Let's Talk About PT Tests

 In 1973 I took my fist PT Test at Fort Knox, KY.  A trainee in E-13-4, I lost 40 pounds in basic training.

In 1998, I took my final PT test for the Army.  I passed it, just barely, but I knew that it was time to retire.

The Army PT Test is weighted for age.  Old farts like me don't have to run the two miles as fast as the kiddos in the ranks.  My last PT Test I had to run 2 miles in 19:36.  I made it in 19:30.  And damn near puked at the finish line. I knew it was time to retire. I was 45 years old.  I think that at that time an 18-year-old had to run the test in 16-something to pass, with the max score in the 12 minute mark. Or something like that.

The point is, the Army PT Test is weighted for age.  No one expects a 40-year-old to make the same times or scores as an 18-year-old.  Bust, there are standards for the old farts, and they need to meet them.

As a trainee at Knox, I was surprised one morning to a General Officer doing PT with us. Then, he got in line for breakfast. At our company mess hall we had a horizontal ladder we had to traverse before we could enter the mess hall.  The General went through the ladder with the rest of us.  That is leadership.

When I was training with the 5th Division at Fort Polk, it was not uncommon to see the commanding General huffing and puffing his tired ass around the water towers.  From tower-to-tower was a 3-mile run and the General was out there with us.  That is leadership.

If a General Officer in the Pentagon cannot pass the standard APFT, he has no business being on active duty.  It's simple, it is a bsic standard,

The Appointments

 He's naming them quicker than I can keep track, but just about the time I heard the SecDef pick, I found this  comment.

Thomas says:

Pete Hegseth as SecDef! Exactly the kind of fire-breathing shot in the arm that's needed to clean house and start rebuilding it the way it needs to be.

I concur.  Were it me, the first meeting I'd have would require every flag officer in the Pentagon to meet me at a PT Field in gym uniform.  Those officers would take the PT test that they require basic trainees to pass.  Any that failed the test would be handed retirement papers and told to report to whichever office conducts out-processing.  That would send a message that basic standards must be enforced and that leadership is top-down.

House Control

 According to 270 to win, Republicans control 219 seats, Dems control 210, and 6 are undecided.  That gives the Republicans a slim majority to keep the house.

Trump has appointed Elis Stefanik as his ambassador to the United Nations,  Stefanik is from New York and I'm not sure how that state fills House seats between elections.

Until the House is decided, Trump needs to keep a close eye on appointing Congress-critters to his administration.  We don't want to give the Dems a foot in the door. We have to keep the House, and the Senate, if we want to get the agenda fulfilled, and this is certainly something that should be considered.

If Trump is looking for a Secretary of the Army,  PawPaw is available and won't wreck the House majority.

Jus' Wonderin'

 I heard something today and went to the Google to see if it was true.

Joe Biden got just over 81 million votes in 2020.  Trump got a little over 74 million.

Kamala got 71 million votes last week, and Trump got a but more than the 74 million he got in 2020.

So, I'm wondering what happened to those 10 million Biden votes?  Did they just stay home, or did they ever exist in the first place?  Did Biden get 10 million bogus votes in 2020?

Veterans Day

 The eleventh day of the eleventh month, and we recall the Armistice that ended the Great War to end all wars. Today is Veterans Day.  You are welcome.

I see that President Trump has appointed Tom Homan to be the new Border Czar.  That's a good pick, Tom knows what he is doing and what needs to be done.

I also see that some of Harris' acolytes are asking Biden to step down and make Kamala the president for the lame duck session.  Harris has that in her power via the 25th Amendment, but of course they are calling for a man to do something for her that she is eminently able to do for herself.

I have some stuff to do today, so I'd best get after it.

Deluge

 We have an atmospheric river overhead, dropping coious amounts of heavy rain on us.

It's been raining like this for about four hours and it doesn't look like it is going to let up anytime soon. We have vertainly gootn an inch or ore since it started, and I hope I don't have to build an ark.

The 4B Movement?

 Never heard of it, until today.  Evidently it is a movement started in Korea, where the feminists vow to not date men, not have sex, not marry men, and hot have children.  It's a way to resist the patriarchy, or something.

From watching liberal tears on YouTube, I find the women who profess this movement are woefully unattractive, screeching harpies that I would not give a second look, even if I were not a happily married man. A quick introduction here.

American lefty women are so absolutely ignorant of what the Dobbs decision actually said, that they believe that we have a de-facto abortion ban in the US. That is simply not true. It has not happened and will not happen. Yet, these harpies have decided that it is true.

In short, gentlemen, it pays to remember the old adage:  "Don't stick your dick in crazy."

Utter Incompetence

 How is it possible, on Friday after the Tuesday election, we still don't know who won?

As of this posting, there are still 23 house seats that have not yet been determined.  There is no way it should have taken this long.  The only plausible answer is sheer, utter incompetence.  We do this every two years and the officials in charge of counting the votes should have figured it out by now.

Upgrade

When we bought the house in 2004, it had the old florescent tubes in the kitchen.  They worked fine for 20 years, but eventually, the ballast went out.  It was time to make  change.

I am not an electrician, but I do know how to change a socket or a switch, so I went to YouTube and started  looking around.  Watched a couple of videos then got out the ladder and some hand tools.  Found the proper breaker and turned it off. 

Total time on this job was about an hour, and that included running to town to buy the bulbs.  The kitchen is bright now, holy-moly.  It's bright.  

If you're afraid of this job, don't be.  It really is as easy as it looks.  IF you can change a switch, you can do this.  As with all things electrical, shut off the power and proceed slowly.  This is not a bad job.

The Meltdown

The meltdown is real.  A compilation.

Well, That's Over

 It looks as if Donald Trump has pulled out an historic win for the presidency.

Somebody tell Joe. Kamala is going to be pissed, and she still wants to be the president.  SHe's probably plotting a 25th Amendment takeover.  I wouldn't put it past her.

As of this posting, she still has not conceded.  There are still votes to count and she has work to do.

Election Day

Finally, our great national spasm is nearing an end.  In a perfect world, we'd know tonight about midnite what the outcome is, who won, who lost.  But we don't live in a perfect world and it may be days until the final votes are tabulated. 

I had to run an errand this morning and drove past the polling place near my acre.  It was slammed, cars trying to get into the parking lot.  I don't know if I'll watch the returns tonight.  The polls close locally at about my bedtime.

If the election goes the way I hope, it will be fun to watch the highlight reels tomorrow morning. Watching libs bemoan their fate in the realization of perceived disaster.  It would be truly monumental if Trump flipped some states that were considered safe.  If New Jersey and Colorado turn red, would it really matter what Pennsylvania did?

If you have not yet, go vote.  It's important, up and down the ballot. Probably more so down ballot than up.

Salted Caramel

 In March of 2019, two shooters, Gentleman George, Big Bill and I were talking at a match in Oklahoma.  Gentleman George was telling us about a liquor he had sampled, Black Velvet Salted Caramel, that he really liked.

I've never been a fan of Black Velvet whiskey, considered it rot-gut.  I'm not a snob about whiskey, but Black Velvet was never in my wheelhouse.  I'll also admit that I've never been a fan of the flavored whiskeys, considering them more of a liqueur than a whiskey.  I have nothing against liqueurs and I enjoy the occasional Frangelico.  The proliferation of flavored whiskeys had me convinced that it was a way for the distillers to use barrels that didn't match a specific flavor profile.  Flavor it with apple, or blackberry, or caramel and roll it out the door.

