Thursday, July 31, 2008

Preciousssss

It's been a while since I put up any gun pron so here's a tease...

That's my Hellerbration commemorative purchase; a S&W Model 34-1 "32/22 Kit gun" (so-called because it's small enough to carry in your kit as a knockabout utility pistol for fishing trips or what have you). It's caliber is 22 LR and was made on the old 32 frame -- hence 32/22 designator.

This little nickel plated beauty made in 1971 has never been fired (except at factory). Methinks that's about to change. I didn't realize that when I initially decided to purchase it. I have been holding it a bit whilst having an internal debate about whether to initiate it at the local range or hold in as new in it's box.

I think I'll take it out soon and let my youngest daughter do the honors.

Before we go, here's one more photo for scale next to it's larger blued 22LR sibling a S&W 17-4 with 8 3/8" barrel.

Time to say thanks...

...to the Do Nothing Democrats in Congress. They've recessed Congress for a couple weeks and headed home to their adoring (cough), thankful (cough, cough) constituents.

Be interesting to see how they feel about blocking any debate and vote on lifting the offshore drilling ban after they get a reality check on the homefront. Even in San Fran Nan's home state a majority supports lifting restrictions on offshore drilling.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

$963.75?!!!

The company I work for sends an electronic copy of your paystub on payday. I nearly had a stroke this morning when I opened it and the number was less than half my normal pay.

Gulp. Stomach flipflops. Heart jumps a beat. WHAT?!!! Thoughts race…

/inner dialogue
Did I mess up my vacation hours on timecard when I went out on vacation this month?
Did I get garnished for some mysterious reason (can’t think of any)?
Ay yi yi. Mama Mia.
Hey stupid go to the the HR page that lists all payments.
Oh. OK. There’s my normal check timestamped just a moment earlier.
What’s this amount then? Expense reimbursements come rolled into normal paycheck...
Read the fine print genius!
Patent Award bonus? $1500? Less withholding, $9... ahh so.
Wow. Didn’t know that useless arcane bit of tripe went through.
Cool.
Hey. B’day is tomorrow… Something for the kids. Maybe something in 9mm. heh, heh, heh…
Quick tactical decision…
/inner dialogue off

Hey Honey, whattya want for my birthday?

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Scud watch? Not me! Nuh-uh. No way.

link
Join me in the State of Denial -- just to the east of Da Nile.
It's a happy place where evil does not exist and a we just need to sit down for a cup of coffee to work things out with crazy little short men.

The Iranians have been playing with missiles like the SCUD and Silkworm since at least the mid-80's when I was out there participating in Earnest Will . That was almost 10 years after they declared war on the Great Satan (in case you haven't been paying attention -- that would be "we the people" of the USA).

Sooner or later they're bound to figure out how to use their missile toys to great effect. Looks like they've
1) gone seaborne mobile with them.
2) started practicing a high altitude airburst consistent an EMP attack on the US LINK

Someone crazy enough to push the button seems to be at the helm of that nation at the moment.

Money talks. (You know what) Walks.

Got this letter in my e-mail inbox this morning. It's up on several of blogs I read regularly as well (not the least of which is MajZ's). It bears repeating and deserves to be plastered on every telephone and light pole in the country. Time to put up or shut up. Get the wallet out and put some little part of your life into the pot. I have...



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Urgent - Will you help this Marine Officer?
July 18, 2008


Dear Patriotic American:

For the last two and a half years Lt. Colonel Jeffrey Chessani, USMC, has been investigated and prosecuted for his involvement in the so called “Haditha massacre” – a massacre that never happened.

Now – after devoting 20 years of his life to defend ours’ ─ he faces criminal charges as a result of a legitimate combat action taken by four of his Marines after being ambushed by insurgents in Haditha, Iraq, on November 19, 2005.

If convicted, he faces 2½ years imprisonment, dismissal from the Corps, and loss of all of his retirement pay.

You may have heard that last month a military judge dismissed all the charges against LtCol Chessani.

