Enjoy the photos, you should be able to click on to open them up and even pinch open further.
I am making more use of links, music and visual. Click on them and then you might have a second link to search. Some locations, such as YouTube generate revenue for your "free" viewing by running ads, so be patient. On occasion there is a "skip ad" button. Sometimes it will load and start when you go there, sometimes you need to click on the white arrow in the red box.
I hope you enjoy the updates to my art and life as presented in this blog. IF you don't like the political stuff and don't want to receive future blogs just say so, no hard feelings. So far, only two have taken me up on the offer. With that in mind, remember:
Below the Fold below is where lies controversial stuff, if you don't want to go there, stay above.
And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present:
New Art:
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| Oil on canvas pad, pond in Lakes Park |
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| Large, oil on stretched canvas, hiking path in Lakes Park |
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| Wa-Ke Hatchee Rec Center, 12 x 12" oil on board |
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| Pastel on watercolor paper, Creekside #3, Lakes Park |
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| Creekside #2, pastel over watercolor, 8 x 10" |
Florida:
I don't know the photographer, found shells on Florida Beaches, last blog started the series.
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| July 5 fireworks near the house |
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| Just another Florida sunset, near the small pool |
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| Neighbor's tree, isn't it lush? |
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| July 4, nature's fireworks |
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| New riverfront, downtown hotel should be open in Oct. |
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| Another neighbor's shrub. |
Reading: I have been "finishing" books in process when Linda received her diagnosis, which put a lot of things on hold.
Finally ...finished Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules For Life, easily one of the top three or four books I have read. Great insight, clear thinking. Many paragraphs I had to re-read 2 and 3 times from this practicing clinical psychologist.
The First Congress, 2 chapters to go, by Fergus Bordewich who was able to control his liberal instincts to write an insightful account of how "James Madison, George Washington, and a group of extraordinary men invented the Government." If you think about it, it was a true miracle that the US government was established. Unlike anything the world has ever seen. Yes, we are still working on the ideals, however, these are ideals never before seen on this planet. They had no blueprint, no example from which to work. Hardly anyone got along, where to place the capital, to whom or if the president (if that is what we should call the position) should report, how oppressive could a Supreme Court be? How do we raise revenue to pay first, the war debt, second to be an ongoing, viable country. How to deal with slavery or eliminate it, just getting to the constitutional convention, walking, horseback, muddy wagon roads...getting North Carolina and Rhode Island to end the ratification holdout, western perimeter and how to protect settlers from Indian attacks, coastal protection, and on and on and on.
Next up, finish Eisenhower's Armies. Greg and I visited DE's presidential library a few years back when Greg was stationed at Ft Riley. So, this has a little extra meaning. I am about a third of the way through it.
Smiley Face Liberalism: In brief, the old, Boomer liberal currently is caught in no-man's land. They (yes, I am talking to you) either go Antifa/BLM or go home...or, consider what conservatives have to say, maybe there is something there. Link to the article: The WSJ article Smiley Face Liberalism
Founders: "During the course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been leveled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap its safety." —Thomas Jefferson (1805)
Link to an interesting article by David Mamet, playwright, author. Psychology and how we think, but one question...if the solution is remove Trump, just what is the problem, other than "I just don't like the guy." Link: Mamet
We need good policing, not that 99% of what we have isn't. Link to WSJ article: WSJ by Jason Riley, you might need to have a digital subscription to read the complete article.
Novel written in 1955, I wanted to see how Greene viewed the Vietnam War before I became aware of it in high school. Easy read, Good plot line, if unconventional.
Finally ...finished Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules For Life, easily one of the top three or four books I have read. Great insight, clear thinking. Many paragraphs I had to re-read 2 and 3 times from this practicing clinical psychologist.
The First Congress, 2 chapters to go, by Fergus Bordewich who was able to control his liberal instincts to write an insightful account of how "James Madison, George Washington, and a group of extraordinary men invented the Government." If you think about it, it was a true miracle that the US government was established. Unlike anything the world has ever seen. Yes, we are still working on the ideals, however, these are ideals never before seen on this planet. They had no blueprint, no example from which to work. Hardly anyone got along, where to place the capital, to whom or if the president (if that is what we should call the position) should report, how oppressive could a Supreme Court be? How do we raise revenue to pay first, the war debt, second to be an ongoing, viable country. How to deal with slavery or eliminate it, just getting to the constitutional convention, walking, horseback, muddy wagon roads...getting North Carolina and Rhode Island to end the ratification holdout, western perimeter and how to protect settlers from Indian attacks, coastal protection, and on and on and on.Next up, finish Eisenhower's Armies. Greg and I visited DE's presidential library a few years back when Greg was stationed at Ft Riley. So, this has a little extra meaning. I am about a third of the way through it.
