Linked

 After offering to throw money at my ISP to get them to put internet in the shop, and being told it was un-possible, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I had a bunch (several hundred yards) of Cat5 cable we used for fast draw, and the shop is only 70 feet from the house.  I bought a router and ran a test line from the modem in the house to the router in the shop.  A few minutes of setup, and I was connected.  

Now, I have to get some Cat5E, some pvc for conduit, and rent a trencher.  The concept works, and now I have to make it more eye-pleasing, rather than a bare cable run across the grass.  

I now have internet access in the shop, and my ISP can blow soap bubbles out their ass.

Is Affirmative Action Over?

 There is a case wending its way through the legal system that seeks to overturn race-based admissions at UNC. The case has made it to oral arguments at the Supreme Court.

What we today call Affirmative Action stems from a series of legislative bills and executive orders in 1965

Whether you agree or disagree, it has been a topic of discussion ever since.  Oral arguments were very recent, and the Supremes will rule in their time and in their manner.  Many Americans have lived their entire lives under Affirmative Action and cannot conceive a future without it.

This is liable to get interesting.

Stump Politics

 Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) was on the stump tonight and we went to listen to him at the Buckeye High School gym.  It was classic John Kennedy; his I Believe speech.  But, he mingled with the crowd before he took the microphone.

Here, he is chatting with Belle when he came up in the bleachers to visit with the crowd.

Classic Louisiana politics.  We like John Kennedy and believe he represents us well.

That Whole Pelosi THing

I'm sure by now you have heard of that whole Paul Pelosi thing, where he was hit in the head by an intruder and had to have surgery. We wish him a full, complete, and speedy recovery.

As I learned in police work all those decades, initial news reports are often wrong.  I'm happy to wait for a better reporting of the incident, but the corrections simply don't make any sense.  The SFPD doesn't use body cams?  Where is the tape of the original 911 call?  The Pelosi cottage in SanFran doesn't have security video?  The questions keep coming, and the answers don't shed any light on the situation.

I hope that Paul gets better quickly.  I really do, but this whole kerfuffle is starting to look like Jussie Smollett 2.0.

Running Errands

 While running errands today, Belle and I went by the early polling site and voted for the November 8 primary.  Here in Pineville, the early voting site is Kees Park, at the community center.  It's convenient, it is easy, and I feel like it is secure.  It takes about 10 minutes from the time you lock your car until you get back in to drive away. Voting was brisk this morning, but there were no lines.  Just walk in, identify yourself and go vote.

Louisiana is an ID Card state, and has been for the past several decades.  It is neither an issue nor a hindrance.  We are quite baffled as to why other states haven't adopted the practice.

This And That

 We have all been barraged with the news of the prominent San Francisco homeowner who confronted an intruder, was hit with a hammer, and is in the hospital with a fractured skull.  We wish him a speedy recovery.

We turn to page two of the paper and learn of another intruder in Hidalgo County, TX,   It didn't work out that well for him.

Garcia, 36, proceeded to try to break into the bedroom where the family was located, according to authorities. 

"The homeowner warned Garcia that the police had been called and she had a gun.  When Garcia refused to leave and continued to try to get into the bedroom, the homeowner shot once through the door.  Garcia fled the house," the sheriff’s office posted to Facebook of the burglary. 

Authorities launched a search of the area and found Garcia about 100 yards away from the home with a gunshot wound to the left arm. He was medically cleared and booked into the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center for Burglary of Habitation with Intent, the sheriff’s office said on Facebook. 

That's the way it is supposed to work.  Someone breaks in, you shoot him.  Our homeowner in SanFran should have known how to do that.

Sunday Morning Dawg

 

Hanging out on the porch.

Coon

 

Punch C1 and watch him jump.

Investigation

 PJMedia is reporting that Senator Bob Menendez is under some sort of federal criminal investigation.

Who cares?  Being under federal investigation is sort of a badge of honor.  They've been investigating Trump for years now.

Until they actually file indictments, it's just rumor.

Diesel Shortage?

 Zero Hedge is reporting that we might be in dire straits.

Diesel supplies are very scarce across the Northeast and in the Southeast. Supplies are at the lowest seasonal level for this time of year, and the US only has 25 days left of the industrial fuel in storage. The crisis gripping the diesel market appears to be getting out of hand as one fuel supply logistics company initiated emergency protocols this week. 

Thanks, Joe Biden   Diesel is the life-blood of American commerce.

Democracy Dies

 If you've been paying attention to the national screechers, it appears that Republicans might be having a good year.  I doubt that they can hold it, because I call them the Stupid Party, but the other side is insane.  The latest screed is that democracy is going to die if the Rs take over.

Tucker covers it here, but there is one screengrab that tells the tale.  You know that this guy is a Democrat, and it turns out he works for some Washington fish wrap paper.

Okay, Max.  Explain to me again how democracy dies when one side wins a free and fair election?

Evidently, the Ds have finally read the Constitution and learned that state legislatures control the certification of election.  That's not news.  It's been that way since ratification.

It will be interesting to see how the voter turnout goes in Georgia under the new Jim Crow 2.0 law.  By all reports, the Georgia voters are breaking records.

Undecided Voters

 I understand that there was a debate in Pennsylvania last night, and that it was a complete train-wreck for John Fetterman.  But, at this late stage of the election cycle, I wonder how many undecided voters there are in Pennsylvania?  I know nothing about politics in that state, but I know that for the local races we will decide in Louisiana, voters have already made up their minds.  In fact, we are already voting.

Pennsylvania is a tight race. The choice between Fetterman and Oz is stark.  The choice has been stark since the beginning of the race and has not really changed.  Oz is a physician and Fetterman is a career politician.  Fetterman is a Democrat and Oz is a Republican.  Oz seems to have control of his mental faculties and Fetterman is a stroke patient.  That is not Fetterman's fault, and I wish him a clear and complete recovery, bnut that does not change the fact.

In other news, evidently Hillary Clinton has actually read the Constitution and has learned that the state legislatures control the US Presidential election.  Who knew?  It comes as a bit of a shock to her.

According to Hillary Clinton, less than two years after the “fairest and most secure election in history,” the 2024 presidential election is on the verge of being stolen.

Hillary is like the herpes of American politics.  The immune system beats it down, but never really kills it. Then, once the body politic lets its guard down, it erupts again causing discomfort and pain among the afflicted.

High and Dry

 The USS Kidd, a Fletcher-class destroyer from the WWII era is a floating museum in Baton Rouge, LA.

Kidd was featured in the recent WWII movie Greyhound.  Tom Hanks played the skipper who took the ship on convoy duty escorting merchants and troop carriers to the UK.

