As Americans, we make the mistake of assuming that, when there is a popular uprising in a Muslim country, it will lead to some sort of democracy.  These days, that's not going to happen.  Organized groups within the countries in question already have the ability to make their message heard and have the appeal that Radical Fundamentalist Islam somehow seems to engender.  The Islamists don't have to "hit the ground running," because they're already on the ground showing themselves to be the rallying point for the revolution.  

One of these days, unless some new war pops up, a war with game-changing ramifications, the people of the United States and Great Britain are going to wake up to a Middle East that, with few exceptions, is Radical Muslim and out for our blood.  In talking about the future of our relationship with Jihadists, I've very sadly pointed out that my grandchildren's grandchildren will be fighting this same war -- unless, God forbid -- we are too ignorant to realize the nature of the situation and we are dead or reduced to fighting guerilla actions against those who would enslave or kill us.  Am I saying all Moslims are our enemies?  Of course not!  It would be nice, however, if the good Moslims would more aggressively stand against the blood-thirsty killers who hide behind Islam as an excuse for war, brutality, enslavement of women and the barbarism of stonings, hangings and lopping off limbs.  But, whether or not that occurs, I see the escalation of the conflict as all but inevitable.  I wish that weren't the case.  Have a nice day!  JERRY    

Our government needs to stop finding ways of creating new taxes and playing class warfare games in the process.  People who have earned really big bucks shouldn't be punished for their efforts and their success.  The government needs to lower taxes, not raise taxes.  The government needs to stop spending money it doesn't have.  The Norman conquerors knew that to control the capital confered the real power.  The Democrats know that, too, which is why they want to take money from those who have earned it and generously gift it to those who have not.  Now, there are probably some good Democrats and there are lots of worthwhile Independents and there are Libertarians who don't have to follow their tenets into territory where to do so is positively silly.  We are all Saxons!  When Election Day comes, remember and spread the word:  "Robin in Sherwood at the Gallows Oak!"  Which means, get out the vote and expel the Norman interlopers from office!  We are all Saxons!      

If you read about "Reclaiming The Sword," you may recall I mentioned two favorite edged weapons that I keep at hand in case a firearm won't quite do the trick should we have a nocturnal visitation. This Musashi Katana from CAS-Hanwei is a superior sword that I really trust. I like the double peg arrangement, called Mekugi, which gives the sword added reliability, even though a single Mekugi is usually all that is needed.