It looks like something went horribly wrong in Charleston.
Four officers were killed in a shooting while attempting to serve a warrant at a home in Charlotte, North Carolina, including one deputy US marshal and two local task force officers, authorities say.
Four others were wounded.
Details will be sketchy for a while. I'll offer prayers to all affected.
It seems like the protests at Columbia University are thumbing their noses at administrators trying to bring order to the campus.
They could take a cue from Emory in Atlanta, or the University of Georgia, who don't coddle those who flaunt privilege. Anti-Semitism is so 1930s, And, trespass is still a criminal offense in many jurisdictions.
That slow moving weather front that has been mauling Texas for the past couple of days has finally made its way into Louisiana. Awakened by thunder at 5:00 am, I got up when I heard the dog scratching on the bedroom door. Rather than disturb Belle, I decided to get up and make coffee.
The dog is afraid of heavy weather, and the thunder is rolling out there right now. I doubt I'll get anything accomplished in the yard today. But it is Monday, and traditionally that is laundry day.
Our church hosted a rodeo tonight, and we had a pretty good turnout from the small town we live in. PawPaw did his part in the cook shack, flipping burgers and grilling sausage to feed this crowd.
Families bring lawn chairs or sit in the small bleachers. Either way, the weather was pleasant, the crowd amicable, and the rodeo was just fine. Small town America at its best.
It's rodeo season and our church is big on rodeo. For myself, I know very little about the various games, but the big rule seems to be Don't Fall Off. In these parts, rodeo is a money-maker and the concession stand is a busy place. I'll be in the cook shack this evening, cooking burgers and sausage and french fries.
Tomorrow morning is our regularly scheduled club match, and of course, I'll be doing that, then back to the church for the second night of rodeo.
It's going to be a hoot.
I see that as the protests riots continue on campuses, the faculty is being arrested. Call the philosophy department is her battle cray. I would like to think that if a faculty member is arrested on campus, that should be enough to revoke tenure and end employment.
Kinda-Sorta following Trumps trial. It's all bullshit.
Likewise, kinda-sorta following the chaos at the Ivy League. That pro-Hamas bullshit. Those kids should be expelled, their manes made public, and any with a student visa should immediately be sent home. We enjoyed free speech when I went to college, but we knew that the administrators wouldn't put up with this level of nonsense. Chasing skirt, making sure our term papers were in, Drinking beer behind the ROTC building. That's pretty much the way I spent my college years.
I am forever blessed that we did not have social media during my formative years. Those protestors today may well have to defend their social media presence when they get out of school and start moving about in the professional world.
My '01 F150 still starts and runs. With almost a quarter-million miles, it has proven to be fairly reliable. I run a Honda Odyssey as my daily driver, but the truck it there if I need a truck. the old Ford fits the bill. Recently I was driving it, and noticed that the left turn indicator wasn't working. Reflecting on the last time I had to change bulbs, those might be factory bulbs in the truck.
This morning, I went out to diagnose the problem and learned that the problem was the front left bulb. Tinkering with things in the cab, running carious lights and looking at the rest of the bulbs on the truck, I noticed that the turn indicator seemed to be working. Odd. I ran some more tests, walked around the truck ooking at lights, and for some reason that turn indicator seems to be working.
Or, I might have an intermittent problem, which drives mechanics and electricians crazy. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and change that bulb, and give the bulb socket a little TLC while I have it apart.
Took the dawg to the groomers this morning, then went to Jena to go junking with Belle's sister. Had a nice lunch, then on the way home stopped by a gun store in Ball we had never noticed. Talked to those nice folks for a bit, then rescued the dawg from the groomer.
Came home to check the news. Trumps trial started today. The one in New York, where he paid off a hooker. Damned shame when you can't trust a hooker to keep her mouth shut.
I ordered some match .22LR ammo yesterday. Two bricks were over $100, I haven't bought much .22 ammo in a while, but I seem to recall that a brick of good ammo, down at the Feed and Seed, was about $20. That's been a few years ago. And, I am paying shipping on this order, so that adds to the unit cost. Still, that's about 12 cents per shot, so that ain't as bad as I've seen it.
