The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the fundamental provision of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. From what I've read, this was based on the concept of equal rights, with which I have no particular argument. I absolutely believe that the Gay community should have the state sanctioned right, and joy of entering into a legally committed union. It pushes my buttons, because I am just not wired that way. When I was a young and pretty surfer dude, Gay guys hit on me and it just fucking creeped me out. (note to Gay guys: Your Gaydar is better, don't try to turn straight guys - not helping your cause)
I also believe going through a divorce would be a real eye opener for the Gay community. In the entire history of the world, this is not something they have had to deal with. I am not being snarky here. With respect to the divorce part, I speak from experience. Even when you are young and childless, divorce leaves scars on your psych. When there are children involved, it leaves permanent scars on your heart, even in the best of circumstances. I have both.
When, not if, but when Gays finally acquire the universal right to marry, I suspect that there will be a massive boom for divorce lawyers as the Gay community goes through a long transition phase. Speaking in general terms, the Gay community has some fundamental issues with fidelity.
Regardless of which side of the issue you come down on, you cannot have it both ways.
The very first amendment to the Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..."
Fundamentally, Marriage is a religious institution, licensed by the state. (unkie sam always gets his cut)
Conceptually, and there has never been as short a document with greater conceptual reach than the U.S. Constitution, once you ask the State to sanction Marriage as being only between a man and a women, you have created the opportunity for the State to control Religion. Because, that is exactly what you have asked them to do.From the Gay community side of the argument, you cannot ask the State to force a Religion to sanction, nor Marry you and your significant other in a Church. Once done, the State becomes the Religion.
As a case in point I offer the example of Iran, where according to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, they have no "Gays". The simple reason being, that when discovered in Iran, Gays are hanged.
The Religion in Iran is the "State". There are no Catholics, no Episcopalians, no Lutherans, no Baptists, no Methodists, Mormons, snake handlers, etc, etc, etc. And, no Gays.
No way this could come about in the U.S. is there.
You can't have it both ways.
You don't get to inflict religious persecution and still have religious freedom.
You don't get to use the State to force any Church anywhere to marry you regardless of sexual orientation. Once you take either of those paths, you are on the road to Iran.
The former Soviet Union has a perfect historical example of forced acceptance formerly known as Yugoslavia. If you don't know how that turned out after the Soviet collapse, you need to do some reading.
On a more positive note, at this moment, we still have religious freedom in this country. Which means that Churches and Religions have the freedom to choose to accept the marriage of Gay couples, or not.
Force only leads to more force, in either direction. Both sides have drawn the State into the equation.
You can't have it both ways.
As a footnote to the Male Gay community: Walking down Main Street in your ass-less leather chaps in the Gay Pride parade does really not help the cause for acceptance amongst the population at large.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Songs of My Youth... 6
Okay, so this is a song from my 20's.... late 20's.... but still!
Alanis Morisette.... what a voice but she's the type that either you love her or you hate her.
This song, "Uninvited" is one of the best muscially, vocally and lyrically arranged songs that I've really ever heard. This is a live recording and she is just fabulous, so please... enjoy!
Alanis Morisette.... what a voice but she's the type that either you love her or you hate her.
This song, "Uninvited" is one of the best muscially, vocally and lyrically arranged songs that I've really ever heard. This is a live recording and she is just fabulous, so please... enjoy!
Like anyone would be
I am flattered by your fascination with me
Like any hot blooded woman
I have simply wanted an object to crave
But you you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight
Must be strangely exciting
To watch the stoic squirm
Must be somewhat heartening
To watch shepherd meet shepherd
But you you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight
Like any uncharted territory
I must seem greatly intriguing
You speak of my love like
You have experienced love like mine before
But this is not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight
I don't think you unworthy
I need a moment to deliberate.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I stumbled on this........
I stumbled on this on You Tube... all I can say is wow!
I love both Elton John and Billy Joel, but what never ceases to amaze me is seeing a man sitting at a piano, playing a complicated bit of music, while at the same time, playing the harmonica! Amazing stuff.
I love both Elton John and Billy Joel, but what never ceases to amaze me is seeing a man sitting at a piano, playing a complicated bit of music, while at the same time, playing the harmonica! Amazing stuff.
To see two of the best piano men of my life time on the same stage.... just wow!
Songs of My Youth - 5
A Flock of Seagulls.... 2 hit wonder? Though I really only remember the one.
This is a pretty cool song... love the hair...
wow I miss the 80's!
This is a pretty cool song... love the hair...
wow I miss the 80's!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
I voted 9 times today
Not literally of course. Voter turnout for primaries has hovered around 11% in the last two election cycles in the BAR environs. So my vote carries the weight of 9 voters. (rounding down to a whole body).
The beauty is that I didn't even have to commit voter fraud. Other than that, all other aspects of this post are just egregiously pathetic.
I mean really. At least use it as a bonified reason to leave work early to get to the polls before they close and actually go do it. It took me 15 minutes once I arrived at the voting location. If there had been so many voters there that it took an hour and a half, I'd be very, very encouraged. I was not.
The beauty is that I didn't even have to commit voter fraud. Other than that, all other aspects of this post are just egregiously pathetic.
I mean really. At least use it as a bonified reason to leave work early to get to the polls before they close and actually go do it. It took me 15 minutes once I arrived at the voting location. If there had been so many voters there that it took an hour and a half, I'd be very, very encouraged. I was not.
When November rolls around and you don't like your choices, please contact the BAR
.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Truly Humbled
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but during May and June I referee swim meets for our neighborhood swim team. Two of my kids were on the team for years and I volunteered on the team board, and have officiated meets for 12 years now.
My kids are grown and I haven't had a kid on the team for four seasons now, but, I still ref because they need me to and well, because despite my grumbling about doing it at times, I find that I simply enjoy watching these kids grow up.
One of 'my kids' aged out last year and graduated high school. I watched this boy grow up from the 6 and under category all the way to becoming a young man. When he was younger, he had some behavioral issues (he was a little jerk sometimes as boys will often be) but as he grew up, he became so kind and polite, not to mention, the young man was one hell of a swimmer. His butterfly stroke is something of text-book quality... I digress.
Matt graduated high school last year and married his high school sweetheart. His mother, who still volunteers on the team as an official (she has nieces and nephews on the team), was at the meet yesterday and I asked how Matt was doing and mentioned that I heard that he had gotten married.
Come to find out.... he married his girlfriend so soon because he was leaving to go into the Navy and he is currently undergoing training with the SEALS.... His wife will finish college and will join him once he's not living on base 24/7 which is in a couple of years.
When Matt's mother told me this, I was literally floored and tears welled up in my eyes as I told her how proud I was of him and asked her to be sure to thank him for me. I will keep that young man in my prayers and I know, given the kind of young man that he turned out to be, that I am truly blessed to live in a country where young men like him exist.
So to Matt.... good luck and godspeed... hang in there through Hell Week and thank you.
As I express here quite often, but probably not often enough... to our men and women who are currently serving and to all who have in the past..... thank you. Without all of you who have and continue to protect our freedoms, it would be impossible for me to post to this blog, or exercise my God-given right to self defense.
Freedom is never free.
I am truly humbled.
My kids are grown and I haven't had a kid on the team for four seasons now, but, I still ref because they need me to and well, because despite my grumbling about doing it at times, I find that I simply enjoy watching these kids grow up.
