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.

The Fat Electrician Reviews: Tankers & M1 Abrams tank

Heh!  The Fat Electrician did tankers.  I had forgotten that we called lesser mortals, "crunchies".

I was around for the transition from the M60A3 to the M1.  They called us "Jedi tankers" because we didn't rely solely on lasers and computers to fire the gun.  We could hit stuff when the computer was down, which was fairly often. '60s era ballistic computers did not do well under recoil, and tanks have recoil.  Lots of it. When the computer went down, you switched to the gunners telescope and kept firing.  The lost time I took a crew downrange, we fired a 97% Q1, which means we qualified on the first run, and were awarded the Distinguished Gunnery badge.

But, yeah, I had forgotten about "crunchies".

Joey's painting his Jeep Top, how will it turn out?

It looks like my younger son Joey got in on his brother's action on the YouTube channel.  He lives in northern New Mexico, where he lives on top of a mesa.  He needs a Jeep to get back and forth to work, especially during the winter.

Glow-bull Warmening

 I got my electric bill for August.  It's not the highest I've seen, but it is up there. We are coming out of the hottest August I can remember, and I thought it would be worse.  I get two electric bills, one for the house and one for the shop.  I slit them both with my pocketknife, then folded the knife and put it back in my pocket before I looked at the bills.  I didn't want to accidentally jab the knife into my throat.

It's bad, but it ain't as bad as I expected.  We had over 20 consecutive days of 100+ heat in August.  Temps like that strain the A/C system, strain human tempers, and strain the pocketbook.  August sucked, and I'm glad to see it go.

Speaking of heat, it seems that 1600 climate scientists recently signed on to a paper that should humiliate the Green Nude Eel proponents as well as the climate alarmists. One paragraph in particular.

Natural as well as anthropogenic factors cause warming. The geological archive reveals that Earth’s climate has varied as long as the planet has existed, with natural cold and warm phases. The Little Ice Age ended as recently as 1850. Therefore, it is no surprise that we now are experiencing a period of warming.

Precisely.  Climate change ain't nothing new, and we are simply living through one phase. There is nothing we can do about it, and anything we try is probably doomed to fail.

Public Education

 So, school is back in session and maybe we should talk about this.  It is our duty to educate our kids.  In a lot of places, this takes the form of sending them off to the public schools that we all fund, and hope for the best.  The problem with that approach is that in lots of places, public education is still in the toilet. Yet, we spend a lot of money on it.

My solution is simple.  Each student gets a voucher at the end of the school year.  That student can take that voucher and spend it on whichever school he or she wants to attend.  Public, private, charter, it doesn't matter.  Let schools compete for the tax dollar, rather than just doling it out.

If a public school principal looks up in mid-June and doesn't have any vouchers, then that school will close.  It has no money.  If the school across town has a whole bunch of vouchers, then that principal can hire a bunch of teachers.

It makes no sense to subsidize a failing school.  Subsidize measurable success.

TFE Rant: Make A Hole!

Ain't this the truth?  Several months ago I was at an event, and helping a lady carry food into the venue.  I had a hot, smoked turkey on a platter, and a knot of people were standing in the door.  I asserted "Make A Hole", and everyone moved.

One fellow approached me later, with a smile on his face, saying that he hadn't heard Make A Hole in over 30 years, but he knew immediately what to do.  He didn't get butt-hurt, he just moved.

Idalia

 The picture says it all.  She is coming in as a major hurricane and is set to impact a whole lot of prople over the next couple of days.

Y'all be careful out there.

Monday Ramblings

 Monday began on an auspicious note.  I awoke at 4:30 like a tree full of hoot owls.  Got up and made coffee.  Had a doctors appointment for labs at 8:00.  I'll go back at 2:00 for his judgmental state.  This is all routine.

The whole thrust of that Maui fire post last week that it wasn't glowball warming.  They will figure out the problem, but figuring it out cost a lot of lives.

When I built my shop five years ago, I had it built for 150 mph winds.  We get the occasional hurricane up here and I didn't want to chase my shop down the street.  If you are building infrastructure, it pays to spend the money p front to withstand weather events that you are likely to see.  I'm just saying.

Speaking of weather events, it looks like we have a new storm, Idalia heading into the Gulf.  It doesn't look like she is coming here, but the folks in Florida need to be aware.

The Tale of the Willy D

At lunch today, my son turned me on to this guy's channel.  The tale of the William D Porter, the unluckiest destroyer in the US Navy.  Oh, I LOL'd.  Oh, and Not safe for work.

The Maui Fire

 Like many of you, I watched in horror as the fires on Maui broke out, killing hundreds. Then I watched in disgust as the developers came in, trying to buy the rubble and the land beneath it for pennies on the dollar. Then I listened with abject disbelief as the usual suspects tried to blame climate change  for the disaster.

As it turns out, it was probably the fault of the power company, who didn't shut down equipment fast enough to mitigate the damage.

Hawaiian officials attributed the cause of catastrophic wildfires to alleged failures from the state's main power utility company and downed power lines this week after Democrats blamed the disaster on global warming.

The knee-jerk of the left to blame everything on either climate change, racism, or transphobia is starting to get a bit tedious. 

