First Gas, Then Sugar

As I am sure you know, the Hurricane has caused significant shortages of fuel supplies in the Southeast. What you may not be aware of though is that the entire country is about to be hit with a major shortage of Sugar.

A family member works in the foods industry and was telling me over dinner this evening to stock up on Sugar (she had purchased 10 pounds of it herself this evening) as a large share of the countries sugar refining capacity was located in the bayous of Louisiana and the Delta of Mississippi (not to mention Florida). Her clients are frightened that they only have on hand a couple of weeks worth of sugar for food production and there is going to be a huge run up on sugar in the coming weeks.

Hurricane Relief

The good people of Mississippi and Louisiana need your assistance. If you can, please donate to the American Red Cross and Catholic Charities.

For a more comprehensive list of relief efforts, feel free to visit Instapundit and check out the White House Hurricane Relief page.

Raging Cajuns, Turn In Your Guns

Well, at least thats what the New Orleans cops are asking for.

Police officers were asking residents to give up any guns they had before they boarded buses and trucks because police desperately needed the firepower: Some officers who had been stranded on the roof of a motel said they were being shot at overnight.

Eeer, nope. Thats why I've got guns. To protect me and mine, not to help the most corrupt police force in America.

As El Tejon said on The High Road

Embrace the suck!

As Charlton Heston said

From My Cold Dead Hands

Really, it ought to be open season on the looters. I support that idea (mainly because looting is the fear that prevents people from leaving in situations like this in the first place) but it will be very nice when the Army finally shows up.

What an incredible SHTF situation that is occurring.

Here's another report from The High Road

t is a literal SHTF situation right now in New Orleans, and I'm afraid that the panic is starting to spread east towards our town. I'm 110 miles or so east of New Orleans, and even we were leveled, with much worse damage than we recieved during Ivan.

FEMA is able to bring in enough food daily to feed about 75,000 people. At the distribution centers today, about 350,000 showed up. Do the math. It's going to get ugly really quickly if we don't get power and some sort of transit system setup in this city alone, not even considering the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

As I continue to say - Outdated Second Amendment My Ass

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is An Idiot

Just when I was begining to think Hillary Clinton had a good chance of winning the next presidential election, that beacon of liberal sense, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. ensures the left will continue to wear the crown of idiocy.

In 1998, Republican icon Pat Robertson warned that hurricanes were likely to hit communities that offended God. Perhaps it was Barbour’s memo that caused Katrina, at the last moment, to spare New Orleans and save its worst flailings for the Mississippi coast.

Asshole.

Fuck Florida State

Went to Tallahasse for the first time ever last week. Don't think I'll return anytime soon.

We are stranded in Tallahassee. There is absolutely no compassion here whatsoever. The Hampton Inn in Tallahasse is
pretty much throwing us out because of a football game. We are running out of money with no way of getting more out of the
bank. We cannot use debit cards and our credit cards are maxed out.
I thought I would encounter a little compassion and understanding here in Florida seeing they have been through similar
situations. There is none. People here and the manager of this motel are very cold and uncaring.

Like I said, Fuck Florida State

Kim

Its been a long time coming, but he's hanging it up.

Of course, he's said that before.

Still, I understand his situation and while not as old as he is, do feel the need to cut back substantially. I wish him much luck in the future and can't wait for him to begin posting again.

UPDATE: If you need your fill of gun crazed ranting, check out the Gun Guy.

Does The New York Times WantsTo Rescind The Right To Free Speach?

Apparantly, Elizabeth Rose of Lisbon, N.D. has never heard of the 1st Amendment. Of course, out of the thousands of letters it gets a day, the New York Times saw fit to run her idiotic letter.

Is that therefore an endorsement of their opposition to the 1st Amendment??

Rock Star:INXS

Tonight's Rock Star: INXS was interesting with the house band accompanied by a full orchestra with strings and horns as well as a gospel choir. Awesome, and the song choices for the most part fit that arrangement well.

Still, with 6 singers left, my wife and I both thought the talent was clearly (and evenly) split between good and bad.

Ty has been a favorite of mine for a few weeks, not cause I like him so much as because I think he has performed in a manner that will appeal to a very broad international audience. His version of No Woman No Cry was compelling and really showcased how well he would fit in with INXS. Since he grew up singing in a Choir as a child I had high hopes for his take on the Stone's You Can't Always Get What You Want. Sadly, they were dashed. His performance just struck me as awfully flat - both his signing and his interpretation. Midway through the song, my wife turned to me and said "this is a great gimmick to get people into a Stone's concert. I wish Mick was singing this instead." Couldn't agree more. Ty was clearly in the bottom three tonight, I'd say he was next to worse.

J.D. who looks like a New Kid On The Block was up next. Apparently, he used to be an Elvis impersonator or something, and it showed. He sang one of the great Elvis tunes - Suspicious Minds and my wife thought he looked just like Elvis. Except for the dumb hat. And the stupid tattoos. And the sophomoric punk rock jumping thing at the end. He sung the song well, but it just wasn't me. He's better than Ty but still in my bottom 3.

Marty has been leaps and bounds above most of the competition since the first week and his performance of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here was very well received in this All Pink Floyd All The Time house. Of course, it wasn't as good as Floyd, nor was it his best performance so far, but it was clearly in the Top 3 for me. INXS seemed to like it too.

I don't like Jordis. Her hair bothers me, the Whitney Houston touch bothers me, he smile bothers me. However, she took what is perhaps the biggest touchy feeley John Lennon Song ever, Imagine and really nailed it. Top 3 performance for her.

As much as I don't like Jordis, I really hate Mig. Something about his gets under my skin, but he is talented, sharp, and professional. His experience in the London Theater really pays off and his version of Paul McCartney's Live and Let Die was the most powerful of the evening. Outstanding, even if he is full of himself.

Suzie on the other hand absolutely sucked. I don't understand how the band was so enamored with her take (eer, bad copy) of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. From the first note her voice was breaking. She was off key, she couldn't hold a note (especially compared to MiG), and she did nothing to make the song her own, instead trying to copy its performance almost exactly (albeit with much less style, flair, grace, or talent than Freddie Mercury). She was the worst of the show and I just don't understand what the band saw in her.

And, what happened to Dave Navaro?? When did he decide to become Paula Abdul.

UPDATE: Chris Byrne appears to disagree with me on the performances, at least about Mig and Jordis, but also about Ty. To each their own. I agree with him about the Mig's stage vamping - like I said, I can't stand the guy - but hell can he scream. Forget Freddie Mercury, the guy holds a high note like Rob Halford. Speaking of which I agree with Chris that I can't believe he is straight.

Why I Have Guns

Liberals and gun banning bigots are always questioning why I need to have so many guns, ridiculing the notion that the Russian's will attack, I'll be able to foil an Al Quaeda plot, or that crime is so bad in McLean, Virginia. Generally, they are right. All those situations, while real, are pretty far fetched. However, what isn't far fetched is the possibility of some disaster occuring where law and order completely break down.

Witness Hurrican Katrina.

With much of the city flooded by Hurricane Katrina, looters floated garbage cans filled with clothing and jewelry down the street in a dash to grab what they could. In some cases, looting on Tuesday took place in full view of police and National Guard troops

I shouldn't have to mention that similar situations also occurred after Hurricane Andrew, during the New York blackout, and in the wake of the Rodney King riots. When the police have more important things to focus on, its simply foolish to expect them to try and protect you or your property.

Haley Barbour said last night they would take looters very seriously and bring the full force of the law on them. Its a nice thought, but I just don't think in this time of need is the place to focus resources.

Of course, I don't consider everything looting either.

At a Walgreen's drug store in the French Quarter, people were running out with grocery baskets and coolers full of soft drinks, chips and diapers.

A man walked down Canal Street with a pallet of food on his head. His wife, who refused to give her name, insisted they weren't stealing from the nearby Winn-Dixie supermarket. "It's about survival right now," she said as she held a plastic bag full of purloined items. "We got to feed our children. I've got eight grandchildren to feed."

I'm willing to give folks the benefit of the doubt when they try to salvage essential supplies like food and drink and medicine.

UPDATE The situate has apparently gotten worse. Much worse.

Looting broke out as opportunistic thieves cleaned out abandoned stores for a second night. Officials said that in one incident a police officer had been critically wounded by gunfire.

"These are not individuals looting," Colonel Ebbert said. "These are large groups of armed individuals."

Like I keep saying, Outdated Second Amendment My Ass.

SK Bubba Lives

SouthKnoxBubba might not be blogging anymore (well, beyond his guest spell this week) but it looks like he is following Fletch's lead and going the photoblogger route.

