National Ammo Day!

Today is National Ammo Day.

I'll be buying a big ol' box of .38 Special, and hopefully some .380.

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Eric Holder Getting all GWB on Us?

I heard Eric Holder this morning on CBS talking about his decision to move the trial of the 9/11 terrorists to New York.

One thing that got me was this statement:

"I will select it (the prosecution venue), and I have."

Normally, I applaud a person when they stand up and take responsibility for their decisions. Actually, I do here as well, however the first thing that popped in my mind after hearing that was this:

"I am the decision maker."

The similarities are striking, as is the differences in the media's reactions to it.

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Thoughts on The Prisoner (spoiler)

I spent the last three nights watching AMC's remake of The Prisoner, a show I vaguely remember watching back in the '60's.

I really liked it. Visually, it managed to capture the surreal quality of the original without simply copying it. Rover was much more imposing in this version as well.

The acting was superb. Ian McKellan was as evil as a man could get. Jim Caviezel was great. Although his Number 6 wasn't as feisty as Patrick McGoohan's, but as it turned out, there was a reason for that.

Which brings me to my gripe: The ending sucked. Not as bad as the original series' ending sucked (nothing can suck that bad), but it sucked nevertheless.

The reason it sucked? Thankfully it wasn't because it was a hastily cobbled together musical, no.

The Village won! What kinda crap is that? The whole reason for the series was to show the triumph of man's individuality over that of the collective. No matter what they threw at Number Six, they lost.

Not this time. This time they won.

I shudder to think how the remake of Red Dawn will turn out. Everyone get out your Russian-to-English dictionaries!

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That's Some Expensive Poultry

Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams has been fined $250,000 for flipping the ol' double bird at the Buffalo Bills after the win last Sunday.

It's a good thing he didn't do it toward Brett Favre. Every sportswriter and reporter would have tarred and feathered him on the spot, after the NFL took everything he owned.

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I Thought Kids and Guns Were a Recipe for Disaster

Well, don't tell that to this kid:

DRIGGS, Idaho -- An 11-year-old Idaho boy fatally shot a black bear on his family's front porch after he said it wouldn't leave.

I'm sure the bear was a misunderstood product of its society. And maybe the kid was compensating for something, too.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

Thanks to Curt for the pointer.

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No Titans for Me

I was nice last Sunday, I really was. Sent an email to WREG's GM, called the station and was generally courteous about them not carrying the Titans game in Memphis.

The girl who answered the phone said she thought it was CBS's call as to what game was aired, so I used their feedback form to ask why there was no local team on TV.

No answer.

Today I once again find out that the Titans game won't be broadcast in Memphis this Sunday.

This is complete bullshit. Why on earth would anyone in Memphis want to watch the Bengals play? Geez.

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Happy Veterans Day!

Thanks to all Veterans, those still with us and those that have moved on.

I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you.

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Proud Poppa Moment #2

Well, marching band season is over, and Munford High took second place at the Nationals in Annapolis last Sunday.

While I can't find that video yet, here's the one from two weeks ago taken in Memphis at Bandmasters.

This is a much better video than the last one, it gives the whole presentation, and the sound is much better:



I once likened marching band to military Drill & Ceremonies. I stand corrected. Watch the video to see what I mean

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Happy Wall Day

Twenty years ago today, the Berlin Wall came down.

As somebody who grew up during the height of the Cold War, this was significant to me. I also spent the first ten years of my military service training for when "the balloon goes up". Thankfully, it never came.

Thanks to fellow Cold Warrior Baldilocks for reminding me, and to Anthony Martin for including a bit of President Regan's "Wall Speech" in his story.

They don't make Presidents like that any more....

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Laraine Perri

So, here's a girl who doesn't think kids should dress in any sort of camouflage pattern.

Maybe it's me, but I would no sooner dress my essence-of-­innocence son as a soldier than I would dress my daughter, if I had one, as a hooker

To be fair, Ms Perri did qualify her statement:

Not to equate heroic work with sleazy endeavors

But that's exactly what you did.

