It Was a Good Run- The Sunday Collage



It's time. Learning when to say when is a process. I am getting better at it.

Lonely Walk by Diabos

A little over 6 years ago, I started this blog after repairing my life in New Orleans. I left New Orleans and I landed in the little community of Santa Ynez just NW of Santa Barbara in the golden state. It was the fall of '08. I owe a few debts- none bigger than the one I owe this gal.

'08, Ft. Worth, Cowgirl Hall of Fame
I began to write. Cultivating an audience is hard work. I promoted my little blog where I could. Some places like "naked capitalism" are shamelessly arrogant and protective. (just read their commenting rules) Anything they do is justifiable one way or the other- even taking advertising money from the enemy. (bankers) Other blogs, like ZeroHedge, encourage commenters and links. In short, they promote free speech. They were very helpful. Many of you came from ZH. Some blogs are just nasty, narrow minded echo chambers wherein the readers simply ridicule others. I wrote a hastily constructed piece once on the "Daily Paul" about being a cop and after receiving over 100 hateful comments- I simply had to delete it. You cannot make a habit of surrounding yourself with hateful, ridiculing people. They will bring out the worst in you.

Jim at Asylum Watch has been a loyal supporter. I thank you for that. I feel as though Jim and I both became libertarians together- on line. There are others, none finer than Mark W., or Peter, Greg, or Irish. Mom. Or Troy.



There's a little piece in all of us that thinks, "It's alright to have an opinion and express it." We are like fisherman. In the ocean that is the internet, we bloggers cast our lines. We never know what we'll find on the end of that line. Most of my experiences have been good. In 6 years, I've deleted less than 10 comments.

Thar Can Only be One! Troy is very photogenic.
Frankly, I think I have just run out of gas. I am tired of talking about a crooked government which caters exclusively to the aristocracy. Or listening to partisan hacks talk about parties like there is a solution in that. I am tired of watching conspiracy theory turn into conspiracy fact. Tired of debating with people who stubbornly refuse to accept obvious truths. It's like debating with atheists. No amount of evidence, short of an appearance from God, will change their closed minds. Eventually, everyone gets trenched in with their beliefs. You either trade facts, insults, or pleasantries but mostly you hope that at the very least- you plant seeds. Maybe they take hold, maybe they do not.


I am evolving away from this. I think that's the way it should be.
One of my favs
I will probably blog somewhere else. I have an idea that I am going to go with uplifting, comical, happy, and hopeful themes that inspire people. If I have learned one thing from reading 100 pieces a day- it's that there is no shortage of cynical, disheartened writers out here. I don't want to be like that. The internet is completely out of balance. Read 20 blogs and you most likely will read 20 critical pieces. It's as though anything good is ignored or doesn't exist. I'd like to bring a little balance back. There is no way I can do that writing here under this title. I am part of that problem and quite honestly, I am tired of writing about government and I feel fairly certain that people are tired of reading about it. My numbers have fallen- from 1500 hits a day down below 500. If I read or write one more article about Obamacare- I think I'm going to be ill.

Every once in awhile in my old policeman days, under just the right circumstances, I'd tell some smart ass that I arrested that it didn't take any special effort to be an asshole. The world has an over supply. Being a decent human being takes effort. It takes discipline, restraint, and commitment. It takes passionate parenting. Saying nasty things? Anybody can do that. That's not special. It's no different here.
Brian McNary's photo.
Portlandia, '12
Uplifting, creative writing has to be cultivated. It is difficult to find just the right subject matter and then write about it in a way that keeps people reading and entertained. I know there is a market for it, a vast space- and I know that I'll have to improve my writing to make the best of it. So I am committed to that vision and although I have an idea of what I want to do- I haven't created a new blog yet. I am going to mull it over for awhile and eventually come up with a new idea.

I will post a forwarding link here at FG in the coming weeks once I get situated. I am gonna take a week off and play golf in Vegas with my brother in the near term. Jan 25-31. We are looking for players.



So this is where I say "thanks." Thanks for all of your support, your passion, your beliefs. Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day. I am humbled and encouraged by folks like you. You've made the whole effort worthwhile and I wish every one of you the very best.

It was a good run!


Brian




Comments

Irish said…
Have fun golfing my friend. Please make sure to let me know when the new blog is up. Stay safe.

