Monday, November 30, 2020

Louisiana Gasoline Tax

Louisiana pays 38.4 cents per gallon in taxes.  Currently, 20 cents stays in the state. 

According to this, Louisiana suppliers sell 6,918,600 gallons of gasoline per day.  If my math is anywhere near correct, that amount of gasoline should generate $1,383,720 per day in road tax money.

Some of our legislators want to add an additional dime per gallon.  For the roads.  I thought that we paid goas tax already for the roads.  What happened to that money?

Coming of the back of an horrific hurricane season and a devastating government imposed Covid crisis, I don't really think that any new taxes are a good idea.


Anonymous, In Comments

 I'm having fun with this.  We have another Anonymous who seems to believe that he or she has all the answers. In pertinent part:

I'm a nurse and I've repeatedly seen the effect covid has on people. You may be one of the lucky asymptomatic ones

Funny you should mention that.  The gal I wake up beside every morning, known to readers as Belle, is a registered nurse.   She has practiced in a med/surg environment for forty years.  Most of my medical opinions are informed by her.  And, I do consider myself to be a lucky man, simply because she lets me hang out with her.  

Belle believes that masking is generally ludicrous, except in a surgical environment.  She goes along with it recently but thinks that it is socially expedient, not necessarily good medicine.  Don't get her started on Big Pharma.

Thanks for commenting.

If standing up for civil liberties is a problem, then I am the problem.

Regional Cooking

 Here in Louisiana, we do a lot of regionnal cooking.  Something that is considered crucial to a recipe is omitted entirely in other parts of the state.  For example, Stuart's comment illustrates this in the perfectly.

Heretic!

One cannot make gumbo without RoTels. Period.

Red Gumbo!  I've seen that in the River parishes and in Natchitoches.  It's a regional variation, and tickle the taste buds.   In some places, okra is added.  In other places a scoop of potato salad is added.  The first time I was served gumbo with potato salad, I was a bit confused.  It' ain't bad, but I'll take my potato salad on the side, thank you.

Jambalaya is another food with regional variations.  You'll find brown jambalaya, red jambalaya, and white jambalaya.  They are all good, ad all different. In central and north Louisiana, we generally make our jambalaya with sausage end fowl.  In South Louisiana, you find a lot of seafood jambalaya.

My maternal grandmother grew up in New Iberia, along the Bayou Teche.  She cooked gumbos, sauce picante, and courtbullions.  My paternal grandmother grew up in north Louisiana and cooked in the German and Scots-Irish tradition.  I learned a lot from both of them, and my cooking reflects that .

The blending of cultures is what makes our cuisine so vibrant.  The cultural and gustatory blending of French, Spanish, Creole, Black and Native is what makes our food so wonderful.  

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Leftover Gumbo

 There is an axiom in Cajun cooking that gumbo is best on the second day.  The flavors have time to mingle and blend and offers a depth of flavor and intensity that simply is not found on the first day.

My basic gumbo recipe is here.

One of my holiday traditions is to take the turkey carcass, drop it in a stock pot, and boil it for stock.  Drain it, strain it, and add sausage, onions, peppers, and the leftover bird to make a big gumbo.  Roux, of course, for traditional flavor.  I made this one yesterday and left it in the slow cooker overnight.


The kitchen smells wonderful.  Closer to lunch I'll make a big pot of rice.  Belle has threatened to construct a peach cobbler, but with the pies still hanging on from Thursday, I don't know if she will really make the effort.

Mr. Justice Gorsuch's Opinio

 Much has been made of a recent case here in Louisiana where a pastor challenged our Governor's Covid-related restrictions on church capacity.  On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, and the Governor is touting it as a victory for his restrictions on capacity.

I'm no lawyer, but I suspect that the reason the Court declined to hear the case is that they decided a remarkably similar one on Wednesday.  We talked about it then..  And, they were quite clear that the Free Expression clause in the First Amendment takes precedent over Covid restrictions.

On this rainy, thunder-y Sunday morning, I re-read Mr. Justice Gorsuch's opinion, and it is quite clear.  He concludes thus:

It is time—past time—to make plain that, while the pandemic poses many grave challenges, there is no world in which the Constitution tolerates color-coded executive edicts that reopen liquor stores and bike shops but shutter churches, synagogues, and mosques. 

I note that in the latest order from our petty tyrant, he left the churches alone.  Capacity restrictions at churches are set at 75% but many other venues are set at much more restrictive percentages.  OUr Governor knows that the Free Expression clause supersedes his executive powers and that the New York case binds his hands.  The Court has ruled, and he knows it.

His trumpeting that the Louisiana case was denied is a hollow reed.  He knows where the Court stands, and it is not with petty tyrant governors. 

Saturday, November 28, 2020

It's a Two-Fer

 Shortly after Squirrel knocked down her little buck this morning, son Matt got a nice doe on the same lease.


That's son-in-law Greg in the background.  Can't tell what he is doing.  But, Matt got a nice doe and Squirrel got a nice little buck.  Matt shoots a Ruger 77 in .25-06 using the family handload recipe. (WLR primer, 50 grains RL 22, and a 117 grain bullet, either Hornady or Sierra.)

Brother and sister both got deer this morning.  Plenty of venison in the freezer.

Squirrel Gets Her Buck

My father nicknamed my daughter Squirrel when she was a toddler.   She has carried that nickname since.

She got her buck this morning.  While her husband is looking for trophies, she is looking for meat.  Trying to feed a family.


It's a nice little yearling buck,  She took it at about a hundred yards early this morning. She shoots a Ruger American in .308 Win with a Leupold 3X9 scope.

Friday, November 27, 2020

Dinner Conversation

 




Black Friday Leftovers

 Thanksgiving is is the record books, for better or worse.  Belle and I always over-cook for Thanksgiving, it's part of the plan.  It's hard to cook a ham, and a turkey, and not have leftovers, especial this year when the crowds are covid restricted.  

But, that's part of the plan.  Friday morning turned of coo and rainy here.  In a bit, we'll go out to the shop and start making sense of what's left.  Belle's Black Friday tradition includes leftover yeast rolls, leftover ham, and leftover dressing.  She'll make sliders and nuke the dressing for lunch.

