Saturday, November 15, 2008
GOD DAMN AMERICA
We've all heard the Rev. Mr Wright, our new President's former pastor, make this statement in his sermon. I estimate I have heard at least 50,000 sermons in my lifetime...preached a few thousand of them, myself. Rhetorical statements are made for effect all the time in sermons. Sermon titles are often designed to evoke disagreement, provoke thoughts or opinions, and stir interest.
Still, "God damn America" sounds pretty strong, doesn't it? Should Mr. Wright and all his church members be "deported" as one ignorant redneck commented this week?
If so, then what about Jerry Falwell's church members (Brother Jerry died already, so he obviously can't be deported), David Wilkerson and his supporters, Pat Robertson, and all the other gazillions of Evangelical preachers who have gleefully predictedAmerica's impending doom over abortion, gay marriage, the theory of evolution, and the ACLU?
I haven't seen any God-fearin', America-lovin', gun-totin' patriots calling for the deportation of preachers who claim 9/11 was God's judgement on America, or "prophets" who both pronounce and predict that God will, indeed, damn America.
Guess Rev. Wilkerson just wasn't the right denomination and color to make a statement like this.
Still, "God damn America" sounds pretty strong, doesn't it? Should Mr. Wright and all his church members be "deported" as one ignorant redneck commented this week?
If so, then what about Jerry Falwell's church members (Brother Jerry died already, so he obviously can't be deported), David Wilkerson and his supporters, Pat Robertson, and all the other gazillions of Evangelical preachers who have gleefully predictedAmerica's impending doom over abortion, gay marriage, the theory of evolution, and the ACLU?
I haven't seen any God-fearin', America-lovin', gun-totin' patriots calling for the deportation of preachers who claim 9/11 was God's judgement on America, or "prophets" who both pronounce and predict that God will, indeed, damn America.
Guess Rev. Wilkerson just wasn't the right denomination and color to make a statement like this.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
AMERICA'S NEW PRESIDENT!
Just about everybody who reads my blog probably already got this in the email I sent to my whole address book, but I thought I'd put it here for posterity's sake!
11/05/2008
Hey Everybody!
We have a new American President.
He's black, and he's liberal. He also won both the popular vote and the
electoral vote. As John McCain so graciously stated last night, "The American People have spoken."
I'll also quote Lynyrd Skynyrd: "That's where we're at. If they don't like it, they can just GET THE HELL OUT."
Obviously, a minority in our country is unhappy he won. During the next 4 or 8 years, many won't agree with every policy he proposes or tries to push through Congress - even those who voted for him. Some of his own party will oppose some of his policies. Little will change in the country. None of his campaign platforms will be implemented automatically; they'll have to fight their way through Congress, as usual. He will get it right sometimes, and he'll get it wrong sometimes - just like all Presidents always have.
But like it or not, Obama is your President. SUPPORT HIM. Use your vote and your 1st amendment rights to support or oppose policies according to your personal conviction. But if you're an American, RESPECT YOUR PRESIDENT!
I've received some "jokes" and heard some comments about the results of America's Presidential election. I have a message for those who send, forward, or laugh at these kinds of "jokes":
If you can't live with a black US President, then go back to Wales, or England, or Germany or wherever the hell "you people" come from. But if you're going to stick around, don't bother to send any more of these dumbshit "nigger in the White House" jokes. Don't bother sending any more of these sick "assassinate the President" jokes. They're about as funny as your "kill a queer" jokes.
Anybody who sends a "joke" like that is an asshole... nothing more, nothing less.
John McCain's concession speech was one of the classiest, most gracious speeches I've ever heard. A few times, he had to stop his own supporters from booing their new President. I hope those who supported him during the campaign will follow his wise and patriotic example!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
--
Steve Brogdon
_______________________
Hey Everybody!
We have a new American President.
He's black, and he's liberal. He also won both the popular vote and the
electoral vote. As John McCain so graciously stated last night, "The American People have spoken."
I'll also quote Lynyrd Skynyrd: "That's where we're at. If they don't like it, they can just GET THE HELL OUT."
Obviously, a minority in our country is unhappy he won. During the next 4 or 8 years, many won't agree with every policy he proposes or tries to push through Congress - even those who voted for him. Some of his own party will oppose some of his policies. Little will change in the country. None of his campaign platforms will be implemented automatically; they'll have to fight their way through Congress, as usual. He will get it right sometimes, and he'll get it wrong sometimes - just like all Presidents always have.
But like it or not, Obama is your President. SUPPORT HIM. Use your vote and your 1st amendment rights to support or oppose policies according to your personal conviction. But if you're an American, RESPECT YOUR PRESIDENT!
I've received some "jokes" and heard some comments about the results of America's Presidential election. I have a message for those who send, forward, or laugh at these kinds of "jokes":
If you can't live with a black US President, then go back to Wales, or England, or Germany or wherever the hell "you people" come from. But if you're going to stick around, don't bother to send any more of these dumbshit "nigger in the White House" jokes. Don't bother sending any more of these sick "assassinate the President" jokes. They're about as funny as your "kill a queer" jokes.
Anybody who sends a "joke" like that is an asshole... nothing more, nothing less.