Booking Photo

 I don't know if y'all noticed, but President Trump was arrested last week.  It was a pro forma booking, just a matter of perfecting the record.

During the first 22 years of my law enforcement career, I took fingerprints as part of the job.  As a parole officer, I took prints of newly released inmates.  After I retired from that and went to work for the Sheriff, I took fingerprints in the jail as the Identification officer.  The AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) was just coming out, and I made myself an expert on the new technology.

Part of the ID job was taking the mug shot, also known as the booking photo. It was done first with a standard film camera, then later as part of the AFIS protocol.  I have taken thousands of ID photos, and I have to tell you that President Trumps is epic.

They indicted him for purely political reasons, then arrested and booked him because that is what the law requires.  It's a protocol and is supposed to be an exercise in humility. But, there is nothing humble about that mug shot.

We shall see what we shall see, but Donald J Trump is running for president. If elected, he may come looking for payback. Make no mistake, it's not vengeance he's after.  It's a reckoning.

Gate Latches

 In the spring of '05 we fenced the back yard as phase 1 of a long project to make the place more comfortable. We live on a corner lot, and out back patio was readily visible from the street. Which meant I couldn't go out early in my boxers to drink coffee. A fence was required. And a patio gate, which required a latch.

Of course, I bought a nice, decorative latch, with springs and buttons, and all manner of niceties. And, it worked fine, right up until the time it didn't.  The little leaf spring broke and went away, the fasteners had rusted into place, and it served as a general aggravation until Belle asked me to fix, repair, or replace it.

Back in the '80s when I was building barns, I used a simple little gate latch I found a the Co-op. You could buy one for a $5 bill.  I owned several.  They were easy to install, simple as a shovel, and virtually indestructible. So, I went to my local Ace hardware and found one on the shelf.  Didn't even look at the price.

When I dropped it on the counter, I told the counter guy "When I bought these at the Co-op, they were $5."

He punched buttons on the register. "Well, here it is $6.

I paid his  toll.  I see that Wal-Mart has then for $4, but it's worth $2 for me not to have to go to Wal-Mart.

The latch is fixed, hopefully for another 20 years.

That Embraer

 It seems that an Embraer 135 aircraft fell out of the sky over Russia yesterday. It belonged to the Wagner group and all crew and passengers died in the crash.

Blancolario covers it here.

Anderson Cooper covers it here.

ABC reports:

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list of a plane that crashed in Russia's Tver region on Wednesday, according to the press service of Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. He is presumed dead.

There is some wonky crap going on in Russia right now. 

Boonie's Garage

My boys are giving away a vehicle.  It's something that the Lord put on them, so they are trying to extend the blessings.  Find a vehicle that needs a little work, fix it up, and pass it on to a family who needs it.

I think it is ia worthy endeavor.  And, I'm proud of them.  Go watch.

Closing Out

 I was watching the news this morning, and I heard someone in the bar business complaining about the Gen Z crowd.  It seems that they close their bar tab after every round.  I admit I was baffled.  They close the tab after every round?  Quelle horreur! 

When I was a young man, and started hanging out in bars, honky-tonks, and juke joints, it was a cash business.  If you asked for a beer, the bartender would give you one, then ask for $2.  Every time.  I don't go to bars like I used to, but even today if I walk into a bar, I use cash, and pay for each drink as it comes.

It sounds to me like the complaint is more that the bartender doesn't like running the credit card machine after every round. That is the nature of modern business.  Lots of things have changed over the years, but it's nothing that a return to cash wouldn't solve.  Now that I think about it, there is lots of things that a return to cash would solve.

Maintenance

This morning, I moved tuff away from the wall in the shop so that I could get to the three A/C units hanging in the wall.  Early in the season I cleaned the filters and coils, and it was time for another run at them.  With 25.000 cubic feet in the shop and these days of 100+ temps, they need every break they can get.

I tell y'all this not so much to highlight my maintenance chops, but because I forget things.  This blog is, among other things, a maintenance diary.  I can search it.  It beats writing dates on the wall, which Belle objects to.

I own a piece of furniture that once belonged to my grandfather.  Inside is a list of dates that he wrote.  I never knew the man, he died long before I was born, but I have his handwriting in those dates. They meant something to him, and I have speculated about it.  They are in pencil, because ball point pens had not been invented and I'm sure that a fountain pen would not have written well on wood.

Revisiting The Renegade

In the summer of 1979 I bought a front-stuffer to take advantage of Louisiana's muzzleloading season for deer.  We got an extra week at the front of the season and a week at the end of the season, and we were not bothered by gender assignment.  If it was a deer, we could shoot it.  The rifle I settled on was a Thompson/Center Renegade in .54 caliber.  I shot a .530 round ball in pillow ticking, lubricated with human spit.  Occasionally, I'd use a product called Bore Butter, then Junior Doughty came out with a lube made from beeswax and liquid Alox that worked pretty good too.

I shot that rifle for many years, to the exclusion of my center-fire rifles.  It was perfectly suited for the deer woods I hunted.  That big .530 ball made short work of the whitetail deer in our woods. They simply fell over.  The las  deer I shot with that rifle was a young doe who was looking at me over a yaupon  bush.  I shot her in the base of the neck and lost sight of her in the smoke cloud. The later autopsy revealed that the ball had entered just above her brisket, traveled down her spine, and exited from her right hip.  

