Captain Phillips II - Some People Did Something

 THIS FALL...

From Chattering Teeth Studios 

a blogspot blog...

Captain Phillips II 

Captain Richard Phillips, now 71, comes out of retirement to protect America from Somali pirates once again.  In 2009, Somali pirates stormed his container ship looking for booty but ended up fish food at the movies conclusion. 

Now comes Ilhan Omar and her brother-husband and her band of family pirates intending to commandeer an empty container ship in order to fill it with Ilhan Omar's treasure that she has stolen from this country. Omar has to escape, as the jaws of justice are closing in on her con game!

Do you have Prince Albert in a can?

 Per this Fox News story, Las Vegas investigators say they've ID'd body found in Lake Mead barrel.

Welcome back, to the continuing adventures of Detective Pun, LVPD. The scene opens at dusk, a rusted metal barrel sits exposed from low water levels on the shore of Lake Mead. The glow of colorful neon from the Las Vegas strip alights the horizon like a macabre northern lights display for the homeless, hopeless and ill-repute.  Detective Jim Pun arrives, wearing his ill-fitting beige trench coat - hair unkempt, as his wandering good eye falls on Dr. Bones, the county coroner, who is already on the scene and singing a tune... 

"♫ Just a castaway, ♫ an island lost at sea, oh..."

Det. Pun: Hey doc, do you have Prince Albert in a can?

Dr. Bones: Let's not do this again...

Det. Pun: Well ya better let him out!

Dr. Bones: The vic. was shot twice in the back of the head sometime in the late 80's and stuffed in this barrel and dropped to the bottom of the lake where it washed ashore in 2022...

Det. Pun: You have me over a barrel, doc. Is he gonna make it?

Dr. Bones: He's dead, Jim.

Det. Pun: Well aren't you a barrel of laughs! From a cask to a casket, eh? I've been tapped to lead this investigation. I'm just gonna roll out the barrel. I don't think we are looking at a suicide. Here is my profile... We're in Vegas, so I suspect we are looking for a one-armed bandit - call him Charlie Tuna - who had just gotten canned at his soup factory, so he takes it out on our vic here like shooting so many ducks in a barrel. How am I doing?

Dr. Bones:How did you pass the police academy?

Det. Pun: Don't be so can-tankerous, doc. I'm on a roll. We need to keep a lid on this, eh doc? So I imagine you need to get this vic. on ice. Is your refridgerator running back at the distillery?

Dr. Bones: Please. I'm begging you...

Det. Pun: Well, you better go catch it! Nature calls, I gotta go to the can.

Fade scene - roll credits

In unrelated barrel news...

The Message in a bottle story reminded me of an old picture in my archives I've often wondered about. Pictured from left to right: my mother, me, brother Greg, brother Donz and my dad. My brother Rick and sister Cindy apparently had better sense than going over Niagara in a barrel. 

I am not sure what my parents were thinking, as this was a very dangerous stunt and there have only been a few documented successful attempts. Ours was successful I'm guessing, though I have no memory of it.  I know this was before the internet, but you'd think there would be some record of this feat.

Visitors to my Humbirdy feeder

 I've spent most of my life trying to ignore the birds around me. Now I am getting such a kick out of these visitors to my newly purchased feeder with the spycam. They are hilarious! There is certainly a hierarchy in the bird world - kind of like high school. The Tufted titmouse and the Black-capped chickadees (think debate clubbers) will defer to the Downy woodpecker (validictorian) but the Downys defer to the feeder-squatting House finch (think lunchroom bully). They all scatter for the Northern cardinal (prom king / queen) and the cardinal thinks he's big and bad until the Blue jay (football blu chip) checks in. Of course, the a-hole squirrel pisses in the punch bowl. There is one in every class.

OMAR & BROS SALVAGE RAID

 PICTURED: Federal agents executed a pre-dawn search warrant at the home of Representative Ilhan Omar. 

Happy In Dungeness Crab Peoples' Day

 I was exiting a Whole Foods Market empty-handed (the "W" on the sign was burned out, so it read "hole Foods", which I naturally assumed meant Donut Shop) when the store greeter - a long-haired freaky person wearing a nametage with "Skippy" on it - engaged me in a repartee...