One of 'my kids' aged out last year and graduated high school. I watched this boy grow up from the 6 and under category all the way to becoming a young man. When he was younger, he had some behavioral issues (he was a little jerk sometimes as boys will often be) but as he grew up, he became so kind and polite, not to mention, the young man was one hell of a swimmer. His butterfly stroke is something of text-book quality... I digress.
Matt graduated high school last year and married his high school sweetheart. His mother, who still volunteers on the team as an official (she has nieces and nephews on the team), was at the meet yesterday and I asked how Matt was doing and mentioned that I heard that he had gotten married.
Come to find out.... he married his girlfriend so soon because he was leaving to go into the Navy and he is currently undergoing training with the SEALS.... His wife will finish college and will join him once he's not living on base 24/7 which is in a couple of years.
When Matt's mother told me this, I was literally floored and tears welled up in my eyes as I told her how proud I was of him and asked her to be sure to thank him for me. I will keep that young man in my prayers and I know, given the kind of young man that he turned out to be, that I am truly blessed to live in a country where young men like him exist.
So to Matt.... good luck and godspeed... hang in there through Hell Week and thank you.
As I express here quite often, but probably not often enough... to our men and women who are currently serving and to all who have in the past..... thank you. Without all of you who have and continue to protect our freedoms, it would be impossible for me to post to this blog, or exercise my God-given right to self defense.
Freedom is never free.
I am truly humbled.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Memorial Day Weekend - They're doing it wrong
I left work early today. I figured I was entitled. Left the house at 5am yesterday, got home at 9pm.
It's now around 7pm in the BAR environs, about 30 minutes or so earlier than I would usually get home. I'm not used to being in the neighborhood this early on a work day. I drove up to the corner gas station to replenish my bad habits. (before you go all greenie and admonish me for not riding a bike or walking to the "corner" store, just remember, this is Texas)
Most of the commuters are just now arriving in the neighborhood, and boy howdy are they fired up for the three day weekend. They are driving like the proverbial bats out of hell. In a rush to get their Weekend ON. They loves them some three day Weekend!
Barbecue, lots of beer and plenty of time to recover from the hangover, and WooHooo! I have Monday off!
Ur doinit wrong.
I've not ever been particularly fond of big crowds, or parades for that matter. So I'm not doing the RahRah!
Rough and ready men have risen to the call so that I have the freedom to write the drivel I leave on this humble little blog.
For that, I am very, very grateful.
To all of our Military, past and present
I'm donating to the Wounded Warrior Project, to support our Troops in my little way. It's not a lot, but the ocean is made up of rain drops.
I encourage you to do the same
It's now around 7pm in the BAR environs, about 30 minutes or so earlier than I would usually get home. I'm not used to being in the neighborhood this early on a work day. I drove up to the corner gas station to replenish my bad habits. (before you go all greenie and admonish me for not riding a bike or walking to the "corner" store, just remember, this is Texas)
Most of the commuters are just now arriving in the neighborhood, and boy howdy are they fired up for the three day weekend. They are driving like the proverbial bats out of hell. In a rush to get their Weekend ON. They loves them some three day Weekend!
Barbecue, lots of beer and plenty of time to recover from the hangover, and WooHooo! I have Monday off!
Ur doinit wrong.
I've not ever been particularly fond of big crowds, or parades for that matter. So I'm not doing the RahRah!
Rough and ready men have risen to the call so that I have the freedom to write the drivel I leave on this humble little blog.
For that, I am very, very grateful.
To all of our Military, past and present
Thank You
I'm donating to the Wounded Warrior Project, to support our Troops in my little way. It's not a lot, but the ocean is made up of rain drops.
I encourage you to do the same
I am now a Test Pie-lot
Belle is trying out a new pecan pie recipe, for which I will be the Guinea Pig. I know, it's a brutal job, but someone's got to do it.
I should be able to render a considered opinion by the time I get to the last piece in the tin.
I'm sure the Lovely Belle will post up some Pie Pron later.
I should be able to render a considered opinion by the time I get to the last piece in the tin.
I'm sure the Lovely Belle will post up some Pie Pron later.
Malware - July 9th draws closer
I ran across this little reminder regarding July 9.
"The FBI has run an impressive campaign for months, encouraging people to visit a website that will inform them whether they're infected and explain how to fix the problem. After July 9, infected users won't be able to connect to the Internet"There is a link in the Fox News article that will take you to the DCWG site where you can test your computer for the malware.
"Hackers infected a network of probably more than 570,000 computers worldwide. They took advantage of vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Windows operating system to install malicious software on the victim computers. This turned off antivirus updates and changed the way the computers reconcile website addresses behind the scenes on the Internet's domain name system"Don't procrastinate. Finding yourself in the situation of needing the internet to figure out why your internet doesn't work is a bit of a conundrum.
Songs of my younth.... 4
Okay, I'm taking advice from Bluesun and posting up videos since my muse is still a little lost these days....
Another Duran Duran song... Hungy Like The Wolf... excellent song and it can be taken two ways.. can either be about a burning desire for your lover.... or.... stalking... take your pick.
enjoy!
Another Duran Duran song... Hungy Like The Wolf... excellent song and it can be taken two ways.. can either be about a burning desire for your lover.... or.... stalking... take your pick.
enjoy!
Compare and Contrast...Sexy and I know it..
Okay, so I have seen two different versions of this song, neither were the orginal version.
So this is the original version..
So this is the original version..
Ridiculous, to say the least......
So now let's take a look at a dramatic reading of the same song....
Okay that was pretty darn funny and it's been posted here before....
Now, this is a cover composed by an 18 year old kid and I have to say that he makes the song quite palatable.... in fact the kid is pretty fantastic.....
So which one do you like?? I vote number 2 and 3....
Photos from the 1860's and 1870's
At the Atlantic
Lot's of pics of the American Southwest.
Interesting photo essay, if you are into that sort of thing.
Found via American Elephants.
Lot's of pics of the American Southwest.
Interesting photo essay, if you are into that sort of thing.
Found via American Elephants.
Dewhurst? Conservative?
I get a little bit of a gag reflex when I hear that name and word spoken in the same sentence.
Dewhurst is the current Lt. Governor and a Senatorial candidate for the State of Texas.
He's about as squishy a RINO as there is. Breitbart sticks a pin in Dewhurst's latest attack ad against Ted Cruz.. Dewhurst appears to have adpopted Alinsky's tactics, accusing Ted Cruz of everything Dewhurst has done over the years.
Personally, I wouldn't be at all disappointed if Dewhurst were to lose his next election bid for Lt. Governor as well. I certainly don't want Dewhurst in the Senate. There's enough spineless obligate mouth breathers there already.
Dewhurst is the current Lt. Governor and a Senatorial candidate for the State of Texas.
He's about as squishy a RINO as there is. Breitbart sticks a pin in Dewhurst's latest attack ad against Ted Cruz.. Dewhurst appears to have adpopted Alinsky's tactics, accusing Ted Cruz of everything Dewhurst has done over the years.
Personally, I wouldn't be at all disappointed if Dewhurst were to lose his next election bid for Lt. Governor as well. I certainly don't want Dewhurst in the Senate. There's enough spineless obligate mouth breathers there already.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Songs of My Youth...... 3
Okay, I'm not a huge Madonna fan, but she was so big when I was a teen, I have to post up something by her..
