tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44893104055414654542024-03-12T16:13:27.817-07:00Knights of Creativity Spirit & Ale"Dedicated ut Reputo , Imbibo , Partum quod Bacca Hilaris" Dedicated to Thinking, Drinking, Creating and Being Merry! "Nos Puto in Lunctum per Varietas" We believe in Unity through Diversity!dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.comBlogger1002125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-41644484292553913192018-01-25T04:56:00.001-08:002018-01-25T04:56:34.761-08:00Did We Say Unity Through Diversity?!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">YES WE DID! Unity through diversity is the founding principal of the Knights of Creativity, Spirit and Ale. It's also the founding principal of the UNITED States of America. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What is happening to this great nation of ours???!!! I know...the Silent Majority has lost it's tongue (we haven't posted in almost 3 years!)...while the crazy book ends of society continue to squeeze rational thought out of the library!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We are a nation of immigrants...worthless minions...who gathered on these shores to build a nation on ideals...not on wealth or family privileges...and certainly not on exclusion. Sure, we've screwed up...like abusing the true Native Americans...bringing Africans as slaves...persecuting the next wave of immigrants like the Irish, the Poles, the....BUT...through our Diversity we have woven a strong and vibrant society that is the envy of the world. Well, it use to be before Trump. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Speaking of Trump...what the hell happened to Reagan's Republican Party???!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We went from Tear Down That Wall to Build That Wall in only three generations. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Of course when the Reagan Republicans held the White House they embraced the friendship of the opposing party and actually listened to input from Democrats, like Tip O'Neill. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tip: "Well Ronnie, let's make a deal." Ronald: "Well Tip, only if we do it over a couple of beers my friend!" Trump's White House is like walking into Hitler's Bunker with the Russians outside the door in 1945! </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Look at the history of Walls: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Great Wall of China, which will still to this day dwarf Trump's Wall, and was built to keep out the Mongols. DIDN'T WORK!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hadrian's Wall, built by the Romans in Northern England to keep out the Celts. DIDN'T WORK!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Berlin Wall, built by the Communist to actually keep people in. DIDN'T WORK!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">TRUMP'S WALL: Tired of the history lesson, if you still know how to read...WON'T WORK!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No, what is needed now more than ever is the courage to speak up and tell the truth. The courage to call things as they really are. Like Terrorism for example. The Middle East is all about oil and money, held hostage by the greedy and self-righteous fundamentally religious on both sides. While true terrorism continues to happen in our Continent with mass shootings, gang wars, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What is the difference between a Jihadi and a Mexican Gangster? The Jihadi blows himself up along with you...the Gangster kills you, cuts you up and cooks you on the stove. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A wall is not the answer. Imagine if we diverted our military efforts to assist the Mexicans in bringing their country back to sanity, while at the same time healing our own wounds. Use money for a wall to educate and advance a unified American Continent...now that's strength. Are we brave enough...and smart enough for this challenge? I am!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sir Hook "the Diverse" of Warrick</span><br />
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<br />dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-38925045914704942322016-09-29T07:37:00.000-07:002016-09-29T07:37:10.173-07:00A Civilized Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We get lost in a maze of technology, advanced medicine, diets, fads, hobbies, sports, movies...which desensitizes us to our true nature. Wake up! We all are just Civilized Dogs...Animals...on the prowl who take no prisoners. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that civilized behavior is bad, but sometimes it can suppress and depress our true selves. Nothing expresses this inner conflict better than the song "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. Please click on the video below to listen to the song and read the lyrics before you move on, thank you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was recently at the gentleman's club...aka...the Cigar shop, where mostly men gather to smoke stogies, watch sports and pontificate about stories of the day. Then, like a train crashing into a mountain, <b><i>SHE WALKS IN</i></b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now granted, in a cigar shop any half-way attractive woman stands out like a perfectly grilled fillet mignon on the plate of a starving beggar; however, the instant change from male banter to silently sizing up in our cave man brains the mating potential of this female is palatable. Yep, I cannot tell a lie...as the song says, "I want to fuck you like an animal."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We as men have spent millennium in suppressing our most basic instinct...that being to spread our seed, our territory, our influence...to become the Alpha Male. When this base instinct kicks into full gear and we get out of our own way...truly scaring stuff will happen. Thus, civilized rules of engagement were developed by church and state to starve this beast within, which has now become our default program. That is what kept five men in a cigar shop from tearing each other apart to win the female. We simply reengaged in watching the football game, smoking and laughing at the same jokes we've heard a thousand times over and over again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After all, the very tenant of our Knightly Band..."Unity Through Diversity"...frowns upon the enhancement of one race, one religion, one philosophy, one man or woman to rule over all. Yet, that primitive urge wells up in our DNA until we are ready to explode. And so we continue to allow church and state to dictate how and why we should behave as we journey through our day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The irony, we want to express our same desires in either beast mode or civilized mode. The biggest desire of human kind is to find a higher power, to embrace and understand the mysterious, to know, and as the song says, "Get Closer to God". I'm one who can feel that way through a sexual act...but the one thing that satisfies my "cave man" the most is to create and get lost in making and listening to music. In the privacy of my "man cave", or a late night on the deck listening through headphones as I howl at the moon, playing guitar at church, or strutting my stuff live on stage...I let the ANIMAL EMERGE!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's a cathartic experience...and better yet it keeps me sane in a ever changing and maddening world. We can't go back, but we can move forward. As part of embracing Unity Through Diversity, I encourage all Knights and Ladies to enable the diversity within your heart, mind and soul. Release the animal within, while at the same time remembering the civilized Knight you are. Most importantly....BE TRUE TO YOURSELF...WHICH WILL ALWAYS BRING YOU CLOSER TO GOD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cheers!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sir Hook the Civilized Dog of Warrick</span>dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-64219015411920316372016-09-06T05:52:00.000-07:002016-09-06T05:53:42.819-07:00Carpe Diem Life!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As Knight's of Creativity, Spirit and Ale...one of the most cherished of our endeavors is to create. Sir Bowie of Greenbriar has recently launched such a project to help us navigate the amazing maze we call life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I invite you to "Seize the Day" and visit his website and blog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.carpediem-life.com/" target="_blank">http://www.carpediem-life.com</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://carpediemlifeguide.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">http://carpediemlifeguide.blogspot.com</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Carpe Diem!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sir Hook "who prefers to take action" of Warrick</span>dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-39357809928982227622016-09-05T06:39:00.000-07:002016-09-05T06:39:38.349-07:00Catch This Phrase<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j5FbSDgssM4/V81znc4adpI/AAAAAAAAE1A/7BBV57yfA8M3ioXoRee4EutugaSiZOQ_QCLcB/s1600/frabz-Ron-Burgundy-STILL-MORE-RELIABLE-THAN-THE-MAINSTREAM-MEDIA-af3f83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j5FbSDgssM4/V81znc4adpI/AAAAAAAAE1A/7BBV57yfA8M3ioXoRee4EutugaSiZOQ_QCLcB/s320/frabz-Ron-Burgundy-STILL-MORE-RELIABLE-THAN-THE-MAINSTREAM-MEDIA-af3f83.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I woke up this morning and was once again confronted with political ads that make no sense to me. Some of my favorite (not) "Catch Phrases" are:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Political Insider</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Career Politician</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mainstream Media</span></li>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MOVPENP8qW8/V81zoEX73QI/AAAAAAAAE1I/UJb3PnBxOM0L0fOJm-P5V9TYj30hDuEvQCEw/s1600/noeresume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MOVPENP8qW8/V81zoEX73QI/AAAAAAAAE1I/UJb3PnBxOM0L0fOJm-P5V9TYj30hDuEvQCEw/s320/noeresume.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In regards to "political insider and career politician", the logic of those who subscribe to these catch phrases want you to believe that knowing how to make things work and having experience at what you do are negative things. Somehow, having no experience qualifies you to win office. Or better yet, he's a business man who's a political outsider. As a business man myself, I will 100% let you know that my likelihood of hiring a person with no experience is 0%!</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hD5Zu5gVwY/V81znb8G3qI/AAAAAAAAE1E/MbWGDnOYMcMpj3XcWaS1gj0dfSwRnjeVgCEw/s1600/internet-marketing-cloud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hD5Zu5gVwY/V81znb8G3qI/AAAAAAAAE1E/MbWGDnOYMcMpj3XcWaS1gj0dfSwRnjeVgCEw/s320/internet-marketing-cloud.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As a advertising and marketing professional who deals in all sorts of media on a daily basis, I can prove that there is no such thing as "mainstream media". In fact, media has never been as fragmented before in it's history. Just look back to those decades that are so lovingly looked at as being "Real America", there were only 3 TV networks, plus eventually Public Television. Funny how the term "mainstream media" never flourished during this time. Now with literally hundreds of networks, the internet, streaming services, etc....it is impossible to call one entity "mainstream".