I think you can.
Second, because of this massive change in policy (and complete change in
mission) all U.S. forces are forbidden to actively patrol their AO and
are to remain on their respective COPs/FOBs. There are only a few
exceptions to this rule and they all pertain to “hardening” highway 1 in
our AO. We have received orders that clearly state that all CF will no
longer be allowed to drop air to ground munitions within the country of
Afghanistan.
Troops in trouble? No air support; it might upset someone, might cause problems for the bastard in the White House trying to keep his corrupt, treacherous ass in that chair.
Somebody pointed me to this, and I wanted to get it up; otherwise, tied up
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Probably very light on the posted bitching
and yelling the next couple of days or so, so to get some stuff out of the way:
Some thoughts on the 2nd Amendment, including
This wording - and there is no reasonable way around it - also suggests through the use of the term Militia, the entire population of able bodied adult males of an age to bear arms and organized or organizable into groups of combatants, that the right to keep and bear arms is for a collective purpose.[1] To accept that the Second Amendment serves a collective purpose, however, is not to concede that it is merely a collective right.
Consider, for example, the First Amendment, or rather those clauses of it concerned with freedom of speech and of the press. These rights are exercised individually, by newspapers, other media, the individual members of their staffs, and individual citizens. Its purpose, on the other hand, is to secure the liberty of the collective by giving widespread airing to even unpopular or anti-governmental views.
There is, therefore, no obvious contradiction between the exercise of an individual right and the service of a collective purpose. As with freedom of speech and of the press...or of other guaranteed liberties - free assembly, freedom of conscience through freedom of religion, the right to have one's home free of spies in uniform, the one can serve the other quite handily: individual freedoms, freely exercised, preserving the freedom of the group and of each member in it.
I'm not all the way through this, so far it's interesting.
I'd not heard this before; I like it:
Some stuff I'd not heard about Morris Dees, of the SPLC; not in any way flattering.
Another nasty virus discovered in Africa.
A response to Samuel Jackson(NSFW):
A Democrat pollster has something to say about the MSM ignoring ethics, honor and duty:
“First of all, we’ve had 9 days of lies…If a president of either party…had had a terrorist incident and gotten on an airplane [after remarks] and flown off to a fundraiser in Las Vegas, they would have been crucified…it should have been, should have been, the equivalent, for Barack Obama, of George Bush’s “flying over Katrina” moment. But nothing was said at all. Nothing will be said. [...] It is [unacceptable] to specifically decide that you will not tell the American people information they have a right to know. [The MSM] has made themselves the enemy of the American people. It is a threat to the very future of the country; we’ve crossed a new and frightening line on the slippery slope, and it needs to be talked about.”
And someone else on the media not-, hell, AVOIDING any questions if they at all can:
There are so many unanswered questions, not just about Libya, but also about Cairo. Who is it that Rice thinks “widely disseminated” this “movie”? Surely she can’t believe that the Egyptian Coptic Christian who made the video had the capacity or even desire to put it in the hands of the people who did the inciting. Also, has the administration noticed that the mob in Cairo, so spontaneously upset about the video, just happened to be carrying an Islamist flag to hoist over our embassy? On 9/11. What a massive coincidence.
...
We know now that before the attacks on 9/11 that killed 3,000 Americans, more attention should have been paid to attacks against the U.S. overseas. These were warnings of what was to come. They say curiosity killed the cat. In this case, lack of curiosity on the part of the American media very well may kill more Americans.
And last, in The Guitar Saga,
Having had a few days to dry, I looked it over very closely; the finish came out beautifully, but I fear it needs to be thicker. Count it as not researching/asking more questions sooner, but I assumed(I know, I know, shutup) one can would do it. May not take a whole second can, but I think it'll be a stronger, better finish if it gets a few more light coats building on what's there now.
The second can should be here tomorrow; I'll get some pictures and post them before I do any more spraying. I'll say this, it looks like new, better than it has in a long time. The further coats, a day or so to dry, wet-sand to level, a final light coat, then 6-8 days before can string it and see how the sound held up through all this.
Some thoughts on the 2nd Amendment, including
This wording - and there is no reasonable way around it - also suggests through the use of the term Militia, the entire population of able bodied adult males of an age to bear arms and organized or organizable into groups of combatants, that the right to keep and bear arms is for a collective purpose.[1] To accept that the Second Amendment serves a collective purpose, however, is not to concede that it is merely a collective right.
Consider, for example, the First Amendment, or rather those clauses of it concerned with freedom of speech and of the press. These rights are exercised individually, by newspapers, other media, the individual members of their staffs, and individual citizens. Its purpose, on the other hand, is to secure the liberty of the collective by giving widespread airing to even unpopular or anti-governmental views.
There is, therefore, no obvious contradiction between the exercise of an individual right and the service of a collective purpose. As with freedom of speech and of the press...or of other guaranteed liberties - free assembly, freedom of conscience through freedom of religion, the right to have one's home free of spies in uniform, the one can serve the other quite handily: individual freedoms, freely exercised, preserving the freedom of the group and of each member in it.
I'm not all the way through this, so far it's interesting.
I'd not heard this before; I like it:
Some stuff I'd not heard about Morris Dees, of the SPLC; not in any way flattering.
Another nasty virus discovered in Africa.
A response to Samuel Jackson(NSFW):
A Democrat pollster has something to say about the MSM ignoring ethics, honor and duty:
“First of all, we’ve had 9 days of lies…If a president of either party…had had a terrorist incident and gotten on an airplane [after remarks] and flown off to a fundraiser in Las Vegas, they would have been crucified…it should have been, should have been, the equivalent, for Barack Obama, of George Bush’s “flying over Katrina” moment. But nothing was said at all. Nothing will be said. [...] It is [unacceptable] to specifically decide that you will not tell the American people information they have a right to know. [The MSM] has made themselves the enemy of the American people. It is a threat to the very future of the country; we’ve crossed a new and frightening line on the slippery slope, and it needs to be talked about.”
And someone else on the media not-, hell, AVOIDING any questions if they at all can:
There are so many unanswered questions, not just about Libya, but also about Cairo. Who is it that Rice thinks “widely disseminated” this “movie”? Surely she can’t believe that the Egyptian Coptic Christian who made the video had the capacity or even desire to put it in the hands of the people who did the inciting. Also, has the administration noticed that the mob in Cairo, so spontaneously upset about the video, just happened to be carrying an Islamist flag to hoist over our embassy? On 9/11. What a massive coincidence.
...
We know now that before the attacks on 9/11 that killed 3,000 Americans, more attention should have been paid to attacks against the U.S. overseas. These were warnings of what was to come. They say curiosity killed the cat. In this case, lack of curiosity on the part of the American media very well may kill more Americans.
And last, in The Guitar Saga,
Having had a few days to dry, I looked it over very closely; the finish came out beautifully, but I fear it needs to be thicker. Count it as not researching/asking more questions sooner, but I assumed(I know, I know, shutup) one can would do it. May not take a whole second can, but I think it'll be a stronger, better finish if it gets a few more light coats building on what's there now.
The second can should be here tomorrow; I'll get some pictures and post them before I do any more spraying. I'll say this, it looks like new, better than it has in a long time. The further coats, a day or so to dry, wet-sand to level, a final light coat, then 6-8 days before can string it and see how the sound held up through all this.
Tab clearing
Some of what's been going on in Mexico is worse than previously admitted. Which makes it pretty damned bad.
Interesting, and possible; it would make that video deliberately made to be used as an excuse for more rioting and calls for "You people have to start censoring yourselves, or else."
What's scary about this: not only does she ignore restrictions already placed, that line about even as we place reasonable limits on arguably more valuable rights like the freedom of speech and due process, is scary; just what 'reasonable limits' does she want?
Why People Don't Trust The Media, Part 372
"What? You helped make a movie about whacking bin Laden? Don't you know how much trouble that can cause?" Yeah, but this might be excusable, since it's to make Obama look good before the election.
Interesting, and possible; it would make that video deliberately made to be used as an excuse for more rioting and calls for "You people have to start censoring yourselves, or else."
What's scary about this: not only does she ignore restrictions already placed, that line about even as we place reasonable limits on arguably more valuable rights like the freedom of speech and due process, is scary; just what 'reasonable limits' does she want?
Why People Don't Trust The Media, Part 372
"What? You helped make a movie about whacking bin Laden? Don't you know how much trouble that can cause?" Yeah, but this might be excusable, since it's to make Obama look good before the election.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
About that "My safety trumps everything" traffic stop
mentioned earlier, just ran across this thanks to a tip:
In this case – as in other “situations” of its kind – the officers have themselves to blame for the fact that the public hasn’t seen “their side” of the story, since the dashcam recordings of the encounter have mysteriously disappeared.
