Surrender or Die

 It's an interesting concept.  To demand unconditional surrender.  Grant used it, so did Roosevelt. Now, it sems that the Israeli Defense Minister is using it.

In a televised address, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant says Hamas has “two options” – either to “die fighting or to surrender without any conditions”. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected any calls for a ceasefire or cessation of hostilities with Hamas.4 hours ago

Oh the outcry, the angst and anguish from the squishes They fail to understand the lessons of other wars. That sometimes innocent civilians get caught in the turmoil.  Curtis LeMay understood it over Tokyo and RAF Bomber Command understood it over Dresden.  War has not changed that much inthe past 82 years.  People still die. It is regrettable, but necessary.

The Palestinians can have peace whenever they want it. If the Palestinian people would rise up, deliver Hamas to the Israelis, and take charge of their own destiny, they could have peace tomorrow.

Weather

 It looks like we're finally going to get some rain. What looks like a classic cold front is descending on us, and that cold air collides with the warm muggy Gulf air, it brings rain.  Blessed rain.  We haven't had much this summer, Louisiana is in a drought condition, with no rain to speak of in the past several months.

It's 56F on my back porch right now and it looks like that is going to be the high for today. Flannel is certainly on the list for wardrobe today. While this one front won't end the drought, it may end the statewide burn ban that we are under.

Saturday Shooting

 We closed out the 2023 competition shooting season today.  Ten matches, January thru October.  November and December are problematic for competitive shooting, with all of the holiday activities.  The club voted two years ago to end the competition in October. And we're done.

I just finished tallying the Top Gun Points for the year.  When we have a match, we give Top Gun points, based on placement.  Whoever gets the most Top Gun points at the end of the year get a really nice belt buckle. This year we have a tie among the ladies and we'll have to reconcile that before we give away the belt buckles.  I've opened the books for audit, in case anyone wants to clear up any errors.  Otherwise, we'll have to hold at least one shoot-off before the trophy ceremony.

That is a nice buckle and we're giving away eight of them in December.  Three each for Top Gun, Men and Ladies, and One each for Fastest Time, Men and Ladies.

Opening the news, I see that Mike Pence has suspended his presidential campaign. That makes sense, as he was way back inth epack.

Heating Up

 Things seem to be heating up in the Middle East.  I see where US Air forces have hit an Iranian target in Syria in retaliation for Iran's recent attacks on US troops in Iraq.

And, I see where Israeli forces have launched a major raid in the West Bank, playing whack-a-mole with Hamas. I expect that this is just another preparatory raid to clean up the battlefield before they go into Gaza. Of course, any time Israel is whacking Hamas, they are doing the right thing.

On a more mundane note, I'm piddling in the shop, preparing for our club match tomorrow. Not much going on here, and I'll take my time getting it done.

New Rifle

 I wandered into Academy Sport this morning, looking for .22LR ammo.  I found it, then wandered over tot he gun case. This weekend is the opener for the gun deer season, and the shelves were petty much picked clean. The counter guy asked me what I was looking for.

"I'm looking at a 22" I told him. "Don't really need one, but I'm always in the market." I could see a forlorn Ruger 10/22 on the rack behind him. "Let me look at that 10/22."

A fellow behind me said, "Best get it if you can.  Those things are hard to find lately."

The counter guy asked, "What do you intend to use it for?"

I smiled my most gracious old fudd smile, "Something to dissuade possums from the cat food."

"It's perfect for that". he replied.

It's the standard carbine in the birch stock.  Probably the most rare of Ruger 10/22s.  It is totally unmodified.  Which I will remedy soon.  It needs a carry strap and optics  I'm thinking a nice little variable on low rings. Another magazine or two.  And,I'm in no rush to get it done.

I've owned a lot of .22s during my life.  Marlins and Savage, and even some unmarked single shots.  By and large, the kids or grandkids have them now. This might be the last .22 I buy.  Then again, it might not be.

Mike Johnson Elected Speaker

 I see that Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson has been elected Speaker of the House.

Well, slap my neck and call me red.  Who saw that coming?

Mike represents the 4th District. Think Shreveport and that northwest corner.

Well Done, Mikke!  Now, get to work.

Crunchy Mom

I was surfing around today and heard a young woman identify herself as a "crunchy mon".  I was aghast.  Crunchy is not a population that young mothers want to be identified with.

Every tanker or armored cavalry soldier knows what a "crunchy" is.  It is that enemy who has been rendered hors de combat without use of bullets or explosives. Those are the people who are simply run over by the armored vehicle.  They tend to make crunching noises when under the tank treads.

