Saturday, December 30, 2017

Bacon Makes Every Day Better

It’s the day we’ve been waiting for all year: NATIONAL BACON DAY! That’s right: bacon, bacon, bacon!!

restraineddog with baconOkay!

Of course there’s your standard bacon and eggs way to start the day.

WARNING:

In the time it takes you to watch this bacon equivalent of your cable company’s yule log video you could actually cook your own bacon and eggs for breakfast.

But why settle for the ordinary when you can Make America’s Eggs Great Again: breakfast potato bacon bombs!

Okay, maybe because it will be time for lunch by the time they’re done. Best to settle for simplicity.

bacon2 pile of 50 lbs cooked

Of course after all that bacon you may feel the need for exercise so here’s a little workout video that you can do along with Kevin Bacon: Party like it’s 1984!

So do enjoy National Bacon Day, 2017 and remember: everything’s better with bacon.

muslim bakery clint eastwoodGo ahead – make my day.

Linked By: Larwyn’s Linx on Doug Ross@Journal, and BlogsLucianneLoves, and Free Republic, Thanks!

Friday, December 29, 2017

MAGA – Make Art Great Again

Yesterday we went to an exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Art. It was a Claude Monet show exhibiting work from his time in Argenteuil where he developed his impressionistic style (Monet: Framing Life) in combination with a Frederic Church show of his paintings from his time spent traveling the Middle East (Church: A Painter’s Pilgrimage). The Monet show was small, but lovely.

'Rounded Flower Bed (Corbeille de fleurs),' 1876, Claude Monet,Rounded Flower Bed (Corbeille de fleurs), 1876, Claude Monet

It was blessedly free of social commentary, which cannot be said of the Church exhibit which contained subject matter and imagery that curators and art historians found to reek of the “white, protestant perspective” that academia loves to loathe. Church painted images that, regardless of their subject matter smack of “deeply problematic politics” to modern day art historians.

Church, 7/18/05, 11:10 AM, 16C, 8000x10660 (0+0), 100%, 8JUL2005,  1/15 s, R73.5, G71.1, B100.0Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, 1870, Frederic Edwin Church

Here, Church breaks atmospheric perspective- everything is far too sharply in focus for the distance, which increases the otherworldly feel of the view. The odd little comb of perfectly angled shadows of the row of columns to the right of the Dome. The dazzling tips of roiling storm clouds massing along the horizon- the vast, perfect lapis blue of the sky beyond. This is a genre painting that transcends genre- an enormous confection of kitsch that transcends its kitschiness. This is the paradox of Frederic Edwin Church- a painter with truly sublime vision and (for contemporary viewers) deeply problematic politics. Detroit Art Review

Problematic politics? Such as noting that the Temple of Baal as depicted in his View of Baalbek was destroyed by ISIS two years ago in the name of Allah?

view_of_baalbek_-_frederic_church

No, not that politically incorrect footnote, but rather the fact that Church himself was a problematic white American Christian who, as a wall note at the show indicated, “painted from” that non-politically correct perspective. Apparently Church’s detailed, realistic paintings of vast sweeping landscapes indicate his embrace of the western concept of “manifest destiny” which is of course anathema to SJWs – all too colonial for their sensitivities. I have seen criticism of Church’s work in the past, generally by jealous, less talented artists who complain his painting is too detailed to embrace the “full aesthetic” of the artist. But I’ve never seen a critic complain about his lack of political correctness. Church would be stunned to learn that critics now deem him to be nearly as evil as any alt-right white supremacist because his paintings glorify Christian hegemony. Or something. Yet they can’t entirely force themselves to hate his art…

Image-2-Ayn-The-Fountain-Oil-on-Canvas-1882The Fountain, 1882, Frederic Church

Al Ayn could be an illustration of the history of Orientalism- problematic as the image is, it’s so beautiful that one can’t help but be drawn in by it. This frisson persists throughout the show- how does one look at paintings that are so vested in the West’s destructive view of landscape and people, that are themselves posters for Colonialism, racism, manifest destiny, etc…. and yet are so intoxicatingly lovely? Detroit Art Review

This complete obsession with Western ideas being the most destructive force to ever inhabit the planet – from economics to art - is the type of insanity that makes liberals seem deranged. When you see the entire history of Western civilization as nothing more than a bleating dog whistle of racism and religious exclusivity you are doggedly determined to learn absolutely nothing from history.

