Four Day Bachelor Weekend

Four days off work, kiddos at their mom's this Christmas.  Needless to say I haven't changed outta sleepwear all weekend and meals haven't exactly been top notch.   Feeling a bit nostalgic, I built my not-so-famous BBBTC ( Bachelor Barbeque Beef on Tots with Cheese).  Whatcchoo talkin 'bout c'lesterol?

A 'Treasure' of Quotes

From one of my children's and my favorite movies.

Ben Gates: A toast? Yes. To high treason! That's what these men were committing when they signed the Declaration. Had we lost the war, they would have been hanged, beheaded, drawn and quartered, and-Oh!  my personal favorite-and had their entrails cut out and burned!
So... Here's to the men who did what was considered wrong, in order to do what they knew was right... 
what they knew was right.

___________________

Ben Gates: Of all the ideas that became the United States, there's a line here that's at the heart of all the others. "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and provide new Guards for their future security."
____________________

Sadusky: The Templars and the Freemasons believed that the treasure was too great for any one man to have, not even a king. That's why they went to such lengths to keep it hidden.
Ben Gates: That's right. The founding fathers believed the same thing about government. I figure their solution will work for the treasure too.
Sadusky: Give it to the people.



____________________

Ben Gates: [paraphrasing Thomas Edison, about invention of light bulb] I didn't fail, I found 2,000 ways how not to make a light bulb; I only needed to find one way to make it work.

Quotes borrowed from IMDb.com

A 'Man of Color', Gets It!

Read article here > Black College Student Shows His Southern Pride 



(Today's FB rant:) 

Kudos to Mr Thomas! The Confederation wasn't about slavery, (the 'North' made it about slavery) it was about a peoples and their sovereign states excersising their God given rights to oppose their government, and take to arms as a last resort, should the tyranical power force that hand. A government that threatened to crush their way of live, their way of making a living the way it had been done for centuries. If one was to read a bit, you will learn that the North INVADED the South. The South fought to protect their way of life (of the times). It has happened recently during this latest adminstration, a great number of states have reminded congress of their soverneignty, and will if neccessary, secede from the union.

 Now, please don't get me wrong, I in no way condone the type of slavery that Lincoln opposed. (even many 'owners' understood the system of owning a person was ethically unjust, but it was a way of life, a business model of the times) Not all owners were 'bad', for those 'good' owners exchanged a good hard day's work for food and shelter. not much less than modern society endures today. If we don't work, we don't eat, we live on the streets. Unless, of course you wish to be pawns of the government and accept their unconstitutional handouts. (another rant for another day)
What I am getting at is that the Confederacy utilized the very Ideals our founding fathers set forth in the formation of our way of self government; openly oppose the representative government - 1st Admendment, Take to arms should the power become tyranical and force such action - 2nd Admendment.

My Personal Veteran Heroes

SPC Dad

Kansas National Guard

Sept. 1970- June 1976

CPL 'Grandpa' Sporleder

B. September 1914. D. August 2004.

U.S. Army

European Theater WWII

December 1941-November 1945



SSGT 'Grandpa' Cady

B. August 1917 D.  December 1996

 U.S. Air Force 

European Theater WWII

 October 1942 to Sepember 1945

Uncle Shirley
U.S. Army WWII

Uncle Ralph

WWII

Uncle Jim

WWII

'Grampa' Sole

Korea

 Uncle Donnie

U.S. Marines Viet Nam

L. Haskett
U.S. Army Viet Nam

SGT  S. Barnes - U.S. Army - Iraq

SGT  T. Smith - U.S. Army - Iraq

SPC C. Roberts - U.S.  Army - Iraq

Thank you just never seems enough!

THANX!! 

Non Scientific Ammo Testing

Hey folks, Sorry I haven't been around lately, still pretty busy, I know, I know, none of your really noticed or lost any sleep over it, but I promised more and ... well I didn't git r dun.
I did however stop by my plinking spot today (on the way back from hunting ground scouting) to perform some over due ammo test.

I own and normally carry a Russian Makarov in 9x18mm.  Yes it's not American, Yes, it's not a .45, but it conceals very well in it's Kholster, recoil is manageable, has a decocking safety and I can trust it to go bang each and every time I pull the trigger. Oh yeah, and I got it at a real good price. 

