A favorite movie of mine.

Mark

Some new links

Please look over to the right, and you will see I have 2 links going to the Columbus Sailors. This is the private group of volunteers who are trying to get the Columbus fleet down in Corpus christi restored and back on the water. Please check them out.

For those who subscribe by a reader here are the links:

Columbus Sailors Blog.


Columbus Sailors Main Site.

Please give them a look and maybe you would like to donate money time or ideas.

Mark

The new school prayer.

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene...
The law is specific, the law is precise..
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's '..inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen

Awesomeness at it's best R/C SR-71 Blackbird

As my family gets ready to leave

For our Thanksgiving family retreat. Our Prayers are for everyone. Please don't forget our Servicemen and Women in your prayers. Remember their sacrifice for us. They are away from their families, friends and loved ones. Never knowing when they might have to rush out and possibly be injured or lose their lives. Please pray for their safety and quick return.

God Bless you all


Mark

This makes me think

about things, and puts some things in perspective. What do you think?

Here We go....... Cleopatras Nose

Mark

I will say nothing more

other then to ask you to go HERE and to read the post and all the comments.

Mark

Something has been niggling at me

Have you seen the commercial for the newest Ford product? The S.H.O. however the voice over guy is calling it SHO. I don't know where he came from, but I'm an old gear head, and it used to be called the S.H.O. for Super High Output. For years the Big Three had special divisions which took the flagship standard and made a High Performance/High Output vehicle or vehicles.

Ford Motor Group had the Taurus S.H.O., Mustang S.H.O., Mercury Marauder, Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, Torino and I'm sure there are others I can't remember.

Chrysler had Mopar, with Vehicles like the Charger T/A, Super Bee, Challenger R/T, Roadrunner, Barracuda, Viper, Prowler and once again I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

GM had the Camaro, Chevelle, The 442, The GTO, Firebird and again I'm sure I'm missing some.

What has happened that even the idea of a high performance has been, pardon my language, bastardized? When did the S.H.O become the SHO? What happened to the Ford Performance Group, FPG? GM? I haven't heard of a real GM Performance vehicle since they gave up the rear wheel drive option. At least Chrysler had the Viper and the Prowler. Our auto manufacturers have been neutered. And at least Ford is starting to regrow it's street cred, but what about Government Motors? What about Chrysler?

I'm going to ask you to post in my comment section or if you have your own blog to write up your stories. If you have a particular vehicle or vehicles that you think exemplifies the Performance Vehicle, write it up if you are writing it on your own blog please post a link over her to me, and I'll edit it in to this post, so readers can link over to read your post.

Mark

Yuppie 911

This HERE burns my butt and chaps my heinie. With the advent of more affordable personal locator beacons, people who are endangering the lives of themselves and their rescuers, through irresponsible behavior and extremely poor judgment. In addition to the mind-set of these individuals, there is "the boy who called wolf" syndrome added on top of that.

I enjoy hiking and camping. However there is no piece of technology that will let me attempt a trail that I am not competent to to take. Only time and experience can allow me to do that. Yes there are some trails that require a certain level of technology to take, such as ropes, climbing harnesses, pitons, nuts and blocks. A PLB can be a good thing to have for just in case. However it doesn't take the place of simple commonsense or experience.

Mark

I'm on page 3 for the google

listing for the High Standard Riot Gun. How about we make me #1 HELP!!!

Here is the link HERE Click on it and then click on my link. Please help me get up to the first page at least. :o)

Mark

I am the face of the Second Amendment

Many media types seek to paint firearms owners with a broad brush. Painting them as either a hunter who only owns a hunting rifle or shotgun, or as an individual who is a barely restrained homicidal lunatic waiting to snap their leash and explode upon the innocent populace. They have an agenda, a narrative, which reality doesn't fit.

I am the face of the Second Amendment. I am a father, a minister, a former soldier, former Volunteer Auxiliary Police Officer, a former Security Officer, a former Emergency Medical Technician, a former Volunteer Firefighter, a former Real Estate Agent, a former gas station assistant manager, a former auto maintenance shop assistant manager. I am many things. The roles I take most seriously are Father and Minister.

I own firearms. Not for hunting although I have used them for such. Not for self defense, although I have used them for such. Not for target shooting, although I have used them for such. Not for offensive, although I have used them for such when I worked in Law Enforcement. A firearm is many things, and few things. It is an inanimate object which requires my will to function. It has no free will, it has no muscles. It can not intimidate or threaten without my action upon it. It is a hunk of machined parts, of metal, plastic, rubber and other things. Brought together in a form which allows me to do many things with it. I can shoot targets with it. I can hunt with it. I can defend myself and my family with it. I can defend others with it. I can use it to project force if necessary, or to project imminent threat if necessary.

But it is still just a hunk of parts. It requires my will, my actions, my intent to do anything other than sit on the shelf in the safe. I have to make a conscious decision to take it out, to load it, chamber a round and fire it. Until that time it is just a gathering of parts, with no will of it's own.

