Removing my PayPal Button

Yep, they've lost me as a customer. why? Because PayPal is anti-gun, of course.

I'm gonna miss those ones of dollars that poured in from my ones of readers....

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Memphis Has No Willie!

Well, here it is, July 31st, and King Willie has stepped down as Memphis mayor.

Sure, he's a year late, but that's OK. I half expected another "psych", but he followed though this time.

Memphis is better off without him.

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Disarray

Painting at work, band camp is winding down and back to school is ramping up.

I'll be around when I can.

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A Poll

The president's progress with the battered economy has been both praised and criticized. How well are his efforts measuring up with you?

Go here to answer.

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President Obama = Duran Duran

Duran Duran the pop group, not the science fiction character, of course.

Why do I say this? Could it be they both have great style, but no substance? Could it be they are both pretty boys who managed to parlay their looks into success?

Yeah, it could, but I'm not.

This post reminded me of a thought (I get those from time to time) I had when the First Family went shopping in France: President Obama is using the Duran Duran method.

What is the Duran Duran method? It's where you take your fleeting moment of fame and use it to get to all those exotic destinations you'd never have visited otherwise.

Duran Duran's music may have been shallow, but their videos rocked. I always tipped my hat to them for doing that.

And so, I also tip my hat to the President and his family - European shopping vacations, weekly golfing trips. (he should try St. Andrews next week, he only has three years left, after all)

Good on ya!

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Weekend Cigar Blogging: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (but not in that order)

I've tried a few cigars over the last couple weeks, thought I'd post a rundown.

Oliva Serie V (The Ugly)- While not too bad (a bit strong for my taste), it does win the "Ugliest Ash" award. This was a result of a rough patch I encountered about halfway through the smoke. It tried its best to go out on me. I nursed it through the rough spot to finish, but the ash speaks for itself

CAO MX2 (The Bad) - I seem to have no luck when it comes to this smoke. I managed to tear half the cap off when cutting. I thought it might have been the result of a cheapo cutter, but after getting through two thirds of the smoke, the thing canoed on me and then the wrapper started to split.

It's too bad, because the taste was great.

Oh, and the cutter worked fine on the other smokes later in the week.

Rocky Patel Edge Lite Battalion (The Good) - This is a big, fat Connecticut wrappered smoke. I mean 60 ring gauge fat. Having been smacked around by the Edge before, I was a bit leery of this one. Sure, it said "Lite", but that can be a relative term.

This is one great smoke. I've heard the term "creamy" used in some cigar reviews, but I've never had it presented so effectively as it was with this baby. It looked good, burned good, and the taste was great.

I'm tellin ya, I may be needing a second humidor, one for my 1990's and one for these. Too bad they don't have them as seconds.

Speaking of 1990's, they were a big hit at the party last weekend. I passed them out after popping the question, and everyone seemed to enjoy them. Of course, that means I have to order another bundle, but that's OK. This time I'll go with the Churchills.

That's the great thing about buying seconds - it lets the miser in me treat others to fine smokes without having a fit.

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Army Overstepping its Authority?

Sailorcurt has the skinny:

I have been informed by people (who shall remain nameless for obvious reasons) assigned to Fort Drum, that personnel are being asked if they own any firearms or other "dangerous weapons" (which includes BB guns and Paintball guns). If they answer in the affirmative, they are then handed the two page form depicted to the right and ORDERED to fill it out. They are told that it is irrelevant whether they live in private housing or on base, that all members attached to the installation must register their firearms.

The military has had strict rules on privately owned firearms since I can remember. If you lived on base, you had to register your weapons with the MPs, through your company commander.

However, requiring this for privately owned housing has never been a part of the plan. Sounds like someone is doing some "interpreting".

That's always been a pet peeve of mine - on the Navy base where I go for my food, booze and drugs, their motorcycle policy stated "over the ankle leather shoes highly encouraged". Of course, I've been turned away from the gate for not having said shoes, as though "highly encouraged" meant "required", but I digress.

