Friday, August 31, 2012

Not worried about doing their jobs: Indiana State Police edition

Fail. 

So they are doing work at an interstate exit I have to drive past on my way to work.

Normally, not a big deal, except that this morning, one of the stoplights was not working. The drivers entering the intersection were, actually, doing a pretty good job of dealing with it, pretty much treating the now uncontrolled intersection as if it were a  4 way stop. Traffic was flowing pretty good, but still...

I pulled out my cell phone and called the Indiana State police 800 number. No joy, I kept getting connected to Indianapolis rather than the closest post.  "No big deal", says I, "I drive right past their office and can stop and let them know...."

So I did.

I pulled into their lot and, just to be sure that I was legal, disarmed and walked into the office. Good thing too.

A snarly looking man opened the window and said "What do you want?" ....Nice greeting. Oh well....

"Just thought that I'd let you know that the stoplight is out about a mile from here.....West side of the highway. Maybe you can call someone?"

"Nope. Call County. We don't deal with that."

"Perhaps you could call them? I don't have the number..." I suggested.

"Nope, You call 'em"

With that, he closed the window and walked away.  Nice. I successfully restrained myself from knocking on the window to ask him why he was being a total dick or other such questions, and walked out the door

So I left the building, googled the county I was in for the Sheriff's number, called it, and let them know that the light was out. The dispatcher was polite, thanked me, and said she'd inform the right people. 

When I drove past the area about an hour later, the lights were working again. Seems that the County folks take their job seriously.

Now: the Indiana State Police no longer "Serve and Protect", but their mission statement is:


  1. The protection of life and property will be our primary focus.
  2. We will uphold and defend federal and Indiana state constitutions and enforce all laws.
  3. We will address crimes and offenders with diligent, conscientious and proactive initiatives.
  4. We will ensure public safety on our roadways with vigorous and directed traffic enforcement.
  5. We will assist the public and all police agencies at any time and in any manner possible.


When I later called the folks at the post to suggest that they might want to take a look at the desk guy's attitude, I was again told that the "State Police have better things to do" and that calling the county sheriff is the correct procedure. 

Seems that they haven't read their own mission statement. Surely they have a number close at hand for the Sheriff, rather than making me look it up on my smartphone? Not to mention the whole "courteous" thing...or the "safety" thing...or the "assist" part either. 

Really, WTF do we need the ISP for that the county folks can't do?  

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Bad decisions....

So I have this employee. Nice kid. Nice guy overall. He works hard for me, and does a decent job.

But he never has any money. Always broke, always behind.

Today, he asked me if it was legal for the ATM at the convenience store to charge $5 for each transaction. He was complaining that they had just raised the charge from $4.

I asked him why he didn't use the banks ATM, as that should be free.

"Too far out of my way." he replied. "I gotta go 6 blocks off my route to work...that takes 10 minutes. makes me late for work"

"Leave earlier", I replied.

"I just hate having to spend $5.00 every day to get my money," he said. Ignoring the suggestion.

"How much do you get every day?" I asked.

"$20" he answered.

"So you spend $25 a week to get $20 per day?" I asked. "25 % of your cash for ATM fees?"

"Yep"

"So get a $100 on Monday, and save the charges. That's saving you $20 a week"

"Can't do that...if I did that, I'd spend it all in one day".

Some people just screw themselves. He's spending $25 per week to have access to his $100. Because he can't control himself.

And he wonders why he is always broke. 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Justice moves



Seems that George Zimmerman gets a new judge.

Good.

I still don't know if he is innocent of murder, or just having defended himself. I haven't heard enough facts to make a decision. And I realize that, and am waiting to hear the facts.

And that is the difference between me and Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. .

I, personally, think that the Judge Lester should be removed from the bench as unsuitable to adjudicate anything more than parking tickets.


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Maybe more "stimulus" would help

Or perhaps a bigger subsidy.

Whatever. The Volt still isn't selling. So they are "temporarily halting production".

Gee, who would have guessed that the public doesn't want a cramped, sluggish, expensive car with a 15 year payback (based on fuel savings to catch up with the price you (over) paid vs any other mid sized sedan) that rides poorly and has little cargo room?

