Sunday Hunting: A Cultural Difference Discovered

I just inadvertently learned from the Charlotte Television News that there is a bill to allow hunting on Sunday. 

I didn't know there were any states that didn't have Sunday hunting. This chance catch of a bit of news probably just saved me from wondering where everybody is right before an unpleasant conversation with the local version of the DNR next year (no time for hunting this year, and having one's hunting tools in another state doesn't help either).

The interview with a local pastor had him give a short speech on why there shouldn't be hunting on Sunday which can be condensed down to "you should be in church, it's a day of worship".

If you need to legislate hunting out of the picture to get men in your church, I suggest you look to your skills as a religious leader.

As for non-religious me, the firing range is my church, and I'm willing to bet money that a fair number of devout Christian hunters feel closer to God in the woods than seated in a pew.

Guess I'll be polishing the handgun skills on Sundays next fall.

DNC Not Paying Debt?

Shocking!

A long time ago, an academic advisor told me that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. Given that, no one should be surprised by this.

 Few things are quite as aggravating as having a bundle of documents returned from the Great Hall of Administration, due to the documents "unacceptable appearance.......these are going to the head of the Administrative Region you know!", when it is those same functionaries who used white-out over 50% of a document in an improper and incorrect attempt to alter who should be signing the document. Oh, and the having to retype those same areas, on the same document, because two-thirds of the needed signatures were already there.

Leaving unanswered one major underlying question: why, in this age of electronic documents, do I have to physically run packets of documents from building to building for signatures like it's 1935?

Well Now.........Isn't This Interesting?

I'm personally familiar with a coworker who had a family member die from a blow to the head by another's fist. I'm familiar with at least two cases in the past year where individuals have died subsequent to being hit in the head with a fist. A punch to the head that knocks an individual down, followed by slamming someone's head into the ground (sidewalk?) repeatedly, would meet my definition of a high-likelihood of lethality assault.

The fact that there are witnesses corroborating this enhances the probability that the version is accurate, which is important. The most important thing here is that the law is upheld, regardless of participant skin shade. Justice is supposed to be blind so that it is impartial. Which is wildly different from the concept of justice held by those participating in "hoodie marches".

If a large numbers of people are angry, marching, and sloganeering, there's probably some engineering going on behind it.

How's That Apology Working Out?

If, according to the president, we need to apologize to Muslims because we must accept that they have such an innate, extraordinary ardor for their religion that barbaric reactions to trivial slights are inevitable, then they should not be invited to enter a civilized country. At the very least, our immigration laws should exclude entry from Muslim-majority countries unless and until those countries expressly repeal repressive sharia laws (e.g., the death penalty for apostates) and adopt American standards of non-discrimination against, tolerance of, and protection for religious minorities.

If I could only write half so well about what I believe. There's nothing to be gained there anymore. Let them sink back into their paradise of hate, revenge, and brutishness. Our people are far too valuable to risk them for those who loathe us.

Another Outbreak of Tolerance

Another fine member of the Religion of Peace demonstrating love and tolerance for those who offend him.

Some personal perspective; although I'm an atheist, I don't, and will not, attempt to insult people who have different beliefs. Until their beliefs interfere with my personal liberty, it's none of my business. Secondly, many with different beliefs who attempt to live those beliefs, make society a better place for all of us through charity, good works, and concern for their neighbors. Last, I don't like being preached to about how wrong I am, and I'm confident I'm not alone in that.

In this case, the complainants managed to break all of those standards. It was obviously offensive, although in a juvenile manner that reminds me of the OWS protests by young people with little life experience, or older individuals with arrested development. At a personal level, idiots like these leave me reluctant to say much of anything about my beliefs, as I think most people these days equate "atheist" with "obnoxious ass".

All that said, the main problem is this: an individual felt it appropriate to assault another for a difference of opinion, and a member of our legal system has place the practice of his currently practiced religion above the law:

"Then what you have done is you have completely trashed their essence, their being. They find it very very very offensive. I'm a Muslim, I find it offensive. But you have that right, but you're way outside your boundaries or first amendment rights."

This is just a taste of what's coming in the future as individual liberty is sacrificed on the altar of societal harmony as seen by the left. Islam and socialism/communism share the trait of complete intolerance for dissent. Both are making inroads into American society that would have been incomprehensible a mere twenty years ago. And it seems to be acceptable to the majority of the population, as long as there are funds for cable tv and fast food.

Give it five to ten more years, and we'll be seeing Afghanistan-style Koran riots here.

