Someone got new shoes ...

“Wizard Of Oz” Fan Offers $1 Million Reward For Stolen Ruby-Red Slippers An anonymous donor offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of ruby-red slippers Judy Garland wore in the iconic movie, which were stolen a decade ago from a museum in her Minnesota hometown. Miss Cankles Stole Them Ahem (ROLLOVER)

KKK v SCOTUS

Do you know ...

retooling

BANG Well, this here Windows 8 got so corrupted that I haven't been able to update for months and as a result everything is molasses slow. In a pique I just went ahead and wiped the slate clean.  That's where I'm at.  Sitting here in the woods with nothing.  And without any real interest in jumping through all those hoops.  I thought I'd backed everything up with DXMXL- it said I did-but now it shows "empty file." Crap

Mountain Gas

DIY         This is just the g'damdist thing I ever seed!   I just stumbled upon Mountain Men—this episode.  The whole thing is so compelling that I'm recording the series, and watched 5 yesterday. But here's what blew my mind.  The gasifier.  Here's what blows my mind more: Wood gasifiers can power either spark ignition engines, where 100% of the normal fuel can be replaced with little change to the carburation, or in a diesel engine, feeding the gas into the air inlet that is modified to have a throttle valve, if it didn't have it already. On diesel engines the diesel fuel is still needed to ignite the gas mixture, so a mechanically regulated diesel engine's "stop" linkage and probably "throttle" linkage must be modified to always give the engine a little bit of injected fuel (Often under the standard idle per-injection volume). Wood can be used to power cars with ordinary internal combustion engines if a wood gasifier is attached. This was quite popular during World War II in several European, African and Asian countries because the war prevented easy and cost-effective access to oil. In more recent times, wood gas has been suggested as a clean and efficient method to heat and cook in developing countries, or even to produce electricity when combined with an internal combustion engine. (Wikipedia) How the hell did I live this long without even hearing about this?  Or, even worse, what if it turns out that I once built one myself?  Ahem. I'll guess that a goodly number of you were way ahead of me on the gasifier, and on Mountain Men too.  All the characters are something else, but Tom is the one who fills me with the most wonderment about his skill and determination.  And he lives with a good woman, too.  I think RAK could qualify for inclusion in this series.

Yay! Hippies .... nevermind

"If you're trying to change minds and influence people it's probably not a good idea to say that virtually all elected Democrats are liars, but what the hell." TRKOF

The Death of Hippies The Death of Hippies The liars at ATLANTIC bait-&-switch'd me with thier Death of Hippies title.  No hippies died.  Just a metaphorical paean to cancer cells who became school teachers, elected San Francisco Supervisors, or drug dealers.  Where were the hoped-for tanks, gunships and napalm on Haight Street?  Don't bother looking. Sheesh.

Three Things

Three things from yesterday's dump ... The Drudge link dump below portends new depths of depravity and lawlessness have been reached. Three of them uber smacked me. 1)  "DC Residents Say Take Down Jefferson Memorial, Rename Washington..." CNN anchor Don Lemon recently floated the idea of re-thinking the Jefferson Memorial, dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, since he was a slave owner.“There may come a day when we want to re-think Jefferson, I don’t know if we should do that, but when we get to that point, I’ll be happy to partake in that particular discussion,” Lemon said. You've already raced back to Obama's 2008 promise to remake America, haven't you?   And connected to his policy of cultural Helter Skelter.  But did any of us expect, really, that the national debate could ever plumb these depths?  But, this is a government that sued states for enforcing federal immigration law!  If they can sell that mindset, they can sell anything, including the notion that our founders were white European racist mof'rs whose ideas are passé. 2)  Army to cut 40,000 troops...  Hmmmm. Obama  fires scores of flag officers and other high ranking leaders.   Obama's historic defense cuts spell disaster Obama’s Private Army: Militarizing the Federal Agencies Gee, did the Army have 40,000 troops left to cut?   The unthinkable reality of it all.  Extrapolate. 3) "Biker gangs reaching out to former military members." That I missed including this in yesterday's list, but still went to it,  means I saw some unusual significance. The "outlaw biker" movement began when returning WWII veterans. who'd ridden bikes in the war, took to the road.  The 1953 movie, "Wild One" focused on outlaw motorcycle gang violence, and became the model for a boomlet of outlaw biker clubs.  Now, these bikers may be lawless drug dealers, killers, and defilers of women, but they do tend to be patriotic, maybe because of their founding fathers own patriotism.   So, I can write a script where bikers evolve into future ad hoc militia (see Red Dawn Wolverines).  There's a book here.

Now Serving ...

Six-times deported illegal charged in felony hit-and-run...
High on pot...
Young children hospitalized...
PREVIOUSLY DEPORTED ILLEGAL CHARGED WITH BURNING WOMAN, SON...
GOP to go after 'sanctuary cities'...
REPORT:More Than 347,000 Convicted Criminal Immigrants At Large In USA...
CDC official called Obama 'Marxist,' 'amateur' over border surge...
POLICE DENY BRUTAL BEATING OF WHITE MAN BY BLACK MOB WAS RACIALLY MOTIVATED...

