Another Wednesday

 I started today with a routine eye exam.  Nothing much changed, but they dilated my eyes.  Crap.  I walked around blurry for most of the day.

I see that the Southern Poverty Law Center got indicted.  It couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch.  The SPLC was founded in the early '70s to combat racism.  Over the past 20 years they have become a far-left organization that tries to stretch the definition so that they can still be relevant.  Over the past decade they would put out lists of "hate groups" that included the Catholic church and Turning Point USA.

Over in Iran, it appears that the IRGC has taken over what little remains of the government.  The Gay Ayatollah is only a figure-head and the IRGC is running the place.  Vance and crew didn't leave for Pakistan because no one really knows who is in charge and the negotiators from Iran are a little squirrely.

Today is just Wednesday.  Who knows what is going to happen tomorrow.

Barriers

 In the early years of manned flight, many considered the sound barrier to be a hard barrier, until Chuck Yeager became the first man to exceed Mach 1 in 1947.  Nowadays, we routinely fly faster than that.

Likewise, in running, the 4-minute mile was considered a hard barrier until Roger Bannister crossed the line in 1954. The 4-minute mile is still a laudable goal, but not considered a hard barrier in human performance.

This past Saturday in Georgia, I watched Jiles Wright, a shooter from Arkansas, set a new worlds record in CFDA shooting. Jiles hit a standard CFDA target in 0.278/secod in sanctioned competition. The CFDA has strict rules for recoding a world's record, and Jiles met all the criteria.

The CFDA considers a worlds record to be unattainable at anything faster than 0.267. (CFDA rules, page 25).  This is based on testing done in 2021 based on human reaction time and draw speed. I understand the reasoning and the intent.

I also understand that barriers are meant to be overcome and that records are meant to be broken. The CFDA may want to reconsider a hard barrier to human performance.

Congratulations to Jiles.  I was honored to be there to watch him set a new world's record.

While I Was Gone

 So I understand that while I was gone to Georgia this weekend, a US Navy ship pumped a couple of 5-inchroundsintotheengineroom of an Iranian motor vessel who was trying to run the blockade.

I don't often say this, but Go Navy.

From what I understand, this particular vessel was a Bad Actor in the supply chain for Iran's WMD program.  Not that I care what this particular vessel, nor any Iranian-flagged vessel is carrying.  The US Navy is conducting a blockade. Any vessel trying to run it should be 1) warned, and 2) sunk.

It is time that Iran get themessage.

This N' That

We started Georgia State today. In a suburb of Atlanta.  I didn't cover myself in glory, but I didn't embarrass myself either.  Belle and I are now ensconced in the hotel, and she has declared Happy Hour.

Two bits of wisdom I heard today.

1.  In Atlanta, you are not IN traffic. You ARE the traffic.

2,  Violence is not always the answer, but it is always in the lesson plan.

Tomorrow begins the main match.  I hope to be fully rested when we begin.

3rd Place

 Belle and I were on the road today, passing through Talladega when the phone rang. It was grandson, Lucas.   Lucas shoos in the 4H shooting program, specifically, three position rimfire. Today, he competed in the Louisiana State competition.

"PawPaw", Lucas says, "We just got through shooting. I got third place, rimfire 3-position.  For the whole state of Louisiana."

Belle and I whooped it up.  Lucas is the 3rs best rimfire shooter in the state.  And we can prove it.

Belle and I will shoot tomorrow in the Georgia State competition, CFDA.   All I can think about right now is how proud I am of Lucas, and I'm wondering what upgrades his rifle needs for next years competition?  Can the checkbook stand it? Do I even have a choice?

Let's Talk

 Let's talk about Eric Swalwell, the California congressman who is recently the subject of an intense sex crime investigation. I believe that five women have provided evidence to the police recently.  Last week, Swalwell was the leading candidate in the California governor's race. Now, he has resigned from Congress and has dropped out of the race.  How quickly we fall from grace.

I would remind everyone that he is accorded the same presumption as any other accused.  He is presumed innocent until convicted in a competent court.

I would also remind everyone that I worked with sex offenders during the 1990s Everything I have heard this far fits a standard pattern.  Sex offenders are always serial offenders. If someone is convicted of only one offense, it is because the prosecutors can only prove one offense. This far Swalwell has five accusers.

But, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

2026 HurricaneSeason

 Over the past several days, the usual contenders have issued their annual hurricane forecasts for the2026 season.  This year is supposed to be less active than normal with maybe nine (9) named storms and up to three (3) major storms.

We'll see.

The thing to remember about hurricanes is that it takes only one to completely screw up your weekend.

For those of you who take procrastination as seriously as I do, tax day is upon you.  This is the first year in many that I have not yet picked our my BAG day gun.  Perhaps because I already have my guns.  I have heard good things about Springfield Armory's clone of the Browning Hi Power.