Grandson Lucas asked the other day what my largest caliber rifle might be, and we went to the hidey-hole and took out the Renegade. I haven't touched it i since 2016, and decided it was time to do the maintenance. I've ben oiling, tightening screws, doing all the things that nearly a decade of ignoring it it lead to.

Doing the research, I stumbled across this guy, who shoots Renegades.  He's getting good accuracy out of his rifles, and I have to admit that the riles I've known exhibit that same accuracy.  

The Renegade is 90% ready to go to the woods.  I'll finish it up this week.  In the meantime, it's nice to see that someone else is finding that the old T/C Renegades are worth saving.

Gotten to This

 I met this morning with the head of the Pineville, LA Parks Dept. regarding my public records request.  He started the meeting by apologizing, saying "It never should have gotten to this."

I agree.  The meeting was quite cordial.  He assures me that his employees understand the scope and meaning of the Louisiana Public Records law and that he has "addressed it internally."  He addressed my questions and concerns, and Belle and I are satisfied with his response.

I am convinced that he is a good man, trying to do the right thig.  He admitted that his employees over-stepped, but assured me that he "addressed it internally".  I bet that was an interesting meeting.

Heat

 Our local meteorologist, Nick Mikulas says that yesterday we may have set a heat record locally.  The temp gage at the airport recorded 109F

We know it's hot, and the weather outside right now is exhibiting the same tendencies.  Yet, this is August in Louisiana and we expect it to be hot.  I'm cooking outside today so that I don't have to waste any A/C in the house or shop.  Burgers and hot dogs with a bag of chips will be the menu today.

Hurricane Tracks

 In the post below, about Hurricane Hillary, George commented that NOAA keeps maps of hurricane tracks and that it is searchable. I didn't know that.  Thanks, George

Here's the link.  https://coast.noaa.gov/hurricanes/#map=4/32/-80  I tried it, and put in Louisiana.

I'll have to learn to use the filters, but this seems to be a very nice tool.  Thanks again, George

Tropical Update

 It seems that Hurricane Hillary is set to make landfall in Mexico as a hurricane, then slip into California as a tropical storm.  According to Ryan Hall, this hasn't happened since 1937,

I have friends in Nevada who are firmly in the wind cone.  When it gets to them, it won't me much, but they've never seen anything like this. They have never prepped for a tropical storm.

Friday Tidbits

 It seems that Ford's CEO was "challenged" recently when he took a new F-150 Lightning on a cross country trip.  He said that charging was a problem.  Go figure.

Lucy Lethal, a nurse in a neo-natal unit was found guilty of killing seven infants.  There is a special place in hell for people like her.

The 2023 hurricane season is spinning up.  Hurricane Hillary is threatening the left coast and the tropics are starting to get wild.

All of this bears watching.

The Worst Heat Wave Of The Year Is Coming…

I've learned to trust this guy, as many of his prognostications have turned out to the accurate. I was looking at the local weather today, and Belle and I were discussing the heat wave that we are experiencing.  The tropics are starting to gin up and the Pacific is really looking weird.  Tropical storms in southern California?  Really?

We could use some rain, there is no doubt about that.  Y'all keep an eye on your local weather.

Cracks in the Wall

 Recently, I have made a public records request to my local government.  Theye didn't want to talk about.  They hoped they could ignore it and I'd go away.  What they didn't realize is that I am a trained investigator who has a command of the English language and knows how to research statures.

After making a few phone calls and some discreet inquiries, a person who has tried to blow me off called today, telling me that he would love to meet with me to fulfill my public records request.  We have an appointment for Monday at 10:00 am.  He thinks I can be mollified, and he's right, as long as his explanations are clear, concise, and without misdirection. And. as long as nis minions' record-keeping is accurate and reflects reality.  We shall see.

What he doesn't realize is that I am a retired investigator who loves noting more than making bureaucrats squirm.  When I was a young investigator, it was one steadfast rule that you never asked a question for which you did not already know the answer.  There comes a time in every investigation where the culprit decides that  it's time to come clean.  We will see Monday if we get to that point.

400 Legend

 I see that Winchester has come out with a new cartridge, the 400 Legend, a straight-wall cartridge designed fot those places that require such things.  Still, it might be useful.  It will run through an AR platform, or a light handy bolt rifle.

Winchester claims that the new cartridge has no parent case, but digging though SAAMI drawings tells us that it may be related to the 6.8 SPC.  This makes sense. The military is playing with the 6.8 SPC, and I'm sure that Winchester has a contract for ammo.

If I were looking for a parent case for this new whiz0bang, I might settle on a cut down 6.5 Carcano.  It's pretty close.  But, if I were reloading for the 400 Legend, I'd probably buy new brass.  I don't have any 6.5 Carcano laying around, and I'd have to buy brass anyway. Starline doesn't show it in stock yet, but if this thing takes off, they will make brass for it.

It looks like it would be a good cartridge for deer and hogs under 200 yards, which is where most of us do our hunting, anyway.

Prepping

 Several years ago, Belle and I bought a 6.5kw generator.  It will pull the load in the shop, except for the electric stove.  If a natural disaster hits, we'll fall back to the shop, where we can run our A/C units and keep food cool.  If necessary, I can cook on propane.

