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Saturday, December 2, 2023

Ford City, Alabama: The metropolis that might have been.

After I graduated from high school, I was given the ultimatum from my daddy that I could either give college a try or stay at home on the farm and be worked to death. Reluctantly, I chose to give college a try. I had little desire for higher education and no desire whatsoever to live in a city. I ended up going to the University of North Alabama in Florence. This was only about an hour and half drive from my home (much faster now with better roads). For me, at that time, it just as well had of been a thousand. Even though I lived in the dorm, I was always looking for ways to shorten the drive trying various cutoffs, backroads, etc. when traveling to and from Florence. One of these roads cut east just before I got into Muscle Shoals would route me across Wilson Dam and into Florence. Before crossing the dam, I would drive past large cotton fields scratched into the red soil native to to the Tennessee River Valley. I noticed just past these fields and adjacent to crossroads were "abandoned" streets with curbs, gutters, and sidewalks all laid out in grids (city blocks). I honestly thought a super cell thunderstorm with a monster tornado had touched down and swept whatever town that was once here away. It was only after a couple of years of college that one of the professors told the story of Ford City and how it was to have been a modern day utopian brain child of none other than Henry Ford. The Shoals had much to offer for the auto industry. There was the Tennessee River that would provide the electricity and transport raw and finished materials. Also, for transportation was ample rail service. Another thing that appealed to Ford was the serenity of rural living. He envisioned homes with enough land to allow a family to "live" and grow a vegetable garden. After all, healthy minds and bodies would be needed for his factories. I came across this story today about Ford City and how government intervention changed things (whether for good or bad it is hard to say) and thought I would post it here.

                                                                             Henry Ford at incomplete Wilson Dam 1921:Credit The Henry Ford





Amie Beth Shaver: Muscle Shoals could have been a metropolis if not for government intervention


When they were little, our kids knew that sign. “Ford City,” it said.

When they saw it, the are-we-finally-at-the-lake questions stopped, because they knew we had arrived – after a quick stop at the nearby Foodland for groceries … that just might include turkey hot dogs and a locally famous Anna Mary's seven-layer caramel cake, that is.

For the record, the lake I'm talking about isn't Smith, Guntersville, or Martin. It's Wilson Lake, where Muscle Shoals, music's hit recording capital of the world, is on one side and Florence is on the other. Read the rest of the story by clicking here.



Thursday, November 30, 2023

Free Speech Is Dead In Ireland: Will the 1st Amendment survive in tact in America?


It sounds as if Ireland has the same "spindoctors" as The United States!

From Talmadge Butts:

Last Thursday, three children and one adult were stabbed in broad daylight outside of a school in Dublin, Ireland, by an Algerian immigrant. Hundreds took to the streets around the scene of the crime that night to protest the stabbing, with a number of individuals burning vehicles and engaging in violent confrontations with riot police. At least 34 people were arrested and charged with riotous behavior, assault, and theft.   

Without missing a beat, Irish officials and media labeled both the protest and riot “far-right,” driven by anti-immigrant hatred. The international martial artist superstar and known Irishman, Conor McGregor, balked at these characterizations and made a number of statements on X expressing his views: Read the whole story by clicking here.


Wednesday, November 29, 2023

From the Front

                      Why you should always carry two stielhandgranaten


Another Grid That Could Potentially Collapse In The Right Conditions...

 

 

 

Chris Keefer, the Toronto-based physician and founder of Canadians for Nuclear Energy, calls the electric grid a “civilizational life support system.”

Keefer, of course, is correct. The most critical systems in our society ­­— medical, water, wastewater, traffic lights, telecommunications, and lighting­­ — depend on reliable electricity. But earlier this month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation issued their final report on a winter storm that hammered the northeastern U.S. last year. And that report proves that our natural gas grid is just as essential as our electric grid. FERC and NERC have repeatedly said that the two grids are intertwined, interdependent, and irreplaceable. Indeed, a reliable and resilient natural gas grid is critical to our energy security, and therefore, our national security.

Put short, policymakers ignore the importance of the gas pipeline system at our extreme peril.

 MORE HERE<<<

Monday, November 27, 2023

Damn, the dust in here must be covered with fresh cut onions...

 

 Borrowed with all due respect to blog brother Kenny   









I figured as much (updated)



The pun was Thanksgiving overeating, but you fellars are way too smart for that. Per the comment request, see below. It is an older story, but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

                                                                                               Five officers fired over affairs/orgies

Sunday, November 26, 2023

I'm A Horrible Person... BWAHAHHAHAHAHahahhahahhaha... .. breath.... ahhahahahhah!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Time To Start Thinking More and More About Retiring...

 

 

 

 It would be nice to find a small island somewhere. 

Where you can live cheap and enjoy the 

golden years of all the decades of your hard labor.

 

... oh, to dream   

 

 

 

h/t to RB

Some Interesting Shows I Have Watched Over The Past Few Weeks....

 

 As the clock ticks forward and the daylight hours dwindle I don't spend as much time outside

as in the nicer months. I get my chores done and retire to the homestead.

During the past couple weeks, I have been able to grab some time to sit and check out the offerings

on the TV.  We dumped the regular cable and use Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix etc.

 The MSM and regular TV shows I can't stand so those are a no go. I don't even bother

with the bread and circus of sporting events. Nope , none, nada.

Anyway, before someone gets their panties in a wad because I am going to mention Netflix,

I get it. But, at some point, it's mindless entertainment, and I'm ok with that on a limited basis.

 One show, not on my list to share was the 2020 ( I think) Larry the Cable Guy special. I had

some good therapy from the laughter I enjoyed.

 Anyway, back to the shows that I really got lost in.

Again, these were documentaries that can be filmed and massaged to fit the narrative of the producers,

directors, investors, editors etc. If watched with an open, aware mind frame , they were definitely

eye-opening and worth the time. IMHO. YMMV. WYSIWYG.


First up was Meltdown: Three Mile Island.  I was young back then and didn't realize how close we came to disaster. Four Episodes.

Second up was Painkiller, about the pharmaceutical family that created Oxycontin and the devastation the addiction of the drug left on this country.   Six episodes.

Finally, last night, was  Downfall, The Case Against Boeing.  This one exposed the issues surrounding the MAX 737 crashes and investigations.  

As I was watching this documentary I became aware that this one story can be expanded to include the direction of where this country is going. The almighty dollar, corporate greed, lies, omission of critical information, etc.


If you get a chance to catch any of these or if you have watched them, please comment your thoughts.


Yes, I know it's Netflix and yes I am aware that they have agendas are being pushed both in-your-face and subliminally on a constant basis. They aren't going to go out of business if I don't watch a few shows. I do boycott most of the idiotic actors and musicians that don't just shut up and think I need their opinions on politics and leftist ideals.


Enjoy your Sunday, the salt mine calls...