next...

When the Ship is sinking...

2009-03-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

...the rats leave. A research article from the Kauffman Foundation shows an interesting trend among foreign nationals in the US: The trend is toward emigration, not immigration. For the first time in our history, foreign nationals in the US on H1B visas are leaving in significant numbers, particularly those from India and China. In our current economic condition, they see their career opportunities more promising in their home countries. This emigration trend is an abysmally bad economic indicator. Even in the worst of times in America, we could always boast that people still wanted to come to our shores for the opportunities we offered. Now they're heading for the door.

Ahnold Goes Girly-Man

2009-03-02T06:48:00.000-08:00

For a few years now, I have watched our neighbors to the south in California. I remember when Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected as Governor of California on a platform of tough talk and fiscal conservatism. I remember when he warned against "Girly-Man Economics." I watched as all the Machismo slowly trickled away as time after time he caved in to the leftist-socialists in his state. The economic refugees from LA and the Bay area have been pouring into the Seattle area for quite some time now. Unfortunately, they are trying to institute the same policies in the State of Washington that destroyed the economy of the once-Golden State. Naturally Governor Gregoire is only too happy to accommodate the wishes of this pack of Marxist-Leninists. Meanwhile, Gov. Schwarzenegger was the first in line in Washington DC with his begging bowl. The Governator is now officially a girly-man.

Why the Rage?

2009-02-28T08:37:00.000-08:00

In the aftermath of Obama's election, I have experienced very angry confrontations with liberal/progressive acquaintances. Their confrontation was hate-filled, unjust, and vindictive. Oddly, the subjects of discussion were not even political - math calculations, engineering designs, etc. I was surprised to find that their rage toward me was simply because I am conservative, not anything I was saying or doing. The guy they wanted got elected, and they're angry at the conservatives. Dosn't make sense, does it? The rage makes sense if you consider that the left has whole-heartedly embraced the Soviet-style Marxist-Leninist philosophy. The bulk of the people are a mindless mass incapable of self-government. They must be governed by an intellectual elite, of which they are a part. After all, they've studied (or are still trying to study) at a university, the source of all truth. Moreover, the old, Soviet Politburo view was that there were two different sets of rules: one for the masses and another for the elite. The Soviet elite didn't have to follow the same laws; they were the intellectuals and above such petty conventions. This makes any unjust, degenerate, immoral, or even criminal action on their part perfectly acceptable, if they can find a way to show that "the ends justify the means." The mere existence of conservatives are a threat to their whole world view. It violates everything the political Kommissars have told them:

We are capable of self-governance, as our discipline and morality comes from within ourselves. We have no need of their governance.
We are not mindless, but rather rational thinkers. When a progressive is confronted with reason and intellegence from the right, they begin to fear they might not be seen by their colleagues as intelligent enough to be part of the intellectual elite. That relegates them to the mindless peasant/worker class.
We are self-reliant and have no need of their assistance. That negates their reason for being. A classic example of this was when Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana told the federal government to take back their money and put it when the sun don't shine. He knew well the noose that would be hung around his neck if he took their buy-off.

Once you realize we are dealing not with mere socialists, but Soviet-style Marxist-Leninists, you can better understand, why the rage?

The Looting of America

2009-02-26T08:32:00.000-08:00

As a part of his promise to cut spending and boost the economy, today Obama announced that he was sending the Congress another "budget" proposal for $634 billion down payment on "Universal Health Care." He called it "Universal Health Care" instead of "socialized medicine" because everyone around the world knows that socialized medicine sucks like a bilge pump. It sounds so much more American if you call it "Universal Health Care." One extravagant spending package dovetails on another, creating newer and bigger bloated government bureaucracies. Meanwhile, the economy is in a tailspin...and Obama knows it. He has preached around the countryside that we are in dire economic straits. The doom-and-gloom campaign is nothing more than a way of distracting the public while Obama and his cronies in the Congress are looting what's left of the treasury as the country sinks to third world status.

Dr. Obama's Medicine Show

2009-02-25T06:52:00.000-08:00

First of all, I did not listen to Obama's speech last night, anymore than I listen to the speeches of the barkers at the state fair, who are trying to sell you the latest piece of worthless junk. Why should I listen to anything he says? His words mean nothing. He preaches to all of us about personal responsibility, while he bails out fat-cat bankers, pays off his campaign supporters, and covers the mortgage of worthless lay-abouts who should not not have bought a home in the first place. He talks about building the economy while placing "carbon caps" on industry - sending us back to the shell-game of trading carbon credits. On the same day of his speech we heard from one of Obama's former associates. An ACORN representative was interviewed, and said that those people who do not pay their mortgages, because they could not afford that house, have a right to stay in their house, and the government is going to cover the costs. Step right up folks to Dr. Obama's medicine show! He make it sounds so good while he's picking your pocket and robbing you of your freedom. I've heard enough lies for ten lifetimes.... Added Note: On second thought, I'm not being fair to the barkers at the state fair - at least they give you something for your money.

Subsidizing Failure vs. the Spirit of '76

2009-02-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

The bloated ever-expanding Congressional "Stimulus" package commonly known as the porkulus package, spendulus maximus, or swindle-us package caused a kind of revolt on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) last week when Rick Santelli of CNBC staged a televised rant about how the Stimulus package was loaded with programs that "subsidize bad behavior."

Santelli's rant spilled over into a into a vocal expression of outrage among the traders on the exchange floor of this last bastion of true capitalism. His rant has been viewed more than a half a million times on Youtube already.

All around the country, the majority of Americans who behave responsibly, pay their bills, pay their taxes and do the work that drives our economy are waking up to a growing rage. Boston-type Tea Parties are being staged in various cities, to include demonstrators carrying signs reading "NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION."

The Stimulus bill is truly enacting an outrage against the taxpayer by by giving tax money to those who do not pay taxes, and by giving tax money to pay off campaign supporters. But what did you think would happen when you voted for these schmucks? It's like that old song: "You knew I was a snake, the day you let me in." This batch of criminals got elected because they told a pleasant lie instead of the ugly truth. And now we are all paying the price of that lie.

...but somewhere far in the distant we can hear the playing of the fife and drum - the spirit of '76 and the founders of this great nation are calling you. Throw out these despots from their thrones. Return to truth, honour, and the American love of Liberty.

Lost Your Humanity and Can't Find It?

2007-10-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

I was on my deck this morning, throwing a few peanuts to the squirrels, when to my dismay, I saw one of my young left wing neighbors was below me walking his girlfriend's two little Yorkshire terriers (man, he hates those dogs). I said "Hello, just giving the squirrels a snack." He glared at me as if I was a war criminal or something. I then realized that in the process of condemning humanity for overpopulating and generally messing up the planet, they had lost their own humanity. While claiming to fight against fascism, they have become a million little Robespierres all aspiring to their own reign of terror. They are a million little Hitlers in the making. They are already siding with those who want to kill the Jews. Their life philosophy is most evident in the their flagship blog The Daily Kos. This waste of internet space is characterized by blogs filled with mind-numbing pontifications and allegations-presented-as-fact, interspersed with outbursts of hatred and rage, and a good dose of venom for humanity in general. I doubt that any of their bloggers ever crack a smile, except at the pain of others. Lest the dear Reader claim that he was only being that way to me because I am conservative, the young left wing types treat each other just as badly. I have seen this up close. They have never a kind word to say to each other, unless it's some guy whose trying to get laid. They claim to fight against intolerance, yet they can't even tolerate themselves. The only relief they have from their misery is when they are drugged or intoxicated - and they do this a lot. In those alcohol or drug-hazed moments, they can escape from themselves. They wake up the next morning, hating themselves, hating humanity, and hating the earth they claim to be protecting, even begrudging the squirrels their breakfast

