Call it What it REALLY Is

The Smallest Minority has an article by a former A.G. who seems to see the crux of the problem of Gun Violence: focus on the bad guys who have guns, not on the "evil guns" themselves.

May be worth a read; and if so, definitely worth thinking about.

Or you can just ignore it ... to your detriment.

Something to keep in mind the next time you find yourself arguing with a friend who just doesn't seem to "get it".

And another "Good Guy" bites the dust

Xavier ("The Nurse with a Gun") is hanging up his blog.

I'm reminded of the song "The End" (from "Apocalypse NOW") by The Doors. Except when we got to the end of that movie, I was drawn to watch the end sequence even as I moved toward the exit.

Xavier is (was?) entirely Something Else.

Over the years I have stolen shamelessly from his blog, and every time I did he made me look good.

My hope is that he changes his mind. I have not always appreciated every single article he wrote, but I have read the all because he can make even photography and bicycles interesting.

Now I find that I'm watching The End of Xavier, as I'm moving toward the exit.

Perhaps "Xavier Thoughts" is not really dying from ennui. Perhaps if I cross my fingers and hope strongly enough, he will change his mind. And perhaps I will wake up tomorrow and discover that it is all just a cruel joke.

But if not, I can understand why a man who has published significant and meaningful articles for years might willingly hang up his hat and move on.

We saw it with Kim DuTuit a couple of years ago, so I know it happens.

But it's a damn shame for a quality Blogger to be driven from the Public Venue just because he tires of dealing with obstreperous readers.

Maybe if I beg him, he will change his mind?

Worth a try.

And it may be worth your while to stop by and do your own share of begging.

Jerry Miculek and the "Practical Rifle"

From Jim Shepherd's Shooting Wire, we learn that Jerry Miculek is offering a DVD set on shooting Practical Rifle:

Last night, I got word that Jerry Miculek and his Bang, Inc. had collaborated with Brownell's to create a DVD set that teaches the Miculek approach to today's practical rifle- the AR-15. Called "The Jerry Miculek Practical Rifle" this 3-DVD set provides more than two hours of Miculek on the modern rifle.

From the basics of rifle setup to grip, stance and trigger control, Miculek offers insights that will help you master your AR-style rifle whether you're a hunter, competitor or in law enforcement.

Jerry's mastery of the AR in practical application comes through when you see some of the drills on shooting multiple and moving targets, shooting from behind cover, reloading and even malfunction drills. And the lessons aren't long ones. They are in bite-sized, easy digested lengths, and illustrated with animations, slow motion and innovative camera angles that allow you to not only see the "how" but the "why" in his teaching.

The DVDs won't be available until the end of January, but you can see a demo for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBwDCbybnCA.

If you've been amazed by Miculek's shooting skills on a variety of television programs (like me), you'll want to hear the high-speed shooter's slow-talking explanations of how he does what he does.

Not all of us will get the opportunity to train with Jerry, but now all of us can see - and hear- some of his advice and instruction at speeds we can handle.

Here's the video:

While you're viewing the video, take note of what Jerry is doing with his Support Hand.

The thumb is laid over the top of the foregrip, and his pointing finger is pointing at ... what else ... the target. There's some discussion in recent days about how this helps indexing the muzzle from one target to the next.

Also notice that, when he isn't paying attention to the camera but rather is indexing from one target to the next, he tends to cant the rifle about 40 degrees counter-clockwise ... at least, for a right-handed shooter. This is (old-school) not recommended for long-range accurate shooting, but if it helps Jerry ... well, there may be an advantage when engaging many near-targets. We're talking about fat targets within 20 - 50 yards, so apparently parallax isn't as important as centering the target with your sight picture and getting that double-tap off quick.

I found a thread on the Brian Enos site which discussed shooting with your rifle canted. Apparently, there's a way to adjust for 'cant', which suggests (according to "jaredr") that the ...

rule of thumb was aiming "high on the magazine side", i.e. when rolling rifle left (ejection port up), then aim high right (i.e. the side the magazine is sticking out on". Most shooters found that when rolling the rifle 90 degrees, their POI would shift approx 6" - 8" down and to the side. A 2:00 or 10:00 hold worked for me.

I've shot a lot of Pistol stages with the gun canted, especially when engaging "weak-hand only", and at the distances (under 20 yards) involved it doesn't seem to much matter how much the gun is canted, but the ability to find and hold a sight picture long enough to squeeze the trigger.

Still, it looks odd to watch a Grand Master engaging targets quickly and accurately with such an extreme cant.

But that's just me.

x

Nancy Pelosi Is A Horrible Woman! Jack Cafferty

Nancy Pelosi sent 20 staff and members of congress ... along with their spouses and children ... to the Copenhagen Climate Summit last month. The cost of the military jets (two 737s and a Gulfstream 5) exceeded $700,000 dollars. Pelosi decided who went, but she refused to answer any questions about costs.