Using that term to describe oneself is rife with misunderstanding.

The .22 Rimfire

 There are those who scoff at the diminutive .22 rimfire cartridge.  They do so at leisure and highlight their ignorance.

Long before I was a cop, or a soldier, I was a hunter. I have seen a lot of game taken with the .22 rimfire.. While I wouldn't want to go into combat with a .22, nor even patrol the streets with one, I understand the utility of the little cartridge.  Certainly, there are better cartridges for almost every use, it's hard to dismiss the .22 for all-around honors.

The .22 is easy to shoot well.  It's accurate, inexpensive and generally lightweight. You can carry a bunch of them in your pocket. While it's not the best at every task, it's damned good at lots of tasks.  It may be one of the most used cartridges in violent encounters i the US.

Those uses aside, I know that it has been used to take many game animals that you might not realize.  I once knew a man who took Whitetail deer with a .22

The largest hog I personally ever shot (over 350 lbs) was taken with a .22.  One shot, bang flop. The hardest past of that was loading it in the truck.

I have read accounts of moose being taken with the little cartridge.

There is one well documented account of a native woman taking a world record grizzly bear with the .22 rifle.  It's a great story and deserves to be read around campfires for many years.

If society crumbles and the zombies come out, I'm going to grab a .22 rifle, strap a .22 handgun to my waist, and head for the woods. It may not be the best combo for a lot of things, but it's the best combo for all-around.  Which reminds me, I need to pick p a couple more bricks of .22 ammo.

No Sympathy

 I have heard just about enough of the "plight of the Palestinians". Decades of poor decision making have led them to this deplorable condition. Now, I admit that I have never given the Palestinians much thought.  A quick review of the map doesn't show me a place identified as Palestine. I do see a place called Israel.  And, I see a place called Gaza.

Again, I haven't given it much thought, but a quick Google search tells me that in 2006 the Gazan folks held an election and voted in Hamas.  They elected a terrorist government. Simple math tells me that they have had 13 years to do simple things like dig water wells, begin generating electricity, set up a stable goernment and start taking care of people.  Things like securing food and fuel. But they didn't. I can't find an airport in Gaza, nor yet a seaport.

Hamas has done nothing to govern these poor people, yet that is what they voted for.  It's not Israel's fault that they don't have water or electricity or fuel.  It's Hamas fault. The Palestinian people cannot travel.  THey have no passports.  Who's fault it that? Hamas.  They are the elected government.

Bobody wants the Palestinians.  Not Jordan, nor Egypt, and certainly not Louisiana. I have no sympathy for prople who got exactly what they voted for.

The .25 ACP

Author's note.  This is a story from my cop days.  It is as I remember it. Names and places have been changed to protect the ignorant. In 37 years behind the badge, I've seen some stuff, and worked cases that some folks won't believe. I started my career in 1980, and retired from two agencies, serving in a variety of positions.  This is one of those stories.

The .25 ACP us much maligned as a self-defense cartridge, and rightly so. I don't want to get shot with one, and I don't want to get shot with anything.  Let me tell you a story.

Back in the early 80s, Dindu was shacked up with Gonorea (Gu'-nor-e-a). She had an apartment in the big projects, down off MLK Blvd.and Dindu slept there most nights.

It was Saturday night, and Dindu was out hustling at a place called "the square", trying to score a few dollars selling low-grade weed. Dindu happened to look down the block and observed Gonorea under the streetlamp on the corner. Talking to some other dude. Dindu took offense and extracted from his pocket a small Raven Arms handgun in .25 ACP.  He took one shot at what was later measured to be about 125 yards. Gonorea folded up like a cheap pocket knife. Graveyard dead.

The police came and scooped up the body.  Began looking for Dindu..They found him the next morning and took him to the jail house. They found the pistol, and sent toe body for an autopsy.

The medical examiner found the bullet in the deceased skull. It had hit her in the forehead, penetrated the skull and entered her brain, causing instant death.  He sent the bullet to the forensic lab, who matched the bullet to the handgun. Game, set, match.

Dindu was charged with murder, which requires intent.  His defense attorney adopted a legal strategy where he argued that Dindu had no reasonable intent. It was a Raven in 25 ACP.  No reasonable marksman could expect to make such a shot, at night, at that range, with that gun. It was either Bad Luck, or an Act of God, but the shot had no reasonable chance of success.

The jury did't buy it.  THey did drop the charge to manslaughter and Dindu got a 20 year sentence.