My Black Friday tradition is to break up the turkey carcass, then put bones and water into a big stock pot.  I'll boil it down, let it cool, and package the stock.  Either Saturday night late, or early Sunday morning I'll take that stock and start a big turkey gumbo.  If you've never boiled a smoked turkey carcass, you don't know the depth of flavor that the smoked bones add to the broth.  

Today is supposed to be the warmest for the next 10 days.  The weather-weenies tel us that a front will move through this weekend, and the temps will start to drop tomorrow, with our first frost on Monday evening.

Thursday, November 26, 2020

WKRP Turkey Drop

It ain't Thanksgiving until we see Less Nesman do the turkey drop.


As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

Mr. Justice Gorsuch

 The Supreme Court dropped a ruling last night, slapping the hands of the Governor of New York for violating the Free Expression clause of the 1st Amendment.  The Court split along predicable lines, ruling 5-4 in favor of the churches.  And, yes, Roberts (hack, spit) sided with the liberals.

Mr. Justice Gorsuch penned a concurring opinion, with some notable lines.  In particularly like this one.

Even if the Constitution has taken a holiday during this pandemic, it cannot become a sabbatical.

I knew I liked that guy, and if I ever get the opportunity, I intend to spit on Robert's shoes. 

Thanksgivings Past

 Looking at some photos from last year.  Belle and I traveled to New Mexico to visit with family.  Our greatest concern was an impending blizzard in the high country that might strand us there until the roads cleared.


It was a great trip, but it would not be possible just one year later.  New Mexico is under a strict lockdown and visitors to the state must quarantine for two weeks.


Here's Belle and two grandkids about to enjoy a meal at a small restaurant in Santa Fe.   I'm sure that the restaurant is closed this week.  No masks, no restrictions.  The burritos and tamales were fantastic.

We have a lot to be thankful for this year.  We're healthy and well fed.  There is a light at the end of this pandemic.  It's several months out, but it is visible in the distance.  I have a ham in the smoker and the yeast rolls are rising in the oven.

It is my prayer that we all hang on and do what is necessary to beat this invisible enemy.  2021 looks to be a much better year for freedom-loving Americans, and a worse year for those who like living in fear and isolation. 

Happy Thanksgiving y'all.  Lets stay covid-free and look forward to a much better year next year.


Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Release The Kracken


I don't know if she is chasing ghosts or really has something, but this is really getting interesting.

Drink Milk


 

Whatever, In Comments

 So, this snowflake in comments, Whatever, decides to put his fingers to the keyboard and reveal to the world that he has no concept of liberty.  I'll insert his comment below so you can all enjoy it.

Whatever said...

Your incessant whining about personal freedoms are irrelevant in the middle of a global pandemic. People like you are why it’s still a problem. Grow up.

Incessant whining?  Really!  I've thoroughly read the Constitution and cannot find anywhere the term "global pandemic".

For the record, I know that Covid is real, and I know it kills people.  And, I have done things and modified my behavior to protect those around me.  I wear a mask when it is appropriate.  

I also believe that personal liberty is more important than government restrictions.  For that small business owner, his or her business is essential.  Personal, face-to-face educationist essential.

Fourteen days to slow the spread has turned into nine months of crippling restrictions.  And, from what little I have seen, it hasn't gotten any better.

But, Whatever, if you read the post, I was talking about the time after the pandemic.  My prayer is now, and has been for many months, that when this is over, governors dedicate as much time, effort and energy as they dedicated to restricting freedom, they should expend that much energy expanding freedom.

I think that the next five or six months is crucial to putting this disastrous disease behind us, and we should all do what we can to limit the effects.  When it's over, I want the governors to expand freedom at a dramatic rate.  But, I fear that many governors have become accustomed to their power, and that many Americans have become accustomed to a nanny government that tells us what government thinks is best for us.

Thanksgiving Reflections

 


Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Louisiana Goes Back to Phase 2

Our governor is taking us back to what he calls a modified Phase 2 in the fight against the Wu-Flu.


He tried to be upbeat about it, saying that eventually, and for what he might be in several months, that we could put the virus "in our rearview mirror".  We can only hope.

It is my continued prayer that once this virus is behind us, that the Governor spends as much time, energy, and political capital on opening Louisiana as he has spent on the virus.  He could start by telling the various health departments to leave businesses alone for 10 months, tell the State Fire Marshal to go home for 10 months, unless something is actually smoldering after a fire,   Tell the alcohol inspectors to take an extended vacation.

Louisiana has seen a terrible contraction of personal and business freedom for the past 10 months, and the least the Governor can do, when this is over, to let us roar without being hounded by functionary, officious bureacrats.  

Monday, November 23, 2020

Closest House Race

 According to Hot Air, there is a House race in Iowa that is down to single digits in the vote counting.

The closest House election in the country is even closer now. I wrote about this race earlier this month. Iowa Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks led Democrat Rita Hart on election night by fewer than 300 votes. Then an election auditor discovered that Jasper County had counted a block of 406 votes for Miller-Meeks twice. Subtracting those double-counted votes put Hart in the lead. But then another county discovered it had failed to report 271 votes for Miller-Meeks, putting her back in the lead but only by 47 votes. Now a recount has tightened the race to single digits.

Currently, six votes by the last count.

I remember a judgeship in a small rural parish in Louisiana, back in the late '80s or early '90s.  The sitting judge had died and they held an election to find a replacement.   The vote came out a dead-tie.  Both candidates became plaintiffs and started suing everyone in sight.  Because they had no sitting judge, the state Supreme Court appointed an ad-hoc judge (retired) from another parish to sort it out.

I  happened to know the parole officer who worked that parish, his office was down the hall from mine.  I stopped in to ask about the dilemma, and asked if he was going to take his caseload book to the Registrar of Voters and see how many of his caseload had illegally voted in that race.

"Have you lost your damned mind?" he retorted.  "I don't even want to walk down the hall of the Courthouse."  He lived in that parish, and certainly did not want to be the star witness in the case.

They eventually decided that disaster, and I don't recall how it turned out.

Business owners in Buffalo, NY demand confront health inspector: "Go get...

Some officious bureaucrat enters a building on a complaint and gets thrown our because she is on private property without a warrant.


That's the way it is supposed to work.  Come back with a warrant.

What's Going On?