John McCain's concession speech was one of the classiest, most gracious speeches I've ever heard. A few times, he had to stop his own supporters from booing their new President. I hope those who supported him during the campaign will follow his wise and patriotic example!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
--
Steve Brogdon
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Rant
I'm sick of campaigns having more to do with marketing technique than policy or plans. I'm sick of politicians trying to win votes with stupid subliminal messages like Huckebee's cross and phony contrived TV persona.
Mostly, I'm sick of stuff like this actually working. People are enthusiastically ignorant...staunch in their convictions, which are not even their own but have been foisted upon them by whoever they look to for leadership. Issues mean nothing, only perceptions.
Cognitive Bias reigns supreme in this system. No matter how ludicrous a claim, it will be believed as long as it supports the opinions already held.
And god forbid you should publicly question and/or embarrass one of these crooked, evil bastard polititians - you'll be hounded to your grave...every skeleton dragged out of your closet, every piece of dirty laundry hung from the international flagpole of the media.
Why is it necessary to grope through pile after pile of steaming rhetoric to find a single undigested kernel of truth???
BAN POLITICAL ADS! More political debate, zero political marketing.
Sing together, everyone!
Imagine there's no political campaigns
I wonder if you can
No need for campaign finance reform
That bullshit's all been banned
Imagine all the people
Thinking for themselves
ooo, ooo, hoo
;0)
Mostly, I'm sick of stuff like this actually working. People are enthusiastically ignorant...staunch in their convictions, which are not even their own but have been foisted upon them by whoever they look to for leadership. Issues mean nothing, only perceptions.
Cognitive Bias reigns supreme in this system. No matter how ludicrous a claim, it will be believed as long as it supports the opinions already held.
And god forbid you should publicly question and/or embarrass one of these crooked, evil bastard polititians - you'll be hounded to your grave...every skeleton dragged out of your closet, every piece of dirty laundry hung from the international flagpole of the media.
Why is it necessary to grope through pile after pile of steaming rhetoric to find a single undigested kernel of truth???
BAN POLITICAL ADS! More political debate, zero political marketing.
Sing together, everyone!
Imagine there's no political campaigns
I wonder if you can
No need for campaign finance reform
That bullshit's all been banned
Imagine all the people
Thinking for themselves
ooo, ooo, hoo
;0)
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Campaign Finance Reform
Hey Mr. Change and Mr. Maverick...which one of you is going to make a REAL reform of campaign finance? Here's what I propose:
Set a cap of, let's say, $0.00.
Political campaigns should not exist in the United States. They're a disgusting and hypocritical waste of resources. A polititian should never be allowed to ask for money to help get elected, period. NO political ads should ever be allowed. Political rallies should be banned completely. Not one thin dime should be spent on such foolishness.
Let the sonsobitches debate every night on television for 90 days. Let them hash out the issues and fight it out night after night. That might keep them at least halfway honest.
While you're at it, do away with the electoral college. I'd like to have a vote that counts.
Who knows? With no political campaign circus, and with a real vote for every American, our country might stop being a fucking joke.
Set a cap of, let's say, $0.00.
Political campaigns should not exist in the United States. They're a disgusting and hypocritical waste of resources. A polititian should never be allowed to ask for money to help get elected, period. NO political ads should ever be allowed. Political rallies should be banned completely. Not one thin dime should be spent on such foolishness.
Let the sonsobitches debate every night on television for 90 days. Let them hash out the issues and fight it out night after night. That might keep them at least halfway honest.
While you're at it, do away with the electoral college. I'd like to have a vote that counts.
Who knows? With no political campaign circus, and with a real vote for every American, our country might stop being a fucking joke.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
I hate politicians
I guess I've never felt less in control of my destiny, or more cynical about the world.
Government strong-armed banks into making bad loans through the Community Redistribution Act.
Then, when the natural consequences came to fruition, the government makes taxpayers foot the bill, and uses the situation to usurp even more power.
It doesn't matter who we vote for, and it doesn't matter who wins. It doesn't matter what voters tell legislators to do. We are going to get screwed no matter who is president, and no matter who is in Congress.
We can buy gold to protect ourselves from government scams like this, but then they can just make it illegal to own gold again.
Foreign oil, domestic oil...what's the difference? We have the technology right now to make cars run on water, electricity, or vegetable oil...but the government won't allow us to implement it. Then they have the gall to accuse us of being "addicted" to oil.
Nobody wants to keep abortion legal more than the conservatives - that's what energizes their support base.
Nobody wants to keep gay marriage illegal more than the liberals. Where would they get their millions without that issue?
And while politicians are parading across our tv screens bemoaning the economic meltdown, they are breaking spending records on their bullshit political campaigns.
I don't even think I'm going to vote.
Plus...TX beat OU today. Damn.
Government strong-armed banks into making bad loans through the Community Redistribution Act.
Then, when the natural consequences came to fruition, the government makes taxpayers foot the bill, and uses the situation to usurp even more power.
It doesn't matter who we vote for, and it doesn't matter who wins. It doesn't matter what voters tell legislators to do. We are going to get screwed no matter who is president, and no matter who is in Congress.
We can buy gold to protect ourselves from government scams like this, but then they can just make it illegal to own gold again.