SKIPPY: Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day.

BLADE: Deciduous Day? Like when trees lose their leaves? And people have to rake them up? It's about time we had a day for that.

SKIPPY: IN -DI- GE- NOUS! Indigenous Peoples' Day.

BLADE: Did you say, "Happy In Dungeness Peoples' Day"? Like the crabs? I loved Half-Life 2, that PC game with the parasitic alien crab creatures latch onto the human hosts to create zombies. Think CNN as the crab and the average anti-Trumper as the zombie. I must have played that game half a dozen times. Happy In Dungeness Peoples' Day to you!

SKIPPY: Crabs? No. I said INDIGENOUS. It means...

BLADE:  (interrupting) Don't tell me! I'll get it. Is it INGENUOS Day? I believe the definition means "naive or innocent". So it's naive day, where the ignorant liberal white women pretend Michigan senate candidate Abdul el-sayed is a sincere champion of catch phrases for dummies and not actually a trojan horse for jihadists and communists?

SKIPPY: It's INDIGENOUS Peoples' Day!

BLADE:  Let me check my calendar... I believe you meant to say, Happy Columbus Day! You know, "In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue."

SKIPPY: Nope. I meant to say "Indigenous"... You know, referring to the the native people who were here more than 20,000 years before Columbus arrived in 1492! 

BLADE: And yet, they didn't even have the wheel. I mean, the ocean goes both ways. Nothing was stopping these "native people" from building huge ships and sailing east and discovering Italy. And by "native people," do you mean the Indians? Also known as "Injuns?" That's it, right? Injun-eous peoples' day?

SKIPPY: I didn't say Injuneous! That term is a racial slur and used as a pejorative against the red skinned peoples. I said Indigenous! The first peoples!

BLADE: The first peoples were actually the crabheads. They were here before the Younger Dryas. That's science. Anyway, their time ended with the great flood. Eventually, the waters receeded and tribes of humans migrated over a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska - completely bypassing the border wall I might add. These illegal alien tribes were very territorial and not very good neighbors, frequently engaging in warfare with each other long before the Europeans landed. Conquest was in their very nature. Might makes right. So had Columbus, or any Europeans not discovered this land mass, would the great plains of North America still be sparsely populated with violent spear-chucking hunter-gatherers like the Sentinelese people (google it) even today? I think, yes. Columbus was the tip of the spear for bringing civilization to a backward third-world people. 

SKIPPY: (hands shaking, as he takes a long drag from his marijuanna stick) That is NOT what my Berkeley professor told me! He said, the INDIGENOUS...

BLADE: (interrupts again) AH, I get it... You're saying INGENIOUS, which (according to Britannica) is an adjective that means very clever, original, inventive, or resourceful. What better way to describe Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer who discovered America? Sorry I misunderstood originally... Yes, Columbus was Ingenious. And brave. Can you imagine sailing one-way across a vast ocean without knowing if there was even safe harbor on the other side, or if the water just cascaded over the edge of the flat Earth? So... Happy INGENIOUS Peoples' Day to you!

SKIPPY: (starts to cry) The white man was bad! The indigenous native peoples were a peaceful folk who wore loincloths and ornamental feathers while dancing around the campfire smoking peace pipes (sob)... until the white man came and did bad things or something...

BLADE: I think you're being disingenuos, which means lacking in true honesty, candor, or sincerity, often by pretending to know less about a situation than you actually do. Then again, maybe you're just high. Happy disingenuos indigenous day.

SKIPPY: AND I THINK YOU'RE A RACIST who hates the Native Americans because their skin is red! Why else could you be against honoring them with this special day!?

BLADE: Wrong again, Skippy. Just pick a different day. Heck, take the whole late Autumn... I love a good Indian summer. You are the low t self-hating white dude that hates white people, evidenced by your social media virtue signaling, parading in the racist BLM parades and tearing down statues of long dead founders and pioneers because they were white. Us christians love all people because we understand we were all created in His image. That's why we object to the attempted canceling of Columbus Day. So when I hear someone say, "Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day," I picture you with a crab on your head.

Now I need to see a man about a donut.