So ladies, how about a little eye candy for your viewing pleasure???
So ladies, how about a little eye candy for your viewing pleasure???
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Songs From My Youth - 2
Duran Duran.... great band, loved them.
This video, is Girls on Film which if you search YouTube there's an NSFW version but I posted up the clean version....
This video, is Girls on Film which if you search YouTube there's an NSFW version but I posted up the clean version....
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Need some slide scanning help
As in Ektachrome (Echtachrome?) slide scanning to jpg format.
I have around 500 slides I took during the winter of '80 / '81 while in Europe, that I'd like to convert to digital format.
Spent 5 months there. In the winter. Coldest 5 months of my life. Natural Gas is your friend.
I digress.
I remember when we got the first printer / scanner it came with a black masking overlay for scanning slides. But that is the extent of my knowledge on the subject, and the overlay has long since been lost.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
I have around 500 slides I took during the winter of '80 / '81 while in Europe, that I'd like to convert to digital format.
Spent 5 months there. In the winter. Coldest 5 months of my life. Natural Gas is your friend.
I digress.
I remember when we got the first printer / scanner it came with a black masking overlay for scanning slides. But that is the extent of my knowledge on the subject, and the overlay has long since been lost.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
Well, there's a bit of good news
Congrats to our blog friends
Pissed blazed past one. Kevin turned the odometer past three.
Pageviews.
As in million. Or in Kevin's case maybe it's millions.
And, Coop celebrates his first Blogiversary.
Congrats Guys.
Pissed has obviously studied rule 5 of how to get a million hits on your blog intently. Specifically rule 5.a.
Pageviews.
As in million. Or in Kevin's case maybe it's millions.
And, Coop celebrates his first Blogiversary.
Congrats Guys.
Pissed has obviously studied rule 5 of how to get a million hits on your blog intently. Specifically rule 5.a.
Monday, May 21, 2012
More ows morons
Lots of pics at The Silent Majority.
The protest sign that sums the whole ows mind set for me read "Students Strike for Workers Rights".
Soooo...if you are a student and "striking" you are actually skipping class, no? This will help your GPA?
Well there's your problem right there. Not quite grasping the concept of cause and effect.
Ahhhhh.. the songs of my youth... 1
Okay, I've really been missing some of the great music from my younger years.
Def Leppard was of course one of my favorite bands, but this song by them is probably my favorite D.L. song ever.
The video quality stinks, but hey... sit back and enjoy the curly big hair, and the parachute and spandex pants (for the ladies)...
Remember that? Spandex? Be still my beating heart!
Actually, Joe Elliot the lead singer, would not let Rick Allen (drummer) quit the band when he lost his arm in an accident. In fact, Elliot pushed and pushed until Allen decided that he would keep drumming. It's really an amazing story.
Enjoy the video!
Def Leppard was of course one of my favorite bands, but this song by them is probably my favorite D.L. song ever.
The video quality stinks, but hey... sit back and enjoy the curly big hair, and the parachute and spandex pants (for the ladies)...
Remember that? Spandex? Be still my beating heart!
Actually, Joe Elliot the lead singer, would not let Rick Allen (drummer) quit the band when he lost his arm in an accident. In fact, Elliot pushed and pushed until Allen decided that he would keep drumming. It's really an amazing story.
Enjoy the video!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Remington Wingmaster Magnum 870
I bought this shotgun when I was 18 with my own minimum wage earned money. This was back in 1977 or there abouts. My goose gun for hunting the rice fields near Katy, Texas (all now covered by residential subdivisions)
The paper manual that came with it was long ago lost. A couple of days ago I went to Remington's web site just to have a look see if they might have a pdf manual to down load.
Huzzah! They did!
So, I'm reading through the manual looking for the disassembly and reassembly instructions at which point I come to the reassembly instructions. So I click back a few pages thinking somehow I missed the disassembly part.
I did not.
wtf?
So any gunnies out there that can point me to a "complete" Remington 870 manual would be highly appreciated.
The paper manual that came with it was long ago lost. A couple of days ago I went to Remington's web site just to have a look see if they might have a pdf manual to down load.
Huzzah! They did!
So, I'm reading through the manual looking for the disassembly and reassembly instructions at which point I come to the reassembly instructions. So I click back a few pages thinking somehow I missed the disassembly part.
I did not.
wtf?
So any gunnies out there that can point me to a "complete" Remington 870 manual would be highly appreciated.
Friday, May 18, 2012
It's My Island
I misspoke.
IT'S MY COUNTRY!
Yours too if you choose not to burrow into your hidey hole and live in the mud for the rest of your days.
But mostly mine. His attitude resonates with me.
IT'S MY COUNTRY!
Yours too if you choose not to burrow into your hidey hole and live in the mud for the rest of your days.
But mostly mine. His attitude resonates with me.
I'm ready now!!!
I'm ready for the Zombie Apocolypse after last night's IDPA match.
My goodness what fun I had. I swear I have a case of permagrin because I simply cannot stop smiling about it.
Last night, I shot on the move in two different scenarios, I shot from behind cover, I shot through a window from behind cover, I shot on one knee over a 50 gallon drum, and then I shot from low cover, around a 50 gallon drum.
Oh I didn't hit the 'bullseye' on quite a few targets, but I did neutralize all threats and I only hit one innocent (oops, but damn... innocent should have been able to outsmart the zombie that had him in his clutches) and I only had one procedural penalty so it was an improvement.
What I love about IDPA is that it's practicle competition geared toward possible real threat scenarios. Well okay Zombie mania might be a stretch, but you get the idea.
I'm so looking forward to next week!
My goodness what fun I had. I swear I have a case of permagrin because I simply cannot stop smiling about it.
Last night, I shot on the move in two different scenarios, I shot from behind cover, I shot through a window from behind cover, I shot on one knee over a 50 gallon drum, and then I shot from low cover, around a 50 gallon drum.
Oh I didn't hit the 'bullseye' on quite a few targets, but I did neutralize all threats and I only hit one innocent (oops, but damn... innocent should have been able to outsmart the zombie that had him in his clutches) and I only had one procedural penalty so it was an improvement.
What I love about IDPA is that it's practicle competition geared toward possible real threat scenarios. Well okay Zombie mania might be a stretch, but you get the idea.
I'm so looking forward to next week!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
If you have not rambled across this in your blog reading
You really must go here and RTWT.
The Adaptive Curmudgeon at his finest curmudgeonlinest.
(spell check did not like that last word, because I made it up)
The Adaptive Curmudgeon at his finest curmudgeonlinest.
(spell check did not like that last word, because I made it up)
Obviously, there should be a LAW!
hmmm, Decisions Decisions
Bob posts about a deal on a Mosin Nagant.
Gary posts about a rifle with which you can circumcise a gnat at 100 yards.
Price difference $16,880
Let me check my pocket for loose change..penny, nickel, dime..what's that? a roll of certs? uhhm.... never mind.
On the BAR budget, I'd go with the Mosin. The lovely Belle has a thing for the 7.62 x 54R round.
Gary posts about a rifle with which you can circumcise a gnat at 100 yards.
Price difference $16,880
Let me check my pocket for loose change..penny, nickel, dime..what's that? a roll of certs? uhhm.... never mind.
On the BAR budget, I'd go with the Mosin. The lovely Belle has a thing for the 7.62 x 54R round.