But the government appealed the judge’s dismissal. It has until July 28th to file its brief. We have 20 days to file a response brief. It’s clear the government will likely re-file charges if it loses.

Jeffrey Chessani is their political scapegoat and they’re embarrassed about the loss. It’s hard to believe the lengths to which the politicians in the Pentagon will go to convict an innocent Marine officer. As you read on you’ll know why.

After all he has done for his Nation ─ for you and me ─ will you chip in $25 to help this Marine? If you can give more, please do.

He urgently needs your help – NOW.

Click here to donate to the LtCol Chessani Defense Fund.
Your donation is tax-deductible.

He has been defending our Nation for twenty years…often away from his wife and children… so that we could be safely with ours.

LtCol Chessani served three combat tours in Iraq. He served in the First Persian Gulf War, and in Panama. He is a committed Christian, husband, and father of 6 young children, ages 10 and under.

I am certain that when you hear the facts, you will be as outraged as I am about what our government is doing to this courageous and loyal Marine. So please, read on…

On November 19, 2005, at approximately 7:15 a.m., a Marine convoy was rolling through Haditha, Iraq — a terrorist stronghold. Suddenly, a roadside bomb went off destroying a Marine Humvee, killing one Marine and seriously injuring two others. The Marines immediately received fire from the ambushing insurgents, who were shooting from nearby civilian-occupied homes.

A four-man fire team responded as trained; they cleared several houses occupied by the armed insurgents, and in the ensuing room-by-room, house-by-house gun battle, it was reported that 8 enemy were killed.

Tragically 15 civilians also died ─ in urban combat, where insurgents purposefully use civilians as human shields, civilian casualties are a tragic, but not uncommon. In fact, sometimes the insurgents themselves kill civilians to achieve a propaganda victory by blaming the Americans.

LtCol Chessani was the battalion commander of these brave Marines ─ the 3rd Battalion (“The Thundering Third”), 1st Marines—one of the most decorated units in the history of the Marine Corps. As the Battalion Commander, LtCol Chessani was responsible that morning for approximately 2000 American and friendly Iraqi troops in an area of operations just about the size of South Carolina.

He immediately reported the deaths of the 15 civilian Iraqis to his superiors.

Not one of LtCol Chessani’s superiors hearing of the 15 civilian deaths ─ including top generals ─ considered it unusual. Not one ordered a further investigation.

However, several months later, an inflammatory Time news article accusing the Marines of massacring innocent civilians caused public hysteria. The story was planted by insurgent propaganda operatives who knew too well that the liberal anti-war media hungered for such stories.

Anti-war Congressman John Murtha, who wields tremendous power over military appropriations, jumped in and echoed Time’s story. He appeared on major television networks and publicly accused the young enlisted Marines of “cold blooded” murder and Marine officers of a “cover-up.” He blamed it all on the stress of being in Iraq too long. Incredibly, these accusations were made even before the investigation was completed.

It’s clear ─ the government has turned the prosecution of Jeffrey Chessani into a never-ending persecution.

The trumped-up charge: failing to properly report and investigate the November 19, 2005 incident.

The government is doing everything it can to convict LtCol Chessani. He is the political scapegoat they must convict to satisfy Murtha and the press.

The vast resources of the military are at its disposal. The number of military investigators is virtually limitless. Government prosecutors can go anywhere, talk to anyone, and get anything, all at government expense. The Marine command structure is mandated to cooperate.

So far, the government has spent millions of our taxpayer dollars, employed over 65 Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents ─ the largest investigation in that agency’s history ─ and granted immunity to scores of witnesses, all in their attempt to make Jeffrey and the “Haditha Marines” political scapegoats.

But I’m sure you know that the impact of this case reaches far beyond the personal tragedy and injustice to Jeffrey and his family.

You know it will drastically curtail the future ability of our combat men and women to defend our Nation.