Who'd have thought?

Sunday, August 26, 2012

blood dancing:

So:

What are the stats on officer involved shooting with inured (by the police) bystanders vs concealed carry shooters with innocents shot (by the CCL holder)? How about shots fired vs shots hitting the intended target?

I tried, but was unable to find even a hint. Which bummed me out, 'cause I wanted to see who is more dangerous to be around, if and when.


Anyone? Bueller, Bueller? (Linoge, perhaps?)

Enquiring minds want to know.

Friday, August 24, 2012

INteresting

Because, after all, only police should have guns.....

Even the Times covered it.

Had this been a concealed carry holder doing his thing as a private citizen, wounding 9 (nine!) bystanders, the hue and cry would be incredible. The private citizen would be castigated and likely charged.

But it was cops...who "had no choice" and who were "heroes". Who wounded (and/or killed) 9 bystanders.

Nice shooting there, boys.


Thursday, August 23, 2012

Due process?

What due process?

Dude expressed an opinion on his Facebook page. Maybe a bit radical, maybe what others might perceive (if they squint real hard) as a threat. But was there any real threat?

And gets, not only arrested, but incarcerated.

No due process, no trial., no bond. Held against his will until the agents of the state say he is OK, and he is taught to not say things which people find offensive. .

What happened to the First Amendment?

This could be you, or me, or anyone who has an opinion that the State doesn't like. I actually don't agree with much of what he has said, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the right to say it...Or is it only things which the State's minions agree with which are acceptable?

Soon he'll be given anti-psychotics and sent to a reeducation camp counseling.

Look: Facebook may not be the appropriate forum, but the dude does have the right to free speech. And the right to not be held against his will unless the State can prove that he is a threat, having the means and motivation and INTENT. Can they prove he does have these things? If so, bring him to trial. Or let him go. 30 days? Really? How about all those SEIU/AFSCME/AFL-CIO folks who advocated violence....Gonna pick them up too?

Half the blogs I read, and this one, have published things which the State might find offensive.

When "they" come for me, are you gonna speak up? How about the next guy, and the next, and the next....Until they come for you and there is no one to speak for any of us?

Hey, it's been nice knowing you.

To my fellow bloggers:
I'll save a spot on the bench in the camp so you have someplace to sit when they bring you in too. Bring beer if they'll let you.

**************************************************************************************

Update: It appears that the justice system (even under Eric Holder) actually works, (if slowly).

(better story HERE)

When he is released, he should sue each and every person involved. And, if nothing else, use the governments own tactics against them, and tie them up in court and cost them money, even if he has no chance of winning due to any immunity clauses. (not that they should apply here anyway, but that is another fight for another day) I'd donate a few bucks to THAT legal fund.

So it is ok if you are with the government

But not if you are a private citizen...

Seems that the ATF doesn't like it when citizens step on their turf and sell weapons and ammo to Mexicans.

So all I have to do to be exempt from laws (especially federal firearms laws) is to get a government job?

Look: I don't doubt that this is illegal, immoral, and just plain wrong. But if you are going to charge anyone with this crime, then you should charge everyone who does it with the crime. Especially the "Conspiracy" part. Especially with Holder and the management of the ATF.

Were I them, I'd argue that if they are charged, then it violates the Fourteenth Amendment.

ETA: I mean, the Feds set the precedent, right? They even give special treatment to some managers who do this sort of thing (HT Instapundit)

Forgiveness:

Sometimes you can, Same people are able to forgive, even the murder of a parent.

Me, I'd keep the hate alive, and find the skills and the means to hunt down each and every one of the slimy motherfucking murdering bastards. Starting with the murderer Lon Horiuchi and working up through his masters bosses, and then, if there I were still able, to all of his co-workers that were there for the siege and the coverup.

Yeah, I know that the family got 3+ million dollars, and likely just wants to get on with their lives and that revenge won't bring Vicki Weaver back....But it'd sure as hell make the next guy think before he acted. While I am not advocating it, I want to point out that having dead feds would be a lesson for the rest to behave properly. Institutional memories and all that you know...

It's about time that it happens again...the folks at Ruby Ridge are all mostly retired, and that leaves the next generation of agents, which has not seen the horror, ready to abuse the citizens they are supposed to serve.

