A Clever Puppy Who Yips Loudly In Restaurants

Several months ago, before I had adequately researched the subject, I had believed Benito Mussolini to have been nothing more than Adolf Hitler’s crony…inept, bumbling, and so forth.

Now I realize how wrong I was.

It was in fact Hitler that was an inept, bumbling fool.

In fact, it was his own arrogance, pride and general lack of sense that made Germany lose WWII.  A series of spectacularly bad decisions (not speaking on moral grounds, that is obvious…speaking on military terms) gave the British (and subsequently Russia and the United States) a long enough reprieve to recover from the initial Blitzkrieg and defeat Nazi Germany.

Hitler’s own (failed) “Beer Hall Putsch” was in fact a copy of Mussolini’s (successful) “March On Rome”.

Am I saying I “Like” who Mussolini was?  No.

But I think of it this way…

If you sat down with both Hitler and Mussolini to discuss the practical implications and applications of their philosophies (Fascism and Hitler’s version, dubbed “Nazism”), you would receive from Mussolini an intelligent argument expounding on the benefits of conflict and war in terms of strengthening the mind, body, and spirit.  I wouldn’t for a second AGREE with it…but that’s what I would receive.  From Hitler I would receive recycled cliches and blatantly stupid racism/hatred from someone picked on as a child.  And then, after confusing him, he would shoot me and declare himself the winner.

Something to think about.

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

It was suggested to me by someone whose ignorant name shall remain nameless (unless (they) have the guts to back up their propaganda) that we should wear black on Saint Patrick’s Day, because of the killing done (in their view) in his name.

Well, if that’s the case…why don’t we wear black every day?

Because of the killing done somewhere, of innocent people, in someone’s name, everyday?

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

…A Shelter from Pigs on the Wing.

MENSA- I didn’t get in because I apparently answered the following question incorrectly:

Does being intelligent make you better?

-Puppy >.< Yip!

It’s like this…(I love that movie)…

Forgive the poor quality of this post, it’s stream-of-consciousness…

So I met some really nasty people on “VampireFreaks”…

Then I realized…I met a few nice people there, too.

And I realized…all these horrible things attributed (fairly) to SOME of the people that are self-described “goths”…

Can be attributed (fairly) to SOME of the people that are…anyone.

Every Majority has a disgusting minority…

And even every Minority has a disgusting minority.

Nothing to do with race, sex, age, religion, music, movies… or any of that sh1t.

That’s all just a reason to hate someone.

Fact is…the way I see it, there are truly Good people from every background.

And, there are truly Evil people from every background.

The trick is…keeping your mind open, keeping your senses alive, and “Judging” people (As we all do) on what they DO and what they BELIEVE…not on any of that other sh1t, that doesn’t mean a fcken thing anyways.

SEMPER FIDELIS

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

“What if…what if I gave it to him?”
*Short Pause* “Give it to him.”
*Longer Pause* “You…you don’t really w…”
*Cutting in, Coldly* “Give it to him.”

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

10/23/12: Some people have “courage” when they know they won’t need it. (Bullies).
Other people have courage when it actually matters.  Big difference.

According to Anton LaVey, worship of a Deity that we do not “know” exists is foolish, and we should do what we believe is right, according to our own beliefs, and love those that deserve our love, hate those that deserve our hate, etc…

What is the revelation here?

I mean…I could argue about the existence or non-existence of God, but regardless of that, where is Anton’s great wisdom?

Or, to put it more succinctly, paraphrasing Benito Mussolini’s description of Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ –

“Little more than commonplace cliches…”

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

8/6/13: Edit: Title should have “Dumb” before the word “Philosophy”.  Thank you.

Or does the surest proof of fate exist in the fact that almost everyone who becomes famous by using their intelligence, creativity, honesty, (dare I say) Humanity, and/or vitriolic rage to succeed in the “Entertainment” industry inevitably moves to either New York City or Los Angeles, whereupon they proceed to become inevitably more decadent and inevitably much, much less funny?

I mean, you can’t parody decadence, corporate greed, pretension, thuggery, and/or apathy if…you are them.

I watch MST3K and half the time I think “Wow, that was funny”…the other half I think “Wow, that was predictable in its unpredictability and I could do so much better”.

I mean, Monty Python’s Flying Circus (the ORIGINAL “Show about nothing that was really something”) was absolutely brilliant until they STOPPED CARING.

People can tell.

At least, intelligent ones can.

And I don’t want sheep to like me.

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

Many people today argue that the “glorification” of violence is resulting in more violent episodes.

