It Ain't a Free Country

This guy is right. Our liberty is swirling the toilet and there probably isn't a thing we can do about it. It's time to find a place in the boonies and hide - providing one still has the money and other resources to do it.

Tennessee House GOP Ignores The TeaParty Voters

They chose the RINO for Speaker.

NRA Convention Coming to Nashville in 2015

So says the Tennessean. They'll be meeting at downtown locations that have yet to be built...

Daniel Snyder, I Hate You

Regarding Chad Duke's rant on Monday Night's Redskins travesty... What can I say but that I completely agree? Not a single coach had their unit ready for Monday night coming off a BYE week. They had two weeks, including an extra day by virtue of playing Monday night, to get ready for a team they had already beaten in an away game. Here's how bad this game was, after all the Cowboys had gone through the previous week and this season, a Cowboy fan at work sought to console me over the loss.

A Dallas Cowboy fan.

It was that bad.

Daniel Snyder brought us to this point. I can't think of a curse bad enough for the rat *censored*. As bad as we think Jerry Jones is, at least he has three Lombardi Trophies in his time as owner. Snyder can't even field a winner two years in a row.

Bumper Stickers and Political Philosophy

David Codrea (@Codrea) has an interesting post up today about "right wing" bumper stickers and what the left wing hate group known as the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) wants law enforcement to do when seeing them or the conservative citizens that might display them.

Did SPLC just make it dangerous to have a ‘conservative’ bumper sticker? The Southern Poverty Law Center has produced a video, “’Sovereign Citizens’ and Law Enforcement: Understanding the Threat,” warning police that traffic stops involving “right wing” citizens could end up as deadly encounters.

I watched the video, and while the anti-right hate from SPLC peeks through once or twice, the basic information being offered to police officers is sound: Never treat a traffic stop as routine.

The truth is that there is a tiny segment of the extreme "right" that is so "out there" that they present a danger to law enforcement and citizens alike. I don't know why those of us who are law abiding citizens should deny this. In doing so we give SPLC a legitimacy they do not deserve. The criminals that killed the officers in the West Memphis incident needed to be put down, and they were.

The SPLC must jump on this as a validation of their agenda as they have very little else to do it for them. The best way to defuse this as an issue for them is the truth. The two shooters were criminals long before they shot the officers. We law abiding citizens abide by decent laws and abhor those who take their delusions to criminal levels as these two did.

Hacking Cough, Chills, Stuffy Head

Wouldn't you know it? Two days into the last week of my vacation time for the year and I'm in the infirmary. This stuff sound suspiciously like what MArooned had a week or so ago.

Flu shot ads keep playing on the idiot box and the better half takes glee in telling me I should have gotten one. Two problems: I don't get along with needles and every time I have gotten a flu shot I've also had one of the worse cases of the flu ever.

To make it worse, this week was the only one I could take for vacation and my Redskins are on a bye week.

Sucks.

What the Blue Dogs Meant to the Socialists

Yeah, the socialists. Self described "Socialist" Laurence O'Donnell asserts what many of us have known for a while; that so-called "moderate" or "conservative" Democrats merely serve the interests of passing socialist - progressive legislation such as Obamacare. The devastation Tuesday's election had on the Blue Dogs - with their numbers cut in half - has not only pushed the Democrat Party to the extreme Left philosophically, it has seriously damaged the prospects for their Socialist Agenda.

(Via Taxing Tennessee)

#NC02 Renee Ellmers Needs Your Help

#TeaParty Patriots, your task in this election is not complete. Renee Ellmers needs your help. Strangling Bob Etheridge is trying to become a thief as well as an attacker of young people asking questions. (If you recall, Etheridge earlier this year objected to a young man asking Etheridge if Etheridge supported Obama's policies by grabbing the young by the neck and demanding to know, "Who are you?") Renee Ellmers won the seat fair and square, but Etheridge has forced a re-count for the seat. Via PowerLine:

Renee Ellmers has prevailed by 1,600 votes against Democratic incumbent Bob "Who are you?" Etheridge in North Carolina's Second Congressional District. Etheridge has demanded a recount. Yesterday Ellmers posted an update regarding the recount.

In her update Ellmers notes that she is getting no financial help from the NRCC in connection with the recount, that she has retained 11 lawyers -- one for each of her district's 11 counties -- to represent her in the recount, and that she needs a minimum of $50,000 for legal assistance. The number sounds low to me, but there is no question that she needs help. Please consider supporting her with a contribution here.

Again, to contribute to Ellmers defense of the seat she has just won, please go HERE.

The Other McCain reports that Ellmers has gone public with the fact that the NRCC is MIA.

Months ago, I went to Washington and asked the National Republican Congressional Committee and many conservative leaders to help my campaign. Many conservative groups – like the Susan B. Anthony List, Concerned Women of America, Freedom Works, and Sarah Palin’s Sarah PAC all helped, but the NRCC declined. Later, they did support other campaigns in North Carolina – which, unfortunately, lost – but we never received their support. In fact, their spokesman told the press “that the campaign wasn’t ready for prime time” – which actually made it even harder for us to raise money. So, I am doubtful we will get support from the NRCC to help with the expense of the recount.

Again, to contribute to Ellmers defense of the seat she has just won, please go HERE.

It's My Party and I'll Gloat If I Want to, Gloat If I Want to!

@Smitty_One_Each may not like the gloating, BUT I DO!



Click on the pic or go HERE to listen... Beck's Fox show may stink, but his radio show has always rocked.

Inviting Targets

SayUncle says that it is good that Harry Reid won to continue as Nevada's Senator and as Majority Leader because the alternative was Majority Leader Chucky Schumer. I differ in opinion. I think Schumer would have been a bright DayGlo Orange target for gun owners and would have helped 2012 be another 2010. As it is we're stuck another six years with Harry Reid who - assuming he can keep his leadership job - will be re-examining his supposed support of gun owner rights.

