Neanderpundit

In the general population, I’d guess that the number of people who have any idea what this thing is is on the order of one in a few million.

Bloggers being a geekier lot than ordinary people, there’s a higher liklihood that one will know, but I will be impressed. You have to be a certain type of geek to have ever even seen one of these, let alone used one.

it comes in a nicely fitted leatherette box, and includes rosewood, teak, ivory, and nickel, in addition to hardened carbon steel, and some early Chrome plate.

You can click to embiggenate and the picture will sharpen up some.

Update: Since John had to show off and figure it out the first day, here’s a couple pictures of the item unfolded and ready to use.

And Partner and his girlfriend joined us, and brought chocolate cake with pistachio layers. Turkey, stuffing, gravy that made me want to ask for a straw, green bean casserole, all the stuff. We brined the turkey a la Alton Brown (Putting the turkey in a bucket is my most important contribution) and now I feel like Mr Creosote, despite not having been to the well more than once.

I am intensely lucky, and am intensely thankful. And I feel like I’mna pop.

that unlike the Roman Empire, our porous borders won’t allow our nation to be increasingly filled with strangers from other cultures who begin by filling the lowest positions in society and end by taking over.

It may be that unlike the Roman Empire, our government won’t become a Raubwirtschaft, increasingly plundering the resources of those who produce to feed the increasing hunger of the useless ruling class.

It may be that unlike the Roman Empire, increasing taxation of the producers won’t lead to a populace willing to accept any new rule as long as the old one will go away.

It may be that unlike the Roman Empire, we won’t stop being able to support our own superior military because of the increasing burden of entitlements.

It may be that unlike the Roman Empire, once the greatest empire on earth, the USA, the greatest nation on earth, will learn from the mistakes of the past, and fail to repeat them.

But I doubt it.

Today I am thankful that I have had the ability to experience our Great Nation during the course of it’s greatness. I will tell those stories to my child, and teach them to her, and tell her to teach her children, and perhaps someday, my great great great grandchildren will hear them, and be moved to strive for freedom once again, somewhere, somehow. I have no hope left for this nation. I have hope for the offspring of the wise.

Be thankful. And teach your children well. If you have no children be a big brother or a big sister to one. The seed may lie dormant for generations,. but once planted on fertile soil, it will grow again.