You've Got Future In Politics, Kid

Congratulations, leftists. I think your years of infiltrating the American education system are bearing fruit:

"Look, we're teenagers," added Murray. "We can't always like think for ourselves. We need the government to do it for us."

Let me says this now: it sucks that the young lady died. I wish she'd been able to get up from that accident, brush herself off, and think about what went wrong. It didn't happen that way, and now everyone else must pay.

A bit of advice, kids. Bad decisions by one individual doesn't mean the rest of us are willing to have others make our decisions. There's far too much of that already. And if you want to make an effective argument about how laws will uniformly result in compliance, I suggest you look at your social circle. I'm willing to bet cash there's a fair number of your peers smoking weed, drinking underage, not wearing seat belts, shoplifting, and sampling prescribed meds that aren't theirs. Because I was a teenager, as well as working 20+ years in hospitals and the military. I've seen how law oriented kids are.

Laws motivate those who are afraid of punishment, and there's a fair number of you that don't seem to respond to that. If you want people to wear helmets, I suggest you try persuasion. But that's harder, isn't it. Because people still have a choice, no matter how wrong you think they are. But in the spirit of reciprocity, here's a suggestion. How about we ban all teenagers from operating personal motor vehicles? Or any wheeled transportation device? That should make things safer, and since you can't think for yourselves, you don't really need any input on it, do you?

FU, BB

SOPA.

Just one more step on our march into a Police State.

Civil disobedience.

One of the actions free individuals take when confronted with statist ass-hattery.

Synonyms: craven, poltroon, dastard, recreant, milksop.

cow·ard (kou-erd)

1. a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person.

2. lacking courage; very fearful or timid.

The president (my god, how that title has been demeaned) asked the Iranian government/theocracy to return our drone.

Asked.

When you lose a valuable material asset to a hostile nation, you don't ask. You act.

That's why we have cruise missiles, you ass!


Would anyone care to join me in commissioning a bust of Neville Chamberlain for the POTUS's Christmas present this year?

Really?

Yeah. Your kids will be fine, because you're the kind of behind-the-scenes, double-dealing, backstabbing, lying, self-serving, amoral piece of shit you constantly say you're fighting against.

Fuck.
You.

Libya

Here's a few brief thoughts from someone who's on his third deployment:

What's there that is worth risking our people? Oil? If we developed our own resources, and partnered more with stable western nations (think Canada), that wouldn't be a factor.

Protecting civilians from a murderous regime? Then we're a bit behind the curve, and best get to work on China, North Korea, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, ad infinitum.

Fostering representative government (I'll address "democracy" in a moment) with free citizens? Outside of Turkey, which is doing a fine job of moving towards theocracy, and Iraq/Afghanistan, where the vote is (poorly) ensured by western guns, Islamic nations generally replace one dictator for another. Whether the stage mask is Arab Nationalism or Islam, the repressive policies and police state are largely interchangeable.

Fostering "good will" in the Arab Street/Islamic World? How dense must one be to not understand that the ASIW will always despise anything different from their way? I would deeply appreciate any examples of long-term gratitude resulting from efforts on the ASIW's behalf that isn't tied to continuing donations to the local economy or political entity.

As to fostering "democratic governments": democracy, in the concept of one person, one vote, is merely a step above mob rule, where demagoguery, ignorance and impulsiveness meet. E.g., the fine results the California referendum system has produced in which the handouts of goodies has no relation in reality to their cost. At least representative government takes time and compromise, if the citizenry hasn't become overwhelmingly addicted to benefits based on borrowing, promises, and cynical manipulation of statistics (which brings us to our current looming disaster economically, but that's for another post).

The one great flaw the current administration committed before taking action now, was in not clearly stating that it was an internal matter. Period. No planes, no troops, no warships. Stand or fall, and seek aid elsewhere. If we were to send them crates of AKs and Chinese-built SAMs with deniability, fine by me. I'm in favor of Q's residence mysteriously being vaporized while he's in it, as we owe him payback several times over. But not at the cost of more pilots, aircrew, Soldiers, or Marines. Not for several more billions in operating costs followed by endless humanitarian aid paid for by increasingly worthless currency and debt leaving our citizens worse off in buying their food and paying their bills, while those we assist accuse us of war crimes, racism, and imperialism.


My family. My community. My nation. My priorities.

"It's On You"

The post title is one of my current unit's cultural sayings. In context, it's generally used as a sham excuse by a select number of higher-ups who are sloughing tasks off to others below them. However, there are times and places where this literally becomes the truth, as much as people wish to believe otherwise.

Some quotes from news reports out of Japan:

"Millions of people spent a third night without water, food or heating in near-freezing temperatures along the devastated northeastern coast."

