I wouldn't use "stun Grenades"

The US embassy in Iraq was "stormed" by protestors.

Embassy security used "Stun Grenades"and "tear gas" to drive them back....

This is US sovereign soil. The Iraqi police ("Security Forces" have failed to keep the mob outside the walls. Were it up to me, I'd not use non-lethal force to protect the compound and the people within.

I'd use whatever force was required to keep those walls and gates secure.
Send a message. "Don't fuck with the US".

Do I want to see people killed? No, not at all. But being nice or using "Non lethal" force works for only so long.....Especially with a mob of folks like that.

A pile of dead bodies works better. Once they breach the gate, then all bets are off. If the Iraqi government wants to protect it's citizens, then they need to step up and provide security outside the walls. Letting a mob run amok inside the walls is, in itself, a message.

The US too needs to send a message. Being nice doesn't send the appropriate message.

It is all well and good to be nice if your opponent is rational. If they aren't, then one must Stop Being Nice. Nothing says "Don't fuck with the US, this is a line you cannot cross than wounded or dead members of the Mob.

If you keep on being Nice, then you end up with the same sort of situation that Carter gave us back in 1979.

Enough is enough. Stop being Nice. Be Firm, instead.

People respect firm, I would bet good money that it will only happen once. Then the Mob will respect the boundaries.

Remember: Slow Joe says....

"Use a shotgun, you don't have to aim"

Seems the Texas shooter (now at room temperature) followed his advice. 

Pretty good

30 feet away. (some say 50)

Head shot.

71 years old.

I'm not sure I could do that well.

And I practice fairly often.

Could you do it?

Funny

Funny strange, not Funny ha-ha.

The shooter in the Texas Church at White Settlement has not yet been identified.
In most incidents like this in the past, we know the identity and ideology of the shooter.
This time, not so much.

I wonder why? Perhaps because this time it was conservatives who were targeted and the shooter isn't a member of a "right wing" group?
Perhaps there is another reason...I dunno

ETA: Keith Kinnunen. But no other information. Which is wierd, 'cause normally we have all sorts of data immediately after an incident. 

If she had ebola would they tell us?

Asylum seeker from the Congo presents herself at the US border station at Laredo....

She said "she was suffering from abdominal pain and had vomited.”

She died in a hospital shortly thereafter.

Of what?
Would they tell us if it was something highly contagious?


Why would Congolese folks come to the US via Mexico, anyway?

Thought for the day:

"Duct tape can fix nearly anything...

Except that it cannot fix stupid.
(it can, however, muffle the sound)".

YMMV

It ain't the GUNZ

It's the CULTURE

Peter brings the news with a link to this article....

Conclusion: What we already knew: Gun violence is a (poor) black culture issue.
But also:
Gun SUICIDE is a  white cultural issue.
And the two are not related, really.

Go read the article...It pretty well lays it out.

Not really news to anyone who pays attention. But perhaps it will shed some light for those who just listen to the headlines rather than collect the facts.

At the end of it, CRIME in general is a black issue. Gun Crime is a significant part of that, but it really is the culture that is the issue.

Cries and accusations of racism in 3....2.....1....

You'd think they'd be smarter

Seems that more and more of PJMedia is going behind a Paywall.

Sad, but they'll be gone in 18 months or a year....

HA HA HA

It is to LAUGH

Poor Greta will be forever the laughingstock of her generation. 

The day after;

I gained 4 lbs eating all the delicacies that come out only once a year.

'Twas good to see my family, especially the nieces and nephews, Most of them have grown up and have been making their own way in the world, so I don't see them as much.

We ate and talked and cleaned up and then, way too soon, it was time for us to return to our own homes.

It was a good day.

Merry Christmas

Please, remember the Reason we have this Season.

If you are a soldier or sailor or other military, I hope you have the ability to spend time with your families.

If you are standing a post or a watch, then I thank you for your service and sacrifice this Christmas.
If you have a family member that the above applies to, please extend my thanks to them.

Same for those who are Police or Fire or other First Responders.

All of you: Merry Christmas and/or Hanukah.

Hard on the sled though:

And it ain't even a record:

Mid 50's (F) for the next few days. Before, during and after Christmas. Here in the greater Chicago area.
Fifty-Five Freakin degrees.
On Christmas.

Yet, oddly, it isn't even close to a record high temp for this next few days.

Record High is 64.

(record Low is -18).

Nope, not Glowbal Warmenating, sorry Mr Gore. Not even close.

At least we don't have to shovel all this sunshine, even if it does make it hard on Santa's sled runners.

Question:

If Hunter Biden didn't do anything illegal in Ukraine, and Joe (his father) Biden didn't do anything to prevent him from being investigated by the Ukrainians, then exactly how would an investigation of these two fine upstanding gentlemen by the government in Ukraine in any way benefit Donald Trump?

If there was "Nothing to hide" then why did Joe quash the investigation in Ukraine? If there is "nothing to hide" then why the big huhu about there even BEING an investigation? much less the accusation that Donald Trump "pressured" a foreign government using US dollars for his own gain

Think about it. What are they hiding? What, exactly would the "Quid Pro Quo" have done for Donnie if there is nothing to investigate?

Enquiring minds and all that....

This training is hard:

Instrument lesson.

Jesus, I am having to work HARD to learn these skills.

It just doesn't seem to be coming together. While I am sure it will, at some point, at this time I just can't seem to get all of my shit into one sock.

Holds are still a bitch.