Forgiveness will not prevent that.

I think I'll go dig out my copy of Unintended Consequences and re-read it.
 


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

at least THEY have standards

Seems that Pensacola Fla police officers actually can do things to get themselves fired, unlike many departments....

Look: I know it is a tough job, and you generally deal with the worst third of our citizens. I understand that many of the folks you deal with are drunks, druggies, thieves, whores, or all of the above.

But if you can't "not go there" or if you think that this sort of behavior is ever justified, then you shouldn't be a cop. If you just choose to say nothing if you know that a fellow officer is acting like this, or is escalating his behavior until he is likely to, then you are part of the problem. Saying nothing, or establishing the "Blue Wall" does nothing to earn you respect among the citizens.

I am glad to see that police can be fired for something other than a pile of drugs in their garage, or a dead hooker in the trunk or a live boy in their home. Now if it would just become contagious....if all the other police departments could catch this issue.


I got nuthin' to add here

He's right.

Something to think about, if and when.

What are you gonna bring to the party? 'Cause the one at my house, if and when, is gonna be a BYOB sort of thing....


20 years go....

The government began to be open about it's intent to dominate the citizens, and to ignore the Constitution, and hold it's minions to no accountability.

They had been doing for a while, but it was HERE that they chose to bring their tactics out into the open.


People who, by any measure, murdered the accused, are running around free in your country, with the excuse that they were "just following orders".

Interesting how the Germans Nazis were treated vs the FBI/ATF folks, innit?

There should have been murder trials, and death sentences handed down for those folks who killed the Weavers.

Never forget, never forgive. Never trust any agent of the Government. His/her motivation is likely not yours.

The shame is that we, as a nation, let them get away with this atrocity. That we paid for the overwhelming response to what was, at best, a $200 tax issue (in reality, it was for defying an agent of the ATF). Millions of dollars wasted spent to apprehend a guy who was accused of selling a firearm that was 3/8 of an inch too short. Millions of our dollars which were, essentially, used to cover some foolish agent's (and their superiors) butt. To make the accused the demon rather than the actual agents criminals.

And we are still paying these people's salary (or retirement) today, rather than for their detention.

freedom, defined:


"I am free, no matter what rules surround me.
 If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them.
 I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do."

- Robert Heinlein

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

HEH

Pass it on.

It'll be amusing to half the population.

The other half has no sense of humor anyway...

So it's been a week

Since I had to say goodbye.

And while it has been rough, it has been survivable.

I appreciate all the folks who took the time to write, call, email, text, comment etc., your words were a comfort to us.

But I swear, if one more person asks me "Are ya gonna get another dog???" I'm gonna hit him (or her) in the knees with a ball peen hammer. Twice.

I know they mean well, but really,......


Color me confused.

So I finally make it to the range after 3 weeks. (life has been less than conducive to range time lately).

I arrive with the two Para 3" pistols (one daily carry, and one being evaluated for daily carry) and 150+ reloads in .45 ACP. ( I had some ammo that was going stale and I needed to burn up my 6 month old carry ammo anyway)

I settle in at the bowling pin bench and load a few mags. Step up to the bench and begin.

I am killing pins fairly well, running 43 for 50. I then switch to some empty/failure drills, just to keep in practice. Randomly loading different numbers of cartridges in each mag, and with a few snap caps thrown in just for fun, just to keep my malf skills sharp too. My reloads are going well, and I am clearing the snap caps easily and quickly when the hammer drops on them. I'm running the mags clear in about 3 seconds.

I go 30 rounds (running 28 for 30, if I can brag a bit), and am regaining some speed with my drills, when I squeeze off a shot and the hammer drops. *Click*. Nothing else.

Nothing. No big deal. Practice is what I am here for. Must be a snap cap.

I run the slide and still, only the click of the hammer dropping.

Now I know that I didn't put two snap caps in consecutively, therefore the mag must be dry, and assume that the slide didn't lock back for some reason....., so I hit the mag release, grab a reload and put it in the magwell.

Except it wouldn't go. I tried twice. The mag just wouldn't enter the frame. WTF?

Color me confused.

