Well yep... I think they will get all my hardware business...

Ace Hardware in Cypress......     gotta love'em!!

They have been there for more than 30 years and still going strong..  I bet they've never been robbed!

Naked Injustice

Zimmerman is acquitted of the charge of second degree murder.
The Federal Injustice Department is now bringing the unlimited resources of the U.S. Government to bear on this travesty of white white-hispanic on black crime.  A meeting by our illustrious Attorney General has been held, reaching out to anyone and everyone that can find some little shred of evidence that would allow a Federal hate crime suit to be brought against Zimmerman.*
And you thought NSA leaker Snowden was a man without a country?
This is precisely the type of oppression and tyranny the Founding Fathers of this great nation fought against.

Zimmerman's best bet is to sneak into Mexico, throw away all his I.D., cross the border and enter into the U.S. as an illegal alien, wherein he will he will become part of the  protected and politically correct demographic.

Exactly where do you go when the Federal Government and every hood rat in the country is gunning for you, and you don't have the threatened release of the other half the NSA's secrets for protection?





* This will hit the blogosphere in a major way tomorrow. Mark Levin was talking about it on his radio show this evening.

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

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

Well, there's a bit of good news

Barack Obama abdicates the throne.  Soldier gets his guns back from the District of Communists.

Raise taxes by 50% or shut down the federal government

From the BJF mailbag:
I vote for shutting down the federal government, after all, they got us into this mess.
Not the  most scintillating narration, but informative. The executive summary: We're boned.

Simply Brilliant........

Bob S. puts up a great post regarding the National Right to Carry legislation that recently passed in the House up in DC.


Go read it.

Happy Birthday USMC!

Today is the 236th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

In my life, I've known several Marines and I can't tell you what an honor it is to have known each and every one of them.  It's really hard to come by men who are so focused and so willing to do the right thing, regardless of what it costs them.

On a side note, the USMC's dress uniform is, by far, the best looking uniform out of all of our branches of service.  All the dress uniforms are nice looking, but there's something about the Marine Corps dress blues that are fabulous.  The navy blue jacket, the lighter blue pants with the red stripe down the legs, brass buttons, white cap, white gloves.  It's enough to make a lady smile.

Naturally, there is more to our Marines than their dress uniforms.  In fact, there's nothing that can make an enemy say, "Oh shit!" when he comes face to face with our brave men coming in to fight.  In fact, according to a Marine who served during the first Gulf War, Saddam's 'Republican Guard' surrendered at the sight of them.

According to Wikipedia:

Captain Samuel Nicholas formed two battalions of Continental Marines on 10 November 1775 in Philadelphia as naval infantry.^[11] Since then, the mission of the Marine Corps has evolved with changing military doctrine and American foreign policy. The Marine Corps has served in every American armed conflict and attained prominence in the 20th century when its theories and practices of amphibious warfare proved prescient and ultimately formed the cornerstone of the Pacific campaign of World War II.^[12] By the mid-20th century, the Marine Corps had become the dominant theorist and practitioner of amphibious warfare.^[13][14][15] Its ability to rapidly respond on short notice to expeditionary crises gives it a strong role in the implementation and execution of American foreign policy.^[16]

So to the Marines out there, past and present, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the sacrifices that you have made on the behalf of not only my country but my civil liberties.  Happy Birthday to the USMC!

If you know a Marine or any other person who is serving in our military of any branch; or if you happen to run into one, not just today, but any day, please take the time to thank them for their service. I try to do this as often as I can and I always expect them to think that I'm completely out of my mind; however, the response that I get is always warm and welcomed and even thankful.  It's good to let them know that we appreciate them.

Addition to the blogroll

This tipped the scale for me.
I've been checking his blog for a while now. Be forewarned, this is a blog oriented towards the male of the species and some posts are NSFW.
Welcome The Feral Irishman.

Patent Reform Act

The Daily Caller writes about this as if it's a good thing.

"The patent system overhaul, which passed the House in June, will change the system from “first-to-invent” to “first-inventor-to-file,” which much of the developed world has been using for years, as it prevents inventors from laying claim to a patent after the fact."

Because, of course, the rest of the developed world is so much better off than the U.S.
Gee whiz Mom!, all the other kids are doing it!
After six grueling years, the mighty Senate has now passed the bill.
So, let me get this straight, Mr. Kearns, who invented the intermittent wiper circuit, used on every car on the face of the planet these days, presented to Ford Motor Company, poo pooed by FMC, stolen by FMC, sued by Mr. Kearns in 1978, case finally won in...1990, WOULD NOW BE SHIT OUT OF LUCK.
Well ain't that nice.


