Weekend of fun

Running up to PA to pick up the Remmington .22 Semi-auto rifle that I grew up plinking with.
My dad picked up a new Ruger 10/22 so is willing to let me take the old Remmington Nylon Stock rifle that was with me on every river float and weekend outing into the woods from the age of 14 or so. This gun has been dumped in rivers, sunk in mud bars and banged into trees so often that Im amazed it still shoots, yet shoot it does and quite well.

I think it is a Model 66 but have not actually seen it in decades so will have to wait till I pick it up to see for sure. It loads from the butt of the stock which I have not seen in any other rifle. I am so anxious to get it back in my hands. Dad picked it up in the "Barber Shop / Gun Shop" in our tiny little home town of Reynoldsville in the early 70's for under $100 new. Boy if I knew what the price of Guns and Ammo was going to do then....

Another Politcian screws his electorate.

While Spectre was never much more than a RINO anyway his announcement that he is becoming a democrat based on his principles is blatant self serving sophistry. He is switching parties because his electorate would in all likelyhood have dumped him for a real Republican. Im not happy with the Republican party but it is the closest thing to a winning Conservative branch that we have. Libertarian parties just do not have the masses needed to win an election on a national scale. This defection means that the republicans have no voice in office if the Dems dont want them to. with 60 seats they are filibuster proof. God help us now.

I find it especially devious and underhanded that this is how he did things:

Specter, 79 and in his fifth term, is one of a handful of Republican moderates remaining in Congress in a party now dominated by conservatives. Several officials said secret talks that preceded his decision reached into the White House, involving both Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden, a longtime colleague in the Senate. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell as well as Democratic leaders in Congress also were involved.

Secret meetings and closed door deals....to hide his intentions from those who elected him...perhaps tarring and feathering should not have gone out of style....too bad he doesnt have to face his constituents in public and in person to make such an announcement. Good riddance what a waste of skin.

Oh man. I can't believe this

Ok I used to joke that President Obama's rise in the elections reminded me of Damien Thorn in the Omen...it was a joke, but now there is this.

I just cannot believe people

Where is the Supreme Court?

With all that is going on and the blatant power grabs by the Obama Administration with the Democrats in the House and Senate assisting in every possible way, where is our last line of defnese? The third leg of Government the Supreme Court......why is there no Constitutional review of all these errosions to the Rights of the People?

The deed is done

After 8 years of just living together, we finally did it. My other half and I finally got the Government's blessing on our union. I've been living with her for 8 years, and we were fine without the Governments interference but the down side finally outweighed the benefit. Since we are not a Gay Couple my New Employer would not allow me to have her on my Medical and Dental unless we were married....If we were Gay, it would have been no problem I am assured. Makes one wonder who it is that needs to confiscate marriage for their own use....but I digress.

Anyway Im happy and she is happy about being married so its all good. We had a very small ceremony during which we both kept breaking up and laughing even during the vows. So join me in thanking the woman who is making me somewhat more honest :) Thanks C. I love you.

What a Country

Sorry so quiet on this front but life has taken some twists.
A secure job in a gig that just got gaurenteed Government
funding went to crap as soon as the Big O' put his okie doke
onto the paper....now I and about 1000 other people are being outsourced.
roughly 40% of us will be picked up by the Big Blue outsourcee
and we all find out tomorrow night. Wheee.

If I dont get picked up by Big Blue, no big whup, I'll get 6 months of severance and
have 3 months of Paid Time off coming to me. I plan on taking a month off to
relax and enjoy life before job hunting if Im not one of the 40%.

Hmmm

You Scored as Batman, the Dark Knight As the Dark Knight of Gotham, Batman is a vigilante who deals out his own brand of justice to the criminals and corrupt of the city. He follows his own code and is often misunderstood. He has few friends or allies, but finds comfort in his cause. Batman, the Dark Knight 79% William Wallace 75% James Bond, Agent 007 67% Maximus 63% Indiana Jones 63% Lara Croft 63% Neo, the "One" 58% The Terminator 54% El Zorro 54% Captain Jack Sparrow 54% The Amazing Spider-Man 42%

This pretty much says it all

Mr. Obama's $3.6 trillion budget blueprint, by his own admission, redefines the role of government in our economy and society. The budget more than doubles the national debt held by the public, adding more to the debt than all previous presidents -- from George Washington to George W. Bush -- combined.

Source

Must read Poetry

This is posted with the Authors express permission
you can find more of her work "Here"


TWO THINGS

Two things move under night sky
the thing that came to kill, and I

He, released from prison to roam
and I, peaceably headed to home

He carries a knife and drug addled sense
seeing just prey, without defense

I detect movement, intuitive fear
and put my hand to pistol near

Worried, alone in that gloomy blight
above the fear, I prepare to fight

He hears the click of a chambered round
fleeing quickly to hunt safer ground

No predator dares go hunting for me
for I am armed, that makes me free

I holster my pistol and slowly stand down
heading towards home in a dark, sleeping town

For there are two things that will not die
my right to carry, and this night, I
© Brigid - Home on the Range 2009

Jack Bauer - Good or Evil?

Personally Id vote the guy in as president.
I think about his actions and I tend to agree with his way
of thinking and doing things. I also agree that the time to grieve
and get emotional is NOT in the middle of the mission, you put it aside
and deal with it when there is time.

I agree with Bauer's comment to the Senator. "You are weak, incapable of facing evil
and doing what is necessary" I find that many of the people I have met and meet
really are weak and not equipped to deal with Hard men who have ill intent. It may not be their fault. It is because they have lived sheltered lives and never been subjected to violence.
To me this seems "Weak" but if we are to have a society of people who are sheltered, then do we
not need people like Bauer to protect them? I say yes.

