lies and

Sensationalist journalism.

Then, from 1900 to 2000, the seas rose 5.5 inches—a significant increase, especially for low-lying coastal areas. And since 1993, the rate has soared to a foot per century.

(Of course, we are supposed to believe that there are no errors in the interpretation of the data used for the previous three millenia : "a database of geological sea-level indicators from marshes, coral atolls, and archaeological sites around the world"..... Just like there are no errors in the temperature datasets from the last century )

I guess that there isn't any funding if you don't say that the end of the world is NOT coming tomorrow......

"I do not recall that".

This is how you say it. Not like these sleazy politicians that we all know are lying anyway....





"This is Vinnie's watch, and I want you to have it".

Happy Leap Day

Celebrate?

'Nother Saurday

Another class.

Whole bunch of new shooters, this time half of them women.

I think we created 6 new women shooters. One maybe. (Kinda still afraid, but she was at least willing to try and learn)

Thought for the day:

 “We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.”

Ronald Regan

Pretty interesting:

2 years ago we had a REAL blizzard.

2 foot of snow in a day. . Winds about 70 MPH, Temps that fell from 35 one day to -20 F 30 hours later.

Visibility was measured in FEET. Road conditions went from so-so to VERY BAD in a few tens of minutes.

(I know, I got caught in it....spent 14 hours trapped behind a line of cars between two semis that spun out and corked up both lanes in each direction slept in the truck that night......'twas an inconvenience, but really not a big deal.... hardest part was having to go outside to pee in 70 MPH/-20 degree wind.)

Hundred of people trapped due to roads being blocked by accidents and spin outs and stuck Semi trucks. Once stopped then they were drifted in and trapped.  A real mess and the weather conditions were such that being outside was really life threatening, even with winter gear.

Never heard one word on the news media. Not One One Word.  They did talk about the roads in the City not being plowed fast enough....We chalked  our minor ordeal up to winter experiences and went on.... Winter in NW Indiana....




This year, a fairly mild and short duration snowfall, with winds in the 30 MPH range, again stopped a few drivers on some roads (mostly, again, due to Semi trucks being where they shouldn't). Temps were in the high 20's and winds were in the 30 MPH range 7-15 inches of snow over 10 hours... Not real dangerous conditions.....

The media is going apeshit over the situation....and how the drivers were trapped for AS MUCH AS 5 HOURS.  Interviewing a bunch of people who were, at worst, inconvenienced. "I've lived here for many years and I've NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD BEFORE.....Which is bullshit, as it happens every year. Some much, much worse.

Must be a slow news week or something.


Our ancestors traveled across the plains with horses and oxen and canvas topped wagons in weather as bad or worse....

I will say

That snow at  31 F is heavy and slippery, as compared to snow at 25F.

But it does make great snowballs.

Question for the lawyers out there:

Why is robbing a bank a Federal offense, but robbing a liquor store not?

I mean, the Bank is a private entity, same as the liquor store.

Not like robbing, say, a Post Office.

can anyone explain?

Apparently Northwest Indiana has become DC

'Cause a few inches of snow can shut down everything....


SO we got, in total, depending where you were, somewhere between 6 and 15 inches.

Lots and lots and LOTS of blowing snow.

Some drifting, but not that much. ('Twas too heavy, for the most part, to drift)

And the Sheriff called a "State of Emergency". Roads are closed for non emergency vehicles.(except snowplows)

For a foot of snow.  Big deal that a semi jacknifed on a State road. Some cars were trapped behind it. For (gasp) 2 hours!. Hadda be rescued bu the Fire Personnel. (2 years ago, over a hundred were trapped. We spent 16 hours 'til they cleared the wreck (s).  No "rescue".  (Of course, we were only one group of many that year). This year, cars  trapped for an hour or two are news.

Last year, conditions were worse 10 or more times. No state of 'mergency. We called it "Winter"

'Twas slick and windy and poor visibility. Was winter. Happens every year.

