Saturday Sloth

This morning dawned rainy on my acre.  Milady and I are barely moving around, even though we've got a busy afternoon planned.  We're going to the club shoot at 1:00 and to a grandkid's birthday party at 4:00.  Tomorrow, of course, we'll feed the crew lunch and this is the weekend that the pool traditionally opens.

Several years ago, Milady planted a rose bush opposite the pool, and it seems to like it there.  Last week there were a few blooms, but yesterday we noticed that it has fully bloomed.  We're not sure what variety of rose it is.  It's in the Knockout family, but the precise variety is lost to the ages.

It seems to be happy over there.  It has certainly loaded itself with blooms.

Finally Friday

It looks like I'm way behind the power curve on this, but I recently got this little jewel in my inbox.  A Southwest Airline attendant has put her own spin on the obligatory safety briefing, and it's priceless.



Over 2.1 million views, and she's a celebrity.

Tragedy In Urania

Urania, a little town in LaSalle Parish, LA was the scene of a tragedy yesterday that was compounded today.

Lasalle Parish Sheriff Scott Franklin told us that deputies were making a welfare check on 76-year-old Erma Cotton when they found her body inside her home on Pentecostal Church Road Wednesday morning. Franklin said Cotton died of apparent gunshot wounds.
They later learned that 19-year-old Kylie Duncan was missing from an area nearby.
Deputies began a search for Duncan. Her body was discovered Thursday afternoon.
According to our sister station KNOE, Duncan was pregnant at the time of her murder. She was reportedly at the adjacent property that day working to have the electricity turned on, when she was reported missing.
Sheriff Franklin stated, "Ms. Kelley King Duncan was on her property adjacent to Ms. Cotton's property about the same time we are thinking something happened to Ms. Cotton."
Franklin says Duncan's body was found within a four mile radius of that home.

The young lady is known to our family, being the step-sister of my stepson.  Our prayers and thoughts are with the King family tonight.

Martins

Purple Martins are a southern tradition.  They come north from Mexico each year and come to Louisiana (and many other states) in the spring.  My father and grandfather always had Martin houses, believing that they ate their weight in mosquitoes every day.  There's some question about that, but the fact remains that Martins are graceful fliers, they sing a beautiful song, and they're fun to watch.

Daddy always had a Martin house, but he didn't have much luck with the last one he erected.  He thought that the Martins didn't like it, but I always thought that it was sited wrong, and it wasn't the house, it was the siting.  When Dad died, the Martin house stayed where he put it, till last year, when Mom moved and gave me the Martin house.  I set it up in a corner of the yard, and while te birds inspected it, they never really moved in.  They're seasonal migrants, and had already made their nests when I put the house in the corner of the yard.  Still, I figured they'd remember where I put it, and sure enough, this afternoon I heard the song of a Purple Martin.

That's not a great shot, but there's  bird sitting on that perch, so I moved around to get a better view, and looky what I found.

That's a pair of Purple Martins, using the old man's house.  I'm very pleased that the birds like the accommodations, and I hope that they raise a happy family.  Dad would be pleased.

Debating the Economics of Immigration

It seems that there is a debate happening over at National Review.  I'll give you a couple of links, but you're welcome to Google it yourself and draw your own conclusions.  I'm no economist, but I studied economics in both the undergraduate and graduate school.  It's a hard science (Economics is where I learned calculus), but it has soft science and policy implications at all levels of government.

Economics seems intuitive, but it's not.  And the debate over immigration is one that has both economic and social policy implications.  Especially when a large majority of those immigrants can't speak the language, or don't have hard skills.  What do we do with the po'folks?  But in a larger sense, is anyone now in this country truly poor?  That's an economic question that is hard to answer, simply because we don't have a true standard by which to judge policy.  From one of the links above:

Incidentally, if we’re going to use true purchasing power as our standard, then can we all quit grinding about income stagnation? The real-world purchasing power of a bottom-third American in 2015 is so radically different from that of a bottom-third American in 1975 that we don’t even have a really good way to express it economically. What kind of computer or mobile phone did the median American have in 1980? What was his car like, or his house?

Good questions, both.  Computers and cell phones were not widely available in 1980.  Many of us had never heard of them, and the price for the very early models was prohibitive at median income levels.  Without a meaningful basis of measurement, we have no basis for comparison, so it's important not only to understand the question, but to craft the question in such a way that it can be answered meaningfully.  Sometimes, it's best to get back to the basics.

On the other hand, I’ve spent a fair amount of time in the past several years in poor and struggling parts of the country—Appalachia, Detroit, interior California, East St. Louis—and I have not once thought to myself: “You know what this place really needs? More poor people!” 

That's a great point, but Mr Williamson makes a better point in the following paragraph.

Call me parochial, but my economic model defines a poor society as a society that has lots of poor people in it.

Heh!  Indeed.  It's important to define the terms.  If you live in a house with central heat and air conditioning, and have a cell phone, you're head and shoulders over what I grew up with in a middle class neighborhood in the '60s and '70s.  I'm wondering if there are truly any poor folks in the US, and if so, how do we measure their poverty?

(Non) Police Shooting du jour

It seems that there is a video floating around the internet, where a police officer,  New Richmond, Ohio officer Kidder holds his fire while a suspect charges him, asks to be shot, and crossess all the red lines like putting his hands in his pockets and reaching into his waistband.  Officer Kidder is wearing a body camera that he purchased, and it's apparent that he wants to be absolutely sure that he's in danger before he opens fire.

This was not some random traffic stop.  The suspect was wanted for murder, and from what I've read, Officer Kidder had been warned that the suspect might be armed, and also that the suspect might try to commit suicide by cop.  The usual pundits are commenting on this video, saying (among other things) that Officer Kidder is a hero who showed remarkable restraint in dealing with this suspect.  Other pundits are saying that the only reason that the suspect is alive is because he is not black.

Watch for yourself.



Jazz Shaw, over at Hot Air, makes the argument that Officer Kidder should have shot the suspect, and I agree that there are good reasons in the video to argue that.  I wasn't  there, and I can't put myself in Kidder's mind.  Officer Kidder did what he had to do, and it all worked out.  I don't know what I might have done in the situation, but I suspect that when the goblin reached into his waistband there would have been gunfire.  But, Shaw makes the argument that good police officers are putting themselves in harm's way by second-guessing their own training and how a lethal response might be seen in the media.

The Narrative Journalism Brigade has jumped all over this story to reinforce the message they’ve been preaching for at least the last year. They finally found one good cop who isn’t a murderous maniac. The story they want to portray is being heard loud and clear by not only law enforcement officers, but criminals as well. This was the right thing to do. So the next time an officer finds themselves in a split-second, life or death situation, they may pause with this fairy tale in the back of their minds and one more blue life is lost. And criminals, knowing that the police are being conditioned to not defend themselves, will be thinking it might just be worth taking the shot and making a bid for freedom.