Use a HOLSTER and Keep Your Booger Hook OFF the Bang Switch

Guy shoots himself and loses his carry permit because he was too stupid to use a holster...

Latham pulled the trigger while reaching into his pocket to get money to pay for a beer.

The gun was not in a holster and there was no evidence he had anything else to drink before ordering the beer.

Egads.

Yeah, We Miss Him

One thing we never doubted; both of these men loved America and did what they thought was best for the nation. I miss that in a President. Knowing how to throw a baseball is a plus, too.

Cat Nap

I'm not generally a cat person, but... He's 13. He's Siamese. He gets certain liberties.

Unemployment Rates: US vs Germany

Via John Lott who notes that Germany refused the Obama styled stimulus.

Toss Out ALL The Bums!

That's what 65% of Americans say about the current Congress says Rasmussen:

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters say if they had the option next week, they would vote to get rid of the entire Congress and start all over again. Only 20% would opt to keep the entire Congress instead. Fifteen percent (15%) aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Correspondence Chess Update

My last game finished on my birthday last August with a win. That win tied me for first in the event (WS/H/227) and qualified me to move up another class (ICCF Master Class). I haven't registered for any new events as I've been exhausted with by life/work/chess/etc... I needed a break. I typically spend between 10-20 hours per turn per major line researching databases for similar positions and exploring lines for traps once we approach the middle game.

The last couple of years I've also been turning in loads of overtime at the J-O-B because of our downsized staff yet upsized workload. The other day I was told that the J-O-B overlords had decided that paying OT was more loathsome than paying part-time minions.

Heh. We'll see if the part time unskilled types can put in the quality effort that this skilled and tested full time seven year slave has given. Plus, the other J-O-B seeking continues and looks promising. But, I digress...

Another thing became apparent as I played the Higher class events: My repertoire needs an update. These guys in Higher have mine down cold (plus, I suspect a high percentage do like me and research the oppo opening rep). The Master class would have it frozen. I've been looking at a amalgamated type Sicilian based on the Taimanov to go along with my favored Caro Kann. But, that's not where the problem lies. My Black response to 1.d4 and my White choices need a boost. I'm leaning a few directions on both but I'm not decided. Until I am decided I won't be moving up in class or starting new events. With White I'm almost sold on using a combination of QG and Catalan/Reti. My choice(s) Black against 1.d4 is still very up in the air.

I'm up to 2107 in the latest ratings list. I get the impression that is waaaay inflated (see chart at the left). In addition to the tie for 1st in WS/H/227, in WS/H/195 and WS/H/187 I finished in a tie for 2nd, and in WS/H/171 I finished 4th. Incremental progress, at least.

NRA and GOA endorsements

Via David Codrea (@dcodrea):

Hmmm...evidently the NRA pick:

• Voted NO on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers. (Oct 2005)
• Voted NO on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. (Apr 2003)
• Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. (Jun 1999)

And he was also one of those unanimous votes for Pelosi as Speaker.

The GOA backs the other guy (Chip Cravaak who is A-rated on guns). NRA endorsed Jim Oberstar (D-MN)? He's D-rated, obviously.

Again, the R in NRA may not stand for Republican, but the A does not stand for America, either. The A in GOA apparently DOES stand for America, by contrast. SayUncle and Snowflakes, please take note.

SW 642 Finish Wear

MArooned has a post that asks about wear on the finish of Smith and Wesson 642 snubbies. It does happen... This 642 was is about 2.5 years old and is pocket carried almost exclusively. The wear is all on the backstrap area.

Vote GOP

MarcoRubio explains why.

Wish I could have voted for Rubio instead of the goofballs on my ballot...

Police Harrassment? Las Vegas Police and Erik Scott's Survivors

@ConfederateYank and his co-blogger report:

So she got a few tickets. What’s the big deal? I refer, of course, to Samantha Sterner, Erik Scott’s girlfriend and arguably the most important witness in the upcoming civil trial regarding the metro police shooting of Scott on July 10, 2010. In Update 7 (the archive with all Erik Scott related posts and is available here.) I wrote of the fact that Sterner had recently received two traffic citations and several friends had been followed by the police for such distances that mere coincidence was not a credible explanation. The common factor was that all of the vehicles involved displayed a red, white and blue Erik Scott memorial ribbon on their rear surfaces.

Since that post, Sterner has received a third ticket. Bill Scott’s more detailed account of these recent developments can be found here. In brief, Sterner has received three tickets, two by Henderson officers, one by a Metro officer near her workplace, and as I mentioned in Update 7, others have been harassed--there is no other word for it--as well. So what’s the big deal? Lots of people get tickets, right?

Something stinks in southern Nevada.

My Knife Has a Safety

No, really. See that red thing right beside the cord cutting Groove™ in the pic below? That's the unsafe indicator that means the blade can be opened. Click the little lever closed and the blade won't open. I typically don't like mechanical safeties (God gave us brains and hands for that purpose). I picked up SOG Trident for the kid and decided I liked it so much - despite the safety - that I got one for myself. Good thing, too. As my wife was retrieving the Trident from the mail box the Winchester clip folder (seen here) that I have carried for seven or so years lost a screw from the clip. Synchronicity...


One reason I like the Trident is the Groove™ allowing cords and other stringy things to be safely cut with a closed blade. The wife ordered it in Tiger Stripe since that style was on sale.


Speaking of the Winchester, it will probably be relegated to a tool box somewhere as I have no idea where to get the missing screw. I periodically tightened the screws on it but... Still popped to who knows where. I had a Buck folder clip do that, too. It became a lightweight belt knife. I know, Buck will supposedly replace the screws and clip, but it works well on a duty belt already loaded with other crap tools. So, the Trident replaces the Winchester in the SayUncle Pockets Meme.

From the SOG web site:

The SOG Trident uses our well-proven means of delivering a knife blade to the open position with S.A.T. (SOG Assisted Technology™) Now using our patent pending Arc-Actuator™, the Trident locks stronger and releases easier. There is also a built-in safety to lock the blade closed. When it shows red, you are ready to go.

