Just for those who aren't on Facebook...
A library has burned to the ground.* Rest in peace, John Kiley.
*I've seen it written that when a person dies, it's like a library
burning to ashes. All the stories are gone, lingering only in our
memories. It's a stark reminder that we are all here only temporarily.
If we're lucky, we get to live a full life, full of friends and family.
My father-in-law John Kiley did just that, taking life on his own terms
and, in the end, surrounded by loved ones.
He'll be missed, greatly.
That is all.
Showing posts with label Final Farewell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Final Farewell. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Monday, August 18, 2014
I Am A Bad, Bad Person...
...because my first response to this story was raucous laughter...
Couple falls to their death while trying to take selfie
I just don't get the daredevil stuff, I really don't. Sky diving, bungee jumping; all of that just makes me scratch my head. I ride a motorcycle, and that's enough risk for me; I don't need to go out actively seeking ways to get myself killed. I have to think that it's thrill-seeking at work here, because the alternative is TSTL - they just didn't give the cliff enough credence and forgot that gravity isn't just a good idea, it's the law.
Reading this account, I have even less sympathy for the recently deceased. They apparently went around a safety barrier to get their picture - when you actively circumvent items intended to keep you from doing unsafe things, it's hard to move the "give-a-s**t-meter". It's one thing to misjudge the edge and slip. It's entirely another (dumber) thing to go around the perimeter set up for safety.
At least that's a mistake they won't make again...
That is all.
Couple falls to their death while trying to take selfie
A Polish couple has fallen to their death in Portugal while trying to take a selfie near a cliff, according to local media reports.Now, there's a sad part to this, as the couple left behind two children - who watched their idiot parents fall to their deaths. I feel bad for those kids - they didn't ask to be born to people that don't have the common sense that G-d gave gravel. Perhaps they will be raised by someone with a better sense of self-preservation, like a lion tamer.
The bodies of the couple – who were not identified – have been recovered after initial attempts to rescue them on Saturday were hampered by rough conditions in the waters off Cabo da Raca, Polish Radio reports.
I just don't get the daredevil stuff, I really don't. Sky diving, bungee jumping; all of that just makes me scratch my head. I ride a motorcycle, and that's enough risk for me; I don't need to go out actively seeking ways to get myself killed. I have to think that it's thrill-seeking at work here, because the alternative is TSTL - they just didn't give the cliff enough credence and forgot that gravity isn't just a good idea, it's the law.
Reading this account, I have even less sympathy for the recently deceased. They apparently went around a safety barrier to get their picture - when you actively circumvent items intended to keep you from doing unsafe things, it's hard to move the "give-a-s**t-meter". It's one thing to misjudge the edge and slip. It's entirely another (dumber) thing to go around the perimeter set up for safety.
At least that's a mistake they won't make again...
That is all.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Mork Won't Be Down For Shazbot...
Wow. This was a blow.
Comedy Legend Robin Williams Found Dead at 63
Robin Williams is one of those actors that has been with me pretty much my entire life. I was seven years old when he was on Mork & Mindy; I watched this zany "alien" and his antics every week, transfixed (it was one of the shows my folks allowed me to watch; go figure). From "Mork calling Orson. Come in, Orson" to sitting on his head in a chair, the character of Mork from Ork was pure Williams.
"The World According to Garp" showcased a wider range of Williams' talent, with his offbeat talents. "The Survivors" paired Williams with Walter Matthau and gave us Survivalist Robin. Everyone is familiar with "Good Morning Vietnam" (many good one liners there) and "Dead Poets Society" (Serious Robin is Serious). And then, Aladdin. Robin Williams appearing in a Disney film? Fortunately, they allowed him fairly free reign and the Genie was unfiltered (although certainly toned down) Williams.
Other roles, other movies showed his talent and range. Sure, there were a few that made me cringe, like the cardboard-cutout in "RV" or whatever the hell "Death to Smoochy" was supposed to be, but even in the later movies there was a spark of Robin. I've enjoyed so many of his films - and so have my kids, from Aladdin to Robots to Night at the Museum. It's so unbelievably sad to think he's gone, that his light will shine no more, that he will no longer entertain us.
Requiescat in pace, Robin. You will be missed.
That is all.
Comedy Legend Robin Williams Found Dead at 63
Comedian Robin Williams died Monday morning in his residence in Tiburon, California, according to his wife and publicist.Just... Wow. The coroner's office is calling "suicide by asphyxiation," which I would imagine is coroner-speak for death from hanging. Really, I hope that it was a David Carradine moment. I think it's funnier that way, and I think Robin Williams would prefer the laughter to the maudlin.
Williams, 63, was found in the home he shared with his wife shortly before noon (3 p.m. ET), the Marin County Sheriff's Office said.
Robin Williams is one of those actors that has been with me pretty much my entire life. I was seven years old when he was on Mork & Mindy; I watched this zany "alien" and his antics every week, transfixed (it was one of the shows my folks allowed me to watch; go figure). From "Mork calling Orson. Come in, Orson" to sitting on his head in a chair, the character of Mork from Ork was pure Williams.
