Wile, Wit, Wisdom & Weaponry

Stirman's Law #56...

2011-05-19T16:17:00.001-05:00

Stirman’s Law # 56 states:

“The larger the metropolitan area, the harder the business must work to stay ahead of the competition.”

It pains me to say this, really- it does, however I’ve noticed something. The smaller the town, the worse customer service seems to be these days among our local business establishments. Of course there are exceptions to be found, but in general I think small town business owners believe they don’t have to work as hard. ‘The competition is scarcer (or non existent), therefore we will prevail.’ This is a VERY dangerous mindset and those who cater to this philosophy would do well to visit with their big city counterparts who have to scramble for every percentage point of the business pie chart.

In a world as small as ours (thanks in large part of the World Wide Web), this is critical thinking and could prove fatal to the entrepreneur who has just hung his/her shingle. Competition is EVERYWHERE.

- Just because you are the latest craze- don’t think it will last beyond the initial fad.

- You may be new-but there are others right behind you gearing up for something similar.

- When you appear successful, someone will eventually take away your market share.

- Customer loyalty is necessary, and as such is like a garden…it needs constant tending.

- When you make a mistake- OWN IT, don’t attempt to explain it away.

- In today’s society, it’s the nice guy/gal who will be remembered…so go the extra mile.

- Did you really remember my name or my child’s name on my return visit? Priceless PR!

- When was the last time you thanked a customer in person?

- When was the last time you performed over and above the customer’s expectations?

- At what point are you finished cultivating the relationship? ANSWER: Never!

There is simply too much competition in every field imaginable. One cannot simply rest on past deeds and expect to reap rewards. Rewards come from work- sustainable work in progress. Please don’t take my business for granted. I’m begging you.

For the internet forums and consumer sites await me…and the strokes from my mighty keyboard.

Hey, Stirman- school is now in session…

2010-07-03T20:24:00.005-05:00

It was supposed to be another routine visit to yet another donor’s home to express my general thanks on behalf of my alma mater for this particular person’s latest gift to the university. Little did I know that I was about to benefit from a fantastic schooling on history…

For nearly seven years I served as a Development Officer for my alma mater raising funds for the 100 year anniversary of Abilene Christian University. The Centennial Campaign (as it is referred to) was the largest fundraising endeavor the university had undertaken in the school’s history. It was an honor for me to participate in this enterprise and afforded me the opportunity to come into contact with thousands of alumni I wouldn’t ordinarily meet in my lifetime. Many of these invited me to their homes or offices in order to ask questions about the latest programs of interest, different schools/majors on campus, or simply to learn what the Centennial campaign would do for the university in years to come. These visits were almost always exciting to me as it meant I would get to hear another person’s story about their time on the ACU campus. On rare occasions, I was able to visit with those who were not alumni, but who supported the university for various personal reasons.

On one such trip to south Texas, I took the chance in calling on an elderly widower in a town I had never visited (which shall remain anonymous for this retelling), but for whom I wanted to meet and express our thanks for his recent donation to the university. As a gift of thanks, I had a special book I had brought along with me to present to the fellow. So I called him a couple of days in advance of my trip, told him who I was and why I was calling and asked if it would be alright if I could drop in on him while I was near his home. He was very quick to answer “sure” and the date was set.

Over the course of my experience in serving as a fundraiser, I learned a few things about visiting strangers. Either they loved to visit with you about their time on campus, or they would like to discuss (and I use that term loosely) some issue that they didn’t necessarily agree with as it pertained to the school. In most cases, the latter was not usually the case. But I quickly learned the initial conversational tone employed needed to be established early in meeting with the donor. It tended to relax both parties and made for a very pleasant first meeting. (The last thing one wanted was a confrontational or negative experience to begin the relationship.)

Not everyone I met with had identical thoughts or views about various topics associated with the conversation. As a former salesman, I knew enough about initiating the conversation to keep things light and moving along so that I could discuss the one or two main points that I intended to convey. When this is done in a sales office, car lot, or other business office- the customer is usually on unfamiliar ground which gives the salesperson the edge. But fundraising is different in that most of the conversations take place at the donors’ place of business or at their home. This meant that I - as the fundraiser - was on unfamiliar ground. Depending on the environs of such meetings, it meant I was the one who would feel a bit out of place. So, to counteract that personal feeling, I devised a method in starting the conversation so that I could direct the general flow of discussion. This meant getting familiar with the surroundings. If I was in an office setting, I would quickly look at the person’s office walls to see what photographs, citations, awards or diplomas were displayed. Nearly everyone had these walls of shame- and they are great conversation starters. But for those meetings taking place in the home, sometimes these items would be tucked away in a bedroom or hallway far removed from the main entry or living room where these conversations typically took place. So what would I do? Well, everyone loves books. I would move around the living room until I found a series of shelves containing books. In nearly every instance there was at least one volume I could personally identify with- a certain author or title would catch my eye. Now I had my conversation starter…which would always come full circle to the book I had brought with me.

(Clever, no?)

Back to my south Texas donor…
Upon arriving at my intended’s home, I noticed two things right away: the house was very small but tidy, and every exterior window and doorway was covered with wrought iron bars. This person was serious about personal security!

I rang the doorbell and a kind southern gentleman greeted me at the door and showed me into a large living room. To my sheer joy, the room was lined with floor-to-ceiling bookcases! As we made initial small talk (standing) in the living room, I couldn’t help but notice that nearly every book centered on World War II. I had hit the jackpot. This fellow and I were going to get along nicely today. This was a subject I could talk about for hours. I had read most of Stephen Ambrose’s books and several volumes by other WWII authors, and had watched all the notable movies and documentaries ever made on WWII. So, after being ushered to an overstuffed chair and without much consideration on my part, I blurted out: “So, I guess you’re a WWII buff?”

(LONG pause as the gentlemen slowly lowered his head and stared at the floor…)

“Well”, came the reply, “if you call flying 42 bombing missions in a B-24 over Nazi Germany between 1942 and ’44 a history buff, then I guess that’s what I am…”

(My turn for silence- and not just a little red-faced as I stared back at him in disbelief…silently acknowledging my unintended blunder.)

Upon closer inspection, EVERY single volume in those bookcases centered on the 8th Air Force group which dominated the skies over the European theater. I asked him, “Why so many books on the 8th?”

His reply caught me off guard once more, “Every time some yay-hoo decides to write a book about that period of our nation’s history as it relates to the 8th Air Force, I buy the book to see for myself if they got it right…most of the time they didn’t. They weren’t there. They don’t know what happened. I do…”

At this point, I’m WAY off script and I let this gentle giant in front of me wax on about his time serving our country during WWII. Come to find out, “Bill” (not his real name) had flown 7 missions over the required quota of 35 to qualify for rotating out of the front line bomber groups. (Side Note: actor Jimmy Stewart flew at least 20 such missions during his time in the service.) On two occasions, Bill had lost a plane to anti aircraft artillery flak that the Germans were known for all over that part of Europe. Many of his crew sustained injuries or died from wounds caused by these flak bursts- or who were too weak to pull rip cords on their parachutes when they had to bail out of a crippled B-24. Bill bore many scars on his body where shrapnel had punctured his body. Initially in our visit, I noticed the rather large indentation at the top of his forehead. He explained that a piece of flak had entered the plane’s belly between his feet and continued through his seat (between his legs) and hit him in the head. It knocked him unconscious and his co-pilot took over the mission and landed the plane back at the base. They took him to a hospital were the surgeon replaced the shattered skull fragments with a steel plate to protect his exposed brain. Since the steel plate is thinner than the skull, the skin grew over the gap haphazardly causing an indentation the size of a golf ball.

Our WWII pilots, co-pilots and crews were very efficient at their jobs. There were so many missions flown over Germany that the total tonnage of bombs dropped exceeded 434,000. (That’s 864.4+ million pounds of munitions.) Total number of sorties flown by bombers alone during the war exceeded 754,800. But with this success came a high price; over 160,000 allied airmen lost their lives during the European campaign. Bill survived, and was sitting across the room recounting his experiences.

Yeah, school was in full blown session and I was the grateful pupil soaking up every consonant that dripped from this man’s lips. I was rendered speechless at his courage, daring, and sheer luck of surviving those ominous daytime raids over Germany. The ‘greatest generation’? You better believe it…and I’m honored to know a few who sacrificed so much for so many. Bill went on to his reward soon after our meeting. I was never able to speak with him again after that visit. In a strange way, I miss him. He imparted a bit of himself to me during our meeting. And what, you may ask, was the reason for his donations to the university? He quietly answered that question during our visit. “I just appreciate what ACU does in educating [preachers] to serve all over the world. I wasn’t able to attend school- I was too busy flying ‘Liberators’…”

And liberating his countrymen as a result.

(And we are most grateful for your sacrifice, Bill. Most grateful...)

A Veteran Among Veterans

2010-05-31T09:02:00.003-05:00

(This is a repost from 2007- but very appropriate for today)

To date, one can purchase this reticle only on certain Kahles and Swarovski scope models. If you have a deep pocket to purchase these wonderfully made scopes, you can own a piece of Col. Smith’s inventive creativity. (Retail starts at $950)

Col. Smith’s book, TD’s Tactical Stress Management, is the primary mental training program for a number of United States national shooting champions and at least one world champion. His “Brain Model,” derived from thermal imagery, is a brain alignment method for making a perfect shot- every time. Prior to his experience in Vietnam, someone recognized Col. Smith’s extraordinary shooting gift. It’s been said he could shoot a pistol like Van Clyburn, another Texan, could play the piano.

Col. Smith won his first match and kept winning, year after year, championship after championship. At the 1963 Pan American Games, he set the only World Record in pistol held by the U.S. In 1964, he was on the U.S. Olympic Team and placed 8th in the free pistol event. That same year, he won the National .45 Championship. In 1965 he won the National Indoor Championship at Fort Benning. He has held the National .22 and .45 Championships and the Air Force Service Pistol Championship at Camp Perry. Smith was also the first pistol shooter to hit 300 x 300 (perfect score) with the .22 and .45 handguns in registered competition.

At the U.S. Pan American games, he broke Russia’s Idatshin’s World Centerfire Pistol record, a record that is today the oldest human held world record in International Sports! Incidentally, the Colt pistol used to set the record was the first military weapon gratuitously awarded to a military member in U.S. history and is the centerpiece exhibit at the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia.

In all, Colonel Smith broke 79 world records throughout his career.

But if all of this isn’t enough, his adventure on Mount Helmos in Greece tops it all. Strapped to his seat at the center of a USAF C-47 transport, Col. Smith had begun to snap pictures with his Nikon camera of an Italian General seated across the aisle when the plane literally broke apart. Col. Smith found himself suddenly free falling through the air still strapped to his seat and without a parachute. He struggled free from his seat, and as he fell towards the snow capped rocky mountain some 5,000 feet below, he rolled himself into a ball and told himself he could make it. After several hours of unconsciousness, Col. Smith regained his senses and struggled free from his snowy tomb. Blind, bruised, and broken, he clawed snow from his eyes and found his way to the plane’s tail section. Bodies lay strewn about and he began dragging them into the plane’s tail.

Here are some excerpts from documentation recorded by Charles W. Maultsby, Lt. Col, USAF, Commander in his letter denoting Col. Smith’s nomination for the Martin-Baker Life Saving Award:

“Despite his injuries, complicated by partial eyesight and hands frozen into claws—he made repeated trips into the blizzard to gather debris with which to close the gaping hole (in the plan’s tail section) and then finished sealing the wind out with two parachutes. He retrieved 14 bundled parachutes which he dragged one at a time into the shelter, clawed them open, peeled ice and snow off the bodies, and covered his patients with parachutes and scraps of aircraft insulation.

“The major discovered his body was stiffening almost beyond control. He realized he could not afford the luxury of sleep as both he and the others would freeze to death if he did not remain awake to keep the parachute covers fluffed up to insure a minimum of airspace insulation to keep out the freezing cold. He then began exercising until he regained the use of his arms and legs. This regimen continued for 48 hours.

“Two of his patients died in the night. Of the three remaining, one was in total shock and the other two were maimed and could not move without assistance. All rescue radios were broken, there was no food or water, and the wreck was hidden from search aircraft by drifting layers of snow and ice. Major (at the time of the event) Smith examined the survivors and decided that another day of exposure and lack of medical attention would result in their death.

“After tying a signal flag to the top of the shelter and securing a signal parachute around his waist, he moved down the ridge in dense fog until he slipped and plummeted down the ridge. This process of falling down ridges continued for 1,500 feet until he broke out of the fog and was able to climb a peak, which was in the clear. The Major sat down, unwrapped the parachute, and held it in the wind and waited. Presently, a C-130 flew by and spotted the red parachute against the white snow. For the first time, rescue headquarters knew in which country the aircraft had crashed.”

(The US Sixth Fleet was directed to the Grecian Coast and helicopters from the USS Forrestal finalized the rescue the following day, 17 January 1966, at 1300 hours; three days and two nights after the accident. Three survivors were placed on stretchers, carried
to the helicopter, flown to Wheelus, AFB, and hospitalized in critical condition. Doctors there declared the three would not have survived without Major Smith’s care and the risk of his life in a timely bid for rescue.)

Col. Smith was awarded the Airman’s Medal for extraordinary heroism by General Bruce K. Holloway, Commander-in-Chief United States Air Forces in Europe. Jacob Gottfredson of Guns Magazine, who wrote a lengthy article (of which I’ve borrowed heavily from), finishes his article with this epilogue:

I wondered what had happened to TD’s Nikon. As it turned out, the camera was located by one of the cleanup crew several days later—some distance from TD’s point of impact. Thinking that it must have been damaged, he sent it to the factory. The film was recovered and printed. On it was the photo captured by Smith during the moments of the plan’s disintegration. I have that photo. It shows the Italian General amid the implosion of window glass next to him just as the plane broke up.

Post Script:
Before Col. Smith went into the military which enabled his illustrious, storied career he attended college on a football scholarship and lettered in Track at what was then called Abilene Christian College located in Abilene, TX. (Now ACU)

Post Post Script: (I've since learned that this particular plane was shot down during a military exercise, not a simple mechanical failure as previously thought.)

Standing with Patriots...

2009-04-15T22:12:00.002-05:00

Tonight, I took part in my very first public protest. Sure, I've protested before- but always to my neighbor, my family, writing on my blog or talking to one of my best friends- never in a public forum. That all changed as I attended the Abilene Tea Party.

To my great surprise (and a little relief) it was a very friendly, family-oriented atmosphere as hundreds of people lined the streets at the local post office. Since I went alone, leaving my family to head for Wednesday evening church services, I was wondering who I would bump into that I might know. Within the first 2 minutes, I saw one of my church elders, several of my colleagues, and neighbors from down the street. What I witnessed was nothing short of breathtaking; people of every walk of life.

- Four year old children and ninety-four year old adults

- Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians

- The Ranch Foreman and the Bank Chairman

- The farmer in sweat-stained coveralls and the teenager in droopy pants

- People on motorcycles and people riding bicycles

- People waving American flags and people holding placards

- Married folks and single folks

- Athletic folks and less-than-athletic folks (me!)

- White collar and blue collar

- Those wearing RED and those wearing BLUE

- Independents, Libertarians, Republicans and Democrats

- Preachers, Teachers, Lawyers, and Business Owners

- Salesmen, Mechanics, Babysitters, Accountants

- Poor folks and rich folks

- People with agendas and those who were simply curious

Above all, I witnessed a scene of American pride and patriotism as a number of speakers stepped up to the microphone and addressed the assembled citizenry with their thoughts and feelings. All were calm, all were sincere, and all were given that ability covered by the protection of their First Amendment right to speak what was on their hearts. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A young lady with a crystal clear voice sang the Star Spangled Banner.

The thunderous applause at the conclusion of each speaker's turn was matched only by the din and excitement of the throng that had gathered, punctuated by dozens of motorcycle riders who had descended on downtown as if Willie G. (Davidson) himself were present.

The endless stream of vehicles winding their way through the downtown streets, honking, windows rolled down to give thumbs up or shout encouraging phrases to the people lined up on the sidewalks was refreshing. People taking photographs or talking to any one of a half dozen journalists who were camped out snapping photos, shooting video feed, and furiously capturing talking points and sound bites.

As I surveyed this scene that was electric as any public event I've ever witnessed I felt a stirring. It came from deep within me, and it was unexpected. It took me a moment to recognize that an old friend had re-emerged that I thought was long gone. That stirring - that friend - is Patriotism.

What a grand evening to stand with fellow Patriots and declare our values and dreams, together, with one unified voice.

God bless America...

God bless Texas...

...and may God protect them both!

-TMS

Question for the week...

2009-02-16T08:04:00.000-06:00

Name three things, when grasped by a man's hand, are capable of yielding lasting consequences...

The other White Meat...

2008-11-24T20:32:00.005-06:00

Those of you who know me well understand that I'm a serious shooter. If for no other reason, that description applies to the safety factor I build into every session when investing my time alongside a weapon. Whether it's busting clays, peppering dove, bagging a buck, punching paper targets, or sniping varmints from ungodly distances- safety ALWAYS comes first. Period.

Occasionally, I catch word of a buddy who isn't so cautious. When it becomes apparant that there is no injury or death by said person- or enacted upon a third party- I will certainly follow up with the normal questions starting with, "What happened?".

Such was the case last week, when I met a new friend who works for a well-known construction firm here in town. After the initial greetings, I realized another long-time friend worked in the same building as my 'new' friend. Of course, I asked about my old friend. 'New' friend chuckles and says, "You need to ask him how much an Armadillo is worth!"

Not one to pass up a good story- I implored my 'new' friend to spill his guts. Turns out, my old friend (who is not yet 30, and a relative new comer to the fine sport of hunting) decided to dispatch a pesky armadillo on his last hunting foray. He was so intent on bagging this critter he didn't even exit his pickup truck to do so properly. Not carrying a sidearm with him- or perhaps feeling more bravado than one should- he decides to take aim with his high powered center-fire deer rifle topped off with an equally high-powered variable scope. (You see where this is heading, don't you? Now, don't get ahead of me...)

My less-than-30-year-'old' friend is intent on dispatching that pesky armadillo. He's got to have something to show his new bride for the evening's activities spent in her absence. He is also under the illusion that he can safely do so while sitting in his heated truck cab. He rolls the window down on the far side of the truck. He brings the gun to his shoulder. Puts his right eyeball snug to the scope. Centers the crosshair on the critter and squeezes the trigger ever so gently...BLAM-O!!! He blows a neat hole right through the top edge of his passenger-side door where one's elbow would normally rest. Not to mention he nearly wet his pants from the percussion inside the close quarters of the truck's cab. As the smoke gently and effortlessly curls upward from the new vent hole in his truck door- my friend realizes what he did wrong. The scope is mounted 2 inches above the bore of his rifle. The muzzle of the gun was pointed at the door- while the centered "X" of the scope was above the door frame. Problem is- when your aiming point is 20 feet from the muzzle of your gun- the scope will always be higher than the path of the bullet once launched from the breach. Too late- the damage is done.

Well, I'm a nice friend- and I refuse to exploit my friend's identity here in these pages. But you can bet I'm going to have a wonderful story to relay to his parents in Belton later this week when I see them during Thanksgiving.

(Wonder how Randy and LaGay are going to take the news, JP?)

-TMS

VETERANS!

2008-11-11T17:19:00.003-06:00

Don't forget to thank your local veterans today for the wonderful job they are doing here and abroad. If you pray regularly, add them to your list of supplications. These folks have earned it over and over again. They will continue to need our prayers in the critical days ahead.

Thinking of all of you today...and thanking you in earnest for what you provide to the rest of us!

May Peace reign over you and yours,

-TMS

Smoke N Dust

2008-11-03T07:59:00.005-06:00

This picture is provided by my father-in-law who lives in Monroe, LA. Several men from his congregation go out to one of the finest Sporting Clays venues in the South: Wild Wings. I've shot there myself probably a dozen times and it is always a very challenging course.

Look closely, and you will see the first bird in the pair is absolutely crushed by the lead load zipping along from David Gordy's 12 gauge auto. To the left of that bird, you can see the incoming bird behind it.

(I've got to get my mind off this election and the absurdity of the heated rhetoric...)

NOBAMA!! NOBAMA!! NOBAMA!!
-TMS

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-30T22:00:00.001-05:00

The Courts + "O" = DISASTER

2008-10-28T21:23:00.004-05:00

This scares the bejabbers out of me...from the Wall Street Journal today:

OCTOBER 28, 2008
Obama's 'Redistribution' Constitution
The courts are poised for a takeover by the judicial left.
By STEVEN G. CALABRESI

One of the great unappreciated stories of the past eight years is how thoroughly Senate Democrats thwarted efforts by President Bush to appoint judges to the lower federal courts.

Consider the most important lower federal court in the country: the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In his two terms as president, Ronald Reagan appointed eight judges, an average of one a year, to this court. They included Robert Bork, Antonin Scalia, Kenneth Starr, Larry Silberman, Stephen Williams, James Buckley, Douglas Ginsburg and David Sentelle. In his two terms, George W. Bush was able to name only four: John Roberts, Janice Rogers Brown, Thomas Griffith and Brett Kavanaugh.

Although two seats on this court are vacant, Bush nominee Peter Keisler has been denied even a committee vote for two years. If Barack Obama wins the presidency, he will almost certainly fill those two vacant seats, the seats of two older Clinton appointees who will retire, and most likely the seats of four older Reagan and George H.W. Bush appointees who may retire as well.

The net result is that the legal left will once again have a majority on the nation's most important regulatory court of appeals.

The balance will shift as well on almost all of the 12 other federal appeals courts. Nine of the 13 will probably swing to the left if Mr. Obama is elected (not counting the Ninth Circuit, which the left solidly controls today). Circuit majorities are likely at stake in this presidential election for the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal. That includes the federal appeals courts for New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and virtually every other major center of finance in the country.

On the Supreme Court, six of the current nine justices will be 70 years old or older on January 20, 2009. There is a widespread expectation that the next president could make four appointments in just his first term, with maybe two more in a second term. Here too we are poised for heavy change.These numbers ought to raise serious concern because of Mr. Obama's extreme left-wing views about the role of judges. He believes -- and he is quite open about this -- that judges ought to decide cases in light of the empathy they ought to feel for the little guy in any lawsuit.

Speaking in July 2007 at a conference of Planned Parenthood, he said: "[W]e need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom. The empathy to understand what it's like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old. And that's the criteria by which I'm going to be selecting my judges."

On this view, plaintiffs should usually win against defendants in civil cases; criminals in cases against the police; consumers, employees and stockholders in suits brought against corporations; and citizens in suits brought against the government. Empathy, not justice, ought to be the mission of the federal courts, and the redistribution of wealth should be their mantra.

In a Sept. 6, 2001, interview with Chicago Public Radio station WBEZ-FM, Mr. Obama noted that the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren "never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth and sort of more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society," and "to that extent as radical as I think people tried to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn't that radical."

