Our preacher gave a sermon today that was simply stunning. I wish I could convey it in its entirety, but I had to walk out about midway to avoid a stroke. He began by relating a recent group meeting he attended wherein the folks were broken into groups at different tables and left to share a meal of what was on them. He noticed that different tables had greater or lesser quantities of food on them and he perceived that as being very “unfair”. While the occupants at his and other tables had no problem sharing the food on their own tables, his mind only arrived at the “proper” solution on the drive home. “We should have moved all of the tables together into one big table and shared everything!”

Of course the "tables" are clearly a metaphor for the nations of the world, and pushing them all together is unmistakably the One World solution. But his premise rests on the faultiest possible base. If the tables are nations, then isn’t the food on them the result of the productivity of those seated at them? Isn’t this disparity the result of differing approaches to governance, freedom, and ingenuity? The fact that one table had more on it than another merely indicates that different results were achieved by different means. The proper response would be to look at those with less on them, and to try to determine why the results reflected there were so small in comparison. Perhaps less freedom, more government, and other social dysfunctions in the less productive are at the root of the problem? You see, different systems produce different results. This is something that the multi-cultural moral relativists deliberately ignore. To them, unequal results emanate from “unfairness”.

The good reverend’s answer (i.e. Socialism) is to simply usurp the fruits of the more productive in order to assuage the poor results of those less so. This is always the preferred solution of the Left. Don’t improve the behavior of those achieving poor results; instead, penalize those that are more productive.  What is Christian about enabling your neighbors to continue to live in squalor and rewarding their social dysfunction? Does anybody benefit by preserving the illusion that their system is just as good as another when it clearly isn’t?

I wonder how “fairly” the contents of his table would be shared if he was seated across from someone that loathed everything about him and had as their deepest desire his immediate extermination? It might be an eye opening exercise for him. Doesn’t he realize that there are people that would starve him to death before sharing a crust of bread with him at some of the "tables" in the real world? His lifestyle and education seem to have blinded him to the possibility that there are people in our world that wish him dead simply because of his religious beliefs. They don’t share his ideology or his tolerance, nor do they share his willful blindness to reality.  The belief that everyone at every table shares the same values is absurd; and different values also produce different results.

Continuing his table theme, he next invoked one populated by Palestinians and Israelis that had each lost children in the violence of that internecine conflict, presumably to point out the obvious moral equivalence of the two groups. Yet there is no equivalence between them beyond their loss of children. Apparently, how and why their respective children died is irrelevant to the good reverend. Dead is dead and it doesn’t matter why it happened. It isn’t the Israelis that strap bombs to their children in order to inflict as much damage as possible upon the innocent. Israelis don’t teach their children to hate the Palestinians. That some children in Palestine are accidently killed by Israel’s legitimate acts of self defense is in no way equivalent to the Palestinian’s penchant for strapping explosives to their children in order to deliberately kill and maim innocent Israelis. Does any rational person believe that Israel lacks the means to eradicate the Palestinians in their entirety if it chose to do so? And yet they haven’t.  Does any rational person believe that the Palestinians wouldn’t eradicate the state of Israel if it had the ability to do so?  Since doing so is enshrined in their charter, I tend to believe it. How are the two morally equivalent?

I thought Socialism was antithetical to religion, a construct that substituted the secular state for the church. And yet here its tenets are being preached with earnest sincerity from the pulpit of a mainstream church. No doubt, those that refuse to share the fruits of their labors “fairly” should be compelled by force if necessary. I wonder if the good reverend would be so sanguine if I took his vehicle away from him using the same logic. It just isn’t “fair” that he has more than me. And if he won’t give it to me, I should take it from him by force. You see, his education and work aren’t the reason he has more than me; that can’t possibly be the reason. It’s just not “fair”! He’s just being greedy and selfish to have more than I do. Pity he can’t extrapolate that the cushy lifestyle he currently enjoys would have to come down considerably to be “fair” in the eyes of the residents of sub-Saharan Africa. And by destroying his own wealth and lifestyle, does he truly believe the lives of those residents will be greatly improved? I don’t.

