Bright Light!

A friend posted this on Social Media recently, and this hits close to home. 

When an asshole has those super-bright LED lights and I high-beam them back, they will often high beam in retaliation. As if to say "I'll show you some real high beams!"

The irony - my eyes are already hurting - their "high" beams don't hurt worse. 

But now the asshole's eyes are hurting, as well. If I gotta be in pain because of your illegal activity, then you will be in pain, as well. I've accepted suffering as part of my life. Now your feels and your eyes must also live with momentary suffering. 

And, for those wanting to challenge the above statement of "illegal activity" - please peruse this. 

"... but shall not project a glaring or dazzling light to persons in front of the headlights..."

Kentucky Voter ID

Last week, there were several key elections across America. Of note, Kentucky re-elected Democrat Governor (and Lockdown Nazi) Andy Beshear. What is odd is that this is a Republican State. The other two statewide races had Republicans win with margins of 60% and 58%. Yet, somehow, Beshear garnered 52%. 

How could this be?

Well, Kentucky's Voter ID laws are about as porous as Georgia's. From the site:

"(c)A public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the United States, and the document contains:
​​​1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued;
​2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued; or,
(d) Any city government, county government, urban-county government, charter county government, consolidated local government, or unified local government, which is located within this state, and the document contains:
​​1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued;
​​​​2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued.​"

If I wanted to harvest ballots in Kentucky, I would create phony college and local IDs. 

It used to be that Tennessee had results like this. Such as Phil Bredeson mysteriously winning two terms. However, after an aggressive Voter ID law in 2008, Tennessee has elected Republicans statewide by margins of 60% or more in virtually every election. Tennessee followed with an updated ID law in 2012. 

What If the Shooter Had Been Right Wing?

So, the Manifesto said exactly what we knew it would say. But what if it hadn't?

My friend posted this on social media, and it hits the nail on the head (emphasis mine):

"So metro is trying to find out how the shooter manifesto got leaked and is wanting to press state and federal charges for the truth coming out finally. Let that sink in.

They. Want. To. Prevent. You. From. Knowing. The. Truth.

Why?

Let's ponder for a moment if the shooter was wearing a maga hat, or a confederate flag, went after a group of "underprivileged" folks. Or any similar scenario like that, just imagine for a second.....

Do you think that manifesto would have been kept secret for 7 months? No, it would have been plastered all over national news media the very same day while calling to ban guns, confederate flags, and throw Donald Trump in jail for somehow inspiring the shooter.

This right here is a great example of the extreme bias in media institutions, the deep corruption in our legal systems and blatant propaganda from our government.

A white racist Trans, hating whites and Christians (and gays apparently), isn't the narrative they continuously push to divide the people."

My friend also shared these two photos with the post: 

This Author's thoughts:

We must not only hold these corrupt government officials responsible for this travesty of justice (withholding the information), we must also hold the police who do their bidding accountable. 

And I think the reason Metro cops actually responded is because they were ORDERED to. I believe they had this person on their radar, and were allowing her to carry out her nefarious plans. 

It Said Exactly What We Knew It Would Say

This morning, Stephen Crowder released photos of the Nashville Shooter's Manifesto. The Left and the Government and the media has been working overtime to make sure people in the public do not see this. For the longest time, Rightwing friends have been sharing memes stating the reason "they" are trying to hide this manifesto so intensely is because it says "exactly what you think it says." In other words, it would not fit "The Narrative® "

Well, we can all see it now, and it says exactly what you knew it would say. 

This woman who was pretending to be a man planned this out. Some highlights:

• Racial epithets toward a race she hated. 
• Hopes to have a high death count. 
• Knows it will be over quick. 
• No plan of escape / or a plan to die in the act. 

Those who study mass killers know the following things are most often true of these types of murderers:

• Usually a young, intelligent male (this one was a bit of an exception in that she was female who thought herself male)
• Run-Hide-Fight doesn't work - only shooting the attacker works. 
• They pick gun free zones that do not have visible security. 
• There is a known connection with SSRI "medications." (Gender dysphoria patients are very often "treated" with SSRIs.)

Also - please note: Calling the police and hoping they engage is the LEAST effective means of dealing with a mass killer. Subject Matter Expert Ed Monk of Last Resort Firearms Training studied over 1000 incidents of active killers where police were called. Police engaged the shooter 5 times. That's less than 0.5%. 

