Big Ben Falls Silent but the politics don't

                                                      

In the mist of the threat from North Korea and the meltdown of the Democrats due to the November loss of their queen the big story across the pond is that one of, if not the biggest symbols of their country is now dormant. At least the noise that emanates from it. 

Blimey, the time, money and effort of analyzing this startling event is not just worth the politicians focus but it is also a much needed distraction from the aforementioned worldly follies. Don't get me wrong. I like a big bong bong as much as the next guy. Oh wait, I was talking about today's Big Ben not that smoking aid. Back to the subject at hand.

I really don't think that the world will miss 4 years (or more as the story eludes to) of Big Ben's 4 noisy outbursts. I do concede that possibly the fish and chips and Spotted Dick pudding just won't taste the same. Heck, maybe when BB starts belching again the Brits will rise up with torches and ropes to silence it because they have grown to like the post-BB taste.

Let's all hold our breath as this very serious matter is debated and pray that the leaders make the right decision. Does BB go silent for renovations? Or the workers go deaf the first day? Just hail one of the guards at Buckingham Palace and give him your vote. You can tell from their expression that they live for controversy.    
    

                            Protest in my home state

If there was a Stupidity Olympics, it might well look like what the world saw in Charlottesville, Virginia this weekend. Idiots came from all over to participate in the Games, with oversight (and we use that word in every possible sense) and rules administered by as striking a bunch of ideological nitwits as you could ever hope to assemble in one place.

It isn't easy to comment on exactly what happened because the incendiary events became perfect fodder for alleged journalists (and politicians) to say whatever the hell they wanted to whether it was factual or not. Hurricanes only wish they had this kind of spin.

According to the mainstream media, Donald Trump's enthusiastic embrace of Nazis and the KKK inevitably manifested in a White Power hate rally. And when lovable Leftists peacefully protested, a number of them were deliberately mowed down by the speeding car of a White racist causing one death and many serious injuries. So horrific was the racist violence that a police helicopter fell out of the sky just from watching the carnage, causing the tragic deaths of two officers - but upping the tally to "3 killed in violent confrontations" in reports throughout the entirely delighted media.

 But that's not exactly what happened. Although truthfully, we don't know exactly what happened (how could we?) but do know a lot of things are being underreported and misreported.

• The "Unite the Right" rally was planned ahead of time in coordination with the ACLU, a proper permit was obtained, and no matter how odious the nincompoop group's views might be, they had a First Amendment right to assemble peacefully and speak.

• Officials of Charlottesville (along with Virginia governor and longtime Clinton hack, Terry McAuliffe) presciently "predicted" violence before the event, perhaps because they were welcoming the imbecilic armies of Antifa and BLM with open arms - after which they illegally (according to an actual judge) tried to move the event before revoking the permit entirely. Unsurprisingly, and perhaps intentionally, chaos ensued.

• Antifa and BLM came looking for violence, then caused it - throwing stones and water bottles, pepper spraying alt-right types, and occasionally just beating people bloody (although in fairness, some in the "Unite the Right" crowd clearly came to rumble, too). Seemingly, the police did little to stop this and might (we emphasize might) have been instructed to step back to allow some politically useful carnage to take place.

• A 20-year old loser who might (we emphasize might) be a Nazi-sympathizer drove his car into a crowd at high speed. If it was his intent to injure people, then he is a terrorist - no more, no less - and should suffer the appropriate consequences. 

In other words, every aspect of this clash of the dunderheads was a fustercluck of the highest magnitude. Hateful cretins of many races, creeds and colors came to clash - influenced far more by the media's rhetoric than anything ever said by Donald Trump, and certainly not endorsed by the President in any way.

A couple of important points: the imbeciles who really are neo-Nazis and White supremacists are despicable, but there aren't that many of them. Happily, inbreeding shortens their life spans.

Similarly, the blockheads of Antifa and BLM are probably lacking in real numbers, although their influence gets magnified by favorable press coverage and the seemingly endless depth of George Soros's pocketbook.

Unfortunately, with the intent of forcing Donald Trump out of the White House, the mainstream media continues to turn up the heat and create the illusion that the majority of Americans have pledged allegiance to one pin headed side or the other. By doing so, they maneuver citizens (albeit hopeless ignoramuses) into gladiatorial combat, with actual bloodshed - no matter who caused it - seen as a victory.