 The family was talking yesterday at lunch, and of course, politics came into the conversation, and I made the statement that either Sidney Powell was about to unload the biggest crime ever perpetrated on electoral politics, or she was barking batshit crazy.  I didn't see any other options to what I was seeing in the news.

At some point shortly thereafter, the conversation turned to firearms oddities, like the Chiappa Rhino and the Charter Arms Explorer pistol.  

We're watching a political drama play out, probably unlike anything I've seen in my lifetime.  The 2000 election was close, but I believe that this drama exceeds the "hanging-chad" drama because that one focused on bureaucratic incompetence, while this one seems to hinge on allegations of criminality.

This morning over coffee, I'd reading that the Trump campaign is distancing themselves from Powell.  She seems to have crossed some line that is causing consternation and they're cutting her loose.  That same article linked above also says that Georgia Republicans are threatening to boycott the Senate runoff because of Republican shenanigans.

There are things at play here that I don't understand.  But, I don't have time to understand them.  There are lots of things to do today, and I'd best get busy.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Australian Gun Owners Warning to Americans, If It Happened to Us It Can ...

11/19/20 - Gov. John Bel Edwards' Update

Below, I've shared the briefing of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards from this pat Friday.  He has some guest speakers, but skip forward to the 43:00 minute mark.  He talks about what Louisiana neds to do to slow the spread of Covid as we enter into the holiday season.

I understand his frustration.  Many of us here in Louisiana are tired of Covid, fatigued, and ready for a return to something that approximates normality.  Now may not be the time, and most of us are doing the absolute minimum that he requires.  He talks about his hope that next Thanksgiving we can gaher and give thanks for all our blessings,


My prayer this season is that once this is behind us, our Governor will exert as much time and energy in expanding freedom i Louisiana as he has spent contracting freedom during this Covid  emergency.

That is my prayer, but I have no expectation.  His first tern was marked by mass out-migration, decreasing property values, and an expansion of the welfare state.   The good news in all of this is thta a vaccine is supposedly in final trials and this crisis might be over in a very few months.  The other good news is that i an hearing rumors that Bel is being considered for a couple of positions in the Biden administration.  One, is Secretary of the Army.  Bel is a West Point graduate, and a tabbed Ranger.  The other rumor (which I think is a hoot) is that he is being considered as an ambassador the Vatican.

Louisiana needs freedom, and I think that John Bel Edwards is neither politically nor philosophically inclined to deliver it for us.  That would require a sever reduction of government influence in our daily lives, and he is simply not suited for that task. 

No Prisons?

 Hot Air, and PJMedia is reporting that BLM is pushing the Biden/Harris administration for some face-time to talk about the BREATHE act, which, among other things, puts forward a raod map to abolish federal prisons.  

One of the more prominent voices pushing for this bit of insanity is Patrisse Cullors, a name that pops up frequently in discussions involving BLM. As she told the Hollywood Reporter, this plan “provides for full decarceration of federal detention facilities within 10 years and enacts a moratorium on all new federal prison, jail, immigrant and youth detention construction.”

This is a great idea that flows logically from "defund the police'.  If the police aren't arresting folks, we certainly won't need prisons to put those people in. This sounds like a real unifying proposal, because  we deplorables won't need to worry if we ignore some as-yet-to-be-determined "assault weapons ban".  I can see a number of unintended consequences.

If the mission of the radical left is to fundamentally transform the American landscape, defunding the police seems like a great start, but abolishing the prison system is a left wing wet dream.  Until they realize that it works both ways.  Without the deterrent of prison, there is no real alternative to total chaos.  All that will be left for normal citizens to protect their lives and property is the ability to shoot intruders and stack them up like cordwood at the edge of the property.

If the left gets theri way, the next four years is going to be a wild ride.  

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Experiment

 I went to the butcher shop this morning because I intend to cook a big ol' pot roast for lunch tomorrow.  My butcher is amenable to reasonable request, and when I asked him for a 5 lb chuck roast, he did his best.  The only problem was the first slice came out just a tad under 4 lbs.  

I told him to not worry about it, just cut me a bigger one, and I"d take both of them.

I've been thinking for a while about sokeing a chuck roast on the smoker, not unlike how I smoke brisket.  I figured they were both beef, and amenable to the same treatment.  So, when I got home, I fired up the smoker and set about giving that smaller roast a good salt-and-pepper rub.

The only two seasonings beef needs is salt and pepper.  You can put anything you want on your beef.  You are not going to hurt my feelings, but all it needs is salt and pepper.

I like to cook my smoked meat low and slow.  225-250F for as long as it takes.  I put that chuck roast in the smoker for five hours, then took it out and wrapped it in aluminum foil,  put it back in for another two hours.


I'll slice it in a bit, and we'll make sandwiches.


New Mexico Goes Batshit Crazy

 Just when I think that Louisiana has it bad, I et a cal from my son in New Mexico.  The governor there is closing grocery stores.

The New Mexico Health Department shut down two grocery stores in Roswell because of too many rapid responses due to COVID-19 exposures. In Carlsbad and Hobbs, they are down to one grocery store in each community after the other was closed for two weeks by the Health Department. Residents say this is causing some people to panic.

Bureaucrats run amok.  The voters in the state should remember this at the next election.  New Mexico has a lot going for it, but the governor ain't one of those things.

Random Scenes

 Random scene from a parking lot.  Yeah, that pup is wearing shades.


That pup is chilling.

"A Time for Choosing" by Ronald Reagan

Listening to the words of Ronald Reagan in his 1964 speech, it's hard to understand that he is not talking about us today.  He was, at the time, the governor of California, a life-long Democrat who had recently switched to the Republican party and was trying to help Barry Goldwater ascend to the presidency. His words in 1964 continue to resonate today.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Biden Wants A Buyback.


I will nt comply.

Drawing The Line

 Law enforcement officers all over the country may soon have to make a choice; obey their petty tyrant governors, or honor their oath.  It's a simple choice and sometimes you have to say no.

At least one Sheriff in Oregon has decided to honor the oath.

“We understand the realities of Covid-19,” they said, “but we draw the line when we are dealing with decisions relating to individual residences, religion, or businesses.”

That is exactly the correct attitude to take.   

