Universal Healthcare Part II
In the previous post I mentioned briefly the technological differences between the US and Canada and attempted to demonstrate them by showing how much more common diagnostic technology is in America vs. her northern neighbor.
I thought I would follow that up.
See... techonolgically speaking largely Canada is 20 years behind the US. Things that the US uses MRI's for, are diagnosed with CT scans in Canada. Depending on your level of knowledge that may or may not seem particularly disturbing to you... but it definately should be.
And consider this... As of today, there are only 3 Gamma Knives in all of Canada.
So... if you are unfortunate enough to have a small brain tumor in Canada... you'll probably die before you get the MRI that shows it... but if you do survive, you'll probably die before you get your turn under the gamma knife that will zap it away. If not.. you'll be forced to travel a long long way to actually have the surgery.
By contrast... in the US... you find MRI's in tiny hospitals in tiny towns... and you find Gamma Knives in places like Morgantown, West Virginia.
The first Gamma Knife operated in the United States in 1987.
Canada got its first Gamma Knife in 2003.
Just to reiterate.... Gamma Knife surgery is available in every state in the US. While there are only 3 in all of Canada.
These are specific examples supplied to demonstrate just one of the fatal weaknesses of so-called universal healthcare. What you'll find is, they exist across the board. In every area of healthcare technology, from computerized records to anesthesia machines toMRIs to Gamma Knives Canada is almost 20 years behind consistantly.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
Government Healthcare
Lets begin by calling a spade a spade. The term universal healthcare sounds better, but what it means is Government Healthcare. Proponents don't like to use that term though, because it sounds bad. Why? Because the general perception in America is that something produced by the government is inferior to that which is produced privately. Take a walk through a few VA hopsitals. Compare the US Postal Service to FedEx. You'll find the perception is well earned.
But now that we have our terms straight lets examine the real question. Should America adopt Government Healthcare?
Its a bit of a trick question of course, because we largely already have through Medicare, Medicaid, and state programs like TnCare. But lets look at it... and why don't we use our neighbor to the north, as proponents of Government Healthcare love their system so much.
Let's start with a quote:
"I spent two years and more trying to locate a regular doctor to manage my mother's declining health. I did not find one in time... the public should be aware that if we do not return to a favorable doctor-to-patient ratio in this country soon... we will be sold short and people will die before it is really their time." - Norm Richards
Canada is running painfully low on doctors. Why? Several reasons, the largest of which are time and money. Young people simply aren't choosing to be doctors in Canada because the work hours, educational investment, and time commitment don't balance out with the pay. Doctors are starting to be seen as martyrs.
There was a canadian kid that went through residency with my wife. He loved Canada and desperately wanted to go back there, but wouldn't. He told me he loved being a doctor to much to go home.
Enough of that silliness. Lets have some hard numbers.
There are 2.1 doctors per 1000 people in Canada. There are 2.8 doctors per 1000 people in the US.
Nurses in the US make an average of 50% more than Nurses in Canada. Doctors earn 100% more on average. On top of that, canadians face a tax rate that is nearly double that of the US.
Canada has 4.6 MRI scanners per million people. The US has 19.5.
Canada has 10.3 CT scanners per million people. The US has 29.5. Think about that. In terms of availability, its easier to get an MRI in the US than it is to get a CT in Canada.
American women are 30% more likely to develope breast cancer than Canadian women, but the Canadian mortality rate for breast cancer is higher. Its not just breast cancer. In every case Americans are more likely to develope cancer, and in almost every case, the American mortality rate is lower, in spite of the fact that in Canada everyone has a health insurance card.
You see in America we have more doctors, more nurses, and more technology. In Canada they have more insurance cards. I don't know about you but I've never been treated or diagnosed by an insurance card.
What compounds the Canadian problem even worse is the very thing that so many love about it. Its cost to the patient. Its free. That's great right?
Well no. No not really its not great. Because when something is free, its abused. You scraped your knee? Better go to the ER and have it looked at. Why not? Its free. Why not take an ambulance ride there? Again... its free.
Think it doesn't happen? I've got news for you, it happens here in Tennessee with TnCare patients.
The Candian HealthCare System looks great on the surface, but a deeper look reveals a rotting corpse that's bankrupting the country and threatening to finally collapse completely. The plain truth is the government just can't afford to keep the system up and running. Canadian news services are widely declaring the system broken beyond repair.
Its true... in Canada everyone has equal access to healthcare; practically none.
This is what you want to emulate?
Lets begin by calling a spade a spade. The term universal healthcare sounds better, but what it means is Government Healthcare. Proponents don't like to use that term though, because it sounds bad. Why? Because the general perception in America is that something produced by the government is inferior to that which is produced privately. Take a walk through a few VA hopsitals. Compare the US Postal Service to FedEx. You'll find the perception is well earned.
But now that we have our terms straight lets examine the real question. Should America adopt Government Healthcare?
Its a bit of a trick question of course, because we largely already have through Medicare, Medicaid, and state programs like TnCare. But lets look at it... and why don't we use our neighbor to the north, as proponents of Government Healthcare love their system so much.
Let's start with a quote:
"I spent two years and more trying to locate a regular doctor to manage my mother's declining health. I did not find one in time... the public should be aware that if we do not return to a favorable doctor-to-patient ratio in this country soon... we will be sold short and people will die before it is really their time." - Norm Richards
Canada is running painfully low on doctors. Why? Several reasons, the largest of which are time and money. Young people simply aren't choosing to be doctors in Canada because the work hours, educational investment, and time commitment don't balance out with the pay. Doctors are starting to be seen as martyrs.
There was a canadian kid that went through residency with my wife. He loved Canada and desperately wanted to go back there, but wouldn't. He told me he loved being a doctor to much to go home.
Enough of that silliness. Lets have some hard numbers.
There are 2.1 doctors per 1000 people in Canada. There are 2.8 doctors per 1000 people in the US.
Nurses in the US make an average of 50% more than Nurses in Canada. Doctors earn 100% more on average. On top of that, canadians face a tax rate that is nearly double that of the US.
Canada has 4.6 MRI scanners per million people. The US has 19.5.
Canada has 10.3 CT scanners per million people. The US has 29.5. Think about that. In terms of availability, its easier to get an MRI in the US than it is to get a CT in Canada.
American women are 30% more likely to develope breast cancer than Canadian women, but the Canadian mortality rate for breast cancer is higher. Its not just breast cancer. In every case Americans are more likely to develope cancer, and in almost every case, the American mortality rate is lower, in spite of the fact that in Canada everyone has a health insurance card.
You see in America we have more doctors, more nurses, and more technology. In Canada they have more insurance cards. I don't know about you but I've never been treated or diagnosed by an insurance card.
What compounds the Canadian problem even worse is the very thing that so many love about it. Its cost to the patient. Its free. That's great right?
Well no. No not really its not great. Because when something is free, its abused. You scraped your knee? Better go to the ER and have it looked at. Why not? Its free. Why not take an ambulance ride there? Again... its free.
Think it doesn't happen? I've got news for you, it happens here in Tennessee with TnCare patients.
The Candian HealthCare System looks great on the surface, but a deeper look reveals a rotting corpse that's bankrupting the country and threatening to finally collapse completely. The plain truth is the government just can't afford to keep the system up and running. Canadian news services are widely declaring the system broken beyond repair.
Its true... in Canada everyone has equal access to healthcare; practically none.
This is what you want to emulate?
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Christian Defense
Every once in a while I get an email from one of you folks that really strikes a nerve. Like today...
See... I started this blog because I was asked to... over and over and over by the folks over at Vox's. I was reluctant... especially since I viewed the Blogosphere with a certain disdain. See... the blogosphere is made up of millions of people with nothing to say, hell bent on saying it.
I didn't want to be one of them.
Then I realized... I had something to say.
That something is this...
Men... Christians... Parents... You have a God Given Right, and a Civic Responsibility to defend yourself. You should own, and be well trained in the use of firearms.
Guns are tools... neither good nor bad. See.... good or bad... that only applies to people's behavior. Set a loaded gun on a table and it will sit there forever. It will never harm anyone. At least not until someone comes along and picks it up.
Fun thing about guns. Someone has to pull the trigger.
And yes... turning the other cheek is a profoundly Christian behavior. Its one I support and choose often. However... its not a luxury you have when the safety of your family is on the line.
In Luke 22.... Christ is giving his disciples advice before they go out into the world... I recommend paying attention to Luke 22:36
"Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."
What do you suppose Christ meant those swords to be used for?
There is only one conclusion a student can reach; the defense of those who cannot defend themselves.
I submit that if you are a Christian it is your duty to responsibly keep firearms in your home, if not on your person.
I submit that if you are a citizen of the State of Tennessee, or the United States, it is your civic duty to keep military servicable weapons in your home, lest you be called on empty-handed.
Every once in a while I get an email from one of you folks that really strikes a nerve. Like today...
See... I started this blog because I was asked to... over and over and over by the folks over at Vox's. I was reluctant... especially since I viewed the Blogosphere with a certain disdain. See... the blogosphere is made up of millions of people with nothing to say, hell bent on saying it.
I didn't want to be one of them.
Then I realized... I had something to say.
That something is this...
Men... Christians... Parents... You have a God Given Right, and a Civic Responsibility to defend yourself. You should own, and be well trained in the use of firearms.
Guns are tools... neither good nor bad. See.... good or bad... that only applies to people's behavior. Set a loaded gun on a table and it will sit there forever. It will never harm anyone. At least not until someone comes along and picks it up.
Fun thing about guns. Someone has to pull the trigger.
And yes... turning the other cheek is a profoundly Christian behavior. Its one I support and choose often. However... its not a luxury you have when the safety of your family is on the line.
In Luke 22.... Christ is giving his disciples advice before they go out into the world... I recommend paying attention to Luke 22:36
"Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."
What do you suppose Christ meant those swords to be used for?
There is only one conclusion a student can reach; the defense of those who cannot defend themselves.
I submit that if you are a Christian it is your duty to responsibly keep firearms in your home, if not on your person.
I submit that if you are a citizen of the State of Tennessee, or the United States, it is your civic duty to keep military servicable weapons in your home, lest you be called on empty-handed.
So... The Second Amendment Always Loses in Court?
"The provision in the Constitution granting the right to all persons to bear arms is a limitation upon the power of the Legislature to enact any law to the contrary. The exercise of a right guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be made subject to the will of the sheriff. [People vs. Zerillo, 219 Mich. 635, 189 N.W. 927, at 928 (1922)]"
Or not.
I have a legal Concealed Carry License. That fact however, does not mean I think the government has the right to require to have one.
It means in this case.. its easier just to get one and be done with it. The class was fun, and informative from a legal standpoint.
"The provision in the Constitution granting the right to all persons to bear arms is a limitation upon the power of the Legislature to enact any law to the contrary. The exercise of a right guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be made subject to the will of the sheriff. [People vs. Zerillo, 219 Mich. 635, 189 N.W. 927, at 928 (1922)]"
Or not.
I have a legal Concealed Carry License. That fact however, does not mean I think the government has the right to require to have one.
It means in this case.. its easier just to get one and be done with it. The class was fun, and informative from a legal standpoint.
Friday, December 22, 2006
The Legend of the Rebel Soldier
In a dreary Yankee prison where a rebel soldier lay
By his side there stood a preacher ere his soul should pass away
And he faintly whispered parson, as he clutched him by the hand
Oh parson, tell me quickly, will my soul pass through the Southland?
Will my soul pass through the Southland, through Old Virginia grand?
Will I see the hills of Georgia, and the green fields of Alabam?
Will I see the little churchhouse, where I pledged my heart and hand?
Oh parson, tell me quickly, will my soul pass through the Southland?
Was for loving dear old Dixie, in this dreary cell I lie
Was for loving dear old Dixie, in this Northern State I die
Will you see my little daughter, will you make her understand?
Oh parson, tell me quickly, will my soul pass through the Southland?
Then the Rebel Soldier died.
This is a traditional Confederate song... adapted by an Irish Confederate solider held captive... perhaps at one of the Yankee Slaughter Houses that made Andersonville look like a summer resort.
Please note there isn't one line about slavery.
The army didn't fight for hate. They fought for love. And that their banner is shamed... is shame indeed.
In a dreary Yankee prison where a rebel soldier lay
By his side there stood a preacher ere his soul should pass away
And he faintly whispered parson, as he clutched him by the hand
Oh parson, tell me quickly, will my soul pass through the Southland?
Will my soul pass through the Southland, through Old Virginia grand?
Will I see the hills of Georgia, and the green fields of Alabam?
Will I see the little churchhouse, where I pledged my heart and hand?
Oh parson, tell me quickly, will my soul pass through the Southland?
Was for loving dear old Dixie, in this dreary cell I lie
Was for loving dear old Dixie, in this Northern State I die
Will you see my little daughter, will you make her understand?
Oh parson, tell me quickly, will my soul pass through the Southland?
Then the Rebel Soldier died.
This is a traditional Confederate song... adapted by an Irish Confederate solider held captive... perhaps at one of the Yankee Slaughter Houses that made Andersonville look like a summer resort.
Please note there isn't one line about slavery.
The army didn't fight for hate. They fought for love. And that their banner is shamed... is shame indeed.
Mr Castanza Rolls in His Grave
Note.... a company making money off of the explicitly anti-comercial Festivus!!!
Buy your Festivus Pole Here
Note.... a company making money off of the explicitly anti-comercial Festivus!!!
Buy your Festivus Pole Here
That's Special
So folks are celebrating Festivus... No doubt they will be criticisized for celebrating a fake holiday... no doubt some of the critics will think Kwanza is authentic.
Anyway... there is no way to really know when festivus is.. seinfeld wasn't specific. We assume its the 24th but we don't know. And why did they choose the 23rd anyway? Wasn't it really just to compete with Christmas? The pole obviously pays omage to the traditional tree, and wasn't even the original symbol anyway. Originally it was a clock and a bag... and the airing of grievenses and feats of stregth have clear roots in the pagan rights of the orient and Scottland.
Its common knowledge that the first Festivus celebrations were actually in the spring anyway.
So folks are celebrating Festivus... No doubt they will be criticisized for celebrating a fake holiday... no doubt some of the critics will think Kwanza is authentic.
Anyway... there is no way to really know when festivus is.. seinfeld wasn't specific. We assume its the 24th but we don't know. And why did they choose the 23rd anyway? Wasn't it really just to compete with Christmas? The pole obviously pays omage to the traditional tree, and wasn't even the original symbol anyway. Originally it was a clock and a bag... and the airing of grievenses and feats of stregth have clear roots in the pagan rights of the orient and Scottland.
Its common knowledge that the first Festivus celebrations were actually in the spring anyway.
Christmas Gifts
This is the long list of Christmas prizes I'd love to give...
To...
Our Lord: Thanks
The Tennessee Titans: A trip to the playoffs.
Floyd Reese: Asante Samuels and Dwight Freeney. Both free agents this off season.
The Nashville Predators: a healthy Thomas Vokoun
Hillary Clinton: a soul.
George W Bush: A thousand paper cuts... and a gallon of rubbing alcohol.
Vox: three rounds with Al Franken.. and a well restored MG to the winner.
Spacebunny: a week off.
Res Ipsa: Buckzilla
Mrs Res Ipsa: Patience... no wait... she clearly already has plenty.
EP: A plump woman who sleeps soundly and cooks to much.. and a KLX 250.
JAC: A trip to Mexico... dust and glory.
DJ: Ducati 748... duh...
MM: A home in the South, where he belongs.
Bill: A tig... and a bottle of makers... to be used simultaneously.
Underwater Operative: How Not to Dress Like a Sissy: The Definitive Handbook.
Will: a Springfield 1911... and house gun
JamieR: Musical taste... and tolerence... alcohol tolerence... and a week in Tennessee.. where he would need it.
Kristy and Dave: USB rocket launchers!
The Rest of the Harem girls: One night...
Farmer Tom: a freshly restored John Deere 8020.
***UPDATE***
Do to complaints from the peanut gallery... I offer this addendum:
To Jeb: A BIIIIIIIIIIIIG Cotton Picker... with forks! Like a Combine!
To Eli: The Biggest Bear Ever.
And to you wife... you get an appreciative husband.
This is the long list of Christmas prizes I'd love to give...
To...
Our Lord: Thanks
The Tennessee Titans: A trip to the playoffs.