Normally, she floats in the Mississippi river, providing tours to school kids and veterans groups.

Only problem now is, she ain't floating.  Too little water int he river.

Plenty more photos in the local fish wrapper.  If whoever it is taking care of Kidd, this might be a good time to do hull maintenance.

Mondays

 This was the weekend that kept on giving.

After we learned that my brother had died on Friday, we were trying to adjust to the shock, then on Saturday afternoon, we learned that our Mother had fallen and broken a hip.  Thankfully, Mom lives close and had plenty of support.

The docs did surgery this morning, a complete replacement.  Mom just got out of surgery and the doc reports that she came through it well.

This weekend has been a total skunk-striped bitch.  And, any Monday I have to spend at a hospital cannot be described as a complete success.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

Election Deniers

I saw this one day last week but glossed over it.  It turned up on my news feed this morning, and I decided to highlight it.

Kari Lake is running to be the governor of Arizona.  She does not suffer fools gladly.

Sunday Morning Dawg

 

Stretching after a nap on the porch.

Horror

 If you follow general aviation, I'm sure by now you have heard of the airplane crash in Keene, NH that took the lives of two people.

David was my little brother.  He turned 599 this year.  David was that kid down at the FBO who would do anything for an hour of flight time.  Sweep hangers, spot planes, clean up messes, he did it all to fly.  He got his pilots lisense shortly after he got his drivers license.

David went in the Army right out of high school and did a tour in Germany, where he worked as a crew chief on UH-1 helicopters.  When he came out of the Army, he met his wife and they settled down in her hometown of Townshend, VT.  He got out of aviation for a while, but after his two kids were out of high school, he went back to it with everything he had.  I looked at David's FAA certification today.  Airplane, single and multi-engine, commercial, instrument instructor.

I last saw David in July, when he came home for a short visit.  We had the opportunity to spend an afternoon together.  He wouldn't have a drink with me because he valued his pilot's license above all else. David worked at what he called the "salt mine" during the day, then went to the airport and taught aviation for a couple of hours before going home.

According from what I can piece together from the news items, David had a student in his plane, and was about a mile or less from the airport.  Something went horribly wrong.  David and his student died.

The family is in shock.

Californians Move to Texas | Episode 3: The Church

And looks who makes a guest appearance.

Internet Access

 One of the continuing challenges of rural America is internet access.  The gold standard is cable-type Inernet, but other options exist in local markets.

Here where I live, we are served by Optimum, a cable company who provides TV, internet, and residential phone services.  We used to be served by SuddenLink, but they went away several months ago, and Optimum is the name on the building today.

Optimum sends me a bill each month.  A big bill.  I had been using my cell phone as a local hotspot for internet services in the shop but wanted something better.  The hotspot has a data limit, and when I reached that limit, they would throttle it dramatically.  So, I went down to the local Optimum office to see if I could get internet access in the shop.

I went in on Thursday, Oct 13, and they told me that someone would be out on Friday, Oct 14 to assess the work.  hung around the shop all day and never saw any cable guys, so on Monday I called the company.  THey told me that their guy had been here and said that it was impossible to put internet in my shop because it was over 300 feet from their access point.  Odd, that/

So, I went back to the store on Tuesday, October 18th.  They told me that someone would be out of Thursday, Oct 20, to re-evaluate. I stayed at the shop all day yesterday, and even made jokes about it with friends and family who dropped by, asking if they had seen a lost cable guy.  No one showed up.  So, this morning, Oct 21st, I went back to the store.  The woman at the store, who has been very helpful, checked the computer and told me that someone had come out yesterday, and said that the local access point is over 325 feet from the shop.

That is very odd.  I checked the acess point on the pole with Google maps, using the same access route that our local electric company used to put power into the shop.  It measured at just over 192 feet.

They are supposed to send a supervisor out later today.  We'll see.

Hilarious

 This story out of Germany warms my heart. It seems some protesters went into a Volkswagen facility and glued themselves to the floor.  VW, by all accounts, told them to have fun, turned off the heat to the building and left.

“[Volkswagen] told us that they supported our right to protest, but they refused our request to provide us with a bowl to urinate and defecate in a decent manner while we are glued, and have turned off the heating.”

So, their basic complaint is that Volkswagen won't let them shit in a bowl?  Okay!

Houdini

 The dawg has become an escape artist, figuring ways to get under the backyard fence to explore the wider world.  Belle is vocally opposed to him running loose.

He's creative, I'll give him that.  For the past week or so, it's been a game.  I'll patch one escape route, he'll find another.  His last gambit was fairly creative.  Shimmy under an old deck and exploit a gap in the fence that I didn't think a cat could get through.   So, this morning, with a little field expedient carpentry, I closed that gap. We'll see how he does with that.

He's a pea-brain, but I learned to deal with pea-brains during my stint in Corrections.  Lots of pea-brains there who learn to study barricades looking for a weak spot.

Pork Stew

 We awoke to freezing temperatures this morning, the first time this season.   After coffee, I asked Belle what she wanted for lunch, and she reminded me about a piece of pork we needed to cook.  So, a stew seemed to be in order.

I want out to the shop, lit the hater near her couch, then started prepping the pork.  Cut it into bite-sized peices and seasoned it well with salt, pepper, garlic powder and a little Tony's seasoning.  I washed and chopped an onion, some russet potatoes, and some carrots.  Then browned the pork in a little oil,  When brown, I added the onions, and a little flour.  I let that sizzle for a bit, then added some brown gravy mix and water.  A little Lea &Perrins for flavor.  I put it on what trail cooks call a "slow walk" and let the flavors blend for an hour or so.

When the carrots were fork tender, I put on a pot of rice.  That's how we did lunch today.

FBI Malfeasance

 Matt Vespa, at Townhall, writes about the FBI under-counting the number of mass shooting prevented or ended by a civilian who happens to be close when the incident begins.

According to the Hoover boys, only four percent of active shooter situations are stopped by ordinary citizens when the actual number is closer to 35 percent. In 2021, the figure was around 50 percent. John Lott’s Crime Prevention Research Center crunched the exact figures in their new study, which also added that the FBI misclassified shooting incidents when a civilian stopped the attacker because the police later arrested the suspect (via CPRC):

So, the FBI is under-counting those situations where a civilian stops a mass shooting, and under-counting them by a factor of 10.  That doesn't surprise me. 

Just another reason not to believe anything that the FBI tells us.  They have lied to the American people almost continuously since 2001. They lock up patriots and ignore crimes committed by Democrats.

