Mazurland Blog

How Could I Have Let My Audience Down?

Well, it's about time to review my New Year's Resolutions and predictions from last year, and make another stab at a promise for renewal for next. Last year I made several predictions, and one resolution about my writing for this blog. With regard to the former, I think I did pretty well. With regard to the latter, I failed.

Starting with my predictions, here's the report card. Note that I said in my post that some of my "predictions" were not exactly going out on a limb, since they were already true at that point. That's the case with the first two.

Prediction one was that the US would have its first major female candidate for President. I did not say that she would necessarily be the nominee of a major party. Hillary Clinton definitely fits this bill. In fact, some think that had the media not been over the top for Obama, and had Hillary had her final surge a few weeks earlier, she definitely would have been the nominee. But there is a second person who fits this bill: Sarah Palin. Yes, I know. She was the Republican Veep candidate. But from the moment McCain chose her, the media treated her as if she were the nominee for President, and berated her qualifications for that job (ignoring the fact that she had more qualifications and experience than the Democrat nominee). I also predicted that the US would have its first major non-Christian candidate for President. Here, despite his avowal of his Christian belief, I think Barack Obama fits the bill. I do not claim that he is a stealth Muslim, but rather that he is a post-Christian candidate. Obama made religion as little a part of his candidacy as he possibly could, knowing that his questionable childhood association with Islam and his later association with a brand of Christianity tainted by a raving African separatist, would hurt him. Many Presidential candidates pay at least some lip service to religious principles that they do not hew to. No American Presidential candidate could possibly disavow religion entirely. Obama did his best to run from it.

I said that the Gold Standard would not be a major issue in this year's Presidential race. By this I meant that Ron Paul would not be a major factor. In this I was mostly right. He did not run in the general election, and did not siphon enough write-in or protest votes to make a difference. But among libertarians there was general disgust with both major candidates, and McCain seems to have suffered from the fact that many Republicans, including the libertarian wing, sat this election out.

There were three more predictions that I was correct on. First, I did not win my office's college football bowl pool. (It's not looking too good for 2009, either.) Second, Mazurland did beef up its line-up of writers. We at first tried to get ur-commenter "Chad" to write for us, but he seems to have fallen off the face of the earth. Sasha Azevedo still drops by now and then, but she is too busy with her career to write regularly. So in April, after some intense negotiations, we acquired the invaluable talent of Brother Ben. And last, it's pretty clear that more people knew (and cared) what was going on in Survivor: Micronesia than in the US Presidential election.

Only one of my predictions was completely wrong. Despite many rumors and hints from their publicists and fans, neither Led Zeppelin, nor Foreigner, nor the Rolling Stones, nor even Teegarden and Van Winkle toured this year.

Now to the promise I made. I resolved that I would write at least twice a week and at least ten times a month for all of 2008. And, through thick and thin, even when I was busy, on vacation, or on business travel, I kept this promise (one that Hank has suggested the other Brothers should make). In 2008, I wrote 147 posts (including this one), averaging nearly 3 posts per week (and never writing less than two) and averaging over 12 posts per month (and never less than 10). That is, until last week. I fell asleep at the wheel and though I was on track for my ten post month, I only wrote one post last week! How could I have let my public down!

Tomorrow, I plan to announce my predictions for 2009, as well as my resolution regarding my writing.

Happy New Year!

A Winter Break

My wife, son, and I just got back from three days of doing nothing. We stayed in a cabin in one of Pennsylvania's fine (and very inexpensive) State Parks. My daughter is always doing too much of something (working, house-sitting someone's pooch over Christmas), and she's not much for being cooped up in a cabin in the woods with her parents and older brother. The State Park cabins are very nice and have most of the modern conveniences, but whereas my son could sleep under a pile of leaves in the wilderness, my daughter is more of a mint-on-the-pillow type.

We stayed at Hills Creek State Park in north central Pennsylvania. Hills Creek is an area named for Captain William Hill, a veteran of the War of 1812 who settled there in 1820. The park is small and is mostly taken up by a lake created by damming Hills Creek for flood control. It's my kind of vacation spot: a nice secluded place for some peace and quiet, and close to some sights, but not to any "major attractions" (to which I am generally not attracted).