What also makes the Trident so unique is the patent pending Groove™ in the handle, which allows the operator to cut paracord, fishing line, etc. without having to open the blade. The handle also includes a Digi-Grip™ variable pattern for coarser grip in areas that require it. Our bayonet style clip is easily switched for right/left hand carry or removed for pouch storage.

And there is a cool video review of the Trident.

How Does a Felon Own Guns and Gun Companies?

Via Bob Owens (@ConfederateYank) comes this stranger than fiction story of a convicted felon who not only has guns and at one time had a concealed carry permit, but has owned three firearms companies. As a felon the man could serve ten years in prison for just touching a firearm. Owens has published a picture showing him holding two pistols.

If all or even most of the allegations made by various sources are true, Lee Franklin Booth should be behind bars. If these allegations are accurate, Booth is guilty of possessing hundreds of firearms, operating three firearms companies that each had firearms inventory, and receiving a CCW permit.

According to the Pajamas Media item, Lee Franklin Booth "was convicted of second-degree kidnapping on September 24, 1981, and was imprisoned from that date until his early release on December 30, 1985." He was also arrested "for communicating threats and simple assault." So how does he acquire Detonics USA Industries, how does he start and obtain a Federal Firearms License for Victory Arms, and then acquire Templar Consulting - a company licensed to build select fire weapons and machine guns?

Owens asks a lot of questions about how state and federal agencies turned a blind eye to these matters. What good are laws intended to keep weapons out of the hands of felons if they are not enforced - or worse - enforced only selectively?

[UPDATE]
In the interest of fair play, Quoting in entirety from Bob Owens' "Correction and Clarification" item posted 5 NOVEMBER 2010:

On October 22, 2010, Pajamas Media.com published an article by Bob Owens about legal restrictions on the ownership of guns and gun companies by felons.

• The article stated:

“Imagine that this same felon then started another gun company from scratch, and then used that company to acquire a third company that was licensed to build machine guns.”

In fact, the “third company” in question was not, at the time of its acquisition, licensed to build machine guns. That company subsequently obtained such a license.

• The article stated:

“After the Templar/Victory split, it is suspected that the FFL acquired by Victory was revoked….”

In fact, it appears that the federal firearms license was not revoked. It was not issued in Mr. Booth’s name.

• The article also suggested that Lee Booth acquired three gun companies. Mr. Booth, through legal counsel, has informed us that he never acquired three gun companies.

In fact, Mr. Booth owned only one gun company, but had substantial involvement in and apparent control over two other gun companies.

• The article posed the question: “How come a felon owns guns and gun companies?” Mr. Booth, through legal counsel, has cited exceptions to the state and federal laws prohibiting convicted felons from owning guns or controlling gun companies and has stated that he is not prohibited from such activity. While we stand by the original opinion, based on an analysis of relevant statutes and regulations, that Mr. Booth is not permitted to own guns or have control over gun companies, we note here that this issue remains open to legal debate and differing opinions.

Pajamas Media and Bob Owens regret these errors and apologize to Mr. Booth.

..

Moral Politics Quiz

@SayUncle took it. I wasted a couple minutes on it (quiz here)...


Well, they did get correct who I voted for in '04 and '08, and they got correct that I am a conservative Republican who identifies most with President Reagan. Not sure how they did that reliably, though, since I didn't answer about a third of the questions as none of the answers fit.

Should Tennessee Enact Arizona Style Immigration?

The Nashville Business Journal wants to know what you think. Go take their poll.

NPR and Editorial Standards

Via @IrishSpy comes this gem from NPR on the firing of Juan Williams:

NPR said in its statement that the remarks “were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.”

Yep, we've suspected for quite a while that reality and truthfulness were inconsistent with NPR's editorial standards and practices.

[UPDATE]
Codrea: "Note to NPR CEO Vivian Schiller--please take up issues of profiling and prejudice with that infidel-killing group who identify themselves as the true representatives of their religion."
Power Line: Appeasing the Lefty base?

Blog Fatigue

I'm not the only one to experience it. Frank James is taking a break.

Bankrupting America

Via Blue Collar Muse is this video of just how dire a ditch Obama has driven the economy into reflected in the true unemployment rate...

They Heard us, They Ignored Us

On November 2nd they will ignore us no more. Ken Buck hits it right. From PowerLine.

What to do in a Self Defense Incident

Shut the heck up. Crimefile has the details.

Gun Free Zones Kill Innocent People, Even in Restaurants

Cases like this are well documented. From Suzanna Hupp's ordeal at a Luby's in Texas to Nikki Goesser losing her husband to a stalker at a Nashville bar, tales of disarmed citizens being killed in gun free zones when they could have easily defended themselves litter the landscape of the hoplophobes' zeal to abolish our natural right to self defense. Via SayUncle comes another tale of disarmed citizens in a restaurant being terrorized and murdered while the means of their defense had been removed by the state.

The story ends, like every other mass shooting ends, because of the bullet of an armed person. You see, “active shooters” as they are called today, stop killing either when they get shot by someone else, or, seeing themselves trapped by armed people, turn the gun on themselves. Jeff vividly recalled for me sitting on the floor with his back to the gunman, dead friend on one knee and pregnant friend on the other knee, seeing the cop charging in shooting over Jeff’s head. From start to finish the ordeal lasted 20 minutes.

When I asked Jeff last year what he would have done if he had a gun he said “I’d have drilled that bastard like a he was a two-by-four. “ Instead, disarmed by US Army policy, and by the North Carolina’s lack of Concealed Carry licenses, he spent the longest 20 minutes of his life clearing his friend’s airway and trying not to look at her boyfriend, dead on his other knee. The hospital helpfully sterilized his pants for him and offered to give them back, complete with bloodstains.

Open Carry in Cali

Codrea wonders about the bigotry.

