GeologicalScienceBlog - subjects include Geology, Climatology, Environmental Science, NASCAR, Beer, Property Rights, Random Thoughts, & Politics from a Christian Conservative/Libertarian/pragmatist viewpoint. As a Dad & Grandad, I am concerned about the overgrowth of government at the expense of freedom. Background - two degrees in Geology (BS '77, MS '90), started studying Geology beginning Senior Year of high school (1971 - 1972) <68>

Friday, February 17, 2012

Dear Diary...

oops, wrong venue.

Been away for a while, busy on a number of different fronts, different issues and a bit of tumult, all rolled together.

Will try to get back to regular postings soon.

Just got to vent a bit...

I just don't understand why seemingly intelligent people are liberals, especially over the issue of human-caused global warming. One of my Geology Professors from Georgia Southern - from almost 40 years ago - is now a Facebook Friend and has revealed himself to be a diehard liberal - buying into the global warming hysteria and posting a boycott of FOX News.  Geez Louise!

Will rant some more on this later, perhaps after a beer. So I can get righteously pissed off.  hehe.

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Monday, January 09, 2012

More Unvarnished, Un-PC Truth

Pat Condell is never one to mince words.

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Dancing Around the Truth in the UK



Young and not-so-young, feral Muslim men are drugging and raping young British girls at an alarming rate. Yet the Brits insist on PC terms "Asian" or "Pakistani" to describe the attackers. Of course the Muslim spokesman wasn't going to say the entire truth. The entire truth is that "devout" Muslim men are taught to NOT respect non-Muslim women.

If the UN gets its way, this will be considered "hate speech". In that world, truth is no defense.

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Friday, January 06, 2012

Things You Can't Say to Your Girlfriend

From Viral Footage:

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Good Advice

From Viral Footage:

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Not Ready for Facebook - Part 1

From Viral Footage:

In the name of diplomacy and decorum, I am abstaining from posting this on Facebook - at least for now. Because the truth of what is truly sustainable and biologically correct makes some folks uncomfortable.

Why Rick Santorum is right about "gay marriage". There are two genders for a reason, each one brings different "skills" to the table of rearing the next generation.



Consenting adults can do what they want, in the privacy of their homes and live with whom they choose. Just don't call it marriage. [At one time, Elton John voiced this opinion. Don't know if he has been hounded into silence or not.]

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Sunday, January 01, 2012

Electromagnetic Pulse - National Geographic Video



More comments and thoughts later.

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

192,000 Books and Manuscripts Reduced to Ashes...

by Islamist mobs in Egypt.

Kind of follows the actions of their WWII allies, Nazi Germany. From the article "Burning books in Cairo", by Ryan Jones, Israel Today Magazine, 27 December 2011:


"On December 17, an Egyptian mob - presumably of the type that has been voting for the Muslim Brotherhood and al-Nour - demonstrated that they have no intention of "modernizing" or adopting Western-style pragmatism when they torched the Institute of Egypt in Cairo.

Among the casualties of the Islamist assault were some 192,000 rare books and manuscripts.

The Institute of Egypt was established by Napoleon Bonaparte when he invaded Egypt in the late 18th century. For centuries the Institute of Egypt housed priceless chronicles of the nation's history, as well as the findings of hundreds of top scholars and scientists.

The Institute of Egypt symbolized Egypt's connection to the West, and for many its establishment was the start of the "modern era" in Egypt. And that is why it had to go. Because Egypt's Islamists have no intention of modernizing, not on Western terms, at any rate. Like the Ayatollahs in Iran and Hamas in Gaza, their ultimate goal is to return Egypt to a medieval form of life where a strict interpretation of Sharia Law governs the actions of all."


Nature abhors a vaccuum. Hosni Mubarak was certainly a problematic ruler (polite term), but there was some measure of secularism present in Egypt. I wonder if the libs that championed the "Arab Spring" in Egypt are at least uncomfortable with these events.

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Revisiting the Depression of William Styron

I just started reading Alexandra Styron's book "Reading My Father", a memoir of her experiences growing up and dealing with her father's unipolar depression.

Here is the text of the above-linked post of September 4, 2007:

"William Styron's "Darkness Visible" is short enough (84 pages) to read in one day/night period, but because of the importance of the material, you might want to spend a little more time on the subject.

William Styron is best known for "The Confessions of Nat Turner", "Lie Down in Darkness", "Sophie's Choice" and other works of literature. "Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness", 1992, Vintage Books div. of Random House, ISBN 0-679-73639-5, details Styron's rapid descent into severe clinical depression, after reaching the age of 60, and his subsequent treatment and recovery.

Styron attributes some aspects of the depression to genetics, as his father suffered the same affliction. After-the-fact, he became aware of some his central characters (in his books) suffering depression, perhaps a sign that it was "just under the surface of his psyche" (my paraphrasing). Three of his central characters committed suicide.

