Attack Cartoons

From Attack Cartoons comes this funny.

Carry II

I get morose this time of year; the holidays and all. Lately I’ve been dwelling on my Dad. One side effect of that was the post Carry. This is another. I’m sure there will be more.

My Dad worked for a local laundry/dry cleaner. He drove a route and picked up the dirty clothes then delivered when cleaned. That had been his job for as long as I remembered. Dad was also a veteran. He had served in the infantry during World War II and saw action in the Pacific: Angaur Island and the Philippines. He told me that when he met my mother he tried to join the Army but was denied because of his eyesight. They got married then Pearl Harbor was attacked and he was drafted. He ended his service during the occupation of Japan.

Dad didn’t look for a fight but wasn’t afraid to fight and had a temper. During training at Fort Rucker someone made a negative comment about mom. He had a knife in hand and thumped it into the wall beside the loudmouth’s head. He missed and considered himself lucky to have. He had done the same thing under similar circumstances prior to his enlistment only with a wench.

Several weeks before his death, Dad was on one of his his routes. He worked the lower socio-economic sections of town. He always said he worked them because no one else wanted to. They made him good money, and he’d had never had a problem. He usually hired a young local to ride with him and go to the doors. I don’t remember if anyone was with him that night. He drove a GMC Stepvan. He climbed back into the van to find a masked teen with a shotgun standing in the back of the van. The teen demanded Dad’s money. I don’t remember if he claimed to have said anything. He did say he closed on the teen and fought over the shotgun which promptly fell apart. The, would be, robber fled. Dad reported it to the police and came home.

As a result of that event Dad asked my brother, a Raleigh cop, to get him a pistol. My brother got him a .25 caliber Bauer. From that day on Dad carried it with him at work every day until he didn’t.

Carry.

Eric Holder

Several reasons not to support the nomination of Eric Holder as Attorney General

From Jeff Knox
-As a Federal Prosecutor, Holder refused to prosecute FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi or any of his superiors for the murder of Vicky Weaver at Ruby Ridge.
-As Deputy Attorney General under Janet Reno, Holder was in charge of defending and covering up for the government in the Waco Massacre.
-Holder was the official in charge of the Elian Gonzales affair and ordered the pre-dawn SWAT raid to seize the 6-year old Cuban refugee from the home of relatives who had legal custody of the boy.
-After the terrorist attacks of 9-11, in which the terrorists used box-knives and airplanes as their weapons, Holder called for new restrictions on firearms sales and transfers.
-In the Heller case, Holder signed on to an amicus brief arguing in support of the DC gun ban and the “collective right” theory of the Second Amendment.
-Holder has called for federal investigation of every firearm transfer – even between relatives – and the registration and licensing of all firearm and firearm owners.
-Holder has called for federal restrictions and controls on the internet and limits on internet speech and privacy as well.
-Holder handled Clinton’s pardon of a group of Puerto Rican terrorists who murdered a number of people in New York City as well as the pardon of billionaire tax evader Marc Rich (the man who created the petroleum “spot market” – the system which recently drove gas prices over $5.00 a gallon.)
-Holder has been an outspoken advocate of stricter gun control, greater government control, and more police powers – though he opposes the death penalty, supports closing down the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, and opposes any kind of “harsh” interrogation techniques.

Contact your Senator and ask them to oppose his nomination. His stance on gun control alone makes him unsuited for the job. The other stuff is just gravy.

2008 Box Office

Via Dark Horizons:

2008 U.S. Domestic Box-Office Top Ten

1. The Dark Knight - $530.9 million
5. Iron Man - $318.3 million
2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - $317.0 million
4. Hancock - $227.9 million
8. WALL-E - $223.8 million
3. Kung Fu Panda - $215.4 million
9. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - $174.9 million
6. Twilight - $167.3 million
7. Quantum of Solace - $164.3 million
10. Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! - $154.5 million

2008 Worldwide Box-Office Top Ten

1. The Dark Knight - $996.9 million
2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - $786.6 million
3. Kung Fu Panda - $631.9 million
4. Hancock - $624.4 million
5. Iron Man - $581.9 million
6. Mamma Mia! - $572.2 million
7. Quantum of Solace - $537.1 million
8. WALL-E - $507.3 million
9. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - $457.2 million
10. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - $419.6 million

Fantasy is ruling the roost. I guess people want escapism over reality. Can't argue.

From LOLCats

Leo Frankowski RIP

Leo Frankowski died on December 25, 2008. He wrote the Conrad Stargard novels. They're alternate history/time travel science fiction novels. Conrad, a 20th Century engineer, is dropped into 13th Century Poland. I liked his books.

What Consensus?

James P. Hogan was a digital systems engineer who gave it up to write several very good science fiction novels. He argues that there is no consensus on global warming in the scientific community. And if that interests you read this.

Man-made global warming is nothing but fear mongering. Its a means to achieve a political end.

Give me a #$@%&! break.

