Happy Birthday America! It's a great time to celebrate because everyone loves us again. Let's talk about it.

Today's show has been an ongoing debate with myself as to whether I should attempt to talk about this subject or not. On the one hand I find this topic endlessly fascinating, but on the other, I am woefully unqualified to discuss these phenomena.  In the end, I decided that it would irritate me constantly until I did this particular show and that would be bother me more than dropping a stinker of an episode.

May have been a mistake. Join me and we will find out together.

The story of what I have been doing with myself for the last several months.  Obviously, not uploading new episodes.

No main topic for today.  Coming off of a long hiatus, so this episode is really just me unloading the many aggravating thoughts that have been rolling around in my head for the last month.  I hope you will join me, anyway.  There is still some good stuff in there.

Most movies arrive and are forgotten within weeks, but a rare few become cultural milestones that gain immortality.  In 1975, a low budget monster movie hit the big screens and changed the way most humans looked at the ocean.  Today we pay homage to a movie that should have fallen apart fifteen different ways during production but somehow survived, thrived, and ended up creating the Summer Blockbuster.

Like Clockwork, LA has, once again, broken out in riots.  This month's civil unrest brought to you by way of ICE agents enforcing federal immigration laws.  While the riots were short lived, at least by California standards, there was a moment caught on camera that I feel deserves a little scrutiny.

When we are children, we assume that things will always be how they are at that moment.  As we grow older, we witness things that seemed to be immutable parts of the world slowly disappear as life, technology and culture move on to newer and better things.  While I don't believe that movie theaters will ever be completely gone, I do believe that we are living in the final years of local theaters being a common sight in most towns.  Join me and I will tell you why. 

The American automotive industry has been a perpetual roller coaster for my entire life.  In my fifty years on this planet, American autos have been trash, decent, as good as anything imported and now they have went back to trash.

Why do they do this? Why do the highly paid executives that run these company's not understand that consumers won't pay premium prices for garbage?  

Today we look at this issue and I try to manifest a solution.

Bonus points if you listen to this episode while sitting in the waiting area of your local dealership's service department.

Today, I have the story of a forgotten revolutionary war hero.  A native of my home state of Virginia.  While this man's deeds probably did not affect the outcome of the war itself, had he failed in his mission the history of Virginia and the nation as a whole would be drastically different.

Today, we explore the willful misrepresentation of events that crop up so often in our contentious society. We briefly discuss the fact that Trump did not in fact declare himself dictator on day one.  Finally, I once again level a personal attack at Punxsutawney Phil.  

2025 is moving too quickly to keep up with.  Between social media billionaires doing damage control, Gavin Newsom's presidential aspirations literally going up in flames and the return of political assassinations to our culture, we have a lot of catching up to do.

A quick one today to wish everyone a merry Christmas. Peace on Earth, good will to men, and just a dusting of exasperation toward a few internet trolls.

A short look at the origins and economics of the department store Santa.

Today, we discuss fresh examples of television hosts spouting off at the mouth and facing zero consequences for telling lies into a camera.  We take a short trip into the past to see how false accusations can cause problems for those spreading the lies.
Also dragons.

Election day has come and gone.  Elation for some, sorrow for others.  But for a select few in our nation, corporate journalists and Tic-tokkers mainly, the results have initiated a decline in cognitive function.

165 Years ago, the Earth experienced some minor damage to machinery due to solar storms.  The effects were so insignificant that few have heard of this strange day in our nation's history, but it should be viewed as a cautionary tale.

There are many things that can be used as indicators that society is on shaky ground.  Who knew that bathroom tissue would be one of the most accurate metrics to point to the end in the 21st century.

A bit of a potpourri of an episode.  Today I say goodbye to an icon of both Hollywood and popular culture.  Then I solve the trans athlete debate once and for all.  And finally, I dig into the issue of the upcoming election that features one candidate that was selected by her party, not the voters, who is going up against a man who will probably be deleted before November.  Democracy in action.

The problem with secret government programs is that when people believe that their actions will never be known or scrutinized, they tend to go straight to their worst tendencies.  Add in a dash of government incompetence and a pile of taxpayer dollars and you have the recipe for one of the worst chapters of our nation's history.  No tinfoil hat required for this one.  This is not conjecture, this is public record.

As if our elections aren't crazy enough in a normal year, this week we witnessed a true first in American elections.  A failed assassination attempt on one candidate resulted in a vacancy on the ballot, but it was the other guy who dropped out.  If this is an indicator of things to come, we are on the verge of a historical and impossibly shameful election cycle.  I am here for the ride but I'm not happy about it.

