The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Seven

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Seven

A new chapter is now on line. Read it! There is a place for comments at the bottom, and links to previous chapters.

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Six

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Six

Chapter six is up!

Jon On-The-Run woke from bad dreams. Dreams of rebellion and war, fire and death. He was happy to be awake, even as he came to remember where he was, and why. Billy was filling one lamp from the tin of whale oil, and had lit the other. It was his cursing burnt fingers that had woken Jon. He wondered if that had been the source of his fiery dreams, that or the smell of smoke still in the tunnel. Or was it the memory of what he had seen above?

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter 5

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter 5

Chapter five of The Tale Of Jon Handshaker is now posted. Click the link above to go there. There are links to the earlier chapters from that page.

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Four

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Four

The latest chapter of my on-line novel is up. Read!

...Fire covered the walls and floor. On the stairs opposite a few boys and servants crouched helpless. On the floor, smothered in flame, were piles, shapeless except for an outstretched hand or foot. In the open doorway to the outside was a line of men. Not throwing water or plunging in to pull out victims, but standing ready with red swords and spears. Red from the fire? Or blood. One of the men pointed at the open door and at Jon, and a javelin flew. Jon stumbled back into darkness.

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Three

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Three

Parade Of Fools, chapter three of my science fiction novel, is now on line.

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Three

Click here to go to chapter one.

Chapter Three

Parade Of Fools

The long night of physical labor gave Jon plenty of time to think. The future was clear. He would have to put up with this Handshaker business for a long time, perhaps even right up till he took his final, royal, name. That was always the last name. Young as he was, Jon was all too aware of his rapidly approaching and quite inevitable end.

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Two

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter Two

The second chapter of my on-line fantasy/science fiction novel is now up. Please click the link above to read. Thanks.

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #4

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #4
How to save money grilling and barbecue cooking. Make your own charcoal at home. Its easy, and charcoal is expensive. Click the link above to read my article. Thanks.

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter One

The Tale Of Jon Handshaker, Chapter One

I have put a chapter of my new novel up on HubPages. Click the link above to read more. Thanks.

Jon Lamb was having little luck. He had fished the shallow, cold, mountain creeks of the Reservation Lands for trout and grayling, but he was new to this city and to the wide, slow rivers that encompassed it.

The Festival of the Dog Star, the first sighting of the summer star over the horizon, was one of four given over for purification. People, public spirited, or simply ever mindful of their neighbors' eyes, were diligently cleaning their homes, shops, and streets. They burned richly scented pine boughs in hopes of warding off the summer fevers, brought on by insects and the heavy, humid air. Jon was playing hooky.

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #11

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #11

Stores are stealing from you. Learn how to stop stores from charging more than list prices when you shop. Click the link above. Thanks.

Chainsaw Dreams

Chainsaw Dreams

Sometimes things. Just. Work. Right.

Click the link to read. Thanks.

Male And Female Parenting Styles, Mom, Dad and Two Girls

Male And Female Parenting Styles, Mom, Dad and Two Girls

Mom, do you fight with your daughter? Dad, do you fight with your son? Click the link above for a pop psychology lesson on tactics you can use.

On The Proper Training Of Young Women

On The Proper Training Of Young Women

Trying to raise strong, self-confident young women. Click on the link above to read.

How To Repair a Cracked or Broken Axe Handle

How To Repair a Cracked or Broken Axe Handle

How To Repair a Cracked or Broken Axe Handle

Learn how to use simple home items to repair anything made of wood, handles, tools, table legs, anything. I published this on HubPages. Click the link above to read the article.

Tips For Treating Eczema, Home Remedies That Work

Tips For Treating Eczema, Home Remedies That Work

Tips For Treating Eczema, Home Remedies That Work

Eczema can be successfully treated with home remedies. Some work better than others. Click the link above to see my article on HubPages.

IQ And The Economy. Be Kind To Stupid People.

IQ And The Economy. Be Kind To Stupid People.
Our government stacks the deck against the most vulnerable among us, the stupid. Click the link above to read my article on HubPages.

Self Sabotage

Self Sabotage

Can your actions and attitudes make you poor? Stymie you from achieving your goals and hurt your relationships? Click the link to my article on HubPages.

Winter Is Coming. Fimbul Winter. Are You Ready?

Winter Is Coming. Fimbul Winter. Are You Ready?

This winter is expected to be among the coldest in a century, due to an unusually strong La Nina in the Pacific. Is your house ready? Budgeted enough for extra heating. The link above goes to my article on HubPages with some unusual tips for saving money on heating your home.

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #10

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #10

How to make yogurt. It's simple and easy.

Published on HubPages.

I Am A Dog

I Am A Dog

A Hub I wrote, my beliefs about God and man.

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #7

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #7

#7 on a list of money-saving tips. How to make your disposable razors last longer. A lot longer.

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #8

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #8

#8 on a list of weird, money-saving tips. How to repair your blue jeans, the guy way.

Write Your Hub Right

Write Your Hub Right

A simple guide to improving your HubPages writing.

