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[I did, however, us the facilities for their intended use]
Friday, September 30, 2016
Hahahaha
Heh.
(And no, I didn't put it there)
[I did, however, us the facilities for their intended use]
[I did, however, us the facilities for their intended use]
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
White boys matter:
Yeah, how many of us even heard about this"
Boy killed after city marshals shoot at vehicle.
Yeah, dad apparently didn't stop when ordered to...cops chased him....Marshalls let loose and fire 18 shots at the car.
Sadly, they kill his 6 year old Special Needs son in his car seat as well as wound the Dad,...(They claim self defense, that the car was used aggressively against them (but the bodycam shows otherwise)
Last November.....it really happened.
The riots in Louisiana neighborhoods were loud and stopped traffic. The looting was terrible. Stores burned, people were injured, car were overturned.
The Governor considered calling the National Guard out to control things....
Oh, wait, it was a white child that was killed....and a white man that was shot. By black Cops.
There were no riots, there was no looting. White people didn't stop traffic, nor burn down businesses. The National Guard wasn't called.
Instead, they let the Justice system work....and those same cops were tried for murder.
Odd how that works, innit?
Boy killed after city marshals shoot at vehicle.
Yeah, dad apparently didn't stop when ordered to...cops chased him....Marshalls let loose and fire 18 shots at the car.
Sadly, they kill his 6 year old Special Needs son in his car seat as well as wound the Dad,...(They claim self defense, that the car was used aggressively against them (but the bodycam shows otherwise)
Last November.....it really happened.
The riots in Louisiana neighborhoods were loud and stopped traffic. The looting was terrible. Stores burned, people were injured, car were overturned.
The Governor considered calling the National Guard out to control things....
Oh, wait, it was a white child that was killed....and a white man that was shot. By black Cops.
There were no riots, there was no looting. White people didn't stop traffic, nor burn down businesses. The National Guard wasn't called.
Instead, they let the Justice system work....and those same cops were tried for murder.
Odd how that works, innit?
Yust FYI:
A test of the National EAS system will (or is SUPPOSED to) occur at 2:20 Eastern...
Since many are at work at that time, if might be worthwhile to see if you notice it.
Just so you will be notified, if and when......(or can arrange for alternate notifications from someone else if you don't notice this test). Might be important someday to know if the EAS system reaches you at work....
That is all.
Since many are at work at that time, if might be worthwhile to see if you notice it.
Just so you will be notified, if and when......(or can arrange for alternate notifications from someone else if you don't notice this test). Might be important someday to know if the EAS system reaches you at work....
That is all.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
We'd know.
So the Media can't wait to tell us all that Hillary won the Debate....Handily
I gotta say that I didn't see it that way...
But the one thing I keep thinking is that if she had won the debate "handily", then they wouldn't need to tell us.
We'd already know
I gotta say that I didn't see it that way...
But the one thing I keep thinking is that if she had won the debate "handily", then they wouldn't need to tell us.
We'd already know
Y'know....
I am completely against any iteration of "Stop and Frisk".
There is the pesky Fourth Amendment thing....
But why is it that no one will admit, or touch or even just fucking state the obvious:
The police stopped young black men under "Stop and Frisk" disproportionally simply because they got results...
Stopping carloads or groups of white dudes didn't yield the drugs and weapons IN PROPORTION....
Fishermen fish in lakes where the fish are, not in barrels where they aren't.
Willie Sutton, a notorious bank robber in the 30's, 40's and 50's, was reported to have said, when asked "why do you rob banks?"...."Because that is where the money is"
Same same with "Stop and Frisk":
You can see, by their manner, the way they are dressed, etc., be they white or black or hispanic, which individuals are likely to result in a fruitful search. I can, if you are observant, you can, and especially experienced cops can.
If the fact that they choose not to waste their time on clean cut kids of any race offends you...if the fact that there is a higher proportion of clean cut kids that are white (and to a lesser percent, hispanic) and a lower proportion in the inner city black kids offends you...then I am sorry your pollyana viewpoint is hiding reality from you.
Again, I believe that Donald is wrong on 'Stop and Frisk".....
But why won't anyone tell the truth?
There is the pesky Fourth Amendment thing....
But why is it that no one will admit, or touch or even just fucking state the obvious:
The police stopped young black men under "Stop and Frisk" disproportionally simply because they got results...
Stopping carloads or groups of white dudes didn't yield the drugs and weapons IN PROPORTION....
Fishermen fish in lakes where the fish are, not in barrels where they aren't.
Willie Sutton, a notorious bank robber in the 30's, 40's and 50's, was reported to have said, when asked "why do you rob banks?"...."Because that is where the money is"
Same same with "Stop and Frisk":
You can see, by their manner, the way they are dressed, etc., be they white or black or hispanic, which individuals are likely to result in a fruitful search. I can, if you are observant, you can, and especially experienced cops can.
