Nothing For Us Here

 Did y'all see this?  It seems that a bunch of illegal immigrants from Venezuela are going home.  The headline says it all.

Chicago migrants return to Venezuela ahead of winter: 'There's nothing for us here'

Oh, it's a sad tale of woe.

 The Chicago Tribune reported on the account of Michael Castejon, who migrated with his wife and stepdaughter from Venezuela to find a better life. However, after several months, the family suffered from homelessness, a lack of job opportunities and no access to better education. By early November, they had requested tickets back to their home country.

 "The American Dream doesn’t exist anymore," Castejon said. "There’s nothing here for us."

Oh, boohoo.  Cry me a river.  What is happening is the dole is running out, and when the dole runs out, you have to get creative and start taking care of yourself. I know, personally, immigrants who did it right, and made it.  They came here with nothing and started over.  America is a great place for that, but if you're looking for a free ticket, it isn't coming.

And, I note that this one asshole is asking for a free ticket back to his home.  Why give him a ticket?  He walked here.  He can walk home. There is nothing I would like to see more tan a vast, ambulatory caravan of illegal migrants, headed south, walking back to Mexico, or Guatemala, or Venezuela, or wherever in the hell they came from.

One of my Dad's favorite sayings was "Your feet are flat, and the road is wide." 

Answering Questions

 Some questions from this morning's post.

Termite wanted to know if we were cooking red beans.  Nope, oddly enough.  Red Beans and Rice is a traditional laundry-day meal.  But Belle wanted to cook a bisque.  I will never interrupt her when she wants to cook something as good as bisque.  This will be a simple chicken bisque.  We're saving the shrimp for later.

Another commenter wanted to know what kind of rifle I passed on to my grandson.  It's a Model 10FCM Scout rifle, built by Savage Arms. It's a second-generation Scout that Savage discontinued about a month after I bought mine.  They came out with the 3rd generation.  Mine carries a Burris Scout scope and it's chambered in .308 Win.

It has the Accu-stock, which is a metal bedding block in the stock.  If he decides he prefers a more traditional scope over the receiver, it is a simple matter to remove the scout mount and install a traditional glass.

We'll put on a couple of pounds of red beans to soak tonight.  They will be lunch tomorrow.

Laundry Day

 Itt's Monday, and laundry is the current chore.  Between loads, I'm reading the news, and there is not much to crow about.

I see that the head commie is coming to California, and they're building Potemkin villages.  They're cleaning the place up, so that Zi won't see homeless encampments or soil his shoes with human shit.

I see that Tim Scott dropped out of the presidential race.  I like him on a number of issues, but as an up-and-coming presidential hopeful, he has been overshadowed by the elephant in the room.  As have the rest of the up-and-coming hopefuls.  Scott has time to build his resume, and one day he might be the elephant in the room, but not today.

We got word yesterday that younger son made it home safely, with all the deer meat still frozen.  That's good, he has venison in the freezer.  And, I sent home a rifle for grandson.  He has recently taken an interest in shooting, and it was time for a centerfire rifle.

I guess I'd better check on the dryer.

Cutting a Barrel

 In 2007 I bought a Savage Model 10 FLP as a gift to my youngest son.  That rifle is the law enforcement version, .308 cal, heavy 22-inch barrel, synthetic stock.  Back in the day it was quite cutting edge. He has shot it and hunted with it ever since, and lately he's been thinking it's time to lose some of that barrel and make the rifle a bit more handier, and a bit lighter.

Second son happens to own a lathe.  Today they decided to unscrew the barrel and bring it down from 22 to 16.5 inches.  They planned this little soiree, and had assembled the tools, to include the headspace gauges.  This afternoon, we met at the shop and the boys did the deed.

The thing about the Savage is that it is really easy to take the barrel out, and if you have a modicum of knowledge around a fairly well-equipped garage, swapping a barrel is not a problem.

I was impressed with the way the boys used the lathe to crown the muzzle.  A nice 11 degree crown was an easy job. I hung around until they headspaced it.  I'm convinced it's safe.

A Few Thougts

Belle and I voted yesterday, and we were busy running errands, and I really didn't focus on those states that had big elections on Tuesday. Here's my take-away.

For decades Roe was settled law, and recently, the Supremes decided Dobbs, and threw the idea of abortion back to the states.  The states are deciding, and whenever an abortion initiative is on the ballot Democrats win.

While I would love to see a fair, legal, honest election where 100% of all legal registered voters trun out and make their voices heard, we know that is not a thing.  Election strategy matters, and voter turn0out is a great indicator of who might win a particular election.  If there is an abortion initiative on the ballot, voter turnout surges and Democrats win.  I'm just making an observation.

