The Smallest Minority

Quote of the Day - Global Socialism Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:25:00 +0000

Quote of the Day - Global Socialism Edition

From Charles Krauthammer:

The idea of essentially taxing hardworking citizens of the democracies to fill the treasuries of Third World kleptocracies went nowhere, thanks mainly to Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher (and the debt crisis of the early '80s). They put a stake through the enterprise.

But such dreams never die.

Second Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:03:00 +0000

Second Interview

Well, in about an hour I will be having my second interview with XYZ Engineering Co. (name changed to protect whoever) where I've been told in no uncertain terms "we want to hire you" but they suffer from the same problem my previous employer had - no billable hours for me. It's a chicken & egg thing, or perhaps cart-before-horse. Everything looks good for the first quarter of 2010, but realistically we're talking February before people start cutting purchase orders.

I fully expect to be employed again by the end of January, but sooner would be better.

Quote of the Day - Small Business Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:40:00 +0000

Quote of the Day - Small Business Edition

A tweet from Hunter Cressall, author of one of my favorite webcomics, Vexxarr:

As a small business let me say this: This week's "jobs summit" says all I need to know about this Whitehouse. They FAILED economics.

Almost all politicians do.

They would have never bothered her if she were on welfare

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:32:00 +0000

They Would Have Never Bothered Her if She Were on Welfare

~~Unbelievable~~. No, actually, too believable. I found this at AR15.com. The title of this post comes from the first response to the original post:

$10 an hour with 2 kids? IRS pounces

Rachel Porcaro knows she's hardly rich. When you're a single mom making 10 bucks an hour, you don't need government experts to tell you how broke you are.

Rachel Porcaro knows she's hardly rich. When you're a single mom making 10 bucks an hour, you don't need government experts to tell you how broke you are.

But that's what happened. The government not only told Porcaro she was poor. They said she was too poor to make it in Seattle.

It all started a year ago, when Porcaro, a 32-year-old mom with two boys, was summoned to the Seattle office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). She had been flagged for an audit.

She couldn't believe it. She made $18,992 the previous year cutting hair at Supercuts. A few hundred of that she spent to have her taxes prepared by H&R Block.

"I asked the IRS lady straight upfront — 'I don't have anything, why are you auditing me?' " Porcaro recalled. "I said, 'Why me, when I don't own a home, a business, a car?' "

The answer stunned both Porcaro and the private tax specialist her dad had gotten to help her.

"They showed us a spreadsheet of incomes in the Seattle area," says Dante Driver, an accountant at Seattle's G.A. Michael and Co. "The auditor said, 'You made eighteen thousand, and our data show a family of three needs at least thirty-six thousand to get by in Seattle."

"They thought she must have unreported income. That she was hiding something. Basically they were auditing her for not making enough money."

RTWT. It gets worse.

But I'll skip to the dénouement:

Rachel says an irony of her year in tax hell is that the IRS is right about one thing — you can't get by in Seattle on what she makes. That's why she's living with her parents. To try to make a life in our shimmering city without relying on welfare, food stamps or other public assistance.

"We're an Italian family," she said. "We're surviving as a tribe. It seems like we got punished for that."

Of course you did. Can't have the plebes fending for themselves. The next thing you know, they'll start thinking that they don't need government.

At the time of this posting, there are 420 comments on the original story. The natives seem restless.

A Gun and the Willingness to Use It

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:56:00 +0000

A Gun and the Willingness to Use It

Vanderleun has the sound track of a 911 call from a woman in Lincoln County, Oklahoma. Donna Jackson had a home intruder who would not stop trying to get in. Listen to the whole thing.

She had a gun. She was willing to use it to defend herself - "I have a shotgun, and I will use it."

"He's breaking the window, I'm going to kill him."

"He looks like an older man. I don't want to kill him."

She was calm, clear and collected until after she pulled the trigger.

Having a gun doesn't mean you're safe. As Col. Cooper put it, owning a guitar doesn't make you a musician, either. You need to be willing and able. Donna Jackson met all three conditions. She survived the confrontation. Too many don't.

The perp was Billy Dean Riley, and was apparently high or drunk. He had a fairly long record of drug and alcohol abuse.

Remember this tape the next time someone tells you that people don't need guns for self defense and can depend on the State to save them.

I Thought I was Being Amusing

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:39:00 +0000

I Thought I was Being Amusing

But there seems to be no level of absurdity the AGW faithful won't descend to:

"Hopenhagen." Srsly.

AZ Blogmeet & Range Trip - It's Still On

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:02:00 +0000

AZ Blogmeet & Range Trip - It's Still On!