It would seem the good reverend has been educated to the point that ideology has replaced his ability to reason. Unfortunately, I fear he is irretrievably lost intellectually. I’ll grant that he actually believes in his heart that he is correct. But I’m equally certain that if the world he envisions actually came to fruition, he wouldn’t like it very much. How sad for the congregation politely absorbing this twaddle from the pulpit as “Gospel”. It’s time for me to find another church. I need spiritual guidance, not political indoctrination; particularly when it advocates a system that has failed miserably every place it has been tried. God help those remaining, they're going to need it.

Scottie

For forty days and forty nights heavy rain poured down upon the earth (Genesis 7:12) God clears the slate and starts over again

"And he [Moses] was there with The Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant (Exodus 34:28). Moses clears the slate and enters a new covenant with God on behalf of His people.

So he [Elijah] got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night (1 Kings 19:8-9). Elijah clears the slate and prepares to receive the Lord’s instructions.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry (Matthew 4:1-2). Jesus clears the slate and prepares for His ministry on earth.

He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Jesus clears the slate and prepares himself and his flock for his ascension into heaven.

In all of these passages, a forty day rite of purification and preparation occurs. On this Ash Wednesday, let us solemnly enter Lent mindful of its meaning: a forty day period of purification, reflection, and preparation. The central tenet of the Christian faith – the resurrection of the Living Christ -- is at hand. Let us prepare for the occasion and celebrate Easter this year with clean slates of our own.

May God continue to bless us and this great nation he has favored us with.

Scottie

With the recent departure of Heath Ledger, we revisit a phenomenon that recurs with startling regularity in our culture these days. Like John Belushi, Kurt Cobain, Chris Farley, Anna Nichole, and River Phoenix, Heath has checked out of life far too early. Given Brittany Spears’ current psychological gyrations, her fate seems ordained to follow suit absent some kind of serious intervention. What is wrong with these people? Surely they have it all; cars, cash, celebrity, mansions, and every other trinket their hearts desire. These folks have an endless supply of willing sexual partners. They employ platoons of people to handle their every whim and clean up every mess and inconvenience. Since they obviously have it all, what gives?

I propose that they have nothing of real value. They have no religion to anchor them in the storms. They have no true friends, nor do they receive and give any deep abiding love. They have lots of meaningless stuff, but they’re missing the brakes necessary to keep their lives under control. It is inevitable that their life’s “trains” will eventually derail in spectacular fashion, to the breathless shock of their peers and the glee of the media in full feeding frenzy. Another young narcissist with no values, no faith, and no love cashes in his or her chips and leaves the casino, a victim of the paradox of having everything and nothing simultaneously.

If you want to have it all, let me make a few suggestions. First and foremost, surround yourself with friends that will tell you when you’re out of line and keep them. Include in that group some that are older than you are, people that can share their wisdom with you when the going gets rough. You’d be surprised how often the things that happen to us have already happened to those that went before us. An honest friend that was your friend when you were nobody is the most precious commodity on the planet; don’t discard them on your journey through life. Perhaps Harry Chapin said it best in his song, “I Let Time Go Lightly”, with the verse:

“Old friends, they mean much more to me than the new friends,
Cause they can see where you are,
and they know where you've been.”

Second, realize that you are a part of something bigger than yourself and show some respect for it. You’ve been blessed to live in the greatest nation ever devised by mankind. It has its problems, but there is no Utopia here on earth and there never will be. Look around the world for anything better. If you find it, spend some time there and give yourself a chance to discover the other side of the coin you think is so shiny. If you appreciate this nation and the benefits it has endowed to you, defend it. That’s right, serve your country. Invest in this nation. It will give you an unshakable foundation upon which to build a quality life and a perspective of ownership unlike anything else.

Get married and have some kids before you realize how much work it is and how much sacrifice it requires. It’s the reason you are here in the end; to produce, train and nurture your eventual replacements in the human race. Your children are the vessels into which you pour your values, traditions, and hopes for the future. Nothing else you do on earth is more important than to forge your links to immortality. It’s a tough job, but ultimately the most rewarding one you’ll ever find. Invest your time and energy in your wife and family. Remember, the time and attention you invest means more than any other “stuff” you provide.

Try to do something with your life that adds real value to society. Pick something that makes the world a better place. Build things, create things, help people, and leave more behind you than a dusty record of attendance. Avoid destructive careers. Don’t make a living out of complaining, finding fault, and tearing things down; instead create something of lasting value in the miniscule cosmic tick of your life. Invest in the future, in your community and your nation. Make your life’s work count for something.

