The Rantings of a Crazed American

SOPA, PIPA... Baaaaad.

2012-01-18T07:10:00.001-07:00

Hey, Congress.

F--- you and the horse you rode in on. You'll probably pass it anyway, but I'd like to take this opportunity to express my opinion that we officially have MORE THAN ENOUGH laws.

This'll probably qualify me for indefinite, uncharged detention under the recently passed NDAA, so in the immortal words of a Greek dude who lived a long time ago...

MOLON LABE. Come and get me. It's time to renegotiate the social contract.

Freedom and Liberty ain't free, easy or pretty, nor are they safe.

Crazed American, Out.

The Greatest Christmas Film of All Time

2011-12-13T23:34:00.001-07:00

Die Hard. 1988 - stars Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia and a dude that looks like Huey Lewis. Directed by John McTiernan.

Older I get, the more life I experience, the more I love that movie, but I repeat myself.

Spinning - out of balance

2011-10-26T23:12:00.002-06:00

Holy moly, kiddo's. We're having the ride of our lives.

One side says we're going to be just fine. We'll spend money we don't have into an archaic, corrupt system that can't sustain itself.

One side says, "DOOOM!" It's the other side's fault. We'll do the same thing, but re-arrange a few things and all will be hunky-dory!! :) LOL

Meanwhile, groups of Americans, are rallying together, some effectively, others not so much, all with the goal of propping up one side or another.

Folks, none of it matters. No tin foil hattery here, guys. A wise man once said, "You know the difference between the Republicans and the Democrats? They're nothing but the opposing arms of the same rapist."

Look at the demographic and economic makeup of the Congress of these United States. Majority of them are millionaires. Even the ones championing the "99% ers". Strange.

Who holds the real reigns of power here in the US of A? Damned if I know, but right now I'm damn sure they know just a little better what's coming. They're afraid, too.

This recession ain't - we are in the early stages of serious Depression. I have said it before, I will say it again. Our government no longer speaks for the people. It is a collection of plutocrats / oligarchs / bureaucrats / kleptocrats. It used to be that the governments of the "West" had a least a sliver of moral superiority over the governments of the Warsaw Pact and third world nations. No longer. Corruption and naked self interest are obvious in our system.

Our economic system (not just America - but the entire global enchilada) is falling apart. The EU is on the ropes. Rumors of printing presses in Munich and Bonn cranking out Deutsche Marks as fast as they can, are indicative that the Euro is pretty much screwed. Greece is for all intents and purposes a failed state. Italy's parliament is so stymied at what to do, that they've taken to fisticuffs. Portugal, Spain and Iceland, all circling the drain. "Globalism" is pretty much thrown in the dustbin with the other "-isms" of the 20th Century.

Another commenter (Jack Spirko) said something to the effect that the current trend in social evolution was trending toward a desired "Star Trek socialism". I agree with that assumption. We'd all love a world where we didn't have to work, unless we wanted to and every need or want was supplied to us at our whim. As any Trekker worth his or her Gold Pressed Latinum will tell you, that future was a) enabled by fantastic technological advancement, b) powered by effectively magical energy sources c) bought and paid for at horrific cost, and d) confronted by a limitless frontier and equipped . In the Star Trek mythos, don't forget, that right now humanity would be just emerging from the aftermath of the Eugenics Wars and setting the stage for the nuclear exchange of 2043 between the Northern Confederation and the Eastern Coalition.

Total cost between 600 million and two billion all told? Gene Roddenberry wanted to put forth humanity into the star with the baggage of the past behind us.

We ain't the Federation, folks. Not by a long shot. We're all still governed by petty greed and desire to impose our will. According to Roddenberry we haven't learned our lessons, and we are far too quick to repeat the mistakes of the past.

So what does the Crazed American think is going to happen?

Economic news is going to get bad - quickly.

Civil unrest will get worse.
Then, maybe a nice domestic and or international terrorist incident. That will get everyone's backs up.
If we're lucky no natural disasters will occur for the next twenty years.
When the Nanny Police State cracks down, it will be bad and a great number of people will wail and gnash their teeth. (If you doubt that - check out Occupy Oakland - oh, wait, you can't)
If history is our guide, the next few years / decade will be rough, then it will get really rough, then, maybe some light?

Who the fuck knows? I mean, this is just a blog, that no one reads, written by a guy who went to college (and probably shouldn't have) that no one listens to. Cry for help? Nope. I am secure in my home and in my relationships. I have people that I love and that love me. Therapy? You betcha. I put it out there for all to see. My average is pretty good if you read the old posts.

Who can predict the future with any level of certainty? The insane, that's who. The rest of us can only rely on history and trends as a guide.

I wish there was someone who I could point to as a leader that I could follow. Too bad,'cause I ain't seen one yet. It is said that no "good"people would get involved in politics because of the crap that our modern society and media puts them and their families though. That's the rub, right there.

In a while, folks - and sooner than one might think - the "good" people will HAVE to. For if what transpires is similar to what history says will transpire, it is quite possible that anyone even remotely connected to our current system will not be allowed - or able - to participate in the governance of the future.

I see my part in the Star Trek Mythos. As a child I wanted nothing more than to command a starship. But as an adult I now realize I have to get humanity through the first half of the 21st Century, and into the future of liberty and freedom.

That's a far less glamorous, but no less important job. Such is the cross we all bear. We must strive to give our children and their children a brighter future than even Roddenberry could imagine.

Crazed American, Out.

Me thinks this will...

2011-09-18T21:50:00.002-06:00

...be a damn interesting week.

Looks as though the stock market may tank this week due to the completely unstable situation in the European Union.

Things will get fun in The Middle East due to the whole Israel / Palestinian situation. So let's get this straight - the Israeli's are going to get attacked if the Palestinians don't get their state (for the first time, BTW - Palestine has never existed before, but that's a different story - oh, before you complain, I support self determination), and they will get attacked almost assuredly if they DO get their state. Needless to say, I imagine there are a bunch of people in Israel and the Formerly Jordanian and Egyptian areas of the Middle East, going through a bunch of checklists right now, and making sure their kids know where their pro-masks are. Sad, but inevitable, I suppose.

Then in further Middle East news, the Turks are making some serious noises about going to bat for the Palestinians. Complicated, indeed by the aforementioned UN vote this week. It does look as though if there becomes a recognized Palestine, Turkey could recognize the PA, and then send it's warships against the Gaza blockade. Israel, like the good ol' USA do love us a good old fashioned shooting war against someone dumb enough to go up against us in airplanes, tanks, ships and submarines. The Turkish Navy will be put on the bottom of the Med in quick order, and barring some kind of '67 / Yom Kippur Arab / Muslim alliance action, their air force will quickly suffer. Issue being the big Turkish air base in Incirlik does have a bunch of American personnel there, due to turkey being an ally and all. If the turks do decide to start engaging the Israeli's in the "two way live fire", I think they're not going to be real happy with the results. But they'd have to be blind and mentally incapacitated to think that the Israeli's are not going to sit idly by while

So what do we do? Turkey hasn't exactly been card carrying members of the "I <3 America club" as of late, didn't really help out in Iraq, and are not making nice with our dear Little Satan, Israel. Israel is pretty much the only friend we have, insofar as much as they need us for resupply of weapons and material, should things get bad enough. Also, our stellar commander in chief has done such a stellar job, the Israeli's might just go it alone and do things we don't like.

Rock, meet hard place time...

So, who knows? There will be some rioting in New York, and there might soon be a three or four way shooting war in the Middle East, that we're not actively participating in. The economies of all the Western Powers (European Union) are on the ropes, and we're not exactly doing gang busters either.

So, no matter what happens, this week is going to be a memorable one!

Huzzah!

Out,

Crazed American.

Anniversary

2011-09-10T21:57:00.000-06:00

So the Crazed American just put the finishing touches on a large Expo my company had a presence at. I was the first one there and the last one out. Good times. Being there I was stuck by a few things.

1) You can sell sand to an Arab, snow to an Eskimo, as long as the price is right.
2) Depending on the industry, business is booming, even in this nasty time.
3) if you are not selling product, you are charging too much. Period. If a reduced cost doesn't cover your expenses, you, my friend are doing it wrong.
4) Inventory that sits on your shelves in your brand new warehouse costs you money - EVERY SINGLE DAY. You shelter it, you heat it, you cool it, you provide it internet access. If it sits, it's shit - shit that can make you sick. Get rid of it. Take it to an Expo and blast it out at below cost, then sit back and reap the marketing rewards.
5) Ten years after the worst attack on America by a foreign power in history (worst actual attack still goes to POTCS and GEN Lee's little enthusiastic romp through rural America during the 1860's), and three (four - ten?) wars all of which are still on going - America is unchanged.

I am stymied by the citizens of this land that I love. Brave young men and women died - correction: are dying - to protect our way of life. Yet most of us go about our business on a day to day basis without a care in the world. We are more concerned with the minutae of our daily lives, than with the course of giants and empires. Most of us couldn't care less about the fate of nations, and the strife in distant lands that resounds about this little world of ours.

So it should be and so it always has been. I do not bring this up to cast aspersions on my fellow Americans. I am just perplexed. We love to beat upon our chests with tears in our eyes one day a year and remember how we were wronged. But on 12 September it all goes back to SSDD (Same Shit - Different Day). What have we learned?

We learned that collective memory is damn short. We learned (again) that the US government is inept (by design, by the way - thank G--). We learned that humans are savage, nasty brutes who will allow great and terrible things to be committed with our money and in our name. We learned that the greatest military force on the earth is comprised of a few beasts, but overwhelmingly by strong, brave and intelligent men and women, who do their jobs and follow their orders.

Lest you come to believe that the Crazed American is getting a tad confused in his old age, at once praising our nation, and then in the next breath predicting it's doom, fear not. My love of country is not beholden to a love of the system that governs it. I love the ideas that our country was founded on. I do not idolize and worship those who came up with the ideas either. They were men, not gods. Flawed, vain, lecherous, weak. But they were smart and did the best they could. Today their framework, is commanded by smart, capable men. Not gods, as some would like us to believe. They are fallable as well.

On this anniversary of a very nasty set of behavior (which cost the terrorists apparently $400,000 and us $5,000,000,000,000 and counting), what have we learned?

The Crazed Americans Lessons Learned (11 SEP 11)

1) Some people do bad things.

2) Some people who do bad things simply need killing.

3) Firepower - if it ain't working, you're not using enough

4) Freedom ain't easy or free, or guaranteed, except by your creator. It is up to the individual to guard his or her freedom at every turn. Freedom can be lost through not paying attention.

5) Freedom means freedom for everyone, in a truly free society there can be no protected classes, only free sovereign people with a motivated self interest to stay free.

6) The only one responsible for you is you and those you love and love you.

7) Be prepared, be responsible, be honorable, be accountable. The only thing that you leave behind is the memory of you in the lives of those you touched. Make it count.

8) Execute, be decisive.

Those are mine, what say you?

Crazed American, out.

Apparently...

2011-08-24T22:12:00.000-06:00

...the crazed American is the bees knees in France.

I've got literally 15 times the readership in France that I do here in America.

Dang. Guess I need to brush up on my French, non?

So, I sat down earlier with fire in my belly, ready to go off on a terrific rant about the lack resistance the American people are offering.

So - there's the douchebag of a Congressman from Ohio named Steve Chabot. He holds a town hall. He orders police on site to confiscate all cell phones and cameras from the attending citizenry. The dipshit police officer then proceed to collect private property from private citizens, with no legal backing.

Normally I do not link to Alex Jones, I am not a 911 truther, but in this instance I will - check this out for yourself.

In a different forum, I entered into a brief debate. As you might have gleaned over the years that this blog has been (infrequently) active, I do have a tendency to look at the glass as half empty. As a matter of fact, I do belive that the current incarnation of the American Experiment is winding down. I am not terribly excited to experience the next (probably profoundly unpleasant) phase in the experiment, and I really would like to get right down to the phase afterwards - the building of something new, but I digress.

The debate I entered into, with a person I respect, boiled down to the level of resistance a citizen of the United States should offer to such an infringement of my personal freedom. Should, as some might suggest argue with the officer wishing to take your personal property? A woman at the meeting did protest and the camera was physically taken by an officer over her protest.

My question to all of you: What level of resistance would you offer, should you be found in a similar situation. Would you resist? Keep in mind, a sworn officer of the law, ARMED with taser and a .40 caliber handgun, is demanding you relinquish your property without cause, other than the Congressman does not wish embarrassing videos on YouTube.

Some people in the other forum took up the chant, that "I did nothing when they took my camera phone away." I merely state that I would not resist too heftily, since the man who wants my camera had a gun. Once the episode was over I would, within the system, raise hell with local media and the Congressman's office demanding an apology.

Could I take the Congressman to court? Were my civil rights violated? Would I want to spend tens of thousands of dollars to do it? What law was being broken by my filming a town hall meeting?

What are my responses to any of these questions, especially considering I think the Congress of the United States is a corrupt organisation, and that, to the effect of the level of corruption, no longer represents the vast majority of the people that are governed by it.

Would this be a hill I would be willing to die on? Hell, no. The cop thought he was doing his job, even though a more principled officer might have said, "Take their cameras? Why? What harm does it do? What laws does it break?"

Do I think this is a further erosion of our Republic. Yes, I do. What recourse as a people do we have? Well, I will use this platform to call for the unceremonious ouster of the Asshat Steve Chabot, Republican, 1st District of Ohio, that is, I think the people of his district should vote him the hell out of office. He obviously has no comprehension of his role in a Representative Democratic Republic. Other than that - what can we do? What can I do? I can hold my own representative to the fire, or I can, like the vast majority of my countrymen, do absolutely nothing.

So I end tonight's rant muddled. I would not resist too strongly, since the man demanding my cell phone had a gun. But I think each and every American, and sovereign citizen of the French Republic for that matter, should ask themselves a question: at what point do you begin to resist tyranny? What hill would you die on?

It's coming to it, folks. Not today, not tomorrow, but sooner than most would like. We live in a police state. The cage is gilded, but it is still a cage. Our freedoms are being eroded, incrementally. Yesterday, you were effectively strip searched to get on an airplane. Today, police confiscated cameras and phones to prevent a plutocrat from being embarrassed. What happens tomorrow? When do we as independent, thinking, rational sentient beings stand up for our rights?

One of the fundamental principles of our nation is that our rights are bestowed upon us by our creator. They are not allowed to happen by our government.

The first revolution was fought over much, much less. It's fact, look it up.

Disgusted, and out,

The Crazed American

Stop...

2011-07-13T23:19:00.000-06:00

Calling this the "worst economy since the Great Depression."

Folks, this IS the Great Depression.

Be grateful for what you have and those who care about you.

The war for freedom and the future starts here. Do what you can to make the world a better place. Our "leaders" are corrupt, and for the most part, beyond hope. Vote them all out, I say. Ymmv...

I am optimistic, that once we all figure out the new paradigm, we Americans are going to be in a pretty good place.

Only time will tell...

Crazed American, out.

End of an era

2011-07-08T15:42:00.000-06:00

- 548 million or so miles flown...

Today marks the beginning of the end of Government Sponsored Human Spaceflight in the United States of America. It is my fervent hope that a a vessel that has fulfilled 39/100ths of it's lifespan returns with it's human cargo intact. NASA, in all of its issues recently, does not exactly strike a great deal of confidence. NASA will be known for brilliant success (and painful failure) in the era that stretched from 1960-1986.

The Crazed American is of the mind that when a civilization stops innovating and exploring, that civilization is doomed. Of course, I'm of the mind that the human spaceflight exploration factor in the USA died in 1986 with Scobee, Smith, Jarvis, McAuliffe, Resnik, Onizuka and McNair. NASA and it's human spaceflight program hunkered down and wallowed in a Safety mentality that crippled it from assuming risk and doing the hard thing. As CAPT James T. Kirk once said of explorers in general: "risk is our business". Anyone who thinks they can innoculate themselves from risk in spaceflight is a daft fool.

