tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989726082564077272024-03-04T19:59:41.691-08:00Old School Rules!The Rants, Ravings and Thoughts of an Unashamed Premodernist Male.woodsrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09109845761879199895noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-498972608256407727.post-91049348770866531662012-02-03T21:35:00.000-08:002012-02-03T21:35:15.944-08:00I wish there were more of these guys aroundI just hope these old school craftsmen are passing on thier trades to a new generation.<br />
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<a href="http://artofmanliness.com/trunk/2159/alexander-conley-iii-hat-maker-extraordinaire-video/">http://artofmanliness.com/trunk/2159/alexander-conley-iii-hat-maker-extraordinaire-video/</a><br />
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Woodswoodsrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09109845761879199895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-498972608256407727.post-67482677054839109132011-12-18T20:10:00.000-08:002011-12-18T20:10:37.290-08:00I'm glad I'm not the only one that has noticedOnce again Blogger isn't letting me comment on somebodies blog. I can't help posting a link. I agree!<br />
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<a href="http://thedailystrumpet.blogspot.com/2011/12/pussification-of-america-is-complete.html">http://thedailystrumpet.blogspot.com/2011/12/pussification-of-america-is-complete.html</a>woodsrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09109845761879199895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-498972608256407727.post-8893638871469600842011-08-29T17:00:00.001-07:002011-08-29T17:00:59.824-07:00Feelings that just can't be describedI took the family on vacation to the state fair saturday. Not far from the front gate was a tent I had mixed feelings about going into. Still something beckoned me. Something deep inside me said, suck it up and go in cold. As cold as you've ever been. Colder and tougher than I ever had to be. I went in, the wife said she'd wait. <br />
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I went in and all was well. For a few minutes at least. I was being pretty tough. I got almost to the end. Then I came to the van. And I read the story about it's driver and how he died. Then I broke and all hell broke loose. As I walked out crying I passed a NYS Trooper on guard duty. He looked at me and looked away. I knew I'd never be tough enough to do the job he was doing. <br />
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I walked back around the front to pick up my wife. She had put on her game face and gone in too. I went in to retrieve her. She hadn't made it half way before she broke. I scooper her in my arms and dragged her out the exit. Again the trooper lowered his eyes and looked away. <br />
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I thought I had healed. I thought it was just a scar I had. A scar we all share. It wasn't a scar. It was a scab on a wound that will never heal. A scab that got ripped away saturday to remind me. A reminder all too many of us need. <br />
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http://utica-mohawkvalley.ynn.com/content/top_stories/554975/9-11-memorial-exhibit-on-display-at-nysf/?ap=1&MP4<br />
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woodsrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09109845761879199895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-498972608256407727.post-76618812646711323432011-06-12T20:28:00.000-07:002011-06-15T06:40:19.730-07:00What is a hero?Origionally posted on my Woodsrunners Trail blog April 2010<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHrli5vudG6qqrrFmI_X2KmBoVa2y0wYZQmYgkuo43Go-GJEGzMymJljiYi6cj3_tpSGTSbiivprLH_zzeXlDgSoxzKG7rk1QeV5fWIpDjPFSJoRlFQmIKw9Xp4Ie05GM_MDSPSzt0QE/s1600/200px-Eugene_Jacques_Bullard%252C_first_African_American_combat_pilot_in_uniform%252C_First_World_War.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHrli5vudG6qqrrFmI_X2KmBoVa2y0wYZQmYgkuo43Go-GJEGzMymJljiYi6cj3_tpSGTSbiivprLH_zzeXlDgSoxzKG7rk1QeV5fWIpDjPFSJoRlFQmIKw9Xp4Ie05GM_MDSPSzt0QE/s1600/200px-Eugene_Jacques_Bullard%252C_first_African_American_combat_pilot_in_uniform%252C_First_World_War.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><br />
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I've pondered starting a second blog for some time now. I honestly feel as a country, no, make that a civilization, we have lost our moral compass. Part of the problem is how we define heroism. Those members of our society that deserve recognition as extrordinary. Somehow over the years we have come to look to wealth or fame as requirements to be a hero or heroine. Sorry to say in spite of a youth spent being forced to wacth "Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous", Robin Leach has never shown me anyone worthy of being called hero. Also, while thier are many fine personalities in hollywood, and many strong figures in the sports world, many as shown by Tiger Woods and Jesse James aren't really worth the effort expended upon them by our society. So, I have decided to point out fine examples of heros from the past. Men and women in my mind worthy of the term.<br />
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So let me start with a fine example of what makes a hero in my mind.<br />
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Eugene Bullard<br />
