jgradyc

  ^This. A guy brake checked me in Texas 30 years ago and I had to run off the road to avoid hitting him. I wasn't hurt, but my two dogs were banged up a little. In the future, if the guy is driving dangerously, just call THP and report him. Don't escalate the conflict.

Welcome to TGO!  Feel free to ask dumb questions. I do occasionally and in spite of it, I still get well thought-out responses. You can learn a lot here.

This article states that viewership at CNN and MSNBC is down over 50 percent over the past 12 months.  http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2013/11/27/cnn-and-msnbc-lose-almost-half-their-viewers-one-year   In the demo period, whatever that is, their ratings were down by nearly two thirds.    

Did you guys get a confirming email after your purchase?  I bought the Shield 9mm online on Saturday and my credit card has been charged, but I didn't get an email saying they had received my order. I can't find a phone number on the website to call to confirm it. Hopefully, it will arrive today or Friday at D & T Arms...     EDITED: Okay, I found their phone number and sent them a short email just asking for confirmation of the order. Their website said it would take 5 business days to fill the order, so it looks like I'll be waiting until next week.   :-\  :cry:

I have a 7 year old Dell with XP that I replaced with Linux Mint. It works great.   But if you want to stay with XP, you can do a clean install of XP to get rid of the junk that has accumulated over time and change a couple of the settings to speed it up a lot. I can't remember the settings, but you could probably find them with a search on the internet. They were pretty well hidden in the control panel settings, but they didn't require accessing the registry.

I can't see any rationale in physically possessing a foreign currency as a diversification strategy.  You can't spend it in the US. The exchange fees are pretty steep. And most important, foreign currencies tend to fluctuate up and down versus the dollar, not continue to rise over the long term.   A currency ETF or mutual fund would be a better currency play. Gold ETFs, SPDRs, and mutual funds would be a better hyperinflation play. An overseas mutual fund would be a better play against a weak dollar. 

I have Linux Mint 14 on a seven year old desktop and four laptops. It's faster to load than Vista or Windows 7. I have no slow down over time. No problems with malware like my neighbor with Windows 8. I don't have to use an anti-virus program because there are virtually no viruses written for Linux.  Oh, and Linux Mint is free and comes with a MS office clone (LibreOffice) and a Photoshop clone (GIMP).    Linux Mint 16 Release Candidate is out now and the stable version will be out within a month.    I used to use Firefox browser, but I recently switched to Chrome. There are lots of add ons for Firefox and extensions for Chrome that allow you to do a lot more things with the browser.    I'm typing this on a Lenovo E430 laptop that came with Windows 8, but I hated Windows 8 so much I loaded Linux Mint instead.

www.TGIBlackFriday.com has copies of all the leaked and released Black Friday ads for about a dozen or so big chains.

  Just so we are clear, I'm perfectly okay with you not taking what I would consider to be a fair offer.    I'm willing to take my time to come and check out the car and make an offer, which to me is above trade in but below private party market values.  My offer would always be several hundred dollars more than the car would bring at auction, plus I'm right there and ready to buy.  My daddy used to say, "Don't begrudge a man making a living, just don't let him make a whole month's worth off of you!" <where is the smiley face for an attempt at adding a little levity?>   You know what you have to get out of the car, I don't. You've got overhead to cover and other stuff to consider, I'm okay with all that. Best wishes.  