If the fact that they choose not to waste their time on clean cut kids of any race offends you...if the fact that there is a higher proportion of clean cut kids that are white (and to a lesser percent, hispanic) and a lower proportion in the inner city black kids offends you...then I am sorry your pollyana viewpoint is hiding reality from you.
Again, I believe that Donald is wrong on 'Stop and Frisk".....
But why won't anyone tell the truth?
Wake
My first thought upon waking was:
"Get this Damned cat off my feet"
But my second one was:
"The Donald didn't really strike at any of the openings Hillary left him."
Followed with "Why didn't he?"
I mean, Computer Security, National Defense (Benghazi?) the "plight" of African-Americans, the failure of the Democrat leadership in cities, the list is long. I mean, her health alone could have taken an entire segment....
And he didn't take any of the openings.....Why Not?
"Get this Damned cat off my feet"
But my second one was:
"The Donald didn't really strike at any of the openings Hillary left him."
Followed with "Why didn't he?"
I mean, Computer Security, National Defense (Benghazi?) the "plight" of African-Americans, the failure of the Democrat leadership in cities, the list is long. I mean, her health alone could have taken an entire segment....
And he didn't take any of the openings.....Why Not?
Monday, September 26, 2016
So....
Our Second Amendment rights will be in the hands of 2 possible people.
A bad one
And a worse one....
As Tam said to me over lunch a few weeks ago. You have 2 choices:
A New York Democrat,
Or a New York Democrat.
Stop and Frisk?
No Fly list?
Terrorist Watch list?
Any of those statements would disqualify a candidate as President in my book.
So we are left with the choice of the lesser of the two weasels.
A bad one
And a worse one....
As Tam said to me over lunch a few weeks ago. You have 2 choices:
A New York Democrat,
Or a New York Democrat.
Stop and Frisk?
No Fly list?
Terrorist Watch list?
Any of those statements would disqualify a candidate as President in my book.
So we are left with the choice of the lesser of the two weasels.
Racism
Yeah, that's me...
Helping a friend at a gunshow. He is a dealer, but doesn't have a store. Gunshows only. He has 8 tables, so needs some help to keep an eye out when it gets busy.
His policy is that you have to be 21 to fondle the pistols, 18 for rifles and shotguns...since you have to be that old to purchase them. I can let a father handle a rifle and hand it to his 14 year old son, but if you are a 19 year old man, you can't play with the pistols or revolvers.
So I am discussing the merits of an XD vs Glock with a very nice gentleman, nice guy, mid 40's...wife or girlfriend alongside.... first gun for both of them.
Up walk 2 young men late teens, maybe early 20's. Pick up a SW Shield... I ask politely if they are 21.
"No".
"Then I am sorry, the owner says I can't show you pistols unless you are of age to buy one, so you gotta be 21 to pick 'em up.".
"It's because I am black, ain't it?" (they were both, in fact, black).
The dude and his lady who I had been talking to looked at the kids. Dude says "He told you why...." (Dude himself is also black). "Don't see no Racism here".
Kinda shut the kids down.
He chose and I sold to him the XDS in .40. I also sold 'em on the idea of some NRA Basic Pistol Training.
I appreciated his support, but the kids kinda pissed me off.
Helping a friend at a gunshow. He is a dealer, but doesn't have a store. Gunshows only. He has 8 tables, so needs some help to keep an eye out when it gets busy.
His policy is that you have to be 21 to fondle the pistols, 18 for rifles and shotguns...since you have to be that old to purchase them. I can let a father handle a rifle and hand it to his 14 year old son, but if you are a 19 year old man, you can't play with the pistols or revolvers.
So I am discussing the merits of an XD vs Glock with a very nice gentleman, nice guy, mid 40's...wife or girlfriend alongside.... first gun for both of them.
Up walk 2 young men late teens, maybe early 20's. Pick up a SW Shield... I ask politely if they are 21.
"No".
"Then I am sorry, the owner says I can't show you pistols unless you are of age to buy one, so you gotta be 21 to pick 'em up.".
"It's because I am black, ain't it?" (they were both, in fact, black).
The dude and his lady who I had been talking to looked at the kids. Dude says "He told you why...." (Dude himself is also black). "Don't see no Racism here".
Kinda shut the kids down.
He chose and I sold to him the XDS in .40. I also sold 'em on the idea of some NRA Basic Pistol Training.
I appreciated his support, but the kids kinda pissed me off.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Stupid fuckers
I hope it costs them a lot.
What total moronic idiots some folks are.....Do they really not understand how such things work?
What total moronic idiots some folks are.....Do they really not understand how such things work?
Unicorn
So at the gunshow yesterday, I found a gun that I had been looking for:
A Beretta TomCat 3032 in STAINLESS. (I have one in the Matte /parkerized finish, but my sweat eats non stainless guns...I have to clean it twice a week in the summer months, so I was looking for a stainless one)
When they were in production they weren't common. now that production is currently on hold they are kinda hard to find.
Found one in a showcase. If it has been shot, it is less than a box full. like maybe a mag, if that. I think it was a drawer gun.