And if we do need these hard men to protect our soft society, then who is qualified to lead them? Certainly not a Weak demographically palatable soft person as they are not equipped to deal with the savage nature of reality. So who then can lead? In our real world Jack Bauer would be in prison and the Savage men would win every time.

I've noticed especially lately on Television that anytime an agent or cop or citizen is forced into a position to kill a savage attacker intent on violence there is an inordinate amount of emotional grief after the fact which I really do not understand...personal experience and philosophy has taught me that this is not the reality, I care not a whit about those I may have harmed or killed while they were intent on harming or killing me or those I cared about....so what does that make me?

Thinking about this has lead me to wonder.....am I a sociopath? I see no problem with treating
violent, savage people, violently and savagely in the name of keeping others safe. Has my life
living in the rural areas raised to kill animals for food and then in the Military to face down aggressors left me a being unfit for polite society? I feel I fit in well enough, that I have never harmed another person or even threatened them without cause....but should there be cause, I have no hard feelings to cope with, it is just a situation that needs dealt with. I am at a loss to understand those who would defend the "rights" of those savage types at the expense of the soft civilized side of society. So what am I?

So what of Jack Bauer and those who view the world and life as this fictional character does....where do they fit in?

So am I a sociopath? a deviant? What am I?

MD Governor Lets slip that law abiding Citizens are being tracked.

O'Malley's Gun Owner Mapping Technology & Ammunition Registration
On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, Governor O'Malley was the keynote speaker at the ESRI Federal Users Conference in Washington, D.C.
His topic was the Geospatial Information System (GIS) in Maryland.

The GIS press announcement reads as follows:
"Pioneering Leader Will Discuss Using GIS for Performance Measurement and Transparency in Government
Redlands, California- On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley will deliver the Keynote Address at the ESRI Federal User Conference (FedUC) in Washington, D.C. O'Malley is a longtime advocate of using geographic information systems (GIS) for improved accountability and transparency in government. He will discuss his successful GIS-based performance measurement initiatives and how this approach can be used in federal government.
"GIS is a powerful tool for tracking our progress as a state and improving performance for the citizens we serve. It has become an indispensable tool for government accountability and transparency," said O'Malley. "In Maryland, our GIS applications make public the state's goals, progress, and effectiveness on a variety of public programs and services."
O'Malley began his first GIS-based program, CitiStat, when he was the mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. As governor, he has supported the use of GIS to develop similar GIS-based accountability programs including StateStat, BayStat, GreenPrint, and MD iMap. These online Web mapping applications allow government staff and citizens to evaluate the effectiveness of state government projects, assess Chesapeake Bay restoration projects, and improve planning and decision making related to land conservation and growth. MD iMap is a newly announced Web portal that provides an authoritative basemap with seamless, geocoded statewide centerlines and six-inch imagery of the entire state. Users can access GreenPrint via MD iMap, and government agencies can use a secure login to obtain data from across the state. Eventually, MD iMap will serve as a portal to all accountability programs."

####

This all sounds rather benign until you learn what else this system is being used for: specifically, tracking Maryland citizens who own firearms.
An AGC club member who was present during the event reported:
"Near the end of the speech he (O'Malley) said they were keeping information on the location of felons and those with carry permits. He then casually mentioned the GIS system has the location of homes with guns. It was very matter of fact with no information on where or how they are collecting the information."

On February 19, 2009, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown provided written testimony which reads in part: "Of those 7,146 protection orders, 75 respondents had regulated firearms registered with the Maryland State Police and 95 had hunting licenses issued by the Department of Natural Resources." This statement confirmed our long standing suspicions that the Maryland State Police and the Department of Natural Resources are sharing information between the two agencies as well as the Governor as part of a much large effort to identify gun owners in Maryland.

Next we have HB 1446 Public Safety - Sales of Ammunition - Records being filed at the request of the Maryland State Police. This bill seeks to legitimize and expand the current questionable MSP and local law enforcement practice of coercing gun dealers into keeping a "tattle-tale" record of ammunition purchases.
This bill would pretty much close the noose around the necks of gun owners. When you combine the data from regulated firearm purchases, with the data on hunting licenses, plus ammunition purchase registration list you have a very effective and accurate list of the legally owned guns, who owns them, and where they can be found.

The Governor's speech can be found by clicking here. The Power Point Presentation that accompanied the speech can be viewed by clicking on the icon at the beginning and end of the Governor's speech.

I Know it is a long read. But it comes down to the fact that the Government is wasting no time in taking this opportunity of Democrat rule to turn this into a police state. Tracking innocent people because they own guns or bought ammo. The Constitution is being shredded and thrown out the window now that there is no conservative power in office to stop them. It's going to be a long, long 4 years. Unless people get their heads out of their behinds and do some serious voting when congressional elections come up. NOTE The portion of this in Green came from an AGC news letter. Couldn't figure out how to attribute it properly and there was no where to link to it.

Oh Lovely, just frackin lovely a new "Assault Weapon" ban

The Obama Administration once again saves the world with this new announcement

Why is it that the (Reputedly) intelligent people in politics can't understand a simple phrase "Shall Not Be Infringed"?

I mean really, how many times does the supreme court have to rule on this? It is clear as day in the Constitution and in the writings of every one from Washington to Jefferson that they wanted our populace armed and able to resist all comers including Our Own Opressive Government.

How hard is it to understand:

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.

Mileage Tax on your car

Here we have the government crying that the Gas tax isn't collecting enough money to pay for the upkeep of roads and bridges, so they need to put GPS locators in all our cars and track us...so they can tax us per mile we drive...and invade our privacy...

What they do not want you to think about is, the reason the Gas Tax doesn't pay for the road upkeep is because they DON'T SPEND IT ON THE ROADS! they divert it to the "General fund" where it gets spent on every kind of government excess imaginable. They won't eliminate the Gas tax and charge per mile...no, they will ADD this NEW tax to the existing one...and once more put it into the General Fund to spend on even more nanny state projects.

