StPatrick

Under current conditions, it is impossible to pay off the national debt. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) has written a plan that does exactly that, as scored by the CBO. Will Ryan's plan gain traction? In my opinion, no. It would require a perfect storm of changing public opinion that is highly unlikely, grassroots mobilization, and the willingness of entitlement recipients to accept less than they voted for. It's not impossible to pay off the debt, but I'd put it at 50:1 at best. Bing (Google enables too many political causes I can't support with my clicks) "Paul Ryan Roadmap", and read his proposal. Fiscal cons will be on board, but populists will not. Ryan admits that his plan will never be passed intact, but recognizes that even a watered-down version would be a step in the right direction. I'm 30, no kids yet, and hope that those 50:1 odds pay out. I hate the idea that my generation would be handing over a worse and weaker country than we inherited to our children and grandchildren.

Heavier than the CZ, definitely heavier than the Kahr (IIRC, and I often don't). I had a 239 a while back (9mm), and the heft of it did make it very pleasant to shoot. It definitely did not have the punishing feel associated with pocket guns. The 239 was more capable than I am, and even a novice could shoot it all day. I ended up trading it in on a new 229 - small increase in size and weight, and nearly doubled the round count. Plus, now I get to buy a tiny new pistol for summertime.

You got gotten.

Can't find a Youtube, but in the Simpsons episode where Child and Family Services took the kids away, one of the "demerits" found by the inspectors was the toilet paper hung in an improper underhand fashion. That's all the answer you need.

"While Europe Slept" by Bruce Bawer. I can't recommend it enough, if you're interested in creeping militant Islam in western countries. It's a critical and apolitical look at the process of Islamization in Europe. Mr. Bawer and I don't agree politically on many issues, but the book is a must-read. He and Mark Steyn are on the forefront of the issue of creeping Sharia, and the Islamists' use of western institutions against the institutions themselves. To boil it down in one quick sentence, "While Europe Slept" is a primer on how militants use our tolerance of their intolerance to further a radical anti-freedom political agenda.

Blackfive.net sells a Che shirt that says "don't be a douChe". You could wear that in public. Plus, you'd be supporting a very cool pro-veteran site.

Found a site where you can make your own, without creepy homages to the president - Obamicon.Me - Gallery Here's one of the best I've seen so far:

I'm guessing that TDR will handle his end well, and that if the company's business improves, management will forget all about this, and sweep it under the rug as so much old news. When (IF) work is again abundant, he'll probably get a big ole' slap on the back for being a good soldier and helping steer the ship through difficult times. Despite that... I'm also guessing TDR will still want to know who the petty SOB was that initiated the whole mess, in order to protect against a sequel. The first step is to ask the question "who benefits from this mess?". If the answer is obvious, there's your culprit or culprits. If it's not, then expect more problems in the future, because now you'd be dealing with an a$$ causing trouble for the sake of it, with no self-interest in the outcome. It's terrible to deal with people who want to bring you down in order to help themselves up, but much worse if they do it only to bring you down with no benefit to themselves. The first can be understood, disliked, and can be defended against. The latter is a sociopath, and there's no protection against mean, crazy, and unprincipled. Those folks are into destruction as a means with no end. Good luck, TDR. Keep on truckin'.

Good thinking, there. Worst case scenario, the evil white death from above is pretty much gone by Tuesday, leaving you nearly a case a day until rescue.

I didn't mean to imply that carrying while boating becomes illegal if alcohol is present - my post was unclear on that point. It's really just an opportunity to be hassled for an hour, potentially wrecking a nice day on the lake while dealing with LEOs who have no choice but to do the follow-through required. How would the legality be muddled if the weapon was not on the oerson of the non-drinking HCP holder? It would seem reasonable to put your gun in a glovebox, tacklebox, or other dry place if dressed only in swim trunks or similar attire. Would access to the weapon by folks who have been drinking then become an issue?

Know your storage conditions - moisture is the key. Two metals of different composition can stay in contact in a dry environment for very long periods, but: Add moisture, and a small electric potential is created between the two. One metal will oxidize (rust or tarnish), and the other will reduce (you won't notice, unless it was previously oxidized). Brass and steel can have this interaction. If you store your guns in a damp environment, keep a dehumidifier with them. Store them cleaned and oiled if a round is chambered (I'm sure you guys store them cleaned and oiled at all times, but if you've got a round in, it's an absolute). The oil will prevent the metals from making contact, and is nonconductive. Nickel casings should be less reactive than brass, but I'd check HD ammo anyways. Besides, it's fun taking guns apart and putting them together. Guns put the FUN in FUNdamental chemistry!

I think a lot of people just read that and gasped, as if you said "as long as the sun rises in the West...". You're right, of course, but a boat without beer is like a day without sunshine. You have to choose between keeping the weapons at home (what about pirate attacks?), or fish and ski without beer . It's a true conundrum.