New rule prompts fears of guns at inauguration

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and gun control groups are concerned that some visitors attending President-elect Obama’s inauguration may try to pack heat because of a rule allowing concealed weapons in national parks.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C} for your information CCW holders tend to know where they can and can't carry. This is because they are generally intelligent people. They research. They read. You should try it. Start with reading the rule change.

This is nothing but fear mongering and with the Brady Bunch's federal lawsuit to block the rule change it strikes me as coordinated fear mongering. If you can't win by reason use fear.

New Year's Resolution

Try not to piss off my wife.

My daughter has a follow-up appointment for her surgery tomorrow. She says she told me. If she did I forgot and volunteered to work. So now she is rightfully angry. This one I earned.

Loopholes

Via Snowflakes in Hell

Russ Stewart, in the Duluth News Tribune, comments on the gun show loophole.

I don't think gun shows are the real target of this campaign against the gun show "loophole". The real target is our traditional "right" to "gift, buy, sell and trade firearms without the interference of government." Gun shows are out their in plain view and a means to an end.

Dear Mr. Obama

This is funny. Parkway Rest Stop posts this missive from Caroline Kennedy to President Elect Obama asking for his assistance in obtaining the appointment to Hilliary's Senate seat. The only thing missing are the "you know"s.

40% fewer officers killed by gunfire in '08

This is a good thing. We have the lowest number of police officers killed by gunfire in 30 years; a 40% drop. And at no point in the story do they attribute it to gun control or argue that we need more of it. Instead, they correctly attribute it to increased training and better equipment. The violent crime rate is down and the cops are wearing vests. That equals fewer dead. This is a good thing.

On the Republic

Neanderpundit writes this and refers us to this essay by Den Beste.

As I have said before, we live in the second worst system of government ever conceived by man. With all others tied for first.
...
The genius behind the representative republic is the fact that it IS an aircraft carrier, and even the biggest fucktard cannot steer it too horribly wrong in four years. The left gets their hands on it, and spin the wheel as hard to the left as possible, causing general mayhem, and generating a lot of bullshit. When the right gets their hands on it, they tend to try to gently nudge it back to the right again.

The problem is the republic is being slowly dismantled and our protections worn away by those four years of "hard to the left." The four years that follow of gentle nudging to the right never quite takes us back right of center. The left still wins. It is the second worst form of government. I'm just not convinced our government hasn't slipped into the first category.

NotConcealed.com

NotConcealed.com allows you to plug in a North Carolina address and see if a CCW holder lives there. The original website allowed you to plug in a last name to see who had permits. That has since been deleted. If you get a hit you get name, DOB, NC driver's license number, permit number, and full address. The information is drawn from public records and the site's claimed intent is to show how easy it is to access the info and encourage people to call their representatives and ask that the law be changed so the info isn't public record anymore. They also list public and government officials with CCW permits. Neat ploy and a worthy cause, but it bothers me.

I still see it as an invasion of privacy even if records are public. I got pissed when newspapers in other states decided to publish the names of CCW holders as a "public service". I don't see this as any different regardless of the end goal. It also strikes me as a wonderful tool for thieves to use to see if a house has guns to steal.

So if you're local send your representative a message demanding a change in the law. If you're not, or are and want to critique the site, send them a message at info@notconcealed.com and let them know what you think.

Update: The name of the permit holders, street numbers, and specifics that might assist in identifying the permits holders has been redacted. And if you just go on the site to be nosy, about five searches, you get this...

Stick me with a fork, you’re done!

Alright, already!

The purpose of this site is to NOT “out” concealed carriers. We’re concealed carriers. We’re on this list... and we’re as upset about this as you are.

Why are you still here? Are you being nosy? How can you be upset about the availability of this information and at the same time use it as an opportunity to stick your nose in other people’s business? Shame on you.

You should be on the phone or composing a letter to your state representatives explaining how this list is an invasion of privacy, not poking through the database. Turn off American Idol or Dancing With The Stars and get on the horn.

Feel free to come back tomorrow if you need to. You should be able to get nosy again then.

So my concerns have been satisfied. Support these guys and write your representative to get this information removed from the public record.

Schlock Mercenary

Any of you guys out their read Howard Taylor's Schlock Mercenary? I highly recommend it, and this is why.

Common Courtesy

I really don't know why they're bitching. You give. You get. Hamas fired missiles into Israel. Israel is just showing common courtesy by returning the favor. And ya know I guarantee you the missiles they giving back are better than the ones they got.

Kinda reminds me of sticking your hand into a Hornet's nest.

Sarah has a Calender

Sarah Palin has her own calender. If I weren't dead fucking broke I'd buy one.

Shot in the "Buttocks"

From upstatetoday.com we get the story of a burglar who broke into a house and got shot in the "buttocks" with a .22 by the home owner.

The crook when to jail via the hospital.

To the home owner: if you intended to shoot him in the ass...well, good shot.

