A little Kipling for Christmas

The copy-and-paste process didn't quite line things up correctly this time, but here's a good poem by a really good man. May your Christmas be merry, wherever and whoever you are!

If- By Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build ‘em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And - which is more - you’ll be a Man my son!

the "greatest human rights violation ever"

Certain Moonbats love to refer to Guantanamo Bay as an evil dungeon. They would be well advised to take a tour, and see just how good the prisoners have it. They might even get a free cocktail. The US officers in charge of this place should be allowed to rule with an iron fist, but as soon as they lay a finger on one of these feces-flinging monkeys the media will proclaim, "Abuse!"

Read the article, and tell me who the good guys are in this worldwide struggle against radical Islam. The last 2 paragraphs are telling:

Al Qaeda inmates have been taught to lie about Camp Delta and claim torture. Officials cited a terrorist training manual known as the Manchester Document and seized by British authorities in 2000. The manual directs al Qaeda operatives to make false claims of torture and mistreatment. More than 340 people have been released from Camp Delta.

“They're out there walking around spewing forth all manner of lies and evil things and distortions, but the fact is that they're released," Adm. Harris said.

Warming Scandal

At least Senator Inhoff (R-Okla) and a few other congressmen understand the reality of the Global Warming Scare, perhaps the biggest lie to be pushed on the public since [insert social security, gun-control, affirmative action, or other politically correct program of choice]. Here's a glimpse of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Report, from their own website:

Skepticism that human C02 emissions are creating a “climate catastrophe” has
grown in recent times. In September, renowned French geophysicists and Socialist Party member Claude Allegre, converted from a believer in manmade catastrophic global warming to a climate skeptic. This latest defector from the global warming camp caps a year in which numerous scientific studies have bolstered the claims of climate skeptics.

Scientific studies that debunk the dire predictions of human-caused global warming have continued to accumulate and many believe the new science is shattering the media-promoted scientific “consensus” on climate alarmism.

What Men Should Know

The way so many young men are turning out these days, especially fatherless urbanites, is downright discouraging. Are they capable of handling even the most basic of social, emergency, and maintenance situations? Some are, but too many are not. How do you rate? I just put together this list, not necessarily complete, and in no particular order, of stuff I think boys should be proficient at before they call themselves men.

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Understand the U.S. Constitution and legal system.

Use a chainsaw to take down a large tree and turn it into firewood.

Swing an axe effectively.

Properly zero, shoot, and maintain common semi-automatic rifles.

Drive a manual transmission. (Not just any stickshift- an old 5-ton or bigger work truck with differential splitter and non-synchronized gears.)

Back a trailer down a ramp without having to pull forward.

Cook a balanced and complete meal from scratch, Set a formal dinner table, Eat there with decent manners.

Carve a turkey.

Keep an old car running well (Change oil, tires, fuses, engine parts, brakes, pack wheel bearings, tune ignition, diagnose problems, swap engine if needed.)

Respect all women, especially mothers.

Write a coherent essay on any pre-assigned topic.

Use topographic map and compass to precisely locate your starting point, ending point, and current position. (Amazing how many military personnel can't do this)

Shoot a running deer at 100 yards.

Properly care for all the meat on a large-game animal from field to freezer.

Balance a checkbook, pay your bills online, do your own taxes.

Play a musical instrument well enough for others to enjoy listening.

Land a small aircraft. (might be asking a bit much)

Repair leaky faucets and clogged drains. (not asking much at all)

Frame a strait and level wall to code.

Install light fixtures and switches.

Mix and pour concrete, and build forms, for basic flatwork and footings.

Maximize the potential of the Skillsaw.

Shingle a roof.

Install door frames and windows.

Bottle peaches.

Operate a tractor with front-end loader or backhoe.

Cut and weld with an acetylene torch. (any idiot can wire-feed)

Change barrels and set headspace/timing on a Browning .50 cal machinegun while hot. (may or may not apply to your situation)

Get shot at without freaking out. (If applicable)

Hike 20 miles carrying a 40 pound pack over mountainous terrain in less than a day. (Pass given to gentlemen over 55 or the disabled. Old "football injuries" don't count.)

Truly enjoy sleeping under the stars.

Dress for an interview.

Play chess. Win gracefully.

Read the entire Bible or an equivalent religious work of choice.

Respect God. If you don't believe, respect those who do.

Keep your word.

Marry someone for their character, not looks or wealth or popularity. Be able to tell the difference.

Stay in love.

Learn anything, through reading and/or hands on experience.

Start a fire when it's soaking wet outside without using gasoline, newspaper, etc.

Effectively use all power tools, hand tools, and BBQ grills.

Prepare a tender juicy roast; grill steaks to perfection.

Land a large fish on light tackle.
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While I could do almost all these things at age 18, I must confess I didn't get good at the rest until after I married at 25. I've only landed a plane once and don't claim to be good at that yet. Although I value my higher education, not a single item here was learned formally at college. Dad was and is a jack of all trades who insisted we learn all we could, and Mother is a true lady. At age 3 my son is turning into a good little helper-I hope I can give him what my parents have given me. Let me know what else is needed on the list!