Old Time Duck Calls

Video below on how duck calls were made, back in the day.  I'm simply boosting the signal here.

Schism

 The United Methodist Church, a large protestant denomination, has been undergoing schism for the past couple of years.  The church has adopted social justice stances that do not appeal to a broad portion of its membership, and many believe that the denomination has strayed from the Good News of the Gospel to teachings that are at odds with conventional Christian beliefs.

Some congregations are opting to witdraw from affiliation.  For example:

Christ United Methodist Church of Jackson voted Sunday to disaffiliate from the UMC Mississippi Conference after months of discernment over whether to join the thousands of congregations that have left the denomination amid the schism over the UMC stance on homosexuality.

I grew up in the United Methodist Church and worshipped with them as an adult, They are some of the most loving, kindest people that I know.  They are non-judgmental on many subjects, choosing to overlook some things that might cause problems in other congregations.  However, the denomination has gone much farther than many in the church believe they should go.

The United Methodist Church is undergoing a schism right now, and all good-hearted Christians should pray for them.

The history of a market hunter in 1900 era

My buddy Joe sent me this link, and took me down memory lane.  My grandfather did a little market hunting in his youth, on Black Lake, north of Natchitoches, LA. My grandfather preferred a Winchester Model 12, in 20 gauge. The only shell I ever knew him to shoot were Winchester Super-X in #6 shot.  These were, of course, the old lead shot.

Thanks, Joe, for the link and the trip down memory lane.

Learning Stuff

I've been playing in the kitchen.  Belle brought home a small package of fully cooked, sliced brisket that she found at Wal Mart.  It's kind of expensive, and not up to my standards for sliced brisket, but if you put it in a pan and heat it with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce, it makes a really good sandwich.  We eat it on French bread, pressed in a sandwich press.  Although it seems expensive, there is no waste and feeds us lunch for two days. Anytime you can buy four nice sandwiches for $15, that ain't bad. From prep to plate, it's about fifteen minutes.

I was watching YouTube yesterday and saw a fellow making pancakes.  He claims that 1 cup of Bisquick and a half cup of Sprite make pancake batter.  I had to try it.  It makes a passable pancake.  Not as good as some I've had, but passable. You can make the batter in the time it takes to heat up the skillet, and the pancake ain't bad.

Which reminds me.  After pancakes this morning, I'm out of Steen's syrup.  Next time I go to the store, I'll have to remedy that.

Waiting

Ol' Joe went to Israel yesterday, probably did more harm than good.  No one wants to meet with him.

I've been watching the news, waiting for the IDF to kick off their incursion into Gaza. 

I really don't have anything else to comment on.  Belle and I have been chilling, just hanging out.   Nothing much happening on this little acre.

Short Round

 It seems that the Moose-limbs are having problems with their homemade rockets.  About 1/3 of them fail, sometimes spectacularly. In today's case, they launched one that failed and it fell on a hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds of people.

The Hamasians have very little regard for the people.  If you know your rockets suck, at least fire them where your people aren't down range.

I do feel sorry for the Palestinians stuck in Gaza.  Nobody wants them, and the ruling clique is actively killing them. Regardless of their politics, they are truly and royally fucked.

One other thing.  I keep hearing about how terrible it is that they don't have food, fuel, electricity, or water.  Hamas took over in 2006. In the intervening seventeen years, they haven't set up any electric generating capacity, or even dug water wells?  Those people are truly hosed.

Open Borders

 I see that the FBI is waring of increased threats of copycat attacks in response to the Hamas atrocities in Israel.  Go figure.

Check your magazines, and make sure that the bolt is oiled. I don't think that they want to play Cowboys and Arabs, but if they do, they should receive a warm welcome. Much warmer than they anticipated.

That is all.

Landry Wins

 Louisiana has what we call a "jungle primary".  Every candidate runs in the primary election.  If no one gets a majority (50% +1 vote), then the top two candidates progress to the general election. Our current attorney general, Jeff Landry, ran in a field of 15 candidates and came out on top with 52% of the vote.  He won it outright.

Congratulations, Jeff.

Conservatives won huge, up and down the ballot.  We still have several races going to the general election, but up and down the ballot, Louisiana voters pulled the lever for conservative candidates.   Maybe we are turning the corner toward a more business-friendly state.  We have a lot to do, but we have a chance now to return Louisiana to the people. RINOs who had worked with out left-wing governor were, by and large,  defeated by conservative candidates

Come January, they all need to get to work.

