Perpetual Outrage Culture

President Trump has struck a nerve on the left.  Actually, he's done more than that - he's triggered a level of perpetual outrage that shows no signs of abating.  The reaction has been one of marches, flag burnings, threats on his life, and post after post of petulant howls from all corners of social media.

The result is a nearly constant din of outrage, and it is an outrage that continues its motion with each move by Trump.  It will continue!  Mark my words - with the announcement of his proposed appointment for Supreme Court Justice later today, we will continue to hear uproars, cries, and the obligatory comparisons to Adolf Hitler.

Indeed, the constant din will continue - day after day, decision after decision.  Any just like any constant din, it will soon be rendered white noise; inaudible and ignored.

Hooters Angel Shot - A Literal Lifeline

It isn't often that you'd consider Hooters as a friend of women, but in a couple of their bars they have this sign posted in the women's restroom:

This is a brilliant idea.  As an uncle to a couple of nieces that will soon (too soon) be old enough to be dating and attending such establishments, I think this is a fabulous idea.  I'd just like them to add one more:

Blended: Your uncle gets called and he shows up with a tire iron. 

Saturday Song Share: Neil Young and the Shocking Pinks - Wonderin'

The guy is nuts:

If I Could Talk - Yellow Dog Short Film

Kleenex warning...

Bass Boat Overboard Situation Filmed

In a recent bass tournament, the team from the University of Florida had the camera rolling as they were running to their first fishing spot.  Waters were very calm, and they were clearly rolling at better than 50MPH, which is a lot for the water.  As they moved to overtake another boat by manoeuvring through the slower boat's wake, disaster struck:


A couple of things to highlight:

• Think kill switches aren't important?  It clearly saved the boat in this circumstance, and perhaps saved these guys' lives as well.
• Ditto PFDs.  Thankfully these guys were wearing one, and that the PFDs worked as designed
• It is amazing to see the number of boats that passed these guys up when they clearly have been tossed out of their boat.  Is a tournament that important?  Seems to me that there should be a rule that disqualifies any team that refuses to render aid to another team in obvious need.

Boats continue to get bigger and bigger in terms of engines, and as this example shows, a simple hop of a wake can lead to disaster.

These guys are really lucky that things did not end up significantly worse.

DNC Debate Hates White People

Between Ashley Judd yesterday and this today, I am simply aghast at what I'm hearing from liberals.  This speech is nothing but unmitigated racism.  Notice how everyone laughs when Idaho is called "so white," and how they laugh when we have to be "schoolin' white people." 

Would the same ever be said about black people?  Of course not.  So then, please tell me, why in the world is it acceptable to be said for white people?  Oh, of course, it must be because of our "privilege,"  and we better be checking that privilege, right?

These are people who are vying for control over the Democratic National Committee.  These are leaders on the other side.

These are also abject racists.  

This should scare the living hell out of all of us, regardless of color:



My headline is DNC Debate Hates White People.  That's not hyperbole.  That is the honest to God truth.

Ashley Judd's Women March Speech

To answer my question of yesterday, it appears that this is why they were marching:


America should be really, really proud.

Trump Election Protests - Why, Exactly?

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets yesterday in protest of the election of Donald Trump as our 54th president.  What exactly they were looking to achieve remains completely unclear.

It appeared to be loosely based around women's rights, but there was a lot more going on than just that.  For the most part, women demanded that they be heard and that they are recognized, but for the life of me I can't understand why they felt marginalized simply due to an election that did not go their way. 

It is looking a lot like whenever there is a Republican president, folks feel the need to protest.  It's also looking like we're going to be seeing a lot more of this in our future.

I just wish I knew what they hell they wanted, other than an election do-over, of course.

Saturday Song Share: The Jam - Town Called Malice

Hard to believe this song is 35 years old.  Still sounds fresh to me.  Perhaps it is because it was so unique to anything else that was going on in 1982.  Perhaps I'm just bleeping old.

Regardless, enjoy:

Overheard In Green Bay

Last Sunday, I was completing my usher duties at mass, and was in the church office putting things away.  In the office with me were two older women who were selling discounted gift cards that the parish uses to raise funds.  In walked a woman looking to buy one, and this is how the dialog went down:

Parishioner: I'd like one hundred dollars for the Piggley Wiggley, please.

Old Woman #1: You want a hun-nert for da Pig?

Parishioner: Yes, please

Old Woman #1: A hun-nert for da Pig!

Old Woman #2: Ja!

Only in Green Bay...

Seva I Laky - Je T'aime

You really need to watch this.  It does get better as it goes on.

Enjoy:

Nike on How We Use Our Time

Despite the irony of using a digital message to question how much folks are engaging with digital message, this is a pretty good ad

Up Close and Personal With Heroin

Last Saturday I needed some things to help me clear the huge ice pack we have at the end of our driveway, so I drove to one of our closest stores to pick up some goods and to take advantage of my employee discount.  As usual, I parked at the end of the lot, as I don't want to take up good spaces for our customers, and I could always use some extra steps.