Finally, learn to assume the position on a regular basis. That’s right, get on your knees before the living God and invest in a relationship with Him. Search your heart, and find your own path to Him. Exercise your human capacity to understand and realize that there are some things that humans cannot understand. Realize that taking some things on faith is the best you can do. A Godless life is a life without meaning; one no more significant than that of a bacteria growing in a discarded Petri dish. Look around and think about it. Is your entire existence a random combination without any cosmic purpose? Of course it isn’t; you are here for a reason. You are here to invest the fleeting moment you’ve been given to the highest purpose you can before it comes to a close.

What good are all the “stuff”, and the sycophants, and the glory to the departed Mr. Ledger today? Unfortunately, he didn’t invest in the things in life that offer a lasting return. When his life took off, he didn’t have the anchors he needed to stop it from spiraling out of control. In spite of “having it all”, in the end he had less than most. He just didn’t make the right investments.

Scottie

Charles R. Miller Jr. 1/18/2008 --

Please join me in welcoming the newest addition to the Heartland Patriot clan. Little Charlie Jr. arrived yesterday at four o’clock in the evening and the Missus has been beside herself with excitement at the birth of a new grandchild. Her joy is uncontainable and she would like to share it with you all. The little bundle of joy premiered at eight pounds, twelve ounces, twenty and a half inches long with an abundant mane of black hair. His big sister Chloe is hanging out with us at Heartland Central for a couple of days to give the new parents a chance to absorb their newfound fortune. Now if you will all excuse me, I have an appointment with a big old fat cigar to accompany my shameful gloating at this miraculous new link in the chain of immortality.

Scottie

Well folks, it’s been quite a year. On the personal front, I married the Missus and made an honest man of myself. I saw my oldest child graduate from college. One of my boys got engaged to a wonderful young lady and we got her daughter as an adorable grandchild out of the deal with another to follow soon. Our insurance business is turned around and we survived the changes and adjusted to the sacrifices. Our rental properties are all occupied with good tenants. The house is warm, the fridge is full, and we are going to host the family Christmas dinner this year here at Heartland Central.

On the blogging front, BrianR managed to stave off a rampaging wild fire in his neck of the woods. Although he probably believes it’s due to his willingness to make an armed response courtesy of the second amendment, I think he merely kept his cool while all around him panicked. His beautiful daughter got married, and he continues to be the Townhall Blogfather.

We waged an ideological war here at Townhall about where we would draw the line with respect to candidates and many a heated exchange was joined throughout the summer. Despite the passion of the participants, I noticed a reassuring level of good manners and mutual respect by those so engaged. It made me proud to be a part of the Townhall blog community.  

Some new faces appeared around here as well. We saw the rise of Loyal Democrat with his unique talent for cutting satire. We welcomed our resident Doctor with the addition of Shining City.  Crawfish dredged out a Swamp and his prolific content rivals old Gunny. Our super-patriot Nee started her blog this year and kept it real for us at the Gathering of Eagles rallies this summer. Perhaps the most unique name in blogging was first seen this year with the arrival of SquiddyPopPerkyJean. Kilroy was here starting this year and what an addition he was.

We also have a few MIA’s in the family. Husker Jeff (A Critique of Pure Unreason), Bradford (Iron Cages), Charles Mudgeon (Mudgeon is Not Amused), all seem to have slipped the bonds of this ephemeral coil. We have a few that many would not be sad to see join them. The perpetually self aggrandizing and irritating Black Tygrrrr, the always unhinged Sanity 102, the assorted Ron Paul supporters and the unbelievably unhinged Sarah Palin nutroots come readily to mind.

To those of the old guard that started here while the sawdust was still fresh on the floor I tip my hat to you all. Brian at the Island, Jimmy over at the Closet, Sandra & Sheila the pugnacious sisters from South America at A Word to the Wise & One Eighty, Flagwaver over at the Spade, Fletch, Gunny, PasPhil, and Jevica, all have a special place in my heart this holiday season. Thank you my brothers and sisters in arms.