Prepare Your Car For Winter Survival

Prepare Your Car For Winter Survival

Can you survive if your car breaks down or you are stranded in the winter? Read this on HubPages.

Diet Tips To Keep Your Teeth Healthy

Diet Tips To Keep Your Teeth Healthy

Published on HubPages, suggestions, tips and advice for keeping your teeth strong and healthy.

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #6

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #6

Money saving tip #6. How to use solar energy to reduce cooking energy costs, without buying special equipment. On HubPages.

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #5

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #5

Money saving tips in the kitchen. Tip #5. How to make Beef Jerky and other ways to cook cheaply. Published on HubPages.

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #4

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #4

Tips for saving money. Tip #4, how to make charcoal at home. Published on HubPages.

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #3

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #3

How to save money with Shoe Goo, and old tee-shirt, and an old pair of shoes, published on HubPages.

Live Debt-Free

Live Debt-Free

Learn how to buy a house without a mortgage. Tips on how to live debt-free. Advice on how to pay yourself first, and not the banks and the credit card companies. Click through to see the original article on HubPages.

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #2

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #2

The second in a series of money saving tips published on HubPages. Save money by saving water. Go Green!

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #1

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tip #1

The first of a series of crazy tips published on HubPages, for saving money in hard times. Frugal Living. Live green.

Self Seeded Gardens

Self Seeded Gardens

A HubPages article on how to save money gardening by getting your vegetables to reseed themselves.

Organic Lawns

Organic Lawns

An article I published on HubPages on how to have an environmentally sound, green, healthy lawn and yard.

Don't like Republicans so vote Democrat?

A funny thought occurred to me as I lay awake trying to sleep. A lot of people are very mad (justly so in my opinion) at the Republicans for the way they ruled over the last eight years.

So in consequence they are voting Democrat now.

But this just does not make any sense. We have Republicans acting like Democrats, and you hate them for it, so you vote Democrat?
How were Republicans like Democrats? Let us enumerate:

Reckless foreign wars? Republicans, yes. Democrats, yes.　(You dems don't forget Somolia, Sudan, Yugoslavia, Haiti, Aｆgｈanistan, Iraq all attacked or invaded during President Clinton's terms.And of course the real big one, Vietnam, was a dem fiasco.

Sexual scandals? Repubs yes. Dems, yes. (Barney Frank's Home Porno Emporium and Brothel, anyone?)

Political corruption? Repubs, yes. Dems, ha ha ha ha ha. Far too many to number.

Huge spending? Repubs yes, in spades. Dems, let us whisper just one name, Obama.

My Book

My book is coming along nicely. Some 70,000 words and closing in on the finale. Another month? I had hoped to finish it by now, but events intervened. The end is near!

Special Olympics President

I have finally figured out how to peg President Obama. Callow.

The occasional rude remark, said in error, can be forgotten. But the current president just makes one after another.

Recall the finger-to-cheek given to Hillary and McCain? So subtle! Any thirteen-year-old knows that gesture, and any parent or teacher knows how to squelch that kind of contempt.

I guess that Obama was just badly brought up and never learned how to act like an adult.

Callow.

Blago now Obama next?

Ding dong the witch is dead!

Which old witch?

Blagojevich.


Oh, joy. One of the blood-suckers is down. Who is next? The Mayor of Chicago? The President of the United States of America?

All these rotten Illinois pols need a good thorough reaming out by the FBI. Can ANYTHING good come out of Chicago politics?

Update: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/18/whistleblower-hits-obama-friends-appraisal/

Who benefits, Rich or Poor

William Briggs posts an excellent analysis of the growth of government spending, and asks who benefits. Well worth a read, and the comments are useful too. Click on the title above.

GM Bailout

Have not posted in a long while, busy writing a story. My kids like it anyway...


So GM wants a bailout. Well. Of course they do.

But that would just lead to more of the same same. What GM really needs is to go belly-up. Then they can reorganise, dump, or at least curb the union, and maybe make cars that can compete on price with the imports.

It is the union that is killing the US car makers. No honest person can deny that.

But we have elected a socialist president and have a socialist congress. So, expect the gov to fork over big cash in exchange for power over the industry.

Return of the Ice Age?

Are we readying for a return to the glacial age?

Walk down any city street and tell me the typical modern woman doesn't look a lot like this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_figurines

I suspect the cooling is on and the human race is getting ready. All us skinnies better move south or prepare for extinction. It"s in our genes.

Is Sarah Palin a Lawyer?

Wiki doesn't mention a law degree, just journalism. Hmm.

Obama and Biden are lawyers.

McCain? Have to check. (Checked. Nope)

Be nice to have a no-lawyer ticket, wouldn't it.

Russia, Georgia, Israel?

Just a weird thought I had. Nobody is going to put out any effort to save Georgia.

Who could? Europe is a genderless dog. The US has other things going on (sorry Georgia, too busy right now, call back in 09).

But Israel, now. Ready for war? Check.
Ready for a long-distance air war? Check.
Experienced against Russian equipment? Check.
Reasons to dislike Russia? Check.

