AfewRodeos

@AmberRichmondSF Be mindful of the unnecessary blood work and tests. Post the diagnosis.

Headed to the vet with my girl now. ❤️ Thank you to everyone who has supported us, donated, shared the fundraiser, or simply sent kind words. It’s meant a lot during a really stressful time.

@Oilfield_Rando Possums love peaches. Put out some slices.

Mouse is missing. We are utterly devastated. It’s insanely unlikely but please pray that we find him.

Athlete

@WallStreetApes Gibsons waiters used to parade thick raw cuts of steak on a wooden board in diners faces when describing the menu. God forbid you were a vegetarian. I asked if there were any non meat items. He pointed to a menu item labeled “Garbage” - a Caesar salad. Awesome place.

American was ordering DoorDash from Gibson’s Steakhouse in Chicago On the app it asks if you would like to add a carrot cake. It’s $23.50 for the slice. It seems expensive but she ads it anyway This is what she received… It’s a House made Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Walnuts I found the reason for this shocking situation is because the steakhouse is known for oversized, old-school steakhouse portions According to reviewers online it’s well worth it and people say it’s very good tasting I’d recommend only ordering this if you’re with a group of people Personally I think this is actually a pretty good value, but the price does seem shocking at first if you’ve never seen it

@ARealWorldFaith Sad Memorial Day flower.

@ARealWorldFaith I think thatis a Calochortus coeruleus commonly known as blue star tulip

Youth: The years we spend learning what it takes decades to un-learn.

Back in the 90’s I was riding in a Mexico City taxicab. Some idiot cut us off. The driver went into a torrent of cuss words ending with “puto de Alf”. I was unfamiliar with this sentence construction. Puta = whore, puto = gay man pejorative. I asked what did this mean. He said you know that puppet show on tv? Translation: you are Alf’s gay bitch! Pretty low standing.

Forgot how ALF ended. facebook.com/reel/157402054…

@ARealWorldFaith RIP Patrick. So sorry Mike.

It’s 4 weeks since Easter Sunday, the holiest holiday of the largest religion in the world, Christianity. Not jelly beans or chocolate, Easter is about what Christians believe above all else, that Christ died on a cross rather than spend Eternity without you. What do you believe? BELIEVE IN SOMETHING Remember back in 2018 when Nike introduced its “Believe in Something” slogan? The full version was "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." It was the headline tag in Nike's high-profile "Dream Crazy" advertising campaign which was tied to the 30th anniversary of Nike’s core "Just Do It" slogan. It appeared prominently in an ad featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's face in close-up, overlaid with the text and the Nike “Swoosh”. Kaepernick himself posted the image on social media on September 3, 2018, and Nike amplified it immediately. The campaign positioned Kaepernick—who had faced significant backlash and perceived blacklisting from the NFL after kneeling during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice and police brutality—as an inspirational figure willing to "sacrifice everything" for his beliefs. The full ad series, including a narrated video version released shortly after, expanded on this theme with the line "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything. Just Do It." Because Nike said so? Suicide bombers believe. And they sacrifice everything. Stalin believed. And he sacrificed millions. Which of them will be Nike’s next spokesperson? Nike’s release of its new slogan fell on the 30thanniversary of “Just Do It.” Across three decades that phrase grew beyond slogan to a cultural rallying cry. It defined machismo for those very special, above and beyond any need for rules, men and women willing to live with a “full speed ahead, damn the torpedoes” zest for life. Or at least for those willing to buy over-priced sneakers and T-shirts. Retailers