Many people previously had argued that the “sanitization” of violence was resulting in more violent episodes.

The fact is, people have always been violent, and always will be.

Noone comes out of a Disney movie and starts killing people unless they’re prone to doing it in the first place.

Likewise, attempts to blame films for violent incidents are ridiculous…

Sam Peckinpah was trying to horrify his audiences with his graphic depiction of violence, not have them cheer.

Clint Eastwood was trying to shock his audiences with the gritty, harsh, “hero-less” Anti-Western ‘Unforgiven’.

And how successful were they?

About as successful as George A. Romero has been.

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

“He wants you on his side. Next to me, he wants you.”

“And you want me to condone this reign of terror? To swear allegiance to this monstrous king of yours? To kill my own soul and all within reach? Well, I won’t, Anderson. I’ll fight it ’til the last breath in my body. And I’ll fight you, too, because you’re part of it – the worst part.

Because you belong to a living race, not a dying one. This is your land, your world. Your hands are human but your mind is enemy. You’re a traitor, Anderson. The greatest traitor of all time. And you know why? Because you’re not betraying part of mankind – you’re betraying all of it.”
– It Conquered The World

AKA: Back when Roger Corman gave a sh1t about more than schlock-money.  Was it all that much better quality-wise?  No.  But at least he was trying.

SATIRE…SATIRE…SATIRE…

Who would I rather face, a zombie or a vampire?

Well, conventional logic and popular conception would suggest that a zombie would be easier to fight.

However, there is one great disadvantage to facing the zombie, that is also the great advantage in facing the zombie.

That is to say, a zombie is beyond reason.

Being a creature of pure instinct, it is incredibly stupid.  Slow, dim, able to use only the most basic objects, no tact, no tactics, no guile, physically weak, extremely flammable, etc etc etc…

However, these innate weaknesses mask a deeper innate strength, if you care to delve deeper into this nonsense…I mean conjecture.

A vampire is basically a glorified human being.  Incredible power breeds incredible ego, and so in this area the zombie wins. 

A zombie has no ego.  It has no pride, no remorse, no emotion, no sympathy, no discrimination, it isn’t “good” or “bad”, you can’t threaten it, persuade it, beg it, bribe it…it’s like trying to reason with a mosquito. 

And therein lies the problem.  Only the rarest of human beings (or, haha, vampires) are COMPLETELY beyond reasoning.  Having no “weaknesses”, no vulnerabilities, no vanity, etc. etc…

So, the next time you have to choose between a zombie and a vampire, at least give it some thought.  Remember, if you bow before a vampire and beg it, it may allow you to live.  A zombie will just eat you.

Thus ends this unbelievably silly post.  If anyone takes this seriously enough to argue about it, well…you’re probably a vampire.  OH!

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

“It’s almost like he’s DARING us to do something…”

“His favorite books include such distopian classics such as “Animal Farm,” “Brave New World,” and “Fahrenheit 451,” and he was interested in mind control and creating a new form of currency. These are just of a few of the online clues left behind…” – Sharon Weinberger

To link anti-fascist, anti-repression, pro-education works of art like ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘Fahrenheit 451’ with mind control and creating new currency and pretending these wonderful books IN ANY WAY condone, pretend to condone, endorse, support, or are “clues” as to a DISGUSTING MASSACRE OF INNOCENT PEOPLE is beyond irresponsible.  It is reprehensible trash.  Sharon, why don’t you just list his race and “he was male” as other “relevant” facts as “clues” to him being a cold-blooded murderer?  And you call yourself a journalist.

Disgusting.

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

Previously I had surmised that the problems of Humanity lay in certain set doctrines, that one may be higher than another. 

Certainly there are ideologies that are more prone to exploitation and corruption than others, but the inherent problem with any belief system is that it must be followed by Humans.

The rational and/or spiritual mind can conceive of Good and Noble things, but those that are willing to pursue such ideals, even in the basest form, are rare, and seem to be more rare now than they have ever been.

To say that we are evolving is simply to overlook facts.

Humanity is evolving at a rapid rate intellectually and physically, but emotionally and morally we are, if anything, devolving.

Necessity and hardship tend to breed character, and with life becoming increasingly easier for the vast majority of people, character becomes unnecessary.

Long lifespans give us less reason to act in a decisive fashion, more resources allow us to become decadent and wasteful.

When life does not impose moral character upon us, it is that much more imperative that we act in a moral fashion of our own accord, but this is increasingly more difficult as the moral person today is considered quaint and out of touch.

