btq96r

  Boston media called the Massachusetts Governor's race for the Republican.  Really bad night for Democrats.

  That was predicted to be a Republican pick-up way early in the election cycle.  The only reason hope Democrats had of holding it ended when Rockefeller decided to retire at 30 years in the Senate.

  It's neck and neck in Massachusetts between the Republican and Democrat for Governor as well.   That speaks to how horrible Martha Coakley is as a candidate as much as anything else, but Massachusetts has elected Republicans Governor before.  From 1991-2007 they had nothing but Republican Governors. 

  Like I said here, she was just trying to bring out those demographics to avoid the run-off.  It was a long-shot, but didn't hurt to try.   Provided that the supporters of Rob Maness come back out to vote again next month for Bill Cassidy, Landrieu will be moving back into her parents house.  That's the address she used on her candidate filing paperwork.  :)    Landrieu could still win if Bill Cassidy can't convince his voters go get out and vote again.  That's possible since this election isn't needed to change the balance of power in the Senate anymore and would be the only thing on the ballot.

Pretty good night for the red team.  Victory might not seem as sweet when the afterglow wears off though.  Now that they are a majority in the Senate, Mitch McConnell and the other establishment Republicans will have to deal with Ted Cruz and the like pulling them farther to the right then they might like.  I will laugh my ass off if Ted Cruz tries to get himself elected Senate Majority Leader.   Then in 2016, Republicans are the party with a lot of seats to defend, during a Presidential cycle.  Sort of the opposite to how this election was handled.  They might only have control of the Senate for two years.   Expect some games of chicken on the federal budget, debt ceiling now that the Republicans are in total control of the legislative branch, but still not strong enough to overcome a veto.  I'm still wondering how many bills the Republican Congress will send for him to veto.     The postmortem on these races will be interesting.  The polling in Georgia, Colorado, Kentucky and Kansas was way off.

I bought one of these a few months back. http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/review/product/list/id/15435/category/4220/   The blemish isn't anything more than you will put onto it yourself taking it from your house to the range, and it shoots well for a good price.

Read this on another site where we are discussing the same topic.     Now, to head off the inevitable question...no, I'm not trying to compare human life to animal life.  But it does show us that we are clouded in judgement when it comes to human life.  That's fine, it means we're human.  There is selfishness in any decision with this topic.  I also think that there are those who are scared of death and want to put it off as long as they can.  Nothing wrong with that.   But to me, this is an individual decision.  If someone wants to fight on until the end, enduring the pain to have those last moments with loved ones, I support that and wish them well.  If someone wants to spare themselves the pain and spare their loved ones the hurt of the long goodbye, I support that and wish them well.   It's not for me to condemn anybody's life or death decisions actions if they aren't harmful to me or society at large.

I thought it would be a quick in and out, but I was pleasantly surprised to have to spend 20 min from waling in, to out of the door on my early voting last Thursday.   If you didn't get out for early voting, get out there tomorrow.

I'm warming up to my Alien Gear IWB 2.0 after the initial disappointment with it.  It took a few weeks of adjusting it every which way but loose, but I finally have it comfortable enough to be okay with.  Their price was quite nice compared to the other options of similar design and I especially like that they use neoprene on the side that is against the body, since I don't wear a tucked in undershirt unless I'm in formal wear.  I would recommend it for trying with the guarantee they offer.   I also have a Vega suede holster that serves the purpose quite well.  Simple and to the point I use it for my need to loose some weight jeans since the Alien Gear tends to be a bit bulkier. http://www.vegaholster.com/prodotto/303/inside-suede-belt-holster

  Two issues   # 1 (Logical):  Without the background check at the time of purchase, there is a time gap between when you were issued the purchase and when you are buying the firearm.  Not saying I agree with the principle, but that would be the argument.   # 2 (Financial):  The TBI and state coffers don't want to loose the money they get from the background checks.   They will give #1 as the reason, but #2 is why it would be killed like the open carry law.     Personally, I'd like to see universities that receive state funding be forced to allow HCP holders to carry on campus.  I walk a mile to and from campus daily to avoid putting short mileage on my truck and avoid the parking mess at MTSU.  I'm legislatively disarmed for a great portion of my day.  Simply allowing those who already meet our standard for carry to exercise the right would be treating adults like adults, IMO.  They are already doing it in a few other states with no issue.  No reason it couldn't be done here.