At what point do we say that the constant asking for handouts has reached critical mass?  I am not referring to homeless people asking for spare change, that will always be a thing.  I am talking about regular people thinking that it is okay to ask strangers to underwrite every new endeavor they dream up.  Let us discuss this new Paradigm in society.

An exploration of a couple of strange items that have found their way into my front yard this past week.  Then, a recap of a trip to a northern Ohio piece of pop culture and Americana.

With tax day slowly fading into our collective rearview, let us take a moment to appreciate the men and women of the Federal government and salute their responsible and frugal stewardship of our hard-earned tax dollars.

Technologies come and go.  Societal trends come and go.  New trends come in to take the place of the old.  All things eventually run their course and fade away.  I believe that we may be watching the end of an industry that has defined America for well over a century. 

Today we discuss the lack of media interest in a few recent shootings.  While the traditional reaction to any highly public gun violence has been wall to wall coverage, as of late the focus has very quickly shifted away from the incidents.  I have a theory on why this might be.

Today, a brief look at a man we all grew up with. An Entrepeneur who's products have been in our collective conscious for decades, and who's products are probably in your house right now.  Join me as we learn about an American legend.

A recap of how bad I am at predicting football games. A recap of Groundhogs Day.  We then finish with a discussion on the timeline of human habitation of the Americas. I promise it is not as dry a discussion as it seems that it would be.

The NFL seasons has come to an end.  As we await the kickoff of the post season games, let us take a look back at the performance of the unsung officials in the league.  The NFL referees have certainly had a remarkable season.  Very few of the remarks that are being screamed at TVs are flattering, but they are remarks all the same.

A quick episode to launch the holiday weekend.  Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukkah, New Year and all the rest of it.  I wish peace, Joy and safe travels to all.

Today's show is dedicated to an email from a surprising source.  trust me, you will enjoy it.

Time change but some things remain the same. P.E.T.A. is back again, doing their best to make sure everyone in the country is as bitter and miserable as they are.  Today, we discuss their annual campaign to ruin the festivities for the rest of us.  Happy Holidays!

A short episode to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving day.  Plus, a few tidbits about the holiday that you can use to impress and amaze family and friends as you gather around the table to give thanks. 

Today, we take a look at a few young adults who are learning some hard life lessons on the campus of Harvard University.  The backlash from their actions may be a little unfair, but it's past the time that these supposed intellectuals learned that reality does not care about your political views.

We are sending Halloween out with a bang. Today, one day late, we take a look at another member of this country's long list of homegrown psychos.  This particular individual has an interesting claim to the term, due to how his legacy has played out in popular culture.

In honor of the upcoming Halloween Holiday, we take a look at a man who should hold a place of distinction in the annuls of American murderers.  If you're asking yourself how it is that you have never heard this man's name, join me and we will try to answer that question for you.

We start today with a study out of Denmark that shows another link between heavy marijuana use and mental issues.  Then we discuss the looming return of mask mandates and the culpability of the mainstream media in allowing politicians to continue to push out bad policies based on bad information.

The Maui wildfires have pulled a special breed of conspiracy theorist out of the woodwork.  What would it mean for our country if these people were correct?
And, in a screeching 180 from the tone of our opening topic, we take a look at the glory that is the newly arrived NFL season. 

For a species that likes to pretend it is an advanced race, human beings have a deep-seated fear of technology.  If only one out of one hundred doomsday scenarios that I have personally been around to witness had come to pass, we would have died out twenty times since 1975.  Today, we take a short walk down memory lane and look at all the things that scare our tiny, primitive brains.

For years, one of the biggest questions that has plagued mankind is "are we alone?".  Recently, government officials have given us an answer to this burning question.  Apparently, the actual question should have been "do we care?", because nobody paid any attention.

Being a holiday weekend last week, many people in my area would have spent several days camping and fishing on a local river.  This particular river has a few oddities about itself and today I discuss this fascinating bit of local geology.  Also, a quick couple of rants about film and ice cream.

We have seen several of our beloved fictional characters destroyed over the last few years.  Oddly enough, It is only one specific gender of beloved character that falls prey to modern Hollywood.  On June 30th, one of the few remaining legacy hero's from my childhood will fall victim to being re-imagined for modern audiences.

Today, as we celebrate Memorial Day, I bring you a story from one of the hero's of the American Revolution.  It is a story that Mr. Jones would probably prefer for history to forget ever happened, but we have to take the good with the bad.  Especially when the bad is this entertaining.