</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6ZblDA4_zI/V81zm4HN0BI/AAAAAAAAE08/5jAcXApMJN87w2S18cHF8SQgkxnVpUxogCEw/s1600/54772712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6ZblDA4_zI/V81zm4HN0BI/AAAAAAAAE08/5jAcXApMJN87w2S18cHF8SQgkxnVpUxogCEw/s320/54772712.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In fact, "mainstream media" is used as a scape goat by both the conservative and liberal fringes to attack those who do not, or will not, subscribe to their causes. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, the next time you actually pay attention to some political add now through election day, ask yourself three things:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Are you educated on the issues they raise?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do you think they have the experience to do what they say?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Can they work with others inside the system, but outside their belief's?</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And remember...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-42X_CGeANtw/V81zmhbh8_I/AAAAAAAAE04/fx7HULzteCYXZE4ss4SL6BXa2QQJbQqfgCEw/s1600/783c07d8f55d36ba8941924f9b6cd315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="48" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-42X_CGeANtw/V81zmhbh8_I/AAAAAAAAE04/fx7HULzteCYXZE4ss4SL6BXa2QQJbQqfgCEw/s320/783c07d8f55d36ba8941924f9b6cd315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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...whatever you tell them!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sir Hook "the mainstream" of Warrick</span>dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-45584706331373548722016-08-17T08:59:00.000-07:002016-08-17T14:53:23.693-07:00The Productive and Destructive Power of Repetition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jk4qCVOVt4Q/V7SIgMKkqBI/AAAAAAAAEy4/3P1C4vuifFsjOZvaJiKCwnw0-JIi7gCEgCLcB/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jk4qCVOVt4Q/V7SIgMKkqBI/AAAAAAAAEy4/3P1C4vuifFsjOZvaJiKCwnw0-JIi7gCEgCLcB/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Being a seasoned advertising and marketing professional I know the power of repetition. In the advertising world it is known as "frequency of message". Various studies have proven that it takes a minimum of 9 times for a consumer to hear or see an advertising message to begin to move them off the mark towards making a purchase or take the action you want them to take. The more repetition, the more powerful your results will be. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NKE00AYzKZs/V7SIfw_kAPI/AAAAAAAAEy0/DuVxdU-8q-kwol3RKS7sgtj2BkRQpUOXACEw/s1600/conflict_continuum_after.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NKE00AYzKZs/V7SIfw_kAPI/AAAAAAAAEy0/DuVxdU-8q-kwol3RKS7sgtj2BkRQpUOXACEw/s320/conflict_continuum_after.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today we see the power of repetition play out in "sound bite" reporting on local and national newscasts. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Effective speakers and motivators know how to use this powerful formula all too well. When the message is positive and proactive it can be effective in motivating the masses in a positive way. When the message is negative and counterproductive it can also motivate the masses towards destructive behavior.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QzM2QYpE0Ps/V7SIgyOqQrI/AAAAAAAAEy8/k0YsQ4bja6kh3GPYAdu__QUG7KCeDVypQCEw/s1600/quote-Muhammad-Ali-its-the-repetition-of-affirmations-that-leads-89727.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QzM2QYpE0Ps/V7SIgyOqQrI/AAAAAAAAEy8/k0YsQ4bja6kh3GPYAdu__QUG7KCeDVypQCEw/s320/quote-Muhammad-Ali-its-the-repetition-of-affirmations-that-leads-89727.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUyEPX8O0wk/V7SIhhtTY0I/AAAAAAAAEzM/pv_a2jN0FNgu8LsPfeT1ftGi5UAbY5bLwCEw/s1600/repetition-quotes-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUyEPX8O0wk/V7SIhhtTY0I/AAAAAAAAEzM/pv_a2jN0FNgu8LsPfeT1ftGi5UAbY5bLwCEw/s320/repetition-quotes-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the best examples of harnessing this power was Adolf Hitler. We all know what results he brought to the world and the desperate German people from the 1930's through the end of WWII with his frequency of message.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOac-zGAhn0/V7SIfs_dr3I/AAAAAAAAEzM/N6mkVs3f6gUurg_mUjGHOW9q0Gc0ymSowCEw/s1600/hitler%2Bquote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOac-zGAhn0/V7SIfs_dr3I/AAAAAAAAEzM/N6mkVs3f6gUurg_mUjGHOW9q0Gc0ymSowCEw/s320/hitler%2Bquote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the worst things to happen to American Democracy and the political process in recent times was allowing "Super Packs" to influence the decision making process of voters. As an advertising professional it disgusts me that these Super Packs are not held accountable to telling the truth. Truth in advertising simply doesn't exist in politics. You don't have to prove the "facts" listed as true, you don't have to reveal your source of information, you simply get away with spreading any lie you wish to tell. The same does not hold true in commercial advertising. It is truly unfair!</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QEpJtDClndc/V7SIhjt9IBI/AAAAAAAAEzM/TWzloBax2eIsOkRVc1KQx1OHTzTDKcqDQCEw/s1600/winner%253F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QEpJtDClndc/V7SIhjt9IBI/AAAAAAAAEzM/TWzloBax2eIsOkRVc1KQx1OHTzTDKcqDQCEw/s1600/winner%253F.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Enter Donald Trump, who knows all too well the power of television to automatically make you an expert, who knows how to use the "sound bite", and who has no problem whatsoever in spreading his small message of lies and hatred. Crooked Hillary...Lyin' Ted...Little Marco...are just sound bites pounded into heads with enough frequency to make them appear true, while at the same time painting himself as a "winner".</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-mGzDXC36Y/V7SIlycs1QI/AAAAAAAAEzI/0YmN_bvfc0ktiay26qj7PSEJYSWr6VS3wCEw/s1600/cobb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-mGzDXC36Y/V7SIlycs1QI/AAAAAAAAEzI/0YmN_bvfc0ktiay26qj7PSEJYSWr6VS3wCEw/s320/cobb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of baseball's most decorated players, Ty Cobb, spent his entire life trying to debunk the lies spread so frequently about him. A man, by those who play the game, should be revered as one of the best who ever played, is better known as the most despicable creatures who ever graced the baseball diamond. The fact remains...they are lies. Please take the time to read this recent article, which shares the true story of Ty Cobb: </span><a href="https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/who-was-ty-cobb-the-history-we-know-thats-wrong/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/who-was-ty-cobb-the-history-we-know-thats-wrong/</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Repetition can be a good thing. Just be aware when it used to try to motivate you in a negative way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sir Hook the Repetitive of Warrick</span><br />
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dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-33743240337218033152016-08-13T04:37:00.002-07:002016-08-17T14:54:25.114-07:00Unity Through Diversity...Explained Once Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cct5ImwHILw/V6CPOyEbwOI/AAAAAAAAEwc/MwGjK24jnv8JSy-UDVc_bcAzbIow0uMxACLcB/s1600/from_where_i_sit_illustration_031013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cct5ImwHILw/V6CPOyEbwOI/AAAAAAAAEwc/MwGjK24jnv8JSy-UDVc_bcAzbIow0uMxACLcB/s320/from_where_i_sit_illustration_031013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As those who have followed us over the years know, The Knights of Creativity Spirit & Ale was founded on the principle of <b>UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY!</b> There have been several excellent posts written about this throughout the years, which you can read by clicking the links below:</span><br />
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<a href="http://knightscsa.blogspot.com/2009/02/unity-through-diversity-lesson-for.html">http://knightscsa.blogspot.com/2009/02/unity-through-diversity-lesson-for.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://knightscsa.blogspot.com/2008/09/no-more-holy-wars.html">http://knightscsa.blogspot.com/2008/09/no-more-holy-wars.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://knightscsa.blogspot.com/2010/10/unity-through-diversity-time-to-tug.html">http://knightscsa.blogspot.com/2010/10/unity-through-diversity-time-to-tug.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://knightscsa.blogspot.com/2015/03/kiss-meim-human.html">http://knightscsa.blogspot.com/2015/03/kiss-meim-human.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">However, with the USA election of 2016, it is once again necessary...nay, obligatory...for the KCSA to speak up about why Unity Through Diversity is essential to progress. Donald Trump is being hailed by the extreme right and political experts as nothing we've ever seen before. <b>WRONG!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Trump and his narrow belief system is nothing new at all...in fact, it's just another in a long line of American soar spots that have once again risen to the surface like the virus it is. American Indians blocked our way to expansion, so they were vilified and swept away. Italian and Irish immigrants were persecuted and murdered for stealing our jobs in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Mexican Americans have often been the target of hatred since Texas declared independence from them and the resulting wars that followed. German Americans were forced to drop their language, newspapers and traditions during WWI and WWII. Japanese Americans were rounded up in camps during WWII, not unlike the German concentration camps, minus the gas and fire chambers, while those same Japanese Americans young enough to fight were sent to fight Germans and became the most decorated unit during the war. Supposed communists were black listed by the fear and hatred of Senator McCarthy in the 50's. Now the fear and hatred of Muslims, Blacks, Progressives and basically any Immigrant is trying to permeate our society once again with the help of the likes of Trump.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Walls don't work! Just ask the Romans in Britain or the Chinese. Instead of erecting walls we should be embracing diversity! Fear is the fuel that drives hatred on its destructive course. Without fear, ISIS will cease to exist. Trump needs ISIS and FEAR to fuel his hate engine. We need the strength and grace to embrace diversity. As my Grandmother Baker told me, "You have to look your fear in the face and make it yours." Or as FDR so famously stated, "We have nothing to fear except fear itself!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Besides, if we didn't embrace diversity we wouldn't have such wonderful mixing of cultures that result in wonders like Tex-Mex and Creole food. The same people who want to build a wall don't have a problem downing chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have become a better person by embracing diversity in my life. I'm a registered Republican, who is very liberal and often votes Democrat. I'm also a member of the NRA, even though I despise how they corrupt our political system. I love learning about new foods, drinks, cultures and I love to travel. I was raised Southern Baptist but I'm now a practicing Roman Catholic, though in all honesty I much prefer my Cherokee belief system with a nice glass of Buddhism and a Zen salad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, join me brave knights and ladies as we once again saddle up to do battle with the dark side of humanity. </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY! NO FEAR! HAVE THE GRACE TO EMBRACE!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sir Hook the Diverse of Warrick</span></div>
dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-22275237547117618822015-05-09T05:14:00.000-07:002015-05-09T05:14:55.996-07:00I Wanna Be Elected!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The United Kingdom recently held their elections. How many of you colonists even heard about it? They have 6 weeks to campaign compared to our 2 years plus. There's a lot we can learn from the electoral system in the UK as compared to ours...especially in regards to time and money spent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/american_v_british_elections.htm" target="_blank">Read American v British elections</a> <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/live/election-2015-32594267" target="_blank">Read BBC News Election Live</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Best of all, they just go at it face to face, even when sitting in Parliament, as an example in the video below of PM David Cameron taking a jab at the opposition.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxKo20sGrl-pWXNychkiv3l2NdZNGSUdqoF0V0yorUrbgVGDti0j661SLj3VpnV29TSRON6GdKQX4ctcl_7nQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As Sir Dayvd from Oxford so eloquently stated, "I give Cameron his due...he is a past master of the Oxford Union debating society...and also they are pretty much <b><u>trained in gracious insulting</u></b> at Eton."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If only our conservatives where trained in gracious insulting instead of mindless blather.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ah, this errant Knight wishes for the day he too can only have 6 weeks to listen to professional politicians and vote at his local Pub while drinking a quality Ale!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sir Hook "The Drunken Dem and Gracious Insulter" of Warrick</span></div>
dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-47013082250656510552015-04-06T08:44:00.000-07:002015-04-07T04:21:37.328-07:00I Pulled A Rabbit Out Of A Saviors Crown Of Thorns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As a child I looked forward to getting that Easter Basket full of candy. Nothing better than a gift, especially candy, when you're a child. All that candy gave me the energy to survive having to dress "special" for church, set through an extra long worship service, and eat with family members you might only see once a year, often ending in arguments on religious teachings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Children across the globe have no choice but to absorb the culture and teachings pounded into them. They absorb them like a sponge. The Christian vs. Muslim conflict we know today is the result of that. So as a child, I believed in the Easter Bunny and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ with that sublime blind faith on the same day. It was magic! I pulled a rabbit out of a saviors crown of thorns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As my rebellious teen years set in...and not one to shy away from controversy, I began to question everything I was taught about religion. Questioning is the first order of learning. A gift that keeps on giving, whether that would be more knowledge, a black eye...or more than likely both. By the end of my teens I didn't believe in the Easter Bunny or cared much for the strict religion taught at my church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My college years began to open doors to a freedom of thought I never experienced before. Different ideas, different religions, different races and cultures, far removed from that small Southern Illinois community that formed me as a child. I once again opened up my mind and soaked in all that knowledge like a sponge. Then came the mother of all classes to fulfill my history minor...the History of World Religions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was floored to learn the similarities between ancient (which many call Pagan) and modern religions, the plundering of ideas and theologies from one to the other. I began to see religion as both totally useless and the fulfillment of human desire since the beginning of time. I began to see the common thread that united them all. I began to see how religion is used to control others, or as a way to free the seeker on his spiritual journey through life. I became like a Pulsar, bouncing from one extreme to the other...almost ready to explode as I assimilated the facts learned in the class with the ideology I was taught during my first 18 years on the planet. That began a period where I made reason over faith my religion. Factual knowledge, based on historical evidence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are just a few facts about pulling a rabbit out of a saviors crown of thorns:</span></div>
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<li>All major religious celebrations are rooted in the astronomical calendar, and have been borrowed and modified for literally thousands of years be succeeding civilizations.</li>
<li>Zoroastrianism, teaching "One God" of the ancient Babylonians, and the battle between good and evil, became the basis of the Judeo-Christian and Islamic theologies that we know today.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In 325AD the Council of Nicaea of the Roman Catholic church, incorporating an already established Pagan spring festival calendar, esta</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">blished that Easter would be held on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox. From that point forward, the Easter date depended on the ecclesiastical approximation of March 21 for the vernal equinox. Therefore, Easter is never on the same date, or even month from year to year.</span></li>
<li>The story of Easter is as much rooted in paganism as it is in Christianity. The holiday owes its name to Eostra, the Germanic goddess of spring and fertility. The egg and the rabbit symbolized the coming of new life and fertility. </li>
<li> An Easter Bunny character first hopped up in the 8th century. Legends featuring bunny imagery associated to Easter continued to be written down in 1500s Germany and the first story about a rabbit hiding eggs in a garden was published in 1680. As many Southwestern German immigrants settled in America, the Easter Bunny lived on in Pennsylvania Dutch tales of the Bunny as the "Oschter Haws," where Germantown children were gifted with eggs in their Easter bonnets that, today, are replaced by Easter baskets filled with candy and toys. </li>
<li>Egg decorating is at least a 60,000 year old activity, practiced by the likes of Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Kalahari Bushmen, who engraved ostrich eggs. Before giving colored eggs found its way into the modern Christian tradition, early Mesopotamian Christians dyed eggs red to symbolize the blood shed by Christ during his crucifixion.</li>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I realize now that diversity of ideas and theologies are indeed united in our raw human need: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To give thanks for what we have been given to survive on this planet</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This day after Easter I am reminded of my college history professor saying, "It's a terrible thing to be young and stupid." I'm also reminded of what my priest said at Mass yesterday, "Easter is not about focusing on a life after death or the miracle of the cross, it's about giving us hope to focus on living life to it's fullest right now."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am resurrected every day...every moment...every opportunity to connect and engage the world around me. I am unified with all the living souls who have lived before, during, and after my brief existence here. I smile as I see children grabbing their Easter Baskets and begin their journey of discovery just I did those many years ago.</span></div>
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dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-45016255476681441112015-03-28T09:37:00.001-07:002015-03-28T14:44:47.270-07:00Green Eggs and Scams<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It seems that each week the need for diversity to save humanity becomes a stronger thread in the world's dialogue. I have been contemplating writing about Cruz coming out for President, and then Pence trumps him with a stunning trip to the dark ages. Being an Indiana resident, albeit liberal yet still trying to see hope in my Republican Party (thinking Independent in 2016), I long for a strong moderate voice in this Wilderness of Doom. I want this country to grow, not decay. Therefore, giving credit to Ted Cruz for his filibuster idea, I give you the story of.....</span><br />
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Sir Hook "The Disgusted" of Warrick</div>