What Hills Creek is close to is the small city of Wellsboro and the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Wellsboro, 10 miles west of Hills Creek, is a quaint town of about 3000 that was once an important trading and small manufacturing town. Wellsboro has a thriving downtown area with several shops and old-fashioned, independent (non-chain) businesses. It seems to have a decent tourist trade, and to be doing better than some of the similar small towns in southern New York State, just to the north. But despite the fact that the downtown streets are still lit by gas lamps, and that it is near a gas drilling region of northern Pennsylvania and southern New York, Wellsboro's name has nothing to do with natural gas wells. It was named for Mary Wells, the wife of one of the town's original settlers.

Ten miles further west of Hills Creek is the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The canyon was carved in the last ice age by Pine Creek when a glacial debris damn burst, emptying a large lake to the north, and reversing the direction of the creek, which had formerly flowed from south to north. The Pine Creek Canyon is about 45 miles long and from 800 to 1400 ft deep. Along the bottom of the canyon, next to the creek, is an old railway bed that has been converted to a bike path. At the north end of the canyon, near the town of Ansonia, are two State Parks, one on either rim, overlooking the canyon.

The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is nowhere near as long, deep, or wide as the more famous ditch in Arizona. But that's part of its attraction with me. It's not nearly as crowded. You can easily raft or canoe the creek (except after mid-summer, when the water tends to be too low). There are many trails leading into the gorge that are easily hikeable by someone in reasonable shape. Hiking down the trails is not advised during the winter, due to ice, but there are some nice paths along the canyon rim. And the woods are beautiful. Even in the winter, there's enough green with the various species of conifers that cling to the gorge. But we spotted numerous species of deciduous trees including beech, black cherry, hickory, various birches, and several kinds of oak.

But the attraction of our little spot in the woods was really the chance to unwind. We caught up on some reading. We had some nice conversation. My son and I played chess and go. My wife and I taught my son how to play cutthroat pinochle. And we relaxed. And on the way home, my son got to show us where he went to get shelter from a torrential thunderstorm on the last night of his bike trip to Newfoundland and back: in a shelter at a baseball diamond in the little town of Salladasburg, Pennsylvania, about 60 miles from Mom and Dad and a nice warm bed.

For My Civilian Friends

Sorry Attribution Nazi, but this one's been going around for a while now and God only knows where it started.  However, since it has come clear even to granite headed people like Code Pink, our nation will continue to be at war against International Terrorism for years. So as Rod Serling was fond of saying, this is "offered for your inspection".

Most readers of Mazurland are too old to sign up to serve, I was turned down to go back on active duty after 9/11 due to age and medical issues. 

But my Civilian friends can do a lot to help whip this fragmented country into shape, and actually "Fight for your Country".   Enjoy.

Rules for the Non-Military

Dear Civilians, 'We know that the current state of affairs

in our great nation has many civilians up in arms and excited to join

the military.

For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand.

Here are a few of the areas where we would like your assistance:



1. The next time you see any adults talking (or wearing a

hat) during the playing of the National Anthem - KICK THEIR ASS.



2. When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the

American Flag in protest - KICK THEIR ASS.



3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay
the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing
otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought
for the very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many
sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great.

Then hold them down while a disabled veteran KICKS THEIR ASS.



4. (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT
pretend that you were. Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle
Fatigues, telling others that you used to be 'Special Forces,' and
collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven
years old. Now, it will only make you look stupid and GET YOUR ASS KICKED.



5. Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not
ask them, 'Do you fly a jet?' Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot.
Such ignorance deserves AN ASS KICKING (children are exempt).

6. If you witness someone calling the US Coast Guard
'non-military', inform them of their mistake - and KICK THEIR ASS.



7. Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a
parade, GET ON YOUR DAMN FEET and pay homage to her by placing your hand
over your heart. Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough
to be carrying her - of course, failure to do either of
those could earn you a SEVERE ASS KICKING.



8. Don't try to discuss politics with a military member
or a veteran. We are Americans, and we all bleed the same, regardless of
our party affiliation. Our Chain of Command is to include our
Commander-In-Chief (CinC). The President (for those who didn't
know) is our CinC regardless of political party. We have no inside track
onwhat happens inside those big important buildings where all those representatives
meet; all we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the
situation, they call upon the military to go straighten it out.. If you
keep asking us the same stupid questions repeatedly,YOU WILL GET YOUR ASS KICKED.

9. 'Your mama wears combat boots.' never made sense to me- stop saying It! If she did, she would most likely be a vet and therefore COULD KICK YOUR ASS.