"The World According to Garp" showcased a wider range of Williams' talent, with his offbeat talents. "The Survivors" paired Williams with Walter Matthau and gave us Survivalist Robin. Everyone is familiar with "Good Morning Vietnam" (many good one liners there) and "Dead Poets Society" (Serious Robin is Serious). And then, Aladdin. Robin Williams appearing in a Disney film? Fortunately, they allowed him fairly free reign and the Genie was unfiltered (although certainly toned down) Williams.
Other roles, other movies showed his talent and range. Sure, there were a few that made me cringe, like the cardboard-cutout in "RV" or whatever the hell "Death to Smoochy" was supposed to be, but even in the later movies there was a spark of Robin. I've enjoyed so many of his films - and so have my kids, from Aladdin to Robots to Night at the Museum. It's so unbelievably sad to think he's gone, that his light will shine no more, that he will no longer entertain us.
Requiescat in pace, Robin. You will be missed.
That is all.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Tuco Won't Be Down For Breakfast...
Eli Wallach dies: Character actor known for ‘The Magnificent Seven’ was 98
Who can ever forget Tuco's sage advice?
Rest in Peace, Eli.
That is all.
Eli Wallach, a celebrated stage and film actor who excelled at playing impulsive characters across the ethnic spectrum, memorably as Mexican bandits in the 1960s movie westerns “The Magnificent Seven” and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” died June 24 at his home in Manhattan. He was 98.I hope I make it to 98, folks. It's hard to truly mourn that sort of passing, especially given the life Wallach led. From "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" to "The Godfather III" to appearing in films as late as four years ago, that's a darn good run. If I'm still able to work when I'm 94 years old, I would consider that a damn good thing.
His secretary, Jim Urbom, confirmed the death but did not disclose the cause.
The son of Polish Jews, Mr. Wallach was in constant demand to play nearly every kind of ethnic character on stage and screen in a career that spanned seven decades. He initially burst to prominence on Broadway, where he won a Tony Award for his portrayal of a prideful and buffoonish Sicilian named Mangiacavallo in Tennessee Williams’s “The Rose Tattoo” (1951).
Who can ever forget Tuco's sage advice?
Rest in Peace, Eli.
That is all.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
End of An Era
So, we had some sad news in the family this weekend. Mrs. G.'s grandmother passed away on Saturday, the last of all grandparents for either of us. Now, she was 92 years old, had no major health issues, and lived to see her great-great-grandaughter born, so this wasn't unexpected or sudden or anything. We will miss Grannie, of course, but she had certainly lived a long, full life.
It does, however, bring one's own mortality up front and center when a relative passes. It's even more sobering when, with this passing, the generation shifts-we're now moved up the chain as the last of the old guard goes gently into that good night. Very few of my peers have grandparents still alive, no one in my immediate circle of which I am aware.
I've often stated that we go through many phases in our lives. When you're a kid/teenager, people die in accidents or the rare sickness-but not as a standard rule of thumb. There might be the occasional great-grandparent or great-aunt, but generally we don't face mortality.
As we reach our 20s, we start seeing grandparents and those of our peers starting to pass on. When we hit our 40s, it starts being our own parents. Entering our 60s, it starts being our own peers. With the passing of the last of the grandparents, our "group" has gotten just a little closer to our own appointment with Death. Who talks in all caps.
We only get one chance at this, folks; make the most of it...
That is all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
It does, however, bring one's own mortality up front and center when a relative passes. It's even more sobering when, with this passing, the generation shifts-we're now moved up the chain as the last of the old guard goes gently into that good night. Very few of my peers have grandparents still alive, no one in my immediate circle of which I am aware.
I've often stated that we go through many phases in our lives. When you're a kid/teenager, people die in accidents or the rare sickness-but not as a standard rule of thumb. There might be the occasional great-grandparent or great-aunt, but generally we don't face mortality.
As we reach our 20s, we start seeing grandparents and those of our peers starting to pass on. When we hit our 40s, it starts being our own parents. Entering our 60s, it starts being our own peers. With the passing of the last of the grandparents, our "group" has gotten just a little closer to our own appointment with Death. Who talks in all caps.
We only get one chance at this, folks; make the most of it...
That is all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Ballistic Catharsis
Alternate title: The Tea Kettle Story, Part II
This is the second part in a multi-part guest post from SCI-FI. The first post can be found here.
Since this is rather long, I'll forgo my normal indent-and-blue-text style for words that are not my own. SCI-FI is the author of the following, between the lines.
This followup is long overdue.
It took very little prodding from JayG to bring my bete-noir back to the range for a proper disintegration.
The tea kettle, that G*dd*amned tea kettle, still existed after the Third Annual Northeast Bloggershoot. Thanks to the hospitality of Mr and Mrs. DoubleTrouble, and the generosity of JayG, I got private range time and unlimited access to JayG’s arsenal.
