Hail To The Future!

Turns out you can order a pizza for someone from 1,600 miles away.

Key Words

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is making a list, checking it twice.  Going to misdirect them with a list of all the things they're looking for thrice.

Religion and Politics

It's sticky.

There are some fundamental positions dictated by ones religion that are emphatically not fundamental to someone who doesn't share that faith.

Like wearing a rubber.

Like teaching the person who is most likely to need that rubber both that rubbers exist and when to use them.

Making law requiring that education is a fundamental violation of some people's faith.

A core part of the first amendment is the government cannot impose such violations on us because of freedom of religion.  There is no difference between adopting all of the rules of a religion and just making that religion the state one.

Pay attention here Muslims.

Mohamed is a particularly common ethnic name to someone who isn't a Muslim.  Jesus is a common Hispanic name to a Jew.

Making law that requires adherence to the fundamental principles of one religion is very little different from mandating a state religion.  Legislating morality is an example here.

However, there is nothing in the first amendment that requires that the government not interfere with religion when it is interfering with the rights of others.  The go-to example is you cannot perform human sacrifice.

I always notice that religious freedom and freedom of speech are in the same amendment.

I have a right to worship whom I will.  I have a right to say what I will.  Even if my worship and speech offend you because of your religion (or lack).

You have to leave me alone to my heathen ways!  I must leave you to your piety.  And/or vice-versa.

To impose your values on me you must prove harm.  Real harm.  Physical or financial harm.  The standard is not on merely being offended.  This is the essence of why we have both civil and criminal courts.

Strip clubs are a common example of religious imposition on others.  You betcha there are prohibitions about nudity and lust in many religions.  Without God saying "don't look at the titties" why shouldn't I?  If the "performance artist" is not being forced to dance, why can't she?  Without a religious objection, who is harmed by giving the dancer some money for letting me see her breasts?

This is also capitalism 101.  Goods for services.

Yes, without God there is also no reason for prostitution to be illegal.  Especially since we've pretty much banned the churches from keeping us from having sex without their approval.  As George Carlin said, "Selling is legal.  Fucking is legal.  Why is selling fucking illegal?"

Who is harmed by prostitution where the courtesan is uncoerced and willing?  If she is being forced, that's a whole other kettle of fish I call slavery, at best.

What the United States are is a secular nation.  The Constitution is the supreme law, even God's laws are subservient.  Why is this so?  Because your religion may demand you kill me for my transgressions!  That is forbidden because I have a right to find God (or not) without you forcing me to.  This is also why the government is forbidden to establish a state church.  It prevents them from setting up guillotines to execute the apostates.

Speaking of apostasy; freedom of religion also means that we're free to change our minds and leave.  No matter what God said about it, you have to let us go unharmed.

The Constitution is a framework that allows diverse and opposed people to live among each other in peace.

It's come off its rails from time to time.  If my religion requires my children be unaware of birth control until they are married; it is not the job of The State to step in and teach them.  In fact, it's not really an enumerated power to be educating them at all.

Interestingly for a nation that was founded on some blatantly Christian values and foundations the core idea is espoused most clearly in Wicca.

Do as you will, harm none.

EDIT:  Totally forgot the hat-tip to Joe's post for the inspiration.

I've Been Frocked!

Larry has given me this award.  Scoundrel!

As with every award, there are terms and conditions.

1. Copy and paste award on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.
3. Pick your five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received an award.
4. Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs.

Who to name in return?

Here's the problem: I'm pretty sure everyone on my list who has fewer than 200 followers has also been named.

1.  Have to mention Jennifer.  She sticks in my head (pun!) because she emailed me to thank me for a positive comment on her blog.

2.  Erin because she rekindled my interest in my dusty GURPS books enough to actually do some work with them.  Sadly, the Tampa area seems devoid of GURPS players.  Yet I shall endeavor to persevere!

3.  Jeff who doesn't seem to have any followers at all.  I don't know why, but he reminds me a bit of Acidman and I hope that he has a happier future than Rob.  I also hope his rough times end soon.

