On Halloween

Recently, a friend posted the following statement and picture on Facebook:

Disclaimer: no this is not me judging anyone. Just sharing a bit of knowledge with ya...
Halloween is the biggest satanic holiday of the year with Easter being second (Walpurgisnacht) and Christmas being 3rd. I only advise you to be careful what you consume and participate in. It is important to learn history. 

This author's reply:

We as Christians often celebrate many holidays with pagan roots. I respect those that do and those that abstain. My kids dress up and panhandle for candy, or go to parties with friends. Those are not Satanic rituals nor worship.

The irony is that Lavey is credited, but even his "Church of Satan" states he likely did not say it. If he did, it would have been more for shock value than anything. Lavey did not believe in Satan as we picture him. Lavey's Church of Satan does not worship Satan. They are humanists - mostly atheistic. If they "worship" anything, it is themselves (which is equally as Godless). It is not anywhere near what most people think.

In either event, happy Halloween! 

Step Up, Ladies!

From a comment on the old dojo blog (FWIW - the Dojo has been closed for a couple of years now):

"Now a days females should apply for these class, and a suggestion for you folks, provide discount for teen girls, they need to learn self defense more than anyone."

Agreed, and ladies should learn to shoot - and that does NOT mean only taking the handgun carry permit class. 

The problem, however, is that the vast majority of women and girls age 12 and up take absolutely no personal responsibility for their own safety. Oh, they will pay lip service. Maybe take a "women's self defense" class here or there. Maybe get their carry permit. 

Have you ever tried dragging a teen girl to a martial arts class? Pulling teeth might be easier. 

The running joke for ladies in handgun classes is that the only way they sign up is if their husband/boyfriend/dad/brother/etc. "drags" them to class "kicking a screaming." Of course, none of them really have to be literally dragged - but it sure seems like it. 

In nearly 7 years of firearms instruction, I've had a non-alumni female pay for class exactly twice. BOTH times, they were buying a gift for their husband. Alumni are a different story, because once we get you in class, you will be hooked! 

As you read this, there is some keyboard commando who is vigorously typing away something to the effect of "so-and-so has many ladies classes and they are all full." Well, there are two circumstances where this is true:

1. A big-name instructor (like Lena Miculek) is holding the class. And watch - most of the women there are female instructors who are trying to figure out how to attract more ladies. And the rest are ladies for whom their husbands strongly urged them to take the class! 
2. The person saying this got a single call, said they didn't have any because nobody asks for them. Then the original caller has a girlfriend/sister/daughter/mother/etc. call and also ask. Then doodle-britches at the gun training center or range says "yeah, we are getting lots of calls!" Then they cannot sell out a single class. Then they stop teaching them. Then we go back to square 1. 

So, instead of complain about it. I will do this:

1. First - I will blog about it. I will make sure to put factual information forth, as always. (this is that blog post).
2. Second - I will challenge the ladies. Take a gun class! Enroll in ongoing combative martial arts classes! You will be glad you did. 
3. Third - I will do this again soon. See paragraph above. 

Thoughts?

Tennessee Constitutional Amendments

From an online post:


The following was written by a lawyer who mostly aligns with why I advocate VOTE NO to all the proposed amendments to our state constitution on the ballot this General Election Nov. 8th, 2022.

Take time to listen to this like minded lawyer.
Joanna Martin, J.D. (Publius Huldah) comments on the proposed Amendments to the Tennessee Constitution.

These 4 proposed amendments to the Constitution are on the ballot for the upcoming election on November 8, 2022:
I oppose all 4 of the proposed Amendments.

