Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Another Unjust Judge

Why is it that virtually every "judge" in the US has the middle name "god" and is a complete moron?

A Superior Court judge in California ruled a $1.5 Million judgement against Lowe's because their "2x4" lumber does not measure exactly 2" by 4".

For the record, I learned that a 2x4 actually measures about 1.5 inches by 3.5 inches when I was seven years old. I wonder what kind of life this judge lead such that he didn't know that this is a standard practice... EVERYWHERE! (Not just Lowe's)

Thoughts:
The article linked has some very relevant questions that arise out of this ruling.
If I was the CEO of Lowe's, I'd send $1.5 Million in wood chips to that Judge's house.
Lowe's will likely win on appeal.
I have met a judge who isn't a moron, and who does not think he has the middle name "god" - my friend, Andy Wright, seems to be the exception.


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Monday, September 29, 2014

What's Wrong With Karate 4

Today's entry: tag.

Seriously, the game of tag known as "point sparring" is a fun game, but not conducive to self defense.


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Friday, September 26, 2014

Heading in the Right Direction

So very long ago, a jiu-jitsu master started taking karate in Japan. These were the early days of karate in Japan, as it had recently been imported from Okinawa. He was one of the fasted promoted to black belt ever. His understanding of martial technique, science, and the importance of skill was unsurpassed.

Soon, the head karate instructor, Gichin Funakoshi, advised the jiu-jitsu master to go to Okinawa and study with Funakoshi's instructors. And so he did.

Hironori Ohtsuka, eventually founded Wado-Ryu - one of the four original styles of karate. In doing so, he departed from many practices the other schools. He also incorporated many more training drills than other styles - and drills above and beyond the kata performed elsewhere. At the time, the drills were novel: the latest and greatest way to get students ready for self defense.

As time passed, and knowledge increased, and availability of information eventually went global, these training drills came to look old-fashioned. Indeed, there are few Wado practitioners today who will argue vehemently the self-defense worthiness of these drills. Most admit they are done simply for the sake of tradition.

Tradition for tradition's sake is perfectly fine. For those of us who prefer to stay current, and have our skills be practical and applicable today, we must adopt new training methods.

In his book Wado Ryu Karate, Ohtsuka listed only nine kata as being necessary. Pinan I - V, Kushanku, Naihanchi, Seishan, and Chinto. There are other kata adopted into Wado, but they are more for tournament use or individual study than for anything else. This minimalist approach is what is needed in a modern Wado Ryu school. It is also the same mindset needed for self defense drills, etc.

We know that karate can be extremely useful for MMA and self defense (when properly trained). So why shouldn't modern training methods reflect that?

That said, five new Ippon Kumite (one-step sparring) and five new Goshinjitsu (self defense) have been developed. None involve more than three techniques. All of the techniques are basic, and essential. When combined with proper instruction on balance, weight shift, body shifting (taisabaki), distance (ma-ai), these techniques will give the student excellent self defense ability.


More to come...

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Many Errors

The following is copied from a Facebook conversation between two people I know. One is a police officer, the other is not. The other, whom we shall call "Citizen," is like me - feels police have too much authority, and abuse said authority way too much.

Officer: Please qui [quit?] sending me the "bad" cop stuff - my job is hard enough, and I have lost friends over the years - one that was shot with her own gun. There are "bad" people in every profession - it does not make us all bad or bullied in school.

Citizen: I'm not sending anything.
(note - Citizen was not sending anything, but was hitting "like" on statuses.

Officer: I keep getting stuff from you called "Cop Block" and it is all police bashing crap.

Citizen: I do follow that page and hit "like" on a fair amount of it. I do not send that to anybody.

Officer: For some reason, I keep getting it.

Citizen: Upper right corner of any post is a down arrow. Click it: then select "hide all." This should remove things you don't want to see.


So many things I could say on this. Suffice it to say, this officer is never going to have to worry about maximum allowable IQ results. 


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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

"Reverse" Racism?

This conversation, overheard recently:


Person #1: "Have you ever been falsely accused of racism?"

Person #2: "Every time."

Person #3: "I've never not witnessed a false accusation of racism."


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Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Number 88?