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dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-15610589370775551762015-03-17T12:32:00.002-07:002015-03-17T12:33:52.325-07:00Kiss Me...I'm Human!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Obviously, today is Saint Patrick's Day. A day when everyone wishes to be Irish. It's easy, just put on some green, where a leprechaun hat, and drink till you sound like one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Funny, I remember as a kid, being raised in a non-alcohol - WASP home, the deep desire to know what it would be like to be Irish. I ended up marrying a second generation New York Irish lass, who showed me the ins and outs, as well as the ups and downs, of being raised in an Irish Catholic home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then came my need to find roots in my family ancestral records. I even did a DNA test, and low and behold what did I discover? I'm freakin' Irish! Not much, mind ya, but enough to wear the "kiss me pin" without shame, or being named Seamus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's how the story goes (without getting into which sea creature or monkey I came from, but as far as human records can go):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My oldest blood roots are Roman, Scandinavian, Germanic, and Cherokee. The Romans married into the Germans and became Franks...the Germans and the Britons married becoming Anglo/Saxon...the Vikings settled in Scotland and Ireland blending with the locals to become Scots and Irish...the Vikings at the same time mingled with the Franks and became Normans...the Normans marry the Anglo/Saxons and become English. The Cherokee remained untouched.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now at this point I have Scottish and English family members fighting each other, Irish and English ancestors fighting each other...and Cherokee family members waiting for a fight, except for the many fights they had over centuries with other Indian Tribes (ain't war grand?!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eventually, my Irish ancestors would align with England and become protestant, my Scottish and English ancestors would help to form the <b><u>United</u></b> Kingdom, my English ancestors moved to Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina, some married into the Cherokee, some would fight for England, and some for the Colonies during the Revolution. Eventually, they all became members of the <b><u>United</u></b> States of America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See the pattern...comprehend the common word? <b><u>UNITED!</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My family story is probably similar to a lot of peoples stories. We stand against immigration, being immigrants ourselves. We loath peoples religions and different beliefs, not aware our ancestors once shared those same thoughts we hate today. We call ourselves American...but really we're just mutts! Same with the English, the French, the German's...and so the human story rolls...we're all just a messy pile of humanity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now is the time to unite. Unity through Diversity! It's what made our species strong, and will continue to do so. We can't afford to be inbred idiot's. We are meant to expand, explore and explain why Unity through Diversity is the final solution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So today I raise a glass and proudly exclaim, "KISS ME...I'M HUMAN!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cheers,</span></div>
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<br />dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-18424613128961762662015-03-10T12:43:00.001-07:002015-03-10T23:54:31.173-07:00And Now For Something Completely Different!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's crazy how when you have something good going and you ignore it, it simply slips away. This can be said for business, relationships, families, etc. It certainly can be said for the Knights and Ladies of our Realm...specifically me, Sir Hook of Warrick "Founding Father".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Realizing that it has been since 2013 since we have made our last post, and 2007 since we shifted from being the Knights of Moleskine Spirit and Ale to the Knights of Creation Spirit and Ale to our newer blog layout, I thought it time for this warrior monk and errant knight to get off his royal arse and do something about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Above you will see the fruits of that labor, a labor of love and devotion to our noble cause. It seems the longer the world spins out of control a voice of reason from the desert is needed. A voice that knows no boundaries to imagination, nor recognizes any limitations to the human spirit. A voice that screams, "Unity through Diversity"! A person of merit who personifies the attributes of "Think...Drink...Create...and BE MERRY...damn it!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having decided that using the term creation instead of creativity could violate one of our core principals, we have now become the Knights of Creativity Spirit and Ale. Better yet, now is the time to unite through our diverse backgrounds and geographic locations to become a Nation of Knights...<b>KnightsNation</b>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thus, we have "hooked" <i>(no pun, ok, pun intended)</i> our blogs into one, and have made it part of the KnightsNation web site. Hell, we even have a web store to buy our logo goods. That site is what you see a picture of above, as well as the link to it for you to visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As you will see, we plan on being able to feature our membership's work and to continue to blog regularly. The web site is also mobile friendly and we will post our blogs on our new Facebook page as well. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/knightscsa" target="_blank">Here is that link</a>. <i>(Please like our Facebook Page)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, Knights and Ladies, to horse...to war...for the KCSA nation!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cheers!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sir Hook "the not so idle anymore" of Warrick</span>dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-67196227595389110412013-02-15T05:39:00.003-08:002013-02-15T05:51:20.202-08:00Does the Penis Make the Slug?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I feel their ability to leave their genitals on the sea bed makes them 10 times less likely to act like an idiot and jump off a reef to impress another slug.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's face it, if human males develop the ability to grow a new member every few hours, we'd simply set fire to each other's...or leave them in people's drinks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm putting forth a KCMSA theory that the sea slug evolved its disposable penis as a defense mechanism, as predators assumed anything willing to rip off its own genitals was going to put up quite a fight.</span></div>
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dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-8092872393278152842012-11-22T09:31:00.000-08:002012-11-22T09:37:14.617-08:00Back Home Again in Indiana - A Lincoln ViewWe recently had a meeting of the Founding Fathers as Sir Dayvd of Oxfordshire traveled across the pond to grace us with his presence in the Founding City of Evansville, Indiana. Much revelry, drinking and thinking was done and the decision made to once again refocus efforts on our noble blog and society of Knights and Ladies.<br />
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We will proceed with more in-depth posts here on this blog, as well as share interesting links, etc., on our<a href="http://www.facebook.com/knightscsa" target="_blank"> Facebook Page</a>.<br />
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Seeing how we have recently survived yet another political season, the timely release of Stephen Spielberg's film, "Lincoln", and the fact that we live within shooting distance of Lincoln's boyhood home, I thought it appropriate to use the above facts and analogy to reflect on what Lincoln means to our tenant of "Unity Through Diversity".<br />
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First, so that I'm not accused of being a liberal slacker...I am a registered Republican, NRA member and business owner (so called "job creator" in today's term of the day) who was raised in a very conservative Southern Baptist home. It is through my own efforts of self-education and awareness that my views have come into conflict with much of what I was raised to believe...ie, Negro's are inferior, Southern Baptist's represent the true religion, Mormons are a cult, drinking is a sin, etc...<br />
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As I journey through life and expose myself to different ideas, ideology, theology and cultures, I have come to respect the unique strength that a blended society which is united by its diversity adds to the quality and enjoyment of my life. Much like the superior Samurai sword is strengthened by the blending of steel to form one focused instrument of deadly intent.<br />
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I find it rather ironic, and sad, that this nation's first Republican President was the same man who saw the strength in unity through diversity, the nobility in the ideal that all men are created equal, and strove to preserve the Union of States with a strong Federal government...all in stark contrast to today's Tea Party backed Republicans as presented on Fox News.<br />
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Here are just a few events that have occurred since the re-election of the nation's first black President (which we still conveniently forget is ALSO HALF WHITE):<br />
1. Factions in the Southern States are presenting petitions to succeed from the Union.<br />
2. One man has killed himself because of President Obama's re-election.<br />
3. A wife who voted for Romney ran over her husband with a car because he voted for Obama.<br />
4. False commercials are already running claiming that Obama will hold onto power and proclaim a third term without an election.<br />
5. Romney claims that Obama won by giving gifts, in essence buying his election.<br />
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What the hell has happened to my Republican Party?!!!!<br />
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On this Thanksgiving Day, I give thanks that even crazy people still have the freedom of expression in this country and that the transfer of power still happens peacefully, unlike many other countries. It's time to embrace our diversity and unify to once again become the strong, resilient nation that Lincoln strove to build.<br />
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There is nothing "civil" in civil war, whether it is fought by force or by words. It's time to quit acting like spoiled children who don't get their way and play nice in the playground of life. Let's get something done this time!<br />
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As I tweeted earlier today, a quote by Martin Luther King Jr., "We all may have arrived here on different ships, but we're all in the same boat now!"<br />
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Cheers!<br />
