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Showing posts from November, 2010

The old man of rimfire

One of my favorite rifles is the Marlin 60 . Introduced in 1960 (hence the name), it is the most popular rifle ever sold. Among the strengths of the platform, the Marlin 60 is exceptionally accurate, very reliable, and is one of the most inexpensive firearms that can be bought. A new "M60" can be had at many Wal Marts for less than $150. The tube magazine is easy to load, and very reliable. No external magazines to lose or step on. The rifle is semiautomatic, making it easy to shoot again and again. It is also well balanced. Among the few negatives, the Marlin 60 has a heavy trigger. This is easily remedied by a person with household tools, good instruction and about 10 minutes to spare. Some people, mostly online, will say the platform suffers from reliability issues. I've seen this in person and the most common underlying reasons are: 1) Rifle is dirty. 2) Poor ammo 3) Ejector wire bent. Of the errors listed, dirty rifle and poor ammo are the cause of 95% ...

Can't tell if serious

An article on what to do if a Tea Party member moves in next door. The simple fact that Progressives (read: liberals) get this worked up is enough for me to call this humorous. My favorite part: Frequency of deliveries such as UPS are also collectible information as most deliveries to such homes will be weapon related. Ammunition, guns, militia equipment…etc. Unless one has an FFL, one cannot take delivery of firearms at one's residence. The only known exceptions are: - An M1 from the CMP - A firearm already owned by the individual that was sent off for repair.

Very sad news

Yesterday, a friend, softball teammate, and an all around good guy passed away . Rick, I love you, man. Can't wait to see you again, one day in heaven!

Thanksgiving

We all have much to be thankful for. My sister in law has posted every day in November something she is thankful for. I will do the same on this blog - just in a single blog post. I am thankful for the following: - My kids. - My wife - My family - My God - My guns - The ability to shoot my guns - The freedoms I still have left. - The fact that I've not yet been molested by the TSA - My Sunday School class. - Food. - Star Wars movies - Fishing - Warm clothes. - A nice house - Experiences - good and "bad" - This blog. More to come, I'm sure.

More on the TSA pat downs

Since the TSA has decided to violate the 4th Amendment rights of Americans, there has been much written and said on the topic. I personally do not mind going through a metal detector Much more than that is an invasion of privacy. No way I'd do the body scans, or the pat down. I'm no criminal, and do not match the profile of one, so they have no probable cause. If the TSA did have probable cause, then I would have to remind them that they are not a police entity, so they lack the authority to do so in the first place. On a side note, Nancy Pelosi loses her private jet this January, so she will be forced to fly commercial. I wonder who gets to pat her down. No doubt, they will not want to. Sarah Palin might be a different story...

More thoughts on working retail

Tonight, I work the fourth time in as many days with retailer, Target. I am a cashier for them in the Mount Juliet area store. Some more thoughts on the job: - The people are nice. Much nicer than in minimum wage jobs I've held in the past. - I used to, as a shopper, go to the quickest line. Even if it was one of the longer lines. It has been encouraging to see people do that same thing to me. - At first, I wondered how long it might be before I got to ring up some poor, scared, young lady who was buying an emergency supply of feminine products. Answer: First night, hour two. And this happens regularly. - When the young lady above, mentioned to her mom that she didn't want to check out in my lane, because I am a man, and her mom replied that all of the cashiers were men, it was evidently very good to tell the young lady that I am a father of a daughter. She seemed to relax a bit. Plus, I moved it quick, and I'm sure she was glad to get out of there, too. - As m...

Liberal "news" on guns

The Washington Post now has a segment on the "secret life of guns." If you believed all this stuff, you'd think guns were only owned by criminals, who buy them in gun stores, and then go insane with the trigger power. I've held thousands of guns. Not one of them has made me want to kill, or otherwise break the law. I must be doing it wrong...