"People are surviving on little food and water. Things are simply not coming," said Hajime Sato, a government official in Iwate prefecture"

"We have repeatedly asked the government to help us, but the government is overwhelmed by the scale of damage and enormous demand for food and water"

"we simply don't have enough. We just did not expect such a thing to happen."

"I never imagined we would be in such a situation," Watanabe said. "I had a good life before. Now we have nothing"

All cringeworthy quotes. Which is why I have these personal rules:

1) Stockpile sealed food and water. Being foremost in the thoughts and prayers of other nations won't put food in your stomach for at least several days in the best of circumstances. Where I normally live, tsunamis aren't an issue, but flooding, tornadoes, and extreme winter conditions are. I will not survive the initial disaster only to starve in the aftermath. Furthermore, don't store it all in one place. Family, storage rental, or even a secret squirrel stash buried in the woods within a one day foot-travel distance can make the difference between between hoping someone feeds you before you starve versus being able to maintain your health and strength in an extreme situation. For these acute events, I'm a big fan of the lowly MRE, due to being able to consume it cold without added water if necessary (based on experience, hunger truly does make the best sauce). Having at least a week's worth of food and water for a household and extended local family is a must from my perspective.

"An emergency worker in white helmet came over and told him if the (gas) station opens at all, the gas may be allocated for emergency teams and essential government workers."

"large areas of the countryside remained surrounded by water and unreachable. Fuel stations were closed, though, at some, cars waited in lines hundreds of vehicles long"

2) I don't like to let my gas tanks fall below 50% full, and I keep enough fuel in my garage to top up that 50% if needed. Which is great, if you can actually leave the area to get to a relative's place that is agreed upon in advance. But otherwise, gasoline shouldn't be a priority. Why? Because if you run a generator in this situation, you're going to be a refugee and/or looter magnet. Which is why The Wife and I are focused on being able to live in an 1895 technology mode for an extended period of time. Modern fuels, such as Coleman fuel and propane, should absolutely be stocked for easier cooking and emergency short-term heating, because they are silent. But having plenty of aged wood on hand is good if things are going to be extended. Implied is having the means to use these fuels, and cookware (think iron) that is durable over open flame.

3) Even in advanced countries with benevolent governments, you can't count on them to get to you in a timely manner. Ever.

4) Japan is culturally homogeneous with a deep tradition of cooperation and group efforts. The US isn't. After an initial event, culturally diverse areas will experience what is essentially tribalism, with those outside of the local tribe being more at risk for violence of all types. Use resources discreetly, be helpful to your local area as much as safely possible, but be prepared physically (again, discretely, or depending on where you are, extremely discretely) and emotionally to use force in defense of your own and your local community's safety and resources.

5) The will to survive doesn't trump all, but it will take you further in an extreme situation than a passive mindset that waits for someone to take care of matters.

I strongly recommend checking out the Survival Blog website, especially his link "Getting Started" on the left side of the homepage.

Because in the end, we're responsible for ourselves.

Well, Duh.......

Everyone knows thugs prefer weapons over three feet long with a top-loading packet clip system.



Jackass.

Fabulous.

I look forward to living a in giant version of Lebanon twenty years from now, if things keep proceeding like this.

Admirable Democrats

"Senators Tester and Baucus of Montana faxed a cosigned letter to the Department of Defense asking DOD to reverse their new policy requiring "mutilation" of fired military cartridge brass."

These two Democratic Senators from Montana will be getting a letter of appreciation from me. It's apparently their joint effort that has tipped the Department of Defense into rescinding its brass mutilation policy. I shoot a lot, and I can't afford to buy factory ammo. So it's reloading for me. And one of the best sources for 7.62 and 5.56 brass is bulk suppliers who buy from the government. I've seen a few comments lately that this is simply the ending of government subsidy of shooters, and that we have no right to complain about it. But that's wrong, and here's why:

The government must use ammunition made with virgin brass for quality control; it will not use fired brass because of the impossible task of tracking how many times brass has been reloaded, and thus liable to fail at a critical moment in combat, fail causing injury to service members, or fail during manufacture causing production delays.

Virgin brass has relatively high costs, as it must go through the complete manufacturing process. Manufacturing is what adds value, and cost. Shredding a fired case obliterates all the manufacturing steps past creating a pure alloy. And the steps to shred the brass cost additional money in equipment and staff pay.

Shredded brass can only be sold for its value for the metal; once-fired brass has utility for at least five more firings, without the manufacturing costs. This enhanced value creates higher demand for the case, allowing a higher price. This higher price paid reduces the government's overall cost per cartridge.