4.  Blue.  A fellow Iowan and veteran (even though he walked instead of rode).

And 5?  I give this to ALL the little bloggers out there!  We're not the cool kids and we're not the big names.  Occasionally we have something wry or snarky to add that gets some thoughts flowing.  I especially want to point out those who are using Livejournal as their blog because that's where a few of us started and your journal is every bit a blog.

Compensating

Compensating for my little wieners.  Get it?

Dont Talk to Police

Atheism

I don't find evidence of a divine being.

I remain open that there may be such evidence and that there may be such a being.

I don't find this openness in many self-styled atheists.

That could be embarrassing someday.  Or not.

EDIT:

I did some research.  Atheism is the correct term.  A case could be made for my belief being a pragmatic (or apathetic) agnostic:  "The view that there is no proof of either the existence or nonexistence of any deity, but since any deity that may exist appears unconcerned for the universe or the welfare of its inhabitants, the question is largely academic."

Asking For It

Jaguar is going to make an electric car?

Isn't that like dividing by zero?

Watch Out Fred!

http://news.yahoo.com/penn-judge-muslims-allowed-attack-people-insulting-mohammad-210000330.html

We may now attack people for insulting our beliefs!  Fred Phelps had better start watching his back!

Your faith has rendered you incapable of being impartial and unbiased.  You should be removed from office.

By the way, Atheists, IT WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN WHO ATTACKED HERE; AGAIN.


Cue the "What About Islam?" dancers in 3...2...1...

Drill

We keep saying drill.

They keep saying that there will not be results for 5-10 years.

There's no drilling.

5-10 years later, we say drill.

They say there won't be any new oil for 5-10 years.

How about we drill this time?  It has the novelty of having not being tried before.

Help, Hinder or Harm?

There's four things to ask about anything having to do with the military.

Does this help?

Does this hinder?

Does this harm?

Does this matter?

If it helps, do it!

It it hinders or harms, don't do it!

If it doesn't matter, don't spend any money to provide or prevent it.

There will be a lot of politically incorrect things happening if these four questions get asked about any and every policy.

It might mean no women on submarines.  It might mean banning homosexuals from the military.  It might mean female fighter pilots.  It might mean segregated units.

Remember, the military is there to kill people and break shit.  Does the politically correct goal serve those needs?  Anything that impedes the primary tasks of killing people and breaking shit is a hinderance or harm.  I don't care whose feelings get hurt either.

Kipling Corner

The Grave of the Hundred Head; Rudyard Kipling

There's a widow in sleepy Chester
Who weeps for her only son;
There's a grave on the Pabeng River,
A grave that the Burmans shun,
And there's Subadar Prag Tewarri
Who tells how the work was done.

A Snider squibbed in the jungle,
Somebody laughed and fled,
And the men of the First Shikaris
Picked up their Subaltern dead,
With a big blue mark in his forehead
And the back blown out of his head.

Subadar Prag Tewarri,
Jemadar Hira Lal,
Took command of the party,
Twenty rifles in all,
Marched them down to the river
As the day was beginning to fall.

They buried the boy by the river,
A blanket over his face--
They wept for their dead Lieutenant,
The men of an alien race--
They made a samadh in his honor,
A mark for his resting-place.

For they swore by the Holy Water,
They swore by the salt they ate,
That the soul of Lieutenant Eshmitt Sahib
Should go to his God in state;
With fifty file of Burman
To open him Heaven's gate.

The men of the First Shikaris
Marched till the break of day,
Till they came to the rebel village,
The village of Pabengmay--
A jingal covered the clearing,
Calthrops hampered the way.

Subadar Prag Tewarri,
Bidding them load with ball,
Halted a dozen rifles
Under the village wall;
Sent out a flanking-party
With Jemadar Hira Lal.

The men of the First Shikaris
Shouted and smote and slew,
Turning the grinning jingal
On to the howling crew.
The Jemadar's flanking-party
Butchered the folk who flew.