Floyd Reese: Asante Samuels and Dwight Freeney. Both free agents this off season.
The Nashville Predators: a healthy Thomas Vokoun
Hillary Clinton: a soul.
George W Bush: A thousand paper cuts... and a gallon of rubbing alcohol.
Vox: three rounds with Al Franken.. and a well restored MG to the winner.
Spacebunny: a week off.
Res Ipsa: Buckzilla
Mrs Res Ipsa: Patience... no wait... she clearly already has plenty.
EP: A plump woman who sleeps soundly and cooks to much.. and a KLX 250.
JAC: A trip to Mexico... dust and glory.
DJ: Ducati 748... duh...
MM: A home in the South, where he belongs.
Bill: A tig... and a bottle of makers... to be used simultaneously.
Underwater Operative: How Not to Dress Like a Sissy: The Definitive Handbook.
Will: a Springfield 1911... and house gun
JamieR: Musical taste... and tolerence... alcohol tolerence... and a week in Tennessee.. where he would need it.
Kristy and Dave: USB rocket launchers!
The Rest of the Harem girls: One night...
Farmer Tom: a freshly restored John Deere 8020.
***UPDATE***
Do to complaints from the peanut gallery... I offer this addendum:
To Jeb: A BIIIIIIIIIIIIG Cotton Picker... with forks! Like a Combine!
To Eli: The Biggest Bear Ever.
And to you wife... you get an appreciative husband.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Listen Up
You. Yes You. Sit your ass down. We need to talk.
Listen... I know you're all fired up about your cause. I don't particularly care what cause it is. Global Warming... Save the Whales... Poverty... AIDs... Race... Gay Marriage... the NRA... yes this goes for the so-called Right-Wingers too... especially you nimrod charasmatics.
I swear... just listing off the causes makes me want to deepthroat a cattleprod. If it were up to me... we'd round up all these interest groups... these assinine pet causes... and we'd slow cook the folks in charge of them and serve 'em with Au Ju.
You think those folks give a damn about their cause? Oh sure... there may be a handfull of true believers... but they ain't running things. These are money-making outfits. Scams. Take the global warming groups...
They create their own demand by ejecting bullshit on a defensless public... the public, being defenseless and more than a little stupid, buys it... and starts worrying about global warming. And what do you do when you worry? Right! You send someone a check. Good thinking!
NRA? Same deal. They say the boogie man's coming to get our guns... but they sure don't seem to interested in actually defending the second-amendment. Just send the check please.
PETA? Check. Same deal.
Think about it... do you really think Karl Marx believed that crap he wrote all work being equal? He wasn't a fool. He wrote it for you because he knew you were fools. He wasn't planning a Utopia... he was manipulating you. Ya know what else? He did a hulluva job!
And what about you... Mr I-Fall-For-Every-New-Theology-That-Comes-Down-The-Pike? Do you actually think this charasmatic crap is the product of original thought? No no.. its not that its original... its that... this is the way it really used to be... and we're just trying to get back to it... right? You're just fixing everyone else's mistakes. Right.. now remember next month is our special Giving Service.. you should be there because you know... if you don't give, you'll lose your spiritual covering!
What was that I said... oh yeah... Fixing everyone else's mistakes... See? that's what they all have in common.
They're all built to cater to your ego. You're smarter than everyone else because you know we're ruining the earth... or killing all the animals... or the fish.. or worshiping incorrectly... or celebrating the wrong holidays...
See how smart you are? No sit down, shut up, and send us your money.
You. Yes You. Sit your ass down. We need to talk.
Listen... I know you're all fired up about your cause. I don't particularly care what cause it is. Global Warming... Save the Whales... Poverty... AIDs... Race... Gay Marriage... the NRA... yes this goes for the so-called Right-Wingers too... especially you nimrod charasmatics.
I swear... just listing off the causes makes me want to deepthroat a cattleprod. If it were up to me... we'd round up all these interest groups... these assinine pet causes... and we'd slow cook the folks in charge of them and serve 'em with Au Ju.
You think those folks give a damn about their cause? Oh sure... there may be a handfull of true believers... but they ain't running things. These are money-making outfits. Scams. Take the global warming groups...
They create their own demand by ejecting bullshit on a defensless public... the public, being defenseless and more than a little stupid, buys it... and starts worrying about global warming. And what do you do when you worry? Right! You send someone a check. Good thinking!
NRA? Same deal. They say the boogie man's coming to get our guns... but they sure don't seem to interested in actually defending the second-amendment. Just send the check please.
PETA? Check. Same deal.
Think about it... do you really think Karl Marx believed that crap he wrote all work being equal? He wasn't a fool. He wrote it for you because he knew you were fools. He wasn't planning a Utopia... he was manipulating you. Ya know what else? He did a hulluva job!
And what about you... Mr I-Fall-For-Every-New-Theology-That-Comes-Down-The-Pike? Do you actually think this charasmatic crap is the product of original thought? No no.. its not that its original... its that... this is the way it really used to be... and we're just trying to get back to it... right? You're just fixing everyone else's mistakes. Right.. now remember next month is our special Giving Service.. you should be there because you know... if you don't give, you'll lose your spiritual covering!
What was that I said... oh yeah... Fixing everyone else's mistakes... See? that's what they all have in common.
They're all built to cater to your ego. You're smarter than everyone else because you know we're ruining the earth... or killing all the animals... or the fish.. or worshiping incorrectly... or celebrating the wrong holidays...
See how smart you are? No sit down, shut up, and send us your money.
Monday, December 18, 2006
A Militant Merry Christmas
I don't know if y'all caught this or not... but its worth highlighting... From Vox Day's column today:
This year I'll be celebrating Christmas by decorating a tree and giving gifts to my loved ones, Hanukkah by taking eight days off work, Festivus by bitching about the Fed's decision to stop reporting M3, Saturnalia by letting Promporn and Sunisa tie me up for a change, and Kwanzaa by holding up the liquor store on Martin Luther King Boulevard using a piece of corn carved into the shape of a Glock 9mm.
Now that's funny right there... I don't care who ya are.
I don't know if y'all caught this or not... but its worth highlighting... From Vox Day's column today:
This year I'll be celebrating Christmas by decorating a tree and giving gifts to my loved ones, Hanukkah by taking eight days off work, Festivus by bitching about the Fed's decision to stop reporting M3, Saturnalia by letting Promporn and Sunisa tie me up for a change, and Kwanzaa by holding up the liquor store on Martin Luther King Boulevard using a piece of corn carved into the shape of a Glock 9mm.
Now that's funny right there... I don't care who ya are.
Friday, December 15, 2006
ATF
To be honest... at this point in my life... I am happier than I've ever been. But for some reason... tonight I seem drawn a little to the darker side. I read headline after headline... and I find myself thinking more and more about the AR-15 and the numerous 60-round clips close by...
Maybe its just left overs from responding to that email about Go-Time.
ah hell... nothing a little knob creek won't fix. I hope.
I'm working on a short story right now... of course... this has nothing to do with A T or F... ok... it has a lot to do with F... but its certainly not in the tradition of the ATF posts... but I digress. I'm working on this story about a wronged family... that ends up going at it with cops. It would be a lot easier to make it a novel though... but I just don't have the time. I don't think it could ever be a comercial success of course... which is why I'm rolling with the short story deal... because lets face it... do you really think there's a market out there for rutheless premeditated cop-killing? Probly not. We'll probably never know.
If I do follow through with my decision and make it a short story I'll post a work in progress here, and hopefully a finished version... at some point.
On a different topic I thought it would be a good time to give a bit of an update on my new carry gun. The Steyr.
I still love it. No problems at all. The accuracy and reliability top the glocks in the safe. Both of them... in fact they top all of the DOA weapons. The accuracy is on par with my PT-101 which is significantly larger... but the reliability is still an issue. Lets face it... I've shot that Taurus for over a decade trouble free. The Steyr has a ways to go to match that. Even still if I had to call it one way or the other, I would call the weapon proven.
Now... lighter topics... watcha drinkin' tonight? For me... Knob Creek. Oh I know... Everyone has something they like better than Knob Creek. Ya know what else? I don't know of another bourbon that's so high on everyone's list. Maybe its not your number one... but I'll wager its in the top-5 or 6. In a country where 80% of the population can't agree on the date, that's saying something. I don't know, aside from Russel's Reserve, Rare Breed, and Bookers... of a single whiskey that is as consistant as Knob Creek. Every ounce tastes the exact same. I suppose Makers is still better for the money... but it don't stay with you like Knob Creek does.
Speakin' of fine bourbon... Whiskey Girl called me the other day. See... I'm a GOOD brother-in-law. For no reason in particular I bought her a Wild Turkey Rare Breed Gift Set. It came with 750ml and a couple nice tumblers. Well the other day she calls me up... out of the blue.
"Nate... I've got a problem..."
"What's that darlin'?"
"This Rare Breed is really good... and I may have to work tomarrow."
I don't know if you've ever sprung for Rare Breed. If not... For the love of God go now. Its like everything that's good about Russells... but more of it. Sipping a little to much Rare Breed is like having to much sex. You feel it in the morning... but regret is not the right word.
And smokes???
I'm curious for your thoughts on CAO. I like them. They aren't the best... but so what? Does everything have to be the best? They're good cigars. I enjoy them. Sure... Aruto makes some better ones. But that doesn't mean the CAO's aren't good. It just means Arturo makes fantastic cigars. JAC said it the other day.. and I agree... Neither of us has ever had a bad Arturo. I've had bad cuban cohibas... but I've never had a bad Arturo.
What about you pipe guys? Are we still recommending local blends? If so... what do we have to share? There is a blend called Black Cordial... and I'm curious as to its consistancy. I've seen it in jars at several differnt shops in several different towns... but it didn't strike me as the same. There were slight differences. Always awesome... but different.
I'll end this with a very non-traditional ATF question. If the Shit Hit The Fan last Wednesday at 1:30pm... where would you have been? and how would you have handled it? Think about it. Are you prepared?
To be honest... at this point in my life... I am happier than I've ever been. But for some reason... tonight I seem drawn a little to the darker side. I read headline after headline... and I find myself thinking more and more about the AR-15 and the numerous 60-round clips close by...
Maybe its just left overs from responding to that email about Go-Time.
ah hell... nothing a little knob creek won't fix. I hope.
I'm working on a short story right now... of course... this has nothing to do with A T or F... ok... it has a lot to do with F... but its certainly not in the tradition of the ATF posts... but I digress. I'm working on this story about a wronged family... that ends up going at it with cops. It would be a lot easier to make it a novel though... but I just don't have the time. I don't think it could ever be a comercial success of course... which is why I'm rolling with the short story deal... because lets face it... do you really think there's a market out there for rutheless premeditated cop-killing? Probly not. We'll probably never know.
If I do follow through with my decision and make it a short story I'll post a work in progress here, and hopefully a finished version... at some point.
On a different topic I thought it would be a good time to give a bit of an update on my new carry gun. The Steyr.
I still love it. No problems at all. The accuracy and reliability top the glocks in the safe. Both of them... in fact they top all of the DOA weapons. The accuracy is on par with my PT-101 which is significantly larger... but the reliability is still an issue. Lets face it... I've shot that Taurus for over a decade trouble free. The Steyr has a ways to go to match that. Even still if I had to call it one way or the other, I would call the weapon proven.
Now... lighter topics... watcha drinkin' tonight? For me... Knob Creek. Oh I know... Everyone has something they like better than Knob Creek. Ya know what else? I don't know of another bourbon that's so high on everyone's list. Maybe its not your number one... but I'll wager its in the top-5 or 6. In a country where 80% of the population can't agree on the date, that's saying something. I don't know, aside from Russel's Reserve, Rare Breed, and Bookers... of a single whiskey that is as consistant as Knob Creek. Every ounce tastes the exact same. I suppose Makers is still better for the money... but it don't stay with you like Knob Creek does.
Speakin' of fine bourbon... Whiskey Girl called me the other day. See... I'm a GOOD brother-in-law. For no reason in particular I bought her a Wild Turkey Rare Breed Gift Set. It came with 750ml and a couple nice tumblers. Well the other day she calls me up... out of the blue.
"Nate... I've got a problem..."
"What's that darlin'?"
"This Rare Breed is really good... and I may have to work tomarrow."
I don't know if you've ever sprung for Rare Breed. If not... For the love of God go now. Its like everything that's good about Russells... but more of it. Sipping a little to much Rare Breed is like having to much sex. You feel it in the morning... but regret is not the right word.
And smokes???
I'm curious for your thoughts on CAO. I like them. They aren't the best... but so what? Does everything have to be the best? They're good cigars. I enjoy them. Sure... Aruto makes some better ones. But that doesn't mean the CAO's aren't good. It just means Arturo makes fantastic cigars. JAC said it the other day.. and I agree... Neither of us has ever had a bad Arturo. I've had bad cuban cohibas... but I've never had a bad Arturo.
What about you pipe guys? Are we still recommending local blends? If so... what do we have to share? There is a blend called Black Cordial... and I'm curious as to its consistancy. I've seen it in jars at several differnt shops in several different towns... but it didn't strike me as the same. There were slight differences. Always awesome... but different.
I'll end this with a very non-traditional ATF question. If the Shit Hit The Fan last Wednesday at 1:30pm... where would you have been? and how would you have handled it? Think about it. Are you prepared?
Thursday, December 14, 2006
A Pagan Holiday?
Everyone knows December 25th is actually a pagan holiday that Christians stole.
Right?
After all... Rome celebrated the birth of the Sun on December 25th. That festival dates back to around 270ad when Aurelius created the holiday. But check this out...
The definitive "Handbook of Biblical Chronology" by professor Jack Finegan (Hendrickson, 1998 revised edition) cites an important reference in the "Chronicle" written by Hippolytus of Rome three decades before Aurelian launched his festival. Hippolytus said Jesus' birth "took place eight days before the kalends of January," that is, Dec. 25.
So... a beloved roman historian wrote that Jesus was born on Dec 25th... 30 years before the pagan holiday was invented by Aurelius.
Well? That certainly throws a monkey wrench into things. Want another?
Christ's birth has been celebrated on Dec 25th since the 4th century. And the 12 days of Christmas? That's because Epiphany occured on January 6. 12 days after the Birth.
But but but!!! Winter Solstice has been celebrated by pagans for 4000 years!!!!
So what? You think the Jews and Christians of Isreal knew or cared about what the cannible hordes of germany were celebrating? Correlation is not causation people.
So... according to Yahoo! Answers... Christmas is on the 25th because the Roman Catholic Church wanted to compete with the pagan holiday. Someone should really clue those poor dolts in. Christians had been celebrating Christ's birth on the 25th of December for centuries before the Catholic declaration.
Read more here.
Everyone knows December 25th is actually a pagan holiday that Christians stole.
Right?
After all... Rome celebrated the birth of the Sun on December 25th. That festival dates back to around 270ad when Aurelius created the holiday. But check this out...
The definitive "Handbook of Biblical Chronology" by professor Jack Finegan (Hendrickson, 1998 revised edition) cites an important reference in the "Chronicle" written by Hippolytus of Rome three decades before Aurelian launched his festival. Hippolytus said Jesus' birth "took place eight days before the kalends of January," that is, Dec. 25.
So... a beloved roman historian wrote that Jesus was born on Dec 25th... 30 years before the pagan holiday was invented by Aurelius.
Well? That certainly throws a monkey wrench into things. Want another?
Christ's birth has been celebrated on Dec 25th since the 4th century. And the 12 days of Christmas? That's because Epiphany occured on January 6. 12 days after the Birth.
But but but!!! Winter Solstice has been celebrated by pagans for 4000 years!!!!
So what? You think the Jews and Christians of Isreal knew or cared about what the cannible hordes of germany were celebrating? Correlation is not causation people.
So... according to Yahoo! Answers... Christmas is on the 25th because the Roman Catholic Church wanted to compete with the pagan holiday. Someone should really clue those poor dolts in. Christians had been celebrating Christ's birth on the 25th of December for centuries before the Catholic declaration.
Read more here.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Black Privilage
Every once in a while I make the rounds at some local Nashville blogs. Today I came upon some rant by someone calling herself Aunt B. She was upset about White Privilage... well... This is the Bloggerblaster... we don't do PC here. So how about we have us a little rant the other way?
Black Privilage is...
Being admitted to medical school in favor of whites who scored better on the tests than you did... and made better grades than you did.
