oh, CNN had a Republican Candidate Debate? I thought CNN was democrat...

  I don't really want to discuss the debate, since it was intended to draw audience for commercial promotion of products that I probably won't buy, and since it is to present the prettiest possible fantasy Super President of the last Superpower...  come on, don't you see the Trump versus the field drama and excitement? What that has to do with being Presidential?

  If I think Americans would have difficulty deciding what America stands for... I also believe they would have trouble deciding what a President is supposed to be and do  Article II, sections 1-4, it is all there. You may wonder why President's get a 'by' on their poorer performance, it is because their oath of office is to 'to the best of my ability' while many of the other oaths are 'to defend and obey' without a cautionary clause to protect the life of the oath giver.

  Which gets me to my evaluation of the candidates: If I wouldn't follow that person into combat, then I am not selecting - nor electing - nor willfully supporting that person as President. I have to trust that person to defend the nation, to do good things in my name for the world, the nation and the LORD.

Lovely being me, just me, Earl the guy at the back of the room...

  The guy that walked on stage carrying a trunk and walked back off not saying a word. Ligonier Valley Players production... I was there.  I have to admit I cannot claim the main character status in any story not my own, and no one would pay to read nor view it.  Lucky am I that nothing dramatic surrounded my choices and chances in my life.  No public acclaim nor acknowledgement needed, thank you very much.  Have to thank God for placing me where I might help, or at least not get in the way of progress.

  Was a bit frustrated yesterday at the YMCA, not about how much exercise I did, for a fat old fool I did a fine twenty-five point seventy-nine miles in hours of sweaty good intentions.  And the ladies were lovely and there were many of the regulars and they said hi or acknowledged my existence with the head nod or wave. No, the two regulars I was looking forward to seeing and exchanging views with weren't there. At our age, there are too many reasons not to show up for the exercise, and two of the reasons, death and hospitalization, are just hovering in our future cause we have seen others on that road before. I am sure that everything is fine - just they have their own lives and don't always get a page in mine, but I should be able to write them into the adventures of the old guy whenever I want. Thinking I am in control of anything.  Maybe I anticipated too much.

  My mother's anticipation of her Fiftieth Anniversary celebration was ruined by my father's early departure, but then old folks do things like that. My wife came home with groceries yesterday, for the Men's Bible Study at our home in two weekends from now.  She has done major cleaning on the windows and the house twice for the same reason and the guest bathroom is off limits to me because she is hosting the hiking group this morning before they drive off. Anticipation makes preparations much better, but you can drive yourself and others crazy with obsessive behavior, can't you? With forty years of bumping into each others plans - my partnership (marriage in our minds) has well build fences to keep our minds from running loose and wild.  Yep, little drama here. We are settled down, we are stable, we could be in a rut and wheels spinning - but then maybe we don't want to go anywhere.  I looked into the passport renewal, and am sticker shocked by costs, didn't we pay our taxes?  Makes me think that we should just plan on walking around the border check points.

  You see, all my guns and all my ammunition and I am not in the nightly news with my arsenal, and for some strange reason the visit to the YMCA is going to work better for me than sticking up a convenience store or shooting it out on I5 in road rage.  Which is exactly why they won't write a book about me, they often aren't sure I was there once upon a time - so I am falling out of myths and fairy tales, too.  Still have that wonderful poem. "I met a man upon the stair, a little man that wasn't there, he wasn't there again today, gee, I wish he'd go away!"

I am obsesive and compulsive and silly...

   Oh how the time has fled... I once counted pushups and situps in the hundreds, once.  Now I have new goals for my fitness: leave the YMCA on my own two feet, don't let them wheel me out.  I keep working that one. A silly one was when tearing the paper towel from the machine after washing my hands, I was upset that the tear was always crooked... that last pull got weak or the technique was wrong, or I wasn't fast enough... But my last visit, I snatched it cleanly and now have a perfectly straight line cut.  Now on to doing that with weights! Or maybe not.

September 11, 1683 Vienna (Wien) that day the Europeans forgot and the Moslems never did...

  I won't even link to it, you should know that day was the first day of the Siege of the Austrian Empire by the Ottoman Grand Vizier, who had promised Rome and Paris right after taking down Austria.  Good movie with bad combat effects and some silly liberties with the truth to promote the story, that link is here.  I say the Europeans forgot it, but it is probably taught in Poland, Austria, Germany and countries of the former Yugoslavia... just a guess.

  So now, those crafty Moslem extremists are sending waves of military age refugees, with cell phones to Europe and other countries with Christian virtues and Western Civilization guilt complexes promoted by Marxist leaning professors - there are some real families that should be saved, but just ship the military age boys back unless the Foreign Legion needs new recruits.  I expect that since our governments have been promoting all kinds of foolishness, they will succeed in continuing their reign of terror and since they won't become part of the successful nations with good intentions that those nations will turn terrible in reaction or suffer destruction for lack of Godliness.  But then I study History and learn from it.

  Today isn't a holiday in America, it is a day of remembrance.  I remembered and went shooting my battle rifle, always a good thing to do.  With a new acquaintance at his very nice range.  He had some homemade reactive targets - like the shoot and see ones but full body size, and he had some interesting shooting drills - one round standing, drop to kneeling and fire two more same target, do again at the next distance, and then drop to kneeling and fall into prone at the longer distance.  Interesting.  Not a particularly timed event but it could be worked in... but why? two positions per target, just three rounds expended and total of nine for the course and then look and determine what would make it all better.

   A good challenge and I can always learn something, which I did.  Next month we meet to do some pistol work. That should be even better and more fun.  He gave me the big tour, talked much and introduced a few folks. Some serious older shooters there (the remainder of the world is busy paying taxes) and some nice special and specialized rifles on the benches.  A very fine day, and I don't even feel the least bit guilty for missing my YMCA period today.  Telling myself improvement in all directions begins tomorrow.

