Veterans Day

hon·or

transitive verb \ˈä-nər\

: to regard or treat (someone) with respect and admiration : to show or give honor to (someone)
: to show admiration for (someone or something) in a public way : to give a public honor to (someone or something)

Today is a day to honor all Americans who have served their country.  Some have made great sacrifices.  As the saying goes:  All gave some, some gave all.

It's about more than getting a little discount in a store or a free meal at a restaurant.  These things are nice and I will be taking advantage of the free meal at Applebees today but it's also about taking just one day to put aside the petty bullshit that you bitch about every day and think about the sacrifices made by those who have defended freedom.

The soldiers who lived in the mud and filth of the trenches in WW1.  The troopers who shivered in the cold with no food and little ammunition at Bastogne.  The Marines who suffered from little food and malaria at Guadalcanal.  The Marines who froze, damn near to death at Chosin during the Korean war.

To today's military who hump rucks over 80 pounds up mountains in Afghanistan and sleep on the ground.

To think that you bitch that the traffic light is taking too long.  These guys are away from their families and sleeping in the yuck, eating crap food and getting ambushed and blown up by IED's.

Yes, I am going to go get my free dinner but I'm also going to hoist a lovely scotch to the reason I'm getting a free dinner.

To my fellow veterans, regardless of branch of service, you are my brother or sister and I thank you for everything you put aside to do what you do today. To those who serve now, thank you seems inadequate but it will have to do.

Here's a little more information about the history of today.

Ya know what? Fuck you

I'm sick to death of the various screeching weenies that run around after every mass shooting wailing about gun control.  Just fuck you already.

You keep forgetting that most of the mass shootings take place in posted gun free zones.  You remember those?  Those places where everyone is safer because no one is armed?  No one except the shooter.

How about the latest one?  Washington Navy Yard?  Double whammy there, a gun free zone located in a city with some of the most stringent anti gun laws in the country.  How's that gun control working out for you there snuffy?

How about Chicago?  Outright ban in place there until recently.  Murder capitol of the nation by FBI statistic.  More deaths in Chicago than in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.  How's that gun control working for you?

Now, we top all this off with this fucking Euro-weenie who prances around saying that America is in a civil war and the UN should intervene to stop it.  You think America has a gun problem now?  Wait and see what happens should the UN decide to invade a sovereign nation to impose their will.  I got your gun problem, the problem is we're likely to run out of targets before we run out of bullets.

Fuck you, fuck the UN.

Your ear leader called for a study on the gun violence issue.  He got it and none of the data supported his position.

You know what we need to ban?  Assault Feinsteins. And Liberals/collectivists/socialists.

Starbucks

I've been away from the news a bit, so I just saw that Starbucks has decided that handguns are no longer welcome in their stores.  I liked them better when they were neutral.

Well then, as a law-abiding citizen who chooses to be armed for self defense, I say unto you:

If you don't want my gun, then you don't want my money.  I'm not going into a mass murder empowerment zone just for a cup of your over priced and burnt tasting coffee.

Springfield Armory XD-S

I have just learned of a recall of Springfield Armory .45 and 9mm pistols.  You can learn more about it here.

Please stop using yours, if you have one, and follow the recommended steps in the recall notice.

Oh Thank God

Ear Leader issued an executive order barring the reimportation of surplus military rifles such as the M-1 Garand and M-1 Carbine.  Well, thank God for that.  We all know that those rifles have been used in so many crimes.

Now, I guess Obumbles is considering unilateral military strikes against Syria.  You know, he never called out his predecessor for doing that kind of thing.  No hypocrisy here, move along.

Well, we should strike Syria immediately because they have such a huge arsenal of weapons that can strike the US.  We can't have muslim terrorists striking the US directly.  That might undermine the damage that the moron-in-chief is already doing.

How can anyone with a functioning brain read the news and not get pissed off?  I just don't get it.  It's one of the top reasons I haven't been posting that much lately.  I get most of the fodder for my rants from news stories and I can't read it without becoming almost RCOB angry.

I know many websites that are preparing for the zombie apocalypse.  I have a news flash for you guys, you're too late.  It already happened.  Who do you think reelected that big eared clown?  I'm even seriously considering not carrying a gun at work anymore because I swear I may lose my shit and shoot the next kool aid drinker that tells me about what a great job Obambi is doing (well, I won't but the temptation is screaming my name).  You call the utter destruction of the American economy a good job?  You call turning millions of hard working Americans into part time employees a good job?  You think $3.79 a gallon for gas signifies a good job?  This country needs an enema.

