The Faux Outrage And Political Theater...

...the AWFLs* and paid protesters and apparatchiks and useful idiots <using Signal Chats> to harass federal officers in the performance of their duties...I'm over it.

I'm done with morons in sub zero weather attacking federal agents who are trying to arrest and deport illegal aliens charged with murder, rape, sexual assault, child molestation and a host of other heinous crimes.

Yes, it's too bad when halfwits get themselves shot and killed, but what did they expect?

When you drive your SUV into armed federal officers, you get shot.

When you carry a loaded weapon and interfere with federal officers making an arrest, you get shot.

This is called Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes.

If brainless twits want to die defending rapists and murderers who are in this country illegally, if that's their idea of nobility and heroism, that's ok with me.

Just remember, it was the dems who created this disaster, letting millions of unvetted aliens cross our borders illegally during the Biden years.

They don't get to complain now when others have to clean up their dog's dinner.

Yes, it's messy at times, and no, the process isn't perfect.

Dems should have thought of that before creating this invasion of illegal aliens who have killed, raped, robbed and defrauded American citizens.

None of this would be necessary now if they had simply enforced the law then.

Y'know, like Obama did back in 2015 when he <awarded Tom Homan the "Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service"> for deporting a million illegal aliens.

Yes, that's the same Tom Homan who is now called a nazi and regularly receives death threats from the lunatic left.

But the fake news bunch suffer from selective amnesia and that which was laudable then is despicable now, based solely on their incurable case of TDS.**

After four years of the disastrous Biden dumpster fire, Trump was elected to reinstate Law and Order and to deport criminal illegal aliens.

That's what the overwhelming majority of Americans voted for, and that's going to keep happening until the job is done.

*AWFL - Affluent White Female Liberals

**TDS - Trump Derangement Syndrome

Finally finished Jerry Kramer's book...

...Farewell To Football.

It took a bit to get past the recounting of 1968, his last depressing season in the NFL.

After being on top for so long, it was a tough way to go out, and it’s tough slogging through his retelling of it.

But then he switches to his life's story, from childhood through college and his career with the Green Bay Packers.

The mood lightens considerably and it becomes an easy and worthwhile read.

And I daresay it's well written and interesting even to non-football types.

That is to say, it's not a sports book, but rather a "life's lessons" book.

For younger readers it will probably be shocking in parts - children were actually disciplined in his day, and he disciplined his children.

(That's not to be confused with sitting Muffy and Biff’s dainty little behinds in a "time out" chair and hiring therapists to help them self-actualize.)

From his experiences - some of them harrowing - you come to understand how it was possible for a hick from Idaho to ascend to the pinnacle of his chosen profession.

It may not change your life, but then again it might.

He's honest about his struggles and open about his motives, inspirations and methods that helped him become a success.

(Hint: it involves a 4 letter word - "work".)

The last chapter is a bit of a muddle, but you can tell he's struggling with the all important question:

What next?

He's headed full throttle into business, or he might retire to Sandpoint, Idaho and enjoy an idyllic life of fishing, hunting, golfing, skiing, relaxing.

Then again he might give politics a whirl, but if Vince Lombardi - who left Green Bay for the Washington Redskins - asked him, he might just un-retire and play another year.

In the end, however, he seems to make up his mind because he states definitively:

"I'm retired.  I'm through.  I'm going to wear suits and ties, not shoulder pads and cleats...

"Goodbye Football!"

Worth the read; and now on to "Distant Replay" to find out what he - and his championship teammates - actually did after football.

I've mentioned this before - that instead of floundering around in hickory golf as I did starting in 2017 -

my original 1920's hickory playset

- I wish I had first read Harry Vardon's excellent book, "The Gist Of Golf" - 

- and then delved into pre-1900 golf.

my current pre-1900 playset

There still would have been a year or so of experimentation, trial and error and figuring out how it all works.

No matter what you're doing you've got to take the theory out of the classroom - or in my case, off the pages of a book - into the real world and get your hands dirty.

I've gotta believe - under the tutelage of Mr. V -

- there would be many more enjoyable rounds and far fewer lost balls in my past had I started that way.

But that's filed under the "water under the bridge" section; I'm where I'm at now, and we roll on.

Can't wait for <Spring>.

Gentlemen, hold onto your hats...

...it's time to 23 Skidoo:

Happy (I'll never tell) Birthday to my beautiful wife!

know what those are?

deer tracks...

lots of 'em

In light of all the chaos being ginned up by the party of slavery, segregation, killing babies in utero and insurrection, I thought it would be instructive to revisit a quote from WWII General-turned-President, Dwight D. Eisenhower:

"Without God, there could be no American form of Government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first -- the most basic -- expression of Americanism. Thus the Founding Fathers saw it, and thus, with God's help, it will continue to be."

    - Remarks Recorded for the "Back-to-God" Program of the American Legion, 2/20/55

later, mcm fans...

How Would You Like To Be Shot...

...for standing up and inviting open debate?  