  My wife left me for church, revival this evening and a children's dance and choir performance from far away (the kids stay in different homes to sleep and snack).  She had a fine time relieving stress with friends, singing traditional songs loudly and performing... I wondered what stress she had in her really retired life. Then I remembered who her husband is and totally understood.

Reading the fears, so many fears fed...

    I don't fear firearms, I don't fear people with firearms, I am sure the Wild West was never as wild as the folks in Hollywood would want you to believe. I also don't fear the police nor the government agencies in their foolishness - which normally strikes when a bigger fool gets put in charge of something they have little idea about.  I want professionals to have the best training they can get, 83 shots that didn't hit the target makes me think the police need better training and they shouldn't be allowed to think more bullets in some direction are going to be effective.

   I don't fear refugees from terror, as long as they come as families and not from California.  For sure the people that come, have families and raise children and find work or start a business have done wonderful things for themselves and their families and our, "OUR" country.  Where are all our fears coming from? the media needing your attention, the half truths and sad truths thrown around to make you think it will happen to you if you don't do something, vote a certain party and want to be liked, loved and respected?

   I am still not running, one of those fears I haven't conquered yet... I wasn't like this once, what happened? It is too nice a world, a day, and a life not to participate fully to the limits the LORD has put within me.  May all your fears flee before the light of reality, not this shadow world of entertainment and rumor...

We're all American and proud to be... don't we wish the media would pick that up?

   I love being a 'real American'. but that is my definition and how I think of myself.  Everyone else, including my brother would try to box me up in his definitions of 'my problems', everyone should have a label - but it is foolish. We almost all were given a name, and answer to many that our parents wouldn't have used for us - but we know whom they were talking about... don't we?  Then I realized as the frenzy over Black Lives Matter - but truer still, all lives matter.  Then I thought about the fact that I am All American.  I like that description...  we are all American...  how we got here, when we came or even why we came... once we are here we become American... in the school of hard knocks and not in the politically correct sense.  You have been watching the refugee invasion that ISIS or just expanding Moslem solidarity is pushing on the 'guilty Europeans' who didn't start it and aren't responsible. There a some very rich countries that aren't taking refugees, with the same governments, religion and language. Anyway, we can take refugees, immigrants and terrorists - have in the past can do it again. Just get the government out of the business of government and watch us adjust and accept the strays from the world.

   Well, my wife got me a date today, so I went to lunch and met a nice man. We share an interest in shooting, we are both veterans, and we have time on our hands since the economy is so wonderful... or how to entertain oneself until reality smacks one's face into the dirt.  So after a nice lunch we are going to meet at his range and shoot rifles on Friday at nine, I also have to pick up my refill so I am still in touch with my frailty.

   I have classes to prepare for, one for Sunday school and about the Samaritan women at the well and how some people oppress those that are different... fifth graders, they should be able to handle it. And the Appleseed is coming up.  Hmm, best contact two people that haven't signed up to instruct yet. All the shooters have filled the slots.

I have it on good authority that men and women aren't the same...

   Actually, no matter how the popular culture tries to level the field, men and women aren't the same. And the PC policers will be crying that we have to include all those refinement in categories or acknowledges enhancements.  I being a simple man, know that men and women aren't the same.

   Pear sharing season, and my wife has skinned, cut, sliced and blended the pulp and made stuff which she shared well.  Which leaves a lot of excess vegetable matter which is fine for making into garden soil compost... except she won't wait upon Earl to get up and do it right. So she goes and tries (badly) to do it without me.  And then goes back to doing what she does best, making more vegetable matter mess... and I have to do that lot, and go find the mess she left me... she really hates me.  Being Sunday I have little choice except to forgive her and think again about locking that back gate to keep the bears out of the back yard - or my wife away from the composting which she doesn't do 'my' way.

   I studied John the Baptist this morning, preparing for Sunday School, fifth graders and they all are faster than I and I have to be prepared.. or was that in the Boy Scouts?

It is not just in what you call it, but how you intend to use it...

  So watching one of the most savage movies I have ever seen on the screen this afternoon, and the doorbell rings. I go answer it to find a large truck on the street with a large guy wanting me to accept his delivery, he says he will get it to my garage door.  Okay, I was expecting a serving tray and a drop leaf table from my aunt in Minnesota. She has been down sizing and sharing her treasures for years and these are the two she hadn't sent me before.

  Now I should have taken a before picture of the half pallet with two large plastic cardboard boxes on it. But I was remiss. If the Armed Forces had had packers and movers like my aunt's money hired, I wouldn't have lost so much broken and bruised or visibly antiqued furniture over my many moves.  Or I could have bought higher quality furniture? Well, it arrived well packed and I easily cut through the plastic wrap, then found the steel bands interesting (forgot what we used in Nam to get through them when unpacking ammunition) all I had on me was my trusty Leatherman Wave, so I opened the pliers and cut through half, then repositioned and cut the other half. Take it off. Back to cutting tape and plastic. Then inside the big box more cardboard triangle supports, and through them to get the drop leaf table out. There was almost three yards of bubble wrap around the serving tray.  After I swam through the plastic foam peanuts to find it.

   They sit in a place of honor in our dining room now. Pictures.

 Which brings me to my point about what you intend to do with it as opposed to what you call it.  As I found the interesting notice on the door of the YMCA telling everyone that it was a safe place - no drugs, alcohol or weapons allowed - I have been carrying the entire time, the police never take their equipment off either.  Why? Because we are carrying tools, tools that could become weapons upon need, but only tools.

   That terrible violent movie I was watching had the main character killing several men with a claw hammer, a most certain result of where he placed it violently.  But that was his intent, he would still call it a claw hammer and a tool.

  I am certain that I will be finding many more dangerous tools in the Home Depot, but it is the intent not the name one must worry about being on the receiving end of.

Awareness is very important... watching or studying something may not be true...