I  check that the weapon is clear, lock the slide back, and take a look. There appears to be a mag in the firearm, as I can see the top of it, but no follower, only air, and light showing through the mag body. Hmmm?

The baseplate for the mag (older welded factory Para 6 round) has left the mag, along with the spring and follower. Apparently, without the baseplate to hold things square, the mag is just distorted enough that it won't drop free from the pistol.

I push the mag free from the top, and all is well.

Not sure what to do as a drill for that type of failure though.

I then went to the dueling tree for some hip shooting practice and went 38 for 50 there, but my composure was blown, my concentration wasn't what it should be.

The new Para Carry ran flawlessly (for once). I think that after two trips to the factory for the extractor issue it is finally fixed....We shall see. More range time will tell.

Still not sure how to do a drill for this or how to deal with this sort of malf quickly.

It's not one that I practice for, and to be honest, I didn't recognize what was going on. How do you prepare for this sort of failure?

Other than new magazines (this was an older one, used only at the range) anyone got any suggestions?

And yes, I pounded the remains flat before disposing of it.


Monday, August 20, 2012

Note to the TSA:






I actually said this to the guy going through my luggage at the TSA line in Phoenix a few months ago.

He didn't see my point. He took my clippers anyway though.

Graphic stolen from HERE

You didn't build that

But we sure as hell destroyed it.

Gonna happen to a lot of places, if BHO gets hisself re-elected.


Saturday, August 18, 2012

Bad drivers

Good thing I am not homicidal (and that the law makes it hard to mount twin 20mm cannon on my truck)....

There were an alarmingly large number of incompetent/uncaring/rude/asshole drivers on the roads this fine Saturday morning.

Enough that I chose to go home rather than grow more angry at the plethora of near misses and such that I encountered today.

I feel bad because I allowed the bad drivers to chase me off the roads.

I let them win...




Sailing again

Even if for only a little while.

The USS Constitution is SAILING under its own power, not just being pulled out for display.

I think it is cool that the oldest US warship (in fact, IIRC, the oldest warship ever) is still a workable sailing vessel.


Friday, August 17, 2012

I still question the timing

But according to this, there is no increase in mass shootings, even when correlated to Something Must Be Done Gun Control regulation attempts.

Perhaps it is just the news coverage, but I think there is more to it than that.

I'm still not so sure that there aren't people who would use the lives of others as a tool to influence legislation they think is required.

Eggs, omelettes, and all that.


Thursday, August 16, 2012

North

His Mom passed.

Y'all go by and show him the same support you showed us, K?

Likely he needs it right now.
Thanks.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Thank you

To all of you who took the time to give us your support and condolences in comments and emails.

My house is a lesser, smaller place. My life is missing something, and nothing can replace that which is missing. If I could exchange years of my life for more time with her, I would do so gladly. But your words have helped us, and for that I thank you.

Entering my home, with no puppy to greet me is hard. It hurts each time it happens. But we are dealing with the emptiness, and are learning to live without that which is missing.So many things remind us of our loss, but the pain, while sharp, will fade with time, as we develop the scars necessary to endure.

We are adjusting, and, while it will take time, we shall learn to live with the enormous loss we have suffered. Time will help, as will the concern of our friends.

Again, thank you all for your condolences, words of comfort, and concern. You have helped to take some of the pain from us, and have shared it, and for that we can only thank you.






Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Goodbye



Brought to me by a lady who loved me, someone who felt that I needed a companion, a creature to nurture and love, who felt that she would show me that love and trust could heal my soul, I met Schmoo in the summer of 1997. A puppy with issues, she nonetheless wormed her way into my heart. I didn’t want a dog, didn’t think I needed one. I didn't want a puppy, But I had one. A black lab pound puppy I named Schmoo. She peed at the drop of a hat, but a trip to the vet soon solved that issue, and she became the perfect puppy. That relationship with the lady ended a long time ago, but my puppy remained a part of my life. Bringing Schmoo to me may well have been the best thing she ever did for me though.

I wasn’t a very nice person when Schmoo came into my life. Scars from other relationships had made me angry, and self-centered, and not a very nice person. But that lady knew that with the right stimulus, I could be a better person.