The sad part is that our OFFICIALS panicked.   Shut everything down. For a foot of snow over 12 hours.

Over a (relatively) small and short lived winter storm.

Apocalyptic February winter storm update

Not much, really.

about 7" of snow, a little blowing, visibility about a half mile or more.

Winds 15-20 MPH gusting to maybe 30. Roads are slick, but not that bad. So far.

And here, according to the Weatherman (men? persons?) , it was supposed to get bad......Blizzard conditions and all that. Hasn't gotten like that yet, at least not here

This was what I call "winter". A mild storm at that.  It ain't sunny and 60, but it is February.

So far, at least.

I've walked in worse. For a fair distance at that.....Coat but no hat.

I guess the Media just had to have something to talk about.

Now if the power will stay steady, things would be fine.

ETA: 18:00 Central: The roads that were slush are now frozen with ruts. Just got interesting.

Still not what I (or the National Weather Service) defines as Blizzard Conditions.

The County has, however, declared a State of Emergency. It ain't that bad though.

AAANNDDDD Apple was right...

See, the Feds didn't just want ONE phone unlocked.

They want the ability to unlock any Apple phone they feel needs to be unlocked.

Feds want Apple to unlock NINE other phones too..

Where does the line between Security and  your Consitutional right to privacy run?


(Besides, why not just ask the NSA (or the phone carrier) for the metadata to see who Farouk called/texted/emailed.

Besides the fact that "this was not terrorism related" .....

That'll teach him...

So we have a new kitten. (Named "FIVE"....don't ask) .

He likes to hide in the dryer. Which we have done our best to discourage, to no avail. (We are worried he will not be noticed and actually get accidentally shut in and killed in the dryer).

Yesterday, I was putting clothes in the dryer, and he, of course, tried to sneak in. Again.

I finished filling the dryer, set it for "AIR" (no heat) and closed the door.

Pressed " START"

Let him go around 2 times. (only two, mind you, lots of clothes to cushion him, so I knew he'd be fine). Thre wasn't even a "thump" as he went around.

I Opened The Door.....

He came OUT! at Warp 9 (and accelerating) with every hair on his body standing STRAIGHT UP and left the vicinity in full overdrive.

He hasn't hidden in the dryer since. (and yes, he is fine, I checked).

OMFGawd

Seems that we are going to get that 10-12" of snow with high(ish) winds.

This will be the first real winter weather this season, and people are PANICKING. Closures of businesses in a pre-emptive manner are happening as we speak.

Yes, as I post  there is approximately 0.05 inches on the ground after a smattering of sleet. The temp is right at 32 degrees and there is little or no wind.

It is expected that later today there might be winds up to 25 MPH. Which COULD led to "Blizzard Conditions". (Not what I was raised to think of a "Blizzard")

Jesus, I had to walk to school in worse weather when I was a kid.*.

There is being safe, and smart, and there is overreacting. I think this is the latter. I could, of course, be wrong.

Jesus, people, this is Northwest Indiana, not Washington DC. Get a grip, fer chrissakes.

Now, if you will excuse me, I should go join the herd and stand in line to buy French Toast Supplies**







*(I actually only had to walk about a thousand feet to the place where the bus picked me up.....but the school bus ran until the roads were impassable .
** I actually already have milk, eggs and bread. Plus butter and bacon. ....I plan ahead so I don't have to fight the rest of the herd. I also have emergency frozen bacon just in case. Plus canned bacon for serious apocalyptic moments. 

Almost missed it:

I meant to post this this morning:

Today is the day, 71 years ago, that the flag was raised on Iwo Jima by 5 Marines and one Navy Corpsman.

The first flag raising wasn't photographed. The second one was.

3 of the 6 men photographed were killed later. the other three survived.

Thought for the day:

.

Something sad about our society.

Kanye West gets more in a week on his GoFundMe than this guy does in months.

Page here.