This morning, I dragged that generator out in the yard and performed the maintenance checks.  I made sure that it had good oil and fuel, and cranked it.  It started on the second pull.  I let it run for a few minutes and closed the gas valve, to let the gasoline run from the carburetor.  We're good now if we need it.

This season has been fairly quiet, but the peak of hurricane season doesn't arrive until mid September.  If you live in a hurricane zone, it might be a good idea to drag your generator out and make sure it is ready.  I'm just sayin'.

Here We Go Again

 I see that the Fulton County GA District Attorney has indicted former President Donald Trump on a 10-count indictment.

On Monday night, Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis handed down ten new indictments of former president Donald Trump over his alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election.

This is getting ridiculous, and only adding to the general feeling that the Democrat Party is out to destroy the leading Republican party candidate. You know, like they routinely do in third world countries.

Five or six months ago, I wasn't a big fan of Donald Trump. I felt as if it was time for him to go into retirement and enjoy his golden years.  After seeing what the Deep State has done to destroy him, I'll vote for him even if he is in prison.  As we used to say in the Army, "Payback is a motherf***er."

The Demise Continues

 This morning's news reveals that the Democrat J6 Committee that turned a joyous celebration of freedom into an insurrection., may have destroyed key intelligence documents that might tell a totally different story from the preferred narrative.

It looks like the background intelligence documents about the Capitol Hill riot have gone the way of certain Secret Service call records, the Capitol Hill pipe bomber’s identity, the ID of the White House cocaine addict, and Hillary Clinton’s bleach bit emails. Key evidence is missing. It’s gone. Vanished. If you’re in any way confused, let’s be clear: this is how a corrupt, banana republic, tinpot dictatorship acts.

When the Republicans took the House last year, the Democrats certainly did not want the new majority to be able to see their malfeasance. It makes good sense to destroy these documents, even though such destruction may be a felony. The problem for the Dems is that the lesser mortals in their cult have been indicting Donald Trump based on that flawed narrative, and under the American system of justice, whenever a person is indicted, they get to see ALL the evidence.

In effect, they gave Trump full subpoena power.  He is a defendant in multiple federal indictments relating to his conduct during that time period.  He gets to see it all.

In other, more local news, my quest to fully train the employees of the City of Pineville on the Louisiana Public Records act continues apace. I feel as if I'm being stonewalled but a few cracks are starting to appear in the wall. I feel certain that I will prevail, but the employees of the city need some intense in-service training in this statute. It is my sincere hope that I will not have to begin exploring the mysteries of the Louisiana malfeasance law.

Boonie's Garage

Boonie was my first father-in-law. He was always tinkering with something.  An outboard motor, an old truck, one of his boats, it really didn't matter.  He tinkered.  My granddaddy has a shop in his yard, my Dad had a shop, I have a shop, and two of my boys have shops.

My fist father-in-law was a character.  Quick to laugh, quick to start a project (and see it through), and quick to pass along knowledge.  My son's decided to start a YouTube channel and they named it after their grandfather as an homage to him.

They launched it this weekend.  Go over and give them a like and a subscribe.  Thanks in advance.

Still Hot

 By my count, this is the 18th consecutive day where the temps were at 100F or higher. No relief in sight over the next 10 days.  The grass in the yard has gone dormant, brown and crunchy.

The electric bill for July was like taking an arrow between my ribs.  I can't wait to see what August does to my checkbook. I'm sure that it will be amazing.  We had a club shoot this morning, and the weather dominated the conversation.  We've never seen anything like this.

Mike Pence mocked for gas station campaign ad: ‘Never used a gas pump be...

Did ya see this campaign ad?  Pore ol' Mikke is being mocked for his attempt to be the common man.  Some wags are saying that they can hear the pump beeping at him.  Maybe so, my old ears don't hear some things anymore.  If I'm standing beside a pump and it's beeping at me, I can't hear it.  But Mike's editor should have heard it.

I don't think he pulls the handle to start the gas flowing.  As one wag said, it's hard to complain about gas prices when you are not pumping gas.  The price of no gasoline is the same it always was.

Finally, is there anyone anywhere who believes that Pence drive a bright red pickup? I love red pickups, have owned several, and when I'm looking for a truck , the red one will always get a close look.  But Pence?

Hey, I like Mike.  I think he's a nice guy whose heart is generally in the right place.  Will I vote for him?  Likely not, but there are a whole lot of nice guys that I will probably never vote for.

Thursday Keeping Cool

 If today goes as the weather-weenies predict, it will be the 16th consecutive day of temps over 100 degrees.  Regular reader and beer drinking buddy Termite led me to an article on the Tonga event, a 2022 volcano eruption in the south Pacific that blew several metric butt-tons of water into the stratosphere.  Scientists say that this event alone could raise average temperatures several degrees over the next couple of years.

Odd that we don't hear the climate alarmists talking about this natural event.  It doesn't fit their narrative, which is that glowball warmening is purely man made.

The grass in my front yard has quit growing.  It has become a dry, crunchy brown.  I'll be dammed if I an going to water it. This is Gods plan, and I will not mess with it.  We do have a thunderstorm predicted for next week, so we'll wait and see about that.