Schmoo was that stimulus. She taught me about trust, and love, and she opened my heart once again. Her unreserved love made me a real person again. The patience I had to exercise towards this puppy and the fun we had together as she grew and trained helped me to regain my perspective on life.
A more willing to learn puppy one will never find. Wanting to please, she would do whatever I asked of her… if I could only make her understand. She rewarded my patience with love and trust, and we became fast friends. She became my companion, following me everywhere she could, and trusting me to keep her safe. She slept at the foot of my bed, and waited patiently to greet me with enthusiasm and love when I returned home.

With the boundless energy of a puppy, she and I played, fetching a ball or a Frisbee for hours, until I couldn’t throw it any more. All she asked of me was that I let her be near me, and that I spend time with her. She followed me everywhere, never straying too far whenever we were outside. We spent hours on beaches and in parks, hiking and meeting people. Schmoo never failed to impress people with her excellent behavior. Generally, she stayed by my side as we walked. Even if not at my side, she never wandered too far from me.

She guarded me when I slept or showered, taking her job seriously. I was her alpha dog, but she was part of my pack. She guarded Midwest Chick even more when she came into our lives.

Early on, when she was a puppy, she got away from me once and was rolled by a car. Luckily she wasn't killed. That only happened once, and she never again approached a road when I was not with her. But the incident with the car did leave her with a broken leg and a dislocated elbow. The front leg healed quickly, as puppies and children heal rapidly, but the elbow caused her issues for the rest of her life. Never letting it stop her, she always was willing to follow me wherever I would go, whenever I would let her.

Schmoo loved children, and always was willing to play, no matter when or who. She knew when to stop, and never played too roughly.

She knew when to just sit quietly and let me relax, always there, but never too close, and when puppy like enthusiasm would break my mood and cause me to laugh and relax. But most of all, she just loved me for who I was, never less than a companion and never ever judgmental. Sometimes she would place her head on my knee and just sit there, other times she would jump up beside me and let me bury my face in her fur, the texture and scent of her fur chasing away all the things which had made my life less than perfect that day.



We were fast companions for 15 years. She never failed to greet me when I returned home, always glad to see me, always with love in her eyes, never any recrimination for staying away too long. She always looked at me wistfully when I had to leave without her, as she loved riding in the car or truck. I hated telling her that she had to stay, and wait for me to return.



As I said, she never strayed too far from my side, always with me. She never was willing to go too far ahead, and if I lagged, she would always stop and look back, as if asking what was taking me so long, and wait for me to catch up. Once, in a state park, were ticketed for her not being on a leash. (the law says the dog must be “leased or under voice control”). We were ticketed even though I showed the park ranger that she was, indeed, under voice control. Later, in court, I was allowed by the judge to bring her into court and PROVE that she was, in fact, under voice control, Her behavior that day made me so very proud of her. She sat, and stayed when told to (with me outside of the room), for 7 minutes even in the courtroom with all of its distractions and scents. She came when I reappeared in the doorway and called her She sat when told to, and layed down when I asked her to. The judge dismissed the charges with the court’s apologies. It was a victory that SHE earned, not me. We both walked out of the courtroom with our heads high.





As time moved further along, she became less inclined to go ahead, even a little bit, and our walks became shorter and shorter, as with her leg issues she couldn’t walk as far as I could, yet she still treasured those walks that we had, as did I.



We weathered several health issues in her latter years, but that was to be expected. It is a shame that dogs live such shorter lives than humans.
***********************************************************************************
Today, I had to ask her to do something that she had never before done. I had to tell her that she had to go on ahead, alone, without me. Told her I'd be along sometime, but to go on ahead. Today, she left me behind and went forward, to wherever we go when we leave this world.



She had an incident earlier this year where she lost her balance. A few pills later, and a few days for them to take effect, she was fine. But when we took her to the vet for that, he discovered another thing….cancer. Lymphoma. Terminal. His diagnosis, confirmed by tests, was weeks....Maybe months.