Sir Hook of WarrickdkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-34916543179696483612012-04-09T13:56:00.000-07:002012-04-09T13:56:10.602-07:00Tales From SXSW<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>1033</o:Words> <o:Characters>5889</o:Characters> <o:Company>Wellness Communications</o:Company> <o:Lines>49</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>13</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>6909</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-78B1zK4Ud1Y/T1znxWHLzfI/AAAAAAAAEFw/qJvhrpAQ5JA/s1600/sxsw_2012_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-78B1zK4Ud1Y/T1znxWHLzfI/AAAAAAAAEFw/qJvhrpAQ5JA/s320/sxsw_2012_logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Being that I’m a self-confessed music junkie, SXSW in Austin, TX provides the perfect solution for my fix. It also helps that I dip my toes in the music industry by performing, representing artists and producing a British Music podcast called “XPat Radio”, which allows me to write off my preferred drug of choice. That’s a junkie’s dream! This year’s version of SXSW did not disappoint. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xxp86Drf_pM/T4NKSuCsYzI/AAAAAAAAEG4/jiNqynQ8cBU/s1600/dkWells-UC1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xxp86Drf_pM/T4NKSuCsYzI/AAAAAAAAEG4/jiNqynQ8cBU/s320/dkWells-UC1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’m that rare bread of creative artist and obsessive-compulsive personality, which always produces an interesting yeng-yang experience during my annual week in Austin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lesson that has always freed me from my self-made planning prison was learned long ago from my film director professor in college who stated, “You must know the rules in order to break the rules.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In SXSW language, you plan on who you want to see, but remain open to break those self-imposed rules in order to “experience the moment!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZgStsXcdk8/T4NKkfhI0fI/AAAAAAAAEHA/xANC4dXEDUM/s1600/IMG_3191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZgStsXcdk8/T4NKkfhI0fI/AAAAAAAAEHA/xANC4dXEDUM/s320/IMG_3191.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With 99 venues and over 2,000 artists and bands, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the size and scope that SXSW offers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention the hundreds of “unofficial” showcases the city, and valuable panels, workshops and vendors that occupy the Austin Convention Center during your stay.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This year I began with a solid plan:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1) Continue my presence at the British Music Embassy at Latitude 30 and interview and review several British acts to help develop my podcast, XPat Radio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2) Take in several key panels for professional growth and networking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3) See showcases that I probably wouldn’t be able to see again for some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4) Purchase a new pair of boots at Allen Boots on South Congress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m happy to report…mission accomplished.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’m a product of the 60’s and 70’s culture of music concerts in large venues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beauty and exclusive opportunity that SXSW offers is to see famous bands perform in smaller, more initiate venues, where you capture the real essence of the artists intentions…plus the opportunity to stumble upon the futures super stars of the music industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is really nothing quite like this experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have also been fortunate to make life-long friends among the thousands of artists who call Austin home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This connection helps you to experience Austin from a local’s perspective and listen to music that is in most cases equal to, if not superior to the “official” showcases features by SXSW.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If I were to write a complete autobiography of the next 4 days, it would look like one of those really bad ads with so much text that nobody would read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I will give you a brief outline of the events, adventures and my recommendations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Favorite Restaurant: The Moonshine, located on Red River Rd, just a few blocks away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always meet interesting people and engage in revealing conversations there, and the Horseradish Incrusted Salmon with Sweet Potatoes and a couple of Oban Scotch’s on the Rocks always delivers the ultimate satisfaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First Surprise Plan Deviation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t take long to drift from my original plan to go to the British Music Embassy to catch the XCerts and Frank Turner the first night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I ended up spending the rest of the night after one of their “unofficial” showcases with my friends Chloe Charles and Sam McClellan of The Sweetness at a venue on Dirty 6 with a West African Hip-Hop band, capped off with a real Mexican breakfast at 5am somewhere off South Congress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good start!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EMpobXHuXiU/T4NK1oDYb9I/AAAAAAAAEHI/XfnKt_uw7-g/s1600/IMG_3190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EMpobXHuXiU/T4NK1oDYb9I/AAAAAAAAEHI/XfnKt_uw7-g/s320/IMG_3190.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Best Non-Music Find:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Previous to my arrival in Austin, I had found a locally owned Cigar Shop called Bobalu Cigar Co., which features 100% of its inventory hand-rolled in the store by Cuban Cigar masters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped in and smoked one of 8 sticks to come during the week and watched the rollers, Perro and Armondo, work their magic on the exquisite lose leaf tobacco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bobalu would become my “unofficial” headquarters for the rest of SXSW, where I would have interesting conversations with a Chef from Boston, a Metal Group from Montreal, a Radio Programmer from Seattle, several local couples, my mates from England and Scotland, and of course, brush up on my Spanish with Perro and Armondo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an excellent place to escape the crowds of 6<sup>th</sup> Street, observe the variety that humanity has to offer and enjoy an excellent hand-rolled cigar!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uh_ONOkaNuU/T1ztxe2kAAI/AAAAAAAAEGw/75owoJUUwUg/s1600/BritishMusicEmbassy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uh_ONOkaNuU/T1ztxe2kAAI/AAAAAAAAEGw/75owoJUUwUg/s1600/BritishMusicEmbassy.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Most Fulfilling Professional Events:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The British Music Embassy, which takes over a venue called Latitude 30, is always my favorite haunt at SXSW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-neyHyW0yn_g/T1zpxZZLFpI/AAAAAAAAEGY/sETccsfqnfg/s1600/XPat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-neyHyW0yn_g/T1zpxZZLFpI/AAAAAAAAEGY/sETccsfqnfg/s320/XPat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This year I took my new podcast, XPat Radio with dkWells, to the British shores in Austin to interview and listen to several of the latest and greatest British acts of 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>XPat Radio features little to unknown British artists and bands to give the States a taste of what they miss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only does it provide me with an official write-off, but also affords me the opportunity to forge lasting and meaningful relationships with some of Britain’s music elite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year I formed an alliance with Shakester Records, Liverpool Sound, Norwich Sound and the UK’s largest music placement company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I held interviews with Morning Parade, Spycatcher, Kamilla Lovett, New Cassettes, Black Casino and the Ghost, Future of the Left, Three Blind Wolves and They Were Promised Jet Packs just to name a few.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-teeyBkDCVcE/T4NLSU210vI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/IvdjByFIN1E/s1600/IMG_3257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-teeyBkDCVcE/T4NLSU210vI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/IvdjByFIN1E/s320/IMG_3257.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Most Fun with a Band:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every year it seems I hook up with someone for unplanned fun and adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year it was the English Band, Spycatcher, who I constantly ran into at other venues where we would party the night away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EyWVsR466YE/T4NLdtOC_RI/AAAAAAAAEHY/xWldW73VAjo/s1600/IMG_3258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EyWVsR466YE/T4NLdtOC_RI/AAAAAAAAEHY/xWldW73VAjo/s320/IMG_3258.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our last impromptu gathering occurred at the Bobalu Cigar Company, where we engaged in a drunken debate over US and UK politics while smoking very large cigars!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A close second was the Scottish Band, Three Blind Wolves, who turned me on to the yummy flavors of smoke and peat of Laphroaig Scotch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheers boys!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Best Bands I Wanted to See Away from the British Music Embassy:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alabama Shakes, Girl in a Coma (who are also friends), The Pierces, Little Hurricane, Keane, Delta Spirit, Gary Clark Jr., Apache Relay, Norah Jones<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FpyBWaZxTAY/T4NMJzc06TI/AAAAAAAAEHo/ywnl_jNT_Wo/s1600/P3160173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FpyBWaZxTAY/T4NMJzc06TI/AAAAAAAAEHo/ywnl_jNT_Wo/s320/P3160173.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Best Bands I Accidentally Saw:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dance Laury Dance from Quebec, Canada showed me that at least someone hasn’t forgotten how to “Rock Your Socks Off” with bare chested bravado!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mars Red Sky from Bordeaux, France took me back to a heavy psychedelic rock n roll I almost forgot about in my mid-70’s rocker years, and the Swedish Girl Punk Band, The Bombettes, literally shook the walls of an Irish Pub with their energetic set, and then became the most delightful and well-mannered young women during an interesting 30 minute conversation afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shiny Toy Gun was simply amazing!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tllK1kC7lAA/T4NMU0770xI/AAAAAAAAEHw/-86JnEQu2hc/s1600/IMG_3333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tllK1kC7lAA/T4NMU0770xI/AAAAAAAAEHw/-86JnEQu2hc/s320/IMG_3333.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Best “Unofficial Showcase”:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without a doubt, my Austin friend Barbara Nesbitt’s new band, The Whiskey Sisters, rocked the house down on St. Patty’s Day at the Continental Club on South Congress!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-98VcYoWcEGA/T4NMbWokgiI/AAAAAAAAEH4/WrVgFkbiaWI/s1600/IMG_3342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-98VcYoWcEGA/T4NMbWokgiI/AAAAAAAAEH4/WrVgFkbiaWI/s320/IMG_3342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Afterwards we went for pizza and took in several art fairs and musicians lining the street for blocks on a beautiful sunny afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And don’t forget to get your boots at Allen’s Boots, also located on South Congress.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KCRiL3qt_0Y/T4NMmeqahLI/AAAAAAAAEIA/pvWsAExnsk0/s1600/IMG_3248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KCRiL3qt_0Y/T4NMmeqahLI/AAAAAAAAEIA/pvWsAExnsk0/s320/IMG_3248.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cheers!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">dkWells, aka "Sir Hook of Warrick"</span></div><!--EndFragment-->dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-67503368201979194512012-03-11T11:13:00.002-07:002012-03-11T15:08:19.055-07:00I Got the Music in Me<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">OK, I'm all out of apologies for not writing! So, here we go, deciding to utilize the KSCA blog to focus on the Creation aspect of what we do.