Foreign oil, domestic oil...what's the difference? We have the technology right now to make cars run on water, electricity, or vegetable oil...but the government won't allow us to implement it. Then they have the gall to accuse us of being "addicted" to oil.
Nobody wants to keep abortion legal more than the conservatives - that's what energizes their support base.
Nobody wants to keep gay marriage illegal more than the liberals. Where would they get their millions without that issue?
And while politicians are parading across our tv screens bemoaning the economic meltdown, they are breaking spending records on their bullshit political campaigns.
I don't even think I'm going to vote.
Plus...TX beat OU today. Damn.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Mt Rushmore
I'm sitting in a hotel room in South Dakota where I've been working this week. We went to Mt Rushmore yesterday after work...pretty awesome. One of America's greatest monuments was built right in the middle of the Great Depression. The workers who hung from ropes with jack hammers for 14 years had to walk up 700 steps every morning, and of course walked down them every afternoon - but they walked the steps on their own time. Mr. Borglum (son of an immigrant from Denmark) didn't believe in paying them for their little "commute" up and down the mountain.Blasting that granite day after day in the hot sun or freezing winds...man they were some tough s.o.b.s!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against John Grisham
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — A federal judge has dismissed a libel lawsuit filed against best-selling author John Grisham and two other writers over books they wrote about the wrongful conviction of two men in a 1982 murder.
The lawsuit was filed last year by former Pontotoc County District Attorney Bill Peterson, former Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation investigator Gary Rogers and Melvin Hett, a state criminalist. All three helped win the original convictions in the slaying of cocktail waitress Debbie Sue Carter.
The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants conspired to commit libel, generate publicity for themselves by placing the plaintiffs in a false light and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.
But U.S. District Judge Ronald White rejected those claims in his ruling Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Full Story
Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — A federal judge has dismissed a libel lawsuit filed against best-selling author John Grisham and two other writers over books they wrote about the wrongful conviction of two men in a 1982 murder.
The lawsuit was filed last year by former Pontotoc County District Attorney Bill Peterson, former Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation investigator Gary Rogers and Melvin Hett, a state criminalist. All three helped win the original convictions in the slaying of cocktail waitress Debbie Sue Carter.
The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants conspired to commit libel, generate publicity for themselves by placing the plaintiffs in a false light and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.
But U.S. District Judge Ronald White rejected those claims in his ruling Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Full Story
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
The Golden Rule
I was looking up some graphics for work and ran across this interesting diagram showing how many religions have some version of the Golden Rule. Unfortunately, most seem to be better at quoting it than practicing it.
That's what makes the next "diagram" so funny:
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Battle is Won
It's been a helluva fight. I couldn't have done it without Kelly. Today is her birthday, by the way. I felt like crap having her go to court on her birthday, but she never complained, of course...my God, that woman is amazing!
A couple of years ago, the girls started asking me to talk their mom into letting them come live with me. I told them to talk to her themselves, if that's what they really wanted. When they finally did, she responded by dragging them into the pastor's office, where he told them that in public school, "The boys will hold you down and pull your panties off, and when they have sex with you, blood is going to gush out everywhere."
So, I filed for custody. You can't negotiate with terrorists, you know.
Then she took them to her parents, who went berserk. Their grandmother screamed at them, said there was "something wrong with them" and they needed counselling, called them "Judases" and said they were "letting Satan win." The mantra everyone (grandparents, teachers, pastors) chanted was, "How could you do this to your mother? Your father abandoned you, she's done so much for you, and now you are slapping her in the face!"
Of course, they are all too stupid to realize that they are the people who drove the girls away from their mother. The fact that the girls felt their mother was subjecting them to these assholes rather than protecting them made them desperate to escape.
In April, Ashley's mother dropped her off and said she wouldn't be picking her up...if Ashley wanted to live here, fine, she could live here. It was right in the middle of the semester, but Kelly called the school and they agreed to let Ashley enroll. The Ada High School counselor called Windsor Hills Baptist Schools for the transcripts. The next day, Ashley's mother called to say she'd changed her mind and was coming to pick her up.
Back in school, Ashley was forced to spend her days in the principal's office to prevent interaction with the other students. Her grades plummeted. Finally, she was expelled for "speaking disrespectfully to a teacher."
At home, Ashley had lots of time to prowl, and came across some of her mother's notes. They were going to claim I was an unfit parent.
The lawyer she hired was a high-dollar, high-powered gal in OKC, recommended by the pastor. Rather than wisely trying to negotiate an agreement to let these two teenagers live with the parent of their choice while ensuring a continued relationship with their mother, she had decided to make it into a full-out fight.
The custody battle is the main reason I've stopped blogging. They (the girls' mother, her family, and her church, Al Queda Baptist) were reading my blog, they subpoenaed my work records, etc. trying to build some sort of case. They looked into the possiblity of every claim they might possibly make - even child abuse and child molestation. I'm not kidding, folks...these people fight dirty, and they go right for the jugular.
I took the girls to see Judge Landrith a couple of weeks ago. They told him what they wanted, and why.
Their mother's lawyer sent a settlement offer last weekend, offering joint legal custody. We rejected it.