Nashville was the exception - Uvalde was the rule. 

It's Not Only Cops

Without a doubt, qualified immunity has been a major factor in some of the most egregious violations of human rights performed by the US "justice system" police officers. Qualified immunity stems from judicial fiat as opposed to representative legislation. 

Similarly, there is judicial immunity. And similarly, that is abused daily by those who wield the power. This author has yet to meet a "family court" judge who did not believe his/her middle name was "god." 

Well, one such judge got her comeuppance. 

West Virginia Judge Robin Davis has lost her position, and been denied judicial immunity in a case stemming from a decision she made. When hearing a divorce case, Davis accompanied the wife to the residence of the husband, and proceeded to enter said residence, with a bailiff in tow, and remove items and otherwise direct the removal of items in question. 

This is a clear violation of the 4th Amendment as the search was performed without a warrant. 

There was also a clear violation of the 1st Amendment, as Davis ordered the husband's phone confiscated when she discovered he was filming the entire sequence of events. 

Not surprisingly, the police did not try to physically or verbally prevent Davis from illegally entering the man's house. Yet again, it must be stated that the police have no duty to protect. The bailiff seemed perfectly happy to assist in the violations of the rights of the husband. Neither did any officer present attempt to arrest the judge, despite the clear violation of rights. Cops won't stop or arrest fellow police when they break the law... much less so with judges, it must be presumed. 

The Civil Rights Lawyer video on this. 

Lehto's Law video on the same. 

More information from the Institute for Justice. 

You Must Ask Why

I have written about the terrible actions of Jack-Booted Thugs (JBTs) on this blog for over 10 years. From time to time, I will happen across someone in or near law enforcement and have a conversation. This will almost always result in hurt feelings and the like. Why?

Because I hold every adult accountable for their own actions. 

Police often get very prickly about this. The ones who don't get upset have always fallen into one of two categories: those who are out of law enforcement, and those who are looking to get out of law enforcement. In either event, the fact of the matter is that the system is broken, and these are the people that enforce the brokenness. 

Here are some common statements made, and my reply to each:

"Well, that officer might have been having a bad day."

Why do we have thousands of videos of bad days? It happens all the time. When do they have good days?

"Officers are getting fired for violating rights all the time!"

This, when there has been one or maybe two fired for multiple repeated complaints in that person's department in the past 5 years. 

"You must have had a bad experience."

Yes, I did. It was over 6 years after the time I started this category on this blog. And why is it always "a bad experience?" Does anyone have any good experiences???

"Well, call a crackhead the next time you need help."

This is the most asinine. A crackhead is more likely to help, because police have no duty to protect. 

Furthermore, here are some questions that remain unanswered:

• Why, even though there are thousands of videos of police abusing citizens, are there only a handful of videos where a supervisor stops the abuse of rights, and corrects the subordinates?
• If police abuse of civil rights is "rare" or "the exception," then why do we have thousands of videos of such incidents? 
• Why do we have dozens of channels on YouTube putting out multiple videos per week, with nearly zero overlap?
• If quotas are not a thing, why are we constantly being bombarded with news of departments around the nation getting caught enforcing them?
• If police are really trying to find the true perpetrator of crimes, why is it that over 20% of DNA exonerations have "confessions" of guilt? Police intimidation much?
• If you advise people to "not talk to police" (knowing full well that police don't even talk to police), why are you branded as "Anti-cop?" 
• Why are there no videos available of "good" cops arresting bad cops? 
• Why are there no videos of good cops stopping bad cops from violating people's rights?
• Why do 90% of the videos demonstrate officers having a power-trip?
• Why did none of the BLM vandals get arrested?
• Why did so many of the J6 protestors get arrested?
• Why does almost every cop / LEO get butthurt when you ask these questions?

Most importantly: WHY do YOU think your local LEO are not like that?

(Here's a hint - they most certainly ARE like that!)

FAFO

Fornicateth around and Findeth Out. 

Well, that's not exactly how the phrase goes, but you get the idea. 

East Tennessee State University released head coach Brad Irwin in 2021, after a sub-.500 season. Irwin led the team to a winning season and the playoffs just the year prior. 

The successor, Belinda Hendrix, was fired a year in, due to allegations of "mental abuse."