While I personally think that abortion is a heinous offense against the unborn and God, I also know that not everyone feels the way I do.  If abortion is on the ballot, Democrats win.

I see that the Republican also-rans had a debate last night.  The elephant in the room was that the elephant was not in the room. Donald Trump was not there, and barring some unforeseen circumstance, he will be the Republican nominee.  

This And That

 BobF asks in comments what we're paying for shrimp up here.  Honestly, I don't know.  THe shrimp we cooked yesterday were given to me. A buddy was cleaning out his freezer and brought over four gallon bags of frozen head-on shrimp. I thawed one bag, pooled and de-veined them, and it turned into about two pounds of usable tails. I have no idea what shrimp are going for locally.

Have y'all tried the Sam's Club fully cooked ribs?  I know how to smoke ribs, and I'm willing to do it, but these are just fine. Just take them out of the package, run them in the oven on a cookie sheet and heat them for about 45 minutes.  They're wonderful.

Belle and I stopped by Arby's after running our errands and had a brisket sandwich for lunch.  I wasn't expecting much, but for fast food, it's a pretty good sandwich.  

I filled the van with gas yesterday, and it is down.  I paid $2.57 locally.  The last time I filled up duringthe Trump years, gas was $1.87, so Joe still has some work to do.

Hunting

 It's deer season in Louisiana, and my boys are hunting. Son-in-law (SIL) has a family deer camp, and the boys are hunting there this week.  We've known SIL since he was five years old, they grew up together. It was a good thing when he married into the family.  Younger son lives in New Mexico and he came in to take advantage of the thriving whitetail population and take some meat back to his freezer in the desert.

Left to right - Son in law, Second son, youngest son.  Two does, which should provide good freezer venison.

They are hunting the piney woods thickets of north-central Louisiana, and the brush is thick.  That dog in lower right is Roux.  He earns his keep as a tracking dog. When you hit a deer in these thickets, if it is not a bang-flop, you have to find the deer, and they'll burrow into those thickets and be hard to find.  That's where Roux shines.  He finds wounded deer.  And, he's excellent at his job.  A good tracking dog is worth his kibble, and Roux has proved his worth many times over.

They are scheduled to come out of the woods tomorrow and be here for lunch.  

The Far Side

 No, not the old cartoon strip. The far side of the political debate.

Evidently, there is a liberal philosopher, Sam Harris (Never heard of him) who is a thought leader for the left. He was recently highlighted on Gutfeld's show, talking about Trumpism and the knee-jerk reactions from his side of the political aisle. It's in the A block and you can watch it here.  It starts about the 1:30 mark.  Harris says basically, that Trump was right and that the southern border is a complete catastrophe.

Out of farness to Harris, I went looking for the original podcast, and found it here.  It seems that Gutfeld's clip was accurate and fairly reflected Harris' views.

Taking a break from peeling shrimp (yeah, we're doing that.  Belle wants to make a shrimp scampi for lunch) I listened to the remainder of the podcast and found it interesting.  There was some discussion about the way the pandemic caused a lack of trust of the public on the "experts".  I found it instructive that the left believes that public trust was shattered but has no real idea on how to restore public trust in our benevolent government.

Sometimes it is fun to go down the leftist rabbit hole.

America’s New Abrams-X Tank - WTF?

So, the Army wants a new tank.  The current champion is the M1 Abrams, a tank adopted in the 1980s and used to great effect all over the world. The M1 is a great tank.  Let me establish my bona-fides.

I am a graduate of the US Army Armor Officer Basic Course, a graduate of the US Army Armor Officer Advance Course, and a graduate of the US Army Cavalry Officer Advance Course. Below is a video that details the newest and fanciest tank that the Army is acquiring.  

From a tank officers perspective this thing has a few drawbacks.

Crew size - In WWII and Korea, the Army's standard tank had a crew of five (bow gunner, loader, driver, gunner, and commander). In the Vietnam/Cold War era, that was reduced to four (driver, loader, gunner, and commander). I always considered four as the minimum crew for a tank. When you have maintenance issues, or when you have thrown a track in a mired location, you need every bit of manpower to get the tank us and running. Three people may simply not be a big enough crew.

That autoloader - Replacing a crew member with an autoloader injects complexity in a place where simplicity is key. As a tank commander, I could tell the loader which round to grab, and we could change types of rounds during an engagement. Unless the Army is going to one main gun round, the loading process may become overly complex for a mechanical machine. I hope the technology has improved, but the autoloader was a bad idea in the 80s.  I doubt it's any better now.

