8 Simple Things

From this article: 8 things your boss wishes you knew.

Only thing this post really truly gets "wrong" is the assumption that the employee is always in the wrong. Of course, given so many of the newer workers in the market these days, it's not entirely a bad assumption...


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Unhappy People Everywhere.

On vacation last week:

I was at an inflatable water slide -the Hippo Water Slide - at the condo. My daughter and son were with me, and although we were close to the front of the line, we had been down it many times already.

At the moment in time, there were some dark clouds and there was some distant thunder. However, all swimming pools and the slide were still open at the discretion of the supervisors in the area. I felt it was safe, or otherwise, I'd have headed indoors with my kids. There were a couple other parents in line with their children, too.

One particular woman, who looked to be in her mid-30's, decided to take it upon herself to voice her weather-related concerns to "Carmelo," the attendant at the bottom of the slide.

At first, I thought she was making a joke, as there were 40+ people in line. It came across like she was simply jesting so she could skip to the front of the line. Carmelo thought so too, and in turning to face her, his water hose sprayed water in her direction before he could shut it off.

Note: He was doing his job by using the hose to wash sand off the riders before they got on the slide. Also, a layer of water on the back of the participant makes the slide much more comfortable and enjoyable. It is a water slide, after all.

Evidently, a few drops of water reached the angry woman (who nobody thought was angry at the time).

She went ballistic.

She began yelling at poor Carmelo, asking him if he knew how many "f---ing kids die every year by getting hit by f---ing lightning?!?!?" The irony that she began using such foul language in front of no fewer than 30 kids at that moment was not lost on me. Nor Carmelo. She swore some more at him, and yelled that she would be reporting him to a supervisor.

Then she realized that in her rage, she had until this point, failed to recognize that there were more than half a dozen parents present, too. "If you people want your children killed by lightning, then so be it!" And with that, she walked away.

I made sure to speak with a supervisor later and give props to Carmelo for handling things correctly. The supervisor was thankful, and had also noted the woman smelled of alcohol.


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Choked to Death

Several days ago, a man in New York broke up a fight. For reasons that are not entirely clear, when police showed up on the scene, they targeted this man, Eric Garner, for arrest. Mr. Garner, who was 6'4" and 350 pounds, was restrained by multiple Jack-Booted Thugs, placed in a choke hold, and killed via the choke.

Time Magazine article on the incident.

Gracie Breakdown on the incident. The Gracie brothers (Rener & Ryron) state they do not feel the choke caused the death. There are many others who feel Mr. Garner died because of being overweight, and I think Rener and Ryron fall into this camp.

Interestingly, Rener clearly states that the crushing of the trachea can lead to inability to breathe normally - which could result in death. Rener goes on to state that the autopsy clearly indicated that the trachea was not damaged. However, at this time, such information on the autopsy is not available. All we are being told is that the autopsy is "inconclusive." So, with all due respect to Mr. Gracie, that statement is speculation and assumptive at best. If/when more information becomes available, this blog post shall be duly updated.

Coincidentally, ABC News reports that NYPD rules prohibit the use of any sort of choke hold for restraint of suspects.

It is my opinion that Mr. Garner's trachea was crushed: based on what I heard him saying "I can't breathe!" and how it sounded from the video.

It is also my opinion that every officer who was present should be tried and found guilty of murder. The officers applying force for their direct role; and the officers that were there, but not directly applying force, for being accomplices.

UPDATE (8/1/2014):
As of today - 8/1/2014 - the autopsy results have been released. Mr. Garner's death was because of the choke hold. Mr. Garner's weight, asthma, and heart disease were deemed "contributing factors." 
Another article on it.
And another.

I deeply regret having ever taught any LEO any sort of choke hold - proper technique or not. I shall never knowingly do so again.


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Which Way I Vote

I'm breaking from tradition here and going to lay out in advance the people for whom I shall vote in the August 7 primary.

Note: I will be voting in the Republican Primary, as there are more issues relevant to me in this one than on the Democrat side.

Governor
There is no way I'll vote for Haslam. Didn't before and will not now.
I plan to vote for Mark "Coonrippy" Brown in the primary.
It is likely that Haslam will win the nomination, and if that happens, I plan to vote for Shaun Crowell in the General Election.

US Senate
Joe Carr
Do you really need to ask me why?
(62% - how often Lamar! votes with Obama)

US Congress
Jerry Lowery
Diane Black is shifty and unreliable.