The interim coach is now Cheryl Milligan. 

How do they stack up?

Irwin (2021): 15-22

Hendrix (2022): 8-47-1

Milligan (2023): 15-37

The grass was clearly not greener. 

Full disclosure, Brad Irwin was this author's brother in law for over 20 years. We first met in 1995 or so. Have had many Holiday meals with him, our kids are cousins, etc. 

Harsh Truths

Four years ago, my son's Freshman Football team had just wrapped up a 6-1 season at Wilson Central High School in Wilson County, TN. It was the best ever season by a Wilson Central Freshman team. At that time, the City of Mount Juliet was on the brink of adding Green Hill High School and redistricting was already in motion. 

My residence was redistricted to Mount Juliet High School; my son wanted no part of it, because of their arrogance. 

He asked to transfer to Green Hill High School, and my wife and I immediately approved, and started the process. His grades and sports acumen made him an easy choice for acceptance to transfer. 

But why had we asked to transfer him? Why were we so quick to approve when he asked?

Simple - and he summed it up - the arrogance of those associated with that school.

As an example, my wife had a conversation with a good friend from church about redistricting. Her son is a couple of years older than ours, and also played football at that time. She was wondering where my son would be going since he had been so instrumental a part of the winning team. When my wife said he was districted to go to Mount Juliet, the first thing the friend said, without hesitation, was that the Mount Juliet coach would not play him or his friends - because they went to Wilson Central. Somehow, the feeling was that these winning players were "tainted." 

And that sums up the mindset in a moment. 

Since joining the same division as Mount Juliet, the Green Hill Hawks are 23-10. Similarly, the Mount Juliet Golden Bears are 23-10. Head to head, the Hawks hold the advantage 2-1. Ironically, the "away" team has won every meeting. Of course, the schools are on the East end and North end of the same city; 4 miles apart. 

Also, just like the Phillies "fans," the MJ fans started leaving early in the 3rd quarter of the game, once Green Hill went up 35-3. Thankfully, the Mercy Rule was enacted and the running clock limited further damage to the fragile egos on the East Side. A Hawks coach calls that team "XJ" and for good reason: no need to say the name of the snobs. 

The snobs who lost 35-3. 

Funny, every time Mount Juliet Bears have a game that is called fair, they lose. Wonder why that is? They must have the same game plan as Nick Saban at Alabama.

Why am I so harsh?

A personal pet peeve of mine is a person who thinks themself superior to another. 

The Worst Fans

Within the last few days, the Baseball World Series has been set: it is the Texas Rangers vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Along the way, the Diamondbacks beat the Philadelphia Phillies. There was much talk this week about the Phillies fans (or is it "phans?") being the "best" fanbase in baseball. Certainly, at times, their ballpark sounded very loud as the fans cheered. But that is not the whole story. 

These same fans booed and left early in the Phillies final two losses at home. The losses were by scores of 5-1 and 4-2. Certainly not blowouts. Real fans would have stayed until the end. 

That and their fanbase seems to be a nasty bunch. The only Phillies fans I know that are decent humans are "Lefty" and his son. 

Oh, and Baseball needs to end the 5-game Division Series where the top seeds have 5 days off. Since going to that format, Top teams have a record of 12-18, losing 5 of the 8 series. The only 100-win team to advance was the 2022 Astros, who went on to win the World Series. This setup is making a mockery of having a better record. Baseball is a game of rhythm and timing, and 5 days off disrupts that. Baseball should go back to a 1-game wild card series, and offer the top teams 2 days off, and the 2nd place teams get 3 days off .

Unintended Consequences

Regardless of what a person does or does not do in life, there will always be unintended consequences. 

Wisdom is anticipating these, and acting accordingly. 

The recent run on guns and ammo, brought on by the hostilities in the Middle East, have sparked just that sort of unintended consequence. On a normal week, This Author handles somewhere around 50-75 gun related questions. Either via email, text, Social Media, etc. Since the fighting started roughly two weeks ago, This Author has fielded over 500 such messages and questions. 

Also, Patriot Training classes have been filling up. Urban Rifleman is sold out and Essential Pistol only has a couple more spots remaining. 

Blast From The Past

Recently, this author found an old flash drive. Careful investigation showed some things that had been forgotten. Old training manuals, old notes from firearms classes taken long ago - as far back as 2008! None more recent than 2011. 

