Maggie's FarmWe are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for. |
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Friday, April 17. 2009A few Friday evening linksI know it's a cheap shot which is beneath Maggie's dignity, but that photo (Caption This) from Wizbang isn't a person walking a dog: it's a dog walking a person. I just use the photo to make the point that, in general, it only takes about 3 hours (9 20-minute lessons at 2-3/day) to train a pup to heel (his nose at your left knee), and it will never forget with regular reinforcement of the lesson. Nobody wants to be seen in public with a dog that will not heel because it's a reflection on you, like a kid that throws food. Pinch collar and dog yummies. An untrained dog means you don't really care about the animal, same as an uncivilized kid. In the Obama's defence, that is a darn good-looking PWD (if a bit older than the ideal 6-9 weeks), but any dog can be easily trained. Obedience is what they are bred for. It just takes a few minutes and a little firmness. The training is the real bonding. Train that dog the way you train the Dems in Congress. Sit! Heel! Vote! Government should bail out dying media. Brilliant! Just like Chavez. Or Pravda. Put 'em on the gummint payroll and they will play nice, like the BBC and the CBC. Treasury "allows" bank to return TARP funds; bank complains about changing the rules. Duh. Take their money and you're on their plantation. Does Georgetown hate its Jesuit heritage? Dem crook du jour: The Car Czar. So many Dem sleazes that it seems normal now. Not news. From Tiger:
Related: Thousands protest: the Left sneers Trackbacks
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"If the Right wants to succeed in civil resistance it needs to study the tactics of the left ...that are not incompatible with its own morality."
And what would those be, hmmm? Seems to me that just about every tactic the Right uses is incompatible with most moral behavior. Such things as name-calling, tu quoque arguments, disrespecting of the opponent's background, family members and personal habits are the most common things which are flung at conservative opponents in encounters with liberals. This does not, cannot lead to fruitful, substantive discussion. Poo-flinging is not grown-up discussion. Marianne OOOpsie. In the above comment second para, read 'every tactic the Left uses', instead of Right. No Meta, I have not lost my mind -- just trying to do two things at once.
Marianne, who is very imperfect, like some of the rest of you, but is still trying. Marianne,
I know you haven't lost your mind. You were initially thrown by "An old pro like Obama..." 'An old pro'? At what? Lying? Majoring in superficialities? That's enough to make anyone lose their mind. And I don't think the right should adopt the tactics of the left. We need to stand apart from them so that their tactics shine all the more brightly for those now on the fence to see. ` MM,
Actually, I think that the overall non-partisan, somewhat disorganized nature of the events are beneficial at this point. The fact is that many people remain very angry with Republicans - and for good reason. The Republicans abandoned the smaller government, less regulation, pro-small business, lower taxes and so on platform. Bush allowed the spending to go on without an objection. The RINO's need to be chastised and get on with fiscal conservatism and a return to the rule of Constitutional law or leave. (I saw a good cartoon today over at Theo's site where both asses and elephants were being tossed off the ship during a tea party.) The bias of the media and the Obama administration is to portray objection and dissent as radicalism (when in fact thet are the radicals). Remember Alinsky's rules. It makes sense to have housewives with little kids and you in the cameras. At some point, it will become harder to paint a picture that every conservative is a neo-Nazi as the Left would like. The goal is to show the fallacy of the positions of the Left not to engage in militancy. The Left wants a confrontation and they know that argumentation can lead to people taking on extreme positions to make a point. The Left wants this to happen so they can try to discredit conservatives and libertarians. We are okay for now, but there will be a time very soon where we will need to be more organized. Part of that organization will be to discipline the the RINOs. It is a high wire act. I welcome all thoughts and comments. Here's a thought/comment...Perhaps the "conservative" side could demonstrate a good bit more of the "character" it makes so much of by abstaining from the constant personal attacks on the O's. This whole dog "issue" is a prime example. It's been beaten to death. At first it was fair game, even as personal attacks go, since they stuck the story out in the media and then took soooo long to make such a trivial decision. But it's over now. It comes across as extremely petty to pick on "how" someone walks their dog. Sheesh.
In my mind, this was the biggest mistake of the campaign, the personal attacks on Obambi. Focus discussion on policies and ideas. There is only a finite amount of time people will spend paying attention to politics. Wasting that time with personal attacks is a double negative. It puts off people in the middle and you've lost an opportunity to present a rational message. Yes, the left gets a positive media spin. Yes, it's an "unfair" advantage. Yes, it should be addressed, but raging about it comes across as whiny and lacking character. As a young man, I was taught that bad officiating was something you built into your game plan. You plan to win by a large enough margin so as to make the officiating irrelevant. And mocking the other players looks real stupid when you lose. These things were called "character", and the first rule of "character" was that it applied to you, not the other guy. I use Koehler for training.
Vicki heeling alongside bike (took one minute to teach, having learned ordinary off-lead heal) http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhhardin/3053870830/ (video) Had the exact same thought when I saw the picture, before I read your post -- it suggests they've never owned a dog before, or at least never one that was properly trained.
And Georgetown? Graduated from there in '72. Even then the "Jesuit tradition" was a joke -- the Jebbies where more liberal than the students. M and M... hope that doesn't violate copyright restrictions. Agree with the both of you. The tactics of the left have gained them a slight majority for the present, squeaky wheel gets the grease an all that. But as Meta mentions it is the fence sitters who need to hear a clear and articulate voice. I thought Fred T. had a chance at doing that, he certainly had the voice for it. Then again good ol' Zell Miller knew how to call a spade a spade as well. Course... he was in the opposition party.