Once again our government trying to squeeze every last drop of blood out of the stone.

Too many people ignornat about the tax sysetem

You now, for years I have realized that if the government had not instituted the practice of
with holding taxes from the employer side, so that tax payers don't really realize just how much of their income gets stolen away, we would have as a nation rioted long ago.

If people had to sit down each month and write a check to the IRS for their share of the tax, a lot of lefty weenies would suddenly find themselves switching sides of the aisle. Alas and alack the following is all too common.

"Because of income tax withholding, many taxpayers have long since begun looking at tax refunds as a “gift” from the state or federal government, which can’t necessarily be counted on but which is a nice surprise when qualified for and received. Few taxpayers indeed recognize tax refunds for what they are: repayments of a debt incurred when the federal or state government took more money from a worker’s paycheck than they were entitled to."


Remember people this is OUR money, not the Governments, it is OUR work, and OUR sweat that earned this money and Government has become increasingly vulgar about stealing it away from us and misusing it....giving it to dead beats and free loaders and setting themselves up in lavish life styles. Our leaders should not be living in luxury far beyond the means of the average citizen. Raging against the wind I guess, because the fact is, each day I grow older and less relevant to the situation, I have already done what I can to try and fix things, and its time for the next generation of sheep to realize they are not sheep. How to get that message out? I don't know but when you have "Octo-Mom" out there maintaining she is "NOT ON WELFARE" and yet has no job and subsists on government handouts and always has since she was a child....It is hard to see any hope.

Done Deal

Well it looks like the House has passed the bill with NO GOP votes, and 7 Dems voting no.
Nothing can save us from the stimulus now except impossible event of Judicial branch ruling it illegal.

Hold on to your horses folks things are about to get ugly for anyone who is opposed to Socialized Medicine, or is Pro-Second Amendment, pro-free speech, and against the welfare state.

What they have been careful to hide from you

The real tragedy and the shame. Too bad old people, get used to the fact that you are gonna die. Unless you are Rich or a Politician, in which case this doesnt apply:

Senators should read these provisions and vote against them because they are dangerous to your health. (Page numbers refer to H.R. 1 EH, pdf version).

The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.

But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”

Keeping doctors informed of the newest medical findings is important, but enforcing uniformity goes too far.

New Penalties

Hospitals and doctors that are not “meaningful users” of the new system will face penalties. “Meaningful user” isn’t defined in the bill. That will be left to the HHS secretary, who will be empowered to impose “more stringent measures of meaningful use over time” (511, 518, 540-541)

More Details here

The Stimulus package needs to be scrapped. If they really want to help the economy and the American people they need to do it in such a way that it doesn't destroy the middle class. Personally I am rather depressed by all that is in the gigantic spending bill. Im even more depressed that the man of change means only to change us into a european socialist clone.

Nationalized Health Care

Well get ready it is coming, most of the framework is in the "Stimulus" bill.
I hope everyone realizes that once this gets started it cannot be stopped easily.
If implemented as planned, the following is the envisioned world of Health Care in the USA.

1. Nationalized Health Care + SCHIP will be implemented with the so called "Stimulus Bill"

2. All patient Health Records will go into the National Database (I see this happening already in my day job)

3. All Health Care professionals will be required to become part of the National Health Care system. This will be mandated no private practices will be allowed.

4. You will go to your doctor with a health complaint. (After a lengthy wait for available service as you see in Canada and the UK and other nations with Nationalized Health Care)

5. You arrive and the Doctor examines you and enters your diagnosis into the National Database

6. The National Health Care system will then decide if your life expectancy justifys the cost of the treatment, next your life style will be examined to ensure you are living an approved life style with an approved diet.

7. If any of the results in step 6 is negative, you will be denied care. You will also not have anywhere to go to pay your own way, at least not in the USA.

This is actually what is being planned, of course certain groups will be "Above" this process, of course Congress will not be limited nor any other Nationally elected official, those with enough wealth will have options of their own, up to and including, leaving the country to go someplace else for their care. (Much like many Canadians come to the USA for treatment).

Personally this is great for the company I work for...and for me...at least up until the Government decides to set my salary to what they think is fair for me to make.

Ugh

I need to find a better way to make my entries then post, the blogspot editing is killing me.

Porkulus!!!

I got the following list from the NRO Site Im trying to leave all their links intact so you can view their source material. My comments and thoughts are in blue.

Typical left wing profligate spending:

1. $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts

A Complete waste of the tax payer money and not something the majority of the US tax payers would approve of if it were put up for referendum. This is something like a 30% increase for this non-economy oriented program. Number of jobs created, negligable. Net effect to the national economy, none.

2. $380 million in the Senate bill for the Women, Infants and Children program

This could be argued to be a worthwile program but it has NOTHING to do with stimulating the economy and getting jobs created and business back on its feet. It is basically just a welfare program.

3. $300 million for grants to combat violence against women

Again we just see another program designed to redirect tax money to a particular program that has nothing at all to do with creating large numbers of private sector jobs.

4. $2 billion for federal child care block grants

This would help single mothers and low income families with their bills but does nothing to create jobs for them to go to, necessitating leaving their kids with strangers.

5. $6 billion for university building projects

Large amount of money targeted at a small number of institutions that could fund these in other ways. Very few contruction jobs for the pricetag. If you want to fund educational building programs send this money to the community colleges which handle a far greater number of our citizens.

6. $15 billion for boosting Pell Grant college scholarships

I can agree that this is a good program but it is not a stimulus program, it brings more $$$ to the schools and teahcers but doesnt generate any appreciable number of private sector jobs.

7. $4 billion for job-training programs, including $1.2 billion to provide “youth” summer jobs for people up to the age of 24

Cart before the horse spending here, what jobs you going to train them for? Where will they find employment? this is not related to economic stimulus. Not to mention this program has been determined to be ineffective and unproductive by the GAO .