But my RNAV approach last night was decent, if not great, until the last 500 feet....I lost both the approach path and the glide slope for a moment....Got slow and was low and left until I recovered (I was about to go missed). Then a decent, if not perfect crosswind landing. (Winds were 190 at 11, and I landed on 9). Didn't help that some other asshole on an approach on 27 (5 miles out) decided to turn the lights UP from low intensity to HIGH intensity on my last 50 foot of final. I was kinda blinded there for a moment, but still pulled it out.

This is harder than learning to shoot accurately at long distance. And I struggled to learn that, even if I did get decent at the end of my training.

Lots of shit happens really fast in an approach.

I am gaining a great deal of respect for pilots who do this shit every day.

Asking the hard questions about race

And why it is that Black people are pulled over at a higher rate than Whites or Hispanics or Asians...

(just like the same questions are asked why Black kids are disciplined in schools at a higher rate)

It could be that it is because statistics ALSO show where the crime rate is....

And where the crimes are committed...

And where the cities put their police assets to combat the crime levels.

But to actually put the blame for the crimes (and subsequent arrests) at the feet of those who commit the crimes is.....racist.
Which is why the issue will never get fixed. 

The fun of a 44 year old airplane

Did a lesson today. Holds were better, not perfect, but better.

Did 3 approaches, they were good. All RNAV, so pretty much just "follow the needles" Didn't talk to ATC, they were pretty busy.

Second approach, I couldn't get the Carb heat to work. Not the cable, it is brand new. So returned to the barn for some maintenance....

De-cowled the 182 and found that the pivots for the flapper were just dry. a bit of oil and they now move freely....Nothing wrong with the whole thing, it is just shit that happens. Tuesday and Wed the carb heat worked fine. I did the maintenance 'cause the main mechanic was busy and his help had all left after the lunch/Christmas feast....Plus I helped him re-cowl the last plane to be released today....I will never understand how someone can bitch about how long a repair is taking, especially one that is a last minute rush job, all while standing around watching the person who is doing them a favor by staying late work.

Irritating, but not a big deal.

Oh, and I broke the main hangar door. Halfway up (just high enough for the tail to clear) the main lift cable on one end just snapped. It's only 30 years old......

So the plane is gonna be hangared in the maintenance shop for the next few days until they can get a cable made for the big hangar door.

I think tomorrow I will fly to Clow International for lunch. 

Stop for pedestrian....

Ger blamed for a death, and cited with a $100 ticket.

Cedarburg police issue citations to 2 motorists in fatal bike crash, including to driver who stopped for crosswalk

Stop for a bike crosser AT A Crossing. Dude goes around her, strikes the crossing pedestrian...Who died from her injuries...They blame the person who stopped AS THE LAW REQUIRES.....not the person who struck the rider with his car. 

One wonders what they smoke in Cedarburg....

Innit interesting.....

How the Democrats are so worried about "The Citizens of the United States being able to choose their leaders"...and the "Integrity of our elections"....

I find it interesting that they ignore the tens of millions of dollars that were paid into Barry Obama's campaign via credit cards that came from overseas....

And that they COMPLETELY ignore the voter fraud in places like Baltimore (lots of fraud there) and the Hundreds of thousands of dead people who arise to vote every election in the greater Cook and Lake County areas in Illinois...in other words, resurrected by the Chicago Machine.

Or the persecution of Conservative campaign non profit groups by the Obama administration's IRS.

Or the failure to investigate the Entire Clinton Campaign....and it's many instances of malfeasance and outright lawbreaking.

But the "integrity of our elections" is suddenly important to the DNC boys and girls...When a Republican President is in office....I find it duplicitous that they conveniently forget that they claimed moments after his inauguration that they would impeach him. I haven't forgotten, and despite the Media failing to mention that, I think the American People haven't.

One could point out that the subversion of our voting process has happened here, in this country, led by the Democratic Party......their determination to damage or remove the duly elected president...one elected by the People of the United States, even despite the DNC led voter fraud. Who is trying to subvert our election process?

ETA: If they are really interested in doing justice, and not just removing TheDonald from office, why aren't they questioning the behavior of then Vice President Joe Biden for his role is squashing the investigation of Burisma (and his son) by both Ukraine and Latvia? I mean, he BRAGGED about it on National news, fer chrissake. Explain how that is different than what they accuse (but cannot prove) Donnie for: Using his power of office to enrich (or in this case, protect) himself or his family.

I don;t dislike the political fights.

I am angered by the duplicity and the double standards.  

You know it is the Christmas season

When you start seeing television ads for Chia Pets and Clap-On  and Ove-Glove.

Police "Protect and serve" the everloving shit out of her....

Bobbi Sapp was in her home asleep.

The Winter Park, Florida police had been called to do a well being check on her. Apparently her ex-boyfriend claimed she was heavily armed and suicidal....He showed the cops how to break into her home......

They failed to announce themselves, broke into her home and entered her bedroom while she was asleep.
When she woke up, she failed to obey commands quickly enough, and so one of the cops shot her in the shoulder. 

They claim she pointed a weapon at them (Oddly, only ONE cop shot her though...and only ONE round....Cops re not generally that restrained if they have a fear for their life)...She denies she pointed a weapon at them.

She has no record of interaction with the Po-Po before....ever. She is 49 years old.

They have charged her with attempted murder.

Know what happens if any of you are found uninvited or unannounced in my home at 3 AM (or any other time?)? Hell, my MOTHER or my Girlfriend is in danger if she is in my home unannounced at 3 AM...

I am sure Ms Sapp is thankful for the police protection though....

SO the Pensacola shooter did legally obtain his firearm

Seems he got hisself a Hunting License and was, therefore, legally able to purchase a pistol, even though he was not a US citizen....

