Don't Cry For Beto

Lighten Up, Francis!

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Once again, like that bad case of herpes, or those feisty Texas fire ants, Robert Francis "Beta" O'Rourke crawled out of his nest to invade Texas politics. It does not matter that he has been rejected multiple times by Texas voters, he is destined to be elected, somewhere, for something.
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Money poured in from socialists all over the country. All with dreams of transforming Texas into some sort of democrat utopia. The usual suspects supported Beta: Teacher unions, folks who are dependent on the government, and malcontents. He managed to outraise Governor Abbott - love the sound of that, by $600,000. With the help of big metro areas dominated by democrats, and their creative vote counting skills, Beta thought surely this was his year!
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They Are Just Not that Into You.

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Like the nutcase Cindy Sheehan before him, he jumped on top of the graves of the Uvalde children, and used them as his primary soapbox to attack guns, declaring, “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.” There is absolutely no reason to ban an AR-15, and automatic weapons, which would generally include many AK-47s, are already heavily regulated - such is the intelligence of the hipster from El Paso. Or does he truly think Texans are too stupid to not already know that fact? If the intent were to reduce crime, these so-called "assault weapons" are used in 3% of firearm murders, making his position even more curious. And in the very rare cases that they are used, law enforcement impotence can lead to many casualties. When law enforcement, or legal gun owners act quickly, the threat can be neutralized and lives saved.
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See Note Below

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Does he really believe his own rhetoric, or does he see gun control as an issue of opportunity? Either way, its not the type of person you want in leadership. The right to own weapons and defend one's person, family, and property is a Natural Right. History has proven how dangerous it is for folks when they are disarmed. Criminals will still possess weapons as will government. And before long, there will be little difference between the two.

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In Uvalde, 72 minutes went by before law enforcement, almost 400 officers, finally engaged the shooter. If you have a home invader, or you are at a location with an active shooter, you can't afford to wait on law enforcement.
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We Don't Need No Stinking Badges

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What you believe will eventually come out of your mouth. And Beta has a way of gushing that is quite revealing. During a campaign speech at Prairie View A&M University, his desire to divide and fan the flames of racism could no longer be restrained. With the zeal of country evangelist, he declared law enforcement the "new Jim Crow." Obviously, Texas police officers of all races put their lives on the line daily for all people. They thoroughly and completely rejected his statement. The TMPA issued a press release which included this paragraph.
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Mr. O’Rourke’s dangerous and incorrect characterization of law enforcement officers not only across our great state, but nationwide, is divisive and plainly untrue. O’Rourke taking aim at officers is an insult that further divides public safety from the very people they are sworn to protect due to the outrage incited by his false narrative. Racist accusations about the dedicated, hardworking men and women who don a uniform daily to protect and serve our communities are disgusting and disrespectful. It is critical to remember the number of law enforcement officers who have been assaulted and murdered simply because of the uniform they wear. O’Rourke’s inflammatory speech is particularly surprising since it follows a tweet he made four days prior, praising law enforcement officers who are “keeping our communities and our state safe.”

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This type of rhetoric is quite common in democrat circles, so its not surprising that Beta would embrace it. There have been more than a few prominent democrats who have called for defunding the police - an idiotic idea from folks whose neighborhoods and businesses are often being torched by crazy mobs who have been energized by agitators railing against Law and Order. Like Robert the Bruce's father, Beta seems to play both sides, embrace the madness when he is around other crazies, yet feigns respect for the Rule of Law when around normal Texans. But as we all know - A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8)
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"I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this — who will count the votes, and how." - Attributed to Joseph Stalin

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Texas Our Texas, All Hail The Mighty State!

