JAB

I didn't see anything about this on here so I thought I'd start a thread.  It seems that Obama has pledged $7 billion of our money over the next five years to help stop power blackouts in sub-Saharan Africa.    So, despite the fact that our country is in debt, despite the fact that we are still spending money as the result of two wars, despite the fact that our own infrastructure is getting old and crumbling and despite the fact that there are plenty of Americans who could legitimately use some help, we have SEVEN FREAKIN' BILLION to give to FREAKIN' AFRICA so their citizens don't have power blackouts!  (Yes, I am yelling.)   I am going to go ahead and say this in no uncertain terms:   I really don't give a crap about the people in other countries.  Seriously.  I give a crap about this country.  We should never have been throwing aid and assistance at other countries, anyhow, but we certainly don't have money to just throw around, now.  Honestly, hearing crap like this makes me physically ill.   http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/30/world/africa/south-africa-obama-pledge

I said, "You're a big, ol' pussy cat!  CAT!"

In the past, where i used to live, I would get more peppers off of just a couple of plants than I could use, even preserving them for the following year.  This year and in my current location, my pepper plants have barely grown.  None of the ghost peppers or scorpion peppers have anything on them.  I think one habanero has one, tiny pepper.  The peppers will get blossoms on them but the rain just comes along and beats the blossoms off of the plants.  A couple of my pepper plants just plain died.  I have a couple of small fruit on my Ichiban eggplant, one or two small clusters of green tomatoes on one of my cherry tomato plants, one green tomato on one of my Cherokee Purple tomato plants and one green tomato on one of my Rutgers plants.  The majority of my tomato plants don't even have blossoms on them.   The mint I planted seems to be doing okay.  My sage looks healthy but really hasn't grown to speak of and the same is true of the oregano I transplanted from where I used to live (it was going gangbusters there.)  My rosemary looks pretty much the same as the day I planted it.  My cilantro and dill have both died.   I think my bad results are partly due to all the rain and partly due to crappy soil where I live.  This year, I even went so far as to fill the holes I planted in with topsoil rather than the barren soil that came out of the holes and I'm still not getting much out of it.  As much as I like the idea of growing things to add to self-sufficiency, I also have to accept reality.  After two planting seasons living where I am now, both with miserable results, I may have to face the fact that I could go to the Amish market in Delano and buy as much great produce as I could need to use and preserve for later for less money than I spent on plants, soil, etc. with no return on my investment.  I may spend a few years composting and trying to establish a couple of more fertile raised beds and then try, again, but if things don't turn around soon for this growing season I won't be planting much next year.

  Just because you don't agree with it doesn't make it ridiculous.  In fact, I'll say it, again.  He should have stayed in his truck.   That said, he didn't and the subsequent events happened.  Such being the case, I agree that this trial will have long-standing repercussions.  I will go on record here to say that, while I do not think Zimmerman is 'blameless' in the situation, while I do believe that he made some bad and/or questionable decisions without which the whole fiasco could have been avoided and while I further do not believe it behooves us, as gun owners/carriers to try and hold him up as a bastion of reasonable behavior or a poster boy for handgun carry, I certainly do hope that he is found 'not guilty' of any criminal charges and that there is not even a door left open for a civil suit.  If he is found 'guilty', I fear that it will set a precedent for filing charges against anyone who uses a handgun in self defense even if that person's behavior leading up to the shooting event is in no way 'questionable'.

I turned it on right about the time they were doing the urine/muddy water competition and changed the channel before the competition was over.  I think of BG as more of an extreme outdoorsman/thrill seeker than someone I would try to emulate in a survival situation.  I think that following the advice/examples of Les Stroud (Survivorman) would be a lot more likely to get a person out alive and in one piece.