Getting Ready

 With cold weather imminent, I decided yesterday to get some propane bottles filled.  Standard, 25 lb bottles.  I took them down to the local feed-and-seed  Filling four bottles cost me $91 and change.  Last year, it was $56 and change.

This morning I was at Wally-World and passed through the camping section to pick up some small 1 lb bottles. $9.87 for a two-pack.

I can see that heating the shop is going to be expensive this winter, and I'll have to pick up one of those adapters to refill the small bottles.  Belle likes a small Mr. Heater down by her feet when we're in the shop.  It runs on 1 lb bottles, and I may have to get an adapter to run it off one of the big bottles.  But, I hear from others that the Mr. Heater really doesn't like to run off the big bottles.  Something about the hose degrading and getting trash in the heater that clogs up the works.

Freeze Warning

 The weather weenies are telling me that we have a freeze warning in effect for Wednesday, Oct 19th.

It's only supposed to get down to 30F, but technically that is freezing.

We'll see, I reckon.  I went and got some propane bottles filled today in case I have to break out the heater for the shop.

Mayorkas is a Damned Fool

 Mayorkas is now complaining that Republican rhetoric on the open border is causing a problem, because the Mexican cartels think that that border is open.

Mayorkas is a damned fool.  The reason that Republicans are saying that the border is open is because the border is, in fact, open.  Not only is Mayorkas stupid, but he is ugly.  Belle commented recently, while watching him on TV, that I have a better-looking head on my dick.

In a same world, Mayorkas would be in prison for malfeasance.  The amount of damage that he has personally done to the United States is incalculable.  If we had a functioning DOJ, Mayorkas would have already been run out of town on a rail, but with Garland in charge, he's only interested in J6 revelers and covering up for Hunter Biden.

If we take the Senate in three weeks, these sonsofbbitches need to find a hole to crawl in.

Red Wave

 PJMedia is opining that Colorado might elect a GOP senator.

Both parties quietly say the Colorado senate seat currently held by Democrat empty suit Michael Bennet could very well flip to GOP challenger Joe O’Dea — despite him lagging far behind in every poll taken so far.

I'm no politico, as I proved in my run for Sheriff, but even I can see that the Democrats have a lot of headwinds to fight against.  The national party isn't helping them much, what with energy and crime climbing at exorbitant rates.  The national Dems don't seem to be talking about the issues that affect every-day Americans.

Louisiana will do its part and re-elect John Kennedy That race is simply a requirement.  John is going back in easily.  Other states with Donk senators need to step up and throw the bums out.

Sunday Morning Dawg

 

RIP, Denny

 I just finished with my Saturday festivities and sat down to surf.

I went to the Grouchy Old Cripple and learned that Denny has died.

That is a damned shame.  He's been a regular read since I started this blogging thing.  He is going to be missed, and I'm raising a glass to him right now.  Rest in peace, brother.  The rest of us will be along directly.

Tulsi Gabbard: Our leaders are lying to us

Tulsi Gabbard is making noise, and more importantly, that noise is about democracy and leadership.

Recently, she left the Democrat party, and she is telling us that Democrats do not have our best interest at the forefront of their agenda.  Skip ahead to about 2:20 and she talks about the very definition of truth and how the leadership is trying to redefine it.

It will get crazy in the run-up to the midterms, and we're going to hear a lot of stuff.  What I will tell you is that the Republicans may not be able to fix all your problems, but the Democrats are the cause of all your problems.  Anyone who votes for a Democrat at any level, is voting against their own best interest.

Mayorkas Lied

 Remember the incident at the border last year?  We talked about it here.  Border Patrol agents on horseback?  Yeah, you remember.

Our lying DHS Secretary, Mayorkas said it was terrible, horrible, conjuring up images from our racist past.

Truns out, he knew it was a lie.  The whole thing.  Never happened.

According to the newly released emails, Department of Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was aware the popular narrative that Border Patrol agents whipped a group of Haitian migrants was false hours before he declared the incident “horrific” during a White House press conference. One of Mayorkas’s staffers sent him an email less than three hours before the press conference relaying the account of photographer Paul Ratje, who took the viral photos and said the salacious account of what happened was false.

He knew it was a false narrative and he went with it anyway.  That fact proves that Mayorkas is a lying sonofabitch. He willfully and knowingly lied to the American people. He willfully and knowingly threw his own employees under the bus of racism.  He furthered a narrative that damaged American law enforcement.  

Mayorkas is the very worst of the American deep state.  He has neither shame nor honor.

The Migrant Problem

 I have a close friend with extremely close ties to the migrant community.  His wife was born in Brazil, where they met. She came over legally, did the paperwork, got a visa and a green card, and over the space of several years, became an American citizen.  They have sponsored close friends and family members who are all here legally.

My friend runs a successful business, along with his sons.  He is semi--retired, letting the kids run the business, but he keeps a close eye on things.  In the shop, they speak Portuguese, which is the native tongue of the wife's side of the family.

He dropped by my shop today to shoot the bull and we started talking about the illegal migrant problem.  He is not sure what the answer is but believes that it needs to be solved quickly.  He tells me that the legal immigrants are totally pissed off at Biden for letting things get out of hand.  The legal migrants spent tots of time, energy, and money doing it right, and they are outraged that Biden is letting people jump the line. They don't think it is fair.

My buddy also tells me that if these illegals are allowed to stay, with a path to citizenship, then at some point soon, they will become natural Republicans.  They are escaping corrupt governance and socialistic problems.  If these people are ever allowed to vote, they won't vote Democrat.

I trust his analysis. He is a lot more familiar with the migrant community than I am.

Bidenflation

 The Producer Price Index is in, and it ain't good.  It looks like producer prices are running at 8.5%.

“Excluding food, energy and trade services, the index increased 0.4% for the month and 5.6% from a year ago,” CNBC’s report added.

If you add in food and energy, there is no telling how high the number might be. 

The Consumer Price Index is supposed to come out tomorrow, and it spells very bad news for the Biden economic plan.  Which is to say, he doesn't have an economic plan.

Duct Tape or Duck Tape

 It's duct tape.  That is not open for discussion.  It was invented during WWII as a general purpose adhesive tape.  After the war it was used as a building material, to connect ventilation ducts.  These days, better tapes exist, so duct tape has become a redneck fix-all.  I have several rolls in my shop.

There is a Duck Brand tape, but even they admit that the type is duct tape.  It's right there on the label.

It was never used for taping ducks.  That would be cruel.

Duct Tape

 From Termite:

Biden Regrets

 It seems that our commander in chief is pissed off that OPEC decided to cut production of crude oil.  