2022 was a year of upheaval and change for my family.  What better way to lay that terrible year to rest for good than reliving one of the most trying times of my life.  Join me as I unburden myself for thirty minutes.

What is it about a treasure hunt that captures the imagination of Americans?  Any time there is a myth or legend of gold and jewels just sitting there, waiting for someone to have the dedication and sleuthing skills to track it down, there will be no shortage of people willing to spend the rest of their lives looking for it.  Today, I bring you a little known story of buried treasure from the mountains of Virginia.  While you may not recognize the name, It is rumored that this story partly inspired the movie "National Treasure"

This was intended to be just a quick check in to let my listeners know that I had not dropped off of the face of the Earth.  What happened, instead, was that I had an unknown amount of pontificating that I needed to purge out of my system.

How many times have you heard someone say "I don't vote because one vote doesn't matter"?
Today, I give you two reasons why your vote does matter.  Carve out thirty minutes to listen to this episode and then get out to the polls.  It is your duty as a citizen of this great country.  Unless you downloaded this after the 8th, in that case you really shouldn't bother.

Today, I review a few movies that I feel are must watches for the Halloween season.  Plus a short rant on the stupidity of things that make the national news.

History can be a very bizarre thing.  This is because it is passed down by through the ages by human beings and we are a very flawed creature indeed.  Some people are remembered for their heroism, some people for their crimes. Sometimes one individual out of a group is remembered while everyone else in that group is lost to winds.  When this happens, it is rarely fair and in the case of today's episode it is because of a reason so random and silly that it almost seems like an intentional joke from above.

It is a part of our nature to believe that we are the center of our world.  It is an integral part of the primitive wiring in our psyche that strives to keep the individual alive for as long as possible.  After all, the world did not exist for that individual until they became conscious. And if one of our ancestors was eaten by a bear, the world did end for that person.  But are we as powerful and influential as our egos would lead us to believe?

College football kicked of Labor Day weekend.  The NFL kicks off this Thursday. It is a glorious and hopeful time of year when football fans across the nation and around the world still believe that their team doesn't suck and are going to win it all this year.  Before we sit down in front of a TV and start packing on a little winter weight, join me for discussion pertaining to the only reason that I can deal with the impending Pennsylvania winter.  Football is back, thank the heavens.

Coincidences happen all of the time.  Sometimes, amazing coincidences happen.  Sometimes, coincidences happen that are so terrible and macabre that it feels like you are trapped in an Edgar Allen Poe story.  A coincidence of this nature happened here in Pennsylvania last month.

I apologize in advance, the audio quality is less than stellar on this one as this was recorded on the road.
How many of you have noticed an uptick in how often you are getting high-beamed while driving at night?  Have you noticed that people are throwing down at the drop of a hat these past few years?  I think our society might be in the process of unraveling and we are just sitting back and watching it happen on YouTube.  Today, I offer a few thoughts on why this is happening and why it is reaching epidemic proportions as fast as it possibly can.

A brief look at the final section of Thomas Paine's Common Sense and his closing arguments to the people of the original thirteen colonies on why they should fight for their independence from Britain.

Today, we dive back into Thomas Paine's Common Sense and take a look at the next two sections of his historic publication. The first section deals with his disdain for hereditary titles and the failings of the British system.  The second section makes several very good arguments for why America should break away from England.  Also, I just learned that it is disdain, not distain, and that I have been using that word incorrectly for my entire life.  Something new every day.

My family and I just spent a week in Amish country around Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  I have a few thoughts on some of the things I witnessed while I was there.
Followed by a short rant on why the "food should be free" movement that is gaining traction on social media might just simultaniously be the most naively stupid thing ever uttered and the perfect example of the fatal flaws in the Marxist philosophy.

It is arguably the most influential paper in this country's history and today we delve into the first section of Thomas Paine's Common Sense, The Origin And Design Of Government. 

Finally, I am finished moving out of our rental house and back in front of my microphone.  We begin with a cathartic unloading of a month's worth of frustration and physical exhaustion.
Then I do my best to ruin your enjoyment of a current summer blockbuster (that isn't being very well received, by the way). 

How does a man go from being one of the most influential founders in American history to a rarely spoken of footnote?  Thomas Paine found a way.  Today we take a look at the life of the Englishman who's brilliant writing changed the course of world history.

The tale of the goose that laid the golden egg a fable that has found a permanent home in our collective culture.  One might think that modern society would be able to learn from such a simple bit of wisdom. One would be wrong.

Today we take a look at an obscure, German Archeologist that none of us have ever heard of.  Oddly enough, we have never heard his name, but we all know his story.

