Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (Psalms 116:15 KJV)
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 KJV)
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8 KJV)
Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple‘s iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, has died, Apple said. Jobs was 56.
Jobs died “peacefully” surrounded by family members, his family said in a statement.
Neither Jobs’ family nor Apple revealed where Jobs died or from what cause, though in recent years he had fought a form of pancreatic cancer and had a liver transplant.
“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” read a statement by Apple’s board of directors. “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”
The homepage of Apple’s website switched to a full-page image of Jobs with the text, “Steve Jobs 1955-2011.”
Clicking on the image revealed additional text, credited in a separate memo to Apple employees to current Apple CEO Tim Cook.
“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being,” the text read. “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
I own an iPod touch, I even blog from it. I love it and I thank Mr. Jobs for his contribution. May he rest in peace.
…and seeing that I am supposed to be a sarcastic Conservative blogger; I shall say this….. Maybe NOW they’ll finally put adobe FLASH in these silly things! 😉
In a new video which recently surfaced online, the Taliban appears to brutally and systematically execute 16 unarmed Pakistani policemen in what the terror group called a revenge killing.
The video of the massacre, which reportedly took place in early June, was posted online last week and confirmed by the Pakistani army today. It shows the policemen — who are not in uniform — standing in a line before a Taliban member who appears to be lecturing them. The man, who appears to act as the militants’ commander, accuses the policemen of executing six children in a previous operation and claims their imminent deaths are revenge, according to a summary posted with the video.
Several Taliban members then open fire on the group until all the policemen have fallen. A wailing cry is heard in the background after the initial volley. After reloading, a single fighter walks over each body and shoots them once more in the head.
But yet, President Barack Obama wants to try and negotiate with these monsters.
My friends, you do not negotiate with criminals and cold blooded killers; these people hate Liberty and Freedom. They hate Israel and Jews; kind of like the liberal left and some of the Paleo-Conservative and libertarian right. They are not rational, sane, human beings — they are cold blooded killers. We did not negotiate with Charles Manson and his cult — so why the hell would we negotiate with people like this?
My friends, consider this hallow warning from someone who sat through hours of footage on 9/11 and almost ended up in the psych ward because of it:
IF WE DO NOT SUCCEED ON THE WAR ON TERRORISM, THIS COULD BE A SCENE IN AMERICA VERY SOON!
Dismiss me as an alarmist if you wish; I could not care less. But this is coming to America, if we fall down on the war on terrorism!
America must be protected; Israel must be protected, Liberty and Freedom are at stake! Radical Islam is a threat! Do not believe the lie of the Liberal-controlled, financed, and organized media — which is supplanted by the Government! The liberal media is in bed with the radical and no-so-radical Muslims!
Remember this Video and Blog Posting come November 2012.
We need a President who will stand tall in the face of these bastards and not blink. Bush did it; and paid for it, with his Presidency — but he did not waver for a second. Mistakes were made, that is very true. However, in the end, we won in Iraq and we can win here too. We just have to not give up.
lan astaslem --- I will not surrender --I will not submit.
This is not a game, this is not fake; Ron Paul and his racist, Anti-Semitic friends, who hate Israel and everything related to it are the ENEMY! They must be kept out of the White House, at all costs! They are friends with these people! Consider me a soldier in that battle too.
In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and of in the Name of the Lord GOD Jehovah — Master and Saviour of this World and KING of Kings and LORD of Lords of this World and in the great, wonderful, world to come:
I remember hearing about on the CBS Morning News the following day. What I distinctly remember about that report was that instead of the concert being cancelled, fans brought their guitars and went on stage to play Chapin’s songs. That has always stayed with me. In 2001, I comemorated what happened the day Chapin died with a poem called “A Thousand Guitars & A Cello” which would later appear in my first poetry chapbook, Oysters & The Newborn Child:
When it was announced that you would not perform
The observers and participants continued to arrive
Refusing to be deterred by the bitter storm
Determined to see that the music would survive
A thousand guitars ascended the stage
Accompanied by a single cello
Our stories would fill the blank page
For one night we all stood friend & fellow
In a land where hope is faint
Destiny and fate are still ours to choose
The portrait of ourselves we paint
Challenges us to better fill our shoes
Life will not be about loss and win
When we understand that the circle never ends or begins
*snip*
When Chapin wasn’t performing in concert or working on his latest album, he could be seen on Capitol Hill lobbying Senators and Congressmen about the issue of world hunger. Although Chapin leaned liberal (before he became famous he worked on one of Allard Lowenstein ‘s congressional campaigns in New York), he would talk to anybody about addressing world hunger – Democrat or Republican. Well, Chapin made an indelible impression. Then Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole eulogized him on the floor of the Senate. Dole was one of nearly forty Senators and Congressmen paid tribute to Chapin that day. When he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in December 1987 both Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch were on hand to sing Chapin’s praises. Chapin didn’t hate the people who didn’t share his politics. On the contrary, he wanted to persuade conservatives just as much as he wanted to persuade liberals.