I own firearms because I enjoy shooting. I enjoy taking my kids out shooting. The same way I enjoy taking my kids out fishing, or camping. I also own firearms because they someday might be needed to project that inherent force to protect my children, others or even myself. In 10 years of working in the law enforcement field, I am quite proud of the fact that I have never had to discharge my weapon at another human being. I did have to draw that weapon many times over that 10 years. Several times at a subject, other times in preparation for an entry into an unknown situation. But I never had to fire it at another human being. I did have to use it to put down a dog which had been almost cut in half by a train. I've had to put down one of my own dogs, miles from the truck and several dozens of miles from the vet. I'm not proud of that fact, and wish there had been another way, but I could not and cannot allow one of God's creatures to suffer that way. Some would say that if it had been a human I wouldn't have done it. And they are right. I wouldn't have done that to a human being. A human being is many orders away from from an dog or a wild animal, but some would equate that dog or wild animal with a human. They are not the same. Because I think that way, I am labeled as a monster a thing. And yet these same people labeling me, throw platitudes about a convicted cop killer, they think that the terrorists would just leave us alone if our country was more understanding, if we would see things from their point of view. I do see things from their point of view, they want to subjugate me and my family and I will not not roll over and play dead for them. I will stand up to them and spit in their eye, and do anything in my power to destroy them if they ever try to hurt my family or my country.

Because I will not sit idly by while the socialists and liberals attempt to take our Constitution and trash it and the freedoms it affirms, I am a racist, a neanderthal, a war-monger.

No I am a Man, a Father, A Minster, and many years ago I took an oath to defend our Constitution no matter the cost to myself. This I shall do and to paraphrase Gandalf the Grey, They Shall Not Pass.

Mark

Saturday 10-17-09 Author Patrick H. T. Doyle

The author of the Edgar Font novels and the host of Haunted Hoax will be my guest on the show. I will be talking to him about Haunted Hox and will talk about his novels.

Please check out his 2 pages linked above and tune if Saturday night at 11:00 pm CDT to hear our discussion. Plus you can always call in to the show to ask any questions you might have.


Here is the Direct link to that episode.


Mark

Sim has a story about Code Pink

and not asking a question unless you are prepared for the answer.


I giggled a little bit

Mark

Update on Oleg's The High Road legal issues

Please click HERE to read Oleg's update.

Mark

Peter had a heart attack

He has had a triple bypass and is improving. Please keep him in your prayers.

Mark

Did you ever wonder

about those ghost videos you see on Youtube. What about what you see on certain television shows? Well I have approached an Investigator/Author of the Paranormal, who tries to debunk various videos and other evidence.

Below are a few of his Videos and the link to his Youtube page.

Haunted Hoax Youtube page

For those who want to blame Bush for everything

I suggest you go look at this article. Which shows just how much of the United States Deficit is actually Former President Bush's responsibility. And how much is the Repsonsibility of Current President Obama'a.


h/t Insty


Mark

The Road to Damascus e-book

Which I talked about on the show earlier this month is available free to read or download at the link below. I highly suggest that you do download it read it and pass it to your friends even your enemies. This novel outlines where I think our current political and educational system is heading. And no I'm not being an alarmist. Read it yourself make your own determination, don't take my word for it.

That is one of the main differences between me and others like me and certain ideologues in this country. I want you to make a FULLY INFORMED decision based on facts, not emotion.

Here is the Link: The Road To Damascus, by: John Ringo and Linda Evans. Based upon characters created by Kieth Laumer

Mark

A repost of a parable

This is a repost. Rather than changing the post date, I cut and pasted the original post and reposted.

Mark



This is an old parable with a new message at the end.

OLD VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!

************************************************************

MODERN VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.

CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'

Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.' Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.

Nancy Pelosi & John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.

Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill Clinton appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients.

The ant loses the case. Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid and Dick Durbin say justice has been served.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens

to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it. The ant has disappeared in the snow. The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote.

I had to repost this

Mark

Hmmmmmmm

Wonder what I wrote they are interested in.

Mark

Barrack H. Obama

The Borsk Fey'lya of the real world.

That is all....

The proper use of a firearm

With all the debate in congress and other places about the "Sporting" uses of a particular firearm, I thought I'd give a brief explanation of a proper use of a firearm. But first some thing a firearms proper use is not.

A firearm is not "just" for hunting.

It is not for personal defense.

It is not for plinking.

It is not target shooting.

It is not for the police.

It is not for the military.

It is not for the overthrow of the government.

It is not for criminal use.

It is not for informal shooting.

It is not for organized shooting.

These are just a few of the things the proper use of a Firearm is NOT for.

A firearms proper use is the projection of the threat of injury or death. By it's very existence, it empowers the person holding it. It allows them the ability to stand up to criminals and thugs. And even allows them to stand up to governments if the need arises. For most of firearms owners in the United States, it can be used for hunting, target shooting, and even self defense. But those are not the proper uses for a firearm.

To quote V from the movie V for Vendetta, "People should not be afraid of their government, the Government should be afraid of it's people."

