Conservative Cowboy

Out on the Range

2008-08-04T15:08:00.002-04:00

Be Back Soon!

Wednesday Hero

2008-07-23T13:08:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Toni

1st LT. Frank B. Walkup, IV
23 years old from Woodbury, Tennessee
2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
June 16, 2007

Toni already has a great post up on her site, so I'll just link to it.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Weekly Wisdom - Aphorism #19

2008-07-16T22:55:00.001-04:00

19. Arouse no exaggerated expectations when you start something. It is the misfortune of all celebrated people not to fulfill afterwards the expectations beforehand formed of them. The real can never equal the imagined, for it is easy to form ideals but very difficult to realize them. Imagination weds hope and gives birth to much more than things are in themselves. However excellent something is, it never suffices to fulfill expectations. And as people find themselves disappointed with their exorbitant expectations they are more readily disillusioned than impressed. Hope is a great falsifier of truth; let skill guard against this by ensuring that fruition exceeds desire. A few creditable attempts at the beginning are sufficient to arouse curiosity without pledging one to the final object. It is better that reality should surpass the design and it turns out better than was thought. This rule does not apply to wicked things, for the same exaggeration is a great aid with them and draws general applause; what seemed at first extreme ruin comes to be thought of as quite bearable.

From "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" by Baltasar Gracian - Written in the seventeenth century by a Jesuit Monk, these teachings are strikingly modern in tone and address universal concerns such as friendship, morality, managing emotions, and effective leadership. "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" is for anyone seeking to combine ethical behavior with worldly success. Download the entire book here.

Wednesday Hero

2008-07-16T07:59:00.000-04:00

Spc. Kisha Makerney
23 years old from Fort Towson, Oklahoma
120th Engineers, Oklahoma Army National Guard

Spc. Kisha Mackerney isn't being profiled today because of something she did on the battlefield. She's being profiled because her spirit and determination. In 2002, Makerney joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard out of a sense of patriotism, because, as she put it, "I love our country and our people." Between 2004 and 2005, she served in Iraq as a gunner and helped provide battalion security. She returned home in early 2005 and was in a terrible motorcycle accident on June 25, 2005. The front wheel of her brand new bike had blown out and sent her flying into a highway sign. She looked up at her now mangled bike and was angry. That's when she noticed that her left leg below the knee was missing. The first thing she thought of when she saw her leg was that her military career was over.

Makerney pulled herself out of the ditch that she had landed in and was able to flag down a passing motorist. She was taken a hospital in Hugo, Oklahoma before being flown to Dallas, Texas.

As soon as word spread about her accident, her fellow soldiers, her second family, rallied and rushed to her bedside. "Even before I was out of surgery they were waiting in the halls," she said.

Continue reading Spc. Kisha Makerney's story here. There are some despicable comments by a few readers on the story. Just ignore them.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Weekly Wisdom - Aphorism #18

2008-07-13T22:49:00.002-04:00

18. Application and ability. There is no attaining eminence without both, and where they unite there is the greatest fame. Mediocre people obtain more with application than superior people without it. Work is the price that is paid for reputation. What costs little is of little worth. Even for the highest posts it is only in some cases application that is wanting, rarely the talent. To prefer moderate success in great things over eminence in a humble post may be excused by a generous mind, but there is no excuse for being content with humble mediocrity when you could shine among the highest. Thus nature and art are both needed, and application makes them complete.

From "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" by Baltasar Gracian - Written in the seventeenth century by a Jesuit Monk, these teachings are strikingly modern in tone and address universal concerns such as friendship, morality, managing emotions, and effective leadership. "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" is for anyone seeking to combine ethical behavior with worldly success. Download the entire book here.

Pretty Boy Floyd, Death Marker

2008-07-10T15:22:00.002-04:00

Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd (February 3, 1904 – October 22, 1934) was an American bank robber and alleged killer, romanticized by the press and by folk singer Woody Guthrie in his song "Pretty Boy Floyd".