Back to School in Bellevue

2007-09-06T20:03:00.000-07:00

Well, it's the first week of School here in Bellevue, and the children of privilege have returned to their classrooms. Before you wrinkle up your nose in disdain at the yuppie larvae, don't assume everything is rosy for them. I walk in the evening (with my two dogs) to keep my blood pressure under control (beats the pharmaceutical alternative). As I walked this evening, a little 10-year-old boy asked if he could walk with me. He said he had to walk to the library, and he was afraid of the cougars and bears. I guess some older kids had been telling him stories. I told him the only wild beasts around were a few coyotes, and I didn't think they'd bother him. Even if there were bears, they are not dangerous this time of year, and there were too many people for cougars to come out in the day. I said just to be on the safe side, we could walk on the path to the library near the houses. It turned out his mother didn't get out of work until 8:00 pm and he was supposed to stay at the library until then. Here was a kid with nowhere to go; he was just really lonely. I stayed and talked with him a little bit and told him of some interesting websites he could look at when he was at the library (he was interested in dogs). My dogs and I continued our walk and I heard voices in the woods. I wondered if it was the same people that had burned the tree roots in a clearing there, so I went to check it out. It was a group of high school kids. I thought they would be real hostile about an older lady and her little dogs intruding on them. They were happy to see me. They asked about my dogs and we talked about the woods and how it's important to respect nature - not litter or start fires. We talked about ethical responsibilities, and I was amazed at how much they wanted to engage in dialogue. They were appreciative that an adult took an interest in what they were doing, and made sure they were being good. These teenagers has top of the line cell phones, and other electronic gadgets they had gotten for school. None of the children I had encountered were in poverty. Far from it. Bellevue is one of the wealthier suburbs in the Seattle area. But the desire for material keeps both parents working full-time jobs. Or the parents are divorced and on a raging campaign of self-interest, while their children fend for themselves - albeit in designer clothes and the latest electronic gadgets - but they're still on their own. The kids down in the workingman's suburb of Auburn are far richer, as they work on the old truck with their dad, or listen to their mom tell a funny story, or throw the football with their obnoxious old grandpa. Mother Teresa once said that loneliness is the worst kind of poverty. While they don't suffer want of material goods, their spirit suffers. The children of Bellevue sit by the side of the road in their Hilfiger shirts and their Kenneth Cole shoes, and beg: "Please recognize me, see me, show me you care."

Saturday on a Viking Longship

2007-07-31T00:17:00.000-07:00

I went to visit a friend in Abbotsford, BC, and go with her to the launching of a replica of a Viking Longship. The ship was harbored at the Maritime Museum. When we got there, my friend put her Viking clothes on. She was going to go out on the boat. I didn't think I could go because I didn't have any Viking clothes to wear. Someone found a blue dress for me and a cloak, and I got to go. A woman arrived with a video camera. Apparently, this was not a boat launching. It was the making of an independent film in which the hero was a Viking. It turned out I was considered an extra, so I signed the release form, and got in the boat. We sailed out into the bay and then came back while the director filmed us from the shore. The director wanted to shoot aboard the boat. Then she transferred over to a modern sailboat, and filmed us off the boat while she sailed around the Viking longship. All the time we had to make sure we didn't look directly into the camera - that was for speaking parts only. Finally she said we were done, so we turned around and headed for shore. We were still pretty far out when the wind changed to a headwind. Tacking against the wind was pretty slow going, so finally they decided to row. During the filming I was supposed to sit in the boat and the rowing was for the men only. Now that they were rowing against a good headwind, I decided I would gladly let the men have the privilege for the whole journey. The effort to get back to shore made me realize what an adventure it was for the Vikings to explore new lands with just wind or oar power to propel them. We couldn't just drop an outboard motor in the water: we were on our own.

A Small Yule Eve Celebration

2006-12-21T06:03:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I have some major projects at work that are eating up my time, so I didn't celebrating the Yule adequately. I managed to put together a bit of a Yule-eve, and I took a picture to share with you. On the left is the need-fire kindling, made of nine kinds of wood. In the center is the Landvettir or Tomten offering of nuts, apples, and of course, Norns' Porridge. On the right is the Yule log, so big I can barely crowbar it into my fireplace (Hope I don't burn the house down). Happily, there was enough Norns' Porridge left over for me to eat too (Is your mouth watering?) I have two little dogs, and they must have a taste for Norns' Porridge, because they were practically tearing the skin off my leg, scratching to get to the Norns' Porridge. So in they end they had their little bowls of Norns' Porridge too.

How Northwesterners Handle a Disaster

2006-12-18T22:06:00.000-08:00

The power came on in my apartment complex in north Bellevue by noon Saturday, December 16. I had gone around the neighborhood earlier to view the damage and I was shocked at the sheer volume of the destruction. The main line to my area runs down 108th Avenue in south Kirkland - the entire line was in shreds I was very surprised the linemen manage to get it done so quickly. They must have strung 3 miles of cable in under 6 hrs. I was so impressed I brought a plate of Christmas cookies to some linemen working in the next road over. Props to the electricians and linemen who are getting 'er done! Some of my friends are still without power as they are further out of the core cities. I've tried to encourage my friends and neighbors and others have done the same, lending a hand where they can. This has deeply affected some people. I saw two girls just standing on their deck and staring in shock. They were like that for hours, just staring. A lot of people didn't know where to get firewood. I picked up a fallen branch and said, "Well, what do you think this is?" I thank my military training for helping me handle the disaster in an effective way. One of the best thing you can do for others in this disaster is to remain cheerful, optimistic and helpful. sometimes when you try and help people they began to realize they have the ability to cope with this disaster inside themselves already. They just need someone to remind them. Let us show the nation what kind of people live in the Pacific Northwest. When faced with a disaster like this let us respond with courage and determination, and let us show that Northwesterners are good neighbors who stick together when trouble strikes.

More on Yuletide Rituals

2006-12-16T21:18:00.001-08:00

Bring in the fir or spruce boughs into your home or "the boughs of Baldr" on the 19th, They are an honor to Baldr whose symbol is the evergreen, for he will live again after Ragnarok. They are normally brought in just before the solstice or "Mother Night" (for Frigga). It is a reminder to Frigge that her son will live agan. I usually say a type of skaldic chant when I bring the boughs into my home: The Boughs of Baldr in hand I bear, That they may bless this hearth and home. I also put holly in the windows and door as the prickles on the holly will catch the baleworms (evil serpent spirits) and keep them from entering your home. The Yule log should be brought into the home on the Eve of the 20th (winter Solstice). If it is very large, the men bear it on their shoulders, singing a Yule song. "Deck the Halls" is a good song, as it is actually a Yule Log song, not a Xmas song. Then the eldest woman in the hall goes to the windows and doors and makes rune signs of protection. She locks the doors and carries the keys with her all night. Then the yule log is kindled. Once it is blazing, everyone fills their horns and gives a toast (wassail) to the Yule Log, then to the eldest woman (because this is Mother Night). Then they toast the master of the hall. Traditional Yuletide food is brought forth for the feast. Everyone gathers around the Yule Log. When the Yule Log crackles loudly, everyone cheers and wassails, because it is a sign of prosperity for the New Year.

