Day by Day Cartoon by Chris Muir

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The intellectual power of the left

A good example of why our colleges are producing so many helpless drones:


What country fetishizes, lionizes, valorizes, idolizes, and sacralizes guns as much as does our United States? OK, possibly Mozambique — the only country with an AK47 on its flag, but really, it's long past time to end this obsessive "My Precious" attachment of Americans to instruments of death.
This morning of Dec. 25, 2014, of the nine top stories from US Reuters, six were about shootings — four new ones and two about the national movement against shootings of citizens by police. This pandemic of sick violence, punctuated by mass killings of children, has gone on far, far too long. It is long past time to repeal the stupid Second Amendment.
The fate of the Second Amendment should have been sealed when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that past rulings by their predecessors were wrong, that in fact the amendment that provided for a "well regulated militia" really guaranteed every individual the right to own a gun. Wow. That is an interesting reading of the English language. What the Supremes have done is to not only warp the meaning and make it into twisted law, but to further prohibit states and local governments from declaring their places free of legal guns. The conservative court once again rules against the power of states, a principle that used to be associated with darn liberals who wanted to make sure everyone had the right to vote, for example, even though they weren't properly white enough. Now when a city or state wants to outlaw firearms, too bad. The conservatives took away their powers and rights in favor of Big Brother.
The only logical path, given the clearly decided role of the Second Amendment, is to repeal it. American people are tired of mass shootings and police shootings and family feud shootings and sibling shootings and accidental toddler shootings and teen suicide by gun (highly popular).We are exhausted by the proliferation of death, of threats, of bloodshed, and by the NRA/gun industry moral garbage spewing forth every time someone challenges the ubiquity of guns.
Repeal the Stupid Second Amendment. Surround it, grab it, bring it in the back room, pull down the shades, and end it. OK, petition for it, get it on the ballot, and get it done by enough of the US populace, by enough people in enough states, to get it consigned to the dustbin of history.
Tom H. Hastings is PeaceVoice Director and teaches in the Conflict Resolution program at Portland State University in Oregon.
 Copied in its' entirety from the Wisconsin Gazette.

OK. Let's dissect this.

"What country fetishizes, lionizes, valorizes, idolizes, and sacralizes guns as much as does our United States? OK, possibly Mozambique — the only country with an AK47 on its flag, but really, it's long past time to end this obsessive "My Precious" attachment of Americans to instruments of death."

Americans are not obsessed with guns. Even the "gun nuts" like me are not obsessed - we have full lives outside of our hobby. The persons with the obsessions are those like Mr. Hastings who haven't a clue about history or our country's origins, or freedom for that matter.

"This morning of Dec. 25, 2014, of the nine top stories from US Reuters, six were about shootings — four new ones and two about the national movement against shootings of citizens by police. This pandemic of sick violence, punctuated by mass killings of children, has gone on far, far too long. It is long past time to repeal the stupid Second Amendment."

A bit of fact-checking - the Washington Times  reports:
Washington, D.C., surpassed 100 homicides for the year in the course of an unusually violent Christmas Eve in which five people were killed — including one by police after he opened fire on officers.
 The nation's capitol is a perfect example of a place without the Second Amendment. The "lawmakers" there have tried for decades to keep the population of Washington, DC unarmed - except for the police and, of course, the criminals who ignore inconvenient laws .

"The fate of the Second Amendment should have been sealed when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that past rulings by their predecessors were wrong, that in fact the amendment that provided for a "well regulated militia" really guaranteed every individual the right to own a gun. Wow. That is an interesting reading of the English language. What the Supremes have done is to not only warp the meaning and make it into twisted law, but to further prohibit states and local governments from declaring their places free of legal guns. The conservative court once again rules against the power of states, a principle that used to be associated with darn liberals who wanted to make sure everyone had the right to vote, for example, even though they weren't properly white enough. Now when a city or state wants to outlaw firearms, too bad. The conservatives took away their powers and rights in favor of Big Brother."

I have to agree with the first sentence - after the 2008 ruling, ALL gun laws in America should have been declared null and void, as they are all in violation of the Second Amendment. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court chickened out on calling a spade a spade and allowed room for "common sense" gun control.

The "well regulated militia" clause is there as a reason that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed - not the fact that a militia needs to be "regulated" in what arms it might bear. At the time of the Revolution, cannons were WMDs and were owned by private citizens, who organized artillery militia groups. Private citizens also operated naval ships. The modern equivalent would be fighters and bombers and whatever ammunition they require.

The Constitution was put in place to limit the power of first, the federal government, and secondly, the power of the states, to enact laws infringing on the rights of the people, from whence all power flows in our country - at least, that is how it was supposed to be. The Supreme Court has ignored thousands of instances of federal and state overstepping since 1776. They almost got the 2008 ruling right.

It's interesting that he mentions voting rights and liberals in the same breath - the "liberals" were the ones fighting desegregation in the 1960's right up until LBJ made his famous "we'll have those "n****rs" voting Democrat for the next 100 years" comment - at which point they were all for the idea.

I wonder if this goofus has even heard of George Orwell. It's obvious he has no idea who "Big Brother" was.

"The only logical path, given the clearly decided role of the Second Amendment, is to repeal it. American people are tired of mass shootings and police shootings and family feud shootings and sibling shootings and accidental toddler shootings and teen suicide by gun (highly popular).We are exhausted by the proliferation of death, of threats, of bloodshed, and by the NRA/gun industry moral garbage spewing forth every time someone challenges the ubiquity of guns."

How about some statistics?

Mass shootings are comparatively rare in this country, and are overwhelmingly committed by "liberal" leaning persons.

The NRA is not the "gun industry".

A perfect solution to violence is to disarm the innocent. This idea alone ought to cause his employers in Portland to fire him for abject stupidity. He's probably tenured, though.

"Repeal the Stupid Second Amendment. Surround it, grab it, bring it in the back room, pull down the shades, and end it. OK, petition for it, get it on the ballot, and get it done by enough of the US populace, by enough people in enough states, to get it consigned to the dustbin of history."

Let's do that. And then we can see how much you like living under the real "Big Brother".


Luckily for America, the people evidently have seen past people like Mr. Hastings, as polls now show a majority of people are in favor of a truly liberal interpretation of the Second Amendment - just like it was meant to be read.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Electric vehicles

Just read an article in the December issue of Design World - "Series hybrid electric truck".

Seems Wal-Mart is getting into the green thing with a custom built streamlined electric truck with a Capstone micro-turbine generator range extender. Neat looking truck. The steering wheel says "Peterbilt". They also have a special streamlined 53' trailer.

On the third page of the article, they quote "DoT statistics" that show the typical heavy highway hauler gets 5.89 MPG.

On page six they make a big deal about how 50 gallons of Diesel in this thing's tank can be converted to 325 kWh of energy, which can drive the fully loaded truck a whopping (estimated) 217 miles.

A little math: 217 / 50 = 4.34 MPG.

So, for an investment of around $30K for the micro-turbine, and adding the weight and cost of whatever batteries it carries to qualify as a "hybrid", this green wonder gets 73% of the mileage of the conventional Diesel, which, with modern pollution controls, is extremely clean, costs a whole lot less, and uses little in the way of rare earths in its' engine.

Like I keep saying - going "green" for the sake of political correctness is just plain stupid.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

American Community Survey

A week or two ago, I got a letter from the Census Bureau - my address has been "selected" to waste "approximately 40 minutes" filling out an online survey. Penalties to be imposed under U. S. C. Title 13, Sections 141, 193, and 221, as changed by Title 18. According to Politifact, penalties can be as high as $5000, but no one has been fined to date.

So, I'll go to https://respond.census.gov/acs and see what they want - then I'll decide wether or not to respond.

As the law states: "no person shall be compelled to disclose information related to his religious beliefs or to membership in a religious body.". And since the US Government has no business infringing on my religion or practice thereof, perhaps my religion just changed to Islam, which mandates I lie to infidels...