8. $1 billion for community development block grants

Oh boy more community organizer work, has anyone been to a government housing community recently? Not something we should be investing in to get our business and tax paying citizens back on their feet. Will be nice for the non-tax paying citizens though. You can also read this as ACORN spending.

9. $4.2 billion for “neighborhood stabilization activities”

And even more ACORN money. A nice redistribution of money into someones voting district but NOT a stimulus program.

10. $650 million for digital TV coupons, including $90 million to educate “vulnerable populations”

This is just stupid, TV is in no way a government responsibility, if the people want to see TV they can BUY their TV's. If they dont have the cash, well do what I did when I didnt have the cash....do without. Absolute waste of taxpayer money.

Poorly Designed Tax Relief:

11. $15 billion for business-loss carry-backs

12. $145 billion for “Making Work Pay” tax credits

13. $83 billion for the earned income credit

Scrap these and put the money into Corporate Capital Gains tax cuts and Payroll tax cuts, doing this would create more jobs than any of the other measures. The 83 Billion for EIC is just absolutely NOT a stimulus to the TAX payers but wealth redistribution to those who do not pay in. These people would benefit from a payroll tax cut.

Government Bloat Increase:

14. $150 million for the Smithsonian

15. $34 million to renovate the Department of Commerce headquarters

16. $500 million for improvement projects for National Institutes of Health facilities

17. $44 million for repairs to Department of Agriculture headquarters

18. $350 million for Agriculture Department computers

19. $88 million to help move the Public Health Service into a new building next year

20. $448 million for constructing a new Homeland Security Department headquarters

21. $600 million to convert federal auto fleet to hybrids

22. $450 million for National Aeronautics and Space Administration

23. $600 million for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

24. $1 billion for the Census Bureau

All of these programs come at a net cost to the tax payer, they do not generate wealth, large numbers of tax paying jobs and should be funded via normal means rather than in a bill meant to get the country out of the current economic jam. Now is not the time to start funding the liberal wish list.

INCOME TRANSFERS:

25. $89 billion for Medicaid

26. $30 billion for COBRA insurance extension

27. $36 billion for expanded unemployment benefits

28. $20 billion for food stamps

The header says it all, it is taking money from those who earned it and giving it to someone who did not. While we as a nation may agree to help the less fortunate when we can, the Stimulus package is not the place for it. This is just an attempt to ram the appropriations through on the coat tails of actual needed legislation. Basically a lazymans way of getting what you want...why fight for each funding when you can tack it onto something you can hide it in.

PURE PORK:

29. $4.5 billion for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

30. $850 million for Amtrak

31. $87 million for a polar icebreaking ship

32. $1.7 billion for the National Park System

33. $55 million for Historic Preservation Fund

34. $7.6 billion for “rural community advancement programs”

35. $150 million for agricultural commodity purchases

36. $150 million for “producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish”

Header says it all, "Pure Pork." Nuff said

RENEWABLE WASTE:

37. $2 billion for renewable energy research

38. $2 billion for a “clean-coal” power plant in Illinois

39. $6.2 billion shall be for the Weatherization Assistance Program

40. $3.5 billion shall be for energy efficiency and conservation block grants

41. $3.4 billion shall be for the State Energy Program

42. $200 million shall be for state and local electric-transport projects

43. $300 million shall be for energy-efficient appliance rebate programs

44. $400 million for hybrid cars for state and local governments

45. $1 billion for the manufacturing of advanced batteries

46. $1.5 billion for green technology loan guarantees

47. $8 billion for innovative technology loan guarantee program

48. $2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects

49. $4.5 billion for electricity grid

Here again we see a bunch of interesting nice to pursue projects but they are NOT related to fixing our current economic crisis, they are geared towards long term change in our economy. But they are not part of the crisis and some of them are just non-sense. Most of which should be pursued in the private sector and can be promoted with tax breaks. Tax breaks which would encourage the research, and if ported to the capital gains and pay roll taxes would cause a nice economic boost.

REWARDING STATE IRRESPONSIBILITY:

50. $79 billion for State Fiscal Stabilization Fund

This last one really irks me, State and Local idiots mismanaged things from the start, rather than using wise spending and investing when they had surpluses they wasted it on uncontrolled spending and expanded government programs. Now they want to hit EVERYONE up a 2nd time to help them out of the mess they created.

Seriously folks, while everyone is demonizing corporate leaders no one is pointing the finger where a LOT of the blame lays, with our elected officials, 2/3 of them should resign immediately as soon as replacements for them can be brought into office. They should be ashamed.

No Stimulus in the Stimulus Package:

The No Stimulus, Stimulus. What it really is, is a Democrat Christmas wish list.
Note, not a single GOP person voted for this and yet it passed in the House...proof that the DEMS OWN our Government and are not going to worry about Bi-Partisan anything (and why should they?)
The Bill: 647-page, $825 billion

$1 billion for Amtrak (Has not turned a profit in 40 years)
$2 billion for child-care subsidies
$50 million for that economic powerhouse the National Endowment for the Arts
$400 million for global-warming research (economic stimulus?)
$2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects (Demo projects to boost the economy?)
$650 million for digital TV conversion coupons
$30 billion, or less than 5% for fixing bridges or other highway projects
$40 billion for broadband and electric grid development, airports and clean water projects
$20 billion for business tax cuts (Actual stimulus)

That is about 97 billion give or take on the projects that can even remotely argued to be stimulus related. What about the other 728 Billion?

$8 billion renewable energy funding (read that as Ethanol and wind energy which are both cost prohibitive)
$6 billion on mass transit (Fare cover just about 50% of the cost to these systems.)

those two will have a net cost to the economy and are not stimulus.

