Lessons Learned

In a house over 100 years old, you can measure and calculate angles and distances all you want, but the only way to get a straight line over 48 inches long is using a plumb bob or a laser.

Legalize Duelling

One of my fundamental beliefs is that American culture began a long slide away from courtesy and responsibility in the '60s, as self-indulgent children of a hardworking generation rejected everything previous generations held valuable: morality, ethics, courtesy, hygiene...........

Bringing us to the present, where mouthbreathers like the one pictured above feel free to engage in these behaviors. There was a time when spitting on a man, let alone his daughter, was cause for a least a crippling beatdown. Now, if law enforcement is available to catch what has become a relatively minor crime, one gets some jail time (more street cred) and community service (detention for adults). Somehow, I doubt this will seriously dissuade the jackass in question from future idiocy. But several smacks to skull with a stout (think brass handle) walking stick would probably cause learning to take place, much as shock collars educate adolescent dogs. Which brings me to a thought I've had for a while now.

The problem with violence in America isn't that there is violence per se; the problem is that violence isn't being administered to those who have earned it.

(H/T to The Rott)

YHGTBKM

Few things are as frustrating as being at the top of a ladder outside a second story window and realizing that one has spray-painted the wrong side of a storm window frame after smacking it into place.

Unless it would be having what must be Forrest Gump's even more challenged cousin continually ignore instructions during a vascular case, resulting in bleeding (occasionally projectile) for hours past when we would normally be done. In fact, I never realized until today that coughing in that obnoxious, white-trash, I-want-to-share-my-phlegm-with-everyone cough could actually launch a jet of blood through a sub-cutaneous tunnel puncture for a distance of nearly two feet. Is there something vague about the instruction "Please hold still"? Because that's why you started bleeding again, and again, and again every time we would get it stopped. Surely that's easier than having three people applying pressure to different parts of your body so most of your blood isn't on the floor?

I'm amazed some people make it past forty.

Time Is Short

The time to head to active duty status is fast approaching, so I'm making the most of my remaining time by........painting storm windows, refinishing walls, and building a closet. Apparently, this is what happens when one becomes a home owner. Why spend time at the range, riding motorcycles, or grilling and drinking beer when you can update areas of the home that haven't been touched since the '70s?

I will stock up on several cases of ammo, and stash away some serious cash for a two-week minimum bike ride when I get back. What's life without enjoying the simple pleasures?

Ugly Gun Sunday

Whatever the failings of the owner of these guns, inconsistency isn't one of them; they're all over the top.

Ugly Gun Sunday

An Astra in 25 ACP. Hopefully this was origninally intended as a lady's purse pistol (although depending on the lady, it looks like it could've ridden in a garter for faster access), as any man pulling this on someone would have a better chance of them laughing their way into being incapacitated than relying on cartridge stopping power.

For Today's Relaxation...........

disassembled, tweaked, and reassembled a troublesome ceiling fan, which burned up the morning;

Sanded down the dried joint compound applied to the entry way ceiling, one 2 x 2 foot section at a time perched on a rather old, creaky wooden ladder;

Picked up stuff for more projects out at the local Menards;

Detail cleaned someone else's rifle that was shot well over a year ago and never cleaned.

I remember a time in my 20's when Saturday was the time I'd go out to the range for four or five hours for some leisurely shooting, then some beers out in the backyard while cleaning whatever number of rifles and pistols I'd dirtied that day*. What the hell happened to me?

* Yep, I enjoyed beer while cleaning guns. It's not my problem if some someone else is too thick to completely unload and clear at the range, and then again at home, before breaking down their weapon and popping a bottle. And ammo and cleaning doesn't mix, EVER. Ditto cleaning guns with someone else cleaning theirs; that's asking for trouble all by itself. But then again, I like cigars and riding motorcycles without a helmet in nice weather, so I'm obviously a knuckle-draggin' yahoo with no common sense anyway.

'

Oooooh, Pretty

It's nearly 100 degrees, the humidity is high, and the sky just went from grey overcast to a funky piss-yellow color in the course of five minutes.

It's good to have a basement.

Dystopia

While cruising my links, I ran across this gentleman's site. His post is terribly depressing, negative, and probably spot on. There are certain economic realities that no amount of political theory will defeat. The Left, especially the element supposedly administering policy in our polity, seems to absolutely refuse recognition of this.

The older I get, the more the general population seems focused on bread and circuses, assuming that all will be well, as those smarter than the rest of us have things well in hand. Anyone with some exposure to history know where this eventually leads, and it's not where the complacent think it will be.

I'm looking long and hard at buying land with a ruined farmhouse on it. Privacy, distance, and arable land are looking better all the time.

Ugly Gun Sunday

What exactly is it about being a narcotics kingpin that drives the urge to bling out handguns with truly craptastic grips?

Freedom Rally Wrap Up 2010

2010 was a good year at the rally; lots of people, bikes, music, and good weather. As always, there was a large number of bikes, many of them custom, both professionally and home-built:

The occasional weirdness, which begins the NSFW portion of the tour:

With a look like this, is there any way he can't get laid?

Jake the Badger, who's apparently on YouTube doing....things to various drunken attendees

The one mandatory old naked people pic

And of course, the girls..........

dehydration's a bitch....

Unfortunately, this will be the last rally for a year or so, as were I'm going doesn't seem to have much for bike culture, or drunken naked women. Which is just one more reason why America kicks ass.

Lazy Ass Bastard.............

photo swiped from Motorcycle Philosophy so no, that's not me...

It's been noted that I should be posting some recent pictures, so what's slowing me down?

Let's just say I've known people clinically diagnosed with ADHD who change their mind and schedules far less frequently than the Guard. And I am probably one of the foremost experts in packing, unpacking, and rearranging duffel bags of issue gear in the state at this point. Add returning to home with sleep deprivation (well-earned and enjoyed in the process) through horizontally raining thunderstorms, unpacking, getting the bike into the shop for some questionable noises around the rear axle, and a first day back to work that lasted for 12 hours on my feet with no breaks or meals, and a massive physician tantrum, and things haven't been as slack as I'd like. But here we are, and the show must go on.

One note that ought to make most happy; far more young people were in attendance at the Freedom Rally this year, the weather for the most part was outstanding, and most (I stress most......you all should appreciate some of the photos I didn't take) of the elderly kept their clothes on. Oh, and there will be no old naked guy images this year, unless he happened to be next to someone else I took a picture of.

Last, there is one image that is probably, for most of you, NSFW. There'll be several more of those tomorrow, only they'll be people and not "art", so no bitching if the office prude nails your ass for inappropriate conduct, or whatever the current HR catchword is.

The girl next door, at least for the next several days. Lower left, the 600 miles of bugs I collected. I liked looking at the girl better.

Biker Folk Art!

Some people look at tattoo flash books; some look at the people looking.


It's always good to see what people are doing with their bikes.....

Gyros and Budweiser, the pre-sleep snack of champions.