President Joe Biden was outraged on October 5 when the oil-and-gas cartel OPEC+ announced that it would cut production by two million barrels of oil per day. He had reason to be angry. The dis was personal. And the move has global implications. OPEC+ includes Russia, and rising oil prices will help Vladimir Putin, undermine Europe’s ability to keep the lights on, and reduce food supply in the Global South. 

I would remind our president that on Day One of his administration, he did the same thing.  He cut production, increased prices and started on a path of inflation that harms lower and middle income families. But, what really bothers Joe is that it comes at a time when his party is particularly vulnerable.

President Biden has been around long enough to understand the special relationship between fuel prices and presidential job approval. He’s incensed that OPEC+ may have helped the Republican opposition weeks before the midterm election.

I'm one of those guys who link presidential approval and fuel prices.  I know what I paid for fuel on the last day of Trumps administration, and I consider any price above that as abject failure on the current administration. 

The midterms are less than 30 days away, and rising gas prices do not bode well for the Democrats.

Fearmongering

 It seems that the good folks on Nantucket are worried about a possible airplane full of migrants descending into their little slice of heaven.

Nantucket Police have issued an alert that a flight is set to arrive this week that has “many similarities to the flight and incident that occurred on Martha’s Vineyard” last month — when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent dozens of migrants from Texas to the Bay State island.

Is Nantucket a sanctuary island? If so, they should welcome these people with open arms.  However, if their sanctuary status is as solid as those on Martha's Vineyard, perhaps they should re-think their virtue signaling.

Tyson Leaving Chigago

 Tyson Foods says that it is consolidating its executives from Chicago to their global headquarters in Arkansas.  I wonder why?

The poultry producer said Wednesday that it’s bringing together its corporate employees at its global headquarters in Arkansas, resulting in the closure of three offices, including downtown Chicago, Downers Grove, Illinois, and Dakota Dunes in South Dakota. Roughly 1,000 employees work in the three offices and will begin relocation in early next year.

Living in Arkansas beats being shot in a drive-by. Or, having your car jacked at a stop sign.

Sunday Morning Dawg

 

Boiling 600 Pounds of Pig Parts in Louisiana!! RARE Cajun American Food!!!

Because it's Saturday night and I'm enjoying a bourbon.  So, it's time to watch silly YouTube videos.

Toward the end, they talk about hogs-head cheese.  It's not cheese, and it isn't made (anymore) form a hog's head, but when it's done right, it's wonderful.

Well, This is Interesting.

The news is abuzz with speculation that Hunter Biden may soon face accountability, if even in a minor way.

Will this bring down the whole Biden crime family?  Don't bet the rent.  Remember, Joe is a slippery old machine politician who happens to be a sitting president.

I seem to recall a lot of legal analysts during the Trump years who said that it is impossible, constitutionally, to indict a sitting President.  Will this bring down the Biden presidency?  Well, other than the border problems, inflation, and crime, 

Don't look for a perp walk before the midterm elections.

Californians Move to Texas | Episode 2: The Cookout

The Decline of New Orleans

New Orleans has always been a tourist mecca.  Beautiful architecture, wonderful food, a thriving night life. History and culture combined to make New Orleans a wonderful city.

But, decades of Democratic governance have eroded the city to the extent that it is now the murder capital of the US.  These figures are not in dispute, except in the mayor's office.  The mayor of the city, Latoya (the Destroyer) Cantrell is denying that New Orleans has a problem with crime.  Of course, Cantrell has problems of her own with crime.  She is in trouble for travel expenses and other corruption that seem to follow her like a shadow.

It's so bad that even Tucker Carlson took notice.

Belle and I used to love spending the odd weekend in New Orleans.  With rising crime and a general decline of the city, we haven't been there for several years.  And, we have no plans to return.  We'll spend our tourist money elsewhere.

Helicopter Door Gunners in Vietnam - The Shotgun Riders | US Army Docume...

More FBI Nonsense

 One of the things that we rely on when tracking crime in a certain place is the FBI's crime report.  Only, it turns out that they have been under-reporting certain types of incidents, like the frequency of a good guy with a gun stopping a bad guy with a fun.  According to Jazz Shaw at HotAir.com:

One thing we have traditionally relied on when analyzing trends in violent crime is the FBI’s annual reports covering a variety of crime statistics. But what if those statistics are wildly inaccurate? In at least one category, that appears to have been the case in recent years. A new report from John Lott’s Crime Prevention Research Center demonstrates that the FBI records very few active shooting incidents where armed citizens have stepped up to put an end to the killing. But according to these statistics, it happens far more often than the Bureau’s records claim. How far off was the FBI? During the seven-year period from 2014 through 2021, the agency reported that only 4.4% of active shooting events were ended by armed citizens, but Lott’s figures indicate that the number was actually more than 34%. That’s a very large discrepancy to account for. (Fox News)

Here is the link from Fox News. 

I trust John Lott's analysis more than I trust the FBI.  Lott has done exemplary work over the years.  The FBI, not so much.  But, if they are manipulating crime stats to reflect political agendas, I don't think they could sink much lower.

First, He Is. Then He Wasn't. Now He Is Again

 Remember several months ago, Elon Musk was going to buy Twitter?  THen he backed out of the deal.  Now, it appears that the deal is back on the front burner.

On Tuesday, we learned that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk intends to proceed with the purchase of Twitter. The deal had been mired in complex legal maneuverings, but it appears that Musk now believes he’ll be getting his money’s worth from the arrangement. Before the ink was dry on Musk’s Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, an NBC reporter, who is apparently assigned to the “dystopia beat”—we don’t know if that line in his bio is tongue-in-cheek, but we suspect not—went full Chicken Little upon learning there will soon be a new boss at Twitter.

I don't much care one way or the other.  Obviously, I have no financial stake, and I don't even play on the platform.  But, it is interesting to see the left collectively lose their minds.

Rest In Peace, Loretta

The Brace Issue

 You know, the brace that some folks put on their pistols to make them fore accurate?  Yeah, those braces.  It seems that the ATF has once again changed its mind, and wants them regulated.  As in, buy a stamp.

Owners will be faced with two choices, GOA warns, “Give the ATF your name, Social Security number, address, phone number, email, payment information, FINGERPRINTS, as well as the make, model, and serial number of your firearm – and provide photographic evidence of your compliance OR Face jail time and pay a $250,000 fine.”

That ain't much of a choice.  

I have a better idea.  When the Republicans take Congress, simply repeal all federal firearms laws, going back to the turn of the last century.  Repeal them all.  Make the ATF the department of AT, and don't worry about firearms.  All of those ATF assholes can regulate Alcohol and Tobacco.  Until we get tired of them futzing with our drinks and our smokes, and we can just repeal those laws too.