$600 million more for the federal government to buy new cars (Uncle Sam already spends $3 billion a year on its fleet of 600,000 vehicles)

$7 billion for modernizing federal buildings and facilities
$150 million for the Smithsonian

None of the next group can even remotely be considered Economic Stimulus (Not saying they arent worth wile just not related to economic stimulus and do not create new jobs)

$81 billion for Medicaid
$36 billion for expanded unemployment benefits
$20 billion for food stamps
$83 billion for the earned income credit (giving other peoples money to people who have lower incomes and dont actually pay INTo the income tax system)

The next group of expenditures:
$54 billion will go to federal programs
Economic Development Administration
Small Business Administration
10 federal job training programs

and others. All of which the OMB and GAO have classified as ineffective or unable to pass basic financial audits.

And last but not least:
$66 billion to education, more than the entire Education Department spent a mere 10 years ago
but this is not to help students get educations the bill states on page 257 that "No recipient . . . shall use such funds to provide financial assistance to students to attend private elementary or secondary schools." Can't have money going to nonunion teachers now can we?.

Source Article

Dems are using the economic crisis as a means for throwing money at all their favorite boondogles. *sigh* They Won, they get to do what they want *sigh*

First Formal TV Interview after the inauguration

Is with an Arabic news service? Uhh Yooohoo Mr. Prsident...before you jump in trying to mediate a cease fire overseas between two other countries, how bout we deal with a few things right here at home first?

Dems and Liberals diplay extreme lack of class

Not really a surprising thing really, I've always known that the least polite and civilized people I have met were Libs and Democrats. Rude, obnoxious and plain lacking in civility.

The adoring masses gathered at President Obama's inauguration yesterday completely trashed the National Mall, the litter looks like some 3rd world nation where people have never seen a trash can. So much for the concern of the planet these bozos claim to have an exclusive on. Then there is the complete lack of respect and civility for the departing president, chanting and singing in derision. It was a disgrace and to me an ultimate display of ignorance. All this after President Obama made a speach telling us, we are all in this together and we have to work together.

Got news for ya buddy, you have to give respect to get it, and so far your adoring masses haven't earned squat.

President Obama screws up the Oath of office.

Now imagine if you will that instead of Obama it was George Bush........


Personally Im cutting President Obama some slack, the guy has a lot of shit on his shoulders right now. People of his own color are saying he isnt fit to represent because he has no slave blood and all those damn hillbilly rednecks with their guns taking shots at him....oh wait, only one of those things happened...but still he has a global scale crisis on his head and Nancy Pelosi ready to tell him just what to do....nerves are to be expected.

So cut him some slack, he's got a lot going on.

But again, just think and be honest with your self what the liberals would say if it had been GWB and not BO who messed up something simple like the oath of office.

I'll be watching the Daily show to see John Stewart ripping O a new one....yeah like it's gonna happen.

Way to go Steelers!!!

What a game. Ravens vs Steelers, knew it was going to be a tough defensive game...wow.

My only gripe about the whole thing is the TV announcers didnt even tell us how the Ravens running back was doing...would have been nice to know what the word was at the end of the game, that was a SERIOUS hit.

Well I pick the Steelers to annihilate the Cardinals in the Super Bowl.

Are you going to watch this inauguration?

Im not. To me it will be a tribute to all that I think is wrong with our current Government.
$150 MILLION dollars for a party....sorry that is wrong when they are taking tax payers dollars to subsidize bad buisiness practices with the other hand. I also will not watch because it is Barak Obama who is being sworn in. Not because he is dark skinned, there are many black men I would have happily supported and voted for. No I will not be supporting Barak Obama's party because he and I view the world in two radically different ways. He believes in enforced socialism and I do not. I will not however stoop to the liberal lefty level and say "He is not my President" because for good or ill he is, he was elected in the manner that has been set down in law.

Im going to hold my tongue and wait till the man actually DOES something before I criticise. I'll ignore his rhetoric and his speaches to his adoring supporters, and watch to see what is actually enacted....Nancy Pelosi and co. are going to be under close scrutiny, I hope they keep that in mind

Global Warming Strikes again!

Chicago is experiencing -50 degree wind chill and it is 12 degrees here in Maryland.
The Nation as a whole has been experiencing lower and lower average temps over the last 10 years....Im expecting the "Warming" any time now.....sooner would be better.

Coulter's Ban for Life is over.

Apparently "Life" isn't as long a period as I thought :)

Coulter was on NBC Wednesday, seems she is only banned for life from
certain parts of NBC, but not he parts that generate ad revenue or get kickbacks from
promoting books etc.

Happy Birthday to me and Feliz Navidad!!!

Hit 47 today, woohoooo, soon Ill be half a century old....wowzer.

Coulter Banned for Life from NBC

Ya know, I read Anne Coulters book Treason and found it to be an educated and well written assessment of the literal truths on the subject of McCarthy and the whole scandal of communist infiltrators into American Government and Hollywood. I thought she did an excellent job. So I like her writing and her fact finding. I think that she sources her material better than about anyone I have read recently.

I do not really get into her heavy slam bang idiom, that she uses in her columns and on air talking. I prefer a more....calm and less in your face style. So it was interesting when I ran into this tidbit on the Drudge Report:(it is very short so I just posted it whole, I hope this doesn't violate any CopyRight type stuff. The source is http://www.drudgereport.com/)

Mon Jan 05 2009 17:50:57 ET

The nation's top selling conservative author has been banned from appearing on NBC, insiders tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

Banned for life!

"We are just not going to have her on any more, it's over," a top network source explains.

NBC's TODAY show abruptly cut Ann Coulter from its planned Tuesday broadcast, claiming the schedule was overbooked.

But executives at NBC TODAY replaced Coulter with showbiz reporter Perez Hilton, who recently offered $1,000 to anyone who would throw a pie at Ann Coulter. Hilton is also launching a new book this week, RED CARPET SUICIDE.

Coulter was set to unveil her new book, GUILTY.