At any rate, whoever is requiring this is a moron. The only thing I can think of is, these days, much of the Army family housing is off the base proper, and run by contractors. They are still subject (as far as I know) to Army policy.

But people living in their own, non-Army housing? They're not, nor should they be. Rules apply in both directions, people. Get with the program.

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O Happy Day

The Pig is back. It's a pretty low-power affair right now, I can barely get reception north of Millington, but I'm listening online now.

They play the most eclectic mix of music I've ever heard on-air.

Sweet.

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Same Here

Robb reminds us of the cardinal rule of blogging:

Blog every day.
Consider this my entry for Thursday.

What he said.

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We're Winning

Via the NRA's lovely and talented Rachel:

Bipartisan Majority of the U.S. Senate Votes in Favor of National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity

Fairfax, Va. – Today, by a margin of 58-39, a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate voted in favor of an amendment offered by Senator John Thune to provide interstate recognition of right-to-carry permits.

I'm beginning to like "Hope and Change".

Update: file this under "read the whole thing next time":

“While we are disappointed that the 60 vote procedural hurdle was not met, the vote shows that a bipartisan majority agrees with the NRA,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox.

Ah, well. Time to see who voted how I guess. Onwards and upwards.

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Let Me Get This Straight

The .gov wants to change healthcare.

They want my tax dollars to pay for medical treatment for people with no health insurance.

But, now, when someone with no health insurance gets sick or injured , they go to the hospital and get healthcare. They don't pay for it.

Where does the money come from?

My tax dollars.

Word for the day: Ouroboros

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The Sniper has New Digs

He's jumping off the Blogspot bandwagon and can be found at http://www.thesniper.us/

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Kevin Brings the Fisk

In his usual all-encompassing way.

Go read, it's time well spent.

I can't go without relating this, though. From Kevin's victim, Marc Rubin on the word "infringe":

We all know what "fringe" means and where the fringe is -- on the outer edges of something. And the amendment makes clear you cant encroach upon the right granted in the 2nd amendment even there, on the fringe

Sounds like something off a bad (but aren't they all?) SNL script.

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So, I Popped the Question

I've been out of circulation these last few days because I was busy helping plan my girlfriends fiancees birthday party. After she opened her presents, I asked her to marry me.

She said yes.

There is much joy in the Alehouse today, but little blogging till tomorrow.

This whole guns in restaurants thing is getting crazy around here, I hope to stir the pot a bit.

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Busy Today

Y'all have a great weekend!

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Tennessee's "Guns in Restaurants" Bill

A lot of people are kicking around a lot of inaccuracies regarding the new law. Here it is in its entirety:

(A) Authorized to carry a firearm under § 39-17-1351 who is not consuming beer, wine or any alcoholic beverage, and is within the confines of a restaurant that is open to the public and serves alcoholic beverages, wine or beer.

(B) As used in this subdivision (c)(3), “restaurant” means any public place kept, used, maintained, advertised and held out to the public as a place where meals are served and where meals are actually and regularly served, such place being provided with adequate and sanitary kitchen and dining room equipment, having employed therein a sufficient number and kind of employees to prepare, cook and serve suitable food for its guests. At least one (1) meal per day shall be served at least five (5) days a week, with the exception of holidays, vacations and periods of redecorating, and the serving of such meals shall be the principal business conducted.

That's all it says. No drinking allowed, no age restrictions, no 51% rule.

The definition of restaurant is lacking, to say the least. I mean, it defines the word, but leaves a lot of wiggle room legally.

Here's the reality check for everyone concerned. Remember, while this makes sense to me, I'm not a lawyer, so caveat emptor:

1. Unless you draw or otherwise display your firearm, no one will know you are armed.
2. If you do draw your firearm in self-defense, you will enjoy "affirmative defense" in court, meaning they won't charge you with the misdemeanor of carrying in a restricted area.
3. Seeing as this is a misdemeanor, unless the police actually see you in violation, you can't be charged.