Decimation

 You hear it everywhere.  This place, or that place was decimated in the recent storm.

Historically, a decimation was a punishment for a group of soldiers who failed to perform in combat.  The unit would be formed, and one man in ten would be killed. To encourage the others to greater exertion.

Nowadays, decimation is used to describe storm damage, when the best word to use might be devastation If an area is decimated, I expect that one in ten buildings were damaged.

It's a minor critique, but the use of one word when another is more accurate or descriptive seems to be a form of journalistic laziness these days. I know that journalists are lazy, but they should not also be stupid.  One would hope that a journalist in the US would have a basic working knowledge of the English language.  That does not seem to be the case.

Monday Update

 I spent the morning helping a disabled friend run errands.  I take him to run errands on the first business day of the month, to do his banking, hit the grocers and the pharmacy.  I enjoy his company and it gets me out of the house.  It makes for an enjoyable morning.

I see that Susan Collins is worried about the level of violent political discourse.  This country has gotten stranger, and people have lost their filters.  Maybe everyone needs to dial back the rhetoric.  It doesn't help when the president calls his political adversaries "extreme".

With the midterms approaching, it doesn't help to have this type of messaging.

Apocalypse now: Democrats embrace a dark midterm message

They say that we are threatened with right-wing fascism, but I don't think they know what the word means.  They certainly hope that the unwashed masses don't know that it mans.  And, I would question the utility of worrying about right wing power after being assaulted by left-wing power for the past two years.  

In the meantime, my gut is telling me that we are approaching the noon hour, so it is probably time to see what is in the fridge.

The Great Conundrum

So, here is the deal, and we in Louisiana and South east Texas have learned it over the past decade.

If you own a home in a hurricane zone, your storm deductible is set at about 20% of the value of the home.  And, if you don't have flood insurance, nothing is covered if you are house floods.

In the clip below, Varney talks about the economic impacts of the recent hurricane in Florida.  These impacts are on the property owners, and if his figures are correct, many of them will be wiped out.  Property in southwest Florida just got a whole lot cheaper, and I'm not in the market for any of it.

Sunday Morning Dawg

 He has something evil planned, and I doubt the cat will be a willing participant.

Priceless

 Gufteld rules!  I can't get it to embed, but click the link.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1575706127916204033

Last Day

 It's the last day in September, a turning point in the seasons.  I just finished mowing the yard, and it's a point of debate whether I'll be forced to mow grass again this year.  The weather has moderated considerably this week, and it seems that the grass has entered a dormant phase.  Whether that is the weather or the lack of rain we have had over the past few weeks is still open for discussion.

Squirrel season starts tomorrow and folks are heading to the woods.  They will have nice weather, although the leaves on the ground are as dry as corn flakes.  Still, squirrel camp is a big deal around here.

The seasons are changing, and I'm glad to see it.

Not Likely, Joe

 Our inept, fumbling president was on TV the other day, saying words to the effect that Hurricane Ian might be the deadliest hurricane to ever hit Florida.  Not likely, Joe.  Weather weenies keep records, and those records are easily available.

The Lake Okeechobee hurricane in 1928 killed over 2500 people.  The Great Labor Day storm in 1935 claimed over 400 folks.  Just to name two.

I am not discounting the devastation that Ian has rained on Florida, and any life lost is too many.  I am highlighting how easy it is to get information on hurricanes.

Some of the talking heads on the left are trying to tell us that hurricanes are getting more intense due to climate change.  And, no, a quick review of the records doesn't show that either.  There have been lots of Cat 4 hurricanes to come ashore, and even if they upgrade Ian to a Category 5 storm, that doesn't prove that climate change had anything to do with it.  Cat 5 storms are statistical outliers. A more valid argument might be made that climate change has lessened the number of named storms.

Again, none of this discussion is meant to diminish the horrific loss that Florida has experienced.  It's not Florida's fault, they just happened to be in the way.  I live in Louisiana, a state known for absorbing hurricanes.  I've seen the damage that strong storms can do, and I've experienced the aftermath.

Don't listen to creepy Joe, or to idiotic Don Lemon. They don't know what the hell they are talking about.

Jambalaya

 Cool temps, pleasant weather, and I had to make a run to the grocer's anyway.  So, I decided to make a big jambalaya.  Nothing fancy, just chicken and sausage, with plenty of trinity (onions, peppers, and celery).  The basic recipe is here.

Jambalaya is a one pot meal,  Historically a way to use leftovers, with spices and rice, it has evolved into its own dish. The funny thing about jambalaya and most Cajun cooking, is that we can agree on what it is, but we can't agree on how it is cooked.  Everybody does it differently.  I've seen jambalaya with pork, or seafood, or fowl.  Or all three.  I've seen it brown, or white, or red.  The one common ingredient is rice.  Everything else is based on the cook's individual taste.

I made jambalaya once for some Yankee friends, and because they had sensitive palates  (Don't make it too hot!), the only seasoning I used was onions and a little black pepper. I thought it bland and uninteresting, but they wanted milk with it.  Go figure.

Fuel

 This morning I threw the gas cans in the truck and headed down to Holloway General where I get my small engine fuel.  They are one of the local stores that sell non-ethanol, and they are just up the road, so it's convenient. Nine gallons of non-ethanol cost me $34.55, which ain't too terrible.  4.5 gallons of diesel cost me $23.00.

The midterm elections are coming up pretty soon, and ol' Joe is doing everything he can to lower fuel prices.  I don't think it is going to do him any good.

I remember what fuel cost me on the final day of the previous administration and as far as I am concerned, one penny over that price is total failure for a sitting president, all things being equal, and all things are not equal. Fuel is up, crime is up, food prices are up,   The stock market is in bear territory.  This country is in a helluva mess, and it is the Democrats fault.

Good News

Two men found safe after plane crash.  They put it in the tree and walked away from it.

Tuesday Monring

 I awoke this morning to cool temps, in the lower 50s on my back porch.  

Mostly Cajun commented on my post from yesterday.  He is able to get liquor shipped in, and I admit I was surprised.  I've tried in the recent past to get hooch shipped in and was told it was illegal.  So, I went to some other sites and liquor can be shipped to Louisiana.  Okay, I stand corrected.  Some ship to LA, some don't.  Odd.

Hurricane Ian is the prime focus on my news feed right now.  The storm keeps wobbling and will right up until the time it makes landfall.