From the census link:
** WARNING **
You have accessed a UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT computer. Use of this computer without authorization or for purposes for which authorization has not been extended is a violation of Federal law and can be punished with fines or imprisonment (PUBLIC LAW 99-474). System usage may be monitored, recorded, and subject to audit. Any information you enter into this system may be used by the Census Bureau for statistical purposes, including but not limited to improving the efficiency of our data collection programs. For information regarding the use of this system, and how your privacy is protected, visit our online privacy webpage at http://www.census.gov/privacy/privacy_policy/. Use of this system indicates consent to the collection, monitoring, recording, and use of information provided inside this system.
But - they promise the information I provide will be kept confidential...

OK. Logged in with my ten digit ID, which was xxxxx-06322. The same people responsible for the JugearsCare website must be responsible for the programming, as the box to accept the six-digit ID will only accept five digits.

Duh - you don't type in the '-'.

Onward. Starting time 1:47.

First question - am I filling out the survey for my address? Yes.
Second question - do I LIVE at this address? Yes.
Gives me a PIN in case the website times out in 15 minutes.
What is my name and phone #? Answered, phone # is the FAX line. Not lying yet.
Other people in the home? Just N. O. Yfb.
Any OTHER people? Here's where I list the pets...
Any OTHER OTHER people visiting? No. I don't know the names of the mice downstairs, anyway.
Any of the previously listed people not here right now? No.
Any of the previously listed people have another place they stay? No.
Now, let's ask about those others you listed-
Who owns or rents the place? Me. Rented from the Town of Beloit, County of Rock, State of Wisconsin, one tax payment at a time.
N. O. Yfb is "other nonrelative" Repeat for the four pets.
Now, it gets personal - "what is my sex?". Male. I'm surprised they didn't allow all the modern genders...

Ditto for N. O. Fyb and the pets.

What is my birth date? April 1, 1888 - the earliest they allow. All the other people and pets also born on 4/1, various years.

Am I "hispanic"? Tempted, but "no". No one here is "hispanic".

What race am I? Human.
What race are others? Truthful answers.
What best describes this home? Mobile home - the house IS shifting on the field stone foundation...
When was it built? Before 1939.
When did I move in? Truthful answer.
How much agricultural income? $1 to $999 - I sold a few dozen eggs at $1 / dozen at work...
Is there a business on the property? Yes. I DO have an FFL...
How many rooms? 1, no bedrooms.
What about utilities and appliances? None.
Computer? Coleco Adam running Ubuntu Linux (really!) Just not using it for this...
There's NO internet access at this mobile home - so how am I filling out this survey?
No vehicles - or should I be truthful and include the hangar queens? No - 0 vehicles. NOTFB.
Don't use no fuel for heat.
Does anyone PAY for electricity? No - I steal it...Extra info - electricity is free.
Does this household use gas? No, but we produce it.
Does anyone PAY for water and sewer? Extra info -water is free...
Do we use other fuels? No.
Did we get food stamps in the last year? No.
Is this mobile home part of a condom? No.
A bunch of questions about housing payments. Amazingly enough, all of them were $1.00.
Questions about me - I am amazed to find I am Terran, and speak Klingon. Unfortuantely, I don't speak English.
A bunch of personal questions - like when was I married. I told this thing I was born in 1888, so I put in 1492 - it tells me I was married "before I was 12". So, 12 is the minimum federal marriage age now? Changed it to 1942, ten years before my actual birth.
A bunch of questions about my job - I didn't work, as saying "yes" opens a bunch of new questions. I'm nothing if not lazy...
A bunch of questions about the "others". Imagination runs wild.

All done - 2:49. So much for "truth in advertising". It opened the log-in page, which I tried - and told me I already had finished.
Now - will the FAX line ring with a nosy human?

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Movie review

Went with my son to see "The Interview" in Beloit this evening.

Crude, rude humor. Some guys down in front were laughing like hyenas at the jokes.

It was everything I expected it would be, and more. A bunch of Lord of the Rings references, and Seth Rogan got a few fingers bit off.

James Franco made a monkey out of Kim Jong-Un, and the death scene with Katy Perry background was perfect. Blown up by a shell from his very own Soviet tank.

I was expecting to have to watch it on streaming video, but my daughter told me she heard it was playing in Beloit, so I had to go.

$14 I don't mind having spent to poke it to that fat maniac over there.

Too bad it was just a movie.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Screw the terrorists!

So, Sony has caved to the hackers by pulling "The Interview" from movie theaters. The hackers / North Korean terrorists win.

Not so fast - let's all watch Kim Jong-un get blown up:



Update - Sony, I guess, pulled the video clip - but I found this GIF at http://www.mediaite.com/tv/the-kim-jong-un-death-scene-from-the-interview-has-leaked/


I REALLY want to own that movie.

More righteous kick-ass:

America! FUCK YEAH!

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Thorium

The solution for nuclear waste, coal pollution, rare earths, expensive gas and Diesel, and electrical energy, for the next millennium:



We won't do it - but the Chinese are, and if we don't get off our fat asses, they will own the world.

Lots more at YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyqYP6f66Mw

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Propaganda

Every report I hear on the radio or on TV about recent police related deaths starts out "white police officer (insert death cause) unarmed black male". It's like there's a script they are told to use.

They keep on repeating the news about the NYC cop who used a strangle hold on a black man as "strangle hold death" even though the man died an hour or more later of a heart attack. The strangle hold might have contributed to the death, but was not the direct cause.

What gets me about that incident is not the media's obvious rabble-rousing and repeating a lie often enough so it becomes truth, but the fact that NYC outlawed police from using a strangle hold over 20 years ago. Why was the cop not brought up on charges immediately instead of waiting half a year to see him exonerated of the death? Why are the media ignoring that aspect?

Grand juries, I understand, can only act upon the evidence they are given and the testimony they are allowed to hear - so perhaps there is a reason that so many of these incidents result in controversy. Maybe there really is a conspiracy to protect the police.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Rant!

It's that time again!

First - motorcycle helmets and seat belts.

Personally, I think that wearing PPE is a good idea, but it's also a personal choice. If you are working at a job, your employer has the right to insist you wear protective equipment suitable for the job at hand, as he is the one who suffers the lawsuits and lost productivity if you get hurt.

Once you are out of the workplace, you have a God-given right to act as stupidly as you wish as long as your stupidity does not harm others.

Some states have mandatory helmet laws, others don't. Wisconsin has a law requiring people under 18 to wear a helmet on a motorcycle, but I am free to risk breaking my head open if I so desire. That's the way it should be. Ill-Annoys, amazingly, has no requirement.

I have worn a helmet every time I go out on my bike. It has saved me injury on more than one occasion, and personally, I can't ride without one as my eyes can't take the wind any more.

Due to federal overreach, every state except New Hampshire has a "seat belt" law, wherein they can give you a ticket for not buckling up. Wisconsin has a $10 fine for non-compliance, and they can pull you over for non-compliance alone. In Ill-Annoys, it's $25. Some communities (Crystal Lake, IL) have spent stolen taxpayer money to erect signs reading "PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY:  SEAT BELT USE". The hell with robbers and rapists - gotta make sure little Johnnie Q Public is safely belted into his carriage...

My question - if personal safety is so important to the State that people need to be pulled over and fined for not wearing a seat belt in a car, why are motorcycles still legal?

I've not worn a seat belt now for over two years, as a wimpy sort of civil disobedience. Not once have I been cited, and I've passed dozens of police cars in my weekly commutes.

It's never about "safety", and always about control, until enough people threaten them with loss of their seat in the legislature - and then, the laws get repealed. Evidently bikers have louder voices than car drivers.

Next - littering - Ill-Annoys has enacted a Draconian law about littering - toss a butt out the car window and get caught, and it could cost you $1500. Almost makes me want to take up cigarettes and toss them. Last time I walked down an Ill-Annoys road, cigarette butts were the least of the litter I saw.