See, this is the two edged sword of regulation.
A loophole that allows foreign nationals to purchase a firearm, Ostensibly for "hunting"....
Why even have any regulations at all?

Of course, one could restrict such rules to long arms, but in the end, it really doesn't matter.
He did indeed go "hunting". With a Glock 9mm pistol. Because he had a Hunting License. Also because he was a "Representative of a Foreign Government".

And the FBI was concerned about this "Loophole" ...a real one, not a made up loophole like the "Gun Show Loophole".
A question though: If the FBI was concerned that some foreign nationals were enough of a threat to warrant a memo, why were these folks here in the US at all?

And, of course, the real question: Since he was a representative of the Saudi Air Force, will they (the Saudis) pay for the care of the wounded and for the support of the families of the deceased?

Home automation

I hangar my plane in an unheated hangar. Since it is now winter in NW Indiana, that means the plane is cold when I go to use it.

So, on the advice of my airplane mechanic, I installed an oil pan heater. That way the engine is somewhat warm at the time I go to start it.
Except he advised me not to leave it plugged in 24/7, but only for a few hours before starting.

Dilemma: I live 20 minutes or more away from the hangar. It takes a MINIMUM of one hour for the heater to work it's magic.

Solution: Since there is WI-FI available in the hangar (or at least nearby) I use a Smart Plug, a wi-fi enabled plug to switch on the Smart Plug in the morning an hour or two before I plan to use the plane....

This is kinda handy, actually. So handy that I also have a (single) smart plug in my home to turn on a light when I am gonna be returning at nigh, obviating the need to keep a light on so I can see when I enter after dark.

I use an app for my Iphone to turn these two devices on and off.

I'd LOVE to use one of the Home Assistant devices (like Alexa) to do this, or even use Siri (which I have (hopefully) disabled) as this would be very handy....In fact, if i COULD use them, my home would likely be even more heavily automated. ("Siri: Warm up the plane")...

But I cannot trust any of the vendors of voice activated Home Assistant devices to ensure my privacy.....Not from the companies themselves, nor from them giving that data to a government nor even a third party. I can't even trust them not to record the sounds in my home (or picked up by my smart phone, for that matter)...

I simply don't trust them to keep my privacy. Not one bit. Not from their own "analysts", nor to keep my voice or other sounds in my home from being sent to (sold) to third party vendors without my knowledge, much less my government (who I definitely DO Not Trust).

For the same reason, I don't have any "internet of things" devices. no Ring doorbell, no Nest Thermostat, no connected TV. I simply don't want to have my privacy invaded. It's not like I have anything to hide, I'm not doing anything illegal or immoral, or anything that could get me into trouble....I simply like my privacy. And since the vendors of these devices can choose to do whatever they wish with the data these devices collect WITHOUT MY CONSENT, I simply don't own any. Don't purchase any, and won't own any.

Hell, I am not even sure my conversations in the vicinity of my cell phone or my cars are private anymore (but I have carefully labeled the correct fuses for the data collection devices in my vehicles in order that, should I choose to, I can easily disable them)...I can choose to leave my phone at home.

But if I put a listening device in my home, one where I have no control over the usage or monitoring of, then how can I expect to have any privacy? 

"Juveniles"

Yeah, it's becoming the new code word for "Inner City Yoots".

Another word: "Kids".

Zoolights Chaos: Video shows kids mob store near National Zoo, attack employees

Mobs of "Kids" are trouble, every time.

My Grandfather always told me that if the crowd becomes more than 50% "Yoots" 
"Juveniles" then one should leave the area 'cause there was gonna be trouble....So far, I have found him to be correct every time.

Odd that this doesn't happen in Amish neighborhoods,

You'd think they would have realized that it was slippery.....

Seeing as how they were salting the jogging/biking path...

Chicago Park District truck slides into Lake Michigan due to ice

Probably diversity hires. Fer shure politically connected hires. (gotta put those less than stellar cousins somewhere, right?) Notice that it took TWO men to drive ONE salt truck....

Both men were ok. The water off the edge of the breakwall isn't deep....

Amazing: Our Government actually CAN govern

Despite the acrimony and the just plain childish behavior on both sides, our government has actually done a replacement for NAFTA:

The USMCA agreement addresses (some of) the issues with NAFTA, and provides for a much better balance of trade between Mexico, Canada, and the US.

Is it perfect? No. But compared to NAFTA it is a great deal. And the House actually dealt with the President fairly enough for this deal to be agreed upon.
And, oddly enough, it appears that our Government, both the Congress and the House, as well as the White House, are willing to put the Country first, at least long enough to make this happen.

Frankly, I am shocked.
Happy, but surprised.  

excellent point

HERE

Well, at least they have finally done it

Now, perhaps we can move forward to end this farce.

I mean, all these months of Political Theater can begin to move towards an ending.

Sadly, I don't think the Dems realize how farcial this whole debacle appears to most of us.

At least it is now coming to a head.

What a biased, self serving, innuendo filled (yet wrapped in the mantle of the Constitution!!) set of statements the announcement was. 

Other people's money

"Education is a human right"

"Of course, we should give illegal immigrants free tuition"

"No, I'm not willing to donate any money to that cause"

That is pretty much every Democrat's socialist's attitude towards the causes that they think someone else should fund.

All those folks who think we should allow "undocumented immigrants" into our country are, of course, not willing to fund, nor house at their own expense, or in their own home, any of those undocumented immigrants.

Nor are they willing to fund someone else's Health Care.
Nor share their home with someone less fortunate than they are.

Never yet seen a Democrat who was willing to use their personal fortune to do any "Good Works" that they agitate for or "Support".

Instead, they want Someone Else to pay for it. They don't mind using someone else's money.