Smiley Face Liberalism: In brief, the old, Boomer liberal currently is caught in no-man's land. They (yes, I am talking to you) either go Antifa/BLM or go home...or, consider what conservatives have to say, maybe there is something there. Link to the article: The WSJ article Smiley Face Liberalism
Founders: "During the course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been leveled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap its safety." —Thomas Jefferson (1805)
Link to an interesting article by David Mamet, playwright, author. Psychology and how we think, but one question...if the solution is remove Trump, just what is the problem, other than "I just don't like the guy." Link: Mamet
We need good policing, not that 99% of what we have isn't. Link to WSJ article: WSJ by Jason Riley, you might need to have a digital subscription to read the complete article.
Novel written in 1955, I wanted to see how Greene viewed the Vietnam War before I became aware of it in high school. Easy read, Good plot line, if unconventional.
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| My first day back in the gym |
Not Funny: Jill Biden should be ashamed of herself, letting her husband with clear mental deficiencies making a fool of himself...
Listening to:
No, You can (Really) have Charleston...One my favorite Darius Rucker songs, You Can Have Charleston, unfortunately, turned into reality after 20 years.
No, You can (Really) have Charleston...One my favorite Darius Rucker songs, You Can Have Charleston, unfortunately, turned into reality after 20 years.
Not listening, this is the front of a small refrigerator at Costo
Jimmy Buffett: Encore double album...Come Monday, I have really come to enjoy this.
Dion With Friends: includes Jeff Beck, Sonny Landreth, Paul Simon, Bruce, etc.
Dion With Friends: includes Jeff Beck, Sonny Landreth, Paul Simon, Bruce, etc.
Tigers...
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| Whoops! How did that Wildcat get in here? BTW she just went to jail for corrupting a 15 year old boy...WHAT? |
Scary, huh?
Below The Fold---------------------------------------
Or, as I have learned from your input, Preaching To The Choir vs Unbelievers
Or, as I have learned from your input, Preaching To The Choir vs Unbelievers
Enter at your own risk:
The hilight links will take you to the rest of the story.
Thoughts from around the country:
* Who's kidding whom? This isn't about white Jesus or any other religious statues that have represented Christianity for over two millennia. As columnist Andrea Peyser astutely notes, "Biblical figures have long been represented by images that resemble the artist's own community. So in Ethiopia, Jesus has been depicted as black for more than 1,500 years. In the Far East, works showing Jesus as Asian can be found. There's nothing to stop artists from creating new works depicting Jesus however they wish."
That's not good enough for a mob that does not wish to compete on the battlefield of ideas, culture, or religious sensibilities. Their agenda is about the acquisition and maintenance of absolute power — by any means necessary.
For the record, who was in charge when Floyd died? The Minneapolis mayor, city council president, police chief, county prosecutor, and U.S. House district representative are all Democrats. The Minnesota governor, state attorney general, and both Senate members are all Democrats. So where exactly does the change need to begin?
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* After a lifetime observing how the Left has manipulated black constituents, Walter E. Williams notes, "The true plight of black people has little or nothing to do with the police or what has been called 'systemic racism,'" adding, "We need to look at the responsibilities of those running our big cities."
Link to June commentary by the Black economist, Walter Williams. The insult to Black History. Both blacks and whites can benefit from a better appreciation of black history. Often overlooked or ignored is the fact that, as a group, black Americans have made the greatest gains, over some of the highest hurdles, and in a shorter span of time than any other racial group in history.
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* The devolution of America is reaching a critical stage, and columnist Rod Dreher asks exactly the right question. "What's your Woke Breaking Point?" We may now have an answer. "All murals and stained glass windows of white Jesus, and his European mother, and their white friends should also come down," tweetedradical BLM activist Shaun King. "They are a gross form of white supremacy. Created as tools of oppression. Racist propaganda. They should all come down."
King is not alone."Every time you see white Jesus, you see white supremacy," assertsAnthea Butler, associate professor of religious studies and Africana studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Hugo- and Nebula Award-winning science-fiction author Nnedi Okorafor agrees, tweeting, "Yes, 'blond blue-eyed jesus' [sic] IS a form of white supremacy."
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* Indeed, Democrats use every opportunity to consolidate power in Washington, DC. Ironically, this is why Donald Trump vexes them so much. Mandating masks at the federal level would be unconstitutional. It would trample the Ninth and Tenth Amendments — individual liberty and the power of the states and the people. But, because Democrats would be doing this "for your own good," they feel obliged to do it.
* "Of all the tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive," said C.S. Lewis. "It may be better to live under robber barons than under the omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber barons cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
* If the government can order individuals to purchase a product (health insurance), then the government can mandate all sorts of things "for your own good." As the late Justice Antonin Scalia said during the Supreme Court's hearing on ObamaCare, "Everybody has to buy food sooner or later. Therefore, you can make people buy broccoli." His remarks became symbolic of the leftist busybodies' power grabs. Eight years later, it's not broccoli but masks. Either way, it's the same authoritarianism that endangers American Liberty.