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-78B1zK4Ud1Y/T1znxWHLzfI/AAAAAAAAEFw/qJvhrpAQ5JA/s1600/sxsw_2012_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-78B1zK4Ud1Y/T1znxWHLzfI/AAAAAAAAEFw/qJvhrpAQ5JA/s320/sxsw_2012_logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today I finalize plans to fly out to Austin, TX for the 2012 South by Southwest (SXSW) extravaganza. This will be my second year to attend this conclave of artists, musicians, publishers, producers, directors and innovators...all of which I humbly claim to be. Excited is not even close to describe the vibrations in my being at this moment!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I recently embraced the music side of my business with my theory of "<a href="http://knightscsa.blogspot.com/search?q=Enthology" target="_blank">Enthology"...endeavoring to engage</a>, with a full belly flop into the sacred waters of the mystical unknown.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww1-lqypvU0/T1zoHNPaohI/AAAAAAAAEF4/u39GjPEDYA8/s1600/BakerStPoster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww1-lqypvU0/T1zoHNPaohI/AAAAAAAAEF4/u39GjPEDYA8/s320/BakerStPoster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I opened up a recording studio in my dkWells Productions office, called The Studio @ Baker Street, where we have already begun the recording process for several artist.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVm0oQ6HLuk/T1zoWtAZflI/AAAAAAAAEGA/-6wx2V-izCo/s1600/StormcrowRecordsLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVm0oQ6HLuk/T1zoWtAZflI/AAAAAAAAEGA/-6wx2V-izCo/s320/StormcrowRecordsLogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I also formed my own record label, Stormcrow Records, and signed a talented young artist, Andrew Baum, who is a cross between Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Hayes Carll. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBBgMsxAy-s&feature=context&context=C46c7039VDvjVQa1PpcFO5Su6cKPYziZxxD44jpVhRshkbq3UKGZY=" target="_blank">We recently finished his EP, Sober</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, and took him to the International Folk Alliance in Memphis to showcase his talents along with twenty three other artists </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4dvyNoQtdM&feature=plcp&context=C46c7039VDvjVQa1PpcFO5Su6cKPYziZxxD44jpVhRshkbq3UKGZY%3D" target="_blank">who played in my dkWells Music Showcase Room</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Late last year I launched a Podcast, with intent to eventually sell to XM Satellite Radio, which features the best of British Music that you're likely not going to hear anywhere else. There are a few names that will pop up, like A Silent Film, who broke the US charts last year with their single, Driven By Their Beating Hearts. These lads are mates of mine from Oxford, and have agreed to take time off from their busy touring schedule to do an interview with me in the near future. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o2HBanLAI4&feature=plcp&context=C46c7039VDvjVQa1PpcFO5Su6cKPYziZxxD44jpVhRshkbq3UKGZY%3D" target="_blank">I also had the good fortune to produce a video for the song.</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Podcast is titled, <a href="http://www.dkwellsmusic.com/fr_xpatradio" target="_blank">XPat Radio</a>. While in Austin I will be setting up shop at Lattitude 30, which during SXSW is transformed into The British Music Embassy. I will have access to over forty UK bands to interview and feature on upcoming editions of XPat Radio.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'll also be able to hook up with my Austin music friends for their Showcases, and take in a ton of panels and other band showcases during my six day stay.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally, I have begun to record my second LP, Thank God for Thomas Edison (named after a song of the same name I wrote at Bonarroo last year). Upon my return from Austin I will be going full throttle to see the project completed in time for a late summer release.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So there you have it! Remember to Think, Drink, Create and Be Merry...this is the only chance you get!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cheers!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">dkWells, aka, Sir Hook of Warrick</span>dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-29691403096839152112011-12-24T05:11:00.000-08:002011-12-24T05:11:57.571-08:00Apathy & Apologies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fZALjWxZjg/TvXO3_3yYhI/AAAAAAAAEFg/8HqLvtwlmoc/s1600/iStock_000003924993Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fZALjWxZjg/TvXO3_3yYhI/AAAAAAAAEFg/8HqLvtwlmoc/s320/iStock_000003924993Small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Apathy & Apologies...already sounds like a great song. What started as a brief hiatus, turned into a full blown case of apathy in regards to writing in these sacred spaces. For that I give you my sincerest apology.<br />
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Too much has occurred since the last post in April...so I'll spare you the 500 page biography. However, I would like to include a few highlights to catch us up to speed:<br />
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1. Sir John of the Rangeline continues to brew some of the best beer in the world in his alchemist kitchen in Columbia, Missouri. XPat Ale is AWESOME!<br />
2. Speaking of XPat...yours truly, Sir Hook of Warrick, has launched a podcast titled, XPat Radio, which features little known fantastic British Music to the colonies. <a href="http://www.dkwellsmusic.com/xpatradio" target="_blank">You can find them here.</a><br />
3. Sir Bowie of Greenbriar and Sir Hook still get together to hoist a few brews and pontificate as to how to make the KCSA better.<br />
4. Sir Dayvd of Oxfordshire continues to hold down the European outpost.<br />
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So, with that brief outline...onward into the future my apologist apathetic friends...or as Buzz Lightyear says, "To infinity and beyond!"<br />
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Sir Hook the Apologist of Warrick<br />
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P.S. Merry Christmas!dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-50145748129932356922011-04-20T08:49:00.000-07:002011-04-20T08:54:31.597-07:00Pizza + Beer + Viagra = Royal Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_hlCoS7L2NM/Ta777TGRTeI/AAAAAAAAEEI/QBG6zqjNOlc/s1600/royal-wedding-flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_hlCoS7L2NM/Ta777TGRTeI/AAAAAAAAEEI/QBG6zqjNOlc/s320/royal-wedding-flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In case you've been absent, or absent minded, of late...there's this huge event happening in England next Friday that has every body talking about dysfunctional families, royalty, lust and how to make a quick Buck off BUCKingham Palace!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, my fellow Anglophile friends, it's time tip back a few pints, call in sick and fantasize about what it's like to be the focus of the world for one day. Or, if you're an entrepreneur, it's time to figure out how to Capitalize in a Capitalist society!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's start with Pizza. Pappa John's, based up river from us in Louisville, has authorized their British operations to make and deliver a Kate and William pizza. Now you can literally eat, or eat out with, the Royal Couple. Perfect for the cannibals amongst us, or if your anti-royal, you can eat the pizza and deposit royalty in the shitter, where you think they belong. Not many can say they ate out a Princess, or shat a Prince!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, nothing goes better with pizza than beer! There are tons of special beers and ales being brewed in Britain for this occasion; however, there is one in particular that we took note of..."Royal Virility Performance", brewed by BrewDog.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What makes RVP so special is that it is laced with Viagra! That's right...drink three of these BrewDog Puppies and you'll have a Royal Chubby before you know it! Their slogan on the bottle states, "Arise Prince Willy!"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The brewery also shares, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A beer should be brewed with a purpose, not just because some toffs are getting married, so we created something at our brewery that will undermine those special-edition beers and other assorted seaside tat, whilst at the same time actually give the happy couple something extra on their big day." <a href="http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/861296-arise-prince-willy-viagra-beer-launched-to-mark-royal-wedding">Click Here To Read Full Article</a></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptSyAy0dkwU/Ta776g4grBI/AAAAAAAAEEE/s5lvZtapI4A/s1600/royal-wedding-date-set__oPt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptSyAy0dkwU/Ta776g4grBI/AAAAAAAAEEE/s5lvZtapI4A/s320/royal-wedding-date-set__oPt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there you have it...save the date...order your pizza...drink your Viagra laced beer...and name your Chubby, Willie...whilst you ravage the lass next to you...who on this special day shall be named...KATE!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sir Hook the RVP Patron of Warrick</span><br />
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</span>dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-72183097812298440322011-04-15T03:22:00.000-07:002011-04-15T03:29:26.733-07:00Single Tree Safari<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eAGSPjP1_uc/TagcGOPr1KI/AAAAAAAAED8/brO_Dwqn-Kw/s1600/monsoon-images-windswept-live-oak-tree-and-rising-full-moon-at-night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eAGSPjP1_uc/TagcGOPr1KI/AAAAAAAAED8/brO_Dwqn-Kw/s320/monsoon-images-windswept-live-oak-tree-and-rising-full-moon-at-night.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It all began at my great-grandmother's feet, she being a Cherokee beyond a 100 years of age. At this stage in her life her day consisted of upbraiding her long silver hair, brushing it out, braiding it again...all while entertaining us with her stories.<br />
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Through her I found out that her Anglicised name of Singletary was rooted in a more ancient Cherokee name of Single Tree. Many visits to the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, where my family roots held firm for many centuries, to the plains of Oklahoma and New Mexico, where some of the family dispersed through the Trail of Tears, I began to explore what it meant to be Cherokee.<br />
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I've always been drawn to the image of a single tree standing out among its surroundings. Perhaps it's my ancient ancestral call, our my identity to clinging to life and standing firm amongst the storms that surround it, or better yet, the majestic sculpture of nature reaching towards the heavens while being firmly grounded in the earth.<br />