As with numerous other writers, Styron had a relationship with "the bottle", not writing while he was drinking, but using his episodes to "travel throughout his imagination" (my paraphrasing). Oddly enough, it seemed that it wasn't his "hitting bottom" after he turned 60 that caused him to suddenly stop drinking, he seemed to "lose interest", perhaps his body somehow rebelled against it.

Styron attributed the rapid cessation of drinking as the "trigger event" that started his rapid downward spiral. Being part of the "writing community", Styron was well-aware of the legion of writers that had preceeded him in severe depression, some of which ended in suicide. He almost reached that point, but "was pulled back" at the last instant. Somehow it seemed that depression in some fashion contributes to a measure of creativity, perhaps once one is subconciously (or conciously) aware of the territory, they can see possible depression in others. They can perhaps empathize with "broken people" more easily than those that travel through life unaware of what it is like "on the inside".

The unipolar depression suffered by Styron is different from the up-and-down of manic (bipolar) depression. Unipolar depression - attributed to imbalances of norepinephrine, serotonin, and cortisol - is not always constant. Styron's seemed to "hit" him more in the afternoon and evening.

There may be more than one "triggering event" that precipitates (or exaggerates) changes in brain chemistry. In the case of Abraham Lincoln, it was the death of his mother, Nancy Hanks, when he was nine, then the death of his sister when he was 19. For Styron, he believed that one of his early triggering events was the death of his mother when he was 13. For Ernest Hemingway, perhaps it was the suicide of his father.

Styron describes the descent of most people (including himself) with depression in this way (p. 47):

"But with their minds turned agonizingly inward, people with depression are usually dangerous only to themselves. The madness of depression is, generally speaking, the antithesis of violence. It is a storm indeed, but a storm of murk. Soon evident are the slowed-down responses, near paralysis, psychic energy throttled back close to zero. Ultimately the body is affected and feels sapped, drained."

People with depression generally blame themselves, thus they are probably not planning on "going postal". Those people that do "go postal" are people that blame others for their problems.

The self-doubts and frustrations of a creative person - at not being able to reach their capabilities (because of depression) - may have been reflected in the doubts of Mother Teresa (addressed in the previous post)."

[I wrote the immediately-linked post because I was pissed off at Christopher Hitchens' opinions regarding Mother Teresa.]

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

When Brewers are Useful Idiots





















I look forward to trying these new beers and having the cans on my shelves, but...

They just "so don't get it".

This is one of the new cans planned for Revolution Brewing Co., from Chicago (big surprise!).

It is even present in the logo of the Craft Cans website.

It is the "clenched fist" motif, a common icon of Socialism.  It is beyond sad that a small business (Revolution Brewing Co.) and an avid advocate of small businesses (Craft Cans) would celebrate a philosophy that regards small businesses and the self-employed in low regard (a polite term).

If the Socialist Left (and their cronies - Big Labor Unions and Big Businesses) had their way, for the sake of control there wouldn't be any start-up businesses, at least none would be allowed to grow beyond a certain size.  It IS about control and power.  Small businesses - started by free-minded capitalists - are not going to be a source of money and power (and warm bodies for desired tasks) for the Big Unions.

The craft beer revolution, which began a little over 30 years ago with New Albion Brewing Co., in Sonoma, CA, is the epitome of the free-market system and Chicago has a rich brewing history.  But Chicago also has a "rich" history of Socialism and political corruption.  It is a shame to see small brewers drinking from this well, a well which regards them as little more than an annoyance.

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Thursday Videos - An American History Lesson

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Thursday Videos - More Food for Thought



When I was a Classical Liberal, I hated tyranny - Right Wing or Left Wing, it didn't matter. Still hate tyranny, but have come to understand that - worldwide - most political hate and violence is Left Wing. I know Liberals will not admit this, it really bugs me that the people that used to be skeptical of government under a Republican President embraces government now. They don't have a clue that some things just don't change, just because a different party occupies the White House.

We are never going to lose our freedom to a Christian theocracy, it will Socialism.

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Thursday Videos - Food for Thought

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Posted by: on-the-rocks / 7:19 PM 0 comments
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Thursday Videos - CNN Report on Militias



Just a reminder that militias are part of our "checks and balances".

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Posted by: on-the-rocks / 7:13 PM 0 comments
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Thursday Videos - What is "the Militia"?



This is probably beyond the understanding of most Liberals.

And why might we need the Militia?

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Goals for 2012

In no particular order, just as they come to me:

1) Resume efforts to obtain work doing real estate title research, preferably for Phase I Environmental Assessments.

2) Be more proactive in asking for contributions of nature photos for Nature Photo CD Project.

3) Consult with someone on what is needed to bring this Photo CD to market, hopefully in time for the "10th Anniversary" - mid-March or so.

4) Finish left clearlite, next to the front door.

5) Do some more gold panning in Cobb County and here, too.

6) Inquire about other places to pan gold, hopefully either in the Helen, GA area or Coker Creek, TN.