Unless you're living under a rock, you know that Charlie Kirk, conservative Christian activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was murdered by a gutless left wing radical -

- on Wednesday, September 10th.

This animal is in a cage now.

Apparently he's so stupid he actually believed he'd get away with it.

All his devious planning and subterfuge, arranging a drop point for his weapon, his craven deed, then slithering away like the snake he is.

Elapsed time from his murderous act until his incarceration:

33 hours.

So much for his brilliant plan of murdering an innocent man in front of thousands of witnesses, then quietly slipping away to a blissful life with his trans lover.

We're talking an IQ hovering somewhere around his shoe size.

I'd list his name here but it doesn't matter; he's a dead man walking at this point.

"The coward" will suffice until he's executed, which in Utah - appropriately - can be by firing squad.

Charlie Kirk was at the Utah Valley University campus holding one of his immensely popular "Prove Me Wrong" rallies - 

- where he invites people who disagree with him to ask questions and challenge his beliefs.

A born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, he valued responding to people directly - eye to eye - about their doubts, disagreements and questions, and used these interactions to spread the gospel while encouraging civil debate.

It was in this setting that Charlie was murdered in cold blood.

The coward's intent was clear - not just killing one man, but silencing the viewpoints of all conservatives who agreed with Kirk.

To put it mildly, <he failed>.

Spectacularly.

Instead of silencing us, he unleashed a tidal wave of Charlie Kirk videos online, proclaiming the gospel of Christ;

and an outpouring of support, of love, of commitment to continuing Kirk's ministry.

It has been 6 decades since a <high profile political activist> has been assassinated in this country, and it's certain this will be remembered as a watershed moment:

How appropriate is that?

A Turning Point.

I'm reminded of what Jesus told His disciples as the time of His sacrifice approached:

"24  Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

"25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."

    - John 12:24,25

Evil fails; God prevails.

Rest In Peace, Charlie Kirk.

What a week.

Right after an assassination, we're gut punched with the 24th anniversary of <9/11>.

Never Forget.

In a faint hearted effort to take a swing at normalcy, here's the essence of this week's HGU:

Almost, but not quite.

With my summer 3 day weekends now in the rearview, I'm scrambling to fit in hickory golf whenever I can.

So I uncharacteristically booked a 4:30 pm tee time; never again.

It was like playing golf in a conga line, and I let the distractions of waiting for people ahead of me and being pushed by those behind me throw me way off my game.

Nothing went well; nothing at all.

When I got home I went back to the drawing board, aka Harry Vardon's book, and studied his swing:

Harry Vardon, circa 1913

That's about 3/4 speed, so slower than real life.

But what do you notice about his swing?

In his book, "The Gist Of Golf", he says "...there should be no tautness in the muscles at all".

That's what I see in his swing:  complete relaxation and an easy rhythm.

He doesn't look like he's trying hard to crush the ball.

He's not gripping the club tightly and swinging for the fences with all his might.

Quite the opposite; he looks smooth, relaxed and rhythmic, almost unhurried.

Vardon toured the U.S. back in 1900 and was largely responsible for the rapid growth of the game here in the states.

He was met with large and enthusiastic crowds everywhere he went, all wanting to watch and learn from the world's best golfer.

After one particularly good shot, a fan rushed up to him and asked, "Which arm did you use to do that?"

Vardon recounted this incident with amusement, because in his mind there was no distinction.

Once you have the correct grip and stance, the club is simply an extension of your body.

Left arm, right arm, club - they form one unit, moving smoothly back then forward to strike the ball, like a balanced machine.

You can clearly see that in the video, but in my world that's very difficult to mimic.

It sounds oxymoronic, but I have to consciously take a breath, loosen my stranglehold on the club and force myself into a relaxed and rhythmic swing.

When I do achieve this state of golf nirvana, the improvement in my game is amazing.

At least while practicing.

We'll see how it goes on the links this coming week - Lord willing - at my usual early morning tee time.

We've staggered to the end of this somber week; let's 23 Skidoo:

lazy evening at the command center

a reminder from Larry that his views are better than mine

Silas Scarecrow, auditioning for a spot in our Walk of Fear

a walk through a local park revealed these guys escaping the muck pond

not a great pic, but that's a blue spruce we planted in 2018...

...and that's our baby today

It has been discouraging to see the sickness in our nation bubbling up like overflowing sewage in the septic tank of the internet.

That there are so many sub-humans actually celebrating and cheering the assassination of Charlie Kirk is disturbing, to say the least.

Even a relative posted online that while they don't approve of his assassination (really?  you don't approve of murder?  how noble!) yet they're happy his voice has been removed from the public realm.

Translation:  sorry he was murdered in cold blood, but yeah...not sorry.

What was the cause of this relative's ire?

He'd watched a deceptively edited video online that appeared to show Charlie using the racial slur "chink" toward an off camera Asian person.

Only problem?

In reality that off screen person was this man:

Uygur is a well-known leftist and creator of <The Young Turks>, a "progressive" podcast, who regularly calls Trump and his followers nazis.