See this for the details:



But now take a look at this video of a Nancy Pelosi speech to Congress on September 29, 2008. Just when America is searching desperately for a viable Presidential Candidate, and during the era of the "Bailout" Nancy the Horrible discusses the Democratic view of George W. Bush's term in office.

She offers comments about a "Seven Hundred Billion Dollars" and presidential "Recklessness Economic Policy" ("Anything Goes Mentality ... no regulation, no supervision, no discipline. .. Those Days are over!").

She lauds the leadership of Barney Frank, who was responsible as much as anyone else for the collapse of the Mortgage market (Fannie Mae, etc.)

Other notable sound-clips:

"Not Jobs, Not Capital ... Chaos!"

"Secretary of the treasury Czar-like Powers ..."

"Working together in a bi-partisan way we were able to ...."

"Unemployment is up ..."

"Working together we managed to put together some standards, and I'm really proud of what Barney Frank said ... Barney insisted that we would have forbearance on foreclosure ... help responsible home-owners stay in their home ... Strong, strong oversight. Equity for the taxpayer .. oversight on what the government for what they were doing ... end to the Golden parachute."

".... the American people have to pick up the tab." "Protection of the taxpayer. We need to stabilize the market ..."

"If we can't get the 700,000,000,00 back that we have invested ..."

"The minute that things get tough [snaps her fingers], they nationalize the risk..."


I can't go on any longer.

Pelosi should be making this same speech today, except that she should be talking about the Democrats and instead of talking about Billions of dollars, she could be talking about TRILLIONS of dollars!

But Nancy the Horrible is no longer inclined to denounce the Nationalization of Businesses, or the spending of taxpayer dollars. Why? Because it is HER guy who is trashing the economy. It is HER guy who is nationalizing businesses. It is HER guy who is making the same economically unsound Hail-Mary plays with the national economy, and she thinks it's A Good Idea.

Politicians. I hate them. Liars, Damned Liars, and Politicians.

Texas SASS

The Hobo Brasser is Snow-Birding in Texas again. I received this email from him a couple of days ago. The say that" Old Dogs can't learn New Tricks". That may be true, but anybody who's a shooter knows that any excuse to shoot somebody else's guns is a good excuse.

Well last Sunday it was either drive 320 mi round trip to Corpus Christi @ 2.79/gal or shoot Cowboy in McAllen. There is a local small, but very active cowboy group here. I know all of them, because they all shoot speed steel and some shoot IPSC. Three of them offered to let me use their guns. A no brainer huh?

They had four stages and in all it took about the same length of time as an IPSC match. Each stage had 10 rifle, 10 pistol and 2-4 shotgun. The guns I borrowed were a Marlin model 1894, two Ruger Bisleys and a model 94 shotgun with a short barrel. The rifle and pistols were in .38 spl. I supplied my own ammo.

On all stages the course description called for one on each and repeat with the pistols. My very first pistol target, I double tapped for a procedural. Old habits don't die they just surface at inopportune times. Cowboy scores time+ so I had 15 seconds added to my time for this and a miss I had on another stage. I finished 3rd overall out of 14 shooters and was 7 secs behind 2nd place. 27 behind first place.

It was a lot of fun. Cowboy requires you to remember things like how many shots on each target and a sequence to shoot them. I got a shotgun target out of sequence, but was not penalized when several people pointed out that the walkthrough was not specific enough.

I'm not rushing out and buying new guns and lord knows I cannot afford the clothes, but all said, I will be doing this again next month.

Talking to the shooters, all friends from other disciplines, I learned some interesting things about cowboy guns. Most, if not all, cowboy guns do not run smoothly off the shelf. They have to be tuned. Even double barrel shotguns. Uberti rifles are way over priced. Two people have them and said they had to tune and polish and keep working on them. On guys said he will not have another one. The most popular rifles are Marlins and the pistols are 90% Ruger's of one model or another.

Next month I'll wear my cowboy boots and maybe get a cheap hat (I left my good one at home-in Oregon). Ah well, next Sunday is speed steel and at the end of February I will drive to Corpus for the Texas State Carbine Championships which I will shoot with my CX4.

There's more there than I ever wanted to know about SASS, but it appears that the Good Ol' Boys in Texas aren't too proud to let a Dude shoot with him. Suppose he wore his Air Jordans to the match?

Bob Howard Medal of Honor Winner, Vietnam Veteran, Dies at 70 | NowPublic News Coverage

Bob Howard Medal of Honor Winner, Vietnam Veteran, Dies at 70 | NowPublic News Coverage

Bob Howard (Robert L. Howard) a Medal of Honor winner and one of the most highly decorated soldiers from the Vietnam War died December 23, 2009, at age 70 in Waco, Texas.

He was born July 11, 1939 in Opelika, Alabama, and served in the Army from 1956 to 1992. He served five tours in Vietnam and was a Sergeant First Class in the Special Forces on December 30, 1968 when he rallied his troops against 250 enemy soldiers despite being outnumbered and unable to walk himself. He was injured from grenade blasts and he was still the last man to board the helicopter out of there.