I don't know who paid her lawyer bills, but they've got a bloody nose right now. The lawyer made two trips to Ada. Today, she looked snazzy in her pink suit with her two assistants in tow (20-something boys in dark suits with HUGE briefcases). I estimate the bill for today was close to $3K; it's a 4-hour round trip from OKC, an hour in court, plus the pre-trial paperwork, meals for her and her two boys. The last trip was probably less than that, since there was no actual hearing that time, and she only brought one boy. All together, I'd say $8K -$10K is a realistic estimate. That sure would have bought a bunch of nice school clothes for the girls, huh?
Apparently, the judge wasn't impressed by the big-city lawyer come to show us ignert okabillies how it's done.
Upshot of it was, the lawyers went to see the judge, came back out and advised their clients to accept the agreement they had reached. All parties agreed, and the judge signed off on it, and talked about how impressed he was with my daughters. No testimony, no witnesses, no questions. I thought the girls' grandparents were going to have a stroke, right there in the court room. Their grandfather actually got up and walked out, muttering, "This is pathetic!"
It was simply what I had asked for 6 months ago...sole legal and physical custody of my two teenaged daughters.
Once again, their mother has wasted thousands of dollars trying to keep the girls from having a relationship with me, and lost. The point is, it shouldn't have even been a battle.
A couple of years ago, the girls started asking me to talk their mom into letting them come live with me. I told them to talk to her themselves, if that's what they really wanted. When they finally did, she responded by dragging them into the pastor's office, where he told them that in public school, "The boys will hold you down and pull your panties off, and when they have sex with you, blood is going to gush out everywhere."
So, I filed for custody. You can't negotiate with terrorists, you know.
Then she took them to her parents, who went berserk. Their grandmother screamed at them, said there was "something wrong with them" and they needed counselling, called them "Judases" and said they were "letting Satan win." The mantra everyone (grandparents, teachers, pastors) chanted was, "How could you do this to your mother? Your father abandoned you, she's done so much for you, and now you are slapping her in the face!"
Of course, they are all too stupid to realize that they are the people who drove the girls away from their mother. The fact that the girls felt their mother was subjecting them to these assholes rather than protecting them made them desperate to escape.
In April, Ashley's mother dropped her off and said she wouldn't be picking her up...if Ashley wanted to live here, fine, she could live here. It was right in the middle of the semester, but Kelly called the school and they agreed to let Ashley enroll. The Ada High School counselor called Windsor Hills Baptist Schools for the transcripts. The next day, Ashley's mother called to say she'd changed her mind and was coming to pick her up.
Back in school, Ashley was forced to spend her days in the principal's office to prevent interaction with the other students. Her grades plummeted. Finally, she was expelled for "speaking disrespectfully to a teacher."
At home, Ashley had lots of time to prowl, and came across some of her mother's notes. They were going to claim I was an unfit parent.
The lawyer she hired was a high-dollar, high-powered gal in OKC, recommended by the pastor. Rather than wisely trying to negotiate an agreement to let these two teenagers live with the parent of their choice while ensuring a continued relationship with their mother, she had decided to make it into a full-out fight.
The custody battle is the main reason I've stopped blogging. They (the girls' mother, her family, and her church, Al Queda Baptist) were reading my blog, they subpoenaed my work records, etc. trying to build some sort of case. They looked into the possiblity of every claim they might possibly make - even child abuse and child molestation. I'm not kidding, folks...these people fight dirty, and they go right for the jugular.
I took the girls to see Judge Landrith a couple of weeks ago. They told him what they wanted, and why.
Their mother's lawyer sent a settlement offer last weekend, offering joint legal custody. We rejected it.
I don't know who paid her lawyer bills, but they've got a bloody nose right now. The lawyer made two trips to Ada. Today, she looked snazzy in her pink suit with her two assistants in tow (20-something boys in dark suits with HUGE briefcases). I estimate the bill for today was close to $3K; it's a 4-hour round trip from OKC, an hour in court, plus the pre-trial paperwork, meals for her and her two boys. The last trip was probably less than that, since there was no actual hearing that time, and she only brought one boy. All together, I'd say $8K -$10K is a realistic estimate. That sure would have bought a bunch of nice school clothes for the girls, huh?
Apparently, the judge wasn't impressed by the big-city lawyer come to show us ignert okabillies how it's done.
Upshot of it was, the lawyers went to see the judge, came back out and advised their clients to accept the agreement they had reached. All parties agreed, and the judge signed off on it, and talked about how impressed he was with my daughters. No testimony, no witnesses, no questions. I thought the girls' grandparents were going to have a stroke, right there in the court room. Their grandfather actually got up and walked out, muttering, "This is pathetic!"
It was simply what I had asked for 6 months ago...sole legal and physical custody of my two teenaged daughters.
Once again, their mother has wasted thousands of dollars trying to keep the girls from having a relationship with me, and lost. The point is, it shouldn't have even been a battle.
Friday, July 18, 2008
WHBC
I want to thank everyone for helping spread the WHBC news story around! It's all over the blogosphere, and news channels all over the country picked it up. It's also on several news websites. Google "church cancels teen gun giveaway" and you get a TON of hits. I saw one site from the UK. People need to know what these people really are.