Gorgeous stuff.

Feeling Groovy

Art Garfunkel was busted for pot possession Sunday in Woodstock, NY after running a stop sign.

The trooper's report of the incident said a strong marijuana odor was coming from the car and a marijuana cigarette was found in the ashtray.

Since Woodstock is only a 2 hour car ride away from the Queensboro Bridge I thought we could celecbrate the occaision with the obligatory lyric.

The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
Lyrics by Paul Simon

Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy

Hello lamppost, what'cha knowing
I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me?
Doo-it in doo doo, feeling groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy

I got no deeds to do
No promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me
Life I love you, all is groovy

GG's Lists

The Gun Guy put up a great list of 20 Things A Man Should Do. I'm only 33, but I've already done a bunch.

1. Shoot a gun larger than a .22. Check
2. Teach a kid to shoot. Check
3. Cook a meal out in the open (and I don’t mean a backyard BBQ). Check
4. Kill an animal which can kill you. Not yet
5. Taste a good brandy (no French cognacs need apply) and a fine single malt Scotch. Check
6. Visit at least eight countries outside your own continent, none of which speak your home language. Check - Sweden, Finland, Italy, Wales, France, Switzerland, Mexico, Hungary, Slovakia, Czeck Republic, Germany
7. Read any six Shakespeare plays. Check
8. Win a solo sporting competition—anything that involves physical exercise. Check - Tennis, Skiing
9. Be part of a winning sports team. Check - High School Football Team went undefeated
10. Make love with a woman in a forbidden place. Check
11. Have a strange woman invite you home with her; and refuse her, because you’re married. Sort of, but I wasn't married yet
12. Build something tangible—out of wood, steel, brick, whatever. Check
13. Sit up all night comforting a sick child. Check
14. Tell the truth, where a lie would both be undiscoverable, and keep you out of trouble. Check
15. Watch at least one real virtuoso play a musical instrument—in any kind of music. (I’ve seen Eric Clapton, Itzhak Perlman, and Stephane Grappelli perform, and watched both Solti and Barenboim conduct the Chicago Symphony. Pretty humbling.) Check - Clapton
16. Perform on stage (music, theater, whatever), to a large (500 ) audience. Check
17. Play at least one musical instrument competently. eeer, I am a bad hacker on guitar
18. Make love to a woman at least ten years older than you are. nope, don't think so but I could be wrong.
19. Tell a government bureaucrat to fuck off. Check - did it again today.
20. And finally: tell a true story to your grandchildren. No grandkids yet - my son is only 3.

Not too bad and I expect to knock number 4 off soon (think bear or moose) but its gonna take a while till I get to 20 and I don't have any plans on accomplishing 18.

Song Meme

This one's from the The AnarchAngel who just busted some friends out of Jersey - hopefully for good.


A.) Go to musicoutfitters.com.
B.) Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function at the upper left and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year.
C.) Bold the songs you liked, strike through the ones you hated, underline italicize your favorite (don't know how to underline). Do nothing to the ones you don’t remember (or don’t care about).

OK, I graduated in 1990. Here goes.

1. Hold On, Wilson Phillips
2. It Must Have Been Love, Roxette
3. Nothing Compares 2 U, Sinead O'Connor
4. Poison, Bell Biv Devoe
5. Vogue, Madonna
6. Vision Of Love, Mariah Carey
7. Another Day In Paradise, Phil Collins
8. Hold On, En Vogue
9. Cradle Of Love, Billy Idol
10. Blaze Of Glory, Jon Bon Jovi
11. Do Me!, Bell Biv Devoe
12. How Am I Supposed To Live Without You, Michael Bolton
13. Pump Up The Jam, Technotronic
14. Opposites Attract, Paula Abdul
15. Escapade, Janet Jackson
16. All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You, Heart
17. Close To You, Maxi Priest
18. Black Velvet, Alannah Myles
19. Release Me, Wilson Phillips
20. Don't Know Much, Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville
21. All Around The World, Lisa Stansfield
22. l Wanna Be Rich, Calloway
23. I Remember You, Skid Row
24. Rub You The Right Way, Johnny Gill
25. She Ain't Worth It, Glenn Medeiros Featuring Bobby Brown
26. If Wishes Came True, Sweet Sensation
27. The Power, Snap
28. (Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection, Nelson
29. Love Will Lead You Back, Taylor Dayne
30. Don't Wanna Fall In Love, Jane Child
31. Two To Make It Right, Seduction
32. Sending All My Love, Linear
33. Unskinny Bop, Poison
34. Step By Step, New Kids On The Block
35. Dangerous, Roxette
36. We Didn't Start The Fire, Billy Joel
37. I Don't Have The Heart, James Ingram
38. Downtown Train, Rod Stewart
39. Rhythm Nation, Janet Jackson
40. I'll Be Your Everything, Tommy Page
41. Roam, B-52's
42. Everything, Jody Watley
43. Back To Life, Soul II Soul
44. Here and Now, Luther Vandross
45. Alright, Janet Jackson
46. Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice
47. Blame It On The Rain, Milli Vanilli
48. Have You Seen Her, M.C. Hammer
49. With Every Beat Of My Heart, Taylor Dayne
50. Come Back To Me, Janet Jackson
51. No More Lies, Michel'le
52. Praying For Time, George Michael
53. How Can We Be Lovers, Michael Bolton
54. Do You Remember, Phil Collins
55. Ready Or Not, After 7
56. U Can't Touch This, M.C. Hammer
57. I Wish It Would Rain Down, Phil Collins
58. Just Between You and Me, Lou Gramm
59. Something Happened On The Way To Heaven, Phil Collins
60. Black Cat, Janet Jackson
61. Can't Stop, After 7
62. Janie's Got A Gun, Aerosmith
63. The Humpty Dance, Digital Underground
64. I'll Be Your Shelter, Taylor Dayne
65. Free Fallin', Tom Petty
66. Giving You The Benefit, Pebbles
67. Enjoy The Silence, Depeche Mode
68. Love Song, Tesla
69. Price Of Love, Bad English
70. Girls Nite Out, Tyler Collins
71. King Of Wishful Thinking, Go West
72. What Kind Of Man Would I Be?, Chicago
73. Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over), Technotroic
74. Here We Are, Gloria Estefan
75. Epic, Faith No More
76. Love Takes Time, Mariah Carey
77. Just Like Jesse James, Cher
78. Love Shack, B-52's
79. All Or Nothing, Milli Vanilli
80. Romeo, Dino
81. Everybody Everybody, Black Box
82. I Go To Extremes, Billy Joel
83. Whip Appeal, Babyface
84. Oh Girl, Paul Young
85. C'mon and Get My Love, D-Mob With Cathy Dennis
85. (It's Just) The Way That You Love Me, Paula Abdul
87. We Can't Go Wrong, Cover Girls
88. When I'm Back On My Feet Again, Michael Bolton
89. Make You Sweat, Keith Sweat
90. This One's For The Children, New Kids On The Block
91. What It Takes, Aerosmith
92. Forever, Kiss
93. Jerk Out, Time
94. Just A Friend, Biz Markie
95. Whole Wide World, A'me Lorain
96. Without You, Motley Crue
97. Swing The Mood, Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers
98. Thieves In The Temple, Prince
99. Mentirosa, Mellow Man Ace
100. Tic-Tac-Toe, Kyper

Looks like I really wasn't paying too much attention to popular music at the time. Epic by Faith No More is one of my favorite songs of all time, but I just love the Humpty Dance (or at least the video). What is surprising to me is I could have sworn Guns and Roses would have been on this list too.

UPDATE: Kris at the Dummocrats also graduated in 1990. Looks like we have very similar taste (or at least dislike) in music.

Selling Out

Hey,

I've sold out and am going to try and accept blog ads (and will be placing Crisp Ads up here this week too!!!!). The only problem is I placed the BlogAds code in my template but nothing seems to be showing up. Is this a problem with blogger? I tried to check out the BlogAds help section, but couldn't make any headway - it was way over my non technical head. Anyone out there have any input?

In the meantime, and assuming I figure out how to get this thing running, let me know if you would like to run a complimentary ad over on the side. I suspect I'll be doing that for the next couple of weeks, at least. Just shoot me an email (countertop AT gmail DOT com) and I can help you set it up. Oh, and if your the lucky person who somehow can show me how to do this, I'll run an ad for your blog or cause of choice - for free - for the next month or so.

Thanks!

The Rotten Underbelly of DC

Terrorists don't need a WMD to shut down DC. Simply taking out one of the main arteries into the city should do the job well enough. And heck, the bridges from Virginia into DC might just do the job for them.