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Folks not from Texas rarely understand this state. From its earliest history, it has resisted tyranny. Texans are fiercely independent, and love Liberty. The idea that some punk from El Paso is going to decide what weapons we can own, or what kind of cars we drive, or how we protect ourselves, is an anathema to a typical Texan. And to be so tone death to the real concerns of Texans, especially those from Latino backgrounds, that folks coming here illegally must be stopped. We welcome anyone that comes legally and in peace. But these are largely criminal invaders who have been lied to by folks in our very own government. We all pay the price for unrestricted illegal immigration. Lower wages, fewer entry level jobs, higher insurance, especially medical insurance, and then of course the increase in crime and prison overcrowding. Nobody wins with illegal immigration. Even those coming here are being robbed and raped by cartels, and being used by criminals in sweatshops, and as servants for the rich and famous. If you are an advocate for illegal immigration, you are not going to appeal to the majority of Texans, no matter the ethnicity.
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Killing Babies For Fun And Profit

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Democrats also believed they had a winning issue with abortion. Texas is still a largely Christian state. But even beyond that, there is a sense of right and wrong that prevails throughout Texas. Murder is murder. If there is any choice, it should have occurred months earlier when the couple decided to have unprotected sex. 

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There was a time when democrats suggested that abortion be "safe, legal, and rare." Many Texans could probably tolerate that, as it would be extreme cases, maybe rape, or incest, where it would be desired, not necessarily preferred. As in most things, democrats saw a profit motive in expanded abortion. They would make sure the abortion providers had plenty of money to stay open, and the laws would remain in their favor. In return, the abortionist would kill the children, even at birth, as often as possible, collecting funds from their victims. And they discovered that medical research paid generously for baby parts, so a whole new revenue stream became available with an ever increasing demand for more baby parts. Who cares if more black babies are aborted than born in New York City. As long as the abortion industry was profitable - and it was, money flowed freely back to the democrat party - $45 million in the 2020 election. Hey, and let's call it health care, because Americans are so dumb they will not understand the difference between murder and health care. Unfortunately for the democrats, most Texans do understand the difference.
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One For You, Three For Me 

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As expected, Beta did well in the large, urban areas. Democrats have remained in power for decades by keeping millions stuck in poverty, living in government slums, and attending crappy government schools. Every couple of years, they are just a vote for a Republican away from losing everything. Just have to keep voting for the democrats just this one more time and you'll see, it will get better. Four generations of this, and there are more poor folks than ever. Always agitated and afraid that their government cheese will be taken from them.

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Even Benjamin Franklin understood that you do not finance poverty. That simply creates more poor folks. If democrats truly cared about the poor, they would have fixed the problem decades ago. But its nice to have a stable, yet perpetually agitated base of low information voters you can count on to do your bidding.

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Since 1964, America has been losing the War on Poverty. We have quite literally dumped $25 TRILLION in a completely ridiculous effort to end poverty. Hundreds of redundant programs manage these funds, so only God knows how many millions landed in the pockets of bureaucrats and ne'er-do-wells in NGOs. Surely a few Congress critters and their friends and families had their hands out for a few bucks as well.

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But let's just imagine that all that money did land in the hands of households living below the poverty line. If we could cut them a lump sum payment out of that amount, that is a staggering $6.25 million per household! So, why do we still have poor folks? Because that is what democrats want.

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When I was wee lad, my Mother worked for the welfare department. She eventually left for a job that would allow her more time with me, and my two older sisters. Years later we were discussing her career, and what she liked or disliked about each job. It was her task as a case worker to work with individuals, often minorities, and the very poor, to help them get jobs and get OFF of government assistance. And she was very good at it. She was a Believer and loved people. And wanted the very best for them. And even hired a few for odd jobs as she had extra money available. 

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Contrast that with today's case worker. They are tasked with signing up as many folks, for as many programs as possible. The idea is to get them permanently dependent. And even if they are here in America illegally, that does not matter, shower them with free gifts, compliments of American taxpayers - actually borrowed from future taxpayers. So that is the core of Beta's support.