Perspective

 In the midst of this heat wave, it is good to put it in perspective.  In 1936, during the midst of the great depression, the US experienced a heat wave that is recorded as one of the worst.  NOAA will tell you all about it.

But, a little further Googling led me to the highest temperature recorded in Louisiana.  It occurred in Plain Dealing, LA on August 10, 1936.  The temp was recorded at 114F.  Pretty darned hot.  And, if I know Plain Dealing, it was not a dry heat.

Just south of us, Lafayette, LA has set a new record of more than nine days over 100F.  THe previous record was set in early September, 2000.

This too shall pass.  It's hot in the summer in Louisiana.  We are currently recording 101 in the pine woods of central Louisiana.

Heat Wave

 Yeah, it's hot in Louisiana in August.  Every year the same thing.  However, this is the most persistent heat wave I can remember.  For the past eight or nine days, the temps have been at 100F in the afternoon, cooling to just under 80F by daylight. This weekend, it is really supposed to get warm, 

Conversations with first responders tell me that that citizens without A/C are dropping like flies. It's hard for me to imagine, in this age of low-cost housing and rental assistance, taht some folks might not have air conditioning, but I suppose it's possible.

We hever had A/C when I was growing up.  It was hot in August, but we knew how to moderate the effects.  And, we were used to it.  Lots of time under shade trees, Run a cold bath and sit in it, or simply let the water hose run over your head.  We figured it out and kept ourselves safe. Get some ice, put it in a tube sock, and drape it around your neck.   There are ways to beat the heat.

Smith and Beria

 Lavrentiy Beria was the ruthless chief of Stalin's secret police.  He famously said, "Show me the man, I'll show you the crime."

That is not the way that prosecutions are supposed to work in the United States.  Generally, we have an idea that a crime has been committed.  We find a body laying somewhere, or someone calls in a burglary, or someone complains about a fraud.  We respond to the complaint and let the evidence lead us to the suspect.

Not Jack Smith, the special counsel in the Trump case.  He starts with a target and finds a crime to fit whatever circumstances are in the record.

I was watching Laura Ingraham on the internet this morning, and saw this graphic come up.

So, lawyers who know Smith think that he uses the Beria model of crime suppression. Decide who the traget will be, then find a crime to fit.  That seems truly unethical, and it makes me wonder why, if Smith has this mindset, he is allowed to continue to practice law.  It seems that the Beria method of prosecution should be considered anti ethical to the practice of law.

But, that is what we are left with in the United States today.  Beria would be proud.

Monday Blahs

Nothing new to report, nothing even that piques my curiosity.  Laundry, waiting for an internet repairman, (the phone is out.  We bundled).   A little sweeping, paid some bills.  It's really been a nothing day.  I thought I"d post this just to let everyone know I'm still kicking.

New Technology

 It seems that two French engineers have come up with new technology to move cargo ships across the ocean.  Wait for it.  Kites.

Two engineers at the French aerospace company Airbus came up with the idea in 2016, launching Airseas to further develop the technology. After years of research, they are currently testing the kite on a cargo ship traveling between France and the US.

 That's what CNN calls news.  Sails can move ships.  Who knew?  Most naval experts agree that sails came into use around 4000 BCE and remained the most common way to move ships until steam came into play in the early 1800s. And now, wind power is new technology?  

Gimme a break.

Intellectuals

 David Brooks wrote an article in the New York Times trying to explain the continuing popularity of Donald Trump on the political stage. David is an intellectual, and he doesn't get it.

Less than one percent of Americans graduate from élite universities.  Well less than one percent teach at those universities. They are the ivory tower, insulated from the hoi-polloi, looking down on the rest of us, who get up every morning and go to work at some job.

I knew an intellectual once.  This guy had studied at some prestigious universities and had obtained a PhD in English Lit.  He wrote his dissertation on Chaucer, and he was a flaming liberal.  His wife, who had also studied at prestigious universities, also had a PhD and taught at the local high school.  We thought that she was the cat's meow.  Charming, witty, down to earth, she exuded friendliness and hospitality.  Did I mention that she worked at the local high school.

But this guy was an asshole.  He couldn't find work, because he wanted to teach a the university level, and the local university wouldn't hire him.  Probably because he was an elitist asshole.  But, because my wife taught at the same high school, and we ran in the same social circles, we tolerated him because we loved her.

Occasionally, at a back yard dinner party, or a pool-side gathering, eh would make some bizarre proclamation about how things should be, and I'd start asking simple questions about his ideas.  I'd lead him down a blind hole until he could see that he was trapped in a cavern of his own making. He'd generally get pissed off and leave, to the delight and mirth of the assembled audience.

The intellectuals don't understand the common American, who is simply trying to put beans on the table and gas in the car. They also don't understand the odd coincidence of something bad coming out about Biden, and Trump being indicted.  The intellectuals want Trump in jail.  Hell, they would hang him if they could.  Their greatest fear is that Trump will get elected, then start playing a little Get Even.

Trump is not my favorite candidate.  I think he made some mistakes during his first go-around, but he's probably the guy I'll vote for. I'd like to see him appoint staunch patriots to his cabinet and secure the border, fix inflation, reduce gas prices, kill the Green New Deal and put America back to work.  While he's doing that, he could have his Justice Dept. start exercising the RICO statutes against the Bidens and their cronies.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have things to do.

