LOL

We Are In Really Deep Trouble

Talk about begging for a caption contest!

Hat tip Instapundit.

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"If they're not doing anything wrong....

... then they shouldn't mind being recorded"

Why is it we get all up in arms when it's the .gov doing it to us, but when it's us doing it to the .gov, it's OK?

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CMP Update

The latest from the CMP, via email:

M1 CARBINES SOLD OUT. The CMP is now sold out of M1 carbines except for the few we will still be selling on our auction program. At this time, we have no reason to expect to receive more.

M1 CARBINE STRIPPED BARRELED RECEIVERS. We are now offering for sale M1 stripped carbine barreled receivers. The several hundred we have available are the residue of our carbine inspection and repair operations of the past several years. Item number R017BRZ, Price is $125 each plus $12.95 S&H each. For more information, please see the carbine page at http://www.thecmp.org/m1carbine.htm. Choice of manufacturer is luck of the draw.

CMP iPHONE APP NOW AVAILABLE. CMP is the official app for keeping score at Civilian Marksmanship Program sponsored shooting events. It features an easy to use interface that allows for quick recording of your score after each string. The CMP app calculates your shooting percentages automatically to let you know how you are doing throughout the event. You can also enter notes and record conditions so that you have a permanent record of details of each event.

The CMP app is designed for both the iPhone and iPad. This application is sponsored and endorsed by the Civilian Marksmanship Program and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this software are donated to the CMP. Visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cmp/id379873392?mt=8# to view and purchase the CMP app.

2010 WESTERN CMP GAMES AND CREEDMOOR CUP MATCHES. The Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Match combine to offer an unprecedented nine-day series of clinics, recreation-oriented "as-issued" military rifle matches and national-class service and match rifle competitions with the best highpower rifle shooters in the country. The Western Clinics and Matches will take place 16-24 October at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, Phoenix, AZ. The Official Program and on-line registration will be posted at http://www.odcmp.com/competitions/westerngames.htm as soon as it is available.

M14 USED STOCKS NOW AVAILABLE. These stocks are in good condition and include the following metal parts: stock ferrule, front sling swivel, stock liner and two screws, butt plate assembly, butt plate upper and lower screws and rear sling swivel. No hand guard included. Item PS113. $35 each plus S&H. Stocks are available on eStore and both CMP stores.

USED DAISY AIR RIFLES – DAISY 853 NOW AVAILABLE. These are High School returns that have been reconditioned by CMP armorers. Seals have been replaced and chronographed to meet factory velocity requirements. Includes front and rear sights, sling and buttplate spacer. Not available through estore at this time. Available only at North and South stores and through mail order. Item number DAISYM853U. Price $100 plus $14.95 S&H each.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM – ANNISTON. We have reinstituted the volunteer program at Anniston. For details, please see http://www.thecmp.org/volunteers.htm.

AMMO PURCHASE LIMITS LIFTED. All purchase limits for ammunition have been abolished.

GARAND RECEIVERS FOR SALE. CMP has once again accumulated enough Grade B receivers to offer them for sale. RMIRECSAB - M1 Garand stripped receiver, SA manufacture, recently refinished and parkerized. Price $195.00 + $9.95 S&H per receiver. Please see http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm.

M14 KITS NOW AVAILABLE. We have acquired a large quantity of M14 parts and have assembled a few hundred Grade A kits which are now being offered for retail sale. Kit includes every semi-auto part except barrel, bolt and receiver. Metallic parts will show signs of use and may have some minor rust or pitting. Stocks may have some dents and dings and minor cracks. Stocks may be walnut, hardwood, or synthetic. Item number is PSM1AKIT. Price is $600 per kit plus $22.95 S&H per kit. Please see https://estore.odcmp.com/store/catalog/catalog.aspx?pg=catalogList&cat=PAS.

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Sunday Music

Genesis "The Musical Box" from 1972. Continue Reading

Objective reporting

No, really!

Here is a good story in the Nashville city paper on Belle Meade, TN's carry law: (emphasis mine)

A Belle Meade gun law, which the mayor called inappropriate and discriminatory, could soon be updated.

The city’s board of commissioners is floating two proposed ordinances looking to either amend or delete a section of code that prohibits anyone to carry a dangerous weapon “with the intent to go armed” except for an “Army or Navy pistol which shall be carried openly in the hand.”

It’s the second phrase in particular that the board stated harkened back to the Reconstruction Era.

In a March 25 message to residents posted on the city’s website, the board stated the ordinance’s language appeared to be intended to restrict free blacks from owning handguns after the Civil War because mostly white men owned Army and Navy pistols.

Racist roots of gun control, indeed.