Self Defense Mentality

I often see items from various self defense gun bloggers/writers about what to shoot, how to shoot, why we need to be able to shoot, where to go to learn how to shoot... And very seldom on the mental attitude needed when one decides to provide the basics for one's self defense.

One video that Buford Tune at APPS shows every concealed carry course and every armed security officer course is of a self defense expert speaking (someone told me it was John Farnam but it didn't LOOK like Farnam)* about the mentality needed to carry a firearm for self defense and what to do when the firearm is needed versus an armed opponent.

*[EDIT: It IS a very much younger Farnam!]

The end of the video is striking: The expert describes a self-defense situation where you have just used your firearm to defeat the bad guy. The bad guy is on the ground. He slowly grasps his handgun and begins gradually raising it toward you.

What does this mean?

In a stern, authoritative voice the expert states: It means you have not shot him enough!

In the video the four D's of self defense gun fights are explained. When confronting the bad guy:
Divide his focus.
Disrupt his plan.
Disable his body.
Destroy his will to fight.

In the above scenario it is assumed you have accomplished the first three D's. However, if the bad guy is still trying to fight, the fourth is still unfulfilled. The fight is only over when all four have been checked off the list. Here is where we come back to the mentality needed to carry a firearm for self-defense. Those who choose to carry must have the will to follow through on all four D's. You must be willing to destroy the opponent who means you and your loved ones harm.

Another video shown is that of the 1998 murder of Deputy Kyle Dinkheller (Caution: the video is very disturbing) during a traffic stop in Georgia. Dinkheller stopped a pickup truck for failure to display legal tags. Noting a large dog in the cab of the truck, Dinkheller asked the driver (who will be nameless in this blog) to step to the back of the vehicle. The driver was immediately confrontational. When Dinkheller initially was able to get the driver to come to him, the driver attacked Dinkheller and was repulsed by use of an Asp baton.

The driver retreated and began acting irrationally, jumping around and shouting "Shoot me, Shoot me!" and declaring that he was a Viet Nam combat veteran. All the while the driver was maneuvering back to the driver's side door of his vehicle. During this Dinkheller was repeatedly ordering the driver to come back to the rear of the truck, stop what he was doing, etc...

When the driver reached the door of his truck he retrieved a .30 caliber rifle (in the video it looks like a M-1 carbine) and began loading it. Dinkheller can be heard screaming for the driver to put the rifle down. Dinkheller fired the first shot in the ensuing gun battle. The driver can be seen using cover and combat techniques to isolate and expose Dinkheller. The driver shot Dinkheller in the arms and legs to disable him - areas not covered by a vest - before finally killing him with a close up shot to the head.

The driver sustained one wound to the stomach. He was sentenced to be executed in a 2000 trial and has been appealing since. He is still scheduled to be put down.

In the after math and investigation it was revealed that Dinkheller had just prior been reprimanded by superiors for his demeanor during traffic stops. He was told to be nicer.

The video demonstrates that bad guys can and do use the Four D's just as well as we can. It is incumbent upon us to make sure we have the proper mental outlook to make sure we succeed and not the bad guys. After seeing that he could not defeat Dinkheller unarmed, the driver made the decision to escalate the encounter an armed fight and acted upon a plan to win.

The driver: Divided Dinkheller's focus and Disrupted Dinkheller's plan with erratic behavior and statements. Once armed, he Disabled Dinkheller's body and Destroyed his will to fight.

Meanwhile, evidently because of the reprimand and his youth (Dinkheller was 22), Dinkheller made plenty mistakes in the encounter that led to his death. And, no, I'm not speaking ill of this murdered officer, I'm trying to illustrate that we can learn from his mistakes. I'm sure that he would understand this. His first mistake was going out with a mind set that did not allow him to act on what was transpiring in the encounter. His mental attitude did not allow him to act aggressively enough, or to "bail out" when the situation went south.

There was a vital point after he repelled the driver with the Asp that he either had to press the attack or retreat to wait for backup. His mind set did not allow either. On one hand, he had been reprimanded for not being nicer during traffic stops so he did not disable the driver and prevent him from going to the truck. On the other, the "macho" aspect did not allow him to get in his cruiser and get the heck out and wait for backup.

As concealed carriers we do not do traffic stops, but similar scenarios and incidents can happen to us. Will we have the mental attitude necessary to defeat the threat and save our loved ones and ourselves? We must answer that question every single time we put the weapon in its holster. If not, Dinkheller's sacrifice and the lessons taught in his encounter will be in vain.

And the bad guys will win.

That can not happen.

[UPDATE]
Linked by Codrea, who notes:

I have a similar strategy that also uses four letters, FUHU, with the last three words being:

Up
His
Universe.

No one sane wants a fight, but if one is forced on you, remember:

CUM ULLA SELLA IN PUGNO TABERNA

And it ain't over 'til you say it's over.

Also linked by Liberty Sphere, SayUncle, WarriorGeek ...

Pocket Revolvers

Like pocket revolvers as much as I do? MArooned has a post for you. I'm partial to the Smith and Wesson J-Frames.

One Cool Trooper

In Illinois, at that. Via @SayUncle... "How police interaction should work."



This officer's picture needs to be beside the definition of "peace officer" and we need more like him and less "law enforcement officers." Illinois, you have a great Trooper on duty.

Completed Review of Erik Scott - Costco Las Vegas Case

[UPDATE] The complete series from Confederate Yankee and MikeM:

My co-blogger at Confederate Yankee, Mike McDaniel, is a former police officer, detective, and SWAT operator, and has providing the very best analysis of this shooting anywhere, online or in print.

Here is the series of articles he has written so far:

1. Analysis of a Death: The Erik Scott Shooting
2. The Erik Scott Shooting: Update 2
3. The Erik Scott Shooting: Update 3
4. The Erik Scott Shooting: Update 3.2
5. The Erik Scott Shooting: Update 4
6. The Eric Scott Shooting: Update 5 (The Future)

In addition to Mike’s analysis I’ve added a few developments of my own, such as breaking the story that Scott’s fellow United States Military Academy graduates are bringing their power to bear to push for a federal civil rights investigation into the actions of the Las Vegas Police department, and not just in Scott’s case.

