Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Random thought...

Did anybody ever watch - or does anybody remember - the John Larroquette Show?

The main character had a carnival sign on the wall that said "This Is A Dark Ride".

Man, what I'd give for a reproduction of that sign. I can't seem to find it anywhere on-line.

R.I.P Colonel Jeff Cooper

I just got to the computer, and via the gunbloggers I read each day, I find Col. Jeff Cooper has passed away.

I don't know a whole lot about him, but I know about Gunsite, and I've read some of what Col. Cooper has written.

Lawdog has posted one of Col. Cooper's better-known articles. Give it a read. One of the Colonel's best-known quotations came from this article:

One bleeding-heart type asked me in a recent interview if I did not agree that "violence begets violence." I told him that it is my earnest endeavor to see that it does. I would like very much to ensure—and in some cases I have—that any man who offers violence to his fellow citizen begets a whole lot more in return than he can enjoy.


That's wisdom still relevant for our time, and for the ages.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

End of an era

The era of the F-14 Tomcat is over.

According to the article, Iran is the only country still flying the F-14. In a head-to-head fight between U.S. and Iranian Tomcats, we'd have wiped the floor with 'em.

Too bad we won't get the chance to prove it.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

This Past Weekend's Match

Got to shoot the AR in this match! That's a good thing, too, because after my sorry performance shooting the steel (missing the steel is more like it,) I needed a pick-me-up!

Catch-up

Yeah, I've been away from the 'ol blog. It's been a hectic week. I've had exams, clinicals and quizzes. Some things take priority. So sue me.

Anyway, since I don't feel much like blogging about abdominal palpation techniques, here's a rundown of some interesting blog stuff from the past few days...

The Geek lays it on the line when it comes to Islamic extremism, the Pope and civilization.

Lawdog gets it, too.

Tam has some gut-wrenching insight regarding "security cameras", for those of you who've read the book. She also answers that burning question, "Why are you carrying a gun?"

Xavier seeks a blogiversary gun. (Hey, I didn't know about that tradition! Mine will have to wait 'till Christmas, I'm afraid...)

And that's the news for now. Hopefully I'll get some video from this past weekend's competition (which included my first opportunity to compete with the AR!!) tonight. Hey, I've got to take a study break once in a while or my eyeballs will start to bleed...

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Shiver me timbers....

.... it's International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

AAAARRRRRR!!!!!!

Monday, September 11, 2006

MSM Status Quo

Gun crime rises, howls CNN!

Bleeding and leading, as usual.

In a development that surprised exactly no one, the article contained unsubstantiated tripe demonizing inanimate objects and the NRA:

Professor Alfred Blumstein of Carnegie Mellon University said the rise in gun violence was particularly troubling.

"A major police effort to confiscate guns helped bring down the surge in violent crime that occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s," Blumstein said. "But gun distribution is easier now because we have begun to back off gun control." (My emphasis.)

Backed by the National Rifle Association, the Bush administration has been cool toward gun control measures.

Um, exactly which element of legislation has made gun distribution easier?

Not one, Prof. Blumstein, you lying jerk. In the past few years, the so-called "Assault Weapons" Ban was allowed to die, and several states have passed concealed-carry and "Castle Doctrine" legislation -- but none of that legislation has anything to do with easing "distribution". To the contrary -- guns are just as difficult to acquire, and no easier to "distribute" than before.

That's the kind of bullshit that makes my blood boil. CNN knows they'll get mileage out of a "gun" story, and they have no interest in or motivation to validate statements like that before they parrot them in an article.

Here's more -- a quote from Dean Esserman, Providence Rhode Island Police Chief:

"I believe in homeland defense, but I also believe in crime fighting," Esserman said. "I don't want one neglected for the other. Every year we're losing 16,000 people to murder, mostly young people and mostly killed by guns, and that's more than three times the number that died at the World Trade Center" in the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Oooohhhh -- way to throw that 9/11 reference in there for effect, boss. Very timely. What a sweaty, stinking turd that quote is. Never mind troublesome details like how many of those horrid guns were obtained illegally, or how many of the shooters were felons who shouldn't have had the guns in the first place, or who may have been repeat offenders, or if they'd been released from prison early, or if they might have murdered somebody in a drug deal, or if the crimes took place in cities with already Draconian (and worthless) gun-control measures. Let's just focus on the inanimate objects instead.