He also noted that the Court "didn't break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution, at least as it has been interpreted." That is to say, he noted that the U.S. Constitution as written is only a guarantee of negative liberties from government -- and not an entitlement to a right to welfare or economic justice.

This raises the question of whether Mr. Obama can in good faith take the presidential oath to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution" as he must do if he is to take office. Does Mr. Obama support the Constitution as it is written, or does he support amendments to guarantee welfare? Is his provision of a "tax cut" to millions of Americans who currently pay no taxes merely a foreshadowing of constitutional rights to welfare, health care, Social Security, vacation time and the redistribution of wealth? Perhaps the candidate ought to be asked to answer these questions before the election rather than after.

Every new federal judge has been required by federal law to take an oath of office in which he swears that he will "administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich." Mr. Obama's emphasis on empathy in essence requires the appointment of judges committed in advance to violating this oath. To the traditional view of justice as a blindfolded person weighing legal claims fairly on a scale, he wants to tear the blindfold off, so the judge can rule for the party he empathizes with most.

The legal left wants Americans to imagine that the federal courts are very right-wing now, and that Mr. Obama will merely stem some great right-wing federal judicial tide. The reality is completely different. The federal courts hang in the balance, and it is the left which is poised to capture them.

A whole generation of Americans has come of age since the nation experienced the bad judicial appointments and foolish economic and regulatory policy of the Johnson and Carter administrations. If Mr. Obama wins we could possibly see any or all of the following: a federal constitutional right to welfare; a federal constitutional mandate of affirmative action wherever there are racial disparities, without regard to proof of discriminatory intent; a right for government-financed abortions through the third trimester of pregnancy; the abolition of capital punishment and the mass freeing of criminal defendants; ruinous shareholder suits against corporate officers and directors; and approval of huge punitive damage awards, like those imposed against tobacco companies, against many legitimate businesses such as those selling fattening food.

Nothing less than the very idea of liberty and the rule of law are at stake in this election. We should not let Mr. Obama replace justice with empathy in our nation's courtrooms.

Mr. Calabresi is a co-founder of the Federalist Society and a professor of law at Northwestern University.

Obama Supporters Are Crazy

2008-10-23T08:02:00.002-05:00

A friend sent this to my wife to pass along to me. It speaks volumes about the current campaign and where this country is headed come November 4th. I'm afraid this thing is going to get out of hand, grow uglier, and cost people their dignity...

From the WSJ Today

2008-10-10T08:17:00.001-05:00

And now, America, we introduce the Great Obama! The world's most gifted political magician! A thing of wonder. A thing of awe. Just watch him defy politics, economics, even gravity! (And hold your applause until the end, please.)

To kick off our show tonight, Mr. Obama will give 95% of American working families a tax cut, even though 40% of Americans today don't pay income taxes! How can our star enact such mathemagic? How can he "cut" zero? Abracadabra! It's called a "refundable tax credit." It involves the federal government taking money from those who do pay taxes, and writing checks to those who don't. Yes, yes, in the real world this is known as "welfare," but please try not to ruin the show.

Ken Fallin

For his next trick, the Great Obama will jumpstart the economy, and he'll do it by raising taxes on the very businesses that are today adrift in a financial tsunami! That will include all those among the top 1% of taxpayers who are in fact small-business owners, and the nation's biggest employers who currently pay some of the highest corporate tax rates in the developed world. Mr. Obama will, with a flick of his fingers, show them how to create more jobs with less money. It's simple, really. He has a wand.

Next up, Mr. Obama will re-regulate the economy, with no ill effects whatsoever! You may have heard that for the past 40 years most politicians believed deregulation was good for the U.S. economy. You might have even heard that much of today's financial mess tracks to loose money policy, or Fannie and Freddie excesses. Our magician will show the fault was instead with our failure to clamp down on innovation and risk-taking, and will fix this with new, all-encompassing rules. Presto!

Did someone in the audience just shout "Sarbanes Oxley?" Usher, can you remove that man? Thank you. Mr. Obama will now demonstrate how he gives Americans the "choice" of a "voluntary" government health plan, designed in such a way as to crowd out the private market and eliminate all other choice! Don't worry people: You won't have to join, until you do. Mr. Obama will follow this with a demonstration of how his plan will differ from our failing Medicare program. Oops, sorry, folks. The Great Obama just reminded me it is time for an intermission. Maybe we'll get to that marvel later.

We're back now. And just watch the Great Obama perform a feat never yet managed in all history. He will create that enormous new government health program, spend billions to transform our energy economy, provide financial assistance to former Soviet satellites, invest in infrastructure, increase education spending, provide job training assistance, and give 95% of Americans a tax (ahem) cut -- all without raising the deficit a single penny! And he'll do it in the middle of a financial crisis. And with falling tax revenues! Voila!

Moving along to a little ventriloquism. Study his mouth carefully, folks: It looks like he's saying "I'll stop the special interests," when in fact the words coming out are "Welcome to Washington, friends!" Wind and solar companies, ethanol makers, tort lawyers, unions, community organizers -- all are welcome to feed at the public trough and to request special favors. From now on "special interests" will only refer to universally despised, if utterly crucial, economic players. Say, oil companies. Hocus Pocus!

And for tonight's finale, the Great Obama will uphold America's "moral" obligation to "stop genocide" by abandoning Iraq! While teleported to the region, he will simultaneously convince Iranian leaders to peacefully abandon their nuclear pursuits (even as he does not sit down with them), fix Afghanistan with a strategy that does not resemble the Iraqi surge, and (drumroll!) pull Osama bin Laden out of his hat!

Tada!

You can clap now. (Applause. Cheers.) We'd like to thank a few people in the audience. Namely, Republican presidential nominee John McCain, who has so admirably restrained himself from running up on stage to debunk any of these illusions and spoil everyone's fun.

We know he's in a bit of a box, having initially blamed today's financial crisis on corporate "greed," and thus made it that much harder to call for a corporate tax cut, or warn against excessive regulation. Still, there were some pretty big openings up here this evening, and he let them alone! We'd also like to thank Mr. McCain for keeping all the focus on himself these past weeks. It has helped the Great Obama to just get on with the show.

As for that show, we'd love to invite you all back for next week's performance, when the Great Obama will thrill with new, amazing exploits. He will respect your Second Amendment rights even as he regulates firearms! He will renegotiate Nafta, even as he supports free trade! He will...

-Kimberley A Strassel (October 10, 2008)

(Couldn't have said it any better myself, so I give credit where credit is due)

-TMS

Quote of the Week

2008-10-09T09:27:00.004-05:00

"Barack Obama has put out an ad that simple minded
John McCain cannot use a computer.

Well guess what? Barack can't land a jet plane on an
aircraft carrier at night."

-TMS

Political Ode to the Road...

2008-10-07T14:23:00.004-05:00

So far this week, I've traveled 350 miles across Texas.

Yesterday, I took the country-filled scenic route down Hwy 183 and Hwy 281 to San Antonio.

After spotting the 5th "McCain-Palin" poster tacked to the fence posts I started counting.

At the end of the day yesterday, I counted 19 such posters- 1 per property. (Over 4 hours of driving non stop.)

Some were little, some were HUMONGOUS.

How many "Obama/Biden" posters do you think I counted?

(None)

Call me crazy - or - driving with blinders manufactured by the NRA if you must. But I'm telling the truth. I covered the better part of the midway point between West Central Texas down to South Texas on my journey and I didn't see ANY support for the left by way of campaign signs.

Today finds me traveling from San Antonio to Austin on I-35. Since I wasn't actually near personal property, I started counting bumper stickers instead. As of 2PM today (when I hit the hotel parking lot), I tallied the following:

McCain/Palin: 12

Obama/Biden: 1

Sure, this simple little test has little to do with matching national polling statistics or focus groups in key swing states. And it is also true that I'm only covering a small part of one state. But consider this: I'm driving through the heartland of Democratic country- and for whatever reason- the minions are NOT advertising their allegiance to their multi-generational voting tendencies in support of the Democratic Party.

Could there be something for this so-called "Bradley Effect" after all?

-TMS

Palin Pokes Hoboken Joe

2008-10-02T21:52:00.007-05:00

Just finished watching the first and only Vice Presidential debate of this election cycle. It was really good- from both sides of the microphone. After the initial Presidential candidate debate, I decided to take notes based on what I viewed a few weeks ago in order to "score" tonight's debate by both parties' statements. My criteria were these: Credible shots vs Opponent, Evasive/Refusal to answer moderator's Question, Outright Blunders, Interrupting Opponent's answer, Major Points Stated, Failure to Keep within Time limits, Rudeness to other candidate, Agreement with opponent's statement, Outright Falsities.

Caveat: I have zero personal debate experience. I have watched many, and asked lots of questions of those who understand the nuances of scoring, protocol and proper engagement. That said, too, my scoring is not scientific. Rather, it is as close to what I could capture with pen and paper during a 90-minute live television broadcast.

Here's the breakdown:

BIDEN/PALIN

Shots to Opponent's Credibility- 4/20
Evasive/Refusal to answer Question- 10/2
Outright Blunders- 5/0
Interrupting Opponent- 3*/0
Major Points Stated- 5/11
Time Limit Failures- 9/8
Rudeness/Deficiency- 0/0
Agreed with Opponent- 3/3
Outright Falsities- 11/0

By and large, the differences in the scoring were pretty close throughout the 90 minutes. The only criteria that clearly set Governor Palin apart from Senator Biden were "shots to other's credibility" and "major points communicated". The number in the "interrupting opponent" slot I scored as a "3". The moderator interrupted Gov. Palin before her time ran out to hand-off to Senator Biden. Too, the moderator failed to reign in Senator Biden on a particularly long oratory rebuttal that lasted a full two minutes. (They were only allowed 90 seconds) Third, the moderator failed to give Governor Palin the final response of the evening by her closing comments- Biden was first to speak with his opening statement and was last to speak with his closing comments. By design or accident, I don't know- but the fact remains, Biden had an unfair edge in this. So I attributed the mistakes to the column that benefited from the oversights.

BLUNDERS:
Biden made 5 major blunders- and not a single commentator caught it that I heard in the initial response on PBS or NBC.

Twice- "No surge is going to work in this action....but we need more.....troops."
Once- "I gave the vote to enter Iraq, but I opposed this war as did Sen. Obama."
Once- "This is the most important election since '32." (speaking on the economy)
Once- "I have an independent judgement...I will support Obama...across the board."

Bullets 1,2 and 4 are fairly irrefutable. Bullet 3 is subjective, but I think most of America would agree with me that singling out the '32 election as the last major election of importance over the current election cycle is extremely debatable. The elections of '44 (During WWII), and '68 (Vietnam War) rank higher on my scale than the '32 election. It wasn't just America's economy at stake in those elections, it was our very existence as a nation that depended on the next Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces. I so wish Governor Palin had taken that softball and hit it over the fence.

OUTRIGHT FALSITIES: Again, neither of the commentators caught any of these I have listed, so perhaps they are, again, somewhat subjective in nature. You can be the judge.

Twice- "Obama warned of pending economic crises two years ago..."
Once- "300 Million families will be taxed under McCain's plan." (Would equal 1.2B)
Once- "McCain's healthplan would cost $3.6 Trillion..."
Once- "Only 3% of the world's oil reserves are found in the United States..."
Once- "I've been supporting clean cole technology for 25 years..."
Once- "Obama has been focused on Pakistan as a terror threat for a long time..."
Once- "We never said we would sit at a table (without conditions) with Ahmajinadad..."
Once- "I never supported this war..."
Once- "Obam's extensive record of change...(in politics)"
Once- "McCain hasn't been a 'maverick' on this war..."

It's clear that Biden's handlers schooled him well on personal restraint and keeping his answers short and on point, but they failed to address his short-term memory from coming into play. When his temper got the best of him, his rhetoric rose and his arguments went down the proverbial drain from a points issue. Clearly, this debate went to the Republicans. With all due respect to Tom Brokaw- I think tomorrow morning's poll numbers will show yet another shift towards the (R) column. The only remaining question is...by how much?

-TMS

Barack Educated by Elder Statesman

2008-09-26T22:27:00.004-05:00

Tonight was a FUNDAMENTAL, front row panoramic view of an elder statesman who possesses proven international relations experience, established relationships with US allies, and who exemplified a keen working knowledge of military tactics and strategy.

No less than 8 times in 90 minutes, Senator Obama audibly agreed with his rival on several key points. From a true Lincoln-Douglas debate format, Obama was crushed tonight. For an Ivy League educated lawyer to be so keenly whipped by a middle-of-the-road Naval Academy graduate- it is a true embarrassment. Obama will be licking his wounds for days to come as he no doubt replays the tape looking for talking points as he once more takes to the campaign trail. This writer is already looking forward to the Monday poll results. I’m betting a minimum 5 point bounce for McCain – Palin. If Governor Palin hands Biden a corollary cuffing next Thursday evening, that number should increase and secure the Republicans another term. Make no mistake, whoever leads in the majority of vetted polls by at least 5% will come out on top. There will not be time to overcome a significant lead should it materialize.

While both candidates sidestepped the opportunity to expound his views on the current economic meltdown, the key topic that emerged at the urging of moderator Jim Lehrer, was that of national security - the main lightening rod that keeps the Democratic candidate from surging ahead in the polls. For all intents and purposes, these two Presidential candidates are in a statistical dead heat. When one considers that the Democratic candidate has been campaigning on one central issue for 2 YEARS, against the incumbent party’s President, it’s amazing that the Challenger isn’t 10-20 points ahead. Looking at polling data, however, the answer is very clear. Most conservative Democrats and voters who consider themselves either independents or ‘moderates’ cannot fathom a man with less than two years’ national exposure and experience at the serious helm of the world’s leading superpower. Especially when it comes time to decide whether or not aggression is the answer- and for how long, where, at what level, and whether or not the Junior Senator is worried about what Kenya, Canada, North Korea, Iran and France might think.

Several times (4?) Sen. McCain was interrupted by Sen. Obama. It was not only rude, it goes to the credibility of statesman-like maturity and patience- something Barack clearly does not possess as he unerringly proved tonight. He was simply out of his element, and fresh out of teleprompters. Not once did Senator McCain interrupt Obama's 2-minute oratories, though he did attempt to set the record straight during rebuttals after Obama clearly misstepped on the issue of Henry Kissinger's position on table discussions with aggressive foreign leaders.

The lynch-pin, though, was when McCain aptly told the entire viewing audience that he had been to both Iraq and Afghanistan to discuss military strategy with current military leaders- even though Sen. Obama is on the sub-committee for military affairs and has not once set foot in Afghanistan where Sen. Obama feels the most pressure needs to be applied. McCain was poignant, "So, I ask you, why hasn't he visited with those making the decisions when he talks about failed strategies and policies?" (OUCH- Obama actually winced on camera here.)

No, it was perfectly clear who had the ability to lead, to discuss intelligently and from personal experience on any of a variety of security issues. Now on to taxes...

Sen. Obama clearly stated that he was for investment in alternative fuels, bio diesels, solar and wind energy, subsidized college tuition for all, socialized medicine, subsidized mortgages, socialized retirement, etc. By that count alone, he would have to raise taxes some $1Trillion dollars on top of the current 3/4 of a Trillion bail-out occurring on Capitol Hill for Wall Street. This country can't afford another government-mandated tax of any size, let alone of titanic proportions. The markets have not yet stabilized even with the infusion of congress-mandated revenue (borrowed revenue), and Obama is happily crying for more. He has no idea how free markets operate, what stimulus' are required, and when to act. His timing on raising taxes at this juncture of the campaign, in the midst of economic chaos, is a godsend to the McCain advising think tank. They should hit this hard, repeatedly, over the next 6 weeks along with the security issue.

Obama's own words, used against him, would prove very effective. Ad folks, pay attention.

Biggest gaffe of the evening? Obama's reference to the Great Depression under Franklin Roosevelt. (The Depression started with the Crash of '29- under Herbert Hoover's Presidency, 1929-1933.) While it is debatable about when the Great Depression truly ended, it certainly started and matured under Hoover- 4 years prior to Roosevelt taking office. Talk about revisionist History...is this what "change" means to Mr. Obama?

-TMS

Democratic Problem Solving

2008-09-17T07:48:00.004-05:00

This is the funniest clip I've seen in a long time, and speaks to what I frequently write about; the inability for most Democrats to come up with a common-sense approach to problem solving. Watch the clip, you'll see what I mean:

(My thanks to Mike for forwarding this to my attention.)

-TMS

Serious Journalism...?

2008-09-15T12:50:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm shocked to learn that NBC has hired Luke Russert, son of former Meet the Press Anchor and recently deceased, Tim Russert. 22 years old, with zero experience in Television and broadcast journalism, he's being tapped for covering election issues and topics as they relate to "the youth culture".

Serious journalists everywhere should be justifiably green with envy. Young Luke has been handed uncompromising access to both parties' candidates, the Democratic convention (where was he for the Twin Cities Convention?), and NBC executives say young Russert is going to be the new face representing "the youth vote" and politics.

I better not hear another anchor at NBC rail endlessly over Sarah Palin's lack of experience...

-TMS

Of Infidels & Infamy

2008-09-10T17:15:00.005-05:00

Undoubtedly, we are going to be BOMBARDED by imagery from September 11, 2001.

Cut-and-paste journalism will be rampant…

Mic-wielding talking heads will pontificate into the cameras ad nauseum…

Political rhetoric will rule the airwaves…

Rallies will be held at Ground Zero…

Anti-war demonstrations will be held across the country…

Conspiracy nuts will attempt to gain air time for their latest groupie-induced hysteria…

….but you and I will know differently what this anniversary stands for. You and I will understand the serious consequences this date testifies to. You and I know that there are still brave men and women who are putting it all on the line in the name of “defense of country” and “service” and “honor” and “duty”. You and I know that there is still that lingering question from 2001. (What if it happens again?) You and I know that it can happen again. You and I know it could be much worse than last time, affecting more lives and extended families all over the globe.

But you and I are different. We don’t easily forget scenes that played over and over on our television sets while families were permanently devastated and the citizenry demoralized. We won’t forget the families of the fire and police personnel who rushed to the scenes of madness in order to promote safety and life. We will not forget the brave people on United Flight 93 who declared that they were not sheep and that their collective destiny was not in the hands of sweating, terrified, misguided terrorists who were taught to hate on a scale – and to a depth - that few can imagine.

While you and I can relate and understand to a degree - we need to remember that our collective fate depends on the next man to sit in the leather-backed wing chair in the White House. We need to remind our friends and neighbors, our family and colleagues, our sons and daughters that the next man to control our destiny where American safety is concerned must know the difference between:

A Brigade and a Boyscout Troop

A B-1B and a Boeing 757

A ‘Nimitz’ Class Carrier and a Norwegian Cruise Ship

Surrender and Force Reduction

Torture and Fraternity Hazing

An M16 and a Mini-14

A Marine Sentinel and a Bodyguard

Patriotism and Platitudes

Duty and Discussion

Honor and Hopefulness

Service and Servitude

Rapiers and Resolutions

Temperance and Talk

Experience and Eloquence

Strength and Soliloquy

Determination and Dismissive

Destiny and Disdain

Character and “change”

This is what I will be thinking about when pulling the lever on Nov. 4th.

What will you be thinking about?

-TMS

I'm Loving It!!

2008-09-07T22:07:00.001-05:00

GOP bounce: McCain overtakes Obama

David Paul Kuhn Sun Sep 7, 3:52 PM ET

John McCain has overtaken Barack Obama in the Gallup daily tracking poll and has his highest level of support in that poll since early May.

McCain leads Obama 48 percent to 45 percent among registered voters, by Gallup’s measure. McCain has so far earned the same convention bounce as Obama, though at a more rapid pace.

Obama peaked at a 5-point convention bounce in polling published last Tuesday. He was ahead 49 percent to 43 percent in the Gallup poll conducted before the Republican convention. He then soared to 50 percent for the first time of the election, by Gallup’s measure, while McCain fell to 42 percent.

McCain’s 5-point to 6-point bounce so far, like Obama’s, remains at par with historical expectations. In the 22 major-party conventions since 1964, the nominee walked away with, on average in most years, a 5-point to 6-point uptick in Gallup’s polls. The presidential polling will likely remain in flux until the middle of next week.

Today's Gallup report continues to include some polling conducted prior to McCain's acceptance speech. Tomorrow's report will be the first to include interviews solely conducted following the close of the GOP convention.

Rasmussen’s daily tracking poll also reported today that when "leaners” are included, Obama and McCain are now tied at 48 percent. That means that, by Rasmussen’s measure, Obama’s 6-point bounce has been erased. CBS News polling had shown the same outcome midway through the GOP convention.

McCain’s resurgence in the polls comes as Nielsen Media Research reported that the Republican convention earned more television viewers than the Democratic convention. Republicans earned an average audience of 34.5 million, while Democrats earned an average viewership of 30.2 million.

Obama, McCain and GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin all earned a similar and record audience for their convention speeches, each nearing about 40 million viewers.

Now it's getting interesting, folks!!

-TMS

Dems find THE key!

2008-09-03T00:05:00.001-05:00

Well, for awhile it appeared that the Dems could really use some help.

They talked a good game, put on their war paint, danced around the stage last week and, generally, stirred up a lot of dust while worshiping at the alter of "O'Biden".

But reports have come trickling in that the ever-present Dems have actually procured a tool that will execute all of their fondest desires and fantasies. The tool...

Is in their grasp...
Will promote confidence...
Ensure constancy of use...
Is sure to satisfy their innermost political and social cravings...
Renders immediate partisan results...
Will assuage any alarm or panic to their constituency...
Will serve to rally the Democratic party faithful...
Will inspire party confidence...
Will be replicated at all levels of government...
Will be manufactured to customer specifications and requirements...
Is Union approved...
Is endorsed by The Sierra Club, PETA, The Brady Campaign, and Al Gore...

The tool is non other than...

(Good luck to all of my Democratic friends out there. Your confidence is now my confidence!)

-TMS

Al Gore...No More!

2008-08-28T12:05:00.001-05:00

Whether or not you choose to watch what can only be described as a variety show that is the Democratic Convention in the Mile High City, I think you should be aware of a wonderful story as told by Glenn Beck. This is especially timely, given WHO is scheduled to stump for "O" tonight.

Watch this video, and then give your immediate reaction in the comments section.

(Find Glenn Beck's website here)

-TMS

Ebony & Ivory

2008-08-23T18:35:00.011-05:00

Obama has repeatedly stated that his campaign represents women.

He has repeatedly stated that he represents the Latino community.

Understandably, he represents the African - American community.

"O" says he stands for change, and yet, in the end, his pollsters convinced him that he was too weak on foreign policy in comparison to John McCain. Solution? Tap the one Democrat who has spent his entire lifetime in the Political Beltway- without really doing anything of note - except Chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Obama's pick for Veep is non other than Jumpin' Joe Biden.

