Language
(click to enlarge)
Hey Expat I just read this blurb in this week’s Kiplinger and thought of you and your multilingual skills (I assume you can speak at least Spanish and English). Perhaps this may be a golden opportunity to put in a solid workday AND help your country of birth.
For that matter, Jo Jo’s talents speaking English (although as a second language at times), Italian, Prussian and Ebonic might be that road to a nice sized cache of supplemental income.
posted by Mike Dubuc | 12:21 PM
69 Comments:
Fwends, Womans, Countwymen, Bwobberws; wend me yourw earws! Perwhaps you have noticed my extended absence in this bwobbospherwe wecenwy. Just thinking about awl the wowk I have to do makes my wips numb just thinking about it. Despite the twemendous spirwit dispwayed in this bwob, I have to bid adieuw forw a whiwle. Due to a lwatwy fwenetic and everw incweasing wowk-woad, I have appawentwy devewoped a speech impediment—but onwy in wwiting. Awas, woe is me! But do not be distwessed. I shallw weturn we-invigowated and hopefuwwy healwed upon the compwetion of my wequested wetweat in a pairw of weeks. Ciao(w)!
=)
isn't he at the sacramental wine a tad early?
Does Dom Miguel's entry strike all of you a tad strange? It's a strange cross between Marlin Brando and Elmer Fudd! I hope the retreat fixes that terrible writing impediment.
thank you daisy. you have quite the wit yourself. jo jo is a fortunate man to be wedded to a woman of such high intelligence.
Don M hasn't been around? Hmmm, who knew?
Thank you Daisy, I am really the funnier of the two brothers. Jo, jo is more slapstick that I am. From the laughs we used to get at wine tastings we could have killed them in the Catskills!
I was referring to the fact that we used to make old jewish ladies laugh! Doesn't take much talent.
My hero, Patton.
God Bless George Patton, the only man who could stare Rommel down! He was one hell of a son-of-a-bitching good soldier! And, he read the bible every damned day.
On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed to the Continental Congress a resolution calling for a Declaration of Independence.
"it may bear Virginia's name, but it reeks or Adams, Adams and more Adams."
I can hear it now "My name is Richard Henry Lee, and Virginia is my home. My name is Richard Henry Lee and Virginia is my home... and may my wife forsake my bed if I can't deliver what I said, a resolution on Independency!!!! For it was here a Lee, there a Lee every where a Lee a Lee..." Oh for God sake, Franklin!
Lee: You've come to the one colony that can get job done: Virginia. The land that gave us our glorious commander in chief, George Washington, will now give the congress its proposal on independence. Where Virginia goes the south is bound to follow. And where the south goes, the middle colonies go! Gentlemen, a salute to Virginia, the mother of American independence!
Adams: Incredible, we're free and he hasn't even left yet!
Oh, Franklin, stop quoting yourself!
Franklin: That was a new one!
Did anyone in the continental U.S. see the program called Washington the Warrior? It was terrific. I did not see the whole thing, but Dante and I watched about Half, and we very much enjoyed it.
Yes, on The History Channel. Outstanding programming. There are some terrific programs about The Revolution coming up this summer. You, my great American friend jo jo, are raising a fine young man.
Washington is the most underrated general in American History. After the great Washington veneration disappeared, no one wanted to talk about him. It is only recently that he is really being studied again. His ability to turn retreat into victory was truly astounding. He understood that he didn't have to win a battle, simply wear down an overstreached enemy, fighting in a place they didn't care about and most simply for money. He was brilliant for realizing that taking a small loss was an enormous gain. His few victories were strategic and pointed and always lead to something more important. He was a true and humbling example to his officers and men who had a to the death devotion to him. And when it was all done, he went home, like Cincinatus, to his very successful farm (unlike Jefferson's) where he had his own little cigar making house, a winery, etc. All making money. He was one hell of a man.
Brother Washington was a highly honored Masonic. He was Worshipful Master of Alexandria Lodge when he was inaugurated our first President.
Peter is correct. While George Washington is everywhere, from the dollar bill to Presidents Day sales. Yet he suffers from a historical "political correctness," and we as Americans and Freemasons have allowed the Father of Our Country to slip into obscurity. I believe we should return George Washington to the proper and so richly deserved position of honor and respect that he once held. When I was a child, there was a picture of George Washington in every school. Every morning we prayed to our Creator and pledged allegiance to the flag of our country. We were taught the history of this great nation, including the character of Washington and the great deeds, accomplishments, and suffering that were so instrumental in the founding of our country.
February 22nd was a National Holiday, a day when America paused to honor the memory of the one man who gave more and did more for the establishment of this great nation than any other. Making Washington's Birthday into a generic holiday was a mistake. Presidents Day celebrates nothing except another sale, another day we don't go to work, and another day the kids don't go to school. I never hear on Presidents Day any discussion of the virtues of any of our Presidents. There is no substitute for the Father of our Country. As such, President Washington deserves to be distinguished from the other Presidents. President James Buchanan once said, "When the birthday of Washington shall be forgotten, liberty will have perished from the Earth."