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The next largest group is of course union workers, especially government employees who see government as their source. The most prominent, and radical of these are the teachers' unions. I am not aware of any group more universally against providing students with a quality education than teachers' unions. You could probably add the Federal and state bureaucracies to that list, as they add little value, and certainly don't earn the dollars wasted on them. 

Government School Education

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Now hear me carefully - I do not hate teachers. I have two sisters who were both teachers in public schools. I do stand against teachers, unions, school boards, and educrats, that would rather waste money, teach about alternative lifestyles, and hatred of America, than reading, writing, and arithmetic. IF the goal is to lift people out of poverty, something must change. School choice makes a whole lot of sense to me, compared to the mess that exists presently. Shutting down the Department of Education ($640 BILLION Budget) and greatly reducing union and administrator influence, would allow GOOD teachers the freedom to do what they do best. And those GOOD teachers could be rewarded accordingly. And, the bad ones could more easily be identified and dismissed, or assigned something else that fits their qualifications.

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Plus, technology is changing the world. Do we need 8-3, 5 days a week classroom study? I don't know? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe some hybrid. The point is, find what works and do it for the children. Stop teaching LGBT nonsense, and divisive, false history. Leave the politics at home and let kids think the best of their country and leaders at least until high school.

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In every city there are numerous churches with classrooms that sit empty 6 days a week. There are also plenty of office space available in most markets for private and church schools to operate, giving parents more choices, smaller classrooms, and a more customized education experience. They key is the funding, currently just over $13k per student each year, must follow the student to whatever school they choose.

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Its all about choice, right?

Its amazing how often votes are misplaced by democrats. And they always find them just about the time the Republican takes the lead, or is about to take the lead. And its an amazing coincidence that all those votes that turn up in the wee hours, or found in the trunk of some worker's car, are almost exclusively votes for democrats, and only in competitive races. Amazing. But Beta, assuming he had help in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, was shellacked in the counties. There are 254 counties in Texas. Some are very sparsely populated like King County. Some like Dallas county have a whole lot more. It is in the counties, the dislike and rejection of Beta reaches a crescendo. Here are a few select counties, (County Name - County Seat - Abbott Total - Beta Total)

1. Young (Graham) - 5,479 - 627
2. Wood (Quitman) - 15,647 - 2,320
3. Wise (Decatur) - 21,948 - 3,528
4. Van Zandt (Canton) - 18,388 - 2,461
5. Smith (Tyler) - 56,542 - 18,706
6. Rockwall (Rockwall) - 30,157 - 12,084
7. Parker (Weatherford) - 52,444 - 10,105
8. Midland (Midland) - 32,362 - 7,144
9. Lamar (Paris) - 12,521 - 2,657
10. King (Guthrie) - 100 - 3
11. Johnson (Cleburne) - 42,867 - 12,200
12. Hunt (Greenville) - 23,709 - 6,405
13. Gregg (Longview) - 24,174 - 8,630
14. Comal (New Braunfels) - 54,259 - 19,061
15. Borden (Gail) - 306 - 9

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Nearly 1 million votes separated Abbott from Beta. It was only a close race in the mind of Beta. But with all the experience he has now at losing, he should see if he can resurrect the Washington Generals. They were once the best at losing to the Harlem Globetrotters. He might fit right in to an organization like that.

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And please Beta, leave Texas alone. We have made it clear that we want NOTHING to do with the democrat agenda. We prefer Liberty to tyranny.

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There once was a time when Texas was dominated by democrats. The kind that loved Jim Crow laws, and often had white robes and hoods in their closets. By the mid 80s, they were being voted out of office, slowly at first, until the majority of the state embraced Conservatism, and reluctantly the GOP as the best party to preserve Liberty, which was under assault. Pockets of democrat support remains in the large urban areas as demonstrated above. 