Pictured: In the game Half-Life 2, Dr. Kleiner made a pet of a headcrab and named it Lamarr.  Lamarr's sharp "teeth" or beak were removed so she cannot latch onto or control a human host. The same would happen with the crabs infesting The View. 

21st Anniversary Since My Golf Blog was Featured on Fake News CNN

While I don't blog here anymore on a regular basis, I still do a golf blog during the season for our mens league. I have usually not crossed these streams, but I thought I would re-post a recent one here. It amuses me.

Who remembers the time (back in 2005) when The Snappers Golf League was NATIONALLY FEATURED on CNN for our opposition to the push for a Michael Moore sign? OK, 'featured' may be overstating just a bit. Watch the clip below and you be the judge. 

RIGHT THERE! DID YOU CATCH THAT? "Some in town... a local golf club." Sure, it seems a little vague and doesn't name The Snappers (or DaBlade) by name. Meanwhile they practically lift Kevin, my adversary in the sign controversy, onto their proverbial Fake News shoulders. CNN political producer Abbi Tatton and blog reporter Jacki Schechner only covered the story in an attempt to boost Kevin's petition drive to get Michael Moore's name added to the 'Welcome to Davison, Michigan' sign on State Road at the city limits. Meanwhile, I ran a Michael Moore Caption the Sign Contest on our little golf site.  CNN purposefully avoided naming The Sugarbush Snappers Mens Golf League in Davison so as not to give us traction, but at least they mentioned the existence of an opposition. Where was Fox News and a Blade documentary? 

In any event, many people followed those bread crumbs (temporarily spiking web traffic) and found our corner of the internet (albeit briefly) and participated in my Caption Contest. Web traffic has long since returned to just a handful of Snappers checking the sheet and tee order for the week, but I thought a walk down memory lane would be amusing.

SPOILER ALERT! As far as I know, Michael Moore never got his sign. You're welcome.

The Caption Contest showed a photo of the sign at Davison city limits stating: "HOME OF KEN MORROW 1980 U.S.A. HOCKEY TEAM OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNER 1980 STANLEY CUP CHAMPION" and challenged participants to add their suggested Michael Moore reference to the bottom of this sign, promising to spray paint the winning entry on the actual sign.

The Caption Contest is no longer active, but I suppose you can leave any pithy additions in the comments section of this post. Linked here is the full static 5+ page pdf, but below are my favorite highlights.

Michael Moore Comic Caption Contest <–click

You will notice that some folks didn't feel comfortable using their full names on their comments, while many others filled in pseudonyms (fake names). We did get a few 'movers and shakers' stopping by and leaving their thoughts. I'm old enough to remember when former Flint talk radio liberal firebrand Dave Barber who hosted talk shows from the 1970s (on WTRX, WTAC, WFDF and WWCK) before relocating to Rhode Island to host a morning talk radio slot in 2006, working until his death in 2015 at the age of 60. Dave Barber stopped by and gave me his two cents. Yes, it was really Barber (trust me, I know). I mean, who would pose as him? However, I cannot vouch for the veracity of the comment from President George W Bush. I'm 50/50 on that one. There is no data to prove that my snarky comment to Barber in 2005 led to his dismissal / relocation to RI immediately following.

We had several entries from my sign nemesis (and CNN sweetheart) Kevin McKague, at the time a Davison City council member. I ended up respecting the guy, and wouldn't have the clip from CNN except for the fact that Kevin invited me to stop by his home to borrow a VHS tape of it - whereby I dutifully videotaped my tv screen of the clip playback with my handheld family Mini DV movie camera. That's why the quality is so bad. Hey, cell phones with video did not become commonplace until about 2010 (and much later for me). 

Without further delay, here are the highlights. 

As a person who has lived in this community for over 30 years I would like to offer my input on Michael Moore. Michael Moore is a great man, who has aspired to greatness. Mr. Moore should be honored by his hometown. He has received WORLD WIDE notoriety. Mr. Moore is truly a great guy from Davison who has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Flint Area. 

Submitted by: DAVE BARBER 

Blade: Please j..j.just drop the microphone and kick it gently to me... A sign in MM's honor would be divisive to this community, much like your radio program. The difference is, I can turn the radio dial to avoid you.