Getting the job that you really aren't qualified for.. because after all mommy government says every company has to have so many black folks.
Getting to keep your job... even though you suck at it... you're lazy... and you show attitude to every co-worker you have... beacuse they can't fire you.
Whenever someone doesn't like you... its not because you're a jerk... or anything else about you... its because they're racist.
Always having a scapegoat.
Always having an excuse.
Going to school for free... just because of your skin color.
Being insanely over represented on TV.
A free pass to say blantantly racist things on TV, and not get fired. (Michael Irvin)
Well... that's about all I can think of right now. The comments section is below. Direct your hate mail there. I may even read it.
Every once in a while I make the rounds at some local Nashville blogs. Today I came upon some rant by someone calling herself Aunt B. She was upset about White Privilage... well... This is the Bloggerblaster... we don't do PC here. So how about we have us a little rant the other way?
Black Privilage is...
Being admitted to medical school in favor of whites who scored better on the tests than you did... and made better grades than you did.
Getting the job that you really aren't qualified for.. because after all mommy government says every company has to have so many black folks.
Getting to keep your job... even though you suck at it... you're lazy... and you show attitude to every co-worker you have... beacuse they can't fire you.
Whenever someone doesn't like you... its not because you're a jerk... or anything else about you... its because they're racist.
Always having a scapegoat.
Always having an excuse.
Going to school for free... just because of your skin color.
Being insanely over represented on TV.
A free pass to say blantantly racist things on TV, and not get fired. (Michael Irvin)
Well... that's about all I can think of right now. The comments section is below. Direct your hate mail there. I may even read it.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Damn You Rachael Carson
Raise your hand if you know of the book Silent Spring?
You should.. its the book thats killed more people than any other. And Rachael Carson... is the woman who's killed more people than Stalin, more than Mao, and many times more than Hitler.
What few people realize is that Malaria was controlled in the 1950s. DDT eradicated Malaria in the US and Europe, and was fast doing so in Africa.
Ahh... but dear Rachael needed a career boost... and if that meant killing millions of people... oh well. The environment must be saved!
Just some quick facts:
- 1 african chld dies of malaria every 30 seconds.
- After Malaria cases had increased 1000% South Africa began using DDT again. Cases were reduced by 80% in less than 1 year. Cases are now at an all-time low.
- 1.5 to 2.7 million people die each year of Malaria.
- Children aged one to four are the most vulnerable to infection and death. Malaria is responsible for as many as half the deaths of African children under the age of five. The disease kills more than one million children - 2,800 per day - each year in Africa alone. In regions of intense transmission, 40% of toddlers may die of acute malaria.
- In the early 1960s, only 10% the world's population was at risk of contracting malaria. This rose to 40% as mosquitoes developed resistance to pesticides and malaria parasites developed resistance to treatment drugs. Malaria is now spreading to areas previously free of the disease. None of these mosquitoes are resistant to DDT.
- Malaria kills 8,000 Brazilians yearly - more than AIDS and cholera combined.
- DDT prevented 500 million deaths by 1970.
- No one has ever died of DDT poisoning.
- After 40 years of intense scrutiny, not one case of cancer has been related to DDT.
- If America was affected by Malaria, we'd be using DDT to stop it.
- Alexander King, founder of the Malthusian Club of Rome, who wrote in a biographical essay in 1990, “My chief quarrel with DDT in hindsight is that it has greatly added to the population problem.”
And that last bit... there's where the real doosie lis. Why is it that the Left... which is so hell-bent on ramming ever cause down our throats... lets this one lanquish when the fix is so easily available?
Becasue they don't want it fixed. To them the world's over populated as is... who needs a few million more Africans running around?
You say 10 bucks will put a net over a kid's bed? I say 10 bucks worth of DDT will protect a whole neighborhood for a year... and Mosquitos bite in the day time to ya morons.
Its now universally accepted that Silent Spring was based on shoddy science at best. There was a well known professor who toured the country lecturing on DDT... and before every lecture, he would eat a teaspoon of the stuff... pure. He lived a long and happy life. But isn't it fitting... that the environmental movement... that is so plagued by pathetic attempts at science... was actually started by a book based on crappy science itself?
I'll tell ya what... how about we worry about curing AIDS after we go ahead and handle the much more deadly disease.. that we already know how to stop?
Raise your hand if you know of the book Silent Spring?
You should.. its the book thats killed more people than any other. And Rachael Carson... is the woman who's killed more people than Stalin, more than Mao, and many times more than Hitler.
What few people realize is that Malaria was controlled in the 1950s. DDT eradicated Malaria in the US and Europe, and was fast doing so in Africa.
Ahh... but dear Rachael needed a career boost... and if that meant killing millions of people... oh well. The environment must be saved!
Just some quick facts:
- 1 african chld dies of malaria every 30 seconds.
- After Malaria cases had increased 1000% South Africa began using DDT again. Cases were reduced by 80% in less than 1 year. Cases are now at an all-time low.
- 1.5 to 2.7 million people die each year of Malaria.
- Children aged one to four are the most vulnerable to infection and death. Malaria is responsible for as many as half the deaths of African children under the age of five. The disease kills more than one million children - 2,800 per day - each year in Africa alone. In regions of intense transmission, 40% of toddlers may die of acute malaria.
- In the early 1960s, only 10% the world's population was at risk of contracting malaria. This rose to 40% as mosquitoes developed resistance to pesticides and malaria parasites developed resistance to treatment drugs. Malaria is now spreading to areas previously free of the disease. None of these mosquitoes are resistant to DDT.
- Malaria kills 8,000 Brazilians yearly - more than AIDS and cholera combined.
- DDT prevented 500 million deaths by 1970.
- No one has ever died of DDT poisoning.
- After 40 years of intense scrutiny, not one case of cancer has been related to DDT.
- If America was affected by Malaria, we'd be using DDT to stop it.
- Alexander King, founder of the Malthusian Club of Rome, who wrote in a biographical essay in 1990, “My chief quarrel with DDT in hindsight is that it has greatly added to the population problem.”
And that last bit... there's where the real doosie lis. Why is it that the Left... which is so hell-bent on ramming ever cause down our throats... lets this one lanquish when the fix is so easily available?
Becasue they don't want it fixed. To them the world's over populated as is... who needs a few million more Africans running around?
You say 10 bucks will put a net over a kid's bed? I say 10 bucks worth of DDT will protect a whole neighborhood for a year... and Mosquitos bite in the day time to ya morons.
Its now universally accepted that Silent Spring was based on shoddy science at best. There was a well known professor who toured the country lecturing on DDT... and before every lecture, he would eat a teaspoon of the stuff... pure. He lived a long and happy life. But isn't it fitting... that the environmental movement... that is so plagued by pathetic attempts at science... was actually started by a book based on crappy science itself?
I'll tell ya what... how about we worry about curing AIDS after we go ahead and handle the much more deadly disease.. that we already know how to stop?
NateMail: Put It In Its Place?
There's a downside to having a massively read blog. The people who read it sometimes email you provocative questions to which there are no good answers. Like this one on putting the government in its place:
How? There are so many who are aware of the problem, the travesty, yetnone who offer a solution, to say nothing of action! I don't want you to take it the wrong way, as I'm sure you're notwho's only full of talk. I'm just so tired of it. Tired of being relatively informed and pretty darned upset at the form our Republichas taken, yet not seeing any recourse. What can one do? Vote? Ha!I know you'd never suggest such a thing. Is the answer to simply sit and wait for something to happen? Something so drastic or terrible that it motivates?
Still... you have to try. So here goes...
What is being asked here.. is simply... is it Go Time?
The answer is obviously no... because if the answer was yes, we wouldn't be reading silly things on the net right now... we'd be shooting, looting, hiding, being shot at, blowing things up, and generally having a great time. These things are not happening... so clearly its not Go Time.
Yet.
But when is Go Time? To answer the emailer, we really do need to sit and wait. Its coming... for sure. The dollar is rapidly falling to hell. Big Oil is converting their pricing to Euros. China has made it clear that they are getting out of the dollar. At best, recession is on the way... at worst?
The Fed is screwed. They can't raise rates fast enough to save the dollar... but the low rates are the only finger left in the dam holding back the recession. They're damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Well... ask yourself.. what will President Rhodam's response to a recession be? Tax cuts? Probly not. How do you suppose modern america would react to a socialist mommy-in-chief in the midst of a depression?
Waco almost tore the country apart doing great economic times. What do you think would've happened if people were already pissed?
The key ingredient to the coming of Go Time is a significant economic downturn. Another key ingrediant is a nut case, gun grabbing, certified commie in the white house.
Both are on the way.
Clean your guns. Horde ammo. Pray for Peace. Prepare for War.
But if you're like me... and you've got a family to protect... better investigate in off shore real estate.
There's a downside to having a massively read blog. The people who read it sometimes email you provocative questions to which there are no good answers. Like this one on putting the government in its place:
How? There are so many who are aware of the problem, the travesty, yetnone who offer a solution, to say nothing of action! I don't want you to take it the wrong way, as I'm sure you're notwho's only full of talk. I'm just so tired of it. Tired of being relatively informed and pretty darned upset at the form our Republichas taken, yet not seeing any recourse. What can one do? Vote? Ha!I know you'd never suggest such a thing. Is the answer to simply sit and wait for something to happen? Something so drastic or terrible that it motivates?
Still... you have to try. So here goes...
What is being asked here.. is simply... is it Go Time?
The answer is obviously no... because if the answer was yes, we wouldn't be reading silly things on the net right now... we'd be shooting, looting, hiding, being shot at, blowing things up, and generally having a great time. These things are not happening... so clearly its not Go Time.
Yet.
But when is Go Time? To answer the emailer, we really do need to sit and wait. Its coming... for sure. The dollar is rapidly falling to hell. Big Oil is converting their pricing to Euros. China has made it clear that they are getting out of the dollar. At best, recession is on the way... at worst?
The Fed is screwed. They can't raise rates fast enough to save the dollar... but the low rates are the only finger left in the dam holding back the recession. They're damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Well... ask yourself.. what will President Rhodam's response to a recession be? Tax cuts? Probly not. How do you suppose modern america would react to a socialist mommy-in-chief in the midst of a depression?
Waco almost tore the country apart doing great economic times. What do you think would've happened if people were already pissed?
The key ingredient to the coming of Go Time is a significant economic downturn. Another key ingrediant is a nut case, gun grabbing, certified commie in the white house.
Both are on the way.
Clean your guns. Horde ammo. Pray for Peace. Prepare for War.
But if you're like me... and you've got a family to protect... better investigate in off shore real estate.
Rights?
Everything is a right these days. You have a right to health care... a right to education... a right murder your unborn child... and if you believe sports radio... a right to get the NFL Network on basic cable.
How about no.
Rights require no action on the part of others. For example, you have a right to free speach. You can say what you want. This requires nothing of me. You have a right to bear arms. Again... this requires nothing of me. This is basic. The widespread lack of understanding is an indictment on our so called education system.
But imagine if someone decided the Right to Bear Arms meant the government had to provide you with a high quality firearm free of charge. Suppose we had lengthy government studies about what firearm type was the best, and formed massive government agencys to direct the distribution of said firearms?
Well it would be bloody daft wouldn't it?
Strangely enough if there is no Right to Education enumerated within our constitution, but do we not do that very thing?
And what of the Right to Work?
Well... lets examine it. It can only be a right if it doesn't require the action of another. Your right to work obviously requires someone somewhere to hire you. Obviously, its not a right.
Work is not a right. Its a property, a very basic property which is covered by the most precious rights we have... which are property rights. In fact, all of the rights we have are based on property. You have a right to free speach because your thoughts and your words are your own.
So yes... work is property... but its not a right in and of itself. No one is required to buy your property. No one is required to hire you. There is not right to a safe work environment, because that would require someone else to alter the terms by which they purchase your property. Rights, as I said, confer no obligation on others.
There are all sorts of good things out there that are not rights. The government can't be continually expanded to deal with every pet peeve that someone may have. It can't because if it was, we'd all end up living in sterile cages.
Its time to grow up. You don't have a right to be comfortable. You don't have a right to be safe, or happy, or to live in a smoke-free non-offensive environment. God didn't grant you those rights. You have a right to life... but only in so much as you can sustain it for yourself. You want the NFL Network? Go get Direct TV.
Everything is a right these days. You have a right to health care... a right to education... a right murder your unborn child... and if you believe sports radio... a right to get the NFL Network on basic cable.
How about no.
Rights require no action on the part of others. For example, you have a right to free speach. You can say what you want. This requires nothing of me. You have a right to bear arms. Again... this requires nothing of me. This is basic. The widespread lack of understanding is an indictment on our so called education system.
But imagine if someone decided the Right to Bear Arms meant the government had to provide you with a high quality firearm free of charge. Suppose we had lengthy government studies about what firearm type was the best, and formed massive government agencys to direct the distribution of said firearms?
Well it would be bloody daft wouldn't it?
Strangely enough if there is no Right to Education enumerated within our constitution, but do we not do that very thing?
And what of the Right to Work?
Well... lets examine it. It can only be a right if it doesn't require the action of another. Your right to work obviously requires someone somewhere to hire you. Obviously, its not a right.
Work is not a right. Its a property, a very basic property which is covered by the most precious rights we have... which are property rights. In fact, all of the rights we have are based on property. You have a right to free speach because your thoughts and your words are your own.
So yes... work is property... but its not a right in and of itself. No one is required to buy your property. No one is required to hire you. There is not right to a safe work environment, because that would require someone else to alter the terms by which they purchase your property. Rights, as I said, confer no obligation on others.
There are all sorts of good things out there that are not rights. The government can't be continually expanded to deal with every pet peeve that someone may have. It can't because if it was, we'd all end up living in sterile cages.
Its time to grow up. You don't have a right to be comfortable. You don't have a right to be safe, or happy, or to live in a smoke-free non-offensive environment. God didn't grant you those rights. You have a right to life... but only in so much as you can sustain it for yourself. You want the NFL Network? Go get Direct TV.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Global Warming and the Liberal God Complex
The Liberal Position on so called "Global Warming" is directly related to their own world view. In their minds... man controls everything. Humans are perfectible and the end all be all of existence. Liberals are in general secular humanists... and there major dogma insists that Man is in fact God. Its just like their view of economies... which in their quaint little minds are best controlled by governments.
Nevermind that the results have been uniformly disastrous.
This attitude... The GodMan syndrome... it makes liberals assume that everything that happens must be because of Man. Much in the same way that the grub eating aboriginees of south America must assume that everything is caused by their many gods. Birds of a feather and all that.
Consider this article, and rock solid case it makes about the lunacy of man-caused global warming. We all know that the middle ages were warmer. Its been accepted forever... until recently when the global warming nutcases realized it made their theory look a little silly. So of course... they just decided to omit it from their studies.
Note this section from the article: I had another interesting experience around the time my paper in Science was published. I received an astonishing email from a major researcher in the area of climate change. He said, "We have to get rid of the Medieval Warm Period." "The Medieval Warm Period (MWP) was a time of unusually warm weather that began around 1000 AD and persisted until a cold period known as the "Little Ice Age" took hold in the 14th century. ... The existence of the MWP had been recognized in the scientific literature for decades. But now it was a major embarrassment to those maintaining that the 20th century warming was truly anomalous. It had to be "gotten rid of."
"In 1999, Michael Mann and his colleagues published a reconstruction of past temperature in which the MWP simply vanished. This unique estimate became known as the "hockey stick," because of the shape of the temperature graph. "Normally in science, when you have a novel result that appears to overturn previous work, you have to demonstrate why the earlier work was wrong. But the work of Mann and his colleagues was initially accepted uncritically, even though it contradicted the results of more than 100 previous studies. Other researchers have since reaffirmed that the Medieval Warm Period was both warm and global in its extent.
In a word... ouch.
Its a little assinine to talk about Global Warming when you consider that in 1975 we were warned by these same nut balls about Global Cooling... not to mention the fact that many of our yankee neighbors live in states that were covered by glaciers no so very long ago. There were no SUVs 10,000 years ago... but the world was warming up just fine on its own.
Props to Vox.
The Liberal Position on so called "Global Warming" is directly related to their own world view. In their minds... man controls everything. Humans are perfectible and the end all be all of existence. Liberals are in general secular humanists... and there major dogma insists that Man is in fact God. Its just like their view of economies... which in their quaint little minds are best controlled by governments.