The search is on for that 'voice' and in my opinion it will be found. I think the only question is if it can be found soon enough. Nancy Pelosi, Janet Napolitano, Rep. Jan Schkowsky, and the other usual suspects in the Democratic Party all need some sensitivity training.
Calling the tea party protesters neo nazis, right wing extremists, and racists, to me, is a form of hate speech. Astro turf is whats growing between Nancy's legs, due to, to much botox. Janet Napolitano is a dyke in training. Jan Schakowsky, is despicable, and an embarrassment. I need to find some tar and feathers, because that's whats coming next. That all works in our favor, Jappy. Check out the TV ratings on Drudge.
` Look... I know I shouldn't say this. As we're not concerned with appearances. But the more I look at that photo of Michelle and the dog, the more she looks like a hoodlum with what she's wearing. I mean, I'm not looking for Jacqueline K., who cares about that. I don't know... just doesn't give the image that I think someone in that position should project. Or at least shouldn't allow photos of same to be in the public view. You know... I don't allow photos of me in the morning as I go out to pick up the morning newspaper.
I hope you don't go out with your pajamas on?
Why shouldn't you say, what you just said. With a little more jewelery on, I can hear Eddie Murphy saying "you can be a ho" Some days it's less. Depends on how dark it is.
I shouldn't say what I said as it's not really germane to the larger issues. Believe me... I can be a ho. Oh... you were speaking of Michelle. Sorry. I'm thinking we should lighten up a little on the attention paid to Michelle Obama's appearance. In the first place, there's way too much focus on how prominent women look in general, and it tends to get a little catty. In the second place, she's young and fit and stylish, even if it's a style that's a little foreign to lots of us.
Now, her public utterances -- hammer away. She's vile and embarrassing. The question is not simply whether Georgetown hates it Jesuit heritage. I believe that Georgetown should have said go somewhere else if IHS is offensive. Georgetown betrays its heritage and much more by acquiescing.
The other and unasked question related to Obama's supposed Christian faith. I am loathe to be judgmental knowing my own feet of clay, but I have always been suspicious of the Rev. Wright and liberation theology. Christianity is about the sacrifice of Jesus to reconcile sinners with God. It would have been easy enough to say that Christian symbols were those of the University if asked. I believe any true Christian would not have asked to have IHS covered in black. Forgive me if I have offended anyone and for being so judgmental. Nevertheless, it is what I think. Feel free to comment. Exactly. How hard would it be to say politely, "We wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable, so if the 'IHS' insignia is a problem for you, it might be best for you to choose another venue for your speech. But you're very welcome to come here in any event." The downside would be -- what? Georgetown would have to forgo the prestige? And this is a hard choice?
Not happy about rec of pinch collars. Have trained multiple dogs...never needed a pinch collar. With small dogs, I've always used halters vs. collars to protect the neck. Repetion and yummies. Same as people.
I would ask that you remember several things with regard to the Jesuits, their tradition, and their institutions.
First. They were the first organized group to take education to as many people as possible. Second: After developing schools around the world--the Europeans closed down and confiscated most of their properties. In many areas those are still places with poor academic levels. Thirdly and most importantly: the Jesuits have only one important goal--to EDUCATE the children(all of the children) of GOD. After they were so severely devastated by the shutdown they have maintained a determined effort to succeed in their mission--to keep the schools open. Whether you ever attended a Jesuit school or not--we all have much to thank them for. There has never been in the western tradition a better system of educating, nor more dedicated teachers. And, please don't bother me with the "sex" thing. It's boring and may in some cases be not true--though I am sure there has been some problems in ALL churches, ALL religious traditions-- This conversation is not about that--it is about education--the focus of Georgetown and the effort to avoid confrontation with the political bosses of the day in order to keep the schools open. It is an old lesson and one they will not forget. Barrett and faculty wife... I'm in agreement with both of you on this question. I don't think that Georgetown U. should have agreed to cover up cover up a religious symbol on Obama's say-so. In spite of what the liberals say, this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Haven't time to look it up at the moment, but isn't there a quote from the Bible that admonishes us to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto the Lord that which is the Lord's? While I think that Obama is a tyro compared to Caesar [Caesar after all was an experienced military commander before he went into politics] I'm offended that a religious school would disrespect Jesus in order to please a politician whom 49% of the voters voted against. I would have said to Obama's fawning acolytes, "Sorry folks, this is non-negotiable. Jesus has been a force in the world for 2009 years. Your guy will be gone in eight -- or if we're lucky and smart, four."
As Kay Bailey Hutchison said to some one of her supporters who was complaining about the heat here in Texas in summer, "It gets hot here in summertime. Live with it." Marianne It looks like she's holding the leash wrong.
Open right hand, look at the palm. Place loop of leash over thumb and run the leash across the open palm, going left. Close your hand. Hold it like that. Nothing the dog does can pull the leash from your grip, even if you're relaxed. If you're going to let the dog pull on walks, it's much easier on your fist closing muscles. Of course you never let the dog pull on walks, but that 's another story. Re pinch collars. They are good tools. They never hurt the dog: he learns the first time. But I like shock collars too for hunt training. It's not cruel: it's for the dog's own good. Dog's aren't stupid, but they need to know that you are a god to them.
Pinch collars feel like teeth on the neck, which is more impressive I guess. The feel is very soft though, making the choke collar more general purpose when corrections have to be sharp.
Pinch is more anti-pull, where with a choke collar you're mostly working on a slack leash with occasional surprises. |