While I don't advocate breaking the law, there may be times where you find yourself carrying where you aren't supposed to. If you find yourself in that situation, get yourself out of it at your earliest convenience.

It's happened to me in the past. A couple of months ago we were going to lunch after church. Everything went fine, but as we were leaving, I noticed a sign - "Now serving beer". Oops.

One of the downsides of getting comfortable with carrying a firearm, I guess.

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Brighton Arms Closed?

Popped by Brighton Arms yesterday, and it was closed. The handwritten sign said "Closed for Business", and their website is gone.

Does anyone know anything about this?

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The Real Reason Restaurant Owners Don't Want Legally Permitted Gun Carriers in Their Places?

They won't be drinking alcohol, which is any establishments cash cow.

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Waiting...

... for the rivers of wild west blood in the streets to come forth from Tennessee's restaurants.

I figure the noon rush should be especially gruesome.

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Interesting Email From General Motors Company

Yes, "Company", not "Corporation":

Dear (Rustmeister),

Today we are pleased to announce there is a new GM. Please take note that General Motors Corporation, Saturn LLC, and Saturn Distribution Corporation sold a substantial amount of their assets to a new legal entity, General Motors Company ("GM" or "New GM"). This email is being sent by New GM on behalf of both General Motors Corporation and New GM.

So, is this "New GM" our so-called "Government Motors", or is it a way around it?

I just hope Saturn returns to being Saturn again, instead of "Pontiac Lite". My first one ('92 SL2) had over 180,000 hard miles on it before I had to give it up.

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Less Than 24 Hours

... until the great state of Tennessee descends into total anarchy and chaos, with Wild West Blood in the restaurants, flowing out into the streets.

I'll post each and every instance of this, but only for tomorrow. I'm sure it would be too hard to keep up with the carnage for a whole week.

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The End of Music?

Katherine Coble talks about ASCAP going after bloggers:

I read yesterday on Twitter that ASCAP is thinking about going after bloggers who embed videos in their posts. So guess what I’m gonna stop doing? Yep.

I know that’s not really feel-goody of me. But I guess since I wasn’t a regular with the “post a video of a happy song on Friday” thing that I won’t be missed. But I did want to let other bloggers know that there might be a danger in the continued practice.

The music industry, like so many in the Legacy Media, is getting desperate.

I like what Aunt B said:

I honestly don’t understand how setting yourself up as the enemy of people who love your art form helps you preserve and promote that art form.

I hear they might retain Lars Ulrich as an advisor.

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Quote of the Day

Via Freep.com:

In my own experience of more than 13 years as a homicide prosecutor and head of the homicide unit of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, I never saw anyone charged with murder who had a license to legally carry a concealed weapon

Mike Cox
Michigan Attorney General, Lansing

Funny how that works.

Thanks to Sebastian for the pointer.

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Blogiversary

Not here.

Here.

Happy sixth (!), JayG

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Ok, Once Again, I Do Not Know

... whether I should laugh or cry:

I also have a theory about Sarah Palin as well and I'm going to put it out there on radio, hopefully someone can investigate.

But, I think maybe she did something to Michael Jackson. Maybe there's a scandal there. Maybe she's stepping down because something's about to come out.

Good lord, PDS has the potential to make the Bush version look like a trip to Disneyland.

Thanks to Firehand for the pointer.

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This is What Happens When People Carry Guns!

Police on scene of shooting at East Memphis office building

Memphis police are investigating a shooting in East Memphis this afternoon.

The incident happened about 3 p.m. at the Hobson Building at 5384 Poplar.

A jewelry salesman was leaving the building when he was attacked by four men who tried to rob him, said Joel Hobson of Hobson Realtors. The salesman pulled his gun and shot two of the men, Hobson said.

They did not get anything from the salesman, Hobson said.