He was nominated for the Medal of Honor, the highest honor for valor, three times during a 13-month period. His long list of awards also included the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star and eight Purple Hearts.

He is remembered most for caring about his country and about the people in it.

He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

[contents edited]
____________________________________

That's the crux of the article. But watch this video to understand just how Bob Howard is an inspiration to all of us who think ourselves to be Men

National Public Radio To The Rescue!

Worried about whether you should be concerned about President Obama's "Public Health Options"?

Fear no more!

National Public Radio (the folks who exist on the sufferance of Your Tax Dollars) to the rescue.

NPR has published a satirical video which performs a much-needed public duty: poking fun at "Tea-Baggers" .

Tea-Baggers are the sadly mis-informed and mis-lead (by the damnably obstreperous Anti-Obama Racists) pawns of Conservative Scallawags conned into believing that Our Dear Leader would or could ever support a multiple-trillion dollar public program which offers nothing but benefits to the National Health for any purpose but to help American Citizens who cannot or will not purchase Health Insurance out of their own pockets.

And Dear Leader is ready to fine us Big Bucks if we reject his generous offer, you betcha!

I'm sure you are all as happy as I am to learn that America's Public Broadcasting System is willing to go full-out to support Dear Leader's Policies.

And remember, they do this not because they receive much of their funding from Your Tax Dollars, but because the care enough to research the issues and determine which side of the argument (Hah! Like there is another side in legitimate opposition to Obama!) is right for you.

OSHEESH!

OSHEESH!

Obama's newly appointed OSSHE may find himself in the enviable (in the eyes of some people) position to sabotage your 2nd Amendent Right to Keep and Bear Arms without running afoul of the constitution.

He doesn't need to convince legislatures to pass new laws, all he has to do is to declare them "unsafe within the workplace environment" and that will make it illegal (in a manner of speaking) to possess a firearm within the venue of a place where people are hired to do work for money.

David Kopel speaks up against this potential bureaucratic infringement on your constitutional rights, but I'm not sure anybody is listening.

Certainly, The Obama hasn't provided any reassurances. But surely he stands ready to protect The American People against any excesses perpetuated by one of his Czars, right?

Otherwise, we would find ourselves worrying about (the new appointee as the "director of the office of safe and drug free schools") Obama's Education Czar, for example, had a history of teaching about Homosexual practices to school-kids. And that would be Just Wrong, right?

I mean, we certainly shouldn't be concerned about "safety in the work place" in the context of our children in their schools, should we?

Oh, wait. We can't talk about that. It's entirely "Too Much Like Bush!"

ennui: Lack of a Sense of Outrage

I think I've lost the Edge which allows me to be an entertaining Blogger.

It's not that there aren't outrageous events occurring around the world. It's just that I don't care enough about it to react.

Look at the list of things I could be writing about:

In a world obsessed about Global Warming, Britain faces temperatures as cold as the South Pole. But do I care? I do not. Let them eat cake. They're big in Copenhagen, let them go back to a coal economy and choke in the out-gasses of their effluvia. If they were serious about the Kyoto Treaty, they would do the world a favor and just freeze to death. It's all the same to me.

In Virginia, a man assaults his fiancee and whacks her sister with a Samurai sword. Ordinarily, I would consider this an argument for Samurai Control, but today ... who cares? Sure, it slices and it dices, but can it make Julienne Fries? No? Then who cares?

Twenty-seven years ago, someone murdered 7 people by substituting Cyanide for the contents of Tylenol Capsules in the store, and now he has been arrested. Has anyone heard about this? No? I thought not. But the guys who use guns as an instrument for murder of a lesser number of people populate the headlines of newspapers around the world. Is the Mainstream Medai biased toward using Gun Crime as a case for Gun Control? Yes. Do they ignore non-gun murders? Yes. Who cares? Certainly they don't, and Fox is about the only media who bothers to report the potential end-game for this particular Mass Murder. If the MSM doesn't care enough to report it, why should I care any more?

A Maine woman shoots her husband as he sleeps. Never mind that he has been abusing her (and their daughter) for years, it's still a "gun crime". But there may have been some justification, it may actually be an argument for firearms ownership, in that other than pouring gasoline over him while he sleeps is historically the next-best way to rid one-self of an abusive husband. But do we hear about this in most MSM venues? No. The Burning Bed gets a lot of publicity, but this does not. Who cares? Certainly not me. (PS: She was absolved of any criminal act and allowed to go free ... as if it matters, right?)

And that "Several States Ease Restrictions on Gun Laws" also goes generally unreported. Is this important? I guess not. And the reasons why these restrictions are 'eased' -- and more important, the fact that the results are that less crimes are committed in states with fewer restrictions to firearms ownership, doesn't seem to be publically accepted as significant must mean that most people just really do NOT care. So for once, I find myself with the (supposed) majority on this issue. Because you know what? I don't care.

What is important?

In England, it's important that "Tommy the Tank" books (a child's storybook about a steam engine named 'Tommy") is sexist, and "Demeaning to Women". But if we refer to an individual woman as being 'built like a tank', we're sexist and demeaning to women, to. You can't win, so why bother trying?