Lt. Colonel Paul Ware, USMC, an Investigating Officer who heard testimony in several cases involving the charged enlisted Marines blasted the credibility of the government witnesses and expressed concern that the allegations were nothing but a tactic “to erode public support of the Marine Corps and missions in Iraq.” He went on to say:

“Even more dangerous is the potential that a Marine may hesitate at the critical moment when facing the enemy . . . .”

Retired General Thomas McInerney, former Joint Force Commander and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, called the prosecutions of the Haditha Marines “despicable.” He warned:

“We cannot fight a war like that . . . We’re not taking care of our people.”

Regardless of how you feel about the war, LtCol Chessani was in Iraq because his country sent him there. He defended us, now we must defend him.

Just to give you an idea what this Nation has lost by the prosecution of LtCol Chessani, and why he deserves your support, I want to give you a few excerpts from his official Combat Fitness Report.

This is a required annual evaluation of a Marine officer’s performance prepared by his superiors. It covers the period of September 2005 to February 2006 ─ which includes the date of the incident for which LtCol Chessani is facing criminal charges:

“Leads Marines from front in every operation. Demonstrates moral courage everyday. Doesn’t hesitate to report bad news fast or contest unrealistic plans/poor concepts. Despite the complexity and size of his AO [area of operations], he always maintains a calm, cool demeanor.”
“Always seeks advantage over complex, diverse insurgent enemy. Truly one of the finer thinkers in this COIN [counterinsurgency] environment.”
“One of the top 3” infantry/cavalry battalion commanders “of 13 who have served with RCT –2 [the regiment] during OIF. A superb leader, who knows his men, knows the enemy, knows his business. Doesn’t attract a lot of fanfare; just gets the job done to an exceedingly high standard.”
“Long ball hitter; recommend selection for promotion to Colonel and TLS [Top Level School].”
The Reviewing Officer, Major General Huck added his comments: “Top notch officer with outstanding potential. Promote and select for TLS [Top Level School]. Post TLS slate for Regimental command and subsequent joint tour. Unlimited potential and value to the Marine Corps. Capable of the most challenging assignments.”

One distorted magazine article has devastated the life and family of this patriotic Marine officer… and could adversely affect our military for years to come.

Simply put…

This case is about how our military fights and will fight in the future.

LtCol Chessani has willingly answered the call to serve his country. That’s why he deserves the support of every Patriotic American today.

Click here to Donate Now.

Sincerely yours,



Richard Thompson
President and Chief Counsel, Thomas More Law Center

P.S. It is urgent you donate now. We have 20 days to file our response to the government brief. We must also prepare for the inevitable trial. The successful defense of Jeffrey Chessani is vital to the security of America and to all our military personnel we place in harm’s way. Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

P.P.S. Please share LtCol Chessani’s story with others who will realize the gravity of this important case. Click here to forward this article to a friend now.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Patience and Faith

These 2 sermons from Galations 5:22 on the fruit of the Spirit were a bit of a stretch for me. I'm naturally more of a storyteller so expository teaching on larger passage is an more natural fit.

Esp, prepping to speak on "Faith" near kicked my tail. I cringe at spots when critquing on the playback.

No do-overs allowed. Ah well, when we are weak He is strong.

... "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." II Corinthians 12:9

War is normative. Peace is incidental.

Almost 25 years later, I find Rudyard Kipling still echoes in my brain; a reverberation from time in solitary at SERE School. "Boots, Boots, Boots...There's no discharge in the war!"

Maybe it's the current adminstration in Iran and the looming uncertainty of this year's US presidential election. My 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice candidates have long since left the field.

After grumbling to myself about the remaining choices next November, it comes down to the $64,000 question "Which candidate is least/most likely to get me and my kids killed?"

I hear talk of "change" and "hope" from one camp. It's all very non-specific and utopian.

I see the bumper stickers proclaiming "Give Peace a Chance." The person sporting that slogan likely isn't from my tribe. Wonderful sentiment to be sure, but, it's out of sync with nature and history as I understand it. Does that make me a warmonger? Hardly.

Don't get me wrong. I love peace. I long for peace. I served in uniform to establish and maintain peace. However, I do not love peace at the expense of liberty -- mine or anyone else's.