Isn't that interesting?
And, a little earlier in the article,
In this case – as in other “situations” of its kind – the officers have themselves to blame for the fact that the public hasn’t seen “their side” of the story, since the dashcam recordings of the encounter have mysteriously disappeared.
Isn't that interesting?
And, a little earlier in the article,
“Your
safety does not trump my right and my liberty,” Pierson tutored the deputy.
“When
I stop you, yes it does,” asserted Bassett.
“Your
personal safety is more important than all the laws, the Constitution, and every one of my
personal rights and liberties,” summarized Pierson, his voice heavy with
disgusted incredulity.
“When
I’m in a traffic stop, yes,” declared Bassett. “I’m in control of this
situation.”
we have to operate as if we are on the border
In Chicago.
They also bring this up:
During his initial court proceedings, Zambada-Niebla made a number of explosive allegations about Operation “Fast and Furious” and an alleged immunity deal between the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, the DEA and other federal agencies.
and the article has this 'denial' from DEA:
When asked for the DEA’s official response to the allegations, Riley said, “It’s an ongoing investigation. He hasn’t been brought to trial, and I can’t speak to that.” However, he did say of Zambada-Niebla’s claim, “It is not DEA policy and in my own personal opinion, I just don‘t think it’s accurate.”
Call it reaction on my part to all the other crap that's happened the last few years, but that's not only not a denial, it's a "Please ignore that, don't ask us about it, we really don't want to give ANY answer" response.
Not confidence-inspiring, is it?
They also bring this up:
During his initial court proceedings, Zambada-Niebla made a number of explosive allegations about Operation “Fast and Furious” and an alleged immunity deal between the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, the DEA and other federal agencies.
and the article has this 'denial' from DEA:
When asked for the DEA’s official response to the allegations, Riley said, “It’s an ongoing investigation. He hasn’t been brought to trial, and I can’t speak to that.” However, he did say of Zambada-Niebla’s claim, “It is not DEA policy and in my own personal opinion, I just don‘t think it’s accurate.”
Call it reaction on my part to all the other crap that's happened the last few years, but that's not only not a denial, it's a "Please ignore that, don't ask us about it, we really don't want to give ANY answer" response.
Not confidence-inspiring, is it?
“We’re told every day, our safety is first,” he said.
“We’re here to come home every night.”
Um, no, you're not. You're SUPPOSED to be doing the job of a lawman, risks and all, and if you think your personal safety is always first, then either you were badly trained, or you're a sorry lawman.
No, I don't know everything, this may be a lot more involved than the story lets on; that line still indicates a real problem.
Bob Owens, his opinion on the matter as well.
Last night, at Belle Isle Brewery with some friends, one of the screens had CNN on and one of the crawls was about the 'crime scene in Benghazi still not secured'. Well, it took how long for the people in charge to admit it was a planned attack, not about that idiot video? So how long might it take them to actually do something about 'securing the crime scene' that everybody in town has apparently been wandering through?
Last night proved once again: it's been dry, you badly need rain? It won't come as a nice, gentle rain, it'll lightning and rumble and pour like the cow on a flat rock. But it was rain.
Um, no, you're not. You're SUPPOSED to be doing the job of a lawman, risks and all, and if you think your personal safety is always first, then either you were badly trained, or you're a sorry lawman.
No, I don't know everything, this may be a lot more involved than the story lets on; that line still indicates a real problem.
Bob Owens, his opinion on the matter as well.
Last night, at Belle Isle Brewery with some friends, one of the screens had CNN on and one of the crawls was about the 'crime scene in Benghazi still not secured'. Well, it took how long for the people in charge to admit it was a planned attack, not about that idiot video? So how long might it take them to actually do something about 'securing the crime scene' that everybody in town has apparently been wandering through?
Last night proved once again: it's been dry, you badly need rain? It won't come as a nice, gentle rain, it'll lightning and rumble and pour like the cow on a flat rock. But it was rain.
This has the potential to be real interesting
Among Maehr’s contentions is that while the government has the legal
authority to tax, the Internal Revenue Service has used “unlawful,
unconstitutional, unfair and biased” manipulations to assess income taxes on that which is not income – essentially salaries and wages.
Basing his argument on 10 years’ worth of research into tax law, he concludes that salaries and wages are the result of the mutual agreement among participants to exchange labor for money – and that’s not income.
Basing his argument on 10 years’ worth of research into tax law, he concludes that salaries and wages are the result of the mutual agreement among participants to exchange labor for money – and that’s not income.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Let's see... Iran hangs homosexuals
(slowly, can't have a quick death), abuses women for various reasons, supports terrorists, wants to commit genocide, demands submission to their state religion(or they'll kill you or make you a slave), etc., etc., but our Constitution is the law of barbarism...
Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, you are hereby invited to bend over and kiss our collective ass. Assuming you can find time when you're not abusing people, planning crimes against humanity or molesting children. And by the way,
Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, you are hereby invited to bend over and kiss our collective ass. Assuming you can find time when you're not abusing people, planning crimes against humanity or molesting children. And by the way,
How well does this form of people control work?
Not very damned well, it seems:
I want you to stop and think about that for a second. Two countries who heavily restrict guns still have enough gun crime that I can find a new story every single day for a year. If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the failure of gun control, I don’t know what does.
I want you to stop and think about that for a second. Two countries who heavily restrict guns still have enough gun crime that I can find a new story every single day for a year. If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the failure of gun control, I don’t know what does.
This is what they want:
"Freedoms must not interfere with the freedoms of others," said Ahmadinejad.
"If someone insults, what would you do? ... Is insulting other people not a form of crime?"
and
"We don't even count them as any part of any equation for Iran. During a historical phase, they (the Israelis) represent minimal disturbances that come into the picture and are then eliminated."
and, not forgetting a long-standing death threat,
"Where is he now?" Ahmadinejad asked of Rushdie. "Is he in the United States? If he is, you shouldn't broadcast that for his own safety.
If they'd start properly calling it the Religion of Submission, there's be a lot less misunderstanding
and
"We don't even count them as any part of any equation for Iran. During a historical phase, they (the Israelis) represent minimal disturbances that come into the picture and are then eliminated."
and, not forgetting a long-standing death threat,
"Where is he now?" Ahmadinejad asked of Rushdie. "Is he in the United States? If he is, you shouldn't broadcast that for his own safety.
If they'd start properly calling it the Religion of Submission, there's be a lot less misunderstanding
Just a slight mistake, I'm sure...
The Federal Voting Assistance Program website published an incorrect deadline for the return of returning military ballots in Wisconsin. Had
this error not been corrected, thousands of Wisconsin servicemen and
women could have been disenfranchised in this key swing state this
November.
Just a slight mistake, I'm sure...
Well, let's see, the DoJ IG managed to stretch the Gunwalker investigation out for over a year and it was still incomplete when it was released; how long do you think Clinton can drag out this one? I wouldn't want to wait on it either.
It's a LEGAL system, not a JUSTICE system
So let’s get this straight: Our President may have deep ties (personal and financial) not only to black nationalist extremists, but also wealthy Arabs who publicly floated the idea of financing, among other projects, the top-flight education of young black Americans who might (hopefully) one day share their hatred of America?
New York Effing City:
A grown adult cannot legally purchase a soft drink over 16 oz.
A minor can be given, without their parent's knowledge, a ' morning after pill'. A medication needing a prescription if under the age of 17.
How exactly does this make sense again?
Don't forget, they don't want you to make a bad choice(from their point of view) from a friggin' vending machine, either.
If this is true, then everyone involved- from the doctors to the Organ Donor Network people, should be prosecuted; you're actually talking about killing people so you can get their organs.
That's about all the news and crap I can take for one morning
Just a slight mistake, I'm sure...
Well, let's see, the DoJ IG managed to stretch the Gunwalker investigation out for over a year and it was still incomplete when it was released; how long do you think Clinton can drag out this one? I wouldn't want to wait on it either.
It's a LEGAL system, not a JUSTICE system
So let’s get this straight: Our President may have deep ties (personal and financial) not only to black nationalist extremists, but also wealthy Arabs who publicly floated the idea of financing, among other projects, the top-flight education of young black Americans who might (hopefully) one day share their hatred of America?
New York Effing City:
A grown adult cannot legally purchase a soft drink over 16 oz.