Excerpt from Wikipedia:

...What happened next has at least three accounts, one given by the FBI, one by other people in the area, and one given by local law enforcement. After obtaining some food at a local pool hall, where the owner, Charles Joy, was friends with Floyd, he hitched a ride in an East Liverpool, Ohio neighborhood on October 22nd, 1934. Floyd was spotted by the team of lawmen, at which point he broke from the vehicle and fled toward the treeline. Local Officer Chester Smith fired first, hitting Floyd in the right arm, knocking him to the ground. Up until that point, the accounts mostly match, although the FBI agents would later attempt to claim all the credit, denying local law enforcement were even present at the actual shooting. According to the local police account, Floyd regained his footing and continued to run, at which point the entire team opened fire, knocking him to the ground, with Floyd dying shortly thereafter, and with Purvis having the chance to speak to him briefly.

According to the FBI, four FBI agents, led by Melvin Purvis, and four members of the East Liverpool Police Department, led by Chief of Police Hugh McDermott, were searching the area south of Clarkson, Ohio, in two separate cars. They spotted a car moving from behind a corn crib, and then move back. Floyd then emerged from the car and drew a .45 caliber pistol, and the FBI agents opened fire. Floyd reportedly said: "I'm done for; you've hit me twice." Floyd died about fifteen minutes after he had been shot.[3]

However, Chester Smith, the retired East Liverpool Police Captain, and the sharpshooter who all seemed to agree shot Floyd first, stated in a 1979 interview, that he had deliberately wounded, but not killed, Floyd. He then added;

"I knew Purvis couldn't hit him, so I dropped him with two shots from my .32 Winchester rifle."

Smith claimed that Floyd did not regain his footing after he had shot him, and that he then disarmed Floyd, and that Melvin Purvis, the agent in charge, ran up and ordered: "Back away from that man. I want to talk to him." Purvis questioned him briefly and then ordered him shot at point-blank range, telling agent Herman Hollis to "Fire into him."

The interviewer asked if there was a coverup by the FBI, and Smith responded: "Sure was, because they didn't want it to get out that he'd been killed that way." This account is extremely controversial. If true, Purvis effectively executed Floyd without benefit of judge or jury.[5]

FBI agent Winfred E. Hopton disputes Chester Smith's claim in a letter to the editors of Time Magazine, that appeared in the Monday, Nov. 19, 1979 issue, in response to the Time article "Blasting a G-Man Myth". In his letter he states that he was one of four FBI agents present when Floyd was killed, on a farm several miles from East Liverpool, Ohio. He also states that no members of the East Liverpool Police Department were present. The members of the East Liverpool police department arrived after Floyd was already mortally wounded. He also says that when the four agents confronted Floyd, Floyd turned to fire on them, and two of the four killed Floyd almost instantly. Smith said that Herman Hollis gave the final shot to Floyd on the order of Purvis, but Hopton says Hollis was not present. Hopton also states Floyd's body was transported back to East Liverpool in his [Hopton's] personal car.[6]

There are numerous articles on the incident, most supporting Smith's claim that the local officers were present. In an ironic twist, Agent Hollis was later killed in a shoot-out with famed bandit Baby Face Nelson.

Floyd's body was embalmed and briefly viewed at the Sturgis Funeral Home, in East Liverpool, Ohio before being sent on to Oklahoma. The Sturgis Funeral Home is now a bed-and-breakfast....

I was in the area over the weekend and here are pictures of an Historical Marker and the field where Floyd was killed. Note the seemingly large caliber bullet holes in the marker where apparently someone has shot the hell out of it:

Pretty Boy Floyd place of death 07/08

Wednesday Hero

2008-07-09T15:22:00.000-04:00

Sgt. Kenneth J. Schall
22 years old from Peoria, Arizona
2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division
May 22, 2005

"It was very tough not to be touched by him in some way," said Terri Schall, Sgt. Kenneth Schall's mother.

Kenneth Schall was enrolled at Glendale Community College and was studying to become a history teacher when the country was attacked on September 11, 2001. The event spurred him to join the Army. He served a four and a half month tour in Iraq in 2004 and returned in February of 2005.