I stumbled across this site cause I googled Michael Moore. I sent in a nomination form for Michael Moore. I know Michael J. Thorpe, and Ken Morrow did too. Ryan Eashoo must push harder against these right winged, narrow minded a$$ holes.. 

Submitted by: Don Hampson 

Blade: You are sitting at your computer "googling" Michael Moore? You have issues, sir, and this site will provide you with the necessary therapy. You've made the first step in your recovery by coming here. Good luck! 

I think Ryan Eashoo is a HERO! He should be MAYOR of Davison for Sticking up against these RIGHT WINGERS! 

Submitted by: Julie Moore - no relation to mike 

Blade: HEY EVERYONE! RYAN IS DRESSED IN DRAG AGAIN!

Be Nice. Michael Moore might do his next documentary on "The Snapper League".... Showing the problems with the snappers.. Such as laziness, and how most of them are DRUNKS! 

Submitted by: Jill Wright 

Blade: Hey Jill. Shut yer yapper and go fetch me a cold one!

Kevin and Mike are both FAT. So maybe they should join Curves together and do something useful. 

Submitted by: Jack Henderson 

Blade: Do you really want to risk driving by and seeing MM in spandex?

I think a sign for Michael Moore is a great idea. After all if it weren't for Mike's hard work for that Ralph Nader fella, I wouldn't have been "elected" in 2000! 

Submitted by: President George W Bush 

Blade:  Dubya, let's not forget MM's prominent seating next to Jimmy Carter in his presidential box (no, I don't mean Roslyn) at the Democratic National Convention. What an illustration of the absolute joke the democratic party has become.

I don't believe the post signed by Clay Perkins was actually him...that is why I was pointing out the error. I don't think the Superintendent of Davison schools would make such a mistake. As for the rest of you clowns, I would expect nothing other than creative spelling. 

Submitted by: Kevin McKague 

Blade: Kevin, why do you doubt the veracity of these posts? Hey President Bush. Please help me verify the legitimacy of these aliases.

If this is really from Clay Perkins, and he is in charge of the School Board, then he should have said "Don't Ryan Eashoo and Kevin McKague...." or at least use a grammar check program. 

Submitted by: Kevin McKague 

Blade: There is a Clay Perkins on the school board? Huh! Here I thought it was the rockabilly artist of Blue Suede Shoes fame. 

Michael Moore is in town right now, I seen him at Archies in Davison near Davison Rd, off M-15, across from the new blockbuster. He said "Hi" to me. 

Submitted by: Bill Hearster 

Blade: Kevin? You want to take a shot at this one? He seems to be experiencing a "Mooregasm".

Was Michael Moore force fed as a kid? 

Submitted by: William Schultz Royal Oak Michigan 

Blade: Good question Schultzy. My sources tell me that when MM heard about the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, he was asking for it. 

Doesn't Ryan Eashoo and Kevin McKague have anything better to do? I mean maybe they should join the snapper league to give them something constructive to do with their time. Sad people they are! 

Submitted by: Clay Perkins 

Blade: C'mon Clay! Nothing constructive? They are frequent visitors to this website after all.

DeBlade Go Ahead keep Batteries, Flash light and Spray Cans Handy. Cause we will be the first person we come to if the "Moore Sign" is defaced in any way, shape or form.That would be a FELONY! You seem bright enough to keep your big ass out at Sugar Bush for this last season there. 

Submitted by: Joe Momma 

Blade: Hey Joe, the real crime here is your attempt at putting together a coherent thought. My sign tagging will be a mercy killing. 

DeBlade I am sure your punky 6'ft plus tall ass wouldn't know what to do if confronted by Talk Show Host and Local Hero DAVE BARBER! 1570AM. 

Submitted by: Will 

Blade: Who? Dave the barber? Never heard of him. He must be on opposite Rush. 

I love Michael Moore, I see him and Ryan Eashoo a lot at Apollo in Davison. He loves a big coney with extra onions! I think he is good for the economy in Davison. 

Submitted by: Audrey Gaia-Paix 

Blade: Audrey, I can't argue with that! I'm beginning to see the appeal from area business eateries.