"Valkyrie"

A review and the history behind "Valkyrie" by Mike Vanderboegh is over at the Sipsey Street Irregulars .

I don't like Tom Cruise but that dislike doesn't keep from watching movies that he is in. Cruise is not a great actor and his presence in a good film neither helps nor hurts it. I wanted to see this film. I usually wait for the DVD. Vanderboegh's review just might get me to the theater for this one.

As for the history. I see parallels as well. I pray The situation never gets to the point that the members of the military have to make that decision. I fear I pray in vain.

Hiking

My son is a new Boy Scout. He had a hiking outing today with his troop, and I joined in. We hiked trails located in the Few's Ford section of the Eno River State Park. We hiked for three and a half hours. We walked as far as the Holden Mill. Parts of the foundation and dam still exist. It was originally bu lit sometime around 1820. By the time we got back to the van we were bushed. Note to self: less TV, more walking.

Quote of the Day

From David Codrea at the Cleveland Gun Rights Examiner

The point being, anyone intent on doing evil will find a way. And they don't need a gun to do it.

What's the solution? That's huge. All I can address here is a small piece of it.

It does not involve disarming you and me.

Sanctuary, Sanctuary.

Give us the pequin or else...

Father due in court after toddler shot on Christmas Eve

From WRAL we get this. A father leaves his 9mm and his kid at his mother's house. The 3 year old gets hold of the gun and shoots and kills himself. The father by the by is a convicted felon. My condolences to the family even the twit father who essentially murdered his own son by leaving a loaded weapon unsecured at his mother's house. The father is in custody and I hope he stays there for a long damn time. Which brings me to my points: all two of 'em.

First, let's beat that horse. It sure ain't dead yet or this wouldn't happen. If you have a gun its either locked up or under your direct control i.e. on your person. That's the only way "accidents" like this don't happen.
Second, "Investigators said that Pharell got access to a 9-millimeter handgun, and it discharged, killing him." I hope the gun is also in custody since it apparently discharged of its own volition. This is journalism?

I am so tired of this crap: criminal negligence and negligent journalism.

With a little prayer we can do anything...

David Hardy over at Arms and the Law posts this about this. You'd think Obama was the Christ returned the way people are praying to him for miracles. Boy are they gonna be surprised when they find out he's the other guy.

Obama can't possibly live up to the expectations he and his crew created during the election and, worse, the expectations the people who voted for him created in their own minds. Disappointment? It's a coming. Midterms anyone?

R.I.P.

THE Catwoman is gone.
Eartha Kitt
1927-2008

Batman, the Series, sucked, but there were a few bright moments. Burt Ward trying to spar with Bruce Lee. Frank Gorswhin's Riddler, and Eartha Kitt.

Quote of the Day

From Pajamas Media we get this interesting piece on an op-ed the NYT wouldn't print.

No amount of inspired fantasy, however, can omit the simple truth that there is only one significant difference between Bill Ayers and Timothy McVeigh.

Competence.

Thanks to Confederate Yankee for pointing the way.

Merry Christmas

Best wishes to all.

Christmas Eve

I don't enjoy Christmas as much as I used to. My wife insists on going on a spending jag for the kids whether we have the money or not. I don't know where that impulse comes from. I know her parents didn't spend lots on her and her sisters. Maybe that's it. Me, growing up I'd get a couple of toys and some clothes. If my parents spent $50 dollars on each of the kids I'd be surprised. The emphasis was on the original reason for the holiday: Christ's birth. Today I can't say I'm religious at all but more and more I see the wisdom of my parents. At least they didn't spend the three months after Christmas paying off the bills.

Finally

Hot damn! I starting to get comments.

California Going Broke

Fox News reports California is gonna go broke if their legislature can't come up with a deal. They'll probably ask the FED for a bailout. Fuck 'em. Not one bloody penny. Not one.

Bloomberg's Ass

...and he's an ass.

Via Rational Review News Digest

GA: Court orders gun libel suit back to state
WRCB TV News

"The federal appeals court in Atlanta has ordered a lawsuit claiming
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg libeled a Georgia sporting goods store by calling it 1 of several 'rogue gun dealers' to be returned to the state court where it originated. Friday's decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was the latest development in a 2-year legal battle that began when Bloomberg sued 15 firearms brokers in five states, including Georgia. The suit said they were selling weapons that ended up in the hands of New York criminals. Former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, representing Adventure Outdoor Sports in Smyrna, Ga., argued before the appeals court in September that the suit should be returned to state Superior Court." ( 2/19/08)

Now with any luck the Georgia court can get back to the business of reaming Mr. Bloomberg a new one.

Defensive Gun Uses

SCNow.com reports a defensive handgun use. Man shoots one during home invasion. Another escapes. Police are not charging the home owner.

As it should be.