Terri Schall last spoke to her son on Mother's Day in 2005. "He sounded great — tired — but he said he was doing OK", she said. Sgt. Kenneth Schall died when the Humvee he was riding in was involved in an accident in Yusafiyah, Iraq.

Along with his mother, Sgt. Schall is survived by his father and two younger siblings.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

2008-07-04T00:01:00.001-04:00

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Weekly Wisdom, Aphorism #17

2008-07-03T01:45:00.001-04:00

17. Vary your mode of action. So as to distract attention, do not always do things the same way, especially if you have a rival. Do not always act on first impulse; people will soon recognize the uniformity and, by anticipating, frustrate your designs. It is easy to kill a bird on the wing that flies straight, not so one that twists and turns. Nor should you always act on second thoughts; people will discern the plan the second time. The enemy is on the watch, great skill is required to outwit him. The gamester never plays the card the opponent expects, still less the one he wants.

This is another of my favorites. Excellent tactical advice, that can be applied to many situations. Just for example consider the applications in your workplace if you work in a competitive environment.

From "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" by Baltasar Gracian - Written in the seventeenth century by a Jesuit Monk, these teachings are strikingly modern in tone and address universal concerns such as friendship, morality, managing emotions, and effective leadership. "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" is for anyone seeking to combine ethical behavior with worldly success. Download the entire book here.

Wednesday Hero

2008-07-02T00:52:00.000-04:00

Click Image For Full SizeLance Cpl. Julie Martinez

Lance Cpl. Julie Martinez, a radio operator with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, checks the communication capabilities during a backload of Marines from Combat Logistics Regiment 3 to the USS Essex June 9.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Valley enforcers: Gun ruling on target

2008-07-01T07:55:00.000-04:00

Snippets, entire story at the Vindy:

YOUNGSTOWN — There’s support from a sampling of Mahoning and Shenango Valley police officials for the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Americans have a constitutional right to keep guns in their homes for self-defense.

Columbiana Police Chief John Krawchyk called bans on guns, such as those which brought the case to the Supreme Court, “ridiculous,” sharing his satisfaction with the ruling.

“Homeowners should have a right,” said Krawchyk. “We wouldn’t be a free country without guns.”...

Mike Menster, police chief in Sharon, Pa., said he personally supports the right to gun ownership outside his duty to protect the laws that govern them.

“There’s nothing wrong with responsible gun ownership at all,” said Menster. “Most of the guns we encounter on the street are stolen.”...

“Most of the people who have guns in their homes have never seen a problem. It’s when guns leave the home that we have problems,” said Chief Robert Gavalier of the Austintown Police Department....

In a dissent to the ruling, Justice Stephen Breyer said, “In my view, there simply is no untouchable constitutional right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to keep loaded handguns in the house in crime-ridden urban areas.”

Some local law enforcement would argue otherwise.

“Guns don’t hurt people. People hurt people,” Krawchyk said. “A gun doesn’t shoot anyone just sitting there.”

Ohio’s laws on gun ownership, known as concealed carry laws, allow owners to travel in public with their weapons in most areas outside school and government property. Many police officials are satisfied with the laws in place, calling them effective without infringing on owner rights.

“With the concealed weapons statute, we have had very little problems. Our law abiding citizens take the courses and follow the law,” said Capt. Kenneth Centorame of the Youngstown Police Department.

Ohio Gov, Ted Strickland, in a statement, said, “I concur with today’s landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which emphasizes what so many have long understood: The right to bear arms is a fundamental civil right like the freedoms of speech and to vote. And it’s important that governments at all levels not infringe on those fundamental rights.”

Mahoning County Sheriff Randall Wellington expressed satisfaction with the Ohio gun laws. He also agreed Ohio’s concealed carry laws are working well....

“It’s a constitutional right [and] I’m all for it,” said Trumbull County Sheriff Thomas Altiere. “It’s a right that our forefathers fought for.”