And in case those of us who call America 'home' are feeling just a little smug, because stuff like that just can't happen in American, please be advised that New York has declared war on "realistic-looking Toy Guns". But I don't live in New York, and I have no idea how big a problem this is, so while I may conceivably care ... I'm in no position to criticize them, either.

So "I Don't Care!"

I'm not saying that my Lese Majesty attitude is the right way to live, all I'm saying is that if we pay too much attention to the MSM while trying to determine what is societally and culturally important, we're bound to get it wrong every stinkin' time.

So why should we care?

Darned if I know.

Back Again

I have been remiss in blogging for far too long. I'll try to do better in the future.

In the meantime, I do hope that you have spent your time as wisely as I believe I have.

Sherrie Memorial

I've not been blogging much lately; stuff has been happening.

Not the least, of course, has been the passing of Sherrie Orpwood on Friday, December 18, 2009 ... which I briefly noted here.

Today was her Memorial Ceremony, and it was much more difficult ... personally ... than I had expected.

There were about 40 people in attendence. A dozen were there specifically because we knew Sherrie in the context of IPSC/USPSA competition, and most of us knew Sherrie and Lorin as a couple who worked the stages ... especially the Jungle Run ... together.

The rest of the folks at Sherrie's Memorial were Family, and Friends from work.

Sherrie and Lorin were 'second marriages', and I was not always clear on who was the progeny of Sherrie, or Lorin. So forgive me if I get the citatations wrong. The people at the ceremony were so loving in their paeans to Sherrie, I will always think of them as if she was their blood-mother/grandmother, and Lorin their blood father/grandfather.

Sherrie's son lead the ceremony, and I was impressed by his ability to control his emotions as he spoke of the love this woman.

Sherrie's husband, Lorin, found it difficult not to be overwhelmed by his grief. I sympathized with this; I'm not good at thinking of the deceased as "gone to a better place". All I can think of is the void their absence creates in this place, in which I reside.

Me and funerals (or 'Memorial Services') don't get along to good. They beat me up, and I whine a lot.

When the moment came for personal eulogies, I both dreaded, and desired to speak. I was too emotional, knew that I would not be able to give credit to this good woman, so I declined to present my eulogy. It was very simple, and perhaps I can give it now; because if I could write my eulogy, instead of speak it, it would sound something like this:

I've known Sherrie for something like ten or twelve years. I'm not sure how long. But in all that time, I have met them outside of a shooting range fewer times than I can count on the fingers of my thumbs.

I have heard many family members speak of the way that Sherrie and Lorin served to combine their families in comfort and in love, to the benefit of each family member. And I have heard tje the people who worked with Sherrie describe how effective she was as an on-line sales representative, because "she loved her customers".

But I knew Sherrie and Lorin in the context that they were always together.

They were a couple.

Their purpose was not to complete one another, but to BE with one another.

The best thing they did together in public, and the joint venture of which they were most proud, was that they first designed and implemented the "Jungle Run" stage in "Dundee Croc Matches" for several consecutive years.

Lorin and Sherrie both competed in USPSA competition from time to time. But that wasn't really very attractive to them. What they really enjoyed was designing and building a challenging stage, and then runnimg competitors through the stage to win, or lose it all ... Sherrie and Lorin were great advocates of encouraging competitors to seek their greatest rewards by "pushing the envelope", and they were always fair when evaluating the performance of each competitor.

But I couldn't give this Eulogy, because I was much to emotional at the Memorial Ceremony. Because my Significent Other ("SWMBO") is dealing with Lung Cancer, I was unable to control my emotions.

The USPSA people who were at Sherries's Memorial, besides myself, were:
Mike McCarter and Tom Chambers:
Bill and Nancy Marrs, Paul, and Jonathon (N.L.N.)
Caryn and Ron Shepherd.


When the service was over, I immediately grabbed my coat, draped it over my shoulders, and headed for the door. On the way out I noticed Caryn, then Rob Shepherd. I shook hands with both of them with out breaking stride, and in the process mentioned something like "too close to home, I can't deal with it'.

I would have loved to stay to talk to people who knew Sherrie and Lorin, but in truth I was far too emotional to communicate

Sandie is too vulnerable to the ... whatever ... that Sherrie experienced, and I cannot stand around and quietly discuss Sherrie without thinking about Sandie at the same time. This is, indeed too close to the areas in which I perceive myself as too vulnerable, and I am not prepared to deal with the prospect of loss at this time.

Lorin, I do hope that you understand that my running away was not because I care the less for your loss, or for the untimely loss of your lady Sherrie.

It's just that it is all close to home, and I am unable to control the emotions ... any more than were you, today.

Sorry, Pal. I know what you were going through, and I now how hard it is to deal with it when your nerve endings are prominent and you cannot handle the pain of the most unlikely comment... it's all pain, Lorin, and if I could take your pain into myself to spare you ... I would not have the strength; I could not, and I would not, take your pain.