And nothing that happened in Charlottesville is more sickening, or more frightening, than that.

***This is from Stiltons Place blog. Copied because I think it is dead on!!

                                    Boredom in Paradise

As an expat living once again in Costa Rica I first want to assure the reader that this is a beautiful country. That is unless you are on medical leave of absence! Then it is just as boring as if you were in your hometown. Allow me to explain.

I have visited many scenic and historical places since returning in 2010. And why not. When I lived here in the 90's I never had time since I was forced for business reasons to split my time between Honduras, El Salvador, the United States and here. The 60-70 hour work week left me too spent to do anything but sit by my pool sipping my favorite drink(s) and planning the next week agenda and challenges. 

However, I have been on medical leave of absence for 2 months waiting for a surgery called Carotid Endarterectomy. One of the major symptoms is dizziness. So much so that it is difficult to maintain your balance when you try to walk. That in itself puts the "ain't no way in hell" decision as the only way to go. So I am doomed to suffer cabin fever. Held hostage in our home here in Alajuela! 

I spend my days reading, surfing the web and watching TV. Although we have cable, 90% of the channels are in Spanish. A language I speak very poorly. So I am forced to watch reruns during the day or those talk shows that are mostly conducted by liberals who's views I very rarely have anything in common with. The game shows many times give away trips to paradise (Costa Rica). Just to rub it in my face of the places and things that are at my finger tips but unobtainable to me at this time of my BOREDOM!   

In closing let me again say that if you can keep your balance and want to visit a great country as a get away 'come on down'. Bring me a wheel chair. I'll keep a light on for you.

Pura Vida

                                                                                        

                                    Murder in the Rag Business

I was a plant manager at a men's knit shirt manufacturer. The year was 1984. It was early summer at about 6:30 am and I was in my office preparing the agenda for the day. 

Suddenly one of the service girls rushed into my office and told me I needed to get to the back parking lot right away. From her demeanor and shocked look I knew this was serious. I jumped up and hustled to the employee entrance to the back lot. As I cleared the steps up to the parking lot I saw from my peripheral vision a white car parked properly but a pickup truck was pulled up at it at a strange angle. Then I saw one of my employees laying face up near her car and could see she had a bleeding wound in her head. About 4 feet away a guy was laying face down in a pool of blood at his waist area. As I rushed to the employee another one there shouted that he had shot her! My mind kicked into overdrive and immediately I noticed no gun was visible. I called out for someone to call 911 and very cautiously approached the two bodies. No gun in sight and the guy is laying face down. Will he jump up or roll over and start shooting again? 

As I walked to the employee, her name was Glenda, I keep a keen eye on the mystery shooter. I squatted down and could she that she was barely breathing but noticed that he was breathing hard. About this time I heard sirens coming in fast and told everyone to stand back and away from the lot entrance. EMT, police and ambulance vehicles started in one after the other and all toward the crime scene. I motioned for the employees to go inside. I noticed one of the EMT guys rolling the guy over and the gun was still in his hand. One of the cops rushed over and took it away. 

Glenda was airlifted to the Trauma Center in Fayetteville were she died later that day. The guy was taken to the local hospital were he survived. 

Now the back story.         

Glenda and her twin sister Brenda worked in the plant as auto hemmers. I had heard through the jungle drums (rumors) that Glenda was involved in an ongoing adulterous affair. As it turned out the drum beaters were right. The guy in the parking lot was her husband. 

He was a probation officer and had borrowed the pick up from a friend the night before so that Glenda would not recognize it when he pulled in the next morning and jumped out as she was locking her car up and shot her fatally in the head.  

What came out in the trial was that he had warned her that if she did not break off the affair he would take drastic action. He had left a note in his sons room that morning that he was going to hurt his mother because she would not listen to him.  

It turned out that it was the service girl that had called me out that faithful morning was the one that saw him shoot her. We testified at the trail, her for what she saw and me to verify that no one had touched anything before the cops arrived.  


He was tried before a judge. He had been a probation officer for many years and seemed to be well liked and respected by his peers and the others in the legal system there. He received a seven year sentence. Seven years for premeditated murder!!! 

