tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400450577051370752024-03-13T12:01:55.273-07:00Just the Library KeeperEarlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.comBlogger1289125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-41671960653547377212012-03-16T11:17:00.002-07:002012-03-16T11:20:11.893-07:00Moved to another blog...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ieZ1SWAtJ_w/T2OESpTNqpI/AAAAAAAACn4/FCeGlUE4JKs/s1600/Dragon%2BSown.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ieZ1SWAtJ_w/T2OESpTNqpI/AAAAAAAACn4/FCeGlUE4JKs/s320/Dragon%2BSown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720561407549614738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://earl-earlsview.blogspot.com/">Earl's View</a><br /></span></span>Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-42580572514660017012012-02-21T08:05:00.006-08:002012-03-07T06:54:51.470-08:00This blog is finished, thank you for visiting.It has been a great run in many ways. When added to the motorcycle cruise across the country and meeting other bloggers - it has been wonderful. May God bless all your best. Love, Earl<br /><br />Wow! Sorry, I was moving to a new blog, and just wanted y'all to know this one isn't going to be active any longer. The new blog is <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://earl-earlsview.blogspot.com/">Earl's View</a> and is still under construction but I have posted a note to self... I am going to be there, more or less.<br /><br />I haven't kept a library for a little more than two years and just feel like a fresh start, most of what I know about life is my perception, and about ten percent is misunderstood, or totally strange because I didn't get it the way you did.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-92068945892369379832012-02-20T21:08:00.002-08:002012-02-20T21:20:49.879-08:00<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/D0eV7kn6Af8" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RIH3971FYj8" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ofKP2hXZCQU" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DFVnJPpM17o" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sSDkHMnO6iU" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/R2o3glywNlc" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe>Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-58600155466058215142012-02-19T15:10:00.000-08:002012-02-19T15:20:36.884-08:00Too late to throw in the towel, you just got knocked out...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uWWQycPpY9E/T0GDif_hl3I/AAAAAAAACjo/o-SZ7TAwHco/s1600/Keegan%2BFlying.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 304px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uWWQycPpY9E/T0GDif_hl3I/AAAAAAAACjo/o-SZ7TAwHco/s320/Keegan%2BFlying.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710990431209232242" border="0" /></a><br />A while ago I went for a jog, found not enough air in my lungs and quit jogging after about six minutes. Then I went to shoot an AQT at an Appleseed and with my fine M1 rifle, I loaded the first two rounds, firing off hand, and then loaded a clip with eight when that first one was empty. Fired them and was well within the time constraints, 2 minutes. I went down to check my target and found eight hits in my target, but missing two. Then I looked at my neighbors, and sure enough, those look like my missing two rounds in his target. I stopped shooting for the day... I am sorry that I shot his target, but sad that I hadn't even realized I was on the wrong target.<br /><br />My point being, I can't hang, I can't deliver and have only the good intentions left. I am so sorry for all that I could have been, but now can't even attempt. Very.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-39178133166381962022012-02-17T17:03:00.001-08:002012-02-18T04:02:12.661-08:00You do know that I am a failure...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zFeLdOORIGU/Tz7-Ycvt3EI/AAAAAAAACjc/SWoUSfgX6Y8/s1600/Keegan%2Bhas%2Bsomething%2Bto%2Bshare.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zFeLdOORIGU/Tz7-Ycvt3EI/AAAAAAAACjc/SWoUSfgX6Y8/s320/Keegan%2Bhas%2Bsomething%2Bto%2Bshare.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710281073539013698" border="0" /></a><br />I mean my mother was sure I could be a lawyer, or even President. But I couldn't cut it, not enough people pleaser in me, so I don't have thousands of bankrolling SuperPACs trying to fill the airways with my picture and thoughts. Only Blogger allows me this massive audience. I haven't been part of any massive bailout of failing industries. I will give you an idea of my belief.<br /><br />God is greater than I can imagine. I don't believe that the theory of Evolution is more than a human theory of how, maybe, God made the marvels of all I find around me. Divine Intelligent Design works very well for me. Now, if, humans were half so smart, then government control and regulation of the economy would work to perfection - but the Invisible hand of the market place works better, by the way, the Economy is a human activity, God just doesn't care -- enough has been provided, distribution (economy) is our personal challenge.<br /><br />I can't be a king, or even a prince, won't win the Lottery, and in the end I hope all my major evil doings will be forgiven, for I have really been ashamed of them. Probably why I am not in the running for President - just no ambition to troll for airhead interns, to repay all my friends' bets on my success by cushy jobs at pay rates unjustified.<br /><br />I can live very well without being the Commander in Chief, having been where leadership has counted and made a mark or two to help improve the world, my own and the lives of those I influenced. That is enough, sorry, Mom, there are some failures of greatness I proudly live without.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-65208265883879167172012-02-16T20:17:00.001-08:002012-02-16T20:17:47.254-08:00/.<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RU1oB8sGyYM" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-62812134157591028022012-02-14T09:37:00.000-08:002012-02-16T09:41:18.045-08:00Stealth, how un-noticed can one be in the dark...I once had a job along the DMZ, between the two Koreas. I patrolled the DMZ by day with the squad and at night stood guard on the fence making sure no one or nothing went un-noticed coming from the other side. The Armistice was long ago settled, the routines had been established the rules were enforced and there was no love on either side of the fence - and fear made all that moved your enemy for life, as long as either one of you had life.