Saturday, January 30, 2016

In Love, In Danger - By Carroll Bryant

IN LOVE, IN DANGER - BY CARROLL BRYANT
 
 
 
It's a cookie cutter world
When you look at me that way
I can't complain
And yet I still do
I try to get away with it, I confess
I admit nothing of truth
 
Don't make this into your fantasy
Don't turn it into another Broadway play
 
And I fall - in deep - in love, in danger
My heart is a stranger
I fall - asleep - in love, in danger
My heart is a stranger to it
 
You - and the mirror loses its reflection
My life is a rejection and jaded
I force my mind to pretend I'm always on vacation
I'm trying to get away with it
I concede it's so full of shit
 
Don't make this into a song of seduction
Don't turn it into another under construction 
 
And I fall - in deep - in love, in danger
My heart is a stranger
I fall - asleep - in love, in danger
My heart is a stranger to - you
 
It's a cookie cutter world
When you look at me that way
You always look at me that way
I can't complain
And yet I still do
I try to get away with it, I confess
I admit nothing of the truth
 
Don't make this into your fantasy
Don't turn it into another Broadway play
 
And I fall - in deep - in love, in danger
My heart is a stranger
I fall - asleep - in love, in danger
My heart is a stranger to it
 
And I fall - in deep - in love, in danger
My heart is a stranger
I fall - asleep - in love, in danger
My heart is a stranger to - you
 
And I fall - in deep - until I can't sleep
You know that I can't sleep
I can never sleep without you
 
 



 




Monday, January 25, 2016

Calico Jack Rackham - Pirates

The waves are riding high with this most famous pirate. A rock star name with the bad boy life-style - whiskey and women on the side. I often believe that had I lived in the right time, I too would have been a pirate. Maybe. I did serve in the Navy so, you never know.

John Rackham (26 December 1682 – 18 November 1720), commonly known as Calico Jack, was an English pirate captain operating in the Bahamas and in Cuba during the early 18th century. (Rackham is often spelled as Rackam or Rackum in historical documentation, and he is also often referred to as Jack Rackham.) His nickname was derived from the calico clothing that he wore, while Jack is a nickname for "John."

Little is known of Rackham's upbringing or early life, except for the fact that he was English and born around the year 1682. The first record of him is as quartermaster on Charles Vane's sloop Ranger in 1718, operating out of New Providence island in the Bahamas, which was a notorious base for pirates known as the 'Pirates' republic'. Vane and his crew robbed several ships outside New York, then encountered a large French man-of-war. The ship was at least twice as large as Vane's sloop, and it immediately pursued them. Vane commanded a retreat from battle, claiming caution as his reason. Jack Rackham quickly spoke up and contested the decision, suggesting that they fight the man-o-war because it would have plenty of riches. In addition, he argued, if they captured the ship, it would place a much larger ship at their disposal. Of the approximately ninety men on the ship, only fifteen supported Vane in his decision. Vane declared that the captain's decision is considered final, however, despite the overwhelming support for Rackham's cry to fight, and they fled the man-o-war.

On 24 November 1718, Rackham called a vote in which the men branded Vane a coward and removed him from the captaincy, making Calico Jack the next captain. Rackham gave Vane and his fifteen supporters the other sloop in the fleet, along with a decent supply of ammunition and goods

Rackham made a career of plundering small vessels close to shore once he became captain. He and his crew captured the Kingston, a small Jamaican vessel, and made it their flagship. They made several conquests in the West Indies, taking a couple of large ships off of Bermuda.
In 1719, Rackham sailed into Nassau in the Bahamas, taking advantage of a general amnesty for pirates to obtain a royal pardon and commission from Governor Woodes Rogers. Rogers had been sent to the Bahamas to address the problem of pirates in the Caribbean who had started to attack and steal from British ships.
In December, he captured the merchant ship Kingston. The Kingston had a rich cargo, and promised to be a big score for Rackham and his crew. Unfortunately for him, the Kingston had been taken within sight of Port Royal, where outraged merchants outfitted bounty hunters to go after him. They caught up with him in February 1719, while his ship and the Kingston were anchored at Isla de los Pinos off of Cuba. Rackham and most of his men were on shore at the time, and they escaped capture by hiding in the woods - but their ship and rich trophy were taken away.