Merry Christmas!

For all of our friends, relatives and neighbors ... Sandie and I hope that you have the safest and most rewarding Christmas Ever.

Jerry and Sandie

Sherrie Of The Jungle

It is with great sorrow that I must inform you that Sherrie of the Jungle, "The Princess of the Universe", has passed away from complications of Cancer.

Sorry, I'm not completely certain that her cancer is the direct cause of her death. But she was always so vital, so energetic, I cannot imagine that she is the victim of a less virulent and evil cause.

This is one of the most difficult things for me to do, to describe the passing of a magnificent Lady.

Sherrie Orpwood, and her husband Loren, have given much of their time and energy in the presentation of excellent USPSA/IPSC competition in the Jungle Run of the Dundee "Croc Match" and other matches. This is a measure of their devotion to the sport of Practical Shooting, but it is not the full measure of their contribution.

When SWMBO was diagnosed with Cancer in 2008, Sherrie and Loren revealed that Sherrie had been fighting Breast Cancer for over a year, but chose not to announce their battle until it became clear that they could offer encouragement to Sandie and to me by offering their experiences to help us deal with the pain of cancer in the context of their own battle.

During the past 18 months, they have been among the most stalwart supporters by the example of their experience, and the lessons they have learned. Sherrie, by her determination to "beat this thing"; Loren, by his loving support of Sherrie.

Now, Sherrie has lost the final battle, and her excellence may best be demonstrated by the contribution they have made in terms of time, originality and effort devoted to the creation of an excellent competitive challenge presented by the Jungle Run at Dundee matches.

Here they are, in the moment of their greatest glory ... other than their devotion to each other, and to the sport which they most loved:

Courage and Determination

I was hiding out in the stairwell alcove of the building next door to my office when I heard a familiar sound:

Scrape, Clunk. Rattle, scuff.

Scrape, Clunk. Rattle, scuff.

Scrape, Clunk. Rattle, scuff.

Slow, repetitive, predictable, I knew without looking the source of the noise.

It was The Old Man with the Walker.

I've seen him before, but I've heard him more times than I've seen him. Usually he comes through the halls of my office building about this time every day, but today, rainy and cold as it was, he was bypassing my office building and was instead bypassing the office building and traversing the sidewalk between the buildings.

Scrape, Clunk. Rattle, scuff.

The Scrape was his walker dragging as he ended the four-phase cycle of a step.

The Clunk was when he put the front wheels down to roll, and advance a few inches along his designated slow-speed highway.

The Rattle was when he picked up the front legs of the walker, and the crazy-wheels on those two legs wobbled momentarily in the air.

The scuff was when he moved one foot forward a few inches to take another step.

Scrape, Clunk. Rattle, scuff.

Have you ever seen an inch-worm? An inch-worm is Blazing Saddles compared to The Old Man with the Walker.

I first saw him today probably 30 yards up the sidewalk, inch-worming his way along. He was dressed in faded dungarees, sort-of-white sneakers, and a yellow rain-coat with a blue hood pulled over his head. It wasn't raining at the moment, but it was NorthWest Rain Forest raining for most of the day. Still, he chose to walk along the path instead of short-cutting through the building.

I've never talked to him. I've never stared at him as he passed by the door to my office ... instead I paid him the left-handed compliment of ignoring him as he made his painful way.

Today, it took maybe three minutes to traverse the maybe-thirty-yards to pass my non-observation point. He was hunched over, skinny-legged, and in his parka-hidden crooked posture I discerned a man of probably Methuselah-age. Or perhaps Methuselah's grandfather.


As he finally passed my observation point at a sub-snail pace, I watched him covertly. He couldn't see me, and in truth all I saw of him was his knobby hands clutching the handles of his walker.


His walker was not the elegant and expensive design which includes both a fold-down seat on which he could rest, and a wire basket in which he could carry his books.

Instead, he had the absolute cheapest, basic model ... a tubular aluminum frame, handles to grip, and small wobbly wheels in the front.







It was my impression that all that he could afford, and it was good enough because it enabled him to walk from place to place ... which he clearly could not do without some kind of mechanical aid.

Not looking to impress anybody, not asking for help, not trying to evoke any kind of sympathy from anyone, The Old Man with the Walker was just getting from Point "A" to Point "B" to go about his business.

He had a small, cheap pack hanging from his scrawny shoulders, so I could only assume that he was a Student at this University. God only knows what he thought he could learn in a College, that he had not already learned from the proverbial School of Hard Knocks. It was my thought that he had already been knocked about in life as much as anyone has, but here he is carrying his maximum load on his back just trying to get from one classroom to another in the ten minutes hiatus between classes.


Scrape, Clunk. Rattle, scuff.


As I watched him move to the West slower than the sun settling in for a well-deserved nights sleep, I thought a thought of actually engaging in a conversation.

