Guard Dog

You know I found Luke's story in The Last Jedi to be the best and most compelling part of the new trilogy. I've liked all the movies so far.Finn & Rey are both likable. The Force Awakens was a good (if unoriginal) story. The Last Jedi I like better. Both have some obvious plot holes, canon violations, and at times some lazy writing (Vegas meets star wars? Really?) But taking a look at Luke's arc, I like that the best of all. Most of us on this board are in out 30's & 40's now. We met Luke Skywalker as kids. He was the hero we all wanted to be. The young, virtuous warrior who would right the wrongs and save the galaxy. Just like we might have imagined we could do growing up. Now we revisit our childhood hero having lived the better part of his life, just as we have. The Luke we find today is a bitter and disillusioned man. A man who has realized everything he once believed in and held dear was BS. A man who dedicated his life fighting for something only to realize his efforts were mostly futile. He has realized the galaxy he thought he could save cannot BE saved. And probably does not deserve to be. Can any of you guys really tell me that isn't just a teeny bit relateable? Can any one of you, man or woman, look in the mirror and say you've grown into exactly the person you thought you would become? The one you wanted to be? Luke's story is all or our stories. That's why it was brilliant IMO.

Woke up to the sound of the chickens in an uproar. Opened up the loft window (quietly) and saw two coyotes trying their best to get in. Well, they (the chickens) were in no danger. I built that enclosure with coyotes in mind. Nevertheless I thought it would be better if these two didn't get away with the attempt. I have a Ruger 10/22 next to that loft window for just such an occasion. I stepped back from the window, had a good stock weld, sight picture, sight alignment, let out a half breath and began to squeeze.... but didn't. I had them. They were both as dead as fried chicken as Samuel L Jackson would say. But I just couldn't do it. 10 years ago I'd be digging a hole right now. Instead I leaned out the window and yelled at them to f--k off. They did. I must be getting soft in my old age.

What were those critters? Now that I'm not watching it.

Good, he knows how I like my coffee

Just because it sucked for some of us doesn't mean it will suck for everyone. Besides, Gifted, Shady, Hurlshot, TN, all seem to have done well. So there is hope. Not for me though. Two attempts and two failures. Either I'm a terrible judge of character or I'M the problem. Either way, not getting on THAT horse again.

Wow, I missed a bombshell on the last page. Congrats KP. I wish you both the best life has to offer!

Rand Paul asserts the powers of Congress. Out of 100 Senators and 435 House Reps only 3 stood up to both Obama & Trump equally: Rand Paul, Mike Lee, and Joe Manchin. I wish we had more like them https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=ezSUVXcf0Q8

I was going through some old thumb drives and found this picture. Tommy & i were camping and fishing for five days by the Duck River in Old Stone Fort State Park. This was five years ago. God I miss him. He's been gone almost two years. Best friend I've ever had.

Case in point the Burmese Pythons in the everglades. A few pets that were irresponsibly released turned into a genuine ecological problem.

I finally got around to watching The Bird Box on NetFlix. It was OK. The book was better and the book was just OK. One thing that struck me as funny. I wonder if Trevante Rhodes knows the part he played in the movie was filled by a dog in the book?

Dogs are awesome https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-47880948

Scientists using human genes to breed "smarter" apes: https://www.brecorder.com/2019/04/11/488194/scientists-put-human-gene-into-monkeys-to-make-them-smarter-human-like/ What could possibly go wrong with this?

I goes with the cheap folding chair.

One of the safer promotions I've seen in a while:

@Gromnir: I know it's been discussed in the past but I don't recall ever hearing your opinion outright. Do you think Citizens United was correctly decided? The reason I ask is this one is right in your wheelhouse. You already know my opinion. I tend to think phrases like "shall make no law" and "shall not be infringed" lend themselves to a very broad, you might even say absolutist, application and interpretation.

Seriously? He looks like the politically correct non-offensive euro-billionaire "terrorist" villain from a Vin Diesel or Bruce Willis movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAj83rIIVP4

Remember when Barack Obama turned the IRS into his own personal secret police for political dissent? He was far from the only one: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/22/mccains-office-urged-irs-use-audits-weapons-destro/?fbclid=IwAR16A_EeqbGnfVnNRjDkgW3vysMLjHB2QDtnIxuBf7OoIRAwISb3CNj135w It's not Democrats vs Republicans. It's both of them vs you.

Coppertail Brewery will now deliver beer to you by drone. At long last the the beer run has been reversed! http://coppertailbrewing.com/drone?fbclid=IwAR2txA4ztIrc71craZvMD-cI9PWA4SPGdDmD9IvwbOforyNpL4QLyV4L8nc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE

Tucker Carlson is speculating Trump does not want to be re-elected and is seeking to sabotage his own chances.https://theweek.com/speedreads/833479/fox-news-tucker-carlson-wonders-aloud-whether-trump-actually-wants-lose-2020 I wouldn't dismiss the idea. I think he was stunned he actually won. Had he not been running against a reptile he might not have. But if you want out just announce you're not running. All the pressure is off. Imagine the chaos of an open office in 2020. Once you realized we're all utterly f----d no matter who wins it becomes much more entertaining. There is also this little nugget: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-white-house-the-president-is-already-plotting-his-post-presidential-tell-all-memoir Presidential memoirs are usual dull and self serving. This one might even be interesting.