I was born two years after the end of Apollo, and seven years before the launch of the first space shuttle, Columbia, in April of 1981. I remember being woken up by my parents to watch the launch on TV. After moving to Florida in 1983, I grew up literally within earshot of launch pads 39A and 39B, I have seen my own shadow, cast by the piercing light of Solid Rocket Boosters, during a secret DoD night launch in 1985. I was given a copy of the Space Shuttle Operator's Manual, and memorized it. I read the cover off of that book and it still sits on my bookshelf. I used it at Space Camp and commanded a simulation of a shuttle mission.

I understood fuel cells, the magic and power of the turbo-pumps, understood the necessity of APU's SRBs and ET's. I dreamed of a future, the early 21st century when space shuttles and their successors would build space stations and ferry supplies to construct interplanetary spacecraft and perhaps starships in low earth orbit. Columbia, Challenger, Discovery and Atlantis were explained to be vanguards of a fleet of space trucks, prototypes launching every two weeks from KSC and Vandenberg AFB making space travel for the common man a reality.

We were naive. The bureaucracy took over and became risk averse.

So I will be left with the memories I have of the Space Shuttle. I will remember distinctly Saturday, 18 June 1983, when I, as a nine year old boy, just moved from Ohio to sunny Florida, was blessed with the opportunity to see STS-7, the Challenger, carry Dr. Sally Ride and her four compatriots (Crippen, Hauck, Fabian, and Thagard) to orbit. I will remember the low rumble of the SSME's and the gut punch of the shockwave from the ignition of the Solid Rocket Boosters. I'll remember the afterimage in my eyes of the sun like brightness of the rocket exhaust against the cobalt blue and fluffy white of the Florida sky.

Perhaps that is the best analogy I can think of to relate to NASA. It has been an afterimage of it's greatness that started with Mercury, Gemini and Apollo and ended when Challenger was ripped apart by the vast quantities of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen on that cold January morning in 1986.

Exploration is what we need right now as a nation. Probes and robots are one thing, but they do not capture the heart and spirit to elevate the hopes and soul of a people. The Crazed American hopes that the private sector can muster the ability to reach again into the final frontier. Companies like SpaceX make me again hope for the future, as long as the lessons of NASA's astounding successes, litany of dishonesty and failure are learned dearly.

Mission Control, this is Crazed American, out.

On Revolution

2011-06-30T14:12:00.000-06:00

First and foremost allow me to state that I love the United States of America. It is still, by far (and with a few exceptions) the greatest, freest, best place in the world to live. I obey laws, I pay my (ever increasing) taxes without hesitation.

I will divide my thoughts into a triptych, taking a cue from the masterpiece, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

The Good:
Americans pay little in taxes, heath care (while not free) is currently the best in the world. We can do what we want, and if we stay away from airplanes, we can travel where we want without the intrusive scrutiny of government.

The Bad:
I know for a fact that it's having some existential issues. Debt, the "Klepto-cracy" (ZeroHedge.com) of the "Ruling Class", subjugation of rights and a de-volving of civility in our culture. The Economy is quite probably, in a death spiral. The Boomers have a fanatical grip on both the power of the government and an intractable opinion of the over-promises made by the Boomer's in charge. They were over-promised retirement benefits, health care, and the like by people wishing to buy their votes, and now that they have it, the refuse to hear any discussion of change, even if it means the bankrupting of the republic. Fair enough. They paid into the system for their entire lives, and they expect a return. People my age and younger won't have it anywhere near as "good" as the Boomer's have it. We get to see retirement age elevating year after year, and a steady decrease in benefits. People my age are figuring out and quickly that Social Security simply won't exist in any meaningful form when we are finally allowed to retire when we are in our eighties.

The Ugly:
With the economy, the freedoms Americans have enjoyed are on the ropes. A recent ruling by a Federal Circuit court has upheld the "Individual Mandate" of Obama-care. Big deal, you say, the government has an interest in healthy citizens. OK, fine - if I squint I can see how you can stretch the Commerce Clause to fit that. But if it is truly within the Government's ability to force people to purchase health insurance, and be healthy, then it's not going to belong before certain foods and certain lifestyles will become illegal. Effectively, if the Governement can make you do this, then it can do anything to you. Certain behaviors will become illegal, all with the intent of keeping health costs down. Choice is dead. As Fred "The Flake" Thompson (I really liked Fred back in the day, see my previous posts from 2007) said, "Any government powerful enough to do anything for you (give you free healthcare) is powerful enough to do anything to you." To be succinct our Government is out of control.

It is coming to light that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was caught red handed supplying firearms (2500 rifles and other weapons) to the Drug Cartels of Mexico. In the interests of full disclosure, the BATFE forced gun stores int he Southwest to sell large amounts of civilian legal weapons to known straw purchasers who then supplied these weapons the the drug cartels that are terrorizing Mexico. I am a simple and can only view this in one of two ways: 1) the US Government is working for the overthrow of the Mexican Government by Narco-Terrorists or 2) to go "under the radar" and lend credence that the American Firearms industry was doing the same and back door evidence to gin up further erosion of American Citizens rights to own firearms. Back in the 1970's a president resigned over the Break-in and theft from a hotel room at the Watergate. This Operation: Fast and Furious (Google Gunwalker) has already resulted in the deaths of American Law Enforcement Officers, civilians, and Mexican soldiers, police and civilians. People are dying because the head of the BATFE lied, the Attorney General of the United States is lying. There is a strong possibility this knowing conspiracy may reach all they way to the Secretary of State and possibly the Presidency. Will our citizens and traditional media (who laughably still tries to claim some form of impartiality and journalistic integrity) acknowledge this, or even care?

Debt. Depending on who you ask, the United States is steeped in debt. We are by far, the largest debtor nation on the planet. Our "Federal" Reserve and the system it has built is almost to the point of disintegration. If you don't take Social Security and other unfunded liabilities into account, we have a debt of over $15,000,000,000,000. With the liabilites taken into account the total is somewhere in the $50,000,000,000,000 - 100,000,000,000,000. That is a staggering amount of money. Default is, at this point, inevitable. Rampant inflation and currency devaluation are also undoubtable at this point.

As I type this, I am informed that the Tax-Cheat Timothy Geithner is about to leave the Obama administration. Thanks for your wonderful, insightful handling of the Treasury, you dolt. The 50+ million Americans that are out of work might wish to thank you for your service. Dipshit.

So we're about to have a worthless currency, our Government can do to us whatever it wants, what are we to do as a nation?

Now we begin a trip through a thought exercise and a workout of the First Amendment. Echelon servers and monitors at Ft. Huachuca please take note that I am NOT ADVOCATING ANYTHING REMOTELY LIKE AN INSSURECTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

I ask the question: at what point is the social contract between the population of these United States and it's government no longer valid? When is it decided that the Powers That Be no longer have the consent of the governed?

What then? Take to the streets, fight?

Who to fight, how would the population organize? Could armed American civilians fight against organized police and military units?

I for one, do not think that it would come to something like that. First of all, I think the vast majority of military and police would refuse to fire on their fellow countrymen, should their cause be just. Units that didn't disband and allow their soldiers and sailors to return home to protect their families and homes might just sit the conflict out and let the civilians and powers that be hash it out.

Those that would fire on their fellow Americans would be few and far between. They wouldn't have much, if any, support for heavy weapons, and things like modern artillery, combat aircraft and tanks have a prodigious appetite for spare parts, fuel and ammunition. So in effect after some early gains by "the bad guys", the fight would quickly turn into a fairly equal infantry slog, once thier vehicles and weapons ran out of gas, bullets, were destroyed or broke down.

It is this author's humble opinion that a "Second American Civil War" would transpire in a fashion similar to the first one. States, or blocks of states would secede, either formally or informally, along ideological lines. The United Staes could fragment into two to five possible smaller countries. This time, however, due tot he global nature of our economy, the disintegration of the USA would not happen in isolation. It is probable that foreign powers would try to mitigate the violence that would occur to protect American infrastructure and to keep the talent pool alive. Americans are still, even in this time of troubles, an educated and above all productive people. We work, hard and pay our taxes. A quick resolution to the hositilies is in every parties interest, especially knowing that the United States has the most potent military and largest stockpile of thermonuclear weapons in the world. The feared foreign occupation that a great deal of current "patriot" literature features is not likely, due to the galvanizing effect it would have on the average American. The global economy needs the 300,000,000+ of us in the USA. We're known to innovate and produce. No one really cares what the letterhead on our tax bills are.

Life would go on. We'd all have a hell of a time for a few years adjusting to the "new normal". There'd still be a government that would need tax money, people would still need to eat, places to sleep and I seriously doubt that things would devolve permanently into a time where leather-clad nomads would wear face colanders and patrol the wastelands. We won't forget electricity, computers, telephones, concrete and indoor plumbing, although we might forgo them for a time. There would be untold sorrow, sadness and pain. Welcome to the sad story that is the history of humanity. Our current system would become a cautionary tale, and people would have a hard time, but honestly, there ain't enough jack-booted thugs in the world to oppress everyone in the USA. We've got an ass-load of land to police.

So let it be said that the Crazed American is not hopeful for the current iteration of the USA. I think the USA 2.0 (or whatever we end up calling it) might be better suited for the future. My hope is that people can learn to co-exist in peace and for mutual benefit and cooperation. The experiment of America continues. It will be interesting to see what happens.

More on this to follow in the coming days.

Crazed American, out. (For now)

How badly...

2011-05-03T16:53:00.000-06:00

can you botch the aftermath of a simple smash and grab raid?

From all indications, the teams sent in did a great job. Target 'n chums neutralized, intel gleaned, all around good times.

Smartest man in the world and his cronies are doing their best to cluster-f--k what should have been a simple report, and corpse display.

Jeezus.

Me thinks...

2011-03-31T15:35:00.002-06:00

we've been hoodwinked by our annointed Commander in Chief.

If this is true, granted...
http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/31/jon-lee-anderson-libyan-opposition-has-under-1000-fighting-men/

Jon Lee Anderson (New Yorker) to Eliot Spitzer:
“Effective number of fighting men, well under 1,000. Actual soldiers, who are now in the fight, possibly in the very low hundreds on the opposition side.”

I hope, pray, that is guy is an idiot and off by an order of magnitude.
Please be wrong. As of yesterday we (just the USofA, not our Coalition partners) had flown a total of 1802 sorties into harms way over Libya. Additionally, we've fired 214 Tomahawk missiles into Libya (BTW - those cost over a cool $1,000,000 per copy).
Some reports say this little op is costing us $600,000,000 per day. Let's see that's $100 per day PER LIBYAN CITIZEN.

Want to help the Libyans, Sudanese and Bahrainis (insert any other oppressed peoples here)? Crank up the assembly line again...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer_gun

Drop them by the plane full to the opposition.
Stand back, let people determine their own fate.

Freedom means freedom for everyone.

I say bring all the troops home. 'specially from Europe, and Japan, and begin a long phased withdrawal from Korea.
It is argued that isolationism (and it won't be true isolationism) won't work, but have we ever really tried it?

Our leaders repeat the tired mantra that the US is not and should not be the world's policeman, but then go ahead and act like we are (we are).

Crazed American,
Out.

WOW!

2011-03-29T10:53:00.002-06:00

So since last I've been around MUCH as happened. Weighty, important things.

I am done with National Politics. The Administration is comprised of partisan clowns who are having their strings pulled. Our Sainted President is, frankly incompetent and conducting an illegal war.

Before anyone jumps up and claims that I am some form of partisan stooge, allow me to point you in the direction of the US Consitution (the document that was used to found our great nation, but somewhere within the past 10 years is now viewed by the powers that be as some form of notion, to be paid in lip service). The Constitution clearly states that only our Congress can authorize war. Even the (at best extra legal) War Powers Act of 1968 spells out what the president must do to take us to war.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are at war in Libya. Every day, the Army of Libya shoots at US Navy, Marine and Air Force aircraft, and every day we shoot back. People are dying, at our hand.

Also to my BHO worshippinf friends: Since when is France the arbiter of a good and just war?
Evidence: Iraq 1991, France joined the coalition, everybody happy
Iraq 2003, France opposed, leftists scream about the Tyrant Bush
Libya 2011. France all for it, Leftists and most every body else: *Crickets chirping*

I wouldn't be so steamed about this, except for Our President's hypocritical criticism of his predecessor (also Bush's "Coalition of the Willing" has 2x + the members of Obama's enlightened Coalition), and the fact that he touted himself as a CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR.

I am sick of hypocrisy. Both political parties are full of it. This country has very difficult times ahead, unless we abandon the old ways of doing things, kick all imcumbents out and innovate - making this country a nation of equal opportunity and law for all it's citizens again.

"It makes me sad." - King Arthur

*** CHANGE IN SUBJECT ***

Psych (USA Networks) is a great and funny show. If you are not watching it - you should - Dule Hill and James Roday are an outstanding ensemble. Not to mention, I really like Corbin Bernsen's portrayal of a retired cop.

All right, I'm out of material for the time being,.

Crazed American, out.
PS bone to pick - is it true that in writing it's now kosher to use 1 space after a period instead of two?!? Where the hell was I when that memo was put out?

Still alive

2011-02-01T14:52:00.002-07:00

Getting ready to move, get married, working and getting a big ski trip all together. Busier than a one-legged man at an ass kicking contest...

I must opine on current geo-political events.

Soon.

That is all,

Crazed American, out.

Rambo

2010-09-23T22:51:00.003-06:00

So, I finally got around to watching Rambo, Sly Stallone's... well... Magnum Opus?

I thought that this was a horrifically gory, yet resonant tale. I thought Sly did an admirable job, held off with the "shaky camera" syndrome he came down with in the Expendables (2010), and really didn't skimp on the gore.

It was gory, but there were some great performances, the cinematography was quite good, the action sequences top notch. Overall message - resonant in these politically correct, yet violence saturated times.

I felt the Expendables was a tad muddled, an homage to 80's action flicks, yet disappointingly filmed in the "shaky camera", faux cinema verite that Directors like Greengrass (Bourne Series) and the guy who directed Quantum of Solace use.

I hate that "shaky camera" crap, unless it's used sparingly.

Rambo, a film about a "crazed American" - recommended by a Crazed American...

Crazed American, out.

Wow

2010-09-14T11:33:00.002-06:00

So it is apparent that time flies... I have been a bad, bad blogger. But what the hey, I've gotten engaged, had a dog die, and other than that riddent he ups and downs of life. Save for the dog passing away, it's been in positive territory the whole time!

OK so quick movie reviews (some old, some new):

Resident Evil: Afterlife - As a movie - terrible, fun to see in 3D - overall impression: worth admission if tickets are sub $10... Otherwise, nah

Pistol Whipped - Steven Segal does a decent job of being in a suprisingly good movie. He kicks ass, and never breaks a sweat doing it. Kudos to the production, good cinematography, decent action, good direction. Excellent supporting cast, led by the always watchable Lance Henriksen. Overall impression - worth the Netflix rent!

The Other Guys: Loved it.

Crazed American, out.

Collapse: the Movie

2010-07-19T09:22:00.003-06:00

Saw the film last night - Netflix is a wonderful thing.

Check out the trailer here

Thought provoking, truly. As someone close to me said, it speaks to what we all suspect deep down inside.

Michael C. Ruppert is someone you should listen to - you might not take what he says as gospel, but what he has to say definitely makes you think.

What to take away from it - our global economic structure is based on infinite resources and infinite growth. How it comes apart is open for much conjecture - will it be easy or hard? The point is - everything is unraveling a bit. Doom and gloom? Maybe, but the status quo is no longer an option.

See it, talk about it, think.

Crazed American, out

I don't even own...

2010-07-19T09:16:00.002-06:00

... a .380... but if I had 1000 rounds of ammo... A Walther PPK in .380 might be nice...

Stop by Lucky Gunner or the FirearmBlog and check out the contest they have going!

The Crazed American is back.

Boo-yah

Times, they are a changing...

2010-01-20T16:28:00.002-07:00

There comes a time in everyone's life, when you reach a crossroads...

I'm at one, and the path that I had chosen for myself is not longer open to me.