I hang the bullet-riddled remains of the tea kettle on the backstop, and JayG and I set up firepower. A shotgun, a mammoth revolver, an AK, a .45 - they all get starring roles in my ballistic catharsis.
JayG loads, and I “unload,” in the loudest manner possible, and quite often while shouting invectives. I rotate through the guns, hoping some-shot-some-how will end in a cinematic cloud of shiny charged particles. But despite the gunpowder hailstorm, the tea kettle remains hanging, a shredded latticework of bulletholes and webbed stainless steel.
In a fit of anger, I yanked the tea kettle off the backstop, slicing my hand in the process. I couldn’t care less. This thing has a date with fire.DoubleTrouble has a forge.
DoubleTrouble generously spins fire and injected air into a exceptional heat, and hands me a hammer. The unrecognizable lace mess is now literally infused with my blood, sweat, and tears. I drop it onto the anvil and smash for all I’m worth. But after 30 minutes of troubling deaf heaven with my bootless clangs, it still remains. The silver lace has been compressed into a black brick, but the G*dd*amned tea kettle remains.
The bullets tore holes, or knocked out small disks (or I just plain missed), but they didn’t do enough damage. The vaporization point of stainless is far hotter than I could ever reach in a backyard forge - heck, I can’t even reach the melting temp. No doubt if I buried it in tannerite, I’d see it flying across the sky, and spend the next hour yanking it out of a tree.
No matter how much I hit this nightmare, it remains.
Very little in this life has pained me more than the horror that haunts SCI-FI. Words cannot describe the mix of horror, helplessness, and abject anger I felt - feel - that something this bad has happened to someone so good. In the karmic scheme of things, something really freakin' good had better happen to SCI-FI, because this man does not deserve this. No one does, but especially not SCI-FI.
The feeling of powerlessness. That's what I remember. If this had been caused by someone; a drunk driver, a goblin, anything; I would put my freedom and my good name on the line to enact vengeance. But there's no one responsible, no person to hold to the fire as it were. Just a big gaping hole, and questions that will never be answered. At least not in this life.
I've known SCI-FI for 30 years. He is one of my oldest and certainly my dearest friend, the closest thing I have to a brother. He is, without a doubt, one of the nicest, most honorable people I know; a kind, generous soul that doesn't deserve a hangnail, let alone this horror.
They say everything happens for a reason. There had better be a DAMN good reason for this.
That is all.
This is the second part in a multi-part guest post from SCI-FI. The first post can be found here.
Since this is rather long, I'll forgo my normal indent-and-blue-text style for words that are not my own. SCI-FI is the author of the following, between the lines.
This followup is long overdue.
It took very little prodding from JayG to bring my bete-noir back to the range for a proper disintegration.
The tea kettle, that G*dd*amned tea kettle, still existed after the Third Annual Northeast Bloggershoot. Thanks to the hospitality of Mr and Mrs. DoubleTrouble, and the generosity of JayG, I got private range time and unlimited access to JayG’s arsenal.
I hang the bullet-riddled remains of the tea kettle on the backstop, and JayG and I set up firepower. A shotgun, a mammoth revolver, an AK, a .45 - they all get starring roles in my ballistic catharsis.
JayG loads, and I “unload,” in the loudest manner possible, and quite often while shouting invectives. I rotate through the guns, hoping some-shot-some-how will end in a cinematic cloud of shiny charged particles. But despite the gunpowder hailstorm, the tea kettle remains hanging, a shredded latticework of bulletholes and webbed stainless steel.
In a fit of anger, I yanked the tea kettle off the backstop, slicing my hand in the process. I couldn’t care less. This thing has a date with fire.DoubleTrouble has a forge.
DoubleTrouble generously spins fire and injected air into a exceptional heat, and hands me a hammer. The unrecognizable lace mess is now literally infused with my blood, sweat, and tears. I drop it onto the anvil and smash for all I’m worth. But after 30 minutes of troubling deaf heaven with my bootless clangs, it still remains. The silver lace has been compressed into a black brick, but the G*dd*amned tea kettle remains.
The bullets tore holes, or knocked out small disks (or I just plain missed), but they didn’t do enough damage. The vaporization point of stainless is far hotter than I could ever reach in a backyard forge - heck, I can’t even reach the melting temp. No doubt if I buried it in tannerite, I’d see it flying across the sky, and spend the next hour yanking it out of a tree.
No matter how much I hit this nightmare, it remains.
Very little in this life has pained me more than the horror that haunts SCI-FI. Words cannot describe the mix of horror, helplessness, and abject anger I felt - feel - that something this bad has happened to someone so good. In the karmic scheme of things, something really freakin' good had better happen to SCI-FI, because this man does not deserve this. No one does, but especially not SCI-FI.
The feeling of powerlessness. That's what I remember. If this had been caused by someone; a drunk driver, a goblin, anything; I would put my freedom and my good name on the line to enact vengeance. But there's no one responsible, no person to hold to the fire as it were. Just a big gaping hole, and questions that will never be answered. At least not in this life.