I am reminded of a young woman who worked for me when I ran a motel. She wanted me to give unused/unsold rooms to the homeless. A noble goal. (of course, these folks had been working the system of government assistance and church donations for several months already, but she didn't know that..she simply saw them as needy and felt that I should help them....

"Tell you what, Jen.....Instead of one room for one night, how about you split the cost with me....I'll donate half the cost of the room as long as YOU pay the other half.....that way they can stay for a few days or a week....."

She, of course, demurred and the "homeless" family moved on and did not stay at the hotel. In fact, since they had used up all the goodwill in the area they moved on to other areas where they could find other compassionate folks.

Odd, that. 

Pearl Harbor Day

"Infamy", and all that. (if it was "Infamy), may have been simply bureaucratic incompetence in that the Japanese may well have delivered a Declaration of War prior to the attack)

Also incompetence of the Navy leadership (but that is easily seen from the rearview mirror),,,,

Lots of Heroes that day. Many unrecognized.

And a turning point for the Navy, as the Battleships were destroyed or damaged, and the newfangled Carriers (which were not in harbor and therefore not sitting ducks) were undamaged.

But remember those who Served that day as well. They did their job, thinking it was peacetime, even if they were unaware that they were about to go to War.

I am amazed

That the Media is admitting that the Pensacola shooter was a Saudi citizen.
(and that he was aided and abetted by other saudis)


I expected silence as to the identities and origins of the shooter and a statement that it is "Not Terrorism Related". ...In other words, SOP.

And, apparently, there were two heroes, men who charged, literally, into the gun. Ryan Blackwell and Charles Hogue.

Question that the Media isn't asking: Where (and how) did a Saudi citizen, a guest in this country, get a pistol?

Won $50 last night

At the range, there was discussion of field stripping semi auto pistols and reassembly. Some folks said it was difficult:

I stated that I could field strip and reassemble a 1911 blindfolded, it was that simple. (and another dude claimed the same thing for him and his Glock)

So bets were made. The contest was on.

I was blindfolded (really) and took my empty (we checked before the blindfold...several times) full size 1911 and field stripped it, laid the parts out, then reassembled it...blindfolded (the only hard part is getting the pin into the barrel link, really). Won 20 from one guy, and ten from three others. (and I think there were some side bets going on, but I'm not sure) Then they bet me I couldn't do it again. I agreed, but there was no money on the table, so I did it again just to show off.

'Twasn't hard, until I went to put the slide stop in....it wasn't there! Seems that it was in someone's pocket.....I fumbled and fumbled and then gave up and took of the blindfold...
All laughter and I got my slide stop back.

And I proved a point...if you've been cleaning your firearm regularly for long enough, you SHOULD be able to do it blindfolded. (assuming your carry gun isn't something weird, like a Bergmann, or a Luger or a Broomhandle (ETA: or a Ruger Mk 2 or 3))

Glock Boy was able to do the same....Easier for him as there are fewer parts....But he did it with skill and speed....methinks he's done it before. He was faster, I think....

It was a fun evening, and I won some ammo money.

And proved a point. 

Antisemitism at CBS?

Today, on CBS This Morning, the commentators could not help but point out that Bloomberg would be (if elected) the first "Jewish President".

Now, I don't want ex Mayor Bloomberg to be my president. His record of thumbing his nose at the Constitution (Stop and Frisk, etc) is a big reason, as is his socialist tendencies...
Oddly, however, the fact that he is a Jew wasn't even on my radar. It is neither a reason to vote FOR him, nor a reason to vote AGAINST him. It really doesn't matter to me one way nor the other....his religious upbringing and whatever shape the Deity he prays to might be, I mean.

I wonder why Gail King and her staff at CBS thought that was an important fact? 

Strange Coincidence?

I dunno.....

So I stopped the plane last time with 666.0 hours on the tach.

Went to fly a Instrument lesson, and broke the Carb heat cable.....Taxiied back and ordered a new one.

We replaced the cable...did a runup. now tach time is 666.4

Went to move it, and had a low tire (new this last February). Filled the tire and moved it to the hangar as it was too windy (+50 MPH) to fly. Did a complete warmup before putting it away. Tach time now 666.8

Taxiied out today for a lesson (tire pressure was still fine). During the runup, left mag showed a 300 RPM drop and lots of engine roughness. Leaning the mixture and running the engine up did not help. Taxiied down the runway to the nearest turnoff. Checked again. Engine now runs fine (apparently the taxi at more power/higher load/higher RPM was enough to get the plugs to cleaning temp.

Tach time? 667.0...

Coincidence? Or something more sinister?

Either way, did a 1.4 hour lesson and had nary a glitch.

Odd that the entire 666.X hour was gremlin prone though. 

Odd Bank officer's suicides:

It seems that these "bankers" are dying by hanging..."Suicide"....Just like Epstein to whom they are (or were) connected.....

Odd, that.

Also, it seems that they at one time arranged some loans for the Trump Corporation, so who knows. Also Putin, so there is that.

But also connected to the late and unlamented (except for the stories he could have told) Jeffrey Epstein, who may or may not have been laundering money through those same banks and whose connection to both "bankers" is most recent.

Coincidence? "Arckancide"?  Likely someone tying up loose ends now that Epstein is safely silenced.

Second link via It Ain't Holy Water

Still alive

I just got nuthin' to say at this time. 

Not a chance

That I will join the crowds of lemmings people shopping at the "Black Friday" sales. I hate crowds of people normally, and the mentality of the Black Friday folks is weird.

If you choose to go, I applaud you. But there are no bargains great enough to get me shopping, standing in line, having to battle for parking, etc. 