Now a few thoughts of my own about Harry Chapin:
Harry Chapin was one who, unlike many of the entertainment industry, actually practiced what he preached. Unlike many of the Hollywood and entertainment Liberal crowd in California, Chapin saw wrong and tried to fix it. Was he a liberal? Absolutely, however back in Chapin’s day, being a liberal meant an entirely different thing, than it does today. I truly believe if he saw what the Democratic Party was about today; at the very least, he would be a libertarian.
Chapin was a part of the “thinking” artists and liberals of his era. He fought for what he believed in, did what he loved and helped one hell of a great deal of people doing it. He; like Gordon Lightfood, like Jim Croce and many more like them — inspired many in that era to not accept what the previous generation told them, but to think for themselves.
America is a much shallow place without him.
Rest in peace Harry — God knows, you earned in the short time you were here.
One of my favorite pictures of Gerald Ford and the First Lady
I started to fire up Microsoft Word and write some nice sounding speech, with flowery words and nice phrases in it. However, I will just keep it simple.
First lady Betty Ford has passed on at 93.
Betty Ford was, to many, a symbol, of strength, of courage, of overcoming big obstacles and of; yes, Hope.
At 93, she lived a life that some only could dream of living. She was, in fact, thrust into the First Lady’s office, when Nixon resigned and our Nation was in turmoil for his so-called misdeeds.
I found this video on YouTube. I think it is most fitting:
Rest in Peace, Dear Lady. As God Knows, you have damned well earned it.
This weekend, America celebrates a holiday that ought to be the greatest of them all. Our military is the greatest of them all. I personally respect ANYONE who chooses to serve. This posting is dedicated to them.
In this thread here yesterday, some idiot did a drive by and claimed that Al-Qaeda did not exist. I deleted it, because it sounded so stupid. I wish now that I kept it. Anyhow, here we go:
(CNN) — Yemeni security forces abandoned a key coastal city to Islamic militants, residents of the city told CNN Sunday, while a powerful rebel tribe kept up pressure on the government in the capital.
“The militants are everywhere and we cannot leave our homes,” said a resident of the city of Zinjibar, east of Aden.
“They suddenly arrived and in large numbers. There were no clashes when they arrived on Friday night. We tried to complain to security forces but could not find them,” said the resident, who asked not to be named for security reasons.
By Saturday, “hundreds” of masked militants controlled the main streets of the city, locals said.
Abyan province, where Zinjibar is located, is a hotbed of Islamic militancy in Yemen, a country which has become a key battleground against al Qaeda.
I crack up at the libertarians that say, “Al-Qaeda does not exist, it is invention of the U.S. Government!” All the while smoking their dope and waving their silly Ron Paul signs. I got one thing to say about that; tell that to the people living in this city in Yemen okay? Because right now, a whole bunch of people there are scared shitless and are worrying about whether these Islamic fascists will kill them or not.
I will concede one point; President George W. Bush royally screwed up, when trying to fight this war. Bush should have directed ALL of our forces into the Afghan region and fought these bastards until the very last one dropped dead. But, he didn’t. Instead the President, then, listened to his intelligence people; who supposedly had information that Saddam had WMD’s and was giving comfort to the enemy, namely Al-Qaeda. That intelligence came from Germany and one guy named “Curveball,” and the United States and yes, Bush ate it up and off we went. As as result of that, Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and that war in general were left to fester and grow.
Now, as much as I would like to harp on the above and really lay into Bush for that mistake, I cannot. That part of history is over. We cannot continue to lay blame at a man’s feet, who is no longer in office. We cannot go back and change history, what is done, is done. I can however, point out that if Bush had fought this war properly to start with, we would most likely not be in this position now.
Now, we are at the place, that we are; Obama ordered the taking out of Osama Bin Laden; most likely with the assumption that Al-Qaeda would die off. The problem with that is this; OBL was simply a figure-head anymore. The day-to-day stuff was being carried out by others and he was widely disconnected from the “Front Lines” of the operation. With the exception of the information carried by the carriers, OBL was just a figure-head.
I said all that above to get to this point here; anyone that believes that Al-Qaeda is not still a threat to this great Republic of ours; is a damned fool and is living in some sort of fantasy land. As someone who was almost frozen with fear on 9/11, especially when it was announced that there was plane en route to the White House. I remember that fear, and even though I am not a big fan of Nation Building and occupation; I do realize that the War on terror is a very real thing and we must not allow these bastards to gain any ground at all. As someone who watched those images on 9/11 and proceeding days and was almost driven to suicide over it. I must object to the notion that this war on terror is not winnable. Those bastards inflicted more than just physical destruction on the United States, they inflicted emotional distress on the United States as well; and for that, those fucking bastards must pay and pay dearly. Al-Qaeda and its affiliates MUST BE DESTROYED AT ALL COSTS!