TN Senate
Mae Beavers
One of only two incumbents for whom I plan to vote this year.
(The other is my City Councilman & Vice Mayor - James Maness).

TN Representative
Write-in
It is likely that Susan Lynn will win the nomination.
Her likely (guaranteed) Democrat opponent, McLevain, sides a lot with Obama. Not gonna vote for him, so I'll look to an Independent candidate or a write-in. Might even write in my own name.
Susan Lynn will never get my vote again for being a crony of the governor.

Judges
While I have some local favorites, there is no clear cut best candidate. Generally speaking I'll not vote to re-elect anyone. 
That said, I'll vote to replace sitting TN Supreme Court Justices Clark, Lee, and Wade. 

Amendment 1
I'll vote YES
The legislature should be empowered to vote on abortion issues. 

Amendment 2
I'll vote NO
Judges should be elected, not appointed. 

Amendment 3
I'll vote YES
This should make it impossible (or at least really hard) for the legislature to pass a state income tax.

Amendment 4
I'll vote YES
This should allow 501 (c) 19 organizations (like VFW and American Legion) to hold raffles, etc. - like 501 (c) 3 organizations can now do. .


That's as detailed as I'll get here. 


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The Basics

Rorion Gracie has been a black belt for more than 40 years. Fabio Gurgel had been a black belt for more than 20 years. Here they are practicing the most basic technique in jiu jitsu. Don’t talk to me about how you know the basics.

Found this photo and this caption on the web some time back. Seems quite appropriate. 

Say What!?!?

We were sitting at the dinner table, discussing the health of my children's last living great-grandparent - my wife's paternal grandmother (age 92). My daughter, age 6, only heard part of the conversation (as so often happens with young children anyways).

So my daughter blurts out:

"So she's pregnant!?!?!"

It took me three minutes to regain composure and wipe up the water I spewed on the table in front of me.


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It's All in *Your* Head

From a regular reader:

The only way for a person to be saved is faith in Jesus Christ and repentance. 
Faith in God, no matter how sincere, is not enough.

My response:
If you truly believe this, then your Trinity Doctrine is in need of major adjustment. 


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Fact or Emotion?

From a conversation I read:

"C" -

"K" works for an insurance co. that has to know this law inside and out.
"L" & "F," though well intended and passionate, are simply reciting what they've heard or read from liberal talking points... And such sources are notorious for being void of facts.

"L" -

Actually I interned at a place that dealt with insurance issues for a year and picked up a good deal of knowledge first hand... but nice ad hominem.

Methinks "L" doesn't really know what ad hominem means. By definition, an ad hominem attack is against the person in an attempt to distract from the facts. C here addresses the fact that the points made by L are simply borrowed phrases from other sources. Sources that are known for being factually errant. 

• This cannot possibly be an ad hominem against L - the point is made against the source material and not L directly or indirectly. 
• This cannot possibly be an ad hominem against L's sources, as they are known to be in error.  
• Statement of fact on K's employment and the connection to required knowledge on the topic is the exact opposite of an ad hominem. It is a statement of fact and use of the same concept as what a court might call an "expert witness."

To be fair, L was still in high school at the time, and her claim to have worked with insurance-related issues was volunteer work at a government entity that helped people with denied TennCare claims. All this agency does is advise people on how to get their claims paid. Not at all pertinent to the issue at hand. Meanwhile, K had worked with a company which required direct knowledge of the issue at hand. K had held employment at this company for a decade. Establishment of this sort of credibility is exactly what is done in courts of law for the purpose of determining whose testimony is fact, and whose testimony is simply emotion. 


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Inspires no Confidence

How not to inspire confidence in your future martial arts instructor:


Ask: "do you give discounts?" to a club already running the lowest costs in town... by a wide margin.
($60 per month compared to $120 per month & up at all local competitors)

When the reply to the question about discounts is: "only for church attendees (at the church where the martial arts lessons are held)," ask:
"So everyone just basically lies and says they attend to get $10 off per month?" (and ask it for real)

Have nothing to say when the instructor replies that he is one of the door greeters at the church and would know immediately if someone were fabricating such a story.

...

Continue by asking if uniforms were required for your kids.
<< No, just let them be the only kids in the whole class without one! >>

Also, continue by asking if you can roll over classes missed into the next month.

...
Side note: all of the things up to this point are not necessarily bad, in and of themselves. 
They do, however, look REALLY BAD in retrospect when the next sequence of events happens...
...