  In the world where someone is going to kill you... you aren't normally aware until you face the pain and the fury and then have to respond to it. Whole courses on survival are taught in the military as a extra level of proficiency in working as a unit in not normal conditions, you have to be aware, get the basics quickly because as water evaporates, cold freezes and more misery is to be forever endured your animal response is hibernation and that doesn't promote awareness. Not much thinking will be done.

   In the normal world everything is hunky-dory, and then it isn't. The policies of the government are mostly behind the times, the reality and looking for more information... and guess what? The government deciders aren't the ones dying. So Katrina comes ashore, Hurricane Sandy slams the boardwalk... people saw the storms coming and clung to what they know best as long as they could.

   If you were in Afghanistan when the Soviets left, or Iraq when the Americans departed, or any country after the last power shift, economic or political disaster - you don't leave until you know you must. Then you look to somewhere safe and you move. There is a fine movie from China :
Remembering 1942, worth your time although it is a hard movie and a real but sad story of a family not being aware, a government that doesn't care, and neighbors that just won't share.

  All immigration is the moving of people to new pastures, but when you consider them refugees you have a better idea of what the people moving are going through. They are on an adventure, not a final journey to the graveyard, they come looking for work, a place of safety, a place to enjoy life remaining. Europe and the almost empty (not crowded) industrialized countries are waiting for them. The Germanic tribes moved into the weakening Roman Empire, the result was different, but they became more civilized as a tribe. People move away from danger and chaos - if you think your nation is safe and you don't need to worry about the crazy leaders of other countries - you don't understand how small Earth is and most of it is water.

   I am wondering where all the civilized citizens are going when the whole thing collapses. Have you a place in your future to flee to, to have shelter, food and water? There will be lots of work, very little law and manners will be frayin' and hearts beating fast. Are you seeing what is going on? Or are we all labeling it something nicer that is nothing to fear and won't solve the problem?  For sure, see where you are before your history is on the Discovery Channel.

Seems to be major image problems... fed by media hype.

   There is a fine fellow out there blogging privately on Dadscribe.com about his views and for sure he had some about the NRA and the sticker many members put on the back of their automobile. Here.
Almost needless to say, Facebook posting of the blog put his blog up for attack from the gun goofs, those of us that would laugh at his fears wouldn't add fuel to his fire. Anyway, it didn't take long for the perception that he was in even more danger to bubble up in his mind and he went private and the post is inaccessible. Nicki at the Liberty Zone wrote a thoughtful rebuttal to his words and fears. Here.

   As I discuss the coming end of the world with my wife, in front of the cable monitor I remind her and myself that what is on the cable will each time shown be another new incident in our constant recording brain of what we saw and participated in. That normal nice people seldom get on the news nor in front of the camera. That entertainment media will sell sex and violence constantly, to bring attention to its sponsors and their products. The more you listen and watch the media the farther out of norm your perceptions will fall. Way, way far from truth.  We all have someone that watches too much muck, and it colors their lives. Unless the muck is from a local swamp, mud hole and is near the pig wallow - then it is real.

   Two terms from the antigun goofs - it will be like the 'wild west' when everyone has a gun, and 'I support the 2nd Amendment but...' both based on false information in their minds. If they tell you they support the 2nd Amendment ask them to repeat the words, and explain them. If they tell you it will be like the 'wild west' (which has been long an accepted media hype of frontier living), how did most humans die in that wild west? Hunger, thirst, accidents, disease and lack of the big three needs (food, water, rest) not violence. I won't tell you that there wasn't violence, but it was never the big killer. But if you are going to write a book based on the travel journal of John Archer, it won't be a best seller, if it was based upon his daily thoughts about crossing the great desert to get to Oregon. It would be in the University library or State archives for scholars to read.

   The NRA is blamed for a lot that it never does, but then even it wants more members living in fear of losing their firearms - and the people that want everyone to lose their firearms are out there, and working hard to deny them. So it is almost true, I would want the antigun goofs to have to carry a firearm to protect each person they denied the right to keep and bear arms.  But then I really don't, I expect one to take care of themselves first, family and community - in that order. And to live as if they have personal contact with their Creator and are in constant communications with same.

I am wearing two brand new knives today... I am only fifty pounds and a couple IQ points from awesome...

  My two knives showed up, nice enough for my work, will have to sharpen them a bit. For being a major German knife maker they were produced in China, sigh. Well, I have kept them from keeping them until the migration. On Korean news, their President (a woman) was announcing that they would recover from the recession with hard work and virtuous conduct and calm. But Americans haven't figured out they are riding on a bubble and haven't any liquid to make more with... Ah, it will be ugly.  My only advice is to pay off all debts and be prepared to buy land with all rights.

  My progress in fitness was twenty more miles at the YMCA, took my wife to get her time on the track in. The rains were light, the air is heavy with moisture and cool, hope it makes it over the Cascades to the eastern dry burning and dumps a load or two. I think I will read Caesar's Invasion of Britain by Ellis.

Death by recliner... how recliners kill more people every year than guns.

  I have long held that I am dying by recliner use. I can ruin my health by just watching a weekend of football games. From the bench or from the bleachers or from the recliner - needless to say, I can see a lot more football in comfort from my recliner on a big screen.  Just have the kid or a well trained dog go get me another cold beer.

  Okay, you might know I don't have a kid at home now, nor a well trained dog, and that I don't drink beer... but sitting too much is terrible for your health.  My mother loved to read, watch game shows, and sit and sometimes write letters and poetry. She did it with more modern methods as the years went by, but she was the woman that walked to her car, put the dog inside and drove to the dog park, and sat and watched the dogs run and play.  My Dad would get the leash and walk the dog to the park and play a bit (throwing a tennis ball) or stand and talk to other dog walkers about whatevers. Then he would walk back. Now Dad went to his reward sooner than my mother, but all the elder women in my family are widows, just a fact.  In her later years it was more and more difficult from my mother to get around, we even got to the point of a recliner that would lift her to her feet so she could progress around with a walker.