Those who died on 9/11 deserve that justice and those of us, who survived the madness and the images that followed it; DEMAND IT!
If anyone reading this, thinks that because I feel this way, that I am some sort of Jewish Neo-Conservative; then by golly, when it comes to this subject and any subject related to the defense of the Republic of United States of America, I AM A DAMNED NEO-CONSERVATIVE AND ANYONE WHO LOVES THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE TOO!
Regardless of what one thought of her political leaning; you cannot argue this fact — Geraldine Ferraro was one hell of a woman. Pioneer, Glass ceiling breaker… all of that…
In that Spirit and in that Spirit alone, I present this…. Rest in peace Lady…. you’ve more than earned it.
WASHINGTON—
Geraldine Ferraro, the Democratic congresswoman who became the first woman on a major party presidential ticket as Walter Mondale’s running mate in 1984, died on Saturday at the age of 75, according to a statement from her family.
Ferraro died at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston of a blood cancer after a 12-year illness.
Geraldine Ferraro
Ferraro was a telegenic, articulate and fiery three-term New York congresswoman when Mondale picked her from the male-dominated U.S. House of Representatives. Ferraro’s presence on the Democratic ticket generated excitement on the campaign trail, particularly among females of all ages.
Yet on Election Day, Republican President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush defeated Mondale and Ferraro in a landslide, carrying every state except Mondale’s home state of Minnesota.
In delivering her concession speech that night, Ferraro urged Americans to support the re-elected president, and then saluted Mondale for helping women reach new political heights.
“For two centuries, candidates have run for president. Not one from a major party ever asked a woman to be his running mate — until Walter Mondale,” she said.
“Campaigns, even if you lose them, do serve a purpose,” Ferraro said. “My candidacy has said the days of discrimination are numbered. American women will never be second-class citizens again.”
She was a Democrat from a time, when the Democratic Party was still a respectable organization. May she rest in peace.
Oscar winning actress Elizabeth Taylor died today at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Hospital. She was 79. She was surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton,” Taylor’s publicist, Sally Morrison, said in a statement.In the same statement, Michael Howard Wilding, 58, memorialized his mother:”My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love,” he said. “Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts.”
Needless to say, the do not build them like that anymore. Hollywood was a different place in those days. Mrs. Taylor will be missed and my prayers are with her family. She was, an actress, an activist, a warrior for things that she loved.
Frank Woodruff Buckles - February 1, 1901 – February 27, 2011
Frank W. Buckles died Sunday, sadly yet not unexpectedly at age 110, having achieved a singular feat of longevity that left him proud and a bit bemused.
In 1917 and 1918, close to 5 million Americans served in World War I, and Mr. Buckles, a cordial fellow of gentle humor, was the last known survivor. “I knew there’d be only one someday,” he said a few years back. “I didn’t think it would be me.”
Mr. Buckles, a widower, died on his West Virginia farm, said his daughter, Susannah Buckles Flanagan, who had been caring for him there.
Flanagan, 55, said her father had recently recovered from a chest infection and seemed in reasonably good health for a man his age. At 12:15 a.m. Sunday, he summoned his live-in nurse to his bedroom. As the nurse looked on, Flanagan said, Mr. Buckles drew a breath, and his eyes fell shut.
“We have lost a living link to an important era in our nation’s history,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said of Mr. Buckles, whose distant generation was the first to witness the awful toll of modern, mechanized warfare. “But we have also lost a man of quiet dignity who dedicated his final years to ensuring the sacrifices of his fellow doughboys are appropriately commemorated.”
As time thinned the ranks of those long-ago U.S. veterans, the nation hardly noticed them vanishing, until the roster dwindled to one ex-soldier, embraced in his final years by an appreciative public.
“Frank was a history book in and of himself, the kind you can’t get at the library,” said his friend Muriel Sue Kerr. Having lived from the dawn of the 20th century, he seemed to never tire of sharing his and the country’s old memories – of the First World War, of roaring prosperity and epic depression, and of a second, far more cataclysmic global conflict, which he barely survived.
Mr. Buckles, who was born by lantern light in a Missouri farmhouse, quit school at 16 and bluffed his way into the Army. As the nation flexed its full military might overseas for the first time, he joined 4.7 million Americans in uniform and was among 2 million U.S. troops shipped to France to vanquish the German kaiser.