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Man killed in savage stabbing on DC Metro in front of July 4th tourists...
DC Residents Say Take Down Jefferson Memorial, Rename Washington...
'Infectious disease pouring across border'...
U.S. Army to cut 40,000 troops...
Russian Bombers Intercepted Off CA Coast...
Moscow 'superweapon' switches off foreign satellites...

Waterloo Deax

Reenacting Waterloo skoonj

Sleep;No

Today's Mahjong Index of Brainal Power Operating on 4  cylinders >>Operating on -5 cylinders<< Operating on 4 silanders Operating on 2 slinders Operating on ... Oh, look!  A fly.

This Just In: π=1 c flour+1 stick butter+water+stuff

Engineered Chicken Skin

FOOD

Engineered Chicken Skin! Louisiana Fish Fry is terrific stuff.  If you'll remember, my sou vide project led me to discover an old electric fry pan, unused and forgotten after 20 years.  So when I saw those seafood seasonings I tried some on fish. Fried 'em in that skillet.  Absolute amazing taste.  Splatter free; almost no clean-up; controlled oil temperature.   Yesterday, the family requested BBQ chicken for dinner, so while they frolicked in the sun I thawed some Purdue skinless thighs.  The outdoor grill is broken, so I was going to oven bake; brush on the Sweet Baby Rays; then broil to a fine turn.  But wait! We loved the fish because the crust is exquisite; and because of the even heat every piece is the same.  That's when the magic happened. What if I did the skinless thighs the same way?  So I did. And I was right!  This chicken is good.  The crispy finish emulates fried chicken skin crunch, which is maybe the most delicious thing in the universe after bacon.  It was so good that, before I brushed them with sauce, as per plan, I tested one piece in the oven.  The sauce goo'ed up, and the result was nowhere near as good.  I offered it as a dipping sauce, but nobody bothered.  It was oohs-and ahs from the get-go. Afterwards, they hoisted me on shoulders, and paraded me around the yard before tossing me in a blanket.  That's how I'll  remember it.  Best invention ever.  You're welcome.

ICE COLD

GREEN NAZIS                                     Cool! Antarctica From Space.. Cool picture, wot?  But oh-no—and this is why we can't enjoy nice things anymore before some public gadfly tells us why we really shouldn't be happy. Here Al Gore compares satellite pictures of Antarctica taken in 1875 and 2015 to demonstrate how the Earth's atmosphere has been eaten away by aerosol sprays, cow farts and auto exhaustion, causing this extreme meltiness. Oprah is astounded. So are we—at why nobody throws these harpies  down a volcano.

WORLD CUP TO USA!

WORLD CHAMPS    The yesterday's Women's World Cup championship game against Japan was all over in 15 miutes.  USA came out to one of the most incredible starts I’ve ever witnessed in any sporting event, and it won them the game. Or Carli Lloyd won them the game. We knew she was that old cliche, a big game player. But we didn’t know she was that good. Take away her goals, and it was a pretty even game - and the second-half in particular was a more balanced affair. But then USA didn’t need to be particularly good in the second period - because they had Lloyd. (The Guardian) Lloyd scored three times, the first hat-trick in a women's final.  Ever. But it was Lloyd's third shot that blew my mind.  How do you score from midfield in a cup final?  Japan's goalie was cheating too far out,  and without thinking Lloyd just drilled it over her head. All this after just 15 minutes, and the game was over, allowing us to spend the remaining 75 minutes watching  number 13's (Alex Morgan, wearing the skin uniform))  amazing athleticism.  USA USA USA!

No Evil Here Boss

Roller Skate Tap Dance

art is everywhere

Gene Kelly Tap Dancing in Roller Skates This man was so good at his craft that he can even tap dance wearing .. whatcahmacallits from the 1955 MGM film, "It's Always Fair Weather".  Don "Twinkle Toes" M

I am soooooo offended

This Flag Offends Me Tommy Mann-Act

Tough Hole

What U See

But no sand trap! What I See (roll-over)

It's Twue

Unplugged

Both Winners

Once upon a time .....