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The party in Texas did evolve, becoming more Conservative, hiding their racist ways. However, it was not enough for the national party that was now championing depravity. God was kicked out, meaning any moral constraint was gone. In its place was a policy of the end justifies the means. The enemy was defined as anyone who opposes democrats, and they were to be identified as racists and fascists - a classic case of projection. This was too much. Long time democrats left the party and switched to the GOP. They could not stomach the evil anymore. Although collectivism in all its most ugly forms has led to misery and suffering for millions, democrats to this day still embrace it as the solution. 

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The average Texan is a rugged individualist. They enjoy their Liberty. They love their neighbor, and respect their right to be left alone. The notion that some "Karen" is going to come to their house and tell them how to keep their yard, raise their kids, or protect their family, is bat guano crazy.

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The male equivalent is Ken, which doesn't work as well. Karen is the perfect representation of the democrat party. Its the renegade teacher that is going to teach your 1st grader that there are 27 genders and he/she/it can choose whichever one they want. And there is nothing you can do to stop the teacher because the students belong to him/her/them? 

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Its the science editor in the national media headquarters that absolutely KNOWS that there has been no significant warming in 170 years, yet gleefully plays unchallenged clips of a Swedish dropout turned agitator angrily shouting, "We're all going to die!"

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Or the politicians railing against fossil fuels, and complaining about the rising oceans. They then fly on their private jets, leaving behind their beachfront compound, to participate in a global party celebrating the financial windfall they will all soon share because the people are so gullible and refuse to think for themselves. Especially those that live near the coast, or visit it regularly, SHOULD notice that there has been virtually no change going back hundreds of years. That should be reason to celebrate.

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So since Beto was our very own Karen, I choose to call him by a more accurate nickname, Beta. This describes a man who is seen as passive, subservient, weak, and effeminate. Its a perfect description of the grifter from El Paso, who pretends to be Mexican when it might help win votes, hiding his Irish roots. You've heard of "toxic masculinity" of course. Beta suffers from something far worse, toxic effeminacy. A man who projects the very worst traits of women, specifically a masculine Karen.

Note how effortlessly Beta USES victims to push an unconstitutional gun  grab. Legal gun owners are not the issue. The weapons that he is targeting are not a problem. Its an effort to control the population, to strip away their God-given rights incrementally. If they can take those two guns, why not handguns, and rifles, and so on? 

You get the idea. I'm done.

NOTE: The Thomas Jefferson quote cannot be verified. I am usually good about checking these quotes for accuracy, but the quote sounded so much like Jefferson, I ran with it. So in its place, I give you something even better. A few lines from Ayn Rand's essay Man's Rights - From Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.

My October Surprise

Here In My Car - I Feel Safest Of All - I Can Lock All My Doors...

Until I purchased my first car, I shared a '73 Dodge with my Father. He drove for his carpool once a week. And I drove it to high school the other 4 days. I found out the hard way that Chrysler products all shared a unique superpower. They would DIE if you turned left and the engine was not thoroughly warmed up. It sounds strange, but I spent a few minutes before every trip mapping out paths to my destination with just right turns. Crazy.

My parents had Chrysler blood flowing through their veins. So every car in our garage was a Chrysler brand. But I hated their products like they were demons from hell. That hatred later flowed to all American products, as I encountered numerous flaws in various brands, and was stranded on the roadside more times than a teenager should be. Then, I purchased my first Datsun. After an initial hiccup, the former owner installed the wrong type of fuel pump, it ran like it was trying out for the Indy 500. I drove that car to college and it kept running until a truckload of inebriated Highland Park youths ran it, and me, into a tree.

Next came Mazda, which I drove until college graduation. It took me into my first job, and well over 100,000 miles of fun. I felt pity for the old girl, as she was leaking from just about everywhere - literally being held together by prayer. 

Then, I decided to try some German engineering and bought a Volkswagen - which sank into the swamp. No, that's not correct. An old man ran a red light and put me in the hospital. Let me tell you, when you are my size, 6'5" and at the time, a sturdy 250, having a group of healthy firemen lifting me into an ambulance is a wee bit unnerving - but I survived. Unfortunately, the car was put to sleep.