A minor can be given, without their parent's knowledge, a ' morning after pill'. A medication needing a prescription if under the age of 17.
How exactly does this make sense again?
Don't forget, they don't want you to make a bad choice(from their point of view) from a friggin' vending machine, either.
If this is true, then everyone involved- from the doctors to the Organ Donor Network people, should be prosecuted; you're actually talking about killing people so you can get their organs.
That's about all the news and crap I can take for one morning
'Freedom of Speech is overrated' says someone who depends
on it; gee, I wonder just what all he'd censor in the name of 'being sensitive to others'?
By the way, I have no idea whether the foreign policy clowns were urging civil rights reform in order to counter Soviet propagandists’; if they were, it shows a rather nasty side of the bastards(I also object to the implication that state's rights means 'you can keep beating up blacks').
I'd prefer you read it yourself, for the full flavor of crap, but I'll quote this from the end:
And so combining the liberal view that government should not interfere with political discourse, and the conservative view that government should not interfere with commerce, we end up with the bizarre principle that U.S. foreign policy interests cannot justify any restrictions on speech whatsoever. Instead, only the profit-maximizing interests of a private American corporation can. Try explaining that to the protesters in Cairo or Islamabad.
Think about that(aside from the usual 'liberals care about people/conservatives care only about business' crap). Somehow I doubt that this clown would have the same 'foreign policy interests justify censorship of what might upset someone' when Bush was President. And if he did? In either case, he's still a slimy little bastard who'd chop up the Constitution in the name of 'being sensitive to others'. Eric Posner, you're disgusting.
By the way, I have no idea whether the foreign policy clowns were urging civil rights reform in order to counter Soviet propagandists’; if they were, it shows a rather nasty side of the bastards(I also object to the implication that state's rights means 'you can keep beating up blacks').
I'd prefer you read it yourself, for the full flavor of crap, but I'll quote this from the end:
And so combining the liberal view that government should not interfere with political discourse, and the conservative view that government should not interfere with commerce, we end up with the bizarre principle that U.S. foreign policy interests cannot justify any restrictions on speech whatsoever. Instead, only the profit-maximizing interests of a private American corporation can. Try explaining that to the protesters in Cairo or Islamabad.
Think about that(aside from the usual 'liberals care about people/conservatives care only about business' crap). Somehow I doubt that this clown would have the same 'foreign policy interests justify censorship of what might upset someone' when Bush was President. And if he did? In either case, he's still a slimy little bastard who'd chop up the Constitution in the name of 'being sensitive to others'. Eric Posner, you're disgusting.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
In our latest celebritute idiocy
we have Madonna kissing Obama's ass. What really annoys me? This is the bitch who announced she was going to raise her kids in Britain 'because the culture in the US has become so coarse', and this is how she speaks?
The Guitar Saga: Post VI
Yesterday sprayed six coats, letting it dry 1-2 hours between(I know, that's real precise; the can says 1-2 hours between coats, it was at least one hour between all but the last, and two before the last coat). Today was wet-sanding to level, and right now it's hanging up waiting for the last coat.
If you've looked at the S-M site, you may have noticed at that the bottom of an item display you'll see several tabs, sometimes one is 'Instructions'. There's one on the sampler pack page, and it covers the finishing papers and wet-sanding. You better believe I read every word, and found this:
There were only a few patches that weren't smooth, so I'd pull the folded paper out, shake it to get rid of excess, and gently work it over a surface, dip and shake once or twice to keep the paper wet(in the wind the spirits evaporate fast), then wipe it off with a soft cloth. The whole surface is smooth as silk. Right now it's hanging back up; I'm going to let it sit for a while to make sure all traces of the mineral spirits are gone, and then I'll shoot the finishing coat.
This is the one I used, by the way.
If you've looked at the S-M site, you may have noticed at that the bottom of an item display you'll see several tabs, sometimes one is 'Instructions'. There's one on the sampler pack page, and it covers the finishing papers and wet-sanding. You better believe I read every word, and found this:
Most professionals prefer mineral spirits or naphtha for wet-sanding lacquer finishes, and use water for synthetic polyurethanes and esters. Water can be used with caution when wet-sanding lacquer, but be very careful near exposed unfinished wood surfaces such as F-holes, volume and tone control holes, screw holes, neck pockets and routed pickup cavities. If water penetrates bare wood, splitting and lifting of adjacent lacquer can result; nor should exposed wood be soaked with mineral spirits or naphtha, although these lubricants are more forgiving.which I found very interesting. Because I was nervous about using wet sandpaper on that instrument to start with. However, this being a lacquer finish, I had the mineral spirits option, and I had some. So I stuck a piece in some spirits this morning to soak and about half an hour ago I took the guitar down and did the sanding. And that was easy.
There were only a few patches that weren't smooth, so I'd pull the folded paper out, shake it to get rid of excess, and gently work it over a surface, dip and shake once or twice to keep the paper wet(in the wind the spirits evaporate fast), then wipe it off with a soft cloth. The whole surface is smooth as silk. Right now it's hanging back up; I'm going to let it sit for a while to make sure all traces of the mineral spirits are gone, and then I'll shoot the finishing coat.
This is the one I used, by the way.
One more: a real drop in crime:
The trend toward privatization of security in Russia is likely to grow as a result of President Medvedev’s recent initiative to reform the country’s militia – that is, its police force – by purging about 200,000 officers from the ranks. Sociologist Mikhail Vinogradov, who estimates that one-third of Russia’s police force is composed of alcoholics and psychopaths, points out that in 1991, the militia was reduced by about thirty percent – and the result was a sharp reduction in the crime rate.
During the past decade, the crime rate in the United States has declined, terrorism has been all but nonexistent – and the country has been transformed into a fair approximation of a high-security prison, complete with full-spectrum surveillance of the population and undisguised militarization of “local” police departments. At the same time, the political elite in charge of the former Soviet Union is addressing a legitimate crime crisis by drawing down the police force and recognizing (however tentatively) the right of citizens to armed self-defense.
For all of its problems, Russia clearly is no longer the land of Lenin. For all of our advantages, it’s just as clear that the United States of America is no longer the Land of the Free.
During the past decade, the crime rate in the United States has declined, terrorism has been all but nonexistent – and the country has been transformed into a fair approximation of a high-security prison, complete with full-spectrum surveillance of the population and undisguised militarization of “local” police departments. At the same time, the political elite in charge of the former Soviet Union is addressing a legitimate crime crisis by drawing down the police force and recognizing (however tentatively) the right of citizens to armed self-defense.
For all of its problems, Russia clearly is no longer the land of Lenin. For all of our advantages, it’s just as clear that the United States of America is no longer the Land of the Free.
Tab clearing
while waiting for the barrel to soak, after having stripped the slide to check EVERYTHING:
A picture of a Kerry bog slide
That's a big piece of territory on the move
However, the reality is that we would have a far safer society if “Only The Criminals Had Guns.”
Fair warning: I think I lost some brain cells just reading the piece he links to; more on that later after the daze lifts
Found by Uncle: Salami for the troops
Clinton's State Department A: doesn't have answers(that they're willing to give) and B: REALLY doesn't like being asked the questions.
Yes, I also think Romney sucks in some ways: THIS is part of what you'll be helping to elect if you sit the election out.
Note Axelrod has the standard attitude: "This didn't work, so we need to do it harder and MORE!"
Gun Culture 2.0: last times I've been to the range I saw women, families- kids and all- and people of assorted colors; a very good sign that we're winning. Endangered by the above link.
Anti-gun fundamentalists; it does seem to fit
Why should civilians own military-grade weapons and be proficient in their use? To make sure the various governments of the United States (federal, state, or local) face the credible threat of lethal force from the civilian population, so that there will cannot be the wholesale slaughter of innocents by the government on these shores.
This need didn’t end in 1781 when Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, or in 1865 when Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, or in 1946 when the McMinn County Sheriff’s Department surrendered in Athens, Tennessee.
As long as men dream of lording over other men, civilians must have military-grade small arms.
"Oh no you don't!"
(dammit, effing Blogger keeps not adding videos, if I can find the thing again I'll try to add it in)
And last, they don't mind Obama not saluting the flag, but think you should pledge yourself to him
A picture of a Kerry bog slide
However, the reality is that we would have a far safer society if “Only The Criminals Had Guns.”
Fair warning: I think I lost some brain cells just reading the piece he links to; more on that later after the daze lifts
Found by Uncle: Salami for the troops
Clinton's State Department A: doesn't have answers(that they're willing to give) and B: REALLY doesn't like being asked the questions.