And they say the justice system is blind............. 

                                              

    

                                    The Battle of Rivas

                                                   

                                        Juan Santamaria Park in Alajuela, Costa Rica

On April 11, 1856 this battle occured between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. A North America, William Walker, led Nicaragua forces in an attempt to invade Costa Rica as part of his master plan to enslave the countries of Central America and become the head of this mini empire. He had overthrown the government of Nicaragua and his 'army' marched into Costa Rica only to be defeated by a coaliy.tion of farmers wielding nothing more than machetes.  

A 19 year old soldier drummer boy named Juan Santamaria became a hero when he set fire to the hostel that Walker and his commanders where staying at. This action cost Juan Santamaria his life but it also caused Walker and his troops to retreat thus sparing the people of Costa Rica the impending slavery that had been planned for them.  

Juan Santamaria is a hero and his memory lives on in many ways. The international airport is named after him. In April there is celebrated Juan Santamaria day with a huge parade, concerts and other various festivities through out the day.

The celebrations are most intense in the city that I reside in, Alajuela. That's because Juan Santamaria was from here. He was the illegitimate son of a single mother and a poor laborer prior to joining the army. 

Waterfalls and Butterflys

Costa Rica Style

Here in Costa Rica there are many sights that can only be described as beautiful. None more so than the multitude of waterfalls and 1500 species of butterflys. There are many different butterfly 'farms' and although you will only scratch the surface by visiting some or all of the 'farms' the amount of species and the myriad of colors that you experience is breath taking! That you can take to the bank.  

We have visited some where you can take in a majestic and very loud waterfall AND go inside the 'farm' and relax in the quiet stillness and beauty of the butterflys. Then within a short walk you stop by the restaurant and enjoy some delicious local food from the buffet. The restaurant is actually a very large open air roofed sitting area with a large fireplace that is used for cooking various meats that you find on the buffet along with vegetables and as always the omnipresent rice and beans. There are some tasty desserts that can be had along with the after-meal coffee. Oh, did I mention the ICE COLD BEER? Full disclosure: In many places the beer is not kept in a cooler or if it is the temp is at 40°. So the beer is poured over ice if you so desire. Thus the Costa Rica type of ICE COLD BEER.

The walk near the waterfall is not for the faint of heart. You are traveling around by a path and you leave this path several times and find yourself on a swinging bridge that is made of rope and boards. The boards resembled what was (is) used for bed slats. You remember those. You place them on the bed frame to support the mattress. They replace the boxsprings. 

I regress. When you step onto the swinging bridge your guide warns you and all the others that it is necessary to stay X feet apart. This of course keeps the total weight on the bridge to a safe level. Then as you are crossing and the bridge swings to and fro you are tempted to look back to make sure that those kids that have been acting up is finally listening. That 20-25 foot drop is the last thing you want included in your little day excursion. Also you remember that maiming smartass kids is against the law. Even in this Third world country. 

You can read more about the butterflys here. And here. If you want to find out more about the penalty for maiming smartass kids............you're on your own. Just Google it. 

 

                                                                 

 

   

I observed a segment of our population that is very attached to their hand-held devices. I fear this will only get worse. I predict we will start to see people dying from having their heads bent over their hand-held electronic devices since their necks will give out. I wanted to provide a sample obituary for these individuals that die from a broken neck to make it easier for family and friends to publish an obituary.

                                                                         

I propose the following:

____________ passed away last evening. His/her neck finally broke due to the constant use of an electronic hand held device. There will be no viewing since no one has seen his/her face for many years and no one knows what they look like other than what the top of their head looks like. There will be no quotes of wise things they may have said since they became mute after only using text messages, instant messages and Facebook to communicate. The Facebook page for ____________ will be left open so you can post your virtual flowers and the emoji of your choice on their timeline. Donations may be made to the "Save our Necks and Thumbs Fund." This group has retained a group of scientists who are working feverishly to develop a chip that can be implanted in brains allowing access to the internet including games, social media, etc. by using your thoughts. The family is asking that you make the ultimate sacrifice as a tribute to the deceased by shutting down all of your electronic devices for one minute on ________ at ______ am/ pm.

                                                         Damn! No signal