10. bin Laden and the Taliban are not Communists, so stop saying 'Let's go kill those Commies!' And stop asking us where he is! Crystal balls are not standard issue in the military. That reminds me - if you see anyone calling those damn psychic phone numbers,
let me know, so I can GO KICK THEIR ASS!

11. 'Flyboy' (Air Force), 'Jarhead' (Marines), 'Grunt' (Marines), "DogFace" or "Doggie"
(Army), 'Squid' (Navy), 'Puddle Jumpers' (Coast Guard), etc., are terms of
endearment we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member
or vet, you have not earned the right to use them. Using them could GET YOUR ASS KICKED.

12. Whether or not you become a member of the military, support our troops and their families. Every
Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends,please remember that there are literally thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen far from home wishing they could be with their
families.
Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every day. Without them, our country would get it's "ASS KICKED.'

Finally, if you ever hear someone trying to say the Pledge of Allegiance or sing the National Anthem IN SPANISH----SLAP THE SNOT OUT OF THEM!!!

 

Obama's Senate Replacement? Doubtful

The embattled Governor of Illinois has appointed his opponent in his last run for Governor to fill President Elect Barry Hussein's seat in the Senate

As is noted in various parts of cyberspace and the MSM, Roland Burris--the former Attorney General of IL and former opponent of Rod Blagojevich is

A, An Idiot

B. Corrupt as hell

C. Both of the above

Here's Dingy Harry's letter to Blago from earlier this month---the most pertinent part in bold.

Dear Governor Blagojevich:

We write to insist that you step down as Governor of Illinois and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill the vacant Illinois Senate seat. In light of your arrest yesterday on alleged federal corruption charges related to that Senate seat, any appointment by you would raise serious questions.

It is within the authority of the Illinois legislature to remove your power to make this appointment by providing for a special election. But a decision by you to resign or to step aside under Article V of the Illinois Constitution would be the most expeditious way for a new Senator to be chosen and seated in a manner that would earn the confidence of the people of Illinois and all Americans. We consider it imperative that a new senator be seated as soon as possible so that Illinois is fully represented in the Senate as the important work of the 111th Congress moves forward.

Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated.

We do not prejudge the outcome of the criminal charges against you or question your constitutional right to contest those charges. But for the good of the Senate and our nation, we implore you refrain from making an appointment to the Senate.

Sincerely,

Harry Reid

Democrat Comedy---And it's just the overture---Wait until Jan 21 when the lights come up on this farce.

Domestic Terrorism?

Look at the Poster, and you tell me!!!

 

Make sure you know the political viewpoint of the object of your affections !!!

Kit Lange Maps It Out

For the Attribution Nazi--

Kit Lange is a veteran of the US Air Force and a military writer who invesigates cases of our Servicemen being charged with murder in the combat zones. Her blog: EuphoricReality.com--was named as one of the top 10 military blogs, and she is also the webmaster for A Gathering of Eagles, one of the largest military support organizations--they have a good website too.  Kit wrote a 10 part series in 2005 disproving war crime allegations against an elite Army unit. 

In the USA, we leave the fighting (since 1973) and protecting of this nation to an all volunteer force, which in other cultures and societies has been called the Warrior Class.  Now that we have an all volunteer, highly educated and trained Warrior Class--the country should want to know what they see on the horizon, as they are on the front lines and have the best remove from which to view what's coming at our country. 

Kit maps it out in this essay. 

 My Predictions for the New Obama "Presidency"

Now that America has shown us all that affirmative action even works in politics, I've compiled a list of things that you can probably expect to happen.  These predictions are 80% gleaned from information all of us have access to, and 15% gut instinct based on many years of research, historical study, and being glued to current affairs.  The other 5% is just anger at my countrymen's stupidity--I admit it.

 

- Websites and mass emails offering "free grants," courtesy of the government and "Obama's wealth redistribution." Actually, this one's a freebie, because I have an email with a date and timestamp of literally minutes after Obama was declared the winner, offering exactly that.

- Israel will understand this election was the end of any type of assistance, military or otherwise, from the U.S., and will stop holding back their defense at the request of the American administration.  Look for a first strike on Iran soon, as well as increased activity by the Israeli military in general.  Israel is on her own now, and God help us all because of it.

- Look for Iranian retaliation--against American targets.  That goes doubly for other terrorist organizations.  We just elected a man with the full endorsement of every major terrorist group in the world as leader of the free world.  It's the political equivalent of hiring a child molester to baby-sit your kids while you leave for the weekend. Not only is HE going to have fun with your child, but he'll probably sit and watch while his friends come over and do it too.

