Happy New Year

Another year has kicked us in the head. I wish you all a happy new year.
Duke.

Not Good # 20

This Could Be You.

On my way home from Christmas shopping the other day I got caught at a red light. While waiting for it to turn green when A carload of Muslims pulled alongside. They were obviously radicals, dressed in all the garb and had a mixture of Jehad, Obama stickers on the windows. When the light turned green they sped off ahead of me shouting something about about 'death to you capitalist pigs'.
Suddenly an 18-wheeler came speeding thru the intersection & ran directly over their car, crushing it completely, killing everyone in the car.
  I sat there a moment and said to myself,
"Duke... that could have been you!"
So right after new years I want to go get a job as a truck driver.

Jesus Birth Today

TSA Checkpoint

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all my blog friends.  To my friend Stephen Happy Kwanza

The Soldier's Christmas Poem

Neat poem to music, Silent Night.

Don't Fall Down

 Want some Christmas cheer ?
You may have seen this story but it is worth reading again. It makes you feel good.

Days Gone Bye

A few days ago I did a blog on childhood memories, Swamp Dog made a comment about pull top cans, even though they are not that old it did remind me of a experience I had with them a few years back. We are all used to the pop top as seen here to the right.

In late 2003 my unit was sent to Iraq. I had 17 years military experience under my belt so many troops were younger than myself. I remember early on going into a chow hall and getting a can of Coke, the top looked like the one seen here to the right. Being used to seeing them in the past I thought nothing of it. This is the way all our cans were before some bureaucrat decided we weren't smart enough to not swallow them or stick our tongues in the can and get cut and bleed to death. Anyway these Cokes were from Saudi Arabia (I guess we don't care if they hurt themselves so Coke sold all the old canning equipment to them)
As I sat down at the table a young Marine about 19 years old sat across from me. I watched him look at the can, not sure how it worked. He took his thumb and pushed on the little rivet while trying lifting the ring like the new style can. It suddenly struck me he was not old enough to have seen these. I reached for mine and pulled the tab and ripped it right off he followed suit and was fascinated by it.



Made me feel old.......and I'm not that old.

Something Else To Be Proud Of.

Why is this so sad. What has happened to leaders we could look up to.

Not Good # 19

Don't ask me whats happening here
all I know is it is definitely not good.

Welcome New Friends.

Welcome to new followers,  SciFiChick,  Rose and ShallnotbeInfringed I hope you find my blog interesting and stick around. I promise to answer or respond to all comments if possible and as soon as possible. It's a pleasure to be friends with such good folks here.

It's About Time.

 In the news....................................
It's about time, A man was fatally shot by a Jacksonville Florida homeowner last Tuesday during an attempted auto theft. (Court records show he was arrested at least 16 times since 2005) he was shot and killed in a West Side neighborhood following an attempted break-in at a nearby residence and a string of attempted car thefts, police said.
He was shot while trying to steal a car,  Earlier, a homeowner reported an attempted break-in at the house there.
Within 20 minutes, police were called to the shooting scene.
Duke Observations.
1. After being arrested 16 times you are overdue to be shot
2. At least he wont be stealing anymore things.
3. If you have a string of 'attempted' car thefts you are not smart enough to live.
4. Good thing the home owner had a gun because the police took 20 min. to arrive/respond, 
How's that 911 thing working for ya.



.

My Entire Childhood.

45 rpm spindles,
Green Stamps
Metal Ice cube trays
Roller-skate keys
Shooting 22 rifles off the back step, (neighbors didn't care the 22 was a gun kids played with)
Carrying a new knife to school to show the teacher. (try that today)
Marlin Perkins
Drive in Movies Drive in restaurants
Driving around with a rifle in the back window of your truck.
Car Hops 
Washtub wringers
The Fuller Brush Man
Reel-To-Reel tape recorders
Tinkertoys Erector Sets Lincoln Logs
15 cent hamburgers
5 cent packs of baseball cards
Penny candy
25 cent a gallon gasoline
Jiffy Pop popcorn
5 cent stamps
Gum wrapper chains
Speedy Alka-Seltzer Cigarettes for Christmas
Burma Shave signs
Brownie cameras
Flash bulbs
TV Test patterns
Old Yeller
Timmy and Lassie
Brylcreem
Aluminum Christmas Trees (but they were very tacky)


 I am sure I forgot some. Maybe you can remember some others.


If you can remember most or all of these,Then you have lived And if some or all of these are unknown to you, I'm so sorry! You missed out on the "good stuff"! Life was a lot better back then.
Now I want to cry.

3 Legged Hog

I was reading a blog by Modern Day Redneck , he was talking about smoking bacon and such.  It reminded me of a 3 legged hog we had once.
The reason he had 3 legs was he was really a family pet and we hated to eat him all at one time.

Most Amazing Display.

This is a 'Must Watch' pretty neat. 2011  

If this doesn't make you feel good, better get to a doctor.

Christmas Lights- Thank You Troops and Veterans!  Amazing light show I have watched it over and over, must see whole thing  also has 'Armed Forces Medley'

The Great Hog Roast

The day after Thanksgiving we decided to have a hog roast, I was visiting my brother (out of town) which is kind of a tradition for us at Thanksgiving. It was not as if we hadn't had enough to eat the day before but it sounded like fun so we did it. My brother had ordered a whole hog at a local supermarket a few days before, if you give them a few days notice you can buy a whole pig almost any size you want this one was 53 lbs.
We started the fire the night before in order to have good coals to start with. At 0300 we got up and prepared the pig for the spit. We built a fire off to the side to have coals to place at the correct spots under the pig to control the cooking speed/temp. One of the dogs here inspecting the fire.

 Here is the set up. My brother built this and it works very well, it is also portable. The lid folds back to control heat however the back and sides help hold the heat in and control cooking. The spit can be turned any position to facilitate cooking. Notice the fire to right of pit with coals for cooking

Here is a digital laser thermometer (from Harbor Freight) being used to check the surface temp of the meat. We used this to know where to move the coals to keep even cooking temp along the entire length of the pig. You usually need more fire at the hams and shoulders.

Here is a shot of the 'almost ready' hog. Notice the wire at the back end. This was connected to a digital temp probe which we moved around to different spots to ensure internal temp was 170 deg  (well done) The skin will get quite black, this is normal the meat underneath will be very fine.







The end result perfectly cooked beast, not over done, very moist and and no waste. The overall cook time was about  8 hours. He invited over quite a few friends and they all ate their fill and all took home a large bag of meat to enjoy later.

Not Good # 18

Not a good time to remember  your health insurance has lapsed.

TEOTWAWKI Home

I got these pictures in an email, thought it was interesting. 
This might be the new home of the future, Pictures are not in a particular order but you get the Idea. I actually came up with a design along the same line to use in Iraq except with the idea to bury them as a bunker/command post (but not as fancy).
You could also dig these into a hillside as extra protection. These shipping containers have a good load strength if buried correctly.