New Cargridges

 Hunters and shooters are enamored of new cartridges and rifles.  That's a fact.  We want the best cartridge available to pursue our given game, and with a new cartridge, that means a new riffle.  This is great news for the manufactures.

I haven't paid much attention to new cartridges in a decade or longer.  I was vaguely attentive when the 6.5 Creedmoor came out, but it didn't do anything that I needed to do, so it became a mild buzzing in my ears.  My sister-in-law shoots a .260 Remington and has taken her deer with it many times.  It works well for her. Her husband thought about stepping up to the Creedmoor, but couldn't justify it.  She's deadly withthat older cartridge.

When I go to the deer woods, I'm apt to carry a .30-06 Springfield.  My load pushes a 165 to just over 2800  I've never fired at a deer over 200 yards. I've also never had to track a deer over 50 yards.

I toyed with the .243 Winchester for a while. The 10 twist barrel would stabilize a 100 grain Nosler, but would not stabilize a 107 grain Hornady A-Max.  I toyed with the idea of getting an 8-twist barrel, but the 100 grain bullet put deer down with authority. I never could justify the expense just for another 7 grains of bullet.

Recently on YouTube, I came upon Ron Spomer's channel.  He's got a lot of good hunting and shooting videos, with good advice. In one video he was talking about the PRC line of cartridges, and I admit I had never heard of them.  So, I started Googling and found out that Hornady has come out with a new line of whiz-bang cartridges designed for long range shooting, using fast-twist barrels and proprietary brass, designed for those long, sleek pullets.  Good stuff.  Right now, you can get them in three flavors, 6.5nn, 7mm, and.30 cal. They are being touted as the 21st century answer to all you questions.

And, that is fine.  The ammo companies need to sell ammunition, and hunters are always looking for something new. I'm not going to talk bad about any of them. They are not trying to sell to me, because I am simply not in the market.  I may commission one more rifle before I go, but it won't be a newfangled cartridge.  I'm thinking more along the lines of the 250 Savage, or maybe a 7mm Mauser.  But then, there has always been that yearning for a .257 Roberts. Decisions, decisions.

Here’s THE TRUTH About the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (A Comprehensive...

That Every Man BE Armed

When I awoke Saturday to the news of Israel's heartbreak, I  wondered how such a thing could happen.  Israel is a country with mandatory military service, egro, everyone should know how to operate a rifle. And, Israel is surrounded by enemies, which means that cross-border raids would be fast and immediate:  no enough time for the Army to show up.  It simply makes sense that every little village or kibbutz should have a few firearms in the vicinity.

Wrong again, stupid!  Israel has fairly strict gun control.

Gun control in Israel is relatively strict, and firearm licenses are generally only granted to those who can show a need for extra security in their line of work or daily life. Meaning, one of the key criteria for a private citizen to receive permission to own a gun is where they live.

So, once again, gun control claims victims.  Helpless people gunned down without recourse to basic self defense.  The Israeli parliament should immediately re-think this whole thing.  The immediate objective is that every person should have the right to defend themselves. 

Leaflet Drop

 I see that the IDF is dropping leaflets on north Gaza, tilling the civil population to get out.  Move south.

That is the way civilized countries conduct themselves in urban warfare. The US did the same thing in WWII. I understand that Israel has also ben using text messages and social media to warn non-combatants of impending strikes in local areas.

We also note that Hamas did not drop leaflets prior to their incursion on Saturday.  Unlike the IDF, their target was the civil population.

There will always be collateral damage in modern warfare.  It is regrettable and inevitable.  But, warning the civil population may minimize civilian casualties.  That is the way moral countries conduct themselves. The Palestinian Authority should immediately begin an evacuation of non-combatants, or be complicit in the deaths of their citizens.

Square

In 2006 I built a bath house, a restroom and changing area for the pool.  I had done what my Dad called "peckerwood carpentry" all my life, and I built this bath house from framing the form to putting on the shingles.   

That was in 2006.  Earlier this summer, Belle noticed that the roof needed attention, so I asked a friend from church, a master carpenter, who he would recommend to put on a metal roof.  He said he would do it, so I gave him the bid.  He came over today to do the work.

He brought his crews, and he was on the roof, and he asked me, "Who built this building?"

"I did, Myself.  With a hammer.  Why?"

"It's perfectly square" he said.  "You don't see that much these days."

I'll take that as a compliment.  Now, all my buildings have metal roofs, and I'd done with shingles.

Unemployable

 In the wake of the Hamas atrocities, I see that some law students at prestigious universities are saying that it's all Isarel's fault.