We are once again descending into the chaos that is our election cycle.  although, this time it is the relatively tame chaos of midterm elections.   All the same, I thought it would be a good opportunity to explain my plan to reign in a lot of the insanity that we put up with from our so-called leaders and give us a chance to have a few rational adults in charge for a change.

A transgender athlete is re-writing the record books for Ivy Legue Swimming, but is it a step forward in equality or the wrong way to approach a relatively new issue in our society?  Emotions are ruling the discussion.  I make my case for a logical and pragmatic solution.

I have a small update on our housing woes, as well as a brief look at a very unusual commercial that is in heavy rotation at the moment.
Then I take a look at the origins of April Fool's Day and how our traditions surrounding this spring celebration came to be.

Today, I give an explanation and a pre-emptive apology for what is surely to be an erratic uploading schedule for the next few months.  My family and I are on the cusp of a fairly major upheaval in our lives. and I felt that a few details needed to be shared. 
Also, I forgot to add an episode title before I uploaded this.  Hopefully, I was successful in added one.

An educational discussion about the current state of the restaurant industry that is in no way based solely on my opinions and prejudices.

The big day in Scranton suffered a setback thanks to the weather.  This development, along with a recent conversation with a friend has me contemplating winter tires and many people's belief that they are an unnecessary expense.

St. Patrick's Day is just one week away.  In order to prepare for the upcoming festivities, we take a look at why Americans have enthusiastically embraced this holiday that originated in one small European country.  Speaking of preparation, I walk you through how to cook a traditional Irish dinner that is ridiculously easy to make, delicious to consume and would make the perfect celebration meal for the big day.  Erin Go Bragh!

A person's beliefs are formed and influenced by their life experiences.  Given this fact, it is easy to see how beliefs and culture can ebb and flow from generation to generation.  Every once in a while, however, events will recreate the conditions that created the culture of the previous generation.  This is assuming that the newer generation pays attention to these events.  We are living through one of these occurrences.

It is a triumph of human ingenuity.  It is a miracle of modern science.  It is one of the single greatest leaps of technology that man has ever achieved.  Using nuclear fission to generate electricity is all of these things, but the one thing it is not is an option.  A discussion on why we should ignore our knee jerk reaction to fear anything new and invest in this safe, clean energy.

They say that life is stranger than fiction.  But very often, life and fiction inter-twine and it can be very difficult to tell what is fact and what is folklore.  Today we look at an enduring mystery from the highlands of Appalachia.

High waisted jeans are back in vogue. Teen age boys have been spotted with mullets.  Russia is back to doing Russian things.  Who needs a time machine? We started the week in 2022 and ended up in 1982.  Although, it looks like we may skip the Cold War redux and go straight to WWIII.

Rampant inflation is slapping us all in the face.  I make the argument that we should stop trying to dictate what the market should bear and just let things follow their natural course.  But, sadly, I don't get paid to make those decisions.

A synopsis of the final chapter of Saul Alinsky's Rules For Radicals as well as the epilog of the book.  Plus, I speak briefly about my thoughts and feelings about Mr. Alinsky and his book.

Today, I take on a slightly different topic than I normally delve into.  Rockstar games has finally, after an eight year wait, announced that the next game in the hugely successful GTA series is in development.  Not a huge announcement amongst the general population but this has sent shockwaves through the gaming community.  Unfortunately, I believe that the game will fall far short of the hype and crush the hopes and dreams of millions of die hard fans.

A brief celebration of Groundhogs Day and Valentine's Day.  This February 2nd was a little unusual for this area.  Then I give some solid advice for Valentine's Day.  I also share a story of futility and struggle from Valentine Day's past.

For the past two weeks I have witnessed something rather remarkable.  Several artists have begun a boycott of Spotify in an effort to have Joe Rogan blacklisted.  No, I am not using the term blacklisted in an effort to be inflammatory, that is the correct term for what these people are attempting to do.  Even more surprising than that is the number of social media posts that have flooded my feeds from individuals hailing these artists as champions of the cause.  My thoughts on this quintessentially un-American behavior.

Like most people, I have always wanted the future to hurry up and get here already.  I have spent a lifetime waiting for some amazing breakthrough to arrive and change how we live our lives.  While we have stared off into the near future, we have allowed some pretty amazing things to show up with little to no fan-fare.

The update on Friday's traffic accident that allowed lab monkeys to escape into a Pennsylvania forrest goes from a quick retelling into a full blown topic.  Oddities abound with this story and the rabbit hole turned out to be much deeper than expected.