Case in point, the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge connecting Rosslyn and I-66 from Virginia to Constitution Ave (its the one that crosses Teddy Roosevelt Island and comes in right next to the Kennedy Center)



Look at all that rust. You would think someone would do something about that, wouldn't ya?

Of course, it gets worse . . . much worse, once you look underneath the bridge. And yes, those are simple wooden planks supporting the main commuter throughway from Virginia into DC.



As I sat in my kayak Sunday afternoon taking this picture, flakes of paint and rust showered down on my with each passing car. Really, with a budget running way out of control and untold trillions spent fortifying DC, you would think there would be just a wee little bit left over to maintain the infrastructure vital to the city.

Cops & Guns

Acid Man is reminiscing about a Glong ago field trip to shoot guns and collect rocks and it made me think about last night.

While cleaning up after dinner, the phone rang. It was my sister in law, calling from Georgia. Seems that the alarm in her house (just up the street from me) was tripped. The cops were on the way, but she wanted me to head over there and see what was up. No problem, I strapped on my Colt and walked up the street. As I arrived at her house it dawned on my that I wasn't sure what the reaction of Fairfax County's finest would be to me parading around packing heat - I know its perfectly legal, but they were responding to an alarm and didn't know me from Adam. So, I decided to just flip my tshirt over it and conceal it.

It didn't do a very good job and after walking around the house and talking to the neighbor it was hanging back out when the Cop showed up.

Anyway, we (neighbor and I) introduced ourselves and went around the house to check things out. There was no sign of break in and after BSing a little, the cop said good night and we all went our seperate ways. He never commented on the presence of my gun (which was more gun than the puny Glock he was carrying).

I like living in Virginia.

Thought for the Day

Never hold your farts in.

They travel up your spine, into your brain.

That is where shitty ideas come from!!!

Quote/Clip of the Week

Via Les Jones comes the quote of the week.

This is a bad idea.

My goodness, how much did these guys drink? And the jerk does it a second time!?!?! Ouch (in a very high pitch)!!!

I'm Back

Well, I am back from another wonderful trip to St. Simon's Island along the Gold Coast of South East Georgia. It was a rather eventful trip as the transmission in my wife's car went kaput in Tallahassee, requiring me to drive there Tuesday to pick it up at a dealership (First Team Isuzu - stand up folks who took care of her and my son) and spend the night before heading back to St. Simon's on Wednesday morning. Luckily the warranty covered the repairs. The wife's cousin and her new hubby, from Athens, GA, also made it down for a couple of days as the weather held out till late Friday when we started experiencing bands of violent thundershowers bought on by Katrina as she passed over Florida.

Anyway, the week was basically spent on the beach and in the seat of my kayak, in the most leisurely mode possible. Drank a bunch of daiquiris and pina colada's (am actually drinking one with leftover rum right now) and ate lots of seafood.



Thanks to my guest bloggers who posted intermittently, infrequently, and not at all. I appreciate your attempts to keep things going around here. With Katrina hitting New Orleans over night, the domestic economy is going to suffer tremendously. Gasoline was already on pace (even though the press hadn't reported it yet) to top $4.50 a gallon by next summer. With the loss of New Orleans, we may be seeing that by next week. Even worse, potentially, is the impact Katrina will have on natural gas prices - already at near record highs - as New Orleans area has one of the only Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminals in the nation. Luckily, the energy bill will allow more to be built, but as you struggle to heat your home this winter (or simply afford most products) consider blaming NIMBY types who have handicapped the United States long term interests by opposing construction of new LNG terminals for years. As a result of all this, I expect to have a very busy couple of days and will keep the guest bloggers "ON" since I don't know how much blogging I will actually get to do.

In the meantime, I leave you with this shot from the tip of Little St. Simon's (Kayak'd there, didn't stay there - don't make enough to stay there).



I tell ya, its all for the birds.

Gun Fight Rules

Maybe you've seen this somewhere before but its still humorous and not so humorous.

USMC and USN Gunfight Rules.

Gun Girl

This is the lovely Christie. I shot not this Monday but the one before that. It's taken me a while to get the post production done.

She'd never held a gun before and was obviously nervous, but I don't think the pictures show that at all. She ended up looking a lot tougher and more in control than expected.

The gun for you gun nuts is a Walther P99. I'm going to do a post soon asking for suggestions for a new photography gun.

Bad Guestblogger, Bad

I've been a bad guest blogger. While my fellow guest bloggers have been just as negligent, I'm especially bad because I actually took pictures of a model with a gun last week and haven't posted them. Messing up the Monday gun girl theme.

I will get an image of Christi with a gun up tomorrow.

As an aside, don't do a google image search on spanking. You won't find a funny image to use to say you are a bad person.

Ron

Vacation

Hi,

I see there hasn't been much activity here. Oh well, I'm sure everyone's busy.
Me, I am just hot. Like scorching. Though I did Kayak to a deserted barrier island yesterday. That was cool. Well, neat. It wasn't cool, nothing is cool here. Its so hot, even the ice cubes are warm.

Costa Rican Gun Laws

He Who Shall Not Be Named has a post about boomers retiring south of the border and he says all the countries have draconian gun control laws. I posted a comment mentioning a segment I once saw on World Poker Tour saying that everyone can carry a gun in Costa Rica. They showed how people had to check their guns when they entered the casino.

Any of you lawyer types know what the gun laws in Costa Rica are really like? I tried to do a Google search to find out, but couldn't.

Holy Motha of Joseph!!!!!

Jeff Soyer's his the big time.

Thanks to the kindness of Mark Serbu and the swell folks at Serbu Firearms (who really do make very pretty guns that are super accurate - much more so than their competitors - and competitivly priced and of a high build quality) he got himself a .50 to play with.

Actually, Serbu Firearms is even better than that above description. As far as I am concerned, anyone who said this about his product:

"This is the biggest, baddest gun you can buy without a special license," said Serbu, 43. "It's like having control of lightning in your hand."

deserves to replace Ruger as the nations largest gun manufacturer. If I had the cash, I'd buy a Serbu in a second and I recommend you call your Congressman and demand that the military begin to buy ONLY Serbu Firearms.

All Hail Mark Serbu - saviour of the 2nd Amendment and maker of the nation's finest guns.


(Thats him to the left)

There, is that nice enough to get a test gun????

World Champs

Congrats to the McLean, VA Little League Softball team, winners of the Little League Softball World Series 6-2 over Orange, Ct.

McLean home to both Countertop and myself has been riveted by the girls dedication this year, and Coach Falle's genius at winning after losing all but one player from last years 2nd place team.

Krugman On Air

I'm just wondering if former Enron consultant Paul Krugman was also an advisor to Air America?

That's All Folks

Well, I am off.

I leave in the morning to see grandpa and will be returning next week (though don't think of robbing me, as the alarm is on the neighbors include a member of the State Dept's Diplomtic Security Corps, a Security Attache for a European Ally, and a security consultant who does weapons training once a month for Marines right before they embark for the sandbox).

Picking up the slack around here are soem guest bloggers.

Teleboy, who has already introduced himself, is a buddy of mine from lawschool who does a lot of telecom/broadcast/media law and I believe will be writting about that (though if he just wants to post fine looking eye candy, thats fine with me too). Tele, by the way, has more to do with telemarking than his telecom practice (even if he seems to practice law more than his telemark techniques these days).

Ron from Reactuate is also going to watch out for the gun blogging stuff. With any luck, he'll also post some eye candy too (for more, including sexy women in bikini's and latex bondage gear, check out his blog). He also has been blogging on the technical aspects of wordpress - so anyone looking for top notch advice on running a blog with wordpress (or a Mac), you ought to check Reactuate out.

Finally, Steve is a long time friend - and fuck up - who somehow managed to become a doctor between hang overs. I don't know what he's gonna blog about, but if his patients let him find the time, he's promised to post something here too.

In the meantime, I will see you when I get back.

Visitors

Cool,

using the new visitor map on Sitemeter I just learned that I had visitors from Nepal, Thailand, Hong Kong (I think I know who that is), Brazil, Canberra Australia, London, Wales, Amsterdam, and Prague.

Hey. I've gone international.

Gun Porn

Someone asked the question For out of box reliaibility and quality, which 1911 manufacture gives you the most for your money.

Not surprisingly, the answers are overwhelmingly Colt - who has done a wonderful job of turning around the civilian side of that company in the last few months. Being a Colt fan, I take this as good news. Of course, they also make other drop dead gorgeous guns besides the 1911.

Welcome To The Neighborhood

James Na just moved from Seattle all the way across this great nation to Virginia.

Nothing like telling your former neighbors off in style though.

