Though it promised to be hot, I went. Glad I did, too; after all this 30%, it's gonna be bloody awful humidity tomorrow if it does hit the upper 80's.
I discovered a while back that the Hornady Leverevolution .30-30 ammo won't work very well in my Model 94; with the rear sight as low as it goes the stuff still hits almost 8" high at 50 yards. I did have a chance to try it in a Savage 340 with a scope; the stuff seems quite accurate. I'm wondering what the trajectory is like at 150 and 200 yards(I need to find a place with longer range).
Every time I shoot that S&W Target Masterpiece I'm more glad I bought it; even I can shoot fairly well with it.
If I haven't said it before, I heartily endorse a .22 conversion kit for your 1911. Or Glock. Or Hi-Power, or whatever else you can find one for. Mine's a Ceiner, and so far the only problem I've had is when it gets dirty, and can't really fault it for that. Seems to work with all ammo I've tried in it; definitely more authority and the brass flies further with something like Golden Bullet, but even with Centurion or Federal Champion it ticks right along.
I found some Lake City .223 brass someone left, and saved it; of all the brands I've tried, this stuff seems the easiest to form for the Nagant revolver. Otherwise, I think I found three or four .30-06 cases and two .308 on the rifle side; just about everything else reloadable had been cleaned up already. Lots of 9mm, .40S&W and .45acp on the pistol side, though not as much as before. I did find about twenty-five or so .380 cases, especially nice right now.
Remember that sucky Pentax red-dot sight I wrote about a year or so ago? Ran across it and decided to try it one more time, on a .22. New battery, everything clean, and it worked. For about 50 rounds. Then it started wandering all over the damn place; try to adjust elevation and it would change the windage, too, on top of that. I repeat:
Pentax Red-Dot Sights Suck!
I don't know why, but a lot of cast-bullet loads are very consistent in hitting a few inches to the right of where jacketed bullets hit. In something with windage adjustments, no big deal; just crank it over a click or two. In everything else, unless you plan to use cast loads only, you just get used to the POI being a little off.
Guy was trying out a .17HMR Savage rifle he'd just acquired. Seemed very accurate. He hung up a coconut at 50 yards and shot it; little bitty hole up front, BIG hole in back. I do believe that'll leave a mark on varmints.
Just a general day at the range, which ended as a storm was blowing in.
Except for not going to a workplace, doesn't seem like much less work to do so far in retirement; just different stuff. All kinds of little stuff I never had time to get to. Like trimming the holly trees out front, which I realized didn't just need trimming but almost needed to be beaten into submission, they'd grown out so much. So spent a couple of hours cutting them back, and gathering the trimmings into the trash can. I need to look up holly and see if there's a male and female plant; the leaves on one are pointy, but the leaves on the other will flat stab you. I do like the things; green and pretty, red berries in winter and in spring lots of little blossoms that attract honeybees. But trimming them will bleed you if you're not careful. And there's more to do, but it was too hot to continue the other day, so in a day or two out with the ladder and get the stuff overhanging the carport and house.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
David Letterman really is a sorry pimple on the ass of mankind
Pacific Taping tonight's program in New York, Letterman made for him a lengthy explanation or clarification, though no apology. He said that his "joke" Monday about Palin's (unnamed) daughter getting "knocked up" by a professional baseball player was aimed at Palin's daughter, Bristol, who is 18, not Willow, who is 14 and attended the baseball game. "I would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex with a 14-year-old girl...Am I guilty of poor taste? Yes."
So, according to this sorry little shrunken-testicled boob, it's just fine to make jokes about the rape of Palin's 18-year-old daughter, but not the 14-year-old. Yeah. Right.
Letterman, you suck. Like a Rainbow plugged into a 220-volt circuit.
Down in the comments, the first one is by a clown named Peggy, who wrote
Sarah made her daughter and her out of wedlock pregnancy part of her political persona. Sure it's a cheap shot, but Sarah Palin is the one who put her daughter and her daughter's sexuality in the spotlight.
Let me explain something to you, Peggy, since you don't seem to be bright enough to figure it out: her family was on stage with her; that does NOT make them an open target. At least not to anyone with any moral sense or integrity.
And, as I recall, it was the Evil Party and the media who did the whole 'part of her political persona', she just noted she understood some of the hard things families go through, having this problem in their family(while the media who couldn't be bothered to question Obama about anything was sending teams to Alaska trying to dig up dirt). But according to you, that makes it open season on her kids? Uh huh. I'll bet you would've screamed bloody murder if anyone had said a word about Chelsea Clinton, wouldn't you?
So, according to this sorry little shrunken-testicled boob, it's just fine to make jokes about the rape of Palin's 18-year-old daughter, but not the 14-year-old. Yeah. Right.
Letterman, you suck. Like a Rainbow plugged into a 220-volt circuit.
Down in the comments, the first one is by a clown named Peggy, who wrote
Sarah made her daughter and her out of wedlock pregnancy part of her political persona. Sure it's a cheap shot, but Sarah Palin is the one who put her daughter and her daughter's sexuality in the spotlight.
Let me explain something to you, Peggy, since you don't seem to be bright enough to figure it out: her family was on stage with her; that does NOT make them an open target. At least not to anyone with any moral sense or integrity.
And, as I recall, it was the Evil Party and the media who did the whole 'part of her political persona', she just noted she understood some of the hard things families go through, having this problem in their family(while the media who couldn't be bothered to question Obama about anything was sending teams to Alaska trying to dig up dirt). But according to you, that makes it open season on her kids? Uh huh. I'll bet you would've screamed bloody murder if anyone had said a word about Chelsea Clinton, wouldn't you?
"I am afraid I no longer believe"
in a number of things. Like our major media. And President Obama's statements.
No one points out that almost every historical reference Obama invoked in Cairo—from the supposed Muslim role in great world discoveries to Islam fueling the Renaissance and Enlightenment to the Inquisition and Spain—was inflated, but, more importantly, always inflated from a politically-correct point of view.
...
I do not believe any of his numbers concerning, or analysis about, Muslims in America. I do not think he has a clue about the Renaissance and its relationship to the flight of Greek-speaking scholars to Western Europe from the fear of Turkish Muslims, or the Enlightenment’s interest in a Greece suffering under the yoke of an oppressive Ottoman fundamentalism.
Read it all. And that last bit I quoted reminded me of something: any idea when was the last major invasion of Europe by an islamic power? 1683. The Ottoman army made it all the way to, and laid seige to, Vienna. As in Austria. Damn near conquered most of western Europe. Think President Obama will ever make mention of that when talking about islam's contributions to the Renaissance and Enlightenment?
No one points out that almost every historical reference Obama invoked in Cairo—from the supposed Muslim role in great world discoveries to Islam fueling the Renaissance and Enlightenment to the Inquisition and Spain—was inflated, but, more importantly, always inflated from a politically-correct point of view.
...
I do not believe any of his numbers concerning, or analysis about, Muslims in America. I do not think he has a clue about the Renaissance and its relationship to the flight of Greek-speaking scholars to Western Europe from the fear of Turkish Muslims, or the Enlightenment’s interest in a Greece suffering under the yoke of an oppressive Ottoman fundamentalism.
Read it all. And that last bit I quoted reminded me of something: any idea when was the last major invasion of Europe by an islamic power? 1683. The Ottoman army made it all the way to, and laid seige to, Vienna. As in Austria. Damn near conquered most of western Europe. Think President Obama will ever make mention of that when talking about islam's contributions to the Renaissance and Enlightenment?
Once again we hear from the "That is not the pastor I knew!
pastor:
"Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he'll talk to me in five years when he's a lame duck, or in eight years when he's out of office. ...
"They will not let him to talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is. ... I said from the beginning: He's a politician; I'm a pastor. He's got to do what politicians do."
You know, it must be really handy for a politician to have a religious and moral teacher who has no problem with him lying and hiding what he actually thinks and does.
Ace points out that he might be speaking of one Jew in particular:
Jew not Jews? Several commenters have pointed out that Obama's Chief of Staff and gatekeeper, Rahm Emanuel, is Jewish. I always forget that but it's true. I'm guessing the f-bombs are flying around the West Wing in even greater numbers today.
And, considering Obama spent twenty years listening to stuff like that makes the concerns of Israel very understandable. And very real:
"Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he'll talk to me in five years when he's a lame duck, or in eight years when he's out of office. ...
"They will not let him to talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is. ... I said from the beginning: He's a politician; I'm a pastor. He's got to do what politicians do."
You know, it must be really handy for a politician to have a religious and moral teacher who has no problem with him lying and hiding what he actually thinks and does.
Ace points out that he might be speaking of one Jew in particular:
Jew not Jews? Several commenters have pointed out that Obama's Chief of Staff and gatekeeper, Rahm Emanuel, is Jewish. I always forget that but it's true. I'm guessing the f-bombs are flying around the West Wing in even greater numbers today.
And, considering Obama spent twenty years listening to stuff like that makes the concerns of Israel very understandable. And very real:
Israel's Channel One TV reported that Netanyahu was told Tuesday by an "American official" in Jerusalem that, "We are going to change the world. Please, don't interfere." The report said Netanyahu's aides interpreted this as a "threat."
The message could not be any clearer: "that's a nice country you got there. It'd be a shame if something were to happen to it."
The only problem with that, is that it's become clear that some of Obama's administration want something to happen to Israel. Soon. Which makes it not a threat but a promise: "Don't mess with us while we're changing things, or you'll get screwed sooner."
Damn, I've caught all kinds of things, but never a Sidewinder
Despite the danger, Rodney Salomon, a commercial fisherman, reeled in the missile, attached it to his boat and kept fishing in the Gulf of Mexico for another 10 days before returning to port.
"I had it strapped to the roof of my boat as we rode through lightning storms," Mr Salomon said, according to local Tampa Bay's 10 Connects News.
The bomb squad from a nearby military base that promptly dismantled it upon his return to shore said the heavily corroded eight-foot-long missile could have exploded at any moment.
And he did it again!
He said it wasn't the first one he and his three-man "Bold Venture" crew picked up. Days after the find, Mr Salomon nabbed another.
That one was beeping so he decided to let it go.
Probably a wise decision; and I'm sure they wouldn't have let him keep it, either.
"I had it strapped to the roof of my boat as we rode through lightning storms," Mr Salomon said, according to local Tampa Bay's 10 Connects News.
The bomb squad from a nearby military base that promptly dismantled it upon his return to shore said the heavily corroded eight-foot-long missile could have exploded at any moment.
And he did it again!
He said it wasn't the first one he and his three-man "Bold Venture" crew picked up. Days after the find, Mr Salomon nabbed another.
That one was beeping so he decided to let it go.
Probably a wise decision; and I'm sure they wouldn't have let him keep it, either.
Last night I watered the garden, and hit a couple of spots
again this morning, so the 30% chance of rain became 100% a short time ago; a nice, soft rain that's soaking in nicely.
Good thing I didn't wash the truck after all, yesterday; there's probably be tornado warnings.
Good thing I didn't wash the truck after all, yesterday; there's probably be tornado warnings.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Be it noted that David Letterman
is an asshole. A vicious, nasty, slimy, infected asshole.
And you 'Republicans' who crap on Palin and family at every opportunity? You're just as low and dirty.
And you 'Republicans' who crap on Palin and family at every opportunity? You're just as low and dirty.
Awww, the poor little 'muslim convert' murdering piece of
shit considers himself 'innocent' because U.S. military action in the Middle East made the killing justified.
Gee, which action is that, you miserable little excuse for a pimple on the ass of mankind? Building schools? Shooting your chickenshit child-raping brethren who kill children for daring to go to school? Whacking your brothers who murder men standing in line to apply for a job? Keeping your fornicator of swine islamists from killing people who're trying to take care of their irrigation canals?*
Standard excuse-making learned from every islamist dog-humper from Hamas to the local "I dream of murdering women for showing an ankle in the marketplace" imam: "WE ARE VICTIMS! So you can't blame us for ANYTHING we do!"
And this from a local representative of the Religion of Peace:
Muhammad had moved to Arkansas in the spring to work at his father's bus tour company and had never attended the Islamic Center of Little Rock, a mosque frequented by most of the area's Muslims, said Iftikhar Pathan, the center's president.
Pathan said he spoke with most of the nearly 300 people who attend Friday prayers at the mosque and no one knew him. Those at the mosque also spoke with FBI agents in the days immediately after the shooting, he said.
"What he had in his mind, God knows," Pathan said.
Considering the record of so many of these 'islamic centers' and their members as to speaking the truth on such matters, I'd want proof he 'never attended'; put bluntly, Mr. Pathan, I don't believe you. Am I being unfair? Maybe. After the past record I mentioned of lying about terrorists, making excuses for them, claiming victim status and yelling 'racism' to try to shut people up who ask inconvenient questions, tough shit; show me reason to believe you.
Last week, Hensley said his client, born Carlos Bledsoe, had been tortured and "radicalized" in a Yemeni prison after entering the country to teach English. He was held there for immigration violations, and Yemeni officials have denied mistreatment.
"Those claims ... are all lies," Muhammad said Tuesday. "That never happened in Yemen. The officials dealt with me in a gentle way."
Here we have the dirtbag lawyer(no, I'm not feeling charitable toward lawyers either) trying to set up an excuse, and- amazingly- being called a liar by his murdering client. Oh, and 'entering the country to teach English'? If that was why he was there, why did the FBI catch him using a fake Somali passport?
Gee, a lawyer lying for a shitbird client; whoda thunk it?
*Son said one of their daily activities while on patrol was to find where the assholes had damaged irrigation canals during the night, get hold of the nearest village and, if needed, watch over them while they repaired the damage. Speaks volumes of this pig-boinker this his 'brethren' considered it a brave act in the name of Allah to screw over the locals who were trying to take care of their land and families. Also, when they found out there was a price for it, there was less of it as time went on; being the cowardly little shits they were, they went looking for children to murder or something equally shahid-like.
Gee, which action is that, you miserable little excuse for a pimple on the ass of mankind? Building schools? Shooting your chickenshit child-raping brethren who kill children for daring to go to school? Whacking your brothers who murder men standing in line to apply for a job? Keeping your fornicator of swine islamists from killing people who're trying to take care of their irrigation canals?*
Standard excuse-making learned from every islamist dog-humper from Hamas to the local "I dream of murdering women for showing an ankle in the marketplace" imam: "WE ARE VICTIMS! So you can't blame us for ANYTHING we do!"
And this from a local representative of the Religion of Peace:
Muhammad had moved to Arkansas in the spring to work at his father's bus tour company and had never attended the Islamic Center of Little Rock, a mosque frequented by most of the area's Muslims, said Iftikhar Pathan, the center's president.
Pathan said he spoke with most of the nearly 300 people who attend Friday prayers at the mosque and no one knew him. Those at the mosque also spoke with FBI agents in the days immediately after the shooting, he said.
"What he had in his mind, God knows," Pathan said.