Long was the morn of slaughter,
Long was the list of slain,
Five score heads were taken,
Five score heads and twain;
And the men of the First Shikaris
Went back to their grave again,

Each man bearing a basket
Red as his palms that day,
Red as the blazing village--
The village of Pabengmay,
And the "drip-drip-drip" from the baskets
Reddened the grass by the way.

They made a pile of their trophies
High as a tall man's chin,
Head upon head distorted,
Set in a sightless grin,
Anger and pain and terror
Stamped on the smoke-scorched skin.

Subadar Prag Tewarri
Put the head of the Boh
On the top of the mound of triumph,
The head of his son below,
With the sword and the peacock-banner
That the world might behold and know.

Thus the samadh was perfect,
Thus was the lesson plain
Of the wrath of the First Shikaris--
The price of a white man slain;
And the men of the First Shikaris
Went back into camp again.

Then a silence came to the river,
A hush fell over the shore,
And Bohs that were brave departed,
And Sniders squibbed no more;
For the Burmans said
That a kullah's head
Must be paid for with heads five score.

There's a widow in sleepy Chester
Who weeps for her only son;
There's a grave on the Pabeng River,
A grave that the Burmans shun,
And there's Subadar Prag Tewarri
Who tells how the work was done.

I Admit, I Don't Get It

Why is Steve McQueen regarded as a great actor?

Why are his movies likewise considered great?

Can someone share some insight?

The World Has Changed

I figure the Republican candidate for president is a shoe in.

Wendy's has a burger called the "W" and there aren't protests.

Driving in Texas...

Just a brief anecdote.

Last time I was out in Texas I spotted no less than three DPS cars who punched it hard to get on the road and come after me.

When they got close enough to see the plate, they all gave up.

I think they were doing front license plate enforcement, which Florida doesn't have.


Same trip I got a couple people pulled over when I was going the limit.  You see, in the eyes of the police doing traffic enforcement, THE VETTE IS FELONY SPEEDING.  If you're going faster than the Vette, you are a dangerous madman.  I suspect what happened was the Vette caught the cop's eye and the SUV blasting past at about five over sealed their fate.

The RIght Tool For The Job

If a Dodge Caravan is the correct tool for the job, perhaps the job isn't worth doing.

Choke and Smother

Seems they are a false flag for the anti-gunners.

Spread the word.

h/t Weer'd.  Who led me to SnarkyBytes, who links to Uncle.

Getting Involved

Two threads about the relationship of the police to the community.

In the original thread's comments, someone mentioned Sir Robert Peel.  There's a follow up on a commenter's own blog.

Robert Peel's Principles are what's lacking in today's law enforcement.  The police are merely people paid to do this job, not the only people who can.

It's simple delegation of power.  We people have delegated some powers to the government in certain, restricted, circumstances.  The catch is we cannot delegate a power which is not ours by right.  What that boils down to is the police, literally, cannot do anything a citizen may not.

Note my use of the word "powers" and not the word "rights".  Governments do not have rights, they have powers.  Citizens have rights.  The People have rights.

I find that government at all levels, but especially police, do not like to be reminded that they are the creation of the people rather than their masters.

I differ with the attitude that an officers life is worth more than a common citizen's and deserves special protections.  When you put on a uniform, any uniform, you become an extension of The State.  A very small extension.  So small that your spontaneous combustion into base elements will not harm the health of the state even one iota.  Sacrificial and interchangeable; to the state.  You are The State, you are the instrument of The State's powers.  Remember, The State has no rights!  That means you, as an agent of The State also have no rights while you wield its powers.

The scratchy part is cops are people as well as citizens.  This is where the theory and the practice diverge.  To me it is simple, the individual officers get the same rights as I have.  No more, no less.  If I shoot a bad guy in self defense, I am on my own hook for all the legal repercussions, aren't I?  I have to hire my own lawyer, take time off work and my life and liberty hang in the balance.

Can many police say the same thing when they've shot someone?

I've long been an advocate of when a cop shoots someone, they are unemployed by any government agency for at least 6 months.  That proves to me it was serious enough for The State to take a citizen's life.  Remember, officer, when you shoot someone wearing that uniform, YOU ARE THE STATE.  The State can spare you.  Because I am compassionate, I will let you defend your life in my service, but you must show that it was the only thing you could have done.