My wife of 9 years, companion for 13, no longer requires my presence or services. I am working on adjusting to the new reality.

Within a short month or two I will be divorced form her. Red-tape is fun.

This turn of events is not unexpected, in fact the Crazed American has not occupied the mountain redoubt in 6 months.

So today the Crazed American is sad, that he will soon, in the eyes of the state, no longer have a wife, and no longer live in my home. But I am excited at the prospect of my future, free to do what I will, free to grow, free to love again.

I'll never forget the Good Times, Mrs. Crazed American. We produced a fabulous little girl, and had a very good run, when it ran good. We beat the odds and were married longer than most. So our marriage can be classified as "above-average-average."

I wish you the best.

Crazed American, out.

The Buzzing of the Mosquito

2009-12-21T15:32:00.002-07:00

Days ago I posted on Facebook (in my alter ego) that I might find it necessary to add a Smith and Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum into the mix.

The Crazed American has a love of fine handguns, and rifles, and shotguns.

Off to Cabelas I went, not expecting to find a Model 29. I founs one, but it was $850.

Alas. I was also looking for a .22LR pistol. Something to plink with the Elder Crazed American and the Brother of the Crazed American... I was thinking that I might find a nice Ruger - a used Single Six or an older Mk.II or a 22/45.

I did spy a SIG Sauer Mosquito. I was able to snap it up for $199... It needed a cleaning, but it was in excellent shape.

The Crazed American, in his wandering on teh intertubes, has seen quite a bit of bad press on the SIG. Finicky with ammo they said. Only has a taste for the expensive stuff. CCI Mini-mags.

So I bought a Bianchi IWB holster, two hundred rounds of the expensive CCI and headed on home. I did a quick field strip and cleaning. Suprising how close to it's larger siblings the SIG is. Controls are similar, although there is an added slide mounted manual safety, the decocking lever and slide stop are in the same places. I speak from experience, at one point having a SIG Sauer P226 in 9mm in the armory.

Noticed that during a function check the trigger was a tag gummy. Not able to contain my excitement I headed for the range.

Burned through 60 rounds of the CCI quickly. Flawless performance, with great accuracy. Quite pleased, almost smug, I switched to the worst ammunition that I have. Remington Gold - bulk Pack .22LR. This ammunition has less than stellar performance history with me (huge number of stoppages in my 10/22), but due to the quirky nature of the fates, I have in my possession about 1500 rounds of the stuff.

Pistol came with 2 ten round magazines. I went through 150 rounds of the bulk Remington, with a single malfunction. Round rim was dented by the firing pin. Figuring it could have been a light strike I replaced the round into battery. Click.

I ejected the round into the snow. Two dents in the rim. Bad round.

Then I switched to my old standby - 36 grain copper plated Federal Bulk Pack. Burned through 100 rounds - functioned perfectly.

So I have determined that my new little SIG likes the jacketed bullets. Tonight I am going to try out a supply of Remington Subsonic and Federal Lightning. Both types are non-jacketed / plated lead. I like my new little SIG. Don't get me wrong, I love shooting my 1911, but I can shoot so much more now. Also, I take a handgun with me whenever I camp, hike or snowshoe. The small SIG weighs SO much less than my full size 1911 (and magazines).

I highly recommend the SIG Mosquito. As with it's older siblings, the SIG is built to tight tolerances and does not like dirt. So if you are not into keeping your weapons maintained, look elsewhere for a .22lr pistol.

From DoubleTapper...

2009-07-02T13:41:00.002-06:00

http://doubletapper.blogspot.com/2009/07/iran-in-pictures.html

Picture taken in Iran - bravery in all forms...

From DoubleTapper...

2009-07-02T13:41:00.001-06:00

ALGORE to see the NorKs!!

2009-06-05T19:05:00.002-06:00

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.32cde4b38d55ae6af28266bb31a7221e.e11&show_article=1

What could possibly go wrong?

Tee-hee-hee...

Worst case scenario: he get's to find out what the "green benefits" of NorK Convict Labor are...

In all seriousness, I do hope he is able to win the release of his "journalists" that the NorKs are holding. Other than that, i hope he has a very un-exciting and uneventful trip...

I do wish him the best - really!

We're trying to destroy...

2009-05-19T22:54:00.002-06:00

The American Car industry.

CAFE standards
Government ownership

Has the government ever run anything (other than into the ground)?

i understand the need to push automakers to make more fuel efficient cars, but right now? Seriously? Chrysler (almost gone), GM (slightly better, but still sinking - fast) and Ford (not in terrible shape, but hurting) have enough on their plates trying to come up with a car that doesn't suck.

Right now, with current automotive technology the only way to get cars that will meet these new CAFE standars is to sacrifice weight for economy. That means cars will be made with thinner and lighter metals and much more plastics and composites. Folks, if 10 years from now you get hit by a '78 Cadillac Brougham while you're riding around in a car lighter than a Prius, the Caddy becomes both the immovable object and the irresistable force. Physics come into play. You will be in a world of shit...

Who knows, maybe the American Auto unions (Primary shareholder of GM and Chrysler) and the Federal Government (same) under the expert engineering tutelage of President Obama and Vice President Biden, will be able to out- design and produce the profit motivated robber barons of the American Car Industry (and the Germans, Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese).

Sure, it could happen, but folks, I think I have a better chance of seeing Mr. Jesus H. Christ and Mr. John Cantius Garand (Peace Be Upon Him) sharing a cup of joe at the local 7-11.

It is apparent WHO is behind all of this:

Auto Mechanics (Technicians)
Used Car Salesmen
and the Spare Parts Industry

I for one will now keep my 165 HP Honda CR-V (gets 25 miles to the gallon) until the wheels fall off, then go buy a used one, in Mexico, for parts.

This is another thing I reserve the "I told you so" right.

2009-05-08T09:58:00.002-06:00

So, tonight I will see it...

I am looking forward to seeing it. From what I have heard it's a good one.

I have been a fan since a VERY early age...

I reserve the right not to love it, but I have heard that the movie is a hell of a ride...

I'll let you know....

Crazed American

But as far as I'm concerned, the picture at the top is Captain Kirk...

Swine Flu

2009-04-30T07:17:00.002-06:00

My spider-sense is a tickling.

They just closed my daughter's school (and the rest of the district) 'till Monday...

Either it's worse than they are letting on, or...

Let's just say I'd rather pick it being worse than they are letting on. Either way somebody is at the least managing our expectations, or outright lying to us, for some other nefarious purpose. What that is, I keep to myself - in the dark recesses of my fevered mind...

Or Joe Biden (Vice-President) (clueless gas-bag), by saying that he wouldn't be riding planes or trains, has sparked a wee bit of a panic, and it might be that time for him to be fired.
Article on Joe: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21925.html

Mark my words - the powers that be might use this an an excuse to cut him loose from the administration.

"...Engineered Crisis..." Hmmm....

Geo-political experts, talk amongst yourselves. Comments are always welcome, but not expected.

Because "I have a gift..."

2009-04-28T22:21:00.003-06:00

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/air.force.one.2.996457.html

So the Federal government knowingly scared the shit out of a city.

President Obama had authorized this mission

If it was just a VC-25A and not Air Force One, why not tell anyone?

Until the Feds release a verifiable manifest of the personnel on-board (which they won't), I'm assuming it was either Air Force One, or a planeload of political donors for a little joy ride.

Not to mention this spent $328,835. Not to mention the lost wages and productivity of the people who thought they were under attack again, not to mention the counseling that some people are undoubtedly going to require.

All for a fucking photo. Nice job, Mr. President, I'd ask if you slept well, but I already know the answer.

Where's the outcry form the mass media?

Oh, and Arlen Specter is a coward and a complete asshole. Looked like he was going to loose against another Republican. The Democrats promised to run him as thier candidate. Being a Senator is the MOST important thing to him. In the immortal owrds of my Grandfather, "Don't let the door hit you in the ass". I have no money, and I am considering sending money to ALL of his opponents...

Love my first amendment rights.

Crazed American, out.

UPDATE: So, the President is not going to release the "publicity" photos from the flight.

Call the Crazed American cynical, but I now bet there are no photos...

Reasoning...

2009-04-19T22:19:00.002-06:00

Tea Parties

2009-04-17T14:29:00.002-06:00

The Crazed American Likes this...

The American system is strongest when the citizenry actively participate. Our problems stem from us not participating nearly enough.

Note to all of those who criticize these people, yet were happy when people protested "the war" (pick one): It's called the Freedom of Speech, look it up. Don't try to deny it to people you don't agree with...

That's un-American

Freedom - that's all I want my congress-critters to do - protect my freedom.

Crazed American, out.

Counterpoint

2009-04-16T19:28:00.002-06:00

My bipolar condition is kicking in right about now.

A little something from the Commentaries of the Maud'Dib (if you don't know who that is - your loss...)

Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere. Climb the mountain just a little bit to test that it's a mountain. From the top of the mountain, you cannot see the mountain.

I write this as I look at mountains. I see Iron Mountain, dominating the large window frame. I see the runs of Dreamscape and Dreamcatcher to the right and the runs of PCMR obscured by the diminutive bulk of Quarry Mountain. Bald Mountain is obscured in the clouds...

Snow blankets the earth, outside is filled with the noise of the highway, with the smells of nearby restaurants comingled with that of the highway. Here I sit, before me a picture of serene, stark beauty, cold in its depth, warm in the body and cold in the heart. My solitude is punctuated by little, only the tapping of the keys, and the muttering of voices behind me.

What does this reflection indicate to my soul, what truths from it do I glean?

Yep, that's right - life fucking sucks, (but I'll qualify it with) at times. Then in the next moment you remove yourself from your own self pity and shame and realize that the world doesn't give a shit if you're happy or not. Happiness is like the lands of Elysium. Something we all can attain in death, but we only get fleeting glimpses of it in life. I have determined that happiness is what you make. It's not a state that we wretches naturally dwell in. The gossamer sheen it places on moments in life are what make us pick ourselves up and in the immortal words of the Chairman of the Board "...get back in the race. That's Life. And as funny as it may seem, some people get their kicks stomping on a dream..."

To again hold her hands and look into her eyes on the shores of the sea.

Crazed American, out.

On Life

2009-04-16T19:20:00.002-06:00

The Crazed American opines:

Life - sometimes it fucking sucks.

That is all.

Crazed American, out.

More on the NorK launch

2009-04-15T10:32:00.003-06:00

via Drudgereport.com:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/15/us-failed-to-use-best-radar-for-n-korea-missile/

So, according to the story Defense Secretary Robert Gates denied Northern Command from using the SBX, a very expensive, highly capable, and extremely advanced anti-missile radar. Our best radar system out there.

"Why that dirty rascal! He's endangering us!" Some people would say.

Some people would say that, and some people would be wrong...

I agree with Secretary Gates. Why not use our best, most advanced, most capable radar system?

Easy, probably because the Russians and the Chinese wanted us to use it, so they could analyze the response a signals and energies that it generated. The more knowledge that they have about the SBX system, the more likely they are to be able to generate an effective deterrent or countermeasure, that would allow them to at least reduce it's effectiveness, should the big balloon go up and the "powers that be" decide it's time for us to live in the Stone Age again.

Also, I agree that Secretary Gates said that we didn't need to use it. The NorK Missile was very primitve, so using the SBX to track it would be like using a high powered searchlight of 500 billion candle power to look for an elephant in a room with you. A small flashlight would be just as effective. I'm quite positive the US Air Force and the US Navy kept a very close eye on things, with pre-existing systems. Not to mention, the pre-exisiting systems were on Anti-Satelite SM-3 armed Aegis Cruisers.

Good call. No reason to give the Chinese and the Russians a look at an "operational test".

Shrewd. Kudos.

I still think we should bomb the launch facility, especially now that the NorKs have promised to continue missile testing and have vowed to restart their nuclear research.

Interesting times,

Crazed American

Here we go...

2009-04-04T21:39:00.002-06:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_nkorea_missile

The NorKs launched their bird. Looks like nobody did nuthin'.

Diplomacy in action. The chess game begins, now. NorK's start exporting medium range ballistic missiles, now. The Iranians get to use some of this tech, now.

Iran can now hit London, folks...

I ask anyone - the NorK's said this was for a communications satellite launch - not a test of MRBM's. Let me guess no satellite?

F-ckers.

And we did nothing. Now, let's scold them some more.

Crazed American Quote of the Year:

People - individuals, they can get together with other individuals and build great and terrible things, like babies, moon rockets, symphonies, atom bombs. Countries and nations, act either like petty children or like base animals. The larger the group of people, the lower their behavior.

F-ck it. I spent two days of skiing in some of the best powder conditions that I've seen in a while. I spent quality time with my child.

My country is being run by amateurs and the corrupt (no favors, I mean the absolute lot of them). The Crazed American is thinking about running for elected office, or heading for the hills, haven't quite figured out which. Let y'all know real soon, like.

That is all,

the Crazed American

Still here...

2009-04-03T08:07:00.002-06:00

What with the US government passing a 3.6 trillion dollar "budget", the NorKs getting ready to touch off their "Roman Candle", the Chinese government confident enough in their new "SuperCarrier Killer" that they leak it to the press, and other, not too pleasant things happening in the Crazed American's personal arena, I've been a tad preoccupied.

Apologies.

Hopefully in a few days I'll be able to post a snarky comment about the failed NorK Missile. Or a realtively deatiled analysis of Japanese Air and Ballistic missile defense. Or a snarky post about Michelle Obama giving the Queen of England a nice big hug (according to about oh, three thousand years of accepted protocol, you do NOT hug a sitting Monarch - sh*t, even I know that). Oh, and Mr. President, the Queen already had an iPod.

Maybe I already got the snarky Obama post out of the way.

Freedom and Liberty,

The Crazed American

Oh, joy...

2009-03-13T23:12:00.003-06:00

http://closingvelocity.typepad.com/closing_velocity/2009/03/aloha-north-korea-announces-detailed-missile-flight-plan.html

And I have stolen McKittrick's graphic as well. All credit goes ti him, I take none - just tryin' to get the word out, brother...

Great - wonder what SIOP says 'bout the NorK's lobbing missiles at us.

Guess thas might fit under the "engineered crisis" that Joe "gimme a f--kin' break" Biden was talking about right before and after the election...

As Dirty Harry used to say: "Marvelous."

Good.

2009-03-13T10:03:00.002-06:00

Japan warns it may shoot down North Korean satellite launcher

Read the rest of it here.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/13/north-korea-japan-nuclear-missile

The Crazed American is all for allowing Japan to defend itself. Now let's sell them a boat load of F22's. All profit to go to reducing the national debt, and it keeps the bloody NorKs off kilter.

Good hunting, JASDF...

Sorry

2009-03-11T10:00:00.001-06:00

Apologies for not posting. Too busy preparing for the coming societal collapse, or the writing of my book, whichever comes first.

Hopefully the book.

F--k it.

2009-02-18T23:03:00.002-07:00

I think I may be done with the whole "follow the news" thing. Fu-k it - I think I may be all for letting "Rome" "burn".

TARP was a bad thing.

The "Stimulus" is a bad thing.

This:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/science/earth/19epa.html?_r=1

is a very bad thing.

THE SCIENCE IS NOT SETTLED.

This is noting but a method to further damage an already crippled economy. They will be able to control everything now. the horizontal and the vertical.

Thanks for making me sound paranoid.

Thanks for trying to regulate a natural by product of life as a pollutant.

I officially reserve the right to smugly say, "I told you so".

Hasta la pasta,

the Crazed American
Opposition Website author and soon to be fugitive from "justice"

M4 Training

2009-02-06T09:42:00.003-07:00

A video - excellent stress inducing firearms training. Not for the faint of heart (NSFW - language), or people who don't like South African "contractors".

An epihany and a new catchphrase!

2009-01-26T21:20:00.002-07:00

So I'm bombing it down Bald Mountain, at a certain local ski resort today, and by bombing it I mean I am hauling a$$ down the gravity gradient. It was indeed one of those days.