Nevermind that the results have been uniformly disastrous.
This attitude... The GodMan syndrome... it makes liberals assume that everything that happens must be because of Man. Much in the same way that the grub eating aboriginees of south America must assume that everything is caused by their many gods. Birds of a feather and all that.
Consider this article, and rock solid case it makes about the lunacy of man-caused global warming. We all know that the middle ages were warmer. Its been accepted forever... until recently when the global warming nutcases realized it made their theory look a little silly. So of course... they just decided to omit it from their studies.
Note this section from the article: I had another interesting experience around the time my paper in Science was published. I received an astonishing email from a major researcher in the area of climate change. He said, "We have to get rid of the Medieval Warm Period." "The Medieval Warm Period (MWP) was a time of unusually warm weather that began around 1000 AD and persisted until a cold period known as the "Little Ice Age" took hold in the 14th century. ... The existence of the MWP had been recognized in the scientific literature for decades. But now it was a major embarrassment to those maintaining that the 20th century warming was truly anomalous. It had to be "gotten rid of."
"In 1999, Michael Mann and his colleagues published a reconstruction of past temperature in which the MWP simply vanished. This unique estimate became known as the "hockey stick," because of the shape of the temperature graph. "Normally in science, when you have a novel result that appears to overturn previous work, you have to demonstrate why the earlier work was wrong. But the work of Mann and his colleagues was initially accepted uncritically, even though it contradicted the results of more than 100 previous studies. Other researchers have since reaffirmed that the Medieval Warm Period was both warm and global in its extent.
In a word... ouch.
Its a little assinine to talk about Global Warming when you consider that in 1975 we were warned by these same nut balls about Global Cooling... not to mention the fact that many of our yankee neighbors live in states that were covered by glaciers no so very long ago. There were no SUVs 10,000 years ago... but the world was warming up just fine on its own.
Props to Vox.
Politics is a Team Sport
I've talked about this before. You end up rooting for the team you associate with, and because they are your team.. you end up blinded to the evils that they may do. Today though... I'd like to try to expand on this a little.
When I say its a team sport you probably think in terms of two teams competing. In fact.. its just different units of the same team. Its like a football team. You have offense and defense... and they're never on the field at the same time.
The ultimate goal of each is to secure power for themselves... which in actuality means securing power for the government. The Offense, which we'll call the Democrats, is more geared toward openly expanding government as fast as possible.
The Defense... Republicans... they are there to insure that what gains are made, are not lost... and to occasionally pick up a large gain.
Just like football... the biggest turning points usually come from the defense. EPA? No Child Left Behind? The Patriot Acts? All big moves made by the defense.
Some of you are fans of the Defense... some are fans of the offense... but me?
I'm rooting for the other team.
Us.
See that's how it works. There are two sides. The People and The Government. You pick a team. If you're a democrat... or a republican... then you're on the Government's side. If you would use the power of the government to outlaw things that you don't agree with... outside of Common Law... then you are on the government's side.
Would you outlaw homosexuality? If so... you're a bootlicker.
Would you outlaw marijuana? If so... you're a bootlicker.
Would you restrict firearms ownership? If so... you're a bootlicker.
Would you ban smoking? If so... you're a bootlicker.
Would you outlaw racism or sexism? If so... you're a bootlicker.
Think about it. Nationally... if the Dems were in power when the Patriot Act came up before congress... how do you think the average Republican would've felt about it?
He would've hated it... because his team didn't do it. And that is why things like that... things as eggregiously offensive to freemdom as that... have to be handled by the Defense. Because the folks that cheer for the defense have the guns.
See the folks with the guns watch the offense pretty close. If they are gonna start shooting... its gonna be because of something the offense did. But the defense? Why would they start shooting over them? That's their team!
That's the way it works in America boys and girls. Red or Blue. Grab your pom poms and grab your ankles.
I've talked about this before. You end up rooting for the team you associate with, and because they are your team.. you end up blinded to the evils that they may do. Today though... I'd like to try to expand on this a little.
When I say its a team sport you probably think in terms of two teams competing. In fact.. its just different units of the same team. Its like a football team. You have offense and defense... and they're never on the field at the same time.
The ultimate goal of each is to secure power for themselves... which in actuality means securing power for the government. The Offense, which we'll call the Democrats, is more geared toward openly expanding government as fast as possible.
The Defense... Republicans... they are there to insure that what gains are made, are not lost... and to occasionally pick up a large gain.
Just like football... the biggest turning points usually come from the defense. EPA? No Child Left Behind? The Patriot Acts? All big moves made by the defense.
Some of you are fans of the Defense... some are fans of the offense... but me?
I'm rooting for the other team.
Us.
See that's how it works. There are two sides. The People and The Government. You pick a team. If you're a democrat... or a republican... then you're on the Government's side. If you would use the power of the government to outlaw things that you don't agree with... outside of Common Law... then you are on the government's side.
Would you outlaw homosexuality? If so... you're a bootlicker.
Would you outlaw marijuana? If so... you're a bootlicker.
Would you restrict firearms ownership? If so... you're a bootlicker.
Would you ban smoking? If so... you're a bootlicker.
Would you outlaw racism or sexism? If so... you're a bootlicker.
Think about it. Nationally... if the Dems were in power when the Patriot Act came up before congress... how do you think the average Republican would've felt about it?
He would've hated it... because his team didn't do it. And that is why things like that... things as eggregiously offensive to freemdom as that... have to be handled by the Defense. Because the folks that cheer for the defense have the guns.
See the folks with the guns watch the offense pretty close. If they are gonna start shooting... its gonna be because of something the offense did. But the defense? Why would they start shooting over them? That's their team!
That's the way it works in America boys and girls. Red or Blue. Grab your pom poms and grab your ankles.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Consider This...
There has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theatre of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2,112 deaths. That gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.
The firearm death rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period.
That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in the U.S. Capitol, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, than you are in Iraq.
*** UPDATE ***
in the comments Bill provides a link to a study that shows that 60 per 100,000 is actually the total death rate including all causes. So actually, our soldiers in Iraq are actually safer there than in many major metro areas in the US. Thanks Bill!
There has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theatre of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2,112 deaths. That gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.
The firearm death rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period.
That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in the U.S. Capitol, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, than you are in Iraq.
*** UPDATE ***
in the comments Bill provides a link to a study that shows that 60 per 100,000 is actually the total death rate including all causes. So actually, our soldiers in Iraq are actually safer there than in many major metro areas in the US. Thanks Bill!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
I've Got Nothing
I just can't improve on this headline:
Flatulence, not turbulence forces plane landing in Nashville
I just can't improve on this headline:
Flatulence, not turbulence forces plane landing in Nashville
Islamophobia
One of the great examples of liberal projection is the way they invent pyschological disorders to describe those who's political, religous, or cultural beliefs differ from their own. I've written at length about the absurdity of the use of the word "homophobia". Well... they just can't help it. They've done it again.
So... those of you who insist that Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords... the Son of God... Its not that you just happen to hold particular religious beliefs. Nope. You're crazy. You must be. You disagree with the liberals.
I do not respect Islam. I do not appreciate the poetry of the Quran. As a Christian I am told to judge by fruits... and Mohammad's fruits are evil and vile. Islam brings torture, poverty, suffering, and death everywhere it goes.
There is no grace in Islam. There is no mercy. There is no love.
As a Christian I am required to hate evil. Islam is evil.
Do the math.
One of the great examples of liberal projection is the way they invent pyschological disorders to describe those who's political, religous, or cultural beliefs differ from their own. I've written at length about the absurdity of the use of the word "homophobia". Well... they just can't help it. They've done it again.
So... those of you who insist that Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords... the Son of God... Its not that you just happen to hold particular religious beliefs. Nope. You're crazy. You must be. You disagree with the liberals.
I do not respect Islam. I do not appreciate the poetry of the Quran. As a Christian I am told to judge by fruits... and Mohammad's fruits are evil and vile. Islam brings torture, poverty, suffering, and death everywhere it goes.
There is no grace in Islam. There is no mercy. There is no love.
As a Christian I am required to hate evil. Islam is evil.
Do the math.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Stay Away from Taco Bell
Ecoli in several stores in New York. Its also happening at a Taco Bell in Nashville.
Not good.
Its not a coincidence y'all. Lay off the Fast Food for a while.
Ecoli in several stores in New York. Its also happening at a Taco Bell in Nashville.
Not good.
Its not a coincidence y'all. Lay off the Fast Food for a while.
Say What?
Let me get this straight... 50 years ago a bunch of guys with a slide rule and fish bowl helmet landed on the moon, stayed there a while, and came home safely... all with computer technology that's the rough equivelent of a $20.00 casio watch... but its going to take us another 13 years and untold billions before we can go back.
Ya know... I don't know about y'all... but going somewhere the second time is a lot easier for me. Seems like it should be the same deal here. After all... the moon hasn't moved. Its still in the same orbit it was 50 years ago... mostly.
Titanium ain't exotic anymore. We don't use slide rules either.
Sorry. I don't buy it.
Why do we have to spend millions learning about the radiation on the moon... when we've already been there? We should already know... in fact, NASA has been insisting that we've known since way back to the first time they landed up there. They've been doing so to cast doubt on all the skeptics out there who think the whole thing was staged.
Well.. I'll tell ya one thing.. the economics of this don't make sense.
Someone name me one thing.. one technological achievement that is so hard to recreate. Hell... we won't be going back to the moon until 2020. We didn't need that long to figure it out and get it done the first time!
Sorry... read about the mission. Read about the whole thing... how it supposedly happened... read the NASA stories on it. You tell me if you can get through it with a straight face.
Oh.. and one more thing... this initiative was started in 2004. NASA has stated that it will plan to land in 2020. Meaning they need 16 years to plan and execute this mission.
The first mission... which was planned with slide rules and draft boards.... instead of Crays... was planned and executed in 8 years.
Sure... but computer power doesn't mean that much right?
Let me get this straight... 50 years ago a bunch of guys with a slide rule and fish bowl helmet landed on the moon, stayed there a while, and came home safely... all with computer technology that's the rough equivelent of a $20.00 casio watch... but its going to take us another 13 years and untold billions before we can go back.
Ya know... I don't know about y'all... but going somewhere the second time is a lot easier for me. Seems like it should be the same deal here. After all... the moon hasn't moved. Its still in the same orbit it was 50 years ago... mostly.
Titanium ain't exotic anymore. We don't use slide rules either.
Sorry. I don't buy it.
Why do we have to spend millions learning about the radiation on the moon... when we've already been there? We should already know... in fact, NASA has been insisting that we've known since way back to the first time they landed up there. They've been doing so to cast doubt on all the skeptics out there who think the whole thing was staged.
Well.. I'll tell ya one thing.. the economics of this don't make sense.
Someone name me one thing.. one technological achievement that is so hard to recreate. Hell... we won't be going back to the moon until 2020. We didn't need that long to figure it out and get it done the first time!
Sorry... read about the mission. Read about the whole thing... how it supposedly happened... read the NASA stories on it. You tell me if you can get through it with a straight face.
Oh.. and one more thing... this initiative was started in 2004. NASA has stated that it will plan to land in 2020. Meaning they need 16 years to plan and execute this mission.
The first mission... which was planned with slide rules and draft boards.... instead of Crays... was planned and executed in 8 years.
Sure... but computer power doesn't mean that much right?
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Not Peace, But a Sword
I'm filled with rage. On the front page of the local rag's website I find this article... and this headline: Christians must "let go' some beliefs for the sake of peace.
What's worse is who said it. A theologian at a Church of Christ University.
In the article he claims that the Christian believe of setting up a Kingdom on Earth puts us in direct conflict with Jews and Muslims. He doesn't address the fact that there are no conflicts between Christians and Jews... nor does he seem particularly interested in explaining how changing that belief will revoke Muhammad's orders to kill all infidels.
Its myopic views like this... completely ignorant of historical and religious context that endager our world... and the fact that they are expressed by one who is expected to know better is yet another indictment on the state of education... in this case even the Faith Based education system has failed miserably.
The man should be fired. Not for saying something inflamatory... but for being so ridiculously ignorant, and showing such gross incompetence in what's supposed to be his area of excellence.
I'm filled with rage. On the front page of the local rag's website I find this article... and this headline: Christians must "let go' some beliefs for the sake of peace.
What's worse is who said it. A theologian at a Church of Christ University.
In the article he claims that the Christian believe of setting up a Kingdom on Earth puts us in direct conflict with Jews and Muslims. He doesn't address the fact that there are no conflicts between Christians and Jews... nor does he seem particularly interested in explaining how changing that belief will revoke Muhammad's orders to kill all infidels.
Its myopic views like this... completely ignorant of historical and religious context that endager our world... and the fact that they are expressed by one who is expected to know better is yet another indictment on the state of education... in this case even the Faith Based education system has failed miserably.
The man should be fired. Not for saying something inflamatory... but for being so ridiculously ignorant, and showing such gross incompetence in what's supposed to be his area of excellence.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Short Ride on a Fast Machine
Its funny... how nothing really clears the mind of a man like combustion. Oh... it comes in various forms of course... it can be the tightly controlled explosion in the chamber of a well used weapon. Trigger breaks... hammer falls... pin strikes pimer... primer explodes igniting 40 grains of powder that burns at just the right rate...
or maybe its the roaring wood fire... of course its not actually the wood burning... its the gasses within the wood that burn... once the stove is good and hot this is obvious... as dozens of torches shoot from the cracks of what appear to be burning logs.
And there is still one other type....
It's been a while. The pre flight check reveals nothing unexpected. My ride is ready. Drop to a knee for the traditional prayer... mount up... kickstand... clutch.... choke... key....
Let her roll back... the rpms creep up now.... 3000.... 3500... ease the clutch in... idle drops to a stable 1000 rpms... excellent. Down the drive and into the street... she feels heavy... she always has at these low speeds. She wasn't designed for this. Down to the stop sign... the two line state highway stretches off before me... and joys await on the other side of town.
A right turn... and I throttle up... a short twist of the wrist... not to long... maybe a little longer... 80 gives way to 90.... and I back it back down... its not time for that game. Yet.
Anticipation is relived by timely comedy... as the expected herd of Harleys and Wanna-be's wobble through town... fat women and old men playing dressup... attempting to look tough in assless leather pants. They are indeed dangerous though... they could drop one of those dinosaurs right in front of you... at any time... for any reason. You're better off passing them.
I did.
Through town... down a hill... there's the stoplight... up ahead... the road signs read like Heaven itself. Twisties... Green means go.
A twist of the wrist... hold it... The front wheel's getting light... force is applied to my chest... beneath me... 998 cc's of Honda's most proven engineering comes to life as the tach reaches 7,000 rpm. Lean to the left... then right... the first 30 mph S curve just went by at 75... before me lays a snake of a road... above me is sun and blue sky.
Its 74 degrees... its November in Tennessee...
All is right with the world.
Its funny... how nothing really clears the mind of a man like combustion. Oh... it comes in various forms of course... it can be the tightly controlled explosion in the chamber of a well used weapon. Trigger breaks... hammer falls... pin strikes pimer... primer explodes igniting 40 grains of powder that burns at just the right rate...
or maybe its the roaring wood fire... of course its not actually the wood burning... its the gasses within the wood that burn... once the stove is good and hot this is obvious... as dozens of torches shoot from the cracks of what appear to be burning logs.
And there is still one other type....
It's been a while. The pre flight check reveals nothing unexpected. My ride is ready. Drop to a knee for the traditional prayer... mount up... kickstand... clutch.... choke... key....
Let her roll back... the rpms creep up now.... 3000.... 3500... ease the clutch in... idle drops to a stable 1000 rpms... excellent. Down the drive and into the street... she feels heavy... she always has at these low speeds. She wasn't designed for this. Down to the stop sign... the two line state highway stretches off before me... and joys await on the other side of town.
A right turn... and I throttle up... a short twist of the wrist... not to long... maybe a little longer... 80 gives way to 90.... and I back it back down... its not time for that game. Yet.
Anticipation is relived by timely comedy... as the expected herd of Harleys and Wanna-be's wobble through town... fat women and old men playing dressup... attempting to look tough in assless leather pants. They are indeed dangerous though... they could drop one of those dinosaurs right in front of you... at any time... for any reason. You're better off passing them.
I did.