There is a little part that concerns me, however:

That prompted Belle Meade commissioners to look into the law and propose an ordinance that would amend the law, removing the phrase “except the Army or Navy pistol which shall be carried openly in the hand.”

Doing this, of course, would still prevent people from carrying a gun with the "intent to go armed" (why else would someone carry a gun?), it would just apply to white folk now. Or something.

But, it appears clearer heads prevailed:

Last week, the Belle Meade board of commissioners passed on first reading an ordinance that would delete the entire section of city code (Title 11-602.)

There ye go.

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On the Mosque in Manhattan

This letter to the Commercial Squeal says a lot of things well:

Passions run high about a proposed mosque near Ground Zero. No, it should definitely not be built there.

However, the "no" decision should not be coming from the government via Congress, or the courts, but from Muslims themselves who should have the decency, tact and common sense to realize that a mosque near Ground Zero is not a good idea and will not improve the image of Islam in the public eye.

No USO service center in Nagasaki or Hiroshima, no convent near Auschwitz, no Japanese cultural center near Pearl Harbor (although I must note that for the years I was stationed in Pearl Harbor, I noted that many of the exquisite and beautiful memorials dedicated to the honor and memory of U.S. servicemen who died there were from Japanese veteran associations.)

Muslims should not have to have this point explained to them, and their persistence in placing this insult upon real estate considered so dear by the American people reveals a lot about Islam in general and has weakened any arguments I have made in the defense of Muslims to my peers.

Muslims would do well to follow the example of the Japanese Pilot's Association and put flowers near Ground Zero, not a mosque.

Richard Miller

Munford, Tenn.

No one with a smidgen of intelligence can deny they have a constitutional right to build that mosque wherever they want, but there's more than intelligence at work here. Mister Miller makes some excellent points.

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A Good Read

The Intersection of Intelligence and Arrogance

Reading this brought me back to my days in the Army, "teaching" young lieutenants and hotshot young NCO's:

The high competence, high arrogance leader can win any individual battle but lose the war. Bosses with this combination create subordinates who become adept at passive aggression. Of course they say all the right words and show appropriate compliance, but they secretly take pleasure in the inevitable obstacles and setbacks the high competence/arrogance style creates. And they will watch passively as the leader fails when in fact they could help. The world enjoys seeing bright but arrogant people get their comeuppance.

Notice I said "young". It's important that these types stumble one good time in their formative years, to prevent them from becoming set in their ways and becoming an insufferable ass later in life.

And yes, young SP4/SGT Rustmeister had similar instruction back in the day. I was the shit, after all. =)

Thanks to Dr. Helen for the pointer.

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Sunday Music

One of the best blues collaborations ever - Hooker n Heat



This was the last time Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson's harmonica would be heard - he died shortly after these recordings.

John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat - "Driftin' Blues". Continue Reading

RIP Piper Bill

Most would agree the men who landed at Normandy on D-Day were brave beyond all expectation.

What would you call Bill Millin, a man who landed at Normandy on D-Day armed only with a set of bagpipes?

As the landing craft grounded off the Normandy beaches, Mr. Millin jumped into the water from his ramp, noting that the shock of the freezing cold water had made him completely forget his seasickness. He strode ashore through the surf continuing to play right up the beach. Not everyone in the unit approved of the musical accompaniment. Some cheered. Others yelled "mad bastard" at him — a sobriquet normally reserved for the commanding officer.

As Mr. Millin recalled, the speed of the brigade's advance tended to make him forget his fear. As he ran through the bagpipe repertoire the process seemed to gain an unearthly momentum of its own. When another officer told him to run, he heard himself saying calmly: "No, I won't be running sir. I will just play them as usual."

The greatest generation continues to impress.

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Doing the Site Block Thingy

Clayton Cramer has done me a big favor by showing me how to block sites I don't want to go to for fear of getting my peepee whacked.

Thanks to Instapundit for the link last night, and to Snowflakes in Hell for the reminder this morning.

Update: It works. It even blacks out links when searching on Google.
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Congrats to Les Jones

He shoots a mean picture, ya know. Or, in this case, a cute one.

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Quote of the Day

This one from Tam:

People talk about going through life in "Condition Yellow" like it's some kind of paranoia. It's not; it's merely staying aware of the world around you. It's not even necessarily a "tactical" thing, either. Being alert and aware of your surroundings can prevent all kinds of minor mishaps that can make life annoying, painful, expensive, or all three.

Go read the whole thing.

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Blogiversary

Not here.

Here.

Congrats on three years, Thirdpower.

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First Time

In at least two weeks that I rode into work with the windows open instead of the AC on.

Come on, fall!