Considering the record of so many of these 'islamic centers' and their members as to speaking the truth on such matters, I'd want proof he 'never attended'; put bluntly, Mr. Pathan, I don't believe you. Am I being unfair? Maybe. After the past record I mentioned of lying about terrorists, making excuses for them, claiming victim status and yelling 'racism' to try to shut people up who ask inconvenient questions, tough shit; show me reason to believe you.
Last week, Hensley said his client, born Carlos Bledsoe, had been tortured and "radicalized" in a Yemeni prison after entering the country to teach English. He was held there for immigration violations, and Yemeni officials have denied mistreatment.
"Those claims ... are all lies," Muhammad said Tuesday. "That never happened in Yemen. The officials dealt with me in a gentle way."
Here we have the dirtbag lawyer(no, I'm not feeling charitable toward lawyers either) trying to set up an excuse, and- amazingly- being called a liar by his murdering client. Oh, and 'entering the country to teach English'? If that was why he was there, why did the FBI catch him using a fake Somali passport?
Gee, a lawyer lying for a shitbird client; whoda thunk it?
*Son said one of their daily activities while on patrol was to find where the assholes had damaged irrigation canals during the night, get hold of the nearest village and, if needed, watch over them while they repaired the damage. Speaks volumes of this pig-boinker this his 'brethren' considered it a brave act in the name of Allah to screw over the locals who were trying to take care of their land and families. Also, when they found out there was a price for it, there was less of it as time went on; being the cowardly little shits they were, they went looking for children to murder or something equally shahid-like.
One of the casualties of the current financial idiocy
The Shriner's Children's Hospitals may have to close some of the hospitals.
The system's board says it may ask the fraternity's membership in July for authority to close six hospitals -- including the one in Greenville -- largely because the endowment fund that supports the hospitals dropped from $8.5 billion to $5.2 billion over the last year as the stock market plummeted.
The others that could close are in Erie, Pennsylvania; Shreveport, Louisiana; Spokane, Washington; Springfield, Massachusetts; and Galveston, Texas. The Galveston hospital's operations have been suspended since Hurricane Ike flooded it last year. See map of where all 22 Shriners hospitals are »
Deflated investments aren't the only reason the fund has dropped. The hospitals normally operate with donations and the fund's interest, but the system's $856 million 2009 budget is outpacing both, causing the hospitals to take about $1 million per day from the fund, said Ralph Semb, president and CEO of Shriners Hospitals.
This is bad. These places provide care for a LOT of kids, and any of them closing will be a real problem for the kids currently there, and those who need help in the future.
Yeah, I'm heading to the yard; but I saw this and had to post on it.
The system's board says it may ask the fraternity's membership in July for authority to close six hospitals -- including the one in Greenville -- largely because the endowment fund that supports the hospitals dropped from $8.5 billion to $5.2 billion over the last year as the stock market plummeted.
The others that could close are in Erie, Pennsylvania; Shreveport, Louisiana; Spokane, Washington; Springfield, Massachusetts; and Galveston, Texas. The Galveston hospital's operations have been suspended since Hurricane Ike flooded it last year. See map of where all 22 Shriners hospitals are »
Deflated investments aren't the only reason the fund has dropped. The hospitals normally operate with donations and the fund's interest, but the system's $856 million 2009 budget is outpacing both, causing the hospitals to take about $1 million per day from the fund, said Ralph Semb, president and CEO of Shriners Hospitals.
This is bad. These places provide care for a LOT of kids, and any of them closing will be a real problem for the kids currently there, and those who need help in the future.
Yeah, I'm heading to the yard; but I saw this and had to post on it.
California unions: "Screw the state, we want your
money!"
The relationship between Democratic leaders and some of their labor benefactors has turned particularly frosty: Many of the programs union members rely on for paychecks -- and the unions rely on for dues -- have been slated for deep cuts.
For example, there are pledge forms being passed around to lawmakers by a major labor union that might have attracted takers in budget battles past. The union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, wants the legislators to sign statements of support for up to $44 billion in new or higher taxes on the wealthy, oil companies, tobacco and other industries, products and people.
Because not enough businesses and wealthy people are leaving the state now; we want to speed it up!
But so far the drive hasn't produced a single signed form, even from the Democrats who normally march into California's budget fights in lock-step with organized labor.
Gee, I guess when it gets bad enough, even Evil Party politicians can see that knee-jerk tax-raising isn't the answer for everything.
"Many public employee unions, teacher unions [are] thinking that they were thrown under the bus in the last budget," said Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Montebello). "So now they're asking themselves: If these Democrats are not going to stand up for us, then what good is it to have them there?"
Translation: "We thought we owned these politicians, but they're not taking our orders!"
The union leaders say they are appalled that Democratic leaders are talking openly now about decimating government programs without first making a stand for bigger, broader tax hikes that could substantially offset budget cuts.
Got that? "Don't you dare think about cutting programs where some of our members get paid until you've taxed the state into oblivion!" Which is what it amounts to.
"Democrats came to Sacramento to help people," said Marty Hittleman, president of the California Federation of Teachers. "I know they did not go there to destroy government. For some reason, they are unwilling to stand up and say 'This is not what I was elected for.' "
Because cutting spending and trying to stop the idiocy that's screwed the state is to be defined as 'destroying government' so as to try to scare the politicians and scare people who don't belong to unions.
But even some of the most liberal Democrats say some union leaders are ignoring the reality of an angry public, a sour economy and a state government approaching insolvency. Moreover, more taxes would require Republican support in the Legislature, and the minority party has made clear that there will be none.
So here it is: even Evil Party "We can always raise taxes" politicians have finally faced the fact that they can't; they've brought the state to ruin(I have doubts they can prevent it at this point), and enough people are finally pissed and yelling enough about it to make them realize they can't keep doing the 'raise taxes' crap. And some unions are so busy worrying about keeping their dues flowing that they don't care how bad it screws the state(and all the jobs that will flat go away if things continue), just "Raise taxes, dammit, don't you mess with OUR situation!"
I don't excuse most of the people in CA for this; they kept voting these clowns into office, and-until now- never said "Enough, we can't take any more tax increases"; they just kept wanting goodies and wanting someone else to pay for it. Also, I think a part of the halt to tax-raising is that the CA politicians are listening to the noise from other states at the thought of having their taxes raised to buy CA out of the hole; probably lots of Reps and Sens are telling their little friends in CA "If I vote to pay your bills out of our pockets, I'll be on the street next election. If they don't drag me out of the office and hang me. So I won't be voting for your bailout."
I shall now adjourn from my analysis of crap in another state, and go cut grass.
The relationship between Democratic leaders and some of their labor benefactors has turned particularly frosty: Many of the programs union members rely on for paychecks -- and the unions rely on for dues -- have been slated for deep cuts.
For example, there are pledge forms being passed around to lawmakers by a major labor union that might have attracted takers in budget battles past. The union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, wants the legislators to sign statements of support for up to $44 billion in new or higher taxes on the wealthy, oil companies, tobacco and other industries, products and people.
Because not enough businesses and wealthy people are leaving the state now; we want to speed it up!
But so far the drive hasn't produced a single signed form, even from the Democrats who normally march into California's budget fights in lock-step with organized labor.
Gee, I guess when it gets bad enough, even Evil Party politicians can see that knee-jerk tax-raising isn't the answer for everything.
"Many public employee unions, teacher unions [are] thinking that they were thrown under the bus in the last budget," said Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Montebello). "So now they're asking themselves: If these Democrats are not going to stand up for us, then what good is it to have them there?"
Translation: "We thought we owned these politicians, but they're not taking our orders!"
The union leaders say they are appalled that Democratic leaders are talking openly now about decimating government programs without first making a stand for bigger, broader tax hikes that could substantially offset budget cuts.
Got that? "Don't you dare think about cutting programs where some of our members get paid until you've taxed the state into oblivion!" Which is what it amounts to.
"Democrats came to Sacramento to help people," said Marty Hittleman, president of the California Federation of Teachers. "I know they did not go there to destroy government. For some reason, they are unwilling to stand up and say 'This is not what I was elected for.' "
Because cutting spending and trying to stop the idiocy that's screwed the state is to be defined as 'destroying government' so as to try to scare the politicians and scare people who don't belong to unions.
But even some of the most liberal Democrats say some union leaders are ignoring the reality of an angry public, a sour economy and a state government approaching insolvency. Moreover, more taxes would require Republican support in the Legislature, and the minority party has made clear that there will be none.
So here it is: even Evil Party "We can always raise taxes" politicians have finally faced the fact that they can't; they've brought the state to ruin(I have doubts they can prevent it at this point), and enough people are finally pissed and yelling enough about it to make them realize they can't keep doing the 'raise taxes' crap. And some unions are so busy worrying about keeping their dues flowing that they don't care how bad it screws the state(and all the jobs that will flat go away if things continue), just "Raise taxes, dammit, don't you mess with OUR situation!"
I don't excuse most of the people in CA for this; they kept voting these clowns into office, and-until now- never said "Enough, we can't take any more tax increases"; they just kept wanting goodies and wanting someone else to pay for it. Also, I think a part of the halt to tax-raising is that the CA politicians are listening to the noise from other states at the thought of having their taxes raised to buy CA out of the hole; probably lots of Reps and Sens are telling their little friends in CA "If I vote to pay your bills out of our pockets, I'll be on the street next election. If they don't drag me out of the office and hang me. So I won't be voting for your bailout."
I shall now adjourn from my analysis of crap in another state, and go cut grass.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Speaking of idiot politicians and bureaucrats,
including those in the Secret Service,
Graduating midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis are being told in writing to leave at home or in their vehicles all "ceremonial swords" and anything else "that might be considered a weapon or a threat by screeners" for Friday's outdoor commencement ceremonies featuring an address by President Barack Obama.
Inside the Beltway has obtained the academy's list of prohibited items for this year's graduation exercises, which, besides ceremonial swords, includes umbrellas.
Because someone who just spent four years working his ass off to get there is going to charge the stand with a dull sword just because- I have no freakin' idea- and the Secret Service and their sidearms and sub-guns are going to become magically useless or something.
Years back I knew a professor who was very big into Revolutionary War recreation. At one of the BIG ones in 1976, the President was going to speak. Couple of- as the prof put it- SS bastards walked up to the gate of the fort where Gen. Washington was meeting with his staff. Two guys on guard at the gate crossed their bayonetted muskets and asked what they wanted.
"We're going to look the place over." They didn't say "We're Secret Service and need to look things over for the President's trip", just tried to bull in.
"Do you have permission from General Washington?"
"We don't need it!"
"Without it, you're not going in." At which point they did ID themselves, but the guards wouldn't budge; they knew, like everyone else, the Pres wasn't coming to the fort, and the agents attitude just didn't help matters at all.
They would not let the guys in, despite various threats; one of them started to push through and one of the guards stepped back, prepared a buttstroke and said "I wouldn't try that." He meant it, too. The pair finally went away promising Dire Punishments for those guards for daring to prevent them from going where they wanted. Nothing happened, some supervisor apparently asking something like "Do you really want to arrest two guys guarding a gate because they wouldn't let you in? The President isn't even going there!" This prof had had high respect for the Secret Service before that few days, just on general principle; after spending a couple of days with them acting as some of them tend to, he referred to them as 'the SS'. When he wasn't using a word or two referring to their doubtful parentage.
Graduating midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis are being told in writing to leave at home or in their vehicles all "ceremonial swords" and anything else "that might be considered a weapon or a threat by screeners" for Friday's outdoor commencement ceremonies featuring an address by President Barack Obama.
Inside the Beltway has obtained the academy's list of prohibited items for this year's graduation exercises, which, besides ceremonial swords, includes umbrellas.
Because someone who just spent four years working his ass off to get there is going to charge the stand with a dull sword just because- I have no freakin' idea- and the Secret Service and their sidearms and sub-guns are going to become magically useless or something.
Years back I knew a professor who was very big into Revolutionary War recreation. At one of the BIG ones in 1976, the President was going to speak. Couple of- as the prof put it- SS bastards walked up to the gate of the fort where Gen. Washington was meeting with his staff. Two guys on guard at the gate crossed their bayonetted muskets and asked what they wanted.
"We're going to look the place over." They didn't say "We're Secret Service and need to look things over for the President's trip", just tried to bull in.
"Do you have permission from General Washington?"
"We don't need it!"
"Without it, you're not going in." At which point they did ID themselves, but the guards wouldn't budge; they knew, like everyone else, the Pres wasn't coming to the fort, and the agents attitude just didn't help matters at all.
They would not let the guys in, despite various threats; one of them started to push through and one of the guards stepped back, prepared a buttstroke and said "I wouldn't try that." He meant it, too. The pair finally went away promising Dire Punishments for those guards for daring to prevent them from going where they wanted. Nothing happened, some supervisor apparently asking something like "Do you really want to arrest two guys guarding a gate because they wouldn't let you in? The President isn't even going there!" This prof had had high respect for the Secret Service before that few days, just on general principle; after spending a couple of days with them acting as some of them tend to, he referred to them as 'the SS'. When he wasn't using a word or two referring to their doubtful parentage.
Quote of the Day
Referring to our State MoronsDepartment:
You've gotta be a special kind of stupid to appeal "on humanitarian grounds" to a nation which fences its people in with guard dogs and electrified barbed wire while they starve to death so that their Dear Leader (not our Dear Leader, North Korea's,) can afford imported booze and hookers.
You've gotta be a special kind of stupid to appeal "on humanitarian grounds" to a nation which fences its people in with guard dogs and electrified barbed wire while they starve to death so that their Dear Leader (not our Dear Leader, North Korea's,) can afford imported booze and hookers.
Ah, Monday,
stuff to do. Starting here; Kofi Annan is a liar and alarmist, so what else is new?
This is a heroic set of assumptions, even if you agree that emissions are causing adverse changes in climate. Take the supposedly heightened risk of conflict: The authors suggest that "inter-clan fighting in Somalia" is a product of climate change. A likelier explanation is the collapse of a functioning Somali government and the rise of jihadists in the region.
Enter Mr. Pielke, who, we hasten to add, does not speak for us (nor we for him). But given the headlines the Annan report has garnered, his views deserve amplification. Writing in the Prometheus science policy blog, Mr. Pielke calls the report a "methodological embarrassment" and a "poster child for how to lie with statistics" that "does a disservice" to those who take climate change issues seriously.
I know you've probably heard about this idiocy, but if you haven't, it was NewsWeek(NewSpeak?) editor Evan Thomas actually saying
"I mean in a way Obama’s standing above the country, above – above the world, he’s sort of God."
We're used to seeing 'journalists' and commentators slavering and drooling at the mere sight up The Obama up close, but this takes the disgusting to a whole new level. If Obama stopped walking, Thomas would die; his breathing passages would become clogged with fecal matter. And this clown thinks he is annointed to tell us what we 'need' to know?
I got pretty much all the old grease and oil out of the P14 stock. After cleaning I rubbed in a mix of linseed and mineral spirits(the spirits thins the oil and lets it penetrate deeper) and let that dry about three days, and it's now got it's fourth coat of the finish drying. The surface is sealed, and the wood looks nice, and it should no longer bleed old ick when it gets hot.
