If you follow Jeff Cooper’s rules, it violates 1 and 2, maybe 3. If you follow the NRA rules, it violates 1, maybe 2, and probably 3. Either way, Mas Ayoob shows us what happens when you violate the rules.
Note: Mas’ article has some pictures, which aren’t that pleasant to look at… not too bad but bad enough… hopefully it’ll burn the image into your head and reinforce the importance of following the rules.
I have yet to be convinced that ethanol is truly a good “miracle” thing for anyone but the ethanol industry. If it was truly that good, it would be able to stand on its own two feet and not survive purely due to government mandate (i.e. it only survives because the force of law is behind it). I also don’t like how it affects corn prices.
Ed Wallace has an article in BusinessWeek magazine discussing The Great Ethanol Scam. (h/t to Slashdot).
If you read the comments at Slashdot you’ll read discussion of the success Brazil has. This is all well and good, but it’s going to require massive changes to succeed, from how the ethanol is made to all the cars that we drive. If this could be done, great. But how to get there? and can we (please) allow the free market to get us there?
I do think we need to pursue fuel sources other than petroleum-based fuels because of one simple reason: we’re consuming it faster than it can be produced (by Mother Nature). We’re going to run out.
When you have your workout, you probably have some sort of designated workout gear. Maybe it’s a t-shirt and sweatpants or shorts. Maybe it’s a dobok/gi. Whatever it is, we usually work out in such clothing because it’s purpose-built for the activity. Maybe there’s a formal uniform aspect. There’s strength of fibers (e.g. if you grapple and throw you don’t need the gear to rip). It should be roomy and comfortable so it doesn’t bind or constrict but not so loose as to flap around. It should wick away sweat. All sorts of things that help make for an ideal workout.
If your workout is for practicing self-defense, what are the chances you’ll be wearing that ideal workout gear during an attack? I’d say next to zero.
From time to time your workout should be performed in your normal street clothing. Consider what you wear on a normal basis and wear that, then work out. Maybe you wear a suit 90% of the time, so work out in a suit. If you don’t want to ruin your expensive good suits, try to find a “beater” suit at a store somewhere, something that’s inexpensive and you can sweat in, but again it should be representative of your daily wear. From time to time, switch to some other clothing. I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt or a button-down shirt, untucked. But sometimes I have to tuck in, so that makes a difference. Sometimes I wear shorts. Sometimes I wear a suit. Try these all out. The point is, get used to moving in that clothing so it doesn’t feel strange.
Another good reason for doing this? Find out if your wardrobe is a help or a hindrance. Maybe those pants are too tight and you cannot kick. Maybe the suit jacket is cut wrong and it’s tough to throw punches. Maybe the clothing and/or your carry location inhibits a good draw of your concealed handgun. There may also be advantages. Maybe you’ll discover that jacket conceals things better. Maybe you’ll learn that belt is a handy makeshift restraint. These are all things worth figuring out.
When you mix up your workout routine, try mixing up the attire as well. Make sure everything you’ve got works for you.
Before Wife and I were married and we had solo cats, we fed them expensive food. The more cats we amassed, the more food we went through, and so we had to mind the budget and as a result for the past some years the cats have just eaten what we find at the grocery store (the past some years it’s been Friskies Feline Favorites). We do feel them table scraps as well.
Thing is, older orange cat has always had vomit issues, and as I’ve mentioned elsewhere on the blog we believe his problems are something else. We have tried dietary changes for him and currently are on a big dietary change for him, but still there’s vomit. Thing is, one of the younger cats has been throwing up a little more often than one should expect. Plus when she does, it’s fairly undigested food. So Wife and I have begun talking about making another switch in food. Given all the discussions we had with our vet regarding orange cat and how diet might be involved in his problems, our current thinking is the cheap ingredients.
I’ve been Googling and researching on pet foods, and found an excellent resource:
While it’s talking about dog food, the Label Information 101 page is most informative, giving you a Rosetta Stone for interpreting food labels. How to sort the wheat from the chaff. A list of Ingredients to Avoid.
Fantastic resource.
As a result, I’m headed to the pet store. I’m going to pick up a bag of Royal Canin Indoor Adult 27 and see how that does for the cats.
On today, Memorial Day, a song of appreciation. Tesla’s “Pvt. Ledbetter”
This is something that’s been rolling around in my head for a while, but after this, I figure it’s time to move some electrons.
The catalyst is a comment in an opinion piece by Robert F. Green at the Fallbrook Bonsall Village News titled “Gun ownership has brought lawnessness”. I’m focusing on this passage from Mr. Green’s article:
Single-shot rifles and shotguns for bona-fide hunting is okay, but handguns, assault weapons and the like are a no-no! Come on, America, let’s grow up! This is not cowboys and Indians.