The weather - perfect

The Snow - perfect

Me - in the zone and skiing like a god

I'm thinking about taking a lesson to clean up my form, 'cause I want to look good, and right now, I probably don't. Saying that I don't look good is one thing, but I can ski anything with snow on it.

So the catch phrase came into my head:

What I lack in ability and style, I more than make up for with a complete lack of concern.

Realized that I don't care what I look like when I ski. The mountain sure as hell doesn't care, and that's the only thing I really have to deal with when I ski.

Let it snow.

Here we go, kids...

2008-12-27T07:58:00.002-07:00

It's like the mad rush of charitable donations that occcur before the end of the tax year. Only with a lot more high explosives...

Israel is hitting "hundreds" of sites in Gaza. Please note the relative silence from Fatah and Abbas in the West Bank. Got to love "Palestinian" "Unity".

Israel, in my studied opinion, will hit Iran within three weeks, with "Special Emphasis" on the areas in and around Natanz. By "Special Emphasis" I mean the creative application of a staggering amount of air dropped, deep penetrating, ordnance. I would not be surprised if nuclear deep penetrators are used.

To add insult to injury, the Pakistani's have put their forces on high alert and are moving units toward the borders with India. India is rattling saber's like it's going out of town. Great - two nuclear armed powers are about to take roughly a century of animosity and crank it up a notch.

All of this before the current resident of the Office of the President-Elect, begins his "rule". His spokeswoman's term, definitely not mine.

So, to sum up - 2008 has really sucked. I have hope for 2009, but let's call it "cautious optimism", and by that mean I might have to start drinking heavily.

Greatest blog... ever... with pictures

2008-12-16T20:16:00.003-07:00

http://fuckyoupenguin.blogspot.com/

I'm amazed I was able to type this through the haze of tears from laughing so hard.

(Hat Tip to the always stellar Ace of Spades ace.mu.nu)

Awesome...

2008-12-11T15:43:00.002-07:00

Got this from Rustmeister's Alehouse: http://rustmeister.blogspot.com/

(Click for larger version- the fine print is worth it)

Drunk Blogging 101

2008-12-10T19:25:00.002-07:00

OK, so perhaps blogging while blasted is a complete mistake, but here it goes...

***RANT #1***
Spaten Optimator Beer *(From Munich, by G-d) (fu--in' Krauts) is verry, verry tasty, 'specially after 1/2 a bottle of Petit Syrah.

***RANT #2***
The world and everything in it is going to shit. Bad things are on the horizon. Nobody remembers how bad it can get. It will again. Ask the Chinese...

***Rant #3***
Curse me for quoting Whitney Houston, but children are indeed our future.

***Rant #4***
This whole thing made a lot more sense when I started it.

***Rant #5***
Women... man, oh man. What a... (feel free to project)

***Rant #6***
I am finding that I am similar to Steve, Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, Charlotte, Aiden, Alexsandr, Smith, Harry, and John James Preston. F--k you, Mr. King. To those of you who get this reference, kudos. To those, who don't - don't worry about it.

Out,

The Crazed American

PS -------s should stay strong. They should, above all, continue to act as the gentlemen they are. Telling the b--ch where to "step off" gains nothing. 'Specially before all of your stuff is moved out.

PPS Others will understand when I unload on them during our "session" in the AM. Sorry in advance, but I get eloquent when I am "in my cups". I can't start drinking that early in the AM... To those of you who are in the dark, apologies.

Again,

Out,

The Crazed American

Somebody is busy...

2008-12-04T15:27:00.002-07:00

...desperately trying to start a war.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-12-04-new-delhi-airport_N.htm

Looks as though the Indian police forces have decided this time that shooting armed men acting in a threatening fashion makes a certain amount of sense.

Nuclear war anyone?

Awesome Quote: Best Blog comment ever:

2008-11-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

Greetings:

Moral Superiority is the Cocaine of the 21st Century.

comment by 11B40 — Tuesday, November 11, 2008 @ 1:52 pm

http://sixmeatbuffet.com/archives/2008/11/11/liberal-economics/

Read the article too...

Wow.

2008-11-06T22:05:00.002-07:00

http://www.change.gov/agenda/

Read it. All of it.

While reading it, consider exactly what he is proposing.

Sorry, not proposing - planning.

By all means - comment.

Someone, anyone, please convince me that it's all going to be OK.

I think we may have some interesting times ahead.

Congratulations are Due

2008-11-04T22:23:00.002-07:00

I, the Crazed American, offer my sincere congratulations to President-Elect Obama and his team, family and staff. I truly do wish you the best. I hope your term is filled with success for you and for this Great Nation of ours.

As long as you "support and defend the Constitution of the United States" (that includes all the amendments - even the ones you may not agree with), you have my support.

The American people spoke, you won. I got my 5% - that's legitimacy for me, and I live by it.

Sincerely,

The Crazed American

PS. I still think you should jettison Joe Biden. The man has caused the price of Botox to go through the roof. Seen his porcelain smooth forehead recently? I'm 34 and I have A LOT more wrinkles than Mr. Vice President-Elect. Put Colin Powell as VP and I'll feel a lot better about this whole thing.

48 Hours out

2008-11-02T20:06:00.002-07:00

See you all on the other side... My last post until the next President is named, or we descend into "Florida 2000" Territory.

If he wins, Obama had better start managing expectations, otherwise he's going to end up being perceived as we were immediately after the fall of Baghdad..

I just want someone to win by more than 5%... that would give it clear legitimacy...

Also if McCain wins by any appreciable number... the News Media and pollsters might be in a whole lot of trouble...

Also, if Obama wins, expect to see Israel "deal" with Iran, or Iran "deal" with Israel, possibly during the last few months of the Bush Administration, if not then, then definitely within the first 6 months of the Obama administration.

Also expect Russian moves twoards former Soviet Republics to ramp up.

Also, "Civilian National Security Force"? What the f--k does that mean?

Molon Labe,

The Crazed American

Not specifics - still slightly political

2008-10-19T20:34:00.003-06:00

At this point, I have come to the conclusion of: We're screwed either way.

I would like to call for a landslide. One way or the other. Something that is beyond arguing or anything like that.

This country has some serious problems. Debt, debt, debt.

THERE IS NO CLIMATE CRISIS

2008-10-02T08:25:00.003-06:00

I say it again...

There is no climate crisis.

Forecast for the weekend is snow here at the mountain redoubt. Crom be praised!
I digress (but only slightly)- to the topic at hand

Via ace.mu.nu
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/5296

Crazed American Explanation:
Sunspots are an indicator of the magnetic activity and solar wind. The more sunspots we have, the more active the magnetic aspects and more intense the solar wind. The more intense the magnetic activity and solar wind, the fewer cosmic rays reach the earth. The fewer cosmic rays the fewer high altitude clouds are formed (it has been shown that cosmic rays cause high altitude, highly reflective clouds to form). Fewer high altitude clouds, hotter it gets, due to more solar radiation not being reflected back into space.

Let me try to post a picture.

The Sun yesterday:

I thought I saw a sunspot on the above picture, until I realized that it was just a speck of grit on the monitor screen.

From the article:
Britain’s BBC recently reported that the solar wind is now blowing at the weakest rate in more than 50 years, and is also 13 percent cooler than it was 15 years ago.

So this scientist is predicting there to be a massive ozone hole in the Antarctic. If he's right, there is major evidence that there is no Anthropogenic Global Warming.

From the article: Fear of losing the ozone layer’s health protection led to the Montreal Protocol, which has banned CFCs since 1989. But the ban failed to change behavior of the ozone layer over the Antarctic.

So get this folks, we just might have deep-sixed and entire class of inexpensive refrigerants FOR NO REASON AT ALL. Freon, as it may turn out, HAD NO EFFECT ON THE OZONE LAYER.

I ask you, how many billions of dollars did it cost the world to make that switch?

So I take a quote from Ace.mu.nu:

A lack of sunspots has been theorized to translate to low global temperatures which... well, how about that, which we're now currently experiencing.

Meanwhile, a solar scientist has done something Global Warming "Scientists" can never seem to do: He's made a prediction, you see, the truth or falsity of which will directly strengthen or undermine his theories.

Hmm... making predictions based upon theories, said predictions thereby tending to prove or disprove a theory. Who would have thunk it? Apart from Aristotle, I mean.

So if Al Gore and the Alliance for the Climate or whatever the hell his "non-profit" is called (the WE people on who are calling for 100% clean energy in 10 years), were really concerned about the science of it all and really concerned about the health of the planet, they'd put a hold on these silly ads and help to combat inner city crime or something, at least until some of these climate theories are proven out. If this sunspot explanation can be disproved, then I will issue an apology. Problem is Al Gore and his bunch can MAKE NO PREDICTIONS. They have said so, themselves. We must do what they say because they have William H. Macy narrating their well produced TV commercials and we must BELIEVE. So if this Dr. Lu can make a prediction and it actually can be verified, I'd say lets go with the demonstrable science, but what do I know?

So my request is, we might have been wrong about Freon, it looks like a lot of people are wrong about carbon, why not let the science decide? Unless that is a certain former Vice President is more interested in social and economic engineering (and lining his own pockets) under the veneer of "saving the planet".

Crazed American, out.

Bailout...

2008-09-30T23:28:00.002-06:00

I have to ask, what the hell is the rush? Why can't we talk about the apportioning of the better part of ONE TRILLION DOLLARS?

If it was really as critical as they all say - don you think they could have found a way to work through Rosh Hashanah? I mean I'm sure a kind and benevolent G-d would not have minded preventing the American Economy from taking.

I've got a bad feeling about this.

I am officially calling bullshit on this one.

The Crazed American is not pleased. I state here for the record - something don't smell right.

I think we're all about to get robbed.

Civil Wars have been started over less...

Rest in Peace...

2008-09-27T11:16:00.002-06:00

Paul Newman

Age 83

One of the most famous actors of a generation (Business man, gourmand, and race car driver).

One of the coolest people I have ever met. I was only 14, he was on vacation at the same place my family and I were at. He had been fishing. My brother and I got our picture taken with him.

A slogan from here abouts "The biiger the star, the nicer they are."

Paul Newman, big star, class act.

Godspeed, Mr. Newman.

NetFlix

2008-09-23T23:12:00.002-06:00

So I signed up - let's see how many movies I can watch while still being a productive member of society, shall we?

Quick Movie Review:

I Am Legend

Will Smith can act, however, so can the dog. Dang. That dog and Will were good. Will may be a Scientologist now, but, I still like his movies... Sue me. Wish it had gone a tad closer to the book, but still a watchable film.

Rating: $4.25 (got my money's worth) (do not need to own)

Transformers

Good flick, entertaining as heck. Michael Bay should really try to let the camera stay stationary once...

Rating: $4.25 (got my money's worth) (do not need to own)

Joe Biden is an @$$hat.

2008-09-23T22:17:00.005-06:00

He is an a$hat. Really.

To illustrate this I present the following:

People's exhibit A:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/oh-that-joe--12.html

Direct quote right from the ABCNews.com article:

"There are two people -- you've heard me say it before -- two groups that stand between us and the barbarians at the gate," Biden said. "It's you and organized labor. That's it. That is it. So, mark my words, mark my words, if we lose this election, you are going to continue to see a continuation of the onslaught on everything we care about. For real. For real. So, I'm not only thanking you for your help. I would think you're all absolutely brain-dead if you didn't help. And I mean it."

Biden said that he's "done more than any other senator combined" for trial lawyers.

And he'll be #2 in the federal gov't! Yeah! 'Cause I want a friend of Trial Lawyers as the President of the Senate. Thanks for the high costs of healtcare guys! What else can you f--k up?

Exhibit B:
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/32041

When speaking to an environmentalist yesterday:
“We’re not supporting clean coal.”

He went on to say that China could build them - but we were not going to build coal fired power plants.

Three or four days ago he said (to a group of coal workers):
“You know we have enough coal in the United States of America to meet out needs domestically for the better part of the next hundred to 200 years.”

Where do I have to plug in my electric car again?!?

To reiterate - if we can't build any more coal fired plants - even though clean coal is an abundant and cheap source of power - and the alternative sources of energy are still 5-10 years off - where do we get the power to keep our economy going?

Crickets.

Exhibit #3:
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/23/not-bidens-tuzla-dash-but-getting-closer/

“If you want to know where Al Qaeda lives, you want to know where Bin Laden is, come back to Afghanistan with me,” Biden said. “Come back to the area where my helicopter was forced down, with a three-star general and three senators at 10,500 feet in the middle of those mountains. I can tell you where they are.”

Counterpoint from Senator John F. Kerry:

“The weather closed in on us,” Kerry told the AP at the time in a phone interview from Turkey. “It went pretty blind, pretty fast and we were around some pretty dangerous ridges. So the pilot exercised his judgment that we were better off putting down there, and we all agreed…We sat up there and traded stories.”

Kerry joked, “We were going to send Biden out to fight the Taliban with snowballs, but we didn’t have to do it…Other than getting a little cold, it was fine.”

Joe Biden's helo was forced down by weather.
Not the Taliban. Unless - the Taliban has the cool COBRA weather weapon from the GI Joe Movie (cartoon from the 1980's)... Get the CIA on it!

This blog entry is objective. Everything in quotes was written or said by the person it was attributed.

Obama erred (big time) in his choice of running mate.

Also, Jumpin' Joe was an author of the original Global Warming protection legislation (we all know how the Crazed American feels about Anthropoegenic Global Warming - so sorry we call it the Climate Crisis now, don't we? What a crock of sh!t). He was also a signatory and co sponsor of the patently ridiculous and ineffective "Firearm Cosmetic Feature Ban" otherwise known as the "1994 Assault Weapons Ban". I state that it was ineffective because when it expired in 2004 the country did not spiral into anarchy and chaos. In fact, crime rate nation wide has gone down. By the way, he has already stated that he'd vote for another one.

Homage to Richard Dawson: "Survey says!: RZRZRZRZRZRZRZRZRZRZR!"

Personal note from the Crazed American to Senator Barack "Angel of Sunshine" Obama.

Jettison Joe. Then we'll talk.

*****MAJOR NEWS ALERT******

DATELINE - XANADU
The Crazed American has decided to not post on any more on politics dealing with the coming election. It's pointless. People who are on one side will sling mud at those heading the ticket for the other side.

I might post on the possibles of the election aftermath.

Let's just say right now I hope for a landslide (one side or the other... really) I have a feeling that if this election is close enough, it will make Florida 2000 look like a picnic in a field of flowers on a mountain side.

I have come to this decision due the fact that it, as of right now really doesn't matter. With the impending / looming financial Sh!t Sandwich that's about to hit us, I have determined that it really doesn't matter who is in charge. Our currency is almost worthless (wait to see if that bailout passes - if it doesn't - we may, in fact, be screwed), our economy is in tatters. We the People have fallen down on the job. We've let the plutocrats in Washington run the whole ship into the ground. Because we all have been too lazy, too complacent in our wealth to stand up and pay attention to the people that we elect to represent us.

Our Problem: WE ELECTED PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF US. Not represent us.

We pull the lever on election day and stop thinking about the process. We do not insist on accountability.

I shoulder my part of the blame.

So from now on, I will blog about the sunny things in life: my family, the stripped AR lower I'm going to go out and buy and stick in my sock drawer (worth it's weight in gold when that new AW ban get's passed - yea! me!), and the awesomeness of the upcoming ski season!

I leave you all with the following nugget of wisdom:

When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic. -- Benjamin Franklin

Enjoy your $700,000,000,000 bailout *(if it happens). Add that to the $9,788,658,389,611.01 that we already have - and you get - - - an even larger number! (thanks to: http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/)

Needless to say, I might not be able to sleep very well tonight.

Fascinating

2008-09-19T10:12:00.002-06:00

Fascinating times in which we live.

Two unimpressive candidates running for President.

The war in Iraq is winding down. If all goes as it looks like it might the US can probably claim a victory. Afghanistan is still a work in progress.

Stock markets are all over the place.

Global economy seems to be teetering on the edge of something.

Bailouts might double the size of the Federal Debt.