Constitutional Amendment #1
Question:
Shall Article XI of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language as a new section?
It is unlawful for any person, corporation, association, or this state or its political subdivisions to deny or attempt to deny employment to any person by reason of the person’s membership in, affiliation with, resignation from, or refusal to join or affiliate with any labor
union or employee organization.
Why I oppose it:
The purpose of Constitutions is to create governments and to define the powers of the government. In Constitutions, a free and prudent People don’t normally impose limitations or requirements on themselves!
The “hook” in the proposed amendment is “any labor union”. That may be intended to gain the support of the “right to work” crowd.
But the proposed amendment would prohibit small private business owners from declining to hire people because of their affiliations. If I were operating a private school, I would not hire as a Teacher anyone who was a member of a Teachers Union. These Teachers’ Unions have been instrumental in corrupting the minds and morals of our Children; but this proposed amendment would not permit a private school owner to deny them employment in their private school!
And think of what could be encompassed by “employee organization”! What if Satanists form an “employee organization”?
This proposed Amendment would prohibit anyone from declining to hire a member of the Satanist “employee organization”!
Private businesses must have the freedom to hire or not to hire as they deem best. Do not give up that Right by approving Constitutional Amendment # 1.

Constitutional Amendment # 2
Article III, Section 12, of the Tennessee Constitution presently reads:
“In case of the removal of the governor from office, or of his death, or resignation, the powers and duties of the office shall devolve on the speaker of the Senate; and in case of the death, removal from office, or resignation of the speaker of the Senate, the powers and duties of the office shall devolve on the speaker of the House of Representatives.”
This is the proposed Amendment:
Question:
Shall Article III, Section 12 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language immediately following the current language in the Section?
Whenever the Governor transmits to the Secretary of State, the Speaker of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a written, signed declaration that the Governor is
unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office, the powers and duties of the office of Governor shall be temporarily discharged by the Speaker of the Senate as Acting Governor, or
if that office is unoccupied, then by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as Acting Governor, until the Governor transmits to the same officials a written, signed declaration that the Governor is able to discharge the powers and duties of the office.
Whenever a majority of the commissioners of administrative departments of the Executive Department transmits to the Secretary of State, the Speaker of the Senate, and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives their written, signed declaration that the Governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office, the Speaker of the Senate shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting Governor, or if that office is unoccupied, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting Governor, until the Governor transmits to the same officials a written, signed declaration that the Governor is able to discharge the powers and duties of the office.
Whenever a Speaker is temporarily discharging the powers and duties of the office of Governor as Acting Governor, such Speaker shall not be required to resign the Speaker’s position as the Speaker or to resign as a member of the general assembly and shall retain the Speaker’s salary and not receive the Governor’s salary, but such Speaker shall not preside as Speaker or vote as a member of the general assembly during the time the Speaker is Acting
Governor.
and
Shall Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language immediately before the period at the end of the Section?
except as provided in Article III, Section 12 with regard to the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives temporarily discharging the powers and duties of the office of Governor as Acting Governor
and
Shall Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language at the end of the Section?
This section shall not apply with regard to the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives temporarily discharging the powers and duties of the office of Governor as Acting Governor under Article III, Section 12.
Why I oppose it:
Why do they want to change the existing language to track the provisions of Sections 3 & 4 of the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution?
Do you remember the chatter, during the Trump Administration, about invoking the 25th Amendment to oust Trump from Office? In the event Tennessee ever gets an honest Governor who obeys the
Constitution; would these proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution be used to oust that Governor?

Constitutional Amendment # 3
Article I, Section 33 of the Tennessee Constitution currently reads:
“That slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, are forever prohibited in this state.”
Question:
Shall Article I, Section 33 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the section and substituting instead the following?
Section 33. Slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime.
Why I oppose it:
Why do they want to change the existing wording? What’s their agenda? What would the Amendment allow which the existing language of Article I, Section 33 prohibits?
I was raised in the “Jim Crow” South. When I was a child, my Father told me of black men who had been arrested and put to work for private Citizens who got their Labor for free. Specifically, that some
wealthy people owned pine tree forests and these black men were put to work in the pine forests doing grueling work such as making turpentine and such like.
It is fine for able-bodied convicted persons to be put to work on public projects, such as picking up trash on the sides of roads; but it is wicked to permit convicts to be put to work to enrich private interests. We would do well to remember that such was done to Prisoners in NAZI Germany.
Whenever existing language in a Constitution is changed, the entire body of pre-existing court Opinions construing that existing language is done away with. And Courts can start afresh with a
new interpretation of the new provision. The proposed Amendment would permit Courts to say that convicts may be put to work to benefit private interests.