The Weather

 As we sit sweltering in the August heat (which is nothing new, by the way, it's always hot in August), we keep a weather eye on the tropics. We are in the midst of hurricane season, and this year the tropics have not really ginned up a storm to threaten our lives or property. It is quiet out there.

This is subject to change at any time, and I am reminded that the 2005 hurricane season really didn't ramp up until late August, early September, when it brought Louisiana the twin disasters of Katrina and Rita. Hurricane Harvey, which smacked Houston around, didn't arrive till mid-August, 2017.  So, there is still time for the storms to ramp up.  Water temps are hot in the Gulf right now, and it appears that the El Nino cycle is keeping the storms well to the south.

Africa is pumping off tropical waves like a well-oiled hit-and-miss engine, but so far, none have made it in to the Gulf.  I'll take that little blessing, and continue to keep an eye on the NOAA maps.

Internet Crapped Out

 Yesterday, the home internet crapped out, taking don the shop with it.  Called Tech Support, they did the diagnostics and told me I need a new modem.  My service provider is Optimum Communications.  I went by their store this morning and got a new modem.  My homemade tech support is setting it up right now, but I'm having to operate on a mobile hotspot until it is ready and blasting Wi-Fi across the house.

Aggravating.

Indulgence

 I tend to indulge my grandkids.  As a grandfather it is my right.  Grandson Lucas is involved in 4H shooting sports, and his old gun case was getting a bit ragged. So, we went to Harbor Freight and picked out a new Apache case. They are Pelican knock-offs, but they are good, sturdy cases.

But, the foam in an Apache case is for crap. But, I have a friend who makes cases for equipment and he has all the Apache case dimensions already in his computer.  I sat him down with Lucas ad they designed a case to fit his rifle, ammo, and accouterments.

Luke's rifle started life as a Wal-Mart Ruger 10/22.  At this stage, the only thing that is still Ruger is the receiver and bolt.  Pretty much everything else has been changed.

There is room there for the rifle, magazines, ammo, sling, timer, and other little bits. He will still have to carry his shooting mat, but I'll let him figure that out.

Trump Indicted

 President Trump just got indicted again, this time for his "role in January 6th".

Yeah, okay.  President Biden's DOJ is working overtime to destroy their own credibility and to interfere in the upcoming election.

Public Records

 Every state has a public records law of some sort.  Louisiana's public records law can be found at R.S. 44.32.  It lays out the duty of a custodian of public records to make them available for examination. The law says that the custodian can make no inquiries of the person except for their name and age.  Why one wants the records are not important.  What is important is that public records be made available for examination.

I went to the City of Pineville this morning, one of the smaller offices, and made an inquiry.  First, I was asked why I needed to know that information and when I demurred, they told me that those records are confidential.   The law says in past:

The custodian shall make no inquiry of any person who applies for a public record, except an inquiry as to the age and identification of the person and may require the person to sign a register and shall not review, examine, or scrutinize any copy, photograph, or memoranda in the possession of any such person;

I left without making a scene.  Evidently those functionaries have not been trained in the Louisiana Public Records law.   I will see what I can do about correcting that deficiency.

Influencer Dies

 On social media, there is this class of content producers known as "influencers" who gain their ten minutes of fame on an internet platform.  It seems like a pretty good gig, but many of these people seem to have more problems than they care to admit.

There was this one influencer, a woman who promoted a diet of raw fruit.  She died of starvation.

Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova has reportedly “died of starvation” after subsisting exclusively off a diet of exotic fruit in Malaysia, according to her friends and family.

I'm trying to watch my carbs.  Like most southern men, I love my rice and potatoes. A, more balanced diet is healthier. I actually ate raw fruits and veggies yesterday.  Thy call it a salad. It was good, but you can't live on that.  Next time you swing through Windy's, instead of a Dave's Double, get the Apple/Pecan/Chicken salad.  It's pretty good. Of course, that big honking piece of chicken on top of it tends to eject it from the vegan menu, but you won't starve to death.

I'm just sayin'.

That Old Song

 What's that old song?  Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the nid-day sun.  Here's a picture I took yesterday.

That is the thermometer on the back porch.  100F in the shade. They are calling for 101 today and 103 tomorrow. I have a little grass cutting that I want to do, but I"m going to get it done before 10:00 then retire into the air conditioning.

Pore Ol' Joe

 Pore ol' Joe, that arrogant sumbitch.  You kind of have to put yourself in his shoes to understand the problems that he has right now.

In 2014-2018 he was a sitting Vice President of the United States under President Obama.  Hillary was the ideal candidate, and he knew that his career was about over.  But, he wanted a beach house and a nice mansion, and he knew that when Obama left the White House, his gig was over.  He could exist on his government pension, but he really wanted to cash in.  So, the thing to do was to use the power he had at his fingertips to make as much cash as possible before Obama left the scene.

Hilary was going to be elected, nobody was going to look into the finances of a retired vice president.  He had been around crony Washington politics his entire adult life and he anted that beach house.  Never in his wildest dreams did he even suspect that in 2020 he might be the nominee, and against all odds, actually ascend to the presidency. It was all a pipe-dream.