Not Likely, Doc

 Our petty tyrant governor gave an impassioned press conference yesterday when he implored Louisiana to redouble it's efforts to fight the dreaded Wu-Flu.  He had a guest speaker, some idiot named Thomas, who declared that we are all health-care workers now and should do everything we can to reduce the spread of the virus.  His argument was that the hospitals have the beds, but  not enough staffing to provide critical care.

The doctor said every Louisiana resident should consider themselves a “healthcare provider” because they have the ability to prevent the virus from spreading to others particularly, their loved ones.

The doc might recall that the draft ended in 1973. The US no longer forces people into service, either in the military nor in health care.  I didn't sign up to be a health-care worker.  Of course, in his hyper-scientific world of critical care, he's the boss.  He doesn't have tie to study things like history,   We now believe that it is better to convince people to enter certain career fields, through incentives, not coercion.

But, then we get to his real distress.

Dr. Thomas said the issue with hospital capacity is not whether a hospital has enough beds but instead whether a hospital has adequate staff to care for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. He said his staff is tired and stressed out and with more COVID-19 patients, the more likely hospital staffers are to contract the virus themselves. The doctor also said additional personnel cannot be brought in from other parts of the U.S. because hospitals in every state are also dealing with a surge in patients.

It sounds like y'all have horrible staffing issues, Doc.  And, this bozo works for the LSu system, which is the largest trainer of physicians in the state of Louisiana.  How many did they graduate last year?  How many registered nurses?  Not enough, evidently.  Now, he's pleading with us to not overwhelm his hospitals.  They gt caught flat-footed by the Wu-flu and now they want us to make up the shortfall.

I would sugest to Doc Thomas that their medical staffing charts are totally insufficient to a pandemic, and that perhaps they should take a hard look at what is necessary during an emergency.  The last pandemic in the US, by all accounts, was in 1918 during the Spanish Flu epidemic.  

We make 100-year flood maps to guide us in our planning.  Perhaps the medical profess should make 100-year pandemic maps to guide their staffing.  But, the last thing the medical profession should do is blame us for their lack of planning.

As a young army officer, I had  conversation with a young physician.  I told that youn physician that in the atomic age, we could provide her with 10,000 critical burn patients in the space of about 15 minutes.  I asked her if the medical profession was up to the challenge.  She said "No.".  Perhaps it's time for the medical profession to quit whining an get busy.  They chose the field.  It's what they signed up for.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

We're Not There Yet

 Running errands yesterday, the big topic of discussion was the Covid shutdown that many states are experiencing  Louisiana was one of he harder hit states, due to New Orleans and Mardi Gras, flooding he state with the Wu-flu.  We've been under restrictions ever since, starting with a Stay At Home order, continuing through Phase 1, 2, and we're currently in what the Governor calls Phase 3, but most of us consider Phase 2.5.

We are still under a mask mandate, which seems to be in effect only in the big box stores.  In smaller, family run businesses, you seldom see a mask, and i many restaurants, you seldom see a mask.  The Churches have long since ignored the Governor, still believing that the First Amendment applies to the states and the Church is governed by a higher power.

But, with the wave of Covid running through the other states, it is a topic of discussion, and the rumor ill is interested.  The Governor addressed those rumors yesterday, saying simply, "We're not there yet."  Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and the Governor still has plenty of time to put a damper on the holidays.  He'll probably time his announcement to achieve the maximum outrage.

PawPaw as to leave this acre in another hour, to go help grandson Zach get out of the dorm at LA Tech.  His quarter ends today, and everyone has to move out of the dorm until they return in early December. for the Winner quarter.  Tech is on the quarter system, as opposed to the semester system.  It's just another way of breaking up the school year.  It's a pretty day for a drive, so I'll take advantage of the nice weather.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

What'cha Cooking, PawPaw?

 I don't know how it's going to turn out, but Belle asked me to cook for her office today, so this morning early, I went out to the shop, and butterfly'ed a pork loin, stuffed it with cheese and sausage, then rolled it in bacon.


Rolling it was fun, but the parchment paper helped a bunch.  It would have been nice to have a second pair of hands helping me, but I managed.


It wet in a 375 oven and we'll check it in a couple of hours.  I'll make a batch of Ouida potatoes and take it to them for lunch.  If it doesn't suit them, then Popeye's is just down the road.

Po' Ol' Cedric

 That's Cedric Richmond, the only (D) congress-critter from Louisiana. He serves the New Orleans area and found himself a job in the Biden administration.  They announced it yesterday.

Only problem for Cedric is that he ain't "left" enough.    The woke bunch is wailing and moaning that he's tied to Big Oil.

Progressive environmental group the Sunrise Movement on Tuesday criticized President-elect Joe Biden’s selection of Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) to be his senior adviser over Richmond’s fossil fuel donations. 

It seems that Richmond took money from the oil industry.  As does every Louisiana politician who wants money for yard signs.

 “One of President-Elect Biden’s very first hires for his new administration has taken more donations from the fossil fuel industry during his Congressional career than nearly any other Democrat, cozied up to Big Oil and Gas, and stayed silent and ignored meeting with organizations in his own community while they suffered from toxic pollution and sea-level rise,” said Varshini Prakash, the group’s executive director, in a statement. 

The Dems have a huge problem.  One of them being that if their plans work out, they won't have Trump to rail against.  They are going to have to pick a new target, because wailing and moaning only works if you have someone to wail about. 

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Profanity in Comments

 I have to say this every couple of years, and now it's time.

If you look at the post below, you will notice that I deleted a comment where the commenter thought profanity was the best way to express thoughts.

I encourage comments.  I enjoy comments.  But, this is my blog and I don't have to tolerate poor behavior. Just as I've thrown people our of my physical home,for poor behavior, I'll not tolerate rudeness.

It's hard to insult me.  After 37 years in police work, I've been called every name in the book. I know that I'm old, decrepit, and a fat man.  That is not news and does not contribute to the conversation, but I don't consider that a reason to eject someone.  When I see rudeness or profanity I click the garbage can icon and send the comment to the trash pile.

There a people here who have been commenting since this blog began, back in 2005.  Many have disagreed.  I"ve learned a lot from those folks.  But, in this little corner of the internet, I'm the boss.


Monday, November 16, 2020

I'm Just Sayin'

 I'm not one to downplay new treatments for anythig, and I think that medical science has done wonders to improve our lives.  