Good job James! Your about 2 blocks from my office in DC, let grab a bite.

In the meantime, check out his great foreign policy blog, Guns and Butter.

The Dumbest Idea Ever??

Its certainly up there.

If a group of prominent ecologists have their way, lions and elephants could someday be roaming the Great Plains of North America.

Never doubt to depths of stupidity to which those in the Ivory Tower will descend.

Slap Your Co-Worker Day

Its here, Slap Your Co-Worker Day.



Tomorrow is the official Slap Your Irritating Co-workers Holiday: Do you have a co-worker who talks nonstop about nothing, working your last nerve with tedious and boring details that you don't care about? Do you have a co-worker who ALWAYS screws up stuff creating MORE work for you? Do you have a co-worker who kisses so much booty, you can look in their mouth and see what your boss had for lunch? Do you have a co-worker who is SOOO obnoxious, when he/she enters a room, everyone else clears it? Well, on behalf of Ike ! Turner, I am so very very glad to officially announce tomorrow as SLAP YOUR IRRITATING CO-WORKER DAY! There are the rules you must follow:

• You can only slap one person per hour - no more.
• You can slap the same person again if they irritate you again in the same day.
• You are allowed to hold someone down as other co-workers take their turns slapping the irritant.
• No weapons are allowed...other than going upside somebody's head with a stapler or a hole-puncher.

If questioned by a supervisor [or police, if the supervisor is the irritant], you are allowed to LIE, LIE, LIE! Now, study the rules, break out your list of folks that you want to slap the living day lights out of and get to slapping.....and have a great day

Supercross

A client dragged me along to see the premier of Supercross the other night. I never laughed so hard in my life.

Is it the worst movie ever? Tough to judge. Showgirls had a better script and better acting. It also had plot. Nevertheless, the producers are going to make a fortune off all the horny 13 year old X Gamers out there.

This IMDB review seems to sum it up best.

The story really proceeds to make less and less sense, and all the film can offer by the end is some nice eye candy.

No doubt about it, Cameron Richardson is nice eye candy.

Mid Atlantic Blogshoot

UPDATE August 15, 2005 11:39 p.m.
It looks like I won't be able to participate this coming weekend. I spoke to my father this evening and my grandfather's health has taken a drastic turn for the worst. My brother and I are going to try and Fly down to Florida this weekend to see him. After my grandmother passing away in December this really sucks. Feel free to carry on the blogshoot and communicate with each other through here.

Sorry. I'll be at the NRA Range Wednesday evening if you want to go shooting then.



I'm going to post date this entry so that it stays at the top for a few days.

So, after some email and comment prompting, and after reading about the overwhelming success of the Northeast Bloggershoot I was thinking maybe we should organize our own Mid Atlantic DC Area Blogger Shoot.

I am interested in peoples opinions about the following

1) Is anyone interested?

2) The date I am looking at is Saturday August 20th (last day I will be in town before Vacation). Is this a good date or does anyone have an alternative?

3) There are two location options:

a) We spend the morning at the NRA Range in Fairfax and then head over to Bull Run for some shotgunning sports.
OR
b) We head over to the Dry River District Range outside Harrisburg, VA (2 hours from DC) and just spend the day in the woods shooting things up.

Does anyone have access to an outdoor location closer to DC?

There ya go, what do people think. Let me know.

UPDATE!!!

Well, I braved the weather and made some calls.
Clark Brothers won't allow us to reserve lanes, won't allow "fun" shooting activities, and probably can't accommodate a group our size. I do recommend them if you haven't been before, just not for this occasion.
I was hoping to get us onto the Northern Virginia Gun Club but my buddy there can't make it next weekend - he's going to be at the beach with his wife. Because of various issues concerning its inability to honor the 2nd Amendment or allow citizens to carry guns, I just can't imagine this taking place at any range in Maryland - though I have been to some nice ones. Its just going to be too diverse a group of people and Guns for Maryland. Finally, Chester Phelps is closed until September 1.

As a result - I am recommending we hit the Dry River District Range outside Harrisburg, VA. I'll bring a cooler with some food and beverages - as well as plenty of ammo and guns. I am also going to try and build some fun targets this week. If anyone else in the DC area wants to caravan (or carpool) in, I'd suggest we meet in Manassas at the Cracker Barrel off of I-66 (its just something about their breakfasts) at 8:00 am. If we can leave there by 8:30 am, we should arrive at the Dry River District Range around 10:30 with plenty of time for a day of firearms fun.

For those that want to meet us there - take I-81 to Harrisburg, VA getting off on U.S. 33. Take U.S. 33 West into the Jefferson National Forest traveling about 25 miles. About 1 mile east of the Brandywine Lake Recreation Area head north on Forest Development Road (FDR) 151. The range is about a mile up FDR 151. If my memory serves me correct (its been some time since I've gone up there) you will actually take 33 into West Virginia about a mile or two. Its a gorgeous drive. There is ample parking and covered shooting lanes.



If your going to attend, send me an email at countertop AT gmail.com. If someone has a better idea, feel free to suggest it in the comment box.

Another Biggoted Gun Banning Virginia Politician?

The guys at Raising Kaine are now talking about a new 2nd Amendment group, Sportsmen for Deeds that has formed in support of Democratic Attorney General Candidate Creigh Deeds.

If you read the post, or the Deed's press release, one would get the impression that this is some sort of grassroots group that isn't owned and operated out of campaign HQ.

One would be wrong.

A simple whois search reveals that the web page is registered to one Peter Jackson (psj852@gmail.com, 434-825-7676) of 1419 Old Ballard Rd. Charlottesville, VA 22901.

Who is Peter Jackson? The campaign's communications director.

This of course leads one to wonder why Democrats who want to be taken seriously on the 2nd Amendment continue to lie and create these fake groups?

You know, if they are willing to act in such a deceptive way about a fundamental civil right (albeit one they have been trying to abolish for 40+ years), how can you trust them on non fundamental issues such as tax policy, crime, jobs.

A liar is a liar is a liar, and I haven't seen anything to change my assumption that 99.9% of Democrats are really just gun banning bigots. Its a shame, cause I would like to vote for someone other than a Republican every now and then. But till the party of Gun Banning Bigots changes its way, I am going to have to follow GG's lead.

UPDATE The Bitch Girls had a link to this story which indicates that Mr. Deeds might actually be one of the .1% of Democrats who get it.

The state senator from Bath County was the chief legislative sponsor of a constitutional amendment, approved by voters in 2000, guaranteeing the right to hunt, fish and trap game.

"I very much grew up in these traditions," Deeds said.

He also has opposed gun control, including the law allowing Virginians to buy only one handgun per month. Deeds said the handgun restriction has had minimal impact on sportsmen but that it could set a precedent for further erosion of gun owners' rights.

David "Mudcat" Saunders of Roanoke said the committee will spread the word that Deeds' opponent, Republican Del. Bob McDonnell of Virginia Beach, supported the one-gun-a.m.onth law and opposed the constitutional amendment.

Lets hope so. Still, it would be nice if they didn't set up such transparent organizations.

Davey Crocket, KIA

It was bad enough when the campus went dry.

I guess that the only message I can take after learning that UT is dropping Davey Crocket and his rifle from official merchandise is we no longer care about our heros. Hell, they might as well change the name of the team from the Volunteers to the Oppressed Draftees.

I'm tempted to bring my own rifle the next time I show up at Neyland.

This is a sad sad day.



Hat tip: Cam Edwards

INSTALANCHE!!! Oh My Goodness, I leave the computer for a few minutes and get the best Instalanche ever. And considering how strong traffic was already - its my best month traffic wise by far - this is just blowing me away. Welcome, and please feel free to look around. I've got a few guest bloggers here these last couple of weeks and hope you find things interesting and educational.

UPDATE: Knoxville Sports Source TV Show host John Pennington sent me a very nice email and posted a follow up in the comments section. As a result, I've removed the previous update as our disagreement has been clarified. Based upon his email, he seems like a rather upstanding guy.

Squash Your Rights, Make A Lot Of Money

Or, the fundraising experiment known as oppression.

Just looked over the 2003 990 form for the Brady Bunch.

Of the interesting information conatined in it, I thought you might enjoy knowing how much these people make to take away your rights.

Michael Barnes earned $224,830 plus another $8,496 in expenses.
Christopher Carr, their Chief of Staff, earned $155,527 plus $6,201 in expenses.
Finally, Sarah Brady earned $140,792 plus $5,632 in expenses.

And guess who else turns out to be a Director.

