Author: JD Pendry

Here we are. Christmas decorations are back in the box, but along with the decorations let us not put away the meaning and spirit of Christmas. That Chinese guy is undoubtedly laughing at me – again. He saw my gold glitter covered coveralls and imagined me trying to stuff his reindeer and sleigh back into the box from whence they came. They are in there, maybe slightly bent, folded, spindled and mutilated, but in there all the same.

I am trying to sort out which emotion to attach to what is before us. It could easily be anger or hopelessness. It could be fear. No matter, unless you are a survivalist living totally unconnected and off the grid, there is at least some anxiety.

I am not certain of which presidential contender will ultimately win my favor, but there is one thing I am dead certain about. If my choices are named Clinton or Sanders on one side and road kill on the other, I will vote for the road kill. It would leave us no worse off, maybe better, if the road kill just laid there like pavement pizza and did nothing. If nothing else, Americans are resilient. If left alone by government, it is common everyday Americans who will return our country to greatness.

I am not a political prognosticator and polls really irritate me. I cannot predict which contender will get the nomination. What I can see is that nothing is going to jive with the norm. If it did, there would be great big GOP group hug for either Jeb or little Marco. Just keep it in mind that the communists-liberals-progressives or whatever their accepted political label is these days, never easily concede power. Just recall hanging chads and 100 percent of a voting district choosing one candidate.

It is interesting to observe. Trump, if he contributes nothing else has demonstrated that Americans want to hear about the issues that establishment types double talk their way around out of fear they might offend one identity group or another. What he has brought out is that there are still many people who believe this is great country and who identify as Americans first. What he has shown with the Cruz birther angle is that at his core he is not much different from other politicians. Willing to stoop to whatever depth necessary to bring down an opponent. Something in which Cruz has elected to not participate.

I heard there was somewhat of a cabal in Iowa of Huckabee and other single digit candidates wanting to take Cruz out. It just reminded me of an episode here in Wild and Wonderful when Huckabee allied with McCain to take out Romney in the first go around and we all know how that turned out. McCain, the man who had a conniption fit when the future president’s full name was used at one of his campaign events. The same McCain that is now, amazingly enough, concerned about Cruz’s citizenship and eligibility. Disappointingly even Rand Paul joined the birther fray. It is insightful how these establishment politicians and some we thought for certain were not ally, even with the commies, to take out a candidate they fear. And Trump is right in there with them. I find that telling.

The polls and the word showed Cruz was wrapping up the evangelical vote. So Rubio practically turned into a preacher overnight. Even more of a preacher than Huckabee who allegedly is one. To me, Rubio’s monotone memorized speeches are wearing thin. Especially when his gang of 8 walk does not quite jive with the talk.

I will not discount anyone at this point although I have my druthers. When it becomes obvious to most of the pretenders that they have no chance, I expect Rubio to get the establishment nod and their collective endorsement.

Nothing much changes does it? Hillary or road kill? I am voting for the squashed possum.

© 2016 J. D. Pendry All Rights Reserved

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11 (NIV)

It started at the post office. Suzie-Q sent me out for stamps so we could mail out our annual bale of Christmas cards. Yes, we still do that. I was standing in line with a number of others attending to their Christmas postal needs. While I was waiting, I looked at the display case filled with samples of available stamps and decided the Magi stamp and the Virgin and Child stamp would be the best choices.

Other stamps displayed right beside them were Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Both dead from drug overdoses yet honored with a U.S. postage stamp and right there beside of stamps honoring the birth of the Christ child. Maybe better in a case with pop music stars that died from drug overdoses. That could be a whole collection by itself. Do not get me wrong, a teenager from the 60’s I have the whole Janis Joplin Pearl collection and would enjoy listening to it right now. Never was very taken with Hendrix though. I mostly remember his ear splitting ode to Purple Haze LSD. Excuse me while I kiss the sky.

By the time I got to a clerk, she told me they were out of Magi stamps. She only had a couple books of the Virgin and Child. I left with those two and Peanuts, Charlie Brown Christmas stamps. If you are on my Christmas list, you may have received a card with Snoopy taking aim at the Red Baron.