Thoughts on the Election

2006-11-08T21:25:00.000-08:00

This year's elections produced a house and possibly Senate majority for the Democrats. As I witnessed the gloat-fest today by the dems, it occurred to me that there is a positive side to this event. The democrats ran on a fake-conservative non-platform, which principally consisted of a "We hate Bush" chant. One of the things that I thought about today was that democrats are very good at campaigning - but they are not very good at actually accomplishing anything positive. Now that they are in power the mask will come off. They'll start dismantling the military, and raising taxes for their "social engineering" programs. They'll try to institute a national health care system. The slack-jawed grannies of the northeast will love them for that: yeah, those old ladies that are spending their grandchildren's inheritance. I have friends from Scandinavia. They say their economies are reeling from the weight of the healthcare and retirement regulations. The businesses can't hire anyone but the very young, and unskilled. The healthcare and retirement regulations will destroy their business. As a result, they are exporting their businesses to other countries, and unemployment is rampant. And of course there will be the usual stream of ethically-questionnable bills before Congress - Guaranteed to shock and offend anyone with a modicum of decency. Once they've trashed the economy, National Security, and general well-being of society to promote their kook-left agenda, there should be a few scandals, some terrorist attacks, and general breakdown of society, just when the 2008 presidential election is laid before the feet of a horrified and appalled public majority. I've seen this scenario play out before, because I have a memory longer than a 1-minute sound-bite. I had an interesting conversation with a liberal today. I asked her how she thinks her life will be better now that the democrats are in power. She said she didn't know. I asked her if she expected anything to change with the dems in power. She said she couldn't tell. I asked her why she voted all-democrat. She said to stop Bush. I asked her what she wanted Bush to stop doing. She said she didn't understand the question. I said OK, I'll rephrase it: If you could advise Bush, what would you tell him to do? She said, "I would tell him to go and die." I find it interesting to see liberals condemn Bush to death without the benefit of a trial (because he lied?), but they squawk and moan about Saddam Hussein being condemned to death after a just and lengthy trial for proven crimes against humanity (torture, genocide, rape, and unlawful imprisonment). I hate to think what kind of mental constructs are rattling around inside a liberal's head.

A Local's View of the Seattle Shooter

2006-08-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

Since I am from the Tri-Cities, Washington, I have some more information about the Muslim who shot the five women in the Jewish Federation Center in downtown Seattle. He was in my niece Heather's Radio communications class. Apparently, although he was older than most of the students, he was very disruptive and overly familiar with his female classmates. He became quite belligerent when they spurned his advances, and eventually had to drop the class. His parents were leading members of the Islamic Center of the Tri-Cities, located at the corner of Holly Way and Bombing Range Road (truth!) in West Richland, Washington. Although he was baptized at the Word of Faith Christian Center, his conversion was doubtful, as he was seen in the Islamic center within two weeks of the shooting. While nothing can be determined as to his motivation, I have personally heard very strong anti-American sentiments voiced by other Muslims who frequent the Islamic Center of the Tri-Cities. While the official message of the mosque may be one of tolerance, it is likely that he heard other members of mosque express angry and violent messages. To dismiss this murderer as an isolated lone nut is imprudent at best. This could be the tip of a very ugly iceberg. Already, I have heard several anti-semitic statements made in an irresponsible justification of this atrocity.

Why do Liberals Drive Ugly Cars?

2006-06-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

My good friend with slight liberal leanings was a bit down the other day. It seems her VW beetle of less than 4 years had completely broken down. The engine had gone out. I guess German engineering isn't what it used to be. Of course, like all liberals, she didn't learn from her mistakes, so she was planning on buying another piece of Euro-trash - the Jetta. Unfortunately she couldn't get one in the color she wanted, so she settled on a Honda Civic. Well, it's not bad for a Rice-Rocket. As I listened to her decision-making about her new ride, it occurred to me that liberals consistently drive ugly cars. My friend with her retro-dork VW Beetle, and the great swimming mass of Jettas seen on the Seattle highways are only the beginning. The Honda Pilot is energy efficient SUV, but apparently it's not ugly enough, so the toaster-like Honda Element and it's boxy cousin the Scion are a preferred ride in the Puget Sound area. If they must drive an SUV, they'll make up for it by driving the ugliest SUV possible. Strangely, I also see many liberals driving great-grandmother of all gas-guzzlers - that British revenge for losing "the colonies" - the Land Rover. This I don't understand at all. It barely passes the US emission-control standards and gets about 5 miles to the gallon. I guess it's not American-made, so it's OK. And why do they have to make hybrids so ugly and so expensive? Since liberals can't feel too good about anything, they make up for feeling good about helping the environment by driving an ugly car. As for myself, I drive that classic American icon, the paragon of Detroit engineering - the Mustang GT. I cruise like a shining spot of internal combustion beauty through the great mass of moving eyesores on I-405. So when you see me - show some respect for a great American institution - the 'Stanger.

Poulsbo's Viking Queen - Courage Against Intolerance

2006-05-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Next weekend Poulsbo, Washington celebrates their annual Viking Festival to honor the Norwegian roots of the community. Poulsbo was settled by Norwegian immigrants who came to work in the logging and fishing industries. Before the festival they hold a Miss Viking Festival pageant among the local teens girls to select their "Viking Queen." This year they elected as their Viking Queen a 17-year-old girl of African descent, Jasmine Campbell, who was adopted into a Norwegian family. She won the hearts of the judges with her endearing comedy routine. She dressed up as a Norwegian granny and had everyone laughing along at her comedic monologue. However, I read with tears in my eyes that certain racist groups wrote hate-filled emails to the new Viking Queen of Poulsbo. They felt that she couldn't be a viking queen because she was not caucasian. This kind of injustice makes me want to shriek with rage. Miss Campbell has born this unwarranted criticism with the poise of a positive attitude and a sunny smile. She believes in herself, and the community of Poulsbo believes whole-heartedly in her too. Her grace and courage show her to be 100 times superior to the cowardly rat-bastards that sent the hate-filled emails. Jasmine's positive personality and desire to win shows that she will succeed at everything she does. The injustice of these hate groups claims are only exceeded by their ignorance. The Vikings were sea-faring people and had relations with many different cultures and ethnicities. It is well-documented that Vikings sailed as far as the west coast of Africa. The Norse culture was inclusive, not exclusive. This desire to fare out to the far reaches of the seas is what brought another Norwegian, Leif Eriksson, to America, centuries before Columbus. Beyond all that, it's not what is on the outside that makes someone a Viking. It's what's in their heart... and Jasmine Campbell has the courageous heart of a Viking Here's the news story from the Seattle Times

A Hippie Deception

2006-05-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

It isn't easy being a conservative and Army veteran in the hippie-infested west side of the Cascades in the the Evergreen blue-State of Washington. Thankfully, most of the mush-brained hippies are concentrated on the west side of Lake Washington, While I am on the east side in the marginally conservative City of Bellevue. While attending a class today, I was talking to a girl on my lunch break in the learning center. She assumed that since I was what she considered a "pagan," I must also be politically liberal. I was comparing the tolerance found in polytheistic religions to the intolerance found in monotheistic religions. I proposed that Islam was the most perfect example of the intolerance of monotheistic religions. This got us on the subject of Iraq, etc. Of course she was totally opposed to the war in Iraq. As she munched her wheat-free pita and hummus, she proceeded to tell me how she and a group of other Americans along with a larger group of French students went to Spain to protest the involvement of Spain in the war in Iraq. She further said she was ashamed of the behavior of the Americans she saw in Europe. As I listened to her pompous tirade, it occurred to me that she should be more ashamed of her own behavior. The protest marches of her and the French students were the height of arrogance and deception. This group of non-Spanish students in their protests presented themselves as the voice of the Spanish people. It's not as if the Spanish could not protest the war if they wanted. Spain is one of the more open societies in Europe. How dare they come to Spain and force their beliefs on the Spanish people. Does the arrogance of hippies ever die? How long will the world be inflicted with their endless need to cruise around vacation spots in search of a cause?

