Use Your Boot...

and kick 'em where it hurts.

I am the number one Google search result for "how to make someone bigger to cry." Really.

Shiver Me Timbers

Before becoming department head for the Texas Tech school of railroading, Gerald Myers was a college athlete himself, lettering in both throwing under the bus and wrestling for the last parachute. He majored in selling people out.

In his free time, Myers' hobbies include doing his laundry, which he prefers to leave hanging out to dry, and his collection of pieces of silver. His passion, however, is hen excrement.

Friday Night Music

We are really living in a golden age with today's technology. You can find all kinds of things on the internet. Here is Wade Bowen doing Tom Petty's "Won't Back Down"


It takes just a few more clicks and you get to see Robert Earl Keen, Wade Bowen, and Dierks Bentley doing Waylon's "Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean" The video quality isn't so great, but I'll include it just because it's pretty cool.

Don't Screw This Up

I'm a big fan of most big heroic legends. King Arthur, Beuwolf, and Robin Hood all have a lot of stories I enjoy. Robin Hood probably most of all. When it gets right down to it, if it weren't for a couple strongly held moral convictions I'd probably be robber of some sort.

So I got a little excited when I ran across this, thanks to my buddy Jason.


This could be really cool. I don't want to watch movies about sissy vampires, I don't want to watch movies about about people using the power of interpretive dance to prevent violence and rise above their humble beginnings. I want to see good guys and bad guys. I don't want the bad guys to be pushovers. I want them to be worthy opponents. I want heroes to do big things. Sometimes, that can come across as cheesy, but we're talking Robin friggin' Hood here. Robin Hood can do big things without being stupid.

As I have mentioned previously, I enjoyed Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Costner was in the middle of a Bull Durham/Dances With Wolves/The Untouchables hot streak the likes of which has seldom been seen. This movie let him play to his talents. He portrays an idealist without turning it into some sort of sappy girly-man. It's what he was born to do, the same way God created Woody Harrelson to play a zombie hunter. To me, a large part of the Robin Hood appeal is in sticking with ideals, staying true to your beliefs instead of falling to the lowest common denominator of your surroundings. That is what Prince of Thieves brings to the table.

Crowe can do a lot of things, and one of his best tricks is driven perseverance. That's another appeal of the Robin Hood legend. Of any heroic legend really. This movie may or may not live up to my expectation, but I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Good Guys

Via Tam, we learn of NYPD Sergeant Christopher Newsom, who managed to make four shots count when it mattered. We also learn a little more about the incident, and get an accurate biography of the criminal in question:

Martinez's brother told the News, "I don't know what happened. My brother is gone. He was a good guy. He was not evil," while Martinez's mother said, "I want justice... That was my beloved son. I want to know why the cop didn't shoot him in the leg or something." (She did admit to WABC 7 that she didn't know why he had a gun in Times Square.)

Sergeant Newsom didn't shoot him in the leg because that would have been a dereliction of duty. The thug was endangering lives with his behavior, and it was Newsom's job to stop it. Plus, REAL LIFE ISN'T A ROY ROGERS MOVIE. I'm sick and tired of people who believe something is easy because they saw Tom Cruise do it. You know what? Tom Cruise is about four foot tall. He can't reach a doorbell without special effects. Do you really want to base your knowledge of life on what he does on the silver screen? A leg is a much harder target than a torso, and a less reliable stop. The good Sergeant put a stop to the threat in exemplary fashion, and should be commended for staying cool under pressure. Martinez's family should keep their mouths shut until they come up with something worth listening to. Hopefully that will keep them quite and out of somebody else's hair.

What sets us apart

This is the day we celebrate The Bill of Rights. Today, we are thankful that the men who founded thos country were able to agree, first and foremost, that the powers of government needed to be limited from the beginning. That bastard Hamilton was against it, of course, earning his spot next to FDR and Obama. He did help get us the Ninth, though, so I've got to give the devil his due. FDR and Obama get no such break.

Dissent

So let me get this straight. Hillary says it is ok to disagree with any administration. Jimmy Carter says it's racist to disagree with the current one. Which is it?

Grr

I had a chance to do a little shooting Sunday. I was. Not. Happy. With my results. I've been busy and have neglected things of late. I did ok shooting the Marlin guide gun, although I discovered the Williams peep sight doesn't have enough downward adjustment. I need either a taller front sight or to file a little off of the bottom of the rear sight base. Or maybe a tapered shim of some sort.

I did terrible shooting my commander sized 1911, the one I usually shoot better than anything else. Nothing even felt right. My trigger pull was inconsistant, there was something funny with my stance. At ten and fifteen yards I was shooting groups I could barely cover with a hand. And I have big hands. I was on the verge of giving up an the Weaver and going with an Isocolese, just to try something different. Sundown saved me from myself.

So this week I'm going to make it a point to get a few short sessions in. Nothing long enough to let bad habits stick. Seven yards, just working on fundamentals. Sight picture, grip, and trigger control. And I'm not going to let things get this bad again.

Weekend Menaces

It would seem that siblings are a bigger menace than I would have imagined.

In Florida, they kill each other over loud music.

In California they're more traditional. They kill each other over money.

In Indiana, they kill each other because they're sick.

The world has always been a pretty messed up place.

Blog update

I've added My Ancestors Were Horse Thieves to the blog roll. It's a brand new blog that seems worth reading, even beyond just having a great name. Our horse thief friend hails from Colorado, another state that is beset by Californians and that outsiders mostly identify by a city that the rest of the state would just as soon forget. The gap between eastern Colorado and Denver is about as wide as the one between West Texas and Austin.

Friday Night Music

How about Max Stalling singing "Bass Run"

I'm going to Finland

Marko has written the funniest thing I've read in a long time. It's also broadened my horizons and knowledge of Europe.

Finnish people are legally limited to uttering a thousand words per year. In Finland, it’s customary to express affection by cutting the other person with a knife. Russians are considered game animals in most of Finland.

Harry Reid Is An Idiot

Does he even realize what he is saying?

Trying to stall health care reform makes people the same as slavery supporters? Harry Reid is amazingly stupid. Last time I checked, the supporters of health care reform are the ones trying to deny freedom to other people. They're the ones trying to take away personal choice.

I had a guy called Porkchop who worked for me for a while. Pork didn't know his right from his left. Koko the gorilla and Balto the sled dog knew their right from their left, but not Porkchop. With that in mind, Harry Reid is the dumbest person I've ever heard of.

Doesn't he know that the members of the Confederacy didn't just use words to resist? He's talking about people who took up arms and left the Union for their beliefs. Sadly, I can only wish that the Republicans in Washington today would stick to their guns the way Southern Democrats did leading up to the War of Northern Aggression. The politicians who are allegedly on my side these days tend to give up to the socialists like a Frenchman when he hears a German accent.

Once again, Harry Reid is an idiot.

Menace relocation program

Turns out people are smuggling kangaroos out of Australia and New Guinea. Probably a terrorist plot of some sort.

Blowing Hot Air

The EPA has declared CO2, Carbon Dioxide, a pollutant. Everytime you speak, every time you exhale, you're destroying the environment and bringing on the day when we all die, screaming, in a horrible, fiery death.

Does this mean politicians have to stop talking now? Or at least cease all the global warming hysterics?

