December 24, 2011

Seasons Greetings

There is too much doom and gloom on this blog. Over the last few years I have blogged on some awful stuff. Some things were hard to believe, some were clearly rubbish, and some we didn't want to believe, despite the evidential links that showed us these things were true.

Together, we have learned much. About royalty, about law, about rights, benefits and priveleges. About how only we can give up those rights, and about how we can make sure we know when we hang on to our rights (always) and when to swap them for benefits (never), and about how we should interact with agents of the state. I have shared with you the various letters and notices received from police, courts, debt collection agencies and others. I do not yet have a convincing victory to report because these events are still in flux. Win, lose or draw I promise to tell you the truthful outcome.

There has been some weird shit. Some of it space-agey, and some of it spiritual. Some of it I have believed, and some I have put to one side for now, because either I don't understand it, or because I am not ready for it.

We have discussed the end of the euro, the end of the EU, and the end of the world. We never found complete and universal agreement on any or all of these subjects, and that is right fine by me. We are not Borg. We (here) are allowed to disagree. We (here) are allowed to think.

In the semi-serious clip below, George Carlin reminds us of the things we have in common. It's the funny shit, but it does unite us. One of my problems is finding that one thing that unites more than it divides. The August riots, for instance, were triggered by the cops shooting dead an unarmed man. What followed morphed from a genuine demonstration about injustice into full scale unlawfulness, and showed us just what feral people can do when they suspend all morals. We saw some nasty stuff unfold and we should remember those events if only to protect ourselves from the violent if the situation comes about again.

The UKuncut folks: whilst I was sort of happy about a large group of people protesting, I couldn't help feeling that their reasoning was bizarre. Screaming for less government interference and demanding more in benefits from them seem to me to be diametrically opposed, but what do I know?

The Occupy Wall Street people: the overwheming image I retained from their protests around the world against Big Corporations was marred by the incessant use of Blackberries, iPhones, and the t-shirts and sweatshirts bearing logos that simply advertised Big Corporations. Clusters of people standing around berating big business while clutching their mochachocoskinnylattewithvanilla had me rolling on the floor. The protestors themselves could not see their own hypocrisy, their own reliability on the very corporations they were protesting against. Again, this was bizarre.

Take 7 or 8 minutes for yourself and listen to wise old George, delivering a serious message with humour.



What will 2012 bring us? Who knows. According to some, the brown stuff will hit the twirly thing at the end of January. The euro is in peril, and along with it, the EU. At the end of the year, at 11 am on the 21st December, to be precise, the game changes. According to those who studied the Mayans their "long count" 5,126 year calendar ends at that time on that date*. Armageddon or a new consciousness? We will have to wait and see.

*Or does it? Some say that it is today! (Thanks to TSL for the link). If we get to midnight and the world hasn't ended, do let me know if your mind is a little more.....open than usual.

Like yours, my year has had its ups and its downs. But we find ourselves doing the only thing we can do: we carry on. We accept the things we cannot change and we concentrate on the things we can change.

I want to wish you all a happy and safe Christmas and my very best wishes for 2012. Whatever comes our way, we will deal with. Together.

Thank you to my 174 Faithful blog followers, to my 784 Twitterati followers, to the 410,000 of you that have visited and read this odd stuff that I write about, but mostly, I want to thank the thousands of commenters who felt compelled enough to scribble a few words in the white space available underneath every single blogpost. Not all are supporters, but their contributions can sometimes be just as valuable. All I ever asked was that you avoid the nasty stuff, the personal insults, but you can bring serious questions any time you like. I won't always have the answers but I will do my best.

Christmas is a time when families and friends gather. If you have neither of those, please imagine that you are in the mess here at Ranty Barracks with me and my family. We can share our food and a few bevvies, we can think back on 2011 and we can look forward to 2012. Together.

Slainte!

CR.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

A Happy Christmas to you and yours Capt, has been an enlightening year thanks to yourself and other bloggers etc. Onwards & Upwards I hope!

Oldrightie said...

happy Christmas, CR. As for all the stuff, it's just life!

Captain Ranty said...

Thanks BB!

Forward is the only direction I have!

Be well,

CR.

Captain Ranty said...

OR,

Same to you with bells on!

It's mostly life, I agree. But there is a lot of stuff we can affect if the heart desires it.

CR.

Dave_G said...

As a late-comer to the Capt_Rant_party I have to say that your blog has enetertained, informed and educated me enormously in the short time I have studied here.
More power to you for 2012 and hearty wishes for a healthy one too.

karlos said...

Thank you for all that you do cap't, and I wish you and your family a great Christmas, and you sir a glorious new year - Cheers.

Gary said...

Thanks mate,

never commented here before, but I'm a daily visitor. You're an absolute inspiration, even if it's only taught me the power of:

"Actually, no. Go away"

Keep it up CR, don't become discouraged.

I wish a fandabbiedozie (oops)! 2012 to you and yours.