Which brings me to the next rant - recycling. Our service provides two wheeled bins - one marked "Recycling Only" and the other for routine garbage. Recycling is picked up every other week, and when it is, it is dumped into the same truck with that week's garbage. So why bother separating?

The majority of the litter on my road is from those trucks - the paper and plastic blows out when the trucks move. I wonder how Lady Bird Johnson is resting in her grave knowing that the roads are littered as much now as they were back in the sixties when the big push was to "Clean Up America", and the major offender is the very people who are supposed to be the janitors?

More garbage. Wisconsin has enacted a "no electronics in the trash" law with penalties for doing so. When the garbage was picked up by humans, the garbageman could see if someone was tossing a CRT or computer, and either leave a note - or as in Cary, IL, a ticket - or leave the trash sitting there. Now, with the automated trucks, electronic devices in the wheeled bins are invisible until the bin is dumped - and that is done out of sight of the operator, and it is then too late to do anything about it.

I'll shut up now. Got an unloader for my old air compressor to fabricate.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Cowardice?

I thought Jay Leno had more backbone. Very disappointed.

Jay Leno Cancels Gun Show Appearance Under Pressure From Anti-Gun Groups

Comedian and former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno pulled out of a scheduled appearance at the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s 2015 SHOT Show in Las Vegas under pressure from leftist gun control groups.

Leno dropped out just hours after the Newtown Action Alliance began circulating a petition calling on him to cancel. Several hundred people had already bought tickets to his performance, which the NSSF was calling the “highlight” of the event.  

Just once I would like to see a big-name personality tell the lefties to "stuff it"!

It doesn't shock me

I've been saying for a long time that the "renewable energy" crowd needs to prove that their "free green energy" does not cost more to make in energy use than it could ever produce.

Shock: Google Research Team Says "Renewable Energy Just Won't Work" 

Thanks to Watts Up With That, we get a link to IEEE Spectrum, the closest thing to a general interest publication that the IEEE has (IEEE is the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers).

“At the start of RE Renewable energy technologies simply won’t work; we need a fundamentally different approach.”
The basic problem is that all known and predictable renewable energy technologies require more energy input in their implementation than can be paid back.
The key problem appears to be that the cost of manufacturing the components of the renewable power facilities is far too close to the total recoverable energy – the facilities never, or just barely, produce enough energy to balance the budget of what was consumed in their construction. This leads to a runaway cycle of constructing more and more renewable plants simply to produce the energy required to manufacture and maintain renewable energy plants – an obvious practical absurdity. [emphasis added: SiG]
A key paragraph in the IEEE article says:
“Even if one were to electrify all of transport, industry, heating and so on, so much renewable generation and balancing/storage equipment would be needed to power it that astronomical new requirements for steel, concrete, copper, glass, carbon fibre, neodymium, shipping and haulage etc etc would appear. All these things are made using mammoth amounts of energy: far from achieving massive energy savings, which most plans for a renewables future rely on implicitly, we would wind up needing far more energy, which would mean even more vast renewables farms – and even more materials and energy to make and maintain them and so on. The scale of the building would be like nothing ever attempted by the human race.”  [emphasis added: SiG]
In other words, TANSTAFFL.

Try and convince the liberals of this, though. They won't quit until they reduce the standard of living of the few million surviving humans to medieval levels - with people like Algore as the lords and masters...

 

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Civil Disobedience

Showdown: 5,500 Washington State Gun Owners Intend to Engage in Civil Disobedience Over I-594

 

First Connecticut, and then New York passed gun control laws this year - that many people believe are unconstitutional - turning hundreds of thousands of AR-15 owners into felons simply for not registering their guns. Now, Washington state gun owners intend to take things to a new level in response to Washington’s new gun control law. At least 5,500 are planning to openly violate the heavy-handed law, I-594, during a rally at the state capitol in Olympia on December 13th. The law goes into effect on December 4th, after the Secretary of State certifies the election results. Not a single so-called mainstream media source has mentioned the unprecedented event, even though RSVPs continue to increase every day.
This is the only way to combat these illegal laws - openly disobey them.

Now, if only New York and Connecticut would rise up similarly...

Veteran's Day

From a friend:

Immigration?

The Beloit Daily News has been running a series on Hispanics in Beloit. Evidently, there has been a 50% increase in Hispanics here between 2000 and 2010, while the total population only grew by about 6%.

That's fine - if these people are working to become Americans, and integrating into our society, I applaud them.

It appears that the school district of Beloit is bending over backwards to make sure most of the young people from these families will be stuck in the barrio.

One article made a big point of bilingual education. Spanish-speaking students are not only taught in their native language, they are offered classes in "formal Spanish", I guess that's akin to what us native-born had to go through as "English" class.

These students are also offered "English as a Second Language" (ESL) classes. Wouldn't do to make them become fluent and dependent on English, so they would be able to fit into our society seamlessly.

My grandparents on my Dad's side came over from Germany in the 1870's. My father-in-law's father came over around the same time. Both my Dad and my wife's Dad spoke Midwest English with a smattering of Deutsch picked up from listening to private conversations between their parents. The kids were going to be Americans, and damned if they would be allowed to speak anything but American English at home!

The liberal educators seem to think that Hispanics are too stupid to learn English by immersion.

I want to know - if I were to travel to Mexico, would my children in Mexican schools have English speaking translators so they wouldn't have to learn Spanish? Would I be able to go to most businesses in the backwoods and expect to be served by English speakers?

I think not.

One of today's articles was titled:

For some, lack of legal status can cause difficulties


Well, duh.


Good advice

What is the value of training?

Firearms instructors are periodically asked the question “Why should I take training?” The answer often comes in the form of a list of skills that are taught or the reasoning behind using a certain technique. However, these do not address the underlying fundamental reasons for taking firearms training at all.
  1. You don’t know what you don’t know.
  2. Much of what you know is wrong.
  3. It’s good to have some of the answers to the test before taking it.
These issues relate to both technical competency with using a firearm (gun safety and marksmanship) and the ability to use the firearm correctly in a personal protection situation (legal and tactical).
 Go read. You might save yourself a slew of trouble and pain.

Friday, October 24, 2014

WTF moment

For the last week or so the radio news has been talking about domestic violence. One of the churches in Beloit has their array of plywood silhouettes out representing victims of domestic violence.

Lots of talks on preventing violence. Being the cynic I am, I am sure that these lectures and meetings are going to prevent some drunk cretin from beating on his wife and kids, but at least people are trying to do something.

The WTF moment came with the news a couple minutes ago - the police decided, probably because of all the publicity, to stage a series of raids serving domestic violence warrants that evidently had been sitting around, ignored.

Perhaps the problem of domestic violence could be lessened if the police did NOT ignore things like this until the public outcry got loud?

WTF, indeed.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Out again

Voter ID is off again.

The Supreme Court ruled we can't require people to prove they are legal Wisconsin residents before they vote - no reason given, but likely because it's so close to the election that the unprepared could be "disenfranchised" because they were too stupid or lazy to get the ID required for any government assistance a couple years ago when the law was first passed, rather than hoping the courts would overturn the law. The law has only been delayed - as it is essentially identical to the so-far upheld Indiana law, I think after the election the matter will be settled once and for all.

In the meantime, will we see a landslide vote to return Wisconsin to the loving hands of the Demonrats and big taxes, big deficits, and "liberal: ideals? The Demonrats had no problem importing enough petition signers from out of state to get a recall election called...

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Good question

Why Does Obama Say Mideast Terrorists Aren't Islamic?

Has he concluded that the Muslim Brotherhood, which won Egypt's most open election ever, is "not Islamic"?


And what about Saudi Arabia? Is that country "not Islamic," too?
Oh, and what about Iran? Also "not Islamic"?
Isn't that a lot of Muslims, Muslim groups, and even nations — all of whom claim Islam as their religion — to dismiss as "not Islamic"?
Jugears has studied islam in that madrasa in Indonesia. He is either forgetting his lessons, or he's lying.