So the important question I have to put to the assembled legion of loyal reader(s):

Do I sign up for NetFlix?

...and what appetizer goes best with Mojitos?

Hmmm...

Sarah Palin

2008-09-03T21:18:00.004-06:00

OK,

Haven't been commenting on the conventions. Sorry about that.

I don't like Joe Biden - I have to admit that when he talks I get a bout of "sudden onset Colitis" - needless to say, I didn't watch his speech.

Did watch (and listen to) Senator Obama speak. Well done piece of rhetoric. Nice Greek columns.

Did watch Michael Steele, Romney, Huckabee, Guiliani, the Governor of Hawai'i and Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska speak this evening.

Durn good speech.

The libertarian (small L) Crazed American likes all of the talk of lower taxes and less government. Can I just vote for her?

(Before I get any comments about some form of contrived hypocrisy that some might try to find with the whole abstinence only education that Governor Palin put into effect and the pregnancy of her 17 year old daughter, I would say "Teenagers have been having sex for the longest time" and I don't have to agree with every position to elect someone to be my voice in a future government - I only need to have someone who shares a good portion of my views)

So I put forth to you items that the Crazed American Holds dear - my checklist, if you will:

1) Freedom - Small (tiny really: Interstate Highways, Courts, National Defense, FAA, FDA - you can shove the balance of it to the states - who should be handling those things anyway) Gov't - The Crazed American Votes for who will decrease the size and scope and power of the American Government - McCain's McCain/ Feingold Campaign Finance Reform act stifles the 1st Amendment and protects entrenched incumbents. Obama Talks a good game but has nothing by which to judge. Biden is a j@ck@$$. Advantage: McCain/Palin

2) Lower Taxes - Who ever will keep my taxes lower, I will support. It is a proven effect. When you lower taxes, the economy grows, and the government gets more dough. Advantage: McCain/Palin

3) Abortion - the Crazed American has to take a - SHOCK - Hillary! position - I think it should be safe, legal and above all: rare. It should be left up to the states to decide. I do not find any mention of it in the Constitution, therefore according to the letter of the law, it is not an issue that the Federal Gov't should be concerned with. Don't Care - not an issue for me, 'cause I realize that President's don't get to make laws - they enforce them. Advantage: DRAW

4) Drugs - The War on Drugs is a massive waste of money. Increase funding into addiction research, legalize certain things, but otherwise treat it as the medical problem that it is. Advantage : DRAW

5) 2nd Amendment: Obama and Biden are both stridently for taking way the right to bear arms from Americans. McCain has stated that me might vote for another inappropriately named "Assault Weapons Ban". The Right Honorable Madame Governor has been hunting Moose, Elk, Bear, and assorted other mega fauna, has been an outspoken proponent for American to keep and bear arms. Advantage: McCain/Palin.

So, already shaping up that I cannot support Obama/Biden (Biden's a tool - I really am not big on Senator Obama's running mate choice). Someone said the Obama's written two autobiographies, but has yet to write or sponsor a single piece of legislation. McCain and Palin have at the least, done something concrete that people can point.

I would like to say that I respect Gov. Palin.

Palin '12? Too early?

Joe Biden is a blowhard that likes to hear himself talk.

***NEXT TOPIC***
(Still Political, though)

I have a feeling that the long knives in the good ol' Democrat Party are about to come out. Were on the verge of a little internecine warfare. Hillary! will not want to run for President when she's 72... If she wants to be President, then Obama can't win (or if he does - he'll be a single term president). Make no mistake, the Clintonites are still out there and still a viable force. Legion are those who have underestimated the Clintons and suffered for it.

I wouldn't be surprised if just before election day Hillary and Bill pull the rug out from Obama/Biden...

This is going to be a d-mn interesting race...

Change

2008-08-23T01:31:00.003-06:00

Things, they are a changin'...

Obama's picking Joe "Mr. Plagiarist" Biden. Not exactly the paradigm shift that Mr. Rhetoric led us to believe. One of the biggest figures of the modern Democrat-socialist movement. Say what you want about Senator Biden, he does certainly love the sound of his own voice, especially when complimenting his soon to be boss on being "Clean and articulate". Oh, and in August 2007 he said that Barack Obama was not in any way, shape or form, ready to be president. Guess that whole year has prepared him. Also, I'm not exactly sure what "Foriegn Policy" credentials he is supposed to have? Chairing a Senatorial committee? Racking up frequent flyer miles? I put it out there to any Obama supporters/ apologists, please educate me?

I personally can't wait for the shit slinging, banner waving, rioting that will be sure to distinguish the Democrat party convention even more than the great "Do Nothing" Congress lead by Pelosi and Reed. Recreate '68? I wasn't around for that one, but I hear it got pretty durn nasty. Hillary's people are now calling them selves PUMAs (Party Unity My Ass). This ought to be good.

The more fractious it is, the less people will vote for Democrats.

Problem is, we're getting shit from the Republicans too.

For the record, I admire the hell out of John McCain's service in the United States Navy. I state categorically that he gets the Official "Crazed American Seal of Sheer Bad-Assery" for his time served in the Untied States Navy and as a POW. I haven't cared for him all that much in his years in Congress, but I haven't had to - he's not my Senator. My senators are two Republican idiots. (Damn, I do LOVE the First Amendment)

John McCain can't even remember how many houses he owns. John - got news for you - I don't even follow your campaign and I know how many houses you own.

Answer: ZERO. Nada. ZILCH. Bupkus.

Your wife and her multitudinous trust fund owns whatever you own. You get your Senatorial Salary, Navy disability and retirement (these are not insignificant amounts, though, they just pale in comparison to Cindy McCain's dough). Your (and by Your, I mean her) accountant gives you an allowance. Your accountants probably have everything in her name. Smart, since you can release your financial records and she won't.

So - Crazed American Political status report - still not voting for either of the bastards. I might vote for Barr or Nader - I will flip a coin. Seemed to work OK for Harvey "Two Face" Dent in the Dark Knight. Or I will write in my Dad (he already said he would not serve if elected - so that would be a wasted vote) or Vladimir Putin. Taxes are lower in Russia than they are in the United States...

So next January I'll have a new President. I hope to Mr. Jesus H. Christ, Buddha, Vishnu, and Mohammed that in the scant days between Election day and inauguration day that the winner actually might sit down and read the Constitution.

So I issue a challenge: Any Obama Supporters / Apologists or any McCain Supporters / Apologists - please offer me some reasoned discourse on which candidate is going to increase my freedom over the next four years?

Just a thought. It's late now - I'm going to bed.

Obama Biden 08 (really?)

P.S. Sorry for the infrequent posting.

Book Review: 47th Samurai

2008-07-24T14:41:00.003-06:00

So a real quick book review.

47th Samurai (http://www.amazon.com/47th-Samurai-Bob-Swagger-Novel/dp/0743238095)

Overall impressions:

This is a good, "sit on an airplane and read" book. I read it all in less than 24 hours due to a confluence of events.

1) I was on an airplane for about 8 hours all told.
2) My daughter is wonderful and whiled away the hours by coloring, watching her DVD player and taking a very long nap
3) Hunter writes in a great style and it is easy reading.

If you read the reviews on Amazon, you will find that a good many people were not thrilled by this one. I found it to be an entertaining read, if you didn't think about it too hard. It's a movie that I'd only go and see once. It was entertaining, but at times blatantly unbelievable.

So if you're a fan of Hunter, and his Swagger Chronicles (which I am), then by all means give it a read. It's a page turner, if you turn the analytical part of your brain off. Also, Bob the Nailer doesn't even pick up a gun, any gun, throughout the work.

Upon reflection, I probably should have saved my dough and got this one at the library, but since I own every other fiction work the man has done, I have to keep the collection complete.

I'd give it a 5 of 10 with Point of Impact being a 10.
Not Hunter's best work, but it tides me over until Night of Thunder which comes out in September. I have a feeling there might not be any Katanas in that one...

Crazed American, out.

Quick Political Rant

2008-07-22T15:54:00.003-06:00

OK.

State for the fact I don't like either of the Candidates.

But I find this just a tad priceless...

I do a typical quick scan f the major news outlets (BBC, CNN, Fox, Drudge, Ace...)

I see this: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1816620,00.html

Edwards on Obama's veep list?

Bad news Senator. Edwards is a hypocritical, pandering idiot. Democrat friend of mine described him as that not, but a few days ago. But apparently my Democrat Friend was slightly off base when he described him as "hypocritical, pandering". Apparently he should have used "hypocritical, pandering, and philandering".

For evidence I must point you to this: http://www.nationalenquirer.com/sen_john_edwards_caught_with_mistress_and_love_child_in_la_hotel/celebrity/65193

But it's the National Enquirer, you say.

Exactly, they know they'll get slammed with a few hefty libel suits, so I'm sure they wouldn't come out with this (again) unless they've got some evidence.

He of course denies it. All the National Enquirer boys and girls have to do is show Mr. Edwards was in the lobby of the hotel when they say he was in the hotel. I betcha somebody has a copy of the hotels CCTV DVD's right now...

Nice try Johnny boy. Booty calls ('round 3am) at LA hotels with campaign staffer baby-sitting the love child - next door, whilst cancer-stricken wife is sick and two young children are at home in NC? Classy.

Further "Crazed American" advice to the Obama campaign: Cross the Former Senator John Edwards off of the list. He can campaign for you (if you want him to), but no more talk of him being in the administration in any capacity. Spare me Mr. Edwards tearful confession to his "possibly dying wife" that he's sought solace in the arms of another woman - a confession that I'm sure Team Edwards will get Oprah to host.

What's the deal with this loser? He was a lackluster senator (Didn't even serve a full term), crappy running mate the first go 'round - so just why is he on the supposed "short list"?!?

Politicians being unfaithful to their spouses is one thing, but when small children are involved, just makes the Papa Bear int he Crazed American more than a little irritated.

Pick Edwards, you get a (proven LOSER) wealthy/ champion of the poor and downtrodden philanderer in the administration. Hell, no one's got much ammunition to say that Hillary! ever cheated on Bill (I'm not to the point where I'm buying the out-there lesbian rumors, either).

Now would be a good time for Hillary! to announce that she's divorcing Bill. That might show me that Hillary! has a little bit of self respect, and self confidence. That'd be the only way I'd possibly vote for an Obama / Clinton Ticket.

John McCain is old. He's a little bit scary and does not really inspire me.

As I've said before, Obama picks General / Secretary Colin Powell as a running mate, I might just have to believe in Hope and Change...

Come on, surely there are some people out there who might step forward and lead this great nation?

Quick political rant

2008-07-08T09:40:00.002-06:00

OK, dear reader(s) -- -

Looks like (at this moment in time, and that can change, 'cause all parties involved are incredibly dumb at times), We soon will have a President Barack Hussein Obama (will Chief Justice Roberts be allowed to say his middle name when he's administering the oath of office?!?).

I am no thrilled by this prospect. I am ever so slightly more enthusiastic about John "Mr. Global Warming Cap and Trade wealth redistribution" McCain.

At this point I have to vote for McCain. There is one scenario that might see me vote the other way, though...

In a nightmare scenario - McCain goes for some segment of the electorate and picks the religious bigot Mike Huckabee as his VP. To further that nightmare, Obama picks someone out of right field, to some unexpected, to some expected: Former Secretary of State, General Colin Powell, USA (Ret.).

If that confluence of events transpires, I vote for the "skinny kid with the big ears and the funny name".

We'll see...

Either way, I am not thrilled at the prospects. Although either of them is better than Hillary!, so I guess I'm lucky in that regard...

Anthropogenic Global Warming - been a while...

2008-06-13T14:54:00.003-06:00

So I thought I'd put a link out there to my new Hero -

Dr. John Coleman - a man who know a few things about meteorology, climatology and a few other -ologies, I'm sure:

http://www.kusi.com/weather/colemanscorner/19842304.html

Read it!

Especially read it if you need to fill up your car any time soon...

- when you do say a Amen! to Democrats and ineffective Republicans in Congress and Al "Inverter of the Interwebs and Destroyer of the American Economy and Way of Life" Gore.

America must drill. Now. Continental Shelf and ANWAR and, hell my backyard, if there's any oil there. Do it responsibly and for profit. As much profit as you can make for your stockholders and employees.

The Crazed American is sick and f---ing tired of the march to Socialism our government (both parties) is taking.

I will not stand for it.

Well, this weekend, I'll stand for it. I'm going camping.

Do I need to pay a carbon tax on the campfire I'm going to have?

Crazed American, setting a course for the high Uintas.

If you're lucky, I may post some pictures.

Crazed American, out.

What does it take?

2008-06-11T16:32:00.002-06:00

I realize that i have to do a better job of posting... To all of my wonderful reader(s), I heartily apologize.

To sum up my life up until now:

I am not real pleased about either choice for president. Also, not exactly sure how Bob "Mr. War on Drugs and I Don't Like Gay People" Barr is a Libertarian...

Both candidates are pledging to remove "obscene profits" from all corporations. Marxism. Bolshevism. Communism. National Socialism.

American is best when it's people are free to succeed or fail.

The Crazed American is not real thrilled about the prospects for the fall. I may still vote for Fred Thompson. Or my Dad. I really don't see myself voting for John McCain. Definitely not Barry O.

Also, Barry O should release his birth certificate. I mean, what , is he worried about identity theft? John McCain had to release his when they had the whole Canal Zone Birth issue.

What a bunch of morons.

***

Read an excellent work - read the whole thing in 2 days. Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air - dang! Made me want to climb Medium and small sized mountains. You can go ahead and keep the real tall ones.

Reading another interesting book: WARDAY by Whitley Streiber and Jim Kunetka. Great book - written in 1984 about the aftermath of a "limited" nuclear war in 1988. Exhaustively researched, and a real good yarn. Written in kind of a method that might have been looked at by Max Brooks before he wrote World War Z

Other than that - it snowed this morning. Of course, I do live at 7000 feet ASL.

It did not suck.

2008-05-22T23:04:00.003-06:00

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Started GREAT. First 60 minutes were fabulous.
Next 30 minutes were good.

'bout the time we got to the last waterfall I found myself muttering "come on".

Moose remarked that we probably witnessed the greatest feat of Russian engineering, and amphibious vehicle that didn't rust to a stop at the first contact with water.

The ending was a tad, well, shall I just say that it could have been better.

Brought the Young Indiana Jones Adventures in to the official lore - nice.

Overall, initial reaction is that I would rank it just behind Temple of Doom. But not by much.

Highest complement I can pay a film (and I have seen a lot) - "I got my money's worth"

Acting was great - Harrison Ford's older than my Dad. Impressive that he did the majority of his own stunts. Kudos.

John Hurt was great - would have liked to know that character a bit better.

Dr. Jones, I got my money's worth.

Wish Sean Connery had been in it.

Also, note to film directors. This movie is entered as Exhibit #23516625442 that just because you CAN do super fantastic special effects, doesn't necessarily mean you have to. Sometimes less is more...

I have ideas as to where the Indiana Jones films should go from here. That's for a later post.

For the Record: I love Indiana Jones Movies

2008-05-21T15:09:00.004-06:00

I have seen all of them to be able to quote from them at length.

A while back I read a summary of the proposed Indiana Jones and the Saucer Men from Mars. I thought - cheesy: nuclear explosions, alien relics and space ships.

ummm....

From CNN.com:http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/21/bts.indiana.jones/index.html

Early reviews of the latest Indiana installment have been mixed, but the Harlem audience was firmly in Indiana's corner. "It gets 10 stars," said one audience member, Robert Egbert. "The sound effects were crazy and the action was off the hook. I loved the space ship!"

I may have to hate George Lucas. Can Congress do something useful? Call it the Han Solo Shoots First Act, it would be to restore Han Solo killing Greedo in Star Wars IV, and then forbidding George Lucas from being allowed to make (or change) any more movies.