To Senator Tom Coburn
I don't think that means what you think it means:
In an interview with Ezra Klein of the Washington Post, Senator Coburn states in reference to a conversation he had with Barack Obama:
In an interview with Ezra Klein of the Washington Post, Senator Coburn states in reference to a conversation he had with Barack Obama:
"We’ve had conversations where he’s told me he’ll go much further than anyone believes he’ll go to solve the entitlement problem if he can get the compromise. And I believe him. I believe he would."
I have no doubt whatsoever that Barack was genuinely sincere, and therefore quite believable. What Coburn failed to do was get a clear definition from Obama as to what the "problem" is: Too many entitlements? Or, not enough?
Knowing a bit of Obama's past, I suspect the latter.
Idiot Prank Reminds Me of a Story
My other half posted up this morning about a prank that some kids pulled at a Subway restaurant. Something very similar happened to me when I was a teenager.
When I was in high school, I worked at McDonald's. I was working the drive through one night when a group of boys walked past the window and amongst the group, one of the guys pulls a gun out of his pocket, points it in my direction and says, "Bang".
I can remember the sick feeling that I had in my stomach and pale as a ghost, I turned to my manager and said, "Oh my god, he's got a gun."
The group of boys came inside the store and the kid with the gun immediately realized that we were all in a panic and they needed to get the fuck out of dodge. They took off.
A little while later, the police pulled them over (we had gotten their plate number and gave it to the police) and the officer brought them by the restaurant, cuffed and asked me to identify who had the gun, which I did.
Turns out that the gun was a shiny silver plastic toy gun. It was dark outside and so I didn't realize that it was fake. The officer kept asking me if the guy had said anything to me like, "Stick'em up.. or give me all your money," which I answered with a no.
They guys got let go, (once their parents came to pick them up) but they never pulled that crap again. Had any one of those fools said anything other than "bang", they would have been taken to jail for a very long time. The kid with the toy gun apologized to me for months afterward (he still came to McDonald's) and even asked me for a date quite a few times.
I never did go out with him, I figured that anyone that stupid is just not someone that I would be interested in dating... ;)
When I was in high school, I worked at McDonald's. I was working the drive through one night when a group of boys walked past the window and amongst the group, one of the guys pulls a gun out of his pocket, points it in my direction and says, "Bang".
I can remember the sick feeling that I had in my stomach and pale as a ghost, I turned to my manager and said, "Oh my god, he's got a gun."
The group of boys came inside the store and the kid with the gun immediately realized that we were all in a panic and they needed to get the fuck out of dodge. They took off.
A little while later, the police pulled them over (we had gotten their plate number and gave it to the police) and the officer brought them by the restaurant, cuffed and asked me to identify who had the gun, which I did.
Turns out that the gun was a shiny silver plastic toy gun. It was dark outside and so I didn't realize that it was fake. The officer kept asking me if the guy had said anything to me like, "Stick'em up.. or give me all your money," which I answered with a no.
They guys got let go, (once their parents came to pick them up) but they never pulled that crap again. Had any one of those fools said anything other than "bang", they would have been taken to jail for a very long time. The kid with the toy gun apologized to me for months afterward (he still came to McDonald's) and even asked me for a date quite a few times.
I never did go out with him, I figured that anyone that stupid is just not someone that I would be interested in dating... ;)
My Muse is on Vacation
Apparently, my writing muse is taking a vacation.
I've just had nothing really to blog about. Oh sure there's news out there but nothing that moves me enough to even give me a decent rant.
Tonight is IDPA again, it's Zombie Mania so it will be a full house. Should be a lot of fun, shooting Zombies... :)
I've just had nothing really to blog about. Oh sure there's news out there but nothing that moves me enough to even give me a decent rant.
Tonight is IDPA again, it's Zombie Mania so it will be a full house. Should be a lot of fun, shooting Zombies... :)
Not what I would call a "Harmless Prank"
Unbelievably Stupid would be more accurate.
"It happened at the Subway restaurant, 3200 N. Rock, around 11 a.m. Monday. Police said two teenagers, 15 and 16-year-old boys, walked into the building with their hands in their pockets, ordering everyone on the floor."
Apparently, no charges have been filed yet. They should.
That situation could have escalated in the blink of an eye, destroying the life of one or more of those kids, their parents and any citizen of the mind to confront them, armed or not.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Happy Mother's Day
To my other half that makes me better.
Yeah, I know. It's a jpg of roses. I could spend money on those and watch them whither in a few days.
This will last longer. Perhaps after the childrens is out of college, we can a afford both.
This will last longer. Perhaps after the childrens is out of college, we can a afford both.
Musings
Here it is, Mother's Day and I'm having my morning coffee and sulking because no one, and I mean no one, has the M&P Shield in stock. I'm a pouty mom today so I guess I will fill my day with loads and laundry some house cleaning and phone calls from the kids.
I will give my mother a call today and tell her that I love her but other than that, I think that I am going to just take it kind of easy (in between laundry and house work).
I think that I would rather be at the range.
I will give my mother a call today and tell her that I love her but other than that, I think that I am going to just take it kind of easy (in between laundry and house work).
I think that I would rather be at the range.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Rain
That don't look so good...
The red box thingy that the weathermens drew on it is what concerns me.
I can hear the thunder boomers already.
I can hear the thunder boomers already.
Mother's Day
Coming up real soon. Got your flowers, cards and candy yet?
I am a fortunate man. Well married as Borepatch has commented in the past.
Belle likes flowers, and once in a blue moon I get them for her. One of the ways in which I am fortunate is that she is not a "shopper"...as long as she's not in L'home Dee-pot or a sporting goods store.
I have actually bought her, at her request, gifts for Valentines, Anniversary, etc, etc, that have electrical chords or IC engines attached to them. One was a gas powered weed trimmer. I said, "fine, but it's yours. When it effs up and won't start, it's still yours". Didn't want any part of it. It is currently in the little tin barn in the back yard, pretty much kludged.
Belle ran across this a short while back and she just had to have it.
Smith & Wesson M&P shield. Retailing for something close to 400 bucks.
She's already fondled one and shot it a couple of times.
I got a serious hug a few minutes ago. The blood is starting to return to my brain, but I'm a little fuzzy on the details. The subject of Mother's Day came up as she was headed upstairs to rack out, and she said something about "the Mother's Day Gift". What I can remember is that I said, "No, you are getting a M&P Shield". After that it gets a bit blurry.
The bonus is that she wants to go buy it herself because she wants to whip out her CHL card when the clerk asks her to fill out the paperwork.
I'm in a happy place.
After she shot one for the first time, I knew it was locked in on her radar. She'd already picked out a name for it.
Welcome to the family "Little Sister".
I am a fortunate man. Well married as Borepatch has commented in the past.
Belle likes flowers, and once in a blue moon I get them for her. One of the ways in which I am fortunate is that she is not a "shopper"...as long as she's not in L'home Dee-pot or a sporting goods store.
I have actually bought her, at her request, gifts for Valentines, Anniversary, etc, etc, that have electrical chords or IC engines attached to them. One was a gas powered weed trimmer. I said, "fine, but it's yours. When it effs up and won't start, it's still yours". Didn't want any part of it. It is currently in the little tin barn in the back yard, pretty much kludged.
Belle ran across this a short while back and she just had to have it.