Why does WHBC do it? The answer is simple: they are trolling for slave labor.
Here's how it works: Vineyard gained a following while working for Jerry Falwell and later Jack Hyles (Hyles was not as well known as Falwell outside independent Baptist circles, but had a stronger influence within it). Once the following was in place, he took the pastorate in OK - a church with a few hundred members, and a few millionaires.
With the cash flow from the millionaires, he immediately opened a Christian school and Bible college, following the megachurch pattern established by his former employers. This created new cash flow with which he hired full time staff to build the church. Now he was able to get rid of the millionaires and their control.
He traveled extensively to promote the college, and tour groups from the college would later do this as well. Students from these churches were sent to the college to prepare for ministry.
Once in the college, strict control is in place. Students are required to tithe 10% of their gross income to the church (and encouraged to tithe 15% in case they received some other income they might forget...just to be safe). In addition, students are pressured to give to the missions program. The "faith promise" mission offering is sometimes more than the tithe. Part of this money is used to finance the pastor's "missionary" endeavors.
Single students are required to live in the church-owned dormitory, and pay room and board on top of their hefty tuition fees. "Board" consists of three meager meals per day, which are often missed by working students because the schedule is inflexible. Married students with children are required to enroll them in the Christian school and pay the school's exorbitant tuition on top of their own college tuition.
All students are required to work in the "bus ministry" their first two years, and are under pressure to continue working in this ministry throughout their college careers. In this "ministry," they are required to pay their own expenses - gas, fliers, refreshments for the children who ride their Sunday school buses, etc. None of these "ministry" expenses are deducted from their tithes, of course.
So, in the name of teaching young ministers to "sacrifice for Jesus," they are bled dry to feed the vampire church and uphold the very comfortable lifestyle of the pastor. It is not unusual for a college student to be putting more than 70% or 80% of his money back into the church.
Youth Conference is designed to attract juniors and seniors from Christian high schools of "like-minded" (i.e. wacko) churches, put on a fancy show, and get them signed up for the college. It's worth it to them to give away an $800 assault rifle...they'll get the money back many times over.
Why does WHBC do it? The answer is simple: they are trolling for slave labor.
Here's how it works: Vineyard gained a following while working for Jerry Falwell and later Jack Hyles (Hyles was not as well known as Falwell outside independent Baptist circles, but had a stronger influence within it). Once the following was in place, he took the pastorate in OK - a church with a few hundred members, and a few millionaires.
With the cash flow from the millionaires, he immediately opened a Christian school and Bible college, following the megachurch pattern established by his former employers. This created new cash flow with which he hired full time staff to build the church. Now he was able to get rid of the millionaires and their control.
He traveled extensively to promote the college, and tour groups from the college would later do this as well. Students from these churches were sent to the college to prepare for ministry.
Once in the college, strict control is in place. Students are required to tithe 10% of their gross income to the church (and encouraged to tithe 15% in case they received some other income they might forget...just to be safe). In addition, students are pressured to give to the missions program. The "faith promise" mission offering is sometimes more than the tithe. Part of this money is used to finance the pastor's "missionary" endeavors.
Single students are required to live in the church-owned dormitory, and pay room and board on top of their hefty tuition fees. "Board" consists of three meager meals per day, which are often missed by working students because the schedule is inflexible. Married students with children are required to enroll them in the Christian school and pay the school's exorbitant tuition on top of their own college tuition.
All students are required to work in the "bus ministry" their first two years, and are under pressure to continue working in this ministry throughout their college careers. In this "ministry," they are required to pay their own expenses - gas, fliers, refreshments for the children who ride their Sunday school buses, etc. None of these "ministry" expenses are deducted from their tithes, of course.
So, in the name of teaching young ministers to "sacrifice for Jesus," they are bled dry to feed the vampire church and uphold the very comfortable lifestyle of the pastor. It is not unusual for a college student to be putting more than 70% or 80% of his money back into the church.
Youth Conference is designed to attract juniors and seniors from Christian high schools of "like-minded" (i.e. wacko) churches, put on a fancy show, and get them signed up for the college. It's worth it to them to give away an $800 assault rifle...they'll get the money back many times over.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Just finished an interesting book
Just finished The Pontotoc Conspiracy by Phillip Swatek. It's about Ada's lynching, depicted in this photo.
"Deacon" Jim Miller was lynched, along with alleged conspirators, for the murder of Gus Bobbitt here in Ada on April 19, 1909. "Deacon" Jim (as he was affectionately known) was a staunch Methodist, was acquitted of a number of murders in Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. The tactic was to get out on bail while awaiting the hearing, then travel around the region conducting Bible studies. During these preaching tours, all the witnesses would mysteriously disappear, never to be seen again. Sort of an Enoch experience, you might say.
To prevent this from happening in the Bobbitt case, a number of Adans (there is some dispute about the actual count...somewhere between 15 and 200) got together and strung up "Deacon" Jim, along with the two ranchers who were believed to have hired him and the go-between who arranged the transaction.
The photo above was memorialized in a postage stamp, and you can buy post cards of it to send home to your loved ones. If you're ever through here, be sure to stop by and admire our beautiful lynching memorial, erected at the site:
As the memorial states, the old west stopped right here! Ya gotta love this town!