I mean really. Don't get me wrong, I am going to see the new Indy Flick tomorrow, (and rewatch Temple of Doom and Last Crusade tonight), but I swear, on the Precious Felt of the Hallowed Fedora (Peace Be Upon It), this movie had better not suck. I am not expecting Schindler's List, or Lawrence of Arabia, but I had better be entertained and not have my (admittedly limited) intelligence mocked. I don't have the highest expectations, but I expect a good, escapist romp, by the Powers of the Almighty Bullwhip (PBUI).

I'll let you know.

Knaves abound...

2008-05-09T12:47:00.003-06:00

IN what could be the funniest thing I have read in quite a while, i have stumbled across this

Pulp Fiction (A Slurry Tale) as written by William Shakespeare. http://pulpbard.wikispaces.com/

Highly recommended to all fans of the work of Quentin Tarantino and the OG hisself, William "BillyMack" Shakespeare.

Hurt myself laughing so hard...

(Further proof that there is no amount of time that the intertubes can not lay waste to...)

Battlestar Galactica

2008-05-02T08:58:00.007-06:00

I have to admit the fascination with that show has waned a bit for me. Don't get me wrong, it's still the best Sci-Fi show on television (that I watch - I've still never seen Lost - No time), it just got a little "Soap-Opera'y" for my tastes after the exodus from New Caprica.

That being said, I may not see every episode when they come on Sci-Fi (although I do have Sci-FI HD now, so I may need to remedy that situation), but I do try to catch up with the episodes online.

That all being said I have 3 hypothesis as who might be the final Cylon.

1) Lt. Felix Gaeta
Evidence - he wrote it better than me: http://www.haibane.info/2008/05/02/cylon-speculation/

To add to that - he was "able to beat the Cylons at computer programming"

Makes good sense.

2) Everyone
Evidence: "It's all happened before, it will all happen again."

3) An unnamed unseen Cylon - on Earth - the Holy Grail in the Photo.
(Dirk Benedict - the Original Starbuck)

I am personally not all that sad that the series is coming to an end. It' provided me with quite a few hours of thought provoking enjoyment, I dig the acting, writing and special effects. They just lost me a bit when they started getting away from the chase, entered the "soap-opera zone", got all metaphysical, started humanizing the Cylons, and lost most of the over-riding "military-vibe" that they nailed the first 2 seasons.

Just my 2 cents.

Something to ponder

2008-05-01T14:31:00.002-06:00

Being a resident of a certain western state that is, quite frankly, viewed as being weird byt he rest of our country, I just stumbled upon something interesting.

Seems the local religious majority believes in laying in food. Storage to some, stockpiling to others. I am quite sure it's not a recent trend, but as a minority, I have to say it's kind of disconcerting.

Example: the Food storage calculator
http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm

I ran it for my family - these are some serious numbers.

Probably has to do with something about the "local religious majority" being persecuted for all of these years. BUt this is a LOT of food were talking about here.

My reaction can only be likened to being on a cruise ship, then finding out all of the rest of the passengers have put on life vests and nobody told you.

I am now going to research this a bit more...

Oh, joy... and the Crazed American puts a piece of the puzzle together

2008-05-01T14:09:00.003-06:00

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/majornews/1917167/Chinese-build-secret-nuclear-submarine-base.html

The Chinese are building a "Secret" submarine base.

Not so secret, is it?

Underground sub pens, berthing for a dozen aircraft carriers.

Good for them.

Job security for the US Navy.

All of a sudden the robust ground penetrating ordinance we were "developing to attack Iran", don't seem so out of place, now do they? They, in fact make a whole lot o' sense. Divine Strake, anyone?

This is what the Crazed American does, he puts disparate pieces of the puzzle together!

Knock me over with a feather... (2nd Amendment blog)

2008-04-23T16:04:00.003-06:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I the Crazed American have just read a post on Daily Kos.

Little background for some of you out there. The Crazed American is hard to pin down politically. I'm libertarian to a point (not the "no legal age of consent" point). I guess I am a Jeffersonian Liberal. I believe in freedom and the rights of people to exist without the burden of a "Anything for you / Do anything to you" government.

Daliy Kos is a "liberal" (borderline Marxist) "progressive" blog, that typically gets me with it's "liberal" knack for going way overboard in the Nanny State (Socialist) way. Oh, and the "President Bushitler is responsible for: (insert the name of your favorite calamity here)".

They are also typically mightily anti-Second Amendment. All for the rest of the Civil Liberties, except for #2.

So, I heartily endorse this link:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/21/19133/5152

Go there and be amazed. "Angry Mouse" gets it. I think that he/she also realizes that if the American Government (the party in charge really doesn't matter, does it?) does get a little more aggressive in "taking care of the people", that the anti-gun people in this country (i.e. "anti-gun Liberals") are going to find out first hand what government and other kinds of oppression are really like.

Welcome to the club.

(Hat tip to "To Which I Replied..." http://existingthing.blogspot.com/ and "Say Uncle" http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2008/04/22/liberals-and-guns/)

Product Review: DISH Network HD

2008-04-19T09:47:00.004-06:00

Simple review -

I'll state that I like DISH Network - with a few reservations.

To be Honest, I'd rather have cable - and the high speed Internet that goes along with it. But since the developer who built the neighborhood in which the Mountain Redoubt sits didn't have the foresight to include decent telecom infrastructure, I have nothing saved a jury rigged phone line - it actually runs to the neighbor's junction box by the street. How do I know this?

My rant against Qwest.

Two years ago,I decided to re-sod my yard (maybe re-sod is an incorrect terms, the plants that made up our "yard" were never sod to begin with). So I did the responsible thing and called the "Blue Stake" people. Out they came, when they were supposed to (wonder of wonders), and dutifully put little orange flags where our telco line was supposed to go - from a little green box next tot he street to the junction box on the side of the house. So when I ran the tiller near that section of the lawn I was careful to excavate the actual line, till where the line had been and then rebury the line. At that time I noticed another line that came out of our junction box that went in the back yard... I had already done the other side yard and the back - I had a sinking feeling. My feeling was confirmed when I went inside and picked up the telephone - no dial tone.

Rat-bastards.

Dug up the balance of the mystery line (found the break), spliced the cut, tacked a goodly portion to the side of the house, and carefully and deeply buried the balance of it.

Phone service restored.

This is a sample of the confidence I have in Qwest. I have others, but this was supposed to be a review of DISH.

So anyway, love my new HDTV. Love the Service that I have (America's Top 200 with HD). Two gripes only (and one isn't really a gripe): 1) When I signed up for the HD service, I was told that I'd get a rebate. Rebate is still "processing" Five months later.

2) Discovered last night that I hae allergies to the type of Aspen Trees in the yard - but only when they drop a LOT of pollen, correspondingly I couldn't sleep. So I went down to watch some TV. Discovered I had two additional HD channels (SCIFI and CNN). Hot-diggetty-dog. Why didn't they tell me? Not complaining that loudly, but a quick note on last month's bill would have made me all warm and fuzzy. As it is now, I can try to struggle through the 4th season of Battlestar Galactica in full 720p glory (not really feeling it).

So, if you are like me and have to have Satellite TV, then I recommend DISH Network. Just don't be pissed when the signal cuts out due to snow or rain. Where I live we get LOTS of snow, not so much rain (although the National Weather Service says we should get rain today and snow tomorrow), but like a lot of modern technology - when it works, it's great.

***UPDATE***: Still wish that I could get the HD feed for the Salt Lake ABC Affiliate...

hmmmmmm...

2008-04-10T16:10:00.002-06:00

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Vote2008/Story?id=4622268&page=4

I link to page 4 of this article, cause it seems to imply that Colin Powell might be Barrack Obama's running mate?

I think that running mate's are going to be very important in terms of this year's election.

The Crazed American has a GREAT deal of respect for Secretary (General) Powell. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. I don't care what is party affiliation is. He runs as some one's VP, I will give a great deal of consideration to that candidate. I would almost vote for Hillary if she had Colin Powell as her VP.

I really wish they'd all name their VP selections now...

You've got to be f---in' kidding me....

2008-03-30T11:39:00.003-06:00

Please take a moment to read this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/30/wuspols130.xml

(thanks instapundit.com)

The Crazed American's take:

I am by no means a fan of the current crop of ineffective socialists that run the formerly great Democratic Party. Having said that, I know a few Democrats...

So if the above article bears any fruit, and Albert gets the nod, can there not possibly be a HUGE rift formed in the Democratic Party, up to and including open warfare.

Let's put it this way:

Obama is ahead in terms of delegates and popular votes. Let's say that continues to the convention, but some how Clinton is able to sway the super delagtes into voting for her or not voting at all - 1st round of voting gets locked up and it breaks it open and then Al Gore swoops in and takes the nomination - it's stealing (worse than 2000 - literal "selection not election").

Or let's say that Hillary is able to make a comeback and the same thing happens in reverse.

Will the Democratic party be able to COMPLETELY DISREGARD THE WILL OF ITS MEMBERS? Michigan and Florida do not apply here - their state Party officials CHOSE to violate the rules of the game and SHOULD NOT be allowed to seat delegates according to eh rules set forth by Chairman Dean and the senior officials of the DNC.

Albert's no where on the ballot, anywhere. Folks who are seriously thinking about GIVING him the nomination are setting an explosive path ahead. The Crazed American is of the mind that if the will of the members of the Democratic party can so easily be cast aside, then what's the point of the primary / caucus process. Sane the $$ and just have the delegate appointed.

The American people obviously should not be trusted to pick the DNC's leaders.

Let's ignore the will of the people.

This is funny...

2008-03-13T09:22:00.003-06:00

http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/player.jhtml?ml_video=163653&is_large=true

...cause it's true...

Just for your edification - Rob Riggle is a Devil Dog (USCMR - Major).

I love this guy.

Ubiquitous Global Warming Post

2008-02-26T16:20:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note...

From Drudge:
http://www.dailytech.com/Temperature+Monitors+Report+Worldwide+Global+Cooling/article10866.htm

It has a graph, therefore it must be true...

Glad I didn't throw out my parka.

Watch next year be super-duper hot. I'm tellin' ya - Muther Nature is messin' with us...

Attention, Attention

2008-02-24T21:05:00.003-07:00

I would like to make a declaration.

Since tonight is OSCAR night...

I celebrated the festive occasion by making a point not to watch an awards ceremony that I could, quite literally, not care less about - by watching a 5 year old movie - for the first time.

Tonight I watched the Sam Raimi Spider-Man.

Da-n good flick.

Now I've got to chase down a copy of #2 and 3.

Crazed American - out.

Way to go, Squids!

2008-02-20T21:46:00.002-07:00

I am not going to include links on this - trust me when you read this, you'll know what's up.

Three Cheers for the US Navy!

First try, by the way.

Too bad it happened round the same time that the NY Times decided it doesn't, after all, like Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Take that Russkies and Chi-coms... our "test" worked - and apparently can be used from any Aegis equipped cruiser with the right modifications... We have what - 70 or so of those - not to mention, I think the Imperial Japanese Navy ( I mean Maritime Defense Force) has a few of them, too...

Battle over funding between the Navy and the Air Force begins in: three, two, one... right about now.

The Crazed American is stoked to be American tonight.

Hey, President Regan... You were right about that "SDI" Star Wars thing.

Someone should tell the Democrats in Congress who want to kill Missile / Satellite Defense - we have something that works...

Way to go, Navy (who I'm sure got a big assist from the Air Force - sensors and the like)!

Been a while…

2008-02-20T11:09:00.001-07:00

OK – time for me to weigh in on a few things.

Today’s list:

1) US Navy shooting down satellites

2) Ice pack growth and thickness

3) US Presidential Race

4) Independence of Kosovo

1) As a character in Buckaroo Banzai once said to Buckaroo – “Don’t make us look bad.” As for the necessity of shooting it down – I say – why the hell not? If we have the technology that might work to do this – do it. Kills a bunch of birds with one (or three) stone(s). Let’s run ‘em down:
a) Demonstrates technology, allows us to develop methodology to do it if we ever have to, ‘specially if the satellite about to be knocked isn’t ours
b) Makes the Chinese and Russians real mad – also makes them a little nervous – that’s not a bad thing
c) Let’s the Navy strut it’s stuff – hasn’t been able to do that for a while
So I say – shoot the thing down. With the levels of confidence coming out of the powers that be – let’s hope that confidence is well placed. I will be mighty upset if I get a 5 ton satellite in my front yard…

2) Multiple sources are saying that January was one of the coldest in the arctic, and that arctic Ice is spreading and thickening. Can we lay off of the Global Warming fear mongering for at least the balance of the winter? All I can say is that the local government had to bring front- end loaders into my neighborhood to reclaim a bit of my street from the snow.

3) Let’s hope that Hillary Clinton sees the light and withdraw gracefully (ala Romney). Won’t hold my breath. Obama seems unbeatable. I like the guy. I may not like the lack of specifics that he puts out there, but he can communicate – and that is a very good start. Sen. McCain seems to be doing a good job of pulling the party together, but then again – what choice do Republicans have?

4) Kosovanian / Kosovari ? what’s the plural? This could be a great thing – it also could re-spark another war – jury’s still out. The Crazed American reserves judgement. We’ll see what the Russians and the Serbs do…

Speaking of the Russians – Vlad’s really rattling sabers. Over-flying our carriers is not a cool thing. Tends to make people like me nervous. Next time the Russkies want to buzz one of our flat-tops – I say we might not want to turn the other cheek…
Also, I need some input – how do we fix our debt situation? Next President (who ever it is) is going to want to spend a bunch of money – how the heck are we going to pay for that?

Dangnabbit.

2008-02-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

So I have to vote for John McCain. Can't really bring myself to vote for either of the two Marxists opposing him.

Please Senator McCain, select a Fred Thompson, or Mitt Romney (or Bill Richardson, for that matter) as your VP. Hell, Joe Lieberman falls on the right side of the fence when it comes to the war on terror, and he's a man of principle... It'll make election day a little easier for some of us.

If you really wanted to pull the rug out on the Democrats, a certain Secretary of State is a triple threat - she has some conservative cred, is female and black... Just sayin'...

I'll vote for you, but it'll take some work to make you "my guy". The Crazed American also reserves the right to say "I told you so."

***New Topic***

SIRIUS Elvis Radio and SIRIUSly Sinatra are the coolest parts of having Satellite TV (aside from everything HD).

***New Topic***

The Mountian Redoubt is just about buried. This has been a da-n fine snow year. Hope it doesn't melt all at once - I'd feel really bad abou the flooding downhill and downstream. We've already had more snow this season than all of last season put together. I hope this bodes well for the future.

On that topic, some Canadian Scientists are thinking we might be entering the Maunder Minimum. IF that's true - hello mini ice age! If we go into an ice age, I "might" be able to convince Mrs. Crazed American to let me get a snow blower.

http://ibdeditorial.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=287279412587175

On that happy note, the Crazed American is heading out to clean out my bore hole to the fire hydrant in my front yard. I went through four feet of snow just to get to the top of it...

Crazed American, out.

Super Tuesday?

2008-02-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Now it's over. Time to look at the way it shaped up.

John McCain is now the "presumptive front runner". Good for him.

The Crazed American predicts a McCain / Huckabee ticket - since they were so good at colluding with each other in West Virginia. That's the foundations of teamwork.

John McCain is not liked by the vast majority of conservatives out there.

The Crazed American is of the mind that aside from bankruptcy, the lack of secure borders is the biggest issue facing our country today. John McCain ain't going to do much to fix it, that much is obvious.

It's going to be real hard for me to vote for a McCain / Huckabee ticket, unless: there is a Clinton / Anybody or Anybody / Clinton ticket in opposition. I may have to vote for the same guy I voted for in 1996 - my Dad...

Hillary Clinton is a Marxist - really she is bad news, cause she's just going to keep going with that "43" started - the bankrupting of America. Also, if you look into the Clinton's closet - there are a bunch of skeletons - literal skeletons in there. People who get in her way, typically end up disgraced, or commit suicide, or dissapear. Really - look into it... If she ends up as Veep - don't be suprised if she's not Veep for long...

