My name is Bob and, it started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and then -- just to loosen up and be a part of the crowd.
Inevitably, though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.
I began to think alone -- "to relax," I told myself -- but I knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time.
That was when things began to sour at home. One evening I turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's.
I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't help myself.
I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau, Muir, Confucius and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?"
One day the boss called me in. He said, "Listen, I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job."
This gave me a lot to think about. I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..."
"I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!" "But Honey, surely it's not that serious." "It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver.
"You think as much as college professors and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking, we won't have any money!"
"That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently.
She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in no mood to deal with the emotional drama.
"I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door.
I headed for the library, in the mood for some John Locke. I roared into the parking lot with NPR on the radio and ran up to the big glass doors.
They didn't open. The library was closed.
To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that night.
Leaning on the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Emerson, a poster caught my eye, "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked.
You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinkers Anonymous poster.
This is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker.
I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting.
I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking. I think the road to recovery is nearly complete for me.
Today I took the final step...I joined the Democratic Party
Ed Note: Keep in mind now that as Karp points out in his book Indispensable Enemies, the 2 part system is actually a one power system created to maintain control and any threat to one party is a threat to the other. Think of this when you hear either party railing against the Tea Party members.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Staking a Claim on Trailer-Q
“That is the best pulled pork in San Antonio”. So says the man as he drives off with his wife and his dog from the Smoke Shack, a new traveling BBQ house-on-wheels located from 11 to 2 pm in the vacant lot at the southwest corner of the intersection of Nacodoches and Loop 410 .
For those of you on the lookout for a building with all the hoopla and with those interminable waiters asking if you want to hear the specials - don’t. Look instead for the wood-clad trailer of the sort that might just have pulled off your uncle’s ranch, and look also for some of the best BBQ and pulled pork that I have run across in a long, long time.
I first noticed Chef Chris Conger’s “shack” a couple weeks ago and wondered if it was for real. After seeing that it was there from 11- 2 pm M-F, I just had to stop and see if they had real BBQ - or if it was just some of that junk that passes for BBQ “Up North”.
Seeing that a Slider (small bun sandwich) with chips and a drink was only 4 bucks, I ordered up and was told by Chris that I was going to want another. Now, at the time I did not know that Chris, the guy that was giving me “the sell”, and the guy taking my money, and the guy that was toasting the bun, was the owner of this enterprise, and so I reserved judgement. I also reserved judgment because I am known by my friends as the guy that could eat his way across the United States on nothing but BBQ and consider myself a connoisseur of this style of Southern fine dining. ( BTW, that is how I know that roast beef, stuck in the pit for 20 minutes and covered with ketchup, ain’t BBQ.)
After a couple minutes and some conversation while I took some photos to put in my street scene photographer's gallery, my slider appears thru the window and taking it back to the tailgate of my truck, I bite into it to find that I had just received the most delectable treat this side of heaven. There it was, a chopped brisket sandwich on a gleaming grill-toasted bun, complete with the brown spot and slight amount of sheen that comes when the chef takes the time to toast on BOTH sides, and where doing so makes all the difference. I also noticed that the meat was overflowing so that there would be the proper amount of finger pickings after the main event. I also noted that the 4-bite bun stayed together instead of breaking all apart and that it was suffused with the wonderful bouquet that only happens when it is toasted on a seasoned grill.
Standing there a-scarfing my slider, I was not alone. There were the two old timers sitting on their tailgate, a couple of head-bangers ordering for their truck, and after a couple minutes a couple with their dog in tow.
After finishing, I go over and tell Chris and Ben, the guys at “The Shack”, that they were right about it being the best BBQ around. On talking with them is when I find out that I was talking to “The Man” Chris Conger himself, who tells me that he has always loved BBQ and that his enterprise at the corner is only about 2 months old.
Well. Welcome to town Chris - and get ready for the rush. I know other guys and gals that like BBQ too!
PS - For those of you wondering if this is one of those paid write-ups in exchange for graft and corruption, I tell you that it certainly is not. As an ex-businessman that knows what it is like to take a risk, and as someone that has always enjoyed running across people and businesses that “get it”, I just felt I had to do a write up on "The Smoke Shack”.
 |
| Chris Conger and sidekick Ben - Serving up the best BBQ Sliders in San Antonio |
For those of you on the lookout for a building with all the hoopla and with those interminable waiters asking if you want to hear the specials - don’t. Look instead for the wood-clad trailer of the sort that might just have pulled off your uncle’s ranch, and look also for some of the best BBQ and pulled pork that I have run across in a long, long time.
I first noticed Chef Chris Conger’s “shack” a couple weeks ago and wondered if it was for real. After seeing that it was there from 11- 2 pm M-F, I just had to stop and see if they had real BBQ - or if it was just some of that junk that passes for BBQ “Up North”.
Seeing that a Slider (small bun sandwich) with chips and a drink was only 4 bucks, I ordered up and was told by Chris that I was going to want another. Now, at the time I did not know that Chris, the guy that was giving me “the sell”, and the guy taking my money, and the guy that was toasting the bun, was the owner of this enterprise, and so I reserved judgement. I also reserved judgment because I am known by my friends as the guy that could eat his way across the United States on nothing but BBQ and consider myself a connoisseur of this style of Southern fine dining. ( BTW, that is how I know that roast beef, stuck in the pit for 20 minutes and covered with ketchup, ain’t BBQ.)