It's amazing to see how much things have changed, as well as how much things remain the same. 

Also, subconsciously, as this author is constantly refining the curriculum for Patriot Training classes, it is interesting to see and remember the foundations of what lessons are critical and why. This reminder has been most welcome and 

Words of Wisdom

Came across these words of wisdom and figure to share them here:

1. Don’t call someone more than twice continuously. If they don’t pick up your call, presume they have something important to attend to;

2. Return money that you have borrowed even before the person that borrowed you remember or ask for it. It shows your integrity and character. Same goes with umbrellas, pens and lunch boxes.

3. Never order the expensive dish on the menu when someone is giving you a lunch/dinner.

4. Don’t ask awkward questions like ‘Oh so you aren’t married yet?’ Or ‘Don’t you have kids’ or ‘Why didn’t you buy a house?’ Or why don't you buy a car? For God’s sake it isn’t your problem;

5. Always open the door for the person coming behind you. It doesn’t matter if it is a guy or a girl, senior or junior. You don’t grow small by treating someone well in public;

6. If you take a taxi with a friend and he/she pays now, try paying next time;

7. Respect different shades of opinions. Remember what's 6 to you will appear 9 to someone facing you. Besides, second opinion is good for an alternative;

8. Never interrupt people talking. Allow them to pour it out. As they say, hear them all and filter them all;

9. If you tease someone, and they don’t seem to enjoy it, stop it and never do it again. It encourages one to do more and it shows how appreciative you're;

10. Say “thank you” when someone is helping you.

11. Praise publicly. Criticize privately;

12. There’s almost never a reason to comment on someone’s weight. Just say, “You look fantastic.” If they want to talk about losing weight, they will;

13. When someone shows you a photo on their phone, don’t swipe left or right. You never know what’s next;

14. If a colleague tells you they have a doctors' appointment, don’t ask what it’s for, just say "I hope you’re okay". Don’t put them in the uncomfortable position of having to tell you their personal illness. If they want you to know, they'll do so without your inquisitiveness;

15. Treat the cleaner with the same respect as the CEO. Nobody is impressed at how rude you can treat someone below you but people will notice if you treat them with respect;

16. If a person is speaking directly to you, staring at your phone is rude;

17. Never give advice until you’re asked;

18. When meeting someone after a long time, unless they want to talk about it, don’t ask them their age and salary;

19. Mind your business unless anything involves you directly - just stay out of it;

20. Remove your sunglasses if you are talking to anyone in the street. It is a sign of respect. Moreso, eye contact is as important as your speech; and

21. Never talk about your riches in the midst of the poor. Similarly, don't talk about your children in the midst of the barren.

22. After reading a good message try to say "Thanks for the message".

23. APPRECIATION remains the easiest way of getting what you don't have....

Fact Checkers Are Liars

 A few years back, social media began employing "fact checkers" in an attempt to "reduce false information." Of course, these social media outlets call them "independent fact checkers." 

In reality, these "fact checkers" are liars - Mark Zuckerberg admitted in court that the Facebook "fact checkers" were simply opinions. Additionally, the companies employed as "independent" are typically far-left propaganda outlets - Politifact and USA Today being among the most prolific and most biased at the same time. Independent, they are not!

Last, but not least, these liars intentionally contort and conflate the claims, so as to make it seem "false," when the claim is true. Here is a recent one found on Instagram (owned by Facebook / Meta):

Here, the liars claim this meme is "partly false." Why? Because "no, the Democratic Party did not create the Ku Klux Clan." Not surprisingly, this culprit is Politifact, the worst of them all. Let's dissect Politifact's false claim:

Politifact is correct on a technicality that the Democratic Party did not create the Ku Klux Klan. The KKK was created by a group of Democrat Confederate soldiers, led by Nathan Bedford Forrest (a Democrat, who held office as a Democrat). Here is what History.com (not exactly a Right-wing bastion) has to say on the founding of the KKK:

Founded in 1865, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) extended into almost every southern state by 1870 and became a vehicle for white southern resistance to the Republican Party’s Reconstruction-era policies aimed at establishing political and economic equality for Black Americans. Its members waged an underground campaign of intimidation and violence directed at white and Black Republican leaders.