It seems that some doctors are treating women with testosterone.

“We’ve been treating men for low testosterone,” said Dr. Meir Daller of Gulfstream Urology. “Those men come home and the women say ‘Wow he feels great, he’s energetic, he’s a different person, his mood swings are gone,’ and they say, ‘Hey, I also want to feel great.'”

That's all well and good, and I hope it helps with whatever problem they are having, but I made myself a promise a long time ago.  I will never kiss a woman who can grow a better mustache than I can.

I'm just sayin'. 

Out-Migration

 I was reading an article about the declining population of New York City, and decided to do a little clicking and see how bad the our-migration of Louisiana might be.  It's a sad decline.

The population of Louisiana in 2019 was 4,648,794, a 0.23% decline from 2018.

The population of Louisiana in 2018 was 4,659,690, a 0.23% decline from 2017.

The population of Louisiana in 2017 was 4,670,560, a 0.16% decline from 2016.

The population of Louisiana in 2016 was 4,678,135, a 0.29% increase from 2015.

Louisiana's population last saw an increase in 2016, the first year o the term of John Bel Edwards.   It takes a while for policy choices to turn into trends, and our decline started in 2016.  Since the, according to these numbers, our state has lost 21,766 people.

In a report by LSU, it gives a more in-depth look at population changes 


It's one thing to look at trends on a macro level, it's another thing entirely to look at them on a micro level.  In the case of my family, Louisiana lost two highly credentialed families in 2019.  That summer they were both head-hunted by outfits in other states.  The total package was too good, so they packed up and left.  PawPaw's family in Louisiana decreased by 50%.

This is our Governor's business legacy.  His long-term legacy might be that we lose a US Representative after the Census is tabulated this year.  His Covid legacy is one of lockdown and restrictions.  He can still turn it around, but in large part the damage is done.He would have to become extremely business-friendly and expremely freedom oriented.  I have no expectation of either.

Richard Hammond and team play Supermarket Sweep in Hatchbacks | Top Gear...

Need a good laugh.  Here you go.

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Oregn Will Put You In Jail

It seems that the Oregon governor wants to put peope in jail for ignoring her most recent covid "freeze".  She's leery of using he word "lockdown" because it has a bad connotation. 

“For the last eight months, I have been asking Oregonians to follow the letter and the spirit of the law and we have not chosen to engage law enforcement. At this point in time, unfortunately, we have no other option,” the governor reportedly said over the weekend.

I have faith in the cops in this country, and I doubt seriously that any of my brethren would enforce such draconian measures. The county sheriff's need to get together and tell the governor to get a grip.  If you haven't convinced the proles to knuckle under by now, you're not likely to.

I hear she's jonesing for a spot in the Biden administration.   I also hear our petty tyrant Democrat governor is jonesing for a sot in the Biden administration.  Maybe creepy Joe could open a Bureau of Redundant Incompetence and staff it with Democrat governors.  It would be a great service to the nation.

Chicken-Fried

On a cool, rainy, Sunday morning, we went with comfort food.  Chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes,  cream gravy, creamed corn, and yeast rolls.  Right now, the whole barn smells like chicken-fried steak.


So, we may as well listen to a little Zach Brown.


Y'all have a blessed Sunday.

Saturday, November 14, 2020

GUN CONTROL: Liberals Shocked By Gun Control Facts


It's fascinating to watch these folks read facts that they don't know about.

Gun Control is control.

New Mexico Going On Lockdown

 Just got a call from my younger son, who lives in New Mexico.  It seems that their Democrat governor has ordered a two-week lockdown.

I have said before, and I'll say again, that whatever the legacy of these governors, we should remember that they have presided over the most severe contraction of personal freedom since Reconstruction.  

I pray that once this thing is over, (and it will be at some point)  that those same governors expend as much energy and focus on expanding liberty across their states.  This contraction of liberty is un-paralleled in US history and cannot be allowed to go unpunished.

I know that Covid is real and will extract a price from us.  I wonder if the price it will extract will be a return to bondage, or a revitalization of the American dream.


November Match WInners

We had a great match today, with good shooters, good humor, and great fun.

Ladies winners:

1at, Squirrel Girl - 2ne, Two Step Cookie - 3rd Blue Eyed Belle

 Men's Winners:

1st, Brother Fred - 2nd, Big Bill - 3rd Cotile Kid

This puts our competition season the grecord books.  We'll have a year-end banquet on Friday, December 11th at 6:00 pm, in the club house.

Getting The Range Ready

 The club is hosting the November Monthly Match this morning, and I'm getting the clubhouse ready.  

The range is set up, and the paperwork is ready.  The cash box has been placed next to the sign-up sheets and the coffee pot is plugged in.

Members will start showing up shortly.

I am convinced that primer-smoke kills Covid.  While it has ravaged the country, I haven't heard any reports of the plague from active CFDA shooters.  Perhaps that is something the experts should look at.

The Push Is On

 Our petty tyrant governor said yesterday in a pres briefing that Louisiana is in pretty good shape as a state (regarding covid), but that if we started slipping, he woud not hesitate to impose some restrictions.

This morning, one of the NOLA health officials chided us for living.

Dr. Avegno said for the most part, New Orleanians are doing a good job at avoiding large, maskless gatherings, and people are wearing masks when in public. She said where people are getting tripped up is with the little things.

 "Where we're seeing spread right now, the majority of cases, is from people letting their guard down," said Dr. Avegno. "You go to play tennis with a friend, you go out afterwards, you keep the masks off, you sit next to each other, and then one of you comes up positive two days later and the other comes up positive the next day."

It's called living, doc, and Louisiana is a gregarious state.

I have done everything that our petty tyrant governor has asked me to do, and it's not good enough.  We stayed at home and slowed the spread, we wear masks when we're in public, we wash our hands frequently.  We've been doing this for eight months, and now that the holidays are upon us.they want us to destroy Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

They've closed our businesses, shuttered our churches, and nearly wrecked our education system, all on the advice of experts.  Experts who had never been elected to anything.  Experts who, for the most part, are protected civil servants and never put themselves forward for election.

It's one thing to listen to an expert, it's another thing to defer to them i matters of public policy.  If they wanted o make policy, they should have gone down to the Clerk's office and qualified to run for office. Instead, they opine about success, and in doing so, move the goalposts that we are all trying to achieve.  When it is tantalizingly in reach, they move it.  It's a never-ending battle to achieve success under expert rule.