After a couple minutes and some conversation while I took some photos to put in my street scene photographer's gallery, my slider appears thru the window and taking it back to the tailgate of my truck, I bite into it to find that I had just received the most delectable treat this side of heaven. There it was, a chopped brisket sandwich on a gleaming grill-toasted bun, complete with the brown spot and slight amount of sheen that comes when the chef takes the time to toast on BOTH sides, and where doing so makes all the difference. I also noticed that the meat was overflowing so that there would be the proper amount of finger pickings after the main event. I also noted that the 4-bite bun stayed together instead of breaking all apart and that it was suffused with the wonderful bouquet that only happens when it is toasted on a seasoned grill.
Standing there a-scarfing my slider, I was not alone. There were the two old timers sitting on their tailgate, a couple of head-bangers ordering for their truck, and after a couple minutes a couple with their dog in tow.
After finishing, I go over and tell Chris and Ben, the guys at “The Shack”, that they were right about it being the best BBQ around. On talking with them is when I find out that I was talking to “The Man” Chris Conger himself, who tells me that he has always loved BBQ and that his enterprise at the corner is only about 2 months old.
Well. Welcome to town Chris - and get ready for the rush. I know other guys and gals that like BBQ too!
PS - For those of you wondering if this is one of those paid write-ups in exchange for graft and corruption, I tell you that it certainly is not. As an ex-businessman that knows what it is like to take a risk, and as someone that has always enjoyed running across people and businesses that “get it”, I just felt I had to do a write up on "The Smoke Shack”.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
On Anchor Babies
From todays news (1/5/1011) from Reuters (States plan crackdown on immigration but risk Latino ire)
Commentary
About time that the states figured out that their banding together is an absolute requirement for any efforts to stop the Federal juggernaut that has gathered unto itself powers that were never delegated to it under the Constitution which sets the inviolable ground rules for the allowed operations and spheres of control allowed to the Federal entity that the States themselves created. (remember there was NO direct election by the people for or against the document that set forth how the Federal entity was to be constituted - it was done (ostensibly by the people) via the State legislatures)
The States used to act through their legislative appointment of their Senators and it was intentionally set up that way by the founders so as to protect States Rights, and allow States to check encroachments of the Federal entity, and also to temper the passions of the mob which throughout history have spelled the death of all democracies.
It is also about time that the States put an end to the aberrant implementation of the constitutional provision of "birthright citizenship" whose plain language says that only for children of those subject to the jurisdiction of the United States are granted "birthright citizenship", but which like an ugly monster has been twisted as a nose of wax to allow a child born on US soil, said child of persons NOT under the jurisdiction of the United States to be citizens.
The wording of the Constitution is the way it is for a reason. If the founders and the ratifying states and the people had meant that citizenship shall be automatic for anybody that is born on US soil, then the language would have been crafted that way. It was not crafted that way, and for the exact reason that birthright citizenship is not automatic - except for children of those under the jurisdiction of the United States.
Not to put to fine a point on it, illegal aliens are NOT under the jurisdiction of the United States Like Duh ,THAT is why illegal aliens are deported. Illegal aliens are citizens of other countries. As such - that Mexican illegals are not under the jurisdiction of the United States (they are under the jurisdiction of Mexico) - children of illegal aliens do not have US citizenship.
It ain't rocket science
".... And in a sign of growing cooperation on immigration issues, at least 14 states are working together on a shared legislative framework to challenge automatic U.S. citizenship for children born to illegal immigrant parents, which is grounded in the 14th amendment to the Constitution.
Commentary
About time that the states figured out that their banding together is an absolute requirement for any efforts to stop the Federal juggernaut that has gathered unto itself powers that were never delegated to it under the Constitution which sets the inviolable ground rules for the allowed operations and spheres of control allowed to the Federal entity that the States themselves created. (remember there was NO direct election by the people for or against the document that set forth how the Federal entity was to be constituted - it was done (ostensibly by the people) via the State legislatures)
The States used to act through their legislative appointment of their Senators and it was intentionally set up that way by the founders so as to protect States Rights, and allow States to check encroachments of the Federal entity, and also to temper the passions of the mob which throughout history have spelled the death of all democracies.
It is also about time that the States put an end to the aberrant implementation of the constitutional provision of "birthright citizenship" whose plain language says that only for children of those subject to the jurisdiction of the United States are granted "birthright citizenship", but which like an ugly monster has been twisted as a nose of wax to allow a child born on US soil, said child of persons NOT under the jurisdiction of the United States to be citizens.
The wording of the Constitution is the way it is for a reason. If the founders and the ratifying states and the people had meant that citizenship shall be automatic for anybody that is born on US soil, then the language would have been crafted that way. It was not crafted that way, and for the exact reason that birthright citizenship is not automatic - except for children of those under the jurisdiction of the United States.
Not to put to fine a point on it, illegal aliens are NOT under the jurisdiction of the United States Like Duh ,THAT is why illegal aliens are deported. Illegal aliens are citizens of other countries. As such - that Mexican illegals are not under the jurisdiction of the United States (they are under the jurisdiction of Mexico) - children of illegal aliens do not have US citizenship.
It ain't rocket science
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