Not founded by the Democrat Party, but certainly founded by Democrats to wage war against Republicans. So, Politifact is correct by technicality here. But wrong when it comes to the actuality of the statement, and the spirit of the statement, as we shall see. 

Politifact's false assumption here is a combination of a "Straw Man" and/or an "Equivocation" logical fallacy. The statement in the meme is that Democrats created the KKK. And, as we have seen, that is most certainly true. Politifact Equivocates that into "the Democratic Party created the KKK" when the reality is that the meme directly states "Democrats created the KKK." (And if you wish to call this a straw man argument instead, then I would not argue that point.)

Oddly enough, a quick Google search shows the second major outlet to claim the same statement is USA Today. 

Another Round

Welp...

Looks like there is a new push of a new "variant" of the COVID nonsense. Of course, there is also word that this one is being pre planned, and lockdowns are on the horizon, regardless of where the facts may fall. Many friends are showing the "I will not comply" meme, and I am one of those. Since it will be another battle, let me assist in arming you, my friends, with some of my favorite modern COVID memes:

Isn't That Interesting

10 years' radio silence. 

Music to my ears. 

This post written over 9 years prior, set to publish in the future. 

More Freedom

This year, the state of Tennessee started issuing Handgun Carry Permits to persons aged 18-20. Previously, a person had to be 21 or older, with a very few exceptions. Here was the timeline:

In March, the State Attorney General came to a settlement agreement in a court case with the Firearms Policy Coalition. The settlement made it legal for persons aged 18-20 to carry permit-less, or obtain an Concealed Handgun Carry Permit or Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit. 

On March 29, Carry Permit schools were notified from the State that the Computer system would be changed by June. 

On June 9, another notification came from the State, indicating the system now allows 18-20 year olds. 

Shortly thereafter, I taught my 18 year-old son the carry permit class. He passed with flying colors. He had his permit in hand before the end of June. I gifted him a carry piece. 

A couple of weeks later, he attended again, this time as moral support for his friends who now wanted to get their permits. (Pictures below)

A few weeks after that, I taught the third straight carry permit class with an 18 year old present (another of my son's friends). 

Freedom rings!

Red Flag Tennessee

Yesterday, the Tennessee legislature was convened at the behest of Governor Bill Lee. The purpose was to enact Red Flag laws, stemming from the events of the Nashville Shooting. Of course, the shooter in that crime had a manifesto, and it is not being released. There is no doubt that there is a reason the manifesto is not being released. Smart money says the manifesto proves that a red flag law would not have prevented the crime, and would also likely be proof of the problems with the LGBTQ community. 

Why would a so-called Republican governor propose red flag laws? Simple - he is not conservative, nor really Republican. He locked down the state of Tennessee, after all, when he got frightened about people getting sick. It wound up that about 35 more people died than in normal flu seasons, and less severe than 2018 deaths. 

Naturally, the governor is not even calling the red flag laws by name. That is a tactic of the Left® - to rename something to disguise true intent. Governor Lee calls them "order of protection policy." As usual, they have nothing to do with their name. 

Maybe also worth mentioning is that one of the persons who sadly perished in that crime in question, was the friend of the governor's wife. Cue the harpy shrieks of "we have got to do something!"

Those who claim we must do something, never propose the right thing to do. 

Hopefully, shortly after the session convenes later this morning, it will be adjourned. Senator Janice Bowling is supposed to move to adjourn. There are no laws being presented that are Constitutional, or effective. The session forbids laws other than the specified ones to be legislated. Therefore, this is a complete waste of time and money. 

It's Science

Never before in my life have I had an elected representative who matched my personal beliefs so closely. 

Joseph Padilla, Wilson County School Board member for Zone 4 (the zone in which I live) is just that man. He so frequently triggers the #LibNuts that they constantly whine online, make false allegations, and generally have meltdowns at his very existence. Well, if #LibNuts do anything, that's pretty much what they do. 

Speaking of false allegations, Padilla suggested a policy to the school board recently that would make sure a student's parent(s) be notified if the student discloses to school officials that they are or feel they may be transgender. Of course, the Left® suggests this proposal was "out" the LGBTQ students. This clear falsehood was to be expected. The reality is much more bleak - not for Padilla, but for the students he works so hard to protect. 

The Science

Transgenderism is clearly associated with substantial increases in mental illness, according to the WHO, and virtually every major medical research institution which has performed research on the issue.  

