Quote of the day–Eugene Econ

I never used my anemometer more than that day — mostly out of curiosity. We got a real bad ice pellet storm at about 1300 with full value winds from 15 – 35 mph but mostly hovering around 25. Almost a white out. The ice pellet storms let off by 1500 but we were still using four to six minutes right wind for hits at 380.

Eugene Econ
April 29, 2008
Boomershoot, or how I began to learn to REALLY shoot!
[Friday was probably the worst shooting conditions we have ever had for Boomershoot. The wind and rain at Boomershoot 2001 was bad too but not as cold as it was this year. Sunday was some of the best conditions.–Joe]

Food riots

Food shortages and riots are occurring around the world and even toppled Haiti’s government. In the U.S. wheat flour prices are double what they were a few months ago.

This is good news for farmers in a free market but the implications are profound. Food shortages are probably more destructive to the fabric of civil society than any other single factor. When people get hungry enough they will do almost anything.

A few years ago my brother told me the world reserve of wheat would last nearly a year even if all production were stopped immediately. Things have changed (from the previous link):

…there is now less wheat in grain bins than at any time since World War II — only about enough to supply the world for four days.

Record oil prices, collapsing housing market, and now world wide food prices and shortages. These are interesting times we live in. Will it result in increased government involvement to “solve” the problems? Or will people realize that government interference in the free market causes the problems? Remember that for decades the Soviet Union tried to increase food production under their communistic form of government and failed. And during those same decades the U.S. with a mostly capitalistic economy was trying to reduce food production so prices would increase and they too failed.

I’m reminded of Milton Friedman quote:

Governments never learn. Only people learn.

Have people learned? When they are hungry will the remember the lessons? Or will they insist the lessons be repeated at the cost of millions or perhaps even billions of lives?

Triangle of Death marches through our parks

I received another wheelbarrow full of cash and notification from the Apex of the Triangle of Death that our National Parks may soon turn red with blood as shoot outs between visitors…

Sorry. I think I was channeling the VPC for a moment there. Here is the real story:

The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), through the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, today issued a proposed rule to amend regulations prohibiting firearms in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges. The National Rifle Association (NRA) led the effort to amend the existing policy regarding the carrying and transportation of firearms on these federal lands.

“Law-abiding citizens should not be prohibited from protecting themselves and their families while enjoying America’s National Parks and wildlife refuges,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “Under this proposal, federal parks and wildlife refuges will mirror the state firearm laws for state parks. This is an important step in the right direction, and we applaud efforts to amend the out-of-date regulations.”

Quote of the day–Milton Friedman

The most important ways in which I think the internet will affect the big issue is that it will make it more difficult for the government to collect taxes.

Milton Friedman
[I have to think on this some more. Are there some opportunities I’m not taking advantage of? I want to believe Friedman but I don’t see the Internet as that big of obstacle to tax collection.–Joe]

Quote of the day–Ry Jones

I’m Johnny Boomer Seed right now.

Ry Jones
About 10:00 AM April 27, 2008 at Boomershoot.
[When asked if he wanted some rubber bands to attach the reactive targets to the stakes. Ry was improving the process by specializing in one activity.–Joe]

Dave Barry owes us.

Ry Jones
About 1:30 PM April 27, 2008 at Boomershoot.
[After we had put out a fire caused by blowing up at toilet “in Barry’s honor” and we both got hurt doing it.–Joe]

I’m an unindicted co-conspirator.

Ry Jones
About 2:30 PM April 27, 2008 at Boomershoot.
[When I introducted him to a friend as a contributor to Boomershoot.–Joe]

It Was A White Boomershoot

It was a white Boomershoot yesterday. From inside our shelter my staff and I mostly thought it was funny. Precision Rifle Clinic instructors and participants had a different opinion from on top of the windy grassy knoll.

 

 

 

 


The sun came out at lunch time.


As we were going back to work after lunch a wall of snow came in. That isn’t fog, that is snow.

 

The Era of Reagan is Over

So says the Newtster, pretty well verifying what I’ve suspected for a long time– that Gingrich either never really got it, or he’s just tired of the fight and wants the DC culture to be nice to him once in a while.

Others have tried to get this across, so it’s old news, but I’ll give it another go:  As one who upholds the founding principles of the U.S., I could not give a rat’s behind if someone running for office is a black, white, Asian, Hispanic, one-armed female homosexual midget named Butch Hussein Ahmadinejad.  If that person has a track record of strenuously upholding and defending the founding principles of this country, she has my vote.  I do not care about personality (except she has to be a confident fighter or nothing’s going to improve).  I do not care about looks, I don’t care about slick marketing or any of that BS.  She’s got my vote.  This is why Reagan won two landslides- he tried to uphold the founding principles of this country.  He understood and embraced those principles and (and this is key) he was therefore capable of articulating them.  He was far from perfect, but he did it better than any president in my lifetime, even with a solid Democrat majority in both Houses, and that’s why he was popular.  It’s also why he was, and is, so hated and maligned by the Left (clue: You cannot embrace America’s founding principles and expect to get along with the Left.  They will never, ever tolerate you, so if you’re going to do it, expect to be attacked ruthlessly.  Ruthless attacks, however, can go both ways).