This caught my eye:

"Leahy’s partner on the bill, Texas Republican Rep. Lamar Smith, noted the bill’s job-creating potential."

Ruh Roh, someone's been nipping Obama's Kool-aid.

Job creating...Really? I'd love for Representative Smith (R) to 'splain that one to me.
They really do think we are beyond stupid don't they.

I can phrase this no better way than the Mighty Borepatch; 

Vote Them Out

All of Them

New Yorkers Defending Themselves with Baseball Bats

I was just watching a soft news show, Inside Edition and they were showing a story of pharmacies in New York who are being robbed at gun point for drugs.

Apparently one recent incident resulted in 4 fatal shootings by a lone gunman. The victims did not put up any resistance, they were simply shot because they were there. One of them was only 17. The story is here:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/inside_nightmare_shop_slaughter_Bd2XjYTvXm9OsueN8ueaoL

Last bit of the story on IE was of a small pharmacy owner who is going to keep a baseball bat at her side at all times.

Last I checked, a baseball bat doesn't do so well against a gun, unless the wielder of the bat gets a jump on the assailant.

Perhaps NY needs to reconsider its gun laws? I bet that these types of crimes would plummet.

Thoughts on conceal and open carry....

At this point in time, I do not have a license to conceal carry, in fact, I don't even own a pistol just yet.  Most of you out there know that I had not fired a weapon for around 15 years before recently taking up shooting again.

The Tokorev sat in my closet close to a decade before I really took interest in picking up a gun again.  Why did I stop?  Well, the fact of the matter is that I had only one rifle, a .22 but sold it to a friend because I was paranoid having it in the house being a very young (19) and new mother and all.  I regret selling that gun, but I digress.

I never bought a handgun of my own because quite frankly, I couldn't afford one.  I lived paycheck to paycheck for most of my adult life and so I spent my money on other things, such as food and clothing for my daughters, a roof over our heads and other things that were more important at the time.

One thing that I have found, as I look back over the years, had I just not bought things that were bad for me, such as cigarettes or beer, or gone out dancing as often as I did, I could have easily saved up the money to buy myself a pistol and would have much better skill with it than I do today.  I was young and had other things on my mind.

Now, while finances are tight since I left my job and we have two kids in college at the moment, as soon as I am back to work and settled in, I will buy that pistol that I've wanted for oh so long.  The question is, will I try to get my CHL?  Do I really want that responsibility?  When exercising such a right, one takes on an enormous amount of responsibility.

I do know that I would never conceal a gun in my purse.  That's just asking for trouble.  I mean, if someone snatches your purse, your gun is snatched with it.  Just what we need is another gun in the hands of another criminal.  Also, god forbid I were to have to actually defend myself, reaching into my purse for my gun is not my idea of efficient or fast, especially considering that my purse is always full of.....  stuff.  No, I would keep my gun concealed on my body so that I can easily access it if need be.

One thing that I have noticed is that I am becoming more aware of which businesses in my area allow licensed gun owners to carry in their establishments.  I've found that it's more than you would think.  The sign on the grocery store where I do my shopping states, "The unlicensed carrying of a firearm on the premises is unlawful," which tells me that yes you can carry as long as you're licensed.

So what about open carry?

While I completely agree with HB2756, on a personal level, I believe that it's unwise to open carry the main reason being explained in the next paragraph.

Why attract attention?  Have you ever noticed that the person that runs around town showing off and bragging that they are 'unbeatable' at something, always ends up getting challenged?  To me, open carry, while may keep some at bay, may also entice someone to try and take that weapon from you and use it against you.

Now, I'm not worried about scaring old ladies and small children if I have my gun in open view, guns aren't dangerous in the hands of the responsible.

It's more about not making myself a target.  I have always been proud of the fact that I am not, nor have I ever been what they call, "easy prey".  I'm always aware of my surroundings and I carry myself well, I do not make myself a target and I wonder if having a gun in plain view would change that.

This of course brings me back to the question of whether I will be obtaining my CHL once I buy a pistol?  I don't know the answer to that question.  The Libertarian in me says, "No way!  I will hold out for a Constitutional Carry bill to pass in Texas, it shouldn't be too far behind."  The other part of me says, "most definitely because you never know when you may need to defend yourself or those whom you love and cherish."

I guess I will find out that answer for sure after I get a pistol.  Whatever I decide to do, I know that it will be the right choice for me.