Technology - Technology is a grand thing.  Right up until the second when it's not.  The old M60 series tanks had the ability to do what we called "degraded gunnery".  That is, the ability to operate the gun manually even when all systems had failed.  We actually had manual cranks, a telescope, and a hand-crank igniter to fire the cartridge. If the turret was still on the tank, we could lay the gun and fire it. That ability was very handy.

I do think that the new power pack is a good idea.  I was never really a fan of the turbine engine.  I think that moving the crew our of the turret into the automotive bed is bad idea. I think that reducing the crew size is a bad idea, and the increased reliance on technology is wrong-headed. When systems start going down, it's a good idea to be able to fight the tank without those systems.

I do think that the M10 Booker is a great idea, and should provide the punch that light infantry lacks.  I would love to get the chance to crawl around on one of those.

Missed It

 I totally missed the "fall-back" last night.  Didn't think about it at all.  Until this morning when I sat down at the computer with my coffee. The only impact that the time change has on me anymore is that the sun goes down an hour earlier. Whoopee.  I'll spend a portion of today changing clocks when I notice them. I'll put a couple of AA batteries in my pocket, because when the clock is down, it's a good time to change the battery.

Today's lunch will be pork chops and rice, with purple hull peas and cornbread.  Some sort of banana pie for dessert. The kids will start showing up in a couple of hours, depending on wheter or not they noticed the time change.  It's going to be a good Sunday.

Moral Equicalence

 A quick graphic to highlight the basic difference between Hamas and Israel.

Just in case you were wondering.  Hamas doesn't deserve a cease-fire, nor even an operational pause.

Propane

 It's that time of year again, we're filling propane tanks.  Down the road a bit, we have a feed-and-seed that has a reputation for the lowest price around here, so that's where I get my tanks filled.  There was a time, forty years ago, when I heated my house on propane and had a 200 gallon tank sitting beside the house.  That time is long-gone.

I still use propane to heat the shop, and do some occasional cooking.  MY fish cookers use propane and the griddle uses propane.  Both of my stoves are electric, and I still do my barbequing on wood or charcoal.

Propane prices are up this year, according to the lady at the cash register.  She claims, about 50 cents a gallon.  That surprises me because when I get a standard 20 lb bottle filled, it's done by weight, not volume. That being said, three 20 lb bottles cost me $71.19 this morning.

If I'm running propane I'm not running the air conditioners.

First Frost

 We got a frost this morning, the first of the season, with temps in the high 20s.  I sprayed herbicide this morning, the last of the season. Trying to knock back some weeds that we don't need.

I had to run up to the Dollar Store, and when I started the van, got the usual low pressure warning on the tires.  My van lives outdoors, but I'll bet that Belle's car has the same problem.  It's that time of year.  Later today, I'll pull them in the shop and inflate whatever needs to be inflated.  It's that time of year.

Some comments from yesterday, talking about John Kennedy's sense of humor.  Louisiana has bad problems in the past with voter integrity, and I think that we have solved most of them. With our strict voted ID law, I really don't think that a corpse can vote in Louisiana.  But there was a time.  John was poking fun at our history.  There were places where vote buying was rampant, and the voter rolls were suspect at best.  I recall one municipal election in the last century where, when the initial tallies were made, the Clerk discovered that more votes had been cast than registered voters on the rolls. That's voter engagement at its best.

The weather weenies tells us that we're going to warm over the next several days.  We're still in a drought, and rather than paying A/C bills we're going to be paying heating bills. The season, it is a-changing.

Border Security

 While running errands this morning, I happened to hear that Egypt is going to open the border with Gaza and let up to 500 folks with foreign passports out of Gaza.  They were also going to let up to 90 critically ill people out to seek medical treatment at Egyptian hospitals.

Border security.  Perhaps the US could take a lesson from Egypt.

Also, during that time, I heard a political ad by our esteemed senator John Kennedy.  We have a runoff election pending in the state, and runoff elections generally have a lower turnout.  John was imploring people to vote.  "Dead people do it.  You can too."

Surrender or Die

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

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

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

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

Weather

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

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

Saturday Shooting

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

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

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

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

Heating Up

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

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

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

New Rifle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mike Johnson Elected Speaker

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

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

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

Well Done, Mikke!  Now, get to work.

Crunchy Mom

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

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

Using that term to describe oneself is rife with misunderstanding.

The .22 Rimfire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No Sympathy

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

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

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

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

The .25 ACP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Old Time Duck Calls

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

Schism

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

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

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

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

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

The history of a market hunter in 1900 era

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

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

Learning Stuff

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

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

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

Waiting

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

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

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

Short Round

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

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

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

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

Open Borders

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

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

That is all.

Landry Wins

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

Congratulations, Jeff.