And Kanye has done exactly what for our country or society? (I wouldn't unzip to put him out if his teeth were on fire, BTW, I think he is trash)

Got a few bucks that you can spare? (For SGT Hamlett, not the West POS).   Here is a Good Place to put 'em. (SGT Hamlett, not the West POS).

Racism: Alive and well.

Of course, it isn't Black people being discriminated against.

"“Due to white supremacy in our local government, this week’s BLM General Body Meeting location has changed,” a notice posted on the Nashville chapter of Black Lives Matter’s Facebook page reads. The notice says the group’s meetings are “open to black and non-black people of color only."

White supremacy....yep, 'cause the BLM people have to abide by the same laws as....whites.


But only whites can be racist, right?

The fambly that shoots together...

Has interlocking fields of fire if they are smart...

Y'know....

If Cruz would just be a guy, and not a politician,,,,,,if he would say what the rest of us are thinking and what Donald Trump isn't afraid to say....If he'd stop being PC and listening to whomever is his political advisor(s) and just be the man that he is rather than a politician.......

He'd likely beat Trump.

But since he is a politician, he turns many of us off. Since he is PC, and Trump isn't, since Cruz won't speak the truth but rather dances around it....since he is afraid to say what angers and offends certain segments of our country's demographic (who don't want to face those truths and most of whom won't vote for him anyway) whereas Trump isn't afraid.....


Cruz will lose.

Finally

First time in 19 years that I got to see the ENTIRE Daytona 500 pole to pole from my couch at home.

No interruptions, no crises at work to deal with,  no having to go in and watch it at work.

And I wasn't disappointed.

Dumb things overheard at the gunshow #5784

Customer to dealer:What is your bottom line for this gun?"

Dealer:"My cost is $634. I gotta make $25 to make the sale worthwhile"

Potential customer:"So will you take $575? "

I couldn't have said it better myself

So I will let her say it instead:

The real threats to our freedoms and liberties, at least since 1815, have never come from a foreign power. They have always been internal threats from the very people charged with defending our security.

Read, as they say, the whole damned thing.  The best part is the comic though

The bottom line

in the Apple vs FBI debacle is that Apple is saying:

"You can't ever trust your Government"

AND

"The Federal Government WILL misuse the power we give them"

Sad, but true.

Gunshew

Valpo Gunshow today and tomorrow.

Guess where I will be?

So...why the rush?

If they aren't burying Justice Scalia until tomorrow(Saturday) then why the rush to move him, declare his cause of death with no autopsy, and embalm him for the trip home?

Why wasn't there time for a proper investigation?

I mean, if there was some reason he had to be buried in a short period of time or something, then (maybe) I could understand.

That does not appear to be the case here.

So, why the rush?

Enough to make me think about buying

an Apple product (despite the inherent hardware issues)

Apple defies order to create backdoor software to unlock any IPhone.

On the one hand, the owner of the IPhone is dead....and a Terrorist. (besides, THEY assured us he and his wife acted alone snicker, so what is the big deal?)

On the other hand, this is a tool that WILL be misused. You know it, and I know it.

Kudos to Apple.

wasted

.

Turnabout is fair play

Via JOE:

"We should NOT confirm any Bush nominee to the supreme court except in extreme circumstances"

"Ideologues".

Now, the positions are reversed.




If you are so inclined, say a prayer for Judge Scalia and especially for his family.

Interesting

And very, very ODD.

"There will be no autopsy performed, a source familiar with the case confirmed to CNN. The decision for no autopsy was made both by the family and the Texas Justice of the Peace, the source said."  ('bout a third of the way down)

Ruled a heart attack over the phone....No autopsy...then quickly embalmed (in order to have his remains transported out of state, embalming is required by law)


Perhaps he was "Fostered". One would have thought that such an important figure would have an autopsy. I mean, it's not like he was some street guy who influenced or mattered to no one......He was, after all, a Supreme Court Justice.

Sure makes ya wonder. The conspiracy folks will go apeshit over this.

We are FUCKED

Justice Scalia found dead at Texas Ranch. 