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you are happy, spending this Thanksgiving day with family or friends.

I hope that each of you has much to be thankful for...even if life is not as we might like it to be at times.

I am thankful for many things. No, life isn't perfect, but I would bet that 92+ percent of the folks in most other countries would change place with me in a heartbeat. I remember that every day, but especially today.

For those who are forced to work today. I am sorry. For those walking a beat or standing a post, I am  Truly thankful for you and your work as well.

And for those who feel the need to go out and look for bargains this evening:
 Remember, it is because of you and folks like you that some clerks have to work instead of spending it with THEIR family or friends.

Socialism is the real reason we have Thanksgiving

Remember, the original Plymouth colonists were socialists, with food and other supplies held in common and distributed as needed and as determined by the colonies leaders.

So, essentially, working harder got one nothing. Few men worked harder, and few women worked harder to process the foods and fruits of the men's labor.

Why should they? Harder work, more work, less work, it all remained the same. One did not get more if one worked hard. Others could work as little as possible and still get their "Fair Share" of the harvest, the hunt, or whatever. 
There was no incentive to work harder, as there was no way to get ahead.

And that is the reason the colony was near starvation....and why they were so thankful for the help of the "Indians" that led to what we consider to be the first Thanksgiving. Of course, removal of the whole commune bit helped as well. Allowing people to hold their own supplies allowed them to actually gain from their hard(er) labor. Which made for a much more prosperous colony.

But without the failure that the socialist model caused, there would have been no reason for the thanks. And no reason to thank the Natives whose help made them prosperous.

"Come help me move a body"

"Bring some rope and a tarp if you have one".

Seriously, that is the phone call I got about 3 pm on Wed.

Now, Bobby is a good friend. Great guy. Outstandingly generous.

But he brooks no stupidity, and has a temper.

So it IS possible that he needs my help to "move a body".

(I'd not expect the call to come at 3 pm...more like in the middle of the night, but with Bobby, you never know....)

Anyway, he gave me an address that was only about 5 miles from where I live....

So I went, if only to see what was going on....

Many thoughts crossed my mind on the way.....

Was it a joke?
If not, what do I do? Help him move the body? (yeah, he's that good of a friend) or suggest he call the po-po......


As I drive there, I realize that I had been there once before....It's Ed's house....This could be good or bad.....

I exit the truck, and wander over to where Bobby is standing, just almost in the back yard...

And there is the body.
Of a Deer that had been hit by a car and had died in Ed's backyard....

Whew.
OK.
Well, then.

"Asshole" I said.
"yeah, but you showed up" he answered.

Took the three of us to load it into his truck. Bobby isn't young anymore and Ed is kinda crippled...Not that I am as healthy and strong as I was when I was 20 either....But it is loaded (and he has a DNR  tag for it) to dispose of, rather than letting it be eaten over the next few days by coyotes in Ed's backyard.

So now he knows who he can call, if and when....

I got some odd friends though...

Real WInd Damage:

A lady I know had a large limb come down and damage her Lincoln SUV while she was loading for a trip.

Might well total her car.

Pushing 60

MPH winds,

The local airport AWOS says gusts of 52 knots. (ETA Now 58 knots)

Luckily I (so far) only lost one small tree and just a bit of damage to the barn upon which it fell. It did not, however, do the 3 pt backhoe (dismounted) that it fell on any good.

Nothing likely enough to overcome the deductible, or t least not enough to make claiming it worthwhile. I will check further when it ain't so windy outside....like Tomorrow or Friday.

The one day a year I get to wear this T-shirt

Context HERE if you don't know

Passing of a Great

Today is the anniversary of the death of John Moses Browning.

Arguably the father of the modern auto pistol, as well as many other firearm designs.

An excellent point:

HERE

Burisma is getting what they paid Hunter Biden for....

Likely (but it will never be proven) with help from hiz daddy.

Ukraine Wants to Probe the Company That Paid Hunter Biden. But It's 'Too Sensitive'



And it is "Time" so you know there isn't a right wing bias....

This won't end well

I mean, if he has actual useful knowledge, then I would expect something bad to happen before he can tell his story....

I'm thinking "Arkancide" Also known as being "Fostered"

Jail guard  in Epstein "suicide" to cooperate fully with investigation

Just sayin'

(and there are a LOT of folks besides the Clintons who could (and would have a reason to) do this...wealthy and powerful people who have a LOT to lose, if the stories of Epstein's parties are true)

overflow into personal space....

So the School "Punished" the students with a 2 day suspension...

For doing something not on the school grounds, not done during school hours.

Student punished for "racially insensitive" ad posted on craigslist. 
(The ad advertised "Slave for sale" with a photo of a black classmate)

This ad was in poor taste, but other than the fact that the photo was taken at the school, there is no connection to the school. How is it that the school and the administration gets to discipline a student for this? What gives them the right to punish for free speech? Is this just social conditioning?
Where are the parents? Or is the school doing the parenting?

And now he is charged with a "Hate Crime".

I call BULLSHIT. Bad judgement? You betcha. Insensitive? Damned straight. Stupid? Yes. Bad taste? Yep. Despicable? Pretty much.

But, in the end, it is Free Speech, not a chargeable offense.

Punishment for this strikes me as RightSpeak.

Pretty much the same story in every DNC controlled environ:

Rotting infrastructure, Failure to replace or repair....

Woman struck by falling downtown light pole that rusted through at base.

Just walking along and the pole (which was rusted through at the bottom) fell on her. Subsequent inspection showed 4 other poles on the same block that were a danger and were removed.