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

Come January, they all need to get to work.

New Cargridges

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That Every Man BE Armed

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

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

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

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

Leaflet Drop

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

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

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

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

Square

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unemployable

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

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

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

It's On

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

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

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

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

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

Pray for Israel

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

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

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

Filet Gumbo

 In a post from yesterday, a commenter observes:

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

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

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

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

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

Changing Pharmacies

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

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

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

 

It's That Time

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

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

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

EAA Breakfast

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

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

We Voted

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

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

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

Hydraulics

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

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

Gutfeld: Luxury Beliefs

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

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

Rain, Blessed Rain

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

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

Permits

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

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

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

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

McCarthy Out

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

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

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

Can You REALLY Zero Your Rifle At 30 Yards?

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

Extreme Drought

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

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

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

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

Sophomoric Crap

 Did y'all hear about this asshole?

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

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

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

Tactical Velcro

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

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

Feinstein Passes Away

 California's long-serving senator, Dianne Feinstein has passed away at age 90.  It will be interesting to see who Newsome appoints to replace her.

I will probably not attend the funeral, but I will send a nice note in favor of it.

Forgotten Rifles

 I was looking though the gun locker the other day, and noticed something I didn't immediately recognize.  My old Winchester 94.  It's been a while since I had the old gal out, probably 10 or 12 years, so I took it out and marveled at it for a bit.  I'd like to tell you that it is some old pre-64, but it's not.  My version is what Winchester called the Antique.  Mine was made, as far as I can tell, in 1965 and it has stamped parts. It's in .30-30, a quite common caliber for this rifle.

I made a couple of changes to it.  I cut down the stock an inch or so, and added a recoil pad.  I took out the old spring-leaf rear sight and added a Williams FP rear sight.  Mine still has the original bead front sight. I added a saddle right because a single-point sling makes a lot of sense on a light carbine.

It's light, handy, and puts a 170 grain bullet where I want it at 100 yards. Obsolete by today's standards, it still fills a niche.  The ammo is not as common as it once was, but it is still available and it is easy to reload for.  Every manual has a page on the .30-30 and a variety of powers will make it easy to find something that works.

The little rifle has been cleaned and oiled, and now she is back in the case.  I'll have to get her out to the range before long and have a little fun with a grand little rifle.

Will Boonie's Garage

Have you ever seen an engine pulled with a mini-hoe?  Me neither, until today.

Evidently, my grandson is working as the camera guy.

Dingy Pirates

Fox News is reporting that San Francisco is experiencing a surge of small boat pirates.  These goblins load up in small boats and prey on larger, more luxurious vessels.

Piracy is an ancient occupation.  It's been around for centuries, and there is generally one proven method of dealing with it.  Kill or capture the bastards.  Those captured should be hanged, publicly, either from a convenient yardarm or at the waters edge.  I would suggest that whatever authority runs the port there to immediately construct a gallows.

Happiness

 So, my buddy Joe sends me an email this morning, talking about happiness. And, he sends a link to a video.  I'll link it here. At about the 12:00 mark it talks about Louisiana and the happiness index of its people. It turns out, Louisiana is a very happy place, but not for the reasons you might suspect.

Louisiana has its problems.  Poor roads, a bad tax structure, Laughable government, yet we are ahppy, especially in the rural and poor communities.  Why?  Family and friends.

Belle and I decided seven years ago that we wanted out shop to be a place where family and friends could gather.  To share a meal, to connect, to laugh and commiserate.  It has a full kitchen and a half bath. It's a gathering spot.  We "cook big" on Sunday and anyone is invited.  We generally have between 6 and 15 people eating lunch on Sunday. We never know who is going to show up, and they never know the menu.  My one caveat:  If you don't like what we're cooking, Popeye's is just down the road.

As I think back, some of my happiest times were when I was dead-broke, raising kids.  Someone wold call.  "Hey, we are cooking crawfish.  Bring something to throw in the pot and come on."  or "I need some help.  We're killing a hog.  Tell your wife to make a salad, and come on."  Louisiana knows how to party on the cheap.

Happiness isn't about possessions.  It's about family and friends and community.  It takes a little effort, but it's a choice.  If you are not happy, make some changes.  Make a big stew and invite some friends.  Join and local church and get involved.   Volunteer to help out a the high school concession stand.  Learn to laugh.  You can't be unhappy when you are laughing.

The E4 Mafia (if it existed, which it doesn't)

I've said for years that the best rans in the military were E-4 and O-4.  I've been both and had just as much fun in one as the other.  O-4 is better paid, and you have to be a bit more discrete when you are stealing taking care of the soldiers.