Weekly Wisdom, Aphorism #16

2008-06-28T12:34:00.000-04:00

16. Knowledge and good intentions. Together they ensure continued success. A fine intellect wedded to a wicked will is always an unnatural monster. A wicked will poisons all perfections; helped by knowledge it only ruins with greater subtlety. It is a miserable superiority that only results in ruin. Knowledge without sense is doubly folly.

From "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" by Baltasar Gracian - Written in the seventeenth century by a Jesuit Monk, these teachings are strikingly modern in tone and address universal concerns such as friendship, morality, managing emotions, and effective leadership. "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" is for anyone seeking to combine ethical behavior with worldly success. Download the entire book here.

A new found respect for Tim McGraw

2008-06-26T22:51:00.002-04:00

I love this. Of course there are already some rum-dums claiming this was a hoax, a publicity stunt. If you've ever seen the stats on how many albums Tim & Faith sell, or if you've ever tried to get tickets to a concert I think you know those claims are just nitwittery.

Is you is, or is you ain't my constituency?

2008-06-25T20:54:00.008-04:00

I really, really wish that the good people of Massachusetts could extract their heads from their asses on election day and try to find someone to vote for, at any level of representation, who is not a complete mental defect. Apparently they like the idea of representation by imbecile.

From FoxNews: A Massachusetts politician and defense attorney has touched off a firestorm with his shocking public vow to torment and "rip apart" child rape victims who take the witness stand if the state legislature passed stiff mandatory sentences for child sex offenders.

Rep. James Fagan, a Democrat, made the comments during debate last month on the state House floor.

"I'm gonna rip them apart," Fagan said of young victims during his testimony on the bill. "I'm going to make sure that the rest of their life is ruined, that when they’re 8 years old, they throw up; when they’re 12 years old, they won’t sleep; when they’re 19 years old, they’ll have nightmares and they’ll never have a relationship with anybody.”

See the actual video here.

Then call or write the "Honorable" Mr. Fagan and let him know how despicable he is.

State House: 617-722-2040
District office: 508-824-7000
E-mail:Rep.JamesFagan@hou.state.ma.us

"Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain, 1881

Carlin on Nature

2008-06-25T18:43:00.003-04:00

This will always be one of my favorites, and it could not more perfectly describe how I feel on the subjects of nature, extinction, global warming, etc.

Adult language warning!

Wednesday Hero

2008-06-25T07:45:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested by Mary Ann

Staff Sgt. Jude Voss
1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne)

His courage illustrates a combat truth to these veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam: Soldiers aren’t thinking about glory or ideals in the midst of a battle. They fight for the men to the left and right of them.

And that's just what SSgt. Jude Voss did in September of 2006 when, without consideration to his safety, SSgt. Voss ran through enemy fire and the burning, smoking debris of a truck to rescue Sgt. 1st Class Greg Stube. Sgt. Stube was in a bad way. Uniform burning and legs busted, but because of the actions of SSgt. Voss he is alive today.

Because of his actions that day, SSgt. Voss was nominated for and received the Silver Star Medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action. "I did what everybody out there would do" Voss said. "I was just the closest guy."

You can read SSgt. Voss's story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Weekly Wisdom - Aphorism #15

2008-06-23T16:01:00.002-04:00

15. Keep auxiliary wits around you. It is a privilege of the powerful to surround themselves with the champions of intellect who protect them from the dangers of every ignorance, who untangle them from the snarls of every difficulty. It is a rare greatness to know how to make use of the wise; it far exceeds the barbarous taste of Tigranes, who delighted in enslaving kings as his servants. It is a novel kind of supremacy - the best that life can offer - to use skill to make as servants of those who by nature are our masters. It is a great thing to know, little to live; there is no real life without knowledge. There is remarkable cleverness in studying without effort, in getting much by means of many, and through them all to become wise. Afterwards, you speak in the council of chambers on behalf of many, and since as many sages speak through your mouth as were consulted beforehand you thus obtain the fame of an oracle by others' efforts. Such auxiliary wits distil the best books and serve up the quintessence of wisdom. He that cannot have sages for service should have them as his friends.