Maria Cuomo Cole; John Rosenthal (of that fraud the American Hunters and Shooters Association); Chief Chuckie Moose of the Sniper Screw up fame - you know, the guy who blamed everything on extremist white gun owners and then went door to door in Montgomery County confiscating all the registered .223 rifles for "testing."

TSA May Loosen Rules

Looks like the TSA may loosen the rules on what you can carry on flights.

Welcome news to those of us who carry a pocket knife, now we won't have to surrender it every time we take a flight. Was interesting that the article doesn't mention those deadly tweezers and nail clippers. But it does say they may allow bows and arrows.

And maybe any fire arm over 5" in length. :)

Ron from Reactuate

Hot Dam, I Started A Trend

I change the template for my blog to spruce things up around here and then quickly saw two of my favorite bloggers, Alphecca and SaysUncle follow my lead.

Today, I head on over to North Georgia Dogma Toys in the Attic and discover substantial template changes there too. Is it the prettiest looking blog around? I don't know, but the masthead is gorgeous.

Check it out.

Ouch!

People who want every discussion of current events to go back to first principles are tiresome and I find discussion with them is seldom profitable. Plus, people avoid them at parties.

Thurman Munson

I had forgotten that my favorite baseball player of all time, Thurman Munson died twenty five years ago this month in a plane crash on August 2nd 1979.

Growing up in Northern New Jersey, Munson and Graig Nettles were always my favorites. I played third, so I was natually attracted to Nettles. But Munson was the heart and sole of the team, the iron backbone that held them together and guided them to back to back world series wins. As an 8 year old Yankee fan, those late 70s summers were magical.

I was playing baseball with some friends when we heard the news, we had seen him and the Yankees play the week before and we were all crushed. His death brought about the end of the Yankees 1970s Dynasty and it would be almost 20 years until they rekindled the passion that Munson brought to the clubhouse.

After Munsons death came the drought of playoff action - the Yankees made it to the series once more but were embarrassed by Fernando Valenzula and Tommy Lasorda. Since then, baseball has been embroiled in multiple strikes and now in a disgusting steroid scandal.

For me, baseball has never been the same.

Meet the Right-Wing Michael Moore

If you've never heard of Evan Coyne Maloney your missing out. This is a fascinating portrait of him as he finishes his first feature length film Indoctrination U. It is a sequel Brainwashing 101, about "the tyranny of political correctness and affirmative action on campuses."

My favorite quote from this rather long article is:

For those who admire what he is doing, he is the Anti-Michael Moore: young, patriotic and single-chinned.

Funny Timewaster

Hillary in 2008?

B-Ball

I hate it. Seriously. Can't stand the sport, but its pretty cool that my cousin was recruited - all the way in Sweden - by a the University of Akron basketball team.

Not quite Tennessee or Connecticut, but pretty cool nonetheless.

Anyone know if there any good?

The Chelsea Smiles

Todd Youth Rocks



Todd and his new band the Chelsea Smiles are going out on the road this fall with Nikki Sixx's and Tracci Guns' band Brides of Destruction.

Check out their tour blog for more. I'll be at the Jaxx show October 22nd.

Getting Out Of Dodge

There is a great post at Andrew Sullivan's today.

I remember when people talked about themselves. At thee dinner table and in the diner you heard about that sports car-from-a-kit your neighbor was building, about some lady's kidney tumor, about who was wooing another man's wife, and about the bear that was eating from someone's apple tree. These little stories added up to life. You got a sense of how people were actually managing. Now you hear what they're thinking. What a bore. Most of them can't think, and have never tried, and are just repeating what others think and adding their own misinterpretations and biases. I could care less, frankly. I'd rather hear about what somebody's doing to get rid of the bat infestation in their attic. But no, it's Washington, Washington, Washington, which is thousand of miles away from western Montana but has somehow convinced us it's right next door. Well, it's not. The neighbors are next door. But because they talk only about politics, I have no idea what their lives are like and they don't either for the most part, they don't either. They're trying to join the "national conversation" and meanwhile the bears are eating their apples.

This is why I love to get away from Washington - to talk to real people about real issues. Yet, sadly, they just want to talk to me about Washington and politics. I look forward to discussing kayaks and fishing and food and my son's coming school year and all sorts of other issues this week and next.

Monday Gun Girl

Since countertop was busy and I wasn't on the ball there was no gun girl on Monday. But never fear I'm on the ball now.

The model is Kristen and this was my first photoshoot with a model on my own. Wasn't my best work, but hey, she's cute, she's a girl and she's holding Walt - my Wather P99.

This was the first time she'd ever held a real gun, pretty common among my models.

Press Protections

Since I practice in the areas of First Amendment Law, Privacy, and Publicity, I thought my first post should talk a bit about a topic of much interest in the news lately.

Part of the fallout from the Iraq War has been an investigation into who leaked the name of Valerie Plame. This investigation - conducted by a Special Prosecutor who was ironically called for by Democrats (does this make Ken Starr A-OK again??) - has only resulted in one person sitting in jail: NY Times Reporter Judith Miller. Now, from what I understand, she never wrote anything on the subject, but instead had some knowledge of the players involved. When she refused to disclose that knowledge and testify under oath, she was thrown in jail for contempt.

In tomorrow's NY Times, Bob Dole has an op-ed (written in the first person, so I doubt he really drafted it) supporting passage of a law providing some immunity from this type of situation for journalists via a reporters privilege. He calls for passage of the Lugar-Pence Free Flow of Information Act of 2005 (FFIA).

Generally, I don't support any special statutory right for reporters to protect information. I would like to believe that the judicial system was flexible enough to ascertain on its own, through basic common law principles, when someone needs to be compelled to testify. For the most part, it has worked well over the last 225 years, but I guess the specter of a modern political fight is too much for even our courts.

FFIA does a couple of things. First, it sets forth the situations in which the disclosure of information may be compelled. It then sets aside what information cannot be compelled in any situation, including such important facts in the current war on terror as clues to a potential witnesses identity.

This is a tremendous loophole, one that is big enough for Osama Bin Laden to drive a hydrogen bomb through, and one that undercuts any benefits that may be attached to FFIA. Because this loophole is so large, the bill deserves to be defeated.

Under the provisions of this law, and its tremendously broad definition of covered persons, if an Al Queda cell regullary publishes information on the internet, the Government and interogate cell members and force them to disclose the identity of suicide bombers or even a truck driver carrying a bomb.

There is a concern amongst bloggers that they be treated as equals with the establishment media, and FFIA seems to recognize that everyone under the sun is a potential journalist.

It defines the class of covered people as:

(1) The term `covered person' means--

(A) an entity that disseminates information by print, broadcast, cable, satellite, mechanical, photographic, electronic, or other means and that--

(i) publishes a newspaper, book, magazine, or other periodical;

(ii) operates a radio or television broadcast station (or network of such stations), cable system, or satellite carrier, or a channel or programming service for any such station, network, system, or carrier; or

(iii) operates a news agency or wire service;

(B) a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of such an entity; or

(C) an employee, contractor, or other person who gathers, edits, photographs, records, prepares, or disseminates news or information for such an entity.

As you can see, that easily covers the blogs, and I assume that many bloggers will celebrate this proposed statute. However it frightens me as an overbroad expansion of journalism, far beyond the bounds of reason and with slight to nonexistent protections, and will also covers the publishers of Al Queda web pages.

Breaking News

Or not.

I have a TV in my office. When congress is in session, its usually tuned in to either C-Span or C-Span 2. When Congress is out, I have it tuned into whatever. Today, its been on Fox News all day. I don't really pay attention to it - but use it just for background noise.

Its usually effective, except when dumb newscasters get in the way. Like today for instance. Did you know that the Iraqis decided to delay final drafting of their new constitution?

I guess thats news, and I heard about it shortly after 9:00 am when they broke into the news cast with sound effects (and blaring horns) and a BREAKING NEWS ALERT which led to them ecitdly reporting that "This important news is just in, the Iraqi Constitution . . . . "

Thats fine, I guess. Not really the 9/11 type development that would warrent all the excitement, but whatever. The thing I can't stand though is that the same schtick over the same story every half an hour.

Folks, if it was breaking news that "Just came in" at 9:00 am, how in the hell can you repeat the same report at 4:19 and claim it is still BREAKING NEWS that "just came in."

It isn't, though I am amazed at how each story seems to be given the same treatment, especially this Aruba thing. God, the girl got drunk and horney and left her good senses back at church in Alabama. Her friends shouldn't have left her to go off and fuck some locals. Its sad, but its all too common and simply doesn't warrant the end of the world constant reporting that Fox subjects its viewers to.

Geeze, this channel is SOOOOOOO bad, I might even have to return to the Commie News Network.