IndyStar.com reports a store clerk shot an armed robber during a robbery. The bad guy herded everyone into the back of the store and pointed the gun at a woman and child. The clerk then shot and killed him. The police spokesman said the shooting appeared justified but the matter had been turned over to the DA for "final determination"

Let's hope the matter is resolved with a minimum of bullshit for the shooter.

Update: Via Noah D. "Senor Mondragon is golden. No prosecution. As it should be.

Carry

I lost my Dad in March of 1981. Two "youths" beat him to death with a tire jack for about three hundred dollars. My Dad carried a little piece of shit Bauer .25 most of the time. He forgot it that day. He had called and asked me to bring it to him. I dicked around and by the time I got to this workplace he had gone out on his route. I never saw him again. I will carry that guilt with me 'til I'm with my father again. I carry now. Always. Unless its in a place where I can't hide the fact that I am, i.e. any place I have to enter through a metal detector. I carried before CCW was a possibility in my state and will when they take it away. My children will not carry the guilt I do. And if the time comes I shall not go quietly. To you out there I have this to say. If you can get a CCW permit and carry do. If you can't, carry anyway. If you do it wisely and properly no one will ever know. If you ever need it then the fact that you were carrying concealed is the least of your worries. All that matters is you go home at the end of the day.

The Power of the Pen

I was looking at The War on Guns and saw a bit on media bias. Maybe I'm slow and this has occurred to someone else who has written on it. Don't know, but I've noticed a lot more pro-gun control articles popping up out there. They resurrect old discredited studies as if they were factual and true. Lots of them. And I wondered why? I think the mainstream media rightly think they got Obama elected with their bias coverage of the election. And having accomplished that they now think they can succeed in other areas with the same sort of bent coverage of other issues...like gun control. This is nothing new but having learned anew the power of their lies they think nothing can stand in their way.

They're wrong.

A Soldier's Christmas

Via Lawdog...

Children and Machine Guns

Via The War on Guns...

Anna Tinsley wrote this hit piece on kids at machine guns shoots in Texas. Then it morphs into kids don't need to be around guns because they're "dangerous" piece. The problems with the piece are bountiful but I'll only point out one. The "youths" who are killed with guns are from 10 to 19 years old. The stats she uses don't differentiate under what circumstances the "youths" were shot and killed. We don't know if any were engaged in criminal activity or simply playing with daddy's machine gun. I'll also point out that 18 and 19 year olds are adults not "youths". There's a word for that.

Horseshit.

History Repeats?

Via Day by Day



My son, 12 years old, is an ardent Republican. I consider myself a libertarian, a right leaning one. I'd rather he just call himself a conservative which the Republicans no longer are. But I digress. We were having a conversation about President-Elect Obama. He called Obama a communist. I disagreed and told him I felt Obama's agenda and politics resembled fascism more than communism. I see parallels and they scare the hell out of me. I just wonder who are the Jews in this scenario?

A Bit of History

December 22, 1944 - World War II: Battle of the Bulge - German troops demand the surrender of 101st Airborne at Bastogne, Belgium. General Anthony McAuliffe, the Commanding General, tells 'em "Nuts!"

To Scott Dixon. "Nuts"

Today in History

From Tam at View From the Porch...

On this date in 1984, five four [d'oh! -ed.] youths attempted to intimidate the wrong nebbish on the Manhattan subway.

Although the media quickly dubbed him the "subway vigilante", all that did was prove that the media hadn't a clue what a "vigilante" was. Acting in self-defense does not a vigilante make. If Bernie had set out to seek revenge for past wrongs, then he would have been a "subway vigilante".

What Bernie Goetz actually was, however, was a textbook example of what not to do after a self-defense situation. Don't be a Bernie:

1) Resist the urge to make "Dirty Harry" quotes.

2) Do not flee the scene.

3) Do not ditch the weapon in question.

4) Keep your cakehole shut and call your lawyer.

The "Gun" Went Off...With A Little Help From A Friend

Via The War on Guns...

Firefighter Accidentally Shoots Self At Station
Gun Went Off When Man Showed It To 2 Others

He was cleaning the handgun and showed it to two friends and "it" went off. The gun just decided to discharge of its own volition. Bad, bad gun! Bull. He was cleaning a loaded handgun. He forgot it was loaded and pulled the trigger. That’s not an accident. That’s carelessness. He failed thee times: the gun was loaded, he had his finger on the trigger, and it was pointed at something he didn’t want to shoot...himself. Can’t say I’ve never violated the rules. I have managed not to fire a weapon unintentionally. Hope he learned better. Sorry it was a painful lesson. At least he didn’t shoot anyone else.

A Modest Proposal

Via The War On Guns comes this modest proposal.

Mr. Dixon...no.

A Fracking Pay Raise!

Yeah I'll get over this sometime...maybe...probably NOT. This was apparently voted on post election and takes effect in 2009. What the fuck happened to the 27th amendment? The one that was ratified in 1992 and says...

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

I know. They ignore it. Just like they ignore the 2nd, 9th, and 10th. The Imperial Congress reigns.