Grandson Luke (age 12) has noticed an inconsistency in his standard ammo load, and wanted to try some better ammo. The state match is coming up, and what good is it to be a PawPaw, if not to order match ammo when the kid needs it. He has some Eley and some SK coming in, and he'll have to test them both and decide which brand his rifle prefers. The ammo will be here on Wednesday.
From what little I know about aviation, I do believe that this Spitfire is going to need a going-over.
Of course, if you're flying a Spitfire, money isn't really the issue, is it?
That's the newest family story told by Pore Ol' Joe. Jessie Waters covers it. Skip ahead to the 7:00 mark.
Basically, Joes Story says that 1) his uncle was piloting a single engine plane in WWII. 2) He was shot down over New Guinea. 3) He was eaten by cannibals.
The Pentagon says 1) He was a passenger in a twin-engine plane. 2) The engines failed for unknown reasons. 3) The plane ditched in the sea, near New Guinea.
This story takes nothing from Joe's Uncle Ambrose. He served and died in WWII. But, Joe dishonors his uncle through the cannibal angle.
So, judging from comments, Sonny's BBQ is a chain. I had never heard of it. When the parking lot is full of pickup trucks, and when we went in, lots of fat ladies at tables, that's a pretty good indication that the food is good. I thought it was a local joint, but I stand corrected.
Looking in a freezer that I don't normally frequent, I found a box of catfish filets. Farm raised catfish. I have no idea how long they've been in the freezer, but the box was sealed, so we're good. That solves the problem of what I'm cooking for lunch.
Watching the pro-Hamas protest that are popping up on the campuses, I am amused at how obtuse the protestors are. There is no Palestinian cause except to destroy Israel. They could have had a state years ago, but rejected every offer. No one wants the Palestinians. The two neighboring Arab states, Egypt and Jordan both flatly reject the idea of taking refugees.
I know exactly one Palestinian person. A lady with advanced degrees who teaches. She emigrated here and built a life. Fine person, I consider her a friend and colleague.
I have another friend, a native American who worked in that region for a year or so as an industrial contractor. He frequently says that a person has to live among those people for six months before you truly learn to hate them..
I've been coughing for the past two days. Don't feel bad, not running a fever, just incessant coughing. A dry cough.
It's time for the old remedies. Equal parts honey, lemon juice, and whiskey. Sip on it.
It's probably just hay fever. I'm sure something is blooming.
It's a very good question. PJMedia is reporting that flyers posted in Mexico are asking that illegals vote for Biden.
Flyers, ostensibly created by a nongovernmental organization (NGO) called Resource Center Matamoras (RCM), which reportedly has tentacles that reach U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas and even the Lizard King George Soros, are being handed out at an RCM facility in Mexico. They are also posted in porta-potties. The flyers, in part, urge illegal immigrants to vote for Joe Biden.
US law limits voting in federal elections to US citizens. Some jurisdictions allow migrants to vote in local elections, but federal elections are limited to US citizens. So, why are flyers in Mexico urging illegals to vote for Biden? That is a very good question.
One of the things that Bele and I like about traveling is finding small restaurants that the locals use in cities we travel through. Like El Tucan in DeQuincy, LA. Or Elijah's in Jasper, TX. Or, the Amarillo Grill in Bowie, TX. Then there is the grocery in Concordia, MO that makes the pork tenderloin sandwich. These places are special to us, and today, we found another.
Sonny's BBQ in Brandon, MS is the newest on the list. We pulled in there today, fresh from the Interstate, and we were famished. Belle had the brisket sandwich, and claimed it was excellent. I had the Three-Way plate, which was ribs, pulled pork and sliced pork with beans and slaw. The sliced pork was probably the finest rendition of southern BBQ I have every put in my mouth.
Brandon is about 15 miles east of Jackson on I-20.