<br /><br />Didn't seem like a bad gig. Nothing except fence in front of me, and deepening darkness all around. The foxhole buddy went right to sleep, totally unimpressed - having done this so many times before. But me, I was new and alert to all that lay before me... then I started to hear the noise behind me, little noises, and I started to imagine what that could be. If I was concerned enough I could request the searchlight to shine its lovely light on me... and did. The noise stopped as soon as the light went on. Now the foxhole, really a fighting position was open towards the back and there was a slight drop off and GIs had tossed their empty C ration cans over that way. Idea! it was rats! Big rats. Do I jump back there and blast away with my handy M-14? No! the explanations would take too much paper. And killing rats was frowned upon, and if it were an North Korean infiltrator - he would shoot back vigorously, full auto. Which in those early days impressed me. It was a cool September night, but I was sweating and worrying over what to do, ask for the searchlight again, they only have limited burn time. The noise stops again but when the light goes off it doesn't come back. Hours have passed worried about rats in the trash pile, I am exhausted and time to wake and brief my foxhole buddy. To include my fears of what might be behind me. I go to sleep wrapped around my rifle leaning into the sandbags, to wake in a few hours for Stand To.<br /><br />Nothing further happened in the darkness, I woke on time, stood up and ready for Stand To, and the fly over by some officer of importance, I was more interested in the Sun being up and finding what the trash dump looked like and all. I got permission and went down and looked hard, for rat tracks or NK tread marks. I found rice paddy rubber shoe tracks, and followed the trail and found a trip wire too loose to work well. Checked both ends and found an old pineapple grenade, and carefully kept the pin in and held the handle down, nothing underneath it as a secondary booby trap (I was in full-fledged booby mode). Called in to central and got permission to toss the grenade into the DMZ. Got and did it and I was impressed, it did go off as advertised.<br /><br />Now I sit in the darkness, listening for the sounds of a waking terrible two-year old. I hear the cars running on the Parkway, the sound of rain beating on the roof and water washing through the gutters. But no sound of a boy opening the door to come out of his bedroom. My wife is up early, she is up because I am incompetent. I seem to alarm the boy and he wakes the household, so she is up peeling an apple to slice as a snack for him. I have made coffee, fixed my breakfast and a cup of water for the boy. He gets up late today, I have waited in the darkness for over and hour and a half. It is a good morning for him, he gets his snack after a hug from grandma and greeting to me, I find his favorite YouTube video, about 'planes'. After watching it twice he gets breakfast and Sesame Street with vitamin and milk. I wasn't really alone in the dark with my wife, his toys were patiently waiting for his return. The barrel of monkey, trains and tracks would be quickly spread out and played with until it was time for him to prepare for daycare.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fwmW2aFSSYw/Tz0_XKZmbKI/AAAAAAAACjM/Cq-6VtkR164/s1600/Waiting%2Bin%2Bdarkness.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fwmW2aFSSYw/Tz0_XKZmbKI/AAAAAAAACjM/Cq-6VtkR164/s320/Waiting%2Bin%2Bdarkness.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709789569736928418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Time to take my pills, all eight of them. Do I miss those days on the DMZ, do I want more of them instead of waiting in darkness for baby boys? Of course not, once was enough for twenty-seven years and five months. America has no sentinels on the DMZ now, only reaction forces, times change. As I got older I could laugh more and more at the military rituals that were supposed to keep our enemies from striking us. Only the certainty of our Victory and their defeat would stop most attacks - but some will still attack because of their honor, and our disrespect.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-58398557666369675582012-02-10T08:37:00.000-08:002012-02-10T13:36:32.640-08:00How to know you know too much...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UbdNew5hPqg/TzWN1_ZI27I/AAAAAAAACjA/wcUHasZPBXE/s1600/Following%2Bthe%2BLesder.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UbdNew5hPqg/TzWN1_ZI27I/AAAAAAAACjA/wcUHasZPBXE/s320/Following%2Bthe%2BLesder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707624061451426738" border="0" /></a><br />When working with children and you want them to have all your experience and knowledge so they don't make all your very personal mistakes. Can't happen, but you will always wish. By the time the babies I am learning beside are older the government will have it all perfect and figured out. Maybe not the tax code but everything else will be perfect. I am not betting upon that happening, the Republicans can't find one candidate for the Presidency, the Democrats are afraid to admit that Bush/Obama economic salvation program isn't working. I am sure happier with the babies, they haven't asked any questions about where the good food, drink and play are coming from. They haven't decided that only one kind of fashion is the current must have fad. They also want to 'do it themselves' but<span style="font-family:arial;"> are still willing to have some help - and ask politely for it. No 'Occupy the Buggy Street' movement being raised here. Just more Barney, Elmo and 'Planes'. Can't give even a tiny bit of what I know, that is worth passing on, I blew my chance with their dad, he has much but I didn't throw it all his way - he is better for finding out many things on his own. I could never have anticipated his life, since I never lived it.<br /><br />The babies feel, see, hear and fumble with everything. They learn much the hard way, but then maybe we did, too. Just too young to remember it all. We talk, we touch, we help when wanted and we can, but we can't live a moment of their lives. I will pray for them and God's guidance, which they may be smarter than I and listen to better. </span>Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-62329082975942710882012-02-09T09:34:00.000-08:002012-02-09T10:09:42.765-08:00Learning, always learnin'... Benny Hill was right...Normally with a busty blond, but always learnin'. I have heard from the media and those concerned with the fat to the very fat and the criminally obese folks out there, that American poor get the wrong foods with their food stamps! Shock! My brother would calmly mention that the food stamps could be restricted so only proper food stuff was purchased. Another would say we should outlaw everything except bean sprouts and soy. They just intend for the better health of the nation. The government is secretly trying to make them all unhealthy so they don't depend so long? The government only pretends to care for its citizens, there is no love for sure.