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To this day on Highway 45 as you drive towards my home town of Fairfield, Illinois, there's a single tree on a bend that greets my warrior cry every time I pass it. Like me, its a bit older, but fuller with life. Unlike me, and with a little luck, it will continue to stand after the last time I pass it in this life.<br />
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Live oaks are one of my most special trees. The drive from Charleston, South Carolina to Kiawah Island is like driving through natures cathedral at high mass. The ancient oaks of England also stir my soul. Perhaps that comes from the other side of my family heritage, rooted in the rolling plains and woods of Somerset in England? The Celtic British call is also powerful in my soul, like a Druid reading the entrails to see what the future holds.<br />
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This rambling all brings me to a Single Tree Safari. A rediscovery of my ancient past and a reformation of my future. This will be the title of my next CD, as well as a book to help others discover their true path in life.<br />
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The single tree has many branches, as does our life. The trick is to honor the branches as you remain rooted in your soul. Then you have the strength, courage, and ability to reach towards the heavens, regardless of what others might think or say to the contrary. That's why my Facebook Profile stats as my religion that I'm a: Zen, Cherokee, Catholic, Christian. I think I might have to add Druid now!<br />
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So, what are you roots? What are the branches in your life that you must honor?<br />
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Sir Hook the Single Tree of WarrickdkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-91118350799437001552011-03-04T08:51:00.000-08:002011-03-04T11:45:04.942-08:00The Joys of Homebrews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H1pnrORGdjc/TXFA-NiMvTI/AAAAAAAAED0/kTrcy5vmD1I/s1600/beerorama-appleton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H1pnrORGdjc/TXFA-NiMvTI/AAAAAAAAED0/kTrcy5vmD1I/s320/beerorama-appleton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let no one say that our US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are out of touch. One of the trends sweeping across the USA today is home/craft brewing; the White House has caught on and recently served it's first official White House beer at a Super Bowl party. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I'm not thrilled that it was a honey ale (they can be a bit dry and "meady" tasting), I'm glad to see that the White House kitchen was up to the challenge. And I, personally, would love to have an in-house graphics team available to print my labels for my own home brews! The honey, by the way, came from the new bee hive in the White House garden. I hope you'll take a few minutes to read the attached post--I thought it was great.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2011/03/obamas-make-history-with-homebrewed.html">Click Here to Read About Whitehouse Beer</a></span><br />
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</div>Sir John of the Rangelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05960949546930208569noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-50617736453150328112011-02-20T04:54:00.000-08:002011-02-20T04:55:27.838-08:00Joy Formidable and the Abundant Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZA-G8wOGykE/TWEOQD4wQKI/AAAAAAAAEDk/g5PGDVN76vo/s1600/joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZA-G8wOGykE/TWEOQD4wQKI/AAAAAAAAEDk/g5PGDVN76vo/s320/joy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>A feeling of great pleasure or happiness inspiring respect through impressively large, intense and powerful means, available in large quantities, which separates us from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death...that is a synopsis of having Joy Formidable and the Abundant Life.<br />
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</div><div>When one embraces Formidable Joy, the only outcome possible is an Abundant Life! <br />
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For me Joy is most formidably expressed and experienced through music. One of the bands who takes their name seriously in this endeavor is a band from London, England...<b>"The Joy Formidable"</b>, who I will have the pleasure of meeting at SXSW in Austin next month. </div><div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thejoyformidable.com/">http://www.thejoyformidable.com</a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Another musical expression of Joy is found in Bach's, "<b>Jesus Joy in Man's Desiring"</b>.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sVDSO6IZNLg/TWEOPINuQII/AAAAAAAAEDc/T3uDMJ37aIo/s1600/jesu-joy-mans-desiring-quartet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sVDSO6IZNLg/TWEOPINuQII/AAAAAAAAEDc/T3uDMJ37aIo/s320/jesu-joy-mans-desiring-quartet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>After all, Jesus himself said that he came,<b> "so that you might have life, and have it abundantly!"</b> <i>John 10:10</i> </div><div><br />
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</div><div>Joy increases our capacity for growth, reproduction (and it's pleasurable side effects), activity...and also gives us the fortitude and courage to continual change as we face the challenges of life...which the ultimate challenge we face is death. </div><div><br />
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</div><div>Yes, the Yin and Yang, Life and Death are immersed in the waters of Joy!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Fear Not...is not only a phrase repeated the most in Biblical Scripture...it's also the Mantra we are to Chant as we travel the highway of Joy!</div><div><br />
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</div><div>A change is a coming...the question is will you accept it with Joy Formidable and the Abundant Life?</div><div><br />
</div><div>Find your Joy and choose wisely!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Sir Hook the Formidably Abundant and Joyous of Warrick</div>dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-73263757576620578142011-02-12T04:37:00.000-08:002011-02-12T04:40:21.716-08:00Life is a Pyramid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EABixPNLWfM/TVZ-5lcj_vI/AAAAAAAAEDY/lwaoaAxr7Ik/s1600/pyramids-of-giza-gzgrtpy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EABixPNLWfM/TVZ-5lcj_vI/AAAAAAAAEDY/lwaoaAxr7Ik/s320/pyramids-of-giza-gzgrtpy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I was hoping by this time that I would have wonderful pictures of me in front of the Pyramids outside Cairo...a life long dream; however, something called a "Revolution" stood between me and my plans.<br />
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A friend once reminded me that, "You have big plans, but God has a bigger eraser!" For those who don't believe in a higher power...you can simply say, "You have big plans, but life has a bigger eraser!" I think you get the point.<br />
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In my case, when the Captain of the Jade announced that we would no longer be heading to Alexandria, but instead make course due North towards Istanbul (Constantinople), another dream came true as my earlier plan faded away.<br />
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Turkey is lovely, a place I will return (unless my plan is erased...), and a model of how a Muslim society can also function very well as a democratic society with mutual respect for those of Western background and a Christian faith. Turkey is the ideal for a Muslim world without fear, prejudice and hatred.<br />
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A Cab driver taking us into town for dinner one night summed it up best when he drove by the Iranian Embassy and said, "Those people are crazy!" The Turks get that fundamentalism, regardless of religious or non-religious preference, is the enemy of an open and human society. Which brings me back to Egypt in this article...<br />
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The "Revolution" has inspired a "Revelation" in my mind that...Life is a Pyramid. You must have a solid base upon which to build towards the top. Trickle down does not work, because it would be impossible to start building a pyramid from the top down.<br />
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However, some focus too much on the foundation and refuse to build towards the top, which requires work, inspiration and the stretching of imagination, and sink into fundamentalism. Others focus too much on the top, and forget where they came from in their quest to remain on the mountain top, whether spiritually, emotionally or physically.<br />
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Each stone in our life, each person we encounter, has a special purpose, a building block upon which to reach beyond our foundation towards what we can become. This is my hope for the Egyptian people as they strive towards democracy. This is my hope for all humanity as we focus less on what makes us different, and more on how we can stand with each other to build a better tomorrow.<br />
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After all, as Knights of Creation Spirit and Ale, we believe in "Unity Through Diversity"!<br />
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Sir Hook Who Walks With the Egyptians of WarrickdkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-65622457281022206332011-01-20T19:51:00.000-08:002011-01-20T19:59:31.960-08:00Come Sail AwayOK, the first thing you think of, well if you're close to my age...or addicted to your parents music, is the classic song from the Chicago band, STYX.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBrHrew6I/AAAAAAAAEDE/QIOGnf8Tm_0/s1600/norwegian-jade-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBrHrew6I/AAAAAAAAEDE/QIOGnf8Tm_0/s320/norwegian-jade-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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This time the title refers to a classic journey through classical history aboard the Norwegian Jade.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBpn0yaHI/AAAAAAAAEC4/Ah0N49AcmDU/s1600/fc_barcelona_ticket_fans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBpn0yaHI/AAAAAAAAEC4/Ah0N49AcmDU/s320/fc_barcelona_ticket_fans.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><br />
