The Scolai

…And the Morons Who Made Them

“Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff.”

Mariah Carey 

“It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.”

Al Gore, Vice President 

“The road to tyranny, we must remember, begins with the destruction of the truth.” Bill Clinton (Stupid only because it’s Clinton ) 

“If Governor Fields is right, I am going to stand by him because he is right. If he is wrong, I am going to stand by him because he is a Democrat.”

Senator Augustus Owsley Stanley (D) Kentucky

“You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq .”

Senator John Kerry (D) Massachusetts  

“I don’t care what people are saying uptown or wherever they are. This city will be chocolate at the end of the day.” 

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin 

“We have a lot of kids who don’t know what work means. They think work is a four-letter word.”

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) New York

 “You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent…. I’m not joking.”

Sen. Joe Biden (D) Delaware (Biden’s hypocrisy knows no bounds) 

“If one person criticizes [the local authorities' relief efforts] or says one more thing, including the president of the
United States , he will hear from me. One more word about it after this show airs, and I…I might likely have to punch him, literally.”

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) Louisiana

“The day Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I’ll kill myself. All we need is one more liar.”

Helen Thomas, Veteran White House Reporter

Scolai

If I had a Son, this would be the ONLY reason to let her get that close to him!

Scolai

2 miles, nine sets, 23:14

This was forwarded to me this morning. Its Author is unknown to me. Its power cannot be denied.

Scolai

A mother asked President Bush,

“Why did my son have to die in Iraq ?”

Another mother asked President Kennedy,

“Why did my son have to die in Viet Nam?”

Another mother asked President Truman,

“Why did my son have to die in Korea ?

Another mother asked President F.D . Roosevelt,

“Why did my son have to die at Iwo Jima?”

Another mother asked President W. Wilson,

“Why did my son have to die on the battlefield of France?”

Yet another mother asked President Lincoln,

“Why did my son have to die at Gettysburg?”

And yet another mother asked President G. Washington,

“Why did my son have to die near Valley Forge?”

Then long, long ago, a mother asked…

“Heavenly Father, why did my Son have to die

on a cross outside of Jerusalem?”

The answers to all these are similar –

“So that others may have life and dwell in peace,

happiness and freedom.”

IF YOU DON’T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS,
PLEASE, FEEL FREE…

TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM !

Sausage Bread That’s Fit to Eat

With the Super Bowl just around the corner, I felt it was the right time to throw this great snack recipe your way. So crack open a couple of PBR’s and let’s dive right in:

Ingredients:

2 Large Italian Country Loaves

2 Pounds Hot Italian Sausage

1 Large Vidalia Onion Chopped

2 Large Eggs

1 Tablespoon Jack Daniels Horseradish Mustard

1 Teaspoon Garlic Salt   

1 Teaspoon Garlic Pepper

½ Stick of Salted Butter

2 Tablespoons Crushed Garlic

2 Cups Mozzarella Cheese

1 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Begin by pre-heating your oven to 400*. Cut the loaves in half length wise. Make a trench in each half using a bread knife or your fingers (if you use your fingers, don’t pass that bit of information on to any germophobes in your midst). Set aside. 

Brown the Sausage and Onion in a large skillet. While the meat and onions are browning, slice the bread you removed into small pieces. In a mixing bowl, combine Sausage and Onions, Bread, Cheeses, Eggs, Mustard, Salt and Pepper. Mix thoroughly. Spoon mixture into trenches and sandwich the halves together with large toothpicks. In a small skillet, melt butter and stir in crushed garlic. Cook until garlic starts to brown. Brush over the top of both loaves. Wrap loaves in aluminum foil; leave a small opening to vent. Bake the loaves at 400* for 20 minutes, or until heated through.

This recipe will feed 8-12 people, or 4 Firefighters (it once fed 2 Firefighters. That was a long night!) Serve with ice cold PBR.

Yes Shelly, PBR IS GOOD BEER!

Scolai

Appeasers on Parade, March of the Defeatists, The Cut and Run Crowd BBQ, whatever you want to call it, the anti war nut jobs were on display in the National Mall yesterday. They wheeled out 60’s traitor Jane Fonda, whose actions in Vietnam led directly to American POW’s being tortured (real torture, not Abu Ghraib style) and featured obligatory, self fellatiating performances from Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins.