During Desert Storm, there was one bird colonel who thought I could do no wrong, because shit he wanted just magically appeared. I didn't tell him how badly the regulations had been skirted sometimes.

I Am Reminded

 Reading the paper this morning, I see that there is a new ABC/WaPo poll that shows Donald Trump up over Joe Biden by 10 points.

I am reminded of an elections that happened here back in the 1960s.  A local sheriff had good support, but he was hated by the local judge and DA.  So, during the election, they indicted him over some bullshit misdemeanor, and convicted him, and the judge sentenced him to serve six months in his local jail.

The sheriff held himself as a strong law-and-order type, so he checked in to his own jail.  There was a little holding cell near the front door of the jail and the Sheriff sat there during the day.  Anyone could visit him.  He sat in the cell and talked to people.  Little old ladies, pastors, and others came to see the Sheriff.  He answered their questions, talked and prayed with them, and allowed reporters to interview him.

Come election day, he was re-elected handily.  20 points over his nearest rival.  All while serving time in his own jail. The voters saw what was going on and set out to make it right.

Back to today's poll.  The voters see what is going on, and we just might elect a felon to the office of the President. The pollsters are stunned, and the Washington elite  are soiling their pants.

Sunday Dawg

 He's a little fuzzy, but he has an appointment at the groomers on October 2nd.

June 2022

 Several sources are reporting that the search warrant for Bob Menendez house was conducted in June, 2022.

You need probable cause to get a search warrant.  I've gotten several.  You get the basics of the crime, then decide what you are looking for, then get a judge to sign a warrant.  Then you execute the warrant.  The results of the warrant either prove or disprove the probable cause.

This is September 2023.  The warrant was executed in June 2022.  They found gold bars and cash. Why did they wait so long to get the indictment?  Bob Menendez lives in New Jersey.  Why is the indictment out of the southern district of New York? Whazzup with that?  Was Garland slow-walking this like he slow-walked the Hunter investigation?

If any of this is provable, Menendez should have been in jail a year ago.  As the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, how many more gold bars has he accumulated over the past year?

Menendez Indicted

 PJMedia, along with others is reporting that Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has been indicted on federal bribery charges.

According to a report from NBC News, Sen. Menendez and his wife received $400,000 in gold bars from Fred Daibes, a New Jersey developer, in exchange for the senator interfering with a Justice Department investigation of Daibes when he was facing federal bank fraud charges.

I take no pleasure in reporting this, and the senator is certainly entitled to the presumption of innocence.  But I am reminded that Mark Twain said:

 There is no distinctly American criminal class - except Congress

It's interesting.  The article says that Menendez has been under investigation since October, 2022.  That is just one year. I didn't think that the FBI could conduct a whole investigation in a single year.  I mean, they did let Hunter's charges lapse due to the statute of limitations. 

Herd Medicine

 I was in the cattle business for about fifteen years.  I ran a hobby herd of cattle.  There came a time twice a year when we needed to doctor the cattle. So, I had a catch pen, a sorting chute and a squeeze chute.  Run then in the catch pen, sort them in the shorting chute, then run them through the squeeze chute.  Castrate the steers, hit them all with a doze of ivermectin,  then run fly poison down their backs.  Turnthem out in the pasture.

<snip>

This morning I had a doctors appointment for a stress test on my ticker. We had an earlier appointment, but the doc's office rescheduled.  For their convenience.  So, I showed up at the appointed time, only to be run down to the sorting chute, where I waited for an hour before it was my turn to go through the squeeze chute. The test came out fine, I guess.  They didn't have me immediately report to the main hospital.

So, to recap, We had an appointment.  The doc rescheduled for his convenience, then today they were running an hour late.  I never saw the doctor.  When I do see him, I will register my disapproval of the way he runs his office.

Don't treat me like a herd animal.

Doctors

 After the Covid debacle, you would think that our medical professionals would be a bit more humble, after seeing what they wrought on the public after that debacle.

Over-counting deaths, failing to use common, available medicines, putting the general public at risk due to a lack of routine care, or deferred care.  After seeing the piss-poor performance of the medical profession diruing that disaster, it's a wonder that any of us have any faith at all.

And yet, like much our aging population, I am forced to deal with medical doctors on a regular basis.  Much more regular than I'd like. They refer nilly-willy, passing the buck from one specialist to another, without even so much as a howdy-do to the patient.  Seeing as many patients as they can see on a daily basis,  Most of them don't even know my name, without looking at a chart, or more likely these days, a tablet.

It's pure retail medicine.  Mazimize profits  

I used to hold medical doctors in high regard.  To say that these days I am only mildly disillusioned would be a stretch.