I couldn’t make this an encyclopedic compendium of all of the events this year and still keep it readable, so I’m going to stop here knowing full well that there are some I’ve overlooked, some incidents that should have been here, and maybe a few points of disagreement. So be it! That’s what the comment threads are for and I hope you all use this one to drop by and add your own special remembrances of the year to it. Merry Christmas to one and all and a special thanks to those that drop by regularly to read my stuff and add their own to it. God Bless you all.

Scottie

My loyal readers will no doubt recall my essay a while back about how I wound up with not one but two cats, despite my preference for dogs.  Well bury me in an anthill and smear my ears with jam if it didn’t happen again! I was minding my own business, unloading tools from my truck the other night when they struck like lightning. As I made multiple trips up and down the basement stairs lugging tools and materials into my basement, two little commandos infiltrated my perimeter and slipped through the open door. Their mission: FOOD! 

Now friends, I’ve seen a few dog food commercials in my day. I know they practically starve a dog for a day or two before shooting them wolfing down the product in commercials. I’ve also been around animals all my life in one form or another, and I know that isn’t the way any normal animal eats if they’re reasonably fed. So it broke my heart to discover two kittens nose down in the cat’s feed dish down in the basement swallowing dry cat food whole as fast as they could gulp it down. I called the Missus down to have a look at them and it broke her heart, too. Together we watched them chow down until they were so full they could barely walk.

When they finally came up for air we gave the critters the mandatory once-over. Two male tiger stripped cats that were not much more than furry sacks of bones with wildly distended tummies.  Neither of them weighed more than a sachet of feathers.  Every bone in their emaciated bodies was easily discerned through their dull little hides.

I said to the Missus, “You know I hate cats don’t you?”

She smirked and replied, “So we’re keeping them then?”

And the little rascals began to purr on cue and sealed the deal.

“I guess so.” I said, and we gathered them up and took them upstairs to apply some Frontline to them and turned them loose. They introduced themselves to the two resident cats. They were disabused of any delusions of superiority by our resident matron cat, Margo. She quickly established that she wasn’t going to take any nonsense and quickly administered the cat’s equivalent of laying down the law to them.  They’re still giving her a wide berth, but things are slowly thawing. The big boy cat, Gyro regarded them with bemused disinterest and pretty much ignored them. And then the little kitties we christened Beavis and Butthead, now filled to the bursting point, sacked out under our newly installed Christmas tree.  Christmas Kitties; Too cute!

Scottie

One of my assignments in college was a group effort to analyze a company. Our professor assembled the groups with great care. In my group, the majors included accounting, marketing, management, economics, and even a liberal arts student. It was a wonderful exercise in diversity, despite the ham-handed method used to form the group. And it was quite an eye opener, too. As the group’s accountant, I had a decidedly linear approach to the task. The marketing major saw things as primarily a psychological exercise. The management major was a flake but he added what he could. And the Liberal Arts major had all sorts of interesting takes on nearly every aspect of the effort. Our economic major turned out to be an excellent “big picture” type. The whole exercise was very synergistic and the end product was better than any of us could have produced by ourselves. If the point was to demonstrate the value of diversity in problem solving, it was an unqualified success.

However, this was a controlled situation with many variables held constant. Everyone in the group was near graduation. That is to say, it was a group of college educated people. The course was a requirement for graduation, so all of the parties were motivated to at least make a reasonable effort. And while the outcome was important, the process was even more so. While I learned that diversity can be a good thing, I’m not altogether convinced that it is the panacea our professor would have had us believe.

Remember, this exercise only worked because the entire situation was contrived to illuminate the benefits of diversity. I would like to posit that while diversity can be a good thing, having it for its own sake misses the point. Like the man with a hammer seeing every problem as a nail that needs pounded down, I fear the intelligencia try to apply this philosophy to every problem in a similar manner. Let’s take a look at some lessons to be learned here that were glossed over.

First, this wasn’t a random group of people plucked from the population at large. This was a fairly homogenous group plucked from a class of college seniors with all that implies. These were educated people with budding expertise in a variety of areas, but they shared more similarities than differences beyond that. This aspect may have been glossed over, but it was absolutely essential to the success of this diversity lesson.

Second, there were no victims in the group. Or conversely, we were all equally victims on the same terms in this situation. None of the participants expected any quarter for being from their particular major. The group was equally on the hook for the assignment and everyone would share in the success or failure equally. This was not pointed out either, but diversity as it is currently promoted is usually based on some of the parties having membership in one or several victim groups.