<br /><br />I think I should be able to buy my food as I like, what I like and eat it the way I like. I even go pay bigger bucks to get it served hot and ready and now to get my wife out of the kitchen and paying attention to more than my snarly attitude. I went shopping in a big warehouse store for groceries - and they had everything a man could want. Or a bunch of hungry boys. Miles and miles of good stuff, most not very good for you, but eye-catching and mouthwatering -- have we all become sugar and fat junkies? Hot babes in Superbowl ads, for what food products? Steak? Fish? Dairy? Vegetables were in the picture - where? Fruits? No, just chips dips and beer.... and they have aisles and aisles of those bright red and yellow colored bags of ground, dipped and fried or dried goodness and lots of air to keep them from powdering on the way home.<br /><br />I am an old man, I was there for mushrooms, water, yogut, prune juice and prunes. It took me a long time to find the dried fruit, the box store managers didn't want me to do it, but they had it. they weren't going to make their highest profit from that shelf space.<br /><br />Once upon a time, a wagon would go to the town to get groceries - flour, beans, sugar, salt, lard, ham (maybe), cheese, crackers, canned peaches, hard candy. Big bags of the first two, fifty to hundred pounders. I was shocked to see a man taking a couple of twenty pound bags of flour, maybe he is opening a doughnut shop? We do like easier meal preparation, so we can wander the entertainment world for something of value. Our lives are so rich.<br /><br />I walked the necessities to the house from where I parked the car, reminding me of carrying commissary items from the train or bus stop in Germany, to get them to the home with my wife and baby, forty years later, still delivering food stuffs to homes with a baby. Isn't life grand, the Lord has blest me.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-66824834723359990472012-02-07T08:10:00.000-08:002012-02-09T15:11:32.794-08:00For sure the game isn't over, we haven't been counted out...<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_PE5V4Uzobc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />I have heard people complaining about this Halftime ad, about seems to support what Obama and Bush have done in the past, but it doesn't. It talks about reality, not media or White House spin, it talks about having to get up for the next mission, the next patrol, the next fire fight, the next round and the second half. It talks about noisy roaring engines - not built to California standards, for emissions and noise abatement.... it talks about Americans as we can be without the government on our backs. Have you heard about the <a href="http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/02/05/020512-news-detroit-vigilantes-1-5/">self defense in Detroit neighborhoods</a>, they aren't waiting on the police. Yeah, America can come roaring back. Ford didn't get a bailout. Think of yourself in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Alamo">the Alamo</a>, knowing that no one is coming to save you, you do what you have to to win and survive.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-88032917467497220242012-02-03T20:53:00.000-08:002012-02-03T21:08:21.760-08:00Don't mind me, I am off to learn something new...I have been finding a lack of running (jogging or even vigorous walking), riding (blame the weather), shooting, and reading (how is that possible?) - and I haven't kept a library for almost two years. The visit through Barnes and Noble reminded me how out of touch with printed word I have become. So this whole blog thing is flying under false colors. I will say it has done wonders for my communications with my brother - who mostly misses my points, or thinks I would be a better person if he knew the truths as he sees them. He mentioned Rush Limbaugh (who I haven't listened to since the Haiti adventure that he didn't understand), but then he is sure I must be overly influenced by the NRA or Corporate Giants or some other terrible talker from the Rightwing Christian Conspiracy. Sorry, I have been skeptical since the whole first day in the military and a reasoned truth. Don't expect to change, I am still judging entertainment value on art and great story about terrible times.<br /><br />I will continue to write as I find fodder for the guns, targets of opportunity. Will try to keep it simpler and pointed, work on editing it down to the conclusion - no one has time for why it works out that way, just give the correct answer. Some interesting conversations with my family recently have shown me more to learn, the really great adventure. See you on the trail...Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-61287905173643035012012-02-02T21:14:00.000-08:002012-02-02T21:47:57.668-08:00A vote for ________ is a wasted vote,,,,,You have heard the wisdom of the Ruling Party's Elites, those wise sages full of the wisdom of casting votes for the third or fourth or fifth candidates, according to money, polling or even unproven media bias.<br /><br />That means the current office holder wins, they call themselves incumbents, and unless something really strange has happened they will be re-elected. They have the most money, the machines, the favors to call in, the position to threaten your silly future without them, -- they are supposed to win, that last victory at the ballot box should be an instant replay.<br /><br />If there is a serious third party candidate, it will drain votes from the other real potential winners. So, everyone knows that to vote for the best candidate may just make you a loser. Ever been a loser?<br /><br />I have been a loser. But then I don't live my life in fear of losing, only in not being allowed to play. Everyone else wants to stone the wench, but I am not voting that way. I pay a tithe not because I can drop it from my income to be taxed, I buy a home with a mortgage I can afford with the intent of providing for my family - not something I will become wealthy with. I married, but not the best woman in the world - again I was just a loser. We are still married, and except for what we are properly ashamed of, we are awesomely proud of God's blessings on our family and our fortunes. My wife is to me better than the best woman in the world - but then what would I know, I am just the loser that is going to vote for exactly the best candidate for the offices I want them in. The Democratic machine, the GOP, the TEA Party, the NRA, the Roman Catholic or Mormon church may have opinions but in the end I will cast my vote the way I see the election.<br /><br />You see, I don't live my life by the values of Hollywood, the Mainstream Media, the people that are cool, chic, in the know, the movers and shakers. The world view of Earl is not that of current public school education systems, political solutions, compromised moral values, Living-Constitutionalists and such. I have to vote the way I take a shot at the target, putting all my preparation into it, focused and not distracted. There will be things that change from the time I check the blocks, or squeeze the trigger, as long as it isn't in the follow through, it will be my best. I can live with losing having done all I can to be right about my life and my vote.