He wanted $530 which is about what they go for on GunBroker (plus shipping and FFL fees).
I offered $350. He said "no". I walked.
Passed by again (he was at a corner table) and he offered $475. I countered with $375. He said "no". I walked.
Saw him once more about 45 minutes later....he offered $400. I offered $399. He looked at me and smiled and the deal was done.
Private sale. (Which was good because NICS was down most of the afternoon).
Cash talks.
A Beretta TomCat 3032 in STAINLESS. (I have one in the Matte /parkerized finish, but my sweat eats non stainless guns...I have to clean it twice a week in the summer months, so I was looking for a stainless one)
When they were in production they weren't common. now that production is currently on hold they are kinda hard to find.
Found one in a showcase. If it has been shot, it is less than a box full. like maybe a mag, if that. I think it was a drawer gun.
He wanted $530 which is about what they go for on GunBroker (plus shipping and FFL fees).
I offered $350. He said "no". I walked.
Passed by again (he was at a corner table) and he offered $475. I countered with $375. He said "no". I walked.
Saw him once more about 45 minutes later....he offered $400. I offered $399. He looked at me and smiled and the deal was done.
Private sale. (Which was good because NICS was down most of the afternoon).
Cash talks.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Transparent
Odd.
Seems that the State Department isn't gonna release the "recovered" emails from Hillary's server until after the election.
I doubt it will make any difference....those who are gonna vote for her won't care....and the rest of us won't vote for her no matter what.
But still.
Seems that the State Department isn't gonna release the "recovered" emails from Hillary's server until after the election.
I doubt it will make any difference....those who are gonna vote for her won't care....and the rest of us won't vote for her no matter what.
But still.
Friday, September 23, 2016
Not Charlotte citizens
or, at least, most of those who ARE arrested aren't:
Who Is Behind The Riots? Charlotte Police Says 70% Of Arrested Protesters Had Out Of State IDs
Note: OF THOSE ARRESTED...There were an awful lot of people in those riots....
But still....
Who Is Behind The Riots? Charlotte Police Says 70% Of Arrested Protesters Had Out Of State IDs
Note: OF THOSE ARRESTED...There were an awful lot of people in those riots....
But still....
Thursday, September 22, 2016
This could be a deal breaker for me:
Third party is is then...
Trump "Praises 'Stop-and-Frisk' Police Tactic".
Sorry, I can't support this. Not at all. The Constitution is what it is....It applies to everyone. scumbag or not...Joe clean or Tyrone the Ghetto Rat.....Whigger wannabe or Jose the Vato. No matter who it is, the Fourth Amendment applies:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
The Constitution comes as a package deal. All or nothing.
If Trump can't get that message, then he isn't my man, and won't get my support.
Trump "Praises 'Stop-and-Frisk' Police Tactic".
Sorry, I can't support this. Not at all. The Constitution is what it is....It applies to everyone. scumbag or not...Joe clean or Tyrone the Ghetto Rat.....Whigger wannabe or Jose the Vato. No matter who it is, the Fourth Amendment applies:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
The Constitution comes as a package deal. All or nothing.
If Trump can't get that message, then he isn't my man, and won't get my support.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Tonight oughta be "interesting"
If you are in Puerto Rico, at least.
Seems the power generating/distribution company that covers most of Puerto Rico had a MAJOR fault....and a substation caught fire at a substation, leaving the majority of the island without power.
Tonight oughta be interesting for the poor folks living there. I bet it gets....."sporty" in some neighborhoods tonight. And maybe tomorrow night.
As a side note, seems that a small, but significant, number of hotel and other businesses that had generators never balanced them, nor did proper preventative cleaning/maintenance on them....and they caught fire under load....which is a lesson we can ALL learn from.
Seems the power generating/distribution company that covers most of Puerto Rico had a MAJOR fault....and a substation caught fire at a substation, leaving the majority of the island without power.
Tonight oughta be interesting for the poor folks living there. I bet it gets....."sporty" in some neighborhoods tonight. And maybe tomorrow night.
As a side note, seems that a small, but significant, number of hotel and other businesses that had generators never balanced them, nor did proper preventative cleaning/maintenance on them....and they caught fire under load....which is a lesson we can ALL learn from.
'tis odd:
See, many years ago, there was this thing they did called "Lynching" wherein a man (apparently often black) was accused of a crime and then, without a trial, often on sketchy evidence, was hanged...often after being beaten by a crowd.
Black people still see a noose as a sign of lynching, and often want nooses removed from Halloween display and such (even though they want free speech and such).
Yet, what do they do when a black man is shot....especially by a policeman (no matter what HIS race).....
Yep, they jump to conclusions....they assume the man shot was innocent, and that the officers had no reason to shoot. Further, they rely on statements posted on social media, with absolutely no verification that the statements are true...Since it is a cop that did the shooting, it must be racial....it must be unjustified.....and they don't wait for the evidence to show what happened, but jump to a conclusion.... Truly, a lynching...only the violence happens later that night....Which often leads to a riot..... "Civil Disobedience"...often becomes an excuse to loot. (and they wonder why no one wants to invest or start businesses in their neighborhoods?)