I'd forgotten, yesterday was the date of Operation Opera, the Israeli operation to destroy the reactor Saddam Hussein was building. I remember reading about it after; a maximum-range(if everything went right) strike that went off flawlessly. And it kept Saddam from getting nukes.
Why do so many traitors turn out to be like this courtly State Department intelligence analyst from a prominent family who loved to sail and peruse the London Review of Books. Occasionally, he would voice frustration with U.S. policies, but to his liberal neighbors in Northwest D.C. it was nothing out of the ordinary. "We were all appalled by the Bush years," one said. ? 'Witty, intellectual' people with prep-school backgrounds?
Another fine example of major media ethics:
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is currently being interviewed by ABC's George Stephanopoulos, a former employee of former President Bill Clinton. So far, ABC has not disclosed that conflict. I guess he's just continuing his role as a spokesman for Clinton. In my world, that would be a firing offense.
Stephanopoulos is as big a whore as you'll come across; this is just the latest example of what ABC bought when they hired him.
And, as Ace notes, Hezbollah lost in the Lebanon elections.
And now I need to go do constructive things. Or take the long walk I've been trying to do every day to keep my fat ass under some level of control. One or the other.
This is a heroic set of assumptions, even if you agree that emissions are causing adverse changes in climate. Take the supposedly heightened risk of conflict: The authors suggest that "inter-clan fighting in Somalia" is a product of climate change. A likelier explanation is the collapse of a functioning Somali government and the rise of jihadists in the region.
Enter Mr. Pielke, who, we hasten to add, does not speak for us (nor we for him). But given the headlines the Annan report has garnered, his views deserve amplification. Writing in the Prometheus science policy blog, Mr. Pielke calls the report a "methodological embarrassment" and a "poster child for how to lie with statistics" that "does a disservice" to those who take climate change issues seriously.
I know you've probably heard about this idiocy, but if you haven't, it was NewsWeek(NewSpeak?) editor Evan Thomas actually saying
"I mean in a way Obama’s standing above the country, above – above the world, he’s sort of God."
We're used to seeing 'journalists' and commentators slavering and drooling at the mere sight up The Obama up close, but this takes the disgusting to a whole new level. If Obama stopped walking, Thomas would die; his breathing passages would become clogged with fecal matter. And this clown thinks he is annointed to tell us what we 'need' to know?
I got pretty much all the old grease and oil out of the P14 stock. After cleaning I rubbed in a mix of linseed and mineral spirits(the spirits thins the oil and lets it penetrate deeper) and let that dry about three days, and it's now got it's fourth coat of the finish drying. The surface is sealed, and the wood looks nice, and it should no longer bleed old ick when it gets hot.
I'd forgotten, yesterday was the date of Operation Opera, the Israeli operation to destroy the reactor Saddam Hussein was building. I remember reading about it after; a maximum-range(if everything went right) strike that went off flawlessly. And it kept Saddam from getting nukes.
Why do so many traitors turn out to be like this courtly State Department intelligence analyst from a prominent family who loved to sail and peruse the London Review of Books. Occasionally, he would voice frustration with U.S. policies, but to his liberal neighbors in Northwest D.C. it was nothing out of the ordinary. "We were all appalled by the Bush years," one said. ? 'Witty, intellectual' people with prep-school backgrounds?
Another fine example of major media ethics:
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is currently being interviewed by ABC's George Stephanopoulos, a former employee of former President Bill Clinton. So far, ABC has not disclosed that conflict. I guess he's just continuing his role as a spokesman for Clinton. In my world, that would be a firing offense.
Stephanopoulos is as big a whore as you'll come across; this is just the latest example of what ABC bought when they hired him.
And, as Ace notes, Hezbollah lost in the Lebanon elections.
And now I need to go do constructive things. Or take the long walk I've been trying to do every day to keep my fat ass under some level of control. One or the other.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
I first read this by EJ Dionne a few days ago,
but saw it again today at ShrinkWrapped and had to say a couple of things:
Yes, you read that correctly: If you doubt that there is a conservative inclination in the media, consider which arguments you hear regularly and which you don't. When Rush Limbaugh sneezes or Newt Gingrich tweets, their views ricochet from the Internet to cable television and into the traditional media. It is remarkable how successful they are in setting what passes for the news agenda.
The power of the Limbaugh-Gingrich axis means that Obama is regularly cast as somewhere on the far left end of a truncated political spectrum. He's the guy who nominates a "racist" to the Supreme Court, wants to weaken America's defenses against terrorism, and is proposing a massive government takeover of the private economy. Steve Forbes, writing for his magazine, went so far recently as to compare Obama's economic policies to those of Juan Peron's Argentina.
Let's see, lots of media weenies quoting Rush and Gengrich and generally casting them as nuts when they do, counts as 'a conservative inclination in the media', huh?
Only if you're delusional.
This was brought home at this week's annual conference of the Campaign for America's Future, the progressive group that supports Obama but worries about how close his economic advisers are to Wall Street, how long our troops will have to stay in Afghanistan, and how much he will be willing to compromise to secure health care reform. In other words, they see Obama not as the parody created by the far right, but as he actually is: a politician with progressive values but moderate instincts who has hewed to the middle of the road in dealing with the economic crisis, health care, Guantanamo and the war in Afghanistan.
'Progressive values but moderate instincts'? 'Hewed to the middle of the road'? I'll use the word 'delusional' again.
SW's post is on the failure of the media to do its job. Which, they seem to have forgotten, is to report information. NOT decide what we should hear(in their opinion), NOT to slant it to fit their view, NOT to act as a mouthpiece for one political party, but to REPORT INFORMATION. Which is why I refer to so many of these clowns as 'sorry excuses for reporters'. They're not reporters, they're 'journalists', and damn well off the rails at that. That so many of them(and a lot of leftists and 'progressives') seem to think that their work to cast Rush as a 'spokesman of the Stupid Party' so they can demonize and try to sideline him(and anyone who agrees with any of what he says) think that means the media has a 'conservative inclination'... That's just flat effing stupid. But a lot of them seem to actually believe it.
Just flat amazing, isn't it?
Yes, you read that correctly: If you doubt that there is a conservative inclination in the media, consider which arguments you hear regularly and which you don't. When Rush Limbaugh sneezes or Newt Gingrich tweets, their views ricochet from the Internet to cable television and into the traditional media. It is remarkable how successful they are in setting what passes for the news agenda.
The power of the Limbaugh-Gingrich axis means that Obama is regularly cast as somewhere on the far left end of a truncated political spectrum. He's the guy who nominates a "racist" to the Supreme Court, wants to weaken America's defenses against terrorism, and is proposing a massive government takeover of the private economy. Steve Forbes, writing for his magazine, went so far recently as to compare Obama's economic policies to those of Juan Peron's Argentina.
Let's see, lots of media weenies quoting Rush and Gengrich and generally casting them as nuts when they do, counts as 'a conservative inclination in the media', huh?
Only if you're delusional.
This was brought home at this week's annual conference of the Campaign for America's Future, the progressive group that supports Obama but worries about how close his economic advisers are to Wall Street, how long our troops will have to stay in Afghanistan, and how much he will be willing to compromise to secure health care reform. In other words, they see Obama not as the parody created by the far right, but as he actually is: a politician with progressive values but moderate instincts who has hewed to the middle of the road in dealing with the economic crisis, health care, Guantanamo and the war in Afghanistan.
'Progressive values but moderate instincts'? 'Hewed to the middle of the road'? I'll use the word 'delusional' again.
SW's post is on the failure of the media to do its job. Which, they seem to have forgotten, is to report information. NOT decide what we should hear(in their opinion), NOT to slant it to fit their view, NOT to act as a mouthpiece for one political party, but to REPORT INFORMATION. Which is why I refer to so many of these clowns as 'sorry excuses for reporters'. They're not reporters, they're 'journalists', and damn well off the rails at that. That so many of them(and a lot of leftists and 'progressives') seem to think that their work to cast Rush as a 'spokesman of the Stupid Party' so they can demonize and try to sideline him(and anyone who agrees with any of what he says) think that means the media has a 'conservative inclination'... That's just flat effing stupid. But a lot of them seem to actually believe it.
Just flat amazing, isn't it?
Oklahoma summer has arrived
Oh joy
I don't have a problem with summer, it's just that when the higher temps and humidity gang up, it can make the day something less than pleasant. It's great when there's time to sit in the shade out back with a book; the dog gets scratched, then finds one of her spots where she can snooze and make sure I don't sneak out on her, and the birds visit the feeder(which reminds me, more bird seed). But tilling the garden, or pruning, or mowing... as Lawdog put it, There I am, poaching nicely in my own perspiration, which does nicely cover it(although, I must note, if any rattlers are in the immediate vicinity, they keep well out of sight and don't curl up next to the hose).
Day before yesterday I cast some bullets. Be it said that something like the Lee bottom-pour melter is a wonderful thing; doesn't put off an excess of heat like the gas burner I once used, keeps things at temperature, and is a lot easier than a pot full of lead and a ladle. However, it DOES put off heat; combine that with ambient temps of upper 80's-low 90's, and it gets just a bit poaching even if you aren't in the sun.
I was using one of these Lee molds, which are good, but they do have their problems. They cost considerably less than a comparable Lyman or RCBS, and a LOT less than Saeco; they're also less finished when you get them(Carteach0 has a nice piece here on a couple of things to do to a new Lee mold before you use it). I've got molds from Lee, RCBS and Lyman, the two big differences I've noticed in use are
The Lyman and RCBS are pretty much ready as they come out of the box; degrease them, smoke them and go. No touchup needed.
These two are much less temperature-sensitive than the Lee. Once you get them warmed up, just keep going; Lee, because of the aluminum blocks, are much more likely to cool a touch and have to be warmed back up if you set them down for a minute. They can also be damn picky about what temperature lead gives good bullets. I've had one give good castings with the temp set at '5', and the next time I use it have to set it all the way up to '8' to get the damn thing to fill properly.
The Lee molds do work, you just have to keep in mind you may have to fiddle with settings a bit more with them.
I mentioned smoking the molds. Sometimes a bullet won't want to fall out of the mold after you open it, causing you to have to tap on the hinge pin to shake it loose(NEVER tap on the mold blocks!). One thing that helps here is to put a layer of soot in the cavity. Matches work, but I keep a candle handy, as it works much better than a match. There are spray-on mold-release agents you can buy, and they do work; it's just that candles are cheap and I already had one.
I'll throw in that this mold, for .30 Carbine, has given very good results; used with a gas check, I've fired hundreds through my Carbine with no sign of lead fouling. And I've used this RCBS mold to load for .30-30, .30-06, .308 and 7.5x55 Swiss with good results; the only problem is with some bolt rifles, the flat nose will occasionally hang up(most always, I've noticed, when feeding from the left) in some rifles. That problem is the main reason I got this Lee mold, as the pointed bullet should eliminate that problem.
On news other than what makes me sweat half to death,
Well, looks like some of the Evil Party people are getting a bit worried/upset about dealers being closed at the will of The Obama, and the losses of jobs and tax revenue it's causing/will cause. Most of them don't have the pull of that dirtbag Frank to 'save' dealers in their district, so they're getting a bit antsy, it seems. Of course, they have to properly massage The One's ego:
We recognize that efforts by your Auto Task Force prevented the total liquidation of General Motors and Chrysler, as well as their dealership networks. We commend your efforts to help these businesses survive these challenging economic times.
Well, yes, if he hadn't gotten into the middle of this they'd have had to file bankruptcy months ago BEFORE he poured billions of dollars of other peoples' money into them, and while the union brass would have been pissed, everyone else would have been better off.
One more celebrity discovers that- "WHAT?!?"- when you help elect a tax-raising socialist, he'll go after your stuff, too.
Today, though, I’ll cast him as Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca for his shock, shock! that a redistributionist Democratic Party might tax his industry into default
Yep.
Ah, yes, a proposal that the White House is somehow supposed to not have known about:The NY Times covers a trial balloon that would provoke outrage from the left if Bush-Cheney had proposed it. However, as the Times tells it, the proposal has no sponsorship at all - apparently it just fell from the sky, or something. Here we go:
Hope! Change!
Victor Davis Hanson has a very good piece that deals with Obama Versus the Way of the Universe. Well worth reading, although I'll argue with this:
Obama will come to his senses with his ‘Bush did it’, reset button, moral equivalency, soaring hope and change, with these apologies to Europeans, his Arab world Sermons on the Mount to Al Arabiya, in Turkey, in Cairo, etc., his touchy-feely videos to Iran, his “we are all victims of racism” sops to Ortega, Chavez, and Morales. It is only a matter of when, under what conditions, how high the price we must pay, and whether we lose the farm before he gains wisdom about the tragic universe in which we live.
Hell, Jimmy Carter, who seems to be Obama's model on some things, STILL doesn't get it. And if we lose the farm before he does get it, we're still screwed.
Ah well, things to do.
I don't have a problem with summer, it's just that when the higher temps and humidity gang up, it can make the day something less than pleasant. It's great when there's time to sit in the shade out back with a book; the dog gets scratched, then finds one of her spots where she can snooze and make sure I don't sneak out on her, and the birds visit the feeder(which reminds me, more bird seed). But tilling the garden, or pruning, or mowing... as Lawdog put it, There I am, poaching nicely in my own perspiration, which does nicely cover it(although, I must note, if any rattlers are in the immediate vicinity, they keep well out of sight and don't curl up next to the hose).
Day before yesterday I cast some bullets. Be it said that something like the Lee bottom-pour melter is a wonderful thing; doesn't put off an excess of heat like the gas burner I once used, keeps things at temperature, and is a lot easier than a pot full of lead and a ladle. However, it DOES put off heat; combine that with ambient temps of upper 80's-low 90's, and it gets just a bit poaching even if you aren't in the sun.
I was using one of these Lee molds, which are good, but they do have their problems. They cost considerably less than a comparable Lyman or RCBS, and a LOT less than Saeco; they're also less finished when you get them(Carteach0 has a nice piece here on a couple of things to do to a new Lee mold before you use it). I've got molds from Lee, RCBS and Lyman, the two big differences I've noticed in use are
The Lyman and RCBS are pretty much ready as they come out of the box; degrease them, smoke them and go. No touchup needed.
These two are much less temperature-sensitive than the Lee. Once you get them warmed up, just keep going; Lee, because of the aluminum blocks, are much more likely to cool a touch and have to be warmed back up if you set them down for a minute. They can also be damn picky about what temperature lead gives good bullets. I've had one give good castings with the temp set at '5', and the next time I use it have to set it all the way up to '8' to get the damn thing to fill properly.
The Lee molds do work, you just have to keep in mind you may have to fiddle with settings a bit more with them.
I mentioned smoking the molds. Sometimes a bullet won't want to fall out of the mold after you open it, causing you to have to tap on the hinge pin to shake it loose(NEVER tap on the mold blocks!). One thing that helps here is to put a layer of soot in the cavity. Matches work, but I keep a candle handy, as it works much better than a match. There are spray-on mold-release agents you can buy, and they do work; it's just that candles are cheap and I already had one.