An accident on the interstate.  Missing laboratory animals.  Wildlife officials on the scene, conducting a search.  It sounds like the opening act of a medical thriller, but it actually happened today in Pennsylvania.  Breaking local news to begin the episode.
Then we look at the next chapter in Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals.  A chapter that actually, finally contains rules for radicals.

Economists spend their whole lives trying to find out what makes us tick.  Once they find out the answer to that question, it is a simple matter to use that information to manipulate our behavior.  Pardon the pun, but they have it down to a science.  Today we take a look at how our perception of a product dictates our relationship with that product.

His method of quitting the team will live in NFL folklore for the rest of history.  The implications for his overall mental health are a little more concerning.  Our society loves seeing public figures take a fall but I think there may be a little more going on in Antonio Brown's life than a simple career change.

Did you go shopping this month? Go to a holiday festival? Eat at a restaurant? Leave the house for any reason?  Could you find a parking spot?  I have noticed something that has given me hope for the future of this country.  Proof that that not every person in America is huddle in their basement, waiting for our overlords to give us the all clear.  Proof that we, as a society, are very close to telling elected officials where they can go and what they can do once they get there.
Plus, a short look at the history of the song "Auld Land Syne"

Merry Christmas, everyone.  It is the most wonderful time of the year for children. It is also the most wonderful time of the year for parents.  I take a brief look at life with and without children.  Then a short history lesson on the alcohol fueled origins of Yuletide caroling.

Vegans can be some of the most aggressively arrogant members of our society, and given how entitled and narcissistic we have become, that is truly a bold statement.  The question is, can you actually avoid killing and consuming animals by adopting a strict plant only policy.  Join me and we can find out together.

A quick discussion about Brian Williams departing  from NBC and his very odd and cryptic farewell address begins today's show.  Then, we take a look at two more examples of woke culture taking over the entertainment industry and the inevitable collapse of both the fan base and revenue.

Today, we take a look at the sixth chapter of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals.  Finally we get into some actual, instructional content.  Not a lot of instructional content, but there is a little bit of it mixed in with the personal philosophy that has made up the bulk of the book to this point.  A more cynical man might think he is rehashing topics just to pad the length of the book.
I also include an interesting story from the day following the attack on Pearl Harbor that I learned just this week.

Ex-governor Andrew Cuomo's scandal has claimed a second victim.  Now, his brother Chris has experienced a fall from grace.  I feel like Christmas at the Cuomo compound will be a tense and somber affair this year.
I end the episode with a tale that pays homage to both the attack on Pearl Harbor and Winston Churchill.

We start today's episode by taking a look at what turned out to be the most sedate, easy going and lucrative Black Fridays in recent memory.  I also present a selection of Christmas carols that I feel may be somewhat less than necessary. 

The Pilgrims did not land at Plymouth Rock because it had a nice ocean view. They landed there because they needed to resupply on a vital resource.  To celebrate the best holiday of the year, I take a quick dive into the story you didn't learn in elementary school.

There has been a new development in the investing community.  A brilliant new way to pick stocks and win in the stock market.  It sounds like a scam, but what better way to guarantee a healthy ROI than to follow along with the people who have the power to make or break public companies.  

I had the opportunity to attend a dinner event on Wednesday evening.  Most of those in attendance were thrilled to be out and enjoying the return of social functions.  A number of individuals, however, were quite vocal about how nervous they were to be in a group setting.  All of the people in question were young, healthy and fully vaccinated.  I have been thinking about these people and their fear of leaving the safety of their homes for two days.  Tune in to hear what I have puzzled out. 

Today, we take a look at the fifth chapter of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, but first I go over the change of heart that Bill Maher has had concerning cancel culture.  I also question why he was fine with cancel culture when it was going after the right, but now that it is going after anyone and everyone he suddenly has to draw the line.

I recount the harrowing tale of DIY vehicle repair, then spend a surprising amount of time lamenting the stupidity of the automotive industry.   If, on the off chance anyone reading this is an automotive engineer, I have a few issues that I would like to discuss with you.
Then, an offhand comment by Joe Biden sends me down a climate change rabbit hole.

After a somewhat surprising election in Virginia and a very surprising election in New Jersey, I unload a lifetime of aggravation and disillusionment at out elections, our politicians and Americans in general.

New information has come out in the continuing saga of Wi Spa in Los Angeles.  It's information that is not being widely reported, but there have been some very interesting developments.  We also take a look at a very similar incident in a Virginia high school that made national news for all the wrong reasons.