Third, all of the parties were motivated to produce an acceptable result. None of the participants focused on how the project reflected upon their major, but rather on how the project reflected on the group as a whole. We all worked to a common end, participated enthusiastically, and focused on the end product rather than how much of our own input took center stage. This was only possible because of our commonalities; it was not the result of our differences. If we all had diverse goals, this project wouldn’t have worked at all.

Finally, the reward for success was relatively small and the penalty for failure was very high. If the project was good enough, we all would graduate and the grade would join the multitude of others on our transcripts; if it wasn’t good enough, we wouldn’t graduate. We were all united with a common goal that had serious consequences for failure. The consequences in a real life are seldom so evenly divided among the participants.

So while diversity has its advantages, it only works as an enhancing ingredient in the overall recipe. If added judiciously, like a spice, it can really perk things up. But it can’t carry the entire dish all by itself. It is unreasonable to expect that it can. Almost any project will do fairly well if you start with a motivated group of educated people working earnestly toward a common goal with serious consequences for failure. I think that’s true even if the group is comprised entirely of white middle aged engineers.  So before we buy into this diversity demonstration, let’s cast a jaundiced eye on some of the underlying premises first.

Scottie

It seems our esteemed Speaker of the House is pleading for us to consider the children. It seems likely that it’s only a dodge to obfuscate the situation, but on the off chance she’s sincere I’d like to offer a few suggestions about how she could truly make things better for the children.

If you really want to help the children in this country, stop sexualizing them. It seems to me that a pretty good place to start would be to quit selling thong underwear and hip huggers to nine year olds. Let me suggest that we stop discussing sexual matters with prepubescent children altogether. If we must discuss sex with children, how about grounding the material in the context of morality and values instead of covering the mechanics in excruciating detail. And while we’re at it, let’s remember that only about five percent of the adult population is GLBT and keep the material related to the more esoteric aspects of sexuality in relative proportion to their occurrence.  

I would also suggest we revive some old standards that have served us well for most of civilization. Let kids play! Give them time for recess and let them do what kids naturally do. Bring back tag, and dodge ball, and monkey bars. Quit doping little boys up on Ritalin and let them be boys again. Stop stifling the natural competitive instincts these little ones need to develop to succeed in the world. Stop giving out trophies for just showing up. There are winners and losers in life; there are risks and rewards to be evaluated; there are consequences to be faced. How are children ever going to learn these things without having ever experienced any of them?

Here’s another great idea: before we teach multiculturalism, how about teaching our kids about their own culture first? Wouldn’t that be helpful? There’s time enough for the protoctologist’s view of America in college. Shouldn’t our kids have some sense of who they are and how we got here before we start comparing our great nation to the rest of the world? Why is it that the only thing our children know about Thomas Jefferson is that he owned slaves? I think that leaves out quite a bit about one of the most brilliant men to ever trod the earth, don’t you? Sadly, the same could be said about all of our founding fathers, the Constitution, and civics as well. How will they ever learn these things if they are not taught? Just maybe we could teach these things to them; it would be like giving them a real education instead of indoctrinating them at school. It’s a concept well worth exploring.

Finally, let’s support the organizations that foster our children on their way to adulthood. For reasons I cannot fathom, the Boy Scouts are under attack for refusing to expose their organization to the same folly visited on the Catholic Church. You want to help kids? Support the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. I know it’s a radical thing to do; but teaching children the value of teamwork, solid moral values, self-reliance, and confidence hardly seems like a bad thing to me.

So Ms. Pelosi, if you sincerely want to do something “for the children”, I suggest you review these simple time-tested strategies. You will find them much more productive than calling a healthcare bill for adults and illegal aliens a program “for the children” when the reality is the children will still be paying for your folly long after we are all gone to our reward. You see, we both can agree that something should be done “for the children”. I simply offer that my suggestions are far more productive.

Scottie

She wanders about the old place, lingering here and there to soak in the memories one last time. The house is in total chaos, her children busily scrambling about with various tasks. She directs their efforts, but her heart just isn’t in it. The accumulated treasures of a lifetime are being lovingly packed and sorted by the assembled throng of children, friends and grandchildren. Trucks and trailers line the driveway, waiting to receive the neatly packaged contents of a home she’s lived in for over thirty years. This whole affair has been quite a shock for her and it shows in the concern and fatigue on her normally smiling face.