Won't it be funny with "The Don" makes Sugar Bush into a Condo and Home Development and you sorry ass people won't have any course to play on? I think Michael Moore is the best thing to happen to Davison since, Lucky's Steak House! 

Submitted by: James Nelson 

Blade: My, my James. Ever heard of "anger management?" First, the mayor loves us. Second, he doesn't own them all. You liberals really hate it when someone is enjoying themselves, dontcha? (Watch those arteries). 

Hometown of Michael Moore, whose documentaries have been seen by more people in the entire history of film, whose books all entered the NYTimes Top 10 Book sales list, generous philanthropist, giving millions to Flint area schools and charities....How big can we make this sign? 

Submitted by: Kevin McKague - givemikeasign@aol.com 

Blade: Kevin? Did you grow up near the old GM toxic dump site off Pengelly street in Flint by chance, or did you just have an affinity for paint chips as a child? 

Today I bask in the glory of my righteous victory over the moore-ons. As I bask, I also wait for the media onslaught of deserved (but unwanted) attention from media outlets, as I expect to have to fight my way through a barrage of reporter's microphones as I make my way to my car. Certainly CNN has been trying to reach me! Maybe Judy called while I was on vacation.

Bird Watching

 So this is what I have now resorted myself to... bird watching in my backyard. Yes, I realize I am using the phrase in the opening sentence slightly out of standard grammar, as the correct idiom is to resort to something rather than "resort oneself to." (at least according to the annoying and sarcastic AI Overview. Who asked you?) But I don't blog much anymore, so bear with me.

The wife and I like to hang out in the 3-season room (which we call "the screen room") during the afternoon & evenings watching tv. We have comfy furniture in there, a ceiling fan for warmer days and a space heater when it gets cool. It won't be long before winter arrives and insists we huddle indoors for the next 6 months. 

A few weeks ago, we noticed a hummingbird flutter just outside the patio door, briefly staring at us as if to say, "where's the nectar?" before zooming away in search of better offerings. "let's get a feeder!," I said to the wife. Mrs. DaBlade got on her phone and ordered one from Amazon. In what seemed like only seconds passing, the front door camera alert went off on my phone and indicating it had been delivered. (those deliveries get quicker and quicker). 

We filled it with bird crack and hung on a shepherd's hook by the patio with care, in hopes that the hummingbird soon would be there. It didn't take long. I zoomed my phone camera in for a video. A quick search identified her as a female Ruby throated hummingbird (apparently the husbands are red necks wearing wife beaters). I'm old and semi-retired, so I really got a kick out of this. However, when the bird didn't return the next day, I began long and intensive research (5 minutes on google) and learned these buggers start escaping Michigan during September. Maybe they learned about Gretchen Whitmer from some of the crows?

Well that didn't go well. A new feeder for one sighting - at least until next April. Thankfully the wife also ordered a regular seed feeder for year round birds that was getting noticed. When a wood pecker showed up, I said, "let's get one of them bird feeders with a camera!" I no sooner said this and a package appeared on the porch in violation of the space-time continuum. 

So far, 99.99% of the seed eaters have been between a Black-capped chickadee and a Tufted titmouse. The chickadees remind me of Elvis, what with there black domes and dark sunglasses. The Tufted titmice (Aside from the unfortunate name) remind me of Johnny Bravo, so that is what I call them instead.  We have also had a visit or two from a House Finch and a return of the Downy woodpecker. 

Black-capped chickadee

Tufted titmouse

Downey woodpecker

House Finch

Ruby throated hummingbird (see ya next year!)

Not birds

Katydid

"You know, Blade, just when I think you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!"

THIS WEEK: SHOCKING HAIKUS THAT AI CREATED ABOUT EVERY SNAPPER MEMBER IN THIS WEEK'S "SLICE"!!

The following was meant for my golf league site, but I thought I would re-post here just to see if this thing was still on. It's been a while. I like to think of that period of Chattering Teeth as "before AI". Life was 'more simpleriest'.  That's why the wife and I watch re-runs of Happy Days.

Oh boy. Even the Fonz has jumped the mechanical shark and is on the AI wagon. So here goes (with a few modifications)...