I liked my 'Planet of the Apes' HP 9mm.  It was accurate and ate pretty much anything.  A couple of years ago, though, I traded it at the LGS for a barely used one with the TS stock that already had a red dot mounted (I couldn't have ordered a TS stock and bought even a cheap red-dot for the $$$ I put with my old one to get one already set up.)  I wanted the built-in rail to mount a light and/or laser.  Ended up going with a light/laser combo.     Heh, I went with a light/laser combo and a folding forward grip but, yeah - mine is the closest thing to a 'tacticool' gun that I own.  When I got the laser dialed in and first tested it out - using a zombie head target, of course (one that I found online and printed) - I was really impressed.  The target was printed on 8.5X11 so the 'head' was probably about 3/4 scale.  Ten rounds made one ragged hole in the target's forehead from about 15 yards.   Whoever mounted the red dot got it right.  In good light, if f I place the 'dot' right on the front sight then line the front sight on target I can get results nearly as good as with the laser - as in almost one, ragged hole from 15-20 yards.  It would probably do even better in the hands of a more skilled shooter.

  I wonder if they have changed the list, again.  The list I found on Hornady's site - labeled as the 'updated 2013 production list' - looks a little different than the one at the link you posted.  I didn't compare the lists for content, though - just the formatting looks a little different.   http://m.hornady.com/support/availability/production-list   That is the list which is linked from the 'letter' at this link:   http://m.hornady.com/support/availability

  A Mac11 probably wouldn't be my choice for a truck gun but I can see wanting a rifle or shotgun handy.  Heck, around here, until just a few years ago, it was common for most pickup trucks to have a gun rack in the back window and a rifle, shotgun or both in the rack.

More lessons learned:   Just because a person might not be criminally guilty in his use of deadly force doesn't necessarily mean he is a good and favorable representation of all gun owners.  It is possible to be 'not guilty' and still be responsible for having been a dumbass who should have stayed in the vehicle.  Therefore, lesson learned:   Don't be a dumbass.  If there is no clear, imminent threat stay in the vehicle and let the cops sort it out.

  My understanding is that it is legal, with an HCP, to have a loaded long gun in your vehicle without one in the chamber.  That doesn't seem all too impractical, to me.  I am not so sure that the law allows for carrying a loaded/unchambered long arm around in public, as in slung over the shoulder, etc.

I have carried there in the past with no issues.  Just keep in mind if you venture over into Florida that they have a 100% concealment requirement.

  A panic attack can cause chest pains.  Is it so strange to think that someone who was just involved in a lethal force incident just might be having a panic attack?  The hospital could verify that the person in question is not having a heart attack but could not say whether or not they had chest pains as the result of a panic attack.  But, hey, I'm probably misusing the word 'panic', right?

Well, maybe they figure that the Phoenix office is in such bad shape, already, that at least Zapor won't screw it up any worse.     No, no - Bush did not originate the concept that leaders rise to their level of incompetence (the Peter Principle.)  Instead, Bush was PROOF of the concept.   Proof of the Peter Principle:  George Bush became POTUS.   And in case anyone needs further proof:  Obama is now POTUS.

  You will notice that I said,       I wasn't speaking to the criminality or lack thereof of Zimmerman's actions.  Instead, I was speaking to the assertion that the situation 'came to Zimmerman' as posted by KKing, above.  My point was that the situation didn't just 'come' to Zimmerman.  It isn't like Zimmerman was just walking down the street, minding his own business and got jumped.  Instead, he got out of his vehicle and followed Martin.  He didn't simply get out of his vehicle to go into a minute mart where he happened to get into an altercation - he got out of his vehicle and followed Martin.  Does that rise to the level of criminally responsible?  Maybe not but it does rise to the level of actively participating in a series of events that were entirely and easily avoidable.   In other words, Zimmerman may or may not be 'guilty' in a legal, criminal sense but he certainly isn't 'innocent' of blame in a practical sense nor was he a passive victim that was blindsided by a series of events over which he had no control - he made a choice to get out of his vehicle and a choice to follow Martin on foot.  Therefore, it isn't something that could have happened to anyone, as KKing seems to be implying, because hopefully most people would have the brains not to get out of their vehicle and follow Martin in the first place.  That is what I was saying.   

  Ummm...if he hadn't gotten out of his truck and pursued Martin on foot then why would he have needed to be 'returning' to his vehicle?  See, funny thing, one has to walk away from one's vehicle before one can return to one's vehicle.  Further, if one walks away from one's vehicle while engaged in following another person - and the latter person is walking away in an attempt to avoid the former - then one is engaged in what should properly be called a 'pursuit'.   So, yes, Zimmerman pursued Martin on foot.  If he hadn't, there would have been no physical altercation and no need to shoot Martin.  Does that make Martin 'innocent' and Zimmerman 'guilty' of murder?  Not necessarily - but it does mean that Zimmerman's ill-advised choice to PURSUE Martin in the first place contributed to the whole mess.