When researching Self Defense ammo in 9x18mm I found good quality ammo was rare.  There is plenty of Russian made ammo available including Brown Bear (a lacquered round nose) and Silver Bear (in both Round Nose and Hollow Point) and at the time Hornady made a HP in their Custom line.  I had found a range report that found the Silver Bear actually performed better than the Hornady Custom. So for the last couple years I carried loaded with the Silver Bear (my thoughts were it's comparatively inexpensive and the Russians built the gun, they should know how to build the ammo too, right? ), not ever having a chance to test it myself.

Now, Hornady re-entered this year with 9x18mm in their Critical Defense line.  I already load the .45 with this ammo and had been impatiently waiting for the Mak release.  A local gun shop, DE Guns, was gracious enough to order some in for me, at a price close to Internet and I saved freight.  

So anyway, I shoved a bunch of papers in some old milk jugs and filled them with water (that is about as scientific as this is going to get), unholstered the test weapon, and loaded with one round of Silver Bear 94 gr BiMetal HP and a second round of the Hornady Critical Defense 95gr FTX.  I shot from about 6 feet away, kinda close, but my thought was to get an idea of effectiveness at 'critical incident' range. Both made pretty destructive work of the jugs, obviously dumping a lot of energy, but unfortunately I could not retrieve the bullets, never found them, no holes in the ground.  My shooting angle may have sent them skimming the surface of the ground toward the back stop.  I did find a piece of the Silver Bear's copper jacket and the gummy plug from the Critical Defense.  Neither jug show signs of a complete through and through as the back sides were blown out, no defined holes. Well, now what?  So, next I shoved all the wet papers into one jug and shot so that the bullets would end into the wet ground.  These penetrated all the way through, but what I found when I dug them up was telling enough.

The Silver Bear penetrated into the dirt quite a ways, lost it's jacket within the matter, and the bullet never expanded at all. I was so dismayed I gave the Russians one more chance. The second round penetrated the same, but this time expanding decent, yet also losing it's jacket and plugging the hollow point with plastic. I have shot many of these at speed and they function just as good as the round nose version. The Silver stands for the galvanized steel shell casing, (as opposed to the 'Brown' of it's laquered steel cased sibling) which stores well.  I believe they are a good option for the person at a real tight budget, or good enough for back-up while hunting, or such.

On the other hand the Horandy Critical Defense was just below the surface of ground and was completely intact, nicely and evenly expanded, just as advertised, leaving a nice 'wound channel', I might add. At almost $1.25 a round, I really can't afford to throw a bunch downrange, but they so far they seem to function and feed just fine. The nickle plated brass casing should also stand up to prolonged storage and body sweat. 

 Once again, the ammo company from 'just down the road' in Grand Island, Nebraska comes through again with a great product that I am comfortable relying on for my family's safety.

If any of you are ever in the middle of Nebraska for any reason and have an hour or two to spare, I recommend you stop by the Hornady factory and ask for a tour. The good folks there are more than happy to show you around and it is as top notch a family style company could be. They have expanded since our last visit, so I think we may need to stop in again, just to say 'Hey'.

On a side note: I hope to put their .30-30 Lever-evolution ammo to some real world testing later this month, but judging from my brother's one shot/one kill results, it should be just fine.

( Please excuse the crude pics as I couldn't find the digi-camera and had to rely on my cheap cell-phone. )

A few words to the antis:

I have been quite busy lately with my Scouts and we are currently engaged in a few 2nd Amendment defensive battles. I have sooo much to blog about, but so litte time. I promise I will catch you all up on the latest ramblings going through my mind, till then, here; I got a bit wound up over an article in the local paper about CCW laws and such , see (TJ's latest post)

I promised I would not comment and feed you trolls.  Here is my one and only bit of advice.

Scenario: Say you are sitting in said restaurant and happen to notice I was sitting at the next table. Say I happen to not be doing my part and a bit of my weapon is exposed. It is in a nice purpose built holster, a clean, well cared for firearm. Obviously not jammed in my loose pants like some gang banger. I'm probably in blue jeans and a nice shirt. I am having a nice quite dinner with my significant other, probably my children too. I sit where I can see the front door, and look to be aware of my surroundings. You, too, are with your family, people you hold near and dear. People you say you would do anything to protect.