He was right. We had 2 ½ months to love her, coddle her, treat her the best way we knew how to, to show her how much we love and value her. The decline in my friend was terrible to watch, but I endured it, because she seemed happy and interested in life, even if at a bit slower pace, with more rest breaks and more naps. But slowly her energy level declined, and the pain pills became less effective. Back to the vet for even stronger pills, she still seemed happy, wagging her tail and smiling and wanting to be with us, inside or outside the house. Car rides (she couldn’t get into the truck without help) were still greeted with enthusiasm. Then one day, she couldn’t get into the car without help either. I knew the time was near.



Last week, she decided not to eat without encouragement. And I knew that the time had come. The time to be the human, the Alpha, and make the decision she couldn’t. I called the vet and made an appointment with him, after some discussion, for Monday evening at our home. Midwest Chick and I have spent the last few days holding her, spoiling her, and just loving her the best way we know.



It may have been the hardest decision I have ever made. To end the life of my friend, companion, and pet for 15 years. For nearly 1/3 of my life, she had been my companion, a member of my pack. This was a first time I had had to do this….for all the others before her had passed suddenly, with little warning, and I had never been required to choose for them.



She passed in my arms, me holding her and her trusting me when I said it was all right.


And it was.



Hard as it was, I think it was the right one. It is the one I would hope someone could make for me when my time comes. That does not change the grief in my heart at the loss of my longtime companion. The pain I feel at this moment, the longing in my heart for one last walk in the woods, or on a beach. One more chance to bury my face in her fur, or to have her give me a kiss, or to put her head on my lap. The hole that exists right now in my soul. But expect that she is greeted by all the others who went before us. Wherever they are, I hope to see them someday.



Wherever she went, I expect that I will eventually see her. When I don’t know. But I hope she is waiting for me when I get there, wherever that place is. I hope she is young again, and happy, and pain free, and whole and hearty and happy.


There is so much I don't know how to say.

Goodbye, my sweet puppy. 

ETA: Kipling had it right.(meant to put this in when I posted it, but I wasn't really at my best then) Thanks for reminding me, Og.

Monday, August 13, 2012

She looks really good for her age........

But she is a year older today...


Happy Birthday Brigid!


It is interesting

That Paul Ryan's "lack of private sector experience" and "Washington insider status" is a detriment for him, Yet the same affliction fails to be an issue for Barry.

Strange that.

Dubble standerds and all that.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Nice to get a thank you




yer very welcome, Jeff. What we sent wasn't much, hope it helps. We had a few bucks set aside for some stuff we really didn't need, and you likely need it a bit more right now than we do, so you are welcome.

You can send a few bucks to help HERE

1 mile from my home

There was a home invasion the other day...it happened one mile from my home. 4 people, all from inner city locations about 40 miles from the place got together and planned the invasion and robbery.

They planned for a time when the homeowner would be home, when she would be able to open the safe. They beat her and stole her property.

She opened the door for them because it was early afternoon and the person at the door said his car had broken down and he needed to use the phone. It was a "safe" time, not the middle of the night.

Because it was broad daylight, her guard was down.

4 men, and one older lady. She lost the struggle.

The cops caught them, but she is still beaten badly, and her property is still awaiting her ability to be reclaim it.

Never say "it couldn't happen here". This was a nice, rural location, low population density, all good people living in the area. But these men traveled 40+ miles to invade this woman's home and steal her possessions and beat her. They came from the city to the country for one purpose. Yes, they likely had inside information. But the fact is that it DID happen here. And while the police DID catch them, it was AFTER the fact, and a woman lies beaten and damaged and her home in disarray and her possessions still missing.

This is why I am armed 100% of the time even when at home. It matters not if I am working in the yard, or watching TV on my couch or posting on this blog. 

Does the gun make me safe? Not at all. But it gives me a chance against 4-1 odds. It gives me a chance to fight back. I may not be an elderly woman, but I cannot face 4-1 odds and win, unless I have another tool with which I can even those odds.

Even here, in a "safe" neighborhood I go armed....always. There are those who say I am paranoid., and perhaps they are correct....but I call it prepared. The goblins have automobiles with which they can travel from their lairs to my home. So I stay alert and stay prepared to defend that which is mine.

You can take my possessions, break into my home, and maybe even beat me into submission to access my safes. But you'll have to weather a storm to do so. You'll pay a price to steal from me.