7) Finish cleaning basement and reorganizing beer can collection with the goal of showing it off one more time prior to selling/recycling most of it, in order to simplify my life, as it may be necessary to sell this place and move to a smaller home.

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2011 Resolutions...A Look Back

A mixed bag as most of life is...the resolutions are as they were originally worded.  "Results" are in boldface.

1) To blog more, posting political stuff here, so my Liberal cousins' ears won't bleed on Facebook. Or maybe not.

Didn't post as much as I should have, but I did post something every month.  Lately it has been mostly videos as because of the year's tumult, I haven't been able to sit down and collect enough cogent thoughts to write as much as I would like.  I have been less political on Facebook, perhaps just trying to be more subtle in my comments to Conservative friends' posts, while trying to ignore the Libs. 

2) To have McDonald's sweet tea only twice a week, unless I have to drive long distances. At home I always have unsweetened tea, as I don't want to know how much sugar is in sweet tea.

Well, totally failed at this one.

3) To get back into doing stained glass, which I haven't done in 25 or so years.

Got one of the clearlites done and got started on the left one.  When I get more of the basement cleaned, will get back to that.

4) To lose weight...Honestly.

According to the electronic bathroom scales, I am down by 18 lbs. for the year.  Don't much feel like it, but that is what the gizmo says.

5) To host more social events at my home, beer tastings, parties, etc..

OK, failed at this one, too.  But with the completion of some indoor painting projects and a desire to show off my beer can collection, I plan to have something happen soon.

6) To photograph more wildflowers.

Did some of this, but I didn't get to any of the botanical gardens before the summer drought took hold.

7) To pray more, for myself and for those Liberal cousins that haven't changed their views in 40 years.

Done some of this, but as usual, not enough.

8) To have Mexican food or hot wings only once a week. This will be tough.

Losing my full-time job helped with this endeavor.

9) To get my life more organized. Being disorganized costs $$$$$.

Making some progress late in the year.

10) To have the confidence to dive into those needed home projects and the persistence to get them finished. I have the skills, but sometimes lack the confidence. Well, not for anything electrical, but for glasswork, light plumbing, woodwork,...

Well, got to retry this one.

11) To have zero french fries or Krispy Kreme doughnuts for January and only once per month afterward.

I did pretty well with this one for at least the first 3 months.  Less so after that.

12) Get my basement cleaned out, move the air hockey table either to the basement or to the extra bedroom.

Made some progress with son in-law's help. 

13) Find a home for one of our 3 cats. I like cats, but we don't need 3 of them.

Found a place for two of them.  Kind of want to get rid of the third one.

14) To cook at home more. As I am not teaching this next semester, I won't be using several hours a week to drive to and from the campus.

Mainly did this with chili.

15) To take some free training courses offered by the college.

Oh well, will try again.

16) To do something with the 1978 Ford F-100 truck sitting in my driveway. Sell it, fix it, whatever...

Sold it.

17) To have a yard sale, or at least put some stuff out at the street labeled "Free" for folks to haul away. And to call the Kidney Fund to come pick up the unsold yard sale stuff, so I don't have to cart it back to the garage/basement. Not selling much stuff is not the worst part of a slow yard sale. It is having to haul the junk back inside afterward.

Tried a yard sale, sold only some small marble table tops.  Gave away other stuff to thrift stores and such.

18) Blog more on my other blogs, too.

Did so on my science blog, not so much on my beer can blog.

19) Donate more to our church.

Job loss didn't help this at all.

20) Fix the leaky shower valves in our back bathroom and reconnect the pipes (the disconnection was an emergency move).

Not yet.

21) Paint the main bathroom. Get rid of the larger mirror, replace with a smaller mirror.

Got the mirror, haven't gotten the spirit to paint, yet.

22) Improve my Beer Karma on Beer Advocate, currently it is 165.6. Will explain that another time.

Did improve it a bit, currently it is 191.3.  It may have been a bit higher, but I haven't been as active on the website lately.  Haven't had the time or money to visit and review more brewpubs, etc..

23) Get the wireless router working, however necessary.

Finally got this working when we got the AT&T U-Verse.

24) Participate in at least one Tea Party event.

Didn't do this one, either.

25) Read "Atlas Shrugged". I got a head start by reading the Cliff Notes version. Yeah, it is cheating of a sort, but I will understand the characters, etc., when I dive into this daunting book.

I read the book and saw the movie.

26) Try to read two books per month, at least.

Did this the first few months.  Drifted away from this goal.

27) Check out the local pawn shop for a used chainsaw.

Loss of job precluded this.

28) Clear front yard of all fallen oak leaves by the end of January.

Took a bit longer, but got it done.  With the passage of Fall, back in the same place.

29) Repaint shutters when the weather warms.

Will try again in 2012.

30) Expand xeriscaping in front yard. Repair rock walls.

Did some of it.

31) Do some backyard landscaping. Clean up wildflower garden to prepare for spring.

Did some of it.  Damn deer raided the garden and damaged part of the wall.

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