  So, since I am not the slim young fellow from long ago and far away, and I don't feel confident enough to jog enough to burn up all the ice cream and sugars stuffed in my face by automatic stimuli response... I have gone back to standing at the computer, and workbench and in the yard.  For sure it is a big step in the correct direction to over come gravity, the gravity that keeps pulling me down... down... down.

Leader of the FreeWorld... or just another pretty face...

   The pastor was preaching with passion today, got so many of us fired up - I even told the Sunday school fellow I would follow his lead on Sunday school next week.

   It is good to get stirred up, for good things. My wife was working on food for the fellowship all day so I didn't see much of her in church, but we found each other periodically. Old folks don't do much bad, like to think they are so slow that all their energy is for good, would work for me. When I get to the point I realize how old I am, someday.

   That passion the preacher had was way better than most of the politicians and others running for major office, more like the passion of the parades of folks against Planned Parenthood. They seem to be out in force, would be nice to see some leadership, but I notice that it isn't at the top of the list of things wrong with America that we can fix, that most of us aren't supporting so why is the government doing it? Should be the question about all of those troubling things that just aren't right.

   I have decided that running as the write-in Candidate for President is where I stand - not asking for money, power nor sponsorship - won't owe anyone of y'all anything except to try and do my best to work on things that really need fixed. Government debt, value of the dollar, investing part of the Social Security Trust fund in the broad stock market (as soon as you say that, people start figuring ways to steal from that idea for themselves or to use the power of shares of stock to change the world). Eliminating large government groups of goofs, and just hire some experts for particular jobs.

  I am sure I won't win the election, since it has always been rigged for certain groups at different times. But then to tell the truth, if I were needing to follow a human in office for my best efforts - I would not have a relationship with the LORD, and that would be a very sad day for me and thee. None of us need the government, we designed it because we wanted to be left alone to do our best, and while we were sleeping all kinds of fools and folly took over those good intentions by the founding fathers.  History says we will always go wrong, just the way humans are.

Okay the ladies are now qualified Rangers, but not being assigned to the Ranger regiment or battalions?

 
A lot of people are making noise about the two females who completed Army Ranger school. Can anyone tell me if they both met all the physical standards their male counterparts were expected to meet? I don't know, that's why I'm asking. Thanks.
If both met the same standards before women were allowed in the program, then good on them and congrats. If the standards were changed and they were "accommodated", then I personally think their completions of the program are nothing more than the equivalent of a PC participation trophy. That is all.
       Reply: William Earl Dungey Don't be so hard on them, they are only girls. Why the command believes that they had to graduate to prove something might be as troubling as why any women would believe they have to get a Ranger course to prove they are as tough as men. I don't have a tab, I just have the Ranger Handbook and I can read so I am as or more qualified to be a tough man as they are.   And my brother thinks one tough woman should kick my butt to show me they are better than I am, well, I am just a fat old man. But I would remain too dangerous for a few more years, even as slow and mellow as I am now.

   It is an Army school, where graduating is the norm and not impossible, they should be wearing the Ranger Tab proudly. And should know that won't do them any good in a bar fight, in the real jungle and all our enemies will treat them like they treat all American women.  They will be treated wonderfully by the press, by other women - maybe, by most people that know nothing about combat infantry and small units against stiff odds.  They will also be competing against the male officers for promotions - equally - NOT. Now they have the tab they will stay special, the first. Poor men, that have been graduating the course since 1950 will be second. And as tough and capable as they are, I am not following them. Sure if I were in the military I would have to obey their lawful orders, and disappear as fast as only I know how.  If they are great officers, and work hard and have real leadership, I really might work well with them... but they never had to have a tab for that to happen. You see, I know most officers aren't great, many are just good, and then there are the really stupid ones and the bad ones and the ones no one wants to be around.  Luckily for the American army, that is only a small percentage, very small.

   But the other truth they know and you should know, too. That PFC Smith did everything those two West Point officers did, everything. Also that in combat operations, infantry sergeants are supposed to be able to do all that the ranger course teaches. And if the sergeant dies, some one of his patrol, squad or platoon steps up and accomplishes the mission. This isn't rocket science.

   Two characters from Space Opera combat fiction - Honor Harrington and Adele Mundy - both women, both of noble houses, honorable, and both great fighters and leaders.  I like reading about each, mainly because the male authors treat them as female men... I know nothing about women, like them but women have other values and experiences than I.  Adele Mundy, is a librarian, spy and cold blooded killer - and she I understand best, really. Honor Harrington is the Horatio Hornblower of the Napoleonic Wars moved into David Weber's space future. Adele Mundy is much closer to my values and perceptions than Honor Harrington. I do read the same type of fiction and fantasy from female writers, enjoy them, but never find any understanding of combat, and way too much sex and romance for me to enjoy. And killing is just not the way it got written there.

  Remember, that the first two female officers to graduate from the Ranger Course and get their tabs, they were there, they met the standards and so did PFC Smith.  But it was cheaper to send him to the training than it was the ladies. I have to wish all the graduates of the Ranger Course with their new tabs well, hope they have a very fine future in the US Army.  So glad that I never went to school and earned the tab, would mean that I would have to think it was like a ribbon everyone gets for showing up, and that women could actually now be as good in combat operations as I, which I don't accept. But then I think women are very valuable for civilization, and war has never been civilized nor the best of civilization. Only godless communists and stupids from the PC crowd would waste women, so needlessly. I often am with the Chinese, you don't waste good steel on nails for horseshoes.... iron will do.

Have you ever been a young man, with hormon control problems?

   I have been a young man, love to think I was one for many more years than I really was... I was at a church picnic and another man touched my wife and I could have killed him, didn't but his eyes hit the BugEyed size that means 'deep fear and what is making you ugly'. I was almost ashamed of myself, but I wasn't apologizing - my world says if I touch a woman I had best be on my very best behavior. So, I have current culture problems with casual sex with 'friends' or cause some one 'needs' it... and a host of other things I am not able to discuss because I am a healthy repressed male - I don't fight nor fling as much as I ought to - just not PC nor current cultured enough.