Over @ConferateYank. MikeM, a former peace officer, has been going over the elements of the case as the Las Vegas authorities conducted their *cough* inquest. His conclusion: "Erik Scott would likely be alive today if only one officer had used his most effective, dangerous weapon: His brain, in concert with his mouth. If the police had used proper, smart tactics, a single officer should have approached Scott at the right time and place and asked: ‘Pardon me Sir; could I have a word with you please?”"

The previous entries by MikeM are at the following links:
Update 1
Update 2
Update 3
Update 3.2
Update 4

Read them all and see if you can tell why I'll never go to Costco...

We are NOT Thankful, Barry

From RedState via @smitty_one_each...


The riposte of a title is in answer to BHO's remark at the end of the video.

LibTard Attacks Reporter at Rangel Event

Via @rsmccain ... First, the LibTard hits the reporter from behind, then uses profanity to object to the reporters presence, then attacks the reporter when the reporter videos the LibTard's behavior. The reporter clearly has grounds to have the LibTard arrested for assault. Dunno why she didn't.

Sorry, Vols. LSU Wins!

While closing up at work I was able to see the ending to this game.

My wife was at a reunion party and I left to join her after finishing up at work. We spent several hours with Vols fans who seemed fairly happy... While driving home I remarked upon their demeanor. My wife said, "LSU won? They think Tennessee won..." Seems they stopped watching after the botched snap.

Heh. Vol fans.

No Guns? No Business!

From WizardPC at Walls:

www.nogunsnobusiness.com

Go hit it up. It asks for very minimal information (first initial, last name, zip code for mapping purposes)

Via Insty

I registered. So should you.

Smith 629 kaBoom

Via SayUncle comes pics and a story about a "S&W 629 in 44 that blew up." Seems the shooter used Chinese ammo. Moral: Never use sub standard ammo.

Snooping Obama

And they said the Bush Administration was intrusive... NewsMax reports that the Obama Administration is pushing for far greater wiretap abilities than Bush ever dreamed.

The newspaper said the White House plans to submit a bill next year that would require all online services that enable communications to be technically equipped to comply with a wiretap order. That would include providers of encrypted e-mail, such as BlackBerry, networking sites like Facebook and direct communication services like Skype.

Guess I need to start looking for PGP type apps for my BlackBerry.

Gold Bars and Coins from ATMs?

Oh, THAT won't be a security problem!

The machines, which update the gold price every 10 minutes to match international markets, take cash or credit cards and dispense small bars — including 1 gram, 5 gram, 10 gram and 1 ounce units—as well as coins such as South African Krugerrands, Australian Kangaroos and the Canadian Maple Leaf.

At least the cops will know where to look for their local armed robbery suspects, stationed at those ATMs waiting for the next victim...

Tea Party Principles: Our LAST Hope

From Traction Control who titles his post "The Last Best Hope: Join or Die." Subtract best... I think the Tea Party revolution and the principles of smaller, less intrusive government and the roll back of the Obama agenda is the only hope left to our nation.

Ace says, “Pretty Darn Good“.

Traction Control says, “Oh, Hell Yea!”

From RedState; video produced by Ben Howe.

November.

GOP 2010 Strategy: "It's US vs. Obama"

And they are taking on the Tea Party mantle with gusto if this NRSC ad reflects their true beliefs. As Smitty notes, all the Tea Party Senate candidates are in there, even Christine O'Donnell.

Went Shootin'

Speaking of the SW 642... I took it and the SW 686 to re-qualify last week. I shot better with the snubbie light weight 642 than I did with the heavier 686. I attribute that to new grips on the 686. I replaced the 15 year old set of Pachmayr grips with smaller Hogue grips. The Hogues have significant finger grooves which are well away from where my fingers set on the grips and bothered me the whole day. Interestingly, I also bought Hogues for the 642 that fit my hand perfectly.

I shot a 49/50 with the 686 and a 50/50 with the 642. Target pics below...

I wrote about my previous qualification here (Check out the the nice grouping on the Ruger target).

SayUncle Pockets Meme

Coming in very late on the "What's in your pockets?" meme...

From the top left clockwise:
1) Blackberry Bold
2) ID Wallet
3) Bandanna
4) Loose Change
5) Ear Protection in Case (also the key to the Slick Willy lock on the Smith)
6) Credit Card Wallet
7) SW 642 in DeSantis Pocket Holster with two Bianchi Speed Strips
8) Winchester Pocket Knife

Not pictured: My Tactical Pen (Zebra F-402).

That's just what was in my pockets today. It varies.

Other Pocket Meme Posts:
Marko
Jay
NK
Flock of One
Fritz
Sebastian
Extreme Tolerance

Want your listed? Let me know.

Gender Discrimination

It EXISTS! Via John Lott, USAToday reports that Twentysomething women in many metro areas earn around 8% more than their male counterparts. In Atlanta the disparity is a gulf of Twentysomething women making 21% more than men. As Lott jokes, this great disparity is obviously a result of discrimination and must be investigated!

ICCF Win

Just received the following email from ICCF:

Hello Steve,

As a result of your latest victory in WS/H/227, you have secured joint 1st place. Congratulations & very well played!

You are now able to play in ICCF Master Class should you wish to enter.

Best Wishes

Neil Limbert

Tournament Director

WooHoo! I'm working on a couple games to post as time permits... I'll probably get my butt kicked royally in Master Class, though.

USC = University of Stupid Cheaters

#USC #NCAA .

And they have had their 2004 AP football championship stripped. Auburn should have won that year, anyway, and the writers should have rectified that instead of leaving the title vacant. Remember, they went undefeated in the SEC, the toughest football conference anywhere. USC did it in the weak PAC 10. So how many championships does that leave the "great" Pete Carroll era for Trojan land? Hehe. IrishSpy is probably laughing hysterically.