BANG! some meth head busts thru the doors screaming something incoherent swinging an obviously stolen, dirty Hipoint around, he stumbles through the crowd to our area of the room, obviously drawn to your suit jacket and your wife's bling, takes one of your children, threatening harm unless you hand over money jewelery,etc.

 What would your first reaction be? look deep inside your self; Would you call 911, oh you can't your a little busy, scream for someone to make the call, they will be asked a series of questions, a unit dispatched, who in this town is probably miles away, they have to go around the long way because of the never ending construction. And who, by protocol will have to wait for backup before entering the hostile environment? Or would you look across the aisle to me with pleading eyes filled with fear for your loved ones, or maybe just for yourself, for help because you have already correctly guess I am legally armed, and thus so trained in such scenarios.?

DON'T LIE to me or yourself, you know when push comes to shove, what you would do! Question for me is, would I risk MY life or any others in the room, to save your sorry liberal butt? That's a tough one, but I would sure do my best to save your beautiful innocent little child! 

Why? Because that's the guy I am.

Respect knows no Age

Still working on finding out this great little Patriot's name.  A fellow rider captured this precious moment and I am so glad he shared it with us.  I just had to share with you all.

Photo by PGR member Todd Flick
at the Oktoberfest Parade in Sidney NE

Give me Liberty or Give me Death?

I apologize to all that know me, but I cannot handle that I am now penniless, homeless and about to lose my freedom over my zealous collecting. Thank you for all the times we had. It is better to die a free and armed man than a broke, imprisoned and un-armed one.

Randall Jay Rusciolelli

This week a Califoria man took his own life rather than spend time prison time due to a devious ex-girlfriend and a very unjust Republik of Kalifornia justice system.  I will let you read the article (the letter is posted in the comments by his sister.) and form your own opinions, but had it not been for this woman and 'the man' Randy would have lived on in relative peace target practicing in the desert.

Note: I in no way condone the act of suicide, but in this case, Randy's reasons did seem, well, American, yet his actions were still cowardice.  

          Your comments/opinions are welcome below:

You can keep your idols with their helmets and team colors fighting over a silly ball.
MY heroes wear Kevlar and Camo and fight for Freedom!

Gotta love them BIGS

I found this little bag full of heavenly goodness while on the road, (again).

My kids:  Ewww! Are they any good?

Me:  I think so, here try some.

........................

Kids: Daddy, can we have some more.

Me:  I 'spose, here.

.........................

Kids:  Dad? Can you just pass the bag back?

Seasoned with my new friends' at J&D's Bacon Salt.
Why? you ask. 'Cause

EVERYTHING SHOULD TASTE LIKE BACON!

Well DUHH!

A Moment of Silence for the Fallen, for America.

I have been blogging in my head all week for this day. So many different emotions still, even 10 years later. So many thoughts, which would take me into at least 10 different directions. Even though I have challenged myself to blog more/ daily no matter what, The best I can think to do today is offer this moment of silence.  Let's all take the time to reflect on how we felt that day Sept 11 2001, how we feel today, ten long years later. Much has been achieved, yet I fear our nation has fallen back a few steps also. Ask yourselves, 'Am I doing everything I can to make my little piece of existence the best, the happiest, the most secure it can be?' 

If you have anything you need to 'say out loud' for someone to listen, please utilize the Comments area.  As Dr. Crane would say:  "I'm Listening."

A History of Freedom

A History of our Freedom as told by our best friend, the American Rifle.

I'm thinking this album is next on my 'must have' list.

To all the special people in my life:

England Used to Be a Country of Men - Frank Miniter

I found this write-up while cruising the ol' ISH (Info Super Highway).
I totally, 100% agree with this fella. England HAS become a bunch of sissies. And that began when Parliament and the Crown decided they could take care of their subjects better. This meant stripping them of many of their God giving liberties as men (and women). I implore you to take a moment and read and digest what Frank is 'putting down' here. Let's U.S. not go down the same road. Or we may find ourselves in the same situation soon where we are not allowed nor even know how to fend for ourselves.


England Used to Be a Country of Men - Frank Miniter
England USED to be a country of men!

Also visit a fellow Blogger Mike W at Another Gun Blog;
The Sad State of UK

Have you thought about how you want to go in the end?