I may have changed my mind this afternoon.  Earlier today I bought a bottle of Crown Royal Salted Caramel, purely as an impulse purchase. Recalling the conversation in 2019, I decided to give flavored whiskey a try.  At 35% ABV, it's not a whiskey.  It's a liqueur, but I cracked it this afternoon, pouned it over ice in a highball glass, and damn, that's fine sipping.

I'm on my second one now, and it's very, very nice.

Monday Morning

There is something churning int he Carribean, and they're not sure, but they have put up a warning cone.

 It may behoove us to pay attention.  Hurricane season ain't over yet.

Tomorrow is Election Day, and I'll be glad when it is over.  This isn't the most bizarre election season I can remember, but it sure comes close.  If you haven't voted yet, please go do that tomorrow.

I got to my favorite booze shop this morning and they were out of my preferred hooch.  I normally get a 1500 ml of Evan Williams Bottled in Bond, but they were out.  I did find a 750 ml bottle, so I picked that up and I also noticed a bottle of Crown salted caramel.  It's seasonal and I've heard good things about it, so I picked up a bottle. I normally don't drink Canadian whiskey, but I've beard some folks really like this stuff, so what the heck.

Again, if you haven't voted yet, be sure to do that tomorrow.  It's important.

Election Violence

 Why would the governors of Oregon and Washington feel compelled to activate the National Guard for election week?  For Trump supporters?  No, silly boy, for Antifa.

Ignoring the violence in previous years, governors of Oregon and Washington failed to bring peace to the streets when it counted in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2021. 

But all of a sudden, they, like the Mayor of Washington, D.C., have called out the National Guard in 2024 because things may not go Antifa's way on Election Day. And when Antifa, anarchists, and Democrats are unhappy, then nobody's safe. 

Of course, Antifa and Democrat rioters. That tells you all you need to know about election deniers and who the real threat to democracy is. 

Vote Trump and quell the violence.  Vote Trump and close the border.

Foreign Ineterference

 It seems that a Chinese student from the University of Michigan successfully cast a vote in the US Presidential election.

He is subject to a $2000 fine and four years in prison.  That sounds about right.

This is one they caught.  How many have they not caught?  How many illgal votes are cast each year in the United States?

Election Violence

This headline says it all.

 Police brace for election violence, DC being boarded up

We have to ask ourselves which group will be committing election violence?  It ain't the Republicans, I promise you.  Who is inciting violence?  Is it the one calling the other side Nazis?  Is it the side saying that Orange Man is a threat to democracy?

I would remind everyone that the only person killed during the Jan 6 riot was a protester who was shot by the Capitol police.

Appointments

 On Monday, we talked about my internet service provider and how terrible their customer service response time is.  I found a line down in the yard on Monday and the appointment for a tech to show up and fix it is today at 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.  You can bet that I'll be sitting in the driveway at 5:00, probably with a cocktail, watching the show.

Sunset today is at 6:20 pm, so if they are late, there is a chance that they will be working during what I used to call Civil Twilight, but now I simply call Happy Hour.

In a perfect world, they will roll up in the driveway, fail to notice the hanging wire, and snatch it down with the front bumper.

I was a cop for 37 years and our response time was measured in minutes.  If I took five days to get to a call, the world would have ended on my shoulders.

I have registered a complaint with the Public Service Commission.  We'll see how that goes.

Mass Deportation

 So, Trump has said that his administration will deport a lot of people who are here illegally.  What might that look like?  It's a legitimate question.

I think we have to put these migrants into two categories  The first, the people who came here looking for a batter life.  Second, the criminal element.  The criminals will self-identify, get arrested, andthe justice system can have its way with them.

Those who came here looking for a better life are more of a political minefield.  We don't want to go hose-to-house, Gestapo tactics.  But, the fact is that while the criminals are a drain on the justice system, the hopefuls are a drain on the social systems  The schools, the hospitals, the state and local agencies.  My solution would be to simply turn off the welfare tap.  Give then notice, like 30 days, that the freebies have run out, and that after 30 days they need to find a place to live, a job to hold down, and food to eat.  After 30 days they run the risk of homeless starvation.

So, the question becomes; if we shut off the welfare tap, no money, no housing, no nothing, how many of these multi-million migrants will self-deport?

MAGA Halloween

 From Termite, a Halloween costume, designed by Joe Biden, to scare liberals.

A garbage bag and a MAGA hat.  Perfect.

Another Week

 It's Wednesday, and next Tuesday is election day.  In another week, this shit-show of an election will be over, for better or worse.  I'll be glad to see it gone, and I hope that the orange man prevails.  But, in another week, we'll know.

I see that Kamala got Julia Roberts to do an ad letting women know that they can vote.  What a remarkable idea, women voting.  I'm not a woman, but I was raised by one, then married for over 40 years.  I have a passing familiarity with the gender.  I suspect, given the odds, that one of those women at some point voted against me.

In each of those relationships, the lady might ask me about the issues  I've had some remarkable conversations with my ladies about politics, but I have never thought that I could tell then how to vote.  I've een involved with women who were staunch conservatives, and others who were ding-bat liberals, and yet others who didn't let politics enter into their world view.  Each was alluring in her own way.

Regardless, I would never tell anyone how to vote.  I would recommend to everyone that they go vote.  Make the effort.  Pull the lever, or check the box.  Go vote.

Early Voting

 Running my errand this morning, I drove past our polling spot in Pineville and noticed that they were fairly busy. When I got back home, I checked a statewide news site and found this article.  Early vote totals are low?  What is up with that?

BATON ROUGE — Early voting numbers show a decrease in voter turnout in Louisiana as compared to the 2020 election, with fewer Black voters heading to the polls ahead of Nov. 5.

Well, ain't that a kick in the pants? Black turnout is low?  Maybe they are waiting for November 5th? Interesting.  There are some down-ballot races, Congressional seats, that could benefit from a large black turnout.

We shall see.

Optimum Sucks

We use Optimum for our TV and internet.  Originally Cox Communications, they sold out to SuddenLink, who sold out to Optimum.  At least in our area, they are the only game in town. 

They suck at what they do.  When things are working, it works great, but their service staff has issues that are the bane of their customers.  Earlier in October, they switched over from analog to digital for basic cable services and caused monumental problems in the area.  The old analog was working fire, you understand, but they wanted to swap over to digital.

This morning, grandson comes in from work and tells me that there is a wire down in the driveway.  I went out to check, and he was correct.

Well, technically, it's not down yet, but it is hanging pretty low.  So, I called Optimum and spoke with Bobby from Mumbai.  He scheduled me anappointment for a tech tostop by on November 1st, between 5 and 8 pm.

So, I got in the van and went to the local store, who told me that there was absolutely nothing they could do to help me, but they did give me a card and told me to call a number.  Bobby again, from Mumbai.

It's Monday, we have a wire down, and Bobby can't get anyone here until Friday.  That is horrible customer service.  Which is why Optimum sucks.

FLOOD RELIEF Roswell NM: Please help get the word out!!!

At lunch today, my elder son told me that a town he recently lived in, Roswell, NM, recently suffered catastrophic floods as the result of a 100-year rainfall event.

I haven't heard anything abut it, but son was telling us about the destruction and flooding in what is generally known as a desert town. A link here that talks about the  flooding.

I've been to Roswell a couple of times.  It's a quirky little town, best known for aliens and they capitalize on that legend.  Still, it's hard to know that people are suffering and see no news on it.