Yes, I also think Romney sucks in some ways: THIS is part of what you'll be helping to elect if you sit the election out.
Note Axelrod has the standard attitude: "This didn't work, so we need to do it harder and MORE!"
Gun Culture 2.0: last times I've been to the range I saw women, families- kids and all- and people of assorted colors; a very good sign that we're winning. Endangered by the above link.
Anti-gun fundamentalists; it does seem to fit
Why should civilians own military-grade weapons and be proficient in their use? To make sure the various governments of the United States (federal, state, or local) face the credible threat of lethal force from the civilian population, so that there will cannot be the wholesale slaughter of innocents by the government on these shores.
This need didn’t end in 1781 when Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, or in 1865 when Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, or in 1946 when the McMinn County Sheriff’s Department surrendered in Athens, Tennessee.
As long as men dream of lording over other men, civilians must have military-grade small arms.
"Oh no you don't!"
(dammit, effing Blogger keeps not adding videos, if I can find the thing again I'll try to add it in)
And last, they don't mind Obama not saluting the flag, but think you should pledge yourself to him
THAT was upsetting
Got to the range this morning, set up a target, stuck a mag in the .45 and chambered a round, set it on the bench; grab, aim, thumb off safety,
click.
WTF?
All kinds of thoughts run through your mind at a time like that, the first being "Didn't I chanber one?" Dropped the magazine and kept it pointed downrange for about 30 seconds, then- holding it with the ejection port away from me- racked the slide, and a round popped out. I checked it, and there's a very faint, very large circular mark on the primer.
WTF II?
Locked the slide back to look, and the firing pin hole is plugged with what looks like brass; reached in and with a fingernail scratched at it and it popped out(of course it fell on the floor and disappeared), staying in sight just long enough for me to see shiny brass in a tiny disc.
I have no idea. Last time I fired it, about week-and-a-half ago, every round went bang. All I can figure is the last round, a bit of the primer cup must've somehow jammed in the hole. I think I've still got that brass in the same bag todays went in; before I feed it to the tumbler I'll look at every damn one to see if can find such a damaged primer.
click.
WTF?
All kinds of thoughts run through your mind at a time like that, the first being "Didn't I chanber one?" Dropped the magazine and kept it pointed downrange for about 30 seconds, then- holding it with the ejection port away from me- racked the slide, and a round popped out. I checked it, and there's a very faint, very large circular mark on the primer.
WTF II?
Locked the slide back to look, and the firing pin hole is plugged with what looks like brass; reached in and with a fingernail scratched at it and it popped out(of course it fell on the floor and disappeared), staying in sight just long enough for me to see shiny brass in a tiny disc.
I have no idea. Last time I fired it, about week-and-a-half ago, every round went bang. All I can figure is the last round, a bit of the primer cup must've somehow jammed in the hole. I think I've still got that brass in the same bag todays went in; before I feed it to the tumbler I'll look at every damn one to see if can find such a damaged primer.
A US Attorney tells the ATF office he won't work with them;
the real backstory in this would be interesting as hell. Either you've got a Attorney's office playing games, or the ATF office/agents did some things that REALLY pissed them off. And Grassley's involved, which means it could feed into the Gunwalker investigation...
Monday, September 24, 2012
BATF rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic
comes to mind.
Yeah, a new name, that'll fix everything!
In the post on solar power and avian cuisinarts*, commenter pointed me to an interesting side-effect in Ireland:
Yeah, a new name, that'll fix everything!
In the post on solar power and avian cuisinarts*, commenter pointed me to an interesting side-effect in Ireland:
Irish environmental groups have called for a
moratorium on wind farm constructions on bog sites until Best Practice
Guidelines for construction on peatlands are in place.
A landslide in the Stacks Mountains in County Kerry
in August has now been followed by a further landslide in County
Leitrim. The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board has confirmed that both of
these bogslides have led to extensive juvenile fish kills and
destruction of the aquatic environment.
The two slides occurred while roads were under
construction on raised peat lands. The roads are to facilitate the
construction of wind farms.
Well, if you called him the '10% wants America better/90% wants it humbled President', then I'd agree with that 10%. Otherwise, Mr. Pres, you're full of crap.
Ref the Officer Anonymous thing this morning, this pisses me off more the more I think on it. If you haven't read the piece, in the original article you'll find this:
In Utah, we have had many individuals walking around with open carry weapons around malls and theaters. Should I still feel safe and hope you are a sane person? If you are that person, should you really be offended if police approach you with guns drawn?
Translation: "I don't like you legally open-carrying, so if my highly-trained and psychologically-tested self sees you, I'll stick a gun in your face and treat you like a criminal. Probable cause and all that crap? I don't need it."
This is the attitude of a psychologically sound individual of good training? Really? And that doesn't yet touch on just what kind of exam this gun bigot would find acceptable, and who'd decide if you pass(we already know: someone like you).
And I'm sick of clowns like you demanding my arms be registered 'for the public good'. Year or so back an officer in OKC was shot by an illegal alien with a AR15. When our Chief of Police expressed his upset, did he demand the feds to more to get illegals out of the country? Did he even MENTION the 'illegal alien' part? Hell no, he stated that 'people who own guns like this should have to register them.' Yeah, someone already in violation of at least one federal law is going to run right down and fill out a registration for the gun he illegally obtained. Right. And somehow("That's the part where the magic happens!") honest citizens being forced to register their arms will stop people like him...
Officer Anonymous, I'll join the other gentleman: fuck you, you miserable excuse for a lawman.
*I originally referred to 'bird cuisinarts'; Titan noted he preferred 'avian'. Considering the also mince bats and God knows what else, I'm changing.
In Utah, we have had many individuals walking around with open carry weapons around malls and theaters. Should I still feel safe and hope you are a sane person? If you are that person, should you really be offended if police approach you with guns drawn?
Translation: "I don't like you legally open-carrying, so if my highly-trained and psychologically-tested self sees you, I'll stick a gun in your face and treat you like a criminal. Probable cause and all that crap? I don't need it."
This is the attitude of a psychologically sound individual of good training? Really? And that doesn't yet touch on just what kind of exam this gun bigot would find acceptable, and who'd decide if you pass(we already know: someone like you).
And I'm sick of clowns like you demanding my arms be registered 'for the public good'. Year or so back an officer in OKC was shot by an illegal alien with a AR15. When our Chief of Police expressed his upset, did he demand the feds to more to get illegals out of the country? Did he even MENTION the 'illegal alien' part? Hell no, he stated that 'people who own guns like this should have to register them.' Yeah, someone already in violation of at least one federal law is going to run right down and fill out a registration for the gun he illegally obtained. Right. And somehow("That's the part where the magic happens!") honest citizens being forced to register their arms will stop people like him...
Officer Anonymous, I'll join the other gentleman: fuck you, you miserable excuse for a lawman.
*I originally referred to 'bird cuisinarts'; Titan noted he preferred 'avian'. Considering the also mince bats and God knows what else, I'm changing.
Simon Malls and/or Penn Square Mall does not
want to talk to me; still no reply.
Trying to decide whether to call, since I'll probably get a "That's from corporate, you'll have to ask them" brushoff.
Trying to decide whether to call, since I'll probably get a "That's from corporate, you'll have to ask them" brushoff.
One man's opinion of Gunwalker, and the 'Don't abolish ATF,
the replacement might be worse!" argument:
Right. Now we’ll see Holder spun as some sort of hero. Great. But that’s not what’s important. Holder – and Obama, for that matter – had absolutely nothing to do with what made the whole F&F thing exciting to me. They’re political apparatchiks, here today and gone forever. I never wanted this to be about them. God, how I wanted it to be about ATF.
And the irony is that by all accounts (damned if I’m going to try to read it) this “report” excoriated ATF. Granted it’s not the first time and the damned zombie of an alphabet-agency not only always manages to wiggle out but even to get its power and authority increased. Yes, this “report” will be forgotten now, if the government and the “news” has anything to say about it. But still, there it is in black and white. Look at it again, America. Here are your heroic protectors, who don’t give a shit about you. Who’ll cheerfully get Americans (not to mention hundreds or thousands of Mexicans) killed to make a single propaganda point. “Botched operation,” my ass. The only thing that was botched was that the ATF brass finally found something so low even ATF field agents wouldn’t swallow it.
Yes, I see and acknowledge the logic of those who said that if by some miracle ATF vanished forever its “duties” would only be taken over by some other federal agency, maybe even a competent one may God forbid. ATF’s only saving grace all these decades has been its ineptitude, and its love of the brutal gesture over common sense.