He was a great man. His entire life was lived in his own country. There was no foreign education, no habits or tastes acquired abroad. His person, his character, and his greatness were truly and totally American. Perhaps George Washington's greatest achievement was that, almost alone among the revolutionaries of the modern era, he returned his power to the people. His character explains his achievement; he had the will and the charisma to win a war and found a state, with the moral and ideological guidance that held him to his proper role. His life is an ongoing example of citizenship and statesmanship and an example of the heights that humans can reach.
George Washington deserves his reputation as a man of great character, who performed the remarkable task of keeping the cause of freedom alive through eight long years of the Revolutionary War, eight long years during which he returned to Mount Vernon only once. George Washington committed the unprecedented act of surrendering his sword to the Continental Congress after the victory. Three times he was offered kingship or dictatorship or the Presidency for life; three times he refused. We literally owe our democracy and our nation, as we know it to him.
The character of George Washington is the character of America. We all need to perpetuate the memory, respect, and honor of our First Commander in Chief, our First President, and the Father of our Country, and our Foremost Freemason—Brother George Washington.
HEAR! HEAR! He is my favorite President(Aside from John Adams!) Dante thinks he's great too. I am making sure he knows and appreciates the founding fathers(except Jefferson). He is already a big Franklin and Washington fan, now I'm working on John Adams. By the way there are new "Colonial" beers comming out from Sam Adams- using real Colonial Period recipes. One of them is from Washington himself! $10.99 4pks. 4 styles in all.
Dr. F, your spontaneous eloquence has once again astounded me. It is the rare treat when we get to taste the sweet doggerel that flows from your pen. (I'm serious here) I agree, wholeheartedly.
Nice advertising spot, jo, jo. Save me a 4 pk, I'd like to try it.
Thanks for noticing.
Expat-you didn't notice my John Adams/President thing???? I put that in just for you and Dr. F.
Yes, jo, jo, I noticed it. And it was quite good. It's just I got thrown by the comercial interruption at the end.
jo jo, what is your issue with Jefferson?
And many thanks, Expat. From time to time lightening strikes and I become inspired to contribute to the education provided by both you and jo jo on this blog.
The more I read about Jefferson, the more he reminds me of Bill Clinton. Not only that I think he was boorish and rude. He nearly destroyed the independant Judiciary. I think the was brilliant, and he had a couple of good ideas, but he was over all, a dangerous man.
I would disagree with that assessment of Jefferson. He was the founder who most feared government and most wanted government out of the lives of citizens.
He tried and nearly suceeded in making the Judiciary under the control of the Presidency. He wrecked Hamilton's(he personally despised hamilton) career. Let us not forget that Hamilton is the one person who brought our fledgling nation out of huge debt, and actually made our economy so strong that we became an important trading partner. Also, Jefferson didn't like to shake people's hands, he is famous for wearing his bathrobe and slippers out of the house-and he had poor personal hygene. So there!(imagine I'm sticking out my tongue)
Jefferson decided that he was right and everyone else was wrong. The idealism of his youth turned into despotism in his later years. He was no longer able to conceive of the possibility of the correctness of the argument of others. He also used others to do his dirty work. He was so blinded to the truth of the French Revolution that he almost caused the new US dearly and continued to side with the French on foreign policy issues he sould have either stayed out of or sided with the British.
The Lousiana Purchase was his "other" great legacy. He was truly a great mind, but Expat is right. He really does remind me of Bill Clinton.(Clinton never did any of the good things though) I can understand his pluses, yet feel that were I to know him personally I would find him distasteful.
I certainly hear you on his minues, and can't disagree. But on political philosophy I can't help but prefer Jefferson over the more statist Hamilton. Hamilton's view of a powerful chief executive is none to comfortable with us who sit on the Libertarian side of the conservative movement.
Oh, don't get me wrong, Hamilton had his issues too. Personally of Jefferson, Hamilton and Burr, I prefer Burr. Despite the whole dueling thing.
Burr's problem was he was a megalomaniac and a womanizer. He was also trying to live down being the grandson of Jonathan Edwards. Hamilton gave us the Executive as we had it before Lincoln. The Executive that was completely approchable to the people, yet above everything. Lincoln was a far more powerful executive than Hamilton had imagined possible. Hamilton viewed had a more realistic view of government and what it needed and did not need to do. Despite the powerful executive, he was less a meddler in the life of the people. Jefferson felt the nation should be much more involved and "govern" more. It's hard to fit their concepts into ours as they don't quite jive.
