Sunday, September 30, 2018

I believe the woman

The ex-Mrs. Michael Moore, that is.
Kathleen Glynn, who divorced Moore in 2014 after a 23-year marriage, filed a lawsuit against him in Manhattan Supreme Court earlier this month claiming that he was ripping her off on profits made from their joint movie projects.
A 23-year marriage to Michael Moore. The mind boggles...

Sunday funnies

Ok, I think I now understand Jeff Flake.


From Powerline's The Week in Pictures...







Fetch, Bossie!




An honest film trailer for "Solo: A Star Wars Story"...




Not sure there would be much of a difference: "Senate To Be Replaced With Room Full Of Monkeys Throwing Feces".

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Decline and fall

You wouldn't know it to see the place now, but Grandma Paco's home was, during her entire adult life, an immaculate little Craftsman-style farm house, parts of which were almost a hundred years old when I was a young man, but sound and clean and lovingly maintained.

Unfortunately, after she died, it fell into the hands of my disastrous and ever-impecunious Uncle Jack, whose dubious stewardship has left the place fit only for demolition. He lived in the house for above 20 years, much of that time without power and water due to his casual approach to paying bills. Behold the destructive power of doing absolutely nothing in the way of maintenance!









The chest-of-drawers on the porch is, curiously, filled with Jack's old socks. I believe this piece of furniture may have originally been in the back bedroom; however, when my brother and I went poking around inside the house, we saw that the floor of that room had completely collapsed.

Friday, September 28, 2018

And great was the wonder in heaven thereat

NeverTrumper Jeff Flake, Republican (LOL!) Senator from Arizona, has indicated that he will support Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Update: Yeah, that didn't last long. Flake joined the other Republicans in voting Kavanaugh's nomination out of Committee, but then called for an "investigation" prior to a full vote by the Senate. Honestly, I do not know who this guy thinks his audience is. He is despised by conservatives and his only use to leftists is as a Vichy Republican senator, and since he's not running for reelection, that dubious utility is soon going to vanish and he'll simply become another of CNN's "Republican" strategists, loathed by the right and ignored by the left as something less than a true believer. Maybe he's just a coward and an idiot.

Happy Feet Friday

Here's some interesting documentary footage of the Carnival of Swing concert on Randall's Island in 1938, featuring the hard-charging orchestra of Count Basie.



Update: Young men in suits and fedoras, young ladies in modest, but stylish, jackets and skirts. A little different from what I witnessed at a Led Zeppelin concert.

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Tag sale!

Among the many interesting, er, high-class items that will be featured at the upcoming tag sale at the ancestral home is this one:

Democrats apparently want another Civil War

Remember, though, donks, the first one you started didn't work out so well for you.

I am beyond contemptuous of the Democrats and their eleventh-hour attempt to sabotage the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, and it is good to see that even some GOP-e Republicans have had enough (hats off to - get this - Lindsey Graham!) I hope Judge Kavanaugh prevails, and I believe that this complete and utter s**t show will probably negatively impact the Democrats' mid-term election hopes - so, way to overplay your hand, guys.

Update: The Daily Caller has the video of Lindsey Graham as you've never seen him before.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Back in the saddle

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say, back in my favorite Lazy Boy chair.

It's good to be home again, although we have hardly been roughing it. Mrs. Paco and I went to stay at the house my brother and I inherited from Old Paco. The place is a little run down, but very livable, and the locale offers the kind of bucolic charm that takes the edge off of one's worries.

Here's a view of the house from the other side of the fence dividing the yard from the pasture.



And here's a view from the front porch.



My brother's been in touch with a realtor who has some notion of marketing the place up nawth as a horse property, trying to appeal to would-be gentlemen ranchers in places like New Jersey, I imagine. I dunno. My father did run some cattle and a few horses there, but it was a lot of work. It's a lovely site, I have to admit. I believe I probably mentioned before that the Paco clan used to raise cotton in those fields during the Great Depression, and up into the WWII years.