I'll throw in that this mold, for .30 Carbine, has given very good results; used with a gas check, I've fired hundreds through my Carbine with no sign of lead fouling. And I've used this RCBS mold to load for .30-30, .30-06, .308 and 7.5x55 Swiss with good results; the only problem is with some bolt rifles, the flat nose will occasionally hang up(most always, I've noticed, when feeding from the left) in some rifles. That problem is the main reason I got this Lee mold, as the pointed bullet should eliminate that problem.
On news other than what makes me sweat half to death,
Well, looks like some of the Evil Party people are getting a bit worried/upset about dealers being closed at the will of The Obama, and the losses of jobs and tax revenue it's causing/will cause. Most of them don't have the pull of that dirtbag Frank to 'save' dealers in their district, so they're getting a bit antsy, it seems. Of course, they have to properly massage The One's ego:
We recognize that efforts by your Auto Task Force prevented the total liquidation of General Motors and Chrysler, as well as their dealership networks. We commend your efforts to help these businesses survive these challenging economic times.
Well, yes, if he hadn't gotten into the middle of this they'd have had to file bankruptcy months ago BEFORE he poured billions of dollars of other peoples' money into them, and while the union brass would have been pissed, everyone else would have been better off.
One more celebrity discovers that- "WHAT?!?"- when you help elect a tax-raising socialist, he'll go after your stuff, too.
Today, though, I’ll cast him as Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca for his shock, shock! that a redistributionist Democratic Party might tax his industry into default
Yep.
Ah, yes, a proposal that the White House is somehow supposed to not have known about:The NY Times covers a trial balloon that would provoke outrage from the left if Bush-Cheney had proposed it. However, as the Times tells it, the proposal has no sponsorship at all - apparently it just fell from the sky, or something. Here we go:
The Obama administration is considering a change in the law for the military commissions at the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, that would clear the way for detainees facing the death penalty to plead guilty without a full trial.
The provision could permit military prosecutors to avoid airing the details of brutal interrogation techniques. It could also allow the five detainees who have been charged with the Sept. 11 attacks to achieve their stated goal of pleading guilty to gain what they have called martyrdom.
...
And Obama's position? Who knows?!? The Times is utterly mystified:
The draft legislation includes other changes administration officials disclosed last month when President Obama said he would continue the controversial military commission system with changes that would increase detainees’ rights. It is not known whether the White House has approved the proposed death penalty provision. A White House spokesman declined to comment.Hope! Change!
Victor Davis Hanson has a very good piece that deals with Obama Versus the Way of the Universe. Well worth reading, although I'll argue with this:
Obama will come to his senses with his ‘Bush did it’, reset button, moral equivalency, soaring hope and change, with these apologies to Europeans, his Arab world Sermons on the Mount to Al Arabiya, in Turkey, in Cairo, etc., his touchy-feely videos to Iran, his “we are all victims of racism” sops to Ortega, Chavez, and Morales. It is only a matter of when, under what conditions, how high the price we must pay, and whether we lose the farm before he gains wisdom about the tragic universe in which we live.
Hell, Jimmy Carter, who seems to be Obama's model on some things, STILL doesn't get it. And if we lose the farm before he does get it, we're still screwed.
Ah well, things to do.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
One last D-Day post
pointing you to Blackfive, and the efforts of the Soviets and their minions to rewrite history:
At the very last display in the camp, there was a book for former prisoners to write messages in. Most were in French or Hebrew. One of the pages had been torn out by the new German historians of the camp. They had framed the page above the book. You could not miss it - that was obviously the point.
The page was written by a former prisoner who lived in Paris and had just visited the camp a few weeks before we did. It was written in French and the Germans had it translated into German and English and Russian (brilliant!). I'll never forget it.
It read:
I survived the horrors of this camp.
Now everyone can know the truth.
Patton liberated this camp, not the Russians. I was there. The Amercans saved my life.
Thank you Americans!
Not one of my sergeants spoke for a long time.
At the very last display in the camp, there was a book for former prisoners to write messages in. Most were in French or Hebrew. One of the pages had been torn out by the new German historians of the camp. They had framed the page above the book. You could not miss it - that was obviously the point.
The page was written by a former prisoner who lived in Paris and had just visited the camp a few weeks before we did. It was written in French and the Germans had it translated into German and English and Russian (brilliant!). I'll never forget it.
It read:
I survived the horrors of this camp.
Now everyone can know the truth.
Patton liberated this camp, not the Russians. I was there. The Amercans saved my life.
Thank you Americans!
Not one of my sergeants spoke for a long time.
I had two great-uncles, both now in the soil,
who served in WWII. George Llanes was a skinny guy from south Texas who wound up in the Navy as a hard-hat diver. Ray Wells, Army Infantry in Europe.
Neither of them talked about it. Ever. Until the last few years before they died, each would say a few things. Not much. When Clinton was talking up an invasion of Iraq(and being surprised everyone didn't jump on his wagon), and George talked- a little. About Tarawa, mostly, and dead Marines in the water and on the beaches. Only time I ever heard him speak of his time in the Pacific. He wound up on full disability from injuries received. He did mention(that same night) that a lot of it came when they were diving on a sunken Japanese submarine, and were bombed; as I recall, he said "They knew we were diving on it, and didn't want us to get any intelligence from it."
Ray went over, and came back. And didn't talk about it to the family at all, not even his wife. The little ever heard was when a guy from his unit passing not too far away made a point to visit. Ray's wife, that evening, got him aside and asked him about it. Didn't get much; he didn't like talking about it either. Ray was a country boy who grew up hunting and fishing, he knew how to move in the woods and was, until the last couple of years, one hell of a shot. The friend did say that in one battle, there were eight Germans he personally knew Ray killed; and, worse than the killing, kids coming to their camps to beg for food. Ray was one of those who went without some nights because he couldn't stand to see them go hungry another night. He served from somewhere in France until the end, came home and, like George and a lot of others, considered it a dirty job that'd had to be done but they didn't want to think about it, or talk about it, once over.
Both were the kind of men you were glad to know, good friends. Who did something that had to be done, like a whole lot of others.
Neither of them talked about it. Ever. Until the last few years before they died, each would say a few things. Not much. When Clinton was talking up an invasion of Iraq(and being surprised everyone didn't jump on his wagon), and George talked- a little. About Tarawa, mostly, and dead Marines in the water and on the beaches. Only time I ever heard him speak of his time in the Pacific. He wound up on full disability from injuries received. He did mention(that same night) that a lot of it came when they were diving on a sunken Japanese submarine, and were bombed; as I recall, he said "They knew we were diving on it, and didn't want us to get any intelligence from it."
Ray went over, and came back. And didn't talk about it to the family at all, not even his wife. The little ever heard was when a guy from his unit passing not too far away made a point to visit. Ray's wife, that evening, got him aside and asked him about it. Didn't get much; he didn't like talking about it either. Ray was a country boy who grew up hunting and fishing, he knew how to move in the woods and was, until the last couple of years, one hell of a shot. The friend did say that in one battle, there were eight Germans he personally knew Ray killed; and, worse than the killing, kids coming to their camps to beg for food. Ray was one of those who went without some nights because he couldn't stand to see them go hungry another night. He served from somewhere in France until the end, came home and, like George and a lot of others, considered it a dirty job that'd had to be done but they didn't want to think about it, or talk about it, once over.
Both were the kind of men you were glad to know, good friends. Who did something that had to be done, like a whole lot of others.
June 6
1944. The biggest amphibious landing of all time, combined with massive airborne landings by chute and glider, into the teeth of one of the most heavily-defended and fortified areas in the world.
Airborne troops dropped at too-high speed who wound up landing with a pistol and knife and not much else because the airstream ripped everything else off them. Guys landing on a beach knowing about all the machine guns and artillery waiting for them. I'm going to borrow some from Russ at Ace of Spades:
You know what I did this morning? Maybe it would be better if I told you what I didn't do this morning.
For those, and everyone else in uniform that's been to and fought over and bled and died in everyplace from fields in the Colonies to deserts and mountains and jungles, give them a thought today.
Airborne troops dropped at too-high speed who wound up landing with a pistol and knife and not much else because the airstream ripped everything else off them. Guys landing on a beach knowing about all the machine guns and artillery waiting for them. I'm going to borrow some from Russ at Ace of Spades:
You know what I did this morning? Maybe it would be better if I told you what I didn't do this morning.
I didn't have to spend over 12 hours on a transport ship in choppy water, then clamber down a cargo net into a plywood landing craft, all while carrying up to 100 pounds of gear on my back. Then, I didn't ride through the rough surf in that little plywood target, only to have the steel ramp (the only part of the little plywood boat that was even remotely bullet-resistant) flop down and drop me into the cold ocean water in front of a beach filled with steel obstacles, mines, flying bullets & exploding artillery rounds.
I didn't fly over enemy occupied territory at 1000 feet in a C47 cargo plane and then jump out of the plane into the teeth of enemy anti-aircraft fire. I didn't have to worry about my bright white silk parachute making me a good target for troops on the ground who wanted to use me for target practice, and after I landed, I didn't have to worry about engaging a vastly superior force with only the gear I carried with me (providing that said gear wasn't ripped off by the turbulence I encountered exiting the plane) with whoever I could gather together from the other troops dropped behind enemy lines the same as I was.
I didn't march into a plywood glider (PLYWOOD, as we've already established, is NOT very resistant to gunfire and explosions) and sit quietly while I was towed into anti-aircraft fire, only to be released and experience a controlled crash into trees, buildings or apparently open fields that were booby trapped with wooden poles and steel cables by the enemy.
I wasn't asked to take my place in a McGyvered together amphibious tank, where I would most likely be swamped by the waves and sink to the bottom of the English Channel like....well, like a tank rigged for amphibious operations with lumber and canvas. And if I DID happen to get to the beach, I would have been the prime target of every enemy artillery piece for miles around.
God only knows what all was lost on those beaches and fields and towns and villages. How much potential died there, doing a filthy, bloody, nasty job that had to be done.For those, and everyone else in uniform that's been to and fought over and bled and died in everyplace from fields in the Colonies to deserts and mountains and jungles, give them a thought today.
Friday, June 05, 2009
And, as a knifemaker, I now have to note that the President
is after your knife, too.
Beware! That folding knife in your pocket may turn you into a criminal if the Obama administration gets its way. Although there has been a lot of fear and speculation that the new administration wants to take your guns, the most pressing threat now is actually to your pocket knives. With the changing of the guard at U.S. Customs, that agency has now embarked on redefining "switchblades" under federal law to include a wide variety of one hand opening knives that never were intended to be prohibited. In fact, many of the knives U.S. Customs now seek to prohibit under the Federal Switchblade Law had not even been invented at the time of its enactment! Furthermore, four previous U.S. Customs ruling letters (prior administrations) specifically determined "assisted opening" knives not to be defined as switchblades.
This new proposed U.S. Customs regulation is so broad that thousands of pocket knives will fall under its sweep and millions of knife owners will be affected. The problem is not simply that imports will be banned (which is bad enough), but that the "agency determination" will be used by domestic courts and law enforcement to determine what a "switchblade" is under both federal and state laws. Many states, including New Hampshire, fail to define switchblades and simply rely on the federal definition.
Just effing wonderful, isn't it?
Beware! That folding knife in your pocket may turn you into a criminal if the Obama administration gets its way. Although there has been a lot of fear and speculation that the new administration wants to take your guns, the most pressing threat now is actually to your pocket knives. With the changing of the guard at U.S. Customs, that agency has now embarked on redefining "switchblades" under federal law to include a wide variety of one hand opening knives that never were intended to be prohibited. In fact, many of the knives U.S. Customs now seek to prohibit under the Federal Switchblade Law had not even been invented at the time of its enactment! Furthermore, four previous U.S. Customs ruling letters (prior administrations) specifically determined "assisted opening" knives not to be defined as switchblades.
This new proposed U.S. Customs regulation is so broad that thousands of pocket knives will fall under its sweep and millions of knife owners will be affected. The problem is not simply that imports will be banned (which is bad enough), but that the "agency determination" will be used by domestic courts and law enforcement to determine what a "switchblade" is under both federal and state laws. Many states, including New Hampshire, fail to define switchblades and simply rely on the federal definition.
Just effing wonderful, isn't it?
As stated on the www.kniferights.org website:
U.S. Customs has proposed revoking earlier rulings that assisted opening knives are not switchblades. The proposed new rule would not only outlaw assisted opening knives its broad definition could also easily be interpreted to include one-handed opening knives and even most other pocket knives.
Note that customs interpretation of the Federal Switchblade Act forms the basis for national, state and even local law and judicial rulings in many cases. The effect is NOT limited to just imports.
As stated on the www.akti.org website:
URGENT NEWS - U.S. Customs Proposal would characterize assisted-openers as switchblade knives and jeopardize all pocket knives. On behalf of the entire sporting knife industry and knife owners across the country, AKTI will be filing an official response to U.S. Customs.
It appears Pres. Barack Hussein Cartman Obama is only interested in
energy sources that are 'extra'-PC, and wave power doesn't count:
The Obama administration has proposed a 25 percent cut in the research and development budget for one of the most promising renewable energy sources in the Northwest — wave and tidal power.
At the same time the White House sought an 82 percent increase in solar power research funding, a 36 percent increase in wind power funding and a 14 percent increase in geothermal funding, it sought to cut wave and tidal research funding from $40 million to $30 million.
Let it also be noted that he has no problem with friggin' Iran building reactors, but doesn't want any built in the US. And now this.
The decision to cut funding for tidal and wave power came only weeks after the Interior Department suggested that wave power could emerge as the leading offshore energy source in the Northwest and at a time when efforts to develop tidal power in Puget Sound are attracting national and international attention.
By some estimates, wave and tidal power could eventually meet 10 percent of the nation's electricity demand, about the same as hydropower currently delivers. Some experts have estimated that if only 0.2 percent of energy in ocean waves could be harnessed, the power produced would be enough to supply the entire world.
As the Random Nukes guy says,
If our two Senators, Patty “Osama bin Laden builds daycare centers” Murray and Maria “Can’tVoteWell” Cantwell would keep their damn eyes on the prize instead of dallying with shit our state doesn’t need attending to, this wouldn’t have happened.
Just last month a set of these power generators was OK’d to be set off in Puget Sound by Mr. Completely’s place. The things have four legs and can be moved around if a better location is discovered or if for some reason their location suddenly becomes a shipping lane. All you see is a damn buoy floating on top of the water and the fish could care less. Twice a year cleanings is the required maintenance. Hit the link for a rather well done drawing.
But noooooo, The President’s folks would rather cover the state of Nevada with solar panels that can’t be manufactured fast enough to meet his production targets and every ridge line mowed down and topped with a propeller until alien civilizations begin to wonder if they have religious significance.
The Obama administration has proposed a 25 percent cut in the research and development budget for one of the most promising renewable energy sources in the Northwest — wave and tidal power.
At the same time the White House sought an 82 percent increase in solar power research funding, a 36 percent increase in wind power funding and a 14 percent increase in geothermal funding, it sought to cut wave and tidal research funding from $40 million to $30 million.
Let it also be noted that he has no problem with friggin' Iran building reactors, but doesn't want any built in the US. And now this.