But one network insider claims it was the book's theme -- a brutal examination of liberal bias in the new era -- that got executives to dis-invite the controversialist.

"We are just not interested in anyone so highly critical of President-elect Obama, right now," a TODAY insider reveals. "It's such a downer. It's just not the time, and it's not what our audience wants, either."

For the book, Coulter reportedly received the most-lucrative advance ever paid to a conservative author.

The TODAY show eagerly invited the author months ago, for her first network interview on GUILTY.

The exclusive was to air during the show's 7 AM hour. The cut came Monday afternoon.
Coulter was also to appear on the TODAY's fourth hour. A host even teased the segment saying the 'conservative pit bull and bestselling author' would be a guest.
Developing...

On thing I find interesting is that they dont want her being critical of President Elect Obama.....I really wish they had followed that philosophy when it came to President Bush....they certainly had no problem trying to trash talk him. I also note they state that their viewers dont want to hear from Anne....really? No one asked me...my wife, or anyone I know.... Well I have to say, this is ONE reason why Television ratings are in the dumper and that their viewership is falling fast....people just dont want TV execs speaking for them.

Kinda reminds me of Walter Cronkites arrogance when he pointedly informed people that "It isn't news until WE say it is news"

Happy New Year everyone.

Three and a half hours to go yet, but this is the end of 2008.
Been a heck of a year, I think 2009 will be better but we shall see.
Take Care, drive safe, and don't let the Drunk Drivers get ya.

MagiK

Surviving Christmas

We managed to get through the most hectic time of the year, our Dog had a shattered limb that had to be pieced together and plated in place, with a large cast. He's doing pretty well now, and We have relaxed again to try and make the most of this most restful part of our year.

Coming up is Fleiz Navidad, My Birthday January 6th, and it brings me one step closer to that big 50....funny, I dont feel any older. Though I will admit that the old joints do ached a bit more.

Well I wish to reach out to two friends of mine who I have not heard from in a while,

Machine Head, hope you and your daughters are well.
Atty, get well soon!

Best Christmas Wishes to you all

Merry Christmas to you all and to all a good night!

Tragedy Strikes when you least expect it

Our oldest dog, an American Eskimo slipped down the steps on his way out to do his business last night about 3am. He is 16 and can hardly hear, or see but still he has managed those steps fairly well over the years (it is a spiral set down from our deck to the back yard, about 15 feet long)
The other two dogs run up and down these stairs in all weather with nary a problem, but they are much closer to the ground and if they slip its like a sled rids down a hill for them.

Kodiak however is taller and somehow managed to shatter his front right leg, radius and ulna both. It is a really nasty looking X-Ray.

Where I grew up and with pretty much everyone I was raised with, this would mean putting the dog down. (I mean he is 16, and suffering from a number of dog ailments and on more pills than my grandma).

But here in the city C. will be with him during the surgery tomorrow and will have to nurse him back to health for what will be a protracted period. The Surgeons fee alone is about $3k plus a weekend in the ER plus a day or two for recovering in the Animal Hospital plus the cost of X-Rays and the emergency room 3am arrival and the pain meds and other assorted shots...all told this will hit $6k easy. Fun fun fun. Just in time for Jingle Bells. The real pain is that now someone will have to put him on a leash and walk him out front several times a day (the meds he is on means he urinates like a firehose all day long).

Long story short, if Algore would get off his ass and get that global warming here, we wouldn't have had icy steps!

100 Things I have Done or may do....or not

Saw this over at Roberta X's blog and thought I'd put up mine:

100 Things

THINGS I'VE DONE (in bold):

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars. .
3. Played in a Band. (I cannot carry a tune and have no msical talent).
4. Visited Hawaii. (Only for Refueling stops in a P3).
5. Watched a meteor shower. (Many Times)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. (once by accident, once on purpose)
7. Been to Disneyland. And Disney World.
8. Climbed a mountain. (Mounts Moffit and Adagdak on Adak Island)
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. (during a disasterous attempt to join the choral group)
11. Bungee jumped. (Are you friggin nuts?)
12. Visited Paris. (I'll stick with photographs. France holds no interest for me.).
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. (From the shore)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. if cooking is an art.
15. Adopted a child. (Grew two of my own though)
16. Had food poisoning. (ohh would that it werent true)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