Constitutional Amendment # 4
Article IX, § 1 currently reads:
Section 1. Whereas ministers of the Gospel are by their profession, dedicated to God and the care of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great duties of their functions; therefore, no
minister of the Gospel, or priest of any denomination whatever, shall be eligible to a seat in either House of the Legislature.
Question:
Shall Article IX, Section 1 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the section?
Why I oppose the Amendment:
In the early days of our Republic (and before that while we were Colonies), Religion was important to Americans: The States had their own “established religions” [i.e., tax-supported Churches] and, as in Connecticut, members of one denomination [Baptists] were forced to pay support to the Established Church of the State [the Congregational Church]. And Protestant controlled state legislatures often discriminated against Roman Catholics.
Our own History shows the excellent reason for disqualifying clergymen from State Legislatures.
So why do they want to delete Article IX, § 1? What would the deletion permit? For starters, deletion would permit Ministers of the Church of Satan, clerics of religions antithetical to our
Constitution, and such like, to be Members of the State Legislature.
Be prudent and be suspicious.

PLEASE VOTE NO TO ALL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!!

If you have ever seen a post online of people shooting - either at a gun school, or on their own, or whatever - and if you took a moment and gave the following reply, this post is for you. 

The reply - YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!!

If you have done this, then please read on.  This post is for you.  The reality of the situation is that you are doing something wrong and you need gentle correction.  It's OK, we have all messed up.  You just took the fun out of someone else's post when you did.  And this article is to help you. Because you need as much or more help than the person who was "doing something wrong."

Here are the most common possible scenarios -


They aren't doing it wrong. 
Ok, so you have military or police training.  That's good! It certainly does not mean you are an expert.  It means you met a minimum acceptable criteria.  Oh, you got 100% on it? Good - I got 100% on a 4th grade math test. 

Those two statements are identical. 

Double down on how I know you aren't an expert - you actually said the phrase, "YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!!"  I've never seen an expert comment that on someone else's picture on social media. 

I've seen "professional military" folks comment on high power videos that the shooter was "dOiNg It WrOnG" when that competitor was doing everything by the book and hitting the 10-ring with every shot at 600 yards with iron sights.

Fact is, that person might be doing it exactly right, and YOU simply do not know that technique!


Pictures lie
We have all seen the picture of the (usually female) land whale that was taken from a specific angle to highlight certain features and hide other features.  These misleading photos are common.  Fact is, every camera angle highlights some things and hides others. 

You just cannot get a complete idea of what all is going on from a single picture. 

Anyone who is an actual expert in these things would have known that.  And an actual expert would, therefore, not have said "YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!!"


Your DI probably did yell that at you.
I get it, you were in the military and that's how your DI corrected you.  That does not mean, however, that this is good instruction or good coaching.  If you need to see a therapist to get back to reality, then I'd highly suggest you do that.  Yelling crap like that is not how things are done in polite society.  Just because it was the military way does not mean it is the most effective way. 


It is poor teaching and terrible coaching.
Good teachers tell you what to do, why you are doing it, and how to do it. A good teacher knows that saying "YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!!" is counter-productive and does not help the student.  They don't waste their time or their breath to even let those words come out of their mouths.

A good coach gives positive cues to perform the desired action.
- "Go easy on that trigger" instead of "don't jerk the trigger."
- "Tuck that elbow" instead of "don't chicken wing."
- "Keep your head up" instead of "don't look down."
And so-on. 

"YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!!" is not in the vocabulary of an expert, is not said by a good teacher, and doesn't cross the mind of a good coach. 