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Beginning our journey this Saturday in Barcelona, Spain...my first order of business is to pop open a bottle of Spanish Red Wine, dance the Flamingo and try to get the rabid Barcelona football (read: Soccer) fans to get their sets ready for real American Football during the AFC & NFC Championships.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkCdxfM3nI/AAAAAAAAEDM/jxIYHsxpOLo/s1600/iStock_000004825479XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkCdxfM3nI/AAAAAAAAEDM/jxIYHsxpOLo/s320/iStock_000004825479XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Next stop Rome...the Eternal City beckons to me once again. Eleven years after my first visit in 2000, I look forward to once again embracing the phrase, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBnHyt8GI/AAAAAAAAECw/_O5CJZ5tzOA/s1600/athens-greece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBnHyt8GI/AAAAAAAAECw/_O5CJZ5tzOA/s320/athens-greece.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Sailing away for the first time to the land where the legend of the "River Styx" flowed in classical mythology...Athens, the most powerful of the ancient Greek City States, is the birth place of western civilization. I haven't gone "Greek" since my Alpha Tau Omega frat days at Murray State University in the late 70's.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBrzMAHcI/AAAAAAAAEDI/ADK1upbmCn4/s1600/turkey-flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBrzMAHcI/AAAAAAAAEDI/ADK1upbmCn4/s320/turkey-flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Next stop, Turkey, where East meets West since the first century A.D., and where I enter, albeit a more civilized and tolerant form, the Muslim world for the first time. I will say that since I was a kid looking into the eventide sky, the Crescent Moon and One Star has been a powerful sign for me in my life. Smoking a hookah with a strong coffee is high on my list.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBnthFTlI/AAAAAAAAEC0/fVg8F_g7gXs/s1600/egypt5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBnthFTlI/AAAAAAAAEC0/fVg8F_g7gXs/s320/egypt5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Egypt is the birthplace of civilization. Since a child of eight browsing through the history books of my public library, up to the television series Stargate, I have avidly devoured ancient Egyptian history and culture. To realize that I'll be standing where Pharaohs once tread in Cairo, and where Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra roamed in Alexandria is truly a dream come true!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBqeBKJKI/AAAAAAAAEC8/JApzrbS3gz0/s1600/Knight+of+st+John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBqeBKJKI/AAAAAAAAEC8/JApzrbS3gz0/s320/Knight+of+st+John.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br />
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Finally this errant Knight wraps up his seafaring journey of discovery in the Island of Malta, ancient home of the Knights of St. John.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBq6ms7GI/AAAAAAAAEDA/RU4msc2LQT0/s1600/maltese_falcon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TTkBq6ms7GI/AAAAAAAAEDA/RU4msc2LQT0/s320/maltese_falcon.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br />
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Channeling the spirit of Humphrey Bogart's character Sam Spade in the 1941 movie, "The Maltese Falcon", when he responded to Brigid O'Shaughnessy's statement of how she wasn't really as good as people thought, he said...and I echo..."You know, that's good, because if you actually were as innocent as you pretend to be, we'd never get anywhere."<br />
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Here's to living life, chasing dreams, partaking in journey's of discovery and to not pretending to be innocent!<br />
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Sir Hook the Mediterranean Pirate of WarrickdkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-11506553804333835472011-01-12T04:01:00.000-08:002011-01-12T04:01:38.184-08:00If Life is Hard, Shouldn't We All Wear Helmets?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TS2XJpfu_rI/AAAAAAAAECo/qZtPckZIEHY/s1600/moschino_helmet_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TS2XJpfu_rI/AAAAAAAAECo/qZtPckZIEHY/s320/moschino_helmet_004.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>The answer would be yes, if I really believed it. Sure, life can be hard, but just like a good laugh, it's over before you know it. So, the real question is, to quote an old cliche, "Is your glass half empty, or half full?" The answer to that question will determine how much you've bought into the theology of "Live Is Hard".<br />
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On a lighter note, to show where a man's brain really resides, organized Hockey required the wearing of a Protective Cup as early as 1879. For those who never had the privilege of wearing said device...we in the adolescent sports world referred to them as "Ball Bras"!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TS2XJ8hzjFI/AAAAAAAAECs/C83TFVMOKYQ/s1600/Protective+Cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TS2XJ8hzjFI/AAAAAAAAECs/C83TFVMOKYQ/s1600/Protective+Cup.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It took 100 years for Hockey to require the use of a helmet to protect the head, when the league required all new players to wear a helmet starting in 1979. At least men know their priorities!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TS2XJPFzTdI/AAAAAAAAECk/byQRinszhB4/s1600/c5e09_hockey_helmet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TS2XJPFzTdI/AAAAAAAAECk/byQRinszhB4/s1600/c5e09_hockey_helmet.jpg" /></a></div><br />
So, if you need to wear a helmet, a protective device (real or imaginary) to get through life, at least make it a fun one, like a Beer Helmet...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TS2XIpSLezI/AAAAAAAAECg/KSe_WHJecbM/s1600/beer-hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TS2XIpSLezI/AAAAAAAAECg/KSe_WHJecbM/s1600/beer-hat.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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...or put on a smile and shine a light on a brilliant idea!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just remember!</span></b></div><br />
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Sir Hook the Cup Wearing, Head Exposed Lover of Life of WarrickdkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-81490588543667157302011-01-06T05:13:00.000-08:002011-01-06T05:14:28.792-08:00Where Is The Love?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where is the love? What is love? <b>REALLY?!</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love is a word that's easy to say, easy to blame, but hard to embrace...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>REALLY!</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this case, God is Love, because both get praised casually and blamed thoroughly...<b>REALLY!</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sports world, as of late American Football, is a supreme laboratory in studying the casual toss of Love and God within the human equation, especially when we cannot define ourselves without someone else, or accept blame and find a scapegoat...the human sacrificial lamb.</span><br />
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Flash back to Steve Johnson of the Buffalo Bills, who drops the game winning pass and blames God. Johnson was reluctant to accept responsibility for the gaffe, posting on his Twitter account post-game that it was in fact God's fault:<br />
</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO...," Johnson tweeted.</span></i></span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>REALLY?</b> Steve, you dropped the ball, not God. Of course you would easily praise him if you caught it. Still, you would have caught it, not God. Stop praising God for your success and failures and accept your roll in your own outcome.</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TSW_mhAdUxI/AAAAAAAAECQ/E3QGiBiTpvo/s1600/vince-young-crying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TSW_mhAdUxI/AAAAAAAAECQ/E3QGiBiTpvo/s320/vince-young-crying.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fast forward to today when the Tennessee Titans announce that they will either trade or release Vince Young. Vince goes on to state that "he never felt the love and respect from the coach to motivate him to play better." Love becomes the scapegoat for him, which makes it ok to walk out of a game twice, throw his pads into the stands and threaten suicide a few years back. </span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>REALLY?</b> Grow up Vince! You can only love those who love themselves.</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, ask yourself, where is your love? Is it given to someone else before you love yourself? Is it sought from someone else before you find it within yourself?</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, ask yourself, what is your love? Is it a person, a thing, a god, a dream, or is it the divine energy within yourself to motivate you to be the best you can be and to share that gift with others?</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TSW_mO9zEgI/AAAAAAAAECM/L7Jbh789Ies/s1600/mirror+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TSW_mO9zEgI/AAAAAAAAECM/L7Jbh789Ies/s1600/mirror+bird.jpg" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing is for certain, if you blame God or Love for your misery today, you're not looking at yourself in the mirror...<b>REALLY!</b></span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: helvetica, 'microsoft sans serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 10px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sir Hook the Lover of Warrick </span></span></i></span></span></span></span><br />
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</div>dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489310405541465454.post-38122968617941281982010-12-29T04:37:00.000-08:002010-12-29T04:37:18.944-08:00Skating Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TRsrJYwF0zI/AAAAAAAAECA/tKvuJ42fDgg/s1600/Jethro_Tull-Warchild_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TRsrJYwF0zI/AAAAAAAAECA/tKvuJ42fDgg/s320/Jethro_Tull-Warchild_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>I quote one of my favorite Tull songs, "<b><i>Skating away on the thin ice of a new day."</i></b> I find this phrase, which could also make a clever Haiku, quiet appropriate as I look out my home office window and see the once ice covered lake showing thin layers and cracks, like vericose veins on Mother Earth's legs.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TRsrI6ZnfVI/AAAAAAAAEB8/LQyf3fKbFHU/s1600/994330.37aba5da.560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TRsrI6ZnfVI/AAAAAAAAEB8/LQyf3fKbFHU/s320/994330.37aba5da.560.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
2010 is winding down as 2011 is winding up...which begs to ask the question...are you winding down...or are you winding up? Either way, you must skat away on the thin ice of a new day. Are you content to fall through and drown in whatever excuses you manufacture for your current condition....or are you "balls to the wall" as you manuever expertly through the cracks and thin layers of life, excited to take on yet another challenge?<br />
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The song goes on, <b><i>"one day you'll wake up in the Present Day ---a million generations removed from expectations of being who you really want to be."</i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TRsrJye3UhI/AAAAAAAAECE/AygVVH0ICvo/s1600/skating+away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__NN6L_0B4b4/TRsrJye3UhI/AAAAAAAAECE/AygVVH0ICvo/s1600/skating+away.jpg" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b>Lace those skates up and conquer the new day as you become who you really want to be!<br />
</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sir Hook the Skating Guru of Warrick</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>dkWellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036130304612683613noreply@blogger.com4