A Day without Illegal Immigrants

2006-05-01T23:44:00.000-07:00

Thousands of immigrants and their socialist supporters and drooling union bosses demonstrated in the streets of downtown. The illegals left their jobs and refused to shop today. They wanted to show the impact of illegals on the US economy by creating a day without illegals. In solidarity with my wonder-bread ethnic group I decided to go shopping this evening. The first difference I noticed was the traffic on I-405 cleared up by 6:30 pm. This is almost unheard of. Did the Renton Starbuck's plant close down due to immigrant walkouts? No, the familiar aroma of coffee roasting made it clear that the plant was still operating. I decided to first stop at Target, that had a sale on laundry detergent. I grabbed a bottle and headed for checkout. The Cashier was a older gentleman with a thick Boston accent, but he was courteous, friendly, and understandable. He probably came to the Seattle area because he couldn't get a job in the Socialist Republic of Massachusetts. Then I decided to go to Walmart in Renton, normally an impenetrable mass of refugees and illegals. Walmart was not crowded at all, but they seemed to be moving many more people through the checkstands. Both customers and cashiers were noticeably polite. While there I also stopped at Lenny's Market, a produce shop that specializes in ethnic foods from Asia and Europe. They were open in spite of the fact that most of their customers are immigrants. I stopped at IKEA to get a few things, and the lines were a little slower there. At Winco, it was easy to get checked out, because none of the usual welfare recipients were arguing over what qualifies as food. So my day without immigrants was a day of light traffic and efficient shopping. Could it be that illegal immigration is not such a great impact on our labor force, al though they do seem to have a large impact on traffic. I even question the idea that illegals do work that citizens won't do. A lot of young people are faced with unemployment currently, and would be more than willing to do many of the jobs now done by illegals. I know lots of teenagers that would pick apples or berries to make some extra money. Most of the businesses and farms that employ illegals don't have a very effective operations. An example of a highly successful business that doesn't employ illegals is the Cavalli Family farms in Walla Walla Washington. The Cavalli onions are famous throughout the US as the Walla Walla sweet onions. The Cavalli farms are run by members of the Cavalli Family. Many of the smaller Washington wineries are also family-run businesses.

Computer Games - The Consequences of Living in a Virtual World

2006-04-25T22:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was at my friend's house in an upper-middle income neighborhood in Newcastle. Her son was moping about. The pediatrician had advised her that her son's weight problems were not due to some endocrine function, but rather a lack of physical activity. He had advised her to restrict him to no more than two hours a day playing video/computer games. It was a rare sunny day in the Seattle, so I proposed that he and his little sister and I go for a walk. I thought a little fresh air and sunshine would perk him up. He went out looking for tadpoles in the pools, and other interesting wonders of nature. The road they lived on ended at a little footpath running between the property line of the houses. As when went down the path, I noticed a skinny neighbor boy, walking morosely behind his house. I asked my friend's son if he was a friend. He said nothing. I waved and gave him a cheerful "Hello." The boy scowled at us and said, "This is private property. You need to leave." Then he disappeared back into his house. I turned to my two young companions, saying, "Soooo...not a friend." We turned and wet back the other way. A lot of people are concerned about the violence and other unsavory material on computer and video games. I think there is an even more serious problem with even the most innocuous games. Young people spend more and more time interacting with a computer rather than with real people. The interactions with the characters on the games are usually adversaries or targets. There's no learning about a real persons moods, wants, or desires. The gamer doesn't learn how to communicate and connect with real people. Any psychologist will tell you that the inability to connect with people is the core definition of the antisocial or sociopathic personality. Couple that with the violent themes on the computer games, and it is a wonder that there aren't more incidents like Columbine High School. At best the young person finds it difficult to cope with a world filled with real people, and either gets medicated by their parents or self-medicates with illegal drugs. A new phenomenon are those that carry their addiction to games well into adulthood. The availability of mature-theme games add sex-driven Pamela anderson clones to their repertoire of characters. These cyber-babes provide the illusion of female companionship without having to push their puffy, pasty frame away from the computer screen and hit the stair-master once in awhile. The wretched end of game-addiction will be a population of automatons, waddling between the convenience store and their computer screen, oblivious that there is a real world around them and hostile to the real women who avert their eyes from the corpulent disgrace before them. Should that real world intrude on their semiconscious state, they will react with fear...and likely violence.

South Park - Comedy Central Wars

2006-04-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

I was very disappointed in the South Park Part Two episode "Cartoon Wars." They declined to show the picture of Mohammed as a statement for the importance of free speech. The episode was a development of the violent protests that followed the publication of cartoons of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed in the Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten. I sent an email to Comedy Central to show my disapproval. Here the text: "Subj: Cartoon Wars Sucks @$$ Oh yeah, the big build up. Are they going to show the cartoon of Mohammed? Trey and Matt wussed out on this one. Give them a couple of awards and they get all politically correct and start kissing the media's big fat @$$!" It turns out that Trey and Matt were overridden on this episode. It was Comedy Central who refused to show the image of Mohammed in the episode. Comedy Central sent back the following form-letter response: "Dear [Generic] Viewer, Thank you for your correspondence regarding the "South Park" episodes entitled "Cartoon Wars." We appreciate your concerns about censorship and the destructive influence of outside groups on the media, entertainment industry and particularly Comedy Central. To reiterate, as satirists, we believe that it is our First Amendment right to poke fun at any and all people, groups, organizations and religions and we will continue to defend that right. Our goal is to make people laugh and perhaps, if we're lucky, even make them think in the process. Comedy Central's belief in the First Amendment has not wavered, despite our decision not to air an image of Muhammad. Our decision was made not to mute the voices of Trey and Matt or because we value one religion over any other. This decision was based solely on concern for public safety in light of recent world events. With the power of freedom of speech and expression also comes the obligation to use that power in a responsible way. Much as we wish it weren't the case, times have changed and, as witnessed by the intense and deadly reaction to the publication of the Danish cartoons, decisions cannot be made in a vacuum without considering what impact they may have on innocent individuals around the globe. It was with this in mind we decided not to air the image of Muhammad, a decision similar to that made by virtually every single media outlet across the country earlier this year when they each determined that it was not prudent or in the interest of safety to reproduce the controversial Danish cartoons. Injuries occurred and lives were lost in the riots set off by the original publication of these cartoons. The American media made a decision then, as we did now, not to put the safety and well being of the public at risk, here or abroad. As a viewer of "South Park," you know that over the course of ten seasons and almost 150 episodes the series has addressed all types of sensitive, hot-button issues, religious and political, and has done so with Comedy Central's full support in every instance, including this one. "Cartoon Wars" contained a very important message, one that Trey and Matt felt strongly about, as did we at the network, which is why we gave them carte blanche in every facet but one: we would not broadcast a portrayal of Muhammad. In that regard, did we censor the show? Yes, we did. But if you hold Comedy Central's 15-year track record up against any other network out there, you'll find that we afford our talent the most creative freedom and provide a nurturing atmosphere that challenges them to be bold and daring and places them in a position to constantly break barriers and push the envelope. The result has been some of the most provocative television ever produced. We would like nothing more than to be able to look back at this in a few years and think that perhaps we overreacted. Unfortunately, to have made a different decision and to look back and see that we completely underestimated the damage that resulted was a risk we were not willing to take. Our pledge to you, our loyal viewers, is that Comedy Central will continue to produce and provide the best comedy available and we will continue to push it right to the edge, using and defending the First Amendment in the most responsible way we know how. Sincerely, Comedy Central Viewer Services" They call it "free speech" when they make fun of some Christian/religious figure or the president, but when they might actually get hurt they turn tail and run. That's not supporting free speech, that's just being annoying little pests. Can you imagine what the signers of the Declaration of Independence would say about that? There goes the last good programming on Comedy Central... My reply to them is: "Screw you guys, I'm going home."