There’s the china she received from her mother, the furniture she’s lovingly dusted and polished to a brilliant gloss, photo albums, vacation memorabilia, school projects her children made for her, and the millions of little things that one accumulates over the course of a long and fruitful lifetime. These things can be moved of course, but the memories attached to them are a different matter. Every particle of the old place evokes memories and she hears all of them clamoring for a last visit before the cosmic tranquility is permanently broken.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with the new place, but it’s not the same. As her treasures are transferred, she stops by to supervise their delivery and placement for later unpacking. The new house is rapidly becoming a warren of trails through many stacks of boxes and furniture. The physical work of transferring everything will be ably handled by others, but the monumental task of sorting and placing it will be to a large extent her sole domain. It’s going to take some time for her to create a new nest here and even longer to overcome the loss of the old one. But in the end, she’s a tough old bird; she’ll roll up her sleeves and one box at a time she’ll create a new home. And soon the holidays will come, and her new nest will be filled with the love of her extended family as she once again holds court and continues collecting her precious memories of home and hearth and family.

God bless you Phyllis.

Scottie

One of the consistent themes of American culture is the self-made man. Given the Left’s stranglehold on Hollywood, Academia, and Journalism, it occurs to me that every conservative had to come to their philosophy through dint of personal effort and self-determination. Conservatives certainly didn’t learn the values they hold dear at a University. Their point of view is seldom bolstered by the fare emanating from Hollywood; in fact it is far more likely to be undermined than supported by the glitterati. And they most certainly didn’t arrive at their conclusions by following the lead of our nation’s mainstream media.  All conservatives are therefore by definition self-made.

I will acknowledge that many conservatives get a good start from their parents. But parents can only take you so far. It takes tremendous effort and character to run against the prevailing wisdom of the “in” crowd. It takes real courage and a true belief in your core values to hold them dear in the face of ridicule by your peers. I’ll give parents their props, but I didn’t arrive in early adulthood fully formed; none of us do. In the absence of strong parents, the rest of us had to arrive here by forsaking fantasy for reality, by using reason, and by tamping down hysterical emotionalism. In short, we had to grow up. 

While the Left claims to champion diversity, what could be more diverse than the multitude of individual paths conservatives have taken? While the Left champions the notion of tolerance, how could any conservative have arrived where they are intellectually without tolerance in abundance? The ranks of the Left swell with those whose only claim to legitimacy is their victimhood; that they have been offended in some way. Who among conservatives gets through a week, let alone an academic year without having their values and sensibilities offended? The difference is conservatives shrug it off and go about their business instead of making themselves the center of attention for something someone else did or failed to do.

Take comfort in the knowledge that conservatives are self-made people. They daily demonstrate tolerance, diversity and honest intellectual curiosity. In fact, you could say conservatives actually live what the Left preaches. No accolades are necessary; our self-esteem is just fine. After all, we’re grown-ups, we’re used to it. 

I had no idea how much I had grown to depend on my little electronic buddy until it went kaput. It was ever handy; always ready to gather and present articles and news from dozens of sites. It knew all of my logins and passwords, kept track of all of my favorite sites, and made surfing a true joy. It waited with stoic patience as I composed my articles, stored my ideas to be fleshed out later, posted my comments on various threads, and called my attention to incoming e-mails. It personified and occupied the nexus of my intellectual universe, and now it is no more. It is very much like losing a good friend.

It wasn’t my first laptop, and it won’t be the last one I own. Every one of them has had endearing personality quirks that made them unique. I think because I had such minimal expectations of the last one, and its price was quite reasonable, it had the greatest chance to impress me and it truly did. Now it’s dead and gone and I am in mourning for my little buddy.

It went quickly over the past month or so despite my fevered attempts at resuscitation. First the power connection got iffy and progressively worse. Then the hard drive failed bit by bit, in what I can only describe as the computer equivalent of Alzheimer’s disease. The cost of a new hard drive is about half the cost of a replacement computer, so I think I’ll opt for another machine of the same make and model. And while it will be mechanically identical in every respect, it just won’t be the same. Goodbye little buddy. Godspeed and God Bless.