What caused the following thoughts to begin rolling around in my head was a comment made by a relative. This relative is no stranger to guns, a hunter. A few weekends ago Wife attended a large gathering of family (I regretfully was unable to attend). My understanding is a discussion came up between the relative and another at the gathering, Wife overheard something to the effect of “I don’t understand why anyone needs one of those” referring to your modern rifles with black plastic parts. Wife kept her mouth shut because it wasn’t a conversation she wanted to get into. Wife told me about it afterwards and it stuck in my craw ever since. You see, I own some of “those” and I’d like to explain a few things about them and why I choose to own them… or rather, why someone would want and/or need one of those.
Yesterday, Daughter got her first ride on a horse.
It was graciously arranged by a buddy of mine. He keeps his horses at Graymar Farms and arranged a session with the owner, Peggy Goff. It wasn’t a true lesson, more of a one-on-one overview and introduction. Daughter got to work with Bruce (a retired show horse), leading him, brushing, tacking, mounting, basic steering (both with the reigns and feet and body “english”… I don’t know all the proper terms). A little walking, a little trotting, weaving cones and riding around. Then some western showmanship stuff with leading, judging, pivoting and walking backwards. Just a basic overview of riding and showing.
Daughter was stoked. She had an ear-to-ear smile all day. Consequently, so did I. 🙂
What will come of this? I don’t know. Certainly Daughter wants to continue. I’ll look into lessons. I’m not saying no, I just have to figure out how to afford it.
Little girls and horses…. lord, what could I be getting myself into? 😮 😀
I did want to use this as a forum to thank Peggy for her generosity and kindness. She spent about 3 hours of her time with Daughter, and she didn’t have to (on paper it was to only be about an hour). This was all done for free, out of her own kindness and generosity. Peggy’s enthusiasm was off the charts; you can tell she loves what she does and has a true caring about horses. She’s funny, goofy, relaxed, knowledgeable, friendly, approachable. And while I may not know horses, I do know a lot about teaching, especially beginners. Peggy knew her stuff and was just fantastic. I’m not a customer, I have no vested interest here, just speaking as a happy father.
I know those who elected President Obama still want to believe the man farts rainbows and sunshine. That his touch still heals, that he still walks on water, that he is the anti-Bush.
Folks, please take off the blinders. Obama is turning out to be more Bush than Bush ever was.
Actually, it seems some may be taking off the blinders. Courtesy of Mike Kole we have this video of Rachel Maddow @ MSNBC. She talks about one of President’s Obama’s speeches, where he spoke about “prolonged detention”:
Yeah, I was wrong about Obama. I thought he was bad. Now I know he’s worse.
About a year ago the city of Austin started to install red light cameras at certain intersections. Driving around town a couple days ago I went through one of those intersections and commented to Wife about them.
Red light cameras are touted as being about saving lives. Bullshit. It’s about one thing: revenue. Time and time again it’s demonstrated that red-light cameras do not save lives and in fact tend to cause more accidents. It’s also been demonstrated that the revenue is awesome:
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty is pushing to expand the District’s use of automated enforcement even as the city is on pace to collect a record amount of revenue from its red-light-camera network and the second-highest total ever from its speed-camera program.
Through the first seven months of fiscal 2009, the city had issued 53,094 citations from its 49 red-light-camera locations and brought in $4.3 million in fine revenue, putting the District on pace to rake in $7.4 million by the end of September.
Since the program’s inception in 1999, the highest total brought in by the devices in a fiscal year was $7.2 million in 2000, Metropolitan Police Department statistics show.
Meanwhile, the District’s network of photo-radar cameras is on pace to bring in $30 million of revenue this fiscal year – second only to the $32.9 million brought in during fiscal 2006.
My comment?
If this really was about saving lives, then let’s change the penalty. No fines whatsoever. What should the penalty be? Well, anything that isn’t about money. Put “points” on the driver’s license. Require the driver to attend traffic safety school. Just nothing that generates revenue for the folks wanting to install the cameras (the city, county, whomever). Propose that. See what the legislators say. Reveal their true intentions.
Of course, another solution is for people to improve their driving skills. Frankly, I think some education may do more to help that than a simple fine. But the point here is to find what the politicians truly care about (as if we don’t already know).
The saying is to “fear the man with one gun” because since it’s his only gun he’s going to know it very well. However as a buddy of mine likes to say, it’s hard to play golf with only one club in the bag. Yes it is best to have a primary, to keep it in the same place, to build your muscle memory and so on. But nothing is 100% sometimes your primary just can’t work.
I’ve been thinking about alternative handguns for a while. Continue reading
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