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Remember, I am not Democrat or Republican, I vote for those who agree with my views. For the last 10 years that usually means a Republican, but it hasn't always been that way. With that in mind, a friend sent this reminder to me:* In these troubling times I think a little history lesson is needed. Unfortunately, most Americans, particularly young people know very little of the history of the first 100 years of our country. As a matter of fact, I bet if you would ask people under the age of 40 what party Abraham Lincoln belonged to the answer from most would be "Democrat".
Democrats voted to keep Africans Americans in slavery, opposing the 13th Amendment which officially freed the slaves. Only four Democrats voted for it.
Republicans also passed the 14th Amendment which granted slaves U.S. citizenship; Democrats voted against it. Republicans also passed the 15th Amendment which gave slaves the right to vote. Not a single one of the 56 Democrats in Congress voted for it. Furthermore, Republicans passed all of the Civil Rights laws of the 1860s — including the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Act of 1867 following the Civil War.
The Republican Party itself was founded as the "anti-slavery party" in 1854. The party subsequently gave us President Abraham Lincoln and ultimately, the Emancipation Proclamation which led to the liberation of slaves.
Long after slavery was over, the Democratic Party continued down their path to deny African Americans their rights. Wikipedia refers to this as the era of "disenfranchisement" when "Democrats worked to exclude blacks" from civil liberties.
PBS reported, "The Democratic Party identified itself as the 'white man's party' and demonized the Republican Party as being 'Negro dominated,' even though whites were in control." Even Democratic icons such as Kennedy voted against the 1957 Civil Rights Act while in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Al Gore, Sr., D-Tenn., also opposed it. Sen. Everett Dirksen Republican from Illinois (the "Land of Lincoln"), who wrote numerous pieces of legislation including the Civil Rights Act of 1968 which banned discrimination in housing.
* If we do not study history we are destined to make the same mistakes again. From the University of Michigan: http://www.umich.edu/~lawrace/disenfranchise1.htm?promocode=LIPP101AA?promocode
* From Wikipedia. During the later elections of Reconstruction era, beginning in the 1870s, white Democrats used violence by paramilitary groups, as well as fraud, to suppress black Republican voters and turn Republicans out of office. After regaining control of the state legislatures, Democrats were alarmed by a late 19th-century alliance between Republicans and Populists that cost them some elections. After achieving control of state legislatures, white Democrats added to previous efforts and achieved widespread disenfranchisement by law: from 1890 to 1908, Southern state legislatures passed new constitutions, constitutional amendments, and laws that made voter registration and voting more difficult, especially when administered by white staff in a discriminatory way. They succeeded in disenfranchising most of the black citizens, as well as many poor whites in the South, and voter rolls dropped dramatically in each state. The Republican Party was nearly eliminated in the region for decades, and the Democrats established one-party control throughout the southern states.[3
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2016 CNN interview with a black sheriff: Link to interview
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Link to short video: Black twins tell it like it is, they are Black Americans, not Afro Americans
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Florida Covid-19 Fake News...
True story, I think in Polk County, coroner: "Well, it could have been the coronavirus that caused him to lose his concentration and crash."
Also, Lee Health here in Ft. Myers in one day reported 495 positive tests, no negative...it turns out many health organizations are doing this.
Finally, when you hear of the large number of positive tests here...Let's say you are admitted for Covid 19 and spend 14 days in the hospital; they test you every day and report 14 positive results!!!! No Wonder our numbers are so high.
I don't want to jinks the Lyles household, but I think it is very strange that we know of NO One here in Florida that has tested positive. Yes we have heard of a friend or co-worker of someone we know, or a remote relative (1), or a friend of a friend, but where are all of these positive cases?
Typical CNN: how long can this crap go on?
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Florida Covid-19 Fake News...
True story, I think in Polk County, coroner: "Well, it could have been the coronavirus that caused him to lose his concentration and crash."
Also, Lee Health here in Ft. Myers in one day reported 495 positive tests, no negative...it turns out many health organizations are doing this.
Finally, when you hear of the large number of positive tests here...Let's say you are admitted for Covid 19 and spend 14 days in the hospital; they test you every day and report 14 positive results!!!! No Wonder our numbers are so high.
I don't want to jinks the Lyles household, but I think it is very strange that we know of NO One here in Florida that has tested positive. Yes we have heard of a friend or co-worker of someone we know, or a remote relative (1), or a friend of a friend, but where are all of these positive cases?
Typical CNN: how long can this crap go on?
Buy-cott, we bought our ten cans and donated to a food pantry
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