Smith & Wesson M&P shield. Retailing for something close to 400 bucks.She's already fondled one and shot it a couple of times.
I got a serious hug a few minutes ago. The blood is starting to return to my brain, but I'm a little fuzzy on the details. The subject of Mother's Day came up as she was headed upstairs to rack out, and she said something about "the Mother's Day Gift". What I can remember is that I said, "No, you are getting a M&P Shield". After that it gets a bit blurry.
The bonus is that she wants to go buy it herself because she wants to whip out her CHL card when the clerk asks her to fill out the paperwork.
I'm in a happy place.
After she shot one for the first time, I knew it was locked in on her radar. She'd already picked out a name for it.
Welcome to the family "Little Sister".
Arrrgh! I want my Mags!
Ordered 3 magazines from Springfield Armory from the Springfield Armory store online for my XDm last Saturday.
The ammo I ordered from another site arrived within three working days.
The mags have yet to ship.
WTF Springfield?
The ammo I ordered from another site arrived within three working days.
The mags have yet to ship.
WTF Springfield?
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Review of J.D. Kinman's "Above Reproach"
Just off the bat, I think I read somewhere that he may be working on another book. I hope so, because I'll be buying that one as well.
There are several themes that run very strongly through the story; Family, Friends, The Second Amendment, and taking personal responsibility for your own self defense. I'm sitting here trying to be analytical about this review, but this little voice in the back of my head keeps saying, "Hell Yeah!". It's distracting me.
I started off rather slow reading this book, read some, then some more, a day or two went by and then I read some more. The story line crept up on me and somewhere along the line I got hooked into it. I think I read the whole back half of the book today. (it is not a short fiction book)
One of the things I really liked in the plot was that there were a few "oh shit" moments beyond the control of the protagonists that really made me think "oh crap". I give the action "scenes" two thumbs up. Truth be known though, some of the best writing in the book dealt with family. Now, for a single twenty something, this wouldn't resonate at all, but being a Dad and a Grandfather (still getting used to that, I'm only 52) that spoke to me. Do Not Fuck With My Family. I Will Ventilate You Egregiously. Sorry, I digress, that was me. That wasn't in the book.... specifically. (well, ok it sort of was, smirk)
I think the only thing that I had a problem with in the story is that there seemed to be several "competing" main characters. J.D. did an admirable job of bringing together a diverse set of characters in the beginning of the story. The story line did a good job of picking me up from the first page and introducing me to the characters. As the story developed I had hooked into Dillon, the main..main character, but there were a number of really strong characters in the story line and as I got near the end of the climax of the story, I began to lose track of who was who. I read a negative review at Amazon, part of which called out the main character dressing down a Senator in a hearing as unbelievable or some such. The Amazon review made me laugh. Like I haven't wanted to do that, or haven't done so watching a video on my 'puter or a nooz report on the TeeWee (stole that term from Tam). Frankly, I'd have preferred to just walk up and bitch slap them silly.
There were parts that really touched me. There were parts that made me think, "I would so not like to be in that situation with my finger on the trigger". I really liked the book.
Did I mention that I'll be buying the next J.D. Kinman novel?
[edit] Damn I suck at reviews. I totally forgot to mention the CIA, FBI, Former Navy Seals, NSA Spooks, Terrorists, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and boats. Wait, no Trains..but everything else. And lot's of sweet sweet shooty goodness.
** Image above shamelessly stolen from AOA's blog.
** in the spirit of full disclosure, I paid for the book with actual money, not an EBT card. FTC please kindly go fuck yourselves.
The News Eats its Own
Nor does it pay well apparently.
My only other comment is Bwahahahahahahahah! Wheez. Snort. Snicker.
My only other comment is Bwahahahahahahahah! Wheez. Snort. Snicker.
"Men who are independent contractors are not fired for work done legally," Allred told reporters."
Just because........
Because I'm on the Chantix and dreams are hauting haunting (spelling nazi hubby) my sleep and sometimes I get in a serious mood, I thought I would post up a serious tune.
Monlight Sonata by Beethoven a beautiful piece of music.
The upside? Today is IDPA Thursday... yay!
Monlight Sonata by Beethoven a beautiful piece of music.
The upside? Today is IDPA Thursday... yay!
Guns Over Texas Radio
Every Sunday evening from 5pm-7pm CST, I listen to a radio show, whose name is listed in the title. You can listen to them on the web at www.ksevradio.com and if you're in the Greater Houston area, you can find them on AM 700.
They discuss anything to do with guns whether it's firearms questions, or new gun laws or CHL information. It's a fantastic show that I got hooked on from the very first time that I stumbled upon their show.
Yours truly has called in to them several times and they are always great and always glad to hear from lady shooters. In fact, those three guys are huge advocates for women shooters and they believe that every woman should learn how to handle and defend herself with a firearm.
They have recently started a blog and are adding podcasts to it. Click on the link and go check them out. Send them a big welcome.
So to the folks over at GOTR... welcome to the blogroll folks!
They discuss anything to do with guns whether it's firearms questions, or new gun laws or CHL information. It's a fantastic show that I got hooked on from the very first time that I stumbled upon their show.
Yours truly has called in to them several times and they are always great and always glad to hear from lady shooters. In fact, those three guys are huge advocates for women shooters and they believe that every woman should learn how to handle and defend herself with a firearm.
They have recently started a blog and are adding podcasts to it. Click on the link and go check them out. Send them a big welcome.
So to the folks over at GOTR... welcome to the blogroll folks!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The Eagle Has Landed............
Apparently in our neighborhood.
A pair of Bald Eagles are nesting in our neighborhood. This is the second year in a row.... pretty awesome stuff. Will try and get pics of them to post here.
A pair of Bald Eagles are nesting in our neighborhood. This is the second year in a row.... pretty awesome stuff. Will try and get pics of them to post here.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Well, That's the most important thing
The Houston Comical is on a roll tonight. Providing copious blog fodder.
May this Father rest in peace knowing he saved his little girl.
God, I hope he knew his little girl was OK.
The Houston Comical reporter thought it important to note:
No name listed on the article, otherwise I'd be calling him / her / it out by name.
I'm going to go out in the backyard now and scream.
.
May this Father rest in peace knowing he saved his little girl.
God, I hope he knew his little girl was OK.
The Houston Comical reporter thought it important to note:
"A Fort Hood spokesman said Tuesday that the horse survived the accident."Because of course, that is the most important thing...isn't it?
No name listed on the article, otherwise I'd be calling him / her / it out by name.
I'm going to go out in the backyard now and scream.
.
Mastermind Criminal Draws $300K Bail Requirement
Thank the Almighty this guy is off the streets.
One thing bothers me about this though. Because he walked in and tried to hold up the Po Po Station, he gets bail set at $300K. I've seen bail set much lower in news reports for much more heinous crimes.
Oh, wait. My bad. The Po Po are the authorities having jurisdiction and should be the only ones to have guns.
How dare he.
One thing bothers me about this though. Because he walked in and tried to hold up the Po Po Station, he gets bail set at $300K. I've seen bail set much lower in news reports for much more heinous crimes.
Oh, wait. My bad. The Po Po are the authorities having jurisdiction and should be the only ones to have guns.
How dare he.
A Preview of President Obama's Second Term
Gibbon, Edward - The principles of a free constitution are irrevocably lost when the legislative power is dominated by the executive. - 1776.