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

Wow.

Chilling.  In one movie, understatement, subtle comedy, and the performance of Willem Dafoe’s career come together to provide what decades of slasher films have failed to – Terror.

Or, as paraphrased from Robert Christgau’s review of R.E.M.’s ‘Document’ –

“…nightmares of a world in flames, the kind you
remember in all their scary inconsistency because you woke up (screaming) in the middle.
How it will all end I couldn’t say…”

-Puppy >.< Grrr…

“(He) fights, with a courage, that inspires (people)…”
“*Chuckle* …and you would like to charge in and fight with (him), huh?  So would I…”
“Well…maybe it’s time…”
“*Slight Frown* It’s TIME…to survive…”

I give up.

For so long, I’ve tried to educate, enlighten, listen, barter, broker, compromise, defy, save…be a “Crusader”.

I’ve finally realized…the people I try to help…most of them…don’t want to be helped, don’t deserve to be helped.

So fck ’em.

“(He) didn’t believe in sh1t…none of ’em did.” -D Vinyard

Just stay away from my friends.

Puppy >.< Grrr…

I mean, I really don’t care what people think of me.  Except for the people I care about…and they like me just fine.  So if someone else likes me, hates me, doesn’t give a d@mn about me…whatever, fine.  I honestly don’t care.

10/14/12: 22 months later, I find this is still completely accurate.

BUT…if someone PRETENDS to care about me…if someone LIES to me, DECEIVES me…and I find out…and I always do…then that person has betrayed my trust, that person is a rat, that person can’t be trusted…NOTHING that person says means ANYTHING to me, anymore, ever.

10/14/12: A bit arch and pretentious here (see ‘Pride’), not to mention unfair to rats (see ‘Pearl Jam, “Rats”‘)…and in the spirit of J. Jarmusch I acknowledge ripping ‘8MM’…tv/movie quotes abound (KITH, “f’n good ham sketch”).  But my attitude is not unjustified.

And that person is on their FCKEN own.

10/14/12:  It’s on my ‘A List – Movies/Long Subject’.  This is inaccurate…the meaning is, I no longer concern myself with the well-being of one who has willingly chosen to act against my well-being.  It just doesn’t make sense…I’m not a masochist.

-Puppy >.< Yip!

“Unless you know EXACTLY what the answer is going to be…never, ever ask a witness why…never…” – ACA

I’m not sure which I prefer.

This is not a call to self-harm or to wallow in self-pity.

By Pain I mean the logical emotional reaction to violently disturbing things.  Emotional, as opposed to physical.

Physical pain is a warning sign.

Mental pain is an imprint, a scar, a lesson.

I don’t remember most of the times I was elated, exhilarated.

I remember when I was tormented.

I can’t say I treasure those memories in a traditional sense.

But they usually remind me of the loss of something I loved, in myself or outside myself.

And thereby they act as living testaments to things that brought me happiness.

And if you can’t remember why you were happy, and why it hurts so much that you’re not anymore…

Were you ever truly happy?

-Puppy

“The only faith that wears well and holds its color in all weathers is that which is woven of conviction and set with the sharp mordant of experience.” – James Russell Lowell

“Faith is reason grown courageous.” – Sherwood Eddy

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

“Faith is courage; it is creative while despair is always destructive.”
– David S. Muzzey

“Faith and doubt both are needed – not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve.” – Lillian Smith

“The greatest act of faith is when man admits he is not god.” – Oliver Wendel Holmes

“Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe.” – Saint Augustine

“Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults.” – Socrates

“The faith that stands on authority is not faith.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“In order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.” – Henry Christopher Bailey

“Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of faith, for it assumes the permanence and uniformity of natural laws – a thing which can never be demonstrated.” – Tyron Edwards

“Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there is one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded faith.” – Thomas Jefferson

“We are twice armed if we fight with faith.” – Plato

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” – Gandhi

“Faith is love taking the form of aspiration.” – William Ellery Channing

“We have not lost faith, but we have transferred it from God to the medical profession.” – George Bernard Shaw

“I can believe anything provided it is incredible.” – Oscar Wilde

“The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness.” – Henry David Thoreau

“What is faith? Is it to believe that which is evident? No. It is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal,
supreme, and intelligent being. This is no matter of faith, but of reason.” – Voltaire

“Doubt is conquered by faith, just as it is faith which has brought doubt into the world” – Kierkegaard

“Abashed the Devil stood, And felt how awful goodness is, and saw Virtue in her own shape how lovely; saw And pined his loss.”