Captain Charles Johnson describes how Rackham stole a sloop in his 1722 classic A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates. Rackham and his men were at a town in Cuba refitting their small sloop when a Spanish warship charged with patrolling the Cuban coast entered the harbour, along with a small English sloop which they had captured. The Spanish warship saw the pirates but could not get at them at low tide, so they anchored in the harbour entrance to wait for morning. That night, Rackham and his men rowed over to the captured English sloop and overpowered the Spanish guards there. As dawn broke, the warship began blasting Rackham's old ship, now empty, as Rackham and his men silently sailed past in their new prize.

Rackham and his men made their way back to Nassau, where they appeared before Governor Rogers and asked for the royal pardon, claiming that Vane had forced them to become pirates. Rogers hated Vane and chose to believe them, granting them the pardon and allowing them to stay. Their time as honest men, however, did not last long.

In September 1720, the Bahamas' Governor Woodes Rogers had issued a proclamation declaring Rackham and his crew as pirates - although it was not published until October 1720. After publication of the warrant, pirate hunter Jonathan Barnet started in pursuit of Rackham, who was cruising near Jamaica capturing numerous small fishing vessels and terrorizing fishermen along the northern Jamaican coastline.

Rackham had come across a small vessel crewed by nine English pirates, and they joined Rackham on his ship for a bout of drinking while at anchor (and intoxicated) at Bry Harbour Bay in Jamaica, October 1720. Barnet's sloop attacked Rackham's ship and captured it after a fight presumably led by Mary Read and Anne Bonny. Rackham and his crew were brought to Spanish Town, Jamaica, in November 1720, where they were tried and convicted of piracy and sentenced to be hanged.

Rackham was executed in Port Royal on 18 November 1720, his body then gibbeted on display on a very small islet at a main entrance to Port Royal now known as Rackham's Cay.


Source: Wikipedia

This work is released under CC 3.o By-SA: Creative Commons




Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Flag Of East Germany

The flag of East Germany was the official national flag of the East German state from 1949 to 1990. The flag's design and symbolism are derived from the flag of the Weimar Republic and communist symbolism. But I just like the colorful look of it.

With relations deteriorating between the Soviet Union and the United States, the three western Allies met in March 1948 to merge their zones of occupation and allow the formation of what became the Federal Republic of Germany, commonly known as West Germany. Meanwhile, the eastern Soviet zone became the German Democratic Republic, commonly known as East Germany. During the preparation of the new constitution for West Germany, discussions regarding its national symbols took place in August 1948 during a meeting at Herrenchiemsee. Although there were objections to the creation of a national flag before reunification with the east, it was decided to proceed. This decision was primarily motivated by the proposed constitution by the eastern SED in November 1946, where black-red-gold were suggested as the colors for a future German republic.

In 1955, the inhabitants of the French-administered Saar Protectorate voted to join West Germany. Since its establishment as a separate French protectorate in 1947, the Saar had a white Nordic cross on a blue and red background as its flag. To demonstrate the commitment of the Saar to be a part of West Germany, a new flag was selected on 9 July 1956: the black-red-gold tricolor defaced with the new coat of arms, also proposed on this day. This flag came into force on 1 January 1957, upon the establishment of the Saarland as a state of West Germany.





On the centenary of the Berlin March days in March 1948, the second People's Congress was convened in Berlin. It should be seen as German People's Council on the reorganization of the entire state in addition to the drafting of a constitution creating a national flag for the state of the German Democratic Republic. The choice was between three flags, one red, another black-white-red, and the last option black-red-gold. The proposal to introduce the red flag, was quickly discarded. As a sign of communist and the international labor movement this flag was rejected even the November Revolution of 1918 (and beyond) by the bourgeoisie. As in Germany, the decision should fall in favor of the black, red and gold flag of the Weimar Republic. Against this flag but was initially the Soviet Union. As a symbol of the Weimar Republic they remember times of weakness, to crises and unemployment. Thus, the black-white-red flag remained. It goes back to the National Committee for a Free Germany. The committee was established on 12 and 13 June 1943 under Soviet leadership took the old Reich flag. The flag should be seen as signs of the struggle against the fascist Nazi regime are evaluated in Adolf Hitler and the swastika flag.