Full Metal Christmas

via Armed and Christian. Yeah really...

When Seconds Count...

...the police are only minutes away.

Slain student called 911, but no one came in time

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Weird

I saw this over at Lawdog Files and if its gonna be in my head all weekend the least I can do is pass it on.



You're Welcome.

Hell Yes!

Neanderpundit speaks. Economics in one easy lesson. Oh and for those of you who are offended by his language or his position...and I quote "fuck you".

Need a Laugh?

I watched Toby Keith, Ted Nugent, and Rodney Carrington in Beer For My Horses tonight. I had low expectations but ended up enjoying it. It made me laugh. And not because it was bad. It was honestly funny. Then I thought of this. Also funny but not appropriate for the kids or work.



Heh!

Another WTF Moment brought to you by Congress

From The Hill comes a report that Congress gave themselves a pay raise.

A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay.

Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase, amounting to an additional $2.5 million that taxpayers will spend on congressional salaries, and watchdog groups are not happy about it.

The economy is in shambles, people are losing their houses, millions are now without jobs, and they give themselves a pay raise. They, on national television, give the CEOs of the Big Three auto makers holy hell over their compensation packages and the fact they flew down on private jets but they give themselves a pay raise. I may lose my job after 25 years of service but they give themselves a pay raise. I and my family have to bite the bullet but they get a pay raise. They have the lowest approval rating of any Congress in years. This would in any normal business result in NO pay raise and maybe a "do better or find another job" evaluation. Son. Of. A. Bitch! Time to raise bloody hell. Obama you want to change something? Change that!

Palin vs. Kennedy

I hadn't really though about the obvious media bias in regard to their reporting on Sarah Palin and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg until I saw this piece in Vocal Minority. They attack Palin on her lack of experience even though she is the Governor of Alaska but see nothing wrong with supporting the appointment of a Kennedy whose qualifications seem to amount to her philanthropic work and her blood relationship to the Kennedy Clan. Well at least she's meets the media's most important criteria to fill Hillary's seat. She a member of the liberal left.

Constitution for the New Deal

H. L. Mencken's Constitution for the New Deal is a thought provoking read. Its a satirical jab at FDR and his New Deal. I see parallels to the oncoming administration and their insistence on pursuing a New Deal model for their response to the current economic troubles.

Thanks to The Mark Levine Show for the pointer.

NRA a Paper Tiger?

Ton Teepen writes that the NRA has become a paper tiger. He bases this opinion on the Brady Bunch's evaluation of the last election. A lot of pro-gun politicos got booted. Please keep believing that Mr. Teepen, Mrs. Brady, Mr. Sugarman, and all you other pro-gun control twits. Pass legislation that restricts my second amendment rights. Please. Then you'll understand that the lesson of the last election was gun control. It was the economy. A large number of gun owners voted on the economy the last election rather than out gun rights. They bought the bullshit that Obama supported out second amendment rights. That will change when you start pushing your agenda. The senior Bush lost his bid for re-election after he banned several semi-autos by executive order. Clinton lost control of the House and Senate after the passage of the "assault weapons ban". It can and will happen again. The mid-terms are coming. The NRA may be a paper tiger. Maybe. Rest assured gun owners are not. So please...

Judge Upholds Chicago Ban

Say Uncle reports a Federal District Court Judge upheld Chicago's handgun ban. Apparently, he had to because of the 7th District Court of Appeals' Morton Grove decision. He can't ignore a precedent in his own district. The lawsuit will proceed and the fight continues.

Now let me get this straight. The Supreme Court overturns the D.C. Handgun ban. The 7th affirmed Morton Grove's handgun ban. The judge in the Chicago suit stands by the 7th's decision because he can't ignore a local precedent even if its wrong. I thought the precedent of a Supreme Court decision would trump a Court of Appeals decision? And how much tax money is going to be spent [wasted] fighting what in all likihood will be another Heller? just another WTF moment.

Price of Oil Drops

Ha! OPEC cut production a record 2.2 million barrels and the price of crude dropped. I would say something about karma but its best we stay in wait and see mode.
UPDATE: ...but the price per gallon is on the rise.

OPEC Cuts Output

I heard on the radio news that OPEC has approved a 2 million barrel reduction in crude output. The price of gas locally jumped from $1.45 to $1.55 a gallon. Speculation has apparently kicked back in full force. Prior to the election Congress let the ban on off shore drilling lapse, but they're now, apparently, planning to reinstate it. The election is over and its now business as usual. Developing further our domestic resources, that means drilling on shore, off shore, and every damn place we can to get oil and natural gas, is necessary for our economic and national security. When we produce more we force them to lower the price. Speculation then works in our favor. The Saudis, Chavez, the Russians, and other foreign producers are not our friends. We buy from them we are hurting ourselves. In fact I would call their actions economic warfare and it deserves the same response as any other attack on the United States. The Dems in Congress are aiding and abetting them. Whose side are they on? Not mine and not the country's. The Dems in Congress don't think they have to answer to us and frankly that's one of the many messages the last election sent. I'm all for alternative energy. But that's what is ten years or more down the road before we can profit from it and we can't turn our back on oil or made it economically impossible until alternatives are in place. Don't let Congress reinstate the off shore ban. Call your representatives and tell them what you think, and in two years vote the worthless bastards out.