In cases like Canton, Ohio the punishments for police should be more severe than an individual performing the same act.  Remember, it's not officer Harless violating the motorist's rights, but The State.  The government of Canton, Ohio; through officer Harless committed assault.  The State of Ohio though incorporation of The City of Canton committed assault.  Harless should be punished severely and criminally for what he did in that video, because most assuredly I would be in jail for identical activities.  If the department covers for such officers, we have such laws as RICO.  Punish up the stream until you meet someone pushing back down with charges!  By the way, the citizenry clamoring for justice here, is a top down demand not a bottom up request.  That's another topic entirely about the servants forgetting their place and who is really in charge here.

As I hear over and over from law enforcement, if you don't want to get into trouble, obey the law.  You first; you too: Officer.

This is harsh because The State or Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

Didja Ever Wonder?

Did you ever wonder if there are some gun shops that remain open simply because it's illegal to get a gun mail-order?

Wisdom

I don't remember where I first heard this, or if I've already posted it here:  But it bears repeating, often.

"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."

Poor Damn Customer Service.

I got a $20 credit for my inconvenience when DSA recalled the trigger housing on my FAL.

I've been desperately trying to find something, anything, to buy from them to use that up.

First I tried to get a Harris bipod adaptor.  Back ordered for four months.  Cancelled the order.

Next I tried to get a double hump buttstock, I prefer the looks over the Austrian pattern that's standard.

I called ahead to make sure it's in stock.  First time it was, "call back in a couple of weeks, we're expecting an order."

So I waited a couple of weeks and called again.  The guy on the phone said they had them.  So I ordered one.

Confirmation email says it's backordered!

So I called back, and complained that I had called to make sure it was in stock.  He said he'd expedite the order because he knew they had them.  My order status on their web page has not changed.  It's still showing backordered.

I'll give them a week for it to show up or to tell me it's on the way.

Then I cancel the order and never do business with DSA again.

Chink in the Armor

David Brock used the term "Chink in the Armor" and there's a Chinese player on the team described.

People are all up in arms about how racist it was.

Idiots.

Welcome to English.

Here's an example of one word having different meanings.

Not Safe For Work.  I mean it.  Don't say you weren't warned.  Not Kidding.

To Hell With SPORTS

This is a good write up about what's wrong with the Slap Pull Observe Release Tap Squeeze drill.

Related to my ramblings in the comments to this post.

Tools. Time. Thag. Trouble.

I have described AR's as a manly confluence of Barbie® and Lego®.

I have the tools to build just about any combination.

I have the parts to make just about any combination.

I'd just have to take apart existing guns and swap parts around.

I am thinking about taking Sabrina's barrel and putting it on Kaylee.  This would make the XM177E3 I'd sort of imagined at the start.

The barrel from Kaylee would move to Sabrina.  If I steal Charlotte's upper, I can make Sabrina into an Air Force R654.

With Sabrina's upper on Charlotte I could remake her into a late M16A1.

This would also put all three of my 5.56 guns down until I could get to the range and zero.

Stop me.  Someone.  Anyone.

Or encourage me.  Your call.

Or provide me with your parts to assemble.

To Mr Jay Z

In 2006; when Frederic Rouzaud was asked if rappers and hip-hop people drinking his champagne would hurt the brand, Cristal, he was displaying contempt, not "patronizing disrespect".

There's a difference, particularly in that the former is earned.

And you earned it, didn't you?

Smoke and Thunder

If you see my name on an account there, it's not me.

If I intend to endorse something you will see that endorsement here and I will provide a link.

Another clue is that I don't use the McThag monicker to register on forums or social sites with a very few exceptions.

McThag is my blogger and commenter nom de plume.  I am certain it's shockingly easy to get my real name.  Luckily, it's a nom de plume and not an attempt to hide my identity.

Think of it as a screen name.  After all, who'd see a movie starring Bernard Schwarz?

