Monday, September 30, 2013

Last day of September, thunderstorms wake me...

Sipping fresh coffee, trying to get up some excitement at checking the weekend's Lottery tickets against the numbers. No, the coffee is great but I do realize that normal efficiency of the government in running any program means that they should be losing billions and billions of dollars to folks like we... so what is different? Are the games really just an extension of traditional criminal syndicates - who knew how to account for even the skim of the skim? Can't get excited about that. My wife pushed a strange button on the machine, and ended up with a Seahawks Scratch ticket, I cleaned it off, found no wins and then they want you to submit the ticket for loser drawings. Another fine way to get individual information to sell to those needing more potential victims.

The total rainfall for September here in Washington State should be higher than normal, a river is running down the street. If I make morning breakfast and dine I will be prepared to row away later. Only forty more pounds to very slim pickings... like that is going to happen soon. Our Sunday school teacher returned for coffee fellowship, had major heart surgery - parts of his memory are hiding from him, he has really shrunk, and he looks tired. But everyone was glad to see him getting around and smiling gently, and all hoping they never have to suffer so much, because they know they won't do it as gracefully and gratefully. Just not that fine a folk, need more saving.

So tomorrow is the government shutdown, do they dare? I mean, what happens is the people go find a life without the benefit and obligations to a failed state. Like the king is dead, and haven't got time for another king in one's life. Really, do they dare shut it down? I was watching the sequester effect, on the Blue Angels, and such. We miss them but can catch YouTube reruns, can't we? I was watching Star Wars trilogy yesterday, and falling asleep in the first video, but looking hard at the last two. Wishing Lucas would do the last three episodes, on Computer animation if nothing else. Too many authors seem to die before finishing their series, then someone tries to finish it and it never is the same.

Well, time for breakfast and then job searching, a bit.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

So you are getting dressed for church...

And the big decision point comes in the process, which caliber and with piece am I going to carry, concealed. I have been told that it would have much to do with who I am, 45 or 9mil? I would be going with the 45, then do I take the stainless steel one, the nickle plated one, the basic black, the one with the gold inlay and ivory (almost) grips? Should I use full metal jacket or hollow points? So many decisions in being a proper fellow.... what to do what to do. I am only a simple man, a humble man. I will have to wear my pensive Mickey Mouse tie - then the brothers at church will know I am carrying on.

Hope your Sunday worship and fellowship is blest by God, for He is good.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Have a nice weekend, my favorite barista says...

Doesn't she know, that every day is Saturday in my life, except Sunday. But she is a nice young lady, she knows what I like and 24 oz of black coffee works wonders after the work out. Hmmm, didn't even get to post my 10K rowing nor the 13.5 miles biking. Will do that after this post.

I was commenting on Facebook about a news report about the Appleseed shooting clinic in New York, the one written about was in New York City, but the pictures were from outside the city at another Appleseed in New York.  It wasn't a bad report, missed a few points, got some History wrong but mostly a positive write up about the activity. One of those commenting to my post started beating the RWVA up for not coming out and saying we support the Constitution and the 2nd Amendment. Although we shoot rifles, we teach marksmanship and tell the History of April 19, 1775 - the organization doesn't take a modern political stand, which actually isn't a modern stand - the 2nd Amendment was needed along with the other nine in order to get the states to ratify the new government. But the RWVA doesn't teach that at all, and is not going to voice any opinion on what anyone wants from today's government. There are lots of very vocal, very active groups defending the 2nd Amendment. As I pointed out my problem with those that can't understand English and have difficulty reading started in 1934 with the NFA (The National Firearms Act). But I never bring that to the Appleseed. There is so much to do in two days to get shooters the full course of instruction.

I finished reading Killing Jesus by Bill O'Reilly and his helper, don't bother - he uses the same stuff he used in Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy, and presents it as badly. If you don't know much about Romans, and their empire becoming more tyrannical then you should read it. You will recognize current political activities to protect the ruling elite and their excesses. But if you were looking for some proof of Jesus the Son of God, or even Jesus the son of Man. You will find the name, some of the story, and all of the rumors of miracles but none of the truth. They didn't go there. Which makes me think that the authors really are believers, and have in no way committed to making you one in this book.

I had posted my RWVA Appleseed trail on my sidebar, so I could keep track, and when reviewing the Eagle Creek, OR 11-12 December 2010 
I found a new entry, about Jason firing a very nice target about two weeks after that Appleseed, with the target. I made a comment about that and his father came back with a link to when Jason earned his Rifleman patch he seems to have cleared a Red Coat and scored 219, with a very fine looking rifle. That was a particularly fine Appleseed (Dec 11-12m 2010), very wet but lots of good shooting, splashing and one of my final ones as I headed for the exit. I am back, have Coupeville on Whitbey Island to Shoot Boss. My point to the commenter that doesn't like the RWVA and Appleseed because we won't make a modern commitment to the political chaos of America - we teach safe rifle marksmanship, and talk about a governor that tried to disarm the public, and failed. We are focused on the front sight, and keep hitting the target - he is focusing on the target and misses the point...

