Ghost in the Shell [2017]

I went to see Ghost in the Shell tonight. I'm a big fan of the original anime andits: Stand Alone Complex series and movie. I wasn't sure what to expect, and I made the mistake of going when I was tired. Pleasantly surprised, I was. The most you can expect in a remake of this sort is that they honor the spirit of the original. I think they accomplished that. Good cast all around. Good story and good use of effects. I don't know if it will do well enough for follow-up, but I have hopes.

As on so many other things political...

A Batman/Elmer Fudd Comic Book

No, Seriously.

We have the same problem in North Carolina

Internal Sheriffs Association email shows that money drives pistol permit law

The North Carolina Sheriff's Association opposed any repeal of the Jim Crow Pistol Purchase Permit I believe in part because they'll lose the fees. They other part for some Sheriff's is they'll lose the ability to say no to applicants they don't like. The last attempt to kill it died because of opposition by the NCSA. This problem isn't Alabama's alone.

Who Says an AR-15 is No Good for Home Defense.

In Oklahoma, three burglars enter a house and find the 19-year old son of the owner inside. words are exchanged and the 19-year old opens fire with a AR-15. The end result is that the 19-year old is fine. The burglars, not so much.

Homeowner's son shoots, kills three would-be burglars

It does look that way, doesn't it?

House GOP voted over 60x to repeal Obamacare because they knew it would never pass and they needed your votes and your money. All an act.

— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) March 25, 2017

A liberal friend of mind has always claimed that Obamacare was at its core a Republican plan designed as a counter to Hillarycare in the 80's just in case. I always called bullshit on him. NOW I'm not so sure. The Establishment Republican sure do seem to like them some Big Government programs, don't they?

Out California way...

...there was a "Make America Great" rally. Thirty to forty "counter-protesters showed and pepper sprayed the Trumpists. Some of the "counter protesters" got their asses kicked.

Expect more of this.

How's that working out so far?

"We're going to distribute bread at a much cheaper price and in larger quantities than before," said Jose Enrique Solorzano, who heads the socialist committee that assumed control of Mansion's. "It's no longer going to be about the exploited and exploiter, no more boss and chief. We're all going to become productive, living and producing in equality."

Current Events

Some people can't open their mouths...

...or put pen to paper without stupid coming out.

Opposing Teams Should Boycott Playing Arkansas if Concealed Weapons Are Allowed at Games

Missouri passed campus carry the other day and their Governor signed it into law. Kyle Koster, over at USA Today, has a problem with it. Here's the core of his blather...

No matter one’s beliefs about the Second Amendment, the new measure will likely create a situation where one group of people are allowed to carry and others are not. It’s not reasonable to believe players who have a permit and complete the required training will be allowed to have weapons during games. At the very least, team rules will be put in place to assure this is the case. How are you going to ask athletes to surrender the rights afforded to fans?

That, of course, is a lesser concern. The more pressing one is how fans, who can get unruly and irrational during games, will handle this new ability. Staunch proponents would argue this is a non-issue but they should concede that there will be a faction of fans and players who feel more unsafe than before.

Yes. There will be one group of people allowed to carry and others who are not. That would be those who undergo the bureaucratic hassle and training required to get government permission to exercise their Second Amendment rights as opposed to those who don't and carry anyway. The first group can be trusted to carry. The second group may be trusted to carry but that's a flip of the coin. In any event, CCW permit holders aren't the problem. Athletes who go to that hassle to get a CCW permit won't be a problem because they are bright enough to know when to carry and when not to. My experience with the majority of CCW permit holders is that they are respectful of others and go out of their way to avoid trouble.

Then Koster falls back on the tired gun banner's argument that if some change occurs in gun laws that loosens restriction on carry, there will be blood in the streets, or in this case athletic field. Koster and his ilk have been claiming this since Florida first passed shall issue CCW legislation in the 80's. Didn't happen n Florida. Hasn't happened anywhere else. Tired. Old. Arguments. But then, that's all they have isn't it. Oh, and threats like this one to boycott Missouri. Pathetic little sh... isn't he?