Now, the dude was old, I admit....But....Vince Foster. Or not. I dunno

But still.....One wonders. RIP Justice Scalia.

Barry's pick oughta be....interesting....and we know that Congress will do what he asks, so.....Before the election?

ETA: Until the Clintons, no one would have thought that. About Scalia being "Fostered", I mean.
I find that sad.

You know you want one:

A most cunning hat, don't you think? 

Lesson:

.

Don't drive Honda CRV's in Boston...

At least, that was the message I got.

When it is time, it is time. Can't escape the hand of the Fates. Poor lady. Hope it was quick, is all I can say.

.

So the boys (and girls) in Burns

are NOT taking the reasonable way out.

Seems the Feds are trying to end this as peacefully as possible. But the folks at the Wildlife refuge don't seem to be reasonable (or rational). 

These folks appear to be suicidal. They lost, no one rallied to them. Their leaders are arrested (except for Ryan Payne, who appears to be a government agent (I could be wrong))

This isn't gonna end well.....and it isn't gonna be the fault of the Feds, either.

Y'know, the Patriot Movement doesn't need whackadoodles like this.

ETA: Update:: They finally surrendered.  Which was the smart thing..... Having said that, I thought they were "Not afraid to die" and had planned to "fight to the last" and all that.

I am glad that it is finally over.

Down 80%

Seems that since Maine told folks they have to do SOMETHING in order to receive food stamps (at least if  you are an adult with no dependents) that the number of people on the rolls has, oddly enough, dropped by 80%.

Now, if the rest of the country would follow that lead, we'd be able to stop wasting our money on people who have no ambition...

Personally, I think that we should drug test everyone who receives any handout from the government, state, local, or Federal. I'd be willing to be that there would be a similar drop in participation if folks had to make a choice....

Wisdom.

"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

~Albert Einstein

Cawfee in the morning:

.

Yah, still here

Just got noting to contribute.

No shadow

So maybe the Groundhog will bring us an early spring.

Likely, since we haven't really had a winter this year....

Because cops, that's why...

If this had been you, or me, or any other "civilian" (aren't cops civilians too?) then we'd be charged and doing time for firing blindly at these women. The "perceived threat" wasn't a reasonable one. Wrong make, wrong color..... But it was a pickup....

THIS is an example of the different standards of judgement and behavior for Police officers and the rest of us citizens (aren't cops citizens too?)

They are lucky they didn't kill each other, really. If their judgement is that poor, they shouldn't have badges and guns.

"Lock the doors"

Those was the words used by Flight Director Leroy Cain when it was determined that the Columbia was lost.

Ars Technica has an excellent article on the sequence of events.

HERE

It should also be noted that the foam composition had changed. The environmentalists (and the EPA) had caused NASA to change the foaming agent and the foam composition to one that was less toxic and more environmentally friendly....this made the foam much more brittle. So the foam strikes happened because the EPA and a few environmentalist were worried about a bit of Ozone Depleting Chemicals and a few pounds of not so terribly toxic material that might vaporize....a few POUNDS....

7 people died to save the ozone...

The Chinese must be getting desperate:

So last spring, I purchased a 3 point backhoe from a company in China.  Figured I'd buy one, and learn the import process and the issues involved and try out the unit, which was HALF of similar units marketed here in the states.


Nice little unit. Not perfect, typical Chinese engineering and manufacture.

Had considred importing a few more to sell at a profit, and had discussed the pricing for multiples with the factory rep.

After a bit of use, I decided that there would have to be some small modifications made to make me (and my future buyers) happier, so I had also begun discussion about those changes.

They refused to modify pricing, so our discussions stalled.....for several months..

Then, a month ago, they made a better offer on price via email. Then a bit better offer. Then they were receptive to the modifications.

THEN THEY CALLED ME AT HOME IN THE EVENING ASKING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET ME TO BUY SOME for import.

Odd that, .Must be that the stories are true.........Maybe their economy IS melting down.