• Transgender persons are nine times more likely to attempt suicide. 
• Transgender persons are four times more likely to experience depression. 
• Substance misuse disorders are far more likely among transgender persons compared to the general population. 
• Eating disorders are much more widespread among transgender persons. 

Yes, prevention of people from placing undue burdens on transgender persons is the right thing to do. And, it is illogical and cruel to ignore the demonstrable association with depression, substance misuse, eating disorders, and suicide attempts. Transgender persons are clearly more likely to need help. 

Schools already warn parent of other dangerous or potentially dangerous situations. It is only logical to add this one, as well. Padilla's proposal was the only kind thing to do, and the #LibNuts (again) clearly do not care for our at-risk use, except to use them as political pawns to push their Liberal agendas. 

Misleading Article

From the article: 10 Crazy Myths About Women Men Actually Believe

Let's see how many they get right or wrong:

1. Women Are Too Emotional To Be in Positions of Power

This one is absolutely true. While there is the occasional outlier, the vast majority of women are not geared to be good leaders because they are too emotional. The ones that are the most under control still fall well short of the top 25% of men. 

2. Women Always Want Children

Again, there are some outliers, but this is also very true by and large. Only about 15% of women remain childless into menopause. 

3. Women Are Naturally Better at Nurturing and Caregiving

Again, there are outliers, but this one is also true for the most part. 

4. Women Are Less Intelligent Than Men

This one is the key point. The article mentions only IQ - intelligence quotient. Since there are 9 types of intelligence, we must measure all 9. Women may be roughly equal to men in IQ, but women generally lag way behind men in linguistic intelligence, mathematical intelligence, logic, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal communication. 

Want proof? It can be summed up in one word: "Fine!"

5. Women Dress To Impress Men

This one is funny - because it takes #4 into account. Women dress to impress men in their minds, yet can perfectly articulate that they want to make sure other women do not think less of them because of what they wear. Can you say lack of linguistic, emotional, and interpersonal communication intelligence? 

6. Women Are Bad Drivers

This one is funny because the article falls over itself to try to dance around the fact. Women are worse drivers than men on a mile driven by mile driven basis. Insurance companies have known this and charged for it for over a decade. 

7. Women Are Always in Competition With Each Other

Again, not at all a myth - totally true. Here, we must analyze what women say and what they do. Again, it is a failure of women's emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication. 

8. Women Are Always Looking for a Husband

Clearly this article was written by a woman, because of the continued use of words like "all," "always," and such. Most women are on the lookout for a husband, or some sort of stand-in. 

9. Women Cannot Handle Tough Jobs

• Bricklayers
• Heavy machine mechanics
• Heavy machine operators
• Auto body repairmen
• Electrical power line installers

The reverse is true, too. How many men are Kindergarten teachers? 

10. Women Are Only Interested in Fashion and Beauty

Again with the poor wording to try to make a point. When one intentionally mis-words statements to make a point, they wind up making the point opposite of what they want. This should read: "Only women are interested in fashion and beauty." Then, it would be about right. 

Patriot Training Special

Tomorrow, June 24, 2023, is the first anniversary of Life Day - the celebration of the Dobbs v Jackson Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v Wade.


Because the underlying purpose of Patriot Training is to DEFEND INNOCENT LIFE, we will be celebrating with a 1-day sale. 50% off live fire classes when you use the discount code "prolife." For those that use Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal, make sure to mention the class and do the math!

Venmo - @PatriotTraining (last 4 are 8939)

CashApp - $PatriotTraining

PayPal - @PatriotTraining

https://patriottraining.info/  


Caveats:
* Discount is offered for ONE DAY only - June 24 only.
* Discount applies to group classes only, and does NOT apply to the semi-private classes

To Rent or Not

This is not a repo story, but it is directly related to daily car rental. The difference between debit and credit cards. For many Car Rental employees, this is the bane of their existence. Why? Because of the strife that comes from stupid people with their debit cards. 

Background

In car rental, most rental agencies require a renter to provide a Driver's License and a form of payment in order to rent. The Driver's License is obvious - the law in all 50 states requires a driver to be licensed. The preferred form of payment for most rental agencies is a credit card. Some 20 years ago or so, when many banks started issuing check cards with the VISA or Mastercard logo on it, a new problem arose. 