Despite my change in employment status, the Saturday, December 12 range trip and blogmeet are still a go, and I hope to see all six or eight of you there. It looks like Saturday is going to be a bit chilly and possibly damp, so dress warmly. This is still Arizona, so bring plenty to drink (non-alcoholic, of course). Since we're going to shoot until about 1:00PM or so, you might also want to bring a snack of some kind.

For those who have never been there, the Elsy Pearson Public Shooting Range is quite easy to get to:

From either the direction of Phoenix or Tucson, take I-10 towards the I-8 interchange.

Take Exit 199 to I-8 West

The first exit you come to on I-8 is Exit 174 for Trekell Rd. Exit there.

Turn left and go about 2-3 minutes. (Note, the speed limit through the residential area there is 25.) Proceed on through the first minor intersection, and keep your eyes on the left side of the road for a sign for the Casa Grande Trap Club.

Turn left again at W. Arica Rd. The road turns to dirt here, so your vehicle will get dirty. Go for another 2-3 minutes. W. Arica Rd. intersects Isom Rd. at the trap range.

Turn right on S. Isom Rd. Go for a minute or two, and you will pass the Casa Grande police range on your left, and immediately after that will be the Public range.

Here's a picture of how to get there:

And one showing the three ranges a bit better:

The range opens at 7:00AM. As I said, it is my intention to be there when it opens so I can set up my steel targets.

One further note: While the range has some very nice concrete shooting benches, there are NO CHAIRS. If you want to sit down, BRING A CHAIR or something to sit on.

Edited to add: Here's my previous list of things-to-bring-&-do:

1) It is an unsupervised range - there are no Range Officers, so we have to do that ourselves. I expect everyone to be familiar with the Four Rules. I also expect everyone to be familiar with firing range etiquette.

2) There is no potable water at the range. Bring fluids. (But no alcohol.)

3) There is, at least, a Porta-Potty on site now. There didn't used to be. I suggest that someone bring some toilet paper, just in case. And hand-sanitizer, too.

4) Even though it's late fall, and the firing line is covered, Mr. Sun is nasty. Bring sunscreen.

5) There are no targets nor target stands at this range. You can bring anything you're willing to clean up as a target (exceptions being glass and explosive targets - that's posted). As I said, I'll be bringing my steel targets, and everyone is welcome to shoot them. I'll also be bringing a target stand for paper targets. If you go out to pick something up, don't get the "stick in the ground" type target stands. The ground out there is caliche, and about as hard as cement.

6) There are three ranges to shoot from, a 100 yard range with covered shooting benches, a 300 yard range with covered benches, and a 25 yard range with no benches, but the firing line is covered too. I figure we'll take up one end of the 300 yard range. In addition, the backstop is a range of mountains. About 600 yards downrange on the side of the mountain someone has put some steel targets, so if you bring something with some reach, you have something to shoot at.

7) Sorry, but they don't allow .50BMG at this range. I suppose it's just slightly possible to loft a 750 grain .50 caliber projectile over the mountain range backstop and drop it onto Interstate 8, so they're verboten.

End edit.

At about 1:00 we will pack it in and head to Ochoa's. It's just off Trekell Rd. The address is 512 East Cottonwood Lane. Get back to Trekell Rd., turn right (North) and drive until you hit Cottonwood Ln. Turn left and if you get to Casa Grande Ave., you went too far. It's back a bit off the road on the North (right) side of the street just before Casa Grande Ave.

Hope to see you there!

Wishful Thinking

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:12:00 +0000

Wishful Thinking

But I LIKE how this guy thinks!

Well, THAT Sucks

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:42:00 +0000

Well, THAT Sucks

Oh Boy! I've just joined the ranks of the unemployed. Due to lack of work, the entire Controls staff of my office (all three of us) just got laid off.

However, I do have an interview tomorrow morning. I'm not all that concerned about getting another job, but you have to admit, the timing SUCKS.

Your Moment of Zen

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Your Moment of Zen

The last one scrolled off the front page, time for a new one (and I need it):

That's from Zion National Park, Utah.

Hopenchangen Hopenhagen Carbonhagen

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:24:00 +0000

~~Hopenchangen~~ ~~Hopenhagen~~ Carbonhagen

So Obamateur is flying to Carbonhagen on his way to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize to inspire other World Leaders™ to Do the Right Thing^© and cut per capita CO₂ emissions back to 19^th Century levels in order to Save the Planet!^©™^® In the mean time, the Imperial Senate Democrats are preparing to throw their female constituency under the bus^® by prohibiting Federal funds from being used to pay for abortions just so they can get Health Care Reform^©™^® passed and fvck the rest of us, too.

Just when do the actions of our Congressweasels fall to the level of "a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object...a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism"?