If Kidder had shot Wilcox there isn’t a jury in the land that would have convicted him, though he would still be pulled out of service during the automatic investigation. (And if Wilcox had been black there would have been marches taking place and Al Sharpton would already be on the scene in Kentucky.) If Kidder had died, well… we’d probably never have heard about the story in the national press. But as it turned out, this is a big win for the anti-cop forces in the media and the social justice movement who want to portray law enforcement as the bad guys. If this sort of response becomes the norm in America, we’re going to see a lot more dead cops and there are plenty of activists out there who won’t be shedding any tears over that. 

There's a reason that police officers are trained to handle violent encounters the way we're trained. It's the best way to protect the public and ourselves from violent predators.  If police officers begin second-guessing themselves because of how the media portrays us, we put ourselves at risk.  Fortunately for Kidder, and the suspect, it worked out, but I might have handled the situation a little differently.

Sunday Shooting

Another picture of shooting in the back yard.    We're continuing to improve the back yard cowboy range, a little at a time.  This week we added a timer, which doesn't record hits, but records the time of the report.  (Yep, there's an app for that.)  We have to visually record hits, but until we get our electronics, we'll make do.

Here, we have grandson Michael giving it a try.  It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and I can't wait until we can afford to have a full two-lane setup.  Milady and I enjoy it, the kids enjoy it, and the grandkids think that it's a ball.

Soldier Down

We learn this morning that a soldier of the storied 82d Airborne division has died during a training exercise at Fort Polk.

A news release from the soldier's division, the North Carolina-based 82nd Airborne, says Pvt. Joshua D. Phillips, 19, of Las Vegas, Nevada, died during the exercise Thursday.

Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Cathy Wilkinson says Phillips died while parachuting during an exercise to simulate the seizure of an airstrip. The cause is under investigation and she couldn't elaborate.

Jumping out of airplanes is dangerous, even during training exercises.  I'm sure that Pvt Phillips was a noble warrior, a paragon of virtue, and a joy to his family and friends.  Even if I never knew him, I mourn for him.  Rest in peace, Pvt Philips, and repose in the thanks of a grateful nation.

Sunday Morning Dawg

It's been raining all week, and the dog's been staying on the porch. It looks like it's going to "fair-off" later today, and be sunny for most of the week, but the dog isn't much of a weather man.  He takes it as he comes and right now he's hanging close to Milady.

Can't say as I blame him much.  I like hanging out with Milady, too.

Product Review. Inexpensive Holster Belt

Spmetimes we stumble upon a product that is just exactly what it seems, and is so perfect for the intended use that we forget to tell everyone about it.  It just makes sense.

We're highlighting the Uncle Mike's Sidekick Belt today.  It's a plain, nylon belt, infinitely adjustable, and available for about $10.00 everywhere.  You probably have one in your bag, or in a closet somewhere.  Midway has them.  So does Amazon.  You can normally find them in your local big-box store.

When Milady and I started looking at Cowboy Fast Draw, we weren't sure if we would adopt the game or not, but once we got to the range, and watched for a while, someone invited us to shoot.  They took out one of these little belts, slid a holster on it, and invited us to try.  And that's the benefit of this belt.  It's infinitely adjustable out to 50 inches, so whether you're a petite lady or a big ol' buckaroo, this belt will fit you.  No, it's not period-correct, but it is virtually indestructible, infinitely adjustable, durable, and inexpensive.  Very inexpensive.

I've had one of these for several years, and it's held up well, even toting my big Ruger Super Blackhawk across the deer lease.  It's inexpensive enough that if it gets damaged, you don't feel like you've lost anything, but I've never managed to break one.

If you're looking for an inexpensive holster belt, one that is not pretentious, will hold your pistol on your hip, and is very, very inexpensive, give the Uncle Mike's Sidekick a chance.  It's been a great gun belt for a long, long time.  Don't be afraid of the tiny cost.  Sometimes, you get more than you pay for, and this belt has the PawPaw seal of approval.

Feel-Good Friday Amber Alert

An Amber Alert is designed to let people know that a child is missing or abducted, and it proved essential in a kidnapping case in Washington.  This guy's sister asked him to watch a child overnight, and when he got up the next morning, saw an Amber Alert about the child sleeping in his bed.

"I'm eating my breakfast, I'm checking my Facebook, all of a sudden I see this Amber Alert for this child," Tuong told the station. "And it looks like this child in my bed, and I'm like, 'Oh my God! What's going on?'

Tuong did the right thing, called the police, and the child was found safe.  Tuong's sister is in the slammer, and things are okay for the child.

That's your feel-good story for Friday, and now I'm going to take off these boots and pour myself a dring.  Well done, Mr Tuong!

White Lithium Grease

My granddad always kept a tube of white lithium grease in his shop, for lubricating fine mechanisms.  In the forty years I hung out in his shop, I doubt he ever used more than four or five ounces of that grease.  He called it White Grease, and he guarded it jealously.  As it turns out, it's actually a soap, although I don't think I'll be using it to wash myhands.

When I set up my shop, I bought a small tube at an auto parts store and I used it sparingly when a fine grease was required.  I keep it in a special drawer, I bring it out when I need it, but over the last 20 years I've only used three 1.5 oz tubes.

Then I got into Cowboy Fast Draw, and I learned that Cowboy shooters use white lithium grease, not by the ounce, but by the pound.  We apply it with rollers to our targets.  It gives a nice white aiming spot, it lubricates the targets and keeps them from rusting, and it gives an immediate visual indication when the bullet hits the target.  You can see clearly where the bullet struck the steel.  So, I started casting about for a suitable supply.

It seems that WD40 makes a spray can with white lithium grease in it.  I bought a can, and I'm not impressed with it for coating a target.  It's simply too thin.  So, I'll keep that can for other uses.  But I went to Home Depot today after work, and I found two big tubes of white lithium on aisle 9, down by the plumbing supplies.

Those two tubes should last me for a while.  It seems to be the cat's meow for coating targets.  We'll see when it dries out enough to do some shooting.

Rain

It rained today in Alexandria, LA.  Overpasses closed due to runoff, several major roads closed because the storm drains have overflowed.  It's as bad in Alexandria as I've seen it for awhile.  By that, I mean almost 40 years.

I went to Academy Sporting Goods today after work, when the bottom fell out, and I saw stranded cars, flooded neighborhoods, and extremely slow traffic.  I came home from Academy and it took me over an hour to get home, simply because many of my usual routes were impassable.  It's normally a 20 minute drive from South MacArthur to my house.  Several abandoned vehicles on Lee Street, one car in particular floating in a ditch because the woman couldn't see the curb on Prescott and drove it into about 3 feet of water.

Jiffy Lube

I had the most horrible service at the Edgewood Drive Jiffy Lube in Pineville that I've ever experienced anywhere.  Trying to get a vehicle inspected, I had a bulb burned out, and I told them I'd be back in a few minutes, ran over to a parts house, changed the bulb and came back.after I changed the bulb, to be told that the only guy who was authorized to inspect vehicles had left for lunch (this about 3:30 pm) and wouldn't be back for 45 minutes.

