Last Day

 It's the last day of 2022, and I'm not sorry to see it go.  This year has been a wild ride.

Belle always celebrates the New Year with a traditional fest.  Pork, cabbage, and black eyed peas.  Cornbread.  Because it falls this year on Sunday, we aren't sure who will show up, but we never know who will be here on Sunday.

Today, she is at a funeral in her hometown of Jena, LA.  An old classmate died.  I stayed back to get some stuff done, and while I was at it, I made a gumbo, because lunch will be here soon and that turkey we smoked for Christmas needed to be used up.  It seems like Christmas was a month ago.

The changing of the calendar is a time for reflection, and I remember wondering during the millennial celebration if I would live to see 2020.  But, I hope each of my readers has a happy, prosperous 2023.

That Sounds About RIght

So, this tow truck driver in Detroit goes to buy a junk car, but it's a set-up and he is approached by a thug with robbery on his mind.  Not so quick.  The tow driver was armed.

Detroit has its problems, but one less thug ain't much of a problem.  

Suspect in Custody

 Fox News is reporting that a suspect is in custody for the murder of four students in Moscow, Idaho.

MOSCOW, Idaho – Authorities have a suspect in custody in the Nov. 13 murders of four University of Idaho students, a law enforcement source told Fox News Digital.

That is good news. I know that this case was complex, requiring the resources of several agencies, and I'm glad that it is closer to resolution.  Perhaps as we learn more, the families will begin to find closure.

Russian Generals

 Evidently, 2022 has been tough on Russian generals.  They are resetting the actuarial tables. Insty notes the latest casualty, some guy who ran a tank production plant.

Wiki has a page that details the list of unfortunate Russian flag officers who met untimely or otherwise mysterious deaths this year.

One might wonder if Putin is practicing Arkancide.

Freedom Of Speech

The 1st Amendment of the US Constitution says:

 Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That seems rather straight-forward, but even in the most straight-forward of ideas, people get confused, so we have to have lawyers sort it out.  It seems that the Ninth Circuit is asking the Supremes to limit speech.

Ninth Circuit Judge Urges Supreme Court "Not to Give Any First Amendment Protection for Racist Hate Speech"

I know that no right is absolute.  There is an old canard that you can't shout FIRE in a crowded theater.  I've heard that all my life, and wondered if the theater was actually on fire?

First World Problems

 There is no doubt that the commercial airline industry is a complicated, highly automated industry that generally provides service to a wide range of customers all across the US.  It is also true that it is highly dependent on the weather, If one hub shuts down because of weather, the ripple effects are felt everywhere.  If several hubs shut down, it becomes a catastrophe. That is where we have been over the past week.

Not to fear though.  The Biden administration is on it.

  “Thousands of flights nationwide have been canceled around the holidays. Our Administration is working to ensure airlines are held accountable,” Biden tweeted, urging customers who were affected to visit the Department of Transportation’s website to see if they are entitled to compensation.

I would not, for the record that old Joe is currently sitting his scrawny ass in St. Croix.  He flies private on our dime. As does Pete Buttigieg, our current transportation secretary.  Pete has proven his deep understanding of incompetence several times.  He demonstrates it regularly, from the problems last year, through the supply chain problems, during the impending rail strikes, Pete embraces incompetence at every golden opportunity.

Commercial air travel is a complicated, highly automated industry  composed of thousands of different vendors providing hundreds of discrete products and services, all of which has to mesh perfectly for even one plane to get off the ground.  When it occasionally works as advertised, it is a testament to the unsung labors of thousands of people, from the pilots who fly to the guy who pumps out the latrines. When the weather conspires against us, people start calling in sick or unable to get to the airport, and schedules start slipping, the hole thing grinds to a halt in short order.

It's a first world problem.

Internal Calendar

 I have to keep reminding myself that it is Tuesday.  My internal calendar is all screwed up and for some reason, I think it is Monday again.