Another Meme, Another Media

Ron Davis of Reactuate - one of my upcoming guest bloggers - posted an intersting meme this weekend, What Was The Last Media You Consumed?

• What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
  
  Revenge of the Sith
• What was the last movie you watched at home (DVD/VHS, not TV)?
  
  The Rescuers with my son last night. The Wife and I caught House of Flying Daggers Saturday
• What was the last TV show you watched?
  
  Some awful show on VH1 last night about celebraties marriages that are no more. We also saw some of the Pamela Lee Anderson roast. Ugh, it was awful. I ended the night on a high note though, watching the History Channel's rebroadcast of Band of Brothers.
• What was the last TV show you watched on DVD?
  
  Band of Brothers
• What is the next TV program you plan to watch?
  
  INXS: Rock Star!!

Thank God Their Disarmed

Who knows what would have happened had Maryland not disarmed its population.

Police said that the man's hand was partially severed and that they were trying to find out whether a weapon such as a machete was used.

Yep. I guess we will have to ban knives and machettes too. We could also ban ban hispanics and blacks too. Heck, lets just ban people generally. Thats the ticket. Ban people and we might start reducing crime.

Guest Bloggers

As I posted last week, my blogging is going to be real light to nonexistant over the next couple of weeks as I finish up some projects at home, make final arrangements for the Mid Atlantic Blog Shoot, and then spend some much neede time on vacation at the beach.

In my place there will be three or four guest bloggers here. Look for their posts in the coming days and I'll provide a proper introduction later.

Traffic

Its only August 15th and I've already surpassed June's traffic and will overtake my May numbers sometime today. If I keep going at my current rate of traffic this will be my best month ever by the end of this week.

WOW.

Thanks for stopping by (typos and all), its really humbling.

Larry Mattlage Rocks!!

Well, I'm getting ready for dove season.

That was the response of Mr. Mattlage, Bush's neighbor in Crawford, when reporters asked him why he was a out shooting his gun early Sunday morning in the vicinity of the protesters.

Awesome.

Almost as good though is the response of local law enforcement officials.

McLennan County Sheriff Larry Lynch said Mattlage had broken no laws.

"He's on his property, so he's fine," he said.

Another Lost Bigot

Analogkid is simply awsome.

calmly folded my my Shotgun News back up and asked if it made her pissed off enough to try and hit me.

She said, and I quote “No, because you probably have a gun with you right now.”

So I replied “Isn’t it sad that all of the psychobabble you keep in your head just lost an argument to a bumper sticker?”

You are my hero!!!!

Go read the whole thing!!

Carpetbaggers Are Us???

As you probably know by now, Richmond's would be gun banning mayor Tim Kaine wants to be Governor.

I've got some serious concerns with his thoughts on the constitution and since my half dozen emails to the campaign had not been responded to, I thought I would head over to his Northern Virginia Campaign Headquarters (corner of Anderson Rd and 123 just down the hill from Tyson's Corner - its across the street from where Bush Cheney housed the transition office in 2000) to see if someone could get me an intelligent response.

There are just a couple of things I want to know about Mr. Kaine's position - and whether he really respects the 2nd Amendment or is just another in a long list of two faced gun banning liars willing to say anything to get elected. The Democrats seem to have a fondness for those guys, as you know.

Here's the question I'd like answered.

First, the Tim Kaine web page states “Both the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of Virginia guarantee that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

I'd like to know what he means by people? Does he you subscribe to the idea of most Democrats that somehow “the people” means something different in the 2nd Amendment than it does anywhere else in the constitution or the Bill of Rights? Or does he recognize that the people is me, you, and everyone - creating a fundamental individual right?
• I'd also like to know his views on the right of privacy. Does he agree it exists or not? If it does exist, does he think it applies to fundamental rights - as enumerated specifically in the constitution - or simply the made up rights such as abortion that appear nowhere in the constitution?

Anyway, once again these concerns have been left unanswered. Why? Because no one was there. But even more interesting than answering my questions was what I witnessed. With the exception of one car with a Virginia license plate parked out front - I didn't see any other Virginia cars there. Instead, upon driving around to the back entrance I saw only these 5 cars.

Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms

Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
The Recipe For A Fine Weekend.

The Masthead

Hey, check out the new Masthead Quote

Compliments of the gun banning bigots behind Tim Kaine's gubernatorial campaign in Virginia.

Thanks Guys!!!!!!

Sweet

Gotta love Jessice Simpson.

That Nick dude is one lucky guy

Gone With The Wind

Since I emailed Megan the link to the adjusted box office receipts, I'll take credit for the Instapundit Update.

It would have been nice if she sent some traffic my way though (unless lots of others sent her the same link too, which is possible, I guess)

The Carnival of the Recipes: No. 52

The Carnival is celebrating its one year anniversary at Dinner is served at Restaurant Sage and the menu looks quite appetizing.

Google Traffic

Cool,

I am the the #2 web site listed on google if you want to know Why is gas expensive?.

Heh, thats worth a couple of hits. Especially since I actually provide a reason.

Is Raising Kaine Is A Sham!?!?!?

Of course, I probably didn't need to tell you that.

But it appears to be. Raising Kaine, for those who don't know, is the "leading" blog advocating the election of the gun banning liberal mayor of Richmond, Virginia.

While there is nothing wrong with a person supporting a politician (even if he is a gun banning bigot), there is something wrong with being completely disingenuous about it. This is how Raising Kaine describes itself (emphasis mine):

We're a grassroots group of ordinary citizens -- Democrats, Independents, and moderate Republicans -- who are sick and tired of right-wing extremists and ideologues trying to take control of our state and our country. Instead...

The only problem with this is there is simply nothing independent about it. You see, Raising Kaine was registered through Go.Daddy.com to one Brian Patton of Clintwood, Virginia. Mr. Patton has a web page of his own, where he describes himself as such (again, my emphasis):

Currently, I am a member of the Dickenson County Democratic Committee, working for a law firm in Clintwood, Virginia, and spending the rest of my time volunteering for local and statewide political candidates.

Hardly qualifies as an independent or a Republican.


Remember how upset the moonbats where when they found out that the Swift Boat Veterans were funded by a guy who also donated to the Bush Campaign????

Well, imagine how much more they would have screamed if they found out the Swift Boat Veterans were run by RNC members.

I'm just saying, thats all.

UPDATE: Now, of course, there are some other contributors to Raising Kaine in addition to the not very independent Mr. Patton.

• First up, is Lowell Feld. Mr. Feld is a freelance "journalist" covering energy and environment issues when he isn't backpacking around the third world. The only articles of his I am familiar with though, have been at - shall we say - moonbat sites. Might he be an independent? Sure, I'll give him that. This blog seems to think he is either a socialist or a communist

  Lennin died in 1924, but Lowell Feld is an instrument of the strategy for his communist conquest in America and beyond. These Virginia Democrats use the philosophy of socialism as a misinformation weapon, in this struggle, whenever they can and for whatever it is worth.

  
  
  In the comments, Mr. Feld thinks I am being unfair stating that

  Believe it or not, I've been called too "conservative" and not a true "liberal" many times on DailyKos and other liberal sites.

  Well, that's about all you need to know, isn't it. Your judged by the people you associate with, and we all remember that the DailyKos is the page which celebrated the brutal deaths of wanton destruction of corpses in Fallujah last year. Nice.
  
  I just Wonder if Mayor Kaine knows who is supporters are?



• Dan Fleischmann is the author of the earlier gun banning post. I can't find much info on him, except that he runs with the DC Road Runners club. Lets say the jury's still out - but that gun show loophole post, and its hostility toward Republicans, Independents, the NRA, and the constitution while it based itself solely on the worst talking points of the crazy left wing of the Democrats has me feeling that Dan ain't exactly a RINO Republican.



• Teddy Goodson is a realtor in Northern Virginia. Of course, we all know that the Realtor's control the local Democratic Party - thats why they keep pushing for more tax increases to finance more sprawl inducing roadways without actually addressing the serious transportation problems we are faced with. This post describes her as an ex-Republican and associates her with "Progressives." That, of course, is liberal code for Socialist/Communist as the "Progressive" wing was founded and run by Bernie Sanders (former socialist mayor of Burlington, VT) and current minority leader in the House Nancy Pelosi who once hosted Communist Work songs (complete with hammer and sickle) on her web page (way before she was in leadership). Not surprisingly, she is one of the Bush Lies/Bushitler corps. I guess, if she claims to be a former Republican, she gets in on a technicality, but even if she didn't like the President, its tough to believe she went from Republican to communist over night.


I'll get through the rest of the contributing bloggers tomorrow over the coming days.