Back in 1988 when my golf league started, I was sure that we would have flying golf carts by now. Oh sure, we have since reached "the singularity" with Artificial Intelligence, but instead of self-tying sneakers and flying cars, we have AI created memes of Enes Kanter stealing Natasha Cloud's wig. 

Still worse, large data centers being built to address AI's insatiable need for power uses significant amounts of water for cooling (think of the beverage consumption of the average hacker on my golf league on a 90+ degree evening). 

Per an AI generated search (irony intended) these data centers consume "between 1 million and 5 million gallons per day under peak conditions, which matches the daily usage of a town with 30,000 to 50,000 people." Is it any wonder why Lake Mead, the reservoir that services Las Vegas, has water levels down 33% due to this high water demand from the Colorado River. At this rate, the only "bones" being rolled in Vegas will be found in the empty alleys along Fremont Street.

BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS! We have AI to generate golf-themed Haikus featuring The Snappers! No need for creative thinking! If we are going to dry up, we might as will go down with ignorant grins. So I entered the necessary prompts, and this was the instantaneous result...

Here are custom 5-7-5 golf haikus for each pair on your list:

1. Snapper & Tony T

Snapper hooks it left, (5)

Tony T is in the weeds, (7)

Both need better luck. (5)

2. Timmy K & Hollywood

Timmy K chunks shot, (5)

Hollywood just poses nice, (7)

Vanish in the pond. (5)

3. Wolf & Jason

Wolf mutters a curse, (5)

Jason muffs a easy chip, (7)

Pack knee deep in mud. (5)

4. C Money & Cam

C Money is broke, (5)

Which club will Cam snap in half? (7)

Deep into fescue.(5)

5. Shang & Ogy

Shang shanks it way wide, (5)

Ogy throws his heavy wedge, (7)

Total golf despair. (5)

6. Blade & Ed 

Blade slices his putt, (5)

Ed is stuck inside the sand, (7)

Scores are way too high. (5)

7. Mike T & Rick North

Mike T slices right, (5)

Rick North heads south in the pond, (7)

Goodbye Titleist. (5)

8. Furey & Romo

Furey whiffs the ball, (5)

Romo hurls his putter far, (7)

Time to hit the bar. (5)

I'm not sure why AI insisted on counting the syllables at the end of each line (precious ounces of water lost), but we can rest assured that AI has a good grasp on us and this technology is finally being used for the greater good.

Anyhoo, I thought it was funny. And THAT has always been my motivating factor. See ya when I see ya!

This Is The Turning Point

 For our 37th Anniversary, the wife and I went to our favorite watering hole at Ciaos in downtown Fenton. This was about 2 and a half years ago, and it was Happy Hour. We always get the Meat Balls and the Bruschetta appetizers, which are phenomenal. The wife likes a Pinot while I'm an "Old Fashion" guy. 

We normally take a booth - but with none being open, we bellied up to the bar. There was only one other couple on the stools, and they were around the corner and on the end of the bar. They looked about 20 or so years younger than us - and they sat slightly turned towards each other talking softly. It's a quiet setting, and also keeping to ourselves, just enjoyed each other's company - as well as the food & drink. There are three Meat Balls total, but the wife always splits these evenly (one for her and two for me). But I "digest"... I mean digress. 

I don't remember exactly what we talked about, but either we were overheard (or we shared with the bartender) that it was our 37th Anniversary. The young lady must have noticed my wife's Disney-themed Vera Bradley purse, and she commented that she loved it. Now keep in mind that the feud between Governor Desantes and Disney was very much in the news. I tell you this so you understand my knee-jerk reaction to a compliment of my wife's Disney purse.  I said to the couple, "We like the old Disney, not the Woke Disney of today." Or something to that effect. 

I had no idea of this younger couple's politics, but I made the assumption they were probably very liberal just based on the demographics of our town and their age. I certainly wasn't trying to pick a fight with them, but I was horrified thinking we would be mislabeled as leftists just because of my wife's purse. Much to my surprise, the man seemed to perk up a bit and said he agreed. We shared our dislike of the democrats and their insanity, and I told him I no longer watched cable news. He said, "I bet you watch Charlie Kirk." I answered, "Yes, we watch him every day!"