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I came accross Eugene Bullard several years ago. I had just watched the WWI epic "Flyboys". The movie had a character that was an african american pilot flying for the french. The world not being the friendliest place for people of color in the early 1900's, I had to know if this was a real person or just Hollywood taking liberties with history. A quick google search showed the truth. What I found was a man. I mean a manly man, One worth showing our son's as an example of what is great. A man who took cicumstances and made them suit him. Not letting circumstance control his destiny. Facing death with and danger with courage. Doing the right thing in spite of great odds. Later living life as an average person and dying in obscurity, largely forgotten to history for most of us.<br />
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I have to say, if I was fighting in the trenches or just standing on a street corner, Eugene Bullard was the type of man I'd prefer to have standing next to me.<br />
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I've just asked my librarian to get me his biography, "The Black Swallow of Death". I will come add more when I'm done reading. Until then you can read more on wikipedia<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Bullard">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Bullard</a><br />
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Woodswoodsrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09109845761879199895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-498972608256407727.post-5531229733541612222011-06-12T20:13:00.000-07:002011-06-12T20:13:55.536-07:00A new look and nameMaking a few changes. New look, a new name, and hopefully more time to get this blog going. The new name is inspired by a coworkers response to an argument I was having with a different coworker.woodsrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09109845761879199895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-498972608256407727.post-41517549481518146282011-02-12T18:35:00.000-08:002011-02-12T18:35:02.986-08:00A story of manliness from Egypt<a href="http://artofmanliness.com/2011/02/11/lessons-in-manliness-from-the-egyptian-revolution/">http://artofmanliness.com/2011/02/11/lessons-in-manliness-from-the-egyptian-revolution/</a><br />
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A truly inspirational post. It just goes to show there is more to the revolution in Egypt, than our fear mongering media is telling us.<br />
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Woodswoodsrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09109845761879199895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-498972608256407727.post-3541977745441927552010-09-17T15:25:00.000-07:002010-09-17T15:25:12.159-07:00A must read websiteI found a new website a few days ago. I consider it a must read for any like minded souls. <br />
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<a href="http://artofmanliness.com/">http://artofmanliness.com/</a><br />
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What can I say?<br />
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I wet shave with a vintage safety razor and have for years.<br />
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I've been known to carry calling cards.<br />
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I know how to shoot a handgun.<br />
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I've worn fedoras for over twenty years.<br />
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A truly amazing website. Though I reserve the right to disagree on some things. For one thing A fedora certainly does go well with jeans and a T shirt. When the T shirt is black and has a black leather coat over it that is. It also goes well with the old fashioned plaid wool shirt or hunting coat. Though that duty is done equally well with a less expensive felt crusher. <br />
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Check out The Art Of Manliness I'm sure you will enjoy it.<br />
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Woodswoodsrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09109845761879199895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-498972608256407727.post-16892348985215037482010-08-18T13:46:00.000-07:002015-04-21T20:49:38.517-07:00It's time to prepare the big speachWhen I married my wife four years ago there were also children as part of the package.<br />
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That includes two stepdaughters that just turned 14 and 16.<br />
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While they are in North Carolina visiting thier real father for the summer, it hasn't prevented me from seeing thier friends around the nieghborhood. And noticing something alarming in the process. BOYFRIENDS!<br />
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So I suppose it's time for me to prepare what is commonly known amognst men as "THE SPEACH"<br />
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I thought I would rough draft it here for all to see. I suppose it will go like this...<br />
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Hi, What did you say your name was? How do you spell that?<br />
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Let me make something clear. I didn't ask because I want to be your friend. When you're a little older and have a daughter of your own, you will understand why we will never be friends. Not ever. You may in many years earn my respect, but, I doubt it. I asked so I would know who to tell my cop friends to keep an eye on.<br />
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I'm Woodsrunner, _______'s dad. Don't correct me, he's her father, he's not here and I am the male head of household here. When I married her mom, I became her dad. And by the way, I take the job pretty serious.<br />