Today, we have to wrap up our celebration of Halloween for the year.  So, to send the holiday out in the way it deserves, I give you a list of 5 movies that will make for an entertaining night at home.  No perennial classics on this list, only obscure and little known gems that you most likely have not seen and probably haven't heard of.  Some of these movies should be watched because they are good, some because they are terrible, but who cares why a movie is entertaining, as long as it is entertaining. 

Today, we take a look back 167 years and pay homage to one of the most famous military blunders in the history of warfare.     

Our celebration of Halloween continues!  Today, I share a few stories and experiences from my own life.  Nothing groundbreaking, but a few interesting and unexplainable moments that I have encountered through the years.

Today brings us to the fourth chapter of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals.  This chapter is mostly just filler to pad out the length of the book. I say mostly, because there are a few things hidden in the chapter that are very worth while to be aware of.  One of these things gives us an interesting insight into Mr. Alinsky's personality.  The other two items are concise reflections of our modern society.

Today, we take a brief look at the life and loves of Aleister Crowley. It is a name I have heard thousands of times over the years, but never knew anything of the actual person.  This is, out of necessity, a shallow dive into his story.  I am in awe of the amount of living and travelling that he squeezed in his seventy two years on this planet.  A comprehensive discussion of his life would take hours, and I can't talk for that long.

In the spirit of the Halloween season, today we talk about how the vampire has evolved from evil spirits that would cause mischief around the home to the suave and debonair predators that have permeated every aspect of our modern culture.  They are the undisputed king of Halloween.  So much so that they are one of the few creatures from myth that can be found outside of this time of year.
We also take a look at how an iconic and groundbreaking horror film avoided being erased from history through coincidence and the laziness of a famous author.

Today, we take a look at chapter 3 of Rules for Radicals.  This is a short chapter, but by far the most interesting to this point. In this chapter, Alinsky discusses the twisting of words in order to influence peoples emotions.  Considering how closely cancel culture is monitoring every word spoken or uploaded at the moment, this chapter is probably the most relevant of the book.

Welcome to October, everyone. What better way to kick off the celebrations than to take a look at how ancient harvest festivals evolved into Americans spending an average of six billion a year on cheap vinyl costumes and tiny candy bars.
To close out the episode, I regale you all with the tragic tale of the ghost ship Mary Celeste.  A tale that, in actuality, is less about the supernatural and more about poorly constructed alibis.

After a weeks absence, I give a recap of my family's trip to Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg.  It also included an evening at Busch Gardens but that doesn't sound quite as uplifting.  I also wax poetic about how refreshing it was to hear the Founding Fathers treated with the reverence that they deserve.
In the middle of those stories, I give my thoughts on the popularity explosion that Halloween has enjoyed amongst an age group that outgrew  Trick-or-Treating sometime in the mid 80's.

Chapter 2 of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals is titled "Of Ends and Means".  Join me as I go over the 11 rules that Alinsky felt applied to the philosophy of the ends justify the means.

Today, I talk about racism in our modern society. Not actual hate for our fellow man, but the comical, "they can't be serious" kind of racism that some in our society spend way too much time digging for.
Then we take a quick look at the egg throwing incident that happened to Larry Elder while campaigning for the CA recall election.  It may be a sign that racism will finally die in this country.

We begin today with a minute or two, or ten, to discuss the return of NFL football.  I also give a run down of the reasons that I simply do not get into college football.
To close the episode, we give the rise and fall of former New York governor Andrew Cuomo a once over.  If you like irony, you will love this.

I start the show with some good news about the podcast.  Then I take a few moments to discuss why I hope Larry Elder does not win the upcoming California recall election.  If by some small miracle Larry Elder hears that I hold that opinion, I assure you, it is nothing personal.  Then we look at chapter one of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals.

We all gave up many things during the lockdown. It was the new normal....in these challenging times.  My family and I took a little time on Saturday and enjoyed an activity that we had not had the opportunity to partake in for sixteen months.  We went to an actual theater and watched a movie on the (sort of) big screen.  In all likelyhood, we will lose the ability to go the movies again very soon.

I start todays show off by doing a little cleanup on Tuesday show. I had one thing to correct and one thing that was meant to be in that show but was skimmed past while recording.
Then we begin our look at the 1971 book, Rules for Radicals, written by Saul Alinsky.  The topic for today is the prologue for the book. I did not expect the prologue to be worthy of a stand alone episode, but it proved to be ripe territory for commentary.

As a means of preparation for my planned series on the book, Rules for Radicals, I thought a quick look at the life of it's author would be a good jumping off point.  While I had heard his name for my entire life, I knew next to nothing about who he actually was.  Admittedly, this is a thumbnail look at his origins, but even in this cursory biography I learned a few things about Alinsky's personal beliefs that surprised me and somewhat changed my outlook on the man.