We need a President who can lead - lead and inspire the people of this country, and stop and reverse the road to bankruptcy, secure the borders and stop the (name your boogeyman) from killing American Citizens. Aside from Sen. Obama, and Gov. Romney's ability to give good speeches, I'm not sure who is out there that fits the bill. No one in my opinion.

We very well might get royally screwed. But someone famous once said - "The Americans can be sure of one thing - they always get the government they deserve."

Does anyone know the procedure for foreclosing on a country? Can you foreclose on a country that's spends a large part of it's mortgage on the most powerful and capable military force in the recorded history of the planet?

Aside from destroying the credit rating of the US, what's to say we don't just wake up one morning and delcare our debt is gone and forgiven? Unilaterally - won't that drop the Chinese and in domino fashion the global economy through the floor? People would stop investing in the US - permanently - or just for a while? One thing is certain - American manufacturing would find itself in a bit of a Renaissance. If the Global Trade system fell apart - how long would it take for the pieces to get picked up? By whom would they get picked up? Sure there would be some hardship on theparts of some - prices in America for the cheap items we enjoy from China might be elevated, but that kind of thing could be prodeced locally or in Mexico.

What if there was a breif, and relatively bloodless war with China - couldn't that be a "way" to relieve our debt to the Chinese?

All of this money is in 1s and 0s in a computer anyway... What if there was a calamity, natural or man made, that caused a disruption in the global communications and banking systems?

The Crazed American is concerned for the future of his beloved homeland. I know that the American people are currently the freest, most capable people on the planet. We'll figure it out - it just may be a little rough getting to the figuring part...

Just musing out loud...

Political Rant

2008-02-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

Attention Readers:

I am now going to use this blog as a political scratch pad before I head on out and vote.

Candidates:
Democrat:
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
Senator Barck Hussein Obama

Republican:
Senator John McCain
Former Governor Mitt Romney
Former Governor Michael Huckabee
Congressman Doktor Ronald Paul

OK - How the Crazed American's Vote calculus works out: (if registered R/ if registred Independent)
Democrat: (Crazed American doesn't remember if he's still a registered Republican - long story)
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton - 0.0% / 0.0% - Closed Primary State
Senator Barck Hussein Obama - 0.0 / 100.0% - Closed Primary State

Republican:
Senator John McCain 10.0% - just can't jump on the "Straight Talk Express"
Former Governor Mitt Romney - 75.00% - not thrilled on his stance(s) on a number of issues, but if it's Romney or McCain - I have (?) to go with Romney
Former Governor Michael Huckabee - 5.00% - he is a Southern Baptist - Anti-Mormon Bigot
Congressman Doktor Ronald Paul - 0.0% - although I like some of the pro constitution platitudes that he mouths - he has not been quite able to quash the impression that I have that he is more than a tad Anti-Semitic. That's a deal breaker for this Crazed American.

So who will the Crazed American vote for?

I am a man without a candidate - I have no political leader at the moment whose water I'd happily carry. Still kind of dazed and confused from Fred! dropping out. I'm not a fan of McCain, I'm not a fan of Romney. There's an equal chance of me voiting for Sen. Hillary Rodham "more of the same" Clinton. I like Barak Obama, not thrilled with his politics, but as a speaker, leader and man, I think he's cool. If Barak Obama pledges to reduce the national debt, and safeguard the Right to Keep and Bear Arms to law abiding citizens as it currently is on the books, I'd run out right now and get an Obama bumper sticker.

Since I think that I have to vote Republican, my choice is not a happy one - I'm truthfully not sure who I'll press the touchscreen for in this Primary.

Of course when it comes to the National Election, my choice is easy -
If it's Clinton vs. McCain, I'll be for McCain, no sweat.
If it's Obama vs. McCain, I'm frankly not that sure (but I'm actually leaning in the Obama direction).
If it's Obama vs. Romney, again not sure - leaning Romney. In that case - the debates will be mighty interesting - two excellent orators going at it, in a hopefully reasoned and civilized manner. If Clinton is VP with Obama, all bets are off. I'm not saying that she'll arrange for a conveneient accident for President Obama, but it wouldn't be the first time that a Clinton was connected with a "suicide" (Vince Foster, et al) ... (Please Senator Obama, do not select Hillary Clinton as your running mate - if you do, whatever stand you have with me or the legion of Crazed Americans vanishes - poof)

Clinton vs. Paul (who knows) - I'll be unavailable - I'll be out building and stocking a bomb shelter.

As if you could not tell, this blog is not a fan of Hillary Rodham Clinton. I'm not a huge fan of the former President, either, but I'd sit down and have a beer with William Jefferson Clinton, long before I'd consider to do the same with his Marxist "wife".

Senator Clinton, I might be singing a different tune if you had divorced him after leaving the White House. I mean really - you can't even control the wanderings of your "husband" how do you propose to lead a country of almost 400 million?

And please - stop it with the tears. If you cry during a politcal campaign, how are you going to react if / when the US gets attacked again? Unless you're performing a bit of political theatre and plying for sympathy (then you're just deceitful - shocker), you'll make Jimmy Carter look like sweater wearing version Captain America - twin .45's blazing.

Crazed American - ready to sit on a mountaintop and wait for it all to end,

Out.

Sundance '08

2008-01-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

Greetings, loyal reader.

Today I shall opine on the annual craziness that grips the town that I call home...

So far, I've seen a former Friends cast member in town, and my wife's cousin thinks she shared an elevator with Andy Garcia. Other than that, the traffic is crazy, and the power downtown went out last night for about an hour downtown.

The only reason I know that is I saw it on Drudge... I avoid downtown during this festival. It's positively crazy.

Also, I hate to say it, but I've seen a bunch of "Sundance" Movies, and well, there's a reason they're independent... Some of them are good, a very few are great - most of them, however, "aren't for a large or mainstream audience".

"Aren't for a large or mainstream audience" is a REALLY nice way of saying that they suck. When they suck, I mean that a lot of them lack good writing, directing or acting, or even a cogent plot. Some of them are done for shock value. They just aren't very good movies, in my humble opinion. The Sundance experience is fun, however, when I have time in my life to waste four or five hours.

"But, Crazed American, those movies are two hours long!" you might say. The run time is indeed 2 hours, but the actual parking, walking to the venue, waiting in line, and return walk and trip - all make it add up. That is why the Crazed American will be attending the "Best of the Fest" both of the Audience Award and Jury Award films. I will see one, then the other.

Two reasons that I am doing this - 1) the Crazed American is still fascinated by acting and the art of film making, and I HOPE to be entertained; and 2) the festival gives the tickets away for free to locals.

Went and saw the Jury award winner, I think. To me it was a typical Sundance movie. Hell, to be honest, I don't even remember the title. Let's see - drug use (typically heroin) - check; prostitution - check; deception - check; murder - check; rape - check; utterly depressing - check; made me happy when the credits rolled - check; for the most part forgettable - check.

The Crazed American likes art films (sometimes). For me, I need to see a gripping story (writing) or top flight acting and direction (you can't have one without the other). I'll see a character piece if the acting and direction can carry me past a lacking story. Or if the story is really cool, then I'm there, as long as the director is worth his salt. To me films fall apart if one of the three legs of the drama stool is broken (writing, acting or directing). Weirdness for weirdness sake is cool for about 5 minutes.

Well, I am happy to state that Sundance is in the winding down phase. The first weekend is always the most crazy. Hollywood people running about, disrupting the peace of my little mountain town. It started on Thursday, so I've only got until next Monday. Can't say that it ain't fun, one of these years, I may have to take two weeks off of work, call up some old drama buddies and do the whole thing right...

Just not this year...

I promise film reviews of both of the "Best of Fest" Films after I see them.

Crazed American, out.

New Regular Read

2008-01-03T21:28:00.000-07:00

Attention Loyal Reader(s):

Please checkout yon blog of the Broseph: moose-isloose.blogspot.com

My brother's decided to chronicle his path to weight loss, health and the menswear store.

All the best, bro. You've inspired me to loose a few pounds as well. After, of course, I finish drinking this Polygamy Porter. Wasatch Beers, if you're reading this - send me a case a month and I'll regularly post the glories of your products...

Just sayin'...

That might hurt my quest for health. Such is life...

The Hawkeye Caucai

2008-01-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

Well, they're over...

The Honorable Senator Barack Obama has won Iowa for the Democrats and Governor Mike Huckabee has won for the Republicans.

Woo hoo. Only 50 more of these durn things to go.

For the record, the Crazed American cares only that The Honorable Senator Hillary Clinton did not win. Or for that matter come in second place - she came in third.

I am one of those people that has to say Anybody But Hillary.

Also, I've determined I want anyone not named Clinton, Bush, or is from anywhere near Texas or Hope, Arkansas. In a country of 300 Million people, can we please strive for this?

So, I'll vote when I can, for who on the ballot in my home state strikes the Crazed American as being the best one who could represent my wishes for the future leadership of our glorious nation.

On a related note - American politics is called a dirty business, and well it probably is. Keep in mind, when a vote gets contested in American it goes to the courts and ends up annoying people for months. In the end, our system figures itself out. Like it or not, we abide by it.

Now look at Kenya. Election contested, 300 die , thousands injured, cities on fire. Not cool.

I love America... as if you couldn't guess.

Uh, no...

2007-12-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Will Smith - Love ya Willie. Think you're a great actor. Love your films. Wasn't hot on Prince of Bell Air, but to each his own.

Comments like this will not get you invited to Xmas Dinner:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/wenn/20071223/ten-smith-hitler-was-a-good-person-c60bd6d_1.html

What really stood out is:
He says, "Even Hitler didn't wake up going, 'Let me do the most evil thing I can do today'.
"I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was 'good'. Stuff like that just needs reprogramming."

Wrong, Big Willie Style. Little Adolf and the rest of his goose-stepping minions were evil.

To state for the record (and I have actually studied and have been tested on this subject - so at least myu professor would probably grant me some degree of authority on this subject), Adolf Hitler was evil. I don't hink any amount of post- modern, PC, moral relativistic, The View watching horsesh-t is going to change the fact that you don't accidentally wind up killing a good fraction of 100,000,000 people, Jews, Gypsies, Communists and French soldiers alike.

Hitler was a bad, bad man. Will - idea - next movie, play a scientist that looks like you and goes back in time to 1943 - in the Reich itself - maybe Western Poland, or Berlin itself. Make sure you get some historians to write this movie. See how long your character lasts...

Or will your character "get jiggy" in an extermination camp? (historian's note - by "get jiggy" I mean a suffering, lingering death by exposure to Zyklon-B)

Will - just a note - take one more step in the direction of Holocaust denial (you-re edging in that direction) and I'll stop going to your movies or buying your DVD's.

Or to make up for it - make a movie about a tank destroyer company (unit id escapes me right now), going up against Panzers...

Come on Will, I want to see I am Legend, I just haven't had time... Now I'm not so sure...

If done right - I'd pay to see that

A good weekend is upon us.

2007-12-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

I plan on skiing with my daughter on Saturday AM. Borther Moose and The Future Mrs. Moose ("Tiny Fists of Fury") and a few of their friends might join us as well. Sunday will see me at the world famous Snowbird Resort - shreddin' it propper.

Monday, I pick up the oldest friend in the world. We have a few days of fun ready for them!

So, gentle readers, my already light posting will probably continue to be light.

So - really - no change.

All the best,

Crazed "Up with People!" American , out.

A Different Christmas Poem

2007-12-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My Daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps started to dream.

The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow,

My soul gave a tremble; I struggled to hear;
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, my wife and my child.

“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!”

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts…
To the windows that danced with a warm fire’s light
Then he sighed and he said, “It’s really all right.”

I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.
It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December.”
Then he sighs, “that’s a Christmas Gram always remembers.”

“My Dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘Nam,
And now it is my turn, and so, here I am.
I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.”

Then he bent and carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white and blue…an American flag.
“I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another.
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother…

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.
So go back inside,” he said, ”harbor no fright.
Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”

“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least.
Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.”

Then his eyes welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us and never forget.
To fight for you rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, no matter standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”

Please send this around to whomever you can. Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due our US servicemen and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC
USN 30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC
Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

Hear, hear, Commander...
***Credit where Credit is due Department Memo:***
Poached directly from www.deanesmay.com - all credit goes to Dean and Trudy (except the authorship - that's to LCDR Giles)

Today

2007-12-02T15:02:00.001-07:00

Today I attended the second session of my Church - the 1st Church of Crom - Sermon of the Sunday Morning Turns.

Probably had one of the purest hour on skis that I've had in a while. Snow was perfect the air, bitingly cold (it was 7 when I awoke), the sky... well, you can see the sky, that perfect blue / purple.

It was, I might say, spiritual.

Hell, they've only got two runs open... I hope I can get a morning like this when they have all 155 open.

I love winter.

Crazed American, out.

New blog - you must read it

2007-11-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

You must go and check out my oldest friend in the world's blog.

Escape From Peoria

If you read it, maybe he will write more.

(don't push him too hard, though - he's in the process of getting his MBA, and he's coming to the Mountain Redoubt in a couple of weeks, so cut him some slack, gentle readers)...

Almost not my week

2007-11-27T22:24:00.000-07:00

So my favorite Collegiate football team gets deservedly squished by the all time rival...

My personal favorite on Dancing with the Stars loses out...

(related) I never thought, in my wildest dreams that I'd ever root for a Spice Girl (and a Russian!)...

Got a weird "ghost in the machine" in the network at my work...

and, it's only Tuesday.

But... it is finally snowing...

Praise be to Crom, Buddah, Allah, Muhammad (PBUH), Mr. Jesus H. Christ, Yaweh, Gaia, Earth Mother Goddess, Jehovah, Little Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Zeus, Odin, Ullir, Jupiter, the Zoroastrian god, Krishna, Kali, Vishnu, take your pick of various Shinto deities - and any of the other ones I left out. Please keep it up.

Crazed American, out.

Hail Alma Mater Dear...

2007-11-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

No, not that one. Army plays Navy Next week.

FSU v Florida.

Ugly game, made all the worse by CBS commentators practical verbal fellatio of Tim Teabow.

FSU lost. Florida has a decent team. Something makes me think that the more the media builds up Saint Tim "Second Coming of Christ and all around good human being, protector of lost children and champion of feeble people" Teabow (PBUH), the larger chance there is that the rest of the Florida team may begin to resent it, or (Heaven forbid) the All Hallowed TT begins to believe the hype.

Don't get me wrong - he's good, probably the best College Quarterback I've seen in a long time, but he's not perfect. Couple of times, FSU's defense was able to rattle him up, but Florida's admittedly formidable offensive line beat them back and gave the "Son of a Saviour" a bit of breathing room.

Next time I watch the FSU Florida game with the sound muted, Metallica blaring in the background.

Good Game - sh-tty commentary - Tim Teabow did not win that game by himself (although he certainly helped the process along - Florida's whole squad showed up and PLAYED. Next year will probably suck as well for us Noles, but still - Go 'Noles! Seminole Pride and all.

Cismesia - scored all of FSU's points - plus that un-fu-kin' believable 60 yard FG... get that man another donut (Krispy Creme's on West Tennessee St in Tallahassee - they probably know him by name)) to add to the potbelly (or as Moose likes to say: "a kicker's physique"). He's worth it.

So it's a little more subdued tonight at the Mountain Redoubt (the Seminole Flag flys at half staff - Old Glory flies as high as ever)...

Crazed American, Out.

PS - Crazed American and Princess Crazed American got our first day on mountain today. Tomorrow is day 2.

Crom be praised.

Cost of Oil

2007-11-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

Quick note on my thoughts on the price of oil:

I think this sucks - we are criticized for "fighting for oil", yet we are criticized when the price shoots through the roof.

The USA suffers through these high oil prices at the whim of the global market.

Oil Prices could be dropped significantly if we explored for and tapped our own, not inconsiderable oil supplies.

Brazil just announced that they have a supply of oil larger than that of Saudi Arabia...