Not that academics exactly self-select on the basis of intelligence, as demonstrated by these two San Diego State University professors of geography who see whiteness everywhere they look:

“Farmers’ markets are often white spaces where the food consumption habits of white people are normalized,” the SDSU professors write, the education watchdog Campus Reform reported Wednesday. -

Two things: 1) just exactly what is “geography” as it is taught today, especially at the college level? They sure make it sound like sociology for SJWs, which is to say remedial. And 2) what the hell does “white spaces where the food consumption habits of white people are normalized” even mean? And I would like your answer in English as a first language, if you don’t mind.

So I was feeling a little bad for Kurt Eichenwald for depleting his childrens’ education fund, but now that I reflect on it, college is so overrated he’s probably done them a great favor.

college fund

Donald Trump 2020 MAGA (Make Art Great Again)

syria_by_the_sea_-_frederic_church

Syria by the Sea, Frederic Church

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Thursday, December 28, 2017

Clearing the Dead Wood

Donald Trump promised to drain the swamp and clear the dead wood when he was elected. Now he’s doing it:

White House to cut back magnolia tree planted by Andrew Jackson WaPo

Exclusive: Iconic White House tree to be cut down CNN

Although some want to give Melania the credit/blame:

Melania Trump Orders Large Portion Of Historic White House Tree Removed HuffPo

Melania Trump Orders Removal of Near-200-Year-Old Tree From White House Newsweek

dead wood visibleDead wood visible even to the untrained eye

Journalists seem to revere the Jackson magnolia tree more than the presidency itself these days:

The enormous magnolia tree stood watch by the South Portico of the White House for nearly two centuries. Its dark green, glossy leaves shaded politicians and heads of state. Its ivory flowers bloomed through times of peace and war. It is the oldest tree on the White House grounds, a witness to Easter egg rolls and state ceremonies, a resignation, a plane crash, all the tumult and triumph of 39 presidencies. - WaPo

Although lovely enough in bloom,

magnolia-flower-white-tree-flower-shutterstock-com_12302Whoops! The Jackson magnolia is WHITE! No wonder it has to go.

it has been propped up artificially for decades:

"The overall architecture and structure of the tree is greatly compromised and the tree is completely dependent on the artificial support. Without the extensive cabling system, the tree would have fallen years ago. Presently, and very concerning, the cabling system is failing on the east trunk, as a cable has pulled through the very thin layer of wood that remains. It is difficult to predict when and how many more will fail." – CNN

The same could be said of the media news system. Time to whack it back.

Linked By: Larwyn’s Linx on Doug Ross@Journal, and BlogsLucianneLoves, and Free Republic, Thanks!

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

You’re a Better Man Than I Gunga Din

It turns out Bill O’Reilly was right all along: there IS a war on Christmas.

2c91ed4bdac2560363b6803c16da7de6--christmas-meme-merry-christmas-happy-holidaysQuick, without looking it up, somebody tell me what Pancha Ganapati is

Newsweek pretty much confirmed as much with their Christmas Eve story titled “How Trump and the Nazis Stole Christmas To Promote White Nationalism.”

Trump supporters say Americans have become too politically correct when they wish people happy holidays, a neutral term that can be used for people who celebrate Hanukkah, Eid, or any other religious holiday that takes place around the same time as Christmas. – ed. And let’s not forget the non-religious holidays that take place during the same time frame: Festivus, Kwanza, Winter Solstice…Pancha Ganapati?

But critics – ed. those nameless, faceless “critics” that show up whenever journalists need a stand in for their own opinions - counter that Trump is promoting a version of the holidays that excludes members of other religions, and that his crusade to bring back Christmas is part of a larger attempt by the president to define America as a country for white Christians alone.