18. Grown your own vegetables. (grew up on a farm)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. (See 12)
20. Slept on an overnight train. Yes in a sleeper car, from Seatle to Pittsburgh
21. Had a pillow fight. Yeah but it lead to lots more :)
22. Hitch hiked. Only a few times.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. (of course. Mental Health days are important)
24. Built a snow fort. (We made some huge forts in my day)
25. Held a Lamb. (no but did help deliver and hold a new born foal)
26. Gone skinny dipping. (too many times to count, when you live in the Carribian...)
27. Run a Marathon. (10k's were my longest)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice. (See 12)
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise. (Not yet, may still do one, want to do the Alaska coast and maybe a med cruise)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. (Absolutely awe inspiring)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. (Might do it, some day...Germany and Poland and Ireland)
35. Seen an Amish community. (Sister married a mennonite and they live in Amish country)
36. Taught yourself a new language. (Failed french two years running)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. It happens occasionally with varying degrees of frequency.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. (See 12)
39. Gone rock climbing. (so many many times)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David. (See 12)
41. Sung karaoke. (only if I was drunk and I dont recall it.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt. (All of Yellowstone is on my todo list, if the libs dont lock it down first)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant. (Not out side of an arranged business deal and I dont count dates)
44. Visited Africa. (No, thank you. Nothing of any interest to me on that continent.).
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. Many many times. Alone and together.
46. Been transported in an ambulance. (More than once :( )
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person. (See 12)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (See 12,).
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. (Snorkling: This, I'd love to do again!)
52. Kissed in the rain. (and made love)
53. Played in the mud. (and tried to make love ;) )
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie. (Extra in Stephen King's Pet Semetary)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China. (Nothing in this region of the world interests me)
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class. (Yes in Puerto Rico Kim po tai, I believeit was called)
59. Visited Russia. (Not allowed there due to secret squirrell work in my past)
60. Served at a soup kitchen. (Not a soup kitchen per se, but a Feed the Homeless thing for the Catholic Church)
61. Sold Boy Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason. (I have received other gifts spontaneously)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. (Used to do it regularly when it was more convenient, now they make it more dificult)
65. Gone sky diving. (Are you crazy?)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp. (Historically fascinating, emotionally to devastating)
67. Bounced a check. (Yes my paycheck bounced so consequently my checks bounced, it was a hoot....not)
68. Flown in a helicopter. (As an Emergency Medical Case....kinda fun except for the blood)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (Dad believed in tossing things out if they were not functional or practical)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial. (Many times, and all the other memorials in Down Town DC)
71. Eaten Caviar. (Once...ugh bait!)
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square. (I try to avoid NY)
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job. (Once, it was a learning experience)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London. (Maybe some day if the brits get it together again.).
77. Broken a bone. (several)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. (a few times, riding and driving)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. (not yet)
80. Published a book. (Had a short story published in my home town news paper though)
81. Visited the Vatican. (Lovely place, maybe some day)
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem. (Nothing of any real interest there for me to warrent the risks.).
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible. (During Navy Basic Training...aka Boot Camp)).
86. Visited the White House. (Also saw President Reagan laying in State at the Capitol).
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. (Deer, Squirrel, Rabbit and Grouse)
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury. (Murder Case in SanDiego, convicted the guy then learned that the principle Cop involved with the case was sleeping iwth the wife and had as much motive and opportunity, Hope the guy got an appeal. We learned the truth after the fact))
91. Met someone famous. (Several).
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby. (Well not myself no...but I planted two of them)
95. Seen the Alamo in person. (I really should.).
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake. (not too into swimming in most landlocked waters, the crystal clear carribean has spoiled me)
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

101. Traveled the world and been to places 99% of the rest of the world will never see. Yeah got that one checked off, and I still prefer home.

Hooray hooray the range is open again.

Our local indoor range has been closed for months for renovation, but is now open again.
Mysti will have the chance to try out her new Walther now.

Post Turkey Day thoughts: Network Television

Watching Boston Legal last night and they hit on something that has had me mystified lately.
With the large number of boomers over 50, with the amount of disposable income they have available, why do the networks not Put programming on for them? Why is it that the only demographic they pitch to are the pubescent and young 20 somethings? Nearly all the shows I have liked have been pitched to small demographic groups, shows like Firefly, Buffy, Angel, Farscape, Treks, and the Stargates all of which had seriously diehard fans, all of which had story lines people of all ages could follow and all of which got less than 1/10 the promotional network backing they should have had.

Will the networks realize their untapped audience before Television peters out and no one bothers to watch at all? They are moaning about low viewership, and yet seem to be ingnoring the largest group of potential watchers. I just do not get it.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Friends, Family, Home and Food. Beyond that I don't really care today for those are the most important things of all. (No necessarily in that order) :)


Have a good day everyone.

Where are the planes?

Just realized I haven't changed my plane picture in ages, which reminds me...Im waiting for some pics of aircraft from a friend of mine :) Maybe for Christmas MH? ;)

Chantilly Gun Show

Was huge, the Expo center is one of the largest in this area, and the lot was packed, no one got parking by the time I got there at 9am until someone else left.

When I got into the Show at about 10 (yes an hour to get a parking space) I went directly to the Ammo booths..... by 10 AM (they opened for business at 9) they were out of .357, .38 and 9mm bulk ammo and only had the really expensive .22 ammo left ($52 a brick) I did manage to find one small dealer who had 500 rounds of .22 for $25 so got those for Mysti and I snagged 1500 rounds of 5.56 ammo for the AR....by 2pm the ammo dealers were out of all the bulk ammo. I saw more people buying what was left of the black guns...and there weren't many to be had. I did hear several dealers mention that they were on back order from 3 to 6 month waiting list. I did manage to snag 3x20 round mags and 2x30 round mags for the AR as well and some ammo cans for storage of my bulk ammo. Today I've got to run out to get some dessicant packets to put in the cans with the ammo.

Total cost for 1500 rounds of 5.56, 500 rounds of .22, 4 mags for the AR and 4 Ammo Cans just shy of $500 prices are insane. Sure hope O is too busy to mess with guns for a while.

Tomorrow I Celebrate a Belated National Ammo Day

Headed to Chantilly Va. first thing in the morning to by some 5.56, 9mm, .357 or .38, Ammo Cans, Maybe a second upper for my AR, and some desicant packs.....on the way home have to buy a turkey :)

Black Rifles, now scarce. No Surprise.

Well now, I am really really glad I bought my XM15 last month, the price and availability of these things are ridiculous now that the election is over. My buddy Jeff at "Just Guns" in Baltimore is out of stock now and the waiting list is crazy.

I need to get out this weekend and get ammo, before it too is scarce.

Update: oops too late, everyone is sold out. Every dealer I called suggsted next weekends gun show at Chantilly Virginia...its quite a drive but I guess I will have to get there.

If your Vista looses it's DVD/CD Drives

Then you can try this solution: **** WARNING MESSING WITH YOUR REGISTRY CAN BE DANGEROUS **** SO do this at your own risk. It worked for me.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11­CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Apparently it seems that this is an age old fix for even XP systems. If you venture to the registry key above by doing the following steps:

1. Click on the start menu.
2. If this is a Vista machine in the search box type in “regedit” without the quotation marks.
3. Maximize the HKLM and then go ahead and browse until you reach the key listed above.
4. In the right panel you’ll see something along the lines of “UpperFilter” and “LowerFilter” you want to click on each “filter” key and hit delete. Click yes when it asks to confirm if you wish to delete the key.
5. Restart Windows.