I also see that some CEOs are saying that they will never employ those students. Already, at least one student activist has had a cushy law firm rescind the offer of employment.  Too bad, so sad.  But, I don't feel sorry for these students.  I have known several attorneys who graduated from less prestigious law schools, and I don't recall any of them starving.

The process is really straight-forward. 1) graduate from law school, 2) pass the bar exam, 3) hang a shingle and start practicing law. If that doesn't work out for you, go back to school and take up plumbing.

It's On

 It appears that the IDF has taken off the gloves, and are preparing to show the muzzies what war looks like.

In a new tactic, Israel is warning civilians to evacuate neighborhood after neighborhood, and then inflicting devastation, in what could be a prelude to a ground offensive. On Tuesday, the military told residents of the nearby al-Daraj neighborhood to evacuate. New explosions soon rocked it and other areas, continuing into the night.

Tell the civilians to leave.  It's an old tactic that has been used for hundreds of years. It is a mark of civilized warfare.  Tell the civilians to leave.

If I were Netanyahu, I'd be saving my expensive, hi-tech precision munitions in favor of low-tech munitions.  Pick an objective, rubble it with dumb bombs and artillery, then drop napalm on it .  Civilian casualties?  They were told to leave. It worked for us during WWII.  It worked for Sherman during the Civil War.

When Hamas declared war on Israeli civilians, they cannot complain now when Israel returns the favor.

Pray for Israel

 Like everyone else, I've been hearing news coming out of Israel in their continuing conflict with Hamas. I'm hearing that Hamas acticely murdered children, not as collateral damage, but as targets.

Hamas should be wiped from the earth, consigned to the dustbin of history, along with Pol Pot, Hitler, and Stalin.  They should be actively hunted  and slain as human vermin.

I understand military necessity. I understand that sometimes innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire. There is no military necessity to actively target children.

Filet Gumbo

 In a post from yesterday, a commenter observes:

I always thought that sassafras went in … file gumbo in the gumbo?

Filet (fee-lay) is nothing more than ground sassafras leaves  It is a thickening agent that imparts a vegetal flavor.  We keep filet on the table to add as a condiment.  The guest can add it as they like.  Some cooks add filet as part of the cooking process and the result is what we call filet gumbo.

In the African/Creole tradition, the word gumbo comes from the vegetable we call okra.  Some people believe that it is not truly gumbo unless okra is included in the bowl, but I eschew okra as well.  

My maternal grandmother, who spoke Cajun French as her first language, told us that the only people who needed filet or okra in their gumbo were those who could not cook a competent roux.  Also, my first father-in-law, also believed that the roux carries the gumbo.

Use filet or okra as you like.  I'll never tell you it is wrong.  Gumbo is as individual as the person stirring the pot.

Changing Pharmacies

 One of the pain-in-the-ass parts of being an old fart is the fact that I need prescription meds.  For this or that, or the other. I detest such things.  If I'd have known I would live this long, I might have taken better care of myself.

My local family pharmacy told me last week that they can no longer afford me.  Something changed, and between the cost of meds and what they are allowed to charge me for them, they are barely breaking even.  Some of my meds they make money on, some they lose money on, and that is no way to stay in business.  They recommended that I go down the street to a big-box pharmacy.  They get better deals because they buy in bulk.  

So, I'm taking my business down the street.  It's a pain in the ass.  But, maybe I'll save a little money.  This big-box is a Preferred Provider on my plan.  But it's still a pain in the ass.

 

It's That Time

Finally, the heat of summer has broken and we awoke this morning to temps in the mid 40s.   I had a chicken and some sausage, so I decided to make gumbo. The same ol' gumbo I've been making for nearly 50 years.

My basic recipe is here, and in Cajun Louisiana, gumbo is about as basic as anything gets. Now that I've cleared the work space in the kitchen, Belle is in there making something she calls Alabama Sweet Bread.  It's a light sweet thing that we love as a dessert.  She got the recipe from some gal on YouTube.  Google Alabama Sweet Pecan Bread on You Tue and lots of recipes will pop.

The gumbo flavors are all marrying now, and closer to lunch, we'll make a pot of rice.

EAA Breakfast

 Several of us went out to eat breakfast at the local EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) club this morning.  Every first Saturday, they put on a big breakfast as a fund raiser.  It helps them keep the lights on in the clubhouse.

A full breakfast for $10, and good conversation.  Eggs, sausage, pancakes, biscuits and gravy.  Not a bad way to start the morning.