So much for 'change'. Obama could have picked a woman to be his running mate. Obama could have picked a Latino for his running mate. Obama could have picked an African American for his running mate (talk about REAL change- that would have garnered this writer's attention), but he didn't. He settled. He settled hard. He settled for the whitest cracker in the Democratic Party. (Me thinks that the inspiration for Steve Martin's movie character in The Jerk was inspired by Biden.) Obama just canceled out his own words, "I stand for change in Washington, I'm not a career politician..." No, perhaps not. But he just picked one for his running mate. If this was a calculated decision, then just like in mathematics, they cancel each other out.

Is it ANY wonder the Democrats continue to row their boat year after year with nothing more than fly-swatters for oars? God help us if these two get their way. One stands for "change" without any supporting details, the other stands for any and every change as it supports his personal political career.

McCain, are you paying attention? You've just been handed a gift of Mt. McKinley proportions...

-TMS

Think it can't happen to you?

2008-07-24T12:50:00.001-05:00

Well, what if "it" happened twice? And what if it involved more than just your person, your family, or your friends? What if it happened at your church?!

This is exactly why gun-free zones don't work
Gun-free zones are engraved invitations to mischief/mayhem/murder
Schools and churches are becoming frequent targets
Politicians in the US ought to take notice- e'en those hiding behind metal detectors

Assuming you were unarmed, what would you do in this situation?

Assuming you WERE armed, what would you do in this situation?

-TMS

I need a varmint cartridge!

2008-07-18T12:29:00.002-05:00

A young friend of mine was posing a question to me not too long ago about what I thought he should do in looking into a varmint rig to add to his modest collection of weaponry. Of course, my first couple of questions centered around the prey he intended to shoot, and the distance at which he anticipated shooting said prey.

Friend: Well, I really like my .308 Winchester, but I want something faster.

Me: Have you considered a center-fire in the .22 family of cartridges?

Friend: Well, I need something that bucks the wind and has more impact energy.

Me: So, you need something in the .24 to .27 inch category?

Friend: Yeah, a .24 caliber would be great! Could I get a 'wildcat' based on my .308?

Me: You're in luck, they already have such. It's called the .243 Winchester...it's been around since before you and I were born. And it's a lot cheaper to shoot than a one-of-a-kind 'wildcat'.

(I'm still laughing)

-TMS

What'd he say?

2008-07-17T09:00:00.003-05:00

I was in San Diego a couple of weeks ago for my brother's wedding. On a side trip, my father and I decided to visit his sister and husband in quaint Romona, California. We decided to do a little sight seeing around the town which is surrounded by rocky hills and outcroppings. This little lot nestled between two homes caught my attention...

The listing agent for the property says, "Yeah, it's at rock bottom pricing..."

Quotes of the Week

2008-06-06T12:05:00.002-05:00

Here are two great quotes from radio shows this week...enjoy!

"Hillary has hung around longer than any toilet bowl ring I've encountered."

"Obama's so messed up with churches, even the Jehovah's Witness stopped coming to see him."

Of Polar Bears and Bare Poles

2008-05-28T17:23:00.001-05:00

It seems that polar bears aren’t the only critters emerging from hibernation. The left-wing, tree-hugging, granola-crunching, SUV-eschewing, “greenies” are out in full force as the Anchorage Daily News showcases in this piece: http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/418962.html

At question is why the polar bear recently found its genus included on the Endangered Species List. The answer lies with the “greenies” who decided that because polar ice is shrinking (doesn’t it always shrink in the Spring and Summer months?), a flawed computer projection showed that polar bears might become threatened (are you ready for this…) by the year 2045.

The Governor of Alaska, Mrs. Sarah Palin, is objecting to this recent nonsense because she is wisely looking out for her state’s economy, specifically the oil and gas industry. She is worried that this latest bureaucratic stalemate might result in loss of revenue for those interested in investing in Alaska’s vast petroleum caches located in prime polar bear habitat.

Of course, it would never occur to the “greenies” to do some simple math and count the number of polar bears in this area, they are only interested in what might happen in the future. On May 15^th, the Wall Street Journal reported quite accurately in an Op-Ed piece (page A16), that polar bear numbers are on the rise- not the other way around. In the 1960’s, bear counts hovered around 12,000. Today, that number stands close to 25,000 - perhaps a record high since records have been kept. Mind you, I was not a stellar math student in high school, but even I can draw a sensible conclusion now and then.

The WSJ editorial department had this to say about the recent Endangered Species Act ruling: “The lawsuits were hardly motivated by concern for polar bear welfare. Instead, the environmentalists asserted that the ice is thinning because of human-induced global warming. A formal endangered listing is one more arrow in their legal quiver as they try to run U.S. climate policy through the judiciary.”

The “greenies” love to point their fingers and accuse the Right of being extremists in environmental policy. The primary author of the ESA petition listing had this to say in response to Governor’s Palin calm, sensible solution: "She's either grossly misinformed or intentionally misleading, and both are unbecoming," said Kassie Siegel of the Center for Biological Diversity. "Alaska deserves better. . .even the Bush administration can't deny the reality of global warming," she said. "The governor is aligning herself and the state of Alaska with the most discredited, fringe, extreme viewpoints by denying this."

Discredited? Fringe? Extreme? - Now if that ain’t the pot calling the kettle black…

-TMS

Things that make you go..."Hmmm"

2008-04-30T12:42:00.002-05:00

Recent headlines spotted in the news:

“Some gay couples are having trouble obtaining divorces”

“Oil nearly reaches $114 a barrel, gasoline hits record high”

“France takes up body image law”

“Train Death Victim Identified”

“Scientists: Big quake likely in California”

“Thief deposits loot with victim”

“Pelosi asks Bush to stop stockpiling oil as gas prices surge”

“Fed poised to cut rates; may take a break after that”

“Bible reading results in arrests”

“Countrywide loses $893 million due to increased loss reserve“

Florida Now Safe!

2008-04-09T17:32:00.000-05:00

The State of Florida just passed a law allowing most employees with concealed handgun permits the ability to protect themselves while at work. Lawmakers in this state have been working on this bill for some time. The NRA and some labor unions (of all people) were the primary backers of this legislation. Makes PERFECT sense to me...wish Texas would get on board. It's pretty sad when the likes of Mississippi is at the front of the line ahead of Texas...

(Attention Floridian thugs- watch out for gun-toting grannies on their way to the bingo parlor!)

;-)

-TMS

Holy Cannoli!

2008-04-04T17:20:00.002-05:00

What a last few weeks it has been!

On the Science front: We hear that European scientists have successfully created a hybrid embryo made up of human skin cells and bovine DNA. Some of these embryos are considered viable for harvesting stem cells!

In the UK, Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority has cleared the way for embryonic scientists to use human DNA within animal egg embryos. Once a certain growth stage is reached, they can ‘kill’ the embryo (after harvesting the all important stem cells for research projects) all without feelings of guilt associated with ending actual human life. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23921668/

Today I learned about a transgendered “man” living in Oregon who has retained his (original) female organs but sports XY anatomy. He is married. His spouse is a woman. HE IS PREGNANT. Not just a little pregnant- he’s almost made it to the third trimester. This is his/her third attempt. Oprah made a push about his/her story on her show recently. Oprah calls this “diversity” and “recognition…should be acceptable to us all.” (What is the appropriate pronoun to refer to this condition? ) http://www.kval.com/news/local/17036046.html

On the Political front: John McCain continues to ease his way to Potomac posterity with a long easy slide leading to the White House. He credits his opponents’ mud-slinging and protracted rivalry for his recent care-free attitude and lifestyle. He can now easily afford to sit back and down a few free beers- thanks to wife, Cindy. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/03/mccains.money.politics.ap/index.html

Hillary Clinton continues her downward spiral into historical oblivion- where this writer believes she will thrive well and alongside other great political pretenders, Al Gore and John Kerry. Clinton has been lambasted for telling lies about a reported trip to Bosnia during her husband’s presidency in which they landed “under enemy sniper fire”. When the media rolled tape of her exiting the plane (upright, and in a completely wrinkle-free pantsuit from Versace), she was called upon to address her story once more. After several days, her campaign (not her) issued a press release and said “she misspoke”. Appearing on Jay Leno’s show last night, the former first lady quipped to the audience that she was late getting to the set because she was ‘under sniper fire’ in the parking lot. Hmmm…perhaps it’s Geritol time, Hill? http://www.startribune.com/politics/17291639.html

Meanwhile, the Kennedy-esque Obama has been pouring on the charm at every opportunity as he looks to distance himself from his earlier media storm - faux pas over his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. (Somehow, it just isn’t polite to refer to someone as ‘reverend’ when they are so clearly not.) Barack seems to have shaken that media junkyard dog and has done some amazing fundraising at the same time. He has outraised Clinton 2 to 1 in cash. (At one point her campaign acknowledged she had $8.7M in debt!) It is very interesting to me to see this kind of national interest in a black man in this day and age. It’s refreshing- of that there is no doubt. And I’m wonderfully surprised by his huge following and his superstar-like treatment afforded by the media and political pundits alike. I’m waiting for former Reagan speech-writer, Peggy Noonan, to join the commentary on his behalf. Noonan can write circles around even the most seasoned of journalists- and her writing is so balanced you could stand a new razor blade upright and it would stay without fail. http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.asp?cycle=2008

On the Economic front: Markets continue to swing erratically. Depending on where you jump on the monetary merry-go-round, it’s hard to discern which market truly affects the others. One week, the American markets are doing well and the European and Asian markets escalate in sync. The next week, the Asian markets start to slide and Wall Street starts the week digging itself out of a weekend sell-off hole the size of Rhode Island. At least one trusted financial advisor tells this armchair pundit to expect the unexpected through this election run-up. (Which means returns for ’08 are going to be less than par.) He says, “You can expect these wild swings until November/December. The markets feed on political boredom, not political upheaval.” Makes perfect sense to me. I work the same way…unless I’m blogging.

-TMS

Got Ritalin?

2008-04-01T21:33:00.002-05:00

This just in (from CNN.com) news fans...

WAYCROSS, Georgia (AP) -- A group of third-graders plotted to attack their teacher, bringing a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and other items for the job and assigning children tasks including covering the windows and cleaning up afterward, police said Tuesday.

The third-graders' alleged crime kit included this steak knife, which was confiscated by officials.

The plot involving as many as nine boys and girls at Center Elementary School in south Georgia was a serious threat, Waycross Police Chief Tony Tanner said.

School officials alerted police Friday after a pupil tipped off a teacher that a girl had brought a weapon to school.

Tanner said the students apparently planned to knock the teacher unconscious with a crystal paperweight, bind her with the handcuffs and tape and then stab her with the knife.

"We did not hear anybody say they intended to kill her, but could they have accidentally killed her? Absolutely," Tanner said. "We feel like if they weren't interrupted, there would have been an attempt. Would they have been successful? We don't know."

The children, ages 8 to 10, were apparently mad at the teacher because she had scolded one of them for standing on a chair, Tanner said. <--------- (emphasis added)

Two of the students were arrested on juvenile charges Tuesday and a third arrest was expected. District Attorney Rick Currie said other students told investigators they didn't take the plot seriously or insisted they had decided not to participate.

"Some of the kids said, `We thought they were just kidding,"' Currie said. "Another child was supposed to bring a toy pistol, and he told a detective he didn't bring it because he thought he would get in trouble."

Currie said the children are too young to be charged as adults, and probably too young to be sentenced to a youth detention center.

Police seized a steak knife, steel handcuffs, duct tape, electrical and transparent tape, ribbons and the paperweight from the students, Tanner said.

Currie said he decided to seek juvenile charges against two girls, ages 9 and 10, who brought the knife and paperweight and an 8-year-old boy who brought tape. He said all three students faced charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, and both girls were being charged with bringing weapons to school.

Nine children have been given discipline up to and including long-term suspension, said Theresa Martin, spokeswoman for the Ware County school system. She would not be more specific but said none of the children had been back to school since the case came to light.

The purported target is a veteran educator who teaches third-grade students with learning disabilities, including attention deficit disorder, delayed development and hyperactivity, friends and parents said.

The scheme involved a division of roles, Tanner said. One child's job was to cover windows so no one could see outside, he said. Another was supposed to clean up after the attack.

"We're not sure at this point in the investigation how many of the students actually knew the intent was to hurt the teacher," Tanner said.

He said the teacher told detectives the children involved weren't known as troublemakers.

"You can't dismiss it," Tanner said. "But because they are kids, they may have thought this was like a cartoon -- we do whatever and then she stands up and she's OK. That's a hard call."

The parents of the students have cooperated with investigators, who aren't allowed to question the children without their parents' or guardians' consent, he said. Authorities have withheld the children's names.

Martin told The Florida Times-Union of Jacksonville, Fla., that administrators would follow school system policy and state law in disciplining the students.

"From what I understand, they were considered pretty good kids," Martin said. "But we have to take this seriously, whether they were serious or not about carrying this through, and that's what we did."

Four mothers of other third-grade students at Center Elementary called for the immediate expulsion of the suspected plotters.

Stacy Carter and Deana Hiott both cited school system policy stating that any student who brings "anything reasonably considered to be a weapon" is to be expelled for at least the remainder of the school year.

"We don't want our children around them," Carter told the Times-Union. "The one with the knife could have stabbed my child or someone else's child at lunch or out on the playground."

"This is an isolated incident, an aberration. ... We have good kids," Center Principal Angie Coleman told the newspaper.

Yet another reminder not to drug your kids- just for being kids. Sometimes, the side effects are not worth the risks.

Priceless Rep

2008-03-10T17:15:00.005-05:00

Signature Red Top.......................................$98
Ted Nugent-style Rattlesnake Pants................$150
Wilma Flintstone Necklace (from Ebay)............$20
Chuck wagon Dinner Plate Belt-buckle.............$400

Seeing your State Representative
grimace in public..................................PRICELESS

(Photo: Courtesy of Abilene Reporter News)

Seriously, this is our (District 71) State Representative, Mrs. Susan King. She is known for her signature (Republican) red business suits and matching stiletto heels and that laughable necklace that looks like a Flintstone knock-off. Here she is in Sweetwater, TX. at the Jaycees Rattlesnake Round-Up.

Politicians will do ANYTHING for publicity these days- even if they have to look ridiculous to get on camera. Will someone please take this gal to Wal-Mart for some decent clothing? She looks like she got made-over by Flavor Flav.

The Vault

2008-03-04T00:15:00.001-06:00

The above photo is taken from one of the coldest reaches on Earth nearly 620 miles from the North Pole in the mountainous archipelago region of Svalbard, Norway. It is a seed/plant repository “safeguard” initiated and built by the Norwegians. The media is calling it “the doomsday vault”. Total cost to build this 425 foot deep concrete reinforced box buried deep in the mountainside was $9.1 million. Its purpose? “It is the Noah's Ark for securing biological diversity for future generations.” - Norway’s Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg. This vault has the capacity to store up to 4.5 million seed samples and will protect them from “climate change, flooding, earthquakes and a nuclear strike.” (It has already withstood a magnitude 6.1 quake.)

Does it strike anyone else as odd that a country (or any group) would go to such lengths for a bunch of seeds, but when it comes to the subject of the sanctity of human life, little thought is given except for the protection to end such life? What of the "seed" of the human race? Honestly…

POLL Question...

2008-02-15T17:26:00.002-06:00

In light of recent school shootings, which are on the increase, I propose a straw poll here:

Should colleges/universities allow the carry of legally concealed handguns on their campuses in the name of personal safety?
(yes or no)

Leave your answer in the comments section below. If you would like, please defend your answer to enhance the following debate.

-TMS

Political Faux Pas in the Garage

2008-02-14T17:10:00.001-06:00

The following photograph has been circulating rapidly around the blog-o-sphere and the internet. If you look closely, you may recognize the man in the suit holding the M-4 assault rifle. The ensuing controversy over the photo's release in The Times Picayune has leveled the press office in both the Mayor's office and his local police headquarters. To be fair, a video taken at the event shows quite another story, but it still doesn't absolve Mr. Nagin of his reckless attitude towards weapons. The chief has his finger wide of the trigger guard and his gun's action open. It is unclear if Nagin's weapon is in the "open" position. But that curled up trigger finger makes me nervous.

In one of my last posts, I addressed weapons handling and weapon readiness/awareness. Does the above photo make you feel comfortable about Ray Nagin's A) hand positions B) his body language?

In certain circles, Mr. Nagin risks getting slapped upside his foolish head for being so reckless. Whether or not intended, the muzzle of that rifle was in position to fire upon the Chief of Police or any other bystander present at this function.

Something else to remember, this is the same N.O. Mayor who took away his law abiding citizens' weapons during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. One unfortunate elderly lady in her 70's was taken captive by unnecessary force and greatly harmed in the process. Was it street wandering thugs or criminals who perpetrated this unthinkable act? No, it was Mr. Nagin's gestapo squad of policemen following his orders to disarm the general population in order to cut down on violent crime. Let's see....rapists roaming free in the relief shelter set up at the Super Dome committing unspeakable acts of atrocities by the hour, or visiting the elderly and upon learning that they have a legally obtained weapon- arresting them by force and putting them in jail. Ummm, that makes perfect sense...if you live in Louisiana and fall under corrupt political parties. If not for the National Rifle Association's emergency injunction filed in court on behalf of it's members residing in the Sportsman's Paradise, this civic catastrophe would have continued and more citizens would have been deprived of the only means to defend themselves!

Yeah, Ray, you are a real sweetheart of a public servant...

New Observations....

2008-02-07T12:46:00.000-06:00

Wow- there has been a lot in the news lately that has transpired, and like many of you, I have been nose-to-the-glass watching the unfolding political fray leading up to the November showdown! The latest news out today is that Romney has bowed out- after showing an acceptable gain of delegates following Super Tuesday. What is that all about, I wonder? Here are some other observations:

-Obama is kicking Hillary's butt on the fund-raising trail. He outpaced her income by a margin of 3 to 1 last month alone, and since Super Tuesday, has raised an additional $7 million- most of which came from on-line donations. Seems Ron Paul isn't the only one using the internet to his favor. Amazing...

-The power of the "Clinton Machine", in the face of dogged determination by conservative groups, commentators, bloggers, and her own democratic party detractors & rivals, remains effective in keeping Hillary's hopes alive. Don't doubt the veracity of what is to come in order to gain the outcome that she eagerly desires. She is not out, she is not finished, she will NOT give up.

-Two of the four influential political legs of the Democratic stool have lent their support to Mr. Obama and it is definitely having a negative effect on the Clinton camp. If you have any doubts, know that Mrs. Clinton kicked in $5M of her own money just to keep up with Barack's media blitzing. (Clintons don't kick in their own money, they ask friends- or rather strong arm them- to do it for them.) The four names that correspond to the legs are: John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Howard Dean, and Al Gore. The first two have made public endorsements, the last two have not. The last two carry the most weight- most notably Mr. Dean who is currently the Chair of the Democratic Party and who said in a news release earlier this week, that if the 50/50 split between the two front runners was not resolved by end of February, he would have them sit down in his office and come to grips with who is most viable before the August convention so as not to keep the feud going and thus ruin their attempt at winning the White House come November. (Dean was humiliated and snubbed by the Clintons in his bid attempt for the nomination in the 2000 contest. Any guesses as to which way he is leaning?) As for Mr. Gore, coming off his surprise receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize, it appears that former Clinton insider, Dick Morris, suggests that Mr. Gore could easily sink the Clinton armada with one fatal swoop of his tongue- should he choose to exercise it. When asked by the media leading up to Super Tuesday, Mr. Gore said he would not endorse either candidate until after the results were in. Well Mr. Gore, the results are in, and you still haven't made your decision...the country is waiting.

-A coroner stated that a young, otherwise healthy male actor "accidentally overdosed" after consuming a combination of 6 pharmaceutical-grade medications. Uh, correct me if I'm wrong, but if someone knowingly takes 6 pills at the same time- that hardly qualifies as an accident. Let's call it what it really is, shall we? (S-U-I-C-I-D-E) Even in death, the privileged get the last word in how they are perceived by the public. Yet another media bias I suppose.

-Ford Motor Company continues to spiral into it's grave (of it's own digging) in light of it's pro-stance on Homosexuality causes and groups that it sponsors through it's corporate headquarters. Sales figures over the last 23 months have all been in the red- except for 2 months. Their stock share value has declined into single digits and has been/is languishing at that level. And yet, Ford refuses to acknowledge neutrality in the culture war on family values- they bow to the minority, instead of embracing the majority of those who politely contend that homosexuality fails to promote healthy lifestyles, healthy families, or healthy communities. See AFA's latest report on this matter.

-The Stock Market- man, oh man!! I feel like I've been on a roller-coaster for weeks now. The Dow Jones closed up in the 3rd quarter of last year and was poised for further gains into the fourth quarter. But we were denied again. A slumping housing market, fueled by a tidal wave of risk-heavy mortgage policies underwritten by the nation's leading mortgage firms, fed an already broiling economy. Couple this with the too narrow point shaving of the Federalistas reserve rate by our dovish Central Bank and it's a recipe for recession. Talks inside D.C. circles soon turned into media frenzy over the the next Congress-sponsored "fix" to assist the financially inept, bankrupt generation that is contributing to our weak economy by continuing to feed on this downward-spiraling cycle we call DEBT. Please, people- wake up and smell the coffee!! It's time to take a Dave Ramsey course and get your lives back on stable ground. I'm a believer and current disciple- trust me, spend the $100 and 13 weeks listening to his sage, easily understood and implementable advice...It WILL change your life!

Did you know? (data from 2004)
- the average American owns and is responsible for 8 credit cards
-The average American household averaged $8,000 in credit card debt alone
-The average American has 1.5 vehicle loans with an average monthly payment of $500
- More than 40% of Americans spend more than they earn

And the Democrats continue to spurn the Bush Tax cuts by refusing to make them permanent and helping EVERY American family in all income brackets. Yet- they quibble over the one time tax rebate that the House passed last month and sent to the Senate. The Senate won't turn loose of it until they balloon it past the original intent and thus shoot another hole in the federal deficit. Why? So they can point to that number come November and say it's all George and his cronies fault. If ever there was a need for a national Sanity Shot- now is the time...

-TMS

Fingering that Firearm...

2008-01-18T14:24:00.000-06:00

How To Handle That Favorite Gun

There is seldom a time while enjoying my love and passion for hunting and the shooting sports that I’m not reminded of safety protocol. Just as I can remember the first time my father took me fishing as a young boy, I can remember vividly his admonition about gun safety when it came time for me to own and use my first weapon- an antique .22 caliber Winchester pump action rifle. Here's my youngest holding it:

(Notice the hand positions. No fingers anywhere near that trigger...)

My father is not the firearms enthusiast that his father was and that his son has turned out to be. However, that did not keep my dad from teaching me proper safety techniques when it came to handling firearms. After all, my Dad’s earliest memories with that same Winchester include the time that he accidentally shot out the back window of my grandfather’s Chevy while attempting to chamber a new round in his gun. To this day he says he is not sure who was more surprised- him, or my grandfather who was standing outside the car.