The BCS title and Heisman Trophy for that year are next... Perhaps the BCS will do the right thing and recognize Auburn as the 2004 champions.

Quote of the Day

From Jennifer Rubin: "It gets clearer all the time that isolationism is what binds the far right and far left." So true... If one nut goes around the bend to the left and another to the right, they are bound to meet.

Against the Narrative

#guns #2AM #teaparty #tcot .
Canadian border guards are griping because their federal government doesn't let them carry sidearms. Wait, according to the gun control advocates, having a handgun makes one more susceptible to violence... So why do these guys want firearms? And if the border guards, who are complaining that they are not armed while on joint operations with other police forces that are armed, think they are not safe - while surrounded by armed police - what about regular citizens who are always nearby when these operations take place?

Pet Tales - Check Up On Your Vet

We took the Border Collie -Lab mix to the vet earlier this week for her annual checkup. She's going to be 10 on her next birthday and I asked them about her weight... Always ask questions about your pet when you visit the vet. They will rarely offer up information without prompting. In fact, I had the assistant in the exam room re-ask the questions the receptionist had asked in the lobby while we were waiting. In watching the assistant and the vet paw through the charts to ask the questions I could see that neither she or the vet had bothered to look at the answers we had given the receptionist.

Turns out she had dropped to about 52 pounds from the 60 she weighed on the last visit. Now, it is true that she has been exercising a lot more over the last several months now that she and the three year old 90 pound Lab are getting along and playing together. I also have not been giving the two dogs as many treats and we have been watching their food intake because the younger one has weight issues. But eight pounds is a bit much, even in a year.

The vet did blood and other tests which came back normal. Hopefully this weight loss is a natural thing. We'll take her back in three or so months to get re-checked and make sure. The moral of the story is two fold; you know your pet much better than the vet and their helpers, and you have to stay on top of them to make sure your pets get the treatment and examinations they need. The veterinarian service we use enjoys a top notch reputation here in Nashville, but I still had to prompt them to give my pet the care she needed.

I Write Like...

I write like
Arthur C. Clarke

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Huh. Don't know who I was hoping for, but that ain't bad.

Our Great Title is AMERICANS

First Published on 4 July 2008

Independence Day Reflections

One stirring recitation of our Declaration is the 2002 short documentary released by Declaration of Independence, Inc., hosted by Morgan Freeman and starring several notable actors including Mel Gibson, Micheal Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Rene Zellweger, Whoopie Goldberg and others.

"Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter we are known at home, by the former to the world. Our great title is AMERICANS" -- Thomas Paine

Another is the updated Fox Sports short (the original 2002 version is here) starring current and past players and coaches of the NFL and actors portraying Thomas Jefferson and other Declaration signers and from which the title of this post is taken.

The passion with which we Liberty loving Americans hold our land may be heard in the voice of Kate Smith singing Irving Berlin's great God Bless America. Also inspiring is Smith's performance and the cinematic production from This is the Army (1943). Look for a younger Ronald Reagan at the end of the clip.


In the news yesterday came the announcement that the childhood home of George Washington had been found that will provide more insight into the formative years of the Father of our Nation.

A book I just started reading is 1776 by David McCullogh. It begins with King George III's address to parliament

"I shall never forget what I felt...when I saw him brave all the dangers of the field and his important life hanging as if by a single hair with a thousand deaths flying all around him. Believe me, I thought not of myself." --A young officer on Washington's courage during the battle at Clarke's Farm

declaring America to be in rebellion and continues through the Christmas victories for Washington and his Army at Trenton and Princeton.

Washington and the other Founding Fathers started what has become an American tradition of service and sacrifice that continues today with our service men and women defending Liberty across the globe. Today is the anniversary of the birth of our great nation. Our great title is AMERICANS.

Liberty

UShistory.org

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

19th U.S. CORRESPONDENCE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

#chess .
Thinking of entering USCCC19. Anyone else?

Play the Catalan

#Chess #Catalan .
This just hit the front porch from Amazon...

Play the Catalan

I guess it is time. I've been playing the opening off and on for ten years without a decent book.

Huh... Who knew the Amazon text and graphic links and Blogger were having a war? Hence the glob with the pic and link above...

Free Lunch

From BarliMan: "An embarrassment to Cats, Everywhere."


Dude, a few morsels are ok, but you let him take the entire bowl...

Queen Gambit Accepted Win at ICCF

#Chess #ICCF .

I mentioned in the comments to the previous item on ICCF Chess that I had begun playing the Queens' Gambit as White after years of Reti/Catalan and London System.  I've had good success playing the systems resulting from 1.Nf3 but they had started becoming stale and some of my opponents were zeroing in on my preferences (one emailed me after a game with information to this effect).  In looking for a new weapon as White the QG seemed a natural to my tastes so I ran with it despite my aversion to deeply explored openings...  The following game finished this morning with a resignation from my opponent.

He chose the Accepted variation and the fight was on.  After 14...hxg6 Black's King Side was disrupted and I began exploring the possibility of a Rook lift to exploit the h-file.  The game would turn on the mobility of White's Rooks and their threats both on the King Side and threats in the middle game on the c-file.  This mobility was made possible by the great amount of space the advanced pawn center gave White.

[Event "WS/H/227"]
[Site "ICCF"]
[Date "2010.3.20"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Owens, Steve"]
[Black "Sperandio, Andrea"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2051"]
[BlackElo "2019"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Nb6
6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Ne2 Bg4 8.f3 Bh5 9.Nbc3 e6 10.Be3 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.a3 Qd7 13.Qc2 Bg6 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.Bf2

Clearing the third rank for an eventual Rook lift against Black's weakened King Side.

15...Rad8 16.Rfd1 a6 17.f4 Kh7

A temporary prophylactic against the Rook pressure on the h-file with ...Rh8 to follow.   

18.Rd2

Before starting King Side activities I need to counter his pressure against my center.