Write a check drawn on an internet bank.
Have said check bounce.
Main excuse why check bounced: "I thought my overdraft protection was set up, but it hadn't been activated."
Ask if you can write another check, drawn on the same account, to cover the one that just bounced!
Act annoyed when the instructor informs you he won't accept your checks any more.
Try to make it seem the instructor's fault that you intentionally wrote a check you did not have funds to cover.


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Hilariously Heart Wrenching

Dichotomy (n): a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.

Otherwise known as simultaneously the most hilarious thing and the saddest thing I've ever heard in my life.

Facts -
New prospective students, ages 10 & 12. 
Dad takes advantage of a special we are running: pre-pay two months and receive a free uniform.
Dad's check bounces. 
Kids do not receive uniform. 

Note: normally, the proper terminology is "uniform" or "gi" (Japanese - short for kimono). 
I'll give the new prospective students a break, since they were new, after all.

Enter the moment -
Kids are being dragged out of building by dad, without their gis (because said check bounced), and one is saying "what about the suits? Dad - the suits!"


Funny part was hearing the gi being called a "suit."
Sad part was how the father had disappointed his sons. 


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Fat Ladies and Motorized Chairs

The following conversation took place recently. Pops was at a retail establishment and was using the motorized chair as transportation. (It is my opinion that if anybody "deserves" to use one of these, it is Pops - no right leg below the shin, and only half of a foot on the left)

An overweight lady ("OL") walked in, and saw him sitting on the chair. Pops was examining some merchandise and happened to be close to the entryway.

OL: "Are you using that motorized chair?"

Pops: "I am."

OL: "I would sure like to use it when you get finished. It's just so hard for me to walk."

Pops: "It's probably good for you to walk..."

OL: "Well why do you need that chair anyways?"
(note: Pops is just shy of 200 pounds. He doesn't carry much extra weight at all. Not bad for 71 years young, anyways)

Pops: < takes off his artificial leg and holds it up as if to say "this is why" >

OL: < walks away >


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My Sincerest Apologies

My mom had a few words of wisdom on apologies:

"Never apologize if you haven't done something wrong."
"Using the word 'if' at the beginning of an apology means you don't mean it."
"Don't try to rationalize what you did (justify), just fess up."
(after you have calmed down) - "if you did something wrong, admit it and move on!"


On Twitter, you might see the tag "sorrynotsorry."
In person, it's called a fake apology.
Other fake apologies:
Using the phrases: "I deeply regret" or "mistakes were made."
Here are some more fake apologies.

This site has some "Do's and Dont's" on apologies which include some of the above nuggets of wisdom.

Of all those words of wisdom, I think the most important two are not apologizing when not at fault, and not using the qualifier "if."

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SCOTUS "Ruling Class"

More from Hobby Lobby fallout:

My responses to "The 8 Best Lines From Ginsburg's Dissent"
(I'll do these rapid-fire!)

"The exemption sought by Hobby Lobby and Conestoga would…deny legions of women who do not hold their employers' beliefs access to contraceptive coverage"

• Nope. Not even close. These women can still get 16 of the 20 mandated contraceptives from Hobby Lobby. They can also choose to work elsewhere. 

"Religious organizations exist to foster the interests of persons subscribing to the same religious faith. Not so of for-profit corporations. Workers who sustain the operations of those corporations commonly are not drawn from one religious community."

• True. That's why, if they don't like the health insurance offerings, they can choose to work for another company!

"Any decision to use contraceptives made by a woman covered under Hobby Lobby's or Conestoga's plan will not be propelled by the Government, it will be the woman's autonomous choice, informed by the physician she consults."

• Yep. That's why we don't need to mandate what the company's health insurance does and does not provide. 

"It bears note in this regard that the cost of an IUD is nearly equivalent to a month's full-time pay for workers earning the minimum wage."

•  Indeed. That's why we need to end the FDA. That's why we need to eliminate the minimum wage (so workers can earn higher pay to afford more stuff!). And that's why workers have a freedom of choice for jobs!

"Would the exemption…extend to employers with religiously grounded objections to blood transfusions (Jehovah's Witnesses); antidepressants (Scientologists); medications derived from pigs, including anesthesia, intravenous fluids, and pills coated with gelatin (certain Muslims, Jews, and Hindus); and vaccinations[?]…Not much help there for the lower courts bound by today's decision."

•  Possibly so... and that's why it is a "free" country, where a worker may select his/her own place of employment.

"Approving some religious claims while deeming others unworthy of accommodation could be 'perceived as favoring one religion over another,' the very 'risk the [Constitution's] Establishment Clause was designed to preclude."