Not satisfied with comparing soldiers to hookers, Ms Perri also makes sure to deride that great menace, patriotism (emphasis mine) :

Camouflage suggests everything from "military," "war," and "combat" to "hide" and "hunt" and the implications therein. It may also suggest "patriotism," though patriotism of a less menacing sort could be achieved by dressing kids in stars and stripes.

Where do people like this come from?

Thanks to SayUncle for the tip. Continue Reading

Titan Thoughts

I'm thinking I'd like to watch the game, but Memphis isn't showing it.

They're showing the San Diego - NY Giants game instead.

Thanks, Memphis. Once again you show your lameness.

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Veterans Day Discounts

Via email, here's a list of businesses giving discounts to Veterans on Veterans Day:

Many stores, restaurants and other businesses offer discounts to military members, retirees, and other veterans. Below are the ones I am asked the most about. Proof of service is often required such as a military or retiree ID card, DD Form 214, VA card, or other proof of service, so be prepared if you are asked. I recommend you call ahead, because some locations may not participate. If you would like to have a VA card, simply register at your local VA Medical Center (with your DD-Form 214), and you can receive a photo ID card.

Applebees: Free select entree at participating stores
during business hours on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 with
active/reserve/retired ID card. http://www.applebees.com/vetsday/

Golden Corral: The 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday
dinner is scheduled for Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide (note that it is NOT on the actual Veterans Day). http://www.goldencorral.com/military/

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants: To the Veterans who have served in war and peace, we honor you Sunday, November 8th with a complimentary entree from a special menu (note that it is NOT on the actual Veterans Day). http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featured-promotion/Veterans-Appreciation-Day.aspx

Lowes: Starting Summer 2009, Lowe's Companies now offers a year-round 10 percent discount for all active, reserve, honorably discharged, retired military personnel, and their immediate family members. The offer is valid on purchases of up to $5,000. Some exclusions apply.

Home Depot: The Home Depot is offering all active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their immediate family members a 10 percent discount off their purchases in honor of Veteran's Day. The offer is valid on purchases of up to $2,000. Some exclusions apply. The promotion usually lasts for one week prior to Veterans Day, so call ahead to verify the days.

Hey, I have an idea, Take a Vet to Lunch there! You can honor the vet, and not have to spend a lot of money!

Cheapskate? Moi?

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Fort Hood

I was going to post my thoughts on this, but it looks like Mike Vanderboegh already did. These two were particularly on my mind:

1. Although the state-run media and our man-child president have not mentioned the fact, the attackers were both muslim and American soldiers.
...
6. If the attackers had been "Christian Identity" types, does anyone reading this doubt that their religious beliefs, no matter how sick and twisted, would not have been trumpeted by the state-run media?

Finally, this:

Finally, let us pray for the victims and their families. These were soldiers killed in the line of duty by an insidious enemy.

When I heard the initial reports, I thought it was a case of "dude freaked out from one too many deployments". I also figured it would be a good "in" for this administration to call for a complete pull out of troops.

Now that the facts are coming out, I wonder how they can spin this?

Here's what I know - We are at war. Our enemy hates us to our very core. They don't care if we're Republican, Democrat, or Independent. They don't care where we go to church, or if we go at all.

All they know is we are here, and in their eyes, we have no right to be.

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Inactivity

Sorry 'bout that. Life's been insisting I pay it some attention recently.

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Turnabout

This has been popping up all over (emphasis mine):

a Vermont state legislator recently introduced a bill requiring all unarmed Vermont citizens to pay $500 for the privilege of not owning a gun.

...

Under the bill, adults who choose not to own a weapon would be required to register their name, address, Social Security number, and driver's license number with the state. Those of military age, with the exception of police and members of the armed forces, would be required to pay the $500 fine.

Brings a smile to my face.

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