I got a little movement on a long-term project yesterday.  I own a Smith and Wesson Model 38.  Mine was originally nickeled, but over the years the nickel had started flaking off and needed to be re-finished.  I had stripped it to the frame, and was considering who I would get to do the work.  The project has languished for a couple of years.

Grandson Zach recently went to work for a gun manufactory that builds AR rifles from the ground up, and he is their powder coat and cerracote guy.  He took the frame in, bead-blasted the frame, prepped it, and put a nice black cerracote on it.

I'm going to leave the cylinder and crane nickeled for a two-tone look.  This old revolver will go back in service.

Hurricane Ian

 I'm trying to get a handle on (now) Hurricane Ian, but everyone else is too.  It's going to hit Florida as a strong hurricane, but no one is really sure where it's going to make landfall.

The thing about hurricanes is that they are so big.  Tropical force winds can stretch out 200 miles from edge to edge, and the exact point where the center of the eyewall crosses from ocean to land is kind of irrelevant. A big chunk of Florida is in the danger zone.  Storm surge is the real killer in storms like this, and the surge is always wort on the eastern side, and all of Florida is on the eastern side

I'll be praying for the folks in Florida.

Labs

 I had to get moving this morning, go to the Doc's place and give him some blood and urine.  It's time for my semi-annual visit, so he can tell me that I'm becoming an old, decrepit man.  I don't mind, so much.  I actually like my Doc.  He seems to be a good fellow, and we normally talk about fishing, or whiskey, after he has done his duty to my health.

I'm his last patient today, and I'm thinking about bringing him a sample of a fine, American single malt that someone else introduced me to.  They can't call it Scotch, because it is not a product of Scotland, but they make it in Colorado.  Every Scotch drinker I've talked with thinks that it is a very good representation of a single malt whiskey.  Stranahan's whiskey.

We can't get it in Louisiana (or at least, I haven't found it yet) and Louisiana's laws don't allow then to ship it to me.  It is confounding.

Gestapo

 Breitbart and other are reporting that an FBI team used upwards of two dozen agents to arrest a Catholic pro-life protestor in Philadelphia this week.  It's a harrowing tale:

Mark Houck, the founder and president of The King’s Men – a group that helps men overcome pornography addiction – was arrested at his rural Pennsylvania home on Friday for allegedly violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act during his regular sidewalk counseling outside of an abortion clinic in 2021. Speaking with LifeSiteNews, Houck’s wife, Ryan-Marie, said that around 25 to 30 fully-armored FBI agents stormed their property early Friday morning, aiming their rifles as the children screamed in horror.

Over my career, I conducted hundreds of arrests.  Many of these pursuant to a warrant, at a front door.  This type warrant requires no more than two officers. Having three officers is a surplusage.  Having four officers approaches Gestapo tactics.  What was the reasoning behind two dozen armed agents?  It's simple.  The FBI is sending a message that dissent will not be tolerated.

At one point, I tried to defend the "hardworking, sincere, reasonable" FBI agents.  I can no longer do that.  The FBI has gone rogue as an American institution.  It's time for the good agents (if there are any left) to resign, or transfer to another agency.  Honest, hardworking cops cannot serve a corrupt agency.  At some point, it becomes about honor, and if you serve an agency with no honor, you lose your honor.

It's time for a huge change in that agency, and it starts with the honorable field agents saying Enough.

Still Arguing

 I guess the gun writers need something to write about.

Shooting Illustrated talks about the 9mm vs 45 ACP debate.

Meh.  I got over that "debate" in the '80s.

Sunday Morning Dawg

 

Four Storms

 It's not every day that we see four named storms on the same NOAA map.  Fiona near Nova Scotia, Gaston churning away in the central Atlantic, Hermine popping up suddenly off the coast of Africa, and Ian forming in the Caribbean.

Ian is the one that concerns us in the short run.  This morning, the warning cone covers pretty much the entire state of Florida.  This will firm up in the coming days and may change considerably.

Hurricane season ain't over yet.

Eleven Cords

 A reader from Alaska comments on an earlier post.

Well, I’m almost 73 and I’m still splitting and stacking wood here in Alaska. I do have a tractor to move it and a powered splitter to split it. We do buy log length cord wood for part of our needs but I’m glad we have 11 full cords of dry firewood in the wood shed with the prices on fuel oil and propane what they are. We do live off grid and a grown daughter does heavy stuff like hauling water!

Eleven cords.  Wow!  When U was cutting firewood, I could make it through the winter with two cords, but I suspect a winter in Alaska lasts a bit longer than a winter in Louisiana. 

On the Labor Day weekend, my son had a work day at his deer camp, and they cut and stacked 8 cords of wood, but they knew it was over-kill.  They were cutting up a storm damaged tree, and the yield was 8 cords.  They have plenty of wood for a couple of years.

Here locally, from my perusal of the ads, it seems most firewood these days is sold by the rick.

Tropics Watch

 We are keeping an eye on that tropical nastiness forming in the Caribbean.  What they are calling Tropical Depression Nine is going to shake off the wind shear and become a named storm withing the next 24 hours.  Then, turn north and after intensifying, enter the Gulf of Mexico.  Below, a screen grab from this video.

This thing may still go anywhere, and we'll keep an eye on it.

Energy, Crime, Economics

 Back in the 80s, I was raising a family on a small hobby farm.  We would be sustainable. I had a wood lot for fuel, a pasture for livestock and a garden for produce.  It was a great idea, and we managed to do just fine.  Cutting wood for winter was a great source of exercise.  Dragging logs out is good for the legs.  Swinging a splitting maul is good upper body exercise.  Stacking split firewood is good cardio.  In short, it is hard work.

Decades later, the kids are raised, I'm becoming an old man, and central heat is a blessing.  I adjust my comfort not by a log on the hearth, but by a switch on the wall.  I am past my firewood cutting days.

Germany is back to cutting firewood.  The national energy policy is not to develop their own resources but to buy it from Russia.  Now, in the midst of the Ukraine crisis, Russia has turned off the gas and the Germans have to get ready for winter.  Many European countries in one degree or another are faced with the same conundrum.

Here in the US, we are facing the same conundrum, if to a lesser degree.  Energy is more expensive thab it was two years ago.  Whether it's the gas in your car or the gas that heats your home, or the electricity that powers your computer, it costs more.  Couple this with rising crime in every major city, unrestrained immigration, and what economists call uncertainty and we are seeing another migration, unrelated to the southern border.  

Joh Galt is shrugging.  There is a migration occurring.  Things are changing, and it's all on the Democrats.  They can't blame it on Republicans or Trump.  They instituted green energy policies, unrestricted immigration policies, and soft-on-crime policies. People are noticing, and they are moving.