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-42052396840621321052012-02-02T12:00:00.000-08:002012-02-02T14:17:55.799-08:00You forget all it took to make you a Man...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wWbxIVpYRsY/TysLQ1dDHuI/AAAAAAAACi0/JdVaQCzBjpc/s1600/Open%2Bwide.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wWbxIVpYRsY/TysLQ1dDHuI/AAAAAAAACi0/JdVaQCzBjpc/s320/Open%2Bwide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704665736849596130" border="0" /></a><br />Kind of like America has forgotten how hard it was to become a nation from a pile of former colonies with pretensions of being States. The media, always wanting to control you for their enrichment, would like you to think there is an EASY, Sexy, or just NEW way to improve your manhood. Modern times and modern methods, we know so much more... or we just haven't really paid attention to the past, or have forgotten it.<br /><br />I remember better being a young boy and raising a young boy as I find myself falling swiftly apart and apologetic for all my lack of bestness (I know that isn't a word, but the media will get around to it, if they are proactive enough). I am just not the man I once was. Still I have something left, as I play tossing a ball to my grandson, he isn't ready for my thoughts on war or politics, on work or love, but he is ready to play gently (or just a bit rough once in a laughing while). I am hoping to be around for Canasta and conversation, some day. Card games, board games all help socialize the young - if played with their elders. School, church and books give us a lot of material to work with, and there are the terrible influences of our friends, but real men to watch and work beside, to hear an honest praise or a terse critique of one's failure from one who knows and has been there - makes me want to read Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer again. There was a walking commentary on boys becoming men. Most of us kind of forget how it came about.<br /><br />If we continue to live beyond our History, our roots, in our American experience... we aren't going to be better, we are going to be so much less for trying to get it easier, faster, and into the spotlight...Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-24559130331679652932012-01-31T13:53:00.000-08:002012-01-31T15:41:07.905-08:00I was once young and a soldier...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-70R2k_c1efQ/Tyh7HWYG4YI/AAAAAAAACio/0WIlNZNSvPE/s1600/Keegan%2Bas%2BWorld%2Btraveller.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 281px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-70R2k_c1efQ/Tyh7HWYG4YI/AAAAAAAACio/0WIlNZNSvPE/s320/Keegan%2Bas%2BWorld%2Btraveller.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703944294260728194" border="0" /></a><br />Then I grew up and very much older, and I have never valued my worth on money, hours worked, nor medals and ribbons. But others seemed to, and they still do - part of this desire (of political process) to figure out how to get heroes in uniform, a process acknowledged but not understood by the designers, since they are motivated by things other than love, sacrifice, duty or honor.<br /><br />The current Commander-in-Chief made much of the ability of the military to accomplish the mission - and expects that the country should step up, get organized and accomplish our mission - wherever that State of the Union speech was going, thank you for the atta-boy, sir! But you don't get it, we were willing to kill and die for the accomplishment of the mission. You think if you watch the Discovery or History channel about SEAL or Ranger or Sniper training that you get it, that it is just hormones and youthful foolishness, with discipline and determined leadership provided by the officer corps. Forgetting that some very deep thinking well read people have been very effective soldiers. My favorite question, <span style="font-weight: bold;">where do they get such men?</span> Well, the basic building block is a person that values family, neighbors and friends. The military will take that person and cut them off and overwhelm them with new things to think about, building a new spirit and pride. They don't lose that love of the family, neighbors and friends - they will need it when the bad guys, the weather and Murphy show up to mess with their mission and life. It is the only thing that they can cling to when they take the uniform off and get back to normal... or a close variation of normal.<br /><br />I mention this because communications have improved to the silly point of the Commander in Chief being right there with the shooters - virtually. I didn't like it when President Carter was losing aircraft and men in Iran and telling them to call it off -- he wasn't on the ground, not even in the air above the combat. Like watching the General in Somalia lose men and helicopters and safe in his bunker, blind but listening! Yes, they should be concerned but they gave the mission, get out of their way and allow them to complete it or die.<br /><br />Could we have won the American Revolution with Congress telling General Washington they had a better idea? He had political generals contacting Congress for his job, position and stupid ideas about improving the supplies and tactics. The worst Generals were afraid of him personally, and the best officers (the ones that would follow him into battle) became his long arms. Politicians don't use the same judgment that a military person would, or the military person is really a politician in disguise (yes, they are there, but aren't attacking any enemy positions).<br /><br />I guess I can't learn new tricks, almost all the Presidential candidates, including the current holder, are not the committed leaders I would attack the enemy for, with or following... so how can I think that the problems and potentials of the country can be correctly, boldly and vigorously met by such men. New question, <span style="font-weight: bold;">aren't there any better?</span> We are too safe, safety minded, hoping for others to risk what we wouldn't (aren't we - as a country?) . Will we give them a medal or ribbon to wear?Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-19420049672591574782012-01-28T12:31:00.000-08:002012-01-28T12:50:23.038-08:00Big day today... Men's Bible study at home...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s9fQEcm1UJc/TyRcmMAk3eI/AAAAAAAACic/34ziAPm-eJI/s1600/Keegan%2B%2526%2BDakota.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s9fQEcm1UJc/TyRcmMAk3eI/AAAAAAAACic/34ziAPm-eJI/s320/Keegan%2B%2526%2BDakota.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702784839286316514" border="0" /></a><br />My wife has been throwing herself at this for weeks, it will be a wonderful rest to leave Church on Sunday and get ready to travel to California and get to know the grandchildren (I have mentioned they really are GRAND? haven't I?).