Lennie the Guinea

So there I am sitting on the sofa with my daughter's guinea pig sitting on my chest. I'm scratching her under the chin. She seems content. BTW her name is Lennie the Guinea after some character on TV. I notice just how fat she is and call her a "lardass." She jerks away and bites me. I retrain myself and she doesn't become a ballistic projectile although I did call her some other things much worse than lardass. It like the fracking fur ball understood what I said.

My Favorite Gun

I've got a Browning Hi-power I'm really fond of but if I'm honest with myself it's my Smith & Wesson 686 stainless steel .357 revolver with a four inch barrel. I used to carry it at work. Then we switched to a piece of crap Smith and Wesson 4586 double action only semi-auto. I hated that gun. the trigger sucked. I never really saw the advantage of switching from a revolver I shot expert with to a pistol I shot well with. And yes how much I liked the gun effected how well I shot with it. I could get off the same number of rounds with the revolver, using speed loaders, as most officers could with a semi-auto with a magazine change, and my fire was a hell of a lot more accurate.

Illinois Senate Seat for Sale...Cheap

This is bloody fracking funny. And the money goes to a good cause instead of Blagojevich's pocket. What more can you ask for? Ok a conviction. What else?

Thanks to David Hardy at Of Arms and the Law for a much needed laugh.

Lost in Translation

Janet Shan at Black Political Thought wrote I must admit, I found the skit on New York Governor Patterson hilarious but apparently he failed to see the humor in a "Saturday Night Live" skit that he felt mocked his blindness. Of course Patterson "failed to see the humor". He's blind! Maybe the humor lost something in translation. As for myself I thought the skit inappropriate, in bad taste, and damned funny. Most humor is.

Libertarian Hotties

...and hot they most certainly are. So, is there a gun-owning hotties site out there anywhere?

Surgery II

She's fine and at home. Thanks you Lord. Apparently she's ringing a set of Christmas bells to let everyone know they need to show her the proper amount of attention.

An Armed Society

Garry Reed writes about a St. Louis Alderman's urging his constituents to get a gun to protect themselves because the police were "ineffective, outnumbered or don't care."

My suggestion is get a gun. Learn to use it safely and properly. Carry it. That is safer than the alternative because "when seconds count the police are only minutes away." The police can't protect you. It's not that they don't want to. They do, but they can't be everywhere. If a police officer comes on the scene of a crime in progress it is mostly sheer luck or stupidity on the part of the twit doing the deed. Usually the best they can do is clean up the mess and assign blame after the fact. They're real good at that.

Take responsibility for yourself and your family. The alternative is too awful to contemplate.

Pissed and Watching TV

I watched 24: Redemption on Fox On Demand. You see my daughter was having surgery and my estranged or just strange wife banned me from the hospital. I'm not getting into why but getting arrested or even making a scene could cost me my job...so I needed to stay by the phone in case of news. I missed the original showing and there it was. I liked it. Its obviously episode one in Season Seven whether they call it that or not. Its heroes being heroes and pretty good action. Go take a look.

Its Bill of Rights Day!

So enjoy them while you have them or smoke 'em if you have 'em. Hey wait, that's what Congress and the courts are doing isn't it?

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Quote of the Day

"In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve." - Alexis de Tocqueville

And I think very soon we are going to get it. Ya know around Inauguration Day? So...for what we are about to receive may we be truly thankful.

The Day the Crap Stood Still

They showed the original The Day the Earth Stood Still on AMC the other night. I have seen this flix several times over the years. I liked the movie but I acknowledge its message is 1950's pacifistic/disarmament/one-worlder/UN bullshit. I still like it. I saw the trailer to the remake several weeks ago and immediately dismissed it as brainless/Hollywood/environmentalist wacko bullshit. The trailer's enough for me. I will not waste my hard earned dollars or my time on this...crap. Maybe the difference is this issue is too close to home. The Marxists' pushing this environment agenda are here and now and are out to destroy our national economy and my liberty. That's too close to home. So fuck 'em.

Surgery

My seven year old girl is having surgery tomorrow. She has a "tumor" that seems more like a nodule to the side of one knee. It's not malignant and the surgery is ambulatory, barring the unknown, but my wife is worried. I am too, but after nine years of one thing after another I'm kinda numb. I've pushed worry back behind a wall until the surgery is complete. Afterwards I'll let it go. I'm 99.9% sure my baby will be fine. Really. I am.

What are you going to do?