expend tremendous amounts of time, energy, and dollars on developing and deploying such slogans. Truly, the slogans are themselves nothing less than self-contained mini-commercials hoping to make the Super Bowl of Advertising and guarantee rich rewards both for the marketing firm and its client. Or are they? Whether they sell political campaigns or t-shirts, the Twitter-deep bumper-sticker solutions to some of life’s most profound issues speak volumes not just about who we are as a people but about how far short we have fallen as a nation. As is often the case, it is the words not spoken that speak the loudest. The success of Just Do It happened not by accident, but because of the crystal clear, widely embraced understanding of it that resonated in the hearts of those who heard it. What is that unspoken understanding? What do such beliefs sound like when we give voice to the unasked questions? Question: Just Do What? Answer: Whatever I want. Question: To whom? Answer: Any who dare stand against me. Question: Why? Answer: Because I want; and I am powerful. Is what matters most in life really stuff, celebrity, power? Does anyone believe that instead of “Just Do It,” a slogan like “Just Do Right” would have been invested in by Nike, then or now? Just Do It reigned as one of the great marketing coups for 3 decades. Its message goes far beyond just that of a corporate marketing decision. Those 3 words became a reflection of who we were and a powerful influence on who we became as a nation and a people. “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” The underlying presupposition is so very similar to its predecessor, Just Do It without ever mentioning what “it” is. Believe in something… but no mention of in what. The word “believe” is powerful because it ignites a fire within our culture. We all know what it means: Believe in yourself because you create your own reality, you define truth; and the rest of the world be damned. Just do it! Life is, after all, all about you. Right? Extolling “belief” without naming that in which the belief resides is as at best, non-sensical. Belief only rises above and beyond personal opinion when it accurately reflects the truth of reality; belief does not determine nor does it alter reality. Two plus two does not now, nor will it ever, equal 6, no matter how enthusiastically nor how many people believe it does. Ultimately, belief ought be a commitment to the truth of something. And for it to be really meaningful, it must express real commitment to a significant truth. Belief only surpasses opinion when it reflects a standard, a universal truth that is outside, above and beyond personal feelings. It is against such truths that beliefs are measured, not the other way around. Remember the line “We hold these truths to be self-evident …”? It is on truths such as these that Belief can truly stand. It is sad to see a nation, whose founders imagined it to be “… one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” not just drift but sink from those lofty goals. The nation that professed “In God We Trust” is at risk. At risk because we replaced our commitment to belief in the Truth of God with agenda driven by opinion. Like passion, belief is a mechanism, a vehicle that drives us to a destination. The question before us is, when we arrive at the final destination of the journey we are currently on—where opinion will dissolve before fact—will we find ourselves at Truth or Consequences? Question for Nike: why not a slogan that will sell t-shirts not by inciting controversy, but by promoting universal truth? What do you say, Nike, how about this slogan: “Fear God … and NOTHING else!” The photo above this post is one I took of my youngest brother 40 years ago. He was 25 at the time and 65 when he died 6 weeks ago after a miserable life of pain, suffering, and addiction. He believed in whatever made him feel good. “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything...” Christ died on the cross because He believed your salvation is worth it. What do you believe?