He's given us plenty of evidence that it's the latter.

 

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Name change


Injun Summer

It's that time of year again:



INJUN SUMMER
John T. McCutcheon
Chicago Tribune
September 30, 1907



Yep, sonny this is sure enough Injun summer. Don't know what that is, I reckon, do you? Well, that's when all the homesick Injuns come back to play; You know, a long time ago, long afore yer granddaddy was born even, there used to be heaps of Injuns around herethousandsmillions, I reckon, far as that's concerned. Reg'lar sure 'nough Injunsnone o' yer cigar store Injuns, not much. They wuz all around hereright here where you're standin'.
Don't be skeeredhain't none around here now, leastways no live ones. They been gone this many a year.
They all went away and died, so they ain't no more left.
But every year, 'long about now, they all come back, leastways their sperrits do. They're here now. You can see 'em off across the fields. Look real hard. See that kind o' hazy misty look out yonder? Well, them's InjunsInjun sperrits marchin' along an' dancin' in the sunlight. That's what makes that kind o' haze that's everywhereit's jest the sperrits of the Injuns all come back. They're all around us now.
See off yonder; see them tepees? They kind o' look like corn shocks from here, but them's Injun tents, sure as you're a foot high. See 'em now? Sure, I knowed you could. Smell that smoky sort o' smell in the air? That's the campfires a-burnin' and their pipes a-goin'.
Lots o' people say it's just leaves burnin', but it ain't. It's the campfires, an' th' Injuns are hoppin' 'round 'em t'beat the old Harry.
You jest come out here tonight when the moon is hangin' over the hill off yonder an' the harvest fields is all swimmin' in the moonlight, an' you can see the Injuns and the tepees jest as plain as kin be. You can, eh? I knowed you would after a little while.
Jever notice how the leaves turn red 'bout this time o' year? That's jest another sign o' redskins. That's when an old Injun sperrit gits tired dancin' an' goes up an' squats on a leaf t'rest. Why I kin hear 'em rustlin' an' whisper in' an' creepin' 'round among the leaves all the time; an' ever' once'n a while a leaf gives way under some fat old Injun ghost and comes floatin' down to the ground. Seehere's one now. See how red it is? That's the war paint rubbed off'n an Injun ghost, sure's you're born.
Purty soon all the Injuns'll go marchin' away agin, back to the happy huntin' ground, but next year you'll see 'em troopin' backth' sky jest hazy with 'em and their campfires smolderin' away jest like they are now.




From his pipe the smoke ascending
Filled the sky with haze and vapor,
Filled the air with dreamy softness,
Gave a twinkle to the water,
Touched the rugged hills with smoothness,
Brought the tender Indian Summer
To the melancholy north-land,
In the dreary Moon of Snow-shoes.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
     Hiawatha 1855





History lesson

Friday, September 19, 2014

Must have had a tee-time already reserved

Obama Declines to Attend Memorial Dedication for Disabled Veterans

President Barack Obama has declined to attend a dedication ceremony in October for a new memorial honoring American veterans who have been disabled fighting for their country in wars, according to sources close to the event.
I am sure that if he had attended, his speech would have been more "I, me, mine" than any sort of tribute to those who sacrificed under his "leadership"...

The truth will out

It only takes time:

After 30 Years Of Lies, NY Times Admits “Assault Weapons Are A Myth”

In a stunning op-ed released Friday, the NY Times finally admitted that “assault weapons” are a made-up political term fabricated by anti-gun Democrats.
Op-ed writer Lois Beckett also admitted that once the term was manufactured and used to outlaw a class of weapons that dishonest anti-gun Democrats had used to con an entire nation, nothing happened.
"dishonest anti-gun Democrats" - a tiny bit of redundancy?

A failure of will?

I just heard that Scotland has voted down independence.

I guess for the majority, remaining part of a sinking ship is less scary than self-determination.

When the Muslims get to large-scale beheading, that border wouldn't have mattered, anyway, and Great Britain now will not have to face immediate bankruptcy due to the national debt coming immediately due and payable.

A pity.


I bet you never thought of this!

Amazing things one sees in the "news":

New gun report: Criminals are bypassing background checks

Right from Bloomberg's Everytown for Gun Safety:
Everytown for Gun Safety on Wednesday published the results of an investigation in Washington that show most of the criminals in the state purchase firearms from the online marketplace to avoid background checks. Of the identified people seeking guns in unlicensed sales over the Internet, nearly one in 10 had been convicted of crimes that prevented them from legally possessing firearms, including rape domestic abuse, and assaulting police officers. The investigation also found that 44,000 guns are posted for sale annually on the Internet.
Of course, this is a flat-out lie that criminals mostly get guns from legal sellers - guns have been traded without background checks for centuries, and no criminal is going to pay the price a gun owner would ask for an on-line gun when there is a flourishing black market out there for stolen and illegally imported weapons.

In Beloit, reportedly, one only need go on Twitter and ask for one, and someone will show up to supply what is wanted. Rentals are supposedly common in gun-free areas like Chicago.

Leave it to the MSM to announce as if it was something shocking what any sane person who owns a gun knows.

 

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

At it again!

Recently, I posted about how Wisconsin's Voter ID law had been found Constitutional by a federal appeals court, and how Demonrats have been trying and trying to get it undone, lest they lose all those votes from people ineligible to vote.

Well, they are at it again - another appeal, and promises of "we will never give up!".

The Beloit Daily News reports that appeals like this rarely succeed. Let's hope they are right.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Your feel-good video for the week

Go here and watch - you won't regret it.

I never cease to be amazed at what people who take charge of their lives are capable of.

They never quit trying

Stopped at Farm and Fleet in Illinois yesterday after work to pick up some targets. The ammo section was right there, so I stopped to check out prices.

$56 for 100 rounds of .45 ACP. No .22 LR at all.

I noticed a paper taped to the edge of the top shelf - the obligatory "NO SALES WITHOUT A FOID CARD" - nothing unexpected. I asked the clerk there doing inventory about out-of-state sales - OK with a driver's license, supposedly.

Then I read the other slip of paper taped to the shelf - quotes from Ill-Annoys statutes banning sales of PISTOL AMMUNITION to anyone from out-of-state. I guess if you buy that box of .44 Magnum for your carbine you are A-OK. Beloit makes you sign a register for pistol ammo, but just tell them it's for a rifle and no signing required.

I knew Ill-Annoys was going to get revenge for having to pass CCW legislation, and that they wouldn't stop at making the license prohibitively expensive and non-reciprocal with any other state.

Monday, September 15, 2014

The real problem

Is ISLAM:

The Headchopper Next Door

Every week another lad or lass from St. Louis, Toronto or Sydney makes the trip through Turkey to the Islamic State. A reporter dispatched by a local paper to talk to the neighbors scribbles down the same recollections about how nice and normal Jihad Joe or Jihad Jane was.

Classmates remember a loud partier or a shy student. Neighbors mention that everything seemed normal until those last few years when he began wearing a robe and she began wearing a burka.

The Somali and Algerian immigrants, the German and American converts, the black burkas and dyed beards, headed into the dying summer to kill Christians and Kurds, Turkmen and Shiites, to behead babies and crucify critics, don’t seem like monsters. They loved their parents. They posed for jokey snapshots on Facebook. They had dreams of becoming biologists or boxers. Until they began killing people, they seemed just like the rest of us.

And with one difference, they were.

The forensic examinations of their lives rarely reveal anything of significance. The extensive digging into the lives of the Boston bombers told us nothing about why they would plant a bomb near a little boy.

The answer lay in the topic that the media carefully avoided. As with the other Muslim terrorists, the meaning of their motives was in the little black book of their religion which commanded them to kill.
Go read the whole thing. He nails it.

From Crowder:



The Muhammad quotes say it all - though they go past too fast to read easily.

Then there's this:

Dozens of Christians 'including women and children' are arrested in Saudi Arabia after tip-off to state's Islamist police force

Saudi Arabia is supposedly our ally? I seem to remember most, if not all, of the 9/11 attackers being Saudis...