Great Blue Herons, Mankind, and the Environment

2006-04-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

In the King County Journal today, there was an article about the Great Blue Heron population in the Puget Sound area. Recent expansions to the suburban areas had created great concern among environmentalists. They felt the spread of suburban areas near the wetland areas of south Renton would cause a decrease in the Great Blue Herons. The findings published today show that the increased suburban areas had no impact on the population of Great blue Herons and they were as healthy as ever. When my family lived in Maple Valley (west Renton) we tried to raise gold fish in a pond. Unfortunately, the bright shiny goldfish were to great an attraction for the herons. As soon a we turned our back on the pond, you would hear a flutter of wings, and a naughty heron would be in the pond spearing tasty goldfish snacks. The environmentalists hold a theory that somehow human beings exude a toxin that destroys all plant and animal life wherever they go. However, the facts do not support such a theory. In fact, many species have benefited from man's presence. The great Bald Eagle, long on the endangered species list thrives near Boeing Airfield in South Seattle. The open area provides an excellent view for their hunting, and the strong updrafts off the runways on a warm day provide them with an excellent flying environment. There are four times more whitetail deer in the state of Pennsylvania than when the Europeans first arrived. The production of modern agriculture has provided tham with richer fodder and less winter kill. When I lived in Bethel Park suburb, there was a herd of about 30 whitetail deer following the garbage routes, foraging for apple cores and other goodies in people's garbage cans. The Pittsburgh trolley of Mister Rogers' fame often had to stop to let herds of whitetail deer go by. The same phenomenon occurred in many place on the eastern seaboard, such as Philidelphia and Baltimore. Even the smog problem in the Los Angeles basin may be more a function of geography than the presence of mankind. Native American stories of pre-Columbian southern California spoke of how the fires of their encampments woud hang in the air and not disperse, creating "smog." It is very likely that mankind is just another part of the balance in the environment rather than its destroyer.

The Shame of Honest Work

2006-03-26T17:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I was out on the edge of the woods near my apartment cutting deadfall branches for firewood. It seems rather wasteful to go to the store and pay $4 for a bundle of firewood when I live near a forest with lots of dead branches laying everywhere. Armed with my little Swedish bow-saw, I began to tackle the branches that lay everywhere. I had quite a pile of firewood laid out neatly, when I noticed the looks on the people driving by in their cars. There were looks of shock, horror and the ocassional sneer of disdain. I live in one of the more modest apartment complexes in Bellevue, so it wasn't like I was being observed by a bunch of rich snobs. However, they expressed their dismay and horror at this open display of manual labor as they drove by, their mobile phones jammed permanently in their ear. It reminded me of a time when I needed a job, I accepted a position at a meat-packing plant. While it wasn't a job for which I was best-suited, I saw nothing dishonourable in the work of boning out roasts or cutting up steaks. After all, I was putting meat on the dinner table of America. Many people I knew thought it was a rather revolting kind of work and were very ashamed for me. My dad was the only one who really stood behind me. He felt that any honest work was good work. It seems that my own generation and the generations that followed me do not understand the value of work. They feel that unless the work they do has some special status, they do not wish to work at all. They seem to believe they deserve the Beverly Hills lifestyle, simply by being born in America. This attitude is reflected in the phenomena of more able-bodied people living off their parents or others well into adulthood.

Richard Belzer - A Legend in his Own Mind

2006-03-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

Law and Order: SVU is on my boycott list now after Richard Belzer made a horse's @$$ of himself on Realtime with Bill Maher. Somehow he thought the height of intellectual comedy was to deride the war effort in Iraq and totally offend U.S. Rep (FL). Ileana Ros-Lehtinen who was describing the recent successes in Iraq. Belzer replied, "They're under the threat of death every minute. They're not the best people to ask about the war because they're going to die any second." However, Belzer said he knew what was going on since he "reads 20 newspapers a day." Well, you have to do something during makeup calls... When Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said that her son, who is a marine is a Marine in Iraq, says that things are prceeding well in Iraq, and the vast majority of Iraqis are very appreciative of the U.S. Belzer countered her argument saying, "They're 19 and 20-year-old kids who couldn't get a job.'" The mainstram news has tried to bury this story, so I think I better keep up a Belzer watch. Nobody is completely useless, they can always be used as a bad example. Not that Realtime with Bill Maher is a highlight of the week. I can only endure but a few minutes of Maher's tiresome rhetoric. I don't know how a comedian can talk so much and still not be funny. Maher and Belzer deserve each other. They won't look quite so idiotic whan they're standing next to each other.

Ingrates

2006-03-23T19:30:00.000-08:00

I read in the news today that the British armed forces freed three Christian peace activists: Two Canadians James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, and and One Briton Norman Kember, 74. I thought, "How wonderful that they are free and they're OK. Bravo for the British armed forces!" Then my joy about this event turned to annoyance this afternoon when I heard on the radio (KTTR Seattle) that these men immediately started railing at the British armed forces who had rescued them. They complained that they never would have been take hostage, if the military had not been present in Iraq. It makes me ask some questions: 1. What exactly were these "peace activists" doing in Iraq? 2. Do they think they would have fared much better under Saddam's regime? 3. Did they expect the kid-gloves treatment from the terrorists, when they were in a militarily unstable situation, where hostage-taking is a common pastime? 4. Do these "Christians" understand the Christian virtue of thankfulness? I am amazed at the forbearance of the British military who freed them. Personally, I would have been tempted to leave the sorry ingrates where they were.

Ethics - A Long-Term Corporate Asset

2005-03-21T13:53:00.000-08:00

While most financial analysts are shaking their heads and saying "Why?" I applaud Boeing's firing of CEO Harry Stonecipher for his affair with a Boeing female executive. An action like this is nothing new for Boeing. Like any major coporation they have had their problems with ethics in the past, but internal policies in Boeing allow zero tolerance for questionable ethics from their employees. Having worked for Boeing in the past, I personally have seen a Boeing manager have their stuff packed in a box, and dumped to the curb within the hour for questionable ethical practices. When you build things that fly through the sky, you can't afford to have slip-ups. The idea that the CEO could have a non-compromising intimate with one of his employees is ridiculous - no matter how concensual it claimed to be. His improvement to the company's economic condition is also immaterial. The sad events of recent past show how easily a company's books could be "flavored" to appear better than they really are. Especially if the company's leadership has less-than-stellar ethics. Boeing's action in this matter is refreshing in the age of "may the best cut-throat win" reality shows, and a constant stream of boardroom/bedroom corporate shenanigans. While Boeing has had economic ups and downs, I think they continue to be an major economic force. I beieve this is partly to do with their long term asset of high corporate ethics.

Peace and Justice - Mutually exclusive?