I've known SCI-FI for 30 years. He is one of my oldest and certainly my dearest friend, the closest thing I have to a brother. He is, without a doubt, one of the nicest, most honorable people I know; a kind, generous soul that doesn't deserve a hangnail, let alone this horror.
They say everything happens for a reason. There had better be a DAMN good reason for this.
That is all.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Rest in Peace, Marine.
Stretch sends in a bit of sad news.
Walter R. Walsh Dies at 106; Terrorized Gangsters and Targets
Do not mourn that such a man has died; rather, rejoice that such a man ever lived.
That is all.
Walter R. Walsh Dies at 106; Terrorized Gangsters and Targets
Walter R. Walsh, a world-class marksman who shot clothespins off laundry lines as a boy and went on to become an F.B.I. legend in shootouts with gangsters in the 1930s, an Olympic competitor and a trainer of generations of Marine Corps sharpshooters, died on Tuesday at his home in Arlington, Va. He was 106.Y'know, even without all the records, Olympic medals, and heroics, that's a life well-lived. Add in that he was a pistol champion well into his 90s, that he was a G-man who took on gangsters in the 1930s and then went on to kill Axis soldiers a decade later, and would be captain of the US Muzzleloading team when he was 87 years old. Damn, but that's a mighty fine run, Mr. Walsh.
Do not mourn that such a man has died; rather, rejoice that such a man ever lived.
That is all.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
We Have Lost A Giant...
I was terribly saddened to hear this next story.
Harold Ramis of 'Ghostbusters,' 'Groundhog Day' fame dies
Ramis, who starred opposite Bill Murray in "Stripes" and again with Murray, Ackroyd, and Ernie Hudson in "Ghostbusters", passed away at the age of 69 after a long and debilitating illness. The man who wrote "Animal House", "Caddyshack", and "Analyze This"; stared in "Stripes", "Ghostbusters", and "Airheads"; and wrote "Groundhog Day", "Back to School", and "Meatballs" will no longer be making us laugh - except through the magic of recorded media.
Important safety tip. Thanks Egon.
That is all.
PS: Egon isn't the only one that's left us. Brigid has had to say goodbye to Barkley, her faithful canine sidekick. Rest in peace, Barkley.
Harold Ramis of 'Ghostbusters,' 'Groundhog Day' fame dies
(CNN) -- Harold Ramis, the actor, writer and director whose films include "Stripes," "Ghostbusters," "Groundhog Day" and "Analyze This," has died. He was 69.Egon has left the building, folks. :(
His death was caused by complications related to autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a condition Ramis battled for four years, according to United Talent Agency, which represented Ramis for many years.
Ramis, who starred opposite Bill Murray in "Stripes" and again with Murray, Ackroyd, and Ernie Hudson in "Ghostbusters", passed away at the age of 69 after a long and debilitating illness. The man who wrote "Animal House", "Caddyshack", and "Analyze This"; stared in "Stripes", "Ghostbusters", and "Airheads"; and wrote "Groundhog Day", "Back to School", and "Meatballs" will no longer be making us laugh - except through the magic of recorded media.
Important safety tip. Thanks Egon.
That is all.
PS: Egon isn't the only one that's left us. Brigid has had to say goodbye to Barkley, her faithful canine sidekick. Rest in peace, Barkley.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Sad News...
Devo Guitarist Bob Casale Dead At 61
No, I'm not going to post "Whip It." Instead, here's something full of awful '80s camp and kitsch:
Rest in Peace, Bob; may your flowerpot hat be waiting for you...
That is all.
Devo guitarist Bob Casale, who played with the group alongside his brother Gerald from the original incarnation of the groundbreaking Akron new wave band in 1973 all the way through their recent tours, died suddenly on February 17th of heart failure. He was 61.Man. I distinctly remember listening to Devo in the early 1980s and thinking just how completely different they were. It was an odd time; the '70s disco phase was dying out, and being replaced by bubblegum pop, vague Top 40s, and new wave. Devo, the B52s, Talking Heads - it was different (for the time period).
No, I'm not going to post "Whip It." Instead, here's something full of awful '80s camp and kitsch:
Rest in Peace, Bob; may your flowerpot hat be waiting for you...
That is all.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Nope, Ain't Buyin' It...
So, some Hollywood actor bought it because he couldn't escape the pull of heroin, and he's being lionized as some sort of hero? Am I missing something? Because he could pretend to be other people, that absolves him of the illicit drug use?
And barring the whole "legalize" issue (which, just to be 100% clear, I am in complete favor of legalization), he was supposed to be picking his three kids, all pre-teen, after the time period in which he was found dead. Lovely. That's father-of-the-frickin'-year material right there. "Hmmm, I need to get my kids. I have time for some smack"...
Let's be clear. There is zero difference between how I'd feel between what happened and if he'd plowed his car into a tree while hammered. His actions were stupid, self-centered, and he is damn lucky he didn't kill his kids in the process. Your kids require 100% of your attention, and it should absolutely be undiluted and unpolluted attention.