Too Close to Call

 The polls have tightened and the big prognosticators are telling us that the presidential race is too close to call.  Maybe so, we've seen this before.

During the 2000 race, with GW Bush vs Al Gore, I was blissfully single.  Meeting Belle was still a year away and I was playing the field.  There was this one gal, we'll call her Maggie.  She had one adult daughter, worked as a recreation director at a local nursing home, and drove an SUV.  On her SUV was an Al Gore bumper sticker.

For myself, the motorcycle had a Bush bumper sticker. Needless to say, Maggie and I had some interesting conversations about the political climate. I realized that she, being an artsy type and a liberal, that she had never dated a conservative. Or a motorcyclist, nor probably a redneck.  I was exotic.  She was smitten.

So, there we were, from different worlds, in the midst of a presidential election.  So, a friendly bet was made on the outcome of the race. We would watch the returns together, at her place, and when the result was announced, the bet would be settled.

Imagine our chagrin, when about midnight, the race was too close to call.  No one knew.  Hanging chads in Florida.  The race could not be called, and would eventually go to the Supreme Court.  What a disaster.

George Bush eventually became president.  Maggie and I parted ways shortly after Christmas.  Not because of political differences, but because I realized that she was a conniving harpy and I simply walked away.  

I met Belle a month later, at a Super Bowl party.

Negativity

 I don't know what the Dem camp is thinking, but it seems like this week, they've gone completely negative on the campaign trail.  Whatever the question, it's Donald Trump's fault.

Just this morning, I've heard Trump described as Hitler, a dictator, a fascist, a misogynists and a racist.  I don't believe I have ever heard such unhinged negativity from a major campaign.

I know that POTUS wields great power, and that Kamala was only the VPOTUS, subject to being over-ruled by Biden, but she was there, still holds the office, and has to take some responsibility for the past four years.

I have already voted, so this turn of events has no bearing on my vote, but I am appalled at the turn.  Kamala is reportedly going to make her closing argument at a major speech on the ellipse in Washington next week.  It will be interesting to see what she has to say.  I hope, for the good of the country it is a concession speech, but I have no rational expectation that her oratory will rise to greatness and heal a divided nation.

A Pot of Beans

I have cooked, at this point in my life, probably tons of beans. Inexpensive, filling fare that will fill a family's belly.  When I was po' folks, raising a hungry family, a pot of beans went a long way toward balancing the family budget.  Now that I'm a bit more comfortable, a pot of beans is a comfort food.

A commenter notes:

I've read that a pot of beans was often made on Mondays (laundry days), the meal basically cooking unattended for the most part.

That is true.  But, there are a couple of considerations.  First, beans will scorch, that one bean laying ont he bottom of the pot will scorch and taint the entire population.  Stir occasionally, to get the beans off the bottom.  Second, you will have to add water, so keep a little pot on the stove to add hot water when neded.  Adding cold water to the pot kills the simmer, and you want those beans on a low simmer. 

Aeasong is important, to your taste.  All that beans NEED is a bit of salt, but add what you like.  Those are your beans, so make them like you want them.  A bit of meat helps.  I like to use sausage, but I've also used bacon, or salt pork, or even browned hamburger.

I used to soak my beans overnight, but not anymore.  I've never seen the value, and nowadays I simply put the beans in a crock pot before bed, turn it on LOW, add plenty of water, and go to sleep.  When I get up to make coffee, give them a stir and add a little water.  Taste the broth and adjust he seasoning.  They will be ready for lunch.

Tuesday Chores

 Started the day doing fence maintenance.  Like many suburbanites, we have a privacy fence, six feet tall with red cedar dog ear pickets.  Every so often, twice a year or so, it pays to walk the fence with a pocket full of screws and take care of loose pickets.  It's an easy chore.

After lunch, we went to Sam's Club to make a supply run.  We didn't need much, paper products mainly,   Belle did find a bottle of wine she wanted to try.  Before we left, I put some brass in the tumbler.  It's time to take it out and reload some ammo for this weekend.

About dark, I'm going to cut up some sausage and put it in the crock pot with a pound of red beans.  Turn it on low and let it go all night.  Tomorrow, all I'll have to do is make a pot of rice.  It's been an easy Tuesday.

Just Monday

 Got up this morning, had to run to the pharmacy, the bank and the grocers.  Got that done and got home.   Ate lunch, a ham and cheese sammich with potato salad.  My sister-in-law made it for yesterday and I think it was better today than it was yesterday.  Some things, like gumbo and potato salad are better the next day.

A friend called, and I helped him mount a scope on his hog rifle.  It's a Ruger Mini-30 which now sports a nice Vortex 1-4 scope.  Perfect for the hog woods around here.

This afternoon, a club member called.  He had made something for the club house and wanted to bring it over.  He's a welder by trade and a blacksmith by nature.  He had welded a bunch of horse shoes together for the club.

 A Peacemakers' sign, made from horseshoes.  I think it looks just fine. We may move it, but I think that it looks grand.

Ten Commandments of Gumbo

 There are rules about Cajun gumbo that have been passed down through the generations.  Like all commandments, they are sometimes broken, but with repentance, these transgressions can be forgiven.

1 Thou shalt never use tomatoes in Cajun gumbo. The Creoles sometimes slip a tomato product into their gumbo, but Cajun gumbo hath no tomatoes.

2 Thou shalt not use Un-Cajun Sausage.  Louisiana makes plenty of sausage.  Andouille and smoked sausage work just fine.  The one exception may be Conecuh sausage.  It's made in Alabama but tastes like it is made in Louisiana.

3 Thou shalt not use store-bought roux. Just don't.  Take your time and pride of craft to make your own roux.

4 Though shalt always use a bowl.  Don't put gumbo on a plate.  Only Philistines and Yankees would commit such a sin. 

5 Thou shalt only use a wooden spoon.  When you're cooking roux or assembling the gumbo, a wooden spoon is an absolute necessity.  We might use a metal ladle to dip it out for serving, but the wooden spoon is critical for a good roux.

6 Thou shalt always adhere to the "gumbo to rice" ratio.  It's simple match.  Two parts gumbo to one part rice.

7 Thou shalt always have filet available.  Filet, or ground sassafras is a gumbo staple.  Some folks like it, some folks don't.  But it is a sin to make gumbo and not have filet available for those who like it.

8 Thou shalt not mix chicken and sausage with seafood.  Just don't.  If you want a seafood gumbo, make it.  If you want a squirrel or a duck gumbo, make that too.  If you use catfish, it is called a court-bullion.

9 Thou shalt not tell people where the potato salad goes.  Some like it in a separate plate, some like it in their gumbo.  It's personal taste, and none of my business.  Nor your business either.

10 Thou shalt always stir counterclockwise.  I don't know where this one came from, but I always stir counterclockwise.  It just always been like that.  I'm sure it is a minor transgression and has no detriment to the gumbo.

If you get down to New Orleans, all these rules might not apply, but the Creoles have been thumbing their noses at the Cajuns for years.  But, just because someone ignores the rules don't mean that the rules don't apply.  Repent and prosper.

Gumbo Weather

 If this cool snap has done nothing else, it has certainly lifted our spirits from the doldrums of the summer. I went to the grocers this morning, and ran into three people who were making preparations to make a gumbo.  Which is exactly what I was doing.

When the weather gets cool, folks all over Louisiana get a twitch, a compulsion, to make gumbo.  I have a small whole fryer and four leg quarters in the pot, along with a stick of butter, four bullion cubes, with salt and pepper, starting to make the stock I'll need.  I have cut up three pounds of good sausage and have chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery to add to the mix.