@RayDalio The Netherlands is one of the world's most populated countries. What did they do? Fill in the ocean!

The former Dutch Empire teaches us a lot about the importance of capitalism in driving long-term success through the development of productive entrepreneurs. The Dutch became a leading empire by being open to the best thinking in the world. They became so inventive that they were responsible for 25% of all the major inventions in the world — including ships that could travel and collect great riches, and the invention of capitalism as we know it today to finance those voyages. This virtuous cycle leads to strong income growth, which can be used to finance investments in education, infrastructure, research, and development. Over time, that helps its citizens become more productive and more competitive than their peers. #principles #raydalio #history #capitalism

@ARealWorldFaith Astounding photos! Heathens demand a coffee table book.

He is risen! And He is waiting for you to reach for the Light!

@ARealWorldFaith Great post Mike!

THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE Political arguments are not new. But discussion and disagreement have degenerated into destructive division. The work-in-progress that is America, the best aspirations of the American experiment, is not yet complete. America needs a reset. America was born in revolution, but not just the revolution against the tyranny of George lll proclaimed in our Declaration of Independence. It was the world-shaking revolution of founding a nation on an idea. That astonishing idea is that all men are created equal. From the first paragraph of that history making document: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another … and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them …” The words “Laws of Nature” and “of Nature’s God” affirm the Founding Fathers’ belief that all that exists in the natural world is subject to God. The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, the thundering political statement that arguably birthed the most successful nation in the history of the world, begins with this: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal …” Self-evident means so apparent, so obviously true, that no further proof is required; created,is by definition, that which is the product of a creator. And in the context of this document, the Declaration Of Independence, the same God who is the God of Nature is that Creator. In the final paragraph of the Declaration of Independence is this: “… appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions …” which presupposes that the final judgement of the writers of that document, and by extension all humankind, will be rendered by that same Creator God. So the God who created Nature and also created Humankind is the Supreme Judge of both. That judgement, which is a future event to which Islam refers as the Final Judgement and Christians refer to as the Day of the Lord, comes from God. That God, the one who judges all, is somehow supposed to be removed from any thought or consideration when it comes to the governance of the United States. U-huh. Sure. What could possibly go wrong with that? That’s the same God from whom the Founding Fathers got their concept and platform of unalienable rights, the violation of which inspired the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, the Articles of Confederation, and ultimately, our Constitution, which established the first ever nation in the history of man built on the idea that all men are created equal. Let’s tell that God, “Yo! Dude, hit the road.” Let’s kick the God who created not just the laws of nature, but Nature itself to the curb. How ‘bout this: you take the first kick. Let me know how that works for you. So where does this oh-so-brilliant idea of separating the Church of God from the state of man come? The Declaration of Independence? No. The Articles of Confederation? No. The Preamble to the Constitution? No. The Bill of Rights? No. But speaking of which—the Bill of Rights—it’s the first ten amendments to the Constitution, the ones that make American citizens the envy of the world. The First Amendment, the first of all these protections begins with this: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Freedom of religion, protected from government by the laws of that government, is the first provision of the first amendment of America’s Bill of Rights. That’s not random. There is nothing in the First Amendment about keeping religion, or God, out of government. Rather, it ensures that religion must be kept free from interference by government. Those are two very different things. But back to our search. Is the precept of the separation of church from the governance of state found anywhere in the Constitution? No. Where it is found is in a letter written by the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, to the Danbury Baptist Association, a collection of Baptist Churches in the Danbury, CT area. He wrote and sent it on New Years Day in 1802. It was neither a presidential proclamation nor was it an executive order, but none the less, it was a letter written in his capacity of President. Jefferson, widely regarded as one of the Founding Fathers as he was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, was responding to the Baptist Association’s support of his views on religious freedom being outside the purview of the state. Jefferson’s response, in part included: “I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.” It could not be more clear. The “wall of separation between Church & State” is a wall built to protect religion from the state; there is no suggestion whatsoever that wall was built to absent religion from the state. None. So while you’re brushing up on American History as it actually happened, rather than as Critical Race Theory seeks to rewrite it, do a search for the first United States federal holiday. It was established by the first President of the United States, George Washington. What you will find is his, and our nation’s, first Presidential Proclamation. That proclamation, issued on October 3, 1789, designated Thursday November 26, 1789, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. It includes: “… whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me ‘to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’” Yeah, let’s keep America separate from that God. Right. Maybe instead, we ought join together and rejoin our Founding Fathers in thankful prayer. Maybe we ought ask God’s help in nation-building right here at home, ask his help in finishing the job of creating the first nation in history built on a glorious idea—the idea that We the People are all created in his image. Amen.

@ARealWorldFaith C'mon Mike...please post something about Chuck

DJT is an extraordinary man whose weaknesses are all too often very publicly on display. However, his strengths make him exactly the right man to be President at this time in history. But there are a couple of things, Mr. President, you ought hear. Respectfully, please read on. A true populist, one who loves his neighbor as himself, need be wary the ego stoking warm glow of cheering crowds at UFC fights, football games, and NASCAR races. From Scripture: “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24), and “do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4). Last and most importantly, the words “The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to…” are a meaningless blip inside this blink of an eye which is our mortal existence. But eternity is measured in these words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Mr. President, please remember this, Hero of the Many is naught compared to Servant of the One. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

@ARealWorldFaith Excellent post amigo!

@ARealWorldFaith Heathens demand more Kirkwood content!