There's an easy solution - we tell the world that upon the next beheading of an American by ISIS or any other Muslim group, that Islam has 30 days to bring the criminals to public trial in the United States and to eradicate whatever "jihad" they were obeying, or Mecca gets a MIRV warhead, ground zero being the Kaaba stone. They have 30 days to evacuate the people and move out anything they don't want turned into a glass bowl in the desert if they do not obey. Also, if there ever is another such incident, even if the perpetrators of the first one are surrendered and their "jihad" eradicated, another randomly selected Muslim city will be so blessed - with NO warning. Either they evolve into a true religion of peace and tolerance, or they die by attrition a few million at a time.

Every other religion on the planet has evolved past their time of murder in whatever god's name, if they had a violent era - it's about a thousand years overdue for Islam.

Wisconsin Voter ID lives!

The Beloit Daily news has an editorial today on how Wisconsin now will have to "scramble" to get Voter ID in place, now that the courts have made the final ruling on the subject.

Just sent in this as a comment:

If the Democrats spent 10% of the time and money they have wasted on recall attempts, busing in out-of-state people to demonstrate and wreck our Capitol, they could easily afford to get everyone in the state of Wisconsin a state ID.

If they hadn't sued and appealed and sued some more to attempt to get the law thrown out, perhaps we wouldn't be scrambling to get the system running before November.

When I lived in Illinois, I had to go in and sign up for a Voter ID card, which I had to show to vote - and Illinois has been doing that for decades.

If the Illinois Democratic machine can survive Voter ID, I am sure Wisconsin's can also.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Free-range chickens?

We have had chickens for over a year now. The chicken yard is completely bare of anything green.

While I was mowing today, I pulled part of the fence over some grass they hadn't been able to reach. In minutes, all the birds were busy pecking at the fresh grass.

I was thinking - farmers let their chickens run loose probably so they can feed cheaply without denuding anything. They will go back in the coop at dusk reliably - so why don't I let them loose?

While I was wondering this, a big hawk swooped down on the chicken yard, leveling out about a foot over the deer net I have strung up over the yard.

The chickens are staying in the yard, until I can figure out how to keep dive-bombing hawks from getting free chicken dinners. A hawk-chasing drone, maybe?

Friday, September 12, 2014

Sanity on the rise

Sometimes I hear news that makes me think that reason and sanity WILL prevail:

Missouri lawmakers override veto, expand gun rights in public schools, cities

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri lawmakers expanded the potential for teachers to bring guns to schools and for residents to openly carry firearms, in a vote Thursday that capped a two-year effort by the Republican-led Legislature to expand gun rights over the objection of the Democratic governor.
The new law will allow specially trained school employees to carry concealed guns on campuses. It also allows anyone with a concealed weapons permit to carry guns openly, even in cities or towns with bans against the open carrying of firearms. The age to obtain a concealed weapons permit also will drop from 21 to 19.
They missed passing a measure to nullify illegal, un-Constitutional federal gun laws, though.

Baby steps. I may live long enough to be living in a free country, after all.

H/t Failure to Fire

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Never forget

Thirteen years ago, Muslim true believers flew two aircraft into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, finishing a task they began in 1993 with a truck bomb. Two more planes put a hole in the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania, killing many more. The last plane missed its' target of either the White House or the Capitol because of the acts of Americans who attempted to retake the plane from the terrorists.

Virtually nothing has been done since to actually face this enemy, although billions have been spent on military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we are probably going to spend billions more in Syria, now. Thousands of Americans have been killed or maimed for little if any suppression of Muslim fanatic terror.

Make no mistake - Islam, as ordained in the Koran, is a deadly threat to all civilization on this planet.

Unless, and until, Muslim leaders publicly deny the Koran as written and evolve to live in peace as the great majority of human religions have over the last millennium, we will always have atrocities such as the beheadings recently broadcast by these Muslim true believers, and more terror such as 9/11. Islam openly promises this to America, and have demonstrated again and again in England, France, and other countries that their only goal is complete subjugation of all who do not bow to Allah.

Islamophobia is a survival mechanism. Learn your mortal enemy, and beware.

And never forget.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

PSA

Saw a public service announcement for quitting smoking.

"Free help quitting smoking!"

Correction. The citizens of the United States who have incomes from their honest labor had the money for that "free help" stolen from their wages by the federal government's Internal Revenue Service. That PSA was produced at taxpayer expense. and the on-air time it took to broadcast it was paid for by the broadcaster forgoing an advertisement that could have brought in some money for the station.

TANSTAFFL. Especially when the government is involved.

President Coward

Bill Whittle brings it:



I can't add anything.

Seen at Barking Moonbat Early Warning System

Saturday, September 6, 2014

"Gay marriage"

First off, I couldn't care less what consenting people do with their lives, if they don't rub my nose in it.

That said, recently a federal court ruled Louisiana's gay marriage ban "constitutional".

And this week, another federal court ruled Wisconsin's similar ban "unconstitutional".

Seems to me that all the states that had such "bans" ruled "unconstitutional" just need to copy Louisiana's wording and they are magically "constitutional".

But that is a side issue. The big thing to me is - exactly where in the US Constitution is the word "marriage" mentioned? Why should the federal courts even deem to hear such cases?

The only reasons I have ever been able to figure out that "marriage" is a concern of the various States is twofold. First, control of the population for taxation, second, to enforce laws prohibiting persons of certain classes from marrying persons of other classes - in other words, racial segregation.

I have one problem with the idea of "gay marriage" - words have meanings and those meanings should not be casually thrown away. "Marriage" is defined as a union between a man and a woman. Whatever "gays" do is NOT marriage by definition. Another example of liberals warping the language for their own purposes.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Speak out

Some idiots want Jugears to sign a law prohibiting the teaching of children firearm safety, even by their parents. By extension, no hunting under age 18.

So, go here: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-it-unlawful-enact-child-and-firearms-safety-act/dkGWl6dr

16 signatures out of 100K so far.

I know, Jugears will ignore this, but we can at least get on another list by signing...

Jugears on my shoulder

Tripped over this:



Heh.

Had to edit and re-post a couple times to get THIS video up. Blogger wants to show the last one I posted, for some reason...

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Musings

It's been a while. Lots of work, injuries, some really hot weather, but no blogging.

Had my left knee torn meniscus trimmed last Wednesday. Stiff now, but getting better. Will get the right one done next month.

The doc who fixed the broken right fibula wants to see me next week for a final time. I've been walking fine for four weeks now on the right side.

Had the advance mechanism come undone on myXS650 on the way to work - the nut that holds it on the camshaft came loose and the drive pin flew out. Engine died. Had to call my son for a trailer ride back home - and the dang bike fell off the side stand and broke both left signals and the clutch lever. Stood it back up - and a passing truck blew it over the other way - three signals broken total.

All the parts for the advance mechanism were in the camshaft side cover, so that went back together with little trouble. Lots of red Locktite was applied to threads and torque was applied per the factory manual. the left front signal was recoverable with a new lens. I got two aftermarket rear signals that look like the originals and a clutch lever for $60 at the local dealer. Replaced the left exhaust gasket while I had the bike in the garage. Running and sounding great again - just in time for torrential rains.

Got the floors finished in the other two upstairs bedrooms and in the hall - all that's left is my son's walk-in closet and final trim on the stairs.

Split the last of the wood behind the house and stacked it.

Trimmed suckers off our tree-lined drive. Filled the burn pit.

Buffed out the paintwork on my Focus at last. Looking pretty good for 150K miles.

Got a transfer - possible promotion - at work. Fingers crossed I go direct here - I'm tired of being a contractor.

On other subjects:

Beloit has had eight murders in the past couple months. The newspapers keep bemoaning "gun violence" and are just now starting to face the issue of actual human culpability for this violence.