If you think it is a matter of hero worship, or cult of personality, etc., you are not capable of understanding Reagan’s success.

Therefore, to say that the era of Reagan is over is to say that the era of upholding America’s founding principles is over– that we are to abandon our principles in favor of “getting along” with those who would further undermine them.  No, Little Grasshopper– let them feel they must strive to “get along” with us in order to stay in the game.  It’s a choice.

Now we have three conservative-hating, anti-Constitution leftists remaining in the presidential race– two calling themselves Democrats and one calling himself a Republican, so this election no longer interests me.

To anyone else who wants my vote; it’s really easy– Just show the track record stated above.   For now, I will vote on state and local issues. (Yeah, I know– I could vote for Paul, but…)

I’m dreaming of a white Boomershoot

Yesterday Scott, Kim, Gene, Monte and I prepped the Boomershoot site for the Precision Rifle Clinic which takes place today and tomorrow. It was nice in the morning then at lunch time it started snowing. It just barely stuck on the grass and you can see a bit of it in some of the pictures below.

As I write this at a little at 7:00 AM it’s snowing as well. The current temperature is 31F. Shooters Bob and Mike spent the night in a tent on site last night. I hope they brought winter gear.

The weather forecast is for warming weather as we go through the weekend with Sunday reaching the low 70s.


Part of the shooting line.


Kim in the sheltered work area for target construction.


Monte and Gene prepping steel for placement on the hillside.


Gene and Scott about to place steel at the 700 yard line.

Boomershoot schedule and random stuff

This is the point where I leap off into total consumption by Boomershoot for several days.

I printed the badges last night.

Today a couple staff members and I will prepare the shooting line, prepare for the Precision Rifle Clinic, and prepare the Taj Mahal to be an assembly line for making explosives and targets.

Tomorrow more staff shows up and we crank out hundreds of reactive targets as Eugene and staff conduct the rifle clinic.

Saturday is more target construction, another day of the clinic, and the Boomershoot dinner (Boomershoot spectators are welcome and get a free In Search of the Second Amendment DVD).

Sunday is the big day with my staff arriving early to place 1400 (if everything goes well) targets in the field. Another 180 targets will have been consumed during the clinic.

Interesting–I just realized that the Precision Rifle Clinic alone will consume as many targets that the first two Boomershoots in ’98 and ’99 combined.

The weather is looking great. A chance of a few showers (and maybe some snow) tonight but the days should be pretty good with it warming up on Saturday and Sunday. Some forecasts are even saying it will be in the low 70’s on Sunday. The wind forecast is for 4 MPH winds on Sunday. It’s looking very good indeed!

In other news there have been a number of people cancel at the last minute. Most notable are the guy from England and media representative Brian Doherty. There are now five positions available.

Blogging will be light until this is over.

Quote of the day–Andrew L. Schlafly

Other commentators have likewise observed that “gun control is an essential precondition for genocide.” Jay Simkin, Aaron Zelman, and Alan M. Rice, Lethal Laws 9-12 (Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership: 1995). Children are as much the victims of genocide as adults, and a right to bear arms protects both against that horrendous evil. Armed citizens are less likely to submit to removal and murder of their children, and their dictators are less likely to try.

Andrew L. Schlafly
February 7, 2008
Brief for amicus curiae association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Inc. in support of Respondent.
[I’m consumed by Boomershoot from now until Monday. I didn’t have any unused quotes from previous Boomershoots but this is Why Boomershoot.–Joe]

I don’t have time for this crap

Someone at a school in Pennsylvania wants to know how to make a pipe bomb.

I’ve got tons of things to do for work and I’ve got Boomershoot stuff to work on too. I talked to the Greensboro Police yesterday and the FBI this morning about the guy from yesterday.

If someone cares enough and/or thinks its serious enough to contact the school or whoever and they need my help then fine, but for the most part I don’t have time for this crap right now.