Christmas is over and we approach the New Year, which will be here pretty quickly.  I admit that I am approaching it with some trepidation.  It is filled with opportunity, and hope,   I'm fixing to bail off into some family duties that I'm not sure I want to be involved with, but which by necessity must be done.  A wise man (I think it was Sam Clements) once said that "There is not much education in the second kick from a mule", and that's where I think I may be headed.

God's will be done.

Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss - The Wexford Carol (Video)

Christmas Morning

 As is our tradition, Christmas morning is quiet here on our little acre.  Belle and I hosted a big celebration yesterday so that family can spend Christmas day with their kids.  We cooked big, with turkey, ham, dressing sweet potatoes, pies, cakes, candy, etc.  The one thing we forgot was the green bean casserole, but no one asked about it.

By my count, we fed 22 yesterday.  My Mom showed up, and we were proud to see her.  She is 89 and still getting around.

This morning, Belle and I are reveling in our sloth.  I have some yeast rolls proofing and the turkey carcass is in the stock pot, prepping for a gumbo later this week.  Closer to moon, I will get out the leftover ham and dressing.  I'll pop the dressing into the oven, and pan-fry the ham to heat it.  Belle will make some sliders with the yeast rolls and ham.

I hope all of y'all had a very Merry Christmas.

Sunday Morning Dawg

 Waiting patiently for leftovers.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon (Official Music Video) [HD]

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Low Recoil Hunting Rounds

 Surfing a bit this morning over coffee, I found this article at the American Hunter on low recoil hunting rounds.  Of the list, I have some experience with three of these rounds.  I agree with the author in his evaluation of the rounds I know.

.30-30 Winchester.  Once considered a whiz-bang flat-shooting cartridge, in the late 1800s, it was soon eclipsed by other cartridges.  Even so, it continued to serve American hunters. Pushing a 170-grain bullet to 2200 fps, it was the cartridge against which all others were measured.  It was chambered in light lever rifles like the 94 Winchester and the Marlin 336.  I still have a couple of .30-30 carbines.  My youngest grandson hunts with one I gave to his Dad many decades ago.

7mm-08 Remington.  In 1980, Remington standardized a wildcat cartridge that was a favorite of the metallic silhouette game.  It was a 7mm bull3t stuffed into a necked-down .308 Wim case.  I owned one in the late 80s in a Remington Model 7.  Fantastically accurate, very manageable recoil, For some reason, that barrel like the 139 grain Core-Lokt bullet, so that is what I fed it.  I lost that rifle during a divorce and I still mourn for it.

,25-06 Remington.  Wildcatted by Adolph Neidner in the 1920s, it was not standardized until 1969.  It's a necked-down .30-06 and pushes a .25 caliber bullet.  My load pushes a 117-grain bullet to 3000 fps.  I have called the .25-06 the best cartridge in North America for medium game, and I still believe that.  Every rifle I have shot in this caliber is capable of MOA accuracy if the nut behind the trigger is does his part.  My family has four of these rifles, two Savages and two Ruger 77s.  It's a great cartridge and certainly deserves to be in this list.

6mm Creedmoor.  A relative newcomer, it is necked down from its larger brother, the 6.5 Creedmoor.  I have no experience with this cartridge, but from looking at the ballistic charts, I have no idea what this one would do that the .243 wouldn't do.  The answer might lie in barrel twist.  The Creedmoor uses a 1:7 twist while my old .243 has a 1:10. The Creedmoor will stabilize heaver bullets.  Out past 300 yards that may help, but I won't shoot at fur over 300 yards.

.350 Legend.  I don't know what Winchester thought it was doing when it blew out a .223 case and fit a 9mm bullet to it. It was designed for those states that don't allow bottleneck cartridges for hunting.  It shoots a light-for-caliber 9mm bullet at 2200 fps which seems rather anemic.  Until you look at the .30-30 Win.  It will fit in an AR platform, which has a certain appeal.  It would also make a dandy ultralight bolt action with a low power scope, for stalking the woods and brushy lanes around my home range.  I admit I want one but have so far resisted the urge.