The government recovers more of its initial cost through purely voluntary purchases of a surplus material. The consumer gets a known quality product at a lower price. That isn't a subsidy, it's good business, with both parties gaining a benefit they couldn't get on their own. The only person not coming out ahead on this are people who want the shooting sports strangled.

H/T Cogito Ergo Geek

And You're Doing This Why?

This kind of stuff reminds me of the aftermath of Katrina. And, it's my state, thus my National Guard, practicing this.

Searching for illegal weapons dealers is a job for the police, not the military. And if it's for practice in Iraq, then it can be practiced on a military post in an appropriately simulated area, not in American homes.

This stuff is wrong, and I wouldn't, won't, and never will participate in searching American homes for privately owned weapons as a military member.

H/T The Trooper's Gal

You Mean It Isn't All About Obama?

Somehow, I doubt this was an issue during the last administration. As in, I'm confident no one put up a picture of Dubya. Because there would have been someone screaming about the injustice of it all, and the pervasive effort to inflict a totalitarian regime, yada yada yada.

Cheers to the individual with the spine to point this out. And for those who think I'm repelled by the original actions here, I'm actually irritated that Washington and Lincoln's birthdays were ever rolled into one generically labelled holiday. If, in the interest of improving .gov efficiency by making sure that there was only one day off instead of two for the holidays (snort), combining was necessary, it could have at least had the president's names still appended to it.

Speaking of efficiency and the government, it certainly is refreshing to see that our current president, in the interests of drawing attention to the "green" benefits of the porkulus bill, will board Air Force One to fly out to Colorado for the signing of the Great Leap Forward that will save us all from the evil that is capitalism. Of course, when you're dispensing notional dollars like cheap hard candy in a July 4th parade, what does a jet exhaust carbon footprint or the cost of fuel, support services, and local economic disruption for security matter?

There are different standards for the plebes, apparently.

Newsweek: Dropping Acid or Just Brainwashed?

Obama, The Unifier

"Like Reagan, the 44th president has the potential to be a truly transformational figure."

Good Lord. Is this man serious, or is he just looking for a reach around from someone higher up?

Reagan was the president when I was in high school. As I recall, his philosophy was that government should be reduced, foreign enemies treated as such, being an American was something to be proud of, personal arms wouldn't drive individuals into homicidal psychoses through proximity, look to your own efforts for financial gain, and traditional values are worthy of being honored.

Now, if past personal history guides us, we may look forward to exponential governmental expansion and spending, requesting to address nations who fund terrorism directed at us, Americans are parochial bullies holding the rest of the world down, arms are only desired by mentally-ill malcontents, it's better for everybody if the people who actually work "give" some of the money to the perpetually unfortunate, and the Constitution needs some serious work because it's not reflective of a "more perfect state".

As far as unity goes, it's nice in theory. So's communism, but I've no desire to live under it here in reality. I see a whole of "-ists" coming into common use soon for those who don't go along to get along, such as obstructionist, fascist, capitalist, and of course, racist.

This is going to be a long four years of Change and Hope we'll all be blessed with.

And So It Begins..........

H.R.45, or as I think of it, the "Putting Peasants in Their Place" bill, has been submitted. More details at Irons in the Fire.

Time to start writing letters.

"the gun was left by a veteran member of the SWAT team who forgot the weapon in the grass while packing up gear after the standoff ended."

In the Army, one of the worst examples of neglect you can commit is losing a weapon. Essentially, there is no good reason to lose a weapon if you are concious. I have seen entire bases locked down for one missing rifle. When the problem reaches that level of command, at least one person's career is shot.

That's not to say I don't feel sympathy for this guy. I've had a rifle stolen from under my care many years ago by OPFOR during field exercises. I spent a good portion of the duty shift trying not to vomit from nausea after finding it missing, until a grinning Specialist handed it back to me in the morning, having been highly praised for infiltrating the center of camp and bringing back with my rifle. I can say that never happened to me again. I'd guess if this member of the SWAT team was in the same state when he found out, and it probably will have the same effect on him: if it's not in my hands, it's on my back; if it's not on my back, it's locked up.

What needs to be done, besides some degree of punishment to make a point, is a review of how SWAT teams manage accountability for sensitive equipment. This wasn't just an individual failure. Where was the team leader when it was time to leave the scene? Why didn't he do an equipment survey before leaving? How often are sensitive items accounted for? It speaks volumes about security practices and leader responsibility when it's a homeowner calling in to report a missing police weapon. There should be more than one person receiving punishment in this case.