I don't know what he would have said, because I don't now anything about The Old Man with the Walker. But I can imagine what I might have said, if I were a better person than I am, and (equally unlikely) he felt the need to apologize for his agonizing, slow but noisy way:

"Don't worry about it, Old Man. We all do the best we can. But I doubt that any of us could claim to do it with the Courage to confront and defeat our impediments so inevitably, and the determination to live our life with such grace as you."

But I didn't say that, and couldn't have said it, and in my mind I would have wished to express my admiration more perfectly.

Still a better man might have said something, and said it more precisely.

In the actual event, I only watched The Old Man with the Walker slowly wend his way toward home, or to his next class, or anyway he wanted to go. He had a better handle on his life than I do, and even though I can move faster and more quietly, I could never do so with the dignity that this Old Man with the Walker demonstrated.

There are people in our world who live every day with pain, and are 'handicapped' so that they cannot move and function with as much unconscious, unaware skill.

But none of us contain one small bit as much grace as The Old Man with the Walker.

Every time I hear that Scrape, Clunk. Rattle, scuff, I think about the pain he must overcome, every day and every way.

And I am humbled.

Blue Jacket

I have been informed that my son has been awarded early promotion and the "Blue Jacket" in the Navy.

Ben is a Master at Arms, stationed at the San Diego Naval Station in California.

You may be aware that early promotion is awarded for exemplary achievement, which is a very important thing to get because along with the rank comes more responsibility, more challenging duties, and a raise in pay.

The "Blue Jacket" is awarded quarterly in a command, so the recipient is referred to as "Blue Jacket of the Quarter". Recipients must perform extra duties, including off-duty study, so it's not just an 'atta-boy' which most service members can expect to receive. All recipients of that award in the command may then compete for "Blue Jacket of the Year", which (again) is awarded to only one member of that command in the year.

I'm very proud of my son for his achievement, not only because it proves what I've always known ... that he is an exceptional man with developing leadership potential ... but also because it indicates that his commander is impressed by his devotion to duty and willingness to make the extra effort to be the best in his chosen profession.

When Ben chose to join the Navy I was concerned, as any parent would be, for the safety of a child who chooses the military during time of war.

Ben is a man now. Happily married with five children (the last two, twins) he has proven that he has left the nest and making his own way in the world. I realized that long before his commander did, I guess, but it never hit me so emphatically as it has now.

He originally joined the navy because his career choice was in Law Enforcement, and he believed that a tour of duty as a Master at Arms would eventually lead to a career as a policeman. He told me that one factor in his decision was that he admired my (short and quite involuntary) term of military service. [Cringe! I never wanted him to join the military because of my influence.]

Now ... I'm not sure if he will complete his tour and then look for a compatible civilian career, or if he will consider this recognition as a clear sign that there is a viable and attractive career for him in the Military.

Not that it matters what I would wish for him to choose, but I have full confidence that whatever choice he makes, he will be successful.

And I'll always be proud of him, no matter what he does.

The Ultimate Marksman

News Release from USPSA:

History Channel Now Seeking The ultimate Marksmen For Its First Competition Show!­

If you are skilled with a pistol, rifle or any other firearm, you could win $100,000 in prizes on TV’s first marksmanship competition show. The History Channel and the producers of "The Ultimate Fighter" are looking for anyone with mind-blowing shooting skills and a big personality to take on exciting physical challenges with multiple guns and mystery projectile weapons.

In each episode, contenders will face team and elimina­tion challenges inspired by real events in history, from Wild West shootouts to modern-day sniper ­missions. Every challenge will reveal the weapons, technologies and tactics of a different era, while hi-speed cameras capture the skillful execution of each test. If you’re in good physical shape, have mastered a firearm and can adapt to new weapons and demanding physical situations, you could be America ’s first “Top Shot.”­

APPLY TODAY!­
To apply, email TopShotCasting@gmail.com ­with your name, city/state, phone number, a recent photo of yourself and a brief explanation of why you should be on the show. Deadline to apply is January 18, 2010. For more information, visit www.pilgrimfilms.tv and click on “CASTING” or call 818-728-3729 TODAY!­
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* Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, a resident or citizen of the United States

SWMBO report, December

If it ain't one thing, it's another.

Sound familiar?

When SWMBO was released from the hospital at the end of November, her oncologist didn't send her home with a prescription for antibiotics. Reason? No bacterial infection was detected in her lab tests.

But she still had the sharp, burning pain in her side, which did NOT go away after several days at home. The doctor had prescribed a powerful pain killer, but she couldn't take enough of it to get her through the day ... it was only 8 pills a day, because it contained Tylenol and the doctor was worried about liver damage. (NOTE: Tylenol contains acetaminophen which is counter-indicated for certain people, especially those with existing liver problems)

She had an appointment with a G.I. specialist on Wednesday, and he tentatively diagnosed her with 'ulcerative colitis' which is serious business ... and for which there is (according to the Mayo Clinic) no known cure.

But there are treatments for the symptoms, among which are ... antibiotics.

She came home with a one-week prescription ... four pills a day. The first night she couldn't sleep and spend the night sitting up on her couch, and sometime in the night she was overcome with nausea.