From the settlement, I upgraded to an even better and bigger Volkswagen. Their tanks in WW2 got better with size, why not their cars? That vehicle took me all over Texas, until it sank in a swamp - nope, that's not it. It was targeted for destruction by a carload of illegal aliens. They were not insured, unlicensed, and hit me. But according to the letter of the Law, I was at fault for the accident.

You might think after all that I might have given up driving altogether. No, instead I acquired a Toyota 4Runner - the car of my dreams. Its big enough that I just dare people to hit me - not literally of course. Instead, I plead the Blood of Jesus over it every day. And at well over 100,000 miles, I am just now dealing with a handful of routine repairs. They are such awesome vehicles. If only all my car experiences were so nice.

Memes, Get Your Memes Here!

I'm sure you have seen these messages on social media - share this or else you will not be Blessed. Or, like this, or else you will face God's wrath. God does not work that way.

First off - God is always wanting to Bless. When you are a Baby Christian, and what you say is not matching what is in your heart, He applies much mercy to protect you from your own stupidity. As you mature, He expects your mouth and heart to agree - or else. What is the or else? See Job. 

God Blessed him tremendously, placed a hedge of protection around Job - that was satan's complaint. But something brought that hedge down, and it wasn't God or the devil. It was Job. He GREATLY feared that his kids might sin, or that catastrophe would hit his life. And that is exactly what he got. When he finally figured out what was wrong, God helped him get his mouth under control, and then restored and doubled his fortune. The lesson - don't fear. Speak God's Word Boldly. Believe Him and Praise Him. And you will be BLESSED. And forget the memes.

Don't Change A Thing...

This song is 40 years old - released October 27, 1982. I remember getting home from work and watching this video, and MTV for hours - cable television finally reached Longview, Texas and I talked my parents into installing it. We only had 3 reliable TV stations at the time. 

Don't Change from INXS ranked as high as #17 on the US Charts, but that IMHO was an unfortunate ranking. The clubs were playing this as part of their regular rotation. An even I, as kid still in high school who only rarely went to a dance club, remember dancing to it many times. Enjoy! Just Don't Change A Thing!!

Its Election Season!

As October winds down, you can't escape all the election ads, the paid bots, the "surprises", and the Democrat shenanigans. I have to admit, Twitter can be fun. And messing with the DNC bots - although rarely will it ever change any minds, is very satisfying. Here are a few of my most recent exchanges.

It amazes me how democrat operatives can get so fixated on a single aspect of any situation. Its done intentionally to build sympathy for their cause or candidate. They never reflect on what is truly the greater good - how can the MOST people benefit. And Brooklyn Dad is a hoot. He must be paid well to tweet the crap he puts out. He is my pick for agitator of the year.

I don't know Peter Morley, but since this response, he has since revised his spiel. Apparently, its not OUR money. Because it must stay under the control of the government.

The owner of this Tweet blocked me, so I can't copy the original nonsense - so let me recreate the concept. For some reason, people on the extreme left - most democrats, are obsessed with The Handmaid's Tale. A truly dreadful book about a dystopian future where the breeding women are dressed like 18th century women - in red Snuggies and white bonnets. 

Women have fought the patriarchy for 50 years, emasculating most of the male population, and yet somehow men are going to rise up, take back control, and make women sex slaves? And my point was simple, IF this were to happen, there is no way that nubile women will be forced to wear those stupid outfits. Let the elevator reach the top floor. The handmaids are more likely to dress and dance like Lily Collins.

Remember, this is MY dystopian future, where nubile women are admired and respected.

Where does one go from that?

Are You On Quora? Here are a few of my most viewed and upvoted answers and my profile page.

What are some useful tips for students starting their first semester at Southern Methodist University?