They Found It

 USA Today is reporting that the Marines have found their lost jet, about 80 miles from where the pilot ejected.

Debris from a missing F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet have been located in South Carolina after a pilot ejected and parachuted to safety.

They report that "many questions remain", and yeah, I reckon that's true. 

But, there is a long and storied tradition of aviators crashing planes, ever since 1908, when Orville crashed his Wright Flyer.

Marines Lose F-35?

 It seems that the US Marines lost an F-35 yesterday.  The pilot was up joyriding on a training mission, and a "mishap" occurred. He ejected.  Now they can't find the plane.

The pilot is fine.  Really.  We can keep chuckling.

It seems that an F-35 is a fairly smart aircraft, and when the pilot pinched out, the autopilot was engaged. So, the Marines went on Twitter to ask if anyone had seen a lots stealth fighter.  Hilarity ensued.

I googled around this morning, to see if they've found their jet yet.  There seems to be a media blackout on the whole thig.  I wonder why?

Changing Horses

 It's mid-September and the weather is beginning to moderate.  Generally this time of year, I switch horses. My normal, go-to hot weather cocktail is a simple vodka and tonic.  Crisp, refresing, it suits the season.  But, as the weather begins to change I switch to bourbon.  Generally with cola.

That's not to say that I don't enjoy a fancier drink from time to time. As the weather gets cooler, I'll be motivated to make my homemade Irish cream and my homemade coffee liqueur.  For the holidays.

But, tonight I've switched from vodka to bourbon.  I prefer bottled-in-bond bourbon as my standard afternoon cocktail bourbon.  For those unaware, a quick review might be in order.

The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 stipulates that whiskeys designed Bottled-in-Bond must be produced at the same distillery by the same distiller within the same distilling season, whether it be fall or spring. It must then be aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse under federal government supervision, then cut and bottled at exactly 100 proof.

Bottled-in-bond does not guarantee quality. It does guarantee authenticity against a measurables standard.

My standard BIB whiskey is Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond.  Locally, it's readily available and relatively inexpensive.  A 1500 ml bottle is $30.00.  Not bad for good hooch.

Everybody has to believe in something, and I believe I'll have a drink.

The Polls

 There is a map floating about with the current Reuters poll numbers in an easy-to-read graphic. It spells doom for Biden.  I found it here.

The election is still 14 months away, and lots can change in 14 months. But, it is no wonder that we're starting to hear calls for Biden to step aside.

Mugged Liberals

Someone once said that some conservatives were once liberals who got mugged.  Well, we are seeing that play out.

I'm sure that you have all heard about the Dem party chair in Minneapolis who was a loud supporter of Defund the Police.  Until las week, when some armed carjacker thugs brutalized her in her own driveway. Now, she is a staunch law-and-order type who wants those tug assess locked away.

Then, there is Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, who was all about sanctuary until Greg Abbott started sending him a thousand illegals per week.  Now, Adams is singing the blues about the border policy.  He was figuratively mugged by his own policy.  Too bad, so sad.

Liberals, mugged by their own policies.

Biden Indicted

 Not Joe, but his son Hunter.  Hunter Biden has been indicted on federal gun charges. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest step in a long-running investigation into the president’s son that puts the case on track toward a possible high-stakes trial as the 2024 election looms.

He is innocent until proven guilty.  But the timing is awfully suspect, as has been the timing on almost everything coming out of the Biden Justice Dept.

What is most interesting is that the media may be turning on Biden, finally noticing aloud that Joe is showing his age and increasingly, signs of dementia.  David Ignatius, a well-known liberal writer is making the case that Biden should not run for a second term. They are saying it out loud, and by my count, he's been on MSBNC, and covered in the Washington Post, The Hill, and Axios.  Those media outlets are not known for covering conservative talking points.

The problem that Biden has, is that in many states we are running up against time restrictions on whether a person can qualify to be on the ballot. There is no federal law I know of, but each state has its own laws regarding qualifying dates.to be on a ballot.  If Joe waits too long to drop out, the successor may not be able to get his or her name on the ballot in several states.  It's hard to get electoral votes if no one can vote for you.

So, we have major liberals calling for Joe to step aside, and Hunter has been indicted on fedeal gun charges.  All in the same week.  There are no coincidences in politics.

Boonie's Garage: The 351 Windsor

The boys are working on a 351 Windsor as the basis for a mud truck.

Weather

 We're expecting a mild cool front to pass through sometime today or tonight, bringing a little rain and moderating the temps a bit. In celebration, I have a pot of red beans on the bubble,  With good sausage spices.  We'll make a pot of rice closer to lunch.