"Deacon" Jim Miller was lynched, along with alleged conspirators, for the murder of Gus Bobbitt here in Ada on April 19, 1909. "Deacon" Jim (as he was affectionately known) was a staunch Methodist, was acquitted of a number of murders in Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. The tactic was to get out on bail while awaiting the hearing, then travel around the region conducting Bible studies. During these preaching tours, all the witnesses would mysteriously disappear, never to be seen again. Sort of an Enoch experience, you might say.To prevent this from happening in the Bobbitt case, a number of Adans (there is some dispute about the actual count...somewhere between 15 and 200) got together and strung up "Deacon" Jim, along with the two ranchers who were believed to have hired him and the go-between who arranged the transaction.
The photo above was memorialized in a postage stamp, and you can buy post cards of it to send home to your loved ones. If you're ever through here, be sure to stop by and admire our beautiful lynching memorial, erected at the site:
As the memorial states, the old west stopped right here! Ya gotta love this town!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
TOP THIS, A!
Okay, Aola...maybe you DID smoke dope with ZZ Top in the orchestra pit. But I had a drink with ELVIS this weekend! So, whatcha think about that? HA! 
Monday, April 14, 2008
Possum Country
Friday morning, Kelly and I saw an opposum in the road that had been run over and killed by a car last night.
As we drove by, Kelly exclaimed, "Gross! It has a rat crawling on it!" But it wasn't a rat - it was an orphaned baby opposum climbing on top of it's dead mother, crying "Mommy? What's wrong? I'm scared, Mommy...wake up!"
So when I got to work, I called Hailey (she was out of school for a snow day) and said "You want a baby possum?" eagerly recounting the story. She answered, "Are you kidding me? You woke me up for that??? Possums are ugly and they scare me! I'm going back to bed."
"Sorry," I said. "I was just afraid you'd be mad at me if I didn't tell you about it." "Mmmhmmm," she answered sleepily (or irritably...it's hard to tell). "Thanks."
Then, 3 hours later I get an email from Kelly: "You and Hailey have adopted 8 baby rodents. She wants to know where to put them."
My 15-year old daughter and a friend had actually put on work gloves, reached inside the mother oppossum's pouch, and rescued the babies. I tried to find some good advice at work about what to do with them. "You could dock their tails and pass them off as South African Chihuahas in the Wal Mart parking lot," one of my coworkers solicitously offered.
When I got home, I called the game warden's office, who, rather than offer to come pick them up, instructed me how to take care of them. "You can feed them cat's milk," the expert explained.
"But, I don't know how to milk a cat," I answered in a panic. "No...you can go to Wal Mart and buy cat's milk in the pet section. If they don't have it, goat's milk will work, too."
My intelligent wife avoided the embarrassment of asking what aisle the cat's milk is on, and picked up a can of goat's milk. The oppossums didn't seem to be bothered by it; they greedily slurped up dropper after dropper of the stuff. I had a great time explaining to my kids that are oppossums are NOT rodents - they are marsupials...little North American koala bears.
"They don't look like koala bears to me," Kelly noted. "They look like rats. And rats are rodents." I wisely decided not to even bother explaining that they are also related to kangaroos.
After a long night and three full meals the following day, I couldn't keep the kids from naming them. "This one's name is Ratatouille!" announced 4-year-old Stephanie. She's her mother's daughter.
Unfortunately, we had a cold weekend. Sometime in the early morning hours of Sunday morning, all the oppossums died peacefully in their sleep. At least, during their short journey upon this earth, they knew the joy of a little Brogdon love and compassion!
So, we tossed ‘em on the grill and had a delicious supper…just kidding! We took advantage of the opportunity to teach the kids about the Circle of Life by burying one of them under each of the many trees we have in the yard, until we ran out of trees.
Now I’m on the lookout for some raccoons. Like I said, we have a lot of trees.
As we drove by, Kelly exclaimed, "Gross! It has a rat crawling on it!" But it wasn't a rat - it was an orphaned baby opposum climbing on top of it's dead mother, crying "Mommy? What's wrong? I'm scared, Mommy...wake up!"
So when I got to work, I called Hailey (she was out of school for a snow day) and said "You want a baby possum?" eagerly recounting the story. She answered, "Are you kidding me? You woke me up for that??? Possums are ugly and they scare me! I'm going back to bed."
"Sorry," I said. "I was just afraid you'd be mad at me if I didn't tell you about it." "Mmmhmmm," she answered sleepily (or irritably...it's hard to tell). "Thanks."
Then, 3 hours later I get an email from Kelly: "You and Hailey have adopted 8 baby rodents. She wants to know where to put them."
My 15-year old daughter and a friend had actually put on work gloves, reached inside the mother oppossum's pouch, and rescued the babies. I tried to find some good advice at work about what to do with them. "You could dock their tails and pass them off as South African Chihuahas in the Wal Mart parking lot," one of my coworkers solicitously offered.
When I got home, I called the game warden's office, who, rather than offer to come pick them up, instructed me how to take care of them. "You can feed them cat's milk," the expert explained.