John
There is only one ‘solution’ to the human condition. Yeshua.
Linda said…
I've read your blog, but haven't commented often. I hope you'll enjoy your time off, and I'll bet you golf a better game than the "Won"! I hope I'll be able to find you when you return, but if you use the same site, you'll come up on my reader! Bless you, Brian!
Lana said…
Brian, you will be missed. As my sister, Linda, says "God bless you"'
Anonymous said…
All good things come to an end. Then you have great beginnings.
Thanks for the effort, it was entertaining and delivered a different
perspective. I will miss the Sunday college and your other personal
musings. Best of luck and best of health.
Falcon said…
Thanks Brian you certainly made me do my research. It was truly a great run Thank You my friend.
PeterE said…
Didn't we have this discussion about a year ago? Maybe 2? Change the name, change direction, do something different... I think you decided to write more about your cop life and share those experiences. You did that a bit, but it would seem that your firmly rooted distain for the behaviour of Government manages to get the better of you.
Might I make a suggestion? You need 2 blogs. Maybe 3. You need to keep this one going. Not for us so much as for you. You need a place to vent. If you don't vent here it may leak into your new blog. Once you vent we like to read it.
Have another blog, too. Write about happy stuff. I'll read it. I like reading what you write. You are real, straight to the point, and on occasion convey your story with a stroke of experience. That combination I like, no matter what you write about. You are the ONLY blog I follow with the exception of FOFOA - and I'm growing weary of that now, for reasons I will get into if you are interested.
So... provided you aren't dead, I'm happy, and if I can keep reading stuff you write, even better.
Unknown said…
My daughter, loving life in New Zealand currently, says " Why do anything if it's not wonderful?"

Anonymous said…
HIGH-FIVE BRIAN; IT WAS A GREAT RUN! Thanks for your efforts over the years. As odious as the actual FRANKENSTEIN GOV'T has become, just the thought of the FRANKENSTEIN GOV'T BLOG brings a smile to my face. Your style is CLASSIC and I enjoyed the way the you took on FG. The LAST BATTLEGROUND piece sticks out as one of my favorites;

Gold, Silver, and the Last Battleground
I opened a new brokerage account a few weeks ago. It's time to get ready to protect what assets you have. I'll explain why by way of metaphor.

In many respects, the citizen/consumers of this country are prey animals. Government with its many levels, the corporate oligarchy, the health care monopoly, the bankers and their fiat currency are predators willing to steal from you in ways you don't even understand.

You can't get away from them. They know that.

Here's the metaphor. Sooner or later, the prey have to go to the watering hole. Waiting nearby are the predators. The predators goal is to strip you of all of the money that they can. Government taxes. Businesses gouge for minimal services and goods. If you are in need of medical services- the health care monopoly will steal you blind, in many cases margins well in excess of 1000%, especially if you are well insured. Health care charges with respect to the level of care provided have no basis in reality any more. I paid 200 dollars last month to talk to my doctor for ten minutes on a routine office visit. I'd love to make 1200 dollars an hour to bullshit. There are no limits to excessive charges, no laws, no regulations where money is concerned. And then there are the bankers. The bankers will steal your wealth by counterfeiting, inflating, and offering nothing for your deposits. Those are a few of the big predators lurking at the water hole.

We have to have water. They know that.

I understand the predatory nature of business in this country. Gone are the days of customer service and fair profit margins. They have been replaced by predatory practices, price fixing, monopolies, and a government that lies and misleads- that sees nothing wrong with seizing all of your money. The elite managed to escape the confiscation of their wealth and now our country is broke.

***********

You could have signed off with one last classic FG-BLOG post like: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-01-22/billionaire-lectures-serfs-davos-americas-lifestyle-expectations-are-far-too-high

Or, any of the latest FG-headlines, but the focus should be on you.

I am going to miss the BLOG, and hope one day to ring you up and go pheasant hunting or something.

It's a BLACK-ARM band day as I loved this BLOG.

Thanks again for the friendship, great reads, and thanks to Dave-in-Denver, who brought us together.

All the best,
Mark W
Anonymous said…
Awe bummer really liked your entertaining thoughts. I am certain you will refresh and our paths will cross again. Best to you and thanks!
Anonymous said…
May the FORCE be with you Brian. GODSPEED to you and all at FRANKENSTEIN GOV'T.

POWER-TO-THE-PEOPLE!

A86
Lord Windemere said…
Thanks for all the posts over the last n years (almost since this blogs inception). Look forward to reading more of your stuff I think it's really pretty great. You have a unique point of view that I understand and respect.

-a longtime lurker
Anonymous said…
Oh My...... feels like a plug got pulled.........but, I have so appreciated and enjoyed your frankness, candor and honesty, of which, I thank you. Nice to view pics and tap your experiences to a face.

Laughter, Love, Light...
NE Friend
May all your drives be long and straight and all your putts be short and true.

The parallels between our journies have been uncanny, Brian. It's been one hell of an education!

Godspeed, mate, and thanks for all your support over the years.

Jim

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