They might actually be doing it wrong.
Congratulations, you just yelled "YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!!" to someone who has never done this before.  Can you imagine if an elementary school teacher hovered over you as you were doing your math and yelled that at you when you made a mistake?  Insanity.  Part of proper teaching is to allow the students to do something.  Right or wrong, they learn.

What they do not need is some yahoo yelling at them every time they make a minor error.  That's poor teaching and poor coaching. 

Congratulations. Maybe you also yell "YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!!" to 5-year-old kids who misspell words? I hope you don't treat your family or coworkers on the job like that. 

You're Doing It Right

 Sometimes it seems everyone on the internet is an expert. They won't hesitate to tell you that YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!! Didja ever notice they will never tell you how to do it the right way?

Ramsey Dewey had an outstanding video on this recently. If you don't subscribe to his channel, then you should. Some of the gold nuggets from the video with which I can relate:

Give cues - what to do. Avoid saying what not to do. James Yeager of Tactical Response used to call this the Pink Elephant Theory. I apply this in my instructor classes. 

The people who leave the YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!! comments do very little actual training. Just typing. 

The people who leave the YoU'rE dOiNg It WrOnG!!! comments think they are experts. Dunning-Kruger. 

Real experts can articulate why something has a flaw, and what to do instead. 

Learn From the Mistakes of Others

A very interesting article came out recently: noted firearms instructor Greg Ellifritz published an article on October 18, 2022 on Real Talk About Dead Bodies. Reading the article reminded me of something: 

A little over 10 years ago, my brother came home from work and found our mother unresponsive. At the direction of the 911 operator, he performed CPR. He did not know she had already passed. 

With some people, if it goes through their brain, it comes out of their mouth... or fingertips. No thoughts at all.  An individual with whom I'd had taken some exception decided to make a mocking post on his blog. 

Among what he wrote:

"The only time I've ever seen a dead body in person is at a funeral, but I'm pretty sure if I saw someone who had been dead for hours, certain signs would clue me that they were dead. No, I don't mean "No pulse" or "Not breathing" because the person might have had something happen within a few minutes of me finding them in that state and could possibly be revived. I mean something more obvious, like blue skin, blueish lips--you know, things that let you know the body hasn't gotten oxygen in a good, long time. I'm pretty sure most people would not have to be told that a person in that condition isn't coming back from it."

Of course, the insanity is denoted in the first sentence, "I've never seen XXX, but I would know if I saw" is the statement of the person who simply doesn't know what he doesn't know. Total ignorance. 

Back to what Ellifritz wrote. Of note, there are three phrases written in the article, and my notes on them as I read the article:

"Many of the dead people I found had faces contorted into a horrible grimace of pain."

It is perfectly natural to want to help someone who is obviously in pain. Especially when instructed to do so by the 911 operator. But doodle-britches above wanted to show how "smart" he was... and like your typical gamma, he revealed his lack of intelligence. 

"If paramedics came to the scene, they likely intubated the patient, started an IV, and attempted defibrillation."

Wait - what's that? Paramedics try to save people who might already be dead? But surely paramedics have seen dead bodies before. In surveying two good friends who are practicing paramedics, both have seen hundreds of dead bodies. With the freshly dead, they both say it is nearly impossible to tell until they take vitals and the results come back negative... like the IQ of the battle-blogger above. 

"People occasionally release their bowels shortly before or after death. They often regurgitate as well, especially if the body has been moved postmortem or had CPR performed."

It is not uncommon at all to perform CPR on someone who has technically already passed. It is, after all, an emergency technique to save lives. The only lives that need saving are those in perilous danger, by definition. 

Ten years ago, I knew well the insanity of what was posted on the other blog. There was no need to battle blog the post. That said, it has been nearly 10 years since the last post there, and the internet is forever. So might as well use his stupidity to help others moving forward. 

Vols Win

 52-49 was a good number this past weekend. 

The 15-year wait is over. For the first time since my son can remember, Tennessee Vols football beats Alabama.