<br /><br />Today is all about the Men's Bible Study, and it has been my turn for awhile, and my wife was getting nervous. It would look like we weren't many things (all of them bad or at least anti-social) if we didn't host it at our home. Now I like Bible study, with the other men, but you may have noticed that I am mostly a quiet recluse and I don't want to bother anyone.<br /><br />Days in food preparation, furniture movement, figuring out what needs to be hidden or just out of the way. I haven't hurt myself moving anything, although because things are moved I have bruised myself well traveling at speed through a dark house with furniture to bump solidly into, sigh. I have asked for prayers for help against envy and pride, and people thought they were for me, but they weren't. My wife's culture will shame her when she has nothing to be shamed about - me, I am just blest with the best wife I could never have imagined.<br /><br />The men do like to get together for the Bible study, realizing we need all the help we can get and give, we will sing (badly but with conviction), pray with passion, and study and talk about the lesson, then we will join the ladies - which have prepared the feast and eat the buffet away. There is no way any of us need that much great food - but none of us will complain, and we will try to eat a bit of everything and too much of the stuff we really love. In moderation, then during the clean up the ladies will divide the leftovers - there isn't any way we could finish all the food in three meals.<br /><br />Well, I had best get back at it, I have some more little things to adjust in today for my wife, some dusting, vacuuming and moving for when they get here in five hours or so... God love you all and be good because it is wonderful.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-32512914342907491802012-01-26T07:46:00.000-08:002012-01-26T08:34:22.954-08:00Blood pressure 112/70 pulse 44, not bad for a fat...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XfJYjDIWVQ/TyF7B1goIQI/AAAAAAAACiQ/DbHVhWpWfgo/s1600/CSM%2BDungey.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XfJYjDIWVQ/TyF7B1goIQI/AAAAAAAACiQ/DbHVhWpWfgo/s320/CSM%2BDungey.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701973874701771010" border="0" /></a><br />fool.<br /><br />Woke from a wonderful military dream, Fort Bragg modern, me dressed in NATO woodland BDUs, and challenged by a suspicious Division Commander, who sent his Command Sergeant Major over to bust me. We had a great conversation and helped a young paratrooper clean his weapon and watched a weather weapon system start to crash and burn during a demonstration of its capabilities. Great dream. Noticed today that the US Army is going to decrease eight brigades - nice that we can send in Congress and the TSA to fight the nation's battles in the future. Yes, I insist that the Commander in Chief lead them.<br /><br />Also in the news that Demi Moore is having problems with whip-it, which I thought was some sluty sex game. I am so wrong, but then watching a sob piece on how troubled she was (she was a military dependent I understand), I figured out she hasn't accepted Jesus and been saved. Although, no one on television would break it down that quickly - I can, because I am not feeding off her fame.<br /><br />I am almost certain I am starting to believe that Warren Buffet is correct, that his secretary shouldn't pay a higher tax rate than he does. No, I definitely KNOW that his secretary shouldn't pay a higher rate. God only wanted the first and the best and only ten percent tithe to the temple. And He created everything, and destroys it periodically. I think only nine per cent for all taxes of your increase a year, is enough for the government. And quit thinking that the government needs to handle everything, we would all handle what is necessary without the government if it was gone. Really.<br /><br />Dependence on government got you 9/11 air traffic shutdown, four highjacked aircraft, three buildings attacked and all air traffic shuts down because we can't handle the trauma? London in WWII under constant bombings, Berlin and Leningrad same war - they didn't shutdown in panic.<br />Just think of what we could accomplish if there wasn't so much government telling us how bad it would be... to be free and independent again.<br /><br />All of my siblings read my 'rant' yesterday, not one of them has the same idea about what I meant, or even said - I am sure. It is nice to know they thought I might say something meaningful. Thank you all, for the love.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-71737273926562365192012-01-25T17:21:00.000-08:002012-01-25T17:55:17.063-08:00Nope, my choice for office holder makes no better...Look, if the person is not someone I would follow into combat to take out an enemy machine gun nest - then I shouldn't vote. Guess that make November really easy - and since I am sure it is all too complicated for me to understand I will just read how many to vote for, spin a dial and mark the one that come up.<br /><br />They aren't following the Constitution of the United States NOW, it won't change on my vote. In Washington State they can't count the votes the same way every re-count except in small counties, so the Democrats add as many votes as they need in Seattle and King County. My one vote doesn't count.<br /><br />Now, the other thing, most of these laws, regulations and executive orders are because I am a BAD Man, a STUPID man, and UNTRUSTWORTHY man. They aren't going to stop passing that kind of constraint on my terrible behavior. I have a reader that says we have to have rules - his point being that the number of women I have never raped is because of my fear of punishment for that crime. Okay, make it murder, the number of people I don't kill is only because I am afraid of the government coming after me and doing something awful to me in justice for my bad manners. Or, that I am stupid enough to abuse alcohol or drugs - because that is the fun thing to do... I don't need laws against drug or alcohol abuse, I won't. Personal choice, and if you think that any of the Drug Enforcement works - why are all the illegal drugs available within driving distance of you and your telephone? Mostly I do know what is bad, may have consequences and I will have to answer to God for. Don't need the government guidance and direction.<br /><br />If the number of abortions were based on laws passed against it, instead of the number of sane women that understand what sex, pregnancy and birth means - well, since the government realizes that they can't legislate against bad, stupid and immoral behavior and have decided it is legal - we still have more healthy babies being born than aborted. Sad about the others, but we will meet the Judgement in Heaven.<br /><br />I have made too many references to a Superior Being and Power, and I know that God exists - that is not your problem but my blessing. So let us go far away from a moral issue.