Through town... down a hill... there's the stoplight... up ahead... the road signs read like Heaven itself. Twisties... Green means go.
A twist of the wrist... hold it... The front wheel's getting light... force is applied to my chest... beneath me... 998 cc's of Honda's most proven engineering comes to life as the tach reaches 7,000 rpm. Lean to the left... then right... the first 30 mph S curve just went by at 75... before me lays a snake of a road... above me is sun and blue sky.
Its 74 degrees... its November in Tennessee...
All is right with the world.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Thoughts Thunk... Barely Comprehensible
Here in the deep... with but whiskey... and the suffering of viral hellspawn... sent by the Prince of Lies his own self to torment me with excessive mucus, oxygen deprivation, and general misery. Its all the inspiration one man can stand.
I am moved to make comparison... of the modern secular university system, and the faith based system from which it was born. Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Duke, Vanderbilt, Cambridge... all schools founded and funded... not by government... but individuals... and with much heavy lifting of the Church.
This system saw knowledge, reason, and wisdom as ways to bring one's self closer to God. This system produced, above all, thinkers. The religious and the atheist alike came from this system. The great philosophers.... the great scientists... this system functioned as intended.
The modern secular system sees knowledge as means to self aggrandizement. Reason is no where to be found, and it doesn't even know how to define wisdom. Its produced no great thinkers... atheist or otherwise. Not one great philosopher. Perhaps its greatest scientist... Einstein... wasn't actually much of a scientist at all. Doesn't the light barrier sound a lot like the sound barrier? Just another meaningless mark to be broken. We look back at those who preached the dogma of the unbreakable sound barrier and laugh. Our great great grand children will laugh at us as well. Or will they?
The modern secular system also functions as intended. Meaning that it doesn't produce thinkers. Thinkers are not the goal. It produces well heeled consumers and worker bees, ready willing and able to jump through whatever corporate hoop that may be placed before them.
Amazingly, the chief accomplishment of this modern system is the slight-of-hand. Its in the way its products insist with such passion and fury on their own individualism, while they slobber with equal passion at the ringing of each and every bell. They are rebels... hell bent on bowing to every authority they come to, save God.
The spirit of rebellion... its obvious in their atheism. Because that's what atheism is really. Oh they hide behind noble words like science and philosophy... but in the end they're naked as the day they were born. They are taught to judge God based on man's percieved morality. The old system did it the other way around.
Judge them by the fruits says I.
Here in the deep... with but whiskey... and the suffering of viral hellspawn... sent by the Prince of Lies his own self to torment me with excessive mucus, oxygen deprivation, and general misery. Its all the inspiration one man can stand.
I am moved to make comparison... of the modern secular university system, and the faith based system from which it was born. Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Duke, Vanderbilt, Cambridge... all schools founded and funded... not by government... but individuals... and with much heavy lifting of the Church.
This system saw knowledge, reason, and wisdom as ways to bring one's self closer to God. This system produced, above all, thinkers. The religious and the atheist alike came from this system. The great philosophers.... the great scientists... this system functioned as intended.
The modern secular system sees knowledge as means to self aggrandizement. Reason is no where to be found, and it doesn't even know how to define wisdom. Its produced no great thinkers... atheist or otherwise. Not one great philosopher. Perhaps its greatest scientist... Einstein... wasn't actually much of a scientist at all. Doesn't the light barrier sound a lot like the sound barrier? Just another meaningless mark to be broken. We look back at those who preached the dogma of the unbreakable sound barrier and laugh. Our great great grand children will laugh at us as well. Or will they?
The modern secular system also functions as intended. Meaning that it doesn't produce thinkers. Thinkers are not the goal. It produces well heeled consumers and worker bees, ready willing and able to jump through whatever corporate hoop that may be placed before them.
Amazingly, the chief accomplishment of this modern system is the slight-of-hand. Its in the way its products insist with such passion and fury on their own individualism, while they slobber with equal passion at the ringing of each and every bell. They are rebels... hell bent on bowing to every authority they come to, save God.
The spirit of rebellion... its obvious in their atheism. Because that's what atheism is really. Oh they hide behind noble words like science and philosophy... but in the end they're naked as the day they were born. They are taught to judge God based on man's percieved morality. The old system did it the other way around.
Judge them by the fruits says I.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
I Hate Cops
Because of things like this.
Let me sum up. Plain clothed cops kick in the door of a 92 year old woman... she understandably freaks out and starts shooting. She wounded a couple of them. They killed her.
Anyone here believe that the 92 year old woman was a drug trafficer?
The police insist that had the right address. Of course they did...
I find myself quoting NWA more and more.
Because of things like this.
Let me sum up. Plain clothed cops kick in the door of a 92 year old woman... she understandably freaks out and starts shooting. She wounded a couple of them. They killed her.
Anyone here believe that the 92 year old woman was a drug trafficer?
The police insist that had the right address. Of course they did...
I find myself quoting NWA more and more.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Not Just Happy Feet
Hey y'all... I just got a call from DrWho and DJ... they were takin' Jeb to see Happy Feet. Skip it. They had to leave. Turns out the movie focuses almost totally on mating, sex, and the mating season. Needless to say there should be a lot of pissed off parents... of course... there won't be.
Still if you don't want to answer mating questions from your 4 or 5 year old... stay home.
Hey y'all... I just got a call from DrWho and DJ... they were takin' Jeb to see Happy Feet. Skip it. They had to leave. Turns out the movie focuses almost totally on mating, sex, and the mating season. Needless to say there should be a lot of pissed off parents... of course... there won't be.
Still if you don't want to answer mating questions from your 4 or 5 year old... stay home.
Friday, November 17, 2006
ATF
Yeah I know I've been slack... but its a special night... I've got progress to report.
Let's get the specifics out of the way first...
Bookers... CAO..
oh... and firearms???
Check this out!
New Pics!!!
THAT boys and girls is the slide that's going on the 1911 project. Oh my... I
am stunned at the 
build quality. The cuts are freaking unreal. I knew Caspian made good stuff... I didn't expect Les Bear quality though. Its is blown me away. Note the Bo-mar cut on the back and the Novak in the front. Trick eh?
I've got some much better pics up now.
Ok ok ok... enough of that... How y'all been? Whatcha drinkin'? Whatcha smokin'? Anyone up for a little wine discussion? I'm seriously considering building a virtical
tasting collection... two actually... One Jacobs Creek Merlot bottling... say about 5 years running.... then a White Zif... Berringer I suppose... also 5 years running... for DrWho. Cheap yes... but its an excuse to start.
How bout it y'all?
Yeah I know I've been slack... but its a special night... I've got progress to report.
Let's get the specifics out of the way first...
Bookers... CAO..
oh... and firearms???
Check this out!
New Pics!!!
THAT boys and girls is the slide that's going on the 1911 project. Oh my... I
am stunned at the 
build quality. The cuts are freaking unreal. I knew Caspian made good stuff... I didn't expect Les Bear quality though. Its is blown me away. Note the Bo-mar cut on the back and the Novak in the front. Trick eh?I've got some much better pics up now.
Ok ok ok... enough of that... How y'all been? Whatcha drinkin'? Whatcha smokin'? Anyone up for a little wine discussion? I'm seriously considering building a virtical
tasting collection... two actually... One Jacobs Creek Merlot bottling... say about 5 years running.... then a White Zif... Berringer I suppose... also 5 years running... for DrWho. Cheap yes... but its an excuse to start.How bout it y'all?
Thursday, November 16, 2006
All I Want...
Wear your seat belt. Put your kids in a car seat. Don't you dare have a 5 gallon tank on that toilet. Oh.. of course you can do that sir... so long as you X first... oh and Y... and Z too. Don't smoke. Don't let your kid taste your beer. Don't spank your kid. Don't speak harshly to your kid.
I'm sick of it.
I hate it.
I'm not asking a lot. I just want to be left alone. I don't want to be controlled.
I don't want your service. I don't want your compassion or even your interest. I just want to be left alone.
I can take care of my own self. I'm a big boy. I don't need 911. I don't need dog catchers, or trash collectors. I don't need a judge to settle the despute I have with my neighbor.
All I need... is for you... to get the hell out of my way.
That friends, is what the republicans lost. That's what they forgot. They're job isn't to solve our problems... which is what abominations like No Child Left Behind are attempting. They're job is to get the hell out of our way so we can solve our problems ourselves.
Its what the democrats will never understand. They'll scream at the top of their lungs... "We Care!!!"
And we'll shout back...
"We don't want you to!"
I've gotten to the point where I've largely insulated myself from society as a whole and government in particular.
I pay no taxes. I have no interaction with any kind of government. This is my generous attempt at keeping other alive. I don't go to the DMV ok? But I'm making no promises if a census taker knocks on our door.
This is why I want to leave. I can't stand it. Its suffocating. I feel like I'm living with an armed babysitter who's perfectly willing to kill me for my own good... and a particularly competent one at that.
Its the way of America... Progress... Progress.... always Sacred Progress... towards what?
A damned living hell as far as I can tell.
Wear your seat belt. Put your kids in a car seat. Don't you dare have a 5 gallon tank on that toilet. Oh.. of course you can do that sir... so long as you X first... oh and Y... and Z too. Don't smoke. Don't let your kid taste your beer. Don't spank your kid. Don't speak harshly to your kid.
I'm sick of it.
I hate it.
I'm not asking a lot. I just want to be left alone. I don't want to be controlled.
I don't want your service. I don't want your compassion or even your interest. I just want to be left alone.
I can take care of my own self. I'm a big boy. I don't need 911. I don't need dog catchers, or trash collectors. I don't need a judge to settle the despute I have with my neighbor.
All I need... is for you... to get the hell out of my way.
That friends, is what the republicans lost. That's what they forgot. They're job isn't to solve our problems... which is what abominations like No Child Left Behind are attempting. They're job is to get the hell out of our way so we can solve our problems ourselves.
Its what the democrats will never understand. They'll scream at the top of their lungs... "We Care!!!"
And we'll shout back...
"We don't want you to!"
I've gotten to the point where I've largely insulated myself from society as a whole and government in particular.
I pay no taxes. I have no interaction with any kind of government. This is my generous attempt at keeping other alive. I don't go to the DMV ok? But I'm making no promises if a census taker knocks on our door.
This is why I want to leave. I can't stand it. Its suffocating. I feel like I'm living with an armed babysitter who's perfectly willing to kill me for my own good... and a particularly competent one at that.
Its the way of America... Progress... Progress.... always Sacred Progress... towards what?
A damned living hell as far as I can tell.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
A Prime Example of the He Needed Killin' Defense
Bailiff: Court is now in Session. The Honourable Clarence Brown preciding. Now hearing the case of The People vs Louis Brown.
Judge: Mr Brown you are charged with murder in the first degree. How do you plead?
Mr Brown: Not Guilty your honour... on the grounds of He Needed Killin'.
Judge: I'm sorry? Will you repeat that last part?
Mr Brown: Yessir. See judge. This was killin'. But it weren't murder. Like self defense... that's killin'. But it ain't murder. Well... in this case... this feller needed killin'.
Judge: Mr Brown... you shot the defendant in the face in the middle of a live television interview. The whole world saw it. Are you seriously going to claim self defense?
Mr Brown: No your honor. I'm claiming he needed killing. That man killed my daughter with a knife... then in spite of a massive amount of evidence... he got away with it. Now... ten years after another judge and jury... just like y'all I might add... let him walk... he signs a book deal to confess and make millions off of it. Judge. That man needed killing. For killing my daughter. For killing that boy Goldman. For making a mockery of our whole justice system. I killed him. But it weren't murder.
Judge: Sir this is silly.
Mr Brown: No your honour. It ain't. I call it the He needed killin' defense. In your law books its called Jury Nullification. Its what gives The People to set something right when the letter of the law won't.
Obviously none of that will ever happen. Mostly because Louis Brown is just to much of a pussy to avenge his daughter... otherwise he would've done so already.
Ask yourself though... would you put someone away who killed OJ?
I wouldn't.
Bailiff: Court is now in Session. The Honourable Clarence Brown preciding. Now hearing the case of The People vs Louis Brown.
Judge: Mr Brown you are charged with murder in the first degree. How do you plead?
Mr Brown: Not Guilty your honour... on the grounds of He Needed Killin'.
Judge: I'm sorry? Will you repeat that last part?
Mr Brown: Yessir. See judge. This was killin'. But it weren't murder. Like self defense... that's killin'. But it ain't murder. Well... in this case... this feller needed killin'.
Judge: Mr Brown... you shot the defendant in the face in the middle of a live television interview. The whole world saw it. Are you seriously going to claim self defense?
Mr Brown: No your honor. I'm claiming he needed killing. That man killed my daughter with a knife... then in spite of a massive amount of evidence... he got away with it. Now... ten years after another judge and jury... just like y'all I might add... let him walk... he signs a book deal to confess and make millions off of it. Judge. That man needed killing. For killing my daughter. For killing that boy Goldman. For making a mockery of our whole justice system. I killed him. But it weren't murder.
Judge: Sir this is silly.
Mr Brown: No your honour. It ain't. I call it the He needed killin' defense. In your law books its called Jury Nullification. Its what gives The People to set something right when the letter of the law won't.
Obviously none of that will ever happen. Mostly because Louis Brown is just to much of a pussy to avenge his daughter... otherwise he would've done so already.
Ask yourself though... would you put someone away who killed OJ?
I wouldn't.
NateMail
The Modest Mrs MooCow asks: I've got a Glock 19. I don't always carry a purse and if I did then I'd have to hold onto it all the time. I couldn't put it down and walk across the room. I would like to carry concealed on my person, but I haven't found a comfortable place to put it. I have a Bianchi (sp?) IWB holster. I wear bluejeans and t-shirts most days. Is there a better holster and where do you suggest carrying the Glock?
Hrm... Did i neglect to mention that the zipper on the purse was lockable? As for a comfortable place... it doesn't matter where it is... firearms are heavy. It takes some getting used to, but after a while you adjust and you find that it actually feels a little wierd to not have one on.
I think what we see here is, and I mean no offense to MrsMooCow, the typical female response. I want the benefits of X but none of the costs. Disturbingly I am hearing more and more of this from men to.
Carrying a weapon requires some changes. It means you may have to alter your normal dress. It means you may have to carry your purse almost all the time. It means you may not be 100% comfortable for a while.
That's just the way it is.
The Modest Mrs MooCow asks: I've got a Glock 19. I don't always carry a purse and if I did then I'd have to hold onto it all the time. I couldn't put it down and walk across the room. I would like to carry concealed on my person, but I haven't found a comfortable place to put it. I have a Bianchi (sp?) IWB holster. I wear bluejeans and t-shirts most days. Is there a better holster and where do you suggest carrying the Glock?
Hrm... Did i neglect to mention that the zipper on the purse was lockable? As for a comfortable place... it doesn't matter where it is... firearms are heavy. It takes some getting used to, but after a while you adjust and you find that it actually feels a little wierd to not have one on.
I think what we see here is, and I mean no offense to MrsMooCow, the typical female response. I want the benefits of X but none of the costs. Disturbingly I am hearing more and more of this from men to.
Carrying a weapon requires some changes. It means you may have to alter your normal dress. It means you may have to carry your purse almost all the time. It means you may not be 100% comfortable for a while.
That's just the way it is.
Hard Work Never Killed Anyone.
Horse shit.
The next time some idiot says that, you need to slap them. The moron that came up with that sure as hell never heard of John Henry or Casey Jones either one. And you can bet your butt he didn't know any miners.
Hard work kills.
How much?
In the private sector 4,054 died in 2004 in work related incidents. Over 400 were in mines. Over 1,700 were in some sort of manufacturing.
Contrast this will government workers. Only 514 of them died because of something that happened at work. Unless you count the 20,000 that died every year of sheer bloated laziness. Hey the subconscience instinct to breath is only so strong. The laziness of a government employee truely knows no bounds. I suppose that's more of a condition than an injury... oh well.
Anyway... Hard Work kills lots of folks. The trouble is... doin' nothin' kills just as many... and doin' nothin' ain't livin'.
Horse shit.
The next time some idiot says that, you need to slap them. The moron that came up with that sure as hell never heard of John Henry or Casey Jones either one. And you can bet your butt he didn't know any miners.
Hard work kills.
How much?
In the private sector 4,054 died in 2004 in work related incidents. Over 400 were in mines. Over 1,700 were in some sort of manufacturing.