I don't know how many cases he's had overturned on appeal, but it is quite a bit. One thing is for certain, though, he rules in favor of his "good ol' boys" network.

Gallatin judge Tom Gray ruled that a government entity had first rights to proceeds from the sale of property of a dissolved business entity instead of a secured creditor.

That means he said that their legally secured by contract document was null and void and the supposed delinquent taxes took precedent.

Good thing Tom Gray is out of office now.


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Monday, September 22, 2014

What's Wrong With Karate 3

For this week's installment, lets analyze kata (forms or patterns).


Karate practitioners developed kata in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The first kata were developed to help the masters teach. A single instructor might have students in several towns. Clearly, only one set of students could be taught at a given time. At the time, the practice of martial arts in Okinawa was banned, so the instructors disguised their lessons as a "dance." The students would practice a specific dance for years, and rarely learned more than a handful of dances.

Some people think there are literal and figurative meanings behind the moves in kata. To be sure, that is partly true. But kata is not a code written in a secret language, which needs to be deciphered.

Kata is a training drill, designed to let the person practice known moves in a solo manner, all the while keeping a low profile in an area that bans martial arts practice.


So, keep doing the kata, but don't put a lot of stock in "super-secret" and overly involved "interpretations."


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Friday, September 19, 2014

10 Comebacks

Came across this link the other day. It inspired some thoughts:



1. Most cops understand why tickets are necessary, but don’t particularly like writing them. Well, unless they happen to stop “the guy who pays their wages” and then writing a ticket isn’t so bad.
Most sane people don't work jobs where they "don't particularly like" 85% of the duties...

2. The vast majority cops have never shot anyone, but most cops can recite a detailed list of people who are/were deserving of being shot because they posed a deadly threat. This means that most cops have successfully defused a potentially deadly confrontation using only words and less-lethal weapons.
Nope... not even close. Most never see any real action, which is why harmless people get killed by police every day. Agreed that some people deserve to be shot... seems that the percentage of police deserving it is higher than the rest of the general population.

3. Most cops wonder if they have something better to do until the person asks in that whiny voice, “Don’t you have anything better to do?” It is then — and only then — the cop knows the answer to that question is, “No. This is good as it gets.”
Sounds like the truth hurts.

4. Most cops know the driver they just stopped had more that “two beers” and can estimate with reasonable accuracy how many beers a driver did, in fact, have.
Really? Surely you can't be serious.

5. Most cops like donuts, but so does everybody. They are deliberately made to taste really, really good so people will want to eat them. Please pass me another donut. 
Only valid point of the 10. 

6. Most cops wonder why so many members of the community choose to pick up a mobile phone and record them while the officers are rolling in the dirt with an assailant rather than offering to help the officer.
Because jumping in is likely to get you shot and killed. 
And recording the officer is the only nonviolent way to get police abuse eliminated. 
7. Most cops don’t know the color of the people they stop before the traffic stop takes place. This is especially true when those people are driving cars with tinted windows at night.
Disingenuous. Patrolling certain areas, looking for certain "infractions" which are more highly associated with one race over another...

8. Most cops know that if you fix that muffler / tail light / other mechanical issue for which they’ve stopped you, the cops will stop stopping you.
If only...

9. Most cops know it is impossible stop a squad car fast enough when the drunk in the back seat says, “Stop! I think I’ve got to puke.”
Why do you need to stop? It's not like you are going to take the drunk out of the car.

10. Most cops know that the national media do not pursue the truth, they pursue a story. Their story and the truth are too often a little like fraternal twins. They are related, but cops can’t explain why they don’t look anything alike.
Funny... since a cop's version of "the truth" is often just as skewed.

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Thursday, September 18, 2014

He Actually Said This

The following conversation took place in my living room. With my wife and son as witnesses. With our freshly-laundered jiu-jitsu uniforms in plain view (and previously commented upon by the subject).


Oblivious: "So, when are your jiu-jitsu classes?"

Me: "Monday & Thursday, 6 pm for kids, and 7 pm for adults."

** two minutes pass **

Oblivious: "Yeah, this town is a jiu-jitsu desert... but you know that... there's nobody around who teaches unless you go all the way to Nashville."