What I find odd is that it is always black crowds that exhibit such behavior....not whites, not asians nor orientals....no latins, nor any other racial group. Why is that? And why do the police and the city leadership allow it to happen?
Yes, I know, pointing this out makes me a "Raciss". Don't care. Not anymore.
You can't blame it on Poverty either....Lots more white folks live below the poverty line, yet they don't riot....(and they generally obey the police and don't do anything stupid when caught or stopped, and therefore don't get shot as often either...)
Black people still see a noose as a sign of lynching, and often want nooses removed from Halloween display and such (even though they want free speech and such).
Yet, what do they do when a black man is shot....especially by a policeman (no matter what HIS race).....
Yep, they jump to conclusions....they assume the man shot was innocent, and that the officers had no reason to shoot. Further, they rely on statements posted on social media, with absolutely no verification that the statements are true...Since it is a cop that did the shooting, it must be racial....it must be unjustified.....and they don't wait for the evidence to show what happened, but jump to a conclusion.... Truly, a lynching...only the violence happens later that night....Which often leads to a riot..... "Civil Disobedience"...often becomes an excuse to loot. (and they wonder why no one wants to invest or start businesses in their neighborhoods?)
What I find odd is that it is always black crowds that exhibit such behavior....not whites, not asians nor orientals....no latins, nor any other racial group. Why is that? And why do the police and the city leadership allow it to happen?
Yes, I know, pointing this out makes me a "Raciss". Don't care. Not anymore.
You can't blame it on Poverty either....Lots more white folks live below the poverty line, yet they don't riot....(and they generally obey the police and don't do anything stupid when caught or stopped, and therefore don't get shot as often either...)
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Ain't no Gass ....How you gonna get to work, man?
Lots of folks have no backup and are wondering if they will be getting to work tomorrow and through the week...
And this is just ONE pipeline. A big one, and it carries gasoline exclusively, but still. Lots of folks being affected by ONE pipeline.
How much do you stock for happenings like this?
I have enough to last us 3 weeks plus or minus. At normal rates of consumption. Plus the truck...diesel there and I have about 6 weeks or so with that vehicle. And those are without any conservation efforts.
Think about it.
And this is just ONE pipeline. A big one, and it carries gasoline exclusively, but still. Lots of folks being affected by ONE pipeline.
How much do you stock for happenings like this?
I have enough to last us 3 weeks plus or minus. At normal rates of consumption. Plus the truck...diesel there and I have about 6 weeks or so with that vehicle. And those are without any conservation efforts.
Think about it.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Not
The bombs detonated and/or found in NY, New Jersey and such are "intentional" (duh) but ARE NOT TERRORISM....
Of course they are fucking terrorism, you idiot. Who, exactly, is the terrorist remains open to investigation, but it most definitely was "Terrorism".
Of course they are fucking terrorism, you idiot. Who, exactly, is the terrorist remains open to investigation, but it most definitely was "Terrorism".
Share this
With all your Liberal friends....Link
Ask them to esplain thelying "Inconsistencies in the story" used to explain all of this odd behavior.
Ask them to esplain the
Thursday, September 15, 2016
It all comes down
To who counts the votes.
Everything else is just Window Dressing.
"Critical Infrastructure".
Seems to me that it is the purview and responsibility of the states....No one else. ESPECIALLY not the Obama Administration.
Those who cast the votes decide nothing.
Those who count the votes decide everything.
Joseph Stalin
Everything else is just Window Dressing.
"Critical Infrastructure".
Seems to me that it is the purview and responsibility of the states....No one else. ESPECIALLY not the Obama Administration.
Those who cast the votes decide nothing.
Those who count the votes decide everything.
Joseph Stalin
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Sounds blazingly simple
But it really isn't, for many....
“It’s amazing what you see when you look”
— Yogi Berra
“It’s amazing what you see when you look”
— Yogi Berra
Monday, September 12, 2016
Indeed:
"I have news for some really ignorant sonsabitches.
This country was founded by law breakers and there is a long tradition of ignoring laws in this country, tens of thousands of them daily, especially ones that tell someone they can't have something that was previously common.
Apparently they have never heard of Prohibition."
Vulgar Curmudgeon
This country was founded by law breakers and there is a long tradition of ignoring laws in this country, tens of thousands of them daily, especially ones that tell someone they can't have something that was previously common.
Apparently they have never heard of Prohibition."
Vulgar Curmudgeon
Sunday, September 11, 2016
15 years ago
I was on my way to work when the first plane hit....... We were gonna get an early start on sealing a parking lot.....try to get some work done before it was too hot.
Surely just a terrible accident...?
Then the second one hit.... and the fires grew...We all watched in terrible fascination on the TV as the towers fell and 3000 or more of our countrymen and women died.