From "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" by Baltasar Gracian - Written in the seventeenth century by a Jesuit Monk, these teachings are strikingly modern in tone and address universal concerns such as friendship, morality, managing emotions, and effective leadership. "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" is for anyone seeking to combine ethical behavior with worldly success. Download the entire book here.

RIP - George Carlin

2008-06-23T07:37:00.002-04:00

AP - LOS ANGELES - Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television. Some People Are Stupid. Stuff. People I Can Do Without. George Carlin, who died of heart failure Sunday at 71, leaves behind not only a series of memorable routines, but a legal legacy: His most celebrated monologue, a frantic, informed riff on those infamous seven words, led to a Supreme Court decision on broadcasting offensive language.

The counterculture hero's jokes also targeted things such as misplaced shame, religious hypocrisy and linguistic quirks — why, he asked, do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?

Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, went into St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica on Sunday afternoon complaining of chest pain and died later that evening, said his publicist, Jeff Abraham. He had performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

Although I did not always agree with much of Carlin's leftist ideals, I have to admit I think he was a genius and legend. No matter how absurd I might have thought any of his work to be, there was always a part of it that struck a chord. Even the stuff that I couldn't agree with I found funny most of the time.

It's the mark of a true genius to be able to convey things in such a way that even those who are vehemently opposed to your ideals find you funny and have respect for you.

I have to add... I'm really not happy about the number of RIP posts on this blog lately. It's pretty depressing.

Audie Murphy Day

2008-06-20T09:52:00.000-04:00

In Memory of Audie L. Murphy, a true American Hero and one of the most decorated Soldiers in the History of the United States Army who died tragically in a plane crash on Memorial Day weekend in 1971 at the age of 46.

In 1996 the Texas Legislature officially declared his birthdate, June 20, as "Audie Murphy Day".

His headstone at Arlington National Cemetary Reads:
Audie L. Murphy, Texas. Major, Infantry, World War II. June 20, 1924 to May 28, 1971. Medal of Honor, DSC, SS & OLC, LM, BSM & OLC, PH & two OLC.

You will be missed Brian

2008-06-20T09:34:00.003-04:00

Brian Wayne Keeling
Born on Jun. 1, 1953
Departed on Jun. 18, 2008

Mineral Ridge- Funeral services will be held 11 AM Monday at the Lane Funeral Home-Mineral Ridge Chapel for Brian Keeling, age 55 of Mineral Ridge who died early Wednesday morning in St. Joseph Hospital Emergency Room.

Brian was born June 1, 1953 in Warren and was the son of the late Wayne G. and Betty (Payne) Keeling. He had owned and operated Waynco Electrical Contractors where he had been president since 1981. He was a member of the National Electrical Contractors Assoc. where he served as President since 1985 up to the present time. He had served on the Electrical Apprenticeship Committee for 25 years, was a member of the Mahoning Valley Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Assoc., served as chairman of the Labors Relations Comm. and, Warren Pension Comm. Brian was very instrumental in establishing the newly constructed Electrical Trades Institute of N.E. Ohio, served on the Labor Management Cooperation Comm. and was a driving force on the Legislative and Political Action Comm. on the National, State and Local level and served as a representative to the Ohio Conference of N.E.C.A. Chapters. Brian had served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and was a member of the Allen Masonic Lodge #276 in Columbiana, Al Koran Shrine of Cleveland, Youngstown Shrine Club, Shriner's of America and was a life time member of the V.F.W. in Mineral Ridge.

Brian is survived by his wife, the former Cynthia Baker whom he married Feb. 6, 1976 and two children, Kyle Wayne Keeling at home and Krista (Michael) Mannion of Dublin, OH. He leaves his siblings Beth Ann (Jeff) Ferretta of San Diego, Calif., Jani-lee Keeling of Canfield, Wayne G. Jr. (Florence Swegman) Keeling of Cortland, Gary Allen Keeling of Lake Milton, Kimberly Ann (Tom) McKinley of Canfield, Katherine Grace Keeling of Geneva on the Lake and Gregory Scott Keeling of Austintown. He also leaves his step mother, the former Betty Simmons of Florida and his Aunt Audrey Parish of Mineral Ridge.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 1-3 and 6-8 PM Sunday. The family request that material contributions be made to the Shriner's Children's' Hospital.