“Tis chastity, my brother, chastity; She that has that is clad in complete steel, And, like a quiver’d nymph with arrows keen, May trace huge forests, and unharbour’d heaths, Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds; Where, through the sacred rays of chastity, No savage fierce, bandit, or mountaineer, Will dare to soil her virgin purity.”

“He that has light within his own clear breast May sit i’ the centre, and enjoy bright day: But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts Benighted walks under the mid-day sun; Himself his own dungeon.”

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”

“That in such righteousness To them by faith imputed they may find
Justification towards God, and peace Of conscience.”

“Perplexed and troubled at his bad success The Tempter stood, nor had what to reply, Discovered in his fraud, thrown from his hope.”

“These false pretexts and varnished colours failing, Rare in thy guilt how foul must thou appear.”

“When thou attended gloriously from heaven, Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send Thy summoning archangels to proclaim Thy dread tribunal.”

“Hast thou betrayed my credulous innocence With vizor’d falsehood and base forgery?”

“Long is the way And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.”

Championships in what most Americans consider the four “major” sports…Football (NFL), Baseball (MLB), Basketball (NBA), and Hockey (NHL).

Football:
New York Giants/Jets: 4
New England Patriots: 3

Since New York has two teams and Boston only one, this would indicate a virtual tie.

Baseball:
New York Yankees/New York Giants/New York Mets/Brooklyn Dodgers: 35
Boston Americans/Boston Braves/Boston Red Sox: 8

Utter domination by New York.

Basketball:
Rochester Royals/New York Knicks: 3
Boston Celtics: 17

Utter domination by Boston.

Hockey:
New York Rangers/New York Islanders: 8
Boston Bruins: 5

Since New York has two teams and Boston only one, this would indicate a virtual tie.

So basically, what we have is a draw.  So all stupid, ignorant, obnoxious (as opposed to real) New York sports fans should really get their story straight…is it who’s better NOW, or in the past?  When the Yankees win, it’s who’s better now.  When they lose, it’s who WAS better.  When the Knicks lose, it’s…ummm…wait til next year.  When the Jets lose, it’s…ummm…well…wait til next year.

In fact, statistically, Boston has won more championships per team on the average than New York.

New York Total: 10 Teams, 50 Championships.  That’s 5 per team.

Boston Total: 6 Teams, 33 Championships.  That’s 5.5 per team.

Oh wait!  Anticipating the “New England isn’t just Boston!” comments…

That means Boston has 5 teams, 30 Championships.  That’s 6 per team.

10/16/16: See updated version. (housekeeping)

7/8/24: Updated through today as follows:

American Football (Super Bowls Won):
New York Giants/New York Jets: 5
New England Patriots: 6

A slight edge for New England, especially considering the disadvantage of having only one team.

Baseball (1903-present, World Series’ Won):
New York Yankees/New York Giants/New York Mets/Brooklyn Dodgers: 35
Boston Americans/Boston Braves/Boston Red Sox: 10

Still, domination by New York, but gap closed very slightly.

Basketball (NBA Titles Won):
Rochester Royals/Syracuse Nationals/New York Knicks: 4
Boston Celtics: 18

Utter domination by Boston, hopefully more to come.

Hockey (Stanley Cup Championships):
New York Rangers/New York Islanders/Buffalo Sabres: 8
Boston Bruins: 6

The Rangers were an Original Six team, like Boston, so don’t even try going there. They had plenty of chances.

7/8/24: Update Continued…

In fact, statistically, Boston has won more championships per team on the average than New York.

New York Total: 12 Teams, 52 Championships.  That’s 4.33 per team.

Boston Total: 6 Teams, 40 Championships.  That’s 6.66 per team.

Oh wait!  Anticipating the “New England isn’t just Boston!” comments…

That means Boston has 5 teams, 34 Championships.  That’s 6.8 per team.

I love that dirty water.

– Puppy >.< Yip!

9/11/12: See ‘Analysis of “Goths – Analysis of a Subculture (By Puppy)”‘.

Retained here only for comment value.

-Puppy >.< Yip!

Headline: Gay Question Trips Colorado’s Ken Buck on ‘Meet the Press’

“Colorado GOP Senate candidate Ken Buck called homosexuality a choice and defended his statement that a jury would find a woman’s acquaintance rape claim akin to “buyer’s remorse” in a debate with Democratic incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet on Sunday’s “Meet the Press.”