- Look for far-left justices appointed to the Supreme Court, effectively tying up the entire government in a trifecta of liberal humanism, the buzzwords of which remain empty platitudes like "hope and change," and the ultimate goal of which is socialism--and soon, sharia law.

- Military cases of troops being tried and convicted for killing the enemy in combat will continue to rise--and the conviction/plea-bargain rate will stay at nearly 100%, as the government seeks to use the best men and women this country has to offer as sacrificial lambs on the altar of global appeasement.  Those brave and honorable men who currently reside in prison cells across the country, stripped of their rank, their careers, families, and their good name, will not taste free air again for many years.  Their sacrifices and their stories will be forgotten by the general public, remembered only by those of us who continue to fight for them.

- Look for the slow but steady erosion of rights you have enjoyed for your entire lives--all the while being told it's "for your own good." Restrictions on gun ownership, home schooling, encouraged dependence on the ever-growing federal government.  More nanny-state provisions will be put into place to protect the "disadvantaged" and the "poor," (read: lazy, uneducated, unwilling to better themselves) even while groups like the unborn, the mentally handicapped, elderly, and terminally ill are slowly pushed toward euthanasia.  Of course, this will be done with feel-good phrases like "death with dignity," "not wanting to be a burden," and "merciful release from suffering," all of which ignore the basic fact that we are killing people without their consent for the "good of the people." Before you tell me I'm crazy, let's just remember that Barack Obama was the ONLY senator in the Illinois state senate to vote against providing medical care for babies who were inconsiderate enough to survive an abortion.  Also, look for taxes to go up.  Yes, they'll go up.

- You think the economy is bad now?  Just wait. You'll have the most expensive "free" health care ever.  Bread lines aren't just for Russians anymore.
We have traded experience for color, freedom for slavery--and the irony is that the average American sheeple (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheeple) thinks their vote somehow righted an ancient wrong, somehow ENDED the spectre of slavery and ushered in some beautiful era of liberty.  In reality, we are about to be less free than you ever thought possible.

I watched the faces of those crowded into the mob (excuse the pun) in Chicago.  They stared at Obama like he was a god, an idol, a panacea to their every want and need.  We have truly failed as a nation if we are at the point where we feel we must look to one man to take care of us all, to be our father figure and our sugar daddy.  We have lost not only the "can-do" attitude of past generations, but the "MUST-do" attitude of our forefathers.  We have allowed ourselves to become reduced from Patrick Henry's proud cry of "liberty or death" to the sniveling, whining idea that we are owed something.  We have gone from being the honorable defenders of freedom, to being told we are the problem.
The eyes of Obama and McCain were also telling.  McCain acted with class and grace in his concession speech , offering the most honorable response I've seen yet.  I don't agree with all of McCain's positions, but it cannot be denied that the man has served his nation--at permanent and severe detriment to himself--for half a century. His eyes were clear and sincere, honest.  His speech underlined the very reasons why, of the two men offered, he was hands down the best choice.

On the other hand, Obama's eyes were cold, calculating.  His manner was smug and still carried the arrogance he has always had.  His facial expression was one of barely disguised disdain for everything people like me believe in.  His body language was smooth, polished--too much so.  He talked of patriotism as though it is a value he is familiar with--and yet, his horrifying attitude toward the country he now leads is as well-documented as his friendships with those who seek its demise.  He is charismatic to those who don't know what to look for, and he is inspiring to those who cannot or will not think for themselves.  However, too many who voted for him are guilty of the most dangerous kind of hypocrisy.  You see, we are told daily that we must not see color, just mankind.  (We are all family, you know--or so we're told.) And yet Barack Obama was handed the White House on a silver platter by a fawning media, a bevy of foreign donors (who, to this day and in violation of U.S.  election laws, remain nameless and unaccounted for), and a populace who voted based on color instead of right and wrong--even in the face of the most damning evidence against a Presidential candidate in many years , perhaps ever.

It is said that the people receive the government they deserve.  Sadly, I fear that's correct.  We have become complacent, unwilling to see the writing on the wall, content to frolic in the warm water without bothering to notice that it's been getting hotter by the minute.  We are two seconds from a rolling boil--and perhaps it is already too late.