Maybe I shouldn't have read the "The Sea Wolf" when I was younger. Maybe Jack London warped my world view. It really IS a jungle out there.

It strikes me that another bumpersticker I saw is more grounded in the reality of mankind, "War is normative. Peace is incidental." Well, at least until the final battle and the coming of the King...

In the meantime I wish it could be otherwise.

We're foot-slog-slog-slog-sloggin' over Africa -
Foot-foot-foot-foot-sloggin' over Africa -
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!

Seven-six-eleven-five-nine-an'-twenty mile to-day -
Four-eleven-seventeen-thirty-two the day before -
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!

Don't-don't-don't-don't-look at what's in front of you.
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again)
Men-men-men-men-men go mad with watchin' em,
An' there's no discharge in the war!

Try-try-try-try-to think o' something different -
Oh-my-God-keep-me from goin' lunatic!
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!

Count-count-count-count-the bullets in the bandoliers.
If-your-eyes-drop-they will get atop o' you!
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again) -
There's no discharge in the war!

We-can-stick-out-'unger, thirst, an' weariness,
But-not-not-not-not the chronic sight of 'em -
Boot-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!

'Taint-so-bad-by-day because o' company,
But night-brings-long-strings-o' forty thousand million
Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again.
There's no discharge in the war!

I-'ave-marched-six-weeks in 'Ell an' certify
It-is-not-fire-devils, dark, or anything,
But boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

By our love...

getting late, wrapping sermon prep for tomorrow morning (Fruit of Spirit, Faith, Galations 5:22), mind's getting a bit twisted... in search of momemtary brian flush/refresh. came across this one. Yeah, well at least I thought it was funny. ;-)


I was waiting at the train station this morning, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off as a train approached.
So I ran over and said "Stop! Don't do it!" He said "Why shouldn't I?".
I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!" He said, "Like what?"
I said, "Well, are you religious or atheist?" He said, "Religious."
I said, "Me too! …Are you Christian or Buddhist?" He said, "Christian."
I said, "Me too! …Are you Catholic or Protestant?" He said, "Protestant."
I said, "Me too! …Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?" He said, "Baptist!"
I said, "Wow! Me too!…Are you Baptist church of God or Baptist church of the Lord?" He said, "Baptist church of God!"
I said, "Me too! Are you original Baptist church of God, or are you reformed Baptist church of God?" He said, "Reformed Baptist church of God!"
I said, "Me too! Are you reformed Baptist church of God, reformation of 1879, or reformed Baptist church of God, reformation of 1915?"
He said, "Reformed Baptist church of God, reformation of 1915!"
I said, "Die, heretic scum"…and pushed him off.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

She made it!

My favorite pic from last week at Yosemite. Daughter #3 (12yr) at top of Nevada Falls. She made the hike at age 6 too but doesn't remember it well.


Below is my wife's favorite pic from the week. She and the girls (our 3 plus #2's buddy who camped with us) biked over to Yosemite Falls from our campsite. I was lazing about or getting the vehicle into the shop for the overheat problem. She managed to catch all the girls smiling at once. Miracles abound...


Of course in order to stay Pain Free the Egoscue postural therapy must go on. On days it didn't rain I enjoyed doing my e-cises outside. I enjoyed the view of pines moving in the breeze and clear skies on my back for an hour or so. This e-cise is Supine Progressive Groin Stretch. Takes some time but it is powerful -- like hitting the reset button on your hips. Not a luxury for me -- esp after long days driving. Good thing I had a timer along -- my snoring can scare the bears...

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

I feel the earth move!

That shaking you felt? That would have been the happy dances going on all over San Diego. Be interesting to watch the ticker tomorrow. Almost feels like it's 1998 all over again.

ESPOO AND SAN DIEGO ­ July 23, 2008 ­ Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM) today announced that they have entered into a new agreement covering various standards including GSM, EDGE, CDMA, WCDMA, HSDPA, OFDM, WiMAX, LTE and other technologies. The agreement will result in settlement of all litigation between the companies, including the withdrawal by Nokia of its complaint to the European Commission.