Just askin'.

UPDATE: Who needs Carbonhagen? The EPA can just make sh!t up as they go!

Remembering Pearl Harbor Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:13:00 +0000

Remembering Pearl Harbor Day

Sixty-eight years ago today, Japanese Naval aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor and surrounding Army and Marine air bases on the islands of Hawaii, precipitating America's entry into World War II. From an article in Sunday's Houston Chronicle about the addition of a Japanese Navy mini-sub to the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredricksburg, Texas (birthplace of Adm. Chester Nimitz):

The youngest of the World War II veterans are now in their 80s and it's estimated less than 1 million Pacific war combatants, primarily from the Navy and Marine Corps, are alive.

I think I'd like to visit that museum.

Quote of the Day - Chicken Little Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:56:00 +0000

Quote of the Day - Chicken Little Edition

This time it's me, paraphrasing what I've seen in several places recently:

"Environmentalism" is all about CONTROL. You can tell because no matter what the dire warning is - "Climate Change" (née Anthropogenic Global Warming), Global Cooling (The coming Ice Age), the Population Bomb (which Ehrlich is still not ashamed of [read that - how can someone be so wrong for so long and still hold a professorship?]), Nuclear Winter, and to a lesser extent Silent Spring and the Ozone Hole - the solution is ALWAYS THE SAME: CONTROL OF OUR LIVES AND CONTROL OF OUR MONEY BY OUR "INTELLECTUAL SUPERIORS," THE MORONS WE PUT IN PUBLIC OFFICE AND THE "EXPERTS" THEY APPOINT.

Quote of the Day - California Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:07:00 +0000

Quote of the Day - California Edition

The State of California has been mismanaged literally for decades now. Governor Gray Davis was recalled because of it, and Arnold "The Governator" Schwarzenegger got himself elected - twice! - to the Captaincy of the Titanic on the promise that he could fix it.

He failed, because the electorate cannot figure out that you cannot spend money you don't have - at least not for very long, and Ahnold refuses to unsheathe the Clue-Bat™ on them.

He wants to keep getting re-elected (to something, anyway.)

So when I ran across this while perusing the internet this afternoon, I knew it would make the perfect QotD:

Mark's one sentence description of California:

California: where the Anarchists sound like Libertarians, the Libertarians sound like Republicans, the Republicans sound like Democrats and the Democrats sound like Leon Trotsky, and about the only saving grace is that they do not actually get all the government they pay for.

Can I get an "AMEN!"?

The Gun You Carry

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:22:00 +0000

The Gun You Carry

. . . when you can't carry a gun.

I live in Arizona. It tends to be a bit warm here nine months out of the year. And (to put it mildly) I'm on the husky side. My preferred carry piece is a 1911, but it's tough (for me) to wear clothes that will adequately conceal such a piece, whether it's my full-sized Kimber Classic, my Para USA Commander-sized Gunblog 45, or my Kimber Ultra CDPII.

Well, conceal it and still give me reasonable access to it.

Recently I've been toting a S&W Model 60 2" snubbie .38 revolver in the front pocket of my jeans, but it's just a little bit lumpy. My (ex-)boss purchased a Kel-Tec PF9 a while back, and I found that I really liked it - 7+1 rounds of full-house 9mm (+P rated, but not as a steady diet) in a pretty tiny package that still offered reasonable sights.

I picked one up a couple of days ago. I still need to do a "fluff & buff" on it, then run a couple hundred rounds through it, but I think this will easily fill the bill for the gun I carry when I can't carry a gun. Mine looks just like this one:

The slide is hard-chromed on mine.

Get Offa My Lawn

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:42:00 +0000

Get Offa My Lawn!

Borepatch, creator of the Clippy cartoon that's drawn so much traffic to TSM over the last couple of days (odd how that works, isn't it?) has been on top of the AGW thing for a while, and has some more snark to bring. But on a more serious note, he asks (and answers) the question, Should you be a Global Warming Skeptic?

Worth your time.

What Socialism Looks Like

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:38:00 +0000

What Socialism Looks Like

From In Iraq Now (at 56):

In a Socialist system, all the money is collective--there is one budget. Just like us. There is an Army budget. If pay goes up, procurementgoes down. The opposite is also true. Reduction in Force (the Army's version of layoffs) means more money for equipment.

Medical care is free, or the same price for all, but no one gets to choose their doctor. Just like the Army.

In a Socialist system everyone gets the same pay if they have the same rank, regardless of their productivity. Unions work this way. In the Army an E4 with four years service who is a first-rate Blackhawk crew chief, fit, and fully qualified makes exactly the same pay as an E4 with four years service who is truck driver flunked the PT Test and still can't fill out a maintenance inspection form.