Letter from the Alamo

Travis' letter is memorialized in front of the Alamo. Knowing how the 12 day siege turns out, and having the benefit of historical hindsight, I find myself humbled by Colonel Travis' courage. I could go on and on about how this same story occurred before, and after the siege at the Alamo. History has a very nasty way of repeating itself. As I read the plaque though, I felt a certain connection between Colonel Travis' circumstances and our own as a Nation. We are surrounded from within. We have no choice but to stand our ground. This time however, it's not 188 against 1800. The odds tilt the opposite direction. Stand your ground.

Colonel Travis wrote:

To The People of Texas and All Americans In The World --

February 24, 1836

Fellow citizens & compatriots --

I am beseiged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna -- I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man -- The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken -- I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls -- I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch -- The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country --

VICTORY OR DEATH

William Barret Travis

Lt. Col. Comdt.

P.S. The Lord is on our side -- When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn -- We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves --

Travis

I've no doubt those men prayed many times during those twelve days. They didn't just delay Santa Ana, they reduced his siege forces by a third.

There are a series of bronze plaques inside the alamo, listing the name of every man that died in its defense. I've been to the Alamo several times from childhood on. This time I read every name. They fought to the last man. Santa Ana technically won, but at great expense. Weeks later at San Jacinto he lost the remainder of his army, in 20 minutes. 700 dead, another 730 or so surrendered. The remainder scattered into the woods.

The Texians lost 9.

Texans and Texians are not the same thing. As Texans, we have a strong connection to our Republic, but the men that fought for Texas independence came from every part of this country.

Find your inner Texian. Stand your ground.

I too am TJIC.......

I've been out of pocket for a few days, fighting off some sort of flu or something.  I took the day off today so that I could continue to rest up and hopefully feel better soon.

At any rate, imagine my horror when I log onto Borpatch's site and find out that a blogger in Massachusetts has had both his first and second amendment rights violated for a post that he made on his blog (which is no longer accessible according to this article in USA Today).

It is unthinkable that anyone would allow something like this to happen because once it's okay to violate one person's rights, what is going to stop them from doing it again and again?

It is with that in mind that I stand with TJIC and I can only hope that the state of Mass will re-think their position but I won't hold my breath.  Too many libtards up there.

One thing that we bloggers can do is stand with him and let those in the state of Mass. and in DC know that we will NOT sacrifice one liberty for the sake of another.  You violate one of us, you've violated us all!  We will not shut up, we will not back off.  We have the power of the our voice, our pen and our vote!

From each according to his ability...........

....to each according to his need.

Those are the most evil words that can be spoken in an economical, political or a philosophical arena.  Right now, I am in the the process of reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  It's the fourth time that I've read this literary masterpiece and it certainly won't be the last.

This book is an insight on what can happen when government places its boot on the neck of those who produce in society.  When government insists on regulating business for the sake of power, for the sake of some crazy 'greater good' the producers of the world will simply stop producing.

I can not understand how it comes to pass that people can not see that the achievement of man is not outside of nature, but very much within it.  Man is of nature, not outside of it and as a part of the natural order, our achievements are just as natural to it.

Nature itself has its way of recovering from any harm that an accident may cause (the deepwater drilling incident in the Gulf which turned out to be pretty much a non-event, but not caused by private industry but caused by an over-regulatory practice forcing drilling so far off shore in the first place) and nature has a way of righting itself when it's disturbed.

The greatest evil that a person can do is not live up to his/her potential.  To sit idle while living off the backs of those who are productive is unimaginable.  The Soviet Union tried the 'great experiment' of Communism and look what happened?  Even China learned a lesson and has somewhat of a mixed economy, though the middle class is non existent, as there are only the wealthy and the impoverished.  They buy equipment but have no one competent to run it.  Why should anyone learn and produce when the state will take care of them?

In order for Communism to exist, the severe violation of individual rights has to occur.  There can be no freedom  because in freedom there is an acknowledged right to one's property.  The only way that a communist government can exist is by force because people will never choose to work simply for the sake of others without some sort of return on their earnings.  That my friends, is a basic human right, to earn a living for your sake and your needs according to which abilities you choose to nurture and take of advantage of and it's your choice to spend your money in ways that you personally value.

I realize that this comes somewhat out of left field for me, but hey, it's my blog so I'll write what I choose!

HA!!

Seriously though, when you hear the phrase, 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his need,' ask yourself this:

Who determines ability?  By what right?
Who determines one's need?  By what right?