When the chicken gets fall-off-the-bone tender, I'll dredge it from the pot and set it aside to cool.  After lunch, I'll gather my implements and make a big roux.  After the gumbo is assembled, I'll let it cool and put it in the fridge.  I have called some friends, and after church tomorrow, I'll put it back on the stove to heat, and make a pot of rice.

The basic recipe is here.

We Voted

 Early, in-person voting started today in Louisiana.  Belle and I went tot he polls and cast our ballot for the presidential election, a congressional election, and a state constitutional amendment.

We vote at Kees Park in Pineville.  When we got there the line was out the door, approacking the parking lot.  After we voted the line had gotten tot he parking lot.  Belle and I have been early voting for several years and this was the longest line we had been in.  Plenty of machines and workers, the line moved smoothly and we were done in about a half hour.

It was not a bad time at all.  If they'd let me, I'd do it again tomorrow.

Exultation

 Evidently, the Jewish world is celebrating the death of Yahya Sinwar, the political leader of Hamas.  This asshole was the planner for the October 7th attack last year and was the prime target of the IDF in Gaza.

From all accounts, Sinwar was a truly evil peckerhead and got the treatment that truly evil peckerheads so richly deserve. He didn't get a bomb dropped on him, or a missile to the forehead, he got shot by the IDF.

Nobody is going to miss this asshole.  I mean, hell, his mamma named him Ya-Ya.

Interesting Question

 Some of us were talking last week, and a question was posed: If a citizen is forced to commit a justifiable homicide.  A purely justifiable case of self-defense.  Is that citizen required in law to notify the police?

We all agreed that if you have to kill someone, calling the police is a good idea, but that wasn't the question.  Are you required to call the police?

This question was posed to a retired state trooper with 20+ years of service, and to me, a guy who carried a badge for 37 years. The two of us were stymied.

Let me be clear, in any situation of self-defense, there are only two roles. The victim and the bad guy.  You, as a good guy/victim want to call the police, if for no other reason than to have them come and remove the corpse.  But, the question remains, are you required by law to call the police?

Cool Snap

 On the way out the door this morning with my first cup of ambition, Belle told me that I might want long pants.  She was right.  It was cool and breezy on the back porch this morning.

Before I left to run errands, I put on a flannel shirt for the first time since last winter.  It's nice outside, cool and breezy with temps in the 50s. My first errand was to take the dog to the groomers, where he will come home shorn this afternoon.  He'll freeze his little butt off, but Belle is looking for his sweater.

We'll have warm weather again, but this little break sure feels nice.

Gerrymander

 According to the latest Louisiana census data, the state is 31% black.  With six congressional districts, the recent Democrat governor wanted to add a second minority district.  The legislature was unable todo so without some severe gerrymandering, but they drew it anyway.  Louisiana's 6th district stretches from Baton Rouge in the southeastern part of the state, to Shreveport, in the northwestern part of the state.

PawPaw happens to live in the new district, so I'll be forced to vote in that district.  I just pulled my sample ballot, and learned that thankfully, there is one Republican on that ballot, Elbert Guillory of St. Landry parish.  Guillory is black, but he is a registered Republican in a field of Democrats.  My choice is simple.  I'll push the button for Guillory, and hope that he prevails and represents us well.

Would I Ever

 The conversation came up this weekend.  Would I ever vote for a black woman?  The answer is, yes I would.  When that woman's political philosophy, mental acuity, and moral values align with mine, I'd vote vor her.

Two examples come quickly to mind.  Condoleezza Rice and Candace Owens are examples of women that I would vote for..  Both of these women have political philosophies that align with mine.  Intelligent, conservative, tough, and smart enough not to run for office, I think these ladies are great.

Would I vote for a black woman?  Sure, the right black woman.  The current pretender is not in either of their leagues.

Walz Fumbles

Tim Walz, trying to be a guys guy, fumbles with his shotgun during what appears to be a staged pheasant hunt.  The clip is early inthis video, 

The shotgun in question is a Beretta A400, a thoroughly capable sporting shotgun.  I've never used one myself, being more of a Winchester, Remington, or Browning guy, but with a little familiarization, I'm sure I could do a better job than that.

Walz is a poser.  We've all known them, the guy who talks a good game, but when it's time to go downrange and get stuff done, he's a ghost. I'm not voting for that guy.

Well, That's Done

 It helps when you have a good crew and good equipment.  A little more than three hours, and we were rolling up extension cord and putting tools away.

Elder son got out the Go Pro and took some footage.  I'm betting that it shows up online in another week or so.  When it does, I'll let you know.  Using a mini-excavator to demolish a deck should be some good B-roll.

Now, on to other things.

After the Storm

 Catching my breath between chores, I'm watching the news, and I recall my little place on Bayou Derbonne in southern Natchitoches parish.  It was an old house when I bought it, but the fellow who built it knew the land and put it on a high spot.  We never got flooded out, but several times we were flooded in, surrounded by backwater that would build after a deluge of rain and not be able to run off.

We never got flooded during the storm.  It would take several days for the creeks, streams, bayous and rivers to become inundated and the water would start crossing the roads and bridges.  When we got flooded, it was always nice weather. Sunny days.

Some folks in Florida are experiencing that now.  Milton has passed, but the rivers , streams and bays are full.  The water can't get out, so it backs up. It is simply another challenge in this string of days that we call life.  This too will pass and life will start to get back to something close to normal.

Still Here

 We're still here, not ignoring y'all.  This week has been beset with challenges around mu little acre.  Things that take a little planning, a little prep, and a little work, before the project swings into full force.  I have to get a big piece of equipment into the back yard and things needed to happen before that time.  Stuff moved, stuff mowed, stuff chain sawed.

Tomorrow morning early, the crew and equipment will arrive. The work should be done in several hours and we can move forward.  Luckily, the weather is supposed to be wonderful.  No chance of heat stroke.

At my advanced age and state of decrepitude,, I like to tell people that I can still do a full days work, it just takes me most of the week to get it done.  Y'all have a blessed weekend.

Wednesday News

 Looking at t the morning news, we break it down into two categories.  1) Kamala can't hold a press conference or a prime-time interview.  She is just incapable.  or, 2) Nonstop Milton coverage.

I did find one interesting, heart-warming story about a fellow using a mule train to get supplies to cut-off people in North Carolina.  19th century technology still works, and the mules are getting a little exercise.

Pray for Florida, but don't forget to pray for North Carolina.

Cable Woes

 Around here, Optimum is our cable service provider.  They are indeed the only choice if you want cable TV.

Belle watches TV, keeps a set on in the bedroom all night.  It's white noise.  This morning at 1:00 a.m., the cable went out.  No biggie, just a distraction.  When I awoke this morning, I started going through all the diagnostics and resetting everything.  I got the tech guy on the phone and he went through his diagnostics.  After half an hour on the phone, I was told that my cable boxes went out and that I had to go to their store to get new ones.  So, I yanked out the boxes and went to the store.

When I got there, the place was slammed. Full of irate customers.  Turns out, they scrambled all the channels this morning at 1:00 and switched systems.  After an hour waiting in line, I finally got to the desk and got two new cable boxes that were exactly like the old cable boxes.  And a new channel guide sheet.  Belle's favorite channels have all changed spots and she is going to have to keep those sheets close for a bit until the memorizes her favorites.

So, my day is shot because Optimum thought it would be hilarious to screw with everyone's channel lineup.  They are cocksuckers, I tell you, cocksuckers.