I told the kids watching with me that what they had just witnessed would change the world and our country....and that whether we realized it or not, we were at war....
I was right.
That day changed the way we travel, and gave terrible powers to our government. It took a few months, but the enemies of freedom were waiting, and took advantage of those events to fundamentally change our country.
It showed us the hatred Islam has for the Culture here in the West...in the US in particular. It brought to the forefront that a person cannot be US citizen and a good Muslim.
It gave us the Patriot Act....a lie if ever there was one. It spawned an ever growing Surveillance State...and began conditioning the public to always being watched....and to allowing their freedoms to be temporarily bypassed in the name of "security".
It also made me proud of my countrymen.....we didn't massacre other Arabs...nor chase anyone wearing a hijab or speaking with a Pakistani accent out of town. Yes, life was uncomfortable for those folks for a few days..., but in other places they would have been dead hours after.....Americans held to the American values.....and treated immigrants correctly and with honor.
********************************************
There are still a lot of questions about who was involved in the attacks....yes, we know about Mohammed Atta and his co-conspirators....but were there more? Were the Saudis involved? (Probably.....at least some in the government were) was it a conspiracy with the Bush administration? Maybe (but I doubt it....)
Either way, this attack opened the door to the fundamental changes that we, as a body, accepted in the behavior of our Government to the it's citizens.....
I may, someday, be able to forgive the Saudis or the Muslims for the attack on my country....and my fellow citizens.
I will never be able to forgive them for the changes they wrought in my country.
Ever.
I will never forget that Muslims everywhere cheered the damage done by the attack on my country. I will never forget the silence from the Muslim community here in the US, and I will never forget that the mosques in the US where the 9-11 terrorists worshiped had to know that they were planning something....and stayed silent. I will never forget that the Pakistani (Paahkistaahni? (Obamas pronunciation)) government was complicit in helping Osama Bin Laden hide for years. I may only be one person....But I and many of my countrymen share a remembrance of that day.
You should too.
Never forget.
Ever.
Surely just a terrible accident...?
Then the second one hit.... and the fires grew...We all watched in terrible fascination on the TV as the towers fell and 3000 or more of our countrymen and women died.
I told the kids watching with me that what they had just witnessed would change the world and our country....and that whether we realized it or not, we were at war....
I was right.
That day changed the way we travel, and gave terrible powers to our government. It took a few months, but the enemies of freedom were waiting, and took advantage of those events to fundamentally change our country.
It showed us the hatred Islam has for the Culture here in the West...in the US in particular. It brought to the forefront that a person cannot be US citizen and a good Muslim.
It gave us the Patriot Act....a lie if ever there was one. It spawned an ever growing Surveillance State...and began conditioning the public to always being watched....and to allowing their freedoms to be temporarily bypassed in the name of "security".
It also made me proud of my countrymen.....we didn't massacre other Arabs...nor chase anyone wearing a hijab or speaking with a Pakistani accent out of town. Yes, life was uncomfortable for those folks for a few days..., but in other places they would have been dead hours after.....Americans held to the American values.....and treated immigrants correctly and with honor.
********************************************
There are still a lot of questions about who was involved in the attacks....yes, we know about Mohammed Atta and his co-conspirators....but were there more? Were the Saudis involved? (Probably.....at least some in the government were) was it a conspiracy with the Bush administration? Maybe (but I doubt it....)
Either way, this attack opened the door to the fundamental changes that we, as a body, accepted in the behavior of our Government to the it's citizens.....
I may, someday, be able to forgive the Saudis or the Muslims for the attack on my country....and my fellow citizens.
I will never be able to forgive them for the changes they wrought in my country.
Ever.
I will never forget that Muslims everywhere cheered the damage done by the attack on my country. I will never forget the silence from the Muslim community here in the US, and I will never forget that the mosques in the US where the 9-11 terrorists worshiped had to know that they were planning something....and stayed silent. I will never forget that the Pakistani (Paahkistaahni? (Obamas pronunciation)) government was complicit in helping Osama Bin Laden hide for years. I may only be one person....But I and many of my countrymen share a remembrance of that day.
You should too.
Never forget.
Ever.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Just in case you haven't seen it...
You should go HERE and read. He's hit it outa the park....
It happened to all in the past.
Via ElmTree Forge
It happened to all in the past.
Via ElmTree Forge
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Dick:
Y'know, when you meet a cop on the road, it is a crapshoot as to whether your day will improve or devolve..... depends on whether he will be a good cop or not:
Ferinstance:
So I leave the homestead the other day to go run errands in the late morning......a wonderful bright, sunny day. Upon my return, I see, about a half mile from my driveway (past my driveway),a box trailer sorta katywampus across the road. Being the nosy person that I am, I drive the car down to see what is going on. I stop behind the trailer and turn on my flashers and get out.