Go Nuclear

Schumer: Democrats will filibuster Gorsuch nomination

Childish behavior by the Democrats because the Republicans wouldn't let them pack the court during Obama's last year in office. Exercise the Reid Option. We knew it was gonna happen anyway. The Democrats don't wanna play nice. Just do it and get it over with.

Pot, Kettle.

Recently Read

Flag in Exile by David Weber

It' a good book and highly recommended. Now. I'm done with Weber re-reads for awhile. I've got my latest Baen bundle to work on.

Make Up Your Mind

Are firearms with a silencer ‘quiet’?

Tired

I spent nine plus hours at the range today and fired nary a round. More of the same tomorrow. So, I'm just gonna call it a night.

Yup

Bernie Wrightson has...

...passed.

Damn it.

Bernie Wrightson mostly drew horror comics and co-created Swamp Thing. He did great work.

Giffords and Kelly create yet ANOTHER gun control group

Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly Target Arizona with New Gun Control Group

Yawn.

Quote of the Day

My scholarship (past and forthcoming) argues that administrative power undermines equal voting rights by shifting much lawmaking power out of Congress into the hands of unelected administrators. My work shows, moreover, that this shift occurred when the knowledge class regretted the boisterous sort of politics that came with equal voting rights. Woodrow Wilson candidly explained that “the reformer is bewildered” by the need to persuade “a voting majority of several million heads”—especially when the reformer needed to influence “the mind, not of Americans of the older stocks only, but also of Irishmen, of Germans, of Negroes.” One could go on at length with such quotes, and certainly administrative power has been dominated by whites of a certain class, but the point is not narrowly about racism. Instead, it is about how a class that expected deference to its knowledge was disappointed with the results of equal suffrage in a diverse society. It therefore welcomed a transfer of lawmaking power out of the elected legislature and into the hands of the right sort of people.

The argument, in other words, is not against an elite, but against the administrative dilution of representative government and equal voting rights. There will always be elites, and this is part of the valuable differentiation that can occur within a free society. Rather than oppose such differentiation, my scholarship suggests that all Americans, even elites, should confine themselves to working through the Constitution’s representative framework of government.

H/T to Sebastian.

So I guess, if ten or more white people get together...

...in this new progressive, "anti-rascist", "anti-fascist" reality, it's a "white pride" rally?

St. Patrick's day encourages and perpetuates the idea of whiteness and white culture. It otherizes non-whites and promotes nationalism. pic.twitter.com/AL2QQRJCk7

— End St.Patrick's Day (@endstpats) February 4, 2017

Seriously?

Oh, and Happy St. Patrick's Day.

[UPDATE] Maybe it's a joke. Maybe not. It's easy to believe people are that stupid.

...and lies.

Southern Poverty Law Center Spreads Hate.

[Source]

Recently Read

Field of Dishonor by David Weber

This is fourth in Weber's Honor Harrington series. This may be the third time I've read it. Again, it's Weber. It's good.

Remeber that Netflix special where Amy Schumer...

,,,was going to put us gun owners in our place? Sounds like it's pretty much a flop.

‘Horribly Unfunny’: Amy Schumer’s Netflix Special Gets Trashed With One-Star Reviews

Another Win for the Good Guys?

I looks like gun owners may soon be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights on Corps of Engineer lands the same way they are in the National Parks. That means if you can legally own a firearm and your carry complies with the laws of the Host State you're good. It not settled yet the fact that the Corps seems willing to work out a deal bodes well. What a difference a change in Administrations makes.

Second Amendment may be restored on Army Corps of Engineers land

Current Events

Bill Whittle: Trump's Sex Change

Recently Read

The Short Victorious War by David Weber

It's another book reread. It's Weber. It's good.