I acknowledge it – and I don’t care. ATF has been my enemy since I was a kid, watching my own sibling demonized on the news (not by name, granted, but as part of a class) as a foul, evil “kitchen table dealer” because he had the effrontery to try to comply with the law and get an FFL. Oh, that’s a grave I’ve waited a long, long time to piss on. And now I watch another opportunity slip away.
What a symbol it would be – the disbandment of the ATF. I get a little smile on my face just thinking about it. No, in practical terms it might not change much but think about the message it sends. To actually bring the destruction of a federal alphabet agency? You think the others wouldn’t notice that? Oh, baby. I think I need a cigarette.
Right. Now we’ll see Holder spun as some sort of hero. Great. But that’s not what’s important. Holder – and Obama, for that matter – had absolutely nothing to do with what made the whole F&F thing exciting to me. They’re political apparatchiks, here today and gone forever. I never wanted this to be about them. God, how I wanted it to be about ATF.
And the irony is that by all accounts (damned if I’m going to try to read it) this “report” excoriated ATF. Granted it’s not the first time and the damned zombie of an alphabet-agency not only always manages to wiggle out but even to get its power and authority increased. Yes, this “report” will be forgotten now, if the government and the “news” has anything to say about it. But still, there it is in black and white. Look at it again, America. Here are your heroic protectors, who don’t give a shit about you. Who’ll cheerfully get Americans (not to mention hundreds or thousands of Mexicans) killed to make a single propaganda point. “Botched operation,” my ass. The only thing that was botched was that the ATF brass finally found something so low even ATF field agents wouldn’t swallow it.
Yes, I see and acknowledge the logic of those who said that if by some miracle ATF vanished forever its “duties” would only be taken over by some other federal agency, maybe even a competent one may God forbid. ATF’s only saving grace all these decades has been its ineptitude, and its love of the brutal gesture over common sense.
I acknowledge it – and I don’t care. ATF has been my enemy since I was a kid, watching my own sibling demonized on the news (not by name, granted, but as part of a class) as a foul, evil “kitchen table dealer” because he had the effrontery to try to comply with the law and get an FFL. Oh, that’s a grave I’ve waited a long, long time to piss on. And now I watch another opportunity slip away.
What a symbol it would be – the disbandment of the ATF. I get a little smile on my face just thinking about it. No, in practical terms it might not change much but think about the message it sends. To actually bring the destruction of a federal alphabet agency? You think the others wouldn’t notice that? Oh, baby. I think I need a cigarette.
The Guitar Saga, Post V: First, the hangers work
Second, getting the bridge masked was a pain; lots of curves, and that kind of tape doesn't flex or stretch.
Speaking of which, masked and what the body looks like sanded
Here's what the upper side and back looked like before I started:
I had not realized how much the old finish had clouded, never mind the separating.
Here's the hanger system
Stiff wire bent so one end goes into the amp socket(taped over to protect the innards), 550 cord from it over a frame piece, then to the neck. Lets me rotate it all around for spraying. Please ignore all the crap on the shelves in the background.
And yes, I did wear a mask for spraying. Bought it a few years back, mostly for dust but the filter cartridges are rated for paint & varnish. VERY happily; couldn't smell the stuff at all while spraying, but after had stepped outside and taken the mask off, stuck my head back in to check things and the smell of varnish was, I'll go with 'strong'. If you weren't already aware, if you're going to be spraying a nitrocellulose varnish like this, do not do it without breathing protection. I was also wearing pants, a long-sleeve shirt, one of my 'keep the crap off my head' covers and the mask. Also, I used my spray paint handle(something like this one) on the can.
On the handle, I've been switching that between brake cleaner and chain lube(do NOT use brake cleaner on a O-ring motorcycle chain! No, I was warned before, that's not experience) as well as spray paint, very handy thing it is.
So, first coat on, let it dry a bit longer, then second coat. And so on
Speaking of which, masked and what the body looks like sanded
Here's the hanger system
And yes, I did wear a mask for spraying. Bought it a few years back, mostly for dust but the filter cartridges are rated for paint & varnish. VERY happily; couldn't smell the stuff at all while spraying, but after had stepped outside and taken the mask off, stuck my head back in to check things and the smell of varnish was, I'll go with 'strong'. If you weren't already aware, if you're going to be spraying a nitrocellulose varnish like this, do not do it without breathing protection. I was also wearing pants, a long-sleeve shirt, one of my 'keep the crap off my head' covers and the mask. Also, I used my spray paint handle(something like this one) on the can.
On the handle, I've been switching that between brake cleaner and chain lube(do NOT use brake cleaner on a O-ring motorcycle chain! No, I was warned before, that's not experience) as well as spray paint, very handy thing it is.
So, first coat on, let it dry a bit longer, then second coat. And so on
She seeks it here, she seeks it there,
she finds it nearly everywhere:
Naomi Wolf has turned the vagina into the Scarlet Pimpernel.
(when you can start with a quote like that, there's a lot to point to)
The blockbuster news contradicted the line the State Department and the administration had been pushing since the horrible tragedy took place almost two weeks ago: that there was no intelligence of a coming attack. In fact, the Ambassador himself was aware of a persistent high level threat against him.
“Perhaps the real question here,” CNN responded to the State Department criticism, “Is why is the State Department now attacking the messenger.”
That's not even at question we KNOW why: protect Clinton from the consequences of the screwups.
Obama claiming responsibility? He is getting desperate. Oh, Mr. President? On that 'change the tone' thing? Saying "I won" and expecting everyone to roll over for you, that didn't help.
I don't know 'bout you, but the idea of an oversight board deciding what I can say/hear/watch, that does not give me warm fuzzies.
Why has this horrid and sordid tale not raised more outrage in the Hispanic community? You and I know why. The media and the Hispanic leadership are so in bed with the Democrats that they have stifled this story.
Bottom line, the Obama misadministration has murdered hundreds of Mexicans to make a political point, and gotten away with it. Yes, the DOJ and the ATF have gotten away with mass murder in Mexico, and, by the way, Hillary Clinton has nothing to say in response .
Some very nice lamps; wonderful what LEDs are being used for, and the way they work. 25 hours of light off four AA batteries beats hell out of 'a couple of hours, then throw in some new ones'.
Officer Anonymous, should I feel safe around you and hope you are a sane person, knowing that you consider yourself empowered by law to approach me at any time with gun drawn despite the lack of any probable cause whatsoever? If you made me nervous and I ‘approached you with gun drawn,’ would you consider that reasonable behavior on my part?
I didn’t think so. F*ck you, Officer Anonymous. Glad we could have this discussion.
I'll have more to say on a couple of these things later; right now I need to rig up the hangers for the guitar
(when you can start with a quote like that, there's a lot to point to)
The blockbuster news contradicted the line the State Department and the administration had been pushing since the horrible tragedy took place almost two weeks ago: that there was no intelligence of a coming attack. In fact, the Ambassador himself was aware of a persistent high level threat against him.
“Perhaps the real question here,” CNN responded to the State Department criticism, “Is why is the State Department now attacking the messenger.”
That's not even at question we KNOW why: protect Clinton from the consequences of the screwups.
Obama claiming responsibility? He is getting desperate. Oh, Mr. President? On that 'change the tone' thing? Saying "I won" and expecting everyone to roll over for you, that didn't help.
Mr. Wu offered some unsolicited advice: Why not set up an oversight board of regional experts or serious YouTube users from around the world to make the especially tough decisions?Oh, yeah, an oversight board of regional experts.... Isn't that what you want? Panels of regional experts bearing down on the free speech we have through private internet services like YouTube?
I don't know 'bout you, but the idea of an oversight board deciding what I can say/hear/watch, that does not give me warm fuzzies.
Why has this horrid and sordid tale not raised more outrage in the Hispanic community? You and I know why. The media and the Hispanic leadership are so in bed with the Democrats that they have stifled this story.
Bottom line, the Obama misadministration has murdered hundreds of Mexicans to make a political point, and gotten away with it. Yes, the DOJ and the ATF have gotten away with mass murder in Mexico, and, by the way, Hillary Clinton has nothing to say in response .
Some very nice lamps; wonderful what LEDs are being used for, and the way they work. 25 hours of light off four AA batteries beats hell out of 'a couple of hours, then throw in some new ones'.
Officer Anonymous, should I feel safe around you and hope you are a sane person, knowing that you consider yourself empowered by law to approach me at any time with gun drawn despite the lack of any probable cause whatsoever? If you made me nervous and I ‘approached you with gun drawn,’ would you consider that reasonable behavior on my part?