Anonymous said...

You are an inspiration! Thank chuff for folk like you - keep on keeping on. Merry Christmas and good look in your quest.

Captain Ranty said...

Dave, Karlos, Gary,

Thanks lads!

I wish you everything you wish for yourselves.

Whatever happens, 2012 will not be dreary.

Not if I have my way.

Be well,

CR.

Captain Ranty said...

Anon,

Thank you.

I am just an ordinary bloke, tired of being shafted by our "betters".

2012 will be the year I shaft back. With a barbed wire wrapped todger. We'll see how they like it.

Avagoodun!

CR.

Anonymous said...

Merry Crimble & best wishes to you too Captain and all at Ranty Barracks!

I believe the first date given for that particular Mayan-flavoured endtime was, um, today, so... smoke if you got 'em? :-D

See you on the other side...!

Regards

TSL

ReefKnot said...

Happy Christmas CR. How I enjoy your blog !
Don't ever stop !

Captain Ranty said...

TSL!

Glad you stopped by.

Thank you so much for your terrific comments this year. When I didn't have the right answers to some awkward questions, you stepped in and saved my ass. (A perfect example of me standing on the shoulders of giants).

If Allah wills it we will be doing much more of the same in 2012. If he doesn't, then fuck him.

All the very best!

CR.

Gary said...

Shafted by a barbed wire wrapped todger eh?

I imagine the action of withdrawing the said spikey appendage would hurt most.

Almost as much as withdrawal of consent!

Sretan Bozic!

Captain Ranty said...

Reefy,

Thanks very much!

I can't promise that. It's a lonely road sometimes, and I get a little....down.

I do promise to do my best though.

CR.

Captain Ranty said...

Gary,

Not when it is engorged with angerment and righteous outrage!

Good point though: consent withdrawal is what hurts them the most. All you need for that is a pen.

CR.

mescalito said...

merry chrimbo ranty man and all who frequent this site.

Captain Ranty said...

Thanks Mescy!

All the best to you and yours.

CR.

Russ said...

Well it's Christmas Day where I am so I'll raise a glass to all and sundry and wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.

Iechyda!

Russ

Captain Ranty said...

Cool!

Good wishes from the future!

All the best to thee and thine, Russ, from all of us in the past.

Have a bodacious 2012!!!

CR.

Tattyfalarr said...

"The August riots, for instance, were triggered by the cops shooting dead an unarmed man."

I disagree, respectfully of course, since this kind of implies that it all kicked off at the precise moment he was shot.

As opposed to days later when someone didn't get an answer to a question first asked and then demanded with threat of violence of someone who did not have ...and could not reasonably have been expected to have... precise answer.

The "riots" stunk of misplaced entitlement to Anything from Everyone not obliged...legally or otherwise...to provide Anything.

Something you regularly accuse The State of and fight against. Ironic huh.

That said...Merry Christmas to you and yours Ranty...I do enjoy reading the blog and discussion therein...look forward to more in the New Year :)

pitano1 said...

quote.
"The August riots, for instance, were triggered by the cops shooting dead an unarmed man."

The "riots" stunk of misplaced entitlement to Anything from Everyone not obliged...legally or otherwise...to provide Anything.







doublethink/doublespeak.
think we have the right not to get
shot in the fucking head.
have a good one..capt.
and all who post here.

Captain Ranty said...

Tatty,

Anyone following the timeline knows that wasn't the case and I think you are being nitpicky.

The Tunisian riots can rightly have been said to kick off after a fruit-seller self-immolated. It just didn't happen immediately after he set fire to himself.

Irony? Fuck no. The difference (since you force me to spell it out) between the rioters and me is that I want absolutely nothing from the state but equally, I do not want to give them anything either. I have to, under the threat of force. The rioters and I are like chalk and cheese. They parked their morality and responsibility for several days whilst they ran amok. I have never once done that. To suggest otherwise is disingenuous, but I have a feeling you know that.

Merry Christmas to you and yours also.

CR.

Captain Ranty said...

Pitano,

Right back atcha!

Have a good time, and good luck for 2012. (See you on FMoTL).

CR.

Pete said...

Capt,

All the best to you and yours. As you know, we are both walking similar paths. I am relatively new to the personal blogging side of things, although I have been doing the business blogging thing for years. I do appreciate the link that you gave to me on your blog.
As you are aware I always try to have some humourous content on my blog along with the serious shit we deal with on a daily basis.

Alas, I cannot attend the mess at Ranty Barracks, you are a Captain and thus it is an officer's mess. Us mere non comms aint allowed in there! Also, i refuse to get a frontal lobotomy just to take a commission!

Peace out m8 and keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

You are a good man Mr Ranty keep going, we appreciate your pearls of wisdom,go forth and spread truth!

Wayne said...

Merry Christmas CR, I hope you and your family have a lovely time, I look forward to another year of reading your blogs! All the best mate

bryboy said...