The only person that has the right to determine these things is the individual himself.

**  note, I use the terms 'man' and himself or his in a non-gender meaning.  Of course all of this applies to the women as well!


Until next time.......

The Wasteland Revisited

Borepatch has an excellent post over at his place called, "The Wasteland".  I have to say that he is one very smart fella and his writing skills are so admirable that it puts my own to shame! 

He talks about how the faults and failures of the Progressives and how their very own philosophy creates a wasteland.  Simply brilliant.

I will only add that it saddens me that the term ‘Progressive’ or ‘Liberal’ has been hijacked by a bunch of moonbat ideas and behaviors.  At one time I called myself a liberal, but not in the sense that defines liberalism today.  I am what they call a classical liberal.  I believe in small government, personal responsibility and basically living and letting live as long as you aren’t violating the rights of others.

Liberals today want to exercise control over us in how we think, how we speak, when we speak and basically how we live.  Whether it’s telling us the politically correct way to speak, or that if we don’t support this President that we’re racists, or which cars to drive or how to discipline our kids, or even how we should feed our kids or what we should put into our own bodies.  They are willing to use the government and our tax dollars to accomplish their goals.

Now don’t think that I’m going to just pick on the liberals here because the conservatives aren’t much better, though they are a little better in the respect of leaving our wallets alone, they still want to tell us how to live, just in different areas.  They too, are willing to use the government and our tax dollars to get their point across.

I have had to rebrand myself as a libertarian or an independent because the thought of being called conservative, liberal, or progressive is sickening.  Both ideologies have high jacked the terms that at one time defined me. 

I am a Reagan Conservative, I believe in the power of the human spirit, the power of innovation and entrepreneurship to lead the way in the upcoming decades.  I believe that when government gets out of the way, we the people rise up and make a better world for us all.  We prosper.  In the words of Ronald Reagan, “When government expands, liberty contracts,” I believe this wholeheartedly.  Need proof?  See the TSA.

Liberals tend to believe that they are somehow smarter than the rest of us.  They believe that only they can save the world, they believe that their philosophy is the only right way, that it’s the only ‘fair’ way to live.  They really aren’t liberals at all, they are Communists or Socialists.  What they fail to see is history.

In practice, communism or socialism, the middle class is winnowed out.  There is only rich and poor there is no in between.  Need proof?  See the former USSR and go spend some time in China.  In order for communism to have any measure of success, they have to allow some capitalism but of course, they cannot allow the population to think for itself, or come and go when it pleases.  They have to hold their population hostage both physically and intellectually.  They have to control the media, the internet, and other every source of information (sound familiar?  See the FCC) to keep the population in controlled ignorance.

Yes, liberalism does create a wasteland.  Borepatch hit it on the head in his article and I have to give him a big, two thumbs up on his article.  I have to also comment that he speaks of unintended consequences in some of their crazy policies, particularly in the People’s Republic of California.

One of my favorites is their not allowing the clearing of underbrush to prevent forest fires.  They worry that some ground squirrel or rabbit will have to find another home.  Well duh.  Don’t clear out those woods and you have a bigger problem on your hands, you get forest fires which release all kinds of crap in their air, and not only do squirrels and rabbits have to find new habitats, a lot of them end up dead.

I digress.

My point is that while at one time, the term liberal or progressive wasn’t a bad thing (equal rights for blacks, women’s suffrage and charities) it has grown into a whole other animal and a dangerous animal it is.

Until next time.

An apology to Borepatch for hijacking his article's title.

Good Article

The Lee's Summit Conservative has a wonderful article over there about our personal freedoms, in particular our freedom of speech.

I do have to amend a little something that he wrote over there.  He said, "For all of us to sit idly by and allow the Obama Administration, or any administration whether Republican, Libertarian, or Democrat to further curtail the freedom of speech, the freedom of openly sharing ideas and concepts and even arguments, is to relinquish the rights our forefathers fought to create and to preserve."


While I agree with him in principle, I have to disagree with the premise that our founders created our rights. Our rights are not granted to us by a benevolent government, our rights are inalienable and can never be taken away, they can only be violated.


The moment that we start thinking that someone other than our creator (whatever that may be, intelligent design, or fluke of nature) gave us our rights, is the moment that they can take them away.  Our rights as human beings do not cease to exist simply because a government refuses to acknowledge those rights.  They still exist.  As rational creatures, we must always keep that in mind and always fight to prevent our rights from being violated.


Until next time