There's a pretty little pond on the property, and I walked down to it yesterday to check it out. As I got close, I accidentally flushed a mother deer and two of her young from the trees, and they went bounding across the pasture to parts unknown. They were far too fast for me to get on film, but here's a photo of the pond.



My brother is working with a lady who specializes in estate sales to do a tag sale sometime around the middle of October. We hope to be able to liquidate the incredible accumulation of junk collection of fine pre-owned consumer items with which the house abounds. Bro Paco and I agreed that each of us could take whatever we wanted prior to the tag sale. I think he took some boring things like furniture and power tools, but I got the cool stuff. Check it out.



1. A lead musket paperweight
2. A couple of pocket knives
3. Two vintage Cutter snake-bite kits from the late 1950s (unused)
4. A leather-bound cosh (interestingly, the business end has a certain amount of wear on it)

The snake-bite kits particularly appealed to me, because they bring vividly to mind my father's days as a revenooer. He always carried a snake-bite kit because of all the time he and the other agents spent prowling about in the woods looking for illegal stills, and I remember him showing me how the thing was supposed to work when I was about six years old. These days, that particular method of treating snake bites is considered archaic, but the kits were strangely fascinating to me. I opened one and there it all was: the tiny razor with a tiny handle for making incisions around the wound, a little vial of antiseptic, and the rubber pieces that could be used to suck blood and (one hoped) venom from the wound. Amazing how such a simple little thing can trigger so many memories.

We returned yesterday to find the house in good shape, save for some minor water damage to the ceiling in the garage, and it seems that all of our neighbors were similarly fortunate, thanks be to God. Many in our part of the state were not so lucky, however, and we must do what we can to help them.



Sunday, September 23, 2018

I shall return

Will return in a couple of days, I hope. Mighty tempting to linger here at the country home, 'cause the livin' is easy, but I guess we ought to be moving on.

Monday, September 10, 2018

Swell

We haven't even been here a year, and now there's a monster hurricane breathing down our necks. Blogging is likely to be light. Feel free to discuss a range of deep, philosophical topics in the comments section.

Here, I'll start you off. If it weren't for bacon, would we really care whether the earth was destroyed by a huge comet?

Forgotten, but not gone

Charles Hurt, uh, "celebrates" Barry's return to the campaign trail.
Pompous, insufferable, self-enthralled, cliched and uninspiring, he picked up right where he left off.
David Harsanyi is similarly unimpressed with the Light Lite Worker.

Sunday, September 9, 2018

The ghosts of Brunswick County

When I lived in Fairfax, Virginia, I was constantly making trips down to Richmond, and due to the terrible traffic problems on I-95, frequently found myself taking US 1 part of the way. There are many abandoned houses and commercial buildings along the route which I had always intended to photograph for the purpose of doing a photo series which I was going to call "The Ghosts of US 1". I did, in fact, blog about a couple of interesting sites, but never had a chance to do all I wanted to do.

That's all out of the question, now, since I've moved to Southport, NC, but the basic idea is the same, so I'm putting together photos of various ruins and other sites that I'll be posting occasionally under the title "The Ghosts of Brunswick County". Abandoned places have always appealed to me, probably because they're evocative of people who came before, whose livelihoods, hopes and dreams were once tied up with these now desolate structures. I can't help but wonder who these people were, what became of them. As always, click to enlarge photos.

Here are some long-abandoned silos in a bean field near the town of Bolivia.







Now, here we may be talking real ghosts. These are some shots from a private cemetery (also near the town of Bolivia) about which I have been able to learn almost nothing from internet searches, except that the place is owned and operated by some kind of foundation. It is the David R. Mercer Cemetery, and entry is usually impossible because of a chain that extends between the two brick pillars on either side of the road; however, today the chain was down (possibly to allow for Sunday visitations), so I went in and took a gander around.









Well, I guess I do know what became of those folks. May they rest in peace.