My wife's eyes were about to pop out of her head with a "WTF" look.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Wonderlic and IQ

Came across this link the other day. It gives a simple formula for converting Wonderlic test scores to a rough IQ estimation. It also has links to take free versions of the test so you can estimate for yourself where your IQ is.

Their formula
(Wonderlic score x 2) + 60 = IQ



Using their formula, my IQ estimations:
(lowest side)
(46 x 2) + 60 = (92) + 60 = 152

I have scored a perfect 50, and can at any time now. However, some feel this is because of my repeated exposure to the exam. So be it. But just for kicks:
(50 x 2) + 60 = (100) + 60 = 160+

But I wonder what it really is, because the test stops at 50 questions, and I could hypothetically answer more correctly in the time they allot.

It is said that a Wonderlic score of 20 is comparable to an IQ of about 100, and this formula would indicate the same.



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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Unjust Judge Episode 87

He strikes again!

This time, the unjust judge refused to let an expert testify, and ruled in favor of the party he might well have predetermined that he wanted to win, regardless.

Again, the appellate court overturned his erroneous ruling.
Good thing Tom Gray is out of office now.


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Monday, September 15, 2014

What's Wrong With Karate 2

For today's installment of What's Wrong With Karate, let's evaluate stances.

Zenkutsudachi
Kibadachi
Kokutsudachi
Neko-ashidachi

These are the most common, though many other stances exist. The problem with all of these is that they are not entirely practical. Of the ones listed, all but nekoashidachi are too long and wide to be mobile. Nekoashidachi is too upright and leans too much on a single foot. Almost no karate stances have a balance of weight evenly between the feet, while simultaneously offering good mobility and lending the practitioner enough power.

The big problem is, these stances were never designed for combat. They were designed for doing drills, including kata, which are specifically to help strengthen the legs.

But karate teachers don't often teach it that way any more. You will see "self defense" routines laced with these stances, even in schools where the instructors acknowledge their uselessness in actual sparring or combat. You might even see students getting into these stances to practice with / against other martial arts training.

So, stick to these stances for conditioning and drills. But use real fighting positions when fighting.


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Friday, September 12, 2014

Police Origin

Picture this:

You are a caveman, wandering the land some 15,000 years ago. Your tribe is not much different than any other. Each of the members of your clan has a unique personality... not much different than nowadays.

One of the guys, Thog, is kind of ... off.

  • He is the one that if you come across a herd of buffalo, will kill three extra, even though you don't need to. 
  • He is the one that will try to break your spear when you aren't looking. 
  • Speaking of spears, he tries to take the spears away from other tribe members - he doesn't feel they are "qualified" to carry a spear. 
  • He is the one who clubbed to death the dogs that your tribe had kept for years. He said they were acting aggressively toward him. You don't think so. 
  • He is so insanely aggressive on things that your tribe decides to put him in charge of "security" - the plan being, if attacked by another clan, you send Thog out first to meet the threat. He will either kill the threat or die trying, and either outcome is OK with you. 

Of course, Thog lives today. Usually, we call people like this "police officers." They kill dogs, bully (and kill) people, and generally are not of a high IQ


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Thursday, September 11, 2014

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Plumbing Rant

I am convinced that the plumbing subcontractor that built the plumbing in our house deliberately tried to find the most nonstandard plumbing parts in the industry.

So far, as I've replaced ordinary items, I've found major inconsistencies in:

  • toilet hardware
  • sink hardware
  • pipe hardware
  • dishwasher
  • clothes washing drains
  • kitchen sink garbage disposal units

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Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Does It Never End?

This unjust judge is just haywire. Judge deems that a person can purchase a house in a rent with the option to purchase arrangement at whatever price the buyer wants to pay... regardless of what the actual contract specifies.

Fortunately, the appeals court overturned this horrible ruling. Good thing Tom Gray is out of office now.

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Monday, September 8, 2014

What's Wrong With Karate 1

Here is a little series on my mind about what is wrong with karate. At the core, it is because the training is not literal, and most people don't get things that aren't literal. When things are open to interpretation, by definition there is more room for misinterpretation.