Ninety years later, with available records showing that former corporal Buckles, serial No. 15577, had outlived all of his compatriots from World War I, the Department of Veterans Affairs declared him the last doughboy standing. He was soon answering fan mail and welcoming a multitude of inquisitive visitors to his rural home.
“I feel like an endangered species,” he joked, well into his 11th decade. As a rear-echelon ambulance driver behind the trenches of the Western Front in 1918, he had been safe from the worst of the fighting. But “I saw the results,” he would say.
Many great things have been writing about this man. But my one word or thought is this; History lost. Frank Buckles was the last of that great history of America. He now is in his new body; and is most likely around the throne of grace. Mr. Buckles, may you rest in the eternal peace of the almighty God. Because, you have more than earned it.
May his memory live on through the lives of his children and through the lives of every American citizen that cherishes his or her freedom.
My Dad was a “peculiar duck” to use one of Dad’s favorite phrases.
And Josh was his peculiar duckling.
One of Josh and Dad’s favorite pastimes was to sit on the couch, with the volume on the TV all the way down as they talked and talked. A particular joy was brainstorming what sort of hats Norman, our Basset Hound, would look best in.
After nigh upon Talmudic debate of the question, they concluded that a Pickelhaube, the spiked helmet worn by the imperial soldiers of Kaiser Wilhelm, would be best.
And, really, who are we to argue with that?
Of course, Josh worshipped our father, which probably explains why one of my earliest memories is of helping Josh make a giant portable poster of the sort carried by political protesters, it read “Bring Back the Czar!”
And, then there’s Mom. Nobody who knew Josh and who knows my Mom (even by reputation), can doubt how much of her was in him. He got his fearlessness and irreverence from her, and his stubbornness too. He loved her and she him. I shudder to think of her loss for fear of being pulled down by it.
Yes, my Mom and Josh fought. And Dad and Josh fought, a lot. And Josh and I locked horns more times than I can count. Everyone who loved Josh fought with Josh, because we all saw so much in him, more than he ever saw in himself.
Josh’s last job was working for my mom. He created a web forum called “The Connection” – a name that is more apt than I realized because in the last 48 hours I’ve been inundated with email from people who knew him only electronically. They’ve told me how they lost a friend, a confidant, a conversationalist. He made a connection with so many people, because that was his gift.
Of course, the most important connection in his life was with Chantal, his wife and best friend. In the 20 years they’ve been married, I never heard him say an unkind word about her, even as a good-natured joke. In the swirling storms that buffeted his life, when he was plagued with self-doubt and beset with legions of demons, his one anchor, his one True North was Chantal. He never wavered from his devotion to her.
In our marriage vows we swear to stay together in sickness and in health, through good times and bad. And no two people I have ever met have ever stayed truer to an oath.
I cannot pretend that Josh was without more than his fair share of faults. He was the first to admit that he let himself down by letting others down from time to time. I think it is important to be honest about this because honesty about his shortcomings is what allows us to see his strengths so clearly.
And Josh’s worst fault was his failure to appreciate how truly wonderful he was when he was at his best.
On 9/11 when most of us were glued to our TVs awaiting the next development, Josh had already put on his boots and walked down to Ground Zero to help out any way he could. It simply hadn’t occurred to him that he should do otherwise. He spent days, without sleep, clearing rubble and, eventually, driving barely filled body bags from the site.
When Josh was at his best, he was simply the best person I knew. The Joys of Yiddish says that a mensch is “someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character. The key to being ‘a real mensch’ is nothing less than character, rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, [and] decorous.”
That’s the brother I will always strive to remember and it is the uncle I pray my daughter remembers, because he loved Lucy as if she were his own. Perhaps that’s because she shares the same fearlessness or perhaps simply because he was, always, obsessed with family, much like our cousin Lynne and uncle Ralph, to whom I am so grateful for their help during the worst week of my life.
Joshua Goldberg, son of Lucianne, brother of Jonah, and husband of Chantal, died long before his time, following injuries resulting from a fall. Although he was less well-known than his mother and brother, Josh quietly edited the sites Lucianne.com, BlogsLucianneLoves, and The Connection, working mostly behind the scenes. That was his way. Following 911, Josh was one of those New Yorkers who put on his work boots and walked miles to the WTC site to help go through the rubble looking for survivors and victims’ bodies. That was the kind of man he was, quietly doing the right thing, and never seeking public credit for it.
For reasons only God knows, Lucianne, Jonah, and his wife Chantal, have suffered deep grief that will never go away. Our thoughts are with them, and with Josh, who is now with God. May they find some degree of solace in the condolences of the many, many people who have been touched by their kindness and by their untiring work.