So it is here that I find myself remembering my 14^th birthday, the time I was allowed to own my very own rifle. It was electric. It was immensely satisfying. It was all I could do to wait until we could go to my grandparents’ small place in the country to start acting on my desires. My father had a different idea.

My father, at the time, was a high school counselor. He had befriended a colleague who was an avid shooter and sportsman and asked him where he and his son could partake in some target practice. “The old abandoned gravel pit west of town”, was the quick reply. So, off to the gravel pit we went. Not having a proper wooden backstop to tack up flat paper targets, my father had collected some empty soda cans and immediately went to the far end of the pit and set them upright on the ground. Behind the cans was a sheer dirt wall that extended upwards of fifty feet and formed a semi circle around us.

My father rejoined me at the car and as I took the gun from the cardboard container he began by showing me the various parts of the gun and explaining how each functioned. Once the hardware introduction was over, he immediately went into his safety lecture. To this day, I can remember his words as if he had spoken them yesterday.

“Son, all guns are always loaded, period - no exceptions. If someone hands you their gun, assume it is loaded until you can prove otherwise. Second, never shoot at anything you aren’t willing to kill. Even this small weapon can kill a man and it is your responsibility to think before you pull this trigger. Third, never put your finger on the trigger until you are lined up with the target. Fourth, always know what is behind your target before you shoot. You never want your bullet to hurt someone or something else beyond your immediate area.”

There you have it. Four simple rules that are easily identified and remembered no matter what firearm you choose to take out for the day. It has always seemed a relatively simple thing- this matter of gun safety. But I imagine there are those of you reading this who know of at least one instance where caution was thrown to the wind by an individual who was careless, lazy, or ignorant. Sometimes, it is a combination of all three. I’ve seen it first hand - it ain’t pretty.

Though there are many different shooting disciplines due to the variety of weapons and sporting venues available to us here in the United States, these few simple rules will keep you safe- either as the participant, or the spectator. Obviously, if you think a gun is loaded you will give it the due caution it rightfully deserves when handling. Always keep the muzzle pointed upward and away from your person when retrieving it from its protective case, inspecting it, or putting it away for the day. Many is the time when a person attempted to handle a weapon with the muzzle end of the gun pointed straight down only to find himself staring at a smoking hole in the ground close to his foot- or worse- seeing a smoking hole in the middle of his foot. (Keep those muzzles pointed skyward.)

Never store a loaded firearm. How many times have we seen evening newscasts about the poor child or friend who stumbles upon a gun in the closet and decides to play with it only to wind up shooting someone? If you make it a habit to always unload your gun after an outing, while maintaining a strict policy to treat it as loaded, you will greatly reduce or eliminate the chances of an accidental discharge. By example, I’ve been handling guns for more than twenty-four years and can say in all earnestness that I’ve never had an accidental discharge. I credit this to my father’s teaching me at an early age.

It doesn’t matter if you are six years old handling your first .22, or if you are eighty years old handling that wonderful war relic handed down from an earlier generation or two. You owe it to yourself and to your family and friends to consistently maintain safe gun handling practices. As you mature and your interests expand with different types of weaponry, so too will your knowledge of safety. For that eager youngster wanting to handle granddad’s old gun, four basic rules are plenty to start them on the path to a lifetime of safety and fun.

Until next time, have a safe trip to the range or field with that trusted firearm. Believe I’ll go put a fresh coat of oil on that old Winchester.

Holiday Thesis

2007-12-24T15:40:00.000-06:00

Holiday Perspective - A Tandem Thesis

I’m worried if I have enough money to buy everyone’s presents this Christmas.

(He/She is worried if they will receive their families’ gifts so far from home.)

I’m concerned about the traffic - will it be light or heavy on the interstate?

(He/She is concerned with whether the roadways are laced with explosives.)

I’m wondering if holiday meals will taste as exquisite as I remember from years’ past?

(He/She is content with the MRE’s in their pack and whether it will be served cold.)

My family makes arrangements to find plush accommodations for our overnight travel.

(He/She turns out their sleeping bag or cot for another cold, restless night.)

My friends brag about their skiing excursions and wonder aloud about the snow base.

(He/She is contemplating if they will return to their base intact after another patrol.)

My neighbors struggle with the mass of lights with which to decorate their home.

(He/She is wondering if that flickering light in the distance is friend or foe.)

People pass by in their hurried state to accomplish one of a thousand holiday tasks.

(He/She is concentrating on the task at hand, so our collective liberties are secure.)

Others wish “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas” as they go about their business.

(He/She is wishing their comrades safe journey reciting prayers for their return.)

My children complain about the cold walk from the store to the heated car in the lot.

(He/She is content in the heat, having learned to live without these many months.)

School children are rehearsing Christmas carols for their drama presentations.

(He/She is committed to prayer-for buddies, families, and for their safe return home.)

Bureaucrats in front of microphones argue over funding, planning and execution.

(He/She fights to preserve the American way, and does so willingly, without fanfare.)

May those fighting for our freedoms this Christmas realize the joy, comfort, peace, safety and tranquility that each of us back home in the States enjoy at your personal expense. You are our heroes. Come home safe, whole, and proud. You’ve earned it time and time again. Our prayers are with you and your families this Christmas!

2 Wheeled Observations...

2007-12-19T12:30:00.000-06:00

Some of you have learned that I gained another "toy" as of November of this year. This new toy has put a permanent smile on my face since taking the roadways by storm. But since I'm new at riding motorcycles, there are several things I hadn't known heretofore. Here is what I've learned thus far:

-Dead animals near or on the road can be smelled long before you actually see them.

-The tiniest wet spot in the road, is enough to make me clinch/flinch.

-A locomotive's horn is at least 50 times louder when riding a motorcycle!

-Small animals crossing the road look like large accidents waiting to happen.

-70MPH on a bike feels like 120+ in a car- I think...

-The camaraderie displayed by other riders in your vicinity is definitely palpable.

-Car exhaust can travel straight to one's nostrils even when 25 feet away-yuck!

-Feeling a surge of horsepower between your legs as you throttle down is addicting.

-Watching others crane their necks to play "What's-that-bike?" is grand satisfaction.

-The smallest collection of pebbles strewn on the road at a turn is cause for a deep breath.

-Successfully negotiating a busy intersection for the first time is akin to Napoleonic confidence.

-Road temperature drops a good 10 degrees when riding in the shade on a sunny day.

-A certain redhead riding tandem easily triples the double-takes of those looking my way.

-Pulling off the perfect "figure 8" in first gear without planting feet is nirvana.

We're moving!

2007-12-13T07:52:00.000-06:00

In honor of Albert Gore's recent recognition by the Nobel prize committee, I'm thinking of moving the family to East Texas. Now which city is most appropriate, do you suppose?

-TMS

More Media Bias....

2007-12-12T12:34:00.000-06:00

Speaking of bias....check this out:
"law abiding illegal immigrants"

This one was in my hometown newspaper this morning. Would someone please tell Mr. Miguel Perez that there is no such thing as a law abiding illegal? Illegal = unlawful. It's as simple as that!

Media Bias

2007-12-07T07:31:00.000-06:00

There is an ever growing list of things that are "certain" in this life. Death, taxes, and mainstream media bias among the growing list.

I'm fed up with how the media portrays tragic events as well as the mundane, whether political or apolitical. If these folks can make it sound more horrific or more appealing in a negative way, we are assured that they will mull this over before conveying the content. A case in point is how many times I've heard the newsies refer to illegal immigrants as "undocumented workers". How many times have you heard it this past year? How many other statements have you heard that bother you? Here are a few of my all time favorites:

-Referring to an illegal alien as an "undocumented worker" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist". (So, are documented workers the illegals?)

-Referring to a victim who's been shot as being "gunned down" is like saying that a stabbing victim has been "knifed up". (The gun didn't cause the injury, the bullet did.)

-Referring to a young car fatality victim as being "in their prime". (Were they juicy/tender?)

-Referring to hurricane victims as "refugees". (Were they fleeing a dictatorial wind and are they moving to another country? No, these people are now what we call h-o-m-e-l-e-s-s...)

-Referring to large warehouses filled with bio-agents, lethal gas, mortars, RPG's, as "non weapons of mass destruction" is akin to calling a heart/lung transplant a "wellness check".

It's no wonder that Fox news and conservative talk show hosts, whose ratings are at an all time high, are getting flak from the Left and the major networks. Most of the time, these folks are pretty responsible with their journalism skills. (Limbaugh pushes the envelope most days, but he's more into entertainment commentary as opposed to actual news.)

If you haven't paid attention to the nightly news broadcasts in a while, I challenge you to watch the next three nights and listen closely to what they say. I'll bet a silver dollar that one or more of these contain similar, ill conceived descriptions of current events.

Tell me what you hear....list it in the comments section. (Past or present)

-TMS

Observations...

2007-11-29T17:21:00.000-06:00

- A anonymous fellow gave this quip this week when asked why he carried a gun:

"Because a policeman weighs too much."

- Driving to the Metroplex this week for business, I did, as usual, turn the AM dial to 820 to catch Mark Davis' show. Mark's particular topic that hour was Mitt Romney and the 2nd Amendment. Specifically, would Romney be the staunch defender of said amendment once elected as POTUS?

I did not know that Romney is a card carrying member of the NRA. Apparently, his earlier years in public office showed a different stripe when it came to his personal beliefs in an individual's legal right to gun ownership. Davis' point was and is that Romney has changed his mind- albeit 17 years after the fact. He went on to say that he was comfortable with Romney's current position and talking points about legal gun ownership and the importance thereof in the United States.

With finger poised over the cell phone keys, I dialed into the station thinking I would never get through to speak my piece. On the 1st ring, Mark's "handler" picked up and wanted to know what I wanted "to speak to Mr. Davis about?". I was momentarily stunned. This show is now nationally syndicated and I didn't think I would get through let alone come close to actual air time. I told "Mike" that I was a Life Member of the NRA and I was hoping to flesh out a couple of points with Mr. Davis about his last comments regarding Governor Romney. "Mike" liked that idea and put me on hold. My head was spinning, trying to get my mouth and brain to work in sync, I waited my turn- only to get cut off. Darn! I was so close....

Dialing the number again, once more "Mike" picked up. Told him again who I was, what I wanted to say, and he apologized for losing me and put me back in the que (sp?). Wow! Twice lucky in the same day! Only to be dropped- again.

Oh well, I look forward to the day when Mark and I can have a gentlemanly "chat" with a few hundred thousand of his listeners hanging on every word.

- Heard that OJ pleaded "not guilty" at his arraignment this week. Am I surprised? Well, yeah...the guy was caught red-handed. Sources say if convicted, he could go to prison for the rest of his days. Sounds good to me. Can I pick the place? Please?????

- Got within two feet of a first generation Colt SAA today. Grips were very definitely ivory and the screws were of the fire blue variety. AWESOME is the only word that comes to mind to give this fantastic piece of hardware due justice. The price tag? Well, that's another story...

- Micro brewery beer is just the best stuff. Unlike its domestic counterpart, one may partake of second and third helpings at one sitting and the last tastes as good as the first! Highly recommend BJ's restaurants and brewery. Wonderful concoctions.

- Turns out my brother's girlfriend can catch fish like Kevin Van Dam. Particularly the catfish variety. Doesn't matter what bait, reel or rod selection is at hand- the lady can fish like a pro. (I told him he should marry her...she's likely to keep him well fed in his advanced years.)

- Some have asked me privately about "Suzi" now. She and I are getting very well acquainted and it is definitely a love/love relationship. Here is a fetching photo of my new flame:

(Check out those boots!)

-TMS

Guns, Government & Crime

2007-11-24T17:12:00.000-06:00

It is very easy for meaningful crime data to be inadvertently "lost" by the mainstream media.
Case-in-point, all the rage the last couple of news worthy days has been the focus of the High Court taking up the case of the District of Columbia's ban on concealed carry weapons by non law enforcement citizenry within the district's boundaries. We are not going to discuss this today, but rather some eye-popping statistics that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has just released concerning it's compilation of crime stats for 2006.

The FBI released the latest data last September and the numbers are in- total violent crime is LOWER by 37.5 percent than it was in 1991 (when violent crime peaked in the U.S.). Murder and robbery, the two types of violent crime most likely to involve firearms, decreased the most between 1991-2006, dropping 42 percent and 45 percent, respectively.

During the last 5 years, violent crime has been lower than any time since the mid-1970's. During the last 8 years, murder has fluctuated slightly, but remained lower than any time since the mid-1960's.

This is GREAT news for America. But the report has mainly been ignored by mainstream media since the release of this data has become available. Instead, the sensationalist media outlets ignored the long term trends and instead pointed out that violent crimes rose 1.9 percent between 2005-06. When adjusted for the nation's ever increasing population, the violent crime rate increased only 1 percent- and that, over a single year. The media, as usual, went with the higher figure.

The Fibbies report was very bad news for the anti-gun crowd in several ways. First, violent crime remains relatively low, while the numbers of guns, gun owners and Right-to-Carry states have risen to all-time highs, and gun control has been reduced significantly at the federal, state and local levels. Second, the FBI once again state that crime levels are determined by a variety of factors, ranging from economic conditions, to cultural, climate and citizens' attitude toward police - but not including gun control.

Third, in 2006 Right-to-Carry states had lower violent crime rates, on average, compared to the rest of the country. Total violent crime was 26 percent lower, murder 31 percent lower, robbery 50 percent lower and aggravated assault 15 percent lower. 13 of the 15 states with the lowest total violent crime rates and murder rates, and 14 of 15 states with the lowest robbery rates, were Right-to-Carry states.

Evidently, the high and mighty crowd in the marble and brass clad hallways of government have failed to grasp basic number trending. They are more caught up on whether a law passed in 1976 is still worth fighting for in preserving "the security of private citizens" within Washington, D.C. Yet, when the numbers are highlighted for them, they cannot explain why D.C. remains at the top of the list of most violent regions in the country per capita. You see, the average citizen in Washington, DC is not allowed to carry a firearm for protection. They can have one in the home if it is registered, locked up completely or otherwise made immediately "safe" by placing an after-market gun lock on the weapon. (But you cannot carry in public-even if licensed.)

Unfortunately, the blue bloods will continue to thumb their noses until a Virginia Tech tragedy takes place on their hallowed ground or the Supreme Court hands them a definitive decision in the next session. My pick is for the latter, but we know that governmental types only respond to crises and emotional duress brought about by either Mother Nature or psychotic citizenry.

These are the times we live in...are you armed?
If not, why?

What's In A Name?

2007-11-15T07:54:00.000-06:00

Occasionally, one of my many neurotic tendencies comes to the surface and I have to deal with it the only way I know how- letting it play out. Hope you don't mind...

Her
Interests
Lie
Loosely
Around
Rediscovering
Yippie-hood

Clinton
Lies
Intimately
Notwithstanding
Typical
Obsessive
Neuroses

News from Iraq- Report #2

2007-11-09T12:05:00.000-06:00

In one of my earlier posts, I forwarded some news from the front lines of Iraq via my friend, Coby, who is serving and working in some bad areas. Here is what Coby reports as of this morning when I asked about the current situation on the ground as it relates to our military personnel's perspective:

"The major gripe here now is just the media and the focus on entertainers in general. These people basically live a lie and make their money due to the freedoms they enjoy but yet forget who gives them that protection. Just basically cant listen to any news stories any more because of the politics. I cringe at the idea that we have a year ahead of us before the big elections and no telling how more divided the country will become and how many more have to die to get the support we all need. The only troop surge I see is at the chow hall and the PX lines because the Army has basically been so restricted in what they can do by limp politicians that were just running into each other like a kid's soccer game. But were all gonna stay as long as we can and I wont be the first one on that plane to leave, well save that for the wimpy democrats who want to glorify the failure, but yet what we all wanted by noon- September 11, 2001. Their next perfect day is coming and were too busy worrying about Brittney Spears and who has signed the newest knucklehead rap star to their label and/or basketball team.............until then my friend, we'll be here ready to jump."

Coby occasionally reads this blog. So you may want to convey your support of his activities in the comments section. I'm sure he and the rest of the team would be glad to hear that we have a few here at home who haven't forgotten about their service, sacrifice, and sense of duty.

Come home safe, my friend!!

-TMS

The Smoke Bomb

2007-10-31T07:50:00.000-05:00

No, this is not discourse on the proper creation of potentially potent, portable pyrotechnics. This blog has to do with the inevitable stay in a “smoking” hotel room- or what I like to call- my personal hell.

You see, with all the travel that I do for work, it is inevitable that I will stumble across a room in a hotel that has been previously occupied by Smoky the Bear. Or perhaps, Smoky the Bear and his entire family reunion. This past week, I was accosted by this plight at one of my usual haunts in south Texas.

I knew going in to the hotel that I had not picked a ‘winner’. There was something going on in town that had booked all the good hotels, and therefore, the good rooms (hint: the NON-smoking kind). When I reached my destination and saw the exterior of the joint with at least 3 layers of peeling paint I knew I was in for a rough night. Sure enough, after getting my room key which looked like a punch card that NASA used in the 50’s (yet another sign that the establishment is woefully inadequate), I was on my way to the rear of the hotel to find my room.

Imagine my surprise to see a sign on the exterior door that said: “This door to remain locked 24 hours a day for guest security. You must have key to enter building.” Of course, that wasn’t the case- either at 2PM or 2AM - the doors were never locked. So much for security. But I digress.

Upon entering the hallway on the 3^rd floor, I was hit with a giant wave of stale, dank odors that only a lab technician could properly identify. It was an odoriferous concoction of all the things in life that the human schnoz distastes: stale sweat, mold, and week-old cigar smoke. (What a nice greeting after being stuck in a car for 4 hours, wouldn’t you say?)

The door to the room that bore my prescribed number (310, for those of you who prefer accuracy), appeared to be brand new. I thought, “Ok, this won’t be so bad, the room has been recently remodeled.” Not so. Not even close as I entered the room after using my antique NASA card-key. (Wonder if I could sell this on Ebay?)

The odor in the hallway PALED in comparison to the room. I was immediately offended -personally and professionally. How dare they put a registered, “ELITE” member in a smoking room- what were they thinking? A quick call downstairs to the front desk confirmed my worst nightmare. It was the only room left in the hotel, and no cancellations for other rooms that were non-smoking were expected. (And evidently, no apology was forthcoming.)

I was trapped in a hotel room that was probably as old as I, with a heavy odor that could best be described as a bevy of cigar-chomping, sweaty bigfoot creatures. I asked the lady downstairs if they had any air fresheners. “Why, yes”, came the reply. “I’ll send someone right up.”

Sure enough, two minutes later, a large Hispanic woman appeared at my door with a can of Wal-mart grade aerosol that was labeled CHERRY JUBILEE. She headed for the wall mounted A/C unit (which dated to the early 1970 Hotel La Quintas period), and started to empty the entire can into the ventilation/filter portion of the unit. Not satisfied, she started fumigating the entire room much to my chagrin. For a nano-second the room smelled 100% better. She left the can on the counter top and said I was welcome to keep it during my stay.

Upon my gracious servant’s departure, the room did a 360 (or maybe it was me after all the CFC’s were released within my 10’x10’ cell-block and went straight to my brain). Bigfoot had returned, and this time- he farted cherries- lots and lots of cherries. Cherries that had been dipped in cigar-filled ashtrays after being extinguished in a hairy armpit.

What’s a weary, road-worn traveler to do? Opening the lone window didn’t suck the air out of the room. So I opened the door to the hall- too late, I realized, the dank smoke encrusted air from the hallway simply replaced the cherry/smoke-ladened air in my room. This was getting serious- I had clients to mingle with. I couldn’t show up in their office smelling like I had spooned with a cigar smoking, cherry-popping, flatulent, sweaty Bigfoot.

They say that “necessity is the mother of invention”. Well, folks- I came up with a solution that cost me nothing and worked pretty well. Soaking a hand towel in cold water, wringing it out and then placing over the entire A/C vent, I turned the unit on full blast with cold air cycling through the towel. Within about 20 minutes, Bigfoot had vanished. Within another 20 minutes, the cherry cloud went away. After another 10 minutes, I could barely smell the smoke in the room. The makeshift ambient air neutralizer worked. Now if I could just find that parka…

Caption Contest #3

2007-10-17T12:58:00.000-05:00

What's a die hard hunter to do when his back and legs give out, but the spirit is still willing?

(Ripped from Field & Stream's online version today...deserves a caption, don't you think?)

-TMS

I'm Disgusted Today

2007-10-12T07:30:00.000-05:00

I’m sick to my stomach today. And it has nothing to do with the mess the dog surprised me with this morning when I walked into our kitchen at 6AM. However, the stench is eerily similar to the one that has been brought to my attention today by the major news wires reporting this year’s recipients of the Nobel peace prize.

Al Gore, Jr. has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for….are you ready…his so-called documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. Mr. Gore shares the Nobel distinction along with the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change- or IPCC, for short. YAHOO! News reports that the reason these two were chosen was “for their efforts to spread awareness of man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for fighting it.”

Say what? I thought Alfred Nobel’s original plan was to promote world peace (with this particular award) when he left his entire fortune in trust to the foundation that bears his name? What in the world does weather have to do with peace in the world? If anything, this idea of global warming has caused the single most stress in many people’s lives because of the consistent barrage of messages of inconsistencies in the data. If the temperatures are rising this year, it is because people who can think and reason for themselves have been sighing repeatedly at the mere mention of this subject.

It’s noteworthy to look at the list of past recipients of this (formerly) distinguished designation. Names such as Mikhail Gorbachev (‘91), Elie Wiesel (‘86), Mother Theresa (‘79), Anwar Sadat & Menachim Begin (‘78), Martin Luther King (‘64), George C. Marshall (‘53), Albert Schweitzer (‘52), Woodrow Wilson (‘19), and Theodore Roosevelt (‘06). All of these names jump off the page and the majority of people my age and older will confirm that the underlying life’s work of these individuals was promoting peace, often in times of, and in the face of, great societal turbulence and personal strife.

The Nobel nominating committee has, I’m afraid, made a mockery of Alfred Nobel’s name and legacy with this year's award. How it came to be submitted and accepted by so many within the category of peace is a mystery to me. Further, the documents that support all nominations and confirmation remain frozen and shrouded in complete secrecy for 50 years after the award is given. We won’t know until 2057 what these documents contain.

Mr. Nobel’s intent in awarding this particular prize is conveyed in his surviving will documents. His will prescribed that “the Peace Prize (is) to be awarded by a committee of five persons chosen by the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) and should go to the person who accomplished ‘the most or the best work for fraternity among nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the promotion of peace congresses.’” (I don’t see anything about film making or hot air here.)

It is a travesty that the legacy of this once great family has come to be grossly manipulated by political forces in today’s world. To Alfred, who I’m confident is rolling in his grave today, I’m very sorry that your vision has been cut short by those who would use your name in order to promote their personal agendas.

