Happy Thanksgiving all you that are left.(Only the Strong Survive) Hope you are all well and surrounded with family and friends, food, football, and all that makes life worthwhile.

One thing I really hate is when the news ‘reports’ on something that instantly sets off my B.S. meter, and I appear to not only be among the few people that notice something awry, but am actually labelled ‘sexist’, ‘insensitive’, or ‘difficult’ for calling the conclusions into question. Latest example, the perceived ‘wage gap’ between men and women. Fortunately, a guy named Maddox decided to put a lot more effort into answering my concerns than my lazy ass was willing to.

(If you didn’t already know, Maddox is a long-time blogger that runs The Best Page In The Universe as well as his own YouTube channel. I came across it in ’99, and it is highly recommended reading!)

Was referred to this by my good friend and co-worker Rahman, a Sunni muslim from Bangladesh. At first I thought it was going to be something serious or critical of the West, but then I listened to the whole thing and it turned my initial assumptions on their head. I have a cousin in New Mexico that is about MR’s age, and leans towards the alienating type of bible-thumping. She’s certain of the FOX news assertion that Muslims are all part of the vast conspiracy to usurp the Constitution and make Sharia law the rule of America, and one day even our ‘friends’ will mindlessly slaughter the rest of us in our sleep. (Much like the fears that the Vatican was going to somehow take over the reins of America if a certain Catholic was ever elected president in 1960.)  The speaker is an Indian mystic named Chandra Mohan Jain (also known as Rajnessh or Osho), and as with many ‘spiritual leaders’ of any faith, he was not without his controversies. There’s no doubting his charisma and sense of humor though, and as our world seems to have shrunk and cultures collide with greater frequency, I can’t help but think that the world might run a little smoother if we all took a step back from our extremes and prejudices and gave the courtesy to others to hear their views, and we might all find something to share a laugh over. And isn’t that the best medicine?

I gotta rant somemore. I love this blog, I know that I don’t post as much as I should as we all don’t. But I’m thankful that we have this platform to post our ideas thoughts and current happenings. I visit many other blogs that are attached to many of my favorite causes and I find that they give their authors and readership a place to convey differing points of view, concerns, or alternatives to the stated facts of certain events in the history of our great country. I hope that you all take away from our efforts a new understanding of our world, and I like hearing your ideas and takes on the subjects that we write about. Seems like the social media sites ie:Facebook etc don’t give the reader a very large platform to expound on their ideas the way that a Blog does. So I hope that you still appreciate this forum the way that I do.
Now to quote Miss Emily Lattella Former SNL weekend update commentator: “Never Mind”

Why? because one needs to know the history of the sect to understand why the events of Feb.-Apr. 1993 happened and why.

[Sorry MR this one is a little longer because there is a lot of info that’s relevant]

In Early 1955 a Oilfield worker and Seventh Day Adventist from Odessa, TX. Named Benjamin Roden while working on his old Chevy one day had a vision wherein he was told that he was to be “The Branch” referred to in scriptures, and he was to go to Waco and Lead his people to the promised land.

In Oct.1955 Ben and his wife Lois came to Mt. Carmel Center in Waco with their son George and Daughter and a new follower, a young man named Perry Jones, a person who would play a key role in later events.

April 22 1959 was the date Florence Houteff the widow of founder Victor Houteff and it’s leader after his passing in Feb of ’55 declared that the “Day of Judgement” would happen. Needless to say it came and went without a Rapture.

After this day that came to be known as the “Second great Disappointment” the Group all but Disbanded. During this time the DSDA and the SDA were in talks to gain official recognition of the group, as these talks broke down the executive board of the Davidian Seventh Day Adventist group voted to dissolve the organization and return all moneys held by the church to it’s membership.

In 1962 the Rodens returned to Waco, Laid claim to the 77 acres near the town of Elk, and attempted to seize the bank accounts of the now defunct group.

Oh yeah I almost forgot during all of this a profound thing happened on Aug 17, 1959. One Vernon Wayne Howell was born.

Not much is known about the group that came to be known as the Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventist Association during the mid to late ’60s except the Rodens made several trips to Israel to try to get the government to allow the group to immigrate so that when the Prophesy was fulfilled ( This time For real, No Really this time) they would be in the holy land. And during one of the trips that lasted 3 years Lois Roden was by herself in Israel, apparently Ben got a little lonely back in Waco and tried to molest his own Daughter.

During the ’70s things were just progressing along as things tend to do, The group having been refused permission to immigrate, continued to Farm, Worship, and live a Spartan but peaceable life at Mt. Carmel until 1977 when while studying at 2am Lois Had a Vision that convinced her that The Holy Spirit ( you know the Trinity, Father, Son, Holy Spirit) was feminine. Talk about your revelations!

After announcing this to the SDA world, they finally were convinced that the BDSDA were Blasphemous and “Cookoo For Coco Puffs” and convinced all their churches to sever any and all ties to the group and it’s leadership and membership. All Members were “Dis Fellow shipped by their origional SDA Congregations, and they were not allowed to attend the National Conferences of SDA’s.

Oct 22 1978 Ben Roden then 76 died. Lois was considered then to be the new leader and “Prophet” as no rite of succession was ever written down just like after the death of Houteff in ’55. Lois continued to lead the group. In 1979 George who had believed that he was being groomed to be the leader of the group from birth demanded that a vote was held to prove his rightful place as the next Messiah of Waco, Which ended up in a court battle, that never was really resolved to either sides advantage.

While this was going on his mother Lois and a small group was on a world wide “Barnstorming” tour spreading the Feminine Holy message even hounding the Pope during a world tour in 1980 where her message was less than warmly received. During this time a small Australian contingent had joined the group including a young man Clive Doyle (another key in future events) and his elderly mother.