2005-02-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

There are a myriad of "Centers for Peace and Justice" that are often associated with charitable institutions. It occurred to me that justice rarely goes hand in hand with peace. Most of these centers are more involved in gaining wealth for non-specific purposes, and appeasing or even abetting political actions often contrary to the national interest. For them peace means "appeasement of evil." In the Grottasöngr, King Frođi establishes a reign of peace and plenty for so many years that his name becomes synonymous with "peace" in northern languages. He achieves this peace by the enslavement of two giantesses, Fenja and Menja. He forces them to grind at a magic mill, "Grotti," which can grind out any desired substance. He orders them to grind out gold, and other luxuries. Soon King Frođi and his neighbors all have so much abundance that they have enough power to keep their people under control, and have no need to fight each other. King Frothi establishes peace at the cost of slavery and tyranny. He justifes the enslavement because the giantesses are a different race than he. Peace at the price or tyranny, slavery, and the appeasement of evil is a common thread through history. Pax Romana or the peace of the Roman Empire was achieved through slavery, brutality, and a Draconian system of law. The Babylonians achieved peace through the enslavement of other people, and in Iraq their descendents used the same means. In Norse Heathen beliefs the sky-god Tyr is the god of justice - and also war. Justice is often achieved at the cost of war. Two world wars have liberated millions of people from tyranny. In the international arena, justice is nearly always achieved through war. The colossal failure of the United Nations and their strawman international court has shown that peaceful means can rarely achive justice. So when you see a group calling themselve the "Center for Peace and Justice," they mean "Peace through Enslavement and Appeasment of Evil." If you really desire justice, be ready to take up the sword and fight for it.

Of Women, Wenches… and Wicca

2005-02-14T12:17:00.000-08:00

In Norse tradition, there are two types of women: The good woman and the wench. The good woman is the woman of honour and truth. While they are somewhat few, his type of woman you generally find who possesses true Asatru/heathen beliefs: honest, strong-willed, and virtuous in her conduct. The wench uses deceit and sexual wiles to manipulate and use a man. In the words of Odin in the Havamal 90 (Bellowes translation): The love of women fickle of will Is like starting o'er ice with a steed unshod, A two-year-old restive and little tamed, Or steering a rudderless ship in a storm, Or, lame, hunting reindeer on slippery rocks. Odin teaches in the Havamal 102 (Bellowes translation) that a man may amuse himself with these deceitful wenches, but should never give his heart to them. Many fair maids, if a man but tries them, False to a lover are found; That did I learn when I longed to gain With wiles the maiden wise; Foul scorn was my meed from the crafty maid, And nought from the woman I won. One form of wench is the witch or house-rider. They are so harmful that Odin devised a rune charm (runagaldr) against them in Havamal 156 (Bellowes translation): A tenth I know, what time I see House-riders flying on high; So can I work that wildly they go, Showing their true shapes, Hence to their own homes. In modern days, the Asatru/Heathen man may find himself similarly deceived by those of the Wiccan traditions. However, this deception may be totally unintentional on the part of the wiccan and based in the core spiritual wiccan philosophy. Wiccan women often come to Asatru-based gatherings looking for partners, as Asatru is predominately male. The wiccan woman is particularly appealing from the start, as the Wiccan views of sexuality are far more open than Asatru. Moreover, the lack of defined religious beliefs in the wiccan traditions may cause the man to believe the woman will be easily swayed to the Asatru way. After all, Asatruar have very egalitarian treatment of women. However, the wiccan comes from a goddess-centered and woman-dominated belief system. They are not seeking equality with men; they are seeking supremacy over men. The best way to achieve this supremacy is through sexual manipulation. Soon the Asatru man who is consort to a wiccan will find himself being badgered into avoiding his “obnoxious, beer-swilling” comrades, and going to more New Age happenings. He soon becomes an appendage to the coven gathering. You may think this is an exaggeration, but I have seen it happen way too many times, even in the local area. There have been many instances where an Asatru man connects with a Wiccan in a more permanent arrangement, such as marriage. They have even established kindreds of mixed tradition (wiccan and Asatru), but soon these kindreds die out, as evidenced by outdated contact information (telephone, addresses) broken web links, etc. A lot of relationships like this occur because the Asatru and Wiccan do not understand the differences between their philosophical views or the way they communicate. The deception is a part of this difference and usually is not intentional. This article titled The Pentagram and the Hammer gives more information on the differences between Wicca and Asatru, and the resulting communication difficulties. Bottom Line: Just because Wicca and Asatru are lumped under the same “Pagan” heading don’t assume commonalities: These two groups are (nine) worlds apart.

Pancakes and Late Winter

2005-02-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

I was reminded of the relationship between pancakes and late winter when I saw a news item in New Orleans showing a man in a baker's costume leading the Mardi Gras parade carrying a griddle pan and a stack of pancakes or crepes. People usually associate the feast of pancakes in the late winter time of year with the Christian time of Lent. I think the tradition comes from pre-Christian times. The incorporation of pancakes into Lent is another example of Christian "borrowing" from earlier traditions to woo the "savages." The eating of panckaes in late winter is found in Sweden with their Kakkar and in Norway with their Lefsar. Most telling is the Russian festival of Maslennitsa with the traditional eating of Blini or buckwheat pancakes. The blini represents to them the full, round sun, which is again returning to the sky. A pretty young girl is dressed in a crown and adorned in flowers to represent Spring (a type of Freya?). Could the tradition of pancakes represent the growing presence of the sun as a precursor to spring?

The Real Answer to Terrorism

2005-01-30T18:44:00.000-08:00

Today, the Iraqi people made a giant step toward a democracy by voting in their first free election with a participation of over 60 percent of registered voters. The talking heads were touting democracy as the answer to terrorism. This statement is not exactly true. Democracy and a prosperous and peaceful society are the natural consequences of the fight against terrorism and tyranny, but it is not what destroys terrorism. The real answer to terrorism is courage. It was the courage of the U.S. Military forces, the courage of the Iraqi national military and police forces, the courage of President Bush to continue military operations in Iraq despite criticism and opposition at home, and finally, it was the courage of the Iraqi people by voting today, despite the death threats of the terrorists in their community. The true show of courage was the raised ink-stained fingers of the Iraqi people. Courage is the answer to terrorism, because the terrorist is a coward. They use innocent women and children as human shields and pawns in their murderous operations. They operate in hiding and deceit, predominately shedding the blood of the innocent. They justify their horrific crimes by stating that if they met their enemy face-to-face in open and honourable combat, they would not be able to win. The real reason is that they should not win, because their cause is neither honourable nor just. The suicide bomber has no courage, for it takes no courage to end your life if you do not value it. Anyone will tell you that suicide is an act of despair, which is a type of cowardice. The women who walked to the voting stations bearing their babies in their arms have a thousand times more courage than the most resolute terrorist. The men who entered the voting booth with their young sons holding their hands are greater and more noble warriors than the fiercest of tyrants.

Banning the Runes?