Meme

 This is something that the political elite will call misinformation.  Dangerous, false, and it was certainly photoshopped.  That doesn't make it any less relevant.

We have another strong hurricane bearing down on Florida. Where is Kamala?  Where is Joe, where is Mayorkas?.

Milton

 we awake this morning to find that the tropical disturbance in the Gulf has been named Milton and is heading to Florida.  Here is the cone.

It is due to hit the west coast of Florida on Wednesday and this cone may change.  Keep the affected folks in your prayers.

Opening Day

 Today is the opening day for squirrel season in north-central Louisiana.  It's almost a holiday and everyone who wants to tramp through the woods are chasing those bushy-tailed tree rats.  Grandson Lucas went out today and got his first squirrel.  This a momentous occasion.

To make the day even cooler, he used a shotgun that has been in the family a long, long, time.  

That is his great-grandfather's shotgun.  A Remington Model 11 that has taught four generations of hunters how to stalk the squirrels.  It's in 20 gauge and has been lovingly maintained in the family for many decades.

Well done, Lucas.  The old man is smiling down on you today.

Remembering

 I've spent some time this evening watching citizen journalists reporting out of the disaster area that is western North Carolina, and my heart moans for those people.  My memory floods back to the twin disasters of Katrina and Rita that hit Louisiana like a 1-2 punch in 2005.

Eastern Louisiana reeled from Katrina, and two weeks later, Rita slammed into western Louisiana.  New Orleans was virtually destroyed and many small communities across the coast were lost in Rita.  Just when everything seemed out of control, the government sent in Lieutenant General Russel Honore and told him to fix the disfunction and bring relief to those hut the most.

Honore took charge.  His command style was results oriented.  He had no time for bureaucrats or delay.  Results were all that mattered.  He'd tell people things like "Don't get stuck on stupid." or "You're looking at a calendar.  I'm looking at my wristwatch."  LTG Honore got things done.

North Carolina needs someone like Russ Honore. Someone with mission orders to take charge, tighten up the bureaucrats and get relief flowing.  I note that North Carolina is home to several fairly prominent military billets.  Places with helicopters, field kitchens, field hospitals, worker bees, and the ability to rad a map. Those assets could go to work tomorrow if POTUS would simply put someone in charge.

Two Pulls

 Being a country boy, I've owned chainsaws my entire adult life and I truly hate the damned things.  Noisy, oily, and dangerous,  I have never been comfortable running a chainsaw.  My latest chainsaw was one I bought at the local power equipment store, and it's a good one.  Echo brand. I've had it for 10-ish years and it still starts on the second pull.

For that, I give credit to my Dad, who said that there are several things that we must do for our small engines so that they run consistently.  1) Good, fresh fuel.  These days I run True Fuel in the chainsaw.  40:1, although the book calls for 50:1  That little bit of extra oil doesn't hurt a thing, and might actually help.  Then, when you're done, drain the fuel from the tank, and start the engine, letting it idle until if runs dry.  There may be a little fuel left in the lines, but not enough to gum things up.  And 3), give it a little cleaning before you put it away.

The chainsaw has been around for 10-ish years, gets run maybe twice a year, and still starts on the second pull. I changed the spark plug and filters maybe two years ago.

When this one gives up the ghost, I won't buy another gas-operated saw.  The electric ones are so much nicer, and probably better for my applications.  They still need bar oil, though.

Tropical Update

 In this, the first week of October, with nearly 60 days left in the hurricane season, we turn to the National Hurricane Center for their 7-day outlook.

That's not too terribly bad.  Two storms in the Atlantic, both predicted to be "fish" storms.  One cautionary area in the Gulf that bears watching.  I can live with that.  It is no time to be complacent, but I'll take good news when it comes our way.

1916

 Following the utter destruction that hurricane Helene left across the south, we're hearing moans about climate change.  Maybe the climate is changing, but if so, it's doing it awfully slowly.  History tells us of a similar flood near Asheville, NC in 1916.

It’s hard to believe the great Flood of 1916 that ravaged Western North Carolina took place over 100 years ago. The Flood still lives on in the hearts and minds of Asheville area citizens, and it is still known as ‘the flood to end all floods’. The Asheville Citizen, using a borrowed gasoline engine to run its presses, described the devastation caused by The Flood in its July 17, 1916, edition:“Exacting an unknown toll of death, with a property loss exceeding three million dollars, Asheville today is absolutely isolated from the outside world, is a city of darkness void of ordinary transportation facilities, and finds herself helpless in the grasp of the most terrible flood conditions ever known here.”

I say this not to minimize the human suffering in this present calamity, but to remind us that these things have happened before. 

My grandfather told stories of a big flood that happened in the 1920s and my parents remember the Red River flood of 1945.  Floods happen sometimes.  It's sad, but we write thigs down so that we can remember them.

Panoramic Sunroof

 I was watching a short on YouTube, an ad for a car, and one of the features was a "panoramic sunroof".

I admit that I have always been baffled about a sunroof in a car.  I've had vehicles with them in the past.  Belle's vehicle has one now, but it has never been used, except when they demonstrated it to her at the dealership.

Does anyone actually use a sunroof?  I've never seen the utility.  It adds complexity to the vehicle and puts a hole in the roof, which I've always thought was a bad idea.

Honestly, does anyone use a sunroof?

Reap The Whirlwind

 The big news today is that Iran has launched hundreds of missiles at Israel.

So far, the missiles seem to have done little real damage, kudos to the Israeli missile defense systems.

Biden has ordered the US military to assist Israel in the missile defense.

If I had to guess, I'd say that the airspace over Jordan is very busy.

Iran has called the thunder, I hope that they are ready to reap the whirlwind.

Strike

I see that the east-coast Longshoremen are on strike, and that is not a good sign for the supply chain.  America's economy these days is all about logistics, moving stuff from the manufacturer to the consumer, and that is supply chain.  If the docks aren't moving containers, the whole thing starts to slow down.

I understand that the sticking point is about automation. Machines moving stuff rather than people moving stuff. So, the question becomes, how long this temper-tantrum will last, and how much will it cost us.

I'm not anti-union, I'm anti-stupid, and I'm not convinced that this strike is the smart way to go about it.

Brighter

 After posting this morning, I went to our local electrical supplier, and asked about shop lighting. Specifically, high-bay LED lights. I know, I can order from Amazon, but I wanted to get my hands on one and take a look at it, spend some of my money with the local folks, and educate myself.

They sold me something by ASD Lighting (asd-lighting.com), their UHB5-PRO series.  $139.00 out the door. I installed a plug, got out a ladder, bung it from a purling, and asked Belle what she thought.    Of course, I had to move the ladder and re-hang the damned thing, but that's how things go in a well-run household.  I have to admit, she was right.

That brightens things up a bit.  The boys had been complaining that the gun cleaning table was a bit dim,   They won't be able to make that complaint now.

And, now that I've educted myself, I can go to Amazon and save a few bucks.

Tab Clearning

 Where to begin..

Kris Kristofferson died this weekend.  In his early days, Kristofferson was a soldier, a military aviator and a tabbed Ranger.  Also, a Rhodes scholar, who put all that aside to pursue a musical career.

Western North Carolina is reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Roads washed away, historic flooding, communications severed, it's an unmitigated disaster.  As a hurricane and flood survivor myself, my heart goes out to those people.  The one hard lesson to remember from these disasters is that when the wind quits howling, you may be on your own for three days.  It's a hard lesson, and many of the folks in the hollers and valleys may be without help for many more than three days.  Pray for them.