Jim Thorpe was an incredible athlete.  As time has past, his legend has faded from the collective consciousness.  understandable, as his Olympic glory days are over 100 years in the past.  We take a quick look at his astounding career as a professional athlete.
Then we look at a very bizarre link between Jim Thorpe and the part of Pennsylvania that I now call home.

I had a front row seat to a standoff between police and a person having a mental break.  I recount a harrowing tale of myself being the quintessential nosy neighbor.
Then I give my thoughts on the state of mental health medicine in this country, as well as offer a few suggestions as to how we could turn the ship around.

Today, I take a look at the irritating habit that progressives have of believing that they are superior to practically everyone else who has ever lived.
I also begin a journey of personal growth in an attempt to understand these people that claim to know what is best for us all.

I take a few moments to commemorate the 50th episode of this show.
Then, 76 years to the day that the second nuclear bomb was dropped on Japan.  Today we why this was the correct decision, both for the allied forces and the Japanese people.

I give a short recap of the family vacation. I would force you all to watch slides, but those don't really exist anymore.  Then I give a glowing speech concerning the start of NFL preseason.
Finally, we will take a look at California spa that went viral a few weeks ago.

One last abbreviated episode and the explanation for them.
Also, I discuss the reliability, or lack there of, that the GPS in phone delivers.

What happens when cancel culture runs out of targets?  The answer is that they will never run out of targets.  Even if they have to eat their own.

Why is marijuana even a part of a performance enhancing drug test?  Why do we do this kind of thing to ourselves?
But there is one drug that I personally think we should all be shooting up.  An honest dialog.

A quick rant about the irrationality on display concerning non-vaccinated individuals.
Then we take a look at the protests in Cuba that are flying under the radar and my thoughts on why this is happening.

I am tired of spending my money on poorly conceived, poorly written and poorly directed movies.  Hollywood needs to stop hiring based on political leanings and maybe think about finding people with a little creativity and talent.  I rant about the lack of entertainment that is to be found in the entertainment industry.

Today, we take a look at one of my favorite stories from World War II.  It's not a well know story from the early days of the Nazi party, but it is one of most interesting aspects of Hitler's rise to power.  It is also one of the few stories from the Nazi party that doesn't end in unspeakable horrors.

Good news, everyone. KFC will soon be serving pretend chicken.  I spend a few moments dissecting plant based "meat".
Then a brief discussion about Bill Cosby and his release from prison.

Oh, the joys of reading a simple newspaper article. It can take you to some strange places.
Also, congratulations to Joey Chestnut and happy Independence Day.

I read an article about how your environment molds the person that you will be. This article did not actually examine how this happens, but spent a huge amount of time blaming institutionalized racism.  I have thoughts.

The US government released all the information that they have on UFOs.  They did it on Friday, the day that news stories go to die. Zero media attention, but that sort of reflects the nearly zero information in the documents that were released. We take a quick look at much ado about nothing. 

I have a couple of observations from my travels this week.
Then we discuss the recall election in California and I explain why I rarely tear into the Republicans the way that I do the Left.

I have found the one good thing about the 70's.
The tide is turning against woke culture. Hopefully, soon, it will join PC culture on the midden heap of history.

Happy Father's Day, I have a few thoughts.

We start today with the Ruminations from my daughter's high school graduation.
Then we have a discussion about The North Face and their poor decision to refuse an order from an oil company.

I share the knowledge and experience that has helped me keep older, high mileage cars on the road and running smooth.  Plus a brief foray into customer behavior and public etiquette.

Today we speak about the surprising number of deaths that are occurring due to people trying to one up something they viewed online.  These poor souls are no longer around to tell the world "Top that!".

A recap of the opening holiday of summer that felt like winter.

The governor of PA is lifting COVID restrictions, but found a way to give us one last screw you before he does.
Then we take a look at a few amusing stories from the annuls of the US military to kick off the Memorial Day weekend.  Grab a hotdog, kick back and enjoy.

An orphan from France, an unlikely marriage and geographic isolation all combined to give Kentucky one of the most unusual families in our history,

As freakishly warm weather pays a visit to NEPA, I take a look at what the CDC says is necessary for your children to be safe at summer camp.  The actual answer to that question is "nothing", but the CDC has lots of opinions and a quite lengthy list of requirements. 

Are your children watching videos posted by a predator looking for his next victim? What you need to know.
Today I take a look at the surprising number of internet content creators that have fallen afoul of statutory laws.