Caption Contest #2

2007-10-09T12:25:00.000-05:00

No, I didn't set up this picture- I'm not that creative. This came from a co-worker and I thought it worthy of another caption contest. Go for it. Give it your, uh, best shot...

(Extra points if you can name that rifle!)

-TMS

New Photo- Same Look

2007-10-02T14:30:00.000-05:00

Somehow, I'm comforted by this picture. The fact that this guy is behind bars (at least for a time), handcuffed, gives me great peace of mind. My prayer is that he will get very used to his new jewelry. Now if we could get Lon Horiuchi to be his cell-mate...

Need a Caption....

2007-09-28T09:22:00.001-05:00

This picture deserves a caption. It is not doctored. It is a real live critter purchased by a pet store in the Northeast. Give it your best shot...

How do you spell, "Fool"? (T.A.S.E.R)

2007-09-18T12:46:00.000-05:00

This on the news wire today. A University of Florida student elbows his way to the microphone during a public Q & A with guest lecturer, Senator John Kerry. The student thanks Senator Kerry for appearing at the forum and then launches into a diatribe concerning the 2004 election. When asked to leave the forum, the student belligerently continues his heated questioning until the microphone is turned off. The student then goes berserk and the police become involved.

What does TASER stand for you might ask? Wikipedia defines it as: The name Taser is an acronym for "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle". Arizona inventor Jack Cover designed it in 1969; naming it for the science fiction teenage inventor and adventurer character Tom Swift.

T hwarted (by)
A rrest (using)
S hock
E mitting
R estraints

Too funny! Next time, act your age employing the maturity of a 21 year old and the police will escort you out of the building sans force. What did you think they would do, entice you with a lollipop and a smile?

-TMS

Science or Slow Reporting?

2007-08-24T12:30:00.001-05:00

The following story was gleaned from the Wired Science weblog today. It is interesting to note the wording in paragraph 6, the paragraph that is colored blue. (Italics added for emphasis.)

(Someone had to be shot in order to conduct the test, was that you're journalistic intent? Typical non-shooting journalist waxing on about something they know nothing about. Enjoy!)

How Cops Can Measure Gunshot Residue on Your Hands

By Aaron Rowe August 23, 2007 | 3:26:16 PMCategories: Chemistry, Crime, Mystery

Whacking someone with a pistol leaves a lot more than blood on your hands. It also leaves gunshot residue, and Brazilian forensic scientists have developed a simple but sophisticated way to check for the incriminating particles.

In the upcoming October 2 issue of Forensic Science International, Jorge E. Souza Sarkis of the Institute of Energetic and Nuclear Research described a trial run of the test that is easy for cops to perform and very accurate.

Gun violence is a huge problem in Brazil. In São Paulo alone, police seize around 1,500 guns per month. Most of them are .38 caliber pistols. After a shooting, traces of gunshot residue on the hands of a suspect are often an extremely important bit of evidence.

Small amounts of the rare element antimony are found in most ammunition. When a gun goes off, a cloud of fine particles covers the hands of the shooter -- leaving behind a bit of the telltale metal.

A well-established method to check for gunshot residue is the Instant Shooter Identification Kit, which offers answers in seconds and is right about 90 percent of the time. Forensic labs can also examine skin swabs and clothing with an electron microscope to look for tiny gunpowder particles. By comparison, the new procedure is much more precise.

Sarkis and his partners recruited forty volunteers who infrequently handle guns. He invited them to take a single shot from one of three pistols -- 9mm and .40 caliber semi-automatics or a .38 revolver.

After each shot was fired, the researchers brushed each volunteer's hands with cotton swabs that had been dampened with a bit of an inexpensive chemical that can latch onto metals like antimony and wash them away from skin.

That is all a police officer would need to do -- swab each hand, bag the swabs, and send them to a crime lab.

To prepare their samples for analysis, the researchers dissolved the cotton swabs in pure nitric acid and then added some water. The brew went straight into a machine called an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer -- an instrument that completely destroys a sample and then precisely determines the levels of every single element. The researchers focused on the amount of antimony, barium, and lead on the volunteers' hands.

The level of antimony alone doesn't say much. Apparently, some people just happen to have a lot of the rare metal on their hands. But researchers can compare the level of antimony with the the level of barium and lead to figure out whether an individual pulled the trigger. If a volunteer had pulled the trigger, the level of antimony was unusually high relative to the other metals.

Maybe it's just me, but haven't the U.S. PDs been using these kits for years now...I know I've been watching this on CSI: Miami for at least three years.

-TMS

News from Iraq...

2007-08-10T12:34:00.000-05:00

My friend, Coby, has been 'in country' for several months now serving as a medic as part of an attachment of body guards for VIP's who visit from the U.S. Namely, he covers politicians' posteriors who come to see what "all the fuss is about" when it comes to why Iraq is not able to stabilize itself from the standpoint of infrastructure, politics, culture and socio-economic reforms. Coby's background is not medical, it's policing. He was a training officer of a S.W.A.T. unit for several years- and is WELL TRAINED on tactics, weapons, and keeping people safe when the you-know-what hits the fan. Soon after Coby arrived in Iraq, his supervisor had the entire squad visit the weapons range to see how his crew stacked up. When the smoke cleared, it was quite evident that Coby had beaten everyone else on the line- handily. The firing range officer was overheard to say: "Who the h@ll shot that perfect target!?" (When he found out it was a 'lowly medic', he nearly had a heart attack on the spot.)

Recently, I heard from Coby via e-mail and I vented my frustration at the lack of information coming from the major networks as to what is actually happening on the ground by our people who are stationed there. He had some interesting insights that none of us will ever hear on the nightly news networks. Here is his reply - unedited:

Where to start about here, geez. I know that whatever the dems have done with our funding its affecting only the troops. We have no ample water supply and have to ration it out, our food supply is horrible and gets guys sick beyond all belief and yet every "VIP' we watch after while they're here gets to stay in the best rooms and eat the best food while we go to our rooms that sometimes don't have power, if the water works then the power runs the pumps wont be so we swelter in our rooms. We run a vehicle motorcade of "multiple guys and vehicles" to do nothing more than carry luggage for these democrats who dont want to ride the same road we just came in on because "its too dangerous for them" and then we run right back down the same route carrying their luggage while they are ferried around in blackhawks at government expense to the tune of a lot of $$$ for no other reason than to come here and complain about the lack of security. The Iraqis that I deal with are basically no more than school yard bullies with rockets and really have no idea who theyre fighting or even why, its just because thats all theyve known for centuries.

The new US Embassy here is in construction and is in shambles because were having to use local contractors to do the work in an effort to "spread the wealth" and once they get the $$$ they are gone and never seen again. Its just a mess here but there are some good points Im sure. Imagine all the public utilities we have in the US being controlled by rival gang members who openly shoot and torture the other and thats what we have here, no one can agree on anything. But yet, the Democrats want to pull our funding and support and even give the bad guys a departure date, Ive never seen a war run by a final deadline date, but then they are democrats. I just hope and prey HC doesnt get elected because we will have a war beyond all belief because she will reduce all troop strength and abilities to support her agenda of only embarrassing GW and all the work he did and has done and will do because of the 8 years of BC padding his own pockets, getting kicked out of his own states Bar Association, nearly impeached and a general shame to the Office in my opinion. But theres always tomorrow and more "VIPS" coming in to do reports for surveys, and surveys for reports and follow up reports for more surveys.

We dont have running water, power or even a stable power grid to leave the country before it turns into a scene from Mad Max, or even support from other countries. Were not fighting Iraqis here, were fighting Iran, Syria, and maybe even China, but the media doesnt say that, yet the proof is launched into our camp everyday in the form of those countries rockets, but our own army cant respond back because of the cuts and needing to get permission from some nimrod whos in 9000 miles away and trying to calculate the political ramifications of a counter assault. Its the US govt at its best, the two parties cant get along so since the dems control the $$$ now they can decide what goes where or will make it so hard for anything to get done quickly with out requiring multiple copies of reports and surveys and projections that its just simpler to ignore the whole thing.

Thats my take on this, its a shame when as a superpower our own country stands divided and unsupportive and broadcasts this everywhere including our sworn enemies houses. Its more of a war in the house and senate than it is here...and dont get me started on the idiots in hollywood who make their money because we are a free country, there is no movie or music industry or even professional sports industry here, theres just lots of people with weapons ready to harm us at any chance.

There is a rawness here in his prose that makes me sit up and take notice. Forget the fact that his grammatical precision is less than perfect, it's 120 in the shade over there and he's getting shot at while he's typing on his laptop. Actually, I'm surprised I got this much at once!

Coby, I, for one, appreciate what you and your colleagues are doing. I'm thankful that my family enjoys the freedoms we have because of self sacrificing folks like you and your comrades. I pray that your family will know peace until you return safe! Come home soon, friend. Come home soon...

-TMS

Table Turned On Me...

2007-08-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

So there was this burning desire to own a piece (or two) of iron/mesquite furniture that began about a year ago after I visited a local furniture maker who makes wonderful pieces out of recycled Mesquite trees. The downed trees are dropped off at his yard by local landscapers and do-it-your-selfers who pull these "unsightly" trees from lots or prime ranch land needing a slight makeover. (Most people in West Texas don't care for the ugly, thick trunked Mesquite with it's spindly leaves and dark brown bean pods. After all, we need real shade trees out here in the summer time.) Rather than take the thing to the local dump, landscape personnel know they can drive downtown and drop off their goods to help the local furniture guy out. (Or maybe he pays them something for the stump and large limbs they bring? I don't know...)

Either way, the guy has a great set-up and he's a wonderful furniture craftsman! I've seen mantles, chairs, lamps, side tables, bed railings with matching posts, dining room tables, poker tables, and all manner of things made from the dark red, lustrous tree: Prosopis pubescens

But here's the thing- I'm cheap. Not only did I not want to pay the price for a finished piece, but I challenged myself to craft my own piece. Two years ago I made myself a hunting knife and used a piece of Mesquite for the handles. I liked how the color turned out and I was sure I could make a small console table if I put my heart into it. Now it was getting interesting...

Several months ago, I found the perfect iron frame that I thought would grace our entryway pretty well. Only problem was, it was more than rustic- it was R-U-S-T-Y. Here's the frame in its original state:

When I found it amongst all the other rusted relics, I thought it had great form and I really liked the fact that it was completely different than anything I had ever seen. It was graceful as well as practical. And the price was good. So I set out to get rid of the rust while I searched for the perfect piece of wood to top it with:

The above picture was taken soon after I received the piece back from Abilene Powder Coating. This is a wonderful, if not little known, business on the West side of Abilene owned by Mr. Kim Parsons. I told Kim I wanted a black powdercoat finish. "No problem, would you like matte, semi-gloss, or high gloss finish when cured?" (What? I had choices?) I told Kim to coat it with a "wet" look. I think he did an amazing job! He got it just right. I tell you, up close it looks like it was carved out of wet wax- it absolutely glistens. Kim is a great guy and not only did the price match his quote, he got it done quickly.

So now it was off to Lankford's Mesquite Lumber to find that perfect slab of wood to top off that frame. Now that the frame turned out twice as good as I had hoped, the pressure was really on to top it with a wonderfully grained piece of wood. It took a LONG time to find that right piece but Terry Lankford was very helpful and stored the piece inside once he found it amongst the hundreds of planks already cut and stacked outside on site. Here's what the raw piece looked like before I started finishing it:

That wet, drizzly look you see in the middle is a concoction of epoxy in its liquid form. The main difference between this piece and the pieces that Mr. Lankford makes, is that mine has an unusual twist. When I mixed up the epoxy, I added jet black ink to the mixture to turn it completely dark. (Regular epoxy, if left alone, will dry clear as glass.) I knew that if I got the finished wood to the desired dark red tone it would look really great with small etchings of black drizzled into the voids in the grain. Here is what the slab looked like when the epoxy dried and I sanded everything flush prior to applying the finish:

As you can see from the above close-up, the blackened epoxy is already contrasting nicely with the faint red grain already starting to show through. I won't tell you exactly what steps I used for sanding, but I will tell you that to sufficiently gain the smooth finish I wanted on all sides, it took a total of 7 hours to achieve- or, the better part of one full weekend. Not having done a project of this size before, I did some head scratching as well as some grunt work to transform that slab. Here you can see some improvement with one coat of oil on top and a simple routed edge that is still lacking finish:

I had never had an occasion to use a router before, and wanting the lines to be straight as possible, to resemble finely made furniture, I opted to use a router attached to a table. Well, I got the whole borrowed rig home and set it up, read the tool's instruction manual front to back, selected the right router bit style, and tried to get the whole set up level so that I could draw the piece down the length in one steady draw to keep the line perfectly horizontal. The problem was, my garage floor isn't exactly level, and my borrowed table wasn't large enough to support the slab by itself (rough dimensions are 14"w x 37"l x 1.5"thick). Realizing I didn't have enough support tables to align properly with the router table, I opted to 'free hand' the rout using a fence attached to the wood by clamps. I can tell you it took a while to properly set up and clamp but it is as straight as possible. I turned on the router, slid it across the fence from left to right down the long (front showing) side and when the dust settled I had a better than average cut and let out a triumphant whoop in the garage. (Note: never scream exuberantly in the garage when playing with a power tool. The wife tends to get upset and call 9-1-1 thinking you have just relieved yourself of a body part!) Here is the top with a second coat of finish- note the deeper red tone of the wood is starting to come through:

And here's the table with a third coat of oil and just about the right red tone I was looking for:

I could still see some areas that hadn't quite taken enough of the finish to make for a smooth, even look, color-wise. So I got out the q-tips and went to work on the routed edge once more. Here's the final look, with 4 coats of finish and the smoothness I was wanting to achieve:

Would I do it all over again, you ask? In a heartbeat! I'm already looking for a frame to make the perfect, matching coffee table for the den to match this piece. While I didn't save any money by the time I bought all the supplies and raw materials, I have lots of items in stock to use on my next project that I won't have to reinvest in. Plus, I have learned a lot by taking my time putting this piece together. I can't tell you exactly how many hours I have invested, but I can tell you that it was about 6 months to get everything to come together. Most of this was due to finding the right frame and specific piece of lumber, but part of it was getting help from my well-tooled buddies in town. Many thanks to Jim Waldrop and Shane Jennings for their efforts in lending their tools and or garage for a couple of hours in order to assist me with the rough cutting and routing of this piece. Fellas, I couldn't have done it without you!

Certainly, the table turned on me- but, I'm turned on by this table- I love it!

-TMS

Could You Repeat That?

2007-07-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

Roundtrip ticket to Nairobi, Kenya………………....... $3,000

13 Day African Safari with accommodations........ $4,000

Realizing you just saved $500 by not leasing

a West Texas area ranch for whitetail deer.......PRICELESS

Recently, I was shocked to learn that leasing a local parcel of land this Fall was worth $7,500. To be fair, the acreage was a full section, heavily wooded, included a trailer home, and close to my home with a round trip travel time of about 30 minutes by truck. (Honestly, it sounded like a dream come true for this die hard hunter.)

Let me say for the record, I don’t have $7,500 on hand to spend for either excursion. I was simply juxtaposing the ridiculous idea of my spending that largesse on a local, somewhat ho-hum hunting experience when compared with my idyllic dream of hunting the Dark Continent. Even if I were to go forward with the local lease deal and somehow managed to take a 180 B&C trophy whitetail - it still wouldn’t be worth the extravagance on my part.

Worse, my fears were realized when the landowner I was communicating with told me that last year a fellow from the Metroplex, along with his two children, paid that amount for the right to hunt his property exclusively. He did not ‘split’ the fee among several buddies- he ponied up the entire amount for he and his two kids. (I learned they didn’t bag a trophy.)

Was I concerned that my potential, future landlord was trying to gouge me? Not at all, but I was rather shocked that the market was willing to bear that amount. (For days now, I’ve been wondering about the former client’s career niche.) How could one possibly fault the landowner for asking for the current market value of the property? He obtained it once, it is reasonable to assume he will obtain it again. Hunters in Texas are crazy- and will spend inordinate amounts of money for the opportunity to kill The Big One.

After I picked myself up off the floor upon hearing the landowner’s response to my inquiry, I started realizing how I could best spend $7,500 of my hard-earned money. The above analogy quickly came to mind and I hit the internet looking for pricing. Who knows, maybe an African Safari is not that far out of the realm of possibility? One day perhaps…

How would you spend $7,500?

-TMS

Need a Caption

2007-07-26T12:56:00.000-05:00

Can anyone come up with a witty caption for this photo? (EX. The Bears' Necessity)

(Photo was 'ripped' from the Field & Stream webpage today. Shot was taken in Denali Park, AK. Thanks F&S.)

-TMS

William Antrim

2007-07-20T12:05:00.000-05:00

Was none other than Billy the Kid, alias Kid Antrim, alias Billy Bonney, alias William Bonney.

The four chemicals listed in my previous post were all used as 'cutting agents' to dilute whiskey in an effort to stretch the pure form so that bar owners could keep expenses low while accelerating profits. Two additional chemicals not on my list, but frequently utilized in the saloons of Lincoln County - were ammonia and gunpowder!

The latter gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "gut rot", a common synonym for Old West whiskey and/or rye. If an unschooled barkeep ever forgot which agent he was using and accidentally mixed two or more of the agents together- he could have blown up the joint.

I cannot offer enough praise for Mr. Wallis' book. It is by far the most fascinating look at the world's most beloved villain. As a matter of teasing you into taking a closer look at this book, I will tell you that his incredible resourcefulness and thoroughness in research turned up some interesting items about Billy that most people don't know. First, Billy's favorite tune was "Turkey In The Straw". He whistled it everywhere he went, and when attending dances made sure that the musicians performed it at least once while he was on the dance floor. Second, Billy the Kid actually met and conversed with Jesse James in at least one public venue. The two were reported as being jovial towards each other- imagine that!

Finally, the one story that stood out among many other fine instances was one I share here.
Billy was in a bar with several of his mates. An unknown drunk cowboy started harassing one of Billy's friends. The drunk walked up and took the friend's peacemaker out of the holster and replaced it with his own! Billy watched and walked up to the two in order to diffuse the situation. He carefully pulled the drunk's Colt out of his friend's holster and closely examined the cylinder noting that three of the six were empty. Before handing the gun back to the drunk, Billy turned the cylinder so that upon cocking it would fire on an empty chamber. (He did so without the drunk knowing.) Billy handed the gun back to the drunk and turned and walked away. Before he took more than three or four paces, Billy heard the unmistakable "click" of a pistol pointed at his back. Upon hearing the noise, witnesses said Billy whirled around and shot the drunk three times in the chin with his own pistol. Eyewitnesses said a silver dollar would have covered the cloverleaf hole in the dead man's chin.

Folks, that's shootin'...!!

-TMS

Lincoln County, NM. in 1877

2007-07-13T12:15:00.000-05:00

I've been reading a very interesting biography on William Antrim written by Michael Wallis.

He mentions four items that have a peculiar use during the period of the Old West. They are:

1) Cayenne Pepper
2) Vinegar
3) Turpentine
4) Kerosene

Who was William Antrim and what do the above listed items have in common?

Ted Nugent for Prez?

2007-07-04T10:54:00.000-05:00

The following article appeared in the on-line edition of The Wall Street Journal today, July 4th. This is a wonderfully written, clearly articulated piece by a guy who continues to get my attention. Hunter, fisherman, and outspoken sportsman's advocate as well as a current Board member of the National Rifle Association, Ted continues to raise liberals' hackles every time he opens his mouth. No silver spoon is present, unlike most of his foes' gaping hole, yet what comes forth is usually golden - if not silver lined. Go, Ted, go...

The Summer of Drugs
Forty years ago, dirty, stinky hippies converged on San Francisco to "turn on, tune in and drop out."

BY TED NUGENT
Wednesday, July 4, 2007 12:01 a.m.

This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the so-called Summer of Love. Honest and intelligent people will remember it for what it really was: the Summer of Drugs.

Forty years ago hordes of stoned, dirty, stinky hippies converged on San Francisco to "turn on, tune in, and drop out," which was the calling card of LSD proponent Timothy Leary. Turned off by the work ethic and productive American Dream values of their parents, hippies instead opted for a cowardly, irresponsible lifestyle of random sex, life-destroying drugs and mostly soulless rock music that flourished in San Francisco.

The Summer of Drugs climaxed with the Monterey Pop Festival which included some truly virtuoso musical talents such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, both of whom would be dead a couple of years later due to drug abuse. Other musical geniuses such as Jim Morrison and Mama Cass would also be dead due to drugs within a few short years. The bodies of chemical-infested, brain-dead liberal deniers continue to stack up like cordwood.

As a diehard musician, I terribly miss these very talented people who squandered God's gifts in favor of poison and the joke of hipness. I often wonder what musical peaks they could have climbed had they not gagged to death on their own vomit. Their choice of dope over quality of life, musical talent and meaningful relationships with loved ones can only be categorized as despicably selfish.

I literally had to step over stoned, drooling fans, band mates, concert promoters and staff to pursue my musical American Dream throughout the 1960s and 1970s. I flushed more dope and cocaine down backstage toilets than I care to remember. In utter frustration I was even forced to punch my way through violent dopers on occasion. So much for peace and love. The DEA should make me an honorary officer.

I was forced to fire band members and business associates due to mindless, dangerous, illegal drug use. Clean and sober for 59 years, I am still rocking my brains out and approaching my 6,000th concert. Clean and sober is the real party.

Young people make mistakes. I've made my share, but none that involved placing my life or the lives of others at risk because of dope. I saw first-hand too many destroyed lives and wrecked families to ever want to drool and vomit on myself and call that a good time. I put my heart and soul into creating the best music I possibly could and I went hunting instead. My dream continues with ferocity, thank you.

The 1960s, a generation that wanted to hold hands, give peace a chance, smoke dope and change the world, changed it all right: for the worse. America is still suffering the horrible consequences of hippies who thought utopia could be found in joints and intentional disconnect.

A quick study of social statistics before and after the 1960s is quite telling. The rising rates of divorce, high school drop outs, drug use, abortion, sexual diseases and crime, not to mention the exponential expansion of government and taxes, is dramatic. The "if it feels good, do it" lifestyle born of the 1960s has proved to be destructive and deadly.

So now, 40 years later, there are actually people who want to celebrate the anniversary of the Summer of Drugs. Hippies are once again descending on ultra-liberal San Francisco--a city that once wanted to give shopping carts to the homeless--to celebrate and try to remember their dopey days of youth when so many of their musical heroes and friends long ago assumed room temperature by "partying" themselves to death. Nice.

While I salute and commend the political and cultural activism of the 1960s that fueled the civil rights movement, other than that, the decade is barren of any positive cultural or social impact. Honest people will remember 1967 for what is truly was.

There is a saying that if you can remember the 1960s, you were not there. I was there and remember the decade in vivid, ugly detail. I remember its toxic underbelly excess because I was caught in the vortex of the music revolution that was sweeping the country, and because my radar was fine-tuned thanks to a clean and sober lifestyle.