The Israelis are playing heads-up ball.  An Iranian cargo 747 was forced to divert back to Tehran after being told it would not be allowed to land in Beirut.  If Hezbollah can't get rockets, Hezbollah can't fire rockets. The Israelis have decapitated the leadership, disrupted communications, and are now attacking the logistics stream. They are preparing the battlespace and doing a masterful job.

Now, having read the morning news, I need to do something about the lighting in this shop.  I need to educate myself on something called "lumens".  I understand watts and candlepower, but no one measures lights by those terms today.

Dindu Strikes Again

 Termite points me to a story that happened in my hometown on Friday night.  It seems that a bunch of "Dindu Nuffin: types decided to have a hoot-out near a local restaurant.

According to APD, the incident occurred around 7 p.m. and is believed to have been a confrontation between rival groups.

Rival groups?  You mean local street gangs, don't you?  That's what everyone else thinks you man.

 APD stressed that the shooting was not a random act of violence and that patrons or employees at or around Texas Roadhouse were not in harm’s way.

It wasn't a random act of violence?  What was it?  Planned, Coordinated?  C'mon.

This saddens me. I grew up in Alexandria, but now live in the suburbs across the river.  Rival street gangs have made Alexandria almost unlivable.  I personally do not go into Alexandria unless I am forced to, and I don't go into Alexandria after dark.  Whatever I need will wait until tomorrow.

Friday Morning

 As the sun comes up along the Florida panhandle, lots of folks are getting a first hand view of the damage done during the darkness. Many in Georgia are just now learning what a tropical storm looks like.  Millions are without power, and millions more will be without power before the day is over.

PawPaw will lift those people up in prayer.  Storms happen. It is part of living in the South. When your roof blows off, or when flooding happens, it doesn't matter if it was a Cat 1 or a Cat 5.  You still need a roof, and the wind speed really doesn't matter.  I have friends in Florida and Georgia, and I'm worried about all of them.

In much more mundane news, PawPaw has chores to do, and I best get at them.  We're hosting out club's monthly match tomorrow There are only two matches left in our yearly series, and the points are tight.  We have the prize buckles in hand, and these folks are competing for them.  Anything can happen.

Thursday Thoughts

 It's a beautiful autumn day here in central Louisiana, but all eyes are on the storm heading to Florida.  Our best wishes and prayers go out to those who will be impacted by this storm.  It's a monster.

We have a bit of an issue here in Pineville, LA.  It seems our mayor, who is a first-termer, and won his office by a very narrow margin, has ben caught in a sex scandal and decided to resign.  It seems he was banging a gal who had some social media in the local area, and Oh, the angst and outrage are quite palpable.  Many of us are chuckling, and it is up to the city council to appoint an interim mayor to see the city through the rest of the term.

I don't live in the incorporated boundary, so I really don't have a dog in this hunt, but still, I enjoy a good comeuppance.  Would that it would happen to more sleaze-bags.

I think I'll make a pot of chili for lunch.  These cool temps require it.  Now, if you'll excuse me.

Hello, Helene

 We've been talking about it for a week, and now the winds have come together to give us Tropical Storm Helene. Soon to become Huricane Helene, she is threading the passage between Cuba and the Yucatan, set to enter the Gulf of Mexico.

It looks lie she is headed to the Big Bend in Florida, but even as the prediction looks more certain, it pays to keep an eye on these things.

Allocations

 I walked into my local hooch store this morning and asked the owner if he ever got allocated bourbon.  I've been shopping there for 20 years, and never thought to ask.

"Sure", says he. "Whaddya looking for?"

"I don't know." says I.  "Maybe a bottle of Blanton's."

Without a word, he walked into the back and got me a bottle of Blanton's.  When I asked what else he had hid back there, he motioned me back.

Weller Millennium, MSRP in the $7500.00 range.  He told me that it is already sold, someone is bringing the money this afternoon.  No problem, it's too damned rich for my blood.

And no, he doesn't have any Pappy for sale.  I'll put that bottle of Blanton's back and we'll crack it open for Christmas.  PawPaw doesn't collect whiskey.  PawPaw drinks whiskey.

Plausible

 We're watching a weird election, this train wreck of Kamala v Trump.

I was watching this clip, a segment from Gutfeld! where Tryrus makes a good point.  Skip forward to about the 5:30 mark.  "If Oprah can't save you, nobody can save you." Tryrus has also said that this election isn't going to be close.  Trump is going to take it in a stampede, and I hope Tyrus is right.

I don't know if anyone has been watching Joe, but he is slipping badly.  He forgot the name of the Indian Prime Minister, and he let Jill run a cabinet meeting. Joe's gone, and we all know it.  So, let's explore a plausible scenario.

We awaken the morning after the election and learn that Trump has been declared the winner.  Kamala's hopes for a presidency have almost been dashed, but she has one card left to play.  She calls an immediate cabinet meeting, invokes the 25th Amendment, and has Joe escorted from the building.  A Supreme Court justice shows up, administers the oath, and Kamala is the president, at least for a couple of months.  The first female president. Game, set, and match.

I pray that Tyrus is right. And, I think my scenario is plausible.

Amaryllidoideae

 The latin name above, for one of a family of lilies common in the South.  We call them by a variety of names, Spider lily, Johnny-Jump-Up, Pop-Up Lily, they are a harbinger of autumn.  Generally a red color, we have two varieties in the yard, a white along a privacy fence, and a red near an oak tree.

It's considered bad luck to mow then down.  They'll be in bloom only for another week and the I'll weed-eat around that tree the next time I mow.

Fallout

 It seems that the splodey devices worked better than many people might suspect.

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has ordered all members to stop using any type of communication devices after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon blew up in deadly attacks last week, two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters.

They are back to having morning formation to put the word out. For ranges past shouting, they should probably lean semaphore.  Or, go back to landlines, which is also problematic.

In other news, the NOAA has not yet named that storm that is predicted to ravage the Gulf coast.  We're keeping an eye on it.

Autumn

 Today is the first day of Autumn, and temps here will be n the 90s with high humidity.

That storm we talked about on Friday seems to be firming up.  There is still a lot we don't know, but I've learned to trust this guy, because he tends to make conservative predictions.  This morning, he thinks it will be a hurricane, making landfall along the panhandle of Florida.

We'll have to wait and see.

 On the post below, a commenter noted:

I believe it was pagers and icom brand walkie talkie type radios. Not cell phones.

Yeah, those walkie-talkies were torching off too.  But I never said cell hones were exploding.  I only said that the word went out that cell phones might be next.

Have you ever heard of Psy-ops? Today, Hezbollah doesn't trust any communication device. You might recall that in 1996, Israel used an exploding cell phone to target an Hamas bomb maker.  As I recall, they bew his head off.

The commenter is correct, no cell phones were used in this attack.  But, if you were a Hezbollah member, would you trust any comms device today?

Splodey Pagers

Those devious Israelis.  I love them I do.

I heard about this last week while on vacation.  Evidently, on Tuesday, a butt load of pagers mysteriously exploded, creating havoc in the ranks of Hezbollah.  The terrorists were using pagers as communication devices, and the Israelis had a bunch manufactured with 

explosive charges that could be detonated on command.  

Now, the word is out that cell phones may also have been affected. That splashing sound you hear is thousands of cell phones across the Middle East being tossed into porta-potties.  When you depend on pagers and cell phones to communicate with your minions, and those devices start detonating, it causes comms problems in the ranks.