The Reason

The reasons for a car rental agency to use a credit card are numerous:

• :Liquid" funds - when the rental needs to be extended, a credit card can be run again. Cash would simply run out. 
• A person with good credit is far less likely to wreck a rental car. 
• A person with good credit is far less likely to keep a rental too long and wind up owing money. 
• A credit card number can be stored, and the card run for additional charges, should the rental go longer than originally anticipated. (over 75% of rentals went longer than anticipated, from my observations)
• A person with good credit and a credit card is more likely to be stable in residence history, and less likely to convert (steal) the rental car. A person putting down cash has just given you a few hundred dollars in exchange for a $25K+ car. 
• And more... 

The Root of the Problem

A debit card (formerly called a check card) is tied to a bank account. While some bank accounts require a person to have a minimum credit score, not all do, and those that do have lower thresholds. 

• The average checking account in the US has $4000 in it. The average credit line is nearly $10,000 per card. 
• A person with a debit card and no credit card would be lucky to have $200 in their account at any given time. 
• A debit card is no measure of credit, but a person with a debit card and no credit card has a credit score that is under 620 over 90% of the time. 
• People that have a debit card and no credit card are not intelligent enough to understand these things. 

The Problem

So, even though the car rental company explains the difference at every point of contact, and because their card processing computers can tell the difference between a credit card BIN (first six digits, which is used to identify the bank and type of card) and a check card BIN; the people who wish to rent a car and have a debit card but no credit card simply do not possess the intelligence to understand any of these things. And because of that same lack of intelligence, they are not good candidates for renting, as they will certainly not take care of the rented vehicle; nor would they keep the terms of the rental agreement and pay the agreed amount. 

The Solution

The solution is self-evident. This requirement is a good tool to weed out people who really do not need to rent a car. And if a person follows advice like that of Dave Ramsey, and has no credit cards - it is an indicator of a complete lack of self control. And that, too, is a sign that the person is not a good candidate to rent a car. 

Unpopular Opinion

Yesterday was Father's Day. I received many well-wishes and sent a few, as well.  

Unpopular opinion here. 

Single moms are NOT fathers. 

Pet owners are not fathers. 

A father in the home is a better predictor of a child's success later in life than anything. With only a slight advantage to a two-parent home

Already There

There is good news for Kristen here:

1. Background checks are already the law. 

Now, there are no background checks mandated on a private transaction face-to-face. That would be unenforceable. Also, no background check must be passed prior to a thief stealing a gun. That, too, would be impossible to enforce. And the majority of "gun-crimes" are committed by persons who illegally obtained (i.e. - STOLE) the gun. 

2. Women already have full reproductive rights. 

Presuming a woman is capable of having a child, no law in the US prevents her from having one. Presuming a woman does not want to have a child, she has many methods of birth control from which to choose, including abstinence. Now, because the SCOTUS decision in Dobbs v Jackson, each state controls whether and to what extent abortion - the killing of an unborn child - is legal. Of course, abortion is not a reproductive right, nor is it health care. 

3. We already have a ban on state-mandated religion (It's the 1st Amendment). 

Now, this is not the famous Left-wing "freedom from religion" concept - but that is not "separation of church and state." Of course, even the phrase "separation of church and state" is completely absent from the Constitution. Also, it is important to realize that those who read this and scream about "shoving religion down their throat" are also the ones who follow religious persons or entities online and bitch and moan about the "shoving it down their throat" - despite following the entity on purpose! 

Summary

So, if Kristen's statistics are to be believed, then the majority of the US already approves of the way things are currently! (I'm certain that is not what Kristen wants to hear, though.)

Every Time

Every Time

Not sometimes, not most of the time. 

Every Time. 

Every time I make an exception for a friend, it backfires. They stab me in the back. People act the fool. Some weird shit happens. 

Every time. 

One of these days, I'll not only take a stand, but keep it. 

The Strangest Things

Insomnia.  It strikes us all at some point.  Laying in bed late Friday evening / early Saturday morning. As my son graduated high school less than a week ago, I, too, have been nostalgic from my high school days.  Recollections of a friend. 

That friend introduced me to the song  Straight to Hell by Drivin' N' Cryin' circa 1990.  So I look up the song on YouTube.  Listen to it. Look for covers, not expecting anything, but I'm always up for a good cover of a song.  And what do I find?