Contrast this will government workers. Only 514 of them died because of something that happened at work. Unless you count the 20,000 that died every year of sheer bloated laziness. Hey the subconscience instinct to breath is only so strong. The laziness of a government employee truely knows no bounds. I suppose that's more of a condition than an injury... oh well.
Anyway... Hard Work kills lots of folks. The trouble is... doin' nothin' kills just as many... and doin' nothin' ain't livin'.
Where Ya Been?
Sorry man... I know I know... The Dems have taken congress (oh the horror). Am I slack?
I suppose I am.
Oh dear.
I'll beg your forgiveness. Fact is I don't see what the big deal is. The out-of-the-closet liberals have taken control from the closeted ones. This is news? You wadded up your panties over this? I barely even noticed. I don't see why people are suprised the conservatives lost. I mean... the conservatives didn't even run. At least as far as I can tell.
And come on.. buck up. Nancy Pelosi is 3rd in the line of Presidential Succession. What could be more fun? Speark of the House Pelosi! Oh the comedy! Charlie Rangle is gonna be head of the Ways and Means Committee! Seriously! The shiftiest politician in Washington is gonna be running the most powerful finance committee! Its like something the UN would do!
Snoop Dog wouldn't let that negro within 20 miles of his checkin' account, but we're gonna trust him with the budget of the whole damned country! It just don't get no better.
Anyway... I've got to much to do to be worryin' about what some damned congress critter is up to.
Remember my 1911 project? I've aquired 2 high quality frames. They're made by Doublestar. Word is parts just drop in. I figure I may have to rub off some of the finish here and there, but I am very optimistic about the quality of these bad boys.
I've selected Caspian slides. One 1911 is going to have a Bo-Mar cut in the rear, and Novak on the front. I may go with 2 Novak cuts on the other. I'm looking at a 3.5 pound drop in trigger kit for each... short adjustable trigger pulls. Both 1911's will be blacked out.. perhaps with stainless steel here and there. I'm still considering barrel options.
The other project... which I am not at liberty to speak of... is actually taking up just as much time. Enormous amounts of research is going into our latest hairbrained scheme... which of course is making less hairbrained... still... there will always be a considerable Oh Shit Factor with this one... even after we get far enough along to post about it.
Bear with us.
It will be worth it.
By the way... 4 people in the last week have seriously encouraged me to run for political office. I mean real people. Not internet people. Some old friends... a couple guys here in town.
Pickin's is slim boys.
Sorry man... I know I know... The Dems have taken congress (oh the horror). Am I slack?
I suppose I am.
Oh dear.
I'll beg your forgiveness. Fact is I don't see what the big deal is. The out-of-the-closet liberals have taken control from the closeted ones. This is news? You wadded up your panties over this? I barely even noticed. I don't see why people are suprised the conservatives lost. I mean... the conservatives didn't even run. At least as far as I can tell.
And come on.. buck up. Nancy Pelosi is 3rd in the line of Presidential Succession. What could be more fun? Speark of the House Pelosi! Oh the comedy! Charlie Rangle is gonna be head of the Ways and Means Committee! Seriously! The shiftiest politician in Washington is gonna be running the most powerful finance committee! Its like something the UN would do!
Snoop Dog wouldn't let that negro within 20 miles of his checkin' account, but we're gonna trust him with the budget of the whole damned country! It just don't get no better.
Anyway... I've got to much to do to be worryin' about what some damned congress critter is up to.
Remember my 1911 project? I've aquired 2 high quality frames. They're made by Doublestar. Word is parts just drop in. I figure I may have to rub off some of the finish here and there, but I am very optimistic about the quality of these bad boys.
I've selected Caspian slides. One 1911 is going to have a Bo-Mar cut in the rear, and Novak on the front. I may go with 2 Novak cuts on the other. I'm looking at a 3.5 pound drop in trigger kit for each... short adjustable trigger pulls. Both 1911's will be blacked out.. perhaps with stainless steel here and there. I'm still considering barrel options.
The other project... which I am not at liberty to speak of... is actually taking up just as much time. Enormous amounts of research is going into our latest hairbrained scheme... which of course is making less hairbrained... still... there will always be a considerable Oh Shit Factor with this one... even after we get far enough along to post about it.
Bear with us.
It will be worth it.
By the way... 4 people in the last week have seriously encouraged me to run for political office. I mean real people. Not internet people. Some old friends... a couple guys here in town.
Pickin's is slim boys.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Sit Down, and Shut Up
My children will never step foot in a government school. This is one reason.
The following is a transcript of a letter that is circulating around the internet. Its actually not in text. Its a photo of a letter... complete with a highlighted section (shown here in italics) . I didn't find anything on Snopes about it so I'll print it here and you can decide for yourselves. Wether or not the letter is authentic, I firmly believe it to be a perfect representation of the attitudes of the modern school system.
Dear Mrs X
You may already know this, but in case Alex has neglected to tell you, I am assigning him to detention for 1 hour this Friday, April 22. The reason is as follows:
Alex consistantly defied me. During class he contradicted me numerous times when I insited that the length of a kilometer was greater than that of one mile. Every other student in class accepted my less without argument, but you son refused to believe what I told him, offering such rebuttals as, "You're lying to the class", and commanding other students to challenge my curriculum.
Even though he was correct, Alex's actions show a blatant disregard for authority, and complete lack of respect for his school. In the future, Alex would be better off simply accepting my teachings without resistence.
Please see to it that your son understands this.
Regards,
XXXXXXXXX
For every one of these stories that we hear about, there are thousands, if not millions more.
My children will never step foot in a government school. This is one reason.
The following is a transcript of a letter that is circulating around the internet. Its actually not in text. Its a photo of a letter... complete with a highlighted section (shown here in italics) . I didn't find anything on Snopes about it so I'll print it here and you can decide for yourselves. Wether or not the letter is authentic, I firmly believe it to be a perfect representation of the attitudes of the modern school system.
Dear Mrs X
You may already know this, but in case Alex has neglected to tell you, I am assigning him to detention for 1 hour this Friday, April 22. The reason is as follows:
Alex consistantly defied me. During class he contradicted me numerous times when I insited that the length of a kilometer was greater than that of one mile. Every other student in class accepted my less without argument, but you son refused to believe what I told him, offering such rebuttals as, "You're lying to the class", and commanding other students to challenge my curriculum.
Even though he was correct, Alex's actions show a blatant disregard for authority, and complete lack of respect for his school. In the future, Alex would be better off simply accepting my teachings without resistence.
Please see to it that your son understands this.
Regards,
XXXXXXXXX
For every one of these stories that we hear about, there are thousands, if not millions more.
CCW II
Yeah yeah yeah.. but what about you casual types? The button down shirt and slacks folks... slaving away at Innotec... scurrying about at breakneck speed lest your TPS reports don't get out on time?
Watch and learn.
Yeah yeah yeah.. but what about you casual types? The button down shirt and slacks folks... slaving away at Innotec... scurrying about at breakneck speed lest your TPS reports don't get out on time?
Watch and learn.
As you can see in the top right I have a .357 wheel gun in my pocket and a Glock .45 on the inside of my left ankle. This is perhaps overkill... but my father-in-law carried this exact rig, plus an additional Glock .45 as well. I'll hear no crying about your bulky single Millenium.
Ah... and girls... I haven't forgotten about you. Please examine DrWho's purse.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Concealed Carry
Lets talk about this.
A reader recently commented that a millenium made his jacket hang funny. Folks... you're being to anal. I carry all the time in a t-shirt and jeans. I open carry until I get out of the truck, then I untuck my size medium t-shirt and drape it over the Steyr on my hip, and go on about my business.
This has never failed.
Why?
Because people don't pay attention to a lump on your hip. 99% won't even notice and those that do figure its a cell phone.
Fobus and Biacchi make excellent ccw holsters. They are not inside-the-pants rigs, because they don't need to be. Wear two layers... a tucked in, tighter fitting shirt, and larger looser garment for cover. I've done this for years.
Don't worry about printing. People aren't observant at all. Half of them wouldn't even notice you carrying completly open.
more later... maybe even pics!
Lets talk about this.
A reader recently commented that a millenium made his jacket hang funny. Folks... you're being to anal. I carry all the time in a t-shirt and jeans. I open carry until I get out of the truck, then I untuck my size medium t-shirt and drape it over the Steyr on my hip, and go on about my business.This has never failed.
Why?
Because people don't pay attention to a lump on your hip. 99% won't even notice and those that do figure its a cell phone.
Fobus and Biacchi make excellent ccw holsters. They are not inside-the-pants rigs, because they don't need to be. Wear two layers... a tucked in, tighter fitting shirt, and larger looser garment for cover. I've done this for years.
Don't worry about printing. People aren't observant at all. Half of them wouldn't even notice you carrying completly open.
more later... maybe even pics!
See where we're going here?
Ok.. but Invid asked about you boys that have to dress pretty at work.
I'll cover pretty boys and women folk in the next post.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The Turning Away
The Whatsit calls friends.
You're mad as hell. You're gonna stick it to that damned Whatsit this time. R or D... which ever way you've chosen... you're gonna hit the Whatsit with everthing you have.
And its going to laugh in your face.
Or maybe you see it another way. Maybe today you're doing your duty. You have to vote. Your sacred honor requires you to go cast your vote for a slimeball who shares none of your values.
But what's the alternative? The opinions of people who don't vote don't matter. You know this because your sixth grade teacher told you so. It doesn't matter that you'd never actually thought about that reasoning. You heard it when you were 11 and it sounded good. By now you've repeated it thousands of times yourself, so it must be true. Right?
If you don't vote don't complain.
Allow me to rephrase that oft repeated mantra: sit down, shut up, and do what your told.
Not today.
And why not? Because next year... when this slimeball or that is in office, busily sodomizing you, then you truely and rightly can complain. Ya know why?
Because you didn't vote for him.
You want the best reason for not voting today? Here it is. You shouldn't vote today because the guy you pick might win. Who wants a senator on the conscience?
Today you should excersize your God given rights. Go buy an FN-FAL and put 500 rounds through it at the range. Trust me... its more carthatic.
The Whatsit calls friends.
You're mad as hell. You're gonna stick it to that damned Whatsit this time. R or D... which ever way you've chosen... you're gonna hit the Whatsit with everthing you have.
And its going to laugh in your face.
Or maybe you see it another way. Maybe today you're doing your duty. You have to vote. Your sacred honor requires you to go cast your vote for a slimeball who shares none of your values.
But what's the alternative? The opinions of people who don't vote don't matter. You know this because your sixth grade teacher told you so. It doesn't matter that you'd never actually thought about that reasoning. You heard it when you were 11 and it sounded good. By now you've repeated it thousands of times yourself, so it must be true. Right?
If you don't vote don't complain.
Allow me to rephrase that oft repeated mantra: sit down, shut up, and do what your told.
Not today.
And why not? Because next year... when this slimeball or that is in office, busily sodomizing you, then you truely and rightly can complain. Ya know why?
Because you didn't vote for him.
You want the best reason for not voting today? Here it is. You shouldn't vote today because the guy you pick might win. Who wants a senator on the conscience?
Today you should excersize your God given rights. Go buy an FN-FAL and put 500 rounds through it at the range. Trust me... its more carthatic.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Halloween!
As I am sure you're all aware, Halloween is my most favorite holiday. Oh, its not the one that's the most important to me... that's Christmas... but for sheer fun, Halloween is unbeatable... and as you can see... we did it right.
Well actually you can't see... because bloggers photo server has apparently gone tits up.
i'll get some up eventually though.
For now.. lets talk about the holiday for a minute. Cause I'm pretty pissed about the way things are going.
I've come to accept that practically everything about the US has gone to shit... but for some reason the deterioration of Halloween has struck a nerve. When I was growing up I remember running wild through my neighborhood in a pack of 9 or 10 other kids... scaring every kid we could find... gathering massive amounts of candy... it was a contest to see who got the most... who got the best.
We learned quickly never to carry paper sacks... because other kids would put ice cubes in them when you weren't looking... and the bottom would drop out... exposing your loot to all manner of shiftless lay-abouts.
We were not escorted house by house by two parents... hell bent on insuring no one got more than 1 piece of candy. Carting them around in a minivan stop at each driveway, because heaven forbid the poor darlings have to walk more than 25 steps.
And it worked both ways. My boys went to every house in my neighborhood, where they recieved an average of about 1.2 pieced of candy per house.
Are you serious?
We egged houses that limited us to one or two pieces of candy! And you did to dammit! We once rolled a guys house so bad it looked like it was mummified... and for that extra spice, I dropped trou and took a crap on his porch!
That's Halloween dammit!
The little kids go out early and look cute for everyone... then the big kids come out for a night of chaos! That's what its about!
And while these Halloween Scrooges were handing out one piece of candy per child... I was giving out a massive handful of candy and a capri sun drink to every kid, and offering a mountain dew to every parent. We had everything from fruit cups, to slim jims, to smarties in our box of goodies... and still I had to almost get into an argument with one battleaxe mom who refused to allow me to give her child more than one item.
Like so many other things... this nuetered version of Halloween leaves me cold.
Can America do anything right anymore?
As I am sure you're all aware, Halloween is my most favorite holiday. Oh, its not the one that's the most important to me... that's Christmas... but for sheer fun, Halloween is unbeatable... and as you can see... we did it right.
Well actually you can't see... because bloggers photo server has apparently gone tits up.
i'll get some up eventually though.
For now.. lets talk about the holiday for a minute. Cause I'm pretty pissed about the way things are going.
I've come to accept that practically everything about the US has gone to shit... but for some reason the deterioration of Halloween has struck a nerve. When I was growing up I remember running wild through my neighborhood in a pack of 9 or 10 other kids... scaring every kid we could find... gathering massive amounts of candy... it was a contest to see who got the most... who got the best.
We learned quickly never to carry paper sacks... because other kids would put ice cubes in them when you weren't looking... and the bottom would drop out... exposing your loot to all manner of shiftless lay-abouts.
We were not escorted house by house by two parents... hell bent on insuring no one got more than 1 piece of candy. Carting them around in a minivan stop at each driveway, because heaven forbid the poor darlings have to walk more than 25 steps.
And it worked both ways. My boys went to every house in my neighborhood, where they recieved an average of about 1.2 pieced of candy per house.
Are you serious?
We egged houses that limited us to one or two pieces of candy! And you did to dammit! We once rolled a guys house so bad it looked like it was mummified... and for that extra spice, I dropped trou and took a crap on his porch!
That's Halloween dammit!
The little kids go out early and look cute for everyone... then the big kids come out for a night of chaos! That's what its about!
And while these Halloween Scrooges were handing out one piece of candy per child... I was giving out a massive handful of candy and a capri sun drink to every kid, and offering a mountain dew to every parent. We had everything from fruit cups, to slim jims, to smarties in our box of goodies... and still I had to almost get into an argument with one battleaxe mom who refused to allow me to give her child more than one item.
Like so many other things... this nuetered version of Halloween leaves me cold.
Can America do anything right anymore?
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Life's Sweet Adventure
Why do we do it?
Why is it, that every year JAC and I dream up some challenge? Why did we have to ride 1000 miles in 24 hours? Why did we have to ride the Trans-Continental Trail?
Why do we have to...
No... not time to spill those beans yet. Just rest assured... the brothers C have something in the works. Something... big. But that's not for today... and them what knows better keep their little fingers tied up. I'll have no news broken on this.
This post is for why. Oscar Wilde once said..
"At best, we can in life have but one great experience. The secret to life is to reproduce that experience as often as possible."
We do these things because we have to. What's the point to living a life without challenge? What's the point to the 9-5 beer on friday, tv all weekend, back to 9-5 routine? Is it not a wasted life? It is to us. What have you done? You have a pretty piece of paper on a wall? Great. Bachelors degrees are handed out like candy to trick or treaters. Say the right thing and look pretty... pagan influences help.
And setting aside the debate of academic accomplishment... what have you done since?
Women and girls will look at this and shake their heads. Boys out to prove themselves they'll think. In truth women are not the romantics in the couple. Men are. Women are realists. They very rarely see the sheer glory of things. They simply see the things. Oh of course... like everything else... there are exceptions... thank God... but exceptions they are, and that's why we love them.