I understand addiction, folks. I quit smoking the month before my son was born because I wanted to set a better example for him. I lost over 100 pounds for the same reason. When you're a parent, your actions - whether you want them to or not - speak louder than words. You can't expect them to stay away from cigarettes if you're puffing away. You can't tell them to eat healthy if you can't stay away from Big Macs.
And you can't tell your kids to "say no to drugs" if you're a junkie.
That is all.
And barring the whole "legalize" issue (which, just to be 100% clear, I am in complete favor of legalization), he was supposed to be picking his three kids, all pre-teen, after the time period in which he was found dead. Lovely. That's father-of-the-frickin'-year material right there. "Hmmm, I need to get my kids. I have time for some smack"...
Let's be clear. There is zero difference between how I'd feel between what happened and if he'd plowed his car into a tree while hammered. His actions were stupid, self-centered, and he is damn lucky he didn't kill his kids in the process. Your kids require 100% of your attention, and it should absolutely be undiluted and unpolluted attention.
I understand addiction, folks. I quit smoking the month before my son was born because I wanted to set a better example for him. I lost over 100 pounds for the same reason. When you're a parent, your actions - whether you want them to or not - speak louder than words. You can't expect them to stay away from cigarettes if you're puffing away. You can't tell them to eat healthy if you can't stay away from Big Macs.
And you can't tell your kids to "say no to drugs" if you're a junkie.
That is all.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Circle Of Life...
Just received word that one of Dad G.'s old friends had passed away. He'd been sick for a while, and it wasn't unexpected by any means, but when someone you've known for nearly 50 years passes on, it leaves a mark. Right now Dad's busy making arrangements (the friend was a fellow retired MA state cop), and I'm concerned about what happens after all the busy stuff is over.
It brings home the different stages we go through in our lives. In your teens and 20s, you mainly deal with death either from accident or other tragic circumstances - which is rare - or with grandparents or great-grandparents. Losing a friend, while not necessarily uncommon, is shocking to you, of course, but it doesn't engender much reflection upon one's own mortality. In one's teens and early 20s, it's nigh impossible to conceive of your own life's finish.
We progress from that stage to the stage where it's our parents' generation that are succumbing to the ravages of time. Certainly, some go far too soon - I had a good friend who lost his dad his freshman year of college. That's unusual, but it does happen. More often than not, though, we're getting into middle age when people of our parents' generation start passing on. While we might stop for a moment to think of mortality, it's more along the lines of "What are we going to do when it happens to Mom/Dad" rather than "that could be me."
And then, like my dad is finding out, you hit that point in your life when its your own friends that are passing away. Mortality hits you in the face like a gloved slap. Someone you've known your entire adult life is now gone; it's hard not to think of your own life expectancy when your peers are the ones showing up in the obituary page. Right now I'm trying to help Dad out; in a few years I'll be going through this myself, I'm sure.
One thing I've noticed with the internet/gun blogosphere, etc., though is that I've got friends ranging in age from early 20s to my parents' age. Our modern age of connectivity has the effect of introducing us to folks in our tribe that are outside our standard circle of friends and acquaintances. This is a good thing, in that it allows a huge range of perspective, but has a downside as well - a quick look at my sidebar reveals numerous bloggers that are no longer with us.
Sorry for the melancholy post today; guess it's just one of the side effects of getting up there in age...
That is all.
It brings home the different stages we go through in our lives. In your teens and 20s, you mainly deal with death either from accident or other tragic circumstances - which is rare - or with grandparents or great-grandparents. Losing a friend, while not necessarily uncommon, is shocking to you, of course, but it doesn't engender much reflection upon one's own mortality. In one's teens and early 20s, it's nigh impossible to conceive of your own life's finish.
We progress from that stage to the stage where it's our parents' generation that are succumbing to the ravages of time. Certainly, some go far too soon - I had a good friend who lost his dad his freshman year of college. That's unusual, but it does happen. More often than not, though, we're getting into middle age when people of our parents' generation start passing on. While we might stop for a moment to think of mortality, it's more along the lines of "What are we going to do when it happens to Mom/Dad" rather than "that could be me."
And then, like my dad is finding out, you hit that point in your life when its your own friends that are passing away. Mortality hits you in the face like a gloved slap. Someone you've known your entire adult life is now gone; it's hard not to think of your own life expectancy when your peers are the ones showing up in the obituary page. Right now I'm trying to help Dad out; in a few years I'll be going through this myself, I'm sure.
One thing I've noticed with the internet/gun blogosphere, etc., though is that I've got friends ranging in age from early 20s to my parents' age. Our modern age of connectivity has the effect of introducing us to folks in our tribe that are outside our standard circle of friends and acquaintances. This is a good thing, in that it allows a huge range of perspective, but has a downside as well - a quick look at my sidebar reveals numerous bloggers that are no longer with us.
Sorry for the melancholy post today; guess it's just one of the side effects of getting up there in age...