I didn’t think so. F*ck you, Officer Anonymous. Glad we could have this discussion.
I'll have more to say on a couple of these things later; right now I need to rig up the hangers for the guitar
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Since there's all these kilts running 'round lately,
No relation to kilts, but here's another anyway
After a classified Thursday briefing from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
Sen. Susan Collins said security in Libya was "woefully
inadequate, given the security threat environment." Rep. Buck McKeon,
chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, added, "The story now has been changed. There was a planned, premeditated attack."
The State Dept. is launching an Accountability Review Board to investigate. What do you bet its findings and the FBI's will be unavailable before Nov. 6?
Would you bet against that?
And yeah, word is that the ambassador was tortured. Wonder if any of the suckup media will ask Obama about that?
The State Dept. is launching an Accountability Review Board to investigate. What do you bet its findings and the FBI's will be unavailable before Nov. 6?
Would you bet against that?
And yeah, word is that the ambassador was tortured. Wonder if any of the suckup media will ask Obama about that?
The Guitar Saga, post IV
The sanding is done. Since I'm using a semi-gloss finish I'm not sanding as far as would for a gloss. The lutier recommened(for gloss) sanding to 600 grit, spraying, wet-sanding to level, then a final coat, then polishing. The recommendation on the laquer is to sand to 220, spray, level-sand, then a final light coat with no buffing. I wound up going to 320 grit, and the wood looks great. In the morning I'll hit a final touch to anyplace that needs it(I want to look it over in sunlight for that), mask the neck, fingerboard and bridge, then spray. For a spray booth I'm using the shed: I can hang the guitar so I can turn it to hit all sides & angles with the wind blocked, and it should be able to dry evenly.
Yes, the bridge. Looking it over, the original finish on the front was in much better shape than the sides & back, and the area around the bridge had to simply sand it off. The bridge isn't loose, no gaps, and with it that solidly fixed I hate to screw with it; so I wrapped paper around a scraper so I could sand right up to it.
Speaking of paper, when I ordered the finish I also ordered one of their sampler packs of sandpaper to try. If you're going to work on something that requires a really good finish, either order this stuff or find it locally: it's worth every penny. I used half of a 150 sheet to take the heaviest stuff that had to be sanded off, used the 220 all round and half a sheet of 320 to finish. This stuff loads less and cuts faster than any abrasive paper I've ever used before(yeah, I've mostly used cheap stuff), and I could slap the back against a post and knock loose most of what did load. They say it's much more uniform in grain size, and I believe it, the finish it leaves is as good as could hope for.
Also found while browsing around, if you want a couple of scrapers and don't want to make them, they've got them, a burnishing tool too. And it has a 'how to sharpen a scraper' section on the burnisher page that's wonderful(different method than I was shown, but there's always more than one way to de-fur that cat).
Yes, the bridge. Looking it over, the original finish on the front was in much better shape than the sides & back, and the area around the bridge had to simply sand it off. The bridge isn't loose, no gaps, and with it that solidly fixed I hate to screw with it; so I wrapped paper around a scraper so I could sand right up to it.
Speaking of paper, when I ordered the finish I also ordered one of their sampler packs of sandpaper to try. If you're going to work on something that requires a really good finish, either order this stuff or find it locally: it's worth every penny. I used half of a 150 sheet to take the heaviest stuff that had to be sanded off, used the 220 all round and half a sheet of 320 to finish. This stuff loads less and cuts faster than any abrasive paper I've ever used before(yeah, I've mostly used cheap stuff), and I could slap the back against a post and knock loose most of what did load. They say it's much more uniform in grain size, and I believe it, the finish it leaves is as good as could hope for.
Also found while browsing around, if you want a couple of scrapers and don't want to make them, they've got them, a burnishing tool too. And it has a 'how to sharpen a scraper' section on the burnisher page that's wonderful(different method than I was shown, but there's always more than one way to de-fur that cat).
All week we've heard muslims telling us (updated)
that we in the west need to understand how important the prophet is to them. We do understand, and we don't care; that's the point. We don't care now, and we are never going to care. Get used to it"
Found at Kevin's place
Added:
Ever see Khartoum? Not a bad movie, Charlton Heston as Gordon and Laurence Olivier as the current Mahdi. There's a scene about 2/3 through where Gordon has been to meet with Mahdi, and is a bit shocked. He's been thinking that Achmet was a con artist, using the beliefs of his followers to lead them for his own ends, but has realized that (near as I can remember the words) "His faith is as true and strong in him as mine is in me."
It's a powerful scene, and it makes me wonder about something: possibly a reason a lot of the clowns so trying to accomodate and ransom to the islamists do so is that they don't have any real beliefs themselves(other than socialism/communism/self-worship) and they truly cannot understand someone who does? They see the demonstrations and hate and killing as all for show, because- having no true down-in-their-soul beliefs themselves, they cannot comprehend someone who does, and thus cannot see the threat as actually real?
Found at Kevin's place
Added:
Ever see Khartoum? Not a bad movie, Charlton Heston as Gordon and Laurence Olivier as the current Mahdi. There's a scene about 2/3 through where Gordon has been to meet with Mahdi, and is a bit shocked. He's been thinking that Achmet was a con artist, using the beliefs of his followers to lead them for his own ends, but has realized that (near as I can remember the words) "His faith is as true and strong in him as mine is in me."
It's a powerful scene, and it makes me wonder about something: possibly a reason a lot of the clowns so trying to accomodate and ransom to the islamists do so is that they don't have any real beliefs themselves(other than socialism/communism/self-worship) and they truly cannot understand someone who does? They see the demonstrations and hate and killing as all for show, because- having no true down-in-their-soul beliefs themselves, they cannot comprehend someone who does, and thus cannot see the threat as actually real?
Should've noted before, Evyl is buying votes with an offer
of video of Jennifer; they really want to win this
On the subject of idiot laws and nanny-state morons
However, as I read more about this new California law, I found
that I was even more felonious than I thought. The law bans "a knife or
other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready use
as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death."
I looked around my desk for "other instruments." There they were, six BiC round stick ball-point pens. When I was a college student in Texas many years ago, a highway patrol officer once told my government class that a BiC pen made a dandy self-defense weapon—just stab frequently about the face and neck with it. And here I am, 30 years later, committing a six-count felony with them. It gets worse, folks. I've also got one of the 0.5-mm mechanical pencils on my desk. I've actually once accidentally stabbed myself with one, so I have no doubt that they can inflict great bodily injury, or even death.
The felony counts are now over 10, counting the mechanical pencil, the six BiC pens (three of which are the dreaded fine-point assault pens), my pocket knife with the vile locking blade, concealed in my pocket, as I set here in my office at a university, committing felonies left and right, thereby giving up my civil rights forever... if I get caught.
..
There's going to be a revolution in this country. There are going to be firing squads and lynch mobs, and the people being shot and lynched are going to be the idiotic little creeps who pass laws like these. It's going to be a terrible time for our country, a terrible time. But you know, when I think of standing there in a firing squad getting ready to shoot the idiots who passed this law, I'm not going to feel quite so bad about it after all.
Kind of connected, found this by L. Neil Smith:
Over the past 30 years, I've been paid to write almost two million words, every one of which, sooner or later, came back to the issue of guns and gun-ownership. Naturally, I've thought about the issue a lot, and it has always determined the way I vote.
People accuse me of being a single-issue writer, a single- issue thinker, and a single- issue voter, but it isn't true. What I've chosen, in a world where there's never enough time and energy, is to focus on the one political issue which most clearly and unmistakably demonstrates what any politician—or political philosophy—is made of, right down to the creamy liquid center.
Make no mistake: all politicians—even those ostensibly on the side of guns and gun ownership—hate the issue and anyone, like me, who insists on bringing it up. They hate it because it's an X-ray machine. It's a Vulcan mind-meld. It's the ultimate test to which any politician—or political philosophy—can be put.
If a politician isn't perfectly comfortable with the idea of his average constituent, any man, woman, or responsible child, walking into a hardware store and paying cash—for any rifle, shotgun, handgun, machinegun, anything—without producing ID or signing one scrap of paper, he isn't your friend no matter what he tells you.
If he isn't genuinely enthusiastic about his average constituent stuffing that weapon into a purse or pocket or tucking it under a coat and walking home without asking anybody's permission, he's a four-flusher, no matter what he claims.
What his attitude—toward your ownership and use of weapons—conveys is his real attitude about you. And if he doesn't trust you, then why in the name of John Moses Browning should you trust him?