Pro tip

Don't carry your cell phone in the same pocket with a loose credit card, driver's license or your damned concealed carry permit, especially if the phone is inserted in one of those rubber cases to protect it from sharp impacts. What can happen is, when you take the cell phone out of your pocket, the credit card, driver's license or your damned concealed carry permit can get caught on the lip of the phone protector and dumped on the floor without your even knowing it. And you can't always count on some wonderful good Samaritan to find your credit card, driver's license or your damned concealed carry permit and turn it in at the lost & found department at Walmart.

This has been a public service announcement from Paco Enterprises.

Sunday funnies

So, Donald Trump decided to check out one of Hillary's recently discovered emails...











Geez, looks like you can build practically anything with LEGOs...




So, Cory Booker goes into a coffee shop (via Powerline's "The Week in Pictures")...




T-shirt of the week...



Friday, September 7, 2018

Crazytown

The late Tom Wolfe wrote that “[t]he dark night of fascism is always descending in the United States and yet lands only in Europe.”

True in the past, not so sure about these days. The increasing violence of the Left, including the sanctioning of violence by Democrat politicians, could clear the runway for a landing here.

Happy Feet Friday

Some delightful early Nicholas Brothers.

So, Cory Booker isn't so much Spartacus as he is Emily Litella?

Yeah, "never mind" about that display of raw courage, as Senator Booker publicized confidential information, the consequences be damned - the information had already been cleared, and Booker knew it. The cheapest of cheap theatrics. The guy who dressed up as a condom has more dignity than Cory Booker.

Update: Even MSNBC and CNN didn't buy Booker's act.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Sauce for the goose...

From the Babylon Bee: "Outrage After Obama Outed As White Supremacist".

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Desperation

The Left is now making stuff up that doesn't even come close to passing the laugh test: "Mexican-Jewish Woman Behind Kavanaugh Falsely Accused of Making ‘White Power’ Sign".

And this is an instance of hypocrisy, too. Eric Holder never got called out for flashing a well-known gang sign.



Update: Rebecca, in the comments - "I know that sign. It belongs to La Cosa Nostril."

The Democratic Party

Illustrated.

Jennifer Rubin has finally entered the "sticking-straws-in-her-hair" phase of political madness

This strikes me as not only nuts, but obscene:
Just as 9/11/01 galvanized a generation of young people perhaps 9/1/18 (the date of McCain’s funeral) will be the inspiration for another generation of Americans to eschew tribalism and seek common ground in defense of overarching values.


"Good morning, Ms. Rubin! We have a wonderful surprise: your friends from the Weekly Standard block are here to see you!"

Update: And Jonah Goldberg could do with a little introspection before he starts talking to himself on the subway.

Even the toughest cheese is not proof against the grater

"Rahm Emanuel Pulls Out of Mayoral Race Amid Rising Chicago Body Count".

Too bad we can't bring back William "Big Bill" Thompson, the last Republican mayor of Chicago. True, he was a friend of Al Capone and it was always a little curious how almost 2 million bucks was discovered in his safe deposit box when he died, and he did threaten to punch King George V in the nose if ever met him, but, still, he couldn't do any worse than Rahm.


"I told you this would happen if the Democrats got in."

But...but...civility

I'm confused. Didn't a parade of Democrat worthies and at least one (admittedly ersatz) Republican (George Bush) recently stand up at John McCain's funeral service and speak in Augustan tones about the civility, bipartisanship and collegiality that distinguished our politics during the late senator's career?

Then how is it possible that the Senate hearing on Judge Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court has borne out H.L. Mencken's observation that modern democracy is like "a circus run from the monkey cage"? Thus far, the hearing has been marked by raucous protests that were actually planned and coordinated by Democratic senators who sit on the committee conducting the hearing. This isn't a hearing, it's just one long, sustained temper tantrum. I hope there are some conservative activists in the room who are capturing this dumpster fire on film; should come in handy during the midterms for reminding voters that Democrats are the soiled-diapers-and-overactive-larynx party. More seriously, and more ominously, this spectacle shows that Democrats are willing to drop democracy (and civility and collegiality and fairness) on a moment's notice in order to get what they want.