The proper use of a firearm is to keep everyone honest. Especially Governments.

It is governments who fear the idea of weapons in the hands of it's Citizens who usually have a reason to fear their Citizens. For many Governments, if the Citizens knew exactly what their Government is doing, they would be outraged. Therefore those Governments restrict their Citizens access to firearms. What does the Government have to hide? That they do their best to restrict Law abiding Citizens from exercising rights affirmed, not given, but affirmed, in our Constitution. They tell us it's reduce crime and firearm accidents. Yet in the days before the gun control measures were enacted, violent crime involving the use of firearms was very low. Why? Because a vast majority of the citizens of our country were armed in one fashion or another. An armed society is a polite society. Our police officers could count on the support of almost every Citizen. And those Citizens would usually provide their own weapons for the Posse.

And yet with more and more laws limiting and restricting our rights to own firearms, crime has escalated. Trust in our police officers has lessened. And many police forces have developed an "Us versus them" mentality. The Blue Code of Silence has arisen to the detriment of law enforcement. David Codrea has his Only Ones, showing how police officers abuse the public trust through corruption and even breaking the very laws they have sworn to uphold.

As these times progress I see more and more things. More abuses by the officials who are sworn to defend our laws and us, of the very laws they swore to uphold. Members of our legislature to whom their office is more for graft and corruption, than representing the true interests of their constituents. I see law enforcement officers who abuse their authority to punish citizens who dare to speak out against the crimes of their officials. And yet these same officials rely on the old boy system to maintain their authority.

So you tell me. What do you see as the proper use of a firearm? When more and more of our rights to own or posses them is restricted and eroded every day?


Mark

Direct from Operation Rooster Headquarters

Here is Tim, the man behind Operation Rooster at his SUPER TOP SECRET HEADQUARTERS. We had to send in a spy fly camera at great expense to get this special shot. Unfortunately his own security systems shot down the camera shortly after this photo was transmitted. And our expense account doesn't cover the replacement yet. So this may be the last photo we try to get of his SUPER TOP SECRET HEADQUARTERS.

I'm going back into the lab to try to get a decent satellite shot of his place. Hopefully he won't shoot down the satellite. :o)

Mark

To sleep, perchance to dream.

my sleep schedule is so messed up right now it's ridiculous. I have been laying down for a "nap" and wind up sleeping 12 hours and missing my show, dr's appointments and other stuff. Then I intentionally try to get my sleep schedule normal, by taking a sleeping pill and wind up staying up for 18-20 hours instead. I'm so frustrated with it right now, I'm going to contact my Dr, and ask him to set it up for me to go to the sleep disorder clinic.

My apologies to my readers and listeners. I hope to get back on track shortly.

Mark

A violation of the public trust

From Marko I found this story about a Police Officer in California, who used his position as a Law ENFORCEMENT Officer, to force a woman under the threat of violence to perform a sexual act on him. Please read the story HERE.

H/T Marko


Mark

Adam Savage Interview with Reason Magazine

Mild Language Warning



Mark

Political Censorship

When someone disagrees with something you say, they can ignore you, and look elsewhere. Or as some people have done, click on the little "Flag" button here on Blogger. Girl in Shorts has been flagged as "Objectionable", which normally means there is adult content, ie: lots of nudity. Well I have looked at her blog, and there is one, photo of a topless woman seen from the side, and I don't find it objectionable. It was to make a point in her post, and it does. However there are many people who do not agree with her politics, and use any excuse to block people from seeing her views which do not agree with their own. Hence the "Flag" and now she has a label as an "Objectionable" blog.

You saw this same thing during the election last year when certain supporters of certain politicians used the "Flag" button in an attempt to stop the dissemination of information which could harm their candidates campaign. And here it is happening again.

Please don't let it happen. Go to Girl In Shorts and read her post. Then go to the blogger forum and express your opinion.

H/T Instapundit


Mark

Open your eyes

For almost 2 weeks, we have been bombarded with all the details of Michael Jacksons life, death, kids, family problems, money problems etcetera ad nauseum.

The MSM has spoon fed us this pap diverting our attention from other things going on. such as, Cap and Trade, which is actually a hidden tax on every person in the country. The possibility of the CIA misleading congress. When in fact it is an attempt by the Democratic party to save Nancy Pelosi from her own lies. What else are they trying to hide from us?

Open your eyes, don't rely on the MSM for your news, seek it out yourself. Make your own determination. Use your own judgment and make your own decisions. Don't let someone else make up your mind for you.

Remember in between white and black there are shades of gray. Be sure you see the subject for what it actually is.

Mark

100 Mile CB

This post has been updated a couple of times. See the two following links as well.

100 Mile CB AGAIN!!

Preparedness Video Project Tips and Tricks 100 Mile CB

If you want to have a CB that will reach 100 miles, you will have to break quite a few laws to do that.

First you will have to modify your radio, which voids it type certification and makes illegal for you to use after that. It can only be used legally again if you send it to an authorized repair center and have your modifications reversed.