I will be the first to admit; that I do not agree with Mr. Jonah Goldberg on politics; especially when it comes to foriegn policy. However, politics is one thing and real life is another. Let us all say a quiet prayer for the Goldberg family today. 🙁
May God Bless the Goldberg family during this horrible time.
More than four years after leaving public life, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld continues to believe the war in Iraq was worth the effort, and has no apologies for his decision-making in leading the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In an exclusive interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, Rumsfeld concedes that “it’s possible” that decisions on how many troops to send into Iraq marked the biggest mistake of the war.
“In a war, many things cost lives,” Rumsfeld told Sawyer.
Pressed on the fact that President Bush has written that cutting troop levels in Iraq was “the most important failure in the execution of the war,” Rumsfeld called that “interesting.”
I do not much care for the man. He is, in my humble opinion, an ignoramus. But he does have his opinions and he is a human being.
Get the Book:
I also highly recommend George W. Bush’s book as well:
The renowned rock guitarist Gary Moore has died in a hotel room while on holiday in Spain.
Moore, 58, originally from Belfast, was a former member of the legendary Irish group Thin Lizzy.
Thin Lizzy manager Adam Parsons told the BBC he was found early on Sunday.
Moore was originally drafted into Thin Lizzy by its late frontman Phil Lynott. He later gained acclaim for his solo work and was a former member of the Irish group Skid Row.
The Northern Ireland guitarist was only 16 when he moved from Belfast to Dublin in 1969, to join Skid Row, which featured Lynott as lead vocalist.
He was later brought into Thin Lizzy by Lynott to replace the departing Eric Bell, another guitarist from Northern Ireland.
Lynott died in 1986 but a new line-up of Thin Lizzy continues to tour.
Bell told the BBC on Sunday he was still “in shock” at Moore’s death in the Costa del Sol.
“I still can’t believe it,” he said.
“He was so robust, he wasn’t a rock casualty, he was a healthy guy.
This news is very sad personally, being about the same age and growing up with his music from his days with Skid Row and Thin Lizzy. However, it was his guitar virtuosity that appealed to me the most, as it did to many others.
Thus another person and a piece of my youth has departed this mortal plane. As one commenter on another site stated, “God needed a lead guitarist for a new band.” If that is so, he couldn’t have chosen any better.
Godspeed Gary Moore. Your talent and passion will be missed greatly.
One of the many guitar players I learned from, ripped off, and wished I could play half as good as. Much of the appreciation for melodic solos can be heard in a lot of his early-mid-80s solo work.
I believe that about sums it up. I also play guitar; and when I saw the headline, I let out a gasp and a “Oh no!”
Gary Moore joins the line of great guitar players that we have lost — Hendrix, Terry Kath, and many others.
I am also a guitar player and this one was a shock 😮 and so very sad. 😥
It is without argument; except from some mentally and morally depraved few among the white race — that Martin Luther King Jr. was in fact, the standard bearer of Christian way of fighting racial injustice in America. Martin Luther King Jr. was, in fact, a registered Republican and felt that the progressive black’s slogan of “fight the power” was, in fact. morally wrong. So much so, that Malcolm X said this about Martin Luther King Jr.:
To which Martin Luther King Jr. said back:
You see, some people within the Republican Party and within White Conservative circles do not understand the differences here. Well, I happen to be one of the white people who totally understand the difference. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Conservative Christian, who was, in fact, trying to fight racial oppression by Christian means. Malcolm X was not.
But, now that is all history, MLK was killed, as was Malcolm X was as well. But, I have to wonder, what would Martin Luther King Jr. think of the following, which was compiled by Michelle Malkin:
To all Military, active and otherwise! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service.
I never served a day in my life in the armed forces. They will not take me, I do not have a high school diploma. I have learning disabilities and I never did finish high school. Therefore I was ineligible. However, I am eternally grateful for anyone who served in the Military in any capacity.
You did well Google, thank you for honoring our Nation's best.
Again, let me be clear — I never served a day in my live, ever. However, I know from whence our freedoms doth come. They do not come from the Government; they come from the Lord God above and they are bought and paid for, by the blood of brave soldiers, who have fought and died in battlefields in our own Country of old and in battlefields abroad….. and for that, they have my deepest respect.
Barbara Billingsley, who wore a classy pearl necklace and dispensed pearls of wisdom as America’s quintessential mom on “Leave it to Beaver,” has died at age 94, a family spokeswoman said Saturday.
The actress passed away at 2 a.m. (5 a.m. ET) Saturday at her home in Santa Monica, California, after a long illness, spokeswoman Judy Twersky said. A private memorial is being planned.
Actor Jerry Mathers, who played Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, called Billingsley a lifetime mentor.
“Barbara was a patient advisor and teacher. She helped me along this challenging journey through life by showing me the importance of manners, and respect for others,” Mathers said in a statement. “She will be missed by all of her family, friends, fans and most especially by me.”