  If I were to make the world a better place, all the males would learn to fight to the death and stop upon command. Really, our life needs warriors - not murderers - warriors. There are bad and evil people out there that will do terrible things for ungodly reasons. So we need warriors.

   Women can fight, and can kill, and it doesn't make me think that I want women to be fighting for me, nor that I can follow the orders of a woman that has rank or position over me in combat. Remember, I have been a young man, I have little trouble leading men into battle knowing some will die, all must kill well and expecting all the men to carry their own weight, and to step up and take over when I can't. But no women can do that, not for this young man, with this young man nor for this young man.

   So in the days when everyone has to fight to save the Soviet Union, the NVA, the Communist Parties of anywhere - women have had to put on uniforms pick up guns, fly planes or whatever and fight. Remember I said they can fight - but they don't fight nor lead men in combat well. Men attacked by women (all cultures) have no respect for women warriors, they treat them like meat and do whatever they want with them. Likely rape is first, cannibalism is next and last is feed them to the dogs.

    Seems that the Department of Defense is under the same stupidity that the socialists and current culturist where gender doesn't matter and everything must be fair and equal.  So we got our first two graduates of the Ranger course and they met every standard and will now lead other young men into combat in one of the three Ranger regiments.... NOT! But stupidity doesn't ever stop anywhere and it can strike for all kinds of reasons. You won't win any wars by increasing the number of women in uniform for combat. You won't. We won't, they won't but for sure there are two men somewhere that didn't go to Ranger course because we had two women that had to graduate so they could prove wearing a Ranger Tab means nothing.  There are a lot of soldiers that couldn't go to the school, they have to be selected and pass pre-Ranger, then wait their turn and go. Working hard to make sure nothing happens like broken bones or fever or drowning. It has always been a great course of instruction, until the cadets figured out a whole class could strike. Still, it is a great course, and I am sure that the two women learned a lot, I hope they write a book about it, but I bet they aren't really sure that they might not have made it, if they had been a young man.
 

So, I don't seem to be blogging... what is going on?

   Good question. I have hit the doldrums... I can't even mow the lawn, that is how locked into just existing I seem to be.

   I have been cleared by my doctor to return to my normal exercise pattern, so he specifically said I could run. I didn't ask if I was safe for sex, the idea of pills is out of television commercials and poor old Hugh Heffner.  My wife's television gave up the picture, I went and found a replacement, smaller and much cheaper. I am waiting on some parts then I will finish the job and make it all better.  About the running, I will have to get over the unspoken fears in my mind. I am almost positive that the body can handle it - just the Earl I have concerns about.

   Well, time to head for a good sweaty workout at the YMCA, then I can return and see if I can do something productive around the home.

   Y'all have a great weekend, don't forget, this is the Liberation Day for all those that suffered under Imperial Japan.

In case you missed it...

   FOXnews had a big meet the Republican Presidential candidates debate on Thursday, which worked very well for FOX and the people answering questions.  And because all the media is now the circus you didn't have to watch to know - who won, the best sound bites, and where the drama will come from in future debates. My opinion of Megan Kelly, Chris Christie, and some Senator from South Carolina is so low they won't recover. I was impressed with the lone lady on stage, Marko Rubio, and the Ohio governor.  Having said that only two of them would I vote for, and Trump has nothing but good taste in women and bad taste in manners and ideas about government. But you don't need me to tell you anything about the American beauty pageant to pick the next President.

   I find the EPA, in order to prevent a terrible pollution, caused a terrible pollution.  Didn't I say something about the government never being as effective as private business? For some strange reason, power projection I expect, the government and all its agencies continue to expand their control and impact upon America. What comes of that is very slow growth, erosion of the value of the dollar (no, I won't call it inflation) and a world and peoples that don't trust the nation nor the way it seems to be going.

   What can we do about it? 'We' can't do anything, you can take care of yourself, your family, your friends, your work, your investments, your property. You will never, ever be as strong and nasty as the State and its minions. But you are smaller and quicker, so keep quiet and move slower than one minute of angle per hundred, they should miss you being there at all.  I am more certain every day that Ron Paul was correct about what needs to be done to restore America - but am also sure there are way too many low information voters and too many dollars from the controllers to make the changes needed for a smooth restoration.  So it will be ugly, and harder and harder, and something new and better may come from the end.  Being a student of History, I expect bad things from more government. 

Woke up thinking of hunting this morning.. cool promise of rain in the air...

  Looked at Facebook, marked as read and left not a track... said good morning to my wife, stood on the scale and decided it was lying to me, but liked the lie anyway. Didn't turn on the boob tube, was that so named because only boobies watch it, or the fools find the boobs? Although I would be uncomfortable with so much feminine flesh flaunted, I have noticed the Latin ladies seem to laugh more so they jiggle and makes me think Americans are modestly repressed...

  Back to heating oatmeal, milk and raisins - while making coffee, mulling that Pat Man had moose for his morning sunrise shot, his father remarked the moose with her two calves is giving the ranch dogs something to bark about, waking up, Idaho.  Break an egg over the oatmeal, mix, return to microwave for finishing. Get first mug of coffee and go do breakfast on the back porch. Spend some contemplation time watching the eastern cat sitting on my fence watching me watching it. I am boring and too big to hunt, it moves down the top of the fence going for the garden, knowing the mice have trails there. One quiet stalk through that jungle, makes me wish I had a telephoto camera to take some pictures, and then off to the side to act like a rock... that doesn't work the western house pet arrives to see if the stalk missed anything, pardon my puss....  I see coordinated patrolling twice then they really impress me with contemplation, compression and leaping up the fence in two different directions.  The coffee is good this morning, I must have made it. As I look above the cat on the fence a high flying hummingbird hoovers making its mind up... shouldn't take too long, it has to be a tiny mind.


