Insignificant Observations

Just a bit of codswallop, mates.

Today is Matt-Man’s birthday. Please click over to Bagwine Ruminations and wish the young man a happy one. OK?

I read in a biography of Charles Schultz that it wasn’t until after he introduced a cat to the cast of his Peanuts comic strip that he realized that he could not draw a cat. From that point on, the cat was always outside the pane.

Sometimes I have attempted to make a point by telling a story only to find my listeners looking at me with blank faces. Then, I usually say, I suppose you really had to be there.

An old college chum sent me this story:

I went to Wal-Mart to buy something and I gave the cashier my bank debit card to pay for it and the card was rejected.  I said, ok, let's do the USA Visa card, and that was rejected too.
 
That worried me a little, so I called my bank and they said that my card had been compromised along with a bunch of others and the bank had cancelled all of them.  They sent me a letter to that effect, however I didn't get that being, as I am, in Texas.  They will issue me a new bank debit card when I get back.
 
Then I called USAA and they told me they had put a stop on my card, due to the charge I rang up for my new computer down in Florida.  They tried to call me at home, but again, I'm in Texas.  So I'm flat out of credit.  They said next time to call them and let them know I'm travelling and they'll keep it in action.  They did re activate my card while I was on the phone.

My response: Computers make our lives so much easier.

All Kentuckians do not root for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. At least 25% root for the University of Louisville Cardinals. Since I have degrees from both universities, when they play each other I can become a bit schizoid. Of course, I also smile because I know my alma mater will win.

Many years ago I received as a birthday present a book that contained only the words of Winston Churchill, A few of my favorites are:

 

• A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen.
• A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
• An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
• Eating words has never given me indigestion.
• He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.
• History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.
• I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
• I may be drunk, Lady Astor, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly.
• Lady Nancy Astor: Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea.

Churchill: Nancy, if I were your husband, I'd drink it.

 

I once did some research on U.S. wars and learned that the United States has fought 12 major wars in our brief history. If one considers all of the other wars, such as the war against Tripoli, the numerous wars against Native Americans, the Pilipino “Insurrection”, the invasions of Granada and Panama, etc., there has not been a decade in our history when the U.S military has not been involved in conflict.

Perhaps Oscar Wilde was correct when he said, America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without a period of civilization in between.

Hmmmm… I suppose you really had to be there.