Friday, May 31, 2019

Why we aren't getting the best anymore

Once, immigrants had to take an arduous (and likely expensive) journey to reach their new home....and it was difficult, if not impossible to return to the "homeland"....One left friends and family behind, possibly never seeing them again. This sort of journey required committed people, strong of heart and generally those willing to work hard and endure in order to find a better life. The weak/lazy, fearful and yes, less intelligent stayed, and the strong, brave and (generally) more intelligent were the ones willing to emigrate to a new land....This is why, in part, the Untied States became the best, most productive country in the world.....for a time. We got the strong, brave resourceful and intelligent souls from Europe and other countries and they helped make America what it was (our laws and COnstitution helped there as well)

Now, one can travel from continent to continent in a few hours, tens of hours will get you nearly around the world. There is no hardship in the travel, and nearly anyone with enough money to buy a ticket (and such travel is, comparatively, cheap) can move to another country relatively easily. SO now we get the lazy, the indigent and the weak, where once we got the brave, industrious and strong. The filter of difficulty and commitment has been removed....there is, effectively no barrier for people to move th where the lickings are better.

Add it governments trying to "help" people by making settlements in our larger cities (See also: Somalia in Minneapolis) the allowances made for illegals in Sanctuary cities and we, as a nation, are weakened rather than strengthened by immigration...Yes, we still get some of the best and the brightest, but they are becoming a minority more and more every day. We also get much of the detritus of other countries....

So the answer of why we no longer get the best, brightest and most motivated people....people with a strong work ethic and with a drive to succeed....Immigrants that enhance and uplift our country....

It is simply to easy to get here, and once here, too easy to live (and stay) here.

We need to work on that.


Thursday, May 30, 2019

Thought for the day:

If at first you don't succeed:


Then skydiving may not be a good choice of hobby. 



Tuesday, May 28, 2019

IQ falling across the world:

So it would seem that people are noticing the fact that where there is immigration from Third World Countries there is a drop in the average national IQ.

DUH. I mean who'da thought?

The Third World is the Third World for a reason. Not because the rest of the world is keeping them down. 

And in the end, Third World Immigraton will lower not only the IQ of those countries, but their ability to feed, clothe and defend themselves.  Eventually to support themselves at all. It will destroy the country economically.

One might think that this is a plan....

Monday, May 27, 2019

Enjoy your Holiday

But, while cooking out and being in the company of friends or family...

Take a moment and remember those who DIED to give you the freedom and security to be able to enjoy this day off.....

This day is in remembrance for those folks, not just a 3 day weekend.

Take a moment. Raise a glass. Say a prayer.

Remember.  Say "thank you"....They'll hear it.
Trust me.


Sunday, May 26, 2019

Racing weekend:

This is the one Sunday of the year where I watch Formula One racing at Monaco in the morning, Then the Indy 1500, then later in the day, the Coca-Cola 600. I do nothing productive all day. And I don't care.

But the commercials are starting to frighten me.

Especially the Chevy commercials. I am sure that they are effective, and that is what scares me. If those commercials are effective in the 20-30 year old demographic, then I am really afraid. We are screwed as a nation and for the foreseeable future. Totally fucked as far as future leadership or a decent, thinking, intelligent population.

No wonder folks like Ocasio-Cortez get elected. 

'Twas nice to see

The Formula One racing community take a moment and remember Niki Lauda before the race at Monaco..

He may have been one of the greatest drivers of all time, and was a great ambassador for Formula One.

It was nice to see the teams give tribute. 

Went to the drag races last night

One wonders how those men can run that fast in those high heels. 

Saturday, May 25, 2019

No one

Is willing to admit it....

Strange.

One might think that Germany, of all places, would NOT allow or tolerate anti-Semitism.

"I can not recommend Jews to wear the Kippa anytime anywhere in Germany. Unfortunately I have to say so, "said Felix Klein the newspapers of the Funke media group. He had his opinion "compared to earlier unfortunately changed".

He justified this with the "increasing social disinhibition and brutality," which presented a fatal breeding ground for anti-Semitism . About 90 percent of the crimes are attributable to the extreme right-wing environment. For Muslim perpetrators, it is mostly people who have lived in Germany for some time. "Many of them watch Arab stations that convey a fatal picture of Israel and Jews."

Instead they blame "the extreme right wing environment". Odd.  Why not admit the truth? It isn't so much the "Native" Germans as the new immigrants that Ms Merkel brought in. Why are they such a protected group?