At one point, the goal was positivity under 10%.  Now, the goal is under 5%.  It looks to me like they want it under 3%.  It's time to sink those goalposts in concrete and let us meet the goal.

Friday, November 13, 2020

Anvil 090: Mainspring Fabrication

Want to know ow to build a spring?  This is interesting stuff.

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Distractions

 When I was a young cop, probably in the mid-80s, I was amused to learn about a sister agency's dilemma.  It seems that there was a convenience store outside of a major Army base, and someone called in a bomb in a box near the gas pumps.  They dispatched a unit, and sure enough, there was a cardboard box with the word BOMB written on it with a sharpie marker.

In the space of a very few moments, the entire department was consumed with dealing with the bomb.  After a half-hour or so, they got into the box and found that it was an empty box.

Across town, on the other side of the jurisdiction, three thugs had robbed a branch bank.  Made a clean getaway.  The Chief of Police was considerably dismayed.

That taught me a valuable lesson.  Don't let distractions fool you into not noticing what is really going on.  Right now, there are a lot of distractions.

Pay attention, keep your head on a swivel,.  and keep your magazines loaded.

The Insanity Continues

"Follow the science", they said.  :Wear a mask,  stay at home, wash your hands", they said.

Back in March, it was all abut lockdown.  And we did what they told us to do.  We stayed at home, lost contact with friends and family, wrecked the economy so that we could slow (not stop) the spread, and keep from overwhelming the hospitals.

I ranted and raved about it, but I did it. Followed the science.  Now, they're telling us that we might have to go through it all again.  And, they're calling us names.  Science deniers,   They;re coming up with terms like Pandemic Fatigue.  And they are right, I'm tired of it.  I did everything they told me to do, and it isn't over yet.  It didn't work.  And they wonder why we question their expertise.


In my career, both in the military and law enforcement, we had deadlines.  Things that had to be accomplished by a certain time.  Yet, our public health experts have no such restrictions.  They are free to limit our freedom, wreck our economy, and tell us that if don't follow the science, then we are the problem.  And I'm tired of it.

Give us a date, and tell us that if we do what the science dictates, by that date this will be over.  If you can't do that, on time, on schedule, then surrender your medical license, admit you were wrong, and find another profession.  This is too serious or anything else.

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Buffalo Trace

 One of my favorite whiskey's is Buffalo Trace bourbon, which I found several years ago to be a nice, down-home-plate rendering of bourbon whiskey.  just what you'd expect.  More vanilla notes than others, but all-in-all, a nice, respectable bourbon whiskey.


For years it was a standard o the consumer shelves.  You could buy it at Sam's Club in the mid-$20 range.

The last time I was in Sam's Club, I didn't see it.  SO, the last time I went to my local liquor store, I looked for it. Nope.  I guess everyone else found it and started buying it up.  And that's the problem with good whiskey.  It takes a minimum of two years to make straight whiskey, and four years to make bottled-in-bond, and if you sell all the four year old whiskey, you'll never sell any six year whiskey.

According to this article, Buffalo Trace knew it had a problem and decided to expand.  That's good news for bourbon drinkers, but the answer is four to six years down the road.  The bourbon they make today won't be ready for a while.  I still have my bourbon, and demand doesn't seem to be a problem.

My current favorite is Evan Williams Bottled inn Bond, and I hope that the supply of that stays consistent with demand


The President-Elect

 The President-elect is a term defined in the Constitution.  It refers to that person who has been elected President of the United States but ho has not yet taken office.

Joe Biden's assumption of that title his a bit premature.  The next president won't be elected until the first Monday, after the second Wednesday of December.  That is when the electors meet to elect a president.  Until then, Joe Biden is just some guy who may or may not be the president.

Many people are confused by this, which shows a distinct lack of knowledge about how we elect a president.  Evidently, civics is not a thing in high school any more.

But, Sleepy Creepy Joe should know better.  He's been a senator since Moses was a Lance-Corporal and a Vice President for eight years.  His ignorance on this mater is appalling.

Veteran's Day

 


Tuesday, November 10, 2020

AMERICAN PRAVDA

I've always liked Bill Whittle's work, ever since he was blogging at Eject, Eject, Eject.

What Might One Do

What might one do when he is sitting around the shop listening to the radio?  Why, clean a rifle, of course.

Today, it was the Scout's turn.  I bought the rifle in 2015, a Savage Scout.  This particular model is either the 3rd of 4th generation of Savage Scouts.  I talk about it here.  I haven't shot it a terribly lot, simply because shortly after I purchased it, I got involved in Cowboy Fast Draw and started spending money buying sing-action revolvers.

After servicing the rifle, and remembering how much I like it and why I bought it, I realized that magazines were empty and found a couple of boxes of Federal 150 grain soft point ammo that needed to find a purpose.


Now, I feel as if I've accomplished something today, and when I get ready to head for the woods, it will simply be a matter of grabbing the gun bag.

Cantrell is Pissed

It seems that there was an event in New Orleans this weekend, and no one was wearing masks or social distancing.   Reports indicate that the City erected barricades and police officers were present to watch the crowd.

The mayor, LaToya Cantrell, is outraged.  The City council is talking about fines and other penalties.

For the record, it was a Christian music concert.  Roughly 400 people attended.

The rumor is that the event promoters applied for a permit from the City, but listed it as a protest.  The permit was approved in due course, and the City erected barricades and provided a law-enforcement presence.  The police officer, by all reports, had a real easy detail.  No problems, no disruptions.

I think it's hilarious.  The City may have issued a permit for a post-election protest, but became outraged when it turned into a Christian music concert.

The Problem With The Press

 The problem with the press is that they have seemed to lack all manner of objectivity.  Instapundit has for years described them as "Democrat operatives with bylines", but the willful lack of objectivity and total lack of curiosity abut anything that runs counter to the narrative is appalling.

There is no conceivable doubt that there were Democrat shenanigans during this past election.  Half of America is wondering what-the-hell happened, yet the press seems to be absolutely disinterested in  knowing how many votes were tampered with, 

The head of the GOP in Michigan, Roma McDaniel, has filed a suit alleging misconduct across a broad swath of Michigan.  In her press briefing yesterday she detailed 131 affidavits of wrong-doing.