Statistically, we are past the height of the hurricane season, but just barely.  Lots of activity in the Atlantic, but these are mainly fish storms.  However, it looks like Hurricane Lee might threaten the New England, or more likely, the Canadian coast.

Thankfully, both the Carribean and the Gulf are quiet right now.  

I'm really looking forward to the day when I walk out on the back porch and think that a flannel shirt might feel good.  That day isn't today. It's been a long, hot summer and I'll be glad to see the weather cool off a bit.

Strange Laws

 In the post below, regarding blowing hors while passing, juvat asks

I've never heard of that law. Is it a Louisiana law or Federal?

That is Louisiana law.  We have some weird laws in Louisiana.  For example, it is against the law n Louisiana to wrestle a bear.  Yeah, really.  There was a time when carnivals or fairs would have a small bear.  They would sheath its claws and let people wrestle it.  If you pinned the bear you won a prize.  PETA put a stop to it.

I suppose that if you find a bear in your back yard and decide to hold an impromptu wrestling match it would be perfectly legal, if not perfectly stupid.

There was once a law that if you were driving a motor vehicle within the city limits, it required a pedestrian with a flag to 30 feet in front of the vehicle to warn pedestrians.  That law has since been repealed.

Passing

 Coming back from Kentucky yesterday, Belle and I were almost home.  Traveling westbound on LA Highway 28, we were scent miles from home and starting to relax a bit.  It was dusk, and we had made good time.  Belle was driving, the posted speed limit set at 55 mph, and Belle had the cruise set at 58.

An 18-wheeler came up up behind us and started to pass.  Good road, plenty of room, and the driver gave us a friendly toot on his horn as he came around.  Not a blast, nor a blare, just a friendly little toot.

Belle was a bit nonplussed.  "What is he blowing his horn about?"

I turned to look at the truck. "Well, he knows the law."

Belle glanced at me sideways.  "I have never blown the horn when I was passing."

I modified my statement, gently.  "The law might have changed since I enforced it.  But, it's required when passing on a two lane road."

We got home safely and went to bed, but over coffee this morning, I fired up the intertubes and checked.  Sure enough, there it is.

(2)  Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal, and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

The law requires that when passing on the right is not allowed, a vehicle overtaking another must provide an audible signal to alert the vehicle being overtaken.  This law was passed in 1962 and has not been repealed.

Now you know the law, and so does Belle, who is quite amused that she has been in violation for her entire driving history.

Kentucky State

 We're shooting Kentucky State today in the thriving metropolis of Beaver Dam, KY.   The weather is perfect and the venue is ver0y nice.

The scenery is pretty nice, too. That is Wildfire, the head score keeper and a very adept shooter in her own right.  She wins trophies.

We shot categories today, where everyone shoots against their own age group.  Tomorrow we start the main match, Belle and I are back in the hotel, resting up for tomorrow.

Tomorrow, we are expecting to have about 80 guns on the line. Tomorrow may be a long day.

Biden Bails

 So, it seems that President Biden bailed on a Medal of Honor ceremony.  Just left.  Hauled ass.

People are asking questions.

Jean-Pierre explained that the president’s departure was planned to minimize his contact with attendees amid a resurgence of covid infections. However, Biden did remove his mask and come in close contact with the 81-year-old veteran while pinning the medal around his neck.

Couple of things here.  Biden has absolutely no affinity for the military even our heroes.  Second,  The Binder's explanation reveals that the Dems really want another Covid emergency, so that they can lock Biden in the basement and count mail-in votes. It worked for them last time.

In other news, Belle and I are in Owensboro, KY for a big shoot.  We'll leae the hotel in another hour or so and go find the venue, which is about 30 minutes away.

Colt Prices

 I was just watching a video over at C&Rsenal on the Colt 1911 and they showed this interesting graphic. on prices from October 1916

Fifteen dollars per pistol, with mags at fifty cents.  I'll take a dozen, please, with a hundred spare mags.

The Scouts

The Fat Electrician is talking about the Scouts.  A subject near and dear to my heart. The Cavalry has an encompassing mission, depending on what the commander wants.  We can defend, reconnoiter, screen, delay, or attack. This always means that the Cavalry is between the main body and the enemy. Which means we get to shoot at them first.

Like for example, during the first Gulf war, units of the 2nd Armored Cavalry slammed into the Tawakoni division of the Iraqis army.  The 2nd ACR was a covering force, but when the rest of VII Corps came up, the shooting was pretty much over. Oh, the VII Corps went on to do great things, but on the opening day, the Cav just wandered in and started tearing shit up. Yeah, that's the Cav.

One of the more endearing traditions of the Cav is the unit punch bowl.  It is trotted out on events of tradition and celebration, and I wouldn't give the time of day to a Squadron Adjutant who did not know where the punch bowl was stored and made sure that it was available when needed.  As another old Cavalryman explains.