• Nichole Herbig


• Ellen Dana Nagler


• Kenton Ngo - he worked for the Traitorous Lout's campaign according to his web page. Verdict - Democrat!!


• Tabitha Peace


• Sam Penney is just a big 'ol gun banning bigot progressive (re: communist/socialist) bigot. Where do I start with Mr. Penny. Well, I guess I could thank him for the great quote thats now in my masthead, but it gets even better. He runs Political Web Solutions - a consulting firm that "proudly assists Democratic and other progressive candidates." As for the gun banning bigot part, lets take a look at the comments he left Bitter Bitch.
  
  

  Seeing as how hunters are generally not members of a militia anymore, someone doing a strict reading of the Constitution could say that we do not have the right to bear arms at all, unless we are members of the National Guard, etc.

  Sammy boy, the militia is composed of all able bodied males 17 to (i believe) 45. I think you could also argue, in this day and age it also includes women.
  
  He goes on.
  
  

  America should give as many rights to its people as possible, and I believe that responsible citizens should have the right to bear arms for the purposes of hunting, target shooting, etc.

  
  Our rights come from nature, America doesn't give us anything. Rather, as the founding fathers made clear, we the people give American the right to govern us. BTW, the second amendment has nothing to do with hunting, target shooting, etc. Its all about defense and possession of weapons with a suitable military purpose.
  

  you do not need a machine gun do go deer hunting, unless you have 300 deer in a large meadow that need to be eliminated PRONTO

  No, I don't. But I do need a machine gun to protect me from socialist gun banning bigots like Sam Penny.
  

  And the government does have the right to knwo who owns what guns. There are criminals out there, and responsible gun owners like you and I should be willing to let the government know what guns we own, and when we bought them.

  Yep, just like the jews in Nazi Germany, the christians and non Islamist muslims in the Sudan and Darfur, and the enemies of Robert Mugabe (white and black) who are this very minute being subjected to his campaign of disarmament and genocide.

Gun Bigots

Well, its not from the official blog, but it appears Tim Kaine's supporters are nothing butgun banning bigots. Either that, or they really are as misinformed as they make themselves out to be.

I was hoping for better from Mr. Kaine, and I guess I will still hold out some hope - but the more I hear from his supporters the more I am convinced that he is nothing but a two faced anti American gun banning pinko.

Jerry Kilgore would like you to think that Tim Kaine will take away your guns. This is about as likely as Tim Kaine taking away your goggles. How does the concept that Tim Kaine might support background checks at gun shows or the mere idea that he may not support laws that protect negligent gun dealers who might be sued for selling guns to criminals, turn into “no guns for anyone”?

Thats just the opening paragraph.

Its worth noting that Tim Kaine was a big time early supporter of the trial lawyers and gun banners predatory lawsuits aimed at the firearms industry.

Here's the response I put up on his blog vis a vis the so called gun show loophole.

There is no gun show loophole. Its another lie, brought to you by the Sarah Brady, Teddy Kennedy, and the Commie Mommies.

There is no such thing as an unlicensed firearms dealer. You are either an FFL holder or you are not. You either sell firearms for profit or you do not. If you do, you better have an FFL or your gonna be spending a lot of time with the bootie bandit. If you don’t, then you are not eligible to receive an FFL.

If you are a firearms dealer you are required to conduct the background check wherever you sell a gun - be it in a store, in your home, or at a gun show.

What you are seeking to do when you harp on and on about closing the gun show loophole is actually regulating private sellers looking to maximize the return on an investment, or simply not to loose their shirt.

Let me give you an example of how the real world works, since you gun banning Democrats seem to have left it long ago.

The last new gun I purchased cost me over $700 (lets kill another myth right here, guns are EXPENSIVE!!! You people - and Tim Kaine is responsible for this - managed to generally price the poor people living in areas where they have a real need for self protection - out of the market by eliminating cheap guns). If I wish to get rid of it I have a few options.

First, I can sell it to a dealer who will pay me $300 for it and then turn around and resell it (after conducting a background check) for $600 (Though expensive, guns retain a surprising part of their value).

Second, I can sell it to a pawn shop who will pay me $100 for it and then turn around and resell it (after conducting a background check) for $600.

Third, I can turn it in at a gun buy back event to Tim Kaine and the Richmond Police Department or Sarah Brady and the Commie Mommies for $50 in donated Target Gift Cards (which don’t allow change to be given back, and lose their value if I don’t use them within a year). Tim Kain and the Richmond Police or Sarah Brady and the Commie Mommies will then turn around and sell my $700 gun to a gun dealer for $300 (using that profit to further erode my civil rights - they only melt down the worthless guns). The gun dealer will then resell it (after conducting a background check) for $600 (sometimes they sell it to national distributors who simply act as a middle man between Tim Kain and the Richmond Police or Sarah Brady and the Commie Mommies and the eventual gun seller).

Finally, I can sell it privately for $500-$600 by posting an ad in the paper (but only where Sarah Brady and the Commie Mommies haven’t shut that avenue down); posting a notice at a gun range or on the internet; selling it to a friend; or going to a gun show where I can meet potential buyers.

As a private citizen, I am not a gun dealer let alone an “unlicensed gun dealer”, in fact I am not eligible to become a gun dealer unless I have the intent to actually engage in the business and then do so once granted my license. Yet, for some reason, you want to restrict my rights (through making gun ownership unaffordable) by preventing my access to a marketplace of buyers and artificially deflating the value of my gun (and often times putting the lost profit right in the bank account of Tim Kain and the Richmond Police or Sarah Brady and the Commie Mommies).

Thats what the so called gun show bills are seeking to do. Regulate non dealers.

How can Tim Kaine or any Democrat ever hope to convince America (or simply the citizens of Virginia) that they aren’t after their guns when every false gun concern they raise is tied directly to the ultimate goal of eliminating gun ownership in America (see the statements of Diane Feinstein and the founders of the Brady Campaign/Million Mom March - formerly known as Handgun Control Inc.) ?????

Lets try to educate this fool and maybe we can make a difference.

Grilled Corn on the Cob

This one's real easy.

Ingrediants

As many ears of SWEET WHITE CORN as you and your friends can eat.
1 Stick of butter


2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Alternatively, you can buy a prepackaged bottle of "Greek Seasoning".

If you are making your own Greek Seasoning, combine all the spices in an airtight container and shake till they are well mixed.

Get an ear of Sweet White Corn and gently peel back the husks (but do not remove them) removing the silk and exposing the kernels.

Rub the corn down with butter, add some salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with a healthy dose of greek seasoning.

Close the husks and then wrap each ear tightly in aluminum foil.

Place the grill over medium high heat 30 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender.

Delicious - had it with dinner this evening.

Grilling, The Mediterranean Way

Mmm, Mmm, Mmm

1-1/2tsp. dried basil
1-1/2tsp. garlic powder
1-1/2tsp. dried oregano
1/2tsp. salt
1/8tsp. pepper

6 6-ounce top sirloins

Mix all ingredients until well blended.

Rub evenly (and erotically) over both sides of top sirloins prior to grilling.

Place steaks on grid over medium ash-covered coals. Grill uncovered 16-20 minutes, turning occasionally

Mmm Mmm Mmm

10 Greatest Shows Ever

Jeff Jarvis is asking his readers to list the 10 Greatest - but not obvious - TV Shows ever. He wants everyone to link back here.

Here's mine, in no particular order

1. Freeks and Geeks - The most down to earth, honest, and witty show I've ever seen. I came out the same year as The 70s Show and what CBS did to it (changing its time slot every week, failure to promote it, putting it up against bigger shows) is outrageous. I've got it on tape, and want to get the DVD, and would put any of the 13 episodes up against any other TV show any day of the week.

2. Wonder Years - Another tremendous show about the joys and perils and parental relations that everyone who grew up during an age before computers experienced. Both my father and myself could relate to each and every episode, and our family was closer as a result.

3. Married With Children - Together with The Simpsons set the stage for Fox to be a major player. In its day, this show was on a whole 'nother level and did for Television what Howard Stern did for Radio.

4. The Greatest American Hero - Come on now, how can you not like it - from the theme song to the silly outfit. Just what we needed in the dark days of the cold war. I still walk to work huming the theme song.

5. Cheers - Coach and Carla and Sam and Norm and Diane and Cliff and Rebecca and Woody and Frasier. Has there been a better ensemble comedy?

6. Frasier - A powerful, compelling, insightful comedy that raised the art of comedic sitcom to that of serious theater.

7. TIE - Marlin Perkins and Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and Jacques-Yves Cousteau's The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and The Cousteau Odyssey - These two shows brought the quality of National Geographic to a large Television viewing audience, helped advance world wide respect for wildlife and their habitats, and laid the groundwork for the success of cable television powerhouses like Discover, Animal Planet and others. Steve Irwin and Jack Hanna would never exist - and don't even begin to compare - without these masters.