Why do people think Christ was somehow poor when he was a carpenter which was high paying back then?

If the USA became a theocracy, who would you like to see as the head of that church?

Can Christians play horror games?

For King And Country

When I was a wee lad, I ordered a copy of the Texas travel guide and mapped out a 30 day mega journey, hitting everything in the State that looked cool. My family never made that trip. But I am glad to say that during a very strange year of selling textbooks to schools throughout Texas, I hit 75% of my tourist goals. I'm talking all the hot stuff - Battle of Gonzales battlefield to the Confederate Air Force (now known as the politically correct, Commemorative Air Force). I saw everything from Paisano Pete, the giant Road Runner statue in Fort Stockton, to the East Texas Yamboree in Gilmer, celebrating you guessed it - Sweet Potatoes, better known as Yams. I traveled to Paris, Athens, Dublin, and Odessa, and never crossed Texas state lines.

This state is big and beautiful, and so very interesting. Most of these places can be visited over a long weekend, depending on where you start.

Order your Texas Travel guide today, or access it online: Texas Travel Guide 

Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

If given a choice, I would likely go back to Finland, or Greece, or the Virgin Islands, or Toronto, or Montreal - truly the prettiest big city in North America.

Even in North America, you can literally be brought to tears by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. They are spectacular in Winter, probably even better during the Summer. And of course the Blue Ridge Parkway is probably one of the most impressive drives in the United States.

There are certainly some very beautiful places throughout North America, and of course the world. But my heart remains in Texas!

The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water...Upon observing King Chuck on the bank, she promptly returned to her watery home, Excalibur still in hand.

I will never understand why any modern nation would subsidize a monarchy. But then again, we've got a whole city (Washington DC) of ne'er-do-wells, getting rich off taxpayers, who consider themselves to be our betters. Maybe England does have the better system of just one family of miscreants rather than the whole government. 

Oddly, I am not listed in the top 62 of the current line of succession. I truly do not understand this oversight. I would make a great king! Maybe England should consider changing monarchs daily? They could have a King For A Day? Make it a prize on a game show?

Or an even better take on a dying empire, "Heil Me!"

Texas produces some of the most beautiful women on the planet. It is a melting pot of various cultures, blessed with an abundance of sunshine, allowing women to get a healthy, heaping dose of Vitamin D, and plenty of fun in the Sun. So it should be no surprise that a giant school like the University of Texas would have some of the prettiest cheerleaders/pom squad in the country. But what the heck is up with those awful uniforms? You might as well dress the ladies in cow costumes. You've got more money than half the NCAA schools combined, surely you can do better than this?

These Uniforms - Hot, or Not?

My vote is a resounding "NOT". Although in that second photograph, the brunette in the background, could probably make anything look great. Its a shame I could not find a better shot of her. 

Das ist alles für heute!

One Ring To Rule Them All

There is so much happening in the world, but I choose not to be depressed. I will follow Paul's advice and pray for those in authority. That will take care of them and me.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. - 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT

So this came across my Twitter stream.

So I had a few minutes to waste, and a video editing tool. 

Do not try this yourself. Selecting beautiful women is for highly qualified individuals. Remember, I am a professional.

I have probably seen the Austin Power movies 10 times since they were released. But I never noticed this 80s rock star playing in Austin Power's band.

Don't recognize her? How about this?

Yes, its Susanna Hoffs, lead singer of The Bangles, and a favorite of many lads in the early 80s.

Its football season! And yes, this is SMUs Year!!

More wins to come.

I have no idea why I made this meme. But there is truth in it.

Happy Independence Day! And Other Fun Stuff!!

If you love America, you celebrate this day. This was the moment we declared our Independence from England, ending government ties to an oppressive and outdated monarchy. And setting a new standard for all people to follow - All men are created equal. And while it has taken some time for that idea to fully materialize, this day was the spark that lit the fuse.