I don't know if the Israelis are responsible, but this was a high level logistics strike.  Lots of planning and coordination. Regardless of who done it,  you can bet that Achmed is re-thinking his communication system.

Catastrophe

Catching up on my email and other internet activities today, I'm finding some weather-weenies who think that there is a chance for a huge storm to blow  up in the Gulf, so I click over to NOAA and look at their 7-day graphic.

 According to NOAA, there is about a 40% chance of something developing in the next seven days.  But, the weather-weenies are convinced that we have catastrophe looming.  Okay, about a 40% chance.  In the next 10-12 days.  They might be right, or they might not.  I'll wait a week and then see.

I have bigger worries today, like what I'm going to eat for lunch.  My last meal was yesterday, gas station food in Arkansas.  I'll check with Belle and see what se is hungry for, then make the necessary preparations.

We're Back

 Belle has family in Missouri, and we drove up last Sunday to visit with them.  I was basically unplugged from the intertubes for five days.  It was a good visit.  We got caught up with the kids, and the grandkids, and the great-grandkids.

When we go to Missouri, we take a little bit of Louisiana with us.  Belle makes etouffee at some point, and the Missouri bunch doesn't get much etouffee.

Here the youngest of the clan gets a taste of etouffee from her grandpa, Dan.  She loved it and ate nearly as much as Belle ate.  Belle made a big etouffee and we fed a dozen people or more.  No leftovers, but some of the clan took home go-bowls for lunch the next day.

We drove home yesterday.  Twelve hours travel time.  It was good to sleep in my own bed last night.

Friday 13th

It's Friday 13th and there isn't much going on around here.  An old fried dropped by and we palavered for an hour. He's gone now, and I'm baking potatoes for our lunch.  Belle is at a beauty shop appointment, and when she gets back, I'm going to cook a couple of little ribeye steaks for our lunch.  

It's hard to complain when you have to make do with ribeye steak and potatoes.

I'm just about done watching the political process.  I am not undecided, and the basic insanity of this election cycle seems to be increasing toward crescendos.

Tomorrow, we pack for a trip up north, to Missouri to visit with family for a few days.  It will be a nice break.  This is small-town Missouri.  There is a little restaurant that will get a 2nd visit, and there is a cheese shop that we'll patronize.   How a gourmet cheese shop landed in Sweet Springs, MO is one of life's little mysteries.  Small town stuff.  

 

Wednesday 5pm Tropical Update: Hurricane Francine makes landfall as a Ca...

Francine made landfall this afternoon as a Cat 2 storm, down in Terrebonne parish.  This is the local news anchors down there reporting on the storm.

It is truly refreshing to hear people talk about this storm who know how to pronounce the place names.  Don't worry about PawPaw, as we're 200 miles northwest of the landfall, well out of the way of the problem.

General Warrants

 During my 37 years as a police officer, I asked for my fair share of search warrants.  Not a big deal, we all know the rules.  Most of my investigations were done prior to 1998, before the internet took over.  After 1998 I was a beat cop and I don't believe I asked for any warrants in this century.  That was a detective's job.

In the third decade of the 21st century, we have devices that our founding fathers could not have conceived in their wildest dreams.  We have cell phones and the ability to store lots of data that we might consider private.  There are some interesting cases winding through the courts that address this question.

I watch a YouTube channel, the Socialite Crime Club, where the moderators discuss crime and police work and all manner of things related to the digital age and how data is used to crack cases.  This weeks episode talks about a grisly murder, but toward the end of the episode they do a deep dive into data and warrants and the courts diverging opinions on what is good and proper.

The episode in an hour and a half, but if you want the discussion on the court, start about 54:30, or skip ahead even further to 57:00.  From the perspective of an old investigator, this was fascinating, talking about how our founding fathers crafted the 4th Amendment to protect us even today.

In short, if you are a private citizen who wishes to remain private, flush your cell phone down the nearest toilet.  If youare a cop who wants to break a cold case, learn all you can about Geo fences.  I did not know, for example, that when I take a photo, my phone turns on GPS to dry and locate the photo.  Likewise, your free flashlight app also keeps location data. The link above will take you to the video in question.  Be prepared to go down a deep rabbit hole.

Now, if you;ll excuse me, I have soup to stir, and a hurricane to track.

Hurricane Humor

 Seen on the Book of Face

Mais... dat's true.

Huge

 People who don't live near a hurricane area don't realize how big these systems are.  Check out this radar image I captured just a few minutes ago.

The center of circulation is down near the bottom left of the image.  My acre is easily 500 miles away, and we're getting rain right now that is associated with the system. These things are huge.

Right now, it's just rain.  No wind to speak of.  Francine is a disorganized mess.  If she gets her act together, she could be a real problem.  We hope that she stays a disorganized mess for as long as possible.

Belle and I are warm and dry with adequate supplies.  We'll be okay, but we won't be doing much except watching the weather for the next 48 hours.

Evaporation

 Watching Francine churn the Gulf reminds me of a story, from late in the past century.  Before I met Belle.  It was sometime around 1998 or 99.  In the little bar I frequented, there was a fellow, we'll call him Earl, who wasn't the brightest bulb on the tree, but he was a hard worker and dependable.

Earl had managed to get a job offshore as a roughneck, and he was excited about it.  Earl was excited, and a bit nervous, plumbing the patrons in the bar about what he should expect. There was a great deal of joshing and good natured banter, leading up to the day when Earl caught the crew boat.

Imagine my surprise when I came through the door two days later, and found Earl sitting at the bar.

"Earl," says I "What happened?  You quit?  Get fired?"

"No", says Earl.  "They had a sy-foon blow up, and they had to evaporate everybody off the rig."

I suspect that they are evaporating people off of rigs right now.

RIP

 Termite has just told me that Janes Earl Jones has passed away.

Damn.  Another one of my favorite actors gone.

TS Francine

 Checking with the National Hurricane Center at noon today, we find that the disturbance in the Gulf is now Tropical Storm Francine.  The track has shifted east a little bit, and it now looks like it will come ashore near Vermillion Bay in south central Louisiana as a hurricane.  Bad news for Acadiana and the Atchafalaya basin.

It may be prudent to run up to the store and get some gasoline for the generator.  If it comes across us, it will have degraded considerably, but we may be out of power for a few hours.

Potential Tropical Cyclone 6

 Meteorologist Kevin Sonnier does a great job with tropical cyclones.  His latest advisory on what the National Hurricane Center is calling PTC 6.

The National Hurricane Center has initiated advisories on PTC #6 in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. A general move to the northwest, followed by a northeast turn is expected within the next 72 hours. The National Hurricane Center is also going on the higher-end of the intensity spectrum, forecasting a category one hurricane at landfall late Wednesday.

 That magenta line goes really close to my acre.  We'll keep an eye on this thing for sure.  IT's a long time between now and Wednesday andd we'll learn nore as we get closer to landfall.

91L

 The weather-weenies are looking at something called 91L, a disturbance near the Yucatan peninsula. The model runs bring it over Louisiana.

This thing bears watching.  Not scared, just prepared.

Deception

 Watching a YouTube video today I was reminded of a Supreme Crout case that basically says that the police can use deception in the furtherance of justice. This sounds odd, until you realize that undercover cops very existence depends on deception.

Once upon a time, I was able to take a class on fingerprinting.  As past of that class, we had to learn to lift prints off of various surfaces and process them on a latent card for later analysis.  As part of the class, I made a latent card of my own fingerprints.  That card found its way into my briefcase.