When I got back home, it was time to haul out the decorations. This year the granddaughters are coming so decorating required a little more effort. Somehow, I talked myself into buying a lighted reindeer and sleigh to put out into the front yard. In China, some guy is laughing at me. I am certain of that and I probably have some toxic illness from wrestling those things around the garage floor. By the time they were assembled and out into the yard, the garage floor and I were covered with gold glitter. Did you ever try to vacuum sticky glitter from a garage floor? Did your wife ever make you get undressed in the garage? There just seems to be no gratitude for the work I do. With that and other decorations out, I had to bring the tree in. No, I am not going to speak about a box filled with tangled lights. Mine never tangle because I roll them into one gigantic ball. If you try this at home, do not plug the giant ball of lights into the electric outlet otherwise the neighbors may think there has been a nuclear attack.

As I was putting the tree where the Secretary of War directed, I peeked out the window at the reindeer. Something did not look quite right I just could not put my finger on what it was. I continued working. After the tree was up, I noticed Suzie-Q standing in front of the window with her head tilted sideways. I inquired and she responded, I think one of those deer has his antlers on upside down. In defense I declared, well that is what happens when a Chinese guy writes the directions.

Today, after Church I was out on the patio grilling steaks for lunch. Now I have been known to clear the snow from the grill, but today it is 70 degrees. Yes, in the middle of December. The inconvenient truth is that it is the El Nino affect Al, not global warming. Sometimes that means a heavy wet snowstorm at some point and in other years warm and dry with some wind. In either event, now is the time for me to perform maintenance on the generator.

We have secured all the gifts. Some people got those warm heartfelt plastic gift cards. Since people always scratch the prices off of the gifts they give, we decided this year to not put a receipt in with the gift card. We bought the ones that can be set from $25 to $500. Now remember, it is the thought that counts.

From Suzie-Q and I, have a blessed Christmas and may your dreams be realized in the New Year.

© 2015 J. D. Pendry American Journal All Rights Reserved

But first let me say this. It does not matter that you say these terrorists do not represent Islam. They believe they do. It does not matter that you say we are not at war with Islam. Those who are murdering defenseless people across the globe and right up to our own doorstep and who believe they represent Islam are adamant that they are at war with us.

You really need to help me understand some things. You keep telling me that Islam is a religion of peace and the vast majority of its practitioners do not support acts of terror. I am asked to believe that the vast majority of more than 2 billion Muslims do not support terror. If that number of people do not support the terror taking place in the name of their god and their religion why on earth have they not eradicated this vermin? Could it be that the vast majority also believes they are at war with us? And this explains their silence?

Why are you so reluctant to call these murdering bastards what they are? Radical Islamic terrorists. Why are you so reluctant to correctly label their acts of terrorism? Why is the United States Attorney General vowing to prosecute anyone speaking ill of Islam? Are you now, in the United States of America, going to enforce Sharia blasphemy laws? I will take your empathy for Islam for what it is worth and raise you one Piss Christ. Is the Attorney General going to initiate stoning and public beheadings for the violators of her dictate?

In our most recent act of terrorism, why was the FBI and ATF on the scene almost immediately? Makes one think they knew about these two radical Islamic terrorists. Considering that possibility, maybe the Sharia enforcing Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security can enlighten us. Did the FBI know about these two? If so, why were they not arrested before they started murdering people? The FBI Director seems a little uneasy in his job recently. What does he know that he is being prevented from sharing with the American public?

What is our national strategy for defeating an enemy who we state is not at war with us? How can we defeat radical Islamic terrorism if we cannot even bring ourselves to call it what it is? As far as I can see, our only strategy is defeating terrorism with global wealth redistribution called climate change and disarming the American public.

That brings up some more questions. To keep and bear arms is a fundamental right guaranteed by the United States Constitution. Why is it necessary for me to request permission or a permit from anyone to exercise my Constitutional right? My state is an open carry state. I can open carry a side arm without anyone’s permission. Why is it not that way across the country? Would not a visibly armed populace deter some of these terrorist acts? Or workplace violence depending on where your sympathies lie?

Why have we not absolutely secured the borders and ports of entry into our country? It is clear that we have people in charge of our country who are traitorous in their conduct. They are the biggest threat to our nation security. Why have we not initiated impeachment actions against them?

I cannot tell anyone what they should do. But our first obligation is to defend ourselves, our families and our property. Any American who is not armed and prepared to do that is naïve at best. I do not believe a gun confiscation would ever occur although it most certainly is the Holy Grail for the progressive left who for decades has sympathized with every murdering regime on the planet. But something is coming and I am betting it is in the President’s primetime oval office address tonight. And maybe he will answer some of my questions to. Guess that latter assumption shows my naïveté too.