Under the terms of the new 15-year agreement, Nokia has been granted a license under all Qualcomm’s patents for use in Nokia mobile devices and Nokia Siemens Networks infrastructure equipment. Further, Nokia has agreed not to use any of its patents directly against Qualcomm, enabling Qualcomm to integrate Nokia’s technology into Qualcomm’s chipsets. The financial structure of the settlement includes an up-front payment and on-going royalties payable to Qualcomm. Nokia has agreed to assign ownership of a number of patents to Qualcomm, including patents declared as essential to WCDMA, GSM and OFDMA. The specific terms are confidential.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Bold talk from one eyed fat man






What Kind of a Western Bad-Ass are You?
created with QuizFarm.com
You scored as John Wayne

You a classic all American cowboy who does the right thing. When you're sober. Which means occasionally. You like horses, the outdoors, whiskey, hot tempered women, whiskey, and bourbon.


John Wayne


88%

Clint Eastwood


75%

Lee Marvin


63%

Lee Van Cleef


63%

Charles Bronson


50%


Missed by THAT much!



Or would ya believe 2 or 3 orders of magnitude?

Myth of Consensus Explodes: American Physical Society Opens Global Warming Debate.

A journal for the American Physical Society published mathematical proof that there is no "climate crisis". It found that the UN's overstated estimates resulted in a "500-2000% overstatement of CO2's effect on temperature."
Link

The Dangerous Party's Candidate

This post came today from my favorite backslidden semanarian.
OK .. SO NOW WE KNOW THE "WHY" OF 9/11. (Classic Boortz article here)

Heard this gem on Brit Hume's Special Report last night. Apparently it was contained within that New Yorker article on Barack Obama; you remember, the one with the controversial cover.

Apparently a newspaper called the Hyde Park Herald carried some statements from Barack Obama just one week after the Islamic terrorist killed 3000 people in New York and Washington. It was in that paper that Barack Obama, the probable next president of our country, shared with us his thoughts on the motivations of the Islamic terrorists who killed so many on that day:

"The essence of this tragedy ... derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers."

Oh yeah .. that's exactly what we were thinking at the time, wasn't it?

Then Our Savior goes on to explain this "absence of empathy." -- It grew out of a "... climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair."

So there you have it. Are you paying attention here? This, unless we experience a sudden maturing of the electorate, is our next commander in chief. This is the man who will bear the responsibility of protecting us from the designs of these Islamic radicals who have nothing but hatred and murder in their hearts. Oh ... but that's not the way Our Savior sees it. In Obama's world the Islamic terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 weren't acting out of any hatred for their victims. They weren't trying to use terrorist tactics to influence American politics. They weren't gallantly fighting for the cause of Islam. No .. none of that. They were just poor and ignorant. They felt helpless, and their despair drove them to fly airplanes into the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.

Come on, folks. Are you really ready to put this insipid fool in the White House?


This thinking is why some folks refer to them as the "Dangerous" Party. The other party may be the "Stupid" party but they're not running pell mell to get us all killed.

Our Electric Future

Good read titled "Our Electric Future"
By Andy Grove -- From the July/August 2008 Issue of American magazine. Link to entire article.

Because electricity is the stickiest form of
energy, and because it is multi-sourced, it will
give us the greatest degree of energy resilience.
Our nation will be best served if we dedicate
ourselves to increasing the amount of our energy
that we use in the form of electricity.


Transportation: The Hardest Nut to Crack
We live in a world where just about
everything—from a hair-dryer to the Internet—runs
on electricity. A big exception is the
transportation sector, critical to the movement
of people, production materials, food, and even
fuel. Transportation uses more than half of all
the petroleum consumed in this country. If we
don’t convert a large portion of the
transportation sector to electricity, we cannot
make real progress toward energy resilience.



Now if we could just get an electric car that didn't scream "DORK!"