Thursday, August 9, 2012

and again

67 years ago, the US used its second offensively targeted atomic bomb to force the surrender of Japan.

"If they do not now accept our terms, they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth. Behind this air attack will follow sea and land forces in such numbers and power as they have not yet seen and with the fighting skill of which they are already well aware"
Truman

And so it went. The second bomb was dropped, and the Japanese government had a choice.

While the deaths of all those Japanese citizens were tragic, they were no more tragic than the higher numbers that would have resulted from carpet bombings (already done) or an invasion.

And the effect was to save many lives...Japanese AND American.

War is ugly. No one really wins, some are just hurt less than others.

And so it was then.  As it is today.

But the attacks worked. Japan capitulated, and surrendered.

Who are we to judge the decisions made then, today?

Thought:

"Its not what you are given but what you choose to do with it that makes the difference"

Cloward-Piven

was the strategy loved and promulgated by his mentor.....

and it is working, innit? A 13% increase in less than 30 months.               

How much more damage can we let him do? How much until the rest of the politicians (like, perhaps the RNC backed automatons we call senators and congressmen) say STOP!?

Yet, strangely,

We shoot rabid dogs.
And we consider that a good thing to protect society. Never yet met a dog that was evil, some are just misunderstood or poorly socialized....


But this sleazeball we are gonna feed, clothe, and house, for the rest of his natural life.

Myself, I think we should hang him, in the town square, after reading the sentence and offering him any last words.

And televise it.

Then bury his body in an unmarked grave. 

But then again, I am so soft with criminals it is disgusting.

(alternatively, a firing squad with the same disposal of his remains.)

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

I figure Mitt is waiting

for the first presidential debate:

"Well, Barry, since you brought up my taxes, and feel that a fuller disclosure is needed....


Tell ya what, hoss, I'll disclose the last 5 years of taxes. They'll show that I made money, and used every tax rule that I could find to reduce the amount of taxes I paid. All according to the rules, you see. I made money, and paid taxes on it.  And I'm not ashamed to say that I did what I could to keep as much of MY money as I could.

But, Barry, I'll disclose them and release all that information, when you, as a quid pro quo, release the hold you have on disclosure of your college application, transcripts and grades..... further, I think that in the interest of full disclosure, you let everyone examine your supposed Hawaiian birth certificate.

All in the interest of "full disclosure" and all that, ya know.  I'll ask the questions that the press won't, but that the American people are asking...

I mean, as you and your sycophants have said many times, the American people have a right to know and all that.

So, I'll meet you tomorrow, at a place of your own choosing, and we can hand each other those documents, okay?....Where should we meet, and when, Barry?"

It'd be Barry's worst nightmare.  You just know that Mitt is waiting for the chance.... doncha?

Tinfoil hat time....Or: things that make ya go "Hmmmmm?

Again, the Aurora shooting has given the conspiracy theorists a LOT to work with...

I too noticed some discrepancies, but to be honest I had put them down to bad reporting, mistakes made in the rush to get to press, or just plain stupidity on the part of people "reporting" the "news".

And, actually, I mostly, sorta kinda mainly believe that that does explain the discrepancies...

And to be honest, I am too busy running my business to take the time to do the research that the others already (supposedly) have.

But things like this (HT Broken Patriot)

and THIS.  And THIS. And THIS

make me wonder. Sadly I don't have the time needed to properly research the claims made in these articles. Anyone can publish stuff on the internet, it doesn't have to be true.....

And the fact that the media basically dropped the story quickly makes me wonder. .

And that I (basically) distrust the government enough to believe that someone might well stage a false flag event like this just to change public opinion.

It's not like these scenarios are impossible, no matter how little we'd like to think that they are.

Is my tinfoil hat on too tightly? Perhaps. (but I do have the shiny side out....)

What do you think about the information in the articles?

I really don't know what to believe...The timing of the incident was perfect very convenient for the anti-gun folks re: the UN arms treaty....Strangely, these coincidences happen a lot.....nearly every time there is (yet again) a push for some restrictions on our Second Amendment rights there is a conveniently timed incident to induce horror and increase fear of firearms as a killing tool for mass murder....

I'd like to believe that things like this would never be done to further an agenda....But sadly, I can't.