Death due to drugs and the social carnage heaped upon America by hippies is nothing to celebrate. That is a fool's game, but it is quite apparent some burned-out hippies never learn.

Mr. Nugent is a rock star releasing his 35th album, "Love Grenade," this summer.

Dead is, well...Dead!

2007-07-03T12:30:00.000-05:00

I found this news article this morning:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070703/ts_alt_afp/usexecutionsuit

Briefly, it is about the mother of a convicted felon who was put to death in Ohio. The lethal injection execution took 86 minutes to produce the required outcome. The mother has filed suit in court naming the execution team as defendants for "cruel and unusual punishment". She claims they took too long to execute him because of their unenviable task of finding a suitable vein with which to deliver the lethal agents. (He was a known drug user who had heavy scarring on both arms because of his daily habit before incarceration.)

Um, they did their job, right? The guy is dead. I'll concede it took a while longer than ordering a Big Mac at your local drive thru window, but the fact remains that he was sentenced to die by this method, the method was implemented, and the outcome as far as anyone can tell was a complete success. The way I see it, the guy got another 86 minutes of life beyond what he should have expected- and this- after living in a prison cell since 1984. It took 23 years, one hour and 28 minutes to finally exercise the court's ruling.

Interestingly enough, I had to Google his name for additional sources/articles to find out what he was convicted of in the first place. (The above article doesn't mention it. USA Today doesn't mention it, his hometown paper doesn't mention it, and at least two other sources didn't cite his crime.)

Anyone care to guess what he was convicted of? Murder!! He's a cold blooded killer. But you won't hear that in the news, you will only hear that his mother was shocked by the lengthy outcome of the process and, on his behalf, she has filed a lawsuit citing that his civil rights were violated? What about the victim's rights? What about the family he left behind? Did the victim get tax payer sponsored: medical care, 3 square meals a day, cable TV, a weight room/gymnasium, clothing, haircuts, dental exams, climate controlled living quarters and the ability to visit with family members at least once per month?

Civil rights? Dead people don't have civil rights. Before the week is over, I predict that either Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton will pick up their standard (and microphone) and conduct a press conference on this issue.

(At a cost of $25K a year to incarcerate a convicted felon, the taxpayers of this nation invested $575,000 in this one criminal! Today's dollars put the annual cost at closer to $30K.)

Jeesh...

Points to Ponder...

2007-06-22T12:51:00.000-05:00

Heading into the weekend, I have these thoughts:

- Society is clamoring for so called 'gun free' zones. (Umm, have you been to a prison lately? Not exactly what I would call a violence-free community, yet no guns to be found.)

- Lon Horiuchi, Orenthal James (OJ) Simpson and Jack Kevorkian are still on the loose.

- Jesse Jackson and Al "Little Richard" Sharpton have yet to apologize to the vindicated Duke Lacrosse players, squad, and the Duke University campus. (Yet demanded that radio jock, Don Imus, extend the same courtesy to the Rutgers' players and their families.)

- DA Nifong got what he deserved- disbarment. Will the acquitted take him to civil court?

- Rosie O' Donnell hopes to follow Bob Barker's footsteps in hosting The Price is Right. (What's next...Madonna taking the helm of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?)

June 8, 1944

2007-06-08T07:45:00.000-05:00

What in the world was happening on Thursday, June 8, 1944?

On the Western Front... A second wave of Allied troops has landed. Elements of the US 7th Corps, from Utah beach, advance toward Cherbourg. The 4th Division engages in heavy fighting near Azeville. Elements of the US 5th Corps, on Omaha beach, capture Isigny but cannot establish a link with the American forces on Utah. A link is established between Omaha and Gold beach once British Marines, part of the 30th Corps, take Port-en-Bessin.

In Italy... German rearguards slow the advance of the US 5th Army and British 8th Army.

In New Guinea... Fighting continues on Biak Island. A Japanese attempt to ship reinforcements to Biak is intercepted by the cruiser squadron commanded by Admiral Crutchley. It is forced to retreat. On the mainland, at the American beachhead around Aitape, US forces begin counterattacking.

US Forces were advancing quickly on the now disintegrated German front in Normandy, France. 11,000 allied airplanes (including bombers) had scorched their way into the waiting German divisions eventually opening holes large enough to allow the US infantry & artillery to make key strongholds after the invasion on the beachheads at Juno, Gold, Sword, Utah and Omaha. Two days prior, the largest military assault on a sovereign nation took place. 180,000 men came across the English Channel to fight for freedom and to expunge Evil laying in wait on the French cliffs overhead. Ships in the English Channel were so numerous that one Admiral exclaimed that the US armed forces could "walk across without getting their feet wet".

And in tiny little Waco, TX., a son - David Michael, was born to Carmack (Mack) and Martha (Marty) Stirman. The third child in the (now) family of five came screaming into the world on D-Day + 2. His parents, poor as church mice, were I'm sure wondering how they would feed this child in the midst of a war torn world were rationing of every sort was the order of the day. (It was widely reported in newspapers across the country this day that "Nylon" was added to the list of items that only the Military was able to procure. Ladies everywhere were in mourning for their hosiery and massive hoarding ensued!)

Perhaps the birth of one little boy in Waco, TX during the world's largest military conflict isn't worth mentioning, but then again- that act is significant for me and my brother. For without that birth, we wouldn't be living in this world today as sons of a fine man who instilled in us the meaning of compassion, dignity, honor and respect. Whose life exemplifies these attributes every day and is treated with great respect everywhere he goes. I still marvel at those who years earlier sat at his feet during his teaching days and who, in my presence, still call him "Mr. Stirman" even though they have reached a mature, adult age and have families of their own. (Guy Fowler, age 45, for one!)

Mike Stirman is a man who is at once engaging, friendly, caring, loving and devoted to both family and friends. There is no doubt about his personal motivation- it is to serve God with all his heart. When people casually use the word "servant" I think of images from my past where my Dad helped somebody. It could have been replacing a flat tire, inviting them to our home for a meal, or just simply to sit and visit - and at times, pray for whatever they needed. My Dad is like that.

Dad didn't raise his voice to bolster his opinion on matters, yet he was firm and resolute when he had to be. Occasionally he employed the "right hand of fellowship" to my backside in order to get my stubborn brain to realize that what Dad's says, goes! But I never feared him physically. His compassion for his children was as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon and we knew that our home was safe, loving and a place where fear didn't exist. Many families today don't have this incredible heritage or that wonderful luxury. I'm fortunate to have grown up in Mike Stirman's home!

There are many things in my genetic make-up that I inherited from my Father. My hair color, build, facial features. Many are the times when his friends would comment on how much I looked like my dad. Even as a young kid, that always impressed me for some reason. I wanted to look like him, I wanted to be him. He is a great guy, he is my hero. Who wouldn't want to look like their hero? My wife says that my mannerisms and "looks" are just like his. Not my physical countenance, but those quirky little glances that people give during certain situations- like when the kids really mess up or when I'm surprised at an outcome. My eyebrows arch in that classic Stirman gaze that seems to penetrate reinforced concrete. But of all the things physical that remind me of whose I am, they are not as important as what this man represents.

It is my wish, on his 63rd birthday today, that when I reach his age- I, too, will have the same reputation and regard for my family and friends and that my own children will respect me with the same dignity that is afforded a father who exemplifies justice, loves kindness and walks humbly with his God. You are the greatest Dad any boy could ever hope to have and if I could do life all over again- I would pick you any day of the week and twice on Sunday!

Happy Birthday, Pop! May you have many, many more and may your sons follow your trail in the well worn paths forged by your steps!

We love you!!

-TMS

Safety, Safety, Safety!

2007-06-01T12:29:00.000-05:00

What happens when a normally safety-conscious shotgunner is distracted on the firing line?

This…

What you may not know, and thus can seriously injure and/or kill you, is that safety is never to be relegated to a ‘now and then’ state of mind. Safety, in all its forms must be consistently utilized at all times during a shooting session. Be it air rifle, pistol, rifle or a fine double shotgun- safety is paramount.

The pictures were provided by Mr. Steve Ellinger, President of Abilene Clay Sports in Abilene, TX. Steve and I discuss this issue periodically as it pertains to participants who shoot skeet, trap, 5-stand, ZZ trap and sporting clays courses at the local range. While Steve assures me they have not had this happen in many, many years- he is VERY consistent in communicating the issue at every event held by the club and its agents. People do get careless from time to time, and as a result, the above pictures prove that safety must be of paramount importance over fun- otherwise, the consequences can be deadly.

I’m happy to report that the individual who carried this weapon was not seriously injured. He is embarrassed for sure, and remains anonymous to the club members.

Evidently, someone working at the club was tidying up the Sporting Clays course, emptying trash cans and making sure the traps were turned off when he spied an unmistakable butt stock telescoping out of a trashcan. Upon closer inspection, he found the blown action and the peeled barrels of a Browning Citori Superposed 20-ga shotgun. At the bottom of the trashcan were the components that set the chain of events in motion.

Steve believes that the shooter inserted a 20-ga. shell on top of a 28-ga shell in the bottom chamber during the excitement of the shooting action. It’s not uncommon for someone using a shell pouch to carelessly have different loads for different guns if one is the owner of several shotguns made for differing gauges.

Most shooters I know handling a double gun will drop one shell in at a time - instead of training your hand to drop two simultaneously. If the shooter was in a rush, and loaded one barrel at a time without looking at his hands, it is conceivable that upon closing the breach he noticed that the bottom barrel was empty as the 28-ga shell would have slipped down into the barrel out of sight until it engaged the narrower area just ahead of the breach. Realizing his ‘mistake’, the shooter reached in his bag for another shell and stuck it in the bottom barrel- thus loading that barrel twice! In the above scenario, the firing pin engaged the closest shell, a 20-ga., which then sent all of its energy into the 28-ga. shell lodged in front of it. The 28-ga shell fired accordingly, setting off a chain reaction within the forcing cone area of the barrel. The walls of the barrel slim down narrowly at this point to accelerate the lead or steel shot pattern being thrown by the powder charge. In this case, the combined force of both shells exceeded the maximum force the steel alloy can consistently absorb and the walls of the barrel and the action failed. Metallurgists call this failed condition in metals ‘compromised’. (You think?)

Here’s another theory: the shooter unintentionally inserted a 28-ga. shell in the bottom barrel and a 20-ga. shell in the top barrel. The action closed correctly as the 28-ga. shell is quite a bit smaller and shorter than the 20-ga. shell thus the shooter was not alerted to the problem prior to firing his weapon. When he pulled the single selective trigger, the gun’s barrel selector was set for the bottom barrel to fire first, then the top barrel. The firing pin engaged the 28-ga shell and induced enough force to actuate the primer. That’s when all hell broke loose- literally! The unsupported 28-ga shell sent 100% of the resultant energy out the sidewalls (made of plastic) of the shell instead of the mouth or open end of the shell - and thus down the barrel- in an unrestricted fashion.

We know this because the yellow shell in the picture above shows a lengthwise split down both sides of the plastic wall - indicating the force went sideways instead of exiting at the end of the case mouth.

The erratic, unsupported energy was enough to pierce the barrel wall sending enough force backwards to set off the mainspring in the action turning loose the top barrel’s firing pin to engage the 20-ga shell within milliseconds of the first shell’s firing. The combined energy of the two shells then separated the joined barrels and peeled the already compromised barrel’s wall towards the muzzle and blew the solid, one piece steel action block sideways- in both directions! Friends, that was some kind of energy force!

The reason we can pretty well deduce that the backward force was sufficient enough to break the sear’s engagement on the top hammer/firing pin is by looking at the picture below and seeing the long cracks flowing horizontally from the tang of the action where it meets the wood stock. The force traveled backward to the extent that it whipped the small, thin metal of the tang with enough energy to break the softer wood cradled around it. I’m thinking the shooter was black and blue at the shoulder for several days- the recoil must have been tremendous! Kind of like firing both barrels on a .600 Nitro double rifle, simultaneously.

(Note the brass colored shell head that looks like a coin in the bottom of the action. The backward force of the energy welded the brass to the steel block!)

Either way, a lesser shell was definitely inserted into a weapon it was not designed for and caused havoc to both the firearm and the shooter. The shooter is fortunate that the tolerances of the manufacturer’s (in this case, Browning Firearms) design and engineering specifications proved stout enough to absorb most of the energy before it was imparted to the human subject. The consequences could have easily been deadly.

What lessons are to be learned from this incident?

1) Always be aware of your surroundings when handling a weapon

2) Always assume a weapon is loaded- checking often that you are following the prescribed, recommended loading procedures for the individual weapon you are using

3) Never mix different calibers or gauges of ammunition where you can easily access them on the firing line. Use only one gauge or caliber at one time- leave the rest at home or in your car.

4) When shooting with a group- be EXTRA cautious about Rule #1. It’s OK to have fun, but do your part to ensure your safety and that of your group you are shooting with!

5) Never, ever take drugs and/or alcohol of ANY type or amount when handling a weapon.

6) If you are involved in a shooting accident at a public range, the range officer or manager must be notified before you leave the range so that range management knows the actor(s) are safe and sound.

7) If you are part of a group where someone is injured and the injured person does not have the capacity to notify the range/club management of the incident- it is then YOUR responsibility to do so as a citizen and range participant. (Embarrassment is not a defense to others’ liability or assumed responsibility!)

Good luck and good shooting. Keep it safe out there- for you, and for the rest of us who like to keep our bodies intact!

(This is an X-ray of my skull taken Feb. 3rd, 2006 in the middle of Quail season. The dark spot in the middle of the halo is a # 7-1/2 copper plated lead ball buried in the muscle tissue of my neck below the base of my skull. I believe I can speak of safety from a rather unique and personal perspective...)

-TMS

Why are these kids smiling?

2007-05-28T14:49:00.001-05:00

Why are these children smiling?

Is it because they have just been told they are about to go get a snow-cone?
Is it because they just finished a wonderful lunch of their own making?
Is it because they are out of school and are looking forward to a long Summer vacation?
Or, is it because they are free to pursue whatever they want on this beautiful day?

Today is Memorial Day. A day that all Americans (mostly) can relax, go to a movie, go to the local swim club, or find that all important snow-cone. This is a nation that recognizes capitalism, free markets, freedom of religion/speech and the pursuit of liberty like no other nation on this earth. But it's a nation that owes a great debt of gratitude to men and women who generations past and present, ensured that she remains that way.

When I was my kids' age, I took this day for granted- often repeatedly. As I've grown older and wiser I've come to recognize the incredible price that was paid for me to pursue whatever I want- whenever I want- wherever I want. There aren't too many places on this globe where one can make that statement.

Today I've reflected mostly on those who have given their lives, willingly, so that the rest of us can peruse the local sales at the outlet center, eat out a meal or two, barbecue on the grill and generally make the most of a national holiday that invokes in me a debt of gratitude that I can never repay.

A BIG thank you to all our veterans who we honor today! Because of you, I'm able to choose how I live my life and lead my family accordingly. Your sacrifice makes it possible for all of us to pursue our dreams, in whatever fashion we choose.

You will not be forgotten, you will be cherished. Your sacrifice lives on in each of us who continue to make our mark in this world. I, for one, intend to use that gift to the best of my ability in order to honor your memory...

-TMS

Presidential Contender?

2007-05-23T12:31:00.000-05:00

Filmmaker Michael Moore's latest attempt at "serious" documentary, Sicko, has taken the conservative world by storm for his attempts to publicly transport a few 9/11 survivors with asymptomatic medical maladies to Castro's Cuba for healthcare paid for by none other than Messr Moore.
(I don't use the French reference lightly, I liken Mr. Moore to that particular culture as he is more like the French than American: fat, lazy, possessor of cheesy facial hair, horrible dresser, loathes weaponry and is forever directing his finger at someone else whilst parting with infinite instructions and insults at a cataclysmic rate.)

The problem is, he has created quite the row with certain politicians and one particular Hollywood actor who is well established and is already being likened to Ronald Reagan for his straight-talking style. Fred was not impressed with Moore's challenge to a health care debate. Presumably the debate would pertain to the merits or lack thereof on America's Healthcare system vs. Cuba's national health care system. Thompson decided to put Moore in his rightful place via the internet

This video says it all and comes straight from Mr. Thompson's personal library:

Run Fred, run!!

-TMS

Know any plastic surgeons?

2007-05-09T17:15:00.000-05:00

Ya'll-

I just can't even imagine this staring me in the face if she wins office next year!

Change Of Pace....

2007-05-03T12:03:00.000-05:00

My sweet, loving attentive wife doesn’t appreciate Jazz.

There was a time in my life when it took up a considerable portion of my time and energy. I spent the better part of 12 years of my life refining my music on a beautiful Getzen “Severinsen” model B-flat trumpet. I loved playing that instrument. And I loved my father all the more for introducing me to Jazz. I started playing Jazz melodies when I was 12. By the time I was in High School I was taking weekly private lessons from an incredible, local tutor and beginning to excel.

College rolled around and I stayed connected with Jazz, Big Band, Blues and all manner of musical disciplines. My interest and respect for the professional musician rose exponentially as I became exposed to a wider range of artists. Mostly, I would seek out fellow trumpeters and brass musicians alike. Later, I developed an ear for “the other guys” in the ensemble. The sax, guitar, piano and those crazy drummers! Names like- Gillespie, Basie, Coltrane, Dorsey, Goodman, Miller, Parker, Hines, Morton, Oliver, Davis, Satchmo, Ellington, Monk, Ferguson, Fitzgerald, Hirt, Severinsen, Clark, Shaughnessy and Vizutti.

The video clip below is of the late, great Jazz drummer- Buddy Rich. (1917-1987)
Buddy’s career started in 1921 at the tender age of 4! (His parents were vaudeville actors.) He was 53 when this video was taken- and going strong. He had his own band, his own HUGE reputation in jazz circles and was unarguably known as the best drummer in the history of the world. I will publicly contend that he still is- even in death. No one has come along to dethrone the king of the trap set.

The video is 4 minutes long. After the first minute, things get VERY interesting. The momentum that Buddy could build into his drum solos remains legendary. He was one of the finest musicians and showmen on the circuit. Many of today’s greats attribute their expertise and showmanship to emulating their mentor - Buddy Rich. An accomplished musician, writer and publisher of his own charts- there will never be another like him!

Is there any drummer left in this world who can accurately keep tempo with Rich’s heralded, quintessential chart, Time Check? No one comes to mind…

The "Anti" Solution...

2007-04-25T12:54:00.000-05:00

As I predicted, in and after the wake of the Virginia Tech slaughter, the anti-gun crowd is ratcheting up their sick spin like roosters after sun up.

My previous post dealt with New York state Representative, Carolyn McCarthy. As my kids would say, this lady is "whack". You only have to view the video once to understand that she is a small pawn in the liberal democratic wing. She carries forward, however, doing what is asked of her. Why? My guess is, because she is a new face on an old issue. Previously, Chucky "Cheese" Schumer - the Senior Senator from New York, carried the standard on this issue with Sarah Brady at his side. (The liberal media loves Sarah Brady.) But Chuck was smart enough to give it up prior to the last congressional elections as his admiring cohorts were easily defeated in most races. Chuck knows when to cut and run. But he's also smart, that's why Carolyn is front and center. She's new, she's fresh, and she's a woman who appeals to other women in her demographic- a group the Democrats desperately need to win over for the upcoming Presidential election.

My question to all of these people is THE quintessential question that sensible citizens should be asking:

"If passing more legislation will prevent future crimes committed with firearms, then why didn't the Brady Act prevent the Virginia Tech tragedy? Or Columbine? Or Ruby Ridge? Or Janet Reno's fiasco in Waco? Or the thousands of other crimes that occurred nationally, year after year, upon passage of this legislation?"

Because when backed against a wall with solid statistics and the fact that these crimes continue to occur, they have no answer.

Here's how to defeat this weak, ignorant argument from the Left every time:

"If guns are the cause of these tragedies, then we need to find a way to legislate all the fertilizer plants in this nation. After all, a fertilizer bomb killed all those folks at the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City."

But the Left has never been given to common sense. I'm guessing they never will. They are in politics simply for themselves. That is not to say that a lot of Republicans can escape that same label, but most know when to admit they are wrong. And when they don't, they lose their seat at the feeding trough come next election.

Look for SHRILLary and (Osama) Obama to make this argument a key plank in their next public address. Once their private polling data is in, they will be sure to wave this flag right up to the '08 election. Mark my words....

2007-04-20T07:48:00.000-05:00

The following short video of Carolyn McCarthy, is why liberal Democrats shouldn't be in positions of introducing legislation pertaining to firearms and the restriction thereof. Listen carefully as the reporter repeatedly gets her to explain clearly why the need for restricting "barrel shrouds" should be included in her proposed legislation:

Quotes from abroad on VT's tragic loss...

2007-04-18T07:34:00.000-05:00

Someone should have done something to prevent this...
Where were the police after they were called to campus the first time?
Why didn't the university do more to inform the student body?
How could something like this happen?
There should have been a better plan in place to handle such a crisis.
The university should have had more police presence on campus.
Students should be allowed to carry firearms on campus.
The state of Virginia should have stricter firearm laws- this could have been prevented.
The university should install hundreds of surveillance cameras on campus...
I'm mad that the administration didn't do more to prevent this tragedy!
How hard is it to find a gunman on a small campus once the shooting starts?
Campus buildings should have stricter access requirements.
How in the world did a Korean national obtain not one, but two firearms so easily?

The best quote I gleaned from a major news source this morning, The Wall Street Journal, summed up the tragedy succinctly and poignantly:

"...whose madness can't be explained by reason." (In referencing shooter Cho Seung-Hui)

Sad, but true. Madness can make such a mess of reason and post-event analysis. That's what makes madness so difficult to deal with. There are no parameters to neatly configure, analyze, scrutinize, justify, understand, comprehend or even to adequately assign blame. The press and a great majority of the public want that last part- badly. They want a swift, subsequent action as a result of a madness induced episode. This is not healthy. This does not help the victims' family grieve or come to grips with their horrific loss. President Bush was correct in his reply to NBC news anchor Brian Williams when asked, "What should we do about these guns?"

The President's immediate response was awesome: "I believe there...will come a time for political conversation about the issue, but now is not that time. We need to focus on healing and support those who are grieving during their loss."

For a guy who catches a lot of flack for his lack of quality communication- he nullified a non issue softly and poetically as anyone who cares for people who are hurting would do.

You've heard of Goat Ropin'?

2007-04-16T17:20:00.000-05:00

A long time Stirman family friend sent this little tidbit to me after reading my last post. He was present when he heard the cowpoke tell his tale...enjoy!