Look at the TransAm Trail. Women look at that and see misery. Cold... Wet... Dirty... and Dangerous. The glory escapes them. But not us. Its not just Mountains and streams, cold and snow, desert and sun... its the unkown.
Its the feeling you get when you wake up in the morning... at the start of a grand adventure... and it is an adventure... because the outcome is unkown.
That's the key right there. The not knowin'.
That's the thing about pirates... they need the hunt more than they need the gold.
Why do we do it?
Why is it, that every year JAC and I dream up some challenge? Why did we have to ride 1000 miles in 24 hours? Why did we have to ride the Trans-Continental Trail?
Why do we have to...
No... not time to spill those beans yet. Just rest assured... the brothers C have something in the works. Something... big. But that's not for today... and them what knows better keep their little fingers tied up. I'll have no news broken on this.
This post is for why. Oscar Wilde once said..
"At best, we can in life have but one great experience. The secret to life is to reproduce that experience as often as possible."
We do these things because we have to. What's the point to living a life without challenge? What's the point to the 9-5 beer on friday, tv all weekend, back to 9-5 routine? Is it not a wasted life? It is to us. What have you done? You have a pretty piece of paper on a wall? Great. Bachelors degrees are handed out like candy to trick or treaters. Say the right thing and look pretty... pagan influences help.
And setting aside the debate of academic accomplishment... what have you done since?
Women and girls will look at this and shake their heads. Boys out to prove themselves they'll think. In truth women are not the romantics in the couple. Men are. Women are realists. They very rarely see the sheer glory of things. They simply see the things. Oh of course... like everything else... there are exceptions... thank God... but exceptions they are, and that's why we love them.
Look at the TransAm Trail. Women look at that and see misery. Cold... Wet... Dirty... and Dangerous. The glory escapes them. But not us. Its not just Mountains and streams, cold and snow, desert and sun... its the unkown.
Its the feeling you get when you wake up in the morning... at the start of a grand adventure... and it is an adventure... because the outcome is unkown.
That's the key right there. The not knowin'.
That's the thing about pirates... they need the hunt more than they need the gold.
Friday, October 27, 2006
The New Atheist
I strongly suggest you go read this article over at wired.com
Consider the open declaration... "Faith is evil." Consider the fact that respected academics are on the university circuit right now, asking if parents have the right to force their beilefs upon their children. Friends, they are openly suggesting that it should be illegal to teach your kids your religion.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not dumb enough to think this is new. What's new is the coverage of it. What's new is the acceptance of it. What's new, is the post modern mindset that lets the toe in the door.
Its a painfully long.. and painfully poorly written article. The writer clearly has a crush on several of the subjects. Still you need to be aware of it.
The biggest flaw of course in the whole thing was this precious gem:
"The problem with this, for defenders of faith, is that they've implicitly accepted science as the arbiter of what is real. This leaves the atheists with the upper hand."
Wrong. The traditional Christian belief is this:
We are unimpressed by the science of man. If it agrees with our teachings, so be it. If not, then it is meaningless. Science is the arbiter of nothing.
I strongly suggest you go read this article over at wired.com
Consider the open declaration... "Faith is evil." Consider the fact that respected academics are on the university circuit right now, asking if parents have the right to force their beilefs upon their children. Friends, they are openly suggesting that it should be illegal to teach your kids your religion.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not dumb enough to think this is new. What's new is the coverage of it. What's new is the acceptance of it. What's new, is the post modern mindset that lets the toe in the door.
Its a painfully long.. and painfully poorly written article. The writer clearly has a crush on several of the subjects. Still you need to be aware of it.
The biggest flaw of course in the whole thing was this precious gem:
"The problem with this, for defenders of faith, is that they've implicitly accepted science as the arbiter of what is real. This leaves the atheists with the upper hand."
Wrong. The traditional Christian belief is this:
We are unimpressed by the science of man. If it agrees with our teachings, so be it. If not, then it is meaningless. Science is the arbiter of nothing.
Contraversial Threeway
It's funny really. Sometimes it seems like JAC and I run the same blog. For the most part we see things eye-to-eye. We agree on the methodology... but the conclusions ultimately drawn are drastically different.
Take this Lizard Queen deal. JAC boasts:
But don't let me stop y'all from gettin' all a-titter and swooning with fear at the certainty of Queen Lizard the First, by all means carry on with your fun. Drama Queens.
His premise of course is that the Lizard Queen is un-electible. He figures for every moron who'll vote for her, 2 or 3 will vote against her.
If she'd run in '04 this would've been true. But it's '08. Hillary's win has nothing to do with her, and everything to do with who the Republicans send up the hill against her. If they send a real conservative, she'll go down in the worst beating since 1984. It would be really ugly.
But they won't. The lesson will not be learned this November.
We're going to have a Republican Primary of Guiliani, Pataki, and Bloomberg. We may get another dose of McCain. If Tancredo makes much more noise they're gonna throw him jail.
Ultimately JAC still believes that the people have the final say. He believes in local elections Hillary will lose... and all elections are local. This is what happens when you've never lived in a state like Georgia, or California, where a small but hugely populated urban area controls the whole state. California elections aren't local. Well... they are... but only if you live in San Fransisco or LA.
I advise you to think of it in terms of states... because that's how its decided. What state will Hilary win that Kerry didn't?
Ohio. New Mexico.
What state that Kerry won, will Hillary lose?
None.
Do the math.
It's funny really. Sometimes it seems like JAC and I run the same blog. For the most part we see things eye-to-eye. We agree on the methodology... but the conclusions ultimately drawn are drastically different.
Take this Lizard Queen deal. JAC boasts:
But don't let me stop y'all from gettin' all a-titter and swooning with fear at the certainty of Queen Lizard the First, by all means carry on with your fun. Drama Queens.
His premise of course is that the Lizard Queen is un-electible. He figures for every moron who'll vote for her, 2 or 3 will vote against her.
If she'd run in '04 this would've been true. But it's '08. Hillary's win has nothing to do with her, and everything to do with who the Republicans send up the hill against her. If they send a real conservative, she'll go down in the worst beating since 1984. It would be really ugly.
But they won't. The lesson will not be learned this November.
We're going to have a Republican Primary of Guiliani, Pataki, and Bloomberg. We may get another dose of McCain. If Tancredo makes much more noise they're gonna throw him jail.
Ultimately JAC still believes that the people have the final say. He believes in local elections Hillary will lose... and all elections are local. This is what happens when you've never lived in a state like Georgia, or California, where a small but hugely populated urban area controls the whole state. California elections aren't local. Well... they are... but only if you live in San Fransisco or LA.
I advise you to think of it in terms of states... because that's how its decided. What state will Hilary win that Kerry didn't?
Ohio. New Mexico.
What state that Kerry won, will Hillary lose?
None.
Do the math.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Timely...
What is the ballot? It is neither more nor less than a paper representative of the bayonet, the billy, and the bullet. It is a labor-saving device for ascertaining on which side force lies and bowing to the inevitable. The voice of the majority saves bloodshed, but it is no less the arbitrament of force than is the decree of the most absolute of despots backed by the most powerful of armies. - Benjamin R. Tucker
Voting is democracys suggestion box for slaves - Benjamin R. Tucker
Me and this Ben cat would get along pretty well I reckon.
What is the ballot? It is neither more nor less than a paper representative of the bayonet, the billy, and the bullet. It is a labor-saving device for ascertaining on which side force lies and bowing to the inevitable. The voice of the majority saves bloodshed, but it is no less the arbitrament of force than is the decree of the most absolute of despots backed by the most powerful of armies. - Benjamin R. Tucker
Voting is democracys suggestion box for slaves - Benjamin R. Tucker
Me and this Ben cat would get along pretty well I reckon.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Open Letter to David Limbaugh
Dear Sir,
In your recent column you ask a few important, if poorly worded, questions. As a disgruntled conservative who, in your terms, will be colluding with democrats in November, allow me to answer them.
You ask: what would democrats do differently?
I answer: Nothing. They would spend spend spend. Just as these insane so-called conservatives have. They would propose and pass historically unprecedented spending bills of obscene scale. They'd urinate on the Constitution. Under them Uncle Sam would become Aunt Samantha, and she would work 24-hours a day to protect us from ourselves. In short... They would do the exact same things that the Republicans I once supported have done.
You ask: But the war! What about the War! Victory is all important!
I answer: Hogwash. There is no victory in an undeclared war on no one in particular. Who are we at war with? Terrorists? One may as well declare war against the boogeyman. Let me be clear. I fear my own government a great deal more than I fear any suitcase nuke. That's why I'm a Conservative. I have no desire to live under the protective skirt of a Nanny Government. My security is my problem. The Democrats will not prosecute this so-called war any differently than the Republicans have, at least they won't screw it up any worse. Occupation was the pinnacle of stupidity in the first place. It was never going to work. We would never use the British or Roman method of occupation, and they are the only two methods to ever show any success. The Republicans have already run this war the way idiot liberals would run it. Why should I be scared to hand it over to liberals now? How much worse will they screw it up? I've always believed we should've gone to Iraq. We should've hit and run. Militaries are for killing people and breaking things. That job was done when we captured Saddam. We should've come home and left the locals to fight over the power vacuum. It would've taken decades for someone to consolidate the power there, and when they did, we could always come back and wipe them out again. We'd be trading 10 years of peace for 6 weeks of war. Who wouldn't take that deal?
Sir, I am a registered Republican in the state of Tennessee. I would sooner gauge out my own eyes than vote for a slime ball like Corker. You say Ford is worse? I say so what? I don't vote for slime balls. If the only choice is two slime balls, then I'm not making a choice at all. I know, I know... if I don't vote the wrong slime ball might win. I don't care. I will not participate in my own rape.
This would be a very good message for you and other Republican leaders to heed. The "Most Important Election of All Time" line has lost its effect. After the third "Most Important Election of All Time" call I'm starting to think of the boy who called wolf.
Dubya and the weak kneed conservatives in power right now have done massive damage to America. I find myself more and more considering leaving America all together. Why shouldn't I? I don't need a nanny... and I'm not scared of the boogieman.
No sir. I will not vote. I likely will never vote for any federal position again. My brother says its my duty to vote. In my view, I would never defile the concept of duty with something as humiliating as voting.
Best of Luck
Dear Sir,
In your recent column you ask a few important, if poorly worded, questions. As a disgruntled conservative who, in your terms, will be colluding with democrats in November, allow me to answer them.
You ask: what would democrats do differently?
I answer: Nothing. They would spend spend spend. Just as these insane so-called conservatives have. They would propose and pass historically unprecedented spending bills of obscene scale. They'd urinate on the Constitution. Under them Uncle Sam would become Aunt Samantha, and she would work 24-hours a day to protect us from ourselves. In short... They would do the exact same things that the Republicans I once supported have done.
You ask: But the war! What about the War! Victory is all important!
I answer: Hogwash. There is no victory in an undeclared war on no one in particular. Who are we at war with? Terrorists? One may as well declare war against the boogeyman. Let me be clear. I fear my own government a great deal more than I fear any suitcase nuke. That's why I'm a Conservative. I have no desire to live under the protective skirt of a Nanny Government. My security is my problem. The Democrats will not prosecute this so-called war any differently than the Republicans have, at least they won't screw it up any worse. Occupation was the pinnacle of stupidity in the first place. It was never going to work. We would never use the British or Roman method of occupation, and they are the only two methods to ever show any success. The Republicans have already run this war the way idiot liberals would run it. Why should I be scared to hand it over to liberals now? How much worse will they screw it up? I've always believed we should've gone to Iraq. We should've hit and run. Militaries are for killing people and breaking things. That job was done when we captured Saddam. We should've come home and left the locals to fight over the power vacuum. It would've taken decades for someone to consolidate the power there, and when they did, we could always come back and wipe them out again. We'd be trading 10 years of peace for 6 weeks of war. Who wouldn't take that deal?
Sir, I am a registered Republican in the state of Tennessee. I would sooner gauge out my own eyes than vote for a slime ball like Corker. You say Ford is worse? I say so what? I don't vote for slime balls. If the only choice is two slime balls, then I'm not making a choice at all. I know, I know... if I don't vote the wrong slime ball might win. I don't care. I will not participate in my own rape.
This would be a very good message for you and other Republican leaders to heed. The "Most Important Election of All Time" line has lost its effect. After the third "Most Important Election of All Time" call I'm starting to think of the boy who called wolf.
Dubya and the weak kneed conservatives in power right now have done massive damage to America. I find myself more and more considering leaving America all together. Why shouldn't I? I don't need a nanny... and I'm not scared of the boogieman.
No sir. I will not vote. I likely will never vote for any federal position again. My brother says its my duty to vote. In my view, I would never defile the concept of duty with something as humiliating as voting.
Best of Luck
Brazilian Pecans
Raise your hand if you think Pecans are native to Brazil.
Anyone?
But you know how they got there right?
After the War for Southron Independence many southrons migrated to Brazil. They took advantage of an agricultural government program designed by the Brazilians to improve their local situation. They saw an opertunity and siezed it.
Its unknown exactly how many confederate families went to Brazil... estimates range from a few hundred to many thousand. Wikipedia says 9,000... I reckon that's in the ballpark.
I've been questioned time and again about my assertions that the South was less racist than the Union... about my assertion that the Confederate Army was intigrated. Well consider this little piece of related evidence.
When the confederate exiles got to Brazil they built public schools and universities... where blacks and whites both were taught. Of the thousands of southron farmers who came to Brazil, only 4 families owned a total of 66 slaves.
That was in the 1870s.
Raise your hand if you think Pecans are native to Brazil.
Anyone?
But you know how they got there right?
After the War for Southron Independence many southrons migrated to Brazil. They took advantage of an agricultural government program designed by the Brazilians to improve their local situation. They saw an opertunity and siezed it.
Its unknown exactly how many confederate families went to Brazil... estimates range from a few hundred to many thousand. Wikipedia says 9,000... I reckon that's in the ballpark.
I've been questioned time and again about my assertions that the South was less racist than the Union... about my assertion that the Confederate Army was intigrated. Well consider this little piece of related evidence.
When the confederate exiles got to Brazil they built public schools and universities... where blacks and whites both were taught. Of the thousands of southron farmers who came to Brazil, only 4 families owned a total of 66 slaves.
That was in the 1870s.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Was the Dodo That Bad?
There are literally thousands of species of mammals that we've extinct. Don't even mention the birds we've eaten or the billions of varying bacteria we've boiled out of existence. Some had it coming...
My question is...
What did the Dodo ever do that was so bad that it should be extinct...
Yet this thing thrives. The Pole Cat remains... in all its revolting splendor. Its everyting that's horrible and evil about a cat... armed with the most noxtious weapon to ever be loosed upon the earth.
Seriously... was the Black Rhino that bad?
Do you ever drive for ten minutes... suffering... because a Black Rhino decided to get territorial on some unsuspecting dog, a mile from the interstate?
Sadistic joy at my brother's suffering aside... I have had it with these damned things.
Extinct the Pole Cat says I. All of them. Every species. Every classification. Every damned one of them.
Its our planet dammit. God said so. Its time we cleaned it up. I can't think of a better place to start. It should be a government program. 20 bucks per skin. 300 bucks for the scalp of any scumbag trying to breed, save, or otherwise aid the wretched things.
Oh sure.. we'll kill of a Sea Cow.. but the skunk is just fine. Bloody typical.
There are literally thousands of species of mammals that we've extinct. Don't even mention the birds we've eaten or the billions of varying bacteria we've boiled out of existence. Some had it coming...
My question is...
What did the Dodo ever do that was so bad that it should be extinct...
Yet this thing thrives. The Pole Cat remains... in all its revolting splendor. Its everyting that's horrible and evil about a cat... armed with the most noxtious weapon to ever be loosed upon the earth.
Seriously... was the Black Rhino that bad?
Do you ever drive for ten minutes... suffering... because a Black Rhino decided to get territorial on some unsuspecting dog, a mile from the interstate?
Sadistic joy at my brother's suffering aside... I have had it with these damned things.
Extinct the Pole Cat says I. All of them. Every species. Every classification. Every damned one of them.
Its our planet dammit. God said so. Its time we cleaned it up. I can't think of a better place to start. It should be a government program. 20 bucks per skin. 300 bucks for the scalp of any scumbag trying to breed, save, or otherwise aid the wretched things.