Cash for Clunkers really did jack up the price of used cars, according to some dealers I know.  Asking $4500 for a $2500 car sounds about right for a dealer if its in retail shape and mileage, but it's way high for actually buying the car.   A lot of times, private sellers will go to kbb and price their car at the retail price that a dealer would ask. After they get no takers, they drop the price. Getting someone to come down $2000 on a $4500 car is probably not gonna happen, so you might as well keep looking. There is a real art to offering a low price on a vehicle to a private seller. You can't be the first person to look at the car. You have to go prepared with the KBB trade in and private party prices, you have to be polite, and you have to have to make a real offer.   "Would you take ____ for it"  is NOT a real offer. "What's your lowest price?" is not an offer.  A real offer is when you clearly state that you want to buy the car and are willing to pay $___ for it.    Try this.   (After going to look at the car, driving it, and asking the owner about it, and politely pointing out that a few things aren't perfect.)   "It's a nice car. We both know it's not new and it needs a few things, but I can get those things fixed. That's not a problem. The problem is that I have a budget for a car and this is more than I planned to pay. Still, I like the car and I'm willing to make an offer. I'll give you $____ for it. I have the money with me. I'll pay you in cash and you can be done with this today... you won't have to waste your time showing the car to people who don't show up or want you to finance it. So... $_____ right now. What do you think?"   "I can't do that. (long pause) I'll take $_____ "   "I can go to $____, but that's it."   "No, I can go $____"  [this is what you wanted to pay all along!!!"]   [long pause by you.]  <sighing> "Okay, you got a deal."   Something along these lines normally works for me. My experience is that it is very hard to get a private seller to come down more than $1,000 on a $5,000 car, so I'd keep looking.

A rebuilt title immediately drops the value of a vehicle. He should have disclosed it. He never did. He just gave you the title and hoped you wouldn't notice or question it. You did the right thing in walking away. 

Thanks for the link. I debated for two days and ordered mine a few minutes ago, so some are still available.

Here's my take on the G26. The early Gens felt like a potato in my hand. I just couldn't get a grip on it with my small hands. I now have a Gen4 G26 with the adjustable grip. It fits my hand much better. Yes, it is accurate. The trigger is nice, but it is still a fat, thick, double stack gun. The trigger is problematic for purse carry because if the trigger gets caught on keys, lipstick tube, etc, it could AD. If it's in a purse or on the body, the G26 should have a dedicated holster that will hold the gun securely until needed.  Yes, there are tens of thousands of Glock owners who carry without a holster and haven't shot themselves... yet. Google "Glock leg" to see how common this is.   If she carries on her body, the G26 is hard to wear comfortably if she is a small person. I have a 30" waist so for a gun this size, I'm limited to the 5 or 6 o'clock carry position for IWB, which makes sitting in a car uncomfortable.  That extra quarter inch in thickness is really noticeable compared to my single stack handguns. You'll probably have to pay $500 or $550 for a used Gen4 G26.   That's just my opinion. Feel free to completely ignore it, bash it, whatever. It won't hurt my feelings.  :rofl:   There are a lot of handguns to consider. The Walther PK380 is a sweet gun. So is the Kimber Solo.  The Kahr PM9 has a long trigger, but it's relatively smooth. I don't have a shield yet, but it would seem to be a good choice. I carry a Taurus 709 Slim. It has a manual safety, so that's either a plus or minus... you decide, but it's noticeably easier to carry than the G26.     One more opinion. I don't think you should rule out single stack handguns. They are thinner and a LOT easier to carry comfortably. In my opinion, 6+1 or 7+1 is enough firepower. She can always carry a spare mag in her purse. That also makes the gun lighter, which makes it more comfortable to carry all day.   Again, just my 2 cents.  Good luck. Let her make the final choice. It's her carry. If she doesn't like it, post it for sale here and buy her another gun. Keep doing that until you get it right.  :up:

I'm a small guy with small hands. I've never had a 45 that didn't feel too big, too heavy, too thick, or carry too few rounds. Years ago, we had to qualify with a full-size 38 special and it was all I could do to hold it for the weak handed firing.  I have a Colt Commander purchased new in... let's see... 1979?  I never shoot it. Don't like it.   To each his own. If everyone was the same, they'd only sell one model of car, one model of handgun, and one pickup truck.  Instead, we get what works for us and then defend our choice to others... sometimes with a bit too much vigor.   While we're at it, I don't like Glocks either. The angle of the grip is uncomfortable and they are too thick. You'd think they would make the grip smaller and then allow extensions for large and extra large hands. After three generations, someone finally thought of that!   Now, I have a Gen4 G26. Now, if they would just put a manual safety on the darn thing, I'd actually carry it, but I'm not interested in becoming another Glock Leg statistic. It's strictly a retention OWB holster for me with the Glock.   So, let's see where this goes.  :popcorn:

They set it up?!  Does Amazon do this with all their big TVs or was this one specific Amazon vendor?  It's not a big deal, but I'd rather have someone else do it since my wife isn't strong enough to lift one side of a 70 pound TV.  Getting it in the spot I want is going to be hard for one person to do.   EDITED:  Now that I think about it, just getting someone to carry it up our outside stairs is worth something.  I checked and Amazon itself does offer a setup in their shipping. I'm looking at the  Samsung UN60FH6003 60-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED TV for $979 right now. It's not a smart or 3D TV and that's what I would prefer... less stuff to break. The only knock on it is tinny speakers, but I'll use my old Bose theater system. I'll keep looking for other brands on sale.  I went by Costco last night and found the same TV for $979.

I've finally decided to upgrade our old TV. Some leaked Black Friday deals can be found here.   http://tgiblackfriday.com/   I'm looking for a 60" LED 1080p 120Hz (or higher) HDTV. I'd also consider a 55". It looks like the Black Friday deals will be about 20-25% off, but here's the problem...   I am NOT going to stand in line to get in, fight a bunch of crazy, rude people to place my order, get the TV, and then wait in line to pay for it.   What I'd like to do is buy it now (or anytime before the store runs out) and pick it up after the craziness settles down in a day or so.  Any ideas on how to do this?  I'm in no rush... anytime between now and oh, say, Christmas would be okay.   Maybe I could find the model that will be on sale, put it on layaway, and then pick it up at the lower price?  Or, buy it and then get a refund for the difference later... I know some businesses do this.  Has anyone done this? Would it work?  What about buying it online when the deal starts and picking it up later?   Surely, some smart people have figured out a way to avoid the craziness and still get a good deal. So, how can I/we do this?

Books I've read over the past year with a few comments.   Brad Thor books... all good to great. Matthew Bracken... not well written. I read all three in the Enemies... series but I probably won't read any more of his works. Business Model Generation: An outstanding read for anyone starting or growing their own business. It's about how to build a strategic plan around your business. Ender's Game: Better than I thought it would be, since it's about a little kid saving the universe. Life After Life: Raymond Moody's classic about life after death written nearly 50 years ago. Pretty limited in scope, but a good, objective read it you're new to the subject. I read it many years ago and on a whim, decided to read it again. Starship Troopers: Heinlein's classic. A good military read that stands the test of time. Quite a bit different from the movie. Restaurant at the End of the Universe: Okay. Not as good as a Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Backwards: Another life after death book that has been highly acclaimed, but which was very disappointing to me. It was very poorly written and so repetitive in Part I that I kept thinking I had inadvertently lost track of the pages and was rereading the same text. Otherwise, Parts II and III are very good. There are much better books in the genre, such as Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls by Newton. Clive Cussler's first three books: Disappointing. My favorite hero Dirk Pitt came across as sexist and misogynistic. Cussler didn't hit his stride in writing until the mid-1980s apparently, because I love his books from the mid-80s to early 2000s.

You might want to consider the Kel Tec Sub 2000 in 40 cal Glock magazines. It's already small, lightweight, short barreled and has the added benefit of interchangeable magazines with Glock 40 cal handguns. It retails for less than $400 when you can find it.  I don't know if the 40 caliber has enough stopping power for 100 yards. Someone else will have to comment. If you go to www.theKTOG.org website, you'll find ways to add a scope to the Sub 2000 and retain it's folding ability.  Folded, it can be carried in a backpack or a very large laptop bag.