True story...I was witness to the conversation. The Fowler family was
on vacation in Colorado in about 1955...stopped at a little store, Dad
was visiting with the old cowboy whose wife was running the store. They
got to talking about deer hunting and things, and the old salt offered,
'I did rope a bear one time.' Well, Dad couldn't resist wanting the
details, and it turned out that the guy had some odd circumstance and a
good horse, and actually tossed a loop around a black bear. And not a
particularly large bear, either. The bear resented the act, and after a
little test of wills with the horse, the bear set himself and PULLED the
horse to himself, paw over paw. the bear killed the horse, and the
cowboy escaped with his life. Dad, always the practical kind of man,
asked, 'But, why did you rope the bear in the first place?'

The cowboy shrugged and looked embarrassed. "I don't honestly know. It
seemed like a good idea at the time."

Lesson learned. Let sleeping dogs lie, and do not practice cowboy
skills on wild animals. They are meant to be shot, not roped. Unless,
of course, one has plenty of backup in place of brains.

Friends - don't let friends - rope bears!

Story of the Week

2007-04-13T07:52:00.000-05:00

The following story I gleaned from a buddy of mine (not the one IN the story mind you), who found it on - yep, you guessed it - the internet. It was so entertaining I had to post on this blog for both of my readers to view. Enjoy!

My name is Gary and I had this idea that I was going to rope a deer, put it in a stall, feed it up on corn for a couple of weeks, then kill it and eat it. The first step in this adventure was getting a deer. I figured that since they congregated at my cattle feeder and do not seem to have much fear of me when we are there (a bold one will sometimes come right up and sniff at the bags of feed while I am in the back of the truck not 4 feet away) that it should not be difficult to rope one, get up to it and toss a bag over its head (to calm it down) then hog tie it and transport it home.

I filled the cattle feeder then hid down at the end with my rope. The cattle, which had seen the roping thing before, stayed well back. They were not having any of it. After about 20 minutes my deer showed up, 3 of them. I picked out a likely looking one, stepped out from the end of the feeder, and threw my rope. The deer just stood there and stared at me. I wrapped the rope around my waist and twisted the end so I would have a good hold. The deer still just stood and stared at me, but you could tell it was mildly concerned about the whole rope situation. I took a step towards it. It took a step away. I put a little tension on the rope and received an education.

The first thing that I learned is that while a deer may just stand there looking at you funny while you rope it, they are spurred to action when you start pulling on that rope. That deer EXPLODED.

The second thing I learned is that pound for pound, a deer is a LOT stronger than a cow or a colt. A cow or a colt in that weight range I could fight down with a rope with some dignity. A deer....no chance. That thing ran and bucked and twisted and pulled. There was no controlling it and certainly no getting close to it. As it jerked me off my feet and started dragging me across the ground, it occurred to me that having a deer on a rope was not nearly as good an idea as I originally imagined.

The only up side is that they do not have as much stamina as many animals. A brief 10 minutes later, it was tired and not nearly as quick to jerk me off my feet and drag me when I managed to get up. It took me a few minutes to realize this, since I was mostly blinded by the blood flowing out of the big gash in my head.

At that point I had lost my taste for corn fed venison. I just wanted to get that devil creature off the end of that rope. I figured if I just let it go with the rope hanging around its neck, it would likely die slow and painfully somewhere. At the time, there was no love at all between me and that deer. At that moment, I hated the thing and I would venture a guess that the feeling was mutual. Despite the gash in my head and the several large knots where I had cleverly arrested the deer's momentum by bracing my head against various large rocks as it dragged me across the ground, I could still think clearly enough to recognize that there was a small chance that I shared some tiny amount of responsibility for the situation we were in, so I didn't want the deer to have to suffer a slow death.

I managed to get it lined up to back in between my truck and the feeder, a little trap I had set beforehand. Kind of like a squeeze chute. I got it to back in there and started moving up so I could get my rope back.

Did you know that deer bite? They do! I never in a million years would have thought that a deer would bite somebody so I was very surprised when I reached up there to grab that rope and the deer grabbed hold of my wrist.

Now, when a deer bites you, it is not like being bit by a horse where they just bite you and then let go. A deer bites you and shakes its head, almost like a pit bull. They bite HARD and it hurts. The proper thing to do when a deer bites you is probably to freeze and draw back slowly. I tried screaming and shaking instead. My method was ineffective. It seems like the deer was biting and shaking for several minutes, but it was likely only several seconds. I, being smarter than a deer (though you may be questioning that claim by now) tricked it.

While I kept it busy tearing the hound out of my right arm, I reached up with my left hand and pulled that rope loose. That was when I got my final lesson in deer behavior for the day. Deer will strike at you with their front feet. They rear right up on their back feet and strike right about head and shoulder level, and their hooves are surprisingly sharp. I learned a long time ago that when an animal like a horse strikes at you with their hooves and you can't get away easily, the best thing to do is try to make a loud noise and make an aggressive move towards the animal. This will usually cause them to back down a bit so you can escape. This was not a horse. This was a deer, so obviously such trickery would not work.

In the course of a millisecond I devised a different strategy. I screamed like a woman and tried to turn and run. The reason I had always been told NOT to try to turn and run from a horse that paws at you is that there is a good chance that it will hit you in the back of the head. Deer may not be so different from horses after all, besides being twice as strong and three times as evil, because the second I turned to run, it hit me right in the back of the head and knocked me down.

Now when a deer paws at you and knocks you down it doesn't immediately leave. I suspect it does not recognize that the danger has passed. What they do instead is tear at your back and jump up and down on you while you are laying there crying like a little girl and covering your head. I finally managed to crawl under the truck and eventually the deer went away.

Now for the local legend. I was pretty beat up. My scalp was split open, I had several large goose eggs, my wrist was bleeding pretty good and felt broken (it turned out to be just badly bruised) and my back was bleeding in a few places, though my insulated canvas jacket had protected me from most of the worst of it.

I drove to the nearest place, which was the co-op. I got out of the truck, covered in blood and dust and looking like I'd just come from a bar-room brawl. The guy who ran the place saw me through the window and came running out yelling "what happened!?"

I have never seen any law in the state of Kansas that would prohibit an individual from roping a deer. I suspect that this is an area that they have overlooked entirely. Knowing, as I do, the lengths to which law enforcement personnel will go to exercise their power, I was concerned that they may find a way to twist the existing laws to paint my actions as criminal. I swear, not wanting to admit that I had done something monumentally stupid played no part in my response. I told him "I was attacked by a deer." I did not mention that at the time I had a rope on it.

The evidence was all over my body. Deer prints on the back of my jacket where it had stomped all over me and a large deer print on my face where it had struck me there. I asked him to call somebody to come get me. I didn't think I could make it home on my own. He did.

Later that afternoon, a game warden showed up at my house and wanted to know about the deer attack. Surprisingly, deer attacks are a rare thing and wildlife and parks was interested in the event. I tried to describe the attack as completely and accurately as I could. I was filling the grain hopper and this deer came out of nowhere and just started kicking the hell out of me and BIT me . It was obviously rabid or insane or something.

EVERYBODY for miles around knows about the deer attack (the guy at the co-op has a big mouth).

For several weeks people dragged their kids in the house when they saw deer around and the local ranchers carried rifles when they filled their feeders.

I have told several people the story, but NEVER anybody around here. I have to see these people every day and as an outsider, a "city folk", I have enough trouble fitting in without them snickering behind my back and whispering "there is the dumb-*** that tried to rope the deer".

I just thought I should perhaps pass this along in case any one else thought this was an intelligent thing to do...

Don I Mus Apologize 100 Times...

2007-04-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

Wow- Don Imus (for once) is in the hot seat. No surprise, really. His career is based upon his sharp tongued response to guests who frequently appear on his show. Too, his comments always come as a response to national and global events that occur in the world. He's a talking head. That's what he's supposed to do. But, he offended some young people who happen to play basketball really well and the fact that the 'victims' are minorities, has stirred up a hornet's nest among those who have ready access to big media. Here is the latest AP story to date about the unfortunate incident:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070410/ap_en_tv/imus_protests

While I personally do not condone the statements that Imus made in calling the Rutgers' women's basketball team "nappy headed ho's", he has apologized for his crude remarks repeatedly on the air and in front of television crews. Not only did he meet and apologize in person with two of his biggest critics, Jesse Jackson and Al (I ought to be promoting a boxing spectacle in Vegas) Sharpton, the turmoil in the media continues. It continues largely because of the ensuing saber waving of Jackson and Sharpton who cannot accept (or don't want to accept) the man's apologies. How many times must he be publicly taken to task? 70 times 7? Come on guys, enough is enough.

Forgive me, but why are Sharpton and Jackson the appointed judge and jury on all things relating to an exercise in poor judgement when it comes to racially motivated comments? Shouldn't the apologies have been made to the Athletics Department of Rutgers and specifically to the young ladies on the basketball team that he offended?

Old wounds run deep, some have said. Comments that pertain to racial bigotry and hatred are difficult to overcome with a simple apology others have said. Well, I must ask: At what point is the apology enough? At what point does the "offendee" reach forgiveness from the "offended"? What act of contrition is a high enough price to pay for words that cannot be taken back but for which numerous apologies have been publicly offered?

Apparently, the judge and jury say the answer is for Imus to be fired. Forget about 1st Amendment freedoms in this country. When it doesn't further Jackson's or Sharpton's agendas, or it doesn't fit another minority's agenda - we just look the other way and demand that a man lose his livelihood.

While despicable and deplorable, this man's constitutional right to say whatever he wishes on the airwaves is guaranteed by that raggedy old parchment in Washington, DC. Certainly, the body that oversees the regulating of public airwaves can censor him, fine him, even remove him from the airwaves for a time, but the last thing anyone wants is to bring the litmus test of the 1st Amendment to the forefront over racially oriented material.

Jackson and Sharpton need to get over it. They need to return to whatever activity occupied their world before the television lights and microphones were turned on. Like moths to a flame.

My two cents worth today.

Product Liability...

2007-04-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

A co-worker of mine recently ordered one of those doo-dads from the SkyMall magazine. You know the one- its usually tucked into the seat pocket in front of you when flying on a commuter aircraft whose seat is overpriced, smells of stale sweat, and usually performs an adequate job of getting you from point "A" to point "B" - with absolutely NO frills.

When my coworker received his 'item' by mail there was a little something extra in the package. It was a promotional gimmick. A freebie. Here's what he received:

For most, the labeling on the package is concise but just to be sure - the manufacturer put cartoons on the wrapping so that illiterate, hygienically-challenged folks would understand what to do with said product. Then, the manufacturer quite obviously submitted the artwork to a serious product liability firm for legal counsel. Here is what they came up with:

Do we need to be told, "Do not use for personal hygiene or as a baby wipe."?

The front of the package said to use it on glass, but the lawyers seem to think someone would wipe their posterior with it? Ummm...is there a precedent here I don't know about? This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase:

"We're gonna wax your butt!"

Ever see this before?

2007-04-04T12:15:00.000-05:00

Gore's Inconvenient Truth

2007-03-22T17:10:00.000-05:00

Well, An Inconvenient Truth is becoming all too IN-convenient for the environment’s number one hoax-meister, monsieur Al Gore. (You may remember him as the internet inventor?)

This week Gore appeared before the bipartisan Senate Environmental Committee comprised of both Senators and House members on Capitol Hill defending his widely touted beliefs on Global Warming theory. At one juncture, he was tested by former colleague, Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Texas. “You’re dear to us, but I just don’t agree with you on this.” Republican Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, who has labeled Global Warming a hoax (I concur), complained that the Democratic leadership gave Gore extra time and advantages not afforded a typical witness. Inhofe then grilled Gore about his personal energy use at his Tennessee mansion and showed the final frame of Gore’s film that read, “Are you ready to change the way you live?” Gore responded with laughter.

This is no laughing matter- his personal home energy consumption has been showcased on the internet by a number of sites- information that is alarming by any political standards, let alone one who points his finger at the American public and basically states, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

Snopes.com bears out the rumors. Here’s the link: http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/gorehome.asp

If you aren’t internet capable, here are selected passages of the information:

“Gore’s 10,000 sq. ft. multi-story mansion has 20 rooms and 8 baths.”

“Gore’s home uses more than 20 times the national average consumption of energy.”

“Gore’s mansion consumes more energy monthly than the average American household uses in an entire year.”

“Gore’s average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.” (2006)

“Gore’s average monthly (natural) gas bill was $1,080.” (2006)

“In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006.”

This is Al Gore’s mansion in Nashville, TN.

Let’s perform a little compare-and-contrast. Let us take a look at our current President’s personal energy conservation plans.

The Crawford Ranch home-site, better known as “The Prairie Chapel Ranch”, is a 4,000 sq. ft. single story structure built of native limestone and topped with energy saving metal roofing complete with solar energy panels to capture the sun’s radiation and convert it to electrical current for the home’s interior systems. The home is positioned on the property so as to maximize the winter sunlight, warming the interior walls and walkways. The Prairie Chapel White House has geothermal heat pumps circulating water through pipes buried 300 feet below the surface. This water passes through a heat exchange system which heats the home in winter and cools it in the summer. A 25,000 gallon underground cistern (to minimize evaporation requiring the need for constant replenishment), collects rainwater gathered from the home’s roof. Waste water from sinks, toilets, and showers is reclaimed into underground purifying tanks before being funneled back to the cistern. The water from the cistern is then used to irrigate the surrounding landscape. The house consumes 25% less energy of the average American home. (Source: Cowboys and Indians Magazine, Oct. 2002 and Chicago Tribune April 2001.)

Here is a picture set of Bush’s home:

Call me crazy - but it seems that our President knows more about the environmental issues and the impact one person can impart. This is the mark of a true leader. One who can “walk the talk”. This is simply something our environmental wacko friend from Tennessee can’t (or won’t?) grasp. The most glaring injustice of all is that his film won an Oscar for best documentary feature. Documentary? Try Fake-a-mentary. I guess Michael Moore will have company on that long bus ride to Crazyville. They do look cute together...

-TMS

Pelosi's Pansies...

2007-03-20T07:45:00.000-05:00

Cartoon of the week:

Snakes + Sweetwater = S-C-A-M

2007-03-12T07:45:00.000-05:00

Having lived in the "Big Country" now for five years, and having nothing better to do this past weekend, I thought it behooved my family and me to visit one of the local, annual attractions in a nearby town.

Sweetwater, TX. has been home of the annual Rattlesnake Roundup for longer than I can remember. I'm sure there is some history to be found on the internet but I'd rather not relive my experience. Suffice it to say, it is a big attraction- to locals and out-of-towners. In fact, while we were there I saw a few foreigners with large cameras ogling everything in sight.

Snakes don't bother me. But they do bother my bride- a lot! So I thought this might alleviate some of her fears. NO WAY...I assumed incorrectly. The Jaycees put on this event at the Nolan County Coliseum. Part of the event revolves around public education of reptiles in general, but especially the nemesis of Texas folk- diamondback rattlesnakes. Folks from miles around are paid $5/lb to bring in their snakes. They deposit them in a large, 5 foot high pit made of CDX plyboard and plexiglass. The plexiglass is to give the youngsters an upfront show of the snakes slithering around the floor. Usually there is a snake 'handler' in the pit with a short, alumimum stick not unlike those used to pick up trash on the highway. This stick, though, has a crook that comes to a blunt point on the tip. The crook is for picking up snakes and basically handling them from a distance so as not to get bit. But I'm getting ahead of myself...

We took off for Sweetwater around 10:45 AM. It was a Saturday and I figured a few folks would show up early and leave to go eat lunch which would keep any lines from being too long to get into the coliseum. (Mistake #1) When we arrived, there were cars parked for blocks and blocks long before we saw an entrance to the fair grounds. What we saw took my breath away. A massive horde of humanity all scrambling to get a good look at whatever was waiting inside that coliseum. Not only were there thousands of people, but there was a full blown carnival complete with rides (for all ages) and dozens of booths selling various carnival food and drink (Blech!).

After paying $2 to park on the grassy noll (at this point I was wishing there was a sniper to end my misery) we started walking towards the coliseum. With the mass of folks headed in a singular direction you would have thought that Claudius of Rome himself had been ressurected to resume the Games in of all places, Sweetwater, TX. !

We walked for about 750 yards, got to a chain link fence with two gates (with no signs to tell people where the main entrance was located), and proceeded to make our way into the commons area to see about getting inside. Everywhere are people walking, running, shuffling back and forth stuffing their faces with all kinds of food. Food wrapped in paper, food speared on large, overgrown toothpics, food in cups, food on paperplates. It was a nightmare for someone who doesn't like being in large, unknown crowds for an unknown event. (Mistake #2)It really unnerved me. I'm always checking people out when in public. It's something I've always done. Maybe its self preservation, maybe its reading too many stories about kids getting kidnapped in these venues, but my radar was up and humming and getting overwhelmed while trying to keep my family together.

Finally, we see something that resembles a kindergarten line-up at some entrance. We patiently wait another 15 minutes to edge closer to the front door. At this point we see a sign that says Adults pay $7/each, kids between 5-12 pay $4/each. (Mistake #3) The guy taking my money stands near a sign that says in large, block letters: "NO GUNS ALLOWED". Yet, he is standing there in the middle of this throng holding hundreds of dollars in cash, and a huge semi-automatic weapon on his belt complete with two spare magazines. No where on his person is there anything to identify this guy as a patrolman, sheriff, deputy, constable, policeman, security agent...nothing! No badge, no uniform, no name tag. Yet, he's allowed to stand there with a loaded weapon. (Now I'm wishing I had remembered to carry mine-Mistake #4)
$22 bucks later, we are headed inside.

We are literally shoulder-to-shoulder in this place the whole time we are inside. Their are dozens of vendors on the entry level concourse and there are dozens more down on the lower, center floor of the coliseum. 90% of the vending revolves around snake anatomy. Snake heads, snake skins, snakes placed in mason jars with alcohol, snake printed clothing, snake anatomy jewelry- rings, earrings, bracelets, hatbands - even walking canes made of dried, stuffed snakes shaped into a stick with a crook on one end. Anything someone can think of to use a piece of dead reptile for, someone here had it proudly on display - and for sale. One older gentleman had a full length, taxidermied rattlesnake in a long wooden display box tilted up on one end for everyone to see that it was about 6 feet 7 inches in length. Of course, it was for sale - for $500!

Wanting my kids to see a real, live rattlesnake we made our way to the huddled mass of people encircled around the plyboard pit filled with vipers. In the middle of the pit was a cowboy with his name printed proudly on his shirt pocket, his Jaycees chapter embroidered on the back, and a microphone stuck on his lapel so everyone within 500 yards could hear what he was saying about the Western Diamondback Rattler. The kids enjoyed it and I enjoyed hearing him give his nature talk and watching them 'milk' the rattlers over a large collection jar half-filled with venom. You see, one of the reasons for this gathering is to collect fresh snake venom to be used for anti-venom for those unfortunate enough to get bit. The guy would mash the snake's head on the demonstration table with his aluminum stick and get his thumb and forefinger behind the head. Then he would lift the snake over the jar, and squeeze the head hard enough to pop the jaws open and place the upper plate (with exposed fangs) over the lip of the glass. The minute the fangs came in contact with the jar, a yellowish fluid quickly exited and slid down the face of the jarlip. Some of these snakes emptied about 2 teaspoons of venom at once! It was pretty impressive and gave me proper respect for these critters.

We stayed around the pit for around 15 minutes and the kids decided to look around the tables. Since all the stuff was snake related they were interested- until they saw the prices. You see, they had brought their own money in hopes of picking up a souvenir or two. Well, when a $2 Wal-mart T-shirt goes for $15-$18 you can guess what happened. No money was ever produced and no merchandise left with us to return home. (Thankfully!)

I looked at my spouse, the throng of people crushing around us, then at my kids and asked that fateful question: 'What now?"

In unison, I hear "Let's get out of here." Not that anyone was scared, but we had all come to the conclusion that this was all there was to see and experience. Not wanting to ask again, for fear of a differing opinion we made our way slowly to the stairs and exited the coliseum. By this time it's that part of the day when we eat lunch. We see nothing appetizing nor under $7 so opted to leave the grounds, go into town and see about lunch elsewhere. So we hike the 1,000 yards (or was it 5,000?) back to the car and we are now experiencing the migration of the Alaskan Salmon...we are swimming upstream among an even larger crowd hurrying to get to the snake pits, snake charmers, and snake hawking vendors....

Whew! I'm glad it's over, I'm sorry I wasted $24 plus gasoline but I can finally say we've been to Sweetwater to see 'them snakes'! Been a long time since I was scammed so efficiently and effortlessly...

-TMS

Hollywood & Politics

2007-03-08T12:30:00.000-06:00

When the two were mutually exclusive and harbored similar disdain for the other:

Click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KHdoImKOIE

-TMS

Cartoon of the Week...

2007-02-23T07:55:00.000-06:00

If politicians were in charge of the U.S. Treasury, what would our coins look like?

OUCH!

2007-02-15T07:45:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it's not always about the antlers...can you imagine the pain this animal is in?

The Guv-nuh Goofed

2007-02-07T17:05:00.000-06:00

More Movie Quotes...

2007-01-30T07:45:00.000-06:00

Remember the Paul Newman film, Cool Hand Luke?

For years, there was a running joke within the Stirman family about the movie's most famous line: "What we have here, is a failure to communicate!"

(This line was usually resurrected when one of us boys failed to properly clue the parents in on our whereabouts during the teen years.)

There are times in my life when I simply love to imitate the prison warden. He derisively abuses Newman's character (due to his many escape attempts from prison). It's inflected with a distinct Southern drawl: "Whut we have he-yuh, is a fail-yuh to com-yoo-nicate".

Lately, I want to run screaming out into the street sounding like Newman's half crazed character. Arms flailing wildly and head tilted back for maximum effect. (Of course, this is probably due to the fact that I work for a massive organization which moves as quickly as thick molasses at the North Pole.)

Anyone else have those days?

Truth is Stranger than Fiction

2007-01-20T11:57:00.000-06:00

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated by interesting trivia- mostly in the scientific realm. When I was young, my mother discovered that I loved to read. For many years I could count on receiving at least one lengthy, picture laced volume about facts (trivia) for Christmas and my birthday.

There were several phases I went through: Space Exploration, Dinosaurs, Marine Biology, Machinery, Inventions, etc. Then along came the annual Guinness Book of World Records- man, I was hooked.

To this day, I much prefer to read works of history or interesting biographies over a work of fiction. Anything to do with WW II currently has my attention. It all started with my introduction to Stephen Ambrose. (Thank you, Kevin Riley!) What a fascinating history professor/lecturer Ambrose must have been. If you’ve never read his classic work on Lewis & Clark, Undaunted Courage, you must obtain a copy at your local library. Though slow in the beginning, it quickly picks up pace and broadens the reader’s view of the entire tale of Western exploration during the early 18th century. His works on WW II are fully engaging and extremely detailed. I highly recommend these volumes: D-Day, Citizen Soldiers, The Victors, and Band of Brothers. Other interesting works: Undaunted Courage and Nothing Like It in the World (the history of the Transcontinental Railroad).