The CDC made a stunning announcement on Tuesday.
Then we take a look at the panic buying at your local gas station, and I give my thoughts on why we behave this way. 

Where are we going as a species?  Nowhere good.  But, the good news is that we are getting there fast.  None of that lolly-gagging around on this one.

We begin today with a short rant about businesses  making decisions that seem to designed to ruin their customer base.
Then we look into the tyranny of equal outcomes and the unspoken and depressing reality that hides behind the good intentions of this idea.

I unload my frustration on the Church of Climatology in today's episode. I am not a climate change skeptic, but I have 46 years of seeing "experts" predictions fail to come to fruition.  The result of a lifetime waiting on the next ice age or fiery flood has made me a little bit weary.  or are they back on ice age again?  It changes from time to time.  Join me as I blaspheme against the holy doctrine and look at the situation with a generous helping of rational thought.

I missed so many things that I wanted to talk about during my last episode, that I decided to revisit the topic of locking down, masks and the vaccine. Join me as we dip out toes into the insanity of the last year one more time.

I have had all I can take of the lock down.  You would think our elected leaders would have, too.  The problem is our leaders haven't been locked down.  They make rules for us, not for themselves.

The war on drugs is fifty years old.  fifty years of throwing lives and money into a black hole of futility.  I make my proposal for moving away from ineffective policies and toward more effective and far less expensive courses of action.

Why do people push for bigger Government?  They take our money.  They give us nothing in return.  They sometimes decide to kill a bunch of us.
Today we take a brief look at a little known travesty that played out during what was already an insane time in out nations history. Prohibition. 

A listener comment prompts a deeper dive into the nature of inalienable rights and where they come from.
Then I discuss the current state of media and the bias that drives their reporting.

Today I take a brief look at how the media approaches different stories.  Then we spend a little time discussing the mind set of the average politician.

An unusual road sign prompts me to contemplate when and why did New Jersey become the butt of the American joke.

The word hillbilly is an insult. It conjures images of poverty, ignorance and violent behavior.
What would you think if you found out that America owes it's very existence to a group of people that have been the butt of a joke for over a century?  

I share my love for my fellow motorists.
Then I discuss how the trial of Derek Chauvin will not bring any closure for any one in this country, no matter how the trial plays out. Good times.

A little bit of car buying talk, A little bit of weather.
Then I take a look at how identity politics will spell the end of our society.

Social media has permeated out lives. Sometimes, it can be a good thing. Usually, It brings out the worst in people. I take a quick look into the cause of this phenomenon and give my thoughts on why freedom and anonymity encourage antisocial behavior on a social platform.

I briefly discuss Pepe le Pew and how being cancelled is actually become good PR.
Then I spin a tale about the bizarre day that Archduke Ferdinand met his demise at the hand of an assassin.  A day so filled with strange mistakes and farcical happenstance that it would read like a slapstick comedy if it didn't launch events that ended the lives of close to 20 million people.

Are social injustices starting to appear in the land of video games?  Not really.  Are we so out of actual problems that this is the new battlefield of the social justice warrior?  Apparently.
Then I give my take on trans-gender athletes competing in women's sports.

I take a brief moment to acknowledge where the podcast is after 10 show.
Then we take a look at the controversial tweet made by Burger King on International Women's Day.  Good times.

Pennsylvania wins a much deserved accolade.
Then I go on a trip down memory lane to the salad days of the cold war because my daughter is asking questions about communism.

World War I kept things calm in the West Virginia Coalfields, but the issues that caused violent conflict between mine operators and the men in their employ have not gone away.  Part 2 of this story begins with violence and intimidation on the rise and ends with the largest armed conflict on American soil since the end of the Civil War.1

A little known slice of Appalachian history.  The West Virginia Coal War spanned years and included several gun fights and a multi-day clash between armies.  Join me for a tale that sounds like a work of fiction rather than something that could possibly happen in modern America.  

An Illinois legislator wants to restrict video games that have criminal elements as part of their game play. Do we really need to go down this road again?

I spot something very odd while watching a commercial for a new SUV.  A trip with my kids to the mall forces me to contemplate the changing reality of retail sales.

A simple trip to the DMV turns into a giant waste of time, Prompting me to reminisce about all the fantastic times I have had at that wonderous place through the years

Simple solutions for the issues that are making out elections so contentious and untrustworthy. You're welcome.

The atrocious state of Pennsylvania roads.

We all learned in grade school that the reason America became the greatest country in the world was because of the "Melting Pot Society". But why did that matter and how did that cause this country rise to a global power in such a short time.

A quick introduction before we get this thing going.