That is all.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
So, The Big (World) News...
Sent in by, well, everyone, was the news of the hour...
Rifle designer Mikhail Kalashnikov dead at 94
Of course, you won't find the media lamenting the utter failure of communism, oh, nossirree. It's those eeeeevil guns that killed all those people, not the fascists masquerading as communists that ordered the killings. Nope. The totalitarians running the place have no culpability in the minds of the American left; it is solely in the chunks of metal and wood where the guilt resides.
Отдых в мире, Mikhail.
That is all.
Rifle designer Mikhail Kalashnikov dead at 94
MOSCOW (AP) — Mikhail Kalashnikov started out wanting to make farm equipment, but the harvest he reaped was one of blood as the designer of the AK-47 assault rifle, the world's most popular firearm.Other reports claim that his rifle has killed more people than any other firearm. Personally, I find this hard to believe, as rifles by themselves are inanimate objects incapable of harming anyone, but I guess for the media that's beside the point. Also beside the point is the fact that the reason the AK-47 has killed so many people is because it's the battle rifle issued to the Soviet army, which has killed more people in their quest for a perfect government than any other.
It was the carnage of World War II, when Nazi Germany overran much of the Soviet Union, which altered his course and made his name as well-known for bloodshed as Smith, Wesson and Colt. The distinctive shape of the gun, often called "a Kalashnikov," appeared on revolutionary flags and adorns memorabilia.
Of course, you won't find the media lamenting the utter failure of communism, oh, nossirree. It's those eeeeevil guns that killed all those people, not the fascists masquerading as communists that ordered the killings. Nope. The totalitarians running the place have no culpability in the minds of the American left; it is solely in the chunks of metal and wood where the guilt resides.
Отдых в мире, Mikhail.
That is all.
Friday, October 11, 2013
End Of An Era...
Yankeefried sends in some sad news...
Hilltop Steak House to close October 20
Yeah, it's such an icon I used it for a KTKC shot.
We'd noticed the decline in business over the past few years, most notable at the blog dinner for Ambulance Driver a few years back. It was rather embarrassing, as I hadn't been to Hilltop in a few years and hadn't heard anything about a decline in the restaurant. The article says the owners point to a dramatic change in volume recently - if the food we received in 2009 was any indication, there's a reason for the drop in customer visits. It went from "excellent steakhouse fare" to "rather overpriced and certainly no better than any mediocre chain steakhouse".
I do have to wonder what will become of the plastic cows that folks have been stealing through the years...
That is all.
Hilltop Steak House to close October 20
The iconic Saugus steakhouse, which has beckoned generations of diners with an enormous decorative cactus and friendly plastic cows, will close its doors on October 20, The Boston Business Journal and Boston Restaurant Talk report. The restaurant had been in business for 52 years; years ago, lines were out the door.The Hilltop steakhouse is an ICON. Route 1 South will not be the same without the 70 foot tall neon cactus and the plastic cows (really. The cactus is visible from Maine. It is also located directly across the street from a Hooters, which faced opposition from the town for YEARS because they were afraid, and I swear to G-d I am not making this up, that a Hooters would detract from the atmosphere on Route 1). That cactus also provided a more personal backdrop:
Owners point to a "dramatic change in the volume" of business as a reason for the closure. A Braintree location shuttered in 2007.
Yeah, it's such an icon I used it for a KTKC shot.
We'd noticed the decline in business over the past few years, most notable at the blog dinner for Ambulance Driver a few years back. It was rather embarrassing, as I hadn't been to Hilltop in a few years and hadn't heard anything about a decline in the restaurant. The article says the owners point to a dramatic change in volume recently - if the food we received in 2009 was any indication, there's a reason for the drop in customer visits. It went from "excellent steakhouse fare" to "rather overpriced and certainly no better than any mediocre chain steakhouse".
I do have to wonder what will become of the plastic cows that folks have been stealing through the years...
That is all.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Can't Say I'm All Broke Up...
Ohio man who held 3 women captive found hanged
And, unlike such other notable monsters as Jeffrey Dahmer or John Geoghan, he wasn't murdered by another prisoner while in jail. While it's tempting to want to see someone like Castro beaten to death with a broomstick, his suicide won't enrich another prisoner or cause unnecessary, additional court time. Sure, there will be an inquiry - it's a lead pipe cinch that they'll want to know who Castro wasn't ruled a suicide risk - but with no other involvement in the death, they'll change a few procedures and keep a sharper eye on the next serial kidnapper rapist they get in the jail.
Better the good people of Ohio pay for an inquiry than another 30+ years of prison for this dirtbag...
That is all.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The man serving a life prison term for kidnapping three women and repeatedly raping them in his home for nearly a decade has been found dead and is believed to have committed suicide, a prison official said.Yeah. I'm looking and looking, and, nope, I can't find a single shred of give-a-damn. Saved the taxpayers of Ohio quite a tidy sum of money, he did. Probably the single best thing he could have done with the rest of his life. Considering that he was indicted on some 937 counts, and they had even considered the death penalty for him, it's quite likely he may have spent the rest of his life in jail. Unlike MA, where they'd most likely have let him out after 7-10 years so he could continue his "alternate lifestyle" (hey, kidnapping people and torturing them certainly is an alternate, right?), OH more than likely would have kept him locked up for a bit...