The decision to cut funding for tidal and wave power came only weeks after the Interior Department suggested that wave power could emerge as the leading offshore energy source in the Northwest and at a time when efforts to develop tidal power in Puget Sound are attracting national and international attention.
By some estimates, wave and tidal power could eventually meet 10 percent of the nation's electricity demand, about the same as hydropower currently delivers. Some experts have estimated that if only 0.2 percent of energy in ocean waves could be harnessed, the power produced would be enough to supply the entire world.
As the Random Nukes guy says,
If our two Senators, Patty “Osama bin Laden builds daycare centers” Murray and Maria “Can’tVoteWell” Cantwell would keep their damn eyes on the prize instead of dallying with shit our state doesn’t need attending to, this wouldn’t have happened.
Just last month a set of these power generators was OK’d to be set off in Puget Sound by Mr. Completely’s place. The things have four legs and can be moved around if a better location is discovered or if for some reason their location suddenly becomes a shipping lane. All you see is a damn buoy floating on top of the water and the fish could care less. Twice a year cleanings is the required maintenance. Hit the link for a rather well done drawing.
But noooooo, The President’s folks would rather cover the state of Nevada with solar panels that can’t be manufactured fast enough to meet his production targets and every ridge line mowed down and topped with a propeller until alien civilizations begin to wonder if they have religious significance.
As to Pres. Obama's speech the other day,
various people have taken it apart. On the "Islam Saved Sciene"-type aspects, Robert Spencer deals with that:
As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
The idea that Islamic culture was once a beacon of learning and enlightenment is a commonly held myth. In fact, much of this has been exaggerated, often for quite transparent apologetic motives. The astrolabe was developed, if not perfected, long before Muhammad was born. The zero, which is often attributed to Muslims, and what we know today as “Arabic numerals” did not originate in Arabia, but in pre-Islamic India. Aristotle’s work was preserved in Arabic not initially by Muslims at all, but by Christians such as the fifth century priest Probus of Antioch, who introduced Aristotle to the Arabic-speaking world. Another Christian, Huneyn ibn-Ishaq (809-873), translated many works by Aristotle, Galen, Plato and Hippocrates into Syriac. His son then translated them into Arabic. The Syrian Christian Yahya ibn ‘Adi (893-974) also translated works of philosophy into Arabic, and wrote one of his own, The Reformation of Morals. His student, another Christian named Abu ‘Ali ‘Isa ibn Zur’a (943-1008), also translated Aristotle and others from Syriac into Arabic. The first Arabic-language medical treatise was written by a Christian priest and translated into Arabic by a Jewish doctor in 683. The first hospital was founded in Baghdad during the Abbasid caliphate -- not by a Muslim, but a Nestorian Christian. A pioneering medical school was founded at Gundeshapur in Persia — by Assyrian Christians.
In sum, there was a time when it was indeed true that Islamic culture was more advanced than that of Europeans, but that superiority corresponds exactly to the period when Muslims were able to draw on and advance the achievements of Byzantine and other civilizations. But when the Muslim overlords had taken what they could from their subject peoples, and the Jewish and Christian communities had been stripped of their material and intellectual wealth and thoroughly subdued, Islam went into a period of intellectual decline from which it has not yet recovered.
I'll add, on the 'religious equality and racial tolerance' bit, Jews and Christians, from what I've read, were dhimmi; restricted in their worship, in what house/type they could own, what kind of livestock they could own, and had to pay a tax to be allowed to live this way. And Mohammed didn't like non-arabs; said it quite plainly that 'Islam is a religion for Arabs'. Not exactly what the President was pushing. Ok, further down he notes this:
"The dhimmi, as these covenanted peoples were called, were granted religious freedom, not forced to convert to Islam. They could continue to be Jews and Christians, and, as it turned out, they could share in much of Muslim social and economic life. In return for this freedom of religious conscience the Peoples of the Book (pagans had no such privilege) were required to pay a special tax — no Muslims paid taxes — and to observe a number of restrictive regulations: Christians and Jews were prohibited from attempting to proselytize Muslims, from building new places of worship, from displaying crosses or ringing bells. In sum, they were forbidden most public displays of their religious rituals."
Things like that, basically sucking up to other countries, and all the apologies for the US... about what you'd expect from Obama. He did point out that the US has done many good things for the world, but always he throws in "We're not so good, we need to advance", always he has to have something to denigrate the US. And this line:
Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail.
WHAT 'world order'? What 'order' has elevated one nation over another? Just how does he mean this? I strongly suspect he's speaking of having a 'proper' world order(UN) making sure no country is, in his terms, better off than another. Yeah, that'd be a wonderful situation, wouldn't it?
I suspect that what American Thinker put forward was right; he didn't have the integrity or balls to say anything sooner- tried to avoid it altogether- about the murder of Private William Long and wounding of Private Quinton Ezeagwula, because he didn't want it to somehow cause him trouble in sucking up to the 'muslim world'. Got news for you, Mr. President; if calling a muslim a murderer and dirtbag, even indirectly, for this crime would cause problems with them, then they need to change their damned attitude. And you need to stand up for our guys, not filter everything through "We must not give offense to muslims."
And, to borrow from someone, STOP APOLIGIZING FOR THIS COUNTRY! I'm sick of it.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Ah, one of the joys of old surplus rifles
is getting the oil and grease out of the stock. The P14 I picked up at Tulsa last fall, to be specific. It wasn't too bad(I've cleaned much worse), mainly the wrist at the back of the receiver, and along the sides of the receiver area.
I finally got pretty much all of it out, and rubbed on linseed thinned with mineral spirits; the spirits thins it enough to let it really penetrate into the wood, let it sit a while then wipe off any excess. It's been drying the last couple of days, so tomorrow I should be able to do a bit of smoothing- making sure not to damage the cartouches- and put on the first coat of Minwax Antique Oil Finish. I'm not going to try to take this all the way to a gloss finish, just three or four times to seal the wood and protect it.
Have I ever mentioned how nice nitrile gloves can be?
Oh, earlier at the redhead's place, I read her recipe for soda bread, and decided to try it. The only cast iron I have that's about 10" diameter is the dutch oven I picked up a while back and hadn't used yet, so it was christened with this; and considering how much rising the stuff did while baking, I'm glad I used it. The bread's good(very), and that and some cheese was dinner.
I finally got pretty much all of it out, and rubbed on linseed thinned with mineral spirits; the spirits thins it enough to let it really penetrate into the wood, let it sit a while then wipe off any excess. It's been drying the last couple of days, so tomorrow I should be able to do a bit of smoothing- making sure not to damage the cartouches- and put on the first coat of Minwax Antique Oil Finish. I'm not going to try to take this all the way to a gloss finish, just three or four times to seal the wood and protect it.
Have I ever mentioned how nice nitrile gloves can be?
Oh, earlier at the redhead's place, I read her recipe for soda bread, and decided to try it. The only cast iron I have that's about 10" diameter is the dutch oven I picked up a while back and hadn't used yet, so it was christened with this; and considering how much rising the stuff did while baking, I'm glad I used it. The bread's good(very), and that and some cheese was dinner.
Battle of Midway
And some of the things involved in the victory. In part,
Go look at the rest. When you consider everything that could(and some that did) go wrong, it's friggin' amazing.
- Have your major surface combatants destroyed or seriously damaged and unavailable for use.
- Make sure the enemy has 4 aircraft carriers and some big battleships headed for you.
- Make sure you are outnumbered in aircraft carriers by 4 to 3.
- Have 1 of your 3 aircraft carriers severely damaged and limp into port unable to support flight operations.
- Have only a vague idea where the enemy fleet might be.
- Arrange to have your most aggressive, experienced aviator admiral come down with some sort of skin infection that puts him in a hospital bed, unavailable for duty.
- Replace him with a non-aviator admiral just in time for what you know has to be a battle largely fought by carrier aircraft. See #1.
Go look at the rest. When you consider everything that could(and some that did) go wrong, it's friggin' amazing.
Rep. Barney Frank(Evil Party-MA) is a slimy, corrupt little whore
Which you already knew, this just makes what's happening to GM dealers even worse(if possible):
Rep Barney Frank (D-Mass.) won a stay of execution on Thursday for a General Motors plant in his district that the automaker had announced it would close.
No other lawmaker has managed to halt the GM ax. As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Frank oversees the government’s bailout program, known as TARP. Frank’s staff said the lawmaker spokes with GM CEO Fritz Henderson on Wednesday and convinced him to keep the Norton, Mass. plant open for at least 14 months.
'Convinced'; let's see, is that a euphemism for 'threatened' or 'bribed'? Or both, considering Frank, miserable little bastard that he is.
Rep Barney Frank (D-Mass.) won a stay of execution on Thursday for a General Motors plant in his district that the automaker had announced it would close.
No other lawmaker has managed to halt the GM ax. As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Frank oversees the government’s bailout program, known as TARP. Frank’s staff said the lawmaker spokes with GM CEO Fritz Henderson on Wednesday and convinced him to keep the Norton, Mass. plant open for at least 14 months.
'Convinced'; let's see, is that a euphemism for 'threatened' or 'bribed'? Or both, considering Frank, miserable little bastard that he is.
Breda notes a company that doesn't want your business
if you're a gun owner.
I was about to continue on but I paused long enough to look at the page again and noticed this as the item's description...
Right. Well then, they just lost a potential customer. And really, it's not as if I couldn't find the same items somewhere else with a little extra effort on Google - librarian skills do come in handy sometimes.
Yeah, if someone craps on gun owners, find the product somewhere else. And tell them about it.
I was about to continue on but I paused long enough to look at the page again and noticed this as the item's description...
"Kikkerland donates 5% of proceeds of each bag to the Brady Campaign to end gun violence (www.bradycampaign.org)"
Right. Well then, they just lost a potential customer. And really, it's not as if I couldn't find the same items somewhere else with a little extra effort on Google - librarian skills do come in handy sometimes.
Yeah, if someone craps on gun owners, find the product somewhere else. And tell them about it.
Why I'm glad Coburn decided to run for a second term
Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn says he's not ready to meet with Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.
He says he still has a lot of reasearch to do before he meets with her...
"I'm not going to talk to her... she has 3,600 cases and when I have reviewed and have prepared myself properly, then I will sit down with her in my office and visit with her."
Senator Coburn was a guest on Wednesday's Mark Shannon Show on KTOK and he says choosing a Supreme Court Nominee isn't about someone's personality...
It's about how they will interpret the law.
Yes, I'm still ticked about his 'yes' vote on the Pork, Payoffs & Bribes Bailout Bill; overall, he's still one of the best in that Parliament of Whores.
He says he still has a lot of reasearch to do before he meets with her...
"I'm not going to talk to her... she has 3,600 cases and when I have reviewed and have prepared myself properly, then I will sit down with her in my office and visit with her."
Senator Coburn was a guest on Wednesday's Mark Shannon Show on KTOK and he says choosing a Supreme Court Nominee isn't about someone's personality...
It's about how they will interpret the law.
Yes, I'm still ticked about his 'yes' vote on the Pork, Payoffs & Bribes Bailout Bill; overall, he's still one of the best in that Parliament of Whores.
Why I don't trust feds as a general rule anymore
The Behenna case was marred by what appears to be prosecutorial misconduct when evidence from the prosecution's own forensics expert favorable to Behenna was ignored and withheld from the military tribunal until the trial was over.
And what might that evidence be?
"● As the case unfolded, and before the government rested its case-in-chief, Dr. MacDonell advised the prosecutors that it was possible that Mansur was standing with his arms raised and was first shot through the torso and secondly shot in the head as he fell. Dr. MacDonell demonstrated this scenario to the prosecutors using prosecution team personnel.
"● After 1LT Behenna testified, Dr. MacDonell again advised another government expert that the forensics of the entry wounds support Behenna’s testimony. The government did not disclose to the defense the fact that their own expert had concluded that Behenna’s version was not just possible but was the “only logical” explanation consistent with the forensic evidence, despite formal requests from Behenna’s counsel before and during the trial for Brady material – evidence potentially favorable to the accused as to guilt or sentencing.
"● The case then proceeded to closing argument without the benefit of Dr. MacDonell’s testimony. In fact, the government argued in closing that Behenna’s version of events was so implausible that the government did not need to call a rebuttal witness when, in fact, Dr. MacDonell was retained in part for the contingency of being such a rebuttal witness. Only after Dr. MacDonell pressed the issue with the prosecutors by sending them an email did the prosecutors disclose his opinion that: '[T]he only logical explanation for this shooting . . .[is] that Ali Mansur had to have been shot in his chest when he was standing. . . . [I]t fits the facts and I can not think of a more logical explanation. [W]hen I heard Lt. Michael Behenna testify . . . I could not believe how close it was to the scenario I had described to you on Wednesday.'
"● This email with its critical content was produced to Behenna’s defense team after the court members (what civilians call the “jury”) had already returned a guilty verdict. Therefore, the court members never learned of Dr. MacDonell’s exculpatory conclusions for their deliberations on guilt or sentencing.
"● The government opposed 1LT Behenna’s new trial, stating in its brief: 'Dr. MacDonell’s opinion that 1LT Behenna’s account was the only logical explanation of the shooting, albeit extremely unlikely or an amazing coincidence, would not have produced a substantially more favorable result for the Accused.'
This kind of bullcrap, like the misconduct that came out in the Ted Stevens trial, is why I just don't trust these people.
And what might that evidence be?
"● As the case unfolded, and before the government rested its case-in-chief, Dr. MacDonell advised the prosecutors that it was possible that Mansur was standing with his arms raised and was first shot through the torso and secondly shot in the head as he fell. Dr. MacDonell demonstrated this scenario to the prosecutors using prosecution team personnel.
"● After 1LT Behenna testified, Dr. MacDonell again advised another government expert that the forensics of the entry wounds support Behenna’s testimony. The government did not disclose to the defense the fact that their own expert had concluded that Behenna’s version was not just possible but was the “only logical” explanation consistent with the forensic evidence, despite formal requests from Behenna’s counsel before and during the trial for Brady material – evidence potentially favorable to the accused as to guilt or sentencing.
"● The case then proceeded to closing argument without the benefit of Dr. MacDonell’s testimony. In fact, the government argued in closing that Behenna’s version of events was so implausible that the government did not need to call a rebuttal witness when, in fact, Dr. MacDonell was retained in part for the contingency of being such a rebuttal witness. Only after Dr. MacDonell pressed the issue with the prosecutors by sending them an email did the prosecutors disclose his opinion that: '[T]he only logical explanation for this shooting . . .[is] that Ali Mansur had to have been shot in his chest when he was standing. . . . [I]t fits the facts and I can not think of a more logical explanation. [W]hen I heard Lt. Michael Behenna testify . . . I could not believe how close it was to the scenario I had described to you on Wednesday.'
"● This email with its critical content was produced to Behenna’s defense team after the court members (what civilians call the “jury”) had already returned a guilty verdict. Therefore, the court members never learned of Dr. MacDonell’s exculpatory conclusions for their deliberations on guilt or sentencing.