Our jug-eared "leader" is getting us back into another Iraqi war. At least the "religion of peace and love" is doing a great job of demonstrating to the world exactly what their definitions of "peace" and "love" are. A very positive sign is that some Islamic leaders are beginning to speak out against the "Caliphate" and their barbarism. I know it's likely futile to think anything will actually change, but the hope is there.

The "caliphate" has openly declared war on the US. Since our "leaders" have done such a bang-up job at border security, especially on the south, ISIS probably has brought in the fixin's for another 9-11 atrocity. Chicago has been mentioned. A certain very small degree of pity will be felt here for Rham-It-To-Em Emanuel and the Demonrat Machine if a bomb goes off downtown. Much more for any innocents injured or killed. Chicago is my home town, and many good memories remain of the days before the Demonrats mutated from plain gangsters and grifters into full-blown Communists.

Chicago has a dozen or more police-on-black shootings a week, and double or triple black-on-black shootings in the same time - but the MSM spends all their time on one very questionable incident outside of St. Louis. Chicago's own "Reverend" Jesse Jackass has not had one word to say about the carnage in Chicago, but is instantly on a plane to Ferguson to rile up class hatred.

Ill-Annoys continues to attempt to ban guns for law-abiding citizens, at taxpayer's expense for the legal bills in cases they keep losing - and since the passage of the concealed carry law, crime has DECLINED on the city - as anyone with a brain could have predicted.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Good reason to own a gun

Michael Bloomberg is his own worst enemy:



Exactly how would that creep get in in the first place if he knew she was waiting inside with a 12-gauge loaded with buckshot?

At last

Now, maybe we can stop hearing the Demonrats crying. (Fat chance)

The Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld Governor Walker's Act 10, that removes the power of most public unions to hold the taxpayers hostage for higher wages.

And, Voter ID was upheld. This is still in limbo because a federal court got involved in a state's rights issue they had no business messing with, but little care they for the law...

Monday, July 28, 2014

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Cost vs. Warranty

I was trying to get my '83 Scirocco running. No start - no fuel pressure. Fuel pump not running.

Looked at Advance Auto's web site ti see what a new one would cost. Probably have a spare in the shed, but too lazy to go digging right now.

They had three listed - $105, $158, and $262.

The $105 part has a lifetime warranty.
The $158 part has a one year warranty.
The $262 part has a 90-day warranty.

Something does not compute here...

For $105, I'll go to the bone yard if I can't summon the moxie to tackle the parts shed. The local salvage yard gives a 90-day warranty on parts.

WOW

John Lott has news:

Federal District Court decision striking down DC’s ban on concealed handguns: Copy and analysis

A copy of the decision is available here.
Effective immediately – since DC has no other laws in effect concerning carrying a firearm except the one just struck down – DC is legally a Constitutional Carry area for non-residents at this time. Non-residents will be able to legally carry in DC under the same rules that we currently see in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Wyoming, Vermont, and 99.4% of Montana. Residents appear to still be required to have a legally registered gun, though once they have that they will be able to carry without any additional license.
Obviously, government will ask for a stay on Monday, but with all the other states allowing concealed carry, it will be somewhat hard to argue that DC will suffer irreparable harm.
As the court noted in Peruta, “[t]he Second Amendment secures the right not only to ‘keep’ arms but also to ‘bear’ them[,]” Peruta, 742 F.3d at 1151; and, as the Supreme Court explained in Heller, “[a]t the time of the founding, as now, to ‘bear’ meant to ‘carry[,]‘” Heller, 554 U.S. at 584. “Yet, not ‘carry’ in the ordinary sense of ‘convey[ing] or transport[ing]‘ an object, as one might carry groceries to the check-out counter or garments to the laundromat, but ‘carry for a particular purpose confrontation.’” Peruta, 742 F.3d at 1151-52 (quoting [Heller, 554 U.S. at 584]). According to the Heller majority, the “natural meaning of ‘bear arms’” was the one that Justice Ginsburg provided in her dissent in Muscarello v. United States, 524 U.S. 125 (1998), that is “‘wear, bear, or carry . . . upon the person or in the clothing or in a pocket, for the purpose . . . of being armed and ready for offensive or defensive action in a case of conflict with another person.’” Heller, 554 U.S. at 584 (quoting Muscarello, 524 U.S. at 143, 118 S. Ct. 1911) (Ginsburg, J., dissenting) (quoting Black’s Law Dictionary 214 (6th ed. 1998)).
Furthermore, “‘bearing a weapon inside the home’ does not exhaust this definition of ‘carry.’ For one thing, the very risk occasioning such carriage, ‘confrontation,’ is ‘not limited to the home.’” Peruta, 742 F.3d at 1152 (quoting Moore v. Madigan, 702 F.3d 933, 936 (7th Cir. 2012)). . . .
 So, DC is now as free as Vermont. Still, I wouldn't want to be the test case. The police still will "enforce" what they consider to be "the law" until soundly slapped down in court, and anyone open carrying in a place like our nation's Capitol is literally begging for either a mugging or a tune-up by the cops...

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Illegal acts by the New York State Police

New York passed the "SAFE Act" in a knee-jerk reaction to the Sandy Hook shootings. It is blatantly un-Constitutional, but when has that ever stopped a state?



The abuses will continue until someone in New York brings suit to have the law voided. Fat chance those who already have been victimized will see their property returned, or be compensated.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Life imitates science fiction

Just got done reading a story about a "companion" robot designed to guide a child's development in social skills.

Now, this:

Feds Spending $10 Million to Build Robot Companions for Children

“Just like a good personal trainer, we want the robots to be able to guide the child toward a behavior that we desire,” said Brian Scassellati, a computer science professor at Yale and principal investigator for the study.
Video at the link.

"Behavior we desire". Who is "we"?

Forget Big Brother watching from the televisor screen - he'll be living in your child's bedroom or classroom, coaching him or her into the perfect socialist drone and blockleiter...

Friday, July 18, 2014

A fate I wouldn't wish on Jugears

Found on the web:

Burglars steal meter containing radioactive material

Posted: Jul 17, 2014 11:12 PM CST Updated: Jul 18, 2014 1:56 PM CST
PHOENIX (CBS5) - Burglars broke into a Phoenix business Wednesday and stole a soil density meter containing radioactive material, police said.
Police said they were called to the unnamed business at 4300 South 34th Street, where employees discovered several construction items had been removed.
Officers said they are concerned because if the shell of the stolen container is compromised, those nearby could be exposed to radiation, Phoenix police Sgt. Steve Martos said.
No other information was available.

Between the time I saw this at work, and when I got home to do the blog entry, they corrected the text. The original said  "Officers said they are concerned because if the shell of the stolen container is compromised, those nearby could be exploded to radiation, Phoenix police Sgt. Steve Martos said."

I suppose it's good they had someone find that oops. With crimes like this, Darwin might be at work winnowing the herd...

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Well said

I haven't listened to Alex Jones much - after this, I'll be a regular visitor to Infowars:



Well said.

RACIST!

People who oppose Jugears Hussein Osama are RACISTS according to known criminal and gun-runner Eric Holder:




Chicago Blacks Turn on Obama

Racists all.

Black people are not stupid, Jugears. They are starting to see through all those years of "War on Poverty" indoctrination to the fact that the Demonrat Party is not their friend...

Monday, July 14, 2014

The costs of gun ownership

Just read this article - "The costs of gun ownership"

A taste:
So what should be done? Messrs Cook and Ludwig suggest a combination of solutions: make it costlier to get guns in high-crime areas; improve the records available for screening gun buyers (with more information on possible mental-health problems); keep a paper trail to help connect legal gun owners to illegal gun-use; and offer better law enforcement against illicit gun use. For example, a crackdown on gun violence that has proved effective in Boston involves police informing gang members that a crime involving one member would have consequences for everyone.
My comment:

Very simple solution - get rid of politicians and intelligentsia who think there are "simple" solutions to the problems they have generated over the last 70 years. Educate the young about responsibility and proper handling of firearms, starting in kindergarten. Most of all, follow the basic law of the United States - the Constitution - as it is written and was intended. The Second Amendment means exactly what it says, and there was no National Guard when it was written.