"But, I don't know how to milk a cat," I answered in a panic. "No...you can go to Wal Mart and buy cat's milk in the pet section. If they don't have it, goat's milk will work, too."
My intelligent wife avoided the embarrassment of asking what aisle the cat's milk is on, and picked up a can of goat's milk. The oppossums didn't seem to be bothered by it; they greedily slurped up dropper after dropper of the stuff. I had a great time explaining to my kids that are oppossums are NOT rodents - they are marsupials...little North American koala bears.
"They don't look like koala bears to me," Kelly noted. "They look like rats. And rats are rodents." I wisely decided not to even bother explaining that they are also related to kangaroos.
After a long night and three full meals the following day, I couldn't keep the kids from naming them. "This one's name is Ratatouille!" announced 4-year-old Stephanie. She's her mother's daughter.
Unfortunately, we had a cold weekend. Sometime in the early morning hours of Sunday morning, all the oppossums died peacefully in their sleep. At least, during their short journey upon this earth, they knew the joy of a little Brogdon love and compassion!
So, we tossed ‘em on the grill and had a delicious supper…just kidding! We took advantage of the opportunity to teach the kids about the Circle of Life by burying one of them under each of the many trees we have in the yard, until we ran out of trees.
Now I’m on the lookout for some raccoons. Like I said, we have a lot of trees.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Made a 4-mile run today and it really feels good. I did 3 miles on Thursday and felt like I had some more in me when I was finished, so I just decided to go for it this afternoon.
I made a new playlist for my iPod for running...Starts with ZZ Top's "Tubesnake Boogie" to set the pace, then builds til I hit my stride and goes to some Eagles and slower Lynyrd Skynyrd to regulate my breathing, then finishes out with some Ozzie and G&R when I pick up speed toward the end and need some extra adrenaline.
I know 4 miles isn't a marathon, but at 42 I'm happy as heck to be able to do it.
I made a new playlist for my iPod for running...Starts with ZZ Top's "Tubesnake Boogie" to set the pace, then builds til I hit my stride and goes to some Eagles and slower Lynyrd Skynyrd to regulate my breathing, then finishes out with some Ozzie and G&R when I pick up speed toward the end and need some extra adrenaline.
I know 4 miles isn't a marathon, but at 42 I'm happy as heck to be able to do it.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Pope Baptizes Muslim Convert
The Pope baptized a high-profile Muslim convert on Easter. You can read the story here.
"Conversion is a private matter, a personal thing and we hope that the baptism will not be interpreted negatively by Islam," Cardinal Giovanni Re said.
Well, ain’t that a zinger! Might as well hope for it to rain Merlot tomorrow.
“Interpreted negatively by Islam” apparently means "by the Islamic world," since Islam is of course an impersonal entity and can’t have an opinion about anything. Wouldn’t the world be a great place if “religions” didn’t interpret proselytizing in a negative light! Funny that "Catholicism" doesn't tend to extend the same courtesy they hope for from others.
I remember the “bad ol’ days” in Mexico, baptizing dozens and dozens of Catholic converts to Baptist fundamentalism. Baptized over 1,000 of them in the 13 years I was there. Boy, did “Catholicism” ever interpret that negatively. The parish churches circulated fliers, spread rumors, and I even received some death threats. Some of the church members had stuff thrown at them and were roughed up occasionally, though that never happened to me.
Religions don't tend to take it lying down, because they can't afford to. It's not about spirituality; it's about power.
"Conversion is a private matter, a personal thing and we hope that the baptism will not be interpreted negatively by Islam," Cardinal Giovanni Re said.
Well, ain’t that a zinger! Might as well hope for it to rain Merlot tomorrow.
“Interpreted negatively by Islam” apparently means "by the Islamic world," since Islam is of course an impersonal entity and can’t have an opinion about anything. Wouldn’t the world be a great place if “religions” didn’t interpret proselytizing in a negative light! Funny that "Catholicism" doesn't tend to extend the same courtesy they hope for from others.
I remember the “bad ol’ days” in Mexico, baptizing dozens and dozens of Catholic converts to Baptist fundamentalism. Baptized over 1,000 of them in the 13 years I was there. Boy, did “Catholicism” ever interpret that negatively. The parish churches circulated fliers, spread rumors, and I even received some death threats. Some of the church members had stuff thrown at them and were roughed up occasionally, though that never happened to me.
Religions don't tend to take it lying down, because they can't afford to. It's not about spirituality; it's about power.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday
Since today is Good Friday, a remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, I am reminded of the numerous crucifixion legends among various religions. In Mexico, the Aztecs venerated Quetzalcoatl as god of the sun/wind. Here is a depiction of that god's crucifixion.
Crucifixion legends are found in the stories of Khrisna,Thammuz, Esus (Druid) and Mithra. What do you make of this, and why?
Here are some other images:
Dionysus
Krishna
Also, as everybody knows, the symbol of the cross played a role in many pre-Christian religions, even when not directly associated with crucifixion. Comments or observations?
I don't have definite answers to this, but it intrigues me. I've been fascinated by the Aztec dieties Quetzalcoatl and Tonantzin from my early days in Mexico.