When interviewing a suspect, I might lay that card on the table and make no reference to it. It was just there, along with case notes and a tablet for notes.  Invariably, the suspect's eyes were drawn to it, and as long as the suspect said nothing, neither did I.  If he asked about it, I'd dismiss it.  They were, after all, my fingerprints.  But he didn't know that.

The suspect would look at the latent card, and I'd notice him looking at it, and I'd ask if had anything he wanted to tell me.  I made several cases with that card laying on the table.

At trial, or an evidentiary hearing, the attorney might ask if we had collected any fingerprints, and I would always answer "No".  Because we hadn't.

Was that a deceptive practice?  Only if he was stupid.

Immediate and Overwhelming

I'm still trying to sort out the mess at Apalachee High School in Georgia, but a few things reveal themselves.

The school had two resource officers assigned, and by all accounts, they did a magnificent job.  Yes, four people were killed, but the shooter wanted many more victims.  We will be studying this shooting for years, just as we study Uvalde, Parkland, and Columbine, and hopefully we will learn lessons from it.  One big take-away is that Apalachee already had officers on the ground. 

In an active shooting, every second counts. Within minutes the resource officers had located, identified and attacked, taking the shooter into custody and beginning the life-saving response.  Tragically, four people died, but it could have been much, much, worse.

I spent 16 years as a resource officer.  I don't know how many lives I saved, because it is impossible to know how many bed ideas were thwarted simply because I was there.  It's impossible to know.  I do know that resource officers take a psychological beating, because hanging out at a school is not exciting, it's not "real police work".  I do know that I once put a step-counter on my belt, and that I was covering about five miles a day on my beat.  Yes, I did investigations, yes, I made arrests,   The thing that I am nost proud of is that no one died during my tenure, and only two people were tragically injured.  One, the result of an accident, the other  the result of a grab-ass incident that got out of hand.  

The resource officers at Apalachee did a hell of a job.

Daddy Charged

 Fox News is reporting that the father of the Georgia school shooter has been arrested.

Colin Gray was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Investigators have yet to provide specific evidence related to the charges but have alleged that he knowingly allowed his son to possess a weapon. 

I'm still not ready to opine, but it seems that there were parenting issues in the house.   It will be interesting to see how this plays out. 

Shooting in Georgia

 I see that we have had a school shooting in Georgia today.  Four killed, several hospitalized many more traumatized.

I'm going to invoke the 72 hour rule.

In the meantime, I'll be praying for those affected.

That Reminds Me.

Twenty or so years ago, younger son was working at an historical site, Fort St. John Baptiste in Natchitoches, LA.  One of the ladies who worked there, we'll call her Miss Juanita, was of Creole heritage, predominantly Spanish.  She made tamales, using the old recipe where she would start with dry corn and lye to make her hominy.  It was quite a production, and the tamales were fantastic.

One day, Miss Juanita was out in the courtyard, with an open fire and a big pot, making hominy when her father stopped by to visit.  The old gentleman walked over to the pot, his daughter stirring it, and watched approvingly.

The old man stood there for a bit, then patted his daughter on the back.  "That looks good, Juanita, but you know, you can buy hominy in cans now."

That's the way the world is these days.  I did that post on block chili, simply as a blast from my past. That box of chili I posted isn't just exactly what I remembered, but it was close.  We make chili now in a variety of ways.  You can go easy and open a can of Hormel, or you can go old fashioned and slaughter a hog.  They both fill the belly.

Quiet

 It seems I'm not the only one who has noticed that the Atlantic basin has been quiet this year

The Atlantic has had no named storm formations since #Ernesto on August 12. The last time that the Atlantic had no named storm formations between August 13 - September 3 was in 1968. The remarkably quiet period for Atlantic #hurricane activity continues.

That's true.  The last named storm was Ernesto and that was several weeks ago.   

I remember the 2005 season plainly.  Katrina came ashore on August 29th, and Rita followed her on September 24th.  They are alphabetical you know, and there are a bunch of letters between K and R. That was a busy year.

A wise man once said that climate is what you expect, but weather is what you get.

It seems that we have a Hamas apologist in the comments section.  He disagrees with me that Hamas is s despicable.  

You were not there, you do not know that the Idf didn't kill them attempting their genocide on anything not bowing to the jews. You have no evidence except what Israel tells you.

Except that it is being generally reported that Hamas leadership has taken credit for the killings, and that Hamas has published orders telling its fighters to kill the hostages if the IDF gets too close.

The simple truth is that this horrible action would not be happening if Hamas had not launched their attack on October 7th.  They slaughtered civilians and killed innocent children.  They took hostages.  All in violation of international law.  Hamas is a criminal organization.  They deserve to be wiped from the earth and thrown on the ash heap of history.  Along with ISIS, the Taliban, and every other terrorist organization.

War Crimes

 During weekend frivolity, I missed it, but was reading the news this morning that Hamas has taken the art of war crime to a new level. Kill the hostages.

This is despicable. By extension, those mindless idiots marching around Georgetown University waving the Hamas flag are also despicable.  They have a perfect right to protest, and wave their hate-filled banners, but that makes them no less despicable.

Taking hostages is cowardly and atrocious.  Killing then when they no longer have value is evil beyond words, and anyone who supports that conduct is also evil.

Block Chili

 Belle and I were talking this morning over coffee and I asked about "block chili".  I used to see it as a kid in the grocery store.  It was wrapped in wax paper and was a hard, dehydrated block of chili.  Add water, heat and eat.  As I recalled, it was pretty good chili.

Belle commented that her daddy loved the stuff and bought it regularly.  But, shee continued, she saw it in the store last week.  They still make it.  She sent me to the grocers later and I asked the butcher about it.  Sure enough, it was in the shelf near the hot gods.

We cooked a bunch of sausage, bratwurst, and hamburgers yesterday and we were cleaning up leftovers, so I followed the label directions and heated it up while I heated the sausage.  We had good chili dogs for lunch, and the block chili was really nice..

Just in case anyone was wondering.

Questions Answered

 In the post below, Sport Pilot asks:

How much flame cutting did your M-66 have above its forcing cone

Hardly any.  Back in the day, flame cutting was a bugaboo that we talked about a lot.  It was generally accepted that the 125 grain loads were responsible for most of the flame cutting.  I carried the Federal 125 grain load for duty, but shot very little of it.  

My favorite, go-to load was a reload of mine that featured a .38 Special case, anyone's primer, a hard cast 158 grain semi-wadcutter and 4.3 grains of Unique.  That has always been my go-to .38 Special load.  It has accounted for dozens, if not hundreds of rabbits, armadillos, skunks, and raccoons.  That load probably counted for 99% of the bullets down the barrel.

When younger son sent the revolver off to be reworked, Smith and Wesson sent it to their Performance Center.  As far as I know, they were not concerned with the minimal flame cutting.  If they considered it dangerous, the gun would have been scrapped.

Next up, DreW458 asks:

Do you know the hardness of those RanchDog bullets?

Nope.  The cast recipe for them was 10 lbs of my wheelweight metal, with 1 lb of scrap linotype.  As soon as the sprue was sut, they were dropped into a bucket of water by my feet.  Then, they were dipped in liquid alox, run through a .358 sizer, and re-dipped in alox. I have no clue what the hardness was.  If I ever measured it, I'd have to look in my notes.

Younger son has that mold now, along with my Model 66 and m Marlin 1894C.  That Marlin had a 16" barrel, and I think that a 20: tube would detract from the handiness.