Next, Part 3: Poor George.

To some of you this subject may be a little bit outdated, and you may well say that “It is in the past and just leave it there“. Well as many of you know this April 19th 2015 was the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. And one of the chief reasons for committing that act the Bomber Timothy McVey said was “the Governments handling of the Branch Davidian Standoff In Waco, TX. from Feb 28 to April 19 1993“.
With that as my justification I have began an extensive research on the whole Big Picture surrounding that event and what brought us up to the Tragic events of April 19 1993.
I think I will do this as a multi part article to keep it abbreviated to you the reader and so as I learn facts I can impart them to you. Also I know MR likes us to keep things short. That being said:

PART 1: THE BEGINNING.

The Branch Davidian Sect was (and still is today) an off shoot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and it’s doctrine. That “The world is in it’s end times and the coming Apocalypse mentioned in the book of Revelation is at hand at any given time“. The Church has had several “Last Days” type of meetings that have come to be known as ” The Great Disappointments” Some as recent as in the late 50’s.

In 1937 a Hungarian Immigrant Victor Houteff who was disillusioned by the Adventist teachings and it’s treatment of him at their medical Facilities in Loma Linda, CA. Started a sect called “The Shepard’s Rod” and moved his followers to Waco, TX. As a Weigh Stop until they could gather in Israel to await the “Second Coming Of Jesus Christ”
There they founded and built a little community with schools, hospitals, and industries. They mainly kept to them selves interacting with the local residents little.

Around this time they started calling them selves the Davidians after King David referred to in the scriptures. During the 2nd world war they Founded the Davidian Seventh Day Adventist Association in order to be eligible for members to be able to be assigned to Non Combat roles during the war.

As the city of Waco grew they were forced to sell off their lands and buildings to developers and the Main part of their compound was later Flooded to become Lake Waco. In the early 50’s they purchased a 77 acre tract of land 10 miles NE of Waco near the little hamlet of Elk, TX. to relocate and await their immigration to the Holy Land/Israel. That property became Infamous on Feb 28, 1993 and for the 51 days that followed we saw it every day on the News. What some in the media began calling “Ranch Apocalypse”

In 1955 Houteff Died and after his widow and the Executive committee predicted that the end would come later that year gathered the Faithful at what they called Mt. Carmel Center to await the return of Jesus. After midnight came and went and they were still there ( No Rapture, Go Figure!) They decided to disband the group and turn over it’s assets to a receiver to be distributed back to the followers in a series of cash reimbursements.
Next: Part 2′ The Branch.

….Especially when you’ve impulsively decided to learn to play guitar, borrow an acoustic from MRambler, and pretty much completely fuck the tuning beyond help within 20 minutes of fiddling with it and don’t want to tell him.

http://www.get-tuned.com/old_online_guitar_tuner.php

Now, how do I explain that the first lesson I learned was a Who song and I probably should not have been trying to play along by mirroring Pete on a concert DVD…. Anyone know a good way to remove splinters? I got him a Gibson Les Paul Sunburst Flame Top as a replacement……

(How’s MR’s eyesight lately? Maybe I can tell him it’s just really far away?) Ah yes, the memory…. I can leave it in his dishwasher! And chastise him later! 🙂

Happy Birthday to Me

Happy Birthday to Me

Happy Birthday J.J.

Happy Birthday to Me.
Made it to 50. Guess I’ll stick around to see what the next 50 holds in store.

Sadly, we lost B. B. King on Thursday night. Died in his sleep, age 89, taking a huge chunk of musical talent to the other side. Bet there is a epic jam session in heaven about now. Learned a lot of random facts about him from obits, I had no idea he was a certified pilot, flying himself to a lot of gigs until the mid ’90s. He was disappointed he didn’t serve in WWII; he was saved from full national service because he worked as a cotton picker in Mississippi at a time when plantation owners cut a deal with draft officials to keep their employees in the fields (He *was* inducted, but discharged after basic training). I knew he had a lot of kids, but they’re reporting something like 15 kids and 50 grandkids. Unfortunately, there’s gonna be a whole lot of lawyers scrambling this week.

I did find an invitation for everyone to see B. B. at his new permanent venue, he even left us directions….

Saw this the other day, and it made me feel a little guilty that someone confined to a chair appears to get more done than I do. Great validation for classic humor, and a fusion of true geniuses in totally unrelated fields.

Percy Sledge left us Tuesday, at 74 due to liver cancer.  Left behind a dozen kids, so he must’ve had a busy life.

At this point I think we just need a general obit post, it’s getting hard to keep up.

(At last look, Abe Vigoda’s still hanging in there….)

Stumbled across this and have no idea what establishment it’s at, but well done, sirs!

And on a related note, after years of speculation, the truth comes out….

Looks like Tokyo just got a great theme hotel. What’s better than an overnight stay in Tokyo and seeing this from the window?

Fittingly built at the old Toho Shinjuku Theater Building, they stuck a life-sized head 17 stories up, and the hotel sports a few View Rooms for about $125/night, and a special Godzilla-themed suite for around $330/night.

Is it racist that I’d dearly love to visit, just so I can run out in the street in a baseball cap and glasses, point up and scream “Godzirra!!!!”?

Apologies for the music, but here’s a vid with the inside of the hotel….

I think it’s great when corporate development and municipal zoning embraces the lighter side of things!

Bob Burns, original drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd wrecked his car Friday night in Georgia, hit a mailbox and a tree and wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Gone at 64. He left after the group’s first 2 albums, but rejoined the survivors on stage for the 2006 Hall of Fame induction.

Hopefully it wasn’t another “oak tree you’re in my way” scenario, the accident is still under investigation.

https:www//youtube.com/embed/pD yQZ4iNjY?rel=O

Sorry, left out www