<br /><br />We seem to be electing stupid people, or people that think we are stupid, evil and can't be trusted and then on top of that - they can't figure out how to pay for their stupid attempts to regulate their goodness gracious on the gullible. They want you to understand it is your fault that they haven't got enough money to pay the bills they make. You will be punished for your success - it is only fair. After supporting all the stupid, lazy, and just nasty people with all their bad behavior with your good work and such, well, you will die - we all die, they haven't written that rule that says we won't yet. (Yes, and then they will tax the estate - don't own farmland in Indiana).<br /><br />Doesn't matter which party you are talking about, doesn't matter which candidate - it isn't going to change, the real people in charge don't want it to change.<br /><br />You can make a difference, every day, by being the best human being possible, having lots of love, good manners and living outside the law. They won't even notice, they haven't got control of the criminals yet, there is no way they will ever get control of the saints.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-73099215774579312982012-01-24T08:56:00.000-08:002012-01-24T09:18:48.523-08:00Seems to be getting back to normal...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Qbd1pkhZJk/Tx7n7j4WVvI/AAAAAAAACiA/V2HZ8WXa6xc/s1600/Earl%2Bin%2BPaint.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Qbd1pkhZJk/Tx7n7j4WVvI/AAAAAAAACiA/V2HZ8WXa6xc/s320/Earl%2Bin%2BPaint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701249188727510770" border="0" /></a><br />Sliding through the television stations looking for background I passed the most current Presidential Candidate debates and thought to myself that looks so like Reality Television no wonder I can't be stopped to pay attention. I was reading an Elmore Leonard Western, Gunsights, he tells a great story and television quickly fades. My wife was away celebrating the New Year, the Year of the Dragon, and I was wrapped up in the West as it never or always was. Combine that with reading Girl Hunter (I skip all the recipes - would eat them just not going to cook them) and I had a dream about taking a shot.<br /><br />So folks dream about love or the distant second of sex, some folks dream about Heaven and many are stuck in nightmares of Hell with sweat and pain and waking frightened. I am dreaming of being with a group of men on a hillside going to shoot some other men on another hillside and I have a very fine rifle, and am adjusting the sights to hit them. Adjustments made and I am ready and I raise the rifle and get my sight adjustment, sight picture, pause, focus on the front sight and squeeze and hit perfectly the biggest bull elk. I feel like Abraham not having to sacrifice Isaac, ever grateful to the Lord.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-42986785902329184302012-01-21T18:31:00.000-08:002012-01-21T18:45:06.308-08:00More wind storms on the way...Which means more stuff coming down on our homes, power lines, and roads. Or that the media is proudly announcing that the Newt has taken South Carolina. And I don't want a fat, old politician on his third wife (did she pay any attention to how he treated the first two?) as my President. I especially don't want one of the biggest problem creators from the Congress to get back to making really bad laws. He is smart enough to know what should be done, but he has no sense of honor in his word, no sense of shame and wouldn't lead me in an attack on a pillbox. So I guess I will just point out that the three other candidates had more combined votes than Gingrich received. he wins on having the others fighting for the disenchanted ones.<br /><br />I had a wonderful dinner of ribs, and the Blues are playing, reading about Triumph at Kapyong, Canada's Heroic stand against the Chinese in Korea. The Princess Patricia Light Infantry (which has an interesting military history in WWI and II, too). War is so much simpler than legislation, no it isn't but far from the battlefields and bullets you can relax and read about it. Never knowing about tomorrow, never sure about waking up.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-72498768478887721692012-01-20T18:57:00.000-08:002012-01-20T19:31:10.616-08:00Keep me in the dark and feed me...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNxmteeqbow/Txop1jjNqbI/AAAAAAAACh0/0bojgRwa2cQ/s1600/In%2Bthe%2Balmost%2Bdark%2Band%2Bcold.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNxmteeqbow/Txop1jjNqbI/AAAAAAAACh0/0bojgRwa2cQ/s320/In%2Bthe%2Balmost%2Bdark%2Band%2Bcold.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699914278443526578" border="0" /></a>treat me like a mushroom. The power went off about twenty-four hours ago. I know the power companies have been struggling with the falling ice and trees, bad roads and darkness most of each day. They announced on the radio that the Legislature lost power for about two hours and went home.<br /><br />Well, stay there folks. I am no longer ready for living off the grid, not like I once was. I keep hoping the power will come back on and I can find out how wrong O'Reilly is about whatever. Or so I can recharge my laptop, or have a hot meal. Last night we had sandwiches, then this morning cold cereal, then by lunch my wife was warming something on warming candles (you know the kind one uses at a dinner party) --- then I remembered I had a Coleman gasoline burner (from those roam around paratrooper days before 1994) and she had purchased a propane burner for just this kind of emergency (this has happened before just not recently). So I went out and got them from the storage. Filled the burner with gasoline, tried to read the instructions in Korean for the propane one - not going to happen. She sees what I am doing and warns me about the danger of explosions (happened to her brother-in-law) but she pulls out a newer burner, and it has instructions in English. I start it and we start heating water for coffee, and seaweed soup for the evening meal. We will survive.<br /><br />One of the stories I read long ago, was about a survival situation and the people made a spear first, later they remembered they knew how to make a bow and arrow and did so. I had always thought everyone should have made the leap to bow and arrows first - but unless one has been crafting basic bows and arrows, flaking flint arrowheads and such - it doesn't come automatically right when you need it. Other things come first, the other thing is waiting for rescue -- how many times do you hear of someone dying alone somewhere - no one knows they are missing, has any idea where they are, and they never light up a tree to call for help, they keep trying their cell phone or iPad and they aren't in range - but it is what we are prepared for and will do in an emergency.