In a sum - there is far more oil than some would like for you to believe. I remember Ms. Falk's kindergarten class at Herbrich Elementary School in Fairlawn, OH, back when Jimmy Carter ruled the roost, and it said that "by the late 1990's there won't be any more oil"

...and we were going into an ice age

...and we'd be able to take vacations on the moon

...and we'd have a colony on Mars

...and we'd have flying cars

The Price of gasoline, on the other hand is directly affected by the refinery capacity of any given nation and the world, for that matter. Here in the US there ain't been a refinery built in, what, 30 years?

So if we built a few more refineries and drilled for some of own oil, we'd be fine, right?

Wrong - this is all an effect of the Global Economy (which I am thinking might not be such a good thing). We'd first have to divest ourselves of the global economy and begin production of all of the things we get from overseas - t-shirts, electronics, toys, etc. That would cripple the lower developing countries of the planet where all of the cheap labor resides.

Globalism is raising the standard of living in the developing countries and lowering the standard of living in the developing countries, so we are all heading for a rather mediocre stabilising point, economically. I, for one, being the Crazed American and an unapologetic nationalist, do not want to see that happen.

"Good Fences make Good Neighbors" - - someone once said...

That's all right now-

Crazed American, out.

Thoughts

2007-11-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

Got a few quick snippets of thought / opinion to throw out there:

1) Pakistan - Attn: General Musharraf and Ms. Bhutto - both of you need to take a step back and talk about things. You are a nuclear armed nation and I'm afraid the Crazed American and a billion Indians (not to mention a billion or so Screamin' Red Chinese) are paying real close attention to your arguments. General, I know for face saving reasons you can't speak openly with her, so call her on a damn cell phone. Work it out already. I say again, you're making me (a non nuclear power) and The Indians (a nuclear power that hates you anyway) and the Chinese (those nuclear armed people downwind for fallout purposes) are all getting nervous the longer your little power shuffle takes. Talk amongst yourselves, or kill the other one - just get it done and please be a tad more stable in the future.

2) Iraq - seems to be going a little better. I fervently hope for continued success in the future.

3) Iran - got a lot more quiet out of them since Israel showed the Syrians that Russian Air Defence Artillery systems are still overpriced and under effective. The silence is 'a- thunderous"

4) I can't stand Hillary Rodham Clinton. Barack Obama seems to be an old fashioned naive socialist, but he can give a good speech. John Edwards is laughable. Which takes us to:

5) Republican Candidates - I'm not thrilled with Rudolph Giuliani, or Mitt Romney (due to their questionable records on Second Amendment issues - I like both of them much more than I like HRC). Still like Fred Thompson, but I do wish he'd up the intensity of his campaign, just a little. Ron Paul is not my cup of tea, but again, if it was him vs. Hillary, it'd be him.

6) The United States Congress (Democratic Leadership) - what a bunch of whining, ineffectual losers. Will their Bush Derangement Syndrome extend to the next President of the United States if he is a Republican?

7) Jeb Bush candidacy in 2012 - I for one am a tad tired of the whole Clinton - Bush thing. You mean to tell me that in a country of almost 400,000,000, there aren't more than two families who can put people up to run effectively for president? This will go doubly true if Hillary wins the White House in Nov 08.

8) Illegal Immigration - still a major problem, still nothing done. Simple, step - shut the damn border down (like any other country on the face of the earth). Set up plenty of legal ports of entry. Guest worker program or expand the current visa programs. Then deal with addressing those currently in country.

9) Taxes - something has got to be done to streamline the US Tax code. Flat tax, consumption tax, whatever. Real progress has to be made on this issue

10) US Debt - something has GOT to be done. The budget has got to be set so there can be some debt relief, and soon. Attention US government, if you do not have the revenue for a program, cut the damn program. If the debt went down, the rest of the world might stop their flight from the US dollar which is making it more expensive for every American to live. If the American economy collapses, then the world economy isn't going to do that much better.

Here's a plan:
After Bush's tax cuts, US federal revenue is around $2,000,000,000,000 per year. Decide that the US government will spend $600,000,000,000 on debt reduction, cap expenditures on defense at $500,000,000,000, spend $600,000,000,000 on Social Security, and run the rest of the government on $300,000,000,000. No more deficits. If some bureaucrats have to lose their jobs, sorry. I'd also incentivize budget reduction inside the federal government. Let's say a manager of a department in the Health and Human Services department can figure out a way to reduce his budget by $2,000,000 per year, while still doing the department's job. I'd throw that bureaucrat a bonus of 1% of the savings - that's $20,000 he gets - tax free.

Somethings got to give - I just hope it's the debt and not the overall American economy.

Well, that's all I've got at the moment. Thanks for reading this today.

Crazed American, out.

Almost a month

2007-11-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

Since my last post.

Fear not, loyal reader(s). The Crazed American toils mightily at for a new employer.

So far, this Crazed American is far happier than at the previous employer. I actually have been able to shut my cell phone off at night. This, alone is fabulous.

Also, I volunteered to come in this Saturday to swap out a UPS on our corporate core switches. They suggested that I not trouble myself, and wait until Monday, during business hours. Huzzah!

I'm still going to do it on Saturday, Mrs. Crazed American and the Little Crazed American have an appointment, so I can come in and do it.

Should only take 5 minutes (knock on wood). We'll see...

By the way, the Crazed American will try to discourse on the state of world affairs sometime this weekend, although Brother Moose is planning a bash at his new casa on Saturday afternoon, so we shall see.

Also, the Crazed American plans on offering to Crom this weekend, in the hopes that he deigns to drop us some white stuff (snow) on the Mountain Redoubt this weekend. I will be sad if I do not have to shovel the driveway this weekend.

Also, happy Veteran's Day - early!

Crazed American, out.

So I've been a litle slow...

2007-10-14T08:43:00.000-06:00

...in posting. But my typical 20 minutes of free time on Sunday mornings gives me a chance to put a few lines down.

Things that have been hoovering up all of my free time:
1) Getting a new job (start next Monday)
2) Wrapping things up with the old employer
3) Getting ready for ski season
4) Trying to be an attentive husband and Dad (that take up a shocking amount of time)
5) spending a few moments every so often sitting on the new "Negative Energy Zone" (new sectional sofa)

Been asked quite a lot by my current co-workers why I am leaving the employ of my current employer. To which I respond, "More money, every other Monday off, employer provided ski pass with powder mornings and lunch runs, career advancement opportunities, can ride my bike to work, and I don't have to spend two weeks in Vegas every May".

To which they reply, almost to a man, "Your new job still hiring?"

I will begin working for a small company soon, I have already let them know of a trip in a few weeks to Vegas (not my idea, but still should be fun, as I plan to do little but lavish attention on Mrs. Crazed American, sit by the pool and read some books), and a visit by the Crazed American's oldest friend, and original blog reader, I'm a World Traveler....

A visit, for which I am more than slightly stoked.

I shall reintroduce my oldest friend to the glories of winter sports (he has never skied on shaped skis before...). I shall endeavor to get my liver into some semblance of shape. Needless to say, we may do just a "little" bit of drinking...

I am also going to do my da-nedest to make winter sports pleasant for the new bride of Mr. World Traveler. My reasoning is (I have proof that this works) if I make it more enjoyable for her, the two of them will make it a habit to come on out. A win-win for everybody!

I will try to post more, as this coming week I just have loose ends at current employer to tie up. After that, I will have to spend quite a bit of time making a good impression on new employer. Then ski season starts...

So - we'll see

Crazed American, out.

Heath Care / $$$

2007-09-24T12:58:00.000-06:00

For all of my loyal readers (I think we're back down to two) I have found an excellent treatise on the state of "health care" in America.

http://jewishworldreview.com/0907/steyn092407.php3

Mark Steyn really nails it.

I reall liked this bit:
That last category is the one to watch: Americans 18-34 account for 18 million of the army of the "uninsured." Look, there's a 22-year-old, and he doesn't have health insurance! Oh, the horror and the shame! What an indictment of America!

And this:
So, out of 45 million uninsured Americans, 9 million aren't American, 9 million are insured, 18 million are young and healthy. And the rest of these poor helpless waifs trapped in Uninsured Hell waiting for Hillary to rescue them are, in fact, wealthier than the general population. According to the Census Bureau's August 2006 report on "Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage," 37 percent of those without health insurance — that's 17 million people — come from households earning more than $50,000. Nineteen percent — 8.7 million people — of those downtrodden paupers crushed by the brutal inequities of capitalism come from households earning more than $75,000.

Someone in our goverment not telling us the truth?!? LEaving out the details of statistics that their entire program is based on? Say it ain't so.

Socialism has never worked when it has been tried. National Socialism in Germany was by no means a model. (sorry, the Nazis were socialists - not "right wingers") Neither was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics a standard to look to. Medical care has moments of nightmarishness in Socialist countries (i.e. Britian and Canada).

The American system is by no means perfect - true we have some issues - but it's a damn sight better than having the US government getting more involved. By the way, if you are sick and go to an emergency room - you will get treated. Period. End of story. All Americans have 24-7 access to health care. It may not be cheap, it sure as hell ain't free to the American Taxpayer, but odds are you won't be left in the waiting room for weeks to die.

As a certain Presidential Candidate (that the Crazed American is definitely trending towards) said (I'm paraphrasing):

Any government powerful enough to do anything for you, is certainly powerful enough to do anything TO you.

Also, if we do go with some mandatory health care system - just how in the name of Mr. Jesus H. Christ can we expect to pay for it? HillaryCare is listed at $110 Billion a year (That's $110,000,000,000). It's a federal program. There's no way in my flag-waving mind that I can imagine that to: A) not go up even before it's implemented, and B) Not increase by 3-5% per year. In ten years we're lookign at over $150,000,000,000 per year. Twenty years out, national health care will cost (at a conservative guess) of ONE QUARTER OF A TRILLION DOLLARS per anum. Just to see the number of zeros: $250,000,000,000. Why not just give ever man, woman and child in the US $1,000 annually? Do my taxes get to go up over a thousand dollars in a year, every year?

I for one don't think it rational to bankrupt my child and for that matter my child's children's children just to satisfy some American's belief that Health Care is a right (not one listed in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, but who is counting?).

Freedom is what made this country great. Freedom to belive in what you want, to do what you want, to suceed and to fail. It's the freedom to do what you want.

Keep in mind that Congress currently has to extend our debt limit by $850,000,000,000 within the next couple of weeks. That's just to pay the interest on what debt we already have. Befiore some of you immediately have a knee jerk reaction and say that it's all Bush's fault, keep in mind that if Congress actually paid attention to control spending, and corruption and waste, we might be a tad better off. 'Cause right now we are looking at $10,000,000,000,000 in debt. All of the government is at fault. All of them are equally to blame.

So I'm going to have to go to a goverment decided doctor or not be able to work.
I'm going to have a crippling tax bill. (probably won't be able to avoid that one)
I can be prosecuted for ThoughtCrime. (already happened)
I will be told what to eat, and drink (food rationing) to keep me "healthy"
I will have my electricity and gasoline rationed for the good of the (you don't think that'll happen? What d'ya think will happen if someone like minded to Al Gore takes office with a like minded Congress?)
I'll be under constant surveilence, electronic and visual (already happened)
I'll have my water rationed (I live in the west)
How else would it be different from living in a socialist oligarchic utopia?
What else am I forgetting?

Where's the reset button?

WTF, over?

2007-09-19T09:48:00.000-06:00

So I haven’t been real consistent about the whole “regular posting” thing.

But this one moved me to get a typin’!

(via http://wizbangblog.com/)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2461421.ece

So, lemme get this straight…

Little while back the Syrians complained that Israel over flew their airspace.

Then it be came known that Israel did, indeed over fly Syrian airspace. Also, the Israelis admitted to dropping fuel tanks.

Then it leaked out and has become known that, OK, we didn’t drop fuel tanks, we dropped earth penetrating laser and satellite guided bombs, that were probably guided in by Israeli commandos who were inside Syria.

Against a Syrian / Iranian / North Korean NUCLEAR WEAPONS LAB, in Syria.

The Israelis are acting like it’s no big deal. They Syrians, and their brand spanking new Russian Air Defense Network that just got installed, aren’t screaming about it. Estimates are that around 100 people, Syrians and North Koreans, were turned into chunky salsa by the attack.

Yet this gets almost no coverage in the American media?

When the Crazed American heard ‘bout all of this, he spilled his coffee.

???

Hello? Anyone?

WTF?

I ask why is there no coverage of:
1) an illicit Nuclear Weapons Program by the Syrians and North Koreans
2) an Israeli military operation to eliminate a “clear and present danger”
3) Russian made (Syrian Operated) Air Defenses suck
4) Israeli ground attack pilots still have what it takes
5) Was this a dress rehearsal for a strike against Iranian nuke ops?
6) Any comment from the Honorable Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D – California) for giving aid and comfort to a country (anyone remember her much lauded visit to Syria, a while back) that was either developing, or storing offensive nuclear material?
7) Anyone think that if we looked in Syria we might find a bunch of Chemical and Bio Weapons with Iraqi manufacturing and date codes from the late 80’s to late 90’s? I mean if they were willing to possibly store stuff for the North Koreans, you mean to tell me that they wouldn’t do the same for a fellow Baathist (the Late Saddam Hussein Al- Tikriti)?!?

Most importantly – why has there been such a silence about this? Normally there’d be UN condemnation, protests in the street in Damascus, Gaza and Tehran, and a bevy of American politicans decrying such a blatantly hostile act. But now – nothing?

Me thinks the Syrians and North Koreans (and our Speaker of the House, sadly) are scared that the Israelis may have one thing that seriously put a hole into their plans – evidence and / or prisoners.

Way to go Israel. The Crazed American tips his hat to you…

Sunday AM Gun Control Post

2007-09-09T08:12:00.000-06:00

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article2409817.ece

Even the British are starting to wonder if their "enlightened" gun control policy is so "enlightened".

Many thanks to Instapundit.

It's is now official...

2007-09-06T08:55:00.000-06:00

Fred Thompson is running for President...

Video of the announcement of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NzE0ZWU2NGVlMWE2ZGU5Yzk2MDEwOWQ1ZjUxOTAwNWY=

Right now, the Crazed American is on the Thompson bandwagon. If, for no other reason than what the commentator Jim Geraghty (http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NWM2MTQ5Y2ZkNzNiMjk1OThjZTZkOGE2MTZmZDcwMmQ=) said:

"Is it just me, or does Thompson come across as a guy who just doesn't give enough of a hoot to pander? There was nothing artificial about him, nothing prepackaged. Not only does he not smell of desperate effort to be liked by the audience, he seems like he's equally happy with winning or with going home to a happy life with Jeri, the kids, and playing an authority figure in whatever upcoming television project Dick Wolf has. This does not seem like a man who will flip-flop depending on political winds; if you don't like him... he really doesn't seem to care."

This is why the Crazed American likes him. He does not give the impression of being hungry for power. He does seem to share the Crazed American's devotion to the Constitution of the US of A. He seems to love this country and it's people, and it's traditions.

For your consideration: Fred on Federalism: http://www.fred08.com/Principles/PrinciplesSummary.aspx?View=Federalism

Finally - someone who understands what Federalism should be!
Huzzah!

Time will indeed tell. The Crazed American will carry this man's water until he gives me a reason not to. It is still really early in any normal campaign season.

But, ultimately the Crazed American wants all other Americans to do the smart thing... I just want people to spend a little bit of time, and read up on the candidates, and vote your conscience. Just vote for someone who might actually represent you...

Crazed American, out.

My name is the Crazed American...

2007-08-31T13:16:00.000-06:00

...I was a HALO: Combat Evolved junkie.

Operative work was, "WAS".

Albeit in the easiest of modes, I completed the game. Kicked the tail of the Covenant and the Flood.

Cool game. Still wondering if Larry Niven got anything for that game...

I'll try to post a little more frequently - at least until ski season kicks off - middle Novemeber.

Crazed American, out.

Monday Morning Patriotic Shot-in-the-arm

2007-08-13T09:05:00.000-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBflQLa75C8

Via Ace of Spades (http://ace.mu.nu/archives/236884.php) and "And Still I Persist" (http://and-still-i-persist.com/?p=332)

American War Poetry.

Good Monday Morning!