David Codrea, a gun rights activist, makes some suggestions in this column as to what we can do to improve the perception of gun owners in our society. See what you think.

Van Johnson RIP

Van Johnson was one of the old actors I remember seeing a lot of growing up. The films of his I remember best where Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and A Guy Named Joe. The last thing I saw him appear in where some Murder She Wrote episodes. He passed away today at the age of 90.

Batman Again

I watched The Dark Knight on DVD last night. I liked it. It was every bit as good as Batman Begins. It had a nice hard edge to it. All involved did excellent work. Heath Ledger was the actor everyone focused on but I really don't see that his performance rose above that of anyone else involved in the project. It is a damn good thriller.

A Crazy Christmas...

Via David Hardy at Arms and the Law.

1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are

3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas

4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....

6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me

7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why

8. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the Froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?

9. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle,Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Heh!

Man made Global Warming a Sham

Man made Global Warming is Bullshit. Well that's not exactly the title, but the thought is the same. I believe climate change is a normal cycle by the relationship of the Earth to the Sun. I believe the "scientists" who support the Theory that climate change is man made cherry pick their data to reach a conclusion that is political not scientific. I believe that if we give them any credence we are fucked. I am for conservation and persevering our environment. I am not in favor of fear mongering to achieve a political goal that no one in their right mind would support otherwise. Its looks like the "consensus" of scientists was also bullshit. Read this Washington Times editorial and then look at the United States Senate links here and here.

Helicopter with a .45

So does this guy fall under the catagory of someone with way too much time on his hands? Neat!

Illinois Governor in Federal Custody

The New York Times reports that Illinois Governor, Rod R. Blagojevich, put his appointment of Barak Obama's Senate seat on the block. It doesn't surprise me after all this is Illinois and therefore "Chicago" politics. It does surprise he was so blatant. I was also listening to Alan Colmes on the radio. He mentioned that some on the right are pointing at Obama and accusing him of complicity in this. I don't buy it. Obama was a creation of Chicago political machine. That in itself implies a degree of corruption. He would have had to play the game to get ahead. But that doesn't imply stupidity and boy was this stupid. The Feds have Blagojevich on tape bragging.

“I’ve got this thing, and it’s [expletive deleted] golden. And I’m just not giving it up for [expletive deleted] nothing. I’m not going to do it. And I can always use it. I can parachute me there.”

If he had been just a little discrete probably no one would have been the wiser. What bothers me is Blagojevich still gets to make the appointment! Can you [expletive deleted] believe this?

AFP

President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday that lawful gun owners have "nothing to fear" from his incoming administration so there is no reason for Americans to stock up on guns.

Gun shops across the country have reported increased sales amid fears that Obama intends to restrict gun sales after taking office on January 20.

While Obama supports gun control, he has repeatedly denied any intention of "taking away folks' guns."

The right to bear arms is guaranteed in the second amendment of the US constitution and gun control is a hot-button political issue.

"I believe in common sense gun safety law, and I believe in the second amendment," Obama said at a press conference Sunday.

"And so, lawful gun owners have nothing to fear.

"I've said that throughout the campaign. I haven't indicated anything different during the transition, and I think that people can take me at my word."

OK you've given your word. Let's see if you keep it.

Via No Looking Backwards

Via Geek with a .45

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

I liked The first in the series, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I thought it was a well done adaptation. Prince Caspian is better. Its harder and darker. People fight and as a result people die. I get tires of films where swords flash and slash but no one bleeds. This film doesn't hide the consequences of violence or glorify it. You can actually believe that the four Pevensie children had grown to adulthood only to find themselves children again. In battle you can believe they know what the hell they're doing. Excellent adaptation. Excellent effects. Excellent direction by Andrew Adamson. All the actors give excellent performances. The film should win awards but for some reason I don't expect it will. For my part I find it to be the best film I've seen this year. I can't wait to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Pearl Harbor

Sixty-seven years ago today.

Dennis the Menace

As a child I liked the Dennis the Menace cartoon in the daily newspaper. As I grew older I saw less humor in the cartoon. I happened to pick up the first volume of Fantagraphics' Dennis the Menace collection at the libray. You get a one frame drawing with nice clean art that supports the hilarious dialog. Now I'm trying to find the coins to buy it. I recommend it highly.

H-S Precision

After this heart felt apology I think I'll just go right out and make a purchase...

To Our Valued Customers:

H-S Precision has received comments relating to individual testimonials in our 2008 catalog. All of the testimonials focused on the quality, accuracy and customer service provided by H-S Precision.

The management of H-S Precision did not intend to offend anyone or create any type of controversy. We are revising our 2009 catalog and removing all product testimonials.

Sincerely,

The Management of H-S Precision

...not!

Coins

My twelve year old son is a coin collector. Two years ago he lost his 1951 Ben Franklin Half-Dollar in the mini van. We looked and looked and could not find it. Today, I removed the back seat and the damn coin fell out. I've taken that seat out probably a dozen times since he missed the coin. He was happy to get it back but for some reason didn't want to pay me a finder's fee.