2005-01-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

The European Union is considering a motion to ban "Nazi symbols," based on the Prince Harry Pot-Head Nazi costume debacle. While Nazism and other racist movements should be wholly abrogated, the banning of "Nazi symbols" is a definite attack on the elder ways. Prior to the Nazi horror, the swastika was (and still is) a holy symbol of the Heithni, as well as other cultures. Now there is a sense of apology everytime the Holy Fylflot (swastika) is displayed under its true purpose. On the contrary, Norse Heathens believe that everyone should learn of their ancestral spiritual roots, whatever they may be. Rather than promoting hatred of other races and cultures, we believe in respecting all ancestral traditions, including the ancestral traditions of the Jewish people. Organizations like Northvegr and Heathens against Hate have made a lot of efforts to correct some of the preconceived notions about Asatru/Heathen groups and organizations. Sadly, some offshoots of Heathenism have taken up anti-Semitic and racist views, whether subtly or overtly, but they have been co-opted by outside groups and are not within the body of Norse Heathen teachings. Besides the ban of the swastika, this ban may result in the other (and possibly all) holy runes. Many runes and other Norse symbols are considered "Nazi Symbols" as shown by the Jewish Anti-Defamation League. I e-mailed my concerns to the ADL on June 4, 2004, and they have added some commentary to their webpage to correct some of the preconceived ideas about Heathens/ Asatru. Thanx and a tip of the cap to them. However, Could this ban spread to the United States? We are such a small minority, it could be very easy for our religious rights to be trampled.

Washington - A State of Confusion

2005-01-15T17:16:00.000-08:00

Democrat candidate Christine Gregoire was sworn in as governor of the State of Washington with as little publicity as possible. You could stay she almost sneaked into the governor's office - and no wonder. The hairsbreadth-thin margin that she claimed was a result of one of the most corrupt elections in the nation. Our little State of Washington is even meriting national news coverage for the election quagmire surrounding the governor's position. The Republican candidate Dino Rossi won the recount twice until about three thousand ballots were suddenly "found" in King County. In defiance of state elections laws a judge in King County allowed the ballots to be counted, even though they were not a part of the original ballots included in the election. These selectively-allowed ballots tipped the election in Gregoire's favor by 129 votes. In King county (Seattle metro), there were over two thousand more ballots than there were voters. In support of the Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead, at least eight people, verified as deceased before the election, rose from the dead to vote. Now the excuse we are hearing is that these kinds of things happen all the time in elections. If a terrible attack on the democratic process happens on a regular basis, does that mean we should ignore it? If freedom is not defended, it will die. It is time for corrupt elections to end.

Death of the Corporation

2005-01-14T02:06:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one who showed up to work today to actually do my job? I am a very small cog in a big corporation, but it seems like few people around me are interested in actually producing something. One of the things I have noticed over the past four or five years is the incredible inefficiency of the corporate organization. Rather than address themselves to producing more or better products and services, management has developed a set of survival skills. Lower and middle managers spend their efforts justifying mediocre performance, and take the safest path in decision-making. Upper level manager address their efforts to disguising the poor economic performance of the corporation with a complex system of smoke and mirrors. Personnel staffing is not based on the merit of the individual, but rather on the offering of deserved favors (whether real or perceived) to select groups and individuals. The preferred employee is not the one with the most initiative, intelligence and work ethic, but rather the one who is judged to make the least disruption in the organization - the most "low maintenance." The lack of inventiveness and creativity within the corporate world is rapidly bringing most corporate structures to a grinding halt. The deconstruction of the corporation in the new millenium has wreaked havoc on Wall Street and other traditional market centers. The majority view this phenomenon with alarm and concern. However, this inactivity creates an economic vacuum for the entrpreneur. As the corporation loses its ability to supply the consumer, it opens the way for small business to fill in the vacuum with innovation and competitiveness. A small business can meet the consumers needs by meeting specialized demands. You can't beat Walmart at their own game, but you can find a game that Walmart can't play. Never has the market been more ripe for small business. If you look at what corporations are looking for in their (non-favored personnel) positions, you will see a screaming demand for those skills that would make you a highly successful small-business owner. If they want to to work the long hours and invest your imagination into their corporate sucess, wouldn't you be better off investing that huge effort into yourself instead??? Bottom Line: Corporations are dying; let 'em die. Be a company man no more. Go into business for yourself.

Greeting Cards

2004-12-13T13:34:00.000-08:00

Another aspect of the winter holiday season is greeting cards. Should we send greeting cards? If you see these holiday cards as expressing a religious view that you do not hold, then obviously you wouldn't. However, many people wish their Jewish friends "Happy Hannukah!" even though they do not hold Jewish beliefs. If you see holiday greeting cards as an expression of friendship and hospitality, not religious beliefs, then there is nothing compromising about sending greeting cards. You can easily find cards that are more generic and do not express any religious belief. You can even add "Glad Yule" to your greeting to your friends. Remember that the Yule belongs to you, so have fun with it!

The Santa Hat

2004-12-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

As you go shopping during the holiday season, you might notice the abundance of the Santa hat, that popular seasonal headgear of white fur trimmed, red plush pointy hat topped by a white pompom. Have you ever wondered where that tradition came from? I have looked a several ancient carvings of Freyr and Thor and both of them are wearing hats strikingly similar to the Santa hat. Could the Santa hat really be Freyr and Thor hats?

About that Holiday Tree...

2004-12-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

Some of you may be wondering if a holiday tree is appropriate in the Asatru/Heathen home. The tree has been touted as a Christian symbol based on the story of the Christians cutting down the Holy Oak, and a fir tree surviving. The holiday tree as a traditional practice cannot be verified before the 17th century, so the validity of the Holy Oak story is probably doubtful. However, the practice of decorating with evergreen boughs, especially fir and spruce, was a common practice of the Yule. The fir and spruce boughs were a symbol of Balder returning to renew the world after Ragnarok. The time of the Wild Hunt is past and the sun begins to return to the sky. This is the time of renewal of the world. So why not have a whole tree for Balder? The tree can be used to show the nature of the World Tree Yggdrasil and the Nine Worlds. The top could have an eagle or a falcon or a rooster (to represent vidofnir). The branches could have four deer to represent Dain and Dvalin, Duneyr and Dyrathror, the four winds. And of course you need a squirrel for represent gossipy Ratatosk, the messenger. You could tuck dwarves, elves (more like Lord of the Rings type), and other beings in the branches. Also you'll need one or two dragons under the tree to gnaw on its roots. For more ideas you could consult the "Gylfaginning" from the Prose Edda of Snorri Sturlson. Bottom line: Don't be afraid to join in the holiday fun. You'll find that most of the traditions fit very well into the Asatru/Heathen beliefs, if they didn't come from there in the first place.

Troll the Ancient Yuletide Carol

2004-12-05T23:30:00.000-08:00

In listening to holiday music on the radio, it occurred to me that in many of the songs, you could replace the word "Christmas" with the word "Yuletide," and the carols would fit perfectly in the Heathen/Asatru Yule celebrations. Not surprising since the Christians probably borrowed many of the carols from us in the first place, so why not take them back? It is not just the women and children who should be singing the songs. I was listening to some old Norwegian carols today that were sung by men. They were hearty, happy songs, almost like drinking songs, but sung in honor of the Yule. There is a great need for the Heathen/Asatru community to foster a true sense of celebration and joy in carrying on the old traditions. We need to sing, to dance, and, of course, feast.