Calling a paradigm shift isn't that hard - it's a two step process: 1) have we ever seen anything like this?, and 2) does a wide swath of the general public, that are not already Apple loyalists, want it? With the iPod and iPhone, Apple answered "No" to question 1, and "Yes", to question 2. With the iPad, the answer to question 1 is "yes, only smaller, but with a couple less features", and to number 2, wait and see. I doubt many people will feel a need to have one, and with consumer spending at the level it is at currently, impulse and iWant purchases may be quite low. That being said, these will sell just fine. It's not Apple's fault they can't redefine an entire class of hardware devices every time they come out with something new. I'm not in, but I can see why others would buy one.

Dear Hippies, First off, let me say I'm not old enough to remember how earth-shaking and awesome the late 60s were. I'll be the first to say that responsibility-free mind alteration and easy "company" could make for a fine time, if you're of that inclination. Those of us who weren't around totally get that whole thing. It's the seeds that were planted that are the issue at hand. At what cost to the future did you have your (probably super-awesome) four year long parade of drugs and sex and other stuff we'll never get to do? Exhibit A: Bing Video: Hippies - Crying Over Dead Trees Exhibit B: Bing Video: Eric Cartman: They re not people, they re hippies! The human fungi from exhibit A didn't come from a vacuum. The conditions for their birth and growth were created. Who created those conditions? Atone for your sins - eat lots of meat, go to work, and be virtuous. You're all already nice to LEOs and soldiers, so we've got that covered. Especially eat meat, because every time you eat a steak, a hacky-sack falls down a storm drain. Bonus redemption points are awarded if you killed your own dinner. /Yeah, if I'd have been there, I would have raised hell too.

Apple has made themselves the victim of high expectations - the iPad is a good niche product that will sell well, but anyone expecting a paradigm shift based on their past history has to be disappointed.

I'm not going to buy it. My iPhone does almost everything it does, and my PC does all the rest. Pro vs. netbooks (who I assume are the target here): battery life, USB support, keyboard on the docking station, good support, same size screen, partnership with Amazon for e-books Cons: restrictive OS that requires software to come via app store in iTunes, no game-changing features, AT&T sucks so 3G is a investment, keyboard only on the docking station, as big as a laptop yet not as capable, necessitates a bag or man-purse, does not eliminate the need for another device from your daily life. If this thing had a full-blown OS that allowed the installation of commercial software, I'd consider it. As it is, it's a $500+ browser that plays music and surfs where there's WiFi, unless you pay AT&T for access. Can you save your own personal files, not music or video, to this thing? I'm still unclear on that.

Good post, Jack. Also, don't feel too bad about Memphidishu being the "drain-hole of the state". Physics tells us that high always flows towards low. When not-miserable gets too rampant in the (liveable) parts of the state, it has to flow somewhere, and will go to where not-miserable is least concentrated. It will be drawn to the spot where there is less of it than anywhere else. Memphis sucks. It's science.

Downtown was mentioned...if you want to hear covers of "Dixieland Delight", any of the honky-tonks will do. If good, full-on Rockabilly and reasonable drink prices interests you, hit up the Full Moon Saloon on Broadway. Take in a Predators game if they're in town, you'll be hooked, and tickets in the upper level are cheap. Hockey on TV just doesn't do the sport justice - I'd recommend anyone that hasn't seen it live do so. The speed and action are incredible.

Not in a story from the Home Office as reported by The Guardian. The sharia supporters and anti-western extremists should begin to howl about their civil liberties in 3...2...even though they won't be watched for fear of finally setting a match to the powderkeg that is the London suburbs. Perhaps they can get Eric Holder to file a "disparate impact" suit on their behalf just in case. Meanwhile, the ordinary English will sit back and let themselves live out a twisted version of "The Truman Show". If you haven't read "While Europe Slept" by American author Bruce Bawer, I highly recommend it. It's an eye-opener.

Before David Axelrod ran the Obama '08 campaign, he was known in political circles as the "king of AstroTurf". It should be no surprise to see the tactic still in use. Being surprised by this development is like being Shocked, Shocked! at dead folks voting in Chicago. Being amused by the ham-fisted way they went about it, and the public humiliation of getting caught, is totally warranted. Thanks for the tall glass of awesome, Barry!

Titanium is one of the most expensive "structural" metals. The poly most likely will be used to allow the mfg. to sell ultralight revolvers at a lower pricepoint in order to undercut Smith.

The way the law is written, if your life is not in danger, you better know why a 3rd party is in danger before you act. The "crazy gunman" scenario is obvious, but many other posts have been made about ambiguous situations that might occur. If a person wants to carry in order to right wrongs and protect others, my opinion is that such a person should become a LEO and do it with a badge that comes with all the tactical and legal training that is required. I like to think that I would make good decisions and defend those who need it, but what makes me different, in terms of legal status, than some former posters who are clearly nuts?

I can't see a man who prayed on his knees letting his wife carry a piece he deemed appropriate for New Orleanian pimps.

What is the place called? That info could come in handy should I make it out that way.

Remember what George S. Patton thought about pearl handles...