Tony Dow, who played Beaver’s brother, Wally Cleaver, also reflected on Billingsley’s legacy.
“She was as happy as a lark being recognized as America’s mom,” Dow told CNN’s Don Lemon. “She had a terrific life and had a wonderful impact on everybody she knew, and even people she didn’t know.”
She was the embodiment of what America used to be, before the ugliness set in.
Perhaps fittingly, “Leave it to Beaver” was canceled in 1963 on the eve of the JFK assassination, the Vietnam War and the tumult of the 1960s.
Hence, the ugliness of the 1960’s that I speak of. Say what you wish; but the 1960’s hippy movement in America turned it quite ugly. America’s golden age was replaced by the ugliness of the socialist hippy movement. If only we could go back to the 1960’s and someone could have screamed at John F. Kennedy, “NO! Do not start a war in Vietnam!, you are going to destroy this Country and everything that it was founded upon!” Perhaps America would be a much different place now.
There is something else, that I liked about this woman; was this here:
Asked once to compare real-life families to TV families, Billingsley responded, “I just wish that we could have more families like those. Family is so important, and I just don’t think we have enough people staying home with their babies and their children.”
That my friends, is how America used to be; before the liberalism of the 1960’s. When women knew their place in society, and still followed the Bible’s mandate on the role of a woman in the family. This was before the ugliness of the 1960’s, when a woman was taught that her sex organs were weapons and could be used to her advantage.
But alas, that America is gone for good, it its place, is an ugly America that is slowly beginning to destroy itself. We can never go back; but we always remember.
Rest in Peace Barbara, you lived a life that was full and you were a “Mom” to hundreds of millions —- including me.
Mrs. Billingsley is survived by her two sons, Drew and Glenn, Jr., who have, since 1974 owned and operated the Billingsley’s Steak House restaurant in West Los Angeles, in the tradition of their father and their great-uncle, Sherman Billingsley, founder of New York City’s very fashionable 1940s-era nightclub, the Stork Club.
Let me also say this; for all of things that I dislike about President Barack Obama, he has done nothing to make me personally believe that he is at the level of the awful that is presented in the film. There are those who believe, that were are nearing Soviet style communism. Sorry, I remain unconvinced of that just yet. However, I will tell you, that I remain distrusting of BOTH of these political parties, as they have been overran with special interest and corruption. Anyone that believes that the Republican Party is perfect, is one, naive or insane.
Enjoy the movie and remember what you watch here, as it is said — those who do not learn from history, is doomed to repeat it.
This posting is dedicated to the lives lost, during the oppressive regime that is covered in this movie.
The 20th century produced many great conservative writers, but none brought together wit, erudition, and humanity on a single page so well as Joseph Sobran. He was a remarkable man: even seeming quite frail at a gathering in his honor last December, he had a mind as accurate as precision clockwork, able to recall Shakespearean verses he had memorized decades earlier. He lived T.S. Eliot’s dictum that there are no lost causes because there are no gained causes, and he hated cant and injustice. News of his death today is a terrible shock, despite his long illness. He will be missed. — The American Conservative » Joseph Sobran, 1946-2010
40 years ago today; one of the greatest guitar players to ever grace the face of this earth, slipped across the divide and slipped the sundry bounds of this earth, and touched the face of God.
When Jimi Hendrix took that fatal overdose 40 years ago today, rock star deaths were still shocking. A high school friend broke the news to me as we rushed to homeroom, but I had almost no frame of reference for such loss. I wasn’t yet in kindergarten when Buddy Holly’s plane went down. The only precedents I could remember were the sinister deaths of Bobby Fuller and Brian Jones.
Veteran rockers might be dropping like flies now, but there was no such thing as an old rock star then. Dying automatically meant dying too young.
And Hendrix’s demise, maybe more than many that followed, was tragic ally premature. The body of work he left behind, much of which surfaced after he died, still sounds timeless and full of prom ise after four decades.
The first posthumous release, The Cry of Love, came within less than six months. Made up of some of the songs intended for Hendrix’s next album, it was the most ubiquitous music in the summer of ’71 soundtrack. At least in my circles.
Hendrix’s posthumous releases have been coming out non-stop since then – remixed, remastered, repack aged and rediscovered. Wikipedia lists 53 studio, live and compilation albums.
During his lifetime, Hendrix released only three studio albums and one live recording, all with in less than three years.
Yet such was his artistry that even rough outtakes, like the ones that surfaced this year on Valleys of Neptune, continue to fascinate fans and musicians, young and old.
?1970 ~ Jimi Hendrix dies in a London apartment. The coroner rules it accidental, saying the 27-year-old died of asphyxiation. There will never be another. Today, the wind cries Jimi.