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Because I'm her dad let's get a few things out of the way.<br />
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First, because she's my daughter, she will never be anybodies doormat. Nor will she ever be described by any derogetory word that your generation seems fit to use as song lyrics. Remember that. Also remember I have kicked the asses of better men than you. You think I'm old. Old age, experience, and treachery will always trump youth, remember that<br />
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Second, she has a curfew. I will decide what time she has to be home. I reserve the right to set this time as any time appropriate to the event that you are attending, and by my personal schedule. By curfew I mean she will be home, in the house and you will be gone. You can gain points towards that respect by her being here well before curfew. You will also gain alot of points by asking me what time I would like her home, every time you pick her up. You will lose points very fast starting 30 seconds after curfew. 15 minutes after curfew, I will be calling my cop friends and giving them your name with correct spelling.<br />
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Third, For your first ten to fifteen dates, my daughter will not be alone with you in a car after dark. Why, because I said so, deal with it!<br />
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Fourth, You can address me as Mr Woodsrunner or sir, Her mother will always be Maam. I already know you are calling me asshole or worse behind my back. Trust me I'm glad you feel that way.<br />
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Fifth, I know you think I'm pretty old. But, I know I'm not old enough to be a grandfather. In nine months I still won't be old enough to be a grandfather. I will be very very upset, If I'm forced into a job I'm not old enough for. BTW, Have you heard about my large antique gun collection? Did you know, they all are perfectly functional? I know for some strange reason, Websters has left the definition of shotgun wedding out of thier dictionary. Don't worry old school guys like me are very good at explaining the definition. BTW did I mention I have several cop friends? I also have a friend that is a former cop. He went to law school, now people address him as "Your Honor". I'm sure that after a long day of sentencing scumbags, he would love to proceed over a shotgun wedding.<br />
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Those are the rules, they are subject to change at my whim. WHY? Because I'm her dad and I'm still breathing, that's why.<br />
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There is one last set of details I wan't you to ponder. My daughters ancestry is Puerto Rican and Irish. The Puerto Ricans were mostly spaniards. Have you ever seen a spaniard or an irishman lose thier temper? Trust me it isn't pretty. Now remember another two facts. There is much truth to the old saying about hell having no fury like a woman scorned. Next fact to remember. Remember that gun collection I mentioned? My daughter is a better shot than I am.<br />
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WOODSwoodsrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09109845761879199895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-498972608256407727.post-12033138257908556412010-07-04T06:28:00.000-07:002010-07-04T16:50:56.969-07:00Welcome To my new blogI'm sure some of you will find your way here from my other blog Woodsrunner's Trail. Hopefully I will find more time to post either here or there. The trail will continue to exist with the content it was meant to have. Mainly a place to talk about life in the woods and around the modern homestead and related matters.<br /><br />This will become the home for posts like the post about the problems with modern males. And don't just think I'm going to rant on men because I am one. I'm going to let fly on issues of both genders. I'm sure I will be making more than my share of enemies. That's ok I'm used to it. I'm hoping I will find a few friends along the way too. This will also become the home of my hero's posts. For those of you that have never read my stuff before, I often lament the lack of proper role models and will on occassion show example of the type of man I think our society needs, if it's to survive. Posts about men that knew the meaning of words like Integrety, Valor, Honor and Chivalry. Men who weren't scared of thier own shaddow or made so soft by television and modern life that they can't perform basic skills. So guys if your looking for a place where testicular fortitude isn't something to be ashamed of, you've found a home. Ladies you are more than welcome here too. Take heed though, if your looking for the type of guy that shaves his body hair and thinks giving women pedicures is the greatest thing there is, you aren't going to find him here. What you will find is the guy that cheers when the Duke flips Maureen O'hara over his knee and spanks her. Honestly, I am the guy that wanted his wife's marriage vows to include the word Obey. I can be fairly open minded. Open minded enough to let you live your life your way. All I ask is you extend me and my friends the same courtesy. And I'm a big boy who still has his balls intact, so, go ahead and call me names, I'm not going to go cry in the corner over it.<br /><br />Let's have some fun<br />Woodswoodsrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09109845761879199895noreply@blogger.com1