Domain Name   neumann.edu ? (Educational)
IP Address   209.213.220.# (Abington School District)
ISP   Yipes Communications
Location  
Continent  :  North America
Country  :  United States  (Facts)
State  :  Pennsylvania
City  :  Abington
Lat/Long  :  40.1239, -75.1264 (Map)
Distance  :  2,123 miles
Language   English (U.S.)
en-us
Operating System   Microsoft WinXP
Browser   Internet Explorer 7.0
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 2.0.50727)
Javascript   version 1.3
Monitor  

Resolution  :  1280 x 800
Color Depth  :  32 bits

Time of Visit   Apr 23 2008 10:08:46 am
Last Page View   Apr 23 2008 10:08:46 am
Visit Length   0 seconds
Page Views   1
Referring URL http://www.google.co…&hl=en&start=10&sa=N
Search Engine google.com
Search Words make a pipe bomb
Visit Entry Page   http://blog.joehuffman.org/2006/12/07/i-m-a-bomb-making-expert/
Visit Exit Page   http://blog.joehuffman.org/2006/12/07/i-m-a-bomb-making-expert/
Out Click    
Time Zone   UTC-5:00
Visitor’s Time   Apr 23 2008 1:08:46 pm
Visit Number   289,223

Chicago people are slow learners

9 people killed in 36 shootings over the weekend in Chicago:

Nine people were killed in 36 shootings over the weekend in Chicago, reflecting what some community leaders say is a deadly breakdown in discipline among gang members after a crackdown over the past few years put many of their leaders behind bars.

[…]

The shootings included drive-by attacks, and one case in which someone shot up a plumbing supply store with an AK-47. At least 14 of the shootings were gang-related, according to police. As for the rest, the only thing they can say for sure is that three had nothing to do with gangs.

[…]

Around the country, a number of cities, including Boston, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas, are not reporting surges in gang violence.

So, Mayor Daley, how is that handgun ban working out for you?

You would think the lessons of alcohol prohibition would not have to be retaught for recreation drug and gun prohibition. But for some reason that isn’t the case and Chicago appears to be the natural epicenter of demonstrating this lesson. What seems so odd to me is that it is taking so much longer to learn the lesson this time. I guess people in Chicago are just slow learners.

Quote of the day–Chris Rock

Much like rock ‘n’ roll, school shootings were invented by the black man and stolen by the whites.

Chris Rock
[I don’t know if there is any truth to this or not but I still think it is funny. Another thing for whites to feel guilty about.–Joe]

You are doing it wrong

Wrong search terms, wrong location, on the wrong website, with a webmaster that watches his log files. I’m filling out the police report now.

Greensboro is just 90 miles from Chesterfield (have you sees the news lately?):

Domain Name (Unknown) 
IP Address 216.79.193.# (BellSouth.net)
ISP BellSouth.net
Location
Continent  : North America
Country  : United States  (Facts)
State  : North Carolina
City  : Greensboro
Lat/Long  : 36.0844, -79.8209 (Map)
Distance  : 2,038 miles
Language English (U.S.)
en-us
Operating System Microsoft WinXP
Browser Internet Explorer 6.0
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.0.04506.30; InfoPath.2; .NET CLR 3.0.04506.648)
Javascript version 1.3
Monitor
Resolution  :  1024 x 768
Color Depth  :  16 bits
Time of Visit   Apr 22 2008 10:34:38 am
Last Page View Apr 22 2008 10:34:53 am
Visit Length 15 seconds
Page Views   1
Referring URL http://www.google.co…w to bomb a building
Search Engine google.com
Search Words how to bomb a building
Visit Entry Page http://blog.joehuffm…ombBuildingHelp.aspx
Visit Exit Page http://blog.joehuffm…ombBuildingHelp.aspx
Out Click http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=how to make a small bomb
http://www.google.co…to make a small bomb
Time Zone UTC-5:00
Visitor’s Time Apr 22 2008 1:34:38 pm
Visit Number 288,609

Quote of the day–Sue McFadden

Our neighbours are so snobby – they call us the ‘Shameless’ family and say that we ought to go out to work. But how can we work when we have all these children to look after?

Sue McFadden
March 2008
Grandmother in a family where not one member has worked in three generations.
Raised on welfare, the ‘Why Bother?’ generation that doesn’t want to work
[H/T to Ben Cunningham and Say Uncle. My answer to her question would be that no one would eat if they didn’t work and the problem of “all these children” would be solved. Either they would never have been born or they would be adopted by someone who was able to feed them.

My personal experience with welfare recipients is congruent with the article. Most people accepting handouts do so because of the choices they made and continue to make. They become experts in the field of public assistance.–Joe]

Earthlink Users; It’s not me. It’s You

People who use Earthlink for their e-mail must have a very different impression of human behavior, because no one ever responds to their e-mail inquiries.  Every time I get an on-line order from an Earthlink user, our auto reply e-mail gets bounced, as we get the following message:

“I apologize for this automatic reply to your email. To control spam, I now allow incoming messages only from senders I have approved beforehand.”

Usually followed by a hand-typed e-mail a day later– some variation of;

“I placed an order from you guys the other day, but I never got a confirmation, so I reordered, and still got no confirmation.  What’s wrong with you guys?  Please respond!!!!  Hello!!!????”

The world is a very impolite place for Earthlink users.  No one ever writes back.  I wonder if they ever wonder why.

Update:  We got two of these responses today.  Our only option is to use the old-fashioned telephone, assuming we get a phone number.  I’ve thought about writing a series of essays on communication skills.