Recently, I ran across a most interesting article penned by Jacob Gottfredson of Guns Magazine, detailing the life of Colonel T. D. Smith.

Here’s just a teaser: Col. Thomas D. Smith is a college educated, decorated Vietnam War Fighter Pilot, Olympic and World Pistol Champion record holder, inventor, photographer, consultant, author and skydiver- without a parachute! That’s right- Col. Smith is the lone human to ever free fall from a plane at an elevation of 5,000 feet and lived to tell about it. Keep reading…

Mr. Smith used to spend boyhood summers with Ad Toepperwein- the great exhibition shooter. He has been an avid hunter for most of his life. Not satisfied with the average scope reticle, he set about inventing an ingenious device to satisfy his own needs. His experience as a fighter pilot coupled with a keen intellect birthed his version of the scope reticle called the “TDS Reticle”, after his own initials. Some have taken to calling it “The Christmas Tree.” Imagine the triangular outline of a Christmas tree etched onto a crystal lens within a scope. Within the triangle are horizontal bars increasing in horizontal length from top to bottom. The varying widths of the bars give windage values and the vertical spacing between them allows for bullet drop from 100 to 900 yards. Here’s a close up of what I’m describing:

To date, one can purchase this reticle only on certain Kahles and Swarovski scope models. If you have a deep pocket to purchase these wonderfully made scopes, you can own a piece of Col. Smith’s inventive creativity. (Retail starts at $950)

Col. Smith’s book, TD’s Tactical Stress Management, is the primary mental training program for a number of United States national shooting champions and at least one world champion. His “Brain Model,” derived from thermal imagery, is a brain alignment method for making a perfect shot- every time. Prior to his experience in Vietnam, someone recognized Col. Smith’s extraordinary shooting gift. It’s been said he could shoot a pistol like Van Clyburn, another Texan, could play the piano.

Col. Smith won his first match and kept winning, year after year, championship after championship. At the 1963 Pan American Games, he set the only World Record in pistol held by the U.S. In 1964, he was on the U.S. Olympic Team and placed 8th in the free pistol event. That same year, he won the National .45 Championship. In 1965 he won the National Indoor Championship at Fort Benning. He has held the National .22 and .45 Championships and the Air Force Service Pistol Championship at Camp Perry. Smith was also the first pistol shooter to hit 300 x 300 (perfect score) with the .22 and .45 handguns in registered competition.

At the U.S. Pan American games, he broke Russia’s Idatshin’s World Centerfire Pistol record, a record that is today the oldest human held world record in International Sports! Incidentally, the Colt pistol used to set the record was the first military weapon gratuitously awarded to a military member in U.S. history and is the centerpiece exhibit at the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia.

In all, Colonel Smith broke 79 world records throughout his career.

But if all of this isn’t enough, his adventure on Mount Helmos in Greece tops it all. Strapped to his seat at the center of a USAF C-47 transport, Col. Smith had begun to snap pictures with his Nikon camera of an Italian General seated across the aisle when the plane literally broke apart. Col. Smith found himself suddenly free falling through the air still strapped to his seat and without a parachute. He struggled free from his seat, and as he fell towards the snow capped rocky mountain some 5,000 feet below, he rolled himself into a ball and told himself he could make it. After several hours of unconsciousness, Col. Smith regained his senses and struggled free from his snowy tomb. Blind, bruised, and broken, he clawed snow from his eyes and found his way to the plane’s tail section. Bodies lay strewn about and he began dragging them into the plane’s tail.

Here are some excerpts from documentation recorded by Charles W. Maultsby, Lt. Col, USAF, Commander in his letter denoting Col. Smith’s nomination for the Martin-Baker Life Saving Award:

“Despite his injuries, complicated by partial eyesight and hands frozen into claws—he made repeated trips into the blizzard to gather debris with which to close the gaping hole (in the plan’s tail section) and then finished sealing the wind out with two parachutes. He retrieved 14 bundled parachutes which he dragged one at a time into the shelter, clawed them open, peeled ice and snow off the bodies, and covered his patients with parachutes and scraps of aircraft insulation.

“The major discovered his body was stiffening almost beyond control. He realized he could not afford the luxury of sleep as both he and the others would freeze to death if he did not remain awake to keep the parachute covers fluffed up to insure a minimum of airspace insulation to keep out the freezing cold. He then began exercising until he regained the use of his arms and legs. This regimen continued for 48 hours.

“Two of his patients died in the night. Of the three remaining, one was in total shock and the other two were maimed and could not move without assistance. All rescue radios were broken, there was no food or water, and the wreck was hidden from search aircraft by drifting layers of snow and ice. Major (at the time of the event) Smith examined the survivors and decided that another day of exposure and lack of medical attention would result in their death.

“After tying a signal flag to the top of the shelter and securing a signal parachute around his waist, he moved down the ridge in dense fog until he slipped and plummeted down the ridge. This process of falling down ridges continued for 1,500 feet until he broke out of the fog and was able to climb a peak, which was in the clear. The Major sat down, unwrapped the parachute, and held it in the wind and waited. Presently, a C-130 flew by and spotted the red parachute against the white snow. For the first time, rescue headquarters knew in which country the aircraft had crashed.”

(The US Sixth Fleet was directed to the Grecian Coast and helicopters from the USS Forrestal finalized the rescue the following day, 17 January 1966, at 1300 hours; three days and two nights after the accident. Three survivors were placed on stretchers, carried
to the helicopter, flown to Wheelus, AFB, and hospitalized in critical condition. Doctors there declared the three would not have survived without Major Smith’s care and the risk of his life in a timely bid for rescue.)

Col. Smith was awarded the Airman’s Medal for extraordinary heroism by General Bruce K. Holloway, Commander-in-Chief United States Air Forces in Europe. Jacob Gottfredson of Guns Magazine, who wrote a lengthy article (of which I’ve borrowed heavily from), finishes his article with this epilogue:

I wondered what had happened to TD’s Nikon. As it turned out, the camera was located by one of the cleanup crew several days later—some distance from TD’s point of impact. Thinking that it must have been damaged, he sent it to the factory. The film was recovered and printed. On it was the photo captured by Smith during the moments of the plan’s disintegration. I have that photo. It shows the Italian General amid the implosion of window glass next to him just as the plane broke up.

Post Script:
Before Col. Smith went into the military which enabled his illustrious, storied career he attended college on a football scholarship and lettered in Track at what was then called Abilene Christian College located in Abilene, TX. (Now ACU)

And the answer is...

2007-01-20T11:30:00.000-06:00

Alan Ladd, who played the title role in Shane, a
western that debuted on the bigscreen in 1953!

That was probably one of the last movies Hollywood ever made that was somewhat pro-gun- before war movies centering around WWII started making a come back.

New question in the week ahead...stay tuned.

-TS

Who said it?

2007-01-17T17:15:00.000-06:00

Here's a great quote I came across last week. Can you guess who said it (and when)?

"A gun is a tool, Marion. No better and no worse than any
other tool - an axe, a shovel, or anything. A gun is as good
or as bad as the man using it. Remember that."

(Stay tuned for more quotes and stories coming soon...)

Does America Need Change?

2007-01-12T16:53:00.000-06:00

I’m flabbergasted by the furor the Democrats are making. Do the American people really want (or need) “a new direction”? To hear Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid talk, America is in shambles.

Let’s take stock in our present situation:

- The stock market is at an all time high
- America’s 401(k)s are rising and in some cases above pre 9/11 values
- Unemployment is at a 25-year low
- Taxes are at a 20-year low
- Gasoline prices are falling weekly and near a two year low
- Domestic crude supplies are increasing – reducing OPEC dependence
- America has a surplus of natural gas
- America has a surplus of home heating oil
- The Federal deficit is down 50% -just as predicted, over last year alone
- Nation wide, home valuations are up 200% over the past 3-1/2 years
- Inflation is in check, hovering at 20 year lows
- There has not been one single terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11
- Osama is hiding in a cave somewhere in Tora Bora
- 95% of Al Qaeda’s top chiefs are dead or in jail providing us details
- Iraq is “ground zero” for terrorism just as Pres. Bush promised in '03
- There are no terrorists in the US thanks to Homeland/Intel. agencies

Now, call me crazy, but it sounds like we are in a pretty good situation. Arguably, we as Americans are doing quite well under the current administration and reaping the benefits of the hard working Republican majority recently ousted in the last election. Yet, the much touted Democratic leadership and their daily press releases would have the public believe that they are charging to the rescue in the nick of time.

Here is what I’m sure we can expect from our newly elected majority:

- Taxes will increase
- Gasoline prices escalate as US oil companies are over regulated
- Home heating oil will be in short supply as a result
- Natural gas prices will rise as US exploration is curtailed
- New home sales will decrease as corporate taxes are increased
- Small businesses will falter due to proposed $7.25 min. wage
- All existing tax breaks will be repealed
- Unemployment will rise
- Corporate benefits to workers will decrease or be eliminated
- Terrorism will sweep the Gulf region once military is removed
- Rogue states in the Middle East will resume nuclear activities
- Dictatorships will rise and flourish in the Middle East
- Terrorism will begin in earnest on American soil
- Military numbers decline as recruiters are banned from campuses
- Space exploration halted- money diverted to Global Warming issue
- R & D in the science & medical fields will suffer for lack of funding
- Our borders and border states will be overrun with illegal aliens
- Nationalization of healthcare will bankrupt lower & middle classes
- Physician appointments will grow by months from weeks
- TP will be scarce as Spotted Owl population explodes in Northwest

Okay, maybe that last one was just my way of thumbing my nose at the liberal left, but let’s be honest. The Democrats have failed to show the American people where any true shortfalls exist. They don’t even present a plan to assist in Iraq. All we have seen is sniping, bitterness and finger pointing. Does America need to be taken in a ‘new direction’ with priorities such as these sitting on Nancy Pelosi’s desk? 2008 won’t arrive soon enough. Perhaps the damage will be lessened by the short time they are in control? If the Democrats get their wish for 2008 they will control both the legislative and executive branches theoretically enabling anyone of their choosing to assume a seat in the country’s highest court. God save our country and our lone political defender in Washington- President Bush. At least we know he does what he says and says what he means.

Forget 9mm's for Self-Defense!

2006-12-22T15:43:00.000-06:00

Please read this CNN post from today's headlines:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/21/teen.bullet.ap/index.html

Any more questions about why the 9mm is not the caliber of choice for most state, local and government law enforcement, military & security agencies worldwide toting weapons?

1) Weak Penetration
2) Small Diameter
3) Low Mass
4) Usually takes multiple hits to disable threat

'Nuff said. Glad the kid is still alive, but if the prosecutor can't make a case as is without removing the bullet- he's not much of a lawyer to begin with....

Baghdad or DC- Which Is Safer?

2006-12-19T17:01:00.000-06:00

Those talking heads in the news can’t seem to get enough about the casualty/fatality rate in Iraq these days. Many critics of the war have cited that because of safety reasons, we should withdraw our troops immediately because of the high death toll sustained since March of 2003. I’ve often wondered what our troops in the field think when they hear this number batted around incessantly - night after night? What of the families here at home that have received the dreaded news that their loved one was killed? What about the children old enough to hear this on the evening television who no longer have a Mom or Dad at home because the parent gave their life for their country?

While war is never pleasant, sometimes it is unfortunately necessary to secure individual and national protection from those who mean to do harm, evil or both. Is Iraq out of control when it comes to our troops who are stationed there? Let’s take a look at some interesting statistics that I’ve gleaned from researching the Web.

- In 2004, Washington DC had a population of 550,521 and experienced 196 homicides.

- For every 100,000 people, the 2004 homicide rate in Washington, DC was 35.63.

- Total troop deaths during Operation Iraqi Freedom (as of 12/18/06) are 2,936.

- The estimated population of Baghdad, Iraq is around 7,000,000.

- For every 100,000 people in Baghdad the war’s death rate in any given year is 11.98.

What does this mean?

It means that if you are a US soldier, you are 3 times more likely to die as a result of walking the streets in downtown Washington, DC than you are in downtown Baghdad, Iraq. (Remember, DC is not in the middle of a war zone- this is the average homicide rate in any given year in our nation’s capital!)

Forget about pulling troops out of Iraq - let’s pull ‘em out of Washington, DC!

Sources: Department of Defense Casualty/Fatality Rates:
(http://www.defenselink.mil/news/casualty.pdf)
Metropolitan Crime Statistics for Washington, DC (by precinct):
(http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1239,q,543315.asp)
Population of Baghdad, Iraq:
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad%2C_Iraq)

Dirty .30 meets 'Gomer' !

2006-12-13T12:51:00.000-06:00

If you read the previous post about my VERY lucky hunting trip to Coleman County you will soon realize why this latest post is eyebrow raising!

The day before I left for my hunting trip I decided to do some low end maintenance on my (.30-’06) Mauser’s action to ensure that the bolt’s travel would be unimpeded by crud from the previous outing. No, I had not cleaned my gun immediately following the last use. This particular barrel loves to be dirty while at the same time maintaining what I consider very good accuracy for a hunting rig. (A freshly cleaned barrel with a couple of drops of oil tend to send my first shot high and to the right by about 3-4”.)

So out came the gun on the kitchen table along with my gun cleaning kit. First up, a good soaking of the bolt with a clean cloth dipped in Hoppe’s #9. (Best smell in the world if you ask me!) Setting aside the bolt to dry before oiling, I reached in for the only cleaning rod I have in .30 caliber- a three piece number made of aluminum that is very flimsy- even after being screwed together. As I put the rod together I considered whether to tip it with a bronze brush soaked with Hoppe’s or to go straight to the 100% cotton cloth patch soaked in same. I decided, “Nah, let’s scrub that sucker good then go in with a cloth patch. Better yet, let’s wrap the brush with a thin piece of cloth so that the bristles will scrub the cotton into the very bottom of the grooves thus saving you time.”

Yeah right, saving time- NOT! Word to the wise- don’t ever contemplate saving time while attempting to properly clean a firearm. The two usually don’t mix, and in my case, can be hazardous to your mental health…read on.

After dipping the cloth covered brush into my Hoppe’s I slowly pushed the rod from the breach end of the action into the throat area of the barrel. I knew right away the fit was tighter than it should have been. Did I immediately pull it out? No. I thought I could muscle it all the way down the length of the barrel. (Idiot, idiot, idiot!) I got that cleaning rod to advance about 6 inches and it stuck. I don’t mean it slowly came to a halt I mean it stopped like a large cork in a thin necked bottle! Try as I might, I could not get the thing to advance or retreat. I set the gun down on the table and tried to get my thoughts in order on how to proceed. I remembered getting a rod stuck in a smaller bore rifle two years ago. I dripped oil from the muzzle end and let it soak into the trouble area in an attempt to lubricate the problem area thus freeing the rod. The previous attempt worked. This time- it didn’t work at all. I let the oil soak for a good 5 minutes and that rod still wouldn’t budge.

My wife, now observing this dilemma asked what I was going to do. I said aloud, “I wish I had a solid, blunt faced rod of similar size to gently tap into the muzzle in order to get that rod to back out through the breach.” Wanting desperately to assuage my building anguish, she offered one of her wooden dowel rods she uses in sewing/knitting. I tried it in the muzzle end and it was a perfect (loose) fit and slid easily into the barrel. It was approximately 18 inches long. It mated with the rod tip and I began to slowly tap the exposed end with my hammer. I felt the wooden dowel sharply give. Looking towards the butt end of the rifle I hoped to see some increased length of exposed rod- but it appeared unchanged. What I had done was split the wood dowel rod like a saxophone reed and it wedged on either side of the rod tip and buried itself into the stiff metal bristles of the brush! Realizing what I had just done, there was no way to push that wood rod forward without making it worse, and I couldn’t back the metal rod out from the breach. Reaching for a pair of pliers I grasped the dowel rod firmly in an attempt to pull it backwards. A sharp crack at the muzzle confirmed my worst nightmare. The rod snapped a quarter of an inch outside the barrel leaving the wood dowel in its new (permanent?) home. I had committed the worst ‘GOMER’ ever! Not only was I extremely mad at myself for doing this I was most vexed about how to solve the problem within the next 18 hours before going on this hunt. A small voice entered my head: “Go to someone smarter than you, fella- like a gunsmith, and see if their use of proper tools and techniques will save your butt!”

Best advice my conscience has ever delivered in a clutch situation. I didn’t call to see if anyone was open I just gathered the rifle and headed down to my local shooting supply store downtown. (The two older gentlemen working at this store periodically worked on customer guns – both repairs and in customization.)

Arriving at the shop hoping for one -or at the most two – car(s) to be present so as to hide my asinine predicament I noticed no less than 6 vehicles parked out front. I thought, “Great, now everyone will know what I did today and have a great laugh at my expense!” The men standing around the counter glanced to see who came in the door but didn’t see my rifle with the rods sticking out each end as I briskly walked to the back of the store with the gun firmly planted against the length of my leg. (No sense in making it easy for them to see, right?) Soon after striking up a conversation with the gunsmith and explaining what I had done he took the entire rig from my hands and headed to his work bench with me in tow.

Putting the gun in the horizontal position he clamped it up firmly in his very large machine vise with the muzzle to my left and the buttstock to my right. After listening to each step I took in my attempt to rectify the problem and checking how tight the metal rod was stuck, he simply growled, “Boy, you’ll be lucky if we can get this rod out with your barrel’s rifling intact.” My heart melted. If his prediction came true, and we were able to remove the rods only to find mangled rifling (the part of the barrel that engages the projectile on it’s delicate, twisting journey), I knew there was no way I could go on my trip as the barrel would have to be reamed again (cut the rifling back to original specs with a new reamer) or worse, order a new barrel and have it installed on the existing action. Either way, it couldn’t be done in an hour and a half. The store closed at 5PM. It was now 3:30PM. (Besides, the gunsmith hadn’t planned on working on my gun today, he was reordering stock before I showed up and begged him for help.)

He tugged on the metal rod. He tried to grab what was left of the wooden dowel in the muzzle end and extract it- no go on either end. He decided, with my urgent coaxing, to take the last third of the 3-piece rod off leaving about 6 inches exposed out the breach end of the action. Then he took a rather large, rubber mallet and slowly began to tap on the rod. After four quick taps, my eyes fixated on the muzzle, I saw a slight movement to the left! I coached him to keep going. He tapped a little more and the dowel began to reappear as if by magic (the God of Nimrod was smiling down on me after all). With 4-5 successive blows he had that dowel rod out and the metal rod pushed through enough to grasp it with pliers and pull it clear of the muzzle. (WHEW!)

I asked him if he had a bore light so we could look at the lands and grooves of the rifling. “No, I got sumthin’ better than that,” he said. He walked over to his tool chest and pulled out the coolest toy I ever got to play with- a Hawkeye Bore Scope! I had read about these for years, but the steep price always prevented me from purchasing such a fancy rig. (They start around $800.) The scope basically looks like a cleaning rod with one notable exception. It has a large eyepiece on one end set at a 90-degree angle to the axis of the length of the rod (and therefore the barrel that it slides into). The eyepiece is not unlike what you look through when using a binocular. On the tip end of the rod is a brightly lit window milled into the metal made of glass (or crystal?) that exposes an intense, lighted fiber optic wire contained in the rod. In front of this light is a mirror set at a 45-degree angle so that whatever is exposed by the light through the window bounces back down the long axis of the scope and is bounced upward through the eye piece by another corresponding 45-degree mirror. The eyepiece magnifies what the user sees into a much larger version of what the “tip” is exposed to inside the barrel. (Think of it as a miniature version of a submarine’s periscope and you have the general idea.)

After moving the scope the entire length of the barrel my new (now close) friend announced that: “Well, you have some pitting in this barrel and a hell of a lot of jacket buildup. There’s copper everywhere in here. Here, take a look.” He handed the eyepiece over to me and allowed me a close-up glimpse of my barrel. Sure enough, I saw the dark areas he referred to as pitting (erosion of the metal due to lackluster maintenance and subsequent rusting) and a bright flaky substance that looked like copper flakes that had been hammered into the deep grooves of the bore. There was a LOT of jacket fouling. While I played with his scope he said casually, “Son, you are very lucky. I don’t see any problems with that rifling whatsoever. Those ‘ol military guns were made for abuse and you got your hands on one of the toughest I seen. That brush should have mangled that rifling.” I nearly wept for joy right in front of the guy!! My rifle was intact and ready for my big hunt…I thanked the man profusely.

Leaving the work area walking back into the store he adamantly preached to me that segmented rods (especially aluminum rods) were the worst thing anyone could subject a rifle’s barrel to- especially if the rifleman was serious about accuracy. He led me over to the wall holding Tipton's one piece cleaning rods made of carbon fiber. These are extremely light weight, with no joints to catch on the lands when sliding into the barrel. The carbon fiber is coated and very slick so that it slides across the metal like smooth glass. On top of purchasing this $35 rod (which is a good investment) I also bought a new brush. The other was trashed after it came out of the barrel. (Bent and horribly mangled.) The gunsmith admonished me for using bronze brushes. “Never, never use bronze brushes in a gun that you want to remain accurate. It can shave a tiny piece of the barrel every time you scrub with it- always use nylon. Nylon won’t interfere with the barrel and cleans just as good with the proper chemicals. Speaking of chemicals, you have a choice to make on getting that jacket fouling out of those rifling grooves.” I had forgotten about the jacket fouling since my elation over the intact rifling. He led me over to a small kiosk with a myriad of solvents, cleaners and specialty items. He handed over a small bottle with 2 ounces of clear liquid called Barnes CR-10. (Click on this name and you will be taken to a website with a picture.) This is an ammonia based solvent that works incredibly well on copper jacket fouling. When you run a soaked patch through your barrel it comes out dark as the chemicals react to the copper agent turning the white patch a dirty blue color. He told me to follow the instructions exactly as they appear on the label and keep using the stuff until a patch came out completely white- with no traces of blue. He says, “That’s when you know you got all the fouling out.”

I paid for my new cleaning rod, brush and solvent to the tune of $45. No charge for the removal of the stuck cleaning rod! (This guy just found a customer for life!)

After getting all this stuff home, I proceeded to clean the barrel and action of my rifle. Following the directions outlined on the label of the Barnes CR-10, I noticed there were several steps involved- six to be exact. I went through all six steps a total of three times before my last patch came out completely white and clean. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE SHINY INTERIOR OF THE BARREL once I turned the gun to the light and looked down the full length of the bore. That barrel looked like what I imagined it did when the original reaming job got through cutting the lands- everything was in sharp contrast and shone with the brilliance of a new nickel! It was obviously the first time I had seen that barrel totally cleaned down to the bare metal. I thought I had cleaned it well enough before with my brushes and regular solvent, but nothing really touched that jacket fouling like this Barnes product. I remain amazed even as I type this report. I will never clean another gun without using this stuff to remove jacket material- it is very hardy stuff and cheap! One bottle cost me $3.50 and a few drops go a long way.

Well, gotta run. I’m off to buy new Tipton carbon fiber rods for my 6mm and .22 caliber guns!