RTWT.

And also about Charlie's Angels.

FIX BAYONETS

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:14:00 +0000

FIX BAYONETS!

Congressional Candidate Lieutenant Colonel Allen West:

Hell yeah. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat.

First "Law Abiding Citizen" now "Harry Brown"

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:44:00 +0000

First "Law Abiding Citizen" now "Harry Brown"

Watch the trailer:

It was supposed to release in the US on 11/6/09, but I can't find it showing anywhere. It's also supposed to have opened in the UK on 11/11. Someone's seen it, because there are currently 40 User Comments at IMDB. This is typical:

This film accurately depicts life in modern Britain today.

Not the image of a flowing rolling countryside of middle class England which is often depicted in typical international films but one of an inner city "sink" estate - Elephant & Castle in London - with all of its associated problems.

I saw the film last night and it brought back all the memories I have of having lived in similar circumstances.

Michael Caine is excellent, this is probably one of his best films and I expect film nominations for his role.

The film gives a gritty but realistic view of the life most people live on the sink estates of Britain, all are there through no choice of their own, but some are aware of the conditions they are forced to live in.

I don't think we'll see the British government promoting this film as it portraits the country in a very bad light, though, if you are not from Britain and would like a taste of what some of us have to put up with I recommend you see this film.

I'd like to see it.

Interesting Question

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:32:00 +0000

Interesting Question

This is a serious question to all readers of The Market Ticker.

Where is your personal breaking point?
No, I'm not asking how far you have to be pushed before you "go postal" and commit random acts of violence. That's not a question to ask in polite company, even though for virtually everyone, there is such a point.

No, I'm asking how much abuse you have to have personally served upon you by the banksters and other scam artists in this country before you have had enough, and start doing unto the other guy - because he has done you.

-- The Market Ticker, Where's the Breaking Point?

RTWT, and the links.

The natives are getting restless. Billy Beck gives us the Quote of the Day:

I am beginning to consider this year since January as a fairly close comparison to events elsewhere in 1917, with the temporal slipped-disk of George Bush as Alexander Kerensky for eight years. If we take Obama as the first post-American president, then Bush was the president of a provisional government. In any case, the slow-motion revolution of Amsoc is no longer slow-motion. We're living a moment in history that will reverberate through history as the turn of a great wheel, into precisely what cannot be completely foretold right now, but it must surely be enormous in its consequences.

We are more and more in it, every day, and none it is anything good for anyone. As the struggle intensifies, every person's principles will be more clearly illuminated, right down to the street-level where you live. Pay close attention, and keep both hands on the wheel.

I'm a Smart Engineer

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:02:00 +0000

I'm a Smart Engineer

I love xkcd.

Best Joke I've Heard in a While

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Best Joke I've Heard in a While

What's the difference between a golf ball and a Cadillac Escalade?

Tiger Woods can drive a golf ball 400 yards.

I Miss Michael Crichton

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:54:00 +0000

I Miss Michael Crichton

He was a very rare voice of intelligence and reason.

Found at Theo Spark.

I Can Haz M14

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:41:00 +0000

I Can Haz M14!

Cue the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for a rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus! Just over a year ago I sent a substantial check to Ted Brown at the recommendation of my readers, and I waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

I finally got good news. My LRB M25 rear-lugged receiver shipped last Wednesday and should be at Ted's shop no later than the end of this week. My rifle is next in line for assembly!

I already have a scope (the Leupold Mk 4 LR/T I had on the Remington) and 11 magazines. The receiver comes with a built-in Weaver base:

All I need to get is some LaRue QD rings, I think, and load up some ammo.

I shouldn't have to wait more than another month or so . . .

AZ Blogmeet & Range Trip - Update

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:21:00 +0000

AZ Blogmeet & Range Trip - Update

OK, Saturday December 12 is the agreed-upon date by the majority of respondents. I've had one (1) recommendation for the after-range gathering, Ochoa's in Casa Grande on Cottonwood lane, between Pinal Ave and Trekell Rd. Since the range is just off Trekell, finding it shouldn't be hard. The description was as follows:

Family owned and family recipies. They have been a Casa Grande institution for decades. The hot sauce is hot, the enchilada sauce is smooth and the Green Chile is the best! They have tables in the back room for large groups.

Next question is: how large? How many people are planning to attend the range trip and noshing? Here's a new poll:

The poll only allows one vote per computer, so if you're bringing family/friends, please let me know in the comments.

Again, the range opens at 07:00, and I figure we'll shoot until about 1:00PM, then go eat, drink, and be merry for a couple of hours at least.

So who's in?