  Time to pack out for the YMCA, a mind is a terrible thing for the waist. I get to watch, talk and think as I sweat, there isn't much else on my menu.  Could my resolve be there? My motivation isn't, but then I am expected, if I had something to say I might even be listened to... hmm, I expect to hear about the cost of traveling to Yakima for training again. Some of us are very much like a record skipping back... well, someone has to do it, and since it is for my device tech - I will go and try to make my world interesting. Yard work will wait, the moles are popping up all over.

the nation has lost its moral compass.

God grants life and y'all kill it and sell it for parts, lots of little parts.

   Planned Parenthood has donated large sums of money (from a nonprofit business) to the Democratic Party. They didn't donate a dime to Republicans. Now it is clear to me, that Planned Parenthood is EVIL and works for the Satanic worshippers. Or, they aren't evil they are really doing to the unfortunate women that can't help themselves by virtue (which seems to be a myth just like honor - current culture saying that real people don't have to have virtue nor honor) a fine service. 

  Then they list a bunch of medical checkup stuff, that many women got from clinics and hospitals and doctors - pretending that is what they do - some of those items they will refer you to a clinic or doctor or hospital where you can get that particular service. They will also give you counsel and answer your questions - kind of, cause they won't swear to the truth, just a reasonable facsimile.  In the darkness, in their depravity, they will provide abortions to women that consent, especially women that wait long enough that the baby parts are harvestable. Not that anyone wants baby parts - we don't need no baby parts, we got deaths everywhere.

   There are some visuals circulating with rich white women sipping wine and talking about techniques to save the good stuff and shred the rest. For free not for a fee, but being careful could be assisted by proper compensation, a donation for the nonprofit organization so they can continue their good work and support the Democratic Party and the Butcheredbaby Bunch.  That is what is really going on under the name 'Planned Parenthood'.  Killing the unborn for the devil, and making the whole world their fertile fields.

   I was more concerned with the coming collapse of the empty coffers of the kingdom, with the lack of care for The Constitution and the letter and intent of the law - but the real end of America was pointed out by Senator Reid, no moral values. It is the true danger, no God, and you can't save yourself.  End of America, and of everyone else, when the point of worship becomes yourself, your fears and folly, it is all over. Satan wins.

   Oh, for those that are willing, there is a way to save your soul (you have to know you have one, I pray) and to align with the LORD. But it isn't cool, hip, and never will be easy - cause you start becoming old fashioned and out of step with the beat of the drums...

Starting my day with tea instead of coffee... what could be wrong...

  Seems like my congestion has dried up, no fever, no headache and normal disgust with folks that think the government is on their side. Good morning, Sunday. It looks beautiful outside my window and begins a promise of better things to come.

  My son and grandson did a whole eighteen holes of par three and I don't golf, but wished I had been there to watch. Think that will go on my list, have to sign back up for flights, and get my passport renewed (every ten years, time passes).

  Not wanting to spread my germs, we will go later to church, but my wife won't allow me to wearing my bandit kerchief over my face.  Win some lose some.

So, I need something to do well, for more than I and I pick...

  Restoring my country to Liberty, not greatness, not leadership of the world, not an economic powerhouse... just Liberty under the LORD. That last part makes many modern Americans squirmy, cause it is so misunderstood.

  All governments are about control of the populations under their control. They also evolve into an institution that may be often corrupted. Many organized religions are successful for the appearance of making the congregation 'Children of God' and many then ally themselves with the government power to protect the people, or so they believe. 

  The truth is you don't need the government, you don't need religion you can be the best you can ever be without either. Having said that, remember that Jesus didn't really establish a Christian religion, he presented the truth and was the way. He never said the Roman government should adopt his love for everyone, he never forced anyone to his path, he talked, he taught and was a living example.  His tale of the temptations while in the wilderness are critical. For those temptations are being accepted as a way to change everything, but they never have changed anything except the fool that picks those.

   You do need to find the LORD, receive guidance and work out your life as the noise of stupidity ramps up, you should do it often and vigorously. Find like minded folks and work in love for God and goodness. Don't worry, the government, which ever one takes charge because there are too many godless fools will decide that you have to die. It is going to happen to the worst and the best of the human beings. Honor your God, love His creation and don't worry about it as you spread the message and make you life count.

Yes, there are some people that should not be armed, especially dangerous...

but, if I told you that when you lose you ability to bear arms as a right of a human being, then you should also lose your ability to vote - what would you think then?  First they started with the disabled and maybe not so disabled veterans (you know those men and women that killed people and broke things for their government) make sure they can't commit suicide or murder by having arms.... yep, happens.  Not too many to make the politicians quake, because if they are taking medications for mental issues they can't be too safe. If you tied their ability to vote to the same thought process as bearing arms or being responsible for financial dealings then the folks in charge of getting live bodies to the polls might worry.

   So now, the government in all its goodness and greatness is going to disarm the old folks.  How many old folks have committed these mass shootings? drive-by shootings? We should just pass a law outlawing oxygen to anyone bent on using arms for evil. Regulation of the tools will never stop what starts in the mind of a human, they will always invent a way to perform what task they put their mind to.

Gosh, I am now Facebook famous, I am a 'Right Wing Troll'. Wouldn't Mom be proud?

 

 

You would ask, you must be a liberal.

 

? As usual, not a lick of sense out of a right wing troll.

 

Ah, you must know my brother. .... didn't think I was more than Earl, but you have labeled me more than such. ....

 

  It was really a much better day away than when I got back to Facebook, there is a real message there.

 

  I woke one minute before the alarm went off at 4 am, turned it off, hit the shower, weighed and dressed for shooting. Made coffee and breakfast gruel (no egg) and took my blood pressure and medications. Look at the computer and turn it off, so it doesn't mess with my Computer Cave while I am away. So I drive off into the early dawning morning for a three hour drive with little competing traffic. Eagle Creek, Oregon, here I come.