Monday, July 21, 2008

Back in the saddle


Just back yesterday afternoon from a week camping in Yosemite. The e-mail inbox at work is the first order of business. Looks like lots of folks were vacationing alos. Must have been a light week -- only about 1300 e-mails to work through (unnnghhh).

We had some fun with overheating along the way.

Pulled our 25' trailer behind '02 Excursion (7.3L powerstroke w/ Banks Stinger Plus upgrade and billet torque convertor). Usually my only problem is driving too fast -- even on the Grapevine. This time we had some temp spikes on steep grades. Thought it was the fan clutch (definitely was worn/sloppy)and had the garage in Yosemite valley swap it out.

Hoped all would be well after that repair, but, took easier, longer route out along the Merced River to the 99 at Merced. Only one 2900ft pass on that route instead of 4 long upgrade pulls on the direct 41 route south to Fresno.

Well, long story short the temp spiked up on that grade to Midpines Summit (arrgggh). We made it south OK back to the I-5 but had to stop and overnight at foot of Grapevine. There was no way we'd make it up that w/out damaging something expensive with an overtemp.

Thankfully sis-in-law was able to come across from the high desert with their dually. She towed our trailer over Tejon Pass and down into Simi Valley. I rehooked it there and made it the rest of the way to San Dog along the I-405/5 route without any temp trouble.

Looks like the EGT is running higher than norm. Maybe that is related/precursor to engine/trans temp increase. Could be air leak in boost side of intake. Need to get it in for professional help this week.

It's going to cost me.
Why do I feel like Chevy Chase...

Friday, July 11, 2008

We're outta here!

Roadtrip. Camping. Yosemite. All next week.

Hoo-ahh. All that while pulling a camp trailer on $5/gallon diesel. Well at least the trip north is still on Tecate diesel from the weekend ($2.20/gal). I can hardly wait to fill up on the way back south. :P

as of now, trailer all loaded and hitched. bikes and all.
water tank bleached and refilled. batteries charged. who knows about the LP (Hah).
hitched and pointed out the drive. Flashback like it's fire season last fall and we're expecting to run from a fire. :-)

update


Now thaz wha' I'm talkin' 'bout.

Finished and at a nice height. The bar is up over 8'. A 6ft'r like me needs a little hop to grip it and gets a good full hang with no ground contact (snap, crackle pop as the spine extends, ahhhhh).

The man at Home Depot was nice enough to cut and rethread the pipe to length gratis. Some 2 inch #12 screws, my trusty old Makita 9vdc drill and a step ladder and Presto, Voila!

Feels like monsoon weather is upon us. I haven't noticed if hurricanes are forming off southern Baja but it's pickin' humid. Well, at least for this part of the country. I was soaked just finishing this little job. Well that and moving a pile of scrap cedar fencing to the back by the woodpile and sawbuck(to be cut into kindling).

The black widows and ants had taken ownership of that wood pretty serious. Was a bug slapfest just getting through that wood pile.

Almost done...


The Son & Heir loves his PT, especially bodyweight exercises. It's paying off for him too. He's partly motivated by a nearterm goal of qualifying for lifeguard program (perhaps working up to a beach guard next year). Longer term he has his eye on the Marine Corp PT test and an NROTC scholarship.

Now that he's almost full height the old playset chinning bar is less than ideal -- all that bent knee hanging takes the fun out of it.

Finally got around to setting poles for a proper pullup station last night. Got them plumb but might be a wee bit rotated relative (~1/4") to each other. At least they rotated the same direction. It was done in a hurry as the dinner bell was being sounded. Shoulda' scrounged a 2X and nailed across the two posts flats to keep them from twisting when we tamped the mud in. Bah, it's not finish carpentry, but still...

Now to cut/thread the pull up bar pipe to correct length. After next week camping trip we'll go looking for some chains and rings to hang off it for elevated hanging pushups. Raarrr! Those babies will light your delt's up fer shure!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

American Solutions New Ad



Read more about it and join in with American Solutions here.