McDaniel detailed the claims of many of the affidavits. “I hope you look at these affidavits,” she told the press. “And I hope you hear from the people who were there [in Detroit].” She also urged the media to care about the reports of voter fraud and intimidation instead of just ignoring or suppressing them as they have been doing and moving on with the news cycle as if their declaration of a win for Biden is the final word on the matter.

But, the press is so giddy with the thought that they won, that they chose to heckler her instead. 

If there is oe count of voter fraud, t should be investigated and prosecuted.  The integrity of the process is vital to the continued assessment of the population that our process is fair and equitable. Whoever is in charge should insist that our election process be rigorous and equitable.  

For a time, I was involved in politics.  I ran as a candidate.  I lost, but I took solace in the knowledge that the process was fair and that the people of my parish had made their choice. I was okay with that.

If, though, the American people ever lose faith in the electoral process, if they lose faith in the ballot box, the only alternative might be the cartridge box.

It is time for the press to become curious about election shenanigans, because the alternative is simply unthinkable.

Monday, November 09, 2020

Tucker: We heard you. It’s hard to trust anything. Here’s what we know.

Flu Shot

 While in the pharmacy today getting my Rx, I took a minute to get my flu shot.  Belle recommended it last week, and I understand that her recommendations are binding.

Came home, made a big jambalaya.  I still have two boys in the house that require regular feeding.

Not much else going on around here today.  It's Monday.


Jason Miller Outlines Ballot Harvesting In GA

This election isn't over yet.  

Benford's Law - Numberphile

Ever heard of Benford's Law?  Me neither.  Evidently it is a statistical tool used to evaluate large data sets.  Because numbers follow predictable patterns in naturally occurring data sets, then anything that deviates from these patterns is predictive of un-natural influences. 

It seems that in the huge data set of the US National Election, most candidates votes follow Benford's Law.  Except Joe Biden's.  Especially in those counties in swing states that mattered.

From my limited reading, Benford's law won't tell us what happened, it only tells us that something happened to cause a large data set to deviate from what we could normally expect to happen in large data sets.  It's one indicator of fraud.



Odd, ain't it?

Sunday, November 08, 2020

Corruption? Much?

People Are Asking

 People are asking, "What happens if Biden kicks the bucket?"

He will be the eldest president-elect in our nation's history, so that's a fair question.

In truth, we didn't elect Joe Biden.  Each state chose a slate of electors who will meet in December to elect a president.  We call that the Electoral College and each state has rules that govern their behavior.

If Biden dies in the time before the Electoral College, then presumably the electors from the various states will be free to vote their conscience.  If Biden dies in the period between the Electoral College and the inauguration, then the 20th Amendment kicks in.

If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President.

I sincerely hope that the Biden presidency will be as ineffectual as Senate career, and that in four year we will have found a suitable constitutional candidate to run the country. The idea of a Harris presidency is too rim to even consider.  My prayer at this point is that Biden lives through his term, suffers ignominious defeat in 2024 and retires into blissful obscurity.

Saturday, November 07, 2020

Congratulations Representative-Elect Lauren Boebert - CO 3rd District

Congratulations to Congresswoman-elect Lauren Boebert who was elected last week to represent Colorado's 3rd District.  She's a mom, and a staunch gun owner who took on Beto O'Rourke at one of his town halls.


Colorado did a great thing electing Ms. Boebert, and I hope she has a long and distinguished career.

The New Gun Run

 It looks like the new run on guns and ammo has kicked off.

Biden made no secret about wanting a new "assault weapons ban", whatever that means.  There are plenty of YouTube videos out there breaking it down for us, so I'll let you search on your own.

I have my riffles, and I hope you do too.

The one upside to this whole thing is that Joe Biden was a fairly ineffective legislator, and there is no reason to believe that he's gotten any better in the 12 years since he left the Senate. His platform is pretty scary, and it's a pain in the butt to have to use the Supreme Court, but I don't think that they want to revisit Heller or McDonald.

Biden may claim that he has a mandate, but I don't think so.  This wasn't the most closely contested presidential election in our history, but it wasn't a landslide.

President Trump still has his legal challenges, but I don't know how that is going to work out.

I know that if Biden prevails, we're going to have plenty to blog about over the next four years.

Louisiana's 5th District

 After the dust settled from the presidential election, we in Louisianan's 5th House district found that we had an utterly predictable conclusion.

Louisiana has jungle primary elections, where all candidates run in the same race, regardless of party, and the top two vote getters go into a runoff, if neither has garnered a majority.

In the map below, the LA 5th is listed as a runoff, and that's true.  We are in a runoff.


I know that the map can add one Republican seat to the House map, because in Louisiana's 5th, the runoff is between two Republicans. Luke Ludlow, and Lance Harris.  We're going to elect a Republican, that is a foregone conclusion.

Early voting is Nov. 20-28 from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (excluding Sunday, Nov. 22, Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving) and Friday, Nov. 27 (Acadian Day); early voting is advanced one day because of the holidays)

Election Day is Saturday, December 5th.

Friday, November 06, 2020

Two Signs

 My son in New Mexico tells me that this yard sign is popping up everywhere


That's fine, in the great scheme of things, but someone thought it was time to upgrade it to better reflect their beliefs.


With the current political climate, I think this matches my feelings a little better.


It May Be Over

 It looks like the mail-in ballots swung the pendulum to Biden's side.  Decision Desk has just called the race in Pennsylvania for Joe Biden, and their electoral votes puts him over the 270 needed to win.

On Friday morning just before 9 a.m. Eastern, Decision Desk called the State of Pennsylvania for Democratic nominee Joe Biden, giving Biden 273 electoral votes and the presidency. According to Decision Desk, Biden win with just over 5,000 votes. The vote-counting is not over yet, however. The results take some time to confirm and President Donald Trump’s campaign has formally requested a recount in at least one swing state.

It isn't looking good for the home team in Arizona, nor in Georgia.   Mail-in ballots seem to be the key to winning close races.  How many of those are fraudulent are yet to be seen, but we may never know the answer to that question.

As of this writing, it looks like we kept control of the Senate, and made gains in the House.  Hopefully our legislators can stand as a firewall against the more onerous depredations of a Biden administration.