SO, I asked the little gal who was standing in the gravel in a Jiffy Lube uniform where I could get the car inspected.  She told me to go to the Kingsville store up the road.  I put the car in reverse, backed out, and went to the Kingsville store (all this in Pineville, LA).  When I got there, a three-bay garage, they had one car in the shop, so I waited, and waited, and finally got out of the car and waved down an employee.  He grudgingly inspected the car.

I've sent a harsh memo to the online complaint department at Jiffy Lube.  Now I'm telling everyone who reads my blog that I'm truly dissatisfied with Jiffy Lube in Pineville, LA.  What should have been a 15 minute unpleasant experience turned into an hour of frustration.

Way to go, Jiffy Lube.  Pissing off customers is what you seem to do best.

Electrical Problems

I drive an old Mercury Marquis as my work car.  It's a 2001 and I like it because it's dependable, it's comfortable, and it's paid for.  Also, I bought it right and it barely has 100,000 miles on the odometer.

I parked it on Wednesday, last.  Everything was working fine.  Monday morning I got in it to go to work and the air conditioner didn't work.  Well, crap.  Don't get me wrong, I've driven cars without air conditioning, but at my advanced age and decrepitude, and my economic standing, I insist on air conditioning in my vehicles.  I wouldn't buy a skateboard that didn't have an air conditioner.

A quick diagnostic told me that the A/C compressor was working, but the blower wasn't working.  All the fuses were good.  So, I went to Google and learned that there are just exactly two problems that might occur when the blower quits.  1) either the blower has crapped out, or 2) something called the resistor has crapped out.  They're both found in the engine compartment.

So, I did what anyone whose son is an SAE mechanic would do.  I called the boy and told him that this afternoon I needed him to diagnose the problem.  He came over today and in just a few minutes told me that the problem was the resistor.  So, we moved a couple of hoses, prepared to take off the resistor, and the blower started working.  My son did some more diagnostics and re-installed everything.

Evidently, the problem was an intermittent ground.  If electronics don't have a good ground, nothing works, and one of the mounting screws must have gotten rusty, or something, in the 15 years since Ford pushed this one out the back of the factory.  It's working now, and I'm thrilled.  My son tells me that it'll either quit in the next week or so, or it will work until the wheels fall off and I have it towed to the scrap yard.  If it quits next week, I'll go buy a resistor and call him.

But, right now the A/C works and that's what I called him for.  Thanks, Matt.  I appreciate it.

Birthday Boy

Today is my elder son's birthday.  On April 13, 1976, at Fort Knox, KY he came kicking and screaming into this world and he's still kicking.  We took this picture in June, 1978 as he was watching a roly-poly walk across the patio.

Happy Birthday, son.

Colt's SAA

A long-time coworker and I were talking over coffee today, and he mentioned that he believed that Colt was still making the Single Action Army pistol, beloved of afficianados and cowboy shooters.  A quick Google, and sure enough, the SAA is still being manufactured.  Some more Googling, and I found that prices are sky-high on them.  A fellow could pick up a couple of Vaqueros or Uberti revolvers for the price of an original Colt, 3rd generation.

Don't even ask about 1st or 2nd generation Colts.  Those prices are through the roof.

Hillary Is Running

The news is all over the interwebs that Hillary Clinton has announced her candidacy for the presidency.  Really!  Who could have seen that coming?  She's aligned herself against a host of Republican upstarts who don't know that it's her turn to be president.

Y'all forgive me while I stifle a yawn.  Of course, she's running.  Everyone knew that.  That line should be a GEICO commercial.

This is becoming all too predictable, and frankly, there's nothing that the pundits can say about it (the race in general) for another year or so. I might get interested by then, or I may not. To paraphrase Edwin Edwards, call me when they catch her in bed with a dead girl or a live boy.  Otherwise, I'm not interested.  Sometimes we have to take a break from politics and I don't intend to pay attention to national politics for about another year.

We're Back

Got in an hour ago, and we're still unpacking, but I had to get the SD card out of the camera and edit a few pictures.

Gentleman George, our host.  Beloved of CFDA.

Texas Rose, our Match Director.  George's spouse and one heckofa shoter in her own right.

Those two were running the show.  Great people, magnificent organizers and people-persons. They did a magnificent job putting the show together.  I know that they're both exhausted, but I'm proud to say that I know them both.

Heretofore on this blog, I've referred to my wife as Milady, an alias to protect her privacy.  However, in Cowboy Fast Draw, we pick our own aliases, and she's picked hers.

Louisiana's Calamity Jane putting wax on a target.

Milady has picked Louisiana Calamity Jane as her CFDA alias, and acquitted herself well as a first time shooter in the bracket matches.  She also learned a lot about match shooting and how a match works. Everyone needs to go to a big match to learn the ins-and-outs.

Of course, after the match we had to walk down to The Rodeo Shop at the Stockyards Coliseum and buy her a proper hat.  Of course, being the stylish pistolero she is, we required both a summer hat and a winter hat.  Hats are de rigueur in cowboy competition and Milady is now properly outfitted in her chapeau department.

It's great to be home.  Now, I need to go unpack the car.

Sunday Morning Dawg

Milady and I are in Fort Worth this morning, but we left the dog in good hands.  A good friend is dog-sitting and we feel comfortable knowing that the dog is in good hands.  He did have an appointment with the groomers last week, and got a good summer cut.

He acts ike he sees a little better, and I bet he does with all that hair out of his eyes.  We'll be home about dark tonite, fall into bed and get ready for work tomorrow.

Packing

We're packing for the trip to Fort Worth.  It looks like it's going to be three busy days and I haven't talked myself into dragging the laptop.   So, don't look for much posting over the weekend.  Go to the guys on the sidebar for your free reading.

Taxes Done

Well, that job is over for another year.  My sister jumped through hoops and got the K-1 to us, so I was able to finish my taxes.  Great Job, Dianne.  I'll put them in the mail on Monday.  I don't e-file, although I suspect that one of these days it will be the only option.  If I've got to send those bastards a check, I want them to open the envelope and look for it.

Louisiana taxes are done as well.  They'll go in the mail with the Federal boys on Monday.  Surprisingly, they owe me a little refund.  We'll see how that works out.

I also had time to pen a letter to my Congress-critter, complaining about the copious waste in the way they spend my money.  That'll go in the mail Monday, as well.

Practicing

Milady practicing her fast draw in the back yard.

The target is just off the right of the picture.  She was hitting pretty good today. Wax bullets in the back yard is a good way to learn handgun manipulation.

Doing Taxes

I sat down this morning to do my taxes, courtesy of the download software at H&R Block.  After TurboTax's problem earlier this year, I thought I'd go with something new.  A co-worker does taxes part-time for Block, and she tells me the software is very, very good.

Milady and I have a fairly complicated tax return, with multiple retirements and multiple employers.  What hurts is we have no dependents, and we re-financed our mortgage year-before-last, so our mortgage deduction is pretty slim.