"● The government opposed 1LT Behenna’s new trial, stating in its brief: 'Dr. MacDonell’s opinion that 1LT Behenna’s account was the only logical explanation of the shooting, albeit extremely unlikely or an amazing coincidence, would not have produced a substantially more favorable result for the Accused.'
This kind of bullcrap, like the misconduct that came out in the Ted Stevens trial, is why I just don't trust these people.
As Uncle has asked before, why are anti-gun people
so violent?
Lots of pictures at the site, short version:
People build homes near a range that's been there many years.
People discover noise!
People try to shut range down, fail.
People vandalize range and owners home.
Lots of pictures at the site, short version:
People build homes near a range that's been there many years.
People discover noise!
People try to shut range down, fail.
People vandalize range and owners home.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
So President Obama finally saw fit to, or finally got around to,
saying something about the murder and attempted murder of soldiers here in the US:
“I am deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence against two brave young soldiers who were doing their part to strengthen our armed forces and keep our country safe. I would like to wish Quinton Ezeagwula a speedy recovery, and to offer my condolences and prayers to William Long’s family as they mourn the loss of their son.”
That's it. That's Effing It. It took him three friggin' DAYS to come up with this. It only took hours for him to be 'shocked and outraged' by the 'heinous act of violence' of the murder of Dr. Tiller, but it took him THREE DAMN DAYS to be 'deeply saddened' by the attack on these two soldiers.
I realize he's probably rehearsing bowing to the King of Saudi and otherwise offering our belly to whoever he's planning to apologize to, but even if American Thinker is right and he was worried about 'upsetting the muslim world' by taking notice of this attack, that's not a reason; that's a bloody excuse. This dirtbag murdered one troop and damn near killed another, and it took him THREE DAYS to be 'saddened'. And you know something? If lots of people like Malkin and Rush and whoever had not kept yelling about this refusal to speak, he'd never have said one damned word. Because I don't think he cares about the lives of these troops; he just cares about nothing smudging his image with other parts of the world.
Ok, at the end of her post Malkin points to something else, and I'm now of the opinion that a bunch of seat-warmers in the FBI need to be fired. Preferably yesterday. From the article:
A disturbing aspect of the attack is that Muhammad had been brought to the FBI’s attention months ago, according to ABC News.
But U.S. counterterror teams may have been intentionally prevented from investigating radicalized converts to Islam:
Stratfor implies, however, that the investigations were canceled for purely political reasons.
Many FBI supervisors are reluctant to authorize investigations that they believe may have negative blow-back on their career advancement. In light of this institutional culture, and the order to be careful in investigations relating to Black Muslim converts, it would not be at all surprising to us if a supervisor refused to authorize a full-field investigation of Muhammad that would have included surveillance of his activities... Had the FBI opened a full-field investigation on Muhammad, and had it conducted surveillance on him, it would have been able to watch him participate in preoperational activities such as conducting surveillance of potential targets and obtaining weapons.
Of course, the FBI didn't fire any of the people who effed up before 9/11, so what are the chances of them nailing anybody for one lousy dead soldier?
Lampposts, ropes, and a whole pile of politicians and bureaucrats.
“I am deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence against two brave young soldiers who were doing their part to strengthen our armed forces and keep our country safe. I would like to wish Quinton Ezeagwula a speedy recovery, and to offer my condolences and prayers to William Long’s family as they mourn the loss of their son.”
That's it. That's Effing It. It took him three friggin' DAYS to come up with this. It only took hours for him to be 'shocked and outraged' by the 'heinous act of violence' of the murder of Dr. Tiller, but it took him THREE DAMN DAYS to be 'deeply saddened' by the attack on these two soldiers.
I realize he's probably rehearsing bowing to the King of Saudi and otherwise offering our belly to whoever he's planning to apologize to, but even if American Thinker is right and he was worried about 'upsetting the muslim world' by taking notice of this attack, that's not a reason; that's a bloody excuse. This dirtbag murdered one troop and damn near killed another, and it took him THREE DAYS to be 'saddened'. And you know something? If lots of people like Malkin and Rush and whoever had not kept yelling about this refusal to speak, he'd never have said one damned word. Because I don't think he cares about the lives of these troops; he just cares about nothing smudging his image with other parts of the world.
Ok, at the end of her post Malkin points to something else, and I'm now of the opinion that a bunch of seat-warmers in the FBI need to be fired. Preferably yesterday. From the article:
A disturbing aspect of the attack is that Muhammad had been brought to the FBI’s attention months ago, according to ABC News.
But U.S. counterterror teams may have been intentionally prevented from investigating radicalized converts to Islam:
Several weeks ago, STRATFOR heard from sources that the FBI and other law enforcement organizations had been ordered to “back off” of counterterrorism investigations into the activities of Black Muslim converts. At this point, it is unclear to us if that guidance was given by the White House or the Department of Justice, or if it was promulgated by the agencies themselves, anticipating the wishes of President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder.
Stratfor implies, however, that the investigations were canceled for purely political reasons.
...politics have proved obstructive to all facets of counterterrorism policy. And politics may have been at play in the Muhammad case as well as in other cases involving Black Muslim converts......
Many FBI supervisors are reluctant to authorize investigations that they believe may have negative blow-back on their career advancement. In light of this institutional culture, and the order to be careful in investigations relating to Black Muslim converts, it would not be at all surprising to us if a supervisor refused to authorize a full-field investigation of Muhammad that would have included surveillance of his activities... Had the FBI opened a full-field investigation on Muhammad, and had it conducted surveillance on him, it would have been able to watch him participate in preoperational activities such as conducting surveillance of potential targets and obtaining weapons.
Of course, the FBI didn't fire any of the people who effed up before 9/11, so what are the chances of them nailing anybody for one lousy dead soldier?
Lampposts, ropes, and a whole pile of politicians and bureaucrats.
So I'd day any "It was just a moment of rage/insanity" defense
is out the effing window:
The man charged with the Arkansas military recruiter shooting might have considered other targets, according to law enforcement officials.
A joint FBI-Homeland Security intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press said officers found maps to Jewish organizations, a child care center, a Baptist church, a post office and military recruiting centers in the southeastern U.S. and New York and Philadelphia.
"Out of an abundance of caution, and in light of newly discovered information, the FBI cannot rule out additional subjects, targets, or the potential for inspired copy cats who might act out in support of the original act," the intelligence assessment said.
I will admit to looking very carefully at the wording of releases like this, due to past instances of weasel-wording and flat lies. Considering that, the 'inspired copy cats' line sounds almost like "Let's say 'copycat' now, so if this clown's friends do something, we can have that in the public mind."
Why yes, I am rather untrustful of these people anymore. And the Religion of Peace, for that matter. From Theo, as I recall:
"Police reported that a suspicious box was located in a van outside a local mosque. However, they advise the public that there is no need to panic, as they were able to push it inside."
The man charged with the Arkansas military recruiter shooting might have considered other targets, according to law enforcement officials.
A joint FBI-Homeland Security intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press said officers found maps to Jewish organizations, a child care center, a Baptist church, a post office and military recruiting centers in the southeastern U.S. and New York and Philadelphia.
"Out of an abundance of caution, and in light of newly discovered information, the FBI cannot rule out additional subjects, targets, or the potential for inspired copy cats who might act out in support of the original act," the intelligence assessment said.
I will admit to looking very carefully at the wording of releases like this, due to past instances of weasel-wording and flat lies. Considering that, the 'inspired copy cats' line sounds almost like "Let's say 'copycat' now, so if this clown's friends do something, we can have that in the public mind."
Why yes, I am rather untrustful of these people anymore. And the Religion of Peace, for that matter. From Theo, as I recall:
"Police reported that a suspicious box was located in a van outside a local mosque. However, they advise the public that there is no need to panic, as they were able to push it inside."
A little more on the jihadi filth murderer, and just how well
the system worked to keep an eye on him:
But Muhammad is no stranger to the FBI files. They had their hands on Bledsoe once before, detaining him in Yemen with a fake Somalian passport. However Bledsoe, a US citizen with Constitutional rights by birth, was freed to continue his personal jihad that was to end one new soldier’s life, and send to the hospital.
Why? How does that happen? Despite the hallmarks, the connections, the travels and the trails to jihad centers, and such obvious suspicious behavior, the FBI didn’t have “sufficient evidence” to meet legal demands for either a wiretap or surveillance?
What were they missing by our legal standards that prevented them for further investigation? What if this was to be more than a “hunting” expedition for Bledsoe?
They catch him in a foreign country with a fake passport, they know what he was doing there, but there's 'insufficient evidence' for wiretap or actual surveillance? Or is this another of the decisions like that which kept the investigators from getting a court order to search a laptop before 9/11; chickenshit cowardly brass that didn't want to be seen as 'insensitive' or politically incorrect? I don't now, and barring a real investigation we probably never will. If it's the latter, then the bastards responsible have blood on their hands.
And, so far as I know, the miserable bastard in the White House still has made no mention of the murder and attempted murder of troops here in the US.
But Muhammad is no stranger to the FBI files. They had their hands on Bledsoe once before, detaining him in Yemen with a fake Somalian passport. However Bledsoe, a US citizen with Constitutional rights by birth, was freed to continue his personal jihad that was to end one new soldier’s life, and send to the hospital.
Why? How does that happen? Despite the hallmarks, the connections, the travels and the trails to jihad centers, and such obvious suspicious behavior, the FBI didn’t have “sufficient evidence” to meet legal demands for either a wiretap or surveillance?
What were they missing by our legal standards that prevented them for further investigation? What if this was to be more than a “hunting” expedition for Bledsoe?
They catch him in a foreign country with a fake passport, they know what he was doing there, but there's 'insufficient evidence' for wiretap or actual surveillance? Or is this another of the decisions like that which kept the investigators from getting a court order to search a laptop before 9/11; chickenshit cowardly brass that didn't want to be seen as 'insensitive' or politically incorrect? I don't now, and barring a real investigation we probably never will. If it's the latter, then the bastards responsible have blood on their hands.
And, so far as I know, the miserable bastard in the White House still has made no mention of the murder and attempted murder of troops here in the US.
In the current version of "No tax increases on people making under
(insert current floating number here)" from the President, here's his newest "Maybe we will raise taxes on you after all":
President Obama, in a pivot from some of his harshest campaign rhetoric, told Democratic senators yesterday that he is willing to consider taxing employer-sponsored health benefits to help pay for a broad expansion of coverage.
So, in the name of 'fairness' or something, he's going to tax the crap out of businesses and people who have insurance(supposedly a good thing) because he needs to loot every source available to pay for his socialist plans. Anybody surprised?
Oh, and you union guys who supported Obama? Because the Holy Union said to, because "He'll owe us"? I hope you're happy. Especially you people who used to work for GM, before The One took it over and started running it. How many jobs lost? How many plants closed? How many dealerships closed and jobs lost? Maybe you didn't consider something: Obama may have considered he owed the Union something, but he doesn't think he owes you shit. Because he gets your money from the Union, and doesn't have to give a crap about you.
President Obama, in a pivot from some of his harshest campaign rhetoric, told Democratic senators yesterday that he is willing to consider taxing employer-sponsored health benefits to help pay for a broad expansion of coverage.
So, in the name of 'fairness' or something, he's going to tax the crap out of businesses and people who have insurance(supposedly a good thing) because he needs to loot every source available to pay for his socialist plans. Anybody surprised?
Oh, and you union guys who supported Obama? Because the Holy Union said to, because "He'll owe us"? I hope you're happy. Especially you people who used to work for GM, before The One took it over and started running it. How many jobs lost? How many plants closed? How many dealerships closed and jobs lost? Maybe you didn't consider something: Obama may have considered he owed the Union something, but he doesn't think he owes you shit. Because he gets your money from the Union, and doesn't have to give a crap about you.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Language alert: as of this time our
God-cursed miserable sonuvabitch President B. Cartman Obama has STILL, so far as I can find, made no statement about the murder of one soldier and wounding of another. In the US. He can make time to condemn the murder of an abortion doctor, but cannot find time in his busy schedule to condemn the murder of Private William Long and wounding of Private Quinton Ezeagwula.
Maybe too busy practicing for the next time he bows to the King of Saudi? and doesn't want to upset him by having on his record condemning a muslim murdering an American soldier? Too busy practicing his apologies for what a sucky country he thinks this is? Too busy screwing up the economy? The bastard can make announcements about the military, but not say one damned word about this? Not even a generic "This was a terrible act" statement?
I was going to go on a tear about this sorry excuse for a man, but I can't. I just can't get the right words to properly express my contempt for this thing sitting in the Oval Office. I apologize, but I just can't put this level of rage into words.
Maybe too busy practicing for the next time he bows to the King of Saudi? and doesn't want to upset him by having on his record condemning a muslim murdering an American soldier? Too busy practicing his apologies for what a sucky country he thinks this is? Too busy screwing up the economy? The bastard can make announcements about the military, but not say one damned word about this? Not even a generic "This was a terrible act" statement?
I was going to go on a tear about this sorry excuse for a man, but I can't. I just can't get the right words to properly express my contempt for this thing sitting in the Oval Office. I apologize, but I just can't put this level of rage into words.
What? A politician may have USED people?
Who'd believe it?
It is now coming out that several of those police chefs may not have been as excited about the governors over ride on the gun bill as he would like people to believe.
We are now finding out they were all in town for some convention or other and were asked to come over and meet the governor during a break. Of course most of them went. When they got there they were all piled in together and finally told what it was about just shortly before the signing of his veto with them as the backdrop.
They did not come to the event knowing they were about to be used.
Pointed to by Uncle
It is now coming out that several of those police chefs may not have been as excited about the governors over ride on the gun bill as he would like people to believe.
We are now finding out they were all in town for some convention or other and were asked to come over and meet the governor during a break. Of course most of them went. When they got there they were all piled in together and finally told what it was about just shortly before the signing of his veto with them as the backdrop.
They did not come to the event knowing they were about to be used.
Pointed to by Uncle
Quote of the day,
from Cold Fury:
Also troubling is the judge’s La Raza membership. La Raza was founded in more “blood and soil” rhetoric than a 1930’s Hitler Youth rally in Nuremberg. The only difference between Arayan Nation and Aztlan Nation is the spelling and the suntan.
Also troubling is the judge’s La Raza membership. La Raza was founded in more “blood and soil” rhetoric than a 1930’s Hitler Youth rally in Nuremberg. The only difference between Arayan Nation and Aztlan Nation is the spelling and the suntan.
Well, so the muslim who murdered one US soldier and wounded another
was being investigated by the FBI.
The suspect arrested in the fatal shooting of one soldier and the critical injury of another at a Little Rock, Ark., Army recruiting booth today was under investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorist Task Force since his return from Yemen, ABC News has learned.
The investigation was in its preliminary stages, authorities said, and was based on the suspect's travel to Yemen and his arrest there for using a Somali passport. Oh, and look at this:
While there, Muhammad — a U.S. citizen from Memphis who is a recent convert to Islam and was previously known as Carlos Bledsoe — studied jihad with an Islamic scholar, Jihadwatch.org reported.