If he doesn't want you to have the means of defending your life, do you want him in a position to control it?
Found here
I looked around my desk for "other instruments." There they were, six BiC round stick ball-point pens. When I was a college student in Texas many years ago, a highway patrol officer once told my government class that a BiC pen made a dandy self-defense weapon—just stab frequently about the face and neck with it. And here I am, 30 years later, committing a six-count felony with them. It gets worse, folks. I've also got one of the 0.5-mm mechanical pencils on my desk. I've actually once accidentally stabbed myself with one, so I have no doubt that they can inflict great bodily injury, or even death.
The felony counts are now over 10, counting the mechanical pencil, the six BiC pens (three of which are the dreaded fine-point assault pens), my pocket knife with the vile locking blade, concealed in my pocket, as I set here in my office at a university, committing felonies left and right, thereby giving up my civil rights forever... if I get caught.
..
There's going to be a revolution in this country. There are going to be firing squads and lynch mobs, and the people being shot and lynched are going to be the idiotic little creeps who pass laws like these. It's going to be a terrible time for our country, a terrible time. But you know, when I think of standing there in a firing squad getting ready to shoot the idiots who passed this law, I'm not going to feel quite so bad about it after all.
Kind of connected, found this by L. Neil Smith:
Over the past 30 years, I've been paid to write almost two million words, every one of which, sooner or later, came back to the issue of guns and gun-ownership. Naturally, I've thought about the issue a lot, and it has always determined the way I vote.
People accuse me of being a single-issue writer, a single- issue thinker, and a single- issue voter, but it isn't true. What I've chosen, in a world where there's never enough time and energy, is to focus on the one political issue which most clearly and unmistakably demonstrates what any politician—or political philosophy—is made of, right down to the creamy liquid center.
Make no mistake: all politicians—even those ostensibly on the side of guns and gun ownership—hate the issue and anyone, like me, who insists on bringing it up. They hate it because it's an X-ray machine. It's a Vulcan mind-meld. It's the ultimate test to which any politician—or political philosophy—can be put.
If a politician isn't perfectly comfortable with the idea of his average constituent, any man, woman, or responsible child, walking into a hardware store and paying cash—for any rifle, shotgun, handgun, machinegun, anything—without producing ID or signing one scrap of paper, he isn't your friend no matter what he tells you.
If he isn't genuinely enthusiastic about his average constituent stuffing that weapon into a purse or pocket or tucking it under a coat and walking home without asking anybody's permission, he's a four-flusher, no matter what he claims.
What his attitude—toward your ownership and use of weapons—conveys is his real attitude about you. And if he doesn't trust you, then why in the name of John Moses Browning should you trust him?
If he doesn't want you to have the means of defending your life, do you want him in a position to control it?
Found here
Speaking of closing coal plants and 'green' energy,
from Germany and Britain:
...Like all enthusiasts for “free, clean, renewable electricity”, they overlook the fatal implications of the fact that wind speeds and sunlight constantly vary. They are taken in by the wind industry’s trick of vastly exaggerating the usefulness of wind farms by talking in terms of their “capacity”, hiding the fact that their actual output will waver between 100 per cent of capacity and zero. In Britain it averages around 25 per cent; in Germany it is lower, just 17 per cent.
...Like all enthusiasts for “free, clean, renewable electricity”, they overlook the fatal implications of the fact that wind speeds and sunlight constantly vary. They are taken in by the wind industry’s trick of vastly exaggerating the usefulness of wind farms by talking in terms of their “capacity”, hiding the fact that their actual output will waver between 100 per cent of capacity and zero. In Britain it averages around 25 per cent; in Germany it is lower, just 17 per cent.
The more a country depends on such sources of energy, the more there will
arise – as Germany is discovering – two massive technical problems. One is
that it becomes incredibly difficult to maintain a consistent supply of
power to the grid, when that wildly fluctuating renewable output has to be
balanced by input from conventional power stations. The other is that, to
keep that back-up constantly available can require fossil-fuel power plants
to run much of the time very inefficiently and expensively (incidentally
chucking out so much more “carbon” than normal that it negates any supposed
CO2 savings from the wind).
And one of the other problems: remember various people pointing out the damage that could be done to appliances, a/c systems and such if the electrical companies could screw with the voltage coming in for 'conservation'?
Now the problem for the German grid has become even worse. Thanks to a flood of subsidies unleashed by Angela Merkel’s government, renewable capacity has risen still further (solar, for instance, by 43 per cent). This makes it so difficult to keep the grid balanced that it is permanently at risk of power failures. (When the power to one Hamburg aluminium factory failed recently, for only a fraction of a second, it shut down the plant, causing serious damage.) Energy-intensive industries are having to install their own generators, or are looking to leave Germany altogether.
Back when Thatcher was PM in Britain, there was a union strike on coal that threatened to shut down steel plants. Thatcher broke it and got coal to the plants. Various screaming and moaning was heard about 'attacking poor workers jobs' and so forth, and (for some odd reason...) the media didn't want to report- or talk at all- about the big reason she did it: blast furnaces of that type operate continuously, from the time first fired until they have to be rebuilt; if they have to shut down they have to let them cool completely and rebuild them; that means weeks of downtime. One thing to deal with when it's planned, one furnace at a time: when they ALL go down(say, due to lack of fuel) it means the NO production, and all the people who work there(except the ones rebuilding the furnaces. Unless, of course, it can't be done economically and then the whole damn place shuts down permanently) are laid off until the furnaces can go back in production. It would've been an economic disaster, and the unions knew it and tried to do it anyway. Here it wasn't planned, but along with aluminum, what other industry can you think of that does not react well to having their power drop unexpectedly? Even for a few seconds?
We're back to that stuff noted in a post the other day:
I shudder to think of what this is going to do to grid reliability as well. A lot of those coal plants help support the grid during disruptions. They regularly provide both energy and MVARs (Mega Volt-Ampere Reactive) that keep the grid from collapsing when large loads are added or lost. (That’s about as simple as I can make it and still be understood.) Losing these stabilizers will make it very hard to hold the grid. I pity the load dispatchers.
Ignore the 'bird cuisinart' problems of windmills, the territory taken up by solar panels, etc.; the simple fact is that this stuff CANNOT take the place of coal and gas and oil plants. "But at least it's doing something!" is the kind of response I've had to this; well, got news for you: just because it's 'doing something' does not make it a good idea.
And one of the other problems: remember various people pointing out the damage that could be done to appliances, a/c systems and such if the electrical companies could screw with the voltage coming in for 'conservation'?
Now the problem for the German grid has become even worse. Thanks to a flood of subsidies unleashed by Angela Merkel’s government, renewable capacity has risen still further (solar, for instance, by 43 per cent). This makes it so difficult to keep the grid balanced that it is permanently at risk of power failures. (When the power to one Hamburg aluminium factory failed recently, for only a fraction of a second, it shut down the plant, causing serious damage.) Energy-intensive industries are having to install their own generators, or are looking to leave Germany altogether.
Back when Thatcher was PM in Britain, there was a union strike on coal that threatened to shut down steel plants. Thatcher broke it and got coal to the plants. Various screaming and moaning was heard about 'attacking poor workers jobs' and so forth, and (for some odd reason...) the media didn't want to report- or talk at all- about the big reason she did it: blast furnaces of that type operate continuously, from the time first fired until they have to be rebuilt; if they have to shut down they have to let them cool completely and rebuild them; that means weeks of downtime. One thing to deal with when it's planned, one furnace at a time: when they ALL go down(say, due to lack of fuel) it means the NO production, and all the people who work there(except the ones rebuilding the furnaces. Unless, of course, it can't be done economically and then the whole damn place shuts down permanently) are laid off until the furnaces can go back in production. It would've been an economic disaster, and the unions knew it and tried to do it anyway. Here it wasn't planned, but along with aluminum, what other industry can you think of that does not react well to having their power drop unexpectedly? Even for a few seconds?
We're back to that stuff noted in a post the other day:
I shudder to think of what this is going to do to grid reliability as well. A lot of those coal plants help support the grid during disruptions. They regularly provide both energy and MVARs (Mega Volt-Ampere Reactive) that keep the grid from collapsing when large loads are added or lost. (That’s about as simple as I can make it and still be understood.) Losing these stabilizers will make it very hard to hold the grid. I pity the load dispatchers.