Four vs. one, but the one had a gun.

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Smart Defender Pro - ROGUE

Just got this from the folks over at SUPERAntiSpyware:

Rusty,

Just an FYI - there's a nasty new rogue going around called Smart Defender Pro. We have updated our definitions to detect and remove all traces of this rogue. If you are currently running a copy of SUPERAntiSpyware Professional, update the latest version/definition before running a scan and completing the quarantine/removal process.

Let me know if you have any questions or if I can help in any way,

Mike

Careful out there. Them Internets can be tricky

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More on Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is going to be buried without his brain:

Michael Jackson will be buried without his brain today after doctors retained it following an autopsy to help determine the cause of death.

They put it in a jar, labeled it "Abby Something"

More from Michael Bane.

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Oh God My Eyes

Whatever you do, don't click here!

You have been warned.

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Mike Lupica is a Horse's Ass

Mike Lupica, sports writer and gun-fearing wussy, manages to turn the death of Steve McNair into an anti-gun rant. A pretty disjointed one, at that.

He says things like:

Now McNair dies the way he dies and shows you that a gun in the wrong hand is still the greatest equalizer of all.

Mike, what the hell does that even mean? You talk about McNair and his humble beginnings, then whip out this crap? A gun in the wrong hand is still just a gun - the hand (and the person holding attached to it) bears all responsibility in how that gun is used.

Then we read:

Where did the gun come from? Where it always comes from: Somewhere.

Alllllrighty then, Mike. The gun came from somewhere. Got it. Very insightful. You slid this one past the editor, didn't you?

If you were to read the whole thing, you'd swear this was two different stories that somehow got scrambled up. Part biography, part murder report, with some Brady - like talking points thrown in for good measure. There's even a segue into tennis for some reason. Oh, here's why:

They [the Williams sisters] are as famous around the world as McNair was in football and it did nothing to save their sister when bullets started flying one night in Compton.

Compton? Newsflash, Mike. That's not the safest place in the world to hang out. Lotsa gangstas. Take a drive down there sometime and see how long it takes before you're dodging bullets.

Mike takes the tried and true approach of blaming the gun, not the shooter. I think it's a twist on the old saying "Don't hate the player, hate the game."

Mike finally winds up with this:

He is the 36th homicide victim in Nashville this year. That is down from 41 at the same time last year.

Only in a country of gun lovers is that considered progress.

And only in the mind of a disconnected, pontificating sports reporter is it not.

Thanks to SayUncle for the pointer.

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Back From AWOL

Missed the music post yesterday, mea culpa. I'll make up for it next Sunday.

Just going to touch on a few things:

My neighborhood on the 4th is close to heaven. Virtually every house on both sides of the street was shooting fireworks. The whole night, it smelled like a day at the range. A really busy range.

Man, I really need to get to the range. It's been way too long.

I still like Sarah Palin. Anyone who can drove 100% of the Democrats and 50% of the Republicans crazy with PDS has my vote.

RIP Steve McNair. Damn sorry way to go, if you ask me. We'll probably never know exactly what happened, but my money's on the "You're leaving me to go back to your wife so I'm killing you and myself." angle. That's why I don't mess around. You might be able to survive Glenn Close and boiling bunnies, but two to the chest and two to the head? Not likely.

It really sucks to be famous these last two weeks, doesn't it?

Michael Jackson is still dead.

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Happy 4th

Here's hoping everybody has a great 4th.

If you're feeling patriotic, go read this.

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Differences

The difference between Farrah and Michael Jackson?

Farrah slept with Majors.


Carry on.

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I'm 23rd!

Brady Bunch, you're goin' down!

Thanks to everyone who linked to that site. There was another one, but I forgot who it was. Sorry.

My ones of readers are so proud of me. Continue Reading

Iran in Pictures

Courtesy of DoubleTapper.

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Nothing Much Today

Got some things going on, may not be back till tomorrow.

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