It keeps happening. 4 Times (that we know of) in 2019, and apparently more last year.
 They've spent all the money on "Social Safety Nets", allowing people to sponge off the hard work (and thus taxes) of others, Instead of spending money maintaining the infrastructure that was paid for by taxpayers 30 or 40 or 50 or even more years ago, they simply ignore the maintenance and spend the money elsewhere for another year or 6.... Hoping that they will get by and it will be problem for someone else....

Which is ok, until the infrastructure fails and someone gets hurt....

From the CBS Evening News:

"Testimony by "Apolitical Public Servants"". 

One wonders what, exactly they are smoking and where can I buy some? 

perhaps Lush Rimbaugh was correct:

'Cause a WHOLE BUNCH of folks are hearing the headlines and thinking that the "Impeachment Hearings" are showing that Donald The Orange Bad Man Trump personally told the Ukranians to find some dirt of Hunter Biden in order to ensure his rule for life or something. I mean, anyone who believes that Trump is about to be impeached must be one of those "Low Information Voters"

I've watched and/or listened to a fair bit of the "testimony" at the hearings. While I can't say it shows the President in a good light, neither does it show any "Smoking Gun" or other evidence of the (current meme of the day as to his bad behavior) "Quid Pro Quo" (yesterday it was "bribery", before that is was somehow "campaign contributions" or something.
If you only looked at or listened to what the Media was telling you, you might believe that the testimony was damning. So far, what they claim is "Damning Evidence" is a bunch of innuendo, supposition, and finger pointing, but little hard fact nor unimpeachable evidence.

So really, despite the Spin placed upon the reporting, I haven't seen any more reason to believe the current charges than those of the "Collusion" charges.

And have you noticed that no one is trying to find a way to excuse (or explain) the payments to Hunter Biden? And not one of the DNC folks seems to think that there SHOULD be any investigation as to that whole bunch of folks, Biden, Burisma, (apparently) all the other DNC leaders children, etc....? Why is that? What are they trying to hide? 

only whites can be racist

Black college students could never be racist.

Because black people can never be racist.

Only whites can be racist. At least that is what I have been told for all these past years.

Yet here we have some proof that that just isn't so.

Black students demand ability to select roommates based on race. 

Now, I understand that black kids would be more comfortable rooming with another black kid. They'd feel more comfortable with someone of similar culture.

Yet if a WHITE kid said that he'd prefer a white roommate...well now, that is, of course, racist.

Funny how that works, innit?

INteresting:

So this keeps coming up:

HT Feral Irishman
And it is, apparently, true.

Odd, innit? Perhaps this is the reason the DNC types are working so hard at the Impeachment....

They wanna hide the fact....

Door Day

So the original steel door, installed in 1983, at the Range building had warped. It no longer sealed, and had a mechanical 5 digit lock (state of the art in 1983!) and needs replacement.

So...

Today is supposed to be the day, a high quality steel door and frame, and a Trilogy electronic lock.
Of course, this door and lock come with the proper panic hardware, so the Fire Department will be happier...they won't have to try to find a way to overlook the lack of any panic hardware on the previous door.

There should be 5 of us, so it shouldn't take too long. I already have the lock programmed with a basic set of codes.
It oughta be a good day. Rainy, but at least warm. 

More dubble standardz

See, the Media and the Democratic People's Party (or is it the Democratic Party of the People.....or the Peoples's popular Democratic Party.....or whatever...sorry, I digress...) have conveniently forgotten the uncomfortable fact (for them) that ALL of GW Bush's appointed Ambassadors were summarily dismissed in 2008 by Barry the Obama.....And little (if any) protests were registered......Because, at the end of it.....The Diplomats all serve at the pleasure of the President. And, like it or not, Barry was the duly elected President (eligibility for the office aside)....he won his office even over and above any doubt about the "Margin of Fraud" (at least the first time) and was, therefore, able to legally place whomever he wanted as the Ambassadorial Representative of the United States under his rule tenure as President.

Yet, oddly, they seem to think that Trump's dismissal of the Ambassador to the Ukraine is somehow unusual and illegal.

Strange how that works, innit? 

The coverup oughta be.....interesting

Cops never carry "Drop Guns". Never.

and all those guns that are turned over to police in "Buybacks" are always destroyed....
(Hint: ALWAYS get a receipt with a serial number WHENEVER you sell a gun, to cops or anyone else)

Via Insty:

Gun from Chicago buy-back program found near dead gang member in police shooting

I am SHOCKED to find out that a Chicago area police officer might do such a thing. Shocked.
This is my shocked face.

I'm not sure if I should ever fly it again:

This was the tach after I shut it down after flying yesterday, just before pushing it into the hangar:

Yeah, look at the time on the Tach:

666.0 Tach Time  on the engine.

So tell me

What, exactly, does the fired ambassador from the US to Ukraine, who has no firsthand knowledge of the "Quid Pro Quo" call,  have to contribute to the impeachemt hearings?

Yes, she has been an ambassador for several presidents, yes, she has been in some somewhat sketchy countries. Yes, being fired was likely devastating.

At the end of it all, any ambassador serves at the pleasure of the President of the United States. Period. Said President can fire any ambassador for any reason.

So, besides, "Trump Hurt my Feelings" what testimony did she give?

Why did they waste our time (and money) with her testimony? 

Good advice:

I need a sign like this on the door of my shop. 

Hearsay

So I heard that Uncle Joe Biden like to fondle women without their permission. And that he has paid off several of them/
Does this mean that we can toss him out of the running for president?

I mean, really, So far, all I have heard is a whisper campaign and a bunch of repeated gossip and allegations, (much like a bunch of 9th grade girls) but no solid testimony and no first hand knowledge. 