Thursday she cut the ingestion of antibiotics back by one pill, and was able to sleep through the night.

Friday she was feeling better, and this morning she was resting comfortable. Her voice is now stronger, she can concentrate on paying her bills, and her eyes were bright and shiny again.

I've been staying with her most of the past week, which has been good for both of us. I can help her get through the days and nights, which is a much more positive thing for me to do than staying at my home and worrying about her.

The short term looks good. I don't know when her next doctor appointment is, but hopefully she will by then be able to deal with the symptoms and the doctors can get a better understanding of what is happening to her.

Other than some 'helpful' medications which she can take at home, there's not a lot of treatment being directed toward her Cancer. Instead, they're treating the side-effects of the medications, and the side-effects of those medications.

But she's coming back, regaining her strength, and her quality of life is much better than it was this time last week.

Hopefully, we'll both be back on our feet next week and we can pay more attention to our normal daily activities.

PJTV - PJTV Daily - Warmists Give Climategate the Cold Shoulder

PJTV - PJTV Daily - Warmists Give Climategate the Cold Shoulder

"What do Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, and the Center for American Progress have to say about the growing Climategate scandal?"

This interview addresses the concept of "Global Warming" not just within context of "global warming is caused by man-made issues", but in the context that "Global Warming" is actually a current and on-going process.

Quotes from interviewed self-professed Global-Warming Supporters:

"Cherry-picking"

"We're right, you're wrong!"

"We've got ... the polar bears ..."

"The underlying data no longer exists."

"I don't think there was an intend to deceive ..."

"If you are prone to believing that Climate Change doesn't exist you're grasping for emails to make that point."

"... as it pertains to 1 the issue of climate change, we've got so much observable data ..."

"What kind of investigation are you looking for, exactly?"

"I think that you and I can agree that the issue of climate change -- is settled."

The interviewers don't seem to accept that the issue of climate change is settled. They insist that "global warming does not exist within the last ten years" and "the hottest decade in history was in the 1930's" (which suggests that "carbon emissions" are not the root cause of "global warming" or "Climate Change", because industrial and "Internal Combustion Engine" "Carbon Emissions" were demonstrably in the 1930's than in the 21st Century).

The PJTV interviews were interesting, but not intrinsically convincing ... for either side of the question.

However, one thing is clear: those who are convinced that "Climate Change" exists, and especially if they are caused by humanocentric activities in the 20th and 21st century, are all-too eager to jump on to the "The Issue Is Settled" bandwagon.

This is not consistent with the Scientific Method, which has clearly definable steps. Here is an explanation of if the fifth and final step in one description of the Scientific Method:

5. Draw Conclusions from your data.
- Here, it is stated directly whether the hypothesis was supported or disproven.
- If your hypothesis is supported, it should be repeated, since one of the basic foundations of the scientific method is that it is repeatable. The more an experiment is repeated, the more valid the results are. However, if there is a hypothesis that is supported by many experiments and a lot of data, we call that hypothesis a theory.
- The word theory is often misused in everyday language. Theory and hypothesis are not synonyms, a hypothesis is just an educated guess that perhaps has been supported once or twice by an experiment. A theory was once a hypothesis, but is now supported by a lot of data and is accepted as being correct, until new information is discovered to disprove it.

Note that the last sentence emphasizes the possibility that a "theory" is accepted as being correct, until new information is discovered to disprove it.

What we have here is a 'theory', the proponents of which strive diligently to dissuade any effort to disprove it.

This is not Science. This is religion, in that it is Faith Based. As such, it introduces a new panoply of "Gods" and stigmatizes anyone who would dispute it.

It is Western Jihad.

---

Mishs "Global Economic Trend Analysis" has much to say upon this, based upon a careful and thorough examination of the material in the 60MB 156MB "hacked files". A few examples, but please read the whole thing (it's not all that long):

It's now official. Much of the hype about global warming is nothing but a complete scam.

Thanks to hackers (or an insider) who broke into The University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit (CRU) and downloaded 156 megaybytes of data including extremely damaging emails, we now know that data supporting the global warming thesis was completely fabricated.

Inquiring minds are reading Hacked: Hadley CRU FOI2009 Files on The Reference Frame by Luboš Motl, a physicist from the Czech Republic.

Since the CRU is staffed by credible scientists who welcome peer review, we would naturally expect an "open source" approach to validating data. Right?

Maybe not; here's just one email which strongly infers that "peer review" is something to be avoided at all costs -- up to and including destroying emails which might suggest nefarious intent:

From: Phil Jones p.jones@uea.ac.uk
To: "Michael E. Mann" mann@meteo.psu.edu
Subject: IPCC & FOI
Date: Thu May 29 11:04:11 2008

Mike,

Can you delete any emails you may have had with Keith re AR4? Keith will do likewise. He's not in at the moment - minor family crisis.

Can you also email Gene and get him to do the same? I don't have his new email address.

We will be getting Caspar to do likewise.

