MacGyver

I wish that folks of either persuasion would put half the thought into their decisions that @Chucktshoes does.

It’s essentially this. America has really never been homogeneous. But, with 330 million+ people we’re made up of a ton of different people groups - different races, ethnicities, urban folks, rural folks, different socioeconomic backgrounds. America is more of a melting pot today than it’s ever been. And when you get elected - regardless of the rhetoric that got you elected - now you work for everybody. And all of those different constituencies can make your job easier or harder in a way that’s different than you experienced on the campaign trail - and no one can prepare you for that. Then there’s the fact that you’re really constrained when you’re in office - both by the incredibly finite time that is 4 years - and by the decisions that have been made before you got here. Let’s take those two separately. First, time. You get 1461 days. That’s seems like a long time - but it’s not. Our last administration really didn’t understand how short of a time 4 years is. You behave differently when you know the end is near. But the second is really constraining - in that you’re bound by the decisions of the past. Take the debt limit talks were currently in. As much political theater as we turn these talks into every couple years - they have exactly zero bearing on our future legislation or actions. Raising the debt limit is all about servicing the debt associated with decisions of Congresses past Raising the debt limit isn’t about continued spending - it’s about whether or not we as a country want to pay our credit card bill. That’s not an apples to apples analogy - because the government budget isn’t actually like a family budget - but the comparison holds here. Then there’s the fact that our Congress is almost completely unwilling and is increasingly incapable of doing anything of consequence. Add to that our zero sum politics (that is for something to be good for me it must necessarily be bad for you) and it’s really hard to get much done. Take for example Representative Madison Cawthorn. For the current Congress he doesn’t have a single legislative staff member - choosing instead to “focus on messaging.” This might be great if you like seeing him “stick it to the libs” on NewsMax, but it doesn’t do much for folks in his district. So, take a dysfunctional Congress, and it doesn’t matter what your ambitions are when you take office. It really doesn’t matter what you campaigned on. You’re more or less constrained to managing a system that’s already in motion. Really smart politicians realize early that they maybe get one initiative of any substance that they’ll have the political capital to swing at. Sure you can do some stuff by executive order - but Trump spent his term undoing Obama’s EO’s and Biden has already more or less undone Trump’s. Add in budget realities and the percentages that are captured by military and social programs - and there’s not much room to maneuver. I’m willing to extend everyone the courtesy of assuming the best of intentions - but managing this show is tough at best. When you add in our Federalist system of a bunch of little states with differing goals and perspectives - it really is more like an empire than a single homogeneous entity. I could go on at length - but “empire is hard” rounds to true.

Empire is hard.

For what it’s worth, I don’t see further lockdowns coming. Yes, the coming surge related to the delta variant is going to suck. But, participation is almost entirely optional for anyone over 12 this time. You may see some capacity restrictions in areas suffering hotspots. But no one has the political capital to order more lockdowns.

Link with a proper SSL here: https://jailfunds.com

You can find a description here since the HCSO took it over. The link doesn't appear to be secure though - so I'd be wary of putting my credit card in a site without a functioning SSL certificate.

https://ccamericastorage.blob.core.windows.net/media/Default/documents/Facility-Info-Sheets/Silverdale Correctional Facility Information Page.pdf

For what it's worth, the case that's really gotten the snowball rolling downhill on mandates is the Indiana University case that just went before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Of the 15 judges on the court - only four were appointed by Democratic administrations. Damon Leichty (a Trump appointee) wrote the opinion in the case. They denied an injunction pending an appeal - meaning they may petition the Supreme Court but the decision is going forward anyway. And, most would doubt that a majority conservative court is going to be terribly anxious to overturn a majority conservative appeals court. Like it or not - mandates are likely here for the duration.

I’ve been doing a lot of pizza on mine. It’s worth your time.

ECMO technology is amazing - but it’s definitely last ditch in a case like this due to the extreme toll it takes on so many of a patient’s other systems when used for anything other than a very short period of time. There’s a time clock that starts the moment you go on it. I wouldn’t wish it on any family. Prayers for them.

Once a place puts in a range - they're almost certain to move away from supporting reloading. Like was mentioned above - components take up a lot of space that could be used for higher sales volume/margin stuff. Modern insurance also really doesn't like reloads. But, the real issue is a business decision. Routine maintenance on a range is both interval based and round count based. A lot of management teams see reloaders as high volume shooters who are going to increase their costs without offsetting that with spending in the store. Thus, reloaders are seen as more trouble than they're worth - and reloads are banned. Sure, you potentially lose a customer - but they really don't care when the Customer Lifetime Value is low.

I’m aware of someone who died this week in Arkansas who otherwise shouldn’t have just because they couldn’t get them a bed within that magic hour. They’re completely out of space.

Update on Phil Valentine - looks like he's in increasingly poor shape. I hate this for his family - and hope he pulls through. Hearing that someone needs to be put on ECMO is heartbreaking:

You can't make fun of a man's purse when he's carrying a rig like that either.

Yeah, I think that probably rounds to true.

Texas and Indiana lawsuits upholding mandates are going to start a lot of companies on the same path. Nobody wanted to be the guinea pig - but now they've got case law in their favor. Already this week VUMC and Ascension Health have mandated here in Nashville.

At least you'll be well rested.

Gives new meaning to “shedding the virus.”

I think I’ve put a bunch more rounds through that Hi-Lux and it’s still going strong.

South Georgia is worth having someone who knows what they’re doing the first time, too. Same feeders that attract pigs attract gators and big snakes too.

Oh, I’m supportive of this!

I hope we get the chance to find out.

Looks like Phil Valentine has been hospitalized with COVID: https://www.scoopnashville.com/2021/07/talk-radios-phil-valentine-hospitalized-with-covid-19/ I hope he’ll make a full recovery. I saw somewhere yesterday that state Representative David Byrd is still in the hospital after having to undergo a liver transplant due to complications from COVID. He missed the whole session last year due the same.

Cat Crap is probably the best of the anti fog products. There's a product for divers that works well, too - but I don't have my dive bag handy. Letting it "cure" is key - as is reapplying on a semi-regular basis. I've no idea what that interval might be for an optic on a pistol.

All these years later, this still brings me so much joy. Don’t go bitin’ @Chucktshoes and just expect to walk out of there…