<br /><br />You see two or three young men bothering a woman - what do you do? Call 911, take a video picture, pull your gun and shoot the three or at least threaten them? What do you do? Well, I am betting you will do your best but be frozen by culture and convention - unless the woman is related to you, or you have thought about it and practiced a response. Survival isn't automatic, one has to know the exits, has to be aware of threats, be prepared to struggle for air, the last of the water, for the fertile females or the last of the seed and breeding animals. It isn't just all the regulation and laws that strangle our natural wariness, it is lack of danger - ease of life - the certainty of civilization. We didn't invent it, but it has always surrounded us in some kind of comfort, only when we go off on military adventures and see the savage hidden just under our skin, do we really want to get home and that hot shower.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-54605190267675282862012-01-19T22:18:00.000-08:002012-01-19T22:59:16.802-08:00The end of the world as we knew it...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RuUqO7pNA7I/TxkQutH9YII/AAAAAAAACho/qhuyS4RYLwE/s1600/Ice%2Bpruned%2Bdogwood.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 189px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RuUqO7pNA7I/TxkQutH9YII/AAAAAAAACho/qhuyS4RYLwE/s320/Ice%2Bpruned%2Bdogwood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699605197987078274" border="0" /></a><br />There were snow storms dumping Winter wonder on us, beautiful, and the traffic accidents and school closures started. I cleaned the drive and sidewalks, because I was raised that way, I fell a couple of times, old man on icy surface, and hurt my wrist trying to stop myself, but not enough to stop shoveling when I got back on my feet. The next storms were icy rain, coating the limbs of trees, weighing down the branches. We heard the trees crack and the branches fall, hoping it wasn't on any of our roofs. When the light returned with the Sun behind the clouds, we could see why the power was off all over the Sound, the Puget Sound Energy folks were out with trucks repairing and cleaning up, and then our lights went out.<br /><br />Not too bad, would miss the internet and some of my favorite daytime television, but we had light, and then the power came back and we were happy. I took pictures of the downed branches and the poor Pink Dogwood, it is shorter by about four feet. I get a steak dinner and watch O'Reilly talk about things he knows nothing about. He had a Civil War quiz that had General Jackson shot by his own men, true, and he said that was what he died from, but it wasn't he died of pneumonia as a complication of losing his arm shattered when he was shot.<br /><br />After dinner my wife tried to get me to go take a shower, in case the power went out again, I said I would get one when I got ready for bed. She took one, and as she finished and was drying off the light was gone from the home, we went to find the flash lights. We already had the emergency radio out with new batteries, I got the kerosene from the garage and filled the lamp, that is one great reading lamp, I ought to buy some more. Two candles, personal flashlights, and a gas fireplace for warmth. The world has come to an end as we knew it.<br /><br />We sit in the recliners facing the blank television, telling stories about long ago, in her village before electricity, I mention the government that decided to hook all the farmers up to power, long ago. So they could sell refrigerators and washers, radios and power equipment for some farming tasks. My son had called while the power had come on the first time, he had heard about the ice storms (he was in Florida, I believe). The emergency radio is the one I bought long ago while a paratrooper, I wanted one that I could get shortwave on, for news while I was far from home. It had kept our battalion well informed about the First Gulf War, thank you BBC, and I was able to introduce my commander to the Hobbit as we waited to invade Iraq. We listened every morning as I shaved and packed for the new day. It is on Classic KING FM, nice to hear harpsichords, and classical music is soothing. If it returns to the latest Ice Age, it has been good knowing y'all. Good Night!Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-14618099376673883712012-01-17T15:02:00.001-08:002012-01-17T15:27:00.727-08:00Gosh, I don't belong in that box yet...They want to stuff me into one. I know that young teens should be able to get a real job and work while still in high school, come to think of it, junior high school. Why do I say that, well you can find out about work and wages very early. The better to compare with the ease of being a student. The government protects the young from such exposure and exploitation - so wrong. So we have politicians that think the young aren't smart enough to get a job? Yet we find criminal enterprises grabbing girls and boys for prostitution or drug sales. That sounds more like something they should be protected from -- but aren't?Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-44091058531753261242012-01-16T09:11:00.000-08:002012-01-16T09:40:00.109-08:00Waking alone in the bed...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-au52KDuQry4/TxRfWF2nzKI/AAAAAAAAChY/0q73-5Avr40/s1600/Dragon%2BSown.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-au52KDuQry4/TxRfWF2nzKI/AAAAAAAAChY/0q73-5Avr40/s320/Dragon%2BSown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698284261663558818" border="0" /></a><br />Too early to get up but my wife is gone, still dark outside. She must have gotten up for morning prayer, the church is empty this morning but all the praying ladies are up and at it for over an hour they will pray in a rhythm that follows closely the Buddhist prayer chants - but don't tell them that, they are real Christians from Asia. Their life flows in a different but pleasing pace.<br /><br />Prayer is powerful, people that don't know anyone else cares or is concerned will have hundreds of pleas sent to God in their name or for their challenges. Not all will be made well, God works on hammering a better human being and shaping a tool for our future. We will never see all the weave, the back of the embroidery is hidden, the knots and split threads aren't critical for the design brought forth on the front, the viewing side. People are like that, there are marks, scars or tattoos that make you think you see the damage to that person - but the ones that are critical are deep, in the mind and soul. Not on display, but either eating away or covered over like the grain in an oyster, making a hard but smooth pearl to be treasured some day in the future. Pray for more pearls. Never forgetting that it was pain and irritation that was covered up that began the beauty - some of the nicest people you know have been blest by burdens they can never share, or like my father told me - he was a graduate of the school of hard knocks. He had a doctor's degree in life.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-90277191038464011102012-01-15T07:42:00.000-08:002012-01-15T16:29:16.544-08:00Gun Shows, SHOT Show and No Shows...