  The evidence also shows that Zimmerman stopped his truck and got out.  If he had stayed in his truck and let the cops do their job then the whole situation could have been avoided.  Therefore, the situation didn't simply 'come to him'.  He wasn't chilling out on his porch and sipping lemonade when some thug kid jumped him.  Instead, he left his vehicle and followed Martin on foot. Therefore, he actively participated in the series of events that led to the confrontation.  Is he guilty of murder?  I don't know but if he had stayed his ass in his vehicle instead of going looking for Martin after alerting the cops then what followed would never have happened.

  The situation came to Zimmerman?  So someone made him stop his vehicle, get out and become involved in a foot pursuit of a person who was apparently not engaged in any illegal activity even after the police dispatcher advised him not to do so?  Wow, the force must have been really strong in that Trayvon character for him to make Zimmerman do all that just so he might get a chance to beat Zimmerman's head against the ground.

  And yet people dismiss a caliber and/or ammo type if it doesn't reach the 'magical' 12 inches of penetration.  While at the same time some of them (not directed at you, peejman, just in general) would consider a sub-4 inch blade to be a good choice for a backup self defense weapon.   Getting cut friggin' hurts.  I have had a pocket knife close on one of my knuckles.  The wound bled like a stuck pig and needed three stitches (I could see the bone.)  Heck, getting nicked while shaving doesn't exactly feel good.  I don't want to think about how badly getting cut multiple times 'for real', even with a small blade, would hurt.   At the same time, I think I understand where SWJewellTN is coming from.  As a person who is not skilled, practiced or trained in knife fighting, I don't see my chances of defending myself with a knife as being all that great, period, but certainly not with a 'short' bladed knife.

  I've carried one since I was a kid, too.  However, I will also point out that I carried mine at school, the teachers knew it and no one ever objected.  In fact, as we didn't have pencil sharpeners in every room in my high school, some of the female teachers would sometimes either ask to borrow a pocket knife from one of us male students or would simply ask us to sharpen a pencil for them.  The male teachers didn't need to borrow ours - they all carried their own.   That was in the mid/late 1980s, though.  I imagine a student carrying a pocket knife to school these days would likely have a very different experience.  I'm simply throwing that out there to say that just because some of us who grew up in a more reasonable, common sense society (a society that still existed even as little as twenty or thirty years ago) carried knives at young ages it doesn't mean that it might not spell trouble for a youngster/minor in the Bizarro world we now live in.

  You are certainly correct about repeat offenders, etc.  Of course, I am not sure there is any way to stop bleeding-heart judges, etc. from going easy on criminals nor any, good way to stop such criminals from getting parole/early release not because of their own efforts to straighten up but simply because the jails and prisons are overcrowded.  I will add to your rhetorical question, "How often do we hear of violent offenders who have escalated from 'simple' burglary to more violent crimes in which their victims are injured or killed?"   Too bad there isn't a simple, effective way to deal with such criminals that would guarantee that parole is not an option and that they will not have an opportunity to be 'repeat offenders', huh?  Too bad that such a method can't be implemented (legally) before they graduate from 'simply' violating the sanctity of other people's homes and stealing property to threatening someone's life.

  I am not talking about shooting bored teenagers over some spraypaint, etc.  Also, as I said, I will comply with the law and would not use potentially deadly force in defense of property, only in defense of my life.  However, I would have no moral qualms in supporting a change in TN law.   As far as some scumbag who would steal family heirlooms being 'replaceable', yes - there are hundreds more where they came from.  In fact, there is a regrettable surplus.  Honestly, I wish there weren't so many 'replacements'. 