So, liberals, enjoy your victory.  Jump around.  Have a party, file for your free grants.  Scream "Gimme my handout!" and make fun of those of us who fought to make sure your "messiah" didn't get access to the most powerful position in the world.  Just remember when it all comes crashing down: You own the White House, the Congress, and soon the Supreme Court. 

You have no one to blame but yourselves for the mess you just created.

As for me, I'm buying my handguns this week so I have an answer for those who will come try to take them.

Kit

 

What Did YOU get?

I got a Sabres Throwback Jersey---REAL throwback---to the original design circa 1970

HBO's DEADWOOD--Season 1

And a Kobalt 60 gallon air compressor for my Corvair Shop, Now that I only have 18 more days to be Detachment Commandant, I'll have some time to break out the air tools and get started again. I've not turned a real wrench in 2 years, and looking forward to working on my cars, but not the muscle and back pain I'll have from not using those body parts in that way lately.

What about youse guys?

Bóg Się Rodzi

Merry Christmas to all of Mazurland! The title of this Polish Christmas carol means "God is born". It is often translated "God is being born", and that is appropriate. Though Christ was born in a particular place at a particular time in the past, God renews his promises to all mankind continually, particularly through the cycle of the celebration of Christmas, Easter, and all His great feasts. And it is also good to remember on Christmas that the baby born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago is Christ; is God.

The group performing the song, one of the most popular of Polish kolędy (carols), is Mazowsze. Mazowsze is the most famous song and dance ensemble from Poland. They specialize in performing folk dances and songs from every region of Poland. A couple of years ago, PBS aired a performance that was memorable not only for the music, but for the amazing number of dazzling costumes. There was a costume change for each number, amounting to probably more than a dozen costumes for each dancer. For Mazurlanders interested in Polish heritage, I recommend the DVD of the show. Mazowsze has also produced an excellent CD of kolędy together with the ensemble Śląsk. YouTuber Carolmaster has matched several of these kolędy with some beautiful snowy mountain scenes from Poland. Watch and enjoy.

Season's Greetings

Don't know how busy I'll be the next few days, and would like to wish the Brothers Mazur, Ben and all friends and readers of Mazurland a very Merry Christmas.

May the joy that the birth of our Savior brought to the world be with you all, and may his love and peace delight to dwell within you and bless you.

Note to the Authors: All you sack-rats should be making a post to tell the rest of us what Santa brought you and yours: that way at least our 2 main trout waxers will get ONE post in for the month.

I'm not much of a New Years Resolution person, but I think Mazur the Elder should coerce his brothers to commit to a set number of posts per month for next year. He set the example for them this year.  What more can the older brother do?

Or we could rename it the Marty/Hank/Ben blog, and be done with it.

Budweiser American Ale---Eh?

After seeing a few commercials for the new Anheuser-Busch product called  Budweiser American Ale,  my curiosity got the better of me.  After discussing what I THOUGHT I would get and what it would taste like with my son, while shopping on Sunday I decided to buy a 6 pack.  One of the few advantages of having my son still at home is if I buy a 6 pack of something new and think it's crap, he'll drink anything so it won't go to waste.

So I get the ale home, jammed a bottle in the freezer for about 20 minutes, got out a frosted glass, and poured it up. While pouring I began to be a bit intrigued. It had a decidedly darker color than I expected, not as dark as a bock, but darker than many ales out there. And it foamed well, better than I expected from an Anheuser Busch product, which excepting Michelob in my book is bottled Clydesdale urine.

Now for the tasting, but first a little history.

Adolphus Busch created Budweiser as a beer that could be duplicated to taste the same wherever it was brewed, perhaps one of the first attempts at franchising a product with nationwide uniformity.  And this is what I was expecting from a "Budweiser American Ale"---a beverage slightly resembling and tasting like ale, but nothing to write home about.  But I still went into the tasting with a open mind, as I like surprises when sampling a new beer or ale.

Well, I wasn't disappointed.  In my estimation, Budweiser American Ale is a watered down version of what Ale really is. Slightly (AND JUST SLIGHTLY) hoppy, with very little to no "bite" of bitterness. 

Just what I expected it to be---another POS Anheuser Busch product, homogenized to the point where some ya-hoo in Kansas that drinks it actually thinks THAT is what ale is.  Designed to be bottled and kegged in millions of barrels per day.  YUK.   Don't know if my son will drink it or not.

My Recommendation--DON'T buy a 6 pack. Find a bar that serves it and get one bottle.  It will likely save you 3-4 dollars.