Why not go out with a bang?!

  

        We three brothers were recently discussing how we would like to be put to rest when our inevitable 'time' comes. Keeping It Simple was the reoccurring theme.  

        A simple pine box buried in a little country cemetary in the county we grew up in, was my request. (I will always want to end up 'back home'.)    My headstone shall also be simple- a slab of limestone from a nearby quarry with my name and dates of birth/death.  Pass all the extra Life Insurance to my children. Oh yeah, please bury with me my sidearm and plenty of ammo, in the event St. Peter can't let me in, I may have to face zombies in my afterlife.  If you feel the need, a shotgun salute would be quite an interesting tribute.

         Today, brother Maverick sent to me a link:  myholysmoke.com with a new request.  He would like his ashes to be loaded into some .45 Colt and 12ga. rounds and shot at the SASS  'End of Trail'  in New Mexico.  Why not?  Seems like a fitting tribute to my brother's passion of Cowboy Action Shooting.  (Of course, being the tightwad I am, I will probably reload him myself.) (maybe)
       

      After seeing this, brother Tipher will probably want loaded into some 'Fiddys' (.50BMG) and shot at something really, really, really far away.
  

        Anyway, I thought I'd share this with my readers, as it poses an interesting option to end-of-life planning.
       If you wish, share with us your plans...

In Case You Ever Wondered....

What We Do:

Who We Do It For:

Welcome Home: 1-134 Cav and the 1167 BCS NE National Guard!
These are the Joyous Missions.
(Photos courtesy of David Buell.)

WTH? Complaint Department entry for the week.

  The recent missions I have noticed an incredible number of people standing (at least they went that far), hands behind their backs or *GASP* on phones/cameras, or talking during our National Anthem. WTH?
  This while standing amongst our fighting heroes returning from war, who, by the way are standing at full attention in Uniform!. My fellow Riders are also standing for them at attention with our American flags (probably for the last hour or so). I mean COME ON! It's a simple gesture. Remove hat, place right hand over heart ! I have seen folks in casts, parents with a baby in their arms, disabled veterans, the elderly and the children, show their respect for the flag and the freedoms it stands for. Yet, here are perfectly healthy, undistracted individuals just too lazy? to perform a simple act of allegiance. It doesn't really take much effort on your part.
Even your president has learned to do it!  
Don't worry, it won't make you look stupid or silly. Butt, you sure will look silly with my size 10 1/2 steel toed work boot in your rear!
If you can not pledge yourself to this great nation of ours (faults and all) then get the H#LL out!

ALERT! The biggest crisis we may face this year!!

Just in time for the BLT season, it is reported that Bacon prices will rise to astonishing levels.  I suggest we begin a stock pile RIGHT NOW!  Refer to link:
Bacon prices on the rise!

I just can not fathom being unable to provide such an important food staple as Bacon to my family. Write your Congressmen/ women today and make them understand the importance of Bacon in our homes, our communities, and our American way of life!  This is an outrage and I for one will see to it that the madness is put to rest ASAP!

HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR VETERAN TODAY?

Yesterday we had the unfortunate honor to help lay to rest a young serviceman. This forever young 20 year old seemingly carried more baggage than he could handle and took his own life.  I don't know the whole situation, but it is a grave reminder that we as a nation, and individually, need to let our warriors know that we support them.  We need to support them when they are on the battlefield, but more importantly when they come home.  Not only have they faced demons in the field, but there are many awaiting them upon returning home. There is trying to return to civilian life, family life, jobs and for too many the financial 'wolf' knocking at the door.  A most infuriating fact is that many of our men (and women) may come home to an broken home.  Too many heroes have come home only to be greeted by nothing more than divorce papers and looming court battles. (biting tongue to rant no further)

It is OUR duty as American citizens to thank our military everyday for walking through Hell so that we may live in relative peace.  I was thinking just today while riding:  "A handshake and a Thank You wouldn't kill you, but what they do for you, just very well could kill them!"

Reminder to our veterans; There are many avenues for assistance, please utilize them and most importantly don't be afraid to ask for help, we will all find a way to get through it.  That's what America does best!