“…Buyer’s remorse is the feeling of regret after a purchase. It is frequently associated with the purchase of higher value items such as a car or house. It may stem from a sense of not wishing to be wrong, of guilt over extravagance or from feeling that one has been persuaded by a salesman…” – Sandra Fish

2/17/13: When I say “Funny” I mean funny in the “So laughably, amazingly, and pitifully ignorant, stupid, and offensive that you can either laugh or scream” sort of way. -Puppy >.< Yip!

Granted, Adolf Hitler was tremendously Evil…but wasn’t he just as stupid?

Witness the following (via Wikipedia):

“…In May 1940, the Phony War ended. Against the will of his advisors, Hitler ordered an attack on France through the “Low Countries”…

…The “Battle of France” ended with an overwhelming German victory. However, with the British refusing Hitler’s offer of peace, the war continued…

…Germany and Britain continued to fight at sea and in the air. However, on 24 August, two off-course German bombers accidentally bombed London – against Hitler’s orders, changing the course of the war…

…In response to the attack, the British bombed Berlin, which sent Hitler into a rage. The German leader ordered attacks on British cities, and the UK was bombed heavily during The Blitz. This change in targeting priority interfered with the Luftwaffe’s objective of achieving the air superiority over Britain necessary for an invasion and allowed British air defenses to rebuild their strength and continue the fight.”

“…after Germany declared war on the US, the German navy began unrestricted submarine warfare, using U-Boats to attack ships without warning.

German U-Boats were more successful than surface raiders like Bismarck. However, Germany failed to make submarine production a top priority early on and by the time it did, the British and their allies were developing the technology and strategies to neutralize it. Furthermore, in spite of the submarines’ early success in 1941 and 1942, material shortages in Britain failed to fall to their World War I levels.”

“…The British however were expected to be accorded a higher status than other “Germanic” Europeans (who were to simply be absorbed into the Reich), as partners in the Nazi’s New Order rather than subjects. Hitler professed an admiration for the British Empire and its people as proof of Aryan superiority in ‘Mein Kampf’…”

“…The Nazi regime advocated a patriarchal society in which German women would recognize the “world is her husband, her family, her children, and her home…”

“…The importance of the cinema as a tool of the state, both for its propaganda value and its ability to keep the populace entertained, can be seen in the filming history of Veit Harlan’s ‘Kolberg'(1945), the most expensive film of the era, for the shooting of which tens of thousands of soldiers were diverted from their military positions to appear as extras…”

“Race! It is a feeling, not a reality: ninety-five percent, at least, is a feeling. Nothing will ever make me believe that biologically pure races can be shown to exist today. … National pride has no need of the delirium of race.” – Benito Mussolini

“The leader of the Hitler Youth stated, “the destruction of Christianity was explicitly recognized as a purpose of the National Socialist movement” from the start, but “considerations of expedience made it impossible” publicly to express this extreme position.  In Mexico, the Red Shirts were vehemently atheist, renounced religion, killed priests, and on one occasion gunned down Catholics as they left Mass.”

“The Catholic Church was suppressed by Nazis in Poland.  In addition to the deaths of some 3 million Polish Jews, 2 million Polish Catholics were killed.  Between 1939 and 1945, an estimated 3,000 polish clergy (18%) were murdered; of these, 1,992 died in concentration camps.  In the annexed territory of Reichsgau Wartheland, churches were systematically closed, and most priests were either killed, imprisoned, or deported…”

“The Germans also closed seminaries and convents, persecuting monks and nuns throughout Poland.  Eighty percent of the Catholic clergy and five of the bishops of Warthegau were sent to concentration camps in 1939; in Chelmno, 48%.  Of those murdered by the Nazi regime, 108 are regarded as blessed martyrs.  Among them, Maximilian Kolbe was canonized as a saint. Not only in Poland were Christians persecuted by the Nazis.  In the Dachau concentration camp alone, 2,600 Catholic priests from 24 different countries were killed”

“In private, Mussolini expressed dislike of Hitler and the Nazis, seeing them as mere imitators of Italian Fascism. When Mussolini met with the Italian Consul in Munich prior to the Nazis’ failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, he stated that the Nazis were “buffoons”.  However, by 1928, the Italian Fascist government recognized the utility of the Nazis and began to financially subsidize the Nazi party.”

“Aside from criticism of fascist ideology, there has been debate as to its nature and even whether it is a coherent ideology. One view is that fascism is not a real ideology at all; this view claims that fascism is a form of irrational and opportunistic politics only committed to nihilistic violence that has no logical or rational definition, and that its official ideological components are only tools of propaganda and are often contradictory.”

– From Wikipedia