Since his first name is pronounced "Chenk", the quick jump cut made it appear Kirk was a racist.

This relative readily believed the intended deception - because it agrees with his leftist world view - and without any actual research into the life and views of Charlie Kirk, pronounced his murder justifiable.

Let's be clear - you cannot cheer the result of evil and distance yourself from the act of evil.

In that case you have no moral high ground.

You’re not just part of the problem, you ARE the problem.

The irony is people like our relative who celebrate Kirk's death are precisely the ones Charlie invited to debate him publicly.

Do you see the glaring contrast here?

Charlie was so strong he welcomed their dissenting viewpoints in a free exchange of ideas.

He gladly handed them the microphone and gave them their say in public, then shared his Bible based viewpoints on whatever their issues happened to be.

Tragically, they're so weak they can't tolerate any views other than their own and so resort to violence.

As always, darkness hates light, and so they did their evil worst to extinguish that light.

They failed, of course, though they did inflict a grievous wound on the collective psyche of our country.

We are grieving, not just for the loss of Charlie Kirk, but for the sobering realization that kind of evil exists and in some quarters is even celebrated.

So, does time heal all wounds?

As a wag once countered, time wounds all heels.

Let us hope so in the case of the coward who assassinated Charlie Kirk, and yes, for all those who cheer and approve of this dastardly deed.

Praying that justice will be both swift and sure.

In the meantime, we soldier on.

How?

By heeding the encouragement of Jesus to all who follow Him:

"33  These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

    - John 16:33

later, mcm fans...

When You See This...

…do you pay attention?

Not a random inquiry, but relevant to my most recent battle in The Vale of Everlasting Sorrows (also known as my local links where I practice the black art of hickory golfery).

Happily, this was a decent round, much better than my first two because I was consistently finding the fairways.

Credit goes to my therapy session with The Guru...

...to wit:

"I have said earlier that you start the clubhead first by giving the left wrist a gentle half-turn toward the body.

"This is important, because it will put that wrist at the top of the swing into the only position in which it is capable of doing its work properly - that is, arched inward under the shaft, instead of arched outward."

Of course all of this bores you to tears.

He's expounding on some minutia about which only hickory golfers care.

But I mention this because the greatest hickory golfer of his era - the only man to ever win the British Open 6 times, The Stylist himself - specifically instructs the reader "this is important".

So, having read this important advice a half dozen times, have I been "starting the clubhead with a gentle half turn of my left wrist toward my body" ?

Well...until this last outing, nope; have not.

"And why is that, O wise one?" you sneer sarcastically.

I offer by way of excuse this from my Bible college days:

One of our profs told us our brains are like empty tin cans with both ends removed and a light coating of glue on the inside.

Learning is sorta like someone throwing a handful of sand through middle of the empty tin can.

Each time that happens, a few grains of sand "stick" to the sides of the can.

If you repeat that process enough times...

Congratulations!  You learned something!

I know my "brain glue" ain't as sticky as it used to be, but my word is this ever depressing.

Happy to have finally picked up on something that works, but how long have I had this book?

And how many times have I skimmed over that part without heeding its instruction?

As Jed Clampett used to opine:

We've finally arrived at the most beautiful month of the year here in Michigan...

an old pic but serves the purpose

...Magnificent May, when Nature bursts forth in her glorious hymn of florescent regeneration:

two things going on here...the blooming of our lower patio garden thanks to Karen's tireless efforts, and new leaves on the trees finally restoring our backyard privacy.

yes, they're thinking about what you think they're thinking about, and Loki's keeping a watchful eye

if memory serves, these are known as "purple flowers"

oak trees get (and lose) their leaves later, but at least they're making a start

courtyard coming into focus under Karen's consistent care...especially appreciate our pretty little Japanese maple

"wallflowers", aka "where wiffle golf balls go to hide"

our 2nd Japanese maple

The really spectacular thing about this?

May is just warming up...there's so much more to come in the days ahead.

Absolutely love this time of year!

Another event accompanying the beginning of May is either the best or worst week of the year here in Holland, depending on whether you're a retailer or just a regular ol' citizen of this fair town:

Tulip Time!

You're either giddy at the sound of your cash register cha-chinging!  -or-  you're <geergerd> with the unwelcome influx of 600,000 tourists.

here's something you don't see every day - Mexican Klompen dancers, but yep, we've got 'em

Holland, with its odd layout and labyrinth of one way streets can be confusing enough for its 35,000 residents...

how would you like a good swift kick in the <achterste> with a wooden shoe?  yours for the asking at the always popular Volksparade

...but layer on enough strangers to populate a city the size of Las Vegas and you've got a pretty good working definition of chaos.

This year we tried to get approval for a new sign as you're entering town:

...but for some reason, we were denied.

I guess we're reduced...

...to grinning and bearing it for another year.

In the interest of digital humanitarianism (no, I did not just make that up), we are foregoing our usual sashay through 23 Skidoo...

...and instead opting to simply flee the premises.

As you do, consider this truth from God's Word...

...and keep that muzzle handy.

later, mcm fans...