Sometimes I wonder if I am the whacko for thinking these things. But then, I am in good company.




Tuesday, August 7, 2012

At least his position is clear

“[Obama] does support renewing the assault weapons ban,” Carney said today, in the wake of the shooting at the Sikh Temple in Wisconsin yesterday. “There has been reluctance by Congress to pass that renewal.”

At least they admit their goal.

And, I think,for them, this is just a start.

If you plan to purchase any "large capacity" magazines in the future, then I'd suggest that you do so soon.

I already had a significant amount of them, so while I will never say that I have enough, I am not going to join the buying frenzy..

Same is true for ammunition.

If you were smart, you'd already have plenty of both.

If not, then you'll pay a bit more.

I do need, however, more primers.

And as soon as they come in, I'll buy a bunch.


Monday, August 6, 2012

Y' know....

While I am horrified by the killing of innocents , and feel very sorry for the folks in Wisconsin at the Sikh temple.....

There is a part of me which cannot help but wonder if this incident was fomented by the Anti-Gun folks in some manner in order to foster a greater public fear of firearms in general, before they push for another Assault Weapons Ban.

Sadly, it is not outside the realm of imagination (or possibility) with the folks we have trying to shape public opinion today.....After all, the eggs in an omelette are sacrificed to a very good cause. Justified, unless you are the eggs.

Were these people treated in the same manner?

It seems so....coincidental (and fortuitous for them) that these things happen just when there is a big push for more legislation....and just before an election too.

The frightening thing for me is that I could even think those thoughts about other people.

My prayers are with the victims at this time.
67 years ago, the US ended a terrible war.

Little Boy went to work.

Today there are people who claim this was a terrible act, an act of barbarism.

Perhaps it was.

But it began the process which ended the war, and with fewer casualties than might have been had the war been ended in the conventianal way.

To judge those decision made then, today, is foolish and shortsighted.

Whatever.

Let us recognize the day.

Friday, August 3, 2012

So, again:

What caliber for drones?

I'm thinking we should start a pool for the first guy to down one....say several categories:

Iron sights pistol
Scoped pistol

Iron sights rifle
Scoped rifle

large bore rifle...

Maybe we all contribute a buck and have cash prizes. might be we could get some gear manufacturers to contribute prizes too.....

Police state

Unionized.

Sow now we will have people who cannot seem to get fired anyway, who require little or no education (not even a GED), have little to zero accountability..'


Now they get to unionize? Apparently they think that they should be able collectively bargain for more money, or more benefits or something.

And this is a good thing for whom?

H/T Freeholder

playing George Thorogood

at max on the stereo.....and laughing maniacally...


(At least that's the way I'd do it)

Farmer gets even.

ETA: Better story here

I think

That it's neato and all that that (nearly) everyone who could chose to show their support for one day at Chick-Fil-A to protest the attempted suppression of freedom of speech (and/or support for the comments about gay marriage or whatever your particular reason...)

But if you really support them, then you'll have to change your ways and eat there more often. Otherwise it's a flash in the pan and the Left/MSM/DNC can (rightly) ignore you.

One day surges may be great and all that, and you think that it makes a statement. Yes, it does. But if you really support the company and their leaders beliefs, then you should change where you buy your lunch to patronize CFA more often.let the lesson to the left be that you really support them, and show the left a significant sales gain.

We already chose to patronize them. Not just because they have good (semi) fast food, but because we like what their company stands for...the fact that they walk the talk and eschew the profits they COULD be making were they open on Sunday....Likely significantly more than one seventh of the total.

Now, Sunday isn't much of a special day for us. Neither of us are terribly churchgoing people or anything, but we do respect the fact that a Christian company walks the talk....We like the fact that all their employees are clean cut, can speak real english (no matter what their ethnicity) and that the employees are helpful and make for a nicer fast food dining experience. And we really think that the state should get out of the marriage business, so the comments matter little to us.

If you are more than just a fashion follower, and really support the company, then patronize them more often. Really support them.

Otherwise your statement, while nice, means nothing, really.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Hard to argue with

Innit?

I guess I am too. That is what my parents taught me, too. But it ain't the way it is.