Weenies Burn Flag .. Bikers Ensue

When there was still time to jail the Clintons

STRIKE EAGLE

Hate Speech My Ass

Liberal Culture                    I HATE YOUR GUTS

I don't have to comment on this obscenity, not in this forum.  But it did set me to thinking about how freedom of speech, guaranteed by the First Amendment to our Constitution, has eroded.  The very first time my alarm bell went off, as I remember, was reading about what was happening at U. Wisconsin. 1988  As Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Under her chancellorship and with her support, the University adopted a broad speech code subjecting students to disciplinary action for communications that were perceived as hate speech. That speech code was later found unconstitutional by a federal judge. Also while chancellor, Shalala supported passage of a revised faculty speech code broadly restricting "harmful" speech in both "noninstructional" and "instructional" settings. The faculty speech code was abolished ten years later, after a number of professors were investigated for alleged or suspected violations.[Wikipedia] A 1992 (Liberal) Baltimore Sun editorial—Donna Shalala's deadly intentions—sounded the alarm. WITH the United States about to mainline the addictive narcotic of a government-administered health-care system, we should look at the person who will stick that rusty old needle into the bulging vein of our national body politic. Donna Shalala has been nominated to head the $590 billion-per-year Department of Health and Human Services. In his best-selling book, "Illiberal Education," Dinesh D'Souza detailed the cult of political correctness Ms. Shalala, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, has fostered. In place of scholarship and teaching, she demanded "a basic transformation of American higher education in the name of multiculturalism and diversity." As head of HHS, Ms. Shalala will be deeply involved in the divisive issues of race and sex in America. Yet she has revealed: "I would plead guilty to both racism and sexism. The university is institutionally racist. American society is racist and sexist. Covert racism is just as bad today as overt racism was 30 years ago. . . Soon she could be in a position to impose her own radical ideas on us. Indeed, her very emphasis on "covert racism" -- what people think -- is tinged with Orwellian overtones of a national Thought Police. Now, the left have successfully insinuated the new crime of hate speech into the culture.  The Washington Post recently printed Eugene Volokh's "No, there’s no “hate speech” exception to the First Amendment." He allows this distinction. Indeed, threatening to kill someone because he’s black (or white), or intentionally inciting someone to a likely and immediate attack on someone because he’s Muslim (or Christian or Jewish), can be made a crime. But this isn’t because it’s “hate speech”; it’s because it’s illegal to make true threats and incite imminent crimes against anyone and for any reason, for instance because they are police officers or capitalists or just someone who is sleeping with the speaker’s ex-girlfriend. UC Santa Cruz provides an interactive quiz on differentiating betwixt Hate Crime  & Bias.  Example: 6. During a demonstration protesting Israeli policies towards Palestinians, a large rock is thrown through a glass window of the campus Hillel building. The answer : Hate Crime.  Bullshit!   It's a crime already covered by statute. There can be no reason for creating a parallel crime of hate then to allow a subculture to end run the First Amendment.  End of Story. They should be shot.

Gone Fishin'

A girl in dis dress

Is there a story here?  Of course there is.

Avast!

Air in-Money out

s--t hits  fan Thirty-one years ago this month we bought a Lennox furnace and air conditioner.  In that time the A/C was serviced once (freon), and the furnace once (blower motor).  Thirty-one years.  Bound to happen, then. The A/C water pan rusted out and water was leaking all over.  At the same time, and while our water heater was showing no sign of malfunction (they don't), MoSup was afraid that after 20+  years it would, and wanted it replaced.  All at once.  Of course we went with Lennox again, and wouldn't you know, the Vivint Solar people picked that day to install the solar panel electric.  We had 5 Scardina and 2 Vivint trucks outside, and god knows how many worker men in the basement, bumping into one another.  Took 13 hours, but all we need now is the county solar 'lectic inspection sign-off, and then a BGE meter installed, and our electric is free. So to speak.  On top of that, we are assured that the new HVAC system will cut our electricity bill in half, and it's good thing since this stuff has all doubled in price (water heater tripled) since last installed.  What I like is the Lennox wi-fi thermostat control panel.  It allows me to—you name it;  like watch daily power consumption, and the ability to set all the heat/cool parameters on the computer instead of hunching over a control screen trying to get fat fingers hitting the right numbers.  And best of all- we will never have to buy another system.  Oh, wait.  Oh my.  First time I actually thought in those terms.  Yay! We win.

Mawage

THE Manhattan Battleship Project

The USS RECRUIT

"The equipment is that of the up-to-the-minute dreadnought with accommodations on board for day and night life of officers and men." -POPULAR SCIENCE, AUG. 1917 Did the Indians used this battle ship to defeat Custer at Little Big? Horn! As a recruiting tool the ship was very successful, helping to recruit 25,000 men into the U.S. Navy. The First World War ended in 1918, and by 1920 the Recruit was no longer needed in Union Square. It was properly decommissioned and dismantled, with the intention of relocating it to Coney Island's Luna Park. This did not happen and the fate of the Recruit is unknown.* *If you check the roll-over, it appears that—like with Iran today—the government gave it to the Sioux Nation who used it to win at the Little Bog Horn?!? I am astounded and gob-smacked that—in this time where cable televison's 758 channels devote 24/7 to history and the miltary!—that I have lived approx. 97 years without having had so much as an inkle about this Union Square battleship.  Full props to Ron Metzgercan Hat Dance for finding it for us.  He wrote: It's news to me, too. The reason is most of my NYC stays are at a hotel a block from Union Square. Many of the buildings in these 95+-year-old photos are still there. And, in one of the 'battleship' photos, a statue of Lafayette is in the foreground. It's still there, too. PS The appearance of this 'battleship' is much like the original appearance of USS Arizona, built at Brooklyn Navy Yard and launched in 1915 And horry clap; look!  The Navy was the pioneer Gays in the Military service!  Who knew?  Many more pics here.