Then you will have to increase it's power output. By Law a CB is limited to 4 watts forward power. To get a range of 100 miles you will need to amplify that by the use of a linear amplifier which is illegal for use on the CB frequencies. If you are a Licensed Ham Operator you can use an amplifier but not on the CB bands. Only on the bands you are licensed for.

You would then need a very good antenna, not one of those 19.99 mag mount specials. Expect to pay 100 plus just for the antenna the mount and the coax will run you some bux also.

If you do get all of this together, you will need the power to run your radio and your amp. Most automobile batteries will last about 10 minutes powering such a setup. If you run your engine to keep charging the battery, with the amount of power you are putting out, you will probably fry your cars electronics, and you will destroy your battery as well.

Is it worth it?

When you can spend less than 20.00 to get a Technician license, and you can get a decent 2 meter mobile radio with a good antenna, that will only use 6-10 amps of power but will put out anywhere from 40 to 100 watts of power, for less than 250.00. And if you tie in to linked repaeters you can talk for hundredS, that is several hundred miles.

Is it worth possibly getting arrested, losing your car and your radio, and very large fines, just to be "cool"?


If you are interested please click on THIS link and see about getting a HAM license.


Mark

Hmmmmm Wonder why they came by,

Evidently they might have the same taste in firearms that I have.

Mark

Bank Of America has endangered the life of 2 people

through their callous uncaring attitude, poor customer service and in general poor business ethisc.

Part one

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four


Please read and I hope you have taken your blood pressure medication.

H/T JayG


Mark

Is this guy for real?

A hit job on Palin, the democratic party and I still can't figure it out. HERE

H/T ACE


Mark/GreyLocke

Well now,

After someone tailgated me for 15 miles today and they wouldn't take the hint to pass me when I slowed down and even pulled onto the shoulder to let them pass they still hung off my bumper I made this.


make custom gifts at Zazzle

If you like please order some.

I could always use some extra fundage :o)

Mark

More work around the house

Here is my daughter Melissa's clubhouse, I'm building, that I've been twittering about. This started off as 7, 4 inch landscaping timbers, as she tried to make her own place away from her siblings. Well I took those timbers added 3 4 X 8 sheets of OSB, and started to build her a real clubhouse.



These pics only show 2 of the walls and the roof beams


I have the back wall added now, and I"m getting ready to frame in the windows I salvaged from an old camper. I'm also going to build a door for it myself using some leftover paneling from my project of building the wall for the boys room.

I'll post some more pics as I get further along.

Mark

Governor Sarah Palin is stepping down

as Governor of Alaska. I'm watching her speech as I type this, and while I admire the woman a lot for what she has done, and much of what she stands for. I cannot understand what the heck she is saying. She is jumping around from point to point and her many breaths make it as if she is trying to get her message out before someone cuts off the microphone.

Ok, now it seems as if she is saying, the reason she is resigning because of the FedGov is trying to force the porkulous dollars on her state.

Ok, now she's talking about the ethics complaints.

Get to the point....

now she's talking about her and her husband's financial issues and false accusations.

Ahhh, it's coming to a point. She doesn't feel that she and her staff cannot do their jobs because of all the idiots making accusations they have to then defend against.

Ok, kinda rambling now..........

uhhh, now she seems kinda whiny. I think... hmmmmm...

ok, reference other governors just taking a paycheck and calling in.

Fox just cut off her off.

I'm done.

I think this is rediculous that the politics as usual has hurt the state of Alaska. I don't think Gov. Palin will be putting herself forth in the national political arena after this.

Mark

Some changes have been made

I've added some blogs to the Blog Roll, and I have removed some as well. Also the other contributor to the Blog, Greylocke, That is my other account. I have gotten very tired of signing out of one account and signing into the other to post or comment. So I just added it in here.

To quote the Great JayMeister.....

That is all.........

Mark/Grey Locke

Sabra Nails Obama's policies perfectly

Go on over there and read this

and be prepared to get upset.

Mark

In re: Ed McMahon

Old NFO has posted about Brig. Gen Edward Leon McMahon. Retired U.S.M.C Res Colonel, California Air National Guard Brig Gen. Better known as Ed McMahon, sidekick to Johnny Carson, and Dick Clark, host and co-host of many shows. Businessman, pitchman and entrepreneur.

Please Link on over....

Mark

I somehow ripped the toenail

of my left big toe completely off. I'm not sure how I did it, but I need to quit wearing sandals all the time, and go back to wearing my boots. I would show you a picture of what it looks like but my 15 year old daughter Mary said it's "Nasty" so I won't.

Now normally when someone does something like that, they would be in a LOT of pain. I am not. There is a lot of discomfort, but very little pain. WOW!! you might say. It doesn't deserve a wow though. Because of all my various injuries and accidents through my life I suffer from neuropathy, which means I can severely injure myself in certain parts of my body and I won't even know it or feel it. My feet, my right thigh and forearm, the center of my my back right below the shoulder blades. I have dead spots. I have little or no feeling in those areas. This has come in handy when I've had confrontations in the past when I was working security. People freak out when they stab you in the arm and you don't even flinch, just look at the knife in your arm, then look at them. But when you are trying to get things done around the house, and now you can't because you just hurt yourself and can't risk doing more damage, things like this are a major annoyance.