We inch ever nearer to civil war, and the thought of being ruled by these ghastly people in perpetuity almost makes me long for it.

Update: Great opening comments from Senator Cruz.

The company he keeps

Former head of the Department of Just Us, Eric Holder, has made some noises about throwing his hat in the ring for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. This photo should come in handy as the basis for a campaign poster: "Vote for Eric holder - His Racism is More Subtle".



Naturally, there were the routine weasel words about how the picture does not constitute an endorsement of the anti-Semitic Louis Farrakhan's hateful politics and religion. It doesn't exactly represent a disavowal either, though, Eric.

Man with head like a salt lick raves

John Brennan spewed some more venom at Trump in another one of his pompous Tweets. Right now, I don't know what would be more appropriate for this unhinged blowhard, an orange jumpsuit or a straitjacket.


"Ah, but the strawberries! That's where I had Trump, and I could have proved it, too, if only he hadn't been elected."

Monday, September 3, 2018

"Civil War Within the Catholic Church"

Paul Rahe at The Federalist writes about the moral rot within the church's hierarchy, which includes the systematic undermining of church orthodoxy on matters pertaining to human sexuality - apparently with the pope's knowledge and approval.

It is a frightening thing to see the mark of the cloven hoof within the House of the Lord. I remind our so-called spiritual shepherds of Matthew 18:6 -
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Happy Labor Day!

We'll be attending a neighborhood barbecue (under my retirement strategy of "Let someone else do it").

I especially want to wish a great Labor day to the employees of Paco Enterprises, without whose efforts the vast Paco business empire would be unsustainable. Take an extra hour off today, guys!


"Thanks, boss!"

Update: A special shout-out to friend and commenter Rebecca, who's celebrating several important dates today, including her and her husband's 50th wedding anniversary.

Decent interval over, as far as I'm concerned

And here's why. I always knew that John McCain, after campaigning on repealing Obama Care, wound up casting the deciding vote to kill repeal. What I didn't know was that he reportedly yukked it up with Chuck Schumer after the vote and remarked, "Let’s see Donald make America great again now".

Oh, and let's not forget that it was a senior McCain staffer who encouraged the IRS to target conservative non-profit groups (show of hands: how many people believe that staffer Henry Kerner acted on his own initiative and that McCain knew nothing about it? I'd say the probability of that scenario is in the neighborhood of zero).

Compare and contrast with another military hero, POW and politician, Jeremiah Denton.

Let’s see Donald make America great again now. Well, John, you've just made it a tad easier. Thanks.

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Sunday funnies

Al Bundy in hell...



Check out this week's deals down at Bedrock Motors!





I think this guy's got 'em all covered...




Finding out who you are - not always that interesting...




Learn to speak Australian in 30 days...



(H/T: Tastefully Offensive for the last three videos).





Antifa considers name change.


Two from Powerline's "The Week in Pictures"...



Saturday, September 1, 2018

It is unseemly to speak ill of the dead...

...but we have a moral obligation to skewer those who use the passing of a public figure as an excuse for crass, opportunistic partisanship. Meghan McCain, Barack Obama and even George Bush - this last in that craven, indirect way he has developed for knifing people in his own party - turned portions of their eulogies into a Trump-bashing exercise.

And then there's the execrable Jeff Flake, who Tweeted a picture of Obama, Bill Clinton, and George Bush sitting together, with the caption "Decency wins". Decency. Bill Clinton? How strange it must be to be Jeff Flake, sailing through life so utterly, blissfully unaware of what an insufferable prick he is.

Jimmy's Famous Seafood vs. PETA

Hilarious Twitter exchange between Jimmy's and PETAphiles.

Fine, your Holiness, fine

Plastic in the ocean, bad. Now, what about the allegations of covering up sexual abuses by priests?

Every day brings another reason why I'm happy to be as far from D.C. as possible

"Twice in two days, Metro trains end up on the wrong lines".