** Note it is not uncommon for one of the entries to already be missing, (Upper or lower) just delete the ones listed that are actually there.

AAArrrrgggggghhhhh

No that was not me being a pirate! At some point over the evening my Vista64 Ultimate Operating System has decided to quit talking to all 3 of my DVD drives. 1 internal SATA and 2 External USB. They work fine when I boot into XP so it has to be a Vista thing.

Im at a losss, tried removing the drivers and reloading and multiple reboots and variations on the theme....no luck, Im left resorting ot The Geek Squad

Just shoot me now. :P

I blame Obama

Mysti's brand spankin new Walther P22 broke while she was working the slide getting used to the feel of the gun. She has been sitting with it in her hand while watching TV (With Snap Caps loaded in the clip) so she could work the action and pick off bad guys to get used to the feel of the trigger. At one point she racked the slide and out popped a 1/2 inch flat piece of metal which for the life of me I cannot figure out where it came from. Walther/Smith & Wesson are being very good about getting the warrenty work done, but holy smoke! I was surprised.

Horror and tragedy.

The Socialist Libs took control and it was due to the Majority of American voters.
The Dems have the House, Senate and White house. Shortly with the Democrats appointing the judges they will effectively control all three branches of the government.

The democrats will have what they have wanted for years, and while they are not filibuster proof, its pretty damn close. They will be able to claim all the praise for any good over the next 4 years and will be unable to blame the Conservative Republicans or Independent politicians for any failures. Glad I bought my gun when I did, hope I can some day buy another....or even keep the ones I already have.

Halloween

Mysti did up the house and I'll have a few pictures to post once I resize them.
We also took some video but it really was too dark to see too much. When she started
this craze of hers, we would have over 250 kids come by, each year the number dwindles
and this year we didn't even hit 75. I guess at some point she is going to realize it
just isn't worth the hassel. But for now she gets a real kick out of the kids being scared witless.

Waiting:

We have to wait till mid November to join the right Gun club to access the range where we can try out our new long gun....ugh a new toy and I can't play with it for the first month of ownership! Our indoor pistol range should be back on line next weekend.....so....we play the waiting game.

Where are they now?

Mysti and I stayed in this past weekend, the weather was cold and very verywet with fairly high winds. Our usual indoor shooting range is down for renovation for another week or so...so it has been all about staying in, cutting hardebaker board for shower repairs. Mysti really gets into this home repair thing, reminds me of Brigid, or vise versa.

Yesterday was Buy a gun day

Drove out to Essex for Mysti to pick up her Walther P22 (pictured previously) and on the way home we stopped at our friends Gun Store and I picked up a Bushmaster XM15 E2S, it is a base config but I intend to customize it later.


It's an M3 model (heavier barrel than the M4) which means It is not classifed in Maryland as an "Assault Weapon". Maryland Laws state it has to have at least a 16" barrel that is not cut to reduce the weight in any way,However I am permitted to purchase any upper for it that I see fit for it after the initial purchase. So now I can mod it all I want and put any optics I want, heck I can even get it made full auto with a silencer....just not allowed to put a flash supressor on it....This state is weird...just freakin weird. It took me 20 minutes to make this purchase (because we were shooting the breeze) and I walked out of the store with it....it took Mysti 13 days to be able to get her P22 pistol....simply because it was a pistol. Did I mention weird gun laws?

I have not abandoned the Blog :)

No, I started a new profession. Yes to be sure I will be leveraging my technical talents from my life long technology pursuits, but this is something new, and as such I feel the need to focus on learning how to do this new stuff well. Yes this means I spend a whole lot of un-reported OT reading non-recreational material but in the long run it should pay off.

Benefits:
Very little in the way of Night work
No weekend work (normally)
simple 8-5 hours monday - friday
No micromanagement
Low pressure so far
I get to explore new tech.

Down Side:
I am not the expert any more.
For the 1st time in 20 years I feel like a noob

ummm thats it....so I think Im looking good and so far insulated from the Market turmoils, as long as I don't look at the bottom line of my 403b. *sigh* Patience young skywalker the market will recover.....

New Job

Learning new stuff...totally different from what I was doing before....brain hurt, skull expanding to try to accomodate more info.....cerebelum liquifying melt down imminent.

Gun Show results.

Due to issues that I will not go into, I did not get to the Gun Show on Saturday, however Mysti and I did get there today. I picked up some Ammo Cans and 500 rounds of 9mm ammo. While Mysti found many little doodads that she wanted to pick up. They were not really gun related per-se, however the big purchase of the day was a Walther P22 pistol, so now Mysti has her very own weapon. Of course with the regulations in this state she wont actually get the thing till next week.

At least now she has her own reason to be at the range with me :)
This is the model she got.

Gun Show redux

6 hours of work left, then hiho, hiho, it's off to the Timonium Gun show we go. I'm betting even money that Mysti decides to buy a .22 of her very own to shoot with, rather than beat up my collectors item :)

This show promises to have approximately 600 tables so we should come home with the trunk loaded. I'm hoping to score some water tight ammo cans, some silloette targets, some snap caps
and ammo.

A plan I can Agree with.

Here’s the Kim Du Toit Prescription for Economic Recovery, Sweetness And Light, and All Good Things To Come:

1. Top tax rate (gross income > $250,000): 20%
2. Middle tax rate ($100,000 - $$250,000): 15%
3. Bottom tax rate: 10% ($25,000 - $100,000)
4. Alternative minimum tax: abolished, forever
5. Capital gains tax: 5% [update]
6. Death tax: abolished, forever
7. Corporate tax rate: 15%
8. Not one red cent for banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions.

A good Video with more than you ever wanted to know