Seriously?

Nancy Pelosi: ‘We Have a Right to Know What’s in Health Care Bill Before It Passes’

Hypocrite.

Constitutional Carry passes in South Dakota...

...and it's off tot he Governor's desk. I have no idea how supportive their governor is or isn't. The NRA suggests south Dakotans give him a call and ask him to sign. By my count that'll be fourteen. Opinions differ.

Recently Read

The Honor of the Queen by David Weber

It seems as if I've read this recently, but I got a new copy with "more content" in a recent Baen bundle and so read it again. Couldn't notice a difference. Best scene was Nimitz and Honor wading into a crew of bad guys trying to assassinate the Protector and his family. Best thing about the Honor Harrington books is Nimitz, the treecat. Highly Recommended.

By the way the original version of the novel is in Baen's Free Library.

New Family Member

The dog, not the teenager.

Named Lilo.

Current Events

The truth doesn't matter to the New York Times...

...unless it is their truth.

"Truth Doesn't Matter to The NY Times."

Brilliant @NRA commercial👏👏 It needs to be spread like wildfire! #trumpaddress #JointAddress pic.twitter.com/SsQVVc4bjX

— Tennessee (@TEN_GOP) February 28, 2017

That comes under the heading of "huh"?

Nearby homes evacuated after 75 rounds of ammunition found underneath house

I think I'll take a pass on that.

Amy Schumer Uses Netflix Special to go After ‘Gun Nuts’

...and yes, Ms. Schumer, based on your associations and your mouth, you do want to take away our guns. My hope is your special does about as well as Ms. Sloane did.

'cuz they go together.

Case in point.

There was a pro-Trump rally in Raliegh NC yesterday

Hundreds rally to support President Trump in Raleigh

Nobody got beat up.

Nobody got pepper sprayed.

Nobody got hurt.

This despite a few of the opposition being present. Imagine that.

Elsewhere....

UPDATE: More pictures from Berkley.

I'm kinda curious to see where this goes.

Yes, There Could Be Serious Legal Problems if Obama Admin Involved in Illegal Surveillance

Nowhere I suspect. I'm constantly amazed by how far the Left is willing to go to protect him.

Recently Read

Helldorado by Chuck Dixon

This book four in Dixon's Bad Times series. This time it's back to the time period of the first novel to rescue the friend they left behind. The protohumans they fought then aren't the problem now. It's humans. Good stuff.

Too Much Time on Their Hands

These protestors have too much time on their hands. Maybe we can come up with something useful for them to do. Breaking rocks instead of throwing them.

...and on a similar note.

Working

Gun v. pick-axe ends up about how you'd expect

In Alabama, a guy with a pick axe broke into a business in which the owner also lived. When the guy entered the bedroom and charged the owner, the owner grabbed his pistol and shot him dead.

H/T to Dean.

Recently Read

No Spot of Ground by Walter Jon Williams

An alternate history where Edgar Allan Poe did not die in 1849 but instead survived is alcoholism and built a new life in the South. Here we find Poe fighting under Lee during the Civil War still haunted by hhis past. It's short at 64 pages, but a good read. I've not looked to see if Williams has written anything in this genre, but if he has, I'd be interested i giving it a try based on this alone.

Good Work

Ryan Zinke, the new Secretary of the Interior, has made a good start. He repealed one of those last minute gifts to gun owners from the Obama Administration.It was the one that banned lead amo and fishing tackle.

Secretarial Order No. 3346 overturns the recent ban of lead ammunition and fish tackle used on Fish and Wildlife Service lands, waters, and facilities. The order highlights the need for additional review and consultation with local stakeholders.

Like I said, good work. My hopes for the Trump Administration continue to rise.

Current Events

Recently Read

Avenging Angels by Chuck Dixon

This time it's back to Palestine to prevent the murder of a teenage Christ. Five against a couple of Centuries of Roman infantry. Good stuff.