Don't know much about history

George Washington is famous for many things. Yet it's safe to say few know the nation's founding father created a recipe for beer.  The New York Public Library, which owns the recipe, announced on Wednesday that it was partnering with Coney Island Brewing Company in Brooklyn to re-create the brew.

Move over Sam Adams!

Swaddling Suburban Students

The internet is flooded with stories and opinion pieces about the death of Bin Laden.  You cannot help but marvel at the variety of reactions to the event.  While scanning one such article I read about the participants in a Rutgers University program which chronicles the experiences of the children of 9/11 victims.  I think that the project is admirable.  But on reading the comments of some of the students who are making this project possible it occurs to me that perhaps two years of compulsory military service [or a pacifist equivalent for those who conscientiously object] is not a bad idea. 

What brings me to this conclusion is the comments made by university students in this CNN piece.  "I don't like the concept of 'celebrating' death," "Killing bin Laden does not bring back the lives of all those lost on 9/11. I think it teaches the encouragement of death. But death is not the answer."  I feel bad for this student.  And sadly, this is the result of twenty years of suburban privilege.

I do not pretend to know this young lady and maybe she struggled out of the crippling grip of some urban ghetto to pursue her academic dreams at New Jersey’s leading university.  But more likely she is the product of a comfortable middle class upbringing where her parents [rightfully] did their collective best to guard her from the ugliness of the world.  But sadly, they [and I to my children] have left them with a very unrealistic view of the world.

We are all lucky to live in the greatest country in the world.  But sometimes we forget that the price of that luck [or Divine Providence] is that there are many out there in the cruel world who would destroy us just because of who we are or what our country stands for. 

But there is an ongoing cost for that freedom.  And it is paid for every day by the members of our Armed Forces.  Through the risk of life and limb and extended separations from those that they love they shield the rest of us from those who would do us harm.  Frankly, I think that they take these brave men and women for granted.  Perhaps protecting our country while serving overseas, or rebuilding it from within will orient them to what really is at stake.  And develop in them the understanding of what a truly special gift our citizenship is.

The shield we build around our kids is making them vulnerable and by extension making our country vulnerable in years to come.  They need to understand that those who took to the streets to celebrate the elimination of Bin Laden did so not to encourage or celebrate death.  The outpouring of joy was that another major player in the war against our country was removed.  Great progress was made in dismantling his terror organization.  And maybe, just maybe, one more brave soldier will be able to come home in one piece because of his death.  That is why we celebrate. 

The tail has now been tucked

After allowing the country twenty four hours to feel proud once more the administration has now reverted to its habit of apologizing to the rest of the world for our very existence.  As the various rodents from third world back waters begin to express their complaints that the corpse of the murderer Bin Laden was buried at sea, our government is beginning to back pedal.  As one who appreciates history I wonder how Harry Truman would have reacted to pockets of German culture that wanted to have Hitler buried in an appropriate Teutonic Rite.  I wish these people in the West Wing would just "man up" and stop letting people push us around.  Might I suggest the following as an appropriate response?

Letting it Flow

It is gratifying to know that Osama Bin Laden is no longer a threat to the country that we love.  In many respects I am jealous of the highly trained sailor from Seal Team Six that was implement the finer points of US foreign policy by putting a high velocity round through his head.  Suffice to say, I will be happy to take a gander at the photos if the White House can get over its collective squeamishness and make them public.  Why is it that there is no issue with repeatedly running footage of three thousand Americans dying in as the towers burned and fell yet we must engage in debate over proving to the world that the murderer who facilitated the attack is truly done?

More disturbing is the way this situation is playing out in the media.  A few points to ponder.  While it is nice to know that the President gave the order to conduct this operation, let us give credit where it truly is due.  To the members of our highly professional and dedicated armed services, well done.  Especially to the members of Seal Team Six who are credited by the administration, albeit obliquely, with sending that pig to his final judgment.

As to taking the high road and disposing of his carcass at sea in accordance with his religious beliefs, I am in agreement with Don Imus’s assertion that his body should have been wrapped in bacon and buried at ground zero. 

Clearly Pakistan knew he was there.  So a big “go screw yourself” is due to Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf who whined about the sovereignty of his backwater third world dump of a country being violated.  How about we shut off the free flowing tap of foreign aid to them for a decade or so and let them truly enjoy their sovereign rights.  

