A Cuppa Joe, Friday

The FBI has sent out a flyer to coffee shops to be alert for terrorists.  Signs for suspecting someone of being a terrorist include paying cash... for a cup of coffee!(the horror... the horror!)  Other useful signs are "a preoccupation with mapping and photos of travel routes, sporting venues, and population centers"  In other words, using Google Maps, Google Earth, etc.Also included is reading news about terrorism and politics.  You know, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, (If you read FOX, I think they just shoot you, right there).  And don't use AOL, that's a tell of a terrorist too.(no really, don't use AOL.  It sucks)  Don't shop on line and try to keep that Paypal account secret.  That's a no no.  Don't buy food in bulk(sorry Sam's, sorry Costco).  So if you work in a coffee shop, or anywhere, or just don't like your neighbors dog barking all fucking night long...just call the FBI.  They'll be sure to cheat...I mean treat ya' right.

FAST & FURIOUS II: THE DYING CONTINUES

Oh my!  There seems to be another death of an ICE agent as a result of FF.  Only the DOJ denies it was FF.  It was a program similar to, but definitely wasn't FF.  Texas recently sentenced Manuel Barba for trafficking a gun that was used by a Mexican drug cartel to ambush, and kill ICE agent Jaime Zapata.  The most open administration ever failed to notify the Zapatas family, or his partner, who was shot but wasn't killed, that anyone had been arrested and tried for the crime.  In fact, the DOJ has denied the families FOIA requests for information about the shooting.

A consservative point of view

I started this over at Althouse, and decide it needs to be expanded....feel free to join in.

Not in any order:

A conservative knows that a cut in spending is NOT a reduction in the rate of increase.
A conservative knows that the answer to the housing fiasco is not more regulation.
A conservative knows that while you might not like what the other guy is saying, he has a right to say it.
A conservative knows that you're right to free speech doesn't extend to private events.
A conservative knows that a gun can never act on its own.
A conservative knows that you can make a country strong as a melting pot, but not as a Balkanized state.
A conservative knows that it's what a man does, not the color of his skin, that makes him a man.
 A conservative knows that you rely on your family first, not the government.
A conservative knows that marriage is between a man and a woman, anything else is just sex.
A conservative knows that it is not racist to request a photo ID to vote.
A conservative knows that the government rarely is there to help you.
A conservative knows that Obamacare is just a power grab.
A conservative knows that criminals cannot be cured.
A conservative knows that the teachers union leadership doesn't care about the children.
 A conservative knows that liberals can't or won't admit when their wrong.
A conservative knows that freedom is more important than security.
A conservative knows that communism will never work.
A conservative knows that AGW is a scam.

I am sure there are more that I missed...

Preparedness

I've been working on my bug out bag for several months now, and I have some ideas I'd like to share.

I like the idea of redundancy for emergency situations.  I, and the members of my group, all share the same caliber weapons.  I am letting one of my group hold one of my own do accomplish this, but I'd rather we all shared the same ammunition box as long as possible.   We all have other weapons, but we each have weapons that can use each others ammo.

This obviously makes supplying easier, but also develops inter-group trust, a necessity in any mutual support situation.

I do a cowboy load out with my personal weapons though, especially in .22 caliber.  Its too handy, and ubiquitous not too.  I have a rugged .22 pistol I have modified to perform better, a 10/22, and a bolt action .22.  I have several different rounds also, sub-sonic, snake shot, and yellow jackets, for taking different game.

I not only carry matches in water proof containers, but also have magnesium and steel, and several butane lighters.  I'll likely use the butane  the most , but in some conditions, I want to be able to choose.

I have bunches of 550 cord, but I plan on adding some web strap instead of rope.  For those that don't know, strap is stronger than rope.

I have the ever present heavy duty tarp, and space blankets, but am trying to add a light weight 1 person tent.  I'll add my sleeping pad later, and I have a packers hammock.  The hammock can double as a fishnet/seine.

I carry a tomahawk, folding saw, and a machete.  If you think this is too much, you've never found yourself in a briar patch several acres, and 8 feet tall, in size.  Or tried to sharpen a piece of wood with a saw, or drive tent pegs with a rock.

Not all of my electronics run off the same batteries, but my flashlights, and radios do.

I guess I'm trying to comment on a philosophy more than anything.  We have no idea when it will happen, or what IT is, but we do know that something is going to hit the fan, and we should be prepared for massive errors because by definition no one knows what the event is going to be.  So have backups for your backups.

This is the Price of Democracy

The Occupy Los Angeles crowd left more than debris, and graffiti behind when they were cleaned out.

According to CBS-Los Angeles they left a cleaning bill behind too.  One that costs over $1,000,000.  The lawn in front of LA City Hall costs $400,000 to repair in estimates announced by the Villaraigosa regime.  Add in the $700,000 it costs for the  police to remove the little dears, and its over the million.  Then there's the costs of removing the left behind graffiti, and the remains of the tent city itself.  With government price padding, I can see the total cost being over $2 million.

Now far be it from me to tell Angeleno's  how to run their city, but I myself would send bills to the people who created the mess in the first place.  Also, instead of cutting the little bastards loose from court, you might try to fine them to recoup some of the damages.

But that defender of Democracy, Villaraigosa, would rather cut services to the rest of the innocent citizens.  Ordinarily, I'm all for cutting government spending, but in this case you have a crime committed by known perpetrators, why are they getting off Scott free?

As extra credit, what is the size of the total cost for the Occupy movement for the country, let alone the world?  I've seen estimates of $23 million for the US, but does this include lost jobs, wages lost, personal time lost, etc.?  I rather doubt it and would assume the real costs to be even higher.

Wow! Maybe you can teach an old dog.

"Hidey Ho" as Mr. Hanky would say.  This is obviously a very crude effort by a old guy hammering away at his laptop like he has the world in general.  

I hope this blog leads to something, no idea what, but it's not the first leap of faith I ever made.  

Some rules would be good I guess.  

number 1 rule is: no personal threats/ attacks.  Joking and kidding are okay, even saying outrageous things but I won't tolerate someone actually threatening another person on here.  I mat not have much in the way of formal education, but I have learned from the school of hard knocks, and can be pretty nuanced,

number 2: no unwanted/unwarranted sexual comment.  Flirting is okay, but no means no. Period. Dot . End of Sentence.

rule 3: I am the final arbiter of all things.  I hope to be a benevolent despot, put I'll need your help.

The best government is the one that governs least, so HERE WE GO!