We made it in last night, eleven hours of windshield wipers. Found the hotel and fell into bed.
Got up this morning and found a Waffle House. It was closer to noon than daylight when we walked into the restaurant. Ate a hearty breakfast and went out to the range. We dropped off some stuff and chatted with Rambunctious Red, who was there setting up.
We're back in the hotel now, enjoying our afternoon. The Georgia State Championship starts tomorrow.
My bourbon of choice this weekend is Maker's Mark Cast Strength. Batch 23-01, 110 proof, it seems like very good whiskey..
Belle and I were scheduled to leave for Atlanta this morning, but we're holding short. The weather ain't cooperating. I've never been afraid of the weather, having lived through hurricanes and other such nonsense. But today, it's raining. Raining like a hurricane. Seriously, we've been under severe thunderstorms since about 9:00 last night.
We'll get to Georgia when we get there. We had some slack in our itinerary, and I like to plan with slack in the travel time. We'll get there when we get there. Believe me, if we were flying today, all the flights would be delayed.
Belle and I are sneaking off tomorrow, heading to Holly Springs, GA for the Georgia State Championship of Cowboy Fast Draw. When traveling, Belle and I use GPS, like everyone else. We use a combination of Google and I have a stand-alone Garmin, but each of these have problems.
Last month, I was talking to my high-tech brother-in-law, and he told me he uses Waze. It's an app you download to your phone, and you can hook it to the car. So, I did all that, got it working, and have ben using it around town for errands. Waze seems like a good alternative, or a backup to Google. It's free, user friendly, and crowd sourced.
A commenter noted, in the post below:
A good reason to always carry your phone. Though some feel the tracking of smart phones is a double edged sword. Like having a three year old tagging along wherever you go.
Worrying about cell phone tracking is a valid point, depending on your need for privacy. Cell phone tracking has been used fairly often to make criminal cases, or to find missing persons, Most recently, cell phone data was used to put the lie to Fani Willis and her paramour in the Georgia case against Trump.
I have heard it said that if the Russian KGB had access to the data that the cell phone companies routinely compile in this century, their job would have been much, much easier. The collection of cell data is truly a double-edged sword.
Technology may the bane of the private citizen, but it can also hold the answer. There is something called a Ferriday Pouch that blocks radio transmissions. You can find them on Amazon, and we all know that our cell phone is nothing more than a compact radio transmitter. Shut down the ability to transmit, and the problem of tracking goes away.
It's been five years since I was a hull-time cop, but recently I was thinking about defensive handgun use, and specifically, the low-ready position. It's useful in police work ,and a good idea for civilian carriers. I see that Jim Wilson talks about it in a recent article.
The low-ready position is basically, gun out, both hands on the firearm, with the muzzle pointed generally at a 45 degree angle toward the ground. Your trigger finger should be along the frame of the firearm. You are pointing the muzzle at the ground, and you can clearly see what is going on.
By far the most common defensive use of handguns is that some bozo approaches a citizen. The citizen becomes apprehensive of great bodily harm or death and decided to display a firearm. The low-ready position is perfect for this scenario. Generally, the bozo will decide he used a flawed victim selection process and depart the area. In great haste. The citizen exhales, goes about his business, and all is well.
Where many citizens fail is in the final act of this drama. They don't call it in. There are only two roles available in the victim/criminal play. Whoever calls it in first and tells the police what happened gets to be the victim. Call it in. It will take a few minutes out of your day, but it sure beats being arrested later,
Sipping coffee on the porch this morning under a clear sky, I noticed a small sliver of moon above the horizon. We're coming up on a new moon on Monday. Coincidentally, there will also be solar eclipse.
Astronomers have noted that a solar eclipse only occurs during a new moon. Conversely, a lunar eclipse only happens during a full moon. Funny how that works out.
I will not be traveling to see the eclipse. I've seen one. I know some folks who are going to central Texas to watch the show, but for me, it was one and done. Kind of like going to Orlando. Been there, done that.