The Corkscrew Punch
Known in Japanese as chokuzuki or junzuki, this punch is capable of developing a lot of power and can smash through targets with proper training. Wait... that doesn't sound so bad, does it?

The problem is not the power. 


Delivery
One of the main problems with chokuzuki is the delivery:
Chambered at the hip or the ribcage, the arm is not in a position to defend the body or head.
The punch only develops slightly more power than a good boxing punch.
Because of the chamber position, the punch is a bit slower than a good boxing punch.

Chokuzuki was designed by Okinawan peasants to be used against a samurai, wearing bamboo armor. The focus of the punch was to smash through the armor to cause damage. An assailant wearing 80 pounds of armor was naturally slower-moving than one without armor, so more time could be spent generating more power without sacrificing defense.

Against modern attackers, who usually wear no armor, the advantage is lost.


Application
So, you have people training to punch in a manner that will get them hurt in an attempted delivery. And usually, they don't even know the difference because the instructor doesn't know the difference. And even instructors that know the difference don't usually spell it out like it is above. So people go on their merry way, thinking that what they know can save them without ever having tried it out.

The problem is the application.

Try things out in sparring. See what works, and what doesn't. If you feel your move is "too dangerous" to use in sparring, wear protective equipment and train at half or quarter power.


Anecdote
Once, I was teaching a jiu-jitsu class to several brand new students. One of them was a guy who had a black belt in Shotokan karate. So when we would practice punch evasion and defenses, everyone else in class would imitate me, and perform regular boxing or streetfight style punches. This one guy was insistent upon getting into a proper stance, zenkutsu-dachi, and standing there with a motionless chokuzuki for his partner to work with.

It looked funny, because he was the only one. And because it was clearly not an effective position nor an effective technique. But the jiu-jitsu defense still worked beautifully.


Conclusion
Lord help us if somebody actually tries to defend himself / herself using a corkscrew punch and gets knocked out in the process because the technique just isn't designed for modern self defense.

I was taught that there were two applications: training (done exactly as before), and practical application (which looks more like a boxer's punch). Not many other schools seem to teach this way.

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Friday, September 5, 2014

Don't Buy an AR15

No, seriously, please don't buy an AR15.

From time to time, I'll have a friend or reader tell me that they think an AK47 pattern rifle is better. They claim it is more reliable. They claim accuracy is not that bad. Etc.

They can't afford it
The fact behind the questions or statements is really quite different, though. It is that these folks cannot afford an AR15 rifle. Truth be told, they cannot afford an AK, either... but that's not the point of this post.

They don't really have $1000 to splash down on a rifle.
They don't really have more money beyond that for ammo and training.
They don't really have more money beyond that for a minimal amount of gear.
They don't really have more money beyond that for a backup rifle.
They don't really have more money beyond that for a pistol and all that comes with it.

The real investment
Of course, if you were honest about a minimal amount of training, ammo, gear (including mags), a backup, a pistol, and the like, then you'd realize that a minimal investment would be at least $10,000. The difference, at that point, in the price of a $600 AK vs. a $1000 AR becomes downright negligible (roughly 4%, give or take).

Understand - $10,000 is a minimum estimate, at best; the real number is much more fluid and could easily be far more than $10,000.

They don't want the total package
So, let's be even more honest. Someone that says this does not have any interest in real personal protection. They have no true desire to be a rifleman. There is no need for them to become proficient at the fundamentals of combat. They just want to plunk down $600 for a "fighting rifle" and maybe $50 more for a mag and "a box of shells," and let it sit in their closet "in case they ever need it."

Never mind the fact that they will not have the skills if they ever need it.
Never mind the fact that they will not have the gear if they ever need it.
Never mind the fact that they will not have the support if they ever need it.
Never mind the fact that they will not have a need for that money they "saved" if they ever need it.
Never mind the fact that they will not have the ability to clear a jam when their AK47 jams.

They fall back on slogans
"Oh!" you say, "the AK47 is far more reliable. It won't jam!"
The hell you say!
Go and Google "AK47 jams" and get back to me on that.
The AK47 is a gun. Guns jam.