Stinkin' Hippy

Some effeminate European (but I repeat myself) Buddy Holly wannabe thinks people should stop eating meat on Mondays as a way to save the environment. Since when does writing an Aerosmith song give somebody the right to tell me what to eat? If he wants to eat tofu that's his business, and nobody else's. Just like it's no body's business but mine what I eat.

What the hell does he have against meat? 20 to 30 percent of global green house gas emissions produced in producing meat? I'm calling b.s. Even if I believed it, who cares? Cows have four stomachs. That makes them more efficient than we are at converting plant life into protein. So on land that is too rough or otherwise unsuitable for growing tofu, cows can still be raised to feed people. Mr. Original Boy Band is against food production it seems. Is he trying to starve children out? Let me state, for the record, that I am against that.

Hippy boy can go smoke some more dope and leave me the hell alone. I'm from Texas. I'm eating two steaks next Monday, with a cheeseburger for dessert.

They're not even trying...

to pretend they have read the Constitution.

Since Barry O took office, the feds have taken at least partial control of the banking and auto industries, and are doing their level best to take total control of the health care industry. That's not enough for Henry Waxman, he wants control of the newspaper industry, too.

As it stands right now, the press is willing to try and ignore anything that doesn't fit in with the administration's agenda. What more does Waxman want? Everything, it seems.

"Eventually government is going to have to be responsible to help and resolve these issues," Waxman told a conference hosted by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on the future of journalism.

That's not even taking a walk on a slippery slope. That's going straght on, full tilt ahead, bulldozing the slope and erecting statues of Lenin and Marx in it's place.

Weekend Menaces

I'm not sure why it's been coming to everybody's attention this week, but a lot of people who belong in jail have been out menacing the public instead.

Most recently we have this guy in Maine, who the guards just happened to let out of maximum security prison. Understandable mistake, I do it myself all the time.

Yesterday, Rudy Garcia escaped while being transported in Hidalgo County, in deep South Texas, causing a school to be locked down. At about the same time, Michael Jones escaped and was found in South Carolina. A few days ago a guy escaped from a facility in Philadelphia. A couple days before that 21 year old James Fannin escaped in Missouri, but was captured soon afterward.

Violent offender Arcade Comeaux Jr.is still on the loose in the Houston area. That's two in Texas, no wonder we're so ready to execute, they can't escape if they're dead. But hey, at least we have fences around our prisons.

Maurice Clemmons, who belonged in jail for life, was roaming free and crazy, allowing him to murder four Seattle peace officers. Not only did idiot pretend conservative Mike Huckabee pardon him nine years ago, but he was released from jail in Washington just a few days before the murders, despite pending felony charges.

I'm going to load up a few more PMAGs, order a few more Wilson 1911 magazines, and spend some time practicing emptying both of them this weekend. The world is a dangerous place.

Friday Night Music

Since it snowed this week, I feel like listening to Tom Russell singing the Townes Van Zandt classic, "Snowin' on Raton"

Picking your battles..

..does not mean picking a fight with a man who did his best to single handedly take down the Third Reich. And the North Koreans. And the North Vietnamese.

Col. Van T. Barfoot is a recipient of the Medal of Honor. The official citation on his Medal of Honor reads:

Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers

The nine member board of his homeowners association sent a law firm to tell him he couldn't fly a flag from his flagpole. They have no rule against flagpoles, they just don't think his looks good.

Col. Barfoot is 90 years old, and so the pocket tyrants thought they had a shot at exerting some influence. My guess is, if the Nazis weren't enough to stop him in his twenties, then a few self important accountants and under stimulated housewives can't get it done now.

Back in the day...

Great Britain would have sailed in, hung some locals, and planted the Union Jack over an insult like this one.

If North Korea had imprisoned some Americans during Teddy By-God Roosevelt's time, he'd have seen it as a good reason for an excursion, and the Rough Riders would have charged up DMZ Hill. In 2009, there was so much indecision that Carbon Credit Boy offered Slick Willy some frequent flier miles and a chance to renew mile high club membership if he would please go over there and have dinner and get his picture taken with a tin pot, vodka soaked tyrant.

I think my stomach is about to be upset.

Who was that masked man?

I didn't even know they had cows in Massachusetts. Apparently yankees don't know that you're always better off when you put some bailing wire around the trailer door latch, just in case. Anyway, I also didn't know that they had cowboys in Massachusetts, but there was one handy when they needed him.

Fighting the Good Fight, One Zombie at a Time

Keep Texas Zombie Free is back. Go give him some encouragement. Both of you.

Yeah, that was a good idea.

I think I'm going to completely rip off somebody else's book idea to make money. I think I'll pick a book that somebody clever and snarky wrote. And I think I'll pick a book that gained much of it's reputation by word of mouth over the internet. Then I'll try to sell my drivel over that very same internet and hope none of those people notice. To make it even more fun, I think I'll plagiarise an author who is familiar with machine guns.
Oh wait, somebody beat me to it.

Weekend Menaces

As I've always suspected, Australia is a dangerous place, and I'm not talking about dingos stealing babies. I'm talking about marsupials. I knew they had pouches, didn't know they were amphibious.

Earlier this week a kangaroo tried to drown a man and his dog.

But the marsupials have menaces of their own, in a man-bites-dog turn on the first story, a few months ago a man saved a kangaroo from sharks.

Last year a snake was filmed trying to swallow a wallaby whole. What's more menacing than something that menaces a menace? Having the menace on the same continent. There's kangaroo roaming New York state.

I don't really know what it takes to stop a rampaging marsupial, but if they get any closer I'm betting a .45-70 will be enough.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everybody eats well and stays safe.

Narrow Horizons

This man was able to come up with names for 36 different firearms. I'm impressed that he was able to do so, but a little disappointed at the narrow scope of his collection. No 1911, no bolt guns, no lever guns, no revolvers. A strong preference for commie and German stuff. This is a man who probably has the day of the week written on the tag of his underwear.

For the record, I've only named one of mine, and I can't even pronounce it.

Hat tip to Sharp as a Marble

Cool

This new Kel-Tec PMR-30? The 30 shot .22 magnum pistol? The one everybody has been mentioning? Painfully ugly or not, I want one. If it turns out to be reliable and semi-accurate, I want two or three more. Even though it's not a big heavy bullet of the type I usually speak of, I'm a big fan of the .22WMR.

Sunday Headlines

Is any Kennedy Ready For a Senate Seat?

The answer is the same as it's been for five decades. Ready to inflate their own egos and sense of importance? Sure, they're Kennedys. Ready to help the nation? No.

Bishop bars Patrick Kennedy from Communion over abortion

As if he is able to set foot on holy ground.

British hostages say pirates will kill them

Wait, surely this can't be true. Pirates killing somebody? Unheard of.

How screwed up can people be?

There have been a lot of stories in the news lately that upset me. People doing horrible things to children. People allowing horrible things to happen to their own children. People who just plain need to be taken out back and shot, even though it is too good for them, just because it's the fastest way to stop them from breathing the same air as good people. Even kids so screwed up that they deserve to meet the same fate as adults for the things they've done.

What the hell is wrong with people? How can anybody hurt a helpless child that way? How come nobody stopped it? Some of these crimes could not have happened without somebody ignoring what was going on. How are those guilty bystanders able to live with themselves?

This stuff makes me sick to my stomach. I have a young niece. I have friends with kids. I have young cousins. I would shoot somebody, run them over with my truck, pull them to pieces with my bare hands, whatever it took, to keep a kid safe from such evil. I'm not the only one who feels this way. I'm guessing there are many others out there who agree. So how does this happen? What kind of defect to these people have, and why was there nobody willing to protect those poor kids?

Seriously

As part of my ongoing quest to identify menaces, I found out that Peruvian gangs kidnap and murder people for their fat. No fooling. Apparently it's been sort of a boogie man myth for centuries, but now with a basis in fact.

There's a lot to learn from this, not the least of which is to stay the hell away from third world jungles. Mostly though, keep a means to defend yourself handy, practice with it, and be prepared to use it. Because you do not want your bodily remains going into a lotion bottle.

Weekend Menaces

Joe Namath's dogs have now been officially declared menaces, by law.

Pirates are still in the news, still needing to be shot. I wonder how much being a pirate gaurd pays?

Friday Night Music

How about if this week I let Ray Wyle Hubbard tell it like it is? Here he is with "Screw You, We're From Texas"

Good Week

First, young Davey Crocket shot the bear in Idaho. Now the security team of the Maersk Alabama has repelled an attack by Somali pirates. If the ship sounds familiar, it's because the same ship was taken seven months ago. It seems the ship's owners have learned a few things since then. Who'd have ever thought guns might help with that? Not this guy:

However, Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the London-based think tank Chatham House, said the international maritime community was still "solidly against" armed guards aboard vessels at sea, but that American ships have taken a different line than the rest of the international community.

"Shipping companies are still pretty much overwhelmingly opposed to the idea of armed guards," Middleton said. "Lots of private security companies employee people who don't have maritime experience. Also, there's the idea that it's the responsibility of states and navies to provide security. I would think it's a step backward if we start privatizing security of the shipping trade."

Basically, guns are bad, only the government should protect us. I know this guy isn't my countryman, and there is a reason for that. Still, his statement ticks me off on more than one level. Why the hell am I or any other American supposed to care what the hell the international community thinks about anything? I don't care what they think about guns. I've got a whole mess of 'em, with more on the way. I don't care what they think about global warming. Next time we have a real cold morning, I'm going to go out and start both of my three quarter ton diesel pick-ups and let them both warm up, just in case I decide to drive the other one that day. I may take a long shower while they warm up, because this is still a free country and I can do whatever the hell I can afford. I don't really give a flip what they think about anything, right up until they decide to impose what they think upon me. Then we're back to that first issue.

Expecting the states and navies to provide security? I'm real proud of the job our Navy did retaking the Alabama the first time around. The training that those sharpshooters went through was one rare instance of my tax dollars being spent on something I approve. But it's a big damn ocean out there, and there are only so many destroyers to go around. Fighting pirates on the high seas is like trying to hold the wind up with a sail. Stephen By-God Decatur demonstrated how to shut pirates down a couple hundred years ago. You've got to root them out like a wisteria vine, or else the vines just keep growing wherever you're not. The navy's hands are tied until one of those states that Middleton is so proud of decides to let them take care of things. Self defense is a fundamental human right. It can not wait on the convenience of a government. If the international maritime community doesn't believe that then that's just too bad.

Killed him a b'ar when he was only eleven..

Take notes folks, this is how you deal with a menace. I see this kid making it far in life.

Politics of Peace

First, under the Obama administration, we bombed the moon.

Now, Chavez and Castro are getting together to bomb clouds.

I thought the commies, err, I mean lefties, were all about peace?

This Week's James Butler Bonham Award for Nerve

Goes to a man in Missouri City.

Holy cow. The burglars had the drop on him, at 3 in the afternoon, and he managed to turn the tables on them. Once again, keep 'em handy. Handy means ready to shoot, this man wouldn't have pulled it off if he had had to unlock, find the magazine, and then load.

My hat is off to him

Hat tip to Lft(u)TGC

How does this make sense?

Isn't this about the same thing as using the master card to pay off the visa card?

I'm all for keeping debt low, and I'm all for spending less. But this is the same sort of fiscal responsibility I see in folks living in trailers with big screen televisions, which they have to find a way to move every time they get kicked out of one trailer park for not paying the rent.

Weekend Menaces

There's been a lot of news lately about swine flu. Personally, I think the dirty swine are more likely to eat me than infect me. Class, this is why we keep our .45-70s handy.

I've had my own experiences along those lines. When they're in smelling distance and closing fast, a scoped bolt rifle just isn't the best way to get a hit.

Friday Night Music

I'm not much of a basketball fan, but apparently the 2008 Final Four would have been worth going to just for the Robert Earl Keen concert. So how about we keep it in Texas and listen to the man sing Corpus Christi Bay, Levelland, and Amarillo Highway(with Lubbock mentioned for good measure)?

Book Review: The Cold Dish

A few times a year, I find myself in Dallas for some reason or another. Leaving fever sets in simultaneously with my arrival. Same goes for San Antonio or Austin. Heck, if the town I live in gets much bigger I'm leaving. So while Lucas Davenport or Spenser are entertaining, Minneapolis and Boston just aren't very easy for me to identify with. On top of that, it gets a little tiring reading about how great the handsome hero is, with all the problems he has beating beautiful women back with a stick. I tried reading James Lee Burke's Billy Bob Holland novels, set in Texas, but grew frustrated with his floating town that was only an hour's drive from any place else in the state and a hero who wouldn't shoot the bastard, no matter how much he needed shooting. The books were readable, but only if you overlook the cartoonish portrayal of my state(I couldn't).

So I picked up Craig Johnson's The Cold Dish ready for more of the same. I was wrong though. Both Sheriff Walt Longmire and Absaroka County, Wyoming were easy to identify with. Walt is not handsome, drives a three quarter ton pick up, and lives in conditions that are less than spotless. Ok Craig, I'm with you so far. I've only been to Wyoming once, but the book's depiction gets the approval of this non-resident. Probably because Johnson lives there (not that that helped Burke). Authentic and likable location? Check. Identifiable protagonist? Check.

Something to make me pick the book up, out of all the others in the store, and buy it? Check. Right there on the cover, there's a man in a sheepskin coat holding a Sharps. Read the back cover, and right there in black and white, "Or will the only thing that stands between them and a Sharps .45-70 buffalo rifle be Sheriff Walt Longmire?" That's right, this book has the coolest buffalo gun action since Quigley Down Under. Not to ruin things, but there are actually two, count 'em two 45-70's involved in the showdown.

I give it four hundred grains, out of a possible four-fifty.

UPDATE: I realize that one of Burke's novels included a Sharps, but it still wasn't as good as The Cold Dish. One of these days I'll read his New Orleans novels. The man can write some dialogue, and I think I'd like it if I wasn't culturally offended.

Also, Sandford's Virgil Flowers novels, the ones that don't take place mostly in Minneapolis, are top notch stuff.

Thanks

Today is Veteran's Day. The proper statement is not "Happy Veteran's Day," it's "Thank you." If any vets happen to run across this blog, thank you for your service.

The few, the proud

Happy Birthday Marine Corp.

Keep 'em close by

Bob makes a good point.

Weekend Menaces

I think it is pretty clear what menace is posed by those with the authority to prevent American citizens from having access to the means to defend themselves.

The menace of those who ignore obvious warning signs can not be ignored.

The greatest menace, though, is posed by psychopaths.

My thoughts and prayers are with those in Fort Hood.

Friday Night Music

If there's a band out there as Talented as Reckless Kelly, it's because the other two Braun brothers are in Mickey and the Motorcars. I had decided on Mickey and the Motorcars this week, and that's how I found this cover of my favorite Warren Zevon song. Presented for your enjoyment, here's Lawyers, Guns, and Money.

Hell in a Handbasket

Outside of Stephen F. Austin and the Old 300, Texas was originally settled mostly by belligerent people who showed up looking for a reason to tell a government to go to Hell. Given a little time and some help from God and Sam Houston, they eventually did so at San Jacinto. Texas Government up until then could best be described as quarrelsome. The politicians spent much of their time drunk or fighting duels with one another that. Other than Stephen F. Austin, who truly did what was in the best interest of Texas, they didn't get much done at all. It was a golden age for government, and a model all others should follow. After San Jacinto, the story of the politics in the Republic of Texas could be summed up as "Sam served his term as president, cut spending and the deficit. Then somebody else served, spending and deficit rose with ambitious government programs. Sam was again eligible for president, the process was repeated."

Texas entered the union on December 29, 1845. The agreement stipulated that the feds would protect Texas' border, and that if the partnership proved unsatisfactory, Texas could secede. Washington sent infantry troops to protect Texas' vast frontier from the most effective horseback raiders this side of outer Mongolia, the Comanches. That tactic worked about as well as you'd expect. The folks in D.C. also refused to acknowledge the ongoing banditry along the Rio Grande. To maintain any security, it was necessary to keep the Rangers patrolling on horseback, usually against the wishes of the federal government, who felt that a state controlled military force was a threat. Because of this and other factors, including the legacy of a belligerent people looking for a reason to tell a government to go to Hell, Texas exercised her right to secede. Many Texans were against succession, but once the die was cast, they stood by Texas. James Throckmorton was among the most notable of these.

I think we remember how that turned out.

Afterwards, Texans elected Throckmorton as governor. He went forward with attempts to rebuild his state. Due to a desire to punish the rebels, General Charles Griffin persuaded Phil Sheridan to replace Throckmorton with E. M. Pease. In a tough situation, Pease managed to make everybody mad, and resigned. We wound up with Edmund Davis, who abused his powers by institutionalizing his opponents, denying First Amendment rights to newspapers who reported what he disliked, and denying the vote to those he disliked. He's also known for raising property taxes to unheard of levels, and spending the public funds as if there were no tomorrow. He was empowered to do this by the occupying federal troops. Even though Texas had been largely untouched by the war, Pease managed to drag reconstruction out long after it was necessary, and even called on federal aid to keep him in office after he lost re-election.

All of these things lead to the State Constitution of 1876. It's one of the longest state constitutions, and the document's main theme is to LIMIT GOVERNMENT POWER. It's the reason our legislature meets every other year. It's why our governor's powers are limited. It's what prohibits statewide property taxes.

And so, in memory of all the trials and tribulations that our forefathers went through, last night, WE VOTED IN FAVOR OF ALL ELEVEN AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION. WHO THE HELL ARE THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE VOTING IN MY STATE? A couple of the amendments were good things. Some weren't.

I'm not sure why I've said all this, except, maybe, so that my point will be understood when I say this, to all Texas voters who have moved here from failing states.

There's a reason that California, New York, and Illinois are failing. There's a reason you've left those places. It all started at the ballot box. If you want to be governed the way you were back home, may I suggest that you move back? Don't make the same mistakes here.

Options

I'd heard some interesting things lately about Debra Medina that I had to check out for myself. The first place I looked came across in a misleading manner, stating that she stressed the importance of gun control. Even though that makes her sound like a Brady Buncher, the truth is she is more of a gun-control-means-using-both-hands type. She's for the importance of gun control as strictly laid out in the Constitution. She's also for states demanding the sovereignty guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment. And for restoring property rights to individuals.

Right now, my preference would be for her to win, with Perry coming in second and Kay Bailey nowhere to be found.

It just seems odd

Last week I went to get my grand dad's barn ready to paint. It seems that he and my great-uncle have wound up with a pet pheasant. Neither one of them knows where it came from. I've never heard of such a thing, but it seems healthy and friendly.

Here she is when she first walked up after my arrival, surprising the heck out of me.



And here she is hanging out on the roof of the barn with me. I think she's curious, if birds can be curious.

New Additions

Something from the Wish List is on its way. Stay tuned for details...

Nonsense

The other day I was in a cafe having lunch, and noticed a commercial on the tv showing wolves turning into people and fighting and what have you. I thought to myself “Cool.” Moments later, I found myself asking “What faggotry is this?” when I learned it’s supposed to be all about the angst of a teen girl and the metrosexual vampire she loves.

This nonsense has to stop. Monsters are scary. Scrawny metrosexuals are the opposite of frightening. Go read Larry Correia 's Monster Hunter International and help reverse this disgusting trend. Ann Rice should be ashamed of herself.

You don't go lookin' for trouble..

Ain't that what the old folks say?

Since I'm still on a Chris Knight kick, in honor of those bigfoot hunters out there looking for trouble, here's Mr. Knight singing Jack Blue

Weekend Menaces

Staying with last week's multicultural theme, we find out that, despite government intervention, even Canadians can be menaced. By coyotes. One more reason to fight gun control, and one more reason to support carrying guns in parks.

Also, as a potential menace, we have wacko hippies. I'm a little curious about their methods though. Not sure how the anti-gun folks are going hunting for the guys with guns.

And, in the spirit of looking for trouble, folks in West Virginia are searching for Bigfoot, but don't want to harm any wildlife they might find. Let me know how that works out when you're being held captive in a cave.

Blog updates

Hobie was the very first gun blog I ever read. I'd read a lot of his posts on leverguns.com and been impressed with the scope of his knowledge, so one day I followed the link to Shooting With Hobie. Yesterday I rediscovered leverguns.com, and was glad to be reminded that he's still around.

Friday Night Twofer

This week, how about a double shot of my favorite Kentuckian, Chris Knight?
First, Devil Behind the Wheel

And now, how about Love and a .45?

Texas really is better

Five of the top ten strongest metro area economies are located in Texas, including the top two, San Antonio and Austin. Plus, McAllen ranks twelfth. Could it be that having no state income tax is a good thing? Could a business friendly atmosphere help?

Hat tip to MattG

But it's for the children!

One of the current issues up for vote around here involves issuing bonds to pay for soccer fields. For the children. Because the current soccer fields aren't good enough, and besides that, are too far from the trendy southwest part of town where the most vocal soccer playing families live. For the children. So we can teach them that beggars can, in fact, be choosers. Did I mention that it's all for the children?

What gets me the most about it is how so many other wise respectable people believe it is alright to take money from others simply because it's for something they want, and because some other people of their acquaintance want it too. Other people have thought that same way, only they had the guts to do the dirty work themselves, and the honesty not to try and hide their motives behind some feel good catch phrase. Of course, history is full of common people of who tried it without getting their hands dirty. In their defense, I will say that those supporting the bond are unlikely to have a flaming, gas soaked tire put around my neck just for opposing them. Still, in this light, there is more to respect in the act of lurking in a dark alley to rob people at gunpoint than in using a ballot to send others to commit the act, at no risk to yourself, without the honesty to call your theft what it is. Theft by proxy may let you keep your hands clean and your conscience clear, but it is just as despicable.

The other thing that gets me about the whole thing is all the talk of community benefits. Supposedly the fields are going to be a great source of revenue for area restaurants and hotels. That's great, you know what else would benefit them? If I kept more of my taxes and went out to eat more often. That's what they call a win-win situation. Oh wait, I forgot, wouldn't be for the children.

Nobody has yet explained to me why the soccer fans can't pay for the new fields themselves. Maybe with the gas money they'd save not driving those extra five miles? Are they going to help me foot the bill when I build my fortress and dig my moat? Doubtful. So why should I pay for what they want? Because that's exactly what it is, a want, not a need. I don't recall anything in the Constitution about the God given right to conveniently located soccer fields. Did I miss that part? If it's going to be such a gift to local businessmen, why not solicit investment from them? They're in the business of making money after all, surely a moneymaker such as this would be something they'd put money into, since it's all to help them. And the children.

Sadly, if the bond passes, it's just going to go to prove all those quotes about the tyranny of the majority, bread and circuses, and democracies only living until they realize they can vote themselves money out of the public fund.

Two beer limit

He'd had a bad day. Just wanted to drink his beer in peace. And the bastards wouldn't even serve him, had to go and tranq him instead.

Hat tip to Tam

In the land of the brain eaters, the brainless is king

Woody Harrelson is many things. Son of a hit man. Moonbat hippie. Actor. Probably a lot of other things, too. The thing that I did not know about him until last night, is that he was born to portray a zombie killing savant.

That's right, I went and saw Zombieland, and I liked it. A lot. The chick from Superbad was in it. So was another guy, who wasn't in Superbad, but as far as I could tell was channeling the character of Evan from Superbad. And there were guns. And banjos. And a black number three Caddy with a zombie-plow on the front. Plus the greatest surprise cameo appearance ever thought up. All that, plus Harrelson carries a Mare's Leg. Do yourself a favor and go see it.

Being Helpful

For those of you who get here by googling "Hugh Glass Memorial," it's not here. As far as I can tell it's in Lemmon, South Dakota. All I did was make a joke.

Immigration Reform

A group of police leaders from across the country have expressed their views on "immigration reform."

I'm a fan of limited government, and limited laws. That being said, one of the few roles I expect out of the .gov is to defend/control the borders. I know it's a tough job. I know there's a lot of border. That's why I pay taxes. Go ahead and change Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms into a 24 hour convenience store, that will free up a lot of budget and a lot of people with law enforcement goals to do something useful.

I don't know if that's the issue though. Whenever things like this come up, I hear whispers about not angering the minority vote. I hear about what productive members of society the illegal aliens make. I don't live in Arlington or Iowa. Maybe things are different there. Where I live, the minority vote would be glad to get rid of the aliens. The guys I know and work with, who are actual productive, tax (over)paying citizens, think that the aliens give them a bad name and don't like them. There's actually some a lot of hostility there. So if I'm choosing on the basis of votes, I'd side with the legal citizen, not the guy who can't legally vote. Ship 'em home. If they want to be Americans, they can immigrate. This is a law I don't want ignored.

Internet Window Shopping

The more I look and think, the more I think one of those short Remington pumps would make a dandy truck gun.

Wish List: Updates

Stealing a page from New Jovian Thunderbolt's playbook, I'm going to set up a list of my own, so that I can keep track of things.

The "If God Himself smiles upon me" List
1. Old Colt SAA- I have a wonderful Great-Uncle, and somewhere in his garage he has my Great-great-grandfather's .38 Colt SAA. It was acquired in old Fort Concho a long time ago. I'd give a kidney for it.

2. 1895 Carbine in .30-40 - In my wildest dreams, I befriend somebody who then introduces me to somebody else, and somehow I get my hands on an 1895 carbine that their great grandaddy carried as a Ranger working with Captain Hughes along the border.

"Stuff I can Get" List

1. Tanker Garand in .308- This can happen. Fulton Armory will sell it to me. Just a matter of money.

2. SIG p238- If you're going to carry a mouse gun, what would be cooler than this one?

3. CZ 97- I don't know if it's the smooth lines, if it's the Jeff Cooper connection, or just the .45 factor, but I want one.

4. Remington 600 in 6mm or .350 Rem Mag- It really doesn't fill and particular hole in my inventory, but once again, it's cool, and what if I need to hand somebody a fairly heavy rifle to back me up hunting chupacabra? Well aimed .45-70 and .350 Rem Mag fire ought to stop one.

5. Remington 750/7500/760/7600 Carbine- .30-06, .35 Whelen, even .308. One of the short barrelled pump or semi auto carbines would be fun to have.

6. 1897 Trench Gun- Nothing says "You're in the wrong house" better than looking down a 12 gauge with an fixed bayonet. A Model 11 riot gun would run a close second.

Weekend Menaces: Special Edition

Technology has done a lot to bring the world closer together, and because of that, I'm going to present some special multi-cultural menaces.

Everybody knows that bears are a menace. But that wasn't enough for our commie friends in Russia. They had a bear that they describe as an ice-skating circus bear. It went off the reservation and slew some Russian circus folk. That's their story anyway. Go ahead and read it. Basically, the rooskies took a bear, strapped edged weapons to it, and then trained it in such a way as to hone its natural balance, reflexes, and coordination. In an obvious attempt at world domination, they created Ninja Bear. Ironically, that godless commie paid the ultimate price for playing god.

Further demonstrating their menacing North Asian ways, the Russians have contributed to the newest additions to the FBI's most wanted list. A ruthless mobster who is sometimes known as Semion Mogilevich likes to defraud people, and steal the daughters of Hungarians to sell into prostitution. Not a nice guy.

Also adding the the FBI's list is our neighbor to the south, Mexico. A hit man who works for the cartels that are responsible for the wave of crime along the border, Eduardo Ravelo uses any means necessary, including frequent plastic surgery, to elude capture.

And lastly, what other dangerous menace has come across that same border, eluding detection and leaving a trail of blood and fear in its path? The chupacabra, that's what. Only now, it's found in Russia, too. Coincedence? I think not.

Grrrr

Maybe I'm old or something, but a cap, sitting barely on your head at some funny angle, with the bill straight and oversized, covering some sort of girly haircut, looks stupid. Pull your pants up and get a belt.

Friday Night Music

I'm playing one more for Rusty, this time it's Aaron Watson and Willie Nelson singing "The Honky Tonk Kid." I tried to find a live version, but this was the best I could do.

Weekend Menaces

The world's a dangerous place, this week we have multiple menaces.

Alligators have been around menacing things since dinosaurs walked the earth. Apparently they like golf courses. Seriously, do a search, golf courses are like buffets for alligators.

And then there are teenagers with phones.

Remember folks, keep your .45-70 close by and stay ready for anything.

Friday Night Music

This week it goes without saying that we'll have some Rusty Wier.

Book Review: Rhino Ranch

Last night I stopped by the book store and picked up the newest Larry McMurtry book, Rhino Ranch. I started reading it a little after ten, found a few things in it that irritated me, and then all of the sudden it wad two in the morning and I'd just finished it.

Rhino Ranch is the fifth and final book about Duane Moore. That claim seemed a little familiar, so I went back and checked. Turns out that the cover of the third book also calls it the final story. So did the fourth. This time I'm pretty sure they mean it though.

First, the good. McMurtry once again keeps things interesting. Bobby Lee is back as Duane's eccentric sidekick, plus we meet Boyd Cotton and Hondo Honda. Also involved is K.K. Slater, who has opened a rhino ranch outside of Thalia, Texas to save the black rhino from extinction. Hi jinks ensue, and once again Duane finds himself forced into the role of ring leader in a circus of lunatics. As crazy as the people and events are, McMurtry manages to keep it believable. Bobby Lee may be a little crazy, but he's really not very far beyond several people I know. Sort of like a non animated Dale Gribble to Duane's Hank Hill.

Now for the bad. This is good McMurtry. It seems like a book he wanted to write, as opposed to one he was obligated to. But like every other series the man has done, there are a lot of inconsistencies. Things from this book contradict events in Texasville. For that matter there's a big one in here that contradicts a statement from two chapters before. Maybe I'm just a dork, but it does irritate me a little. Not enough to put the book down, obviously, but enough to notice.

Having said that, I liked the book and would recomend it, especcially to anybody who has read Texasville and Duane's Depressed.

"Rusty Wier's just a doin his thing..."

"...come on everybody won't you help him sing."-Gary P. Nunn

After a two year fight with cancer, the great Rusty Wier has passed on. Not many people can say George Strait was their opening act.

Life Without Upside

They live in a communist society, with little chance for advancement or freedom. Now, because of government policy, thirty million of them are mathematically unable to marry. How long before they either make trouble at home, or go out in the world making trouble?

Between this, and killing off all the sparrows so that locusts could run rampant, maybe governments will learn to think before they act. It's doubtful.

Menace of the Week

Raccoons. They're only cute until they mob you for trying to shoo them off the porch. Some would say a .45-70 is overkill on a twenty pound animal, but I'll keep mine handy anyway.

Friday Night Music

This week let's take a listen to one of my favorite Reckless Kelly songs, written by Bruce Hauser.


I'm pretty sure this is the first Friday Night Music not featuring a Texan, but the Brauns are from Idaho, and Idaho is an acceptable alternative.

The Moon is A Harsh Mistress Indeed

For the last eight years those on the left have been carping about how the previous administration caused the international community to view us as over aggressive war mongers. Bush was a piker though, because now, on Obama's watch, we have a chance to make the intergalactic community see us that way. Tomorrow, in the ultimate unprovoked attack, we will bomb the Moon.

Quote of the Day

From Marko, in response to the question of what sidearm the late Col. Jeff Cooper carried:

"I don’t know the precise variant, but I am reasonably sure that the late Colonel Cooper carried a 1911, ‘cause that’s what God carries."

D@mned Yankee Busybody

I'm a little hot about something. The all knowing mayor of New York has decided to point out how badly everybody else leads their lives without his guidance. First of all, the myth of the "gun show loophole" has been debunked so many times it isn't even funny. An illegal transaction is illegal anywhere you go. Secondly, what authority does Michael Bloomberg have to send people to other states for the purpose of breaking the law? I'd really like to see an AG in one of those states file charges against the investigators. Too bad he didn't try it in Montana. Or Texas, I think Perry would see it as a chance to really gain some support and separate himself from Kay Bailey.

Lastly, what the hell business is it of Mr. High and Mighty Big Shot Mayor of New York to spend his city's taxpayer dollars investigating other states? Is this why they have a city income tax, to pay for this crap? They can live under whatever the hell laws they want, but what right do they have to expect everybody else to follow their lead? Oh, thanks for explaining it to this backwoods simpleton, somebody might buy a gun in Tennessee(the patron state of shooting stuff) and take it to New York for the purpose of committing a crime(the reverse of sending somebody to Tennessee for the purpose of committing a crime). Guess what, I don't care. The crime is already illegal. Possession of the gun is already illegal in New York. What good is it going to do to force a law down Tennessee's throat? The first nine hundred laws weren't enough, but one more would definitely get crime stopped.

In short, Mayor Bloomberg, you are a poor excuse for the sort of American that our forefathers envisioned. We would all be better of if, upon hearing Samuel Adams say:
"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude
greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us
in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down
and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon
you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen"

somebody had gotten fired up and just beat the stuffing out of your great great great grand dad to such an extent that he was unable to produce your great great grand dad. Then we would have been spared ever having you out there, looking for those who will kneel down and lick your hand. It brings me shame that posterity will know you as my countryman.

Sights

The factory sights are the one major complaint I have about my new-to-me SIG 556. So, I just ordered a Midwest Industries front sight for the 556, along with a Troy folding rear sight. Picked up a few of the newly priced black PMAGs while I was on the Brownells website.

I'm really leaning towards an ACOG. I'd like a 3.5x35 with a green chevron reticle, but I know where I can get a display model 3.5x35 with the red donut of death for five hundred bucks less. I'm a big fan of the chevron reticle on my dad's FNAR. I'm not sure what sort of precision you can get with the donut, but for that price maybe the SIG doesn't need that much precision to fill it's role.

Quote of the Weekend

"I believe that is the biggest hole I've ever seen in the end of a rifle barrel."
-My Granddad, upon inspecting my .45-70

Little bit Late

I went out of town this weekend and somehow my scheduled Friday Night Music post never appeared. So now, better late then never, we have Hayes Carll.

From the land of fruits and nuts...

Why am I not surprised that many of the people who would legislate firearms out my mother and sister's hands would also show support for a forty year old man who forced himself upon a thirteen year old girl?

Born in a pair of ramblin' shoes

I heard a song today off of Robert Earl Keen's new album, The Rose Hotel. It was called the "The Man Behind the Drums", and reminded me of "Furnace Fan" and "Out Here in the Middle," but I can't explain exactly how.

I bought Farm Fresh Onions, the album "Furnace Fan" came on the day it came out, but the song never really hit with me until I heard it on the Live at the Ryman album. REK's energy on the live recording finally got me listening to the song and it has stayed near the top of my iPod's most played list ever since. I think this song has the same ability to keep you hanging, waiting to hear what sort of phrase is going to paint the next picture. The one that got my attention and made me listen in this song was "born in a pair of ramblin' shoes."

Anyway, I'll be picking up the album this evening to listen to on a little road trip tomorow.

Never doubt Brownells

Last night I mentioned being discouraged with Brownells' pricing on black PMAGs. This morning my little blog had a visitor. According to Sitemeter this visitor was from Montezuma, Iowa and was using a Brownells ip address. They first visited right after eight o'clock, then came back around eight thirty and left a comment saying check again, the price had been fixed. I looked, and sure enough, the thirty round PMAG's are all the same price, regardless of color. The black twenty rounder is still a dollar more than the others, but I'm willing to call that an oversight.

I think this is a pretty good example of Brownells looking to their customer's needs. Until yesterday's price discrepancy I had never had anything to say about them that wasn't positive. The one negative thing I ever noticed, they sought out and fixed. And realistically, it's not like I have a lot of readers. There are about five people reading this. It's one thing to fix a problem that, say, Tam or Uncle brings up. The mere fact that they read my complaint tells me that they're out there looking to see what people are saying, and acting on what they find.

On the other hand, I sent emails to both Burris and SWFA Sunday night and haven't heard back from them yet. Should have bought that base from Brownells.

PMAGs and Brownells

Everything I've read says PMAGs are the way to go, reliable and indestructible. Plus they are about the most reasonably priced magazines I can find. Simple call, they're the way to go. Load up the Brownells website and order some, right?

Wrong. For some reason, the folks at Brownells, who I usually think the world of, charge an extra buck fifty to order black PMAGs. Green and earth colors are priced competitive with every other place I looked, but not the color I really wanted. It's a little disappointing. Oh well, I'll keep my money in state with LaRue, sales tax be damned.

Why is his mouth still moving?

Isn't it enough that Jimmy Carter is out there running his mouth? Do we really need Bubba Clinton working the circuit too? On the other hand, I think it's kind of funny that with all the talk of Southerners and their racist tendencies hating on Obama, the last two Democrat Presidents were from Georgia and Arkansas.

Anyway, to recap, Clinton never had Vince Foster killed, and anything bad ever attributed to him was just the work of the vast right wing conspiracy.

Interestingly enough, when asked if the republicans will make strides in the midterm 2010 elections, Clinton gave some socialist feel good answers, and then put out the money quote:

"the Democrats haven't taken on the gun lobby like I did."

Doing My Part to Make Sarah Brady Cry

I aquired a SIG 556 this weekend from a friend who needed the money. It worked out well for both of us. I've never even owned a .223/5.56 before, my battle rifles being a US Rifle Cal .30 M1 and a FAL. Now I find myself ordering PMAG's and contemplating the virtues of ACOGs and EOTechs. Life is funny that way.

Attempted Camp 45 Range Report

I intended to write up a good report on the Camp Carbine today, but had a run of bad luck.

The rear sight leaf was bent when the Marlin arrived, so I ordered a Burris FastFire reflex sight. I'd always wanted to try out a red dot sight. Burris makes several bases, but none of them said they're for the camp carbine. I looked around the SWFA website and noticed that the camp carbine and the Marlin 336, 444, and 1895 use the same Weaver rear bases. So it seemed likely that the Burris FastFire mount for the lever actions would also fit the camp carbine. I ordered one to see.

Anyway, this afternoon I put it all on and tried to sight it in. After a dozen or so shots I noticed one of the screws attaching the sight to the base was missing and the other was loose. I looked a little closer and realized that the screws were only long enough to go through the sight and engage the very first round of thread in the base. That one round wasn't enough and had pulled out under recoil. The base is thick enough for a longer screw, I really don't know why it came with such short ones. most of the threads are still good. If nothing else I can go buy some slightly longer screws and probably be alright, but I sent emails to both SWFA and Burris to see if they'll warranty me a new base with entirely good threads.

After making a short story long, that's my excuse for not having a complete range report. I can at least say that I was happy with the gun and sight for those first dozen shots.

UPDATE: You know, I suppose I could have just used the rear sight that I took off of Mjöllnir. What would be the fun in that though?

I miss out on all the fun

A couple of tigers left the zoo and went for a stroll. One more reason to keep a .45-70 handy.

Friday Night Twofer

In honor of the revenuer, err, fed in Kentucky, how about some Steve Earle?

Friday Night Music

Here's my personal favorite from Waylon By Gawd Jennings.

Better stay away from Copperhead Road

It seems that somebody has taken offense to the feds leaving their strongholds.

The Census has suspended door-to-door interviews in rural Clay County, where the body was found, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Too bad they didn't take the hint ninety years ago. Places where they make moonshine=bad for federal anythings. On the other hand, suspending interviews may be positive reinforcement on this.

hat tip to Tam

Ironworker Quote of the Week

"I am not crying about the cold. Well, there are tears in my eyes, but thats because the wind is cold and there's no windshield on this thing."-Waylon

While we're on the subject

I've got safety issues with this story also.

Four were injured and traffic was stopped for four hours Tuesday near San Diego after the border patrol agents fired shots at the vehicles across nine lanes of highway.

Ok, as I understand it, traffic was heavy enough that the vans could not advance, so the feds opened fire across nine lanes of the nation's busiest border crossing. The vans were running into other vehicles, who I have to assume at the very least had drivers in them. And the feds shot at the vans, which likely had these other vehicles on the other side of them. I am all for controlling the borders and stopping crime. I am not for opening fire in an environment rich in non-targets if it can be avoided.

What happened to Rule IV, be sure of your target and what is behind it? I could understand if the vans had been spouting off gunfire like there was no tomorrow, but according to the article there was no return fire. The vans posed a potential threat to American citizens, but not the sort of immediate danger I'd like to see before shots are fired. I realize that the agents on the ground had some fast decisions to make. They had no way of knowing what was in the vans. Obviously, they thought it was important to stop them, and rightly so. My problem is with how they went about it. If that was the only possible way to stop the vans, then there needs to be a policy change. Maybe park a couple patrol cars a little ways down the road. Radio ahead, get them to stop the vans. Remote control spike strips or barricades. Anything to avoid the potentially tragic consequences of opening fire in such a place.

What not to do

I have a problem with the headline to this story:


Imperial man shoots himself in the head while teaching firearms safety

That's a hard way to teach what not to do. He wasn't teaching anything, he was being a dumbass. There are four rules. You have to break at least one for an accident to happen. This guy broke them all. At once. That makes him a lesson, not a teacher.

RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

Beyond Jimmy Carter level dumb

Jimmy Carter has said some pretty dumb things of late. For that matter he's been saying pretty dumb things for seventy years, but that's beside the point. His latest comments, that people disagree with Obama's health care plan because they are racist, have drawn a lot of attention and made a few headlines. Yeah, it was dumb for him to say it, but it's even dumber for people to believe it. Nobody in their right mind could take that statement as anything other than sour grapes. Or could they?

For exhibit A, I give you Mary Mitchell of the Chicago Sun Times, and her article published on Sept. 17.

Say what you will, but former president Jimmy Carter is too old to lie. At 85, he's seen the best and worst of human nature.
Wait, you mean people lose the ability to lie with old age? I did not know that. You'd think this would be common knowledge, like Alzheimer's. Maybe we ought to raise the minimum age for the presidency.

So, when he says the "You lie!" shouted at President Obama during his address to Congress last week was "based on racism," he is speaking with wisdom.
The wisdom of a man able to fight back rampaging bunny rabbits.

The heckler, Rep. Joe Wilson, has apologized to the president, and the South Carolina Republican was formally rebuked by the U.S. House on Tuesday.
However, Carter's comments echoed what a lot of African Americans are thinking.
Would Wilson have heckled a Reagan, or a Bush or a Clinton while these white men were delivering a speech before Congress?
Certainly, no white president has ever been heckled. Except when democrats booed during George W's speeches.

A lot of people believe that Wilson would have bit his tongue before he hurled an insult at a white president.
A lot of people would have held their tongues before stating a lie about a proposal that could be easily checked. Especially in front of the people who had access to the proposal.

Really, it was an unbelievable moment.
I would imagine so. It's not everyday that the television audience gets to play "Jinx 1 2 3" with a Representative from South Carolina.

Wilson shouted that the president of the United States was a liar before the entire Congress and the millions of people who watched the speech on television.
It's not like Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi ever called a president a liar.

Think about that.
Ihave.

President George Bush was so wrong about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction, he should have been impeached.
Except that they had used chemical weapons against the Kurds, and couldn't prove that they didn't still have them. And had plenty of time to move them around while the UN stalled for time.

Thousands of young lives were at stake, and not one elected official ever got angry enough to call Bush a liar during a public speech.
See: Harry Reid(Soc-NV), Peter Stark(Com-CA)

No matter how bad things were going in this country, Bush was respected as the president of the United States.
When things were going good in this country, Bush was shown nothing but disrespect by those on the left.

Carter is daring to suggest that Wilson's behavior was steeped in the old Southern creed that says a black man is not equal to a white man.
Maybe if Robert "KKK" Byrd had made the comment, Carter would have a point.

During a critical address to the Congress, Obama was not given the same level of respect his predecessors were given.
Obama also resorted to a level of audacious lying that would have made Bill Clinton blush. That couldn't have anything to do with it though. No, Obama is the great one, it has to be racism.

Some of his Republican opponents twittered. Some waved signs and booklets. Some sat stone-faced.

Wilson shouted, "You lie!"
A man can only take so much.

"It [racism] has bubbled up to the surface," Carter said, and pointed out that many white people "not just in the South" believed that African Americans are not qualified to lead.
There's maybe a dozen people in this country, of any color, qualified to lead. Most of them are busy being productive and staying away from politics, however.

Only Wilson knows what prompted him to act the way he did. Wilson, and everybody else who has ever lost their temper over a blatant lie going unchallenged.


But given the rancor that led up to the president's speech, I'm not surprised that this Southerner lost control of himself.
Isn't it a little bigoted to make judgements about Wilson based solely on his region of origin?

After all, the South did not go for Obama.
Neither did Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota...

In fact, an expert with the Washington-based Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies put it this way: The South has seceded a second time.
Let me check my pay stub. Yup, they're still taking out social security and income taxes. I'm pretty sure that would stop if Texas seceded. Oh, and there would be battles raging.

But the Obama White House will have nothing to do with a debate involving race.
"The president does not believe that criticism comes based on the color of his skin," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.
Can it be that Obama knows exactly what he has done to bring on the criticism? Or that he knows he lied?

That response doesn't take into account that when Obama ran for the White House, he was dispatched a security detail earlier than any other candidate.
The man's from Chicago. He needed a security detail just to pick up his mail.

Or that near the end of the campaign, racists started showing up at his opponent's rallies.
They showed up at his rallies too. Again, see Robert Byrd.

Unfortunately, the passionate debate over health care has also provided a platform for people who cling to a white supremacy doctrine.
Because even they have sense enough to see that socialized medicine is a bad idea.

These people show up at so-called Tea Parties with racist signs that depict Obama as a Nazi and a witch doctor.
Somebody is missing the point here. Yes, Nazi's were racist, but they also were big on socialized health care.

Hate disguised as partisanship


Recently, I was driving home and inadvertently tuned to a conservative talk radio program.
The vitriolic attacks on the president's health care plan were unnerving. Callers referred to Obama as everything but president.
Did you ever listen to what people said about Bush? The man couldn't even visit his home without moonbat hippies picketing.

Still, Carter's truthfulness will get him nowhere.

Neither will his untruthfulness.
In kinder circles, the former president will be characterized as an aging man who sees America as it was, not as it is.
Two words: Senior dementia

Conservative talk show hosts and GOP leaders will show no mercy.
I can only wish.

But Obama knows there are still a lot of white folks who are having a difficult time accepting that there is a black family in the White House. These people condemn everything from the color of his dog to first lady Michelle Obama's shorts.
Could there be a lot of people who have a difficult time accepting somebody with his extreme views in the White House?

Because Obama chooses to ignore the racism shown toward him, that doesn't mean racism doesn't exist.
Newsflash: the man was elected president. The fact that Mary Mitchell and others insist on referring to him always as a black man, instead of merely as a man, is hindering Martin Luther Kings dream of color not mattering.

As a people, we pay a heavy price when we do not confront racism.
Maybe we should stop making such a big deal of his race. The first time I ever heard of him, I assumed O'bama was an Irish name. Until the media spent the next couple years beating me over the head with his race. I wouldn't like him and more or any less if he were white, purple, or gold, as long as he remained a socialist. On the other hand, my opinion of Reagan wouldn't be any different if he had been black, purple, or gold.

And it becomes harder for someone like Carter to have an honest conversation about race.
The man was attacked by a rabbit. It's hard for him to have an honest conversation about anything.

The old man told a painful and unpopular truth.

I hope the White House doesn't turn this truth into a lie.
If anybody could turn the truth into a lie, it's the folks in the White House

We pay a heavy price when we do not confront racism.
We pay a heavier price when we do not stand up for the truth.

Friday Night Music

It's faster than most of my favorite Joe Ely songs, but still probably manages to be my favorite song from the man.

And on this day in history

Dallas Stoudenmire, the man who tamed El Paso the first time around, was killed in a gunfight with the Manning brothers.

With all of the border difficulties we've got lately, who's going to step up this time around?

First it was giant burrowing roaches,

then it was giant wooly rats.

It's a dangerous world we live in.

From the Department of Redundancy Department

Heard something interesting on the radio today. The FBI and the BATF are having a cat fight. Obviously, it's great that the federal government gives us not one, but two such groups. After all, nothing bad happens when the feds get involved. Having two agencies handling the same stuff just doubles the greatness.

On the other hand, there is that pesky little Tenth Amendment. So maybe we ought to let the states handle things. Just a thought.

UPDATE:I'm in good company on this.

Additions

Just picked up a Marlin Camp 45 for my Dad. As recommended by everything I read, I ordered the stiffer Wolff spring last week, as well as some new buffers from Blackjack. Now I'm about to go put them in. Range report to follow soon. (hopefully)

Where it's due, part II

Patrick Swayze never did anything publicaly deplorable, as far as I know. He was born and raised in Texas, and, as we all know, went on to star in Red Dawn as the older brother, Jed. After that, he starred in Road House with Sam Elliot. Other than a truck driver movie co-starring the great Meat Loaf, those are the only Patrick Swayze movies I can ever remember seeing. That's three more good things than Kennedy ever did for mankind, and three more things that entertained me than Jackson ever did, so Thank You Mr. Swayze, too. WOLVERINES!

Where it's due

With all the recent attention given to the demise of a wacko who committed improprieties with children, and to an alcoholic who committed improprieties with our Constitution, I thought I'd point something out.

Ed McMahon was a World War II Marine flight instructor, and in Korea he flew 85 combat missions, earning 6 Air Medals. He retired from the reserve in 1966 as a Colonel.

Then he went on to become the sidekick of the funniest late night host there has ever been, and helped out with the Labor Day MDA telethon.

Thank you Mr. McMahon.

Because people need their eggs

It turns out that, among the many things in this world that clever people have thought up, there are egg carton machines that turn out 96 cartons a second, twenty-two hours a day. The process starts at one end with a big blender where you dump a truckload-and-a-half of used card board per day, involves an actual half mile of conveyor belt, and this machine...



...which weighs sixty-thousand pounds and comes from Canada, eh.

I stopped by to watch and help out a little after work. I didn't do much, but as it turned out I was the big hero who lined up the one anchor bolt (of nineteen) that was keeping it from lining up on the south side.

UPDATED: To better show the two huge forklifts. Both of them had telescopic frames. With the frames retracted they could maneuver in tight places, and with the frames extended it moved the counterweight farther out, giving it more leverage.