I only have a pedal bike for exercise, not a bike like that, but my rule of thumb is, if I don't want it to get stolen, and it isn't too heavy for a group to carry away, it get's locked up inside.  Right now, the only things sitting outside my place are a cheapo grill and my rake.  Everything else is locked up in the house or inside my storage shed.    Randall, I know your step son lives in an apartment, but the logic still applies.  Trusting in the decency of human beings is asking to be let down.

  Especially during Breast Awareness Month!

  Exactly.  The business of Facebook and Google, is to know your business and find a way to turn a profit off it through advertising.

  It was even more annoying when I was deployed or living overseas.  I would do the time zone conversions in my head, and it always took at least a week to remember when DST started/ended without having to check myself.

The only thing Papa John's makes that is better than Domino's is that big cookie.  It's so delicious, I swear, sometimes I order Papa John's just to get it.  But the rest of their food isn't worth the cost.  Their pizza is average at best, and their chicken is just bad.   If it wasn't for the student discount Papa John's offers for a large one topping pizza ($7.99 + tax and delivery), I doubt I would order from them at all.

1911 TRP and an M1 Garand.

Unless I need a quick box, I just order ammo over the internet. Much less chance of having to deal with idiots.

  Well said, Omega.

  I've been watching baseball my entire life and can't remember seeing a 5-inning save before.       He's only 25, which is still a few years away from what is considered "prime years" for a pitcher.  It's scary to think there is room for improvement in his game as he goes on.  My father (a Red Sox fan like myself) said "I'm glad he isn't in the American League!"

  aka:  the free market

  As long as that stays a personal conviction, I'll simply disagree.  But when people with similar beliefs (not implying you personally, just people in general) think they have the right to enact those beliefs through legislation, trying to deny someone the ability to make their own choice with assistance in a situation like Brittany is in, I will be there in opposition to such laws.  In my eyes, it's her life and she has a right to end it if she wishes.   Also, as long as there is division on the issue and legislative involvement (she has to do this in Oregon for a reason) it very much belongs in the public eye.  Unpleasant things shouldn't be off limits for debate just because they aren't easy to talk about.

I applaud her clam approach to how she wishes to end her life and hope I would have the same conviction of beliefs if in a similar situation.  Like Brittany, there is no way I would want to be in the position to watch myself deteriorate, and be a burden to others, but there is no way to do anything but guess at how one would act in that situation.   Hopefully the dignity she has presented herself with will help reduce the stigma attached to her choice.  She's a very courageous lady in my eyes.

I early voted today, go me.   I voted for the amendments as I outlined here, but ended up voting no for wine in food stores.    I know the free market leaning folk will chime in about it, but I had a revelation on this.  There are very few pure wine stores.  There are predominately stores that sell wine and liquor under the same roof.  So, every dollar in wine sales lost to Walmart, Kroger, Publix, has to be made up for somewhere.  Their expenses aren't going down, they will probably go up as time goes on, because that's what happens with rent, utilities and shipping costs.  So how will they keep themselves from going under?    They will raise the price on what they have left, liquor.  So, for me, this came down to personal greed.   I don't want the cost of business passed onto every bottle of rum, vodka, tequila or whiskey I buy.  If they come back and ask if we want all types of alcohol to be allowed for sale in food stores like we have beer, I'll probably get behind it.  But to piecemeal it just adds cost on one type, and I don't like that.

John Schnatter did a very nice thing by attending the funeral.  I don't care how rich you are, time is still very much out of your control.  With enough money, you can make the 24 hours in a day very efficient, but you cannot extend them or get more.  To give at least part of a day from the meticulously organized schedule of a CEO of a large company, on short notice, to support a grieving family deserves kudos.   As to the money spent covering the funeral, I'm indifferent.  To him, the cost is the equivalent of one of us buying the next round of drinks at a bar with a friend.  But like one of us buying the next round of drinks the thought and intent matters than the amount spent.  Maybe he just wanted to do a nice thing with no ulterior motive.  Maybe not.  Either way, the burden on the family is lessened, and that is a good thing in my view.   But, I don't see the need to buy a pizza from his business on a special day and time, though.  I get Papa John's when I'm in the mood for it.  A good deed should be its own reward and if Papa John did what he did for the right reasons, that should be enough.

Shoot all the ammo you have and you don't have to worry about a negligent discharge when you're cleaning the gun. ;)