Gas Prices

The price of a gallon of gas in Durham, North Carolina is $1.59 at the Kangaroo Express on Roxboro Road. I wager at least thirty cent of that is Federal, State, and local taxes. Its down to $1.57 in Mebane North Carolina. I'm 48 years old and remember when the price was thirty-five cents a gallon. The current price is still too damn high. I should be happy the price has dropped. I hope it drops more because every penny it drops is one less penny to the Middle East to fund terrorism, and that communist prick in Venezuela. it is also one less penny to government to piss away. I'd much rather have it so I can piss it away.

Virtual Bubblewrap

If you're frustrated, violence isn't a viable option, and you don't have time to go to the range there is Virtual Bubblewrap as an alternative.

Beats shootin' people.

Mumbai

This piece on Mumbai over at the Cherry River Blog is a must read. Damn it's good, and the final point...read it you'll see.

Lines in the Sand

I’m sure I have a “line in the sand,” but I’m not sure where that is. I certainly agreed with Sebastian at Snowflakes in Hell that we are no where near a place where violence is required to set things right. With Heller I think were are in better shape than we have been in years. We’re still in a cold war but that win gives oh so many more options than we had before. I think its obvious that during the last election many gun owners opted out and voted on the economy. Give Obama time to show his true colors [I know how much more obvious can you get] and many of those will shift back toward guns as a primary focus. Midterms come in two years and so much can happen in the interval. Keep the gun holstered and fight the fight. As for the 3%... I’m not worried about the loud ones. The quiet ones on the other hand...

...and the clock ticks..sorta...maybe...

The Jerusalem Post writes that the IDF is prepping for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

For some reason I'm not worried. If the IDF didn't want this information out it wouldn't be. They're perfectly capable of keeping a secret. I see it as an attempt to put pressure on the U. S. to deal with the problem before they do. But what do I know...

Palm Pistol

Neat!

How long before the Brady Bunch tries to ban it?

Did the NRA conspire to stimulate gun sales?

Via Snowflakes in Hell:

Read this bit from Jim Cunningham and draw your own conclusion. He ends his spiel with “The NRA must think I’m stupid!”

Let's see. Obama has a record of voting for gun control legislation. Despite his claims he's never supported an individual rights interpretation of the Second Amendment until post Heller and then he still thinks its subject to reasonable restrictions which I expect to be business as usual for the gun control lobby is reasonable. His campaign web page only mentioned hunting and sporting use as protected. No self-defense? His rhetoric during the campaign showed clear support for a renewed assault weapon's ban. And despite that you say NRA is fear mongering and people don't have any reason to fear for their Second Amendment rights...

I don't know what the NRA leadership thinks and lately don't really care. They're too quick to compromise. Me...I don't think you're stupid. I'm convinced of it.

Twit.

New/Old Links

I added some links to articles and poetry I had linked on my old web page. I also added a link to the Bills of Rights. More will follow.

Movies

I do Netflix. I find its the least expensive method of getting my movie fix. I can get about twelve to fourteen DVDs a month for seventeen dollars. It beats the hell out eight dollars a pop to see a movie at the theater. If I don't like what I ordered I don't feel obligated to watch the whole thing, and I just send it back and the next one comes.

The last ten movies I've gotten were...

Samurai Spy - still watching it. I really hate to read movies but this one's an exception to the rule.
Fred Claus - I really should know by now that Vince Vaughn and I just can't get along.
Sukiyaki Western Django - Crap. Tarrantino is in it. Need I say more. As an actor he makes a video store clerk.
Kitaro - Japanese kiddie movie. Not what I expected and proof that you should read the reviews before dropping a film into your queue.
Hancock - A fun movie but I saw it in the theater and it wasn't as fun the second time around.
Primeval: Seasons 1 & 2: - good stuff. BBC sci fi. Don't let that turn you off. It better than average BBC fare by far.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army - great movie
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - ok but I think its time someone rescued the franchise from its creator.
Kung Fu Panda - great movie
Get Smart - great movie

I'm not a critic or at least not one with a whole lot to say. If I had to pick one to recommend it would be an even toss up between Get Smart and Hellboy.

MP5 is more deadly than AK says Indian Commando

From The Firearm's Blog via Snowflakes in Hell comes this report from DNA India.

The MP5 is far superior to the AK47 and is only used by the security forces of various countries. This led the NSG to believe that the terrorists were more heavily armed than they had thought. But the mystery was solved when they realised that the terrorists had seized Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s weapon after killing him. The NSG feel that the acquisition of this weapon had extended their resistance by a few hours. This is also an indication, said a senior officer, that the terrorists were trained in the use of this sophisticated weapon as well.

All I can add is it ain't he gun but the man carrying it. Me...I'd rather have a rifle round than a pistol round any day even if its an HK firing it. Given my druthers I'll take the AK.