More Road Rants

Maybe I'm a bit of a fuddy duddy but,

When it is lightly raining out and the speed limit on the road is 65, I shouldn't have pretty much everyone passing me as I do 70 in the slow lane.

That might explain why in a 20 mile commute from hotel to class, I saw no less than 6 wrecks. 2 bad enough to block more than 1 lane and require ambulances. I just don't get it.

Observations from the road

Traveling today afforded me the opportunity to people watch and generally get out in public. At DFW airport I stopped for a bite to eat between flights and boy are some people assholes! The guy in front of me at the sandwich shop went off on the counter help because he didn't feel they put enough fixin's on the sandwich. I mean went off to the point of the poor woman behind the counter excused herself from the line and went in the back to compose herself. This guy was just being an ASS. No politeness or common courtesy at all.

Do people not realize they are traveling? I'm sorry women but even though you may look good in high heels, like in serious spikes, if you are traveling and have to catch a connecting flight in a massive airport complex while lugging a massive purse, backpack and rolling bag, maybe you should consider shoes that are made for walking. And when you slip while trying to wear heels and run to catch a flight, do not blame the airport floor for causing you to fall.

TSA exists and has for a while. The procedures are pretty standard and suggestions are available form all over. Don't wear clothes and accessories loaded with metal the make you have to practically disrobe to get through and complain that the line is taking too long and moving too slow.

Enough ranting for tonight. Must find restaurant and kill food.

On the Road Again.......

Got word late yesterday that I am headed to Raleigh NC for training. Like Now!

Gonna miss this weekends classes, fortunately there are enough instructors that I can slide and the class will still go on. Should be perfect weather like it was last weekend so everyone should have a good time. Just hate to miss out. I really do enjoy seeing shooters progress and learn new skills. Especially the smiles on their face when it finally hits them the difference between arrival performance and that during later parts of class.

So, any dining suggestions for the Raleigh area?

Range Weekend AAR

Saturday was a long day, started with Basic Pistol 2 at 9AM, Defensive Pistol Skills 1 in the middle and ended with Introduction to Low Light / Night Shooting at 9:30PM. For me that meant leaving the house at 6:30A and getting home around midnight. The cats were not terribly happy.

Long but good day. Lots of new people and a few actually learned something. Really everyone said they had a good time and learned so it was a great day. Saw a few people who made it to the end of the day much improved. That is the goal after all, get better. A few learned that the gun they had was not really the right gun for them. Now they know how their gear works under lots of stress and how they work under stress. Even the scenario force on force drills at night went well. Everyone already got the message that if there is nothing in there worth dieing for, Don't go there! They still got to learn why trying to clear a house at night just flat sucks. Especially if you are trying to do it alone.

Ah what a day

The Anointed one has decided to grace us back woods inbred rednecks with a visit so things around here are a bit weird. USSS has been in town for a few days checking things out and informing us of the modified schedules that we are going to have to work around. WOOOOHOOOO, leave work early today!

I do not envy the USSS officers their duties. With the current climate of resentment towards the Socialist agenda that BHO is pushing and this being one of the last bastions of conservative secondary education, their job is tough. I will say they very much appear to have their act together. I have the greatest respect for the men and women who serve on the presidential detail as well as all the local agents that have been brought in to compliment their ranks. They are definitely professionals doing a tough job.

On the aircraft front, while having a C-17 come in is an awesome sight, there is nothing like the feeling of a flight of heavy Helo's coming in together. During preparations for this visit, a group of Marine Helo's came through to check the area out and deliver people/stuff. When the ground shakes and the building rattles and you can feel the pounding in your chest, there is definitely some work being done by the Helo's to try and beat the air around them into submission. I would have posted pictures but the USSS folks asked us not to be taking pictures when we came out to watch them approaching. Sorry. Besides, pictures are no where near as impressive as the feeling!

Just Flew In

And boy are my arms tired!

Spent a couple days at a customers facility going over equipment for an upcoming test. Fun to get away for a couple days. Much better than living on the road like I used to.

Hectic at work now and going to get busier for the rest of the year. What a problem to have in this economy.

D Movie Review

Friday the mailbox had a package of video love from Amazon in it. Actually it was from a reseller through Amazon but still Video Love.