"Make guns more expensive in high-crime areas"? Brilliant. That black market has existed ever since the very first "gun control law" was enacted, and the low income people who need protection are priced out of the market. Real smart.

Perhaps we should look at root causes - family destruction via the "war on poverty", lack of moral education and self reliance, and the eternal "war on drugs" that fuels most of the violence in places like Chicago

Sunday, July 6, 2014

The people speak

MSNBC poll:

What do you think?

Do you think people should be allowed to carry guns in public?

92k votes

Answer 1 of 3
Yes! The Second Amendment guarantees it.
88% - 81k votes

Answer 2 of 3
8% - No, it's too dangerous.
7,369 votes

Answer 3 of 3
4% - Only for self defense.
3,682 votes

So, in this admittedly unscientific poll, the lefty-libs couldn't even stuff the ballot box here...

I want one



Looks like fun - but you need serious elevation...

History

A little trivia:


During the 3-1/2 years of World War 2 that started with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and ended with the Surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945, the U.S. produced 22 aircraft carriers, 8 battleships, 48 cruisers, 349 destroyers, 420 destroyer escorts, 203 submarines, 34 million tons of merchant ships, 100,000 fighter aircraft, 98,000 bombers, 24,000 transport aircraft, 58,000 training aircraft, 93,000 tanks, 257,000 artillery pieces, 105,000 mortars, 3,000,000 machine guns, and 2,500,000 military trucks.
We put 16.1 million men in uniform in the various armed services, invaded Africa, invaded Sicily and Italy, won the battle for the Atlantic, planned and executed D-Day, marched across the Pacific and Europe, developed the atomic bomb, and ultimately conquered Japan and Germany.
 
It's worth noting that during the almost exact amount of time, the Obama administration couldn't build a web site.
 

Back on the road!

Can't keep a real biker down!


Now, all I need is a way to keep the bugs out from between my toes...

Had to replace the headlight bulb - after 36 years, the low beam of the original died. No one admits to having 7" motorcycle sealed beams any more, so I put in a standard automotive halogen bulb in a housing  from Mike's XS.

The bike was hard to start after sitting for almost a month, but she started!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Friday, June 27, 2014

Truth

It's all a scheme to make creatures like Algore very rich and our lords and masters:

GLOBAL WARMING: APPARENTLY NOTHING BUT A HUGE HOAX

But don’t let leftists hear you mention this since truth and logic are like sunlight to vampires to them.
Looks like the real data was substituted with “computer generated” data to make their theories work and, in subsequent years, cause the virtual destruction of cheap, efficient energy systems around the planet and hundreds of billions in “alternative energies” that, plainly said, SUCK DOG DICK!”
Hell, we’ve actually been COOLING since the 30s.

 

Cheeta

Stolen verbatim from BMEWS:

I asked about Cheeta:
he beamed and said, “Cheeta do good.
She marry lawyer, had plastic surgery,
now live in White House!!!

Vilmar is a bad influence!

Great art must be acknowledged. Perfect juxtaposition at the link.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

No-Fly bye-bye?

Let's see if this gets upheld on appeal - which I am certain there will be filed...

Federal judge rules U.S. no-fly list violates Constitution

(Reuters) - The U.S. government's no-fly list banning people accused of links to terrorism from commercial flights violates their constitutional rights because it gives them no meaningful way to contest that decision, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Anna Brown, ruling on a lawsuit filed in federal court in Oregon by 13 Muslim Americans who were branded with the no-fly status, ordered the government to come up with new procedures that allow people on the no-fly list to challenge that designation.

"The court concludes international travel is not a mere convenience or luxury in this modern world. Indeed, for many international travel is a necessary aspect of liberties sacred to members of a free society," Brown wrote in her 65-page ruling.

"Accordingly, on this record the court concludes plaintiffs inclusion on the no-fly list constitutes a significant deprivation of their liberty interests in international travel," Brown said.

The decision hands a major victory to the 13 plaintiffs - four of them veterans of the U.S. military - who deny they have links to terrorism and say they only learned of their no-fly status when they arrived at an airport and were blocked from boarding a flight.

Clint Eastwood's opinion

From a friend:


My Twilight Years ~ Clint Eastwood
As I enjoy my twilight years, I am often struck by the inevitability that the party must end. There will be a clear, cold morning when there isn't any "more." No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat.
It seems to me that one of the important things to do before that morning comes, is to let everyone of your family and friends know that you care for them by finding simple ways to let them know your heartfelt beliefs and the guiding principles of your life so they can always say, "He was my friend, and I know where he stood."
So, just in case I'm gone tomorrow, please know this:
I voted against that incompetent, lying, flip-flopping, insincere, double-talking, radical socialist, terrorist excusing, bleeding heart, narcissistic, scientific and economic moron currently in the White House!
Participating in a gun buy-back program because you think that criminals have too many guns is like having yourself castrated because you think your neighbors have too many kids.
Regards,
Clint

Attention Veterans

From a friend who served in Viet Nam:


If you know a Veteran please pass it along.

PRINT THIS OUT and save it in your VA files. There may be a time for it’s use in the future.