Here's a depiction of the Mayan cross in Palenque, Mexico:
The illustration below seems to me to suggest the most satisfactory explanation for the crucifixion of sun gods in religions around the world:
Crucifixion legends are found in the stories of Khrisna,Thammuz, Esus (Druid) and Mithra. What do you make of this, and why?
Here are some other images:
Dionysus
Krishna
Also, as everybody knows, the symbol of the cross played a role in many pre-Christian religions, even when not directly associated with crucifixion. Comments or observations?I don't have definite answers to this, but it intrigues me. I've been fascinated by the Aztec dieties Quetzalcoatl and Tonantzin from my early days in Mexico.
Here's a depiction of the Mayan cross in Palenque, Mexico:
The illustration below seems to me to suggest the most satisfactory explanation for the crucifixion of sun gods in religions around the world:
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Convention
Spent Thurs - Sat at a convention in OKC. Governor Brad Henry spoke, along with some other politicians. Exciting.
Robert Kiyosaki was there, author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." He was a little more exciting than the politicians, but sort of crass.
Mike McCoy, author of "The Silent Crime-What You Should Know About Identity Theft" also spoke. He was pretty good.
My boss spoke, and put a pic of me on her PPT slide presentation on the big screen at Cox Convention Center in front of 15,000 people to talk about the training seminar I helped develop - I'm famous now, speaking invitations should start rolling in any time (lol). She was going to put my employee ID photo in there until I found out about it; We took another pic and put it in. Of course, that was my favorite speech of the week!
It was a more or less laid-back convention for me. Mostly, all I had to do was attend and socialize.
Anyway, that's where I've been in case anybody missed me!
Robert Kiyosaki was there, author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." He was a little more exciting than the politicians, but sort of crass.
Mike McCoy, author of "The Silent Crime-What You Should Know About Identity Theft" also spoke. He was pretty good.
My boss spoke, and put a pic of me on her PPT slide presentation on the big screen at Cox Convention Center in front of 15,000 people to talk about the training seminar I helped develop - I'm famous now, speaking invitations should start rolling in any time (lol). She was going to put my employee ID photo in there until I found out about it; We took another pic and put it in. Of course, that was my favorite speech of the week!
It was a more or less laid-back convention for me. Mostly, all I had to do was attend and socialize.
Anyway, that's where I've been in case anybody missed me!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
This is from Justagirl's blog...pick ten of your favorite movies, go to IMDB and find a quote from each, post the quotes, and see who can guess your favorite movies. And no Googling allowed!
"I'm going to pick a fight."
"I'm a parent; I haven't got the luxury of principles."
"Here's a good stick, to beat the lovely lady."
"It's what people know about themselves inside that makes them afraid."
"Well that's what we do, we fight... You tell me when I am being an arrogant son of a bitch and I tell you when you are a pain in the ass. Which you are, 99% of the time. I'm not afraid to hurt your feelings. You have like a 2 second rebound rate, then you're back doing the next pain-in-the-ass thing. "
"Be cautious; you are holding the bad color."
"Oh, yes, and one more thing, dear Lord, about our enemies, ignore their heathen prayers and help us blow those little bastards straight to Hell. Amen."
"Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth."
"Now and then, for no good reason, life will haul off and knock a man flat. "
"I'm going to pick a fight."
"I'm a parent; I haven't got the luxury of principles."
"Here's a good stick, to beat the lovely lady."
"It's what people know about themselves inside that makes them afraid."
"Well that's what we do, we fight... You tell me when I am being an arrogant son of a bitch and I tell you when you are a pain in the ass. Which you are, 99% of the time. I'm not afraid to hurt your feelings. You have like a 2 second rebound rate, then you're back doing the next pain-in-the-ass thing. "
"Be cautious; you are holding the bad color."
"Oh, yes, and one more thing, dear Lord, about our enemies, ignore their heathen prayers and help us blow those little bastards straight to Hell. Amen."
"Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth."
"Now and then, for no good reason, life will haul off and knock a man flat. "
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday Picnic
It was one of those Sunday afternoons we never get enough of, so they have to last. . .
Monday, March 03, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Photo Blog
I started a photo blog in case anybody wants to glance at it! Just go to my profile and follow the SeekerPics link.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Christian School vs Public School
My 13-year-old told her mother she wants to come live with Kelly and I.
To convince her otherwise, she told her that in public school they would force her to watch pornography in sex ed class, and that the kids had sex under the stairwells.
When she told her the public school kids would laugh at her because of the way she dressed, Holly answered that she wouldn't be dressing the way she does now (tea-length skirts or dresses, and cullottes). That prompted a visit to "The Pastor."
"The Pastor" there now is actually "The Pastor Jr." Father retired, and the Son took over.
He told her the boys in public school would pull her panties off.
Are these sick bastards, or what?
To convince her otherwise, she told her that in public school they would force her to watch pornography in sex ed class, and that the kids had sex under the stairwells.
When she told her the public school kids would laugh at her because of the way she dressed, Holly answered that she wouldn't be dressing the way she does now (tea-length skirts or dresses, and cullottes). That prompted a visit to "The Pastor."
"The Pastor" there now is actually "The Pastor Jr." Father retired, and the Son took over.
He told her the boys in public school would pull her panties off.
Are these sick bastards, or what?
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