We Voted

 Louisiana has a big statewide election coming up, where we vote for everything from Governor to Dog Catcher.  Lots of names on the ballot.  Election day is October 14th, but Louisiana has early voting, and Belle and I take advantage of the short lines and easy access. We have now done our patriotic duty.  

Early voting is easy in Louisiana, and mail-in voting is fairly tough.  We are not nearly as lackadaisical as some states.  Mail-in ballots must be requested and returned not later than the afternoon before the Election day.  Or, they don't count.

There is still work to be done to insure a credible election, but we're getting there.  Every citizen should vote, in person. We still have work to do, but we've come a long way.

Hydraulics

Replacing seals in a hydraulic cylinder.  It keeps the track hoe working.

You never know what you're going to run into in a good garage.

Gutfeld: Luxury Beliefs

Greg goes on a rant that I think is absolutely on point.  Luxury beliefs will get you killed.  It's one thing to believe that all our problems can be solved with touchy-feely liberal policies, but the hard fact is that evil exists in this world and it is the job of good people to fight evil at every turn.

There is a place for violence n this world, but it should only be used to suppress evil.

Rain, Blessed Rain

 Awoke this morning to water falling out of the sky.  A totally uncommon experience in recent weeks.  A quick look at the radar shows that this is not simply a passing shower.

This won't end our drought, but it may be a good start.

Permits

 The septic system at the church was giving us trouble, so members called a local guy, who does that sort of work, and has a honey-truck.  He came to service the system, and pumped it out, but told us that we need a whole new system.  And a permit.

So, the secretary starts looking into it, and the local health unit is the permitting agency, and they need stuff.  They need us to prove that we own the land, and that we are a valid church, and that a trustee, in person,  has to apply for the permit.

I am a trustee for the church, so I was tagged with the opportunity to serve.  It only took two trips to the health unit and one trip to the Courthouse.  Now, we have applied and are awaiting an inspector to come look and tell us we need a new system.  If it's the same bozo I've dealt with in the past, it should be an interesting visit.  Whether or not we will talk about septic systems is a matter of claim.

We are further along  at noon than we were at daylight, but it is hard to measure how much progress we have made.  The permitting system is not designed for people who actually want to make progress.

McCarthy Out

 I see where the House of Representatives voted today to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The vote wasn't close.  McCarthy is out, and the Speaker's chair is vacant.

I don't know who he pissed off, but it was a bunch of them.

Can You REALLY Zero Your Rifle At 30 Yards?

We were talking about this the other day, and I'm not sure that we covered all the bases.  Ron covers them here.  

Extreme Drought

 Central Louisiana is in an extreme drought.  I live on a little lake, an abandoned gravel pit that the developer built a subdivision around.  Maybe 15 acres, it is a source of recreation for the neighborhood.  A buddy who lives across the lake told me that it is lower than he has ever seen it.

I haven't really looked at the lake in a couple of months, it's been too hot.  This morning I walked around the shop to take a look.

You can see the bow of my little john boat poking through the cattails.  That is normally in a foot of water.  If you look at the center of the photo, you can see a spit of exposed land.  That is normally under about 18 inches of water.  If I had to estimate, I'd say that the lake is down about 3 or 4 feet.  The lake is fed only by rain runoff, and we haven't had any rain for a while.

A quick check with Weather Underground shows that our last measurable rainfall was August 2nd, with only a 10th of an inch.  Before that, it was July 10, with an inch.  The weather weenies are predicting rain for later this week with the first of the winter cool fronts.  It can't come quickly enough.

Sophomoric Crap

 Did y'all hear about this asshole?

Representative Jamaal Bowman pulled a fire alarm at the Cannon building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday as lawmakers sought to reach an agreement to fund the federal government in order to avert a shutdown, according to House Republicans.

He claims that he didn't know it was a fire alarm.  It's. you know, painted red, like all the other fire alarms in the world. 

He doesn't like the way things are going, so he pulls the fire alarm.  Just like all those Dindu Nuffins at the high school where I used to protect and serve.  What Dindu didn't know was that we adjusted the security cameras to be able to see the fire alarms.  That caused Dindu considerable consternation when he was getting his five-day suspension.

Tactical Velcro

You gotta love a young lieutenant.  Feeling their way through the military system, not really sure how to prceed.  Catching criticism from every direction, a sense of humor helps.

There is a YouTube short that captures it completely.  I can't get it to embed, but you can see it here.  She is making some point about Velcro, when a voice comes from the audience.  Hilarity ensues.