So tomorrow morning I will be calling the DR, and see if I need to go to a podiatrist for my other toes. I can't risk letting this get out of hand, because I can't FEEL it. This injury untreated or treated improperly could actually cause me to lose my foot.

So if you ever have a small injury, think twice about not seeing your DR. You might be risking more than some discomfort.


Mark

AD Has a special Fathers Day rememberance

If you don't start having a sudden problem with your sinuses and eyes after reading, Well I don't know.



Please click HERE



Mark

The wall is mostly done

I just need to install and shim the door and frame.



Here I am using my 100k btu propane weed burner to darken the wood. If you want to so something like this PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!! have a Fire Extinguisher handy. I did.



Here I am almost done with the wall.



Here it is. Just need to get the door and it's lock installed. You can see we've started putting canned goods on the shelves I built in.

Whaddya think?

Mark

Hmmm, this makes you think

When has there ever been a requirement that you get permission from the government to leave this country? What business is it of the government if I want to take a few friends with me on vacation?

Link HERE for one private pilots perspective.

H/T Insty

Mark

The True Wild West

For those politicians and media types who seem to think they Old West was violent. I bring you Brigid's post to the truth of that.

Please link on over and give it a read.

Mark

Hmmm am I Psychic?

Read one of my old posts, and tell me what you think.

Mark

Housework today

Well a few months back a friend of mine framed a wall in my house to give my 3 youngest sons their own room. They have been sleeping on couches in the family room for the last 4 years. Well they are getting older and boys being boys, they need to have some privacy, so as to not scandalize any guests I might have over.



My friend Troy framed it for me, last week I put in some shelves, today I started putting up the paneling to back the shelves and close off the boys room.


Even with the air conditioning set to 78 degrees in the house I was burning up. If it weren't for my daughter Melissa's help, I could not have done this. She and her younger brother my oldest son Matthew lugged the panels in for Melissa and I to cut to fit and nail up.


Here you can see into the boys room and see their twin over full bunk beds and one of ther dressers. I put the fan up because I was burning up.



Second panel in place.



A closer look at the shelves which will be filled either with some canned goods or nick-nacks, I haven't decided yet. To bring out the grain in the wood I used my large propane weed burner to burn the wood. When I m done with the wall, I will use the burner on it again, with the fire extinguisher handy to bring out the grain in the panels.



Here you can see the wall is mostly done. I already have a door and frame to install, I just need to go to the hardware store and pick up some wood shims tomorrow, and both of my daughters will have to bring the door and frame in and help me shim it. My large pieces of left over wood paneling will be used on my daughter Melissa's club house and my 2 junked travel trailers for doors.

Tomorrow after I get to he hardware store, I'm taking my ex-wife over to the other piece of property to shoot her new pistol.

Might have a range report if I can remember to bring my camera.

Mark

The brown truck of happiness strikes again!!!

The brown truck of happiness delivered these yesterday to my FFL



Today it delivered 1 big box with 2 of these in it.





here it's getting hungry, it wants to feed.




Open now and ready to feed. Unfortunately I have to wait until saturday to let it eat. :o(


Mark

Brown Truck of Happiness

Brought me some joy today



my 2 80 watt Sharp Solar panels



to go with my 6 15 watt Harbor Freight Panels



And my new Xantrex C-40 charge controller



and my 2 new 6 volt golf cart batteries.

I can now start putting together my solar system for my office. I'm hoping by this time next year to have my entire house off the grid. That will save me quite a bit of fundage every month :o)

Mark

Ammo 101 for every new shooter

This lady has put together a guide to explain ammunition and it's various components.

Please click HERE to read the article.

h/t Uncle



Mark

From my friend Kathy in St. Louis, about political correctness

"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

Mark

Hmmmmm,

I've been watching the news, and listening to the radio. And more and more each day, I wonder just how long we actually have. How long until the United States becomes not a third world nation but a 4th world nation. A 4th world nation where people become nomadic and living in a hunter gatherer lifestyle. How long until we decay to the point that tribal and religious laws take precedence over our established laws and Constitution. Wahabism and Sharia law do not allow for the freedoms we currently are guaranteed under our Constitution and Bill of Rights. How much time do we have? How much more can we afford to erode our rights, and responsibilities in exchange for the so called safety and security of a Democrat controlled country. Where our debt load becomes so high, that my great great grandchildren will be born into a crushing debt that is not theirs. And the government wants to add more to that. By the time my great greats are born, they may as well be Serfs or Slaves. This is the direction our country is running headlong into. The Global warming alarmists, the spread the wealth liberal politicians, and special interest groups and their supporters. It scares me to see this happening. To see our educational system being systematically destroyed by the very government that is supposed to ensure a proper education for our children.