What Manner of Bullshit

 What manner of bullshit is this?

The Army, Navy, and Coast Guard effectively de-emphasize gender in an integrated environment,” the academic report from the University of Pittsburgh says. “Instead of saying ‘ma’am’ or ‘sir,’ recruits in these Services refer to their drill instructors using their ranks or roles followed by their last names. Gendered identifiers prime recruits to think about or visually search for a drill instructor’s gender first, before their rank or role."

I admit that when I was a recruit, I addressed my drill instructors as "Drill Sergeant" and any officer as "Sir".  Female officers would be addressed as "Ma'am"" but like unicorns I didn't actually see a female officer until long after I myself was commissioned.

When I ran a training company, I still referred to my Drill Sergeants as such.  They had earned the right to wear the hat, and deserved that modicum of respect.  But, I would never allow a junior enlisted person to address me as any way but Sir. I seldom worried about that because my NCOs maintained a level of discipline that brooked no such nonsense.

Perhaps it is good that I am long since retired.  I doubt I could stand the level of bullshit that exists today in my Army.

Oh, Canada

I'm not sure how old this video is, but it popped up on my feed, so here we go.

It seems that our neighbor to the north, the dominion of Trudeau, has banned a number of firearms. Very dangerous firearms.  Including "one" called the Buttmaster.  I put that word in scare quotes because there is only one.

Tucker explains.

Brrr Cold

 The polar vortex made it down here in the early hours and the temps started dropping precipitously.

The rest of the county may be accustomed to these temps, but we in central Louisiana are not.  We will survive it, like we survive everything else.  Right now, it's Brrr Cold out there.

On Bond

 It's being reported everywhere that Scam Bankrupt Fried has been released from a US Court on bond.  $250 million bond.  His parents had to put up their home as security,   He has been ordered to live with his parents, surrender his passport, and obtain mental health treatment among other things.

That's fair, I guess.  He is ignorant innocent until proven guilty and is certainly eligible for bond. His momma can cook him vegan meals.

His butt-ugly girlfriend has turned states evidence.  His investors are mightily pissed.  He would do well to stay indoors, listen to his lawyers and maintain a low profile until this whole thing blows over.  And, I suspect it might well blow over.  He's too politically connected to have a single-tired justice system put him away for a long time.  This one will be interesting to watch, but he is out of jail for the time being.

Christmas Prep

 Family is coming in from out of state, and we're in our semi-final prep.  Is anyone truly ever ready?  

Juvat asks in comments:

I want to try that gumbo recipe. It's just the Mrs and I. How many servings does that make?

I'm not sure.  Eight or ten, depending on your serving.  But, the thing about gumbo is that it freezes well.  Many of us believe that it is better on the second day.  Justin Wilson used to recommend that  you let the whole gumbo cool, put it in the fridge and re-heat it on the second day.

At any rate, we're prepping for the holiday and blogging might be spotty at best.  I'll check in when I can.  Y'all have a Merry Christmas.

 

Lock Time- Visualized

Winter Solstice

 Today is the winter solstice.  No, it's not the shortest day of the year.  We still get 24 full hours.  But, due to the magic of physics and planetary orbital mechanics, we turn the corner, and the daylight hours start getting longer tomorrow. 

It's also my half-anniversary.  Belle and I were married on the summer solstice.  And, no, not out of any weird Druid predilection. She was a practicing RN and I was a street cop.  That year our work schedules combined so that we were both off on a particular Saturday.  Just another coincidence of life.

More particularly, today is the first day of Winter.  And, if you look at the weather map, you'll see that there is a big winter storm moving across the US to punctuate the idea of winter.

I feel like it's time to make a gumbo.  So, if you will excuse me...

That Time Again

It appears that I have made another trip around the sun.