© 2015 J. D. Pendry American Journal All Right Reserved

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever. – Psalm 107:1 (NIV)

Mom would wring the chicken’s neck. Usually a couple of them. She was quite efficient. They would flop around some then she would grab them up and souse them in a tub of hot water. Shortly after that feathers started flying. The next time I would see those chickens, they would be on the dinner table baked golden brown and stuffed and sitting alongside a rather large ham. Growing up in the West Virginia hills, I do not recall having turkey for Thanksgiving. Chickens and ham were plentiful.

The smell of giant yeast dinner rolls filled the house. The aroma would make my mouth water. But also did the thought of banana pudding, chocolate pie, and applesauce, molasses stack cake. Ham replaced bacon for breakfast that morning as Mom trimmed some from the dinner ham.

It was not however about the feast of the year. It was about being thankful for our many blessings.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. – Johnson Oatman, Jr., Count Your Blessings, 1897

In school at this time each year, no matter the grade, we revisited the original Thanksgiving story. It was the important beginning of a blessed nation and it was important for us to understand how what would ultimately become the United States of America began.

Looking around these days, you can find plenty for which to be thankful. We live in a country that is blessed with wealth. Even those considered in poverty in many cases are fabulously wealthy compared to people in many other nations of the world. As a people, we have overcome many difficult periods and have always come out the other side a better nation and better people. Be thankful of our humble beginnings and never lose sight of them. We are where we are now because of who we were then.

We are blessed with men and women who do not need to be conscripted to come to the defense of our great nation. We will always have the disgruntled, but to counter that we have more who are not and the contentment of freedom always wins.

We have friends who have stood by us in both good and troubled times. We have family ranging from great grandchildren to great grandparents. Although we may have lost loved ones along the way, rather than grieve we reflect on how they blessed our lives.

From my family to yours, have a joyous and blessed Thanksgiving.

Utopia is supposed to be the perfect place politically and socially. Throughout the ages people have sought it. Philosophers described their versions of it. Others have sought to achieve it only to leave in their wake pain, suffering and death. You can find versions of it playing out across the world today. These failed utopias have commonality. The demands that everyone have the same, be the same, do the same, live the same. Become a society devoid of what they claim to have sought. Diversity, equality, and justice by now you know the meme well.

The quest for this perfect society seems to always begin the same way. Adhere to this religious doctrine or none. Think as we do. Do was we demand. Never disagree with our utopian approach. A promise of social justice, equality and sharing the national wealth. And if you do as we say, it will be a wonderful society. Refuse and we have gas chambers, beheadings, and mass executions because the earth must be rid of those who stand in the way of utopia. Modern varieties still include death, but it also includes the absolute personal destruction of anyone not toeing the line.

Here in the land of the free there is an ongoing search for something. Maybe in the eyes of the searchers it is utopia, but by their actions if it is utopia it is the single layer, one size fits all, our way or the highway existence. Their utopias certainly not mine or that of anyone who does not embrace them or their ideals.

In my life, I have been fortunate to have held some important leadership positions. I have been challenged, but have never failed. I have never come into an organization with a mindset that everything about it from the foundation up was wrong and to fix it I had to fundamentally transform it. The road to success was not about demanding that everyone adhere to my views except for the view that says there are rules we have written for ourselves that we must follow and there are standards we must reach to achieve success.

If you despised the very tenants of an organization or country and its stated purpose and your worldview was wholly incompatible with it. How could you possibly lead it? Watching over recent years we have seen the absolute failure of leadership that insists all is wrong and must be changed while displaying total disdain for the led. Leadership convinced through upbringing and indoctrination of the evil of this place. A place not worth keeping. Such a leader, in the zeal to transform us in the end will only destroy us. And through blind arrogance and hatred will continue to insist they did a good job and may have done decidedly better if not for those who opposed their idealistic road to utopia. Ideologically blinded, they never saw the true utopia that was before them.

The United States of America is a country with open arms. That is why most want to come here or did want to come here. But, we are also a country of laws and the law of our land is the United States Constitution. It is not a holy book from any dominion. It is not what tyrannical leadership wishes it was.

The Constitution is an amazing document. It is the only one of its kind that guarantees freedom for the citizenry. Guarantees the right to worship the deity of your choice or none and guarantees the government will not interfere with the free exercise that right or impose a religion upon the people.

Guarantees the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It does not give anyone or group the right to impose their views on another. That is the American way. Is it not? If everyone bought into that precept and lived their lives accordingly, would that not be as near utopia as any political or social system devised by men?

