‘Bill Ayers, Bilge-Master’ (2014)

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From domestic terrorist to adviser to a president

We really must be crazy, to give a prominent role in public life to some Far Left parasite who’d like to blow us all to kingdom come. This former domestic terrorist, whose picture used to decorate our post offices, is now a revered “educator” and advisor to prominent Democrats: he helped mentor President *Batteries Not Included in the finer points of Marxism.

Bill Ayres, Bilge-Master

Really, why is this guy still running around loose? Why is he collecting public money? Why is he such a big wheel in Chicago’s “education” establishment?

More proof that America is “educating” herself to death.

‘Abide with Me’ (Fountainview Academy)

Beautiful hymn, beautiful performance, and beautiful setting–Abide with Me, performed by students from Fountainview Academy on their European tour. I’d very much like to know where and what is that cool building in the background. Anybody recognize it?

Feline Delinquents

I am happy to be able to say that my cats are always too busy eating, sleeping, or fighting to have time left over to break stuff. But no doubt about it–the cats in this video need an attitude adjustment.

Some of them have appeared in other video compilations, but not the all-time champion toilet paper shredder. I wonder if he’d stop if you made him pay for the toilet paper.

The Exorcism of the Wading Pool (‘Oy, Rodney’)

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At last–Chapter CCCXIII of Violet Crepuscular’s epic romance, Oy, Rodney. I have skipped Chapter CCCXII because I couldn’t find it anywhere.

As instructed by the Wise Woman of the Woods, Lady Margo Cargo has hired three men who are each the seventh son of a seventh son, all expert morris dancers, and all named Squeeb MacTavish, to remove Black Rodney’s curse on the vicar’s backyard wading pool. If you don’t understand that sentence, welcome to the club.

All three are now in position to perform the magical ritual, each equipped with an orange beach ball. Looking on are Lady Margo and her fiancees, Lord Jeremy Coldsore and the American adventurer, Willis Twombley, whom she thinks are the same person.

“Ready?” cries Lord Jeremy.

“We are ready, my lord,” answers Squeeb MacTavish–well, answers one of them. Which one doesn’t really matter.

“Then do yer stuff!” shouts Twombley.

With their backs to the pool, all three toss their beach balls into the air, hopefully to land in the middle of the pool. They do, all three of them.

Out from under the pool, with blinding speed, shoot three slimy tentacles, instantaneously wrapping around the three morris dancers and snapping back under with the three men. Gone, all three of them.

“That wasn’t supposed to happen!” Lord Jeremy cries. Twombley laughs, earning a frown from Lady Margo.

“I deplore this man’s laughter at this manslaughter!” she declares.

“And I, dear reader,” exults Mr. Crepuscular, “have executed another crepuscularity!” She is sure this will catch on as a literary technique.

(“Toldja that so-called Wise Women of the Woods is full of it!” grumbles Lady Margo’s crusty old butler, Crusty. “She’s never been right about anything.”)

Here the chapter dissolves into an orgy of self-congratulation by Ms. Crepuscular, too shameful to repeat here.

Feeling Dumb? False Facts to the Rescue!

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After the fantastic success of the first three editions of False Facts–believe it or not, not a single reader wrote in to plead with me not to previewFalse Facts 4.0: not even one!–we were gratified to adopt presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden as our company mascot. Let his words be our motto!

“We choose truth over facts.”

Tired of people thinking you’re just a poor dumb dope who doesn’t know anything? Do you wish you knew a lot of cool stuff that they don’t know? Wouldn’t it be great to have them all marveling at your erudition?

All you need is False Facts 4.0!

Here are just a few examples for you to practice with. When you see how impressed people are, you’ll want to buy the whole set.

Just remember: when you deliver a False Fact, stand up straight, speak boldly and authoritatively, and look that other person right in the idea, double-dog-daring him to challenge you. And okay, here we go.

*Yogurt was originally invented by the Vikings, who used it to treat nightmares in chickens.

*The Great Gatsby was originally written as an advertising gimmick for Lifebuoy Soap.

*The city of Glasgow, Scotland, does not actually exist. It was removed in 1968, but the maps have never been updated.

*TV coverage of the Battle of Fallen Timbers shortened the Civil War by turning the public against it.

*The Pestilent Dutch Elm Monkey of Central Africa can eat four times its own weight in shredded wheat each day.

Well, that’s enough to get you started. When you’re ready for the full set of False Facts 4.0, mosey on down to your local Rite-Aid with $410.89 in cash. Tell ’em Joe sent you.

Invitation to Readers: C’mon Over!

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Look, I don’t want to cover any nooze today, I refuse to post it. Besides, it’s a beautiful late-summer day, a gorgeous Sabbath morning, the enervating heat is gone–

So I’m inviting you to a backyard summer cookout, regular readers and newbies alike. Since I don’t actually have a back yard, or a grill, and the whole thing must take place in the realm of our imaginations… come one, come all! Room for everybody!

We’ll have a great time. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chops of your choice. Root beer, regular beer, iced tea. Horseshoes on the playground, just next door. Badminton on the lawn. A limitless supply of good conversation. Yea, forsooth, cigars for everyone who wants one! Our cats and dogs will play together. We could even play croquet. Let fellowship abound.

I’m going to imagine this and take delight in it. You’re all invited to do the same.

By Request, ‘Who Is On the Lord’s Side?’

“Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me.”   –Moses (Exodus 32:26)

Still asking it today!

Requested by Susan, Who Is On the Lord’s Side?–sung by the choir and congregation at Temple Baptist Church, Powell, Tennessee.

Inspiration Sunday!

We know Allison as “Weaveningword.”

I John 3:1-3 (“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us..”) is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament.    –LD

‘In Defense of Plain English’ (2016)

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One of the worst books I’ve ever tried to read. But I wasn’t getting paid to read it, so I stopped.

In writing dialogue, especially in a fantasy or a historical novel, there has to be a happy medium between “I feel ya, dude” and “Yea, forsooth, thou barkest up ye wrong tree.” That happy medium is plain English.

In Defense of Plain English

Yes, I know–tons of books have been published in which plain English is simply not to be found. Some of them have even been best-sellers. But that doesn’t make them any less abominable.

Someday our age will be called to account for Robert Ludlum and Jean Auel; and it won’t be pretty.

‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty’

Here, I’ve got one with lyrics for you, so you can sing along with the Altar of Praise Men’s Chorale–Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. It’s a wonderful thing, what trained human voices can do by way of making music. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands!