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?