Tropics Watch

 On this, the first day of Autumn, the tropics are getting kind of sporty.  That little area off the northern coast of South America is getting better organized, and NOAA has upgraded it, giving it a 70% chance of doing something cyclonic.

Lest we forget, it was about this time of year in 2005 that Hurricane Rita stormed ashore in Calcasieu parish.  RIta was a devastating storm that caused plenty of damage across several states.

It's not time to panic, because this little red X isn't a named strom yet, but it certainly demands that we keep our eyes open.

Novak Rants

Mark Novak is ranting about the future of gunsmithing, and it's a pretty good rant.

Gunsmithing, like many specialties is becoming more specialized.  A guy who is a good AR tech, may not know anything about 1911s, or pump shotguns. The best single-action revolver guy I know is my age, and we're not getting any younger.  Fortunately, this guy enjoys teaching and sharing his craft and he's trying to build new gunsmiths.

All the trades, from auto mechanics to metal fabrication, to agriculture is more reliant on computer technology than ever before.  Technology is great, but I think that the reliance on technology will never replace the age-old artistry of an apprentice at the elbow of a master craftsman.

Maybe I'm barking at the moon here, but I am still allowed to bark at the moon.

Here We Go

 With tomorrow the height of the statistical hurricane season, the Atlantic basin gives us some things to watch.  Hurricane Fiona is island-hopping, and newly named tropical storm Gaston is doing it's thing in the mid-Atlantic.  The one we're interested in is that little amber X toward the bottom of the mpa.

If you listen to the local weather weenies, that little X is going to organize into a Cat 5+ hurricane, turn north into the Gulf and ravage the entire southern seaboard.  It's a panic moment.

Well, it might, or it might not.  We'll see.  I will make sure that the propane bottles are filled, and I'll lay on some extra gasoline in case we need it.  I'm about out of lawnmower gas anyway.  But, pardon me if I don't panic.

Refreshing

 Make a pitcher of tea.  Stir powdered lemonade into it.  Pour over ice into a tall glass.  Or in my case, a red Solo cup.

The story is that legendary golfer, Arnold Palmer invented this drink.  I'm sure it would taste good on a golf course, or in my case, after working in the yard.

No recipe here because none is necessary.  Add stuff to suit your taste.  It's your pitcher.  Dolly Parton has a line in Steel Magnolias; "Iced tea is the house wine of the South."  I've had a lot of iced tea in my life, and no two houses make it the same.

Cutting Grass

 When Belle and I bought this place, I promised her I would cut the grass.  She hates cutting grass, and I promised her that she would never again have to sit on nor walk behind a lawnmower.  

Looking at the grass this morning, and realized that it had been over two weeks since that mower was started, so I checked the oil,  filled the tank, and got busy.  Two hours later I was done, but I'm not sure if my mower, in its present configuration, is going to make another season.

I run an old Skag Wildcat that I bought used several seasons ago.  It's what I call a Franken-Skag.  The original 33-horse motor is long gone.  It has been replaced by a 25-horse Briggs that was long in the tooth when it was installed.  The mower itself is solid, an industrial model.  The problem is the engine. It starts just fine, but has very little power.  It burns oil like a tar-bucket.  If I can get through this season I'll probably pull-the-pin and buy a new engine this winter.

Hurricane Fiona Could Become a Major Hurricane with 125 mph Winds

Like many folks, I keep up with hurricanes.  I found this channel recently, and I really like this guy.  No, I don't always watch the whole thing, but he has lots of very good information.

About another month and hurricane season wll be almost done.  But, we still have that month.

Remodel Done!

 The bath remodel is done, and I have to admit that it was relatively painless and almost seamless.

We used Custom Bath and Shower, Inc.  Initially, I was skeptical, but once I started dealing with the reps, my fears were eased.  They kept us informed, the installers were professional, and they completed the work on-time and on budget.

Of course, Belle and I had to clear the work area of furniture and other incidental clutter.  Today will be spent putting stuff back where we like it.

We haven't used it yet, the installers cautioned us about suing it for 24 hours to let the sealer cure.  Belle didn't want a glass door, preferring the shower curtain to the hassle os cleaning a glass door.  So, there you have it.

A Dubious Distinction

 Fox News is reporting that New Orleans has taken over the lead as the murder capitol of the US, displacing St. Louis for the honor.

After decades of Democrat mismanagement, New Orleans is the third-world hellhole of Louisiana.  It's a shame, too.  It was once a beautiful city that we loved to visit.  N longer.

Californians Adjust To New Life In Texas

I don't think we've had any Californians move into my neighborhood.  I did have a friend over recently, and he saw my EDC piece.  He asked if I was expecting trouble.

"No," I replied.  "If I were expecting trouble, I'd have more friends, and rifles.

Patches

 I found an odd-looking envelope on my desk today after grandson checked the mail.

Opening it, I found a bag of police packages, along with a nice letter from a long-time reader.

Thank you, sir.  I got it.

Sunday Morning Dawg

 Relaxing in the shop beside Belle.

Home Improvement

 We have a major bathroom remodel starting this morning.

Need I say more?  Gloom, despair and agony on me.

Privacy

 This headline:

Facebook reportedly sharing private IM conversations with FBI as "leads"

If you think that anything that happens over the internet is private, I really don't know what to tell you.

Watching Fiona

 Here in the middle of September, we are approaching the peak of the hurricane season, and today we are watching Tropical Storm Fiona.  She is approaching the Caribbean but looks like she may make a turn toward the north.

This storm is something to keep an eye on as we come into the weekend.

Migrant Relocation

It seems that a busload of migrants was dropped off in front of Kamal Harris' digs in Washington.  So much for that whole "secure border" thing she has been talking about.

And, it seems that Ron DeSantis sent a planeload of migrants to Martha's Vineyard, much to the distress and disbelief of the uber-liberal residents.

Well played, gentlemen.  Well played.

Is Accuracy Final?

 My apologies to my regular readers, but the CFDA is considering a rule change that I think is bone-headed.  Read more, below the fold.

The Polls

 It seems that progressives and jounalists (but then, I repeat myself) are concerned that the national media polls don't accurately reflect the will of the people.  Well, they have been wrong before.

I remember going to bed one night, thinking that Hillary Clinton would be our president, but waking the next morning to learn that Donald Trump had won decisively in the race. Lots of folks were shocked at that result, and they haven't gotten over it yet.  Then, there is the old Dewey beats Truman example.

The Republicans can't get cocky.  They have to run right up to the finish line.  But, we're seeing some weird stuff this cycle and the only poll that matters is the one that takes place on election day.