As if this term hasn't been a test case for Executive Branch over-reach. Go ahead. Vote for the Bastard to hasten the Inevitable Conclusion™
South Houston Gun Ranges????
Are there any readers out there that can recommend a good outdoor gun range on the south side of Houston?
Reader Julie, just moved to the area and sent an email to me asking for recommendations. Unfortunately, I don't live on that side of town so was unable to help her.
If anyone out there can give a recommendation(s) please leave a comment....
Thanks!
Reader Julie, just moved to the area and sent an email to me asking for recommendations. Unfortunately, I don't live on that side of town so was unable to help her.
If anyone out there can give a recommendation(s) please leave a comment....
Thanks!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Finally Tracked It Down
Heard a song on KPFT some ten years ago, which I liked. I'd always meant to get the CD, but never did. A few months back, for whatever reason, the song came to mind but I couldn't remember the song title or the artist, just bits of the melody and a few odd lyrics.
So I went googling and found nada.
I thought about it again today and via a bit of googlefu finally found it.
The Coast of Texas
by Michael Reno Harrell
So I went googling and found nada.
I thought about it again today and via a bit of googlefu finally found it.
The Coast of Texas
by Michael Reno Harrell
Book of Quotes
Not a top ten list, rather 108 pages of quotes. A link to a free pdf book found at one of my frequent haunts.
The Volokh Conspiracy. A group blog, mostly by law professors.
I am not a loiya, so most of the legal posts are lost on me. But, they touch on a range of subjects, often enough that I check in frequently.
Anyway, go grab "Liberty Quotes" published online by Christopher Kalabus. It has many quotes related to 2A issues.
I love books of quotes. I always find them inspiring and thought provoking.
The Volokh Conspiracy. A group blog, mostly by law professors.
I am not a loiya, so most of the legal posts are lost on me. But, they touch on a range of subjects, often enough that I check in frequently.
Anyway, go grab "Liberty Quotes" published online by Christopher Kalabus. It has many quotes related to 2A issues.
I love books of quotes. I always find them inspiring and thought provoking.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
New Toy
kx59's first Pistol.
Springfield Armory 9mm XDm 4.5" 19 round mag.
I've been thinking about this for quite some time (and waiting for the finances to find equilibrium again).
Since Belle has a 9mm, I decided to go with that caliber as well - economy of scale.
Off to the shooting range shortly.
Update: Back from the range. I likeee. But then, I already knew I would. Sigh. The fun goes by so fast. Next time, more ammo.
Springfield Armory 9mm XDm 4.5" 19 round mag.
I've been thinking about this for quite some time (and waiting for the finances to find equilibrium again).
Since Belle has a 9mm, I decided to go with that caliber as well - economy of scale.
Off to the shooting range shortly.
Update: Back from the range. I likeee. But then, I already knew I would. Sigh. The fun goes by so fast. Next time, more ammo.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Holy crap, I've never shot left handed before!!!
.... but i did last night....
Yes, last night, I went to IDPA and shot for the first time last night. All I can say is win win win win!! I haven't had that much fun since...... well okay, since the Dallas blogshoot a couple weeks ago.. but still!!
IDPA is really great for honing in on and learning new skills for survival under certain situations. You're timed and a miss adds to your time. Last week I went and just watched, this week I shot. This morning I am joining the IDPA and the shooting club where I shot and will be shooting every Thursday night that I can.
So, first scenario..... you have to sit down at a table (oh shit! I've never shot my pistol sitting down before!), your pistol is in a wooden cigar box on top of the table and there's a rope..... the buzzer sounds, you pull the rope which engages a swinging target........ (but wait, I've never shot a moving target before with a pistol much less while sitting down!)... and you open the box, grab the pistol and shoot. Now, in addition to the swinging target, there are 4 standing targets all about 10 to 12 yards away.... You have to put three shots in each target.
Buzzer sounds.... I pull the rope.... too much slack so I lost time having to take up the damned slack in the rope... oh well no big deal, I wasn't worried about time, but rather worried about shooting well. I fired, it was hit and miss, but it wasn't awful...... and that moving target? I put two holes in the middle of the target for full credit! Yay!
Second scenario...... I thought I was going to faint....
There are six targets and you are standing about 6 or 7 yards away and your back is to the targets, you have to turn, draw and shoot with both hands, all six targets, and make two passes down the line..... The targets are shaded in various areas on the target and the shading represents cover, so a shot in that is a miss. After you make your two passes... you holster your gun, time stops...... then you set up for the second string...........
Second string is two passes.... first one with your strong hand... second with your weak hand.......... (WTF??? I have NEVER shot one handed before and certianly not left handed!) Fortunately, the guys (I was the only lady shooter there last night) gave me some good pointers about shooting single handed and shooting with my non-dominant hand.
So, the way that I did the first string, I reloaded after 10 rounds and shot the last two shots from that magazine.... I had enough ammo to complete my right handed pass so that I could drop the near empty mag and reload quickly for the left handed pass.......
Right handed pass..... I did very well.... left handed pass......... not as well, but hey! I shot left handed!!!! I hit the target... I might not have hit in the specific area for full points.... but the bad guys would have been toast just the same! YAY!
Third scenario.... again feeling queazy and a little nervous...
So, there is a hostage situation and you are saving a baby, getting it to cover while shooting bad guys....(Damn it! I have to shoot one handed AND while moving???? crap!). you hold a duffle bag in your non-dominant hand which reprents the baby in an infant carrier....(geez this is insane)... three shots in each target.... two targets while you're on the move... two more after you get to cover.
So, buzzer goes off.... I have to shoot first bad guy without hitting the hostage which is blocking 1/2 of the bad guy.... I have the duffle back in my left hand (heavy baby) I draw and shoot three times... full credit (okay that's not so bad) then I remember to move... so I walk slowly (not worried about time).... put three more shots in next bad guy.... for full credit...... Get the baby to cover..... only I drop my muzzle to the floor and saftey person yells... (MUZZLE!) I'm thinking... "shit you dumbass you know better!" But I'm a little shaken at this point.... I put the baby down and am shooting from behind cover, but I'm out too far so safety yells....(COVER)..... geez...... so I take cover and finish up.... not a great round, but hey! I shot while moving.... was pretty darn sweet.
Last scenario was just so crazy difficult that to describe it is impossible. 8 targets... one of which is swinging waaaaaay in the back...... you're shooting from behind cover.... Not my worst round, but certainly not my best.....
When I got home I was pumped up and excited.... Kx says that he's going to go pistol shopping this weekend... he wants in on the fun. I say, good on him!
All I know is that it took ages for me to fall asleep last night, I was so revved up and excited... but the best part is......... I learned new skills.... I learned that I can do things that I didn't even know that I could do.... and the people were absolutely fabulous and helpful... it was so much fun, I'm counting the seconds until next week!
Ah...... shooty goodness!
Yes, last night, I went to IDPA and shot for the first time last night. All I can say is win win win win!! I haven't had that much fun since...... well okay, since the Dallas blogshoot a couple weeks ago.. but still!!
IDPA is really great for honing in on and learning new skills for survival under certain situations. You're timed and a miss adds to your time. Last week I went and just watched, this week I shot. This morning I am joining the IDPA and the shooting club where I shot and will be shooting every Thursday night that I can.