An Ambassador gets butchered and (p)resident fuckwit goes back to bed while his secretary of stupid says "what difference does it make?" and the zombies who voted for this madness just shuffle on.  Police departments all over the nation are suffering budget cut backs and laying off officers but the gubmint gives them armored vehicles and tries to restrict the 2nd Amendment?  Are you fucking serious?  Who the fuck are you writing speeding tickets to anyway?  Is this how the game is played on whatever planet you come from?

I truly don't want to live on this planet any more.  I think this is why the aliens from other planets just buzz earth and then go home.  They take a look at how fucked up we are, have a good laugh and realize that maybe home isn't so bad after all.  I wish they'd stop long enough for me to pack a bag and go with them.  I could put up with a little anal probing from them to get away from the serious ass raping we're getting here.

I'm going to go read Brigid now, she always makes me feel better.

Holy Hell, Am I Ever Behind

Yeah, I'm so far behind that I forgot to congratulate the Chicago Blackhawks on the Stanley cup. 

I forgot both of my traditional early August posts (the 6th and 9th for those who know history). 

The most recent event is from this last weekend.  I would like to congratulate the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps for winning their first ever DCI World Championship title.

From DCI.org:

Carolina Crown became a World Class World Champion for the first time in drum corps history Saturday, Aug. 10, as the 2013 DCI World Championships concluded at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Not since 1996 has DCI named a first-time World Champion, and never before has it had a Champion that started as an Open Class/Division II corps.

So, hearty congratulations to Carolina Crown and best wishes for many more.  This made sweeter by having edged out 14 time DCI champion Blue Devils by .25.  You did good Carolina Crown, real good and as little as it matters to the universe, I'm proud of you.

Congratulations

Hearty congratulations go to the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, on their 5-2 victory tonight over the Syracuse Crunch to claim the AHL Calder Cup.

Nice work guys.

D-Day

69 years ago today, Allied forces invaded Hitler's Fortress Europa at Normandy.

Some Sad News

As most of you are probably aware, I'm a huge weather geek.  I'm involved in my local RACES/SKYWARN group and have actually deployed this spring.  Michigan isn't exactly tornado alley.

I discovered today that tornado researcher and chaser Tim Samaras, his son Paul and his chase partner Carl Young were all killed during the last tornado outbreak in Oklahoma.  You can read the Fox News article here.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families.

Shameless Promotion

I'm going to post a little promotion for a friend.  This isn't something I do much but she just got her business started and is wanting a second store so, I thought I'd throw this out there.

If any of you make it up to Traverse City, Michigan and you're a coffee drinker, stop in to the Biggby Coffee located at 1535 South Division and have a cup.  While you're there, keep an eye out for the manager.  He's retired NHL player Kip Miller.

Distractions

Life has been distracting me away from this blog.  Even when I come in to read through the sites on my blog roll, the posting gods have deserted me.

Finances are super tight and that causes stress of the type not conducive to creative writing.  The news is just depressing.

I missed my usual Memorial day post where I would just have posted a reminder to remember those who paid the ultimate price for liberty.

The only heartwarming thing I've seen lately was at my local WallyWorld where, wonder of wonders, they actually had 2 AR's in stock.  They didn't have jack shit for ammo, but they had the regime change rifles.  And the one was a Colt patrol rifle with an $875 price tag on it.   Not outrageous pricing.  I was shocked.  I couldn't see the face of the price tag on the other one.

I'm still alive and I still have my job, my home, my Explorer and my Cat.  If I can just get back into the swing of posting, things will get some kind of normalcy.

Ahhhh, Spring

And time for the annual spring reminders.  When the time changed, did you change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors?  Did you also check your weather alert radio?

A new recommendation from the National Weather Service is to program your weather radio to alert on the counties to your west and south as well as your own county.  A great idea as it gives you a little extra warning that something wicked this way comes.  Your local NWS page will provide all the SAME codes for your area.

Have you checked your shelter to make sure it has water and maybe some food for a couple days?  You know, it's always possible that you could be stuck in your shelter for a bit.  Extra meds?  Pet supplies?  A little preparedness now prevents a lot of discomfort later.

Here's a little FAQ from the Storm Prediction Center.

If you're fascinated by weather and you would like to help your community, consider getting your Ham radio license and participating in Skywarn.  The ARRL has a page which will point you to your local Ham club.  If you happen to be in Michigan and you're a ham, give me a shout if you can.  KD8UES.  In southwest Michigan, I'm on the Pennfield repeater and when I'm at work in Grand Rapids, I'm probably listening to the link repeater system.  In Lansing, I'm on the local Lansing repeater or the link system again.  If you're already a ham, you know where to find the frequencies and PL codes, if you're not, what are you waiting for?