Taking Back the Yule

2004-11-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

As the winter holidays approach, there is some confusion among Asatru/Heathens on how to celebrate the Yuletide. The immediate response is to dig in one's heels against an obvious Christian Holiday - or is it? Other the other side of the issue, the Christians are bemoaning the pagan practices of the holiday and urging people to "put Christ back in Christmas." The real secret is that Christ never belonged there in the first place. This holiday is the Yuletide, and its roots belong to Heathen traditions. Extract the baby in the manger and what's left is all the old heathen practices of our Norse ancestors. The root of the word "Yule" come from the Old Norse "hjol" or wheel. It begins at Winter Solstice when the wheel of the year turns and the days grow longer and continues for twelve days until New Year's Eve. Most of the Yule traditions are family-oriented, and the celebrations do not require any officiating clergy, although this could be an option. Here are the traditional details of the Yuletide. Winter Solstice Eve is known as Modhranict or "Mother Night." Modhranict is a time when Frigg, the All-Mother is honored. At sundown, the decorated Yule log is carried into the house with great ceremony. The mother or lady of the house as the protectress of the home lights the Yule log. Then she goes to the doors and windows of the house and decorates them with greenery (usually holly), and says prayers of protection against evil. On Winter Solstice day or Yule Morning, the family will gather to salute the Yule Morning with a song for good fortune and blessings of the new year, which technically starts on this day. During the remainder of the Yuletide, a time of rest is ordered and only necessary work is performed. Three days after Modhranict is Jollnir's Day. On this day Odin under the name of Jollnir (wheel-man) comes in a blue hood and robes (sometimes red with blue trim) to grant wishes. This may be where the "Santa" tradition comes from. A person can be dressed up to play Jollnir for the children. On the night of the twelth day or "Twelfth night" or New Year's Eve, there is a great feast in honor of Freyr, the god of bounty. This is the night when Old Odin (Father Time?) represented by the oldest man present yields his seat Hidskjalf temporarily to the young Freyr (Baby New Year?), represented by a young man of warrior age. A boar (Pig?) is roasted and served at the feast. This may be the origin of serving the Boar's Head at Yuletide. Of course the sagas recall this is how Freyr was able to spy Gerd, the fair giantess. The mind of reason yields to the passion of love and the night is a time of great jolliness. With certain modifications to adapt to modern times these traditions can be remembered and practiced during the Yuletide. Even today, in Sweden the usual holiday greeting is "God Jul!" which translates directly as "Good Yule!" During the holidays when you are greeted with a friendly "Merry Christmas!" do not respond with confusion, hostility, or defensiveness, but rather smile knowingly and say: "Good Yule." This is our time, our holiday, and it's time to take it back again.

Heathen Holiday Decorations

2004-11-26T23:48:00.000-08:00

Now that the stores are full of holiday decorations, it's a good time to get some Asatru/Heathen decorations of Asatru/Heathen significance. There aren't a lot of Thor's Hammers, but here are some decorations you can find:

Reindeer - The animal that symobolizes tranversing difficulties. It is the animal of the rune Isa.
Moose - This is the true animal symbolized by the rune Elhaz - not the American elk or wapiti.
Snowflakes - the six pointed base is an alternate of the rune Hagalaz and the tips usually form a bindrune with Elhaz. The eight-pointed variant is usually some form of the Aegishjalmer.
Icicles - a type of the rune Isa.
Four-pointed star - the symbol of the north star which is a symbol for Tyr.
The fir tree and the mistletoe are symbols for Baldr.
A Santa in blue robes with a hood can represent Odin as Jollnir (Wheel-man), who comes after Yule (winter solstice) to grant wishes.

Who Started It?

2004-11-22T13:35:00.000-08:00

Back in the old days when two children were fighting some adult would pull them apart, and the first thing the adult would say was, "Who started it?" The instigator would receive a much more serious punishment than the other combatant. In the school environment today both children are punished equally, no matter who started it. This practice is born of a school administration that is too slovenly to ferret out the real troublemakers in the school. As a result, the school bullies are permitted free range. The students who wish to do well in school will back down from bullying in order to avoid suspension. This degenerates the students in a mindset of victims who can't stand up for themselves. Consequently, school violence goes unchecked while the educators wring their hands and moan piteously about their sufferings. The victims grow up believing they have no self-determination and that government or someone must take care them. The bullies grow up to be criminals, as an overwhelming set of tragic statistics have proven already. This is not an environment that encourages democracy and freedom; this is an environment that encourages a prison-state. So, if you want to encourage democracy and freedom, you need to ask, "Who started it?"

A Nation of Whores

2004-11-19T01:54:00.000-08:00

Here on the west coast Monday Night Football airs at about 6:00 pm. This past Monday there may have been a few fathers who had the uncomfortable moment of explaining little 6-year-old Johnny what a naked lady was doing in a football locker room. The Desperate Housewives promo on Monday Night Football has raised a question of just where in Niflheim is the nation going. Desperate Housewives is a natural progression of the Sex in the City phenomena that proposes that women are more "liberated" when they behave like trollops. After years of Madonna, Britney Spears and their ilk exalting mass-marketed prostitution under the guise of "art," whoredom has finally reached the suburbs. Now it is perfectly normal for the average housewife to behave like a whore in public. Anyone who thinks this is confined to Hollywood needs to listen to the endless parade of losers on the Dr. Laura Show who can't understand why they feel so bad after cheating on their spouse or some other equally morally-depraved behavior. Has America lost all sense of dignity and decency? Lest any readers wink at such a development with a tolerant eye, here's a thought for you: When we become a nation of whores, then your sister is a whore, your wife is a whore, your daughter is a whore, and your mother is a whore.

Messages to Our Soldiers

2004-11-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

The US Army is providing a webpage where you can post messages of encouragement to the soldiers who are currently in the fight. Our military is doing a superb job, and I urge you to make use of this forum to give our soldiers an "attaboy." The webpage is located at: http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/tooursoldiers/

Veteran's Day

2004-11-11T11:18:00.000-08:00

Let us take time on Veteran's Day to show our thanks for those who have served and are serving in the military to defend our nation. Their great sacrifice ensures the freedom we enjoy and the American way of life. Veterans' Day is also Einherjar's Day. It is a time to honor the einherjar, those who have fallen in battle. They sit upon seats of honor in Valhalla. Or Sessrumnir. Remember Freya chooses half of all those fallen in battle, and she gets first choice. This is the day to pour an offering and raise your horns to the einherjar. If any of you saw Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, do you recall the scene the scene where King Theoden raises his horn and shouts "All hail the honored dead!" I know of some folk who actually stood up in the theatre and yelled "Hail!"

Runes for Warriors

2004-11-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

The current war in Iraq prompts the need for Rune charms for military personnel in the combat zones. I found a webpage that posts a number of Rune charms for warriors. It's located at: http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/warrior.html The Aegishjalmer is my personal favorite. It is also know as the "Helm of Awe," "Helm of Fear," and "Tarnkappe" in the German. This was the rune used by Sigfrid in slaying the dragon, Fafnir. It is especially powerful when marked in red.

Asatru Dog Tags

2004-11-10T01:11:00.000-08:00

Arnhodi Ullerssonof Hildulf Kindred, aka Sgt. Shane Johnson, stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama, now carries military identification tags (dog tags) that indicate his religion as "ASATRU." In the past Norse Heathens or Asatru soldiers, airmen, and sailors could only indicate "NO REL PREF" (no religious preference) as their their religion on their dog tags. Recently the military expanded the types of religions stamped on the dog tags to include "WICCA" and "SATANIST," but Asatru was not considered a legitimate religion. This changed when Arnhodi Ullersson requested that his dog tags indicate his religion as Asatru. He was required to show proof that Asatru was a legitimate religion. Arnhodi provided them with a whole stack of documentation on Asatru organizations in the US. His request was granted and his dog tags were stamped with "ASATRU." Hopefully, this will set a precedent for other Asatru and Norse Heathen military personnel to change their dog tags to reflect their true religious beliefs.

Runes

2004-11-08T14:13:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of misconceptions about Runes floating around. Many folk view them as an alternate form of Tarot. Nothing could be further from the truth. The runes have been around a lot longer than the Tarot. Runes used in divination were described by the Roman historian Tacitus. Vinca writing, a kind of proto-rune system dates back to 5,000 to 6,000 B.C.E.