The Regimental punch is a substantive brew of proven medicinal value. It has warmed many a cold trooper on the screen and picket line, and inspired him to feats of glory. It cures what ails you, and in a pinch it is an effective bore cleaner for our cannons, lubricant for our vehicles or propellants for our missiles. True Cavalrymen maintain a base for the punch in their homes at all times.

I have the hat, I have the spurs and I have had the hangover. 

Labor Day

This is one holiday I really like.  No gifts, no expectations.  I worked many Labor Days, because lots of folks work on Labor Day. 

Belle and I are prepping for a trip to Kentucky.  We're going to the Kentucky State Championship of Cowboy Fast Draw.  This is one of our favorite shoots, and we leave Wednesday morning.  I have spent most of the morning going through the competition guns and gear, making sure screws are tight and the guns are clean and ready for a major match.

The weather-weenies are calling for thunderstorms later today, and I'm good with it.  There is still a huge wildfire risk in Louisiana.  We need rain.  Elder son runs the water production for a middling city and he tells me that he spent last week mitigating the fire risk to his well sites.  Louisiana could use a good drenching and may be those thunderstorms predicted will help with that.

In Comments

 Reader Dave asked in comments if I had any thoughts on this story.

The basic facts:  During the height of the covid strangeness (March 2020) our plaintiff made a silly-assed joke on Facebook. 

SHARE SHARE SHARE ! ! ! ! JUST IN: RAPIDES PARISH SHERIFFS OFFICE HAVE ISSUED THE ORDER, IF DEPUTIES COME INTO CONTACT WITH ‘THE INFECTED’ SHOOT ON SIGHT….Lord have mercy on us all. #Covid9teen #weneedyoubradpitt.

The Sheriff's office got hold of the post, and our plaintiff was paid a visit by the local SWAT team.   He was arrested and charged with terrorizing.  There is now a civil suit pending in the local court, where our plaintiff is suing the Sheriff's office over various infringements.

Do I have any thoughts?  I would probably have handled it differently. My first inclination would have been to ignore the whole thing and write it off as Facebook nonsense.  My second inclination would be to do a knock-and-talk. My very last option would have been to call out the SWAT team.

Dave also said in comments that he couldn't find my email address.  I looked in my profile and it's hidden there as plain as day.  But, I'll put it here in plain English. ddezendorf at yahoo dot com.  All spambots must die.

Power Outage

 We had a power outage today.  For no particular reason, beautiful day, but the electricity is out.  For no apparent reason.  Go figure.  I dragged the generator outside, fired it off, and powered up the shop.  It did well.  We'll call this a dry run in case we ever have to do it for real.

The power went off at 11:00, came back on sometime after 1:00. I disconnected everything and reverted the shop to pole power.  Let the generator cool and put it away.

We have a major intersection about 100 yards from the house, and our circuit powers the traffic lights.  I can't imagine that the power company would shut the power off frivolously. But, no one ever gets an explanation of why the power went off. Did Rocky the Flying Squirrel trip a braker somewhere?  Did an ISIS armadillo commit martyrdom in the transfer station?  Or, did some doofus slam into a light pole,   We'll never know and the imagination runs wild.

Are We Still Talking About This?

Are we still talking about MOA rifles?  Back in 1957 Townsend Whelen said that "only accurate rifles are interesting", and I suppose that's so.  I recently stumbled on this guys channel, and I like the way he thinks.  He's generating conversation, although I believe he is missing one important point.

Can any manufacturer guarantee a rifle that will shoot MOA?  The devil is in the details. Rifles, ammunition, temperature and weather vary plenty before you take the nut behind the stock into the equation.

I've been shooting rifles for decades, and with a good hunting rifle, consistent ammunition, and a steady rest, most hunting rifles will flirt with MOA shooting. What I've learned about hunting rifles is that while groups are important, what is really important is what I call the cold-bore group.

Where is that first shot gain?  Are you confident that at the time you squeeze the trigger, at the range the animal presents itself, in the cold or heat of your climate, that the shot you take will reliably strike the aiming point with sufficient force for a humane kill.  If you are not, don't take the shot.  Luck plays a big part in the hunting fields, but luck should play no part in taking the shot.

I've said before, and I'll say it again, that practice is important.  The guy who shoots 100 shots a year will probably do better in the game fields than the guy who shoots 10 shots per year. Practice, certainly, at the ranges you intend to hunt.  Know your rifle, your ammo, and your scope.  Sort all that out on the range so it isn't an ussue on the game field.  But most importantly, know where that first shot is going.