Evidently I have been doing it wrong:

Seems from this article that I've been wrong to work all these years. My disposable income has been in the poverty level for quite some time, and I figured out why. All the entitlements mean that if someone works a part-time minimum wage job, and collects all the entitlements, then they have as much money left over at the end of the month.

Funny stuff here...

With all the commotion about the TSA and their new outlandish tactics, I came across this site: Link to funny shirts . (warning - adult humor) My favorite? "Don't grope me, bro!" Also, this has spawned a new entry in urban dictionary (warning, adult language): " gate rape. "

Interesting notes from my first night on the job.

Last night was my first at Target. It was an orientation night. Some observations: - Kids in college range from fairly responsible to dimwitted to the point of making me fear for the future. Last night's class of 6 people had two college kids - one of each of the above descriptions. - I was not the only professional level adult in the group. There were two others: one who will be working for the benefits, and one who needs the extra money like me. - My brother has long held the opinion that HR people are often less intelligent and less productive than the general population. The poor girl there was not helping improve this image any. - People working for Target seem to be more upbeat and personable than folks at Wal Mart. - Target forbids employees from having guns on their property. What they don't know won't hurt them. - Why the anti-gun statement when your very name is "Target"??? Anybody else see the irony here??? - I missed seeing my kids last n...

Examiner, First Article

I recently was asked by Examiner.com to become a contributor for their segments on hiring practices. Of all the things I write about, they liked my comments on hiring practices? Wow. Anyways, here's what I submitted : --- Job Seeking Advice - with a Nashville, TN flavor. It's no secret, the economy has been bad for several years. Many people have lost their jobs. Many more are underemployed. But there is a secret. Right now, there are people in the job market who are advancing their careers. There are others that, though they have lost a job, found a better job on the rebound. How do they do it? Luck might be a factor. However, successful people do not rely on luck - it's akin to hoping to win the lottery once you get laid off. Instead, follow some tried and true methods. But, more than that, add some spice, and some techniques that have been found to work in the local Nashville area.A few simple changes to one's resume, interviewing skills, and assessment-taking...

Violating rights

There has been much made recently of the new TSA regulations - requiring pat-downs, image scanning that essentially shows the TSA agent your naked body, and other silly measures. One blogger points out how this is a violation of our constitutional rights, and the TSA admits it! Wow.

There they go again...

Trying to disprove the Bible. I ran across this link , in a forum. The link is trying to prove the Bible wrong. To sum up, the author thinks that scribes either mis-translated, or otherwise edited old scripts. The claim is that the mistranslation was done and ages of the original people in the Bible, such as Adam, Methuselah, Noah, and others from Genesis were overstated as a result of the mistranslation.  They went so far as to post an updated hypothesis of the "real ages" of these men, as well as explanations of how the " error " occurred. Naturally, this results in a completely altered history , where Noah is a king, and has a barge of grains and animals survive a local river flood. Problems with the arguments: This article fails in the following respects: - It takes a known error in the Sumerian Kings list , and assumes a similar mistake was made by a Hebrew scribe. - The similar mistake or mistranslation, involved the need to manipulate numbers, eit...

Who looks silly now?

Last night, Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles looked flawless in a dominating performance over the Washington Redskins. The side story to this was that Redskins QB, Donovan McNabb, had been traded away last off-season. Many fans regretted that decision. Last night, that particular decision looked pretty good.

Looking forward to Sunday School

For the past four weeks, we have been splitting Sunday school time half and half between the regularly scheduled lesson, and a cliff's notes version of the sermon by the pastor. This was requested, by the pastor, for the four weeks of all Sunday school classes. Part of the reason, I think, is because the church has proposed a giving campaign to fund the down payment for construction on a new "children's wing." The claim is that space is severely limited. While that claim might be true to an extent, I do not personally condone the project at this time. Simply put, we are in the middle of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. Starting a giving campaign in a church where revenues are just now back to pre-2008 levels is asking a bit much, I think. And going into debt to build a building at this time does not make a lick of sense. I suggest the church wait until things turn around a bit. And then, I would suggest they do not take out a loan to do t...