I'll have to file an extension, simply because we don't have the information from the nursing home.  Even so, I have to write those bastards a check again this year.  A fairly healthy check.  Evidently, Milady and I are not poverty-stricken, and the US Government, through the IRS, seems to think we're made of money.  That isn't so, but I still get to write a check.

Just damn.

Sunday Morning Dawg

Easter Sunday, and we're busy prepping for the Easter meal.  About 20 people (more or less) are showing up here about noon, and we'll be celebrating Easter.  Smoked ham, baked beans, potato salad. Yeast rolls, of course, and iced tea.  Lots of iced tea.  The dog is supervising, and making sure that everyone is taking care of their duties.

In another hour, I'll start peeling potatoes for the potato salad, while Milady preps the ham to go into the smoker.  She insists on pineapple and cherries on her hams, and I'm happy to let her dress them.

The dog has a groomer's appointment next week, so maybe we'll be able to tell one end from the other.

Happy Easter, everyone.

Showdown in Cowtown

This time next week, Milady and I will be in Fort Worth, TX, for the Showdown in Cowtown.  It's the Texas State Championships for Cowboy Fast Draw.  It's hosted by the Big Thicket Bushwhackers, a group honcho'd by my cousin, Gentleman George and his wife, Texas Rose.  This screen cap from their Facebook page shows the venue.

George and his club have spent a lot of time, effort, and I'm sure a pretty good chunk of loose change getting ready for the event.  They posted some pics on Facebook of the set-up and testing of the range, and I have to say I'm impressed.  This picture was taken at a camp they own and operate, Camp Waluta.  They set everything up, tested it (which I'm sure included shooting at it) only to tear it down, load it on trailers and prep to haul it all to Fort Worth for the event.

I know that the club has been working hard on this event, setting up reservations, doing advance work, all the administration, acquiring equipment, making lists, phone calls, emails, and book-keeping.  They've even offered a package deal with motel, restaurant, and entrance fees rolled into one package.  It's quite a chore, but it looks like they've gotten it done.

Great work, Guys, and we'll see you next week in Fort Worth.

My Flag

Milady noticed today that our flag is tattered, splitting along the seams, much the worse for wear.  Luckily, I had a spare, so I spent a half-hour retiring the old and installing the new.  The old flag is folded properly and stored on a shelf in the garage.  Before long, I'll have to build a fire and dispose of it properly.

I spent too many years in the Boy Scouts and the Army to let me simply discard it like so much trash.  It's our flag, after all, and deserves respect even after it has passed its useful life.

Veterans and Scouts will understand.  That is all.

Good Friday

Between doing chores, fasting, and reflecting on the Crucifixion, I come inside and find an article in National Review.  It seems that ISIS has resurrected the old, ghastly practice.

Much of the news about latter-day crucifixions and other atrocities escapes the confines of ISIS-controlled territory thanks to a brave group called Raqaa Is Being Slaughtered Silently. Details are grim.

It seems that they crucify people in the town square and make the citizenry watch.  Go to the link above, and read the whole thing, but know that crucifixion is back, and it is as horrendous now as it ever was.

Rights Expanded in Arkansas

Bluegrass Bruce has notified me that three new bills have passed the Arkansas legislature and are headed to the governor's desk.

HB 1505 would expand state code allowing lawful concealed carry on a public school, college or university campus to include sporting facilities and stadiums. The bill will also allow permit holders to store their handguns in their vehicle while on public college campuses and in the parking lot of the state Capitol.

HB 1372 would allow private schools to set their own policy regarding guns on their campuses. Currently Arkansas has a statewide prohibition banning concealed carry on private school grounds.

HB 1488 would reform a state law that gives law enforcement the power to approve or deny private firearms transfers at their own discretion. The new law would mandate that officials approve all transfers needed to obtain automatic weapons, shotguns and other firearms under Title II of the NFA, so long as the recipient of the firearm is legally allowed to possess it.

I'm happy to pass this news along.  Let Freedom Ring.

The RFRA Hypocrisy

I'ave been watching the outrage on the internets, and frankly I'm amused at the hypocrisy of the rabid left in decrying such things as a small pizzeria somewhere saying they won't cater a gay marriage.  They really had to dig deep to find one little pizzeria who chooses to stand on religious principal, while large US corporations sell their products in countries where being gay is against the law.  The US Government itself negotiates with countries where being gay is a capital offense.

Allahpundit says it best:

And one of the worst things about it, especially if you support gay marriage, is how parochial the outrage is. MKH touched on that the other night in noting that Apple somehow manages to tolerate capital punishment for gays in Saudi Arabia in the name of selling iPhones there. Jonah Goldberg noted on Twitter this morning that Iran’s own death sentences for the crime of homosexuality are obviously no impediment to the peace-in-our-time nuclear deal that’s brewing right now. The world’s richest corporation and most powerful government could draw real red lines aimed at helping gays abroad but they don’t because it might cost them something. Only when it costs them nothing, like in the absurd hypothetical of a great wave of Indiana businesses kicking gays out, do they pound the table. They’re beneath contempt. And they’ll never be called on it by anyone who matters to them.

Indeed.  If you're going to be outraged, at least be consistent in your outrage.  I call on Apple to immediately stop selling products in countries that outlaw being gay.  Or shut up about it.  Your hypocrisy is showing.

That Brass

Having decided that Staline made the brass cases for CFDA, I emailed Starline on their contact page.  In just a couple of hours, I received a reply.  A nice lady named Debbie Beischer replied, telling me: "Sorry we make these cases for the CFDA exclusively."  Oh, well, I had to ask.  If they've got an exclusive contract with CFDA, I'll have to find a work-around.

As it turns out, my metal-working son took an example piece of CFDA brass to work and after a few basic measurements, modified some .44 magnum brass to take shotgun primers.  He tells me that with a 1/4 inch drill bit and a 5/16 end mill, we should be able to manufacture that primer pocket (and have it look good) on a common drill press.

A carbide end mill cost less than $30.00, and it's a one-time purchase.  It should amortize quickly and last almost forever.  We're cutting soft brass, after all.

This may take a little more research, but I've begun pondering mightily on the problem, and a plan is beginning to gel.

CFDA Brass

The Cowboy Fast Draw is fun, but like most hobbies, it cuts in to the disposable income.  While I appreciate the fun, and the camaraderie, a dollar I spend on fast draw is a dollar I can't spend somewhere else.  Like all shooting sports, the ammo needs brass, and the CFDA wants 80 cents apiece for their special brass that takes 209 shotgun primers.  That's fine, but casting about for other sources seems to be coming up blank.  There are a few other vendors, but they want something north of 60 cents apiece for brass.

Being a frugal sort of guy I closely examined a piece of CFDA brass.  It's marked CFDA, with a printed star of top of the headstamp.  I suspect that the brass is made for CFDA by Starline, and a call to them should yield some information.  But, I've got lots of brass in my reloading stocks.  I don't have any .45 Long Colt, but I've got lots of .4 Remington Magnum, and wouldn't it be cool to shoot wax bullets with 209 primers in the big .44?