I live NW of downtown. The schools aren't as desirable, but since you don't have kids yet, it would be okay for renting. I'm maybe 15 minutes from Pleasant View closer to Ashland City and Briley Parkway.  It's maybe a 15 minute drive from my house to downtown. The downside is that it's rural so it's hard to find rentals or even decent houses near where I live.  Pleasant View has some nicer homes, but it's a few more minutes away from town, depending on how close you are to the Interstate.   I'd suggest you decide where to locate the business and then move away from town a comfortable driving distance. Be sure to test the drive during rush hour morning and afternoon. Some highways are awful during rush hour.   www.Zillow.com will show homes for sale, give you pics, and show their location on a map. You should check it out. It also shows some rentals.

Great thread... thanks for all the input. I've bought a 5.11 tactical vest, but for around town and especially in the Vanderbilt area, I'm looking at this North Face vest.   http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/mens-jackets-vests/men-39-s-nuptse-heights-vest.html?variationId=044&variationName=GRAPHITE%20GREY   At $180 and a North Face logo on front AND back, it screams rich, pampered yuppie who wants to save the baby seals, whales, and the environment.   No one would expect Anton Glock to say hello from under this garment, and that's the way I like it. 

I just ordered a 5.11 tactical vest. I can't say how good it is until it gets here. They are on sale at LA Police Gear right now.  I'm thinking of also getting the 5.11 covert vest or the Scottevest Travel Vest. I don't think the Scottevest would carry all the stuff you want to carry, though. Its pockets are more of a passport, iPod, sunglasses type of vest.

I'd suggest you go with the 410. Compared to other purchases in life, shotguns are cheap and easily re-sellable.  Get her a 410. Get the lightest load and let her get accustomed to shooting it. It's more important that she enjoy shooting and become a lifetime enthusiast/gun owner than getting the absolute best recoil to kill ratio weapon.  I've been married 39 years. Don't screw this up. Get her the lightest impact possible. When she adapts, move up. Post your 410 here when she gets tired of it. Unless you totally overpay, you should be able to get within $50 to $75 of what you paid for it.   Do NOT try to optimise firepower for a spouse. She will just wind up hating shooting. Start with what she will find comfortable and then move up when she is comfortable.   We have a Rossi 410 Circuit Judge tactical stock in the bedroom with a laser sight. The drill is 1. Turn on the laser. 2. Put dot on bad guy. 3. Pull trigger. 4. Repeat as necessary. Yeah, I agree that it's not ideal, but three 36 caliber balls at 1100 feet per second should do a decent job of discouraging a bad guy from continuing to do whatever he was planning to do. If not, that's what step 4 is for.  :cool:

I like Cholula. It was recommend to me 12 years ago. I've tried a lot of hot sauces since then, but it remains my favorite.   ...but since this is from Tennessee, I've give it a try.

For pocket carry, I carry either the Kel Tec P3-AT 380 of the Kahr PM9.  For me, the key to pocket carry is an extremely thin, solid holster that covers the trigger and won't slip in the pocket or come out with the draw. I make my own pocket holsters out of the plastic sides of one gallon water jugs. I curve it around the gun and then tape it together with gaffers tape. A holster weighs less than one ounce and adds about 1/32 of an inch to the thickness in the pocket. I have some remora holsters too, but I use them for IWB carry.   To me, the limitations to pocket carry are weight and thickness. After that, it's whatever you like. I've tried the Glock 26, but it's just to heavy for me, but then I'm a real small guy.

I'm looking for a vest for concealed carry this winter and I was hoping someone would have some suggestions on vests.  I'm considering the Scottevest Travel Vest and the 5.11 Tactical Covert Vest but I'd consider any other recommendations.  I'm not sure that either of these vests are capable of carrying a handgun in the vest pocket, however. The 5.11 appears to have a through-access pocket that allows you to draw from the waist, but since I'd almost never wear the vest zipped up, that would seem to be a waste of time.  I'd prefer something that doesn't look too tactical or too much like a Carhartt vest.   I hate buying a clothing item without trying it on first. :-\