Read my little links, and realize these are my thoughts, and opinions. And I'm allowed to them under our Constitution, at least until the government or others decide I can't say this anymore.

I love my Country, but I am starting to really fear my Government and it's actions and employees.

So until they come knock on my door or kick it down. I will keep posting what wandering thoughts I may have.

Mark

Some new pics of me

Me a few days ago



Me last night



Me last night




Me and Grunter on the couch. She sleeps with me all the time. When she gets big I"m going to be in trouble.

Mark

Another friend's business

This is the business of another friend, and again, no I don't get anything for posting this.

But if you need high quality tactical equipment with excellent customer service please go over to Outdoor Specialties.

Mark

A friend has a shop

In Florida, where they are making high-quality AR-15 receivers. They have a promotion going on where you can win a new rifle. Please go to Tactical Machining and click the TM-15 Give Away Promotion to enter. And please let them know that Mark sent ya :o)

Mark

p.s. No I don't get anything from this. One of the owners is friend, and if anyone has said anything bad about his products I haven't heard it.

M

To look at Pres Obam's spending cuts in proper perspective

h/t Dave


Mark

Mothers Day Bacon Blogging Hey Breda!!!

The scene in my kitchen yesterday morning. MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Bacon......

Mark

Hmmm very prophetic

A piece of History.

I live north of Corpus Christi but I travel there several times a month of Doctors appointments. On my way to the doctor I drive past this.







This ia a replica of the Nina, one of the ships Columbus brought to the New World. In Corpus Christi also resides the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. However only the Nina is in the water at this time and barely seaworthy. These ships were given to the city of Corpus Christi by the government of Spain to commerate the 500th aniversary of the Columbus' voyage.

At this time, the other two ships are out of the water at the Corpus Christi Science and History Museum. Now if you have ever sailed a wooden ship you know they cannot be out of the water unless they are treated to withstand the loss of water from it's timbers. The Pinta and the Santa Maria have not been treated. And they are rapidly deteriorating from it. The Curator of the Museum, has not taken care of the ships properly. And according to individuals I've spoken with, has stated that he wants to scrap the Nina, and the Santa Maria, and just refurbish the Pinta. These ships are gifts from the Spanish Government. As such they should be properly maintained and made available for everyone.

The Nina, which is still in the water at the T-head in the Corpus Christi Harbor. The hull needs to be repitched, and all the wood refinished. Until a few years ago, the ship was taken out and sailed on a regular basis. Sadly the ship is no longer in such condition to do so.

If you are interested in helping to get the ships properly retored and back on the water where they belong so they can be sailed, please link on over to this new blog. Columbus Sailors Association It waqs just started but the goal is to raise awareness and to try to get all three ships restored and back on the water here they belong.


Mark

It's been awhile

since I've posted here. Just a bit to let you know what's up. Well on the 27th of last month my 15 year old daughter Mary was in an accident in our Suburban with my ex wife her mother. Mary had to get some stitches on her leg and her mother broke her right tibia and fibula and both big toes. Mary came home the same day, her mother was in the hospital until last thursday. My ex wife is staying here at my house until she can get around herself. Hence, she has my bedroom and I'm on the couch. Compared to the alternative, I'm not complaining. I already got another vehicle, another 1994 GMC Suburban 4 wheel drive, almost the same except the exterior color.

Some pics....

From when I first got there.


See where the front bumper is in comparison to the curb.




The Suburban was pushed almost 17 feet.



The whole front quarter of this 1/2 ton 4 wheel drive has been crushed.


This is at the tow yard. You can see the roof is buckled.



The engine mounts are destroyed, and the frame is crushed at the corner.



To give you more of an idea of just how violent the collision was.

Mary and her mother both say that my daughter had the green arrow when they were hit. The guy who hit them and the local PD say she didn't. We'll see after I get the attorney and an independent investigator involved.

I've already gotten a replacement Suburban. My cousin who lives about 100 yards away helped me buy another 1994 GMC Suburban. This one however has some added Oooompphh!!



Look at that heavy duty grill guard and bumper.



Clean body lines.



I really really like this one.

Unfortunately, on the way to pick up this Suburban, I had a booboo.



This is what happens when a small truck meets a large deer.



Actually I hit two deer. 1 with the S-10 and 1 with the tow dolly I was pulling behind it. Thank God for electrical tape, or I wouldn't have been able to continue drving until it got light.

So that is part of what I've been doing. If I feel better tomorrow I will post about my trip to St. Louis.

Mark

I just have to share this

I LIKE IT!!!!