And were I Jewish and lived in Germany, I'd arm myself and my family in order to protect them from the coming second wave Reichskristallnacht.


Toldya (again):

Seems that lots of women are finding out (and writing about) the consequences of painting all men as predators, especially in the workplace......

Many bosses (Male ones, at least), realizing that they cannot win if accused (no matter if it is a false accusation by a mean spirited harpy or a real, legitimate complaint) simply forted up and chose not to interact with female employees....The safest course of action.  (Not that some women would lie, I mean,....All women should be heard. Because victimhood. Because Patriarchy. Because predation. (I mean, if women ARE that fragile then perhaps they don't belong in the workplace, after all??))

And it isn't like the definition of harassment is ever changing to make men look bad no matter what they do, what action they take.

So the easy way is to simply reduce all interaction to women subordinates to an absolute minimum....Which is the path many, if not all, male bosses are taking...because really, it is the only safe way. So women lose the mentoring, and the learning and the social interaction that can help them learn and advance.

The MeeeToooo movement has "won"...and women lose. Because feminism is a farce.

Friday, May 24, 2019

Much like a Noose:

Here in the US amongst our Black community....

Anything can be seen as a "hate symbol" if you choose to see it that way.

Swedish Government Is Looking to Ban Historic Rune Script and Viking Imagery as “Hate Symbols” Against Ethnic Groups

I know a fair number of folks from that part of the world who wear a Mjölner on a chain to show their religion....no different that a Star of David is worn by jews or a cross by Catholics. But the hammer will be banned because it "disturbs" those "ethnic" immigrants

This oughta be interesting to watch....

At the end of the day, how much are we willing to change our lives and culture to accommodate those who would invade our lands and who hate us and our way of life?

Thursday, May 23, 2019

AAAANND... there you go

Nothin' to see here folks. Move along.

So a bunch of past NRA presidents have written a letter saying that they support Wayne LaPierre. Big deal. (may have to hit the "X" in the uper right corner to view the facebook page)

I notice that the past two presidents, Ollie North and Pete Brownell AREN'T signatories.

And the letter doesn't explain the abuses.

Oddly enough, as a Life Member, I didn't get the letter....but I DO  get 3-5 a week explaining why they need me to dig deeper into my pockets to help the NRA meet their bills as they Continue the Fight to Keep My Rights (and Keep WLP in good suits and to fuel his plane).

Not a dime, not one thin dime until WLP goes and we get some fiscal responsibility and some new and honest Board members and perhaps a restructuring....

The NRA has become what the Wounded Warrior Project did. A travesty and a Farce.  A profit center for the directors.

If I could get a refund on my Life Membership, I would do so. 

Midwest flooding

Lots of rain in a short time.....

Oddly, low lying areas flooded when Mother Nature dumps large amounts of rain in a very short time.

I would bet good money that the areas that have flooded in Oklahoma and other places have flooded before. Maybe not every year, nor every 10 years, but it has happened at that spot before.
But people build there, and are then surprised when their houses flood when the area gets torrential rain.




Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Abortion protests

Didja notice that the signs held up by these "grassroots" protesters are professionally printed?

Odd, that, when we are told by the media that these are not professionally organized, that this is "Just a spontaneous protest by concerned women"

More holding practice

This is turning out to be harder than I thought it would....

Winds at 3000 feet were pretty stout from south to north. And my hold was east to west.

My hold wasn't the nice oval that it is supposed to be. Nor were the legs each the same length. more like a teardrop. Gotta work on that.

Having said that, My approaches to 2 different airports were pretty nice. But not what they need to be.

My straight and level flying on instruments isn't too bad, nor are my climbs and turns...my navigation is pretty decent too. But the holds are a bitch.

This IFR flying is difficult sometimes....But practice will improve that, I think.

like learning to shoot well, practice and a decent teacher are the key.



Monday, May 20, 2019

I cannot help

but wonder how many times David Begnaud got his ass kicked in High School or at whatever College he attended....I mean, wedgies or locked in a locker or faced in the toilet or other sorts of Bad Things in humiliation because of his looks and mannerisms.

I mean, he's obviously someone's boifriend who is a player at CBS.....
And he's just kinda weasely and creepy.

But hey, however he got there, whatever he had to do to get his job at CBS,  I am sure he makes more money monthly than I do yearly.


Sunday, May 19, 2019

Shocker!

Criminals lie.

Desperate people will use children as tools.

People who do illegal things have no morals about lying.

Illegal boarder crossers lie and cheat....