  I allowed a hen from some Bantams that were given to me by my BIL's uncle to hatch a few and that is where my current 'crop' of Bantams came from.  The White Leghorns originally came from the Crossville flea market.   There is an Amish community not too far from where I live (they are in Delano, TN - quite a ways from you but there might be a similar community in your area) that operates a produce market.  On the last Saturday of every month, they also have an animal sale there.  I have been thinking of checking that sale out to see what kinds of chickens they might have available.  As I don't have a large flock and am mostly interested in eggs for personal/family use, I would kind of like to have a couple of 'unusual' hens - maybe some laced ones like golden laced Wyandottes or similar that would be more 'pretty' to look at than 'regular' chickens - but I would want them to still be at least decent layers.   Another good option is to check and see if your local 4H has a chicken sale/auction.  The 4H members who participate are given X number of chickens to raise and they have to auction off at least part of them.  These chickens are usually 'sex links' so they are usually good, consistent layers.  You might pay slightly more (but only slightly, if at all) than some other sources but you can be pretty sure that the chickens are in good health and have been well cared for (maybe even pampered.)  Another advantage to buying them from the 4H auction is that by the time they are auctioned off the hens are usually either already laying or just about to start.  Personally, from my very limited experience, while watching chicks grow up and mature can be interesting and fun, I'd rather buy pullets or very young layers and not have to hassle with little chicks.

No 'think' or 'maybe' to it - that is definitely my favorite of all the knives you have made/posted pics of.  I love the 'organic' feel it has to it - almost like something one of the elves might have carried in the Lord of the Rings movies (and I definitely mean that as a compliment.)  The only thing I might change would be to add some type of (small so as to not interfere with the lines) bolster.  That isn't so much a shortcoming of the knife, however, as it is a testament to my clumsiness.  I know me pretty well and feel fairly confident in saying that with a knife intended for serious use, unless it had a bolster/guard of some type, I'd cut the heck out of myself.     Purple is my mom's favorite color so a few years back I made her a cane with a purpleheart handle.  The handle was done in my own variation on the 'derby' style.  It ended up looking pretty good, IMO, but a little more bulky/blocky than I had intended.  I had done a cane for myself with the same style handle made of cherry and had been able to get a very smooth, round and elegant form from it (unfortunately, there was a weak spot in the wood and it eventually broke.)  As I said, mom's turned out looking pretty good but that purpleheart just proved too hard for me to be able to get quite the same results as I had gotten with the cherry.

I used to work with a guy who started Golden Gloves boxing when he was just a kid, was experienced in more than one martial art, was a third-degree blackbelt in Isshin Ryu and who, apparently, founded his own style, was a former Airborne Ranger and who had written more than one book about martial arts, both Eastern and Western.  I figured he would be a good person to ask about knife fighting techniques and so one day I did.   Michael's response was, basically, that getting into a knife fight is just about the stupidest thing a person could do.  He went on to say that, as a knife is not a ranged weapon, if you have time to pull your own knife then you probably have time to run - and he had no qualms in saying that, given the chance - even with all of his fighting experience and knowledge - running away is exactly what he would do.   When I pointed out that there might be times when running was not an option his response was, much like UncleJak said above, that in such a situation one should not think so much about not getting cut because even if you 'win' the fight, getting cut is pretty much inevitable.  Instead, he said, the best you could hope for would be to 'choose' where you were going to get cut and be ready for it to happen.   I am not trained to fight with a knife nor do I think I would pursue such training at this point.  If given no other choice, I would attempt to use a knife to defend myself but I see such use as being more along the lines of a 'get off me'/'belly' option.  I'm not going to be using techniques, feints and so on.  Instead, I am going to be stabbing/slicing the closest body part I can reach at pretty much point-blank range with all the ferocity that desperation, anger and fear can muster.   Honestly, if I were going to do some form of 'melee' training, I'd probably be more interested in using a walking stick/cane.  Along those lines, in the absence of a gun for SD, this is my idea of a 'knife' fight:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9IjXMitpiA

  You want to talk about traitors?  I say that any government official who would authorize such wide-ranging spying on the American people - in violation of the spirit of the Constitution they are supposed to be upholding - is a traitor.  Further, any member of the American intelligence community who would request or even knowingly participate in such spying is a traitor - from the heads of the CIA and NSA right down to field agents or tech agents who are doing the actual information gathering.  Yep, every, single one of them is a traitor.  The person who exposes the actions of such traitors is not, himself, a traitor and for the real traitors to try and portray him as such is hypocritical in the extreme.