Someone that can't look past a perceived $400 price difference will never take the time to learn to clear a jam.
People like this live in a pretend world where they will never have to clear a jam.
People like this live in a pretend world where their 400-pound fat ass can suddenly last for years "in the woods."
People like this live in a pretend world where they can shoot targets without ever having learned marksmanship.
People like this live in a pretend world where they can magically understand tactics without ever having learned them.


Here's a better idea: 
Stop pretending.
Learn a thing or two.
Add skills to your toolbox.
Add tools to your toolbox.


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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Truth Hurts

In conversation the other day with someone who shares my disdain for silly HR folk. The following came from conversation and I present to you in a condensed form:

Over 25% of resumes contain inaccuracies. (source)
Over 50% of job applications contain inaccuracies.

But all 100% of job advertisements contain inaccuracies.

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

9 And Gets It.

Recently, my son purchased Call of Duty: Ghosts for his XBOX 360. One of the first weapons used is the "Honey Badger" - more correctly, an AAC Honey Badger PDW; which is an AR15 type rifle.

Naturally, my son asked me if I could assemble one.

I can... it's just not legal to do so in its proper configuration without going to the trouble of registering it as a "short-barreled rifle" and also as a suppressed weapon.

Once I explained that to the lad, he was rife with remorse for our Marxist governmental leanings. Why should any free man be barred the ability to own one of these magnificent rifles if he so chooses? My son's sentiments mirror those I hold.

Because self defense isn't a privilege that must be registered or otherwise controlled... it is a human right.


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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Even More Unjust Judge

Unjust Judge Tom Gray of Gallatin, TN issued an order that a case before him should be heard by interchange. The problem was, he had no jurisdiction to do so. The appeals court found this to be the case.

Good thing Tom Gray is out of office now.


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Monday, September 1, 2014

Can't Play Well

As a rule of thumb, I get along great with most everyone I meet. We all have that exception here and there, and I am no different. However, 99.99% (probably more) of the people I come across have no issue with me, nor I with them.

There is an element of surprise to this statement, as my few close friends describe me as a Sigma... one who has no penchant for playing the games of society. That's me. In groups, I can take the role of Alpha, Beta, or Delta, as the group needs. Oh, did I mention that I only become a part of a group for specific reasons - to benefit myself, to benefit my family or friends, or to benefit society or my country or planet. I tire easily of groups, so I rarely belong for a long time, with certain exceptions of course.

Over the years, I have noticed that 0.01% (probably less) of people I do not get along well with. I have studied this odd group. To be sure, I have noted that these people do not get along well with much of anybody. For me, that is the issue, as I usually play well with those that don't play well with others. So people like this fascinate me. It is a challenge to figure out what makes them "tick," so to speak. So I have developed a list of observations.

One thing I have noticed is that those who have issues with me almost invariably suffer with depression. That's not to say all who suffer with depression don't like me - as that's certainly not true.

Another trait I've noticed in these anti-social folk is that to a man (and woman), they have issues with jealousy. Well, how does that apply to me, the author? Simple. I am a man who accomplishes what I put my mind to. If I see something I want, I earn it. If I see a skill I'd like to have, I acquire it. These people would rather sit around and complain and be jealous of some "lucky" person who, in their opinion, was given the world on a silver platter. They never see the hard work and sacrifice put in by the person who owns the object or possesses the skill.

Not always, but I've often found that these social rejects are diabetic. I am, too (technically). In most cases, these folk are overweight, and dependent on medications. I overcame a need for medication due to proper diet and weight loss. Another observation - these people mix the jealousy and diabetes... in other words, they are jealous of my victories.

Big ego is another observation. So big, they have to "win." Here is a maxim to learn: it's hard to win a fight when there is no fight. Also, hard to win when it is a topic not worth fighting over. Also hard to win when you are just plain wrong. Believe me, I get the idea of venting via computer. Hell - I run a blog (duh!) for that very purpose.

Gamma/Omega would be the best way to describe the male versions of these people. Tier 4 or 5 would be the best female description.

There's the detail. the "Cliff's Notes" version is still the same: these folks don't play well with anybody. Online, they appear as trolls or, less frequently, mods (is there really a difference in a troll and a moderator except for authority?).


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