So, I got out some .44 brass and took some measurements, and came up with a plan.  I used a common 1/4 inch drill bit and drilled out the primer pocket.  That shotgun primer slipped in easily, but stood proud of the case head, so I took at 3/8 drill and made a recess so that the shotgun primer would sit flush.

So, I loaded two with wax bullets, dropped primers in the pocket and wandered out into the front yard.  I shot two into a convenient hedge (the neighbors think I'm crazy) and proved the concept.  It works like a champ, easy-peasy.  The pockets would be a lot more uniform if I had a drill press, but it works.  Works fine, thank you.

Now, I have ten (10) cases that I can shoot through the.44 magnum, and I've proved the concept, so I'm not dependent on the CFDA for brass.  I can make it in my shop, for a whole lot less than 80 cents per piece.  I like those boys, but 90 cents per piece is a bit stiff.  I can buy .45 Colt brass for about .25 cents apiece.

How Far Do They Fly?

Sunday afternoon we were shooting CDFA wax bullets in the back yard, and I determined to estimate a maximum range for that load.  It shoots a little 17 grain, .45 caliber wax bullet, propelled by a #209 shotgun primer.  It's fairly low powered as handgun ammo goes, but we wonder about such things, especially if we're shooting in a suburban neighborhood.  The neighbor downrange is easily 200 yards away.

So, the boys and I walked out to the pond to shoot across the glassy surface of the water, to see if we could identify a splash, and try to estimate the maximum range, in case a bullet gets past my backstop.

I don't have chronograph data, but the CFDA estimates that a common 209 load will travel about 650 fps.  When we got ready to take the shot, I was standing about five (5) feet above the water, holding the revolver five (5) feet above ground level, and holding it more or less level.  I had three good pair of eyes watching for the bullet splash and was aiming at a small island about 100 yards from my shooting position.

At the shot, we strained our eyes, looking for the splash, and my son said "Hell, Dad, there it is right there."

I was peering across the water.  "Where?"

"About 40 yards."  He pointed less than halfway to the island. "You can see the wax bullet floating in the water."

I looked down, and sure enough, that little orange bullet was floating less than 40 yards away.

So now we know.  The standard CFDA #209 load will travel about 40 yards more or less.  Certainly further study is in order, but I don't have to worry about neighbors finding wax bullets in their yard and wondering what the hell I'm doing.

Update** Finished

That grip project went smoothly, and a whole lot faster than I anticipated.  We sanded them down, Milady approved, and painted them with a turquoise fingernail polish.  Two coats, then a top coat of clear, and Milady has grips that contrast nicely with her firearm, fit her had, and make it personally hers.

It's not a traditional grip color, but it's certainly distinctive.  Personalizing a firearm is a time-honored tradition among many of the shooting disciplines.  Milady likes them, and that's her gun.

If you're at the Texas State Championships next month and you see a pretty gal sporting turquoise grips, come over and say Hello.

Sunday Morning Dawg

It's been a beautiful weekend, with lots of movement, and the dog has been outside a lot.

Here, he waits for me by the carport door.  Evidently he thinks it's time to go inside and check on Milady.  He hasn't been underfoot for ten or fifteen minutes now.

Grips

The choice of grips on a handgun is a very personal choice, and the manufacturers, both of the handguns and the aftermarket vendors, keep us ably supplied with grips.  I would no more try to tell someone which grip to use than I would try to tell them which underwear to wear.  It's that personal.

Milady has small hands, and she's been looking for grips that give her the best advantage with ther Vaquero, in the CFDA game.  Severeal weeks ago, she tried a pair of grips that someone had, and loved them.  They looked like custom grips, but the guy told me that they were simple, Ruger gunfighter grips.  The rubber, checkered grips.  All he did to them was sand off the checkering then paint them the color that he liked, which was high-gloss black.

Milady's revolver came with Ruger rosewood grips, but those were just a bit big for her hand.  She wanted slimmer grips and she like the sanded gunfighter grips.  So, we arranged for a swap from a club member who had admired the rosewood and had an extra pair of gunfighters laying around.

That's her pistol, on top with the gunfighter grips, and mine on bottom with the rosewoods.  This week we'll see about getting the checkering sanded off those grips and let her pick a nice color that will complement her stainless pistol.

Roxbury Shooting

It seems that yesterday while I was working, a good cop in Boston was injured in a shooting.  This police officer, John Moynihan was honored in 2013 at the White House.  He received the Top Cop award for his role in Boston Marathon manhunt.  Evidently, he was on a traffic stop yesterday that went bad.

The situation began when officers with the city’s Youth Violence Task Force pulled over a vehicle near the intersection of Humboldt Avenue and Ruthven Street, Evans said. As officers exited their car, a man in the pulled-over vehicle got out and opened fire.

Officer Moynihan took a bullet to the face, and he's in critical condition at the hospital.

Evans said in a news conference at the hospital Friday evening that Moynihan was responsive when he first arrived. The shooting occurred around 6:40 p.m. 

 “But he’s in... basically an induced coma at this time and they’re examining the extent of his injuries,” Evans said.

The guy that opened fire was killed at the scene.

So, let's review.  The cop makes a traffic stop, the guy gets out of the car and starts shooting.  One cop critically injured, the shooter dead at the scene.  Of course, the shooter happens to be a black guy, so the Twitter-verse explodes.

 I'm sure that the police were moving slowly, getting it right, collecting evidence, documenting the scene.  As the scene unfolds for us, and we learn more about the shooter, I'm sure that we'll learn who he was and more about his history.  I'm sure that he'll be portrayed as a choirboy with a shining future who was brutally murdered in the streets by the racist Boston Police Department.  All information that doesn't trumpet this line will be suppressed and will trickle out slowly.

I'll be praying for Officer Moynihan, along with the others on my prayer list.  While I'm at it, I'll also pray for the leftist Twitter users who are first to portray the police as murderous racists.  Those people make me sick.

Friday Afternoon

It's time for a palate cleanser, so we'll watch some great American past-times, all rolled together in one YouTube video.

Mike Rowe (who is an accomplished opera singer), singing the National Anthem, at a baseball park.



This is great stuff.  Mike Rowe, a great American, singing US Grant's favorite song, at a game invented by Abner Doubleday.

This is why we win.  USA! USA! USA!

Y'all have a great weekend.

Finally Friday

It's finally Friday, and I realize I didn't post at all yesterday.  Still, the news this morning is interesting.

Harry Reid is calling it quits.  Not immediately, of course, but this is good news for us, and good news for Nevada.

Some fool launched a machete attack in New Orleans.He's dead now, of course, being shot to death by a responding sheriff's deputy.  Hooray for the good guys.

Milady has instructed me that I'll make myself presentable for supper with friends this evening, and I'm okay with that.  I'll put on a clean shirt and leather shoes so as not to embarrass her.  Tomorrow, it's Cowboy Fast Draw for an organziation meeting at the club.  We're trying to get affiliated with the national organization, and it looks like we're ready to make application.

Y'all have a great weekend.