Today, be is the president, and his dreams are crumbling before his eyes.  He may be arrogant enough to think that he can still get away with it.  He has all his cronies in positions to help him.  Some of his crimes may even have passed the statutes of limitation.  But, his business partners are jumping ship.  His son's sweetheart deal has collapsed, and people are starting to ask questions.

If he had stayed retired, no one would have cared.  But, he forgot that in the presidency, the office itself is under a microscope.  And now, lots of people are looking.  He may escape prison, but he won't escape being exposed.

Cutting FUnding

 PJMedia is reporting that the Biden administration is cutting funding to schools with archery or hunting programs.

The Biden administration is interpreting language in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) passed last year that they say gives them the right to deny federal funds from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 for schools with hunting and archery programs.

They are assholes.  There is nothing unsafe about archery or hunting. 

Climate Deaths

 If you listen to the United Nations and other climate alarmists, you would think that climate related deaths are on the rise. It's hot, and cold, and people die from the heat and the cold. And hurricanes and tornadoes and floods, and onigod.  We're all going to die.

Except the alarmists are cherry-picking the data.  100 years ago there was no NOAA, very little rural electricity, virtually no television.  Very little radio.  People didn't know that disasters were coming,   If you go back to 1900 and the great Galveston hurricane, you'll find that those folks had no clue.  In the morning, they were leading their lives and by nightfall, the island was pretty much gone.

One researcher has done the hard work, and reports that climate related deaths have declined by 90% in the past 100 years.

This data shows that climate-related events—floods, droughts, storms, fires, and temperature extremes—are not actually killing more people. Deaths have dropped by a huge amount: In the 1920s, almost half a million people were killed by climate-related disasters. In 2021, it was less than 7,000 people. Climate-related disasters kill 99% fewer people than 100 years earlier.

Why is that?  Well, several reasons.  Electricity for one, and Willis Carrier's invention for another.  Then there is the information revolution, where virtually everyone has a cell phone and knows when a hurricane, or tornado is coming.   We're in better shape technologically, and we're more mobile than our ancestors.  

I sit here in my shop, typing an internet post on a computer, using wireless internet under air conditioning.  Many of those things were impossible in the 1970s.  We are better able to weather the storm, or to run from it if necessary.

Carbon Release

 Motortrend is reporting that there is a fire on a cargo ship.  Here's the headline.:

Coast Guard Suspects EV Source of Ongoing Fire Aboard Cargo Ship

I wonder how much carbon that is going to release into the atmosphere and/or water column? 

Judge Rejects Plea Deal

 It seems like the judge in the Hunter Biden case has rejected the plea deal.  She had a lot of questions about how this deal came to be and rejected it.

After much discussion and back-and-forth, a federal judge has declined to accept Hunter Biden’s sweetheart plea deal. The deal would have allowed Biden to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax evasion charges and would have disposed of a felony gun charge. The president’s son was expected to get off with a couple of years of probation and a promise not to drink or do drugs and to enter a diversion program to make the gun charges go away.

I don't know what is next, but for sure this ain't going away.  Discovery should he a fun time, with the prosecutors licking their wounds.  And, make no mistake, they are wounded.  They thought this thing was about to be over and now they have had to back up a couple of steps.

Hunter's Deal

 It appears that Hunter Biden's legal team is in full damage control mode.  It seems that the House Ways and Means committee filed an amicus brief, and a member of Biden's legal team called the Clerk, asking that the amicus brief be removed.

“It appears that the caller misrepresented her identity and who she worked for in an attempt to improperly convince the Clerk’s Office to remove the amicus materials from the docket,” Noreika wrote, before ordering Biden’s legal team to explain why Noreika should not issue formal sanctions “for misrepresentations to the Court.”

The judge is pised.  And rightfully so. Lawyers can get dis-barred for that.

Biden's team insists that there was no misrepresentation.  No hanky-panky.

It will be interesting to see how the court proceedings go later today.

 

Monday Unpacking

 After a week of packing, loading, and getting ready, then two days of shooting, now it's time to unpack and unload.  I have a van full of electronics and range miscellanea, and a trailer full of range iron to unload and put back in storage. Honestly, it's easier to unload by myself because I know where all this stuff goes, and I only want to handle it once.

I'm going to take my morning medds, and get out to the shop.

CNO Affirmative Action

 It appears that our Commander in Chief has gone over the head of the Defense establishment and made an affirmative action pick for the post of Chief of Naval Operations.

Joe Biden is obsessed with “firsts” — especially when it comes to naming minorities to positions in his administration. Biden has prioritized “diversity” over almost everything else, including merit, experience, and judging by some of his choices, intelligence (we’re looking at you, Mayor Pete).

The president was given a slate of extremely experienced officers to chose from, including the current commander of the Pacific Fleet, a guy who has been facing down China for several years, but he went with Admiral  Lisa Franchetti.  I'm sure she is a fine officer, but she has been in her current posting for less than a year.

We're Back

 We finished Louisiana State yesterday, tore down the ranges and were home by 6:00 pm.  The only thing I unloaded were the money box and the computer I'm working on right now  The rest is either in the van or the trailer, and it will wait until later to be unloaded.