They say he was murdered; we will never know the truth, the bastard that had him killed died himself in a plane crash. Which, if this be the case; was sweet justice.
Some great tunes from the person that basically influenced this rather backward geek to pick up a guitar and actually learn to play:
The tune that actually turned me on to Hendrix, told to me; by of all people, my youth pastor!:
Some of Hendrix’s sweeter stuff:
Rest in Peace, Jimi. You influenced me in ways, that you could never know. 🙁
November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970
James Marshall Hendrix AKA Johnny Allen Hendrix – among the stars, playing to the angels. May your music never be forgotten and may your memory always be eternal.
I think I will echo the same thoughts espoused by one of the greatest Bloggers in the Conservative Blogosphere — Mr. Ed Morrissey, in regards to the Passing of Marco Rubio’s Father. But first, the Presser:
Surrounded by family and loved ones, Marco Rubio’s father, Mario Rubio, passed away tonight at Baptist Hospital in Miami. He was 83 years old. Mario Rubio suffered from a long bout with emphysema and lung cancer.
In his final moments, Mario was accompanied by his loving wife of 61 years, Oria, his children Mario, Barbara, Marco and Veronica, and his extended family.
On the passing of his father, Marco Rubio issued the following statement:
“My father knew hard work and struggle from very early in his life. His mother died when he was only 9 years old. The day after his mother was buried he went to work with his father and did not stop working until he was 78 years old.
“He was by far the most unselfish person I have ever known, always focused on others, and never on his own well being. He was especially determined to provide his children opportunities he himself never had.
“My dad worked as a street vendor, security guard, apartment building manager and crossing guard. But for most of his life he was a bartender, and by all accounts a great one. But his greatest success came from the two most important jobs he ever had: husband and father.
“He was very proud of my public service. And over the last 18 months he became an expert channel surfer, constantly searching for my next television interview.
“I was blessed to be raised by a world class father. And I thank God for allowing my father to live long and healthy enough to see that the sacrifices he made for us were not in vain.”
For the entire Rubio family, as well as our campaign, politics will now be placed on temporary hold. We will resume our full schedule some time in the coming days. During this time, we respectfully ask for privacy for Marco and his family so they may mourn their loss in peace.
In lieu of flowers, the Rubio family requests honoring Mario Rubio’s memory by supporting the League Against Cancer/Liga Contra El Cancer http://ligacontraelcancer.org/.
Let me say this; first off, my most heartfelt condolences to the Rubio Family in this tragic time of loss — from my Family to theirs. Loosing someone you love is never easy at all. I could never even remotely fathom what it is that Marco Rubio is going through, I dread losing my Father, but I know that my Faith will get me through it. I know that is what Mr. Rubio and his Family are leaning on now.
Second of all; as we all know, Politics, especially here as of late, as become a bloodsport and can be nasty. There are times when there are exceptions to that rule. Here is an example:
Mr. Meek; you sir are class act. Thank you for showing the better side of humanity in a time such as this. If only there were more of you on this earth; it would be such a better place to reside. Thank you from someone, on this side of the aisle.
As for Former Republican Governor Charlie Crist, was also at the event. You sir ought to rot in the hottest part of the Devil’s hell for your asinine comment. Crist, when asked about this can only muster a ” Yeah, I heard about that.” Seriously? Is that the best you can do? Here’s hope you get what you rightfully deserve in November — defeated, forgotten and generally laughed at for being the egotistical ignorant bastard that you are.
I am very sorry that I allowed this to slip by me.
On August 25, 1945, one the greatest men to ever walk the face of this earth died. I am of course, referring to Missionary John Birch.
Here is a short video detailing John Birch’s life:
Synopsis:
John Birch, missionary and American intelligence officer in China during WWII, spreads a message of hope while risking his life behind enemy lines.
During a chance meeting, he is led to Colonel James H. Doolittle and members of the World War II raiding party that had just completed the dramatic and legendary bombing raid on Tokyo, in April, 1942.
This accidental meeting behind enemy lines proved to be the rescue the airmen had hoped for. With his encyclopedic knowledge of the language, customs, and geography of China, Birch was able to convey Doolittle and the crews of many of the other American bombers to safety in free China.
Birch, an American Baptist missionary serving in China since 1940, then became an intelligence analyst as a second lieutenant with the China Air Task Force of the American Army—General Claire Chennault’s legendary “Flying Tigers.” He was the first American to live and work in the field with a Chinese army fighting against the Japanese. Performing high-risk intelligence-gathering missions on the ground, Birch earned the reputation as “the eyes of the 14th Air Force,” devising an early warning system that enabled U.S. air units to come to the aid of Chinese units under enemy attack. He also organized a rescue system for pilots who were shot down by the Japanese. Chennault credited Birch with the fact that 90 percent of his downed flyers were rescued.