Why is hearsay accepted as evidence here?  

Armor

I was researching body armor....

There is a LOT of vendors out there, with plate carriers and plates made by many firms, from many different materials. Ceramic plates are, apparently, the best....but they are a lot more expensive ...but lighter. Steel is cheaper and a bit heavier for nearly the same performance.

One thing I find interesting is that MANY of the steel plates offered are made from AR400 or AR500 steel. Lots of references to those two numbers. Fully 2/3 of the steel "Ballistic Plates" offered are advertised to be made from one of those two alloys. Being the type of person who likes to learn things, I researched these two steels (as well as a bunch of the others that are offered)

But, sadly, neither of those commonly used steels are intended to be used as Armor Plate....they don't have a great deal of penetration resistance, nor are they intended to be used as "Armor". Instead, they are meant to be "Abrasion Resistant"....and dent resistant...Neither of these steels is supposed to be "Armor". They aren't much better for "armor" as we think of it than general cold rolled steel.

Why do "armor" vendors sell plates made with non-armor steel? More importantly, why do people buy enough of them that they are even for sale?

Brrrr

11 degrees F outside. One one. *We didn't get to single digits, but they did a few miles from here)

And it ain't even Thanksgiving yet.

I can't handle much more of Mr Gore's Glowbal Warmeinzing.

Oh, yeah, I forgot, when it is record cold it is just "weather".

Whatever. Still cold. It's warmer in Anchorage.
Ah don't like it aytall. 

71 %

The people of Tucson voted overwhelmingly for the rule of law...and against an invasion of non citizens.

Liberal City of Tucson, AZ Overwhelmingly Rejects Sanctuary City Proposal

Watch the video in the article.
She seems to think that just because someone has family here in the US they have reason to flaunt our immigration laws....that they have the RIGHT to be on US soil without permission. That they have the right to work. That they have the same rights as citizens of the US.

The people of Tucson felt otherwise. Good for them. 

Say "Thank You"

Today, here in the US, it is Veteran's Day.

Take time today to thank all of the Veterans you know, or that you come across today. Their service, whether in peacetime or war, no matter what branch of service,  is what has kept this country free.....Kept your way of life possible.

Do say "Thank You". Honor their service. Buy 'em lunch or pay for their coffee. At least give your thanks.

Personally, all year long I thank every vet I meet (those that I can identify, anyway) for their service to the citizens of this country. I buy a fair number of lunches and such. I think it is worth it as a token of my esteem for those who signed up to serve.

The Witch of November

Nov 10th, 1975.

29 crew gone.

The ship sunk.

So tragic a maritime accident that there were ballads composed about the loss.

The Edmund Fitzgerald.

Gordon Lightfoot did the most famous telling of the story, I think.

pretty much all the wrong things:

From September 7th....The NTSB has just released the accident report:

 So, a single seat airplane, carrying two people,  with 2500 or so lbs of "Pink Water"....flying low and slow.

What could go wrong?

Plane crashes during "Gender Reveal" stunt. 

Pretty much everything that they taught me not to do,

In other words, fucked up by the numbers.

Luckily, no one was seriously injured.

But stupid, poorly planned stunts usually lead to stupid failures.

At the end of the day, one has to realize that cropduster pilots are insane and take terrible risks. (They are also pretty good pilots, at least normally). 

IF the colors were reversed,

People would be crying "Racism" and such.

Possibly even "Hate Crime"

Teacher brutally beats student. 

Not a proportional response. If a teacher can't handle things better than this, they should not be allowed to be  teaching students.

In the day, a parent or another adult family member would have handled this sort of issue and there would be a lesson learned. And people would have expected things to happen that way. I'd insist on jail time were that my kid. 

Records:

Gonna be cold the next week to 10 days..

Really cold.
Near record cold, Like at or near single digits here in the greater Chicago area.

I call Global Cooling.

We MUST produce increased amounts of Methane, CO2, and other greenhouse gasses in quantity to prevent an ice age. It is a crisis. There may well be a consensus of affected people.

This isn't just weather here, folks.

Update: It appears the arctic air will (likely) set records across the US, from the Central Plains all the way to the Deep South.

But no worry? It is just "Weather" not "Global Warming" "Climate Change"....

'Twas pointed out to me yesterday evening

That it is time to do Christmas Decorations...and I had better get started:

" Because, unlike Epstein, they won't hang themselves"

I had no cogent reply to that. 

Winter planning

Pulled the gas out of the chainsaws yesterday. filled 'em each with a teaspoon full of a mix of Coleman fuel and the appropriate amount of oil, and ran them dry.

All the other 4 cycle equipment that won't (probably) be used until spring got a similar treatment (minus the oil, of course) Run empty, refilled with a bit of fuel that will evaporate and not leave residue or varnish behind, and run until completely empty.

This ensures they will start when needed after sitting for months.

I recommend this for all gasoline powered equipment.
Especially stuff you might need in an emergency.

Proper storage matters. 

You gotta wonder why....

Many restaurants have really bad coffee. Like they only buy floor sweepings from a Starbucks roasting plant or something....

And they know it, you can tell. They take really bad coffee and make it really strong. So you end up with coffee that is mostly undrinkable. (perhaps so they never get asked for refills??)

Its like the Liberals.and their programs..something doesn't work, a government program returns shitty results, so we should do it more.....only harder.

Same same with coffee.
Coffee isn't hard, one simply needs to start with a good product, and do it right...proper proportions brewed correctly.....which makes for a good cup.
Shitty ingredients are NOT improved by heavier dosing.

Thought for the week:

You only have the right for which you are willing to fight (And possibly die).