© 2015 J. D. Pendry American Journal All Rights Reserved

Often, I have been called a cup half empty man. Maybe I do see the downside. Whether you see that as good or not depends totally on how you see the world. I am an American, born and bred. Freedom is my birthright. I arrived in this world with a full cup.

Today is Veteran’s Day. Formerly it was Armistice Day, the day marking the end of World War I. The ceasefire starting on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month was to be the end of the war to end all wars or so it was proclaimed. It was a war America and her Army was wholly unprepared for. From practically the ground up we had to raise, house, equip and train a force. A seasoned regular Army of any significance did not exist. Some of those necessities were not accomplished on American soil. In haste to get reinforcements to Europe, many Americans boarded the ships not fully trained. The plan was to complete training in Europe where many of them would fire a weapon for the first time. It certainly can be argued that the Germans had the best Army in the fight and were ultimately defeated because they could not match the reinforcements constantly arriving from America. They were defeated, but probably more accurately they were overwhelmed. I recall a Veteran’s cemetery atop the Koenigstul in Heidelberg Germany that is filled with teenagers not yet 18 years old.

Throughout our nation’s history, Americans whether conscript or volunteer have served as the guardians of our American birthright. Fast forward to the present day and you will still find highly dedicated Americans who want to remain guardians of freedom.

For the first time last night I watched the Republican presidential debates. I may look in again if there is a further thinning of the herd. Among those on the stage is the one who may pick up the mantle as a guardian of our freedom. The job of all presidents for much too long not wholly fulfilled. If our country survives intact until January 2017, and there are days when I seriously ponder that question, we must have a leader who is an unwavering guardian of our birthright, our Constitution, and the rights it guarantees all Americans. Such a guardian has been absent from Washington for many years and never has the light shined brighter on that complete failure than it has in these recent years.

The Veterans honored today have stood valiantly around the world against tyranny and the enemies of freedom. The progressive/communist movement inside our country has gone unchallenged for a decade or more. Looking at the recent progressive shopping list, they are dangerously close to their holy grail – taking away gun rights. Washington’s politicians are focused on their political aspirations, self-enrichment, the political party and practically everything under the sun except their sworn duty to protect and defend the Constitution.

Americans serving in the Armed Services cannot battle the internal threat to our birthright. That is the duty of every citizen including the Washington politicians we supposedly sent there for that purpose. Presently, a majority of Americans do not feel represented in Washington. One of the basic reasons for the American Revolution was an oppressive, non-representative, over-taxing government. It looks to me like we are nearly at the point where we began.

Do you truly want to honor Veterans? Get involved. Take your civic duty seriously. Demand the preservation of your birthright. Send citizen servants to Washington. Rid our country of career politicians who are corrupt to the core. Give the armed guardians of our birthright the citizen support and leadership they deserve.

© 2015 J. D. Pendry American Journal All Rights Reserved

Bacon makes everything taste better. It still tastes good even after the World Health Organization decided this food staple is giving me colorectal cancer. Now I do not eat bacon every day, but on most mornings scrambled eggs with cheese and a few strips of bacon get me going. That and copious amounts of coffee, which I hear is also bad for me but they have lain off that one since walking around with a coffee cup in your hand became a fashion accessory. Yes, even the salad gets some real bacon in it. Lettuce counteracts the effects of the bacon much in the same way that a diet soda pop counteracts the effects of a double cheeseburger and fries.

I have undoubtedly consumed tons of bacon, processed meat and red meat. Just last year I had my periodic colorectal cancer screening. The Doc told me it looks so good up in there that I did not need come back and see him again for ten years. You would think that something calling itself the World Health Organization could find better uses for its time. Apparently I am now 18 percent more likely to get cancer than a vegan. I also like hot dogs with chili and onions, bratwurst, smoked sausage, steak, ribs, cheeseburgers, cheese steaks, and fried bologna sandwiches and now after all of these years I learned I am giving myself cancer. Well dip me in a vat of five alarm chili.

Do you recall some years ago when another of these studies determined that artificial sweeteners used in soda pop also caused cancer. The tests showed it caused cancer in lab rats. Not long after this report came out it was determined that for an equivalent amount of that given to the rats, a human would have to consume about 7 cases of diet soda a day for I do not recall how many years, but it was a bunch. Another dilemma. Diet pop gives you cancer sugary pop gives you diabetes.