A New York City Conservative


I'm sure you know the old joke...

What's the definition of a conservative?
A liberal that just got mugged.

(rimshot, Thanks folks. You've been great. I'll be hear all week. Be sure and try the roast beef.)

So why is that funny? Well maybe not funny to you, but to some of us...

What's (possibly) funny about it?

Isn't the "funny" part of that type of a joke where it brushes up against some bit of truth?

A person’s view of guns, the right to keep and bear arms, and the right to self defense are fundamental to an individual’s worldview.

Once that view changes his (world)view of an individual’s rights, responsibilities and relationship to government inevitably change --unless that individual can be content living a life based on a profound cognitive dissonance.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

No mas. Solo aqui...

The party's over. The Tecate diesel party that is. Well mostly...

I struck out at first station I hit for diesel this morning. There was a line of buses waiting in the street for a fuel truck to show up. Fortunately, I was able to get diesel at the second station I tried. However the attendant would only fill my tank.

As I motioned to my extra fuel cans the word to me was "No mas. Solo aqui" as he pointed at my vehicle fuel cap. Bummer.

The Jefe' at the station was abrupt with me also. When calculating exchange he only gave 10/$US when the going rate is still 10.25p/$US. Must be getting a lot of gringos and getting tired of the rush at the pumps.

I think this must be related to the news that PEMEX is going to be rationing Baja Norte stations to their Jan-Mar consumption (before the gringos started coming south in volume for diesel).

Monday, July 7, 2008

Mercy me!


A bit of a semantical muse was upon me, even while tempted to monkey around on a long weekend...

It's one of those "why didn't I notice that years ago" type of things. Have you ever noticed how often patience is mentioned in tandem with kindness in the Bible? It's the sort of thing that just seems obvious I suppose. In the reading of it your eyes just glass over and you gloss over it.

Yeah, maybe it's a little thing, but it's been taken over my ruminations and cogitations the past few...

It's clear to me now. The pairing of the two words "Patience and Kindness" is very significant. They are two sides of the same record. Patience is side A and Kindness is on the flipside. I needed someone to point out the significance of this -- it didn't come to me on my own. It came while reading Alex Strauch's excellent "Leading with Love."

Patience is what you don't do to someone. Kindness is what you do do to someone.

Patience is analogous to mercy (not getting what you deserve).
Kindness is like grace (unmerited favor: getting a good thing you don't deserve).

Yeah, there's the rub. That's where it really stuck in my mind and meditation.

The patience of God, withholding a judgement justly deserved -- Mercy!

Noah, how long can you tread water?

The kindness of God -- Grace!

Noah, build an ark! I'll provide a way to save you and any others who are willing to get in it. (while I withhold my anger/judgement).


Jesus Christ: the Grace of God providing salvation from destruction -- while God's patience/mercy delays his judgement for a time.
Noah's ark and the flood. Jesus, the cross, the empty tomb.

Hoo-ahh! Mercy me!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Polar Ice caps and...

...underwater Volcanoes?
another h/t to BobKrumm, quoting his blogpost here:
In December 2007 Ralph von Frese, an earth sciences professor at The Ohio State University, reported newly discovered volcanic activity beneath the ice sheet that covers nearby Greenland. His analysis determined that it is possible that recent volcanic activity there might melt enough water at the bottom of the ice sheets to accelerate their flow. Von Frese concluded that:

The behavior of the great ice sheets is an important barometer of global climate change . . . However, to effectively separate and quantify human impacts on climate change, we must understand the natural impacts, too.



Whattya know! Dead people DO bleed...

Best not tell Algore.

God BLESS America!

He's blessed us with these who reenlisted in theater on July 4.
All 1215 of them. Together.
In the "largest reenlistment ceremony in the history of the American military."
In one of Saddam's old palace buildings.

This year’s event,... saw the equivalent of two battalions extend their service in America’s military.


Now if it was the Navy I'd ask how many of them were re-upping early to get PCS'd off cruise or away from a crazy Capt Quigg skipper. ;^) ...but that would diminish the moment.
h/t Bob Krumm. See his site for a more complete writeup.