The shoot was a magnificent success.  No equipment glitches, no technical problems, no controversy.  It all went as planned.  We had 64 shooters from 8 states and everyone had a great time.

Jason Aldean - Try That In A Small Town (Official Music Video)

Some folks are calling this racist.  It's not.  It's truth. 

New Forecasting Tool

 It seems like the NOAA is rolling out a new high resolution forecasting tool that will provide more information on hurricane formations and tracks. That's good, I guess,.  We're still in the midst of the hrricane season, and historically it ramps up in August and September.

They are calling it HFAS, or the "Hurricane Analysis and Forecasting System".

The NHC said its new “Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System,” or HAFS for short, went operational on June 27 alongside older models for the 2023 hurricane season. The system is the first new major forecast model to use NOAA’s updated weather and climate supercomputers.

I hope it helps them help us.  Hurricanes ain't no fun. It's good to know what is happening, just before the lights go out and the fence blows over.

Tuesday Outrage

 I'm packing up the range, getting ready to move it to the venue where we will hold Louisiana State this weekend.  Printing out some last minute documents, and of course, the five-year-old range printer suffers a catastrophic meltdown.

So, I head to Wally World to buy a new printer.  I settled on an HP Envy 6400 series, which should do fine. Still, having to buy a new printer on the cusp of a major event is never any fun. It's white, which means it will show dust like crazy.

Driving around, I hear the talk-radio guys going weird.  It seems that Jack Smith, the special counsel in Washington, is going to indict Trump for something related to January 6th.  They are saying that the indictment could come as early as the first week of August.

It will be interesting to see what the indictments look like.

SOS Pads

 SOS or Brillo pads.  Your grandmother used them.  Basically, steel wool impregnated with soap, used to clean pots and pans.

Recently, I was watching Vise Grip Garage and he used SOS pads to take surface rust off of a car.  Derrick was doing what he called a "Rustoration".  We had an old refrigerator in the shop that Belle wanted to to get the rust off of it and repaint it.  So, I got sot some SOS pads, gave it a good scrubbing, then went to the hardware store and bought a can of paint they call Appliance White.  A little rattle-can, and the fridge came out looking a lot better, certainly good enough for the girls that hang out around here.

More recently, I had a cleaning job, getting permeant marker off of a dry-erase board.  A quick spritzing with Windex, and a light touch with an SOS Pad and the board came out clean.  Of course, they are still useful on pots and pans. Your grandmother used them because they work.

Gender Confusion

Fox News is reporting that a new poll finds that almost half of millennials think that misgendering someone should be a crime.

Oh, bullshit.  If a person is confused about what their gender is, how an I supposed to know what their gender is. If you present as male, I'll call you a man. If you present as female, I'll call you a woman. If I'm wrong, you did a piss-poor job of getting dressed that morning. Don't make your confusion into my crime.

Wild Weekend

 We hosted a family reunion this weekend, and had a blast.  We have a great-grandchild, 11-year-old Brooke staying with us for a couple of weeks, so today, Belle took her to a local zoo, Gone Wild Safaris in Tioga, LA where they saw a variety of exotic wildlife, Camels and Lamas and ostriches and stuff.

It's a drive-thru zoo, and the animals come right up to the car.  Everyone had a good time, including the lamas.

We Will Wait and See

 It appears that the Louisiana legislature is calling a veto session to overturn some vetoes from our Den governor, John Bel (hack, spit) Edwards.  He's on his way out (thankfully) and after November wont be able to damage the state any longer.

Yahoo News is reporting that the legislature will meet in veto session to overturn a veto of several bills, that include a ban on the genital mutilation of minors.

Louisiana lawmakers riding a Republican super majority wave in the state Legislature are officially returning to Baton Rouge next week determined to override Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards' vetoes on anti-LGBTQ bills passed during the regular session in June.

Yahoo! exposes it's bias in the reporting.  This is not anti-LGBT.  Once you turn 18, you can do whatever you want.  This is a bill to protect children, and it is driving the pedophiles crazy. 

But, I have so little faith in the RINOs in the legislature that I'm going to adopt a wait-and-see attitude.  There is a sizeable percentage of out political class who have decided that it is easier to get elected as a Republican, so they switch parties for political advantage, then go to the legislature and vote with the Dem cronies.  People like that are despicable.

Sweating

 The heat and humidity are miserable out there today. So, of course, Brother Fred and I loaded our mowers and went to the church this morning to try to keep up with the grass.  It was a bitter struggle for three hours, but we got it done.  Fred on his tractor and bushhog.  Me on my zero-turn.  But, we got it done.  A person can walk across the church grounds now.

Our regular Thursday evening event has been cancelled.  The arena is a mud pit.  We have gotten about six inches of rain in the past week, a little every day.  We have a rodeo scheduled for tomorrow night, but the arena master will assess tomorrow morning.

Belle has scheduled a family reunion in out barn for Saturday  Lots of prepping there. The thing about having a wax bullet range is that wax bullets bounce.  I bet I have swept up a five gallon bucket of wax bullets that were under things we normally don't sweep under.  If you move something, it has wax bullets under it.

Family reunion this weekend, then the Louisiana State Championship next weekend.  I'll be busy all week.