Such a shocker.

Nearly one third of illegal border crossers with children claiming asylum are NO RELATION to the children with them.

This is my Shocked face. 

Toldya so....

Seems that women are finding that that #MeeToo movement is hurting their chances to advance in business....and now women say that that is unfair and now men need to "Step Up".

Those terrible, mean, insensitive, uncaring men won't meet with them one on one, won't take them to lunches or dinners for mentoring, won't travel with them....Just to protect themselves from accusations....

Odd, that. Being accused of rape, or attempted rape, or other sexual improprieties scares men. Frightens them that they could lose their careers, reputations, and incomes...

And who can blame them?

Women are reaping what they sowed. 

And Congratulations

To my Niece. Who is now a Nurse.

Lots of hard work, lots of dedication. And more hard work.

And graduated with a degree that will be useful to her for the rest of her life.

An actual, degree that will provide her with a job.

Some smart young ladies in my family there.







Saturday, May 18, 2019

But....that's not what they told us!

So it would seem that there are FEWER racist incidents and fewer racist comments since Trump was elected....not more as we were told.

Odd, isn't it? How often the Media and the Democrats LIE about things Trump.

But then again, the Media is, mostly, just spokespersons for the Democrats and repeaters of Democrat propaganda.

Are there still racists out there? Yes. Lots....too many. Both sides. Black Racism is still prevalent, and Latino racism, while still out there, si simply less strident. White racism gets more press, but there isn't more now than there was then...it is simply what the press chooses to cover (and, more importantly, what the press chooses NOT to cover to hide and to influence public opinion.....).


Friday, May 17, 2019

Another nail in the coffin

of Chicago.

Hospitals will be forced to give more free care.

Wanna bet that this will increase the number of hospitals closing in Chicago? It certainly isn't gonna induce anyone to open another state-of-the-art hospitals...

And why should anyone pay for water now? Mayor Lightfoot claims that she will immediately stop water service shutoffs for non-payment. 

So who is gonna pay for the water system? Upkeep and replacement and upgrades? in 20 years Chicago's water system will be worse that Flint Michigan's.

The only thing that Lightfoot had over her opponent was that she wasn't part of the Chicago Machine...But she is a socialist who has no clue how to run a city.

Chicago had little choice....A socialist who will destroy the city or a Machine Politician who would loot it.

Expect Chicago to move more towards the Baltimore model in the next 4 years. the "Rich" will move to the surrounding areas and Chicago will end up with only the poor and the indigent....And business areas will soon move elsewhere too, as crime increases....Just like the current South Side issues.


Which is it?

You can't pick and choose here, folks:

Either the Tenth Amendment is valid, or it isn't.

Pick one or the other.

If y'all get Sanctuary Cities and legal marijuana in your state, in violation of Federal laws, then Alabama gets to ban abortion in their state. Those laws were voted on and passed by the legally elected representatives of the citizens of Alabama.

Since in other states the Tenth is in force, then it is in force with this law too....like it or not. Just because Roe V Wade and abortion is a court ruling that is near and dear to the hearts of Democrats and Liberals doesn't make it any more special or sacred than any other law.

You can't Cherry Pick which federal laws are subject to the Tenth and which aren't. Either the Federal laws trump the States or they don't.

If Marijuana is legal in Colorado despite Federal Law saying it isn't....then Roe V Wade can't be enforced in Alabama either. If Democrat run cities can be Sanctuaries for Illegal Immigrants, then Alabama can ban abortions in that state. 

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

I'm a big Tenth Amendment kid of guy. The Feds have limits on the laws they can have and enforce. While I am not a fan of abortion, I believe that  Roe V Wade should have been passed back to the States and the Supremes should not have ruled upon it or even heard the case.

The Democrats, however, wish to pick and choose where the Tenth is applied. Can't have that.

Pick one or the other.


Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Not quite what we have been led to believe....

Seems that there is another viewpoint of the way the NRA operates:

According to Colonel West, the vote for officers didn't go exactly the way that it was portrayed.

Nor is the Board unanimous in it's support of Wayne LaPierre.

I, for one, will not give the NRA a dime until he is removed....and further, until there is fiscal (and other) reform within the NRA.

I've been unhappy with the NRA for a long time....their performance, their finances, and their failures. They may well be the loudest voice that we, as gun owners have, but the board has hijacked the organization.....and the Board has failed the members.

And I voted, but I wonder if they even count them. This is the second year that I had to call the NRA to get my ballot....it wasn't in my monthly magazine. That, in itself, was a hassle.







Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Lock up yer daughterz....

The Weiner is loose!

I expect the games to begin shortly. 

Holds and ILS

Did some holds today. Harder than I thought they'd be. Flying the intersections was easy compared to the last time.  The Hold was somewhat difficult. It'll be easier next time.

But the ILS approach and the actual landing were fun.

It was kinda neat to take off the Foggles at the Decision Height and be right where I should have been
There was, effectively, no wind to correct for, and so all I had to do was fly my needles and pay attention to airspeed and my landing checklist. Did a nearly perfect touchdown on 27.

But I am tired. Lots of stress today.

1.5 and 2.



Tim Conway:

Has passed.

I think his best ever sketch was the Elephant Story.

It is one of the funniest sketches of all time:



One wonders how they could actually do anything, what with that bunch of excellent comedians....They must have hurt from laughing so hard.

He will be missed. 

Monday, May 13, 2019

Intersections.....and getting lost

So I flew an IFR lesson on Saturday. Flew VOR bearings and then intersections. It was going pretty well....for a while.

Then I made my mistake and tuned the wrong VOR...# 1 instead of #2 nav radio..........followed the bearings on the needles toward the wrong VOR radial and thus an incorrect heading.

Since I was paying attention to the time, I realized (eventually) that I had flown past the point in space and time where I should have found my intersection. 15 miles should have taken 10 minutes at a speed of 90 knots...I had been flying the bearing for 16.

Took a minute to figure out that I was flying the needles towards a bearing that WASN'T my intersection.

My instructor smiled. She knew what I had done, and let me do it so I'd learn.

Then, she told me to figure out where I was using only the two VOR's.
Which I did right the first time,  only took me about 3 minutes to figure out.
Then I had to figure out how to fly to the original intersection that I should have been going to before my fuckup.

'Twas an interesting lesson in navigation. And an interesting lesson in what not to do to prevent the very predicament that I was in.

Apparently, it is a mistake everyone makes...at least once.

Hopefully, this is my one time.

1.8 and 2, as Aaron puts it

Was supposed to take my Dad somewhere today, but the ceilings were too low. I decided that since conditions were WAAAY below my personal minimums, he'd have to wait. I didn't want to disappoint him, but wasn't gonna fly into rain with a 900 foot ceiling and hope that things improved before I got there.

Another IFR lesson tomorrow so I can be less dependent on clear and sunny skies.....eventually.

My goal is Instrument pilot by August and a twin rating shortly after....maybe then a faster and bigger airplane.

I gotta hit the books a bit more though.






Sunday, May 12, 2019

Happy Mother's Day

Y'all might not know it, 'cause we don't always show it, but we appreciate you very much.


Saturday, May 11, 2019

Congratulations Dr. Niece!

There is a Doctor in the family...another one, actually, as this is the second niece that I have that has earned her Doctorate.....

And, again, like the first niece Doctor, not a useless Doctorate in French underwater basketweaving literature history,  but one which will allow her to have a profession, earn a great living (she will start at a salary that, adjusted for inflation, is TWICE what I started at as an engineer many years ago). Little to no debt, and real, in demand, productive job skills.

I am proud of her and her accomplishment. It didn't come easy, but she succeeded.

This is the American dream.  Both of my Grandfathers were hard working, but not extremely well educated. Working class. Now we have 2 Doctors in the family, and another niece to graduate with a degree in Nursing in a week or so....and another one graduating as a Doctor 3 years out.
Hard work and intelligence, combined with a society that fosters upward mobility for those that are willing to earn it can lead to great things.

I am very proud today. 

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Awesome(r) deal:

An entire AR for $260

(I have found that most "blemishes" are hard to notice on PSA items. I can guarantee they will not affect the functionality of the piece)

PSA must really be overstocked.

But hey, a decent AR kit for less than three hunnerd bucks?

Ain't America Great? 

only $0.30 per round

For Lake City XM855 62 G green tip Steel penetrator.

Of course, you gotta buy the whole barrel of 12,500 rounds.

You oughta get free shipping with that, but nope.


Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Screaming deal alert:

Palmetto State Armory has lowers on sale for $29.99.  Deal good 'til noon on Wed.

I have used them in 4 builds and they are decent lowers.

A decent price for a good lower.

As they say,: "buy 'em cheap and stack it deep"

2020 elections are coming sooner than you think.


ETA: Sold out!