18...Nd5

I'm not a fan of this move.  The resulting exchanges allow White to solidify the strong center and control action on both wings.

19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Rd3

Threatening to complete the Lift and surveying the field via the third rank.

20...Rh8 21.Rc1

Since Black is countering on the King Side, action on the Queen Side via the c-file should fracture his defense.

21...Kg8 22.h3 Qf5 23.Rc3 Qe6

23...Qxc2 might have been a better try.  After this the Black Queen is completely defensive while the White Queen attacks using the third rank.  The Rooks will have the first and second ranks to use with only a few clearing moves needed.  Black's King Rook, castled and then maneuvered back to the h-file, now maneuvers back to the Queen Side at the White Rooks' demonstration on the c-file.  Throughout the entire game it seemed as if the Black Rooks were a step or two behind the events.  Initiative.

24.Qd3 Rb8 25.R3c2 Kh7 26.Nc3 Rhd8 27.Qf3 Kg8 28.g4

The King Side attack resumes. 

28...f5 29.gxf5 gxf5 30.Kh1 Rd7 31.Rg1 Bf8 32.Be3

A clear path to the Black King.

32...Ne7 33.Rcg2 Qh6 34.Bf2 b5 35.Rg5 b4 36.Na4 bxa3 37.Qxa3 Rdd8 38.Qg3 Rb5 39.b3 Kh8 40.Qf3 g6 41.h4 Rdb8 42.Nc5 Qh7 43.h5 Rb4 44.R1g2 1-0

33...Qh6 was probably a mistake.  In the end the Black Rooks are marooned on the Queen Side away from the action.  If either rook tries to get back via the sixth rank e6 will again cut them off followed by Rh2 and a trapped Black Queen.  Black chose not to see the result and resigned.

Got Him Again

#Chess .

Back in January I wrote about a guy who was gaming the time controls on the ICCF server.  I had claimed a win against him when he was caught in a server outage and had let his time go critical.  Hey, if you can't get your ten moves done in fifty days, that's on you, Bud.  Exacerbating this is that seems to be this guy's strategy to get easy points.  He wears some players down and gets them to agree to a draw.

Well, we were involved in a second game and for whatever reason he did not make his move today.  I claimed and was awarded the win.

Karma.

Here are the two games.  The first is the one that ended back in January and the second is the one he DQ'd on today.

[Event "WS/H/195"]
[Site "ICCF"]
[Date "2009.7.30"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Owens, Steve"]
[Black "Sladek, Vaclav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2027"]
[BlackElo "1978"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.b3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O
6.O-O c5 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.e3 b6 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.cxd5 Nxd5
11.d4 Rc8 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Qd2 Qd6 14.Rac1 Rfd8 15.Ba3 Nb4
16.Bh3 Rc7 17.Bxb4 cxb4 18.Ne5 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 g6 20.Rc2 f6
21.Nd3 f5 22.Qc1 Rb8 23.Ne5 Bd8 24.Bg2 a6 25.h4 Ra8
26.h5 a5 27.hxg6 hxg6 28.Bf1 a4 29.Bb5 axb3 30.axb3
1-0
I think I have a very comfortable game here. I own the c-file and the 6th and 7th ranks are open for my rook.  My Knight has an awesome outpost.  His Bishops are buried and his Rook can only demonstrate on the a-file.  Bc6 will force it back to protect the Light Bishop in any case.

The second game:

[Event "WS/H/187"]
[Site "ICCF"]
[Date "2009.6.8"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Sladek, Vaclav"]
[Black "Owens, Steve"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2085"]
[BlackElo "2020"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nd2 Bf5 4.Ngf3 Nbd7 5.e3 h6
6.Bh4 e6 7.c4 c6 8.Qb3 Qb6 9.c5 Qxb3 10.axb3 Ne4
11.b4 g5 12.Bg3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 Bg7 14.Nb3 Kd8 15.Be2 Kc7
16.b5 Rhb8 17.O-O cxb5 18.Bxb5 a6 19.Ba4 g4 20.Nfd2 h5
21.f3 Nf6 22.Kf2 Bg6 23.Na5 Ng8 24.Rfc1 e5 25.Ndb3 Ne7
26.dxe5 Bxe5 27.Nd4 Rh8 28.Rh1 Nf5 29.Nxf5 Bxf5 30.Rad1 Be6
31.Rd2 Bf6 32.Ke2 gxf3+ 33.gxf3 Rag8 34.Kf2 h4 35.g4 h3
36.Nb3 Be7 37.Ke1 Rh4 38.Rdh2 Rgh8 39.Kf2 f5 40.gxf5 Bxf5
41.Nd4 Bxc5 42.Nxf5 Rxa4 43.Kg3 Rg8+ 44.Kxh3 Rf8 45.Rc2 Kb6
46.Nd4 Bxd4 47.exd4 Rxf3+ 48.Kg4 Rd3 49.Rh6+ Ka7 50.Rd6 Raxd4+
51.Kf5 Rb4 52.Rg2 a5 53.Ke5 d4 54.Rh6 a4 55.Rh1 Re3+
56.Kd5 d3 0-1
This game went twenty six moves longer.  I could tell the guy was upset that he DQ'd on the first game; he let this game go until mere minutes were left for many moves before he eventually over stepped his time again.  This game is again clearly to my advantage.  One of the pawns will Queen.  It's only a matter of time.

Old Klingon Saying:  Revenge is a dish best served cold.  The point puts me into a tie for first in the event with one game yet to be finished between two other players.

Nashville: Casa Fiesta Does NOT Want Your Business

#tnguns #concealedcarry #opencarry . 

So says Nikki Goeser who asked the manager to take down his "No Guns" sign - a sign that does not comply with Tennessee law. 

So I walk in this afternoon and look him straight in the eye and say...."Well Sir, the Restaurant Carry Bill passed and is now Law so are ya' gonna take that sign up there on the wall down now?" He said NO. So I told him he has just LOST MY BUSINESS.