It is beginning to look like the only reasonable course of action is a diet of organically grown lettuce and bottled water. But if we all pursue that course the methane levels will become dangerously higher and spontaneous human combustion could become a real problem. Not to mention global warming. Just consider the poor polar bears. I am not taking on the guilt burden for wiping out the polar bear population so I will have to take my chances with bacon. Thick sliced, thin sliced, maple cured, hickory smoked and fried in its own aromatic grease. Ten years from now I will re-visit the roto-rooter doc and see how I am doing.

For those of you that might be in a panic about this and have probably thrown out the bacon and made your cancer screening appointments I want you to think about some things. The possibilities that you might die in your sleep increases a hundred fold every night when you go to bed. Do you know the staggering amount of people who are seriously injured by falling at home? Well, you certainly increase your chances of being one of them just by getting out of bed every morning. By venturing outside the likelihood that you will be run over by a garbage truck or bus increases tremendously. And in your car? My goodness what if the seatbelt fails or the air bag explodes in your face while you are driving down the interstate at 70 miles per hour! Maybe you should not get out of bed or get into it for that matter and stay in the house. Never leave it.

I think I will have a double bacon cheeseburger, chili cheese fries and a large diet pop. Then I will partake of the next thing most certainly to kill me. The presidential debates.

© 2015 J. D. Pendry American Journal All Rights Reserved.

I hate politicians almost as much as I hate the Mets and I don’t even know a Met. It is a friendly kind of sports hatred. It started in 1969. That is when the Cubs went from a 9 game lead in September to finishing 8 games behind the Mets. They were so sure of themselves, they even had their own song, Hey Hey Holy Mackerel. Now, it is the Mets again. Just proving there are no sure things. It is just baseball and I do hate politicians more.

Suzie-Q saved her mums from the first frost of the season. With a short warming trend, they have at best another week or two. Then they will take up residence in the compost pit. I wished I could say the same about the presidential campaign season which seems never ending these days. Everything is so politicized that anything a person says or does is evaluated for its political impact. Nothing is looked upon for its value to solving any of our country’s problems. If it was not so disheartening and dangerous, it would be funny. Saturday Night Live does politics. It is never ending. Just step back and take a look and be honest about what you see. There seems little interest in righting the ship of state and much interest in getting your guy or gal into the Whitehouse. And it matters little if they are proven liars and charlatans. It is a sad state.

We hear it all of the time. That is the expressed trust that when Election Day rolls around the American people will do the right thing. When it comes to national politics sadly, most Americans are ignorant. Ignorance can be corrected over time by educating people or on the other hand the same education system can breed ignorance of our history, government, and political system. When you add ignorance to a healthy percentage of stupid people, the problem is compounded. And you cannot fix stupid. One can be informed and still stupid. So if a real candidate presents him or herself to the American people, he or she must overcome the politically ignorant, the hopelessly stupid and the one thing that is never talked about seriously – vote fraud. Also, you must add the media. Among them you also find ignorance and stupidity, but in these times they are guided by ideology rather than journalistic integrity. Lastly, there is the most pitiful hurdle to overcome – dereliction of duty by the 50 percent of Americans who do not vote.

The tree rodents are digging up my yard. You can see little potholes all over the landscape. They seem to be forever in search of their buried nuts. They just cannot seem to remember where they buried them. There were some nut shells lying on the front porch steps. It rained on them and left walnut stains on the concrete. I was trying to clean that off and Suzie-Q asked me what it was. I told her it appears a squirrel was sitting on our front steps playing with his nuts. Yes men, I got the look. To which I responded with a, “what?” That is the kind of plain talk that would nowadays undoubtedly disqualify me from public life.

If there is any single entity that is the most harmful to our country, I would have to say that it is career politicians. They all sing the same tune, but it lacks rhythm. It is robotic and without sprit. It is the save the middle class good paying jobs jingle. Television political ads are juvenile at best. Here in Wild and Wonderful, politicians want to be seen hugging a coal miner these days. It is just getting tougher for them to locate one that actually has a job. But, there is that promise to fight for those good paying coal jobs even when the politicians are the prime reason those jobs went away. Pure politicians do not care about the middle class. They are focused on the donor class and hoping they can rely on ignorance, stupidity and a little fraud tossed in for good measure to pull them over the finish line. But, this time around save the victory song. There are no sure things.

© 2015 J. D. Pendry American Journal All Rights Reserved