Mark

I hate windows Vista

Well with Circuit City going out of business my mother tired of my kvetching about my old Pentium II 350 mhz IBM Thinkpad 600E with 286 mb of RAM, and it's 60 GB HDD. Sooooooo, mom got me what she calls a "Real" computer. An HP a6700f with AMD Quad core processor 2 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD all the bells and whistles. But the kicker is. Windows Vista Home Edition. And NOoooooooooooooo installation discs. Although it does offer you the chance to use the built in DVD Burner to burn a recovery disc which will restore the system to it's original state. Well ok. The back up program said it would take 3 DVD+R's to back up the system. Well the first one burned ok, the second one, a disc from the same package as the first, the drive could not identify. Ok, let me try another one from the SAME box. Eeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, nope. couldn't ID that one either. hmmmm finaly after 2 more discs it recognized the disc. It started burning the files ok everything going ok. Time to verify the files Eeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhh a full box of 10 discs it either couldn't ID the disc or it couldn't verify the files were written correctly. Spent over an hour on the Tech Support Chat with a very nice lady from HP's Tech support. She had me try this, and try that, and try something else. Nothing worked. Finally I had to redo the entire system with the recovery partition. And now I am downloading all the updates AGAIN, and downloading all the other programs I need. (Firefox, Spybot Search and Destroy, Registry Mechanic, AVG {I cannot STAND Norton internet security}, Audacity, Switch and others) So I'll be spending the next 2 to 3 days RE-CONFIGURING the whole system AGAIN. HP however has said they will be sending me a new DVD Burner under the warranty. This is not an HP problem, it is a problem with the supplier of the DVD drive who I will not mention, and HP has already told me I will be getting a drive from a different manufacturer. I'll keep you posted on that. HP has also said that I will be getting a full set of install discs with the new drive. If HP sticks to what they've told me, I'll be recommending HP to my friends. Up to now I've always had Frankenstein computers. 2 of my systems are Compaqs that my brother the IT guy has overclocked for me and configured to run with bits and pieces they really shouldn't be working with. such as DVD reader drives that require a Pentium III that are running on a Pentium II, a DVD Burner that requires a Pentium IV running on a Pentium III. Plus various programs that require XP or Vista that are running on Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 98 Second Edition, plus a lowly Pentium I still running Windows 95 that should have a CD Burner on it at all that does. Some of this stuff I set up, the Pentium I's and II's, the Pentium III's my brother setup, and now I have a Quad Core AMD HP to play with. If only it didn't have Vista and had XP I could really work around all this stuff. But live and learn. I guess it's time to learn how to work with Vista.

Mark

From the old days

And shamelessly stolen from The Smallest Minority




This is one of the problems this country currently faces. The lack of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for our own safety and actions. We rely upon others to ensure we are safe. We rely on others to to protect us from ourselves. I"m sorry, but I can take care of myself for the most part, and I don't need someone looking over my shoulder and peering under the bed and looking into the closet to make sure the boogeyman isn't there I am very capable of doing that myself.

Mark

Just killed a rattlesnake

One of the things with living in the country is all the creepy crawlies. Such as the 4 foot rattlesnake that scared my 12 year old daughter out of a year or twos growth this evening.


It was in the planter in front of my walkway leading up to my house. As it came up on to the walkway, me and MR Shovel met his neck just behind the head. (do snakes have necks?)


Here I took him up on the front deck to get some better light. He is still moving despite the sudden violent removal of his head.



Layed out with a 5 gallon bucket for size comparison he is about 4 feet long. His rattle now reside in my deepfreeze to be a show and tell project for the kids, the rest of him unfortunately has been disposed of. The Wimmenfolk won't let me cook him up even if rattlesnake IS good eating and tastes like catfish. Women, sometimes you'd think they don't like wildlife.

Mark

Hmmmm Sabra and JayG are NC-17

H/T Sabra

Mark

From Sabra I get this

Your result for The Kinkyness Test...

Pretty kinky!

Grats! You're 69% kinky!

You kinkscore is pretty high. Most likely you're up for trying anything at least once, which show open-mindedness. You're probably a great lay, so just keep doing that thing you do!

Take The Kinkyness Test at HelloQuizzy

H/T Sabra

Mark

Teenager Hearing test

Created by Train Horns

Mark

Food Storage basic by Osage, referring my 2-20-09 show

To hear the show all 90 minutes of it please click HERE


FOOD STORAGE BASICS

By: Osage From Alpha Disaster Contingencies

OVERARCHING PRINCIPLES

Whatever food storage plan you develop must be suited to you (your family, your circumstances, etc) in at least three ways:

Food Allergies and Intolerances: These are unchanging. If a family member is allergic to any food (such as peanuts or wheat) you must not store that food. Kitchen hygiene during an emergency may allow for cross-contamination which can be life-threatening. If someone in the family is intolerant of a food (such as milk) don’t store that food for that person. Substitute safe foods for the ones not stored.

Preferences: These are flexible and adaptable. This is utterly and entirely different from an intolerance. It simply means you don’t like certain foods. First, make the adult decision to be in charge of your own life and not a perpetual victim! Second, develop and institute ways right now to broaden those preferences. During an emergency you’ll be under enough stress; don’t add to it by mandating a major change of diet.

