Observations From Hadleyville

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

WAR STRATEGY BY FOCUS GROUP

So the president is going to wait until AFTER the Afghan elections to make his momentous "decision" about sending troops to FINISH the fight that just a year ago every freakin Democrat in DC was clammering for.

This is the bold leadership I've come to expect from this administration. ZIP.

I suppose after the Afghan elections are stolen by the increasingly emboldened Taliban, the president will have his excuse to deny further troops. US and NATO troops have spent eight years shedding blood in that god-forsaken country to liberate it. Indecision will toss their sacrifices into the international garbage can.

Not happy Mr President.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

EUPHAMISMS ROCK

Just got back from my "doctor mandated" diabetic training class. I discovered that I'm NOT fat. No, my body efficiently stores fat. That kind of "efficiency" is a good thing for Cro-Magnon man, but bad for lazy old 21st century men.

FREEDOM OF THE (PC) PRESS

Monday, October 19, 2009

MY NOVEL IS AVAILABLE

"Torpedo in the Water!"

The Colombian government has confiscated a half-built Russian submarine from the drug cartel, expanding the Colombian submarine force by a third. There's just one problem, the cartel built a second submarine, and the Russians want it back.

U.S. Navy Public Affairs Officer, Bud Wilson is aboard the nuclear submarine Hawkbill with civilian video journalist Marsha Colton, to film a series of live-fire torpedo exercises.

When the cartel's pirate submarine begins sinking shipping in the Atlantic, Hawkbill and her on-board SEAL squad is the nearest U.S. asset to call. Bud and Marsha are swept along on a quest to find and destroy the Kilo before it can attack again.

Colombian Kilo is now available. To purchase a copy email me at donrpatterson@verizon.net. $19.00 per copy.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

MY STATUS HAS BEEN UPGRADED

I was at the Sheriff Station tonight for a class. Afterward, I spent some time talking to one of the deputies. He told me of a problem he was having with a certain trouble-making member of the class. He said, "Normally, I would just boot the guy out, but I asked myself: What Would Don Do? and decided to give him a second chance."

Instead of taking credit for this one, I'm gonna kick it upstairs. Way to go, God.

Monday, September 28, 2009

SOME PEOPLE'S CHILDREN

Thursday, September 24, 2009

ON HOLD

THAT ABOUT SUMS IT UP

Monday, September 21, 2009

BUMPER STICKERS

THE GOLD FLUSH

QUASI-LEGAL DISCLAIMER

Don the Baptist considers himself to be both intellectually deep and extremely humorous. Don the Baptist assumes no responsibility for blog browsers who cannot tell the difference between the two. Blog browsers are advised to consider any "Observations from Hadleyville" content that makes no sense to be the result of a lack of intellect or sense of humor on the part of the blog browser and not that of the blogger. Don the Baptist is a non profit guy so don't bother suing Don the Baptist as it would be a waste of time and resources.

WORDS OF WISDOM FOR WRITERS

The secret of becoming a writer is that you have to write. You have to write a lot. You also have to finish what you write, even though no one wants it yet. If you don't learn to finish your work, no one will ever want to see it. The biggest mistake new writers make is carrying around copies of unfinished work to inflict on their friends.

I am sure it has been done with less, but you should be prepared to write and throw away a million words of finished material. By finished, I mean completed, done, ready to submit, and written as well as you know how at the time you wrote it.
-Jerry Pournelle

WHAT'S THIS HADLEYVILLE THING?

Those of you familiar with Mark Twain’s works might recognize my blog title. As Samuel Clemons grew older, he became increasingly disillusioned with humanity. Towards the end he began referring to the Damned Human Race; employing the secular and religious epithet at one stroke.

I find I’ve not reached that level of despair myself. I still believe in redemption and I still see signs of nobility even among we fallen, damned creatures. So, I could not bring myself to call this blog “On the Damned Human Race.” I do however, resonate with another of Clemmons stories; “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg.” And viola, there you have it. “Observations From Hadleyville.”