9. Space 1999 - I just loved this show as a kid.

10. Magnum, PI - Engaging, action packed, and every boy's dream. When I pass reruns while channel surfing, I still manage to stop and stay. Its only fault is the all too occaisonal flashbacks to Vietnam.

National Ammo Day

Its coming!!

Darwin Award Trainee??

Travis Stewart of Rexburg, Idaho is not only an asshole, he's bound to be a Darwin Award Winner one of these days.

The truck's driver was going too fast, officials said, which caused the truck to jack-knife at the Red Narrows, one of the canyon's sharp turns. The truck tipped over, skidded across the pavement and started a fire on the mountainside.

So, Travis is a jerk and a bad driver, but thats not really the problem. Its what he was carrying while driving like that which is frightening.

Metal shards, frayed pieces of tire and an engine block were all that was left of a truck carrying 38,000 pounds of explosives after the cargo detonated Wednesday afternoon on U.S. 6 in Spanish Fork Canyon.

Here's the aftermath.

RIP: Michael "Panic" Houser

This week we mourn the loss of two truly fine guitar players. The other day was the 10th Anniversary of Jerry Garcia's passing.

Today, we mourn the loss of Widespread Panic guitarist Michael Houser who died from pancreatic cancer August 10th, 2002. I linked to a fine example of his lingering leads in Monday's Song Lyric.

For the geeks out there - this was his killer setup - complete with the "If Its Too Loud, Your Too Old" bumper sticker.

Over his last five or so years, he developed a problem with his leg that required him to sit down during performances. That is how most of Widespread Panic's current crop of fans remember him.




I'll keep the vision of his solitary figure standing on stage right, head hung down with his flop of hair covering his face - wailing away with a blistering Michael Bloomfield-esque riff behind whatever groove the band settled into.


Rest In Peace good buddy

Blogging Break

This has been post dated till August 10th to keep it at the top.

Just a heads up - I am going to be away on vacation the last couple of weeks in August, so blogging may very well be light to nonexistent.

It seems, in honor of his 4th blogoversary, Glenn Reynolds is going away too.

Coincidence? I think not.

Anyway, seeing as he will be having some guest bloggers during that time, I was wondering if there might be anyone around who is interested at all in guest blogging over here for the last two weeks of August - be it original blogging or simply cross posting from your own blog, I am game for it all.

Let me know - by email at countertop AT gmail.com - if anyone is interested.

Hidden Treasure

I was cleaning the back of my Jeep out for the first time in a month. Look at what I found.





Not that I've driven into DC with them there, but if I did (and was caught), it wouldn't have been good.

Amen!!!!

I'm sending my little one to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft!. It sure beats Fairfax County Public Schools.

Hogwarts doesn't teach sex education, diversity, multiculturalism, social studies, gender studies, feminist studies, earth studies, Heather Has Two Mommies, gay rights, animal rights, veganism, anti-war screeds, Bush hatred, peace studies, activism, the evils of dead white males, or any of the other crap we teach in our public schools today.

What's more, Hogwarts teaches "Defense Against the Dark Arts," which, if anything, is like a fantasy-world equivalent to having the N.R.A. come to your school to teach your kids how to lawfully defend themselves against criminals and terrorists!

Your Fired

Luckily, I haven't had to fire anyone yet, though I 've come close to firing a couple of secretarys in the past. In both cases, I was able to transfer them elsewhere within the organization. Not surprisingly, when their failure to perform continued, they were eventually let go. Still, I would hate to have to do it myself.

100,000 Hot Chicks With Guns

Well, almost. But it is true that when hot chicks with guns are involved, Resistance is futile!!!. Help push Gullyborg over 100,000 hits.

On Abortion

Ouch!

Manuel Miranda has an excellent piece today on how NARAL and the Abortion Lobby are more driven by funds than by any concern over protecting abortion rights. Its the same situation with enviro groups.

Simply put, the abortion industry is opposed to parental notice laws because parental notice laws place a hurdle between them and the profits from the abortion clients--not the girls who come to them but the adult men who pay for these abortions. These adult men, whose average age rises the younger the girl is, are eager not to be disclosed to parents, sometimes living down the street. . . . At nearly one million abortions per year, the abortion industry is as big as any corporate interest that lobbies in Washington. They not only ignore the rights of parents, they also protect sexual offenders and statutory rapists.

Moor People To Shoot

How about this asshole.

A candidate in Pakistan's Northwestern Frontier Province gave away his 11-year-old daughter to his opponent in exchange for latter's withdrawal from next week' local elections, a news report said Sunday.

Daily Times quoted an unnamed election official as saying that Ajoon, a resident of Kohistan district, more than 120 km northwest of here, made the offer considering his opponent Vilayat Noor politically stronger.

The two men were the only candidates for the post of nazim, or chief administrator.

Ajoon also paid his opponent 200,000 rupees (about $3,300) to sweeten the deal.

And liberals want to convince us we are the moral equivilent of these scum?!?!?!?!

I bet it was a .50

What do you want to bet that whoever shot down the New Mexican Police Chopper was using a .50 Caliber.

Even if he wasn't, I bet it will be reported he was.

Thank You, Jerry

It was 10 years ago today that the music finally stopped.


August 1, 1942 - August 9, 1995

Broke-down Palace
Lyrics by Robert Hunter; Music by Jerry Garcia

Fare you well my honey
Fare you well my only true one
All the birds that were singing
Have flown except you alone

Goin to leave this Broke-down Palace
On my hands and my knees I will roll roll roll
Make myself a bed by the waterside
In my time - in my time - I will roll roll roll

In a bed, in a bed
by the waterside I will lay my head
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

River gonna take me
Sing me sweet and sleepy
Sing me sweet and sleepy
all the way back back home
It's a far gone lullaby
sung many years ago
Mama, Mama, many worlds I've come
since I first left home

Goin home, goin home
by the waterside I will rest my bones
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

Goin to plant a weeping willow
On the banks green edge it will grow grow grow
Sing a lullaby beside the water
Lovers come and go - the river roll roll roll

Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

The NY Times has a great story on what's transpired since.

Drudge Report

Am I the only person who noticed something amiss in Drudge's latest self promotion?

Soledad O'Brien knows where the latest news can be found on the Internet: The DRUDGE REPORT!

The fast-rising cable news star was all smiles as she posed for the cover of SMALL BUSINESS COMPUTING magazine, proudly displaying her "favorite website."

Here's the picture, posted Tue Aug 09 2005 11:01:43 ET



So tell me, in this day and age of high speed DSL lines, what do I need to know now about 56K Modems?????

Wished He Were Walking In Memphis

Singer Marc Cohn, best known for his smash Walking In Memphis was shot the other night, the victim of anapparant carjacking while returning to his hotel. Luckily, he survived and doctors were able to remove the bullet from his head.

Of course, Denver (an oasis of constitutional rejection) has done all it can to make guns as illegal there as they are in DC. If Cohn had been in Memphis, at least he would have been able to shoot back.

Monday Morning Song Lyric

Today's lyric is no doubt a triple hit for me involving three of my favorite things - hobby, cartoon character, and band.

From Widespread Panic's eponymous second album on the then reborn Capricorn Records. Its a doozy, the story of the little man who can't take it anymore, rising up and making his desires felt in a most brutal fashion.

Needless to say, even though it is largely driven by acoustic guitars, Michael "Panic" Houser's blistering lead made this an original jam band classic. You can listen to it here.

C. Brown
Words and Music by Widespread Panic/Jeff Riley

C. Brown wakes from bed
Brushes his teeth and he combs his head for school
Out the door and down the street
Down to the corner and a bus and some friends that he's supposed to meet
But there, not to his surprise
His friends have gone and they've told C a lie

But you can walk on with me
You don't even need to say a word
You don't have to worry about the others

I C (see) him and he runs up fast
Kicks at the air his friends watch him fall and then laugh
Charlie really likes his friends
But in his heart he knows that sometimes a dog is as good as any man
Trying to do as we should
That doesn't always rhyme with doing what feels good

But you can sit in the grass; it feels good
You don't even need to think a word
You don't have to worry, don't worry

Charlie there is drawing a gun
Right there in the square he's sketched Lucy on the run
Aims his eye, cocks his head
In a cloud of dust, dear old Lucy's gone
Charlie's only trying the golden rule
Draw unto others as they have been drawn to you

And you can walk on home with me
You don't even need to think a word
You don't have to worry...