In line at the methadone clinic

   "THE FIRST ONE IS FREE"

Yes, this is my addiction and drug of choice. I line up at the drive-through most mornings for my fix - just like at the methadone clinic. I don't get the whipped cream or drizzle - not because of calorie concerns - that would be like ordering a big mac and a diet coke - what difference does it make. I just don't want to adulterate the perfect mix of espresso and chocolate and take away the bittersweet bite of the plain drink. When made correctly it is very HOT - the perfect temperature, actually. It is disappointing when it is not made correctly - but when everything is just right it is perfection in a cup. Not to mention the caffeine which stimulates the dopamine receptors in the pleasure center in the brain. 

THE MAN IN THE ARENA

      Excerpt from the speech "Citizenship In A Republic", delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Spring

Daffodowndilly

by A.A. Milne

She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour:
"Winter is dead." 

It was 18 last night, but I know Spring will come. I can't wait to see the daffodils. I learned from Paul Rogers - the garden expert on the radio- that all daffodils are narcissi.

I also like "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." There is a field of dafffodils at Tower Hill Botanic Garden that reminds me of that poem.

Kurt Godel Quote

I don’t think the brain came in the Darwinian manner. In fact, it is disprovable. Simple mechanism can’t yield the brain. I think the basic elements of the universe are simple. Life force is a primitive element of the universe and it obeys certain laws of action. These laws are not simple, and they are not mechanical

Will: Why Liberals Love Trains - Newsweek

Will: Why Liberals Love Trains - Newsweek

The Quadrilogy of My Favorite Snow Shovel

Liberal media Bias and Reagan (and Obama)

When Ronald Reagan was President, I had not yet realized how biased the media are in this country. Reagan was portrayed as a genial boob who was somehow elected president by an idiot electorate. If you read the book pictured above, you will see that Reagan was extremely intelligent and he, himself, wrote many of  his  speeches. The man was Brilliant. How the media can get away with portraying someone as the exact opposite of what they are is just mind-boggling. They got away with calling the first President Bush (father of five and decorated WWII veteran)  a wimp. Meanwhile, Bill Clinton, the draft dodging, pot smoking (but not inhaling), not having sex but having sex, Pillsbury doughboy somehow didn't rate that wimp description. I think President Bush never smoked pot and never had an affair, but if he had I think he would have inhaled and actually had sex.

When we lived in Oklahoma, Michael Dukakis was hailed as the man who created the "Massachusetts Miracle" Right after the election (thankfully he lost) we moved to Massachusetts and I remember thinking " where in the heck is the MIRACLE??" The public pools and beaches were closed - there were no arts taught in the schools due to budget cuts - the state reeked and still does (politically).

Now we have President Obama whom the media portray as a genius. He reads everything off of a teleprompter. He can't pronounce Marine Corps. He doesn't know that there are 50 states. He's not smart at all - he's just a fantastic poseur. He and John Kerry are perfect examples of men who give the appearance of intelligence. They aren't plain speakers - they talk around things. I think if you speak plainly and to the point  the media will portray you as stupid.

On the 100 anniversary of Reagan's birth, I think people should read "In His Own Hand" and realize what a great thinker and man he was.