Speaking of free flowing, is it just me or is the rest of the world tired of the free flow of drivel spewing non-stop from the pie hole of Michael Moore who tweeted "Now that bin Laden's dead, can we put shampoo in our carry on?"  Could he possibly be that stupid?  If his next Krispy Kreme was at risk he might be a bit more careful about securing American airports. 

Not two hours ago I was speaking with my friend Big Irish who as a Port Authority of NY and NJ Officer lost many dear friends on September 11^th.  He was happy Bin Laden is dead.  But as he put it “all of my friends are still dead, what did it change?”  He is right, nothing changed other than quality, breathable air (if there is any in Pakistan) is not being wasted on the likes of him. 

The best revenge we can have as a country is to live well and succeed.  To do that we need to fix the problems we are facing today.  As Rush Limbaugh said earlier this afternoon, “a loaf of bread and a tank of gas still cost what they cost”.  The Obama administration should be entitled to twenty four hours of self congratulatory back slapping.  But then it is time to lower taxes, control spending on entitlement programs, drill for domestic oil, and generally stop farting around with this silly experiment in socialism.  And if the Republicans don’t get their act together soon and get us a real candidate soon, I may just scream.

That felt good.  It’s nice to be back.

Updating................

I was almost shocked to see how much time has passed since my last post.  And since logging in through blogspot and poking around it is apparent that it is time for a change.  Thus, in the next few weeks I will be obtaining my own little spot on the web in order to be able to make this space a bit more "me". 

So, I have begun to explore the world of wordpress and will be registering a domain name in the next week or so.  Until then, thanks for checking in from time to time during my absence.  Tell your friends, Dirty Copper lives!

Testing 1,2,3

Guess this still works. Preparing to make my return. For those of you who have checked in from time to time, your patience will be rewarded soon. Best regards, DC

Interesting business model

Recklessly run the country toward socialist oblivion causing conservatives to drink more, chain smoke while plotting our vast right wing conspiracy, and buy guns to bury in the backyard, all to fund the mounting federal debt. Problem is if we got that nervous.....well. Read about it here.

Do it right now

Visit my colleague at the Digital Hairshirt. Abandoning commentary for the summer months Stephanie Richer has taken to posting photos from her amazing collection. Go. Now. Be amazed. And tell her the Dirty Copper sent you.

One of his Brides

When referring to women religious we Catholics often refer to them as Brides of Christ. Our tradition teaches that these dedicated women forgo marriage and submit themselves totally to Jesus. This clip, which I found at the most excellent Orbis Catholicus Secondus, is of Miss Mary Anne Marks speaking at her Harvard commencement. What is amazing is that this brilliant, articulate woman delivers her speech in Latin in a manner that led me to imagine myself standing in ancient Rome listening to a cultured woman give an address. Even more amazing is that despite having the capability to successfully pursue any professional path, she is entering the convent. Even though you may only understand a word or two take a minute to enjoy her speech and appreciate how she chose God above everything else.

Maybe it wasn't John Wilkes Boothe after all

I am simply in love with the latest Geico commercials.  It is nice when advertisers don't assume that we are all stupid.


They said after Abe's death she was never the same again. Maybe it all started a few days earlier than anyone realized.

Looks like we will have to buy a few more sets of Rosetta Stone

TRENTON — Police in New Jersey must explain the state's implied consent law to motorists in a language that they understand, the state Supreme Court ruled on Monday.
In a 4-3 decision, the court overturned a conviction for refusing to take an alcohol breath test because the man, who spoke only Spanish, did not understand the consequences.
The court found that a Plainfield police officer failed to inform German Marquez, who is from El Salvador, in Spanish that he would automatically lose his driver's license for seven months if he refused the test.

Funny, they had no problem reading the phone book to find a lawyer to represent them.  You can read the rest of the story about another fine job by the Supreme Court of the People's Republic of New Jersey here.

And I thought that it was idiots that carried the day

The six-month election recount that turned former "Saturday Night Live" comedian Al Franken into a U.S. senator may have been decided by convicted felons who voted illegally in Minnesota's Twin Cities.  Go figure.  The rest here.