I see that CA claim they discovered the 1945 problem in the Nature paper!!
Cheers
Phil

Okay, but at least they had solid computer programs which provided consistent results and forecasts based upon the "observable data" which they had gathered through (at least) recent years. Right?

Well, perhaps not absolutely positively data which "has been supported once or twice by an experiment."

Here is an evaluation of the code, based on observations of a programmer ("Harry"?) who has been tasked with validating undocumented code used to predict weather patterns, using the original data.

Go ahead, read it.

Harry --- speaking as a professional Programmer and Systems Analyst, I can only say ... "I Feel Your Pain."

Thanksgiving With SWMBO - Part V

Okay, this is the last of this series.

Yesterday the Doctors decided that the problem was a combination of "Intestinal Blockage" and Diverticulitis ... the latter being the part that caused the excruciating pain. I've had it, it hurts, and don't ever let anybody tell you that you "can't remember pain".

So they've changed both the anti-biotic regimen and the pain medication. SWMBO need not wake up every hour to ask for another shot: a Vicodin lasts her for four hours.

If my experience is any measure, the pain should clear up in a few more days, but she'll be on anti-biotics for much of next week, perhaps a few more days 'tapering off'.

SWMBO expects to be released from the hospital tomorrow morning; I'll get some time off work to take her home and make sure she's comfortable.

Sorry I couldn't pass on this good news last night, but when I got home from the Hospital I had dinner and went to bed, where I slept for twelve hours.

Thanksgiving With SWMBO - Part IV

Yep, SWMBO is still in the hospital.

When I went to visit her tonite, I discovered that she is no longer in "isolation". During the two days when her private room was an "Isolation Room", nobody was permitted to enter without first donning a yellow paper gown and blue latex gloves. They called this "Robe and Gloves".

(Incidentally, the entire hospital is under some kind of quarantine. Nobody is permitted to pass the guard at the entrance without cleaning their hands with a chemical cleanser. All visitors must wear visitor badges with their name, the date, and the area to which they desire to visit. Anyone who has recently had a cold or influenza, has a cough, or otherwise shows signs of ill-health is permitted to enter. This is presumably because of the current "Swine Flu Epidemic".)

It was nice, being permitted to visit SWMBO without being swaddled in hot, uncomfortable "Robe and Gloves".

More important, it was nice to see her looking much stronger, and more alert.

She still has pain to deal with. From time to time you could see that she was experiencing a pang; she would grab her left side with her hand, arch her back, turn her head and grimace for five or ten seconds until the pang would ease.

And yes, she's still receiving pain medication every hour ... if she asks for it. It's hard to get any rest this way, as when the medication wears off the pain comes back, and it's sharp enough to wake her up. She buzzes for the nurse, the CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) comes in to learn that pain medication is needed. The CNA informs the nurse, and the nurse eventually arrives to feed one-and-a-half syringes of ...whatever ... into her saline drip shunt. In 10 or 15 minutes the pain becomes more bearable. That's followed by another 45 minutes of watching the clock. SWMBO want's to know when to ask for the next shot, so she can get it in time for it to take effect before the last shot wears off. Hard to sleep at night, but the doctor believes this is the best approach.

What's wrong?

The doctors have about given up on the tentative diagnosis that her may be a side-effect of the secondary medications she is taking to counter-act the side-effects of her chemotherapy. That's a convoluted sentence, but it just means they don't think it's a direct result of her cancer treatment.

They have decided it is more likely a bowel blockage than Diverticulitis. They admit that they can't tell the difference in either X-Rays or CAT Scans, but they're going with the "Bowel Blockage". One suspects that choice is because the treatment of a Bowel Blockage is a short term course of treatment, and they can do something about it.

If it is Diverticulitis, they'll know it if the other treatment doesn't work in the next few days.

On the other hand, the antibiotics being administered with her saline drip will already be attacking the (theoretical) infection, so they're not really wasting any time with this course of treatment.

The good news is, her diet has been changed from "clear liquids" to a diet with some solids. Yay! She can eat chicken noodle soup with vegetables, yogurt, etc. The bad news is, every time she eats something, the pain level increases.

SWMBO is philosophical about it. "If I eat something, it makes my side hurt. If I don't eat anything, that makes my side hurt. Might as well eat." [wiggles her hand to indicate how "iffy" the problem is.]

I stayed with her for about an hour, enjoying her new-found strength to participate in, and enjoy, casual conversation. She told me that she had received a phone call from The Hobo Brasser and his wife, Spicey. That cheered her up: they are truly Good Friends. (This term may be defined as people who will phone you when you are in the hospital, but won't bug you by showing up and forcing you to make awkward conversation when you are not, after all, at your public very best.)

No word, of course, about when SHE will be well enough to go home. We're all just playing a game of Wait and See. But we're both confident that she is receiving the best care that Private Medical Insurance can buy, and we're very glad that if this had to happen, it's best that it happens before The Public Option rule comes into effect.

Sorry; drifted into The Twilight Zone for a moment there.