Banning Phone Books

On the Huckabee Report this morning, it was discussed that some areas are looking at legislation to ban phone books. The idea is that people really don't use the phone book any more. Most people google the number. And those too old to google the number, likely cannot read the small print of a phone book, according to Huckabee. In concept, I agree with this thinking. This is one of the few times I will agree with the environmental argument on this issue. This blogger started this organization , and they make some good points. In principle, I disagree with the ban, as there is no need to legislate this - let the market decide. I know I take phone books and use them for two important things: A) Booster seating for my daughter (who will be 3 on Sunday). B) Shooting targets

Antiquity in the Martial Arts

This is an essay for the removal of forms ("kata" in Japanese) from the martial arts. At the outset, I'd like to make clear that I do not think we will see this happen in my lifetime, but that does not mean we shouldn't push for it. Origins: Originally, kata were the root of all forms in the martial arts we see today, with the exception of a very few Chinese arts, which actually served as the inspiration for kata. Kata were developed in Okinawa. The majority of kata were developed within the last 120 years or so. There is only anecdotal evidence of any kata being developed or created more than 150 years ago. Purpose: During the development of most of the major kata that have been preserved to this day, there were several major causes for the development. In Okinawa and Japan at the time, martial arts practice was forbidden by law. Japan had just endured its version of a civil war, and in an attempt to quell insurgencies, banned the wearing of weapons, the prac...

In honor of Veterans' Day - 2010

It is easy to remember outstanding veterans like Sgt. Alvin York (captured 128 Germans in a single day) or Audie Murphy (who single-handedly took on four German tanks... and won!) Here is an article about veterans you likely haven't heard of (Warning - adult language and themes): Eight Completely Bad@$$ Veterans You've Never Heard Of. My favorite? Captain George Mallon. He not only killed the enemy with guns and knives, but he also attacked a heavy artillery post with his fists ! Who is your favorite of the group? Who is your other favorite "bad@$$" veteran?

Happy Day!

Last night I interviewed with Target in Mount Juliet. I was hired on the spot for part time seasonal employment, provided I can pass a drug screen this evening. Pay is not great, but the hours will be the main thing here, as they will not interfere with my regular hours. I was surprised that they asked behavioral interview questions for a simple cashier position. Pleasantly surprised. The soon-to-be boss stated this is seasonal, but that if I do well, it is likely I would be kept past the Holiday season.

Classic Repo story with a funny ending

This did not happen to me. Instead, this was shared with me by a current co-worker who is also former Enterprise. The renter rents a car and, not surprisingly, does not return the car. My coworker (MC for this post) goes through the motions. The renter just will not return the car. MC turns it over to the loss control department, and they go through the needed processes to report the car stolen. Part of that process is sending certified mail, demanding the return of the vehicle. There is a 10-day waiting period after this before a rented car can be reported stolen. This all happened at the end of this 10-day window. MC is driving through downtown Nashville, when he spots the vehicle in question - a silver Nissan Maxima. In his rearview mirror, he sees the renter crossing the street and getting into the car. A few deft driving moves puts him right behind the delinquent renter, and right in the way of flipped birds from angry drivers nearby! MC uses his cell phone to call t...

On Medical coverage and socialized medical care

By special reader request: A bit on health care coverage.  Years ago, one paid for all health care expenses. Individuals sought medical treatment only when necessary, as they had to pay for it all. Home remedies were common for most minor illnesses or injuries. Based on this, and with the objective of (gasp) making a profit, while offering a convenient service, the insurance industry started offering health care coverage. At first, much like life insurance, the coverage was designed to be a protection against catastrophic losses. In other words - the individual would still pay for any small treatments, but major hospitalization would be covered. This protected a household from bankruptcy in the event of a major accident or illness. This concept was the ideal. Much like today's automobile owners must pay for small mechanical repairs, but have insurance for major collision or comprehensive losses. Enter Congress.  Some say that since "pro" is the opposite of ...