Ariel Castro, 53, was found hanging in his cell around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, located south of Columbus in central Ohio, JoEllen Smith, Department of Rehabilitation and Correction spokeswoman, said early Wednesday.
And, unlike such other notable monsters as Jeffrey Dahmer or John Geoghan, he wasn't murdered by another prisoner while in jail. While it's tempting to want to see someone like Castro beaten to death with a broomstick, his suicide won't enrich another prisoner or cause unnecessary, additional court time. Sure, there will be an inquiry - it's a lead pipe cinch that they'll want to know who Castro wasn't ruled a suicide risk - but with no other involvement in the death, they'll change a few procedures and keep a sharper eye on the next serial kidnapper rapist they get in the jail.
Better the good people of Ohio pay for an inquiry than another 30+ years of prison for this dirtbag...
That is all.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Wile E. Coyote, SUPER Genius
A bunch of folks sent this story in. The first version I got, they hadn't identified that the deceased was the same person who set the trap, which is a pretty important part of the equation...
Marijuana grower killed by own booby trap, police say
Why do I get the image of Wile E. Coyote getting hit by the oncoming train here?
That is all.
Marijuana grower killed by own booby trap, police say
A New York man died after being nearly decapitated by a booby trap he set to protect marijuana plants on his property.Yeah, I'm sorry, my give-a-shit-meter is still pegging a big fat zero on this one. Especially considering that alcohol was involved. You want to set a trap for ATV riders so that your illegal drug growing operation won't be discovered and then kill yourself in that very trap while driving drunk, the s**t I give will be undetectable without an electron microscope...
Daniel R. Ricketts, 50, who owns property and a residence on Saw Mill Road in Albany County, was identified as the victim on Sunday, the Times Union reports.
Why do I get the image of Wile E. Coyote getting hit by the oncoming train here?
That is all.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
If You Can't Say Something Nice...
Longtime journalist Helen Thomas dead at 92
She was a fixture at White House news conferences -- sitting front and center late in her career -- where she frequently exasperated Republican government spokesmen with her pointed questions.
Fixed it for you.
They are quick to point out her attack on Robert Gibbs as evidence of her "bipartisan" attacks - yet strangely, this is the only incident of her taking a Democratic official to task they can point out in over 20 years. She might have pestered Bill Clinton from time to time, but calling George W. Bush the "worst President ever"?
Rest in Peace, Helen. You'll be able to harangue Richard Nixon to your heart's content now...
That is all.
(CNN) -- Longtime White House journalist Helen Thomas has died at age 92 after a long illness, sources told CNN Saturday.
Thomas covered 10 presidents over nearly half a century, and became a legend in the industry.
She was a fixture at White House news conferences -- sitting front and center late in her career -- where she frequently exasperated government spokesmen with her pointed questions.
She was a fixture at White House news conferences -- sitting front and center late in her career -- where she frequently exasperated Republican government spokesmen with her pointed questions.
Fixed it for you.
They are quick to point out her attack on Robert Gibbs as evidence of her "bipartisan" attacks - yet strangely, this is the only incident of her taking a Democratic official to task they can point out in over 20 years. She might have pestered Bill Clinton from time to time, but calling George W. Bush the "worst President ever"?
Rest in Peace, Helen. You'll be able to harangue Richard Nixon to your heart's content now...
That is all.
Monday, July 15, 2013
If Your Dream Is Going To End, Make It End Spectacularly...
Don't get any ideas, #1 blogson...
285 mph: Motorcyclist dies in Maine
This is one of the reasons I stick to cruisers and tourers for my motorcycles. I've ridden a couple pseudo-sport bikes in my time (Suzuki Tempter, Honda Nighthawk), and the temptation to really wring out as much performance as possible is far too real for me. If I had something like a Hayabusa or one of the CBR RR variants I would be a danger to myself and others. So I stick to the Harleybago - knowing your limits and all that.
I've had my motorcycle license for nearly 20 years now. I've owned three motorcycles - a Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special, a Honda V45 Magna, and the Harleybago. While I would dearly love to have something red and fast like a Ducati or a CBR 900RR, the temptation to get it out on the highway and crank it up to insane speeds would be too great. Ditto trying to flick it through the twisties when the vast majority of my riding has been done on large(r) bikes not built for carving it up.
Maybe I'll take one of those specialized racing courses for my 50th birthday...
That is all.
285 mph: Motorcyclist dies in Maine
LIMESTONE, Maine - A motorcycle racer trying to top 300 mph died Sunday after losing control and zooming off a runway at a former air base in northern Maine.You know, it's a shame he died, but damn, if there's any way to check out of this mudball, crashing a superbike at nearly 300 MPH while trying to set a record is a pretty spectacular one. He'd made the run in a mile and a half, and was trying to top 300 MPH in a shorter stretch. While he didn't make it, he was doing something he loved - better to burn out than to rust and all that.