At the Third People's Congress 1949, set up by the Soviet occupation in 1948 brought Mayor of East Berlin Friedrich Ebert yet again, the proposal for the black-red-gold flag a. His application was approved on 30 May 1949 and put into effect on 7 October 1949 Law on state emblem and flag from September 26, 1949.

Thus, the German Democratic Republic and West Germany the same national flag, the German Democratic Republic, however, led only in the first ten years of its existence. During this time the Federal Republic competed in color with the identical design of the GDR. On October 1, 1959  the GDR added their national emblem, "hammer and compass surrounded by a garland of corn" in the flag as so as to create a distinction to the flag of the Federal Republic. The emblem was a symbol of the alliance of between workers, farmers, and intelligence.

The public presentation of this officially as a "Soviet zone flag" designated by the Federal Republic flag was, however, viewed by the end of the 1960s as a breach of the Constitution and disruption of public order in the Federal Republic of Germany and West Berlin and basically prevented by police action. Even when hoisting the flag of the German Democratic Republic abroad there were stereotyped to West German protests. It was only on July 22, 1969 ordered the federal government (Grand Coalition), that the police everywhere should take more action against the use of the flag and coat of arms of the GDR.

Since the GDR had not yet been recognized under international law, it started to be in 1968 in sporting contests, such as in Olympic Games, teams with athletes from both parts of Germany. The Olympic Committee of the GDR refused to compete under the flag of the Federal Republic, and the Olympic Committee of Germany lasted until the very last moment on, no changes in the black-red-gold flag carry. Ultimately yet succeeded yet an agreement. They sat on the red stripes of black, red and gold flag of the Olympic rings in white. As part of the international recognition of the GDR by the United Nations and the recognition of the sovereignty of the GDR by West Germany, two separate teams with two separate flags took part after 1972.

With the introduction of the new national flag in 1959 a new merchant flag was introduced. Before the GDR led the black-red-gold flag without coat of arms as merchant flag. The new merchant flag to a smaller state emblem is in the upper corner. 1973 this merchant flag was again abolished and replaced by the national flag, the order was National and merchant flag.

After the political turning point in 1989 in the GDR drew up the working group "New Constitution of the GDR," the Round Table a new constitution and proposed a new national flag. They should continue to be striped black-red-golden, but show instead of the State Emblem the presentation of the motto Swords to ploughshares. The other political events with the reunification ending existence of the GDR did not let the Constitution and therefore the new flag to take effect.





Source: Wikipedia


This work is released under CC 3.0 BY-SA: Creative Commons




Friday, January 15, 2016

Don't Let Me Fall In Love - By Carroll Bryant

DON'T LET ME FALL IN LOVE - By Carroll Bryant



Hitting that bottle
Numbing the pain
Drowning my feelings once again
 
Running on empty
Living in style
Looking forever for a real wild child
 
I wanna get that good stuff, but I don't wanna fall in love tonight
I wanna get a little rough
But baby
Don't let me fall in love
 
Throwing down my aces
Showing my hand
Got to claim my winnings once again
 
Revving my engine
Giving all I got
Baby get ready because I can't stop
 
I wanna get that good stuff, but I don't wanna fall in love tonight
I wanna get a little rough
But baby
Don't let me fall in love
 
Let me read your history
Let me feel that touch
Let me have it all but don't let me fall in love
Let me have a good time
Let me have a bunch
Let me get really crazy but don't let me fall in love
 
Hitting that bottle
Numbing the pain
Drowning my feelings once again
 
Running on empty
Living in style
Looking forever for a real wild child
 
I wanna get that good stuff, but I don't wanna fall in love tonight
I wanna get a little rough
But baby
Don't let me fall in love
 
I wanna get that good stuff, but I don't wanna fall in love tonight
I wanna get a little rough
But baby
Don't let me fall in love
 
 
 

Sunday, January 10, 2016

The New Mickey Mouse

Disneyworld and Disneyland increase their security against terrorist threats. I can see it now.
 