Benevolent Sexism

Benevolent Sexism, whatever in the hell that is.  It must be a slow news cycle, because this is the second such study I've seen in as many days.

I’m talking about the recent “study” conducted at Northeastern University by Judith Hall and Jin Goh, which claims to prove that men who exhibit chivalrous behavior are probably “benevolent sexists.” “Benevolent sexism is like a wolf in sheep’s clothing that perpetuates support for gender inequality among women,” explains Hall. In other words, if a man holds the door for you or picks up the tab on your first date, watch out!! You can be certain he’s secretly plotting all the while to perpetuate the patriarchy and enslave you in domestic bliss. He might even tell you he thinks you look nice in that dress! The nerve!

I assume that the two students got class credit of some sort for this study, or it might have been a published study by faculty, I"m not sure.  Either way, it was a waste of money.

Just My Style

Courtesy of my old friend Old NFO, we learn that Glock has introduced it's much bally-hooed single stack 9mm, and they're calling it the Glock 43.  Great news, now that I've purchased two Cowboy revolvers.  I was just thinking this morning over my pre-dawn coffee that I had probably purchased all t he handguns that I was going to purchase this year.

That's a screen capture from the Glock website, and you can click over to see the specs.

I'm certainly not in the market right now, but I bet that I'll be coon-fingering one before too many months are over.  I wonder if it will fit in a blue-jean pocket?

Chivalry Isn't Dead

Chivalry isn't dead, but it has taken a pretty severe beating, especially in liberal enclaves.  One writer at PJ Media decries the men in her social group.

We live in a society where lots of men do not pay. Not only do they fail to pay for the women with whom they go on a date, they increasingly do not even pay for themselves.

The men afflicted with this syndrome tend to be young, and are usually under the age of forty. Those who suffer most severely tend to be products of the nation’s top universities or respectable urban workplaces—where political correctness and leftwing ideology regularly trample over concepts such as chivalry and honor. At these institutions, the worst thing that could happen is to be perceived as racist, sexist or homophobic. Being a weasel that does not pay is not considered a source of embarrassment.

She brings up chivalry and honor, so let me ask a simple question; If the men in your life have neither chivalry nor honor, why do you associate with those men? Why are they in your life?

And, one observation:  Chivalry is a code which demands standards of conduct from both men and women.  If women have jumped the traces, why should men remain in harness?  The social contract is both voluntary and enforceable.  We are known by the company we keep, and if your associates do not reflect your values, then feel free to change your associations.  It's really that simple.

The writer does admit that there are men who still maintain the code.

Thankfully, plenty of men in the modern era still pay. They range from older gentlemen who hail from an era that emphasized values, to younger ones who were raised by families that continue to uphold norms long abandoned by the university or the modern workplace. They also range from those who engage in professions that are intrinsically tied to honor—such as the military and law enforcement—to those who live in parts of the country that still believe in an etiquette code.

I would suggest that she limit her associations to men who act in the manner in which she'd like to be treated, but I caution her that such men also expect certain standards from the ladies that they escort.

What Time Is It?

I see that some states are considering dropping Daylight Savings Time, or more accurately, picking a time and opting out of the twice yearly clock change. From Hot Air:

Elected officials in 10 states have proposed legislation that would opt their states out of daylight saving time including Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.

Frankly, we've been changing the clocks for the better part of my lifetime, and for the entire lifetimes of my children.   I've heard the arguments for and against, and I have to admit that the arguments on both sides are generally over-blown.  The real argument is that changing is simply a pain in the butt, but it is one that we've grown accustomed to.  It's also a practice that generally pisses people off twice a year, for a day or so, then we adjust and move along.

The argument of a "standard time for states is also overblown.  Several states have parts of their acreage in two time zones.

And the fact that we have multiple time zones in the country already provides for more than enough confusion. Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee are all broken up into sections which are in the eastern and central time zones. You can literally travel from one place to another without crossing a state line and have the clock change on you. But, again, we somehow manage to get business done without the world ending. People on the east coast know they have to wait a few hours in the morning before they can call a business in California and find anyone in the office. It’s a big country and we adjust to things like this.

Indeed, I used to live in Kentucky, which is in both the eastern and central time zones.  It was a simple mental shift when you crossed that time zone line, not a huge problem, just something to be aware of.

I'm all for picking a time and sticking with it, summer or winter, rain or shine.  We're a nation of time zones, and if I don't have to change my clock twice a year, that's a good thing.  Let the states decide.

Questions, Questions

Regular readers know that I've been handloading rifle and pistol ammo for several decades.  With cast bullets, fit is king.  A bullet that is properly fitted to the bore is more likely to shoot accurately.  T his is not news and is well documented.

Recently, Milady and I started fast-draw shooting with the good guys down at the Lucky 4B Ranch.  This is also not news to regular readers, but the old handloader in me started pondering the things that handloaders ponder, and I started thinking about wax bullets.  When we started shooting, I bought a bunch of the E-Z loader wax bullets, so that's what I have to work with, and they load easy in the casings and they seem to shoot just fine.

Folks have asked me, "Don't you get wax in your barrel?", and I guess I do, but cast bullet shooters have been coating bullets with wax or grease for hundreds of years.  They call it lube, and you're crazy to shoot an un-lubed bullet down your barrel.  In this case, the whole bullet is lube, and I haven't noticed any real fouling to speak of.

But I was concerned about the bullet catching the rifling, and because the bullets normally shatter when they hit the steel target, so I didn't find any bullets that I could examine.  On Sunday, though, I was letting the family shoot and one of the grandkids shot and missed, and I saw the bullet rebound off the 4X4 fence post nearby.  At the first opportunity, I found it in the grass and looked at it.

Those bullets mic' about 0.447 and we all know that the bore of a .45 Long Colt calls for a 0.452 bullet, so I was concerned about the bullet catching the rifling.  I knew that the shotgun primer that propelled the wax bullet was fairly low pressure, as pistol ammo goes, but I didn't know if that primer had enough energy to obdurate the bullet in the bore, provide a good seal, and give the bullet stability.

That bullet I found laying in the grass tells the tale.  Plainly, there are rifling marks on the bullet. The bullet is clearly engaging the bore.  That bevel on the base of the bullet is the base of the bullet and the destroyed portion is the nose of the bullet.  I see fouling on the grooves, so I'm not sure if the bullet is fully filling the bore, but the first of my questions is answered.  Yes, wax bullets engage the rifling of the bore.

Clearly, more study is in order, but I'm sure I'll have time to study those questions.

Sunday Morning Dawg

Busy day yesterday.  Milady and I got up dawnish, to rain and dreariness.  She helped me on the bench, clipping the springs in the Vaqueros to make them easier to cock.  A few coils off the mainspring and the first revolver went back together easy-peasy.  Started on the second one and ran into trouble.  I took that gun down half a dozen times, and each time we'd get the pistol back together, it would be locked up.  Tear down, check alignment, reassemble.