The couple left shortly before us, telling us "Happy Anniversary," as they left.  The wife and I finished our drinks, and I asked the bartender for our tab. (Yes, you guessed it.  Just like those corny commercials) - The bartender said, "Your tab has been paid."

I've thought about that exchange many times since Charlie was assassinated by a trans-terrorist almost two weeks ago. I originally made the wrong assumption about the politics of that younger couple. Charlie was making converts and having a huge impact even before then. The wife and I watched The Charlie Kirk show every day - it was on in our home office while we worked. His tragic loss hits me harder every day and we are going to miss him. 

I have no doubt that Erika Kirk will now take TPUSA to new heights. I can only assume that the message will be exponentially greater even now. What man (democrats) meant for evil, God has turned to good. RIP Charlie, we've got it from here.

A Nickle for your thoughts

I know, I know. Thoughts used to cost only a penny, but - inflation.  Also, the Treasury is killing the production of the Penny. 

I'm not sure how I feel about that. I guess I just don't like change. I don't mean "change" change, as in loose coins. I love those, especially when I have exact change. "You just want one gallon of gas? That'll be $3.18, sir." Here's 12 quarters, a dime, a nickle and 3 pennies." (all procured from the console of my 2014 Traverse.)  A little shot of endorphins there. However, nothing worse than falling a penny short when paying for transactions in cash, with no "need a penny, take a penny" tray in sight. I hope I am making cents.

What about the pressed penny machines? First, Lincoln is shot and now this.

Fun facts about pennies.

* The penny, though worth only a cent, costs nearly 4 cents to make. 

OK, that makes no economic sense, but instead of discontinuing them - how about just quartering them? 

* The last year U.S. pennies were made of 100% copper was 1857. Before that, they were pure copper. Pennies minted after 1982, including those circulating today, are primarily zinc (97.5%) with a thin layer of copper plating (2.5%). This change was due to rising copper prices. 

* "Penny Lane" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a double A-side single with "Strawberry Fields Forever" in February 1967. It is about a street in Liverpool, not about the smallish 1 cent coin.

Had the song been about pennies, it might have gone something like this... 

 ♫Penny coins are behind my ears and on my eyes ♫

 ♫Found beneath the couch cushions prize... ♫

* The atomic symbol for copper is Cu. See you later.

* By the way, did Penny Marshall play Laverne or Shirley? Or Squiggey?

In other news - Stop Making Sense is an awesome live album by the American rock band Talking Heads (not by The Treasury Heads).

And that's all that is known about pennies for the moment. Stay tuned for important updates on the matter.

Comey dates cartels in the prison cell

 Comey belongs in prison.

First 100 days of middle term

 First one hundred days

This is what I voted for

Donald keep Trumping

Mumbling Joe

 And this guy wants $300,000 for each speech...

Act now and get a Hunter painting thrown in!

America back in the respect column. That calls for a Haiku:

Three Hundred Thousand

Dog faced pony soldier speech

Deaf, where is thy sting?

NFL draft news: Shedeur Sanders is still waiting to hear his name called

 Wasn't Shedeur Sanders (son of Deion) projected to be a first round quarterback? Why is he still undrafted after three full rounds? This draft slide is said to be the worst in history, and the scuttlebutt was that his pre-draft interviews were horrible. Anonymous scouts and coaches have questioned his character and ability, calling him entitled, arrogant and brash. One quote seemed to sum it up by stating, "...the biggest thing is, he’s not that good,” and the  “worst interview ever.”

That's not what I heard. I heard he's just like everyone else, but a little slower. He pushes a shopping cart around and barely speaks.

This story makes me remember some of the really horrible interviews I have participated in from the "coaches" side of the table.  Maybe the lad will get the call today in round 4, but at this rate, someone might be more likely to take another chance on Colin Kaepernick before this guy.

Meanwhile, still sidelined....

Zekey Boy goes for a walk

 Zeke lets us know when he thinks we should go on his walk by coming into the office and whining.

He usually gets his way. 

Yes, I use two leashes on him (double-leaded?).  He becomes a sled dog if he sees a 'Pride Puppy' on our walk.