• This statement is accurate, but has no bearing on the issue ruled on. 

"The court, I fear, has ventured into a minefield."

• Wouldn't be the first time. Though this time, freedom won the day. 

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Where Do They Come From?

A man tried to rob a Waffle House at gunpoint.
A law-abiding citizen shot him.

Now, the robber's family is calling for more gun control.

Of course, what the article doesn't mention is that these people want their criminal family members to simply have a safe working environment.

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Your Argument is Invalid

A friend posted a link to this article the other day on Facebook. I will quote the entire article, lest it be taken down and lost:

On December 30, 1994, a man walked into a Planned Parenthood clinic in Massachusetts, shouted "This is what you get! You should pray the rosary!" and shot the receptionist to death. 

So with the support of local law enforcement, Massachusetts passed a law prohibiting protests within 35 feet of abortion clinics.

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court struck that law down. Today, women in Massachusetts are wondering whether, at their next medical appointment, they'll end up face to face with people who shout, spit, and threaten -- all while calling themselves "pro-life Christians."

Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley has the power to set a very different example. Yes, he's well-known for his opposition to abortion -- but also for his thoughtful and pastoral approach to church leadership.

Cardinal O'Malley should immediately call on Massachusetts Catholics to voluntarily refrain from holding protests outside abortion clinics -- and remind the nation that, no matter what you think about abortion, there's nothing Christian about harassment and intimidation.

Sign the petition: 
Cardinal O'Malley, please speak out against harassment and intimidation at abortion clinics. By calling on Catholics to cease clinic protests, or at least voluntarily refrain from coming within 35 feet, you could set a powerful example that helps prevent a climate of hatred and violence.

It would seem our "Pro-Choice" friends here are using falsehoods and logical fallacies here. Let's clear things up. The fallacies are pointed out in this re-creation:

RED HERRING:
On December 30, 1994, a man walked into a Planned Parenthood clinic in Massachusetts, shouted "This is what you get! You should pray the rosary!" and shot the receptionist to death.

STRAW MAN:
So with the support of local law enforcement, Massachusetts passed a law prohibiting protests within 35 feet of abortion clinics.
Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court struck that law down. Today, women in Massachusetts are wondering whether, at their next medical appointment, they'll end up face to face with people who shout, spit, and threaten -- all while calling themselves "pro-life Christians."


APPEAL TO AUTHORITY:
Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley has the power to set a very different example. Yes, he's well-known for his opposition to abortion -- but also for his thoughtful and pastoral approach to church leadership. 
Cardinal O'Malley should immediately call on Massachusetts Catholics to voluntarily refrain from holding protests outside abortion clinics -- and remind the nation that, no matter what you think about abortion, there's nothing Christian about harassment and intimidation.
Sign the petition: 
Cardinal O'Malley, please speak out against harassment and intimidation at abortion clinics. By calling on Catholics to cease clinic protests, or at least voluntarily refrain from coming within 35 feet, you could set a powerful example that helps prevent a climate of hatred and violence.


Since all of the points made in the argument are dependent upon logical fallacies, one must assume the entire argument is, at its core, fundamentally flawed. Therefore, no part of the argument is valid. 


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Twisting Words on Purpose

On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled that companies with religious objections to certain contraceptives are exempt from the mandate to provide those. The mandate stems from the "Affordable Care Act" (Obamacare).

When news of this hit, I saw many status updates from friends on Facebook. So I thought I'd address several of them here in one tidy spot (my counter arguments in bullet points):

"Way to go, Supreme Court (extreme sarcasm dripping here folks)
Thank you to the high court for taking America three steps backward on women's rights, equality, freedom, and healthcare access."

• How does this have any effect on women's rights? It just means that one person is not forced to pay for something for another person. 
• There is zero effect on anyone's equality here. 
• This ruling actually "increases" freedom - by not mandating redistribution of wealth. 
• This has zero effect on anyone's healthcare access.
• Not really sure where this guy's head was (assuming he has one).

"So this Supreme Court ruling, if taken to its logical conclusions, would mean that a JW business owner has the "right" to refuse to provide insurance for blood transfusions... Where does this end?
With Jewish owners forbidding all employees from access to pork?
Catholic owners terminating any employee who uses a condom or gets a divorce?"

• The decision to provide specific health insurance options for employees is a free market concept. It is totally separate from employee code of conduct and/or terminations.

"...granting Hobby Lobby religious exemption will actually lead to more abortions."