I find a young man, 20something, trying to find a way to get the tongue of the trailer off the ground. Apparently, when he hitched it up, he didn't get the fork of the hitch under the ball, and it bounced off the trailer ball (or he didn't latch it) and was now resting on the ground...(good thing he attached those safety chains!). The problem was that the trailer jack was one of those "swing away" types, and there was no way he could lift the tongue of the trailer up enough to get it to flip down. I tried to help him, but it was too heavy for the two of us to lift.
Being the helpful sort that I am, I told him I'd be right back, and to disconnect the remains of the safety chains and damaged wiring and move his truck forward about 30 feet....and I turned the car around and went back home. Went inside and got the key to the Kubota and fired it up. Put a chain in the bucket and drove to where the trailer was. I did turn on my LED strobe to enhance visibility....
Hooked the chain to the tongue of the trailer, put it on the hook on the bucket and lifted....Not.
I'm not sure if he had the trailer loaded wrong, or if his load had crashed forward, but my tractor wouldn't lift the tongue....2400 lbs is what the tractor will pick up with the bucket, and the trailer wasn't budging. So I unhooked the chain and turned the tractor around so I could lift using the three-point hitch on the back (4800 lbs capacity). As I was turning the tractor around and backing up, I see a cop car behind the trailer.
Up walks a county cop. He beckons me off the tractor and is yelling at the kid as I get off. He starts in on youngblood, telling him he is causing a traffic hazard (what, like people haven't been slowing and then going around us?....some even offered to help) and telling him he is gonna get a ticket for blocking the road and when the kid answered him back, he mentioned "disturbing the peace" and something about "Traffic hazard"...
"Hey, brother," I said "if you'll wait about 4 minutes, we can get this thing hooked up and get him off the road, and then you can yell. If you are really worried about safety, why dontya turn on your lights so people will see us sooner? "
He told me his name wasn't "brother" and I could address him as "officer"...and offered to arrest me for "interfering with a police officer" and something else that I don't remember. and a ticket for not having proper safety equipment or something....and demanded my ID. I refused. Firmly.
I actually smiled. "Sure thing, son...Your game, you call the rules...Except you will address me as "Sir" from this point on....Oh, and another thing...(I kinda got in his personal face space here) "Officer":.... "Supervisor" .... Now.... You call one to this location on your radio, or I do it on my phone. And get out of the way.". I climbed onto the tractor. I was shaking, I was so mad.
He stood there, in my way, talking on the radio.
I resisted the urge to move him with the bucket, and waited.
Sure enough, about 5 minutes later, another county car arrived and pulled up behind everyone and another , somewhat older, cop got out (he, at least, turned on his lights). I got off the tractor, and walked up. Young cop tells his story, young man nods and answers a question, then I stated my piece. I asked where county cops get off being dicks and hindering rather than helping or at least staying out of the way...I pointed out that I would have had the whole thing fixed and off the road if young stupid cop had just gotten out of the way as I suggested and I didn't appreciate being talked to and threatened the way I had been. I said I wanted to make a claim for intimidation and threatening. I pointed out that he had been an ass, and had wasted time, if there really had been a danger to the public he had made it last longer.
Old cop, the supervisor, took a look...then he helped me hook up the chains and directed me in lifting the trailer. He himself put the jack down and unhooked the chains. He directed me backwards to hitch to the trailer.. I suggested to the kid that we pull the trailer to my house and we could straighten the hooks enough that they would be safer. ...and legal. (and pointed (loudly) out that if he wasn't legal the first cop was dick enough and would no doubt LOVE to arrest him or at least give a ticket...)
So the Supervisor asked me if I would let him handle the youngasshole cop. I said sure, but this shit has to be dealt with. I didn't appreciate being threatened with arrest for trying to help, and I didn't like his attitude or the fact that he made a simple thing take longer....and he didn't even make the scene safer by turning on his lights.
"Yeah, I can handle him," he said, "or you can make that complaint. But he will like it less if I handle it unofficially....He really is a good officer, he just has bad days sometimes".
I suggested that if he has days like this, over something that is this minor, perhaps he shouldn't be a cop.......Which didn't go over well. But he did promise to counsel the other cop.
So supervisor makes the young cop "escort" me and the kid back to my driveway...for "safety"...on foot! and walk back. In the sun. They stood on the side of the road for about 20 minutes when kid got back to the two cop cars, talking and sometimes waving their arms a bit.
Supervisor shows up at my driveway while I am helping the kid get his chains fixed and the wiring repaired enough to be legal. At my suggestion, the kid opens up the trailer to pull some of the cement bags back from the front. Supervisor and I talk for a few.....I pointed out that isn't normal behavior for a cop, and that young cop has, apparently, authority issues (I did use the phrase "Respec Ma Autoriteh!" which brought a smile,) and maybe anger management issues.
I asked him how someone like that can become a cop? No psychological screening? And perhaps the kid needed to learn the difference between some gangbanger kid he'd pulled over at 2 AM and someone like me in the middle of the day...older and wiser and not someone who can be can be leaned on or threatened... and suggested that the kid cop either learn how to handle people or someone like me was gonna run his ass over or shoot his ass someday....which also didn't go over well. But the point was made. We shook hands and he left. Kid cop was long gone by then.