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H-g_swhCxio/TxNY6u0aezI/AAAAAAAAChM/Q5YGuYCL3rw/s1600/Our%2BLives%2B253.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 259px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697995719577336626" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H-g_swhCxio/TxNY6u0aezI/AAAAAAAAChM/Q5YGuYCL3rw/s320/Our%2BLives%2B253.jpg" /></a><br />I like shooting, I probably don't like spending any serious money on it, but since I smile and laugh and talk to strangers, friends and easy competitors at shooting ranges - it makes me more social than the old guy in the recliner watching the world zip by between commercial interruptions. When you compare the cost of internet, cablevision and the machines to display the wonder of digital visual stimulation -- shooting gets cheaper in comparison. Providing you have found the firearms that make you smile and aren't on a quest for the next best thing.<br /><br />I don't do gun shows, the Washington Arms Collectors have an annual fee and ID card and it is all based on the idea that only wonderful people should be allowed to view the material and buy or sell at the local gun shows. The wonderful people are the ones that aren't from New York's mayor to buy firearms posing as not so wonderful people, or real felons, insane or underage that are prohibited by law from being one of the People with a right to keep and bear arms. But if you went to a public range, a private home or a parking lot - you could sell or buy a firearm and it isn't illegal or it is always illegal. There are people unmarked by barcode, dress or manner that shouldn't buy or even hold a firearm. I am just not smart enough, and no one else in government is either, to figure out which few are those that shouldn't be allowed to handle a firearm.<br /><br />In the beginning of this country, there wasn't a morality assigned to the tools called firearms. The morality was always in the person with the tools. There was dueling when this country started, but that became illegal and continued ever after into the culture and gunsmoke and hollywood. Since politicians and entertainment (court jesters?) have conspired to teach you that those in control have a right to disarm you for your safety, which wasn't true for most of the History of America, the country. The idea that you couldn't have a weapon went right along with the legal definition of a slave - an almost human being in a legally defined state of permanent servitude. Although arming slaves for the benefit of their masters has been accepted for centuries. Some masters actually think they will fight for their freedom, or the promise of it.<br /><br />I don't know much about why others fight in uniform, I do know that I never have because I was paid well to, or believed my country was always right, or that I was as worthless as the nail in the horseshoe of the Chinese thought. There are officers that thought I would do what they said because it was an order - well, mostly I would - but I would do it so much better if it was a great order that would be worth dying for - don't ask any officers how many of those orders they have ever given, it is an embarrassing truth that it is easier to hit a hole-in-one than give an order worth dying for... Famous people I would have followed easily in combat? George Washington, Benedict Arnold on the American side, Lee, Jackson, Lincoln, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Crook">Crook</a>, Crazy Horse, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecumseh">Tecumseh</a>, Teddy Roosevelt. I say easily, but they were very demanding but wouldn't expect you to do more than they would require of themselves. I like Lee and Washington best, they were very gentle hard men.<br /><br />I continue to wander about this, but why I thought about this is the idea that this country is better unarmed, total government control of the firearms - like having the safe people disarmed by the law will prevent the unlawful from arming to the maximum they want or need. It doesn't work that way but the Democratic Party believes in sensible gun control (but never define it). The Republicans as a party get no pass - they vote like zombies for the gun control measure of the moment. In 1920, in America, you could own your own personal machine gun and the neighbors were more likely to ask to watch or try to shoot something with you. But then there was a gold standard for money, and indoor plumbing wasn't in every home yet, and you could still teach rifle marksmanship in high school. Things change, not always for the better.<br /><br />Recently; more money, the end of the world, a re-election of the President and a return of a Democratic dominated Congress, or just the fact that more people are terrified and think a gun will protect them --- for many reasons, there is an increase in the number of people buying guns, many taking training, and some taking the firearm to a locked box (which won't protect them) to make it safer. I would like a lot of Americans to take up shooting, to live safely with firearms, to stop living in fear of the terrorists, thieves and thugs, their own government, and the government regulatory enforcers in black body armor and black ski masks (just a real positive suggestion make the body armor for law enforcement in powder baby blue or pink with a yellow smiley facemask and white gloves like Mickey Mouse).<br /><br />I want more people accepting shooting as a safe, skilled, sport of choice - not something only ugly terrible people do for pain or profit. Maybe, since the schools are designated as a target rich environment all guns prohibited, I should work on getting shooting as a Saturday church activity?<br /><br />This is part of the dialog or lack of between the <a href="http://www.the-minuteman.org/content/2012/January/15/Open-Response-Joan-Peterson-Barron-Barnett">Gun Lovers and Haters</a>. Hmm... the gun control group wouldn't like to be known as Haters, but words have power.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740045057705137075.post-82513014382983419352012-01-14T13:45:00.000-08:002012-01-14T14:52:32.372-08:00Visual Art needs no explaination, does it?<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eqsXc_aefKI" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />I was sent here by an Economist blogger and went to the source and found the man that made the film doesn't have a clue about 'why'. It is timely in the day of protesting 'Vulture Capitalism' and EPA regulations and everyone knowing what is real and what is true -that the real world continues with little regard for the finest government, or the Superpower status. And this is beautiful, but never needed his three minutes and thirteen seconds of explaining how little he can allow God to amaze him. He probably blames his cameras and the editing for what happens, it couldn't be his fault. No personal responsibility.Earlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.com0