I opened my door to step out of my vehicle, and as I was swinging my leg outside, I pulled up as I was going to step in something.  That something was a bag of hypodermic needles (some used, some not), two spoons, and some cigarette butts.  Clearly a couple of folks felt the need to shoot up in our parking lot.

I shouldn't have been surprised - the latest trend in heroin use is to shoot up in a public locale as if you overdose, there's a chance someone will see you and call the paramedics.  Still, seeing something I had only seen on cop shows troubled me.

I carefully picked up the bag and brought it into the store, where I asked to see the head loss prevention person on duty.  He quickly came out, and I told him what I had and where I found it.  The good news about my company being so paranoid is that we have cameras everywhere, and we likely have the ability to see the license plate of the offending users.  Likewise, it would be great if they made the buy right there before they shot up, and maybe we can get two birds with one stone.

Hard to believe those kinds of hard drugs are here in suburban Green Bay.  It does appear that this heroin epidemic might be as bad as is being reported.  Scary.

Saturday Song Share: Whitesnake - Still of the Night

Some serious 80's hair metal.  I've always loved this song, particularly because of the transition to the strings at the 3:20 mark. 

Plus there is Tawny Kitaen:

Kid Gets Hockey Face-Wash

The smile on this kid's face at the end is priceless:

Hockey. Beer. Kiss Cam. What Could Go Wrong?

Yeah, I know it is likely staged, but it's still damned funny:

Why Trump Won

The behavior of liberals since the election has been something to marvel.  It has run the gamut of shock, to abject sorrow, to rage.  Some of my liberal friends, for the first time in their lives, are considering buying firearms.  Really.  These are the same folks that would lecture gun owners for the death and destruction they've wrought on our society a mere couple of months ago.  Now they're gung-ho to protect their rights.

Fast forward to the anti-Trump rallies being planned for his inauguration, and the anti-Trump rally that passed for the Golden Globes on Sunday night.  The left's over the top and outlandish reaction to it all is how they handle everything, from transgender rights to abortion to safe spaces to Black Lives Matter.  It too extreme, too confrontational, and too sanctimonious.

And it is precisely why Donald Trump won the election. 

The Best Thing Joe Biden Has Ever Done

The guy's political accomplishments are dubious at best, but he recently took a hanging curveball and knocked it clear out of the park.  As Obama is so fond of saying, "Don't mess with Joe.":

Mary at the Notre Dame Grotto

Those that have the fortune to visit the campus at Notre Dame are familiar with the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. A replication of the grotto from the one in France, it as great a touchstone of Notre Dame as any other landmark on a campus that is full of them.  On football weekends, one actually need to queue up for a kneeler from which to pray.  Likewise, every day at 6:30, the Rosary is said there; rain or shine.

A recent visitor to campus was there and snapped a photo when walking past.  Upon arriving home, they were amazed with what their camera had captured:

I'm not going to go into the long story as it is theirs to tell, and encourage you to read the blog post on the whole story.  

There are about a dozen explanations for what may have transpired at that grotto on that cold, snowy day.  Despite what is posited, I'd argue that our Holy Mother aligned things to remind us that she is with us as our constant advocate to her Son.  She is our path to Him, and she will not fail us.

Hail, Mary, full of grace!

Saturday Song Share: Foals - Black Gold

Very good live performance from a very good band.  A good 7 minute distraction.  

Yesterday's Millennial Moment

Me: What do you think of the news about the new CEO?

My Millennial Team Member: Meh

Me: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss," huh?

MMTM: What? 

Me: Yeah, you probably don't get that

MMTM: Wait, that's a song right?

Me: Right! Know which one?

MMTM: It's probably Springsteen. All you guys love Springsteen

White Bear Mitsubishi Gopher Commercial

Whoever the guy is in the bear suit, he's not being paid nearly enough:

Work to Do

The holidays really took their toll from a fitness standpoint.  It pretty much started with Thanksgiving and kept on a-rollin' all the way through the New Year.  Too many parties, too many dinners, and while I did OK in keeping up with the exercise, there was too much inbound to keep it all in check.

For me, the biggest issue is the drinking.  Not only do the excess calories from the alcohol come into play, but that is also when bad food choices are made.  Thus, for at least the start of the year, the bottle goes on the shelf and my butt gets to the gym.  

There is work to do in this New Year. 

Video Game Platform Redefines Couch Potato Players

Technology is moving incredibly quickly, and this is just a new iteration.  Given the physical limitations (and costs!) inherent in video gaming, this new platform could take gaming to a substantive physical fitness pursuit.  

New Year

2017 is coming in with an unmistakable note of time passing.  Family and friends are ageing before my eyes, and in some instances, suffering from horrible physical maladies.  Things are in flux, and not necessarily in a good way.  Though it all, I'm trying to understand the point.

Maybe that's the goal for 2017: clarity and understanding.

Regardless, the turning of the calendar page to a New Year affords one opportunity.  There is a great big 2017 in which to live and laugh and love.

Time to get ready for a good mix of all three.