And from the ABC report: But, Muhammad's travels overseas have sparked a major international investigation. Officials say it is too early to know for certain if he indeed acted alone.
What. The. Hell. He was arrested in YEMEN for using a SOMALI passport? And was studying jihad? Yeah, that indicates that Pres. B. Cartman Obama's plan to have some of the dirtbags he wants to release from Gitmo loose in the US will have NO problems, right? Since the FBI & Co. will be watching them? Like they were presumably watching this clown?
Speaking of President Obama, has anyone seen any statement from the White House condemning this murder and near-murder, this terrorist attack on US soil? Any condemnation of the terrorist? I damn sure haven't. I seem to recall that after that abortionist was murdered, there was a pretty prompt statement released about that; but maybe American troops being attacked and killed on American soil just isn't as important to the President. Or maybe he's just too busy playing makeup with the Queen for having crapped on her, or wondering why the Chinese laughed when told their assets are safe. Or he was too busy worrying about the weenies he's put in charge of the auto industry screwing things up even worse.
The suspect arrested in the fatal shooting of one soldier and the critical injury of another at a Little Rock, Ark., Army recruiting booth today was under investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorist Task Force since his return from Yemen, ABC News has learned.
The investigation was in its preliminary stages, authorities said, and was based on the suspect's travel to Yemen and his arrest there for using a Somali passport. Oh, and look at this:
While there, Muhammad — a U.S. citizen from Memphis who is a recent convert to Islam and was previously known as Carlos Bledsoe — studied jihad with an Islamic scholar, Jihadwatch.org reported.
And from the ABC report: But, Muhammad's travels overseas have sparked a major international investigation. Officials say it is too early to know for certain if he indeed acted alone.
What. The. Hell. He was arrested in YEMEN for using a SOMALI passport? And was studying jihad? Yeah, that indicates that Pres. B. Cartman Obama's plan to have some of the dirtbags he wants to release from Gitmo loose in the US will have NO problems, right? Since the FBI & Co. will be watching them? Like they were presumably watching this clown?
Speaking of President Obama, has anyone seen any statement from the White House condemning this murder and near-murder, this terrorist attack on US soil? Any condemnation of the terrorist? I damn sure haven't. I seem to recall that after that abortionist was murdered, there was a pretty prompt statement released about that; but maybe American troops being attacked and killed on American soil just isn't as important to the President. Or maybe he's just too busy playing makeup with the Queen for having crapped on her, or wondering why the Chinese laughed when told their assets are safe. Or he was too busy worrying about the weenies he's put in charge of the auto industry screwing things up even worse.
Monday, June 01, 2009
For the offense of being in uniform and standing at a recruiting office,
a muslim murders one soldier and wounds another.
A Muslim convert who said he was opposed to the U.S. military shot two soldiers outside an Arkansas recruiting station, killing one of the soldiers, police said Monday.
"This individual appears to have been upset with the military, the Army in particular, and that's why he did what he did," Little Rock Police Lt. Terry Hastings said in a phone interview.
"He has converted to [Islam] here in the past few years," Hastings said. "To be honest we're not completely clear on what he was upset about. He had never been in the military."
How about because he's a miserable sonofabitch muslim who thinks he's entitled to kill anyone who's not a miserable muslim too?
Police identified the dead soldier as Pvt. William Long, 24, of Conway. Wounded was Pvt. Quentin Ezeagwula, 18, of Jacksonville. He’s in serious condition, but isn’t believed to have life-threatening wounds.
As of the time Malkin posted, there'd been no word from Fearless Leader condemning this; I guess he's too busy writing his next apology to give to someone. Or planning his next condemnation of the murderer of that abortion doctor; FAR more important than this.
Two soldiers, fresh out of boot camp, killed by the enemy right here in this country. Excuses/threats/cries of victimhood from muslim groups expected at any time. And God damn any one of the miserable bastards who does so. Arkansas has the death penalty; we'll see if they've got the balls to deal with a protected species just like everyone else.
A Muslim convert who said he was opposed to the U.S. military shot two soldiers outside an Arkansas recruiting station, killing one of the soldiers, police said Monday.
"This individual appears to have been upset with the military, the Army in particular, and that's why he did what he did," Little Rock Police Lt. Terry Hastings said in a phone interview.
"He has converted to [Islam] here in the past few years," Hastings said. "To be honest we're not completely clear on what he was upset about. He had never been in the military."
How about because he's a miserable sonofabitch muslim who thinks he's entitled to kill anyone who's not a miserable muslim too?
Police identified the dead soldier as Pvt. William Long, 24, of Conway. Wounded was Pvt. Quentin Ezeagwula, 18, of Jacksonville. He’s in serious condition, but isn’t believed to have life-threatening wounds.
As of the time Malkin posted, there'd been no word from Fearless Leader condemning this; I guess he's too busy writing his next apology to give to someone. Or planning his next condemnation of the murderer of that abortion doctor; FAR more important than this.
Two soldiers, fresh out of boot camp, killed by the enemy right here in this country. Excuses/threats/cries of victimhood from muslim groups expected at any time. And God damn any one of the miserable bastards who does so. Arkansas has the death penalty; we'll see if they've got the balls to deal with a protected species just like everyone else.
So 'Cleanest Congress EVAH!' Pelosi says "Every aspect of our lives
must be subjected to an inventory." All in the name of Saving The Planet For Children, Puppies and Unicorns, of course.
In answering a question from a student about how Pelosi was going to get Americans to cut back on their carbon emissions, the leading Democratic lawmaker said it was important to educate children on how to conserve energy and for citizens to build more environmentally friendly homes.
She wore a dhimmi scarf to make the president of Syria happy, now she's telling the PRC(translated) "We will indoctrinate the children and order our subjects in what kind of home they will be allowed to have, and how they must live in it."
Found via Tam and the Architect.
Inventory, hmmm, you corrupt little politician? Sure, but not the way you think.
In answering a question from a student about how Pelosi was going to get Americans to cut back on their carbon emissions, the leading Democratic lawmaker said it was important to educate children on how to conserve energy and for citizens to build more environmentally friendly homes.
She wore a dhimmi scarf to make the president of Syria happy, now she's telling the PRC(translated) "We will indoctrinate the children and order our subjects in what kind of home they will be allowed to have, and how they must live in it."
Found via Tam and the Architect.
Inventory, hmmm, you corrupt little politician? Sure, but not the way you think.
The Official First Day of Retirement from TAIDNN
pindicates that I'm not going to get much rest for a while.
Let's see, get up and take the walk I've been trying to do regularly(got to do something to keep my fat ass under control), then- since the monthly big trash pickup is Wednesday, haul all the limbs I'd pruned and couldn't chip around front. Then notice all the stuff that's grown up/out in the last while and get the ladder and loppers and so forth and whack them and drag them around... my ass was dragging by the time that was done. And there's lots and lots of little stuff around that needs doing.
Friends down in Texas, the wife used to work at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She'd thought about retiring and working on an upgraded certification for her job, but had put it off for a while; then decided to do it. And signed her papers a day or two before the next round of layoffs was announced(sometimes, timing is everything). Last time talked to them, between studying and the house and whatever, she said "If I was still working, I don't know how I'd get half of this done!" Which is what I'm beginning to wonder.
Right now I've got some wood with the pattern laid out for routing for grips that I need to work on, and a bunch of little-stuff cleaning and neatening in the house. However, my bloody knees are aching, so here I sit. However, I shall(soon) decide to ignore the discomfort and go out and do Something Constructive(soon).
Of course, I just looked around the room and thought- again- 'I really need to neaten up this room', which is where I do my reloading among other things. Outside stuff first, before it heats up too much.
The abbreviation? Denny used to refer to where he worked as The Company I Dare Not Name until after he retired; in my case it's the Agency. Which I'll say something about later.
Let's see, get up and take the walk I've been trying to do regularly(got to do something to keep my fat ass under control), then- since the monthly big trash pickup is Wednesday, haul all the limbs I'd pruned and couldn't chip around front. Then notice all the stuff that's grown up/out in the last while and get the ladder and loppers and so forth and whack them and drag them around... my ass was dragging by the time that was done. And there's lots and lots of little stuff around that needs doing.
Friends down in Texas, the wife used to work at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She'd thought about retiring and working on an upgraded certification for her job, but had put it off for a while; then decided to do it. And signed her papers a day or two before the next round of layoffs was announced(sometimes, timing is everything). Last time talked to them, between studying and the house and whatever, she said "If I was still working, I don't know how I'd get half of this done!" Which is what I'm beginning to wonder.
Right now I've got some wood with the pattern laid out for routing for grips that I need to work on, and a bunch of little-stuff cleaning and neatening in the house. However, my bloody knees are aching, so here I sit. However, I shall(soon) decide to ignore the discomfort and go out and do Something Constructive(soon).
Of course, I just looked around the room and thought- again- 'I really need to neaten up this room', which is where I do my reloading among other things. Outside stuff first, before it heats up too much.
The abbreviation? Denny used to refer to where he worked as The Company I Dare Not Name until after he retired; in my case it's the Agency. Which I'll say something about later.
Ah, the wonders of the UN and the people in UNESCO
Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni, a candidate for the top job at the United Nations culture agency UNESCO, apologised on Wednesday for calling for Israeli books to be burnt.
Hosni's bid for the post of UNESCO director-general provoked the anger of a group of intellectuals who accused him of anti-Semitism in a French newspaper column last week.
Writing in the same newspaper, Le Monde, Hosni said he regretted his words, adding that they had allowed detractors to associate him with things that he found hateful.
Yeah, I'm sure if he'd known this would get out he'd have restated it, right?
Philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, film director Claude Lanzmann and Nobel Peace Price laureate Elie Wiesel last week quoted Hosni as saying he would burn Israeli books and calling Israeli culture "inhuman".
"Let's burn these books; if there are any, I will burn them myself before you," they quoted Hosni as telling a member of parliament who had confronted him about the presence of Israeli books in Egyptian libraries last May.
Hosni told media at the time he had meant the comments as "hyperbole".
Hyperbole, right.
"Israeli culture is an inhuman culture; it's an aggressive, racist, pretentious culture that is based on a simple principle, stealing that which does not belong to it and then claiming it as its own," they quoted him as saying in 2001.
But, of course, there's the perfect defense of this crap:
Hosni avoided any direct reference to this in his article, but said that if any of his remarks had appeared harsh, they should be placed in the context of the suffering of the Palestinian people...
Once again, "We're victims! So you can't blame us for saying nasty things! It's all the JOOOOOOS fault!"
Anybody who hopes for the UN to be part of a solution in the mideast that involves anything but Israel being trashed, has to be off their meds.
Hosni's bid for the post of UNESCO director-general provoked the anger of a group of intellectuals who accused him of anti-Semitism in a French newspaper column last week.
Writing in the same newspaper, Le Monde, Hosni said he regretted his words, adding that they had allowed detractors to associate him with things that he found hateful.
Yeah, I'm sure if he'd known this would get out he'd have restated it, right?
Philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, film director Claude Lanzmann and Nobel Peace Price laureate Elie Wiesel last week quoted Hosni as saying he would burn Israeli books and calling Israeli culture "inhuman".
"Let's burn these books; if there are any, I will burn them myself before you," they quoted Hosni as telling a member of parliament who had confronted him about the presence of Israeli books in Egyptian libraries last May.
Hosni told media at the time he had meant the comments as "hyperbole".
Hyperbole, right.
"Israeli culture is an inhuman culture; it's an aggressive, racist, pretentious culture that is based on a simple principle, stealing that which does not belong to it and then claiming it as its own," they quoted him as saying in 2001.
But, of course, there's the perfect defense of this crap:
Hosni avoided any direct reference to this in his article, but said that if any of his remarks had appeared harsh, they should be placed in the context of the suffering of the Palestinian people...
Once again, "We're victims! So you can't blame us for saying nasty things! It's all the JOOOOOOS fault!"
Anybody who hopes for the UN to be part of a solution in the mideast that involves anything but Israel being trashed, has to be off their meds.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Two serious and one not-so thing tonight,
the second two hopefully taking some of the bad taste out of your mouth.
First, Ann Althouse sort-of defends some of Sotomayor's comments:
Well, of course, she would have restated it if she'd thought, when she said it, that it would be used by opponents of her Supreme Court nomination the way it's being used today. But that's why the original quotation is so interesting and deserving of analysis.
Yet it was not an unguarded spontaneous outburst. It was a carefully written speech delivered to a particular audience. Sotomayor was saying the things that would be well-received by her audience. Indeed, I have trouble getting roused by her statement — "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life" — because I've been immersed for a quarter century in the kind of law school environment that she addressed. Here, we sympathetically smile and nod at such things. We nurture racial analysis. We create a school of thought and hire people to write about Critical Race Theory. What Sotomayor said was actually a weak, feel-good version of the kind of racial talk that is widespread in the legal academy.
Want to know why so much in the legal world, and our government, is so effed up? That gives you a good look at why. Read the whole thing. Personally, I think this bit is very important:
It was for publication in the Berkeley La Raza Law Journal, in a symposium called "Raising the Bar: Latino and Latina Presence in the Judiciary and the Struggle for Representation." She had to address the topic. She did so in a notably non-radical fashion.
And she did 'address the topic'. And it's how she did, and her statements of how she does things as a judge, that is causing the upset. As it damn well should. And it's only in a environment that 'smiles and nods' at such crap that it could be described as 'non-radical'.
Second, one of the first Brits- and the first Brit paratroop- to land in France on D-Day was back in Normandy for the approaching anniversary.
Richard said: "As soon as we were on the ground our dropping zone was covered with enemy fire. You didn't hang around. Luckily I dropped right by a track that led straight to our rendezvous."
A quick glance skywards before diving for the cover of trees told him how fortunate he'd been to survive this long.
Todd recalled: "Being first out of the first plane wasn't my idea I assure you. But immediately I could see I was lucky. My plane had benefited from the element of surprise. We'd come under a lot of enemy fire but nothing compared to the flak the other planes behind were getting.
"Looking up I saw whole planes full of paratroopers being brought down. We lost a lot of men that way.
...
In 1944 the crucial mission for Todd's 7th battalion of the Parachute Regiment was to hold the bridges over the River Orne and the Caen Canal three miles inland, stopping the German forces from getting reinforcements to the beaches. That allowed the Allies in the seaborne landing to advance inland. A glider force-led by Major John Howard, of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry-had seized the bridges in minutes, just half an hour ahead of the main airborne invasion.
Todd's landing site was just half a mile from the bridge and after taking cover in the woods he linked up with his commanding officer, Lieutenant- Colonel Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, and his team. They trekked across farmland to the target.
A hell of a lot of troops never made it out of the planes that night, or were killed while still in the air. We cannot allow them to be forgotten.
And last, the enviroweenies want to introduce(or re-introduce) beavers back into Scotland, and Mr. Clarkson isn't wild about the idea:
As we know, the economy is stagnant, we are up to our shoulders in debt and things are likely to get worse. So imagine my surprise to find the government has decided to spend £275,000 on 11 Norwegian beavers that will be freed to roam wild in Scotland.
As this works out at £25,000 each, I’m wondering if the money could have been better spent. Because I’ve done some checking and it turns out that for the same kind of cash they could have bought an extremely rare white lion cub, half a dozen house-trained chimpanzees and a brace of albino pythons.
A striped Bengal cat, which looks very much like a small monochrome tiger and is created by mating an Asian leopard cat with a domestic tom, can be bought, according to a Forbes magazine survey, for as little as £500. Extremely good value for money considering that I should imagine many of the couplings end with the domestic tom inside the female’s stomach.
...
I’m not suggesting that the beavers will eat people who go to see them, although if they are ramblers that would be no bad thing. But who’s to say the trees they chew don’t contain some unknown bacterium that stops sheep becoming man-eaters? Who’s to say the floods their dams create won’t swamp Glasgow? Who’s to say the Loch Ness Monster isn’t an ancient beaver experiment that got out of hand?
Of course, the beaver enthusiasts will dismiss all this as nonsense and point to the red kites that were successfully reintroduced in the Chilterns a few years ago. Absolutely. I love to see these majestic birds soaring over the cut on the M40 as I drive to London. They lift my spirits.
But did anyone notice the RSPB findings last week? The sudden and dramatic decline in the number of lapwings, wood warblers and fieldfares? Could this have anything to do with the sudden re-emergence of the airborne raptor?
What was it Tam said, that what the world needs is a airborne predator with a 15-foot wingspan? I'm sure it's on somebody's schedule.
First, Ann Althouse sort-of defends some of Sotomayor's comments:
Well, of course, she would have restated it if she'd thought, when she said it, that it would be used by opponents of her Supreme Court nomination the way it's being used today. But that's why the original quotation is so interesting and deserving of analysis.
Yet it was not an unguarded spontaneous outburst. It was a carefully written speech delivered to a particular audience. Sotomayor was saying the things that would be well-received by her audience. Indeed, I have trouble getting roused by her statement — "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life" — because I've been immersed for a quarter century in the kind of law school environment that she addressed. Here, we sympathetically smile and nod at such things. We nurture racial analysis. We create a school of thought and hire people to write about Critical Race Theory. What Sotomayor said was actually a weak, feel-good version of the kind of racial talk that is widespread in the legal academy.
Want to know why so much in the legal world, and our government, is so effed up? That gives you a good look at why. Read the whole thing. Personally, I think this bit is very important:
It was for publication in the Berkeley La Raza Law Journal, in a symposium called "Raising the Bar: Latino and Latina Presence in the Judiciary and the Struggle for Representation." She had to address the topic. She did so in a notably non-radical fashion.
And she did 'address the topic'. And it's how she did, and her statements of how she does things as a judge, that is causing the upset. As it damn well should. And it's only in a environment that 'smiles and nods' at such crap that it could be described as 'non-radical'.
Second, one of the first Brits- and the first Brit paratroop- to land in France on D-Day was back in Normandy for the approaching anniversary.
Richard said: "As soon as we were on the ground our dropping zone was covered with enemy fire. You didn't hang around. Luckily I dropped right by a track that led straight to our rendezvous."
A quick glance skywards before diving for the cover of trees told him how fortunate he'd been to survive this long.
Todd recalled: "Being first out of the first plane wasn't my idea I assure you. But immediately I could see I was lucky. My plane had benefited from the element of surprise. We'd come under a lot of enemy fire but nothing compared to the flak the other planes behind were getting.
"Looking up I saw whole planes full of paratroopers being brought down. We lost a lot of men that way.
...
In 1944 the crucial mission for Todd's 7th battalion of the Parachute Regiment was to hold the bridges over the River Orne and the Caen Canal three miles inland, stopping the German forces from getting reinforcements to the beaches. That allowed the Allies in the seaborne landing to advance inland. A glider force-led by Major John Howard, of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry-had seized the bridges in minutes, just half an hour ahead of the main airborne invasion.
Todd's landing site was just half a mile from the bridge and after taking cover in the woods he linked up with his commanding officer, Lieutenant- Colonel Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, and his team. They trekked across farmland to the target.
A hell of a lot of troops never made it out of the planes that night, or were killed while still in the air. We cannot allow them to be forgotten.
And last, the enviroweenies want to introduce(or re-introduce) beavers back into Scotland, and Mr. Clarkson isn't wild about the idea:
As we know, the economy is stagnant, we are up to our shoulders in debt and things are likely to get worse. So imagine my surprise to find the government has decided to spend £275,000 on 11 Norwegian beavers that will be freed to roam wild in Scotland.
As this works out at £25,000 each, I’m wondering if the money could have been better spent. Because I’ve done some checking and it turns out that for the same kind of cash they could have bought an extremely rare white lion cub, half a dozen house-trained chimpanzees and a brace of albino pythons.
A striped Bengal cat, which looks very much like a small monochrome tiger and is created by mating an Asian leopard cat with a domestic tom, can be bought, according to a Forbes magazine survey, for as little as £500. Extremely good value for money considering that I should imagine many of the couplings end with the domestic tom inside the female’s stomach.
...
I’m not suggesting that the beavers will eat people who go to see them, although if they are ramblers that would be no bad thing. But who’s to say the trees they chew don’t contain some unknown bacterium that stops sheep becoming man-eaters? Who’s to say the floods their dams create won’t swamp Glasgow? Who’s to say the Loch Ness Monster isn’t an ancient beaver experiment that got out of hand?
Of course, the beaver enthusiasts will dismiss all this as nonsense and point to the red kites that were successfully reintroduced in the Chilterns a few years ago. Absolutely. I love to see these majestic birds soaring over the cut on the M40 as I drive to London. They lift my spirits.
But did anyone notice the RSPB findings last week? The sudden and dramatic decline in the number of lapwings, wood warblers and fieldfares? Could this have anything to do with the sudden re-emergence of the airborne raptor?
What was it Tam said, that what the world needs is a airborne predator with a 15-foot wingspan? I'm sure it's on somebody's schedule.
There's been an awful lot of cases of prosecutorial misconduct
in federal cases coming out the past while; it appears here's another:
Former U. S. Attorney Robert McCampbell said today that Army Lt. Michael Behenna, convicted of murder in the death of an Al Qaida operative in Iraq, should, at the least, be given a new trial due to prosecutorial misconduct.
...
Prater said information in the possession of the military prosecutors in the Behenna case favorable to Behenna should have been "immediately" disclosed to Behenna's defense attorneys. Instead, the information was not disclosed until Behenna had been convicted. An appeal to the judge based on the withholding of the information was dismissed.
...
That information came from the proseuction's own forensics expert, who agreed with Behenna's account of how the death occurred. The expert was not called to testify and was sent home by the prosecutors after he told them of his opinion.
Ok, if this is accurate, then the prosecutors should be disbarred and prosecuted themselves. The job of a prosecutor is supposed to be to find the facts, to seek the truth; NOT 'get a conviction no matter what we have to do'.
Former U. S. Attorney Robert McCampbell said today that Army Lt. Michael Behenna, convicted of murder in the death of an Al Qaida operative in Iraq, should, at the least, be given a new trial due to prosecutorial misconduct.
...
Prater said information in the possession of the military prosecutors in the Behenna case favorable to Behenna should have been "immediately" disclosed to Behenna's defense attorneys. Instead, the information was not disclosed until Behenna had been convicted. An appeal to the judge based on the withholding of the information was dismissed.
...
That information came from the proseuction's own forensics expert, who agreed with Behenna's account of how the death occurred. The expert was not called to testify and was sent home by the prosecutors after he told them of his opinion.
Ok, if this is accurate, then the prosecutors should be disbarred and prosecuted themselves. The job of a prosecutor is supposed to be to find the facts, to seek the truth; NOT 'get a conviction no matter what we have to do'.
The Stupid Party bigshots just keep proving why that name
sticks.
Steele: GOP Needs To Stop “Slammin’ And Rammin’” On Sotomayor...
and
McCain to back Meg Whitman for California governor
You know, this woman:
Whitman said she...believes tough gun laws like assault weapon bans and handgun control are appropriate for California.
And these clowns wonder why so many people are leaving the 'R We Stupid' party and registering 'independant'?
Steele: GOP Needs To Stop “Slammin’ And Rammin’” On Sotomayor...
and
McCain to back Meg Whitman for California governor
You know, this woman:
Whitman said she...believes tough gun laws like assault weapon bans and handgun control are appropriate for California.
And these clowns wonder why so many people are leaving the 'R We Stupid' party and registering 'independant'?
Remember the 'right-wing terrorist- warning for LE in Missouri?
Ran across this today, it's a bit dated but still good:
Since the SPLC was listed as a source in the MIAC Missouri Documents, ALIPAC sent a letter of inquiry to the Missouri Governor Jay Nixon on March 20, 2009 asking for more specific sourcing information.
"When many of us read these Missouri Documents we felt that the false connections, pseudo research, and political attacks found in these documents could have been penned by the SPLC and ADL," said William Gheen of ALIPAC. "We were shocked to see credible law enforcement agencies disseminating the same kind of over the top political propaganda distributed by these groups."
Colonel James F. Keathley, Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol issued a letter of response to ALIPAC and other sources on March 25-26, which states that the Missouri militia documents are being withdrawn, more oversight will be applied to future releases, the Missouri Documents do not meet the high quality standards expected from the MIAC, and that "certain subsets of Missourians will not be singled out inappropriately in these reports for particular associations".
FOX Radio Network is reporting that Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (R-MO) has asked that Missouri Public Safety Director John Britt be placed on administrative leave. The report also says Kinder has issued a public apology to Presidential candidates Ron Paul, Bob Barr, and Chuck Baldwin.
That action was taken is good, but as was pointed out at the time, the damage had been done before the document was withdrawn; the government of Missouri, basing the charges on biased documents from two political action groups, had slandered and thrown suspicion on a lot of honest people.
As the Gun Rights Examiner column asks, why does someone saying "I support the Constitution" and other such things scare some law enforcement so badly? Badly enough to equate the people saying them with terrorists?
And just what does that say about some of our law enforcement?
Since the SPLC was listed as a source in the MIAC Missouri Documents, ALIPAC sent a letter of inquiry to the Missouri Governor Jay Nixon on March 20, 2009 asking for more specific sourcing information.
"When many of us read these Missouri Documents we felt that the false connections, pseudo research, and political attacks found in these documents could have been penned by the SPLC and ADL," said William Gheen of ALIPAC. "We were shocked to see credible law enforcement agencies disseminating the same kind of over the top political propaganda distributed by these groups."
Colonel James F. Keathley, Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol issued a letter of response to ALIPAC and other sources on March 25-26, which states that the Missouri militia documents are being withdrawn, more oversight will be applied to future releases, the Missouri Documents do not meet the high quality standards expected from the MIAC, and that "certain subsets of Missourians will not be singled out inappropriately in these reports for particular associations".
FOX Radio Network is reporting that Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (R-MO) has asked that Missouri Public Safety Director John Britt be placed on administrative leave. The report also says Kinder has issued a public apology to Presidential candidates Ron Paul, Bob Barr, and Chuck Baldwin.
That action was taken is good, but as was pointed out at the time, the damage had been done before the document was withdrawn; the government of Missouri, basing the charges on biased documents from two political action groups, had slandered and thrown suspicion on a lot of honest people.
As the Gun Rights Examiner column asks, why does someone saying "I support the Constitution" and other such things scare some law enforcement so badly? Badly enough to equate the people saying them with terrorists?
And just what does that say about some of our law enforcement?
As the man says, if public officials were doing it to private citizens,
it could be 'chilling people's right to speak'; when citizens do it to public officials, that's accountability.
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Firearms Association is seeking to publicly identify each law enforcement officer and prosecutor who attended Gov. Phil Bredesen's veto of a bill to allow people with handgun carry permits to take their weapons into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.
Nashville Police Chief Ronal Serpas said Friday that the move could be seen as an effort to "chill people's rights to speak their opinion."
Well, Chief, if you've got a problem with the people knowing that you supported a bill, or supported a veto, tough; they have a right to know. Especially if you appear in uniform to do so.
It's been kind of amazing to read some of the BS being thrown around about this bill. Changing the law to allow carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol became "THEY WANT TO HAVE GUNS IN BARS! IT'LL BE TERRIBLE!!!" One of the nice things about the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act was this was taken into account from the first: you can't carry into a bar; you can carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol, but you can't drink- or sit in the bar- while there. I think the 'not in a bar' is silly as long as you're not drinking alcohol(designated driver, with a friend, etc.) but they did cover this matter. Which saved us a lot of this nonsense.
Been interesting reading the comments in articles like this. Lots of "I have always been around guns, but there's no reason to have one in a restaurant", which is at least civil, to "You right-wingers have a little penis and this is how you compensate" crap on the opposition side. The fact that robberies and such do happen in restaurants seems to be ignored, or pooh-poohed; and some- usually several- boobs start the "You don't need a gun while you're drinking" crap("Let's ignore that it's still illegal to drink when carrying and use this as a club.")
Back to the basic point, if you're a public official, say a police chief or sheriff, and you publicly support or attack a proposed law, you've got no grounds to bitch that people want to know about it. Period.
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Firearms Association is seeking to publicly identify each law enforcement officer and prosecutor who attended Gov. Phil Bredesen's veto of a bill to allow people with handgun carry permits to take their weapons into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.
Nashville Police Chief Ronal Serpas said Friday that the move could be seen as an effort to "chill people's rights to speak their opinion."
Well, Chief, if you've got a problem with the people knowing that you supported a bill, or supported a veto, tough; they have a right to know. Especially if you appear in uniform to do so.
It's been kind of amazing to read some of the BS being thrown around about this bill. Changing the law to allow carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol became "THEY WANT TO HAVE GUNS IN BARS! IT'LL BE TERRIBLE!!!" One of the nice things about the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act was this was taken into account from the first: you can't carry into a bar; you can carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol, but you can't drink- or sit in the bar- while there. I think the 'not in a bar' is silly as long as you're not drinking alcohol(designated driver, with a friend, etc.) but they did cover this matter. Which saved us a lot of this nonsense.
Been interesting reading the comments in articles like this. Lots of "I have always been around guns, but there's no reason to have one in a restaurant", which is at least civil, to "You right-wingers have a little penis and this is how you compensate" crap on the opposition side. The fact that robberies and such do happen in restaurants seems to be ignored, or pooh-poohed; and some- usually several- boobs start the "You don't need a gun while you're drinking" crap("Let's ignore that it's still illegal to drink when carrying and use this as a club.")
Back to the basic point, if you're a public official, say a police chief or sheriff, and you publicly support or attack a proposed law, you've got no grounds to bitch that people want to know about it. Period.
According to the Sitemeter message this morning,
sometime in the last 2 or 3 days, this site hit 300,000. And it only took... Damn, I've been doing this since 2004! I'd lost track.
And a little over 4000 posts.
Lousy numbers if you compare to someone like Insty, who gets more hits than that in a day, but for my electronic soapbox, not bad.
And a little over 4000 posts.
Lousy numbers if you compare to someone like Insty, who gets more hits than that in a day, but for my electronic soapbox, not bad.
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