OK it is just a fantasy. Israel can't really afford to be distracted right now. But I wish, I wish...

Soros at it again?

Follow the link. Now who do we know, a speculator, who doesn't mind impoverishing whole countries, who has an abiding hatred of conservatives and is ready spend millions in search of an electoral victory for Democrats?

George Soros, of course. A man wanted in Europe, hated in Asia, sole cause of vast misery (not an exaggeration). A man who simply does not care how much pain he causes, if it advanced global socialism, and of course his own pocketbook.

My bet is the high gas prices are due at least in part on Soros and his cronies speculating in oil, hoping to cause both their own enrichment and a Democrat victory.

Heller. Hot time in Chicago

Mayor Daley is unhappy. Ooooh, so sad. I just can not wait to see the fireworks when the fallout from Heller hits Chicago. Will Chicago be forced to rejoin the United States of America? Seems to hard to believe after all the long years of communist rule there.

Heller is a tiny, baby step in the direction of recovering our lost rights. Someday..... someday Illinois will rejoin the US in the 21st Century.

Currently only Wisconsin and Illinois still have the antiquated illiberal laws against gun ownership and use. New York and California and a few others are close, with vastly restricted 'rights'. But in the main the US has made great advances toward more liberal gun laws.

Stimulus Check. Hurrah.

Got my $1200 today. Oh, glorious. Immediately wrote a $1600+ check to pay the first installment of my real estate taxes. So I am stimulating the local school teachers, certainly, but not much myself.

It really hurts when I look at the long list of 'services' and especially at the list of various pensions we all are paying for. Pensions are over 1/4 of the total tax bill.

Hmm, seems to me most small towns have volunteer-staffed libraries. And don't get me started on the Taj-Mahal new library they are building right now. Who knows how many new staff they will be demanding to run the place.

The government at all levels certainly seems to hate low-income people.

Violets

I mowed one quarter of my lawn today. I usually do half at a time but am still tired from the overtime this week. I also walked the back lawn looking for thistles.

I found lots of violets blooming. There have been for two weeks now, but right now they are blooming in great bunches. So beautiful, tiny and perfect.

There seem to be three varieties, a very deep purple that blooms in full sun, and a light purple and a white that prefer shade.

I have seen vari-colored purple and white violets, but don't have any of those in my yard. I will have to see if I can find any at my Dad's place and transplant some. In the woods back of his place there are also very delicate yellow violets that I only find in deep shade. Be nice to get some of those too.

I foumd a pretty orange wildflower I don't know the name of. I put some seeds out last year, maybe it is a holdover.

Of course I also looked over on my neighbor's lawn. Nope, no flowers except a few puny dandelions that survived the last herbicide attack, just last week.

My strawberries look great this year too, lots of flowers and already some fruit setting. The raspberries also look great, but the lone blackberry vine barely survived the winter, just a few green leaves. I am thinking of digging up some wild blackberries and planting them. No worries about them surviving!

my new house

I listed a home for sale this weekend. A very nice 3 or 4 bedroom ranch in Rockford.Only $100,000, very competitive price for the neighborhood. The seller knows the roof needs replacement, and knocked $5000 off the top of what he wanted, to cover a roof replacement.

I listed it formally today, and already have had one showing!

Poverty and Debt, don't they just love them

Democrats want us to be poor and in debt. Republicans don't much care one way or the other. Neither is on the side of the little guy. At least Republicans are not usually an active enemy, the way Democrats are.

Look at the facts. What does the government encourage, and what discourage. Debt is encouraged. What is most peoples' biggest tax deduction? The mortgage. We are encouraged to take on more and bigger debt.

What is discouraged? Savings and investments that pay returns. Do your taxes this year? Have any investments? Pay a big tax on any gains, don't you?

All this combined to make it a lot tougher for the average person to get ahead. Debt dragging our heels, taxes a head-wind.

I recently started working a wage-paying job, for the first time in many years. Just looking at my Social Security and Medicare payments makes me sick. If I had control of that money it would be invested, or used to buy insurance. What a joke that I have to pay all the leeches in Washington for the at best potential and minuscule benefits they promise to someday return to me.

Besides all this, Democrats insist that our kids be given the worst of possible educations, the public schools.

Democrats hate people and want the worst for them. Republicans just want to be left alone to enrich themselves. What other conclusion can there be?

Politics

Pity the poor Democrat voter. All their 'man-of-the-people' candidates are revealed as nothing but run of the mill pols.

Pity the poor Republican voter. Same-same.

Mr. Obama. What a work of art. He has even managed to make Hillery look like she has the common touch, and I would never have thought that possible.

Can anyone name a single accomplishment that Obama has done? With all his talent and brains? (Getting elected is an accomplishment of sorts, Chicago-style).

Ouch!

Dropped a heavy steel rack on my fingers last night. I got real lucky, just a bruise and some blood. Washed it, bandaged it and went back to work. Even with the hour or so off I spent getting it taken care of and the mandatory safety committee meeting I managed to move more product than all but 5 of my co-workers.

I got lucky. I could be missing a finger-tip right now.