Why yes. Yes you do.

HS grad day yesterday and daughter number had this to offer to those in attendance (and those looking on unseen).

An oversight...

Just realized I never got pix of refinished M-1 carbine from the CMP up. The stock had some problems as received. A gunnie friend stuck home recup'ing from cancer treatments asked if he could rework it for me. He was getting cabin fever and had run out of projects.


A steam iron to raise some serious dents, some dowels, acraglass and fiberglass to repair some cracking, bit of stain to match the walnut handguard to the hardwood stock and "Voila!"


I couldn't have done better myself and likely would still have it in the "to do queue."

Here's his little elf showing off the finished work.

The Gipper: Haze Gray and Underway

Got back from the pier about midnight and wrote this...

Haven't been to that pier since '87. Memories of a younger me and my wife saying goodbye in the dark on the same pier. It was a different ship but with a strong emotional/historical connection to this ship (Connie then, USS Reagan now).

Sounds and smells of ship pierside don't change.
Kiddies in carseats in the dark parking lot with the hulking carrier looming dark overhead. Men standing quietly with wives and girlfriends putting off the final goodbyes.
Small groups of sailors walking through the base streets returning from one last night in town.

Anyway,
Dropped the Son&Heir and brought his vehicle back home to stash for the duration.
Wife and his girlfriend along for last hugz and kissez. Huddled up for a brief family prayer.
Hug and handshake and the expected cliche'd advice from me.
"Make 'em a hand. Keep your head on a swivel. Remember Grandad's advice. Remember to read your Bible." and finally, "It's your turn now."

Not to be melodramatic but it's late and especially mindful of all those deployed and serving. Aware of Norks recent adventurism, and rioting in Africa,...

It reminds one of the uncertainty of even a routine deployment of a Carrier group. Hymns always come to my mind at moments like these. Tonight rolling around in the back of my head the old favorite "... I can face uncertain days because He lives."

postscript:
Made it out to Pt Loma before work this morning in time to see them clear the channel.

Godspeed to the crew of the USS Reagan and fair winds and following seas.

So Chuck Devore got knocked out of the Senate primary by Carly Fiorina. She's going up against Botox Barbara in the fall. That's the bad news.

The good news is Devore's name recognition in the state went from single digits in the past year to 49% and with overwhelming positive perception among conservatives. He's been the "real deal" all along as a State Assemblyman -- that's why he got my $upport early on in the primary. Now he's got visibility statewide and (good Lord willing) will make something of it.

He's turning the light on the cockroaches from the religion of peace (also known as those who would like to kill us) in his latest blog/website post. He should have a much larger audience that he did 6 months ago...

College campuses throughout America play host to various student groups; some enhance the campus environment while others don’t. The Muslim Student Union (MSU) at the University of California Irvine (UCI) has been in the latter category for the six years I’ve represented about 500,000 in the California State Assembly, including the UCI campus.

For that reason, and the reasons detailed below, last February, I asked UCI leaders to ban the MSU for a year because of their disruptive campus behavior. This caused UCI’s MSU spokesperson to complain of my “long history of antagonism” towards the group while accusing me of censorship and vigilantism.

I’m pleased to report that the MSU at UCI has been suspended from campus for a year, pending a routine appeal.

Get some popcorn. This should be an interesting show. Nah, skip the popcorn and give some thought to personal security preparedness.

I wrote to UCI Chancellor Michael Drake, to protest the MSU’s actions. In this letter, I declared, “MSU at UCI is an entity inimical to the University’s imperative to provide an education in an atmosphere of academic liberty, free of coercion and conducive to meaningful debate and free inquiry. I therefore request that you defend this University, its students, and its mission by banning the Muslim Student Union from its campus and withdrawing all formal recognition of its existence.”

RTWT



If he keeps this up he'll have a fatwa on his head in no time.

2nd Amendment Saturday

Seems more things change the more they stay the same. CA State Rep Saldana is no friend of liberty. Whether she's consciously aware of it or not she is a tool of that spirit -- the anti-Spirit of 76 that would enslave us. She's leading the charge in Sacramento to restrict open carry of even unloaded firearms in CA. The bill she introduced this spring has passed the CA House and is going to the Senate now.

No, it's not an out and out attack on the 2nd Amendment. Of course. Who would be so bold as to call for an outright dismissal of that right. Rather she is an incrementalist. She understands like the British Governor of Pennsylvania understood over 200 years ago that "to disarm the people; that was the most effectual way to enslave them; but they should not do it openly;"

Back in the day George Mason reminded that founding revolutionary generation of the creeping incrementalism of tyranny.

"To disarm the people [is] the best and most effectual way to enslave them..."

"Who are the militia? The consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers."

"An instance within the memory of some of this House, will show us how our militia may be destroyed. Forty years ago, wihen the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man [Sir William Keith], who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that was the most effectual way to enslave them; but they should not do it openly; but to weaken them, and let them sink gradually, by totally disusing and neglecting the militia."

Memorial Day done right: 2010

Started the day right. Flag raising and blew colors at 0800.

Headed down later in the morning for local remembrance at the Veteran's Memorial at City Center with the local American Legion.


Small group but a nice remembrance with some thoughtful readings, prayer and singing together the National Anthem and God Bless America.

Post 303 Officers... Need some salt for those eggs? Plenty in this bunch.


Later on patio, pool and Brat's on the BBQ at our place with folks from our church home fellowship group (and our boarder and her daughter).


We'll finish right by retiring Colors at sunset in just a few minutes now...

2nd Amendment Saturday: Entropy

I'd like a bumpersticker that says "Resist Entropy!"

Natural tendency is for a monopoly on power to be sought by the government. Like 2nd law of thermodynamics it must be recogized and dealt with moment by moment.

That's what drives gun control. It's about control. Not so much guns.

An armed citizenry really cramps statist's and tyrant's style.

"It is true, the yeomanry of the country possess the lands, the weight of property, possess arms, and are too strong a body of men to be openly offended --- and therefore, it is urged, they will take care of themselves, that men who shall govern will not dare pay any disrespect to their opinions. "

Federal Farmer (Richard Henry Lee)