Oh sure.. we'll kill of a Sea Cow.. but the skunk is just fine. Bloody typical.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Parking Lot Speed Limit: 100mph
So we spent Saturday at an AMA Supermoto race in Nashville. I tell ya... 45 bucks goes a long way. For that ticket price we got choice parking, choice seating, free 20oz cokes and chips on the party deck, pit passes, and vouchers for hambergers, hotdogs, or drinks at the concessions. If there's a better bargain out there I don't know about it.
I realize some of ya may not know what Supermoto is. Its basicly racing dirt bikes with street tires. The track is 80% pavement and 20% dirt. There is a good mix of highbanked nascar turns, as well as driveway tight 180's. 20 guys racing into a turn that's not wide enough for your SUV make. Seriously... in my Titan I would've had to do at least a 3-point turn.
I've not had this much fun in a long long time... The racing was hardcore. Ward's bike died in the last turn before the finish... dude wanted the podium so bad he actually pushed his bike across the finish line, because he "didn't want to waste time trying to start it."
No wonder he's leading in the points. Still... the Yamaha factory boys owned him Saturday night. There's no nice way to say it.
Man that was fun. If you ever get a chance to go see a supermoto race... even if you have no interest in motorcycles... I promise you'll get a kick out of it. You've never seen anything like this. Just look at the picture.
So we spent Saturday at an AMA Supermoto race in Nashville. I tell ya... 45 bucks goes a long way. For that ticket price we got choice parking, choice seating, free 20oz cokes and chips on the party deck, pit passes, and vouchers for hambergers, hotdogs, or drinks at the concessions. If there's a better bargain out there I don't know about it.I realize some of ya may not know what Supermoto is. Its basicly racing dirt bikes with street tires. The track is 80% pavement and 20% dirt. There is a good mix of highbanked nascar turns, as well as driveway tight 180's. 20 guys racing into a turn that's not wide enough for your SUV make. Seriously... in my Titan I would've had to do at least a 3-point turn.
I've not had this much fun in a long long time... The racing was hardcore. Ward's bike died in the last turn before the finish... dude wanted the podium so bad he actually pushed his bike across the finish line, because he "didn't want to waste time trying to start it."
No wonder he's leading in the points. Still... the Yamaha factory boys owned him Saturday night. There's no nice way to say it.
Man that was fun. If you ever get a chance to go see a supermoto race... even if you have no interest in motorcycles... I promise you'll get a kick out of it. You've never seen anything like this. Just look at the picture.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Criminal DNA vs The Veil of Civilization
In the pop psych world DNA is blamed for just about everything. The Environment vs Heredity debate is all but dead. DNA explains behavior as well as it explains skin color, eye color, or sex.
A few years back this was a provocative point of view, but in that small world, its now old hat. Its as accepted as basic addition.
Allow me to take exception.
Human behavior isn't really all that difficult to predict or explain. You examine an individuals options, figure out what would be the best thing for him to choose and rule it out. Then figure the remaining path of least resistance.
This is where the Veil comes in. While DNA may very well create biological factors that influence decision making, its the Veil that increases the options available.
Those in the immediate family of a suicide are many times more likely to commit suicide themselves. Why? Because suicide is now an option. They've seen through to Veil of Civilized behavior and realize that there are other choices.
The same applies to the son of a bank robber or rapist. If he needs money bad enough... he's bound to consider his father's solution.
We walk around in a cloud... a fog that eliminates behaviors. They aren't even visible to us. They've been civilized out of us. Once the Veil is gone though... it's gone... there's no going back. This is one aspect of rehabilitation that will always be hopeless.
In the pop psych world DNA is blamed for just about everything. The Environment vs Heredity debate is all but dead. DNA explains behavior as well as it explains skin color, eye color, or sex.
A few years back this was a provocative point of view, but in that small world, its now old hat. Its as accepted as basic addition.
Allow me to take exception.
Human behavior isn't really all that difficult to predict or explain. You examine an individuals options, figure out what would be the best thing for him to choose and rule it out. Then figure the remaining path of least resistance.
This is where the Veil comes in. While DNA may very well create biological factors that influence decision making, its the Veil that increases the options available.
Those in the immediate family of a suicide are many times more likely to commit suicide themselves. Why? Because suicide is now an option. They've seen through to Veil of Civilized behavior and realize that there are other choices.
The same applies to the son of a bank robber or rapist. If he needs money bad enough... he's bound to consider his father's solution.
We walk around in a cloud... a fog that eliminates behaviors. They aren't even visible to us. They've been civilized out of us. Once the Veil is gone though... it's gone... there's no going back. This is one aspect of rehabilitation that will always be hopeless.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Who said it?
So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for man under the sun except to eat, drink and be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
Dionysus?
No sir... The Preacher.
Ecclesiastes 8:15
Eat, drink, and be merry. One of my favorite Biblical teachings.
So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for man under the sun except to eat, drink and be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
Dionysus?
No sir... The Preacher.
Ecclesiastes 8:15
Eat, drink, and be merry. One of my favorite Biblical teachings.
Of Security and Independence
There can be no Independece without Security. That should well be the Republican creed. As regular as metamusal any time a Cowardly Elephant is confronted with the loss of freedoms in the name of Holy Security the retort comes.
The false dichotomy sickens. You can just see the pasty little twerps spouting the well rehearsed line. They deliver... then cross their spindly arms and give that don't-I-sound-clever smirk. The same one used by Michelle Malkin, and everyone else who says something they read but never actually thought about.
How about we examine it?
When Franklin spoke about those who would trade one for the other, he was talking about those unwilling to provide for themselves.
Anywhere something exists, there is a provider. Security is no different. It can be provided by a third party, a family, or the state. It can come in many forms from many institutions. It can also be provided by the individual himself.
Whoever provides the security is the master. Who ever is protected, is the slave. In feudal times Lords provided protection for their serfs. We are no different today.
The only one who is free is the one who provides security for himself. Those who seek security from the government are shackling themselves, and for them I have nothing but contempt.
Whenver you sede power to an authority, you depend on that authority to protect you. You therefore become a slave. The Bible calls the debtor a slave to the lender. This is similar, but much more drastic.
I don't want state sponsored security. I just want to be left alone. I can protect myself. I do protect myself. I am less conserned about some mad muslim dynobomber than I am of the boogie man... so before you knock on my door and tell me how scary the terrorists are... bend over and grab your ankles... I want to make sure my boot's got a clear shot.
You support the Partiot Act? Then you're a loathsome little coward, unfit for responsible free society. Move to France.
Oh... and yeah... it's good to be back.
There can be no Independece without Security. That should well be the Republican creed. As regular as metamusal any time a Cowardly Elephant is confronted with the loss of freedoms in the name of Holy Security the retort comes.
The false dichotomy sickens. You can just see the pasty little twerps spouting the well rehearsed line. They deliver... then cross their spindly arms and give that don't-I-sound-clever smirk. The same one used by Michelle Malkin, and everyone else who says something they read but never actually thought about.
How about we examine it?
When Franklin spoke about those who would trade one for the other, he was talking about those unwilling to provide for themselves.
Anywhere something exists, there is a provider. Security is no different. It can be provided by a third party, a family, or the state. It can come in many forms from many institutions. It can also be provided by the individual himself.
Whoever provides the security is the master. Who ever is protected, is the slave. In feudal times Lords provided protection for their serfs. We are no different today.
The only one who is free is the one who provides security for himself. Those who seek security from the government are shackling themselves, and for them I have nothing but contempt.
Whenver you sede power to an authority, you depend on that authority to protect you. You therefore become a slave. The Bible calls the debtor a slave to the lender. This is similar, but much more drastic.
I don't want state sponsored security. I just want to be left alone. I can protect myself. I do protect myself. I am less conserned about some mad muslim dynobomber than I am of the boogie man... so before you knock on my door and tell me how scary the terrorists are... bend over and grab your ankles... I want to make sure my boot's got a clear shot.
You support the Partiot Act? Then you're a loathsome little coward, unfit for responsible free society. Move to France.
Oh... and yeah... it's good to be back.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
The Unspoken Message
Ford has a new commercial out for thier Mustang... this metrosexual american is standing on an obviously german dock signing papers to accept delivery of his car. He had it shipped to Germany.
The dock worker says, "You could not find car you liked in Germany?"
"No. I couldn't find a speed limit I liked in America."
That stung a little.
Ford has a new commercial out for thier Mustang... this metrosexual american is standing on an obviously german dock signing papers to accept delivery of his car. He had it shipped to Germany.
The dock worker says, "You could not find car you liked in Germany?"
"No. I couldn't find a speed limit I liked in America."
That stung a little.
Friday, September 29, 2006
ATF
Well shit...
Here we are... its friday... I've had about 6 shots of this Bulleit Bourbon.... and dayem did I need ever one of them. Rough few days. That's no shit.
Anyway... here we are. DJ and Julie have come home.. lettin' the B Team take over.... ok that's just ribbin'. Jenn and Jill are doin' a great job down there with their dad. I'm proud as I can be of 'em... not that it matters.
But for now... there's Charlie Robinson in the background... DJ and I are playin' some pathetic MSN game... The pipe smoke is fillin' my office...
All is well.
I sincerely hope y'all can say the same.
Standard rules apply. What ya drinkin? smokin? carryin?
Well shit...
Here we are... its friday... I've had about 6 shots of this Bulleit Bourbon.... and dayem did I need ever one of them. Rough few days. That's no shit.
Anyway... here we are. DJ and Julie have come home.. lettin' the B Team take over.... ok that's just ribbin'. Jenn and Jill are doin' a great job down there with their dad. I'm proud as I can be of 'em... not that it matters.
But for now... there's Charlie Robinson in the background... DJ and I are playin' some pathetic MSN game... The pipe smoke is fillin' my office...
All is well.
I sincerely hope y'all can say the same.
Standard rules apply. What ya drinkin? smokin? carryin?
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Sorry
Bizarre audio blogs aside, I won't be doing much around here for a while guys. I just ain't got the time. I'm sure y'all realize how things are with my family right now. I've set up a blog to keep all of our friends and family up to date on my father-in-law's condition. if you're interested it can be found here.
Bizarre audio blogs aside, I won't be doing much around here for a while guys. I just ain't got the time. I'm sure y'all realize how things are with my family right now. I've set up a blog to keep all of our friends and family up to date on my father-in-law's condition. if you're interested it can be found here.
Monday, September 25, 2006
The Best Laid Plans...
I'm home. Dammit.
I'm supposed to be riding through the Ozarks right now on dirt roads... campin' with my older brother... debating which food to accidentally leave out to lure a bear in so we can kill it in self defense.
If you haven't figured it out, my father-in-law wrecked his car this weekend in all the storms around Chattanooga. He hydroplaned and ended up wrapping his car around a tree. He's in the ICU right now. Things got real dicey for a while saturday night, but it all worked out. A full recovery looks pretty likely.
Anyway JAC and I hauled ass on the big road all day on sunday... We're pretty bummed... but a bad day on a bike is a helluva lot better than a good day in the ICU.
The ol' fella's doin a lot better y'all. We all appreciate your prayers and help.
I'm home. Dammit.
I'm supposed to be riding through the Ozarks right now on dirt roads... campin' with my older brother... debating which food to accidentally leave out to lure a bear in so we can kill it in self defense.
If you haven't figured it out, my father-in-law wrecked his car this weekend in all the storms around Chattanooga. He hydroplaned and ended up wrapping his car around a tree. He's in the ICU right now. Things got real dicey for a while saturday night, but it all worked out. A full recovery looks pretty likely.
Anyway JAC and I hauled ass on the big road all day on sunday... We're pretty bummed... but a bad day on a bike is a helluva lot better than a good day in the ICU.
The ol' fella's doin a lot better y'all. We all appreciate your prayers and help.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Packing List
Nevermind me... I'm just typing outloud...
Food Stuffs:
1 large summer sausage
1 bag pita bread
1 large block of sharp cheddar cheese
4 cans of Steak and Potatoe soup
3 Ramen cup o' noodles
2 large bags of Jack's Beef Jerky
2 litres Water
1 flask (Gold Medal Jack)
Propane stove
2 bottles of propane
Small mess kit
2 blue jeans
2 dingy white bitch beaters
Much throw away underwear
Much throw away socks
Tool kit
1 front tube
1 spare clutch lever
Kershaw open assist knife
Leatherman Wave
LED flashlight (worn on forehead!)
batteries (AA, AAA, D)
Steyr .40 spare clip
.357
1 pack Backwoods smokes.
(that won't be enough... resupply in As)
Nevermind me... I'm just typing outloud...
Food Stuffs:
1 large summer sausage
1 bag pita bread
1 large block of sharp cheddar cheese
4 cans of Steak and Potatoe soup
3 Ramen cup o' noodles
2 large bags of Jack's Beef Jerky
2 litres Water
1 flask (Gold Medal Jack)
Propane stove
2 bottles of propane
Small mess kit
2 blue jeans
2 dingy white bitch beaters
Much throw away underwear
Much throw away socks
Tool kit
1 front tube
1 spare clutch lever
Kershaw open assist knife
Leatherman Wave
LED flashlight (worn on forehead!)
batteries (AA, AAA, D)
Steyr .40 spare clip
.357
1 pack Backwoods smokes.
(that won't be enough... resupply in As)
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
The Great Debate
We need some help. JAC and I just can't seem to see eye-to-eye on this. We're at odds over whiskey and firearms.
Not good.
Here's what we agree on: We're riding dirt roads through backwoods arkansas. We're camping. We'll be in some hard hard country. There are bear and pigs in Arkansas.
JAC says travel light and fast. Firearms need to be small and easy to carry. He's bringing his gay 9mm with about 4 spare rolls of those little red sulfer caps that it fires.
I am thinking... 9mm cap guns
mean much to pigs and bears. My standard trail gun, the Taurus .357 tracker is just the thing. And of course the Steyr would be coming as well. That's 7 shots of .357 hard ball, followed by a New York reload and 11 shots of some nasty fragmenting 165 grain rounds in .40.
More is more says I. What say you?
On the whiskey front... JAC is thinking the finer stuff is the way to go. More of an indulgence than a drink. I'm thinking there is something bizarre about Bookers from a flask on a dirt trail in Arkansas. Dirt trails in Arkansas say Jack. Not Bookers. Plus... we're roughin' it. Fine whiskey is not for roughin' it! We should be drinkin' shine dammit!
Help us out here.
We need some help. JAC and I just can't seem to see eye-to-eye on this. We're at odds over whiskey and firearms.
Not good.
Here's what we agree on: We're riding dirt roads through backwoods arkansas. We're camping. We'll be in some hard hard country. There are bear and pigs in Arkansas.
JAC says travel light and fast. Firearms need to be small and easy to carry. He's bringing his gay 9mm with about 4 spare rolls of those little red sulfer caps that it fires.I am thinking... 9mm cap guns
mean much to pigs and bears. My standard trail gun, the Taurus .357 tracker is just the thing. And of course the Steyr would be coming as well. That's 7 shots of .357 hard ball, followed by a New York reload and 11 shots of some nasty fragmenting 165 grain rounds in .40.More is more says I. What say you?
On the whiskey front... JAC is thinking the finer stuff is the way to go. More of an indulgence than a drink. I'm thinking there is something bizarre about Bookers from a flask on a dirt trail in Arkansas. Dirt trails in Arkansas say Jack. Not Bookers. Plus... we're roughin' it. Fine whiskey is not for roughin' it! We should be drinkin' shine dammit!
Help us out here.
On the Road Again
Well... its about that time again. Come Saturday at 0 dark thirty JAC and I are gonna head out for Helena Arkansas. Our aim is to pickup the TransAm Trail where we left off a few months ago. Unlike last time, we're camping this time.
There is a little stress involved... mostly because the tires I ordered still haven't arrived. Ugh.
The plan is to be back sometime wednesday. I'm trying to get audio blogger up and running so y'all can live vicariously to us. I'll seem more than a little distracted over the next few days because well... I am.
Y'all be cool.
Well... its about that time again. Come Saturday at 0 dark thirty JAC and I are gonna head out for Helena Arkansas. Our aim is to pickup the TransAm Trail where we left off a few months ago. Unlike last time, we're camping this time.
There is a little stress involved... mostly because the tires I ordered still haven't arrived. Ugh.
The plan is to be back sometime wednesday. I'm trying to get audio blogger up and running so y'all can live vicariously to us. I'll seem more than a little distracted over the next few days because well... I am.
Y'all be cool.
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