I've always preferred cooler seasons. The way I see it, when it's cold, it's fairly easy to get warm, but when it's hot, it's not always easy to get cool.

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Sunday Music

Slash and Iggy Pop "We're All Gonna Die". Continue Reading

The Expendables

Stallone and Statham carry the load.

Rourke and Lundgren(?) do some acting.

I liked it.

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Quote of the Day

Via Sebastian commenting on how homicide rates in England fell after the introduction of firearms to society:

Back then, soldiering was an art form, and those not practiced in it couldn’t stand up to those who were. The firearm changed all that.

The Great Equalizer.

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Linkage

Sportsman's Guide asked me to link their ammunition page, so there it is.

I'm so easy.

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Credit Where its Due

They might not be my two favorite politicians in the world, but President Obama and Steve Cohen signed the SPEECH Act yesterday. What is it?

It ... protects American authors and journalists from having foreign libel judgments against them honored by U.S. courts.

Our politicians flipping off foreign meddling is a Good Thing in my book.

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Hey College Kids

If your professor ever starts going off about "the establishment", ask them if they have tenure.

If they say yes, they are the establishment. Act accordingly.

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New Link

Over on the left, you'll see a link for the site GunsForSale.com. Not only do they sell guns, they talk about them, too. =)

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Sunday Music

"Green Eyed Lady" - Sugarloaf. Continue Reading

Cigar Deal Alert

Cigars International is running a special on selected Rocky Patel cigars.

Notably, 10 Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 or 1992 torpedoes for $34.50. That's a steal.

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Those Cousin Humpin' Rednecks

Aren't all rednecks.

I find it interesting that Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana prohibit cousins from marrying each other, where California, New York and Massachusetts do not.

Cousin humpin' Progressives!

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Decisions, Decisions

I have to admit, I'm not 100% sure who to vote for tomorrow. While I'm not a Republican, I can vote in the primary, and I plan to. The question is, who to vote for?

Bill "I was against guns before I joined the NRA for life" Haslam, Zach "Theocracy is good" Wamp, or Ron "I'm already here" Ramsey.

Ok, maybe I'm being a little hard on Zach, he never advocated for theocracy, not really. But still, which one of these would make the best Governor?

Bill, I'm sorry, your MAIG thing puts you right out, I don't care if you joined without really knowing what they were about. If you treat gun rights with such little concern, you're not my guy.

Zach, the whole "return to our Judeo-Christian values" thing may be pandering, but I've spent time in countries where religion is the law, and it ain't pretty. Talk like that scares me. Besides, I'm Catholic, you might not even consider me a Christian (I've heard that more than once).

Ron, you're the only one who hasn't managed to piss me off yet. Besides, you're not scared of evil black rifles. So, for now, you're the man.

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93 Degrees

At 9:30 AM.

Gonna be a hot one.

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Knock Me Over With a Feather

You could have, after I read this:

Chris Peck: Why I'm a member of the NRA

Chris, you see, is the editor of our local puppy trainer, The Commercial Squeal, noted for its consistently anti-gun messages. He doesn't really convince me he's for gun rights. He does address the NRA's recent victories, but then he says this:

The NAACP, once as powerful and well-oiled a public-interest group as the NRA, struggled to stay relevant after the civil rights battles of the 1960s. The NAACP won the legal battles that eventually led to less-segregated schools, more access to the polls for African-Americans, and blazed a path for a new generation of young people who blithely assumed their more tolerant world was the way it has always been.

Yet these very victories, along with the bruises that came with them, set the stage for a difficult and ongoing transition for the 21st century NAACP. Some people suffered from diversity fatigue. Others simply concluded the work of the NAACP was largely done.

Could a similar struggle be ahead for the NRA?

Highly doubtful, Chris, for this one reason: the NAACP refused to change with the times. It refused to give up its original focus and kept crying "RACISM" in the face of societal change.

Also, the NRA does a lot, lot more than fight political battles. You'd know that if you knew ANYthing about the NRA.

I noticed that at no point does Chris say he's a member because he believes in the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

I have a feeling he's a member of the NRA for the same reason I get updates from the Brady Campaign - know thy enemy.

UPDATE: Shootin' buddy, for the win:

Chris, we are not stopping until you can buy handguns in vending machines at airports, gun classes are mandatory in junior high and high school, and owning an M16A2 (or whatever the line weapon of the U.S. Militree is) is mandatory.

LOL.

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Sunday Music

I missed last weekend, so I'll do a twofer. First, in honor of Dee Snider's smackdown of the Gores on the Wendy Williams show last week, here is Twisted Sister:



"I Wanna Rock"

Next is (arguably) the first heavy metal song, ever:



Blue Cheer "Summertime Blues".

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