Bill Warner, 44, of Wimauma, Fla., was clocked at 285 mph before he lost control but it was unclear how fast the motorcycle was traveling when it veered off the paved runway and crashed, said Tim Kelly, race director of the Loring Timing Association, which hosted The Maine Event at Loring Air Force Base.
This is one of the reasons I stick to cruisers and tourers for my motorcycles. I've ridden a couple pseudo-sport bikes in my time (Suzuki Tempter, Honda Nighthawk), and the temptation to really wring out as much performance as possible is far too real for me. If I had something like a Hayabusa or one of the CBR RR variants I would be a danger to myself and others. So I stick to the Harleybago - knowing your limits and all that.
I've had my motorcycle license for nearly 20 years now. I've owned three motorcycles - a Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special, a Honda V45 Magna, and the Harleybago. While I would dearly love to have something red and fast like a Ducati or a CBR 900RR, the temptation to get it out on the highway and crank it up to insane speeds would be too great. Ditto trying to flick it through the twisties when the vast majority of my riding has been done on large(r) bikes not built for carving it up.
Maybe I'll take one of those specialized racing courses for my 50th birthday...
That is all.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Requiescat in pace
Memorial Service For Paul Cellucci At State House
We knew the Celluccis. My folks worked on his campaign. He was a genuinely nice guy, quiet, not someone you'd peg as a politician. He was a perfect Lt. Governor, especially for someone like Bill Weld, who absolutely *is* a politician. Cellucci was the perfect guy to send out to cut ribbons, shake hands, express condolences - because he *meant* it.
There's a trite expression that "only the good die young" - and Paul Cellucci is proof-positive of that.
Rest in Peace, Governor.
That is all.
BOSTON (AP) — A final farewell was planned for former Gov. Argeo Paul Cellucci at the Massachusetts Statehouse, where he spent nearly a quarter of a century in public life.
Cellucci died Saturday at his home in Hudson from complications of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.While I'm unhappy with Cellucci over the Gun Control Act of 1998 that was passed under his watch, the cold reality is that as a Republican governor of a state with 90% Democrat-held House and Senate, there's little he could have done to stop it. In the grand scheme of things, leaving us with Jane Swift was probably the worst thing he did (and even that wasn't too terrible - it did help to highlight just how incredibly biased the news is when they held her use of a state helicopter as this tyrannical abuse of power, yet completely ignored Deval Patrick doing the same).
We knew the Celluccis. My folks worked on his campaign. He was a genuinely nice guy, quiet, not someone you'd peg as a politician. He was a perfect Lt. Governor, especially for someone like Bill Weld, who absolutely *is* a politician. Cellucci was the perfect guy to send out to cut ribbons, shake hands, express condolences - because he *meant* it.
There's a trite expression that "only the good die young" - and Paul Cellucci is proof-positive of that.
Rest in Peace, Governor.
That is all.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
"If You Can't Say Something Nice About Someone..."
Several folks sent this in...
Sen. Frank Lautenberg dies at 89; N.J. GOP Gov. Chris Christie to pick replacement
Frank R(Replacement) Lautenberg passed away yesterday.
...
Since I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, I'll say the one thing I can think of for Senator Lautenberg: Thank you for your service in WWII. Other than that, I will have to remain silent on the man. I will note that it will be interesting to see who Christie picks to succeed him; I wouldn't hold out any hope for a conservative choice. The best I think we'll get is a Scott Brown type, although it would be richly amusing to see Doug Forrester.
That's about all I can offer for the Senator from New Jersey.
That is all.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg dies at 89; N.J. GOP Gov. Chris Christie to pick replacement
Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, a World War II veteran who served five terms in the Senate, died Monday, leaving one of New Jersey’s Senate seats empty and marking the first time in roughly 70 years that the chamber will be without a someone who saw service in that war.
Mr. Lautenberg, an 89-year-old Democrat who helped anchor the Senate’s liberal wing, made his mark in office by sponsoring legislation that ended smoking sections on airplanes and by pushing for stricter gun controls.
Frank R(Replacement) Lautenberg passed away yesterday.
...
Since I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, I'll say the one thing I can think of for Senator Lautenberg: Thank you for your service in WWII. Other than that, I will have to remain silent on the man. I will note that it will be interesting to see who Christie picks to succeed him; I wouldn't hold out any hope for a conservative choice. The best I think we'll get is a Scott Brown type, although it would be richly amusing to see Doug Forrester.
That's about all I can offer for the Senator from New Jersey.
That is all.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Coincidence?
Annette Funicello and Margaret Thatcher passing away on the same day. Have they ever been spotted together? Or was one a convenient disguise for the other?
Coincidence or conspiracy? Discuss.
That is all.
Coincidence or conspiracy? Discuss.
That is all.
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