KEEPERS

A few of us were discussing friends and honesty and trust over at a blogger buddy's site. 
We all have acquaintances, but who are those you can't truly call friends? 
Mine are categorized as such:
People I Know- just that, I know your name (maybe if I can remember it) and a little information about you.
Buddy- Folks I know and maybe hang out with regularly, but just not close enough to depend on.
Good Friend- the select few that know things about me that even the CIA doesn't, and me about them. To be included in this elite group takes many years of trust, honesty, and usually a trip through Hell and Back.
These are the real Keepers.

Thanx North for the inspiration for today's entry.

First "Use rubber bullets" Now- "Stay off the grass"

We need to secure our borders, I think we can all agree on that. But how are we supposed to accomplish that task when our Border Patrol Agents hands are all but tied?
I had read earlier in the year about units ordered to use rubber bullets and bean bag shots as a first round of defense, because, well we don't really want to hurt anyone.  What?  This great plan cost the life of  U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. Read more here:  http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/03/fbi-report-raises-concerns-border-agents-facing-bullets-bean-bags-609544203/

Now I find that are agents are being told to stay off the grass, so to speak.  The Department of the Interior is hampering operations along the border in order to protect possible endangered species, some of which no one has seen in years.  There are millions of acres agents are not allowed to drive/ chase illegals onto unless it is on foot or horseback.  What?  When did the life of a frog or some sort of cactus become more important than of the security of our nation?  Read more on this subject here:  http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=44433

As long as I'm alive and breathing.......

I like most all music, but my roots are in Country music, and artists like Justin Moore are the reasons why.  True, honest music about the important things.  Love, Life, Trucks, Bucks and Firearms. (oh and the occasional Beer)

Cannot wait for the the album on June 21, so I can load it into my MP3 player and make all the sheep at work uncomfortable!
Edit today's the day! I shall mount my trusty steed, Maxim, and aquire myself said audio recordings!

I Was Never There, But I Still Care.

Although I have never served, and have no family lost in the Viet Nam conflict ( one uncle went and came home), Welcoming the traveling wall with fellow Patriots alongside my son, was something to behold.  Great care was taken to erect this half scale model.  The veterans standing guard day and night.

 Today I took both my kids to see the wall completed, and as I stated I do not know any names personally, but I couldn't help feel both sorrow for those lost and pride for them at the same time, because whether they felt it at the time, but they where helping to spread democracy and root out communism.  In essence, we as a free nation tend to stand up for the little guy against the big bully. I felt compelled to read each and every name; 58000+ heroes, one and all. 

Food For Thought For The Safety Of Our Children

Since MikeM and I seem to agree on the subject and he is much better with words than I, I will link to his posts over at Confederate Yankee.  My hopes is that those who are on the fence or disagree with the idea of teachers and staff being allowed to carry concealed weapons, will at least, pause to give it considerable thought. This is a three part series, I will post the final installment when posted.  I felt it very important and could not wait.

Part I :  http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/314926.php

Part II: http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/315189.php
Part III:  http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/315532.php

Maybe It's Not All About ME

"This day I completed my thirty first year, and conceived that I had in all human probability now existed about half the period which I am to remain in this Sublunary world. I reflected that I had as yet done but little, very little, indeed, to further the happiness of the human race, or to advance the information of the succeeding generation. I viewed with regret the many hours I have spent in indolence, and now soarly feel the want of that information which those hours would have given me had they been judiciously expended. but since they are past and cannot be recalled, I dash from me the gloomy thought, and resolved in future, to redouble my exertions and at least endeavour to promote those two primary objects of human existence, by giving them the aid of that portion of talents which nature and fortune have bestowed on me: or in future, to live for mankind, as I have heretofore lived for myself."
Meriwether Lewis  August, 1805

Please bear with me, as I am currently again reading books of American history, and many quotes are likely to follow.  I love to 'hear' the thoughts of those folks essential to the beginning and growing years of our great nation.  This thought reminds us that there is a time in life when we must all realize there is more just 'me'.  Mine was also in my thirties, when opportunites came to volunteer for some worthwhile causes.  I wish I could do more, but I work with what time I have and with the limited talents I possess.   I implore my few readers to find something your are passionate about and that fit the talents and knowledge you posses, and use it to help make life a little better, not for us, but for others and especially for our children's future.

Which would you rather?