The Founding Fathers would go on to win our Independence through a hard fought war, and then create a government, a Democratic Republic, to protect the rights of all citizens.

87 years later, by coincidence, two major Civil War battles ended. The same day the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania ended, July 3, 1863, the Confederate defenders surrendered at Vicksburg, MS. (Terms offered on 3rd, accepted on the 4th) Union forces surrounded the city, the last major CSA obstacle on the Mississippi River, and for 47 days shelled the defenders and citizens. Older homes have cannonballs stuck in walls from the siege.

At one point, Union General Grant began digging a canal to divert the river away from Vicksburg, but later abandoned the endeavor - the work can still be seen. Its the most interesting Civil War battlefield I have visited. And its an incredible story. I'm really surprised it has not found its way into a major motion picture. July 4, 1863 did not end the Civil War, but the conclusion was never in doubt after this weekend.

Found on Twitter:

I cannot even begin to express how frustrating and devastating and terrifying it is to be a climate scientist in a society run by climate deniers

— Peter Kalmus (@ClimateHuman) July 2, 2022

This is an employee (paid by taxpayers) of NASA. He describes himself as a client scientist, but his activities are much more like agitation, than research. And if he is doing it on our dime, he should be dismissed immediately. He has encouraged kids to walk out of school, and chained himself and others to JP Morgan, for the latter he was arrested.

If Red Flag laws were a thing, he's the type you would report. If he gets frustrated, devastated, and terrified, because normal people dismiss his ridiculous claims, I would keep all weapons out of his possession. The guy is unhinged. Referring to those who don't agree with his alarmist claptrap as climate deniers, reveals he is not interested in honest debate. He wants to shut down any alternate views, no matter how well researched.

For better or worse, I've been on this planet far longer than Pete. And I have heard every prophecy of doom "climate scientists" like Pete have released, In every case, the date passes and nothing happens. In religion, that person is called a false prophet. Anyone engaging in such activities should be locked up.

MGM/UA better be developing a series a films for Paloma (Ana de Armas). In the handful of minutes she was on screen, she made No Time To Die worth watching. You want a strong female who can kick butt and look good - you have found her. She is the Gal Gadot of spy films. I'm not suggesting she is the new 007, but if the new 007 is a woman, she should get a very close look.

Instead, Lashana Lynch was set forth as a possible replacement. In the film, they make it seem that she assumed the 007 code name since Bond had stepped aside. Towards the end, she offers it back to Bond - probably the right move.

If she is to be the new 007, the writers of NTTD did not help her at all. Because every female in the film upstages her, some like Ana, do it with just minutes on screen! During the major fight scene, she is down the street on a 2nd story porch. They couldn't even be bothered with a close-up of her action, but we do hear her grunts while she is fighting. Meanwhile, the camera clearly favors Bond and Paloma taking on everyone in one of the better coordinated fights seen with Bond and a female accomplice.

The sexy swagger, so much a part of the Bond character, is completely missing. Bond follows Lynch to the bedroom, and you just know nothing is going to happen. Why? There is not one spark between them. You can almost hear a sigh of relief from Daniel Craig when he realizes that the bedroom visit is platonic. Bond had more chemistry with Judi Dench than with Lynch! Even the female extras exhibit more sex appeal than Lynch - was this scripted this way on purpose? Were producers seeking a backlash from fans so they could claim racism or patriarchy? I hope not because I would take Naomie Harris in a heartbeat as a possible 007 replacement. She's sharp.

Good luck with Lynch. I wanted to like her character and performance. I think she was undermined by the script and limited time on screen. If given a chance, a better script, and more screen time, Lynch just might prove everyone wrong. 

Or maybe just hire Charlie Hunnam and let the Bond series continue as we have come to expect. Nothing says we can't have more than one 00# character saving the world - maybe one of every gender and flavor!

Speaking of bad casting and unforgettable characters, does anyone, without searching Google, remember the name of the villain, or who was cast to play that part? Like many recent adversaries in the Bond franchise, totally forgettable.