Mine, too. And I love Mexican food, having lived on the border in El Paso, Texas and in New Mexico for decades.  As Nikki points out, you ARE NOT SAFE at this restaurant if you are defenseless.

Gordon Travis Garrett, of Smyrna, was eating at the Casa Fiesta restaurant located at 1111 Bell Road with his girlfriend and baby when he received a message, which led him to walk outside.
Once outside, police said he was approached by a newer model white Ford Mustang and was shot in the parking lot.
Customers inside heard the gunfire and called police.
Garrett, 26, was taken to Southern Hills Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

Here's their contact info:
Casa Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
(615)731-3918 1111 Bell Rd Antioch, TN 37013

If you exercise your Second Amendment rights to self protection, be sure and call them first to see of their sign is still up - and tell them why you won't be eating there if it's in place.

D-Day

Today is the 66th anniversary of the Normandy invasion and the Army has a video.




Previous D Day posts:
2009
2008

The Kibitzer Catches a #Chess Cheater at ICCF

Dr. Tim Harding writes in his Chess Cafe column that he has caught what appears to be a correspondence chess cheater on the ICCF server: 

During the search for unwanted duplicate games, one of the things I do is to check identical games where player names differ. The ones of more than trivial length are examined individually. One name figured prominently in this "clip database".
Let us call him Mr. Fifty Percent, because of the effect of his practices, which I shall shortly explain: they guarantee a fifty percent result in all games where he does this. Of course you cannot win tournaments by scoring fifty percent but you can increase your rating if the opponents are higher rated than you, and that seems to be the main point of the exercise.
I leave it to you to decide whether what he did is cheating. It is actually amusing in a way - though some of his opponents may well not agree.

(...)

Say you are rated 2200 and in a tournament you have opponents A and B, rated 2340 and 2350. Against one you have white and the other black. You may be happy to score fifty percent against them. You could think that you might well do worse and fifty percent guarantees a rating improvement.
So when A opens 1 d4, say, you open with that move against B. You don't reply to A until you get B's move back. Say he replies 1...Nf6.
So you play 1...Nf6 against A and when he answers 2 c4 you play that against B and wait for his reply, and so on.
By proceeding in this way, you effectively do not have to pit your brains against either A or B. Instead, without knowing it, they play each other and you end up with either two draws or a win and a loss. 

Sears Has LOST My Business

#Sears @searsdeals #SamsClub . 

I will never go to any Sears store for anything ever.  Ever.

The latest episode (there have been others, this is merely the last straw) wherein Sears has screwed me over involves tires for the mini van.  I don't half-ass the mini van.  This is what my wife drives.  The Michelins that have been on the van for the last several years were wearing out with one approaching bald status.  Back on 30 April 2010 while I was having a flat repaired I asked for new tire estimates.  Of the tires they carry I chose the BF Goodrich TAs since I've had them before and was more satisfied with them than the Michelins being replaced now.

It seems they were not in stock and would have to be ordered from Michigan.  And, I was getting a reduced price since BF Goodrich was phasing out this tire.  This was fine with me.  The Sears Auto guy said they would be here in a few days and that I would receive a call when they arrived.

Two weeks later...  No one had called.  So, today (14 May 2010) I walk in the store and ask about the tires.  Turns out they had been here since Tuesday or Wednesday of last week - a week and a half ago - but no one had called because their phones are down.  Now that is very plausible and understandable.  The phones in Nashville were out for almost a week following the Nashville Flood on 1-2 May 2010.  However, land line service was restored last Saturday (8 May 2010) and cell service was restored several days before that.

I asked if anyone had thought to use a cell phone to contact me on my cell (which is the contact number they had).  That received blank stares from both the counter clerk and the manager.  The manager stammered something about not using personal cell phones...

I was told that the tires could be installed upon payment of the balance due (~$200.00) on top of the $349.44 deposit I had payed back on 30 April.  That is, of course, assuming they could find the stored tires without computer assistance and could take payment without the computers...

I asked for my deposit back.  "Oh, no problem!  Except, our computers are down..."  They referred me to the the Customer Care place on there website...  Now, they had the receipt in front of them.  They know the amount.  The guy that took my money two weeks ago is right there saying he took the money.  They have enough money in the store to give me a refund.  But they can't/won't since their computers are down.

So, I get home and call the number (800.549.5405) on Sears' web site.  After explaining the problem to several representatives - each of which instructed me to call the store where there are no working phones - I finally was put on the phone with "Kirsten" who stated her title is Manager On Duty, Customer Retail Care. 

WooHoo!  Someone that can help!

Not so much, it turns out.  Kirsten said she placed an email order for the store manager to call me.  Remember, this is the store that has no working phones.  And no working computers.  I asked Kirsten how the store manager that has no working computer to retrieve the email was going to receive the email.  The basic information behind this question seemed out of Kirsten's grasp.  It is understandable then how the basic reasoning of my next question failed to penetrate her thought process... 

"How will the store manager contact me if his phones do not work?"  Kirsten replied that she was emailing the manager to contact me by phone.  "He has no email or phone," I explained again.  Kirsten again stated that she had emailed the store manager (on computers that do not work) to contact me by phone (via a phone system that does not work).

Right.

So I call Sam's Club.  They quote me a price more than $150.00 LESS than Sears for BF Goodrich TAs which turn out to be the newer model.  And they can have them on the van within the hour.  "Just bring it in and we'll take care of you."  And I did.  And they did. 

I've done business with Sears these last ten or so years because they tell me I can expect superior service for the price they charge.  I happily paid the price to get that service.  Sears has failed to deliver, and in fact, their service quality is below that I receive at places they say are inferior.  Sears will NEVER get another penny of business out of me.  In my line of work I have cause to recommend automotive choices to a lot of people, especially tires.  I have sent a lot of business Sears' way.  No more.  I'll do everything I can to make sure everyone I deal with understands just how bad Sears' service is.