Below are web-sites that provide information on Veterans benefits and how to file/ask for them.
Accordingly, there are many sites that explain how to obtain books, military/medical records, information and how to appeal a denied claim with the VA. Please pass this information on to every Veteran you know.
Nearly 100% of this information is free and available for all veterans, the only catch is: you have to ask for it, because they won't tell you about a specific benefit unless you ask for it.
You need to know what questions to ask so the right doors open for you and then be ready to have an advocate who is willing to work with and for you, stay in the process, and press for your rights and your best interests.
Appeals <http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch05.doc>
Board of Veteran's Appeals <http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva/>
CARES Commission <http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva/>
CARES Draft National Plan <http://www1.va.gov/cares/page.cfm?pg=105>
Center for Minority Veterans <http://www1.va.gov/centerforminorityveterans/>
Center for Veterans Enterprise <http://www.vetbiz.gov/default2.htm>
Center for Women Veterans <http://www1.va.gov/womenvet/>
Clarification on the changes in VA healthcare for Gulf War Veterans <http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000016.html>
Classified Records - American Gulf War Veterans Assoc <http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/000011.html>
Compensation for Disabilities Associated with the Gulf War Service <http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/part6%20/ch07.doc>
Compensation Rate Tables, 12-1-03 <http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm>
Department of Veterans Affairs Home Page <http://www.va.gov/>
Directory of Veterans Service Organizations <http://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm?template=view>
Disability Examination Worksheets Index, Comp <http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/index.htm>
Due Process <http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch02.doc>
Duty to Assist <http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch01.doc>
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations <http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/>
Emergency, Non-emergency, and Fee Basis Care <http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf>
Environmental Agents <http://www1.va.gov/environagents/>
Environmental Agents M10 <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1002>
Establishing Combat Veteran Eligibility <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=315>
EVALUATION PROTOCOL FOR GULF WAR AND IRAQI FREEDOM VETERANS WITH POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DEPLETED URANIUM (DU) <http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DUHandbook1303122304.DOC> and <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1158>
See also, Depleted Uranium Fact Sheet <http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DepletedUraniumFAQSheet.doc>
EVALUATION PROTOCOL FOR NON-GULF WAR VETERANS WITH POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DEPLETED URANIUM (DU) <http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/DUHANDBOOKNONGW130340304.DOC>
Fee Basis, PRIORITY FOR OUTPATIENT MEDICAL SERVICES AND INPATIENT HOSPITAL CARE <http://www1.va./.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=206> Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependants 2005 <http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf> OR, <http://www1.va./.gov/opa/vadocs/current_benefits.htm>
Forms and Records Request <http://www.va.gov/vaforms/>
General Compensation Provisions <http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter11_subchaptervi_.html>
Geriatrics and Extended Care <http://www1.va.gov/geriatricsshg/>
Guideline for Chronic Pain and Fatigue MUS-CPG <http://www.oqp.med.va.gov/cpg/cpgn/mus/mus_base.htm>
Guide to Gulf War Veteran's Health <http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/VHIgulfwar.pdf>
Gulf War Subject Index <http://www1.va.gov/GulfWar/page.cfm?pg=7&template=main&letter=A>
Gulf War Veteran's Illnesses Q&As <http://www1.va.gov/gulfwar/docs/GWIllnessesQandAsIB1041.pdf>
Hearings
<http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch04.doc>
Homeless Veterans <http://www1.va.gov/homeless/>
HSR&D Home <http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/>
Index to Disability Examination Worksheets C&P exams <http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/exams/index.htm>
Ionizing Radiation <http://www1.va.gov/irad/>
Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom Veterans VBA <http://www.vba.va.gov/EFIF/>
M 10 for spouses and children < <http://www1./.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1007>
M10 Part III Change 1 <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1008>
M21-1 Table of Contents <http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/M21_1.html>
Mental Disorders, Schedule of Ratings <http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKC/PART4/S4_130.DOC>
Mental Health Program Guidelines <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1094>
Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers <http://www.mirecc.med.va.gov/>
MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Centers of Excellence <http://www.va.gov/ms/about.asp>
My Health e Vet <http://www.myhealth.va.gov/>
NASDVA.COM <http://nasdva.com/> <http://nasdva.com/>
National Association of State Directors <http://www.nasdva.com/>
National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention <http://www.nchpdp.med.va.gov/postdeploymentlinks.asp>
Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders, Schedule of Ratings <http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38cfr/bookc/part4/s4_124a.doc>
OMI (Office of Medical Inspector) <http://www.omi.cio.med.va.gov/>
Online VA Form 10-10EZ <https://www.1010ez./.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/>
Parkinson's Disease and Related Neurodegenerative Disorders <http://www1.va.gov/resdev/funding/solicitations/docs/parkinsons.pdf>
and, <http://www1.va.gov/padrecc/>
Peacetime Disability Compensation <http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+38USC1131>
Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability or Death <http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter15_subchapteri_.html> and, <http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter15_subchapterii_.html>
and, <http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partii_chapter15_subchapteriii_.html>
Persian Gulf Registry <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1003>
This program is now referred to as Gulf War Registry Program (to include Operation Iraqi Freedom) as of March 7, 2005: <http://www1./.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1232>
Persian Gulf Registry Referral Centers <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1006>
Persian Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Research 1999, Annual Report To Congress <http://www1.va.gov/resdev/1999_Gulf_War_Veterans%27_Illnesses_Appendices.doc> Persian Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Research 2002, Annual Report To Congress <http://www1.va.gov/resdev/prt/gulf_war_2002/GulfWarRpt02.pdf>
Phase I PGR <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1004>
Phase II PGR <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1005>
Policy Manual Index <http://www.va.gov/publ/direc/eds/edsmps.htm>
Power of Attorney <http://www.warms.vba./.va.gov/admin21/m21_1/mr/part1/ch03.doc> Project 112 (Including Project SHAD) <http://www1.va.gov/shad/>
Prosthetics Eligibility <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=337>
Public Health and Environmental Hazards Home Page <http://www.vethealth.cio.med.va.gov/>
Public Health/SARS <http://www./.publichealth.va.gov/SARS/>
Publications Manuals <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/publications.cfm?Pub=4>
Publications and Reports <http://www1.va.gov/resdev/prt/pubs_individual.cfm?webpage=gulf_war.htm>
Records Center and Vault Homepage <http://www.aac.va.gov/vault/default.html>
Records Center and Vault Site Map <http://www.aac.va.gov/vault/sitemap.html>
REQUEST FOR AND CONSENT TO RELEASE OF INFORMATION FROM CLAIMANT'S RECORDS <http://www.forms.va.gov/va/Internet/VARF/getformharness.asp?formName=3288-form.xft>
Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses April 11, 2002 <http://www1.va.gov/rac-gwvi/docs/Minutes_April112002.doc>
Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses
<http://www1.va.gov/rac-gwvi/docs/ReportandRecommendations_2004.pdf>
Research and Development <http://www.appc1.va.gov/resdev/programs/all_programs.cfm>
Survivor's and Dependents' Educational Assistance <http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title38/partiii_chapter35_.html>
Title 38 Index Parts 0-17
<http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfrv1_02..tpl>
Part 18
<http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfrv2_02..tpl>
Title 38 Part 3 Adjudication Subpart A "Pension, Compensation, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation <http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfr3_main_02.tpl>
Title 38 Pensions, Bonuses & Veterans Relief (also § 3.317 Compensation for certain disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses found here) <http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfr3_main_02.tpl> Title 38 PART 4--SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIES Subpart B--DISABILITY RATINGS
<http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=ab7641afd195c84a49a2067dbbcf95c0&rgn=div6&view=text&node=38:1.0.1.1.5.2&idno=38>
Title 38§ 4.16 Total disability ratings for compensation based on unemployability of the individual. PART A "SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIES Subpart à "General Policy in Rating <http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=1b0c269b510d3157fbf8f8801bc9b3dc&rgn=div8&view=text&node=38:1.0.1.1.5.1..96.11&idno=38>
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims <http://www.vetapp.gov/>
VA Best Practice Manual for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) <http://www.avapl.org/pub/PTSD%20Manual%20final%206.pdf>
VA Fact Sheet <http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/gwfs.html>
VA Health Care Eligibility <http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/home/hecmain.asp>
VA INSTITUTING GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTION (GAF) <http://www.avapl.org/gaf/gaf.html>
VA Life Insurance Handbook ¬" Chapter 3 http://www.insurance.va.gov/inForceGliSite/GLIhandbook/glibookletch3.htm#310 <http://www.insurance.va.gov/inForceGliSite/GLIhandbook/glibookletch3.htm>
VA Loan Lending Limits and Jumbo Loans <http://valoans.com/va_facts_limits.cfm>
VA MS Research <http://www.va.gov/ms/about.asp>
VA National Hepatitis C Program <http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/>
VA Office of Research and Development <http://www1.va.gov/resdev/>
VA Trainee Pocket Card on Gulf War <http://www.va.gov/OAA/pocketcard/gulfwar.asp>
VA WMD EMSHG <http://www1.va.gov/emshg/>
VA WRIISC-DC <http://www.va.gov/WRIISC-DC/>
VAOIG Hotline Telephone Number and Address <http://www.va.gov/oig/hotline/hotline3.htm>
Vet Center Eligibility - Readjustment Counseling Service <http://www.va.gov/rcs/Eligibility.htm>
Veterans Benefits Administration Main Web Page <http://www.vba.va.gov/>
Veterans Legal and Benefits Information <http://valaw.org/>
VHA Forms, Publications, Manuals <http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/>
VHA Programs - Clinical Programs & Initiatives <http://www1.va.gov/health_benefits/page.cfm?pg=13> <http://webmaila.juno.com/webmail/new/UrlBlockedError.aspx>>
VHA Public Health Strategic Health Care Group Home Page http: // www.publichealth.va.gov/ <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/>
VHI Guide to Gulf War Veterans ¬(tm) Health <http://www1.va.gov/vhi_ind_study/gulfwar/istudy/index.asp>
Vocational Rehabilitation <http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/>
Vocational Rehabilitation Subsistence <http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/InterSubsistencefy04.doc>
VONAPP online <http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp>
WARMS - 38 CFR Book C <http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/bookc.html>
Wartime Disability Compensation <http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+38USC1110>
War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center - New Jersey <http://www.wri.med.va.gov/>
Welcome to the GI Bill Web Site <http://www.gibill.va.gov/>
What VA Social Workers Do <http://www1.va.gov/socialwork/page.cfm?pg=3>
WRIISC Patient Eligibility <http://www.illegion.org/va1.html>