 



 

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

In Between - By Carroll Bryant

IN BETWEEN - By Carroll Bryant
 
 
 
She swore me to secrecy
When I believed she was the best thing
To ever happen to me
 
She broke me down so easily
To the point
Where I could hardly breathe
 
The day is king
The night is queen
And in between
Nothing but lonely eyes
 
The day I've seen
The night I've dreamed
And in between
Nothing but this lonely guy
 
She took me down the street
I was dragging my feet
When I was thinking of the beach
 
She stole my song so wickedly
Just to make so much fun of me
Everything was peach
 
The day is king
The night is queen
And in between
Nothing but lonely eyes
 
The day I've seen
The night I've dreamed
And in between
Nothing but this lonely guy
 
Life can be so inconspicuous
If you drink from the fountain of youth
 
It can drive you mad and delirious
Turning lies into truth
 
She swore me to secrecy
When I believed she was the best thing
To ever happen to me
 
She broke me down so easily
To the point
Where I could hardly breathe
 
Man, I can hardly breathe
 
The day is king
The night is queen
And in between
Nothing but lonely eyes
 
The day I've seen
The night I've dreamed
And in between
Nothing but this lonely guy



Monday, January 4, 2016

2015 Fantasy Football Final Results (ESPN)

It was another good year for me in Fantasy Football as eight of my ten teams made it to the playoffs. Of those eight teams, five moved on to play in their league championship games. Of those five, all of them won their league championship game. This is the first time I had five teams win a championship in the same year. It breaks my four championships in one year set about six years ago.

Last year, despite having nine of my ten teams make the playoffs, and those nine also went on to play in their league championship games, only three teams actually won their championship game. For my first ten years playing Fantasy Football, I was always pretty good in regular season, and first round of playoffs but my win percentage goes from 80% down to about 10% when it comes to winning championship games. I am happy I was able to break that streak / curse this year.

The two teams that failed to make the playoffs this year were, Piketon Red Streaks (6-7) and Columbus Bandits (6-7). The three teams who made the playoffs, but lost in the first round were, Ross County Warriors (8-5), Roswell Aliens (10-3) and Triple X (8-5).

Now for the champions:
 
Chillicothe Paints (9-4)
 
 



Ohio Wildcats (9-3-1)
 
 
 



New Mexico Scorpions (10-3)
 
 



Kingston Kings (9-4)
 
 
 



Waverly Thrashers (9-4)
 
 
 




And now it's time to go through my Fantasy Football withdraws.
 
Looking forward to 2016 season already.
 
It's gonna be a long winter.
 
And spring.
 
And summer.
 
 
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Never forget that Draft Kings and Fan Duel are NOT REAL FANTASY SPORTS. They are gambling. Thank you.  
 
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Friday, January 1, 2016

Democratic Strategy To Defeatng Terrorism

 


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I may not be the smartest man in the world, but for as long as there is a democrat living and breathing and walking this planet, I know I'll never be the dumbest.
 
 
 
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The New York GOP only wants to banish Trump from their party because their corrupt asses can't buy or bribe him. They haven't the balls to stand up to democrats and their PC policies. They are cowards.
 
 
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Terrorists want to kill Americans. Democrats want to disarm Americans.
 
What's wrong with that picture?
 
 
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I would support more gun control laws if democrats would explain to me how the San Bernardino terrorist were able to acquire their guns under California's very strict guns laws. If Democrats can't even save themselves then why should I trust them to save me?
 
 
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Why do the democrats care more about non-Americans than they do about actual Americans?
 
 
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Please understand that I am not a republican. I'm an Independent.
 
And I will be voting for Donald Trump to be our next president in 2016.