 

  Got there, parked said hello to a lot of familiar faces, and we moved to the trap shed and parked again for introductions and safety briefing then moved the stuff to the two hundred and fifty yard mark. Ben loves starting the Known Distance with a Daniel Morgan one round cold bore shot, so we were going to do that. All seventeen of these fine marksmen and women, were going to go and establish their credentials.  The first few seemed to have it locked, making it look easy, then a couple misses. It was only an eight inch steel plate painted white. Then a hit that really rocked it and set it swinging. It settles and a miss or two more.

 

  Then it is my shot, and I always laugh at steel targets, because I can't hear them cry out when struck. Someone else was going to have to listen for me. It was a perfect shot from my view. And when it hit the target went crazy and died, dropped and crawled off for a replacement. I saw all that, they should all be that good.  Made my day, so I packed  my stuff up and came back home. I earned my Daniel Morgan Rifleman patch with my M1 Garand, built in 1954 at the Springfield Armory, MA.

 

   Okay, Al convinced me to stay and keep shooting, only a hundred and twenty more rounds to go, shoot, paste targets, record scores, and remember to raise the target back up or shooting it in the pits wouldn't work (there is an artillery cure for that).

 

   I had a great time, there were lots of repeat Riflemen, and some very new ones made at the full distance -- but I wasn't one of them.  Seems I switched targets a bit (I was not alone, some fine .223 round was right there in the middle of my .30 target! great shot, Janer!)  I did show a couple of brilliant moments, 300 yards under time pressure, two rounds within an inch of each other. Three hundred yards were my best position, and as a timed transition I couldn't out think the shot. Must work on standing and sitting just for finding solid and steady positions. 

 

  Overall, I learned much about what I need to work upon. I also, in the cool quiet of my home, know that I was effective as a military shooter. Just not enough to meet the qualifications of the standard, score of 200 or better, or thirty of forty hits in the black. But I will be able to do either or both with more dry fire for good reasons, and live fire for grins. I will be back.

 

   Came back home to find the Marines lost more men, and a sailor was badly wounded in an attack by an Islamist Terrorist that couldn't out run justice in Tennessee law enforcement. A naturalized legal immigrant from Kuwait, that little country that couldn't... will have to add them to my prayers today. We all need help. 

Well, the flag thing is finished back to everyone gets a gun...

   I support the 2nd Amendment, and I have never been foolish enough to think the criminals that wish to harm me will disarm because the government says they must.  And after their time of punishment is over all their rights should be returned, including the one to keep and bear arms. I do think change is possible.  You do notice that no one has put me in charge, haven't you?

  So this morning when I woke and turned on the commercial exploitation of a captive audience to see what had happened in the night. I find Kerry has given Iran all it needed this week. Now the President and the Democrats have to sell this agreement as wonderful to the people, the silly ones that think there is something to fear in America's Evil past (yes, I am talking about the really stupid ones that are so much better than I).  Should be a slam dunk, something I will never do nor admire.

  In keeping with my position that more nukes still don't matter, just like more guns don't matter, I am not concerned. President Clinton made sure North Korea had nukes, and the war hasn't broken out there, yet. President Obama makes sure Iran has nukes, thinking everything is equal. But the neighborhood is going to ISIS, ISIL, or to pieces. Anyone vacationing in Lebanon, lately? My Facebook avatar is the Israeli flag, the background is the Third Temple.

  I study History, and I know there are real fighters in the United States, who will fight for their cause against the hordes of barbarians without mercy.  But there is going to be lots of innocent blood spilled because so many have not one real core value or belief worth dying for, or fighting for. Too long fed the nonsense that America is the problem, they really believe it is. Get in line get your latte and go on line for your morning marching orders... you just aren't going to be ready for when the grid goes down.

Thems that hast no sense of pride nor shame, just no pride...

  I was trying to figure out how the Confederate Battle flag got to be such a hot item, a topic of no discussion and just striking fear into the few of little mind and less history... how did the country go completely nuts?

  I mean, I don't have to have one, but I can't get one to show solidarity with History, an opposing view point, nor calm the fears of the feeble folks.  My Betsy Ross flag is perfect for all I am standing for, but really it is so close to the current American flag, few notice and if I had a circle of twelve stars with one in the center - fewer still would know that one, and if I put the Roman number three in the center only a few would understand but the fear factor would be fueled.

  But getting away from all the lies, and legends (don't want to promote Bill o'Reilly's books) I have long noticed the trend to bland out color... We once painted RED, Blues, and other vivid colors, fierce animals of long ago, mythical and marvelous on our steeds for battle, buildings and barracks and exercise areas... anytime we needed to hide mud and dies were around.  But in garrison we flamed and postured proudly, cause we were awesome!  Then would come a sergeant major that had read the regulations, a modern commander that wanted everyone to calm down and play nice, and the beige paint would start to blandly be rolled over the traditional tigers with big teeth and eyes burning bright.

  My high school was once sporting a hillbilly like Mountaineer with a jug of shine and a rifle and beard. Now, some bland ram - a male or transgender representing the sheep we were to become... so sad, a sheeple by nature... bah, bah, bah.

  So meaningful fighin' spirit has to be cartooned into comical, or bland and pastoral... sheep.

All the time you need in retirement...

  I wanted to fire twenty-four rounds of 30-06 from my M1, and drove off to do so. And found the Seattle to Portland bicycle race running across my highway to happiness, on East Gate Road. Didn't even slow me down, but it was motivational - I could wear those kinda tight slinky kind of racing clothes, after dropping fifty pounds and more training, Drill Sergeant!
 
   I got to the range early, but still took the last rifle position and set up to shoot three sighters and five on the 100 yard target.  And along came John, panting after a real old war rifle, drooling about how he wanted to shoot one, own one and a bunch of other things.  And I had bristled when he said 'olde' cause the rifle is six years younger than I.  I am a kinder and gentler fellow than my rifle, so I set up and talked to him and his shooting partners, friends of the kind that own rifles and ammunition, and being gun people willing to let him shoot theirs.  Of course, this is Bloomberg's Washington, so without a national background check no one could allow the guy to shoot.  Then again, the FBI said the whole background check doesn't work as advertised - we could have mentioned since it was government it wasn't meant to work, just feel good.  Like sexual activities and no conception, the government.