Check out my new post (Part 2) - Women Pastors - Paul's Advice, Or Liberty For Female Pastors?

Elon's Mom Has Got It Going On!

As a wee man, I looked forward to Sports Illustrated about 3 times a year. First the college football preview, then came the college basketball preview, and finally the Swimsuit edition. Otherwise, it was a worthless magazine for college sports. If you wanted coverage of the Southwest Conference, SI was definitely NOT your source.

But every Spring several pages of tastefully photographed beauties, in sometimes questionable swimsuits, arrived in my mailbox. The first edition my Mother found in my possession led to a long discussion of its purpose in my room.

I haven't even thought of SI in years. The last swimsuit edition I purchased probably had Kathy Ireland in it! 

My how things have changed. Here are your 2022 cover models.

Kudos to all the women who were selected. I especially want to acknowledge Elon's Mother Maye Musk. Its great to see a seasoned citizen enjoying life. I liked her photos so much I wrote - ok "borrowed" a song about her. Sung to the tune of  Fountains of Wayne - Stacy's Mom.

 

Elon's Mom

Elon's mom has got it goin' on

She's all I want

And I've waited for sooooo long

Elon, can't you see?

You're just not the guy for me

I know it might be wrong but

I'm in love with Elon's mom

.@mayemusk revealed how Elon, Kimbal and Tosca reacted to her historic #SISwim22 cover https://t.co/8rUtfFrSXA

— Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (@SI_Swimsuit) May 21, 2022

I'm a big fan of 80s music. That decade produced a bunch of talented acts, and a ton of great music and videos. The generation most impacted by that decade is reaching the pinnacle of their lives. Which means they are the decision makers in Hollywood, and the consumer segment with the greatest buying power. So its no surprise that music from the 80s is turning up everywhere.

Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ Streams Soar 8,000% Thanks to ‘Stranger Things’

For some reason, this story really took off. Don't get me wrong - I love the song and consider myself a Kate Bush fan. She did not make my ranking of Top 5 songs from the 80s, but she was an honorable mention. That may not seem like much, until considering how many good songs there were during the decade. I also identified a handful of cover songs that I thought were very well done. Placebo knocked it out of the park with a cover of Running Up That Hill. See My Favorite 80s Music Cover Songs.

I tried to watch Stranger Things when it was first released. I really wanted to like it because I'm a Winona Ryder fan. But I bailed after a handful of episodes. I did go back and watch the new season to see how the Kate Bush song was used. I must admit I liked the placement, and enjoyed the episode almost exclusively because of the song usage. I tried episode 2, but bailed about halfway through. There are just too many better options out there. If they could just get rid of the kid actors...😏

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

If law enforcement will stand down, and not engage an active shooter for up to an hour, the perp doesn't even need a gun. Imagine a crazed lunatic with a machete in class room of 1st graders. Now give him/her/them an hour. How many victims could he create with a swing every couple of seconds?

The left is so desperate to disarm America. Beto, the Washington Generals, or designated loser of Texas politics, was demanding gun confiscation before they even removed the bodies in Uvalde! And he can't even be honest about what he wants, misleading voters into thinking that Americans can purchase automatic weapons, and that these "assault weapons" are the problem. No, the problem is much deeper than that. And if guns weren't available, the student in Uvalde could have used many different weapons. He could have waited until the end of the day and driven his car through lines of children, or planted a bomb, or even poisoned the food - and likely killed far more children. Evil will find away. Americans must always be vigilant, law enforcement and armed citizens.

This report will make you angry, and confused.

The mom that ran in and saved her kids after being handcuffed in Uvalde finally spoke out. pic.twitter.com/wHNouRkCY7

— barbarism critic (luxury gay space communist arc) (@SxarletRed) June 3, 2022

16 years ago, a blog post from the past - A little perspective on June 6th...