Many historians regard Hamilton as the Founding Father who most effectively advocated the principles of a strong centralized federal government and loose interpretation of the Constitution. Two "no no's" to modern day conservatives. Hamilton was also an enthusiastic supporter of taxes and was the man who pushed Washington to end the Whiskey Rebellion. Remember, gentelmen, Hamilton's economic policies continued to influence 20th century presidents like FDR, LBJ and Richard E. Nixon.
At the time, however Hamilitons policy was what was needed. Like most great men he could not achieve the same measure of accomplishment in his personal life. As a case in point He, Jefferson and Burr all were a mess behind their doors. Hamilton was a womanizer too, and in phenomenal debt. Jefferson-well lets not talk about it-shall we!
I believe most men of the early 19th century could be considered "womanizers". My namesake certainly was.
It has been noticed that, with all this history talk, we seemed to have lost mike, spilly and Lori in the discussions. Did our brilliant minds frighten them off?
Mike is(clench your teeth when you say it)on the Vineyard for the week. They have a house in Chilmark. I know, I know, poor him.
They weren't all womanizers. Adams, Adams and more Adams was extremely faithful to his beloved Abagail. Dr. F., was not unfaithful as he was never really married to anyone. His common law wife, Sally, had passed away long before he became a founding father. Franklin was also more bark than bite. Hamilton had several affairs, Burr was in a constant state of affair and well Mr. Jefferson, found solace in the slave half sister of his deceased wife. You all know that Sally Hemmings was fathered by Martha's father, that's why they looked so much alike. Although they say he liked to help himself to the slave girls in his youth as well.
The rest of us are having a lot of fun. It mixes erudition and chics what could be better.
It's like having "John Adams" read to me by a nude Monica Bellucci.
I think we should do the same thing here to protest.
I was in Madrid on Sunday on my way to Brussels and I didn't see any of that. I'm sure it was filled with the usual ugly leftists that are drawn to that sort of thing.
The Pawsox game was a hoot. The chickens had a fun time. We were 7 rows back from the field, right over the penalty box.
Jo Jo, where was the penalty box in relationship to the cheerleaders?
You sprang for $6 a piece for the good seats at McCoy! And even I know it's a dugout, bozo!
The referee was standing in front of it. I watched all 5 quarters of the match and I know what it is called! If there were Cheerleaders there I didn't see them as they never stand in the End Zone, and the hitter stands with the catcher and the Ref. in the End Zone-where I WAS SEATED! You people! Stanley-Bostich sprung for it, thank you very much.
One of the Pawsox players hit a Tri-Fecta in the 3rd period. It was awesome.
Lori, is jo jo really THAT "blonde" when it comes to sports?
You watching the Stanley Cup finals? The crowd in Edmonton has been amazing.
No! I am an asport guy!
Dr. F, if you can believe this, jo, jo knows less about and likes sports less than I do. If that gives you a clue. He only likes the superbowl because we sell that much more beer! (I don't even like it for that reason)
At least Dante has aunts Lori and spilly!
He turned down an ice cream from Grandpa? That's all together too wierd. Maybe he felt it wasn't a sound financial transaction? Or maybe it's just not the same when you can't sit on the running boards to eat it. (jo, jo and Lori will understand)
I see. Perhaps at the Roast I'll bring some reinforcements from the world of youth sports. Caleb will have his lacrosse stick, and Jake will have his baseball bat (keep away spilly!)
He will have his male cousin to play soccer with all summer. My son loves sports, much unlike his father. And he's pretty good at them as well (very much unlike his father!)
Expat, Ahem....That you really believe I know less about sports than you is amazing. I'll leave you with your fantasy. I enjoy that everyone isn't sure what I know regarding sports. While it is true I do not really enjoy popular sports, there are many traditional sports I find truly entertaining. I do retain certain "sport" information, yet do not feel the need to relay it. "It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than open it and remove all doubt." Dumb as a fox is the way to go through life. Or to put a different spin on it. "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life."
I need to jump to Expat's defense on this. He is rarely drunk!
Kind word, Dr. F., kind word.
Thank you jo, jo, but your technical knowledge regarding greco-roman wrestling, albiet traditional, doesn't really count as sports knowledge! Thank you Dr. F. for coming to my defense.
Anytime Expat.
I happen to know that jo jo has complete knowledge of fencing, as well.
Stockade or chainlink?
Lori, but this year we have ex-Bruin Samsonov to watch for the Oilers, and ex-Bruin (going way back) Glen Wesley for the 'Canes. Funny thing being Bruins fans, we always have an ex player in the Cup finals.
Vinyl Coated Galvanized
Cattle fence m'boys. As Mike can state with authority, I've put up lots of it.
Thank you Spilly for your "catch all" defense of me. Hey, a backhanded compliment shows affection too.
Go Penn State!
SSSSHHH Lori! Don't draw sports attention to the Alma Mater. Make like the French in 1939.
He means RUN!!!!
On my foot???
then you'll have to REALLY be like the French in 1939. Pull out that white hankie.
I planned on burying my head in the sand instead.
Post a Comment
<< Home