So, first scenario..... you have to sit down at a table (oh shit! I've never shot my pistol sitting down before!), your pistol is in a wooden cigar box on top of the table and there's a rope..... the buzzer sounds, you pull the rope which engages a swinging target........ (but wait, I've never shot a moving target before with a pistol much less while sitting down!)... and you open the box, grab the pistol and shoot. Now, in addition to the swinging target, there are 4 standing targets all about 10 to 12 yards away.... You have to put three shots in each target.
Buzzer sounds.... I pull the rope.... too much slack so I lost time having to take up the damned slack in the rope... oh well no big deal, I wasn't worried about time, but rather worried about shooting well. I fired, it was hit and miss, but it wasn't awful...... and that moving target? I put two holes in the middle of the target for full credit! Yay!
Second scenario...... I thought I was going to faint....
There are six targets and you are standing about 6 or 7 yards away and your back is to the targets, you have to turn, draw and shoot with both hands, all six targets, and make two passes down the line..... The targets are shaded in various areas on the target and the shading represents cover, so a shot in that is a miss. After you make your two passes... you holster your gun, time stops...... then you set up for the second string...........
Second string is two passes.... first one with your strong hand... second with your weak hand.......... (WTF??? I have NEVER shot one handed before and certianly not left handed!) Fortunately, the guys (I was the only lady shooter there last night) gave me some good pointers about shooting single handed and shooting with my non-dominant hand.
So, the way that I did the first string, I reloaded after 10 rounds and shot the last two shots from that magazine.... I had enough ammo to complete my right handed pass so that I could drop the near empty mag and reload quickly for the left handed pass.......
Right handed pass..... I did very well.... left handed pass......... not as well, but hey! I shot left handed!!!! I hit the target... I might not have hit in the specific area for full points.... but the bad guys would have been toast just the same! YAY!
Third scenario.... again feeling queazy and a little nervous...
So, there is a hostage situation and you are saving a baby, getting it to cover while shooting bad guys....(Damn it! I have to shoot one handed AND while moving???? crap!). you hold a duffle bag in your non-dominant hand which reprents the baby in an infant carrier....(geez this is insane)... three shots in each target.... two targets while you're on the move... two more after you get to cover.
So, buzzer goes off.... I have to shoot first bad guy without hitting the hostage which is blocking 1/2 of the bad guy.... I have the duffle back in my left hand (heavy baby) I draw and shoot three times... full credit (okay that's not so bad) then I remember to move... so I walk slowly (not worried about time).... put three more shots in next bad guy.... for full credit...... Get the baby to cover..... only I drop my muzzle to the floor and saftey person yells... (MUZZLE!) I'm thinking... "shit you dumbass you know better!" But I'm a little shaken at this point.... I put the baby down and am shooting from behind cover, but I'm out too far so safety yells....(COVER)..... geez...... so I take cover and finish up.... not a great round, but hey! I shot while moving.... was pretty darn sweet.
Last scenario was just so crazy difficult that to describe it is impossible. 8 targets... one of which is swinging waaaaaay in the back...... you're shooting from behind cover.... Not my worst round, but certainly not my best.....
When I got home I was pumped up and excited.... Kx says that he's going to go pistol shopping this weekend... he wants in on the fun. I say, good on him!
All I know is that it took ages for me to fall asleep last night, I was so revved up and excited... but the best part is......... I learned new skills.... I learned that I can do things that I didn't even know that I could do.... and the people were absolutely fabulous and helpful... it was so much fun, I'm counting the seconds until next week!
Ah...... shooty goodness!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
PIBKAC
I am not a trained IT professional, but I play one in real life.
It's my other part time full time job.
In between the daily user's panic attacks and meltdowns, I design buildings.
It is the year 2012. Not 1992, but in fact the year 2012. I am dumbfounded by the computer illiteracy that persists to this day. The gray hairs are perturbing, but the really frustrating ones are the 20 somethings. I mean, they know how to chat, IM,Twit Tweet, Facebook, email, Text, picture mail, Pinturest and, even occasionally dial a phone number on there cell phone. (ok, I made that up, they just have their BFF call them so they can add their number to their contacts, which begs the question, who was the prime caller?) But they know shit about how their computer works or stores files.
More on this later.
I am highly distrustful of automated processes. We have a backup program that backs up all the work product to a NAS every night. We also have a backup program which backs up all the work product to an offsite data center.
Occasionally one or the other fails. From my observation, they appear to be a sequential process, in which, once the failure happens, the process hangs. As in, stops.
Courtesy of the Department of Redundancy Department (me) we have another 7 or 8 terabytes of backup storage space sitting under my desk powered by the almighty MS DOS. (google XCOPY)
This morning one of my gray haired users came to me frantically having lost a file. "Well, it just disappeared". I've heard this one before...
Turns out, she was not incorrect. When your microstuff operating system saves a file to a server, the first order of business it that it deletes the file off the server. The second order of business is that it writes the file you have on your computer, and are working on, to the server. If your computer freezes in the middle of that operation, your file is boned. (yuh, snork, like that ever happens). File deleted, workstation locks up, file not written, file no longer exists.
PIBKAC
So, I fire up the kx59 super secret backup disks to go hunt for the file. (flat copy, two separate sets of disks, 48 hours of redundancy, no Symantec backup exec) Gray hair tells me it's in this folder, under that, in this subfolder. The file we found was two weeks old. The disappearance happened this morning. She had worked on it yesterday and was sure she had saved it.
Two hours later I found the backup version from yesterday, in another folder.
I'm stubborn that way. There was no effing way my MS DOS batch file failed to pick that file up.
PIBKAC
I assign the acronym to her not only because she was not loading the file from where she thought she was, but because she was also saving the file to a completely different folder.
I just don't know how some people manage to drive themselves to work sometimes.
I categorize this as "sleepwalking through life"
PIBKAC?
problem is between keyboard and chair.
It's my other part time full time job.
In between the daily user's panic attacks and meltdowns, I design buildings.
It is the year 2012. Not 1992, but in fact the year 2012. I am dumbfounded by the computer illiteracy that persists to this day. The gray hairs are perturbing, but the really frustrating ones are the 20 somethings. I mean, they know how to chat, IM,
I am highly distrustful of automated processes. We have a backup program that backs up all the work product to a NAS every night. We also have a backup program which backs up all the work product to an offsite data center.
Occasionally one or the other fails. From my observation, they appear to be a sequential process, in which, once the failure happens, the process hangs. As in, stops.
Courtesy of the Department of Redundancy Department (me) we have another 7 or 8 terabytes of backup storage space sitting under my desk powered by the almighty MS DOS. (google XCOPY)
This morning one of my gray haired users came to me frantically having lost a file. "Well, it just disappeared". I've heard this one before...
Turns out, she was not incorrect. When your microstuff operating system saves a file to a server, the first order of business it that it deletes the file off the server. The second order of business is that it writes the file you have on your computer, and are working on, to the server. If your computer freezes in the middle of that operation, your file is boned. (yuh, snork, like that ever happens). File deleted, workstation locks up, file not written, file no longer exists.
PIBKAC
So, I fire up the kx59 super secret backup disks to go hunt for the file. (flat copy, two separate sets of disks, 48 hours of redundancy, no Symantec backup exec) Gray hair tells me it's in this folder, under that, in this subfolder. The file we found was two weeks old. The disappearance happened this morning. She had worked on it yesterday and was sure she had saved it.