  Anyway, the sights were on, but a bit left, so I allowed my first round (in case the rifle were going to kill its operator in a suicide attempt or a neighboring shooter) to be sighted and shot by the total stranger. His finger prints are on the trigger, sir, no I don't know his name, but you have the DNA evidence, don't you? Since I was looking through the spotting scope I know no targets were perforated by that round. It just doesn't count.  He thanked me for the experience.

   I slung up, fired two, checked them, went right about four clicks, and fired the remaining five. All my rounds hit the target.

The rifle is pointed at the two hundred yard target, which has a black six inch center.

Jumped in the Caravan, drove to and picked up the target and took it to the Two hundred yard line. ShootnSee target post on the center, little hole covers on the wide ones. Back to the line. Snap a picture and then three check, then five and make rifle cleared and safe, drive down to move the target to the three hundred yard line. Final eight rounds, I know how much elevation to add for three and four hundred.

   Shooting a Known Distance qualification course or two on Thursday this week, wish me luck!

Myth-perceptions

   I got all the myths, the classical ones from my Mother and the local library while I was growing up. I knew who Hero was, many today don't. But then there was still the word heroine around.  So I got Greek, Roman, Norse myths and legends, to King Arthur and a Thousand and One Nights.  I even got to read a book about Little Black Sambo, which was about a very smart boy in India and tigers.

   Not being too concerned about race at my tender age, I couldn't see the way others did, as they twisted things to make everyone worse, or perhaps feeling better - but it was always out there. The idea that one group, spokes person, or idea had more merit than the others is how culture is defined. Mozart over Beethoven?  Waltz over tango? I did note carefully the racial purity nonsense of the NAZI party, but it was just as accepted in America as Germany. There seemed to be lots of scientific research, publications and authoritive scripture from learned academics spouting similar nonsense.

   But people are of very short memory, if it didn't just happen, well - there doesn't seem to be any evidence that what I just said isn't true. So, hundred and many years later someone says something, and because they are important or current - what they said is true. Be it Climate Change caused by man, the Evil in being offensive or the suffering of being offended. IT MUST BE TRUE.

  The people swayed by such things are all lost, have no standards, and can't tell a truth from the lie. So sad they aren't thinking. Little logic, no lively discussion of points of view -- I remember learning so much more at the evening dinner table with Mother, Father and my siblings, and visitors. Adult conversations, imagine.  This is only my memory, not one survey completed, poll taken, nor written record survives, so in fact this is my personal Mythperception.
 

Lost causes...

For some strange reason there is a terrible fear of failure in our society. But we fail often and get up and do better the next time, that is how one learns to crawl, then walk, then run - there is a lot of falling flat on ones face or fanny. But we deny it, by passing a law against the effects of our trying and against gravity, knowing that it must be gravity's fault not the fool struggling against it.

Does make me wonder what the world is learning under the guidance and visual pretense of the media, both entertainment and news journalism.  Barack H. Obama's real birth certification from Hawaii - in a computer format that was never used when he was born, for a place not built at the time of his birth.  Lovely thing electronics - it doesn't matter, no matter where he was born, he is the President -- and has ruled as the benevolent Prince ever since, or the seemingly benevolent Prince.

Murder is much more certain. Nine people were shot dead by a lone wolf terrorist working for a long dead cause - White Privilege. That is a lost cause, it never was true, even when it was called White Supremacy, the Left mocking that lost cause by trying to make the losing whites feel guilty for something they aren't participating in, nor believe in - just doesn't work. Only lonely stupid losers wave flags they don't honor nor understand and think that will strike fear into other humans. It would not have worked inside that church, it doesn't work outside that church. Very much like the fools shouting about White Privilege or White Supremacy, a lost cause, no one is listening - shout louder!

The loser waving the Confederate Naval Ensign or the real Confederate Battle flag isn't ready and willing to die for the Confederacy, those that were and understood defeat, they don't have to hide that they supported a lost cause. Read Lee's Final farewell to his soldiers. The man that freed all his slaves ten years before the Civil War.  That battle flag and the name of his Army, the Army of Northern Virginia, was all about what he was fighting for, his state. Modern people don't understand loyalty nor honor, certainly not sacred honor. He had his lost cause, you can have your own, you just don't know you are supporting one.

Another murder in San Francisco, and the Sanctuary City says it isn't their fault the murderer was released, for sure no one knew he was going to have an accident with a firearm (which he couldn't have legally owned) by pulling the trigger until he was sure he could stop pulling it - at a woman that he didn't know.  There are people that will cry out for new better tougher laws, but murder is already a great law - he broke it. It doesn't matter that he could only kill one, never waved anything except good bye to tough times in Mexico San Francisco mi amigo here he comes, again - five times.  No one is crying for tougher gun laws - San Francisco has a bunch that only its Congressional Representatives will attempt to avoid and make lots of money. Law abiding citizens must be gunned down so the evening news can fuel the fears and sell air time for public service announcement from Moslem extremists hiring actors for their lost cause.

Lost causes, being a real proud American, since the media, entertainment and news don't believe one should be proud of being able to jog gently in the morning and stop and get a burger with bacon before going to work, or another romantic encounter with a woman that pretends to love you and all your faults. Bill Clinton couldn't jog in Washington DC daily like he could in Little Rock, another lost cause. He could find women to love in all the wrong places, forgetting that all women will tell another. Hopefully all they have to tell are things one should be proud of, would your mother be proud, Bill, or just forgiving?  Mothers are like that, and often think because they never really understand men, that all men (even their sons) are a lost cause - but they don't stop loving nor having hope that the boy will change, one day soon.  Maybe we shouldn't give up on God, America or any of our own lost causes, just love them and work at them until they win. You don't have to wave a Rainbow flag for another lost cause.