Friday, July 4, 2008

4th of July. Celebrate. Consider. Contemplate.



No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.

GEORGE WASHINGTON, first inaugural address, Apr. 30, 1789



Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.

GEORGE WASHINGTON, Circular to the States, May 9, 1753

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Lite blogging

Finishing up a sermon on Patience for this Sunday -- coming together slower than I'd like. Having a bit of difficulty putting a point on this one. Short and sweet is probably the watchword for a warm morning with inadequate A/C in an old Church building.

On top of that we're heading into 4th of July weekend with all it's family activities and extra time committments (including our tradition of attending the parade in Coronado).

Our Sunday morning series this summer is on the Fruits of the Spirit.
This week "Patience" is on deck. Longsuffering.
Good thing too. My wife will likely need it with me in extra measure the next coupla' days. ;-)

Seriously though, preparing to speak on something like this (rightly) leads to an extra measure of introspection and self-examination. Hard to be effective from the pulpit beyond that which you have lived it personally.

Tempted to title it, "Patience. Now!"

The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, and to have the two as close together as possible.
-- George Burns

Black Gold. Texas Tea. Oil That is!



I should have bought cheap land in the Dakotas. I coulda' been an oil milly-on-aire!!!

Beau coup barrels of oil waiting to be tapped right here in the good ol' US of A.

Have look at the Bakken Formation.

Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.
Indeed.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Freemen

We started watching the HBO John Adams series on DVD this week. My wife, the Son & Heir and I had all read David McCullough's most excellent book when it came out a few years ago. We were looking forward to seeing this but had to wait for it to show up for sale in Costco.

It seems a grumpy old son of a Scot :-)had cut back our cable channels to the bare minimum shortly before the series aired so we missed it.

The visual effect in this video, though muted, of the Boston Blockade and the aftermath of fighting at Concord & Bunker (Breed's) Hill is really gripping. If that imagery doesn't help you understand the significance of the 2nd Amendment in the minds of the Founders, I can't help you.

The right to keep and bear arms pre-existed the Constitution. It was long viewed (at least as far back as the Greeks) as a fundamental freedom, a defining freedom, of a freeman.

The 2nd has nothing to do with hunting. It has everything to do with self defense: including defending against the natural tendency of governments to tyranny.

Simply stated, "Freemen are free to keep and bear arms."

Are you free?

Baby gets a new bumper


That right thar is a gen-you-ine copy of a Ford 9N bumper.
Now I just have to bolt it up to "the eyesore." Well, actually I have to touch up the paint before I do anything. Of course that's not just any old color of red paint. It's Ford Vermillion Red. Try and find that in yer Home Depot paint dept.

O' course you can buy it online from the antique tractor geek store. The internet changes everything and you buy EVERYTHING online for these old 9N/2N/8N Fords.
O' course you have to buy a 6-pack. (sigh)
Well maybe some other Ford guys locally can use some/deal for what I don't need. Looks like the fellow down the hill from us is trying to get his 8N running -- it could use some paint. Ran into an old guy getting coffee today; one of the regulars. He told me he's trying to deal right now for a basket case Ford to restore.

Them's fightin' words!

Check out this exchange on video between (hack, spit) Rep. Delahunt, (D)Quincy, MA and VP Cheney's counsel/chief of staff David Addington.

The money quote from Rep (hack, spit) Delahunt is at the end regarding Al Queda and CNN,
""Right," Delahunt responded. "Well, I'm sure they are watching, and I'm glad they finally have the chance to see you, Mr. Addington."


Sounds like a threat to me. A beat down right there on the floor of the Congress was in order: or at least a challenge to a duel from Mr Addington.


Despicable behavior, that.

I know, I know. "Despicable" is the type of hateful word we aren't allowed to use anymore. Along with other hateful words like un-patriotic, treasonous, seditious, marxist and communist.

Too bad George Carlin passed recently. We could use a rant from him on the new Seven forbidden words.