We had an appointment at 11:30 to meet for lunch with my mother, aunt, and cousins, so as I ran up on the deadline, we packed everything away then I jumped into the shower.  We got to the restaurant in the nick of time, enjoyed a thoroughly wonderful meal with kinfolks, then Milady and I headed to the Lucky 4B Ranch in Melder for the club shoot.

Wen we got to the ranch, the shoot was already in progress, so we got in line and started visiting with the club members.  I mentioned that I had successfully lightened the spring on one revolver, but the other one had locked-up, and the president, Big Mark, looked at it.  While I was on the line, he fixed it and it's running smooth as silk now.  Thanks, Mark.

After the shoot, we headed to Milady's brother's house for drinks and a meal.  Visited with some friends and got home about 9:00 last night.  I didn't turn the computer on all day long.  We awoke to another day of dreariness, misting rain and cloudy skies.  The dog, of course, prefers to stay at Milady's feet while she drinks her coffee.

He and the gray cat are always vying for Milady's attention, so they're always underfoot.  Milady and I will get ready for church soon, and prep for grandkids to descend on us after church.  Today, we're cooking tacos.  It should be quite the meal.

Too Much Weirdness

There's too much weirdness in the news these days.

Someone has launched a Draft Biden website.

Glynn Beck says he's leaving the Republican Party, and most of his reasoning makes sense.  Why be the opposition, if you're not going to actually oppose anything?

Hillary thinks we need camps for adults, and I'm still trying to figure that one out.  Re-education camps?  What the hell is she talking about?

I'm worn out with political news, none of it makes much sense.  I'm thinking about changing the whole tone of this blog, away from politics.  It's getting too weird, it doesn't make any sense, and the idea that I might actually cause any of our political leaders to actually stand up for the Constitution is too farfetched for a rational person to contemplate.

It's Friday, and I'm going to go someplace quiet and have a beer.  Y'all be good and try to enjoy what's left of Friday afternoon.

New Boots

I've been buying boots for a long time.  I get a new pair of uniform boots every year, and I know what they cost, but I haven't bought casual boots in almost fifteen years.  I had several pair of old casual boots in the closet, so I tried them on last night, and they didn't fit.  I've worn a size 10D since the Army, and I didn't think my feet were getting any bigger, but there's no accounting for the fact that I couldn't get my feet in the boots.

So, today after work I went to Economy Boots, a shop I've dealt with for years.  A salesman named T-Bone helped me size some boots, and it appears that nowadays I need a 10.5EE.  At my advanced age, I figured my feet would have stopped growing, but evidently they're spreading out.  We finally found a pair of boots that I could get my feet in, and when he showed me the price tag, I just about fell over.  But, they're comfortable, I'm going to need boots for Fort Worth next month.

So, anyway, I walked into Economy Boots and told the salesman I needed some boots.  We started to fit me, and wound up with a pair of Justin Bent Rail square toe boots.  I almost fell over when he told me $179.00, but they fit, were comfortable and even if the uppers are a little gaudy, I normally wear my pants over the uppers.

I beat the Amazon price and I got to try them on, so I'll call that a win.  Hopefully, these will last several years. Evidently, western boots cost more than they did twenty years ago.  What happened to $40.00 ropers?

Getting Ready

Our progress on the wax-bullet shooting continues to move apace, and Milady and I are really enjoying this game.  We plan to attend the Texas State Championship shoot on April 10-12th, not because either of us are championship shooters, but because it sounds like fun, my cousin's club is hosting it, and it's a good excuse for a weekend out of town with my sweetie.  I told my cousin that we'd be happy to help and I bet that he's going to put us to work at one task or another.

My son took this picture Sunday last, and I think it's awesome.  Milady is properly heeled, with a smile on her face and her hand on her gun.

Now, she's looking for wardrobe.  A lady can't show up at a state championship shoot in just any old rags.  The revolver, of course, is a Ruger Vaquero and the leather is a custom rig by Crease N' Corral.

Proper Target

The CFDA requires that their targets be mild steel, 24" in diameter, the center 50" from the ground.  Milady and I needed a practice target so that we could get our act together between practice matches. After doing some shooting this weekend with family, we determined to install a proper practice target.  A family member said he could probably help us with that.

I found it in my rocking chair when I came home this afternoon, so Milady and I installed it on the board fence in the corner of the yard.

Thanks, Matt.

Sunday Afternoon

Finally, a day with sunshine and moderate temperatures.  I fired up the grill after church and fixed hand-flung hamburgers.  The old-fashioned kind that are patted out by hand, from good ground beef, lovingly seasoned and fashioned.

We brought out Milady's new pistol and let the assembled run some wax bullets through it.  It runs on shotgun primers alone, so there's a little pop and the wax bullet hits the target.  Pretty cool, and the little ones can participate.  Better yet, we can fire it in the backyard.

Here's the littlest one, Lucas, running grandma's Vaquero with wax bullet ammunition.

Sunday Morning Dawg

The dog looks about the way I feel this morning.  Busy Saturday and not much rest. The weather has been lousy all week, and we haven't gotten to be outside much at all.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate this week, and we can get outside more.  Lots to do out there, and it's hard to do when it's raining.

Saturday Slowing Down

Milady and I have been busier than two cats in a sandbox today, but it's toddy-time and we're slowing down.  Some family and friends coming over soon and I've taken the steaks out to get to room temperature before I put them on the grill.

Durned little ole ribieyes, the average about a pound apiece.  They've been marinating in good creole seasoning for two days.  I told the company to get here about 5:00, we'd have an aperitif and put the steaks on about 6:00, with taters and salad.

Steak, taters and salad.  It's what's fer supper.

Saturday - Busy

Running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I start clearing tabs, and find this bit of humor.

Heh!  Hat tip to David, who sent it to me.

Ruger Vaquero

The Ruger Vaquero is the cowboy gun of the Ruger single-action lineup, and it's a very capable revolver.  They're used a lot in Cowboy Action Shooting and they're also used a lot in Cowboy Fast Draw.  We've been spending some Saturdays with the local fast draw club, and since Milady's birthday is later this month, I figured that she needed her own revolver, suitable for the cowboy game.  Today, I picked up a Ruger Vaquero, in .45 Long Colt.

Now, she's got her very own fast draw rig.  We'll have to do some practicing, as soon as the special ammo shows up on the Brown Truck.  But, because it's wax bullets and shotgun primers, we can do that practicing in the back yard.

Breaking - Officers Down

Breaking news, but it appears that two police officers were wounded last night in Ferguson Missouri as a protest was ending.

Two police officers in the US flashpoint town of Ferguson were shot early on Thursday during the latest protest over the treatment of black people by the mainly white police force.

 One officer was shot in the face and the other in the shoulder as a protest rally outside the police station in the Missouri town was dispersing, Jon Belmar, St. Louis County police chief, told reporters.
He said the officers were conscious but that their injuries were serious.

I'll be following this throughout the day, but it appears that the shots came from outside the protest, which as disbanding.  Some are calling it an ambush.  No word yet on the caliber or type of weapon used. Again, it appers that the protest was disbanding and that this was someone on the outside of the protest.