Darius Rucker of all people not only covered this song, but also  made a video. Say all you want about some of the performers he chose to do the video with. The cover was excellent. 

And that reminds me of the time I met Darius Rucker, when delivering a rental car to his road manager at Lowe's Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville back in 2005.  He was pleasant to speak with and seemed genuinely impressed that I:
1. Did not nerd-out when meeting him, and
2. Knew him by name and called him "Darius Rucker" instead of "Hootie." (A reference to Hootie and the Blowfish)

Rucker actually stated that so many people didn't realize that was a band name, and not his nickname. 

Man, the places your mind can go at 2:30 am. 

The March That Wasn't

This past weekend, #FakeNews reports that there was a "White Supremacist March on the Capitol." There was a problem - it did not pass any sort of smell test. How, you say?

• There were no Left-Wing counter-protestors. 
• Where was the police presence?
• Why weren't members of this group arrested?
• Where were the fat guys?

So, since it was clearly a setup and at least 90% of the "members" of "Patriot Front" were either Feds or paid actors, here are some memes to celebrate the illusion:

Push Ups In the News

A few days ago, I was scrolling social media for reconnaissance, and an article came to my attention:

Australian father sets world record with more than 3,200 push ups in an hour

Naturally, I was more than a bit curious, as I had witnessed the record set back in 2003 (gosh, has that been 20 years ago now!?!?). Tim Sikes performed 3669 push ups in an hour at Bill Taylor's Bushido School of Karate in Murfreesboro in 2003. I was one of the official counters. Heck, I went to dinner with Tim and his family & friends after the event. The links in this blog's 2009 article are all still active, and even more are available online with Tim's record. 

On the other hand, it was easy to find a Sports Illustrated article about the Australian man, and a few others. 

Make no mistake, what Helmke did was not easy. A definite accomplishment. And even the official Guinness World Records site lists Helmke as the record-holder. However, 3206 in an hour is not as many as 3669 in an hour. Tim Sikes hit 3206 with 7 minutes left to go (give or take). I am not certain why Guinness is not acknowledging Sikes' record. I've seen their signed document (framed) among Sikes' belongings. Interestingly enough, the document they received, certifying the results, is signed by myself, among others (Sikes still has a copy of that, as well). 

Why would someone doubt the Guinness claim? After all, it is their own claim. Well, because in 2003, Guinness themselves said the old record was 3416. Here is an article that quotes that. 

Just in case you think this might be the only such conflicting story:

Former Marine breaks record for push-ups, raises thousands of dollars

This article states Marine Corps veteran, TShane Johnson, unofficially broke the Guinness World Record for the most push-ups in one hour by performing 3050 push ups. 

Florida man, 60, does 3,264 pushups in 1 hour to break world record

This article states Rob Stirling said he decided to take on the Guinness World Record for most pushups in 1 hour (male) after learning that Australian Daniel Scali set the total at 3,182 in April 2022.

Speaking of Scali, here is an article on his accomplishment. 

Here is a YouTube video by what appears to be the Guinness official YouTube channel. The description states: The most push ups in one hour is 2,220 and was achieved by Carlton Williams (UK) in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, on 25 July 2015. Clearly, the record could have been broken since 2015. But it goes to show that not all things line up. 

And here is why you cannot trust #FakeNews - 

From the Nashville Scene: The Associated Press reports that a 12-year-old in Murfreesboro did 3,669 push-ups in one hour recently, which is probably a new world record. The young man, Tim Sikes, would do 75 push-ups, then rest for 15 seconds, then do 75 more, and so on. The previous record of 3,416 push-ups, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was set 28 years ago.

(emphasis was mine)

No such AP article could be found. However, an article by The Huron Daily Tribune may shed some light on this: "What began as a quest to beat his dad doing push-ups as a 12-year-old ended 28 years later with a likely world record for Tim Sikes."  The Left has minimal reading comprehension skills (the Nashville Scene is a notoriously Left-Wing rag), and this demonstrates it. They claimed Sikes was 12 at the time he broke the record. However, Tim Sikes was 40 when he performed 3669 push ups in one hour. 

Also, several of the articles linked above stated Sikes "did sets of 75 push ups for the hour." That is partially true. Sikes did four sets of 75 to start, then went to 60-pushup sets after that.