Imagine Kucinich with a two finger moustache. Coincidence?

I was particularly ashamed to be from Michigan when I read the words of our own Communist in Cheap Clothing, Congressman Conyers (Thanks so much to the ill educated, uninformed, blind sheep from the City of Detroit who continually re-elect this walking embarrassment. The state of the city speaks volumes about Conyers’ effectiveness). His dismal knowledge of the United States Constitution would be laughable, if he wasn’t Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

These sniveling clowns also had the audacity to shove a 12 year old girl before the microphones so that she could give her own moving take on global politics. Her remarks could be forgiven their obvious lack of understanding if you didn’t know that she was reading lines fed to her by parents whose I.Q.’s seem to be on par with a Kiwi.

And let’s not forget the traitors in uniform crowd. Air Force Intelligence Specialist, Staff Sergeant Tassi McKee stated she joined the military for patriotism, travel and college, “After we went to Iraq, I began to see through the lies.” Tassi also likes long walks on the beach, cuddling, and hairy men in suicide vests.

First of all she didn’t join for patriotism. That much is clear. The first opportunity she had to show her “patriotism” finds her at the latest “I Hate America Rally.” If she joined for College; strike two. Anyone not smart enough to realize that the enemy must either be defeated in Iraq or faced on American soil; couldn’t pass a college entrance exam in the first place.

 Let me say this again, no one wants war. But we are up to our eyeballs in it and now is not the time for spineless, petty, whimpering on the part of Americans. Now is the time to show the world an America that is the meanest mother f***ker in the valley, an America that wears boxers and walks bow legged because it needs the room. NOW is the time to show the world that while we are the most generous and forgiving nation in history during times of peace, we will be the most ruthless and unforgiving in history during times of war.

Scolai

 Senator Chuck Hagel was interviewed yesterday by Meredith Vieira on the Today show. The topic was Hagel’s support for the Non-binding resolution opposing U.S. troop increases inIraq . Senator Hagel answered one question by stating: “Our troops are in a war they cannot win.”

I don’t know about you, but that small comment set my blood to boilin’! I take offense to the Senator’s comment as a Veteran and as an American. Who is he to attempt to demoralize troops now in the field laying their lives on the line in defense of liberty? And Hagel wants to be President? What would he bring to the table that is different from any other spineless jackass on Capital Hill?Show me one war, just one, from which the United States Armed Forces have not emerged victoriously when the politicians have kept their hands off the military.

In the last 115 years, every war that has been won has been won militarily. Every war that could be considered a draw, or a loss, has had its result due to politics.

A cursory review of major conflicts show’s this to be true:

The Spanish American War—Military Solution—Win

World War One—Military Solution—Win

World War Two—Military Solution—Win

The Korean War—Political Solution—Ongoing Conflict

The Vietnam War—Political Solution—Political Loss

(I call that a political loss because that’s exactly what it was. A bunch of politicians ignoring what was right to appease some peaceniks at the expense of soldiers in the field. I served with Vietnam Vet’s and can categorically state that they deserved a lot better than they received from the politicians or the rat bastard, so called, peace crowd. I wish Sonny Barger and The Hell’s Angels would have gotten hold of Jerry Rubin inBerkeley in 1965, footage of that beating would be worth paying for!)
Grenada —Military Solution—Win (Finally scored one against Castro)

Panama —Military Solution—Win

Gulf War WON—Military Solution—Win

Somalia —Political Solution—Anyone seen Black Hawk Down? Yeah, the Clintons REALLY support our troops.

The current Iraqi War? When the military was in charge, victory was a forgone conclusion. Now, with the politicians in charge, who knows how it will end.

When I worked as a Corrections Officer, we used go into jail cells and separate prisoners who were fighting. I received a bit of wisdom from an old timer that, although on a smaller scale, fits very well with the fighting in Iraq .Standing outside of a holding tank containing roughly 50 riled up inmates, I asked what I should do once we entered the cell; he looked at me and said: “Kid, we’re going to go in there and kick ass until there’s no asses left to kick.”

