Soulotomy's Blog

Blame it on William F. Buckley

Well, I'd said that the real MacCentralCafe Forum would be up by 17 April 2008, but it won't actually be live until late 20 April 2008, and it's really William F. Buckley's fault.

First, let me say that I'm not a "Conservative" (well, maybe I am a Goldwater Conservative, kindasorta), but I did greatly admire Bill Buckley, a guy who singlehandedly wrought credence and respectability for Conservatism into a force to be reckoned with, that had previously been a bizarre collection of nutcases and crackpots. I think that before Bill, that Conservatives were reckoned to be either whack cases or dullard lumoxes, but Buckley was a classy, foppish, sophisticated dude; and then (after Bill) being a conservative wasn't so uncool with this combo brilliant hood ornament (the face of it) and this brilliant engine driving the machine.

Anyway, interestingly, for being such a brilliant, relentless intellectual, Bill was equally possessed with the fury of life, and was tres endowed with a furious athleticism and hedonism. He was a phenomenonally robust dude.

OK, so we were scheduled to leave Thursday for four days at Yosemite, and so I thought (with Buckley's recent passing) that I should pay reverential tribute to Bill, and do this somewhat as Bill would do it (as my circumstances would permit). Bill would have started off with Bullshots (Vodka and Boullion) before breakfast, then a frigid swim, then breakfast, then flown a plane to the high outskirts of Yosemite, where he'd have then had an al fresco lunch (with ample wine), some socializing and debate fueled by VSOPs and cigars, then rafted or kayaked through whitewater into Yosemite Valley.

Well, my circumstances did not permit that, but I did do the alcohol part in Buckleyesque fashion. Perhaps since that was the only Buckleyesque part that I could duplicate, I duplicated that part over and over, perhaps to a fault. Actually, we had a grand time, and actually did manage to be stunned by the majesty that is Yosemite, but I could not bring myself to move the test Forum over to the production server and bring it live. Anyway, I shall do that so that The Forum is live for Monday.

Oh, before I forget, let me say that Bill Buckley, the founder of the modern Conservative movement, was disgusted with today's Sith NeoCons, as would be Barry Goldwater (but fortunately, he did not live long enough to witness the shameful disgusting mess that is today's conservatism). Well, it has come full circle, back to its roots, a collection of terminally braindead or bizarre nutcases and whackjobs.

Mariposa Sequoia Grove, with Amelia-Rose and Anna-Louse (note scale reference)

Mariposa Sequoia Grove, with Amelia-Rose and Anna-Louse (note scale reference)

Falls next to El Capitan (portion to right)

El Capitan: World's largest granite monolith

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls: 2500 foot drop, tallest North American waterfall, world's fifth tallest waterfall

Lower Yosemite Falls

Upper Yosemite Falls

Half Dome

Bridal Veil Falls: Bridal Veil has a 600 foot drop - Heavy rainlike mist borne by wind, several hundred yards high and wide - Picturetaking wasn't possible for me at the bottom of Bridal Veil, and I got soaked and cold in the trying (but it was nevertheless a brilliant reverie)

(L) El Capitan, (M) a very distant Half Dome, and (R) Bridal Veil Falls behind Amelia-Rose and Anna-Louise: Neat shot of three of Yosemite's more famous and distinguishing features (behind two of my finest features, of course )