It had all the essential elements of a bad scifi movie;

Busload of blind Orphans? Check
Bus breaks down in middle of nowhere? Check
Small mining town in middle of nowhere? Check
Abandoned uranium mine just outside town? Check
Evil Mortician who is actually failed government scientist? Check
Midget morticians assistant? Check
Mortician makes dead townspeople into Zombies? Check
Renegade biker gang led by a lesbian on the road into town? Check
Newest member of gang happens to have been Homecoming Queen in this small town? Check
Cue the hilarity,
Zombies break out of mine where mortician is keeping them and terrorize town.
Small town hicks are already up in arms against the biker gang. Zombies arrive and townspeople can't "kill" them because they're family. Bikers have to save town and blind orphans. Homecoming Queen hooks up with husband she ran out on. (Billy Bob Thornton in his first movie). "Cycle Sluts" save the town, mortician gets attacked by zombie, midget takes care of the kids. Oh Yeah, Martha Quin gets killed by the zombies in the middle of all that!

That's Right; "Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town"!

Takes me back to Dobie Screens on UT Campus more years ago than I care to admit.

Brought to you by Troma, the folks who brought you Toxic Avenger and Teenage Catgirls in Heat as well as other horror classics.

Definitely a must see for folks who like really bad movies.

Random Aircraft Sightings

Never know what's going to pop in for lunch around here. Two of these guys dropped in for some FreeBirds. Kinda cool when the customer comes in to tell you and leads the way to go have a look!

Welcome Treasury Department, AGAIN

Welcome back! Times have been a bit nuts around here. We are running up to 16 hour days and on weekends through next year at work. So, I haven't been as attentive to the blog as I should have. Evidently the Treas.gov has been though. They stopped by to visit this old post on P-Mg Mag Clips. Being Treasury, I have to wonder, how does the BATF&E show up now a days? Do they still show up as Treas or DOJ?

What a Day for a Funeral

It's September 11, 2009, On this most hallowed of days,

Army 2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews body was flown in today on his way home to Cameron. Lt Andrews was killed Friday in Paktia province, Afghanistan when his vehicle was hit by an IED and then attacked by RPG's. His 2YO son celebrated his birthday Monday and his wife is due to deliver their second soon.

It was a somber thing to see the Army Honor Guard, the Patriot Guard Riders and a host of local ad state law enforcement officers receive his body along with his family and friends. The Airport Fire Station emptied as the Firemen stood at attention while the procession passed.

Sorry, I just couldn't bring myself to take pictures.

Political and Personal Causes

Joe Huffman hits one out of the park concerning the Civil Rights arguments and violent reaction to infringement of those rights and successfully ties that in to armed self defense. It is more than worth the read.
Draw you line in the sand and stick to it.
The money quote from John Clifford is;
"When you draw your gun is far more important than how fast you draw it."

I couldn't agree more with this quote or with the rest of the article. GO READ IT NOW!

Unfortunate headline but Wise Words

Sebastion has the skinny on the headline. But the article is well worth reading. Towards the end of it Sheriff Brad Steube steps in with this;

Steube also pleaded for parents to help in the fight against guns and drugs, saying law enforcement can react to crime but cannot instill morals in those willing to take a life. “I am upset. I am mad. I want the community to step up,” Steube said.

County Commissioner Gwen Brown also jumped into the fray with these words;

Commissioner Brown also pushed for parents to get involved in their children’s lives, a step that may save a life as the homicide rate in Manatee County has reached an all-time high.

Here is a tragic death of a teenager and very unusually the adults involved are stepping up and talking sense about what needs to be happening to address the issue rather than calling for more laws that are already being broken.

Quote of the Day

"Jews are not like Christians," Moscowitz said. "If I turn my cheek, I'm coming around to make a kick."

Stolen from Top of the Chain's post

Mazel-tough

quoting Rabbi Gary Moscowitz about reactions to violence in houses of worship. I am so with him there!

Mom's Out

So, my sisters sprung my Mom from the hospital today. She is at a point where she can maintain adequate O2 Saturation without oxygen and the Pneumonia is on it's way out. She is also now on additional medications for her heart.

Bottom Line: She's out and not in immediate danger. Good thins do happen.

Thanks to those who offered prayers for her and the family!

Moms and Giant Rabbits

So, Mom's condition has gotten worse. We shall see what the next few days bring. Here's a little reason why I write this. Back when I was in 6th grade and was sick, mom took me to the doctor.
On the way home there was this guy with an old plate camera and darkbox to develop film in in front of the DQ along with a giant rabbit. So, we stopped for ice cream and pictures. We found this picture when we were cleaning out the family house when we had to move her to assisted living. I've been carrying this picture with me every day since. It's a reminder of who she is and why I am who I am.