We have a Ballot Box. We SHOULD be using it.
Yet the lies, cheating, and fraud make that box much less effective than it should be.

We have other boxes, but when to use them? 

Thought for the Day

"The Harder You Work, the Luckier You Get..."

Joe Ricketts, founder, TDAmeritrade.

Analysis: True (in most cases)

Gonna be a long day

We are doing a Hunter Ed course today at the range.

27 kids registered. Plus likely 4-6 walk ins. (We don't ever turn anyone away as long as we can fit 'em into the classroom)

I'll be working 'til 5 or 6.

But it is paying it forward, and all that. 

It occurs to me

That the Democrats must really, really believe that each and every one of their candidates would lose against Trump in 2020.

Otherwise they would not be spending so much political capital in their efforts to drive him out of office with their push to impeach the man.

He must really scare them, and they must realize how badly they will lose against him in an election where they cannot manipulate vote counts easily. Trump won against them, beating the "Margin of Fraud" once, and they know they cannot manipulate the votes to the same magnitude the next time. 

Just a point:

If you watched Blade Runner, then realize this:

It is NO LONGER THE FUTURE.

Blade Runner was set in....November 2019.

Also, if you knew what "Blade Runner" was referring to, then you ARE old.

Still no flying cars though. 

A climate record

The most snowfall on Halloween:

A 96 year old record smashed. Yet no claims of "Climate Change" since it doesn't fit the meme of Thermageddon.

But, according to the "Climate"Experts"", this is just weather, not evidence that the climate is cooling or anything.
Of course not.

Odd how records that are broken to the warm side are "evidence" of Global Warming....But those that show (possible) cooling are just weather. 

That strange sound at 2 AM

So I awoke about 2 AM, not knowing why....

I laid in bed for a while, trying to figure out what had awoken me....

Then I heard it. That sound that I could not identify.....

Now, if you are a guy, you likely know each and every sound that your house makes (and why), each sound of every piece of machinery, the creaks and groans, the noise every mechanism makes, the sound every pipe makes as it expands and contracts, the groans that the structure makes as it cools or heats up, etc.

This one was none of those. It didn't fit. Wasn't "normal".

So I laid there for a moment, trying to figure out what it was.....
'Twas a low hum.
then it quit.

then it came back.

Then it quit again.
Pretty much about on a 4 minute interval.
Then it came back. More or less 60 hz. Kinda like what a battery charger makes at high amps.....

Strange.

I got up, walked the house....couldn't identify it. Couldn't even localize it.
Put on a pair of shoes and went into the garage. Nothing.
Went down to the basement.
It got a bit louder.

I tracked it down to the east wall. There are only two pieces of equipment there, plus the washer and dryer, both of which are not turned on....but I unplugged them just to be sure that they weren't the source. (They weren't).

Wasn't the water softener, either.

What WAS making that sound was the sump pump.
Seems that the motor (or impeller) was locked up. The motor was TRYING to start, but couldn't turn. So it sat there, stalled, for about 2 minutes, humming gently. Then the thermal cut out would shut off the power and it would cool down.
Wash, rinse. repeat.
(The usual failure mode for these pumps is the bottom bushing wears and they become too noisy for me to tolerate, necessitating replacement)

The sump pit was full, at about 150% of the normal level.

Luckily, (or perhaps it is just good planning, I dunno) I had a spare all set up and ready.
Unplugged the power, pulled the pit cover, unscrewed the union connection to the standpipe, pulled the pump out, put the new pump in the pit, connected the union, plugged it in.
Let it run while I put the pit cover back on.
Total time to change it out was less than 10 minutes, and that long only because I was still only half awake.

I firmly believe that if you need a sump pump, you need a spare on the shelf. "2 is one and one is none" and all that....
Today I gotta go buy a new sump pump.


ETA: And, of course NO-One has the pump I need in stock.
(I still have 2 serviceable, but worn and noisy units as a backup though),

Book recommendation:

If you read this blog regularly, then I think you'll like this book. IF you were born from the mid sixties to the mid 70's then you'll get most of the references.

HIGHLY recommended reading. One of the few that are worth the price:

The Heretics of St. Possenti by Rolf Nelson.

Well written, well thought out, well researched.
And just a damned good book.

I was not compensated for this recommendation. I just think it is a good read. As good as (although different than) the Grey Man series

Y'know...

Most people have forgotten by now that Jeffrey Epstein was (very likely) killed in his jail cell by persons unknown to keep what he knew quiet.

If he was a suicide case, then I still want to know how it was that the cameras and monitoring guards so conveniently were ineffective? Were those guards fired for incompetence? Were the whereabouts of all the other people working at the facility checked and accounted for?

You know (or at least, if you have more cognitive ability than cauliflower or cilantro, strongly suspect) that Epstein's death wasn't a suicide. Yet the media and our politicians have decided to let the case die a death by being ignored.
It shouldn't be ignored.

At worst, those "Guards" should be tried. Anyone close to the area should be watched for 5 or more years to see if they got a sudden financial windfall (or are strangely and suddenly killed in a freak bowling accident or something).

No matter how we slice it, it appears that Epstein was silenced. And our government, Law enforcement, and our Media is allowing whomever orchestrated that death to get away with it.

So much for the rule of law. 

Our "betters" would tell us differently though:

You rubes just don't know as much as Pelosi and her ilk do...

Yet this from a Microsoft poll:

Do you agree or disagree with Colonel Vindman's assessment that President Trump's request to have Ukraine investigate political rival Joe Biden "would undermine U.S. national security"?

14%

Strongly agree

2%

Somewhat agree

7%

Somewhat disagree

75%

Strongly disagree

3%

No opinion / Other