I'm sure that Biden is breathing a sigh of relief.  It's fairly settled law that no one can indict a sitting president, so he's safe for the time being.  With his Justice Dept., it's highly questionable whether Hunter will ever be prosecuted for money laundering.

I have a feeling that the Biden years are going to be very interesting.

New Mississippi Flag

 Voters in Mississippi approved a new flag, to theplace the old flag with a Confederate theme.


The new flag features a magnolia flower and the words In God We Trust.

Thursday, November 05, 2020

Supper

 What's fer supper, PawPaw?  I was digging in the freezer and found some bacon, some hamburger patties and some Texas toast that I needed to use.  Life is fixing to get interesting.


Wi-Fi In The Shop

This is a test post to see if my wi-fi connection in the shop is suitable for blogging.  So far, so good, and it looks like we may be up and running.  Before today, we didn't have internet capabilities out here, so this may be better.

Up For Grabs

 This is the damndest election cycle I've ever seen.

We all knew that Pennsylvania was a battleground state, but who thought that on Thursday, we'd still be waiting fr Alaska t be called? Or Georgia?  C'mon, guys.  Get your shit together.


Who thought that Nevada might be the state to elect the president?  The pollsters were wrong about everything.

Wednesday, November 04, 2020

Analysis; True

 The pollsters were wrong, the pundits were wrong, the only guys who were right were:

Mail-in ballots are a pox on the democratic process.  The only way to have secure, reliable elections are with in-person voting with proper ID requirements.  Anything else is an invitation to fraud.  Which is what we are seeing right now

Belle's Cartridge Box

 The ladies of Cowboy Fast Draw like their bling, and some like to show up at shoots with a nice cartridge box.  Weekend past, Belle ad I traveled to the Jasper County Cowboy Church for their fall festival, and wile we were there, she picked up a small box with gunfighter bling on it.


So, during this election madness this week, I did some measuring, and seeing how I could make a usable cartridge box.  I decided to cut down an MTM P-100 series box so that she could have her loaded ammo ready and have a bit of room to drop empties.  In the lid, to provide a bit of padding, I cut down a CFDA mouse pad that I wasn't using.


Now, my gal can carry sufficient ammo for a weekend shoot in a box that suits her style.  She inspected it and declared it suitable, so I'm doe wit this project.

Shenanigans

 Rush Limbaugh just reported that Wisconsin counted more total votes than they have registered voters.  Snopes says it ain't so.

There were 3,240,268 votes counted in Wisconsin, with 3,684720 registered voters in the state.  That would give Wisconsin better than 88% voter turnout.  By contrast, Louisiana turned in a 69% voter turnout.  That is huge for Louisiana.  

Michigan continues to find Biden votes.  They just keep on coming.  The race has't been called yet, and the counting continues.  Hopefully, we'll know something i a day or so.


Too Close To Call

 For the second time in my lifetime, we awake the morning after a major election and don't know who the winner might be.  The first I recall is the 2000 "hanging chad" debacle in Florida.  Now, we have the multi-state mail-in ballot Some states may not yet have received all the ballots that ere cast, allowing extra time for the Post Office to deliver the mail.

As Joe Stalin some famously said, it doesn't matter who voted, what matters is who is counting the votes.

We'll just have to wait and see.

I'm going to the woods this morning.  Maybe we'll know more when I get back.

Tuesday, November 03, 2020

Election Day

 


Election Day

 It's election day, and I voted a couple of weeks ago, so I decided to make a big stew today

There is nothing that makes a room smell as good as onions sauteing in bacon grease.


Onions, taters and carrots simmering in a roux gray.

I have a meeting at the church this evening, and I"ll watch the returns for a bit before I go to bed.  I doubt they will declarre a winner before I succumb to slummber, so I'll check with cofee in the morning.


Monday, November 02, 2020

Shoutout

 


Eagles on the Runway

 A group of F-15 Eagles on a runway at Keflavik AFB, Iceland.

U.S. Air Force F-15C/D Eagles assigned to the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron conduct routine operations in support of NATO air policing at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, Oct. 26, 2020. Aircrews rely on the critical judgement of Air Battle Managers at the Control and Reporting Center to ensure their missions are conducted as safely as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Matthew Plew)

I had a buddy, an Air Force vet that I shared an office with, years ago.  He told me that they transferred him to Keflavik and told him that he'd love it.  There was a woman behind every tree.  He got off the airplane and looked around; no trees.

Sunday, November 01, 2020

Caps

 Yesterday at a church fair, I bought a couple of new caps.  One of the vendors was selling hats to help fund a veterans organizations, and I'm a sucker for veterans organizations, and I saw two caps that I could represent.


I am both a Desert Storm vet and branch qualified in Armor/Cavalry.  If the guy would have had a Cav ha, I would have bought one of those too. Heavy Armor was my first love, but I quickly became enamored of Armored Cavalry.

Massive Crowd in PA

 PJMedia reports:

The Secret Service said that more than 57,000 people showed up for a rally for Trump at the Pittsburgh-Butler airport. The local newspaper estimated the number at 10,000. It hardly matters. There were a lot of people there,

That a lot of people.  This election ain't over yet.

Sunday Election Fatigue

 Sunday, November 1st, and I'm over it.  Really.  I voted two weeks ago, and my vote is tallied, and I'm tired of this election cycle.  The volume will build to a crescendo, culminating on Tuesday night.

There is another named storm in the Gulf, Tropical storm, Eta.  As of right ow it doesn't look like it is going to bother us, but I'm over hurricane season, too. Between the elections, and the Covids, and the storms, this has been a rough year.

My adult daughter killed a deer yesterday, a smallish one, and she is a seasoned-enough hunter that she claims it is not Facebook worthy.  She said that it is the smallest legal deer she has ever seen, but I related a tale about a little buck I knocked down several years ago that was so small the other hunters in the camp accused me of hunting rabbits.

I'm going to finish this cup f coffee, then go out to the shop and start building Sunday dinner.  Today, the menu is bacon-wrapped stuffed meatloaf, Ouida potatoes, and baby lima beans, with rolls.

Y'all have a great and blessed Sunday.  This election madness will be over in a couple of days and we can get hack to something that approaches normal.