All the best CR. I hope that you are your family have a good Xmas and a better Hogmanay! Next year is another battle. Thank you for finding me and introducing me to other like minded people. You ARE the man even though you don't like the tag. Please keep the faith.

Andrew said...

merry xmas...i enjoy reading your blog and have used your advice on common law twice now, its very effective when you say no...it stuffs them good... have a prosperous new year and i dont believe this end of the world crap...i have been thru 5 of these so far, we are still here..lol...

F***W*T TW****R said...

bloody sober ffs.
Bring on 2012 in which I'll try not to be..........
Always enjoy your posts CR. Edumacational and enjoyable. It's a rare talent that you have.

Tattyfalarr said...

Ranty...Nitpicky ? No...pedantic, perhaps. You say trigger and I say catalyst and propose agreement to cordially disagree.

Disingenuous ? Never. I tend to say exactly what I mean and happy to explain further should there be any confusion. The similarity I've depicted...thereby irony...is meant to be read as between State and rioters and not yourself and rioters. Hope that's now clear.
...........................
Pitano...Uh ok...I "think" we all have a right NOT to have our businesses raided, smashed up and burnt to the ground...homes invaded, posessions stolen and person brutally attacked....for any reason by anyone.

Since when do two wrongs ever make a right ? There's your "doublethink/doublespeak" right there.

Bloody hell look at the time...having had a few bevvies, wrapped pressies, peeled veggies and cooked meat..staying up far too late and scooting around my favourite blogs half-pissed ...I wish you all a very merry christmas and goodnight. :)

Zaphod said...

If only two people threw off their chains because of you, and they in turn inspired two more each,
2, 4, 8, 16, 32;

Ten steps is a thousand people, twenty is a million.

I'm not trying for total freedom myself, but under your inspiration I've really put some grit in the State's bearings!

The magic words, "I do not consent"!

Indebted to you, Captain.

Jacobite said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family and thank you for a great blog, look forward to your posts in 2012.

Woman on a Raft said...

Merry Christmas Captain and thank you for a year of writing with verve and, of course, animal pictures.

nominedeus said...

;-)

coz said...

Merry Mithras birthday -not sure when Jesus was born. I'm gonna have a guess at February/March next year for SHTF. Thanks for your great blog!

Tickety said...

Hope you and yours had a truly lovely Christmas Captain, and thank you so much for your informative blog. I keep telling friends and family lots of what I read here and so do a little to spread the word. Carry on with the good work. I,m going to fall out now with the supernumeraries. Cheers Capt.
Tickety

Captain Ranty said...

Thank you all for your good wishes, and your encouragement.

I send back all those good wishes to you, magnified by 1,000.

You lot are the enlightened few and it is your job to educate wherever you can.

I know that many of you are doing just that and I send my heartfelt thanks.

CR.

subrosa said...

Oops, apologies for lateness. I've never been known for my punctuality sadly.

Do hope you had a good day yesterday Ranty. Keep up the good work. x

Captain Ranty said...

Thanks Rosie.

Too much food, too much drink, and plenty of laughs. I'd say the day went very well!

Hoping you had a great day too!

Roll on Hogmanay!

CR.

Pesky Anonymous said...

Belated wishes from me and mine too Captain. Hope you and yours had a fine old time. Best wishes for 2012.

A (vaguely) Christmas tale:

On the 21st (shortest day) I was at home expecting some Christmas deliveries. Upon hearing a vehicle stop outside I went out to greet them.
"Hiya", I cheerily said.
"Hello", he replied, "Is this such and such a place?"
"Yes", says I, "Have you come to read my meter?" (He had his gadget in his hand)
"TV licensing actually", he said.
It flashed across my mind that I should have hidden, but now I would have to make a stand and inform him that I was not obliged to let him in my house.
Me: (groaning) "Oh right, Well get on with it then."
Him: "Have you got a TV?"
Me: "No."
"I didn't think you had", he said grinning from ear to ear.
I wondered if my cultured scruffy old country bumkin look had afforded me this response.
"I should come in now", he said, "but I'm not going to. But if anybody asks....."
"How do you like your job" I enquired.
"I don't" says he.
"A case of having to?" I asked
"Yes" says he "My career hasn't...."
"Mine neither" I butted in to spare his embarassment.
"Well have a nice Christmas" I said "The financial system is going to collapse shortly after."
"I agree" says he "But I'd give it about 5 years."
I gave him a hard stare.
"In my opinion" he added.
"Well, I'm no expert" I replied.
"Neither am I" said he "Or I wouldn't be doing this job."
"It's been nice to meet you" he said, extending his hand.
I shook his hand, we bade each other a Happy Christmas, and off he went.
I went back inside thinking what a nice bloke. One of us.

Captain Ranty said...

Thanks Pesky,

Same to you in spades.

Blimey! The Drone That Wasn't!

What a great result.

D'ya think we are leaking through into the mainstream consciousness?

I really hope so.

It's high time.

CR.