RIP - Det. Sgt. Robert Deichman, YPD

2008-06-19T13:23:00.002-04:00

YOUNGSTOWN — During a noon news conference, the Youngstown Police Department and the Canfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol released information about Detective Sgt. Robert Deichman, who was killed in an traffic accident at approximately 3:20 a.m. on Salt Springs Road.

Deichman, 40, a nine-year veteran of the YPD, was on call and driving an unmarked car when he collided with a tractor-trailer.

Police Chief Jimmy Hughes said Deichman, who worked in the accident investigation unit, was given the vehicle during off-duty hours in case he was called to the scene of a crash.

The driver of the truck, David Feliciano, 38, of Berlin Center, was pulling out of a private business driveway on the south side of Salt Springs Road when he entered the path of Deichman’s car, which was traveling east on Salt Springs Road, Hughes said.

Deichman was pronounced dead at the scene.

No charges have been filed against Feliciano at this time.

The Canfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

A Cat-ass-trophy!

2008-06-19T13:10:00.004-04:00

[Sigh]. Don't these local yocal nitwit politicians have anything more pressing to deal with than to intrude into people's privacy?

I would think that they would be better served by addressing some of the issues that makes the City of Campbell, Ohio the sewer that it is, rather than waste time on further making their City more unattractive (were that really possible).

Alas, such logic and common sense skills are what keep me out of politics...

From WKBN

Are you an animal lover? Does your heart go out to every stray you see? Have you even given some of them a home?

Well, if you live in Campbell, you just might have a problem with a new ordinance just recently passed..

Campbell residents are now limited to how many pets they can have.

That's right---limited to number of pets by an ordinance!!

Wednesday night, council passed an ordinance that says no one can have more than FOUR dogs and FOUR cats.

For most people, it may not matter anyway, if they just have a dog and/or a cat .

But there are those who will NOT be okay with it, from those who have multiple pets, and may even want more, to those who feel that yet another of their individual rights has been taken away by government.

In fact, even for Campbell's council, it wasn't a unanimous decision --- at least one councilwoman is unhappy about the new law.

At least for now, cat or dog #9 --- beware!

Wednesday Hero

2008-06-18T18:48:00.000-04:00

Click Image To View Full Size

Capt. Jamie Riddle(Left) and an Iraqi Flight Instructor School student walk to the flightline before a recent mission at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq. The Iraqi air force recently established the school for Iraqi pilots. Captain Riddle is an instructor pilot with the 52nd Flying Training Squadron

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Weekly Wisdom - Aphorism #14

2008-06-13T09:33:00.002-04:00

14. The thing itself and the way it is done. Substance is not enough, attention to circumstance is also required. A bad manner spoils everything - even reason and justice - a good one supplies everything, gilds, even sweetens truth, and adds a touch of beauty to old age itself. The how plays a large part in affairs, a good manner steals people's hearts. Fine behavior is a joy in life, and a pleasant expression can help you out of a difficult situation in a remarkable way.

From "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" by Baltasar Gracian - Written in the seventeenth century by a Jesuit Monk, these teachings are strikingly modern in tone and address universal concerns such as friendship, morality, managing emotions, and effective leadership. "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" is for anyone seeking to combine ethical behavior with worldly success. Download the entire book here.

Wednesday Hero

2008-06-11T10:59:00.000-04:00

Army Spc. Jeffrey A. Williams
20 years old from Warrenville, Illinois
Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
September 5, 2005

SPC. Jeffery A. Williams was killed in action when an IED was detonated near his combat patrol in Tal Afar, Iraq.

Your time with us was far too short
Dealing with your loss will be hard,
When I think about what this world has lost
I want to just shut out the world and cry,
But I will not do that.
Because you gave your life for something much greater than you or I
So, I will remember you as the Hero that you are
And never let what you did in your life cut short be forgotten
And that is the best way I know to honor you

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.