PS: Gunbloggers!  STOP LINKING TO THEM!  Links feed the trolls!

Just an FYI

Telling me what I think right after telling you that's not what I think will not endear you to my heart.

50 Years...

50 years ago they fired a Marine into space.


Oddly, they also returned him safely to earth.


So close...  So very close...


;)

Reconsider

When all of your justifications for continuing or ending a policy come out as racist or sexist; it may be time to reconsider your position.

Gentleman Feminist

I believe, as a gentleman that a man should render assistance to a woman.

As a feminist, I believe that a woman is capable of helping herself.

Combined: I'll get that for you when you can't; when you can, I have your back.

An Observation

I tend to carry a 1911 in a shoulder holster.

I wonder how much of the comfort in this is derived from being a tank crewman and carrying a 1911 in a shoulder holster when we went to the field.

It's pure familiarity I am sure.

Logistics Follow-Up

Jake in comments to this post asked about chambering the wrong ammo.

Here's the result of 5.56 into a 6.8 chamber.  Notice it's not locked up?  Firing pin can't reach the primer like this.

Here's 6.8 into a 5.56 chamber.  It's even less locked up!

Kipling Corner

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

- Rudyard Kipling

h/t ACE

Abortion Is A Big Issue This Cycle?

Really?

Purity about abortion is the make or break issue again?

Got a clue for you, Holmes; lots and lots of women voted for Obama because of how they perceive Republicans on abortion.

Woman who otherwise hate everything about him.

As gun owners we should understand the single issue voter viscerally.

Clue number two.

What happened to unwanted babies before surgical abortion?

It's called exposure.

That's what Moses' mom was doing to him when she sent him on his rafting adventure.

That's what dumping baby in the dumpster or toilet at the prom is.

Yes, the ultimate ivory tower solution is to stop fucking if you cannot afford or do not want children.  Get back to me when you can make that work without murdering someone.

Clue three.  Driving people to empower the likes of Obama over the abortion issue is going to return the world to an agrarian medieval society.  The kind of world where there's no entertainment other than fucking and it's expose Jr or someone starves; someone who works.  Buhbye Jr...

This is known as a pyrrhic victory.  Notice that it doesn't end up saving babies in the long run?

In The Immortal Words of the Great Western Philosopher Nelson Muntz

Ha HAW!

31 states don't get above 10 points.

8 more are under 25.

5 more are under 50.

Only five score between 50 and 75 and only ONE scores 75 or more.

Brady's Page of Shame.

From their score card.  The Mode is 4.  The Median is 6.5.  The Mean is 16.4.

Not winning, won.

Damn Muse...

I have a great line.  It'd fit nicely in a bit of exposition.

"Magic?  Magic is just the science of the impossible, dear."

Of course, my Muse doesn't give anything else but a glimpse of a feeling of a setting.

Gun Safety Tip

When you have LSA on your hands; don't rub your eyes.

Thanks!

Living In The Future

Living in the future is neat.

Earlier I took a picture with my Android phone.

I emailed it to a friend all the way across the country.

She made it her desktop background and took a picture of it.

I posted her picture on my blog.

When I was a child taking a photo would have required developing the film.  Sending that photo to Seattle would have required physically transporting either a negative or a print.  There would have been no making it a computer background.  To show the picture in her office would have required the same process of taking a picture, developing film and physically mailing it to Tampa for me to see it.

We did this in less than a day.

When I rage about how the world is going to Hell, I have to stop and look around and recapture the wonder of living with commonplace items that were too outlandish to consider even as science fiction even as late as high school.  How do I know?  None of it is accounted for in Traveller, Star Frontiers or 2300 AD.

Here's to living in a science fiction setting!

A pity it's got lots of dystopian characteristics, huh?

Horsepower Therapy

I was feeling a bit down today.

So I took the top off and headed out for a drive!

Stopped at Howard Park in Tarpon Springs to snap a pic for the people in Seattle.

Update:

The people in Seattle have made it their desktop!

Starbucks Buycott

Here's my purchase.