My prayers and thoughts to the officers and family involved.

This Email Mess

I've been watching Hillary's self-inflicted email mess and it's easy to get wrapped up in the minute-by-minute coverage, but several thoughts emerge.

First, she did this to herself, out of her need for privacy.  It's one thing to be a private citizen in this country, to enjoy the benefits of the economy, to make money, to have a semblance of privacy in your daily dealings with associates and loved ones.  It's something else entirely to be a public citizen, a public official, and I believe that the office of Secretary of State is decidedly a public office.  If she didn't want the scrutiny, she shouldn't have taken the office.  Once she took the office, she had a responsibility to be accountable and reasonably transparent.  She failed miserably in that responsibility.

Second.  It's going to be easy for the Republicans to overstep; to turn this god-send into a liability.  Hillary is on the ropes, but this isn't the first time she's been on the ropes, and if there is a consummate politician anywhere in the United States, Hillary ranks among the first two or three.  If the Republicans push too hard, we risk losing the value of the scandal.  The usual suspects are already spinning the response.  Let's not overdo it and lose the argument.

Third.  It's a long way to 2016.  The pundits are already talking like we're there, but Clinton hasn't even launched her campaign yet.  It's eighteen months until the general election.  Lots of things can happen in that timeframe.  Don't count Hillary out yet.  Let the various news outlets do their job, and I see with some amusement that the AP has filed suit to look at the email server.

Fourth, I wonder how one "Lerners" an entire email server?

Unexplained

There are unexplained things in this world and the religious among us will tell us that we see through a glass, darkly.  As a police officer I've seen and heard things I can't explain, none as dramatic as this news item that pauses us to reflect.

Four police officers rushing to an overturned car in an icy Utah river say they all heard the same thing: a mysterious female voice calling out “Help,” from inside the vehicle.

All four say they heard it, and there's nothing as compelling to a police officer as a cry for help.

 But the driver of the car was dead and her 18-month-old daughter, while still alive, couldn’t have been the speaker.

If the woman was dead, that's tragic, but the baby is alive, but who was calling for help?

It was a mystery that continues to haunt the officers – and may never be explained. 

There are many things that we cannot explain, but I am convinced that angels live among us.

Those Emails.

Hillary released some emails, just as she said.  Sure she did.  Printed them out and couriered them to the State Department.  55,000 pages of them.

It turns out the reference is to literal physical pages. From Friday’s Times: “Finally, in December, dozens of boxes filled with 50,000 pages of printed emails from Mrs. Clinton’s personal account were delivered to the State Department.”

That's rich, and we wonder what is hiding in those boxes of paper.  If she was truly giving the American voter a big "Screw You" she would have printed them on an old dot-matrix printer, with fan-fold paper.  The chutzpah of the woman is incredible.

Why did Mrs. Clinton have her staff go through the trouble of printing out, boxing and shipping 50,000 or 55,000 pages instead of just sending a copy of the electronic record? One can only speculate, but there is an obvious advantage: Printed files are less informative and far harder to search than the electronic originals.

It's certainly harder to search them, but they're easily archived.  Just put the boxes in a cabinet, appropriately marked, and the archiving is done.

She wants to be President of a millennial United States?  Printing out emails?  That, more than anything else should disqualify her.  Of course, she's a worn-out retread from Two discredited administrations (her husband's and Obamas).  We're ready for Hillary.

Vehicle Registration

Couple of weeks ago, I got my vehicle registration forms in the mail.  Forgot about them.  Dug them out today, while looking for something else, and realized that the registration on my work car expired on 2/28/2015.  Oh, crap, I've got to go to the DMV tomorrow.

Until I realized I could register my vehicle online.  I went to the DMV website, renewed my registration, paid the late fee, and printed a receipt for the glovebox, in case one of my brethren wants to write me a ticket for having an expired license plate.  The DMV promises me that they'll send me a new regisration and a sticker for my license plate, posthaste.  Sure they will.

But, I didn't have to go sit in the DMV office for an hour.  That's a benefit.  We'll see how long it takes them to send the new sticker.  I'm not holding my breath.

Poor Ol' Hillary

Six months ago, she was riding high, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the next presidential cycle.  Now, questions emerge.  Concurrent, overlapping scandals purely of her own making.  It seems that the Clinton Foundation took money from overseas interests while she was Secretary of State, and it seems that she violated her own rules, and maybe federal law by using a personal email address to conduct official business during that time.  Other folks are noticing.

Clinton's allies are already insisting the email story—that Clinton exclusively used her personal email address while at the State Department—is a nothing-burger. It isn't news. It will blow over after conservatives have had their 48 hours of outrage. After all, it's unclear whether Clinton actually violated any rules! Move along, nothing to see here.

She has huge name identification, she has quite a history of political activism, she is the front-runner in her party right now, but lots of things can change between now and the nomination,   She also has a list of scandals dogging her, and we're beginning to learn that most of them are of her own making.

White House Travel Office
Benghazi
Whitewater,
Wikileaks
Email
Equal pay in her organization.

Let's not forget who she's married to, the only president successfully impeached in the US history.  Hillary has a lot of baggage, and not much of it is good, especially if you remember a guy named Vince Foster.

She has no idea what transparency means.  She has a bunker mentality, Her husband hangs out with pedophiles.  That's a lot of baggage to overcome.

Six months ago, she was a shoe-in.  Now, people are starting to ask questions.

For the record, Hillary isn't campaigning for my vote.  She'll never get it.  But, other folks are asking whether they want to vote for someone with as much history of scandal, and concurrent, overlapping scandals that speak to her executive ability.  If not Hillary, then who's on deck?  The next few months might be very interesting.

Goblin Down

In what might have been a horrific story, a woman successfully defended herself when her ex-boyfriend broke into her house late Tuesday.

A Lake County woman says she was forced to open fire on an ex-boyfriend who was trying to break into her home. 

It seems that the woman asked the judge for a restraining order, claiming that she was being stalked and harassed, but he refused the order.

The judge denied her petition for an injunction, saying Webb had failed to prove her case and that the stalking complaints needed to be handled by deputies. 

As it turns out, a restraining order is sometimes ignored by the stalker.  The woman was wise to make other arrangements for her defense.  Perhaps now the judge will take her claims seriously and send the stalker away for a long term of unpaid employment with the state. If he survives.

Sleet

It's been sleeting since daylight, but we may have dodged a huge bullet because it appears that the ground soaked up a lot of warmth over the past few days.  Hopefully, this is winter's last blast and after this storm passes we'll start a warming trend that will continue until August.

The School Board did good, closing schools today.  Many state offices are closed and the weather is truly crappy out there.

School's Closed

It seems that school is closed locally, at least for tomorrow.  That winter storm that's rolling though later tonite is supposed to bring high winds, freezing rain and sleet during the morning drive hours.  We're shut down, dead in the water.

If it's bad, PawPaw will stay home.  If it's not bad, I'll try to get some shooting in.