Two hours later I found the backup version from yesterday, in another folder.
I'm stubborn that way. There was no effing way my MS DOS batch file failed to pick that file up.
PIBKAC
I assign the acronym to her not only because she was not loading the file from where she thought she was, but because she was also saving the file to a completely different folder.
I just don't know how some people manage to drive themselves to work sometimes.
I categorize this as "sleepwalking through life"
PIBKAC?
problem is between keyboard and chair.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
There's just no pleasing me
It's too much, it's too little.
Like many others out there in the blogosphere, my job is feast or famine. At five or six points in my career, after months without a day off I've hit total burnout and seriously thought about just giving it up. I run into a problem though. I can't think of anything else I'd rather do. Well I can, but I'm not willing to go back to the "lifestyle" I had at 23. Saltines and peanut butter are not a fave of mine for dinner anymore.
Today, I had zip to do at work. My project is still viable, but in a holding pattern at the moment. I feel like I've been in a waiting room all day. All Day. Allll freaking DAY.
So I find myself at the end of one of the lower stress days I've had in the last 30 years,
and I am dainbread.
I usually leave work late to let the traffic dissipate. Today, driving stop and go, bumper to bumper traffic was preferable to another minute at my desk. An hour and a half of s&g btb traffic.
SOOoooo..how was your day?
Like many others out there in the blogosphere, my job is feast or famine. At five or six points in my career, after months without a day off I've hit total burnout and seriously thought about just giving it up. I run into a problem though. I can't think of anything else I'd rather do. Well I can, but I'm not willing to go back to the "lifestyle" I had at 23. Saltines and peanut butter are not a fave of mine for dinner anymore.
Today, I had zip to do at work. My project is still viable, but in a holding pattern at the moment. I feel like I've been in a waiting room all day. All Day. Allll freaking DAY.
So I find myself at the end of one of the lower stress days I've had in the last 30 years,
and I am dainbread.
I usually leave work late to let the traffic dissipate. Today, driving stop and go, bumper to bumper traffic was preferable to another minute at my desk. An hour and a half of s&g btb traffic.
SOOoooo..how was your day?
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Passing it on
There are certain things that we learn from our mothers and fathers. Useful skills that we learn from our mothers and our grandmothers like cooking, maybe sewing (no, I don't sew very well) and other domestic stuff that I really don't excel at, truth be known.
Oh sure, I'm a good cook when I want to be and I think that one of the best things that I learned from my mother in that regard, is how to cut up a whole chicken for frying. The actual frying of the chicken I learned by watching mom and both of my grandmothers over the years.
When I was a little girl, I was an only child on both sides of my family for the first 7 1/2 years of my life. My parents of course had hoped that I was a boy, but were just as happy with the girl that they received instead.
Dad, being the man's man that he was, decided that while I may be a girl, he was going to pass down a lot of 'manly' skills to me so that I wouldn't have to always be dependent on some man to do things for me.
What I learned from Dad were things like, making minor repairs around the house, making some major and all minor repairs on a car. I can do my own brakes, change my own oil, tune up my car, replace a fuel pump (provided i don't have to drop the gas tank to do so), oil pump, water pump, alternator have even replaced an intake manifold and carborator...... the list goes on. Of course, my other half, Kx handles all the automotive stuff for me, but should something happen and he can no longer do it, I can certainly manage a lot of things and know enough not to get screwed by the local mechanic should I have to pay for a repair on my car.
Dad taught me how to fish. I learned at a very early age how to bait my own hook and how to cast into the water and reel a fish in. I learned how to clean fish, though Hubby taught me how to filet them (admittedly, that's still a job that hubby does, though I can if I have to ;)).
Dad of course taught me how to shoot. He taught me all about gun safety, how to take aim and shoot and then of course how to break down my rifle and clean it up.
These skills, I am determined to pass down to my grandkids as most of them have been passed down to my kids already, and where I have lacked, Kx has picked up the slack.
I think though that while all of these things are great tools and skills to have for basic survival the one thing that I learned from not just my father but from my mother, my grandparents and my aunts and uncles..... how to love.
On Sunday, sitting with Scooter, teaching her to shoot and seeing the bright smile on her little face, the smile that Kx couldn't capture without finding himself on the bad end of the boomstick, was the highlight of my weekend. To know that I am passing down something useful and tangible to her is the greatest feeling imaginable and the greatest form of love.
There is a lesson that I have learned over the years that has really recently come to light. Kind of an epiphany if you will. That lesson is that love comes to us in many different forms. Whether it's something that we find that we love to do, places we love to go, or people that we love.
Never ever pass up the chance for love of any kind. It's truly the greatest gift on earth and when nurtured properly, regardless of what kind of love it is, it's really a beautiful thing.
Always find the joy in your life, recognise it for what it is and do everything that you can to make it happen. Life is too short to waste.
Oh sure, I'm a good cook when I want to be and I think that one of the best things that I learned from my mother in that regard, is how to cut up a whole chicken for frying. The actual frying of the chicken I learned by watching mom and both of my grandmothers over the years.
When I was a little girl, I was an only child on both sides of my family for the first 7 1/2 years of my life. My parents of course had hoped that I was a boy, but were just as happy with the girl that they received instead.
Dad, being the man's man that he was, decided that while I may be a girl, he was going to pass down a lot of 'manly' skills to me so that I wouldn't have to always be dependent on some man to do things for me.
What I learned from Dad were things like, making minor repairs around the house, making some major and all minor repairs on a car. I can do my own brakes, change my own oil, tune up my car, replace a fuel pump (provided i don't have to drop the gas tank to do so), oil pump, water pump, alternator have even replaced an intake manifold and carborator...... the list goes on. Of course, my other half, Kx handles all the automotive stuff for me, but should something happen and he can no longer do it, I can certainly manage a lot of things and know enough not to get screwed by the local mechanic should I have to pay for a repair on my car.
Dad taught me how to fish. I learned at a very early age how to bait my own hook and how to cast into the water and reel a fish in. I learned how to clean fish, though Hubby taught me how to filet them (admittedly, that's still a job that hubby does, though I can if I have to ;)).
Dad of course taught me how to shoot. He taught me all about gun safety, how to take aim and shoot and then of course how to break down my rifle and clean it up.
These skills, I am determined to pass down to my grandkids as most of them have been passed down to my kids already, and where I have lacked, Kx has picked up the slack.
I think though that while all of these things are great tools and skills to have for basic survival the one thing that I learned from not just my father but from my mother, my grandparents and my aunts and uncles..... how to love.
On Sunday, sitting with Scooter, teaching her to shoot and seeing the bright smile on her little face, the smile that Kx couldn't capture without finding himself on the bad end of the boomstick, was the highlight of my weekend. To know that I am passing down something useful and tangible to her is the greatest feeling imaginable and the greatest form of love.
There is a lesson that I have learned over the years that has really recently come to light. Kind of an epiphany if you will. That lesson is that love comes to us in many different forms. Whether it's something that we find that we love to do, places we love to go, or people that we love.
Never ever pass up the chance for love of any kind. It's truly the greatest gift on earth and when nurtured properly, regardless of what kind of love it is, it's really a beautiful thing.
Always find the joy in your life, recognise it for what it is and do everything that you can to make it happen. Life is too short to waste.
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