 


Thursday, September 26, 2013

Who is defining you, what you do and what you want?

If you are going to the media to find out, well, they must be the ones. No wonder I keep turning the cable off the video feed on to the audio - the Blues are on. Now no one knows who I am, what I do and what I want...

I bring that up because I am going to do some reading on my Kindle and want the world to know that I have departed the noise.

Appleseed and New York, an interesting point of view but not the way I would have explained it. The Revolutionary War Veterans Association is still defying King George and the Parliament, and Lord North. For some reason we think and can support our case with better marksmanship.

I like Appleseed events of ten to thirty fine folks coming to learn and be persuaded that they can be better Americans, once they get off the couch. Death by recliner is no way to go. Take care out there.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Still talking in the Senate, in the UN, over coffee...

That is a very important survival technique - keep the conversation going - when you have run out of words there aren't many options left. It is so easy to die or to kill and talking seems to slow that down, a bit.

As always I am thinking about the end of our world - since we don't seem to work hard enough, live close enough to people we love and can depend upon, we are not at this time ready for that 'end of the world as we knew it'. So we die or are killed off.

That human has an animal base - needs food, water and waste elimination, and a certain range of temperatures and an amount of sunlight. Then the mental part that defines a human being kicks in, and self interest and logic progression makes one choose the path to personal goals, remembering what works, projecting out comes for actions contemplated... and survival is better. This is where cooperation and Pyramid building resides. There is a spiritual element, base much of it around love - that willingness to die that others you love will live on. What are you fighting for? The Legion was the reply... given by non French soldiers in some forsaken corner of History. Shared values, shared future, and lots of forgiveness and real love and then the whole survival thing would be assured. But then the collapse of civilization as we know it wouldn't happen, would it? My problem is I don't see enough real loving people in positions of power, which are why the parts aren't working well, too much I and not enough you and us'ns together on the same little planet.

Kind of like worrying about which firearm to defend yourself with.... HERE. I would have wondered how one got to that point that someone was attacking you in your home, your outpost, your manor, your minor castle, your tribal lands or your nation state. How did you allow that to happen? Did you make excuses for others and bad manners, uncivil conduct and vulgar language? Did you make sure they were hungry, cold and angry? Did you share your good works, good sense and fortune enough to promote their own accomplishments? Did you allow a lie to stand unchallenged? Size of firearm is always compensation for lack of male member? Did you allow government (and the fools that think they control it) to believe that it was more important than a live human at every point in his life?

They do study and write books about the why things fell apart, or they throw money at it because it was too big to fail --- or some throw tanks and airplanes, or suicide bombers or more lies, can't we all just get along?

Individuals, family, clan, and tribe... need much more study, understanding why humans only work that way before they can re-establish civilization and law.  Law seems to become needed when the spiritual is lacking. Kind of like the parents that have to impose limits on their young, the Alpha wolf will nip the cub, but continued lack of progress towards a sound pack member will cause the Alpha to kill the cub. Animal, but surviving.

Considering the collapse of nations in the past, Russia, France, China there were lots of people that died until the nations settled under some kind of authority - but as interdependent the world is now, how many will die if the grid fails and the truckers stop moving stuff? Can a planet Earth be too big to fail?

Monday, September 23, 2013

For our Posterity, again!

Another Appleseed bites the dust, not that there was any dust to be found this weekend. Port Townsend and the Sportsman Club was just down the road, about two hours and a bridge toll away. Beautiful country up there, and seemingly far from the King County Seattle-Tacoma metro madness. Seemingly. There was a special farm/resort for sale close to the range, actually lots of cool property for sale in that area I liked looking at.

Jay was the host coordinator, and had about eight young shooters, or never had ever shot shooters, signed up, Four were dropped off with his rifles, and visiting/viewing parents (very proud ones I would say) and he, would finally get on the line, shoot his own Rifleman score and be arm twisted into taking an Instructor in Training (IIT) orange hat for continuing his walk along the Appleseed Trail.

And the weather announcing the beginning of Fall was waiting to impress us mightily on Sunday, ripping corners up on targets or completely off the target backer, or just blowing the whole line down. A rifleman loves a challenge. A great bunch of folks, and good time had by all, and many were repeating participants, or expected to be returning to another Appleseed down the road. Looking forward to them. Port Townsend, WA, 21-22 September 2013.

How does one keep the passion in the romance? How does one keep looking at one's love with love, are we condemned to become jaded and give less than our best to the people that come, especially because we know it all, and they are so far behind our progress? That is the day you shouldn't have shown up, because you become part of the holier-than-them.... and clouding the water. Take a well deserved break, go towards your new love and be fondly remembered and talked about. Honest.

I am not going to take a break, just pace myself, and do some perfecting as I prepare for the next time, next month. Keep doing the tough work, of preparing for the collapse, or the wonder of Peace on Earth, or just having a happy healthy life.  There are so many depending, unknowingly, on you and your performance - the important ones you haven't met yet. Posterity, what has been done for you? 


Saturday, September 21, 2013

Just because I am an American

I am going down the road to instruct rifle marksmanship and the heritage of April 19, 1775. And am happy, be in the Spirit.