Debunking Democrats

"Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so." - Ronald Reagan Myth 1 - Democrats stand up for the poor. If this were true, Democrats would be trying to empower the poor. Or educate them. Or otherwise provide a mechanism for the poor to move up, out of poverty, and into financial success. The truth is, Democrats often vote for measures that keep poor people in poverty. This is because it is impossible to make the poor wealthy by taking the money from the rich. The poor have to appreciate the correlation between hard work, and the money they earn. Ingenuity, work ethic, and a little luck can help make anybody wealthy. But when was the last time you met a millionaire that got that way through government handouts? Myth 2 - Democrats stand up for women / minorities. This is actually the worst myth of the bunch. In 1919, a Republican majority Congress voted to propose the 19th Amendment . Because...

A Facebook Rebuttal

Posted by a democratic friend on Facebook: "I am a democrat because I believe in the equality of all people. I believe in socialized medicine, quality educations, womens rights... I believe we should keep our noses out of other peoples bedrooms. I believe in supporting the arts. I believe that we should stop allowing big businesses to take our jobs overseas. I believe that I am not better than the homeless man I pass on the street, and the man in the Mercedes passing me..... is no better than me. I believe the biggest reason is WWJD. So many attributes of a true Democrat is exactly how Jesus would have acted if he were walking on Earth today. Those humanitarian basics. Treat people with respect, make sure everyone has proper food, clothing and shelter." My response: Funny. The exact same reasons listed are why I am conservative. I tried being liberal - then reality hit... HARD. Free healthcare for everybody sounds great - problem is, there is not enough money to p...

Make up your mind about what you are going to lie about

BEFORE you lie. That way, it's easier to keep up with the lie. CNN personality Chris Matthews interviews Michelle Bachman. It is clear that Chris is irritated at the Republican sweep this evening. Here is the interview . My favorite part? Glad you asked! "I think people are thrilling tonight, I imagine that thrill is maybe not quite so tingly on your leg anymore, I'm not sure anymore," Rep. Bachmann told Matthews. In response, Matthews said: "I never used that word" But, reality is a bit different than Matthews' recollection this evening: Link here .

Mid-election results and thoughts

Tonight has been a memorandum on Obama, his failed policies, and liberalism in general. At the time of this writing, it is predicted that Tennessee congressional representation will shift from a 5-4 Democrat edge to a 7-2 Republican representation. Nationwide, it is expected at this time for Republicans to gain 60-65 seats. The Senate is expected to be CLOSE.  It would appear that the next governor will be Bill Haslam.   :( Looks like we will have the state constitutional amendment to protect the rights of Tennesseans to hunt and fish.  Mae Beavers leads in the State Senate race, and Linda Elam leads in the State Representative race. No word yet on James Maness, my choice for city commissioner. Also, no word on the city charter amendment prohibiting Mt. Juliet city officials from holding other political office. No word either on my mother's bid for Alderman in Gallatin. --- Post - edit: As of now, the Tennessean is reporting that James Maness h...

Hungry for change

Tomorrow is election day. There are hotly contested races all over the nation that will be followed well into the wee hours of Wednesday morning. At present count , it is expected that Republicans will see a net gain of 65 seats in the Congress and a net gain of nine seats in the Senate. If the poll numbers hold true, this would be one of the most dramatic landslide overhauls ever to happen across the US. MSNBC, sensing the change, put out an article today on why Americans want more change. I think they touched on some of the reasons, but didn't get it quite on the money. The article states: "Either the change wasn't what a restive public wanted or it didn't come fast enough."  I think that is partially true. And I think it is completely true. Here's how: First, I think that most conservative  people wanted a change of how Washington does things. (The article does point this out in a quote of Howard "The Scream" Dean). Second, I think ind...