Is there an IQ ceiling in the requirements to apply for the position of Big City Police Chief or something?

Oh, I dread this. Mark my words: Socialists ... er, Democrats will win the Congress in the upcoming elections.

A stunning resurgence in gun control legislation won't be far behind.

Never forget

CNN Pipeline will be showing CNN coverage of 9/11/01 all day today - just as it happened 5 years ago.

We'd all do well to remind ourselves of the shock, horror and rage of that day.

















It's the smartest thing CNN has done in a long, long time. It might just warrant a look.

Whatever you do today - remember.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Lesson

More wisdom from Kim.

A preview:

...just as Churchill had to deal with the mess created by his predecessors, George W. Bush and his new leadership have had to deal with the enduring legacy of earlier governments which failed in their primary task of protecting the long-term interests of the country and its people.

Kim's essay is brilliant in that it keeps the big picture in focus -- something the MSM seems to have no interest in doing, even as we approach the 5th anniversary of 9/11.

Go. Read.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

This is interesting...

This just occured to me:

According to the Geek (see the link to his post in my prior post), these are organizations which backed McCain/Feingold (listed with their contributions):

*The Pew Charitable Trusts ($40.1 million)
The Schumann Center for Media and Democracy ($17.6 million)
*The Carnegie Corporation of New York ($14.1 million)
*The Joyce Foundation ($13.5 million)
George Soros' Open Society Institute ($12.6 million)
The Jerome Kohlberg Trust ($11.3 million)
*The Ford Foundation ($8.8 million)
*The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation ($5.2 million)

Hmmmm ... I know I've heard National Public Radio mention 5 of the above (indicated with *) as "supporters."

Why would these organizations not support legislation to ban political ads when they already know their support of de-facto National Socialist Democratic Radio will get their message out under the guise of "news" and "commentary"?!?!?

How convenient.

Long live Fox News.

Rants

When it comes down to it, I don't read blogs for news, sports or weather.

I read 'em for the rants.

That insult to the First Amendment to the Constitution (AKA McCain/Feingold, which takes effect today) has produced a couple of instant classics:

Kim: http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/tos/single/9716/

and the Geek: http://geekwitha45.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_geekwitha45_archive.html#115763787449560827

The Geek should get an award for that kind of fury. Bravo.

He should be furious. We all should. This is just the latest example of how we just seem to be begging the government to rob us of our liberties, to do it in our own name, and to tell us it's for our own good.

I'll echo the sentiment: SCREW MCCAIN-FEINGOLD.

As Kim says: Our Bill of Rights is not negotiable. Not one single part. Not ever.

(I'd put the little icon on my sidebar, but I don't know how, and I've got an exam to study for at the moment...)

Friday, September 01, 2006

Clinicals

I had my first day of clinicals at the county hospital today. Having been a patient in so many situations so many times, I felt a little weird being on the other side of things.

Honestly, though, I really enjoyed it. Researching the chart of the patient I was assigned in order to formulate a care plan was really interesing.

Like every "first day", it felt hectic, and I was more concerned with not causing a disaster than I was with learning a whole lot. Of course, none of the students were assigned patients who were really ill -- they don't want to scare us off right away.

I'll have some clinical rotations at area nursing homes in the coming months as well. The only other nursing home experience I've had was during Nurse Aide clinicals, so I'm not sure if it's valid to say this, but I liked the hospital environment much more. I'm more attracted to the idea of working with patients who are going to be discharged and who can go home and get back to their lives. Don't get me wrong -- it's not like I don't see the value in nursing home work, but right now I feel more positive about the hospital.

The only downside of clinicals is -- I hate having to wear all white.