The story of Birch is not as well-known as Doolittle’s raid, but plays an integral role in leading the downed airmen to safety. Without Birch, many more of the raid may not have survived to tell their story nor perhaps would victory come as quickly as it did in then free China. Ten days after the war, Birch was killed by Chinese Communists as he was on his way to rendezvous with small pockets of Japanese soldiers, who were to surrender to him.
Birch would never know the fact that details of his death were kept from the American people. Nor would he know of Robert Welch, who would found an organization bearing his name and who would continue Birch’s quest to spread the message of freedom. He also would not know that his parents would proudly accept life memberships into the organization.
Of course, I am sure most of you know, that the John Birch Society was named after the man. It was, in fact, started by Robert Welch.
What a life, what a man, if only we had men like this today. Sadly, most people today, take for granted our freedoms.
Update: (H/T HotAir’s resident Alpha Male, who is too busy looking at his I-Phone, and dreaming it’s Kristen Powers and checking his, um, grip, to fish my trackback out of the spam folder.)
This is an open message to the Japan Democrat Party leader Ichiro Ozawa. To View this page translated into the Japanese Language via Google Translate, please, click here.
Dear Sir,
I happen to have read your comments here in this news story:
TOKYO – A key figure in Japan’s ruling party dubbed Americans “simple-minded” in a speech to fellow lawmakers Wednesday.
It was not clear what prompted the remarks by Democratic Party heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa at a political seminar, in which he otherwise paid tribute to Americans’ commitment to democracy, saying it was something Japan should learn from.
“I like Americans, but they are somewhat monocellular,” the former Democratic Party leader said. “When I talk with Americans, I often wonder why they are so simple-minded.”
Ozawa didn’t elaborate on what aspect of Americans made him compare them monocellular organisms, a term also used to mean shortsighted or dumb.
There is growing speculation that the 68-year-old former party leader — renowned as a backroom dealer and election strategist but unpopular among the wider public — may run against rival Prime Minister Naoto Kan in a Sept. 14 election for the party leadership.
Ozawa steered clear of that topic in his speech at the seminar to about 50 lawmakers from the party and dozens of other invitees. But later Wednesday he hinted he would, telling supporters his decision on whether to run would hopefully “respond to your expectations.” He said he needed more time to make that decision.
Ozawa was forced to resign as party secretary-general in early June over a funding scandal, though he has denied any wrongdoing.
Despite the Democratic Party-led government’s month slong tussle with Washington over the planned relocation of a major U.S. military base in Okinawa — which has weakened public support for the government — Tokyo and Washington remain close allies, and Ozawa’s comments on Americans did not appear geared at currying support within the party.
Ozawa, who advocates a U.S.-style two-party political system for Japan — which currently has a coalition government — praised Americans for electing President Barack Obama.
“I don’t think Americans are very smart, but I give extremely high credit for democracy and choices by its people,” he said. “They chose a black president for the first time in U.S. history,” adding that he thought once that would never be possible
Sir, please, allow me to share some photos with you:
These pictures sir were taken when your ever so brilliant Government decided to attack our interests in the Republican of Hawaii in 1941. This was previous to Hawaii becoming the 50’th state in our Union. We were injured, battered and, for a time, beaten. But the United States of American and it’s righteous might sprung back from this horrific attack and defeated YOUR COUNTRY and the Axis powers, which included one of your partners in crime at the time — Germany. Germany had the common sense to know when it was beaten and surrendered to the United States of America on April 30, 1945. In fact, here is a radio report of the surrender. But, yet, your idiotic Country could not or would not dare surrender to the United States, you chose to fight — to the death. So, to save our Military the loss of additional men — we brought on the best weapon known to man kind. The Atomic Bomb. Here are some WONDEFUL pictures of that dropping of that bomb. Of which you were supposed to get 12 — you ended up getting two. Consider yourself lucky sir.
The first:
and the Second:
We caught hell for doing that; in fact, there are liberals to this day that believe that we were wrong from dropping those bombs. The truth is, that your Country’s military leaders were SO insane, that they really did not want to stop fighting, even after these two bombs were dropped. But your imperial commander at the time, decided that losing the Japanese race was not worth the fight. Perhaps it is because he realized that attacking America was big mistake. Some here in America say that we got attacked, because we cut your fuel shipments off. That is because you were inflicting death on other Countries.
So, to the Government of Japan, to the Democratic Party of Japan, and to Ichiro Ozawa. I give a hearty FUCK YOU!
And Josh was his peculiar duckling.
![Jimi_Hendrix_1967[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.politicalbyline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Jimi_Hendrix_19671.png "Jimi_Hendrix_1967[1]")