Abilities and Tools: These are easily changeable. Growth here, as in the arena of preferences, can be made an adventure. Learn to cook and prepare foods in new, energy-efficient ways or ways using different energy sources. Purchase and learn right now the tools you’ll need to prepare food. This can be as simple as learning to cook over an open fire and as complicated as the salesclerk at the survival store can convince you to spend hard-earned money on.



TRIAD APPROACH TO FOOD STORAGE

I have recommended for years that food storage be pursued along three complimentary axes, like the X, Y, and Z axes of a three-dimensional coordinate system. These are :
-Quick Food Kit (aka 72-hour kit, bug-out bag, etc),
-Routine Daily Foods, and
-Long-Term Storage Foods.

These meet different needs but the use of one is complimentary to the others.





QUICK FOODS

Quick foods are mainly for acute events which are not expected to last long but which significantly interrupt normal family operations. Events such as hurricanes, ice storms, earthquakes, etc are the sexy players here. But these foods are for anything unexpected that shouldn’t last too long or for the first few days of a longer event.

Foods stored under this heading are generally characterized as being:
-Easy to fix (no more than boiling water),
-Portable (in case you have to abandon your home),
-Familiar (make them familiar right now),
-Good sources of calories (because you’ll likely be working hard), and
-Have good flavor (to lift spirits and encourage eating when you really don’t feel like it).


ROUTINE DAILY FOODS

These serve two purposes. First they are a convenient way to be prepared for short-term events lasting from 1-2 weeks to a few months. Secondly they act as a bridge to the exclusive consumption of foods from your long-term supply. You should store at very minimum a one-month supply of these. Four to six months is much better but is something to develop over several years (if you feel you have the time).

Events such as an extended winter storm (the KY ice storm of 2009 left some folks without power for weeks), hurricane (Katrina: ’nuff said), and others are the sexy players here. But with today’s (Feb 2009) economic situation a layoff or employment cutback is more likely for most folks and can be at least as humbling as their flashier brethren (from sad personal experience).

The role of bridge foods is also critical. Affordable foods for long-term storage taste different from what most of us eat every day and they digest differently. You and your digestive tract need some time to adjust. One Warning ™: do not eat up all your bridge foods then suddenly switch to your deep storage foods. That destroys the whole idea of bridge foods and puts you under unnecessary physical and emotional stress. The simple truth is that you should be eating some foods from your deep storage every week, even if it’s only a pot of beans and rice and some wheat biscuits.

Foods under this heading are the stuff you eat every day with some exceptions. They should not require refrigeration or freezing to store (in case of a power outage). They should be the easier-to-fix items from your weekly grocery trips rather than the all-day-marathon recipe ingredients. In short, they should be easy to fix and familiar.


LONG-TERM STORAGE FOODS

Many people advocate a strict “store what you eat” approach. It has the advantages of familiarity and convenience, but I have neither the space nor the money up-front nor the generator and fuel to support that plan. I store an affordable mix of foods that last a long time in storage and requires no more infrastructure than a dry place to sit. This section is going to be aimed at that approach.

Foods in this category are for sustaining life and health for a long time. They are characterized by a relatively low cost per unit, good nutritional content, and a very long shelf life. Many of these are not familiar in daily American use, but with a tiny bit of work can be made part of the weekly diet of an average family. Included in this ‘deep storage’, as a friend calls it, should be some treats I call brain candy. Hard candy, hot cocoa mix, a few cans of treat-quality canned goods held in reserve, etc are all good ideas. You should also store spices and flavorings to make these rather bland foods more palatable.

The plan I recommend here is based on recommendations from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka LDS or ‘Mormons’) which they released about 1983. It recommends you store foods in the following categories:

-Grains (at least 65% whole grains): 20 – 35 lb/person/month
based on age and size includes wheat, whole corn, rice, oats, pasta,
flour, corn meal

-Legumes (beans, peas, lentils, & the like): 3 lb/person/month
including a mix of legumes (1/2 lb each of split peas & lentils; ¼ lb
each of limas & soy; remainder any bean)

-Sugar (honey, refined sugars, etc): 5lb/person/month

-Milk: 1.5 lb/person/month

-Fats & Oils: 2.2 lb/person/month (about 3/10 gal)

- Adjuncts (including salt, leavening (cream of tartar & baking soda), vinegar).

The LDS Church has recently decreased it’s recommended minimums to 25 lb of grains and 5 lb of beans per person per month.

You will need some extra tools for preparing these foods. You should store most of your grains as whole grains. That requires a grinder of some sort to prepare them as flour or cracked grains. Most whole grains and beans can be sprouted, fantastically increasing their nutritional content. Sprouting kits are cheap or can be fashioned from coarse cloth and a canning jar with ring. You’ll also need to develop skills and gather tools for preparing these foods. A wide-mouth thermos, straw-box cooker, or other insulated container makes cooking beans much easier and more energy-efficient. Cast iron Dutch ovens and the developed skills to use them can turn basic survival foods into a feast.

Copyright: Osage, Alpha Disaster Contingencies, AlphaRubicon.com 2009
you may use this freely with proper attribution. You may not charge any monetary value for this information.