Fox New is reporting that the Biden administration is set to publish new regulations affecting the salke and distribution of menthol cigarettes.
This is a pressing issue? Or is the Biden White House as tone deaf as the vise I have bolted to the work bench? You decide.
Gutfeld covered this three months ago, and the take on it is hilarious.
Biden has more problems right now than he cares to admit, and the very idea that the FBA is still proposing this nonsense is proof positive that no one is in charge of our government. You would think after the debacle of Covid, the FDA would be happy to take a break, and let things simmer down in an election year. But NO, let's piss off all the Newport smokers.
We awoke to temps in the low 40s this morning, a beautiful spring day, sunny and pleasant.
Yesterday, piddling int he shop, I tripped over a propane beater and wondered if I should put it away. I figured that I might need it again, so I left it in the middle of the floor, and I'm glad I did that. With this mornings temps, in the shop, I lit it when I walked inthe door.
That little heater is made by Mr. Heater, and you can find then anywhere. I bought two at Lowe's a couple of years ago. My shop is a 40'X50' with 10' eaves. I calculate that I have 25,000 cubic feet of air in the building. Even in the depths of winter, when the temps got into the low 20s, two of these heaters would knock the chill off the building in a half-hour.
I'm hoping that this is the last cool snap of the year, and that we can soon hang up the flannel and opt for short sleeves. The heaters will be taken off the propane bottles and stored for next year. Then, I'll have to start running the AC units. I'll exchange a propane bill for an electric bill.
At some point very soon, the weather will be pleasant enough that I use neither, and simply roll up the big door, air out the place and let Mother Nature decide the temps. That period never lasts long in Louisiana.
Many of you know that I attend a Cowboy CHurch, and we hold rodeo. The big buzz around the church last night was that the Professional Bull Riders Association is changing the length of a completed ride from eight seconds to six seconds.
In what is being called the most significant rule change in the history of pro bull riding, PBR today reduced the length of time required for a qualified bull ride from 8 to 6 seconds.
Any rider who holds onto the bull rope without touching the animal, himself or the ground for a period of 6 seconds will now be granted a score.
That rule change will not affect me in the slightest, because I'm not climbing on any bulls. However, I am wondering if George Strait will have to change the lyrics of Amarillo By Morning?
I'll be looking for eight when they pull that gate, and I hope that judge ain't blind.
I did my income taxes this morning. I never like doing taxes early, because like even an earthworm, I am pain adverse.
Belle and I are fully retired, without any side gigs. Our income didn't increase dramatically this year, although some of our retirement accounts gave us a small cost-of-living increase. We are where we were this time last year. Last year, we got a small rfund. This year, I'll have to write the IRS a check.
Something changed, and I'm not sure what, but a further analysis will clear that up.
What I do know is that I didn't owe the IRS money last year, and I do owe them money this year.
Thanks, Joe Biden.
I engaged the blades on the mower for the first time today. The neighbors are a couple of weeks ahead of me, but they tend to be more suburbia. I tend to be more live-and-let-live. If my grass is longer, or my shrubs shaggier, it tends to make them look better by comparison, and I'm okay with that.
When Belle and I moved in here 20 years ago, the realtor told us that we have a homeowners association, but we have never heard a peep out of them.
Today was mainly mulching leaves and cutting the tops out of weeds, but the mowing season is upon us.
The White House had an event yesterday. coincidentally, on the holiest day fo the Christian calendar, the day when we remember the resurrection of Jesus.
The White House forbade religious symbols. No crosses, no Jesus. Instead, they were celebrating a "Trans Day of Visibility", Whatever that might be. Now, to be clear, we do have a 1st Amendment, and the White House is certainly allowed to celebrate secular events, but to hold a "Trans Day" on the most holy day of the Christian calendar is an insult to Christians everywhere.
It's like Hoe is actively trying to piss us off. And that's okay with me. I hope he's ot offended in NOvember when I vote against him. But, I truly don't care if he is offended or not.