Senator Hagel, please don’t ever get up on national television and make an ass of yourself again; certainly not if you are aiming for higher office.

The war that America can’t win has yet to be invented… That is if the politicians will stay out of it.

Scolai

I am Unofficially helping to spread the word on the Street Dogs. Besides being a founding member of Dropkick Murphys, lead singer Mike McColgan, is a Brother Firefighter and a fellow Veteran. Currently taking a leave of absence from the Boston Fire Department, Mike also served on an artillery crew during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. While we disagree on the prosecution of the current war in Iraq, there can be no denying that Mike’s support of our troops is genuine and sincere (Unlike the lip service paid to members of our armed service’s by so many Liberal politicians).

The interview is kind of long, so if you’re not into this type of music please take a minute to check out the Street Dogs website.

Scolai

“Why are you here? You’re definitely A.D.D. Describe your childhood. How would you describe your work life? Tell me about your wife. Tell me about your children. Why do you ride motorcycles? Why did you become a Firefighter? Are you happy? Where did you grow up? How much alcohol do you consume in a week? Have you ever taken illegal drugs? What’s your diet like? If you were a color, what would it be? Are you making a statement by not wearing a helmet? How do you feel? How do you feel about your Mother?”

My first instinct for answering any of the above questions in a clinical setting is:   

“NONE OF YOUR F@#%ING BUSINESS.” 

That attitude certainly hasn’t made my life any easier, especially not the times I’ve had to take psych exams as part of a hiring process. My life’s an open book to my friends and family, it’s closed pretty tight when it comes to people I don’t know.   

At the behest of others, I have investigated and endured Therapy, both individual and couples. The various counselors were very nice and well meaning; however, I don’t think my personality lends itself to therapy (I guess I’m just too twisted to be analyzed).  Like anything else I do, I threw myself into it and quickly exhausted my patience and that of every professional that agreed to see me. I’m not good at keeping appointments during riding season and I have a tendency to blow up if I’m asked the wrong question. Is there a lot of anger just below the surface? You bet. At my core, I’m a violent person. Some of the times I’ve felt most alive have been in the middle of good fist fights. Try explaining that bit of philosophy to a therapist, they would (and have) recommend Thorazine.  (I’m not ashamed to say I’m running about 60/40 in the fighting department, mainly because I’m too stubborn to walk away from bad situations. Anyone who tells you they’ve never lost a fight probably stopped fighting after they beat up their sister in the third grade. Anyone who has had more than a few has had their ass handed to them at least once.)   

Sitting down and talking to a stranger about what pissed me off as a child or what makes me angry as an adult holds no allure for me. I’ve done it, but it’s always felt like I’m passing a barbed wire tapeworm. I care nothing for the opinions of people who don’t know me, and there are only a handful of people I know whose opinion I value. One thing that therapy did re-enforce with me is the belief that certain ethnic characteristics are passed down genetically. I believe I have received a full measure of my Irish heritage whenever I read Dr. Freud’s comment that the Irish are “one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever.” I feel that telling your stories, or your troubles, to a friend over a pint is more therapeutic and about $200 an hour cheaper than seeing a psychiatrist.

Scolai 

All my life I have been a voracious reader. Along with a daily diet of several newspapers, magazines, online columns and blogs; I manage to read 50-60 books a year. I read mostly Biographies and History, with a few True Crime books and Novels thrown in for good measure. I would love to do more, but family and work commitments keep me from indulging myself any further. 

In no particular order, here are the 10 books I most enjoyed in 2006: 

1.)    Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence, of AMERICA’S MOST POWERFUL MAFIA FAMILIES

(Selwyn Raab) 

2.)    Blood and Thunder (Hampton Sides)

3.)    Johnny Cash The Biography (Michael Streissguth)

4.)    Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster (T.J. English)

5.) The Iliad (Homer)

6.)   Freedom: Credos From The Road (Sonny Barger)

7.)   An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy 1917-1963 (Robert Dallek)

8.)  The Claddagh Ring: Ireland’s Cherished Symbol of Friendship, Loyalty, and Love (Malachy McCourt)

9.)   A Confederacy of Dunces (John Kennedy Toole)

10.)  The Tao of Willie (Willie Nelson with Turk Pipkin)

Scolai