Ignore the 'bird cuisinart' problems of windmills, the territory taken up by solar panels, etc.; the simple fact is that this stuff CANNOT take the place of coal and gas and oil plants. "But at least it's doing something!" is the kind of response I've had to this; well, got news for you: just because it's 'doing something' does not make it a good idea.
Lefty journalist excuses everything else Holder's done/been involved in,
and still thinks he should be fired over Fast & Furious. Lanny Breuer, too.
From Steyn on the current mess:
I see the Obama campaign has redesigned the American flag, and very attractive it is too. Replacing the 50 stars of a federal republic is the single “O” logo symbolizing the great gaping maw of spendaholic centralization. And where the stripes used to be are a handful of red daubs, eerily mimicking the bloody finger streaks left on the pillars of the U.S. consulate in Benghazi as its staff were dragged out by a mob of savages to be tortured and killed. What better symbol could one have of American foreign policy? Who says the slick hollow vapid marketing of the Obama campaign doesn’t occasionally intersect with reality?
and
What other entertainments have senior U.S. officials reviewed lately? Last year Hillary Clinton went to see the Broadway musical Book of Mormon. “We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others”? The Book of Mormon’s big showstopper is “Hasa Diga Eebowai” which apparently translates as “F*** you, God.” The U.S. secretary of state stood and cheered.
Why does Secretary Clinton regard “F*** you, God” as a fun toe-tapper for all the family but “F*** you, Allah” as “disgusting and reprehensible”? The obvious answer is that, if you sing the latter, you’ll find a far more motivated crowd waiting for you at the stage door. So the “leader of the free world” and “the most powerful man in the world” (to revive two cobwebbed phrases nobody seems to apply to the president of the United States anymore) is telling the planet that the way to ensure your beliefs command his “respect” is to be willing to burn and bomb and kill. You Mormons need to get with the program.
From Althouse on what might seem a distraction effort:
We're barraged by new distractions, so let's catch things that are slipping down the memory hole. It's not just Nakoula. It's Chris Stevens. Our ambassador was murdered, and he was murdered after he was targeted and he was not given security.
Shame on those who disrespected Nakoula's freedom of speech. Their faults are apparent and need to be remembered. But what happened to Chris Stevens? I don't trust that we've learned the whole story. Why wasn't he protected? Was he an inconvenient man? We saw such an effort to create static around his death. Look — riots over here, here, and here! Offensive video on the internet! Man with a "towel" around his face! And hey check out the most important thing that happened all week: Romney said "47%" to some people back in May!
The very fact that we're thinking about Nakoula — and futzing with Romney rhetoric — makes me feel that Chris Stevens got stuffed down the memory hole.
Who wanted that forgetting and why?
That is an interesting question. The most basic answer would be "Obama and Clinton didn't want to believe they actually NEEDED full security("We helped the Libyans, they would not do/allow anything to happen!") for the ambassador", followed by "They were busy preening and didn't want to have to deal with it." And the "SQUIRREL!" distractions, well, this administration doesn't want anyone actually talking about it when they screwed up, and most of the media is quite willing to help. So is the media just so in the tank they'll reflexively try to cover for Obama & Clinton even on this? Or were they asked to help out?
Now that's a kind of blowback on Waco I'd not have thought of:
"A Pakistani imam, Abdul Wahid Qasmi, once told me that President Bill Clinton burned to death scores of Americans for criticizing Jesus." "If America can execute blasphemers, he said, why can’t Pakistan?"
Nicholas D. Kristof challenged that statement, and the imam opened a book "and began reading triumphantly about the 1993 raid on David Koresh’s cult in Waco, Tex."
From the comments: Heh - sure. Waco had nothing to do with actual blasphemy laws being violated - or even the existence of such laws. But what's more important to the Muslim world (apparently) are *appearances*.
Based on that, then - we are indeed guilty. Issue the apologies now!!
Gowdy’s promise of hearings comes after The Daily Caller this week published a series of emails, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, that show the Justice Department’s Office of Public Affairs director Tracy Schmaler and Media Matters staffers working together to attack reporters covering Justice Department scandals and other administration critics.
“My guess is, this won’t be the last we hear about that,” Gowdy said when Simone first asked him to respond to the news of their collusion. “[House oversight committee chairman Darrell] Issa is the chairman, and he can do what he wants.”
Yes, he can; question is, will he/will he be allowed to actually DO anything?
Well, yeah, if they actually think that stupid 15-minute video was an incitement to muslims, they should consider that movie a full-out call to war!
Of course, the movie is to polish Obama's apple, so it's different, right?
Oh, for God's sake...
From Steyn on the current mess:
I see the Obama campaign has redesigned the American flag, and very attractive it is too. Replacing the 50 stars of a federal republic is the single “O” logo symbolizing the great gaping maw of spendaholic centralization. And where the stripes used to be are a handful of red daubs, eerily mimicking the bloody finger streaks left on the pillars of the U.S. consulate in Benghazi as its staff were dragged out by a mob of savages to be tortured and killed. What better symbol could one have of American foreign policy? Who says the slick hollow vapid marketing of the Obama campaign doesn’t occasionally intersect with reality?
and
What other entertainments have senior U.S. officials reviewed lately? Last year Hillary Clinton went to see the Broadway musical Book of Mormon. “We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others”? The Book of Mormon’s big showstopper is “Hasa Diga Eebowai” which apparently translates as “F*** you, God.” The U.S. secretary of state stood and cheered.
Why does Secretary Clinton regard “F*** you, God” as a fun toe-tapper for all the family but “F*** you, Allah” as “disgusting and reprehensible”? The obvious answer is that, if you sing the latter, you’ll find a far more motivated crowd waiting for you at the stage door. So the “leader of the free world” and “the most powerful man in the world” (to revive two cobwebbed phrases nobody seems to apply to the president of the United States anymore) is telling the planet that the way to ensure your beliefs command his “respect” is to be willing to burn and bomb and kill. You Mormons need to get with the program.
From Althouse on what might seem a distraction effort:
We're barraged by new distractions, so let's catch things that are slipping down the memory hole. It's not just Nakoula. It's Chris Stevens. Our ambassador was murdered, and he was murdered after he was targeted and he was not given security.
Shame on those who disrespected Nakoula's freedom of speech. Their faults are apparent and need to be remembered. But what happened to Chris Stevens? I don't trust that we've learned the whole story. Why wasn't he protected? Was he an inconvenient man? We saw such an effort to create static around his death. Look — riots over here, here, and here! Offensive video on the internet! Man with a "towel" around his face! And hey check out the most important thing that happened all week: Romney said "47%" to some people back in May!
The very fact that we're thinking about Nakoula — and futzing with Romney rhetoric — makes me feel that Chris Stevens got stuffed down the memory hole.
Who wanted that forgetting and why?
That is an interesting question. The most basic answer would be "Obama and Clinton didn't want to believe they actually NEEDED full security("We helped the Libyans, they would not do/allow anything to happen!") for the ambassador", followed by "They were busy preening and didn't want to have to deal with it." And the "SQUIRREL!" distractions, well, this administration doesn't want anyone actually talking about it when they screwed up, and most of the media is quite willing to help. So is the media just so in the tank they'll reflexively try to cover for Obama & Clinton even on this? Or were they asked to help out?
Now that's a kind of blowback on Waco I'd not have thought of:
"A Pakistani imam, Abdul Wahid Qasmi, once told me that President Bill Clinton burned to death scores of Americans for criticizing Jesus." "If America can execute blasphemers, he said, why can’t Pakistan?"
Nicholas D. Kristof challenged that statement, and the imam opened a book "and began reading triumphantly about the 1993 raid on David Koresh’s cult in Waco, Tex."
From the comments: Heh - sure. Waco had nothing to do with actual blasphemy laws being violated - or even the existence of such laws. But what's more important to the Muslim world (apparently) are *appearances*.
Based on that, then - we are indeed guilty. Issue the apologies now!!
Gowdy’s promise of hearings comes after The Daily Caller this week published a series of emails, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, that show the Justice Department’s Office of Public Affairs director Tracy Schmaler and Media Matters staffers working together to attack reporters covering Justice Department scandals and other administration critics.
“My guess is, this won’t be the last we hear about that,” Gowdy said when Simone first asked him to respond to the news of their collusion. “[House oversight committee chairman Darrell] Issa is the chairman, and he can do what he wants.”
Yes, he can; question is, will he/will he be allowed to actually DO anything?
Well, yeah, if they actually think that stupid 15-minute video was an incitement to muslims, they should consider that movie a full-out call to war!
Of course, the movie is to polish Obama's apple, so it's different, right?
Oh, for God's sake...
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