• Not sure how, Sherlock. Women working at Hobby Lobby will still have access to 16 of the 20 mandated contraceptives.
• Not sure how, Sherlock. Women can always choose for whom to work.

"Corporations shouldn't make people's personal health decisions. The Supreme Court erred when it said corporations are people. Now those so-called people are free to intrude on employees' privacy and health decisions."

• This was a quote from Congressman Jim Cooper. As always, Cooper is wrong.
• Again, there is no provision for corporations intruding on the employee's privacy and health decisions. 
• Quick question - why is it a mandate for the company to provide, and if the company provides something slightly different, that's an intrusion or infringement?

Then came the memes...

 

• Of course, the SCOTUS decision doe snot, in any way, provide that a person's boss will be able to make health care decisions for him/her. This is tomfoolery, such as Franken is so familiar with. 
• If a woman works for a company whose contraceptive options are somewhat limited (Hobby Lobby's health insurance provider will still provide 16 of the 20 mandated contraceptives), she can always opt to work for another company. This is far different than "making a decision about her access to contraceptives for her."

• Again, the SCOTUS ruling has zero effect on any woman's "right to health care."

• What corporation has "considered" denying any test, treatment, or prescription to anybody?
• Why would any corporation be forced to provide any of these things?

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Real Basic Training

From a reader:

Usagi, OK, lay it on me. Real quick, what you’d do if you had no gun and no skills and had to build up immediately to be ready for SHTF. Pretend cost is 50/50 an issue. Bring me up to speed really simple.I prefer a 16" barrel - all else can be "made to order."

RIFLE

• AR15
• Get the barrel contour you want. I'd get medium or heavy profile, but M4 is OK.
• 10 mags. PMAGs.
• Simple sling.
• Samson free float rail - 12.37"
• Red dot (Primary Arms Micro until you can afford $500 for an aimpoint) & BUIS

PISTOL

• Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm. 
• 4 extra mags 

OPTIC / SIGHTS

• Primary Arms Micro dot
• Simple flip up BUIS

 MARKSMANSHIP

• Get your marksmanship to a point where you can hit a 400-yard scaled target (5" at 100 yards).
• Try to get out to 400 yards to practice. Remember: "chest - head - hat."

TRAINING

• Clearing rooms
• Taking corners
• Administrative reloads
• Malfunction clearance 
• Cover vs. concealment

I Wish We Had a 2nd Party, Much Less a Third

A few weeks ago, I was listening to talk radio (something I rarely do these days). It was the first I'd heard of the new talent on 99.7 in Nashville in the early afternoon slot. The show was fine. There was a statement made by the host that needs addressing.

At the heart of the topic was the recent MS Senate primary runoff results between Establishment Republican Senator Thad Cochran and State Representative Chris McDaniel. Cochran was losing, but then enticed black Democratic voters to vote for him... something these voters will not likely do this fall in the general election.

Similar thing happened to US House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor recently.
I hope the same happens to Lamar! on August 7 here in TN.
(Vote Joe Carr - not Lamar!)

Back to the radio show...
The host and a call-in guest were speaking of the guest's intentions to vote Democrat or "3rd Party" in the fall instead of voting for Cochran (the caller was from MS). The host stated: "this is where you have to put those differences aside so that we (Republicans) can have a majority in the Senate."

I've never heard a statement so asinine!

If a Republican Senator is voting with the Democrats so often, then (s)he would not help you attain a majority!!!
So what if the Senator has the (R) beside his/her name!!!

It's statements and sentiments like this that give the Libertarians and others the fuel to say things like this:

I say definitely vote 3rd party if you have a turncoat Republican or Democrat in office!

Keep On Keepin' On

The other day, I saw a post on Facebook from a person I knew in High School. She wrote of her life over the past three years. This is what raised my ire:

She wrote of how her husband had "walked away" from a good-paying job at a nonprofit company three years ago. He had walked away, she wrote, due to "taking a stand" against actions that the company perpetrated that "grieved the heart of God." He finally got another job in his field no - three years later - and that was the reason for the post.

She continued to say "the journey was much harder and longer" than they had figured it would be.
She never worked during this time.
Her husband only worked part time and occasional contract jobs.
Husband was "holding out" for something "in his field."