I dunno. Haven't seen the kid cop since though.
I still wonder if I should have made a complaint though....or at least a report.
Ferinstance:
So I leave the homestead the other day to go run errands in the late morning......a wonderful bright, sunny day. Upon my return, I see, about a half mile from my driveway (past my driveway),a box trailer sorta katywampus across the road. Being the nosy person that I am, I drive the car down to see what is going on. I stop behind the trailer and turn on my flashers and get out.
I find a young man, 20something, trying to find a way to get the tongue of the trailer off the ground. Apparently, when he hitched it up, he didn't get the fork of the hitch under the ball, and it bounced off the trailer ball (or he didn't latch it) and was now resting on the ground...(good thing he attached those safety chains!). The problem was that the trailer jack was one of those "swing away" types, and there was no way he could lift the tongue of the trailer up enough to get it to flip down. I tried to help him, but it was too heavy for the two of us to lift.
Being the helpful sort that I am, I told him I'd be right back, and to disconnect the remains of the safety chains and damaged wiring and move his truck forward about 30 feet....and I turned the car around and went back home. Went inside and got the key to the Kubota and fired it up. Put a chain in the bucket and drove to where the trailer was. I did turn on my LED strobe to enhance visibility....
Hooked the chain to the tongue of the trailer, put it on the hook on the bucket and lifted....Not.
I'm not sure if he had the trailer loaded wrong, or if his load had crashed forward, but my tractor wouldn't lift the tongue....2400 lbs is what the tractor will pick up with the bucket, and the trailer wasn't budging. So I unhooked the chain and turned the tractor around so I could lift using the three-point hitch on the back (4800 lbs capacity). As I was turning the tractor around and backing up, I see a cop car behind the trailer.
Up walks a county cop. He beckons me off the tractor and is yelling at the kid as I get off. He starts in on youngblood, telling him he is causing a traffic hazard (what, like people haven't been slowing and then going around us?....some even offered to help) and telling him he is gonna get a ticket for blocking the road and when the kid answered him back, he mentioned "disturbing the peace" and something about "Traffic hazard"...
"Hey, brother," I said "if you'll wait about 4 minutes, we can get this thing hooked up and get him off the road, and then you can yell. If you are really worried about safety, why dontya turn on your lights so people will see us sooner? "
He told me his name wasn't "brother" and I could address him as "officer"...and offered to arrest me for "interfering with a police officer" and something else that I don't remember. and a ticket for not having proper safety equipment or something....and demanded my ID. I refused. Firmly.
I actually smiled. "Sure thing, son...Your game, you call the rules...Except you will address me as "Sir" from this point on....Oh, and another thing...(I kinda got in his personal face space here) "Officer":.... "Supervisor" .... Now.... You call one to this location on your radio, or I do it on my phone. And get out of the way.". I climbed onto the tractor. I was shaking, I was so mad.
He stood there, in my way, talking on the radio.
I resisted the urge to move him with the bucket, and waited.
Sure enough, about 5 minutes later, another county car arrived and pulled up behind everyone and another , somewhat older, cop got out (he, at least, turned on his lights). I got off the tractor, and walked up. Young cop tells his story, young man nods and answers a question, then I stated my piece. I asked where county cops get off being dicks and hindering rather than helping or at least staying out of the way...I pointed out that I would have had the whole thing fixed and off the road if young stupid cop had just gotten out of the way as I suggested and I didn't appreciate being talked to and threatened the way I had been. I said I wanted to make a claim for intimidation and threatening. I pointed out that he had been an ass, and had wasted time, if there really had been a danger to the public he had made it last longer.
Old cop, the supervisor, took a look...then he helped me hook up the chains and directed me in lifting the trailer. He himself put the jack down and unhooked the chains. He directed me backwards to hitch to the trailer.. I suggested to the kid that we pull the trailer to my house and we could straighten the hooks enough that they would be safer. ...and legal. (and pointed (loudly) out that if he wasn't legal the first cop was dick enough and would no doubt LOVE to arrest him or at least give a ticket...)
So the Supervisor asked me if I would let him handle the young
"Yeah, I can handle him," he said, "or you can make that complaint. But he will like it less if I handle it unofficially....He really is a good officer, he just has bad days sometimes".
I suggested that if he has days like this, over something that is this minor, perhaps he shouldn't be a cop.......Which didn't go over well. But he did promise to counsel the other cop.
So supervisor makes the young cop "escort" me and the kid back to my driveway...for "safety"...on foot! and walk back. In the sun. They stood on the side of the road for about 20 minutes when kid got back to the two cop cars, talking and sometimes waving their arms a bit.
Supervisor shows up at my driveway while I am helping the kid get his chains fixed and the wiring repaired enough to be legal. At my suggestion, the kid opens up the trailer to pull some of the cement bags back from the front. Supervisor and I talk for a few.....I pointed out that isn't normal behavior for a cop, and that young cop has, apparently, authority issues (I did use the phrase "Respec Ma Autoriteh!" which brought a smile,) and maybe anger management issues.