After denying that any such war existed for the past decade or so, the Left finally acknowledges it’s a real thing because a) they sense they are losing and b) they can make Trump the villain. So the new meme is that Trump’s insistence on saying “Merry Christmas” is a racist dog whistle:

“I see such invocations of Christmas as a kind of cypher, what some would call a dog whistle. It does not appear to be intolerant or extreme, but to attentive audiences it speaks volumes about identity and belonging—who and what are fully American,” Richard King, a professor at Washington State University who studies how white supremacists exploit culture, told Newsweek.

I would suggest that professor King could better spend his time studying how Leftists exploit culture to advance their multi-faceted agenda. But I suppose that suggestion is a cypher as well.

Wishing people “merry Christmas” instead of “happy holidays,” is thus in line with Trump’s decision to ban citizens of Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, critics say.

And that’s all I have to say about the Newsweek piece that relies on the bulls#@t pumped out by a Washington State University professor of “Critical Culture, Gender, & Race Studies” to advance their own “critical white supremacy theory of Trump.” I direct you to Washington State University’s own official web page of Faculty and Staff to understand where this clap trap comes from. I had to do some deep diving to ensure myself that this really was an official university write up because it reads more like a sophomoric attempt at satire:

Born in the Land of Oz, Dr. King resided in Alaska and Portland before settling in Kansas City for his wonder years. Attending the University of Kansas, he earned a B.A. and an M.A. in cultural anthropology, but more importantly drank schnapps with Fishbone, celebrated a national championship in basketball, became obsessed with the writings of Foucault, flirted with undertaking fieldwork in Polynesia, and fell in love with a rare jewel, who continues to dazzle him with her wit and beauty. In 1992, he stepped off the yellow brick road, venturing to the University of Illinois. There, his engagements with Chief Illiniwek* and cultural studies prompted him to devote his energies to critical race studies, indigenous issues, and social justice. He came to WSU teaching at Drake University in Des Moines for six years.

If you’ve paid good money to WSU to “educate” your offspring and haven’t puked yet, you’re a better man** than I am, Gunga Din.

And might I remind you that professor King himself is prima facie evidence of the success of decades of educational/cultural propaganda. He would no doubt take exception with the racebending” casting of Sam Jaffe as Gunga Din in the 1939 movie.gunga din

*Cultural Appropriation!

**Sexist!

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Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Boxing Day And All’s Right With the World

christmas gooseThe geese, making their escape just before Christmas dinner

Christmas day was a yuge celebration of life with Raj’s family, and by yuge I mean 44 of us representing 3 generations all gathered at what used to be Dad’s house. Of course the 3 generational gathering was a little bittersweet as last year’s celebration included a fourth generation. But life marches on, and now we are the older generation. If we can manage to pass on a modicum of the Greatest Generation’s wisdom I think the world will be okay. 

Now get about your Boxing Day chores and festivities. I think I’ll go back to bed for a bit. After 3 days of inter-generational immersion, life’s dramas great and small, and some really, really nasty winter driving yesterday on both the coming and the going I’m exhausted – in a good way.  I leave you with this much lovelier image of snow on the road, given to us a year ago from our own lovely Lili47, who I still worry about and miss. Thank you Lili, wherever you may be!

winter road from lili47

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Monday, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas 2017

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 

birth of jesus madonna and child

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

aCreche_thumb1

Merry Christmas from MOTUS, Raj and Little Mo to all of our wonderful friends who have assembled a very special family here and who are very dear to our hearts. 

We love each and everyone of you and wish you all a Christmas day filled with both the merry and the bright. For God has blessed us, everyone.

Linked By: Larwyn’s Linx on Doug Ross@Journal, and BlogsLucianneLoves, and Free Republic, Thanks!

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Christmas Eve and All Through the House…

And just like that, Christmas Eve is here!Calvin and hobbes Christmas poem by the fire

Time to pull out the stops in the cuteness category:  strawberry santa

elf cupcake

And rejoice that Christmas Futures once again look merry and bright. Let the Liberals stay nestled all smug in their heads, replaying visions of  what might have happened instead.

christmas1994Christmas Past…aargh!

We will keep rocking with Christmas Present

trump as elvis

While preparing for Christmas Future by Making America Great Again.

Happy Christmas Eve to All!

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