And then we had this quote... which is what set me off:

God provided the food we needed through Food Stamps.  I HATED using them.  Every time I went to pay with my Access card I felt sick at my stomach and horribly embarrassed.    I saw the things that people posted on facebook about the “lazy” people who use food stamps.  And I felt sick.  I heard the things people said in the store against people who use food stamps and I felt sicker.   I can’t tell you how thankful I am to not to have to use food stamps anymore!  I think that’s what I’m most excited about!  But,our journey in the land of welfare helped me to have more compassion.  To see the cycle of poverty…to understand how hard it is to get out.  To be thankful that we had the opportunities that so many don’t have so that we had a greater hope that someday we would exit the land of welfare.

My thoughts:
If I hated something... I wouldn't keep doing it for three years!
I've lost a job before (although it was due to NO fault of my own, unlike this situation) - it took me all of three months at the longest to replace it.
If something about my life made me "feel sick" - I wouldn't keep doing it!
It is not hard to get out of the cycle of poverty... here's the secret (shhhh!) - WORK!

Furthermore, all this was your husband... but why couldn't YOU work during this time???
Dependopotamus.

Look, I'm glad they kept their morals. I'm glad she was thankful at the end. But this attitude right here is why we as a country are doomed.


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Good Shoot, NC Style

North Carolina.
Castle Doctrine.
Gang activity.
Home break-in.

One headshot.
Other accomplice runs.
Folks in the getaway car leave.

Here is a news story on the event.
And here is the ar15.com thread.


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This is Why We Are Doomed

Independence Day.

The day we gained our freedom.

The freedom we have since given away.

I saved this post for today, July 4 - for just that reason. Freedom.


Some time back, I witnessed an exchange on a neighborhood social media outlet:
People were complaining about folks speeding in their neighborhood. That's a fair complaint. Some of the complaining people started suggesting that police should be called, or even requested to run speed traps in the neighborhood.

One person came in and warned of "inviting THE MAN into your life."

Immediately, several of the complainers pounced... decrying this person's warnings as idiotic and asinine. The comments were truly astounding as these people denied that we live currently in a police state.

I've tagged that thread for review in a year or so... the same folks who wanted the police presence will be the same folks complaining about getting speeding tickets. That's for sure.

Who knows... if they are "lucky," then they might actually be the same folks targeted for a no-knock raid.


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Don't Believe All You Are Told

This article claims that the statistics we've been fed for years on marriage or divorce are fabricated and/or misleading.

Interesting points.


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Knock and it Shall Be Opened...

Knock and it shall be opened... just not the way this guy thought.

A fugitive knocked on the door of a house belonging to a martial arts instructor. Said instructor knew the fugitive was on the loose, and answered the door armed with a gun.

Long story short... it didn't end well for the fugitive.


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M4 for SHTF Part 2

From a reader... here we go:

How could you advocate an M4 for SHTF? It’s not even a rifle – it’s a carbine. Can’t even shoot it at long range. Hey, I agree with you, but it was you that said these things.

OK, then...


You are right, the M4 is technically a carbine.

You are wrong about the can't shoot it at long range, though. Some folks have shot it out to 1000 yards with surprising results. With a free-float rail, you might get precision as good as 2 MOA (I have constructed an M4 that yields 2 MOA results), even with standard 55-grain ammo.

Now hang on a second, let's explore two facts:
1. Currently, the real riflemen of the world - the United States Marine Corps - train all recruits out to 500 yards. at 500 yards, 2 minutes of angle (2 MOA) is 10 inches.

2. The folks at Trijicon have used the measurement of a man's chest to be 19 inches wide. Their reticles are calibrated to help the shooter range accordingly based on this information. Good chance it is pretty accurate.

What does that mean?
2 MOA at 500 yards is 10 inches. An average chest is 19" wide... meaning the shooter would hypothetically have no problem shooting to that accuracy at that range - provided they can adjust for drop and wind.

But wait...
Not all M4's can shoot 2 MOA. Let's presume only 4 MOA accuracy. This would mean 20 inches at 500 yards, which would place some shots outside the target area. So lets move down to 400 yards. At that range, 4 MOA would be 16" - well within our target size.

And lets add in the fact that most shooters prefer a red dot. And a common zero for a red dot is 50 / 200 yards. How would a shooter dope the rifle for 400 yards? Glad you asked... "lothaen" has addressed a simple holdover formula for using a red dot:
"Chest / Head / Hat"

And at 400 yards, a 55-grain M193 style load would be sailing along at over 1700 fps and hit with 355 ft.-lbs. of energy. For reference, a .45 ACP round (230 grains, 850 fps) hits with 365 ft.-lbs. at the muzzle... virtually identical.

Sounds to me like it would do just fine...






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