I asked him how someone like that can become a cop? No psychological screening? And perhaps the kid needed to learn the difference between some gangbanger kid he'd pulled over at 2 AM and someone like me in the middle of the day...older and wiser and not someone who can be can be leaned on or threatened... and suggested that the kid cop either learn how to handle people or someone like me was gonna run his ass over or shoot his ass someday....which also didn't go over well. But the point was made. We shook hands and he left. Kid cop was long gone by then.
I dunno. Haven't seen the kid cop since though.
I still wonder if I should have made a complaint though....or at least a report.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Readiness checks
So on Labor day (among others), I always take an hour and fire up the Backup Generator...just to lube the internals and make sure it is ready to go when it is needed.
Like a carry gun or a fire extinguisher, you don't need 'em until you really need 'em.
So I take the time to fire it up, make sure the internals are lubed and operated long enough to warm it up and dry it out, and spend a few minutes with an oil can making sure that things that move are lubed with clean oil. Check the air filters for mice and other things which might clog or otherwise hinder the operation. Cooling vents are clear and unobstructed and everything is ready.
All good this time. Ready to go, and it fired up nicely. Should do what I need when I need it.
When was the last time you checked your generator?
Like a carry gun or a fire extinguisher, you don't need 'em until you really need 'em.
So I take the time to fire it up, make sure the internals are lubed and operated long enough to warm it up and dry it out, and spend a few minutes with an oil can making sure that things that move are lubed with clean oil. Check the air filters for mice and other things which might clog or otherwise hinder the operation. Cooling vents are clear and unobstructed and everything is ready.
All good this time. Ready to go, and it fired up nicely. Should do what I need when I need it.
When was the last time you checked your generator?
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Point of view for the week:
"I have been criticized by referring to our federal masked men as “ninja” … Let us reflect upon the fact that a man who covers his face shows reason to be ashamed of what he is doing. A man who takes it upon himself to shed blood while concealing his identity is a revolting perversion of the warrior ethic. It has long been my conviction that a masked man with a gun is a target. I see no reason to change that view."
Jeff Cooper
Jeff Cooper
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Well, now, you just don't see that every day....
I ordered 2 tri-axles of stone to be delivered today. One for my driveway (which has needed stone for 5 or 6 years, and one for the road I am finishing to my barn. After 16 years, the fill has finally stopped settling, and I am willing to put some stone on it so that I don't have to drive in mud.
So the first load was delivered. at 6:30 AM. I spent about 3 hours carefully spreading it, making sure the drainage was good, and carefully filling in the edges.
The other load wasn't delivered until 4:15 PM.
The driver backed carefully down the lane, and set his chains to tailgate it out along the lane.
He lifted the dump box. Higher. Higher yet. Even higher.....then, at the top of the lift, he jerked the truck forward just slightly to make the stone slide....the whole load slid back. All at once. The truck did a wheelstand. No shit, I could have walked under the front wheels. For a second, I thought the thing was gonna tip over. All the weight was on the passenger side rear wheel.
He ever so gently let the dump box back down. The truck slowly came back to earth. Pretty smooth, actually.
He finished the job, but the stone just wouldn't slide out smoothly. Instead of a smooth road, it's a series of hills. (I'm gonna work the Kubota tomorrow).
He pulled back to level ground and inspected the truck. No damage (except to the driver's seat) and some new handprints on the wheel. Permanent ones....
The spring on the back was....compressed. Enough to have flexed all of the paint and concreted stone off of it.
I've never seen a dump truck with it's wheels that high before. Neither had the driver....
Kinda like this:
Only uphill and on ONE Rear Wheel.
So the first load was delivered. at 6:30 AM. I spent about 3 hours carefully spreading it, making sure the drainage was good, and carefully filling in the edges.
The other load wasn't delivered until 4:15 PM.
The driver backed carefully down the lane, and set his chains to tailgate it out along the lane.
He lifted the dump box. Higher. Higher yet. Even higher.....then, at the top of the lift, he jerked the truck forward just slightly to make the stone slide....the whole load slid back. All at once. The truck did a wheelstand. No shit, I could have walked under the front wheels. For a second, I thought the thing was gonna tip over. All the weight was on the passenger side rear wheel.
He ever so gently let the dump box back down. The truck slowly came back to earth. Pretty smooth, actually.
He finished the job, but the stone just wouldn't slide out smoothly. Instead of a smooth road, it's a series of hills. (I'm gonna work the Kubota tomorrow).
He pulled back to level ground and inspected the truck. No damage (except to the driver's seat) and some new handprints on the wheel. Permanent ones....
The spring on the back was....compressed. Enough to have flexed all of the paint and concreted stone off of it.
I've never seen a dump truck with it's wheels that high before. Neither had the driver....
Kinda like this:
Only uphill and on ONE Rear Wheel.