I AM WHO I SAY I AM I checked for any new texts from my wife as I walked into the Everything Your Pet Deserves Super Store. It turned out the birdseed was at the back of the store across from the Pet Chapel and Grave Stones. It took me a few minutes to find the right one. They have more types of birdseed than bread in a grocery store. Fortunately, my wife did text me with the specific one she wanted me to get. As I turned to head to the cash register, I looked up and saw Jerry, an old friend from yoga class, headed my way. “Robert!” He called out. “Hey, how are you? Long time no see. Nice to see ya. So how are you, anyway?” “Good, good, Jerry. And you?” “Awesome! I’m sure you heard about the prison thing, right?” “Awesome news, right?” “I know, right? And it’s exploding all across the country. Last I heard, since that first guy came out yesterday morning, there have been 347,281 other inmates that have self-identified as innocent. Can you imagine?” “I know, right?” “I just heard on the radio there are ‘Right to be Innocent’ celebrations breaking out all over.” “Right? I heard that too. And there are freedom marches heading for state and federal prisons and by noon there won’t be a stitch of yellow ribbon or a yellow rose to be had anywhere in the country.” “Wow! But the best is, did you see the Senator from California they interviewed on TV this morning? The way he teared up when he said, ‘Just like you and me, they were born innocent.’ That really choked me up.” “Right? OMG, it really hits home, doesn’t it? They were born that way!” “I know, right? And the money it’ll save! We’ve been wasting $50 Billion a year on incarcerating these poor souls. $50 Billion a year! And that doesn’t even include the cost of the courts, parole boards, law enforcement, bureaucratic nightmares like the Sex Offenders Registry, etc. etc. etc.” “I know, right?” “After we convert the prisons to something that actually helps society, we can use that money to help them catch up on the years they lost, the years we stole from them.” “Right? Like gender-affirming therapy, housing—whatever. I’m glad it’s finally over, but they’re right, we do owe them. And I am not talking free phones here.” “Oh my God, no! We are talking reparations here, a million dollars each. No, no wait, a million dollars ain’t what it used to be. Five million. That’s only right, five million dollars. They deserve that much! “I know, right?” “But hey, back to what’s up with you. That seed you’re buying is the best stuff on the market. I didn’t even know you had birds.” “We don’t. This morning my wife self-identified as a canary. I’m just picking up lunch.” Hi. This is not only my first post, but my first contact with social media on any level. Really. I’m working on a website and will also set up an Instagram account; it’s all a work in progress. And it’s all because my book, God Unshackled: Discover the Rationality of Christianity, is under contract with Morgan James Publishing and will be out later this year. My first book published, my first foray into the virtual world; it’s exciting stuff and there’s lots more to come! I’m just learning about this brave new (to me) world, a place I’ve avoided forever, so please forgive me if my virtual-lingo is clumsy. But here’s what I want to suggest. Give your followers a heads-up by Re-posting, and get in on the ground floor by Following, ‘cause there’s a new kid in town! And thanks so much!

@chamath Here's the problem. And the idiots signing it.

Unfortunate update as of today: More calls from friends. The total wealth that has left California is now $1T. We had $2T of billionaire wealth just a few weeks ago. Now, 50% of that wealth has left - taking their income tax revenue, sales tax revenue, real estate tax revenue and all their staffs (and their salaries and income taxes) with them. In other words, by starting this ill conceived attempt at an asset tax, the California budget deficit will explode. And we still don’t know if the tax will even make the ballot. California billionaires were reliable tax payers - 13.3% every year. They were the sheep you could shear forever. Now California will lose this revenue source FOREVER. Unless this ballot initiative is pulled, we will not stop the billionaire exodus. With no rich people left in California, the middle class will have to foot the bill.

@paulsperry_ I can confirm. Used to sell engineering software in Venezuela in the 90's. Very competent staff at PDVSA and minimal corruption compared to other national oul compnies.

NEW: An oil exec close to Energy Secretary Wright told me Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) was "one of the best national oil companies before Chavez and Maduro ran off the professionals and installed the military to run it." Their Marxist regimes expropriated US energy assets there

@ScottAdamsSays @joelpollak I spent over 30 years in software sales. A difficult part of the job was collecting on overdue invoices. I often used this Dilbert cartoon about visiting the "trolls in accounting" to get the client's attention and a few laughs. God Bless you Scott!

I have a favor to ask. If my work helped you, or someone you know, please follow my biographer and good friend @joelpollak and leave a comment here in case he wants to follow up with you on DMs. It gives me great joy to learn about any contribution I made. I tried to be useful.

@elonmusk getyarn.io/yarn-clip/fabe…

Vouching for randos during critical elections is nuts

@ComfortablySmug Charges! wallstreetjournal-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=12599…

Follow the money

@PirateWires @Madeline_Zimm Correction, not Belize but Brazil. airandspaceforces.com/PDF/MagazineAr…

Great article. You did not mention the Snark missile en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM-62_Sna… which was an epic failure. I had a trip to the Cape in the 70’s and met one of the controllers for a live test. It was the first intercontinental launch of a ballistic missile because the destruct code failed and the bird landed somewhere in Belize or nearby environs.

NEW: Anduril’s rapid testing of military hardware (see: blowing sh*t up) isn’t simply “failure.” It’s the process America has used for decades to build the world’s best weapons... and win wars. @Madeline_Zimm 👇 piratewires.com/p/yes-blowing-…