Monday, May 6, 2019

Yeah, she can tell me

So Ocasio-Cortez (and now Mayor DeBlasio as well) thinks she can tell me how to live my life to keep "The Environment" healthy.



I live in the country. I own land that harbors HUNDREDS of trees, and acres of grass.....all those acres of green leaf sequester carbon.....

I heat my home with wood (at least about 85% of my heat comes from wood....I do have a gas furnace for those lazy days)....all the rest is "Renewable" energy....

I live in a place where my commute, such as it is, is fairly short. 

My "Carbon Footprint" approaches zero....in fact, it is quite possibly in some months, a negative number....

She lives in a city, flies thousands of miles monthly, and is shepherd to zero plants. I would wager her "carbon footprint" is nearly 100 times as high as mine.

Yet she (with absolutely no education or qualifications, mind you (Or even, possibly, the IQ to comprehend that which she would lecture me)) believes that she is qualified to lecture me on "Protecting the Environment".....

Odd, innit, how these people want others to change their lives and lifestyles, but yet live high carbon lifestyles themselves.....


Sunday, May 5, 2019

Happy more or less made up holiday day (in the US)

While it IS a holiday in Puebla, Cinco De Mayo isn't, as many people think, Mexican Independence Day.
It is the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla.

It isn't a holiday in most other parts of Mexico besides the State of Puebla.

It wasn't anything in the US until some bar owners promoted it in the LA basin where there were a lot of Mexican workers to have some celebration to sell more beer in the US.

Most people aren't even sure where Puebla is, or really care.

More white people party on 5 May than Mexicans.



But hey, Viva Mexico!

Friday, May 3, 2019

The power of internet people

So I commented below that I needed a distributor drive gear for the '27 Chrysler.

And someone commented and pointed to a gear set that was available at, believe it or not, JCWhitney.

and, while that ISN'T the correct gear, I called the listed manufacturer, who didn't have the right gear, but suggested a third party, who pointed me to a fourth, who gave me the number of a FIFTH party, who ACTUALLY HAD THE GEAR.

It'll be here Monday or Tuesday.

Many thanks to commenter "Knucklehead" for the help.


Thursday, May 2, 2019

Not as bad as originally forecast

that next 2.5 + inch rainfall isn't gonna be as bad as originally forecast.

Looks like somewhat less than a half inch. Which is, considering the previous rainfall this week, still significant, but not nearly as bad.

We are still being warned about "Flash Floods" on relatively flat land though. 

Battlespace preparation?

So 2 different shooting this week, at different parts of the country.

I expect a new Gun Control initiative to happen soon.

There is an odd pattern to these hppenings. 

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Today is Wednesday

And Wednesday is Prince Spaghetti Day

Today some asshole group would object to the stereotypical characterization of 1950's Italian-American culture in New England and the company would pull the ad and apologize on facebook and make a donation to the Gay Italian Rights Brigade in expiation of the sin of offending the 12 people who screamed the loudest and bring out an organic Gluten Free version of the product to satisfy the SJW protestors.


Back then, it was just good marketing. 

This oughta be fun...

So I finally pulled the distributor drive off of the '27 Chrysler.

Now I know why it skips time.  I may be screwed here. Terribly worn distributor gears.

Somewhere, I gotta find a drive gear for the distributor...not the driven gear at the end of the distributor shaft, but the one that is attached onto the end of the cam that drives the distributor shaft gear.

I'm thinking NAPA and AutoZone aren't gonna have a listing.

Anyone got any suggestions where I can find a distributor gear set for a 1927 Chrysler model 50//model 58? (that is the 4 cylinder, not the straight 6 or the 8.




5 inches

Of rain that is.

In the last 72 hours.

and another 2.5 to 3 inches in the NEXT 24 hours.

Pretty much things are full right now. The ditches are full, the ground is saturated and there just isn't much more room for all that additional rain.

The news and the weather forecasters, however, keep talking about "Flash Floods".
Which we don't get here. Not enough elevation to create a flash flood.

Flood? Yeah, gonna have a fair bit of that. But they will happen over hours, not seconds or minutes. Not 'Flash" flooding.

These folks have never seen a "flash flood": "a sudden and destructive rush of water down a narrow gully or over a sloping surface, caused by heavy rainfall."

Doesn't happen here. As I said, not enough elevation. Down south, nearer St Louis, or southern Indiana or Kentucky where they have significant elevation it can happen, but here, there it's too flat for Flash Floods.

But I guess they have to dramatize everything to keep viewers interested.