I am no analyst, but I've seen the polls wrong before.  Stay the course.  Run the race.

Busy, Busy

It's been one of those days where you start off busy at daylight and stay busy until dark.  I did get one project completed, and I think that the club will like it

Shooting CFDA is a lot of fun, but hitting the target is a lot harder than it looks, and when you are missing the plate, you are never really sure what went wrong.  So, I set out to enlarge the plate.

Getting that done makes it a good day.  Now, for a sport of bourbon before I lay these tired bones down.

Do We Hate Woman?

 Sandy Cortez, the ditz that represents part of New York City, says that Americans hate women.

No, Sandy, we don't hate women.  We love women.  Strong, capable, educated women.  We laugh at dumb ditz women, but we don't hate them.  We find them amusing.  

You, Sandy, on the other hand, are simply stupid.  I don't hate you, but I do wish that you would quit seeking the limelight, illuminating your ignorance for the world to see.  You are not the dumbest member of Congress, but you're one of the more irritating.

An Interesting Anomaly

 Conversation on the interstate in St. Louis.  Belle:  "Look!  There is the arch!"

Me:  "Ain't that interesting?"

There were several gateways to the west.  Just west of here, Fort Jesup funneled settlers into Texas prior to the revolution.  Shreveport was a prime jumping off point after Texas was independent.  Farther north, Fort Smith was instrumental in opening the Oklahoma Territory.  St. Louis played its part and helped out, and now they have a big arch commemorating that fact.

It would have been cool if they had spanned the Mississippi with the arch, but they didn't, and now I've seen it.

We're Back

 We got in last night, after a seven-day vacation.  We left headed north into Arkansas, driving through to Missouri to visit with family. Then we headed east across Illinois and Indiana into Kentucky, where we shot fast draw for three days. We left Kentucky on Sunday, headed south into Tennessee and across Mississippi to home late last night.  It was a good trip.

I stayed mostly unplugged from the internet for the whole seven days. I did check email and things like that, but basically, I was unplugged.

Queen Elizabeth died.  England's longest reigning monarch, she was Queen before I was born.  By all accounts, she was a sincere, steadfast monarch who dedicated herself to her country and her people.

Joe Biden is still an asshole. Quite the opposite of the British monarch, everything he does is for short-term political gain. Or, his own personal enrichment.   He doesn't give a crap about the American people.

I did get to see the arch in St. Louis.  Impressive. Gateway to the West, and all that.  For some reason, I had lawys believed that the spanned the Mississippi River, but it doesn't.  The Mississippi river is not nearly as wide in St. Louis as it is down here in Louisiana, but the feat still would have been impressive.

I found something called a tenderloin sandwich in Missouri.  A pork tenderloin sliced thin and hammered flat, braded and fried.  I admit that I had never heard of such a thing, but the result is quite tasty, although I do believe that I can improve on it with a little Cajun ingenuity.

Out Of Pocket

 Belle and I are traveling, first to Missouri to visit family, thence to Kentucky to participate in the Kentucky State Championship.  We'll be back on or about the 12th.

I have two young men living in the house, so I'm not worried about that.  I'm pretty sure that there will be nothing left in the pantry when we get home.

The 21 Fatal Plane Crashes of August - God Bless The Broken Road.

My buddy Termite (who is an aviator) turned me on to Dan Gryder, who is pushing something called ATP for General Aviation.  I am not an aviator, but my brother is.  He lives in Vermont, and when he is not working his day job (what he calls the "salt mines"), he is out at the local airport teaching students to fly airplanes.  When l'il brother was in town last month, I talked to him about this channel, but we were catching up after several years.

Anything we can do to reduce the number of fatal crashes in general aviation is a good idea.

Loss of Pressurization Citation Crash Baltic Sea 4 Sept 2022

Jackson

 I have two sons who run water districts.  One for a small town in Louisiana, one for a large manufacturer in New Mexico.  They both know how to do the maintenance, run the tests, effect repairs, and keep water flowing to their customers.

There is nothing more vital to basic human civilization than access to clean water.  The Etruscans knew that, the Babylonians kew that, the Aztecs and Romans knew that. Access to clean water is the basis of human civilization and the most basic necessity of human life.

A successful government does not defer maintenance on a water system.  There is nothing more basic. Yet, the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi forgot that. Young, progressive, some say radical.  In his quest for social justice and equity, he forgot that clean water is a basic human need.  Under his watch, the water system has collapsed, unable to provide water.  They have no timeline for repairs.

This should be a cautionary tale to mayors everywhere.  Listen to your folks down at the water treatment plant.  Buy the pumps and the pipes and whatever else they need.  Everything else a mayor may want to do is secondary to providing clean water.

Sunday Morning Dawg

 

NY Governor Says Her Rights As Governor Trumps Constitutional Rights To ...

Some Guy Steals Plane.

A Modest Gift

 A club member dropped by yesterday to present me with a gift.  A cartreidge box.

Cut from one piece of solid mahogany, it's a beautiful little box, especially when we open it.

Routed and drilled for 30 CFDA cartridges, it's a cartridge box that any shooter would be proud to own.

A Dark Hour

 I watched it this morning on CSPAN.  Last night, our President gave a primetime speech.  It was dark and disturbing.  Lit by blood red floodlights, with uniformed Marines in the background, Biden railed against half of America.

Evidently, MAGA Republicans are a huge threat to democracy.  Biden claimed to be the president of ALL Americans, excerpt, you know, for those MAGA Republicans.

It was bizarre. 

Not Chili Weather

 It's 92 degrees out there, and the wind chill is 104.  And I was hungry for chili.

So, I made a pot.

This ain't Texas chili.  I don't live in Texas. However, once upon a time I did eat a bowl of white chili in Texas, and it was full of beans.  White beans, sliced jalapenos, and finely chopped pork.  Great stuff.  I may make a pot of that when the weather cools off in late November.

That Staged Photo

 With the legal basis for the raid on Mar-A-Lago crumbling like a stale cracker, the DOJ knows that the public is turning against them.  SO, they staged a photo of all the kinds of docs that President Trump had stored in a box.

When I saw that photo, I was horrified.  Recalling my training on classified document handling while I was in the Army, I saw that the FBI had hoist themselves on their own petard.  If President Trump had not declassified those documents, and those pages were in fact still classified, taking a photo of them is itself a crime. We don't photograph classified documents.  It's against the law.

I understand that there will be a hearing today to determine a number of things, to include whether a special master will be appointed to oversee these documents.

PJMedia has a full rundown of the DOJs arguments.  It's a doozy.